An M-Learning Application to Enhance Children’s Learning Experience

eXtension.org is an interactive learning environment offers reliable educational and information resources on a variety of topics. For Youth, For Life Learning Network community works with eXtension.org to produce youth oriented content for the base of eXtension.org. However, there is no particular software or application designed for children to gather information from extension.org so far. The target user of eXtension.org is the general public, which means it is not child-friendly. In this project, we developed a child-friendly android version mobile app to draw children’s attention in exploring science knowledge from eXtension.org. The app is an educational tool designed to provide learning opportunities to children. It provides several articles to its users in a systematically categorized and prioritized topic. The application is a joint collaboration from eXtension.org and For Youth, For Life (FYFL)

The effect of beetroot juice supplementation dose on neuromuscular performance during resistance exercise

Dietary nitrate supplementation, administered as beetroot juice (BR), enhances powerful and fast contractions; however, whether BR impacts resistance exercise performance and if dosing influences the efficacy of nitrate are underdeveloped. The purpose of this study is to assess whether BR supplementation influences neuromuscular performance (muscle power and speed), in healthy, recreationally active males. In a double-blind, randomized crossover design, 15 males will be randomly allocated to consume 4 x 70 ml of BR over four conditions: (1) 4 x 70 ml of nitrate-depleted BR for placebo (PL); (2) 1 x 70 ml of nitrate-rich BR and 3 x 70 ml of PL for a low nitrate dose (BR-LOW); (3) 2 x 70 ml of nitrate-rich BR and 2 x 70 ml of PL for a moderate nitrate dose (BR-MOD); and (4) 4 x 70 ml of nitrate-rich BR for an elevated nitrate dose (BR-HIGH). Participants will report to the laboratory 5 times over 5-wk. Participants will complete a 1 repetition max (1RM) and a familiarization to the exercise protocol. On experimental visits, participants will complete a warm up and then a protocol to assess explosive performance using a linear transducer and force plate during vertical countermovement jumps, and then back squat and bench press, in a randomized order. A resting blood sample will be drawn for the determination of plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations. These data could provide insight for dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid and inform both supplementation guidelines and recommendations for enhancing resistance training performance in men

Validity of the Polar V800 heart rate monitor to measure RR intervals at rest

Purpose To assess the validity of RR intervals and short-term heart rate variability (HRV) data obtained from the Polar V800 heart rate monitor, in comparison to an electrocardiograph (ECG). Method Twenty participants completed an active orthostatic test using the V800 and ECG. An improved method for the identification and correction of RR intervals was employed prior to HRV analysis. Agreement of the data was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland–Altman limits of agreement (LoA), and effect size (ES). Results A small number of errors were detected between ECG and Polar RR signal, with a combined error rate of 0.086 %. The RR intervals from ECG to V800 were significantly different, but with small ES for both supine corrected and standing corrected data (ES 0.999 for both supine and standing corrected intervals. When analysed with the same HRV software no significant differences were observed in any HRV parameters, for either supine or standing; the data displayed small bias and tight LoA, strong ICC (>0.99) and small ES (≤0.029). Conclusions The V800 improves over previous Polar models, with narrower LoA, stronger ICC and smaller ES for both the RR intervals and HRV parameters. The findings support the validity of the Polar V800 and its ability to produce RR interval recordings consistent with an ECG. In addition, HRV parameters derived from these recordings are also highly comparable

Walks4work: Rationale and study design to investigate walking at lunchtime in the workplace setting

