Single Training Session Research Articles

Behavioral skills training for teaching safety skills to mental health service providers compared to training-as-usual: a pragmatic randomized control trial.

Violence in the healthcare workplace has been a global concern for over two decades, with a high prevalence of violence towards healthcare workers reported. Workplace violence has become a healthcare quality indicator and embedded in quality improvement initiatives of many healthcare organizations. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada's largest mental health hospital, provides all clinical staff with mandated staff safety training for self-protection and team-control skills. These skills are to be used as a last resort when a patient is at imminent risk of harm to self or others. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two training methods of this mandated staff safety training for workplace violence in a large psychiatric hospital setting. Using a pragmatic randomized control trial design, this study compares two approaches to teaching safety skills CAMH's training-as-usual (TAU) using the 3D approach (description, demonstration and doing) and behavioural skills training (BST), from the field of applied behaviour analysis, using instruction, modeling, practice and feedback loop. Staff were assessed on three outcome measures (competency, mastery and confidence), across three time points: before training (baseline), immediately after training (post-training) and one month later (follow-up). This study was registered with the ISRCTN registry on 06/09/2023 (ISRCTN18133140). With a sample size of 99 new staff, results indicate that BST was significantly better than TAU in improving observed performance of self-protection and team-control skills. Both methods were associated with improved skills and confidence. However, there was a decrease in skill performance levels at the one-month follow-up for both methods, with BST remaining higher than TAU scores across all three time points. The impact of training improved staff confidence in both training methods and remained high across all three time points. The study findings suggest that BST is more effective than TAU in improving safety skills among healthcare workers. However, the retention of skills over time remains a concern, and therefore a single training session without on-the-job-feedback or booster sessions based on objective assessments of skill may not be sufficient. Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings in different settings.

Функциональные резервы адаптации двигательной системы спортсменов с позиций физиолого-биомеханического подхода

Human adaptation to physical activity is manifested through mobilization of functional reserves. The purpose of this study was to provide a scientific and experimental substantiation of the adaptation of functional reserves of the motor system in athletes to specific sports activities from the standpoint of the physiological and biomechanical approach. Materials and methods. The study involved 704 elite athletes doing various sports. Reaction time was determined using the hardware and software package “Sports Psychophysiologist”. Stabilometric parameters were analysed using stabilometric platforms with the Smart BTS Motion System (BTS Bioengineering, Italy); the static analysis test protocol was applied. Electromyographic and biomechanical (kinematic and dynamic) movement control was performed using the Smart BTS Motion System as well. Functional reserves of the motor system were studied in line with the existing ideas about the components of the human body’s physiological reserves activated when doing sports. The following were evaluated: sensory systems (sensorimotor reactions, vestibular stability), movement control (stabilography, kinematics, dynamics), regulation of homeostasis, and implementation of activity (neuromuscular system). Results. We found that both single (in respect of urgent adaptation: an increase in voltage, optimization of kinematics and dynamics during a weightlifting snatch) and systematic (as regards long-term adaptation: improvement in reaction time and vestibular stability in athletes of various sports) training sessions involving maximum strength, power and speed contribute to the activation of the relevant sensory systems, central nervous system and muscular system, which form the basis of the motor system and increase its functionality as a whole.

Cross-domain structural damage identification using transfer learning strategy

In damage identification of civil structures, training deep neural networks (DNNs) often requires a large volume of annotated training data. However, artificial damage to real-world structures is always forbidden, resulting in insufficient data for training. Transfer learning provides a solution that allows structural damage information in a data-rich domain to be transferred and shared as the prior knowledge to a data-scarce domain, thereby indirectly augmenting available training data in the latter domain. To this end, a multi-task transfer learning strategy has been adopted for the purpose of achieving cross-domain damage identification between a plane frame in the source domain and a three-dimensional frame in the target domain. The strategy can share the learning knowledge from the domain with sufficient training data to the target domain with insufficient data. Thereby, the DNN (named DNN#2) in the target domain can be trained on a small amount of training data. Owing to their ability in data feature extraction, stacked auto-encoders (SAEs) are used to construct the desirable DNN#1 and DNN#2 corresponding to different damage identification tasks, named Task#1 and Task#2, in the two domains. The two DNNs share the hidden layers in order to share damage feature information between the source and target domains. The training datasets of the two domains are first used to jointly pre-train the auto-encoders’ parameters in an unsupervised learning way. Afterwards, a supervised fine-tuning step is carried out to retraining the entire SAEs for better performance. By these means, Task#2 receives some prior knowledge from Task#1, and thus, it is accomplished on limited training data when Task#1 is synchronously achieved. The analysis results demonstrate that the proposed multi-task learning strategy requires only a single training session to simultaneously realize the cross-domain damage identification of two different steel frames.

The efficacy of hazard perception training and education: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundHazard perception (HP) has been argued to improve with experience, with numerous training programs having been developed in an attempt to fast track the development of this critical safety skill. To date, there has been little synthesis of these methods. Objective: The present study sought to synthesise the literature for all road users to capture the breadth of methodologies and intervention types, and quantify their efficacy.Data Sources: A systematic review of both peer reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature was completed. A total of 57 papers were found to have met inclusion criteria. Results: Research into hazard perception has focused primarily on drivers (with 42 studies), with a limited number of studies focusing on vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists (3 studies), cyclists (7 studies) and pedestrians (5 studies). Training was found to have a large significant effect on improving hazard perception skills for drivers (g = 0.78) and cyclists (g = 0.97), a moderate effect for pedestrians (g = 0.64) and small effect for motorcyclists (g = 0.42). There was considerable heterogeneity in the findings, with the efficacy of training varying as a function of the hazard perception skill being measured, the type of training enacted (active, passive or combined) and the number of sessions of training (single or multiple). Active training and single sessions were found to yield more consistent significant improvements in hazard perception. Conclusions: This study found that HP training improved HP skill across all road user groups with generally moderate to large effects identified. HP training should employ a training method that actively engages the participants in the training task. Preliminary results suggest that a single session of training may be sufficient to improve HP skill however more research is needed into the delivery of these single sessions and long-term retention. Further research is also required to determine whether improvements in early-stage skills translate to improvements in responses on the road, and the long-term retention of the skills developed through training.

Effects of chronic inspiratory muscle strength training on metabolic and cardiovascular measures during a glucose tolerance test

Previous work has shown that both a single session of aerobic exercise and chronic exercise training improve glucose homeostasis. Similarly, a single bout of inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) has been shown to facilitate a greater degree of glycemic control. However, less is known about the chronic effects of IMST, particularly with respect to metabolic and cardiovascular responses to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We hypothesized that 6 weeks of IMST would promote a greater degree of glycemic control, via a reduction in fasting and peak glucose during an OGTT. To test this hypothesis, participants (n=14, 57% female, average age=21.9) completed 6 weeks of daily training at either 15% (n=7) or 75% (n=7) of their maximal inspiratory pressure. Each subject underwent a pre-IMST glucose tolerance test in which their blood glucose level, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes following glucose ingestion. A post-IMST glucose tolerance test was completed after 6 weeks of training. The results indicate no training effect on baseline glucose, peak glucose, 90-minutes post-glucose, or glucose area under the curve responses, for both training intensities (P>0.05). There was no significant effect of IMST on heart rate, nor was heart rate altered during the OGTT (P>0.5). While mean arterial pressure was not affected during the OGTT (P>0.05), baseline mean arterial pressure decreased in the 75% intensity group only (P=0.012). In summary, 6 weeks of high-intensity IMST decreases baseline blood pressure, and glucose tolerance was unaffected in both training groups. Future studies should investigate the effects of chronic IMST on other metabolic measures (e.g. lipids, triglycerides, and/or cholesterol levels) and the impact that this training has on glucose homeostasis in clinical populations. This work was supported by the Alma College CORE Summer Research Program. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

A Study on Teacher Perception of Korean Language Classes Using Metaverse: Focusing on the Change in Perception of Teachers Before and After Metaverse Education

his study investigated the potential of metaverse-based Korean language education by examining teachers’ perceptions and willingness to adopt metaverse technologies in their teaching. Additionally, the study proposes directions for teacher training to facilitate the implementation and sustainability of metaverse-based Korean language education. To achieve the aims of this study, a teacher training program on metaverse-based Korean language education for Korean language teachers was conducted. Pre- and post-training surveys were administered to assess changes in the teachers’ understanding, perceived necessities, challenges, willingness to adopt the technology, and desire to support future metaverse-based classes. The results showed that while teachers currently do not utilize metaverse technologies in their classrooms due to factors such as their limited understanding of the technology, inadequate technical skills, and institutional system issues, they expressed ahigh degree of willingness to incorporate metaverse technologies in their future teaching. Additionally, there was a strong demand for follow-up training when it comes to the metaverse. The study also found that a single teacher training session significantly reduced teachers’ perceived burden regarding the understanding and use of metaverse functionalities. Therefore, this study suggests that continuous and coherent teacher training programs can enhance Korean language teachers’ digital literacy and promote the adoption of metaverse technologies in Korean language education.

Effects of a single-day pre-academy physical test training session on physical fitness scores of police candidates.

Concerns are sometimes raised by police applicants undertaking physical fitness testing that they were unfamiliar with the test requirements which in turn negatively impacted their performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a single day physical test training session on physical fitness scores of police candidates. The sample consisted of female police candidates (n = 133) who attended a pre-academy training session. On the first day of pre-training, candidates' physical fitness was measured following official assessment day protocols. Measures included maximal handgrip strength, number of push-ups in 10 sec (PU), number of sit-ups in 30 sec (SU), standing long jump (SLJ), Abalakow jump test (AJ), 12 min Cooper running test (CT), and a motor educability test (ME). After the assessment, the overseeing UCIPS staff provided a detailed test skills briefing to candidates (e.g., common mistakes made during testing, how test performance could be improved, etc.). Immediately after the briefing, candidates performed the tests once again. Differences between results were measured using a paired samples t-test with significance set at 0.05. Paired sample t-tests determined significant (p < 0.001), large (Rank-Biserial Correlation = 1.00), improvements in physical fitness scores during the second assessment following familiarisation and feedback on test performance. Pre-academy training may be effective in improving candidates' physical fitness scores, in most tests, prior to the official assessment for the enrolment to police studies. Thus, to optimise initial candidate scores and opportunities for successful enlistment, police agencies may benefit from providing pre-assessment training.

Weight Averaging and re-adjustment ensemble for QRCD

Question Answering (QA) is a prominent task in the field of Natural Language Processing (NLP) with extensive applications. Recently, there has been a notable surge in research interest concerning the development of QA systems for the Holy Qur’an, an Islamic religious text. The Qur’an Reading Comprehension Dataset (QRCD) Malhas and Elsayed (2020) is a highly commendable effort in this respect. It stands as the first benchmark dataset specifically designed for a set of directly answerable questions from the Qur’an. Each question in the dataset is meticulously labeled with all potential answers sourced from the Holy Qur’an. From our perspective, the main challenge in QRCD stems from the limited volume of training data it offers. As a solution we propose an innovative approach to build a Deep Neural Network (DNN) ensemble, centered around Ara-Electra model (Antoun et al., 2021), that we called Weight Averaging and Re-adjustment (WAR) model. The model is constructed by computing running averages of all model states that evolve during a single training session and ensuring that model weights are readjusted prior to each training epoch, in order to hold it back from over fitting the training data. The scheme results in a single standalone model that exhibits the benefits of multi-model ensembles. It is distinguished from other ensembles proposed for QRCD that accumulates outputs from multiple expert models and employs classic techniques like hard voting or score averaging on output probabilities to build unified results. Each expert model costs individual training time and compute resources. The WAR model outperforms existing systems with improved generalization over unseen data. It achieves F1, partial Reciprocal Rank (pRR), and exact-match (EM) scores of 0.567, 0.60 and 0.29 respectively, exceeding best reported QRCD scores by 3%, 1.5% and 0.69% respectively. Notably, we are comparing our results with the top scores from different models, highlighting our model’s consistent performance across all three metrics.

Corticospinal and spinal responses following a single session of lower limb motor skill and resistance training.

Prior studies suggest resistance exercise as a potential form of motor learning due to task-specific corticospinal responses observed in single sessions of motor skill and resistance training. While existing literature primarily focuses on upper limb muscles, revealing a task-dependent nature in eliciting corticospinal responses, our aim was to investigate such responses after a single session of lower limb motor skill and resistance training. Twelve participants engaged in a visuomotor force tracking task, self-paced knee extensions, and a control task. Corticospinal, spinal, and neuromuscular responses were measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). Assessments occurred at baseline, immediately post, and at 30-min intervals over two hours. Force steadiness significantly improved in the visuomotor task (P < 0.001). Significant fixed-effects emerged between conditions for corticospinal excitability, corticospinal inhibition, and spinal excitability (all P < 0.001). Lower limb motor skill training resulted in a greater corticospinal excitability compared to resistance training (mean difference [MD] = 35%, P < 0.001) and control (MD; 37%, P < 0.001). Motor skill training resulted in a lower corticospinal inhibition compared to control (MD; - 10%, P < 0.001) and resistance training (MD; - 9%, P < 0.001). Spinal excitability was lower following motor skill training compared to control (MD; - 28%, P < 0.001). No significant fixed effect of Time or Time*Condition interactions were observed. Our findings highlight task-dependent corticospinal responses in lower limb motor skill training, offering insights for neurorehabilitation program design.

Multi-objective scheduling of cloud-edge cooperation in distributed manufacturing via multi-agent deep reinforcement learning

ABSTRACT Due to the limited computational power of edge devices in distributed manufacturing systems, the challenge of meeting real-time computing requirements for industrial big data arises. Additionally, the significant number of computational tasks results in considerable energy expenses. Therefore, it is crucial to effectively tackle the multi-objective cloud-edge collaborative task offloading problem (MOCECTOP). This paper focuses on two optimisation objectives: total computation time delay and computational energy consumption, which are related to promoting work efficiency and lowering carbon emissions. The weights of these two objectives are hard to determine at different production stages. The challenge is to get multiple models with various possible weight pairs of multiple objectives within a single training session and to achieve high-quality schedules for MOCECTOP in real-time production line control. We address this challenge by proposing a hierarchical parameter sharing (HPS) multi-objective optimisation framework based on multi-agent deep reinforcement learning. The network model comprises a task selection agent and a computing node selection agent. The task selection agent prioritises tasks for computation based on their state features, while the computing node selection agent allocates available computing devices to a selected task. Parameter sharing and collaborative training are employed to obtain a solution for the multi-objective problem when considering the variations in computational capabilities between the cloud and the edge. The HPS optimisation framework effectively fulfills the near real-time requirements for task computation in distributed manufacturing. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our HPS-based strategy quickly produces better schedules superior to those of existing multi-objective solution methods.

Dietary and Biological Assessment of Omega-3 Status in University Rugby Football Players: A Case-Control Study

Background: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been shown to help maintain muscle function and reduce muscle soreness after exercise-induced muscle damage. However, the relationship between the dietary and biological status of omega-3 fatty acids in rugby players remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the connection between the dietary and biological status of omega-3 fatty acids in university rugby players. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving university rugby players and age-matched sedentary controls. We assessed diets, including omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, using self-administered dietary questionnaires. Whole blood lipidomics was performed before and after a single training session. Results: The rugby group (n = 29) had significantly higher intakes of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids compared to the control group (n = 31). While the blood omega-6 relative concentration did not differ between the groups, the rugby group had lower omega-3 fatty acid levels than the control group (4.4 ± 1.1 vs. 6.2 ± 1.8%). Approximately 48% of rugby players had an omega-3 index (O3i) considered as high risk for cardiovascular disease, and 52% were classified as intermediate risk. None of the players had a low-risk O3i. A single training session had an impact on the omega-3 and omega-6 metabolic pathways. Conclusions: Despite having a higher omega-3 fatty acid intake than controls, rugby football players may still be deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. Further nutritional interventions are needed to address these issues.

Stimulus variability improves generalization following response inhibition training.

The present study examined the effect of stimulus variability and practice order on generalization to novel stimuli following a single session of response inhibition training. Ninety-six young adults practiced the Go/No-go task online in three training conditions: (1) constant (N = 32)-inhibition practiced on one stimulus; (2) variable-blocked (N = 32)-inhibition practiced on 6 stimuli, each in a separate block; and (3) variable-random (N = 32)-inhibition practiced on 6 stimuli in random order. Generalization was measured by comparing groups on inhibition of novel stimuli and a trained stimulus immediately and 24h after training. Consistent with our hypothesis, the variable-random and the variable-blocked groups showed better generalization to the novel items than the constant group, demonstrating the benefit of stimulus variability. The variable-random group also showed better generalization than the variable-blocked group, demonstrating the benefit of presenting stimuli in random order. Participants' capacity for working memory maintenance was found to modulate the effect of practice order. While the benefit of variability was retained 24h after training, the effect of order was not. Results also show generalization to (1) different type of stimuli using the same task and (2) the same stimuli on a different response inhibition task (the Stop-Signal Task), however, the effect of variable practice and order were not evident in these cases. The study findings illustrate the advantage of using variable stimuli presented in random order for generalization and suggest that these principles of motor learning can be applied to learning of cognitive skills.

Facing emotions: real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback using dynamic emotional faces to modulate amygdala activity.

Maladaptive functioning of the amygdala has been associated with impaired emotion regulation in affective disorders. Recent advances in real-time fMRI neurofeedback have successfully demonstrated the modulation of amygdala activity in healthy and psychiatric populations. In contrast to an abstract feedback representation applied in standard neurofeedback designs, we proposed a novel neurofeedback paradigm using naturalistic stimuli like human emotional faces as the feedback display where change in the facial expression intensity (from neutral to happy or from fearful to neutral) was coupled with the participant's ongoing bilateral amygdala activity. The feasibility of this experimental approach was tested on 64 healthy participants who completed a single training session with four neurofeedback runs. Participants were assigned to one of the four experimental groups (n = 16 per group), i.e., happy-up, happy-down, fear-up, fear-down. Depending on the group assignment, they were either instructed to "try to make the face happier" by upregulating (happy-up) or downregulating (happy-down) the amygdala or to "try to make the face less fearful" by upregulating (fear-up) or downregulating (fear-down) the amygdala feedback signal. Linear mixed effect analyses revealed significant amygdala activity changes in the fear condition, specifically in the fear-down group with significant amygdala downregulation in the last two neurofeedback runs as compared to the first run. The happy-up and happy-down groups did not show significant amygdala activity changes over four runs. We did not observe significant improvement in the questionnaire scores and subsequent behavior. Furthermore, task-dependent effective connectivity changes between the amygdala, fusiform face area (FFA), and the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) were examined using dynamic causal modeling. The effective connectivity between FFA and the amygdala was significantly increased in the happy-up group (facilitatory effect) and decreased in the fear-down group. Notably, the amygdala was downregulated through an inhibitory mechanism mediated by mOFC during the first training run. In this feasibility study, we intended to address key neurofeedback processes like naturalistic facial stimuli, participant engagement in the task, bidirectional regulation, task congruence, and their influence on learning success. It demonstrated that such a versatile emotional face feedback paradigm can be tailored to target biased emotion processing in affective disorders.

