The subjective task load responses and movement characteristics associated with purposefully designed games in junior Touch players

This study sought to design five touch-specific modified games and evaluate the subjective task load responses and movement characteristics. Forty-two high performance junior Touch players completed five modified games during a single training session. Each game was designed to increase the physical, technical, mental, frustration or temporal load. Subjective task loads were measured after each game using the NASA task load index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire. Movement characteristics were recorded using global positioning systems. Data were analysed using a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance, and the association between movement characteristics and subjective task loads were assessed using linear mixed modelling. Clear between-game differences were observed in physical, technical, mental, frustration, temporal, and technical load, indicating that the load for which the game was designed to increase (e.g., physical load = physical game) was higher than all other games (p2=0.118 to 0.211, all P<0.001). No differences were observed across games for effort, performance, mean or total load (p2=0.004 to 0.030 P=0.178 to 0.947). Small to large differences in the movement characteristics were observed across the five games (p2=0.057 to 0.577, P<0.001 to 0.017). The most prominent movement characteristic associated with the NASA-TLX responses was relative distance; it was positively associated with physical and temporal load (r=0.16 to 0.24, both P<0.05) and negatively associated with technical, mental and effort load (r=-0.29 to -0.06, P <0.001 to 0.353). Overall, coaches and sport scientists can design games for Touch players that increase loads through the rules, intention of the game, and by altering relative distance

An iterative design of experiments based data collection approach for ultrasonic guided waves

To validate modelling results it is necessary to collect experimental data, in this case ultrasonic guided wave measurements to validate a forward model of an acoustic emission system on a complex structure. Traditionally when ultrasonic data is collected over an area of a structure it is collected in a raster scan. This approach comprehensively covers the area of interest at a desired resolution which is determined by the feature of the signals that needs to be measured. In most cases however the feature of interest, such as a defect or, in this work, a geometrical feature, is only present in a small portion of the measurement region. In the remainder of the region the ultrasonic behavior tends to be more consistent and well understood and therefore this remaining area is effectively oversampled. If the data collection process is fast, then this is not a problem. However, in the case of performing manual guided wave measurements across a large structure, repositioning the transducer is the most time consuming part of the experiment. If the number of measurements taken in the regions where the ultrasonic behavior is simple can be reduced, this will save both time and effort. The approach demonstrated here is based upon the HilomotDoE (HIeracchical LOcal MOdel Tree for Design of Experiments) algorithm [1]. The algorithm and therefore the data collection is iterative. In each iteration data points are collected in the region where there is the most difference between the model of the experimental data and the actual experimental data. This means the model is refined in regions where there is the greatest change from a simple polynomial model. This corresponds with taking more experimental measurements in regions where the ultrasonic response is changing the most. This typically corresponds to regions of interest such as geometrical features. The algorithm will be tested on guided wave measurements collected on a real structure and its performance is compared with a raster scan

Enriching a protein drink with leucine augments muscle protein synthesis after resistance exercise in young and older men

Maximizing anabolic responses to feeding and exercise is crucial for muscle maintenance and adaptation to exercise training. We hypothesized that enriching a protein drink with leucine would improve anabolic responses to resistance exercise (RE: 6×8 knee-extension repetitions at 75% of 1-RM) in both young and older adults. Groups (n=9) of young (24±6 y, BMI 23±2kg.m-2) and older men (70±5 y, BMI 25±2 kg.m-2) were randomized to either: (i) RE followed by Slim-Fast Optima (SFO 10 g PRO; 24 g CHO) with 4.2 g of leucine (LEU) or, (ii) RE+SFO with 4.2 g of alanine (ALA; isonitrogenous control). Muscle biopsies were taken before, immediately after, and 1, 2 and 4 h after RE and feeding. Muscle protein synthesis (MPS) was measured by incorporation of [1, 2-13C2] leucine into myofibrillar proteins and the phosphorylation of p70S6K1 by immunoblotting. In young men, both area under the curve (AUC; FSR 0-4 h P<0.05) and peak FSR (0.11 vs. 0.08%.h.-1; P<0.05) were greater in the SFO+LEU than in the SFO+ALA group, after RE. Similarly, in older men, AUC analysis revealed that post-exercise anabolic responses were greater in the SFO+LEU than SFO+ALA group, after RE (AUC; FSR 0-4 h P<0.05). Irrespective of age, increases in p70S6K1 phosphorylation were evident in response to both SFO+LEU and SFO+ALA, although greater with leucine supplementation than alanine (fold-change 2.2 vs. 3.2; P<0.05), specifically in the older men. We conclude that addition of Leucine to a sub-maximal PRO bolus improves anabolic responses to RE in young and older men

