26199 research outputs found
Sort by
The Effect of Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Pneumatic Compression as Part of a Comprehensive Recovery Strategy in Professional Male Top-Level Soccer Players
No full textGonçalves, DS, Moscaleski, LA, da Silva, GM, Morgans, R, Okano, AH, and Moreira, A. The effect of combined transcranial direct current stimulation and pneumatic compression as part of a comprehensive recovery strategy in professional male top-level soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2024—This retrospective study aimed to examine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with lower limb pneumatic compression during the postmatch recovery period in top-level professional male soccer players' physiological and perceptual markers of recovery status. During the 2022 season (baseline), pneumatic compression was performed as part of the recovery strategy, applied the day after official match play and psychophysiological measurements (pain, sleep, perceived recovery, and creatine kinase [CK] sampling) were performed on the second day postmatch. During the 2023 season, the tDCS protocol was introduced, with its application being performed simultaneously (in conjunction) with pneumatic compression. Recovery sessions following 10 matches in the 2022 season and following 10 matches in the 2023 season were included in the analyses. Compared with 2022 (baseline; pneumatic compression isolated), the players perceived an increased recovery on the second day postmatch when tDCS was used in conjunction with the pneumatic compression (mean = 12%; p = 0.008) and rated improved sleep quality for the nights after applying tDCS combined with pneumatic compression (mean = 7.5%; p = 0.029). On the second day postmatch, a significant reduction was observed in muscle pain/soreness (mean = 64%; p < 0.0001) and the CK concentration decreased when baseline (pneumatic compression isolated) was compared with tDCS + pneumatic compression (mean = 76%; p = 0.001). In summary, combining pneumatic compression with tDCS may enhance the effects of both interventions, leading to greater overall improvements in recovery. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms in more detail
Relative alignments between magnetic fields, velocity gradients, and dust emission gradients in NGC 1333
Get PDFMagnetic fields play an important role in shaping and regulating star formation in molecular clouds. Here, we present one of the first studies examining the relative orientations between magnetic (B) fields and the dust emission, gas column density, and velocity centroid gradients on the 0.02 pc (core) scales, using the BISTRO and VLA+GBT observations of the NGC 1333 star-forming clump. We quantified these relative orientations using the Project Rayleigh Statistic (PRS) and found preferential global parallel alignment between the B field and dust emission gradients, consistent with large-scale studies with Planck. No preferential global alignments, however, are found between the B field and velocity gradients. Local PRS calculated for subregions defined by either dust emission or velocity coherence further revealed that the B field does not preferentially align with dust emission gradients in most emission-defined subregions, except in the warmest ones. The velocity-coherent structures, on the other hand, also showed no preferred B field alignments with velocity gradients, except for one potentially bubble-compressed region. Interestingly, the velocity gradient magnitude in NGC 1333 ubiquitously features prominent ripple-like structures that are indicative of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. Finally, we found B field alignments with the emission gradients to correlate with dust temperature and anticorrelate with column density, velocity dispersion, and velocity gradient magnitude. The latter two anticorrelations suggest that alignments between gas structures and B fields can be perturbed by physical processes that elevate velocity dispersion and velocity gradients, such as infall, accretions, and MHD waves
Towards a framework for risk identification and mitigation in Agile software re-engineering: A case study
Get PDFLegacy software is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, and many companies nowadays are facing the challenges associated with this phenomenon. In certain circumstances, re-engineering is the only logical way to deal with legacy software. Such projects, by their very nature, are subject to a wide variety of risk. The first research question of this study was concerned with the identification and investigation of different risks associated with one particular re-engineering project. The potential impact of those risks over a given development phase of the project, along with their actual impact and ultimate mitigation status, have been analysed. The second research question discussed the Scrum practices used on the project and evaluated their usefulness in supporting the management of risk. An interpretive Case Study approach has been followed, with the method of analysis being inductive and reflexive Thematic Analysis. The risks observed were themed around people, process, and technology. While technical and procedural risks are discussed in the literature, the presence of risk in social situations relating to re-engineering appears to have been overlooked. Although these risks do not necessarily have a higher impact, they were found to outnumber those encountered in other aspects of the project by a significant factor. Furthermore, the social risks were often either underestimated or not even recognised. It has also been found that Scrum is an appropriate approach to re-engineering projects. Since many of the re-engineering tasks in the case study were unknown at the beginning, the flexibility brought by Scrum was an important factor in the timely and successful mitigation of emerging risk. My contribution to the field is an initial set of risk categories including their impact on a re-engineering project, which are able to form the basis of further research into different types of re-engineering projects in order to produce a more generalised framework. It is anticipated that the results presented here will help future project teams to prioritise aeras of re-engineering and put adequate risk mitigation into place
Spectacular Nucleosynthesis from Early Massive Stars
Get PDFStars that formed with an initial mass of over 50 M ⊙ are very rare today, but they are thought to be more common in the early Universe. The fates of those early, metal-poor, massive stars are highly uncertain. Most are expected to directly collapse to black holes, while some may explode as a result of rotationally powered engines or the pair-creation instability. We present the chemical abundances of J0931+0038, a nearby low-mass star identified in early follow-up of the SDSS-V Milky Way Mapper, which preserves the signature of unusual nucleosynthesis from a massive star in the early Universe. J0931+0038 has a relatively high metallicity ([Fe/H] = −1.76 ± 0.13) but an extreme odd–even abundance pattern, with some of the lowest known abundance ratios of [N/Fe], [Na/Fe], [K/Fe], [Sc/Fe], and [Ba/Fe]. The implication is that a majority of its metals originated in a single extremely metal-poor nucleosynthetic source. An extensive search through nucleosynthesis predictions finds a clear preference for progenitors with initial mass >50 M ⊙, making J0931+0038 one of the first observational constraints on nucleosynthesis in this mass range. However, the full abundance pattern is not matched by any models in the literature. J0931+0038 thus presents a challenge for the next generation of nucleosynthesis models and motivates the study of high-mass progenitor stars impacted by convection, rotation, jets, and/or binary companions. Though rare, more examples of unusual early nucleosynthesis in metal-poor stars should be found in upcoming large spectroscopic surveys
Comparison of mindfulness training and acceptance and commitment therapy in a workplace setting: Results from a randomised controlled trial
Get PDFMindfulness interventions have become a common feature of worksite stress management provision. However, the evidence underpinning these interventions continues to attract scrutiny, with unresolved questions surrounding: the generalizability of mindfulness research findings to real-world workplace training applications, comparability of different mindfulness approaches offered in workplace settings, and effects on job performance. The current trial contributes to the literature by exploring effects of mindfulness training (MT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which were delivered to staff in the same healthcare organization. Participants were randomly assigned to a 4-session MT program (n = 63), a 4-session ACT program (n = 67), or a waiting list control group (n = 69). Study measures were administered on five occasions spread across a 6-month period. Results indicated that both MT and ACT reduced perceived stress and improved mindfulness and sleep quality when compared to the control group. ACT showed slight superiority in helping employees align their behaviour with personal values. Neither MT nor ACT was effective in reducing work limitations. We consider explanations for equivocal effects on job performance outcomes, and highlight the importance of testing the effectiveness of worksite mindfulness interventions under ecologically valid conditions
Predicting and stabilising the 3D structure of aptamers using computational methods
Get PDFThe purpose of this dissertation was to predict and stabilise the three-dimensional (3D) structure of aptamers. The focus was in the area of bioinformatics. A guideline was provided on how to obtain 3D images of aptamers, predict the binding site and stabilise the aptamer’s structures. Such a study is of importance to facilitate in vivo experiments by using computational methods to determine if stabilising agents and shortened aptamer sequences interfere with the predicted binding site. Research methods included a literature search and creating a protocol on which software and webserver to use, combined with the collection and analysis of figures. The 2D (two dimensional) structures were obtained through Mfold alongside RNAComposer to obtain the PDB file containing the predicted 3D structure. The aptamer’s 3D structures were visualised with YASARA, PyMOL and Chimera. The findings provided evidence that shortening the aptamer’s sequence stabilised the structures. The predicted binding sites show that the ligand binds in the stem-loop region. The main conclusions drawn from this project were that computational methods can be used to analyse and gain insight into 3D aptamer structures. Some common challenges and technological difficulties, such as modifying an aptamer, were discussed. This project recommended Mfold to be used to obtain the secondary structure of aptamers, whereas for the tertiary structure PyMOL and YASARA were the easiest to navigate in providing a clear and detailed structure
Analysis of the development of an STM32-based smartwatch
Get PDFSensors and microcontrollers are well-functioning and inexpensive, and the smartwatch industry continues to grow. In response to the problems of traditional smartwatches, which are not fully functional, have poor computing effectiveness and are not suitable for wearing, this thesis designs a smartwatch based on the STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-L476RG microcontroller, using Altium Designer 17 software to draw The schematic diagram and Printed Circuit Board are drawn using Altium Designer 17 software, the driver code of the sensor is compiled and integrated using MBED software, the signal is processed by the STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-L476RG microcontroller and displayed in the Organic Light-Emitting Diode with Bluetooth debugger The measured parameters, such as heart rate, ambient temperature, number of steps, latitude and longitude, are displayed in the Organic Light-Emitting Diode with Bluetooth debugger. The results of the study show that the transmission of the signals in the STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-L476RG microcontroller and the display of the signals in the Organic Light-Emitting Diode and Bluetooth debugger have the advantages of small size, perfect functionality and low energy consumption, making it convenient for the user's daily use
From manufacturers to clinicians, the release of dental implant particles can no longer be ignored
Get PDFWhat is known
There is increasing evidence that titanium-based dental implant complications are associated with the release of metallic elements. Many clinicians remain unconcerned about such issue, and there is currently no international standards for the evaluation of biological response to implant wear particles.
What this study adds
This opinion article provides a concise summary of the current evidence and shortcomings in the field, with the aim to raise awareness among dental implant providers
Book Review: Cosmodeism: A Worldview for the Space-Age: How an Evolutionary Cosmos is Creating God by Tsvi Bisk
Get PDFA review of Tsvi Bisk's 2024 work Cosmodeism: A Worldview for the Space-Age: How an Evolutionary Cosmos is Creating God featured in the Journal of Astronist Studies and reviewed by Cometan
Family portraits in Victorian Lancashire
No full textIn Paris in August 1839, the French government revealed a gift free of charge that would change the world forever. This gift was the daguerreotype process which had been invented by artist Louis Daguerre who used an iodine-sensitised silvered plate and mercury vapour to create some of the world’s earliest photographs and soon afterwards commercial photography was born. The trend of taking photographs spread quickly across the English Channel, but competition was fierce over the next several decades to develop new methods of creating clearer images for less expense and with reduced exposure times. Victorian society embraced the technology of photography and much of the work conducted by family historians today revolves around identifying relatives in nineteenth and early twentieth century photographs. This article explores the history of portrait photography followed by an analysis of the ambrotype, tintype, cartes de visite and cartes postale found in the collection of the Moon/Prescott family from Lancashire which will provide a practical guide to dating and interpreting antique photographs