Development of ELIP to Assess Physical Literacy for Emerging Adults: A Methodological and Epistemological Challenge

Purpose: Following increased interest in physical literacy (PL), development of appropriate tools for assessment has become an important next step for its operationalization. To forward the development of such tools, the objective of this study was to build the foundations of the Évaluation de la Littératie Physique (ELIP), designed to help reduce existing tensions in approaches to PL assessment that may be resulting in a low uptake into applied settings. Methods: We followed two steps: (1) the development of the first version of ELIP by deploying a Delphi method (n = 30); and (2) the modification of items through cognitive interviews with emerging adults (n = 32). Results: The expert consensus highlighted four dimensions of PL to be assessed-physical; affective; cognitive; and social-with new perspectives, including a preference for broad motor tests over fitness. Conclusion: Results offer new insights into the assessment of emerging adults' PL, but ELIP still requires further work concerning validity, reliability, and sensitivity.

Does water temperature influence the performance of key survival skills?

Aquatic survival skills may be compromised in cold water thereby increasing the likelihood of drowning. This study compared physiological, psychological, and behavioral responses of humans treading water and swimming in cold and temperate water. Thirty-eight participants were classified as inexperienced (n = 9), recreational (n = 15), or skilled (n = 10) swimmers. They performed 3 tasks: treading water (120 seconds), swim at "comfortable" pace, and swim at "fast" pace in 2 water conditions (28°C vs 10°C). Heart rate, oxygen uptake, psychometric variables, spatio-temporal (swim speed, stroke rate, and stroke length), and coordination type were examined as a function of expertise. Tasks performed in cold water-generated higher cardiorespiratory responses (HR = 145 ± 16 vs 127 ± 21 bpm) and were perceived about 2 points more strenuous on the Borg scale on average (RPE = 14.9 ± 2.8 vs 13.0 ± 2.0). The voluntary durations of both treading water (60 ± 32 vs 91 ± 33 seconds) and swimming at a comfortable pace (66 ± 22 vs 103 ± 34 seconds) were significantly reduced in cold water. However, no systematic changes in movement pattern type could be determined in either the treading water task or the swimming tasks. Water temperature influences the physical demands of these aquatic skills but not necessarily the behavior. Training treading water and swimming skills in temperate water seems to transfer to cold water, but we recommend training these skills in a range of water conditions to help adapt to the initial "cold-shock" response.

Yb:YAG Innoslab amplifier: efficient high repetition rate subpicosecond pumping system for optical parametric chirped pulse amplification

We report on a Yb:YAG Innoslab laser amplifier system for generation of subpicsecond high energy pump pulses for optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) at high repetition rates. Pulse energies of up to 20 mJ (at 12.5 kHz) and repetition rates of up to 100 kHz were attained with pulse durations of 830 fs and average power in excess of 200 W. We further investigate the possibility to use subpicosecond pulses to derive a stable continuum in a YAG crystal for OPCPA seeding.

Comparison of Spatio-Temporal, Metabolic, and Psychometric Responses in Recreational and Highly Trained Swimmers during and after a 400-m Freestyle Swim

Spatio-temporal, metabolic and psychometric responses during and after a 400-m freestyle swim trial were investigated for gender and skill-level effects. Thirty-four men and women, 18 national and international competitors and 16 recreational swimmers, were compared. Mean speed, stroke rate (SR), and stroke length (SL) were obtained from video recordings. Peak heart rate (HR) and the lactate value (Hla) were determined, as were the recovery kinetics, i.e., the recovery time index (RTI) for heart rate and %Hla (r) for the lactate values. Well-being was assessed with the Profile of Mood States questionnaire (POMS). Subjective workload was assessed with the NASA-TLX questionnaire. The experts showed less variation in their swim speed than the recreational swimmers. The male experts showed greater SL and the female experts showed greater SL and SR. No significant difference was noted between the experts and recreational swimmers for peaks of HR and Hla, POMS (157.3 +/- 15.1 vs. 163.1 +/- 21.5), or subjective workload (32.4 +/- 6.7 vs. 31.6 +/- 6.1). The experts exhibited higher RTI (- 38.5 +/- 5.5 % vs. - 31.1 +/- 5.4 %) and %Hla (r) (8.6 +/- 7.18 % vs. 1.65 +/- 8.2 %). They also showed an improvement of 7.8 +/- 2.6 % for men and 6.02 +/- 1.6 % for women between the performance time for the trial and the best competitive time of the season. Last, our results suggest that the 400-m freestyle trial is a valid field test to evaluate the maximal aerobic speed (MAS) of swimmers with different training status. The systemic analysis herein described can be used to set the end-of-season target time for expert competitors. Attention should focus on SL, race management, and the physiological recovery for training prescription.

