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Many individuals involved in the sport of powerlifting believe that the squat and deadlift have such similar lifting characteristics that the lifts yield comparable training results. The aim of this study was to compare and contrast biomechanical parameters between the conventional style deadlift and the back squat performed by 25 lifters competing in regional powerlifting championship. The 3-dimensional analysis incorporated 4 60 Hz synchronized video cameras for collecting data from 25 participants. Parameters were quantified at the sticking point specific to each lift. Kinematic variables were calculated at the hip, knee, and ankle. Paired (samples) t-tests were used to detect significant differences in the kinematic mean scores for the different lift types. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences exist between the squat (0.09 m/s) and the deadlift (0.20 m/s) vertical bar velocities. Differences were found for angular position of the hip, knee, and ankle between lifts. The sticking point thigh angles were quantified as 32.54 [+ or -] 3.02 and 57.42 [+ or -] 4.57 for the squat and deadlift, respectively. Trunk angles were 40.58 [+ or -] 6.29 (squat) and 58.30 [+ or -] 7.15 (deadlift). The results indicate the back squat represents a synergistic or simultaneous movement, whereas the deadlift demonstrates a sequential or segmented movement. The kinematic analysis of the squat and the conventional deadlift indicate that the individual lifts are markedly different (p < 0.01), implying that no direct or specific cross-over effect exists between the individual lifts. KEY WORDS biomechanics, sticking point, sequential, synergistic, partial deadlift

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of implementing autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) methodologies to improve physical fitness and occupational physical ability in police cadets. Two law enforcement academy classes were stratified into a standard care academy training cohort (SC; n=32, m=27, f=5) and a high performance cohort (HP; n=31; m=27, f=4) that utilized APRE and HIIT methodologies during a 17-week academy training program. Demographic, internal loading parameters, anthropometric, fitness outcomes (i.e., 1.5-mile run, 1-repetition maximum bench press, sit-up repetitions, push-up repetitions, & 300m run) and timed completion of a occupation physical ability test (OPAT) were collected at three academy time points (entrance, mid-point and exit). Mixed factor (time vs. group) repeated measures ANOVA were used to evaluate the effects of the training intervention on performance outcomes. Significance was set at p<0.05. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in all fitness outcomes except the OPAT from entrance to exit tests (p<0.05). The HP experienced greater improvements in push-up performance compared to the SC (p<0.001). OPAT time decreased in both groups from entrance to midpoint, but significantly increased from baseline to exit (p<.05). Despite similar inter-group fitness improvements, the HP reported lower session RPE values (p<0.01), indicating fitness adaptations occurred at a lower internal load. This study demonstrated the feasibility of successfully implementing APRE and HIIT methodologies within a cadet population. Furthermore, these methodologies produced similar improvements in cadet fitness and occupational performance at a lower internal load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first microwave-assisted version of the tandem aza-Cope rearrangement-Mannich cyclization was developed. This sequence provides acylpyrrolidines in a single synthetic step while significantly reducing reaction times as compared to analogous reactions using conventional heating. Diastereoselectivity in these reactions may be improved by increasing the size of the amine-protecting group, an observation which has not been reported previously for aza-Cope-Mannich reactions leading to monosubstituted acylpyrrolidines. Finally, in some cases, diastereoselectivity could be improved by lowering the reaction temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract--This study was designed to compare selected kinematic components of gait and long cane mechanics between groups of visually impaired travelers. Twenty subjects were placed in Traditional or Modified technique groups according to their long cane traveling technique. Subjects were measured during the following conditions; 1) normal walking (NW), 2) walking while anticipating a simulated drop-off (AD), 3) walking while responding to an audible task (ST) and, 4) walking while anticipating a simulated drop-off and responding to an audible task (STAD). Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's r-correlation coefficient. Analyses revealed no differences between groups of travelers. However, significant differences were noted between trials for components of gait velocity, stride length, and hip flexion velocity. These findings may indicate a potentially dangerous alteration in the normal gait cycle of visually impaired travelers when faced with additional attention-demanding tasks while walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometric change-detection (ICD) maps are highly sensitive to both macro and micro temporal changes in SAR surface reflectivity. This change is detected as decorrelations in the complex cross-correlation between two SAR complex images collected at different times. However, in many instances, numerous detected decorrelations are not due to changes during the elapsed time, but due to other decorrelating effects. Using information from a repeat-pass, dual-antenna interferometric SAR (IFSAR) change pair, we were able to identify over 70 percent of the ICD correlations less than 0.80 as non-temporal changes, or false changes. The remaining temporal changes coincided well with controlled changes made in the scene. Ourpost-processing results show the IFSAR coherence maps to be the mostinformative SAR data component for such false temporal change analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golgi antiapoptotic proteins (GAAPs) are highly conserved Golgi membrane proteins that inhibit apoptosis and promote Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Given the role of Ca2+ in controlling cell adhesion and motility, we hypothesized that human GAAP (hGAAP) might influence these events. In this paper, we present evidence that hGAAP increased cell adhesion, spreading, and migration in a manner that depended on the C-terminal domain of hGAAP. We show that hGAAP increased store-operated Ca2+ entry and thereby the activity of calpain at newly forming protrusions. These hGAAP-dependent effects regulated focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration. Indeed, inhibition or knockdown of calpain 2 abrogated the effects of hGAAP on cell spreading and migration. Our data reveal that hGAAP is a novel regulator of focal adhesion dynamics, cell adhesion, and migration by controlling localized Ca2+-dependent activation of calpain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]