Objectives To systematically review the current body of research that has investigated changes in strength-related variables during different phases of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods A literature search was conducted in Pubmed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science using search terms related to the menstrual cycle and strength-related measures. Two reviewers reached consensus that 21 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Methodological rigour was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Random effects meta-analyses were used to compare the early-follicular, ovulatory and mid-luteal phases for maximal voluntary contraction, isokinetic peak torque, and explosive strength. Results The assessment of study quality showed that a high level of bias exists in specific areas of study design. Non-significant and small or trivial effect sizes (p≥0.26, Hedges g≤0.35) were identified for all strength-related variables in each comparison between phases. 95% confidence intervals for each comparison suggested the uncertainty associated with each estimate extends to a small effect on strength performance with unclear direction (-0.42≤g≤0.48). The heterogeneity for each comparison was also small (p≥0.83, I2=0%). Conclusions Strength-related measures appear to be minimally altered (g≤0.35) by the fluctuations in ovarian sex hormones that occur during the menstrual cycle. This finding should be interpreted with caution due to the methodological shortcomings identified by the quality assessment.Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether 4 weeks of endurance training could improve tolerance to mental exertion in untrained participants. Design Longitudinal training study. Methods Twenty untrained young adults (14 F, 6 M; 27.6±6.2 years) completed a 4-week training protocol in a randomised and counterbalanced order. Baseline and follow-up assessment were conducted over three sessions in the week preceding and following the training period. During session 1, participants completed an incremental maximal ramp test. During sessions 2 and 3 participants completed a 15min cycling time trial preceded by either a mental exertion or control conditions. Following baseline assessments, participants were randomised into a physical training or placebo group that completed the training intervention thrice weekly over four weeks. Results The physical training resulted in increase in VO2 peak relative to the placebo group (p=0.003). Linear Mixed Models utilising the control condition time trial performance as a covariate found the physical training group increased their time trial distance following the mental exertion condition to a greater extent than the placebo group (p=0.03). RPE during the time trial and perceptual measures of mental exertion did not significantly change between groups (all p>0.10) although interaction effects were observed when considering the RPE-power output relationship during the time trial. Conclusions Four weeks of endurance training increased tolerance to mental exertion in untrained participants during a subsequent physical performance, but not during prolonged cognitive performance. This finding suggests that the ability to tolerate mental exertion is trainable in at least some contexts and highlights the far-reaching benefits of endurance training.Objectives The injury mitigation capabilities of foam, ski-area padding was examined for headfirst impacts. Design and methods A custom-made pendulum impactor system was constructed using an instrumented, partial 50th-percentile-male Hybrid-III anthropomorphic testing device (ATD). For each test, the ATD was raised 1.0m, released, and swung into a 20-cm diameter wooden pole. Test trials were conducted with the wooden pole covered by ski area padding (five conditions of various foam types and thicknesses) or unpadded. Linear (linear acceleration and HIC15) and angular (angular velocity, angular acceleration, and BrIC) kinematics were examined and used to estimate the likelihood of severe brain injury. Cervical spine loads were compared to the injury assessment reference values for serious injury. Further tests were conducted to examine the changes produced by the addition of a snowsport helmet. Results 38 test trials were recorded with a mean (±sd) impact speed of 4.2 (±0.03) m/s. Head, resultant linear acceleration, HIC15, and associated injury likelihoods were tempered by ski area padding at the impact speed tested. Ski area padding did not reduce brain injury likelihood from rotational kinematics (p>0.05 for all comparisons) or reduce the cervical spine compression below injury assessment reference values. The addition of a helmet did not reduce significantly the likelihoods of brain or cervical spine injury. Conclusions At the impact speed tested, ski area padding provided limited impact protection for the head (for linear kinematics) but did not protect against severe brain injuries due to rotational kinematics or serious cervical spine injuries.The bacterial flagellum is beneficial in most cases but it can become a burden when the energy source is low because it is very costly to assemble and energize for motility. Recent electron cryo-tomography and real-time fluorescence microscopy studies suggest that bacteria can remove their flagella under starvation in a programmed way.Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a recognized sequalae of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/abt-199.html  This study aimed to identify long-term survival and prognostic factors after curative resection for HCC among patients with chronic HCV infection. Methods From a Chinese multicenter database, the data of consecutive patients with HCV infection undergoing curative liver resection for initial HCC between 2006 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative 30-day mortality and morbidity, long-term overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated. Results Among 382 HCC patients with HCV infection, 68 (18%) had concurrent HBV infection and 110 (29%) had portal hypertension. Postoperative 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 45% and 2.9%, respectively. The 5-year OS and RFS rates were 45% and 34%, respectively. Multivariable Cox-regression analyses identified that concurrent HBV infection, presence of portal hypertension, largest tumor size > 5 cm, and macrovascular and microvascular invasion were independently associated with worse OS and RFS, while postoperative regular anti-HCV therapy was independently associated with better OS.