Aiming for the quiet eye in biathlon

The duration of the so-called "Quiet Eye" (QE) - the final fixation before the initiation of a critical movement - seems to be linked to better perceptual-motor performances in various domains. For instance, experts show longer QE durations when compared to their less skilled counterparts. The aim of this paper was to replicate and extend previous work on the QE [Vickers and Williams 2007] in elite biathletes in an ecologically valid environment. Specifically, we tested whether longer QE durations result in higher shooting accuracy. To this end, we developed a gun-mounted eye tracker as a means to obtain reliable gaze data without interfering with the athletes' performance routines. During regular training protocols we collected gaze and performance data of 9 members (age 19.8 ± 0.45) of the German national junior team. The results did not show a significant effect of QE duration on shooting performance. Based on our findings, we critically discuss various conceptual as well as methodological issues with the QE literature that need to be aligned in future research to resolve current inconsistencies.The duration of the so-called "Quiet Eye" (QE) - the final fixation before the initiation of a critical movement - seems to be linked to better perceptual-motor performances in various domains. For instance, experts show longer QE durations when compared to their less skilled counterparts. The aim of this paper was to replicate and extend previous work on the QE [Vickers and Williams 2007] in elite biathletes in an ecologically valid environment. Specifically, we tested whether longer QE durations result in higher shooting accuracy. To this end, we developed a gun-mounted eye tracker as a means to obtain reliable gaze data without interfering with the athletes' performance routines. During regular training protocols we collected gaze and performance data of 9 members (age 19.8 ± 0.45) of the German national junior team. The results did not show a significant effect of QE duration on shooting performance. Based on our findings, we critically discuss various conceptual as well as methodological issues with the QE literature that need to be aligned in future research to resolve current inconsistencies

Accelerating U.S. Clean Energy Deployment: Investor Policy Priorities

International investment to mitigate climate change is far below levels needed to reach the two-degree target. The International Energy Agency estimates that an average of an additional $1 trillion in incremental financing for clean energy is needed to meet the temperature target. In September 2014, over 350 investors representing$24 trillion in assets issued the Global Investor Statement on Climate Change, calling on governments to create an ambitious global agreement that includes a meaningful price on carbon -- the "Clean Trillion."This paper connects the Clean Trillion goal to the current United States climate and clean energy policy framework, which is a mixture of federal, state, and local initiatives. The paper outlines the 2015 U.S. policy priorities of the Policy Working Group of the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a network of more than 110 institutional investors primarily based in the U.S., focused on investment risks and opportunities associated with climate change

Probiotic Supplementation and Gastrointestinal Endotoxemia Before and After the Marathon Des Sables.

Whilst evidence of increased gastrointestinal endotoxemia (GE) has been previously demonstrated during single-day ultra-endurance events, less is known on the prevalence of GE following extreme ultra-events such as the Marathon Des Sables (MDS). The potential benefit of probiotic formulas on gut integrity during ultra-endurance events also requires further investigation. PURPOSE: To assess the impact of probiotic supplementation with or without glutamine on GE prevalence in runners competing in a multi-day ultra-run (MDS). METHODS: Thirty four healthy participants from the 2015 MDS UK cohort volunteered for a 12 week pre-race intervention and were randomly assigned to either: probiotic (PRO; 100mg.d-1 lactobacillus acidophilus) (age 40 ±3 yrs., weight 79.4 ±2.0kg, VO2max 4.2 ±0.1 L.min-1), probiotic with glutamine (PROglut; 40.5mg.d-1 lactobacillus acidophilus and 900mg.d-1L-glutamine) (age 39 ±2 yrs., weight 70.6 ±4.8 kg, VO2max 4.0 ±0.2 L.min-1) and control (CON) (age 42±3 yrs., weight 79.2 ±3.8 kg, VO2max 4.0 ±0.3 L.min-1). Plasma lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (via Limulus Amebocyte Lysate chromogenic endotoxin quantification) were assessed at weeks 0, 12, post-race and 7 days post-race. Performance data was collated from official timing chips. Data presented as mean ±SE. RESULTS: Mild to moderate GE was prevalent in all groups at baseline (PRO 9.71 ±0.85pg.ml-1, PROglut 9.89 ±1.43 pg.ml-1, CON 9.40 ±0.57 pg.ml-1; P>0.05). Whilst LPS, post intervention, was lower in PROglut there was no significance between groups (9.81 ±1.47pg.ml-1 vs 12.80 ±0.93pg.ml-1 (PRO) vs 11.72 ±1.08 pg.mol-1 (CON); P>0.05). LPS were evidently reduced 6hrs post-race, but not different between groups (PRO: 7.29 ±1.41 pg.ml-1, PROglut: 6.95 ±0.94 pg.ml-1, CON: 9.73 ±1.39 pg.ml-1; P>0.05).Plasma LPS returned to baseline levels 7 days post-race (PRO 7.60 ±0.95 pg.ml-1, PROglut 10.41 ±1.04 pg.ml-1, CON 8.57 ±0.75 pg.ml-1; P>0.05). Race performance (hrs:mins) was not significant between groups, despite PRO and PROglut being ~9hrs faster than CON (41:28±2:31 vs 41:58±4:02 vs 50:43±4:38; P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Moderate GE was prevalent in all groups pre-race and fell significantly during the short-term recovery period. Despite promising results neither probiotic formula had a significant impact on GE or race performance

Putative ligand binding sites of two functionally characterized bark beetle odorant receptors

Background: Bark beetles are major pests of conifer forests, and their behavior is primarily mediated via olfaction. Targeting the odorant receptors (ORs) may thus provide avenues towards improved pest control. Such an approach requires information on the function of ORs and their interactions with ligands, which is also essential for understanding the functional evolution of these receptors. Hence, we aimed to identify a high-quality complement of ORs from the destructive spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) and analyze their antennal expression and phylogenetic relationships with ORs from other beetles. Using 68 biologically relevant test compounds, we next aimed to functionally characterize ecologically important ORs, using two systems for heterologous expression. Our final aim was to gain insight into the ligand-OR interaction of the functionally characterized ORs, using a combination of computational and experimental methods. Results: We annotated 73 ORs from an antennal transcriptome of I. typographus and report the functional characterization of two ORs (ItypOR46 and ItypOR49), which are responsive to single enantiomers of the common bark beetle pheromone compounds ipsenol and ipsdienol, respectively. Their responses and antennal expression correlate with the specificities, localizations, and/or abundances of olfactory sensory neurons detecting these enantiomers. We use homology modeling and molecular docking to predict their binding sites. Our models reveal a likely binding cleft lined with residues that previously have been shown to affect the responses of insect ORs. Within this cleft, the active ligands are predicted to specifically interact with residues Tyr84 and Thr205 in ItypOR46. The suggested importance of these residues in the activation by ipsenol is experimentally supported through site-directed mutagenesis and functional testing, and hydrogen bonding appears key in pheromone binding. Conclusions: The emerging insight into ligand binding in the two characterized ItypORs has a general importance for our understanding of the molecular and functional evolution of the insect OR gene family. Due to the ecological importance of the characterized receptors and widespread use of ipsenol and ipsdienol in bark beetle chemical communication, these ORs should be evaluated for their potential use in pest control and biosensors to detect bark beetle infestations

Pacing accuracy during an incremental step test in adolescent swimmers

To assess pacing accuracy in a group of adolescent swimmers during an incremental step test. Fifteen well-trained swimmers (age 15±1.5 years; height 170.2±8.8 cm; mass 60.2±6.6 kg), completed two 7×200 m tests, separated by ~72 hours. They swam to a predetermined incrementally increasing pace per step and were instructed to swim at even pace. Upon completion of each step, rating of perceived exertion, heart rate and blood lactate were recorded. Significant differences observed for both trials between actual and predicted swim time (P<0.05). Significant differences also observed between the first and second 100 m of each step in trial 1 for step 1 (P=0.001, effect size [ES] =0.54), step 2 (P=0.0001, ES =0.57), step 4 (P=0.0001, ES =0.53), step 5 (P=0.005, ES =0.65), step 6 (P=0.0001, ES =0.50), and step 7 (P=0.0001, ES =0.70). Similar responses witnessed for trial 2 (P<0.05). Findings suggest that the finite anaerobic capacity was engaged sooner than would normally be anticipated, as a function of an inability to regulate pace. This is proposed to be a consequence of the volume of exposure to the biological and psychological sensations and cognitive developmental status. Given the apparent error in pacing judgment exhibited in this population group, caution should be applied when adopting such tests to monitor training responses with adolescent athletes, and alternate means of modulating pace be investigated

Pace Versus Prediction: Is the Age of the Runner Associated With Marathon Success?

INTRODUCTION: During closed-loop exercise, such as marathon running, the athlete adopts a pacing strategy to optimise performance. Exercise intensity (speed) is modulated in response to afferent signals from biological and psychological systems, which relay the responses of the exercise to the brain where efferent, homeostatic-orientated responses are issued. Thus a conscious perception of effort is continuously compared to a sub-conscious template which is derived from previous exposure to the sensations of pain and fatigue and expected exercise duration. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between pacing strategy/race outcome and biological age of the athlete. METHODS: Following local institutional ethical approval n = 777 runners who were competing in the 2015 London Marathon volunteered and agreed to participate. Age, gender and experience of the participants were ascertained using an online survey and opportunistic questionnaire surveying at the pre-marathon registration event. Age was stratified according to the following classifications: 18-39 yrs, 40-49 yrs, 50-59 yrs and >60 yrs. Additionally, participants were asked to predict their marathon finish time (PT) serving as a proxy for end-point and compared to actual finish time (FT). All participating runners 5km splits and FT were downloaded from the race website, converted to speed and then normalised (%) to the final split time/speed (m∙s-1). RESULTS: Significant differences were observed for all age groups (p 60 yrs (p = 0.153). Non-significant differences observed between age groups across all 5km splits (p > 0.05), but within group differences observed between 10-15km for all age groups (p 60yrs at 30-35km (ES = 0.53). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the biological age of the athlete is associated with the implementation of a successful pacing strategy and may be a function of the accrued training volume and/or emotional-event development. Athletes are encouraged to pace themselves with older (>60yrs) athletes with similar PT’

A Universal Model of Global Civil Unrest

Civil unrest is a powerful form of collective human dynamics, which has led to major transitions of societies in modern history. The study of collective human dynamics, including collective aggression, has been the focus of much discussion in the context of modeling and identification of universal patterns of behavior. In contrast, the possibility that civil unrest activities, across countries and over long time periods, are governed by universal mechanisms has not been explored. Here, we analyze records of civil unrest of 170 countries during the period 1919-2008. We demonstrate that the distributions of the number of unrest events per year are robustly reproduced by a nonlinear, spatially extended dynamical model, which reflects the spread of civil disorder between geographic regions connected through social and communication networks. The results also expose the similarity between global social instability and the dynamics of natural hazards and epidemics.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Pace Versus Prediction: Is the Experience of the Runner Associated With Marathon Success?

PURPOSE: Pacing strategies during exercise are attributed to optimising the balance between the artefacts of fatigue and regulation of substrate metabolism. Pace judgement is set within a continuum of information from the ability to anticipate metabolic demands and select an appropriate strategy through to the accumulation of prior experience for completion of such a task that has a known end-point. Therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of athlete experience to successfully regulate pace and attain a predicted end time during a marathon. METHOD: Following local institutional ethical approval n= 777 runners competing in the 2015 London Marathon agreed to participate. Using an on-line survey and opportunistic questionnaire at a pre-marathon event participants were asked to predict their race time. Athlete experience (EXP) was established based on the number of previously completed marathons using a Likert scale from 0 to greater than 10 with increments of 1 race. Athlete age was also recorded. All race data was downloaded from the race website generating 5Km split times, then converted to speed and normalised (%) to the final split time/speed (m.s-1). Prediction time (PT) was used a proxy for end-point and compared to finish time (FT). RESULTS: FT for whole group (WG) was 15479 ±3311s compared to the group PT 15003 ±2972s a significant difference of 476s (P= 0.0001). An R2of 0.863 observed for WG compared to 0.799 (EXP-0) and 0.852 (EXP-5) when comparing FT to PT. Significant differences observed between PT and FT for all EXP groups apart from EXP-5 (P= 0.0001). EXP-0 showed significant difference across all split times apart from 35-40 km (P=0.0001) with a decrease in normalised speed from 5km (109.0 ±7.6) –40km (89.9 ±7.4%). The EXP-5 group showed significant changes in pace between 25-30 km (P= 0.001) (ES= 0.35) and 30-35 km (P= 0.0001) (ES= 0.44), decrease in pace from 5km (105.0 ±5.7%) to 40km (93.7 ±5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that successful marathon pacing is dependent on the experience of the athlete reflecting the development of the pacing template. Additionally experience is associated with better attainment of prediction time suggesting that less experienced runners should run with more experienced athletes with similar end-point targets

TiO2/MoO2 nanocomposite as anode materials for high power Li-ion batteries with exceptional capacity

Nanoparticles of molybdenum(IV) oxide (MoO 2 ) and a TiO 2 /MoO 2 nanocomposite were synthesised via a continuous hydrothermal synthesis process. Both powders were analysed using XRD, XPS, TEM, and BET and evaluated as active materials in anodes for Li-ion half-cells. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements were carried out in the potential window of 0.1 to 3.0 V vs. Li/Li+. Specific capacities of ca. 350 mAh g -1 were obtained for both materials at low specific currents (0.1 A g -1 ); TiO 2 /MoO 2 composite electrodes showed superior rate behaviour & stability under cycling (compared to MoO 2 ), with stable specific capacities of ca. 265 mAh g -1 at a specific current of 0.5 A g -1 and ca. 150 mAh g -1 after 350 cycles at a specific current of 2.5 A g -1 . The improved performance of the composite material, compared to MoO 2 , was attributed to a smaller particle size, improved stability to volume changes (during cycling), and lower charge transfer resistance during cycling. Li-ion hybrid electrochemical capacitors using TiO 2 /MoO 2 composite anodes and activated carbon (AC) cathodes were evaluated and showed excellent performance with an energy density of 44 Wh kg -1 at a power density of 600 W kg -1