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a fully self-guided internet-based intervention for sub-clinical social anxiety symptoms : protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Design and objective: This paper describes the protocol for a large-scale pragmatic, randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the self-directed E-Couch social anxiety module versus a waiting list control condition, for reducing sub-clinical social anxiety symptoms in the general population. Study population: Community-based adults (aged 18+) with social anxiety symptoms that do not meet the criteria for social anxiety disorder recruited via a direct-to-consumer advertisement on national websites. Intervention and control: Intervention is the self-guided E-Couch social anxiety module. Control group participants are placed on a waiting list to receive the intervention at the end of the trial. Both groups receive email and text message reminders. Outcome measures: The primary outcome will be change in self-reported social anxiety score using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). Secondary outcomes will be the changes in the following self-report measures: Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (BFNE-S); depression (CES-D); mental wellbeing (SWEMWEBS); health status (SF36); use of health services; safety events; and adherence, retention, and attrition rates. All measures will be administered at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3, 6 and 12 months. Analysis: A mixed effects model will be used to analyse the effect of the intervention on the primary and secondary outcomes (intention to treat analysis). Secondary analyses will explore moderators and mediators of effect. A prospective economic evaluation, conducted from a NHS and social care perspective, will provide estimates of cost utility and cost-effectiveness. An interview study will be conducted with 20 participants to explore issues including acceptability, adherence, retention and attrition

Helicobacter pylori-induced inhibition of vascular endothelial cell functions: a role for VacA-dependent nitric oxide reduction

Epidemiological and clinical studies provide compelling support for a causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and endothelial dysfunction, leading to vascular diseases. However, clear biochemical evidence for this association is limited. In the present study, we have conducted a comprehensive investigation of endothelial injury in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) induced by H. pylori-conditioned medium (HPCM) prepared from H. pylori 60190 [vacuolating cytotoxin A (Vac(+))]. BAECs were treated with either unconditioned media, HPCM (0-25% vol/vol), or Escherichia coli-conditioned media for 24 h, and cell functions were monitored. Vac(+) HPCM significantly decreased BAEC proliferation, tube formation, and migration (by up to 44%, 65%, and 28%, respectively). Posttreatment, we also observed sporadic zonnula occludens-1 immunolocalization along the cell-cell border, and increased BAEC permeability to FD40 Dextran, indicating barrier reduction. These effects were blocked by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (VacA inhibitor) and were not observed with conditioned media prepared from either VacA-deleted H. pylori or E. coli. The cellular mechanism mediating these events was also considered. Vac(+) HPCM (but not Vac(-)) reduced nitric oxide (NO) by \u3e50%, whereas S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, an NO donor, recovered all Vac(+) HPCM-dependent effects on cell functions. We further demonstrated that laminar shear stress, an endothelial NO synthase/NO stimulus in vivo, could also recover the Vac(+) HPCM-induced decreases in BAEC functions. This study shows, for the first time, a significant proatherogenic effect of H. pylori-secreted factors on a range of vascular endothelial dysfunction markers. Specifically, the VacA-dependent reduction in endothelial NO is indicated in these events. The atheroprotective impact of laminar shear stress in this context is also evident

Cryo-EM structure of a microtubule-bound parasite kinesin motor and implications for its mechanism and inhibition

Plasmodium parasites cause malaria and are responsible annually for hundreds of thousands of deaths. Kinesins are a superfamily of microtubule-dependent ATPases that play important roles in the parasite replicative machinery, which is a potential target for anti-parasite drugs. Kinesin-5, a molecular motor that crosslinks microtubules, is an established anti-mitotic targets in other disease contexts, but its mechanism in P. falciparum is unclear. Here, we characterised P. falciparum kinesin-5 (PfK5) using cryo-EM to determine the motor’s nucleotide-dependent microtubule-bound structure, and introduced 3D classification of individual motors into our microtubule image processing pipeline to maximise our structural insights. Despite sequence divergence in PfK5, the motor exhibits classical kinesin mechanochemistry, including ATP-induced subdomain rearrangement and cover neck bundle formation, consistent with its plus-ended directed motility. We also observed that an insertion in loop5 of the PfK5 motor domain creates a different environment in the well characterised human kinesin-5 drug-binding site. Our data reveal the possibility for selective inhibition of PfK5 and can be used to inform future exploration of Plasmodium kinesins as anti-parasite targets

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a fully self-guided internet-based intervention for sub-clinical social anxiety symptoms: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial

DESIGN AND OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the protocol for a large-scale pragmatic, randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the self-directed E-Couch social anxiety module versus a waiting list control condition, for reducing sub-clinical social anxiety symptoms in the general population. STUDY POPULATION: Community-based adults (aged 18þ) with social anxiety symptoms that do not meet the criteria for social anxiety disorder recruited via a direct-to-consumer advertisement on national websites. INTERVENTION AND CONTROL: Intervention is the self-guided E-Couch social anxiety module. Control group participants are placed on a waiting list to receive the intervention at the end of the trial. Both groups receive email and text message reminders. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome will be change in self-reported social anxiety score using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). Secondary outcomes will be the changes in the following self-report measures: Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (BFNE-S); depression (CES-D); mental wellbeing (SWEMWEBS); health status (SF36); use of health services; safety events; and adherence, retention, and attrition rates. All measures will be administered at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3, 6 and 12 months. ANALYSIS: A mixed effects model will be used to analyse the effect of the intervention on the primary and secondary outcomes (intention to treat analysis). Secondary analyses will explore moderators and mediators of effect. A prospective economic evaluation, conducted from a NHS and social care perspective, will provide estimates of cost utility and costeffectiveness. An interview study will be conducted with 20 participants to explore issues including acceptability, adherence, retention and attrition.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the MQ charity under its PsyIMPACT funding call (www.joinMQ.org). KG is supported by NHMRC Fellowship 1059620. The ongoing delivery of E-Couch is enabled by funding from the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health. HA was funded by a NIHR National School for Primary Care Research Fellowship (up to September 2015). LL and YY are funded by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (Oxford BRC)

Acute cocoa flavanol supplementation improves muscle macro- and microvascular but not anabolic responses to amino acids in older men

The anabolic effects of nutrition on skeletal muscle may depend on adequate skeletal muscle perfusion, which is impaired in older people. Cocoa flavanols have been shown to improve flow-mediated dilation, an established measure of endothelial function. However, their effect on muscle microvascular blood flow is currently unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore links between the consumption of cocoa flavanols, muscle microvascular blood flow and muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in response to nutrition in older men. To achieve this objective leg blood flow (LBF), muscle microvascular blood volume (MBV) and MPS were measured under postabsorptive and postprandial (I.V glamin, dextrose to sustain glucose ~7.5 mmol·l-1) conditions in 20 older men. Ten of these men were studied with no cocoa flavanol intervention and a further 10 were studied with the addition of 350 mg of cocoa flavanols at the same time as nutrition began. Leg [femoral artery] blood flow was measured by Doppler ultrasound, muscle MBV by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using DefinityTM perflutren contrast agent and MPS using [1, 2-13C2] leucine tracer techniques. Our results show that although older individuals do not show an increase in LBF or MBV in response to feeding, these absent responses are apparent when cocoa flavanols are given acutely with nutrition. However this restoration in vascular responsiveness is not associated with improved MPS responses to nutrition. We conclude that acute cocoa flavanol supplementation improves muscle macro- and microvascular responses to nutrition, independently of modifying muscle protein anabolism

Scale-dependent perspectives on the geomorphology and evolution of beachdune systems

Despite widespread recognition that landforms are complex Earth systems with process-response linkages that span temporal scales from seconds to millennia and spatial scales from sand grains to landscapes, research that integrates knowledge across these scales is fairly uncommon. As a result, understanding of geomorphic systems is often scale-constrained due to a host of methodological, logistical, and theoretical factors that limit the scope of how Earth scientists study landforms and broader landscapes. This paper reviews recent advances in understanding of the geomorphology of beach-dune systems derived from over a decade of collaborative research from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. A comprehensive summary of key findings is provided from short-term experiments embedded within a decade-long monitoring program and a multi-decadal reconstruction of coastal landscape change. Specific attention is paid to the challenges of scale integration and the contextual limitations research at specific spatial and/or temporal scales imposes. A conceptual framework is presented that integrates across key scales of investigation in geomorphology and is grounded in classic ideas in Earth surface sciences on the effectiveness of formative events at different scales. The paper uses this framework to organize the review of this body of research in a 'scale aware' way and, thereby, identifies many new advances in knowledge on the form and function of subaerial beach-dune systems. Finally, the paper offers a synopsis of how greater understanding of the complexities at different scales can be used to inform the development of predictive models, especially those at a temporal scale of decades to centuries, which are most relevant to coastal management issues. Models at this (landform) scale require an understanding of controls that exist at both ‘landscape’ and ‘plot’ scales. Landscape scale controls such as sea level change, regional climate, and the underlying geologic framework essentially provide bounding conditions for independent variables such as winds, waves, water levels, and littoral sediment supply. Similarly, an holistic understanding of the range of processes, feedbacks, and linkages at the finer plot scale is required to inform and verify the assumptions that underly the physical modelling of beach-dune interaction at the landform scale