Four-week Training Program Research Articles

Coupling an elastic resistance band to a selectorized resistance machine improves 1-RM bicep curl strength via accommodated resistance training

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of using a selectorized resistance machine with and without the use of elastic resistance bands on bicep strength. Sixty-six participants (30 females) completed a four-week training program exercising thrice weekly. Participants were blinded and randomly allocated to either one of the two intervention groups using an elastic band of 30 lb (EB30) or 50 lb (EB50) coupled to the selectorized resistance machine or the control group using only the selectorized resistance machine (CONT). Standard anthropometric measures and one repetition maximum (1-RM) for the cable bicep curl were measured before and after completing the training program. Although all groups demonstrated significant increases in 1-RM bicep strength, both the EB30 and EB55 groups exhibited higher strength gains than CONT. Furthermore, the EB55 group showed an increase in strength approximately 10% higher than that of EB 30. These results suggest that using EB resistance in conjunction with a conventional selectorized machine can augment strength gains in the biceps.

An intelligent grasper to provide real-time force feedback to shorten the learning curve in laparoscopic training

BackgroundA lack of force feedback in laparoscopic surgery often leads to a steep learning curve to the novices and traditional training system equipped with force feedback need a high educational cost. This study aimed to use a laparoscopic grasper providing force feedback in laparoscopic training which can assist in controlling of gripping forces and improve the learning processing of the novices.MethodsFirstly, we conducted a pre-experiment to verify the role of force feedback in gripping operations and establish the safe gripping force threshold for the tasks. Following this, we proceeded with a four-week training program. Unlike the novices without feedback (Group A2), the novices receiving feedback (Group B2) underwent training that included force feedback. Finally, we completed a follow-up period without providing force feedback to assess the training effect under different conditions. Real-time force parameters were recorded and compared.ResultsIn the pre-experiment, we set the gripping force threshold for the tasks based on the experienced surgeons’ performance. This is reasonable as the experienced surgeons have obtained adequate skill of handling grasper. The thresholds for task 1, 2, and 3 were set as 0.731 N, 1.203 N and 0.938 N, respectively. With force feedback, the gripping force applied by the novices with feedback (Group B1) was lower than that of the novices without feedback (Group A1) (p < 0.005). During the training period, the Group B2 takes 6 trails to achieve gripping force of 0.635 N, which is lower than the threshold line, whereas the Group A2 needs 11 trails, meaning that the learning curve of Group B2 was significantly shorter than that of Group A2. Additionally, during the follow-up period, there was no significant decline in force learning, and Group B2 demonstrated better control of gripping operations. The training with force feedback received positive evaluations.ConclusionOur study shows that using a grasper providing force feedback in laparoscopic training can help to control the gripping force and shorten the learning curve. It is anticipated that the laparoscopic grasper equipped with FBG sensor is promising to provide force feedback during laparoscopic training, which ultimately shows great potential in laparoscopic surgery.

The effectiveness of a training program on perceptions of caring culture among Turkish nurses: A quasi-experimental trial.

To assess the effectiveness of a training program on perceptions of caring culture among Turkish nurses and investigate the relationships among caring culture, job satisfaction, and intention to leave. Every organisation has its on culture with its vairous components including values, symbols, practices and policies. Healthcare organizations need a favorable caring culture to support nurses and other professional working in the organisation. This was a quasi-experimental trial of an educational intervention conducted between October and December 2020 at a university hospital in Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of 86 nurses. A four-week training program based on caring culture was provided for the training group. The data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Turkish version of the Caring Culture Survey, and the Job Satisfaction Scale. Intention to leave was measured with a single question. The mean total caring culture and personal caring scores of the training group were significantly higher after the training than before (p<0.05). There were significant positive correlations between the mean caring culture total and subscale scores of the participants and their total job satisfaction scores. Besides, there were significant negative correlations between the caring culture total and subscale scores of the participants and their intentions to leave, but these relationships were weak or moderate (p<0.05). This training program based on caring culture can contribute to improving the caring culture perceptions of nurses. Caring culture is positively related to job satisfaction and negatively related to intentions to leave. Healthcare organizations should prioritize creating a caring culture and designing initiatives that focus on caring culture. The perceptions of nurses about caring culture should be measured and identified regularly.

