The lattice heat transport properties of the thermoelectric (TE) material SnTe and the doped Sn7SbTe8 and Sn7BiTe8 are examined using Boltzmann transport theory supplemented with first-principle calculations. We illustrate the microscopic origin of the lattice thermal conductivity, κ l of the materials by calculating the mode Grüneisen parameters, phase space volume for three-phonon processes, the anharmonic scattering rates (SR), and the phonon group velocities. SnTe is found to be a low κ l material with a value of ∼3 W mK-1 at room temperature in agreement with experiments. The phonon scatterings in pristine SnTe mainly originates in the strong anharmonicity of the material, as evidenced by the large values of its mode Grüneisen parameters. selleck products Doping with Sb or Bi reduces the anharmonic strength. For Sb doped Sn7SbTe8, it results in a drop in the SR and hence a higher κ l value. However in the Bi doped Sn7BiTe8, the number of allowed three-phonon processes gets greatly enhanced which compensates for the reduction in anharmonicity. This coupled with lower phonon group velocities lowers the κ l value for the Bi doped system below that of pristine SnTe. In nanowire structures, κ l values for the doped systems get drastically reduced yielding an ultra-low value of 0.84 W mK-1 at 705 K for the Bi doped material for a nanowire of 10 nm diameter.There is no established method for processing data from commercially available physical activity trackers. This study aims to develop a standardized approach to defining valid wear time for use in future interventions and analyses. Sixteen African American women (mean age = 62.1 years and mean body mass index = 35.5 kg/m2) wore the Fitbit Charge 2 for 20 days. Method 1 defined a valid day as ≥10-hr wear time with heart rate data. Method 2 removed minutes without heart rate data, minutes with heart rate ≤ mean - 2 SDs below mean and ≤2 steps, and nighttime. Linear regression modeled steps per day per week change. Using Method 1 (n = 292 person-days), participants had 20.5 (SD = 4.3) hr wear time per day compared with 16.3 (SD = 2.2) hr using Method 2 (n = 282) (p less then .0001). With Method 1, participants took 7,436 (SD = 3,543) steps per day compared with 7,298 (SD = 3,501) steps per day with Method 2 (p = .64). The proposed algorithm represents a novel approach to standardizing data generated by physical activity trackers. Future studies are needed to improve the accuracy of physical activity data sets. To evaluate the tracking of within-athlete changes in criterion measures of whole-body fat percentage (BF%; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) with skinfold thickness (Σ 4, 6, or 8) in wheelchair basketball players. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived whole BF% and Σ 4, 6, or 8 skinfolds were obtained at 5 time points over 15 months (N = 16). A linear mixed model with restricted maximum likelihood (random intercept, with identity covariance structure) to derive the within-athlete prediction error for predicting criterion BF% from Σ skinfolds was used. This prediction error allowed us to evaluate how well a simple measure of the Σ skinfolds could track criterion changes in BF %; that is, the authors derived the change in Σ skinfolds that would have to be observed in an individual athlete to conclude that a substantial change in criterion BF% had occurred. Data were log-transformed prior to analysis. The Σ 8 skinfolds was the most precise practical measure for tracking changes in BF%. For the monitoring of an individual player, a change in Σ 8 skinfolds by a factor of greater than 1.28 (multiply or divide by 1.28) is associated with a practically meaningful change in BF% (≥1 percentage point). The Σ 8 skinfolds can track changes in BF% within individuals with reasonable precision, providing a useful field monitoring tool in the absence of often impractical criterion measures.The Σ 8 skinfolds can track changes in BF% within individuals with reasonable precision, providing a useful field monitoring tool in the absence of often impractical criterion measures. To describe the heart-rate (HR) response during a prolonged, submaximal, multirepetition swimming bout (ie,typical early-season swimming training), as there is currently little or no literature on this topic. A total of 12 collegiate swimmers were instructed to complete sixty 91.4-m (100-yd) freestyle repetitions at their fastest sustainable pace, allowing between 5 and 10 seconds of rest between repetitions. Each swimmer was outfitted with a cardiotachometer, which monitored HR throughout the trial. Completion time (CT) was also recorded for each repetition. Individual means of HR and CT were calculated, and linear mixed models were used to determine the trend across repetitions and between- and within-subject SD for HR and CT. The mean (SD) value for HR was 167.8 (10.8) beats per minute (bpm), for CT was 68.7 (4.1) seconds, and for percentage of best time was 71.2% (4.5%). There was no change (Δ rep 55-6) in HR (-0.1bpm; 95% confidence interval, -6.8 to 6.6bpm; P = .97), whereas CT increased (3.0 s; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.4 s; P = .001). The between-subjects SD (95% confidence interval) for HR was 12.6 (8.4-19.3bpm) and for CT was 4.6 (3.1-7.0s). The within-subject SDs for HR and CT were 4.0 (3.8-4.3bpm) and 0.9 (0.8-0.95s), respectively. The inherent individual variability between swimmers in HR during training suggests that coaches carefully consider the common practice of prescribing workout intensity using rigid HR zones.The inherent individual variability between swimmers in HR during training suggests that coaches carefully consider the common practice of prescribing workout intensity using rigid HR zones. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) secondary to intraabdominal infections (IAIs) are common in the intensive care unit (ICU). The Surgical Infection Society guidelines recommend treatment duration after achieving source control in patients with secondary bacteremia; however, literature supporting this recommendation is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in patients who received shorter versus extended duration of antibiotics for bacteremia secondary to IAI. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted in adult surgical ICU patients (n=42) with BSIs and source control procedure(s) for IAI. The primary outcome was recurrent IAI. Secondary outcomes included surgical site infections (SSIs), Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs), secondary fungal infections, and in-hospital mortality. Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria and were divided into groups according to antimicrobial duration; 12 patients received <7d, and 30 patients received >7d of antibiotics. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two cohorts except for the presence of sepsis [4/12 (33.