Title: Effect of cold water immersion on intermittent isometric forearm flexor contractions to failure in rock climbers Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cold water immersion on intermittent isometric forearm flexor contraction to failure in rock climbers. Methods: Thirty-two climbers (15 male and 17 female) completed three intermittent trials to failure, on a climbing-specific handgrip dynamometer, on three separate visits to the laboratory. For each visit a different recovery strategy was employed: passive recovery (PAS), cold water immersion at 8 řC (CWI 8) or 15 řC (CWI 15). The force time integral (FTI - time of contraction multiplied by the force of contraction) was determined to assess intermittent performance. The tissue saturation index (TSI) and total haemoglobin (tHb) during isometric contractions from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were determined to assess hemodynamic changes. Differences between repeated trials and three recovery protocols, derived parameters NIRS, were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections. Results: There was no significant difference between conditions after trial one. In response to the PAS recovery condition there was a 10% and 22% decrease in FTI in the second and third trials, respectively. The PAS...

本教學實驗旨在探討如何教導國中生認識英語弱化音。筆者身為英語母語人士經常看到即使有十年或二十年學習經驗的英語學習者，仍舊無法完整了解母語人士講述的內容，原因就是弱化音與連音所造成的困擾，本研究藉著教導學生具備相關辨識能力，希望了解學生對這樣學習的成果與反應。 研究首先施行前測，取得比較基準，接著設計並在課堂實施了七個節次的教學，包括四堂連音、三堂弱化母音。課後再施行後測。前後測比較之下並無顯著統計差異。但是針對學生所作的問卷調查發現，學生覺得學到了聽力技巧與能力有所進步。此外協同教師在訪談中也表示，此教學對學生的聽力技巧與能力有所助益。 根據本次研究經驗，筆者提出教學建議，認為教授國中生弱化音與連音確有必要，也期待這樣的教學應該盡早提供，而非等到高中或大學，以免為時已晚。 / This study looks at teaching reduced sounds to junior high school students. It started with the premise that even people who have studied English for ten or twelve years still cannot understand online materials spoken by native speakers of English. The reduced sounds and linked sounds baffle them. This study investigated the student reaction to hearing reduced vowels. A pretest was administered to establish a baseline. Four contractions and three reduced vowels were presented in the lessons. Then a post-test was given. The statistics showed no measurable change between pretest and post-test scores. However there are other ways to measure progress. In the survey given with the post-test, a number of students responded that they felt they had learned listening skills, and that their listening comprehension had improved. There were also interviews with co-teachers. These interviews also bore out that teachers felt the students’ listening comprehension had improved. The writer, as an active participant in the study, feels that teaching reduced sounds in junior high school is worthwhile. One should present more reduced sounds and linked words early on, and not wait until senior high school or university.

Aims: To study the β-adrenoceptor subtypes involved in the relaxation responses to (-)-isoprenaline in carbachol-pre-contracted (CCh) mouse detrusor muscle with intact and denuded mucosa. Methods: Isolated muscle strips from the urinary bladder of male C57BL6 mice or β2-adrenoceptor knockout mice were pre-contracted with CCh, 1 µM and relaxed with increasing concentrations of the β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) agonist (-)-isoprenaline and forskolin. For estimating the β-AR subtypes involved, subtype-selective receptor blockers were used, that is, CGP 20712A (β1-ARs), ICI 118,551 (β2-ARs), and L748,337 (β3-ARs). Results: Unlike in KCl-pre-contracted muscle, the mucosa did not affect the sensitivity of the relaxation response to (-)-isoprenaline in CCh-pre-contracted murine detrusor strips. Increasing concentrations of (-)-isoprenaline produced a biphasic concentration-relaxation response without any difference both during the presence and absence of mucosa. The relaxation fraction produced by low (-)-isoprenaline concentrations was mediated by β2-AR as evidenced by a shift of the concentration-response curve to higher concentrations with ICI 118,551, but not with CGP 20712A and L748,337, and by the absence of this fraction in β2-AR-KO mice. The relaxation response with low sensitivity to (-)-isoprenaline was not affected by any of the β-AR subtype-selective blockers and was the only response detected in detrusor strips from β2-AR-KO mice. Conclusions: In CCh-pre-contracted mouse detrusor, β2-ARs are responsible for the relaxation component with high sensitivity to (-)-isoprenaline as indicated by the conversion of a biphasic into a monophasic CRC with ICI 118,551 or by its absence in β2-AR KO mice. The mucosa does not impair relaxation under these conditions. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Este trabajo de investigación se basa en la necesidad de desarrollar una solución que permita una monitorización eficiente de la actividad uterina en primigestas con la finalidad de identificar posibles anomalías que ponen en riesgo la salud de la madre y el feto. Al realizarse una revisión detallada de la literatura, se pudo identificar la oportunidad de implementar una solución con sensores de bajo costo y una técnica para medir contracciones uterinas mediante impulsos eléctricos del sistema nervioso llamada “electromiografía”. Esto en conjunto con una aplicación móvil, que permitirá monitorear las contracciones de la gestante y alertar a ella y a su obstetra de posibles parámetros irregulares, cubre la brecha de investigaciones en mobile health enfocada en el electrodiagnóstico. Del mismo modo, la solución propuesta permitirá hacer uso eficiente de los recursos del centro de salud en el que está implementado al tener conocimiento del estado de salud de la madre en tiempo real. Para desarrollar nuestra solución, hemos considerado los aspectos tecnológicos, médicos y legales que permitan garantizar la alineación correcta con las necesidades de todas las partes interesadas. / The following research work is based on the need to develop a solution that allows efficient monitoring of uterine activity with the determination to identify possible abnormalities that may put the health of the mother and fetus at risk. Conducting a detailed review of the literature, the opportunity to implement a low-cost sensor solution and a technique to measure uterine contractions using electrical impulses from the nervous system called "electromyography" was identified. This together with a mobile application to monitor the contractions of the pregnant woman and alert her and her obstetrician of possible irregular parameters, covers the gap of research on mobile health issues focused on electrodiagnostic. At the same time, the proposed solution makes efficient use of the resources of the health center in which it is implemented by knowing the mother's health state in real-time. To develop our solution, we have considered the technological, medical, and legal aspects to guarantee a correct alignment with the needs of all stakeholders. / Trabajo de investigación

