Altered movement patterns but not muscle recruitment in moderately trained triathletes during running after cycling

Previous studies have shown that cycling can directly influence neuromuscular control during subsequent running in some highly trained triathletes, despite these triathletes' years of practice of the cycle-run transition. The aim of this study was to determine whether cycling has the same direct influence on neuromuscular control during running in moderately trained triathletes. Fifteen moderately trained triathletes participated. Kinematics of the pelvis and lower limbs and recruitment of 11 leg and thigh muscles were compared between a control run (no prior exercise) and a 30 min run that was preceded by a 15 min cycle (transition run). Muscle recruitment was different between control and transition runs in only one of 15 triathletes (<7%). Changes in joint position (mean difference of 3°) were evident in five triathletes, which persisted beyond 5 min of running in one triathlete. Our findings suggest that some moderately trained triathletes have difficulty reproducing their pre-cycling movement patterns for running initially after cycling, but cycling appears to have little influence on running muscle recruitment in moderately trained triathletes.

Enhancing horizontal integration in integrated coastal zone management

The thesis explores the challenges of horizontal integration across inland catchments and the coastal zone. It presents a framework demonstrating the relationship between five factors which influence horizontal integration. From this relationship it devises a set of four implementation phases for enhancing horizontal integration across catchments and the coastal zone.

A probabilistic movement model for shortest path formation in virtual ant-like agents

We propose a probabilistic movement model for controlling ant-like agents foraging between two points. Such agents are all identical, simple, autonomous and can only communicate indirectly through the environment. These agents secrete two types of pheromone, one to mark trails towards the goal and another to mark trails back to the starting point. Three pheromone perception strategies are proposed (Strategy A, B and C). Agents that use strategy A perceive the desirability of a neighbouring location as the difference between levels of attractive and repulsive pheromone in that location. With strategy B, agents perceive the desirability of a location as the quotient of levels of attractive and repulsive pheromone. Agents using strategy C determine the product of the levels of attractive pheromone with the complement of levels of repulsive pheromone. We conduct experiments to confirm directionality as emergent property of trails formed by agents that use each strategy. In addition, we compare path formation speed and the quality of the formed path under changes in the environment. We also investigate each strategy's robustness in environments that contain obstacles. Finally, we investigate how adaptive each strategy is when obstacles are eventually removed from the scene and find that the best strategy of these three is strategy A. Such a strategy provides useful guidelines to researchers in further applications of swarm intelligence metaphors for complex problem solving.

Evaluating the performance of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands using natural zeolite (escott)

The objective of the present study was to assess the simultaneous removal of physiochemical parameters in moderate strength wastewater using a lab scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HFCW) with natural zeolite as a substrate. In this study, high-density polyethylene tanks (0.36 m²) were planted with phragmites australis and scirpus maritimus and received 0.012 m³/d to 0.08 m³/d of synthetic wastewater corresponding to a HLR of 0.035 to 0.243 m/d and a COD loading rate of 0.0148 kg COD (m².d)^-1 to 0.026 kg COD (m².d)^-1. The HFCW was subjected to three hydraulic retention times (HRT) for 4, 3 and 2 days respectively. Averaged data reported coincided with the plant age (4 to 55 weeks) and covered the entire cold season and early part of the hot season. Based on the 55 weeks of operation, the HFCW unit with zeolite achieved significantly higher removal for COD (85 to 88%), TN (54 to 96%), NH₄-N (50 to 99%) and TSS (91 to 96%) respectively at all HRT. This system was proved to be tolerant to high organic loadings and nutrients, suggesting these substrates as viable options for biological treatment of wastewater.

A puzzling migratory detour : are fueling conditions in Alaska driving the movement of juvenile sharp-tailed sandpipers?

