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International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB)
Get PDFPosition Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on an analysis of the literature regarding the effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB). The following 12 points have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: 1. HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine that is naturally produced in both humans and other animals. Two forms of HMB have been studied: Calcium HMB (HMB-Ca) and a free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA). HMB-FA appears to lead to increased appearance of HMB in the bloodstream when compared to HMB-Ca, though recent results are mixed. 2. The available safety/toxicity data suggest that chronic HMB-Ca and HMB-FA consumption are safe for oral HMB supplementation in humans up to at least one year. 3. There are no negative effects of HMB-Ca and HMB-FA on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in humans. There may be improvements in glucose metabolism in younger adults. 4. The primary mode of action of HMB appears to be through its dual mechanism to enhance muscle protein synthesis and suppress muscle protein breakdown. HMB’s activation of mTORC1 is independent of the leucine-sensing pathway (Sestrin2-GATOR2 complex). 5. HMB may help reduce muscle damage and promote muscle recovery, which can promote muscle growth/repair. HMB may also have anti-inflammatory effects, which could contribute to reducing muscle damage and soreness. 6. HMB consumption in close proximity to an exercise bout may be beneficial to increase muscle protein synthesis and attenuate the inflammatory response. HMB can provide a beneficial physiological effect when consumed both acutely and chronically in humans. 7. Daily HMB supplementation (38 mg/kg body weight) in combination with exercise training may improve body composition through increasing lean mass and/or decreasing fat mass with benefits in participants across age, sex, and training status. The most pronounced of these improvements in body composition with HMB have been observed in studies with robust resistance training programs and dietary control. 8. HMB may improve strength and power in untrained individuals, but its performance benefits in trained athletes are mixed and increase with an increase in study duration (\u3e6 weeks). HMB’s beneficial effects on athletic performance are thought to be driven by improved recovery. 9. HMB supplementation appears to potentially have a positive impact on aerobic performance, especially in trained athletes. The mechanisms of the effects are unknown. 10. HMB supplementation may be important in a non-exercising sedentary and aging population to improve muscle strength, functionality, and muscle quality. The effects of HMB supplementation with exercise are varied, but the combination may have a beneficial effect on the treatment of age-associated sarcopenia under select conditions. 11. HMB may be effective in countering muscle disuse atrophy during periods of inactivity due to illness or injury. The modulation of mitochondrial dynamics and lipid metabolism by HMB may be a potential mechanism for preventing disuse atrophy and aiding rehabilitation beyond HMB’s effects on rates of muscle protein synthesis and degradation. 12. The efficacy of HMB in combination with certain nutrients may be enhanced under select conditions
Representation of South Asians in U.S. American Children’s Picture Books
Get PDFOne potential cause of racism against South Asian Americans in school could be the lack of authentic representation of South Asians in the media. A method to properly depict them is via children’s picture books, which can be used to explore different cultures within the classroom. I examined the current landscape of American children’s picture books that depict South Asians and found that the most authentic portrayals included characters embracing certain holidays or traditions. Additionally, I researched issues that affect the South Asian community, one of which includes the stigmatization of mental health. Drawing on my own experiences, I wrote a manuscript for a children’s picture book that featured a character experiencing anxiety while celebrating a holiday often celebrated by South Asian Muslims: Eid al-Fitr. This manuscript is meant to portray South Asians in a nuanced manner while also normalizing issues some of them may face
Examining Physiological Responses to Misophonic Triggers
Get PDFWe collected and analyzed an array of biosignals (face electromyogram, skin electrodermal activity, peripheral temperature, and electrocardiogram) in 60 participants with and without misophonia, a condition characterized by decreased tolerance to innocuous sounds. Our goal was to objectively characterize the physiological response to misophonia triggering sounds. We found that misophonic responses can be objectively identified in some cases through atypical physiological reactions to triggering stimuli, though not all participants exhibited this response. Our analyses suggest a large interindividual variability in response to misophonic triggers and highlights the need for methodological adjustments in future experiments to increase the detectability of misophonic reactions
An Evaluation of Exercise-Related Self-Efficacy Metrics Following a Resistance Training Program in Individuals Treated for Cancer
Get PDFAs the number of cancer survivors grows, managing treatment side effects and promoting healthy behaviors like physical activity is crucial. Low exercise self-efficacy, an individual\u27s belief in their capability to perform exercise, is a significant barrier to physical activity adherence. This study assessed if an 8-week supervised resistance training program could improve self-efficacy for exercise (SEE) and outcome expectations of exercise (OEE) in individuals treated for cancer. Participants (n=25) attended twice-weekly, one-hour sessions. SEE and OEE scales were administered pre- and post-intervention. Results indicated a significant increase in SEE scores (mean difference = 8.96 ± 19.87, p = 0.041), demonstrating an enhanced belief by participants in their ability to exercise. However, OEE scores showed no significant change (mean difference = -1.92 ± 5.79, p = 0.80). These findings suggest that structured resistance training effectively boosts perceived ability to exercise in individuals treated for cancer, which is vital for initiating and maintaining physical activity. While SEE improved, positively influencing beliefs about exercise benefits (OEE) may require different or longer interventions. Resistance training is a valuable tool in the field of cancer survivorship care to promote increased self-efficacy and adherence to physical activity regimens to combat the side effects of cancer treatment
National Anthems as Nation-Building Tools
Get PDFIn order to develop national identity and encourage popular loyalty and devotion, countries adopt national symbols, including national anthems. This study supplements existing literature by synthesizing case studies and performing a comparative analysis. I examine the histories and contents of eight countries’ national anthems: the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Mexico, Egypt, South Africa, Japan, and Russia. I group the countries into three groups: colonial powers, post-colonial states, and countries that experienced dramatic regime changes in the 20th century. Through this framework, I am able to draw contrasts between similar countries and explore possible explanations for discrepancies between anthems. My results indicate that national anthems are both influenced by and levy influence on the nation-state. A change in a country’s national anthem is almost always linked to a change in regime or in the prevailing political agenda of leaders. Examples of the utility of anthems include using them to appeal to a source of legitimacy such as a divine monarchy, promoting an ideology among the masses, and increasing loyalty to the state
Methods Comparison for Collecting Subjective Valence and Arousal Judgements
No full textHuman emotion and affect are critical for regulating behavior, guiding decision-making and facilitating social communications. In everyday language, emotion and affect are interchangeable. However, in psychology, they are conceptualized as two distinct constructs. Emotion refers to discrete, prototypical subjective experiences elicited by specific stimuli. Affect, in contrast, refers to more elementary feelings that can be described along two continuous dimensions: valence (positive-negative) and arousal (low-high). According to the circumplex model (Russell, 1980), emotion can be represented within a two-dimensional core affective space defined by valence and arousal. Although valence and arousal are conceptually interrelated, most studies measure them separately using discrete Likert scales or pictorial tools. Some studies have adopted a valence-by-arousal grid to capture simultaneous measurements, yet systematic validation is needed to ensure that the grid’s axes accurately reflect the core affective dimensions underlying discrete emotions. This study compared the use of a pictorial 9x9 valence-by-arousal grid and multidimensional scaling methods to collect affective data. All 32 participants were presented with 50 mental imagery prompts and rated “how they feel about their imagery” (affective-focused) and “what they know about the prompt” (semantic-focused) using the grid. Participants also rated their experienced emotions based on 12 emotional words on a 5-point Likert scale. Data from participants showed a similarity in the two approaches. Multidimensional scaling offers flexibility to study multiple dimensions of affect, making it ideal for exploratory research, but demands more time and data. The valence-by-arousal grid allows for quicker data collection with similar results but limits to the fixed dimensions of valence and arousal
Addressing Gaps in Access: Examining Language Barrier Accommodations in Medicaid Member Handbooks, 2015-2019
No full textObjective: This study examines the linguistic accessibility of Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) handbooks from 2015 to 2019 by analyzing the instructions provided to access interpreter and written translation services. Trends were compared over time, considering state and plan-level factors that impact equitable healthcare access for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) enrollees.
Methods: A systematic search using manual efforts and FOIA requests located all publicly available Medicaid handbooks from 2015-2019 (N=657) across 39 states with comprehensive MCO plans. These handbooks were coded by independent reviewers to assess the study outcome variables. Random mixed-effects logistic and linear regression models were conducted to analyze factors associated with LBA, including handbook characteristics, state-level factors, and MCO-plan factors.
Results: From 2015 to 2019, MCO handbooks providing non-English interpreter service instructions rose from 50.42% to 91.07%, while those offering non-English written translation service instructions increased from 62.75% to 90.10%. The average number of non-English languages offered also increased from about four to 14, with these instructions increasingly being placed in more accessible locations of the handbook. Accommodations were more likely in Medicaid expansion states and large-enrollment plans, but less likely in for-profit MCOs, higher LEP states, and mixed-partisan states (p\u3c 0.05).
Conclusions: Although language barrier accommodations have improved nationally, values for these measures indicate remaining gaps for millions of enrollees. Stronger policy efforts are needed to expand language accessibility and reduce disparities in healthcare access, particularly for diverse linguistic states with a large LEP population
The Contribution of Individual Movements to the Learning of a Movement Sequence
No full textThis thesis explores how the overall learning of a motor sequence through repeated practice is impacted by the individual movement’s components. Changes seen in the response time, peak velocity, and the hand path distance were examined whilst considering the Fitts’s ID and inertial demands of the individual movements. During data collection, twenty-four right-handed participants completed a series of repeated and random reaching movements that varied in direction and distance in a 3D virtual environment. When considering only the repeated sequences, the results indicated significant improvement in both the hand path distance and response time across all target combos, specifically Target combo 3 and Target combo 4. Peak velocity’s improvement was found to be dependent on the movement’s length and complexity components. The more difficult sequences, which had higher Fitts’s IDs and inertial demands, had higher levels of improvement in the peak velocity than the “simpler” movements. These results suggest that reach direction, reach distance, and other movement specific factors can impact sequence learning and has the potential to improve specific rehabilitation programs focused on motor learning. Those recovering from neurological disabilities or injuries, such as stoke patients, would be a group that could benefit from further research on this topic
Father\u27s Circle
No full textAn abusive Father and musically-inclined son go on a roadtrip through time and discover their universal connection