CD24 enrichment protects while its loss increases susceptibility of juvenile chondrocytes towards inflammation

Supplemental methods. (DOCX 73 kb

Effects of a Caffeine-Containing Transdermal Energy Patch on Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Performance

The use of caffeine-containing (74-mg) energy patches (EnP) offers a novel mode of caffeine delivery that may alleviate stomach discomfort associated with oral caffeine use. The purpose of this study was to use four separate tests to evaluate the effects of EnP use on aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. Three separate moderately active college-aged sample populations performed either 1) cycle time-to-exhaustion, 2) Wingate (WIN), or 3) repeated sprints and one repetition maximum bench press using EnP and placebo patches (PlP). No statistical differences were found between EnP and PlP for all dependent variables (p \u3e 0.05) except for WIN peak power, which showed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.04). The dose of caffeine topically applied via an EnP may not have been enough to elicit an ergogenic effect on exercise performance. A dose greater than 74-mg caffeine may be needed to produce an ergogenic effect. Further research is needed to investigate the delivery kinetics of transdermal caffeine in large dosages along with blood caffeine concentrations during and after exercise

The influence of playing surface on the loading response to soccer-specific activity

Context: The influence of playing surface on injury risk in soccer is contentious, and 6 contemporary technologies permit an in-vivo assessment of mechanical loading on the 7 player. Objective: To quantify the influence of playing surface on the PlayerLoad elicited 8 during soccer-specific activity. Design: Repeated measures, field-based. Setting: 9 Regulation soccer pitches. Participants: 15 amateur soccer players (22.1 ± 2.4 yrs), injury 10 free with ≥ 6 yrs competitive experience. Interventions: Each player completed 11 randomised order trials of a soccer-specific field test on natural turf, astroturf and third 12 generation artificial turf. GPS units were located at C7 and the mid-tibia of each leg to 13 measure triaxial acceleration (100Hz). Main Outcome Measures: Total accumulated 14 PlayerLoad in each movement plane was calculated for each trial. Ratings of perceived 15 exertion (RPE) and visual analogue scales (VAS) assessing lower-limb muscle soreness 16 were measured as markers of fatigue. Results: ANOVA revealed no significant main 17 effect for playing surface on total PlayerLoad (P = 0.55), distance covered (P = 0.75), or 18 post-exercise measures of RPE (P = 0.98) and VAS (P = 0.61). There was a significant 19 main effect for GPS location (P < 0.001), with lower total loading elicited at C7 than mid20 tibia (P < 0.001), but with no difference between limbs (P = 0.70). There was no unit 21 placement x surface interaction (P = 0.98). There was also a significant main effect for 22 GPS location on the relative planar contributions to loading (P < 0.001). Relative planar 23 contributions to loading in the AP:ML:V planes was 25:27:48 at C7 and 34:32:34 at mid24 tibia. Conclusions: PlayerLoad metrics suggest that playing surface does not influence 25 mechanical loading during soccer-specific activity (not including tackling). Clinical 2 26 reasoning should consider that PlayerLoad magnitude and axial contributions were 27 sensitive to unit placement, highlighting opportunities in the objective monitoring of load 28 during rehabilitation

Diffusion and Home Range Parameters for Rodents: Peromyscus maniculatus in New Mexico

We analyze data from a long term field project in New Mexico, consisting of repeated sessions of mark-recaptures of Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia: Muridae), the host and reservoir of Sin Nombre Virus (Bunyaviridae: Hantavirus). The displacements of the recaptured animals provide a means to study their movement from a statistical point of view. We extract two parameters from the data with the help of a simple model: the diffusion constant of the rodents, and the size of their home range. The short time behavior shows the motion to be approximately diffusive and the diffusion constant to be 470+/-50m^2/day. The long time behavior provides an estimation of the diameter of the rodent home ranges, with an average value of 100+/-25m. As in previous investigations directed at Zygodontomys brevicauda observations in Panama, we use a box model for home range estimation. We also use a harmonic model in the present investigation to study the sensitivity of the conclusions to the model used and find that both models lead to similar estimates.Comment: The published paper in Ecol. Complexity has an old version of Figure 6. Here we have put the correct version of Figure

