Measures Of Physical Strength Research Articles

Impact of body composition and physical strength changes during chemoradiotherapy on complications and survival after oesophagectomy

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess body composition and physical strength changes during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and assess their predictive value for (severe) postoperative complications and overall survival in patients who underwent oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent nCRT and oesophagectomy with curative intent in a tertiary referral center were included in the study. Perioperative data were collected in a prospectively maintained database. The CT images before and after nCRT were used to assess skeletal muscle index (SMI), subcutaneous fat index (SFI), and visceral fat index (VFI). To assess physical strength, handgrip strength (HGS) and the exercise capacity of the steep ramp test (SRT Wpeak) were acquired before and after nCRT. ResultsBetween 2015 and 2020, 126 patients were included. SMI increased in female subgroups and decreased in male subgroups (35.38 to35.60 cm2/m2 for females, P value 0.048, 46.89 to 45.34 cm2/m2 for males, P value < 0.001). No significant changes in SFI, VFI, HGS, and SRT Wpeak were observed. No predictive value of changes in SMI, HGS, and SRT Wpeak was shown for (severe) postoperative complications and overall survival. ConclusionsA significant but minimal decrease in SMI during nCRT was observed for males only, it was not associated with postoperative complications or overall survival. Physical strength measurements did not decrease significantly over the course of nCRT. No associations with postoperative complications or overall survival were observed.

Cancer, Phase Angle and Sarcopenia: The Role of Diet in Connection with Lung Cancer Prognosis.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death and is associated with malnutrition and sarcopenia. The detection of sarcopenia and conduction of simple body composition measurements, such as the phase angle (PhA) deriving from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), can help to early identify, monitor, prevent and treat malnutrition. The present review aims to clarify the relationship between PhA and sarcopenia with the pathophysiology, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic aspects of lung cancer. PhA and sarcopenia are connected to lung cancer prognosis through various mechanisms including inflammation and oxidative stress, although more research is needed to identify the critical thresholds for increased mortality risk. Moreover, emphasis is given on the role of dietary interventions (oral nutritional supplementation, and dietary counseling) to manage sarcopenia and related variables in patients with lung cancer. Oral nutritional supplements and/or those containing n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have a positive effect on physical strength measures and muscle mass if administered at the beginning of chemotherapy. Data on sole dietary counseling or multimodal interventions are less promising so far. In the future, sophisticated body composition phenotypes deriving from the described methods along with artificial intelligence techniques could be used to design personalized nutrition interventions and timely treat these patients.

Relationship between physical strength measurements and anthropometric variables: multivariate analysis

Muscular/ physical strength are fundamental in order to satisfy basic needs for survival and productivity, especially among labourer populations in developing countries. Anthropometric variables found to be one of the key determinants of strength; however, the overall relationship between physical body dimension and strength were yet to be explored. Aim of the study was to explore the relationship between strength and anthropometric variables. Crosssectional data on strength (handgrip and back strength) and anthropometric measurements were taken from 536 healthy adult Santal labourers (Male=251, Female=285) of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. Statistical analysis including Pearson’s correlation and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were used. Strength measurements negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with most of anthropometric measurements. CCA between strength and anthropometry were 0.765 (p&lt;0.001, explained 85.53% total variance) and 0.611 (p&lt;0.001, explained 71.41% total variance) for males and females respectively. Cross-loading value of CCA indicates fat-free-mass, forearm circumference and weight for male and fat-free mass, chest circumference and wrist breadth for female were most important predictors of strength. The CCA model indicate that fat-free mass, forearm circumference, weight, chest circumference and wrist breadth were the most important anthropometric variables related to overall strength measurements of Santal labourer population. However, further researches require for generalizing this model.

Feasibility and benefits of a combined programme of exercise and play for paediatric cancer survivors: A pilot study.

This study aimed to determine the feasibility and benefits of a combined programme of exercise and play for childhood cancer survivors on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), post-traumatic growth and physical strength levels. Six childhood cancer survivors participated in the 8-week intervention consisting of supervised play and exercise sessions two times per week. The participants performed joint exercises, independently, at home, on the 5days that they were unable to participate in group exercises. Participants completed measures assessing HRQOL, post-traumatic growth and physical strength levels at baseline and post-intervention. Recruitment, retention and attendance rates in the 8-week combined programme were 87.5%, 85.7% and 89.6%, respectively, with no adverse reactions. Statistically significant improvement was observed in post-traumatic growth (z=-2.20, p=0.03), subscales of HRQOL school functioning (z=-2.06, p=0.04) and total score (z=-2.0.3, p=0.04). Moreover, physical strength measurements using the physical activity promotion system showed that, out of the five total categories, muscle strength (z=-2.02, p=0.04) and total physical strength (z=-2.03, p=0.04) scores were statistically significantly improved. The 8-week combined programme of exercise and play was feasible and provided preliminary evidence for the benefits of exercise on HRQOL, post-traumatic growth and physical activity levels in childhood cancer survivors.

Upper‐Body Strength and Political Egalitarianism: Twelve Conceptual Replications

Animal models of conflict behavior predict that an organism's behavior in a conflict situation is influenced by physical characteristics related to abilities to impose costs on adversaries. Stronger and larger organisms should be more motivated to seek larger shares of resources and higher places in hierarchies. Previous studies of human males have suggested that measures of upper‐body strength are associated with measures of support for inequality including Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), a measure of individual differences in support for group‐based hierarchies. However, other studies have failed to replicate this association. In this article, we reexamine the link between upper‐body strength and support for inequality using 12 different samples from multiple countries in which relevant measures were available. These samples include student and locally representative samples with direct measures of physical strength and nationally representative samples with self‐reported measures related to muscularity. While the predicted correlation does not replicate for every single available measure of support for inequality, the overall data pattern strongly suggests that for males, but not females, upper‐body strength correlates positively with support for inequality.

Physical Strength by Mental Health Profile in School-Aged Boys and Girls

Mental health can play an important role in the development of a good health-related physical fitness, especially during physical education (PE) classes. In fact, kids with low self-esteem and psychological wellness are often inclined to avoid carrying out physical assignments in front of their peers due to the fear to be ridiculed. Similar psychological processes occur in children with high stress and anxiety associated to exercising. This could have a negative impact on the development of an appropriate level of strength, which is considered an important indicator of wellbeing at all ages. PURPOSE: To assess primary school boys’ and girls’ physical strength associated to mental health profiles. METHODS: A sample of 189 children (88 boys, 101 girls) aged 10-11 participated in the study. Physical strength measurements were carried out according to EUROFIT protocol, and included 30-sec sit-ups (SU), standing broad jump (SBJ), bent arm hang (BAH), and handgrip (HG) tests. In addition, participants were asked to fill self-esteem, psychological wellbeing, anxiety, and stress questionnaires. RESULTS: Cluster analyses evidenced two main profiles in boys: “partial psychopathology” (PP) and “partial mental health” (PMH). Participants showing the former profile had lower scores in SU (PP: 13.09; PMH: 17.89), SBJ (PP: 96.89; PMH: 123.57), BAH (PP: 3.91; PMH: 8.74), and HG (PP: 12.15; PMH: 14.60). Both profiles had low scores in relation with cut-off points for their age. Girls only belonged to PP, also showing lower results than expected at their age (SU = 15.22; SBJ = 111.59; BAH = 7.27; HG = 12.25). CONCLUSIONS: Partial mental health is not a sufficient condition for triggering the development of healthy physical strength. PE teachers need to create the proper conditions for children to reach full mental wellbeing, which may increase their chances to achieve beneficial levels of physical fitness.

Wellness for life: A pilot of an interprofessional intervention to address metabolic syndrome in adults with serious mental illnesses.

This paper evaluates a pilot multidisciplinary intervention intended to increase health-promoting behaviors and reduce the negative effects of metabolic syndrome disorders among persons with serious mental illnesses. Exercise, nutritional counseling, health literacy education, and peer wellness coaching were provided by allied health professionals and students. Participants with serious mental illnesses were recruited from partial hospitalization and supported housing programs. Initially, there were 77 participants, with 64 completing the study measures. A single-group, pre-post design was used. They participated in an 8-week program (3 hr each week). Individuals set their own personal health goals and received the interprofessional set of allied health interventions. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and several measures of physical strength and flexibility were collected. Paired t tests evaluate the statistical significance of possible changes. Average blood pressure decreased. Waist circumference decreased. Participants improved on measures of strength and flexibility as measured by the functional reach test, the half sit-up test, and the sit-to-stand test. Participants reported increased readiness to exercise and make dietary changes. Significant improvements in metabolic syndrome risk factors, physical strength, and flexibility were found. Next steps include a longer intervention likely to further reduce metabolic syndrome risk factors. Future studies should include a comparison intervention group and a follow-up to see if gains are maintained. The study highlights the potential utility of psychiatric rehabilitation providers collaborating with other allied health practitioners to promote overall health. (PsycINFO Database Record

Reactive heritability of extraversion: where do we stand?

Researchers have puzzled over the “missing heritability” problem for quantitative traits, including personality dimensions such as the Big Five. Specifically, although all human personality traits exhibit substantial additive genetic variance, large gene association studies with immense statistical power have failed to discover specific genes that explain even a fraction of this estimated heritability (e.g., Service, Verweij, Lahti, Congdon, et al., 2012). Because such effects are prerequisite for the maintenance of personality differences via fluctuating (including frequency-dependent) selection on specific polymorphic genotypes, this initially promising type of evolutionary genetic model would seem to be rendered untenable by the empirical data as an explanation for the heritability of personality (Lukaszewski & von Rueden, 2015; Verweij et al., 2012). Recently, Lukaszewski and Roney (2011) hypothesized that part of extraversion's genetic variance reflects its facultative calibration to highly heritable, condition-dependent phenotypic features that would have predicted the cost–benefit ratio of extraverted strategies across ancestral environments. Specifically, we predicted that extraversion would have been a more beneficial strategy on average for more physically attractive and stronger individuals. If strength and attractiveness are in turn heritable due to genetic effects on condition — for instance, individuals with lower mutation loads develop both stronger and more attractive phenotypes — then extraversion would be heritable even if no specific genes directly encode for it. Such “reactive heritability” (see Tooby & Cosmides, 1990), if confirmed, could provide both a partial explanation for themissing heritability problem and a functional explanation for why individuals differ in extraversion. In prima facie support of the reactive heritability hypothesis, multiple empirical studies have found that measures of physical strength and attractiveness, respectively, positively predict individual differences in extraversion and related interpersonal dimensions (for a review of these findings, see Lukaszewski & Roney, 2011; Lukaszewski & von Rueden, 2015). As such, we have advocated for quantitative genetic studies to provide a proper test of extraversion's reactive heritability. In the current issue of Evolution and Human Behavior, Haysom et al. (2015) report a quantitative genetic test of the hypothesis that extraversion exhibits reactive heritability in relation to conditiondependent phenotypic features. Using a classical twin study design, they tested for phenotypic and genetic correlations of extraversion with other-rated facial attractiveness (from headshot photos), body mass index (BMI), height (as a proxy for strength) and intelligence test scores. Overall, results were not very supportive of the reactive heritability hypothesis: Of the phenotypic features examined, only facial attractiveness exhibited the predicted positive association with extraversion, and this effect explained at most a few percent of extraversion's additive genetic variance. Haysom et al. concluded that their findings cast some doubt on the viability of the reactive heritability hypothesis of extraversion. We do not entirely disagree. This was in some ways the most sophisticated test of the reactive heritability hypothesis ever conducted, and it appears to indicate that putative measures of condition-dependent phenotypic features collectively explain very little of the heritable variance in extraversion. At the very least, then, this study reports empirical patterns that must be accounted for. However, we believe that theHaysomet al. study is inconclusive as a falsification of the reactive heritability hypothesis in light of several substantive (but understandable) limitations. Most importantly, the operational definitions of condition-dependent features employed in this study do not compellingly tap the most theoretically relevant aspects of strength, intelligence, and attractiveness:

Condition-dependent calibration of men’s uncommitted mating orientation: evidence from multiple samples

Physical strength and physical attractiveness are both hypothesized as indicators of overall phenotypic condition in humans. Strategic Pluralism Theory (Gangestad & Simpson, 2000) predicts that men’s orientation toward uncommitted mating is facultatively calibrated (i.e. contingently adjusted over ontogeny) in response to condition-dependent physical features, such as strength and attractiveness. Herein, we suggest that previous research bearing on this hypothesis has been limited because (a) researchers have often neglected to distinguish between mating orientations and past sexual behavior and (b) sample sizes have not always been large enough to reliably detect correlations of moderate magnitude. To address these issues and extend previous findings, we present aggregated data from three independent samples of young adults that permit us to examine multiple measures of physical strength and attractiveness in relation to uncommitted mating orientation, committed mating orientation, and past sexual behavior. As predicted, meta-analyses across samples demonstrated that strength and attractiveness were positively correlated with men’s (but not women’s) uncommitted mating orientation (but not committed mating orientation). In addition, strength (in men only) and attractiveness (in both sexes) positively predicted participants’ number of past sex partners. Moreover, path analyses demonstrated that the association of men’s physical features with their number of sex partners was mediated via uncommitted mating orientation. These results (a) provide the most extensive support to date for the hypothesis that men’s uncommitted mating orientation is calibrated to condition-dependent features and (b) clarify the sex-specific functional links among physical features, mating orientations and sexual behavior.

Cohort profile: The lidA Cohort Study--a German Cohort Study on Work, Age, Health and Work Participation

The lidA Cohort Study (German Cohort Study on Work, Age, Health and Work Participation) was set up to investigate and follow the effects of work and work context on the physical and psychological health of the ageing workforce in Germany and subsequently on work participation. Cohort participants are initially employed people subject to social security contributions and born in either 1959 (n = 2909) or 1965 (n = 3676). They were personally interviewed in their homes in 2011 and will be visited every 3 years. Data collection comprises socio-demographic data, work and private exposures, work ability, work and work participation attitudes, health, health-related behaviour, personality and attitudinal indicators. Employment biographies are assessed using register data. Subjective health reports and physical strength measures are complemented by health insurance claims data, where permission was given. A conceptual framework has been developed for the lidA Cohort Study within which three confirmatory sub-models assess the interdependencies of work and health considering age, gender and socioeconomic status. The first set of the data will be available to the scientific community by 2015. Access will be given by the Research Data Centre of the German Federal Employment Agency at the Institute for Employment Research (http://fdz.iab.de/en.aspx).

Male dance moves that catch a woman's eye.

Male movements serve as courtship signals in many animal species, and may honestly reflect the genotypic and/or phenotypic quality of the individual. Attractive human dance moves, particularly those of males, have been reported to show associations with measures of physical strength, prenatal androgenization and symmetry. Here we use advanced three-dimensional motion-capture technology to identify possible biomechanical differences between women's perceptions of 'good' and 'bad' male dancers. Nineteen males were recorded using the 'Vicon' motion-capture system while dancing to a basic rhythm; controlled stimuli in the form of avatars were then created in the form of 15 s video clips, and rated by 39 females for dance quality. Initial analyses showed that 11 movement variables were significantly positively correlated with perceived dance quality. Linear regression subsequently revealed that three movement measures were key predictors of dance quality; these were variability and amplitude of movements of the neck and trunk, and speed of movements of the right knee. In summary, we have identified specific movements within men's dance that influence women's perceptions of dancing ability. We suggest that such movements may form honest signals of male quality in terms of health, vigour or strength, though this remains to be confirmed.

Predictors Of Performance On A Mechanical Starter Replacement Task

Job performance of Army Light-Wheel Vehicle Mechanics (MECHS) was studied due to their high rates of back pain/injury and injury hospitalization. Subject matter experts reported starter replacement (SR) is one of the most physically-demanding, frequently performed, and critical tasks. SR requires the MECH to bolt a 16 kg starter to the under side of a military vehicle. PURPOSE To determine relationships between MECHS characteristics (strength, experience, and self-rating of expected performance [SR rate]) and SR time. METHODS 135 male and 9 female MECHS (Mean±SD; age= 25.5±5.9 yrs, height=175.1±7.4 cm, weight= 80.0±13.4 kg), were timed during a standardized SR task. MECHS performed muscular strength tests (isometric: back extension [BE], elbow and leg extension and flexion [EE, EF, LE, LF], and dynamic: lift [DL] and bench press [BP]), and completed a job physical demands questionnaire. RESULTS Three females (33%) and 12 males (11%) were unable to finish the task within the 45 min cutoff. There were no significant differences between the pass/fail groups on any of the descriptive variables measured. The mean SR time was 16.3±8.2 min, (range=4.4 – 43.1 min). Univariate analysis showed that variables correlated (p<0.05) with SR time included measures of strength: EE (r=−0.35), LE (r= −0.27), DL (r= −0.26), BP (r= −0.20), LF (r=−0.23); experience: military rank (r= −0.33), time in job (r= −0.32); self-rating: SR rate (r= 0.32), and physical characteristics: weight (r= −0.28), and age (r=−0.25). Multiple regression revealed that 19% of the variance in SR time was accounted for by EE and military rank (SEE =7.3 min). CONCLUSIONS This indicates that subjective ratings of job performance, experience, and physical strength measures are related to performance of a physically-demanding, skilled MECHS task. While these relationships are not strong enough to use as selection criteria to identify superior MECHS, regression analyses revealed that muscle strength measures were related to SR time. This suggests MECHS should include progressive resistance exercise as part of their physical training. Reduced strength in MECHS may limit their ability to complete essential job tasks and may be related to injury potential.

