The effect of a carbohydrate mouth rinse on performance of the yo-yo intermittent recovery level 1 test with female university level hockey players

It has been suggested that carbohydrate mouth rinse (CHO-MR) effects short duration, high intensity exercise by activation of sensory receptors on the tongue (Carter et al., 2004: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36, 2107–2111). Research has predominately focused on the effects of CHO-MR on the performance of cycling and running time trials (Painelli et al., 2010: Nutritional Journal, 9, 1-4). Limited research has been conducted on the effectiveness of a CHO-MR on intermittent high-intensity field-based sports performance. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a CHO mouth rinse on performance of the Yo-yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Test (IR1T) with female University standard hockey players. Following ethical approval, twelve members (mean age 20 ± 0.98 years, stature 167 ± 7.09 cm, and body mass 64.7 ± 4.96 kg) of the University of Lincoln’s female 1st team volunteered for the study. The study used a single-blind counter-balanced design with repeated measures on two treatment conditions: 1) a CHO-MR, and 2) a placebo mouth rinse (PL-MR). Participants were instructed to maintain a normal diet and fasted for 12hr prior to testing. After a familiarisation test, twelve participants completed the IR1T twice, one week apart; rinsing with either a CHO-MR or PL-MR. Administration occurred before (20min prior) the IR1T and during the 10s active recovery periods, at intervals (IV) which corresponded to five level increments in speed (IV1-13.5km/h, IV2-14km/h, IV3-14.5km/h, IV4-15km/h, IV5-15km/h). At these points, rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded using the traditional Borg scale. Total distance (m) achieved was recorded as the performance measure. A dependent t-test did not detect any performance improvement (P = >0.05) between CHO-MR (1060 ± 273m) and PL-MR (1127 ± 402m) trials. Multiple dependent t-tests revealed that at the first IV (SL 12.1), RPE scores were significantly different (P = 0.006) between CHO-MR (10.9 ± 0.79) and PL-MR (11.4 ± 1.08) trials. No differences were detected between CHO-MR and PL-MR trials during the rest of the protocol (IV2-5, all P = >0.05). A CHO-MR had no effect on IR1T test performance with female university level hockey players compared to a PL-MR. The participants did not experience any differences in the feeling of exertion between the two conditions as the IR1T progressed. Further research needs to illuminate any possible performance effects from CHO-MR with intermittent high intensity activity, revealing any plausible physiological mechanisms of action

Host genotype and age shape the leaf and root microbiomes of a wild perennial plant

Bacteria living on and in leaves and roots influence many aspects of plant health, so the extent of a plant's genetic control over its microbiota is of great interest to crop breeders and evolutionary biologists. Laboratory-based studies, because they poorly simulate true environmental heterogeneity, may misestimate or totally miss the influence of certain host genes on the microbiome. Here we report a large-scale field experiment to disentangle the effects of genotype, environment, age and year of harvest on bacterial communities associated with leaves and roots of Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae), a perennial wild mustard. Host genetic control of the microbiome is evident in leaves but not roots, and varies substantially among sites. Microbiome composition also shifts as plants age. Furthermore, a large proportion of leaf bacterial groups are shared with roots, suggesting inoculation from soil. Our results demonstrate how genotype-by-environment interactions contribute to the complexity of microbiome assembly in natural environments

Assessing the Integration of Climate Change and Development Strategies at Local Levels: Insights from Muheza District, Tanzania

Integration of climate change measures in local development planning and delivery of Climate Compatible Development (CCD) at local levels is widely advocated to assist achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Such integration is not straightforward, and limited knowledge on multi-level governance of CCD exists. To progress this critical enquiry, we build on the concept of Climate Policy Integration (CPI) to assess how climate change measures are integrated in local development planning. We investigate the existing institutional arrangements across local levels (village to district) and sectors, and the barriers to and opportunities for CCD within local government authorities (LGAs). Particularly, we draw on qualitative analysis of local development policy and interviews conducted with LGAs in Muheza District of Tanzania. Findings show that several barriers, including under-resourcing, unreliable information on climate impacts, and the lack of guidelines for climate-development in key national policies are hindering the process towards CCD in local development planning. This study suggests that building capacity both within LGAs and at the national level are required to achieve CCD at sub-national levels. Currently, measures to address climate change are mostly implemented by development partners, so coordination between LGAs and these external stakeholders is essential to ensure consistency between climate and development objectives. Finally, our findings support a flexible approach to CCD, where emphasis on each of the three components of CCD—mitigation, adaptation, and development—can vary across time and space

Modelling environmental changes and effects on wild-caught species in Queensland. Environmental drivers.

We report on the findings of a collaborative research project that was designed to identify and measure the effects of environmental drivers on the abundance and population dynamics of key Queensland fishery species. The project was co-funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the University of Queensland (UQ), the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). The research team applied modern statistical, data science and modelling techniques in combination with biological insights into the life cycles of the three target species. Background With increasing evidence that environmental conditions in the marine environment are changing rapidly, it is becoming ever more important to understand how these changes may impact on the population dynamics and abundance of important fish stocks. Understanding the influence of environmental conditions can provide greater certainty that the risk of overfishing (under adverse environmental conditions) or under harvesting (under favourable conditions) are accounted for by resource managers. This project aimed to identify the environmental factors which may be influencing the recruitment, catchability or productivity of Snapper, Pearl Perch, and Spanner Crab stocks in Queensland. Results from this work will support sustainable management of Queensland’s fisheries by directly informing the assessment and management of these key species within Queensland waters

Community health volunteers could help improve access to and use of essential health services by communities in LMICs: an umbrella review.

A number of primary studies and systematic reviews focused on the contribution of community health workers (CHWs) in the delivery of essential health services. In many countries, a cadre of informal health workers also provide services on a volunteer basis [community health volunteers (CHV)], but there has been no synthesis of studies investigating their role and potential contribution across a range of health conditions; most existing studies are narrowly focused on a single condition. As this cadre grows in importance, there is a need to examine the evidence on whether and how CHVs can improve access to and use of essential health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We report an umbrella review of systematic reviews, searching PubMed, the Cochrane library, the database of abstracts of reviews of effects (DARE), EMBASE, ProQuest dissertation and theses, the Campbell library and DOPHER. We considered a review as 'systematic' if it had an explicit search strategy with qualitative or quantitative summaries of data. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal assessment checklist to assess methodological quality. A data extraction format prepared a priori was used to extract data. Findings were synthesized narratively. Of 422 records initially found by the search strategy, we identified 39 systematic reviews eligible for inclusion. Most concluded that services provided by CHVs were not inferior to those provided by other health workers, and sometimes better. However, CHVs performed less well in more complex tasks such as diagnosis and counselling. Their performance could be strengthened by regular supportive supervision, in-service training and adequate logistical support, as well as a high level of community ownership. The use of CHVs in the delivery of selected health services for population groups with limited access, particularly in LMICs, appears promising. However, success requires careful implementation, strong policy backing and continual support by their managers

Natural soil microbes alter flowering phenology and the intensity of selection on flowering time in a wild Arabidopsis relative

Plant phenology is known to depend on many different environmental variables, but soil microbial communities have rarely been acknowledged as possible drivers of flowering time. Here we tested separately the effects of four naturally occurring soil microbiomes and their constituent soil chemistries on flowering phenology and reproductive fitness of Boechera stricta, a wild relative of Arabidopsis. Flowering time was sensitive to both microbes and the abiotic properties of different soils; varying soil microbiota also altered patterns of selection on flowering time. Thus, soil microbes potentially contribute to phenotypic plasticity of flowering time and to differential selection observed between habitats. We also describe a method to dissect the microbiome into single axes of variation that can help identify candidate organisms whose abundance in soil correlates with flowering time. This approach is broadly applicable to search for microbial community members that alter biological characteristics of interest

Natural soil microbes alter flowering phenology and the intensity of selection on flowering time in a wild Arabidopsis relative

Plant phenology is known to depend on many different environmental variables, but soil microbial communities have rarely been acknowledged as possible drivers of flowering time. Here we tested separately the effects of four naturally occurring soil microbiomes and their constituent soil chemistries on flowering phenology and reproductive fitness of Boechera stricta, a wild relative of Arabidopsis. Flowering time was sensitive to both microbes and the abiotic properties of different soils; varying soil microbiota also altered patterns of selection on flowering time. Thus, soil microbes potentially contribute to phenotypic plasticity of flowering time and to differential selection observed between habitats. We also describe a method to dissect the microbiome into single axes of variation that can help identify candidate organisms whose abundance in soil correlates with flowering time. This approach is broadly applicable to search for microbial community members that alter biological characteristics of interest

Building integrated health systems: lessons from HIV, sexual and reproductive health integration.

A synthetic strategy to access 2,6-disubstituted pyridines from triazolopyridines through a regioselective nickel-catalyzed alkenylation reaction of the C7–H bond is described. The N₂ fragment embedded in the resulting C–H functionalized triazolopyridine can be readily excised using acidic or oxidative conditions to unmask the pyridine