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In many everyday decisions, individuals choose between trialling something novel or something they know well. Deciding when to try a new option or stick with an option that is already known to you, known as the "explore/exploit" dilemma, is an important feature of cognition that characterises a range of decision-making contexts encountered by humans. Recent evidence has suggested preferences in explore/exploit biases are associated with psychopathology, although this has typically been examined within individual disorders. The current review examined whether explore/exploit decision-making represents a promising transdiagnostic target for psychosis, depression, and anxiety. A systematic search of academic databases was conducted, yielding a total of 29 studies. Studies examining psychosis were mostly consistent in showing that individuals with psychosis explored more compared with individuals without psychosis. The literature on anxiety and depression was more heterogenous; some studies found that anxiety and depression were associated with more exploration, whereas other studies demonstrated reduced exploration in anxiety and depression. However, examining a subset of studies that employed case-control methods, there was some evidence that both anxiety and depression also were associated with increased exploration. Due to the heterogeneity across the literature, we suggest that there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether explore/exploit decision-making is a transdiagnostic target for psychosis, depression, and anxiety. However, alongside our advisory groups of lived experience advisors, we suggest that this context of decision-making is a promising candidate that merits further investigation using well-powered, longitudinal designs. Such work also should examine whether biases in explore/exploit choices are amenable to intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescence is a period of heightened vulnerability to developing mental health problems, and rates of mental health disorder in this age group have increased in the last decade. Preventing mental health problems developing before they become entrenched, particularly in adolescents who are at high risk, is an important research and clinical target. Here, we report the protocol for the trial of the 'Building Resilience through Socioemotional Training' (ReSET) intervention. ReSET is a new, preventative intervention that incorporates individual-based emotional training techniques and group-based social and communication skills training. We take a transdiagnostic approach, focusing on emotion processing and social mechanisms implicated in the onset and maintenance of various forms of psychopathology. Methods: A cluster randomised allocation design is adopted with randomisation at the school year level. Five-hundred and forty adolescents (aged 12–14) will be randomised to either receive the intervention or not (passive control). The intervention is comprised of weekly sessions over an 8-week period, supplemented by two individual sessions. The primary outcomes, psychopathology symptoms and mental wellbeing, will be assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at a 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes are task-based assessments of emotion processing, social network data based on peer nominations, and subjective ratings of social relationships. These measures will be taken at baseline, post-intervention and 1-year follow-up. A subgroup of participants and stakeholders will be invited to take part in focus groups to assess the acceptability of the intervention. Discussion: This project adopts a theory-based approach to the development of a new intervention designed to target the close connections between young people's emotions and their interpersonal relationships. By embedding the intervention within a school setting and using a cluster-randomised design, we aim to develop and test a feasible, scalable intervention to prevent the onset of psychopathology in adolescence. Trial registration: ISRCTN88585916. Trial registration date: 20/04/2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From adolescence to adulthood, there is a decrease in exploration choices in foraging decision-making problems. In youth, a disposition to explore when faced with explore/exploit choices can support the individual to learn the structure of their environment, enabling them to effectively exploit rewards in maturity. Such age-related differences are likely driven by neurocognitive changes to reward processing, learning, and cognitive control across development. Individual differences in foraging strategies can be indicative of cognitive biases implicated in mental health outcomes. Patch foraging is a near-ubiquitous behaviour across the animal kingdom and characterises many decision-making domains encountered by humans. We review how a disposition to explore in adolescence may reflect the evolutionary conditions under which hunter-gatherers foraged for resources. We propose that neurocomputational mechanisms responsible for reward processing, learning, and cognitive control facilitate the transition from exploratory strategies in adolescence to exploitative strategies in adulthood – where individuals capitalise on known resources. This developmental transition may be disrupted by psychopathology, as there is emerging evidence of biases in explore/exploit choices in mental health problems. Explore/exploit choices may be an informative marker for mental health across development and future research should consider this feature of decision-making as a target for clinical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated preferences and perceived differences between virgin and recycled polyester sports t-shirts, while monitoring participants’ use and care behaviour during real-life wear. A two-month-long wear trial was conducted with 244 participants who were asked to report their t-shirt preferences, perceived differences between t-shirts, as well as their t-shirt use and care via an online survey. T-shirts with nearly identical textile parameters were used for the trial made from virgin polyester, mechanically recycled polyester, and mechanically recycled polyester containing ocean plastics. The responses to the wear trial questionnaires showed that participants struggled to perceive a difference between the different types of polyester t-shirts, and none of the t-shirt materials was significantly preferred over another. The study gives insights into the participants’ care and use habits of sports t-shirts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated experts' understanding of sports clothing quality, the quality attributes they consider, and their views on the evaluation process. Twenty-two experts working in different sports clothing development and evaluation functions participated in semi-structured expert interviews. A thematic analysis highlighted three different views on quality, real-world problems in the evaluation process, and facilitated a sports clothing quality framework. Experts saw sports clothing quality as the fulfilment of use-case requirements, an immediate impression, or an individual perception. With the established sports clothing quality framework, it was possible to break down the overall quality impression in attributes and assign evaluation methods to it. Several challenges and suggestions for the evaluation process were detected. This ranged from the lack of measurability of attributes to solutions such as digitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are extreme stressors that lead to negative psychosocial outcomes in adulthood. Nonhuman animals explore less after exposure to early stress. Therefore, in this preregistered study, we hypothesized that reduced exploration following ACEs would also be evident in human adults. Further, we predicted that adults with ACEs, in a foraging task, would adopt a decision-making policy that relies on the most-recent reward feedback, a rational strategy for unstable environments. We analyzed data from 145 adult participants, 47 with four or more ACEs and 98 with fewer than four ACEs. In the foraging task, participants evaluated the trade-off between exploiting a known patch with diminishing rewards and exploring a novel one with a fresh distribution of rewards. Using computational modeling, we quantified the degree to which participants' decisions weighted recent feedback. As predicted, participants with ACEs explored less. However, contrary to our hypothesis, they underweighted recent feedback. These unexpected findings indicate that early adversity may dampen reward sensitivity. Our results may help to identify cognitive mechanisms that link childhood trauma to the onset of psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of human internal/core temperature (Tcore) is relevant in many scientific disciplines, but also for public health authorities when attempting to identify individuals with fever. Direct assessment of Tcore is often invasive, impractical on a large scale, and typically requires close contact between the observer and the target subject. Non-contact infrared thermometry (NCIT) represents a practical solution in which Tcore can potentially be assessed from a safe distance and in mass screening scenarios, by measuring skin temperature at specific anatomical locations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that these devices are not being used correctly, despite expert guided specifications available in International Standard Organization (ISO) documents. In this review, we provide an overview of the most pertinent factors that should be considered by users of NCIT. This includes the most pertinent methodological and physiological factors, as well as an overview on the ability of NCIT to track human Tcore. For practical use, we provide a checklist based on relevant ISO standards which are simple to follow and should be consulted prior to using NCIT for assessment of human Tcore. Our intention is for users of NCIT to adopt this checklist, which may improve the performance of NCIT for its ability to track Tcore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to measure the level of friction between the human skin and a given textile is critical across fashion and textiles sectors, not least for the development of sporting and protective clothing. A portable custom-made device capable of measuring friction during the skin-textile interaction across often difficult or impossible to investigate body regions with objective repeatability has been established. The friction between a pre-shrunk 100% cotton textile and a quantity of four control surfaces (transparent and patterned polycarbonate plastic, and silicon and lorica surrogate skin) was measured three times per day across five consecutive days. The results clearly demonstrated that the novel friction test device had an excellent repeatability of 0.94 and 0.93 intraclass corelation coefficient for static and dynamic friction coefficient measurement, respectively. The silicon surrogate skin control surface produced the highest friction coefficient, while the pattered polycarbonate plate demonstrated the lowest friction coefficient, suggesting that the physical features of the control surface material influenced the recorded coefficient of friction. It was also revealed that the relationship between the static and dynamic friction coefficient is dependent on the surface material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented global changes in individual and collective behaviour. To reduce the spread of the virus, public health bodies have promoted social distancing measures while attempting to mitigate their mental health consequences. The current study aimed to identify cognitive predictors of social distancing adherence and mental health symptoms, using computational models derived from delay discounting (the preference for smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed rewards) and patch foraging (the ability to trade-off between exploiting a known resource and exploring an unknown one). In a representative sample of the UK population (N = 442), we find that steeper delay discounting predicted poorer adherence to social distancing measures and greater sensitivity to reward magnitude during delay discounting predicted higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, under-valuing recently sampled information during foraging independently predicted greater violation of lockdown guidance. Our results suggest that those who show greater discounting of delayed rewards struggle to maintain social distancing. Further, those who adapt faster to new information are better equipped to change their behaviour in response to public health measures. These findings can inform interventions that seek to increase compliance with social distancing measures whilst minimising negative repercussions for mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a period of heightened exploration relative to adulthood and childhood. This predisposition has been linked with negative behaviours related to risk‐taking, including dangerous driving, substance misuse and risky sexual practices. However, recent models have argued that adolescents' heightened exploration serves a functional purpose within the lifespan, allowing adolescents to develop experiential knowledge of their surroundings. Yet, there is limited evidence that heightened exploration in adolescence is associated with positive outcomes. To address this, the present pre‐registered study utilised a foraging paradigm with a sample of adolescents aged 16–17 (N = 68) and of adults aged 21 and above (N = 69). Participants completed a patch foraging task, which required them to choose between exploiting a known resource which gradually yields fewer rewards, and exploring a novel, unknown resource with a fresh distribution of rewards. Findings demonstrated that adolescents explored more than adults, which – in the context of the current task—represented more optimal patch foraging behaviour. These findings indicate that adolescents' heightened exploration can be beneficial, as they were able to effectively navigate unknown environments and accrue rewards more successfully than adults. This provides evidence that heightened exploration in adolescence, relative to adulthood, can lead to positive outcomes and contributes to our understanding of the role increased novelty‐seeking plays at this point in the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The over-purchasing and hoarding of necessities is a common response to crises, especially in developed economies where there is normally an expectation of plentiful supply. This behaviour was observed internationally during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the absence of actual scarcity, this behaviour can be described as 'panic buying' and can lead to temporary shortages. However, there have been few psychological studies of this phenomenon. Here we propose a psychological model of over-purchasing informed by animal foraging theory and make predictions about variables that predict over-purchasing by either exacerbating or mitigating the anticipation of future scarcity. These variables include additional scarcity cues (e.g. loss of income), distress (e.g. depression), psychological factors that draw attention to these cues (e.g. neuroticism) or to reassuring messages (eg. analytical reasoning) or which facilitate over-purchasing (e.g. income). We tested our model in parallel nationally representative internet surveys of the adult general population conducted in the United Kingdom (UK: N = 2025) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI: N = 1041) 52 and 31 days after the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were detected in the UK and RoI, respectively. About three quarters of participants reported minimal over-purchasing. There was more over-purchasing in RoI vs UK and in urban vs rural areas. When over-purchasing occurred, in both countries it was observed across a wide range of product categories and was accounted for by a single latent factor. It was positively predicted by household income, the presence of children at home, psychological distress (depression, death anxiety), threat sensitivity (right wing authoritarianism) and mistrust of others (paranoia). Analytic reasoning ability had an inhibitory effect. Predictor variables accounted for 36% and 34% of the variance in over-purchasing in the UK and RoI respectively. With some caveats, the data supported our model and points to strategies to mitigate over-purchasing in future crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Moisture accumulation in clothing affects human performance and productivity through its impact on thermal balance and various aspects of discomfort. Building on our laboratory's work on mapping sweat production across the body, this study aimed to obtain detailed spatial and temporal maps showing how this sweat migrates into a single clothing layer (T-shirt) during physical exercise.Method: Eight male participants performed running exercise in a warm environment. Garment sweat absorption was mapped over a total running time of 50 min, in 10 separated running trials of different durations (5 min increments). After running, the garment was dissected into 22 different parts and local sweat absorption (ABSlocal) was quantified by weighing each garment part before and after drying. From ABSlocal, garment total sweat absorption (ABStotal) was estimated.Results: After 50 min, Tcore rose from 37 ± 0.2 to 38.6 ± 0.3 °C, HR increased from 69 ± 15 to 163 ± 12 bpm (p < 0.001), GSL was 586 ± 86 g m-2. Clear patterns of sweat absorption reduction from superior-to-inferior and from medial-to-lateral T-shirt zones were observed, with the mid back medial and the low front hem showing the highest, respectively.Conclusions: Quantitative data on garment total and regional sweat absorption were obtained and considerable variation between different garment zones was identified. These data can support the development of sport and personal protective clothing with the end goal to prevent workers' heat-related injuries as well as maximise human performance and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the ability to sustain quadriceps central motor drive while subjected to localized heat and metaboreceptive feedback from the contralateral leg. Eight active males each completed two counter-balanced trials, in which muscle temperature (Tm) of a single-leg (TEMP-LEG) was altered to 29.4°C (COOL) or 37.6°C (WARM), while the contralateral leg (CL-LEG) remained thermoneutral: 35.3°C and 35.2°C Tm in COOL and WARM, respectively. To activate metaboreceptive feedback, participants first performed one 120-s isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors in the TEMP-LEG, immediately followed by postexercise muscle ischemia (PEMI) via femoral blood flow occlusion. To assess central motor drive of a remote muscle group immediately following PEMI, another 120-s MVC was subsequently performed in the CL-LEG. Voluntary muscle activation (VA) was assessed using the twitch interpolation method. Perceived mental effort and limb discomfort were also recorded. In a cooled muscle, a significant increase in mean force output and mean VA (force, P < 0.001; VA, P < 0.05), as well as a significant decrease in limb discomfort (P < 0.05) occurred during the sustained MVC in the TEMP-LEG. However, no differences between Tm were observed in mean force output, mean VA, or limb discomfort during the sustained MVC in the CL-LEG (force, P = 0.33; VA, P > 0.68; and limb discomfort, P = 0.73). The present findings suggest that elevated local skin temperature and Tm can increase limb discomfort and decrease central motor drive, but this does not limit systemic motor activation of a thermoneutral muscle group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Passive muscle heating has been shown to reduce the drop in post-warm-up muscle temperature (Tm) by about 25% over 30 min, with concomitant sprint/power performance improvements. We sought to determine the role of leg blood flow in this cooling and whether optimising the heating procedure would further benefit post-warm-up T m maintenance.Methods: Ten male cyclists completed 15-min sprint-based warm-up followed by 30 min recovery. Vastus lateralis Tm (Tmvl) was measured at deep-, mid- and superficial-depths before and after the warm-up, and after the recovery period (POST-REC). During the recovery period, participants wore water-perfused trousers heated to 43 °C (WPT43) with either whole leg heating (WHOLE) or upper leg heating (UPPER), which was compared to heating with electrically heated trousers at 40 °C (ELEC40) and a non-heated control (CON). The blood flow cooling effect on Tmvl was studied comparing one leg with (BF) and without (NBF) blood flow.Results: Warm-up exercise significantly increased Tmvl by ~3 °C at all depths. After the recovery period, BF Tmvl was lower (~0.3 °C) than NBF Tmvl at all measured depths, with no difference between WHOLE versus UPPER. WPT43 reduced the post-warm-up drop in deep-Tmvl (-0.12 °C ± 0.3 °C) compared to ELEC40 (-1.08 ± 0.4 °C) and CON (-1.3 ± 0.3 °C), whereas mid- and superficial-Tmvl even increased by 0.15 ± 0.3 and 1.1 ± 1.1 °C, respectively.Conclusion: Thigh blood flow contributes to the post-warm-up Tmvl decline. Optimising the external heating procedure and increasing heating temperature of only 3 °C successfully maintained and even increased T mvl, demonstrating that heating temperature is the major determinant of post-warm-up Tmvl cooling in this application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the effect of separate and combined exposure to hypoxia [normoxia (FO = 0.21) vs. moderate altitude (FO = 0.13)] and temperature [thermoneutral (22 °C) vs. cold (5 °C)] on muscle fatigue development in the forearm, after repeated low-resistance contractions. Methods: Eight males were exposed for 70 min to four separate conditions in a balanced order. Conditions were normoxic-thermoneutral (N), hypoxic-thermoneutral, normoxic-cold and hypoxic-cold. After 15-min seated rest, participants carried out intermittent dynamic forearm exercise at 15 % maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) for eight consecutive, 5-min work bouts. Each bout was separated by 110 s rest during which MVC force was collected. Results: When exposed to hypoxia and cold independently, the exercise protocol decreased MVC force of the finger flexors by 8.1 and 13.9 %, respectively, compared to thermoneutral normoxia. When hypoxia and cold were combined, the decrease in MVC force was 21.4 % more than thermoneutral normoxia, reflecting an additive effect and no interaction. EMG relative to force produced during MVC, increased by 2 and 1.2 μV per kg (36 and 23 % of N) for cold and hypoxia, respectively. When the stressors were combined the effect was additive, increasing to 3.1 μV per kg (56 % of N). Conclusion: When compared to exercise in thermoneutral normoxic conditions, both cold and hypoxia significantly reduce brief MVC force output. This effect appears to be of mechanical origin, not a failure in muscle fibre recruitment per se. Additionally, the reduction in force is greater when the stressors are combined, showing an additive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation assessed the physiological effects of voluntary suppression of shivering thermogenesis in response to whole body cooling. Eleven healthy volunteers underwent passive air cooling (10°C), across three visits: NO_SUP, where participants allowed their body to freely regulate against the cold; FULL_SUP, where participants constantly suppressed shivering; INT_SUP, where participants intermittently suppressed shivering (5 min phases), interspersed with 5 min free regulation. Shivering was assessed via electromyography (EMG), mechanomyography (MMG), and whole body oxygen uptake (VO2), whereas body temperature and heat exchange were assessed via skin temperature, rectal temperature, and heat flux sensors. A 29% increase was observed in shivering onset time in the FULL_SUP trial compared with NO_SUP (P = 0.032). Assessing shivering intensity, EMG activity decreased by 29% (P = 0.034), MMG activity decreased by 35% (P = 0.031), whereas no difference was observed in VO2 (P = 0.091) in the FULL_SUP trial compared with NO_SUP. Partitioning the no-suppression and suppression phases of the INT_SUP trial, acute voluntary suppression significantly decreased VO2 (P = 0.001), EMG (P < 0.001), and MMG (P = 0.012) activity compared with the no-suppression phases. Shivering activity was restored in the no-suppression phases, equivalent to that in the NO_SUP trial (P > 0.3). No difference was observed in thermal metrics between conditions up to 60 min (P > 0.4). Humans can both constantly and periodically suppress shivering activity, leading to a delay in shivering onset and a reduction in shivering intensity. Following suppression, regular shivering is resumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L5085 --> Soft tissue pressure injuries are localised injuries to surface and deep tissue, caused by sustained compression of skin and muscle between a bony area of the body, and for example, a hospital mattress or medical device. Prolonged cell deformation is known to reduce the structural integrity of the cell cytoskeleton, leading to cascade of cell death, inflammation, oedema and oxidative stress, factors that are likely exacerbated by inadequate blood flow and oxygen delivery. Numerous secondary factors are thought to accelerate this cascade, including systemic hypoxia and changes in tissue temperature. By examining the responses of various skin viability markers, both during and after the application of temperature and pressure stimuli, the present study aims to expand understanding of the secondary factors affecting pressure ulcer onset and progression. In the present study, a custom skin deformation device, with an area of 33cm2, was used to apply a combination of pressures (6, 20 and 40mmHg) and temperatures (23, 33, 38°C) at the sacrum of four healthy volunteers (data collection ongoing). A laser doppler flowmetry probe, embedded into the skin deformation device, was used to measure baseline skin blood flow, skin blood flow under pressure, and reactive hyperaemia (RH) on pressure release. All measurements were calculated as a percentage of heat‐induced maximal cutaneous vascular conductance (%CVCmax). Changes in stratum corneum and epidermal hydration were calculated using the difference in tissue electrical capacitance (corneometry) measurements before and after skin deformation. The results indicated a significant difference in loaded skin blood flow between the pressures of 6‐20mmHg (p=0.045), and 6‐40mmHg (p=0.018), decreasing from 30.5 ± 9.1 %CVCmax to 21.8 ± 9.0 %CVCmax and 17.5 ± 6.7 %CVCmax respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant increase (p=0.030) from 16.9 ± 8.2 %CVCmax to 29.8 ± 5.4 %CVCmax in loaded skin blood flow, between the temperatures of 28‐38°C. Finally, blood flow saw a significant (p=0.005) increase on pressure release, from a loaded average of 19.7 ± 8.2 %CVCmax to an unloaded average of 29.0 ± 12.0 %CVCmax, however there was no significant effect of pressure level or temperature on reactive hyperemia. Changes in stratum corneum hydration between 28‐33°C (p=0.044), and 28‐38°C (p=0.019), increased from 20.8 ± 11.3% to 38.8 ± 12.7% and 48.5 ± 15.5% respectively. Differing pressures and temperatures had no significant effect on epidermal hydration. Initial indications from the present study suggest low local tissue temperature reduces tissue blood flow under pressure, thereby potentially reducing oxygen transport to, and metabolites away from, areas of loaded tissue. However, increased local temperature results in greater moisture accumulation on the surface layer of the cutaneous tissues, potentially resulting in a lower structural integrity. On balance, a neutral skin temperature may be best to balance the harmful effects pressure on tissue viability, but further investigation is required to fully understand the influence of temperature on each aspect of the pressure injury cascade, including cell cytoskeleton integrity, inflammation, and oedema, as well as blood flow dynamics, oxygen delivery, cell metabolism and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the paper by Maley et al. (2020) in this journal "Infrared cameras overestimate skin temperature during rewarming from cold Exposure" for the evidence provided in support of its title and conclusions. Several methodological issues were identified as well as issues with the data interpretation: 1: Only one camera was used but a conclusion was made for 'cameras' in general; 2: The camera accuracy (±2 °C) is too low to do a meaningful comparison without using local reference values or an on-site calibrator with higher accuracy; 3: Thermistor measurements are taken as a gold standard while issues such as temperature gradients and taping are known; 4: Both methods are not compared at the same location and a natural, physiological, gradient may be present between their locations; 5. The impact of the sensor and tape on delays in the change of the underlying tissue temperature is not considered; 6: Only a single pixel was used for the analysis, which has been shown to be problematic. We concluded that the paper by Maley et al. does not provide conclusive evidence that infrared cameras overestimate skin temperature during rewarming from cold exposure. • We evaluated Maley et al. (2020) for accuracy and support for its title and conclusion. • Several issues with the methodology and interpretation were identified. • Their conclusion is insufficiently supported by evidence presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the friction between human skin and textiles is essential to preventing skin-related health problems and wearer discomfort. This study sought to evaluate the repeatability of friction coefficient measurements and tactile perceptions at various human body regions, using a recently developed portable friction measuring device. Using the device, a cotton textile was applied to six test locations. The friction coefficient and tactile perceptions were taken three times, at each test site. The repeatability of friction coefficient was excellent with ICC of 0.91 ± 0.05 for static and 0.91 ± 0.06 for dynamic friction coefficient, and tactile perception showed good to excellent repeatability. The friction coefficient and tactile perception significantly differed across the body regions (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003, respectively). The chest showed the highest static friction coefficient with 0.90 ± 0.19 and dynamic friction coefficient with 0.79 ± 0.20, whereas the dorsal forearm with static 0.31 ± 0.07 and dynamic 0.25 ± 0.05 was the lowest. The ratings of tactile perceptions were independent of friction coefficient when the changes in the coefficient of friction were induced by regional difference, and/or the range of the coefficient of friction values were small. Moreover, skin temperature and friction coefficient correlated positively, whilst cutaneous hydration and friction coefficient did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous laboratory study a 'destructive' gravimetric method was developed to quantify local garment sweat absorption. While this currently is the only methodology that permits direct and analytical measurements of garment regional sweat absorption, the latter approach is time-consuming and expensive, therefore, of limited applicability. As such, in this study, we wanted to assess whether infrared thermography could be used as an indirect method to estimate garment regional sweat absorption, right after exercise, in a 'non-destructive' fashion. Spatial and temporal sweat absorption data, obtained in our previous study, were correlated with spatial and temporal temperature data obtained in the same experiment with an infrared thermal camera. The data suggest that infrared thermography is a good tool to qualitatively predict regional sweat absorption in garments at separate individual time points; however, temporal changes are not predicted well, due to a moisture content threshold above which variations in sweat content cannot be discriminated by further temperature changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we addressed potential biases which can occur when sensorial scores of temperature, wetness and discomfort are repeatedly reported, in transient exercise conditions. We pointed out that, when repeatedly reported, previous sensorial scores can be set by the participants as reference values and the subsequent score may be given based on the previous point of reference, the latter phenomenon leading to a bias which we defined as ‘anchoring bias’. Indeed, the findings shown that subsequent sensorial scores are prone to anchoring biases and that the bias consisted in a systematically higher magnitude of sensation as compared to when reported a single time only. As such, the study allowed recognition, quantification and mitigation of the identified bias which can improve the methodological rigour of research studies involving assessments of sensorial data in transient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological wellbeing of some people, there is evidence that many have been much less affected. The Ecological Model of Resilience (EMR) may explain why some individuals are not resilient whilst others are. In this study we test the EMR in a comparison of UK survey data collected from the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) longitudinal study of a representative sample of the United Kingdom (UK) adult population and data from an Italian arm of the study. We first compare data from the third wave of the UK arm of the study, collected in July/August 2020, with data from an equivalent sample and stage of the pandemic in Italy in July 2020. Next, using UK longitudinal data collected from C19PRC Waves 1, 3 and 5, collected between March 2020 and April 2021 we identify the proportion of people who were resilient. Finally, we examine which factors, drawn from the EMR, predict resilient and non-resilient outcomes. We find that the 72% of the UK sample was resilient, in line with the Italian study. In the cross-sectional logistic regression model, age and self-esteem were significantly associated with resilience whilst death anxiety thoughts, neuroticism, loneliness, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to COVID-19 were significantly associated with Non-Resilient outcomes. In the longitudinal UK analysis, at Wave 5, 80% of the sample was Resilient. Service use, belonging to wider neighbourhood, self-rated health, self-esteem, openness, and externally generated death anxiety were associated with Resilient outcomes. In contrast, PTSD symptoms and loneliness were associated with Non-Resilient outcomes. The EMR effectively explained the results. There were some variables which are amenable to intervention which could increase resilience in the face of similar future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute dietary nitrate (NO 3 −) supplementation can increase [NO 3 −], but not nitrite ([NO 2 −]), in human skeletal muscle, though its effect on [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −] in skin remains unknown. In an independent group design, 11 young adults ingested 140 mL of NO 3 −-rich beetroot juice (BR; 9.6 mmol NO 3 −), and 6 young adults ingested 140 mL of a NO 3 −-depleted placebo (PL). Skin dialysate, acquired through intradermal microdialysis, and venous blood samples were collected at baseline and every hour post-ingestion up to 4 h to assess dialysate and plasma [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −]. The relative recovery rate of NO 3 − and NO 2 − through the microdialysis probe (73.1% and 62.8%), determined in a separate experiment, was used to estimate skin interstitial [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −]. Baseline [NO 3 −] was lower, whereas baseline [NO 2 −] was higher in the skin interstitial fluid relative to plasma (both P < 0.001). Acute BR ingestion increased [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −] in the skin interstitial fluid and plasma (all P < 0.001), with the magnitude being smaller in the skin interstitial fluid (e.g., 183 ± 54 vs. 491 ± 62 μM for Δ[NO 3 −] from baseline and 155 ± 190 vs. 217 ± 204 nM for Δ[NO 2 −] from baseline at 3 h post BR ingestion, both P ≤ 0.037). However, due to the aforementioned baseline differences, skin interstitial fluid [NO 2 −] post BR ingestion was higher, whereas [NO 3 −] was lower relative to plasma (all P < 0.001). These findings extend our understanding of NO 3 − and NO 2 − distribution at rest and indicate that acute BR supplementation increases [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −] in human skin interstitial fluid. • [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −] in skin interstitial fluid was assessed using microdialysis. • Basal [NO 3 −] is lower in skin interstitial fluid relative to plasma. • Basal [NO 2 −] is higher in skin interstitial fluid compared with plasma. • Dietary nitrate (NO 3 −) increases [NO 3 −] and [NO 2 −] in skin interstitial fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The COVID‐19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study was established in March 2020 to monitor the psychological and socio‐economic impact of the pandemic in the UK and other countries. This paper describes the protocol for Wave 5 (March–April 2021). Methods: The survey assessed: COVID‐19 related experiences; experiences of common mental health disorders; psychological characteristics; and social and political attitudes. Adults who participated in any previous wave (N = 4949) were re‐invited to participate. Weights were calculated using a survey raking algorithm to ensure the longitudinal panel was nationally representative in terms of gender, age, and household income, amongst other factors. Results: Overall, 2520 adults participated. A total of 2377 adults who participated in the previous survey wave (November–December 2020) were re‐interviewed at Wave 5 (61.5% retention rate). Attrition between these two waves was predicted by younger age, lower household income, children living in the household, and treatment for mental health difficulties. Of the adults recruited into the C19PRC study at baseline, 57.4% (N = 1162) participated in Wave 5. The raking procedure re‐balanced the longitudinal panel to within 1.5% of population estimates for selected socio‐demographic characteristics. Conclusion: This paper outlines the growing strength of the publicly available C19PRC Study data for COVID‐19‐related interdisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper outlines fieldwork procedures for Wave 4 of the COVID‐19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study in the UK during November–December 2020. Methods: Respondents provided data on socio‐political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours, and mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress). In Phase 1, adults (N = 2878) were reinvited to participate. At Phase 2, new recruitment: (i) replenished the longitudinal strand to account for attrition; and (ii) oversampled from the devolved UK nations to facilitate robust between‐country analyses for core study outcomes. Weights were calculated using a survey raking algorithm to ensure the longitudinal panel was representative of the baseline sample characteristics. Results: In Phase 1, 1796 adults were successfully recontacted and provided full interviews at Wave 4 (62.4% retention rate). In Phase 2, 292 new respondents were recruited to replenish the panel, as well as 1779 adults from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, who were representative of the socio‐political composition of the adult populations in these nations. The raking procedure successfully re‐balanced the longitudinal panel to within 1% of population estimates for selected socio‐demographic characteristics. Conclusion: The C19PRC Study offers a unique opportunity to facilitate and stimulate interdisciplinary research addressing important public health questions relating to the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the individual and combined effects of mental fatigue (MF) and hypoxia (HYP) on physical and cognitive performance. Fifteen males (24 ± 3 years) completed one familiarization session and six experimental trials, including: 1) normoxia (0.209 FiO2) and no MF; 2) normoxia (0.209 FiO2) with MF; 3) mild normobaric HYP (0.13 FiO2) and no MF; 4) mild normobaric HYP (0.13 FiO2) with MF; 5) severe normobaric HYP (0.10 FiO2) and no MF; 6) severe normobaric HYP (0.10 FiO2) with MF. Each condition included a 15-min self-paced time trial, followed by a 60-s isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the biceps brachii. MF was induced using a 16-min individualized cognitive test prior to exercise performance. Following each time trial, participants performed the Tower of Hanoi cognitive test. A main effect of HYP was observed on average power output, oxygen consumption and muscle oxygenation (P ≤ 0.004), with no effect of MF (P ≥ 0.599). Voluntary activation of the biceps brachii was also reduced in HYP (68.42 ± 5.64%, P = 0.039). No effect of MF or HYP was observed on cognitive performance (P ≥ 0.138). HYP impacted physical performance, whilst MF had no effect on self-paced physical or cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess five theoretical foundations underlying thermosensory testing using local thermal stimuli.Methods: Thermal sensation, discomfort and the confidence of thermal sensation scores were measured in 9 female and 8 male volunteers in response to 17 physical contact temperature stimuli, ranging between 18-42 °C. These were applied to their dorsal forearm and lateral torso, across two sessions.Results: Thermal sensation to physical temperature relationships followed a positive linear and sigmoidal fit at both forearm (r2 = 0.91/r2 = 0.91, respectively) and lateral torso (r2 = 0.90/ r2 = 0.91, respectively). Thermal discomfort to physical temperature relationships followed second and third-order fits at both forearm (r2 = 0.33/r2 = 0.34, respectively) and lateral torso (r2 = 0.38/r2 = 0.39, respectively) test sites. There were no sex-related or regional site differences in thermal sensation and discomfort across a wide range of physical contact temperatures. The median confidence of an individual's thermal sensation rating was measured at 86%.Conclusion: The relation between thermal sensation and physical contact temperature was well described by both linear and sigmoidal models, i.e., the distance between the thermal sensation anchors is close to equal in terms of physical temperatures changes for the range studied. Participants rated similar thermal discomfort level in both cold and hot thermal stimuli for a given increase or decrease in physical contact temperature or thermal sensation. The confidence of thermal sensation rating did not depend on physical contact temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of normobaric hypoxia and acute nitrate ingestion on shivering thermogenesis, cutaneous vascular control, and thermometrics in response to cold stress. Method: Eleven male volunteers underwent passive cooling at 10 °C air temperature across four conditions: (1) normoxia with placebo ingestion, (2) hypoxia (0.130 FiO2) with placebo ingestion, (3) normoxia with 13 mmol nitrate ingestion, and (4) hypoxia with nitrate ingestion. Physiological metrics were assessed as a rate of change over 45 min to determine heat loss, and at the point of shivering onset to determine the thermogenic thermoeffector threshold. Result: Independently, hypoxia expedited shivering onset time (p = 0.05) due to a faster cooling rate as opposed to a change in central thermoeffector thresholds. Specifically, compared to normoxia, hypoxia increased skin blood flow (p = 0.02), leading to an increased core-cooling rate (p = 0.04) and delta change in rectal temperature (p = 0.03) over 45 min, yet the same rectal temperature at shivering onset (p = 0.9). Independently, nitrate ingestion delayed shivering onset time (p = 0.01), mediated by a change in central thermoeffector thresholds, independent of changes in peripheral heat exchange. Specifically, compared to placebo ingestion, no difference was observed in skin blood flow (p = 0.5), core-cooling rate (p = 0.5), or delta change in rectal temperature (p = 0.7) over 45 min, while nitrate reduced rectal temperature at shivering onset (p = 0.04). No interaction was observed between hypoxia and nitrate ingestion. Conclusion: These data improve our understanding of how hypoxia and nitric oxide modulate cold thermoregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare two analytical methods for the estimation of the shivering onset inflection point, segmental regression and visual inspection of data, and to assess the test-retest reliability and validity of four metrics of shivering measurement; oxygen uptake (V̇O2), electromyography (EMG), mechanomyography (MMG) and bedside shivering assessment scale (BSAS).Methods: Ten volunteers attended three identical experimental sessions involving passive deep-body cooling via cold water immersion at 10 °C. V̇O2, EMG, and MMG were continuously assessed, while the time elapsed at each BSAS stage was recorded. Metrics were graphed as a function of time and rectal temperature (Tre). Inflection points for intermittent and constant shivering were visually identified for every graph and compared to segmental regression.Results: Excellent agreement was seen between segmental regression and visual inspection (ICC, 0.92). All measurement metrics presented good-to-excellent test-retest reliability (ICC's > 0.75 and 0.90 respectively), with the exception of visual identification of intermittent shivering for V̇O2 measurement (ICC, 0.73) and segmental regression for EMG measurement (ICC, 0.74). In the assessment of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), EMG showed the largest SNR at the point of shivering onset followed by MMG and finally V̇O2.Conclusions: Segmental regression provides a successful analytical method for identifying shivering onset. Good-to-excellent reliability can be seen across V̇O2, EMG, MMG, and BSAS, yet given the observed lag times, SNRs, along with known advantages/disadvantaged of each metric, it is recommended that no single metric is used in isolation. An integrative, real-time measure of shivering is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We postulate that heat stress, in addition to a VR stimulus may trigger a heightened nauseogenic response and VIMS. • Data does not provide unequivocal evidence of a synergistic interaction between a heat exposure and VR use on VIMS. • Despite no statistical synergistic interaction, trends towards synergism were seen in VIMS questionnaire data, vasomotor and sudomotor activity. • Considerable individual variation was seen in resistance to motion sickness, limiting the statistical power available for a significant interaction. • Vasomotor activity showed conflict between the vasoconstriction induced by VR and vasodilatation induced by heat. Virtual reality (VR) use is limited by the potential side effects of prolonged exposure to vection, leading to motion sickness. Air temperature (T a) may exacerbate the severity of such side effects through a synergistic interaction. This study assessed the individual and combined impact of a hot T a and VR on motion sickness severity. Thirteen healthy volunteers were exposed to a 20 min visual stimulus, across four experimental conditions: N_CS: 22 °C T a with computer screen; N_VR: 22 °C T a with VR; H_CS: 35 °C T a with computer screen; H_VR: 35 °C T a with VR. Motion sickness was assessed via fast motion sickness scale (FMS) and simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ). Physiological indices of motion sickness including, sweat rate, rectal temperature, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were also examined. FMS and SSQ ratings indicate a significant main effect for VR, increasing sickness severity (p < 0.001). A significant main effect of T a was observed for SSQ, but not FMS ratings (FMS, p = 0.07; SSQ, p < 0.04). Despite trends towards synergism, no interaction (T a × VR) was observed for FMS (p = 0.2) or SSQ scores (p = 0.07), indicating an additive response. Synergistic trends were also observed for sweat rate and CVC. Synergism between VR and heat on motion sickness remains unclear, possibly as a result of considerable inter-individual variation in the reported subjective responses. Understanding of the questions raised by this study inform safe working guidelines for the use of VR in commercial and occupational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Glaciovolcanic deposits are critical for documenting the presence and thickness of terrestrial ice-sheets, and for testing hypotheses about inferred terrestrial ice volumes based on the marine record. Deposits formed by the coincidence of volcanism and ice at the Mount Edziza volcanic complex (MEVC) in northern British Columbia, Canada, preserve an important record for documenting local and possibly regional ice dynamics. Pillow Ridge, located at the northwestern end of the MEVC, formed by ice-confined, fissure-fed eruptions. It comprises predominantly pillow lavas and volcanic breccias of alkaline basalt composition, with subordinate finer-grained volcaniclastic deposits and dykes. The ridge is presently ∼4 km long, ∼1000 m in maximum width, and ∼600 m high. Fifteen syn- and post-eruptive lithofacies are recognized in excellent exposures along the glacially dissected western side of the ridge. We recognize five lithofacies associations: (1) poorly sorted tuff breccia and dykes, (2) proximal pillow lava, dykes and tuff breccia, (3) distal pillow lava, poorly sorted conglomerate and well-sorted volcanic sandstone, (4) interbedded tuff, lapilli tuff, and tuff breccia units, and (5) heterolithic volcanogenic conglomerate and sandstone. Given the abundance of pillow lavas and the lack of surrounding topographic barriers capable of impounding water, we agree with Souther [Souther, J.G., 1992. The late Cenozoic Mount Edziza volcanic complex. Geol. Soc. Can. Mem., vol. 420. 320 pp] that the bulk of the edifice formed while confined by ice, but have found evidence for a more complex and variable eruption history than that which he proposed. Preliminary estimates of water-ice depths derived from FTIR analyses of H2O give ranges of 300 to 680 m assuming 0 ppm CO2, and 857 to 1297 m assuming 25 ppm CO2. Variations in depth estimates among samples may indicate that water/ice depths changed during the evolution of the ridge, which is consistent with our interpretations for the origins of different lithofacies associations. Given that the age of the units are likely to be ca. 0.9 Ma [Souther, J.G., 1992. The late Cenozoic Mount Edziza volcanic complex. Geol. Soc. Can. Mem., vol. 420. 320 pp], Pillow Ridge may be the best documentation of a regional high stand of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet (CIS) in the middle Pleistocene, and an excellent example of the lithofacies and stratigraphic complexities produced by variations in water levels during a prolonged glaciovolcanic eruption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]