511 research outputs found

    Heterosexist Attitudes and Team Cohesion in Women’s Collegiate Athletics

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    The purpose of the current study was to establish the nature of the quantitative relationship between heterosexist attitudes and team cohesion. The researcher also examined how individual factors of the multidimensional constructs of heterosexist attitudes and team cohesion substantiate that association using the Social Identity Approach (Abrams & Hogg, 2004; Hogg & Abrams, 1988) as the theoretical framework. A canonical correlational analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the four subscales of the Heterosexist Attitudes in Sport—Lesbian scale (Mullin, 2013) and the four subscales of the Group Environment Questionnaire (Carron, Widmeyer, & Brawley, 1985) in a national sample (N = 621) of female collegiate student-athletes, Λ = .91, p < .001, η2 = .07. As heterosexist attitudes increased, perception of team cohesion decreased. The Language Behaviors and Inclusion Behaviors subscales of the HAS-L and the task components of the GEQ were the strongest contributors to the relationship among the constructs. By developing and supporting inclusive environments, coaches and administrators may be reducing harmful heterosexist attitudes that are disruptive to achieving the team’s objective

    Confirming the Factors of Professional Readiness in Athletic Training

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    Background: Healthcare professionals such as athletic trainers must be prepared for autonomous practice immediately after graduation. Although certified, new athletic trainers have been shown to have clinical areas of strength and weakness. To better assess professional readiness and improve the preparedness of new athletic trainers, the factors of athletic training professional readiness must be defined. However, limited research exists defining the holistic aspects of professional readiness needed for athletic trainers. Confirming the factors of professional readiness in athletic training could enhance the professional preparation of athletic trainers and result in more highly prepared new professionals. Therefore, the objective of this study was to further explore and confirm the factors of professional readiness in athletic training. Methods: We used a qualitative design based in grounded theory. Participants included athletic trainers with greater than 24 months of experience from a variety of work settings from each district of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association. Participants took the demographic questionnaire electronically using Qualtrics Survey Software (Prove UT). After completing the demographic questionnaire, we selected 20 participants to complete one-on-one interviews using GoToMeeting audiovisual web conferencing software. IMB Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, v. 21.0) was used to calculate descriptive statistics for participant demographics. The researcher transcribed all interviews verbatim and a utilized a grounded theory approach during qualitative data analysis. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative analysis as well as open and axial coding. We established trustworthiness by using reflexivity, member checks, and peer reviews. Results: Analysis revealed four overarching themes including management, interpersonal relations, clinical decision-making, and confidence. Conclusion: Athletic trainers should be well-rounded. They must possess communication and organizational skills, the ability to collaborate, value self-reflection and continuing education, and have clinical expertise. Future research should be conducted to finalize a comprehensive model of professional readiness for athletic training, to develop a holistic assessment instrument for athletic training professional readiness, and to explore the preparedness of new athletic trainers as athletic training education transitions to the professional masters degree

    Fluid Restriction Dehydration Increase Core Temperature During Endurance Exercise Compared to Exercise Induced Dehydration

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    International Journal of Exercise Science 15(2): 166-176, 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in heart rate and core temperature during aerobic exercise between two forms of dehydration: exercise-induced (EI) and fluid restricted (FR). Twenty-two subjects (N = 22; 83.35 ± 13.92 kg) completed the current study, performing a familiarization session, a pre-experimental exercise session, and two exercise testing sessions. The EI exercise trial (81.52 ± 13.72 kg) was conducted after performing exercise in a hot environment to lose three to four percent of body weight and partial rehydration. The FR exercise trial (81.53 ± 14.14 kg) was completed after 12 hours of fluid restriction. During both exercise sessions, subjects pedaled against a set resistance of 130 watts for 30 minutes. The main effect of hydration on Tc was significant, F(1, 18) = 4.474, p = .049, ηp2 = .199 (Figure 2) with core temperature being greater during the FR trial compared to the EI trial (FR = 37.58 ± .06°C vs. EI = 37.31 ± .11°C). No significant interaction was found between hydration and time for HR, F(2, 42) = 0.120, p = .887, ηp2 = .006. The main effect of time on HR was significant, F(2, 42) = 119.664, p \u3c .001, ηp2 = .851. Fluid restriction was associated with an increase in core temperature. An increased core temperature may negatively influence performance, and care should be taken to ensure proper hydration

    Symptomatic Isolated Pleural Effusion as an Atypical Presentation of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

