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Purpose: Although recommendations for effective heat acclimation (HA) strategies for many circumstances exist, best-practice HA protocols specific to elite female team-sport athletes are yet to be established. Therefore, the authors aimed to investigate the effectiveness and retention of a passive HA protocol integrated in a female Olympic rugby sevens team training program. Methods: Twelve elite female rugby sevens athletes undertook 10 days of passive HA across 2 training weeks. Tympanic temperature (TTymp), sweat loss, heart rate, and repeated 6-second cycling sprint performance were assessed using a sport-specific heat stress test Pre-HA, after 3 days (Mid-HA), after 10 days (Post-HA), and 15 days post-HA (Decay). Results: Compared with Pre-HA, submaximal TTymp was lower Mid-HA and Post-HA (both by −0.2 [0.7] °C; d ≥ 0.71), while resting TTymp was lower Post-HA (by −0.3 [0.2] °C; d = 0.81). There were no differences in TTymp at Decay compared with Pre-HA, nor were there any differences in heart rate or sweat loss at any time points. Mean peak 6-second power output improved Mid-HA and Post-HA (76 [36] W; 75 [34] W, respectively; d ≥ 0.45) compared with Pre-HA. The observed performance improvement persisted at Decay by 65 (45) W (d = 0.41). Conclusions: Ten days of passive HA can elicit some thermoregulatory and performance benefits when integrated into a training program in elite female team-sport athletes. However, such a protocol does not provide a sufficient thermal impulse for thermoregulatory adaptations to be retained after 15 days with no further heat stimulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It is unknown whether the biomechanics of the posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) are impaired in individuals undergoing surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Characterizing these properties may improve our understanding of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK; defined as proximal junctional angle [PJA] of >10 deg from UIV‐1 to UIV + 2), as well as proximal junctional failure (PJF; symptomatic PJK requiring revision). The purpose of this prospective observational study is to compare biomechanical properties of the PLC in individuals with ASD who do, and do not develop PJK or PJF within 1 year of spinal fusion surgery. Methods: Intraoperative biopsies of PLC were obtained from 32 consecutive patients undergoing spinal fusions for ASD (>4 levels). Ligament peak force, tensile stress, tensile strain, and elastic modulus (EM) were measured with a materials testing system. Biomechanical properties and tissue dimensions were correlated with age, gender, BMI, vitamin D level, osteoporosis, sagittal alignment, PJA and change in PJA preoperatively, within 3 months, and at 1 year postoperatively. Results: Longer ligaments were associated with greater PJA change at 3 months (p = 0.04), and thinner ligaments were associated with greater PJA change at 1 year (r = 0.57, p = 0.01). Greater EM was associated with greater PJA at both 3 months and 1 year (p = 0.03). Five participants had a change in PJA of >10 1 year postoperatively, and three participants demonstrated PJF. EM was significantly higher in individuals who required revision surgery (p = 0.003), and ligament length was greater (p = 0.03). Preoperative sagittal alignment was not related to incidence of revision surgery (p > 0.10). Conclusions: The biomechanical properties of the PLC may be associated with higher risk for proximal failure. Ligaments that are longer, thinner, and less elastic are associated with higher postoperative PJA. Furthermore stiffer EM of the ligament is associated with the need for revision surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on fraternal love and nation-building in the histories of Jules Michelet. It mentions Michelet employs it to refer to the centralization and secularization of the French political structure and stage is a dynamic combination that exteriorizes the fraternal ideal and initiates a movement toward the conquest and homogenization of the disparate parts of France. It also mentions French Revolution represents amalgamation of the center that is the impersonal state with the heart.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand potential baseline transcriptional expression differences in paraspinal skeletal muscle from patients with different underlying lumbar pathologies by comparing multifidus gene expression profiles across individuals with either disc herniation, facet arthropathy, or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Methods: Multifidus biopsies were obtained from patients (n = 44) undergoing lumbar surgery for either disc herniation, facet arthropathy, or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Diagnostic categories were based on magnetic resonance images, radiology reports, and intraoperative reports. Gene expression for 42 genes was analysed using qPCR. A one-way analysis of variance was performed for each gene to determine differences in expression across diagnostic groups. Corrections for multiple comparisons across genes (Benjamini–Hochberg) and for between-group post hoc comparisons (Sidak) were applied. Results: Adipogenic gene (ADIPOQ) expression was higher in the disc herniation group when compared to the facet arthropathy group (p = 0.032). Adipogenic gene (PPARD) expression was higher in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group when compared to the disc herniation group (p = 0.013), although absolute gene expression levels for all groups was low. Fibrogenic gene (COL3A1) had significantly higher expression in the disc herniation group and facet arthropathy group when compared to the degenerative spondylolisthesis group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.038, respectively). When adjusted for multiple comparisons, only COL3A1 remained significant (p = 0.012). Conclusion: Individuals with disc herniation and facet arthropathy demonstrate higher COL3A1 gene expression compared to those with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Future research is required to further understand the biological relevance of these transcriptional differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot-assisted cystectomy surgery may be advantageous for patients. The purpose of this study was to compare anesthetic management and outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted versus open radical cystectomy. In a retrospective review of 256 cystectomy procedures, procedure duration, blood loss, respiratory parameters, recovery room opiate consumption, pain scores and antiemetic use in the recovery room, and hospital length of stay were compared. After exclusions, 96 robot-assisted and 102 open procedures were analyzed. Anesthesia and surgery duration were significantly longer in the robot-assisted group, while the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the robot-assisted group: 7.1 ± 5.8 versus 9.8 ± 5.03 days, p = 0.0005. Estimated blood loss was 601.8 ± 491.4 ml in the open group versus 257.7 ± 164.3 ml in the robot-assisted group, p < 0.0001. Recovery room opiate consumption was significantly less in the robot-assisted group: 9.5 ± 8.9 versus 12.6 ± 9.9 mg (morphine equivalents), p = 0.02. The highest recorded respiratory rate was significantly higher in the robot-assisted group, as was the highest recorded peak airway pressure. Among patients with arterial blood gas data, the highest arterial partial pressure of CO was significantly greater in the robot-assisted group than in the open surgery group: 42.6 ± 5.6 versus 37.4 ± 4.8 mmHg CO, p = 0.0001. Surgeons and anesthesia providers can expect robot-assisted radical cystectomy surgery to last longer than traditional open surgery, but to be associated with less pain and blood loss. Positioning and abdominal insufflation for robot-assisted surgery may contribute to ventilation challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a study which investigated the biomechanics and physiology of the tire flip, a strongman competition event. Details of the experimental protocol are presented, which involved the video capture of the movement pattern involved, and measurements of the physiological effects of performing a tire flip.

Background: Recent epidemiological efforts have demonstrated the utility of measuring individual differences in the severity of alcohol use along a single severity continuum marked by alcohol-related problems, symptoms of alcohol dependence, and the social consequences of drinking. Translation of this utility to specialized clinical populations is not assured. The expected inter-relationships among problems, symptoms and consequences, and enhanced sensitivity of combined assessments require confirmation in applied clinical settings. Method: Subjects were 245 incarcerated women who met Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test criteria for hazardous use of alcohol. Participants were recruited from a statewide adult correctional facility for an ongoing clinical trial testing the effectiveness of brief motivational interviewing on alcohol use and HIV risk behaviors. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 56 ( M = 34.1, SD = 8.9), 71.4% were Caucasian, and 65.7% reported <12 years of education. Results: Analyses suggested that the 6 problems of alcohol abuse, 7 symptoms for alcohol dependence, and 14 alcohol-related social consequences loaded to a single factor (0.38 to 0.85) that formed a continuum of alcohol severity. Contrary to epidemiological studies, physical fights and being arrested were the most prevalent consequences and were associated with lower alcohol severity in this population. Three of the five items that discriminated best between higher and lower alcohol severity were related to familial and relationship consequences. Conclusions: Consistent with epidemiological studies, alcohol severity can be measured among incarcerated hazardously drinking women on a single continuum that includes alcohol problems, symptoms, and social consequences. Replication of the expected alignment of problems and symptoms supports the construct validity of the continuum and further challenges the proposed hierarchical structure of abuse/dependence distinction. Large differences in rates of specific consequences and observed effectiveness of tailored social consequence items suggest the benefits of cross-sample validation to improve evaluation of clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the mistakes in writing a request for proposal (RFP) to contract research organizations (CROs) in the U.S. RFPs offer a description of the project that the CRO will do and instruct a CRO to provide details on what the sponsor requires. It presents the most common mistakes that sponsors may commit in writing RFPs. The mistakes include the lack of proper preparation, the omission of vital information and failure to evaluate pricing.

The article establishes on how ineffective drug manufacturers at contract research organization (CRO) management compared to other industries. It describes several identifiable causes of the inefficiency being mentioned. It also provides a sample of tools for drug manufacturers so that they can employ to improve how they manage CROs. Moreover, it suggests that the productive relationships with CROs demand a well focused strategy on the part of sponsors.

Assesses whether characteristics of patients in test and attention-control groups are comparable and unaffected by the intervention to be tested in clinical hypnosis trials in the postoperative period. Assessment using the Hypnotic Induction Profile.

Presents information on a study which demonstrated that CD8 T cells mount a prevalent response against a single peptide/major histocompatibility complex in autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes. Materials and methods of the study; Results and discussion.

The sensitivity of the Wechsler Memory Scale with Russell's Revision to the effects of IQ and brain damage was assessed in groups of brain-damaged (N = 64) and nonbrain-damaged (N = 64) subjects. Brain-damaged and nonbrain-damaged subjects were divided into subgroups equated on age and IQ for each of three IQ ranges (80–89, 90–99, 100–109). Some Wechsler Memory Scale subtests were affected only by IQ, others were affected by IQ and brain-damage status, and still others were affected only by brain-damage status. Measures of recall efficiency were most useful in discriminating brain-damaged and nonbrain-damaged subjects. We concluded that specific Wechsler Memory Scale subtests are useful in assessing memory deficits in brain-damaged patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Describes the art and inspirations of Harley Elliott and his associative approach to writing and visual art. Influence of Jack Garver; Examples of visual and literary works.

The article reviews the book "Dying Words," by Nicholas Evans.