scholarly journals Paolo Gava, a professional engineer, who has become a Master athlete, an amateur scientist and a lifelong friend

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugo Carraro ◽  
Helmut Kern ◽  
Giovanna Albertin
Keyword(s):  
Short Distance ◽  
Linear Process ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Master Athlete ◽  
Professional Athlete ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Professional Engineer ◽  
Sustainable Resources ◽  
Early Aging ◽  
World Records

Paolo Gava, (Conegliano, Treviso, September 1, 1946 – Stra, Venezia, Italy, July 19, 2021) was a sustainable resources engineer, who worked in Italy, France and England, leading research programs well before the current international interest in countering global warming. Passionate about Tango, Paolo kept himself in shape for many decades by running or pedaling or roller-skating, after years of training as a semi-professional athlete, competing and winning Italian and European short distance races in the Master classes. Then, Paolo applied his engineering skills to optimize comparisons between the results of the different Classes of Master Athletes, questioning the rules used by Italian and World Master Sports Associations. Friendly discussing during an after-dinner, he shocked us claiming that, in absence of diseases and trauma (Early Aging), the aging decay is a linear process from 30 to 110 years. Under our friendly pressure he was able to publish his first biomedical article, detailing his mathematical approaches and results in a 2015 issue of Experimental Aging Research, titled: Age-associated power decline from running, jumping and throwing male master world records. To honor his other legacies during his last six years of life, we add here further examples of Paolo's scientific studies and his relationships with senior colleagues and young students of sports and aging sciences.

scholarly journals Sprint and endurance power and ageing: an analysis of master athletic world records

2008 ◽  
Vol 276 (1657) ◽  
pp. 683-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörn Rittweger ◽  
Pietro Enrico di Prampero ◽  
Nicola Maffulli ◽  
Marco V Narici
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Performance ◽  
Endurance Performance ◽  
Metabolic Power ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
World Record ◽  
Running Speed ◽  
Record Data ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Scientific Results ◽  
World Records

Human physical performance is notably reduced with ageing. Although the effects of ageing are often compounded by disuse, the study of master athletes provides an opportunity for investigating the effects of ageing per se . It is often held that sprinting is more affected than endurance performance. However, past analyses of master athletic world record data have yielded opposite observations. We argue here that our understanding of these data improves by considering how, biomechanically, metabolic power is related to athletic performance. In line with earlier studies, our analysis showed that running speed declines with age in a more pronounced way for endurance events than for sprinting events, confirming former studies. However, when assessing the metabolic power required to achieve the running world records, sprint and endurance events show a relatively uniform decline with age across the different events. This study has reconciled formerly conflicting scientific results and improves our understanding of the ageing process. However, it is unclear as to which are the governing mechanisms that cause the different systems in our body, responsible for sprinting and for endurance performance, to be affected by ageing in a remarkably uniform way.

scholarly journals Gender difference of aging performance decay rate in normalized Masters World Records of Athletics: much less than expected

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Gava ◽  
Walter Giuriati ◽  
Barbara Ravara
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Muscle Performance ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Cell Energy ◽  
World Records ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Performance ◽  
Aging Performance

Aging behaviours differ in females and males. Females are weaker but survive longer. We report gender decay of skeletal muscle performance by comparing World Records of Master athletes. Master athletes compete in age groups of 5 years till 100 years. The Master World Records are lists of 16 data that, after normalization, show trends of aging decline of muscle performance indicating only minimal gender differences in the process. All trend-lines tend to zero at about 110 years. Since hormons poorly influence aging performance decay, other fundamental bioregulators, e.g., those of cell energy metabolism, seems to be relevant.

scholarly journals Master World Records show minor gender differences of performance decline with aging

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Gava ◽  
Barbara Ravara
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Muscle Performance ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Performance Decline ◽  
Gender Differential ◽  
World Records ◽  
Sports Activities

