text:
AUSTIN FRENCH
COLTON DIXON / ATLANTIC
HOPE DARST
JASMINE MURRAY
LEDGER / ATLANTIC
MICAH TYLER
SARA GROVES
SKILLET / ATLANTIC
ZAUNTEE
At age 19, Christian recording artist, Phil Wickham, was at a crossroads in his life. He had just released an independent worship record that was garnering attention, while at the same time, Wickham and some of his best friends were putting all their attention towards starting a new mainstream band. Wickham smiles as he recalls that time in his life: "We would talk about taking over the world like U2," he says with a laugh. "But the more time I invested in the band, the less peace I had. I knew deep down that God had something different for my life, but I couldn't see clearly yet what that was. I remember asking God to show me what His vision for my life was."
A few months later Wickham's prayer was answered. He and his band were about to go on stage at an outdoor music festival in the UK when a storm rolled in and they were forced to change their plans. "I don't think I've ever seen so much rain. The entire event had to move under this giant tent [the venue] had there."
Show MoreThe several thousand attendees rushed under the refuge of the tent, and the stage crew ordered Wickham to get on stage with his guitar to fill some time while they got things set up. "I began to sing some songs, but in the chaos of the moment no one was even looking in my direction."
Just as Wickham was about to walk off stage there was a loud booming sound and all the power went out. The whole place went quiet. In the darkness, with the rain pouring down outside, a song began to fill Wickham's heart. He stepped to the edge of the stage and began to sing a song he had known from his childhood. "I love You Lord, and I lift my voice…"
As Wickham began to sing it seemed as though something shifted in the atmosphere. The entire crowd joined in with him. "The roar of the voices was so loud," Wickham remembers. "I was immediately aware of the presence of God in a big way."
Nearing the last line of the song, there was another booming sound. "I am not joking, but right as we sang the word 'ear' the power came back on, and the whole place cheered. It was like something out of a movie."
For the hour that followed Wickham led a spontaneous time of worship. "As we all sang together I felt God speaking to me in a strong way. I felt His smile in that moment and heard Him saying that this is where He wanted me to be – leading people to worship Him."
And this is exactly what Wickham has done ever since, writing chart-topping hits like "This Is Amazing Grace" and "At Your Name (Yahweh Yahweh)." However, his eighth studio album might be the greatest testament to this moment to date. Set to release August 3 with Fair Trade Services, Living Hope is full of songs for the church to sing, songs inspired by the church, and songs written with others within the church—a collection that truly reflects the body of Christ.
This is largely due to a new role Wickham has taken on since the release of his last critically acclaimed album, Children of God, in 2016. Wickham is now part-time staff at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif., leading worship and writing songs for that community when he isn't on the road. In this position, he was able to approach this album from a new angle, one of service to the church.
"So many songs on the record were born out of wanting to write the language and the prayers that go along with what God is doing in the community," says Wickham. "They shifted from songs written as my own personal expression, to songs written to express the heart of my local church – to give new melodies and vocabulary that go along with what God is doing there."
One of the first tracks on the album, "Great Things," was written from this heart of service to his community. Wickham says he wanted to write a song that could be a call-to-worship during services at Harvest: "I wanted to write a song called 'Great Things,' telling of what [God] has done but also believing that as we gather together, He can do those things again."
"Though God's miracles look different today than they did when He parted the Red Sea in the Old Testament, God is still at work," says Wickham. "He moved from bringing down the walls of cities to bringing down the walls of shame and sin that are wrapped around our souls. And He's gone from silencing the mouths of lions for prophets like Daniel to silencing the voices of doubt and condemnation."
If "Great Things" was written as a call-to-worship for his community, the first single and title track on the album, "Living Hope," was written to ground his community in the story of the Gospel. Written with Bethel Music's Brian Johnson, Wickham had a clear goal for this song: "I wanted to write a song that had the truth of the Gospel in it from start to finish."
