“Do You Know Why That’s Funny?” Connecting the Scholarship of Humor to the Practice of After-Dinner Speaking

Forensic educators have a unique opportunity to connect students with centuries of scholarship, yet it remains unclear how coaches utilize communication research to aid students in constructing events. This article questions how studies of humor can enhance connections between the forensic student and the broader field of research. Through applying theories of humor to the practice of After- Dinner Speaking (ADS), this paper indicates studies of humor in classical and contemporary scholarship provide useful frameworks in the construction of ADS, and offers suggestions for making more explicit connections between theory, pedagogy, and practice

Mimicking exercise in three-dimensional bioengineered skeletal muscle to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of physiological adaptation

Bioengineering of skeletal muscle in-vitro in order to produce highly aligned myofibres in relevant three dimensional (3D) matrices have allowed scientists to model the in-vivo skeletal muscle niche. This review discusses essential experimental considerations for developing bioengineered muscle in order to investigate exercise mimicking stimuli. We identify current knowledge in the use of electrical stimulation and co-culture with motor neurons to enhance skeletal muscle maturation and contractile function in bioengineered systems in-vitro. Importantly, we provide a current opinion on the use of acute and chronic exercise mimicking stimuli (electrical stimulation and mechanical overload) and the subsequent mechanisms underlying physiological adaptation in 3D bioengineered muscle. We also identify that future studies using the latest bioreactor technology, providing simultaneous electrical and mechanical loading and flow perfusion in-vitro, may provide the basis for advancing knowledge in the future. We also envisage, that more studies using genetic, pharmacological and hormonal modifications applied in human 3D bioengineered skeletal muscle may allow for an enhanced discovery of the in-depth mechanisms underlying the response to exercise in relevant human testing systems. Finally, 3D bioengineered skeletal muscle may provide an opportunity to be used as a pre-clinical in-vitro test-bed to investigate the mechanisms underlying catabolic disease, whilst modelling disease itself via the use of cells derived from human patients without exposing animals or humans (in phase I trials) to the side effects of potential therapies

Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy for selective laser melting

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a manufacturing technique that typically builds parts layer by layer, for example, in the case of selective laser melted (SLM) material by fusing layers of metal powder. This allows the construction of complex geometry parts, which, in some cases cannot be made by traditional manufacturing routes. Complex parts can be difficult to inspect for material conformity and defects which are limiting widespread adoption especially in high performance arenas. Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) is a technique for material characterisation based on robustly measuring the surface acoustic wave velocity. Here the SRAS technique is applied to prepare additively manufactured material to measure the material properties and identify defects. Results are presented tracking the increase in the measured velocity with the build power of the selective laser melting machine. Surface and subsurface defect measurements (to a depth of ∼24 μm) are compared to electron microscopy and X-ray computed tomography. It has been found that pore size remains the same for 140 W to 190 W melting power (mean: 115–119 μm optical and 134–137 μm velocity) but the number of pores increase significantly (70–126 optical, 95–182 velocity) with lower melting power, reducing overall material density

PGC‑1α alternative promoter (Exon 1b) controls augmentation of total PGC‑1α gene expression in response to cold water immersion and low glycogen availability

This investigation sought to determine whether post-exercise cold water immersion and low glycogen availability, separately and in combination, would preferentially activate either the Exon 1a or Exon 1b Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) promoter. Through a reanalysis of sample design, we identified that the systemic cold-induced augmentation of total PGC-1α gene expression observed previously (Allan et al. in J Appl Physiol 123(2):451–459, 2017) was largely a result of increased expression from the alternative promoter (Exon 1b), rather than canonical promoter (Exon 1a). Low glycogen availability in combination with local cooling of the muscle (Allan et al. in Physiol Rep 7(11):e14082, 2019) demonstrated that PGC-1α alternative promoter (Exon 1b) expression continued to rise at 3 h post-exercise in all conditions; whilst, expression from the canonical promoter (Exon 1a) decreased between the same time points (post-exercise–3 h post-exercise). Importantly, this increase in PGC-1α Exon 1b expression was reduced compared to the response of low glycogen or cold water immersion alone, suggesting that the combination of prior low glycogen and CWI post-exercise impaired the response in gene expression versus these conditions individually. Data herein emphasise the influence of post-exercise cooling and low glycogen availability on Exon-specific contro

Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) microstructural imaging

© 2019 Author(s). Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) is an acoustic microscopy technique that can image the microstructure and measure the crystallographic orientation of grains or crystals in the material. It works by measuring the velocity of surface acoustic waves (SAWs) via the acoustic spectrum. In the usual configuration, the SAWs are generated by laser using a pattern of lines and detected by laser at a point close to this grating-like source. The use of the acoustic spectrum as a means of measuring the velocity has a number of practical advantages which makes the technique robust and fast and gives good spatial resolution. This makes the measurement suitable for imaging and gives it many advantages over traditional laser UT and microstructural measurement techniques. As SRAS is a laser ultrasound testing technique (LUT) which can be applied to a wide range of industrially relevant samples as a non-destructive evaluation technique. There are no size limitations on the samples that can be imaged and the surface preparation required is significantly more relaxed than many other techniques with the capability of operating on many as manufactured finishes. This permits the use of SRAS as an online inspection tool, for instance during additive or subtractive manufacturing, as a QA tool during manufacture or as an NDE/T tool in service

Postprandial triacylglycerol in adolescent boys: a case for moderate exercise

Purpose: To compare the effects of 60-min bouts of intermittent moderate and vigorous exercise on postprandial plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) metabolism in eight healthy adolescent boys (mean ± SD age: 13 ± 0.3 yr). Methods: Participants completed three conditions in a counterbalanced order. On day 1, they either rested for 110 min (CON), completed 6 × 10-min blocks of intermittent treadmill exercise at 53% peak V·O2 (MOD), or 6 × 10-min blocks at 75% peak V·O2 (VIG). On day 2 after a 12-h fast, a capillary blood sample was taken for [TAG] and [glucose] (mmol·L-1) and then a high-fat milkshake was consumed (1.50 g·kg-1 fat, 1.22 g·kg-1 CHO, and 0.22 g·kg-1 protein; 80 kJ·kg-1). Further blood samples were taken every hour for a 6-h postprandial rest period for [TAG] and [glucose]. Results: Estimated energy expenditure was 45% higher in VIG than in MOD (95% confidence interval [CI] 23-72%). Fasting [TAG] and [glucose] did not differ between the conditions. Average [TAG] for the postprandial period was lower by 24% in MOD (95% CI -47% to 9%, P = 0.06) and by 21% in VIG (95% CI -42% to 8%, P = 0.08) than CON, with no meaningful difference (4%; 95% CI -27% to 48%, P = 0.50) between MOD and VIG. The total area under the [TAG] versus time curve (mmol·L-1 6 h) was lower by 24% in MOD (95% CI -42% to 0%, P = 0.05) and by 20% in VIG (95% CI -37% to 0%, P = 0.07) than CON. MOD and VIG were not different from each other (4%; 95% CI -18% to 32%, P = 0.54). Conclusion: Both 60 min of moderate and vigorous intermittent exercises reduced postprandial [TAG]. However, the extra energy expended in the vigorous condition did not produce a dose-related reduction compared with the moderate-intensity condition

Meso-scale defect evaluation of selective laser melting using spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy

Developments in additive manufacturing technology are serving to expand the potential applications. Critical developments are required in the supporting areas of measurement and in process inspection to achieve this. CM247LC is a nickel superalloy that is of interest for use in aerospace and civil power plants. However, it is difficult to process via selective laser melting (SLM) as it suffers from cracking during rapid cooling and solidification. This limits the viability of CM247LC parts created using SLM. To quantify part integrity, spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) has been identified as a viable non-destructive evaluation technique. In this study, a combination of optical microscopy and SRAS was used to identify and classify the surface defects present in SLM-produced parts. By analysing the datasets and scan trajectories, it is possible to correlate morphological information with process parameters. Image processing was used to quantify porosity and cracking for bulk density measurement. Analysis of surface acoustic wave data showed that an error in manufacture in the form of an overscan occurred. Comparing areas affected by overscan with a bulk material, a change in defect density from 1.17% in the bulk material to 5.32% in the overscan regions was observed, highlighting the need to reduce overscan areas in manufacture

Assessing the capability of in-situ nondestructive analysis during layer based additive manufacture

