Production functions of NCAA men and women water polo matches

Previous research has adapted the use of economic production functions to estimate the scoring production of teams in professional sports. Most of these studies have focused on professional male team sports, most notably, US baseball, basketball, and association football. This study adds to the literature by utilizing a new and distinctive data set of shooting statistics from 88 men’s and 38 women’s NCAA water polo contests to estimate production functions for United States’ collegiate water polo games and identify the most important variables for predicting margin of victory in such competitions. The results show that shots on goal, average shot distance, number of counterattacks, quick shots, and efficiency in power play conversions are all significant predictors of goal differentials in men’s contests while shots on goal, average shot distance, counterattacks, and center shots are significant predictors in women’s matches. Previous season win percentage, rebounds, exclusions, and missed shots were not significant predictors in the models. These conclusions confirm and extend previous discriminatory studies of elite international water polo contests

Injury patterns and outcomes in motorcycle driver crashes in the United States: The effect of helmet use.

BACKGROUND Motorcycle crashes pose a persistent public health problem with disproportionate rates of severe injuries and mortality. This study aims to analyze injury patterns and outcomes with regard to helmet use. We hypothesized that helmet use is associated with fewer head injuries and does not increase the risk of cervical spine injuries. METHODS The National Trauma Data Bank was queried for all motorcycle driver crashes between 2007-2017. Univariable analysis was used to compare demographics, clinical data, injury patterns using abbreviated injury scale, and outcomes between helmeted motorcycle drivers and non-helmeted motorcycle drivers who were injured in traffic crashes. Independent factors associated with mortality were determined by regression analysis after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS A total of 315,258 patients were included for analysis, 66 % of these patients were helmeted. The sample was 92.5 % male and the median age was 41 years. Non-helmeted motorcycle drivers were more likely to sustain severe head trauma (head abbreviated injury scale ≥ 3: 28.5 % vs. 13.3 %, p < 0.001), had higher intensive care unit-admission (38 % vs. 30.2 %, p<0.001), mechanical ventilation (20.1 % vs. 13 %, p<0.001) and overall mortality rates (6.2 % vs. 3.9 %, p<0.001). Cervical spine injuries occurred in 10.6 % of non-helmeted motorcycle drivers and in 9.5 % of helmeted motorcycle drivers (p<0.001). Helmet use was identified as an independent factor associated with lower mortality [OR 0.849 (0.809-0.891), p<0.001]. CONCLUSION Helmet use is protective for severe head injuries and associated with decreased mortality. Helmet use was not associated with increased rates of cervical spine injuries. On the contrary, fewer injuries were observed in helmeted motorcycle drivers. Public health initiatives should be aimed at enforcement of universal helmet laws within the United States and across the world

Emerald and Aquamarine Mineralization in Canada

This paper reviews the geology, mineralogy, and origin of the gem varieties of beryl, including emerald (green) and aquamarine (blue); it focuses on western Canada, especially the Yukon Territory, because this is where most of the recent discoveries have been made. However, emerald occurrences in Ontario are also considered, including Canada's first reported discovery in 1940. Beryl (B3Al2Si6O18) is relatively common and spatially associated with granites and granitic pegmatites, but emerald is rare because trace amounts of Cr and/or V are required (to replace Al in the crystal structure) and these elements generally do not occur in sufficient concentrations in granitic rocks. The geological conditions needed to bring Be into contact with Cr and/or V are briefly discussed, as are the factors to consider and techniques to use in exploring for gem-quality beryl. SUMMAIRE Le présent article traite de la géologie, de la minéralogie et de l'origine de variétés gemmifères de béryl (vert), dont l'émeraude et l'aigue-marine (bleue). Il traite principalement de l'Ouest canadien, particulièrement du Territoire du Yukon, région où la plupart des découvertes ont eu lieu. Toutefois, des découvertes faites en Ontario sont aussi considérées, incluant la première au Canada, en 1940. Le Béryl (B3Al2Si6O18) est relativement commun et associé aux granites et aux pegmatites granitiques, mais l'émeraude est rare parce qu'elle nécessite le remplacement de l'Al dans la structure cristalline du béryl par du Cr et/ou du V, et ces éléments ne se retrouvent généralement pas dans en concentrations suffisantes dans les roches granitiques. Les facteurs géologiques nécessaires pour que le Be et le Cr et/ou le V soient mis en contact font l'objet de discussion, tout comme les facteurs à considérer et les techniques à employer dans l'exploration de gisements de béryls gemmifères

