Physiological Profile of Male Competitive and Recreational Surfers

Surfing consists of both high- and low-intensity paddling of varying durations, using both the aerobic and anaerobic systems. Surf-specific physiological studies lack adequate group sample sizes, and V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak values are yet to determine the differences between competitive and recreational surfers. The purpose of this study was therefore to provide a comprehensive physiological profile of both recreational and competitive surfers. This multisite study involved 62 male surfers, recreational (n = 47) and competitive (n = 15). Anthropometric measurements were conducted followed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, anaerobic testing and finally aerobic testing. V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was significantly greater in competitive surfers than in recreational surfers (M = 40.71 ± 3.28 vs. 31.25 ± 6.31 ml·kg·min, p \u3c 0.001). This was also paralleled for anaerobic power (M = 303.93 vs. 264.58 W) for competitive surfers. Arm span and lean total muscle mass was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) correlated with key performance variables (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and anaerobic power). No significant (p ≥ 0.05) correlations were revealed between season rank and each of the variables of interest (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and anaerobic power). Key performance variables (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and anaerobic power) are significantly higher in competitive surfers, indicating that this is both an adaptation and requirement in this cohort. This battery of physiological tests could be used as a screening tool to identify an athlete\u27s weaknesses or strengths. Coaches and clinicians could then select appropriate training regimes to address weaknesses

Measurement of the CMS Magnetic Field

The measurement of the magnetic field in the tracking volume inside the superconducting coil of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector under construction at CERN is done with a fieldmapper designed and produced at Fermilab. The fieldmapper uses 10 3-D B-sensors (Hall probes) developed at NIKHEF and calibrated at CERN to precision 0.05% for a nominal 4 T field. The precise fieldmapper measurements are done in 33840 points inside a cylinder of 1.724 m radius and 7 m long at central fields of 2, 3, 3.5, 3.8, and 4 T. Three components of the magnetic flux density at the CMS coil maximum excitation and the remanent fields on the steel-air interface after discharge of the coil are measured in check-points with 95 3-D B-sensors located near the magnetic flux return yoke elements. Voltages induced in 22 flux-loops made of 405-turn installed on selected segments of the yoke are sampled online during the entire fast discharge (190 s time-constant) of the CMS coil and integrated offline to provide a measurement of the initial magnetic flux density in steel at the maximum field to an accuracy of a few percent. The results of the measurements made at 4 T are reported and compared with a three-dimensional model of the CMS magnet system calculated with TOSCA.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, 15 reference

KIF5A and the contribution of susceptibility genotypes as a predictive biomarker for multiple sclerosis

There is increasing interest in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) biomarkers that reflect central nervous system tissue injury to determine prognosis. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of kinesin superfamily motor protein KIF5A in MS by measuring levels of KIF5A in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) combined with analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs12368653 and rs703842) located within a MS susceptibility gene locus at chromosome 12q13–14 region. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure KIF5A in CSF obtained from two independent biobanks comprising non-inflammatory neurological disease controls (NINDC), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and MS cases. CSF KIF5A expression was significantly elevated in progressive MS cases compared with NINDCs, CIS and relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS). In addition, levels of KIF5A positively correlated with change in MS disease severity scores (EDSS, MSSS and ARMSSS), in RRMS patients who had documented disease progression at 2-year clinical follow-up. Copies of adenine risk alleles (AG/AA; rs12368653 and rs703842) corresponded with a higher proportion of individuals in relapse at the time of lumbar puncture (LP), higher use of disease-modifying therapies post LP and shorter MS duration. Our study suggests that CSF KIF5A has potential as a predictive biomarker in MS and further studies into the potential prognostic value of analysing MS susceptibility SNPs should be considered

National geological screening : the Pennines and adjacent areas

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about the Pennines and adjacent areas region to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK’s government White Paper Implementing geological disposal: a framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF

A blood-based metabolomics test to distinguish relapsing–remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: addressing practical considerations for clinical application

The transition from relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) represents a huge clinical challenge. We previously demonstrated that serum metabolomics could distinguish RRMS from SPMS with high diagnostic accuracy. As differing sample-handling protocols can affect the blood metabolite profile, it is vital to understand which factors may influence the accuracy of this metabolomics-based test in a clinical setting. Herein, we aim to further validate the high accuracy of this metabolomics test and to determine if this is maintained in a ‘real-life’ clinical environment. Blood from 31 RRMS and 28 SPMS patients was subjected to different sample-handling protocols representing variations encountered in clinics. The effect of freeze–thaw cycles (0 or 1) and time to erythrocyte removal (30, 120, or 240 min) on the accuracy of the test was investigated. For test development, samples from the optimised protocol (30 min standing time, 0 freeze–thaw) were used, resulting in high diagnostic accuracy (mean ± SD, 91.0 ± 3.0%). This test remained able to discriminate RRMS and SPMS samples that had experienced additional freeze–thaw, and increased standing times of 120 and 240 min with accuracies ranging from 85.5 to 88.0%, because the top discriminatory metabolite biomarkers from the optimised protocol remained discriminatory between RRMS and SPMS despite these sample-handling variations. In conclusion, while strict sample-handling is essential for the development of metabolomics-based blood tests, the results confirmed that the RRMS vs. SPMS test is resistant to sample-handling variations and can distinguish these two MS stages in the clinics

Radio Identity Verification-based IoT Security Using RF-DNA Fingerprints and SVM

It is estimated that the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices will reach 75 billion in the next five years. Most of those currently and soon-to-be deployed devices lack sufficient security to protect themselves and their networks from attacks by malicious IoT devices masquerading as authorized devices in order to circumvent digital authentication approaches. This work presents a Physical (PHY) layer IoT authentication approach capable of addressing this critical security need through the use of feature-reduced, Radio Frequency-Distinct Native Attributes (RF-DNA) fingerprints and Support Vector Machines (SVM). This work successfully demonstrates (i) authorized Identity (ID) verification across three trials of six randomly chosen radios at signal-to-noise ratios greater than or equal to 6 dB and (ii) rejection of all rogue radio ID spoofing attacks at signal-to-noise ratios greater than or equal to 3 dB using RF-DNA fingerprints whose features are selected using the Relief-F algorithm

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: quantifying the practice in Michigan - a hotspot state early in the pandemic - using a volunteer-based online survey

BACKGROUND: Public Health policies related to social distancing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic helped slow the infection rate. However, individual-level factors associated with social distancing are largely unknown. We sought to examine social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, an infection hotspot state in the United States early in the pandemic. METHODS: Two surveys were distributed to Michigan residents via email lists and social media following COVID-19 related state mandates in March; 45,691 adults responded to the first survey and 8512 to the second. Staying home ≥ 3 out of 5 previous days defined having more social distancing. Logistic regression models were used to examine potential factors associated with more social distancing. RESULTS: Most respondents were women (86% in Survey 1, 87% in Survey 2). In Survey 1, 63% reported more social distancing, increasing to 78% in Survey 2. Female sex and having someone (or self) sick in the home were consistently associated with higher social distancing, while increasing age was positively associated in Survey 1 but negatively associated in Survey 2. Most respondents felt social distancing policies were important (88% in Survey 1; 91% in Survey 2). CONCLUSIONS: Michiganders responding to the surveys were both practicing and supportive of social distancing. State-level executive orders positively impacted behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan. Additional supports are needed to help vulnerable populations practice social distancing, including older individuals