Gull plumages are, and are not, what they appear to human vision

Clear correlations between human and bird visual assessments of color have been documented, and are often assumed, despite fundamental differences in human and avian visual physiology and morphology. Analyses of plumage colors with avian perceptual models have shown widespread hidden inter-sexual and inter-specific color variation among passerines perceived as monochromatic to humans, highlighting the uncertainty of human vision to predict potentially relevant variation in color. Herein, we use reflectance data from 13 Larus gull species as an exemplar data set to study concordance between human vision and avian visual modeling of feather colors near, or below, the human threshold for discrimination. We found little evidence among gulls for sexual dichromatism hidden from human vision, but did find inter-specific color variation among gulls that is not seen by humans. Neither of these results were predictable a priori, and we reassert that reflectance measurements of actual feather colors, analyzed with avian relevant visual models, represent best practice when studying bird coloration

Resistance and Endurance Training Are Similarly Effective When Delivered in Separate Versus Combined Formats in Female Rugby Players

With women’s club rugby in England now played on a semi-professional basis, coaches face new challenges in structuring training programmes. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of two different training configurations on strength, speed and endurance in elite female rugby players (n = 20) who undertook six weeks of resistance training (RT) and endurance and technical training (ETT), twice per week. Participants were divided equally between a group that performed RT in the morning and ETT in the evening, separately (SEP); and a group which performed each training type combined (COMB) within one continuous session. In both groups, the intensity and volume of the applied training programmes were the same. Tests for one repetition maximum squat and bench press, 10 m sprint and maximum aerobic speed (MAS) were conducted. Repeated measures ANOVAs (Baseline – Follow-up), showed a significant effect of time for lower body strength (Squat: SEP 93.1-98.5 [+6.2%] vs. COMB 97.5-101.5 kg [+5.5%]), upper body strength (Bench press: SEP 61.0-65.0 [+6.9%] vs. COMB 60.7-63.1 kg [+4.1%]), 10 m (SEP 1.93-1.90 [+1.4%] vs. COMB 1.98-1.95 s [+1.6%]) and MAS (SEP 3.5-3.7 [4.2%] vs. COMB 3.5-3.7 m/s [5.9%]). After the intervention, no significant group x time interactions were detected for any of the utilised performance tests. For elite female rugby players, the combination of RT and ETT training types into the same session does not seem to be detrimental to overall physical fitness. Based on these results, coaches can programme RT and ETT separately, or in the same session, in female rugby players, based on their specific daily commitments

Increasing contextual information by merging existing archaeological data with the state of the art laser scanning in the prehistoric funerary deposit of Pastora Cave, Eastern Spain

In this paper we present a virtual reconstruction of prehistoric funerary practices in Pastora Cave,a collective burial site in Eastern Spain that dates from the Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. Modern data of the cave was captured by 3D laser scanning techniques and added to recorded archaeological data and 3D graphic information. The combination of these data sets allowed us to create a hypothetical reconstruction to analyze the material excavated in the 1940s and 50s in greater spatial context. A 3D model of the current cave was created in order to serve as a basis for modeling the relative stratigraphic information available. We present the methodology employed and the results and implications of the analysis for Pastora Cave with particular emphasis on the spatial and chronological data

High rates of unsuccessful transfer to adult care among young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed to describe the proportion of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who had experienced an unsuccessful transfer from a pediatric rheumatology team to an adult rheumatologist and to compare the characteristics of those who achieved successful transfer to those who did not.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a systematic chart review of all patients with JIA who attended their final Montreal Children's Hospital JIA clinic appointment between 1992 and 2005. We tracked these patients for the two years after transfer to an adult rheumatologist. We then compared characteristics of patients with successful and unsuccessful transfers of care. Variables pertaining to disease characteristics, disease severity and psychosocial factors were examined. Univariate analyses were performed to determine if any single factor was associated with the outcome of unsuccessful transfer of care.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>52% of patients fulfilled our criteria for unsuccessful transfer. Of the variables tested, an active joint count (AJC) of zero at last visit was associated with the outcome of unsuccessful transfer (OR = 2.67 (CI 1.16-6.16; p = 0.0199)).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite the presence of a coordinated process of transfer from pediatric to adult health care for the majority of the patients in this study, there was a high rate of unsuccessful transfer and/or sustained follow up which is disheartening. We found that patients with less active disease at the time of transfer, as indicated by a lower AJC, were more likely to be lost to follow up. Recent literature suggests that even in the least severe categories of JIA, 50% of patients persist with active disease into adulthood. Thus educating all JIA patients about the possibility of disease flare in adulthood may improve their adherence to recommendations for sustained follow-up in the adult milieu. This may lead to improvement of longitudinal outcomes for all JIA patients.</p

Feasibility and safety of a 6-month exercise program to increase bone and muscle strength in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Background: Arthritis in childhood can be associated with muscle weakness around affected joints, low bone mass and low bone strength. Exercise is recognized as an important part of management of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) but the exercise prescription to best promote bone and muscle health is unknown. We therefore aimed to: 1. assess feasibility and safety of a 6-month home- and group-based exercise program for children with JIA; 2. estimate the effect of program participation on bone mass and strength, muscle function and clinical outcomes and 3. determine if any positive changes in bone and muscle outcomes are maintained 6 months later. Methods: We recruited 24 children with JIA who were part of the Linking Exercise, Physical Activity and Pathophysiology in Childhood Arthritis (LEAP) study to participate in a 6-month home-based exercise program involving jumping and handgrip exercises, resistance training and one group exercise session per month. We assessed lumbar spine bone mass (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), distal tibia and radius bone microarchitecture and strength (high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography), muscle function (jumping mechanography, dynamometry) and clinical outcomes (joint assessment, function, health-related quality of life) at baseline, 6- and 12-months. Adherence was assessed using weekly activity logs. Results: Thirteen children completed the 6-month intervention. Participants reported 9 adverse events and post-exercise pain was rare (0.4%). Fatigue improved, but there were no other sustained improvements in muscle, bone or clinical outcomes. Adherence to the exercise program was low (47%) and decreased over time. Conclusion: Children with JIA safely participated in a home-based exercise program designed to enhance muscle and bone strength. Fatigue improved, which may in turn facilitate physical activity participation. Prescribed exercise posed adherence challenges and efforts are needed to address facilitators and barriers to participation in and adherence to exercise programs among children with JIA. Trial registration: Data of the children with JIA are from the LEAP study (Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; GRANT# 107535). http://www.leapjia.com/

Ageing, Muscle Power and Physical Function: A Systematic Review and Implications for Pragmatic Training Interventions.

BACKGROUND: The physiological impairments most strongly associated with functional performance in older people are logically the most efficient therapeutic targets for exercise training interventions aimed at improving function and maintaining independence in later life. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this review were to (1) systematically review the relationship between muscle power and functional performance in older people; (2) systematically review the effect of power training (PT) interventions on functional performance in older people; and (3) identify components of successful PT interventions relevant to pragmatic trials by scoping the literature. METHODS: Our approach involved three stages. First, we systematically reviewed evidence on the relationship between muscle power, muscle strength and functional performance and, second, we systematically reviewed PT intervention studies that included both muscle power and at least one index of functional performance as outcome measures. Finally, taking a strong pragmatic perspective, we conducted a scoping review of the PT evidence to identify the successful components of training interventions needed to provide a minimally effective training dose to improve physical function. RESULTS: Evidence from 44 studies revealed a positive association between muscle power and indices of physical function, and that muscle power is a marginally superior predictor of functional performance than muscle strength. Nine studies revealed maximal angular velocity of movement, an important component of muscle power, to be positively associated with functional performance and a better predictor of functional performance than muscle strength. We identified 31 PT studies, characterised by small sample sizes and incomplete reporting of interventions, resulting in less than one-in-five studies judged as having a low risk of bias. Thirteen studies compared traditional resistance training with PT, with ten studies reporting the superiority of PT for either muscle power or functional performance. Further studies demonstrated the efficacy of various methods of resistance and functional task PT on muscle power and functional performance, including low-load PT and low-volume interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Maximal intended movement velocity, low training load, simple training methods, low-volume training and low-frequency training were revealed as components offering potential for the development of a pragmatic intervention. Additionally, the research area is dominated by short-term interventions producing short-term gains with little consideration of the long-term maintenance of functional performance. We believe the area would benefit from larger and higher-quality studies and consideration of optimal long-term strategies to develop and maintain muscle power and physical function over years rather than weeks

