Whole body vibration training and its application to age-related performance decrements:an exploratory analysis

Middle age is associated with a pronounced decline in power and flexibility. Whilst whole body vibration training (WBVT) improves performance in a range of populations, whether WBVT can improve muscle power and flexibility in a middle-aged population is not known. The present study aimed to determine the influence of 5 weeks progressive WBVT in middle-aged (45-55 yrs.) and younger (20-30 yrs.) recreationally active females. Participants in each age group were randomly allocated to an intervention (WBVT) or control group. The WBVT groups trained for five weeks on a vibration platform, while the control groups performed identical exercises, with no vibration. Prior to, and after, the five-week study vertical countermovement jump (VCMJ) and range of motion (ROM) performance were measured. WBVT significantly (P = 0.001) improved VCMJ performance when compared to the control groups. This improvement was significantly (P = 0.001) greater in the middle-aged compared with the younger WBVT group. WBVT significantly (P = 0.001) improved ROM irrespective of age. Taken together, these results suggest that WBVT can off-set age related performance decrements, which has therapeutic implications for musculoskeletal aging. Therefore, WBVT could be undertaken to minimise age-related performance deterioration in middle-aged female populations

Landauer Defended: Reply to Norton

Ladyman et al (2007) proposed a model of the implementation of logical operations by physical processes in order to clarify the exact statement of Landauer's Principle, and then ordered a new proof of the latter based on the construction of a thermodynamic cycle, arguing that if Landauer's Principle were false it would be possible to harness a machine that violated it to produce a violation of the second law of thermodynamics. In a recent paper in this journal, John Norton (2011) directly challenges the consistency of that proof. In the present paper we defend the proof given by Ladyman et al against his critique. In particular, contrary to what Norton claims, we argue that the pro- cesses used in the proof cannot be used to construct a cycle that enacts erasure in a thermodynamically reversible way, and that he does not show that the processes used in the proof violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Landauer Defended: Reply to Norton

Ladyman et al (2007) proposed a model of the implementation of logical operations by physical processes in order to clarify the exact statement of Landauer's Principle, and then ordered a new proof of the latter based on the construction of a thermodynamic cycle, arguing that if Landauer's Principle were false it would be possible to harness a machine that violated it to produce a violation of the second law of thermodynamics. In a recent paper in this journal, John Norton (2011) directly challenges the consistency of that proof. In the present paper we defend the proof given by Ladyman et al against his critique. In particular, contrary to what Norton claims, we argue that the pro- cesses used in the proof cannot be used to construct a cycle that enacts erasure in a thermodynamically reversible way, and that he does not show that the processes used in the proof violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Challenges for Maya Family Continuity in a Transbordered World

Migration between Central America and countries to the north has increased in scale as well as in contentiousness as a political challenge. Too often, those most involved are peripheral to public discourse and policies. Today sizeable numbers of families, including indigenous Maya families, are participants not only in movement but as through separations across national borders and time. Evolving strategies for maintaining or recreating social cohesion amid disruptions of migration and resettlement involve parents as well as children. Drawing on experiences of families from one highland Guatemalan community, and comparative research into adaptive strategies of immigrant families in the United States, we argue for the necessity of acknowledging current realities and shifting familial challenges that characterize millions of people in North America today

Containing the GMO Genie: Cattle Trespass and the Rights and Responsibilities of Biotechnology Owners

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have caused substantial economic losses by contaminating non-GMO crops and threatening the economic self-determination of non-GMO farmers. After Monsanto v. Schmeiser, biotech IP owners hold most of the rights in the property bundle with respect to bioengineered organisms. This commentary highlights the disequilibrium between these broad patent rights and the lack of legal responsibility for harms caused by GMO products. The authors propose that there is a role for tort law--specifically the tort of cattle trespass--in fairly allocating risk and responsibility. The doctrine of cattle trespass reflects a policy of distributive justice, positing that the unique risks associated with keeping living creatures ought to import liability based on the owner\u27s creation and control of those risks. We suggest that GM canola and its bioengineered kin represent the next generation of livestock, and that biotechnology companies release their transgenic organisms onto the market in the knowledge that these organisms may escape and do harm. As such, biotech creators and patent holders are properly liable when risk ripens into harm

Lobster Houses as a Sustainable Fishing Alternative

The Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) is overexploited throughout its range, primarily due to failures in fishery management. In addition to contributing to overexploitation, the primary lobster fishing methods used in the Caribbean are harmful to the environment and the health of the fishers. However, one method, lobster houses, shows particular promise for alleviating these negative effects, but only under certain environmental and socioeconomic conditions and using the recommended management practices. Lobster houses have been used for over half a century by fishing communities in Ascension Bay, Mexico; and Batábano Bay, Cuba; which are two of the most successful spiny lobster fisheries in the Caribbean. Success in these two communities has led to the implementation of lobster house projects throughout the region with varying levels of success. The objective of this study is to determine which factors contribute to the sustainability of the P. argus fishery through the examination of three lobster house case studies (Ascension Bay, Mexico; Batábano Bay, Cuba; and Miches, Dominican Republic) and the scientific literature that evaluates the sustainability of this fishery. Lobster houses can play a vital role in promoting sustainability throughout the Caribbean by simplifying management, reducing incidental environmental damage, reduce harvest rates of illegal segments of the lobster population, reducing health risks to fishers, and standardizing practices