Prior exercise impairs subsequent performance in an intensity- and duration-dependent manner

Prior constant-load exercise performed for 30-min at or above maximal lactate steady state (MLSSp) significantly impairs subsequent time-to-task failure (TTF) compared with TTF performed without prior exercise. We tested the hypothesis that TTF would decrease in relation to the intensity and the duration of prior exercise compared to a baseline TTF trial. Eleven individuals (6 men, 5 women, 28 ± 8 yrs) completed the following tests on a cycle ergometer (randomly assigned after MLSSp was determined): i) a ramp-incremental test, ii) a baseline TTF trial performed at 80% of peak power (TTFb), iii) five 30-min constant-PO rides at 5% below lactate threshold (LT-5%), halfway between LT and MLSSp (Delta50), 5% below MLSSp (MLSS-5%), MLSSp, and 5% above MLSSp (MLSS+5%), and iv) 15- and 45-min rides at MLSSp (MLSS15 and MLSS45, respectively). Each condition was immediately followed by a TTF trial at 80% of peak power. Compared to TTFb (330 ± 52s), there was 8.0 ± 24.1, 23.6 ± 20.2, 41.0 ± 14.8, 52.2 ± 18.9, and 75.4 ± 7.4% reduction in TTF following LT-5%, Delta50, MLSS-5%, MLSSp, and MLSS+5%, respectively. Following MLSS15 and MLSS45 there were 29.0 ± 20.1 and 69.4 ± 19.6% reductions in TTF, respectively (P <0.05). It is concluded that TTF is reduced following prior exercise of varying duration at MLSSp and at submaximal intensities below MLSS. Novelty: •Prior constant-PO exercise, performed at intensities below MLSSp, reduces subsequent TTF performance. •Subsequent TTF performance is reduced in a linear fashion following an increase in the duration of constant-PO exercise at MLSSp

The physiology of paragliding flight at moderate and extreme altitudes

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Mary Ann Liebert via the DOI in this recordThe physiology of paragliding flight at moderate and extreme altitudes. High Alt Med Biol 00:000–000, 2017.—Paragliding is a form of free flight, with extreme-altitude paragliding being an emerging discipline. We aimed to describe the physiological demands and the impact of environmental stressors of paragliding at moderate and extreme altitudes. We recorded oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (fR), tidal volume (VT), oxygen saturation, accelerometry (G), and altitude in 9.3 hours of flight at moderate altitudes (to 3073 m, n = 4), 19.3 hours at extreme altitude (to 7458 m, n = 2), and during high-G maneuvers (n = 2). We also analyzed HR data from an additional 17 pilots (138 hours) using the Flymaster Live database to corroborate our findings. All pilots were male. Overall energy expenditure at moderate altitude was low [1.7 (0.6) metabolic equivalents], but physiological parameters were notably higher during takeoff (p < 0.05). Pilots transiently reached ∼7 G during maneuvers. Mean HR at extreme altitude [112 (14) bpm] was elevated compared to moderate altitude [98 (15) bpm, p = 0.048]. Differences in pilots' VT and fR at moderate and extreme altitudes were not statistically significant (p = 0.96 and p = 0.058, respectively). Thus, we conclude that physical exertion in paragliding is low, suggesting that any subjective fatigue felt by pilots is likely to be cognitive or environmental. Future research should focus on reducing mental workload, enhancing cognitive function, and improving environmental protection.Equipment for the study was provided by the University of Portsmouth Department of Sports Science, the University of Exeter Link Fund Award and Research QR uplift fund. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr Juliana Pugmire (University of Glasgow) for review of the manuscript and advice regarding statistical analysis; Professor Adrian Thomas, Professor Sue Ward, Dr Pete Hodkinson, Dr Bonnie Posselt, Dr Tom Yeoman, Dr Ellie Heath; The Free Flight Physiology Project; CASE Medicine; Escape Paragliding, Ozone Chabre Open, SEARCH Projects, Flyeo, Flymaster Avionics and all the pilots who kindly volunteered to take part

Inter-limb differences in parameters of aerobic function and local profiles of deoxygenation during double-leg and counterweighted single-leg cycling

