Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in Health and Fitness in Firefighter Recruits: An Observational Cohort Study

Purpose To observe longitudinal changes in health and fitness among firefighter recruits. Methods Body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular power, muscular strength, and muscular endurance measures were longitudinally collected among 27 male firefighter recruits (mean ± SD, age = 29.9 ± 4.1 yr; height, 179.8 ± 4.6 cm; body mass, 87.2 ± 9.7 kg) at the beginning (W1) and end (W14) of their firefighter training academy, as well as at the end of their probationary period (W38). Results Repeated-measures multivariate analyses of variance (RM MANOVA) identified significant changes across time among measures of body composition (F10,17 = 30.390, &Lgr; = 0.053, P < 0.001), aerobic capacity (F6,21 = 55.111, &Lgr; = 0.060, P < 0.001), muscular power (F8,17 = 2.785, &Lgr; = 0.433, P = 0.036), muscular strength (F6,20 = 34.908, &Lgr; = 0.087, P < 0.001), and muscular endurance (F4,23 = 25.983, &Lgr; = 0.181, P < 0.001). Follow-up post hoc analyses indicated that all measures, except muscular power, significantly improved from W1 to W14 (P < 0.05). However, significant decrements in many of these measures were also observed from W14 to W38 (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of the current study suggest that measures of health and fitness among firefighter recruits significantly improved throughout the firefighter training academy (W1 to W14). However, many of these positive physiological adaptations are lost before these recruits finish their probationary period as active-duty firefighters (W14 to W38). These results highlight the importance of developing exercise programming that is designed for the active-duty firefighter cohort population to maintain the beneficial adaptations in health and fitness previously created during the firefighter training academy.
Affective Adaptation to Repeated SIT and MICT Protocols in Insulin-Resistant Subjects

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate affective responses to repeated sessions of sprint interval training (SIT) in comparison with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in insulin-resistant subjects. Methods Twenty-six insulin-resistant adults (age, 49 (4) yr; 10 women) were randomized into SIT (n = 13) or MICT (n = 13) groups. Subjects completed six supervised training sessions within 2 wk (SIT session, 4–6 × 30 s all-out cycling/4-min recovery; MICT session, 40–60 min at 60% peak work load). Perceived exertion, stress, and affective state were assessed with questionnaires before, during and after each training session. Results Perceived exertion, displeasure, and arousal were higher during the SIT compared with MICT sessions (all P < 0.01). These, however, alleviated similarly in response to SIT and MICT over the 6 d of training (all P < 0.05). SIT versus MICT exercise increased perceived stress and decreased positive affect and feeling of satisfaction acutely after exercise especially in the beginning of the intervention (all P < 0.05). These negative responses declined significantly during the training period: perceived stress and positive activation were no longer different between the training groups after the third, and satisfaction after the fifth training session (P > 0.05). Conclusions The perceptual and affective responses are more negative both during and acutely after SIT compared with MICT in untrained insulin-resistant adults. These responses, however, show significant improvements already within six training sessions, indicating rapid positive affective and physiological adaptations to continual exercise training, both SIT and MICT. These findings suggest that even very intense SIT is mentally tolerable alternative for untrained people with insulin resistance.
Individual, Social, Economic, and Environmental Model: A Paradigm Shift for Obesity Prevention

Obesity has joined the list of “wicked problems” with associated implications for public health, food security, and the entire food supply chain. This paper examines the possible causes, consequences, and policy implications, especially important in an environment of shrinking budgets. The causes of obesity are multifaceted and involve complex interactions; hence any successful prevention and mitigation strategy should identify the key factors and interactions thereof. We propose a dynamic and integrated individual, social, economic and environmental model (ISEEM) to accomplish this. Within this framework, the optimal mix of economic incentives, better education, and land use planning emerge as key factors in obesity prevention and mitigation and the promotion of healthier, more sustainable communities. The use of the ISEEM framework, involving a combination of strategies targeted to specific circumstances of individual communities and localities, could address this wicked problem in an environment characterized by increasing conflicts among budgets, heuristics, and politics.
Contralateral Repeated Bout Effect of the Knee Flexors

PurposeEccentric exercise of the elbow flexors (EF) confers protective effect against muscle damage of the same exercise performed by the opposite arm at 1, 7, or 28 d later. This is known as the contralateral repeated bout effect (CL-RBE), but it is not known whether CL-RBE is evident for the knee flexors (KF). The present study tested the hypothesis that KF CL-RBE would be observed at 1, 7, and 28 d after the initial bout. MethodsYoung untrained men were assigned to a control or one of three experimental groups (n = 13 per group). The experimental groups performed 60 maximal KF eccentric contractions (60MaxEC) using one leg followed by the same exercise using the opposite leg at 1, 7, or 28 d later. The control group used the nondominant leg to repeat 60MaxEC separated by 14 d. Changes in several indirect muscle damage markers after 60MaxEC were compared between bouts and among the groups by using a mixed-design, two-way ANOVA. ResultsChanges in maximal voluntary isokinetic concentric contraction torque, range of motion, muscle soreness, and plasma creatine kinase activity after the first 60MaxEC were similar among the groups. These changes were smaller after the second than the first 60MaxEC for the control, 1-d, and 7-d groups, and the changes after the second 60MaxEC were smaller for the control than for both the 1- and 7-d groups (P < 0.05). When the KF CL-RBE was compared with the EF CL-RBE of the previous study, the magnitude was not significantly different. ConclusionsThese results showed that CL-RBE was evident for KF in a similar manner to that for EF, but did not last for 28 d, and the CL-RBE was smaller than the ipsilateral RBE.
Effects of Ad libitum Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Dieting in Middle-Age Male Runners

PurposeThis study examined the effects of a 3-wk ad libitum, low-carbohydrate (<50 g·d−1) high-fat (~70% of calories) (LCHF) diet on markers of endurance performance in middle-age, recreationally competitive male runners. MethodsAll subjects (n = 8) after their normal high-carbohydrate (HC) diet had anthropometric measures assessed and completed five 10-min running bouts at multiple individual race paces in the heat while physiological variables, metabolic variables, and perceptual responses were recorded. After 20 min of rest, participants completed a 5-km time trial on a road course. Subjects then consumed an LCHF diet for 3 wk and returned for repeat testing. ResultsBody mass and seven-site skinfold thickness sum decreased by approximately 2.5 kg (P < 0.01) and 13 mm (P < 0.05) after LCHF diet. Rectal temperature was higher after the first 10 min of exercise (37.7°C ± 0.3°C vs 37.3°C ± 0.2°C) in the HC diet but did not differ at any other time with LCHF diet. Heart rate and perceptual measures did not display any consistent differences between treatments excluding thirst sensation for LCHF diet. RER and carbohydrate oxidation declined significantly, whereas fat oxidation increased after LCHF diet for every pace (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference (P = 0.25) in a 5-km time trial performance, but LCHF diet (23.45 ± 2.25 min) displayed a trend of improved performance versus HC (23.92 ± 2.57 min). ConclusionImproved body composition and fat oxidation from LCHF diet potentially negate expected performance decrement from reduced carbohydrate use late in exercise for nonelite runners. An acute decrease in training capacity is expected; however, if performance improvement is not exhibited after 3 wk, diet cessation is suggested for negative responders.
Long-Term Use of a Softshell Prophylactic Ankle Stabilizer on Speed, Agility, and Vertical Jump Performance

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a softshell prophylactic ankle stabilizer (PAS) on performance in events involving speed, agility, and vertical jump during long-term use. The events examined were the 24.384-m sprint, 12.192-m shuttle ran, and vertical jump. Subjects were high school basketball players who were randomly assigned to either a PAS (n = 11) or a nonbraced control (n = 13) group. Results of the study revealed that the softshell PAS had no significant effect on any of the three performance events tested over a 3-month basketball season. However, there was a significant difference in 24.384-m sprint and 12.192-m shuttle run times across test sessions regardless of treatment group. In conclusion, the softshell PAS neither enhanced nor inhibited performance in activities involving speed, agility, or vertical jump during long-term use.
Muscle Fiber and Performance Changes after Fast Eccentric Complex Training

Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a short-term fast eccentric and ballistic complex training program on muscle power, rate of force development (RFD), muscle fiber composition, and cross-sectional area (CSA). Methods Sixteen male physical education students were randomly assigned to either a training group (TG, n = 8) or a control group (n = 8). The TG followed a 6-wk low volume training program, including fast eccentric squat training with an individually optimized load of 74% ± 7% of maximal half-squat strength (1RM) twice per week and a ballistic training session with loaded (30% 1RM) and unloaded jump squats, once per week, all combined with unloaded plyometric jumps. Results Half squat 1RM was increased in the TG from 1.87 ± 0.28 to 2.14 ± 0.31 kg per kilogram body mass (14.4% ± 9.3%, P = 0.01). The percentage of types I, IIA, and IIX fibers were similar in the two groups at pretesting and did not change after the intervention period (P = 0.53–0.89). Muscle fiber CSA increased in all fiber types by 8.3% to 11.6% (P = 0.02 to 0.001) in TG only. Countermovement jump height and peak power measured at five different external loads (0%–65% of 1RM) only increased in the TG by approximately 20% to 36% (P < 0.01) and approximately 16% to 22% (P < 0.01), respectively. Peak ground reaction force during jump squats remained unchanged in both groups, whereas RFD increased in the TG only (40%–107%, P = 0.001). Conclusions A combination of low-volume fast eccentric and ballistic jump squat training with plyometric jumps in a strength–power potentiation complex format, induced substantial increases in peak leg muscle power, RFD, and maximal strength, accompanied by gains in CSA of all muscle fiber types, without a reduction in fast twitch fiber composition.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome: A qualitative study

Background Patients with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) often make use of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) techniques to manage their chronic pain and other symptoms. Nevertheless, how they use CAM, which techniques they favor, and how CAM use affects their allopathic care remain unclear. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand patients’ personal experiences with CAM and its role in their symptom management. Materials and methods Thirty individuals living with hEDS completed a brief online survey related to their CAM use. Thereafter, in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 of the survey respondents, qualitatively investigating their experiences with CAM. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants described massage therapy (N = 21), medical cannabis (N = 12), and mindfulness (N = 13) as some of the most useful CAM modalities for managing symptoms related to hEDS, but they expressed a general interest in pursuing any treatment that could potentially reduce their chronic pain. They suggested an overall trust in CAM modalities and practitioners and ascribed greater empathy to CAM practitioners than to conventional medical providers. However, they also described a critical skepticism of CAM (and conventional) therapies and recounted instances of injury from such treatments. Conclusion Participants made extensive use of CAM therapies. They described both critical benefits as well as harms from the use of these non-conventional modalities. These results underscore the importance of clinicians maintaining communicative and compassionate relationships with their patients, and of an openness to the discussion and use of CAM treatments.
Lower-limb coordination and shoulder joint mechanics in the tennis serve.

PURPOSE To examine the relationship between variable lower-limb coordination and shoulder joint kinetics and kinematics in the high-performance flat first serve in tennis. METHODS Three-dimensional data describing three flat serve (FS) techniques, each executed with varying lower-limb involvement: foot-up (FU), foot-back (FB), and minimal leg drive (ARM), as performed by 12 high-performance male players were recorded using a 12-camera Vicon MX motion analysis system operating at 250 Hz. A discriminant analysis determined the lower-limb kinematics that distinguished serve technique, and by extension, leg drive. A total of 18 one-way ANOVA ascertained statistically significant differences in the kinematic and kinetic variables considered to relate to or represent shoulder joint loading in FU, FB, and ARM serves. RESULTS The lower-limb kinematics shown to best discriminate between service techniques were range of rear and front knee joint extension, and peak angular velocity of rear knee joint extension. The forward swings of the FU (43.6 +/- 3.0 m.s(-1), P < 0.05) and FB (42.6 +/- 3.1 m.s(-1), P < 0.05) techniques were characterized by higher peak racket speeds than those generated in the ARM (39.4 +/- 3.4 m.s(-1)) serve. Regardless of stance and leg drive, similar pre- and post-impact shoulder joint kinetics were developed. CONCLUSION Knowledge of a server's range of front and rear knee joint extension as well as his/her peak angular velocity of rear knee joint extension is sufficient to ascertain the stance and quality of leg drive used. When facilitated by a leg drive, high-performance players generate similar resultant pre-impact racket velocities independent of stance. With no leg drive, players develop lower resultant racket velocities. Comparable shoulder joint kinetics, however, evolved from the differential lower-limb mechanics that characterized the FU, FB, and ARM techniques.
Cross-transfer effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction.

PURPOSE This study investigated whether muscle hypertrophy-promoting effects are cross-transferred in resistance training with blood flow restriction, which has been shown to evoke strong endocrine activation. METHODS Fifteen untrained men were randomly assigned into the occlusive training group (OCC, N = 8) and the normal training group (NOR, N = 7). Both groups performed the same unilateral arm exercise (arm curl) at 50% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) without occlusion (three sets, 10 repetitions). Either the dominant or nondominant arm was randomly chosen to be trained (OCC-T, NOR-T) or to serve as a control (OCC-C, NOR-C). After the arm exercise, OCC performed leg exercise with blood flow restriction (30% of 1RM, three sets, 15-30 repetitions), whereas NOR performed the same leg exercise without occlusion. The training session was performed twice a week for 10 wk. In a separate set of experiments, acute changes in blood hormone concentrations were measured after the same leg exercises with (N = 5) and without (N = 5) occlusion. RESULTS Cross-sectional area (CSA) and isometric torque of elbow flexor muscles increased significantly in OCC-T, whereas no significant changes were observed in OCC-C, NOR-T, and NOR-C. CSA and isometric torque of thigh muscles increased significantly in OCC, whereas no significant changes were observed in NOR. Noradrenaline concentration showed a significantly larger increase after leg exercise with occlusion than after exercises without occlusion, though growth hormone and testosterone concentrations did not show significant differences between these two types of exercises. CONCLUSION The results indicate that low-intensity resistance training increases muscular size and strength when combined with resistance exercise with blood flow restriction for other muscle groups. It was suggested that any circulating factor(s) was involved in this remote effect of exercise on muscular size.
Increased carbohydrate oxidation after ingesting carbohydrate with added protein.

PURPOSE To examine the metabolic impact of including protein in a postexercise carbohydrate supplement when ingested between two bouts of prolonged running performed within the same day. METHODS Six healthy men participated in two trials separated by 14 d, each involving a 90-min treadmill run at 70% VO2max followed by 4 h of recovery and a subsequent 60-min run at the same intensity. At 30-min intervals during recovery, participants ingested either a solution containing 0.8 g.kg(-1)h(-1) of carbohydrate (CHO) or the same solution plus an additional 0.3 g.kg(-1)h(-1) of whey protein isolate (CHO-PRO). Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis at the beginning and end of the recovery period, with a third muscle biopsy taken following the second treadmill run. RESULTS Despite higher insulinemic responses to the CHO-PRO solution than to the CHO solution (P < 0.05), rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis during recovery were not different between treatments (CHO = 12.3 +/- 2.2 and CHO-PRO = 12.1 +/- 2.7 mmol glucosyl units per kilogram of dry mass per hour). Furthermore, there were no differences between treatments in muscle glycogen degradation during subsequent exercise (CHO = 2.2 +/- 0.3 and CHO-PRO = 2.0 +/- 0.1 mmol glucosyl units per kilogram of dry mass per minute). In contrast, whole-body carbohydrate oxidation during the second run was significantly greater with the CHO-PRO treatment than with the CHO treatment (48.4 +/- 2.2 and 41.7 +/- 2.6 mg.kg(-1)min(-1), respectively; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION These data show that the inclusion of protein in a carbohydrate-recovery supplement can increase the oxidation of extramuscular carbohydrate sources during subsequent exercise without altering the rate of muscle glycogen degradation.
Effect of match-related fatigue on short-passing ability in young soccer players.

PURPOSE To examine whether the fatigue accumulated during match play or determined by short bouts of high-intensity intermittent activities affect short-passing ability in junior soccer players. A further aim was to examine the influence of physical fitness as measured using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (YYIRT) on the changes in short-passing ability after a 5-min simulation of high-intensity activities (HIS). METHODS Sixteen players (mean +/- SD: age 17.6 +/- 0.5 yr, height 174 +/- 7 cm, body mass 68 +/- 6 kg) participated in the study. A quasi-experimental control-period design was used for the study. Short-passing ability was measured using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT). Players completed the LSPT in two sessions during the 1-wk control period, followed by two unofficial matches during which the LSPT was performed during and after the first and the second halves of the game. Furthermore, the change in LSPT performance was determined after 5 min of HIS. RESULTS A decline in LSPT performance was found during and after the game (P < 0.01). The accuracy of the LSPT decreased after the HIS. A significant correlation was found between the YYIRT scores and the decline in LSPT performance (accuracy, total time, total time with penalties) after HIS (r = -0.51 to -0.65; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the fatigue developed during a match and after relatively short bouts of high-intensity intermittent activities has a detrimental effect on short-passing ability, and that the fatigue-related decline in technical proficiency for a given intensity is associated with the fitness level of the players.
Issues in testing collection class libraries

Collections or containers have become a standard facility used by almost any software application. The availability and widespread use of collection class libraries, the large number of systems depending on them, their algorithmic complexity, as well as their object-oriented design demand an elaborated testing approach. Despite the availability of such testing approaches, many industry projects still rely on unstructured unit testing without particular test criteria applied. In this paper we highlight issues involved in testing collection class libraries and report preliminary results from a pilot study on ad-hoc unit testing of collection classes. We show that a reasonable number of defects can be found in a short period of time that higher coverage does not necessarily lead to a larger number of defects found, and report on three distinct strategies used for writing test cases. Still some questions remain and could be discuss in the workshop.
The attitude of medical students towards the mental mentally ill: the impact of a clinical attachment in Psychiatry

Background Working and associating with people with mental illness influence the attitudes towards mental illness. Medical students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka have a mandatory six week clinical attachment in psychiatry in the final year, which provides an opportunity to work with people with mental illness. Aims To determine the impact of the clinical attachment in psychiatry on attitudes among medical students towards people with mental illness. Method The 20-point Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was used to assess stigmatizing attitudes, before and after the six week clinical attachment in psychiatry, in a cohort of medical students completing the appointment during a one year period January-December 2011. The AMIQ consists of five hypothetical case vignettes and five questions based on each case vignette. Results Questionnaires were received from 194 medical students, (88% response rate) before the commencement of the clinical attachment and from 137 medical students, (62% response rate) after completing the clinical attachment. The post attachment mean AMIQ stigma score had improved for schizophrenia, depression, heroin use and alcohol use. The difference in AMIQ stigma scores were significant for heroin use (p=0.014, median difference=0.4), schizophrenia (p=0.049, median difference = 0.3), and depression (p=0.014, median difference = 0.4) In both the pre-clinical attachment as well as the post-clinical attachment groups, stigmatizing attitudes were significantly higher for depression (p Conclusion The final year clinical attachment in psychiatry significantly reduced stigmatizing attitudes among medical students towards mental illness. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry Vol 3(2) December 2012 Page 12-15 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v3i2. 5132