Unlike more established subtractive or constant volume manufacturing technologies, additive manufacturing methods suffer from a lack of in-situ monitoring methodologies which can provide informationrelating to process performance and the formation of defects. In-process evaluation for additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in order to assure the integrity of parts produced in this way. This paper addresses the generic performance of inspection methods suitable for additive manufacturing. Key process and measurement parameters are explored and the impacts these have upon production rates are defined. Essential working parameters are highlighted, within which the spatial opportunity and temporal penalty for measurement allow for comparison of the suitability of different nondestructive evaluation techniques. A new method of benchmarking in-situ inspection instruments and characterising their suitability for additive manufacturing processes is presented to act as a design tool to accommodate end user requirements. Two inspection examples are presented: spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography for scanning selective laser melting and selective laser sintering parts, respectively. Observations made from the analyses presented show that the spatial capability arising from scanning parameters affects the temporal penalty and hence impact upon production rates. A case study, created from simulated data, has been used to outline the spatial performance of a generic nondestructive evaluation method and to show how a decrease in data capture resolution reduces the accuracy of measurement

Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy for integrity assessment in wire-arc additive manufacturing

Wire–arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is an emergent method for the production and repair of high value components. Introduction of plastic strain by inter-pass rolling has been shown to produce grain refinement and improve mechanical properties, however suitable quality control techniques are required to demonstrate the refinement non-destructively. This work proposes a method for rapid microstructural assessment of Ti–6Al–4V, with limited intervention, by measuring an acoustic wave generated on the surface of the specimens. Specifically, undeformed and rolled specimens have been analysed by spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS), allowing the efficacy of the rolling process to be observed in velocity maps. The work has three primary outcomes (i) differentiation of texture due to rolling force, (ii) understanding the acoustic wave velocity response in the textured material including the underlying crystallography, (iii) extraction of an additional build metric such as layer height from acoustic maps and further useful material information such as minimum stiffness direction. Variations in acoustic response due to grain refinement and crystallographic orientation have been explored. It has been found that the limited α-variants which develop within prior-β grains lead to distinctive acoustic slowness surfaces. This allowed prior-β grains to be resolved. A basic algorithm has been proposed for the automated measurement, which could be used for in-line closed loop control. The practicality and challenges of applying this approach in-line with fabrication are also discussed

Post-exercise cold-water immersion modulates skeletal muscle PGC-1α mRNA expression in immersed and non-immersed limbs: evidence of systemic regulation

Mechanisms mediating post-exercise cold-induced increases in PGC-1α gene expression in human skeletal muscle are yet to be fully elucidated, but may involve local cooling effects on AMPK and p38 MAPK related signalling and/or increased systemic β-adrenergic stimulation. We aimed to therefore examine whether post-exercise cold-water immersion enhancement of PGC-1α mRNA is mediated through local or systemic mechanisms. Ten subjects completed acute cycling (8x5 min at ~80% peak power output) followed by seated-rest (CON) or single-leg cold-water immersion (CWI; 10 min, 8°C). Muscle biopsies were obtained pre-, post- and 3 h post-exercise from a single limb in the CON condition but from both limbs in CWI (thereby providing tissue from a CWI and non-immersed limb, NOT). Muscle temperature decreased up to 2 h post-exercise following CWI (-5°C) in the immersed limb, with lesser changes observed in CON and NOT (-3°C; P<0.05). No differences between limbs were observed in p38MAPK phosphorylation at any time point (P<0.05), whilst a significant interaction effect was present for AMPK phosphorylation (P=0.031). Exercise (CON) increased gene expression of PGC-1α 3 h post-exercise (~5-fold; P<0.001). CWI augmented PGC-1α expression above CON in both the immersed (CWI; ~9-fold; P=0.003) and NOT limbs (~12-fold; P=0.001). Plasma Normetanephrine concentration was higher in CWI vs. CON immediately post-immersion (860 vs. 665 pmol/L; P=0.034). We report for the first time that local cooling of the immersed limb evokes transcriptional control of PGC1-α in the non-immersed limb, suggesting increased systemic β-adrenergic activation of AMPK mediates, in part, post-exercise cold-induction of PGC-1α mRNA