Cardiac damage biomarkers and heart rate variability following a 118-km mountain race: relationship with performance and recovery

This study aimed to assess the release of cardiac damage biomarkers jointly with cardiac autonomic modulation after a mountain ultramarathon. Such knowledge and the possible relationship of these markers with race time is of primary interest to establish possible recommendations upon athletes’ recovery and return to training following these competitions. Forty six athletes enrolled in the Penyagolosa Trails CSP115 race (118 km and a total positive elevation of 5439 m) took part in the study. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-TNT) concentrations as well as linear and nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated before and after the race. NT-proBNP and hs-TNT significantly increased post-race; fifty percent of the finishers surpassed the Upper Reference Limit (URL) for hs-TNT while 87% exceeded the URL for NT-proBNP. Overall and vagally-mediated HRV were diminished and cardiac autonomic modulation became less complex and more predictable following the race. More pronounced vagal modulation decreases were associated with higher levels of postexertional NT-proBNP. Moreover, rise in hs-TNT and NT-proBNP was greater among faster runners, while pre-race overall and vagally-mediated HRV were correlated with finishing time. Participation in a 118-km ultratrail induces an acute release of cardiac damage biomarkers and a large alteration of cardiac autonomic modulation. Furthermore, faster runners were those who exhibited a greater rise in those cardiac damage biomarkers. In light of these findings, an appropriate recovery period after ultraendurance races appears prudent and particularly important among better performing athletes. At the same time, HRV analysis is shown as a promising tool to assess athletes’ readiness to perform at their maximum level in an ultraendurance race

The implementation of effective dual-language programs

This research investigates the ways of implementing dual-language programs and the schools’ internal procedures of evaluating them. Previous studies have examined the effectiveness of bilingual programs (Genovesee et al. 2005; Howard et al. 2005; Krashen 2004). However, there is little still known about schools’ procedures that systematize the organizational aspect of such programs. The Mixed Methods Research (MMR) approach was applied in this study to analyze data collected through questionnaires, interviews, and case studies. The results of the study were combined and interpreted together. They bore out that the schools that have not introduced an effective internal evaluation system need institutional support in the form of practical publications / guides, referring to the organization of such programs, as well as in-house teacher and management training. There are often no forms of such training or resources available. This calls for improvement.DOI: 10.20420/rlfe.2015.001

Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trail Hikers: A Comparison of Benefits and Motivations

The Appalachian Trail (AT) and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) are two scenic trails named in the National Trails System Act of 1968. Recently, trails and footpaths have been used to promote such benefits as healthy lifestyles, sense of community, and an increased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the motivations and benefits from hikers of the AT and the PCT. Grounded in Driver’s benefits model and means-end theory, and using an Internet questionnaire, 766 usable questionnaires were collected. Significant differences were found between AT and PCT users who: hike to prevent a worse health condition; seek motivational attributes (e.g. scenic beauty); pursue motivational consequences (e.g. physical activity); and perceive motivational values (e.g. increasing self-esteem)

Amide Spectral Fingerprints are Hydrogen Bonding-Mediated

The origin of the peculiar amide spectral features of proteins in aqueous solution is investigated, by exploiting a combined theoretical and experimental approach to UVRR spectra are recorded by tuning Synchrotron Radiation at several excitation wavelengths and modeled by using a recently developed multiscale protocol based on a polarizable QM/ MM approach. Thanks to the unparalleled agreement between theory and experiment, we demonstrate that specific hydrogen bond interactions, which dominate hydration dynamics around these solutes, play a crucial role in the selective enhancement of amide signals. These results further argue the capability of vibrational spectroscopy methods as valuable tools for refined structural analysis of peptides and proteins in aqueous solution

Evolution of organic matter in a full-scale composting plant for the treatment of sewage sludge and biowaste by respiration techniques and pyrolysis-GC/MS

A full-scale composting plant treating in two parallel lines sewage sludge and the source-selected organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW or biowaste) has been completely monitored. Chemical routine analysis proved not to be suitable for an adequate plant monitoring in terms of stabilization and characterization of the process and final compost properties. However, the dynamic respiration index demonstrated to be the most feasible tool to determine the progression of the degradation and stabilization of organic matter for both sewage sludge and OFMSW lines. Both lines exhibited an important degree of stabilization of organic matter using rapid and cumulative respiration indices. Pyrolysis-GC/MS was applied to the most important inputs, outputs, and intermediate points of the plant. It proved to be a powerful tool for the qualitative characterization of molecular composition of organic matter present in solid samples. A full characterization of the samples considered is also presented

