Fatigue: Impact of Muscular Co-Ordination among Rifle Shooters

It has been well reported that fatigue is an important factor which hinders performance. The resultant effect of it is loss ofco-ordination and efficiency. The main aim of this investigation was to find out the effect of fatigue on muscular coordination among rifle shooters. Ten rifle shooters aged between 22-28 years were selected as subjects. The index ofmuscular co-ordination was tested with three series. A steadiness tester was used with the diameters of 0.5, 0.31, 0.25, 0.18,0.15, 0.12, 0.10, 0.09, 0.07 inches and stylus of 0.062. Grip dynamometer was utilized for measuring local fatigue. Theresults indicated that 50% of rifle shooters were adversely affected by local fatigue of the arm, 80% of the subjects statedalteration in their muscular co-ordination after overall fatigue was induced. It was concluded that performance wassubstantially reduced when general fatigue was induced compared to local fatigue.

investigation of the effects of meteorology on air pollution in Makkah

Air pollutant concentrations are not only affected by emission sources but also by meteorological variables. Meteorological variables play an important role in the dispersion, transport, photochemical reactions and formation of secondary air pollutants. In this study, the effect of meteorological variables on different air pollutant concentrations has been analyzed using correlation analysis and graphical presentation in Makkah, Saudi Arabia during the month of Ramadan [20 July to 18 August, 2012], which is the busiest month of the year after the Hajj season. PM10, had relatively weaker correlation with other air pollutants, most probably suggesting different sources of emission. Among meteorological variables, as expected temperature showed strong positive correlation with ozone [0.74], and negative correlation with NOx, CO, SO2, and PM10, whose concentrations are rather dependent on the emission sources. Wind speed disperses local pollutants, which probably explains why it was negative correlation with NOx, SO2 and CO, however it was positive correlation with ozone and PM10, probably because higher wind speed encourages sand storms and resuspension of particles from roadsides and bared deserts and transport of ozone from the surrounding rural areas. Relative humidity is positively correlated with PM10 and negatively correlated with the rest of the air pollutants. The effect of rainfall was negligible because no rain occurred during the study period, The effects of meteorological variables have also been analysed using polar plots and pollution roses, which provide further insight into the association between air pollutants and meteorology. Factors responsible for the high concentrations during the PM10 episode from 26 to 28 July 2012 were analyzed. Unexpectedly, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity seemed to be responsible for the episode, and not the sources of emissions, which are higher during the last 10 days of Ramadan [08 to 18 August]