Exploring Constraints to Student Attendance at FBS Non-Autonomous Football Games

The need to attract fans is an important element of any successful sport organization (Koo et al., 2017). Despite this fact, NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game attendance has trended on a decline for the last decade, including rates of student attendance (Cohen, 2013; “NCAA Football Attendance,” n. d.). While these trends should be concerning to intercollegiate athletic departments across the country, they should be particularly troubling to schools participating in football that represent non-autonomous conferences, more commonly known as the Group of Five. This subsection of college athletic programs do not have the luxury of the lucrative revenue streams available to their autonomous, Power Five counterparts, such as media rights for broadcasting games (Dosh, 2013), raising the importance of ticket sales to their budgets. College students are specifically important to both the current and long-term prospects of non-autonomous athletic departments since this group traditionally makes up the base of future donors and season ticket holders (Novy-Williams, 2017; Tracy, 2016). When individuals make decisions such as whether or not to attend athletic events, they must consider motivations that may drive their decision-making, while also considering constraints that may inhibit their willingness to attend a particular athletic contest. This study sought to evaluate for various constraints by deploying a survey to students at four non-autonomous FBS institutions. This study considered the foundational work in the area of leisure constraints written by Crawford and Godbey (1987) and modeled the survey instrument after the work of Crawford, Jackson, and Godbey (1991) with the creation of their Hierarchical Model of Leisure Constraints (HMLC), as well as more recent iterations pertaining to sport spectatorship. Overall, seven constraint categories were identified at the completion of an exploratory factor analysis that were shown to constrain student attendance at home football games. These seven categories were also evaluated across various demographic characteristics for significant differences. This research hopes to provide a base for future research on student attendance, as well as to establish a version of the HMLC that applies specifically to sport spectator attendance

Diurnal variation of phytoplankton production and solar radiation in coastal waters off Cananéia

O presente trabalho é uma primeira estimativa da produtividade primária na região de Cananéia. Tem por principal objetivo obter resultados preliminares sobre as variações diurnas da produção da população natural que vive nas águas costeiras, em função dos fatores ambientais. Com esta finalidade a maioria dos fatores que intervém na produtividade primária foram medidos e observados durante 2 dias, no período diurno em intervalo de 2 em 2 horas. Os principais fatores considerados na avaliação da produção primária foram: a - "Taxa de produção bruta" (gross production rate) dos organismos marinhos. b - Ambientes físico e químico. c - Relação entre a energia total incidente e a produção orgânica. O equipamento, os métodos e procedimentos empregados na obtenção dos resultados são apresentados. A produção orgânica foi determinada pela técnica do oxigênio de Gaarden & Gran (1927), a concentração de oxigênio foi medida pelo método de Winkler. O método empregado na dosagem da concentração de pigmentos foi o de Richards com Thompson (1952), Creitz & Richards (1955), Davis (1957) e o cômputo efetuado por meio das equações de Richards com Thompson. Os coeficientes de extinção foram obtidos pela observação do disco de Secchi e computados pela expressão de Poole & Atkins. A análise quantitativa do fitoplâncton foi efetuada pelo método de filtração "filtro milipóro" (millipore filter) e contagem microscópica de acordo com o "método de contagem de grupos" (clump count method). Os demais fatores foram obtidos através de medidas diretas ou por métodos usuais. A análise dos resultados e das observações permite as seguintes conclusões: A população fitoplanctônica natural que vive nas águas túrbidas costeiras da Ilha de Bom Abrigo foi encontrada em boas condições fisiológicas e é constituída principalmente por diatomáceas. s sais nutrientes (fosfatos) são encontrados em quantidades suficientes. A taxa máxima de produção orgânica é aproximadamente 93 mg C/m³/2 h na superfície de 131,25 mg C/m ³/2 h a 2,0 m de profundidade. A variação diurna da produção orgânica mostrou ser controlada principalmente pela variação diurna da intensidade de radiação solar global. A intensidade instantânea média saturante da radiação global é de 0.27 ly.min-i e a intensidade de iluminamento saturante varia entre 1.700 e 2.200 lúmen . pé-². A taxa média da produção orgânica para a energia saturante é aproximadamente de 22 mg C /mg de clorofila / 2 horas. Os resultados obtidos mostram ser compatíveis com os esperados para o "plâncton de sor' (sun plankton), que vive nas águas superficiais dos mares tropicais (Steemann Nielsen & Hansen, 1959)