Relationships between psychosocial functioning of the child, parental coping and pain in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses

Chronic pain in juvenile idiopathic arthritis is poorly understood. Although there is a link between pain and disease activity, pain is also modulated by other factors. The psychosocial functioning of the child is linked to his/her pain experience, however direction of causality is unknown. Furthermore, the potential association between parental coping and children's pain has never been explored. The objectives were to evaluate relationships between psychosocial functioning of the child, parental coping, and concurrent pain and future pain report at 6 months. The database "Determinants of outcomes for juvenile arthritis" from the Montreal Children's Hospital, including 95 patients, was used. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was performed. Psychosocial functioning of the child was identified as a correlate of pain, above and beyond disease activity, in the cross-sectional analysis. However, it did not predict future pain. Use of the parental coping pattern "social support" was associated with less concurrent pain.La douleur chronique dans l'arthrite juvénile idiopathique demeure incomprise. Quoique qu'il y ait un lien entre la douleur et l'activité de la maladie, la douleur est modulée par d'autres facteurs. La fonction psychosociale de l'enfant est liée à son expérience de la douleur, mais la direction de la causalité est inconnue. De plus, l'association potentielle entre l'habileté d'adaptation parentale et la douleur des enfants n'a jamais été explorée. Les objectifs étaient d'évaluer les relations entre la fonction psychosociale de l'enfant, l'habileté d'adaptation parentale, et la douleur concomitante ainsi que la douleur future rapportée à 6 mois. La banque de données "Determinants of outcomes for juvenile arthritis" de l'Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants, qui inclut 95 patients, a été utilisée. La technique de régression linéaire multiple hiérarchique a été appliquée. Dans l'analyse transversale, la fonction psychosociale de l'enfant a été identifiée comme étant un corrélat de la douleur. Par contre, elle n'a pas contribué à prédire la douleur future. L'utilisation de la stratégie d'adaptation parentale "support social" est associée à une douleur concomitante moindre

University students’ awareness of causes and risk factors of miscarriage: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Spontaneous miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy, occurring in up to 20% of pregnancies. Despite the prevalence of miscarriage, little is known regarding peoples’ awareness and understanding of causes of pregnancy loss. The aim of this study was to explore university students’ understanding of rates, causes and risk factors of miscarriage. Methods A cross-sectional study including university students. An online questionnaire was circulated to all students at the University College Cork using their university email accounts in April and May 2016. Main outcomes included identification of prevalence, weeks of gestation at which miscarriage occurs and causative risk factors for miscarriage. Results A sample of 746 students were included in the analysis. Only 20% (n = 149) of students correctly identified the prevalence of miscarriage, and almost 30% (n = 207) incorrectly believed that miscarriage occurs in less than 10% of pregnancies. Female were more likely to correctly identify the rate of miscarriage than men (21.8% versus 14.5%). However, men tended to underestimate the rate and females overestimate it. Students who did not know someone who had a miscarriage underestimated the rate of miscarriage, and those who were aware of some celebrities who had a miscarriage overestimated the rate. Almost 43% (n = 316) of students correctly identified fetal chromosomal abnormalities as the main cause of miscarriage. Females, older students, those from Medical and Health disciplines and those who were aware of a celebrity who had a miscarriage were more likely to identify chromosomal abnormalities as a main cause. However, more than 90% of the students believed that having a fall, consuming drugs or the medical condition of the mother was a causative risk factor for miscarriage. Finally, stress was identified as a risk factor more frequently than advanced maternal age or smoking. Conclusion Although almost half of the participants identified chromosomal abnormalities as the main cause of miscarriage, there is still a lack of understanding about the prevalence and most important risk factors among university students. University represents an ideal opportunity for health promotion strategies to increase awareness of potential adverse outcomes in pregnancy

Additional file 1: of Miscarriage hospitalisations: a national population-based study of incidence and outcomes, 2005–2016

Diagnosis, procedures and complications codes for miscarriage. (DOCX 13 kb