Wickham and Johnson wrote the song through text messages, sending lyrics and voice memos back and forth to each other, resulting in a true worship anthem. Released on Good Friday this year, "Living Hope" seems to have taken on a life of its own. With already a million hits on YouTube and churches and worship groups across the nation recording their own versions, "Living Hope" is well on its way to becoming a worship classic.
On the song's rapid success, Wickham says he's not sure why God chooses to breathe life into some songs like this one, "but I can say first-hand that there's something that has changed in the room every time I've led it. Something about that song shifts the atmosphere in the room and maybe it's because it is—as best we could do—the Gospel in a song."
Wickham collaborated with 18 other songwriters on Living Hope, a first for the artist who historically hasn't done much co-writing for his albums. But Living Hope called for something different. Wickham, who also worked with six producers on the album, says this collection feels more like a community project than simply his own work, which was a freeing experience.
"It's less of holding things with a tight fist and more of an open hand," he says. "That's why there are so many writers. Because I really tried to be open to anything God had for this."
Along with Brian Johnson, other co-writers and collaborators include Chris Tomlin, Mack Brock, Kristian Stanfill, and Jonas Myrin.
Wickham's pastor, Greg Laurie, even played a role in collaborating, asking him to write what would become "Revive Us Again," a song the worship team prays over their annual worship event, Harvest Crusade. Laurie even helped inspire "Till I Found You," a soulful track that displays Wickham's vocal range.
During a Wednesday night service, Laurie leaned over to Wickham and asked him to lead the congregation in a time of worship that would give people a chance to respond to the Gospel. Wickham got on stage to do what he's done countless times before, but this time was different.
As 30 or 40 people came forward, Wickham says, "I looked down and instead of seeing a crowd of people, I saw individuals right in front of me with their hands lifted and their eyes closed and tears on their faces…and I felt Jesus saying to me, Look, these people are finding a love and a life —something real that is never going to fail them."
As Wickham was writing songs to meet the needs of his church community, his community was doing the same for him. The track "Tethered" was actually a song producer Jonathan Smith had been working on with some other writers.
Wickham says, "I was telling [Smith] I was excited about this record, but there was a prayer that I'd been wanting to pray. There was a song that I wanted to sing that I didn't have the words for." As Wickham explained the song he was trying to write, Smith told him about "Tethered."
"He sang the whole chorus and I started tearing up. I didn't write that chorus, but that's what my heart wanted to say." Wickham then helped pen the verses that completed the idea of being tethered to God, unable to miss His presence:
I don't want to miss the beauty of heaven all around me Your power and Your mercy The greatness of Your love I don't want to lose the wonder of being in Your presence
This writing experience provided a unique full-circle moment for the worship artist. "Something I've heard a lot of over the years is, 'Thank you so much for giving me words.'" Now Wickham has been on the receiving end: "All my friends that write worship songs, thanks so much for giving me a prayer and words to sing."
The communal effort of this album along with Wickham's openness while writing it have resulted in a collection that is grounded and confident, clearly communicating to listeners who Wickham is as an artist, who the God is that he worships and who the church is that he serves. Living Hope almost sounds like the album Wickham has been writing all along. Since that moment on stage years ago when the sound went out and his response was to worship and lead others in doing so.
If he wasn't already there, Living Hope will cement
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Improving Cycling Performance: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Increases Time to Exhaustion in Cycling
Marcelo Vitor-Costa ,
Contributed equally to this work with: Marcelo Vitor-Costa, Nilo Massaru Okuno, Henrique Bortolotti, Leandro Ricardo Altimari
* E-mail: marcelovitordacosta@gmail.com.
Affiliations Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Group of Study and Research in Neuromuscular System and Exercise. Londrina, PR, Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa. Study Group of Physiological Responses and Adaptations to Exercise. Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil
Nilo Massaru Okuno ,
Affiliation Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa. Study Group of Physiological Responses and Adaptations to Exercise. Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil
Henrique Bortolotti ,
Maurizio Bertollo ,
¶‡ These authors also contributed equally to this work.
