ACCURACY AND PRECISION OF THE KINETIC ANALYSIS OF COUNTER MOVEMENT JUMP PERFORMANCE

The purpose of this study was to quantify the accuracy and precision of measuring counter movement jump (CMJ) performance kinetically (i.e. measuring impulse using a force plate). A 14-camera 3D motion analysis system and a force plate were used simultaneously to obtain vertical trajectories of centre of mass (CM) for comparison. Fifty-eight CMJs were analyzed from eleven physically active males. Jump height differences were trivial, and small bias was obtained thereby showing good accuracy as well as small typical errors for performance. Our study indicates that force plates can be used confidently for CMJ analysis

Validation du « Hunt Squash Accuracy Test » pour évaluer la performance des joueurs dans l'exécution de leurs coups

This study examined the validity of the Hunt Squash Accuracy Test (HSAT) for predicting within-game shot performance and tournament rank. Shots from eight male junior squash players performing the HSAT and tournament match-play were analysed. A typical-error analysis from repeated trials showed the HSAT to be very reliable (1.82%). HSAT rank had significant correlations (p < 0.05) to tournament rank (r = 0.98) and tournament shot success (r = 0.95). HSAT score showed significant correlations to the percentage of winning shots during match-play (r = 0.88). HSAT shots with significant correlations to successful match-play shots were backhand-drive (r = 0.92) and backhand-volley (r = 0.97). These results suggest the HSAT is a valid method of assessing the accuracy and performance of junior squash players. It could potentially be used to track shot improvements and predict match-play performance

MEASURING SQUASH HITTING ACCURACY USING THE ‘HUNT SQUASH ACCURACY TEST’

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Hunt Squash Accuracy Test (HSAT). Reliability: ten male squash players performed the HSAT twice within seven days. Each test consisted of 375 shots across 13 different types of squash strokes on both the forehand and backhand side. Reliability was measured using a typical error (TE) score from consecutive pairs of trials. The overall TE score for the test was 1.82%, demonstrating that the HSAT is very reliable at the 90% confidence limit. Validity: measured using a correlation analysis comparing the results of 8 individual’s HSAT scores against a round-robin tournament ranking where all 8 players played against each other, as well as coach rankings of player ability. Validity was considered high with correlation coefficients of 0.93 for both the round-robin and coach ranking

A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SQUASH SHOT ACCURACY

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the Hunt Squash Accuracy Test (HSAT) for predicting within-game performance on specific shot types. A correlation analysis compared the accuracy of specific shots during tournament match-play to the accuracy of the corresponding shot type in the HSAT. The correlation of the overall HSAT score against tournament rank was significantly large (0.95), as were the total % shot accuracy (0.90), total % backhand (BH) accuracy (0.94) and total % forehand (FH) accuracy (0.77) correlations. The only specific HSAT shot types with significantly large correlations to the corresponding match-play shots were; BH straight drive (0.92) and BH straight volley (0.97). The remaining shot types; boast, volley-drop and drops all showed non-significant correlations on both the BH and FH sides

RELlABlLlTY AND VALIDATION OF AN INERTIAL SENSOR USED TO MEASURE ORIENTATION ANGLE

This study examined the reliability and validity of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for measuring orientation angle. An IMU was mounted onto a goniometer and moved through 0-90' with data collected at 10' increments. The process was repeated 10 times for all 3 axes. Reliability was measured via a typical error (TE) analysis from the 10 repeated trials. Validity was determined via a Pearson correlation and an ordinary least products (OLP) regression. The lMU was very reliable for all 3 axes (TE: x=0.03", y=0.03", z=0.02").T he Pearson correlation between the IMU and goniometer was large and significant for all 3 axes (r = 1.00,95%CI = 1 .O-1.0). The OLP regression showed no proportional bias for the 3 axes and only small fixed blas for the x and z axes. Overall the IMU tested was very reliably and accurate at measuring orientation angle

KINEMATIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ‘ONE-FOOTED’ AND ‘TWO-FOOTED’ YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS KICKING WITH THE NON-PREFERRED LEG

The purpose of this study was to examine kinematic differences between ‘one-footed’ and ‘two-footed’ players when kicking with the non-preferred leg at a target and with maximal effort. Eighteen highly-trained young soccer players were categorised as one-footed (n=9) and two-footed (n=9) based on results of a kicking test. Motion analysis data showed that two-footed players run-up straighter and have less pelvic rotation at ball-foot impact than one-footed players and the differences are likely to be meaningful (ES differences of 0.89 and 0.99 respectively). Run-up angle and pelvic rotation angle are significantly correlated (P < 0.1). The study found that two-footed players are significantly smaller in stature than one-footed players (P < 0.1). Practical implications for soccer coaches arose from the study

Structure, ontogeny and evolution of the patellar tendon in emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and other palaeognath birds

