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Objectives: This study aims to examine the change in mental health fromthe clinical to community setting in personswith spinal cord injury and to identify the role of psychosocial resources for this transition. Design: Longitudinal survey self-report data fromN = 240 personswith spinal cord injury from the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort study. Results: Latent profile analysis identified three profiles for each the clinical and the community setting: low, medium, and high mental health load. Latent transition analysis revealed that persons with spinal cord injury were most likely to stay in the same profile from discharge of initial rehabilitation to community, followed by a decrease from a high mental health load to a medium mental health load and an increase from a low mental health load to a medium mental health load. Individuals staying in the low mental health load profile showed significantly higher levels of psychosocial resources compared to individuals increasing to the medium mental health load profile, whereas individuals who stayed in the high mental health load profile showed lower levels of psychosocial resources compared to individuals decreasing to the medium mental health load profile. Conclusions: This study highlights a positive role of psychosocial resources onmental health transitions, underlining the need for strengthening psychosocial resources beyond initial rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) are important biochemical markers for anabolism of the human body, and can also serve as early screening indicators for overtraining syndrome (OTS). Presently, there is no fast and reliable serum TT and FT determination method in the field of sport science that can meet the requirements of sports research. Thus, a rapid and accurate determination method for serum TT and FT to fill the gap is needed urgently in sports training. Herein, a simple and reliable liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of TT and FT in serum was developed and fully validated, followed by the application of professional athletes in training monitoring. Efficient pretreatments based on only one-step liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) for TT and one-step LLE after a 20 min ultrafiltration for FT were adopted in this study, and the isotope internal standard of testosterone-13C3 was used to ensure the reliability of the whole procedure. A linear range of four orders of magnitude with 0.02–100 ng/mL can meet the concentration range requirement between a higher limit for male TT and a lower limit for female FT. The accuracy, precision, stability, and matrix effect were all within the limits of the guidelines. The serum TT and FT levels of 200 professional athletes (98 male athletes and 102 female athletes) were investigated by this method. Serum TT, FT, and FT/TT levels of professional athletes were significantly higher than the general population, and serum TT levels were significantly higher by LC-MS/MS than by a chemiluminescence immunoassay. In conclusion, the LC-MS/MS method for TT and FT measurement developed in this study is time-saving and easy to operate, which can be used as a reliable method for the determination of serum TT and FT in sports training, offering valuable information for monitoring anabolism of athletes and screening OTS in the early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at exploring gender differences in music undergraduate's overtraining syndrome. The study was descriptive, quantitative, and cross sectional. Five hundred undergraduate students from ten Mexican public universities participated: 178 women and 322 men. To measure stress symptoms, we used the ESSEM scale (Reynoso, 2018) and an inventory of Health Conditions. After a comparative analysis, results showed that the primary sources of stress were frustrating extracurricular situations and social distancing. Women scored higher on psychological symptoms of overtraining and reported more illnesses and ailments. Results suggest that women have a higher level of demands to fulfill various roles between family and academic activities and social pressures imposed in musical environments that produce inequities. Results lead to the recommendation of paying attention to the music training environment, the type of teaching exercise, and the requirements of study programs to counteract gender inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was firstly to examine the sensitivity of heart rate (HR)‐based and subjective monitoring markers to intensified endurance training; and secondly, to investigate the validity of these markers to distinguish individuals in different fatigue states. A total of 24 recreational runners performed a 3‐week baseline period, a 2‐week overload period, and a 1‐week recovery period. Performance was assessed before and after each period with a 3000m running test. Recovery was monitored with daily orthostatic tests, nocturnal HR recordings, questionnaires, and exercise data. The participants were divided into subgroups (overreached/OR, n = 8; responders/RESP, n = 12) based on the changes in performance and subjective recovery. The responses to the second week of the overload period were compared between the subgroups. RESP improved their baseline 3000 m time (p < 0.001) after the overload period (−2.5 ± 1.0%), and the change differed (p < 0.001) from OR (0.6 ± 1.2%). The changes in nocturnal HR (OR 3.2 ± 3.1%; RESP −2.8 ± 3.7%, p = 0.002) and HR variability (OR −0.7 ± 1.8%; RESP 2.1 ± 1.6%, p = 0.011) differed between the subgroups. In addition, the decrease in subjective readiness to train (p = 0.009) and increase in soreness of the legs (p = 0.04) were greater in OR compared to RESP. Nocturnal HR, readiness to train, and exercise‐derived HR‐running power index had ≥85% positive and negative predictive values in the discrimination between OR and RESP individuals. In conclusion, exercise tolerance can vary substantially in recreational runners. The results supported the usefulness of nocturnal HR and subjective recovery assessments in recognizing fatigue states. Highlights: Tolerance to similarly increased training load varies in recreational runners. While some individuals respond positively, for others the same load may be excessive.Subjective markers, such as readiness to train and soreness of the legs, were the most sensitive markers to respond to increased training load, and the magnitude of these responses was greater in individuals with suspected overreaching.Resting or exercise heart rate (HR) did not respond as systematically as the subjective markers to the training load itself. However, the changes in nocturnal HR, nocturnal HRV, and HR‐running power index started to differ between the RESP and OR subgroups at an earlier stage of the overload period supporting their usefulness as indicators of the fatigue state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ironman triathletes undergo high workloads during competition preparation which can result in nonfunctional overreaching or overtraining syndrome if not matched with adequate recovery. Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to observe changes in physiological and psychological status over the course of a competitive season in a free-living triathlete. Methods: The subject was a 41-year-old triathlete competing in three 113.1-km events. Over the course of a 40-week period, the participant arrived at the laboratory every 4 weeks and underwent body composition testing via air displacement plethysmography, a blood draw for analysis of various biomarkers, and a treadmill-based lactate threshold test. Workload during training and competitions was monitored via a wearable heart rate-monitoring device. Results: Throughout the season, training volume remained high (12.5 ± 3.4 h/week) and body mass and fat-free mass (FFM) continuously decreased, while biomarkers including cortisol, testosterone, and markers of immunological status exhibited minor changes. Laboratory performance remained relatively consistent, while competition performance continually improved. Following the completion of the competitive period, training volume decreased, FFM remained below baseline levels, free cortisol increased, and both free and total testosterone decreased. Conclusions: Workload and recovery seem to have been properly managed throughout the season, evidenced by minimal fluctuations in endocrine and immunological markers. The reason for changes observed in testosterone, cortisol, and body composition following the last competition is unclear, though it may be attributed to changes in stressors and recovery practices outside of training. It is recommended that athletes follow a structured plan during the transition period into the offseason to ensure recovery of physiological state and to set up a productive offseason. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehazing individual remote sensing (RS) images is an effective approach to enhance the quality of hazy remote sensing imagery. However, current dehazing methods exhibit substantial systemic and computational complexity. Such complexity not only hampers the straightforward analysis and comparison of these methods but also undermines their practical effectiveness on actual data, attributed to the overtraining and overfitting of model parameters. To mitigate these issues, we introduce a novel dehazing network for non-uniformly hazy RS images: GLUENet, designed for both lightweightness and computational efficiency. Our approach commences with the implementation of the classical U-Net, integrated with both local and global residuals, establishing a robust base for the extraction of multi-scale information. Subsequently, we construct basic convolutional blocks using gated linear units and efficient channel attention, incorporating depth-separable convolutional layers to efficiently aggregate spatial information and transform features. Additionally, we introduce a fusion block based on efficient channel attention, facilitating the fusion of information from different stages in both encoding and decoding to enhance the recovery of texture details. GLUENet's efficacy was evaluated using both synthetic and real remote sensing dehazing datasets, providing a comprehensive assessment of its performance. The experimental results demonstrate that GLUENet's performance is on par with state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods and surpasses the SOTA methods on our proposed real remote sensing dataset. Our method on the real remote sensing dehazing dataset has an improvement of 0.31 dB for the PSNR metric and 0.13 for the SSIM metric, and the number of parameters and computations of the model are much lower than the optimal method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the interest and professionalization of padel around the world, and the importance of mental fatigue in sport science literature are both on the rise, not much is known about how mental fatigue impacts padel‐specific performance. Forty‐eight male elite youth players (18 ± 2 y) participated in this randomized counterbalanced crossover study. The players visited the laboratory on three separate occasions: familiarization, control (i.e., 30‐min documentary), and mental fatigue (i.e., 30‐min incongruent Stroop) condition. The participants' perceived mental fatigue, vigilance (i.e., Psychomotor Vigilance Test) and response inhibition (i.e., Stroop task) were assessed as markers of mental fatigue. The Padel accuracy was evaluated using a validated padel‐specific performance task that includes the usage of different strokes (i.e., drive, drive volley, bandeja, and drive attack after the use of the glass). All these variables were assessed pre‐ and post‐ both the control and mentally fatiguing task. A condition × time interaction was found for perceived mental fatigue, the Stroop performance and PVT reaction time (p < 0.001) and for padel‐specific accuracy on all strokes (p < 0.001). The perceived level of mental fatigue increased, while PVT reaction time and Stroop performance (i.e., amount of words) were impaired in time only in the mental fatigue condition. The accuracy of all padel strokes was significantly impaired from pre to post only in the mental fatigue condition (p < 0.050). In conclusion, mental fatigue impairs padel‐specific accuracy in young elite male padel players. Consequently, we recommend coaches to consider the level of mental fatigue during padel trainings and competitions. Highlights: The result of the present study shows that mental fatigue induced by a 30‐min incongruent Stroop task, impaired the accuracy and the speed of different padel‐specific strokes in youth‐elite male players.The presence of mental fatigue during official padel competitions has been previously confirmed. Then, it might of course impact the outcome of the match, as the number of forced and unforced errors or the speed of the shots are important indicators of padel‐specific performance.This information highlights the need for coaches and staff to consider the amount of mental fatigue generated during padel trainings and matches. Coaches are able to modulate the level of mental fatigue of the trainings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifestyle factors, particularly physical inactivity, are closely linked to the onset of numerous metabolic diseases. Adipose tissue (AT) has been extensively studied for various metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and immune system dysregulation due to its role in energy metabolism and regulation of inflammation. Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a powerful non-pharmacological tool for the treatment of various disorders, as it helps to improve metabolic, immune, and inflammatory functions. However, chronic excessive training has been associated with increased inflammatory markers and oxidative stress, so much so that excessive training overload, combined with inadequate recovery, can lead to the development of overtraining syndrome (OTS). OTS negatively impacts an athlete's performance capabilities and significantly affects both physical health and mental well-being. However, diagnosing OTS remains challenging as the contributing factors, signs/symptoms, and underlying maladaptive mechanisms are individualized, sport-specific, and unclear. Therefore, identifying potential biomarkers that could assist in preventing and/or diagnosing OTS is an important objective. In this review, we focus on the possibility that the endocrine functions of AT may have significant implications in the etiopathogenesis of OTS. During physical exercise, AT responds dynamically, undergoing remodeling of endocrine functions that influence the production of adipokines involved in regulating major energy and inflammatory processes. In this scenario, we will discuss exercise about its effects on AT activity and metabolism and its relevance to the prevention and/or development of OTS. Furthermore, we will highlight adipokines as potential markers for diagnosing OTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationships among indicators of overtraining in adolescent athletes. The research employed widelyaccepted tools for subjective overtraining indicator detection, as identified through a systematic review. Two groups of athletes were observed, comprising 13 athletes with bi-weekly assessments and 66 athletes with assessments every 3 months over a one-year period. The study analyzed relationships between variables using repeated measures correlations. A correlation matrix was subjected to principal component analysis. Three fundamental groups of indicators, reflecting negative emotionality (accompanied by sleep problems), self-concept characteristics, and core symptoms of overtraining syndrome captured through subjective sport fitness and vigor. This research emphasizes the intrinsic link between emotional and physical aspects in the lives of elite athletes, shedding light on the complex interplay of overtraining indicators in the context of adolescent developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy training has been reported to be immunosuppressive in athletes and lead to blunted cortisol responses to exercise. Cortisol elevates the number of dendritic cells (DCs), key antigen‐presenting cells that interact with T cells to initiate an immune response. Reproducible cortisol responses to a 30‐min cycle test have been identified but were based on percentage of work rate maximum. To ensure physiological consistency, submaximal anchors, that is, ventilatory threshold (VT1) should prescribe intensity. This study aims to assess the reproducibility of the DC and T cell responses to an adapted stress test to assess its usefulness in assessing DC dysfunction with intensified training. Twelve males cycled for 1 min at 20% below VT1 and 4 min at 50% between VT1 and V̇O2max${\dot{V}}_{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}\max }$, for 30 min (20/50), with blood samples pre‐, post‐ and 30 min post‐exercise. This was repeated twice, 2–7 days apart. Flow cytometry assessed total DCs, plasmacytoid DCs, myeloid DCs, total T cells, T helper cells and T cytotoxic cells. No significant trial or interaction effects were found for any variable. A significant main effect of time for all variables was found; immune cells increased from pre‐ to post‐exercise and decreased to baseline 30 min post‐exercise, apart from plasmacytoid DCs, which remained elevated 30 min post‐exercise. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed overall good‐to‐excellent reliability for all immune cells, with smallest real difference and Bland–Altman analysis verifying high reproducibility between trials. These results suggest that the 20/50 exercise test induces reproducible DC and T cell count changes, which, implemented before and after a period of intensified training, may highlight the negative states of overtraining. What is the central question of this study?Can we develop an exercise stress test robust enough to elicit reproducible changes in immune cell counts, so that when used before and after a period of intensified training we can examine whether immune changes are useful biomarkers in highlighting the negative states of overtraining?What is the main finding and its importance?An exercise stress test was developed that elicited reproducible and robust changes in dendritic cell and T cell counts, making it a valuable tool in the examination of immune cell counts as possible biomarkers in highlighting the negative states of overtraining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports participation can have tremendous physical and mental health benefits for children. Properly implemented progressive training programs can yield a broad range of beneficial physiologic adaptations, but imbalances of training load and recovery can have important negative consequences. Overuse injuries, for example, can result from repetitive stress without sufficient recovery that leads to accumulated musculoskeletal damage. In addition, extended periods of increased training loads that exceed the intervening recovery can have systemic consequences such as overtraining syndrome, which results in decreased performance, increased injury and illness risk, and derangement of endocrine, neurologic, cardiovascular, and