Symptom presentation and evolution in the first 48 hours after injury are associated with return to play after concussion in elite Rugby Union

Background:Return to play(RTP)in elite rugby is managed using a 6-stage graduated RTP protocol,which can result in clearance to play within 1 week of injury.We aimed to explore how symptom,cognitive,and balance presentation and evolution during concussion screens 2 h(head injury assessment(HIA2)and 48 h(HIA3)after injury were associated with time to RTP)to identify whether a more conservative graduated RTP may be appropriate.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 380 concussed rugby players from elite men’s rugby over 3 consecutive seasons.Players were classified as shorter or longer returns,depending on whether RTP occurred within 7 days(allowing them to be considered to play the match 1 week after injury)or longer than 8 days,respectively.Symptom,cognitive,and balance performance during screens was assessed relative to baseline(normal or abnormal)and to the preceding screen(improving or worsening).Associations between sub-test abnormalities and RTP time were explored using odds ratios(OR,longer vs.shorter).Median day absence was compared between players with abnormal or worsening results and those whose results were normal or improving.Results:Abnormal symptom results during screens 2 h and 48 h after concussion were associated with longer return time(HIA2:OR=2.21,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.39-3.50;HIA3:OR=3.30,95%CI:1.89-5.75).Worsening symptom number or severity from the time of injury to 2 h and 48 h post-injury was associated with longer return(HIA2:OR=2.49,95%CI:1.36-4.58;HIA3:OR=3.34,95%CI:1.10-10.15).Median days absence was greater in players with abnormal symptom results at both HIA2 and HIA3.Cognitive and balance performance were not associated with longer return and did not affect median days absence.Conclusion:Symptom presentation and evolution within 48 h of concussion were associated with longer RTP times.This may guide a more conservative approach to RTP,while still adhering to individualized concussion management principles.

Health within the Leeds Migrant Roma Community;An Exploration of Health Status and Needs within One UK Area

Existing evidence shows that many Roma communities have received little attention in relation to their health requirements. Evidence illustrates how Roma communities suffer from poorer health and unhealthier living conditions when compared to majority populations, with their poor health closely linked to wider social determinants. This study explored the health status and associated health needs of the Leeds Roma migrant community, a hard to reach and under-explored group across Europe. Questionnaires (n = 70) and focus groups (n = 43) with Roma community members as well as interviews with health professionals (n = 5) working with them were used. The study found language was a key barrier to accessing health care and understanding health messages. Furthermore, participant’s understandings of the health system were hindered by their different experiences within their countries of origin. Self-reports illustrated low mental well-being, high levels of stress and unhealthy lifestyles as common issues. The research also highlighted several wider determinants of health as key concerns within the Roma community including housing, employment opportunities and money. The findings of this study contribute to increasing understandings of this community’s health needs, their support requirements and the barriers faced by them. These need to be considered to inform strategies and ways of working as mechanisms to tackle health inequalities and promote health within this community.

How Corporate Social Responsibility Impacts Employee Identification, Psychological Benefit, and Customer Orientation in Hospitality Industry?

The literature supports the notation that corporate social responsibility(CSR)plays a vital role in engaging consumers and establishing strong relationships with the organizations.However,CSR needs to be comprehensively studied as internal marketing to motivate employees to improve customer services by fulfilling their needs.Accordingly,the current study determines the impact of CSR congruence and efficacy on employee-customer identification,psychological benefit,and customer orientation in the hospitality industry of Pakistan.The data from 276 frontline employees were collected using a purposive sampling technique through self-administered questionnaires and structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses.The results found that perceived CSR congruence has a stronger impact on employee-customer identification,while CSR efficacy has a relatively stronger relationship with psychological job benefits and customer orientation.This study provides a significant contribution to the extant literature on using CSR as an internal marketing strategy to improve the frontline employees’ability to satisfy external stakeholders,i.e.,customers.