The patella (kneecap) exhibits multiple evolutionary origins in birds, mammals, and lizards, and is thought to increase the mechanical advantage of the knee extensor muscles. Despite appreciable interest in the specialized anatomy and locomotion of palaeognathous birds (ratites and relatives), the structure, ontogeny and evolution of the patella in these species remains poorly characterized. Within Palaeognathae, the patella has been reported to be either present, absent, or fused with other bones, but it is unclear how much of this variation is real, erroneous or ontogenetic. Clarification of the patella’s form in palaeognaths would provide insight into the early evolution of the patella in birds, in addition to the specialized locomotion of these species. Findings would also provide new character data of use in resolving the controversial evolutionary relationships of palaeognaths. In this study, we examined the gross and histological anatomy of the emu patellar tendon across several age groups from five weeks to 18 months. We combined these results with our observations and those of others regarding the patella in palaeognaths and their outgroups (both extant and extinct), to reconstruct the evolution of the patella in birds. We found no evidence of an ossified patella in emus, but noted its tendon to have a highly unusual morphology comprising large volumes of adipose tissue contained within a collagenous meshwork. The emu patellar tendon also included increasing amounts of a cartilage-like tissue throughout ontogeny. We speculate that the unusual morphology of the patellar tendon in emus results from assimilation of a peri-articular fat pad, and metaplastic formation of cartilage, both potentially as adaptations to increasing tendon load. We corroborate previous observations of a ‘double patella’ in ostriches, but in contrast to some assertions, we find independent (i.e., unfused) ossified patellae in kiwis and tinamous. Our reconstructions suggest a single evolutionary origin of the patella in birds and that the ancestral patella is likely to have been a composite structure comprising a small ossified portion, lost by some species (e.g., emus, moa) but expanded in others (e.g., ostriches)

Porcine model elucidates function of p53 isoform in carcinogenesis and reveals novel circTP53 RNA

Recent years have seen an increasing number of genetically engineered pig models of human diseases including cancer. We previously generated pigs with a modified TP53 allele that carries a Cre-removable transcriptional stop signal in intron 1, and an oncogenic mutation TP53R167H (orthologous to human TP53R175H) in exon 5. Pigs with the unrecombined mutant allele (flTP53R167H) develop mainly osteosarcoma but also nephroblastomas and lymphomas. This observation suggested that TP53 gene dysfunction is itself the key initiator of bone tumorigenesis, but raises the question which aspects of the TP53 regulation lead to the development of such a narrow tumour spectrum. Molecular analysis of p53 revealed the presence of two internal TP53 promoters (Pint and P2) equivalent to those found in human. Consequently, both pig and human express TP53 isoforms. Data presented here strongly suggest that P2-driven expression of the mutant R167H-Δ152p53 isoform (equivalent to the human R175H-Δ160p53 isoform) and its circular counterpart circTP53 determine the tumour spectrum and play a critical role in the malignant transformation in flTP53R167H pigs. The detection of Δ152p53 isoform mRNA in serum is indicative of tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we showed a tissue-specific p53-dependent deregulation of the p63 and p73 isoforms in these tumours. This study highlights important species-specific differences in the transcriptional regulation of TP53. Considering the similarities of TP53 regulation between pig and human, these observations provide useful pointers for further investigation into isoform function including the novel circTP53 in both the pig model and human patients.ISSN:0950-9232ISSN:1476-559

A reduced-carbohydrate and lactose-free formulation for stabilization among hospitalized children with severe acute malnutrition: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial

BackgroundChildren with medically complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) have high risk of inpatient mortality. Diarrhea, carbohydrate malabsorption, and refeeding syndrome may contribute to early mortality and delayed recovery. We tested the hypothesis that a lactose-free, low-carbohydrate F75 milk would serve to limit these risks, thereby reducing the number of days in the stabilization phase.Methods and findingsIn a multicenter double-blind trial, hospitalized severely malnourished children were randomized to receive standard formula (F75) or isocaloric modified F75 (mF75) without lactose and with reduced carbohydrate. The primary endpoint was time to stabilization, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), with intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, diarrhea, and biochemical features of malabsorption and refeeding syndrome. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02246296). Four hundred eighteen and 425 severely malnourished children were randomized to F75 and mF75, respectively, with 516 (61%) enrolled in Kenya and 327 (39%) in Malawi. Children with a median age of 16 months were enrolled between 4 December 2014 and 24 December 2015. One hundred ninety-four (46%) children assigned to F75 and 188 (44%) to mF75 had diarrhea at admission. Median time to stabilization was 3 days (IQR 2–5 days), which was similar between randomized groups (0.23 [95% CI −0.13 to 0.60], P = 0.59). There was no evidence of effect modification by diarrhea at admission,age, edema, or HIV status. Thirty-six and 39 children died before stabilization in the F75 and in mF75 arm, respectively (P = 0.84). Cumulative days with diarrhea (P = 0.27), enteral (P = 0.42) or intravenous fluids (P = 0.19), other serious adverse events before stabilization, and serum and stool biochemistry at day 3 did not differ between groups. The main limitation was that the primary outcome of clinical stabilization was based on WHO guidelines, comprising clinical evidence of recovery from acute illness as well as metabolic stabilization evidenced by recovery of appetite. ConclusionsEmpirically treating hospitalized severely malnourished children during the stabilization phase with lactose-free, reduced-carbohydrate milk formula did not improve clinical outcomes. The biochemical analyses suggest that the lactose-free formulae may still exceed a carbohydrate load threshold for intestinal absorption, which may limit their usefulness in the context of complicated SAM

Opera and Hypnosis: Victor Maurel’s Experiments with Verdi’s Otello

One day in his private home on the avenue Bugeaud, in Paris’s sixteenth arrondissement, the famous baritone Victor Maurel hosted a meeting which combined music with hypnotism of a young woman