General pharmacology of meloxicam--Part II: Effects on blood pressure, blood flow, heart rate, ECG, respiratory minute volume and interactions with paracetamol, pirenzepine, chlorthalidone, phenprocoumon and tolbutamide

The pharmacodynamic properties of meloxicam, a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), that go beyond those typical of an NSAID were examined. The extent to which meloxican shows NSAID-like interactions with paracetamol, pirenzepine, chlorthalidone, phenprocoumon and tolbutamide was also investigated. In the dose range studied, meloxicam had no influence on the blood pressure of the unanaesthetized rat, blood flow, heart rate, ECG and respiratory minute volume of the anaesthetized cat or on the blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory minute volume of the anaesthetized dog. The acute toxicity level of meloxicam after oral and parenteral administration to the rat and mouse proved considerably lower than that of indomethacin. Meloxicam showed excellent tissue tolerability following parenteral administration. The effects against inflammatory pain and acute antiexudative effects of meloxicam were enhanced by simultaneous low doses of paracetamol. Pirenzepine showed an antagonistic effect on the ulcerogenicity of meloxicam in the rat stomach. The diuretic effect of chlorthalidone in the rat was not influenced by high doses of meloxicam. The effect of phenprocoumon in the rat was enhanced by high doses of meloxicam. However, the hypoglycaemic effect of tolbutamide in the rabbit was not influenced by meloxicam.

General pharmacology of meloxicam--Part I: Effects on CNS, gastric emptying, intestinal transport, water, electrolyte and creatinine excretion

The general pharmacodynamic properties of meloxicam, a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), were examined. Characteristics that distinguish meloxicam from conventional NSAIDs were investigated. No central-nervous-system effects were observed in the mouse at oral doses up to 100 mg/kg. In vitro studies showed meloxicam had no antagonistic properties against mediators such as histamine, PGE2 and angiotensin II. The rate of gastric emptying or intestinal transport in the rat was not influenced by therapeutic doses of meloxicam and, of all the NSAIDs investigated, meloxicam showed the mildest effect on gastric acidity. In doses well above those required for anti-inflammatory action, meloxicam had no influence on water, electrolyte or creatinine excretion.

Meloxicam: influence on arachidonic acid metabolism. Part II. In vivo findings

Meloxicam is a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) derived from enolic acid. Preclinical studies have indicated that meloxicam has potent anti-inflammatory activity, together with a good gastrointestinal and renal tolerability profile. This report summarizes studies undertaken to compare meloxicam to other NSAIDs in the inhibition of the inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in inflamed areas (pleurisy of the rat, peritonitis of mice) and their influence on the activity of the constitutive cyclooxygenase (COX-1) in stomach, kidney, brain, and blood. In pleurisy of the rat, meloxicam was twice as potent as tenoxicam, 3 times as potent as flurbiprofen, 8 times as potent as diclofenac, and 20 times as potent as tenidap at inhibiting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) biosynthesis. In the peritonitis model in mice, meloxicam was approximately twice as active as piroxicam, and more than 10 times as active as diclofenac in the suppression of PGE biosynthesis. Doses of meloxicam sufficient to inhibit PGE2 biosynthesis in the pleural exudate and peritoneal exudate had no influence on leukotriene-B4 (LTB4) or leukotriene-C4 (LTC4) content. The effect of meloxicam on the PGE2 content of rat gastric juice and rat urine was weaker than that of piroxicam or diclofenac. Meloxicam was a weaker inhibitor of the increased PGE2 concentration in brain of rats and mice (induced by convulsant doses of pentetrazole) than piroxicam, diclofenac, or indomethacin. Meloxicam had a weaker effect on serum thromboxane-B2 (TXB2) concentration in rats than piroxicam or tenoxicam. The in vivo findings confirm the results of in vitro tests, conducted separately, showing that meloxicam preferentially inhibits COX-2 over COX-1. COX-2 is the inducible isoenzyme implicated in the inflammatory response, whereas COX-1 has cytoprotective effects in the gastric mucosa. Therefore, a preferential selectivity for one isoenzyme over another, as displayed by meloxicam, may have implications in the clinical setting in terms of a more favorable risk: benefit profile.

Meloxicam: a potent inhibitor of adjuvant arthritis in the Lewis rat

The effects of meloxicam, piroxicam, diclofenac and tenidap on the swelling of hind paws, radiologically-detectable bone and cartilage destruction of hind paws, increase in spleen weight, increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and changes in serum protein composition in male Lewis rats with adjuvant arthritis were studied following once-daily oral administration of these drugs for 21 days. All the drugs dose-dependently inhibited hind paw swelling. For equal activity against hind paw swelling caused by the secondary reaction, the required daily dose of piroxicam was about twice that of meloxicam; those of diclofenac and tenidap were about 3.5 and 60 times higher respectively. The bone and cartilage destruction induced by adjuvant arthritis were inhibited by meloxicam at low daily doses and by piroxicam at doses approximately four times those of meloxicam. Diclofenac and tenidap had only a weak effect on radiologically-detectable lesions when administered at doses sufficient to reduce paw swelling. Meloxicam also had a dose-dependent corrective effect on the systemic changes which occur in adjuvant arthritic rats, e.g. increase in spleen weight, increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and changes in serum protein composition. Piroxicam produced similar effects, at 3-4 times higher doses. Diclofenac and tenidap did not show comparable effects when administered at appropriate doses. These findings indicate that the action of meloxicam and piroxicam differs from that of diclofenac and tenidap in adjuvant arthritis in the Lewis rat. At oral doses which significantly reduce edema formation, only meloxicam and piroxicam showed a significant effect on systemic parameters of adjuvant disease in the Lewis rat.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and related properties of meloxicam, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent with favourable gastrointestinal tolerance

The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties of the new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, meloxicam, were investigated in a variety of animal models and compared with the properties of piroxicam, diclofenac, indomethacin and several other NSAIDs. With respect to the total effect of a single oral dose, the anti-exudative effect of meloxicam on carrageenan-induced oedema in the rat exceeded that of all the NSAIDs included in the comparison. Additionally, meloxicam showed the greatest potency of all the compounds examined with respect to adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat, the granuloma pouch model and the cotton pellet test in the rat. Unlike indomethacin, in the carrageenan pleurisy model in the rat, meloxicam caused both a dose-dependent reduction in exudate volume and also inhibition of leucocyte migration. Meloxicam showed a strong and lasting effect on inflammatory pain in the rat. Like other NSAIDs, but unlike dipyrone, meloxicam had no effect in the hot plate and tail clamp tests, which are used to identify weak central analgesic effects. Unlike dipyrone and like indomethacin, meloxicam had no effect in a model of visceral distention pain. In common with other NSAIDs, meloxicam had no influence on the body temperature of normothermic rats in the anti-inflammatory dose range, but did reduce yeast-induced fever in the rat in a dose-dependent manner. Like piroxicam, meloxicam had a uricosuric effect on rats treated with oxonic acid. Low-dose meloxicam inhibited both bradykinin-induced and PAF-induced bronchospasm in the guinea-pig, but had no effect on acetylcholine-induced bronchospasm. Piroxicam had greater ulcerogenic effects in the rat stomach than meloxicam. The therapeutic range of meloxicam in the rat, with regard to inhibition of adjuvant arthritis, was several times greater than that of piroxicam, indomethacin, diclofenac and naproxen.