Measurement properties of external training load variables during standardised games in soccer: Implications for training and monitoring strategies

The aim of this study was to assess the measurement properties of external training load measures across three formats of standardised training games. Eighty-eight players from two English professional soccer clubs participated in the study spanning three consecutive seasons. External training load data was collected from three types of standardised game format drills (11v11, 10v10, 7v7+6) using Global Positioning Systems. For each external training load metric in each game format, the following measurement properties were calculated; coefficient of variation (CV%) to determine between- and within-subject reliability, intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC) to determine test-retest reliability, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to determine sensitivity. Total distance (TD) and PlayerLoad™ (PL) demonstrated good sensitivity (TD SNR = 1.6-4.6; PL SNR = 1.2-4.3) on a group level. However, a wide variety of within-subject reliability was demonstrated for these variables (TD CV% = 1.7-36.3%; PL CV% = 4.3-39.5%) and corresponding intensity measures calculated per minute. The percentage contribution of individual planes to PL showed the lowest between-subject CV% (CV% = 2-7%), although sensitivity varied across formats (SNR = 0.3-1.4). High speed running demonstrated poor reliability across all three formats of SSG (CV% = 51-103%, ICC = 0.03-0.53). Given the measurement properties of external training load measures observed in this study, specifically the within-subject variation, reliability across trials of standardised training games should be calculated on an individual level. This will allow practitioners to detect worthwhile changes across trials of standardised game format drills. Such information is important for the appropriate implementation of training and monitoring strategies in soccer

The first use of Fulton's K for assessing and comparing the conditions of inter-tidal fish populations

Fulton's K condition factor was applied, for the first time, to inter-tidal specimens of the shanny (Lipophrys pholis) and long-spined scorpion fish (Taurulus bubalis) from two English rocky shore and two Welsh rocky shore sites during summer 2010 and winter 2011. As both species contribute to the diet of commercial species such as cod (Gadus morhua) and near-threatened species such as the European otter (Lutra lutra), their condition may affect that of these predators. Fulton's K found that inter-tidal Welsh fish maintained a ‘good’ condition between seasons, whereas the inter-tidal English fish were in a poorer condition during winter. Although condition also changed amongst the sites on each coast, further studies are needed into fish morphologies, environmental parameters, prey availabilities and abundances, and fish specimen sex and maturities

Toxicity testing of Atlantic salmon aquaculture chemotherapeutants on spot prawns and benthic invertebrates

Demand for protein sources is high in North America and growing throughout the world. Global declines in fisheries has encouraged coastal regions to embrace aquaculture as a means of reconciling the growing pressures on wild fish stocks with this demand. Intensive salmon farming practices result in periodic infestations with naturally-occurring parasitic copepods referred to as “sea lice”. To prevent productivity losses, a variety of chemical and physical treatments have been implemented through regulatory systems or emergency applications. One objective of this study is to determine if these chemo-therapeutic treatments pose a risk to other non-target marine organisms including crustaceans such as the Spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros). These organisms can be both culturally and economically important to local First Nations and all residents of the Salish Sea region, as well as crucial components of marine ecosystems. The sub-chronic toxicity of the sea lice pesticides Slice® (active ingredient: emamectin benzoate) was assessed for lethal and sub-lethal effects on Pacific prawns, amphipods, and polychaetes which are all found in areas where aquaculture pens exist. Slice and ivermectin whole sediment exposures were conducted. Test concentrations were representative of environmentally-relevant levels. The toxicity of these treatments was assessed using the endpoints of: mortality, growth, and behavioural response. Preliminary results indicate a concentration-response relationship for various selected endpoints

Area Regge Calculus and Discontinuous Metrics

Taking the triangle areas as independent variables in the theory of Regge calculus can lead to ambiguities in the edge lengths, which can be interpreted as discontinuities in the metric. We construct solutions to area Regge calculus using a triangulated lattice and find that on a spacelike hypersurface no such discontinuity can arise. On a null hypersurface however, we can have such a situation and the resulting metric can be interpreted as a so-called refractive wave.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Guiding Health Care Policy through Applied Public Health Modeling and Simulation

The risk of a widespread epidemic is a primary public health concern with implications for healthcare providers and organizations. Modeling and simulation techniques have been successfully applied at the national level to set governmental polices and mitigation strategies through simulation-based predictions. Existing research in this field has been non-uniform in its coverage of local systems and region-specific findings. New collaborations between on the ground providers and modeling groups are required for successful simulation-based experimentation of region-specific health systems. These proposed collaborations are expected to contribute high-quality sub-population datasets to be used in experiments at the national level and allow for the reuse of existing disease models and simulation infrastructure in support of regional predictive experimentation

3D culture of Her2+ breast cancer cells promotes AKT to MAPK switching and a loss of therapeutic response

The Her2 receptor is overexpressed in up to 25 % of breast cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. Around half of Her2+ breast cancers also express the estrogen receptor and treatment for such tumours can involve both endocrine and Her2-targeted therapies. However, despite preclinical data supporting the effectiveness of these agents, responses can vary widely in the clinical setting. In light of the increasing evidence pointing to the interplay between the tumour and its extracellular microenvironment as a significant determinant of therapeutic sensitivity and response here we investigated the impact of 3D matrix culture of breast cancer cells on their therapeutic sensitivity