psychological systems. Burnout represents one of the primary reasons for attrition in youth sports. Broadly defined as physical or mental exhaustion and a reduced sense of accomplishment that leads to devaluation of sport, burnout represents a direct threat to the goal of lifelong physical activity and the wide-ranging health benefits that it provides. This clinical report is intended to provide pediatricians with information regarding the risk factors, diagnosis, management, and prevention of these conditions to assist in the identification of at-risk children, the treatment of young athletes, and the guidance of families in the promotion of safe and healthy sport participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate whether carbohydrate utilization is altered during exercise in overreached endurance athletes and examine the utility of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to detect overreaching status. Methods: Eleven endurance athletes (M:8, F:3) completed a 5‐week training block consisting of 1 week of reduced training (PRE), 3 weeks of high‐intensity overload training (POST), and 1 week of recovery training (REC). Participants completed a Lamberts and Lambert Submaximal Cycling Test (LSCT) and 5 km time‐trial at PRE, POST, and REC time points, 15 min following the ingestion of a 50 g glucose beverage with glucose recorded each minute via CGM. Results: Performance in the 5 km time‐trial was reduced at POST (∆‐7 ± 10 W, p = 0.04, ηp2 = 0.35) and improved at REC (∆12 ± 9 W from PRE, p = 0.01, ηp2 = 0.66), with reductions in peak lactate (∆‐3.0 ± 2.0 mmol/L, p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.71), peak HR (∆‐6 ± 3 bpm, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.86), and Hooper‐Mackinnon well‐being scores (∆10 ± 5 a.u., p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.79), indicating athletes were functionally overreached. The respiratory exchange ratio was suppressed at POST relative to REC during the 60% (POST: 0.80 ± 0.05, REC: 0.87 ± 0.05, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.74), and 80% (POST: 0.93 ± 0.05, REC: 1.00 ± 0.05, p = 0.003, ηp2 = 0.68) of HR‐matched submaximal stages of the LSCT. CGM glucose was reduced during HR‐matched submaximal exercise in the LSCT at POST (p = 0.047, ηp2 = 0.36), but not the 5 km time‐trial (p = 0.07, ηp2 = 0.28) in overreached athletes. Conclusion: This preliminary investigation demonstrates a reduction in CGM‐derived glucose and carbohydrate oxidation during submaximal exercise in overreached athletes. The use of CGM during submaximal exercise following standardized nutrition could be employed as a monitoring tool to detect overreaching in endurance athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the history of the study of pathological athlete's heart in the Soviet Union and Russia since 1936. The dynamics of the development of ideas about terminology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, and diagnostic signs of pathology are shown. The concept of a pathological athlete's heart is considered as a disease of adaptation, stress-induced damage to the heart, which is based on the uncoordinated work of the stress-realizing and stress-limiting systems of the athlete's body involved in adaptation to training and competitive stress. Data from a survey of 2245 athletes are presented, identifying various manifestations of a pathological athlete's heart at the stages of sports training. The author's data and a literature review on the problems of etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of cardiomyopathy caused by stress factors of sports activity are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this manuscript is to present a model of military overtraining and subsequent injury, discharge, and disability. Military training and combat operations are physically and physiologically demanding, placing great strain on the musculoskeletal system of warfighters. Non-battle musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) are common and present a serious threat to operational readiness in today's military. MSKI risk stratification and prevention are an active area of research and is steeped in the background of sports science. Here, a model is proposed that incorporates the theory of General Adaptation Syndrome to describe how military training stressors may exceed that of training in traditional athletics and may induce sub-optimal training stressors. Positive feedback loops are discussed to explain how military overtraining (MOT) creates a system of ever-increasing stressors that can only be fully understood in the greater context of all environmental factors leading to overtraining. The Military Overtraining Hypothesis (MOTH) is proposed as a model that encapsulates the elevated MSKI risk in combat arms and other operational military personnel as an effort to broaden understanding of multifactorial military MSKI etiologies and as a tool for researchers and commanders to contextualize MSKI research and risk mitigation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overtraining syndrome is a condition resulting from excessive training load associated with inadequate recovery and poor sleep quality, leading to performance decrements and fatigue. Here we hypothesized that vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is a lead factor in the development of the overtraining syndrome. To test this hypothesis, two groups of 60‐week‐old C57BL/6 mice followed a 16‐week excessive eccentric‐based overtraining by excessive downhill running with or without dietary VitD depletion (EX and EX‐D− groups). Two control groups were trained by uphill running at the same load with or without VitD depletion (CX and CX‐D− groups). Handgrip strength decreased throughout the protocol for all groups but the decrease was sharper in EX‐D− group (VitD × training, p = 0.0427). At the end of the protocol, the mass of Triceps brachii muscle, which is heavily stressed by eccentric contractions, was reduced in eccentric‐trained groups (training effect, p = 0.0107). This atrophy was associated with a lower concentration of the anabolic myokine IL‐15 (training effect, p = 0.0314) and a tendency to a higher expression of the atrogene cathepsin‐L (training effect, p = 0.0628). VitD depletion led to a 50% decrease of the fractional protein synthesis rate in this muscle (VitD effect, p = 0.0004) as well as decreased FGF21 (VitD effect, p = 0.0351) and increased osteocrin (VitD effect, p = 0.038) concentrations that would lead to metabolic defects. Moreover, the proportion of anti‐inflammatory Th2 lymphocytes was significantly decreased by the combination of eccentric training with VitD depletion (vitD × training, p = 0.0249) suggesting a systemic inflammation. Finally, exploratory behavior time of mice was decreased by VitD depletion (VitD effect, p = 0.0146) suggesting a cognitive dysfunction. Our results suggest that VitD deficiency exacerbates the effects of overtraining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the seasonal changes in physiological and psychological parameters of stress in collegiate swimmers. Fifteen NCAA Division I swimmers (8 men) participated in a tethered anaerobic swim test to determine physiological responses in an ecologically-relevant, graded exercise test. Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-21), Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD-ACL), Daily Analysis of Life Demands of Athletes (DALDA), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were assessed at post-season in April (V1), the end of off-season in June (V2), and pre-season in October (V3). The percent change was determined from V2–V1 (off-season phase), V3–V2 (pre-season phase), V1–V3 (in-season phase). Spearman's rho correlation was used to examine associations between change in physiological and psychological outcomes. All data results showed a better swim performance occurred at V2. Men tended to have faster speed (p = 0.07) in fewer strokes (p = 0.10) and greater work per stroke (p = 0.10) at V2 than V1. Women were faster during V2 compared to V1 (p = 0.02) and V3 (p = 0.05). Women had fewer strokes (p = 0.02) and greater work per stroke (p = 0.01) at V2 compared to V3. Women had the lowest HR and lactate concentration at V3 compared to other visits (p < 0.05). During the in-season phase, swim speed decreased the greatest extent and stress sources and symptoms assessed by DALDA had greatest elevation (p < 0.05). An increased in stress sources and symptoms assessed by DALDA was associated with an increase in upper respiratory illness from WURSS-21 (rho = 0.44, p = 0.009), being less energetic (rho = − 0.35, p = 0.04) and greater tension state (rho = 0.49, p = 0.003; AD-ACL), and a decrease in swim speed (rho =− 0.38, p = 0.03). Swim performance peaked at off-season when psychological stress was at its lowest. The relationship between DALDA scores with psychological parameters and swim performance suggested physiological and psychological parameters of stress is an important aspect to avoid overtraining when approaching high swim performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes often undertake intensified training loads prior to competition with the goal of functionally overreaching for temporary performance enhancement; however, little is known about the impact of this on cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intensified training induced fatigue on cognitive function, psychological state and performance in trained cyclists. Twenty-three trained male cyclists were randomly assigned to an intensified training group or a control group for two-weeks, followed by a two-week taper period. At baseline, one-week, two-weeks and post-taper, participants undertook a series of cognitive, performance, mood and recovery-stress assessments. The training intervention significantly increased training volume, load and strain by 108%, 116% and 151% respectively. Peak and mean power output on a maximal test and time trial significantly decreased by 4.8% and 9.4% following the two-week training intervention compared to baseline, in addition to a 169% change in total mood disturbance and significant disruption to recovery-stress balance. No change in any cognitive measure was observed across the study period. Following a two-week taper, performance, mood and well-being measures returned to baseline. Two weeks of intensified training resulted in overreaching as identified by performance and psychological measures. Cognitive function was not sensitive to intensified training promoting caution with its use as a measure for the early identification of overreaching. Highlights Two-weeks of intensified training significantly increased training volume, load and strain eliciting a state of overreaching in trained male cyclists. Intensified training caused deteriorations in physical performance but did not influence cognitive measures. Mood and recovery-stress balance were negatively affected by intensified training but recovered back to baseline following a two-week taper at a reduced training volume. A two-week taper period following two-weeks of intensified training did not result in improved physiological measures, physical performance parameters or mood above initial baseline values highlighting the need for careful consideration over the purpose, desired outcomes and necessity of intensified training on an individualised basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes from 2 weeks of training load intensification strategy in female water polo players diagnosed with functional overreaching (F-OR) with no F-OR players (acute fatigue) on the performance outcomes and hormonal, immunological, and cardiac autonomic nervous system responses. Twenty-two female water polo players were allocated into control and intensification group during 7 weeks. The swimming performance, biochemical parameters, heart rate variability, profile of mood states, and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms were assessed twice before and twice after 2 weeks of intensification period. F-OR showed a worsening in total time of the repeated sprint ability (RSA) test compared with the control group and the acute fatigue group after intensification (p = 0.035). Furthermore, after the tapering period, the F-OR group maintained worse total time of the RSA test than the acute fatigue group (p = 0.029). In addition, the acute fatigue group showed improvement in total time of the RSA test after intensification compared with the control group (p < 0.001). No significant interactions were found for the other parameters. Therefore, periods of intensification without the F-OR development can promote higher gains in the total time of the RSA test after intensification and tapering period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

of this study was to determine the effects of different training periods and tapering during a macrocycle on heart rate variability (HRV), overtraining states and performance in young elite swimmers. Fifteen swimmers (6 men, 9 women) completed an 8-week training period divided into a basic, specific, competitive and transition blocks. HRV measures were recorded 3 days per week before the morning training session in supine position for 5 minutes. Overtraining state was recorded through the questionnaire of early clinical symptoms of the overtraining syndrome (QSFMS), which one considers different contributions to fatigue linked to physical exercising. The overtraining state was registered when the score exceeded 20 negative items out of 54. Training intensity distribution in five zones and training volume were quantified. show that, in these elite young swimmers, no changes in HRV were found during the 8-week training period with an average performance improvement (∼3%) in the competition block. In addition, there was no relationship between the QSFMS score and HRV. it appears that HRV indices within normal baseline levels could help to develop a well-managed and periodized training program that allows improves the performance in young elite swimmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients deserve an opportunity to tell clinicians and researcher< their views, about how sports medicine could better address their needs. In our -Case in Point article. we provide an internationally competitive figure skater with a chance to identify her community's needs and suggest solutions. We then have a clinician who works with skaters provide their perspective on the skater's call to action. Finally, a researcher shares suggestions based on the views of the skater and clinician. We hope this "Case in Point" article highlights how novel clinical and research ideas can be sparked by creating a forum for athletes/patients. providers. and researchers to share ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention has traditionally been categorized into three main areas: primary, secondary, and tertiary. In this Current Opinion, we present and discuss the concept of quaternary prevention in sports. Quaternary prevention aims to protect individuals from interventions that likely cause more harm than good, such as overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and overmedication. It includes preventing all types of harm associated with training and clinical interventions. Therefore, any sports injury prevention model or strategy should acknowledge the risks associated with training-related (i.e., overreaching and overuse) and clinical-related (i.e., overdiagnosis, over medicalization, and overtreatment) features. We propose a conceptual framework that integrates quaternary prevention into the contemporary injury prevention models in sports, taking into account that injury prevention is just one branch of the managerial, decision-making, and active hazard control process of risk management that athletes, coaches, and health and performance staff need to deal with. Therefore, we argue that integrating the concept of quaternary prevention into any form of prevention will significantly protect athletes from excessive, inappropriate, and ethically questionable interventions that may likely cause more harm than good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Performance in sports is determined by technical, tactical, psychological, and social factors and physiological characteristics of an athlete. Hockey players' anthropometric indicators such as the ideal level of muscle mass and body fat of athletes correlate with their performance. In team sports, the use of ergogenic drugs for recovery is relevant to avoid athletes' overtraining. The aim of the work was to assess the effect of Cytoflavin consumption on body composition and aerobic performance in professional ice hockey players. The results of the study showed that Cytoflavin exerts a positive effect on performance parameters. Our research can contribute to changing the approach to improving and maintaining the effectiveness of sports training and achieving maximum per-formance in physical activity. Background and objectives: In ice hockey, the major physical workload comes from acceleration in all planes of motion and transitions between skating trajectories. Hockey players' anthropometric characteristics correlate with performance. In team sports, the use of ergogenic drugs for recovery is relevant to avoid athletes' overtraining. It is very important to protect athletes' health and allow them to maintain high-performance levels. Cytoflavin is an ergogenic drug whose action is based on the combined effects of its active ingredients (succinic acid, inosine, nicotinamide and riboflavin), which are naturally occurring metabolites that stimulate tissue respiration. The study aimed to assess the 6-week Cytoflavin consumption effects on body composition (body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and bioimpedance phase angle) and aerobic performance. Methods: This study included 60 male professional hockey players (aged 19 to 36 years) divided into two groups of 30 subjects: group I (body weight 87.90 ± 7.44 kg, BMI 25.86 ± 2.04 kg/m2) and group II (body weight 87.04 ± 6.22 kg, BMI 25.52 ± 2.38 kg/m2). Athletes in group I received Cytoflavin, whereas athletes in group II did not. Results: In group I, statistically significant reductions in body weight and body mass index were not observed until 14 and 35 days, respectively. In contrast, in group II, both body weight and BMI significantly decreased both times. Aerobic performance significantly increased in both groups, with significantly greater increases in group I. Conclusions: Cytoflavin can be considered an ergogenic drug that improves body composition parameters, especially in the control of weight reduction and improvement in aerobic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing overtraining syndrome is challenging and it is often correlated with other diseases, especially those related to low energy availability. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of overtraining syndrome-like symptoms and correlative factors in 389 female and 572 male national-level high school track and field athletes. They were asked to complete a survey regarding their history of overtraining syndrome-like symptoms, injuries, and diseases. The survey results revealed that 13.4% (52/389) of female and 13.3% (76/572) of male athletes had a history of overtraining syndrome-like symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that training hours per day (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–2.71) was an associated factor in female athletes, while rest days per week (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–1.00), skipping meals (odds ratio, 3.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.50–9.29), and having snacks/light meals on a regular basis (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.83) were the associated factors in male athletes. In conclusion, athletes with overtraining syndrome-like symptoms may be prone to injuries and diseases. Hence, although overtraining syndrome is difficult to diagnose, further attention should be paid to minimize overtraining syndrome-related risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is the reduction in performance due to excess training and lack of proper recovery, which can lead to the chronic deprivation of energy and a reduction in the repair of small damages that accumulate over time. At the early stages, OTS can be presented as functional (FOR), nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR), or full overtraining syndrome, with no clear limits among the three stages. Here, the effect of acute, intense physical exercise on the expression of innate and adaptive immune genes was assessed and a strategy was developed to evaluate any indication of OTS. The three main pathways containing genes that were affected by acute, intense physical exercise were Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, and the NF-kappa B and chemokine signaling pathways, suggesting the activation of proinflammatory responses as the result of the stress from the acute exercise. Expression analysis of key genes could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training scheme in horses so that the best performance can be achieved in high-performance athletes without the risk of developing OTS. Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is the reduction in performance due to excess training and lack of proper recovery, which can lead to a chronic deprivation of energy and reduction in the repair of damage that can accumulate over time. Here, the effect of acute, intense physical exercise on the expression of innate and adaptive immune genes in 12 racing-bred American Quarter Horses, after resting for 3 days and immediately after intense exercise for 1.8 miles were compared. The expression of 84 genes related to innate and adaptive immune responses was analyzed. Significant variation among individuals and between sexes was observed. The analysis showed that five genes were differentially expressed in both females and males, three only in females, and two in males. The upregulated genes were IL13 (male only), CCR4 (female only), TLR6, TLR9 (female only), NFKBIA, CXCR3, and TLR4, while the downregulated genes were IL6 (female only), CD4 (male only), and MYD88. The three main pathways containing genes that were affected by acute, intense physical exercise were Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, and the NF-kappa B and chemokine signaling pathways, suggesting the activation of the proinflammatory responses as a result of the stress from the acute exercise. Gene expression could be used to assess indications of OTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the problems that select cross entropy as a loss function in a graph convolution network may lead to the over-training and the weak generalization ability of the model in a small sample data sets, this paper proposed a graph convolution network based on structural error. Using the improved support vector machine (SVM) as the classifier of the graph convolution network could reduce the risk of over-fitting of the model. Based on the generalization error theory of SVM,improving the loss function of SVM,the proposed method maximized the interval of different samples and limited the interval of similar samples, improved the generalization ability of the model. Firstly, it calculated the average distance from the feature vector to the center point in the feature space, used it to approximately replace the radius of the sphere, and then the new loss function would guide model learning. Experiments on the NTU RGB+D60 and NTU RGB+D120 datasets in the field of behavior recognition based on skeleton prove that compared with the traditional graph convolution network model, the proposed method can obviously improve the recognition accuracy and has better generalization performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athlete development depends on many factors that need to be balanced by the coach. The amount of data collected grows with the development of sensor technology. To make data-informed decisions for training prescription of their athletes, coaches could be supported by feedback through a coach dashboard. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of a coach dashboard based on scientific knowledge, user requirements, and (sensor) data to support decision making of coaches for athlete development in cyclic sports. The design process involved collaboration with coaches, embedded scientists, researchers, and IT professionals. A classic design thinking process was used to structure the research activities in five phases: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test phases. To understand the user requirements of coaches, a survey (n = 38), interviews (n = 8) and focus-group sessions (n = 4) were held. Design principles were adopted into mock-ups, prototypes, and the final coach dashboard. Designing a coach dashboard using the co-operative research design helped to gain deep insights into the specific user requirements of coaches in their daily training practice. Integrating these requirements, scientific knowledge, and functionalities in the final coach dashboard allows the coach to make data-informed decisions on training prescription and optimise athlete development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of 5 consecutive days of high- and moderate-intensity training on performance and physiological measures in moderately trained individuals. The relationship of the training organization with the state of overreaching and acute fatigue was investigated. Twenty-four male soldiers (age, 19.3 ± 0.4 years; ...O2peak, 58.7 ± 3.8 ml⋅kg-1⋅min-1) were assigned to 2 training groups for 5 consecutive days of either high- or moderate-intensity training. The subjects underwent incremental and 12-minute time trial tests before, immediately after, 1 and 2 weeks after training. The high- and moderate-intensity sessions were 30 minutes in duration and performed at fixed velocities of 13.3 and 10 km⋅h-1 (near second and first ventilatory thresholds), respectively. Acute fatigue and overreaching criteria were set as concomitant nonimpairment and impairment, respectively, in the incremental peak velocity and 12-minute time trial performances at posttest immediately after the training block. Data analyses were completed using hierarchical Bayesian's models. In subjects who wer trained at moderate intensity, no performance impairment occurred (i.e., acute fatigue); for the high-intensity training, 5 subjects showed impairment in performance and were classified as overreached. Only in subjects who were acutely fatigued, clear beneficial effects were observed in incremental test peak velocity and 12-minute time trial performances. In moderately trained runners, a block of 5 consecutive days of moderate-intensity training was demonstrated to be a useful strategy for the improvement of performance. However, high-intensity training does not seem to be a safe strategy because of the observations of overreaching and inferior probabilities of performance improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise addiction has been investigated for almost half a decade in well over 1000 published papers. Studies adopt different terminologies like exercise addiction, overexercise, exercise dependence, compulsive exercise, obligatory exercise, and the like to refer to the same concept while creating conceptual confusion and rendering cross-study comparability challenging. The paradox is that fewer than ten research articles cover cases of clinical significance, yielding an extremely high ratio of publications to problematic cases. While there is evidence that significantly more clinically attention-meriting cases might exist, they surface in clinical practice rather than research settings. It is also peculiar that scholars search for a common path or shared etiology for exercise addiction, while each case, like those in substance use disorder, is unique, as also predicted by clinical models. Furthermore, the survey method uses scales yielding risk scores without diagnostic value. Most research in this direction, therefore, seems to be futile. Thus, it is not surprising that more than 10 years ago, the panel editing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) found insufficient evidence for exercise addiction being a mental dysfunction. As a result, exercise addiction has no clinical diagnostic criteria. This position paper aims to identify conceptual and methodological research barriers that hinder progress in this field, ultimately calling for a paradigm shift toward more productive research. In conclusion, the position of this paper is that most currently used research methodologies on exercise addiction are unsatisfactory and, consequently, a paradigm shift is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great attention has been paid to indoor localization due to its wide range of associated applications and services. Fingerprinting and time-based localization techniques are among the most popular approaches in the field due to their promising performance. However, fingerprinting techniques usually suffer from signal fluctuations and interference, which yields unstable localization performance. On the other hand, the accuracy of time-based techniques is highly affected by multipath propagation errors and non-line-of-sight transmissions. To combat these challenges, this paper presents a hybrid deep-learning-based indoor localization system called RRLoc which fuses fingerprinting and time-based techniques with a view of combining their advantages. RRLoc leverages a novel approach for fusing received signal strength indication (RSSI) and round-trip time (RTT) measurements and extracting high-level features using deep canonical correlation analysis. The extracted features are then used in training a localization model for facilitating the location estimation process. Different modules are incorporated to improve the deep model's generalization against overtraining and noise. The experimental results obtained at two different indoor environments show that RRLoc improves localization accuracy by at least 267% and 496% compared to the state-of-the-art fingerprinting and ranging-based-multilateration techniques, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dance students face many physical and psychological stressors in their training and daily lives, therefore methods for coping with stress are essential for performance enhancement and general wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between mindfulness, stress, recovery, and wellbeing among university level vocational dance students. Seventy-two dance students at two Australian universities completed online self-report measures of mindfulness, recovery-stress states, and affect. Correlation coefficients indicated a significant positive relationship between mindfulness and positive affect, and significant negative relationships between mindfulness and stress, and mindfulness and negative affect. MANOVA revealed differences between high mindfulness and low mindfulness groups on general stress, negative affect, and dance-specific recovery. The findings suggested that low mindfulness may be a risk factor for stress in general, and improvements in mindfulness may provide a protective buffer for students coping with a vast array of general and dance-specific demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the changes of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in boxer and rats undertook chronic high load and overtraining as well as its possible mechanisms after establishing a sensitive and simple method for detecting circulating cfDNA. Equipment and methods. Thirteen male boxers undertook high load training including 3-week high intensity and high volume trainings with a 4-week interval, while female rats completed high load training or overtraining, with 10 rats each group, in addition to 10 sedentary rats. Blood samples of all the participants were collected prior to the onset of training and at 36 h post the last session of training. The cfDNA level was detected by our established Alu-real-time PCR. Indicators monitoring high load training and overtraining including testosterone, cortisol (corticosterone in rat), Hb, creatine kinase (CK) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and reflecting oxidative stress such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and peroxide index malonaldehyde (MDA), as well as exercise performance were determined. (1) Our real-time PCR targeting Alu or Alu homogenous gene was confirmed to detect circulating cfDNA simply and sensitively; (2) cfDNA levels were increased in high load training and overtraining rats by about 2.0- and 4.5-fold respectively, with a greater increase in overtraining rats. (3) Surged cfDNA levels were also observed by almost four times in high load training boxers, with no difference between high intensity and high volume trainings. To our best knowledge, this study firstly suggested that the circulating cfDNA was likely to be a potential biomarker for chronic training and overtraining in human and rat, and the chronic training or overtraining-induced surge of circulating cfDNA might be originated from oxidative stress and muscle damage. Besides, a simple and sensitive quantitative PCR targeting Alu in human or Alu homologous gene in rat was suggested to detect circulating cfDNA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose that a more readily studied, secondary source‐to‐sink (S2S) systems can be formed on direct‐fed margins, in which shelf‐edge deltas are 'sources' and deep‐water fans are terminal depositional 'sinks', with channels working as delivery 'conduits' in between. DionisosFlow stratigraphic‐forward model, coupled to seismic and borehole data from middle Miocene Pearl River margin, are used to explore physical and conceptual linkages of delta‐to‐fan S2S systems, with a focus on the predictability of when and how coarse clastics are delivered from the deltas down to the submarine fans. Middle Miocene Pearl River delta‐to‐fan S2S coupling was stratigraphically enacted in three main ways: (a) deltas that lack downdip fans: high sea level or low sediment supply caused coarse clastics to be stored mainly on inner to outer shelf areas; (b) deltas that are linked downdip to fans: coarse clastics were funneled to submarine fans through slope channels, via direct delta‐to‐fan S2S linkages created by delta overreach at shelf break or channels extending back to shelf‐margin prodeltas; (c) fans that lack updip, coeval deltas: coarse shelf clastics were carried laterally by longshore or other shelf currents, but eventually captured by canyon heads, and then delivered directly to the basin floor. Moreover, our DionisosFlow stratigraphic‐forward models suggest that an oscillation in sea‐level behaviour from slowly falling to rapidly falling would result in a within‐system tract surface occurring within the falling‐stage systems tract. This surface is identified as a significant lower‐order unconformity in its proximal reaches and as a correlative conformity distally. Within‐system tract surfaces are identified by a change in shelf‐edge trajectory regimes from flat to slight falling to moderately falling and in architecture from mixed progradation and degradation to dominant degradation. They are coeval with the onset of the deposition of submarine fans linked updip to deltas or lacking updip deltas, highlighting that sandy deposits can be compartmentalized even within a single systems tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyaluronic acid (HA) contributes to extracellular matrix viscosity and fiber regeneration. HA role in resistance training (RT) performance adaptations is unclear. RT men performed power training (nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) or normal training (CG)) over 7.5 days. Post RT, the CG improved power while NFOR did not with HA content decreasing 34.5% in NFOR with no change in CG. HA is critical for muscular recovery; decreased HA may contribute to impaired power adaptations with NFOR RT. Novelty: Nonfunctional over-reaching decreases muscular hyaluronic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scantlebury, S, Till, K, Sawczuk, T, Dalton-Barron, N, Phibbs, P, and Jones, B. The frequency and intensity of representative and nonrepresentative late adolescent team-sport athletes' training schedules. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3400-3406, 2021-This study aimed to identify and compare the training frequency and intensity (via session rating of perceived exertion load [sRPE load]) of representative and nonrepresentative late adolescent athletes. Thirty-six team sport athletes completed a web-based questionnaire daily over an 8-month period, reporting their training/match activities from the previous day. Athletes were categorized as representative (academy/county/international) or nonrepresentative (club/school) depending on the highest level of their sport they participated. Mean weekly frequencies and sRPE load of different training/match activities were quantified for each athlete across 5 school terms. Mann-Whitney U tests established the significance of differences and effect sizes between playing standards for mean weekly frequencies and mean sRPE load. Within-athlete weekly sRPE loads were highly variable for both playing standards; however, representative level athletes participated in significantly more activity outside of school compared with nonrepresentative athletes during November-December (effect size; 0.43 -club technical training; 0.36 -club matches), January-February (effect size; 0.78 -club technical training; 0.75 -club matches), and February-March (effect size; 0.63 -club technical training; 0.44 -club matches). Therefore, club and school coaches must ensure that all elements of representative athletes training schedules are coordinated and flexible to promote positive adaptions to training such as skill and physical development and prevent maladaptive responses such as overuse injury and nonfunctional overreaching. A cooperative and malleable training schedule between club/school coaches and the athlete will allow the athlete to perform on multiple fronts while also being able to meet the demands of additional stressors such as schoolwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symptom similarities between training-overload (with or without an Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) diagnosis) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) are significant, with both initiating from a hypothalamic–pituitary origin, that can be influenced by low carbohydrate (CHO) and energy availability (EA). In this narrative review we wish to showcase that many of the negative outcomes of training-overload (with, or without an OTS diagnosis) may be primarily due to misdiagnosed under-fueling, or RED-S, via low EA and/or low CHO availability. Accordingly, we undertook an analysis of training-overload/OTS type studies that have also collected and analyzed for energy intake (EI), CHO, exercise energy expenditure (EEE) and/or EA. Eighteen of the 21 studies (86%) that met our criteria showed indications of an EA decrease or difference between two cohorts within a given study (n = 14 studies) or CHO availability decrease (n = 4 studies) during the training-overload/OTS period, resulting in both training-overload/OTS and RED-S symptom outcomes compared to control conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate significantly similar symptom overlaps across much of the OTS (n = 57 studies) and RED-S/Female Athlete Triad (n = 88 studies) literature. It is important to note that the prevention of under-recovery is multi-factorial, but many aspects are based around EA and CHO availability. Herein we have demonstrated that OTS and RED-S have many shared pathways, symptoms, and diagnostic complexities. Substantial attention is required to increase the knowledge and awareness of RED-S, and to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of both OTS and RED-S, to allow clinicians to more accurately exclude LEA/RED-S from OTS diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to link Locke's use of "fiduciary trust" to the early seventeenth century debates about the limits of Charles I's sovereignty. Specifically, this paper points to a striking congruence between Locke and Samuel Rutherford's Lex Rex (1644). Anticipating similar formulations in the Second Treatise, Rutherford argues that unlike domestic relationships, which are governed by natural paternal affections (care), sovereign authority is unnatural and artificial. In stark contrast to prominent royalist positions of that day, Rutherford argues that fathers do not have the right to kill their sons and wives, specifically linking the source and limit of their authority to natural love and affection. This distinction sharply distinguishes paternal authority from fiduciary trust. The former is governed by the natural law and is derived from the implicit or psychic trust that emerges between those in loving relationships; the latter is a product of positive law and is built on a presumption of distrust. Locke builds on these arguments, particularly with regard to conjugal society. While co-parents will typically be bound together by care and affection, the risk of the husband's neglect or overreach required that formal trust-mechanisms be put in place to assure the rights of the child (and wife) were not infringed. Like paternal authority, Locke's conjugal society is another example of why political authority cannot be predicated on care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes physically overload to improve performance. Unbalanced stress/recovery may induce overtraining, which is difficult to diagnosis as no diagnostic marker exists. Hormonal responses to a 55/80 cycle (30-min of alternating blocks of 1-min at 55% and 4-min at 80% maximum work rate) may highlight early-stage overtraining (overreaching), as blunted cortisol and testosterone responses to 55/80 follows intensified training. However, the reliability of hormonal responses to 55/80 when not overreached is unknown. Therefore, reported blunted hormonal responses could be due to inconsistent cortisol and testosterone responses to 55/80. Participants (n = 23) completed three 55/80 bouts, >7 days apart, with no exercise 24 h pre-trials. Pre-exercise urine osmolality and stress questionnaire responses were measured. Pre, post, and 30-min post-exercise saliva samples were collected for cortisol and testosterone assessment. Salivary cortisol and testosterone responses, osmolality and well-being were not different between trials. Salivary cortisol and testosterone elevated from pre- to post-exercise [by 4.2 nmol.L−1 (cortisol) and 307 pmol.L−1 (testosterone)], and 30 min post-exercise [by 160 pmol.L−1 (testosterone) only]. Intraclass correlation coefficients for pre to peak post-exercise cortisol (0.89; good) and testosterone (0.53; moderate) were calculated. This demonstrates that 55/80 induces reliable elevations of salivary cortisol and testosterone when in a healthy state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) was shown to recover fatigue and imbalanced immune system. Therefore, effect of chronic administration of N. sativa hydroethanolic extract on splenocytes response in sedentary and exercised animals, was evaluated. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into non-treated (control sedentary (C), moderately trained (MT; Velocity 20 m/min, 30 min/day 8 weeks), and over-trained (OT; Velocity 25 m/min, 60 min/day 11 weeks)), and N. sativa-treated animals (Nisa, 200 mg/kg, orally) (control (Nisa-C), moderately trained (Nisa-MT) and over-trained (Nisa-OT)). Finally, cell viability and proliferation, as well as interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion in non-stimulated and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocytes, were evaluated. In the absence of the mitogen, cell viability in Nisa-C and Nisa-OT, cell proliferation in Nisa-C and Nisa-MT, IFN-γ concentration in Nisa-MT and Nisa-OT and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in Nisa C, Nisa-MT and Nisa-OT were higher compared to non-treated groups; but, IL-4 level in Nisa-MT was lower than non-treated groups. In the presence of the mitogen, cell viability in Nisa-C and Nisa-OT, IL-4 concentration in Nisa-C and Nisa-OT groups, and IFN-γ concentration and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in Nisa-MT were higher, while IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was lower in Nisa-C group compared to non-treated groups. Moreover, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in stimulated and non-stimulated splenocytes supernatant was higher in Nisa-MT compared to Nisa-C and Nisa-OT groups. N. sativa chronic administration may shift Th1/Th2 cytokines profile of splenocytes towards Th1, especially in over-trained and non-stimulated condition. Moderate exercise and N. sativa supplementation may improve disorders associated with elevated Th2 such as overtraining syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faults in inverter-based islanded microgrids can be a formidable protection challenge due to the limited fault current contribution of inverters. This paper designs a selective and sensitive protection scheme by injecting a pattern of up to three synthetic harmonics utilizing the flexibility of existing inverter-based distributed generation (IBDG) controllers (called injection pattern [IP]). The measured pattern (MP) by each relay is the result of the combination of IPs from IBDGs at different locations in a microgrid. To ensure that relays measure different MPs for forward and reverse faults, an optimization model is formulated to set and minimize the total number of IPs by IBDGs. A pattern-based directional element is proposed based on the cosine similarity measure between the MP and the predefined characteristic pattern (CP) of each relay. CPs are set offline as the normalized MPs of forward faults. Moreover, a new direction-comparison relaying scheme is devised, which comprises of permissive overreaching transfer trip (POTT) and direction zone-interlocking (DZI) for primary and remote backup protection, respectively. Transient studies in PSCAD/EMTDC verify the performance of the proposed scheme under various faults and different microgrid topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern regulatory state–and the field of administrative law that studies it–is in need of "deconstruction." That does not mean that it should be dismantled entirely. This essay does not embrace the reformers' fixation on courts as the bulwark against agency overreach. Rather, this essay develops the concept of bureaucracy beyond judicial review: not only agency actions that statute or judicial doctrine precludes from judicial review, but also agency actions that are technically subject to judicial review yet effectively insulated from it. Appreciating the phenomenon of bureaucracy beyond judicial review should encourage us to rethink theories and doctrines in administrative law. If judicial review provides no safeguard against potential abuses of power in most regulatory activities, we must turn to other mechanisms. All three branches of the federal government must play their roles, as should civil society and the agencies themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of short‐term high‐frequency failure vs non‐failure blood flow–restricted resistance exercise (BFRRE) on changes in satellite cells (SCs), myonuclei, muscle size, and strength. Seventeen untrained men performed four sets of BFRRE to failure (Failure) with one leg and not to failure (Non‐failure; 30‐15‐15‐15 repetitions) with the other leg using knee‐extensions at 20% of one repetition maximum (1RM). Fourteen sessions were distributed over two 5‐day blocks, separated by a 10‐day rest period. Muscle samples obtained before, at mid‐training, and 10‐day post‐intervention (Post10) were analyzed for muscle fiber area (MFA), myonuclei, and SC. Muscle size and echo intensity of m.rectus femoris (RF) and m.vastus lateralis (VL) were measured by ultrasonography, and knee extension strength with 1RM and maximal isometric contraction (MVC) up until Post24. Both protocols increased myonuclear numbers in type‐1 (12%–17%) and type‐2 fibers (20%–23%), and SC in type‐1 (92%–134%) and type‐2 fibers (23%–48%) at Post10 (p < 0.05). RF and VL size increased by 5%–10% in both legs at Post10 to Post24, whereas the MFA of type‐1 fibers in Failure was decreased at Post10 (−10 ± 16%; p = 0.02). Echo intensity increased by ~20% in both legs during Block1 (p < 0.001) and was ~8 to 11% below baseline at Post24 (p = 0.001–0.002). MVC and 1RM decreased by 5%–10% after Block1, but increased in both legs by 6%–11% at Post24 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both short‐term high‐frequency failure and non‐failure BFRRE induced increases in SCs, in myonuclei content, muscle size, and strength, concomitant with decreased echo intensity. Intriguingly, the responses were delayed and peaked 10–24 days after the training intervention. Our findings may shed light on the mechanisms involved in resistance exercise‐induced overreaching and supercompensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choices rely on a transformation of sensory inputs into motor responses. Using invasive single neuron recordings, the evolution of a choice process has been tracked by projecting population neural responses into state spaces. Here, we develop an approach that allows us to recover similar trajectories on a millisecond timescale in non-invasive human recordings. We selectively suppress activity related to three task-axes, relevant and irrelevant sensory inputs and response direction, in magnetoencephalography data acquired during context-dependent choices. Recordings from premotor cortex show a progression from processing sensory input to processing the response. In contrast to previous macaque recordings, information related to choice-irrelevant features is represented more weakly than choice-relevant sensory information. To test whether this mechanistic difference between species is caused by extensive over-training common in non-human primate studies, we trained humans on >20,000 trials of the task. Choice-irrelevant features were still weaker than relevant features in premotor cortex after over-training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2014, 6 collegiate swimmers were hospitalized for symptomatic exertional rhabdomyolysis. Objective: To serially monitor and assess relationships between skeletal muscle membrane disruption, upper body soreness (UBS) and lower body soreness (LBS), and stress during the first 6 weeks (timepoints) of preseason training in collegiate male and female swimmers. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: College/university. Participants: Forty swimmers. Independent variables: Upper and lower body soreness rating (0-10); testosterone (T), cortisol (C), and T/C ratio. Main outcome measures: Creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin (over time) versus independent variables. Results: Weekly training load consisted of -87% swimming, -5% running, and -8% weight training, which increased from 15.8 hours to 20.5 total training hours per week over the first 6 weeks of training. Muscle damage in collegiate swimmers was modest and peaked after the first week of training (week 2) for men (CK = 438 ± 259 U/L; P < 0.0001; r2 = 0.28; myoglobin = 47 ± 18 ng/mL; P = 0.001; r2 = 0.22) and women (CK = 446 ± 723 U/L; P < 0.01; r2 = 0.13; myoglobin = 63 ± 140 ng/mL, not significant) with high variability. Data were presented as peak mean ± SD, significant P value, and r2 from repeated-measures analysis of variance. A temporal disconnect was noted between muscle damage and UBS, which peaked at week 5 in both men (5 ± 2; P < 0.0001; r2 = 0.44) and women (6 ± 2; P < 0.0001; r2 = 0.57). The serum cortisol level decreased over time, which peaked at week 1 (baseline) in men (15 ± 6 μg/dL; P = 0.0004; r2 = 0.38) and women (19 ± 10 μg/dL; P < 0.0001; r2 = 0.49). The testosterone level remained unchanged, which promoted an anabolic hormonal environment that peaked at week 6 (increasing T/C ratio) in men (58 ± 32; P = 0.0003; r2 = 0.31) and women (4 ± 3; P = 0.04; r2 = 0.18) despite gradual increases in training and soreness. Conclusions: Muscle soreness does not parallel muscle membrane disruption. A 1-week "transition" period is required for muscles to adapt to intense/novel training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten female dancers ages 18–22 participated in a study measuring heart rate variability (HRV) over the course of one term in a collegiate dance department. HRV was measured at the same time in the morning once per week over 14 weeks. Additionally, dancer participants completed a weekly Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) survey to assess variables of wellbeing including self-reported fatigue, well-being and perceived risk of injury alongside a separate weekly survey of self-reported dance exposure and sleep habits. Magnitude-based inferences (MBI) were utilized to determine the practical significance of changes in data using standardized differences in means, or effect size (ES). Results from the study reveal a distinct downward trend in cardiac vagal modulation over the course of a dance term, paired with an increased perception of fatigue and decreased perception of general well-being. These findings suggest that students may be experiencing not only a perceived state of fatigue during the high-stress environment at the end of an academic term, but early stages of physiological overtraining. These data point toward the importance of rest and recovery in collegiate dancers and the need for thoughtful, planned training from dance educators in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To document the effects of wildland firefighter (WLFF) critical training (CT) on physiologic markers of muscle damage and acute over-reaching. Methods: Eighteen male and three female WLFFs were studied during an 11-day CT Upper-body (US), lower-body (LS) muscle soreness and body weight (BW) were collected daily. Blood was collected on days 1, 4,8, and 11 to measure creatine kinase (CK). lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cortisol, and testosterone. Skinfolds were taken on days 1 and 11 to estimate body fat (BF) and lean body weight (LBW). Results: CT resulted in a significant depression in BF and elevation in LBW, while main effects of time were seen in US, LS, CK, LDH. cortisol, and testosterone/cortisol ratio (P < 0.05), Conclusion: These data suggest WLFFs undergo significant physiological stressors resulting in muscle soreness, damage, and possible overreaching during CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military personnel encounter analogies meant to help them understand their role and tasks. One such depicts military "sheepdogs" protecting ordinary-citizen "sheep" from predator "wolves." But simple analogies of this kind combine surface appeal with ideological implications that make them hazardous. The sheepdog analogy's simplistic trichotomy is liable to undermine warfighters' battlefield restraint, both in how they fight and whom they fight. They may improperly expand the realm of "wolves" to be attacked, and exert less self-control in attacking. Worse, they may develop a sense of moral superiority and chafe resentfully and contemptuously under civilian control. Despite the sheepdog analogy's superficial attractions, it could end up undermining respect for democratic processes and constraints, civil liberties, and the Constitutional system that soldiers are sworn to defend. Nor can it be saved by well-intentioned revisions. Hence, it ought to be eliminated from circulation to the extent possible. Furthermore, a broader consideration of the conditions required for any acceptable warfighter analogy recommends avoidance of all beguilingly evocative simple tropes for soldier identity. Their intended constructive messages and effects are ever liable to be overtaken by unintended ones that subvert soldiers' rightful understandings of their relationships to other human beings and to the body politic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptive response to training is determined by the combination of the intensity, volume, and frequency of the training. Various periodized approaches to training are used by aquatic sports athletes to achieve performance peaks. Nutritional support to optimize training adaptations should take periodization into consideration; that is, nutrition should also be periodized to optimally support training and facilitate adaptations. Moreover, other aspects of training (e.g., overload training, tapering and detraining) should be considered when making nutrition recommendations for aquatic athletes. There is evidence, albeit not in aquatic sports, that restricting carbohydrate availability may enhance some training adaptations. More research needs to be performed, particularly in aquatic sports, to determine the optimal strategy for periodizing carbohydrate intake to optimize adaptations. Protein nutrition is an important consideration for optimal training adaptations. Factors other than the total amount of daily protein intake should be considered. For instance, the type of protein, timing and pattern of protein intake and the amount of protein ingested at any one time influence the metabolic response to protein ingestion. Body mass and composition are important for aquatic sport athletes in relation to power-to-mass and for aesthetic reasons. Protein may be particularly important for athletes desiring to maintain muscle while losing body mass. Nutritional supplements, such as b-alanine and sodium bicarbonate, may have particular usefulness for aquatic athletes’ training adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]