The Limits of Anthropocene Narratives

The rapidly growing transdisciplinary enthusiasm about developing new kinds of Anthropocene stories is based on the shared assumption that the Anthropocene predicament is best made sense of by narrative means. Against this assumption, this article argues that the challenge we are facing today does not merely lie in telling either scientific, socio-political, or entangled Anthropocene narratives to come to terms with our current condition. Instead, the challenge lies in coming to grips with how the stories we can tell in the Anthropocene relate to the radical novelty of the Anthropocene condition about which no stories can be told. What we need to find are meaningful ways to reconcile an inherited commitment to narrativization and the collapse of storytelling as a vehicle of understanding the Anthropocene as our current predicament

Knee kinematics and kinetics in former soccer players with a 16-year-old ACL injury – the effects of twelve weeks of knee-specific training

BACKGROUND: Training of neuromuscular control has become increasingly important and plays a major role in rehabilitation of subjects with an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Little is known, however, of the influence of this training on knee stiffness during loading. Increased knee stiffness occurs as a loading strategy of ACL-injured subjects and is associated with increased joint contact forces. Increased or altered joint loads contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. The aim of the study was to determine if knee stiffness, defined by changes in knee kinetics and kinematics of gait, step activity and cross-over hop could be reduced through a knee-specific 12-week training programme. METHODS: A 3-dimensional motion analysis system (VICON) and a force plate (AMTI) were used to calculate knee kinetics and kinematics before and after 12 weeks of knee-specific training in 12 males recruited from a cohort with ACL injury 16 years earlier. Twelve uninjured males matched for age, sex, BMI and activity level served as a reference group. Self-reported patient-relevant data were obtained by the KOOS questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in knee stiffness during gait and step activity after training. For the cross-over hop, increased peak knee flexion during landing (from 44 to 48 degrees, p = 0.031) and increased internal knee extensor moment (1.28 to 1.55 Nm/kg, p = 0.017) were seen after training, indicating reduced knee stiffness. The KOOS sport and recreation score improved from 70 to 77 (p = 0.005) and was significantly correlated with the changes in knee flexion during landing for the cross-over hop (r = 0.6, p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Knee-specific training improved lower extremity kinetics and kinematics, indicating reduced knee stiffness during demanding hop activity. Self-reported sport and recreational function correlated positively with the biomechanical changes supporting a clinical importance of the findings. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in women and in other ACL injured populations

ACL injury prevention, more effective with a different way of motor learning?

What happens to the transference of learning proper jump-landing technique in isolation when an individual is expected to perform at a competitive level yet tries to maintain proper jump-landing technique? This is the key question for researchers, physical therapists, athletic trainers and coaches involved in ACL injury prevention in athletes. The need for ACL injury prevention is clear, however, in spite of these ongoing initiatives and reported early successes, ACL injury rates and the associated gender disparity have not diminished. One problem could be the difficulties with the measurements of injury rates and the difficulties with the implementation of thorough large scale injury prevention programs. A second issue could be the transition from conscious awareness during training sessions on technique in the laboratory to unexpected and automatic movements during a training or game involves complicated motor control adaptations. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the issue of motor learning in relation to ACL injury prevention and to post suggestions for future research. ACL injury prevention programs addressing explicit rules regarding desired landing positions by emphasizing proper alignment of the hip, knee, and ankle are reported in the literature. This may very well be a sensible way, but the use of explicit strategies may be less suitable for the acquisition of the control of complex motor skills (Maxwell et al. J Sports Sci 18:111-120, 2000). Sufficient literature on motor learning and it variations point in that direction

IMMUNOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF HEMORRHAGIC PRINCIPLES PRESENT IN VENOMS OF THE CROTALINAE AND VIPERINAE SUBFAMILIES

27216917

MUSCULAR LESIONS INDUCED BY A HEMORRHAGIC FACTOR FROM BOTHROPS-NEUWIEDI SNAKE-VENOM

18333734

Percepções do fonoaudiólogo recém-formado quanto a sua formação, intenção profissional e atualização de conhecimentos Perceptions of newly graduated Speech and Language Pathologists regarding their academic formation, professional goals and knowledge update

OBJETIVO: Investigar as percepções do fonoaudiólogo recém-formado do estado do Rio de Janeiro quanto a sua formação, intenção profissional e busca por atualização de conhecimento. MÉTODOS: Participaram fonoaudiólogos graduados em cursos de formação no estado do Rio de Janeiro, nos anos 2005 e 2006. Foi aplicado um questionário constituído por dez perguntas fechadas, elaboradas para esta pesquisa e previamente verificadas por projeto piloto. Os dados foram submetidos a análise estatística com cruzamento de variáveis. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que a maioria dos fonoaudiólogos considerou-se atendida em suas expectativas e segura dos conhecimentos adquiridos (p<0,001). Esses profissionais pretendem atuar principalmente em clínicas (89%) e continuar se atualizando por meio de cursos de especialização (70%). A área de Linguagem foi considerada a que melhor subsidiou sua formação (68%), enquanto que Saúde Coletiva foi a que menos atendeu às expectativas (72%), com diferenças estatisticamente significativas. A indústria (70%) foi o local de trabalho considerado de acesso mais difícil ao fonoaudiólogo (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Os fonoaudiólogos do estado do Rio de Janeiro graduados em 2005 e 2006 consideraram-se atendidos em suas expectativas quanto à formação, especialmente no que se refere à área de Linguagem, e apontaram maior interesse por atuação em clínica. Quanto à busca por atualização de conhecimento, a especialização foi o curso que despertou maior interesse.<br>PURPOSE: To investigate the perceptions of newly graduated Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) from the state of Rio de Janeiro regarding their academic formation, professional goals and search for knowledge updates. METHODS: SLPs graduated from universities located at the state of Rio de Janeiro during the years of 2005 and 2006 participated in the study. A questionnaire with ten closed questions, developed for the present study and validated through a pilot study, was applied. Data were statistically analyzed comparing different variables. RESULTS: It was observed that the majority of the SLPs interviewed considered that their expectations were met and felt safe about the knowledge acquired (p<0.001). These professionals wish to act mostly in clinics (89%), and intend to continue their studies through lato sensu programs (70%). Language was considered the area in which they received the best support during their training (68%), while Public Health was the area in which they considered to have received less support (72%), and this difference was statistically significant. Industry was considered the most difficult workplace to be accessed by SLPs (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: Newly graduated SLPs from the state of Rio de Janeiro considered to have met their expectations regarding their formation, especially in the Language area, and showed more interest for the clinical setting. Lato sensu programs were the most attractive to the population studied for updating their knowledge