Common spatial pattern for classification of loving kindness meditation EEG for single and multiple sessions.

While a very few studies have been conducted on classifying loving kindness meditation (LKM) and non-meditation electroencephalography (EEG) data for a single session, there are no such studies conducted for multiple session EEG data. Thus, this study aims at classifying existing raw EEG meditation data on single and multiple sessions to come up with meaningful inferences which will be highly beneficial when developing algorithms that can support meditation practices. In this analysis, data have been collected on Pre-Resting (before-meditation), Post-Resting (after-meditation), LKM-Self and LKM-Others for 32 participants and hence allowing us to conduct six pairwise comparisons for the four mind tasks.

Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface and computational study of 1-(9,10-dioxo-9,10-di-hydroanthracen-1-yl)-3-propano-ylthio-urea.

The title compound, CHNOS, crystallizes in the ortho-rhom-bic crystal system and space group. The thio-urea chromophore is planar to an r.m.

Decision making dyads and judgement overconfidence: Implications for high-risk industries.

In the workplace, overconfidence is generally considered undesirable as it may increase people's propensity to take risks. In many areas (e.g.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Are Symptoms and Diet Linked?

New Zealand (NZ) has one of the world's highest incidence rates of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with IBD often believe certain foods influence their disease symptoms and consequently may alter their diet considerably. The objective of this study was to determine foods, additives, and cooking methods (dietary elements) that NZ IBD patients identify in the onset, exacerbation, or reduction of their symptoms.

Vitamin D concentrations in New Zealanders with and without inflammatory bowel disease: do they differ?

Aim: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) are at risk of low vitamin D owing to reduced absorption, medication-associated sunlight exposure restrictions and/or increased requirements due to inflammation. This study aimed to determine if the serum vitamin D concentration of New Zealand IBD patients relates to disease activity and differs from controls.

Method: Data concerning demographics, sunlight exposure, vitamin D supplementation and disease activity were collected using a retrospective questionnaire.

The Competition-Day Preparation Strategies of Strongman Athletes.

Winwood, PW, Pritchard, HJ, Wilson, D, Dudson, M, and Keogh, JWL. The competition-day preparation strategies of strongman athletes. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2308-2320, 2019-This study provides the first empirical evidence of the competition-day preparation strategies used by strongman athletes.

High-Intensity Interval Training Is Equivalent to Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training for Short- and Medium-Term Outcomes of Glucose Control, Cardiometabolic Risk, and Microvascular Complication Markers in Men With Type 2 Diabetes.

We sought to determine the efficacy of 12 weeks high-intensity interval training (HIIT), compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on glucose control, cardiometabolic risk and microvascular complication markers in men living with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Both modalities were combined with resistance training (RT). Additionally, the study aimed to determine the medium-term durability of effects.

Short-Term Training Cessation as a Method of Tapering to Improve Maximal Strength.

Pritchard, HJ, Barnes, MJ, Stewart, RJC, Keogh, JWL, and McGuigan, MR. Short-term training cessation as a method of tapering to improve maximal strength. J Strength Cond Res 32(2): 458-465, 2018-The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 2 different durations of training cessation on upper- and lower-body maximal strength performance and to investigate the mechanisms underlying performance changes following short-term training cessation.

Tapering Practices of Strongman Athletes: Test-Retest Reliability Study.

Background: Little is currently known about the tapering practices of strongman athletes. We have developed an Internet-based comprehensive self-report questionnaire examining the training and tapering practices of strongman athletes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to document the test-retest reliability of questions associated with the Internet-based comprehensive self-report questionnaire on the tapering practices of strongman athletes.

Acute blood glucose, cardiovascular and exaggerated responses to HIIT and moderate-intensity continuous training in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Optimizing exercise-induced physiological responses without increasing the risk of negative exaggerated responses is an important aspect of exercise prescription for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, knowledge of acute responses, including exaggerated responses, of different training modalities is limited. The aim of the study was to compare acute physiological responses of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in T2DM.

Acute Neuromuscular and Endocrine Responses to Two Different Compound Exercises: Squat vs. Deadlift.

Barnes, MJ, Miller, A, Reeve, D, and Stewart, RJ. Acute neuromuscular and endocrine responses to two different compound exercises: squat vs. deadlift.

Genomic Scans across Three Eucalypts Suggest that Adaptation to Aridity is a Genome-Wide Phenomenon.

Widespread species spanning strong environmental (e.g., climatic) gradients frequently display morphological and physiological adaptations to local conditions.

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on People Living with Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review.

People with type 2 diabetes typically present with comorbidities, such as elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood glucose, obesity and decreased fitness, all contributive to increased risk for cardiovascular complications. Determination of effective exercise modalities for the management of such complications is important. One such modality is high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

Cerebrovascular, cardiovascular and strength responses to acute ammonia inhalation.

Purpose: Ammonia is used as a stimulant in strength based sports to increase arousal and offset fatigue however little is known about its physiological and performance effects. The purpose of this study was twofold (1) establish the physiological response to acute ammonia inhalation (2) determine whether the timing of the physiological response corresponds with a performance enhancement, if any.

Methods: Fifteen healthy males completed two trials.

Tapering Practices of New Zealand's Elite Raw Powerlifters.

Pritchard, HJ, Tod, DA, Barnes, MJ, Keogh, JW, and McGuigan, MR. Tapering practices of New Zealand's elite raw powerlifters. J Strength Cond Res 30(7): 1796-1804, 2016-The major aim of this study was to determine tapering strategies of elite powerlifters.

Midlife safer sex challenges for heterosexual New Zealand women re-partnering or in casual relationships.

Introduction: The rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst midlife and older heterosexual women in New Zealand is rising. Popular culture celebrates a heightened sexuality for this population group. However, depictions of sexually savvy 'cougars' are at odds with reality for many women.

Vibration exercise as a warm-up modality for deadlift power output.

Vibration exercise (VbX) has gained popularity as a warm-up modality to enhance performance in golf, baseball, and sprint cycling, but little is known about the efficacy of using VbX as a warm-up before resistance exercise, such as deadlifting. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a deadlift (DL)-specific warm-up, VbX warm-up, and Control on DL power output (PO). The DL warm-up (DL-WU) included 10, 8, and 5 repetitions performed at 30, 40, and 50% 1-repetition maximum (1RM), respectively, where the number of repetitions was matched by body-weight squats performed with vibration and without vibration (Control).

Two new fern chloroplasts and decelerated evolution linked to the long generation time in tree ferns.

We report the chloroplast genomes of a tree fern (Dicksonia squarrosa) and a "fern ally" (Tmesipteris elongata), and show that the phylogeny of early land plants is basically as expected, and the estimates of divergence time are largely unaffected after removing the fastest evolving sites. The tree fern shows the major reduction in the rate of evolution, and there has been a major slowdown in the rate of mutation in both families of tree ferns. We suggest that this is related to a generation time effect; if there is a long time period between generations, then this is probably incompatible with a high mutation rate because otherwise nearly every propagule would probably have several lethal mutations.

Between a rock and a hard place: exploring the service needs of younger people with dementia.

The commonly held perception that dementia is a condition of older age belies the fact that people under 65 years, and younger, present with dementia. Services for people with dementia have traditionally focused on the needs of older adults; people who are retired and more dependent. Younger people with this condition however, face different changes related to their young families', current employment and at times gaining a diagnosis.

Younger adults with dementia: a strategy to promote awareness and transform perceptions.

Within modern society, dementia is considered to be an older person's disease yet people younger than 65 years are also diagnosed with this condition. This article describes dementia in the younger person highlighting their experiences and those of their families, along with nurses' attitudes towards and perceptions of this client group. A strategy is proposed to positively influence and enhance the attitudes of health professionals ultimately enhancing the quality of life for younger people with dementia.

Influence of crank length on cycle ergometry performance of well-trained female cross-country mountain bike athletes.

The aim of this study was to determine the differential effects of three commonly used crank lengths (170, 172.5 and 175 mm) on performance measures relevant to female cross-country mountain bike athletes (n = 7) of similar stature. All trials were performed in a single blind and balanced order with a 5- to 7-day period between trials.