ABSTRACT
The use of acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) for discharge measurements and three‐dimensional flow mapping has increased rapidly in recent years and has been primarily driven by ...advances in acoustic technology and signal processing. Recent research has developed a variety of methods for processing data obtained from a range of ADCP deployments and this paper builds on this progress by describing new software for processing and visualizing ADCP data collected along transects in rivers or other bodies of water. The new utility, the Velocity Mapping Toolbox (VMT), allows rapid processing (vector rotation, projection, averaging and smoothing), visualization (planform and cross‐section vector and contouring), and analysis of a range of ADCP‐derived datasets. The paper documents the data processing routines in the toolbox and presents a set of diverse examples that demonstrate its capabilities. The toolbox is applicable to the analysis of ADCP data collected in a wide range of aquatic environments and is made available as open‐source code along with this publication. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
One of the goals of altitude training is to increase blood oxygen-carrying capacity in order to improve sea-level endurance performance in athletes. The elevated erythropoietin (EPO) production in ...hypoxia is a key factor in the achievement of enhanced hematological variables. The level of the EPO increase and acceleration of erythropoiesis depend on the duration of exposure and degree of hypoxia. Furthermore, many other factors may affect the hematological response to altitude training.
The purpose of this narrative review was to: (1) analyze the kinetics of EPO and hematological variables during and after altitude training; (2) summarize the current state of knowledge about the possible causes of individual or cohort differences in EPO and hematological response to altitude training; (3) formulate practical guidelines for athletes to improve the efficiency of altitude training.
A narrative review was performed following an electronic search of the databases PubMed/MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus via EBSCO for all English-language articles published between 1997 and 2017.
Complete unification of results from studies on EPO kinetics was difficult due to different time and frequency of blood sampling by different researchers during and after altitude training, but the data presented in the reviewed literature allowed us to detect certain trends. The results of the reviewed studies were divergent and indicated either increase or no change of hematological variables following altitude training. Factors that may affect the hematological response to altitude training include hypoxic dose, training content, training background of athletes, and/or individual variability of EPO production.
Despite the potential benefits arising from altitude training, its effectiveness in improving hematological variables is still debatable. Further research and better understanding of factors influencing the response to altitude, as well as factors affecting the suitable measurement and interpretation of study results, are needed.
River network saturation concept Wollheim, W. M.; Bernal, S.; Burns, D. A. ...
Biogeochemistry,
12/2018, Letnik:
141, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
River networks modify material transfer from land to ocean. Understanding the factors regulating this function for different gaseous, dissolved, and particulate constituents is critical to quantify ...the local and global effects of climate and land use change. We propose the River Network Saturation (RNS) concept as a generalization of how river network regulation of material fluxes declines with increasing flows due to imbalances between supply and demand at network scales. River networks have a tendency to become saturated (supply ≫ demand) under higher flow conditions because supplies increase faster than sink processes. However, the flow thresholds under which saturation occurs depends on a variety of factors, including the inherent process rate for a given constituent and the abundance of lentic waters such as lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and fluvial wetlands within the river network. As supply increases, saturation at network scales is initially limited by previously unmet demand in downstream aquatic ecosystems. The RNS concept describes a general tendency of river network function that can be used to compare the fate of different constituents among river networks. New approaches using nested in situ high-frequency sensors and spatially extensive synoptic techniques offer the potential to test the RNS concept in different settings. Better understanding of when and where river networks saturate for different constituents will allow for the extrapolation of aquatic function to broader spatial scales and therefore provide information on the influence of river function on continental element cycles and help identify policy priorities.
Observatory‐scale data collection efforts allow unprecedented opportunities for integrative, multidisciplinary investigations in large, complex watersheds, which can affect management decisions and ...policy. Through the National Science Foundation‐funded REACH (REsilience under Accelerated CHange) project, in collaboration with the Intensively Managed Landscapes‐Critical Zone Observatory, we have collected a series of multidisciplinary data sets throughout the Minnesota River Basin in south‐central Minnesota, USA, a 43,400‐km2 tributary to the Upper Mississippi River. Postglacial incision within the Minnesota River valley created an erosional landscape highly responsive to hydrologic change, allowing for transdisciplinary research into the complex cascade of environmental changes that occur due to hydrology and land use alterations from intensive agricultural management and climate change. Data sets collected include water chemistry and biogeochemical data, geochemical fingerprinting of major sediment sources, high‐resolution monitoring of river bluff erosion, and repeat channel cross‐sectional and bathymetry data following major floods. The data collection efforts led to development of a series of integrative reduced complexity models that provide deeper insight into how water, sediment, and nutrients route and transform through a large channel network and respond to change. These models represent the culmination of efforts to integrate interdisciplinary data sets and science to gain new insights into watershed‐scale processes in order to advance management and decision making. The purpose of this paper is to present a synthesis of the data sets and models, disseminate them to the community for further research, and identify mechanisms used to expand the temporal and spatial extent of short‐term observatory‐scale data collection efforts.
Key Points
Observatory‐scale study of MN River Basin created integrative data sets and reduced complexity models to understand environmental change
Data sets include water biogeochemistry, sediment sources and sinks, sediment fingerprinting, geomorphic change detection, and bathymetry
Modeling efforts focus on basin‐scale environmental transport to inform land management, reduce pollutant export, and improve river biota
The aim of the study was to compare the effect of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) and the live high, train low strategy on aerobic capacity and sports performance in off-road cyclists in ...normoxia. Thirty off-road cyclists were randomized to three groups and subjected to 4-week training routines. The participants from the first experimental group were exposed to normobaric hypoxia conditions (FiO
= 16.3%) at rest and during sleep (G-LH-TL; n=10; age: 20.5 ± 2.9 years; body height 1.81 ± 0.04 m; body mass: 69.6 ± 3.9 kg). Training in this group was performed under normoxic conditions. In the second experimental group, study participants followed an intermittent hypoxic training (IHT, three sessions per week, FiO2 = 16.3%) routine (G-IHT; n=10; age: 20.7 ± 3.1 years; body height 1.78 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 67.5 ± 5.6 kg). Exercise intensity was adjusted based on the lactate threshold (LT) load determined in hypoxia. The control group lived and trained under normoxic conditions (G-C; n=10; age: 21.8 ± 4.0 years; body height 1.78 ± 0.03 m; body mass: 68.1 ± 4.7 kg; body fat content: 8.4 ± 2.4%). The evaluations included two research series (S1, S2). Between S1 and S2, athletes from all groups followed a similar training programme for 4 weeks. In each research series a graded ergocycle test was performed in order to measure VO
and determine the LT and a simulated 30 km individual time trial. Significant (p<0.05) improvements in VO
, VO
, WR
and WR
were observed in the G-IHT (by 3.5%, 9.1%, 6.7% and 7.7% respectively) and G-LH-TL groups (by 4.8%, 6.7%, 5.9% and 4.8% respectively). Sports performance (TT) was also improved (p<0.01) in both groups by 3.6% in G-LH-TL and 2.5% in G-IHT. Significant changes (p<0.05) in serum EPO levels and haematological variables (increases in RBC, HGB, HCT and reticulocyte percentage) were observed only in G-LH-TL. Normobaric hypoxia has been demonstrated to be an effective ergogenic aid that can enhance the exercise capacity of cyclists in normoxia. Both LH-TL and IHT lead to improvements in aerobic capacity. The adaptations induced by both approaches are likely to be caused by different mechanisms. The evaluations included two research series (S1, S2). Between S1 and S2, athletes from all groups followed a similar training programme for 4 weeks. In each research series a graded ergocycle exercise test was performed in order to measure VO
and determine the lactate threshold as well as a simulated 30 km individual time trial.
Support workers are central to the delivery of residential aged care, but the workforce is facing increasing work demands and widespread shortages. This contributes to high rates of burnout, ...decreased job satisfaction and high staff turnover. Peer-led interventions are reported to be effective but it is necessary to use evidence-based interventions to support this key workforce group.
This study aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence on effectiveness of strategies improving psychosocial and turnover-related outcomes for support workers in aged care that could be incorporated into a peer-led intervention.
Systematic review and meta-analyses of experimental and quasi-experimental studies.
Residential aged care.
A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Scopus), and CINAHL (via EBSCO). We included studies examining the effectiveness of workplace interventions aiming to reduce aged care support workers' turnover rates and/or improve their work-related psychosocial outcomes (such as work stress, job satisfaction, self-esteem, and other). A number of meta-analyses using a mixed-effects model were performed to calculate standardized mean differences and odds ratios.
Fifty-one studies were included: 15 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 19 non-RCTs and 17 Pre-Post studies. Most of the studies were rated as having 'high' or 'very high risk of bias'. The studies were clustered by intervention type: 1) knowledge-based, 2) interpersonal skills-based, 3) team-building, and 4) self-care. Knowledge-based interventions were the most used approach, with 26 studies in this category, and frequently reported improvements in stress- and satisfaction-related outcomes. There were twelve interpersonal skills-based and nine team-building interventions, which often reported decreased work stress, staff turnover, and intention to quit. There were four self-care interventions of which only one reported improvements in stress-related outcomes. Meta-analyses showed that only knowledge-based interventions resulted in statistically significant improvements: lower staff turnover rates (OR 0.47, 95 %CI: 0.37, 060), and higher scores for job/life satisfaction (SMD 0.26, 95 % CI: 0.05, 0.46) and staff attitude (SMD 0.23, 95 % CI: 0.05, 0.45).
This review found numerous strategies that have been trialled to improve support workers' psychosocial- and turnover-related outcomes. Most studies reported improvements in outcomes. However, our meta-analyses suggest that the effect sizes were small and mostly non-significant, with the evidence being of low certainty. The evidence for effectiveness of knowledge-based interventions appears the most convincing, with statistically significant improvements reported for turnover rates, job/life satisfaction and staff attitude. More high-quality studies are needed to consolidate the existing evidence.
CRD42017059007; 02 June 2017.Tweetable abstract: Knowledge-based interventions most promising in improving support workers' outcomes in aged care. #agedcare #staffturnover.
Despite decades of policy that strives to reduce nutrient and sediment export from agricultural fields, surface water quality in intensively managed agricultural landscapes remains highly degraded. ...Recent analyses show that current conservation efforts are not sufficient to reverse widespread water degradation in Midwestern agricultural systems. Intensifying row crop agriculture and increasing climate pressure require a more integrated approach to water quality management that addresses diverse sources of nutrients and sediment and off-field mitigation actions. We used multiobjective optimization analysis and integrated three biophysical models to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of alternative portfolios of watershed management practices at achieving nitrate and suspended sediment reduction goals in an agricultural basin of the Upper Midwestern United States. Integrating watershed-scale models enabled the inclusion of near-channel management alongside more typical field management and thus directly the comparison of cost-effectiveness across portfolios. The optimization analysis revealed that fluvial wetlands (i.e., wide, slow-flowing, vegetated water bodies within the riverine corridor) are the single-most cost-effective management action to reduce both nitrate and sediment loads and will be essential for meeting moderate to aggressive water quality targets. Although highly cost-effective, wetland construction was costly compared to other practices, and it was not selected in portfolios at low investment levels. Wetland performance was sensitive to placement, emphasizing the importance of watershed scale planning to realize potential benefits of wetland restorations. We conclude that extensive interagency cooperation and coordination at a watershed scale is required to achieve substantial, economically viable improvements in water quality under intensive row crop agricultural production.
The intracellular delivery of functional nanoparticles (NPs) and the release of therapeutic payloads at a target site are central issues for biomedical applications. However, the endosomal entrapment ...of NPs typically results in the degradation of active cargo, leading to poor therapeutic outcomes. Current advances to promote the endosomal escape of NPs largely involve the use of polycationic polymers and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which both can suffer from potential toxicity and convoluted synthesis/conjugation processes. Herein, we report the use of metal–phenolic networks (MPNs) as versatile and nontoxic coatings to facilitate the escape of NPs from endo/lysosomal compartments. The MPNs, which were engineered from the polyphenol tannic acid and FeIII or AlIII, enabled the endosomal escape of both inorganic (mesoporous silica) and organic (polystyrene and melamine resin) NPs owing to the “proton-sponge effect” arising from the buffering capacity of MPNs. Postfunctionalization of the MPN-coated NPs with low-fouling polymers did not impair the endosomal escape, indicating the modular and generalizable nature of this approach. We envisage that the ease of fabrication, versatility, low cytotoxicity, and promising endosomal escape performance displayed by the MPN coatings offer opportunities for such coatings to be used for the efficient delivery of cytoplasm-targeted therapeutics using NPs.
Objective:Routine evaluation of mental health services has become widespread, and the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as clinical aids or discussion tools has been receiving ...increasing attention. The purpose of this scoping study was to provide a typology of the diverse ways in which studies reporting on PROM use in mental health services have utilized PROMs.Methods:Iterative scoping searches of the literature identified articles reporting on the use of PROM feedback in mental health settings, which were then categorized to develop a typology along a dimension of intensity of use of PROM feedback, ranging from no feedback to patient and clinician to clinician-patient discussion that followed a formalized structure.Results:Of the 172 studies that were identified, 27 were grouped into five categories, ranging from studies in which there was no PROM feedback to clinician or patient to studies in which a formalized structure was available by which PROM feedback could be discussed between clinician and patient. Of the 11 studies in the category with formalized feedback, nine reported some significant effects of feedback compared with a control condition, and two reported partial significant effects.Conclusions:The proposed procedural typology helps explain the diversity of results from studies reporting on the effects of PROM feedback, by highlighting that PROM feedback appears to be more effective when integrated in a formalized and structured manner. Future work is required to isolate these effects from common procedural correlates, such as monitoring of the therapeutic alliance.
Purpose
To evaluate ongoing metabolic changes during a 48-h competitive run and a 48-h recovery period, with focus on potential health risks exemplified by heart and skeletal muscle damage biomarkers ...and oxidative stress-related indices.
Methods
Blood samples were taken before the race, after 12, 24, and 48 h of running, and after 24 and 48 h of recovery from male amateur runners (
N
= 7, age 35–59 years, VO
2max
mean ± SD 57.0 ± 4.0 ml kg
−1
min
−1
, total distance covered 183–320 km). The samples were analyzed for morphology, acid–base and electrolyte balance, iron status, lipid profile, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, non-enzymatic antioxidants, activities of selected enzymes including antioxidant enzymes, and total antioxidant status.
Results
The sustained ultra-endurance run caused hypocapnic alkalosis with slight hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia, but no hyponatremia. Blood biochemistry showed severe muscle but not liver damage, and an acute inflammatory response. These effects were evidenced by leukocytosis, several fold rises in interleukin-6 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, extreme elevations in serum levels of muscle enzymes, and marked increases in cardiac biomarker levels. Most of the changes dissolved during the 48 h post-race recovery. Neither the iron pool, nor erythropoiesis, nor pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance were substantially affected.
Conclusions
The changes consequent on the ultra-endurance run do not pose a serious health risk in men who begin their endeavor with ultra-endurance running in mid-life. There is some circumstantial evidence that hyperventilatory hypocapnia may modulate inflammatory response by stimulating the release of interleukin-6 from working skeletal muscles.
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