Body Composition and Anthropometric Changes During a 10-week Training Academy in Police Recruits

Obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors are often present in law enforcement personnel, which may compromise physical readiness and long-term health. As such, physical fitness interventions are warranted for promoting officers\u27 performance and wellbeing. PURPOSE: To determine the body composition and anthropometric changes experienced by police recruits undergoing a departmental training academy. METHODS: Twenty-one police recruits (20 M, 1 F; age: 25.1 ± 5.0 y; BMI: 27.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2) were tested before and after a 10-week training academy in Lubbock, Texas. Supervised physical training was conducted 5 times per week and consisted of ~1–1.5 hours of high-intensity, multi-modal (i.e., running, weightlifting, calisthenics), functional training following linear periodization. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; GE Lunar iDXA) and 3-dimensional optical imaging (3DO; Size Stream SS20) were performed to assess body composition and anthropometry. Paired-samples t-tests were performed to compare values before and after the training academy, and Cohen’s d effect sizes were generated. After Bonferroni correction, statistical significance was accepted at p\u3c0.003. Changes are presented as mean ± SD. RESULTS: From DXA, statistically significant decreases in total fat mass (FM; -3.3 ± 3.1 kg, p\u3c0.001, d=1.1), trunk FM (-2.1 ± 2.2 kg, p\u3c0.001, d=1.0), arms FM (-0.3 ± 0.3 kg, p=0.001, d=1.1), legs FM (-0.9 ± 0.9 kg, p\u3c0.001, d=1.1), and body fat percentage (-3.1 ± 2.5%, p\u3c0.001, d=1.2) were observed. Increases in total lean soft tissue (LST; 1.3 ± 1.3 kg, p=0.002, d=1.0) and trunk LST (0.8 ± 0.9 kg, p\u3c0.001, d=0.9) were also noted, with trends for increases in leg LST (0.2 ± 0.7 kg, p=0.096, d=0.4) and arm LST (0.2 ± 0.4, p=0.04, d=0.5). Decreases in 3DO abdomen circumference (-3.5 ± 3.8 cm, p\u3c0.001, d=0.9) and hip circumference (-2.2 ± 2.2 cm, p\u3c0.001, d=1.0) were noted, with trends for decreases in the circumferences of the waist (-2.4 ± 3.6 cm, p=0.007, d=0.7) and upper arm (-0.9 ± 1.5 cm, p=0.02, d=0.6). No significant changes in thigh circumference (-0.7 ± 1.9 cm, p=0.12, d=0.4) or calf circumference (-0.2 ± 1.5 cm, p=0.52, d=0.1) were noted. A trend for a decrease in body mass (-2.0 ± 3.1 kg, p=0.007, d=0.7) was also observed. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that police academy training significantly improves recruits\u27 body composition, both reducing FM and increasing LST, which has the potential to positively affect operational performance. Future studies should track these changes over time to help develop ongoing health and fitness strategies for career police officers, ultimately improving their long-term wellbeing and job readiness

Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Relationships Between Skinfold Thicknesses Obtained by Ultrasonography and Body Fat Estimates Produced by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Ultrasonography (US) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are frequently used to assess body composition. Although sometimes compared cross-sectionally, their agreement longitudinally requires further exploration. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between total and segmental raw skinfold thicknesses obtained by US and total and segmental body composition estimates produced by DXA over the course of an overfeeding study. Methods: Twenty healthy, resistance-trained males (mean ± SD; age: 22.0 ± 2.6 years; height: 179.1 ± 7.0 cm; body mass: 74.8 ± 11.5 kg, body fat: 17.5 ± 4.5%) completed a 6-week intervention that included 3 weekly sessions of supervised resistance training (RT) and the consumption of a hypercaloric diet. Before and after the 6-week intervention, body composition was assessed using DXA and B-mode US on seven measurement locations specified by Jackson and Pollock. Relationships between DXA and US variables were examined using Pearson\u27s product-moment correlation (r) and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Additional validity metrics were also calculated. Results: Cross-sectionally, correlations were observed between whole body DXA fat mass (FM) and total subcutaneous tissue thickness (r = 0.88 [95% CI: 0.72, 0.95]). Longitudinally, a significant correlation was observed between total DXA FM changes and total subcutaneous thickness changes (r = 0.49, CCC = 0.38). Correlations of similar magnitudes were observed for the upper body and trunk. In contrast, DXA FM changes were unrelated to changes in subcutaneous tissue thicknesses for the lower body and arms. Cross-sectionally, 2-compartment (2C) FM estimates from US and DXA FM were correlated (r = 0.91, CCC = 0.83). However, the mean difference between these FM estimates was 2.2 ± 2.1 kg (mean ± SD), and the total error (TE) between DXA and US FM estimates was 2.97 kg. Longitudinally, a weaker correlation was observed than that cross-sectionally (r = 0.47, CCC = 0.33), and the TE between DXA and US FM changes was 1.80 kg. Conclusion: Results from this study showed generally good agreement between DXA and US cross-sectionally, but a much weaker relationship longitudinally. In addition, DXA FM changes were unrelated to changes in subcutaneous tissue thicknesses for the lower body and arms, indicating better agreement when examining the upper body as compared to the lower body. Future research with US or calipers should report raw skinfold thicknesses, and the differences between common body composition estimation techniques should be considered when examining longitudinal body fat changes

Comparison of Indirect Calorimetry and Common Prediction Equations for Evaluating Changes in Resting Metabolic Rate Induced by Resistance Training and a Hypercaloric Diet

An individual’s resting metabolic rate (RMR) is commonly the largest contributor to total daily energy expenditure. Prediction equations are most often employed by practitioners to estimate RMR, due to their superior practicality in many settings relative to laboratory methods like indirect calorimetry (IC). The ability to quantify RMR change over time may be more valuable than cross-sectional estimates as practitioners can then utilize these changes to prescribe adjustments to one’s nutritional intake. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of several commonly used prediction equations to track RMR changes during a hypercaloric nutrition intervention and supervised exercise training program. METHODS: Twenty generally healthy males (mean ± standard deviation; age: 21.9 ± 2.6 years; height: 178.1 ± 6.9 cm; body mass: 72.2 ± 7.3 kg; fat-free mass index: 18.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2 ; bench press strength: 1.3 ± 0.2 kg/kg BM; leg press strength: 3.4 ± 0.9 kg/kg BM) completed a supervised resistance training program in conjunction with a hypercaloric diet. The protocol lasted 6 weeks, and participants completed RMR assessments via IC pre-and post-intervention to obtain reference values. Existing RMR prediction equations based on body mass or fat-free mass were also evaluated. Equivalence testing was used to evaluate whether each prediction equation demonstrated equivalence with IC based on a ± 50 kcal/d equivalence region, and the confidence limits for the two-one-sided t-tests were calculated. Null hypothesis significance testing was performed, and Bland-Altman analyses were utilized alongside linear regression to assess the degree of proportional bias. RESULTS: IC RMR values increased by 165 ± 97 kcal/d. All prediction equations underestimated RMR changes, relative to IC, with magnitudes ranging from 75 to 132 kcal/d, while also displaying unacceptable levels of negative proportional bias. Additionally, all prediction equations significantly differed from measured IC values, and no equation demonstrated equivalence with IC. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the examined prediction equations are not acceptable for tracking RMR changes in resistance-trained males, within the context of the present study. The consistent underestimation of RMR changes indicates that the input variables, and their weights within the prediction equations, were insufficient to adequately explain the observed changes in RMR

Governance traditions and narratives of public sector reform in contemporary France.

