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Canonical work argues that macropartisanship—the aggregate distribution of Democrats and Republicans in the country at a given time—is responsive to the economic and political environment. In other words, if times are good when Democrats are in charge (or bad when Republicans are in charge), more Americans will identify with the Democratic Party. We extend the pioneering work of MacKuen, Erikson, and Stimson (1989), who analyzed macropartisanship from 1953 through 1987, to 2021, assessing whether consumer sentiment and presidential approval still influence macropartisanship in an era of nationalized elections and affective polarization. We find that change has occurred. The effect of consumer sentiment on macropartisanship is no longer statistically distinguishable from zero, and we find evidence of “structural breaks” in the macropartisanship time series. Macropartisanship appears to have become less responsive to economic swings; approval-induced changes in macropartisanship have become more fleeting over time.

We report findings from a conjoint experiment where respondents indicated what they viewed as an appropriate sentence for a series of hypothetical individuals convicted of federal crimes. The experiment signaled the race of the defendant by using distinctively “Black” and “white” names, allowing us to assess whether Americans are more punitive toward purportedly Black defendants. We also consider whether signals of the defendant’s race condition the effects of the crime and various defendant characteristics. Surprisingly, the direct effect of our signal of defendants’ purported race is null. We present evidence that this null finding is a product of offsetting tendencies: respondents who view persistent racial inequalities as the product of both past and ongoing institutional factors prescribed lengthier sentences for white defendants; those who discount these explanations prescribed lengthier sentences for Black defendants.1 We find only scattered evidence that the signal of defendants’ race moderates the effects of other characteristics of the crime and defendant. Our approach and findings not only offer insights into how racial attitudes shape perceptions regarding what constitutes just punishment for crimes in the contemporary United States, but also demonstrate a novel approach to studying this domain and point to an array of promising avenues for future research.

Background/objective: There is a lack of information about relationship between physical characteristics and biomechanics of the lower extremity during the squat. Additionally, studies did not examine sex-related differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between physical characteristics and biomechanics of the lower extremity during the squat, and to determine if any sex differences are present. Methods: Fifty three participants recruited (21.82 ± 2.3 years; 75.56 ± 14.98 kg; 171.57 ± 8.38 cm) performed three squats with 75% of one repetition maximum. Femur to tibia length ratio, hip and ankle joints’ flexibilities, and relative muscular strength were measured and used as physical characteristics. Net joint torques (NJT) and flexion angles of the lower extremity were extracted as dependent variables. Multiple regression (stepwise) analysis was conducted to examine the relationships with physical characteristics being factors. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine intercorrelations among the dependent variables. Results: Relative muscular strength was related to hip NJT and knee flexion angle, and hip flexibility was related to ankle dorsiflexion. Hip and knee NJT showed moderate correlations with the corresponding flexion angles (r = 0.48-0.53; p

In Shelby County v. Holder (570 U.S. 529 (2013)), the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the “coverage formula” in Section 4b of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) that determined which jurisdictions had to presubmit changes in their election policies for federal approval. This ruling allowed covered counties full control over their election laws for the first time in 40 years. We engage the question of whether counties that had previously been “covered” purged voters at a higher rate than noncovered counties after the coverage formula was struck down. We find increases in purge rate of between 1.5 and 4.5 points in formerly covered jurisdictions post- Shelby, compared with counties that had not been subject to preclearance. Most of the increase came immediately, as the effect in 2014 is substantively and significantly higher than that in 2016. These findings suggest that while counties may have aggressively purged voters in 2014—the first election after the coverage formula’s demise—they may have tempered this behavior thereafter.

