2,852 research outputs found

    GPS analysis of a team competing at a national Under 18 field hockey tournament

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    The purpose of this study was to utilise global-positioning system (GPS) technology to quantify the running demands of national Under 18 field hockey players competing in a regional field hockey tournament. Ten male players (mean ± SD; age 17.2 ± 0.4 years; stature 178.1 ± 5.2 cm; body mass 78.8 ± 8.8 kg) wore GPS units while competing in six matches over seven days at the 2018 New Zealand national under 18 field hockey tournament. GPS enabled the measurement of total distance (TD), low-speed activity (LSA; 0 -14.9 km/hr), and high-speed running (HSR; ≥ 15 km/hr) distances. Differences in running demands (TD, LSA, HSR) between positions were assessed using effect size and percent difference ± 90% confidence intervals. Midfielders covered the most TD and LSA per game and strikers the most HSR during the 6 matches. There were “very large” differences between strikers and midfielders for TD and LSA, strikers and defenders for LSA and HSR, and defenders and midfielders for LSA. These results suggest that these playing positions are sufficiently different to warrant specialised position-specific conditioning training leading into a field hockey tournament

    The effects of morning preconditioning protocols on testosterone, cortisol and afternoon sprint cycling performance [conference presentation]

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    Opportunities exist for athletes to undertake morning exercise protocols in an attempt to potentate afternoon performance. Four sub elite track sprint cyclists completed a morning cycling (Cyc) or weights-based protocol (WP) prior to an afternoon cycling time trial (500m) in a repeated measures, counterbalance crossover design. Measured variables included heart rate, blood lactate, cycling peak power, salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol levels along with time trial performance. Standardised differences in means via magnitude-based inferences were calculated using paired samples T-tests in SPSS version 24 with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The WP produced significantly faster times in the final 250m in comparison to CycP. The anticipated circadian decline of T was observed after the CycP but was however mitigated following the WP. While slight decreases in 500m times were experienced during the WP, they were not significant and were considered within the normal variations experienced between performances by elite athletes. The effect of the WP on the circadian rhythm of T could be linked to a greater recruitment of muscle fibres. Results suggest a morning resistance protocol can positively affect testosterone levels for afternoon performance. Possible gender and individual responses from conducting a W over Cyc protocol were observed and require further investigation

    Changes in women’s facial skin color over the ovulatory cycle are not detectable by the human visual system

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    Human ovulation is not advertised, as it is in several primate species, by conspicuous sexual swellings. However, there is increasing evidence that the attractiveness of women’s body odor, voice, and facial appearance peak during the fertile phase of their ovulatory cycle. Cycle effects on facial attractiveness may be underpinned by changes in facial skin color, but it is not clear if skin color varies cyclically in humans or if any changes are detectable. To test these questions we photographed women daily for at least one cycle. Changes in facial skin redness and luminance were then quantified by mapping the digital images to human long, medium, and shortwave visual receptors. We find cyclic variation in skin redness, but not luminance. Redness decreases rapidly after menstrual onset, increases in the days before ovulation, and remains high through the luteal phase. However, we also show that this variation is unlikely to be detectable by the human visual system. We conclude that changes in skin color are not responsible for the effects of the ovulatory cycle on women’s attractiveness

    Perception visuelle et olfactive chez les enfants avec un trouble du spectre de l'autisme:: implications sur l'acceptation des aliments