A Matter of Time: A Web-Based Investigation of Rest and Sleep Effects on Speech Motor Learning.

Here, we examine the possibility that memory consolidation during a period of postpractice rest or nocturnal sleep can bolster speech motor learning in the absence of additional practice or effort. Using web-administered experiments, 74 typical, American English talkers trained in a nonnative vowel contrast then had a 12-hr delay with (SLEEP) or without nocturnal sleep (REST) or proceeded immediately (IMMEDIATE) to a posttraining production assessment. For ecological validity, 51 native Danish talkers perceptually identified the American English talkers' productions. We observed that practice resulted in productions that were more acoustically similar to the Danish target. In addition, we found that rest in the absence of further practice reduced the token-to-token variability of the productions. Last, for vowels produced immediately following training, listeners more accurately identified vowels in the trained context, whereas in the untrained context, listener accuracy improved only for vowels produced by talkers who slept. A single session of speech motor training promotes observable change to speech production behavior. Specifically, practice facilitates acoustic similarity to the target. Moreover, although a 12-hr postpractice period of rest appears to promote productions that are less variable, only the productions of those who slept are perceived as more accurate by listeners. This may point to sleep's role in contextualizing the acoustic goal of the production to the learner's own vocal tract and its role as a protective mechanism during learning. These results are unaccounted for under existing models and offer potential for future educational and clinical applications to maximize speech motor learning. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24707442.

Characterizing microcycles' workload when combining two days structure within single training sessions during congested fixtures in an elite male soccer team.

This study aimed to describe and compare specific matchdays sessions and playing positions external load during congested fixtures in elite football when combining the objectives from two different training days in one session. Data was collected from 27 players from the 1st Brazilian division (28.7 ± 18.61 years) that participated in the following training days during congested fixtures (n = 16 weeks): a) Match day+1 (MD+1MD-2, session 1 day after the game with tasks from MD+1 and MD-2 sessions, n = 9); b) Matchday-2 (MD-2MD+2, session 2 days prior to subsequent match with tasks from MD-2 and MD+2 sessions, n = 11); c) Matchday-1 (MD-1MD+2, session 1 day prior to subsequent match with tasks from MD-1 and MD+2 sessions, n = 12); and d) Matchday-1 (MD-1MD+3, session 1 day prior to subsequent match with tasks from MD-1 and MD+3 sessions, n = 11). External load was collected with global positioning systems, while internal load with the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). The MD+1MD-2 showed higher total distance covered (F = 116.92, p < 0.001) and player load (F = 56.67, p < 0.001) values than the other three training days, while both the MD+1MD-2 and MD-2MD+2 revealed higher distance covered at high-speed running (F = 22.43, p < 0.001) and high metabolic load distance covered (F = 75.98, p < 0.001) than both MD-1 sessions. Fullbacks covered higher high-speed running distance (F = 3.6, p = 0.033) than center backs, while midfielders reported higher RPE (F = 5.29, p = 0.003) values than defensive midfielders and fullbacks. Coaches may use the MD+1MD-2 to emphasize total distance covered, while both MD+1MD-2 and MD-2MD+2 to promote HSR and HML distance compared to MD-1 sessions. In addition, combining training sessions allows to normalize external load across playing positions with the exception of fullbacks that are exposed to higher stimulus.

Modified-release gliclazide acutely improves recovery but causes undesirable blood glucose decrease after a resistance exercise session in healthy adults: a pilot study for a randomized clinical trial.

Sulfonylureas have been used to improve performance in strength sports. However, this hypothetical effect has not been proven. We examined the ergogenic acute effect of gliclazide on resistance training performance and muscle recovery. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, crossover pilot study with 10 healthy resistance-trained adults (29.3 ± 4.4 years), nonusers of anabolic steroids. The participants were randomized to two exercise sessions. In the first session, five participants received placebo and the other five received gliclazide modified release, both administered 8 hours before the session. Session two was performed in a crossover fashion a week later. The volume load was calculated as the maximum number of repetitions of four sets multiplied by load (65% 1-RM). Blood samples were collected before and after exercise, as well as 24 hours and 48 hours after exercise for measurement of creatine kinase (CK-MM) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Blood glucose was measured with a glucometer before, during, and after the exercise sessions. Gliclazide did not enhance volume load for bench press (placebo: 2,698.0 ± 923.0 kg; gliclazide: 2,675.0 ± 1,088.0 kg; p = 0.073) or leg press (placebo: 10,866.0 ± 2,671.0 kg; gliclazide: 10,817.0 ± 2,888.0 kg; p = 0.135). However, CK-MM (-27.7%; p = 0.034) and LDH (-21.1%; p = 0.021) activities were decreased with gliclazide 48 hours after exercise. There was also a decrease in blood glucose in the gliclazide compared with the placebo session (p = 0.018). Gliclazide did not enhance performance in a single resistance training session, but promoted faster muscle recovery. The decrease in blood glucose post-exercise with gliclazide was an undesirable effect that could lead to long-term glucose metabolism disorders. Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under number NCT04443777.

Prospective Study to Assess Knowledge about Basic Life Support in College Students and Evaluate the Effectiveness of Basic Life Support Training

Background and Aims: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests represent critical situations wherein prompt basic life support (BLS) intervention can significantly impact survivability. This study aimed to assess the baseline knowledge of BLS among college students and evaluate the efficacy of a training intervention, gauging changes in confidence and performance scores. Methods: Following ethical approval, a pretraining BLS questionnaire was administered to participating students. Subsequently, American Heart Association-certified BLS training providers conducted hands-on training. Posttraining, participants completed confidence and their performance was evaluated by the training providers. Data analysis utilized a percentage-based methodology. Results: The findings from the questionnaire revealed that 87% of students had witnessed emergencies, with only 7.7% initiating help and 2.3% observing resuscitation efforts. Notably, a deficit in knowledge about automated external defibrillators was observed across all the participants. Approximately 49.5% expressed interest in training, while 41.7% declined periodic training. Concerningly, 53.7% cited fear of legal repercussions as a deterrent to aiding victims, and 30.09% attributed their nonintervention to a lack of BLS knowledge. Posttraining, 81.5% of students displayed average confidence, with 18.4% exhibiting poor confidence in providing roadside BLS assistance. Performance assessments revealed that 28.15% performed well, 52.90% performed at an average level, and 18.95% performed poorly during hands-on training with a mannequin. Conclusions: The study highlights a notable lack of awareness and understanding of BLS among college students, as evidenced by the pretraining questionnaire. The single training session employed in this study did not substantially enhance confidence or performance scores in providing BLS. The findings underscore the necessity for increased awareness and recurrent BLS training initiatives among the young population to bolster both confidence and practical proficiency in responding to emergency situations.

A single session of strength training changed plasma levels of resistin, but not leptin in overweight and obese men

Obesity has a complex multifactorial etiology and is characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. Visceral adipose tissue has deleterious effects on health because it secretes large amounts of inflammatory cytokines. Nutritional calorie restriction associated with strength training may be useful in managing chronic systemic inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of a single strength-training session on plasma adipokine levels in sedentary, overweight, and obese young men. This study included twelve men (Age: [34.95 ​± ​9.77] years; Height: [174.16 ​± ​3.66] centimeter [cm]; Weight: [97.83 ​± ​12.87] kilogram (kg); body mass index [BMI]: [32.30 ​± ​4.51] kg/m2), who performed a single strength training session. The strength training protocol consisted of 4 sets of 12 repetitions in the following six exercises, 45° leg press, bench press, leg extension, machine row, leg curl, and shoulder press. Blood samples were collected before, immediately after, and 1-h subsequent after strength training. The plasma levels of resistin and leptin were measured. A significant decrease in resistin levels were found 1 ​h after the strength training session if compared to levels before the training session (pre-[before] [2 390 ​± ​1 199] picograms per milliliter [pg/mL] vs post-1 h [1-h subsequent] [1 523 ​± ​798],6 ​pg/mL, p ​= ​0.002 8). The plasma leptin levels did not differ at any time point. In conclusion, a very well controlled single session of strength training significantly decreased the plasma levels of resistin without altering the concentration of leptin in overweight and obese individuals. This effect, at least in part, supports the benefits of exercise by reducing the low grade inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity.

Validity of Global Positioning System Technology to Measure Maximum Velocity Sprinting in Elite Sprinters.

Thome, M, Thorpe, RT, Jordan, MJ, and Nimphius, S. Validity of global positioning system (GPS) technology to measure maximum velocity sprinting in elite sprinters. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2438-2442, 2023-The objective of this study was to assess the concurrent validity of 10-Hz wearable Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to measure maximum velocity sprinting (Vmax) relative to Doppler radar in elite sprinters. Data were collected from a single training session performed by elite 100 and 200 m sprinters (males: n = 5; 100 m best times: 10.02 ± 0.07 seconds, range: 9.94-10.10 seconds; 200 m best times: 20.29 ± 0.42 seconds, range: 19.85-20.80 seconds; females: n = 2; age: 28.0 ± 4.2 years; body mass: 65.8 ± 4.6 kg; 100 m best times: 11.18 ± 0.34 seconds; 200 m best times: 22.53 ± 0.04 seconds). Velocity and time data from 16 maximal, 60-m sprint efforts were recorded simultaneously with 10 Hz GPS and 47 Hz radar. Validity was assessed using Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement (LOA) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), each with respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). Vmax measured with 10 Hz GPS demonstrated a LOA of -0.11 m·s-1 (-0.17, -0.05) and an ICC of 0.99 (0.98, 1.0) relative to the radar device.10 Hz GPS overestimated Vmax by 0.11 m·s-1 relative to the radar but could still be considered a suitable tool for monitoring external load in elite sprinters. However, the much smaller average annual improvement in this population (∼0.1-0.2%) in comparison with the ∼1% overestimation reduces the utility of 10 Hz GPS to detect meaningful performance changes in maximum velocity.

Effects of 7-day quercetin intervention on motor unit activity and muscle contractile properties before and after resistance exercise in young adults randomized controlled trials.

We investigated whether the alteration of the motor unit recruitment threshold (MURT) caused by quercetin ingestion intervention for 7 days modifies motor unit activation patterns before and after a single session of resistance exercise. Twenty young male and female adults were divided into two groups: ingestion of placebo (PLA) or quercetin glycosides at 200mg/day (QUE). High-density surface electromyography during submaximal contractions was measured to assess the motor unit firing rate (MUFR) and MURT of the vastus lateralis muscle before (PRE) and after (POST) resistance exercise (DAY1). The same measurements were repeated after 7 days of placebo or quercetin glycoside ingestion (DAY8). In QUE, MURT decreased more from DAY1-PRE to DAY8-PRE (29.1±9.1 to 27.1±9.5% MVC, p<0.001) but not in PLA (29.8±10.4 to 28.9±9.7% MVC, p<0.167). For percentage change in MUFR following resistance exercise, there was a significant interaction (day × group, p<0.001). The degree of changes in MURT from DAY1-PRE to DAY8-PRE was significantly correlated with the percentage change of MUFR from DAY8-PRE to DAY8-POST in QUE (p=0.014, r = -0.363) but not in PLA (p=0.518). The study suggests that 7-day quercetin ingestion alters the motor unit recruitment pattern, and this may induce changes in motor unit firing patterns during a single session of resistance training (Trial registration: UMIN000052255, R000059650).