Effect of seasonal training on selected physical and physiological variables of junior male alpine ski racers

The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to investigate the effect of seasonal training on anthropometry, muscular strength and power, motor ability, flexibility, aerobic power, and anaerobic power and capacity, 2) to investigate the relationship between physical and physiological variables in slalom (SL) and giant slalom (GS) performance, and 3) to establish a regression equation to predict SL and GS performance for junior male Alpine ski racers. A group study research design was employed, which involved pre-season and post-season tests. Measurements of SL and GS performance were taken immediately after each test session. Twenty one junior male Alpine ski racers were assessed for: i) anthropometry following the International Biological program (Weiner and Lourie, 1969) ; ii) muscular strength, power, and endurance of quadricep and hamstring muscle groups using the Dual Channel Cybex II isokinetic unit and a Stoeling hand dynamometer and also using vertical jump, box jump, and hexagonal jump tests; iii) flexibility using the Leighton Flexometer and a sit and reach test; iv) pulmonary function using the autospirometer AS- 700 (Minato Medical Science); v) aerobic power using a cycle ergometer protocol (MacDougall, Wenger, and Green, 1982); vi) anaerobic power and capacity using a cycle ergometer (Bar Or, Dotan, and Inbar, 1977); and vii) anaerobic threshold determined by locating an increase in the ventilatory eguivalent for O2 without an increase in ventilatory equivalent for CO2 and an increase in FEO2 at the peak point of FECO2. Three methods of statistical analyses were used to investigate the results of the study: 1. Paired t-test of pre and post-season results, 2. Pearson Product-Moment correlation for both pre- and post-season results, and 3. Stepwise multiple regression analyses of pre-season SL and GS performance and postseason SL and GS performance. The paired t-test indicated that slalom performance and hip rotation degree significantly (p<.05) improved after the season, and fatigue index for the hamstring muscle group in the left leg showed a significant decline between pre- and post-season tests. The Pearson Product-Moment correlation coefficient revealed several significant (p<.05) relationships between skiing performance (SL & GS) and selected variables as well as several significant intercorrelations between the variables. The stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that age and hexagonal jump accounted for a large percentage of the variability for both pre-and post-season SL and GS performance. Additional stepwise multiple regression analyses were applied to pre- and post-season SL and GS performance with the independent variable "age" removed to investigate what other predictors would account for the variation in the absence of the age variable. In general, isometric quadricep strength in the right leg accounted for most of the variance in 2 out of the 4 analyses and hexagonal jump accounted for most of the variance in the remaining 2 analyses

The XFP (17-BM) Beamline for X-ray Footprinting at NSLS-II

Hydroxyl-radical mediated synchrotron X-ray footprinting (XF) is a powerful solution-state technique in structural biology for the study of macromolecular structure and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids, with several synchrotron resources available to serve the XF community worldwide. The XFP (Biological X-ray Footprinting) beamline at the NSLS-II was constructed on a three-pole wiggler source at 17-BM to serve as the premier beamline for performing this technique, providing an unparalleled combination of high flux density broadband beam, flexibility in beam morphology, and sample handling capabilities specifically designed for XF experiments. The details of beamline design, beam measurements, and science commissioning results for a standard protein using the two distinct XFP endstations are presented here. XFP took first light in 2016 and is now available for general user operations through peer-reviewed proposals. Currently, beam sizes from 450 μm × 120 μm to 2.7 mm × 2.7 mm (FWHM) are available, with a flux of 1.6 × 1016 photons s-1 (measured at 325 mA ring current) in a broadband (5-16 keV) beam. This flux is expected to rise to 2.5 × 1016 photons s-1 at the full NSLS-II design current of 500 mA, providing an incident power density of \u3e500 W mm-2 at full focus

Hyperpolarized 3He functional magnetic resonance imaging of bronchoscopic airway bypass in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A 73-year-old exsmoker with Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage III chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent airway bypass (AB) as part of the Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema (EASE) trial, and was the only EASE subject to undergo hyperpolarized 3He magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of lung function pre- and post-AB. 3He magnetic resonance imaging was acquired twice previously (32 and eight months pre-AB) and twice post-AB (six and 12 months post-AB). Six months post-AB, his increase in forced vital capacity wa

