The physical demands of Super League rugby: Experiences of a newly promoted franchise.

The physical match demands for a newly promoted European Super League (ESL) squad were analysed over a full season using global positioning systems. Players were classified into four positional groups: outside backs (OB), pivots (PIV), middle unit forwards (MUF) and wide running forwards (WRF). MUF covered less total distance (4318 ± 570 m) than WRF (6408 ± 629 m), PIV (6549 ± 853) and OB (7246 ± 333 m) (P < 0.05) and less sprint distance (185 ± 58 m) than WRF (296 ± 82 m), PIV (306 ± 108) and OB (421 ± 89 m; P < 0.05), likely attributable to less playing time by MUF (47.8 ± 6.6 min) compared with WRF (77.0 ± 9.0 min), PIV (72.8 ± 10.6 min) and OB (86.7 ± 3.4 min; P < 0.05). Metres per minute were greater for MUF (90.8 ± 2.2 m.min(-1)) compared with OB (83.6 ± 2.8 m.min(-1)) and WRF (83.4 ± 2.4 m.min(-1); P = 0.001) although not different from PIV (90.2 ± 3.3 m.min(-1); P > 0.05). WRF (36 ± 5) and MUF (35 ± 6) were involved in more collisions than OB (20 ± 3) and PIV (23 ± 3; P < 0.05). The high-speed running and collision demands observed here were greater than that previously reported in the ESL, which may reflect increased demands placed on the lower ranked teams. The present data may be used to inform coaches if training provides the physical stimulus to adequately prepare their players for competition which may be especially pertinent for newly promoted franchises.

Rapid identification of bacteria from bioMérieux BacT/ALERT blood culture bottles by MALDI-TOF MS.

Several studies have reported poor results when trying to identify microorganisms directly from the bioMérieux BacT/ALERT blood culture system using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The aim of this study is to evaluate two new methods, Sepsityper and an enrichment method for direct identification of microorganisms from this system. For both methods the samples were processed using the Bruker Microflex LT mass spectrometer (Biotyper) using the Microflex Control software to obtain spectra. The results from direct analysis were compared with those obtained by subculture and subsequent identification. A total of 350 positive blood cultures were processed simultaneously by the two methods. Fifty-three cultures were polymocrobial or failed to grow any organism on subculture, and these results were not included as there was either no subculture result, or for polymicrobial cultures it was known that the Biotyper would not be able to distinguish the constituent organisms correctly. Overall, the results showed that, contrary to previous reports, it is possible to identify bacteria directly from bioMérieux blood culture bottles, as 219/297 (74%) correct identifications were obtained using the Bruker Sepsityper method and 228/297 (77%) were obtained for the enrichment method when there is only one organism was present. Although the enrichment method was simpler, the reagent costs for the Sepsityper method were approximately pound 4.00 per sample compared to pound 0.50. An even simpler and cheaper method, which was less labour-intensive and did not require further reagents, was investigated. Seventy-seven specimens from positive signalled blood cultures were analysed by inoculating prewarmed blood agar plates and analysing any growth after 1-, 2- and 4-h periods of incubation at 37 degrees C, by either direct transfer or alcohol extraction. This method gave the highest number of correct identifications, 66/77 (86%), and was cheaper and less labour-intensive than either of the two above methods.

Fundamentals of pair diffusion in kinematic simulations of turbulence.

We demonstrate that kinematic simulation (KS) of three-dimensional homogeneous turbulence produces fluid element pair statistics in agreement with the predictions of L F. Richardson [Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 110, 709 (1926)] even though KS lacks explicit modeling of turbulent sweeping of small eddies by large ones. This scaling is most clearly evident in the turbulent diffusivity's dependence on rms pair separation and, to a lesser extent, on the pair's travel time statistics. It is also shown that kinematic simulation generates a probability density function of pair separation which is in good agreement with recent theory [S. Goto and J. C. Vassilicos, New J. Phys. 6, 65 (2004)] and with the scaling of the rms pair separation predicted by L. F. Richardson [Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 110, 709 (1926)]. Finally, the statistical persistence hypothesis (SPH) is formulated mathematically and its validity tested in KS. This formulation introduces the concept of stagnation point velocities and relates these to fluid accelerations. The scaling of accelerations found in kinematic simulation supports the SPH, even though KS does not generate a Kolmogorov scaling for the acceleration variance (except for a specific case and a limited range of outer to inner length-scale ratios). An argument is then presented that suggests that the stagnation points in homogeneous isotropic turbulence are on average long-lived.

Acceleration statistics as measures of statistical persistence of streamlines in isotropic turbulence.

We introduce the velocity Vs of stagnation points as a means to characterize and measure statistical persistence of streamlines. Using theoretical arguments, direct numerical simulations (DNS), and kinematic simulations (KS) of three-dimensional isotropic turbulence for different ratios of inner to outer length scales L/eta of the self-similar range, we show that a frame exists where the average Vs = 0 , that the rms values of acceleration, turbulent fluid velocity, and Vs are related by La'/u'2 approximately (V's/u')(L/eta)(2/3+q) , and that V's/u' approximately (L/eta)q with q = -1/3 in Kolmogorov turbulence, q = -1/6 in current DNS, and q = 0 in our KS. The statistical persistence hypothesis is closely related to the Tennekes sweeping hypothesis.

Atmospheric correction over case 2 waters with an iterative fitting algorithm: relative humidity effects.

In algorithms for the atmospheric correction of visible and near-IR satellite observations of the Earth's surface, it is generally assumed that the spectral variation of aerosol optical depth is characterized by an Angström power law or similar dependence. In an iterative fitting algorithm for atmospheric correction of ocean color imagery over case 2 waters, this assumption leads to an inability to retrieve the aerosol type and to the attribution to aerosol spectral variations of spectral effects actually caused by the water contents. An improvement to this algorithm is described in which the spectral variation of optical depth is calculated as a function of aerosol type and relative humidity, and an attempt is made to retrieve the relative humidity in addition to aerosol type. The aerosol is treated as a mixture of aerosol components (e.g., soot), rather than of aerosol types (e.g., urban). We demonstrate the improvement over the previous method by using simulated case 1 and case 2 sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor data, although the retrieval of relative humidity was not successful.

Atmospheric correction over case 2 waters with an iterative fitting algorithm.

A modular atmospheric correction algorithm is proposed that uses atmospheric and water contents models to predict the visible and near-infrared reflectances observed by a satellite over water. These predicted values are compared with the satellite reflectances at each pixel, and the model parameters changed iteratively with an error minimization algorithm. The default atmospheric model uses single-scattering theory with a correction for multiple scattering based on lookup tables. With this model we used parameters of the proportions of three tropospheric aerosol types. For the default water content model we need the parameters of the concentrations of chlorophyll, inorganic sediment, and gelbstoff. The diffuse attenuation and backscatter coefficients attributed to these constituents are calculated and used to derive the water-leaving reflectance. Products include water-leaving reflectance, concentrations of water constituents, and aerosol optical depth and type. We demonstrate the application of the method to sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor by using model data.

Continuous suprascapular nerve block for analgesia of scapular fracture.

Fracture of the scapular is uncommon but painful. A case is described in which a comminuted scapular fracture was treated with a continuous suprascapular nerve block. With the patient lying supine an epidural needle was directed towards the scapular notch via a superior approach and an epidural catheter was placed when the notch was believed to have been identified. Repeat injections of 10 ml bupivacaine 0.25 per cent with 1/200,000 epinephrine provided analgesia within minutes and a duration of 8-10 hr. Injection of 10 ml radio-opaque dye demonstrated the catheter to be lateral to the scapular notch. However, dye dispersed throughout the supraspinous fossa including the scapular notch thus blocking the suprascapular nerve. This case demonstrates that continuous suprascapular nerve block can be performed for five days and that location of the scapular notch is less important than previously thought.

Comparison of the effects of succinylcholine and atracurium on intracranial pressure in monkeys with intracranial hypertension.

The effects of succinylcholine (1.5 mg X kg-1 IV) administered five minutes after a defasciculating dose of curare (0.05 mg X kg-1 IV), were compared with the effects of atracurium (0.5 mg X kg-1 IV) on intracranial pressure (ICP) in 13 cynomolgus monkeys with intracranial hypertension (ICP approximately 25 mmHg). Neither succinylcholine nor atracurium increased ICP during general anaesthesia with 60 per cent N2O/O2, 0.5-1 per cent halothane. During a rapid sequence induction and intubation with thiopentone 5 mg X kg-1 IV, ICP increased equally with intubation following both atracurium (25 +/- 1 to 32 +/- 2 mmHg) and succinylcholine (25 +/- 1 to 31 +/- 2 mmHg) (p less than 0.05). Intubation was also associated with significant increases in PaCO2, CVP and MAP. We conclude that in this primate model of intracranial hypertension, neither atracurium nor succinylcholine (when given following a defasciculating dose of curare) elevates ICP. In terms of the elevation of ICP associated with intubation, atracurium was found to offer no advantage over succinylcholine.