Middle Power Measurement in Semi-tethered Swimming using Ergometer Attachment

The purposes of this study weie to measure middle power, energy which had been supplied mainly from the lactic acid system, during swimming using an ergometer attachment and to evaluate swimming performance by this middle power To perform these purposes, a middle power measurement test in semi-tethered swimming (STS33) using an ergometer attachment was developed In STS33, the load of the ergometer attachment was set to 7.0kg and the power measurement interval was set at 5.0 seconds The subject was instructed to swim at full strength for 33.0 seconds Power measurements using the ergometer attachment were taken 3 times during the 33.0 seconds at the end of 10s, 20s and 30s respectively The first measurement (1st measured phase) was taken between 5 and 10 seconds from the start of the swim The second measurement (2nd measured phase) was taken between 15 and 20 seconds of the swim, and the third measuiement (3rd measured phase) was taken between 25 and 30 seconds from the start of the swim by the present investigators As in preliminary experiments, the exercise intensity of the STS33 was measured as the average blood lactate concentration produced by the work rate After each STS33, a blood sample was taken by a licensed nurse under supervision of a medical doctor Subjects were 5 junior elite swimmers designated to tram by the N prefecture Swim Association The group mean post exercise blood lactate concentration was 10 5mM/l These concentration of blood lactate was greater than the OBLA measurement of 4mM for lactate accumulation developing in the middle phase of a swim trial This result led to the conclusion that the STS33 test could be used to evaluate the middle power In a main experiment, 21 male elite junior swimmers were measured Middle power in swimming in each subject was measured by the above-mentioned STS33 and the relationship between the group mean middle power and group mean total swim time was analyzed The relationship between the average power (P watt) of the 3 measured phases in STS33 and swimming velocity (V m/sec) in 50m event was P =-134.53 + 87.02 V (r = 0.880, p≦0.001) The relationship between the average power (P) of the 3 phases in STS33 and swimming velocity (V) in 100m event was given by P = - 191.95 + 128.92 V ( r=0 940, p≦O.001) From these results, the middle power in STS33 is appropriate for evaluating swimming performances in 50m and 100m event

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Mechanical properties and reinforcement of Bi-2212 tubular bulk superconductor for current lead

High-Tc superconductor has been expected as a current lead between a low Tc superconductor and a power supply for a large-scale superconducting magnet system because of its advantages of a heat load to a cryogenic system and a high transfer current density. Bi-2212 bulk superconductor is a candidate material for this kind of current lead. To design a current lead using high-Tc superconductor, we investigated mechanical properties of a Bi-2212 bulk which was prepared by a diffusion process. A concept design of a current lead reinforced by using a glass-epoxy was considered