The acute testosterone,growth hormone,cortisol and interleukin-6 response to 164-km road cycling in a hot environment

This study investigated the acute endocrine responses to a 164-km road cycling event in a hot environment. Thirty-four male experienced cyclists (49.1 ± 8.3 years, 86.8 ± 12.5 kg, 178.1 ± 5.1 cm) participating in a 164-km road cycling event were recruited. Blood samples were collected within 0.3–2.0 h before the start (PRE: ~0500–0700 h) and immediately following the ride (POST). Samples were analysed for testosterone, growth hormone (GH), cortisol and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The temperature and humidity during the event were 35.3 ± 4.9°C and 47.2 ± 14.0%, respectively. Based on the finishing time, results for the fastest (FAST, 305 ± 10 min) and the slowest (SLOW, 467 ± 31 min) quartiles were compared. At POST, testosterone concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) lower (PRE, 20.8 ± 8.6; POST, 18.2 ± 6.7 nmol · L^?1), while GH (PRE, 0.3 ± 0.1; POST, 2.3 ± 0.3 µg · L^?1), cortisol (PRE, 661 ± 165; POST, 1073 ± 260 nmol · L^?1) and IL-6 (PRE, 4.0 ± 3.4; POST, 22.4 ± 15.2 pg · mL^?1) concentrations were significantly higher than those at PRE. At POST, GH and cortisol were significantly higher for the FAST group than for the SLOW group (GH, 3.6 ± 2.0 and 1.0 ± 0.8 µg · L^?1; cortisol, 1187 ± 209 and 867 ± 215 nmol · L^?1). Participation in an ultra-endurance road cycling event in a hot environment induced significant acute changes in concentrations of circulating hormones, with a greater augmentation of GH and cortisol in those completing the ride fastest.     

An analysis of how and why a TAFE course was changed: The implications

The Federal government has indicated that vocational education, especially education that is technically oriented, is essential to Australia’s economic future. The Federal government has also expressed concern at the educational inequalities faced by certain groups in society. The Associate Diploma of Technology (Computing) a cross-accredited course giving access to a university degree, was designed to address both of these concerns. This article examines how the course has been altered and the forces behind these changes. This examination is carried out by exploring different perspectives of the course, such as: the government, TAFE, and the students and the teachers. The resulting evidence suggests that students have taken up the government’s rhetoric; they believe they will be snapped up by industry and gain employment in high technology areas, and think that social issues are a waste of time. The evidence also indicates that the course is being targeted more towards young adults who have failed to get into a university course than towards the original target of women and immigrants.     

Can squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) plan for the future? Studies of temporal myopia in food choice

In seven experiments, 2 squirrel monkeys were given choices between arrays of food that varied in the quantity offered. In Experiments 1-5, the monkeys were offered choices between quantities of the same food that varied in a 2:1 ratio. The squirrel monkeys failed to show the temporal myopia effect or a decrease in preference for the larger quantity as the absolute number of food items offered increased. Even when given choices of 8 versus 16 peanuts and 10 versus 20 peanuts, both monkeys significantly preferred the larger quantity. An examination of the monkeys' rates of consumption indicated that 20 peanuts were consumed over a 1- to 2-h period, with eating bouts separated by periods of nonconsumption. In Experiments 6A, 6B, and 7, food was either pilfered or replenished 15 min after an initial choice, so that choice of the smaller quantity led to more total food in the long run. These manipulations caused both monkeys to reduce choice of the larger quantity, relative to baseline choice. The results suggest that squirrel monkeys anticipated the future consequences of their choices.     

Networking around The Waterhole and other tales: the importance of relationships among texts for reading and related instruction

This article explores ways in which children's picture books form networks of relationships, and their implications for readers and classroom teachers. In this exploration, reading is seen to involve making connections within and beyond the text at hand. These connections, evoked differently across readers, shape readers' interpretations of text. Many possible meanings may arise from just one text, reinforcing the idea that no single correct meaning resides in a text. This article demonstrates tools for exploring textual connections with readers, and the value of such explorations for opening‐up reader interpretations of a text.     

