PED debate will decide this year’s MLB Hall of Fame class – New York Post

The 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame writers ballot might very well be the most fascinating and polarizing such referendum in the museums history. This week, ahead of the results being announced Jan. 25, The Posts Ken Davidoff will break down the many issues and debates in play before revealing his ballot.

Rule 5 used to be the Baseball Hall of Fame equivalent of a Brood X cicada, emerging every 17 years or so to prompt a discussion about a specific candidate and his foibles before disappearing once again.

Now, Rule 5 stands as ubiquitous as the mosquito. Thanks a lot, steroids.

Rule 5, in the Baseball Writers Association of Americas rules for election, reads, Voting shall be based upon the players record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

Its that integrity, sportsmanship and character trio (some overlap there) that has thrown the Hall into uncharted chaos, with this 2022 writers ballot set to close some doors while opening others. All those doors lead right back to illegal performance-enhancing drugs, the issue that has defined this process since Mark McGwire became eligible in 2007, many of his critics contending that he lacked those three overlapping qualities, and shows no hope of abating.

To the contrary, time has only muddied the matter, the games evolving rules on illegal performance-enhancing drugs creating subclasses of suspects. Consider that a certain tier of players headlined by Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez overcame whispers of illegal PED usage due to a lack of evidence beyond the eye test (and the subsequent raised eyebrows) to gain the 75 percent support necessary for election.

Lets break down the other subclasses, none of which has hit that 75 percent threshold. Some players raised enough hell to gain entry into multiple groups; here, they have been assigned to the demographic that arguably damns them the most.

McGwire, when he joined the Cardinals coaching staff in 2010, admitted that he used steroids during his record-breaking home run (70) season in 1998. He didnt fare particularly well prior to that disclosure, topping out at 23.7 percent in 10 (doubts loomed about both the authenticity of his accomplishments and their worthiness) and did even worse in the subsequent six years, additionally coming up small in a Todays Game Era Committee tally.

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens came aboard in 2013 and have seen their votes move in virtual lockstep Bonds hit a new high last year with 61.8 percent, Clemens with 61.6 percent for good reason: The two all-time greats both saw government agents capture their purported suppliers, although the feds nevertheless couldnt convict either legend. This year marks their last chance on the writers ballot.

Sammy Sosa, also on his last chance, peaked last year at 17 percent, a far cry from induction. He allegedly failed his 2003 survey test, yet its possible his most indicting moment occurred when he pretended to not speak English competently at the infamous 2005 Congressional hearings on illegal PEDs in baseball.

Gary Sheffield said in 2004 that he had unknowingly used the cream, an illegal PED manufactured by BALCO and given to him by Bonds during the 2001-02 offseason. He surged to 40.6 percent last year and has three years to go.

Andy Pettitte confirmed the Mitchell Reports findings that he used human growth hormone in 2002 and later acknowledged using it again in 2004, at which point players were tested for steroids but not HGH. He climbed to 13.7 percent last year, his third year on the ballot.

Rafael Palmeiro became the first high-profile casualty of the testing era, which began in 04, when a 2005 sample came back positive. He lasted only four years on the ballot, his 4.4 percent showing in 2014 falling below the 5 percent necessary to stay on the ballot.

When Manny Ramirez failed a test in 2011, it marked his third skirmish with illegal PEDs, as he reportedly tested positive in the 2003 survey and drew a suspension in 2009 for a non-analytical positive. This will be his sixth go-round on the ballot.

A non-analytical positive is a conviction with evidence not gleaned from the actual drug test. Thats how Major League Baseball nabbed Alex Rodriguez in 2013, courtesy of the text messages between him and Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch that Bosch provided and verified. A-Rod also admitted to using illegal PEDs with the Rangers from 2001 through 2003 and reportedly failed the 03 survey test. A-Rod is a debutant at this dance and has about 40 percent of public-ballot support as per Ryan Thibodaux.

David Ortiz put up most of his numbers in the testing era and never came back positive except during that 03 survey test, which was used as a baseline to determine whether discipline-infused testing was necessary (it was) and supposed to be anonymous. The slugger has asserted his innocence, and commissioner Rob Manfred has defended Ortiz as well, saying his result could have been a false positive. Ortiz, joining A-Rod as a ballot freshman, has started strong and could be elected in his first try, which would be a significant milestone for those linked to illegal PEDs.

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PED debate will decide this year's MLB Hall of Fame class - New York Post

Chris Reed: On types of journalistic idiocy. Including mine. – The San Diego Union-Tribune

As a child growing up overseas on U.S. military bases my father was a civilian executive who worked for the Pentagon our family had a mail subscription to The Washington Post. Every three weeks, wed get a package of daily newspapers. At first, I just read sports. But by the time I was 11, I was reading the paper literally cover to cover. (I laughed far harder at the daily horoscope than the funny pages, thinking adults actually believe this glop?!?!)

I became a full-on news junkie one with pet peeves. Here are five that still irk me decades later. (Dont worry, this will not be a humorless screed, and it ends with me revealing my stupidest mistake as a journalist.)

The description of someone dying after a short battle with a disease. This came up twice last week.

After the passing of Tim Rosaforte, a much-admired longtime commentator on the Golf Channel, the network said he died following a brief battle with Alzheimers disease. Did it have a posthumous interview with Rosafortes corpse? Not only is it unknowable if this truly was a brief battle, its extremely unlikely. The Penn Memory Center says it is typical for an Alzheimers sufferer to go at least 10 years without symptoms.

After the death of legendary singer Ronnie Spector, MSN reported she died following a short battle with cancer. The arrival of a diagnosis of Alzheimers or cancer doesnt coincide with when the bodys battle begins. Duke University Medical Center shows how dumb this assumption is in a study headlined Why Do Most Cancers Take So Long to Develop?

The constant depiction of young athletes as having summer growth spurts. For one example of thousands, Sports Illustrateds Chris Mannix wrote that Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers sprouted four inches between his sophomore and junior years.

Yes, there are studies showing a slight correlation between faster growth and the summer months among undersized adolescents taking human growth hormone. And, yes, growth spurts are a real thing. But the National Institutes of Health says that for the most part, children continue to grow physically at a steady rate in a paper that doesnt mention summer once. The same holds for Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospitals overview of growth during puberty.

So where does this canard come from? My theory is that most kids, especially student athletes, are measured by their coaches and PE teachers at the start of the school year. If you havent seen a teen for three months, of course the kids growth would stand out. Also, when parents buy new clothes for their children just before the school year starts, they are more inclined to notice at that point that Junior has gotten taller.

The pathetically imprecise use of the word suspect in crime coverage. Google shows 13.2 million hits when the suspect shot the clerk is typed into the search field. No, the gunman, gunwoman or gunperson shot the clerk.

When an individual suspected of committing the crime is identified, thats when the use of suspect makes sense. There is nothing suspected about the crime. Just look at the bleeding clerk.

The pathetically imprecise use of math in sports coverage. When you get a 70 on a test, you didnt nearly get a 100. When you have your 35th birthday, youre not nearly 50.

But in basketball, whenever players have a double-double 10 or more of something in two categories, starting with points, rebounds and assists they are almost inevitably described as nearly having a triple-double if they have seven in a third category. No, they need 43 percent more in the category to have a triple-double. That is not nearly.

The bizarre failure of writers to realize that most acronyms are the devil, and that even if you include a parenthetical explanation of what they mean after a first full reference, they throw readers for a loop upon subsequent use.

Yes, of course, Twitter and texting have made many shorthand expressions readily understood LOL, IMO, SMH, etc. But the curse of academic writing the assumption by authors that everyone is as familiar with insider jargon as they are applies to journalism as well.

Here are some examples of acronyms I have seen used without an initial explanation of what they are spelled out: FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States). Excuse me, but WTF?

Yet if you consider what happened one Saturday night in 1990, who am I to judge anyone?

At about 10 p.m., I was the only person still in the newsroom of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in Hilo when the news broke that Sen. Spark Matsunaga had died in a Toronto hospital. I quickly wrote a comprehensive 30-inch obituary about the legendary state politician and remade the Sunday front page.

But when I woke up the next morning and grabbed the paper from my doorstep, I was gripped by what felt like physical pain.

I had written that Matsunaga died not from prostate cancer but from prostrate cancer you know, the type you get when you lie on the ground too often.

I was so upset I nearly didnt go to the beach. Well, OK, thats not true. Of course I went to Hapuna, one of the nations best beaches. But I sure felt like a moron on the drive there.

Reed is deputy editor of the editorial and opinion section. Column archive: sdut.us/chrisreed. Twitter: @calwhine. Email: chris.reed@sduniontribune.com.

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Chris Reed: On types of journalistic idiocy. Including mine. - The San Diego Union-Tribune

10 benefits of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) therapy

The 10 most common benefits of human growth hormone (HGH) therapy can be life changing for those with low hormone levels due to aging.

When vital GH levels drop as a person gets older, the ailments that occur can be easily wiped away with therapy.

Research throughout the years has proven that there are 10 major benefits of human growth hormone therapy. The person receiving the benefits from treatment can experience:

These 10 remarkable results from proper treatment have added quality of life to ailing people with low GH levels.

The benefits have completely changed how patients feel about themselves, their lives and their relationships.

The results from therapy can add strength to both the mind and body without any negative side effects.

Here are the 10 most common benefits of human growth hormone therapy with bio-identical subcutaneous injections:

Studies have proven that one of the benefits of human growth hormone therapy is muscle gain.

The bio-identical formula in the subcutaneous injections gives the benefit of developing muscle and a more attractive physique. In fact, the experts have pronounced that muscle gain assists in the burning of calories. Research has demonstrated that for every one pound of muscle that a person gains, he or she will burn about 50 more calories during the day.

Imagine the great benefit of building muscle from HGH therapy while at the same time burning calories to lose fast.

The first wonderful benefit of human growth hormone therapy is not just gaining muscle, but losing fat and looking much healthier, attractive and sexier too.

People enjoy HGH treatment because they want to look good. They love the benefit of muscle gain in this way because it is easy, safe and effective.

The second most popular and sought after benefit from HGH therapy is losing unwanted pounds; especially around the abdomen area.

As both men and women get older and their hormones deplete, excess body fat is gained. Metabolism slows down and exercise is not done as often; giving two major reasons why a persons number on the scale increases as they grow older.

Replacing the lost hormones is extremely beneficial for weight loss; and hence, better overall health and self esteem.

The absolute best way to take advantage of this benefit of HGH is to partake in human growth hormone therapy, to watch the diet and to exercise appropriately. Combining these three things together will help the injections to give their benefits faster.

Studies prove that a benefit of HGH therapy is better sleep.

A study published by the National Institutes of Health suggested that GH deficiencies can bring upon difficulties with sleep, but this can be corrected by human growth hormone therapy. Within only four months of HGH replacement therapy, sleep disturbances in the subjects were reversed as opposed to subjects in an untreated group.

The benefits from HGH treatment of deeper, more relaxing and rejuvenating sleep are so important for good health. Sleep is the time for the body to recover from the days activities and help in healing from injury or sickness.

As a person gets older, the reason they are not sleeping as well is in part because they are losing their growth hormones; vital chemicals for good health. This is why one of the vital benefits of human growth hormone therapy is better slumber.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute shared that seven to nine hours of sleep per night is optimal. A great benefit from human growth hormone therapy is that this kind of treatment can ultimately help you get that many hours of sleep per evening.

When growth hormones plummet, so does sexual desire. However, one of the most popular and sought after benefits of human growth hormone therapy is increasing ones sexual libido and even their ability to perform.

Self confidence is boosted when ED is eliminated and this one of the best benefits for some when HGH treatment is successful.

