Age- and sex-specific reference percentile curves for accelerometry-measured physical activity in healthy European children and adolescents.

Unlabelled: Physical activity measured by accelerometry (PA-accelerometry) is used as an indicator of physical capacity in chronic diseases. Currently, only fragmented age ranges of reference percentile curves are available for European children and adolescents. This study aimed to provide age- and sex-specific percentiles for physical activity measured by hip-worn accelerometry derived throughout the full age range of European children and adolescents.

Aqueous carbonation of peridotites for carbon utilisation: a critical review.

Peridotite and serpentinites can be used to sequester CO emissions through mineral carbonation. Olivine dissolution rate is directly proportional with temperature, presence of CO, surface area of mineral particles and presence of ligands and is inversely proportional to pH. Olivine dissolution is better under air flow and increases seven times when rock-inhibiting fungus (Knufia petricola) is used.

A systematic literature review of evidence for the use of assistive exoskeletons in defence and security use cases.

Advances in assistive exoskeleton technology, and a boom in related scientific literature, prompted a need to review the potential use of exoskeletons in defence and security. A systematic review examined the evidence for successful augmentation of human performance in activities deemed most relevant to military tasks. Categories of activities were determined through literature scoping and Human Factors workshops with military stakeholders.

Development of physical employment standards of specialist paramedic roles in the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (Naru).

Aim: To develop evidence-based role-specific physical employment standards and tests for National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) specialist paramedics.

Methods: Sixty-two (53 men, 9 women) paramedics performed an array of (1) realistic reconstructions of critical job-tasks (criterion job performance); (2) simplified, easily-replicable simulations of those reconstructions and; (3) fitness tests that are portable and/or practicable to administer with limited resources or specialist equipment. Pearson's correlations and ordinary least products regression were used to assess relationships between tasks and tests.

A job task analysis to describe the physical demands of specialist paramedic roles in the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU).

Background: The National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) works on behalf of each National Health Service (NHS) Ambulance Trust in England to strengthen national resilience and improve patient outcome in challenging pre-hospital scenarios.

Objective: To conduct a Job Task Analysis and describe the physical demands of NARU roles.

Methods: A focus group was conducted to describe the physically demanding tasks performed by NARU personnel.

Determining addition pathways and stable isomers for CF functionalization of endohedral Gd@C.

Using density functional theory approaches, we follow the sequential addition of CF functional groups to the surface of the metallic endofullerene species Gd@C. The presence of gadolinium in the interior of the cage strongly influences the addition sequence. The calculations are able to successfully identify end points in the addition sequence at Gd@C(CF) , = 3 and two isomers at = 5, in predictive agreement with experiment.

Spin density distributions on graphene clusters and ribbons with carbene-like active sites.

Aiming to better understand the reactivity of graphene-based materials, the present work employs density functional theory that provides detailed information about spin-density distributions for single and contiguous pairs of carbene-like active sites. In order to examine the extent to which different models, methodologies, and approximations affect the outcome, our calculations employ the AIMPRO, QuantumEspresso and Gaussian program packages. Models are in the form of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), both isolated and within supercells with periodic boundary conditions.

Predicting experimentally stable allotropes: Instability of penta-graphene.

In recent years, a plethora of theoretical carbon allotropes have been proposed, none of which has been experimentally isolated. We discuss here criteria that should be met for a new phase to be potentially experimentally viable. We take as examples Haeckelites, 2D networks of sp(2)-carbon-containing pentagons and heptagons, and "penta-graphene," consisting of a layer of pentagons constructed from a mixture of sp(2)- and sp(3)-coordinated carbon atoms.

Resonant electronic coupling enabled by small molecules in nanocrystal solids.

The future exploitation of the exceptional properties of nanocrystal (NC) thin films deposited from liquid dispersions of nanoparticles relies upon our ability to produce films with improved electrical properties by simple and inexpensive means. Here, we demonstrate that the electronic conduction of solution-processed NC films can be strongly enhanced without the need of postdeposition treatments, via specific molecules adsorbed at the surfaces of adjacent NCs. This effect is demonstrated for Si NC films doped with the strong molecular oxidizing agent tetrafluoro-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ).

Energy balance and physical demands during an 8-week arduous military training course.

This study assessed soldier's physical demands and energy balance during the Section Commanders' Battles Course (SCBC). Forty male soldiers were monitored during the 8-week tactics phase of the SCBC. Energy expenditure was measured using the doubly labeled water method.

Relationship between the 2.4-km run and multistage shuttle run test performance in military personnel.

In the United Kingdom, all branches of the armed forces use 2.4-km run time and/or the 20-m multistage shuttle run test (MSRT) to assess the aerobic fitness of their personnel. This study quantified the relationship between these two tests in 156 army recruits and officer cadets (100 men and 56 women) to ensure equivalence in the required aerobic fitness standards.

Vacancy diffusion and coalescence in graphene directed by defect strain fields.

The formation of extended defects in graphene from the coalescence of individual mobile vacancies can significantly alter its mechanical, electrical and chemical properties. We present the results of ab initio simulations which demonstrate that the strain created by multi-vacancy complexes in graphene determine their overall growth morphology when formed from the coalescence of individual mobile lattice vacancies. Using density functional theory, we map out the potential energy surface for the motion of mono-vacancies in the vicinity of multi-vacancy defects.

Electronic and optical properties of chlorinated silicon nanoparticles.

First-principles calculations are used to investigate the structure, electronic and optical properties of silicon nanocystals with chlorine-passivated surface. The nanocrystals considered were approximately spherical, with diameters between 1.5 and 3.

Increased electronic coupling in silicon nanocrystal networks doped with F4-TCNQ.

The modification of the electronic structure of silicon nanocrystals using an organic dopant, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ), is investigated using first-principles calculations. It is shown that physisorbed F4-TCNQ molecules have the effect of oxidizing the nanocrystal, attracting the charge density towards the F4-TCNQ-nanocrystal interface, and decreasing the excitation energy of the system. In periodic F4-TCNQ/nanocrystal superlattices, F4-TCNQ is suggested to enhance exciton separation, and in the presence of free holes, to serve as a bridge for electron/hole transfer between adjacent nanocrystals.

Mechanical properties of nanosheets and nanotubes investigated using a new geometry independent volume definition.

Cross-sectional area and volume become difficult to define as material dimensions approach the atomic scale. This limits the transferability of macroscopic concepts such as Young's modulus. We propose a new volume definition where the enclosed nanosheet or nanotube average electron density matches that of the parent layered bulk material.

Physiological responses of Police Officers during job simulations wearing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear personal protective equipment.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to quantify the physiological responses of Police Officers wearing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear personal protective equipment (CBRN PPE) during firearms house entry (FE) unarmed house entry (UE) and crowd control (CC) simulations. Participants volunteered from the UK Police Force [FE (n = 6, age 33 ± 4 years, body mass 85.3 ± 7.

Development of an accelerometer-based multivariate model to predict free-living energy expenditure in a large military cohort.

This study developed a multivariate model to predict free-living energy expenditure (EE) in independent military cohorts. Two hundred and eighty-eight individuals (20.6 ± 3.

Comparison of the physical demands of single-sex training for male and female recruits in the British Army.

This study compared the physical demands and progression of basic training for male and female British Army recruits in single-sex platoons. Thirty male and 30 female recruits were monitored for energy expenditure (EE) (doubly labeled water), physical activity (3-dimensional accelerometry) and cardiovascular strain (percent heart rate reserve) during 6 weeks over the 14-week course. First time pass rate was similar for male (60%) and female (57%) recruits.

Health, fitness, and responses to military training of officer cadets in a Gulf Cooperation Council country.

Objective: To quantify the health, fitness, and physiological responses to military training of Officer Cadets from a Gulf Cooperation Council country.

Methods: One hundred and nineteen Officer Cadets volunteered; body composition, core body temperature, aerobic fitness, hydration status (urine osmolality), cardiovascular strain, physical activity (3-dimensional accelerometry), and energy expenditure (doubly labelled water) were measured over 5-days of Basic Training (BT), Army Training (AT), Navy Training (NT), and Air Force Training (AFT).

Results: There were no differences between courses for body mass index (mean all courses: 24.

Accurate rate constants for decomposition of aqueous nitrous acid.

Decomposition of nitrous acid in aqueous solution has been studied by stopped flow spectrophotometry to resolve discrepancies in literature values for the rate constants of the decomposition reactions. Under the conditions employed, the rate-limiting reaction step comprises the hydrolysis of NO(2). A simplified rate law based on the known elementary reaction mechanism provides an excellent fit to the experimental data.

Low-energy termination of graphene edges via the formation of narrow nanotubes.

We demonstrate that free graphene sheet edges can curl back on themselves, reconstructing as nanotubes. This results in lower formation energies than any other nonfunctionalized edge structure reported to date in the literature. We determine the critical tube size and formation barrier and compare with density functional simulations of other edge terminations including a new reconstructed Klein edge.

Experimental study of decomposition of aqueous nitrosyl thiocyanate.

This study has examined the kinetics of the decomposition of nitrosyl thiocyanate (ONSCN) by stopped flow UV-vis spectrophotometry, with the reaction products identified and quantified by infrared spectroscopy, membrane inlet mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, and CN(-) ion selective electrode. The reaction results in the formation of nitric oxide and thiocyanogen, the latter decomposing to sulfate and hydrogen cyanide in aqueous solution. The rate of consumption of ONSCN depends strongly on the concentration of SCN(-) ions and is inhibited by nitric oxide.

Injuries and injury risk factors among British army infantry soldiers during predeployment training.

Purpose: This prospective cohort study examined injuries and injury risk factors in 660 British Army infantry soldiers during a predeployment training cycle.

Methods: Soldiers completed a questionnaire concerning physical characteristics, occupational factors, lifestyle characteristics (including physical training time) and previous injury. Direct measurements included height, body mass, sit-ups, push-ups and run time.

Influence of hydration volume and ambient temperature on physiological responses while wearing CBRN protective clothing.

This study examined a low (L; 5 ml/kg per h) and high (H, 10 ml/kg per h) rate of fluid replacement in moderate (18°C) and hot (30°C) conditions on physiological responses while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE included the gas-tight suit (GTS), the powered respirator protective suit (PRPS) and the civil responder 1 (CR1). Relative to the moderate condition, physiological responses were greater in the hot condition.