Therapeutic approach in glioblastoma multiforme with primitive neuroectodermal tumor components: case report and review of the literature

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant glioma that is treated with first-line therapy, using surgical resection followed by local radiotherapy and concomitant/adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. GBM is characterised by a high local recurrence rate and a low response to therapy. Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) of the brain revealed a low local recurrence rate; however, it also exhibited a high risk of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination. PNET is treated with surgery followed by craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and platinum-based chemotherapy in order to prevent CSF dissemination. GBM with PNET-like components (GBM/PNET) is an emerging variant of GBM, characterised by a PNET-like clinical behaviour with an increased risk of CSF dissemination; it also may benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy upfront or following failure of GBM therapy. The results presented regarding the management of GBM/PNET are based on case reports or case series, so a standard therapeutic approach for GBM/PNET is not defined, constituing a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. In this report, a case of a recurrent GBM/PNET treated with surgical resection and radiochemotherapy as Stupp protocol, and successive platinum-based chemotherapy due to the development of leptomeningeal dissemintation and an extracranial metastasis, is discussed. A review of the main papers regarding this rare GBM variant and its therapeutic approach are also reported. In conclusion, GBM/PNET should be treated with a multimodal approach including surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and/or the early introduction of CSI and platinum-based chemotherapy upfront or at recurrence

EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF LERCANIDIPINE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE HYPERTENSION IN A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY

Цель. Оценить эффективность лерканидипина (антагониста кальция из группы дигидропиридинов) у пожилых больных артериальной гипертонией (АГ). Материал и методы. В многоцентровое рандомизированное двойное слепое плацебо-контролируемое исследование включены 144 больных в возрасте 60-85 лет, разделенных на группы, получавших лерканидипин в дозе 10 мг или плацебо в течение 4 нед. При недостаточной антигипертензивной эффективности исходную дозу лерканидипина увеличивали (вплоть до 30 мг один раз/день в течение 12 нед).  Результаты. Диастолическое артериальное давление (АД) под действием лерканидипина в дозе 10 мг снижалось в большей степени (-10,3 мм рт.ст.), чем под действием плацебо (-6,1 мм рт.ст.; p<0,05). Доля больных, положительно ответивших на прием лерканидипина, также была выше, чем при приеме плацебо (59,1% и 37,8 %, соответственно; p<0,05). При увеличении дозы препарата до 20 мг доля больных, положительно ответивших на лечение, возросла до 69,4%; увеличение дозы до 30 мг потребовалось лишь небольшому числу пациентов. Частота сердечных сокращений и лабораторные показатели на фоне лечения не менялись. Процент больных с побочными эффектами был одинаковым в обеих группах. Заключение. Прием лерканидипина один раз в день значительно снижает АД у пожилых пациентов с легкой и умеренной АГ . Эффект сохраняется в течение 24 ч и не сопровождается рефлекторной тахикардией. Препарат хорошо переносится и, учитывая его фармакологические и фармакодинамические особенности, может быть рекомендован, особенно пожилым пациентам

Upstaging nodal status in colorectal cancer using ex vivo fluorescence sentinel lymph node mapping: preliminary results

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging is a recent technique to improve nodal staging in several tumors. The presence of colorectal cancer (CRC) micro-metastases has recently been defined as N1 disease and no longer as N1mi, determining the need for adjuvant chemotherapy. In CRC, the reported rate of SLN micro-metastases detected by ultrastaging techniques is as high as 30%. The aim of this prospective study is to report the preliminary results of the sensitivity analysis of NIRF imaging for ex vivo SLN mapping and the research of micro-metastases in CRC, in patients with node-negative disease (NND). Material and methods: On the specimen of 22 CRC patients, 1 mL of ICG (5 mg/mL) was injected submucosally around the tumor to identify SLNs. NND SLNs were further investigated with ultrastaging techniques. Results: Three-hundred and sixty-three lymph nodes were retrieved (59 SLNs; mean per case: 2.7). The detection, sensitivity and false-negative rate were 100%, 100% and 0% respectively. Ultrastaging investigations showed no micro-metastases in the NND SLNs. Conclusions: The ex vivo SLN fluorescence-based detection in CRC was confirmed to be easy to perform and reliable. In this preliminary results report of an ongoing study, the SLN assay was congruent with the nodal status, as confirmed by histological investigations

