Do non-contact injuries occur during high-speed running in elite football? Preliminary results from a novel GPS and video-based method.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding how injuries occur (inciting circumstances) is useful for developing etiological hypotheses and prevention strategies. The aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the feasibility of a method combining video and Global Positioning System data to estimate the speed and acceleration of activities leading to injuries and 2) to use this method to analyse the inciting circumstances leading to non-contact injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. METHODS: Injury inciting circumstances from 46 elite players over three seasons were analysed from video recordings and from external load measures collected through Catapult Vector S7 Global Positioning System. RESULTS: In total 34 non-contact injuries were analysed. Sixteen out of the seventeen hamstring injuries occurred when players were running for (median and interquartile range) 16.75 m (8.42-26.65 m) and achieved a peak speed of 29.28 km·h-1 (26.61-31.13 km·h-1) which corresponded to 87.55 % of players' maximal speed (78.5 %-89.75 %). Of the three adductor injuries, one occurred whilst the player was decelerating without the ball, one occurred whilst the player was accelerating and controlling the ball at knee level, and one occurred whilst the player was performing an instep kick. Two quadriceps injuries occurred whilst the players were kicking either whilst walking or running. CONCLUSIONS: From the preliminary results reported in this study most hamstring injuries occurred when players ran >25 km·h-1 and above 80 % of their maximal speed. This study suggests that this novel approach can allow a detailed and standardised analysis of injury inciting circumstances.

Development of a Standardised System to Classify Injury-Inciting Circumstances in Football: the Football Injury Inciting Circumstances Classification System (FIICCS).

BACKGROUND: A comprehensive examination of the sport-specific activities and circumstances being performed at the time of injury is important to hypothesise mechanisms, develop prevention strategies and inform future investigations. Results reported in the literature are inconsistent because inciting activities are reported using different classifications. Hence the aim was to develop a standardised system for the reporting of inciting circumstances. METHODS: The system was developed using a modified Nominal Group Technique. The initial panel included 12 sports practitioners and researchers from four continents with respectively ≥ 5 years of experience working in professional football and/or conducting injury research. The process consisted of six phases: idea generation, two surveys, one online meeting and two confirmations. For answers to the closed questions, consensus was deemed achieved if ≥ 70% of respondents agreed. Open-ended answers were qualitatively analysed and then introduced in subsequent phases. RESULTS: Ten panellists completed the study. The risk of attrition bias was low. The developed system includes a comprehensive range of inciting circumstances across five domains: contact type, ball situation, physical activity, session details, contextual information. The system also distinguishes between a core set (essential reporting) and an optional set. The panel deemed all the domains to be important and easy to use both in football and in research environments. CONCLUSION: A system to classify inciting circumstances in football was developed. Given the extent of reporting inconsistency of inciting circumstances in the available literature, this can be used while further studies evaluate its reliability.

Multizone Aquatic Ecological Exposures to Landfill Contaminants from a Groundwater Plume Discharging to a Pond.

While it is recognized that groundwater contaminant plumes can impact surface waters, there remains little information on the magnitude, spatial extent, and especially temporal variability of the resulting exposure to the variety of aquatic organisms, particularly for stagnant surface waters (e.g., ponds). The present study of a historic landfill plume discharging to a pond investigated contaminant exposure to multiple aquatic zones (endobenthic, epibenthic, pelagic) over approximately 1 year within a temperate climate. Landfill tracers included the artificial sweetener saccharin, ammonium, chloride, and specific conductance. Sampling of pond sediment porewater (upwelling groundwater) and continuous geophysical imaging of the subsurface showed a relatively stable plume footprint covering approximately 26% of the pond, although with spatially varying leachate composition, revealing year-round exposure to endobenthic (within sediments) organisms. Substantial and variable contaminant exposure to epibenthic organisms within the plume footprint was shown by elevated specific conductance measured directly above the sediment interface. Exposure varied daily at times and increased through winter to values representing undiluted plume groundwater. Exposure to pelagic organisms (overlying water) covered a larger area (~50%) due to in-pond circulation. The stream outlet concentrations were stable at approximately 10 times dilution for chloride and saccharin, but were substantially less in summer for ammonium due to in-pond processes. Whereas groundwater contaminants are typically assumed elevated at base flows, the outlet stream contaminant mass discharges to downstream receptors were notably higher in winter than summer, following stream flow patterns. Insights from the present study into the timings and locations of contaminant plume exposure to multiple ecological zones of a pond can provide guidance to contaminated site and aquatic ecosystem managers on improved monitoring, assessment, and remediation protocols. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1667-1684. © 2023 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Treatment Can Be Sustainable During on-Site Wastewater Disposal.

