The optimal volume of resistance exercise to prescribe for trained individuals is unclear. The purpose of this study was to randomly assign resistance trained individuals to 6-weeks of squat ...exercise, prescribed at 80% of a 1 repetition-maximum (1-RM), using either one, four, or eight sets of repetitions to failure performed twice per week. Participants then performed the same peaking program for 4-weeks. Squat 1-RM, quadriceps muscle activation, and contractile rate of force development (RFD) were measured before, during, and after the training program. 32 resistance-trained male participants completed the 10-week program. Squat 1-RM was significantly increased for all groups after 6 and 10-weeks of training (
P
< 0.05). The 8-set group was significantly stronger than the 1-set group after 3-weeks of training (7.9% difference,
P
< 0.05), and remained stronger after 6 and 10-weeks of training (
P
< 0.05). Peak muscle activation did not change during the study. Early (30, 50 ms) and peak RFD was significantly decreased for all groups after 6 and 10-weeks of training (
P
< 0.05). Peak isometric force output did not change for any group. The results of this study support resistance exercise prescription in excess of 4-sets (i.e. 8-sets) for faster and greater strength gains as compared to 1-set training. Common neuromuscular changes are attributed to high intensity squats (80% 1-RM) combined with a repetition to failure prescription. This prescription may not be useful for sports application owing to decreased early and peak RFD. Individual responsiveness to 1-set of training should be evaluated in the first 3-weeks of training.
With the first direct detection of merging black holes in 2015, the era of gravitational wave (GW) astrophysics began. A complete picture of compact object mergers, however, requires the detection of ...an electromagnetic (EM) counterpart. We report ultraviolet (UV) and x-ray observations by Swift and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array of the EM counter part of the binary neutron star merger GW170817. The bright, rapidly fading UV emission indicates a high mass (≈0.03 solar masses) wind-driven outflow with moderate electron fraction (Yₑ ≈ 0.27). Combined with the x-ray limits, we favor an observer viewing angle of ≈30° away from the orbital rotation axis, which avoids both obscuration fromthe heaviest elements in the orbital plane and a direct view of any ultrarelativistic, highly collimated ejecta (a γ-ray burst afterglow).
Cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) results from two-beam energy exchange via seeded stimulated Brillouin scattering, which detrimentally reduces ablation pressure and implosion velocity in ...direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. Mitigating CBET is demonstrated for the first time in inertial-confinement implosions at the National Ignition Facility by detuning the laser-source wavelengths (±2.3 Å UV) of the interacting beams. We show that, in polar direct-drive, wavelength detuning increases the equatorial region velocity experimentally by 16% and alters the in-flight shell morphology. These experimental observations are consistent with design predictions of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that indicate a 10% increase in the average ablation pressure.
Multifaceted: extensive discussions at workshop and conference presentations, survey of experts and feedback.
Present the background, purpose and development of the International Spinal Cord Injury ...(SCI) Data Sets for Non-Traumatic SCI (NTSCI), including a hierarchical classification of aetiology.
International.
Consultation via e-mail, presentations and discussions at ISCoS conferences (2006-2009), and workshop (1 September 2008). The consultation processes aimed to: (1) clarify aspects of the classification structure, (2) determine placement of certain aetiologies and identify important missing causes of NTSCI and (3) resolve coding issues and refine definitions. Every effort was made to consider feedback and suggestions from participants.
The International Data Sets for NTSCI includes basic and an extended versions. The extended data set includes a two-axis classification system for the causes of NTSCI. Axis 1 consists of a five-level, two-tier (congenital-genetic and acquired) hierarchy that allows for increasing detail to specify the aetiology. Axis 2 uses the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Related Health Problems for coding the initiating diseases(s) that may have triggered the events that resulted in the axis 1 diagnosis, where appropriate. Additional items cover the timeframe of onset of NTSCI symptoms and presence of iatrogenicity. Complete instructions for data collection, data sheet and training cases are available at the websites of ISCoS (http://www.iscos.org.uk) and ASIA (http://www.asia-spinalinjury.org).
The data sets should facilitate comparative research involving NTSCI participants, especially epidemiological studies and prevention projects. Further work is anticipated to refine the data sets, particularly regarding iatrogenicity.
We present the calibration of the Swift Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope (UVOT ) grisms, of which there are two, providing low-resolution field spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and optical bands, ...respectively. The UV grism covers the range λ1700–5000 Å with a spectral resolution (λ/Δλ) of 75 at λ2600 Å for source magnitudes of u=10–16 mag, while the visible grism covers the range λ2850–6600 Å with a spectral resolution of 100 at λ4000 Å for source magnitudes of b=12–17 mag. This calibration extends over all detector positions, for all modes used during operations. The wavelength accuracy (1σ) is 9 Å in the UV grism clocked mode, 17 Å in the UV grism nominal mode and 22 Å in the visible grism. The range below λ2740 Å in the UV grism and λ5200 Å in the visible grism never suffers from overlapping by higher spectral orders. The flux calibration of the grisms includes a correction we developed for coincidence loss in the detector. The error in the coincidence loss correction is less than 20 per cent. The position of the spectrum on the detector only affects the effective area (sensitivity) by a few per cent in the nominal modes, but varies substantially in the clocked modes. The error in the effective area is from 9 per cent in the UV grism clocked mode to 15 per cent in the visible grism clocked mode.
Although the link between long γ-ray bursts (GRBs) and supernovae has been established, hitherto there have been no observations of the beginning of a supernova explosion and its intimate link to a ...GRB. In particular, we do not know how the jet that defines a γ-ray burst emerges from the star's surface, nor how a GRB progenitor explodes. Here we report observations of the relatively nearby GRB 060218 (ref. 5) and its connection to supernova SN 2006aj (ref. 6). In addition to the classical non-thermal emission, GRB 060218 shows a thermal component in its X-ray spectrum, which cools and shifts into the optical/ultraviolet band as time passes. We interpret these features as arising from the break-out of a shock wave driven by a mildly relativistic shell into the dense wind surrounding the progenitor. We have caught a supernova in the act of exploding, directly observing the shock break-out, which indicates that the GRB progenitor was a Wolf-Rayet star.
Purpose
The use of electrical stimulation to assess voluntary activation of muscle/s is a popular method employed in numerous exercise science and health research settings. This Delphi study aimed to ...collate expert opinion and provide recommendations for best practice when using electrical stimulation during maximal voluntary contractions.
Methods
A two-round Delphi study was undertaken with 30 experts who completed a 62-item questionnaire (Round 1) comprising of open- and closed-ended questions. Consensus was assumed if ≥ 70% of experts selected the same response; such questions were removed from the subsequent Round 2 questionnaire. Responses were also removed if they failed to meet a 15% threshold. Open-ended questions were analysed and converted into closed-ended questions for Round 2. It was assumed there was no clear consensus if a question failed to achieve a ≥ 70% response in Round 2.
Results
A total of 16 out of 62 (25.8%) items reached consensus. Experts agreed that electrical stimulation provides a valid assessment of voluntary activation in specific circumstances, such as during maximal contraction, and this stimulation can be applied at either the muscle or the nerve. Experts recommended using doublet stimuli, self-adhesive electrodes, a familiarisation session, real-time visual or verbal feedback during the contraction, a minimum current increase of + 20% to ensure supramaximal stimulation, and manually triggering stimuli.
Conclusion
The results of this Delphi consensus study can help researchers make informed decisions when considering technical parameters when designing studies involving electrical stimulation for the assessment of voluntary activation.
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of resistance training (RT) on quality of life (QOL) and fatigue in breast cancer survivors as an adjunct to usual care. We recruited 39 ...women who had survived breast cancer mean age (y) 51.9 ± 8.8; time since diagnosis (m) 11.6 ± 13.2. Primary outcomes were fatigue as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT) scale and QOL as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT‐G) scale. ANCOVA was used to assess the change in the primary outcomes while controlling for baseline values, with effect sizes (ES) displayed as partial Eta squared. The experimental group received supervised RT 3 days per week in a university clinic for 16 weeks. Perceptions of fatigue improved significantly in the RT group compared to controls mean (SD) 6.7 (7.5) points vs. 1.5 (3.7) points, (P = 0.006, ES = 0.20) as did QOL 6.9 (8.5) points vs. 1.6 (4.4) points, (P = 0.015, ES = 0.16). We demonstrated both statistically and clinically important improvements in fatigue and QOL in response to RT in breast cancer survivors.
We examined the effects of a 12‐week program of Nordic hamstring exercises (NHE), administered before or after football training, upon eccentric hamstring strength, muscle activity, and architectural ...adaptations. Amateur soccer players were randomized into three groups. The control group (CON; n=11) undertook core stability exercises, whereas a periodized NHE program was delivered either before (NHEBEF; n=10) or after (NHEAFT; n=14) biweekly training sessions. Outcome measures included peak torque and concomitant normalized peak surface electromyography signals (sEMG) of the biceps femoris (BF) and medial hamstring (MH) muscles during knee flexor maximal eccentric contractions, performed at 30°·s−1. Ultrasonography was used to determine BF muscle thickness, muscle fiber pennation angle, and fascicle length. Performing the NHE derived likely moderate peak torque increases in both NHEBEF (+11.9%; 90% confidence interval: 3.6%‐20.9%) and NHEAFT (+11.6%; 2.6%‐21.5%) vs CON. Maximum sEMG increases were moderately greater in the BF of both NHE training groups vs CON. There were likely moderate increases in BF muscle thickness (+0.17 cm; 0.05‐0.29 cm) and likely small pennation angle increases (+1.03°; −0.08° to 2.14°) in NHEAFT vs CON and NHEBEF. BF fascicle length increases were likely greater in NHEBEF (+1.58 cm; 0.48‐2.68 cm; small effect) vs CON and NHEAFT. A 12‐week eccentric hamstring strengthening program increased strength and sEMG to a similar magnitude irrespective of its scheduling relative to the football training session. However, architectural adaptations to support the strength gains differed according to the timing of the injury prevention program.
We present the first Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow catalog. The catalog contains data from over 64,000 independent UVOT image observations of 229 GRBs ...first detected by Swift, the High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE2), the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), and the Interplanetary Network (IPN). The catalog covers GRBs occurring during the period from 2005 January 17 to 2007 June 16 and includes ~86% of the bursts detected by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). The catalog provides detailed burst positional, temporal, and photometric information extracted from each of the UVOT images. Positions for bursts detected at the 3 sigma level are provided with a nominal accuracy, relative to the USNO-B1 catalog, of ~025. Photometry for each burst is given in three UV bands, three optical bands, and a 'white' or open filter. Upper limits for magnitudes are reported for sources detected below 3 sigma . General properties of the burst sample and light curves, including the filter-dependent temporal slopes, are also provided. The majority of the UVOT light curves, for bursts detected at the 3 sigma level, can be fit by a single power-law, with a median temporal slope ( alpha ) of 0.96, beginning several hundred seconds after the burst trigger and ending at ~1 X 105 s. The median UVOT v-band (~5500 A) magnitude at 2000 s for a sample of 'well'-detected bursts is 18.02. The UVOT flux interpolated to 2000 s after the burst, shows relatively strong correlations with both the prompt Swift BAT fluence, and the Swift X-ray flux at 11 hr after the trigger.
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