Acute Dehydration Impairs Performance and Physiological Responses in Highly Trained Judo Athletes

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Background: The present study investigated highly trained male judo athletes and how a 5% body mass dehydration affects their judo-specific performance and physiological responses. Meth-ods: Nine highly trained international-level male judo athletes who are weight-cyclers voluntarily participated in the study. The study had a controlled crossover design in nature. Athletes com-pleted three sessions, including a familiarisation session and two experimental sessions (dehydration (DEHY) and control (CON)) with judo-specific tests, including maximal handgrip strength test (HGS), judogi grip strength tests (JGST), and the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT). Results: Intergroup analysis revealed a significant increase in urine specific gravity (USG) and decreased body mass following DEHY condition compared to CON. Furthermore, significant decreases were determined in HGS, JGSTs, and a number of throws in the first and third series of SJFTs, as well as higher heart rate (HR) responses in the second and third series of SJFT and worse SJFT index in DEHY condition (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We concluded that 5% dehydration of body mass led to impairment in dynamic and isometric strength in upper limbs and in judo-specific performance, as well as elevated HR during the SJFT.Peer reviewe

Source identification for mobile devices, based on wavelet transforms combined with sensor imperfections

One of the most relevant applications of digital image forensics is to accurately identify the device used for taking a given set of images, a problem called source identification. This paper studies recent developments in the field and proposes the mixture of two techniques (Sensor Imperfections and Wavelet Transforms) to get better source identification of images generated with mobile devices. Our results show that Sensor Imperfections and Wavelet Transforms can jointly serve as good forensic features to help trace the source camera of images produced by mobile phones. Furthermore, the model proposed here can also determine with high precision both the brand and model of the device

Gravitational Energy in Quadratic Curvature Gravities

We define the notion of energy, and compute its values, for gravitational systems involving terms quadratic in curvature. While our construction parallels that of ordinary Einstein gravity, there are significant differences both conceptually and concretely. In particular, for D=4, all purely quadratic models admit vacua of arbitrary constant curvature. Their energies, including that of conformal (Weyl) gravity, necessarily vanish in asymptotically flat spaces. Instead, they are proportional to that of the Abbott-Deser (AD) energy expression in constant curvature backgrounds and therefore also proportional to the mass parameter in the corresponding Schwarzschild-(Anti) de Sitter geometries. Combined Einstein-quadratic curvature systems reflect the above results: Absent a cosmological constant term, the only vacuum is flat space, with the usual (ADM) energy and no explicit contributions from the quadratic parts. If there is a Lambda term, then the vacuum is also unique with that Lambda value, and the energy is just the sum of the separate contributions from Einstein and quadratic parts to the AD expression . Finally, we discuss the effects on energy definition of both higher curvature terms and higher dimension.Comment: 8 pages, minor style improvements, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Green's Matrix for a Second Order Self-Adjoint Matrix Differential Operator

A systematic construction of the Green's matrix for a second order, self-adjoint matrix differential operator from the linearly independent solutions of the corresponding homogeneous differential equation set is carried out. We follow the general approach of extracting the Green's matrix from the Green's matrix of the corresponding first order system. This construction is required in the cases where the differential equation set cannot be turned to an algebraic equation set via transform techniques.Comment: 19 page

Evaluation of imaging ordering by general practitioners in Australia, 2002–03 to 2011–12

Introdução: A deteção dos abusos contra crianças não é fácil para o médico, pois a história clínica recolhida é muitas vezes enganosa, os achados físicos são muitas vezes inespecíficos e os médicos, na maioria dos casos, não incluem o abuso no diagnóstico diferencial dos quadros clínicos com que se confrontam. Este diagnóstico é particularmente complexo no caso das queimaduras, cujas consequências, pelo menos do ponto de vista psicológico, são sempre graves. Daí a necessidade de cada vez se conhecerem mais profundamente estas situações, nas suas diversas vertentes, em cada país e comunidade, para que as medidas de detenção, diagnósticos e prevenção se possam adequar a cada realidade. Objetivo: Contribuir para conhecer melhor esta realidade e para reforçar a ideia da necessidade urgente da organização dos serviços em Angola, para que as equipas multidisciplinares possam existir e intervir adequada e atempadamente, para bem das vítimas, da comunidade e da justiça. Material e Métodos: Foram estudadas 230 crianças admitidas por queimaduras na Unidade de Queimados do Hospital Neves Bendinha, em Luanda. A ficha de recolha de dados foi preenchida durante o período de internamento das crianças, incluindo dados constantes do processo clínico hospitalar e outros obtidos através da entrevista de um dos progenitores ou representante legal da criança. Resultados e Discussão: As vítimas eram muito novas (50% até aos 5 anos; média de idade 7 anos), encontrando-se 99.6% a cargo dos familiares os quais, em apenas 69% dos casos, foram as pessoas que as levaram ao hospital; 57% não foram levadas ao hospital no dia do evento, sendo que em 77% dos casos este aconteceu em casa. Estes aspetos podem estar relacionados com a tentativa de ocultação dos cassos abusivos. De acordo com os registos clínicos, 47% das queimaduras associava-se a negligência, 33% a acidente e 20% a abuso. A queimadura provocada por imersão em água quente verificou-se em 75% dos casos alegadamente abusivos. Os locais mais atingidos foram os membros superiores (22%), tórax/mamas (22%) e membros inferiores (18%), para todos os casos, verificando-se que a região genital e nádegas sofreu mais queimaduras nas situações alegadamente abusivas (7%). As queimaduras figuradas, apesar de muito escassas no geral, surgiram em 50% dos casos de suspeita de abuso, bem como a distribuição bilateral e simétrica das lesões (em 57% destes casos), o que é altamente sugestivo de lesões intencionalmente infligidas. As queimaduras foram de 2º grau em 65% dos casos, sendo as mais graves nos casos supostamente devidos a abuso; no entanto, foi nestes casos que houve menos atingimento da área corporal (74% até 10% da área corporal), talvez porque a queimadura intencional foi aplicada a uma área concreta. Em 63% dos alegados abusos encontraram-se outras lesões distintas das queimaduras e em 28% cicatrizes de lesões (o que pode traduzir reiteração do abuso). A denúncia da suspeita de abuso foi apresentada em apenas 26% dos casos, o que está de acordo com a ocultação típica destes casos. Os supostos abusadores seriam maioritariamente familiares da vítima e do sexo feminino (58% e 56%), respetivamente, com idade média de 24 anos (20% menores de idade) e em 62% dos casos havia referência a consumo abusivo de álcool. Estes casos seriam melhor apoiados se conseguisse: (1) promover a sua deteção precoce pelos profissionais que trabalham com crianças; (2) incentivar a sinalização/denúncia da sua suspeita por esses mesmos profissionais; (3) a colaboração de especialistas em medicina legal para apoiar o diagnóstico mais seguro dos casos; (4) definir normas procedimentais e protocolos que apoiassem o diagnóstico por esses especialistas e a sua boa articulação com os outros profissionais os quais, no seu conjunto, deveriam constituir uma equipa multidisciplinar de intervenção nestes casos.Introduction: It is difficult for a doctor to detect a children abuse, due to the fact that the history about the event is sometimes not true, the physical findings are usually unspecific, frequently doctors don´t include the abuse in the differential diagnosis. This diagnosis is particularly difficult to perform in burns, which consequences, at least from the psychological point of view, are always severe. That´s why is important to know deeply this situations, in their several strands, in each country and community, so the detection measures, diagnosis and prevention can be adjust to each reality. Objective: To contribute to better understand this reality and to reinforce the necessity to organize the services in Angola, so that the multidisciplinary teams can exist and act in accordance and within a suitable way and schedule, for the welfare of the victims, community and justice. Material and Methods: 230 children were studied; they were admitted in the burn unit from the Hospital Neves Bendinha, in Luanda, Angola. The collection of data forms was fulfilled during the inpatient period; it includes information from their medical historical process and others collected through an interview to the children´s parents or their legal representative. Results and Discussion: The victims are very young (50% until the age of 5; average: 7 years-old), in 99.6% their relatives were in charge, and in only 69% of the cases, the relatives took the children to the hospital; 57% were not taken to the hospital in the day of the event, and in 77% of the cases the event happened at home. These aspects can be related with the attempt to hide these abusive cases. Accordingly to the clinic registrations, 47% of the burns were associated to neglecting acts, 33% to accidents and 20% to abuse. Burns caused by the immersion in hot water were showed in 75% of the alleged abusive cases. The body parts more affected were the upper limbs (22%), chest/breast (22%) and lower limbs (18%), for all the cases; the genital area and buttocks were the regions where more burns were suffered by the alleged abused children (7%). The patterned burns, in spite of being very rare, appeared in 50% of the suspected abuses cases, as well as the bilateral distribution and symmetrical of the burns (in 57% of these cases); these may suggest that the burns were intentional inflicted. The burns were of 2nd degree in 65% of the cases, being the more severe in the abuse cases; however, in these cases there was less body burn (74% until 10% of body area), maybe because the intentional burn was applied in a concrete area. In 63% of the alleged abuses there were other injuries and in 28% scars (that may suggest the reiteration of the abuse). The abuse complaints were presented in only 26% of the cases, which is in accordance with the attempt to hide them. The alleged abusers were mainly the victims’ relatives and the females (58% and 56%, respectively), with an average age of 24 years (20% minors) and in 62% of the cases there was a reference to an abusive alcohol consumption. These cases would be better supported if it was possible to: (1) promote the early detection by the professional that work with children; (2) promote the report of the professionals regarding these events; (3) obtain collaboration from the forensic doctors to support a more secure diagnosis in these cases; (4) set some procedure rules and protocols that can support the diagnosis performed by these physicians and their better cooperation with other professionals, creating together a multidisciplinary team for the intervention in these cases

