scholarly journals Visual and behavioral assessment versus cortisol level and racing performance in Purebred Arabian horses

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 6058-2018
Author(s):  
IWONA JANCZAREK ◽  
WITOLD KĘDZIERSKI ◽  
IZABELA WILK ◽  
KARINA BRZOZOWSKA ◽  
MONIKA ZASTRZEŻYŃSKA

This paper analyses the hypothesis that there is a link between the psychophysical traits of horses trained for racing and the level of cortisol in the saliva and performance results in competitions. Based on this hypothesis, the objective of the study was to analyse the correlation between the evaluations of the psychosomatic status and the concentration of cortisol and performance parameters in racing horses. The study was carried out with 30 Purebred Arabian horses (15 stallions and 15 mares), aged 34–38 months. On the initial day of the experiment, the horses were kept in the area of the Służewiec Racetrack where they had arrived 3–4 months earlier. The horses were examined once, 2–3 days before the planned start of the first race. The examination was carried out during a daily training session. The visual and behavioural scores for the psychosomatic status of the horse were scaled from 1 to 5 and assigned by a trainer three times. The first assessment took place directly after physical exercise, the second 15 minutes following physical exercise, while the third one was 45 minutes after physical exercise. The following features were included: the manner of perspiration and some organoleptic characteristics of sweat, abdominal movements, gaze, head position and body movements during handling. The saliva for cortisol concentration measurements was sampled three times at time points coinciding with the observation of the psychosomatic status of the horses. The concentration of cortisol was determined with the immune-enzymatic method. In addition, an analysis of the selected performance parameters was conducted. The multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measurements, t-Tukey’s test and Spearman's rank correlations were performed. It was demonstrated that the assessment of the psychosomatic status in Purebred Arabian horses may be applied based only on an analysis of some parameters determined directly after physical exercise or during the first minutes of resting (regeneration). These elements mainly include the manner of sweating and various organoleptic features of the sweat. It was also emphasized that non-observable body movements, calming down during handling, and regular abdominal movements are beneficial for stallions..

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 493-497
Author(s):  
Beatriz Augusta Pozzolo ◽  
Vanessa Ferrari da Fonseca ◽  
Amanda Archeleiga Guedes ◽  
Giovanna Lima de Oliveira ◽  
Daniele Dietrich ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: A single exercise training session promotes stimuli for changes in the immune system that are cumulatively considered adaptations to the exercise. Objective: This paper explores the acute effect of different intensities of aerobic exercise on anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory markers in apparently healthy university students. Methods: Eighteen volunteers underwent two sessions of aerobic exercise, the first at 65-70% estimated heart rate (HR), and after seven days, a second session at 80-85% HR. Before and after each session, venous blood was drawn, in order to analyze interleukin (IL) 6 and 10 in a Milliplex Kit. The participants’ level of physical activity was determined using a questionnaire. For statistical comparisons, two-way ANOVA was used for the variables hemodynamics and perceived exertion. The cytokine results were compared through the Student's t-test for repeated measurements. The exclusion criteria were the practice of physical exercise and having drunk alcohol on the day before the intervention sessions, the presence of osteomioarticular conditions, and missing one of the sessions. Results: This study showed that IL-6 was not significantly decreased when comparing the two sessions. IL-10 was significantly decreased (p=0.033) in the 65-70% HR session but not in the 80-85% HR session. The delta variation for IL-10 showed a tendency (p=0.053) towards a greater decrease in the 65-70% HR session when compared to the 80-85% HR session. There were no differences in the acute effect of exercise when comparing the levels of physical activity. Conclusion: This study highlights that two different zones of high intensity exercise can induce different inflammatory responses, as demonstrated by the significant decrease in IL-10 in the 65-70%HR zone. The study also shows that there was no difference in physical exercise response in individuals with moderate and high physical activity levels. Level of evidence III; Comparative study.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Gil ◽  
Salzitsa Anastasova ◽  
Guang Yang

Wearable biomedical technology has gained much support lately as devices have become more affordable to the general public and they can easily interact with mobile phones and other platforms. The feasibility and accuracy of the data generated by these devices so as to replace the standard medical methods in use today is still under scrutiny. In this paper, we present an ear-worn device to measure cardiovascular and sweat parameters during physical exercise. ECG bipolar recordings capture the electric potential around both ears, whereas sweat rate is estimated by the impedance method over one segment of tissue closer to the left ear, complemented by the measurement of the lactate and pH levels using amperiometric and potentiometric sensors, respectively. Together with head acceleration, the acquired data is sent to a mobile phone via BLE, enabling extended periods of signal recording. Results obtained by the device have shown a SNR level of 18 dB for the ECG signal recorded around the ears, a THD value of −20.46 dB for the excitation signal involved in impedance measurements, sweat conductivity of 0.08 S/m at 1 kHz and sensitivities of 50 mV/pH and 0.8 μA/mM for the pH and lactate acquisition channels, respectively. Testing of the device was performed in human subjects during indoors cycling with characteristic level changes.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 340
Author(s):  
Izabela Wilk ◽  
Elżbieta Wnuk-Pawlak ◽  
Iwona Janczarek ◽  
Beata Kaczmarek ◽  
Marta Dybczyńska ◽  
...  

It was assumed that a horse with its rider body weight found in the upper limit may negatively impact the horse’s welfare. The objective of this paper was to analyze the differences in body temperature and selected heart rate parameters in horses in response to physical exercise accompanied by various rider’s body weight loads. The study was carried out on 12 leisure, 10–15-year-old warmblood geldings. The horses were ridden by two equally qualified riders whose body weights were about 20% and 10% of the average body weight (BW) of the animals (about 470 kg). Each rider rode each of the 12 horses for 13 min walking and 20 min of trotting. Images of the horse at rest, after physical exercise directly after unsaddling, and during the recovery phase (10 min after unsaddling) were taken with an infrared thermography camera. For analysis, the temperatures of selected body parts were measured on the surface of the head, neck, front, middle, and back (croup) parts of the trunk, forelimb, and hind limb. Immediately after the infrared thermography images were taken, the rectal temperature of the horse was measured. The heart rate parameters were measured at rest for 10 min directly before, during, and 10 min following the end of a training session. A multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measurements was performed. Statistical significance was accepted for p < 0.05. A rider BW load on a horse of approximately 20% of the horse’s BW led to a substantial increase in the superficial temperatures of the neck, front, middle, and back parts of the trunk in relation to these body parts’ average temperatures when the load was about 10% BW. The head and limb average temperatures were not significantly affected by the load of the exercised horse. A horse’s load above 20% of his body weight, even with little effort, affects changes in surface temperature and the activity of the autonomic nervous system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Thibault Landry ◽  
Marylène Gagné ◽  
Jacques Forest ◽  
Sylvie Guerrero ◽  
Michel Séguin ◽  
...  

Abstract. To this day, researchers are debating the adequacy of using financial incentives to bolster performance in work settings. Our goal was to contribute to current understanding by considering the moderating role of distributive justice in the relation between financial incentives, motivation, and performance. Based on self-determination theory, we hypothesized that when bonuses are fairly distributed, using financial incentives makes employees feel more competent and autonomous, which in turn fosters greater autonomous motivation and lower controlled motivation, and better work performance. Results from path analyses in three samples supported our hypotheses, suggesting that the effect of financial incentives is contextual, and that compensation plans using financial incentives and bonuses can be effective when properly managed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-246
Author(s):  
M.A. Tony ◽  
A. Butschke ◽  
J. Zagon ◽  
H. Broll ◽  
M. Schauzu ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3866
Author(s):  
Joana Costa ◽  
Ana Rita Neves ◽  
João Reis

