Exploring the Impact of a Global Pandemic (COVID-19) on Factors Impacting the Resilience of Top-Tier London Hockey Players

Introduction. The cessation of all professional and amateur sport due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic effect on the mental and physical capacity of the United Kingdom populace, but its impact was arguably felt more deeply by the athletic population. Thus, this research explored which limiting factors were experienced by team hockey players during the national lockdowns (1.0–3.0) with the objective of enabling coaches and team management to better support and protect players’ physiological and psychological resilience in return to play. Methods. Data were collected over 12 weeks during the 3rd UK lockdown (March 2021) from two top-tier London clubs. Hockey players (n = 63) completed an online questionnaire that included validated tests for self-compassion, sport motivation, and a custom open-ended style qualitative questionnaire on nutrition and lifestyle behaviour. Mean self-compassion, motivation scores, and common indicative limiting factors were evaluated and ranked according to significance. Results. High “rebound resilience” was found with low amotivation scores (m = 8.33) and strong affinity for their sport identifying with the statement “because participation in my sport is an integral part of my life” with correspondingly high integrated regulation scores (m = 21.43). Participants’ self-compassion showed the highest scores in mindfulness (m = 3.66) and lowest in self-kindness (m = 2.84) indicating a common trait in athletes for self-criticism. The highest limiting factor was cited as “no social outlets, social interactions, or seeing friends and family”. Conclusion. This study revealed the critical role that social connectedness plays in promoting resilience and enhancing motivation in return to play during extremely challenging circumstances. When the social outlet is absent, enhancing resilience factors with mindfulness, self-compassion, and the creation of a more facilitative environment where player welfare takes priority are potential strategies to support players when they are unable to participate in their sport

Dynamic Interaction of an Uplifted Beam with the Supporting Soil

During seismic events, the overturning moment exerted by the hydrodynamic pressure of a liquid contained in an unanchored, thin-walled liquid storage tank tends to lift the tank base plate off its foundation. The nonlinear uplift and contact mechanism between the base plate and the underlying foundation is investigated in the present study. Nonlinearities due to base plate contact with foundation, large deflection and plastic hinge formation are examined

Experimental Investigation of Pollutants Emissions for a Diesel Engine Fuelled with Nano Fuels.

تم في هذا البحث دراسه عمليه حول تاثير اضافة حبيبات متناهيه في الصغر (حبيبات النانو) الى وقود الديزل وتاثيرها على خواصه وعلى الانبعاثات.تم استخدام نوعين من حبيبات النانو وهما اوكسيد الالمنيوم واوكسيدالتيتانيوم وباربعة تراكيزوبنسب حجميه وهي(25, 50, 100, 150) جزء واحد لكل مليون جزء وبقطر اقل من 50 نانومترعند احمال ,سرع ونسب انضغاط مختلفه وبالنسبه للانبعاثات فقد لوحظ انها انخفضت بنسب متفاوته. اول اوكسيد الكاربون كان للديزل النقي (0.0167) وانخفضت بنسبة %40 و% 46(ديزل+ اوكسيد الالمنيوم) و(ديزل +اوكسيد االتيتانيوم) على االتوالي واما بالنسبه لثاني اوكسيد الكاربون كان هناك زيادة بنسبة %6.7 و%8 (ديزل +اوكسيد التيتانيوم) و(ديزل+اوكسيد الالمنيوم) على التوالي وعند تركيز 25 وحمل %75. اوكسيد النتروجين فانه زاد في حالة (ديزل+اوكسيد الالمنيوم) من1013 الى 1055 ولكن في حالة (ديزل+اوكسيد التيتانيوم) قل من1013 الى 906 عند الحمل الكامل وتركيز25.وقل الدخان مع (ديزل+اوكسيد الالمنيوم) بنسبة %28 ومع (ديزل+اوكسيد التيتانيوم) بنسبة %25 عند نفس الظروف.اما فيما يخص الهايدروكاربونات الغير محترقه زادت مع (ديزل+اوكسيد الالمنيوم) وقلت مع (ديزل+اوكسيد التيتانيوم) الى %8 عند نفس الظروف.This experimental work aims to examine the effect of nanoparticles added to diesel fuel on engine emission characteristic. Nano fuels are prepared by adding Al2O3 or TiO2, both with particle size less 45nm to diesel fuel. Four doses for each type namely (25, 50, 100 and 150) ppm are prepared. These nanoparticles are blended with diesel fuel in varying volume fraction by the means of an electric mixer and an ultrasonicator (JTS-1018). Their stability characteristics were analyzed under static conditions. The Nano fuels are (DF+Al2O3) and (DF+TiO2). The study shows that the addition of nanoparticles to diesel fuel improves in physical properties such as cetane number where it increases from 51.6 to 54.3 for Al2O3 at 150ppm. Also Comparisons of fuel properties without and with nanoparticles additives (Al2O3 and TiO2) are presented. The influence of nanoparticles addition is very clear on the emission characteristics. The results show that the Al2O3 and TiO2 reduce the CO emission by 34% and 25% respectively at 75% load and 25ppm. The NOx emission is increased with Al2O3 by 4.12% at 25ppm and full load, but with the TiO2 is decreased by 10.56% at same operating conditions. The reduction of smoke opacity with Al2O3 and TiO2 is 28% and 25% respectively

Preparation and Histological Study of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Bone Graft in Management of Class II Furcation Defects in Dogs

BACKGROUND: The main target of periodontal disease and alveolar bone defeat treatment is the regeneration of the lost structures. AIM: This work deals with the evaluation of the effect of functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as grafting material in the management of furcation defects created in dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Potential cytotoxicity of the grafting material was assessed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis after incubation of the grafting material in simulated body fluid (SBF) at pH 7.4 and 37°C for one week was done. In six healthy mongrel dogs' full-thickness mucoperiosteal flaps were raised on the buccal aspects to create two walls intrabony defects at the furcation areas. The mandibular premolar area received the grafting material. Histological evaluation was carried out at 1, 2- and 3-months’ period. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity results proved the safety of grafting material application. The prepared material exhibited good Ca-apatite crystal patterns at the surface revealed by SEM and high calcium content showed by EDX results. Good bone formation ability was also apparent histologically. CONCLUSION: The prepared grafting material (MWCNTs) can serve as a delivery vehicle for osteogenic cells and osteogenic growth factor proteins in the bone development process

Effect of chemical and biological insecticides on growth, pigmentation, photosynthetic activity and yield productivity of vicia faba plants

A pot experimental was conducted to the effect of foliar application of chemical insecticide (malathion) and biological insecticide (yeast emulsion) on growth vigor, pigments content, of bean plants and the quality of vielded seeds as well as its chemical composition. In the majority of cases, the two insecticides appeared to cause pronounced effect on growth parameters during growth of bean plants. Malathion application induced slight increase or marked decrease in pigments content and photosynthetic activity of 50 and 85 days old plant, respectively. On the other hand, yeast emulsion appeared to cause nonsignificant effect on the above-mentioned parameters, all over the growth period of bean plants. Foliar application of malathion caused significant decrease in growth promotery substances (i.e. IAA, GA3and cytokinin) with simultaneous increase in IAA-oxidase as well as abscisic acid content of bean plant. The application of yeast emulsion appeared without significant effect on growth regulators content of bean plants. Moreover, yield and yield attributes as well as the biochemical aspects of yielded seeds showed variable changes in response to malathion and yeast emulsion application

Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Analysis of Wastewater from Kakuri Drain in Makera/Kakuri Industrial Layout, Kaduna, Nigeria

The Kakuri drain carries wastewater from Kakuri/Makera industrial layout and environ into river Kaduna. Samples were collected from points/stations 200m apart and labeled as points C, D, E and F, for a period of six months. Physico-chemical studies shows level of determined parameters to be within safe limits as recommended by WHO. Temperature reading showed an average of +_25.50C in water as against 26.50C on surface water. The Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water was recorded as _+1.77mg/l, while the BOD had a mean of _+9.93mg/l .The level of heavy metals in the wastewater showed chromium with levels higher than the approved values recommended by WHO. Level of metals analyzed were as follows; chromium _+ 0.05853ppm. Lead _+0.03058ppm, copper _+1.08505ppm and _+0.45203ppm for zinc. Mean concentration of TDS for the various sampling points (C,ED,E and F) showed  significant difference ( at 5% significant level), with the highest value of _+488.83mg/l in September and the lowest value of _+415.33mg/l recorded in April. Values may appear low, but the effect of bioaccumulation in crops raised by using such water for irrigation and subsequently consumed by man cannot be underestimated

Large Amplitude Settlements of Oil Storage Tanks

The measured profile of large-amplitude settlements of an oil storage tank was analyzed by the finite element method. Both geometric and material nonlinearities were included in the finite element analysis. Stresses and deformations, based on available qualification criteria, were examined. The results showed that most criteria in use today for the tank shell and the bottom plate are overly conservative. The calculated response of the existing operational tank under the measured large-amplitude settlements confirmed such an observation

Biosurfactants as Bioremediation Tools Isolated from Bacteria Found in Industrial Wastewaters of the Kakuri Drain Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Biosurfactants are chemical substances produced in living spaces or excreted extracellular hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties that confer on the organism the ability to accumulate between fluid phases thus reducing surface and interfacial tension. Biosurfactants are produced by several microorganisms which include Bacillus sp., Candida antactica, Acinetobacter and Psudomonas aeruginosa. The physiological role of biosurfactant production in microorganisms include among others, the ability to make substrates readily available for uptake by the cells in adverse environmental conditions. Biosurfactant applications in the environmental industries are promising due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and effectiveness in enhancing biodegradation and solubilization of low solubility compounds. Bacterial strains isolated from the Kakuri drain expressed high Liquid Surface Tension Reducing Activity (LSTRA).Strains were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the API20E Kit. Strain Ali31 (P.aeruginosa) recorded a mean surface tension of 29.033mN/m, while the lowest surface tension recorded amongst the strains was 28.840mN/m by strain Ali13 (P.aeruginosa).The model strain recorded a mean of 57.979mN/m. Several factors however influence biosurfactant production, such as nature of carbon source, temperature, pH and aeration

The potential of a solid-state fermentation supplement to augment white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal incorporation in diets for farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of partially substituting soya protein concentrate (SPC), with white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal in carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets. This study further investigated the dietary inclusion of a solid-state fermentation (SSF) product of Aspergillus niger in tandem with SPC replacement. Six experimental diets were produced to be isonitrogenous (42%), isolipdic (8%) and isoenergetic (19 MJ kg−1). Four diets were formulated to have 12.5 and 25% substitution of SPC using lupin meal, and with and without a supplement of 0.1% of SSF. An additional two diets were designed to serve as a basal reference with no SPC replacement, but one supplemented with 0.1% SSF inclusion. The results of this study showed that SPC can be replaced with up to 25% white lupin meal in carp diets, without reduction of growth performance, feed utilisation, body composition, gut integrity or health. The addition of SSF to the test diets enhanced growth performance (specific growth rate, P < 0.05) and nutrient utilisation (e.g. feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, P < 0.05)