EVOLUTION OF ANTHROPOMETRICAL AND KINEMATIC PARAMETERS IN YOUNG SWIMMERS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Swimming kinematics parameters have been widely applied to measure the swimming skill in training and competitive situations. The descriptive study aim was to analyse the evolution of the swimming kinematics parameters related to anthropometrical data in the age-group. The data was obtained during the Winter National Age-Group (1994) and Junior (1996) Championships organized by the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation. Only those participanting in both championships were analysed in this study. The obtained results allow to conclude that the evolution observed in the kinematics variables and antropometrical variables in young swimmers shows the improvement in the speed depends SL resulting in part from the increase in anthropometrical variables

A brutal campaign against Władysław Grabski and his monetary reform of 1919 as presented in the "Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny" daily newspaper

Scalanie państwa polskiego po 1918 roku wymagało szybkich i zdecydowanych działań, determinacji w przezwyciężeniu zaborczych odmienności i partykularyzmów. Artykuł przedstawia stosunek "Ilustrowanego Kuriera Codziennego", uważającego się za reprezentanta interesów mieszkańców Małopolski, do ujednolicenia walut przeprowadzonego w 1919 roku. Ukazuje skalę trudności zmian walutowych oraz całokształt krytyki, jakiej byli poddani autorzy reformy. Koncentruje się na prasowej krytyce na łamach IKC, sposobach zwalczania niekorzystnych rozwiązań ekonomicznych oraz proponujących je polityków. Artykuł skupia się szczególnie na stosunku IKC do Władysława Grabskiego pełniącego funkcję ministra skarbu oraz premiera rządu w analizowanym okresie, czyli od 1 stycznia 1919 do końca 1920 roku.The unification process of the Polish state after 1918 called for some prompt and decisive measures and persistency in overcoming the post-partition differences and idiosyncrasies. The article presents the attitude of the "Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny", a daily newpaper which deemed itself a representative of the interests of the people living in the Lesser Poland region (Małopolska, i.e. south-central Poland) towards the currency unification reform introduced in 1919. It shows how complex this reform was and how much criticism was directed at those behind it. The article focuses on the criticism from the "Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny", the measures the journalists took in order to fight both the unfavorable reformatory solutions and the politicians who prepared them. Particular attention is paid to the newspaper's attitude towards Władysław Grabski, who was the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister in the period under investigation, i.e. between the 1st of January 1919 and the end of 1920

Real-Time Hybrid Simulation for Infrastructure Degradation Assessment: Conceptual Framework and Illustrative Application

To date, the prospect of using real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) to study the effects of long-term or 'wear-and-tear' loads, such as exposure to harmful environmental conditions or fatigue, has remained underexplored. This study presents a conceptual framework to assess the impact of long-term degradation on infrastructure systems. The framework integrates the capabilities of RTHS with accelerated degradation techniques to evaluate the behavior of a degrading system over time. Experimental results obtained in this way not only capture the complex interactions but also provide a reliability-based method to determine the expected time-to-failure of the evaluated system. The developed framework is demonstrated using a virtual RTHS platform designed to test fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Risk factors for otitis media and carriage of multiple strains of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

We studied genetic diversity in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in throat culture isolates from 38 children attending two day-care centers in Michigan. Culture specimens were collected weekly; 184 S. pneumoniae and 418 H. influenzae were isolated from the cultures. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified 29 patterns among the S. pneumoniae isolates and 87 among the H. influenzae isolates. Of the cultures, 5% contained multiple genetic types of S. pneumoniae, and 43% contained multiple types of H. influenzae. Carriage of multiple H. influenzae isolates, which was associated with exposure to smoking, history of allergies, and age 36 to 47 months, may increase risk for otitis media in children

Isolation and characterization of the full-length cDNA encoding a member of a novel cytochrome p450 family (CYP320A1) from the tropical freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni

Cytochrome p450s (cyp450s) are a family of structurally related proteins, with diverse functions, including steroid synthesis and breakdown of toxins. This paper reports the full-length sequence of a novel cyp450 gene, the first to be isolated from the tropical freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata, an important intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. The nucleotide sequence is 2291 bp with a predicted amino acid sequence of 584aa. The sequence demonstrates conserved cyp450 structural motifs, but is sufficiently different from previously reported cyp450 sequences to be given a new classification, CYP320A1. Initially identified as down-regulated in partially resistant snails in response to S. mansoni infection, amplification of this gene using RT-PCR in both totally resistant or susceptible snail lines when exposed to infection, and all tissues examined, suggests ubiquitous expression. Characterization of the first cyp450 from B. glabrata is significant in understanding the evolution of these metabolically important proteins

Declining but Pronounced State-Level Disparities in Prescription Opioid Distribution in the United States

The United States (US) opioid epidemic is a persistent and pervasive public health emergency that claims the lives of over 80,000 Americans per year as of 2021. There have been sustained efforts to reverse this crisis over the past decade, including a number of measures designed to decrease the use of prescription opioids for the treatment of pain. This study analyzed the changes in federal production quotas for prescription opioids and the distribution of prescription opioids for pain and identified state-level differences between 2010 and 2019. Data (in grams) on opioid production quotas and distribution (from manufacturer to hospitals, retail pharmacies, practitioners, and teaching institutions) of 10 prescription opioids (codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and tapentadol) for 2010 to 2019 were obtained from the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Amounts of each opioid were converted from grams to morphine milligram equivalent (MME), and the per capita distribution by state was calculated using population estimates. Total opioid production quotas increased substantially from 2010 to 2013 before decreasing by 41.5% from 2013 (87.6 MME metric tons) to 2019 (51.3). The peak year for distribution of all 10 prescription opioids was between 2010 and 2013, except for codeine (2015). The largest quantities of opioid distribution were observed in Tennessee (520.70 MME per person) and Delaware (251.45) in 2011 and 2019. There was a 52.0% overall decrease in opioid distribution per capita from 2010 to 2019, with the largest decrease in Florida (−61.6%) and the smallest in Texas (−18.6%). Southern states had the highest per capita distribution for eight of the ten opioids in 2019. The highest to lowest state ratio of total opioid distribution, corrected for population, decreased from 5.25 in 2011 to 2.78 in 2019. The mean 95th/5th ratio was relatively consistent in 2011 (4.78 ± 0.70) relative to 2019 (5.64 ± 0.98). This study found a sustained decline in the distribution of ten prescription opioids during the last five years. Distribution was non-homogeneous at the state level. Analysis of state-level differences revealed a fivefold difference in the 95th:5th percentile ratio between states, which has remained unchanged over the past decade. Production quotas did not correspond with the distribution, particularly in the 2010–2016 period. Future research, focused on identifying factors contributing to the observed regional variability in opioid distribution, could prove valuable to understanding and potentially remediating the pronounced disparities in prescription opioid-related harms in the US

The PPARγ Agonist Pioglitazone Fails to Alter the Abuse Potential of Heroin, But Does Reduce Heroin Craving and Anxiety

Possibly through its effects on glia, the peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptor (PPARγ) agonist pioglitazone (PIO) has been shown to alter the effects of heroin in preclinical models. Until now, these results have not been assessed in humans. Heroin-dependent participants were randomized to either active (45 mg, n = 14) or placebo (0 mg, n = 16) PIO maintenance for the duration of the three-week study. After stabilization on buprenorphine (8 mg), participants began a two-week testing period. On the first to fourth test days, participants could self-administer drug or money by making verbal choices for either option. On the fifth day, active heroin and money were administered and participants could work to receive heroin or money using a progressive ratio choice procedure. Test days 6–10 were identical to test days 1–5 with the exception that, during one of the test weeks, placebo was available on the first four days, and during the other week heroin was available. PIO failed to alter the reinforcing or positive subjective effects of heroin, but it did reduce heroin craving and overall anxiety. Although we were unable to replicate the robust effects found in preclinical models, these data provide an indication of drug effects that deserves further exploration

