Recreational physical activity context and type preferences among male and female Emirati university students.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed recreational physical activity type and context preferences of Emirati university students. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study in which a stratified random sample (n=628) (female 69.1%, male 30.9% mean age 20.79±3.81 y) completed an online survey. Relationships between gender and preferences were assessed using regression analysis, adjusted for body mass index and age. RESULTS: Activities with a fun element were the most preferred context (87.1%). Walking (66.7%) and swimming (61.7%) were the most preferred activity types. Males had significantly higher odds of preferring competitive activities, and activity types such as football, fitness/weights and jogging. Females had significantly higher odds of preferring activities with people of the same gender, with supervision and done at home, and activity types such as walking, aerobics, cycling, squash and yoga. CONCLUSION: These results can inform physical activity planning for university students in the United Arab Emirates. Fun activity opportunities involving walking or swimming and in the local neighbourhood may be popular for both males and females. Future research could explore uptake and maintenance of activity options, based on preferred activity attributes.

Knowledge of physical activity guidelines and mental health benefits among Emirati university students.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess Emirati university students' knowledge of physical activity guidelines and perceptions of the benefits of physical activity for mental health. METHODS: A random sample (n = 628) completed an online questionnaire assessing the recommended amount of physical activity for good health (min/week) and to what extent exercise can help improve wellbeing, and manage depression and anxiety/stress (5-point Likert-type scale). RESULTS: Only 3% of respondents identified 150 min/week and less than half (39%) of the respondents reported an amount within the range of 150-300 min/week. Most respondents believed that physical activity could improve wellbeing (69%), and manage depression (71%) and anxiety/stress (74%). Females were more likely than males to view physical activity as a way to manage depression (p = .003), and anxiety/stress (p = .002). CONCLUSIONS: More work may be required to promote awareness of physical activity guidelines in this population, and males' awareness of mental health benefits of physical activity.

Regions required for CD4 binding in the external glycoprotein gp120 of simian immunodeficiency virus.

The external domain of the envelope glycoprotein, gp120, of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) has been expressed as a mature secreted product using recombinant baculoviruses and the expressed protein, which has an observed molecular mass of 110 kDa, was purified by monoclonal antibody (MAb) affinity chromatography. N-terminal sequence analysis showed a signal sequence cleavage identity similar to that of the gp120s of both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2. The expressed molecule bound to soluble CD4 with an affinity that was approximately 10-fold lower than that of gp120 from HIV-1. A screening of the ability of SIV envelope MAbs to inhibit CD4 binding revealed two groups of inhibitory MAbs. One group is dependent on conformation, while the second group maps to a discrete epitope near the amino terminus. The particular role of the V3 loop region of the molecule in CD4 binding was investigated by the construction of an SIV-HIV hybrid in which the V3 loop of SIV was precisely replaced with the equivalent domain from HIV-1 MN. The hybrid glycoprotein bound HIV-1 V3 loop MAbs and not SIV V3 MAbs but continued to bind conformational SIV MAbs and soluble CD4 as well as the parent molecule.