Changes in aerobic capacity and glycaemic control in response to reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) are not different between sedentary men and women

Previously it has been reported that reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT; total training time of 3 × 10 min per week) improves maximal aerobic capacity in both sedentary men and women, but improves insulin sensitivity in men only. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there is a true sex difference in response to REHIT, or that these findings can be explained by the large interindividual variability in response inherent to all exercise training. Thirty-five sedentary participants (18 women; mean ± SD age for men and women, respectively: age, 33 ± 9 and 36 ± 9 years; body mass index, 25.1 ± 2.1 and 24.1 ± 3.5 kg·m−2; maximal aerobic capacity, 38.6 ± 8.3 and 31.6 ± 4.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed a 6-week REHIT programme consisting of eighteen 10-min unloaded cycling sessions with 1 (first session) or 2 (all other sessions) “all-out” 10–20-s sprints against a resistance of 5% of body mass. Maximal aerobic capacity and oral glucose tolerance test-derived insulin sensitivity were determined before and after training. REHIT was associated with an increase in maximal aerobic capacity (2.54 ± 0.65 vs. 2.78 ± 0.68 L·min−1, main effect of time: p < 0.01), a trend toward reduced plasma insulin area-under-the-curve (AUC; 6.7 ± 4.8 vs. 6.1 ± 4.0 IU·min−1·mL−1, p = 0.096), but no significant change in plasma glucose AUC or the Cederholm index of insulin sensitivity. Substantial interindividual variability in response to REHIT was observed for all variables, but there was no significant effect of sex. In conclusion, REHIT improves the key health marker of aerobic capacity within a minimal total training time-commitment. There is large interindividual variability in responses to REHIT, but sex differences in the responses are not apparent

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing for predicting sports performance and talent identification: Consensus statement

The general consensus among sport and exercise genetics researchers is that genetic tests have no role to play in talent identification or the individualised prescription of training to maximise performance. Despite the lack of evidence, recent years have witnessed the rise of an emerging market of direct-toconsumer marketing (DTC) tests that claim to be able to identify children's athletic talents. Targeted consumers include mainly coaches and parents. There is concern among the scientific community that the current level of knowledge is being misrepresented for commercial purposes. There remains a lack of universally accepted guidelines and legislation for DTC testing in relation to all forms of genetic testing and not just for talent identification. There is concern over the lack of clarity of information over which specific genes or variants are being tested and the almost universal lack of appropriate genetic counselling for the interpretation of the genetic data to consumers. Furthermore independent studies have identified issues relating to quality control by DTC laboratories with different results being reported from samples from the same individual. Consequently, in the current state of knowledge, no child or young athlete should be exposed to DTC genetic testing to define or alter training or for talent identification aimed at selecting gifted children or adolescents. Large scale collaborative projects, may help to develop a stronger scientific foundation on these issues in the future

No evidence of a common DNA variant profile specific to world class endurance athletes

10.1371/journal.pone.0147330PLoS ONE111e014733

Thermal Parameters and Microstructural Development in Directionally Solidified Zn-Rich Zn-Mg Alloys

Transient directional solidification experiments have been carried out with Zn-Mg hypoeutectic alloys under an extensive range of cooling rates with a view to analyzing the evolution of microstructure. It is shown that the microstructure is formed by a Zn-rich matrix of different morphologies and competitive eutectic mixtures (Zn-ZnMg and Zn-ZnMg). For 0.3 wt-pct Mg and 0.5 wt-pct Mg alloys, the Zn-rich matrix is shown to be characterized by high-cooling rates plate-like cells (cooling rates >9.5 and 24 K/s, respectively), followed by a granular–dendritic morphological transition for lower cooling rates. In contrast, a directionally solidified Zn1.2 wt-pct Mg alloy casting is shown to have the Zn-rich matrix formed only by dendritic equiaxed grains. Experimental growth laws are proposed relating the plate-like cellular interphase, the secondary dendritic arm spacing, and the eutectic interphase spacings to solidification thermal parameters, i.e., cooling rate and growth rate. The experimental law for the growth of secondary dendritic spacings under unsteady-state solidifications is also shown to encompass results of hypoeutectic Zn-Mg alloys subjected to steady-state Bridgman growth.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by FAPESP-São Paulo Research Foundation, Brazil (Grants 2012/08494-0, 2013/15478-3, 2013/25452-1, 2013/23396-7, 2014/50502-5), CNPq-The Brazilian Research Council, and CSIC-Spanish National Research Council (Project i-link0944).Peer Reviewe