Does Sport Science need counseling?

Sports science is an emerging discipline in the field of science (Block, 2016). Traditionally sports science has been recognized as simply educating secondary school teachers in physical education. However, this notion has mostly passed as researchers within the field of sport and exercise sciences have contributed significantly to our understanding of the totality of the human condition. A good example as to the importance of modern day sport science is the large body of scientific evidence that regular and optimized physical activity can increase strength and endurance, substantially reduce the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cognitive decline and development of Alzheimer’s disease, and improve quality of life over the entire life span, with little or no side effects. A notion that is now immortalized in the concept that “exercise is medicine” (Berryman, 2010).In this context, some aspects of the modern day sports science department should be considered, in order not to jeopardize the great developments that have been made and future developments of the discipline

Power profiling and the power-duration relationship in cycling: a narrative review

[EN] Emerging trends in technological innovations, data analysis and practical applications have facilitated the measurement of cycling power output in the field, leading to improvements in training prescription, performance testing and race analysis. This review aimed to critically reflect on power profiling strategies in association with the power-duration relationship in cycling, to provide an updated view for applied researchers and practitioners. The authors elaborate on measuring power output followed by an outline of the methodological approaches to power profiling. Moreover, the deriving a power-duration relationship section presents existing concepts of power-duration models alongside exercise intensity domains. Combining laboratory and field testing discusses how traditional laboratory and field testing can be combined to inform and individualize the power profiling approach. Deriving the parameters of power-duration modelling suggests how these measures can be obtained from laboratory and field testing, including criteria for ensuring a high ecological validity (e.g. rider specialization, race demands). It is recommended that field testing should always be conducted in accordance with pre-established guidelines from the existing literature (e.g. set number of prediction trials, inter-trial recovery, road gradient and data analysis). It is also recommended to avoid single effort prediction trials, such as functional threshold power. Power-duration parameter estimates can be derived from the 2 parameter linear or non-linear critical power model: P(t) = W '/t + CP (W '-work capacity above CP; t-time). Structured field testing should be included to obtain an accurate fingerprint of a cyclist's power profile.Open access funding provided by University of Innsbruck and Medical University of Innsbruck. No funding was received for the preparation of this manuscript

The Mouse Gastrointestinal Bacteria Catalogue enables translation between the mouse and human gut microbiotas via functional mapping.

Funder: Royal SocietyHuman health and disease have increasingly been shown to be impacted by the gut microbiota, and mouse models are essential for investigating these effects. However, the compositions of human and mouse gut microbiotas are distinct, limiting translation of microbiota research between these hosts. To address this, we constructed the Mouse Gastrointestinal Bacteria Catalogue (MGBC), a repository of 26,640 high-quality mouse microbiota-derived bacterial genomes. This catalog enables species-level analyses for mapping functions of interest and identifying functionally equivalent taxa between the microbiotas of humans and mice. We have complemented this with a publicly deposited collection of 223 bacterial isolates, including 62 previously uncultured species, to facilitate experimental investigation of individual commensal bacteria functions in vitro and in vivo. Together, these resources provide the ability to identify and test functionally equivalent members of the host-specific gut microbiotas of humans and mice and support the informed use of mouse models in human microbiota research.Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by Wellcome Trust and Royal Society [206245/Z/17/Z]. Rosetrees Trust [A2194]. Wellcome Trust [098051]

The 2018 Global Research Expedition on Altitude-related Chronic Health (REACH) to Cerro de Pasco, Peru: An Experimental Overview

In 2016, the international research team - Global Research Expedition onAltitude-related Chronic Health (REACH) - was established and executed a high altituderesearch expedition to Nepal. The team consists of ~45 students, principal investigatorsand physicians with the common objective of conducting experiments focused on highaltitude adaptation in lowlanders, and highlanders with lifelong exposure to high altitude.In 2018, Global REACH traveled to Peru where we performed a series of experiments inthe Andean highlanders. The experimental objectives, organization and characteristics,and key cohort data from Global REACH's latest research expedition are outlined herein.Herein, fifteen major studies are described that aimed to elucidate the physiologicaldifferences in high altitude acclimatization between lowlanders (n=30) and Andean bornhighlanders with (n=22) and without (n=45) Excessive Erythrocytosis (EE). Afterbaseline testing in Kelowna, BC, Canada (344m), Global REACH travelled to Lima, Peru(~80 m), and then ascended by automobile to Cerro de Pasco, Peru (~4300m) whereexperiments were conducted over 25 days. The core studies focused on elucidating themechanism(s) governing cerebral and peripheral vascular function, cardiopulmonaryregulation, exercise performance, and autonomic control. Despite encountering seriouslogistical challenges, each of the proposed studies were completed at both sea level andhigh altitude amounting to ~780 study sessions and >3000 hrs of experimental testing.Participant demographics and data related to acid-base balance and exercise capacityare presented. The collective findings will contribute to our understanding of howlowlanders and Andean highlanders have adapted under high altitude stress

Reversing the Cardiac Effects of Sedentary Aging in Middle Age—A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundPoor fitness in middle age is a risk factor for heart failure, particularly heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. The development of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction is likely mediated through increased left ventricular (LV) stiffness, a consequence of sedentary aging. In a prospective, parallel group, randomized controlled trial, we examined the effect of 2 years of supervised high-intensity exercise training on LV stiffness.MethodsSixty-one (48% male) healthy, sedentary, middle-aged participants (53±5 years) were randomly assigned to either 2 years of exercise training (n=34) or attention control (control; n=27). Right heart catheterization and 3-dimensional echocardiography were performed with preload manipulations to define LV end-diastolic pressure-volume relationships and Frank-Starling curves. LV stiffness was calculated by curve fit of the diastolic pressure-volume curve. Maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2max) was measured to quantify changes in fitness.ResultsFifty-three participants completed the study. Adherence to prescribed exercise sessions was 88±11%. Vo2max increased by 18% (exercise training: pre 29.0±4.8 to post 34.4±6.4; control: pre 29.5±5.3 to post 28.7±5.4, group×time P<0.001) and LV stiffness was reduced (right/downward shift in the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationships; preexercise training stiffness constant 0.072±0.037 to postexercise training 0.051±0.0268, P=0.0018), whereas there was no change in controls (group×time P<0.001; pre stiffness constant 0.0635±0.026 to post 0.062±0.031, P=0.83). Exercise increased LV end-diastolic volume (group×time P<0.001), whereas pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was unchanged, providing greater stroke volume for any given filling pressure (loading×group×time P=0.007).ConclusionsIn previously sedentary healthy middle-aged adults, 2 years of exercise training improved maximal oxygen uptake and decreased cardiac stiffness. Regular exercise training may provide protection against the future risk of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction by preventing the increase in cardiac stiffness attributable to sedentary aging.Clinical trial registrationURL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02039154

Bilateral regional extracranial blood flow regulation to hypoxia and unilateral duplex ultrasound measurement error

Whether blood flow regulation to hypoxia is similar between left and right internal carotid arteries (ICA) and vertebral arteries (VA) is unclear. Extracranial blood flow is regularly calculated by doubling a unilateral assessment; however, lateral artery differences may lead to measurement error. This study aimed to determine extracranial blood flow regulation to hypoxia when factoring for vessel type (ICA or VA) and vessel side (left or right) effects, and investigate unilateral assessment measurement error compared to bilateral assessment. In a repeated-measures crossover design, extracranial arteries of 44 participants were assessed bilaterally by Duplex ultrasound during 90 minutes of normoxic and poikilocapnic hypoxic (12.0% fraction of inspired oxygen) conditions. Linear mixed model analyses revealed no ‘Condition’ × ‘Vessel Type’ × ‘Vessel Side’ interaction for blood flow, vessel diameter, and flow velocity (all P > 0.05) indicating left and right ICA and VA blood flow regulation to hypoxia was similar. Bilateral hypoxic reactivity was comparable [ICA, 1.4 (1.0) vs VA, 1.7 (1.1) Δ%·ΔSpO2-1; P = 0.12]. Compared to bilateral assessment, unilateral mean measurement error of the relative blood flow response to hypoxia was up to 5%, but individual errors reached 37% and were greatest in ICA and VA with the smaller resting blood flow due to a ratio-scaling problem. In conclusion, left and right ICA and VA regulation to hypoxia is comparable when factoring for vessel type and vessel side. Assessing the ICA and VA vessels with the larger resting blood flow, not the left or right vessel, reduces unilateral measurement error

Effect of gravity and microgravity on intracranial pressure

KEY POINTS: Astronauts have recently been discovered to have impaired vision, with a presentation that resembles syndromes of elevated intracranial pressure on Earth. Gravity has a profound effect on fluid distribution and pressure within the human circulation. In contrast to prevailing theory, we observed that microgravity reduces central venous and intracranial pressure. This being said, intracranial pressure is not reduced to the levels observed in the 90 deg seated upright posture on Earth. Thus, over 24 h in zero gravity, pressure in the brain is slightly above that observed on Earth, which may explain remodelling of the eye in astronauts. ABSTRACT: Astronauts have recently been discovered to have impaired vision, with a presentation that resembles syndromes of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). This syndrome is considered the most mission-critical medical problem identified in the past decade of manned spaceflight. We recruited five men and three women who had an Ommaya reservoir inserted for the delivery of prophylactic CNS chemotherapy, but were free of their malignant disease for at least 1 year. ICP was assessed by placing a fluid-filled 25 gauge butterfly needle into the Ommaya reservoir. Subjects were studied in the upright and supine position, during acute zero gravity (parabolic flight) and prolonged simulated microgravity (6 deg head-down tilt bedrest). ICP was lower when seated in the 90 deg upright posture compared to lying supine (seated, 4 ± 1 vs. supine, 15 ± 2 mmHg). Whilst lying in the supine posture, central venous pressure (supine, 7 ± 3 vs. microgravity, 4 ± 2 mmHg) and ICP (supine, 17 ± 2 vs. microgravity, 13 ± 2 mmHg) were reduced in acute zero gravity, although not to the levels observed in the 90 deg seated upright posture on Earth. Prolonged periods of simulated microgravity did not cause progressive elevations in ICP (supine, 15 ± 2 vs. 24 h head-down tilt, 15 ± 4 mmHg). Complete removal of gravity does not pathologically elevate ICP but does prevent the normal lowering of ICP when upright. These findings suggest the human brain is protected by the daily circadian cycles in regional ICPs, without which pathology may occur

Effect of gravity and microgravity on intracranial pressure

Da bi međuljudski privatni i poslovni odnosi bili uspješni, komunikacija je ključan faktor. Ona je, po definiciji, razmjena informacija, ideja i osjećaja verbalnim i neverbalnim sredstvima, a proizlazi iz komunikacijskih potreba sudionika. Za učinkovitost elementa komunikacije bitna je vještina govora i pisanja, a upravo se zbog toga učinkovitost komunikacije izjednačuje s verbalnim sposobnostima pojedinca. Osobna funkcija komunikacije te međusobna funkcija najvažnije su kada je u pitanju poslovna komunikacija, a njene osnovne komponente su poznavanje jezika, interakcijske vještine, te kulturno znanje. Pošiljatelj poruke nastoji biti uvjerljiv, a to će postići primjenom stručnog znanja posjedujući ekspertnu i referentnu moć. Kao što znamo, u velikoj većini slučajeva najvažniji je način na koji pričamo o određenoj temi, a nužno je znati način na koji zaintrigirati sudionika razgovora. Dogovoreni književni standard u govoru i pisanju prije svega nas osposobljava da se u istom kulturološko-nacionalnom krugu bolje razumijemo, da naša poruka bude jasna i učinkovitija, a kroz sve to da zadovoljava općeprihvaćene norme lijepoga. Takav način komunikacije štedi vrijeme, utječe na potencijalne korisnike usluga, klijente, stranke i sl.For succesful interpersonal and business relationship, communication is a key factor. It's defined as an exchange of information, ideas and feelings by verbal and non-verbal means, and arises from the communication needs of the participants. Personal function and mutual function are the most important when it comes to business comunication, and that's why communication efficiency can be the same as an individual's verbal ability. Basic components are cultural knowledge and language skills. The sender of the message tries to be convincing, and this could be achieved through the application of expertise, possessing expert and referential power. In most of the cases, the most important thing is how we talk about particular topic, and it's essential to know how to intrigue a participant in a conversation. The same standard in writing and speech, the same cultural circle can make us understand each other better, and this will make our message clear and effective, as it should be. This way of communication saves time, affects on potential service users, clients, parties, etc