Active compounds and distinctive sensory features provided by American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) extract in a new functional milk beverage

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has recognized neurocognitive effects, and a ginsenoside-rich extract of the root of the plant has been shown to improve cognitive functions in young adults. This study aimed at assessing the chemical and sensory profiles of a UHT-treated, low-lactose functional milk containing American ginseng. Individual ginsenosides in the milk were analyzed by HPLC. Descriptive sensory analysis was performed by a trained panel to quantitatively document sensory changes resulting from the addition of ginseng and the UHT process on flavored and unflavored milks. Consumer acceptance of the product was also investigated. Total ginsenoside content in the UHT-treated milk enriched with the ginseng extract after UHT process treatment was 7.52. mg/100. g of milk, corresponding to a recovery of 67.6% compared with the content in the unprocessed extract. The intake of 150 to 300. mL of this ginseng-enriched milk provides the amount of total ginsenosides (11.5 to 23. mg) necessary to improve cognitive function after its consumption. Both the presence of ginsenosides and their thermal treatment affected some sensory properties of the milk, most notably an increase in bitterness and metallic taste, the appearance of a brownish color, and a decrease in milky flavor. Levels of brown color, bitterness, and metallic taste were highest in the industrially processed ginseng-enriched milk. The bitterness attributable to ginseng extract was reduced by addition of vanilla flavor and sucralose. A consumer exploratory study revealed that a niche of consumers exists who are willing to consume this type of product.The financial support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Madrid, Spain) for the project SENIFOOD (CENIT Programme) and for the contract with A. Tárrega (Juan de la Cierva Programme) is acknowledged. We gratefully acknowledge Juan Duato Aguilar, from Naturex Spain S.L. (Quart de Poblet, Spain), for his valuable technical support

The Impact of Attenuated Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Vaccine on the Efficacy of Subunit Classical Swine Fever Vaccine

Commercial pigs have been routinely injected with multiple vaccines that are either administered separately or co-administered at the same time for convenience, and to minimize pig stress. However, viruses, including attenuated and modified live virus (MLV) vaccines, can modulate host immune responses that could potentially impact the efficacy of co-administered vaccines. Here we report the effects of pre- and co-administered Chinese highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus MLV, JXA1-R, on the efficacy of an emulsion-based classical swine fever virus (CSFV) subunit vaccine, KNB-E2. Immune responses to the CSFV and JXA1-R vaccines were evaluated by testing CSFV-specific and PRRSV-specific sera antibodies and then challenged with CSFV at 4 weeks post KNB-E2 vaccination. Pigs co-administered with JXA1-R vaccine and pigs vaccinated with JXA1-R two weeks before KNB-E2 vaccination had slightly lower CSFV-specific antibodies than pigs vaccinated with KNB-E2 alone at 3 weeks post KNB-E2 vaccination. However, both groups of JXA1-R/KNB-E2 vaccinated pigs were amply protected from CSF clinical symptoms upon challenge. The immunological responses affected by various multiple vaccination combinations in swine would be an interesting aspect for future investiga­tions

Solving the random diffusion model in an infinite medium: A mean square approach

[EN] This paper deals with the construction of an analytic-numerical mean square solution of the random diffusion model in an infinite medium. The well-known Fourier transform method, which is used to solve this problem in the deterministic case, is extended to the random framework. Mean square operational rules to the Fourier transform of a stochastic process are developed and stated. The main statistical moments of the stochastic process solution are also computed. Finally, some illustrative numerical examples are included.This work has been partially supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad grant: DPI2010-20891-c0-01, and Universitat Politecnica de Valencia grant: PAID06-11-2070.Casabán, M.; Company Rossi, R.; Cortés, J.; Jódar Sánchez, LA. (2014). Solving the random diffusion model in an infinite medium: A mean square approach. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 38(24):5922-5933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2014.04.063S59225933382