Respiratory Intervention Techniques Increase Selection Rate for Special Forces

SummarySpecial Forces Selection Rates have declined over recent years, partly due to reduced fitness rates of applicationsPostural changes incurred prior to the recruitment may contribute to compromised respiratory function, resulting in fatigue, overexertion, and Selection Course failurePerformance breathing training and respiratory muscle strengthening can reverse impaired respiratory function and optimize cardiopulmonary fitness.In this study, a 6-week intervention program including performance breathing training improved fitness and performance of SF Selection Course participants.The intervention program including performance breathing training increased the SF Selection Course pass rate from 0% to 30%, compared to prior years.

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Development and performance evaluation of a Pedal Operated Seed Cleaner (POS-Cleaner)

SN Applied Sciences ◽

10.1007/s42452-021-04612-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Wilber Akatuhurira ◽

Peter Tumutegyereize ◽

Isaac Oluk ◽

Emmanuel Baidhe ◽

Julia Kigozi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

List Type ◽

Centrifugal Fan ◽

Rural And Remote ◽

Value Addition ◽

Remote Areas ◽

Individual Family ◽

Rural And Remote Areas ◽

And Performance ◽

Cleaning Methods

Abstract Traditional grain cleaning methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and yet very inefficient. The use of available mechanical seed cleaners is widely limited since they are expensive to own, operate, and maintain. A Pedal Operated Seed Cleaner (PoS-Cleaner) was developed and its performance evaluated. Appropriate engineering principles and methodologies were used in the sizing and construction of the machine. The cleaner consists of a bicycle-like pedaling system, hopper, a centrifugal fan, and three cleaning sieves which include two inside interlocking sieves (one sieve fixed and the other adjustable); whose meshes can be adjusted to be larger than the size of the unclean seeds by longitudinally translating the second sieve to achieve the appropriate seed size. This allows trapping of impurities larger than the seeds. Cleaning rates of 576.5 kg/h, 375.8 kg/h, and 377.4 kg/h for maize, beans, and groundnuts were obtained respectively. Maize, beans, and groundnuts had their highest cleaning efficiencies of 95.09%, 87.61%, and 81.67% at inner sieve sizes of 13 mm, 16 mm and 10 mm respectively, pedaling speed of 60 rpm. The PoS-Cleaner presents a more viable cleaning option for smallholder farmers in rural and remote areas with no access to the national grid, therefore producing high-quality seeds. This will eventually facilitate agricultural value addition and increase individual family incomes in Uganda. Article highlights A pedal operated multi-seed cleaner was developed. Achieved 5 times higher seed cleaning rates compared to traditional cleaning technologies. Attained higher separation efficiencies of seed and externalities compared to traditional technologies.

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Gonadal endocrine dysfunction in patients with lung cancer: Relation to responsiveness to chemotherapy, respiratory function and performance status

The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ◽

10.1016/0960-0760(91)90049-b ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 375-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ulf Aasebø ◽

Roy M. Bremnes ◽

Asbjørn Aakvaag ◽

Lars Slørdal

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Respiratory Function ◽

Performance Status ◽

Endocrine Dysfunction ◽

And Performance

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Acute Effects of a Speed Training Program on Sprinting Step Kinematics and Performance

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173138 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3138 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Krzysztof Mackala ◽

Marek Fostiak ◽

Brian Schweyen ◽

Tadeusz Osik ◽

Milan Coch

Keyword(s):

Intervention Program ◽

Sprint Performance ◽

Elite Group ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Post Test ◽

Long Jump ◽

And Performance ◽

Speed Training ◽

Standing Start ◽

Block Start

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of speed training on sprint step kinematics and performance in male sprinters. Two groups of seven elite (best 100-m time: 10.37 ± 0.04 s) and seven sub-elite (best 100-m time: 10.71 ± 0.15 s) sprinters were recruited. Sprint performance was assessed in the 20 m (flying start), 40 m (standing start), and 60 m (starting block start). Step kinematics were extracted from the first nine running steps of the 20-m sprint using the Opto-Jump–Microgate system. Explosive power was quantified by performing the CMJ, standing long jump, standing triple jump, and standing five jumps. Significant post-test improvements (p < 0.05) were observed in both groups of sprinters. Performance improved by 0.11 s (elite) and 0.06 s (sub-elite) in the 20-m flying start and by 0.06 s (elite) and 0.08 s (sub-elite) in the 60-m start block start. Strong post-test correlations were observed between 60-m block start performance and standing five jumps (SFJ) in the elite group and between 20-m flying start and 40-m standing start performance and standing long jump (SLJ) and standing triple jump (STJ) in the sub-elite group. Speed training (ST) shows potential in the reduction of step variability and as an effective short-term intervention program in the improvement of sprint performance.