This article explores the basic traditions of governance in contemporary France and the narratives of public sector reform associated with them. It should be stressed right from the outset that this article does not aim to describe the set of public sector reforms that have been implemented in France in the last ten years or so. Instead, the aim is to demonstrate the similarities and differences between the narratives of the left and the right with regard to these reforms and to show how these narratives help to explain the types of reform that have been enacted. The basic argument is that there is a certain commonality to both the left and the right with regard to their narratives of public sector reform. At the same time, though, there are differences of emphasis both within each tradition and between the two main traditions themselves. Except where indicated, all translations are the author's own

Las personas mayores frente al COVID-19: tendencias demográficas y acciones políticas

El impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la población de los países de América Latina (AL) depende en gran medida de las acciones de política pública (en general) y de salud (en particular) que los gobiernos hayan adoptado para frenar su avance y efectos. Especial atención merecen las personas mayores como grupo demográfico de más vulnerabilidad frente a esta enfermedad infecciosa. Así, este trabajo tiene dos objetivos: primero, examinar la tendencia de COVID-19 a partir de los casos confirmados y la mortalidad por esa causa entre personas adultas mayores de una selección de países de AL (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, México y Uruguay) junto con España; para luego destacar las acciones y políticas dirigidas a la atención de la población mayor en cada país durante la primera ola de la pandemia

Older people facing COVID-19: demographic trends and policy actions

El impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la población de los países de América Latina (AL) depende en gran medida de las acciones de política pública (en general) y de salud (en particular) que los gobiernos hayan adoptado para frenar su avance y efectos. Especial atención merecen las personas mayores como grupo demográfico de más vulnerabilidad frente a esta enfermedad infecciosa. Así, este trabajo tiene dos objetivos: primero, examinar la tendencia de COVID-19 a partir de los casos confirmados y la mortalidad por esa causa entre personas adultas mayores de una selección de países de AL (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, México y Uruguay) junto con España; para luego destacar las acciones y políticas dirigidas a la atención de la población mayor en cada país durante la primera ola de la pandemia.The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population of the countries of Latin America (LA) depends, to a large extent, on the public policies, and particularly on the health actions, that governments have adopted to confront the social and health crisis the pandemic has brought. Older people deserve special attention as one of the most vulnerable demographic groups to this infectious disease. The objec-tives of this work are: firstly, to examine the COVID-19 trend from confirmed cases and mortality due to this cause among older persons from a group of LA countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Uruguay) and Spain. Secondly, to explore actions and policies put in place in these countries to support older persons in particular, during the first wave of the pandemic.publishedVersionFil: Acosta, Laura Débora. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Acosta, Laura Débora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentina.Fil: Cardona Arango, Doris. Universidad Ces.; Colombia.Fil: Costa, José Vilton. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Brasil.Fil: Delgado, Alicia. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; Ecuador.Fil: Freire, Flávio Henrique M. de A. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Brasil.Fil: Garay Villegas, Sagrario. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León; México.Fil: Gómez León, Madelin. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; España.Fil: Paredes Della Croce, Mariana. Universidad de la República; Uruguay.Fil: Peláez, Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Peláez, Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudio sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentina.Fil: Peláez, Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina.Fil: Peláez, Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones de la Facultad de Psicología; Argentina.Fil: Rodríguez Rodríguez, Vicente. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España.Fil: Rojo Pérez, Fermina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España.Fil: Silva Ramírez, Rafael. University of Montreal; Canadá

The Concile National of 1811: Napoleon, Gallicanism and the Failure of Neo-Conciliarism

The concile national of 1811 was, among, the greatest flashpoints in the struggle that pitted the Napoleonic Empire against the papacy. The concile deserves to be situated within more recent historiographical trends. This incident reveals much about the nature of Napoleonic imperialism and the Church’s distrust for the power of the state. This article puts forward the view that the failure of the concile national was not strategic but tactical. Several bishops were frustrated with the pope’s recalcitrance over episcopal investiture and fearful of schism. Their initial openness to neo-conciliarism turned to hostility when confronted with the state’s intolerance