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    La construction du comportement alimentaire est parfois compliquée : 13 à 50% des enfants au développement typique (DT) présentent des problèmes alimentaires. Cette proportion pourrait être de plus de 80 voire 90% des enfants avec un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA). Différentes études font état d’un lien entre les particularités sensorielles et la présence de problèmes alimentaires chez ces enfants. Cette thèse de doctorat vise ainsi à mieux comprendre en quoi les particularités perceptives (vue et odorat) des enfants avec un TSA influencent leur acceptation d’un aliment. Le premier objectif de cette thèse était d’établir un lien, et de le caractériser, entre les particularités perceptives (vue et odorat) et le comportement alimentaire chez les enfants avec un TSA. Nos résultats montrent qu’ils se distinguent des enfants au DT dans la façon dont ils explorent les stimuli, ces différences dépendent de la nature (visuelle ou olfactive) des stimuli. Les enfants avec un TSA attribuent aussi des valences hédoniques plus basses aux stimuli a priori plaisants, et ce, plus significativement pour la modalité visuelle. Finalement, le jugement hédonique est associé au degré de néophobie chez les enfants avec un TSA, ce qui n’est pas le cas chez les enfants au DT. Le second objectif était d’évaluer les effets d’une familiarisation olfactive sur l’agrément intrinsèque d’une odeur et sur l’appréciation d’un aliment porteur de cette dimension par les enfants avec un TSA. Nos résultats montrent une augmentation de l’expression émotionnelle positive pour l’odeur familiarisée. Nous avons observé aussi que deux tiers des enfants, notamment ceux qui ont le plus de particularités sensorielles, choisissent l’aliment porteur de cette odeur lors du choix alimentaire. Le dernier objectif de cette thèse était de prendre en compte le point de vue des enfants avec un TSA en leur donnant la parole et de le mettre en dialogue avec les résultats issus des neurosciences. Nos observations relèvent la pertinence d’une posture de recherche et/ou d’accompagnement dialogique pour permettre la construction de savoirs sur l’alimentation. Nos études soulignent l’importance de prendre en compte le profil perceptif propre aux enfants avec un TSA lors de la conception d’outils pédagogiques pour accompagner la construction du comportement alimentaire.The development of eating behaviour is sometimes complicated: 13% to 50% of typically developing (TD) children display feeding problems. In children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this figure could be above 80% or even 90%. A number of studies have established a link between sensory particularities and the presence of eating problems in these children. This doctoral thesis, therefore, aims to better understand the extent to which perceptual particularities (visual and olfactory) in children with ASD influence their acceptance of a particular food. The first objective of this thesis was to establish and describe a link between perceptual particularities (visual and olfactory) and eating behaviour in children with ASD. Firstly, our results show that they differ from TD children in the way they explore these stimuli, with these differences depending on the nature of the stimuli. Secondly, they attribute a lower valence to stimuli which are, in principle, pleasant. This was particularly true of visual stimuli. Finally, there is a link between hedonic judgement and the degree of neophobia in children with ASD. This is not the case in TD children. The second objective was to evaluate the effects of olfactory familiarisation on the valence of an odour and on the appreciation of food which carries this odour by children with ASD. Our results show an increase in positive emotional expression relating to the odour which has been familiarised. We also observed that two thirds of the children, notably those with the most sensory particularities, chose the food that carried this odour when given a choice of food. The final objective of this thesis was to consider the perspectives of children with ASD and to compare them with results obtained in neuroscience. Our observations highlight the relevance of establishing a dialogical research and/or support approach that allows children and researcher to build and develop knowledge of food and eating. Our studies underline the importance of considering the perceptual profiles of children with ASD when designing educational tools to support eating behaviour development.Die Entwicklung des Ernährungsverhaltens ist mitunter schwierig: Bei 13 bis 50 Prozent aller Kinder mit typischer Entwicklung (TE) treten Ernährungsprobleme auf. Bei Kindern mit einer Autismus-Spektrum-Störung (ASS) könnte dieser Anteil sogar 80 bis 90 Prozent betragen. In verschiedenen Studien wurde ein Zusammenhang zwischen den sensorischen Besonderheiten und dem Auftreten von Ernährungsproblemen bei diesen Kindern festgestellt. Die vorliegende Doktorarbeit untersucht, inwiefern die perzeptiven Besonderheiten (Gesichts- und Geruchssinn) von Kindern mit einer ASS deren Akzeptanz eines Lebensmittels beeinflusst. Hauptziel der Arbeit war es, einen Zusammenhang zwischen den perzeptiven Besonderheiten (Gesichts- und Geruchssinn) und dem Ernährungsverhalten bei Kindern mit einer ASS herzustellen und zu beschreiben. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass diese sich von TE-Kindern zunächst durch die Art und Weise unterscheiden, in der sie die Reize erforschen, und zwar abhängig von der Art der Reize. Des Weiteren geben sie Reizen, die eigentlich angenehm sind, eine niedrigere hedonische Valenz, und zwar mit höherer Signifikanz den visuellen Reizen. Schliesslich ist bei Kindern mit einer ASS das Werturteil mit dem Grad der Neophobie verknüpft, was bei TE-Kindern nicht der Fall ist. Zum Zweiten sollte die Auswirkung eines olfaktiven Vertrautmachens auf die hedonische Valenz eines Geruchs und die Beurteilung eines mit diesem behafteten Lebensmittel durch Kinder mit einer ASS eingeschätzt werden. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen eine Verstärkung der positiven emotionalen Expression bei vertrauten Gerüchen. Ebenso beobachteten wir, dass zwei Drittel der Kinder, vor allem diejenigen mit den meisten sensorischen Besonderheiten, bei der Essenswahl das Lebensmittel mit diesem Geruch auswählen. Das dritte Ziel dieser Arbeit bestand darin, die eigene Sichtweise der Kinder mit einer ASS zu berücksichtigen, indem sie befragt und ihre Aussagen den neurowissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen gegenübergestellt werden. Unsere Beobachtungen beruhen auf dem Ansatz einer dialogischen Forschung bzw. Begleitung, der es ermöglichen soll, einen Wissensschatz um die Ernährung aufzubauen. Unsere Untersuchungen unterstreichen, wie wichtig es ist, bei der Erstellung von Lehrmitteln das spezifische Wahrnehmungsprofil von Kindern mit einer ASS zu berücksichtigen, um die Entwicklung des Ernährungsverhaltens zu begleiten

    Behavioral plasticity, behavioral syndromes and animal personality in crustacean decapods: An imperfect map is better than no map

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    Abstract Despite their key role as model organisms in many behavioral studies, crustacean decapods have been only slightly touched upon by the recent surge of scientific interest in animal personality. Only seven articles investigated the issue in a handful of species among hermit crabs, crabs, and crayfish. Obviously, a limited number of publications does not mean that personality is rare in decapods. On the contrary, few studies might be the result of a form of reluctance by behavioral ecologists to deal with such a phenomenon in these and other invertebrates. This reluctance contrasts with the enthusiasm shown in tackling the behavioral plasticity issue. Here we discuss the possible theoretical and methodological difficulties raised by applying the animal personality perspective to decapods and analyze implications of personality studies for their ecology, conservation, and welfare. By highlighting gaps in knowledge and directions of future research, our intention is to increase scientific emphasis on the issue

    Conscious and Unconscious Sensory Inflows Allow Effective Control of the Functions of the Human Brain and Heart at the Initial Ageing Stage

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    The authors of the present article based their assumption on the concept that the sensory systems are the “windows to the brain” through which various functions of the human organism can be controlled. Comprehension of the fundamental mechanisms of the optimization of the sensory systems, brain, and cardiac functions has increased based on the prolonged sensory flows using conscious and unconscious aromatherapy and multimodal sensory activation. Sensory flow evoked stable systemic responses, including adaptive alteration of psycho-emotional state, attention, memory, sensorimotor reactions, intersensory interaction, visual information processing, statokinetic stability, and autonomic heart rhythm control. The efficacy and expediency of the use of sensory flow for nonmedicinal correction of vital functions of the human organism at the initial stages of ageing was revealed.Los autores de este artículo se basan en el concepto de que los sistemas sensoriales son las “ventanas al cerebro” a través de las cuales se pueden controlar varias funciones del organismo humano. La comprensión de los mecanismos fundamentales de la optimización del sistema sensorial, del cerebro, y de las funciones cardíacas ha aumentado gracias a los flujos sensoriales prolongados empleando la aromaterapia consciente y no consciente y la activación sensorial multimodal. El flujo sensorial evocó respuestas sistémicas estables, incluyendo la alteración adaptativa del estado psico emocional, la atención, la memoria, reacciones sensorimotores, la interacción intersensorial, el procesamiento de la información visual, la estabilidad estatoquinestésica y el control del ritmo cardíaco autonómico. Se observa la eficacia y la conveniencia del empleo del flujo sensorial para la corrección no farmacológica de las funciones vitales del organismo humano en los estadios iniciales del envejecimiento

    Incorporation of privacy elements in space station design

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    Privacy exists to the extent that individuals can control the degree of social contact that they have with one another. The opportunity to withdraw from other people serves a number of important psychological and social functions, and is in the interests of safety, high performance, and high quality of human life. Privacy requirements for Space Station crew members are reviewed, and architectual and other guidelines for helping astronauts achieve desired levels of privacy are suggested. In turn, four dimensions of privacy are discussed: the separation of activities by areas within the Space Station, controlling the extent to which astronauts have visual contact with one another, controlling the extent to which astronauts have auditory contact with one another, and odor control. Each section presents a statement of the problem, a review of general solutions, and specific recommendations. The report is concluded with a brief consideration of how selection, training, and other procedures can also help Space Station occupants achieve satisfactory levels of seclusion
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