Multilevel Models For The Analysis Of Angle-specific Torque Curves With Application To Master Athletes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The aim of this paper was to outline a multilevel modeling approach to fit individual angle-specific torque curves describing concentric knee extension and flexion isokinetic muscular actions in Master athletes. The potential of the analytical approach to examine between individual differences across the angle-specific torque curves was illustrated including between-individuals variation due to gender differences at a higher level. Torques in concentric muscular actions of knee extension and knee extension at 60 degrees.s(-1) were considered within a range of motion between 5 degrees and 85 degrees (only torques "truly" isokinetic). Multilevel time series models with autoregressive covariance structures with standard multilevel models were superior fits compared with standard multilevel models for repeated measures to fit anglespecific torque curves. Third and fourth order polynomial models were the best fits to describe angle-specific torque curves of isokinetic knee flexion and extension concentric actions, respectively. The fixed exponents allow interpretations for initial acceleration, the angle at peak torque and the decrement of torque after peak torque. Also, the multilevel models were flexible to illustrate the influence of gender differences on the shape of torque throughout the range of motion and in the shape of the curves. The presented multilevel regression models may afford a general framework to examine angle-specific moment curves by isokinetic dynamometry, and add to the understanding mechanisms of strength development, particularly the force-length relationship, both related to performance and injury prevention.4912535Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)CAPES [PNPD/CAPES

Situation Analysis and Review of Data on Influenza Illness in Vietnam

Infectious disease agents continue to be an important cause of illness and death around the world, especially in developing countries. The unexpected spread of influenza A/H5N1 virus in flocks of chicken and ducks worldwide and the fact that this virus has crossed the species barrier to infect humans has raised concerns about a potential influenza pandemic. Avian influenza has caused human disease in 15 countries around the world and, even though the current number of confirmed cases is very low, H5N1 remains a candidate for the next highly pathogenic influenza pandemic. In the case of a pandemic, low income countries most likely will have difficulties managing their health care system in order to minimize fatalities and to control the spread of the disease. The expansion of health care usage to rural areas and making sure that each of the different groups in the population can access at least minimal levels of care are current barriers to the health care system in Vietnam, and would place a large burden on society in the event of an influenza pandemic. Active surveillance and understanding how the public responds to illness are important steps for an efficient case management control of influenza. Efforts should be considered in order to better understand how the Vietnamese populations engage with the available health systems and what steps should be taken to identify gaps that need to be filled to improve the health care system and the management of a possible influenza pandemic.Master of Public Healt

Assessment of reliability in isokinetic testing among adolescent basketball players

Background. The reproducibility of day-to-day testing of isokinetic concentric and eccentric muscular actions among adolescent basketball players aged 14 to 16 years and relationships of mean within-subject variation in two isokinetic testing sessions with chronological age, biological maturation (estimated age at peak height velocity), training experience, body size, lower-body morphology, and initial strength performance were evaluated. Material and Methods. The sample included 27 basketball players who completed replicate test sessions of 5 repetitions of reciprocal concentric and eccentric knee extensions and flexions at 60 degrees s(-1). A randomly selected subsample of 8 players completed a third testing session to confirm reliability estimates. Results. Coefficients of variation (CV) between sessions 1 and 2 ranged from 8.1% to 17.4%, and intraclass coefficients (ICCs) ranged from 0.72 to 0.89. For sessions 1 and 3, CVs ranged from 3.9% to 6.0%, and ICCs ranged from 0.95 to 0.99. The initial level of strength of eccentric knee flexion (r=-0.43) and eccentric knee extension (r=-0.42) were correlated (P<0.05) with eccentric knee extension within-variation between two sessions. Training experience (r=-0.37, P<0.05) and initial values of concentric knee flexion (r=-0.62, P<0.01) were correlated with concentric knee flexion within-subject differences. Within-subject variation of eccentric knee extension was correlated (P<0.05) with chronologic age (r=0.41), estimated age at peak height velocity (r=-0.38), body size (r=0.41 to 0.47), and leg volume (r=0.39). Conclusions. Familiarization sessions may improve the reliability of concentric and eccentric knee isokinetic strength testing at 60 s(-1) in adolescent basketball players. Age, maturity status, and training experience of young athletes should be considered when testing knee isokinetic strength at 60 degrees s(-1)

