Exercise-Induced Cardiac Fatigue in Soldiers Assessed by Echocardiography

Background: Echocardiographic signs of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) have been described after strenuous endurance exercise. Nevertheless, few data are available on the effects of repeated strenuous exercise, especially when associated with other constraints as sleep deprivation or mental stress which occur during military selection boot camps. Furthermore, we aimed to study the influence of experience and training level on potential EICF signs.Methods: Two groups of trained soldiers were included, elite soldiers from the French Navy Special Forces (elite; n = 20) and non-elite officer cadets from a French military academy (non-elite; n = 38). All underwent echocardiography before and immediately after exposure to several days of uninterrupted intense exercise during their selection boot camps. Changes in myocardial morphology and function of the 4 cardiac chambers were assessed.Results: Exercise-induced decrease in right and left atrial and ventricular functions were demonstrated with 2D-strain parameters in both groups. Indeed, both atrial reservoir strain, RV and LV longitudinal strain and LV global constructive work were altered. Increase in LV mechanical dispersion assessed by 2D-strain and alteration of conventional parameters of diastolic function (increase in E/e' and decrease in e') were solely observed in the non-elite group. Conventional parameters of LV and RV systolic function (LVEF, RVFAC, TAPSE, s mitral, and tricuspid waves) were not modified.Conclusions: Alterations of myocardial functions are observed in soldiers after uninterrupted prolonged intense exercise performed during selection boot camps. These alterations occur both in elite and non-elite soldiers. 2D-strain is more sensitive to detect EICF than conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Struggles for Power in the Kingdom of Italy

This book presents a detailed study which focuses upon the Hucpoldings, an elite group in Carolingian and post-Carolingian Italy. Though the Hucpoldings have not received extensive treatment in previous Anglophone scholarship, they are a key clan in this period. Manarini’s ground-breaking study uses this kinship group to highlight and pinpoint the dramatic geopolitical changes in the kingdom of Italy across three crucial centuries. The research deals with the reconstruction of the political events of every identifiable member of the kinship, as well as the inquiry into their patrimony and their networks of relations and patronage throughout the kingdom of Italy. Finally, it examines the particular elements of the group, from which emerges a clearer picture of the nature of their power, their memory strategies and the shared perceptions and self-awareness among the group members.

Acute Exposure to Normobaric Hypoxia Impairs Balance Performance in Sub-elite but Not Elite Basketball Players

Although high and simulated altitude training has become an increasingly popular training method, no study has investigated the influence of acute hypoxic exposure on balance in team-sport athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia is detrimental to balance performance in highly-trained basketball players. Nine elite and nine sub-elite male basketball players participated in a randomized, single-blinded, cross-over study. Subjects performed repeated trials of a single-leg balance test (SLBT) in an altitude chamber in normoxia (NOR; approximately sea level) with FiO2 20.9% and PiO2 ranging from 146.7 to 150.4 mmHg and in normobaric hypoxia (HYP; ~3,800 m above sea level) with FiO2 13.0% and PiO2 ranging from 90.9 to 94.6 mmHg. The SLBT was performed three times: 15 min after entering the environmental chamber in NOR or HYP, then two times more interspersed by 3-min rest. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at four time points: after the initial 15-min rest inside the chamber and immediately after each SLBT. Across the cohort, the balance performance was 7.1% better during NOR than HYP (P < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.58). However, the performance of the elite group was not impaired by HYP, whereas the sub-elite group performed worse in the HYP condition on both legs (DL: P = 0.02, d = 1.23; NDL: P = 0.01, d = 1.43). SpO2 was lower in HYP than NOR (P < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.99) with a significant decline over time during HYP. HR was higher in HYP than NOR (P = 0.04, ηp2 = 0.25) with a significant increase over time. Acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia detrimentally affected the balance performance in sub-elite but not elite basketball players.

Cooperation Between Poland and the USA in the Protection of Classified Information

The military cooperation between Poland and the USA so far has undoubtedly influenced the shape of the external security. The tangible expression of this cooperation is, among others, the signing of an agreement between Poland and the USA for the purchase of the Patriot system in July 2017. As a result, Poland joined the elite group of countries possessing weapons capable of countering enemy ballistic and maneuvering missiles. It also adjusts the domestic armed forces to the NATO standards and the requirements of the modern battlefield. An additional aspect of the existing cooperation between Poland and the USA is the agreement on the protection of classified information in the military sphere. In this context, the aim of this article is to identify the scope of cooperation between Poland and the USA in the area of security measures, which should guarantee the protection of classified information considering the interests of both countries. During the considerations, two basic research methods were used: analysis and synthesis. The former method was used in relation to the content of the concluded contract and the opinions presented in the literature on the subject. The latter method was used to formulate conclusions resulting from the conducted analysis. The considerations undertaken proved that there is an area of mutual cooperation in the field of protection of classified information between Poland and the USA. They also made it possible to obtain an answer to the question of what security measures determine the effectiveness of the protection of classified information in the military sphere between the contracting states.

Class Act and Challenge

This chapter gives a historic explication of the Nicholas Brothers’ style of jazz tap dancing that was simultaneously a class act—a precision-style dancing of impeccable execution—and a mode of call-and-response interplay in which the brothers challenged each other in playful camaraderie to “up” each other in steps. At the turn of the century, concurrent with musical comedy dance teams working in the blackface tradition, an elite group of black performers rejected the minstrel show stereotype of the grinning-and- shuffling blackface clown, insisting upon the perfection of sound, step, and manner. Such pioneering class-act teams as Cole and Johnson, Johnson and Dean, and Greenlee and Drayton aspired to a purely artistic expression that was driven by the desire for respectability and equality on the American concert stage. The Nicholas Brothers transformed the fierce competition of the challenge dance by combining their specialties in building their routine to a climax; and trading rhythms back and forth in a lively and witty dialog that developed complex rhythmical ideas.

Modeling hedonic motive–based segments of wine festival visitors using decision tree approach

Purpose This study aims to identify and validate the different clusters of wine festival visitors based on their hedonic motivation. Further, this study also sought how identified clusters were different in terms of perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty to the wine festival. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted during the International Beach Wine Festival held in Karnataka, India, to collect primary data from 400 visitors. Data were subjected to a two-step cluster analysis. Further, cluster segmentation based on visitors’ demographics, perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty was conducted. Decision tree analysis based on recursive partitioning algorithm was used to validate the clusters. Findings A two-step cluster analysis identified two distinct segments and named those as elite and informal visitors based on hedonic motivation. The cluster scores show that the elite group had the best ratings on social status, socialization and family harmony. On the other hand, the informal group had top scores for wine tasting, enjoyment, change from routine and the festival atmosphere. Decision tree analysis results indicate that social status enjoyment and taste motives differentiate an informal group from the elite group. Research limitations/implications This study was conducted in a wine festival held in a single location. To assess the strength of the results, case studies in other regions will be of importance. Originality/value This study extended the knowledge of the wine festival by adapting hedonic motivation as a basis for wine festival segmentation. Besides, this study’s empirical findings would greatly benefit wine festival organizers to formulate an appropriate marketing strategy to target each wine festival visitors’ cluster based on the differentiating factors obtained from the decision tree modelling.

Ulama and Radicalism in Contemporary Indonesia: Response of Al Washliyah’s Ulama on Radicalism

Al Washliyah is a moderate Islamic organization in Indonesia. Ulama (Islamic scholars) have obtained honorable and strategic positions in Al Washliyah organization. As an elite group in Al Washliyah organization, the ulama have responded to socio-religious problems in Indonesia, including issues of radicalism and terrorism. Their responses to these problems should be understood as they reflect and become one of the foundations in counteracting radicalism and terrorism in Indonesia. This article examines the responses of Al Washliyah’s ulama against radicalism and terrorism. It is mainly written to get an insight into the ulama’s responses towards the four issues indoctrinated by the radical and terrorist groups such as the Islamic State, jihādī, takfirī, and suicide bombers. This research highlights that Al Washliyah ulama give different interpretations of those four doctrines. Al Washliyah ulama prioritize moderation in religion and firmly reject radicalism and terrorism in actions or ideas.Abstrak:Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah merupakan sebuah organisasi Islam moderat di Indonesia. Para ulama sejauh ini mendapatkan kedudukan terhormat dan strategis dalam organisasi ini.. Para ulama sebagai kelompok elit dalam organisasi Al Washliyah memberikan respons terhadap persoalan sosial keagamaan di Indonesia, termasuk masalah radikalisme dan terorisme. Respons mereka terhadap masalah ini perlu diketahui dan menjadi salah satu landasan bagi upaya menangkal paham dan gerakan radikalisme dan terorisme di Indonesia. Artikel ini mengkaji respons para ulama Al Washliyah terhadap radikalisme dan terorisme. Kajian artikel ini difokuskan pada respons mereka terhadap empat isu yang menjadi doktrin kelompok-kelompok radikalis dan teroris yakni negara Islam, jihād, takfir, dan bom bunuh diri. Artikel ini mengajukan temuan bahwa para ulama Al Washliyah yang menjadi informan terpilih memberikan interpretasi yang berbeda mengenai keempat isu tersebut. Studi ini menunjukkan bahwa ulama Al Washliyah mengedepankan moderasi dalam kehidupan beragama dan berbangsa, dan secara tegas mereka menolak paham dan gerakan radikalisme dan terorisme.

The ethnocratic elite in the structure of modern Russian society’s elite groups

The article examines the features of the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of the ethnocratic elite. The general features of this elite group, which is an integral part of regional elite groups and the characteristic features developing under the influence of both general civilizational factors and local ones, including the peculiarities of recruiting, traditions and established principles of the functioning of power institutions, are revealed.

Introduction

This chapter introduces some of the people who played primary roles in the Adirondack Park Agency's (APA) founding. It includes the elite group of activists and policymakers who were early champions for the idea of regional land use planning; planners, lawyers, and naturalists who implemented the Land Use and Development Plan; activists who fought to abolish or weaken the plan; and public officials who had to find ways to turn it into a workable law. New York State spent twenty years struggling to write a master plan for the Adirondack Park before the APA was established. Activists had been calling for a master plan for twenty years before the state even started trying. The chapter further discusses the two produced plans, led by David Newhouse, each of them organized around a big map. One plan zoned the state land into progressively stricter classifications, culminating with wilderness. The other map rated each acre of the 3.6 million privately owned acres in terms of its suitability for development. Ultimately, the chapter assesses the aftermath of the postponement of the Land Use and Development Plan by one year and argues if the APA either saved or ruined the ecological and economic health of the park.