Recommendations for high intensity upper body exercise testing

Introduction: For given submaximal and maximal peak power outputs aerobic responses to upper body exercise are different to those for lower body exercise (Sawka, 1986: Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews, 14, 175-211). However, much less is known regarding responses to exercise intensities at and around peak oxygen up take (VO2peak). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the metabolic responses during arm crank ergometry (ACE) below, at and above peak oxygen uptake and to help establish exercise testing guidelines for high intensity upper body exercise. Methods: Following institutional ethical approval fourteen male students (Age 21.1, s = 6.1 years and 2.44 s=0.44 VO2peak) volunteered to take part in this study. Each participant exercised on a table mounted cycle ergometer (Monark 894E, Monark Exercise AB, Sweden). After habituation peak minute power (PMP) was calculated from an incremental test. Subsequently each participant completed four continuous work tests (CWT) to volitional exhaustion at 80%, 90%, 100% and 110% of PMP. All tests were completed at 70 rev∙min-1 with a minimum of 48-h between tests and the order was counterbalanced. Each CWT was preceded by a 5 min warm-up, loaded with a mass corresponding to the participants 80% PMP for 20 s at minutes 2, 3 and 4. Oxygen uptake (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion for the arms (local (RPEL) and cardiorespiratory strain (RPECR) were recorded at 1 min, 2 min and at volitional exhaustion. The EMG responses at three sites (flexor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii and triceps brachii lateral) were recorded using double-differential (16-3000 Hz bandwidth, x300 gain), bipolar, active electrodes (MP-2A, Linton, Norfolk, UK). Electromyographic data were sampled at 1000 Hz and filtered using a 20 to 500 Hz band-pass filter (MP150 Data Acquisition and AcqKnowledge 4.0, Biopac, Goleta, CA). The EMG signals for each muscle were root mean squared (RMS) with a 500-ms sample window. The signal was then normalised, prior to each CWT, as a percentage of the mean of 3 sets of 10 duty cycles completed during the warm-up (see above) when the participants 80% PMP for 20 s was applied. Time to exhaustion (Tlim) was recorded as the performance outcome measure. Data for Tlim were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Differences in EMG, VO2, RER, HR, RPEL and RPECR were analysed using separate two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures (trial x time). All analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences ( 17.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Individual differences in means were located using Bonferroni post-hoc correction. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05. Results: As resistive load increased Tlim decreased (611 s=194, 397 s=99, 268 s=90, 206 s=67s, respectively; P < 0.001, ES = 0.625). Post-hoc analysis revealed that Tlim using 80%PMP was longer than for 90%, 100% and 110% PMP trials (P < 0.001) and 90% was longer than both 100% and 110% PMP trials (P = 0.079, P = 0.001). At exhaustion VO2 was similar across trials (P = 0.413, ES = 0.053), although 80% PMP VO2 tended to be less (2.10 s=0.32 l·min-1) than for 90% (2.29 s=0.37), 100% (2.33 s=0.49) and 110% (2.26 s=0.34). Also, 80% PMP VO2 was less than VO2peak (P = 0.013). There were differences in RER at Tlim (P < 0.001, ES = 0.593) with values increasing with % PMP (1.15 s=0.07, 1.26 s=0.07, 1.36 s=0.10, 1.40 s=0.09, respectively). There were no differences across trials for HR at Tlim (~173 (12); P = 0.834, ES = 0.016) and HR was proportional to %PMP at 1 min, and 2 min. For flexor carpi ulnaris there was an increase in activation as exercise intensity increased (P < 0.001, ES = 0.245). There were a similar responses for biceps brachii and triceps brachii demonstrating an increase in activation with exercise intensity (P <0.001, ES = 0.137, P < 0.001, ES = 0.163, respectively). No differences for RPEL and RPECR were observed at Tlim. Discussion: There was a clear response of Tlim with intensity as expected for lower body exercise (Hill et al., 2002: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(4), 709-714). Despite differences in Tlim across exercise intensities VO2, HR and RPE were similar at exhaustion indicating a functional cardiorespiratory maximum had been reached. As indicated by the RER an increased activation of the anaerobic metabolism with greater exercise intensities (100% and 110%) is likely and therefore this may represent a greater anaerobic component at these two intensities. The increase in EMG activity with intensity could indicate an increase activity with an increase in exercise intensity. Conclusion: It is recommended that due to the combination of muscle activation, oxygen uptake and Tlim that an exercise intensity of 90% or 100% of PMP could be used for high intensity upper body exercise testing

Spin-axis relaxation in spin-exchange collisions of alkali atoms

We present calculations of spin-relaxation rates of alkali-metal atoms due to the spin-axis interaction acting in binary collisions between the atoms. We show that for the high-temperature conditions of interest here, the spin relaxation rates calculated with classical-path trajectories are nearly the same as those calculated with the distorted-wave Born approximation. We compare these calculations to recent experiments that used magnetic decoupling to isolate spin relaxation due to binary collisions from that due to the formation of triplet van-der-Waals molecules. The values of the spin-axis coupling coefficients deduced from measurements of binary collision rates are consistent with those deduced from molecular decoupling experiments. All the experimental data is consistent with a simple and physically plausible scaling law for the spin-axis coupling coefficients.Comment: text+1 figur

Sphagnum physiology in the context of changing climate: emergent influences of genomics, modelling and host-microbiome interactions on understanding ecosystem function.

Peatlands harbour more than one-third of terrestrial carbon leading to the argument that the bryophytes, as major components of peatland ecosystems, store more organic carbon in soils than any other collective plant taxa. Plants of the genus Sphagnum are important components of peatland ecosystems and are potentially vulnerable to changing climatic conditions. However, the response of Sphagnum to rising temperatures, elevated CO2 and shifts in local hydrology have yet to be fully characterized. In this review, we examine Sphagnum biology and ecology and explore the role of this group of keystone species and its associated microbiome in carbon and nitrogen cycling using literature review and model simulations. Several issues are highlighted including the consequences of a variable environment on plant-microbiome interactions, uncertainty associated with CO2 diffusion resistances and the relationship between fixed N and that partitioned to the photosynthetic apparatus. We note that the Sphagnum fallax genome is currently being sequenced and outline potential applications of population-level genomics and corresponding plant photosynthesis and microbial metabolic modelling techniques. We highlight Sphagnum as a model organism to explore ecosystem response to a changing climate and to define the role that Sphagnum can play at the intersection of physiology, genetics and functional genomics

Microwave observations of spinning dust emission in NGC6946

We report new cm-wave measurements at five frequencies between 15 and 18GHz of the continuum emission from the reportedly anomalous "region 4" of the nearby galaxy NGC6946. We find that the emission in this frequency range is significantly in excess of that measured at 8.5GHz, but has a spectrum from 15-18GHz consistent with optically thin free-free emission from a compact HII region. In combination with previously published data we fit four emission models containing different continuum components using the Bayesian spectrum analysis package radiospec. These fits show that, in combination with data at other frequencies, a model with a spinning dust component is slightly preferred to those that possess better-established emission mechanisms.Comment: submitted MNRA

Further Sunyaev-Zel'dovich observations of two Planck ERCSC clusters with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager

We present follow-up observations of two galaxy clusters detected blindly via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect and released in the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue. We use the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager, a dual-array 14-18 GHz radio interferometer. After radio source subtraction, we find a SZ decrement of integrated flux density -1.08+/-0.10 mJy toward PLCKESZ G121.11+57.01, and improve the position measurement of the cluster, finding the centre to be RA 12 59 36.4, Dec +60 04 46.8, to an accuracy of 20 arcseconds. The region of PLCKESZ G115.71+17.52 contains strong extended emission, so we are unable to confirm the presence of this cluster via the SZ effect.Comment: 4 tables, 3 figures, revised after referee's comments and resubmitted to MNRA

Proton polarizability contribution to the hydrogen hyperfine splitting

The contribution of the proton polarizability to the hydrogen hyperfine splitting is evaluated on the basis of modern experimental and theoretical results on the proton polarized structure functions. The value of this correction is equal to 1.4 ppm.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX2.09, 7 figures, uses linedraw.sty, psfig.sty, epsf.st

Full Genome Characterization of the Culicoides-Borne Marsupial Orbiviruses: Wallal Virus, Mudjinbarry Virus and Warrego Viruses

Viruses belonging to the species Wallal virus and Warrego virus of the genus Orbivirus were identified as causative agents of blindness in marsupials in Australia during 1994/5. Recent comparisons of nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences have provided a basis for the grouping and classification of orbivirus isolates. However, full-genome sequence data are not available for representatives of all Orbivirus species. We report full-genome sequence data for three additional orbiviruses: Wallal virus (WALV); Mudjinabarry virus (MUDV) and Warrego virus (WARV). Comparisons of conserved polymerase (Pol), sub-core-shell 'T2' and core-surface 'T13' proteins show that these viruses group with other Culicoides borne orbiviruses, clustering with Eubenangee virus (EUBV), another orbivirus infecting marsupials. WARV shares <70% aa identity in all three conserved proteins (Pol, T2 and T13) with other orbiviruses, consistent with its classification within a distinct Orbivirus species. Although WALV and MUDV share <72.86%/67.93% aa/nt identity with other orbiviruses in Pol, T2 and T13, they share >99%/90% aa/nt identities with each other (consistent with membership of the same virus species - Wallal virus). However, WALV and MUDV share <68% aa identity in their larger outer capsid protein VP2(OC1), consistent with membership of different serotypes within the species - WALV-1 and WALV-2 respectively

Randomized double-blind trial of pregabalin versus placebo in conjunction with palliative radiotherapy for cancer-induced bone pain

Purpose Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) affects one third of patients with cancer. Radiotherapy remains the gold-standard treatment; however, laboratory and clinical work suggest that pregabalin may be useful in treating CIBP. The aim of this study was to examine pregabalin in patients with CIBP receiving radiotherapy. Patients and Methods A multicenter, double-blind randomized trial of pregabalin versus placebo was conducted. Eligible patients were age ≥ 18 years, had radiologically proven bone metastases, were scheduled to receive radiotherapy, and had pain scores ≥ 4 of 10 (on 0-to-10 numeric rating scale). Before radiotherapy, baseline assessments were completed, followed by random assignment. Doses of pregabalin and placebo were increased over 4 weeks. The primary end point was treatment response, defined as a reduction of ≥ 2 points in worst pain by week 4, accompanied by a stable or reduced opioid dose, compared with baseline. Secondary end points assessed average pain, interference of pain with activity, breakthrough pain, mood, quality of life, and adverse events. Results A total of 233 patients were randomly assigned: 117 to placebo and 116 to pregabalin. The most common cancers were prostate (n = 88; 38%), breast (n = 77; 33%), and lung (n = 42; 18%). In the pregabalin arm, 45 patients (38.8%) achieved the primary end point, compared with 47 (40.2%) in the placebo arm (adjusted odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.81; P = .816). There were no statistically significant differences in average pain, pain interference, or quality of life between arms. There were differences in mood (P = .031) and breakthrough pain duration (P = .037) between arms. Outcomes were compared at 4 weeks. Conclusion Our findings do not support the role of pregabalin in patients with CIBP receiving radiotherapy. The role of pregabalin in CIBP with a clinical neuropathic pain component is unknown