The aim of this study was to develop a reliable and valid field test that simulates the match-specific activity demands of male basketball competition. Fourteen male basketball players (mean ± SD, ...age: 24.9 ± 2.3 yr; stature: 187.8 ± 7.7 cm; body mass: 88.8 ± 10.5 kg) from state- (n = 6) and regional-level (n = 8) Australian competitions volunteered to participate. The Basketball Exercise Simulation Test (BEST) was developed using notational data describing the current activity demands of male basketball competition. Participants completed a repeat-sprint protocol, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Yo-Yo IRT) and 12-min BEST trial. Nine participants completed a further BEST trial at least 7 days later. Measures taken across the BEST included mean sprint and circuit time (s), sprint and circuit decrement (%) and total distance covered (m). Test-retest reliability was determined by calculating the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), typical error of measurement, coefficient of variation (CV) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) across the two BEST trials. Criterion validity was calculated using Pearson Correlation analysis between each BEST measure and performance in the repeat-sprint protocol and Yo-Yo IRT. Mean sprint and circuit time and sprint and circuit decrement possessed high ICCs (0.92-0.99), while all measures except sprint (14.6%) and circuit decrement (16.8%) exhibited low CVs (<5%). Significant (p < 0.01) relationships were reported between mean sprint time, sprint decrement, mean circuit time and circuit decrement during the BEST and repeat-sprint performance (r = 0.80-0.92), as well as Yo-Yo IRT distance (r = -0.71-0.85). The present results suggest that the BEST is a reliable and valid match-specific test for the combined assessment of basketball-related anaerobic and aerobic fitness.
Only one broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibody, 2G12, recognises the envelope sugars of HIV. In the present study, we show that 2G12 also recognises Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis with high ...affinity (11 nmol/l) through a carbohydrate-dependent interaction (50% inhibitory concentration for D-fructose, 12 mmol/l). This is the first report of a neutralizing HIV antibody displaying cross-reactivity with another pathogen, revealing that the carbohydrate neutralization determinant of HIV, defined by 2G12, is more widespread amongst immunogenic, microbial surfaces than previously recognized.
IntroductionThere is a need to develop relevant, acceptable initiatives that facilitate physical activity participation in young people with disability. FitSkills was developed to support young ...people with disability to exercise. The primary aims are to investigate if FitSkills can be scaled up from a small, university-led programme to run as a larger community-university partnership programme, and to determine its effectiveness in improving physical activity participation and health-related quality of life for young people with disability. The secondary aims are to evaluate cost-effectiveness, changes in attitudes towards disability and other health-related outcomes for young people with disability.Methods and analysisA stepped wedge cluster randomised trial using a cohort design and embedded health economic evaluation will compare the effect of FitSkills with a control phase. FitSkills matches a young person with disability with a student mentor and the pair exercise together at their local gymnasium for 1 hour, two times per week for 12 weeks (24 sessions in total). One hundred and sixty young people with disability aged 13 to 30 years will be recruited. Eight community gymnasia will be recruited and randomised into four cluster units to have FitSkills introduced at 3-month intervals. Primary (feasibility, participation and health-related quality of life) and secondary outcomes will be collected longitudinally every 3 months from trial commencement, with eight data collection time points in total. The Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model will be used to support knowledge translation and implementation of project findings into policy and practice.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee (HEC17-012), Australian Catholic University (2017–63R), Deakin University (2017–206) and the Victorian Department of Education and Training (2018_003616). Results will be disseminated through published manuscripts, conference presentations, public seminars and practical resources for stakeholder groups.Trial registration numberACTRN12617000766314.Trial sponsorLa Trobe University.
We present the latest advances of our Canine Augmentation Technology (CAT) system. Our new approach to Urban Search and Rescue canine search sensing involves the use of stabilized and stitched ...multi-camera views and produces panoramic video that can be further processed for better human understanding. We discuss our initial results, some of the outstanding challenges and the existing and possible capabilities of the system. The results of our field testing are also presented.
The common coil geometry provides an alternate design to the conventional cosine theta dipoles. It allows a wider range of conductor and magnet technologies. It also facilitates a low-cost, ...rapid-turn-around design and R&D program. Recent studies carried out as a part of the US Magnet Development Program revealed that at high fields (20 T with 15% operating margin or more), the common coil design also uses significantly less conductor (particularly much less HTS), as compared to that in the other designs.
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