The cuticle, a hydrophobic layer of cutin and waxes synthesized by plant epidermal cells, is the major barrier to water loss when stomata are closed at night and under water-limited conditions. Elucidating the genetic architecture of natural variation for leaf cuticular conductance (gc) is important for identifying genes relevant to improving crop productivity in drought-prone environments. To this end, we conducted a genome-wide association study ofgcof adult leaves in a maize inbred association panel that was evaluated in four environments (Maricopa, AZ, and San Diego, CA in 2016 and 2017). Five genomic regions significantly associated withgcwere resolved to seven plausible candidate genes (ISTL1, two SEC14 homologs, cyclase-associated protein, a CER7 homolog, GDSL lipase, and β-D-XYLOSIDASE 4). These candidates are potentially involved in cuticle biosynthesis, trafficking and deposition of cuticle lipids, cutin polymerization, and cell wall modification. Laser microdissection RNA sequencing revealed that all these candidate genes, with the exception of the CER7 homolog, were expressed in the zone of the expanding adult maize leaf where cuticle maturation occurs. With direct application to genetic improvement, moderately high average predictive abilities were observed for whole-genome prediction ofgcin locations (0.46 and 0.45) and across all environments (0.52). The findings of this study provide novel insights into the genetic control ofgcand have the potential to help breeders more effectively develop drought-tolerant maize for target environments.Article summaryThe cuticle serves as the major barrier to water loss when stomata are closed at night and under water-limited conditions and potentially relevant to drought tolerance in crops. We performed a genome-wide association study to elucidate the genetic architecture of natural variation for maize leaf cuticular conductance. We identified epidermally expressed candidate genes that are potentially involved in cuticle biosynthesis, trafficking and deposition, cutin polymerization, and cell wall modification. Finally, we observed moderately high predictive abilities for whole-genome prediction of leaf cuticular conductance. Collectively, these findings may help breeders more effectively develop drought-tolerant maize.

Chapter 10 explores how chairs evaluate candidates’ policy stances. We find that party chairs and voters respond similarly to candidates’ positions on economic policy and abortion. However, chairs from both parties appear to underestimate voters’ willingness to support candidates who support stricter gun laws. We also see differences on how chairs assess candidates who signal a willingness to compromise: Democratic chairs are more likely to choose compromisers, but Republicans are less likely to do so. That said, chairs in both parties underestimate their voters’ willingness to choose “compromiser” candidates. Chairs’ apparent misperceptions about what voters demand may lead them to unintentionally seek out or promote candidates whose dispositions fail to mirror voters’ preferences.

For many people, the decision to enter politics is not an easy or obvious one. Local party organizations play a crucial role in the electoral process by identifying prospective candidates, including those who may have never considered running for office. Chapter 4 reports findings from the interviews and survey of chairs and demonstrates that chairs actively search for people from their communities to run for low-level offices. These efforts have immediate consequences in terms of who ends up in local office, as well as downstream consequences in that experience in local office is often a stepping stone for those who ultimately run for higher office. If chairs can convince their targets to run, they then provide advice and support to aid fledgling campaigns. From the perspective of a neophyte candidate who may know practically nothing about how to organize a campaign, this early advice can provide an important boost.

This book examines the role local party organizations play in the electoral process. It draws on dozens of in-person interviews with local party chairpersons, as well as findings from a national survey of these local elites. Part I of the book explores who leads local party organizations and what these organizations do. The findings demonstrate that these organizations play a critical role in converting citizens into politicians and supporting them as they navigate the campaign process. These efforts appear to pay dividends as candidates from a party tend to perform better in areas where the local party organization is active. Part II considers what local party chairpersons look for in a candidate, drawing on findings from an experiment included in the national survey of party chairs. The experiment asked chairs which of a pair of candidates they thought would be most likely to prevail in a primary in their area and varied an array of candidate characteristics, including their policy positions, family structures, and their purported ethno-racial identity and gender. The results offer novel insights into the attributes elites who play a critical role in candidate recruitment see as enhancing (or degrading) an individual’s electoral prospects. Throughout, the experimental evidence is bolstered by findings from the in-depth interviews with chairs.

