Effect of high oxygen pressure annealing on superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 thin films by pulsed laser deposition from Cu-enriched targets

We show that the quality of Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 films grown by pulsed laser deposition can be enhanced by using a non-stoichiometric target with extra copper added to suppress the formation of a parasitic (Nd, Ce)2O3 phase. The properties of these films are less dependent on the exact annealing procedure after deposition as compared to films grown from a stoichiometric target. Film growth can be followed by a 1 bar oxygen annealing, after an initial vacuum annealing, while retaining the superconducting properties and quality. This enables the integration of electron-doped cuprates with their hole-doped counterparts on a single chip, to create, for example, superconducting pn-junctions.Comment: This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Superconductor Science and Technology. The publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/27/4/04401

Comparison study of iron preparations using a human intestinal model

Iron deficiency and related iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) are the most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide. The standard treatment involves supple-mentation with solid or liquid iron supplement preparations, usually based on a ferrous salt such as ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumarate, or ferrous gluconate. In the present study, we compared iron uptake and absorption from various solid and liquid iron supplement preparations currently available in the United Kingdom using the well-characterised human epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2. Intracellular ferritin protein formation by the Caco-2 cell was considered an indicator of cellular iron uptake and absorption. We investigated the effects of formulation ingredients at a defined pH on iron uptake and absorption, and designed a novel two-stage dissolution-absorption protocol that mimicked physiological conditions. Our experiments revealed wide variations in the rate of dissolution between the various solid iron preparations. Conventional-release ferrous iron tablets dissolved rapidly (48 ± 4 mins to 64 ± 4 mins), whereas modified-released tablets and capsules took significantly longer to undergo complete dissolution (274 ± 8 to 256 ± 8 mins). Among the solid iron preparations, ferrous sulphate conventional-release tablets demon-strated the highest iron absorption, whereas modified-release ferrous prepa-rations demonstrated uniformly low iron absorption, as compared to the control (P < 0.05). Taken together, our results demonstrate that there are wide-ranging variations in dissolution times and iron uptake from oral iron preparations, with the physical characteristics of the preparation as well as the form of iron playing a key role

Acute Administration of Bioavailable Curcumin Alongside Ferrous Sulphate Supplements Does Not Impair Iron Absorption in Healthy Adults in a Randomised Trial.

Ferrous sulphate (FS) is a cost effective, readily available iron supplement for iron deficiency (ID). The pro-oxidant effect of oral ferrous iron is known to induce inflammation, causing gastric side-effects and resulting in poor compliance. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant and has also been shown to exhibit iron chelation in-vitro, although it is not established whether these effects are retained in-vivo. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the influence of a formulated bioavailable form of curcumin (HydroCurc ; 500 mg) on acute iron absorption and status in a double blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial recruiting 155 healthy participants (79 males; 26.42 years ± 0.55 and 76 females; 25.82 years ± 0.54). Participants were randomly allocated to five different treatment groups: iron and curcumin placebo (FS0_Plac), low dose (18 mg) iron and curcumin placebo (FS18_Plac), low dose iron and curcumin (FS18_Curc), high dose (65 mg) iron and curcumin placebo (FS65_Plac), and high dose iron and curcumin (FS65_Curc). Participants were provided with the supplements according to their relevant treatment groups at baseline (0 min), and blood collection was carried out at 0 min and at 180 min following supplementation. In the treatment groups, significant difference was observed in mean serum iron between baseline (0 min) and at end-point (180 min) (F (1, 144) = 331.9, < 0.0001) with statistically significant intra-group increases after 180 min ( < 0.0001) in the FS18_Plac (8.79 µmol/L), FS18_Curc (11.41 µmol/L), FS65_Plac (19.09 µmol/L), and FS65_Curc (16.39 µmol/L) groups. A significant difference was also observed between the two time points in serum TIBC levels and in whole blood haemoglobin (HGB) in the treatment groups, with a significant increase (1.55%/2.04 g/L) in HGB levels from baseline to end-point observed in the FS65_Curc group ( < 0.05). All groups receiving iron demonstrated an increase in transferrin saturation (TS%) in a dose-related manner, demonstrating that increases in serum iron are translated into increases in physiological iron transportation. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that regardless of ferrous dose, formulated curcumin in the form of HydroCurc™ does not negatively influence acute iron absorption in healthy humans

