Recess Behaviors of Urban Children 16 Months After a Green Schoolyard Renovation.

Background: Green schoolyard renovations lead to immediate positive changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and social behavior. This pilot study examines whether these benefits are equally distributed across gender and age and maintained 16 months postgreening.

Methods: Physical activity and social interactions during recess were recorded at control (n = 389) and experimental (n = 642) Title I urban elementary schools with direct observation and accelerometers.

Physical Activity and Social Behaviors of Urban Children in Green Playgrounds.

Introduction: Nature exposure is associated with many wellbeing benefits. However, the influence of green space on the physical activity and social behaviors of children is not completely understood. The purpose of the study was to complete a stepwise impact evaluation of a large-scale playground greening project at a Title 1 elementary school in Los Angeles, California.

Dose- and time-dependent benefits of iPad technology in an undergraduate human anatomy course.

This study examined the impact of iPad integration on performance in an undergraduate gross anatomy course. Two out of six course sections were assigned to one of the following conditions: control (no iPad, n = 61); limited access (laboratory iPads, n = 58); and unlimited access (personal iPads, n = 47). Student knowledge was assessed over time during the semester with two practical examinations in laboratory and four multiple choice/essay examinations in lecture.

Evidence for the involvement of CaMKII and AMPK in Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways regulating FA uptake and oxidation in contracting rodent muscle.

Calcium-calmodulin/dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) have each been implicated in the regulation of substrate metabolism during exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CaMKII is involved in the regulation of FA uptake and oxidation and, if it is involved, whether it does so independently of AMPK and ERK1/2. Rat hindquarters were perfused at rest with (n = 16) or without (n = 10) 3 mM caffeine, or during electrical stimulation (n = 14).

Evidence for the regulation of contraction-induced fatty acid oxidation via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation independent of changes in fatty acid uptake.

Data show that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) may be involved in the regulation of fatty acid (FA) uptake during muscle contraction via stimulation of CD36 translocation to the plasma membrane. The perfused hind limb model was used to determine (1) the importance of ERK1/2 signaling on contraction-induced FA uptake and (2) the effect of ERK1/2-mediated FA uptake on contraction-induced FA oxidation. We perfused rat hind limbs with 8 mmol/L glucose, 550 micromol/L palmitate, and no insulin at rest in the absence of inhibitor and during moderate-intensity electrical stimulation and dose-dependent pharmacologic inhibition of ERK1/2 using increasing concentrations of PD98059 (P1 = none, P2 = 10 micromol/L, P3 = 20 micromol/L, P4 = 50 micromol/L).

Regulation of contraction-induced FA uptake and oxidation by AMPK and ERK1/2 is intensity dependent in rodent muscle.

Muscle contraction activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), two signaling molecules involved in the regulation of muscle metabolism. The purpose of this study was to determine whether activation of AMPK and/or ERK1/2 contributes to the regulation of muscle fatty acid (FA) uptake and oxidation in contracting muscle. Rat hindquarters were perfused during rest (R) or electrical stimulation (E) of increasing intensity by manipulating train duration (E1 = 25 ms, E2 = 50 ms, E3 = 100 ms, E4 = 200 ms).

AMPK activation is not critical in the regulation of muscle FA uptake and oxidation during low-intensity muscle contraction.

To determine the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation on the regulation of fatty acid (FA) uptake and oxidation, we perfused rat hindquarters with 6 mM glucose, 10 microU/ml insulin, 550 microM palmitate, and [14C]palmitate during rest (R) or electrical stimulation (ES), inducing low-intensity (0.1 Hz) muscle contraction either with or without 2 mM 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR). AICAR treatment significantly increased glucose and FA uptake during R (P < 0.