光控介质谐振器振荡器的实验研究

本文报道了关于光控介质谐振器振荡器的实验结果。对一只9.5GHz的介质谐振器振荡器进行实验,用硅半导体光敏材料,入射15mW红光,光控频率调谐达17.5MHz,红光功率的平均频率调谐率为1.17MHz/mW。入射5.5mW紫光,光控频率调谐达到12.3MHz,紫光功率的平均频率调谐率为2.24MHz/mW。在整个调谐范围内振荡器的微波输出功率随光功率增加而略有上升。

走向历史的诗学研究——乔依斯和鲁迅比较研究之七

乔依斯和鲁迅的小说都被传统历史批评家指责为缺乏历史。但按照新历史主义的理论,乔依斯和鲁迅在其文本中凸显了历史规则、历史因素,两人有意识地对传统的大写历史进行倒转和颠覆:揭示官方的历史下掩藏的卡列班主义,为读者提供了边缘化了的历史、“他者”的历史。他们强调历史的心理情感性,保持边缘意识,质询了大写历史。两人都从神话传说、历史故事中大量汲取文学素材、创作方法大胆地进行小说的文体实验。应用新历史主义文学理论去分析两人的文本,读者可以透过历史文化的深层去把握文学的本质。

The Reduction of the Permeability of a Lateritic Soil through the Application of Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation

Lateritic soils are frequently utilised in tropical areas of the developing world as an engineering material in the construction of rural earth roads, usually in the form of engineered natural surface (ENS) roads. The heavy, seasonal rainfalls common to the tropics results in ENS roads becoming quickly saturated with rainwater, and no longer accessible to motorised transportation. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has been successfully used as a treatment process to decrease the permeability of clean, cohesionless sands by studies trying to impede the movement of groundwater, and any pollutants they may contain. In order to see if MICP treatment can also reduce the susceptibility of ENS road lateritic soils to rainwater saturation, this study has treated a Brazilian sample extracted from an ENS road in Espirito do Santo, Brazil, using the MICP bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii contained within a urea-calcium chloride solution inoculum. Investigation, by means of a Rowe cell, of the post-treatment permeability, to untreated control samples, has shown an average decrease in the vertical coefficient of permeability of 83%, from 1.15 × 10-7 m/s for the untreated control samples, to 1.92 × 10-8 m/s in treated samples.

Forecasting cryptocurrency returns and volume using search engines

In the context of the debate on the role of cryptocurrencies in the economy as well as their dynamics and forecasting,this brief study analyzes the predictability of Bitcoin volume and returns using Google search values.We employed a rich set of established empirical approaches,including a VAR framework,a copulas approach,and non-parametric drawings,to capture a dependence structure.Using a weekly dataset from 2013 to 2017,our key results suggest that the frequency of Google searches leads to positive returns and a surge in Bitcoin trading volume.Shocks to search values have a positive effect,which persisted for at least a week.Our findings contribute to the debate on cryptocurrencies/Bitcoins and have profound implications in terms of understanding their dynamics,which are of special interest to investors and economic policymakers.

Dynamical Tropopause Variability and Potential Vorticity Streamers in the Northern Hemisphere——A Climatological Analysis

This study presents a 44-year climatology of potential vorticity （PV） streamers in the Northern Hemisphere based upon analyses of the ERA-40 reanalysis data set. A comparison to an existing 15-year climatology yields very good agreement in the locations of PV streamer frequency maxima, but some differences are found in the amplitude of frequencies. The climatology is assessed with the focus on links between PV streamer frequencies and the synoptic- and planetary-scale variability of the dynamical tropopause. A comprehensive overview is provided on where （zonally） and when （seasonally） short-term variability throughout the extra-tropical and sub-tropical tropopause is enhanced or reduced. Several key processes that influence this variability are discussed. Baroclinic processes, for example, determine the variability in the storm-track areas in winter, whereas the Asian summer monsoon significantly influences the variability over Asia. The paper also describes links between the frequency of PV streamers in the extra-tropical and subtropical tropopause and three major northern hemisphere teleconnection patterns. The observed changes in the PV streamer frequencies are closely related to concomitant variations of PV and its gradient within the tropopause region. During opposite phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation the location of the streamer frequency maxima shifts significantly in the Atlantic and European region in both the extra-tropics and subtropics. The influence of ENSO on the streamer frequencies is most pronounced in the subtropical Pacific.

