Kinematics of Women’s Sprint Canoeing Technique

Little is known about the biomechanics of sprint canoeing, especially for women’s canoeing, and a quantitative kinematic description of the motion would help coaches to develop valid technique coaching models. Five highly-trained female canoeists were filmed at 150 Hz while undertaking a 50 s maximal effort on a canoe ergometer, whose trolley motions were taken to represent those of the boat. Selected boat, body and paddle kinematics were evaluated at three key stroke cycle events (Contact, Paddle Vertical, and End of Drive) and their patterns monitored across the stroke cycle. While no clear trends between the kinematics and power output emerged, a range of strategies were identified and the data represent an initial step in the construction of detailed technique models that can be used to evaluate and monitor individual athletes

Abnormally high content of free glucosamine residues identified in a preparation of commercially available porcine intestinal heparan sulfate

Heparan sulfate (HS) polysaccharides are ubiquitous in animal tissues as components of proteoglycans, and they participate in many important biological processes. HS carbohydrate chains are complex and can contain rare structural components such as N-unsubstituted glucosamine (GlcN). Commercially available HS preparations have been invaluable in many types of research activities. In the course of preparing microarrays to include probes derived from HS oligosaccharides, we found an unusually high content of GlcN residue in a recently purchased batch of porcine intestinal mucosal HS. Composition and sequence analysis by mass spectrometry of the oligosaccharides obtained after heparin lyase III digestion of the polysaccharide indicated two and three GlcN in the tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide fractions, respectively. (1)H NMR of the intact polysaccharide showed that this unusual batch differed strikingly from other HS preparations obtained from bovine kidney and porcine intestine. The very high content of GlcN (30%) and low content of GlcNAc (4.2%) determined by disaccharide composition analysis indicated that N-deacetylation and/or N-desulfation may have taken place. HS is widely used by the scientific community to investigate HS structures and activities. Great care has to be taken in drawing conclusions from investigations of structural features of HS and specificities of HS interaction with proteins when commercial HS is used without further analysis. Pending the availability of a validated commercial HS reference preparation, our data may be useful to members of the scientific community who have used the present preparation in their studies

The importance of formulation in the successful lyophilization of influenza reference materials.

© 2014.Lyophilized Influenza antigen reference reagents are a critical resource in the quality control of influenza vaccines. A standard formulation has been used successfully at NIBSC for many years however, following the unexpected occurrence of a collapsed appearance in a particular batch a study was carried out to establish the impact of the sugar concentration in the formulation using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR).There was a correlation between the presence and size of the mDSC eutectic temperature events and the freeze dried appearance of the cakes, which became progressively worse with increasing amounts of sugar. NMR spectroscopy could be used to positively identify and quantify the sugars in the formulations. MDSC can rapidly predict if the freeze dried appearance will be acceptable so as to assure the successful lyophilization of influenza reference preparations

A comparison of Qatari and Chinese cadet table tennis players: analysis of Asian championship team competition

Video analysis was performed during the Asian Cadet Table Tennis Championships to determine playing style and patterns of top and lower ranked nations. China and Qatar were chosen for analysis based on their performance during the tournament (1st/2nd playoff and 7th/8th playoff respectively). Notational analysis techniques were implemented to analyze 3 matches for each nation. Significant (p<0.05) differences were identified in serve and return placement and shot choice. Chinese players used a higher proportion of long return placement and a higher percentage of topspin shots compared to Qatari players. This preliminary study suggests that at cadet level, Chinese players exhibit a more attacking style of play than Qatari players

On-line case discussion assessment in Ultrasound: The effect on student centred and inter-professional learning

In 2009 an asynchronous on-line case discussion assessment was introduced, to replace an existing traditional case-study assessment, within the Medical Ultrasound Programmes at City University London, to help extend collaborative, interprofessional student-led learning skills. Two clinical modules were used to develop the on-line learning method with associated assessments. Students selected and led a clinical case from their department, uploaded anonymised images and case details with questions, to encourage interaction from other colleagues. Thirty students participated in the on-line case discussions. The assessment was evaluated via informal feedback, end of module feedback and an on-line questionnaire. Some students completed two modules, using the on-line discussion, others were involved in only one module, of which 21 out of 26 students completed end of module feedback for the 1st module and 18 out of 20 students completed feedback from the 2nd module. Twelve students out of 30 completed the on-line questionnaire. Feedback suggested that the on-line case discussions were a good learning tool, providing a wide range of cases for students to participate in or read and learn from each other. All students found the cases interesting, engaging and useful, but time consuming. Despite the small numbers involved, useful feedback was provided to assist further development of the assessment, particularly in relation to the number of cases being assessed and length of availability. On-line case discussions are an innovative, engaging method to encourage self directed, collaborative learning which could be utilised in the health care setting to share interesting cases, promote inter-professional and self-directed learning

Implications for physical preparation of cadet male table tennis players: analysis of the 2013 championship singles final

The purpose of this case-study was to attain and describe data on the physical demands placed on elite Asian cadet male table tennis players in high-level competition. The 2013 Asian cadet singles final was notated live while the match was video recorded for further post-analysis. A typical point consisted of 4-5 shots with the player activated for 3.2 s, working for 3.3 s and resting for 17.8 s on average. The frequency of movement types was reported and typical footwork patterns were described for the most common movement types observed (step, linear jump, lateral jump and pivot). Typical footwork sequences were presented for the first two movements when serving and returning. This information could be used to inform a strength and conditioning programme for a developing cadet player seeking to replicate a playing style of an elite Asian cadet player

Notational analysis of the cadet and junior singles table tennis finals at the 2013 Asian championship

The purpose of this paper was to provide a comparison between the two finals of the elite cadet and junior table tennis players. The 2013 Asian singles cadet and junior final matches were notated live and video recorded for further post-analysis. Junior players demonstrated a more variable serve placement strategy and favored the more aggressive topspin cross table return deep into the oppositions forehand. Work rate time was marginally greater per game in the junior finals (cadet vs. junior; 3.1s ± 1.7 3.3s ± 1.8) however junior players had a greater average rally length (5.3 s ± 2.6 and 4.4 ± 0.9) and greater number of high velocity top spin shots (21.5 ± 5.5 and 14.9 ± 5.6). Physicality and aggressive playing style increases with both age and ability level. These data provide a start to inform coaches of the progression between the top levels at both age groups

Mast cell glycosaminoglycans

Mast cells contain granules packed with a mixture of proteins that are released on degranulation. The proteoglycan serglycin carries an array of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains, sometimes heparin, sometimes chondroitin or dermatan sulphate. Tight packing of granule proteins is dependent on the presence of serglycin carrying these GAGs. The GAGs of mast cells were most intensively studied in the 1970s and 1980s, and though something is known about the fine structure of chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate in mast cells, little is understood about the composition of the heparin/heparan sulphate chains. Recent emphasis on the analysis of mast cell heparin from different species and tissues, arising from the use of this GAG in medicine, lead to the question of whether variations within heparin structures between mast cell populations are as significant as variations in the mix of chondroitins and heparins.</p