Individual Strains Research Articles

Cutibacterium avidum: A Potent and Underestimated Pathogen in Prosthetic Hip Joint Infections.

Cutibacterium avidum has recently been reported as a rare cause of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs), contrary to Cutibacterium acnes, which is well established as a cause of PJIs, especially in shoulder arthroplasties. Two specific risk factors for PJI due to C. avidum have been reported: obesity and the skin incision approach. Here, we report four cases of hip PJIs caused by C. avidum admitted over a 30-month period at a single center. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the four C. avidum strains were all individual strains and did not originate from a common source, such as an outbreak. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that the isolates were fully susceptible, and none carried known antibiotic resistance genes. In conclusion, the occurrence of four cases of PJI caused by C. avidum over a limited time at a single center may indicate that this pathogen is underestimated and is either emerging or more common than previously recognized. The patients presented overt signs of infection during surgery, indicating that C. avidum is a virulent pathogen. None of the previously reported risk factors for C. avidum PJI applied to these patients as only one was obese and none were operated on using a direct anterior skin incision approach.

Bacterial consortium based on Pseudomonas fluorescens, Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus and Bacillus velezensis reduces clubroot disease in broccoli

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is the most devastating disease in Brassicaceae plants. Control of clubroot is limited because of the survival of resting spores of the pathogen in the soil for years. Crop rotation, liming of the soil, fungicides and resistant cultivars have not been totally efficient in reducing the damages of the disease or pathogen spread. Although biocontrol with microorganisms has shown potential against clubroot, the variable results when using individual strains have made implementation difficult. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine whether a consortium of selected beneficial microorganisms is more efficient in controlling clubroot in broccoli than single strains. Single strains of bacteria from the Lysinibacillus, Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera (5 × 107 cells ml−1) and Trichoderma spp. (1 × 106 conidia ml−1) were evaluated in an initial screening. Four strains showing the best performance on plant growth and reduction of clubroot were evaluated as consortia in a further experiment. Treatments were applied in nursery (4 ml plant−1), and to the soil one week before transplant and the day of transplant (60 ml plant−1 each time). Plant shoot and root dry weight and the incidence and severity of clubroot were recorded. Supernatant from liquid cultures of Pseudomonas migulae Pf014 and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus Br042, and washed cells of Bacillus velezensis Bs006 and B. pumilus Br019 promoted shoot growth of the plants. Single applications of Trichoderma asperellum Th034, Bs006, Br042 and Pseudomonas fluorescens Ps006 showed biocontrol potential against clubroot. However, the consortia built of Bs006, Br042 and Ps006 showed the highest reduction of clubroot incidence (78%) and severity (74%). A synergistic interaction by this consortium was found compared with the efficacy of single strains. To our knowledge, this work reports for the first time a consortium based on three rhizobacteria with high potential to control clubroot disease.

BASIC COMPUTING IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR IMPACTS IN EDUCATIONAL SCOPE

Nowadays we have to agree with the point that it is important to develop Basic Informatics in the school environment for the development and learning of students, therefore educational institutions have as their main role the integral training of individuals and citizens for the world, therefore, they always need to be offering tools and means that cover the skills and competencies necessary for this. TDICs (Digital Information and Communication Technology) have changed the way in which human beings work, communicate and learn, in the Educational field they have been incorporated in order to promote greater learning on the part of students. The objective of this study is analyze the importance of introducing Basic Informatics in Elementary Education, since this study was carried out at the Colégio Estadual de Tempo Integral do Município de Araguatins - TO in two stages, the first was observation where the degree of difficulty of students in different areas and the second stage in a practical way to address students' difficulties with technological tools in Special Education. Due to COVID-19, the entire academic population had to adapt to the conditions of remote classes and as a result, in some cases, we heard about online learning for the first time. It is notable how difficult it is for students to learn about the topic, so that the analyzes of each methodology used must always be considered. The results show that technologies are gaining more and more notoriety in society, in order to impact social relations, as well as the educational process, with the teacher being the main means with the responsibility of always innovating, in this way it will be possible to make students capable and qualified people to deal with advanced digital information.

Denial, Attention-Seeking, and Posting Online While Intoxicated: Three Key Predictors of Collegiate Sadfishing.

Sadfishing, or the exaggeration of one's emotional state online to generate sympathy, is a maladaptive behavior that can negatively affect mental health. A better understanding of the characteristics of individuals who sadfish could inform tailored interventions to decrease sadfishing and improve quality of life. However, to date, the phenomenon of sadfishing remains understudied. Thus, the current project was designed to identify some of the key psychological and behavioral characteristics that may be associated with sadfishing. Undergraduate college students (N = 374) recruited from introductory psychology courses at a large, Hispanic-serving institution completed an anonymous online survey assessing sadfishing and other online behaviors, psychological characteristics (coping, stress, resilience, and social support), and alcohol use. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. Results of the binary logistic regression analysis found that students who reported using denial as a coping strategy (p = 0.005), who endorsed the attention-seeking behaviors associated with histrionic personality disorder (p = 0.021), and who used social media while intoxicated (p = 0.017) were most likely to report sadfishing. This study furthers our knowledge of the maladaptive online behavior of sadfishing and identifies several key predictors that could become targets for tailored interventions. In particular, our results highlight the importance of coping skills training for individuals who sadfish.

A benchmarking study on existing communities of practice in higher education institutions: A comparison between Europe and US

ABSTRACT This study explores the establishment of communities of practice within teaching and learning centres (TLC) as strategies for advancing faculty development in higher education, examining their implementation in the US and Europe, with a specific focus on Italy. Utilising organisational benchmarking, we employed an explanatory, comparative, and best practice approach to map existing communities of practice within TLCs. Our sample included 334 centres in the US, 37 in Europe, and 13 in Italy. Findings reveal active communities, particularly in the US, attributed to a longer history of faculty development research within TLC initiatives. The prevalence of individual and formal training approaches highlights a need for increased cooperation strategies to build more cohesive communities of practice. These results align with past studies demonstrating the effectiveness of such communities, suggesting the potential for broader global networks.

Disgust-based approach-avoidance modification training for individuals suffering from elevated stress: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Perceived stress, a global health problem associated with various mental disorders, is assumed to be influenced by dysfunctional beliefs. It can be hypothesized that these beliefs can be modified with the help of approach-avoidance modification trainings (AAMTs). In the present study (conducted 2020-2022), we aimed to clarify whether the efficacy of AAMTs can be enhanced by utilizing the expression of emotions to move AAMT stimuli. For this purpose, we tested the feasibility and acceptability of a new AAMT paradigm in which the expression of disgust is used to move stress-increasing beliefs away from oneself and the expression of positive emotions is used to move stress-reducing beliefs towards oneself (AAMT-DP). Additionally, we explored the therapeutic potential of the AAMT-DP intervention by comparing it to an inactive control condition and to a conventional AAMT in which stimuli are moved by swipe movements (n=10 in each condition). The primary outcome was perceived stress 1week after the training as assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale. Findings indicate sufficient feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and that the decrease in perceived stress in the AAMT-DP condition was greater than in the inactive control condition (g=0.72 [0.10, 1.72]) and than in the swipe control condition (g=0.64 [0.01, 1.41]). In sum, findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and the therapeutic potential of the AAMT-DP intervention.

The Combined Effect of Robot-assisted Therapy and Activities of Daily Living Training on Upper Limb Recovery in Persons With Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of robot-assisted therapy (RAT) followed by activities of daily living (ADL) training in comparison with conventional rehabilitation therapy (CRT) and ADL training in individuals with subacute stroke. DesignA single-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group, open-level, randomized controlled trial. SettingA tertiary care teaching hospital in India. ParticipantsForty-four persons (n=44) with first-ever stroke (in subacute stage) were enrolled from August 2021 to July 2023. InterventionParticipants in the RAT group (n=22) received RAT for 30 minutes, followed by ADL training for 30 minutes. In contrast, participants in the CRT group (n=22) received CRT (30 minutes) followed by ADL training (30 minutes). Both groups received allocated interventions for 15 days over 3 weeks (5 days/week, 3 weeks). Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcome: Motor domain score of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale for upper extremity (FMA-UE). Secondary outcomes: the other domains scores of FMA-UE (UL -sensation, -joint motions, -joint pain); Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) (spasticity); hand-function (HF) and ADL-domain scores of the stroke impact scale (SIS); WHOQQL-BREF questionnaires (QOL). Participants were assessed at enrolment and follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 weeks. ResultsPersons who received RAT and ADL training reported significant improvement (P<.05) in UL motor function (mean difference [MD]=3.54;(95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28 to 5.79]), UL passive joint motions (MD=2.54; [95% CI: 1.56 to 3.52]), SIS-HF (MD=6.37;[95% CI: 4.75 to 7.99]), SIS-ADL (MD=7.13 [95% CI: 3.52 to 8.74]), and in all domains of WHOQOL-BREF (except environmental domain) compared with persons who received CRT and ADL training at 12 weeks. ConclusionsThe findings indicate that RAT followed by ADL training is more effective than CRT followed by ADL training in motor improvement, SIS-HF, SIS-ADL, and QOL at 12 weeks.

A numerical study of dehydration induced fracture toughness degradation in human cortical bone

A 2D plane strain extended finite element method (XFEM) model was developed to simulate three-point bending fracture toughness tests for human bone conducted in hydrated and dehydrated conditions. Bone microstructures and crack paths observed by micro-CT imaging were simulated using an XFEM damage model. Critical damage strains for the osteons, matrix, and cement lines were deduced for both hydrated and dehydrated conditions and it was found that dehydration decreases the critical damage strains by about 50%. Subsequent parametric studies using the various microstructural models were performed to understand the impact of individual critical damage strain variations on the fracture behavior. The study revealed the significant impact of the cement line critical damage strains on the crack paths and fracture toughness during the early stages of crack growth. Furthermore, a significant sensitivity of crack growth resistance and crack paths on critical strain values of the cement lines was found to exist for the hydrated environments where a small change in critical strain values of the cement lines can alter the crack path to give a significant reduction in fracture resistance. In contrast, in the dehydrated state where toughness is low, the sensitivity to changes in critical strain values of the cement lines is low. Overall, our XFEM model was able to provide new insights into how dehydration affects the micromechanisms of fracture in bone and this approach could be further extended to study the effects of aging, disease, and medical therapies on bone fracture.

Barriers and facilitators for physical fitness training in orthopedic geriatric rehabilitation. A qualitative study

Purpose The aim of this explorative, qualitative study is to identify factors that potentially influence the execution of physical fitness training in inpatient orthopedic geriatric rehabilitation (GR), from the perspectives of patients, their relatives and professionals. Materials and methods In GR wards of skilled nursing facilities in the Netherlands, semi-structured interviews were held with triads of patients, their relatives and responsible nurses, and focus groups with members of the multidisciplinary teams. Verbatim reports were analyzed according to the framework method. Results We found twelve categories of barriers and facilitators related to characteristics of the patients, their family, staff, training program and organization. Conclusions The barriers and facilitators found largely correspond with those found for participation in exercise in related settings, but also show important differences. This overview of barriers and facilitators enables multidisciplinary teams to design improvements at the level of the organization and interventions, as well as at the level of the individual training program, tailoring it to the patient’s circumstances and needs. Further research should focus on weighing these barriers and facilitators to develop a feasible guidance for daily practice, as well as testing their effect on the adherence to existing physical fitness training guidelines.

Fine tuned personalized machine learning models to detect insomnia risk based on data from a smart bed platform.

Insomnia causes serious adverse health effects and is estimated to affect 10-30% of the worldwide population. This study leverages personalized fine-tuned machine learning algorithms to detect insomnia risk based on questionnaire and longitudinal objective sleep data collected by a smart bed platform. Users of the Sleep Number smart bed were invited to participate in an IRB approved study which required them to respond to four questionnaires (which included the Insomnia Severity Index; ISI) administered 6 weeks apart from each other in the period from November 2021 to March 2022. For 1,489 participants who completed at least 3 questionnaires, objective data (which includes sleep/wake and cardio-respiratory metrics) collected by the platform were queried for analysis. An incremental, passive-aggressive machine learning model was used to detect insomnia risk which was defined by the ISI exceeding a given threshold. Three ISI thresholds (8, 10, and 15) were considered. The incremental model is advantageous because it allows personalized fine-tuning by adding individual training data to a generic model. The generic model, without personalizing, resulted in an area under the receiving-operating curve (AUC) of about 0.5 for each ISI threshold. The personalized fine-tuning with the data of just five sleep sessions from the individual for whom the model is being personalized resulted in AUCs exceeding 0.8 for all ISI thresholds. Interestingly, no further AUC enhancements resulted by adding personalized data exceeding ten sessions. These are encouraging results motivating further investigation into the application of personalized fine tuning machine learning to detect insomnia risk based on longitudinal sleep data and the extension of this paradigm to sleep medicine.

An evaluation of first responders’ intention to refer to post-overdose services following SHIELD training

BackgroundFirst responders [law enforcement officers (LEO) and Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS)] can play a vital prevention role, connecting overdose survivors to treatment and recovery services. This study was conducted to examine the effect of occupational safety and harm reduction training on first responders’ intention to refer overdose survivors to treatment, syringe service, naloxone distribution, social support, and care-coordination services, and whether those intentions differed by first responder profession.MethodsFirst responders in Missouri were trained using the Safety and Health Integration in the Enforcement of Laws on Drugs (SHIELD) model. Trainees’ intent to refer (ITR) overdose survivors to prevention and supportive services was assessed pre- and post-training (1–5 scale). A mixed model analysis was conducted to assess change in mean ITR scores between pre- and post-training, and between profession type, while adjusting for random effects between individual trainees and baseline characteristics.ResultsBetween December 2020 and January 2023, 742 first responders completed pre- and post-training surveys. SHIELD training was associated with higher first responders’ intentions to refer, with ITR to naloxone distribution (1.83–3.88) and syringe exchange (1.73–3.69) demonstrating the greatest changes, and drug treatment (2.94–3.95) having the least change. There was a significant increase in ITR score from pre- to post-test (β = 2.15; 95% CI 1.99, 2.30), and LEO—relative to Fire/EMS—had a higher score at pre-test (0.509; 95% CI 0.367, 0.651) but a lower score at post-test (0.148; 95% CI − 0.004, 0.300).ConclusionTraining bundling occupational safety with harm reduction content is immediately effective at increasing first responders’ intention to connect overdose survivors to community substance use services. When provided with the rationale and instruction to execute referrals, first responders are amenable, and their positive response highlights the opportunity for growth in increasing referral partnerships and collaborations. Further research is necessary to assess the extent to which ITR translates to referral behavior in the field.

Comparison of bupivacaine liposome injectable solution and fentanyl for postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing limb amputation.

The objectives of the study were to compare the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of two analgesic protocols consisting of bupivacaine liposome injectable solution (BLIS) and 0.5% bupivacaine and fentanyl for postsurgical analgesia in dogs undergoing limb amputation. Randomized, double-blind, prospective, controlled, intent-to-treat, clinical noninferiority trial. Forty client-owned dogs. Dogs undergoing amputation were randomly assigned to either the BLIS or control group. Postoperative pain, sedation, nausea, and amount eaten were assessed using appropriate scales at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h by trained individuals blinded to the treatment protocol. Rescue analgesia was provided for Glasgow composite measure pain scale (short form) (CMPS-SF) scores of 5 or above. Clients were requested to pain score their dogs at home using a visual analogue scale (VAS) for 48 h following discharge. Forty dogs completed this study (20 control dogs and 20 BLIS dogs). The BLIS and control groups were equivalent for sedation, nausea, amount eaten, and pain, at all time periods except at 6 h (p < .01), when the BLIS group pain score was lower. The BLIS provided equivalent analgesia with fewer adverse effects than fentanyl constant rate infusion (CRI) following limb amputation. Rescue analgesia was provided to five dogs in the BLIS group and four in the control group, and there was no statistical difference. Nausea scores did not differ statistically. As BLIS provides equivalent analgesia, this may allow for decreased reliance on opioids in the immediate postoperative period.

Optimizing Drought Resilience in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Through Synergistic Actions of Drought-Tolerant Rhizobacterial Strains and Brassinosteroids Hormone Application: A Jar Trial Study

&lt;p&gt;The study addresses the critical issue of water scarcity in agriculture, which causes significant losses by disrupting plant-water connections and increasing oxidative damage to biological components. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic potential of pre-isolated and identified exopolysaccharide-producing strains (ZE15 and ZE11) in combination with the drought-alleviating hormone Brassinosteroids (BR) to boost okra development under PEG-6000-induced drought stress. The experiment was carried out in a controlled environment at the Soil Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory. It used a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements and three replications. Individual rhizobacterial strains were evaluated and also used in a consortium (ZE15+ZE11) at two different Brassinosteroids (BR) concentrations (10-4 M and 10-8 M). The results showed that the consortium of (ZE15+ZE11) with foliar spray of BR (10-8 M) greatly increased okra production. Under both control and drought stress conditions, shoot length (37 and 34%), root length (41 and 40%), root surface area (32, 34%), and root volume (35 and 33%) improved significantly compared to the control group. Furthermore, this treatment demonstrated the most promising results in alleviating drought-induced oxidative damage by improving antioxidant defense mechanisms. Key enzyme activities, such as MDA (30 and 31%), GR (32 and 30%), SOD (36 and 37%), and CAT (31 and 34%), rose significantly under both control and drought stress conditions when compared to the control. To summarize, the use of drought-tolerant bacteria in concert with plant growth hormone provides a synergistic approach to mitigating the negative impacts of drought, resulting in considerable gains in okra growth and antioxidant defenses. This technique shows promise as a way to increase agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid areas.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

Quantifying how much host, pathogen, and other factors affect human protective adaptive immune responses.

Recognizing the "essential" factors that contribute to a clinical outcome is critical for designing appropriate therapies and prioritizing limited medical resources. Demonstrating a high correlation between a factor and an outcome does not necessarily imply an essential role of the factor to the outcome. Human protective adaptive immune responses to pathogens vary among (and perhaps within) pathogenic strains, human individual hosts, and in response to other factors. Which of these has an "essential" role? We offer three statistical approaches that predict the presence of newly contributing factor(s) and then quantify the influence of host, pathogen, and the new factors on immune responses. We illustrate these approaches using previous data from the protective adaptive immune response (cellular and humoral) by human hosts to various strains of the same pathogenic bacterial species. Taylor's law predicts the existence of other factors potentially contributing to the human protective adaptive immune response in addition to inter-individual host and intra-bacterial species inter-strain variability. A mixed linear model measures the relative contribution of the known variables, individual human hosts and bacterial strains, and estimates the summed contributions of the newly predicted but unknown factors to the combined adaptive immune response. A principal component analysis predicts the presence of sub-variables (currently not defined) within bacterial strains and individuals that may contribute to the combined immune response. These observations have statistical, biological, clinical, and therapeutic implications.

Bottom-up construction and screening of algae-bacteria consortia for pollutant biodegradation.

Microbial communities have been used as important biological tools for a variety of purposes associated with agriculture, the food industry and human health. Artificial engineering of microbial communities is an emerging field of research motivated by finding stable and efficient microbial systems. However, the successful design of microbial communities with desirable functions not only requires profound understanding of microbial activities, but also needs efficient approaches to piece together the known microbial traits to give rise to more complex systems. This study demonstrates the bottom-up integration of environmentally isolated phototrophic microalgae and chemotrophic bacteria as artificial consortia to bio-degrade selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A high throughput screening method based on 96-well plate format was developed for discovering consortia with bioremediation potential. Screened exemplar consortia were verified for VOCs degradation performance, among these, certain robust consortia were estimated to have achieved efficiencies of 95.72% and 92.70% and near 100% removal (7 days) of benzene, toluene, and phenol, respectively, with initial concentrations of 100 mg/L. VOCs degradation by consortia was mainly attributed to certain bacteria including Rhodococcus erythropolis, and Cupriavidus metallidurans, and directly contributed to the growth of microalgae Coelastrella terrestris (R = 0.82, p < 0.001). This work revealed the potential of converting VOCs waste into algal biomass by algae-bacteria consortia constructed through a bottom-up approach. The screening method enables rapid shortlisting of consortia combinatorial scenarios without prior knowledge about the individual strains or the need for interpreting complex microbial interactions.

Features of adaptive training algorithms for improved complex skill acquisition

Training complex skills is typically accomplished by means of a trainer or mediator who tailors instruction to the individual trainee. However, facilitated training is costly and labor intensive, and the use of a mediator is infeasible in remote or extreme environments. Imparting complex skills in applications like long-duration human spaceflight, military field operations, or remote medicine may require automated training algorithms. Virtual reality (VR) is an effective, easily programmable, immersive training medium that has been used widely across fields. However, there remain open questions in the search for the most effective algorithms for guiding automated training progression. This study investigates the effects of responsiveness, personalization, and subtask independence on the efficacy of automated training algorithms in VR for training complex, operationally relevant tasks. Thirty-two subjects (16M/16F, 18–54 years) were trained to pilot and land a spacecraft on Mars within a VR simulation using four different automated training algorithms. Performance was assessed in a physical cockpit mock-up. We found that personalization results in faster skill acquisition on average when compared with a standardized progression built for a median subject (p = 0.0050). The standardized progression may be preferable when consistent results are desired across all subjects. Independence of the difficulty adjustments between subtasks may lead to increased skill acquisition, while lockstep in the progression of each subtask increases self-reported flow experience (p = 0.01), fluency (p = 0.02), and absorption (p = 0.01) on the Flow Short Scale. Data visualization suggests that highly responsive algorithms may lead to faster learning progressions and higher skill acquisition for some subjects. Improving transfer of skills from training to testing may require either high responsiveness or a standardized training progression. Optimizing the design of automated, individually adaptive algorithms around the training needs of a group may be useful to increase skill acquisition for complex operational tasks.

Acute and subacute evaluation of plasma glucose with circuit strength training in young adults: Study protocol

Background: Strength training with physical exercise improves glycemic stability during exercise and reduces the duration and severity of post-exercise hypoglycemia in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Even though the effects of exercise on health are vast in the literature, the acute and sub-acute response of plasma glycemia with circuit strength training (CST) in young individuals is very scarce. Objectives: Develop a study protocol to evaluate plasma glycemic behavior in healthy young adults before, during and after CST with active rest. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Participants will be selected based on certain variables of interest, informed about the study, and signing the informed consent. Participants will undergo anamnesis, anthropometric assessment collection, in order to outline the physical-functional profile, taken to the weight room, where they will spend 10 minutes in a sitting position to collect pre-protocol capillary blood, one group will carry out a session with control protocol without exercise and another, a session with an experimental protocol with CST and will have plasma glucose collected between and post-protocols. Results: This cross-sectional study protocol is expected to contribute additional information on understanding the acute and subacute effects of plasma glycemia with CST, with active rest, in young individuals.

Gender-based Disparity Exists in the Surgical Experience of Female and Male Urology Residents

ObjectiveTo determine if a discrepancy exists in the number and type of cases logged between female and male urology residents. Materials and MethodsACGME case log data from thirteen urology residency programs was collected from 2007 to 2020. The number and type of cases for each resident were recorded and correlated with resident gender and year of graduation. The median, and 25th and 75th percentiles number of cases were calculated by gender, and then compared between female and male residents using Wilcoxon rank sum test. ResultsA total of 473 residents were included in the study, 100 (21%) were female. Female residents completed significantly fewer cases, 2174, compared to male residents, 2273 (p = 0.038). Analysis by case type revealed male residents completed significantly more general urology (526 versus 571, p = 0.011) and oncology cases (261 versus 280, p = 0.026). Additionally, female residents had a 1.3 fold increased odds of logging a case in the assistant role than male residents (95% confidence interval: 1.27 – 1.34, p < 0.001). ConclusionGender-based disparity exists within the urology training of female and male residents. Male residents logged nearly 100 more cases than female residents over four years, with significant differences in certain case subtypes and resident roles. The ACGME works to provide an equal training environment for all residents. Addressing this finding within individual training programs is critical.

Assessing the relationship between a web application-based load and recovery score and training load, considering the menstrual cycle: A longitudinal observational study in elite women’s soccer

Introduction Recovery monitoring is a fundamental component for continuous performance enhancement in sports and exercise (Bourdon et al., 2017). Given that recovery is considered a multifaceted restorative process, various physiological and psychological measures should be tracked daily (Heidari et al., 2018). Digital applications can aid in effortlessly collecting, integrating, and summarizing this data. In a collaborative research project, a web application was developed to monitor the load and recovery of athletes engaged in team sports. This study assesses the relationship between the web-application-based Load and Recovery Score (LRS) and training load among elite female soccer players in Switzerland. Furthermore, it explores the potential influence of the menstrual cycle on the individual training responses of these players. Methods A total of 49 female soccer players (age: 19 ± 2 years, height: 166 ± 5 cm, body mass: 59 ± 5 kg) were recruited for this 6-week longitudinal observational study. The LRS was recorded daily using a web application, and players recorded their basal temperature each morning. Training load was assessed based on trainer-intended ratings of perceived exertion. Linear mixed models were employed, accounting for individual responses as random effects in the analysis. Results A significant negative relationship was found between training load and players' LRS (Est. = -0.009, 95% CI -0.011, -0.007, p &lt; .001). When controlling for training load, no significant effect of the menstrual cycle on players' LRS was found (F = 1.274, p = .283). Variance explained by the residual factor of both models was 46.59% and 50.07%, respectively, with a high proportion of variance attributed to random effects (43.67%, and 47.43% respectively). Discussion/Conclusion The LRS appears to be a practical tool for monitoring load and recovery status in women's soccer. Its ability to depict training load at an individual and multifactorial level can assist coaches in recognizing players' responses to training. However, further studies that determine the relationship between the LRS and other load and recovery parameters are highly warranted. The menstrual cycle did not show a significant effect on the LRS. Hence, the sensitivity of the LRS to menstrual cycle phases and its overall influence on recovery processes remains questionable. Nonetheless, we recommend systematic monitoring of the menstrualcycle as an extension of the LRS, as irregularities or the absence of menstrual bleeding may indicate serious health issues.

High-intensity interval training in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled pilot trial

BackgroundExercise interventions have become more important in the treatment of mental disorders. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has achieved promising results in the treatment of different mental disorders, like depression or panic disorder. To our knowledge, no study investigated the efficacy of HIIT as a sole treatment in a sample of individuals with fully diagnosed PTSD. Methods40 participants with PTSD were randomized to either HIIT or a control group (low intensity training, LIT). They underwent a 12-day training period. The primary outcome were PTSD symptoms as assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Secondary outcome were self-reported posttraumatic, depressive and dissociative symptoms and overall psychological distress assessed at baseline, post treatment (one week after training) and follow up (six weeks post treatment). We used linear mixed models to assess the differential effects of the two trainings on clinical symptoms. ResultsIn both HIIT and LIT group, clinician- and self-rated PTSD symptom severity as well as depressive and dissociative symptoms and overall psychological distress decreased significantly from baseline to follow up with medium effect sizes related to PTSD symptomatology (Cohen’s d = 0.76, p < .001) and small effect sizes related to depressive (Cohen’s d = 0.45, p < .001), dissociative symptoms (Cohen’s d = 0.42, p < .001) and overall psychological distress (Cohen’s d = 0.43, p < .001). There were no differences in symptom change between groups. ConclusionIn our pilot study, HITT did not seem to be superior to LIT in a sample of individuals with PTSD.