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Predictors of cardiac troponin release after a marathon
Objectives: Exercise leads to an increase in cardiac troponin I in healthy, asymptomatic athletes after a marathon. Previous studies revealed single factors to relate to post-race cardiac troponin I levels. Integrating these factors into our study, we aimed to identify independent predictors for the exercise-induced cardiac troponin I release. Design: Observational study. Methods: Ninety-two participants participated in a marathon at a self-selected speed. Demographic data, health status, physical activity levels and marathon experience were obtained. Before and immediately after the marathon fluid intake was recorded, body mass changes were measured to determine fluid balance and venous blood was drawn for analysis of high-sensitive cardiac troponin I. Exercise intensity was examined by recording heart rate. We included age, participation in previous marathons, exercise duration, exercise intensity and hydration status (relative weight change) in our model as potential determinants to predict post-exercise cardiac troponin I level. Results: Cardiac troponin I increased significantly from 14. ±. 12. ng/L at baseline to 94. ±. 102. ng/L post-race, with 69% of the participants demonstrating cardiac troponin I levels above the clinical cut-off value (40. ng/L) for an acute myocardial infarction. Linear backward regression analysis identified younger age (β=. -0.27) and longer exercise duration (β=. 0.23) as significant predictors of higher post-race cardiac troponin I levels (total r=. 0.31, p<. 0.05), but not participation in previous marathons, relative weight change and exercise intensity. Conclusions: We found that cardiac troponin I levels significantly increased in a large heterogeneous group of athletes after completing a marathon. The magnitude of this response could only be partially explained, with a lower age and longer exercise duration being related to higher post-race cardiac troponin I levels
Advances in Converter Control and Innovative Exploitation of Additional Degrees of Freedom for Multiphase Machines
Multiphase variable-speed drives and generation systems (systems with more than three phases) have become one of the mainstream research areas during the last decade. The main driving forces are the specific applications, predominantly related to the green agenda, such as electric and hybrid electric vehicles, locomotive traction, ship propulsion, ‘more-electric’ aircraft, remote offshore wind farms for electric energy generation, and general high-power industrial applications. As a result, produced body of significant work is substantial, making it impossible to review all the major developments in a single paper. This paper therefore surveys the recent progress in two specific areas associated with multiphase systems, namely power electronic supply control and innovative ways of using the additional degrees of freedom in multiphase machines for various non-traditional purposes
Leucine-enriched protein feeding does not impair exercise-induced free fatty acid availability and lipid oxidation: beneficial implications for training in carbohydrate-restricted states
Given that the enhanced oxidative adaptations observed when training in carbohydrate (CHO) restricted states are potentially regulated through free fatty acid (FFA) mediated signalling and that leucine rich protein elevates muscle protein synthesis, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that leucine enriched protein feeding enhances circulating leucine concentration but does not impair FFA availability nor whole body lipid oxidation 56 during exercise. Nine males cycled for 2 h at 70% VO2peak when fasted (PLACEBO) or having consumed a whey protein solution (WHEY) or a leucine enriched whey protein gel (GEL), administered as 22 g 1 hour pre-exercise, 11 g/h during and 22 g thirty minutes post-exercise. Total leucine administration was 14.4 g and 6.3 in GEL and WHEY, respectively. Mean plasma leucine concentrations were elevated in GEL (P= 0.001) compared 60 with WHEY and PLACEBO (375 ± 100, 272 ± 51, 146 ± 14 μmol.L-1 respectively). No differences (P= 0.153) in plasma FFA (WHEY 0.53 ± 0.30, GEL 0.45 ± 0.25, PLACEBO 0.65 ± 0.30, mmol.L-1) or whole body lipid oxidation during exercise (WHEY 0.37 ± 0.26, GEL 0.36 ± 0.24, PLACEBO 0.34 ± 0.24 g/min) were apparent between trials, despite elevated (P= 0.001) insulin in WHEY and GEL compared with PLACEBO (38 ± 16, 35 ± 16, 22 ± 11 pmol.L-1 respectively). We conclude that leucine enriched protein feeding does not impair FFA availability nor whole body lipid oxidation during exercise, thus having practical applications for athletes who deliberately train in CHO restricted states to promote skeletal muscle adaptations
Chemical Composition, Some Allelopathic Aspects, Free-Radical-Scavenging Property and Antifungal Activity of the Volatile Oil of the Flowering Tops of Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.
Hydrodistillation of the ground flowering tops of Leucanthemum vulgare (Asteraceae), collected from Heyran (Ardabil Province, Iran), afforded a greenish yellow oil (yield 0.15%, v/w), which was analyzed by the GC-MS and the GC-FID. The volatile oil comprised 47 compounds representing 90.3% of the oil. Caryophyllene oxide (21.2%), aromadendrene oxide (13.7%), cis-β-farnesene (6.5%), 1-octen-3-yl-acetate (5.6%) and trans-caryophyllene (4.9%) were the major compounds. The volatile oil composition of L. vulgare collected from Iran (present study) was significantly different from that collected from elsewhere, indicating two possible chemotypes. The volatile oil showed free-radical-scavenging, antifungal and allelopathic effects
Antioxidant property, traditional uses and chemical composition of seed oil plants of North-east India: A mini- review
Apart from being used as food, seed oils have also been used traditionally as medicinal products by several communities. However, the full medicinal potential of many seed oil plants is yet to be properly
reviewed, particularly for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. North-East India has rich resources of seed oil plants. The availability of detailed information on these plants is quite limited. This review aims to explore and evaluate these seed oil plants of the North-East India with particular emphasis on their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities as well as chemical compositions. A comprehensive literature search on seed oil plants of this region has been performed. Seed oil yielding plants of this region can be categorized into two categories: plants that are used traditionally as sources of edible or medicinal oils and plants that are used for purposes other than as sources of oils. Many seed oil plants of this region have been reported to possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and to produce various types of compounds. This review also highlights the importance of these plants in contributing to the local as well as the national economy of India
Determination of Activated Carbon Residual Life using a Microwave Cavity Resonator
This paper presents the continuation of work conducted jointly between Dstl and LJMU. This unique body of work has been, largely, concerned with detecting the residual life of high performance filter materials using electromagnetic (EM) waves within a resonant cavity. Past work has considered both HEPA [1] and ASZM-TEDA[2] activated carbon filter materials. This paper continues the later work, considering the response of ASZM-TEDA activated carbon through the co-ageing of two distinct batches of the material. The paper briefly introduces activated carbon, discusses theory relevant to the work and the methodology used for investigation. A comprehensive set of results is included which seek to validate this technique for determining the residual lifespan of activated carbon
"I'm Managing My Diabetes between Two Worlds": Beliefs and Experiences of Diabetes Management in British South Asians on Holiday in the East-A Qualitative Study.
Background. Diabetes is disproportionately high among British South Asians compared to the general UK population. Whilst the migrant British South Asians group has received most attention on research related to diabetes management, little consideration has been given to impact of travel back to the East. This study aimed to explore the role of social networks and beliefs about diabetes in British South Asians, to better understand their management behaviours whilst holidaying in the East. Methods. Semistructured interviews were conducted in Greater Manchester. Forty-four participants were recruited using random and purposive sampling techniques. Interviews were analysed thematically using a constant comparison approach. Results. Migrant British South Asians expressed a strong preference to be in a hot climate; they felt they had a healthier lifestyle in the East and often altered or abandoned their diabetes medication. Information acquisition on diabetes and availability of social networks in the East was valued. Conclusion. Social networks in the East are a valued source of information and support for diabetes. The lack of adherence to medication whilst abroad suggests that some migrant British South Asians have a poor understanding of diabetes. Future research needs to explore whether patients are seeking professional advice on diabetes management prior to their extended holiday
Evaluation of Four Recovery Communities across England: Interim report for the Give it Up project
The Comic Relief: Give it Up Fund is a programme that aims to develop and build abstinence based recovery communities and learn more about their value. The Give it Up Fund supports the development of recovery communities in four geographical locations in England. It is
expected that the recovery communities will be sustainable and continue to operate after the two years of funding is complete. The aim of this research is to evaluate the operational processes of the pilot programmes and better understand how they might contribute to ambitions of improved and sustained recovery.
Abstinence-based recovery communities aim to ensure that people with addictions are supported to meet their personal, social and economic needs in order to enable long-term recovery and reintegration back into society. Abstinence-based recovery complements the UK Drug Strategy (2010) objective of supporting people to live abstinence-based, ‘drug-free’ lives.
The large grants programme element of the Give it Up Fund is supporting the development of recovery communities in Durham, Birmingham, Gloucester and London by creating partnerships offering collaborative working with approaches that aim to sustain recovery.
This work explores how each of the projects contribute to recovery outcomes over time, and aims to embed processes to ensure that projects are able to measure and evidence their outcomes once the commissioned evaluation has finished
Imprecise knowledge based design and development of titanium alloys for prosthetic applications
Imprecise knowledge on the composition–processing–microstructure–property correlation of titanium alloys combined with experimental data are used for developing rule based models for predicting the strength and elastic modulus of titanium alloys. The developed models are used for designing alloys suitable for orthopedic and dental applications. Reduced Space Searching Algorithm is employed for the multi-objective optimization to find composition, processing and microstructure of titanium alloys suitable for orthopedic applications. The conflicting requirements attributes of the alloys for this particular purpose are high strength with low elastic modulus, along with adequate biocompatibility and low costs. The ‘Pareto’ solutions developed through multi-objective optimization show that the preferred compositions for the fulfilling the above objectives lead to β or near β-alloys. The concept of decision making employed on the solutions leads to some compositions, which should provide better combination of the required attributes. The experimental development of some of the alloys has been carried out as guided by the model-based design methodology presented in this research. Primary characterizations of the alloys show encouraging results in terms of the mechanical properties