Aging behaviours are significantly different in females and males, e.g., the former have a longer life expectancy, but consistently a weaker muscle force. Our purpose is to analyse possible gender-differential declines of skeletal muscle performance. The method to find out the decline of performances with aging is based on a parametric analysis of the World Records of Master athletes in different Track and Field events. The analysis is a transformation (normalization) of sports results into dimensionless parameters ranging from the maximum value of 1 (for the absolute world record) to decreasing values with decreasing performances. Master athletes compete in age groups of 5 years till the age of 100 years, thus their World Records are lists of up to 16 data. Results of the normalization procedure are trend-lines indicating that the decline starts not later than the age of thirty years for both women and women. The decline with aging of the muscle performances indicates only minor gender differences in the aging process and all trend-lines tend to zero at about the age of 110 years. The approach, making use of a homogeneous cohort of testers, gets rid of the main confounding factors biasing other kind of studies of the muscle performance decline with aging, in particular clinical studies. Comparing normalized female and male World Records of Master athletes, a surprise emerged: aging decline is very similar, if not identical, the unique exception to the general rule of gender differences in sports activities. The substantial identity of decline trends among females and males suggests that neuro-hormonal differences among genders poorly influence the aging decline, being conceivably related to fundamental cell bioregulators, such as those of cellular energy metabolism and/or their epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.

The Outdoor Aging Properties of Polypropylene/Mica Composite

2014 ◽  
Vol 670-671 ◽  
pp. 177-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Jiao Wu ◽  
Chun Ping Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Composite Materials ◽  
Aging Time ◽  
Natural Aging ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Aging Mechanism ◽  
Aging Properties ◽  
Early Aging ◽  
Mica Composite

In this paper, In this paper, polypropylene / mica composites were prepared by blending, using polypropylene (PP) as matrix, mica as filler. In order to study the anti-aging properties of polypropylene / mica composite materials, the above polypropylene / mica composite materials were placed outside to study the influence of natural aging time on the anti-aging properties and to explore the natural aging mechanism of polypropylene / mica composites. Natural aging research results show that:with the extension of the natural aging time the surface of materials will appear cracks and sheddings. The trends of tensile strength reduce at first, then increase and then decrease; the notched impact toughness values show fluctuating in the early aging, then an increase following and then decreasing.The increase of mica content are good for maintaining the mechanical properties of PP / mica composite, PP-g-MAH helps to maintain the tensile strength, while toughening POE-g-MAH will weaken the anti-aging properties of polypropylene / mica composite materials.

The trend of the male-female differential in various speed sports 1936–84

1986 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Short Distance ◽  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Media Exposure ◽  
Performance Difference ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Women's Sport ◽  
Female Performance ◽  
Long Time ◽  
World Records

SummaryThe changes in the average male-female performance difference for nine running, six swimming and four skating events between the years 1936 and 1984 are examined. The data, world records and verified best performances, confirm the conclusions derived in earlier more circumscribed studies that women's performances relative to men's have improved markedly and are continuing to improve. This improvement is manifest in long and short distance events and in those in which women have been competing for a long time as much as those they have taken up recently. Regression analyses suggest that eventual equality of performance may be attained in the foreseeable future. The implications of these findings for women's sport are discussed. Women still have a more restricted programme in these three sports and many others; in particular several of the longer distance events are not open to them at Olympics, World Championships and so forth. These restrictions are obviously based on false perceptions of women's biology. With increasing participation, media exposure, training and social acceptance, women's improvements are likely to continue. The reasons for and implications of the previous incorrect scientific assessment of women's sporting potential are also discussed.

scholarly journals Postural Stability During Standing Balance and Sit-to-Stand in Master Athlete Runners Compared With Nonathletic Old and Young Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Leightley ◽  
Moi Hoon Yap ◽  
Jessica Coulson ◽  
Mathew Piasecki ◽  
James Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Stability ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Microsoft Kinect ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Young Athletes ◽  
Master Athlete ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Eyes Open

The aim of this study was to compare postural sway during a series of static balancing tasks and during five chair rises between healthy young (mean [SEM], age 26 [1] years), healthy old (age 67 [1] years) and master athlete runners (age 67 [1] years; competing and training for the previous 51 [5] years) using the Microsoft Kinect One. The healthy old had more sway than the healthy young in all balance tasks. The master athletes had similar sway to young athletes during two-leg balancing and one-leg standing with eyes open. When balancing on one leg with eyes closed, both the healthy old and the master athletes had around 17-fold more sway than the young athletes. The healthy old and master athletes also had less anterio-posterior movement during chair rising compared with young athletes. These results suggest that masters runners are not spared from the age-associated decline in postural stability and may benefit from specific balance training.

scholarly journals Accelerated Decline in Javelin Throwing Performance in Master Athletes 70 Years and Older – Do Changes in Technique Play a Role?