Making a detour can be advantageous to a migrating bird if fuel-deposition rates at stopover sites along the detour are considerably higher than at stopover sites along a more direct route. One example of an extensive migratory detour is that of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), of which large numbers of juveniles are found during fall migration in western Alaska. These birds take a detour of 1500-3400 km from the most direct route between their natal range in northeastern Siberia and nonbreeding areas in Australia. We studied the autumnal fueling rates and fuel loads of 357 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers captured in western Alaska. In early September the birds increased in mass at a rate of only 0.5% of lean body mass day^-1. Later in September, the rate of mass increase was about 6% of lean body mass day^-1, among the highest values found among similar-sized shorebirds around the world. Some individuals more than doubled their body mass because of fuel deposition, allowing nonstop flight of between 7100 and 9800 km, presumably including a trans-oceanic flight to the southern hemisphere. Our observations indicated that predator attacks were rare in our study area, adding another potential benefit of the detour. We conclude that the most likely reason for the Alaskan detour is that it allows juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers to put on large fuel stores at exceptionally high rates.

Movement and force

How – and why – do things move? How do we describe how they move? This chapter looks at ideas and activities concerning movement and force. It deals with two major issues: firstly, ideas children have about motion and the strategies for teaching about motion in the primary school program. This will include some discussion of the different contexts in which movement and force can be studied. Secondly, it looks at the wider context of studying movement and force, linking it with technology and science as a human endeavour.

Reading room: experiments in posture, movement and comprehension

Participants were required to balance on a seesaw while reading texts in the mirror. They read forward, backward, upside-down and mirror texts while seated. They also crouched, twisted and stretched to read texts from floor to ceiling.

Recognition and response to human movement contained in motion capture data using the Self Organising Map

Neural Networks have been used successfully for recognition of human gestures in many applications including analysis of motion capture data. This paper investigates the potential for using the same methods for both recognition and synthesising responses in relation to movement contained in motion capture sequences.

Evaluating the performance of different media in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland

The treatment efficiency of a wetland system requires a balance between pollutant loading rate and hydraulic retention time (HRT), hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and the suitable substrate to be used. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment efficiency of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland planted with phragmites australis and scirpus maritimus containing three different substrates to treat agricultural wastewater under short term operation. Alum sludge and zeolite were used as substrates and gravel was used as a control for a laboratory-scale horizontal flow constructed wetland (CW) units that were made of high-density Polyethylene. The units were operated under 2, 3 and 4 days of HRTs and at different HLR for each substrate. Each beds received 0.012 m3/d to 0.08 m3/d of synthetic wastewater corresponding to a HLR of 0.035 to 0.243 m/d and a COD loading rate of 0.0148 kg COD (m2.d)-1 to 0.026 kg COD (m2.d)-1. The relationships between the substrate, retention time and removal efficiency, especially of organic matter and nutrient removal were investigated. All units showed relatively stable removal for COD during the entire operational period. The COD removal for all units and HRT were in ranged from 67% to 93%. The zeolite unit achieved significantly higher removal of TN, NH4-N and TSS compared to alum sludge and gravel unit at all HRT. The unit with zeolite was highly effective in removing TN (54 to 96%), NH4-N (50 to 99%) and TSS (91 to 96%) respectively, at 2, 3 and 4 days of HRT. Meanwhile, alum sludge was highly effective in removing phosphate. The removal of phosphate from alum sludge unit was ranged from 94 to 97% for all HRT. Compared to gravel CW unit, zeolite and alum sludge CW were proved to be tolerant to high organic loadings and nutrients, suggesting these substrates as viable options for biological treatment of agricultural wastewater.

Promoting Fundamental movement skill development and physical activity in early childhood settings : a cluster randomized controlled trial

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of a physical activity program for preschool children. A 20-week, 2-arm parallel cluster randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted. The intervention comprised structured activities for children and professional development for staff. The control group participated in usual care activities, which included designated inside and outside playtime. Primary outcomes were movement skill development and objectively measured physical activity. At follow-up, compared with children in the control group, children in the intervention group showed greater improvements in movement skill proficiency, with this improvement statically significant for overall movement skill development (adjust diff. = 2.08, 95% CI 0.76, 3.40; Cohen’s d = 0.47) and significantly greater increases in objectively measured physical activity (counts per minute) during the preschool day (adjust diff. = 110.5, 95% CI 33.6, 187.3; Cohen’s d = 0.46). This study demonstrates that a physical activity program implemented by staff within a preschool setting is feasible, acceptable and potentially efficacious.