Background: Following recruitment of a private sector company, an 8week lunchtime walking intervention was implemented to examine the effect of the intervention on modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors, and further to see if walking environment had any further effect on the cardiovascular disease risk factors. Methods. For phase 1 of the study participants were divided into three groups, two lunchtime walking intervention groups to walk around either an urban or natural environment twice a week during their lunch break over an 8week period. The third group was a waiting-list control who would be invited to join the walking groups after phase 1. In phase 2 all participants were encouraged to walk during their lunch break on self-selecting routes. Health checks were completed at baseline, end of phase 1 and end of phase 2 in order to measure the impact of the intervention on cardiovascular disease risk. The primary outcome variables of heart rate and heart rate variability were measured to assess autonomic function associated with cardiovascular disease. Secondary outcome variables (Body mass index, blood pressure, fitness, autonomic response to a stressor) related to cardiovascular disease were also measured. The efficacy of the intervention in increasing physical activity was objectively monitored throughout the 8-weeks using an accelerometer device. Discussion. The results of this study will help in developing interventions with low researcher input with high participant output that may be implemented in the workplace. If effective, this study will highlight the contribution that natural environments can make in the reduction of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors within the workplace. © 2012 Brown et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Reviewing the review:a qualitative assessment of the peer review process in surgical journals

Abstract Background Despite rapid growth of the scientific literature, no consensus guidelines have emerged to define the optimal criteria for editors to grade submitted manuscripts. The purpose of this project was to assess the peer reviewer metrics currently used in the surgical literature to evaluate original manuscript submissions. Methods Manuscript grading forms for 14 of the highest circulation general surgery-related journals were evaluated for content, including the type and number of quantitative and qualitative questions asked of peer reviewers. Reviewer grading forms for the seven surgical journals with the higher impact factors were compared to the seven surgical journals with lower impact factors using Fisher’s exact tests. Results Impact factors of the studied journals ranged from 1.73 to 8.57, with a median impact factor of 4.26 in the higher group and 2.81 in the lower group. The content of the grading forms was found to vary considerably. Relatively few journals asked reviewers to grade specific components of a manuscript. Higher impact factor journal manuscript grading forms more frequently addressed statistical analysis, ethical considerations, and conflict of interest. In contrast, lower impact factor journals more commonly requested reviewers to make qualitative assessments of novelty/originality, scientific validity, and scientific importance. Conclusion Substantial variation exists in the grading criteria used to evaluate original manuscripts submitted to the surgical literature for peer review, with differential emphasis placed on certain criteria correlated to journal impact factors

Moderate and heavy metabolic stress interval training improve arterial stiffness and heart rate dynamics in humans

Traditional continuous aerobic exercise training attenuates age-related increases of arterial stiffness, however, training studies have not determined whether metabolic stress impacts these favourable effects. Twenty untrained healthy participants (n = 11 heavy metabolic stress interval training, n = 9 moderate metabolic stress interval training) completed 6 weeks of moderate or heavy intensity interval training matched for total work and exercise duration. Carotid artery stiffness, blood pressure contour analysis, and linear and non-linear heart rate variability were assessed before and following training. Overall, carotid arterial stiffness was reduced (p  0.05). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of interval training at improving arterial stiffness and autonomic function, however, the metabolic stress was not a mediator of this effect. In addition, these changes were also independent of improvements in aerobic capacity, which were only induced by training that involved a high metabolic stress

WalkMore: a randomized controlled trial of pedometer-based interventions differing on intensity messages

Pedometer-based programs have elicited increased walking behaviors associated with improvements in blood pressure in sedentary/low active postmenopausal women, a population at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Such programs typically encourage increasing the volume of physical activity with little regard for its intensity. Recent advances in commercially available pedometer technology now permit tracking of both steps/day and time in moderate (or greater) intensity physical activity on a daily basis. It is not known whether the dual message to increase steps/day while also increasing time spent at higher intensity walking will elicit additional improvements in blood pressure relative to a message to only focus on increasing steps/day. The purpose of this paper is to present the rationale, study design, and protocols employed in WalkMore, a 3-arm 3-month blinded and randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to compare the effects of two community pedometer-based walking interventions (reflecting these separate and combined messages) relative to a control group on blood pressure in sedentary/low active post-menopausal women, a population at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 120 sedentary/low active post-menopausal women (45-74 years of age) will be randomly assigned (computer-generated) to 1 of 3 groups: A) 10,000 steps/day (with no guidance on walking intensity/speed/cadence; BASIC intervention, n = 50); B) 10,000 steps/day and at least 30 minutes in moderate intensity (i.e., a cadence of at least 100 steps/min; ENHANCED intervention, n = 50); or a Control group (n = 20). An important strength of the study is the strict control and quantification of the pedometer-based physical activity interventions. The primary outcome is systolic blood pressure. Secondary outcomes include diastolic blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose and insulin, flow mediated dilation, gait speed, and accelerometer-determined physical activity and sedentary behavior. This study can make important contributions to our understanding of the relative benefits that walking volume and/or intensity may have on blood pressure in a population at risk of cardiovascular disease. ClinicalTrials.gov Record NCT01519583, January 18, 2012

