Effect of work:rest ratio on cycling performance following sprint interval training: A randomised control trial

Sprint interval training (SIT) has been shown to improve performance measures in a range of individuals, and it is understood that different responses can be elicited from different training protocols. However, consideration of changes in work: rest ratios could offer important insight into optimising training programmes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of three different work: rest ratios on exercise performance. Thirty-six male and female participants were randomly allocated to one of three training groups, or a non-training control group. Training consisted of 10x6 second ‘all-out’ sprints on a cycle ergometer, with a 1:8, 1:10 or 1:12 work: rest ratio. Performance data, including peak power output, performance decrement, and 10km time trial performance data were collected before and after 2-weeks of SIT. There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvements in all parameters for the training groups, but no changes in the control condition. Peak power increased by 57.2W, 50.7W and 53.7W in the 1:8, 1:10 and 1:12 groups respectively, with no significant differences in response between conditions. Time trial performance improved significantly in all three training conditions (29.4s, 8.7s, and 25.1s in the 1:8, 1:10 and 1:12 groups), while worsening in the control group. All training conditions resulted in significant improvements in performance, but there were no significant differences in improvement for any of the groups. Any of the three stated work: rest ratios would be appropriate for use with athletes and allow some level of personal preference for those interested in using the protocol

What is the mechanism effect that links social support to coping and psychological outcome within individuals affected by prostate cancer? Real time data collection using mobile technology

Abstract Unmet support needs are prevalent in men affected by prostate cancer. Moreover, little is known about the optimal type of social support, or its mechanism effect between coping and emotional outcome in men affected by this disease to identify areas for clinical intervention. This study aimed to empirically test the propositions of social support theory in “real time” within individual men living with and beyond prostate cancer. Purposeful sub-sample from a larger prospective longitudinal study of prostate cancer survivors, took part in real time data collection using mobile technology. Self-reports were collected for 31 days prompted by an audio alarm 3 times per day (a total of 93 data entries) for each of the 12 case studies. Electronic data were analysed using time series analysis. Majority of response rates were >90%. Men reported a lack of satisfaction with their support over time. Testing the propositions of social support theory “within individuals” over time demonstrated different results for main effect, moderation and mediation pathways that linked coping and social support to emotional outcome. For two men, negative effects of social support were identified. For six men the propositions of social support theory did not hold considering their within-person data. This innovative study is one of the first, to demonstrate the acceptability of e-health technology in an ageing population of men affected by prostate cancer. Collectively, the case series provided mixed support for the propositions of social support theory, and demonstrates that “one size does not fit all”

Evaluation of Flying Start NHS

Introduction In January 2006 “Flying Start NHS”, a national web-based educational resource to support the transition from student to qualified practitioner for all newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHP) joining NHS Scotland was launched. This report brings together the findings from a two-year evaluation which focussed on the impact and effectiveness of Flying Start NHS in supporting the recruitment, confidence and skills development of newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals within NHS Scotland. The evaluation was carried out be a research team from the University of the West of Scotland, the University of Stirling, and the University of Dundee

Testing Two Student Nurse Stress Instruments in Chinese Nursing Students:A Comparative Study Using Exploratory Factor Analysis

Background. The development and transformation of nursing within professional tertiary education have exerted a great pressure and challenge upon nursing students. Stress experienced by nursing students is a common precursor of psychological distress and attrition. However, no scale is specifically used to evaluate the sources of stress experienced by nursing students in Mainland China. Aims and Objective. This study is aimed at testing and comparing the reliability and validity including sensitivity and specificity of two nursing students’ stress instruments, the Chinese version of Student Nurse Stress Index Scale (SNSI-CHI), and the Stressors in Student Nursing Scale (SINS-CN) in Chinese nursing students, and describing the stress status of nursing students in China. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two nursing schools in Henan Province from August 2017 to January 2018. Data were collected by using a questionnaire comprising the Chinese version of SNSI (SNSI-CHI), the Chinese version of SINS (SINS-CN), and the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). Homogeneity and stability, content, construct and concurrent validity, and sensitivity and specificity were assessed. Results. The Cronbach’s alpha (α) of SNSI-CHI was 0.90, and the item-to-total correlations ranged from 0.35 to 0.66. The Cronbach’s α of SINS-CN was 0.93, and the item-to-total correlations ranged from 0.19 to 0.61. The findings of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirmed a good construct validity of SNSI-CHI and SINS-CN. The Pearson’s rank correlation coefficients, between total scores of SNSI-CHI and CPSS and SINS-CN and CPSS, were assessed to 0.38 (P<0.01) and 0.39 (P<0.01), respectively. Regarding the CPSS, as the criterion, the cut-points of SNSI-CHI and SINS-CN for the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve were 0.77and 0.66, respectively. Conclusion. Both scales are valid and reliable for evaluating the source of stress of student nurses in China. Each has its own characteristics, but the SNSI-CHI demonstrated marginal advantage over the SINS-CN. The SNSI-CHI is short, is easily understood, and with clear dimension for the nursing students, and the SNSI-CHI is more acceptable for the users in China

