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COVID-19 AND RETURN TO PLAY The world of sport has recently returned to training and competition following suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is concerning that a number of athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to competition. 1 Numerous authors have attempted to address return to play given the importance and complexity of the issue, with notable attention on possible cardiac implications.2–6 SCOPE OF THE INFOGRAPHIC The specific recommendations shown in the present infographic (figure 1) have been generated by a panel of international experts and represent a compilation of the numerous approaches used to inform resumption of regular sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the different regulations around the world and the particular characteristics of each sport, it is essential to provide informative, consistent and specific guidance for safe return to training and competition at this most difficult time. ...

In an effort to reduce transmission and number of infections of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) virus, governments and official bodies around the world have produced guidelines on the use of face masks and face coverings. While there is a growing body of recommendations for healthcare professionals and the wider population to use facial protection in “enclosed spaces” where minimal distancing from other individuals is not possible, there is a dearth of clear guidelines for individuals undertaking exercise and sporting activity. The present viewpoint aims to propose recommendations for face coverings while exercising during the COVID-19 pandemic that consider physical distancing, the environment, the density of active cases associated with the specific sports activity, and the practical use of face coverings in order to reduce potential viral transmission. Recommendations are provided on the basis of very limited available evidence in conjunction with the extensive collective clinical experience of the authors and acknowledging the need to consider the likelihood of the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in the general population. We recommend that face coverings should be used in any environment considered to be of a high or moderate transmission risk, where tolerated and after individual risk assessment. In addition, as national caseloads fluctuate, individual sporting bodies should consider up to date guidance on the use of face coverings during sport and exercise, alongside other preventative measures.

In this viewpoint we make specific recommendations that can assist and make the return to sport/exercise as safe as possible for all those impacted – from the recreational athlete to the elite athlete. We acknowledge that there are varying rules and regulations around the world, not to mention the varying philosophies and numerous schools of thought as it relates to return to sport/exercise and we have been cognisant of this in our recommendations. Despite the varying rules and circumstances around the world, we believe it is essential to provide some helpful and consistent guidance for return to training and sport for sport and exercise physicians around the world at this most difficult time. The present viewpoint provides practical and medical recommendations on the resumption to sport process.

Atlas™ cDNA cell interaction arrays (CLONTECH) were used to examine degenerate tissue from four patients with Achilles tendon disorders, in order to identify changes in expression of genes important in cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. The greatest difference between normal (post-mortem) and degenerate tissue samples was in the level of MMP-3 (stromelysin) mRNA, which was down-regulated in all the degenerate samples. Quantitative RT-PCR assay of RNA extracted from paired ‘normal’ and degenerate Achilles tendon tissue samples taken from tendons during surgery mirrored the results of the arrays. Levels of MMP-3 mRNA were lower, whereas levels of type-I and type-III collagen mRNAs were significantly higher, in the degenerate compared to the ‘normal’ samples. Immunoblotting of proteins extracted from the same tendon samples showed that three of four normal tissue samples taken from individuals without apparent tendon disorder had much higher levels of MMP-3 protein than ‘normal’ or degenerate samples from patients with tendinosis. We suggest that MMP-3 may play an important role in the regulation of tendon extracellular matrix degradation and tissue remodelling.

Current methods would allow reasonable predictions of long-term effects of pesticide application if three changes were instituted. First, more population-based laboratory studies should be applied in predictive pesticide risk assessment. Second, ERA should include as much effort on collating and integrating ecological knowledge into the assessment in Tier 1 as is currently expended on gathering chemical and toxicological information on exposure and effects. Production of a formal conceptual ecological risk assessment model for each product or active substance for which authorization is sought would provide an appropriate framework for integrating and applying such knowledge. Third, in acknowledgment of the uncertainties in the predictive risk assessment process, more postauthorization monitoring should be done. The application of Occam's razor to pesticide risk assessment makes good sense, as it does in any other field of science. However, we must take care that simplicity in risk assessment process does not lead to oversimplification: Essentially all science is the study of either very small bits of reality or simplified surrogates for complex whole systems. How we simplify can be critical. Careless simplification leads to misleading simplistic conclusions. (Slobodkin 1994).

The introduction of new power generation technologies, such as ultra super critical (USC) plant, has resulted in the development and application of a series of advanced Cr-Mo creep resistant steels. Among these new alloys, T/P92 steel has creep strength 25%-30% higher than the currently widely used T/P91 steel and it has become one of the major alloys for the construction of USC plant. In order to obtain a good understanding of the microstructural characteristics and properties of the T/P92 weld metals, investigation was conducted to welds from SMAW, SAW and FCAW processes using matching filler metals. The important phase transformation temperatures, Ac1, Ms and Mf, were measured. The mechanical properties at ambient temperature and creep properties of the weld metals were evaluated. Procedural factors that influence the performance of T/P92 weld metals were discussed and recommendations for suitable practical welding and post-weld heat treatment procedures were presented.