Lay Perceptions about Tuberculosis among Non-UK-Born Black Africans in the United Kingdom

Background: Tuberculosis among non-UK-born Black Africans has been gradually recognized as a public health problem in the UK despite the various interventions implemented. Objectives: To explore the perceptions of non-UK-born Black Africans about TB health risk;to explore the health seeking behavior of the non-UK-born Black Africans in relation to TB and to explore lay views on TB health education and screening as opportunities for health promotion. Methodology and Study Design: A qualitative methodology was used on a purposively selected sample of 12 non-UK-born Black Africans living in Leeds. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the lay perceptions about TB. Thematic analysis was used to derive important themes in accordance to the study objectives. Ethical approval was provided by Leeds Metropolitan University. Setting: Community setting of non-UK-born Black Africans in Leeds, UK. Results: This population holds mixed views and perceptions about tuberculosis, few facilitators and many barriers existed to current TB prevention efforts. The barriers included: language barriers, barriers related to services and systems, immigration status and stigma despite the benefits involved. The potential for black African communities to readily increase the likelihood of behavior change was found as an important finding for this study. Conclusions: Tuberculosis is a preventable public health problem. Involvement of the non-UK-born black Africans communities in the TB prevention may be beneficial for reducing and tackling TB rates in this population. Such an approach is potentially inexpensive and more readily implementable than other suggested strategies such as changes to immigration policies.

Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes of Lumbar Fusion Surgical Interventions for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Introduction: Surgical interventions for degenerative spondylolisthesis are varied with comparable claims of success. Fusion based technique is one of the most commonly used surgical interventions in treating this condition. The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the effectiveness of the Lumbar Interbody Fusion techniques (specifically Posterolateral Interbody approach—PLIF) versus Posterolateral Instrumented Fusion (PLF). The clinical outcomes investigated were: back pain, leg pain, function, Oswestery Disability Index (ODI), Disability Rating Index (DRI), fusion and revision rates if reported. Methods: Combinations of keywords and MeSH terms, where appropriate, were used to search for studies in Medline via Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google scholar. The initial search was conducted on 10 August 2016 and updated on 13 June 2017. Eligibility criteria for the studies to be selected for this meta-analysis were: Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), cohort and consecutive cases studies that compared at PLIF versus PLF surgical interventions at the lumbar region. Heterogeneity indicators and Forest plot were computed using RevMan 5. Results: Out of the initial hits of 3021, 5 articles were selected as relevant and assessed for risk of bias and then data was extracted and tabulated. These 5 studies reported data from (900 patients’ records, follow up ranges from 6 months to 5 years) undergone one of 2 interventions (PLIF or PLF). The overall effect for ODI and leg pain showed no advantage of any intervention over the other while there was a greater odd ratio of fusion if the operation applied PLIF techniques (Overall Z = 2.86, p = 0.004). Conclusions: There is a need for more high quality clinical trials to compare these two interventions. However, available data indicate that there are comparable results in the main clinical outcomes between PLIF and PLF. PLIF has superior fusion rate which does not seem to affect post-operative pain ratings.

中大西洋被动大陆边缘的热演化——一个中生代超级地幔柱上的大陆裂解实例

沿北美和西非被动大陆边缘,一个近同期的早侏罗世(200Ma)岩浆事件可以用西非克拉通下的一个大规模地幔柱(超级地幔柱)上升来解释。岩石圈下部地幔流向北东方向外流的侧向偏离能解释拉斑玄武岩岩浆作用从巴西到西班牙南部延伸近5000km。据认为,大陆裂解出现在停滞流线之上,沿停滞流线被地幔柱从大陆岩石圈底部侵蚀的冷物质返回对流地幔。动力模式是根据最近从夏威夷地幔柱模式提出的,该模式满意地解释了为什么中大西洋洋壳生成时没有热异常地幔。

The N-formyl peptide receptors: contemporary roles in neuronal function and dysfunction

N-formyl peptide receptors(FPRs)were first identified upon phagocytic leukocytes,but more than four decades of research has unearthed a plethora of non-myeloid roles for this receptor family.FPRs are expressed within neuronal tissues and markedly in the central nervous system,where FPR interactions with endogenous ligands have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease,as well as neurological cancers such as neuroblastoma.Whilst the homeostatic function of FPRs in the nervous system is currently undefined,a variety of novel physiological roles for this receptor family in the neuronal context have been posited in both human and animal settings.Rapid developments in recent years have implicated FPRs in the process of neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation which,upon greater characterisation,could represent a novel pharmacological target for neuronal regeneration therapies that may be used in the treatment of brain/spinal cord injury,stroke and neurodegeneration.This review aims to summarize the recent progress made to determine the physiological role of FPRs in a neuronal setting,and to put forward a case for FPRs as a novel pharmacological target for conditions of the nervous system,and for their potential to open the door to novel neuronal regeneration therapies.

大洋中脊和地幔柱之间的长期相互作用

板块构造运动通常被认为是由俯冲带板块的拉力和洋中脊处的推力驱动的,也不时被来自下地幔热物质的上涌流所推动^[1-2].在这个模式中,洋中脊的形态和位置与下地幔动力学机制无关,例如与提供了巨量岩浆物质,即大火成岩省的深源地幔柱无关^[2].相比地幔柱和洋中脊,本文利用全球板块模型^[3]重建了大火成岩省最初的位置。

节事产业的未来研究

商业机构和决策者付出很大的努力以尝试理解未来,其途径包括为投资决策和财政政策提供参考而建立经济模型,以及更为实用和普遍流行的做法如识别在消费需求。

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF OPTICALLY CONTROLLED DIELECTRIC RESONATOR OSCILLATOR

Some new experimental results of optically controlled dielectric resonator oscillators (DROs) are presented. A very stable X-band DRO was found to be optically tunable up to 17.5 MHz with modulation rate of 1.17 MHz/mW with red light illumination. And an even higher modulation rate of 2.24 MHz/mW with illumination of violet light was obtained. Instead of a drop in optically controlled DRO output power, a little rise of output power was achieved.

The Effect of Brief Mindfulness Meditation on Cold-Pressor Induced Pain Responses in Healthy Adults

We hypothesised a 10 minute mindfulness based intervention performed by a novice therapist would have a beneficial effect on pain responses in naive participants. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to the control group or mindfulness meditation group. The control group sat quietly for 10 minutes in between two cold pressor tasks. The mindfulness meditation intervention group practiced 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation in between cold-pressor tasks following standardised mindfulness of breathing meditation technique instructions provided by a male investigator. A significant interaction effect was found between anxiety towards pain ratings (pre-intervention vs. post-intervention) and intervention (F = 6.29, p = 0.02). There was a significant decrease (t = 4.07, p = 0.002) in anxiety towards pain ratings in the mindfulness meditation group following intervention. A significant interaction effect was found between pain threshold times (pre-intervention vs. post-intervention) and intervention (F = 18.45, p 0.001) in pain threshold times in the mindfulness meditation group following intervention. A significant interaction effect was found between pain tolerance times (pre-intervention vs. post-intervention) and intervention (F = 18.34, p < 0.001). A significant increase (t = -4.20, p = 0.001) in pain tolerance times in the mindfulness meditation group following intervention was also found. The results suggest a single 10 minute mindfulness meditation intervention administered by a novice therapist can improve pain tolerance, pain threshold and decrease anxiety towards pain in na?ve healthy university aged individuals.

The mass of a dark matter WIMP derived from the Hubble constant conflict

There continues to be good reason to believe that dark matter particles,which only"feel"the gravitational force,influence the local and distant Universe,despite drawing a complete blank in the search for such a particle.The expansion rate of the Universe is defined by the Hubble constant h.Measurements of the Hubble constant at different wavelengths produce different results,differing well beyond their errors.Here it is shown that the two precise but different values for the Hubble constant can be used to derive the mass of a weakly interacting massive particle(WIMP).An approximate mass of 1022 eV is determined with indications of why,so far,it has not been found and what is required to get positive confirmation of its presence.This result also indicates that the Hubble constant is the sum of more than one contribution with suggestions for experimental tests to determine,more precisely,the level of these contributions.

Let’s Be Friends: National Homophily in Multicultural Newcomer Student Networks

Understanding the relational and network dynamics among newcomer networks is important to devising appropriate strategies that will maximize the productivity of the incoming workforce. Nevertheless, there are limited empirical contributions on newcomer networks with few studies examining newcomer networks in international environments. This study focuses on national homophily and examines whether ethnic identity salience, self-efficacy, individualism and ethnocentrism are associated with the occurrence of national homophily in newcomers networks. Using a multicultural student sample drawn from newly formed networks, the study found that ethnic identity salience and academic self-efficacy are associated with national homophily positively and negatively, respectively. Individualism is not found to be related to homophily while, contrary to our hypothesis, ethnocentrism is found to be negatively related to homophily. Through its examination of the effect of attitudinal variables on homophily, this study contributes to the broader literature on homophily and provides implications for managers and researchers.