Human growth hormone treatment can save relationships. When a man cannot perform with his partner due to erectile dysfunction, this can strain the couples connection. His partner may think, Is he still attracted to me? Is he cheating on me? Why isnt he excited by me anymore?

One of the 10 best human growth hormone benefits is a huge boost in sexual libido and the elimination of erectile dysfunction.

When a mans partner is questioning the relationship, HGH therapy can give the answer. This is also true for women.

Some of the best benefits of HGH treatment for women are:

HGH treatment can make the symptoms of menopause a lot easier to deal with when the time comes. The benefits make growing older much more bearable.

With proper human growth hormone therapy, one of the first benefits that a person will feel is more energy, vigor and vitality.

The patient will be less tired and run down. He or she will experience less lethargy and will want to get up and out of bed in the morning. No longer will waking up be a chore, but instead it will be filled with a desire to enjoy the day.

Lethargy and tiredness fade away and are replaced with the great benefit of motivation and drive to accomplish a lot during the day. The person will feel a great sense of liveliness and momentum. This is why so many people rave about HGH therapy.

The benefits of increased energy with HGH treatment are:

Patients find that a boost in energy is one of the best 10 benefits of human growth hormone treatment. It will help to relieve the person of depression, lethargy and apathy and it will raise desire, confidence and self esteem. This will raise overall quality of life.

Many studies have proven a benefit of human growth hormone therapy to be a stronger immune system. By giving the body back its missing growth hormone (that depletes as a person grows older), the following benefits can occur for ones immunity:

The benefits of a strengthened immune system are imperative to keep disease away or to fight disease or infection that has already attacked the body.

HGH therapy can make life much more pleasant as it offers the opportunity of a person to become stronger both in muscle strength and internal organ strength. When healthy and strong with less instances of sickness and disease due to a strong immune system, quality of life increases tremendously.

A stronger bone mineral density is a very important benefit that comes from human growth hormone therapy.

Bones become weaker as adults get older and this can lead to catastrophic issues.

HGH therapy can minimize the risk of not only bone fractures and breaks, but also the disease osteoporosis.

Therapy benefits both men and women from this illness and helps them to stay active longer and hence, have a better quality of life.

If bones do get broken or fractured, adding and balancing growth hormone when it is depleted with HGH therapy can be highly beneficial for both genders. It can help the bones to heal faster and will minimize the risk of having a breakage occur again. This kind of treatment can help to protect two of the most commonly injured areas of the body due to beginning or advanced osteoporosis; the hips and the spine.

HGH therapy combined with good amounts of sleep, a healthy diet and consistent physical activity is the best way to keep bones strong and to avoid developing osteoporosis.

A stronger bone mineral density is a very important benefit of human growth hormone therapy.

Many professionals have touted that one of the most important benefits of human growth hormone treatment is longevity of life. How? Bio-identical injections can lower cholesterol levels, keep the heart healthier and stop potential life threatening heart attacks and strokes. Medical research links low growth hormone levels with diseases of the heart, but HGH therapy can help to reverse those issues.

Studies have demonstrated that after a heart attack has occurred, HGH therapy had beneficial effects on treating the patient back to good health.

Many professionals in the medical community need to learn more about HGH therapy and its benefits for heart health.

HGH helps build heart tissue and assists with better endurance for exercise and physical activity. In addition, treatment of this kind has proven to help with recovery after work outs.

When it comes to the benefits of human growth hormone therapy, both men and women alike love the benefit of gaining a more youthful looking appearance.

With aging comes the loss of growth hormones. These are what keep our skin soft, smooth and tight. GH is what keeps our hair shiny and thick, our nails growing and what gives us that overall youthful looking glow.

One of the roles of HGH therapy is to give both genders the benefit of looking younger than their biological age. Gone will be haggard, wrinkled and old looking skin once therapy begins. Gone will be insecurity and low self esteem due to feeling and looking old.

A person will feel better about him or herself, have less depression and apathy towards the future when he or she feels that they look younger. With this benefit of HGH therapy comes a boost in self esteem that will help with future success at work and in social and personal relationships.

Improved emotional well being and improved mental cognition are two highly beneficial results that can come from human growth hormone treatment.

These benefits include improvements to mood and to the brain such as:

Experts have even shared that HGH therapy can take the place of anti-depressant medications. If a patient is lucky enough to get the diagnosis of low GH levels, they may be able to stop emotional problems such as depression and anxiety with bio-identical injections rather than chemically filled anti-depressant medication.

Another vital benefit of human growth hormone treatment can be a minimized risk of developing dementia or even Alzheimers disease. This has been proven in many studies that also demonstrated the link between increasing growth hormone and better memory and concentration.

The 10 benefits of human growth hormone therapy can change ones life in all encompassing ways.

Therapy can transform a weak, unhappy and unhealthy person into a strong, confident and fit individual.

All aspects of health can be improved through proper HGH therapy.

The time and money spent on therapy has been said by many to be well worth it right from the onset of treatment when benefits start occurring.

When quality of life is vastly improved, patients start to recommend HGH therapy to those they may believe could be suffering with low growth hormone levels due to aging.

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10 benefits of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) therapy

HGH Intrusion Detection and Identification At INTERSEC – Joint Forces

HGH announces unmatched capabilities for its intrusion detection and identification solution for sensitive sites and critical infrastructures.

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Press Release, Dubai, 16 January 2022: To mark the INTERSEC 2022 trade show held in Dubai, HGH, world-leader in electro-optics systems for security applications, announces enhanced capabilities for its intrusion detection and identification SPYNEL solution. Entirely designed for the security of sensitive sites, this fully integrated perimeter surveillance system allows, with a single sensor and a single interface, to obtain accurate detection, tracking and identification of multiple intrusions over the whole perimeter in real-time.

These new detection capabilities are possible thanks to a double innovation:

The success of SPYNEL intrusion detection solutions for critical infrastructure protection has led to the signing of new contracts in several European countries for the protection of gas compressor stations. For these Operators of Vital Importance (OVI), it is crucial to ensure permanent security on the entire perimeter, where no one can enter. For such configurations, a single SPYNEL-M was integrated in the middle of the perimeter, providing 360 coverage of the entire site on its own, with no blind zone and no need for coupling with other security systems.

Edouard Campana, Head of Wide Area Surveillance solutions at HGH, commented: We are very proud of these latest innovations which allow us to stay in line with our customers needs. We provide a simple, highly performant and cost-effective system for the full protection of a large area. CYCLOPE software is not only powerful but also very flexible, as it can be fully integrated into any VMS used by our clients, thanks to the ONVIF module.

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HGH Intrusion Detection and Identification At INTERSEC - Joint Forces

Racing fit and over 40: Training secrets of the super-veterans – Cycling Weekly

In the past it was generally accepted that we begin to decline physically from the age of about 40. But not anymore, it's possible to maintain peak cycling form into your 40s and beyond.

These days over-40s are performing at incredibly high levels across a wide range of sports including cycling. Scientists, coaches and many riders have come to understand that slowing down past 40 isnt inevitable, provided you train to target potential age-related limiters of performance.

To find out exactly how, we asked some of Britains very best performers across the age groups, starting at 40. Most of them are riding faster now, as veterans, than ever before.

Eat well and maintain your body Gemma Sargent, 41, Saint Piran

After her road race debut in 2015, Gemma Sargent quickly became a top performer. She lives in Chorley, Lancashire, and by 2016 was riding UK national races including the Tour Series, and with Team On-Form in 2017 and 2018 she rode UCI international races including the Tour de Yorkshire.

Sargents first year competing as an over-40 rider should have been 2020, impeded by Covid restrictions, so her top Masters achievement came this year, a second place in the National Championship road race. Shes also had several top-10 placings in British elite races. All of this achieved despite having had a severe eating disorder earlier in life.

I suffered from anorexia from a very young age, and it took me a long time to control it, says Sargent. However, I started working with [nutritionist] David Starr at the end of 2019 and Ive not looked back. His tips and advice are invaluable and help me fuel properly for my training and racing.

With good nutrition supporting her, the 41-year-old is able to do more training than ever. As long as I eat and rest well, training is not an issue. I work full-time in customer services for Merlin Cycles, so sometimes it can be hard to get the rest I need, but you have to be super-organised.

I think it takes me longer to recover, but you just have to listen to your body. I have regular sports massage with GD Sport Massage and Rehabilitation, and that helps to keep these old legs going, she jokes. By balancing cycling training with work, supported by good nutrition and a body maintenance routine, Sargent believes she is keeping the years at bay. Core work, stretching and yoga are very important to me, she adds, and during the winter I do strength work in the gym. Feeling fitter now than shes ever been, the elite veteran is looking forward to further improvement in 2022.

How to hold back the years: Eat well, sleep well, rest when your body tells you to, and remember everybody is different what works for one might not work for all. Above all, be sure to enjoy it. Thats essential.

Make the most of what you have William Bjergfelt, 43, SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling

Having started out as a mountain biker who did some road racing, in 2008 Will Bjergfelt decided to focus on the road, racing for a number of elite teams, including Sports Beans-Wilier, with good results, including fifth place in the 2013 Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic. However, in 2015 he was hit head-on by a vehicle while riding, and suffered a brain bleed and 25 fractures to his right leg life-changing injuries.

After returning to the sport the following year, Bjergfelt competed as a para-cyclist, while continuing to race in elite able-bodied races. The Bristolian even rode the Tour of Britain [in 2021], aged 42, alongside the likes of Mark Cavendish and Julien Alaphilippe making him the second-oldest competitor in the races history, after Malcolm Elliott. Incredibly, Bjergfelt squeezes in training around a very serious full-time job as a project planner with a large aerospace company.

Since passing 40, Bjergfelts best performances have been at elite international level, as well as a para-cycling silver medal in the scratch race at the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. A broken leg in April this year ruled him out of the Tokyo Paralympics, but he is determined to make amends in 2024.

Its difficult to say what difference passing 40 has made to me, because Ive had to cope with the differences my injuries made, says Bergfelt. Ive permanently lost a lot of explosive power. To combat this loss, he works extra hard on his explosive training, as well as other areas. I work a lot on endurance now, pushing up my functional threshold, and I do a lot more specific work, rather than wrapping up my training with commuting, he says.

Focusing on making up for the elements of performance he has lost, Bjergfelt sets an excellent example for all older cyclists. Optimising your cycling ability as you grow older means dealing with the reality you have, not the one youd like.

How to hold back the years: Time management is important. I use Training Peaks software, planning a couple of weeks at a time. If you want to ride at as high a level as possible, you need to know exactly what you are doing in training each day.

Make it fun Janet Birkmyre, 55, Torq Performance

Janet Birkmyre, from Worcester, is a Masters cycling legend with 38 world, 28 European and 61 Masters national titles to her name. She has also won three elite national track titles at the ages of 42, 46 and 49. The elite titles are the ones that mean most to me, she says. Birkmyre is a phenomenon, but its not by chance. She follows a detailed personalised training plan provided by her coach, Masters world champion and former international rider Steve Cronshaw, who holds a masters degree in sports nutrition and strength-and- conditioning.

I train six days a week, Birkmyre explains, with one day of complete rest. My training varies throughout the year, starting with long, slow Zone 2 miles and weights for a balanced body and to increase my work capacity, then it becomes more intense as I approach specific events. Each year I work towards two or maybe three peaks, usually for the Nationals in July and the World Masters Track Championships in October.

Birkmyre puts a lot of emphasis on work she does off the bike, which she says has become increasingly important as she has grown older, though she adds a note of caution. There needs to be total focus on getting form and technique right when lifting. I am lifting heavier than before but doing so in a way that is safe. This has helped me to overcome back pain that had been a problem throughout my life. As a result, Im more comfortable on longer rides and able to push bigger gears on the track, which is important because I cant pedal as fast as I could, so I just use bigger gears.

A common thread among older riders is taking longer to recover. Her coach Cronshaw introduced technology to help with this. We look at my heart rate variability, measured via the Ithlete app every day. It allows us to track my recovery in a scientific way, as well as recording some softer measures around muscle soreness, fatigue, stress and sleep, adds Birkmyre.

How to hold back the years: Make it fun. I love my team-mates, time with them racing or training is joyous. Have a great support network. My incredible husband David plays a huge part in keeping me competitive. Make health the number-one goal.

Jacob Tipper is an elite cyclist and a performance coach (jtperformancecoaching.com) with a masters degree in applied sports science. He has coached a number of high-performing over-40s riders

Changes in physiological, neurological and hormonal processes can lead to a slow-down as we age, says Tipper. We need to treat these elements as limiters that are stopping a rider going faster, and work to improve or remove them.

A potential big limiter for older cyclists is reduced production of testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH), which can affect muscular strength and slow down recovery. The way to address that limiter is strength-and-conditioning work with heavy loads and low repetitions. Thats how more muscle fibres are recruited per lift, and keeping the repetitions low means less muscle damage, so muscles get stronger without increasing in size or weight. That kind of lifting also boosts testosterone and HGH production.

Tippers advice is a great practical example of combating ageing through specific training.

We want to find out how fast a 53-year-old can go Richard Oakes, 53, Team Ohten Aveas

Lifelong cyclist Richard Oakes, from Stamford in Lincolnshire, was a good time triallist in his 20s and 30s but hes much faster now, in his 50s. I did low-21-minute 10-mile time trials when I was younger, and my personal best this year is 18.08 while winning an open event by 30 seconds. For 25 miles, I could do 55 minutes in my 20s; now my PB is 47. 52, he says.

Oakes has won several National Masters Championship titles, and is Masters world champion in the team pursuit. Even so, he reckons he can go faster yet and win more. Its what Im working on with my coach Jacob Tipper, he says. We want to find out how fast a 53-year-old man can go. We thought 50 [years old] would be the pinnacle of my performance graph, but now we reckon Ive got more headroom. We think a 17-minute 10 and a 46-minute 25 are possible. Im also aiming for 2.10 for the 2,000-metre individual pursuit.

How has Oakes reached such an incredible level of performance? My training has really changed. Jacob Tipper coaches Dan Bigham too, and I just do everything Dan does. We look at racing as a triangle. The three sides are: on-the-bike training; strength and conditioning; and technology, with the mind in the middle of the triangle. I work at trying to maximise everything. In terms of mind, I think being older is an advantage.

Its an intriguing theory that, psychologically, age may offer advantages. Jacob says a lot of younger riders he coaches dont have my mental resilience. As an older rider, you can also be more honest with yourself when you are tired. Plus, you do all the stretching and off-the-bike work, because an older body needs it, whereas younger ones can get away without doing it.

How to hold back the years: Invest in yourself. If you want to improve in time trials, you have got to be as aerodynamic as you can. Im lucky to be involved with Jacob Tipper and Dan Bigham.

(Image credit: Jo Corbett)

Im training as hard as I ever did Jo Corbett, 66, Sherwood CC

Winner of the 2021 womens National 25-mile time trial title in this 60-69 age group, Jo Corbett is a force of nature. Small in stature but with the heart of a lioness and the energy of a schoolkid at playtime, she sees no need to rein in her training load.

(Image credit: Future)

Recovery: Be aware that recovery takes longer as you get older so listen to your body and take extra measures such as stretching, sleeping and eating well, to speed up the process.

Technology: Take advantage of the many technical advances have been made in training tech, ideally under the guidance of a coach.

Strength and conditioning: This is probably the most important step to counter the effects of ageing. The riders interviewed here do low-rep heavy lifts, paying attention to their form. Seek qualified instruction

Train your strengths: Endurance is the human capacity least affected by age but that doesnt mean you should neglect it. Keep pushing out those long, aerobic intervals and long, steady rides.

Corbett, from Farnsfield in Nottingham, trains as hard as ever. I do get tired, she concedes and with her daily training routine its no wonder. I try to do three hours a day, seven days a week, just like I always have. In the morning I do two hours on my mountain bike, then an hour on my turbo in the afternoons. I follow Peter Reads The Black Book, mapping out what you do every day of the year, starting in November, she says. Corbetts work ethic is exemplary and her love for competition shines through.

Compared to her 1980s PBs of 28 minutes for 10 miles and one hour 14 minutes for 25, Corbett was much faster this year 22.32 and 1:01.32 respectively. Age-group competitors are awarded a reverse handicap in CTT time trials time they can subtract to give a theoretical comparison with the outright best. Corbett is entitled to subtract 18 minutes for 25 miles, giving her a theoretical PB of 43.32 only 34 seconds slower than the British mens competition record.

How to hold back the years: Have a go! It doesnt matter what time you do. A lot more women would race, but they are frightened about what time theyll be able to do. Dont be.

(Image credit: Chris Auld)

Remember to enjoy it Brian Cookson, 70, Cycle Sport Pendle

Brian Cookson has had a long and distinguished career inside and outside cycling. As a race organiser and official, he became British Cycling and UCI president but hes now relishing life back on the bike. This is my time, he says. Time to enjoy other things, and time to ride my bike.

Cookson, who lives in Whaley in Lancashire, was a good rider in his teens and 20s, becoming Lakeland area road race champion in 1971. This year he finished second to former pro Geoff Dutton in British Cyclings over-70s National Championships road race. I use modern methods now, says Cookson. Ive got a smart trainer and I go on Zwift. Ive also got a coach, Roy Holmes. I eat a good balanced diet, I warm up and cool down properly, and on my coachs advice Im doing a structured strength and conditioning programme this winter. So overall, Im working around being older. Taking longer to recover is the big thing Ive noticed, so I just work around that.

How to hold back the years: If you feel tired, back off and just enjoy the ride. Dont be afraid to do what my coach calls an embarrassingly slow ride.