Development of a lightweight camera for high altitude platform systems

We describe the development of a lightweight, high-resolution surveillance camera for deployment on high altitude platform systems. The instrument is designed to operate at an altitude of ∼20 km and has an expected ground resolution of better than 120 mm with an appropriate sensor. While designed specifically for imaging at visible wavelengths, it is shown that the design is capable of diffraction-limited imaging at NIR and SWIR wavelengths up to 2.5 μm. We have combined a range of materials from aluminum and titanium alloys through to carbon fiber reinforced plastic to produce an instrument with structural components that match the thermal expansion of the optical glasses used. The use of these materials has resulted in an instrument that weighs <2 kg, including a sensor package, and is designed to weigh <3 kg once integrated with an enclosure and actuated gimbal. The successful testing of two prototype systems is described, including several design outcomes from the program intended for implementation in advance of flight trials

In situ correlative observation of humping-induced cracking in directed energy deposition of nickel-based superalloys

Directed energy deposition (DED) is a promising additive manufacturing technique for repair; however, DED is prone to surface waviness (humping) in thin-walled sections, which increases residual stresses and crack susceptibility, and lowers fatigue performance. Currently, the crack formation mechanism in DED is not well understood due to a lack of operando monitoring methods with high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we use inline coherent imaging (ICI) to optically monitor surface topology and detect cracking in situ, coupled with synchrotron X-ray imaging for observing sub-surface crack healing and growth. For the first time, ICI was aligned off-axis (24° relative to laser), enabling integration into a DED machine with no alterations to the laser delivery optics. We achieved accurate registration laterally (0.93), directly tracking surface roughness and waviness. We intentionally seed humping into thin-wall builds of nickel super-alloy CM247LC, locally inducing cracking in surface valleys. Crack openings as small as 7 µm were observed in situ using ICI, including sub-surface signal. By quantifying both humping and cracking, we demonstrate that ICI is a viable tool for in situ crack detection

Stress in nurses : stress-related affect and its determinants examined over the nursing day

Peer reviewedPostprin

Performance of a cryogenic test facility for 4 K interferometer delay line investigations

The next generation of space-borne instruments for far infrared astronomical spectroscopy will utilize large diameter, cryogenically cooled telescopes in order to achieve unprecedented sensitivities. Low background, ground-based cryogenic facilities are required for the cryogenic testing of materials, components and subsystems. The University of Lethbridge Test Facility Cryostat (TFC) is a large volume, closed cycle, 4 K cryogenic facility, developed for this purpose. This paper discusses the design and performance of the facility and associated metrology instrumentation, both internal and external to the TFC. Additionally, an apparatus for measuring the thermal and mechanical properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers is presented

Why does work cause fatigue? A real-time investigation of fatigue, and determinants of fatigue in nurses working 12-hour shifts

Background One of the striking regularities of human behavior is that a prolonged physical, cognitive, or emotional activity leads to feelings of fatigue. Fatigue could be due to (1) depletion of a finite resource of physical and/or psychological energy or (2) changes in motivation,attention, and goal-directed effort (e.g. motivational control theory).Purpose To contrast predictions from these two views in a real-time study of subjective fatigue in nurses while working.Methods One hundred nurses provided 1,453 assessments over two 12-hr shifts. Nurses rated fatigue, demand, control, and reward every 90 min. Physical energy expenditure was measured objectively using Actiheart. Hypotheses were tested using multilevel models to predictfatigue from (a) the accumulated values of physical energy expended, demand, control, and reward over the shift and (b) from distributed lag models of the same variables over the previous 90 min.Results Virtually all participants showed increasing fatigue over the work period. This increase was slightly greater when working overnight. Fatigue was not dependent on physical energy expended nor perceived work demands. However, it was related to perceivedcontrol over work and perceived reward associated with work.Conclusions Findings provide little support for a resource depletion model; however, the finding that control and reward both predicted fatigue