Interval running with self-selected recovery:Physiology, performance and perception

Item previously deposited in UWS repository at: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/publications/interval-running-with-self-selected-recovery-physiology-performanItem not available in this repository.Rosie Arthur – ORCID: 0000-0003-0651-4056 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0651-4056This study (1) compared the physiological responses and performance during a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session incorporating externally regulated (ER) and self-selected (SS) recovery periods and (2) examined the psychophysiological cues underpinning SS recovery durations. Following an incremental maximal exercise test to determine maximal aerobic speed (MAS), 14 recreationally active males completed 2 HIIT sessions on a non-motorised treadmill. Participants performed 12 × 30 s running intervals at a target intensity of 105% MAS interspersed with 30 s (ER) or SS recovery periods. During SS, participants were instructed to provide themselves with sufficient recovery to complete all 12 efforts at the required intensity. A semi-structured interview was undertaken following the completion of SS. Mean recovery duration was longer during SS (51 ± 15 s) compared to ER (30 ± 0 s; p < .001; d = 1.46 ± 0.46). Between-interval heart rate recovery was higher (SS: 19 ± 9 b min−1; ER: 8 ± 5 b min−1; p < .001; d = 1.43 ± 0.43) and absolute time ≥90% maximal heart rate (HRmax) was lower (SS: 335 ± 193 s; ER: 433 ± 147 s; p = .075; d = 0.52 ± 0.39) during SS compared to ER. Relative time ≥105% MAS was greater during SS (90 ± 6%) compared to ER (74 ± 20%; p < .01; d = 0.87 ± 0.40). Different sources of afferent information underpinned decision-making during SS. The extended durations of recovery during SS resulted in a reduced time ≥90% HRmax but enhanced time ≥105% MAS, compared with ER exercise. Differences in the afferent cue utilisation of participants likely explain the large levels of inter-individual variability observed.The authors wish to thank Oriam: Scotland’s National Performance Centre who provided funding to support a Masters studentship for Gary McEwan.https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2018.147281118pubpub

Decision-making accuracy of soccer referees in relation to markers of internal and external load

This study examined the relationships between the decision-making performances of soccer referees and markers of physiological load. Following baseline measurements and habituation procedures, 13 national-level male referees completed a novel Soccer Referee Simulation whilst simultaneously adjudicating on a series of video-based decision-making clips. The correctness of each decision was assessed in relation to the mean heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (VE), perceptions of breathlessness (RPE-B) and local muscular (RPE-M) exertion and running speeds recorded in the 10-s and 60-s preceding decisions. There was a significant association between decision-making accuracy and the mean HR (p = 0.042; VC = 0.272) and RR (p = 0.024, VC = 0.239) in the 10-s preceding decisions, with significantly more errors observed when HR ≥ 90% of HRmax (OR, 5.39) and RR ≥ 80% of RRpeak (OR, 3.34). Decision-making accuracy was also significantly associated with the mean running speeds performed in the 10-s (p = 0.003; VC = 0.320) and 60-s (p = 0.016; VC = 0.253) preceding decisions, with workloads of ≥250 m·min−1 associated with an increased occurrence of decisional errors (OR, 3.84). Finally, there was a significant association between decision-making accuracy and RPE-B (p = 0.021; VC = 0.287), with a disproportionate number of errors occurring when RPE-B was rated as “very strong” to “maximal” (OR, 7.19). Collectively, the current data offer novel insights into the detrimental effects that high workloads may have upon the decision-making performances of soccer referees. Such information may be useful in designing combined physical and decision-making training programmes that prepare soccer referees for the periods of match play that prove most problematic to their decision-making

Microbial diversity in the digestive tract of two different breeds of sheep

Aims: This work aims to determine the factors which play a role in establishing the microbial population throughout the digestive tract in ruminants and is necessary to enhance our understanding of microbial establishment and activity. Methods and Results: This study used Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) to investigate the microbial profiles of 11 regions of the digestive tract of two breeds of sheep (Beulah and Suffolk). TRFLP data revealed that the regions of the digestive tract were highly significantly different in terms of the composition of the bacterial communities within three distinct clusters of bacterial colonisation (foregut, midgut and hindgut). The data also show that breed was a significant factor in the establishment of the bacterial component of the microbial community, but that no difference was detected between ciliated protozoal populations. Conclusions: We infer that not only are the different regions of the tract important in determining the composition of the microbial communities in the sheep, but so too is the breed of the animal. Significance and Impact of Study: This is the first time that a difference has been detected in the digestive microbial population of two different breeds of sheep

Nitroarylurea-terminated supramolecular polymers that exhibit facile thermal repair and aqueous swelling-induced sealing of defects

Bi- and tri-armed polyethylene glycol units endcapped with nitroaryl urea units have been synthesised. These endcapped polymers are able to self-assemble via complementary supramolecular interactions, specifically urea-urea and nitro-urea hydrogen bonding, to afford materials with dramatically increased mechanical and thermal properties when compared to those of the uncapped polyethylene glycol precursors. Thin films of the capped polymeric systems are able to self-repair following defect creation. Control over the mechanical and thermal characteristics (in terms of bulk viscosity) of the self-assembled networks was achieved by varying the proportion of tri-armed to bi-armed self-assembly units included in the polymer. These systems demonstrate water absorption and swelling capabilities that are also controllable by varying the ratio of the two types of unit. These physical properties have been optimised to realise a secondary pathway to puncture-repair as a result of swelling on water contact

Talent identification and development strategies in elite women’s soccer: a pan-European perspective

The question of how best to identify and develop youth soccer players has received considerable attention from the scientific community. Existing literature has, however, largely focused on male players, with comparatively little exploration of the specific approaches employed within women’s soccer. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the key factors deemed important by elite women’s soccer clubs concerning the: 1) identification of potential talent; 2) development of players within the player pathway; and 3) selection of players for the next age group or senior team. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with 11 key representatives from seven elite women’s soccer clubs. Clubs were purposefully sampled to include the highest performing teams (38 domestic titles and 10 UEFA Women’s Champions League titles) from five European nations (Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis, resulting in six higher-order themes: 1) prioritising local talent; 2) recruitment from mixed grassroots leagues; 3) creating challenging developmental environments; 4) ensuring player wellbeing; 5) patience in decision-making; and 6) facilitating the youth-to-senior transition through a top-down approach. A total of 17 lower-order themes were subsequently identified. The present study offers novel insights of key strategies deemed important by some of the most successful women’s clubs in top-performing European nations. Future research examining the efficacy of such approaches could help inform the development of evidence-based practices for nurturing the next generation of elite female players.The work was supported by The Football Association.https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2404920aheadofprintaheadofprin

Decision-making accuracy of soccer referees in relation to markers of internal and external load

Rosie Arthur - ORCID: 0000-0003-0651-4056 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0651-4056Supplementary data for this paper is available at: https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/13683 .AM replaced with VoR 2024-03-18.This study examined the relationships between the decision-making performances of soccer referees and markers of physiological load. Following baseline measurements and habituation procedures, 13 national-level male referees completed a novel Soccer Referee Simulation (SRS) whilst simultaneously adjudicating on a series of video-based decision-making clips. The correctness of each decision was assessed in relation to the mean heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (V̇E), perceptions of breathlessness (RPE-B) and local muscular (RPE-M) exertion, and running speeds recorded in the 10-s and 60-s preceding decisions. There was a significant association between decision-making accuracy and the mean HR (P=0.042; VC=0.272) and RR (P=0.024, VC=0.239) in the 10-s preceding decisions, with significantly more errors observed when HR ≥90% of HRmax (OR, 5.39) and RR ≥80% of RRpeak (OR, 3.34). Decision-making accuracy was also significantly associated with the mean running speeds performed in the 10-s (P=0.003; VC=0.320) and 60-s (P=0.016; VC=0.253) preceding decisions, with workloads of ≥250 m·min-1 associated with an increased occurrence of decisional errors (OR, 3.84). Finally, there was a significant association between decision-making accuracy and RPE-B (P=0.021; VC=0.287), with a disproportionate number of errors occurring when RPE-B was rated as “very strong” to “maximal” (OR, 7.19). Collectively, the current data offer novel insights into the detrimental effects that high workloads may have upon the decision-making performances of soccer referees. Such information may be useful in designing combined physical and decision-making training programmes that prepare soccer referees for the periods of match play that prove most problematic to their decision-making.aheadofprintaheadofprin

Effect of longitudinal magnetic and density inhomogeneity on transversal coronal loop oscillations

Context. Observations of post-flare transversal coronal loop oscillations by TRACE have given us an excellent opportunity to implement magneto-seismological techniques for probing the plasma fine structure of the Sun's upper atmosphere. Aims. We investigate the combined effect of magnetic and density stratification on transversal coronal loop oscillations. Methods. A coronal loop will be modelled as an expanding magnetic flux tube with arbitrary longitudinal plasma density. The governing equation of the fast kink body mode is derived and solved by analytical approximation and numerical methods. Results. It is found that even a relatively small coronal loop expansion can have a significant and pronounced effect on the accuracy of the plasma density scale height measurements derived from observation of loop oscillations. Conclusions. To conduct more accurate and realistic magneto-seismology of coronal loops, the magnetic field divergence should be taken into account

Talent identification and development strategies in elite women’s soccer: a pan-European perspective

The question of how best to identify and develop youth soccer players has received considerable attention from the scientific community. Existing literature has, however, largely focused on male players, with comparatively little exploration of the specific approaches employed within women’s soccer. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the key factors deemed important by elite women’s soccer clubs concerning the: 1) identification of potential talent; 2) development of players within the player pathway; and 3) selection of players for the next age group or senior team. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with 11 key representatives from seven elite women’s soccer clubs. Clubs were purposefully sampled to include the highest performing teams (38 domestic titles and 10 UEFA Women’s Champions League titles) from five European nations (Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis, resulting in six higher-order themes: 1) prioritising local talent; 2) recruitment from mixed grassroots leagues; 3) creating challenging developmental environments; 4) ensuring player wellbeing; 5) patience in decision-making; and 6) facilitating the youth-to-senior transition through a top-down approach. A total of 17 lower-order themes were subsequently identified. The present study offers novel insights of key strategies deemed important by some of the most successful women’s clubs in top-performing European nations. Future research examining the efficacy of such approaches could help inform the development of evidence-based practices for nurturing the next generation of elite female players

Induction of Cytoprotective Pathways Is Central to the Extension of Lifespan Conferred by Multiple Longevity Pathways

Many genetic and physiological treatments that extend lifespan also confer resistance to a variety of stressors, suggesting that cytoprotective mechanisms underpin the regulation of longevity. It has not been established, however, whether the induction of cytoprotective pathways is essential for lifespan extension or merely correlated. Using a panel of GFP-fused stress response genes, we identified the suites of cytoprotective pathways upregulated by 160 gene inactivations known to increase Caenorhabditis elegans longevity, including the mitochondrial UPR (hsp-6, hsp-60), the ER UPR (hsp-4), ROS response (sod-3, gst-4), and xenobiotic detoxification (gst-4). We then screened for other gene inactivations that disrupt the induction of these responses by xenobiotic or genetic triggers, identifying 29 gene inactivations required for cytoprotective gene expression. If cytoprotective responses contribute directly to lifespan extension, inactivation of these genes would be expected to compromise the extension of lifespan conferred by decreased insulin/IGF-1 signaling, caloric restriction, or the inhibition of mitochondrial function. We find that inactivation of 25 of 29 cytoprotection-regulatory genes shortens the extension of longevity normally induced by decreased insulin/IGF-1 signaling, disruption of mitochondrial function, or caloric restriction, without disrupting normal longevity nearly as dramatically. These data demonstrate that induction of cytoprotective pathways is central to longevity extension and identify a large set of new genetic components of the pathways that detect cellular damage and couple that detection to downstream cytoprotective effectors.National Institute on Aging (AG16636