Synthetic garments enhance comfort, thermoregulatory response, and athletic performance compared with traditional cotton garments.

The ability of a fabric to transfer moisture is referred to as "wicking," and an increase in this property may have benefits in terms of comfort and thermoregulation. However, this phenomenon has not been studied in the context of sporting-type activities. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess whether comfort, thermal physiological parameters, and physical performance can be affected by the garment that is used. Ten men (age: 27.5 ± 4.4 years; height: 169.3 ± 14.2 cm; weight: 80.05 ± 10.87 kg) and 10 women (age: 26.8 ± 3.7 years; height: 166.6 ± 4.46 cm; weight: 64.63 ± 4.49 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. A within-group crossover counterbalanced design was used that included the Illinois Agility Run (IAR) and the Multistage Fitness Test (MSFT). The IAR was also performed while wearing protective padding. The protocol was completed on 2 occasions, once while wearing a cotton garment (C) and again while wearing a polyester (P) garment. Questionnaires referring to sensations of various components of comfort were completed after each test. The P garment provided significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater comfort in men and women after both the IAR and the MSFT. The P garment led to significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved performance during the IAR in women. The P garment also provided significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater body mass loss during the protocol in women. This study demonstrated dramatic increases in the comfort of P garments, including while using protective equipment. This study also discovered the influence of P garments on anaerobic tasks and also revealed dramatic sex differences, where women seem to be much more sensitive to the benefits of P garments. Strength and conditioning coaches should be aware of the dramatic impact of garment choice, in aerobic and anaerobic tasks, particularly in women.

Increasing accurate self-report in surveys of pregnancy alcohol use.

BACKGROUND: pregnancy alcohol research relies on self-reports of alcohol consumption. Reporting bias may contribute to ambiguous and conflicting findings on fetal effects of low to moderate pregnancy alcohol exposure. OBJECTIVE: this study aimed to identify the determinants which would enable women to provide accurate data in surveys of alcohol use in pregnancy. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: six focus groups were held with a total of 26 pregnant women and new mothers. Participants reviewed a set of alcohol survey questions followed by a guided discussion. Transcripts were analysed using inductive content analysis. SETTING: public hospital antenatal clinics and Mother & Child Health Centres, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. FINDINGS: women's emotional responses were generally favourable, although the potential for anxiety and fear of judgement was acknowledged. Barriers to accurate self-report were recall, complexity and use of subjective language. Facilitators were appropriate drink choices, occasional drinking options and contextualising of questions. Confidentiality and survey method, including a preference for methods other than face-to face, were also important factors. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: questions embedded in clear context may reduce anxiety around questions about alcohol use in pregnancy. Methods using shorter recall periods, a list of drinks choices, measures of special occasion drinking and minimising complex and subjective language will increase accurate self-report. A setting perceived as confidential and anonymous may reduce a desire to provide socially acceptable answers.

The smart meter and a smarter consumer: quantifying the benefits of smart meter implementation in the United States.

The electric grid in the United States has been suffering from underinvestment for years, and now faces pressing challenges from rising demand and deteriorating infrastructure. High congestion levels in transmission lines are greatly reducing the efficiency of electricity generation and distribution. In this paper, we assess the faults of the current electric grid and quantify the costs of maintaining the current system into the future. While the proposed "smart grid" contains many proposals to upgrade the ailing infrastructure of the electric grid, we argue that smart meter installation in each U.S. household will offer a significant reduction in peak demand on the current system. A smart meter is a device which monitors a household's electricity consumption in real-time, and has the ability to display real-time pricing in each household. We conclude that these devices will provide short-term and long-term benefits to utilities and consumers. The smart meter will enable utilities to closely monitor electricity consumption in real-time, while also allowing households to adjust electricity consumption in response to real-time price adjustments.