Force Strain Research Articles

Risk of Injury in Royal Air Force Training: Does Sex Really Matter?

Musculoskeletal injuries are common during military and other occupational physical training programs. Employers have a duty of care to reduce employees' injury risk, where females tend to be at greater risk than males. However, quantification of principle co-factors influencing the sex-injury association, and their relative importance, remain poorly defined. Injury risk co-factors were investigated during Royal Air Force (RAF) recruit training to inform the strategic prioritization of mitigation strategies. A cohort of 1,193 (males n = 990 (83%); females n = 203 (17%)) recruits, undertaking Phase-1 military training, were prospectively monitored for injury occurrence. The primary independent variable was sex, and potential confounders (fitness, smoking, anthropometric measures, education attainment) were assessed pre-training. Generalized linear models were used to assess associations between sex and injury. In total, 31% of recruits (28% males; 49% females) presented at least one injury during training. Females had a two-fold greater unadjusted risk of injury during training than males (RR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.49-2.10). After anthropometric, lifestyle and education measures were included in the model, the excess risk decreased by 34%, but the associations continued to be statistically significant. In contrast, when aerobic fitness was adjusted, an inverse association was identified; the injury risk was 40% lower in females compared with males (RR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.42-0.83). Physical fitness was the most important confounder with respect to differences in males' and females' injury risk, rather than sex alone. Mitigation to reduce this risk should, therefore, focus upon physical training, complemented by healthy lifestyle interventions.

Changes in Heart Rate and Its Regulation by the Autonomic Nervous System Do Not Differ Between Forced and Voluntary Exercise in Mice.

Most exercise studies in mice have relied on forced training which can introduce psychological stress. Consequently, the utility of mouse models for understanding exercise-mediated effects in humans, particularly autonomic nervous system (ANS) remodeling, have been challenged. We compared the effects of voluntary free-wheel running vs. non-voluntary swimming on heart function in mice with a focus on the regulation of heart rate (HR) by the ANS. Under conditions where the total excess O2 consumption associated with exercise was comparable, the two exercise models led to similar improvements in ventricular function as well as comparable reductions in HR and its control by parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA) and sympathetic nervous activity (SNA), compared to sedentary mice. Both exercise models also increased HR variability (HRV) by similar amounts, independent of HR reductions. In all mice, HRV depended primarily on PNA, with SNA weakly affecting HRV at low frequencies. The differences in both HR and HRV between exercised vs. sedentary mice were eliminated by autonomic blockade, consistent with the similar intrinsic beating rates observed in atria isolated from exercised vs. sedentary mice. In conclusion, both forced and voluntary exercise induce comparable ventricular physiological remodeling as well as HR reductions and HR-independent enhancements of HRV which were both primarily dependent on increased PNA.New and noteworthy–No previous mouse studies have compared the effects of forced and voluntary exercise on the heart function and its modulation by the autonomic nervous system (ANS).–Both voluntary free-wheel running and forced swimming induced similar improvements in ventricular contractile function, reductions in heart rate (HR) and enhancements of HR variability (HRV).–HR regulation in exercised mice was linked to increased parasympathetic nerve activity and reduced sympathetic nerve activity.– HRV was independent of HR and depended primarily on PNA in both exercised and sedentary mice.– Complete cardiac autonomic blockade eliminated differences in both HR and HRV between exercised and sedentary mice.

No Demand for Skill: The Bane of India’s Vocational Training

In this article, we document some empirical facts about vocational training in India. First, we show that the education levels and vocational training of the Indian labour force are low and have not changed between 2004–2005 and 2011–2012. Then, we show that in wage employment, regular wage and salary earners and casual labour, the returns to skilling are low while the returns to general education are significant, even within the same occupation and industry category. Using the enterprise surveys from the NSS, we also document that self-employment, which is the outside option for most unskilled, semi-skilled and even skilled people, is very unproductive. We, thus, argue that the Indian labour market is stuck in an equilibrium where both the number of persons getting skilled and the returns to skilling are low. JEL: J240, O150

Does Selective Sales Force Training Work?

Abstract Companies spend billions of dollars annually on sales force training, often carried out as off-site, multiday training events. However, numerous challenges involved in training an entire sales group forces many retailers to selectively train only a subset of their salespeople. Crucial to know is when selective training can be more effective and what composition of salespeople should be trained to benefit the entire group. This study addresses these questions using data from several stores of a retailer with different sales force training policies (full-, selective-, and no-training [control]). The degree to which salespeople applied a customer relationship-building strategy taught in the training is tracked along with more than 30 store- and salesperson-level covariates and various analyses are performed to correct for selection issues. The authors find that (1) selective training can be highly effective in stores with low performance diversity, (2) training salespeople with diverse tenures helps...

Roundtable on GBV in Lebanon: NGOs and Law Enforcement Officers Speak Out

Al-Raida is pleased to publish the thematic discussion of a roundtable that took place in September 2017 within the context of the project “Capacity Building for Law Enforcement Personnel on Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response” funded by the Dutch Embassy in Lebanon. The project trained local law enforcement personnel on how to effectively prevent and appropriately respond to cases of gender-based violence (GBV), with attention to ensuring justice for survivors. The project was implemented by the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) in partnership with the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) Training Academy and the General Security (GS). The roundtable focused on the processes and outcomes of this project, alongside other GBV prevention and response programming being conducted by civil society and government partners across Lebanon.

Efecto de un programa de condición física de fuerza en las pruebas de lanzamiento de balón medicinal, salto vertical y salto horizontal en alumnado de la ESO

El objetivo del estudio es comprobar si existen mejoras en las 3 pruebas físicas (salto vertical con impulso, salto horizontal a pies juntos desde parado y lanzamiento de balón medicinal desde parado) a partir de un pre-test y un pos-test en un grupo experimental (n=81) y un grupo control (n=79) tras una intervención de entrenamiento de fuerza, en función del sexo (M=82; F=78) y del curso (1º ESO= 60; 2º ESO=51; 3º ESO= 49) en un centro escolar. La frecuencia del entrenamiento fue de 1 día/semana de aproximadamente 1 hora/sesión. Mediante ANOVA de medidas repetidas aplicando el post-hoc de Tukey hemos respondido a las hipótesis planteadas, concluyendo que el grupo experimental mejora el rendimiento respecto el grupo control, que los hombres mejoran más que las mujeres, y que los de 1º ESO mejoran más que los de 2º y 3º ESO.

Leading the asset: Resilience training efficacy in UK policing

This paper examines and reports on the efficacy of work-based personal resilience training in a provincial police force in the north of UK. Taking a contextual view, data is modelled from an ASSET survey (n = 350) that provides evidence of the manifestations and consequences of providing such input, in comparison with respondents who had no training and were in the same organisation. The findings support the use of such training programmes (Hesketh et al., 2015) for improving employee well-being and resilience by addressing the sources of stress and educating the workforce in how to deal with these stressors. This research provides compelling evidence that resilient individuals are better equipped to deal with the stressful nature of both policing and an uncertain working environment. This paper posits that effective leadership, a working environment congruent with employee well-being, and investment in resilience programmes for the workforce enhance subsequent organisational performance and are a marker of good practice.

Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in athletes and in special forces soldiers

Abstract Introduction Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling is frequent in athletes. This adaptation is structurally manifested by an increase in cardiac dimensions and mass. Soldiers are also subject to intense physical exercise, although with different characteristics. Objective To compare exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in competitive athletes and in soldiers on a special forces training course. Methods We studied 17 soldiers (all male and Caucasian, mean age 21±3 years) who completed a special forces course and 17 basketball players (47.3% male, 64.7% Caucasian, mean age 21±3 years). Assessment included a transthoracic echocardiogram and analysis of myocardial mechanics. This assessment was performed at the beginning and end of the military course and the sports season, respectively. Results Cardiac remodeling was observed in both groups. The soldiers presented a predominantly eccentric pattern, with increased left ventricular (LV) size (49.7±3.2 vs. 52.8±3.4 mm; p Conclusion Cardiac remodeling was frequent, with an eccentric pattern in soldiers and a concentric pattern in basketball players. Myocardial deformation may represent a physiological adaptation to physical exercise.

