Self-paced cycling performance and recovery under a hot and highly humid environment after cooling.

AIM: This study investigated the effects of pre- and post-cooling on self-paced time-trial cycling performance and recovery of cyclists exercising under a hot and highly humid environment (29.92 °C-78.52% RH). METHODS: Ten male cyclists performed a self-paced 20-min time trial test (TT20) on a cyclo-ergometer while being cooled by a cooling vest and a refrigerating headband during the warm-up and the recovery period. Heart rate, power output, perceived exertion, thermal comfort, skin and rectal temperatures were recorded. RESULTS: Compared to control condition (222.78 ± 47 W), a significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean power output during the TT20 (239.07 ± 45 W; +7.31%) was recorded with a significant (P<0.05) decrease in skin temperature without affecting perceived exertion, heart rate, or rectal temperature at the end of the TT20. However, pace changes occurred independently of skin or rectal temperatures variations but a significant difference (P<0.05) in the body's heat storage was observed between both conditions. This result suggests that a central programmer using body's heat storage as an input may influence self-paced time-trial performance. During the recovery period, post-cooling significantly decreased heart rate, skin and rectal temperatures, and improved significantly (P<0.05) thermal comfort. CONCLUSION: Therefore, in hot and humid environments, wearing a cooling vest and a refrigerating headband during warm-up improves self-paced performance, and appears to be an effective mean of reaching skin rest temperatures more rapidly during recovery.

What deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescents know and think about AIDS.

AIDS is a major problem for current and future generations. Lack of information about it, including how it is transmitted and how it can be prevented, places adolescents at risk. This study focused attention on the knowledge and opinions of deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescents on the topics of HIV and AIDS. The results suggest that the adolescents who participated in the study had a general idea about what they are, as well as the potential impact of the disease. However, they demonstrated important gaps in their knowledge of how HIV and AIDS are transmitted and prevented, and who can get AIDS. We recommend greater educational attention to the topic, given the harsh reality that adolescence may well be the primary time period for infection, even though the symptoms may not appear until many years later.