Physical Activity An Optimizer Of The Neurophysiological System

Clinical neurophysiologic testing is an important component of evaluating patients with complaints that may be attributed to diseases of the central or peripheral nervous system. This classic volume in the Contemporary Neurology Series covers the basic concepts underlying each of the testing techniques and provides comprehensive descriptions of the methods and wide range of electrophysiologic testing available for patients with epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, movement disorders, demyelinating diseases, sleep disorders, autonomic disorders and those undergoing orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures. This text details the role of each study, the interpretation of findings, and their application clinical problems. This text describes the multiple diagnostic procedures for diverse diseases of the neuromuscular system, including: electroencephalography (EEG); electromyography and nerve conduction studies; single fiber EMG; polysomnography; surface EMG patterns, blood pressure, pulse, sweat measures; vestibular function testing; deep brain stimulator physiology; and intraoperative monitoring. It is a practical textbook for neurologists, physiatrists and clinical neurophysiologists in clinical or research practice or in training. Key Features of the New Edition Include: 1. Fully updated chapters to reflect new research and techniques in clinical neurophysiology. 2. Updated images illustrating key elements of techniques and basic concepts. 3. Case examples for practical application.

The aviation industry presents a unique conundrum with the complex relationship between government oversight and business management. While the aviation industry operates in a business-oriented manner, a considerable number of aviation companies and airports worldwide are still government-owned. The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the pivotal role of governments in the industry, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of this interaction, given the sector's massive economic influence and the extensive investment required. The need for an in-depth exploration of this liaison has never been more pressing. Strategic Management and Policy in the Global Aviation Industry offers an insightful and comprehensive solution to this enigmatic issue. This book delves into the dynamics of the aviation sector's reliance on government intervention and support, providing invaluable perspectives for academic scholars and industry enthusiasts. It explores the critical role governments play in the development and sustainability of aviation companies, especially in the wake of the pandemic, where governments worldwide stepped in to bolster their national aviation companies. Additionally, the book explores the industry's efforts to align with the United Nations' sustainability targets and the critical influence of government regulations in achieving these goals. It also dissects the digital transformation and the integration of innovative technologies in aviation, setting the stage for a more efficient and innovative industry. Furthermore, it unveils the burgeoning role of artificial intelligence in the quest for cost reduction and enhanced operational efficiency in the fiercely competitive aviation market.

The improvement of exercise performance in sports not only involves the enhancement of physical strength, but also includes the development of psychological and cognitive functions. There is an increasing body of evidence to show that physical exercise is a powerful way to improve a number of aspects of cognition and brain function at the systemic and behavioral levels. Yet, several questions remain: What type of exercise program is optimal for improving cognitive functions? What are the real effects of certain innovative exercise protocols on the relationship between behavior and the brain? To what extent do ergogenic aids boost cognitive function? How efficient are neuromodulation techniques in relation to behavioral performance? The answers to these questions likely require multidisciplinary insights not only from physiologists and sports scientists, but also from neuroscientists and psychologists. The manuscripts published (16 research papers and one perspective article from various academic fields) in this Special Issue Book “Exercise: A Gate That Primes the Brain to Perform” bring together current knowledge and novel directions in human exercise-cognition research dealing with performance. This book showcases the various relationships between cognitive function, brain activity, and behavioral performance with applications in sports and exercise science.

This book explains how stress – either psychological or physical – can activate and/or paralyse human innate or adaptive immunity. Adequate immunity is crucial for maintaining health, both on Earth and in space. During space flight, human physiology is specifically challenged by complex environmental stressors, which are most pronounced during lunar or interplanetary missions. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the book identifies the impact of these stressors – the space exposome – on immunity as a result of (dys-)functions of specific cells, organs and organ networks. These conditions (e.g. gravitation changes, radiation, isolation/confinement) affect immunity, but at the same time provide insights that may help to prevent, diagnose and address immune-related health alterations. Written by experts from academia, space agencies and industry, the book is a valuable resource for professionals, researchers and students in the field of medicine, biology and technology. The chapters “The Impact of Everyday Stressors on the Immune System and Health”, “Stress and Radiation Responsiveness” and “Assessment of Radiosensitivity and Biomonitoring of Exposure to Space adiation” are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Human spaceflight has required space agencies to study and develop exercise countermeasure (CM) strategies to manage the profound, multi-system adaptation of the human body to prolonged microgravity (μG). Future space exploration will present new challenges in terms of adaptation management that will require the attention of both exercise physiologists and operational experts. In the short to medium-term, all exploration missions will be realised using relatively small vehicles/habitats, with some exploration scenarios including surface operations in low (<1G) gravity conditions. The evolution of CM hardware has allowed modern-day astronauts to return to Earth with, on average, relatively moderate levels μG-induced adaptation of the musculoskeletal (MS) and cardiovascular (CV) systems. However, although the intense use of CM has attenuated many aspects of MS and CV adaptation, on an individual level, there remains wide variation in the magnitude of these changes. Innovations in CM programs have been largely engineering-driven, with new hardware providing capability for new modes of exercise and a wider range of exercise protocols, which, in turn, has facilitated the transfer of traditional, but effective, terrestrial concepts based around high frequency resistance (multiple-set, multiple repetition) and mediumintensity continuous aerobic training. As a result, International Space Station (ISS) CM specialists have focused their efforts in these domains, taking advantage of hardware innovations as and when they became available. However, terrestrial knowledge in human and exercise physiology has expanded rapidly during the lifetime of the ISS and, consequently, there is potential to optimize current approaches by re-examining terrestrial knowledge and identifying opportunities to implement this knowledge into operational practices. Current terrestrial knowledge in exercise physiology is the product of a large number of intervention studies in which the variables that contribute to the effects of physical activity (mode, frequency, duration, intensity, recovery) have been controlled and systematically manipulated. However, due to limited opportunities to perform intervention studies in both spaceflight analogues – head-down bed rest (HDBR) being considered the ‘gold standard’ – and spaceflight itself, it will not be possible to systematically investigate the contribution of these factors to the efficacy of in-flight CM. As such, it will be necessary to draw on terrestrial evidence to identify solutions/strategies that may be best suited to the constraints of exploration and prioritise specific solutions/strategies for evaluation in HDBR and in flight.

This book presents and facilitates new research and development results with hot topics in the thermoelectric generators (TEGs) field. Topics include: novel thin film; multilayer, composite and nanostructured thermoelectric materials; simulation of phenomena related to thermoelectricity; thermoelectric thin film and multilayer materials manufacturing technologies; measurement techniques for characterization; thermoelectric generators; and the simulation, modeling, design, thermal, and mechanical degradation problems. This book helps researchers tackle the challenges that still remain in creating cheap and effective TEGs and presents the latest trends and technologies in development and production of advanced thermoelectric generation devices.