Monitoring physical performance and training load in young surf athletes

We aimed to study physical performance and monitor training load (both internal and external) during 12 weeks (3 times per week) and analyse the hypothetical association between physical performance and training load of competitive junior surfers. Twelve competitive surfers voluntarily participated (aged 16.00±1.00y) and completed anthropometric and 8 physical performance tests including weight-bearing dorsiflexion test, functional movement screen, star excursion balance test, squat jump and countermovement jump, sprint & endurance paddling, and breath-hold capacity. Moreover, athletes were monitored by using a heart rate (HR) sensor and global position system (GPS) during each training session (n=36). For internal load (IL), HR, rating of perceived exertion RPE, duration*RPE were used as variables and for external load (EL), duration, total distance, average and maximum speed and pace were considered for analysis. No significant correlations were found between physical performance tests and the training load variables. Significant correlations were found between IL (time*RPE), total distance (r=.58, p<.01), maximum speed (r=.43, p=.04) and duration (r=.60, p<.01). The HR was positively associated with average speed (r=.45, p=.04), pace (r=.43, p=.04), maximum speed (r=.64, p<.01). Total distance, average HR and average speed significantly predicted IL during training F(4.18) =3.17; p =.04; R2 =.48. Data suggests that subjective instruments like RPE seems to be a good instrument to assess the training load in surf training. In terms of training for surfing, maximum speed seems to be a determinant factor in the estimation of IL perception

Aerospace medicine and biology: A cumulative index to the continuing bibliography of the 1973 issues

A cumulative index to the abstracts contained in Supplements 112 through 123 of Aerospace Medicine and Biology A Continuing Bibliography is presented. It includes three indexes: subject, personal author, and corporate source

Surf Biomechanics and Bioenergetics.

O surf moderno vem sendo descrito como uma atividade física intermitente, que varia em duração e intensidade, seguida de períodos de recuperação consideráveis. Atualmente, a análise e avaliação das sessões de surf são baseadas em conhecimento empírico, experiência e observação. Em outras palavras, procedimentos que envolvem grandes erros de medição. No entanto, é extremamente difícil obter informações analíticas sobre os parâmetros de desempenho. As primeiras investigações científicas no mundo do surf enfrentam uma dificuldade clássica do mundo da ciência, que é medir sem interferir. Além disso, o ambiente marítimo, particularmente devido à água salgada, é extremamente hostil aos componentes eletrônicos, que atualmente são a nossa maior fonte de informações quantitativas.O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar a fase horizontal do surf, especificamente a remada de potência, a remada de longa duração e a técnica de transição para ficar de pé na prancha de surf. Todo este pacote sob a perspetiva da biomecânica, associado a alguns parâmetros bioenergéticos. A abordagem geral foi apoiada por um processo de desconstrução dos movimentos e técnicas em partes didáticas, a fim de reconstruir um conhecimento global e uma melhor compreensão do surf. Olhando para o futuro, agregámos a este projeto o desenvolvimento de recursos tecnológicos que possibilitam explorar o surf diretamente no oceano. Tudo isso ganha ainda muito mais peso, desde que o Surf foi selecionado como novo desporto olímpico para os Jogos de Tóquio, em 2020. Os Jogos Olímpicos passam a ser uma excelente oportunidade, onde o surf se tornará mais profissionalizado e organizado. Neste contexto, as métricas para avaliação de desempenho são importantes para ajudar a validação de metodologias de ensino-aprendizagem, treinamento e julgamentos competitivos.Palavras-chave: biomecânica do surf, surfing, remadas do surf, ficar de pé, medições.Modern surfing has been described as an intermittent physical activity, which varies in duration and intensity, followed by considerable recovery periods. Currently, the analysis and judgment of surf sessions are based on empirical knowledge, experience, and observation. In other words, procedures that involve great measurement errors. However, it is extremely difficult to obtain analytical information on performance parameters. The first scientific investigations in the surf world faced a classic difficulty of the world of science, which is to measure without interfering. In addition, the maritime environment, particularly due to salt water, is extremely hostile to electronic components, which are currently our largest source of quantitative information.This research aimed to investigate the horizontal phase of surfing, specifically the sprint paddling, endurance paddling and the transition pop-up - standing technique. The whole pack under a biomechanics perspective, associated with bioenergetic parameters. The general approach was supported by process of deconstruction of movements and techniques in didactic parts, in order to reconstruct a global knowledge, and a better understanding of surfing. Looking to the future, we aggregate to this project the development of technological resources that make it possible to explore surf directly in the ocean. All this gained even more relevance since Surf has been selected as the new Olympic sport for the next Games of Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Games are an excellent opportunity where surfing will become more professional and organised. In this context, the metrics for performance evaluation are important to help validating teaching-learning methodologies, support training and competitive judgments

Microfluidics for Biosensing

There are 12 papers published with 8 research articles, 3 review articles and 1 perspective. The topics cover: Biomedical microfluidics Lab-on-a-chip Miniaturized systems for chemistry and life science (MicroTAS) Biosensor development and characteristics Imaging and other detection technologies Imaging and signal processing Point-of-care testing microdevices Food and water quality testing and control We hope this collection could promote the development of microfluidics and point-of-care testing (POCT) devices for biosensing

A cumulative index to the 1977 issues of a continuing bibliography on aerospace medicine and biology

This publication is a cumulative index to the abstracts contained in the Supplements 164 through 175 of Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A Continuing Bibliography. It includes three indexes-- subject, personal author, and corporate source

Tools for single cell proteomics

Despite recent advances that offer control of single cells, in terms of manipulation and sorting and the ability to measure gene expression, the need to measure protein copy number remains unmet. Measuring protein copy number in single cells and related quantities such as levels of phosphorylation and protein-protein interaction is the basis of single cell proteomics. A technology platform to undertake the analysis of protein copy number from single cells has been developed. The approach described is ‘all-optical’ whereby single cells are manipulated into separate analysis chambers using an optical trap; single cells are lysed by mechanical shearing caused by laser-induced microcavitation; and the protein released from a single cell is measured by total internal reflection microscopy as it is bound to micro-printed antibody spots within the device. The platform was tested using GFP transfected cells and the relative precision of the measurement method was determined to be 88%. Single cell measurements were also made on a breast cancer cell line to measure the relative levels of unlabelled human tumour suppressor protein p53 using a chip incorporating an antibody sandwich assay format. This demonstrates the ability count protein copy number from single cells in a manner which could be applied in principle to any set of proteins and for any cell type without the need for genetic engineering. Metabolism can undergo alteration in diseases such as cancer and heart failure and also as cells differentiate during development. In order to assess how it may inform a proteomic measurement, multidimensional two-photon fluorescence metabolic imaging is conducted on a cultured cancer cell line, primary adult rat cardiomyocytes and human embryonic stem cells. By measuring the parameters of fluorescence such as intensity and lifetime of the autofluorescent metabolic co-factors NADH and FAD, it was found to be possible to contrast cells under various conditions and metabolic stimuli. In particular, human embryonic stem cells were able to be contrasted at 3 stages of development as they underwent differentiation into embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes. Metabolic imaging provides a non-destructive method to monitor cellular metabolic activity with high resolution. This is complimentary to the single cell proteomic platform and the convergence of both techniques holds promise in future investigations into how metabolism influences cell function and the proteome in development and disease

Biochemical sensing using Siloxane polymer waveguides

The objective of this work presented here is to extend the capabilities of siloxane waveguide technology in the field of biochemical sensing. Recent advances in the integration of polymeric optical waveguides with electronics onto standard printed circuit boards (PCBs) allow the formation of cost-effective lab-on-achip modules suitable for mass production. This technology has been primarily designed for on-board data communication. The focus of this research is to investigate the possibility of realising a Siloxane polymer based lab-on-chip sensor. Different siloxane-polymer-based optical waveguide sensor structures have been designed and analysed from the aspect of biochemical sensing. An evanescent-wave absorption sensor based on mode-selective asymmetric waveguide junctions is proposed for the first time. The device mitigates the common optical effect of spurious response in absorption sensors due to the analyte transport fluid. Head injury is the leading cause of death in the population of people under 40 years. Currently, 3 out of 5 deaths in emergency rooms are due to severe brain injuries in the developed world. Researchers at the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital have managed to correlate biochemical changes with the severeness of the injury and the likelihood of patient recovery. Considerable progress has been made to develop a lab-on-chip sensor capable of continuously monitoring glucose, lactate and pyruvate concentrations in the brain fluid, hence the contribution to the current trend in the advancement of portable lab-on-chip technologies for the deployment of point-of-care diagnostic tools. A novel recognition layer has been developed based on porphyrin in combination with glucose, lactate and pyruvate oxidase for measuring all the analytes, enabling fast and reversible chemical reactions to be monitored by optical interrogation. The operational wavelength of the developed recognition layer is 425 nm, which required the formation of polymer features that were beyond the fabrication capabilities at the time. Through considerable process development and the adoption of nanoimprinting lithography, siloxane polymer based optical waveguides were fabricated allowing the realisation of highly sensitive optical sensors. Based on the results that are presented here, it can be concluded the functionalization of siloxane polymer waveguide have a potential for realising biochemical sensors in the future. The new fabrication technique will allow the formation of more robust and complex lab-on-chip sensors based on this material.ESPR

Development of a non-invasive method to detect pericellular spatial oxygen gradients using FLIM

PhDExtracellular oxygen concentrations affect cellular metabolism and influence tissue function. Detection methods for these extracellular oxygen concentrations currently have poor spatial resolution and are frequently invasive. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) offers a non-invasive method for quantifying local oxygen concentrations. However, existing FLIM methods also show limited spatial resolution >1 μm and low time-resolved accuracy and precision, due to widefield time-gate. This study describes a new optimised approach using FLIM to quantity extracellular oxygen concentration with high accuracy (±7 μmol/kg) and spatial resolution ( ≅ 0.3 μm). An oxygen sensitive fluorescent dye, tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chloride hexahydrate [Ru(bipy)3]+2, was excited with a multi-photon laser and fluorescence lifetime was measured using time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC). The system was fully calibrated with optimised techniques developed for avoiding artefacts associated with photon pile-up and phototoxicity, whilst maximising spatial and temporal resolution. An extended imaging protocol (1800 sec) showed no phototoxic effects on cells at dye concentrations of <0.4 mM. Extracellular spatial oxygen gradients were identified around isolated chondrocytes, seeded in three-dimensional agarose gel. The technique was validated by regulating oxygen cellular consumption and thus confirming that the oxygen gradient was governed by cellular consumption. The technique identified a subpopulation of cells exhibiting statistically significant spatial oxygen gradients at the cell perihery. The subpopulation was shown to be significantly larger in cell diameter correlating with what that expected from chondrocytes in the deep zone. This technique provides an exciting opportunity to non-invasively quantify pericellular spatial oxygen gradients from within three-dimensional cellular constructs without prior manipulation of the cells. Thus by examining cellular metabolisms it will advance our understanding of the optimal cellular environment for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine