Determination of blood glucose threshold in boys: descriptive analysis

The blood glucose threshold (GT) has been used for the assessment of the aerobic capacity for trained individuals in replace of the blood lactate and ventilatory parameters for anaerobic threshold determination. But, there are no studies with boys. The purpose of this study was to measure the intensity corresponding to the GT in a group of boys. Eight boys (11±1.12 years; 38±6.93 kg; 1.44±0.09 m; 18±1.79 kg/m2) performed a graded maximal exercise test on a cycloergometer to determine the Watts peak (WP), heart rate maximum (HRmax), Watts at GT (GTw) and heart rate at GT (GThr). The initial intensity was 15 Watts with 15 Watts of increment every three minutes. The results showed (M±SD) that the WP was 128±12; HRmax: 193±10.64; GTw: 96±19.47; GThr: 161±20.08. The GT was at 75±11.97% of the WP. The results were similar to those reported in studies with children using other physiological variables for anaerobic threshold determination. In conclusion, the study shows that GT is possible to be determined in boys during incremental test

Comparison between glucose threshold and critical velocity for aerobic capacity determination in men

The blood glucose threshold (GT) and critical velocity (CV) has been used for the assessment of the aerobic capacity for trained individuals in replace the blood lactate and ventilatory parameters for anaerobic threshold determination. But, there are few studies with physically active subjects. The purpose of this study was to measure, compare and correlate the running velocities associated with the GT and CV of a group of untrained men. Fifteen adult men (23±3.74 years old; 72±10.97 kg; 1.76±0.07 m; 21±5.36 % fat mass) performed the following tests: 1) 500m and 3km time trial (Vm500 and Vm3km); 2) Incremental test on treadmill for of GT identification. The CV was obtained from linear regression (distance x time on 500m and 3km test). Normality was verified through Shapiro-Wilk, GT and CV was compared through dependent t-test and correlation by product moment Pearson. A high correlation was verified for Vm3km and CV (r=0.99 and R2=0.99), Vm3000 and GT (r=0.91 and R2=0.82), and between CV and GT (r=0.89 and R2=0.79). Differences were observed between GT and CV (138.8±19.9 and 170.6±27.8 m.min–1, respectively) (P\u3c0.001). In conclusion, the study shows that CV can not be used for anaerobic threshold estimation, because this parameter overestimated the GT, despite the high correlation with GT and Vm3000

Vikt och Kvalitet av Bevisning vid Bedömningen av Komplicerade Koncentrationer En Studie av E.U. Kommissionens Beslutspraxis

Under de senaste åren har EU-kommissionen hindrat koncentrationen i flera högprofilförbud i komplicerade fall som involverade användning av omfattande marknadsundersökningar, kundundersökningar, och i ett fall en omfattande användning av ekonometriska analyser, för att bedöma effekterna av koncentrationen. Denna uppsats undersöker dessa tre beslut samt ett antal beslut, i stora och komplexa ärenden, vilka godkändes, med eller utan åtgärder från parterna. Parterna i en föreslagen koncentration tillbringar tid och avsevärda ekonomiska resurser för att bevisa sin sak inför kommissionen, och kommissionen måste undersöka alla de argument som parterna presenterar, liksom argument som andra parter, såsom konkurrenter och kunder, för att fastställa de sannolika effekterna av koncentrationen. Under loppet denna uppsats, har de olika typerna av argument och bevis som parterna och kommissionen använder vid undersökningen, och värdet av de olika typer av bevisning som används i argumentationen, utretts och analyserats för att avgöra huruvida det finns vissa argument eller vissa typer av bevis som bär en tyngre vikt än andra i kommissionens undersökning. Samtidigt som resultaten i denna uppsats pekar på vissa slutsatser om hierarki, och betydelsen av vissa typer av bevisning och bevisfakta, i konkurrensundersökningen, är antalet tänkbara situationer nästan oändligt, vilket förtjänar en viss försiktighet med att dra definitiva slutsatser.In the past few years the European Commission has made several high profile prohibition decisions that involved the use of large market investigations, surveys, and in one case the extensive use of econometric analyses, to determine the scope & effects of the concentration. These three decisions, as well as a number of newer decisions in other complex and large cases that were approved, with or without remedies, are examined and analyzed to find the most important lines of argument and their supporting evidence. The parties in a proposed concentration spend a considerable amount of time and financial resources to prove their case before the Commission. In turn, the Commission has to examine all the arguments that the parties present, as well as arguments put forward but other parties, such as competitors and customers, to ascertain the likely effects of the concentration. During the course of the paper, the different types of arguments and evidence that the parties and the Commission utilize during the investigation, and the value of the different types of evidence used in the arguments, are investigated and analyzed to ascertain whether or not there are certain arguments or certain types of evidence that carry a heavier weight than others in the Commission’s investigation. While the findings in this paper point to certain conclusions about the hierarchy and importance of certain types of evidence and arguments in competition, the variety of possible situations is almost infinite, which merits a degree of caution in drawing any definite conclusions

Analysis Tool for the Evaluation of Measurements of the Single Bubble and Bubbles Structures Dynamic

Cavitation is a phenomenon that is commonly observed in turbines, water pumps, and other similar mechanisms which involve the high-speed and high-pressure movement of fluids, as it is the change in state of a material due to a fast pressure change, in particular from the liquid to the solid state. As a result, bubbles of water vapor form within the fluid, which interact with solid surfaces in a short span of time, particularly the creation of jets during the collapse of these bubbles. These jets inflict force on these solid walls, andthis interaction between bubble and solid wall may cause positive or negative effects, which may be harnessed when better understood.This project aims to develop an analysis tool, developed in C++, that will aid in the understanding of the dynamics of the cavitation bubble in the context of a dynamic flow system with water as the medium. Investigations are made with the tool on an experimental setup consisting of a spark generator for creating the cavitation bubbles, monitored by a high-speed camera and measured by a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric sensor. The camera is used to observe the development of the bubble and determine its size through image processing of the resulting images that are taken, while the PVDF sensor is a low cost option for measuring pressure on a flat surface, as it can convert pressure into voltage.In this study, the differences between the single- and double-bubble spark generated setups are observed and analyzed through the optical and acoustical measurement methods. From these comparisons, the project aims to set a baseline for continued study of further specialized measurement and analysis tools of cavitation behavior.Cavitation is a phenomenon that is commonly observed in turbines, water pumps, and other similar mechanisms which involve the high-speed and high-pressure movement of fluids, as it is the change in state of a material due to a fast pressure change, in particular from the liquid to the solid state. As a result, bubbles of water vapor form within the fluid, which interact with solid surfaces in a short span of time, particularly the creation of jets during the collapse of these bubbles. These jets inflict force on these solid walls, andthis interaction between bubble and solid wall may cause positive or negative effects, which may be harnessed when better understood.This project aims to develop an analysis tool, developed in C++, that will aid in the understanding of the dynamics of the cavitation bubble in the context of a dynamic flow system with water as the medium. Investigations are made with the tool on an experimental setup consisting of a spark generator for creating the cavitation bubbles, monitored by a high-speed camera and measured by a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric sensor. The camera is used to observe the development of the bubble and determine its size through image processing of the resulting images that are taken, while the PVDF sensor is a low cost option for measuring pressure on a flat surface, as it can convert pressure into voltage.In this study, the differences between the single- and double-bubble spark generated setups are observed and analyzed through the optical and acoustical measurement methods. From these comparisons, the project aims to set a baseline for continued study of further specialized measurement and analysis tools of cavitation behavior

Preliminary feasibility analysis of inner speech as a control paradigm for brain-computer interfaces

Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are useful devices that provide new ways of communication to people who have lost the capability of interacting with their environment. Although several paradigms have resulted in large improvements in the construction of BCIs, quite often they require great efforts from the patient or they are not able to generate natural and efficient interfaces. In that scenario, inner speech appears as a promising paradigm for tackling those problems. Nevertheless, the lack of publicly available databases largely precludes the analysis and development of methods for using this paradigm. In this work we use a recently released database to show that it is possible to classify and differentiate inner speech signals from signals acquired within other two well known paradigms. This is undoubtedly a first step in the search and construction of an inner speech based BCI.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Revision ACL reconstruction in female athletes: current concepts

The challenge of revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction lies in its complexity, varied presentation, and technical intricacies. A successful ACL reconstruction should allow patients to safely return to preinjury activities. However, it is only sometimes simple, and many risk factors and concurrent pathologies come into play. Evaluating and analysing the cause of failure and associated conditions is paramount to addressing them effectively. Despite a plethora of research and improvements in knowledge and technology, e gaps exist in issues such as optimal techniques of revision surgery, graft options, fixation, concurrent procedures, rehabilitation and protocol for return to sports of high-level athletes. Female athletes need additional focus since they are at higher risk of re-injury, suboptimal clinical outcomes, and lower rates of return to sport following revision reconstruction. Our understanding about injury prevention and the protection of ACL grafts in female athletes needs to be improved. This review focuses on the current state of revision ACL surgery in female athletes and provides recommendations and future directions for optimising outcomes in this high-risk group

Quadriceps tendon autograft with or without bone block have comparable clinical outcomes, complications and revision rate for ACL reconstruction: a systematic review

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to report complications, graft failure, fixation methods, rehabilitation protocol, clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and return to sports with the use of quadriceps tendon graft with the bone block (QT-B) and without bone block (QT-S). Methods: According to the PRISMA guidelines a comprehensive search was performed across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from inception until April 2022. Only prospective studies using quadriceps tendon autograft with a minimum of 20 patients were considered for inclusion. The outcome measures extracted from the studies were the KT-1000, Lysholm score, Subjective and Objective IKDC, Tegner, Marx Score, complications, failures and/or revision surgery, and rate of return to sports. Cochrane risk of bias and MINORS tool were used for the risk of bias assessment of all included studies. Results: A total of 13 studies were included, consisting of 5 randomized controlled trials, 6 cohort studies, 1 case–control and 1 case series. A total of 484 patients received QT-S in 6 studies of which 224 (46.2%) were males and 212 (43.8%) females with a mean age of 21.5 ± 7.5 (range 14–58). While 243 patients received QT-B in 7 studies of which 167 (68.7%) were males and 76 (31.3%) females with a mean age of 28.9 ± 4.5 (range: 18–49). The studies analyzed had a mean MINORS score of 14.6 (range, 12–19). Both QT-B and QT-S for ACL reconstruction reported satisfactory results in terms of patient-reported outcome measures. Although, a slightly higher anterior laxity was found with the QT-S than with the QT-B. Conclusion: Quadriceps tendon with a bone block (QT-B) or without bone block (QT-S) for ACL reconstruction is supported by current literature. Both grafts are safe and viable options for ACL reconstruction with comparable clinical outcomes, complications and revision rates. Level of evidence: Level IV. Registration: PROSPERO-CRD42022347134; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero