bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aging in high functioning elderly persons: study design and analyses of behavioral and psychological factors
Authors: Finkenzeller Thomas , Pötzelsberger Birgit , Kösters Alexander , Würth Sabine , Amesberger Günter , Dela Flemming , Müller Erich
Published: December 2018

This article aims to (a) describe the study design of a 6‐year follow‐up multidisciplinary research project on aging, (b) report the psychosocial characteristics of the sample in detail, and (c) evaluate aging‐related changes of health, physical activity, and psychosocial characteristics in 10 young‐old (age at pre‐test: M ± SD = 63.2 ± 1.5) and 12 old‐old (age at pre‐test: M ± SD = 69 ± 2) individuals. Both age groups consist of individuals displaying a high health status, a high extent of physical activity, high levels of psychosocial properties in the dimensions of well‐being, life satisfaction, self‐concept, body image, self‐esteem, and self‐efficacy, as well as a low general depression index. Psychosocial characteristics demonstrated a stable pattern over a period of nearly 6 years in both age groups with the exceptions of physical activity, satisfaction with children, general depression, and self‐efficacy. Furthermore, physical self‐concept decreased in old‐old adults, whereas the young‐olds showed no change. We assume that a high psychosocial status and a physically active lifestyle play an important role for mastering aging successfully in two life phases, each of which has its own challenges for older individuals. The decline in the physical self‐concept of old‐olds is interpreted as a first sign of subjective aging. Its association with losses in physical performance should be addressed in future studies. Finally, aging‐related changes should be monitored on an individual level in order to capture the complex dynamic of aging that is not considered in analyses of between‐person differences or averages.
Making the Baruya great again: From glorified great men to modern suffering subjects?
Authors: Malbrancke Anne‐Sylvie
Published: December 2018

This paper explores avenues for prestige‐making now available to and championed by the Baruya, the archetypal ‘Great Man’ people of Papua New Guinea, who I recently studied following previous work by Maurice Godelier. Amid critiques by Robbins and Ortner of anthropologists’ drive to document and empathise with “suffering subjects”, I suggest that being ‘left behind’ and ‘forgotten’ is an important part of Baruya social life that reinterprets previous ways of ‘making great men.’ Baruya exposure to material and institutional modernity remains very limited. Local rhetorics of being ‘last place’ (las ples) are both concomitant and discordant with Baruya assumptions and assertions of being ‘the greatest people’ of their region. Unable to revive traditional contexts for producing great men through warriorship, shamanism, cassowary hunting, and salt‐making, Baruya turn to the very modernity they cannot quite reach for their own pursuit of masculinity and prestige—which paradoxically now lies within domains also open to women. Desirous to both establish continuity with their glorified past and to depart from it, Baruya's local modernity itself constrains their newly‐shaped desire for prestige—and dramatically changes gender relations in the process. Though the concrete impossibility to ‘be great’ reinforces Baruya perceptions of enduring what we might call a ‘suffering slot’, the larger issue is how concrete experiences sediment into socio‐cultural change over time. This process is informed by a tension between a quest for modernity and its larger failure, resulting in a drive to reignite longer standing values of morality, spirituality, and ultimately, greatmanship.
Evaluation of a prototype dynamic laryngoplasty system in vitro with an equine vacuum airflow system
Authors: Ahern Benjamin J. , Lukas Emily , Lam Kimberly , Wilke Emma , Bertin Francois‐Rene , Van Eps Andrew , Franklin Samantha
Published: December 2018

Objective

To evaluate a prototype dynamic laryngoplasty system (DLPS) in a static airflow model.

Study design

Experimental.

Sample population

Ten equine larynges.

Methods

The right arytenoid was fixed in abduction in all specimens. A left‐sided laryngoplasty was performed with No. 2 Fiberwire and a FASTakII anchor. Each larynx was tested in a static airflow model. The system was adjusted to a flow rate of 55 L/s and prelaryngeal pressure of 12 mm Hg prior to testing in maximal arytenoid abduction. In phase 1, the left suture was loosened, shortened, and tested in 3‐mm steps from 0 to 30 mm. In phase 2, the suture was tied with the DLPS in position at a target left‐to‐right quotient angle (LRQ) of 0.5. The DLPS was activated to target psi of 0, 25, and 50 for testing. Translaryngeal impedance (TLI), LRQ, cross‐sectional areas (CSA), and resultant change in LRQ and CSA between, before, and during airflow testing were calculated.

Results

In phase 1, TLI was reduced by suture shortening up to 6 mm (P = .001) but not by additional shortening (P > .05). In phase 2, activation of the DLPS reduced the TLI from 0 psi (0.43 ± 0.08 mm Hg/L/s) to 25 psi (0.16 ± 0.04 mm Hg/L/s,P < .001), but no further reduction was detected at maximal psi (P = .10).

Conclusion

Activation of the DLPS effectively reduced TLI.

Clinical significance

These results justify further investigation of the DLPS to assess its clinical applicability.
Evaluation of the Performance and Efficiency of the Automated Linguistic Features for Author Identification in Short Text Messages Using Different Variable Selection Techniques
Authors: Aljumily Refat
Published: December 2018

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of automated linguistic features to test its capacity or discriminating power as style markers for author identification in short text messages of the Facebook genre. The corpus used to evaluate the automated linguistics features was compiled from 221 Facebook texts (each text is about 2 to 3 lines/35-40 words) written in English, which were written in the same genre and topic and posted in the same year group, totaling 7530 words. To compose the dataset for linguistic features performance or evaluation, frequency values were collected from 16 linguistic feature types involving parts of speech, function words, word bigrams, character tri grams, average sentence length in terms of words, average sentence length in terms of characters, Yule’s K measure, Simpson’s D measure, average words length, FW/CW ratio, average characters, content specific key words, type/token ratio, total number of short words less than four characters, contractions, and total number of characters in words which were selected from five corpora, totalling 328 test features. The evaluation of the 16 linguistic feature types differ from those of other analyses because the study used different variable selection methods including feature type frequency, variance, term frequency/ inverse document frequency (TF.IDF), signal-noise ratio, and Poisson term distribution. The relationships between known and anonymous text messages were examined using hierarchical linear and non-hierarchical nonlinear clustering methods, taking into accounts the nonlinear patterns among the data. There were similarities between the anonymous text messages and the authors of the non-anonymous text messages in terms function word and parts of speech usages based on TF.IDF technique and the efficiency of function word usages (=60%) and the efficiency of parts of speech frequencies (=50%). There were no similarities between the anonymous text messages and the authors of the non-anonymous text messages in terms of the other features using feature type frequency and variance techniques in this test and the efficiency of these features in the corpus (< 40%). There was a positive effect on identification performance using parts of speech and function word frequency usages and applying TF.IDF technique as the length of text messages increased (N≥ 100). Through this way, the performance and efficiency of syntactic features and function word usages to identify anonymous authors or text messages is improved by increasing the length of the text messages using TF.IDF variable selection technique, but decreased as feature type frequency and variance techniques in the selection process apply.
A Machine Learning Approach to Kinematic Synthesis of Defect-Free Planar Four-Bar Linkages
Authors: Deshpande Shrinath , Purwar Anurag
Published: December 2018

Synthesizing circuit-, branch-, or order-defects-free planar four-bar mechanism for the motion generation problem has proven to be a difficult problem. These defects render synthesized mechanisms useless to machine designers. Such defects arise from the artificial constraints of formulating the problem as a discrete precision position problem and limitations of the methods, which ignore the continuity information in the input. In this paper, we bring together diverse fields of pattern recognition, machine learning, artificial neural network, and computational kinematics to present a novel approach that solves this problem both efficiently and effectively. At the heart of this approach lies an objective function, which compares the motion as a whole thereby capturing designer's intent. In contrast to widely used structural error or loop-closure equation-based error functions, which convolute the optimization by considering shape, size, position, and orientation of the given task simultaneously, this objective function computes motion difference in a form, which is invariant to similarity transformations. We employ auto-encoder neural networks to create a compact and clustered database of invariant motions of known defect-free linkages, which serve as a good initial choice for further optimization. In spite of highly nonlinear parameters space, our approach discovers a wide pool of defect-free solutions very quickly. We show that by employing proven machine learning techniques, this work could have far-reaching consequences to creating a multitude of useful and creative conceptual design solutions for mechanism synthesis problems, which go beyond planar four-bar linkages.
Steady RANS of Flow and Heat Transfer in a Smooth and Pin-Finned U-Duct With a Trapezoidal Cross Section
Authors: Hu Kenny S.-Y. , Chi Xingkai , Shih Tom I.-P. , Chyu Minking , Crawford Michael
Published: December 2018

Steady Reynolds-averaged Navier--Stokes (RANS) simulations were performed to examine the ability of four turbulence models—realizable k–ε (k–ε), shear-stress transport (SST), Reynolds stress model with linear pressure strain (RSM-LPS), and stress-omega RSM (RSM-τω)—to predict the turbulent flow and heat transfer in a trapezoidal U-duct with and without a staggered array of pin fins. Results generated for the heat-transfer coefficient (HTC) were compared with experimental measurements. For the smooth U-duct, the maximum relative error in the averaged HTC in the up-leg is 2.5% for k–ε, SST, and RSM-τω and 9% for RSM-LPS. In the turn region, the maximum is 50% for k–ε and RSM-LPS, 14.5% for RSM-τω, and 29% for SST. In the down-leg, SST gave the best predictions and RSM-τω being a close second with maximum relative error less than 10%. The ability to predict the separated flow downstream of the turn dominated the performance of the models. For the U-duct with pin fins, SST and RSM-τω predicted the best, and k–ε predicted the least accurate HTCs. For k–ε, the maximum relative error is about 25%, whereas it is 15% for the SST and RSM-τω, and they occur in the turn. In the turn region, the staggered array of pin fins was found to behave like guide vanes in turning the flow. The pin fins also reduced the size of the separated region just after the turn.
Experimental Characterization of Heat Transfer to Vertical Dense Granular Flows Across Wide Temperature Range
Authors: Watkins Megan F. , Gould Richard D.
Published: December 2018

Particle-based heat transfer fluids for concentrated solar power (CSP) tower applications offer a unique advantage over traditional fluids, as they have the potential to reach very high operating temperatures. Gravity-driven dense granular flows through cylindrical tubes demonstrate potential for CSP applications and are the focus of the present study. The heat transfer capabilities of such a flow system were experimentally studied using a bench-scale apparatus. The effect of the flow rate and other system parameters on the heat transfer to the flow was studied at low operating temperatures (<200 °C), using the convective heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number to quantify the behavior. For flows ranging from 0.015 to 0.09 m/s, the flow rate appeared to have negligible effect on the heat transfer. The effect of temperature on the flow's heat transfer capabilities was also studied, examining the flows at temperatures up to 1000 °C. As expected, the heat transfer coefficient increased with the increasing temperature due to enhanced thermal properties. Radiation did not appear to be a key contributor for the small particle diameters tested (approximately 300 μm in diameter) but may play a bigger role for larger particle diameters. The experimental results from all trials corroborate the observations of other researchers; namely, that particulate flows demonstrate inferior heat transfer as compared with a continuum flow due to an increased thermal resistance adjacent to the tube wall resulting from the discrete nature of the flow.
Over-Design Versus Redesign as a Response to Future Requirements
Authors: Allen Jeffrey D. , Stevenson Phillip D. , Mattson Christopher A. , Hatch Nile W.
Published: December 2018

Though little research has been done in the field of over-design as a product development strategy, an over-design approach can help products avoid the issue of premature obsolescence. This paper compares over-design to redesign as approaches to address the emergence of future requirements. Net present value (NPV) analyses of several real world applications are examined from the perspective of manufacturers (i.e., defense contractors, automobile, pharmaceutical, and microprocessor manufactures) and customers (i.e., purchases of vehicles, televisions, cell phones, washing machines, and buildings). This analysis is used to determine the conditions under which an over-design approach provides a greater benefit than a redesign approach. Over-design is found to have a higher NPV than redesign when future requirements occur soon after the initial release, discount rates are low, initial research, and development cost or price is high, and when the incremental costs of the future requirements are low.
Visual Similarity to Aid Alternative-Use Concept Generation for Retired Wind-Turbine Blades
Authors: Kwon E. , Pehlken A. , Thoben K.-D. , Bazylak A. , Shu L. H.
Published: December 2018

The challenge of finding alternative uses for retired wind-turbine blades, which have limited disposal options, motivates this work. Two reuse concept-generation activities (CGAs) conducted in German universities revealed difficulties with the parts' large scale and seeing beyond their original use. Existing methods, e.g., using functional analogy, are less applicable, since for safety reasons, these parts should not be reused to fulfill the same function. Therefore, this work explores the use of visual similarity to support reuse-concept generation. A method was developed that (1) finds visually similar images (VSIs) for wind-turbine-blade photos and (2) derives potential-reuse concepts based on objects that are visually similar to wind-turbine blades in these images. Comparing reuse concepts generated from the two methods, VSI produced fewer smaller-than-scale concepts than CGA. While other qualities such as feasibility depend on the specific photo selected, this work provides a new framework to exploit visual similarity to find alternative uses. As demonstrated for wind-turbine blades, this method aids in generating alternative-use concepts, especially for large-scale objects.
When Are Designers Willing to Take Risks? How Concept Creativity and Prototype Fidelity Influence Perceived Risk
Authors: Starkey Elizabeth M. , Menold Jessica , Miller Scarlett R.
Published: December 2018

Building prototypes is an important part of the concept selection phase of the design process, where fuzzy ideas get represented to support communication and decision making. However, the previous studies have shown that prototypes generate different levels of user feedback based on their fidelity and esthetics. Furthermore, prior research on concept selection has shown that individual risk attitude effects how individuals select ideas, as creative ideas are perceived to be riskier in comparison to less creative ideas. While the role of risk has been investigated in concept selection, there is lack of research on how risk is related to the selection of prototypes at various levels of fidelity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of prototype fidelity, concept creativity, and risk aversion on perceived riskiness and concept selection through a between-subjects study with 72 engineering students. The results revealed that there was a “goldilocks” effect in which students choose concepts with “just the right amount” of novelty, not too much and not too little, as long as quality was adequate. In addition, the prototype fidelity of a concept had an interaction with uniqueness, indicating that unique concepts are more likely to be perceived as less risky if presented at higher levels of fidelity.
Examining the Influence of Solar Panel Installers on Design Innovation and Market Penetration
Authors: Sinitskaya Ekaterina , Gomez Kelley J. , Bao Qifang , Yang Maria C. , MacDonald Erin F.
Published: December 2018

This work uses an agent-based model to examine how installers of photovoltaic (PV) panels influence panel design and the success of residential solar energy. It provides a novel approach to modeling intermediary stakeholder influence on product design, focusing on installer decisions instead of the typical foci of the final customer (homeowners) and the designer/manufacturer. Installers restrict homeowner choice to a subset of all panel options available, and, consequentially, determine medium-term market dynamics in terms of quantity and design specifications of panel installations. This model investigates installer profit-maximization strategies of exploring new panel designs offered by manufacturers (a risk-seeking strategy) versus exploiting market-tested technology (a risk-averse strategy). Manufacturer design decisions and homeowner purchase decisions are modeled. Realistic details provided from installer and homeowner interviews are included. For example, installers must estimate panel reliability instead of trusting manufacturer statistics, and homeowners make purchase decisions based in part on installer reputation. We find that installers pursue new and more-efficient panels over sticking-with market-tested technology under a variety of panel-reliability scenarios and two different state scenarios (California and Massachusetts). Results indicate that it does not matter if installers are predisposed to an exploration or exploitation strategy—both types choose to explore new panels that have higher efficiency.
Solution of Inverse Problems in Thermal Systems
Authors: Jaluria Yogesh
Published: December 2018

A common occurrence in many practical systems is that the desired result is known or given, but the conditions needed for achieving this result are not known. This situation leads to inverse problems, which are of particular interest in thermal processes. For instance, the temperature cycle to which a component must be subjected in order to obtain desired characteristics in a manufacturing system, such as heat treatment or plastic thermoforming, is prescribed. However, the necessary boundary and initial conditions are not known and must be determined by solving the inverse problem. Similarly, an inverse solution may be needed to complete a given physical problem by determining the unknown boundary conditions. Solutions thus obtained are not unique and optimization is generally needed to obtain results within a small region of uncertainty. This review paper discusses several inverse problems that arise in a variety of practical processes and presents some of the approaches that may be used to solve them and obtain acceptable and realistic results. Optimization methods that may be used for reducing the error are presented. A few examples are given to illustrate the applicability of these methods and the challenges that must be addressed in solving inverse problems. These examples include the heat treatment process, unknown wall temperature distribution in a furnace, and transport in a plume or jet involving the determination of the strength and location of the heat source by employing a few selected data points downstream. Optimization of the positioning of the data points is used to minimize the number of samples needed for accurate predictions.
Copper distribution in breast cancer cells detected by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry with delayed extraction methodology
Authors: Blockhuys Stéphanie , Malmberg Per , Wittung-Stafshede Pernilla
Published: December 2018

Copper (Cu) is an essential transition metal ion that acts as a cofactor in many key enzymes. Cu is also needed for several hallmarks of cancer, and many copper-binding proteins are upregulated in various cancers. However, Cu-dependent cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways involved in cancer progression are not known. Fundamental to a better understanding of such phenomena is the investigation of the Cu subcellular distribution in cancer cells. The authors here show that Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry combined with delayed extraction can be successfully applied to probe Cu localization in fixed MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells providing subcellular resolution. Interestingly, the authors find Cu to be accumulated at nuclear regions of the cancer cells.
A Prospective Cohort Study of Load and Wellness (Sleep, Fatigue, Soreness, Stress, and Mood) in Elite Junior Australian Football Players
Authors: Lathlean Timothy J.H. , Gastin Paul B. , Newstead Stuart V. , Finch Caroline F.
Published: December 2018

Purpose: To investigate associations between load (training and competition) and wellness in elite junior Australian Football players across 1 competitive season. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted during the 2014 playing season in 562 players from 9 teams. Players recorded their training and match intensities according to the session-rating-of-perceived-exertion (sRPE) method. Based on sRPE player loads, a number of load variables were quantified, including cumulative load and the change in load across different periods of time (including the acute-to-chronic load ratio). Wellness was quantified using a wellness index including sleep, fatigue, soreness, stress, and mood on a Likert scale from 1 to 5. Results: Players spent an average of 85 (21) min in each match and 65 (31) min per training session. Average match loads were 637 (232) arbitrary units, and average training loads were 352 (233) arbitrary units. Over the 24 wk of the 2014 season, overall wellness had a significant linear negative association with 1-wk load (B = −0.152; 95% confidence interval, −0.261 to −0.043; P = .006) and an inverse U-curve relationship with session load (B = −0.078; 95% confidence interval, 0.143 to 0.014; P = .018). Mood, stress, and soreness were all found to have associations with load. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that load (within a session and across the week) is important in managing the wellness of elite junior Australian Football players. Quantifying loads and wellness at this level will help optimize player management and has the potential to reduce the risk of adverse events such as injury.
Effects of Ball Drills and Repeated-Sprint-Ability Training in Basketball Players
Authors: Maggioni Martina A. , Bonato Matteo , Stahn Alexander , La Torre Antonio , Agnello Luca , Vernillo Gianluca , Castagna Carlo , Merati Giampiero
Published: December 2018

Purpose: To investigate the effects of ball drills and repeated-sprint-ability training during the regular season in basketball players. Methods: A total of 30 players were randomized into 3 groups: ball-drills training (BDT, n = 12, 4 × 4 min, 3 vs 3 with 3-min passive recovery), repeated-sprint-ability training (RSAT, n = 9, 3 × 6 × 20-m shuttle running with 20-s and 4-min recovery), and general basketball training (n = 9, basketball technical/tactical exercises), as control group. Players were tested before and after 8 wk of training using the following tests: , squat jump, countermovement jump, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YIRT1), agility T test, line-drill test, 5-/10-/20-m sprints, and blood lactate concentration. A custom-developed survey was used to analyze players’ technical skills. Results: After training, significant improvements were seen in YIRT1 (BDT P = .014, effect size [ES] ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 0.3; RSAT P = .022, ES ± 90% CI = 0.7 ± 0.3), the agility T test (BDT P = .018, ES ± 90% CI = 0.7 ± 0.5; RSAT P = .037, ES ± 90% CI = 0.7 ± 0.5), and the line-drill test (BDT P = .010, ES ± 90% CI = 0.3 ± 0.1; RSAT P < .0001, ES ± 90% CI = 0.4 ± 0.1). In the RSAT group, only 10-m sprint speeds (P = .039, ES ± 90% CI = 0.3 ± 0.2) and blood lactate concentration (P = .004, ES ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 1.1) were improved. Finally, technical skills were increased in BDT regarding dribbling (P = .038, ES ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 0.6), shooting (P = .036, ES ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 0.8), passing (P = .034, ES ± 90% CI = 0.9 ± 0.3), rebounding (P = .023, ES ± 90% CI = 1.1 ± 0.3), defense (P = .042, ES ± 90% CI = 0.5 ± 0.5), and offense (P = .044, ES ± 90% CI = 0.4 ± 0.4) skills. Conclusions: BDT and RSAT are both effective in improving the physical performance of basketball players. BDT had also a positive impact on technical skills. Basketball strength and conditioning professionals should include BDT as a routine tool to improve technical skills and physical performance simultaneously throughout the regular training season.
Relationships Between Physical Testing and Match Activity Profiles Across the Australian Football League Participation Pathway
Authors: Haycraft Jade A.Z. , Kovalchik Stephanie , Pyne David B. , Robertson Sam
Published: December 2018

Purpose: To establish levels of association between physical fitness and match activity profiles of players in the Australian Football League (AFL) participation pathway. Methods: Players (N = 287, range 10.9–19.1 y) were assessed on 20-m sprint, AFL agility, vertical jump and running vertical jump, 20-m multistage fitness test (MSFT), and Athletic Abilities Assessment. Match activity profiles were obtained from global positioning system measures: relative speed, maximal velocity, and relative high-speed running. Results: Correlational analyses revealed moderate relationships between sprint (r = .32–.57, P ≤ .05) and jump test scores (r = .34–.78, P ≤ .05) and match activity profiles in Local U12, Local U14, National U16, and National U18s, except jump tests in National U18s. AFL agility was also moderate to strongly associated in Local U12, Local U14, Local U18, and National U16s (r = .37–.87, P ≤ .05) and strongly associated with relative speed in Local U18s (r = .84, P ≤ .05). Match relative speed and high-speed running were moderate to strongly associated with 20-m MSFT in Local U14, Local U18, and National U18s (r = .41–.95, P ≤ .05) and Athletic Abilities Assessment in Local U12 and Local U18s (r = .35–.67, P ≤ .05). Match activity profile demands increased between Local U12 and National U16s, then plateaued. Conclusions: Physical fitness relates more strongly to match activity profiles in younger adolescent and national-level players. Recruiters should consider adolescent physical fitness and match activity profiles as dynamic across the AFL participation pathway.
Does Night Training Load Affect Sleep Patterns and Nocturnal Cardiac Autonomic Activity in High-Level Female Soccer Players?
Authors: Costa Júlio A. , Brito João , Nakamura Fábio Y. , Oliveira Eduardo M. , Costa Ovidio P. , Rebelo António N.
Published: December 2018

Purpose: To analyze whether exercise training conducted at night disturbs sleep and affects nocturnal cardiac autonomic control in high-level female athletes. Methods: A total of 18 high-level female soccer players (mean [SD] age 20.4 [2.1] y) wore actigraphs and heart-rate (HR) monitors during night sleep throughout night training days (n = 8) and resting days (n = 8), for 3 consecutive weeks. This was a longitudinal study that measured internal training load, sleep, nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity, and well-being ratings prior to training sessions. Results: Training load varied across training days (eg, training impulse range, mean [SD]; effect size, ES [95% confidence interval]: 72.9 [18.8] to 138.4 [29.6] a.u.; F4,62 = 32.331; [.001–.16], large effect; P < .001). However, no differences in subjective well-being ratings were observed, although ES was large. Total sleep time (training days vs resting days: 07:17 [00:47] h vs 07:51 [00:42] h; ES = 0.742 [0.59–0.92], P = .005; moderate effect) and sleep-onset time (00:58 [00:19] h vs 00:44 [00:16] h; ES = 0.802 [0.68–0.94], P = .001; moderate effect) were negatively affected after night training. In addition, small effects were detected for wake-up time, time in bed, and sleep latency (P > .05). No differences were detected in HR variability during sleep (range of lnRMSSD: 4.3 [0.4] to 4.5 [0.4] ln[ms] vs 4.6 [0.3] to 4.5 [0.4] ln[ms]; F3,52 = 2.148; P > .05; [.01–.25], medium effect), but HR during sleep was significantly higher after training days (range of HR: 56 [4] to 63 [7] beats/min vs 54 [4] to 57 [6] beats/min; F2,32 = 15.956; P < .001; [.20–.63], large effect). Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that exercise training conducted at night may disturb sleep and affect HR, whereas limited effects can be expected in HR variability assessed during sleep in high-level female soccer players.
A Multifactorial Assessment of Elite Paratriathletes’ Response to 2 Weeks of Intensified Training
Authors: Stephenson Ben T. , Leicht Christof A. , Tolfrey Keith , Goosey-Tolfrey Victoria L.
Published: December 2018

Purpose: In able-bodied athletes, several hormonal, immunological, and psychological parameters are commonly assessed in response to intensified training due to their potential relationship to acute fatigue and training/nontraining stress. This has yet to be studied in Paralympic athletes. Methods: A total of 10 elite paratriathletes were studied for 5 wk around a 14-d overseas training camp whereby training load was 137% of precamp levels. Athletes provided 6 saliva samples (1 precamp, 4 during camp, and 1 postcamp) for cortisol, testosterone, and secretory immunoglobulin A; weekly psychological questionnaires (Profile of Mood State [POMS] and Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes [RESTQ-Sport]); and daily resting heart rate and subjective wellness measures including sleep quality and quantity. Results: There was no significant change in salivary cortisol, testosterone, cortisol:testosterone ratio, or secretory immunoglobulin A during intensified training (P ≥ .090). Likewise, there was no meaningful change in resting heart rate or subjective wellness measures (P ≥ .079). Subjective sleep quality and quantity increased during intensified training (P ≤ .003). There was no significant effect on any POMS subscale other than lower anger (P = .049), whereas there was greater general recovery and lower sport and general stress from RESTQ-Sport (P ≤ .015). Conclusions: There was little to no change in parameters commonly associated with the fatigued state, which may relate to the training-camp setting minimizing external life stresses and the careful management of training loads from coaches. This is the first evidence of such responses in Paralympic athletes.
Chapter 3: Recruitment and Retention in PETE: Foundations in Occupational Socialization Theory
Authors: Richards K. Andrew R. , Templin Thomas J.
Published: December 2018

Chapter 2 overviewed the teacher pipeline and documented some of the challenges faced by the physical education profession in relation to teacher education recruitment and retention. Given declining program enrollments and the elimination of some once-prominent programs, a theory of action is recommended for understanding how the field can better recruit and retain diverse, highly qualified preservice teachers. In this chapter, we argue that occupational socialization theory presents one such theory of action. We begin with an overview of the theory in a general sense and then discuss possible implications for preservice teacher recruitment and retention. Recommended recruitment efforts focus on leveraging both physical education teacher education faculty members and in-service teachers as agents of recruitment; retention strategies relate to developing field-based teacher education programs that adopt a constructivist approach to teaching and learning. We conclude by describing how occupational socialization theory relates to guide research presented within this monograph.
Whole-Genome Sequencing for Predicting Clarithromycin Resistance in
Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Lipworth Samuel , Hough Natasha , Leach Laura , Morgan Marcus , Jeffery Katie , Andersson Monique , Robinson Esther , Smith E. Grace , Crook Derrick , Peto Tim , Walker Timothy
Published: December 2018

Mycobacterium abscessus
is emerging as an important pathogen in chronic lung diseases, with concern regarding patient-to-patient transmission. The recent introduction of routine whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as a replacement for existing reference techniques in England provides an opportunity to characterize the genetic determinants of resistance.
Genetic Correlation of Antibiotic Susceptibility and Resistance Genotyping for the
Mycobacterium abscessus
Group
Authors: Zheng Huiwen , Liu Dongxin , Lu Jie , Song Yuanyuan , Wang Shengfen , Zhao Yanlin , Ni Xin
Published: December 2018

Treatment efficacy of
Mycobacterium abscessus
infections depends on bacterial genotype. Here, the relationship between genotype, as determined by sequence analysis, and antibiotic resistance phenotype was analyzed.
Inducible Cell Fusion Permits Use of Competitive Fitness Profiling in the Human Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Macdonald Darel , Thomson Darren D. , Johns Anna , Contreras Valenzuela Adriana , Gilsenan Jane M. , Lord Kathryn M. , Bowyer Paul , Denning David W. , Read Nick D. , Bromley Michael J.
Published: December 2018

Antifungal agents directed against novel therapeutic targets are required for treating invasive, chronic, and allergic
Aspergillus
infections. Competitive fitness profiling technologies have been used in a number of bacterial and yeast systems to identify druggable targets; however, the development of similar systems in filamentous fungi is complicated by the fact that they undergo cell fusion and heterokaryosis.
PF74 Inhibits HIV-1 Integration by Altering the Composition of the Preintegration Complex
Authors: Balasubramaniam Muthukumar , Zhou Jing , Addai Amma , Martinez Phillip , Pandhare Jui , Aiken Christopher , Dash Chandravanu
Published: December 2018

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) that uses various combinations of small molecule inhibitors has been highly effective in controlling HIV. However, the drugs used in the ART regimen are expensive, cause side effects, and face viral resistance. The HIV-1 CA plays critical roles in the virus life cycle and is an attractive therapeutic target. While currently there is no CA-based therapy, highly potent CA-specific inhibitors are being developed as a new class of antivirals. Efforts to develop a CA-targeted therapy can be aided through a clear understanding of the role of CA in HIV-1 infection. CA is well established to coordinate reverse transcription and nuclear entry of the virus. However, the role of CA in post-nuclear entry steps of HIV-1 infection is poorly understood. We show that a CA-specific drug PF74 inhibits HIV-1 integration revealing a novel role of this multifunctional viral protein in a post-nuclear entry step of HIV-1 infection.
Resistance to Second-Generation HIV-1 Maturation Inhibitors
Authors: Urano Emiko , Timilsina Uddhav , Kaplan Justin A. , Ablan Sherimay , Ghimire Dibya , Pham Phuong , Kuruppu Nishani , Mandt Rebecca , Durell Stewart R. , Nitz Theodore J. , Martin David E. , Wild Carl T. , Gaur Ritu , Freed Eric O.
Published: December 2018

HIV-1 maturation inhibitors are a class of small-molecule compounds that block a late step in the viral protease-mediated processing of the Gag polyprotein precursor, the viral protein responsible for the formation of virus particles. The first-in-class HIV-1 maturation inhibitor bevirimat was highly effective in blocking HIV-1 replication, but its activity was compromised by naturally occurring sequence polymorphisms within Gag. Recently developed bevirimat analogs, referred to as “second-generation” maturation inhibitors, overcome this issue. To understand more about how these second-generation compounds block HIV-1 maturation, here we selected for HIV-1 mutants that are resistant to these compounds. Selections were performed in the context of two different subtypes of HIV-1. We identified a small set of mutations at highly conserved positions within the capsid and spacer peptide 1 domains of Gag that confer resistance. Identification and analysis of these maturation inhibitor-resistant mutants provide insights into the mechanisms of resistance to these compounds.
Endogenous Viral Elements Are Widespread in Arthropod Genomes and Commonly Give Rise to PIWI-Interacting RNAs
Authors: ter Horst Anneliek M. , Nigg Jared C. , Dekker Fokke M. , Falk Bryce W.
Published: December 2018

Our results greatly expand the knowledge of EVE abundance, diversity, and function in an exceptionally wide range of arthropod species. We found that while previous findings in mosquitoes regarding the potential of EVEs to serve as sources of immunological memory via the piRNA pathway may be generalized to other arthropod species, speculation regarding the antiviral function of EVE-derived piRNAs should take into context the fact that EVEs are, in the vast majority of cases, not similar enough to currently described viruses at the nucleotide level to serve as sources of antiviral piRNAs against them.
The Virulence of Different Vaccinia Virus Strains Is Directly Proportional to Their Ability To Downmodulate Specific Cell-Mediated Immune Compartments
In Vivo
Authors: de Freitas Lorena F. D. , Oliveira Rafael P. , Miranda Mariana C. G. , Rocha Raíssa P. , Barbosa-Stancioli Edel F. , Faria Ana Maria C. , da Fonseca Flávio G.
Published: December 2018

Vaccinia virus was used as vaccine against smallpox and was instrumental in the successful eradication of that disease. Although smallpox vaccination is no longer in place in the overall population, the use of vaccinia virus in the development of viral vector-based vaccines has become popular. Nonetheless, different vaccinia virus strains are known and induce different immune responses. To look into this, we compared immune responses triggered by mouse infections with the nonreplicative MVA strain, the attenuated Lister strain, or the virulent WR strain. We observed that the WR strain was capable of downmodulating mouse cell responses, whereas the highly attenuated MVA strain induced high levels of cell-mediated immunity. Infections by the intermediately attenuated Lister strain induced cell responses that were intermediary between those induced by WR and MVA. We propose that the virulence of a vaccinia virus strain is directly proportional to its ability to downmodulate specific compartments of antiviral cell responses.
Dantrolene is not the answer to 2,4-dinitrophenol poisoning: more heated debate
Authors: Van Schoor Jason , Khanderia Esha , Thorniley Andrew
Published: December 2018

There has been a resurgence in the use of 2,4-dinitrophenol, C6H4N2O5(DNP) recently as an illegal weight loss drug. We present a case of a healthy 25-year-old girl who took two tablets of DNP, purchased from an overseas online retailer. She was managed with aggressive, invasive cooling measures and 2.5 mg kg–1dantrolene. Despite this, her temperature continued to rise exponentially to 41.5°C. Cardiac arrest occurred and resuscitation was unsuccessful. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the ineffective use of dantrolene in acute DNP poisoning. We review the pathophysiology of DNP toxicity and argue that the use of dantrolene therapy is biochemically implausible, based on poor evidence and likely to be futile. We have contacted the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS/TOXBASE) to propose changes to the management of acute DNP toxicity.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: a debilitating and often neglected public health problem
Authors: Adhikari Sudeep , Basnyat Buddha
Published: December 2018

We report a case of a 33-year-old woman from Nepal who presented to a hospital with paraplegia. She was found to have pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with lumbar spine involvement, and bilateral psoas abscesses. She had no initial symptoms attributable to pulmonary involvement. Her delayed presentation to the hospital led to complication of TB spine, which compromised the life of this woman working as a labourer. Early diagnosis and treatment of extrapulmonary TB is essential. Awareness regarding symptoms of different forms of extrapulmonary TB and making diagnostic modalities such as CT scan, MRI or biopsy readily available through insurance schemes are some important measures to minimise the problem so that complications like paraplegia as in our patient with spinal TB can potentially be avoided.
Identifying the aetiology of sudden acute abnormal involuntary movements in a primigravid
Authors: Sosa Benjamin Olano , Toral Jean Anne Balajadia
Published: December 2018

A 20-year-old primigravid experienced sudden stiffening of the neck, upper and lower extremities and trunk associated with joint pains. She was generally well before hospital admission with no history of attacks, except for her inflammatory bowel disease that was treated more than a year ago. During physical examination, the patient manifested neck flexion deviated to the right, deviation of the eyes downward and to the right, spooning of the upper extremities, exhibition of milkmaid’s grip, extension of both lower extremities and jerky speech. She also showed uncontrollable tremors of the neck and occasional flailing of upper extremities. Her preliminary laboratory tests were within normal range. It was worth noting here that her family’s medical history was unremarkable. In this article, the process of arriving at the final diagnosis and treatment would be discussed.
The risky side of weight-loss dietary supplements: disrupting arrhythmias causing sudden cardiac arrest
Authors: Inayat Faisal , Majeed Chaudhry Nasir , Ali Nouman Safdar , Hayat Maham , Vasim Izzah
Published: December 2018

The worldwide increasing prevalence of obesity has led to a corresponding increase in consumption of weight-loss dietary supplements. The limited de novo regulatory oversight and under-reported toxicity profile of these products reflect as a constellation of newer adverse events. We chronicle here the case of an otherwise healthy woman who developed ventricular fibrillation-related cardiac arrest secondary to the use of Hydroxycut and Metaboost preparations. Published medical literature has a handful of case reports associating these products with potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The proposed hypothesis implicates ingredients of these diet aids to have proarrhythmogenic effects. Physicians should remain vigilant for possible cardiotoxicity associated with the use of dietary supplements. Individuals who are at risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias should avoid herbal weight-loss formulas, given the serious clinical implications. Additionally, this paper highlights the need for a proper framework to delineate the magnitude and scope of this association.
Incidence of exudative age-related macular degeneration and treatment load under the Korean national health insurance system in 2010–2015
Authors: Rim Tyler Hyungtaek , Yoo Tae Keun , Kim Seo Hee , Kim Dong Wook , Kim Sung Soo
Published: December 2018

Background/Aim

The aim of this study was to estimate the nationwide incidence of clinically diagnosed exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associated use of ranibizumab and aflibercept in South Korea.

Methods

In this retrospective, population-based cohort study, claims data for 2010–2015 were analysed in a randomly selected sample of 519 661 adults aged ≥40 years. The incidence per 10 000 person-years was estimated, along with the 95% CI. Incident exudative AMD was defined based on the registration code for rare intractable diseases. Use of ranibizumab and aflibercept and the incidence of exudative AMD were recorded.

Results

Nine hundred and twelve patients were newly diagnosed with exudative AMD in 2010–2015. The 6-year incidence in the general population aged ≥40 years was 2.9 (95% CI 2.8 to 3.0) per 10 000 person-years. The incidence was highest in individuals aged 75–79 years (12.0, 95% CI 10.3 to 13.8). The incidence was higher in men than in women in all age groups. Six hundred and twenty-five (69%) of the 912 newly diagnosed patients started ranibizumab or aflibercept as a first-line treatment. The average number of injections administered was 6.1 (SD 3.9; minimum of 1 injection and maximum government-supported limit of 14) during 2010–2015; the number increased with increasing government funding support (from 5 to 10 and from 10 to 14 in 2013 and 2014, respectively).

Conclusions

This study describes the incidence of exudative AMD in South Korea and its treatment under the national health insurance system in this country. Its findings could be used for reference purposes and be useful when planning treatment for exudative AMD.
Macular sensitivity in patients with congenital stationary night-blindness
Authors: William Antony , Kohl Susanne , Zeitz Christina , Willmann Gabriel , Zrenner Eberhart , Bartz-Schmidt Karl-Ulrich , Gekeler Florian , Schatz Andreas
Published: December 2018

Aim

To evaluate and correlate mean light sensitivity thresholds (MLST) in patients with congenital stationary night-blindness (CSNB) in comparison with healthy subjects using microperimetry (MP1).

Methods

Eleven patients with CSNB and 13 healthy subjects were compared. In all subjects, static threshold perimetry was performed using MP1 evaluating the central 6 mm of the retina. This central retinal area was divided into three rings through using the ETDRS grid algorithm with an innermost (1 mm), inner (3 mm) and outer ring (6 mm). The MLSTs were acquired in nine sectors of the ETDRS grid. A comparison of MLST was performed between both groups using a t-test (significance level p<0.005).

Results

A significant reduction of MLST in the fovea (innermost ring, 1 mm) was observed for patients with CSNB (7.2±3.90 dB) in comparison to healthy subjects (19.7±0.75; p<0.0001). Similarly, comparison of MLST in all other sectors (superior/inferior/temporal and nasal) within the inner and outer ring revealed a statistically significant reduction in patients with CSNB compared with healthy subjects (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Examination of macular retinal sensitivity intensity using MP1 revealed for the first time a significant reduction of MLST within the central 6 mm of the retina in patients with CSNB compared with healthy subjects. This finding supports MP1 as an additional diagnostic tool when examining patients with retinal dysfunctions such as CSNB.