2018 ◽  
Vol 02 (03) ◽  
pp. E79-E83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bergita Ganse ◽  
Hans Degens
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Sprint Performance ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Elbow Angle ◽  
Older Athletes ◽  
World Records

AbstractWhile many older adults are immobile and frail, others still participate in competitive sports. World records of javelin throw decrease with increasing age. It is, however, unknown 1) whether the decline is linear or, as in sprint performance, accelerates beyond the age of 69; and 2) to what extent frailty-related changes in throwing technique contribute to decreasing performance. We plotted current world records against age and assessed the performance of 27 male javelin throwers 69 years and older during three master athletics championships. Three to six throws were filmed, and the best throw of each athlete selected. A step-wise linear regression was applied to assess contributions of age, angle of release, angle of attitude, angle of attack and elbow angle just before the pull to performance. The ageing-related decline in javelin-throw performance accelerated after age 69. Age was the main predictor of performance (adjusted R2=0.68), with a small contribution of elbow angle (adjusted R2 increased to 0.76) and angle of attack (R2=0.82; all P<0.001) in the older athletes. None of the technique-related parameters correlated with age. Although the technique had some influence on javelin-throwing performance, the accelerated decline was not associated with a characteristic ageing-related change in technique.

scholarly journals Accelerated decline in javelin throwing performance in master athletes 70 years and older – does change in technique play a role?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bergita Ganse ◽  
Hans Degens
Keyword(s):  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Endurance Running ◽  
Elbow Angle ◽  
Older Athletes ◽  
The World ◽  
World Records ◽  
Javelin Throwers

Background: Wile many older adults are immobile, frail and inactive, others still participate in competitive sports. As in sprinting and endurance running, the world records of javelin throwing decrease with increasing age. It is, however, not clear 1)whether this ageing-related decline is linear or, as in sprint performance, accelerates beyond the age of 69, and 2) to what extent frailty-related changes in throwing technique contribute to the decreasing performance in old javelin throwers. Methods: We plotted the current world records against age and assessed the performance of 27 male javelin throwers 70 years and older during three master athletics championships. Three to six throws were filmed, and the best throw of each athlete selected. A step-wise linear regression was applied to assess the contribution of age, angle of release, angle of attitude , angle of attack, elbow angle just before the pull and the number of steps in the approach run, to performance. Results: The ageing-related decline in javelin-throw performance accelerated after the age of 69 years. Age was the main predictor of performance (adjusted R 2 =0.68), with a small contribution of elbow angle (adjusted R 2 increased to 0.76) and angle of attack (R 2 =0.82; all P<0.001) in the older athletes. None of the technique-related parameters correlated with age. Discussion: The ageing-related decline in javelin throwing performance was accelerated after the age of 69 years. Although the technique had some influence on javelin throwing performance, the accelerated decline in 70 + -year-old athletes was not associated with an ageing-related change in throwing technique.

scholarly journals Accelerated decline in javelin throwing performance in master athletes 70 years and older – does change in technique play a role?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bergita Ganse ◽  
Hans Degens
Keyword(s):  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Master Athletes ◽  
Endurance Running ◽  
Elbow Angle ◽  
Older Athletes ◽  
The World ◽  
World Records ◽  
Javelin Throwers

Background: Wile many older adults are immobile, frail and inactive, others still participate in competitive sports. As in sprinting and endurance running, the world records of javelin throwing decrease with increasing age. It is, however, not clear 1)whether this ageing-related decline is linear or, as in sprint performance, accelerates beyond the age of 69, and 2) to what extent frailty-related changes in throwing technique contribute to the decreasing performance in old javelin throwers. Methods: We plotted the current world records against age and assessed the performance of 27 male javelin throwers 70 years and older during three master athletics championships. Three to six throws were filmed, and the best throw of each athlete selected. A step-wise linear regression was applied to assess the contribution of age, angle of release, angle of attitude , angle of attack, elbow angle just before the pull and the number of steps in the approach run, to performance. Results: The ageing-related decline in javelin-throw performance accelerated after the age of 69 years. Age was the main predictor of performance (adjusted R 2 =0.68), with a small contribution of elbow angle (adjusted R 2 increased to 0.76) and angle of attack (R 2 =0.82; all P<0.001) in the older athletes. None of the technique-related parameters correlated with age. Discussion: The ageing-related decline in javelin throwing performance was accelerated after the age of 69 years. Although the technique had some influence on javelin throwing performance, the accelerated decline in 70 + -year-old athletes was not associated with an ageing-related change in throwing technique.

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