Preparação e escalonamento de um hidrolisado enzimático de proteínas do soro de leite bovino

Foi descrita a preparação de um hidrolisado de proteínas do soro de leite bovino com enzimas pancreáticas, contendo baixos níveis de aminoácidos aromáticos. Quando utilizadas pancreatina e tripsina/quimotripsina, por 27h a 37±2ºC, foram liberados 74% de Phe, 100% de Tyr e 100% de Trp como aminoácidos livres. A maioria dos aminoácidos aromáticos livres, presentes em dois quilos de hidrolisado (15 litros), foi separada dos peptídeos e outros aminoácidos remanescentes por filtração em coluna de gel de Sephadex G-25C eluída com ácido acético 5%, fluxo de 60 litros por hora a 25ºC. O produto, recuperado com 37% de rendimento, continha 0,70 mmol de Phe, 0,41 mmol de Tyr eWe describe the preparation of pancreatic enzymes hydrolysate of milk whey proteins containing low levels of aromatic amino acids. Pancreatin and trypsin/chymotrypsin (6.3% w/w protein) when used to hydrolyze whey proteins for 27 h at 37±2 ºC, released 74% of the Phe, 100% of the Tyr and 100% of the Trp as free amino acids. Most of the free aromatic amino acids present in 2 kg hydrolysate were separated from the remaining peptides and other amino acids by gel filtration on a 15 liter Sephadex G-25 column eluted with 5% acetic acid at 60 liters h-1 at 25ºC. The product, recovered in 37% yield, contained 0.70 mmol Phe, 0.41 mmol Tyr, an

Tai Chi for Older Adult Wellness: A Scoping Review and Proposed Study

PURPOSE: Tai Chi is a moderate-intensity exercise, which consists of slow fluid movements, appropriate for older adults. The five primary styles of Tai Chi include, Chen, Yang, Hao, Wu and Sun, where each style focuses on certain movements and functions. The purpose of this scoping review is to evaluate the impact of Tai Chi on the health and well-being of older adults. METHODS: Google Scholar and an university library’s OneSearch feature were used to locate relevant articles on Tai Chi for older adults. The OneSearch indexed several databases relevant to exercise science including PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science were the primary article databases used. RESULTS: Tai Chi provides physiological and psychological health benefits such as improved physical function and reduced mood disturbances. Tai Chi is versatile as it is used for fall prevention, rehabilitation, socialization and improving self-efficacy. These cited improvements are reported across all the five primary styles of Tai Chi. There are some known barriers to Tai Chi participation, such as unfamiliarity with Tai Chi’s history and benefits. There is limited evidence on whether the style of Tai Chi that is practiced can mitigate these barriers. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we still need to know the preferred Tai Chi style among older adults. There is need for qualitative study that will determine why older adults are interested or disinterred in Tai Chi and which style is most appealing to them

Chimpanzees demonstrate individual differences in social information use

Studies of transmission biases in social learning have greatly informed our understanding of how behaviour patterns may diffuse through animal populations, yet within-species inter-individual variation in social information use has received little attention and remains poorly understood. We have addressed this question by examining individual performances across multiple experiments with the same population of primates. We compiled a dataset spanning 16 social learning studies (26 experimental conditions) carried out at the same study site over a 12-year period, incorporating a total of 167 chimpanzees. We applied a binary scoring system to code each participant’s performance in each study according to whether they demonstrated evidence of using social information from conspecifics to solve the experimental task or not (Social Information Score—‘SIS’). Bayesian binomial mixed effects models were then used to estimate the extent to which individual differences influenced SIS, together with any effects of sex, rearing history, age, prior involvement in research and task type on SIS. An estimate of repeatability found that approximately half of the variance in SIS was accounted for by individual identity, indicating that individual differences play a critical role in the social learning behaviour of chimpanzees. According to the model that best fit the data, females were, depending on their rearing history, 15–24% more likely to use social information to solve experimental tasks than males. However, there was no strong evidence of an effect of age or research experience, and pedigree records indicated that SIS was not a strongly heritable trait. Our study offers a novel, transferable method for the study of individual differences in social learning