Chapter 3 draws on evidence from our national survey and in-depth interviews with chairs from across the country to examine what local party chairs do to serve their party. Party chairs find volunteers, lease office space, and coordinate countless events They view these efforts as crucial to raising the visibility of the local party and generating interest, and ultimately votes, come election day. Local chairs also interface with state party organizations and “up ballot” campaigns to provide the labor that it takes to build a winning campaign. The chapter highlights the fact that these local efforts have implications not only for the outcomes of local elections, but also for the broader party's brand.

Chapter 6 sets up the findings presented in Part II, which focuses on the attributes local party chairs view as likely to enhance a candidate’s electoral prospects. The chapter describes the experimental design included in the national survey of chairs. The experiment presented chairs with a series of pairs of hypothetical candidates and asked them which candidate they thought would fare better in a primary election in their area. This chapter describes the candidate characteristics varied in the experiment, as well as the approach used to analyze the data. The chapter also describes an essentially identical experiment fielded on a national survey of the public that asked respondents which candidate they personally preferred. This provides an avenue for comparing how various candidate attributes affect chairs’ viability assessments to their effects on the voters’ willingness to support a candidate.

Chapter 1 introduces the themes of the book, drawing attention to the fact that most political leaders get their start locally. The chapter establishes the central role local party organizations can play in converting citizens into candidates. Additionally, the chapter presents an overview of the content of subsequent chapters of the book.

Women continue to be under-represented in elected office in the United States. Chapter 8 assesses whether chairs view women candidates as less viable, as well as whether voters are less inclined to support women candidates. The experimental findings offer little support for the notion that chairs systematically view women candidates as less likely to win, a pattern that is consistent with the (lack of) gender effects that emerge among voters. This said, although some of the chairs interviewed in person said they view gender as irrelevant, most viewed women candidates as tending to have distinctive advantages and, in some cases, disadvantages. The most common theme that arose in the interviews was the perception—consistent with evidence from existing work—that women candidates tend to be more qualified and harder working, entering a race only when they are well-prepared and conditions are ripe.

Chapter 9 considers whether chairs view non-white candidates as less likely to win. The results of the experiment reveal pronounced effects tied to candidates’ race for chairs but not voters. Both Democratic and Republican chairs viewed black and Latinx candidates as substantially less likely to win than white candidates. Further analysis of the experimental data offers little support for the notion that the effects of a candidate’s race/ethnicity are driven by chairs’ inferences about the candidate’s other background characteristics. Chairs’ perceptions regarding the disadvantage faced by minority candidates are sensitive to context, however, particularly among Democrats. Among Democratic county chairs, the perceived penalty for minority candidates varies with the concentration of minority residents in the county. Even among Democratic chairs, however, the expectation that minority candidates will not fare as well as white candidates manifests in all but a small share of counties with particularly high concentrations of minority residents.

Chapter 5 assesses whether candidates running in areas where their local party organization is active tend to perform better than those running in otherwise similar areas, but where the organization is less active. We examine the relationship between local party activity and outcomes in races for state legislature and Sheriff, as well as for federal elections. Our evidence indicates that local party efforts can affect both federal and local election outcomes. Notably, these relationships only emerge in contexts where the party is electorally disadvantaged. This suggests that party efforts in areas where the party is unlikely to win elections at the county level are particularly likely to improve the electoral fortunes of their party’s candidates up and down the ballot. This underscores the ability of small local parties to project their power outward, with ripple effects that shape broader politics at all levels of American government.

Chapter 2 situates local party organizations within the broader party organization and addresses how the efforts of these local elites’ may have consequences that go beyond the seemingly small-time nature of their operations. It examines who heads these local organizations and how they ended up in their positions. The survey results reported in this chapter paint a picture of local party chairs as individuals who are deeply involved with politics and whose background characteristics more closely track those of elected officials than those of the broader public. This pattern is, perhaps, unsurprising given that about one-third of the chairs who responded to the national survey have held or currently hold elected office. Party chairs tend to be older, whiter, wealthier, and more educated than the voters in their areas, which is to be expected given the demands of their—uncompensated—jobs.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) uses a weak electrical current that is sent through the cerebral cortex. The Halo Sport headphones are a user-friendly form of tDCS that is implemented by many athletes purportedly to improve performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tDCS, using the Halo Sport, on performance variables associated with a high-intensity three-minute cycling test. Eighteen healthy, active individuals (ten men, eight women) volunteered for this study. The Halo Sport headphones were worn during a 20-minute warmup before completing a high-intensity three-minute cycling test. A sham treatment was used in addition to the experimental condition. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed every 30 seconds and electromyography (EMG) of the quadriceps muscle group was measured throughout testing. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine the effect of condition and time on mean RPE, heart rate (HR) and power; paired samples t-tests were also used to compare conditions. Mean HR was higher in the experimental condition (p = 0.038). Otherwise, there were no differences between conditions on any of the variables (mean RPE, cadence and speed, mean and peak HR, power, root mean square EMG). Despite the popularity of this new device, our findings do not support an ergogenic effect. However, further research is warranted.

Testosterone exerts some effects on the cardiovascular system that could be considered beneficial; some other effects may potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. Neither the long-term efficacy nor safety of testosterone treatment has been studied in an adequately-powered randomized trial.The Testosterone Replacement therapy for Assessment of long-term Vascular Events and efficacy ResponSE in hypogonadal men (TRAVERSE) study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, non-inferiority, multicenter study. Eligible participants are men, 45 to 80 years, with serum testosterone concentration300 ng/dL and hypogonadal symptoms, who have evidence pre-existing CV disease or increased risk of CV disease. Approximately 6,000 subjects will be randomized to either 1.62% transdermal testosterone gel or a matching placebo gel daily for an anticipated duration of up to 5 years. The primary outcome is CV safety defined by the major adverse CV event composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death due to CV causes. The trial will continue until at least 256 adjudicated major adverse CV event endpoints have occurred to assess whether the 95% (2-sided) upper confidence limit for a hazard ratio of 1.5 can be ruled out. Secondary endpoints include prostate safety defined as the incidence of adjudicated high grade prostate cancer and efficacy in domains of sexual function, bone fractures, depression, anemia, and diabetes.As of July 1, 2021, 5,076 subjects had been randomized.The TRAVERSE study will determine the CV safety and long-term efficacy of testosterone treatment in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism with or at increased risk of CV disease.

Introduction The delivery of emergency medical services is primarily performed by emergency medical technicians and paramedics in the United States. More recently, nurses and physicians have become more involved in the delivery of emergency medical services. Advanced placement paramedic education bridging programs have been developed to prepare the workforce, but the success of these programs is unknown. This study evaluated the demographics and performance of nonemergency medical services health care professionals who attended an advanced placement paramedic education program at a Midwestern university. Methods This was a retrospective evaluation of student data from 2007 to 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to tabulate demographics, program performance, and individual performance in the National Paramedic Certification Examination. Results The program admitted 305 students; registered nurses (95%) were the majority of students. Of the 305 admitted students, 271 (88.9%) fulfilled all program requirements and were eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians paramedic certification examination. Of these 271 eligible students, 201 (74.2%) took the National Paramedic Certification Examination. A total of 195 (97%) obtained certification at the first test attempt, whereas 200 (99.5%) obtained certification within 3 attempts. Of the 200 who passed the test, 175 (88%) successfully demonstrated entry-level competency in paramedic-level psychomotor testing. Discussion The advanced placement paramedic program evaluated in this study had high rates of successful program completion, as well as high first-time and cumulative passing rates for the National Paramedic Certification Examination. Further research is needed to identify the best practices in determining student requirements and the methodologies in delivering advanced placement paramedic education bridging programs.