Modelling batting expertise from the perspective of high performance coaches

Cricket coaching literature on developing batting expertise has largely focused on the individual, and typically, technical features of batting. Research in cricket batting has addressed developmental factors of expertise (Weissensteiner, et al., 2009) or the perceptual advantage of expert batters (Muller & Abernethy, 2006). Little attention has been paid to the importance of the individual-environment relationship in expert behaviour. In order to address this missing ingredient, one on one, in-depth, semi- structured interviews were undertaken by the primary researcher with eight high performance coaches (e.g., international or state) who were purposely sampled from Cricket Australia or State Cricket associations. Six of these coaches had played international cricket as batsmen, one played state level and one a first grade player. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded separately by the first and second author after each interview. The third author then reviewed all codes and provided feedback. Strategies used to enhance validity included; sampling coaches of different high performance levels and retrospective member checking with coaches. Key themes that emerged include expert's superior knowledge of, and attunement to internal (e.g., emotions) and external (e.g. pitch type, field settings) information. This informs their intentions, perceptions and actions to achieve the task goal at any game moment. A skilful batter has time to execute their action and is in ‘rhythm’ with the bowler through attunement to specifying information sources. Experts also adapt to and manipulate the performance environment. Self-evaluative processes, through between-ball routines provide opportunity to reflect, re-evaluate and plan for the next delivery. Examples include; changing stance, forcing field changes or manipulating bowler’s emotions. These results highlight the importance of capturing the experiential knowledge of high performance coaches that cannot be obtained through traditional laboratory based studies. For cricket batting coaches, this work emphasizes the importance of designing learning environments that enable players to better understand their own performance in the context of emergent dynamic game-based constraints

Evaluating a 12-week games-based training program to improve cricket batting skill

Although a constraints-led approach (CLA) to skill acquisition is different from teaching games for understanding (Renshaw et al., 2015), the theoretical underpinnings of CLA can be utilized when designing games-based training approaches. This study examined whether a games-based training design, underpinned by CLA, was more effective at developing cricket batting skill than a more traditional technically focused coaching approach. Sixteen under-15 skilled cricket batters participated in a 12-week intervention study and were randomly allocated to a traditional or experimental training group. The experimental group participated in activities with manipulated rules, equipment, and outcome goals, while the traditional group focused on optimizing technical batting skill processes. Both groups completed two 2-hr sessions per week, bookended by a pre-intervention and post-intervention batting skills test. This test involved facing 18 balls delivered by bowlers, with the number of successful scoring shots, total runs scored, attacking strokes played, and quality of bat–ball contact recorded. An analysis of variance was used to examine between and within-group differences over time. The experimental group (CLA) demonstrated an increased number of successful scoring shots (3.88 vs. 6.63), and increased number of runs scored (11.63 vs. 20.7), and an improvement in the quality of bat–ball contact (1.26 vs. 1.52) after intervention, while there was no change in the number of attacking strokes played (72.37% vs. 74.63%). These numbers were significantly greater than those for the traditional group, which revealed no changes in the number of successful scoring shots played (4.62 vs. 3.75), the number of runs scored (10.25 vs. 10.00), the quality of bat–ball contact (1.26 vs. 1.29), or attacking strokes played (77.78% vs. 78.87%). Skilled U15 players significantly improved facets of their batting using a games-based training approach, while a more traditional training approach did not lead to improvements. Training using a systematic approach to manipulating constraints is suggested to benefit the overall development of a batter