Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Effects of Probiotic and Selenium Co-supplementation on Lipid Profile and Glycemia Indices: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.(2023-03) Mohammadparast V; Mohammadi T; Karimi E; Mallard BLPURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current systematic review and meta-analysis was done to evaluate the effects of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation on lipid profile and glycemia indices of the adult population using randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). RECENT FINDINGS: Five studies involving 282 participants with a sample size ranging from 38 to 79 were eligible to be enrolled in the current study. Co-supplementation with probiotic and selenium reduced fasting plasma glucose (WMD = -4.02 mg/dL; 95% CI: -5.87 to -2.18; P < 0.001), insulin (WMD = -2.50 mIU/mL; 95% CI: -3.11 to -1.90; P < 0.001), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (WMD = -0.59; 95% CI: -0.74 to -0.43; P < 0.001), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (WMD = 0.01; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.02; P < 0.001), total cholesterol (WMD = -12.75 mg/dL; 95% CI: -19.44 to -6.07; P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = -7.09 mg/dL; 95% CI: -13.45 to -0.73; P = 0.029), and triglyceride (WMD = -14.38 mg/dL; 95% CI: -23.13 to -5.62; P = 0.001). The findings of the current systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that co-supplementation with probiotics and selenium may benefit adults in terms of glycemia indices and lipid profile. However, due to the small number of included studies, further trials are needed to confirm our findings.Item Identity and Gender Recognition Using a Capacitive Sensing Floor and Neural Networks(MDPI AG, 23/09/2022) Konings D; Alam F; Faulkner N; de Jong CIn recent publications, capacitive sensing floors have been shown to be able to localize individuals in an unobtrusive manner. This paper demonstrates that it might be possible to utilize the walking characteristics extracted from a capacitive floor to recognize subject and gender. Several neural network-based machine learning techniques are developed for recognizing the gender and identity of a target. These algorithms were trained and validated using a dataset constructed from the information captured from 23 subjects while walking, alone, on the sensing floor. A deep neural network comprising a Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory (BLSTM) provided the most accurate identity performance, classifying individuals with an accuracy of 98.12% on the test data. On the other hand, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was the most accurate for gender recognition, attaining an accuracy of 93.3%. The neural network-based algorithms are benchmarked against Support Vector Machine (SVM), which is a classifier used in many reported works for floor-based recognition tasks. The majority of the neural networks outperform SVM across all accuracy metrics.Item Single-molecule folding mechanisms of the apo- and Mg(2+)-bound states of human neuronal calcium sensor-1(Biophysical Society, 7/07/2015) Naqvi MM; Heidarsson PO; Rodriguez Otazo M; Mossa A; Kragelund BB; Cecconi CNeuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is the primordial member of a family of proteins responsible primarily for sensing changes in neuronal Ca(2+) concentration. NCS-1 is a multispecific protein interacting with a number of binding partners in both calcium-dependent and independent manners, and acting in a variety of cellular processes in which it has been linked to a number of disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Despite extensive studies on the Ca(2+)-activated state of NCS proteins, little is known about the conformational dynamics of the Mg(2+)-bound and apo states, both of which are populated, at least transiently, at resting Ca(2+) conditions. Here, we used optical tweezers to study the folding behavior of individual NCS-1 molecules in the presence of Mg(2+) and in the absence of divalent ions. Under tension, the Mg(2+)-bound state of NCS-1 unfolds and refolds in a three-state process by populating one intermediate state consisting of a folded C-domain and an unfolded N-domain. The interconversion at equilibrium between the different molecular states populated by NCS-1 was monitored in real time through constant-force measurements and the energy landscapes underlying the observed transitions were reconstructed through hidden Markov model analysis. Unlike what has been observed with the Ca(2+)-bound state, the presence of Mg(2+) allows both the N- and C-domain to fold through all-or-none transitions with similar refolding rates. In the absence of divalent ions, NCS-1 unfolds and refolds reversibly in a two-state reaction involving only the C-domain, whereas the N-domain has no detectable transitions. Overall, the results allowed us to trace the progression of NCS-1 folding along its energy landscapes and provided a solid platform for understanding the conformational dynamics of similar EF-hand proteins.Item Physical activity participation in community dwelling stroke survivors: Synergy and dissonance between motivation and capability. A qualitative study(Elsevier, 2016) Morris JH; Oliver T; Kroll T; Joice SA; Willaims BObjectives The evidence supporting benefits of physical activity (PA) on fitness, functioning, health and secondary prevention after strokeis compelling. However, many stroke survivors remain insufficiently active. This study explored survivors’ perspectives and experiences ofPA participation to develop an explanatory framework that physiotherapists and other health professionals can use to develop person-specificstrategies for PA promotion.Design Qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data was audio-recorded and transcribed. Analysis followed theFramework Approach.Setting Community setting, interviews conducted within participants’ homes.Participants Community dwelling stroke survivors (n = 38) six months or more after the end of their rehabilitation, purposively selected bydisability, PA participation and socio-demographic status.Results Findings suggest that survivors’ beliefs, attitudes, and physical and social context generated synergy or dissonance between motivation(desire to be active) and capability (resources to be active) for PA participation. Dissonance occurred when motivated survivors had limitedcapability for activity, often leading to frustration. Confidence to achieve goals and determination to overcome barriers, acted as activitycatalysts when other influences were synergistic. We illustrate these relationships in a dynamic explanatory model that can be used to supportboth novel interventions and personal activity plans.Conclusions This study suggests a shift is required from purely pragmatic approaches to PA promotion towards conceptual solutions. Under-standing how synergy or dissonance between motivation and capability influence individual survivors’ behaviour will support physiotherapists and other health professionals in promoting PA. This study provides a model for developing person-centred, tailored interventions that address barriers encountered by stroke survivors.Item An experimental model of contusion injury in humans(Public Library of Science, 17/11/2022) Barnes M; Lomiwes D; Parry DAD; Stephen MIntroduction Contusion injuries are common in sport, but our knowledge of the responses to injury primarily come from animal studies and research using eccentric exercise. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a model of contusion injury in human participants and, additionally, investigate and compare physiological responses to four impact loads. Methods Thirty-two males were exposed to a single impact of either 4.2, 5.2, 6.2 or 7.2kg, dropped from 67 cm, on to the vastus lateralis of one leg. Maximum voluntary and electrically induced quadriceps force, and pressure pain threshold were measured, and blood sampling carried out, prior to and 30min, 24, 48 and 72h post-impact. Magnetic resonance imaging was carried out 24h post-impact to quantify oedema. Results Despite impact force with 7.2kg (1681.4 ± 235.6 N) not being different to 6.2kg (1690.7 ± 117.6 N), 7.2kg resulted in greater volume of oedema, voluntary force loss, pain and elevations in creatine kinase than the other loads. Although electrically induced force changed over time, post-hoc analysis failed to identify any changes. Interleukin-6 and prostaglandin-E2 did not change over time for any of the loads. Significant correlations were found between oedema volume, pressure pain threshold and maximum voluntary contraction force. Conclusions This is the first experimental study to investigate traumatic loading of skeletal muscle and the subsequent physiological responses associated with contusion injuries in humans. The absence of immediate elevations in creatine kinase and changes in electrically induced force suggest impact, with forces similar to those experienced in contact sport, does not cause significant, direct damage to skeletal muscle. However, the relationship between oedema volume, changes in pressure pain threshold and maximum voluntary contraction force suggests central inhibition plays a role in contusion-related muscle dysfunction.Item Occupation and risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer: The ARCAGE study(Wiley Online, 15/05/2012) Richiardi L; Corbin M; Marron M; Ahrens W; Pohlabeln H; Lagiou P; Minaki P; Agudo A; Castellsague X; Slamova A; Schejbalova M; Kjaerheim K; Barzan L; Talamini R; MacFarlane GJ; MacFarlane TV; Canova C; Simonato L; Conway DI; McKinney PA; Sneddon L; Thomson P; Znaor A; Healy CM; McCartan BE; Benhamou S; Bouchardy C; Hashibe M; Brennan P; Merletti FWe investigated the association between occupational history and upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer risk in the ARCAGE European case-control study. The study included 1,851 patients with incident cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx or esophagus and 1,949 controls. We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ever employment in 283 occupations and 172 industries, adjusting for smoking and alcohol. Men (1,457 cases) and women (394 cases) were analyzed separately and we incorporated a semi-Bayes adjustment approach for multiple comparisons. Among men, we found increased risks for occupational categories previously reported to be associated with at least one type of UADT cancer, including painters (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.01-3.00), bricklayers (1.58, 1.05-2.37), workers employed in the erection of roofs and frames (2.62, 1.08-6.36), reinforced concreters (3.46, 1.11-10.8), dockers (2.91, 1.05-8.05) and workers employed in the construction of roads (3.03, 1.23-7.46), general construction of buildings (1.44, 1.12-1.85) and cargo handling (2.60, 1.17-5.75). With the exception of the first three categories, risks both increased when restricting to long duration of employment and remained elevated after semi-Bayes adjustment. Increased risks were also found for loggers (3.56, 1.20-10.5) and cattle and dairy farming (3.60, 1.15-11.2). Among women, there was no clear evidence of increased risks of UADT cancer in association with occupations or industrial activities. This study provides evidence of an association between some occupational categories and UADT cancer risk among men. The most consistent findings, also supported by previous studies, were obtained for specific workers employed in the construction industry. © 2011 UICC.
