Evaluation of pre-workout and recovery formulations on body composition and performance after a 6-week high-intensity training program

Introduction: Activities such as high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be more time-efficient modes to stimulate rapid changes in performance and body composition. There is little research evaluating the combined effects of HIRT and HIIT on body composition and strength, particularly when paired with nutritional supplementation. Purpose: To evaluate the chronic effects of pre- and post-workout supplementation on body composition and strength, and to understand sex-specific responses. Materials and methods: 64 untrained males (n = 23) and females (n = 41) (mean ± standard deviation; age: 33.2 ± 10.0 years; %fat: 31.6 ± 7.4%) were randomized to either (1) pre-post supplementation [SUP (n = 25); pre = multi-ingredient caffeine/HMB/vit D; post = whey protein/carbohydrates/glucosamine/vitamins], (2) placebo [PL (n = 24); non-caloric], or (3) control [CON (n = 15)]. All participants completed one repetition max (1RM) strength testing for leg press and bench press at baseline and week 6. Estimates of fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) were measured via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Participants in the SUP or PL group completed a 6-week supervised exercise intervention consisting of a full-body HIRT workout (3 × 6–8 reps) followed by a HIIT treadmill run (6 × 1 min run: 1 min rest) twice per week. Outcomes were evaluated by separate repeated measure ANOVAs (2 × 3). Results: There were no differences in FM between groups or sex (p = 0.133–0.851). LM increased from baseline to post-testing for all groups [Mean difference [MD(Post-Pre) ± Standard Error (SE) = 0.78 ± 0.12 kg; p < 0.001]. While not significant (p = 0.081), SUP gained more LM compared to PL [MD(SUP-PL) ± SE = 3.5 ± 3.3 kg] and CON [MD(SUP-CON) ± SE = 5.2 ± 3.8 kg]. LM increased over time for both males (0.84 ± 0.24 kg; p = 0.003) and females (0.73 ± 0.14 kg; p < 0.001). The SUP group resulted in a significant increase in 1RM leg press compared to the CON group (89.9 ± 30.8 kg; p = 0.015), with no significant differences compared to PL (p = 0.409). The SUP group had greater increases in 1RM bench press compared to the CON group (9.8 ± 1.8 kg; p < 0.001), with no significant differences compared to PL (p = 0.99). Both sexes increased upper- (5.5 ± 0.7 kg; p < 0.001) and lower-body strength (69.8 ± 4.5 kg p < 0.001) with training. Conclusion: Nutrient supplementation timing appears to augment body composition changes and strength compared to control. Pre-/post-nutrient timing may support greater increases in LM and lower- and upper-body strength in both men and women. Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04230824?cond=NCT04230824&draw=2&rank=1], identifier [NCT04230824]

Australian ultrasound-guided biopsy trends: a 17-year analysis of national data

Background Prostate cancer diagnosis is primarily performed through ultrasound-guided biopsy. Australia has a Stage 4 aging population and as prostate cancer is a disease of middle aged to elderly patients, it would be expected that there would be an increase in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, several key events have occurred in the last 10 years including the introduction of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate and publication of major prostate cancer screening trials and guidelines. We aimed to characterize the trends in prostate biopsy in Australia in the context of these changes. Methods Population and prostate biopsy data were obtained from the Australian Government Bureau of Statistics Census data and the Australian Department of Health Medicare Benefits Schedule between 2000 and 2017. A meta narrative review of publications, guidelines, and policy announcements regarding prostate cancer screening and diagnosis in Australia was performed. Prostate biopsy trends were analyzed from 2000 to 2017 by age-group and year. Results The 2016 Census data showed the male population of Australia was 11,546,638. Between 2000 and 2017, a total of 373,158 ultrasound-guided biopsies were performed in Australia. A general decline in the total number of prostate biopsies performed was observed from 2009 onwards. There was a transition of the highest prostate biopsy age-group from 55-64 to 65-74 years with the transition occurring in 2012. Biopsy numbers in the age-group 75-84 years also slowly increased from 2000 to 2009 and declined for a short period of time till 2013 and is on the rise again. The decrease in 2010 coincides with the increased uptake of mpMRI in Australia as a new tool in the screening for prostate cancer. Furthermore, this decrease also coincides with the release of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) prostate cancer screening trials in 2009 and the policy statements developed as a result of these by Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. Conclusion Interesting trends have been identified through this population study. With an aging population, it would be expected that the number of prostate biopsies would be increasing. It is likely that the introduction of mpMRI in Australia and the release of prostate cancer screening guidelines have decreased the number of patients being screened for prostate cancer. Furthermore, increasing use of active surveillance may be responsible for the increase in the prostate biopsies occurring in the older age-groups

Experimental feasibility of measuring the gravitational redshift of light using dispersion in optical fibers

This paper describes a new class of experiments that use dispersion in optical fibers to convert the gravitational frequency shift of light into a measurable phase shift or time delay. Two conceptual models are explored. In the first model, long counter-propagating pulses are used in a vertical fiber optic Sagnac interferometer. The second model uses optical solitons in vertically separated fiber optic storage rings. We discuss the feasibility of using such an instrument to make a high precision measurement of the gravitational frequency shift of light.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figure

Specific heat and magnetic measurements in Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3 samples

