133 research outputs found
Physical characteristics explain ball-carrying capability in sub-elite rugby union players.
The aims of the present study were two-fold: (i) to investigate the relationship between physical characteristics and the game statistics associated with ball-carrying capability amongst sub-elite rugby union players; and (ii) to predict the level of change in these physical characteristics required to improve the associated game statistic via regression analysis. Thirty-eight senior professional players (forwards, n = 22; backs, n = 16) were assessed for body mass (BM), back squat (BS) single-repetition maximum (1RM) normalised to BM (1RM/BM), 10 m sprint velocity (S10), 10 m sprint momentum (SM10), and the game statistics from 22 games within the 2019/20 RFU Championship season. The relationship between these measures and the predicted level of change in a physical measure required to improve the total number of the associated game statistic by one were assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and simple regression analyses. In forwards, an ~ 11.5% reduction in BM, an ~ 11.8% improvement in BS 1RM/BM, or an ~ 11.5% increase in S10 was required to improve the game statistics associated with ball-carrying capability. In backs, a ~ 19.3% increase in BM or a ~ 15.6% improvement in SM10 was required. These findings demonstrate that improvements in lower-body relative strength, acceleration performance, and position-specific alterations in body mass are required to maximise the ball-carrying capability and therefore match outcome of sub-elite rugby union players
Blueberry Advisory Committee Research Report
The 1985 edition of the Blueberry Progress Reports was prepared for the Maine Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include:
1. Control of secondary blueberry pest insects
2. Effect of pruning practices on blueberry insect abundance
3. Effect of hexazinone on species distribution in lowbush blueberry fields
4. Dichlobenil for control of bunchberry
5. Evaluation of postemergence herbicides for grass control
6. Hand-wiper applications of herbicides on woody weeds
7. Evaluation of steam as a pruning practice for lowbush blueberry fields
8. Evaluation of glyphosate and 2,4-D applied with a commercial weed roller to control woody weeds
9. Hand-wiping and cutting treatments for dogbane
9. Evaluation of airblast-sprayer application of asulam for bracken fern control
10. Spot treatment of woody weeds with 2,4-D in oil
11. Chemical control of Botrytis blossom blight
12. Evaluation of preliminary steam treatments (1984) at Blueberry Hill Farm
13. Long term effects of N and NPK fertilizer on plant growth and yield
14. Nutritional survey of selected lowbush blueberry fields
15. Interaction of fertility and pruning practices on soil characteristics and lowbush blueberry growth and yield
16. Frequency of fertility application for establishment of lowbush blueberry seedlings
17. Slow release vs. liquid fertilizer for establishment of lowbush blueberry seedlings
18. The effect of several mulches on frost heaving, soil moisture, soil temperature and rhizome development
19. Blueberry product development: raisin-type blueberries
20. Blueberry product development: blueberry puree
21. Addendum: 1985 Report from Moody Trevet
Phonon anomalies and electron-phonon interaction in RuSr_2GdCu_2O_8 ferromagnetic superconductor: Evidence from infrared conductivity
Critical behavior of the infrared reflectivity of RuSr_2GdCu_2O_8 ceramics is
observed near the superconducting T_{SC} = 45 K and magnetic T_M = 133 K
transition temperatures. The optical conductivity reveals the typical features
of the c-axis optical conductivity of strongly underdoped multilayer
superconducting cuprates. The transformation of the Cu-O bending mode at 288
cm^{-1} to a broad absorption peak at the temperatures between T^* = 90 K and
T_{SC} is clearly observed, and is accompanied by the suppression of spectral
weight at low frequencies. The correlated shifts to lower frequencies of the
Ru-related phonon mode at 190 cm^{-1} and the mid-IR band at 4800 cm^{-1} on
decreasing temperature below T_M are observed. It provides experimental
evidence in favor of strong electron-phonon coupling of the charge carriers in
the Ru-O layers which critically depends on the Ru core spin alignment. The
underdoped character of the superconductor is explained by strong hole
depletion of the CuO_2 planes caused by the charge carrier self-trapping at the
Ru moments.Comment: 11 pages incl. 5 figures, submitted to PR
Blueberry Advisory Committee Extension Report
The 1986 edition of the Blueberry Advisory Committee Extension Reports was prepared for the Maine Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include:
1. Fertility Levels
2. Insect and Disease Fact Sheets
3. Development of Insect ID Information for Growers
4. Effect of Pruning Practices an Blueberry Insect Abundance
5. Control of Blueberry Maggot (Alternatives to Guthion)
6. Economic Thresholds and Control of Secondary Blueberry Pests
7. Chemical Control of Mummyberry Disease
8. Chemical Control of Botrytis Bloom Blight
9. Effects of Late Summer Fungicide Applications
10. Mowing vs. Burning - Comparisons of Disease Incidence
11. Long-term Effects of N and NPK Fertilizer on Plant Growth and Yield
12. Effect of Several Mulches on Frost Heaving, Soil Moisture, Soil Temperature and Rhizome Development
13. Interaction of Fertility and Pruning Practices on Soil
14. Effect of Block Freezing on Physical Characterization and Sugar Migration on Lowbush Blueberries
15. Demonstration of the Rota-Cone Vacuum Drying Process on Lowbush Blueberries
16. Production of a Blueberry Gelatin
17. Isolation and Characterization of Blueberry Pectin
18. The Effect of pH, Chemicals and Holding time-temperature on the color of Blueberry Puree
19. Effect of Hexazinone on Species Distribution in Lowbush Blueberry Fields
20. Evaluation of Postemergent Herbicides for Grass Control
21. Evaluation of Sulfonyl urea and lmidazoline compounds for Bunchberry Control
22. Use of Mechanical wiper with glyphosate or dicamba for control of dogbane
23. Hand-wiper Applications of Herbicides on Woody Weeds
24. Dogbane Control with 2% Glyphosate
25. Low Volume Solution of Asulam for Bracken Fern Control
26. Integrated Weed Management
27. 1986 Annual Report to the Maine Lowbush Blueberry Commissio
Blueberry Advisory Committee Research Report
The 1984 edition of the Blueberry Progress Reports was prepared for the Maine Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include:
1. Control, biology, and ecology of insects affecting lowbush blueberries .
2. Chemical control of mummyberry disease (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi)
3. New Fungicides for control of Botrytis blossom blight
4. Nutritional survey of selected lowbush blueberry fields
5. Interaction of fertility and pruning practices on soil characteristics and lowbush blueberry growth and yield
6. Long term effects of N and NPK fertilizer on plant growth and yield
7. The effect of N fertilization on clonal spread
8. Nutritional responses of the lowbush blueberry in new plantings as related to early establishment
9. The effect of several mulches on frost heaving, soil moisture, soil temperature and rhizome development
10. Effectiveness of mulches and planted lowbush blueberry seedlings for stabilizing soils and increasing plant cover
11. Effect of surface mulches on stabilizing lowbush blueberry soil in barren areas
12. Frequency of fertility application for establishment of lowbush blueberry seedlings
13. Slow release vs liquid fertilizer for establishment of lowbush blueberry seedlings
14. Comparison of rooted cuttings and tissue culture propagated lowbush blueberry plants
15. The effect of growth regulator formulations on growth and rhizome production of the lowbush blueberry
16. Unburned, mowed fields
17. Blueberry concentrate
18. Blueberry product development
19. Dehydrated blueberries
20. Low-calorie blueberry jellies
21. Hexazinone and terbacil mixture for weed control
22. Hexazinone and atrazine mixture for weed control
23. Effect of hexazinone and nitrogen or nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer on lowbush blueberry plants
24. Hand-wiper applications of herbicides on birch, maple and willow
25. Glyphosate applied after leaf drop for bunchberry control
26. Napropamide for seedling weed control
27. PP333 plant growth regulator
28. Dichlobenil for bunchberry control
29. Effect of hexazinone on weed and blueberry populations
30. Fluazifop-butyl for grass control
31. Hand-wiping and cutting treatments for dogbane
32. Evaluation of airblast sprayer application of asulam for bracken fern control
33. Evaluation of spot treatment of woody weeds with 2,4-D in oil
34. Steam heat as a control of mummyberry diseas
Blueberry Progress Reports
The 1983 edition of the Blueberry Progress Reports was prepared for the Maine Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Maine Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include:
1. Introduction
2. Forest Tent Caterpillar in Blueberries
3. Control, Biology, and Ecology of Insects Affecting Lowbush Blueberries
4. Blueberry Diseases: Incidence and Control
5. Physiology and Culture of the Lowbush Blueberry
6. Weed Control in Lowbush Blueberry Fields
7. Product Development of Lowbush Blueberrie
Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Northern Ireland during 2020–2021
BackgroundWith the spread of SARS-CoV-2 impacting upon public health directly and socioeconomically, further information was required to inform policy decisions designed to limit virus spread during the pandemic. This study sought to contribute to serosurveillance work within Northern Ireland to track SARS-CoV-2 progression and guide health strategy.MethodsSera/plasma samples from clinical biochemistry laboratories were analysed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Samples were assessed using an Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 or anti-SARS-CoV-2 S ECLIA (Roche) on an automated cobas e 801 analyser. Samples were also assessed via an anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA (Euroimmun). A subset of samples assessed via the Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 ECLIA were subsequently analysed in an ACE2 pseudoneutralisation assay using a V-PLEX SARS-CoV-2 Panel 7 for IgG and ACE2 (Meso Scale Diagnostics).ResultsAcross three testing rounds (June–July 2020, November–December 2020 and June–July 2021 (rounds 1–3 respectively)), 4844 residual sera/plasma specimens were assayed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seropositivity rates increased across the study, peaking at 11.6 % (95 % CI 10.4%–13.0 %) during round 3. Varying trends in SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity were noted based on demographic factors. For instance, highest rates of seropositivity shifted from older to younger demographics across the study period. In round 3, Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant neutralising antibodies were most frequently detected across age groups, with median concentration of anti-spike protein antibodies elevated in 50–69 year olds and anti-S1 RBD antibodies elevated in 70+ year olds, relative to other age groups.ConclusionsWith seropositivity rates of <15 % across the assessment period, it can be concluded that the significant proportion of the Northern Ireland population had not yet naturally contracted the virus by mid-2021
Retinal repair by transplantation of photoreceptor precursors
Photoreceptor loss causes irreversible blindness in many retinal diseases. Repair of such damage by cell transplantation is one of the most feasible types of central nervous system repair; photoreceptor degeneration initially leaves the inner retinal circuitry intact and new photoreceptors need only make single, short synaptic connections to contribute to the retinotopic map. So far, brain- and retina-derived stem cells transplanted into adult retina have shown little evidence of being able to integrate into the outer nuclear layer and differentiate into new photoreceptors(1-4). Furthermore, there has been no demonstration that transplanted cells form functional synaptic connections with other neurons in the recipient retina or restore visual function. This might be because the mature mammalian retina lacks the ability to accept and incorporate stem cells or to promote photoreceptor differentiation. We hypothesized that committed progenitor or precursor cells at later ontogenetic stages might have a higher probability of success upon transplantation. Here we show that donor cells can integrate into the adult or degenerating retina if they are taken from the developing retina at a time coincident with the peak of rod genesis(5). These transplanted cells integrate, differentiate into rod photoreceptors, form synaptic connections and improve visual function. Furthermore, we use genetically tagged postmitotic rod precursors expressing the transcription factor Nrl (ref. 6) ( neural retina leucine zipper) to show that successfully integrated rod photoreceptors are derived only from immature post-mitotic rod precursors and not from proliferating progenitor or stem cells. These findings define the ontogenetic stage of donor cells for successful rod photoreceptor transplantation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62596/1/nature05161.pd
Health care professionals' views on discussing sexual wellbeing with patients who have had a stroke: A qualitative study
OBJECTIVES:
To examine the experiences of health care professionals discussing sexual wellbeing with patients who have had a stroke.
DESIGN:
In-depth qualitative interview study with purposive sampling and thematic analysis.
PARTICIPANTS:
30 health care professionals purposively recruited to include different roles and settings along the stroke patient pathway in secondary and primary care.
SETTING:
Two hospitals and three general practices in the West Midlands, UK.
RESULTS:
Sexual wellbeing was a topic that participants did not raise with patients and was infrequently raised by patients. Barriers to raising discussion were on four levels: structural, health care professional, patient, and professional-patient interface. Barriers within these levels included: sexual wellbeing not present within hospital stroke policy; the perception that sexual wellbeing was not within participants' role; participants' concern that raising the issue could cause harm to the patient; and the views that discussion would be inappropriate with older people or unimportant to women. Resources exist to aid discussion but many participants were unaware of them, and most of those that were, did not use them routinely.
CONCLUSIONS:
Participants lacked motivation, ownership, and the confidence and skills to raise sexual wellbeing routinely after stroke. Similar findings have been reported in cancer care and other taboo subjects such as incontinence potentially resulting in a sub-optimal experience for patients. Normalisation of the inclusion of sensitive topics in discussions post-stroke does not seem to need significant structural intervention and simple changes such as information provision and legitimisation through consideration of the issue in standard care policies may be all that is required. The experiences recounted by professionals in this study suggest that such changes are needed now
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