Effects of Dextro-Methamphetamine on Subjective Fatigue

Declining aircrew performance during periods of sustained flight operations (SUSOPs) has underscored the need to develop effective countermeasures. This paper reports on the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) stimulant d-methamphetamine to alleviate the detrimental effects of a simulated SUSOPs on subjective fatigue. Subjective fatigue was repeatedly measured by three questionnaires. The simulated SUSOP started at 1800 and consisted of a 9-h planning session followed by 4 h of rest and a 14-h mission. After 6 h of sleep, the 9/4/14 work/rest/work pattern was repeated. At 4 1/2 h into the second mission, 13 subjects were administered 10 mg of d-methamphetamine/70 kg of body mass while 12 subjects received a placebo in a double-blind procedure. Administration of d-methamphetamine significantly reduced reported fatigue scores on the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI), Mood Questionnaire (MQ), and sleepiness scores on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS)

Subjective Fatigue in A-6, F-14, and F/A-18 Aircrews During Operations Desert Shield and Storm

Fatigue occurring during naval air combat can reduce performance, impair operational effectiveness, and compromise safety. This study examines the effect of combat missions on the subjective fatigue of naval aircrews deployed aboard USS AMERICA during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Fatigue was determined using three questionnaires that were completed before and after each mission. Although fatigue significantly increased during combat missions, it usually returned to preflight levels by the next day without noticeably increasing as the operation progressed. We feel that judicious aircrew scheduling on the part of operational planners was one of the most important factors contributing to this result. To minimize fatigue during naval air combat operations, we recommend that, as resources permit, \u27no-fly\u27 days be regularly scheduled, only one or two missions should be scheduled per day, and adequate crew rest should be planned between missions

Book Reviews

Book reviews of: William F. Winter and the New Mississippi: A Biography. By Charles C. Bolton Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2013. Pp. vii, 368. Illustrations, map, acknowledgements, notes, index. $35.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781617037870. Born of Conviction: White Methodists and Mississippi’s Closed Society. By Joseph T. Reiff. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016. Acknowledgements, illustrations, map, notes, index. Pp. xxi, 384.$35 Hardcover. ISBN: 9780190246815). In Katrina’s Wake: The U.S. Coast Guard and the Gulf Coast Hurricanes of 2005. By Donald L. Canney. (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2010. Foreword, notes, index. Pp. xv, 228. $27.50 cloth.) Slavery, Race and Conquest in the Tropic: Lincoln, Douglas and the Future of America. By Robert E. May. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013. Acknowledgements, illustrations, maps, notes, index. Pp. xi, 296.$80 cloth, $26.99 paper,$22 e-book. ISBN: 9780521132527.) Rivers of Sand: Creek Indian Emigration, Relocation, and Ethnic Cleansing in the American South. By Christopher D. Haveman. (Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2016. Illustrations, preface, acknowledgments, notes on terminology, index. Pp. ix, 414. Trouble in Goshen: Plain Folk, Roosevelt, Jesus, and Marx in the Great Depression. By Fred C. Smith (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2014. Acknowledgements, illustrations, map notes, index. Pp. xi, 214. $60.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781617039560.) Builders of a New South: Merchants, Capital, and the Remaking of Natchez, 1865-1914. By Aaron D. Anderson (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2013. Acknowledgments, illustrations, photographs, notes, graphics, index. Pp. 279.$40 cloth. ISBN: 978-1- 61703-667-5.) Adventurism and Empire: The Struggle for Mastery in the Louisiana- Florida Borderlands 1762-1803. By David Narrett. (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2015. Acknowledgements, illustrations, notes, index. Pp. xi, 365. $45 cloth,$44.99 e-book. ISBN: 978-1-4696-1833-3.) Empty Sleeves: Amputation in the Civil War South. By Brian Craig Miller. (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2015. Illustrations, acknowledgments, appendix, notes, index. Pp. xvi, 257. $79.95 cloth,$29.95 paper. ISBN: 0820343327.) Signposts: New Directions in Southern Legal History. By Sally E. Hadden and Patricia Hagler Minter, eds. (Athens and London: The University of Georgia Press, 2013. Acknowledgements, illustrations, index. Pp. xi, 480. $69.95 cloth,$26.95 paper, $26.95 ebook. ISBN: 978-0-8203-4499-7.) The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America. By Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2012. Pp. 325.$32.50 Cloth. ISBN: 9780807835722.

Brain death, states of impaired consciousness, and physician-assisted death for end-of-life organ donation and transplantation

In 1968, the Harvard criteria equated irreversible coma and apnea (i.e., brain death) with human death and later, the Uniform Determination of Death Act was enacted permitting organ procurement from heart-beating donors. Since then, clinical studies have defined a spectrum of states of impaired consciousness in human beings: coma, akinetic mutism (locked-in syndrome), minimally conscious state, vegetative state and brain death. In this article, we argue against the validity of the Harvard criteria for equating brain death with human death. (1) Brain death does not disrupt somatic integrative unity and coordinated biological functioning of a living organism. (2) Neurological criteria of human death fail to determine the precise moment of an organism’s death when death is established by circulatory criterion in other states of impaired consciousness for organ procurement with non-heart-beating donation protocols. The criterion of circulatory arrest 75 s to 5 min is too short for irreversible cessation of whole brain functions and respiration controlled by the brain stem. (3) Brain-based criteria for determining death with a beating heart exclude relevant anthropologic, psychosocial, cultural, and religious aspects of death and dying in society. (4) Clinical guidelines for determining brain death are not consistently validated by the presence of irreversible brain stem ischemic injury or necrosis on autopsy; therefore, they do not completely exclude reversible loss of integrated neurological functions in donors. The questionable reliability and varying compliance with these guidelines among institutions amplify the risk of determining reversible states of impaired consciousness as irreversible brain death. (5) The scientific uncertainty of defining and determining states of impaired consciousness including brain death have been neither disclosed to the general public nor broadly debated by the medical community or by legal and religious scholars. Heart-beating or non-heart-beating organ procurement from patients with impaired consciousness is de facto a concealed practice of physician-assisted death, and therefore, violates both criminal law and the central tenet of medicine not to do harm to patients. Society must decide if physician-assisted death is permissible and desirable to resolve the conflict about procuring organs from patients with impaired consciousness within the context of the perceived need to enhance the supply of transplantable organs

Effects of Dextro-Methamphetamine on Subjective Fatigue

Declining aircrew performance during periods of sustained flight operations (SUSOPs) has underscored the need to develop effective countermeasures. This paper reports on the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) stimulant d-methamphetamine to alleviate the detrimental effects of a simulated SUSOPs on subjective fatigue. Subjective fatigue was repeatedly measured by three questionnaires. The simulated SUSOP started at 1800 and consisted of a 9-h planning session followed by 4 h of rest and a 14-h mission. After 6 h of sleep, the 9/4/14 work/rest/work pattern was repeated. At 4 1/2 h into the second mission, 13 subjects were administered 10 mg of d-methamphetamine/70 kg of body mass while 12 subjects received a placebo in a double-blind procedure. Administration of d-methamphetamine significantly reduced reported fatigue scores on the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI), Mood Questionnaire (MQ), and sleepiness scores on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS)

Subjective Fatigue in A-6, F-14, and F/A-18 Aircrews During Operations Desert Shield and Storm

Fatigue occurring during naval air combat can reduce performance, impair operational effectiveness, and compromise safety. This study examines the effect of combat missions on the subjective fatigue of naval aircrews deployed aboard USS AMERICA during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Fatigue was determined using three questionnaires that were completed before and after each mission. Although fatigue significantly increased during combat missions, it usually returned to preflight levels by the next day without noticeably increasing as the operation progressed. We feel that judicious aircrew scheduling on the part of operational planners was one of the most important factors contributing to this result. To minimize fatigue during naval air combat operations, we recommend that, as resources permit, \u27no-fly\u27 days be regularly scheduled, only one or two missions should be scheduled per day, and adequate crew rest should be planned between missions

SEASONAL VARIATION IN ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PERFORMANCE VARIABLES IN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS

Hannah Elizabeth Ramirez1, Greg A. Ryan2, Drew DeJohn1, Lucas Haaren1, Cameron Horsfall1, Stephen J. Rossi1. 1Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. 2Piedmont University, Demorest, GA. BACKGROUND: Preseason is an essential component of sport; it prepares players physiologically for the beginning of competitive season by allowing for improvements in performance and fitness variables. As the season progresses, the need to maintain ideal performance state may be difficult due to accumulating training load. PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine the seasonal variation of power, agility, and body fat percentage (BF%) via a series of tests throughout the competitive season of American professional soccer players. METHODS: 23 male United Soccer League (USL) One players underwent a performance battery (akimbo vertical jump (VJ), reactive strength index (RSI), L-Drill and Pro-Agility Shuttle) and 3-site skinfold BF% analysis at three separate times during the course of a 10-month competitive season. All data was recorded by the same trained exercise professionals for the duration of the season. Repeated measures ANOVA analyses (α = 0.05) was used to determine the seasonal variation at the three-separate timepoints (Preseason (P), Start of regular season (S) and mid-season (M)). Post-hoc analyses on significant omnibus findings were analyzed with Bonferroni correction factor. Players who were exempt from testing due to injury are not included in the ANOVA analyses. RESULTS: For players who completed all three trials (n=15), there was no statistically significant difference for BF% (p = 0.14) and RSI (p = 0.19). A significant main effect was found in VJ (p \u3c 0.01). Post-hoc analyses revealed that P VJ (20.9 ± 2.2in) was less than S (23.5 ± 2.5in; p \u3c 0.01) and M (24.1 ± 2.1 in; p \u3c 0.01). A significant main effect was found in L-Drill (p \u3c 0.01). Post-hoc analyses revealed that P L-Drill (7.73 ± 0.36s) was worse than S (7.27 ± 0.35s; p \u3c 0.01) and M (7.26 ± 0.28s; p \u3c 0.01). A significant main effect was found in Pro Agility (p \u3c 0.01). Post-hoc analyses revealed that P Pro Agility (4.72 ± 0.27s) was worse than S (4.44 ± 0.30s; p \u3c 0.01) and M (4.33±0.12s; p \u3c 0.01). CONCLUSION: It appears that player performance is worse following the offseason compared to other points during the competitive season. Preseason conditioning allows for improvements in power and agility in USL players. Throughout season the maintenance phase of performance variables is essential to ensure optimal performance

SEASON LONG IN-GAME PERFORMANCE VARIATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS

Greg A. Ryan1, Hannah Ramirez2, Cameron Horsfall2, Drew S. DeJohn3, Lucas Haaren2, Stephen J. Rossi2. 1Piedmont University, Demorest, GA. 2Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. 3South Georgia Tormenta FC, Statesboro, GA. BACKGROUND: In-game performance elicits maximal effort from players in order to maximize performance and increase the likelihood of success. As the season progresses, and weekly training loads accumulate, players may not fully recover, which could impact player performance during matches. PURPOSE: To determine the variation between in-game performance metrics during a competitive season in professional soccer players. METHODS: Data from 26 third division professional male soccer players were monitored with an individual GPS bioharness during 19 games were included for analyses. Bioharness metrics of total distance (TD), maximum speed (MS), sprint distance (SD), number of sprints (#S), and explosive distance (ED) were used for analyses. Matches were combined into three groups for all analyses. Each group consists of matches during two-month periods (April-May [6 matches], June-July [7], August-September [6]). Due to violations of normality, a Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze main effect differences. A Fisher’s least significant difference post hoc pairwise analysis determined intervariable differences. Alpha was set at 0.05 for all significant main effect findings. RESULTS: Significant main effect differences were noted for TD (;2(2) = 9.502, p \u3c 0.01), SD (;2(2) = 7.004, p = 0.03), #S (;2(2) = 8.893, p = 0.01), and ED (;2(2) = 11.694, p \u3c 0.01). Post-hoc analyses revealed that players had increased TD (p = 0.02; p = 0.03), SD (p = 0.05;p = 0.05), #S (p = 0.03; p = 0.03), and ED (p \u3c 0.01; p = 0.03) in games played in April-May compared to June-July and August-September, respectively. No differences were noted between June-July and August-September matches in any variables of interest. MS was not impacted as the season progressed (p = 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: In-game performance variables decreased ~9-15% as the season progressed. While game and tactical decisions may somewhat influence in-game performance variables, it appears that player performance is negatively impacted as the season progresses. It is possible that players are not adequately recovered during the week prior to the next competition

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMON HEALTH, SKILL, AND PERFORMANCE SPORT SCIENCE MEASURES IN PROFESSIONAL MALE SOCCER ATHLETES

Jason C. Casey1, Robert L. Herron2, Greg A. Ryan3, Hannah Ramirez4, Cameron Horsfall4, Drew DeJohn4. 1University of North Georgia, Oakwood, GA. 2United States Sports Academy, Daphne, AL. 3Piedmont University, Demorest, GA. 4Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. BACKGROUND: Several components of health-related fitness, skill-related fitness, and sport performance are often measured as part of a comprehensive sport science plan. Soccer is a sport that requires intermittent jogging, sprinting, walking, and explosive movements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between common sport science measures tracked by professional soccer team. METHODS: Thirteen male professional soccer athletes (age 24 ± 1 y; ht 179.7 ± 7.8 cm; wt 77.8 ± 6.1 kg), completed all measurements related to this investigation. Each participant completed a Yo-Yo endurance test, a 7-site skinfold body composition assessment, a vertical jump protocol on a mat (akimbo style i.e., hands on hips), and had their maximal sprint speed calculated by on-field, GPS data. Pearson product moment correlations were used to investigate the relationships between these variables. RESULTS: Body fat (10.9 ± 3.8 %) had a negative, moderate relationship (r = -0.55) with GPS derived max-sprint speed (31.3 ± 2.2 km·h-1) and negative, weak relationships with VO2max calculated from the Yo-Yo intermittent test (57.4 ± 3.6 mL·kg-1·min-1; r = -0.33), and vertical jump (57.7 ± 2.5 cm; r = -0.26). However, vertical jump and speed had a strong, positive relationship (r = 0.74). Of note, VO2max had slight stronger relationships with body fat and fat mass (8.5 ± 2.8 kg; r = -0.33) than fat-free mass (69.2 ± 6.8 kg; r = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reflect those similar in the literature with respect to the relationship between vertical jump and sprint speed. Uniquely, these data use a live-action, GPS-derived speed measure as opposed to measures of speed commonly recorded in an assessment-focused session