Can greater muscularity in larger individuals resolve the 3/4 power-law controversy when modelling maximum oxygen uptake?

BACKGROUND: The power function relationship, MR = a.m(b), between metabolic rate (MR) and body mass m has been the source of much controversy amongst biologists for many years. Various studies have reported mass exponents (b) greater than the anticipated 'surface-area' exponent 0.67, often closer to 0.75 originally identified by Kleiber. AIM: The study aimed to provide a biological explanation for these 'inflated' exponents when modelling maximum oxygen uptake (max), based on the observations from this and previous studies that larger individuals develop disproportionately more muscle mass in the arms and legs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A cross-sectional study of 119 professional soccer players from Croatia aged 18-34 was carried out. RESULTS: Here we confirm that the power function relationship between max and body mass of the professional soccer players results in an 'inflated' mass exponent of 0.75 (95% confidence interval from 0.56 to 0.93), but also the larger soccer players have disproportionately greater leg muscle girths. When the analysis was repeated incorporating the calf and thigh muscle girths rather than body mass as predictor variables, the analysis not only explained significantly more of the variance in max, but the sum of the exponents confirmed a surface-area law. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the pitfalls of fitting body-mass power laws and suggest using muscle-girth methodology as a more appropriate way to scale or normalize metabolic variables such as max for individuals of different body sizes

Information systems, software engineering, and systems thinking: challenges and opportunities

This article traces past research on the application of the systems approach to information systems development within the disciplines of information systems and software engineering. Their origins historically are related to a number of areas, including general systems theory. While potential improvement of software development practices is linked by some leading experts to the application of more systemic methods, the current state of the practice in software engineering and information systems development shows this is some way from being achieved. The authors propose possible directions for future research and practical work on bringing together both fields with systems thinking

Record Litter Size for the Bull Shark, Carcharhinus leucas (Muller & Henle, 1839), documented in the Seychelles

On the morning of 25 September 2013, a large female bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, was landed in Port Victoria, Seychelles. It had been caught on an anchored long line set the previous evening, within 100 m of the main fishing quay. The female exhibited an unusually large girth for this heavy-set species. The shark was photographed (Fig. 1a) and morphological measurements taken. On dissection the shark was found to be carrying 14 late stage embryos which were likewise measured and photographed (Fig. 1b).  The adult female measured 276 cm total length (TL). The 14 pups, consisting of seven males and seven females, had a mean TL of 69 cm and a size range of 65-71cm TL. The pups’ teeth had yet to emerge from the gums suggesting parturition was not imminent. Leading international data sources, Fishbase (Froese & Pauly, 2013) and the IUCN Red List (Simpfendorfer & Burgess, 2009), cite the maximum litter size for C. leucas as 13 pups. Review of the authoritative compendia and literature that inform these databases (Bass et al., 1973, Garrick, 1982, Compagno, 1984, Fowler et al., 2005) confirmed this maximum litter size but indicated that the majority of litters number between 6-8 pups. Furthermore, the upper limit of 13 pups comes from a single reference (Bass et al., 1973) that was not categoric, but stated that the litter in question contained “either 12 or 13 pups”. This Seychelles record therefore constitutes a definitive new finding for C. leucas, extending the known parameters of its reproductive capacity.

Discovering the Emotional Intelligence exhibited by primary school teachers while delivering Physical Education in the United Kingdom

It has been stated that Emotional Intelligence (E.I) is an integral part of a teacher's skill set (Corcoran and Tormey, 2013) and consequently teachers displaying a high Emotional Quotient (E.Q) produce more enthusiastic and motivating P.E lessons (Akhmetovaa, Kima and Harnischb, 2014). Therefore, it is important to understand how to utilise certain facets of E.I while delivering primary P.E to varying age groups. Previous studies measuring teachers E.I has mainly concentrated classroom environments or measuring P.E teacher’s E.Q (Hen and Sharabi-Nov, 2014; Sutton and Wheatley, 2003; Al-Zaid and Al-Khayat, 2016; Klemola, Heikinaro-Johansson and O'Sullivan, 2013), though little research has been investigated on the emotional competencies that are displayed by teachers while delivering primary P.E. This study classified the most displayed facets of E.I by teachers while delivering primary P.E. to different key stages. The study was conducted with seventeen primary school teachers participating (7 males and 10 females). The data was collected via overt observations, self-reflective journals and semi structured interviews. The results highlighted the four most displayed facets of E.I in each key stage from a possible twenty. Interestingly, four varying facets of emotions were displayed for each of the three key stages, stating that different emotional skills are required when teaching different age groups. Furthermore, all teachers stated that working on their E.I provided a positive reflection on their own delivery in P.E. This study suggests that teaching different age groups require varied facets of emotions to deliver successful P.E lessons

Host preferences of Culicoides midges (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) in South Africa as determined by precipitin tests and light trap catches

The host-preferences of a number of South African Culicoides biting midges were determined by precipitin tests and by an analysis of catches from light traps set near host animals. Results showed C. pallidipennis to feed predominantly on cattle and horses and possibly sheep, C. schultzei mainly on cattle, C. distinctipennis only on birds (possibly poultry), C. pycnostictus chiefly on birds, and C. milnei mostly on horses. A further five species gave positive precipitin test reactions to blood of either cattle, horses or birds but too few specimens were available for the significance of these reactions to be evaluated. These results suggest that C. pallidipennis and C. schultzei might be involved in the transmission of cattle diseases, C. pallidipennis and C. milnei of horse diseases, C. distinctipennis and C. pycnostictus of poultry diseases and C. pallidipennis of sheep diseases.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590;300dpi. adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Reproducibility of body volume assessments in survival clothing in fixed and portable scanning systems.

The recent development of portable 3D scanning systems for industries such as animation and museum artefact digitisation have considerable potential for applications involving human body measurement. However, this requires a system for validation of measurements against a criterion, which this study aimed to provide. Forty four adult males were scanned in duplicate in both a fixed Hamamatsu and portable Artec L scanning systems in two postures and two different clothing assemblages. Following inspection of all scans, complete data for duplicate scans of 38 participants were available for the study. Both scanners demonstrated good precision, however significant differences in body volume prevailed for both egress and scanner postures in form-fitting clothing and the scanner posture in survival suit scans, with the Hamamatsu providing greater volumes than the Artec system (by 2.7, 2.8 and 2.1 litres respectively). Regression analysis indicated the results from the portable scanner explained between 96 and 98% of the variability in the results from the fixed scanner. The biases in body volume probably relate to different software approaches to its calculation, and a possible interaction with posture and clothing. Validation of the Artec against the Hamamatsu system provides valuable information for its use in field and industrial settings

The effect of host development on the field assessment of disease resistance to Cercospora leaf spots in groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Field experiments in Nigeria showed that a general score of resistance to C. arachidicola [Mycosphaerella arachidis] and Cercosporidium personatum [M. berkeleyi] did not always relate to the varietal response to disease control and reasons for this were proposed. The prevention of pod production by removal of flowers did not affect pathogen development, but vegetative growth of the treated plants was increased. It was concluded that host and pathogen development could be confounded during the assessment of disease resistance. In future varietal screening trials, the use of single branch comparisons should prevent this confusion.ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT:In a trial at Samaru, Nigeria with 6 groundnut cv. given weekly sprays of Bavistin [carbendazim], av. pod and haulm yields were 2.06 and 6.77 t/ha compared with 1.64 and 4.98 t resp., in unsprayed plots. Fungicide application increased pod yields most (by 0.93 t) in cv. SP 205 and decreased yields by 0.04 t in cv. 59-127. In a 2nd trial, weekly application of Dithane M45 [mancozeb] increased pod and haulm yields of SP 205 but had no effect on those of cv. S38

Physiological factors associated with low bone mineral density in female endurance runners

This paper details research taken to explore potential factors that could be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) in female endurance runners. Fifty two female endurance runners (1,500 m to marathon), aged 18-44 years, took part. Body fat percentage, lumbar spine BMD, and femoral neck BMD were measured using the Hologic QDR 4,500w bone densitometer. Data on training, menstrual cycle status, osteoporosis, and health related factors were obtained by questionnaire. Dietary variables were assessed from a prospective seven day dietary record of macronutrients and micronutrients. The results suggest a negative association between endurance running distance and lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD, with a positive association between body mass and femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD. However, longitudinal studies are required to assess directly the effect of endurance running and body mass on BMD, and to see if the addition of alternative exercise that would increase lean body mass would have a positive effect on BMD and therefore help to prevent osteoporosis

Identification of key somatic features that are common and the ones that differ between swim strokes through allometric modeling

The aim of this study was to explore which key somatic features are common to four swim strokes and medley, and specifically to identify which characteristics benefit only specific strokes. Methods: The sample was composed of 130 swimmers (95 males aged 19.5 ± 2.9 years and 35 females aged 18.4 ± 2.8 years). A set of anthropometric variables was used to predict swimming speed in the four swimming strokes and medley. Results: A multiplicative model with allometric body size components was used to identify the demographic and anthropometric predictors of swimming speed. Trunk height and waist circumference were the only variables significantly different among swimming strokes (p < 0.05). Associations between swimming speed and arm length were similar in breaststroke and medley, and in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly (R2 = 60.9%). The model retained as swimming speed predictors the age2, upper body circumference, hand breadth, waist circumference, and subscapular skinfold thickness (these last two had negative associations). Conclusion: All these predictors were common to all four swim strokes and medley. Arm length was also retained as a significant predictor, but this one varied significantly between the four different swim strokes and medley. These findings highlight the importance of having a “V-shape” trunk, longer upper limbs, and large hands as predictors of swimming performanceNG and JM were supported by National Funds (FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) under the project UIDB/DTP/04045/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Shape change and obesity prevalence among male UK offshore workers after 30 years: new insight from a 3D scanning study.

In 1984, male UK offshore workers had higher fat content and greater overweight- and obesity prevalence than the general population. Since then, body weight has increased by 19%, but - without accompanying anthropometric measures - their size increase, current obesity, and fatness prevalence remain unknown. This study therefore aimed to acquire contemporary anthropometric data, to profile changes since the original survey, and to assess current obesity prevalence in the male offshore workforce. A total of 588 men, recruited via quota sampling to match the workforce weight profile, underwent stature, weight, and 3D photonic scanning measurements from which anatomical girths were extracted, enabling computation of body mass index (BMI), total fat, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). On average, UK male offshore workers are now 8.1 years older, 3.1 cm taller, 13.9 kg heavier, and have greater girths than in 1984, which are > 97% attributable to increased weight, and < 3% to age difference. Mean BMI increased significantly from 24.9 to 28.1 kg/m2 and - of the contemporary sample - 18% have healthy weight, 52% are overweight, and 30% obese, representing an increase in overweight and obesity prevalence by 6% and 24%, respectively. Waist cutoffs identify 39% of the contemporary sample as healthy, 27% at increased health risk, and 34% at high risk. In conclusion, UK offshore workers today have higher BMI than Scottish men, although some muscular individuals may be misclassified by BMI. Girth data, particularly at the waist, where dimensional increase was greatest, together with predictions of total and visceral fatness, suggest less favorable health status in others