Signatures of a minimal length scale in high precision experiments

We discuss modifications of the gyromagnetic moment of electrons and muons due to a minimal length scale combined with a modified fundamental scale $M_f$. First-order deviations from the theoretical standard model value for $g-2$ due to these String Theory-motivated effects are derived. A constraint of $M_f>577 GeV$ for the new fundamental scale is given.Comment: Proceedings of the Nuclear Physics Winter Meeting 2004, Bormio, Ital

Exploring Consumers’ Attitudes of Smart TV Related Privacy Risks

A number of privacy risks are inherent in the Smart TV ecosystem. It is likely that many consumers are unaware of these privacy risks. Alternatively, they might be aware but consider the privacy risks acceptable. In order to explore this, we carried out an online survey with 200 participants to determine whether consumers were aware of Smart TV related privacy risks. The responses revealed a meagre level of awareness. We also explored consumers’ attitudes towards specific Smart TV related privacy risks. We isolated a number of factors that influenced rankings and used these to develop awareness-raising messages. We tested these messages in an online survey with 155 participants. The main finding was that participants were generally unwilling to disconnect their Smart TVs from the Internet because they valued the Smart TV’s Internet functionality more than their privacy. We subsequently evaluated the awareness-raising messages in a second survey with 169 participants, framing the question differently. We asked participants to choose between five different Smart TV Internet connection options, two of which retained functionality but entailed expending time and/or effort to preserve privacy

Simulated Altitude via Re-Breathing Creates Arterial Hypoxemia but Fails to Improve Elements of Running Performance

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(6): 187-197, 2018. Acclimatization to altitude has been shown to improve elements of performance. Use of simulated altitude is popular among athletes across the sports spectrum. This work was on a handheld, re-breathing device touted to enhance performance. Seven recreationally-trained athletes used the device for 18 hours over the course of the 37-day intervention trial. The elevations simulated were progressively increased from 1,524m to 6,096m. To ascertain potential efficacy, four performance trials were included (familiarization, baseline, and 2 follow-ups). Hematological (hematocrit, hemoglobin, and lactate), physiological (respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, and oxygen consumption), and perceptual (Borg’s RPE) variables were monitored at rest, during two steady state running economy stages, and at maximal effort during each visit. The device is clearly capable of creating arterial hypoxemic conditions equating to high altitude. This fact is exemplified by average pulse oximetry values of approximately 78.5% in the final 6-day block of simulation. At the same time, there were no changes observed in any hematological (p\u3e0.05), physiological (p\u3e0.05), or perceptual (p\u3e0.05) variable at either follow-up performance trial. Relative VO2 data was analyzed with a 15-breath moving average sampling frequency in accordance with our recent findings (Scheadler et al.) reported in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Effect sizes are reported within, but most were trivial (d=0.0-0.19). Overall, findings align with speculation that a more robust altitude stimulus than can be offered by short-term arterial hypoxemia is required for changes to be evidenced. The device has shown some promise in other work, but our data is not supportive

Aedes nigrinus (Eckstein, 1918) (Diptera, Culicidae), a new country record for England, contrasted with Aedes sticticus (Meigen, 1838)

We report the discovery of Aedes nigrinus (Eckstein, 1918) in the New Forest of southern England, bringing to 36 the number of mosquito species recorded in Britain. Because it seems that this species has been misidentified previously in Britain as the morphologically similar Aedes sticticus (Meigen, 1838), the two species are contrasted and distinguished based on distinctive differences exhibited in the adult and larval stages. The pupa of Ae. nigrinus is unknown, but the pupa of Ae. sticticus is distinguished from the pupae of other species of Aedes by modification of the most recent key to British mosquitoes. The history of the mosquito fauna recorded in the UK is summarized and bionomical information is provided for the two species.Peer reviewe

Morphological study and description of Anopheles (Anopheles) persiensis, a member of the Maculipennis Group (Diptera: Culicidae: Anophelinae) in Iran

The morphology of the adults, egg, larva and pupa of Anopheles persiensis Linton, Sedaghat & Harbach, an Iranian member of the Holarctic Maculipennis Group, was studied and compared with the morphology of the closely related and sympatric A. maculipennis Meigen. Anopheles persiensis was formally recognized based on DNA evidence and egg morphology. The fourth member of the group, Anopheles persiensis, is described in detail and the egg illustrated using scanning electron microscopy

The Impact of Simulated Altitude on Selected Elements of Running Performance

Background: Simulating altitude at sea level is increasingly more popular among recreationally-trained athletes across the sports spectrum. The AltO2Lab is a commercially-available, handheld, rebreathing apparatus purported to simulate altitude. Currently, there is an overall dearth of evidence regarding the efficacy of the device. Purpose: The goal of this study was to add evidence supporting or challenging the effectiveness of the device to improve selected running performance-related variables and to investigate the time-course of changes should benefits be evidenced. Methods: The 37-day protocol included familiarization, baseline, and 2 follow-up visits during which time hematological (hematocrit and lactate), physiological (running economy, maximal VO2, and heart rate), and psychological (Borg RPE) variables were monitored at rest, during relative submaximal, and/or maximal treadmill exercise. Altitude training days (18 days; one hour each day) were fitted within the 37-day time-line to occur after the baseline visit but before the respective follow-up visits. Specifically, the altitude training took place in 3, 6-day blocks of device usage with exposure, monitored by oximetry, intensifying across the days and blocks. Twelve days of altitude training were completed before the first follow-up visit while the final 6 days of altitude training were completed between the first and second follow-up visit. In this manner, the follow-ups could serve to evaluate the potential effectiveness of the device and narrow the time course of changes to a specific usage duration. Results: Six, recreationally-trained athletes (Females = 4; Males = 2; Age = 22.0 ± 2.9 yrs.; Baseline VO2max 52.7 ± 6.7) enrolled in the study. One subject was removed due to noncompliance. Overall, simulated altitude at the prescribed, intensifying dosage, failed to change both hematocrit (p = 0.469) and VO2max (p = 0.184) when analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Additionally, no differences were found for secondary variables including: running economy, heart rate, lactate or RPE (all p \u3e 0.05). Conclusion: Presently, the AltO2Lab failed to improve selected variables related to running performance. This finding is in contrast to previous investigations with the device but it does align with the knowledge that a stronger stimulus might be necessary to induce HIF-mediated erythropoiesis to the extent that the cascade could alter hematological and subsequently performance ability through enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity. These results are preliminary and a final cohort will complete testing before concluding results will be disseminated

The Need for Reporting Metabolic Sampling Interval in Publication: An Example Using Maximal VO2 Values and Running Economy

Background: Knowledge of metabolic outcomes, such as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2) or running economy, has wide-ranging application. Metabolic outcomes are widely reported in literature yet the metabolic sampling interval (example: breath-by-breath, 30-sec average) utilized for collection is rarely ever stated. Purpose: The purposes of the present investigation were to probe the potential discrepancies created when analyzing running economy and VO2max raw metabolic data with four different metabolic sampling intervals. Methods: Five recreationally-active and endurance-trained subjects were included in the present analysis and four metabolic sampling intervals were analyzed: 30-sec average, 20-sec average, 8-breath, and 4-breath. Subjects engaged in 4-min running economy phases at 55 and 65% of their VO2max before entering into a maximal protocol purposed to elicit VO2max in 8-12 minutes. Utilizing the steady state and maximal VO2 data, metabolic sampling intervals were analyzed for their effect on reported VO2 values. Results: For running economy at 55%, there was no differences found (f = 0.207; df = 1.862; p = 0.799) between sampling frequencies when analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance and corrected with Greenhouse-Geisser for a violation of sphericity. For running economy at 65%, there were also no differences ­found (f = 1.456; df = 3; p = 0.799) between sampling frequencies. For inspection, the relative VO2 values were: 27.2 (±3.1), 27.9 (±4.1), 28.4 (±3.6), and 28.8 (±5.1) for the 30-sec, 20-sec, 8-breath, and 4-breath average, respectively. Maximal VO2 values of 53.0 (±6.6), 55.1 (±7.2), 55.1 (±7.2), and 59.6 (±9.4) for the 30-sec, 20-sec, 8-breath, and 4-breath average, respectively, were found to be significantly different (f = 21.062; df = 1.278; p \u3c 0.001) after adjusting for a violation of sphericity (p \u3c 0.001). Bonferroni analysis indicated differences between the 30-sec average and all other averages and also the 20-sec and 8-breath averages when compared against the 4-breath average. The 4-breath average yielded the highest VO2max value. Coincidentally, the 20-sec and 8-breath averages were identical. Conclusion: In the present investigation of raw metabolic data, sampling interval was found to impact the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) values but not running economy values when investigating a small sample of data with four select sampling intervals. The report of maximal VO2 is rather common in the literature and knowing sample interval is vital for between-study comparison, determination of regression-related activities, or for pre-post comparison of data from the same or different labs

Pre-Prandial Vinegar Ingestion Improves Two-Hour Glucose Control in Older, Type II Diabetics More Than Post-Prandial Walking

Background: Exercise engagement benefits diabetic patients through an insulin-like effect on muscle. Literature indicates that vinegar consumption may lower blood glucose levels. It is not currently clarified whether a relative amount of vinegar ingestion or a walking bout is more effective at controlling glucose in older, Type II diabetics during the acute phase following a meal. Purpose: The aim was to directly compare the impact of preferred-pace walking (15 min, postprandial) versus ingestion of a relative quantity of vinegar (0.3 g/kg) on two-hour glucose control. Methods: The two arms of the trial were completed in a randomized, crossover manner. Six Type II diabetic patients (Females = 5; Males = 1; Age = 70.5 ± 9.0 yrs.) enrolled and underwent baseline finger pricks to establish glucose levels. The test meal consisted of an 85 g bagel, 13 g of butter, and 237 mL of orange juice. On the respective days, the vinegar was diluted into 59 mL of orange juice and ingested before the meal or the subject completed a 15-min walk at 15 min post-meal. For both trials, glucose was checked every 30 min following the test meal. Results: One subject was removed from all present analysis due to medication-related non-compliance. For the vinegar trial, the resting heart rate was 72.0 (± 9.5) and baseline, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-min average blood glucose levels were: 117 (±12), 149 (±39), 172 (±49), 185 (±49), and 180 (±44) mg/dl. For the preferred walking speed phase, the resting heart rate was 75.5 (±15.6) and baseline, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-min average glucose levels were: 113 (±10), 147 (±53), 180 (±53), 208 (±72), and 206 (±71) mg/dl. Preferred walking speed was found to average 3.1 (± 1.5) kph and total steps averaged 1418 (±376). The between-arm comparison of glucose at 120-min trended towards significance (p = 0.081). Conclusions: Compared with a bout of walking, a relative quantity of vinegar may serve as a more suitable mechanism for older Type II diabetics to control acute spikes in glucose after a high carbohydrate meal. With an adequately-powered analysis, between-arm comparisons at multiple time-points would likely have achieved statistical significance. Nevertheless, the meaningfulness of the glucose control exhibited should not be lost due to the lack of statistical significance. Finally, the slow absolute preferred walking pace of many older adults may undermine the ability for walking to result in sufficient energy expenditure capable of subsequent glucose control