Monitoring the organic matter properties in a combined anaerobic/aerobic full-scale municipal source-separated waste treatment plant

Respiration indices (dynamic and cumulative) and the anaerobic biogasification potential are applied to the quantitative calculation of the biodegradation efficiency in a combined anaerobic/aerobic treatment for the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). They also permit to observe possible deficiencies in some parts of the entire sequence of organic matter decomposition. On the contrary, chemical methods presented a limited utility. Dynamic respiration indices highlighted that anaerobic digestion was the most efficient step to reduce the respiration activity of the waste (61% calculated on a DRI24h basis). Respirometric activity of final compost was 93% lower than initial OFMSW confirming the overall efficiency of the plant studied and the stability of the final product (0.3 g O₂ kg TS⁻¹ h⁻¹). Finally, the use of an advanced methodology such as the Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transformed (DRIFT) allows the determination of the main functional groups of organic matter, which significantly change during the biological treatment of organic matter

Avaliação da marcha em pacientes com lesão medular no Centro Internacional de Restauração Neurológica

Introduction: Spinal cord injury could be considered as any alteration of the spinal cord that can lead to changes in movement, sensitivity, or autonomous functions below the level of the injury. Among the main limitations are gait loss, which, in most cases constitutes the major recovery priority for patients. Aim: To evaluate the progress of patients with spinal cord injury at the International Center for Neurological Restoration. Materials and methods: From a total of 60 patients, a sample of 30 patients was selected at random for a study that took place between 2017 and 2019. The individuals met the inclusion criteria, and performed gait actions measured with the gait scale for spinal cord injury, version II. The data collected were processed using SPSS 28. Results: The results showed statistically significant changes in the sample analyzed by sex, region injured, gait rehabilitation time, and overall status. Conclusions: The evaluation of gait showed that the related actions taken at the International Center for Neurological Restoration were effective, and led to significant changes in the patients' gait abilities.Introducción: La lesión medular se puede considerar como cualquier alteración sobre la médula espinal que puede producir alteraciones en el movimiento, la sensibilidad o la función autónoma por debajo del nivel de lesión, entre las principales limitaciones se encuentra la perdida de la marcha, la cual en la mayoría de los casos representa la mayor prioridad de recuperación de los pacientes. Objetivo: Evaluar la marcha en los pacientes lesionados medulares en el Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica. Materiales y métodos: Para el estudio se seleccionó una muestra aleatoria de 30 pacientes de una población de 60 pacientes entre los años 2017- 2019, los cuales cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y realizaron actividades de marcha evaluadas con la escala walking spinal cord injury versión II. Los datos obtenidos fueron procesados con el software estadístico SPSS 28. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos mostraron cambios estadísticamente significativos en la muestra analizada por sexo, por región afectada, por tiempo de rehabilitación de la marcha y de forma general. Conclusiones: La evaluación de la marcha arrojo que las actividades de marcha realizadas en el Centro Internacional de restauración neurológica fueron efectivas y produjeron cambios significativos en la marcha de los pacientes.Introdução: A lesão medular pode ser considerada como qualquer alteração na medula espinhal que possa produzir alterações no movimento, sensação ou função autonômica abaixo do nível de lesão, entre as principais limitações está a perda da marcha, que na maioria dos casos representa a maior prioridade para a recuperação dos pacientes. Objetivo: Avaliar a marcha em pacientes com lesão medular no Centro Internacional de Restauração Neurológica. Materiais e métodos: Para o estudo, foi selecionada uma amostra aleatória de 30 pacientes de uma população de 60 pacientes entre 2017 e 2019, que preencheram os critérios de inclusão e realizaram atividades de marcha avaliadas com a escala de lesão medular ambulante versão II. Os dados obtidos foram processados com o software estatístico SPSS 28. Resultados: Os resultados obtidos mostraram mudanças estatisticamente significativas na amostra analisada por sexo, por região afetada, por tempo de reabilitação da marcha e em geral. Conclusões: A avaliação da marcha mostrou que as atividades de marcha realizadas no Centro Internacional de Restauração Neurológica foram eficazes e produziram mudanças significativas na marcha dos pacientes

Teachers of Latino students reflect on the implementation of a mathematical task

Teachers in two multi-grade study groups in elementary schools with large populations of Latino students reflect on the implementation of an open-ended mathematical task. IN this research, interviews and study group discussions provide the teachers’ reflections on the implementation of the task and on their practices in general that create learning environments for their Latino students. Multiple categories representing the teacher reflections were developed and our focus is on those practices that teachers consider effective and specific factors that impact practice. The design of this study proved to be especially useful in promoting teacher reflective conversation