Prospective comparative trial on nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy using a robot-assisted versus laparoscopic technique: expectation versus satisfaction and impact on surgical margins

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze whether differences exist in a population selected for a nerve-sparing (NS) procedure between robot-assisted (RARP) and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and whether they can have an impact on surgical margins (SM) status. Material and methods: This is a single center prospective comparative trial on prostate cancer patients submitted to a RARP-NS or LRP-NS. A self-administered questionnaire on expectations before surgery, and level of satisfaction after surgery was used. Results: A total of 134 cases were included in our analysis. A higher percentage of capsular bulging was found in the RARP group, compared to the LRP group (p = 0.077). At biopsy, the percentage of positive cores and multifocality were higher in the RARP group (p = 0.005). Positive SM (SM+) rate was higher in the RARP, than in LRP group (p = 0.046). On univariable analysis, the risk of SM+ increased 1.95 times using RARP when compared with LRP. On multivariable analysis, the surgical approach did not maintain a significant predictive role in terms of risk for SM+. Expectations before surgery were mainly focused on oncological radicality, however in the RARP group a higher percentage of cases focused on sexual function recovery. Satisfaction after surgery was lower in the RARP than in the LRP group. Conclusions: Comparing LRP-NS with RARP-NS in a high-volume single center, the expectation/satisfaction ratio is in favor of LRP. Worse oncologic preoperative characteristics in the RARP group may influence the higher incidence of SM+. However, the surgical approach does not result as a significant and independent factor able to influence SM positivity

Physical activity is inversely related to drug consumption in elderly patients with cardiovascular events

Abstract Elderly patients with cardiovascular events are characterized by high drug consumptions. Whether high drug consumptions are related to physical activity is not known. In order to examine whether physical activity is related to drug consumption in the elderly, patients older than 65 years (n = 250) with a recent cardiovascular event were studied. Physical activity was analyzed according to the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) score and related to drug consumption. PASE score was 72.4 ± 45.0 and drug consumption was 8.3 ± 2.2. Elderly patients with greater comorbidity took more drugs (8.7 ± 2.1) and are less active (PASE = 64.4 ± 50.6) than patients with Cumulative Illness Rating Scale severity score higher than 1.8 than those with a score lower than 1.8 (76.3 ± 41.4, p < 0.05, and 8.0 ± 2.0, p = 0.006, respectively). Multivariate analysis correlation confirmed that PASE score is negatively associated with drug consumption (β = −0.149, p = 0.031), independently of several variables including comorbidity. Thus, physical activity is inversely related to drug consumption in elderly patients with cardiovascular events. This inverse relationship may be attributable to the high degree of comorbidity observed in elderly patients in whom poor level of physical activity and high drug consumption are predominant

cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase 8A and 8B isoforms are differentially expressed in human testis and Leydig cell tumor

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate/Protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling pathway is the master regulator of endocrine tissue function. The level, compartmentalization and amplitude of cAMP response are finely regulated by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). PDE8 is responsible of cAMP hydrolysis and its expression has been characterized in all steroidogenic cell types in rodents including adrenal and Leydig cells in rodents however scarce data are currently available in humans. Here we demonstrate that human Leydig cells express both PDE8A and PDE8B isoforms. Interestingly, we found that the expression of PDE8B but not of PDE8A is increased in transformed Leydig cells (Leydig cell tumors-LCTs) compared to non-tumoral cells. Immunofluorescence analyses further reveals that PDE8A is also highly expressed in specific spermatogenic stages. While the protein is not detected in spermatogonia it accumulates nearby the forming acrosome, in the trans-Golgi apparatus of spermatocytes and spermatids and it follows the fate of this organelle in the later stages translocating to the caudal part of the cell. Taken together our findings suggest that 1) a specific pool(s) of cAMP is/are regulated by PDE8A during spermiogenesis pointing out a possible new role of this PDE8 isoform in key events governing the differentiation and maturation of human sperm and 2) PDE8B can be involved in Leydig cell transformation