Shearing strength as an additional selection criterion for quality in Brachiaria pasture ecotypes

Leaves of 12 accessions of Brachiaria sp. (three accessions from each of four species) were subjected to tests of shearing strength using a Warner Bratzler meat shear. Morphological measurements of these leaves were also taken in an attempt to standardize shearing strength measurements per unit of leaf tissue. The technique was evaluated for its capacity to detect differences between accessions of the same species. All samples were also analysed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin, crude protein, silica and digestibility in order to relate measures of physical strength to chemical components. Results demonstrated the presence of a clear relationship between shearing strength and structural (cell wall) components. Correlations between shearing strength and NDF, ADF and lignin were 0·74, 0·82 and 0·80 respectively. The technique identified clear differences between accessions of the same species (P &lt; 0·05). These measurements can thus be used as a powerful tool for identifying forage plants of superior nutritional quality within selection programmes. Measurements of strength standardized for morphological characteristics illustrated that the ranking of the samples varied considerably depending on which morphological character was used.

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Spectroscopy Studies of Compomer Type Dental Restoratives

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate the curing kinetics of compomer type dental restoratives, determining rate constants and half-life of radicals. Physical strength measurements of the compomers were also determined for correlation with the ESR results. Compoglass (Ivoclar-Vivadent), Dyract (Dentsply), ANA (Nordiska) and Luxat (DMG) compomers were used in the study. Specimens, 3. 2 mm diameter x 6. 6 mm length, were cured in a plastic mold for 2 minutes, using an Elipar lamp. Immediately after curing, samples were examined by ESR, establishing time zero. The influence of conditioning at 37°CC in water, 0.1M lactic acid, and 75% ethanol was examined. A Varian (E—9 X-band) ESR spectrometer was used to follow radical decay in all dental compomers studied. Peak intensities decrease during storage under dark conditions, accelerated by solution sorption which causes the matrix to swell, bringing about faster radical decay. Rate constants and half-lives of the radicals were calculated from the average of n=3. Each system showed bi-exponential decay with one long lived half-life and one short lived half-life component. Radical decay rates for the four systems differ markedly, depending on their water sorption or conditioning method. Luxat and ANA were found by ESR and physical strength measurements to be structurally more homogeneous and water resistant than the other two compomers. Luxat exhibited the greatest half-life, i. e., longest radical decay profiles, on exposure to all conditioning methods, suggesting it would be the most stable compomer in dental applications. But, Luxat would be expected to release less fluoride in the oral cavity than Compoglass or Dyract.

Optimization of Hybrid Composite Properties

Hybrid composites have been a popular class of a wear-resistant posterior composite restorative material. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hybridization on the physical properties of a composite with different amounts of submicron silica (0.04 microns) with semiporous strontium glass (1.4 microns ave. by number/5 microns ave. by volume) in a Bis-GMA based resin system. As the submicron content increases, the total filler loading in the composite was increased. At the 25 percent submicron silica level, the filler loading was highest and the physical strength measurements were highest, except for DTS results, which were fairly steady throughout the 5-40 percent level.

Intercrystalline Fracture in Alnico 5

In the production grinding of Alnico 5, small grains break loose from the body of a magnet leaving a void. This pickout problem can be avoided by controlling the cooling rate to about 250°C/min from the molten condition. Magnetic and physical strength measurements as well as metallographic studies explain the need for cooling-rate control to achieve the best compromise between remanence and physical strength.