Focus, Vol. 1 No. 1

A literary magazine of student writing published by the Department of English of Stephen F. Austin State College.https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/focus/1000/thumbnail.jp

Thunderbird - Sacred Bearer of Happiness Unlimited

The design goal was to create an ensemble that reflected the spirit and cultural heritage of New Mexico. The early Native American inhabitants called Santa Fe the Dancing Ground of the Sun. The high desert, surrounding the pueblo communities, transitions into foothills and upward to gorgeous mountains covered in early morning mist, with dusty greens, sage and light lavender foliage enveloping the low lying plains of New Mexico. The combination of New Mexico’s topography and Native American culture and symbolism of the region inspired the design and execution of Thunderbird – Sacred Bearer of Happiness Unlimited

“I must turn idolator”: religious inversion and the quest for genuine faith in Moby-Dick

This thesis explores the major religious themes of repentance, redemption, and expiation in Moby-Dick. While critics have examined some of these themes in isolation, my thesis will demonstrate how Melville takes these Christian doctrines and inverts them in order to display a shift from traditional religious practice to a genuine faith for those outside of God\u27s covenant people. Using Father Mapple\u27s sermon on Jonah as a paradigm through which to see the other religious inversions, I will explore how Ishmael repents of a false view of immorality, finds redemption through an immoral union, and follows a wicked captain who offers the hope of expiating spiritual guilt. When seen together, these inverted religious themes help us understand the cohesive nature of Melville\u27s religious allusions in Moby-Dick, and also explains how Melville can express in a letter: I have written a wicked book and feel spotless as the lamb

Unbridled

Unbridled was inspired by a visit to the Undressed exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. From early periods in costume history, women were bound or contrived through the use of banding and corsetry into an ideal look and shape. Unbridled, highlights the use of bands in a less constrained manner, creating movement away from the body equal to the pull against the body. The work investigates the application of trim and soutache in angles and curves. The selection of fabrics and colors represent a neutral palette, indicating the indecision between bondage and freedom, while the silhouette also represents the dichotomy of constraint and extension. The use of cotton/linen fabrics provided body and sufficient fabric weight for the chosen design while highlighting natural fiber resources. The investigation of structure and volume without boning and horsehair braid offered insight and opportunity for experimentation through selection of materials, findings and fabrics

Falling whistles : a mission on the move

My Honors Thesis is a creative project related to the Falling Whistles installation movement. It is a concept museum utilizing a shipping container that narrates the issues in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). More than 6 million people have died in the last decade alone. At this stage, about 1,500 people continue to lose their lives daily. Since WWII, the war in DRC has been labeled as the world's deadliest war. The natural resources used for consumer electronics are vastly found in this country which is the root cause of all evident conflicts and destruction, political instability and massive numbers of death. As such, even young boys are forced to fight. They have been abducted from their families, tied up, beaten, and forced to kill the other rebels. There is also more sexual violence in DRC than any other country in the world. Children who are too young to hold a gun are forced to carry only a whistle and stand in the front lines of battle. The only purpose of which is to create enough noise to scare off the enemies. Their bodies are use as temporary barricades to accept bullets like in the frontlines of battles. With all these wars, a man named Sean Caras so made a plan and a promise to end the war in DRC. He created an organization called Falling Whistles which uses DRC's weapon as a proactive voice. The organization educates the public on the happenings in DRC with the hope of one day ending this deadly war. They encourage everyone to be a whistleblower for peace. In order to spread the word of this organization, the goal of my final project is to design a Falling Whistles concept museum. By combining theories of my interior design major as well as from my peace studies minor, I have designed a concept museum using a shipping container that will bring awareness of this deadly war to different cities in the United States (Carasso).Thesis (B.?.)Honors Colleg