Attentional focus differentially modulates the corticospinal and intracortical excitability during dynamic and static exercise.

Although attentional focus affects motor performance, whether corticospinal excitability and intracortical modulations differ between focus strategies depending on the exercise patterns remains unclear. In the present study, using single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation, we demonstrated changes in the cortical and spinal excitability under external focus (EF) and internal focus (IF) conditions with dynamic or static exercise. Participants performed the ramp-and-hold contraction task of right index finger abduction against an object (sponge or wood) with both exercises.

f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast isolated from flowers.

Three yeast isolates, NBRC 115909, NBRC 115910 and NBRC 116270, were isolated from (red clover) flowers collected from Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan. Analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions revealed that these isolates represent a single novel species within the genus . Also, no ascospore formation was observed.

Synthesis of Diverse Aromatic Ketones through C-F Cleavage of Trifluoromethyl Group.

An efficient synthetic method of aromatic ketones through C-F cleavage of trifluoromethyl group is disclosed. The high functional group tolerance of the transformation and the remarkable stability of trifluoromethyl group in various reactions enabled multi-substituted aromatic ketone synthesis in an efficient route involving useful transformations such as ortho-lithiation, aryne chemistry, and cross-couplings.

Monochloramine potently inhibits arachidonic acid metabolism in rat platelets.

In the present study, the effects of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), monochloramine (NH(2)Cl), glutamine-chloramine (Glu-Cl) and taurine-chloramine (Tau-Cl) on the formation of 12-lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolite, 12-HETE, and cyclooxygenase (COX) metabolites, TXB(2), and 12-HHT, from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in rat platelets were examined. Rat platelets (4x10(8)/ml) were preincubated with drugs for 5min at 37 degrees C prior to the incubation with AA (40microM) for 2min at 37 degrees C. HOCl (50-250microM) showed an inhibition on the formation of LOX metabolite (12-HETE, 5-67% inhibition) and COX metabolites (TXB(2), 33-73% inhibition; 12-HHT, 27-74% inhibition).

Experimental and theoretical study on gas-phase ion/molecule reactions of silver trimer cation, Ag3+, with 12-crown-4.

The reaction mechanisms of silver trimer cation, Ag3+, with 12-crown-4 (12C4) were studied experimentally and theoretically. Using a cylindrical ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer, gas-phase ion/molecule reactions of Ag3+ with 12C4 were observed. Metal-ligand complexes of [Ag(12C4)]+, [Ag3(12C4)]+ and [Ag3(12C4)2]+, and of [Ag(12C4)2]+ and [Ag3(12C4)3]+, were observed as the reaction intermediates and terminal products, respectively.

Effects of endocrine disruptors on arachidonic acid metabolism in rabbit platelets.

To explore the possible actions of endocrine disruptors on the autacoid synthesis in the body, we investigated the effects of nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl-n-butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on the formation of 12-lipoxygenase metabolite, 12-HETE, and cyclooxygenase metabolites, TXB(2) and 12-HHT, from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in rabbit platelets. NP (10-50 microM) showed strong inhibition on the formation of cyclooxygenase metabolites (TXB(2), 34-95% inhibition; 12-HHT, 13-78% inhibition) and weaker inhibition on the formation of 12-HETE (0-49% inhibition). BPA, DBP, BBP, DEHP, and 17beta-estradiol (endogenous estrogen) failed to show any effect on the formation of cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase metabolites at concentrations up to 100 microM.