The effect of upper respiratory tract illness on exercise performance

Two studies were undertaken to investigate the relationship between upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and exercise performance. The first study documented the incidence of URTI in an athletic population and the second study determined the effect of URTI on exercise performance during the recovery period. Endurance runners (n=29) were used for these studies and the athletes were monitored for 45 months. During this time the subjects ran an average of 40 kilometers/week. In the first study, 22 reports of symptoms (n=22) of URTI occurred during the 45-month period. Of these, 10 subjects (n=10) were ill for less than 3 days. All 10 subjects reported their symptoms directly following an endurance event. The other 12 subjects (n=12) were ill for 5 days and longer and fulfilled the inclusion criteria for illness due to infection. The incidence of symptoms of URTI/1000 hours of training for the group of 29 runners was 1,26. The incidence of symptoms for the 10 athletes not fulfilling the inclusion criteria for illness was 0.58 and the incidence for the 12 athletes fulfilling the inclusion criteria was 0.69. The odds ratio for the athletes (n=22) for developing symptoms of URTI during a year is 1.03 compared to the odds ratio of 2.5 for the general population during the similar period. These results seem to indicate that 45% of athletes (n=10) who reported URTI symptoms directly following strenuous exercise do not have clinical infection. Furthermore, the study indicates that regular, moderate, endurance exercise may afford protection against URTI, when compared to the general population. In the second study, 5 athletes (n=5) of the original 12 subjects with URTI complied with all the test protocols. On recruitment, baseline tests were done for muscle strength, muscle endurance, aerobic endurance and maximal effort to exhaustion. Following the development of the URTI, the above parameters were tested over six days on days 0, 2, 4 and 6. After regaining their pre-illness fitness levels over a three-month period, the subjects were detrained for comparative periods and the above tests repeated on similar days for comparative purposes. iv Parameters for muscle strength and muscle endurance [Work (Joule), Power (Watt), Torque to mass (Nm/kg), and Total power (Watt)] appeared to be unaffected following periods of illness and following comparative periods of detraining

The specification and design of a prototype 2-D MPEG-4 authoring tool

The purpose of this project was the specification, design and implementation of a prototype 2-D MPEG-4 authoring tool. A literature study was conducted of the MPEG-4 standard and multimedia authoring tools to determine the specification and design of a prototype 2- D MPEG-4 authoring tool. The specification and design was used as a basis for the implementation of a prototype 2-D MPEG-4 authoring tool that complies with the Complete 2-D Scene Graph Profile. The need for research into MPEG-4 authoring tools arose from the reported lack of knowledge of the MPEG-4 standard and the limited implementations of MPEG-4 authoring tools available to content authors. In order for MPEG-4 to reach its full potential, it will require authoring tools and content players that satisfy the needs of its users. The theoretical component of this dissertation included a literature study of the MPEG-4 standard and an investigation of relevant multimedia authoring systems. MPEG-4 was introduced as a standard that allows for the creation and streaming of interactive multimedia content at variable bit rates over high and low bandwidth connections. The requirements for the prototype 2-D MPEG-4 authoring system were documented and a prototype system satisfying the requirements was designed, implemented and evaluated. The evaluation of the prototype system showed that the system successfully satisfied all its requirements and that it provides the user with an easy to use and intuitive authoring tool. MPEG-4 has the potential to satisfy the increasing demand for innovative multimedia content on low bandwidth networks, including the Internet and mobile networks, as well as the need expressed by users to interact with multimedia content. This dissertation makes an important contribution to the understanding of the MPEG-4 standard, its functionality and the design of a 2-D MPEG-4 Authoring tool. Keywords: MPEG-4; MPEG-4 authoring; Binary Format for Scenes

Improved injury management at an Australian aluminium smelter

Objective: This longitudinal study sought to determine the effectiveness of interventions to improve injury management in an industrial setting. Participants: Study participants were workers from three production departments of a large aluminium smelter. Methods: The interventions introduced were to encourage active participation in rehabilitation procedures by injured workers, improve communication with all stakeholders, identify and manage psychosocial issues, and focus the workforce on occupational health and safety matters. Linear regression modelling was used to determine the effectiveness of the interventions using data collected for fourteen months before and fifteen months after the introduction of interventions. Outcomes compared were the number of injuries, number of persons on restricted duty, and lost hours per month. Results: Modelling showed the intervention significantly reduced the number of injuries in the potrooms (from 14 to 6 per month). The number of persons on restricted duties was reduced in all departments (potrooms: from 12 to 7 persons per month, cast house: 3 to 1 person per month, carbon plant: 3 to 1 person per month). Lost hours were significantly reduced in the potrooms (from 244 to 61 hours per month). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the revised injury management process introduced