The development and optimisation of a quantitative physical fitness scoring system for use amongst Naval Service personnel

Background: A lack of research currently exists in relation to the current physical fitness testing system that is used within the Irish Naval Service, not only in relation to the tests that are used but also in relation to the scores that should be achieved in order to pass the test. As such the aim of this study was to select tests for various components of physical fitness and create a scoring system that could be used to assess individuals more comprehensively. Materials and methods: Seventy-five individuals took part in the study (71 males, 4 females). Each participant completed a battery of physical tests analysing the following physical fitness components: flexibility, power, agility, strength, speed, anaerobic conditioning and aerobic conditioning. The mean score ± 0.67 and ± 1 standard deviations were used for the selection of categories. Results: A six category scoring system was produced for each component of physical fitness. Scores were assigned to each category allowing a total cumulative score and an overall percentage of the total to be calculated. The categories are as follows: Score 5, Score 10, Score 15, Score 20, Score 25, Score 30. Conclusions: A quantitative scoring system has been produced that allows comprehensive physical fitness testing to be conducted. In order to achieve a complete picture of a participant’s physical fitness, all tests outlined should be included in the testing process. However, the flexible nature of this system allows for tests to be included or excluded to suit the needs of an individual or organisation. The fact that the scoring system is quantitative, the time involved is relatively short, multiple participants can be tested simultaneously and the pass rates can be decided upon by the host organisation makes this system versatile and comparable across multiple jurisdictions.

Cancer Informatics for Cancer Centers (CI4CC): Building a Community Focused on Sharing Ideas and Best Practices to Improve Cancer Care and Patient Outcomes.

Cancer Informatics for Cancer Centers (CI4CC) is a grassroots, nonprofit 501c3 organization intended to provide a focused national forum for engagement of senior cancer informatics leaders, primarily aimed at academic cancer centers anywhere in the world but with a special emphasis on the 70 National Cancer Institute-funded cancer centers. Although each of the participating cancer centers is structured differently, and leaders' titles vary, we know firsthand there are similarities in both the issues we face and the solutions we achieve. As a consortium, we have initiated a dedicated listserv, an open-initiatives program, and targeted biannual face-to-face meetings. These meetings are a place to review our priorities and initiatives, providing a forum for discussion of the strategic and pragmatic issues we, as informatics leaders, individually face at our respective institutions and cancer centers. Here we provide a brief history of the CI4CC organization and meeting highlights from the latest CI4CC meeting that took place in Napa, California from October 14-16, 2019. The focus of this meeting was "intersections between informatics, data science, and population science." We conclude with a discussion on "hot topics" on the horizon for cancer informatics

Use of Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins to Determine Fetal Age Throughout Gestation in Cattle

Objective The objective of the current study was to determine if a commercially available blood pregnancy test could be modified to detect differences in pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) concentrations to indicate stage of pregnancy or fetal age in cattle. Study Description Previously identified pregnant females were grouped by age (pre-primiparous or multiparous). Blood samples were collected between day 27 and 190 of pregnancy (n = 176 from pre-primiparous and n = 240 from multiparous) and serum was tested in duplicate using a commercially available blood pregnancy test, IDEXX Alertys Pregnancy Test. Procedures were adapted to allow concentrations to fall within the detectible range of the assay. Animals were grouped by parity (pre-primiparous vs multiparous) into 4 gestational groups (group 1 - \u3c 30 days, group 2 - 30 to 90 days, group 3 - 91 to 178 days, and group 4 - \u3e178 days). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with parity and gestational age in the model. There was an effect of parity, gestational age, and a parity by gestational age interaction (P \u3c 0.01). Pre-primiparous animals had greater concentrations of PAGs compared to multiparous animals. Among pre-primiparous animals, serum PAG concentrations did not differ between gestational age groups 1, 2, or 3 (P \u3e 0.37), but group 4 had greater PAG concentrations than all other groups (P \u3c 0.01). Among multiparous animals, serum PAG concentrations decreased from group 1 to 2 (P \u3c 0.01), and then increased throughout gestation (P \u3c 0.01). Data were then analyzed using the REG procedure in SAS within gestational age group. There was a positive correlation between gestational age and PAG concentrations among both pre-primiparous (P \u3c 0.01; R2 = 0.25) and multiparous (gestational age 30 and greater P \u3c 0.01; R2 = 0.64)

Use of Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins to Determine Fetal Age Throughout Gestation and Clearance Rate in Postpartum Beef Cattle

Study Description: Previously identified pregnant females from four different herds and postpartum females from one herd were utilized. Blood samples were collected (n = 1,753; study 1) between d 28 and 285 of gestation and (heifers n = 418 and cows n = 657; study 2) once a week for up to 12 weeks after calving. Serum was tested in duplicate using a commercially available blood pregnancy test, IDEXX Alertys Pregnancy Test. In study 1, procedures were modified to allow PAG concentrations to fall within the detectible range of the assay. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with cow age and gestational age (also divided into four gestational age groups: 1) \u3c 30 d; 2) 30-90 d; 3) 91-180 d; 4) \u3e 180 d) in the model and then analyzed further using the REG procedure in SAS within gestational age group. In study 2, data were analyzed as repeated measure using the MIXED procedure of SAS with cow age, days postpartum (dpp), and cow age by dpp in the model, then data were analyzed further using the REG procedure in SAS. In study 1, there was a significant effect of gestational age and cow age by gestational age interaction (P \u3c 0.01) as well as a tendency of cow age (P = 0.08). Among heifers and cows, serum PAG concentrations did not differ between gestational age groups 1 and 2 (P \u3e 0.84), however, PAG concentrations differed between groups 2 and 3 (P \u3c 0.0001) and 3 and 4 (P \u3c 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between gestational age and PAG concentrations (P \u3c 0.01; r2 = 0.2604). In study 2, there was a significant effect of days postpartum (dpp; P \u3c 0.01) on PAG concentrations; however, PAG concentrations were not influenced by cow age (P = 0.73) or cow age by dpp (P = 0.55). Concentrations of PAGs rapidly decreased from d 0 to 50 postpartum and then continued to gradually decrease (P \u3c 0.01; r2 = 0.8083). Prior to 42 dpp, PAG concentrations were sufficiently elevated which resulted in false positive readings

Sleep, Nutrition, and Injury Risk in Adolescent Athletes: A Narrative Review

This narrative review explores the impact of sleep and nutrition on injury risk in adolescent athletes. Sleep is viewed as essential to the recuperation process and is distinguished as an active participant in recovery through its involvement in growth, repair, regeneration, and immunity. Furthermore, the literature has shown that the sleep of athletes impacts elements of athletic performance including both physical and cognitive performance, recovery, injury risk, and mental well-being. For sleep to have a restorative effect on the body, it must meet an individual’s sleep needs whilst also lasting for an adequate duration and being of adequate quality, which is age-dependent. The literature has suggested that athletes have increased sleep needs compared to those of the general population and thus the standard recommendations may not be sufficient for athletic populations. Therefore, a more individualised approach accounting for overall sleep health may be more appropriate for addressing sleep needs in individuals including athletes. The literature has demonstrated that adolescent athletes achieve, on average, ~6.3 h of sleep, demonstrating a discrepancy between sleep recommendations (8–10 h) and actual sleep achieved. Sleep–wake cycles undergo development during adolescence whereby adaptation occurs in sleep regulation during this phase. These adaptations increase sleep pressure tolerance and are driven by the maturation of physiological, psychological, and cognitive functioning along with delays in circadian rhythmicity, thus creating an environment for inadequate sleep during adolescence. As such, the adolescent period is a phase of rapid growth and maturation that presents multiple challenges to both sleep and nutrition; consequently, this places a significant burden on an adolescent athletes’ ability to recover, thus increasing the likelihood of injury. Therefore, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the available literature on the importance of sleep and nutrition interactions in injury risk in adolescent athletes. Furthermore, it provides foundations for informing further investigations exploring the relation of sleep and nutrition interactions to recovery during adolescence

Comparison of Lateral Flow to Other Pregnancy Determination Methods in Order to Determine Accuracy of Pregnancy Status in Beef Cattle Pre and Postpartum

Study Description: Blood samples were collected from six different Bos taurus herds between day 27 and 285 of gestation (heifers n = 1,205 and cows n = 1,539). Blood samples to determine PAG clearance interval were collected weekly postpartum for up to 12 weeks (heifers n = 418 and cows n = 657). Serum was tested using the lateral flow test and were read by two technicians who were blind to pregnancy status. Level of agreement between the tests were determined by Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Kappa scores. The MIXED procedure of SAS was used to evaluate the effect of dpp and age (heifers or cows) on postpartum test results. There was a positive correlation between transrectal ultrasonography and the lateral flow test (r2 = 0.71; P \u3c 0.01), and agreement between the two tests was very good (Kappa = 0.84). Of the animals that were diagnosed nonpregnant by transrectal ultrasonography, 5.61% were called pregnant by the lateral flow test. Of the animals diagnosed pregnant by transrectal ultrasonography, 2.00% were called not pregnant by the lateral flow test. Thus, a 92.38% agreement occurred between the two methods. For postpartum samples, there was no effect (P = 0.21) of age, but there was an effect of dpp (P \u3c 0.01) and a tendency for a dpp by age interaction (P = 0.06). All animals were still considered pregnant from the previous pregnancy through 35 dpp (100 ± 2.58%). The percentage of females receiving a false positive test result further decreased with time postpartum, by 77 dpp there were 13.72 ± 3.16% of the females positive for pregnancy and at 84 dpp there were 4.11 ± 4.39% positive for pregnancy detection

The Lantern Vol. 60, No. 1, December 1992

• Bacon and Incense • The Rubix Cube • Recovery • Untitled • Star Six Nine • Breakfast Talk • Life as a Worker Bee • Cabal • One Cold Sunday Morning With Eggs • By the End of February • Eight Years and Five Minutes Away • Distance • Stuart\u27s Gift • Solitary Remembrance • The Gene Thing • Addictionhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1139/thumbnail.jp

Adapted motivational interviewing to improve the uptake of treatment for glaucoma in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease associated with irreversible visual loss. In Africa, glaucoma patients often present late, with very advanced disease. One-off procedures, such as laser or surgery, are recommended in Africa because of lack of or poor adherence to medical treatment. However, acceptance of surgery is usually extremely low. To prevent blindness, adherence to treatment needs to improve, using acceptable, replicable and cost-effective interventions. After reviewing the literature and interviewing patients in Bauchi (Nigeria) motivational interviewing (MI) was selected as the intervention for this trial, with adaptation for glaucoma (MIG). MI is designed to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring a person's reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. The aim of this study is to assess whether MIG increases the uptake of laser or surgery amongst glaucoma patients where this is the recommended treatment. The hypothesis is that MIG increases the uptake of treatment. This will be the first trial of MI in Africa. METHODS: This is a hospital based, single centre, randomized controlled trial of MIG plus an information sheet on glaucoma and its treatment (the latter being "standard care") compared with standard care alone for glaucoma patients where the treatment recommended is surgery or laser.Those eligible for the trial are adults aged 17 years and above who live within 200 km of Bauchi with advanced glaucoma where the examining ophthalmologist recommends surgery or laser. After obtaining written informed consent, participants will be randomly allocated to MIG plus standard care, or standard care alone. Motivational interviewing will be delivered in Hausa or English by one of two MIG trained personnel. One hundred and fifty participants will be recruited to each arm. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants undergoing laser or surgery within two months of the date given to re attend for the procedure. MIG quality will be assessed using the validated MI treatment integrity scale. DISCUSSION: Motivational interviewing may be an important tool to increase the acceptance of treatment for glaucoma. The approach is potentially scalable and may be useful for other chronic conditions in Africa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN79330571 (Controlled-Trials.com)