The Athletic Profile of Fast Bowling in Cricket : A Review

Cricket is a global sport played in over 100 countries with elite performers attracting multimillion dollar contracts. Therefore, performers maintaining optimum physical fitness and remaining injury free is important. Fast bowlers have a vital position in a cricket team, and there is an increasing body of scientific literature that has reviewed this role over the past decade. Previous research on fast bowlers has tended to focus on biomechanical analysis and injury prevention in performers. However, this review aims to critically analyze the emerging contribution of physiological-based literature linked to fast bowling in cricket, highlight the current evidence related to simulated and competitive in-match performance, and relate this practically to the conditioning coach. Furthermore, the review considers limitations with past research and possible avenues for future investigation. It is clear with the advent of new applied mobile monitoring technology that there is scope for more ecologically valid and longitudinal exploration capturing in-match data, providing quantification of physiological workloads, and analysis of the physical demands across the differing formats of the game. Currently, strength and conditioning specialists do not have a critical academic resource with which to shape professional practice, and this review aims to provide a starting point for evidence in the specific areaPeer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

ICS and COPD: Time to clear the air

Paul A Ford, Richard EK Russell, Peter J BarnesAirway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UKThe debate about what constitutes the correct treatment for COPD has recently intensified. This discussion has grumbled on ever since the first multicenter trials using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as the European Respiratory Society study on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (EUROSCOP) and Inhaled Steroids in Obstructive Lung Disease (ISOLDE) were published in the late 1990’s and the results of trials such as TORCH (TOwards a Revolution in COPD Health) using combination products has only added to the confusion

Exponential Divergence and Long Time Relaxation in Chaotic Quantum Dynamics

Phase space representations of the dynamics of the quantal and classical cat map are used to explore quantum--classical correspondence in a K-system: as $\hbar \to 0$, the classical chaotic behavior is shown to emerge smoothly and exactly. The quantum dynamics near the classical limit displays both exponential separation of adjacent distributions and long time relaxation, two characteristic features of classical chaotic motion.Comment: 10 pages, ReVTeX, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. 13 figures NOT included. Available either as LARGE (uuencoded gzipped) postscript files or hard-copies from [email protected]

Bolus-Infusion Delays of Alteplase during Thrombolysis in Acute Ischaemic Stroke and Functional Outcome at 3 Months

Background. The efficacy of alteplase in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is highly time dependent. Hence, alteplase is administered as soon as possible with a bolus followed by an infusion. Delays between bolus and infusion may occur, but the extent of these delays and the impact on outcome are unclear. Aims. We investigated the extent of bolus-infusion delays and the relationship between delays and stroke outcome. Method. We reviewed medical records of 276 patients who received alteplase for AIS at our centre between April, 2008, and June, 2013. Complete demographic and clinical data including 3-month modified Rankin Score (mRS) from 229 patients were analysed comparing delays of 0–8 and >8 minutes. Results. Overall mean (SD) bolus-infusion delay was 9 (7) minutes. Baseline characteristics were similar apart from more severe strokes in delays >8 minutes. Three-month outcomes were not significantly different although delays >8 minutes had lower functional independence rate (mRS 0-1: 23.1% versus 28.1%; adjusted OR 1.2 (95% CI 0.6 to 2.4, P=0.68)) and higher mortality rate (18% versus 11%, OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.7, P=0.95). Conclusions. In this single centre series, bolus-infusion delays of alteplase in AIS were common and no effect of bolus-infusion delays on independence and mortality was found

Bioharness multivariable monitoring device. Part I: Validity

The BioharnessTM monitoring system may provide physiological information on human performance but there is limited information on its validity. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of all 5 BioharnessTM variables using a laboratory based treadmill protocol. 22 healthy males participated. Heart rate (HR), Breathing Frequency (BF) and Accelerometry (ACC) precision were assessed during a discontinuous incremental (0- 12 km·h-1) treadmill protocol. Infra-red skin temperature (ST) was assessed during a 45 min-1 sub-maximal cycle ergometer test, completed twice, with environmental temperature controlled at 20 ±0.1 °C and 30 ± 0.1 °C. Posture (P) was assessed using a tilt table moved through 160°. Adopted precision of measurement devices were; HR: Polar T31 (Polar Electro), BF: Spirometer (Cortex Metalyser), ACC: Oxygen expenditure (Cortex Metalyser), ST: Skin thermistors (Grant Instruments), P:Goniometer (Leighton Flexometer). Strong relationships (r = .89 to .99, p \u3c 0.01) were reported for HR, BF, ACC and P. Limits of agreement identified differences in HR (-3.05±32.20 b·min-1), BF (-3.46 ± 43.70 br·min-1) and P (0.20 ± 2.62°). ST established a moderate relationships (-0.61 ± 1.98 °C; r = 0.76, p \u3c 0.01). Higher velocities on the treadmill decreased the precision of measurement, especially HR and BF. Global results suggest that the BioharressTM is a valid multivariable monitoring device within the laboratory environment

Bioharness multivariable monitoring device. Part II: Reliability

The BioharnessTM monitoring system may provide physiological information on human performance but the reliability of this data is fundamental for confidence in the equipment being used. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of each of the 5 BioharnessTM variables using a treadmill based protocol. 10 healthy males participated. A between and within subject design to assess the reliability of Heart rate (HR), Breathing Frequency (BF), Accelerometry (ACC) and Infra-red skin temperature (ST) was completed via a repeated, discontinuous, incremental treadmill protocol. Posture (P) was assessed by a tilt table, moved through 160o. Between subject data reported low Coefficient of Variation (CV) and strong correlations(r) for ACC and P (CV\u3c 7.6; r = 0.99, p \u3c 0.01). In contrast, HR and BF (CV~19.4; r~0.70, p \u3c 0.01) and ST (CV 3.7; r = 0.61, p \u3c 0.01), present more variable data. Intra and inter device data presented strong relationships (r \u3e 0.89, p \u3c 0.01) and low CV

The Rotating Quantum Vacuum

We derive conditions for rotating particle detectors to respond in a variety of bounded spacetimes and compare the results with the folklore that particle detectors do not respond in the vacuum state appropriate to their motion. Applications involving possible violations of the second law of thermodynamics are briefly addressed.Comment: Plain TeX, 10 pages (to appear in PRD