Differences in the horses' physiological responses to riders with different competence levels

Differences in the horses’ physiological responses to riders with different competence levels. The majority of those training their horses do so to improve their performance. There are indications within the Swedish warmblood association, that the riders in Sweden lack the necessary competence to educate the younger horses to their maximal potential. Earlier studies show that riders of different competence levels affect their horses differently. The problem is that there are currently very few studies of how riders of different competence levels work their horses and what kind of physical impact the training has. The purpose of this study is to compare riders of different competence levels, the effect of their work and describe differences in their schooling sessions during every day work. The questions are; how do riders of different competence levels affect their horses out of a physiological perspective? What movements and in which gaits do riders of different competence levels ride their horses during every day work, and which movements have the biggest physiological impact on the horse? Four horses and 12 riders participated in the study. The riders were split into three groups depending on previous experience and education. The riders were to ride a 30 minute session, focusing on the horses’ suppleness and collection. They were to decide the shape of the session themselves, and during the session the horses’ heart rate and respiratory rate were monitored. The results show that there was a significant difference between competence level 1 and competence level 2 during trot-work on a circle. Competence level 1 had a higher heart rate (P=0.0134) than competence level 2. During the majority of the session, all of the horses had a heart rate at <120 beats/minute. Some of the riders reached levels of low, medium and high intensity training with heart rates at <159 beats/minute, 160-185 beats/minute and 185-210 beats/minute. The horses showed no significant difference in respiratory rate during training between the different competence levels. The work that was done during low intensity training was working pace in walk, trot and canter, transitions and some lateral work. The work that was done during medium and high intensity training was transitions from walk to canter, canter work in a faster pace and if the rider had to correct the horse by reinforcing the aids. The conclusion is that the horses were physically affected by riders of different competence levels. The horses had a higher heart rate with a certain competence level, compared to another. The riders worked their horses in all gaits, doing lateral work, transitions and circles. Movements that gave the horses a higher heart rate were transitions from walk to canter, canter work in a faster pace and reinforced aids. Keywords: Equine, heart rate, respiratory rate, training, dressage and show jumping. INTRODUKTION Majoriteten av de som tränar hästar idag gör det för att på något sätt öka hästens prestation. Ökad prestation innebär i detta fall hästens förmåga att utföra vald disciplin, det vill säga hoppa högre, springa fortare eller utföra svårare dressyrrörelser. (Marlin & Nankervis 2002) Avelsföreningen för Svenska Varmblodiga Hästen, SWBs (2013) vision nämner att Svensk varmblodsavel ska höra till världens ledande när det gäller kvalitet på hästar som produceras för ridsporten. Intresset för det svenska varmblodet är stort på den internationella marknaden, men de potentiella köparna menar att hästarna är för dåligt utbildade (Olsson 2016, pers. medd.). Det behövs ryttare i Sverige som kan ta tillvara på unga hästars talang och utveckla dessa på rätt sätt, för att i framtiden kunna generera en hållbar topphäst till sporten (SWB 2015). Det saknas dock ett tydligt och enhetligt system för utbildning av den unga hästen (SWB 2012). Genom att utbilda sig inom hästnäringen får människor kunskap att förvalta kvaliteterna och utveckla hästarna efter deras potential (Flyinge 2015). Ryttare med olika kompetens påverkar sina hästar på olika sätt (Peham et al. 2001; Peham et al. 2004; Lagarde et al. 2005). Enligt Peham et al. (2001) påverkade en amatör hästens rörelsemönster genom att rida i ett lägre och mer orytmiskt grundtempo. Amatören hade även ett lägre medelvärde på poängen under ett dressyrtest enligt FEIs reglemente (Peham et al. 2001). En professionell ryttare påverkade hästens rörelsemönster genom att göra påskjutet jämnare och gångarten mer rytmisk, detta jämfört med när hästen travade utan ryttare på rullband (Peham et al. 2004). Lagarde et al. (2005) fann att professionella ryttare kunde följa hästens naturliga gångarter och synkronisera sig med dess rörelser bättre än en amatör. En dressyrhäst arbetar sällan i en hjärtfrekvens som överstiger 160 slag/minut, oberoende av vilken tävlingsnivå den presterar på (Williams, Chandler & Marlin 2009; Clayton 1990). Art et al. (1990) fann att hästarna i studien hade en högre hjärtfrekvens i banhoppning. Hästar som hoppade en bana på 1.50 m hade en medelhjärtfrekvens på 178,7 slag/minut i början av banan och 191,4 slag/minut i slutet av banan (Art et al. 1990). Mätning av hjärtfrekvens är ett av flera beprövade sätt att avgöra vilken ansträngning en häst har utsatts för. Genom att analysera hästens hjärtfrekvens vid träning, blir det möjligt att utläsa träningens intensitet och på så sätt kunna anpassa träningen för att få ut största möjliga effekt och kvalitet. (Marlin & Nankervis 2002

Synthesis and biology of oligoethylene glycol linked naphthoxylosides.

Proteoglycans (PGs) are important macromolecules in mammalian cells, consisting of a core protein substituted with carbohydrate chains, known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Simple xylosides carrying hydrophobic aglycons can enter cells and act as primers for GAG chain synthesis, independent of the core protein. Previously it has been shown that aromatic aglycons can be separated from the sugar residue by short linkers without affecting the GAG priming ability. To further investigate the effects of the xylose-aglycon distance on the GAG priming ability, we have synthesized xyloside derivatives with 2-naphthyl and 2-(6-hydroxynaphthyl) moieties connected to xylose, directly, via a methylene bridge, or with oligoethylene glycol linkers of three different lengths. The GAG priming ability and the antiproliferative activity of the xylosides, as well as the composition of the xyloside-primed GAG chains were investigated in a matched pair of human breast fibroblasts and human breast carcinoma cells. An increase of the xylose-aglycon distance from 0.24 to 0.37nm resulted in an increased GAG priming ability in both cell lines. Further increase of the xylose-aglycon distance did not result in any pronounced effects. We speculate that by increasing the xylose-aglycon distance, and thereby the surface area of the xyloside, to a certain level would make it more accessible for enzymes involved in the GAG synthesis. The compositions of the primed GAG chains varied with different xylosides, independent of the xylose-aglycon distance, probably due to various affinities for enzymes and/or different cellular uptake. Furthermore, no correlations between the antiproliferative activities, the xylose-aglycon distances, and the amounts or compositions of the GAG chains were detected suggesting involvement of other factors such as fine structure of the GAG chains, effects on endogenous PG synthesis, or other unknown factors for the antiproliferative activity

TRABALHO INFANTIL DO ADOLESCENTE COM IDADE ENTRE 16 E 18 ANOS

Muito se tem discutido sobre o trabalho infantil, e não poderia ser diferente. A sociedade civil e os poderes da República atuam constantemente para erradicação dessa preocupante atividade laborativa. Programas de conscientização, políticas sociais e atuações repressivas são alguns dos instrumentos utilizados para erradicação do trabalho infantil. Nesse contexto, é interessante observar a situação dos adolescentes entre 16 (dezesseis) e 18 (dezoito) anos de idade, que possui permissão legislativa para trabalhar, mas não para todas as atividades. Assim, o trabalho ilegal dos adolescentes entre 16 (dezesseis) e 18 (dezoito) anos deve ser considerado tecnicamente trabalho infantil? Foram utilizados no presente trabalho os métodos de abordagem dedutivo, e de procedimento o monográfico, com técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental.Palavras-chave: Adolescente. Trabalho infantil. Lista TIP

DEMON: a Proposal for a Satellite-Borne Experiment to study Dark Matter and Dark Energy

We outline a novel satellite mission concept, DEMON, aimed at advancing our comprehension of both dark matter and dark energy, taking full advantage of two complementary methods: weak lensing and the statistics of galaxy clusters. We intend to carry out a 5000 sqdeg combined IR, optical and X-ray survey with galaxies up to a redshift of z~2 in order to determine the shear correlation function. We will also find ~100000 galaxy clusters, making it the largest survey of this type to date. The DEMON spacecraft will comprise one IR/optical and eight X-ray telescopes, coupled to multiple cameras operating at different frequency bands. To a great extent, the technology employed has already been partially tested on ongoing missions, therefore ensuring improved reliability.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the SPIE conference proceeding

Low TLR7 gene expression in atherosclerotic plaques is associated with major adverse cardio- and cerebrovascular events

AIMS: Processes in the development of atherosclerotic lesions can lead to plaque rupture or erosion, which can in turn elicit myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke. The aims of this study were to determine whether Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) gene expression levels influence patient outcome and to explore the mechanisms linked to TLR7 expression in atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Atherosclerotic plaques were removed by carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and subjected to gene array expression analysis (n = 123). Increased levels of TLR7 transcript in the plaques were associated with better outcome in a follow-up study over a maximum of 8 years. Patients with higher TLR7 transcript levels had a lower risk of experiencing major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) during the follow-up period after CEA (hazard ratio: 2.38, P = 0.012, 95% CI 1.21–4.67). TLR7 was expressed in all plaques by T cells, macrophages and endothelial cells in capillaries, as shown by immunohistochemistry. In short-term tissue cultures, ex vivo treatment of plaques with the TLR7 ligand imiquimod elicited dose-dependent secretion of IL-10, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and IL-12/IL-23p40. This secretion was blocked with a TLR7 inhibitor. Immunofluorescent tissue analysis after TLR7 stimulation showed IL-10 expression in T cells, macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. TLR7 mRNA levels in the plaques were correlated with IL-10 receptor (r = 0.4031, P < 0.0001) and GM-CSF receptor A (r = 0.4354, P < 0.0001) transcripts. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that TLR7 is abundantly expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques. TLR7 ligation elicits the secretion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and high TLR7 expression in plaques is associated with better patient outcome, suggesting that TLR7 is a potential therapeutic target for prevention of complications of atherosclerosis

Improving the precision of linear optics measurements based on turn-by-turn beam position monitor data after a pulsed excitation in lepton storage rings

Beam optics control is of critical importance for machine performance and protection. Nowadays, turn-by-turn (TbT) beam position monitor (BPM) data are increasingly exploited as they allow for fast and simultaneous measurement of various optics quantities. Nevertheless, so far the best documented uncertainty of measured ß -functions is of about 10‰ rms. In this paper we compare the ß -functions of the ESRF storage ring measured from two different TbT techniques—the N-BPM and the Amplitude methods—with the ones inferred from a measurement of the orbit response matrix (ORM). We show how to improve the precision of TbT techniques by refining the Fourier transform of TbT data with properly chosen excitation amplitude. The precision of the N-BPM method is further improved by refining the phase advance measurement. This represents a step forward compared to standard TbT measurements. First experimental results showing the precision of ß -functions pushed down to 4‰ both in TbT and ORM techniques are reported and commented.Postprint (published version

A pair of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright K-dwarf TOI-1064 characterized with CHEOPS

We report the discovery and characterization of a pair of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright K-dwarf TOI-1064 (TIC 79748331), initially detected in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) photometry. To characterize the system, we performed and retrieved the CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS), TESS, and ground-based photometry, the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) high-resolution spectroscopy, and Gemini speckle imaging. We characterize the host star and determine Teff,⋆=4734±67K⁠, R⋆=0.726±0.007R⊙⁠, and M⋆=0.748±0.032M⊙⁠. We present a novel detrending method based on point spread function shape-change modelling and demonstrate its suitability to correct flux variations in CHEOPS data. We confirm the planetary nature of both bodies and find that TOI-1064 b has an orbital period of Pb = 6.44387 ± 0.00003 d, a radius of Rb = 2.59 ± 0.04 R⊕, and a mass of Mb=13.5+1.7−1.8 M⊕, whilst TOI-1064 c has an orbital period of Pc=12.22657+0.00005−0.00004 d, a radius of Rc = 2.65 ± 0.04 R⊕, and a 3σ upper mass limit of 8.5 M⊕. From the high-precision photometry we obtain radius uncertainties of ∼1.6 per cent, allowing us to conduct internal structure and atmospheric escape modelling. TOI-1064 b is one of the densest, well-characterized sub-Neptunes, with a tenuous atmosphere that can be explained by the loss of a primordial envelope following migration through the protoplanetary disc. It is likely that TOI-1064 c has an extended atmosphere due to the tentative low density, however further radial velocities are needed to confirm this scenario and the similar radii, different masses nature of this system. The high-precision data and modelling of TOI-1064 b are important for planets in this region of mass–radius space, and it allow us to identify a trend in bulk density–stellar metallicity for massive sub-Neptunes that may hint at the formation of this population of planets

Emergence and persistence of inefficient states

We present a theory of the emergence and persistence of inefficient states based on patronage politics. The society consists of rich and poor. The rich are initially in power, but expect to transition to democracy, which will choose redistributive policies. Taxation requires the employment of bureaucrats. By choosing an inefficient state structure, the rich may be able to use patronage and capture democratic politics, so reducing the amount of redistribution in democracy. Moreover, the inefficient state creates its own constituency and tends to persist over time. Intuitively, an inefficient state structure creates more rents for bureaucrats than would an efficient one. When the poor come to power in democracy, they will reform the structure of the state to make it more efficient so that higher taxes can be collected at lower cost and with lower rents for bureaucrats. Anticipating this, when the society starts out with an inefficient organization of the state, bureaucrats support the rich, who set lower taxes but also provide rents to bureaucrats. We obtain that the rich–bureaucrats coalition may also expand the size of bureaucracy excessively so as to generate enough political support. The model shows that an equilibrium with an inefficient state is more likely to arise when there is greater income inequality, when bureaucratic rents take intermediate values, and when individuals are sufficiently forward-lookin

Catalytic mechanism of alpha-phosphate attack in dUTPase is revealed by X-ray crystallographic snapshots of distinct intermediates, 31P-NMR spectroscopy and reaction path modelling.

Enzymatic synthesis and hydrolysis of nucleoside phosphate compounds play a key role in various biological pathways, like signal transduction, DNA synthesis and metabolism. Although these processes have been studied extensively, numerous key issues regarding the chemical pathway and atomic movements remain open for many enzymatic reactions. Here, using the Mason-Pfizer monkey retrovirus dUTPase, we study the dUTPase-catalyzed hydrolysis of dUTP, an incorrect DNA building block, to elaborate the mechanistic details at high resolution. Combining mass spectrometry analysis of the dUTPase-catalyzed reaction carried out in and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulation, we show that the nucleophilic attack occurs at the alpha-phosphate site. Phosphorus-31 NMR spectroscopy (31P-NMR) analysis confirms the site of attack and shows the capability of dUTPase to cleave the dUTP analogue alpha,beta-imido-dUTP, containing the imido linkage usually regarded to be non-hydrolyzable. We present numerous X-ray crystal structures of distinct dUTPase and nucleoside phosphate complexes, which report on the progress of the chemical reaction along the reaction coordinate. The presently used combination of diverse structural methods reveals details of the nucleophilic attack and identifies a novel enzyme-product complex structure