Hanson, NJ, Scheadler, CM, Katsavelis, D, and Miller, MG. Validity of the Wattbike 3-minute aerobic test: measurement and estimation of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-The Wattbike includes a 3-minute aerobic test (3mAT) along with an estimation of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max. The estimation equation that is used is from a previous study using a different protocol and sedentary subjects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether (a) the 3mAT is able to elicit V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, and (b) whether this estimation is accurate. Thirteen cyclists (10 men; age: 29.2 ± 10.0 years, height 178.7 ± 8.3 cm, and mass 75.1 ± 12.5 kg) with a range of experience volunteered for this study. At the first visit, a self-paced V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (SPV) test was performed to obtain the "true" V[Combining Dot Above]O2max. At the second session, subjects completed the 3mAT. Primary dependent variables included maximal values of oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2), carbon dioxide production (V[Combining Dot Above]CO2), heart rate (HR), ventilation (VE), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). A repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no difference (p = 0.367) between V[Combining Dot Above]O2max values (3mAT estimation: 54.3 ± 9.3 ml·kg·min, 3mAT measured: 52.5 ± 8.7, SPV: 54.0 ± 9.7). Paired-samples t-tests showed that HR (p = 0.027) was higher in the SPV (184.7 ± 10.6 vs. 180.9 ± 6.3 b·min), whereas RER and V[Combining Dot Above]CO2 were both higher in the 3mAT (1.29 ± 0.10 vs. 1.19 ± 0.06 and 4.92 ± 1.01 vs. 4.62 ± 0.98, respectively; both p < 0.05). The intraclass correlation between the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max measured from the SPV and 3mAT was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.88-0.99, p < 0.001), and between the 3mAT measured and estimated values was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.71-0.97 p < 0.001). If an athlete has access to a Wattbike, they can complete the 3mAT, receive their V[Combining Dot Above]O2max estimation, and be confident of its accuracy.

Using data from nearly 5,000 votes cast by more than 400 judges in courts of last resort from all 50 states, we investigate whether there is a relationship between a state’s judicial retention method and the likelihood that a judge votes to join a precedent-overturning majority. We find that relative to judges retained by institutions such as judicial commissions or state legislatures, those retained via either partisan or retention elections are significantly more likely to join majorities that overturn precedent. Most of this effect is due to behavior in high-profile cases that garner media attention. We find little evidence that an impending election moderates these effects. Finally, we find no evidence that judges retained via nonpartisan elections treat precedent differently than their institutionally retained colleagues.

Electroencephalography research surrounding maximal exercise testing has been limited to male subjects. Additionally, studies have used open-looped protocols, meaning individuals do not know the exercise endpoint. Closed-loop protocols are often shown to result in optimal performance as self-pacing is permitted. The purpose of this study was to compare brain activity during open- and closed-loop maximal exercise protocols, and to determine if any sex differences are present. Twenty-seven subjects (12 males, ages 22.0 ± 2.5 years) participated in this study. A pre-assembled EEG sensor strip was used to collect brain activity from specific electrodes (F3/F4: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, or dlPFC; and C3/Cz/C4: motor cortex, or MC). Alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (12–30 Hz) frequency bands were analyzed. Subjects completed two maximal exercise tests on a cycle ergometer, separated by at least 48 h: a traditional, open-loop graded exercise test (GXT) and a closed-loop self-paced VO2max (SPV) test. Mixed model ANOVAs were performed to compare power spectral density (PSD) between test protocols and sexes. A significant interaction of time and sex was shown in the dlPFC for males, during the GXT only (p = 001), where a peak was reached and then a decrease was shown. A continuous increase was shown in the SPV. Sex differences in brain activity during exercise could be associated with inhibitory control, which is a function of the dlPFC. Knowledge of an exercise endpoint could be influential towards cessation of exercise and changes in cortical brain activity.

The large introductory classes at many universities present a particular challenge for instructors wishing to guarantee participation opportunities for their students. Yet, large courses can actual...

We conducted a national survey of local party chairs that included a conjoint experiment to assess the effects of candidates’ race and gender on chairs’ assessments of their likelihood of winning a...