Monitoring of a seasonal-use, on-site wastewater disposal system (septic system) in Canada, over a 33-year period from 1988 to 2021, showed that during recent sampling the groundwater plume had TIN (total inorganic nitrogen) averaging 12.2 mg/L that was not significantly different than early values, representing 80% removal, whereas SRP (soluble reactive phosphate), although higher than early values averaging 0.08 mg/L, was still 99% lower than the effluent concentration. Evidence suggests that the anammox reaction and possibly also denitrification contribute to TIN removal, whereas SRP removal is primarily the result of mineral precipitation. Most of the removal occurs in close proximity to the drainfield infiltration pipes (within about 1 m) demonstrating that reaction rates are relatively fast in the context of typical groundwater plume residence times. This long-term consistency demonstrates that sustainable nutrient treatment can be achieved with conventional on-site wastewater disposal systems that have low capital costs and require minimal energy input and maintenance.

Injury-Inciting Activities in Male and Female Football Players: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: A comprehensive examination of the sport-specific activities performed around the time of injury is important to hypothesise injury mechanisms, develop prevention strategies, improve management, and inform future investigations. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the current literature describing the activities performed around the time of injury in football (soccer). METHODS: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and OpenGrey. Studies were included if participants were football players aged > 13 years old and the activities performed at the time of injury were reported together with the total number of injuries. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of checklists developed for prevalence studies. The activities reported by the studies were grouped to account for inconsistent reporting, and the proportion of each injury activity was calculated. Data were not meta-analysed due to high heterogeneity of methods and classification criteria. RESULTS: We included 64 studies reporting on 56,740 injuries in total. ACL injures were analysed by 12 studies, ankle/foot and knee injuries were analysed by five studies, thigh injuries were analysed by four studies, hip/groin injuries were analysed by three studies, and hamstring injuries were analysed by two studies. Five studies analysed more than one type of injury and 38 studies did not specify the type of injuries analysed. Running and kicking were the predominant activities leading to thigh and hamstring injuries. Changing direction and kicking were the predominant activities leading to hip and groin injuries and duels were the predominant activities leading to ankle injuries. Duels and pressing seem the predominant activities leading to ACL injuries, while results for other knee and general injuries were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: A qualitative summary of the activities performed at the time of injury has been reported. The results need to be interpreted carefully due to the risk of bias observed in the included studies. If we are to meaningfully progress our knowledge in this area, it is paramount that future research uses consistent methods to record and classify injuries and activities leading up to and performed at the time of injury. REGISTRATION: The protocol of this systematic review was registered at the Open Science Framework ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/U96KV ).

Immediate effect of a spinal mobilisation intervention on muscle stiffness, tone and elasticity in subjects with lower back pain - A randomized cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite the lack of objective evidence, spinal manual therapies have been common practice for many years, particularly for treatment of lower back pain (LBP). This exploratory study measured and analysed the effect of a spinal mobilisation intervention on muscle tissue quality in LBP sufferers. METHODS: 40 people with LBP participated in a within-subject repeated measures cross-over study with intervention and control conditions. A myometer was used to assess the change in para-spinal muscle tissue quality before and after the intervention. Analysis considered the magnitude of muscle response together with individual covariates as potential contributors. RESULTS: A significant post-intervention reduction was observed in muscle stiffness (p = 0.012, η 2 partial = 0.15), tone (p = 0.001, η 2 partial = 0.25) and elasticity (p = 0.001, η 2 partial = 0.24). Significant increases were seen in 2 variables post-control: stiffness (p = 0.004, η 2 partial = 0.19), tone (p = 0.006, η 2 partial = 0.18) and a significant decrease in elasticity (p ˂ 0.000, η 2 partial = 0.3). Significant contributing covariates include baseline stiffness, BMI, waist circumference and sex. Baseline stiffness and tone were significantly correlated to their response levels. CONCLUSIONS: The significant reduction in all muscle tissue qualities following the intervention provide preliminary data for an evidence-based LBP therapeutic. Baseline stiffness, BMI, waist circumference and sex could act as significant contributors to magnitude of response. The results warrant further investigation into spinal mobilisation therapies to further build the objective evidence base.

Annotation of Hox cluster and Hox cofactor genes in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, reveals novel features.

Hox genes and their cofactors are essential developmental genes specifying regional identity in animals. Hox genes have a conserved arrangement in clusters in the same order in which they specify identity along the anterior-posterior axis. A few insect species have breaks in the cluster, but these are exceptions. We annotated the 10 Hox genes of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri, and found a split in its Hox cluster between the Deformed and Sex combs reduced genes - the first time a break at this position has been observed in an insect Hox cluster. We also annotated D. citri orthologs of the Hox cofactor genes homothorax, PKNOX and extradenticle and found an additional copy of extradenticle in D. citri that appears to be a retrogene. Expression data and sequence conservation suggest that the extradenticle retrogene may have retained the original extradenticle function and allowed divergence of the parental extradenticle gene.

Annotation of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and trehaloneogenesis pathways provide insight into carbohydrate metabolism in the Asian citrus psyllid.

Citrus greening disease is caused by the pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. No curative treatment or significant prevention mechanism exists for this disease, which causes economic losses from reduced citrus production. A high-quality genome of D. citri is being manually annotated to provide accurate gene models to identify novel control targets and increase understanding of this pest. Here, we annotated 25 D. citri genes involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and seven in trehaloneogenesis. Comparative analysis showed that glycolysis genes in D. citri are highly conserved but copy numbers vary. Analysis of expression levels revealed upregulation of several enzymes in the glycolysis pathway in the thorax, consistent with the primary use of glucose by thoracic flight muscles. Manually annotating these core metabolic pathways provides accurate genomic foundation for developing gene-targeting therapeutics to control D. citri.

Genomic identification, annotation, and comparative analysis of Vacuolar-type ATP synthase subunits in Diaphorina citri.

The hemipteran insect Diaphorina citri, or Asian citrus psyllid, is a vector for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacterium causing citrus greening disease, or Huanglongbing (HLB). Millions of citrus trees have been destroyed, and every grove in Florida, USA, has been directly affected by this disease. In eukaryotes, vacuolar-type ATP synthase (V-ATPase) is an abundant heterodimeric enzyme that serves the cell with essential compartment acidification through the active processes that transport protons across the membrane. Fifteen putative V-ATPase genes in the D. citri genome were manually curated. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that D. citri V-ATPase subunits share domains and motifs with other insects, including the V-ATPase-A superfamily domain. Phylogenetic analysis separates D. citri V-ATPase subunits into expected clades with orthologous sequences. Annotation of the D. citri genome is a critical step towards developing directed pest management strategies to reduce the spread of HLB throughout the citrus industry.

Manual curation and phylogenetic analysis of chitinase family genes in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.

Chitinases are enzymes that digest the polysaccharide polymer chitin. During insect development, breakdown of chitin is an essential step in molting of the exoskeleton. Knockdown of chitinases required for molting is lethal to insects, making chitinase genes an interesting target for RNAi-based pest control methods. The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, carries the bacterium causing Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, a devastating citrus disease. We identified and annotated 12 chitinase family genes from D. citri as part of a community effort to create high-quality gene models to aid the design of interdictory molecules for pest control. We categorized the D. citri chitinases according to an established classification scheme and re-evaluated the classification of chitinases in other hemipterans. In addition to chitinases from known groups, we identified a novel class of chitinases present in D. citri and several related hemipterans that appears to be the result of horizontal gene transfer.

Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway annotation in Diaphorina citri can reveal potential targets for RNAi-based pest management.

Ubiquitination is an ATP-dependent process that targets proteins for degradation by the proteasome. Here, we annotated 15 genes from the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. This psyllid vector has come to prominence in the last decade owing to its role in the transmission of the devastating bacterial pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Infection of citrus crops by this pathogen causes Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, and results in the eventual death of citrus trees. The identification and correct annotation of these genes in D. citri will be useful for functional genomic studies to aid the development of RNAi-based management strategies aimed at reducing the spread of HLB. Investigating the effects of CLas infection on the expression of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway genes may provide new information about the role these genes play in the acquisition and transmission of CLas by D. citri.

Annotation of putative circadian rhythm-associated genes in Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae).

The circadian rhythm involves multiple genes that generate an internal molecular clock, allowing organisms to anticipate environmental conditions produced by the Earth's rotation on its axis. Here, we present the results of the manual curation of 27 genes that are associated with circadian rhythm in the genome of Diaphorina citri, the Asian citrus psyllid. This insect is the vector for the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing). This disease severely affects citrus industries and has drastically decreased crop yields worldwide. Based on cry1 and cry2 identified in the psyllid genome, D. citri likely possesses a circadian model similar to the lepidopteran butterfly, Danaus plexippus. Manual annotation will improve the quality of circadian rhythm gene models, allowing the future development of molecular therapeutics, such as RNA interference or antisense technologies, to target these genes to disrupt the psyllid biology.

High contiguity de novo genome assembly and DNA modification analyses for the fungus fly, Sciara coprophila, using single-molecule sequencing.

BACKGROUND: The lower Dipteran fungus fly, Sciara coprophila, has many unique biological features that challenge the rule of genome DNA constancy. For example, Sciara undergoes paternal chromosome elimination and maternal X chromosome nondisjunction during spermatogenesis, paternal X elimination during embryogenesis, intrachromosomal DNA amplification of DNA puff loci during larval development, and germline-limited chromosome elimination from all somatic cells. Paternal chromosome elimination in Sciara was the first observation of imprinting, though the mechanism remains a mystery. Here, we present the first draft genome sequence for Sciara coprophila to take a large step forward in addressing these features. RESULTS: We assembled the Sciara genome using PacBio, Nanopore, and Illumina sequencing. To find an optimal assembly using these datasets, we generated 44 short-read and 50 long-read assemblies. We ranked assemblies using 27 metrics assessing contiguity, gene content, and dataset concordance. The highest-ranking assemblies were scaffolded using BioNano optical maps. RNA-seq datasets from multiple life stages and both sexes facilitated genome annotation. A set of 66 metrics was used to select the first draft assembly for Sciara. Nearly half of the Sciara genome sequence was anchored into chromosomes, and all scaffolds were classified as X-linked or autosomal by coverage. CONCLUSIONS: We determined that X-linked genes in Sciara males undergo dosage compensation. An entire bacterial genome from the Rickettsia genus, a group known to be endosymbionts in insects, was co-assembled with the Sciara genome, opening the possibility that Rickettsia may function in sex determination in Sciara. Finally, the signal level of the PacBio and Nanopore data support the presence of cytosine and adenine modifications in the Sciara genome, consistent with a possible role in imprinting.

Whole-genome classification of rotavirus C and genetic diversity of porcine strains in the USA.

Rotavirus C (RVC) is associated with acute diarrhoea in both children and young animals. Because of its frequent occurrence, additional sequences have recently been generated. In this study, we sequenced 21 complete genomes from porcine diarrhoea samples and analysed them together with all available reference sequences collected from the GenBank database [National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)]. Based on phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance calculation, the number of each segment was identified as 31G, 26P, 13I, 5R, 5C, 5M, 12A, 10 N, 9T, 8E and 4 H for genotypes encoding VP7, VP4, VP6, VP1, VP2, VP3 and NSP1, NSP2, NSP3, NSP4 and NSP5, respectively. From the analysis, genotypes G19-G31, P[22]-P[26], R5, A9-A12, N9-N10, T7-T9 and E6-E8 were defined as newly identified genotypes, and genotype C6 was combined with C5, and M6 was combined with M1, due to their closely related nature. Estimated with the identity frequency ratio between the intergenotype and intragenotype, the nucleotide identity cutoff values for different genotypes were determined as 85, 85, 86, 84, 83, 84, 82, 87, 84, 81 and 79 % for VP7, VP4, VP6, VP1, VP2, VP3, NSP1, NSP2, NSP3, NSP4 and NSP5, respectively. Genotyping of the 49 US strains indicated possible segment reassortment in 9 of the 11 segments, with the exceptions being VP1 and NSP5, and the most prevalent genotypes for each segment genes in the USA were G6/G5/G21/G9-P5/P4-I6/I5-R1-C5-M1-A8-N1/N10-T1-E1-H1. Our study updated the genotypes of RVC strains and provided more evidence of RVC strain diversity that may be relevant to better understand genetic diversity, and the distribution and evolution of RVC strains.

Undergraduate Virtual Engagement in Community Genome Annotation Provides Flexibility to Overcome Course Disruptions.

Recently, students and faculty have been forced to deal with unprecedented disruptions to their courses and broader uncertainties that have presented serious challenges to quality instruction. We present a flexible, team-based approach to teaching and learning that can transition seamlessly between face-to-face, hybrid, and fully online instruction when disruptions occur. We have built a community genome annotation program that can be implemented as a module in a biology course, as an entire course, or as directed research projects. This approach maintains an engaging and supportive educational environment and provides students the opportunity to learn and contribute to science with undergraduate research. Students are provided guidance through multiple interactions with faculty and peer mentors to support their progress and encourage learning. Integration of the developed instructional tools with available technology ensures that students can contribute remotely. Through this process, students seamlessly continue their annotation coursework, participate in undergraduate research, and prepare abstracts and posters for virtual conferences. Importantly, this strategy does not impose any additional burden or workload on students, who may already be overwhelmed with the additional work associated with the transition to remote learning. Here, we present tips for implementing this instructional platform, provide an overview of tools that facilitate instruction, and discuss expected educational outcomes.

Marker location and knee joint constraint affect the reporting of overhead squat kinematics in elite youth football players.

Motion capture systems are used in the analysis and interpretation of athlete movement patterns for a variety of reasons, but data integrity remains critical regardless. The extent to which marker location or constraining degrees of freedom (DOF) in the biomechanical model impacts on this integrity lacks consensus. Ten elite academy footballers performed bilateral overhead squats using a marker-based motion capture system. Kinematic data were calculated using four different marker sets with 3DOF and 6DOF configurations for the three joint rotations of the right knee. Root mean squared error differences between marker sets ranged in the sagittal plane between 1.02 and 4.19 degrees to larger values in the frontal (1.30-6.39 degrees) and transverse planes (1.33 and 7.97 degrees). The cross-correlation function of the knee kinematic time series for all eight marker-sets ranged from excellent for sagittal plane motion (>0.99) but reduced for both coronal and transverse planes (<0.9). Two-way ANOVA repeated measures calculated at peak knee flexion revealed significant differences between marker sets for frontal and transverse planes (p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences between some marker sets. Marker location and constraining DOF while measuring relatively large ranges of motion in this population are important considerations for data integrity.

Organic contaminants of emerging concern in leachate of historic municipal landfills.

Many types of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been found in leachate of operating municipal landfills. However, there is only limited information on CECs presence in leachate of historic landfills (≥3 decades since closure, often lacking engineered liners or leachate collection systems) at concentrations that may pose a risk to nearby wells and surface water ecosystems. In this study, 48 samples of leachate-impacted groundwater were collected from 20 historic landfills in Ontario, Canada. The CECs measured included artificial sweeteners (ASs), PFAS, organophosphate esters (OPE), pharmaceuticals, bisphenols, sulfamic acid, perchlorate, and substituted phenols. The common presence of the AS saccharin, a known indicator of old landfill leachate, combined with mostly negligible levels of the AS acesulfame, an indicator of modern wastewater, revealed that most samples were strongly influenced by leachate and not cross-contaminated by wastewater (which can contain these same CECs). Several landfills, including ones closed in the 1960s, had total PFAS concentrations similar to those previously measured at modern landfills, with a maximum observed here of 12.7 µg/L. Notably elevated concentrations of several OPE, sulfamic acid, cotinine, and bisphenols A and S were found at many 30-60 year-old landfills. There was little indication of declining concentrations with landfill age, suggesting historic landfills can be long-term sources of CECs to groundwater and that certain CECs may be useful tracers for historic landfill leachate. These findings provide guidance on which CECs may require monitoring at historic landfill sites and wastewater treatment plants receiving their effluent.

Annotation of chitin biosynthesis genes in Diaphorina citri, the Asian citrus psyllid.

The polysaccharide chitin is critical for the formation of many insect structures, including the exoskeleton, and is required for normal development. Here we report the annotation of three genes from the chitin synthesis pathway in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), the vector of Huanglongbing (citrus greening disease). Most insects have two chitin synthase (CHS) genes but, like other hemipterans, D. citri has only one. In contrast, D. citri is unusual among insects in having two UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) genes. One of the D. citri UAP genes is broadly expressed, while the other is expressed predominantly in males. Our work helps pave the way for potential utilization of these genes as pest control targets to reduce the spread of Huanglongbing.

In silico characterization of chitin deacetylase genes in the Diaphorina citri genome.

Chitin deacetylases (CDAs) are one of the least understood components of insect chitin metabolism. The partial deacetylation of chitin polymers appears to be important for the proper formation of higher order chitin structures, such as long fibers and bundles, which contribute to the integrity of the insect exoskeleton and other structures. Some CDAs may also be involved in bacterial defense. Here, we report the manual annotation of four CDA genes from the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, laying the groundwork for future study of these genes.

Annotation of segmentation pathway genes in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.

Insects have a segmented body plan that is established during embryogenesis when the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis is divided into repeated units by a cascade of gene expression. The cascade is initiated by protein gradients created by translation of maternally provided mRNAs, localized at the anterior and posterior poles of the embryo. Combinations of these proteins activate specific gap genes to divide the embryo into distinct regions along the anterior-posterior axis. Gap genes then activate pair-rule genes, which are usually expressed in parts of every other segment. The pair-rule genes, in turn, activate expression of segment polarity genes in a portion of each segment. The segmentation genes are generally conserved among insects, although there is considerable variation in how they are deployed. We annotated 25 segmentation gene homologs in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Most of the genes expected to be present in D. citri based on their phylogenetic distribution in other insects were identified and annotated. Two exceptions were eagle and invected, which are present in at least some hemipterans, but were not found in D. citri. Many of the segmentation pathway genes are likely to be essential for D. citri development, and thus they may be useful targets for gene-based pest control methods.