This article was originally published in the 30 December 2021 print edition ofCycling Weekly.Subscribe onlineand get the magazine delivered direct to your door every week.

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Racing fit and over 40: Training secrets of the super-veterans - Cycling Weekly

The SWIR market is expected to grow from USD 166 million in 2021 to USD 277 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% – Yahoo Finance

during the forecast period. The major driving factors for the growth of the SWIR market include the growing use of SWIR cameras in military & defense applications. Hardware to have the largest market size in SWIR market during the forecast period

New York, Jan. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Shortwave Infrared Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Scanning Type, Application, Technology, Vertical, Offering and Region - Global Forecast to 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05106686/?utm_source=GNW The SWIR market had been witnessing significant growth in the past years owing to the high adoption of SWIR hardware in different verticals.SWIR hardware include cameras and modules that enables users to see beyond the visible spectrum.

SWIR cameras based on SWIR technology are frequently used in night vision enhancement, moisture detection, solar cell inspection, camouflage detection, silicon wafer inspection, and surveillance applications.

Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) is the most common material used in SWIR products.

Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) is the most common material used in infrared (IR) spectroscopy for studying light in the wavelength ranging from 0.9 to 1.7 microns. InGaAs detectors are usually cooled thermoelectrically or cryogenically to enable them to withstand long exposure to light for data acquisition. Innovations and the production of the InGaAs material with a high quantum efficiency (QE) and low dark current have made Collins Aerospace (US), the worlds leading supplier of linear photodiode arrays for IR spectroscopy camera systems. Moreover, the increasing production of the InGaAs material has led to the development of a number of linear arrays and cameras.

Detection application to witness significant CAGR in SWIR market share during the forecast periodSWIR technology is used for detection applications in a number of industries.The detection process is generally carried out during the production phase in industries wherein products are randomly taken out from the lot and are scanned using SWIR cameras to detect defects, if any.

SWIR cameras are used to detect the contamination of food & beverages and the presence of chemicals and moisture. These cameras are used for medical applications as well.In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews have been conducted with key officials in the SWIR market. Following is the breakup of the profiles of primary participants for the report. By Company Type: Tier 1 35 %, Tier 2 45%, and Tier 3 20% By Designation: C-Level Executives 35%, Directors 25%, and Others 40% By Region: North America 45%, Europe 20%, APAC 30%, and RoW 5%The report profiles key players in the SWIR market and analyzes their market shares. Players profiled in this report are Collins Aerospace (US), Teledyne FLIR (US), Xenics (Belgium), New Imaging Technologies (France) and Allied Vision Technologies (Germany) Raptor Photonics (UK), Lynred (France), Opgal Optronic (Israel), Photon etc. (Canada), Himamatsu Photonics (Japan), Intevac (US), InView Technology (US), Sierra-Olympic Technologies (US), FluxData(US), IRCameras (US), Episensors (US), Princeton Infrared Technologies (US), Leonardo DRS (US), InfraTec (Germany), Tonbo Imaging (India), COX (South Korea), C-THERMAL (Austria), Dali Technology (China), Axis Communication (Sweden), and HGH Infrared Systems (France).

Research CoverageThis report segments the SWIR market by offering, material, technology, scanning type, vertical, application and geography.The report also describes the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges of this market.

Further, the report includes the value chain analysis, porters five forces analysis, trade analysis, ecosystem, technological trends, pricing analysis, key patents, standards and frameworks, and case studies/use cases.

Reasons to Buy This Report

The report will help leaders/new entrants in the SWIR market in the following ways:1. The report segments the SWIR market comprehensively and provides the closest market size estimation for all subsegments across regions.2. The report will help stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities about the SWIR market.3. The report will help stakeholders understand their competitors better and gain insights to improve their position in the SWIR market. The competitive landscape section describes the competitor ecosystem.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05106686/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The SWIR market is expected to grow from USD 166 million in 2021 to USD 277 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% - Yahoo Finance

Sermorelin: A better approach to … – PubMed Central (PMC)

Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) using recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been embraced by many age management practitioners as one of the most effective methods for opposing somatic senescence currently available. However, its routine use has been controversial because few clinical studies have been performed to determine the potential risks of long-term therapy. Also, certain medical and legal issues have not been resolved causing some practitioners to restrict their use of the product. Some of these issues include the fact that:

Improper dosing can lead to side effects that may be serious in some patients,

Injection of hGH creates unnatural conditions of exposure to the hormone that may erode normal physiology,

The Code of Federal Regulations specifically forbids the use of rhGH in adults except for treatment of AIDS or human growth hormone deficiency (GHD) diagnosed pursuant to regularly accepted guidelines.

While there is a wealth of information showing that long-term administration of rhGH reduces intrinsic disease and extends life in adults suffering pathogenic GHD, consensus on whether extrapolation of those data to the aging condition is justified has not been reached (Perls et al 2005). Most of the major concerns derive from the fact that rhGH is mitogenic and may awaken latent cancers, that improper dose selection may promote metabolic disorders such as diabetes, and perhaps that pharmacological presentation may exacerbate decline of endocrine function by distorting essential hormonal interactions. Of course, all these concerns are speculative and will not be resolved until sufficient scientific evidence for or against GHRT eventually accumulate. In the interim, the value of rhGH in GHRT will continue to be debated; unfortunately based more upon personal prejudice than objective information.

Despite the eventual outcome to the Great Hormone Debate as it has been titled in media articles (Landsmann 2006), certain negative aspects of GHRT using rhGH cannot be disputed and justify searching for a better alternative. For example, square wave or pharmacological presentation of the exogenous hormone cannot be avoided since it is administered as a bolus, subcutaneous injection. Since the amount of rhGH entering the general circulation is not controlled by normal feedback mechanisms, tissue exposure to elevated concentrations is persistent and eventually may lead to tachyphylaxis and reduced efficacy. Also, because the body cannot modulate tissue exposure to rhGH, the practitioner is required to best guess the appropriate dosage based upon little other than serum measurements of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and subjective comments from the patient about perceived responses to the hormone. Thus, it would seem that an alternative method(s) of GHRT that circumvented these problems would be of great value so long as it retained the positive attributes of rhGH.