Considerable evidence exists that Americans possess not only low levels of political knowledge but also relatively uninformed—and sometimes misinformed—opinions on policy matters. Many recent studies focus on whether informational treatments have immediate effects on citizens’ factual beliefs and opinions about policy, but less is known about whether such treatments have enduring effects. Using a three-wave panel experiment, we assess the immediate and enduring effects of factual information provision on factual beliefs and opinion of the Affordable Care Act. We find a relatively persistent effect of information provision on accuracy of factual beliefs, but only an ephemeral shift in opinion, which typically drifts back to its pretreatment state within a few weeks. Our findings have implications for the understanding of citizen learning and opinion change, as well as ongoing scholarly debates about how long-lasting the effects of (experimental) interventions are.

COVID-19 pathology involves dysregulation of diverse molecular, cellular, and physiological processes. To expedite integrated and collaborative COVID-19 research, we completed multi-omics analysis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, including matched analysis of the whole-blood transcriptome, plasma proteomics with two complementary platforms, cytokine profiling, plasma and red blood cell metabolomics, deep immune cell phenotyping by mass cytometry, and clinical data annotation. We refer to this multidimensional dataset as the COVIDome. We then created the COVIDome Explorer, an online researcher portal where the data can be analyzed and visualized in real time. We illustrate herein the use of the COVIDome dataset through a multi-omics analysis of biosignatures associated with C-reactive protein (CRP), an established marker of poor prognosis in COVID-19, revealing associations between CRP levels and damage-associated molecular patterns, depletion of protective serpins, and mitochondrial metabolism dysregulation. We expect that the COVIDome Explorer will rapidly accelerate data sharing, hypothesis testing, and discoveries worldwide., Graphical Abstract, Sullivan et al. describe the development of a multidimensional dataset for the study of COVID-19 known as the COVIDome, which includes diverse clinical, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and immune cell datasets. A researcher portal known as the COVIDome Explorer was created to enable global data access and analysis.

Buxton, JD, Prins, PJ, Miller, MG, Moreno, A, Welton, GL, Atwell, AD, Talampas, TR, and Elsey, GE. The effects of a novel quadrupedal movement training program on functional movement, range of motion, muscular strength, and endurance. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2186-2193, 2022-Quadrupedal movement training (QMT) is a form of bodyweight training incorporating animal poses, transitions, and crawling patterns to reportedly improve fitness. This type of training may improve multiple facets of fitness, unfortunately, little evidence exists to support commercial claims and guide practitioners in the best use of QMT. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a commercially available QMT program on functional movement, dynamic balance, range of motion, and upper body strength and endurance. Forty-two active college-age (19.76 ± 2.10 years) subjects (males = 19, females = 23) were randomly assigned to a QMT ( n = 21) or control (CON) ( n = 21) group for 8 weeks. Quadrupedal movement training consisted of 60-minute classes performed 2×·wk -1 in addition to regular physical activity. Active range of motion, Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Y-Balance Test (YBT), handgrip strength, and push-up endurance were assessed before and after the intervention. The QMT group showed significantly greater improvements than the CON group in FMS composite score (1.62 ± 1.53 vs. 0.33 ± 1.15, p = 0.004) and FMS advanced movements (0.81 ± 0.87 vs. 0.01 ± 0.71, p = 0.002) and fundamental stability (0.57 ± 0.75 vs. 0.05 ± 0.50, p = 0.011), along with hip flexion, hip lateral rotation, and shoulder extension ( p0.05). No significant differences between groups were observed for dynamic balance or upper body strength and endurance. Our results indicate that QMT can improve FMS scores and various active joint ranges of motion. Quadrupedal movement training is a viable alternative form of training to improve whole-body stabilization and flexibility.

Background/objective: Significant biomechanical differences were found among deadlift variations. However, little is known about the differences between the conventional and the Romanian deadlifts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine which deadlift technique is a better training protocol between the conventional and the Romanian deadlifts as indicated by the greater demand in muscle activities and joint kinetics. Methods: 21 males performed each deadlift with 70% of the Romanian deadlift one repetition maximum (1RM) determined using a 1RM testing. Myoelectric activities of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and gluteus maximus and lower extremity net joint torque (NJT) were compared. The variables were extracted through an electromyography system (EMG) and a three-dimensional motion analysis. The EMG values were normalized to the peak EMG activation from a submaximal non-isometric voluntary contraction. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Significantly greater normalized EMG values were found from the rectus femoris and gluteus maximus (58.57 ± 13.73 and 51.52 ± 6.08 %peak) of the conventional deadlift than those of the Romanian deadlift (25.26 ± 14.21 and 46.88 ± 7.39 %peak). The conventional deadlift indicated significantly greater knee and ankle NJTs (0.21 ± 0.13 and −0.33 ± 0.08 Nm/kg cm) than those of the Romanian deadlift (−0.28 ± 0.1 and −0.29 ± 0.06 Nm/kg cm). Conclusion: The conventional deadlift would be a better technique for training the rectus femoris and gluteus maximus than the Romanian deadlift as indicated by the greater EMG and NJT values. Keywords: Biomechanics, Electromyography, Joint kinetics, Resistance training

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different acute bouts of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the Stroop Color Word task and Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF) threshold test. Twenty-five recreationally active subjects (12 men, 13 women; age 23 ± 2.79 years; body mass index 25.03 ± 3.15 kg m−2) were recruited for this study. The acute bouts of HIIT included low-volume (LV) and moderate-volume (MV) sessions. They each had a work to rest ratio of 1:1 min, and exercise was performed at 85% maximal heart rate. The LV session included five intervals, and the MV session included ten intervals. Prior to and after exercise, subjects completed the CFF test and Stroop task. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine the effect of time and volume on test performance. CFF results showed a significant main effect for volume condition across pre/post trials (p = .006), with the MV having a higher average CFF threshold (37.73 ± .63 Hz) compared to LV (36.79 ± .68 Hz). Stroop results showed no main effect of volume condition or interaction (both p > .05) but revealed a significant main effect of time for mean reaction time (RT) total, mean RT congruent/incongruent, and mean RT control (all p .05). The results show that low- and moderate-volume HIIT have similar effects on post-exercise measures of executive function. Our results suggest that the volume of HIIT needed to elicit executive function performance gains may be lower than suggested in previous research.

Previous studies have largely overlooked three key components of a scandal that could determine how it shapes election outcomes: the extent to which it is covered in the media, the potential that donors respond differently than voters, and the likelihood that the impact of scandals have changed over time. Examining U.S. House scandals between 1980 and 2010, we find that while scandal-tainted politicians receive fewer votes and are less likely to win than otherwise similar legislators not embroiled in scandal, donors actually contribute more money to their campaigns after the scandal’s revelation. Both of these effects, however, are limited to financial and sex scandals that garnered national media attention. Moreover, we find that voters are less punitive and donors are even more supportive in the post-1994 period of nationalized electoral politics.

Critical flicker frequency (CFF) threshold is a visual discrimination task designed to assess cortical neural arousal, where higher values are associated with increased information processing and improved cognitive function. Previous studies using CFF assessments before and after exercise have only used one type of exercise (e.g., short, fatiguing, steady state, time to exhaustion, etc.). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of exercise type and intensity on neural arousal. 22 recreational runners (10 men, 12 women; age 25 ± 6 years) volunteered to participate in the study. They completed a VO2max test (short, fatiguing trial), and three 30-min treadmill runs (longer, steady-state trials) at rating of perceived exertion (RPE) levels of 13, 15, and 17. Before and after each exercise test, subjects were asked to complete the CFF test; Mtot and Mdi were calculated, which are the average and difference of the ascending/descending frequency trials, respectively. There were no main effects found for either intensity (p = 0.641) or time (p = 0.283); there was, however, a significant interaction found (intensity*time; p = 0.001). In the VO2max test and in the longer, steady-state runs at RPE13 and 15, there was no change in Mtot. There was a significant increase in Mtot after the run at RPE17 (p = 0.019). For Mdi, the VO2max test elicited a significant decrease (p = 0.005), but there was no change after the steady-state runs. The results suggest that short, fatiguing and longer, steady-state exercise affect cortical neural arousal differently. Increases in arousal, and perhaps the related domain of information processing, are more likely to come from steady-state exercise at a vigorous intensity.

Introduction: Patients who are users of homeless shelters interact with EMS and Emergency Departments (ED) as means of accessing the healthcare system. Patients in this population are known to have chronic health conditions as well as being frequent users of EMS. In this study, we researched how patients living at a homeless shelter experienced EMS. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach methodology was used to interview individuals at the largest homeless shelter in Omaha, Nebraska in 2017. Data was transcribed then coded for thematic analysis. Results: Eighteen adult individuals participated with four major themes emerging: Frequency and Medical Histories, Perceived Positive Experiences, Perceived Negative Experiences, and Awareness of EMS. Professionalism and being non-judgmental toward a homeless shelter user appeared to best describe the difference between a positive EMS experience from a negative one. Patients of this population have an awareness and appreciation to the role of EMS. They are also aware and recognize overuse of EMS by others and biases from EMS towards patients of this population. There are recognized opportunities to improve the relationship and role of EMS with patients using homeless shelters and services. Conclusion: Support for increased EMS awareness, research, and relationship building with homeless shelter users and shelters is needed.

Recent federal court decisions have deregulated state campaign finance systems to a significant degree. These decisions are not only rooted in First Amendment jurisprudence but also raise issues of federalism. Although most studies of federal–state conflict focus on disputes between state officials and elected federal policy makers, courts are also policy-making institutions, and in the absence of policy making by other federal branches, courts have become the critical federal policy maker in this area. In response to U.S. Supreme Court rulings that deregulate campaign finance rules and are out of step with the policy preferences of many state electorates and officials, states are attempting to resist these rulings, but using different approaches than are used by states in disputes with the Congress or President. We discuss these rulings and state responses to them. We also describe the implications of these dynamics for federalism.

Introduction Hypogonadism in men is often associated with poor libido, erectile dysfunction, irritability, fatigue, and psychological and relationship problems. Many of these symptoms can be best assessed through patient report. The 28-item Hypogonadism Impact of Symptoms Questionnaire (HIS-Q) was developed to evaluate hypogonadism symptoms in men with low testosterone in the context of clinical trials. Aim To develop a briefer version of the HIS-Q that could be practical for use in treatment settings. Methods Participants with low testosterone levels and symptoms consistent with hypogonadism were recruited through clinical sites. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to elicit symptom concepts and identify those that were most relevant to patients, including changes as a consequence of treatment. Main Outcome Measures Systematic analysis of the qualitative data and expert clinician input were used to develop the HIS-Q short form (HIS-Q-SF). One-on-one cognitive interviews were conducted to confirm the content validity of the HIS-Q-SF. Results Thirty-five men participated in this qualitative research. Concept elicitation was conducted through focus group discussions (n = 18) and telephone interviews (n = 2); then, the draft HIS-Q-SF was evaluated through cognitive interviews (n = 15). The mean age of total sample was 53.2 ± 6.8 years, and the mean serum total testosterone level was 184.9 ± 55.2 ng/dL. Results suggest that the HIS-Q-SF has demonstrated content validity, including the content coverage, comprehensibility, and the appropriateness of the response options and recall period. The final version of the HIS-Q-SF includes 17 items and is aligned with the original longer version of the instrument. Conclusion The HIS-Q-SF is a comprehensive measurement of hypogonadism symptom severity in men. Content coverage and content validity were confirmed. The instrument will be evaluated further to establish the psychometric characteristics and to assess the utility of the measurement in clinical treatment settings.