Remodelagem cardíaca induzida pelo exercício físico em atletas de nível competitivo e militares de forças especiais

IntroductionExercise‐induced cardiac remodeling is frequent in athletes. This adaptation is structurally manifested by an increase in cardiac dimensions and mass. Soldiers are also subject to intense physical exercise, although with different characteristics. ObjectiveTo compare exercise‐induced cardiac remodeling in competitive athletes and in soldiers on a special forces training course. MethodsWe studied 17 soldiers (all male and Caucasian, mean age 21±3 years) who completed a special forces course and 17 basketball players (47.3% male, 64.7% Caucasian, mean age 21±3 years). Assessment included a transthoracic echocardiogram and analysis of myocardial mechanics. This assessment was performed at the beginning and end of the military course and the sports season, respectively. ResultsCardiac remodeling was observed in both groups. The soldiers presented a predominantly eccentric pattern, with increased left ventricular (LV) size (49.7±3.2 vs. 52.8±3.4 mm; p<0.01), increased LV mass (93.1±7.7 vs. 100.2±11.4 g/m2; p<0.01) and decreased relative wall thickness (0.40±0.1 vs. 0.36±0.1; p=0.05). The basketball players showed a concentric pattern, with decreased LV size (52.0±4.7 vs. 50.4±4.7 mm; p=0.05), and increased relative wall thickness (0.33±0.1 vs. 0.36±0.1; p=0.05). Although there was no significant difference in LV myocardial strain in the groups separately, when compared there was a significant decrease (‐20.2±1.6% vs. ‐19.4±2.1%; p=0.03). ConclusionCardiac remodeling was frequent, with an eccentric pattern in soldiers and a concentric pattern in basketball players. Myocardial deformation may represent a physiological adaptation to physical exercise.

A Fast Orientation Invariant Detector Based on the One-stage Method

We propose an object detection method that predicts the orientation bounding boxes (OBB) to estimate objects locations, scales and orientations based on YOLO (You Only Look Once), which is one of the top detection algorithms performing well both in accuracy and speed. Horizontal bounding boxes(HBB), which are not robust to orientation variances, are used in the existing object detection methods to detect targets. The proposed orientation invariant YOLO (OIYOLO) detector can effectively deal with the bird’s eye viewpoint images where the orientation angles of the objects are arbitrary. In order to estimate the rotated angle of objects, we design a new angle loss function. Therefore, the training of OIYOLO forces the network to learn the annotated orientation angle of objects, making OIYOLO orientation invariances. The proposed approach that predicts OBB can be applied in other detection frameworks. In additional, to evaluate the proposed OIYOLO detector, we create an UAV-DAHUA datasets that annotated with objects locations, scales and orientation angles accurately. Extensive experiments conducted on UAV-DAHUA and DOTA datasets demonstrate that OIYOLO achieves state-of-the-art detection performance with high efficiency comparing with the baseline YOLO algorithms.

Factors influencing technology and innovation capability in the Nigerian indigenous oil firms

This study investigated the factors influencing technology and innovation capabilities in Nigerian indigenous oil and gas firms. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaire to elicit information from 150 indigenous oil firms. The result of the ordered logit regression showed that the extent of the firm's R&D captured by in-house R&D and R&D fund allocation were significant at 10% level of significance. Also, work experience of staff, qualification of staff and size of technical staff which captured human and knowledge capital of firm were significant in influencing the firms' technology capabilities. Acquisition of advanced machinery, firm's size and age and training were also significant in influencing technology capabilities of indigenous oil firms. The study suggests that both government and industry should ensure improvement in extensive training, R&D and education of the work force to enhance local capabilities in oil and gas field development.

Robotic Restorative Massage to Increase Working Capacity

The possibilities of manipulative robots to perform techniques of restorative massage, increasing the psychophysiological mood of the working population in order to increase the productivity of labor are considered in this article. The robot control making possible to perform a mass preventive massage is offered. Most of the studies were carried out using the so-called force points trained on robots with one-dimensional force training. The more convenient and quick training method by demonstration is proposed. At the same time, the unloading of the masseur’s hand and the accuracy of reproduction of trained trajectories are provided to a much greater degree. The hand of the masseur by means of the massage tool deforms the patient's soft tissues. To teach by the demonstration of spatial trajectories, the robot is in admittance control mode, without resisting the movements of the masseur’s hand, fixed on the robot end link. In admittance control mode, the robot tracks exactly the movements of the masseur’s hands or corrects them with the necessary force. Currently, there are robots with force control, which can organize the required admittance control mode. These robots are not specialized to perform mode massage and are not mass-produced, so they are quite expensive. If the demand increases, the cost would be much lower. Studies that will determine the techniques for performing robotic massage are needed. As an initial basis, methods of manual restorative and sports massage can be taken.

ACCIÓN DE LOS FISIOTERAPEUTAS EN SITUACIONES DE DESACONDICIONAMIENTO EN UNIDADES DE CUIDADO INTENSIVO

El desacondicionamiento físico es una situación de pérdida de condiciones fisiológicas y metabólicas de diversos sistemas ocasionada por la permanencia en reposo, afecta los desempeños y posibilidades funcionales de la persona, y se presenta de manera frecuente en personas en Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo (UCI). En dicho contexto se puede intervenir por programas de acción Fisioterapéutica. Objetivo: Revisar en la literatura reciente los aspectos que orientan la intervención del Fisioterapeuta en situaciones de desacondicionamiento en Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo. Método: Se realizó un estudio de revisión, de alcance descriptivo, a partir de consultas en bases de datos entre junio de 2014 y febrero de 2015 con artículos de texto completo. Resultados: Se encontraron 32 artículos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y de ellos el 53% correspondieron a estudios de carácter experimental. Los enfoques de intervención se concentraron en estrategias dirigidas al entrenamiento de la capacidad aeróbica , la fuerza y resistencia muscular, el 25% de los artículos mostraron que pacientes que se intervenían Fisioterapéuticamente en Cuidados Intensivos tenían una mejoría significativa en la función pulmonar, el rendimiento muscular y en particular en el entrenamiento efectivo de la fuerza explosiva. Conclusiones: Producto de la revisión adelantada se encuentra que las intervenciones tempranas realizadas por profesionales en Fisioterapia permiten revertir las complicaciones generadas por la inmovilidad prolongada y estas se deben instaurar en las primeras 24 horas de internación del paciente

Supervised learning in spiking neural networks with FORCE training

Populations of neurons display an extraordinary diversity in the behaviors they affect and display. Machine learning techniques have recently emerged that allow us to create networks of model neurons that display behaviors of similar complexity. Here we demonstrate the direct applicability of one such technique, the FORCE method, to spiking neural networks. We train these networks to mimic dynamical systems, classify inputs, and store discrete sequences that correspond to the notes of a song. Finally, we use FORCE training to create two biologically motivated model circuits. One is inspired by the zebra finch and successfully reproduces songbird singing. The second network is motivated by the hippocampus and is trained to store and replay a movie scene. FORCE trained networks reproduce behaviors comparable in complexity to their inspired circuits and yield information not easily obtainable with other techniques, such as behavioral responses to pharmacological manipulations and spike timing statistics.

Food Supply and Nutrition in the Bulgarian Army

Abstract The main tasks of food logistics in the military formations are to provide the personnel with food, material and nutritional property, to maintain and refresh the stocks, as well as organize the nutrition of the personnel in peacetime and wartime according to the current nutrition norms. It should be noted that food supply and the organization of nutrition bear its specific characteristics depending on the place where it is carried out and the force of the factors that influence it. The present study focuses on the organization of nutrition in the stage of peacetime national training of military forces.

Robotic finger perturbation training improves finger postural steadiness and hand dexterity

The purpose of the study was to understand the effect of robotic finger perturbation training on steadiness in finger posture and hand dexterity in healthy young adults. A mobile robotic finger training system was designed to have the functions of high-speed mechanical response, two degrees of freedom, and adjustable loading amplitude and direction. Healthy young adults were assigned to one of the three groups: random perturbation training (RPT), constant force training (CFT), and control. Subjects in RPT and CFT performed steady posture training with their index finger using the robot in different modes: random force in RPT and constant force in CFT. After the 2-week intervention period, fluctuations of the index finger posture decreased only in RPT during steady position-matching tasks with an inertial load. Purdue pegboard test score improved also in RPT only. The relative change in finger postural fluctuations was negatively correlated with the relative change in the number of completed pegs in the pegboard test in RPT. The results indicate that finger posture training with random mechanical perturbations of varying amplitudes and directions of force is effective in improving finger postural steadiness and hand dexterity in healthy young adults.

Study on the Training of Explosive Force School Sprinters

With documentary and the practice of sports training, the research analyses on definition of explosive force and its importance in sprint performance, the mechanism of the explosive force and the factors that affect the explosive force, training methods and precautions of explosive force. And the inherent law of explosive force and certain training methods had been promoted such as intensive training, widely extent training, addictive training, reaction and sets training, etc. Explosive force has various special connections with innervations, muscle bearing and muscle contraction speed. During explosive training, the principle of training based on individual needs should be followed, and arrange one’s own training plan based on it. Under heavy bearing, one should arrange different training according to different muscle patterns. Certain suggestions on the concerning key problems in the training of explosive force had been raised for school sprinters.

Effect of strength training on sleep apnea severity in the elderly: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs due to sleep-induced upper airway muscle relaxation resulting in increased pharyngeal collapsibility. Clinical trials have shown a favorable effect of exercise training on OSA severity in middle-aged adults. Aging is characterized by motor-unit loss. Force training may affect the whole body muscle tone. We hypothesize that interventions increasing muscle strength might propagate to motor units at the abductor pharyngeal muscles, reducing collapsibility and, hence, sleep apnea severity in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Methods/designThis is a randomized clinical trial including patients between 65 and 80 years of age, with obstructive sleep apnea, and an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) between 20 and 50 events/hour, diagnosed by out-of-center in-home type III polysomnography. Forty subjects will be included and randomly assigned to two equal sized groups. The participants allocated to the intervention group will attend two sessions per week of one-hour strength training for the legs, arms, chest, back, and abdomen and the controls will receive advice on lifestyle change. The primary outcome measure of the study will be the change in apnea-hypopnea index and the secondary outcomes will be the body composition, evaluated by anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance variables; maximum dynamic force, appraised by one-repetition maximum strength test; muscle quality and thickness by ultrasound; physical function assessed by sit-to-stand test, timed up and go test, handgrip strength test. The study duration will be 12 weeks. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed.DiscussionThe high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in elderly people is a public health issue. OSA is a recognized cause of cardiovascular disease and reduces quality of life due to sleepiness and fatigue. Exercise is a low-cost intervention that could help to detain the trend towards age-dependent loss of pharyngeal motor units and progressive severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Home-based strength exercises may represent a more practical approach than aerobic exercise for elderly patients. If the results confirm our hypothesis, further research on the clinical application of our findings will be warranted.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02742792. Registered on 1 April 2016.

Effects of Perceptual Training on the Identification of American English Monophthongal Vowels by Korean Listeners

Soonhyun Hong. 2017. Effects of Perceptual Training on the Identification of American English Monophthongal Vowels by Korean Listeners. Studies in Modern Grammar 95, 55-80. In this study, we tried to demonstrate that a forced choice vowel identification training with feedback for three weeks with naturally produced /hVd/ signals of multiple English talkers’, effectively facilitated 47 Korean listeners to learn to identify English monophthongs. The subjects were assessed before, after and two months after the training with an identification test composed of a group of vowel signals produced by multiple novel talkers. The results showed that the subjects’ identification accuracies improved sharply after training and the improvement persisted for two months. Furthermore, the response latencies at the identification test got drastically shortened at Posttest and the shortened latencies also persisted for two months. The results suggest the possibility that through three-week training, most of the training effects could be transferred from the short-term memory to the long-term memory.

Representative Training with Less Risk: The Effects of Non-lethal Training and Conventional Ammunition in Police Use of Force Training on Heart Rate Variability

Abstract With the goal of preventing unintentional fire-arm death and injury as well as widening the scope of police use of force training design, this study compared the impact of non-lethal training (NLT) ammunition and conventional ammunition (CA) on police officers’ psychophysiological arousal. We assessed heart rate and parasympathetic activity while police officers engaged in a demanding fighting and shooting exercise. Based on previous research, which shows that physiological arousal in representative scenario exercises does not differ from active duty operations, this study tested and corroborated the hypothesis that simulated psychophysiological demand will be the same in using both NLT and CA. Thus, the use of NLT ammunition provides a safe alternative to training the use of issue weapons with CA, equally as representative of the active duty environment of the real world. Furthermore, this study underlines that fighting elicits high levels of physiological load that police officers need to be prepared for.