The effect of arm training on thermoregulatory responses and calf volume during upper body exercise

The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2842-9.PURPOSE: The smaller muscle mass of the upper body compared to the lower body may elicit a smaller thermoregulatory stimulus during exercise and thus produce novel training-induced thermoregulatory adaptations. Therefore, the principal aim of the study was to examine the effect of arm training on thermoregulatory responses during submaximal exercise. METHODS: Thirteen healthy male participants (Mean ± SD age 27.8 ± 5.0 years, body mass 74.8 ± 9.5 kg) took part in 8 weeks of arm crank ergometry training. Thermoregulatory and calf blood flow responses were measured during 30 min of arm cranking at 60% peak power (W peak) pre-, and post-training and post-training at the same absolute intensity as pre-training. Core temperature and skin temperatures were measured, along with heat flow at the calf, thigh, upper arm and chest. Calf blood flow using venous occlusion plethysmography was performed pre- and post-exercise and calf volume was determined during exercise. RESULTS: The upper body training reduced aural temperature (0.1 ± 0.3 °C) and heat storage (0.3 ± 0.2 J g(-1)) at a given power output as a result of increased whole body sweating and heat flow. Arm crank training produced a smaller change in calf volume post-training at the same absolute exercise intensity (-1.2 ± 0.8% compared to -2.2 ± 0.9% pre-training; P < 0.05) suggesting reduced leg vasoconstriction. CONCLUSION: Training improved the main markers of aerobic fitness. However, the results of this study suggest arm crank training additionally elicits physiological responses specific to the lower body which may aid thermoregulation.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The effect of prior walking on coronary heart disease risk markers in South Asian and European men.

Purpose: Heart disease risk is elevated in South Asians possibly due to impaired postprandial metabolism. Running has been shown to induce greater reductions in postprandial lipaemia in South Asian than European men but the effect of walking in South Asians is unknown. Methods: Fifteen South Asian and 14 White European men aged 19-30 years completed two, 2-d trials in a randomised crossover design. On day 1, participants rested (control) or walked for 60 min at approximately 50% maximum oxygen uptake (exercise). On day 2, participants rested and consumed two high fat meals over a 9h period during which 14 venous blood samples were collected. Results: South Asians exhibited higher postprandial triacylglycerol (geometric mean (95% confidence interval) 2.29(1.82 to 2.89) vs. 1.54(1.21 to 1.96) mmol·L-1·hr-1), glucose (5.49(5.21 to 5.79) vs. 5.05(4.78 to 5.33) mmol·L-1·hr-1), insulin (32.9(25.7 to 42.1) vs. 18.3(14.2 to 23.7) µU·mL-1·hr-1) and interleukin-6 (2.44(1.61 to 3.67) vs. 1.04(0.68 to 1.59) pg·mL-1·hr-1) than Europeans (all ES ≥ 0.72, P≤0.03). Between-group differences in triacylglycerol, glucose and insulin were not significant after controlling for age and percentage body fat. Walking reduced postprandial triacylglycerol (1.79(1.52 to 2.12) vs. 1.97(1.67 to 2.33) mmol·L-1·hr-1) and insulin (21.0(17.0 to 26.0) vs. 28.7(23.2 to 35.4) µU·mL-1·hr-1) (all ES ≥ 0.23. P≤0.01), but group differences were not significant. Conclusions: Healthy South Asians exhibited impaired postprandial metabolism compared with White Europeans, but these differences were diminished after controlling for potential confounders. The small-moderate reduction in postprandial triacylglycerol and insulin after brisk walking was not different between the ethnicities

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.