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    Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) presents in ~33% of ovarian stimulation cycles with clinical manifestations varying from mild to severe. Its pathogenesis is unknown. Pleural effusion is reported in ~10% of severe OHSS cases and is usually associated with marked ascites. The isolated finding of pleural effusions without ascites, as the main presenting symptom of OHSS is not frequently reported and its pathogenesis is also unknown. We describe two unusual cases of OHSS where dyspnea secondary to unilateral pleural effusion was the only presenting symptom. By reporting our experience, we would like to heighten physicians' awareness in detecting these cases early, as it is our belief that the incidence of pleural effusion in the absence of most commonly recognized risk factors for OHSS may be underestimated and may significantly compromise the health of the patient if treatment is not initiated in a reasonable amount of time

    Temperature sensitive influenza A virus genome replication results from low thermal stability of polymerase-cRNA complexes

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    BACKGROUND: The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Influenza A virus is a determinant of viral pathogenicity and host range that is responsible for transcribing and replicating the negative sense segmented viral genome (vRNA). Transcription produces capped and polyadenylated mRNAs whereas genome replication involves the synthesis of an alternative plus-sense transcript (cRNA) with unmodified termini that is copied back to vRNA. Viral mRNA transcription predominates at early stages of viral infection, while later, negative sense genome replication is favoured. However, the "switch" that regulates the transition from transcription to replication is poorly understood. RESULTS: We show that temperature strongly affects the balance between plus and minus-sense RNA synthesis with high temperature causing a large decrease in vRNA accumulation, a moderate decrease in cRNA levels but (depending on genome segment) either increased or unchanged levels of mRNA. We found no evidence implicating cellular heat shock protein activity in this effect despite the known association of hsp70 and hsp90 with viral polymerase components. Temperature-shift experiments indicated that polymerase synthesised at 41°C maintained transcriptional activity even though genome replication failed. Reduced polymerase association with viral RNA was seen in vivo and in confirmation of this, in vitro binding assays showed that temperature increased the rate of dissociation of polymerase from both positive and negative sense promoters. However, the interaction of polymerase with the cRNA promoter was particularly heat labile, showing rapid dissociation even at 37°C. This suggested that vRNA synthesis fails at elevated temperatures because the polymerase does not bind the promoter. In support of this hypothesis, a mutant cRNA promoter with vRNA-like sequence elements supported vRNA synthesis at higher temperatures than the wild-type promoter. CONCLUSION: The differential stability of negative and positive sense polymerase-promoter complexes explains why high temperature favours transcription over replication and has implications for the control of viral RNA synthesis at physiological temperatures. Furthermore, given the different body temperatures of birds and man, these finding suggest molecular hypotheses for how polymerase function may affect host range

    A female advantage in the recognition of emotional facial expressions: Test of an evolutionary hypothesis

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    A set of computerized tasks was used to investigate sex differences in the speed and accuracy of emotion recognition in 62 men and women of reproductive age. Evolutionary theories have posited that female superiority in the perception of emotion might arise from women's near-universal responsibility for child-rearing. Two variants of the child-rearing hypothesis predict either across-the-board female superiority in the discrimination of emotional expressions ("attachment promotion" hypothesis) or a female superiority that is restricted to expressions of negative emotion ("fitness threat" hypothesis). Therefore, we sought to evaluate whether the expression of the sex difference is influenced by the valence of the emotional signal (Positive or Negative). The results showed that women were faster than men at recognizing both positive and negative emotions from facial cues, supporting the attachment promotion hypothesis. Support for the fitness threat hypothesis also was found, in that the sex difference was accentuated for negative emotions. There was no evidence that the female superiority was learned through previous childcare experience or that it was derived from a sex difference in simple perceptual speed. The results suggest that evolved mechanisms, not domain-general learning, underlie the sex difference in recognition of facial emotions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/83923/1/A_female_advantage_in_the_recognition_of_emotional_facial_expressions_test_of_an_evolutionary_hyptothesis.pd

    Exposure to Sublethal Doses of Fipronil and Thiacloprid Highly Increases Mortality of Honeybees Previously Infected by Nosema ceranae

