SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M IM INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the women's 200 m individual medley (IM) at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four strokes velocities, stoke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists had a higher crawl velocity, turn 2 and 3 velocities than the non-medallist finalists. For the 16 swimmers, the final performance was mainly related to the second part of the race, breaststroke velocity (r = 0.83; p< 0.01), crawl velocity (r = 0.68; p < 0.01) and turn 3 velocity (r = 0.73; p < 0.01). From the stroke frequency and stroke length perspective, two different strategies were observed. However. they were not related to the final result

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS IN THE MEN'S 200 M BREASTSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the men's 200 m breaststroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four 50 m laps were analyzed to calculate the velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallist finalists in the third 50 m. In contrast, the percentage of the first 50 m swim duration was the longest. Compared to the semi-finalists, the medallists swam faster at all times except during the first 50 m. For the 16 swimmers, the 200 m breaststroke velocity was mainly related to the fourth 50 m lap velocity (r = 0.71; p < 0.01). From the stroke frequency and stroke length perspective, two different strategies were observed. However, these were not related to the final results

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M BREASTSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the women's 200 m breaststroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. For each of the four 50 m laps, stroke velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the nonmedallist finalists in the four 50 m laps of the race. However, the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, the medallists had a longer stroke length than the two other groups. For the 16 swimmers, the 200 m breaststroke velocity was mainly related to the velocity of the third and fourth 50 m laps (r = 0.88 and 0.86; p < 0.01). From the stroke frequency and stroke length perspective, three different technique strategies were observed. However, they were not related to the final result

Response of the Jovian thermosphere to a transient ‘pulse’ in solar wind pressure

The importance of the Jovian thermosphere with regard to magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling is often neglected in magnetospheric physics. We present the first study to investigate the response of the Jovian thermosphere to transient variations in solar wind dynamic pressure, using an azimuthally symmetric global circulation model coupled to a simple magnetosphere and fixed auroral conductivity model. In our simulations, the Jovian magnetosphere encounters a solar wind shock or rarefaction region and is subsequently compressed or expanded. We present the ensuing response of the coupling currents, thermospheric flows, heating and cooling terms, and the aurora to these transient events. Transient compressions cause the reversal, with respect to steady state, of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling currents and momentum transfer between the thermosphere and magnetosphere. They also cause at least a factor of two increase in the Joule heating rate. Ion drag significantly changes the kinetic energy of the thermospheric neutrals depending on whether the magnetosphere is compressed or expanded. Local temperature variations appear between View the MathML source for the compression scenario and View the MathML source for the expansion case. Extended regions of equatorward flow develop in the wake of compression events - we discuss the implications of this behaviour for global energy transport. Both compressions and expansions lead to a View the MathML source increase in the total power dissipated or deposited in the thermosphere. In terms of auroral processes, transient compressions increase main oval UV emission by a factor of ∼4.5 whilst transient expansions increase this main emission by a more modest 37%. Both types of transient event cause shifts in the position of the main oval, of up to 1° latitude

A model of force balance in Saturn's magnetodisc

We present calculations of magnetic potential associated with the perturbation of Saturn's magnetic field by a rotating, equatorially-situated disc of plasma. Such structures are central to the dynamics of the rapidly rotating magnetospheres of Saturn and Jupiter. They are `fed' internally by sources of plasma from moons such as Enceladus (Saturn) and Io (Jupiter). We use a scaled form of Euler potentials for the Jovian magnetodisc field (Caudal, 1986). In this formalism, the magnetic field is assumed to be azimuthally symmetric about the planet's axis of rotation, and plasma temperature is constant along a field line. We perturb the dipole potential by using simplified distributions of plasma pressure and angular velocity for both planets, based on observations by Cassini (Saturn) and Voyager (Jupiter). Our results quantify the degree of radial `stretching' exerted on the dipolar field lines through the plasma's rotational motion and pressure. A simplified version of the field model, the `homogeneous disc', can be used to easily estimate the distance of transition in the outer magnetosphere between pressure-dominated and centrifugally-dominated disc structure. We comment on the degree of equatorial confinement as represented by the scale height associated with disc ions of varying mass and temperature. For Saturn, we identify the principal forces which contribute to the magnetodisc current and make comparisons between the field structure predicted by the model and magnetic field measurements from Cassini. For Jupiter, we reproduce Caudal's original calculation in order to validate our model implementation. We also show that compared to Saturn, where plasma pressure gradient is, on average, weaker than centrifugal force, the outer plasmadisc of Jupiter is clearly a pressure-dominated structure.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in MNRA

Acute Stress Induces Contrasting Changes in AMPA Receptor Subunit Phosphorylation within the Prefrontal Cortex, Amygdala and Hippocampus

Exposure to stress causes differential neural modifications in various limbic regions, namely the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. We investigated whether α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) phosphorylation is involved with these stress effects. Using an acute inescapable stress protocol with rats, we found opposite effects on AMPA receptor phosphorylation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and dorsal hippocampus (DH) compared to the amygdala and ventral hippocampus (VH). After stress, the phosphorylation of Ser831-GluA1 was markedly decreased in the mPFC and DH, whereas the phosphorylation of Ser845-GluA1 was increased in the amygdala and VH. Stress also modulated the GluA2 subunit with a decrease in the phosphorylation of both Tyr876-GluA2 and Ser880-GluA2 residues in the amygdala, and an increase in the phosphorylation of Ser880-GluA2 in the mPFC. These results demonstrate that exposure to acute stress causes subunit-specific and region-specific changes in glutamatergic transmission, which likely lead to the reduced synaptic efficacy in the mPFC and DH and augmented activity in the amygdala and VH. In addition, these findings suggest that modifications of glutamate receptor phosphorylation could mediate the disruptive effects of stress on cognition. They also provide a means to reconcile the contrasting effects that stress has on synaptic plasticity in these regions. Taken together, the results provide support for a brain region-oriented approach to therapeutics

Vaccine Distrust: Investigation of the Views and Attitudes of Parents in Regard to Vaccination of Their Children

International audienceBACKGROUND: In France, many parents have lost confidence in vaccinations, which has a direct impact on immunization coverage. Pharmacists, like other health professionals, often encounter parents exhibiting vaccine distrust. METHODS: Using a survey distributed in a school and in a number of volunteering pharmacies, the objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the views and the attitude of parents in regard to vaccination of their children. RESULTS: Our results show that the main concerns were in regard to vaccine adjuvants, the risk of short- and long-term adverse effects, and the risk of developing a disease or a disability as a result of vaccination. The parents, although they tended to express a degree of reluctance and apprehension, in general, they were not opposed to vaccination, and they sought objective scientific information and full transparency regarding all aspects of vaccine composition, adverse effects, and effectiveness. Cooperation of all the parties involved in the health system on this subject is essential for a seamless chain of care and to improve vaccination coverage. CONCLUSION: The information collected, combined with a review of the international literature, allow avenues for dialogue adapted to parents' opinions to be established and thus assist health professionals to communicate effectively regarding vaccines, which is a bona fide public health issue