One possibility that is receiving growing attention is the use of GH secretagogues to promote pituitary health and function during aging. An example of such molecules is growth hormone releasing factor 129 NH2-acetate, or sermorelin, that recently became available to practitioners for use in longevity medicine (Merriam et al 2001). Other alternatives include orally active growth hormone-releasing peptides that are currently being developed by pharmaceutical companies. Some of these have been reported to be effective at improving physical performance in the elderly (Fahy 2006). However, it is unlikely that they will be marketed for several years. On the other hand, sermorelin, an analog of naturally occurring growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) whose activity declines during aging, may presently offer a more immediate and better alternative to rhGH for GHRT in aging (Russell-Aulet et al 2001). The molecule was commercially produced and marketed for many years as an alternative to rhGH for use in children with growth retardation, but it could not compete with rhGH and was withdrawn as a therapeutic entity by the manufacturer. Paradoxically sermorelin failed as a growth-promoting agent in children for the very reason that it is a better alternative for GHRT in aging adults. Growth-deficient children need higher doses of growth hormone than can be achieved by stimulating production of their own hormone, whereas the beneficial effects of sermorelin on pituitary function and simulation of youthful growth hormone secretory dynamics in aging adults have little effect on growth rate in children. Unlike exogenous rhGH that causes production of the bioactive hormone IGF-1 from the liver, sermorelin simulates the patients own pituitary gland by binding to specific receptors to increase production and secretion of endogenous hGH. Because sermorelin increases endogenous hGH by stimulating the pituitary gland, it has certain physiological and clinical advantages over hGH that include:

Effects are regulated by negative feedback involving the inhibitory neurohormone, somatostatin, so that unlike administration of exogenous rhGH, overdoses of endogenous hGH are difficult if not impossible to achieve,

Because of the interactive effects of sermorelin and somatostain, release of hGH by the pituitary is episodic or intermittent rather than constant as with injected rhGH.

Tachphylaxis is avoided because sermorelin-induced release of pituitary hGH is not square wave, but instead simulates more normal physiology,

Sermorelin stimulates pituitary gene transcription of hGH messenger RNA, increasing pituitary reserve and thereby preserving more of the growth hormone neuroendocrine axis, which is the first to fail during aging (Walker et al 1994).

Pituitary recrudescence resulting from sermorelin helps slow the cascade of hypophyseal hormone failure that occurs during aging thereby preserving not only youthful anatomy but also youthful physiology (Villalobos et al 1997).

Finally, there is the question of lawful practice. Unlike rhGH which has legal restrictions on its clinical use, the off-label prescribing of sermorelin is not prohibited by federal law. Thus, it can be carefully employed and evaluated by the practitioner to objectively determine whether it provides greater benefits with less risk to his/her patients. In support of this effort, the Society for Applied Research in Aging will be providing sermorelin free of cost on a competitive basis to practitioners willing to study its effects under protocol conditions and to report the outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal such as Clinical Interventions in Aging. Hopefully, through such efforts we can contribute to development of a paradigm for evidence-based GHRT in clinical age management.

For more information on this effort and to participate in the protocol, please contactmoc.sserpevod@nileromres.

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Sermorelin: A better approach to ... - PubMed Central (PMC)

Effect of human growth hormone therapy on penile … – PubMed

The response of genital and gonadal growth during the first year of treatment with human growth hormone (hGH) was studied in 20 boys with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) (11 of hereditary origin and 9 sporadic cases). Prior to hGH treatment, 13 of the 15 prepubertal boys had a penis length below the normal mean, 3 of which were more than 2 SDS below the mean. The boys with hereditary IGHD had a greater deficit in penile size than did the sporadic cases. hGH treatment improved the penile length in all but two boys aged 14 and 15 yr, and led to growth up to normal size in the three boys with very small penises. Three of the hereditary IGHD patients had subnormal testes and all of the other prepubertal boys had a testicular volume in the normal range. hGH treatment increased testicular size, particularly in the prepubertal boys. Of three additional untreated adults with IGHD, one had a subnormal-size penis and two had penises of low-normal size. Our findings constitute further evidence that hGH deficiency is associated with decreased penile growth and, to some extent, decreased testicular size, and that hHG treatment improves the growth of the genitalia and gonads. Since these effects were also observed in prepuberty, it seems that not all the hGH or, rather, somatomedin effect on sex organs is androgen mediated.

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Effect of human growth hormone therapy on penile ... - PubMed

HGH emergency department may temporarily close amid COVID-19 outbreak and staff shortage – The Review Newspaper

A COVID-19 outbreak has been in effect at Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) since Tuesday, January 4, and due to persistent staff shortages, hospital management is prepared to temporarily close the emergency department if necessary.

HGH Chief of Staff Dr. Julie Maranda said on Thursday, January 6, that four patients out of 30 on the East Wing Medical Surgical Unit had tested positive for COVID-19.

We tested every single patient up there, Maranda said.

All HGH patients are tested for COVID-19 when they are admitted to the hospital, but routine testing of all patients already in the hospital is not usually done. Maranda said the choice to test the patients was made after a specific concern arose. Another round of inpatient testing at HGH is planned for Friday, January 7.

Only vaccinated essential care partners and visitors for exceptional circumstances are permitted in the hospital.

A COVID-19 outbreak is also in effect at Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria.

In the nearby Outaouais region of Qubec, no emergency room service will be available at the community medical and social services centre in St-Andr-Avellin north of Montebello until January 28 because of a high rate of COVID-19 infection among the facilitys employees. Patients who normally use the St-Andr-Avellin emergency department may travel to Hawkesbury instead, which could apply extra pressure on HGHs already short-staffed facility.

We are concerned this will increase our volumes, said Maranda.

Were not fully staffed in our ER as it is, she added.

Maranda said patient volumes at the HGH emergency department had decreased during the pandemic but have increased during the past week with patients requiring important medical attention. Due to the increased number of patients and reduced availability of staff, plans are being put into place to close temporarily close the hospitals emergency department if necessary.

It continues to be a possibility, Maranda said.

She is optimistic the situation will improve during the next two weeks, but it will depend on if more employees become ill and are unable to work.

We are doing everything we can to avoid it, the HGHs Chief of Staff assured.

If the emergency department must temporarily close, HGH will implement a communication plan which will explain alternative options for urgent medical care to the public. A strategy to direct emergency patient needs will also be developed with local paramedic services.

Maranda said a minimum of six staff members are required to properly operate the emergency department at night and 12 or more staff members are located there during the day, depending on patient volumes. She said shortages in staffing are often filled only a short amount of time before a shift begins, and some staff are working double shifts, which eventually begins to test the limits of staff resilience.

That can only go so far, Maranda noted.

She said after 18 months of the pandemic, staff burnout is in an increasing risk, which is another reason why a temporary closure of the emergency department is being considered. Maranda said HGH employees have felt pressure resulting from the pandemic on their families, like all other families.

Maranda emphasized there was already an increasing staff shortage at HGH prior to the beginning of the pandemic and the current challenges are not a result of staff being dismissed because they chose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

We did let go some unvaccinated employees with a heavy heart, Maranda acknowledged.

However, she could not specify the exact number of HGH employees who were terminated.

I can assure you it was a very small number, said Maranda.

She emphasized that decisions involving employee vaccination were made based on the safety of patients and the community.

HGH was facing challenges with recruiting staff before the pandemic began and employees have left the hospital since the pandemic began for other reasons.

With the pandemic, we saw a lot of early retirements, and increasingly, some sick leave, said Maranda.

She said others left for other career opportunities, such as jobs with public health agencies. Maranda estimated the employment vacancy rate at HGH is approximately 40 per cent.

Maranda emphasized that HGH is not hiding information from the public about the realities facing health care within the present context of the pandemic, and that the hospital wants to be a regional leader in advocating for the needs of the community.

Were often the ones to be blunt about the truth, she said.

As of the afternoon of Thursday, January 6, the emergency department at Hawkesbury and District General Hospital remained open 24 hours per day and urged people to not neglect emergency medical needs but to make sure they only use the emergency department for genuine emergencies.

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HGH emergency department may temporarily close amid COVID-19 outbreak and staff shortage - The Review Newspaper

Year in Sports: The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY – Coast News

The GOOD:

*Alabama wins College Football Playoff national championship game against Ohio State, 52-24. Both teams played before a crowd of 14,000 fans.

*Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl the first NFL team to do it in their own stadium. The Bucs beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9.

*Baylor wins its first mens basketball championship after beating undefeated Gonzaga, 86-70.

*Stanford womens basketball defeated fellow Pac-12 foe Arizona 54-53 to win the NCAA Womens Basketball Championship.

*Tampa Bay Lightning wins back to back NHL Stanley Cups beating the Montreal Canadiens.

*The Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA Championship since 1971 over the Phoenix Suns after losing the first two games of a seven-game series.

*Atlanta Braves won their first World Series since 1995 over the Houston Astros in six games.

*Fans allowed back in stadiums after a dark 2020.

*The Breeders Cup at Del Mar. As good as it gets!

*Solana Beach Little League wins district championship after taking down Encinitas.

*Cathedral and Scripps Ranch high schools win state football championships.

*Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese sensationdesigntaed hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, wins AL MVP award. Ohtani iss Mr. Everything and its exciting.

*San Diego State football team for comprising of a record of 12-2, a bowl win over UTSA and All-American punter Matt Araiza for winning the Ray Guy Award for the nations best punter.

*The Jacksonville Jaguars firing first year head coach Urban Meyer a misfit from the start who wont finish the season.

*Enes Kanter for having the guts to speak the truth and back it up with facts.

*The NCAA went up against the Supreme Court and lost.

The BAD :*Former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley saying he was committed to the Sooners and not taking the LSU job. One week later, Riley scampers and signs with USC.

*Kevin KFC Clancy banging Twitter and posting Tiger Woods car crash was a hoax .

*Antonio Brown having a fake vaccination card. I am positively sure he is the only one. Lol. Also, Brown getting waived by the Bucs just four days after confronting coach Bruce Arians on the sideline?

*The Montreal Canadiens got to the Stanley Cup playoffs because they played the all-Canadian division.

*ShaCarri Richardson Team USA sprinter and Olympic-medal hopeful banned from the games for testing positive for marijuana. No problems for steroids or HGH, though.

*Major League Baseball: Whos on first? This league is down right senseless. Using two different styles of balls? And a commissioner that doesnt.ah nevermind.

*The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission still not awarding the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner eight months ago in May.

The UGLY:

*The San Diego Padres fading away in the second half of the MLB Season.

*UCLA bails out of the Holiday Bowl played at Petco Park hours before kickoff and leaves the committee hanging. Not a very good look, Bruins. Somewhat cowardly.

*Dick Allen failing to be inducted in Baseballs Hall Of Fame for the second time by a single vote. In 2014, Allen also missed by one vote. Something stinks about this.

*The Atlanta Braves still using their racist mascot and their continuation of the Tomahawk Chop.

*The NFL referees after further review.

*The IOC (International Olympic Committee ) making excuses for Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai mysterious disappearance.

*The Tour de France sign lady who orchestrated the largest modern-day pileup in cycling history.

*Trevor Bauer (too ugly to write about).

*Jon Gruden: When the NFL went investigating the Washington Football Team and owner Daniel Snyder found emails Gruden had sent to Bruce Allen. Since the NFL commissioner works for the owners, Gruden became the target and fall guy.

* Medina Spirit for taking the abuse before having a heart attack. One look at him he was majestic AND beautiful.

Heres to a great sports year in 2022!

Excerpt from:

Year in Sports: The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY - Coast News