On the Primary Influences of Age on Articulation and Phonation in Maximum Performance Tasks

Maximum performance tasks have been identified as possible domains where incipient signs of neurological disease may be detected in simple speech and voice samples. However, it is likely that these will simultaneously be influenced by the age and sex of the speaker. In this study, a comprehensive set of acoustic quantifications were collected from the literature and applied to productions of sustained [a] productions and Alternating Motion Rate diadochokinetic (DDK) syllable sequences made by 130 (62 women, 68 men) healthy speakers, aged 20–90 years. The participants were asked to produce as stable (sustained [a] and DDK) and fast (DDK) productions as possible. The full set of features were reduced to a functional subset that most efficiently modeled sex-specific differences between younger and older speakers using a cross-validation procedure. Twelve measures of [a] and 16 measures of DDK sequences were identified across men and women and investigated in terms of how they were altered with increasing age of speakers. Increased production instability is observed in both tasks, primarily above the age of 60 years. DDK sequences were slower in older speakers, but also altered in their syllable and segment level acoustic properties. Increasing age does not appear to affect phonation or articulation uniformly, and men and women are affected differently in most quantifications investigated.

Variable Environments in an Upwelling System Trigger Differential Thermal Sensitivity in a Low Intertidal Chiton

Environmental variability in coastal oceans associated with upwelling dynamics probably is one of the most pervasive forces affecting the physiological performance of marine life. As the environmental temperature is the abiotic factor with major incidence in the physiology and ecology of marine ectotherms, the abrupt temperature changes in upwelling systems could generate important variations in these organisms’ functional processes. The relationship between ambient temperature and physiological performance can be described through a thermal performance curve (TPC). The parameters of this curve usually show geographic variation usually is in accordance with the predictions of the climate variability hypothesis (CVH), which states that organisms inhabiting more variable environments should have broader ranges of environmental tolerance in order to cope with the fluctuating environmental conditions they experience. Here we study the effect generated by the environmental variability in an active upwelling zone on the physiological performance of the marine ectotherm Achanthopleura echinata. In particular, we compared the parameters of the TPC and the metabolic rate of two populations of A. echinata, one found in high semi-permanent upwelling (Talcaruca), while the other is situated in an adjacent area with seasonal upwelling (Los Molles) and therefore more stable environmental conditions. Our results show that: (1) oxygen consumption increases with body size and this effect is more significant in individuals from the Talcaruca population, (2) optimal temperature, thermal breadth, upper critical limit and maximum performance were higher in the population located in the area of high environmental heterogeneity and (3) individuals from Talcaruca showed greater variance in optimal temperature, thermal breadth, upper critical limit but not in maximum performance. Although it is clear that a variable environment affects the thermal physiology of organisms, expanding their tolerance ranges and generating energy costs in the performance of individuals, it is relevant to note that upwelling systems are multifactorial phenomena where the rise of water masses modifies not only temperature, but also decreases O2, pH, and increases pCO2 which in turn could modify metabolism and TPC.

Understanding and Assessing Cultural Intelligence: Maximum-Performance and Typical-Performance Approaches

Cultural intelligence is one’s ability to adapt when confronted with problems arising in interactions with people or artifacts of diverse cultures. In this study, we conduct an initial construct-validation and assessment of a maximum-performance test of cultural intelligence. We assess the psychometric properties of the test and also correlate the test with other measures with which it might be expected there would be some connection. We found that our test was internally consistent and correlated significantly with maximum-performance tests of abilities but generally less or not at all with typical-performance tests, including cultural intelligence and openness to experience. However, our test appears to be distinct in what it measures from the other tests of cognitive abilities. The results lead us to suggest that cultural intelligence may have both maximum-performance and typical-performance aspects.

Model-Predictive-Control-Based Time-Optimal Trajectory Planning of the Distributed Actuation Mechanism Augmented by the Maximum Performance Evaluation

Trajectory planning for a redundant manipulator is a classic problem. However, because it is difficult to precisely evaluate its maximum performance, an optimization method has been typically used. In this study, a novel time-optimal trajectory planning method for a redundant manipulator is proposed using the model predictive control (MPC) augmented by the maximum performance evaluation (MPE). First, the optimization formulation is expressed to evaluate the maximum performance of the distributed-actuation-mechanism-based three-revolute-joint manipulator (DAM-3R), which has a high level of redundancy, and the joint-actuation-mechanism-based three-revolute-joint manipulator (JAM-3R) for comparison. The optimization is conducted by linking the multibody dynamics analysis module and the optimization module. For time-optimal trajectory planning, the MPC problem is then formulated using mathematical performance models for the DAM-3R and JAM-3R based on the MPE results, which are considered as the upper bound of the manipulator performance at each end-effector position. To verify the proposed method, a point-to-point task with no predefined path is investigated. The simulation results show that the working time of the DAM-3R is 19.1% less than that of the JAM-3R. Moreover, the energy consumption for the DAM-3R is 45.0% lower than that for the JAM-3R by optimally utilizing the higher redundancy of the DAM-3R. Thus, it can be concluded that the proposed method is effective for time-optimal trajectory planning for redundant manipulators.

Sosialisasi Pendampingan Asupan Gizi Atlet Muda di Kota Palangka Raya pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19

For an athlete to get a complete nutritional intake with the right portion of food, will make the athlete's body can function to the maximum, so that performance will also be maximal when doing competitions. Therefore, it is important for an athlete to really attention to his nutritional intake, especially the balance between nutritional intake and energy expenditure, both in the phase before, during, and after a match or exercise. Because energy will affect the performance of athletes, as well as the maximum performance of athletes will support it to achieve the best achievement. Especially with the current covid-19 outbreak. The purpose of this dedication is that athletes can find their best diet to improve the efficiency of the body's metabolism to face exercise and matches. The method carried out in this activity is socialization. The implementation of this activity is conducted face-to-face.Participants in this activity are young athletes who are in the city of Palangka Raya with a total of 15 people from various sports including badminton, soccer, volleyball, athletics (sprint), athletics (fast walking), athletics (reject bullets), table tennis, karate, sepak sawut. Based on the results obtained from this activity, there are several problems including the knowledge of athletes about the importance of setting the nutritional intake of sports is still relatively low, the lack of varied food menu consumed, the use of supplements by athletes are too excessive. Then after being able to know about the problem, the presenter gave direction to the athletes to be able to minimize the problem.After the implementation of this activity, the athletes get education regarding nutrition assistance, maximizing the performance of athletes through a diet that suits nutritional needs.As well as education and solutions related to improved performance. The conclusion of this activity is to provide education on nutrition assistance for young athletes in Palangka Raya City.

Technological Prospecting: Mapping Patents on L-asparaginases from Extremophilic Microorganisms

Background: L-asparaginase (L-ASNase, L-asparagine amidohydrolase, E.C.3.5.1.1) is an enzyme with wide therapeutic applicability. Currently, the commercialized L-ASNase comes from mesophilic organisms, presenting low specificity to the substrate and limitations regarding thermostability and active pH range. Such factors prevent the maximum performance of the enzyme in different applications. Therefore, extremophilic organisms may represent important candidates for obtaining amidohydrolases with particular characteristics desired by the biotechnological market. Objective: The present study aims to carry out a technological prospecting of patents related to the L-asparaginases derived from extremophilic organisms, contributing to pave the way for further rational investigation and application of such enzymes. Methods: This patent literature review used six patents databases: The LENS, WIPO, EPO, USPTO, Patent Inspiration, and INPI. Results: It was analyzed 2860 patents, and 14 were selected according to combinations of descriptors and study criteria. Approximately 57.14% of the patents refer to enzymes obtained from archaea, especially from the species Pyrococcus yayanosii (35.71% of the totality). Conclusion: The present prospective study has singular relevance since there are no recent patent reviews for L-asparaginases, especially produced by extremophilic microorganisms. Although such enzymes have well-defined applications, corroborated by the patents compiled in this review, the most recent studies allude to new uses, such as the treatment of infections. The characterization of the catalytic profiles allows us to infer that there are potential sources still unexplored. Hence, the search for new L-ASNases with different characteristics will continue to grow in the coming years and, possibly, ramifications of the technological routes will be witnessed.