The objective of this study was to examine the impact of athletes achieving excellence at different ages (excellent age) on their subsequent performance development. The aim was to deepen ...understanding of the interplay among talent, training, and athletes' performance development. Additionally, the study aimed to provide insights for athletics coaches to better identify talent and devise more effective personalized long-term training plans. This was a cross-sectional study. A hierarchical linear model was employed to analyze the correlation between excellent age and subsequent performance development in a cohort of 775 elite track and field athletes. This analysis was expanded upon by the application of a general linear regression model, which was used to explore the relationship between excellent age and peak age, peak performance, as well as the growth in performance during adulthood. As athletes reached excellence at later ages, their peak performance exhibited a U-shaped pattern(p <0.001), initially decreasing and then rising. Simultaneously, their peak age became increasingly advanced(p <0.001), with a progressively larger performance improvement during adulthood(p <0.001). In various disciplines, excellent age is negatively correlated with peak performance for speed athletes(p = 0.025), exhibiting a U-shaped pattern for endurance athletes(p = 0.024), and showing no significant correlation for fast-power athletes(p = 0.916). Athletes who achieve excellence either early or later often show more remarkable future developments. However, there are significant distinctions in the age at which these athletes reach their peak performance and the pace of improvement leading up to it. Those who excel early may possess greater innate athletic talent, whereas those who excel later may exhibit superior training adaptability. Consequently, an athlete's early performance can predict his/her future performance trajectory, offering support for individualized long-term training plans. In summary, the age at which athletes achieve excellence may bring different advantages to their future athletic performance and development. This implies that we should harness these differences to uncover each athlete's maximum potential.
A simple method is reported for hypochlorite determination based on fluorescence 3-aminophenylboronic acid–functionalized molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (B-MoS
2
QDs). B-MoS
2
QDs with strong ...fluorescence at 380 nm have been successfully synthesized by the amidation reaction between APBA and hydrothermal MoS
2
QDs. Hypochlorite sensing was proposed utilizing the fluorescent quenching effect of 3,3ʹ,5,5ʹ-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride (TMB) on B-MoS
2
QDs and the fast redox reaction between hypochlorite and TMB. The fluorescent quenching effect of TMB to B-MoS
2
QDs was proved to be caused by static dynamic quenching and inner filter effect. A good linear relationship was obtained in the hypochlorite concentration range from 1 to 20 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 36.8 nM. The proposed fluorescent detection assay was simple and fast, taking only 5 min at room temperature. Satisfactory results were obtained in the standard spike recovery tests on tap water and milk samples, which indicate high potential in constructing fluorescent bio-detection assays.
Graphical Abstract
Objectives: To study the effects of the time points of pre-competition peaking (TPCP, the time point when an athlete's peaking shows up before a major-competition) on the athletes' performances in ...the major-competition (M-Performance). Design: Mixed design. Methods: We used cluster analysis to classify 892 elite track and field athletes who participated in the 2017 and 2019 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, based on their TPCP and other related factors. Furthermore, we used a fixed-effects model and a mixed-effects model to analyze the relationship between the TPCP and M-Performance. Results: The TPCP of elite track and field athletes were divided into four categories: late, slightly late, slightly early, and early. In speed/power events, athletes in the slightly late category had better M-Performance. In endurance events, athletes in the slightly early category had better M-Performance. In speed/power events, delaying the TPCP did not improve the athletes' M-Performance. In endurance events, advancing the TPCP effectively improved the athletes' M-Performance. Conclusions: To improve M-Performance, athletes in speed/power events should be peaking 2-8 weeks before a major-competition, and athletes in endurance events should be peaking 8-14 weeks before a major-competition. Future research should aim to identify individual factors affecting TPCP, such as the time for the body's adaptation to training and the residual training effect.Objectives: To study the effects of the time points of pre-competition peaking (TPCP, the time point when an athlete's peaking shows up before a major-competition) on the athletes' performances in the major-competition (M-Performance). Design: Mixed design. Methods: We used cluster analysis to classify 892 elite track and field athletes who participated in the 2017 and 2019 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, based on their TPCP and other related factors. Furthermore, we used a fixed-effects model and a mixed-effects model to analyze the relationship between the TPCP and M-Performance. Results: The TPCP of elite track and field athletes were divided into four categories: late, slightly late, slightly early, and early. In speed/power events, athletes in the slightly late category had better M-Performance. In endurance events, athletes in the slightly early category had better M-Performance. In speed/power events, delaying the TPCP did not improve the athletes' M-Performance. In endurance events, advancing the TPCP effectively improved the athletes' M-Performance. Conclusions: To improve M-Performance, athletes in speed/power events should be peaking 2-8 weeks before a major-competition, and athletes in endurance events should be peaking 8-14 weeks before a major-competition. Future research should aim to identify individual factors affecting TPCP, such as the time for the body's adaptation to training and the residual training effect.
A rapid and facile method is reported for the detection of ascorbic acid using molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS
2
QDs) as a fluorescence sensor. Water-soluble and biocompatible MoS
2
QDs with ...the maximum fluorescence emission at 506 nm have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method and specific detection for ascorbic acid (AA) was constructed to utilize the modulation of metal ion on the fluorescence of MoS
2
QDs and the affinity and specificity between the ligand and the metal ion. The fluorescence of MoS
2
QDs was quenched by the irreversible static quenching of Fe
3+
through the formation of a MoS
2
QDs/Fe
3+
complex, while the pre-existence of AA can retain the fluorescence of MoS
2
QDs through the redox reaction between AA and Fe
3+
. Based on this principle, a good linear relationship was obtained in the AA concentration range 1 to 150 μM with a detection limit of 50 nM. The proposed fluorescent sensing strategy was proven to be highly selective, quite simple, and rapid with a requirement of only 5 min at room temperature (RT), which is particularly useful for rapid and easy analysis. Satisfactory results were obtained when applied to AA determination in fruits, beverages, and serum samples as well as AA imaging in living cells, suggesting its great potential in constructing other fluorescence detection and imaging platforms.
Graphical abstract
Chinese-educated nurses are increasingly important to the international labor market. This study aimed to examine how Chinese migrant nurses adapt and evolve professionally while pursuing nursing ...careers in Australia, using a qualitative descriptive approach. A total of 17 Chinese-educated nurses were recruited by purposive and snowball sampling in Australia during 2017. Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three central themes and eight subthemes were generated. Perceived differences in nursing involved: work options and flexibility, professional autonomy and independence, and freedom of expressing professional opinions. Elements comprising challenges to adaptation included communication barriers, nursing workload and responsibilities, and collegial relationships. Participants’ professional transition journeys were accompanied by two key areas of self-evolution: Embracing the authentic self and embracing individual differences. Our findings have important implications for migrant-host nursing workforce integration in Australia and internationally.
To assess the skiing economy (SE) and kinematics during double poling (DP) roller skiing between two groups of skiers in a field setting. Five experienced and five novice male skiers performed a SE
...test at 16 km∙h
on an outdoor athletics track. Gas exchange parameters were measured to determine SE
. A two-dimensional video was filmed to measure the kinematics variables. Experienced skiers exhibited a 21% lower oxygen cost than novice skiers (p = 0.016) in DP, indicating a strong association between SE
, cycle length and cycle rate (p < 0.001). Additionally, before the poling phase, experienced skiers manifested significantly greater maximum hip and knee extension angles than novice skiers (p < 0.001). During the poling phase, experienced skiers with a greater pole plant angle (p = 0.001), longer flexion time (p < 0.001) and higher flexion angular velocity in the elbow joint (p < 0.05) demonstrated better SE
. There was an interaction effect of the one-repetition maximum bench press × group in SE
(b = - 0.656, SE = 0.097, t = - 6.78, p = 0.001). Therefore, experienced skiers with better SE
demonstrated more efficient cycles, potentially accomplished using dynamic full-body DP motion to ascertain effective propulsion. Combined upper body strength and ski-specific skill training may enhance SE
in novice skiers.
Photodynamic therapy that can cause high toxicity in cancer cells and lower toxicity in normal cells is in great demand. Herein, we report a pH-responsive photosensitizer based on BODIPY (pH-PDT) by ...specific response to lysosomes of cancer cells for efficient photo dynamic therapy. The photosensitizer is highly sensitive in the pH range of 5.5–3.0, exhibiting an increased emission at 555 nm for about 12-fold. In vitro experiments confirmed that the singlet oxygen quantum yield of the photosensitizer was increased from 0.24 to 0.45 in an acidic environment (pH 5.5 to 3.5). With different pH of lysosomes in cancer cells and normal cells, the pH-PDT can specifically respond to lysosomes of cancer cell (HePG-2 cell) for photodynamic therapy of cancer and have no obvious toxicity of normal cells (HL-7702 cells).
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•pH-PDT is highly sensitive to pH in the range of 5.5–3.0 with increased emission at 555 nm for about 12-fold.•pH-PDT shows increased singlet oxygen quantum yield from 0.24 to 0.45 when pH decreases from 5.5 and 3.5•pH-PDT locates in lysosomes of cancer cell for photodynamic therapy of cancer and have no obvious toxicity of normal cells.
Understanding cancer patients' unmet needs for chemotherapy-related symptom management will assist clinicians in developing tailored intervention programs. Little is known about the association ...between perceived communication efficacy and unmet care needs for symptom management in patients with lung and colorectal cancer.
To examine the unmet care needs for symptom management of patients with lung and colorectal cancer and their association with perceived communication efficacy.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a tertiary hospital in China from July to November 2020. A convenience sample of 203 patients with lung and colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy completed survey questionnaires, including the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Scale and the Perceived Efficacy in Patient‒Physician Interactions Scale.
Approximately 43% of participants had at least one symptom with unmet needs. Fatigue was reported as the symptom with the highest occurrence (66%), the highest demand for supportive care (36%), and the highest prevalence of unmet needs (19%). Low levels of perceived communication efficacy independently predicted participants' unmet needs for symptom management (β=-0.13, p = 0.011).
This study highlights the necessity of introducing clinical assessment tools and guidelines to address fatigue and other chemotherapy-induced symptoms in patients with lung and colorectal cancer. Clinical programs designed to actively engage cancer patients to voice their needs and strengthen their communication efficacy are also warranted.
Ambient air pollutants are health hazards to children. This study comprised 773,504 emergency department visits (EDVs) at 0–14 years of age with respiratory diseases in southern China. All air ...pollutants were positively associated with EDVs of total respiratory diseases, especially pneumonia. NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 had intraday effects and cumulative effects on asthma EDVs. The effect of SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 on pneumonia EDVs was stronger in girls than in boys. The effect of NO2 on acute upper respiratory tract infection EDVs was greater in children aged 0–5 years old; however, the effect of PM10 on acute upper respiratory tract infection EDVs was greater in the 6–14 years group. In a two-pollutant model, NO2 was associated with bronchitis and pneumonia, and PM10 was associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection. In this time-series study, NO2 and PM10 were risk indicators for respiratory diseases in children.
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•Air pollution associates with children emergency visits for respiratory diseases•NO2 and PM10 are risk indicators for respiratory diseases in children•Young children are more sensitive to gaseous pollutants•School-age children are more sensitive to PM10
Environment; Exposure; Atmospheric science; Environmental health; Pollution
