title: Caffeine Modifies the Immune and Anti-inflammatory Responses to Short Incremental Cycling Exercise Until Exhaustion in Humans: A Pilot Study

authors: Rahimi, Mohammad Rahman

abstract: Exercise has well-documented effects on immune function with both positive and negative sequelae dependent on intensity, volume, and duration. The immunosuppressive effects of exercise are mediated, in part, by the complex interaction of cytokines, catecholamines, and nutrition. Caffeine has been reported to modulate immune function; however, the interaction with brief exhaustive exercise is not well characterized. It was hypothesized that caffeine would upregulate the cytokine response to intense exercise. Seven male students volunteered to participate in a randomized, double-blinded crossover study where they ingested either caffeine (6 mg/kg) or a maltodextrin placebo (6 mg/kg) 1 h prior to a cycling exercise. The exercise protocol started at 100 W and the intensity was increased by 50 W every two minutes until exhaustion. Serum samples were collected pre-, post-, and 1-h post-exercise and analyzed for IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1. Caffeine ingestion increased time to exhaustion (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.005; Effect Size [ES] = 1.33), IL-4 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.004; ES = 2.34), IL-10 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.047; ES = 0.41 ± 0.57), and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.013; ES = 0.76). The accentuated response of the cytokines may have important ramifications due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Specifically, the 6 mg/kg caffeine dose not only improved exercise performance but the cytokine data is indicative of an upregulated inflammatory response and an enhancement of the anti-inflammatory benefits of exercise.

text: Caffeine Modifies the Immune and Anti-inflammatory Responses to Short Incremental Cycling Exercise Until Exhaustion in Humans: A Pilot Study Exercise has well-documented effects on immune function with both positive and negative sequelae dependent on intensity, volume, and duration. The immunosuppressive effects of exercise are mediated, in part, by the complex interaction of cytokines, catecholamines, and nutrition. Caffeine has been reported to modulate immune function; however, the interaction with brief exhaustive exercise is not well characterized. It was hypothesized that caffeine would upregulate the cytokine response to intense exercise. Seven male students volunteered to participate in a randomized, double-blinded crossover study where they ingested either caffeine (6 mg/kg) or a maltodextrin placebo (6 mg/kg) 1 h prior to a cycling exercise. The exercise protocol started at 100 W and the intensity was increased by 50 W every two minutes until exhaustion. Serum samples were collected pre-, post-, and 1-h post-exercise and analyzed for IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1. Caffeine ingestion increased time to exhaustion (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.005; Effect Size [ES] = 1.33), IL-4 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.004; ES = 2.34), IL-10 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.047; ES = 0.41 ± 0.57), and TGF-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>1 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.013; ES = 0.76). The accentuated response of the cytokines may have important ramifications due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Specifically, the 6 mg/kg caffeine dose not only improved exercise performance but the cytokine data is indicative of an upregulated inflammatory response and an enhancement of the anti-inflammatory benefits of exercise.

year: 2023-03-07

title: Airport surface access strategies and targets

authors: Francis, Graham

subjects: airport

abstract: Airport surface access is increasingly seen as a major problem not only in the UK but worldwide given its impact in terms of both traffic congestion and environmental degradation. In 1998 the UK Government published a White Paper entitled ‘A New Deal for Transport’ (DETR, 1998) in which it introduced the idea of Airport Transport Forums to be established by UK airports in order to set targets for the reduction in the proportion of journeys to/from the airport made by car based modes. In this working paper the authors critically assess the targets developed for achieving the objective of a greater use of public transport in making journeys to airports. Evidence is presented as to how UK airports have developed targets in order to respond to the Government’s initiative.

text: Airport surface access strategies and targets Airport surface access is increasingly seen as a major problem not only in the UK but worldwide given its impact in terms of both traffic congestion and environmental degradation. In 1998 the UK Government published a White Paper entitled ‘A New Deal for Transport’ (DETR, 1998) in which it introduced the idea of Airport Transport Forums to be established by UK airports in order to set targets for the reduction in the proportion of journeys to/from the airport made by car based modes. In this working paper the authors critically assess the targets developed for achieving the objective of a greater use of public transport in making journeys to airports. Evidence is presented as to how UK airports have developed targets in order to respond to the Government’s initiative.

year: 2004-09

title: ‘Indigenous Rights’ or ‘Racial Privileges’: The rhetoric of ‘race’ in New Zealand politics

authors: Barber, Keith

subjects: indigeneity

abstract: The New Zealand parliamentary election campaign of 2005 was marked by a significant break in the consensus between the two major political parties, Labour and National, in the area of Maori affairs: a consensus that had previously been articulated in terms of a shared commitment to 'biculturalism' and the Treaty of Waitangi. In January 2004, the National Party launched an attack on government policies, describing them as giving unfair privileges to Maori based purely on 'race'. The present paper examines the National Party's adoption of the rhetoric of 'race' and the conceptual, political and ideological considerations behind it. It also examines attitudinal, social policy and socioeconomic factors to explain the widespread acceptability of this rhetoric among the New Zealand public. These events are considered within the context of a growing academic and political critique of 'culturalism' in New Zealand social policy and social science.

text: ‘Indigenous Rights’ or ‘Racial Privileges’: The rhetoric of ‘race’ in New Zealand politics The New Zealand parliamentary election campaign of 2005 was marked by a significant break in the consensus between the two major political parties, Labour and National, in the area of Maori affairs: a consensus that had previously been articulated in terms of a shared commitment to 'biculturalism' and the Treaty of Waitangi. In January 2004, the National Party launched an attack on government policies, describing them as giving unfair privileges to Maori based purely on 'race'. The present paper examines the National Party's adoption of the rhetoric of 'race' and the conceptual, political and ideological considerations behind it. It also examines attitudinal, social policy and socioeconomic factors to explain the widespread acceptability of this rhetoric among the New Zealand public. These events are considered within the context of a growing academic and political critique of 'culturalism' in New Zealand social policy and social science.

year: 2008