Effects of Concurrent High-Intensity and Strength Training on Muscle Power and Aerobic Performance in Young Soccer Players during the Pre-Season.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate two different intervention programs applied during a 4-week pre-season period. Twenty-nine players participated in this study and were divided into two groups. One group (BallTrain, n = 12, age: 17.8 ± 0.4 years, body mass: 73.9 ± 7.6 kg, height: 178 ± 0.1 cm, body fat: 9.6 ± 5.3%) performed a higher percentage of aerobic training with ball and strength training using plyometrics and exercises with body weight. The other group (HIITTrain, n = 17, age: 17.8 ± 0.7 years, body mass: 73.3 ± 5.0 kg, height: 179 ± 0.1 cm, body fat: 8.0 ± 2.3%) trained with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) without the ball and performed resistance training with weights in the same session. Both groups trained for strength (two times/week) and performed aerobic-anaerobic fitness without the ball, passing games, and tactical and small-sided games. Lower limb power (CMJ) and aerobic fitness (Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1-IR1) were evaluated before and after the four-week training program. Yo-Yo IR1 performance was improved in both groups, but the improvement was greater for the HIITTrain than BallTrain group (468 ± 180 vs. 183 ± 177 m, p = 0.07). CMJ showed a non-significant improvement in the BallTrain group (5.8 ± 8.8%, p = 0.16), but it decreased by 8.1 ± 9% (p = 0.001), in the HIITTrain group. In conclusion, we have shown that a short pre-season period of training results in improvements in aerobic fitness in both groups, with high-intensity interval training showing superior adaptations than training with the ball. However, CMJ performance was reduced in this group, possibly suggesting higher fatigue levels and overload, and/or showing the effects of concurrent HIITTrain and strength training in soccer.

Effect of four-week home-based exercise program on immune response, fat and muscle mass in subjects recovered from COVID-19.

A rehabilitation program for patients with COVID-19 may be required to improve related side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a four-week home workout on body composition and serum levels of IL-6 and cortisol in men recovering from COVID-19. The present study is quasi-experimental. To this end, 45 healthy individuals in Tehran were purposefully divided into three groups: those who recovered after COVID-19 (n=30), including two groups of exercise and non-exercise, and individuals who did not have COVID-19 (control) (15=n). The four-week training program included three days of training per week with Traband resistance stretches, weight body training, and cardio exercises. The smirnov-Kolmogorov test was employed for data normality. A one-way analysis of variance test will be used to compare both the mean of variables in groups and the mean of variables before and after the exercise, correlated t-test was employed at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that serum levels of interleukin 6 and cortisol were significantly reduced in the recovered training group (p=0.001) and the non-trained recovery group (p=0.001) and a significant difference was observed between the groups (p=0.001). Furthermore, only in the recovered training group, did the fat percentage (p=0.001) and muscle mass (p=0.001) respectively decreased and increased. Four-week home training improves body composition by reducing body fat percentage and increasing muscle mass. In addition, lowering interleukin-6 and cortisol leads to reduced inflammation, faster recovery, and increased immunity.

Cognitive training enhances growth mindset in children through plasticity of cortico-striatal circuits

Growth mindset, the belief that one’s abilities can improve through cognitive effort, is an important psychological construct with broad implications for enabling children to reach their highest potential. However, surprisingly little is known about malleability of growth mindset in response to cognitive interventions in children and its neurobiological underpinnings. Here we address critical gaps in our knowledge by investigating behavioral and brain changes in growth mindset associated with a four-week training program designed to enhance foundational, academically relevant, cognitive skills in 7–10-year-old children. Cognitive training significantly enhanced children’s growth mindset. Cross-lagged panel analysis of longitudinal pre- and post-training data revealed that growth mindset prior to training predicted cognitive abilities after training, providing support for the positive role of growth mindset in fostering academic achievement. We then examined training-induced changes in brain response and connectivity associated with problem solving in relation to changes in growth mindset. Children’s gains in growth mindset were associated with increased neural response and functional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, striatum, and hippocampus, brain regions crucial for cognitive control, motivation, and memory. Plasticity of cortico-striatal circuitry emerged as the strongest predictor of growth mindset gains. Taken together, our study demonstrates that children’s growth mindset can be enhanced by cognitive training, and elucidates the potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying its malleability. Findings provide important insights into effective interventions that simultaneously promote growth mindset and learning during the early stages of cognitive development.

The Positive Effects on Volleyball Receiving Skills When Training with Lighter Balls

The purpose of this study was to investigate the receiving ability and efficacy of volleyball players, which can be effectively improved after practicing with volleyballs of different weights. In this study, 36 elite male volleyball players were recruited and participated in a four-week training program in four groups: a lighter-ball training group (LBTG), a heavier-ball training group (HBTG), a normal-ball training group (NBTG), and a control group (CG). All subjects were required to evaluate their receiving ability during the initial training (week-0) and then to reevaluate it after two (week-2) and four (week-4) weeks of training. The statistical analysis revealed that the time factor (F2, 64 = 209.346, p &lt; 0.001) and the time × group factor (F6, 64 = 17.463, p &lt; 0.001) were significant but the group factor (F3, 32 = 0.340, p = 0.797) was not. The results revealed that the LBTG experienced a significant positive effect on the receiving test after four weeks of training, with an 8.6% improvement in skill performance after two weeks and a 16.4% improvement after four weeks. The HBTG, NBTG, and CG improved by 2.6%, 5.3%, and 3.8% after two weeks and by 6.3%, 9.3%, and 4.3% after four weeks, respectively. The main findings were that four weeks of volleyball training with a lighter ball resulted in significant improvements in player performance. In contrast, training with a ball with 70 g of added mass did not effectively enhance motor ability development.

EHealth Literacy: From Theory to Clinical Application for Digital Health Improvement. Results from the ACCESS Training Experience.

Skills, knowledge, and awareness of digital and technological tools are essential to improve the state of well-being and health of older adults and also to mitigate the condition of social isolation in the aging process. For this reason, it is necessary to implement a social learning of electronic/digital tools for health of older people to support the achievement of eHealth and digital competences. The paper reports the results of an Italian innovative eHealth training for the European project ACCESS. The training has been based on blended didactical and interactive educational techniques, aimed at collecting as many points of view as possible from older adults. A total of 58 older adults were recruited to attend a four-week training program, which included five modules. The results showed a statistical significant difference between the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) mean value before and after the course. A significant negative correlation was found between eHEALS and positive/total Survey of Technology Use (SOTU), suggesting an inverse relationship between positive/total SOTU and eHEALS. There is a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between satisfaction with the training and eHEALS. The results indicate that the intervention increased the digital competences of participants connected to health.

Commercial Brain Training: Efficacy, Transfer Effects, and the Influence of Personality Traits: A Study Conducted on Healthy Young Adults.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of a four-week working memory (WM) and attention training program using commercial brain training (Synaptikon GmbH, Berlin). Sixty young healthy adults were assigned to the experimental and active control training programs. The training was conducted in a naturalistic home-based setting, while the pre- and post-examinations were conducted in a controlled laboratory setting. Transfer effects to an untrained WM task and to an untrained episodic memory task were examined. Furthermore, possible influences of personality, i.e., the five-factor model (FFM) traits and need for cognition (NFC), on training outcomes were examined. Additionally, the direct relationship between improvement in single trained tasks and improvement in the transfer tasks was investigated. Our results showed that both training groups significantly increased performance in the WM task, but only the WM training group increased their performance in the episodic memory transfer task. One of the training tasks, a visuospatial WM task, was particularly associated with improvement in the episodic memory task. Neuroticism and conscientiousness showed differential effects on the improvement in training and transfer tasks. It needs to be further examined whether these effects represent training effects or, for example, retest/practice or motivation effects.

From task-based training to task-based instruction: Novice language teachers’ experiences and perspectives

This study investigated the relationship between task-based teacher training and novice English language teachers’ cognitions and implementations of tasks in Honduran bilingual schools. After participating in a four-week training program on task-based language teaching, teachers with little or no prior teaching experience designed task-based lessons and were video-recorded implementing those lessons with English language learners ages 5 to 12. Following the classroom observation, teachers participated in a stimulated recall interview. A rubric aligned with 10 key principles of task-based language teaching (TBLT) as outlined by Long (2015) was used to rate teachers’ performance and code stimulated recalls. Ratings of video observations showed varied success in TBLT implementation after training, with some teachers’ lessons clearly aligned with key TBLT principles, and others relying on focus on forms strategies. Analysed data also uncovered a link between previous training and teaching experiences and the success of teachers’ implementations. Stimulated recalls showed that teachers focused primarily on maintaining a cooperative learning environment, and less on reactive aspects of TBLT such as providing corrective feedback. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for teachers and teacher training programs seeking to implement TBLT as an approach to language teaching.

Blood flow restriction during the resting periods of high-intensity resistance training does not alter performance but decreases MIR-1 and MIR-133A levels in human skeletal muscle

Blood flow restriction (BFR) during exercise bouts has been used to induce hypertrophy of skeletal muscle, even with low loads. However, the effects of BFR during the rest periods between sets are not known. We have tested the hypothesis that BFR during rest periods between sets of high-intensity resistance training would enhance performance. Twenty-two young adult male university students were recruited for the current study, with n = 11 assigned to BFR and n = 11 to a control group. The results revealed that four weeks training at 70% of 1 RM, five sets and 10 repetitions, three times a week with and without BFR, resulted in similar progress in maximal strength and in the number of maximal repetitions. The miR-1 and miR-133a decreased significantly in the vastus lateralis muscle of BFR group compared to the group without BFR, while no significant differences in the levels of miR133b, miR206, miR486, and miR499 were found between groups. In conclusion, it seems that BFR restrictions during rest periods of high-intensity resistance training, do not provide benefit for enhanced performance after a four-week training program. However, BFR-induced downregulation of miR-1 and miR-133a might cause different adaptive responses of skeletal muscle to high intensity resistance training.

A FOUR-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM WITH THE NORDIC HAMSTRING EXERCISE DURING PRESEASON INCREASES ECCENTRIC STRENGTH OF MALE SOCCER PLAYERS

The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is an effective strategy to prevent hamstring strain injuries in soccer players. The current literature recommends a 10-week training program with three sessions per week, but the short preseason period and the congested schedule make difficult for high-performance soccer teams to apply the NHE as recommended. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pragmatic NHE training program during a four-week preseason period on eccentric knee flexor strength of high-performance soccer players. Quasi-experimental clinical trial. This study included 25 under-20 male soccer players from a premier league club. They performed eight sessions of NHE (3 sets of 6-10 repetitions, twice a week) during the four-week preseason period. The eccentric knee flexor strength was evaluated during the NHE execution on a custom-made device, before and after the training program. The NHE training program significantly increased the players' eccentric knee flexor strength in both right (Δ = 13%; p<0.001; effect size = 0.97) and left limbs (Δ = 13%; p<0.001; effect size = 0.92). Individual analysis identified 76% of the players as responders to the NHE training program (Δ = 16%; effect size = 1.60), and 24% as non-responders (Δ = 3%; effect size = 0.24). A four-week training program with NHE performed twice a week is feasible in the real-world of high-performance soccer clubs and increases the eccentric knee flexor strength of male soccer players.

Determining effectiveness of a multi-component oral health education program model for preschool children

Aim: To develop a valid measurement tool that can evaluate oral and dental health knowledge and to create a program model of oral and dental health education by using different training methods that reinforce each other.Material and Methods: The developed scale for validity and reliability study was applied to 163 kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students. The Scale Oral Health Knowledge for 5-8 Age Children was used in the evaluation of education. In the four-week training program, pre-test with scale, oral and dental health visual training presentations, parent education, healthy food package distribution, creative drama training, toothbrush and paste dissipation and post-test with scale were applied.Results: The scale developed consisted of 10 items and the KR-20 reliability was calculated as 0.71 and the internal consistency coefficient was calculated as 0.70. In the results of the study, there was a significant difference in favor of the last test in the experimental group (z = 4.46, p 05). Conclusion: The Scale Oral Health Knowledge for 5-8 Age Children is a valid and reliable scale. The “Multi-Component Oral Health Education Programme” is an evaluable, necessary and effective program. In order to provide a permanent oral hygiene education, it is important to use training program preparation by a multidisciplinary team different training methods and materials that reinforce each other over a long period of time and to evaluate the adequacy of education.

Effect of a Standardized Four-Week Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning Training Program on Pre-Existing Veterinary Fear in Companion Dogs.

Simple SummaryReducing veterinary fear in dogs is important for canine health and welfare. It is commonly suggested that dog owners perform counter-conditioning and desensitization training to reduce veterinary fear levels, yet the efficacy of this training has not been evaluated. We recruited owned dogs with pre-existing fear and conducted mock veterinary appointments before and after training to assess changes in fear responses. Owners of dogs in the training group (n = 15) were instructed to perform exam-style handling and to visit the veterinary clinic on a weekly basis for four weeks, and owners of control dogs (n = 22) received no instructions. Compliance to training protocols was poor, with 44% of owners non-compliant to the training program. We found that, during the examination, trained dogs had less reduced posture than control dogs, but trained dogs showed more lip licking during clinic entrance and examination. Owners reported an observable improvement in their dog’s fear levels across the training sessions, and general fear scores lowered during the second examination for trained dogs. We suggest that, although few behavioural indicators of fear changed in the predicted direction, veterinarians should continue to recommend this training until further research is conducted.Many dogs show signs of fear during veterinary appointments. It is widely recommended to use desensitization and counter-conditioning training to reduce this fear. However, the efficacy of this method for reducing veterinary fear has not been examined. We assessed the effect of a standardized four-week training program on behavioural and physiological signs of fear in dogs with pre-existing veterinary fear. Owned dogs were randomly allocated to receive training (n = 15) or no training (n = 22; Control). Owners of dogs in the training group were instructed to perform exam-style handling on their dog and to visit the veterinary clinic weekly. Owners of control dogs were given no instructions. Fear responses were assessed before and after the training period by a blinded observer during clinic arrival and examination. Despite motivated owners volunteering to participate in the current study, 44% of owners were non-compliant to this training program. During examination, control dogs had higher odds (95% confidence Interval (CI)) of reduced posture compared to trained dogs (Odds ratio (OR): 3.79, CI: 1.03–16.3). Fear scores for trained dogs lowered during the second examination (p = 0.046), and 86.7% of dog owners reported a reduction in their dog’s fear levels across the training period (p = 0.007). When entering the clinic (p = 0.002) and during examination (p = 0.002), trained female dogs had a higher rate of lip licking than control females. The training program did not influence temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, avoidance, trembling, vocalizations, or willingness and encouragement to step on the scale. Results suggest that this four-week training program was mildly effective at reducing veterinary fear in dogs. Further research is necessary to explore the efficacy of longer, more intensive, and individualized training programs.

Comparison of the Effect of Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery on Happiness and Fear of Childbirth in Primiparous Women Admitted to Health Care Centers

Objectives: Giving birth is a unique experience that requires a pregnant woman’s ability to cope with labor pain. Using happiness, this potential can be given to a pregnant woman. This study was performed to compare the effect of muscle relaxation and guided imagery on the happiness and fear of delivery in primiparous women. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on a sample 0f 180 primiparous women who referred to healthcare centers in Zahedan during 2017. The subjects were selected by the available sampling method. Then, Brislin’s and Oxford Questionnaires were used to evaluate the fear of childbirth (FOC) and happiness, respectively. Through simple randomization, people who were qualified were included in relaxation, guided imagery, and control groups. Finally, a four-week training program was implemented for individual training. Results: Before the intervention, the mean scores for the FOC in relaxation, guided imagery, and control groups were 39.51 ± 6.91, 44.00 ± 9.30, and 41.56 ± 9.37, respectively, and after the intervention, they were 30.45 ± 6.56, 34.78 ± 9.36 and 41.78 ± 8.69, respectively. Based on the results, the mean scores of the FOC after the intervention showed a significant difference among the groups (P=0.0001). In addition, the mean scores for happiness were 37.5 ± 15.54, 34.54 ± 17.72, and 36.78 ± 18.97, as well as 54.66 ± 14, 49.63 ± 17.05, and 36.65 ± 18.28 before and after the intervention in relaxation, guided imagery, and control groups, respectively (P=0.0001). Conclusions: To prevent unnecessary cesarean sections, the current study confirmed the effect of muscle relaxation and guided imagery techniques for reducing the fear of delivery while increasing happiness in pregnant women.

Family-based intervention using face-to-face sessions and social media to improve Malay primary school children\u2019s adiposity: a randomized controlled field trial of the Malaysian REDUCE programme

BackgroundSocial media may be an effective medium by which parents could be trained to promote healthy eating behaviour and physical activity for their children. This trial evaluates the effectiveness of a family-based intervention using social media in combination with face-to-face sessions - the REDUCE (REorganise Diet, Unnecessary sCreen time and Exercise) programme - on adiposity of Malay children.MethodsFive primary schools in an urban area in Selangor, Malaysia participated in this two-arm randomized controlled field trial. Participants were parents (n = 134) and their primary school-going children 8–11 years of age who were either overweight or obese. These parent-child dyads were randomly allocated to intervention and wait-list control groups and were blinded to group assignment. The intervention was a four-week training programme using two face-to-face sessions and two Facebook sessions followed by weekly booster sessions over a three-month period using WhatsApp. The primary outcome was body mass index (BMI) z-score. Height, body weight, waist circumference and percentage of body fat were measured by blinded assessors. Data were collected at baseline (T1), immediately post-training (T2) and at three- (T3) and six-month post training (T4) and were analysed using generalized linear mixed modelling adjusted for covariates to estimate the intervention effects. Subgroup analysis was conducted for overweight and obese children.ResultsNinety-one percent of parents completed the study, 64 in intervention group and 58 in wait-list group. At the sixth month post-training, BMI z-scores were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the wait-list group, for the all children (overweight and obese children) and within the obese subgroup ((F(6, 517) = 2.817, p = 0.010) and (F(6, 297) = 6.072, p < 0.001) respectively. For waist circumference percentile and body fat percentage, the intervention group experienced a significant reduction compared to the wait-list group, within the obese subgroup ((F(6, 297) = 3.998, p = 0.001) and within the overweight subgroup (F(6, 201) = 2.526, p = 0.022).ConclusionsThe four-month REDUCE intervention programme was effective in reducing childhood adiposity. Further research using this approach needs to be conducted including cost-effectiveness studies before implementing it in a child obesity prevention programme.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617000844347 (7 June 2017 retrospectively registered). National Medical Research Register, Ministry of Health Malaysia: NMRR-14-685-21,874 (July 2014).

The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Body Composition and Muscular Strength in College-Aged Individuals.

Scientific Abstract Sample BFR training utilizes workloads between 20-30% of an individual’s one repetition maximum, with one set of 30 reps, followed by 3 sets of 15 reps while incurring little to no muscle damage. Future research should be conducted to determine if BFR training is an effective training method. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of practical blood flow restriction training on body composition and muscular strength in college-aged individuals when compared to a traditional resistance training protocol. METHODS: This study consisted of two randomized groups, an experimental group (BFR), and a traditional resistance training (TRT) control group. The subject’s characteristics were (mean ± SD, N=9, 8 males, 1 female) age, 22.3 ± 1.6 years; height, 68.9 ±2.7 inches; weight, 183.7±40.4 lbs.; body fat percentage, 21.2±8.6. All participants completed pre-testing measures of girth of both arms and legs, upper chest, and shoulders. Body composition was determined using air displacement plethysmography via BodPod (COSMED USA, INC., Concord, CA) to determine fat free mass and body fat percentage. Maximal strength was assessed on the bench press and back squat to determine workloads during the training programs. Both groups completed a four-week training program consisting of both upper and lower body training. The BFR program consisted of four sets (1 set x 30 repetitions and 3 sets x 15 repetitions). Loads progressed from 20 to 32% of each person’s 1RM over the four weeks. The TRT program consisted of four sets with progressive loads of 65%, 75%, 80% and 85% with 15, 10, 8, and 6 repetitions respectively. Post testing measures followed the pre-testing regimen .regimen. Within and between group differences from pre topre-to post testing were determined via paired and independent t-tests. . RESULTS: No significant differences were found among any of the body composition measurements as well as squat performance. The BFR group demonstrated significantly greater increases in bench press performance (pre: 198 ±79 lbs.; post: 211±83 lbs.) after the training program (p=0.004) compared to the TRT group. CONCLUSION: In a limited sample, BFR training was shown to be a comparable training method when compared to traditional hypertrophy training. The findings were specific to increases in bench press performance.

Assessment at school – Teachers' diary-supported implementation of a training program

Forty-seven secondary school teachers participated in a four-week training program on assessment strategies. A subgroup of 15 teachers documented their implementation of the training content and rated their reflective practice in standardized diaries. Teachers most often applied techniques of trying to avoid judgment biases, followed by systematic observation. The higher teachers' self-reported use of reflection and the greater the frequency of open reflection in the diaries, the better teachers' assessment competence was afterwards. In conclusion, some strategies seem to be easier to implement than others, and diaries have the potential to be not only evaluation tools, but also “intervention boosters”.

Intensive opera training program effects: A psychological investigation

Opera singers face psychological and occupational demands that often compromise well-being and career satisfaction. In this repeated measures study, professional and pre-professional opera singers participated in either a two-week or four-week intensive training program that was designed to enhance performance skills. Curriculum was taught in an integrative and psychologically supportive environment where singers worked musically, dramatically, and physically without fear of criticism. The singers were evaluated at three time points, immediately preceding the training program, immediately following the completion of the program, and six months after the completion of the program. Results demonstrated that the singers in both the two-week and four-week groups increased their ability to achieve optimal performance, emotional regulation, and self-esteem, and decreased internalized shame, trait perfectionism, and trait anxiety. These findings are important given that opera singers are vulnerable to anxiety disorders and that their career is demanding and unpredictable.

Effectiveness of enteral feeding protocol on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: a study protocol for before-and-after design.

Enteral feed is an important component of nutritional therapy in critically ill patients and underfeeding has been associated with adverse outcomes. The article developed an enteral feeding protocol and planed a before-and-after comparative trial to explore whether implementation of enteral feeding protocol was able to improve clinical outcomes. The study will be conducted in intensive care units (ICUs) of ten tertiary care academic centers. Critically ill patients expected to stay in ICU for over 3 days and require enteral nutrition (EN) were potentially eligible. This is a before-and-after study comprising three phases: The first phase is the period without enteral feeding protocol; the second phase involves four-week training program, and the last phase is to perform the protocol in participating centers. We plan to enroll a total of 350 patients to provide an 80% power and 0.05 error rate to detect a 15% reduction of mortality. The primary outcome is 28-day mortality. Ethical approval to conduct the research has been obtained from all participating centers. Additionally, the results will be published in peer-reviewed journal. The study was registered at International Standard Registered Clinical/soCial sTudy Number (ISRCTN) registry (ISRCTN10583582).