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Measuring Changes in Movement Skills with Infants and Young Children with Handicaps

Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps ◽

10.1177/154079698601100301 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 153-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Philippa H. Campbell ◽

Barbara Stewart

Keyword(s):

Young Children ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Baseline Assessment ◽

Early Intervention Program ◽

Functional Movement ◽

Age Limits ◽

And Performance ◽

Motor Milestone ◽

Infants And Young Children ◽

Selection Of

Posture and movement abilities are typically measured by assessments of achievements of motor milestone skills. Performance of a skill within appropriate chronological age limits is one dimension of posture and movement. Qualitative dimensions, including postural tone and the pattern of coordinated movement used in performance, are equally important with young children. This article describes a programmatic approach for measuring qualitative dimensions and performance of functional movement. Features of the approach include: (a) selection of intervention targets, (b) baseline assessment, (c) intervention sequences, (d) measurement, and (e) interpretation and decision making. Data that were collected, using this approach, with infants and young children enrolled in an early intervention program are presented to illustrate measurement and interpretation.

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ALTERED RESPIRATORY FUNCTION DUE TO POSTURAL CHANGES DURING LOAD CARRIAGE IN CHILDREN: A CASE REPORT.

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal ◽

10.1097/01823246-200819040-00036 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 136

Author(s):

Frances Kistner ◽

Laura Demers ◽

Lisa Ogonowski

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Respiratory Function ◽

Load Carriage ◽

Postural Changes

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Physical and Performance Characteristics Related to Unintentional Musculoskeletal Injury in Special Forces Operators: A Prospective Analysis

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-52.12.22 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (12) ◽

pp. 1153-1160 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nicholas R. Heebner ◽

John P. Abt ◽

Mita Lovalekar ◽

Kim Beals ◽

Timothy C. Sell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Laboratory Testing ◽

Musculoskeletal Injury ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Musculoskeletal Injuries ◽

Ground Reaction Forces ◽

Special Forces ◽

Reaction Forces ◽

And Performance

Context: Seventy-seven percent of musculoskeletal injuries sustained by United States Army Special Forces Operators are preventable. Identification of predictive characteristics will promote the development of screening methods to augment injury-prevention programs. Objective: To determine physical and performance characteristics that predict musculoskeletal injuries. Setting: Clinical laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 95 Operators (age = 32.7 ± 5.1 years, height = 179.8 ± 6.9 cm, mass = 89.9 ± 12.7 kg). Main Outcome Measure(s): Laboratory testing consisted of body composition, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, upper and lower body strength and flexibility, balance, and biomechanical evaluation. Injury data were captured for 12 months after laboratory testing. Injury frequencies, cross-tabulations, and relative risks (RRs) were calculated to evaluate the relationships between physical characteristics and injury proportions. Between-groups differences (injured versus uninjured) were assessed using appropriate t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Less shoulder-retraction strength (RR = 1.741 [95% confidence interval = 1.003, 3.021]), knee-extension strength (RR = 2.029 [95% confidence interval = 1.011, 4.075]), and a smaller trunk extension : flexion ratio (RR = 0.533 [95% confidence interval = 0.341, 0.831]) were significant risk factors for injury. Group comparisons showed less trunk strength (extension: P = .036, flexion: P = .048) and smaller right vertical ground reaction forces during landing (P = .025) in injured Operators. Knee strength, aerobic capacity, and body mass index were less in the subgroup of spine-injured versus uninjured Operators (P values = .013−.036). Conclusions: Knee-extension and shoulder-retraction strength were risk factors for musculoskeletal injury in Operators. Less trunk-flexion and -extension strength, higher body mass index, lower aerobic capacity, and increased ground reaction forces during landing were characteristics that may also contribute to musculoskeletal injury. Having 2 or more risk factors resulted in a greater injury proportion (χ2 = 13.512, P = .015); however, more research is needed. Athletic trainers working in the military or similar high-demand settings can use these data to augment screening and injury-prevention protocols.

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