Pain Relief in Older Adults Following Static Contractions is not Task-Dependent

Pain complaints increase with age. Exercise is frequently utilized for pain relief but the optimal exercise prescription to relieve pain is not clear. Following static contractions, young adults experience the greatest pain relief with low intensity, long duration contractions. The pain response to static contractions in older adults however is unknown. PURPOSE : To compare pain reports in healthy older adults before and after static contractions of varying intensity and duration. METHODS: Pain perception was assessed in 23 healthy older adults (11 men, 12 women; 72.0 ± 6.3 yrs) using a pressure pain device consisting of a 10 N force applied to the right index finger through a Lucite edge (8 x 1.5mm) for two minutes. Subjects pushed a timing device when they first felt pain (i.e., pain threshold) and rated their pain intensity every 20 seconds using a 0-10 numerical rating scale. Pain threshold and pain ratings were measured before and immediately after static contractions of the left elbow flexors at the following three doses: 1) three brief maximal voluntary contractions (MVC); 2) 25% MVC sustained for 2 minutes; and 3) 25% MVC sustained until task failure. Experimental sessions were randomized and separated by one week. RESULTS : Time to task failure for the 25% MVC contraction was 11.8 ± 5.1 minutes. A reduction in pain was found following all three tasks with no difference between tasks (trial x task effect: p \u3e 0.05), despite the duration of the 2 minute low-intensity contraction being ~17% of the contraction held to task failure. Pain thresholds for all doses increased 20% from 51 ± 33 to 61 ± 37 seconds and pain ratings averaged over the six time points decreased 20% from 3.3 ± 2.8 to 2.6 ± 2.5 following static contractions (trial effect: p \u3c 0.001 and p \u3c 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION : Low and high intensity static contractions of both long and short duration produce similar levels of pain reduction in older adults. These preliminary data suggest that several different types of static contractions can induce significant pain relief in older adults. Age-related changes in the pain response to static contractions must be taken into account when prescribing static exercise for the management of pain

Pain Relief in Older Adults Following Static Contractions is not Task-Dependent

Pain complaints increase with age. Exercise is frequently utilized for pain relief but the optimal exercise prescription to relieve pain is not clear. Following static contractions, young adults experience the greatest pain relief with low intensity, long duration contractions. The pain response to static contractions in older adults however is unknown. PURPOSE : To compare pain reports in healthy older adults before and after static contractions of varying intensity and duration. METHODS: Pain perception was assessed in 23 healthy older adults (11 men, 12 women; 72.0 ± 6.3 yrs) using a pressure pain device consisting of a 10 N force applied to the right index finger through a Lucite edge (8 x 1.5mm) for two minutes. Subjects pushed a timing device when they first felt pain (i.e., pain threshold) and rated their pain intensity every 20 seconds using a 0-10 numerical rating scale. Pain threshold and pain ratings were measured before and immediately after static contractions of the left elbow flexors at the following three doses: 1) three brief maximal voluntary contractions (MVC); 2) 25% MVC sustained for 2 minutes; and 3) 25% MVC sustained until task failure. Experimental sessions were randomized and separated by one week. RESULTS : Time to task failure for the 25% MVC contraction was 11.8 ± 5.1 minutes. A reduction in pain was found following all three tasks with no difference between tasks (trial x task effect: p \u3e 0.05), despite the duration of the 2 minute low-intensity contraction being ~17% of the contraction held to task failure. Pain thresholds for all doses increased 20% from 51 ± 33 to 61 ± 37 seconds and pain ratings averaged over the six time points decreased 20% from 3.3 ± 2.8 to 2.6 ± 2.5 following static contractions (trial effect: p \u3c 0.001 and p \u3c 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION : Low and high intensity static contractions of both long and short duration produce similar levels of pain reduction in older adults. These preliminary data suggest that several different types of static contractions can induce significant pain relief in older adults. Age-related changes in the pain response to static contractions must be taken into account when prescribing static exercise for the management of pain

Show-Me Resilience: Assessing And Reconciling Rural Leaders’ Perceptions Of Climate Resilience In Missouri

