Effects of Lift Velocity on Muscle Activation During Leg Extension

It is not known if manipulating velocity within a prescribed resistance training mode will improve muscle activation. Muscle activations of the Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Lateralis (VL), Vastus Medialis (VM) and Bicep Femoris (BF) were examined during a leg extension exercise at 3 different velocities on 15 subjects (10men, 5 female, Age = 21.5 ± 1.8 yrs, Height = 171.2 ± 12.5 cm, Mass = 75.5 ± 16.3 kg). Trials of 1 set of 10 repetitions at 60% of 1RM, were performed at 15, 30 and 60º/s. Bipolar surface electrodes were placed over the BF, RF, VL, and VM. Micro-switches were utilized to identify the concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) phases of the lift. Data were sampled at 1024 Hz, filtered, rectified and the mean, integrated EMG calculated. One 2 x 4 x 3 (action x muscle x velocity) ANOVA with bonferonni adjustment was run and significance was followed by Tukey HSD post hoc analysis. Results indicated significantly greater activation of the VL, RF and VM for ECC extension at 60º/s compared to 15º/s. While 60º/s was also greater than 30º/s for the VL and VM during ECC. While comparing muscle action, CON VL, VM and RF were greater than ECC at 30º/sec, meanwhile VM CON was also greater at 15º/sec. No differences in muscle activation at any velocity or muscle action for BF were identified. We conclude that muscle recruitment while training with a 60% 1RM load is maximized at a velocity of 60º/s during ECC activity and 15 or 30º/sec during CON

A survey of usar healthcare practitioners' requirements in order to operate effectively in the collapsed structure environment

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Science in Medicine in Emergency Medicine Cape Town, May 2016Background: An Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Healthcare Practitioner (UHP) is a medical professional (doctor, nurse or paramedic) that works as part of a USAR team. UHPs are essential for effective USAR operations and are required to function as an integral component of the USAR team. The purpose of a UHP is to 1) provide for the medical requirements of their team; 2) the team’s search dogs and 3) provide emergency medical care to victims entrapped in collapsed structures. The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Guidelines require that a USAR team have a medical component, however, there is currently no international consensus or standardisation regarding the requirements of UHP’s. This research set out to survey members of the UHP community to gain insight into the demographics and experience of current UHP’s and to determine their opinions regarding UHP selection processes and USAR specific training for UHP’s. Methods: This study was a prospective, descriptive, transverse study comprised of closed and open-ended questions conducted using an online questionnaire. Requests for participation, which included a link to the online questionnaire, were emailed to the researcher’s personal contacts in twenty countries. These UHP’s were requested to send the request for participation in the study to their respective UHP networks. This resulted in a total of 136 study respondents from nineteen countries. Results: Of the UHP’s that participated in this survey, 82% were 36 years or older, with the largest group (44%) being older than 44. Males accounted for 83.7% of the respondents. Paramedics make up the majority (43.2%) of the UHP community that participated in the survey. The largest number of respondents (35%) have been v medically qualified as a doctor, nurse or paramedic for > 20 years. The majority of respondents (30%) have been involved in USAR for 3-5 years. The experience of respondents in responding to actual USAR incidents is low, 47% had never responded internationally and a further 42% had deployed on 1-3 international USAR responses. The vast majority of survey respondents (94.3%) are of the opinion that there is a need for a selection process for prospective UHP’s and 93% are of the opinion there is a need for UHP’s to undergo a USAR-specific training program after being selected as a UHP. There was unanimous agreement to the need for an ongoing USAR training program that includes the practical aspects of USAR medical care, USAR rescue techniques and USAR simulation exercises at some point between 6 months and two years. Conclusion: Participants completing the online survey questionnaire supported the need for a UHP selection process to become part of a UHP team and the need to undergo a USAR-specific training course prior to becoming an operational member of the team. They also supported the requirement to undergo continuous professional development training, which includes practical aspects of USAR medical care, USAR rescue techniques and USAR simulation exercises.MT201

Robotic Planetary Drill Tests

Several proposed or planned planetary science missions to Mars and other Solar System bodies over the next decade require subsurface access by drilling. This paper discusses the problems of remote robotic drilling, an automation and control architecture based loosely on observed human behaviors in drilling on Earth, and an overview of robotic drilling field test results using this architecture since 2005. Both rotary-drag and rotary-percussive drills are targeted. A hybrid diagnostic approach incorporates heuristics, model-based reasoning and vibration monitoring with neural nets. Ongoing work leads to flight-ready drilling software

Verifications of LENR observations in nickel-copper alloy (constantan) and hydrogen experiments

Francesco Celani put on two apparently successful LENR demonstrations in August 2012. They involved nickel-hydrogen reactions using specially-prepared nickel-copper alloy (Constantan) wires and were based on earlier experiments by Celani. Both demonstrations were supported by National Instruments (NI) in the form of integrated software and instrumentation. Celani has shown a strong interest in having other investigators verify his LENR observations. To this end, he has provided samples of his treated Constantan wires to a number of other researchers for verification. NI continues to be supportive of Celani and others who are conducting Constantan based nickel-hydrogen LENR experiments. A systematic study is underway to identify the various experiments and associated results achieved by investigators who have received Celani's Constantan wires

The Effect of Foam Rolling Duration on Hamstring Range of Motion

Musculoskeletal health benefits from flexibility training and maintaining a functional, or sport specific, range of motion is important to one’s overall fitness. Commercial foam rollers are commonly used in gyms, therapy clinics and homes, yet data are lacking on the optimal rolling duration and effect on range of motion

Nearshore marine ecology at Hutchinson Island, Florida: 1971-1974. VI. plankton dynamics, 1971-1973, VII. phytoplankton 1971-1973, VIII. zooplankton, 1971-1973, IX. diel plankton, 1973-1974, X. benthic algae species list

(Document has 122 pages.