Open innovation is proved to be determinant in the rationalization of sustainable innovation ecosystems. Firms, universities, governments, user communities and the overall environment are called to contribute to this dynamic process. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of open innovation on firms’ performance and to empirically assess whether university-industry collaborations are complementary or substitutes for this activity. Primary data were collected from a survey encompassing 908 firms, and then combined with performance indicators from SABI (Spanish and Portuguese business information). Econometric estimations were run to evaluate the role of open innovation and university-industry collaboration in the firm innovative propensity and performance. Results highlight the importance of diversity in collaborations with the academia and inbound open innovation strategy as enhancers of firm performance. The two activities reinforce each other. By testing the impact of open innovation practices on company performance, the need for heterogeneity in terms of contact type and university is also demonstrated. Findings cast light on the need to reformulate existing policy packages, reinforcing the ties with academia as well as the promotion of open innovation strategies. The connection to the innovation ecosystem needs to be further encouraged as well as the promotion of persistent connections with the knowledge sources in an open and multilateral framework.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1175
Author(s):  
Tereza Kroulíková ◽  
Tereza Kůdelová ◽  
Erik Bartuli ◽  
Jan Vančura ◽  
Ilya Astrouski

A novel heat exchanger for automotive applications developed by the Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Laboratory at the Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, is compared with a conventional commercially available metal radiator. The heat transfer surface of this heat exchanger is composed of polymeric hollow fibers made from polyamide 612 by DuPont (Zytel LC6159). The cross-section of the polymeric radiator is identical to the aluminum radiator (louvered fins on flat tubes) in a Skoda Octavia and measures 720 × 480 mm. The goal of the study is to compare the functionality and performance parameters of both radiators based on the results of tests in a calibrated air wind tunnel. During testing, both heat exchangers were tested in conventional conditions used for car radiators with different air flow and coolant (50% ethylene glycol) rates. The polymeric hollow fiber heat exchanger demonstrated about 20% higher thermal performance for the same air flow. The efficiency of the polymeric radiator was in the range 80–93% and the efficiency of the aluminum radiator was in the range 64–84%. The polymeric radiator is 30% lighter than its conventional metal competitor. Both tested radiators had very similar pressure loss on the liquid side, but the polymeric radiator featured higher air pressure loss.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1791
Author(s):  
Chi Cuong Vu ◽  
Thanh Tai Nguyen ◽  
Sangun Kim ◽  
Jooyong Kim

Health monitoring sensors that are attached to clothing are a new trend of the times, especially stretchable sensors for human motion measurements or biological markers. However, price, durability, and performance always are major problems to be addressed and three-dimensional (3D) printing combined with conductive flexible materials (thermoplastic polyurethane) can be an optimal solution. Herein, we evaluate the effects of 3D printing-line directions (45°, 90°, 180°) on the sensor performances. Using fused filament fabrication (FDM) technology, the sensors are created with different print styles for specific purposes. We also discuss some main issues of the stretch sensors from Carbon Nanotube/Thermoplastic Polyurethane (CNT/TPU) and FDM. Our sensor achieves outstanding stability (10,000 cycles) and reliability, which are verified through repeated measurements. Its capability is demonstrated in a real application when detecting finger motion by a sensor-integrated into gloves. This paper is expected to bring contribution to the development of flexible conductive materials—based on 3D printing.


2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 3811-3814
Author(s):  
◽  
PAUL LUJAN

A new silicon detector was designed by the CDF collaboration for Run IIb of the Tevatron at Fermilab. The main building block of the new detector is a "supermodule" or "stave", an innovative, compact and lightweight structure of several readout hybrids and sensors with a bus cable running directly underneath the sensors to carry power, data, and control signals to and from the hybrids. The hybrids use a new, radiation-hard readout chip, the SVX4 chip. A number of SVX4 chips, readout hybrids, sensors, and supermodules were produced and tested in preproduction. The performance (including radiation-hardness) and yield of these components met or exceeded all design goals. The detector design goals, solutions, and performance results are presented.


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