Salivary IgA Responses During a Week of Training In Under-15 Soccer Players

Introduction There is an apparent consensus around the idea that light exercise can improve the immune response whilst strenuous exercise can depress the defense system, including the mucosal immune system, with reduction of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels. Salivary IgA acts as a main barrier against the colonization of infectious agents. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence in the pattern of salivary IgA responses in an under-15 soccer team, during a training week. Methods The study was performed during the winter training season, in the competitive period. The training sessions were planned by the coaches without any interference from the researchers. Thirteen players (13 to 15 years) were tested before each of four training sessions during a week period. Before and after training, saliva samples were collected and salivary IgA concentrations and secretion rates determined by ELISA. Thirty minutes after each session, rated perceived effort (RPE) was assessed to quantify training load. Changes in pre-training IgA responses were examined based on multilevel modeling regression using polynomial model (model I). Influence of training load was explored including the explanatory variable at level 2 (model lI). Results Multilevel regression analysis showed no differences between training sessions throughout the week. However, significant residual variance at level I (within-individuals) and at level II (between-individuals), in the intercept and slope (i.e., training sessions). Although limited by the small sample size, a curvilinear trend in pre-training IgA response became apparent when individual athletes´ training loads were controlled in the model. The results showed a significant decrement in IgA response pre-training from the first to the second training session (p \u3c 0.05), and a significant exponential increase in IgA response in the next two training sessions (p \u3c 0.05). The significant random effects at level I suggest that the fit of individual responses may need to be validated in larger samples, although the non significant random effects at level II suggest that the mean responses accounting individual training loads describes well the group behavior in pre training IgA responses. Conclusion The specific relationship that appears to be linked to the intensity, duration and type of physical activity were detected in our study. Monitoring mucosal immune parameters during training periods may provide an assessment of the risk status of these young athletes for upper respiratory tract Infections and allow the coach to have an effective management of periodization

Propagation of nine endemic plant species from Madeira Island (Portugal)

Efficient propagation of endangered plant species is a critical factor in successful ecological restoration and conscientious habitat management. Hence, propagation trials of nine endemic plant species of Madeira (Anthyllis lemanniana Lowe, Armeria maderensis Lowe, Cedronella canariensis (L.) Webb & Berthel., Erica maderensis (Benth.) Bornm., Genista tenera (Jacq. ex Murray) Kuntze, Helichrysum melaleucum Rchb. ex Holl, Pericallis aurita (L'Her.) B. Nord., Sideritis candicans Aiton and Teline maderensis Webb & Berthel.) were carried out. Plant propagation requirements and their sexual and vegetative propagation methods were studied. Seed germination success varied between species. Germination rate exceeded 70% in six out of nine species, being lower than 30% in Pericallis aurita, while H. melaleucum seeds did not germinate. Vegetative propagation yielded lower success rates, with three species (Erica maderensis, Genista tenera and Teline maderensis) unable to establish roots, and three species (Helichrysum melaleucum, Pericallis aurita and Sideritis candicans) exceeding 60% of the rooting success. Establishment of the propagation requirements of these species could be regarded an important tool for supporting Madeira’s flora conservation programs.A propagação eficaz de espécies de plantas ameaçadas pode ser um fator crítico numa restauração ecológica de sucesso e numa gestão consciente de habitats. Por conseguinte, foram realizadas ensaios de propagação de nove espécies de plantas endémicas da Madeira (Anthyllis lemanniana Lowe, Armeria maderensis Lowe, Cedronella canariensis (L.) Webb & Berthel., Erica maderensis (Benth.) Bornm., Genista tenera (Jacq. Ex Murray) Kuntze, Helichrysum melaleucum Rchb. Ex Holl, Pericallis aurita (L'Her.) B. Nord., Sideritis candicans Aiton e Teline maderensis Webb & Berthel.). Foram analisados os requisitos de propagação destas espécies através de métodos de propagação sexual e vegetativa. O sucesso da germinação das sementes variou entre as espécies. A taxa de germinação foi superior a 70% em seis das nove espécies, sendo inferior a 30% em Pericallis aurita, e de 0% para H. melaleucum. A propagação vegetativa apresentou taxas de sucesso inferiores, com três espécies (Erica maderensis, Genista tenera e Teline maderensis) incapazes de estabelecer raízes. Por outro lado, três espécies apresentaram taxas de enraizamento superiores a 60% (Helichrysum melaleucum, Pericallis aurita e Sideritis candicans). O estabelecimento dos requisitos de propagação dessas espécies pode ser considerado como uma ferramenta importante na conservação da flora da Madeira.nowledgments José Manuel Rodrigues and other staff from the Ecological Park of Funchal, Sónia Ferraz, Marta Moreira and Filipe Ganança from the ISOPlexis Genebank, and the staff of the Floriculture Centre. We thank Jan J. Slaski of the ISOPlexis Genebank and the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures for reviewing the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Conserved Threonine Residues within the A-Loop of the Receptor NIK Differentially Regulate the Kinase Function Required for Antiviral Signaling

NSP-interacting kinase (NIK1) is a receptor-like kinase identified as a virulence target of the begomovirus nuclear shuttle protein (NSP). We found that NIK1 undergoes a stepwise pattern of phosphorylation within its activation-loop domain (A-loop) with distinct roles for different threonine residues. Mutations at Thr-474 or Thr-468 impaired autophosphorylation and were defective for kinase activation. In contrast, a mutation at Thr-469 did not impact autophosphorylation and increased substrate phosphorylation, suggesting an inhibitory role for Thr-469 in kinase function. To dissect the functional significance of these results, we used NSP-expressing virus infection as a mechanism to interfere with wild type and mutant NIK1 action in plants. The NIK1 knockout mutant shows enhanced susceptibility to virus infections, a phenotype that could be complemented with ectopic expression of a 35S-NIK1 or 35S-T469A NIK1 transgenes. However, ectopic expression of an inactive kinase or the 35S-T474A NIK1 mutant did not reverse the enhanced susceptibility phenotype of knockout lines, demonstrating that Thr-474 autophosphorylation was needed to transduce a defense response to geminiviruses. Furthermore, mutations at Thr-474 and Thr-469 residues antagonistically affected NIK-mediated nuclear relocation of the downstream effector rpL10. These results establish that NIK1 functions as an authentic defense receptor as it requires activation to elicit a defense response. Our data also suggest a model whereby phosphorylation-dependent activation of a plant receptor-like kinase enables the A-loop to control differentially auto- and substrate phosphorylation

Modeling the angle-specific isokinetic hamstring to quadriceps ratio using multilevel generalized additive models

This study considered the use of a generalized additive multilevel model to describe the joint-angle-specific functional hamstring to quadriceps ratio (H:Q ratio) in the knee, using all of the available truly isokinetic data within the range. Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy male basketball players aged 15.0 (1.4) years (average stature = 180.0 cm, SD = 11.1 cm; average body mass = 71.2, SD = 14.9 kg) years were considered. All players considered had no history of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury at the time of testing or during the 6 months before testing, and had been engaged in formal basketball training and competition for 5.9 (2.4) years. Moments of force of the reciprocal concentric and eccentric muscular actions for the knee extensors and flexors assessed by isokinetic dynamometry at 60 degrees .s(-1) were used. Results: Maximum moments of force were attained at different angle positions for knee extension. For knee flexion, it was apparent that there was an ability to maintain high levels of moment of force between 30 degrees and 60 degrees in the concentric muscular action, corresponding to the concentric action of the hamstrings. However, for the eccentric knee flexion, corresponding to the quadriceps action, there was a marked peak of moment of force at about 55 degrees. The functional H:Q ratio for the knee extension was non-linear, remaining higher than 1.0 (i.e., point of equality) from the beginning of the extension until approximately 40 degrees of the knee extension, leveling off below the point of equality thereafter. On average, the functional H:Q ratio for the knee flexion did not attain 1.0 across the range of motion. The functional H:Q ratio for the knee in the present sample peaked at 20 degrees and 80 degrees, declining between these angle positions to below 0.50 at about 0.54. Conclusions: Estimating the form of the non-linear relationship on-the-fly using a generalized additive multilevel model provides joint-angle-specific curves and joint-angle-specific functional H:Q ratio patterns, allowing the identification and monitoring of strength development, with potential implications for injury and performance558COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESsem informaçã

Metodologia de avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica: calibração e validação macrossísmica

As metodologias disponíveis para estudar a vulnerabilidade sísmica do edificado tradicional de alvenaria em centros urbanos antigos, atendendo à escala e ao número de edifícios a avaliar, diferenciam-se marcadamente pelo volume de trabalho associado ao levantamento de informação, e seu tratamento, decorrente do processo de inspeção e do nível de detalhe associado. A metodologia aqui apresentada para a avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica de edifícios em alvenaria é baseada em estudos e levantamentos de danos pós-sismo, que evidenciam algumas das características que governam o comportamento das estruturas de alvenaria de edifícios antigos quando sujeitos à ação sísmica. Estas características são posteriormente tratadas como parâmetros a analisar na definição e construção de um índice de vulnerabilidade. Assim, neste artigo, a metodologia original apresentada é calibrada com base na informação recolhida após o sismo dos Açores de 1998, que infligiu graves danos em grande parte do edificado da Ilha do Faial. Esta calibração permitiu redefinir os pesos dos parâmetros e reclassificar as classes de vulnerabilidade de alguns dos parâmetros da metodologia de avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio