Training Period Research Articles

EFFECTIVENESS OF PLYOMETRIC EXERCISE ON LOWER EXTREMITY FUNCTION AMONG CLASSICAL BHARATANATYAM DANCERS.

Background: Aramandi is the most basic position in Bharatanatyam which is like Demiplie position of ballet dancers in which both the legs were internally rotated. Gaining proficiency in Bharatanatyam requires rigorous training for prolonged periods of time while maintaining specific postures which begin at a very young age during the adolescent growth spurt. Objective. To find out the effectiveness of plyometric exercise on lower extremity function among classical Bharatanatyam dancers Methods. Totally 20 classical dancers were recruited in accordance with inclusion criteria. Classical dancers were given plyometric exercise. Post-test taken for 20 participants with regular follow up. The LEFS questionnaire is an outcome measure that is used before and after the treatment. Result. The obtained data were analyzed by using paired ‘t’ test comparison of pre and post-test value for LEFS questionnaire the p value is 0.001. Hence, it is concluded that the LEFS questionnaire has highly significant. Conclusion. This study concluded that plyometric exercise had beneficial effect to shows that there is an improvement on lower extremity function among classical Bharatanatyam dancers.

Effects of variation in exercise training load on cognitive performances and neurotrophic biomarkers in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study compared the effects of linear (LP) and nonlinear (NLP) training periodization on cognitive functions, neurotrophic biomarkers [plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)], and cathepsin-B in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Forty-four patients with CAD reported to our laboratory on two occasions to undergo testing procedures before and after training sessions, and were then blindly randomized to NLP or LP for 36 training sessions. Visit 1 included blood samples and a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing to get maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2peak). Visit 2 included cognitive functions assessment. Thirty-nine patients completed the study (LP: n = 20, NLP: n = 19), with no observed changes in cognitive performances after the training intervention in either group. IGF-1 concentration decreased in both groups (time-effect: P < 0.001), whereas BDNF concentration increased (time-effect: P < 0.05) without group interaction, and cathepsin-B did not change after the intervention. Associations were found between ΔV̇o2peak and ΔBDNF (R2 = 0.18, P = 0.04), and ΔIGF-1 and Δshort-term/working memory (R2 = 0.17, P = 0.01) in the pooled sample, with ΔIGF-1 and ΔBDNF accounting for 10% of the variance in Δshort-term/working memory. In the LP group, associations were found between ΔV̇o2peak and ΔBDNF (R2 = 0.45, P = 0.02), ΔBDNF and Δshort-term/working memory (R2 = 0.62, P = 0.004), ΔIGF-1 and Δshort-term/working memory (R2 = 0.31, P = 0.01), and ΔIGF-1 and Δexecutive function (R2 = 0.22, P = 0.04). This study indicates that linear and nonlinear training periodization led to an increase in BDNF, and a decrease in IGF-1, without change in cognitive function in individuals with stable CAD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used a novel and supervised iso-energetic training, integrating both moderate- and high-intensity aerobic exercises. Our findings indicate that greater variation in training load did not yield cognitive enhancements, although both protocols exhibited positive effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Moreover, this study establishes a clear positive association between short-term and working memory and neurotrophic biomarkers. In addition, the independent predictive value of change in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on improvement in short-term and working memory highlight the close relationship between neurotrophic markers and cognition. Consequently, our results advocate for exercise training interventions targeting neurotrophic biomarkers to enhance cognitive function among individuals with coronary artery disease.

A hybrid technique to enhance the rainfall-runoff prediction of physical and data-driven model: a case study of Upper Narmada River Sub-basin, India

Accurate streamflow prediction is crucial for effective water resource management and planning. This study aims to enhance streamflow simulation accuracy in the data-scarce Upper Narmada River Basin (UNB) by proposing a novel hybrid approach, ANNHybrid, which combines a physically-based model (WEAP) with a data-driven model (ANN). The WEAP model was calibrated and validated using observed streamflow data, while the ANN model was trained and tested using meteorological variables and simulated streamflow. The ANNHybrid model integrates simulated flow from both WEAP and ANN to improve prediction accuracy. The results demonstrate that the ANNHybrid model outperforms the standalone WEAP and ANN models, with higher NSE values of 95.5% and 92.3% during training and testing periods, respectively, along with an impressive R2 value of 0.96. The improved streamflow predictions can support better decision-making related to water allocation, reservoir operations, and flood and drought risk assessment. The novelty of this research lies in the development of the ANNHybrid model, which leverages the strengths of both physically-based and data-driven approaches to enhance streamflow simulation accuracy in data-limited regions. The proposed methodology offers a promising tool for sustainable water management strategies in the UNB and other similar catchments.

Effect of Telerehabilitation-Based Motor Imagery Training on Pain and Related Factors in People with Multiple Sclerosis: Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of telerehabilitation-based graded motor imagery (MI,GMI) training on pain and pain-related factors in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). DesignRandomized controlled, assessor-blind pilot trial with repeated measure design. SettingNeurology outpatient clinic. ParticipantsThirty-two people with MS were randomly allocated to intervention (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. InterventionsDuring 8-week GMI training period, the first 2-weeks involved implicit MI training while 6-weeks explicit MI training were conducted. Main OutcomeThe primary outcome was the general pain intensity over the past two days, assessed with Visual Analogue Scale, with a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of 23 mm. Secondary outcomes included general pain and specific body parts' pain intensity over the past seven days, neuropathic pain intensity, MI ability, fatigue, depression, anxiety, quality of life, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and cognitive functions scores. Assessments were conducted at baseline, at weeks 8 (post-treatment) and 12 (follow-up). ResultsThe intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in pain intensity over the past two days compared to control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, at the 8-week assessment, the intervention group surpassed the MCID in pain intensity over the past 2 and 7 days (p<0.05), whereas no significant change was observed in the control group (p>0.05). Significant effects were observed post-treatment on general pain over the past seven days, neuropathic pain, MI ability, fatigue, depression, quality of life, processing speed, and visuospatial memory within intervention group compared to control group (p<0.05). However, the impact on anxiety, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and verbal memory between groups were not significant (p>0.05). ConclusionTelerehabilitation-based GMI training stands out as viable for management of chronic pain and pain-related psychosocial symptoms for people with MS.

Agility Ladder Training Combined With Plyometric or Multidirectional Speed Drills: Short-Term Adaptations on Jump, Speed, and Change of Direction Performance in Young Female Volleyball Players.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of agility ladder training combined with plyometric or multidirection speed drills, on performance in young female volleyball players. Seventy-six young female volleyball players were randomly distributed into 3 maturity-matched groups: (1) the agility ladder + plyometric drills group, (2) the agility ladder + multidirection speed drills group, and (3) the control group. Both experimental groups followed a 6-week training program, twice weekly, in addition to the regular volleyball training sessions, while the control group participated only in the regular volleyball training sessions. Assessments pretraining and posttraining included countermovement jump, 20-m sprint, and agility T test.Results: Both experimental groups improved T-test performance (P < .005) but only agility ladder + multidirection speed drills group outperformed the control group (P < .05). Agility ladder training programs combined with either plyometric or speed drills can improve change of direction performance in young female volleyball players but only the combination of agility ladder with multidirection speed drills is more effective than volleyball training per se. The small effectiveness of these protocols may be attributed to the short training period, or to the fact that training elements were combined in a single session. This hypothesis remains to be further investigated.

Random-Coupled Neural Network

Improving the efficiency of current neural networks and modeling them on biological neural systems have become prominent research directions in recent years. The pulse-coupled neural network (PCNN) is widely used to mimic the computational characteristics of the human brain in computer vision and neural network fields. However, PCNN faces limitations such as limited neural connections, high computational costs, and a lack of stochastic properties. This study proposes a random-coupled neural network (RCNN) to address these limitations. RCNN employs a stochastic inactivation process, selectively inactivating neural connections using a random inactivation weight matrix. This method reduces the computational burden and allows for extensive neural connections. RCNN encodes constant stimuli as periodic spike trains and periodic stimuli as chaotic spike trains, reflecting the information encoding characteristics of biological neural systems. Our experiments applied RCNN to image segmentation and fusion tasks, demonstrating its robustness, efficiency, and high noise resistance. Results indicate that RCNN surpasses traditional methods in performance across these applications.

EVALUATING THE LEARNING CURVE OF A NOVICE OPTOMETRY STUDENT IN SCLERAL LENS FITTING: A PROSPECTIVE QUANTITATIVE STUDY USING DELIBERATE PRACTICE AND CUMULATIVE SUMMATION (LC-CUSUM)

Background and Objective: To evaluate the learning curve of a novice optometry student in scleral lens fitting through deliberate practice and to objectively quantify the learning process using the LearningCurve-Cumulative Summation (LC-CUSUM) test, ensuring accurate and unbiased results. Method: The complexity of scleral contact lens fittings was assessed by categorizing subjects into regular and irregular cornea groups. A student enrolled in the Master of Optometry program conducted the fittings using a dedicated scleral lens record form (rubrics) designed to quantify the lens management approach. Prior to performing fittings independently, the student received four weeks of training from a contact lens expert, who also served as her guide for the study. This training period and the subsequent fittings were structured based on the principles of deliberate practice, with the student performing repeated diagnostic trials. A maximum of three diagnostic trials were performed for each subject to achieve the optimal fit. After each trial, the student completed a self-efficacy scale questionnaire to assess her perceived diffi-culty and clinical judgement skills, recording “FIRST trial scores” following the initial trial and ‘LAST trial scores’ after achieving the optimal fit. The guide consistently provided verbal feedback after each case throughout the fitting process as part of the deliberate practice methodology to enhance the student’s understanding of the fitting procedure while keeping the scores confidential to ensure unbiased self-as-sessment. Following the complete supervision of the fitting procedure, the guide evaluated the student’s clinical skills using a specially designed observation scale questionnaire, referred to as the ‘GUIDE scores.’ A seven-point Likert scale was used to rate the judgement for both the self-efficacy scale and observation scale questionnaire. The student’s LAST trial scores were subsequently compared with the GUIDE scores. Results: A total of 80 scleral lens fittings were evaluated. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) demonstrated excellent agreement between student-reported self-efficacy scores and guide-reported observation scores. The difference in self-efficacy scores between the initial and final lens fittings was statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05), as determined by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The Learning Curve-Cumulative Summation (LC-CUSUM) chart revealed that learning stabilized after 26 fittings, marking a consolidation phase where minimal further improvement was observed beyond this point, and additional practice primarily helped to maintain proficiency. The average number of trials required per eye was higher in patients with irregular corneas than those with regular corneas. Conclusion: This study evaluated the learning curve of a novice optometry student in scleral lens fitting through deliberate practice, utilizing the LC-CUSUM test to quantify progress and assess skill acquisition objectively. Proficiency was achieved after 26 fittings, with additional trials needed for irregular corneas, underscoring the influence of patient characteristics on learning. These findings emphasize the importance of structured training, personalized feedback, and self-assessment in developing clinical competence. The insights contribute to advancing education and research in contact lens science by providing practical guid-ance for designing effective programs focused on planning, teaching, and learning about scleral lens fittings.

Effects of a 4–Week Detraining Period After 12 Weeks of Combined Training Using Different Weekly Frequencies on Health–Related Physical Fitness in Older Adults

Background: Detraining refers to the decline in physical fitness that occurs after the cessation of exercise, compromising the adaptations resulting from regular exercise training. To understand how long the benefits acquired from an exercise program can be maintained, the present study evaluated the detraining effects of a 4–week exercise cessation period in older adults who performed combined training at various weekly frequencies for 12 weeks. Methods: This randomized controlled trial assigned participants to one of two training programs: a combined training program twice a week (CT2) or four times a week (CT4) over a period of 12 weeks, followed by a four–week detraining period. The resistance training consisted of six bodyweight exercises, while the aerobic training involved either walking or running. Both the CT2 and CT4 groups completed the same total training volume and overload each week; the only difference was the number of training sessions per week. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after the training period, and after the detraining period, and included the 30–s and five–repetition chair–stand tests, isometric handgrip strength, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist–to–height ratio. Results: Thirty–one participants completed the study (CT2: 17 and CT4: 14). The groups presented similar attendance records during the training period (CT2: 96 ± 18% versus CT4: 94 ± 19%). After the 12–week training period, CT2 and CT4 improved lower limb strength, CT2 improved upper limb strength, and CT4 reduced waist circumference and waist–to–height ratio compared to baseline. After the 4–week detraining period, the lower limb strength remained improved in both groups (CT2: 4 ± 1 repetition; p &lt; 0.001 and CT4: 4 ± 1 repetition; p &lt; 0.001) when compared to the corresponding baseline values. The handgrip strength decreased in CT2 compared to post–training values. And the body composition benefit in CT4 was not sustained after detraining. Conclusions: The effects of 4 weeks of detraining after 12 weeks of training performed two or four times per week are similar on some but not all health-related physical fitness parameters.

A method for recognizing abnormal behaviors of personnel at petroleum stations based on GTB-ResNet

PurposeThe abnormal behaviors of staff at petroleum stations pose significant safety hazards. Addressing the challenges of high parameter counts, lengthy training periods and low recognition rates in existing 3D ResNet behavior recognition models, this paper proposes GTB-ResNet, a network designed to detect abnormal behaviors in petroleum station staff.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, to mitigate the issues of excessive parameters and computational complexity in 3D ResNet, a lightweight residual convolution module called the Ghost residual module (GhostNet) is introduced in the feature extraction network. Ghost convolution replaces standard convolution, reducing model parameters while preserving multi-scale feature extraction capabilities. Secondly, to enhance the model's focus on salient features amidst wide surveillance ranges and small target objects, the triplet attention mechanism module is integrated to facilitate spatial and channel information interaction. Lastly, to address the challenge of short time-series features leading to misjudgments in similar actions, a bidirectional gated recurrent network is added to the feature extraction backbone network. This ensures the extraction of key long time-series features, thereby improving feature extraction accuracy.FindingsThe experimental setup encompasses four behavior types: illegal phone answering, smoking, falling (abnormal) and touching the face (normal), comprising a total of 892 videos. Experimental results showcase GTB-ResNet achieving a recognition accuracy of 96.7% with a model parameter count of 4.46 M and a computational complexity of 3.898 G. This represents a 4.4% improvement over 3D ResNet, with reductions of 90.4% in parameters and 61.5% in computational complexity.Originality/valueSpecifically designed for edge devices in oil stations, the 3D ResNet network is tailored for real-time action prediction. To address the challenges posed by the large number of parameters in 3D ResNet networks and the difficulties in deployment on edge devices, a lightweight residual module based on ghost convolution is developed. Additionally, to tackle the issue of low detection accuracy of behaviors amidst the noisy environment of petroleum stations, a triple attention mechanism is introduced during feature extraction to enhance focus on salient features. Moreover, to overcome the potential for misjudgments arising from the similarity of actions, a Bi-GRU model is introduced to enhance the extraction of key long-term features.

Knowledge, attitude and practice on road traffic safety among the motorbike riders of Lalitpur metropolitan, Nepal

Background: Motorbike riders are among the most vulnerable road users, and road safety plays a primary role in eliminating road traffic accidents (RTAs). The objective of the study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of road safety among motorbike riders and to identify the factors associated with their knowledge, attitude and practices. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 motorbike riders utilizing face-to-face interview. Systematic sampling technique was applied to 1516 households of the selected ward. Socio-demographics and KAP were obtained using structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to find out the association between independent and dependent variables. Results: Overall, only (62.9%) respondents had adequate knowledge of road safety; (73%) of riders had a favorable attitude toward road safety; while only (44.37%) followed good road safety practices. The practice of drunken-drive was reported by total of 33.2% of respondents. Results showed that over speeding practices were (5 times) higher in males, mobile use was seen more (7.4 times) among age group 18-24. The more the years of riding experience the more the speedy driving, i.e. (1.08 times) higher among those having more than 2 years of riding experience. Conclusions: To address RTA through, we conclude that traffic police and other stakeholders should implement robust legislation concerning road safety. This should include periodic training and examinations for vehicle users to ensure their understanding and compliance with road safety measures.

Effects of a Six-Month Physical Activity Program on Health Risk Factors and Body Composition Among Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged Adults

Introduction. Physical activity is vital for preventing and managing lifestyle-related diseases, which pose significant health and socio-economic challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a six-month supervised physical activity program on health risk factors and body composition in middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity. Methods. The study involved 166 men and women aged 30 to 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 26 to 35 and moderate to severe health risks. Participants of the study were engaged in a six-month physical activity training program designed in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. Comprehensive assessments were performed at baseline and after the intervention, including measurements of various anthropometric and body composition parameters, as well as evaluations of functional performance. Fitness tests were also conducted to assess participants’ physical capacity and to monitor improvements throughout the training period. Results. Baseline measures of body mass composition and age demonstrated a strong positive correlation with visceral fat rating (VFR) in both men (r = 0.364, p &lt; 0.001) and women (r = 0.420, p = 0.002). Following the six-month training program, participants exhibited an average improvement of 30% (p &lt; 0.001) in their Cooper endurance test results. The physical activity intervention positively impacted body mass index (BMI) and various body composition metrics, including fat mass, VFR, and muscle mass, across all participants and most subgroups (gender, BMI, and age). In males, training at higher maximum heart rate (HRmax) zones significantly contributed to a reduction in the percentage of fat mass (80–89% HRmax) and an increase in the percentage of muscle mass (70–79% and 80–89% HRmax). Conclusions. The study indicates that a six-month supervised physical activity program significantly improves health risk factors and body composition (visceral fat reduction and improvement in percent of fat and muscle mass) among middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity. Therefore, we advocate for the integration of structured physical activity interventions into healthcare practices to effectively enhance health outcomes in this population.

The effect of health literacy course on the level of health literacy in medical students

Abstract Health literacy (HL) concerns not only individuals but also health systems and health professionals. Most of the literature on HL has focused on patient factors, with little emphasis on the communication skills and practices of health professionals. Training is needed at all levels to understand the concept of HL and its impact on health inequalities. This study is an intervention study. Data were collected from 29 students taking the third year elective course at the Faculty of Medicine through an online survey. The survey consists of 40 questions aimed at assessing the demographic characteristics of the participants, the TSOY-32 Scale and some factors affecting HL. During the training period, role-play scenarios were played to teach the importance of HL, sample videos were watched to evaluate physician-patient communication, and case studies were conducted. The mean pre-test TSOY-32 scale score of the participants was 32.8±5.8. The mean post-test TSOY-32 scale score was 36.4±7.1. There was a significant difference between pretest and posttest groups in terms of TSOY-32 scale score (p = 0.033). Health professionals often overestimate patients’ HL levels and do not have sufficient competence to effectively manage limited HL. These gaps need to be addressed through the curricula of medical schools and specialties. Key messages • Training on health literacy improves medical students’ communication skills, bridging gaps in patient care. • Addressing health literacy in medical training enhances patient-doctor communication, vital for quality care.

Analysis of changes in lower limb joints of athletes during the movement of wild horses’ mane parting based on biomechanics

In the era of fitness, more and more young people are familiar with Taijiquan, a kind of physical fitness exercise. By conducting biomechanical analyses of the movements of Taijiquan, it is possible to exercise the body better. Numerous techniques in Taijiquan make it difficult to study each individually. Therefore, this paper studied the movement of “wild horses’ mane parting” in terms of biomechanics by analyzing the joint angle, stiffness, and impulse during this movement. Twenty male athletes were selected as subjects and divided into a professional group and a beginner group according to their training periods. High-speed cameras were used to shoot the “wild horses’ mane parting” movement. The angles of lower limb joints in these athletes were measured to calculate joint impulse and stiffness. The results showed that, compared with the professional group, there were significant differences in the adduction and abduction angle and the internal and external rotation angle between the beginner group and the professional group in the single-leg support movement stage (P&lt; 0.05). There were also significant differences in joint impulse and stiffness (P&lt; 0.05). Compared with beginners, long-term professional practitioners can make their movements more standardized. By comparing movements and data analysis, beginners can make their movements more standardized when practicing Taijiquan and avoid the risk of sports injury. The novelty of this article lies in the use of high-speed cameras to capture athletes’ movements, enabling accurate analyses of their joints and providing effective references for precise training.

Multi-layered factors contribute to irrational use of antibiotics among pediatric patients in Tanzania: ADDO dispensers perspective

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health problem affecting both current and future generations. Development of resistance to the commonly available antibiotics has been directly linked to their irrational use. The World Health Organization (WHO) has clearly stated on the Global Strategy on AMR, judicious antibiotic use as well as adequate knowledge and awareness about AMR, as important tools in curbing the existing problem. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the level of knowledge among accredited drug dispensing outlet (ADDO) dispensers on factors contributing to irrational use of antibiotics among Tanzanian pediatric patients.MethodsA qualitative study employing focused group discussions was conducted among 6–10 ADDO dispensers with at least 6 months dispensing experience in 14 regions between July and August 2020. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultsFindings from this study indicate that the ADDO dispensers have adequate knowledge on antimicrobial resistance. Participants were aware of the general meaning and the use of antimicrobials. They were aware that antimicrobials are used for treating infections caused by microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Participants knew AMR increases health related costs and that the increasing burden of AMR is not an outcome of a specific group of people such as health care providers or patients, rather a contribution of many factors that bring change in microorganism behavior. Despite this knowledge, participants felt that most of the private health care facilities are profit-oriented; they practice polypharmacy to maximize profit rather than focusing on providing quality health services. Participants revealed that dose shortage after symptomatic relief strongly contributes to AMR. Lastly, the ADDO dispensers expressed that continuous medical education and community education to patients is necessary in the efforts to fight against AMR.ConclusionsTo mitigate the increasing AMR burden in our society, integrated interventions must include both communities, ADDOs as first point of contact and other healthcare providers. Periodic refresher training with an emphasis on proper practices is crucial to help the dispensers transform their knowledge into action. Responsible authorities should ensure that ADDOs and other private health care facilities adhere to regulations.

The Influence of Physical Training on Breast Cancer: The Role of Exercise-Induced Myokines in Regulating Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Survival

The beneficial impact of physical training in lowering cancer risk is well known. However, the precise mechanisms linking physical training and cancer are not fully understood. Skeletal muscle releases various myokines that seem to possess a direct anti-tumor effect. Although breast cancer (BC) is the prevalent form of cancer among women on a global scale, only limited data are available about the secretion of myokines following exercise in patients with BC. To study the effects of exercise on BC, the blood samples of patients with varied stages of BC were analyzed after 12 weeks of resistance training with whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS). Following the training period, we observed that resistance training helps these patients to improve their physical characteristics and performance function by increasing skeletal muscle mass and strengthening their hand grip. Notably, the patient’s serum was found to inhibit the growth and promote the apoptosis of BC cells in vitro. Moreover, the conditioned medium collected from in vitro stimulated human myotubes using electric pulse stimulation (EPS), an in vitro simulation of WB-EMS training, induced the cell death of BC cells. These results highlighted the direct cancer-protective effects of activated skeletal muscle. In line with our observed effects of serum from exercise-trained pancreatic and prostate cancer patients, the growth of BC cells was notably inhibited when supplemented directly with recombinant myokines C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1), Interleukin 10 (IL10), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 (CCL4). Notably, treatment with these myokines also increased the expression of caspase 3/7 (Casp3/7), resulting in enhanced BC cell death. Our data strongly suggest that physical exercise has a positive impact on skeletal muscle mass and hand grip strength in BC patients, along with a significant anti-tumor effect in BC cells. This shows promising potential for considering sports and physical training as supportive therapies for achieving more impactful cancer treatment.

Psychopathology teaching in residency program – An art losing its shine: Psychiatry trainee residents’ experience

Abstract Background: Teaching psychopathology in a residency program is considered the “heart” of the training program. There is a lack of data on evaluating psychiatry resident training in psychopathology. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate residents’ experience and satisfaction in terms of training and teaching psychopathology during the psychiatry residency program. Methods: It was a mixed-method design study and was cross-sectional. A total of 53 psychiatry residents (pursuing postgraduate courses) participated. Participants were assessed using qualitative and quantitative questionnaires. Qualitative interviews consisted of open-ended questionnaires. The student satisfaction questionnaire was quantitative. Results: In terms of dissatisfaction with the teaching specific skills during postgraduation, the most common dissatisfaction reported was with the quality of the clinical environment (35.8%), psychopathology taught during the course of the training period (34.0%), and the teaching of skills of interview technique to elaborate and label the psychopathology during the course of the training period (32.1%). Conclusion: Most of the residents were not satisfied with the teaching of psychopathology. Supervision was not adequate from the seniors and teachers for teaching psychopathology. The most commonly emerged strategy to teach psychopathology was the supervision of clinical interviews with real patients, and the initial 1st year should be more focused on teaching psychopathology in clinical settings. It can be said that there should be some competency-based training programs for the residents.

Enhancing the Prediction of Influent Total Nitrogen in Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System–Gradient-Based Optimization Algorithm

For the accurate estimation of daily influent total nitrogen of sewage plants, a novel hybrid approach is proposed in this study, where a gradient-based optimization (GBO) algorithm is employed to adjust the hyper-parameters of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy system (ANFIS). Several benchmark methods for optimizing ANFIS parameters are compared, which include particle swarm optimization (PSO), gray wolf optimization (GWO), and gradient-based optimization (GBO). The prediction accuracy of the ANFIS-GBO model is evaluated against other models using four statistical measures: root-mean-squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and coefficient of determination (R2). Test results show that the suggested ANFIS-GBO outperforms the standalone ANFIS, hybrid ANFIS-PSO and ANFIS-GWO methods in daily influent total nitrogen prediction from the sewage treatment plant. The ANFIS, ANFIS-PSO, ANFIS-GWO, and ANFIS-GBO models are evaluated using seven distinct input combinations to predict daily TNinf. The results from both the testing and training periods demonstrate that these models, namely ANFIS, ANFIS-PSO, ANFIS-GWO, and ANFIS-GBO, exhibit the highest level of accuracy for the seventh input combination (Qw, pH, SS, TP, NH3-N, COD, and BOD5). ANFS-GBO-7 reduced the RMSE in the prediction of ANFIS-7, ANFIS-PSO-7, and ANFIS-GWO-7 by 21.77, 10.73, and 6.81%, respectively, in the test stage. Results from testing and training further demonstrate that increasing the number of parameters (NH3-N, COD, and BOD) as input improves the models’ ability to make predictions. The outcomes show that the ANFIS-GBO model can potentially be suggested for the daily prediction of influent total nitrogen (TNinf) in full-scale wastewater treatment plants.

Anthropometric Profile and Position-Specific Changes in Segmental Body Composition of Professional Football Players Throughout a Training Period.

Body and anthropometric profiles of football players vary depending on the physiological and technical demands imposed by different positions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the body composition of professional soccer players in relation to their position on the field during a training macrocycle. The Direct Segmental Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method was used to analyze 58 players at six key moments of the macrocycle. The results show that body profiles are adjusted to the specific demands of each position. Midfielders showed the lowest muscle mass, while defenders showed many notable changes. In general, as the season progressed, all field players experienced an increase in trunk body fat. Fat and lean mass values of goalkeepers differed greatly from the rest. The greatest variations in body composition were observed during pre-season and transition in relation to variations in training load and competitive intensity. The results suggest that the phase of the macrocycle has a greater influence on these variations, although the physical characteristics of each position are relevant. Understanding these dynamics allows for the design of more personalized and efficient training programs to optimize the performance of footballers according to their roles and each stage of the season.

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Training of Transseptal Puncture With or Without Intracardiac Echocardiography.

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has been widely used in the catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the value of ICE in the training of transseptal puncture (TSP) is unclear. ICE-Training Study was a single-center, parallel-group, unmasked, randomized controlled trial registered in ChineseClinicalTrials.gov. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to different groups (1) the ICE simulator training group (ICE-ST), in which TSP was trained and performed under the guidance of both ICE and x-ray; and (2) the conventional simulator training group (Con-ST), in which TSP was trained and performed only under the guidance of x-ray. The trainees need to undergo the training stage and the evaluation stage. From October 2022 to December 2022, 18 consecutive fellows (age 32.4±4.4years, 12 males) without experience of TSP were included. The training period (16.9±6.6 vs. 29.6±8.7 times, p=0.003) and the fluoroscopy time (120.3±25.3 vs. 189.3±40.2s, p<0.001) of the ICE-ST group was significantly shorter than that of the Con-ST group. No significant difference was found in the comprehensive performance of TSP in the ICE-ST group (composite score 96.7±5.7) and the Con-ST group (composite score 95.9±6.3, p=0.62), but the selection of TSP sites in the ICE-ST group was commonly better than that in the Con-ST group. ICE could improve the efficiency of TSP training and optimize the site of TSP to facilitate catheter manipulation in the ablation. ChineseClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2200058377.

Improvement of methodical training of physical training instructors in the direction of application of physical impact measures

Physical training in units of the security and defense sector plays an important role in the system of professional training of personnel. The direction of application of measures of physical influence, in addition to technical preparation, development of physical qualities, has a positive effect on the education of moral and volitional qualities. And all this certainly affects the readiness of the personnel to perform the assigned tasks. In the conditions of martial law, the system of professional training also changed in order to transform and adapt it to the realities of today. The system of security measures implemented in the state has made its corrections in the educational and training process of personnel training, in particular with regard to planning in training. It is also necessary to take into account the level of physical condition, development and training of the replenishment. During martial law, military personnel are trained according to an abbreviated program. At the same time, from the experience of training our servicemen in various NATO member countries, the training periods there are much longer - which indicates different approaches and concepts. On the one hand, the shorter the training period, the faster a serviceman will get into a combat unit, and on the other hand, the quality of training of personnel is required, many of whom have not served at all, have mature age, low physical development and training, and often have health problems. Undoubtedly, all these conditions require high professional competence and skill from instructors in various areas, including physical training. The instructor must raise his professional level in order to ensure higher efficiency of the educational and training process, increase the training of the personnel and their readiness to perform official and combat tasks as assigned.