Title: Effect of cold water immersion on intermittent isometric forearm flexor contractions to failure in rock climbers Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cold water immersion on intermittent isometric forearm flexor contraction to failure in rock climbers. Methods: Thirty-two climbers (15 male and 17 female) completed three intermittent trials to failure, on a climbing-specific handgrip dynamometer, on three separate visits to the laboratory. For each visit a different recovery strategy was employed: passive recovery (PAS), cold water immersion at 8 řC (CWI 8) or 15 řC (CWI 15). The force time integral (FTI - time of contraction multiplied by the force of contraction) was determined to assess intermittent performance. The tissue saturation index (TSI) and total haemoglobin (tHb) during isometric contractions from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were determined to assess hemodynamic changes. Differences between repeated trials and three recovery protocols, derived parameters NIRS, were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections. Results: There was no significant difference between conditions after trial one. In response to the PAS recovery condition there was a 10% and 22% decrease in FTI in the second and third trials, respectively. The PAS...

No description available.

No description available.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

The presented work is concerned with the development and application of an ultrasonic detection scheme suitable for the monitoring of muscle dynamics with high temporal - down to 5 µs - and spatial resolution - down to 0.78 µm. A differential detection scheme has been developed to monitor the variations of the velocity of longitudinal polarized ultrasound waves travelling in contracting and relaxing muscle, compensating for variations of the path length by referencing to a frame. The observed time dependent variations of the time-of-flight of the ultrasonic waves caused by variations in the muscle and in addition by minor deformations of the enclosure are detected each separately and synchronously and are evaluated differentially. Beside of the detected increase of the speed of sound observed for contracted muscle with respect to the relaxed state of about 0.6%, the recovery time from maximum isometric contraction is quantified and relaxation processes are observed for the recovery phase following the isometric contraction. The developed ultrasonic calliper was employed to monitor both, the brain controlled and externally excited muscle dynamics with sampling intervals down to 10 ms synchronously with signals relating to the excitation. Monitored are the activation, hold, and relaxation phase for maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle. A so far not reported post tetanus overshoot and subsequent exponential recovery are observed. Both are attributed to the muscle as suggested by combined monitoring with EMG and are modelled with a lumped mechanical circuit containing an idealized bidirectional linear motor unit, ratchet, damper, and springs. Both, the rapid contraction and relaxation phases require a high order filter or alternatively a kernel filter, attributed to the nerve system as suggested by external electric stimulation. The respective response function is modelled by an electrical lumped circuit. Together with a reaction time and occasionally observed droops in the hold phase, both adjusted empirically, the monitored response is represented in close approximation by the combined electrical and mechanical lumped circuits. The respectively determined model parameters provide a refined evaluation scheme for the performance of monitored athletes. Valuable parameters relate to the latent period, the muscle response time, the activation and deactivation dynamics, a possible droop and other instabilities of the hold phase, and parameters characterizing the relaxation phase including the observed post tetanus overshoot and subsequent contraction. Monitored and modelled are also the different processes involved in active muscle dynamics including isotonic, isometric, and eccentric contraction or stretching. The developed technology provides time sequential observation of these processes and registration of their path in the extension and force parameter space. Under suitable conditions the closed-loop cycles of mind controlled human muscle movements proceed along characteristic lines coinciding with well identifiable elementary processes. The presentation of the monitored processes in the extension and force parameter space allows the determination of the mechanical energy expenditure for the observed different muscle actions. An elementary macroscopic mechanical model has been developed, suitable to express the basic features of the monitored muscle dynamics.

No description available.