Sulfate was a trace constituent of Archean seawater

In the low-oxygen Archean world (>2400 million years ago), seawater sulfate concentrations were much lower than today, yet open questions frustrate the translation of modern measurements of sulfur isotope fractionations into estimates of Archean seawater sulfate concentrations. In the water column of Lake Matano, Indonesia, a low-sulfate analog for the Archean ocean, we find large (>20 per mil) sulfur isotope fractionations between sulfate and sulfide, but the underlying sediment sulfides preserve a muted range of δ^(34)S values. Using models informed by sulfur cycling in Lake Matano, we infer Archean seawater sulfate concentrations of less than 2.5 micromolar. At these low concentrations, marine sulfate residence times were likely 10^3 to 10^4 years, and sulfate scarcity would have shaped early global biogeochemical cycles, possibly restricting biological productivity in Archean oceans

Palliative care early in the care continuum among patients with serious respiratory illness an official ATS/AAHPM/HPNA/SWHPN policy statement

Background: Patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers suffer considerable burdens, and palliative care is a fundamental right for anyone who needs it. However, the overwhelming majority of patients do not receive timely palliative care before the end of life, despite robust evidence for improved outcomes. Goals: This policy statement by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and partnering societies advocates for improved integration of high-quality palliative care early in the care continuum for patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers and provides clinicians and policymakers with a framework to accomplish this. Methods: An international and interprofessional expert committee, including patients and caregivers, achieved consensus across a diverse working group representing pulmonary–critical care, palliative care, bioethics, health law and policy, geriatrics, nursing, physiotherapy, social work, pharmacy, patient advocacy, psychology, and sociology. Results: The committee developed fundamental values, principles, and policy recommendations for integrating palliative care in serious respiratory illness care across seven domains: 1) delivery models, 2) comprehensive symptom assessment and management, 3) advance care planning and goals of care discussions, 4) caregiver support, 5) health disparities, 6) mass casualty events and emergency preparedness, and 7) research priorities. The recommendations encourage timely integration of palliative care, promote innovative primary and secondary or specialist palliative care delivery models, and advocate for research and policy initiatives to improve the availability and quality of palliative care for patients and their caregivers. Conclusions: This multisociety policy statement establishes a framework for early palliative care in serious respiratory illness and provides guidance for pulmonary–critical care clinicians and policymakers for its proactive integration

Supportive and palliative care for people with respiratory problems and pre-existing serious mental illness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: People living with serious mental illness are at a higher risk of developing respiratory problems that can lead to increased morbidity and early mortality. This review aimed to identify recent advances in care provision for people with respiratory problems and preexisting serious mental illness to ease symptom burden and reduce the risk of premature mortality. RECENT FINDINGS: Intervention-based studies in this area are scarce. The evidence reviewed originated from observational studies. Concluding comments from the synthesis suggest there are specific needs for proactive screening of respiratory function as part of routine physical health checks across care settings for people living with serious mental illness, more stringent monitoring of comorbid chronic lung conditions and increased attention in reducing the frequency respiratory infections. Integrated services across care settings are needed to support people with serious mental illness to limit the impact of modifiable lifestyle factors known to be detrimental to respiratory health, such as smoking. SUMMARY: Key priorities are identified to improve accessibility and inclusivity of respiratory care pathways for people living with serious mental illness to support early detection and proactive monitoring of respiratory problems to help reduce the risk of early mortality

A within-attribute model of variety-seeking behavior

Existing models view variety seeking as the result of differences in the level of attribute satiation across attributes. An alternative within-attribute variety-seeking (WAVS) model is proposed. The model posits that variety seeking occurs among the nested features, or meaningful value ranges, of an underlying dimension. The resulting pattern of consumption is represented as an oscillation about a consumer's ideal point on the dimension. An empirical study that illustrates different oscillation patterns is reported.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47181/1/11002_2004_Article_BF00995114.pd

Antibiotic research and development: business as usual?

This article contends that poor economic incentives are an important reason for the lack of new drugs and explains how the DRIVE-AB intends to change the landscape by harnessing the expertise, motivation and diversity of its partner