Rural areas of the United States play a vital role in coping with, adapting to and mitigating climate change, yet they often lag urban areas in climate planning and action. Rural leaders—e.g., policymakers, state/federal agency professionals, non-profit organization leadership, and scholars – are pivotal for driving the programs and policies that support resilient practices, but our understanding of their perspectives on climate resilience writ large is limited. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 rural leaders in Missouri to elucidate their conceptualizations of climate resilience and identify catalysts and constraints for climate adaptation planning and action across rural landscapes. We investigated participants\u27 perceptions of the major vulnerabilities of rural communities and landscapes, threats to rural areas, and potential steps for making rural Missouri more resilient in the face of climate change. We found that most rural leaders conceptualized climate resilience as responding to hazardous events rather than anticipating or planning for hazardous trends. The predominant threats identified were flooding and drought, which aligns with climate projections for the Midwest. Participants proposed a wide variety of specific steps to enhance resilience but had the highest agreement about the utility of expanding existing programs. The most comprehensive suite of solutions was offered by participants who conceptualized resilience as involving social, ecological, and economic systems, underscoring the importance of broad thinking for developing more holistic solutions to climate-associated threats and the potential impact of greater collaboration across domains. We highlight and discuss a Missouri-based levee setback project that was identified by participants as a showcase of collaborative resilience-building

2018-2019 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Report: Harvest, Youth Hunts, and Zone Option Preferences

A total of 3,123 (36% response rate) Illinois waterfowl hunters returned usable questionnaires to the 2018-19 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. An estimated 40,047 adult waterfowl hunters spent 1 day or more afield during 2018-19, an increase of 7.6% from the 37,215 hunters in 2017-18. Waterfowl hunters spent 831,043 days afield, an increase of 13.5 % from the 732,166 days devoted during the 2017-18 license year. Total waterfowl harvest decreased 2.1 %, from 421,384 during 2017-18 to 412,402 during 2018-19. Duck harvest estimates for the regular duck season were as follows: 147,733 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), 29,003 wood ducks (Aix sponsa), and 96,087 other ducks. A total of 23,326 teal (Anas spp.) were harvested during the September teal season. Goose hunters harvested 71,035 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) during the regular Canada goose season, a 9.9% decrease from the 78,850 Canada geese harvested during the 2017-18 regular goose season. Hunters harvested 13,165 Canada geese during the September Canada goose season, an 18.5% decrease from the previous year. During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, 4,822 adults took 5,775 youths waterfowl hunting, a 0.9% increase in adult participation and a 10.6% decrease in youth participation from the 2017-18 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season. Hunter preferences for season and zones, and satisfaction with the waterfowl seasons are also discussed.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-112-R-28unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

2018-2019 Illinois Hunter Harvest Report

A random sample of 5,000 hunters was selected from adult 2018 Illinois resident Habitat Stamp and hunting license holders. Selected individuals were mailed an 8-page self-administered questionnaire designed to query hunters about their hunting activities and harvest in Illinois. We received 2,631 questionnaires, 2,284 of which were usable, for a 47% response rate. Illinois resident license sales decreased 5% from 2017-18 (263,495) to 250,007 for the 2018-19 seasons. Total days afield for rabbit, quail, non-wild pheasant, dove, crow, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, turkey, deer, red fox, gray fox, coyote, and opossum decreased. Harvest increased for 5 game species (wild quail, wild pheasant, groundhog, deer, and red fox) from 2017-18. Hunters were also asked questions regarding hunting activity and harvest in Illinois, recruitment and retention, perceived effects of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) on deer hunting, and their attitudes toward wildlife and hunting in Illinois. Estimates of wild quail and pheasant harvested beginning during 2011-12 were calculated differently than previous estimates to include harvest of captive-raised birds distinct from wild birds, so comparisons across years are to be made with caution.Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-28unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Hunter Participation, Harvest, and Hunting Behavior During the 2019 Illinois Conservation Order

