Production of lipopeptide biosurfactant by Kurthia gibsonii KH2 and their synergistic action in biodecolourisation of textile wastewater

Textile dyes are recalcitrant molecules and contain a high level of chemicals and colour which poses a serious challenge to surrounding environments. Therefore, this study aims to produce biosurfactant and investigate the synergistic action on decolourisation of textile dyes by the combination of bacteria and biosurfactant. An effective dye degrading strain and biosurfactant-producer, Kurthia gibsonii KH2, was isolated from textile wastewater using molasses as the only source of carbon and energy. The isolates were identified and screened for biosurfactant production using haemolytic activity, oil spreading technique, drop collapse test and emulsification index. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FTIR) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analyses were carried out to detect the type of biosurfactant. The effect of different physicochemical parameters on textile wastewater decolourisation was assessed within 24 h. The Kurthia gibsonii KH2 showed positive results for haemolytic activity, oil spreading technique, and drop collapse test. The emulsification test (E24) revealed that Kurthia gibsonii KH2 had a higher emulsification index of 63%. FTIR and TLC analyses indicated that the biosurfactant was a lipopeptide and was formed with a yield of 2 gL−1. The synergistic activity of Kurthia gibsonii KH2 and lipopeptide biosurfactant resulted in decolourisation levels of 85% at 100 mg/L concentration and pH 7 was recorded at 168 h of incubation. The high attributes of these combinations and the phytotoxicity tests implied that the metabolites were less toxic, making it a promising option for the biodecolourisation and biodegradation of industrial textile wastewater and various environmental conditions

The dose-response relationship between training load and aerobic fitness in academy rugby union players

© 2018 Human Kinetics, Inc. Purpose: To identify the dose-response relationship between measures of training load (TL) and changes in aerobic fitness in academy rugby union players. Method: Training data from 10 academy rugby union players were collected during a 6-wk in-season period. Participants completed a lactate-threshold test that was used to assess VO 2 max, velocity at VO 2 max, velocity at 2 mmol/L (lactate threshold), and velocity at 4 mmol/L (onset of lactate accumulation; vOBLA) as measures of aerobic fitness. Internal-TL measures calculated were Banister training impulse (bTRIMP), Edwards TRIMP, Lucia TRIMP, individualized TRIMP (iTRIMP), and session RPE (sRPE). External-TL measures calculated were total distance, PlayerLoad™, high-speed distance > 15 km/h, very-high-speed distance > 18 km/h, and individualized high-speed distance based on each player’s vOBLA. Results: A second-order-regression (quadratic) analysis found that bTRIMP (R 2 = .78, P = .005) explained 78% of the variance and iTRIMP (R 2 = .55, P = .063) explained 55% of the variance in changes in VO 2 max. All other HR-based internal-TL measures and sRPE explained less than 40% of variance with fitness changes. External TL explained less than 42% of variance with fitness changes. Conclusions: In rugby players, bTRIMP and iTRIMP display a curvilinear dose-response relationship with changes in maximal aerobic fitness

Training intensity distribution in road cyclists: objective versus subjective measures

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate training intensity distribution using different intensity measures based on session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), heart rate (HR) and power output (PO) in well-trained cyclists. Methods: Fifteen road cyclists participated in the study. Training data was collected during a 10-week training period. Training intensity distribution was quantified using HR, PO and sRPE categorized in a 3-zone training intensity model. Three zones for HR and PO were based around a first and second lactate threshold. The three sRPE zones were defined using a 10-point scale: zone 1, sRPE scores 1-4; zone 2, sRPE scores 5-6; zone 3, sRPE scores 7-10. Results: Training intensity distribution as percentages of time spent in zone 1, zone 2 and zone 3 was moderate to very largely different for sRPE (44.9%, 29.9%, 25.2%) compared to HR (86.8%, 8.8%, 4.4%) and PO (79.5%, 9.0%, 11.5%). Time in zone 1 quantified using sRPE was large to very largely lower for sRPE compared to PO (P < 0.001) and HR (P < 0.001). Time in zone 2 and zone 3 was moderate to very largely higher when quantified using sRPE compared to intensity quantified using HR (P < 0.001) and PO (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Training intensity distribution quantified using sRPE demonstrates moderate to very large differences compared to intensity distributions quantified based on HR and PO. The choice of intensity measure impacts on the intensity distribution and has implications for training load quantification, training prescription and the evaluation of training characteristics

A field-based cycling test to assess predictors of endurance performance and establishing training zones

This study evaluates the relationship between a field-based 8-min time trial (8MTT) and physiological endurance variables assessed with an incremental laboratory test. Secondly, lactate thresholds assessed in the laboratory were compared to estimated functional threshold power (FTP) from the 8MTT. Nineteen well-trained road cyclists (aged 22 +/- 2 yr, height 185.9 +/- 4.5 cm, weight 72.8 +/- 4.6 kg, VO2max 64 +/- 4 ml[middle dot]min-1[middle dot]kg-1) participated. Linear regression revealed that mean 8MTT power output (PO) was strongly to very strongly related to PO at 4 mmol[BULLET OPERATOR]L-1, PO at initial rise of 1.00 mmol[BULLET OPERATOR]L-1, PO at Dmax and modified (mDmax) (r = 0.61 - 0.82). Mean 8MTT PO was largely to very largely different compared to PO at fixed blood lactate concentration (FBLC) of 2 mmol[middle dot]L-1 (ES = 3.20) and 4 mmol[middle dot]L-1 (ES = 1.90), PO at initial rise 1.00 mmol[BULLET OPERATOR]L-1 (ES = 2.33), PO at Dmax (ES = 3.47) and mDmax (ES = 1.79) but only trivially different from maximal power output (Wmax) (ES = 0.09). The 8MTT based estimated FTP was moderate to very largely different compared to PO at initial rise of 1 mmol[BULLET OPERATOR]L-1 (ES = 1.37), PO at Dmax (ES = 2.42), PO at mDmax (ES = 0.77) and PO at 4 mmol[BULLET OPERATOR]L-1(ES = 0.83). Therefore, even though the 8MTT can be valuable as a performance test in cycling shown through its relationships with predictors of endurance performance, coaches should be cautious when using FTP and PO at laboratory-based thresholds interchangeably to inform training prescription

Social networking for membership engagement in nonprofit organisations: a trade union study

Similar to the majority of public authorities internationally, many non-profit organisations are considering using Web 2.0tools to establish online interactions with their members. However, such organisations encounter practical difficulties withassessing the impact of Web 2.0 tools and aligning them with the expectations of their audience. The limited availability ofrelevant empirical work provides the motivation to reflect on the findings of a research survey conducted with the membersof a Greek trade union organisation. Guided by the survey results, union officials are able to better consider an onlineengagement strategy. For example, contrasting preliminary expectations, most union members did anticipate benefits fromthe union’s presence on Facebook and appeared willing not to draw fixed boundaries between their personal and workinglife. The study illustrates how research and continuous monitoring can contribute to realising the value of networkingtechnologies within the naturally complicated socio-political environment of such organisations

The Relationship between Training Load Measures and Next-Day Well-Being in Rugby Union Players

The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between different internal and external load measures and next day subjective wellbeing. With institutional ethics approval, ten academy rugby union players (Five forwards, and five backs) with a local National League One club agreed to participate in the study (aged; 18.4 ± 1.0 years, height; 181.3 ± 5.9 cm, body mass 85.9 ± 13.0 kg, VO2max 56.2 ± 6.8 mL·kg−1·min−1). Before the 6-week in-season data collection period, participants completed an incremental treadmill test to determine lactate thresholds at 2 mmol·L−1 (LT) and 4 mmol·L−1 and the heart rate blood lactate (HR-BLa) profile for individualized training impulse (iTRIMP) calculations. Internal training load was quantified using Banister’s TRIMP, Edward’s TRIMP, Lucia’s TRIMP, individualised TRIMP and session-RPE. External training load was reported using total distance, PlayerLoadTM, high-speed distances (HSD) > 18 km∙h−1 and >15 km∙h−1, and individualized high-speed distance (iHSD) based on each player’s velocity at OBLA. On arrival and prior to all training sessions players completed a well-being questionnaire (WB). Bayesian linear mixed model analysis identified that a range of internal and external load measures explained between 30% and 37% of next-day total wellbeing and between 65% and 67% of next-day perceived stress. All other internal and external load measures demonstrated very weak to moderate relationships (R2 = 0.08 to 0.39) with all other wellbeing components. Internal sRPE, iTRIMP and bTRIMP loads alongside external HSD loads provide coaches with the most practical measures to influence players’ perceived wellbeing

Analysing a cycling grand tour: Can we monitor fatigue with intensity or load ratios?

This study evaluated the changes in ratios of different intensity (rating of perceived exertion; RPE, heart rate; HR, power output; PO) and load measures (session-RPE; sRPE, individualized TRIMP; iTRIMP, Training Stress Score™; TSS) in professional cyclists. RPE, PO and HR data was collected from twelve professional cyclists (VO2max 75 ± 6 ml∙min∙kg-1) during a two-week baseline training period and during two cycling Grand Tours. Subjective:objective intensity (RPE:HR, RPE:PO) and load (sRPE:iTRIMP, sRPE:TSS) ratios and external:internal intensity (PO:HR) and load (TSS:iTRIMP) ratios were calculated for every session. Moderate to large increases in the RPE:HR, RPE:PO and sRPE:TSS ratios (d = 0.79 – 1.79) and small increases in the PO:HR and sRPE:iTRIMP ratio (d = 0.21 – 0.41) were observed during Grand Tours compared to baseline training data. Differences in the TSS:iTRIMP ratio were trivial to small (d = 0.03 – 0.27). Small to moderate weekto- week changes (d = 0.21 – 0.63) in the PO:HR, RPE:PO, RPE:HR, TSS;iTRIMP sRPE:iTRIMP and sRPE:TSS were observed during the Grand Tour. Concluding, this study shows the value of using ratios of intensity and load measures in monitoring cyclists. Increases in ratios could reflect progressive fatigue that is not readily detected by changes in solitary intensity/load measures

Fire safety education and training in architecture: an exploratory study

Studies have shown that building designs contribute greatly to the magnitude of fire in building with severe consequences on safety of life and property. Hence, fire safety is an important consideration in building design which architects seek to fulfil at the early stage of design. Knowledge of fire safety amongst architects can aid the design of safer buildings in terms of fire protection. Fire safety designs are expected to meet the provisions in Approved document B of the UK Building Regulations which specifies basic fire safety requirements. The main objective of this paper is to explore the educational underpinning of architects with respect to designing fire safe buildings. This paper is based on literature review and interviews conducted among architects both in academia and in practice to ascertain the need for fire safety education in architecture, and as a working knowledge for practicing architects. Findings show that architects undergo fire safety education under different modules, but not as a distinct course. Fire safety education provides architects with basic understanding of fire safety principles, and to determine when to consult fire experts. Recommendations include creating a separate course on fire safety and if taught as part of other modules, more time/ depth should be allocated to its contents

Phytoremediation of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) in controlled running water system by using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides)

This study was conducted to identify phytoremediation potential of vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) for removal of five heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn)) in controlled running water system. Plants with different root length (10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm) were exposed to a concentration of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn (10 mg/L) in flowing water system (0.0012 m3/s) and harvested at different time intervals (24, 48, 72, 96, 120 144 and 168 h). The initial concentration (10 mg/L) depicted a decreasing trend from 24 h up to 168 h of the experiment. The highest amount of heavy metal uptake by the plant was Fe (95.8% removal) with the concentration left was 0.42 ± 0.004 mg/L by 168 h. This was followed by Zn with 75% removal (2.55 ± 0.03 mg/L left in the water), Pb; 50% removal with 4.97 ± 0.007 mg/L remain, Mn (33% removal and 6.70 ± 0.006 mg/L remain) and the least uptake is Cu (25% removal with remaining 7.46 ± 0.005 mg/L in the water). In general, removal of the heavy metals from water follow the order of Fe > Zn > Pb > Mn > Cu. Heavy metals were detected in the roots after 24-hours of exposure with level in roots were higher compare to level in the shoots. Based on the ANOVA, no significant different in uptake of Zn, Pb, Fe and Cu by different root length in the running water except for Mn. The morphological changes particularly the change in leaf colour of the plants (chlorosis effect) was observed specifically after 6 days of the experiment for plants with 10 cm root length and the chlorosis effect was seen at day 7 for plants with root length of 20 cm and 30 cm. This study shows Vetiver grass has great potential for phytoremediation of wastewater polluted with Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in running water