Effect of Hydro-Resistance Training on Bat Velocity

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hydro-resistance training on bat velocity during mimicked baseball swings in twenty-five female college students. Subjects were pre-tested for bat velocity and assigned to dry land (n = 8), water (n = 8), and control (n = 9) groups. The dry land group swung a 737 g (26 oz) Easton T1 Thunderstick baseball bat for three sets of 15 swings, three days per week, for eight weeks. The water group performed the swings in shoulder deep water. The dry land and water groups also participated in mandatory team general resistance training three days per week. The control group performed no bat swing or resistance-training regimens. Mean bat velocity was measured with an electronic eye-timing device. A 3 x 2 (Group x Time) ANOVA with repeated measures was used for statistical analysis, followed up with Tukey’s post hoc test. Bat velocity decreased significantly for the dry land and water groups (24.0 ± 3.6 m/s to 20.6 ± 4.1 m/s and 23.8 ± 3.5 to 18.8 ± 4.1 m/s, respectively). Bat velocity did not change for the control group (21.5 ± 3.0 m/s to 20.2 ± 2.1 m/s). We speculate that the decreased bat velocity in the dry land and water groups was caused by the mandatory team general resistance-training program

Paroxysmal eye–head movements in Glut1 deficiency syndrome

Objective:To describe a characteristic paroxysmal eye–head movement disorder that occurs in infants with Glut1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1 DS).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 101 patients with Glut1 DS to obtain clinical data about episodic abnormal eye movements and analyzed video recordings of 18 eye movement episodes from 10 patients.Results:A documented history of paroxysmal abnormal eye movements was found in 32/101 patients (32%), and a detailed description was available in 18 patients, presented here. Episodes started before age 6 months in 15/18 patients (83%), and preceded the onset of seizures in 10/16 patients (63%) who experienced both types of episodes. Eye movement episodes resolved, with or without treatment, by 6 years of age in 7/8 patients with documented long-term course. Episodes were brief (usually &lt;5 minutes). Video analysis revealed that the eye movements were rapid, multidirectional, and often accompanied by a head movement in the same direction. Eye movements were separated by clear intervals of fixation, usually ranging from 200 to 800 ms. The movements were consistent with eye–head gaze saccades. These movements can be distinguished from opsoclonus by the presence of a clear intermovement fixation interval and the association of a same-direction head movement.Conclusions:Paroxysmal eye–head movements, for which we suggest the term aberrant gaze saccades, are an early symptom of Glut1 DS in infancy. Recognition of the episodes will facilitate prompt diagnosis of this treatable neurodevelopmental disorder.</jats:sec

Sucrose as a Feeding Deterrent for Fruit-Eating Birds

Economic losses due to bird damage to small fruits such as blueberries, grapes, and cherries can be very high and are expected to increase in the future. The primary sugars in these fruits are glucose and fructose. Sucrose is present in very low concentrations only. Our research has unveiled a physiological trait common to many fruit-eating species in the phylogenetically related families Muscicapidae, Mirnidae, and Sturnidae. These birds are unable to digest sucrose because they lack the intestinal enzyme sucrase which hydrolyzes sucrose into glucose and fructose prior to absorption. In cage tests these birds prefer glucose and fructose to sucrose solutions and reject concentrated sucrose solutions and artificial gel fruits made with sucrose. Is it reasonable and feasible to attempt development of high-sucrose cultivars with the goal of deterring birds in fruit crops? Variation in the proportion of sucrose in mature fruits is present among strawberry, cherry, and blueberry cultivars. Consequently, genetic resources are available to develop high-sucrose cultivars through traditional breeding practices or bioengineering. We suggest that major fm i t-depredating species, such as American robins and European starlings, will avoid eating high-sucrose fruits in an agricultural setting provided that (1) sucrose concentration in these fruits is sufficiently high, (2) there is alternate food available, and (3) high-sucrose fruits are planted in relatively large stands. Despite the obvious need for more data, we believe that increasing the sucrose content of small-berried fruits is a promising direction in integrated pest management research that can result in substantial reductions in bird damage

Optimizations of Pt/SiC and W/Si multilayers for the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, NuSTAR, is a NASA funded Small Explorer Mission, SMEX, scheduled for launch in mid 2011. The spacecraft will fly two co-aligned conical approximation Wolter-I optics with a focal length of 10 meters. The mirrors will be deposited with Pt/SiC and W/Si multilayers to provide a broad band reflectivity from 6 keV up to 78.4 keV. To optimize the mirror coating we use a Figure of Merit procedure developed for gazing incidence optics, which averages the effective area over the energy range, and combines an energy weighting function with an angular weighting function to control the shape of the desired effective area. The NuSTAR multilayers are depth graded with a power-law, d_i = a/(b + i)^c, and we optimize over the total number of bi-layers, N, c, and the maximum bi-layer thickness, d_(max). The result is a 10 mirror group design optimized for a flat even energy response both on and off-axis

Chlorantraniliprole (Rynaxypyr): A novel DuPont™ insecticide with low toxicity and low risk for honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) providing excellent tools for uses in integrated pest management

contribution to session IVTest methodology Background: The effects on bees of chlorantraniliprole (DPX-E2Y45, DuPont™ Rynaxypyr), a new anthranilic diamide insecticide with a novel and very specific mode of action activating insect ryanodine receptors were investigated.Results: Acute toxicity tests with chlorantraniliprole and the formulations, Coragen and Altacor, demonstrated low intrinsic toxicity to honey bees. Low risk for honey bees was demonstrated in semi-field tunnel tests with flowering Phacelia or wheat (with daily sprays of sugar solution to simulate honey dew) at application rates of Coragen of up to 60 g chlorantraniliprole/ha. Low potential of systemic exposure via pollen and nectar of honeybees to chlorantraniliprole was documented in a residue Phacelia tunnel trial with chlorantraniliprole applied to and mixed into bare soil. The impact of Altacor on bumble bees was studied in a greenhouse test in tomato at 40 g chlorantraniliprole/ha. Bumble bees directly over-sprayed during foraging activity with chlorantraniliprole or exposed to treated plants behaved as controls. Conclusion: Chlorantraniliprole formulations provide excellent tools for integrated pest management (IPM) programmes to conserve pollinating honey bees and bumble bees. Keywords: Chlorantraniliprole, Rynaxypyr®, insecticide, side-effects, honey bee, bumble bee, integrated pest management (IPM

A “Dark Side” of Communication Avoidance: Indirect Interpersonal Aggressiveness

Although our understanding of direct forms of verbal aggressiveness has been greatly advanced over the past decade, indirect interpersonal aggressiveness has remained relatively understudied. In the present study, items designed to tap indirect forms of interpersonal aggressiveness were written, administered to participants, factor analyzed along with verbal aggressiveness items, and correlated with a criterion measure. Results produced an internally consistent set of item which: (1) loaded on a separate factor from verbal aggressiveness items, (2) contributed unique variance over that accounted for by verbal aggressiveness in the prediction of psychoticism, a theoretically appropriate criterion variable for validating aggression measures, and (3) loaded on the same factor with verbal aggressiveness and psychoticism when second‐order factor analysis was conducted

A “Dark Side” of Communication Avoidance: Indirect Interpersonal Aggressiveness

Although our understanding of direct forms of verbal aggressiveness has been greatly advanced over the past decade, indirect interpersonal aggressiveness has remained relatively understudied. In the present study, items designed to tap indirect forms of interpersonal aggressiveness were written, administered to participants, factor analyzed along with verbal aggressiveness items, and correlated with a criterion measure. Results produced an internally consistent set of item which: (1) loaded on a separate factor from verbal aggressiveness items, (2) contributed unique variance over that accounted for by verbal aggressiveness in the prediction of psychoticism, a theoretically appropriate criterion variable for validating aggression measures, and (3) loaded on the same factor with verbal aggressiveness and psychoticism when second‐order factor analysis was conducted

Fibronectin and Cyclic Strain Improve Cardiac Progenitor Cell Regenerative Potential In Vitro.

Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) have rapidly advanced to clinical trials, yet little is known regarding their interaction with the microenvironment. Signaling cues present in the microenvironment change with development and disease. This work aims to assess the influence of two distinct signaling moieties on CPCs: cyclic biaxial strain and extracellular matrix. We evaluate four endpoints for improving CPC therapy: paracrine signaling, proliferation, connexin43 expression, and alignment. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (about 900 pg/mL) was secreted by CPCs cultured on fibronectin and collagen I. The application of mechanical strain increased vascular endothelial growth factor A secretion 2-4-fold for CPCs cultured on poly-L-lysine, laminin, or a naturally derived cardiac extracellular matrix. CPC proliferation was at least 25% higher on fibronectin than that on other matrices, especially for lower strain magnitudes. At 5% strain, connexin43 expression was highest on fibronectin. With increasing strain magnitude, connexin43 expression decreased by as much as 60% in CPCs cultured on collagen I and a naturally derived cardiac extracellular matrix. Cyclic mechanical strain induced the strongest CPC alignment when cultured on fibronectin or collagen I. This study demonstrates that culturing CPCs on fibronectin with 5% strain magnitude is optimal for their vascular endothelial growth factor A secretion, proliferation, connexin43 expression, and alignment

Relationships and Client Protection Differences in the APA and ACA Ethical Codes

We present the results of a line-by-line comparison regarding relationship and client protection issues between the American Psychological Association (APA) and American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical codes. Out of 144 total differences in these ethical codes, 34 differences pertain specifically to the topics of relationships and client protection. Results from the study showed ACA to provide extensive requirements and prohibitions relating to the therapeutic relationship, compared to APA’s more general and principle-driven approach to this domain. Citing a few examples here, we note that ACA requires more extensive documentation of relationship boundary changes pertaining to romantic and/or sexual relationships, therapeutic role changes, and other redefinitions of relationships. Additionally, ACA and APA both limit the potential for multiple relationships, but ACA specifically prohibits counselors from terminating a therapeutic relationship in order to pursue a romantic relationship with someone closely related to their client. In sum regarding this domain, the ACA is more definitive, prescriptive, and limiting in what appears to be attempts at providing strengthened client protection. Similarly, the ACA is more detailed and narrow regarding client/counselor relationships and other therapeutic boundary establishments. The protections also are more fully extended to the counseling supervisor/supervisee relationship in the ACA code. In contrast, the APA is more general and/or silent in the domains which are spelled-out in detail by ACA. In the present study, we draw attention to the specific wording in the two documents and how these differences in words potentially impact clinical practice with both clients and supervisees. We also discuss how the results of the present study have implications for undergraduate students who are at the point of decision-making regarding which profession to select. Additionally, any psychologist who supervises counselors must ensure that all ethical standards—of both psychology and counseling—are upheld when counselors work under the licenses of a practicing psychologist. And finally, agencies who hire both licensed psychologist and licensed counselors must be aware of these significant differences in the APA and ACA ethical codes. We place the results of the present study into the larger context of the overall differences between the two codes

The Exemplar T8 Subdwarf Companion of Wolf 1130

We have discovered a wide separation (188.5") T8 subdwarf companion to the sdM1.5+WD binary Wolf 1130. Companionship of WISE J200520.38+542433.9 is verified through common proper motion over a ~3 year baseline. Wolf 1130 is located 15.83 +/- 0.96 parsecs from the Sun, placing the brown dwarf at a projected separation of ~3000 AU. Near-infrared colors and medium resolution (R~2000-4000) spectroscopy establish the uniqueness of this system as a high-gravity, low-metallicity benchmark. Although there are a number of low-metallicity T dwarfs in the literature, WISE J200520.38+542433.9 has the most extreme inferred metallicity to date with [Fe/H] = -0.64 +/- 0.17 based on Wolf 1130. Model comparisons to this exemplar late-type subdwarf support it having an old age, a low metallicity, and a small radius. However, the spectroscopic peculiarities of WISE J200520.38+542433.9 underscore the importance of developing the low-metallicity parameter space of the most current atmospheric models.Comment: Accepted to ApJ on 05 September 2013; 33 pages in preprint format, 8 figures, 3 table