Precision study of 6p 2Pj - 8s 2S1/2 relative transition matrix elements in atomic Cs

A combined experimental and theoretical study of transition matrix elements of the 6p 2Pj - 8s 2S1/2 transition in atomic Cs is reported. Measurements of the polarization-dependent two-photon excitation spectrum associated with the transition were made in an approximately 200 cm-1 range on the low frequency side of the 6s 2S1/2 - 6p 2P3/2 resonance. The measurements depend parametrically on the relative transition matrix elements, but also are sensitive to far-off-resonance 6s 2S1/2 - np 2Pj - 8s 2S1/2 transitions. In the past, this dependence has yielded a generalized sum rule, the value of which is dependent on sums of relative two-photon transition matrix elements. In the present case, best available determinations from other experiments are combined with theoretical matrix elements to extract the ratio of transition matrix elements for the 6p 2Pj - 8s 2S1/2 (j = 1/2,3/2) transition. The resulting experimental value of 1.423(2) is in excellent agreement with the theoretical value, calculated using a relativistic all-order method, of 1.425(2)

Aquaporin 5 Interacts with Fluoride and Possibly Protects Against Caries

Aquaporins (AQP) are water channel proteins and the genes coding for AQP2, AQP5, and AQP6 are clustered in 12q13. Since AQP5 is expressed in serous acinar cells of salivary glands, we investigated its involvement in caries. DNA samples from 1,383 individuals from six groups were studied. Genotypes of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms covering the aquaporin locus were tested for association with caries experience. Interaction with genes involved in enamel formation was tested. The association between enamel microhardness at baseline, after creation of artificial caries lesion, and after exposure to fluoride and the genetic markers in AQP5 was tested. Finally, AQP5 expression in human whole saliva, after exposure to fluoride in a mammary gland cell line, which is known to express AQP5, and in Wistar rats was also verified. Nominal associations were found between caries experience and markers in the AQP5 locus. Since these associations suggested that AQP5 may be inhibited by levels of fluoride in the drinking water that cause fluorosis, we showed that fluoride levels above optimal levels change AQP5 expression in humans, cell lines, and rats. We have shown that AQP5 is involved in the pathogenesis of caries and likely interact with fluoride.Fil: Anjomshoaa, Ida. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Briseño Ruiz, Jessica. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Deeley, Kathleen. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Poletta, Fernando Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET.; ArgentinaFil: Mereb, Juan C.. Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Área El Bolsón ; ArgentinaFil: Leite, Aline L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Barreta, Priscila A. T.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Silva, Thelma L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dizak, Piper. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Ruff, Timothy. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Patir, Asli. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Koruyucu, Mine. İstanbul Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Abbasoğlu, Zerrin. Yeditepe Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Casado, Priscila L.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Brown, Andrew. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Zaky, Samer H.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Bayram, Merve. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Küchler, Erika C.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Cooper, Margaret E.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Liu, Kai. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Marazita, Mary L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Tanboğa, İlknur. Marmara Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Granjeiro, José M.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasil. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia; BrasilFil: Seymen, Figen. İstanbul Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Castilla, Eduardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET.; Argentina. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Orioli, Iêda M.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Sfeir, Charles. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Owyang, Hongjiao. Marmara Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Rabelo Buzalaf, Marilia Afonso. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vieira, Alexandre R.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unido