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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of knee joint range of motion (RoM) on the torque–velocity relationship and fatigue in the knee extensor muscles of 7 young (median = 26 y) and 7 older (68 y) adults. Each leg was assigned a RoM (35° or 75°) over which to perform a torque–velocity protocol (maximal isokinetic contractions, 60–300°·s−1) and a fatigue protocol (120 maximal contractions at 120°·s−1, 0.5 Hz). Six older participants were unable to reach 300°·s−1 over 35°. Therefore, the velocity eliciting 75% of peak torque at 60°·s−1 (V75, °·s−1) was calculated for each RoM from a fit of individual torque–velocity curves (60–240°·s−1), and ΔV75 (35°–75°) was determined. Fatigue (final torque/initial torque) was used to calculate Δfatigue (35°–75°). ΔV75 was not different from 0 in young (−28.3°·s−1 [−158.6 to 55.7], median [range], P =.091) or older (−18.5°·s−1 [−95.0 to 23.9], P =.128), with no difference by age (P =.710). In contrast, fatigue was greater for 75° in young (Δfatigue = 25.9% [17.5–30.3], P =.018) and older (17.2% [11.9–52.9], P =.018), with no effect of age (P =.710). These data indicate that, regardless of age, RoM did not alter the torque–velocity relationship between 60 and 240°·s−1, and fatigue was greater with a larger RoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No studies have reported ground reaction force (GRF) profiles of the repeated depth jump (DJ) protocols commonly used to study exercise-induced muscle damage. Furthermore, while compression garments (CG) may accelerate recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage, any effects on the repeated bout effect are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the GRF profiles of 2 repeated bouts of damage-inducing DJs and the effects of wearing CG for recovery. Nonresistance-trained males randomly received CG (n = 9) or placebo (n = 8) for 72 hours recovery, following 20 × 20 m sprints and 10 × 10 DJs from 0.6 m. Exercise was repeated after 14 days. Using a 3-way (set × bout × group) design, changes in GRF were assessed with analysis of variance and statistical parametric mapping. Jump height, reactive strength, peak, and mean propulsive forces declined between sets (P <.001). Vertical stiffness, contact time, force at zero velocity, and propulsive duration increased (P <.05). According to statistical parametric mapping, braking (17%–25% of the movement) and propulsive forces (58%–81%) declined (P <.05). During the repeated bout, peak propulsive force and duration increased (P <.05), while mean propulsive force (P <.05) and GRF from 59% to 73% declined (P <.001). A repeated bout of DJs differed in propulsive GRF, without changes to the eccentric phase, or effects from CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of global supply chains (SCs) and highlighted the need for more resilient and viable SCs. Panic-buying, in particular, has been a major challenge for SCs as it can create sudden surges in demand that are difficult to anticipate and manage. However, the literature lacks viable SC models and strategies to address panic-buying related challenges. As such, this research aims to identify and model viable recovery strategies to increase SC's agility, resilience, and survivability and reduce panic-buying's impact during a large-scale disruption in critical SCs. This study contributes by developing an integrated agent-based modeling (ABM) and optimisation method to simulate the behaviour of SCs under different scenarios and evaluating the effectiveness of four proposed strategies and three recovery plans. The findings reveal that increasing production at decentralised manufacturing facilities can be achieved by increasing order frequency to multiple suppliers and by partnering with third-party transporters, which can mitigate the effects of panic-buying. This results in higher output and availability of essential goods in the market, significantly managing panic-buying related challenges. Lastly, the study recommends practical solutions for businesses to enhance their SCs' responsiveness to sudden demand surges from panic-buying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The monitoring of training loads and quantification of physical performance are common practices in youth soccer academies to support coaches in prescribing and programming training for individuals. The interaction between training load and physical performance is unknown during a preseason period in youth soccer players. The current study assessed changes in training load and physical assessments across a 4-week preseason period. The relationship between physical performance and match playing time in youth male soccer players was also investigated. Methods: The training loads of 25 professional youth academy male soccer players were monitored throughout a 4-week preseason period. Assessments of power, agility, speed, and aerobic capacity were undertaken in the first training session. Session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) and well-being questionnaires were collected during all training sessions and preseason matches. Playing time during subsequent competitive matches was recorded. Results: T test and 30-m-sprint assessments, conducted on the first day of preseason, were predictors of sRPE throughout preseason (t test χ2/df = 2.895, poor adjustment; 30-m sprint χ2/df = 1.608, good adjustment). YoYo Test performance was related with changes in perceived fatigue (χ2/df = 0.534, very good adjustment). Faster players reported higher values of sRPE, and players with higher aerobic capacity reported higher levels of fatigue across preseason. Well-being, perceived fatigue and soreness, and sRPE decreased across preseason. Greater match durations were related to higher levels of fatigue during preseason (P <.05). Conclusion: The current study highlights the relationship between training load, physical assessments, and playing time. Coaches and practitioners can use physical test data at the start of preseason as an indication of players that report higher sRPE, perceived fatigue, and reduced well-being across preseason, supporting decisions around individualized training prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fran is one of the most popular CrossFit benchmark workouts used to control CrossFitters' improvements. Detailed physiological characterization of Fran is needed for a more specific evaluation of CrossFitters' training performance improvements. The aim of the study was to analyze the oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 ) kinetics and characterize the energy system contributions and the degree of postexercise fatigue of the unbroken Fran. Methods: Twenty trained CrossFitters performed Fran at maximal exertion. V ˙ O 2 and heart-rate kinetics were assessed at baseline and during and post-Fran. Blood lactate and glucose concentrations and muscular fatigue were measured at baseline and in the recovery period. Results: A marked increase in V ˙ O 2 kinetics was observed at the beginning of Fran, remaining elevated until the end (V ˙ O 2 peak : 49.2 [3.7] mL·kg−1·min−1, V ˙ O 2 amplitude: 35.8 [5.2] mL·kg−1·min−1, time delay: 4.7 [2.5] s and time constant: 23.7 [11.1] s; mean [SD]). Aerobic, anaerobic lactic, and alactic pathways accounted for 62% (4%), 26% (4%), and 12% (2%) of energy contribution. Reduction in muscle function in jumping ability (jump height: 8% [6%], peak force: 6% [4%], and maximum velocity: 4% [2%]) and plank prone test (46% [20%]) was observed in the recovery period. Conclusions: The Fran unbroken workout is a high-intensity effort associated with an elevated metabolic response. This pattern of energy response highlights the primary contribution of aerobic energy metabolism, even during short and very intense CrossFit workouts, and that recovery can take >24 hours due to cumulative fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate acute psychophysiological responses to repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) combined with whole-body cryotherapy (WBC). Method: Sixteen trained cyclists performed 3 sessions in randomized order: RSH, WBC-RSH (WBC pre-RSH), and RSH-WBC (WBC post-RSH). RSH consisted of 3 sets of 5 × 10-second sprints with 20-second recovery at a simulated altitude of 3000 m. Power output, muscle oxygenation (tissue saturation index), heart-rate variability, and recovery perception were analyzed. Sleep quality was assessed on the nights following test sessions and compared with a control night using nocturnal ActiGraphy and heart-rate variability. Results: Power output did not differ between the conditions (P =.27), while the decrease in tissue saturation index was reduced for WBC-RSH compared to RSH-WBC in the last set. In both conditions with WBC, the recovery perception was higher compared to RSH (WBC-RSH: +15.4%, and RSH-WBC: +21.9%, P <.05). The number of movements during the RSH-WBC night was significantly lower than for the control night (−18.7%, P <.01) and WBC-RSH (−14.9%, P <.05). RSH led to a higher root mean square of the successive differences of R-R intervals and high-frequency band during the first hour of sleep compared to the control night (P <.05) and RSH-WBC (P <.01). Conclusions: Inclusion of WBC in an RSH session did not modify the power output but could improve prolonged performance in hypoxia by maintaining muscle oxygenation. A single RSH session did not deteriorate sleep quality. WBC, particularly when performed after RSH, positively influenced recovery perception and sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2015–2016 El Niño, the Amazon basin released almost one gigaton of carbon (GtC) into the atmosphere due to extreme temperatures and drought. The link between the drought impact and recovery of the total carbon pools and its biogeochemical drivers is still unknown. With satellite-constrained net carbon exchange and its component fluxes including gross primary production and fire emissions, we show that the total carbon loss caused by the 2015–2016 El Niño had not recovered by the end of 2018. Forest ecosystems over the Northeastern (NE) Amazon suffered a cumulative total carbon loss of ∼0.6 GtC through December 2018, driven primarily by a suppression of photosynthesis whereas southeastern savannah carbon loss was driven in part by fire. We attribute the slow recovery to the unexpected large carbon loss caused by the severe atmospheric aridity coupled with a water storage deficit during drought. We show the attenuation of carbon uptake is three times higher than expected from the pre-drought sensitivity to atmospheric aridity and ground water supply. Our study fills an important knowledge gap in our understanding of the unexpectedly enhanced response of carbon fluxes to atmospheric aridity and water storage deficit and its impact on regional post-drought recovery as a function of the vegetation types and climate perturbations. Our results suggest that the disproportionate impact of water supply and demand could compromise resiliency of the Amazonian carbon balance to future increases in extreme events.

BACKGROUND: Patient participation in treatment decision making is a pillar of recovery-oriented care and is associated with improvements in empowerment and well-being. Although demand for increased involvement in treatment decision-making is high among veterans with serious mental illness, rates of involvement are low. Collaborative decision skills training (CDST) is a recovery-oriented, skills-based intervention designed to support meaningful patient participation in treatment decision making. An open trial among veterans with psychosis supported CDSTs feasibility and demonstrated preliminary indications of effectiveness. A randomized control trial (RCT) is needed to test CDSTs effectiveness in comparison with an active control and further evaluate implementation feasibility. METHODS: The planned RCT is a hybrid type 1 trial, which will use mixed methods to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and implementation feasibility of CDST among veterans participating in a VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) in Southern California. The first aim is to assess the effectiveness of CDST in comparison with the active control via the primary outcome, collaborative decision-making behavior during usual care appointments between veterans and their VA mental health clinicians, and secondary outcomes (i.e., treatment engagement, satisfaction, and outcome). The second aim is to characterize the implementation feasibility of CDST within the VA PRRC using the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model framework, including barriers and facilitators within the PRRC context to support future implementation. DISCUSSION: If CDST is found to be effective and feasible, implementation determinants gathered throughout the study can be used to ensure sustained and successful implementation at this PRRC and other PRRCs and similar settings nationally. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04324944. Registered on March 27, 2020. Trial registration data can be found in Appendix 1.

Context: Contusion and soft tissue injuries are common in sports. Photobiomodultion, light and laser therapy, is an effective aid to increase healing rates and improve function after various injury mechanisms. However, it is unclear how well photobiomodulation improves function after a contusion soft tissue injury. This study aimed to determine the effects of a pulsed red and blue photobiomodulation light patch on muscle function following a human thigh contusion injury. Design: Single-blinded randomized control trial design. Methods: We enrolled 46 healthy participants. Participants completed 5 visits on consecutive days. On the first visit, participants completed a baseline isokinetic quadriceps strength testing protocol at 60°/s and 180°/s. On the second visit, participants were struck in the rectus femoris of the anterior thigh with a tennis ball from a serving machine. Immediately following, participants were treated for 30 minutes with an active or placebo photobiomodulation patch (CareWear light patch system, CareWear Corp). Following the treatment, participants completed the same isokinetic quadriceps strength testing protocol. Participants completed the treatment and isokinetic quadriceps strength test during the following daily visits. We normalized the data by calculating the percent change from baseline. We used a mixed model analysis of covariance, with sex as a covariate, to determine the difference between treatment groups throughout the acute recovery process. Results: We found the active photobiomodulation treatment significantly increased over the placebo group, quadriceps peak torque during the 180°/s test (P =.030), and average power during both the 60°/s (P =.041) and 180°/s (P ≤.001) assessments. The mean peak torque and average power of 180°/s, at day 4, exceeded the baseline levels by 8.9% and 16.8%, respectively. Conclusions: The red and blue photobiomodulation light patch improved muscle strength and power during the acute healing phase of a human thigh contusion injury model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of exercise intensity on the proportion and rate of carbohydrate oxidation and glucoregulatory hormone responses during recovery from exercise. Six physically active participants completed 1 hr of low-intensity (LI; 50% lactate threshold) or moderate-intensity (MI; 100% lactate threshold) exercise on separate days following a randomized counterbalanced design. During exercise and for 6 hr of recovery, samples of expired air were collected to determine oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, energy expenditure, and substrate oxidation rates. Blood samples were also collected to measure glucoregulatory hormones (catecholamines, GH) and metabolites (glucose, free fatty acids, lactate, pH, and bicarbonate). During exercise, respiratory exchange ratio, energy expenditure, and the proportion and rate of carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation were higher during MI compared with LI. However, during recovery from MI, respiratory exchange ratio and the proportion and rate of CHO oxidation were lower than preexercise levels and corresponding LI. During exercise and early recovery, catecholamines and growth hormone were higher in MI than LI, and there was a trend for higher levels of free fatty acids in the early recovery from MI compared with LI. In summary, CHO oxidation during exercise increases with exercise intensity but there is a preference for CHO sparing (and fat oxidation) during recovery from MI exercise compared with LI exercise. This exercise intensity-dependent shift in substrate oxidation during recovery is explained, in part, by the pattern of change of key glucoregulatory hormones including catecholamines and growth hormone and plasma fatty acid concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have established factors that impair (e.g., stress) or facilitate (e.g., occupational recovery) health among professionals operating in sport and performance (e.g., coaches). However, there is a paucity of research examining factors that impair or facilitate the health of sport psychology professionals. Given that sport psychology professionals have an obligation to manage their health to maintain effective service provision, research is needed to fill this gap. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of burnout and health among certified mental performance consultants. Participants completed measures of perceived stress, burnout, occupational recovery, and health-related quality of life. Regression results, including a moderator analysis, indicated that perceived stress and occupational recovery predicted burnout, while occupational recovery moderated the relationship between perceived stress and burnout. Perceived stress and burnout further predicted health-related quality of life. Recommendations include certified mental performance consultants spending nonwork time in low-effort and/or physical activities, as well as exerting autonomy over nonwork time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few data are available on sleep characteristics of elite track-and-field athletes. Our study aimed to assess (1) differences in sleep between sexes and among different track-and-field disciplines, (2) the effect of individualized sleep-hygiene strategies on athletes' sleep parameters, and (3) daytime nap characteristics in track-and-field athletes. Methods: Sleep characteristics of 16 elite Olympic-level track-and-field athletes (male: n = 8; female: n = 8) were assessed during the preseason period, at baseline (T0), and during the in-season period, after the adoption of individualized sleep-hygiene strategies (T1). Sleep parameters were objectively monitored by actigraphy for a minimum of 10 days, for each athlete, at both T0 and T1. A total of 702 nights were analyzed (T0 = 425; T1 = 277). Results: Female athletes displayed better sleep efficiency (88.69 [87.69–89.68] vs 91.72 [90.99–92.45]; P =.003, effect size [ES]: 0.44), lower sleep latency (18.99 [15.97–22.00] vs 6.99 [5.65–8.32]; P <.001, ES: 0.65), higher total sleep time (07:03 [06:56–07:11] vs 07:18 [07:10–07:26]; P =.030, ES: 0.26), earlier bedtime (00:24 [00:16–00:32] vs 00:13 [00:04–00:22]; P =.027, ES: 0.18), and lower nap frequency (P <.001) than male athletes. Long-distance runners had earlier bedtime (00:10 [00:03–00:38] vs 00:36 [00:26–00:46]; P <.001, ES: 0.41) and wake-up time (07:41 [07:36–07:46] vs 08:18 [08:07–08:30]; P <.001, ES: 0.61), higher nap frequency, but lower sleep efficiency (88.79 [87.80–89.77] vs 91.67 [90.95–92.38]; P =.013, ES: 0.44), and longer sleep latency (18.89 [15.94–21.84] vs 6.69 [5.33–8.06]; P <.001, ES: 0.67) than athletes of short-term disciplines. Furthermore, sleep-hygiene strategies had a positive impact on athletes' total sleep time (429.2 [423.5–434.8] vs 451.4 [444.2–458.6]; P <.001, ES: 0.37) and sleep latency (14.33 [12.34–16.32] vs 10.67 [8.66–12.68]; P =.017, ES: 0.19). Conclusions: Sleep quality and quantity were suboptimal at baseline in Olympic-level track-and-field athletes. Large differences were observed in sleep characteristics between sexes and among different track-and-field disciplines. Given the positive effect of individualized sleep-hygiene strategies on athlete's sleep, coaches should implement sleep education sessions in the daily routine of top-level athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Monitoring is a fundamental part of the training process to guarantee that the programmed training loads are executed by athletes and result in the intended adaptations and enhanced performance. A number of monitoring tools have emerged during the last century in sport. These tools capture different facets (eg, psychophysiological, physical, biomechanical) of acute training bouts and chronic adaptations while presenting specific advantages and limitations. Therefore, there is a need to identify what tools are more efficient in each sport context for better monitoring of training process. Methods and Results: We present and discuss the fine-tuning approach for training monitoring, which consists of identifying and combining the best monitoring tools with experts' knowledge in different sport settings, designed to improve (1) the control of actual training loads and (2) understanding of athletes' training adaptations. Instead of using single-tool approaches or merely subjective decision making, the identification of the best combination of monitoring tools to assist experts' decisions in each specific context (ie, triangulation) is necessary to better understand the link between acute and chronic adaptations and their impact on health and performance. Future studies should elaborate on the identification of the best combination of monitoring tools for each specific sport setting. Conclusion: The fine-tuning monitoring approach requires the simultaneous use of several valid and practical tools, instead of a single tool, to improve the effectiveness of monitoring practices when added to experts' knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Early physical activity (PA) after concussion may promote symptom resolution. Prior studies have investigated exercise frequency/duration, yet precise PA intensity or volume required for optimal recovery requires further investigation. moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is beneficial for physical health. We investigated whether sedentary time, light activity time, MVPA time, or activity frequency in the weeks following concussion are associated with time to symptom resolution among adolescents. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Adolescents 10–18 years of age were tested ≤14 days of concussion and followed until symptom resolution. At the initial visit, participants rated symptom severity and were provided wrist-worn activity trackers to monitor PA for the following week. PA behavior was categorized each day based on heart rate: sedentary (resting), light PA (50%–69% age-predicted max heart rate), and MVPA (70%–100% age-predicted max heart rate). Symptom resolution was defined as the date when participants reported cessation of concussion-like symptoms. Patients were not given specific PA instructions, though some may have received instructions from their physician. Results: Fifty-four participants were included in the study (54% female; mean age = 15.0 [1.8] y; initially assessed 7.5 [3.2] d after concussion). Female athletes recorded more sedentary time (900 [46] vs 738 [185] min/d; P =.01; Cohen d = 0.72), and less time in light PA (194.7 [64.5] vs 224 [55] min/d; P =.08; Cohen d = 0.48) and MVPA (23 [17] vs 38 [31] min/d; P =.04; Cohen d = 0.58) than male athletes. After adjusting for sedentary time, hours per day with >250 steps, sex, and initial symptom severity, more MVPA time was associated with faster symptom resolution time (hazard ratio = 1.016; 95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.032; P =.04). Conclusion: Our findings offer preliminary insight into how varying PA intensities affect concussion recovery, as MVPA may be a higher intensity than what is typically prescribed in concussion care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated within- and between-matches blood lactate (La−) responses across an international Rugby Sevens tournament (5 matches over 2 d) in male and female players. Methods: Earlobe blood samples were taken from 25 professional players around matches: before warm-up (PRE), immediately upon finishing match participation (POST), and 30 minutes postmatch (30 min). Results: POST [La−] (mean [SD], range) for males was 10.3 (3.2; 2.9–20.2) mmol·L−1 and for females was 9.1 (2.3; 3.4–14.6) mmol·L−1. Linear mixed-effects models revealed a decrease in POST [La−] after match 5, compared to match 1. Increased PRE [La−] was found before match 2 (+0.8 [0.6–1.1] mmol·L−1), match 3 (+0.8 [0.5–1.1] mmol·L−1), and match 5 (+0.6 [0.4–0.9] mmol·L−1) compared to match 1 (all P <.001). The [La−] remained elevated at 30 min, compared to PRE (+1.7 [1.4–2.0] mmol·L−1, P <.001), with ∼20% of values persisting >4 mmol·L−1. Higher POST was observed in males compared to females (+1.6 [0.1–3.2] mmol·L−1, P =.042); however, no differences between sexes were found across 30 min or PRE [La−]. No [La−] differences between positions (backs and forwards) were identified. Conclusions: Lactate concentrations above 10 mmol·L−1 are required to effectively simulate the anaerobic demands of international Rugby Sevens matches. Practitioners are advised to individualize anaerobic training prescription due to the substantial variability observed within positional groups. Additionally, improving athletes' metabolic recovery capacity through training, nutrition, and recovery interventions may enhance physical preparation for subsequent matches within a day, where incomplete lactate clearance was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the effect of match schedule on self-reported wellness and sleep in rugby union referees during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Methods: Following an observational design, 18 international-level male referees participating in the 2019 Rugby World Cup completed a daily questionnaire to quantify wellness status (sleep quality, mood, stress, fatigue, muscle soreness, and total wellness) and sleep characteristics (bedtime, wake-up time, and time in bed) from the previous night across the tournament. Linear mixed models and effect sizes (Hedges gav) assessed differences in wellness and sleep characteristics between prematch and postmatch days surrounding single-game and 2-game congested match schedules (prematch1, postmatch1, prematch2, and postmatch2 days). Results: During regular schedules, all self-reported wellness variables except stress were reduced (gav = 0.33–1.05, mean difference −0.32 to −1.21 arbitrary units [AU]) and referees went to bed later (1.08, 1:07 h:min) and spent less time in bed (−0.78, 00:55 h:min) postmatch compared with prematch days. During congested schedules, only wellness variables differed across days, with total wellness reduced on postmatch1 (−0.88, −3.56 AU) and postmatch2 (−0.67, −2.70 AU) days, as well as mood (−1.01, −0.56 AU) and fatigue (−0.90, −1.11 AU) reduced on postmatch1 days compared with prematch days. Conclusion: Referees were susceptible to acute reductions in wellness on days following matches regardless of schedule. However, only single-game regular match schedules negatively impacted the sleep characteristics of referees. Targeted strategies to maximize wellness status and sleep opportunities in referees considering the match schedule faced should be explored during future Rugby World Cup competitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As the start of the 10th Rugby Union World Cup approaches, performance staff will be working on the final elements of their teams' preparation. Much of this planning and preparation will be underpinned by the latest performance science research. In this invited commentary, we discuss contemporary performance science research in rugby union centered around 4 key performance domains. First, we outline a systematic approach to developing an overall understanding of the game demands and how performance staff can enhance the players' preparedness for competition. We then move on to outline our understanding of the training science domain, followed by a brief overview of effective recovery strategies at major tournaments. Finally, we outline research in the area of competition-day strategies and how they can positively impact players' readiness to compete. Conclusions: Evaluating a team's preparation for the Rugby Union World Cup can be achieved by mapping their performance plan based on the 4 domains outlined above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the degradation mechanisms of In0.2Ga0.8N/GaN light emitting diodes through combined experimental analysis and simulations. The devices were submitted to constant current stress at 100 mA. Depending on the measuring current level, two degradation trends were observed: at high test currents (e.g. 200 mA), a monotonic decrease in optical power was observed; at low test currents (e.g. 5 mA), an initial degradation was observed, followed by an improvement in device efficiency (positive ageing). For the first time, such recovery effect was analyzed and modeled, as due to the generation of charged defects at the InGaN/GaN interface, resulting in the increase in the injection efficiency at low bias levels. The role of interface defects was validated by means of numerical simulations, with good agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the association between wellbeing and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment outcomes can guide recovery definitions, measurement strategies, and intervention development. This study recruited individuals in treatment for SUD (N = 81, M = 39 years old, 53% female, 26% BIPOC). Wellbeing indicators included positive affect, serenity, flourishing, satisfaction with life, gratitude, quality of life, commitment to sobriety, and confidence staying sober. Outcomes included abstinence during treatment and treatment retention. After adjusting for urges to use, recruitment site, previous treatment episodes, legal issues, and days of sobriety in logistic regression analyses, only happiness with recovery remained significantly associated with either outcome (and was significantly associated with both outcomes: OR = 1.8 and 1.5, respectively, p < .05). Assessed via a single item (‘In general, I am happy with my recovery’), this construct shows promise as a novel, simple indicator of wellbeing in recovery and a potential target for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethodsResultsDiscussionEvidence suggests that individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia have lower self-concept clarity and that an unclear self-concept is related to symptom severity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether self-concept clarity is linked to functional impairments and hope for the future in individuals with schizophrenia.A sample of 130 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia completed the Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCCS), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and the Schizophrenia Hope Scale (SHS-9).Lower self-concept clarity was associated with more functional impairments and less hope for the future. These results remained significant when adjusting for sociodemographic and illness course variables.In individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, self-concept clarity may play a role in daily functioning and hope for the future. The implications for interventions aimed at improving functional outcomes and recovery prospects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrochemical biosensor based on a polystyrene-gold nanocomposite was fabricated for the ultrasensitive sensing of clenbuterol. The PS-Au nanocomposite was synthesized by modifying polystyrene with triazine and aminothiazole groups, followed by the in-situ reduction of AuNPs. The PS-Au/SPCE exhibited a linear range (0.01–10 μM) with a limit of detection of 3.2 nM towards clenbuterol along with high selectivity and good stability. The sensor platform showcased its prowess by accurately quantifying clenbuterol in milk specimens fortified with known analyte concentrations, yielding recovery percentages within the range of 96.5–102.8 %, accompanied by relative standard deviations below 4.2 %. The superior performance of the PS-Au/SPCE is due to the synergistic effect of the high surface area and electrocatalytic activity of the AuNPs, the efficient adsorption of clenbuterol on the functionalized polystyrene matrix, and the enhanced electron transfer kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species persist through resistance and recovery traits induced by natural stressors. Whether human activities exacerbate or moderate the effects of natural stressors is an open question. Because eelgrass (Zostera marina) creates coastal habitat, its response to natural stressors and human activities is of particular management importance. In this study, traits of intertidal eelgrass were examined across cumulative stressors of emersion and oyster culture, including two culture types: oysters grown directly on sediment (ground culture) or supported by gear above the sediment (off-bottom culture). Summer eelgrass was larger above- and below-ground and branched less than in spring, while density and cover were similar seasonally but declined at higher elevation and in ground culture. Eelgrass traits were divided into those related to resistance (larger above-ground size and below-ground storage) and recovery (increased flowering, branching, and rhizome extension). Resistance traits responded additively to intertidal elevation and oyster culture, with above- and below-ground size reduced in all conditions except that rhizome mass was maintained in ground culture. Smaller above-ground size may confer resistance to emersion stress, as a departure from expectations for other stressors. For resilience traits, flowering increased and internode length declined at higher elevation, whereas these traits did not change in ground culture, and off-bottom culture was associated with shorter internodes (additive cumulative stressor) and tended to moderate the enhanced flowering at higher elevations (non-additive, P=0.058). Transitory disturbance in ground culture may reduce eelgrass density with few effects on resilience, whereas off-bottom culture involves longer-term gear placement and trait responses by eelgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A promising approach to optimizing recovery in youth football has been the use of machine learning (ML) models to predict recovery states and prevent mental fatigue. This research investigates the application of ML models in classifying male young football players aged under (U)15, U17, and U19 according to their recovery state. Weekly training load data were systematically monitored across three age groups throughout the initial month of the 2019–2020 competitive season, covering 18 training sessions and 120 observation instances. Outfield players were tracked using portable 18-Hz global positioning system (GPS) devices, while heart rate (HR) was measured using 1 Hz telemetry HR bands. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE 6–20) and total quality recovery (TQR 6–20) scores were employed to evaluate perceived exertion, internal training load, and recovery state, respectively. Data preprocessing involved handling missing values, normalization, and feature selection using correlation coefficients and a random forest (RF) classifier. Five ML algorithms [K-nearest neighbors (KNN), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector machine (SVM), RF, and decision tree (DT)] were assessed for classification performance. The K-fold method was employed to cross-validate the ML outputs. Results: A high accuracy for this ML classification model (73–100%) was verified. The feature selection highlighted critical variables, and we implemented the ML algorithms considering a panel of 9 variables (U15, U19, body mass, accelerations, decelerations, training weeks, sprint distance, and RPE). These features were included according to their percentage of importance (3–18%). The results were cross-validated with good accuracy across 5-fold (79%). Conclusion: The five ML models, in combination with weekly data, demonstrated the efficacy of wearable device-collected features as an efficient combination in predicting football players' recovery states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Having a home is the foundation of most people’s lives. People with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems may experience challenges in acquiring and keeping housing. Many also have major health challenges. Supported housing is the subject of increasing interest, but there seems to be a lack of studies exploring supported housing’s potential for facilitating recovery and health promotion. Therefore, a scoping review was performed to answer our review question: What is known in the literature about the experiences of persons with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems with supported housing, including experiences of recovery and health promotion? Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Social Services Abstracts, Web of Science, Scopus, and Oria, and Idunn.no databases. The search terms were derived from the population, concepts, and context. The search for grey literature was conducted in various Norwegian sources. Results: Forty studies were included: 7 with quantitative design, 28 with qualitative design and 5 with mixed methods design. The studies were from Canada, Ireland, Norway, Scotland, and the USA. The review identified four themes related to tenants’ experiences with supported housing: 1)The importance of a permanent and safe home; 2) Housing’s importance for physical health; 3) A shoulder to lean on – the importance of relationships and support; 4) the value of choice and independence. Factors that may influence physical health were poorly represented. Conclusions: Long-term housing and safety are prerequisites for recovery for people with co-occurring problems. Programmes such as Housing First and Assertive Community Teams, especially, were experienced to support recovery. Autonomy was valued, including access to individual and respectful support from service providers when needed. Supported housing may be a health-promoting arena, especially in relation to mental health. More attention should be given to how service providers can support tenants to protect their physical health, especially related to nutrition, meals and communal cooking. Further research is needed to tailor optimal services and support for people with co-occurring problems, including balancing support and autonomy with the aim of promoting health and recovery. Peer specialists’ contributions to supported housing are scarce and need further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicidal persons' contacts with services present a key opportunity for suicide prevention. However, interventions by services are not always effective. A deeper understanding of suicidal service users' agency and its implications may facilitate the provision of meaningful responses to help-seeking during suicidal crises. This abductive study explores the recovery-related agency of suicide attempt survivors and the perceived role of interactions with services in facilitating or hindering it. Methods: Fourteen Finnish suicide attempt survivors were interviewed in-depth on their experiences of interacting with services during a recent suicidal episode. An operationalization of recovery-related agency as the expressed ability to take (mental or physical) action in a direction perceived as aiding recovery from suicidality (i.e., the coupling of recovery-related intentionality and power) was used to explore transcribed interviews through directed content analysis. Data were further categorized based on whether the service context was perceived as helpful or unhelpful to recovery efforts. Results: All participants expressed both agency and non-agency in relation to their recovery process. The relational context provided by services was presented as highly relevant for the achievement and sustainability of recovery-related agency as well as for participants' experience of safety in instances when agency was lacking. The results are presented as a typology of recovery-related agency in its perceived relational context, with the categories of sustained agency, strained agency, contained non-agency and uncontained non-agency. Conclusions: The concept of agency helped capture important aspects of suicidal individuals' recovery-related efforts and the role of services in facilitating or hindering them. The findings illuminate the value of viewing suicidal service users as agents of their own recovery process as well as the potential costs of ignoring this perspective in service delivery and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive pacing (AP) is a self-management technique which seeks to balance energy and rest in individuals with chronic health conditions. Adaptive pacing can help people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome learn how to manage their energy expenditure thereby reducing their risk of post-exertional malaise (PEM) and other symptoms. Given some symptom similarity, AP also has rehabilitation potential for people experiencing disability from long COVID. The purpose of this study was to explore patient experiences of an AP intervention (the "PaceMe" app) to determine its value for individuals experiencing long COVID. Twenty-five participants each took part in two narrative interviews (at intervention start point and at 3-6 months). Data were analyzed using narrative thematic analysis. Our analysis identified 4 themes relating to key benefits of the PaceMe app: (1) PEM management, (2) Support, (3) Validation, and (4) Control and Agency. By illuminating the critical facts and centring patient voices, these findings contribute a better understanding of the experiences and needs of those with long COVID and highlight the value of a digital health intervention as a vital component of rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early intervention services (EIS) for psychosis have proven highly effective in treating first episode psychosis. Yet, retention or "engagement" in EIS remains highly variable. Dis/engagement as a contested concept and fluid process involving relationships between service providers and service users remains poorly understood. This study aimed to critically evaluate and explain the dynamic interplay of service provider-user relationships in effecting dis/engagement from an early intervention program for psychosis. Methods: Forty study participants, 16 service providers and 24 service users (19 current and 5 disengaged) from a Canadian EIS program, were administered semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis was conducted using grounded theory methods, with findings captured and reconceptualized in a novel explanatory model. Findings: A model of engagement with eight major domains of engagement in EIS positioned along a control-autonomy spectrum was developed from the findings, with Clinical engagement (attendance) and Life engagement (life activities) at opposite ends of the spectrum, interspersed by six intermediate domains: Medication/treatment, Symptoms/illness, Mental health, Physical health/wellness, Communication, and Relationships, each domain bearing uniquely on engagement. Conclusions: An examination of service user and service provider perspectives on the various domains identified in the spectrum model, and their dynamic interplay, reveals the complexity of choices faced by service users in engaging and not engaging with services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this qualitative research study was to interview current and retired Gaelic games athletes to understand the current landscape of concussion recovery in Gaelic sports from the athlete perspective. Methods: A grounded theory methodology was employed to explore the experiences of a cohort of Gaelic games athletes (n = 22) regarding recovery from concussion, the levels of concussion awareness in Gaelic sports and their opinions on current concussion identification protocols. The study's data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Results: Two major themes were identified, (1) Male and female athletes experience a range of acute and chronic symptoms post-SRC and (2) Gaelic sports athletes are expected to demonstrate constant allegiance and commitment to the GAA. These themes were further divided into categories and subcategories. Conclusion: Based on the experiences of the cohort of Gaelic sports athletes, there exists a wide variation of SRC symptomology in the acute, and chronic (post-concussion syndrome) phases. In many cases, there are reports of long-term side effects associated with the perceived mismanagement or misdiagnosis of SRC in Gaelic sports. Gaelic sports athletes require a more robust SRC management system to support and manage SRC in the acute, chronic and long-term phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recovery from SARS CoV-2 infection is expected within 3 months. Long COVID occurs after SARS-CoV-2 when symptoms are present for more than 3 months that are continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive. Better understanding of Long COVID illness trajectories could strengthen patient care and support. Methods: We characterized functional impairments, quality of life (QoL), and cognition among patients who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 months (without Long COVID), after 3 months (Recovered Long COVID), or remained symptomatic (Long COVID). Among 7305 patients identified with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and December 2021, confirmed in the medical record with laboratory test or physician diagnosis, 435 (6%) completed a single self-administered survey between March 2022 and September 2022. Multi-domain QoL and cognitive concerns were evaluated using PROMIS-29 and the Cognitive Change Index-12. Results: Nearly half the participants (47.7%) were surveyed more than 2 years from initial infection (median = 23.3 months; IQR = 18.6, 26.7) and 86.7% were surveyed more than 1 year from infection. A significantly greater proportion of the Long COVID (n = 215) group, (Current and Recovered combined), had moderate-to-severe impairment in all health domains assessed compared to those Without Long COVID (n = 220; all p < 0.05). The Recovered Long COVID group (n = 34) had significantly lower prevalence of fatigue, pain, depression, and physical and social function impairment compared to those with Current Long COVID (n = 181; all p < 0.05). However, compared to patients Without Long COVID, the Recovered Long COVID group had greater prevalences of fatigue, pain (p ≤ 0.06) and subjective cognitive decline (61.8% vs 29.1%; p < 0.01). Multivariate relative risk (RR) regression indicated Long COVID risk was greater for older age groups (RR range 1.46–1.52; all p ≤ 0.05), those without a bachelor's degree (RR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.03–1.71; p = 0.03), and those with 3 or more comorbidities prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection (RR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.11–1.90; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Long COVID is associated with long-term subjective cognitive decline and diminished quality of life. Clinically significant cognitive complaints, fatigue, and pain were present even in those who reported they had recovered from Long COVID. These findings have implications for the sustainability of participation in work, education, and social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimMethodsDiscussionClinical Trials RegistrationRecovery after surgery for colorectal cancer is a complex process, involving numerous physiological, emotional, social and economic challenges. Good information is a key factor for enabling patients to recover well, but there is a paucity of evidence to guide how this should be done. A new information intervention (Recover Together) comprising a booklet, an online video and an inpatient goal board has been developed. This study explores its feasibility, as well as the feasibility of key study methods, during its first use in the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS).This is a mixed methods, multi‐centre, feasibility study of a complex intervention. A total of 105 participants undergoing oncological colorectal surgery will be recruited across three to four study sites in the UK. Participants will receive each component of the Recover Together intervention at defined timepoints before and during hospital admission. A series of patient‐centred outcome instruments will be administered in hospital and during follow‐up at 30 days and 6 months. Outcomes of feasibility will comprise the time taken to establish the intervention at participating sites, assessments of intervention fidelity and acceptability, as well as return rates of key clinical outcome instruments. The mixed methods design will comprise interviews and focus groups with patients and health professionals, non‐participant observation in ward areas and clinics, user‐specific video analytics and daily photographs of the goal boards.The findings of this study will provide a feasibility assessment of the Recover Together intervention when used for the first time in NHS practice. If shown to be feasible, this will guide the development of a future definitive study to explore the clinical and cost effectiveness of the Recover Together intervention to improve recovery after surgery.ISRCTN62430915. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Football is a physically demanding sport that requires effective recovery strategies to maintain performance level and prevent injuries. This study investigated if a single 1-h hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) session affects recovery and performance after a football match in elite youth players. Methods: Twenty elite youth football players (age 17.3 ± 0.5 years) were randomly assigned to a HBOT group or a control group (CON). They played a 90-min football game and underwent either a 60-min HBOT or placebo intervention. Before (T1), at the end of the match (T2), 1 h after HBOT or CON session (T3), and 12 h after HBOT session (T4), subjects underwent biochemical (serum samples (myoglobin (MB), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) and performance measurements (linear speed at 5 m, 10 m and 20 m, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJa)). The Hooper Index (HI) was collected and heart rate was measured during the game. Results: The football match induced significant increases in all biochemical markers, but no significant differences were found between the HBOT and control group in biochemical or performance parameters at any time point. However, there was a significant interaction effect between time and group for HI (p = 0.012, η2 = 0.124), with the HBOT group showing significantly lower HI values (8.6 ± 2.41) than the control group (11.0 ± 3.23) at 1 h post-HBOT. Discussion: A single 1-h session of HBOT did not significantly affect recovery or performance parameters in elite youth football players, though it did show a moderate positive affect on the HI at 1 h post-HBOT. Further studies should explore the impact of either longer or sequential HBOT sessions on recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the sleep characteristics of collegiate soccer and basketball student-athletes and explore the associations between sleep and injury risk. Design: Cohort study. Setting: NCAA D1 and NAIA Tier 1. Participants: One hundred eightyone collegiate soccer and basketball student-athletes (42% female; mean age: 20.0 6 1.7 years). Independent Variables: Questionnaires were administered during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 preseason, collecting demographic, injury history, medical history, and sleep information, including sleep difficulty category scores of 0 to 4 (none), 5 to 7 (mild), and $8 (moderate/severe) and other sleep disturbance measures derived from the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), including insufficient sleep duration (,7 hours of sleep) and poor subjective sleep quality. Main OutcomeMeasures: All-complaint knee and ankle injuries. Results: According to the ASSQ, 25.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.9-34.3) of the student-athletes had mild sleep difficulty and 12.7% (95% CI, 7.3-20.1) had moderate/severe sleep difficulty. 36.1% (95% CI, 29.1-43.6) had insufficient sleep duration. 17.1% (95% CI, 11.7-23.7) were not satisfied with the quality of their sleep (poor sleep quality), and 13.8% (95% CI, 9.1-19.7) had an "eveningness" chronotype. Based on multivariable logistic regression models, student-athletes with poor sleep quality had significantly higher odds for injury (OR: 2.2, 95% CI, 1.04-4.79, P 5 0.039). Conclusions: Clinically relevant dysfunctional sleep patterns are prevalent among collegiate soccer and basketball student-athletes. Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with injury risk among student-athletes. Findings suggest a substantial sleep problem in collegiate soccer and basketball student-athletes and warrant that student-athletes are regularly screened and timely interventions applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In energydominant disciplines, such as swimming, performance depends largely on the difference between the levels of fatigue and physical fitness: the greater this difference, the higher the probability of reaching a peak performance. The main challenge before major events such as the Olympic games is therefore in identifying the most efficient strategies to reduce the fatigue accumulated during previous mesocycles, while maintaining, or even improving the level of physical fitness. The most widespread strategy relies in the manipulation of training load parameters. This is the taper period, which has been shown to improve performance by ≈2% in elite athletes. However, tapering may not be sufficient for the most tired athletes. In this case, the strategy commonly used consists in combining the manipulation of training load with the implementation of recovery methods. Regardless of the strategy, we perceive that the challenge for athletes, coaches, and sport scientists is to estimate the level of cumulative fatigue as precisely as possible to individualize the recommendations. This relies not only on the identification of valid markers but also on the ability to interpret their variations over time. The objective of this article is to present the method initially developed in a European champion professional rugby team and now implemented with the French swimming team as part of its preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. More specifically, this article provides some details about the conception of the monitoring dashboard, and the method used to interpret changes over time to categorize the level of fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to compare the effects of foam roller (FR) and vibration foam roller (VFR) on blood flow parameters, measured by Doppler ultrasonography in professional soccer players. A randomized crossover design was used, and 10 professional soccer players participated in 3 experimental sessions: FR, VFR, and a control condition (CC). The maximum velocity (MVel) and maximum volume (MVol) blood flow parameters were measured in the common femoral artery of the dominant leg at 5 different time points as follows: before (pre), immediately after (post 09), 10 (post 109), 20 (post 209), and 30 minutes (post 309) after the intervention. Both FR and VFR involved two 45-second sets with 15-second rest between sets in the quadriceps and hamstring, while CC required sitting for 240 seconds. The FR condition showed a significant increase in MVel (p, 0.01) at all time points after the intervention, and an increase in MVol (p< 0.05) only at post 09 compared with pre. The VFR condition showed a significant (p, 0.05) increase in MVel at post 09 and post 109 and an increase (p< 0.05) in MVol at post 09 compared with pre. In comparison with CC, the FR and VFR conditions presented significantly (p<0.05) higher MVel values at post 09, post 109, post 209, and post 309 than CC. For both FR and VFR conditions, the MVol not only revealed a significant (p< 0.05) increase at post 09 but also at post 109 for VFR compared with CC. In summary, the FR and VFR interventions demonstrated a similar increase in blood flow parameters, suggesting that both strategies may accelerate physiological recovery in elite soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery is real and has had a transformative impact on mental health policies and services, including shifting the focus from chronicity and symptom management to the realization that individuals with mental health issues can lead meaningful lives. However, recovery has been defined, described, understood, and measured in a wide variety of ways that may account for misuses and abuses in its application and possible stagnation in its impact. It is argued that the mental health field must now build upon the strong foundations of recovery by integrating a well-established rights-oriented framework. While recovery emphasizes personal growth and hope, a rights-based perspective underscores inherent dignity, autonomy, and opportunities for acceptance and embrace in engaging in valued social roles. The addition of a rights-based framework – community inclusion, to conversations involving recovery, is aligned with the origins of recovery and how it is commonly understood, and also connects the mental health field to the dramatic positive impacts that have emerged from the longstanding centrality of this concept in the broader disability community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mental health promotion, recovery is a process that leads to personal strengthening, control over crucial life decisions, and participation in communities through relevant professional, educational, or family social roles. Co-production, a key aspect of the recovery-oriented approach, emphasizes collaboration and active participation of people with mental health first-hand experience, family members, and citizens. Even though studies on co-production are limited and fragmented, there is evidence that co-production leads to positive outcomes, including improved well-being, empowerment, social connectedness, inclusion, and personal competencies. This study aimed to contribute to the limited literature on co-production in mental health by evaluating the co-production process in a non-profit mental health organization and its impact on empowerment processes and personal recovery outcomes. The research team adopted a collaborative approach and conducted qualitative research, including 13 individual semi-structured interviews and four focus groups. Results showed how the different dimensions of empowerment are promoted in and by the organization: (a) co-production processes supported empowered outcomes on an individual level, such as self-awareness; (b) the organization was perceived to promote empowering processes, such as a sense of safeness and protection; (c) co-production was a mean to build and maintain a network with mental health services that acknowledges the dignity and value of each subjectivity and promotes participation and recovery. Peer support workers were seen as facilitators of mental illness management, and the organization as a place for sharing mental health experiences and fostering individual recovery journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether stress and positive anticipations about tomorrow are associated with emotional experiences the following day, mediated by the preceding night's sleep. Data were from 141 full‐time nurses, utilizing a 14‐day ecological momentary assessment combined with actigraphy sleep monitoring. Each evening, participants rated the anticipated pleasantness or stressfulness of the following day. Each morning, participants reported on their previous night's sleep. Additionally, participants reported their momentary positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) three times per day, with daily averages computed. Multilevel mediation models, adjusted for sociodemographics, work shift, workday, and previous day's affect, revealed that days following more stress anticipations were associated with reduced PA and increased NA. Conversely, days following more pleasantness anticipations were associated with increased PA and decreased NA. These within‐person associations were mediated by self‐reported time‐in‐bed, sufficiency, and quality, such that less stressful and more pleasant anticipations were associated with better sleep, and better sleep was subsequently associated with increased PA and decreased NA. No mediation was found by the actigraphy sleep parameters. Findings suggest that emotional states may covary not only with present stimuli but also with anticipation of future events and subjective sleep recovery in the context of those anticipations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effect of nonsleep deep rest (NSDR) on physical and cognitive performance, as well as sleepiness, acute readiness, recovery, stress, and mood state in physically active participants. A total of 65 physically active participants (42 male, 23 female) were randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group (NSDR, n = 34), in which participants completed a 10‐min NSDR intervention, and a control group (CON, n = 31), whereby participants sat passively for 10 min. Testing measures were assessed immediately pre and 10 min post each condition and comprised completing a hand grip strength dynamometer test and a countermovement jump test on force plates, cognitive function measures via a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT‐B), and a Simon task test, along with four questionnaires to assess sleep, recovery, and mood state. A significant Group × Time interaction favored the NSDR condition for handgrip strength, median reaction time during the PVT‐B, and accuracy percentage during the Simon task. Questionnaire responses demonstrated NSDR to be associated with significant benefits to physical readiness, emotional balance, overall recovery, negative emotional state, overall stress, and tension in comparison to CON (p <.05). The NSDR intervention could be a valuable strategy for acutely enhancing overall well‐being and readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural disconnectome analyses have provided valuable insights into how a stroke lesion results in widespread network disturbances and how these relate to deficits, recovery patterns, and outcomes. Previous analyses have primarily focused on patients with relatively mild to moderate deficits. However, outcomes vary among survivors of severe strokes, and the mechanisms of recovery remain poorly understood. This study assesses the association between lesion‐induced network disconnection and outcome after severe stroke. Thirty‐eight ischaemic stroke patients underwent MRI brain imaging early after stroke and longitudinal clinical follow‐up. Lesion information was integrated with normative connectome data to infer individual disconnectome profiles on a localized regional and region‐to‐region pathway level. Ordinal logistic regressions were computed to link disconnectome information to the modified Rankin Scale after 3–6 months. Disconnections of ipsilesional frontal, parietal, and temporal cortical brain areas were significantly associated with a worse motor outcome after a severe stroke, adjusted for the initial deficit, lesion volume, and age. The analysis of the underlying pathways mediating this association revealed location‐specific results: For frontal, prefrontal, and temporal brain areas, the association was primarily driven by relatively sparse intrahemispheric disconnections. In contrast, the ipsilesional primary motor cortex, the dorsal premotor cortex, and various parietal brain regions showed a remarkable involvement of either frontoparietal intrahemispheric or additionally interhemispheric disconnections. These results indicate that localized disconnection of multiple regions embedded in the structural frontoparietal network correlates with worse outcomes after severe stroke. Specifically, primary motor and parietal cortices might gain particular importance as they structurally link frontoparietal networks of both hemispheres. These data shed novel light on the significance of distinct brain networks for recovery after a severe stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylketonuria is a rare metabolic disease resulting from a deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. Recent cross-sectional evidence suggests that early-treated adults with phenylketonuria exhibit alterations in cortical grey matter compared to healthy peers. However, the effects of high phenylalanine exposure on brain structure in adulthood need to be further elucidated. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we investigated the impact of a 4-week high phenylalanine exposure on the brain structure and its relationship to cognitive performance and metabolic parameters in early-treated adults with phenylketonuria. Twenty-eight adult patients with early-treated classical phenylketonuria (19–48 years) underwent magnetic resonance imaging before and after the 4-week phenylalanine and placebo interventions (four time points). Structural T1-weighted images were preprocessed and evaluated using Direct Cortical Thickness Estimation using Deep Learning-based Anatomy Segmentation and Cortex Parcellation (DL+DiReCT), a deep-learning-based tool for brain morphometric analysis. Cortical thickness, white matter volume and ventricular volume were compared between the phenylalanine and placebo periods. Brain phenylalanine levels were measured using 1H spectroscopy. Blood levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan were assessed at each of the four time points, along with performance in executive functions and attention. Blood phenylalanine levels were significantly higher after the phenylalanine period (1441 µmol/l) than after the placebo period (873 µmol/l, P < 0.001). Morphometric analyses revealed a statistically significant decrease in cortical thickness in 17 of 60 brain regions after the phenylalanine period compared to placebo. The largest decreases were observed in the right pars orbitalis (point estimate = −0.095 mm, P < 0.001) and the left lingual gyrus (point estimate = −0.070 mm, P < 0.001). Bilateral white matter and ventricular volumes were significantly increased after the phenylalanine period. However, the structural alterations in the phenylalanine-placebo group returned to baseline measures following the washout and placebo period. Additionally, elevated blood and brain phenylalanine levels were related to increased bilateral white matter volume (rs = 0.43 to 0.51, P ≤ 0.036) and decreased cortical thickness [ rs = −0.62 to −0.39, not surviving false discovery rate (FDR) correction] after the phenylalanine and placebo periods. Moreover, decreased cortical thickness was correlated with worse cognitive performance after both periods (rs = −0.54 to −0.40, not surviving FDR correction). These findings provide evidence that a 4-week high phenylalanine exposure in adults with phenylketonuria results in transient reductions of the cortical grey matter and increases in white matter volume. Further research is needed to determine the potential long-term impact of high phenylalanine levels on brain structure and function in adults with phenylketonuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Alcohol consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic have varied notably. Participants: We examined the acute impact of the pandemic on alcohol use disorder (AUD) in a generalizable sample of college students who were surveyed pre-pandemic and re-surveyed in May 2020. Method: Items assessed pre-pandemic included DSM-5 AUD and mental health symptoms. A COVID-19 impacts questionnaire was administered, and alcohol and mental health items re-assessed. Results: AUD symptoms decreased from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic, demonstrating a change in trajectory compared to prior cohorts. Students with persistent AUD reported greater concurrent symptoms of PTSD, depression, and alcohol consumption than those with remitted AUD (ps ≤.02), but not increased COVID-19 impact. Persistent AUD status was predicted by higher sensation seeking and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Students with concurrent mental health problems are at continued risk for persistent AUD. Findings highlight the impact of the college environment and social context for drinking on AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity running on the autonomic nervous system and sleep quality of male long-distance runners and to examine the impact of wearing magnetic garments on these parameters. Fifteen highly trained male collegiate long-distance runners participated in a randomized, double-blind crossover study. Participants completed two 30 km runs (30k-RUN) during a 10-day training camp. After each run, they wore either magnetic (MAG) or non-magnetic control (CTRL) garments. Sleep quality and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed using a wrist-worn device before and after each 30k-RUN. Wearing MAG garments post-30k-RUN resulted in significantly longer deep sleep duration compared to CTRL. HRV analysis revealed that the MAG condition led to a significantly higher root mean square of successive RR interval differences and high-frequency power, indicating enhanced parasympathetic activity. The low-frequency to high-frequency ratio was significantly lower in MAG than in CTRL. Perceived recovery scores were significantly higher in MAG than in CTRL. The findings of this study suggest that wearing magnetic garments following high-intensity endurance running may promote parasympathetic dominance and improve sleep quality in male long-distance runners. These findings indicate that magnetic garments may be a practical method for enhancing recovery in athletes following intense training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-Mg alloys are characterized by permanent solid solution hardening and can additionally be work-hardened. The high mechanical properties of Al-Mg alloys with above-standard Mg content obtained after plastic deformation processes decrease over time. The addition of minor alloying elements like Er or Zr is an alternative method to improve the durability of mechanical properties and increase the strength of Al-Mg alloys due to densely and evenly distributed dispersoids being formed. In this paper, Al-Mg alloys with above-standard Mg content (7 wt.%) and Zr and Er micro-alloying elements and their influence on the microstructure and durability of the mechanical properties were examined. The cast ingots of AlMg7 alloys were characterized by a smooth surface without cracks. The plastic deformation process in a static compression test resulted in an about 60 HBW increase in the Brinell hardness of all the deformed alloys relative to casting. It was revealed that the addition of Er and Zr significantly improved the mechanical properties and durability of the mechanical properties of the Al-Mg after annealing. The addition of Er or Zr slightly restrained the decrease in the Brinell hardness after annealing but did not inhibit it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactose intolerance affects ∼65% of the global adult population, leading to the demand for lactose-free products. The enzyme β-galactosidase (βG) is commonly used in the industry to produce such products, but its recovery after lactose hydrolysis is challenging. In this scenario, the study aims to encapsulate βG within capsules, varying in dimensions and wall materials, to ensure their suitability for efficient industrial recovery. The enzyme βG was encapsulated through ionic gelation using alginate and its blends with pectin, maltodextrin, starch, or whey protein as wall materials. The capsules produced underwent evaluation for encapsulation efficiency, release profiles, activity of the βG enzyme, and the decline in enzyme activity when reused over multiple cycles. Alginate at 5% wt/vol concentrations, alone or combined with polymers such as maltodextrin, starch, or whey protein, achieved encapsulation efficiencies of ∼98%, 98%, 80%, and 88%, respectively. The corresponding enzyme recovery rates were 34%, 19%, 31%, and 48%. Capsules made with an alginate-pectin blend exhibited no significant hydrolysis and maintained an encapsulation efficiency of 79%. Encapsulation with alginate alone demonstrated on poor retention of enzyme activity, showing a loss of 74% after just 4 cycles of reuse. Conversely, when alginate was mixed with starch or whey protein concentrate, the loss of enzyme activity was less than 40% after 4 reuses. These results highlight the benefits of combining encapsulation materials to improve enzyme recovery and reuse, offering potential economic advantages for the dairy industry. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multidisciplinary science, Analytical approaches based on spike and recovery (SAR) play a substantial role in analytical testing. The spike and recovery method is an important technique for analyzing and accessing the accuracy of analytical methods. The goal of this review seeks to provide clarity on the role of SAR methods in the forensic science discipline. Recent literature has been searched from numerous databases like Google, Web of Sciences, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciFinder. Websites like Science Direct are critically explored to gather scientific reports related to SAR utility. This review discusses the applications and current role of the SAR methods in Forensic Toxicology. It is suggested as one of the major parameters in the validation of the analytical method. SAR methodology is extremely important for the identification and quantitation of analytes in the sample matrix. Moreover, the extension of SAR methods to any scientific discipline is equally important for quality assurance. All relevant processes like method development and its optimization, quality control, and assurance rely on SAR-based studies. However, the method requires better apprehension and needs to be utilized using standard guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a heterogenous group of diseases. Often, it is difficult to obtain a precise diagnosis in general practice but also difficult to determine when the patient is recovered. The lack of a precise definition of recovery after ARTI complicates scientific research aiming to optimize diagnostics and compare treatments. The study aimed to define cutoff points to determine the end of an ARTI as a proxy for recovery in patients diagnosed with ARTI in general practice using a validated patient-reported outcome instrument; The ARTI Questionnaire (ARTIQ). A total of 259 participants was divided in 2 groups—1 with ARTI and 1 without. Histograms and area under the curve were calculated for each of the 5 dimensions within the ARTIQ to evaluate the discriminative effect. For the most discriminative dimensions receiver operating comparison curves were performed to determine relevant cutoff points for having or not having ARTI symptoms and serve as a proxy for recovery in clinical research. The highest discriminative effect was found in 2 dimensions: "physical—upper airways" and "physical—lower airways." When combining these dimensions, the area under the curve was 0.97. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated for selected cutoff points. Cutoff points serving as proxy for recovery from ARTI using a patient-reported outcome were identified. The specific cutoff point for a certain research project must be selected considering the specific clinical situation of interest. • It is difficult to define when a patient has recovered after acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) complicating clinical research trying to optimize diagnostics or compare treatments. • The study presents an approach to measure recovery after ARTI diagnosed in general practice—using a patient-reported outcome instrument to determine end of ARTI as a proxy for recovery. • A more precise definition of recovery after ARTI will enhance the quality of clinical research on diagnostics and new treatment modalities on ARTI in general practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]