Is there a relationship between the overhead press and split jerk maximum performance? Influence of sex

The aims of this study were to (I) determine the differences and relationship between the overhead press and split jerk performance in athletes involved in weightlifting training, and (II) explore the magnitude of these differences in one-repetition maximum (1RM) performances between sexes. Sixty-one men (age: 30.4 ± 6.7 years; height: 1.8 ± 0.5 m; body mass 82.5 ± 8.5 kg; weightlifting training experience: 3.7 ± 3.5 yrs) and 21 women (age: 29.5 ± 5.2 yrs; height: 1.7 ± 0.5 m; body mass: 62.6 ± 5.7 kg; weightlifting training experience: 3.0 ± 1.5 yrs) participated. The 1RM performance of the overhead press and split jerk were assessed for all participants, with the overhead press assessed on two occasions to determine between-session reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and 95% confidence intervals showed a high reliability for the overhead press ICC = 0.98 (0.97 – 0.99). A very strong correlation and significant differences were found between the overhead press and split jerk 1RM performances for all participants (r = 0.90 [0.93 – 0.85], 60.2 ± 18.3 kg, 95.7 ± 29.3 kg, p ≤ 0.001). Men demonstrated stronger correlations between the overhead press and split jerk 1RM performances (r = 0.83 [0.73-0.90], p ≤ 0.001) compared with women (r = 0.56 [0.17-0.80], p = 0.008). These results provide evidence that 1RM performance of the overhead press and split jerk performance are highly related, highlighting the importance of upper-limb strength in the split jerk maximum performance

Development of a broadly active influenza intranasal vaccine adjuvanted with self-assembled particles composed of mastoparan-7 and CpG

Currently licensed vaccine adjuvants offer limited mucosal immunity, which is needed to better combat respiratory infections such as influenza. Mast cells (MCs) are emerging as a target for a new class of mucosal vaccine adjuvants. Here, we developed and characterized a nanoparticulate adjuvant composed of an MC activator [mastoparan-7 (M7)] and a TLR ligand (CpG). This novel nanoparticle (NP) adjuvant was co-formulated with a computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) for hemagglutinin (HA), which is broadly reactive against influenza strains. M7 was combined at different ratios with CpG and tested for in vitro immune responses and cytotoxicity. We observed significantly higher cytokine production in dendritic cells and MCs with the lowest cytotoxicity at a charge-neutralizing ratio of nitrogen/phosphate = 1 for M7 and CpG. This combination formed spherical NPs approximately 200 nm in diameter with self-assembling capacity. Mice were vaccinated intranasally with COBRA HA and M7-CpG NPs in a prime–boost–boost schedule. Vaccinated mice had significantly higher antigen-specific antibody responses (IgG and IgA) in serum and mucosa compared with controls. Splenocytes from vaccinated mice had significantly increased cytokine production upon antigen recall and the presence of central and effector memory T cells in draining lymph nodes. Finally, co-immunization with NPs and COBRA HA induced influenza H3N2-specific HA inhibition antibody titers across multiple strains and partially protected mice from a challenge against an H3N2 virus. These results illustrate that the M7-CpG NP adjuvant combination can induce a protective immune response with a broadly reactive influenza antigen via mucosal vaccination

Women and power: a theoretical approach using the example of copreneurial businesses

Despite the gradual recognition of strategic issues related to the integration of women into the economy, female entrepreneurship continues to receive little attention. Family business research attributes this situation to a lack of recognition given to the (decisive) role of women in these organizations. However, there is one type of family governance that formally acknowledges the man/woman combination: the copreneurial company. Copreneurs are couples who run a business together. This theoretical article highlights the role of women in the copreneurial context by distinguishing between formal and informal power- the latter being primarily held by women, but which is no less influential. The distribution of power reduces opposition costs between partners and the social costs of non-compliance, and improves the clarity of the entrepreneurial structure. Moreover, it increases satisfaction and a feeling of equality between the partners. These results can be generalized and shed light on the role of women in other entrepreneurial and social contexts. This article is published as part as part of a collection on the role of women in management and business

Progress towards cloning the cystic fibrosis gene.

Genetic linkage analysis with polymorphic DNA markers (restriction fragment length polymorphisms: RFLPS) has allowed the assignment of the cystic fibrosis (CF) locus to the long arm of chromosome 7, within the region of band q31. Two of these markers, MET and D7S8, are tightly linked to the disease locus. Although recent data suggest that they are located on opposite sides of CF, the two can be separated by as much as 5 centimorgans. To obtain a better description of the CF locus and, eventually, to identify the affected gene, additional DNA markers are required to connect MET and D7S8, physically. We have screened the flow-sorted chromosome-7-specific library and thus far isolated 28 new probes from the 7q31 region by DNA hybridization analysis that uses a series of somatic cell hybrids containing various portions of human chromosome 7. Together with the previously identified markers, MET, D7S8, D7S13 and D7S16, these new markers should provide a fine genetic and physical map for the chromosomal region surrounding CF. DNA segments can then be sequentially cloned by chromosome walking from points closest to the CF locus and examined for genes that are preferentially expressed in tissues known to be affected in the disease.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Academic Professor Perception of the Future of Electronic Textbooks

International Conference on Physical Ergonomics and Human Factors, AHFE 2016, Walt Disney World, US, 27-31 July 2016Electronic textbooks have slowly made their way into regular usage in classrooms, yet many electronic textbooks remain a digital representation of their physical counterparts and an understanding of how they should be organized or utilized is still lacking. In past research, questions to professors have not focused on how electronic textbooks are used in their course, how they believe students should use them, and what they believe is necessary in the future. Semi-structured interviews with design and engineering professors found that generally professors agreed with student ideas regarding future components. They did feel some additional components, such as tagging, would help facilitate student learning. This paper presents an understanding of different disciplines approaches and an understanding of electronic textbooks and what professors think should be included in the future. It also assists in highlighting any mismatch between student and professor perception of future electronic textbook components.School of Desig