Harvest of light geese (Chen caerulescens, Chen rossii) during the 2019 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order was estimated at 86,683. An estimated 2,694 hunters participated in the 2019 Illinois Light Goose Conservation Order. Hunters spent an estimated 30,206 days afield during 2019, and the majority (64%) of the snow goose harvest occurred during the month of February. Due to changes in sampling of addresses and calculation of estimates, comparisons should not be made to years prior to 2014. Hunters were sampled from Harvest Information Program (HIP) registrants who reported they hunted snow and other light geese (including Ross’ and Blue geese) during the 2018 Light Goose Conservation Order. Electronic calls were used by 83.8% of hunters, 80.2% used unplugged shotguns, and 59.5% reported hunting between sunset and ½ hour after sunset. About forty-four percent of active snow goose hunters indicated an increase in effort over the past five years, and 7.2% of hunters had increased harvest of snow goose over the previous 5 years. Approximately fifty-three percent of active snow goose hunters used a guide or outfitter while hunting snow geese during the 2019 order.Federal Aid Project Number W-112-R-28unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Detection of acetone vapours using solution-processed tin oxide thin-film transistors

Abnormal concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breathe can be used as disease-specific biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of medical conditions, such as acetone for diabetes. Solution-processed bottom gate top contact metal oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) are used to detect acetone vapours, as part of a proof-of-concept study. The effect of increasing annealing temperature (T) and channel length (L) on electrical and sensing performance are explored. Drain current (Ids) increases following exposure as acetone undergoes a redox reaction with the adsorbed oxygen species on the semiconductor surface, which results in free electrons being released back into the conduction band. Responsivity (R) is maximized at negative bias (Vgs < 0). For L = 50 μm, the peak R of the TFT annealed at 450 °C is three times greater than that of the TFT annealed at 350 °C, with Vgs = − 37.5 V and − 33 V, respectively

Visual Literacy of Molecular Biology Revealed through a Card-Sorting Task

Visual literacy, which is the ability to effectively identify, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media, is an important aspect of science literacy. As molecular processes are not directly observable, researchers and educators rely on visual representations (e.g., drawings) to communicate ideas in biology. How learners interpret and organize those numerous diagrams is related to their underlying knowledge about biology and their skills in visual literacy. Furthermore, it is not always obvious how and why learners interpret diagrams in the way they do (especially if their interpretations are unexpected), as it is not possible to “see” inside the minds of learners and directly observe the inner workings of their brains. Hence, tools that allow for the investigation of visual literacy are needed. Here, we present a novel card-sorting task based on visual literacy skills to investigate how learners interpret and think about DNA-based concepts. We quantified differences in performance between groups of varying expertise and in pre- and postcourse settings using percentages of expected card pairings and edit distance to a perfect sort. Overall, we found that biology experts organized the visual representations based on deep conceptual features, while biology learners (novices) more often organized based on surface features, such as color and style. We also found that students performed better on the task after a course in which molecular biology concepts were taught, suggesting the activity is a useful and valid tool for measuring knowledge. We have provided the cards to the community for use as a classroom activity, as an assessment instrument, and/or as a useful research tool to probe student ideas about molecular biology

2019-2020 Illinois Hunter Harvest Report

A random sample of 5,000 hunters was selected from adult 2019 Illinois resident Habitat Stamp and hunting license holders. Selected individuals were mailed an 8-page self-administered questionnaire designed to query hunters about their hunting activities and harvest in Illinois. We received 2,406 questionnaires, 2,198 of which were usable, for a 45% response rate. Illinois resident license sales decreased 3% from 2018-19 (250,007) to 242,704 for the 2019-20 seasons. Total days afield decreased for rabbit, quail, pheasant, dove, woodcock, crow, groundhog, raccoon, red fox, and gray fox. Harvest increased for 9 game species (wild quail, crow, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, turkey, deer, gray fox, coyote, and opossum) from 2018-19. Hunters were also asked questions regarding hunting activity and harvest in Illinois, satisfaction with small game hunting, and perceived effects of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) on deer hunting. Estimates of wild quail and pheasant harvested beginning during 2011-12 were calculated differently than previous estimates to include harvest of captive-raised birds distinct from wild birds, so comparisons across years are to be made with caution.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe