Effects of a 10-Week Introductory Judo Course on Postural Control During Reactionary Bilateral Gripping Task With Varied Stances and Lower Body Power Performance

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is twofold: 1.) Examine the effects of 10-weeks of an introductory judo course on postural control during maximal bilateral isometric handgrip testing using different stance conditions and lower body power performance, and 2.) To analyze the relationship between maximal bilateral handgrip exertions on postural control during varied stance conditions. METHODS: Twenty recreationally active men and women divided into two an experimental group, (JDO) (n = 10; 21.70 ± 3.83 y; 169.91 ± 6.01 cm; 73.89 ± 12.10 kg; 19.01 ± 8.06% BF), and a control group, (CON) (n = 10; 21.50 ± 2.84 y; 170.06 ± 8.28 cm; 76.62 ± 12.03 kg; 22.41 ± 6.64% BF), participated in this study. Both groups completed pretesting, performing nine randomly assigned experimental trials measuring center of pressure (COP) variables during the performance of a bilateral reactionary gripping task using varied stance conditions. Each trial consisted of bilateral maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) measured simultaneously with a handgrip dynamometer, three times with a neutral (N), dominant foot forward (D), and non-dominant (ND) foot forward stance. Furthermore, participants performed three bilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ) trials. All trials were completed while standing on a portable force platform, which was used, in conjunction with corresponding software, to track COP amplitude in the mediolateral (COPML) and anteroposterior (COPAP) directions, COP mean velocity (MV), and COP area (AREA) while gripping the dynamometer, and ground reaction forces, peak force (CMJPKF), peak power (CMJPP), and rate of power development (CMJRPD), during CMJ performance. Subjects were instructed to grasp the dynamometers as forcefully as possible for ∼5-sec during each trial. All trials were separated by a recovery period of 60-sec. A Waterloo Handedness and Footedness Questionnaire was used to determine subject upper and lower body laterality. Participants repeated the testing protocol following the conclusion of the 10-week course. RESULTS: No significant interactions were observed in MVC strength of the DOM and NON hands during any of the three stance conditions following the 10-week judo course. Furthermore, no significant interactions were observed for any of the COP variables. However, a significant main effect of stance was observed for COPML, MV, and AREA. Results did reveal that CMJPP significantly improved in the JDO group (PRE: 3584.70 ± 716.59W - POST: 3750.10 ± 699.61W) following the 10-week judo course, while no change was observed in the CON group (PRE: 3693.10 ± 1083.77W – POST: 3654.40 ± 1023.94W). However, no change was seen in CMJPKF or CMJRPD. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation indicate that 10-weeks of an introductory judo course may increase CMJPP, however, has no effect on postural control or bilateral MVC strength of the DOM and NON hand during varied stance conditions. Furthermore, results reveal that bilateral MVC exertion has no influence on postural control performed during varied stance conditions

Macropore structure and permeability of clay fill samples from a historic clay fill earthwork

Near surface macropores and macro features (e.g. cracks and fissures) provide pathways for rapid water infiltration into the core of clay fill earthworks. However it is more difficult to measure the size and distribution of macropores located below the weathered soil surface (>1.5 m depth) and hence assess their influence on water flow through the clay fill core of an earthwork. This paper explores the influence of macropores on the rate of water flow within the core of a historic railway earthwork. Samples were excavated from the core (1.5 m – 6.5 m depth) of a clay fill railway embankment and subjected to laboratory saturated hydraulic conductivity testing. The samples were scanned using X -ray computed tomography (XCT) before and after laboratory testing. XCT was used to measure the size and distribution of macropores (>63 ×10-6 m) within the samples and compare with the saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements. The results showed that the distribution of macropores and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the samples from the embankment core was not dependant on the depth of excavation. The total macroporosity of the samples was very small relative to the total porosity (less than 10%). The saturated hydraulic conductivity of the samples was more closely related to the connectivity of the macropores (mean length) than to the total porosity or the total macroporosity. The macropores were variably distributed within the core of the clay fill embankment, they did not show a clear relationship with depth and they were connected over relatively short lengths (the mean macropore length was not greater than 1.6 ×10-3 m). Therefore water flow through the core of the embankment is likely to be through the clay fill matrix, rather than through the connected macropore pathways which allow rapid water infiltration at the near soil surface (<1.5 m depth)

Macropore structure and permeability of clay fill samples from a historic clay fill earthwork

Near surface macropores and macro features (e.g. cracks and fissures) provide pathways for rapid water infiltration into the core of clay fill earthworks. However it is more difficult to measure the size and distribution of macropores located below the weathered soil surface (>1.5 m depth) and hence assess their influence on water flow through the clay fill core of an earthwork. This paper explores the influence of macropores on the rate of water flow within the core of a historic railway earthwork. Samples were excavated from the core (1.5 m – 6.5 m depth) of a clay fill railway embankment and subjected to laboratory saturated hydraulic conductivity testing. The samples were scanned using X -ray computed tomography (XCT) before and after laboratory testing. XCT was used to measure the size and distribution of macropores (>63 ×10-6 m) within the samples and compare with the saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements. The results showed that the distribution of macropores and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the samples from the embankment core was not dependant on the depth of excavation. The total macroporosity of the samples was very small relative to the total porosity (less than 10%). The saturated hydraulic conductivity of the samples was more closely related to the connectivity of the macropores (mean length) than to the total porosity or the total macroporosity. The macropores were variably distributed within the core of the clay fill embankment, they did not show a clear relationship with depth and they were connected over relatively short lengths (the mean macropore length was not greater than 1.6 ×10-3 m). Therefore water flow through the core of the embankment is likely to be through the clay fill matrix, rather than through the connected macropore pathways which allow rapid water infiltration at the near soil surface (<1.5 m depth)

Predicting the Fine Particle Fraction of Dry Powder Inhalers Using Artificial Neural Networks

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 9 November 2017. The version of record, Joanna Muddle, Stewart B. Kirton, Irene Parisini, Andrew Muddle, Darragh Murnane, Jogoth Ali, Marc Brown, Clive Page and Ben Forbes, ‘Predicting the Fine Particle Fraction of Dry Powder Inhalers Using Artificial Neural Networks’, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol 106(1): 313-321, first published online on 9 November 2016, is available online via doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2016.10.002 0022-3549/© 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Dry powder inhalers are increasingly popular for delivering drugs to the lungs for the treatment of respiratory diseases, but are complex products with multivariate performance determinants. Heuristic product development guided by in vitro aerosol performance testing is a costly and time-consuming process. This study investigated the feasibility of using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict fine particle fraction (FPF) based on formulation device variables. Thirty-one ANN architectures were evaluated for their ability to predict experimentally determined FPF for a self-consistent dataset containing salmeterol xinafoate and salbutamol sulfate dry powder inhalers (237 experimental observations). Principal component analysis was used to identify inputs that significantly affected FPF. Orthogonal arrays (OAs) were used to design ANN architectures, optimized using the Taguchi method. The primary OA ANN r2 values ranged between 0.46 and 0.90 and the secondary OA increased the r2 values (0.53-0.93). The optimum ANN (9-4-1 architecture, average r2 0.92 ± 0.02) included active pharmaceutical ingredient, formulation, and device inputs identified by principal component analysis, which reflected the recognized importance and interdependency of these factors for orally inhaled product performance. The Taguchi method was effective at identifying successful architecture with the potential for development as a useful generic inhaler ANN model, although this would require much larger datasets and more variable inputs.Peer reviewe

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between emotional stress reactivity and psychosis

AimEmotional stress reactivity may be a mediating factor in the association between trauma and psychosis. This review aimed to (i) identify, summarise and critically evaluate the link between emotional stress reactivity and psychotic experiences (ii) examine evidence for a 'dose–response' relationship between stress reactivity and psychosis in the wider psychosis phenotype (i.e., sub-clinical symptoms).MethodsElectronic database searches (PsychINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE) were conducted for studies which investigated the link between stress reactivity and psychosis, psychotic symptoms, or a vulnerability to developing psychosis (wider phenotype). Cross-sectional, experimental and experience sampling method study designs were eligible for inclusion.ResultsFourty five eligible articles were identified (N participants = 8830). Narrative synthesis showed that increased emotional stress reactivity was associated with psychosis and subclinical psychotic experiences across all study designs, however, findings were inconsistent across studies. The preliminary meta-analysis (k = 4, n = 383) showed increases in emotional stress reactivity was associated with higher negative affect in response to event-related stress, in those with psychosis compared to controls (mean difference in beta coefficients = 0.05, 95% CI 0.02–0.08, p = .004). However, this difference was small with a considerable degree of heterogeneity (p = .001, I2 = 81%) so results should be interpreted with caution.ConclusionsOverall, the evidence suggests that there is a link between emotional stress reactivity and psychosis in those with psychosis, those at high risk of developing psychosis and in relation to subclinical psychotic-like experiences in the general population

Improving Family Engagement in an Adult Inpatient Mental Health Service using an Action Research Framework

Family involvement in mental health treatment has been shown to improve outcomes for service users. This project used a whole system-focused action research framework and involved service users, family members and healthcare professionals to develop ways to improve family engagement in an adult inpatient mental health service. Focus groups were conducted with two service users, two family members and four healthcare professionals to discuss their experiences of family involvement and develop initial ideas. A problem-solving group, involving service users, family members and professionals, was used to develop the solutions. The project identified context-specific solutions to improve family engagement, which included specific training for professionals working on the inpatient wards, questionnaires to facilitate conversations with families, and sharing information about mental health and the inpatient mental health service with families. These may be helpful for other adult inpatient services.</p