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    International audienceBACKGROUND: The honeybee, Apis mellifera, is undergoing a worldwide decline whose origin is still in debate. Studies performed for twenty years suggest that this decline may involve both infectious diseases and exposure to pesticides. Joint action of pathogens and chemicals are known to threaten several organisms but the combined effects of these stressors were poorly investigated in honeybees. Our study was designed to explore the effect of Nosema ceranae infection on honeybee sensitivity to sublethal doses of the insecticides fipronil and thiacloprid. METHODOLOGY/FINDING: Five days after their emergence, honeybees were divided in 6 experimental groups: (i) uninfected controls, (ii) infected with N. ceranae, (iii) uninfected and exposed to fipronil, (iv) uninfected and exposed to thiacloprid, (v) infected with N. ceranae and exposed 10 days post-infection (p.i.) to fipronil, and (vi) infected with N. ceranae and exposed 10 days p.i. to thiacloprid. Honeybee mortality and insecticide consumption were analyzed daily and the intestinal spore content was evaluated 20 days after infection. A significant increase in honeybee mortality was observed when N. ceranae-infected honeybees were exposed to sublethal doses of insecticides. Surprisingly, exposures to fipronil and thiacloprid had opposite effects on microsporidian spore production. Analysis of the honeybee detoxification system 10 days p.i. showed that N. ceranae infection induced an increase in glutathione-S-transferase activity in midgut and fat body but not in 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: After exposure to sublethal doses of fipronil or thiacloprid a higher mortality was observed in N. ceranae-infected honeybees than in uninfected ones. The synergistic effect of N. ceranae and insecticide on honeybee mortality, however, did not appear strongly linked to a decrease of the insect detoxification system. These data support the hypothesis that the combination of the increasing prevalence of N. ceranae with high pesticide content in beehives may contribute to colony depopulation

    An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides. Part 2: impacts on organisms and ecosystems

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    New information on the lethal and sublethal effects of neonicotinoids and fipronil on organisms is presented in this review, complementing the previous WIA in 2015. The high toxicity of these systemic insecticides to invertebrates has been confirmed and expanded to include more species and compounds. Most of the recent research has focused on bees and the sublethal and ecological impacts these insecticides have on pollinators. Toxic effects on other invertebrate taxa also covered predatory and parasitoid natural enemies and aquatic arthropods. Little, while not much new information has been gathered on soil organisms. The impact on marine coastal ecosystems is still largely uncharted. The chronic lethality of neonicotinoids to insects and crustaceans, and the strengthened evidence that these chemicals also impair the immune system and reproduction, highlights the dangers of this particular insecticidal classneonicotinoids and fipronil. , withContinued large scale – mostly prophylactic – use of these persistent organochlorine pesticides has the potential to greatly decreasecompletely eliminate populations of arthropods in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Sublethal effects on fish, reptiles, frogs, birds and mammals are also reported, showing a better understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity of these insecticides in vertebrates, and their deleterious impacts on growth, reproduction and neurobehaviour of most of the species tested. This review concludes with a summary of impacts on the ecosystem services and functioning, particularly on pollination, soil biota and aquatic invertebrate communities, thus reinforcing the previous WIA conclusions (van der Sluijs et al. 2015)

    Measurement of associated Z plus charm production in proton-proton collisions at root s=8TeV

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    A study of the associated production of a Z boson and a charm quark jet (Z + c), and a comparison to production with a b quark jet (Z + b), in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV are presented. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1), collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The Z boson candidates are identified through their decays into pairs of electrons or muons. Jets originating from heavy flavour quarks are identified using semileptonic decays of c or b flavoured hadrons and hadronic decays of charm hadrons. The measurements are performed in the kinematic region with two leptons with pT(l) > 20 GeV, vertical bar eta(l)vertical bar 25 GeV and vertical bar eta(jet)vertical bar Z + c + X) B(Z -> l(+)l(-)) = 8.8 +/- 0.5 (stat)+/- 0.6 (syst) pb. The ratio of the Z+c and Z+b production cross sections is measured to be sigma(pp -> Z+c+X)/sigma (pp -> Z+b+X) = 2.0 +/- 0.2 (stat)+/- 0.2 (syst). The Z+c production cross section and the cross section ratio are also measured as a function of the transverse momentum of theZ boson and of the heavy flavour jet. The measurements are compared with theoretical predictions.Peer reviewe

    Measurement of the underlying event activity in inclusive Z boson production in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

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    This paper presents a measurement of the underlying event activity in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV, performed using inclusive Z boson production events collected with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.1 fb(-1). The underlying event activity is quantified in terms of the charged particle multiplicity, as well as of the scalar sum of the charged particles' transverse momenta in different topological regions defined with respect to the Z boson direction. The distributions are unfolded to the stable particle level and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators, as well as with similar CDF and CMS measurements at center-of-mass energies of 1.96 and 7TeV respectively.Peer reviewe
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