It is typically assumed that in the context of double-leg cycling, dominant ($DOM_L$$_E$$_G$) and non-dominant ($NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$) legs have similar aerobic capacity and that both contribute equally to the whole-body physiological responses. However, there is a paucity of studies that have systematically investigated maximal and submaximal aerobic performance and characterized the profiles of local muscle deoxygenation in relation to leg-dominance. Using counterweighted single-leg cycling, this study explored whether peak $O_2$ consumption ($V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$), maximal lactate steady-state ($MLSS_p$), and profiles of local deoxygenation [HHb] would be different in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ compared with the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$. Twelve participants performed a series of double-leg and counterweighted single-leg $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ and $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$$i)$ ramp-exercise tests, and $ii)$ 30-min constant-load trials. $V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$ was greater in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$ (2.87±0.42 vs 2.70±0.39 L·min-1; P<0.05). The difference in $V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$ persisted even after accounting for lean mass (P<0.05). Similarly, $MLSS_p$ was greater in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$ (118±31 vs 109±31 W; P<0.05). Furthermore, the amplitude of the [HHb] signal during ramp-exercise was larger in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$ during both double-leg (26.0±8.4 vs 20.2±8.8 µM; P<0.05) and counterweighted single-leg cycling (18.5±7.9 vs 14.9±7.5 µM; P<0.05). Additionally, the amplitudes of the [HHb] signal were highly-to-moderately correlated with the mode-specific $V̇O_2$$_p$$_e$$_a$$_k$ values (ranging from 0.91 to 0.54). These findings showed, in a group of young men, that maximal and submaximal aerobic capacities were greater in the $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ than in the $NDOM_L$$_E$$_G$, and that superior peripheral adaptations of $DOM_L$$_E$$_G$ may underpin these differences

Quantitative localized proton-promoted dissolution kinetics of calcite using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been used to determine quantitatively the kinetics of proton-promoted dissolution of the calcite (101̅4) cleavage surface (from natural “Iceland Spar”) at the microscopic scale. By working under conditions where the probe size is much less than the characteristic dislocation spacing (as revealed from etching), it has been possible to measure kinetics mainly in regions of the surface which are free from dislocations, for the first time. To clearly reveal the locations of measurements, studies focused on cleaved “mirror” surfaces, where one of the two faces produced by cleavage was etched freely to reveal defects intersecting the surface, while the other (mirror) face was etched locally (and quantitatively) using SECM to generate high proton fluxes with a 25 μm diameter Pt disk ultramicroelectrode (UME) positioned at a defined (known) distance from a crystal surface. The etch pits formed at various etch times were measured using white light interferometry to ascertain pit dimensions. To determine quantitative dissolution kinetics, a moving boundary finite element model was formulated in which experimental time-dependent pit expansion data formed the input for simulations, from which solution and interfacial concentrations of key chemical species, and interfacial fluxes, could then be determined and visualized. This novel analysis allowed the rate constant for proton attack on calcite, and the order of the reaction with respect to the interfacial proton concentration, to be determined unambiguously. The process was found to be first order in terms of interfacial proton concentration with a rate constant k = 6.3 (± 1.3) × 10–4 m s–1. Significantly, this value is similar to previous macroscopic rate measurements of calcite dissolution which averaged over large areas and many dislocation sites, and where such sites provided a continuous source of steps for dissolution. Since the local measurements reported herein are mainly made in regions without dislocations, this study demonstrates that dislocations and steps that arise from such sites are not needed for fast proton-promoted calcite dissolution. Other sites, such as point defects, which are naturally abundant in calcite, are likely to be key reaction sites

Quantum state preparation and macroscopic entanglement in gravitational-wave detectors

Long-baseline laser-interferometer gravitational-wave detectors are operating at a factor of 10 (in amplitude) above the standard quantum limit (SQL) within a broad frequency band. Such a low classical noise budget has already allowed the creation of a controlled 2.7 kg macroscopic oscillator with an effective eigenfrequency of 150 Hz and an occupation number of 200. This result, along with the prospect for further improvements, heralds the new possibility of experimentally probing macroscopic quantum mechanics (MQM) - quantum mechanical behavior of objects in the realm of everyday experience - using gravitational-wave detectors. In this paper, we provide the mathematical foundation for the first step of a MQM experiment: the preparation of a macroscopic test mass into a nearly minimum-Heisenberg-limited Gaussian quantum state, which is possible if the interferometer's classical noise beats the SQL in a broad frequency band. Our formalism, based on Wiener filtering, allows a straightforward conversion from the classical noise budget of a laser interferometer, in terms of noise spectra, into the strategy for quantum state preparation, and the quality of the prepared state. Using this formalism, we consider how Gaussian entanglement can be built among two macroscopic test masses, and the performance of the planned Advanced LIGO interferometers in quantum-state preparation

Search for Gravitational Wave Bursts from Soft Gamma Repeaters

We present the results of a LIGO search for short-duration gravitational waves (GWs) associated with Soft Gamma Repeater (SGR) bursts. This is the first search sensitive to neutron star f-modes, usually considered the most efficient GW emitting modes. We find no evidence of GWs associated with any SGR burst in a sample consisting of the 27 Dec. 2004 giant flare from SGR 1806-20 and 190 lesser events from SGR 1806-20 and SGR 1900+14 which occurred during the first year of LIGO's fifth science run. GW strain upper limits and model-dependent GW emission energy upper limits are estimated for individual bursts using a variety of simulated waveforms. The unprecedented sensitivity of the detectors allows us to set the most stringent limits on transient GW amplitudes published to date. We find upper limit estimates on the model-dependent isotropic GW emission energies (at a nominal distance of 10 kpc) between 3x10^45 and 9x10^52 erg depending on waveform type, detector antenna factors and noise characteristics at the time of the burst. These upper limits are within the theoretically predicted range of some SGR models.Comment: 6 pages, 1 Postscript figur

First LIGO search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic (super)strings

We report on a matched-filter search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic string cusps using LIGO data from the fourth science run (S4) which took place in February and March 2005. No gravitational waves were detected in 14.9 days of data from times when all three LIGO detectors were operating. We interpret the result in terms of a frequentist upper limit on the rate of gravitational wave bursts and use the limits on the rate to constrain the parameter space (string tension, reconnection probability, and loop sizes) of cosmic string models.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. Replaced with version submitted to PR

All-sky LIGO Search for Periodic Gravitational Waves in the Early S5 Data

We report on an all-sky search with the LIGO detectors for periodic gravitational waves in the frequency range 50--1100 Hz and with the frequency's time derivative in the range -5.0E-9 Hz/s to zero. Data from the first eight months of the fifth LIGO science run (S5) have been used in this search, which is based on a semi-coherent method (PowerFlux) of summing strain power. Observing no evidence of periodic gravitational radiation, we report 95% confidence-level upper limits on radiation emitted by any unknown isolated rotating neutron stars within the search range. Strain limits below 1.E-24 are obtained over a 200-Hz band, and the sensitivity improvement over previous searches increases the spatial volume sampled by an average factor of about 100 over the entire search band. For a neutron star with nominal equatorial ellipticity of 1.0E-6, the search is sensitive to distances as great as 500 pc--a range that could encompass many undiscovered neutron stars, albeit only a tiny fraction of which would likely be rotating fast enough to be accessible to LIGO. This ellipticity is at the upper range thought to be sustainable by conventional neutron stars and well below the maximum sustainable by a strange quark star.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Searching for a Stochastic Background of Gravitational Waves with LIGO

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has performed the fourth science run, S4, with significantly improved interferometer sensitivities with respect to previous runs. Using data acquired during this science run, we place a limit on the amplitude of a stochastic background of gravitational waves. For a frequency independent spectrum, the new limit is $\Omega_{\rm GW} < 6.5 \times 10^{-5}$. This is currently the most sensitive result in the frequency range 51-150 Hz, with a factor of 13 improvement over the previous LIGO result. We discuss complementarity of the new result with other constraints on a stochastic background of gravitational waves, and we investigate implications of the new result for different models of this background.Comment: 37 pages, 16 figure