Supporting Teaching Faculty as Scholars: A Developmental Model

Professors from across the academic disciplines at Council for Christian College & Universities (CCCU) institutions have traditionally excelled in their teaching. In recent years, CCCU faculty have also increasingly been expected to conduct research and to publish scholarly work. As CCCU institutions expand research and scholarship expectations for faculty, we must also provide the requisite support for professors to be effective in this work. In this article, we highlight institutional practices to encourage, support, and celebrate scholarly writing and research by faculty. Drawing upon findings from Zuidema's 2016 survey of CCCU chief academic officers, we offer benchmark practices for communicating expectations, offering tangible supports and resources, augmenting accountability measures with formative feedback, and recognizing and celebrating scholarship. Against this backdrop, we highlight practical, affordable strategies used at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) in California and Dordt College in Iowa, two CCCU institutions that have increased expectations for scholarship in recent years. Through these illustrations, we aim to inspire new and creative strategies for supporting scholarship by showing how these practices are an outgrowth of a developmental philosophy of leadership that seeks to invest in the core resource of CCCU institutions: the faculty.     

体力活动与癌症生存研究的10大问题

摘要：今天的美国有1 400万的癌症存活者,其中的很多存活者中都接受了多种治疗,包括手术、放疗、化疗、靶向治疗等。这些治疗能够延长生存时间,但同时也会带来很多急慢性的副作用,危害健康,影响生活质量。体力活动（PA）与癌症生存这一领域发展迅速,主要研究PA对癌症患者的影响。基于该领域的研究进展,提出了以下10大研究问题：1）PA能够降低癌症复发风险、和/或提高存活吗？2）PA能够影响癌症治疗决策、完成率、和/或患者对治疗的反应吗？3）癌症存活者的最佳运动处方是什么？4）静坐少动行为对癌症存活者有何影响？5）癌症存活者最有效的体力活动干预方案是什么？6）哪些癌症会影响病人对PA的反应？7）癌症存活者进行体力活动时需要注意的安全问题有哪些？8）哪些具体的癌症症状可以由PA解决？9）对于癌症晚期患者,体力活动还有何作用？10）如何将体力活动研究结果转化到临床和社区肿瘤实践中来？上述问题的回答至关重要,这不仅关系到体力活动和癌症存活这一研究领域的发展,更重要的是,能够为每年数百万新诊断为癌症的病人、正在接受癌症治疗的病人、治疗结束处于恢复中的病人或是那些正在与晚期癌症抗争的病人带来福音。     

Maximizing recovery time between knock-out races improves sprint cross-country skiing performance

Background:In a sprint cross-country(XC)ski competition,the difference in recovery times separating the first and the second semi-final(SF)heats from the final(F)may affect performance.The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of longer vs.shorter recovery periods prescribed between the 3 knock-out races of a simulated sprint XC ski competition involving a prologue(P),quarter-final(QF),SF,and F.Methods:Eleven well-trained XC ski athletes completed 2 simulated sprint XC ski competitions on a treadmill involving 4×883-m roller-ski bouts at a 4°incline using the gear 3 ski-skating sub-technique.The first 3 bouts were completed at a fixed speed(PFIX,QFFIX,and SFFIX)corresponding to~96%of each individual’s previously determined maximal effort.The final bout was performed as a self-paced sprint time trial(FSTT).Test conditions differed by the time durations prescribed between the QFFIX,SFFIX,and FSTT,which simulated real-world XC ski competition conditions using maximum(MAX-REC)or minimum(MIN-REC)recovery periods.Results:The FSTT was completed 5.4±5.5 s faster(p=0.009)during MAX-REC(179.2±18.1 s)compared to MIN-REC(184.6±20.0 s),and this was linked to a significantly higher power output(p=0.010)and total metabolic rate(p=0.009).The pre FSTT blood lactate(BLa)concentration was significantly lower during MAX-REC compared to MIN-REC(2.5±0.8 mmol/L vs.3.6±1.6 mmol/L,respectively;p=0.027),and the pre-to-post FSTT increase in BLa was greater(8.8±2.1 mmol/L vs.7.1±2.3 mmol/L,respectively;p=0.024).No other differences for MAX-REC vs.MIN-REC reached significance(p>0.05).Conclusion:Performance in a group of well-trained XC skiers is negatively affected when recovery times between sprint heats are minimized which,in competition conditions,would occur when selecting the last QF heat.This result is combined with a higher pre-race BLa concentration and a reduced rise in BLa concentration under shorter recovery conditions.These findings may help inform decision making when XC skiers are faced with selecting a QF heat within a sprint competition.