Deteriorating Access to Women\u27s Health Services in Texas: Potential Effects of the Women\u27s Health Program Affiliate Rule

Based on an earlier study and an in-depth analysis of five market areas, the authors find that Texas\u27 plan to bar Planned Parenthood clinics from participating in the state Women\u27s Health Program (WHP) would leave tens of thousands of women without a source of care, because Planned Parenthood clinics are the dominant WHP providers in those areas and other local family planning clinics lack the capacity to absorb a large number of additional patients

Consensus: guidelines: best practices for detection, assessment and management of suspected acute drug-induced liver injury during clinical trials in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND: The last decade has seen a rapid growth in the number of clinical trials enrolling patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Due to the underlying chronic liver disease, patients with NASH often require different approaches to the assessment and management of suspected drug-induced liver injury (DILI) compared to patients with healthy livers. However, currently no regulatory guidelines or position papers systematically address best practices pertaining to DILI in NASH clinical trials. AIMS: This publication focuses on best practices concerning the detection, monitoring, diagnosis and management of suspected acute DILI during clinical trials in patients with NASH. METHODS: This is one of several papers developed by the IQ DILI Initiative, comprised of members from 15 pharmaceutical companies, in collaboration with DILI experts from academia and regulatory agencies. This paper is based on extensive literature review, and discussions between industry members with expertise in drug safety and DILI experts from outside industry to achieve consensus on common questions related to this topic. RESULTS: Recommended best practices are outlined pertaining to hepatic inclusion and exclusion criteria, monitoring of liver tests, DILI detection, approach to a suspected DILI signal, causality assessment and hepatic discontinuation rules. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides a framework for the approach to assessment and management of suspected acute DILI during clinical trials in patients with NASH

Reporting on Pilot Experiences in a Multi-Phased Fidelity Study of an Equipment-Based Resistance Program for Older Adults

Within the US, people are experiencing longer life expectancy, yet these extended lifespans have not necessarily translated into years living in good health. Research shows that regular resistance exercise carries distinct preventive health benefits for older adults. A growing body of literature explores interventions designed to engage older adults in resistance exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to pilot the proposed assessment strategy for a multi-phased fidelity study of an equipment-based resistance training program designed specifically for older adults. METHODS: A three-phased study has been designed. Phase 1 consisted of a systematic literature review to identify salient measures of internal and external validity for equipment-based resistance training programs for older adults. Phase 2 was a pilot study at one location with 10 participants. The Senior Fitness Test and a pre-post survey were being used to measure the physical function and quality of life outcomes of the program. Four dimensions of internal validity (adherence, exposure, quality of delivery, participant responsiveness) were measured via seven observational tools, pre-post surveys and post-program focus groups. These observational tools included a session checklist, teacher movement analysis, demonstration analysis, instructor feedback analysis, system for observing fitness instruction time (SOFIT), and time analysis. Phase 3 scales up the evaluation program to 5 locations across 3 years. RESULTS: We report our experiences in the pilot phase. We evaluate the degree of internal validity of the seven observational tools and present pilot feedback from instructors, participants and the research team. The completion rate of the observational tools was lower than expected ranging from 26 to 74%; this was due in part to missing data from the learning management system. The SOFIT and time analysis yielded the highest percent agreement (\u3e90%) but not all of the data was viable. CONCLUSION: We recommend changes to the observer training, program delivery, data collection procedures, and data management to inform Phase 3 of the study, the implementation of equipment-based resistance training programs with older adults at multiple locations