We studied the magnetization as a function of temperature and magnetic field in the compounds Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3. It allowed us to identify the ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and charge ordering phases in each case. The intrinsic magnetic moments of Nd3+ and Ho3+ ions experienced a short range order at low temperatures. We also did specific heat measurements with applied magnetic fields between 0 and 9 T and temperatures between 2 and 300 K in all three samples. Close to the charge ordering and ferromagnetic transition temperatures the specific heat curves showed peaks superposed to the characteristic response of the lattice oscillations. Below 10 K the specific heat measurements evidenced a Schottky-like anomaly for all samples. However, we could not successfully fit the curves to either a two level nor a distribution of two-level Schottky anomaly. Our results indicated that the peak temperature of the Schottky anomaly was higher in the compounds with narrower conduction band.Comment: submitted to PR

Self-consistent model of ultracold atomic collisions and Feshbach resonances in tight harmonic traps

We consider the problem of cold atomic collisions in tight traps, where the absolute scattering length may be larger than the trap size. As long as the size of the trap ground state is larger than a characteristic length of the van der Waals potential, the energy eigenvalues can be computed self-consistently from the scattering amplitude for untrapped atoms. By comparing with the exact numerical eigenvalues of the trapping plus interatomic potentials, we verify that our model gives accurate eigenvalues up to milliKelvin energies for single channel s-wave scattering of $^{23}$Na atoms in an isotropic harmonic trap, even when outside the Wigner threshold regime. Our model works also for multi-channel scattering, where the scattering length can be made large due to a magnetically tunable Feshbach resonance.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures (PostScript), submitted to Physical Review

The inhibition of CHO-K1-BH4 cell proliferation and induction of chromosomal aberrations by brevetoxins in vitro

Brevetoxins (PbTxs) are highly potent trans-syn polyether neurotoxins produced during blooms of several species of marine dinoflagellates, most notably Karenia brevis. These neurotoxins act on voltage-sensitive sodium channels prolonging the active state. During red tides, the commercial fishing and tourism industries experience millions of dollars of lost revenue. Human consumption of shellfish contaminated with PbTxs results in neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP). Additionally, blooms of K. brevis are potentially responsible for adverse human health effects such as respiratory irritation and airway constriction in coastal residents. There is little information regarding the full range of potential toxic effects caused by PbTxs. Recent evidence suggests that PbTxs are genotoxic substances. The purpose of this study was to determine if PbTxs could induce chromosomal aberrations and inhibit cellular proliferation in CHO-K1-BH4 cells, and if so, could the damage be negated or reduced by the PbTx antagonist brevenal. Results from the chromosomal aberrations assay demonstrated that PbTxs are potent inducers of CHO-K1-BH4 chromosome damage. Results from the inhibition of cellular proliferation assays demonstrated that PbTxs inhibit the ability of CHOK1- BH4 cells to proliferate, an effect which can be reduced with brevenal. Originally published Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol. 44, No. 7, July 200

Making Room for Zoom in Focus Group Methods: Opportunities and Challenges for Novice Researchers (During and Beyond COVID-19)

Als die COVID-19-Pandemie über die Welt hereinbrach, waren viele Menschen gezwungen, sich auf online-basierte Routinen einzustellen, darunter auch qualitative Forscher*innen, die nach alternativen Möglichkeiten zur Erhebung aussagekräftiger Daten suchten. Während Fokusgruppen traditionell Face to Face durchgeführt werden, bieten Fortschritte bei Online-Videokonferenzanwendungen neue Methoden zur Datenerhebung, die jedoch bisher nur selten untersucht wurden. In diesem Artikel berichten wir über die Erfahrungen von 12 Doktorand*innen mit der Durchführung von Fokusgruppen unter Verwendung von Zoom im Rahmen eines Kurses zu qualitativen Interviewmethoden. Wir reflektieren Chancen und Herausforderungen, die wir als Moderator*innen und Teilnehmer*innen bei der Nutzung von Zoom erlebten z.B. bei der Vorbereitung oder in Bezug auf Rapport, die Einbindung anderer digitaler Tools und von Internetverbindungen. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass die Durchführung von Online-Fokusgruppen unter Verwendung von Zoom insgesamt eine positive Erfahrung war und mit Face-to-Face-Fokusgruppen vergleichbar ist. Möglichkeiten der Teilnehmer*innenrekrutierung, die Sicherheitsmerkmale von Zoom und die Nutzung von Zoom und allgemeiner neuen Technologien sollten auch jenseits der Pandemie weiter erforscht werden.As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the world, it forced many people to adapt to an online-based routine, including qualitative researchers looking for alternative ways to collect meaningful data. While focus groups are traditionally conducted in-person, advances with online videoconferencing applications present a new method to collect data, however, few studies have explored this. In this article we present 12 doctoral students' experiences with conducting focus groups using the videoconferencing application Zoom during a qualitative methods course on interviewing methods. Through this self-study qualitative analysis, participants reflected on the opportunities and challenges experienced as both moderators and participants using Zoom including: preparation, rapport, incorporating other digital tools, and internet connectivity. In conclusion, doing focus groups online using Zoom was a positive experience overall and comparable to in-person focus groups for collecting qualitative data, despite the introduction of technology. More research on participant recruitment, new technology, Zoom's security features, and Zoom's use outside of a pandemic should be further explored

Synergistic warm inflation

We consider an alternative warm inflationary scenario in which $n$ scalar fields coupled to a dissipative matter fluid cooperate to produce power--law inflation. The scalar fields are driven by an exponential potential and the bulk dissipative pressure coefficient is linear in the expansion rate. We find that the entropy of the fluid attains its asymptotic value in a characteristic time proportional to the square of the number of fields. This scenario remains nearly isothermal along the inflationary stage. The perturbations in energy density and entropy are studied in the long--wavelength regime and seen to grow roughly as the square of the scale factor. They are shown to be compatible with COBE measurements of the fluctuations in temperature of the CMB.Comment: 13 pages, Revtex 3 To be published in Physical Review