Affiliation Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics Center, Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
Paulo Sergio Boggio ,
Affiliation Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Felipe Fregni ,
Affiliation Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Leandro Ricardo Altimari
Affiliation Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Group of Study and Research in Neuromuscular System and Exercise. Londrina, PR, Brazil
Marcelo Vitor-Costa,
Nilo Massaru Okuno,
Henrique Bortolotti,
Maurizio Bertollo,
Paulo Sergio Boggio,
Felipe Fregni,
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Marcelo Vitor-Costa Nilo Massaru Okuno ... Leandro Ricardo Altimari
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The central nervous system seems to have an important role in fatigue and exercise tolerance. Novel noninvasive techniques of neuromodulation can provide insights on the relationship between brain function and exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on physical performance and physiological and perceptual variables with regard to fatigue and exercise tolerance. Eleven physically active subjects participated in an incremental test on a cycle simulator to define peak power output. During 3 visits, the subjects experienced 3 stimulation conditions (anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS—with an interval of at least 48 h between conditions) in a randomized, counterbalanced order to measure the effects of tDCS on time to exhaustion at 80% of peak power. Stimulation was administered before each test over 13 min at a current intensity of 2.0 mA. In each session, the Brunel Mood State questionnaire was given twice: after stimulation and after the time-to-exhaustion test. Further, during the tests, the electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles, perceived exertion, and heart rate were recorded. RM-ANOVA showed that the subjects performed better during anodal primary motor cortex stimulation (491 ± 100 s) compared with cathodal stimulation (443 ± 11 s) and sham (407 ± 69 s). No significant difference was observed between the cathodal and sham conditions. The effect sizes confirmed the greater effect of anodal M1 tDCS (anodal x cathodal = 0.47; anodal x sham = 0.77; and cathodal x sham = 0.29). Magnitude-based inference suggested the anodal condition to be positive versus the cathodal and sham conditions. There were no differences among the three stimulation conditions in RPE (p = 0.07) or heart rate (p = 0.73). However, as hypothesized, RM- ANOVA revealed a main effect of time for the two variables (RPE and HR: p < 0.001). EMG activity also did not differ during the test accross the different conditions. We conclude that anodal tDCS increases exercise tolerance in a cycling-based, constant-load exercise test, performed at 80% of peak power. Performance was enhanced in the absence of changes in physiological and perceptual variables.
Citation: Vitor-Costa M, Okuno NM, Bortolotti H, Bertollo M, Boggio PS, Fregni F, et al. (2015) Improving Cycling Performance: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Increases Time to Exhaustion in Cycling. PLoS ONE 10(12): e0144916. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144916
Editor: Andrea Antal, University Medical Center Goettingen, GERMANY
Received: April 13, 2015; Accepted: November 25, 2015; Published: December 16, 2015
Copyright: © 2015 Vitor-Costa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper and on Dryad at http://datadryad.org/review?doi=doi:10.5061/dryad.30p8j
Funding: Support was provided by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Among the many factors that influence fatigue and exercise tolerance, central nervous system related factors seem to play a signfiicant role. As early as 1890, Angelo Mosso provided preliminary evidence on the effect of cognitive activity on fatigue [1]. Recently, individuals who perform heavy cognitive tasks before physical exercise tasks have been demonstrated to tolerate less exercise and have a higher initial rating of perceived exertion (RPE) compared with exercise in a control situation [2]. Further, a separate study, that investigated the physiology of large muscles, demonstrated that fatigue is related to changes in intracortical excitability (as indexed by intracortical facilation and evidenced by the number of pull-ups [3]); thus, providing additional evidence supporting that cortical targets may play a significant role in the intensity and onset of fatigue [4].
In this context, the use of neuromodulation techniques that modulate the function of the cerebral cortex might increase our understanding of the factors that govern exercise performance. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that delivers continuous, low-intensity electrical current, causing significant changes of cortical excitability [5]. The effects of tDCS depend on the polarity that is applied—anodal stimulation enhanced cortical excitability, whereas cathodal stimulation is inhibitory [6,7].
Initial evidence has supported the implementation of tDCS in studies on fatigue, exercise tolerance, and recovery between training sessions [8,9,10]. Cogiamanian et al. [8] reported that the application of anodal tDCS to the primary motor cortex for 10 min after an exercise session increased cortical excitability and time to exhaustion in a second session of isometric elbow flexion exercise.
Nevertheless, most existing studies have used isometric exercise for a small muscle mass [9,10,11]. Only one study has used a cycling exercise, in which anodal tDCS altered parasympathetic modulation, perception of effort, and performance in an incremental exercise test to exhaustion [12]. However, this group did not measure physiological variables to determine the effects of tDCS on performance. The time-to-exhaustion test is a good introductory protocol, because it is sensitive and is recommended in the early stages of tests with new interventions that are designed to boost athletic performance [13].
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of tDCS on time to exhaustion and physiological responses during high-intensity constant-load exercise and on mood before and after exercise. Based on earlier findings, we hypothesized that: a) anodal tDCS would increase exercise tolerance (ie, time to exhaustion), irrespective of changes in heart rate and electromyographic (EMG) activity, whereas cathodal tDCS would fail to improve, or worsen, performance; and b) anodal tDCS conditions would moderate and delay the increase in RPE over time, explaining the improvement in performance.
Participants were deemed eligible using the following criteria: (1) age between 18 and 30 years; (2) males (3) no diagnosis of neurological, or psychiatric disorders; (4) no drug or alcohol abuse; (5) not enrolled in another trial involving weight training; (6) being active (practice physical activities at least three times a week for at least six months). Fifteen physical active subjects met our inclusion criteria and agreed to participate initially in the study. Two subjects dropped out for personal reasons, one subject dropped out without providing any reason, and one because he was afraid to receive the stimulation. Thus, the sample consisted of 11 male subjects aged 21–31 years (M = 26 SD = 4), see Table 1. All subjects received detailed information about the proposal of the study and the procedures, and signed the informed consent form. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the State University of Londrina (Universidade Estadual de Londrina; Permit No. 19779/2011).
PowerPoint slide
Table 1. Anthropometric characteristics and performance of the subjects studied in the incremental test (N = 11).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144916.t001
This study was a single blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study with a repeated measures design. First, the subjects were seen at the laboratory for consenting and scheduling. The order of stimulation conditions were then randomized using the following site: http://www.randomization.com. All subjects received all stimulation conditions in a counterbalanced order.
The subjects visited the laboratory four times (one pre-experimental and three experimental sessions). In the pre-experimental session, the subjects performed an incremental test to determine peak power. In the subsequent visits, all procedures were the same, except for the stimulation conditions, which were previously randomized.
First, the transmitter strap of the heart rate monitor was fixed to the subject's chest and the subject was asked to sit comfortably in a chair. The electrodes for tDCS were maintained on the subject's head with a rubber band. After the beginning of tDCS, the skin of the thigh was prepared and electrodes were placed for EMG recording. At the end of tDCS, the subjects answered a questionnaire for the assessment of mood state. Next, the subjects walked to a cycle simulator and started a standard warm-up, pedalling at 40% of peak power for 4 min, followed immediately by a test for EMG normalization. Finally, after 5 min of rest, the subjects performed a constant-load test (time to exhaustion). The subjects were asked to pedal at 60 to 90 rpm until voluntary exhaustion against a resistance corresponding to 80% of the peak power obtained in the pre-experimental test (incremental test). Feedback about cycling cadence was provided and displayed on a screen positioned in front of the subject. The criterion adopted for interruption of the test was a decrease in the required pedalling cadence without recovery for more than 5 s. Immediately after the end of exercise, the subjects again filled the mood state questionnaire.
Incremental test
For the incremental test, the subjects warmed up for 2 min at 100 W. Next, the workload was increased by 50 W at intervals of 2 min until voluntary exhaustion or inability to maintain the established minimum cadence (60 rpm) for more than 5 s. The power achieved in the last complete stage added to the product of the percent time spent in the stage of exhaustion by the standard increment (50 W) was defined as the peak power output. The position of the cycle ergometer was adjusted individually and the specifications were recorded so that it could be reproduced in the subsequent visits.
Constant-load Test
During the following three visits, the subjects performed a constant-load test in which they were asked to pedal until exhaustion at 80% of the load achieved in the incremental test. The test was interrupted due to voluntary exhaustion or when the subjects could no longer maintain the pedalling cadence (60 to 90 rpm) for more than 5 s. The Velotron Dynafit Pro™ cycle simulator (RacerMate®, Seattle, WA, USA), with a capacity of up to 1500 W, was used for all physical tests.
tDCS procedures
The electrical current was applied with a portable apparatus consisting of four main components: electrodes (anode and cathode with an area of 35 or 36 cm2), ammeter (measures the intensity of the electrical current), potentiometer (component that permits manipulation of current intensity), and three batteries (9 V) to generate the current. The electrodes were wrapped in a saline (150 mM NaCl)-soaked sponge. The equipment used was built by an electronic engineer and has been previously approved by our Local Ethics Committee.
The EEG 10–20 international system [14] was used for electrode positioning. The goal of electrode size and placement was to induce current in both left and right M1 simultaneously [15]. Both brain hemispheres were stimulated, because in the chosen exercise, the subjects cycled with both lower limbs. Therefore, the centre of one electrode (9 x 4 cm) was placed in Cz region (thus 4.5 cm of each side of the primary motor cortex). Another electrode (7 x 5 cm) was placed on the occipital protuberance. The subjects received 2-mA stimuli over a period of 13 min (see Fig 1).
Fig 1. (A) Schematic illustration of the position of the electrodes during stimulation. (B) Stimulation parameters and an example of current ramp up and ramp down at the beginning and end of tDCS.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144916.g001
Despite reports of some side effects, tDCS is considered to be a safe technique [16]. The most common side effects are tingling and itching under the electrodes. Nausea, insomnia and headache are less frequently reported. It should be noted that these side effects have also been observed in sham conditions.
Surface electromyography
A torque-velocity test was used to normalize EMG activity during the time-to-exhaustion test [17]. After warm-up in the experimental session, the subject performed an 8-s maximum sprint. The load imposed during the test was 7.5% of the body weight of each volunteer. The participants were asked to remain seated throughout the test. The EMG activity of each muscle was analysed between the second and eighth second of the sprint and the highest peak of the amplitude found, expressed as RMS, was used as the normalization factor.
EMG activity was measured continuously during the test in the three experimental sessions. Data were collected using an 8-channel EMG system (TeleMyo 2400TG2, Noraxon, Inc., USA). The sampling frequency of the electromyographic recordings was 2000 Hz. The common mode rejection ratio was ≤ 95 dB.
The following muscles were analysed: vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF). Standards of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology (ISEK) were followed for the EMG data collection. The active electrodes (TeleMyo 2400, Noraxon, Inc., USA), with an interelectrode (centre to centre) distance of 2 cm, were placed after shaving of the site, asepsis with alcohol and curettage to reduce impedance of the skin. The reference electrode was placed on the olecranon.
The electrodes were located on the muscles analysed placed according to Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM) [18] recommendations. Electrodes on the VL muscle were placed at two-thirds of the distance between the anterior superior iliac spine and lateral border of the patella. Electrodes on the RF were placed half the distance between the iliac crest and superior border of the patella.
Root mean squares (RMS) and median frequencies (mF) obtained at intervals of 5 s were the indices used to evaluate the activity of the RF and VL muscles [19]. The data were processed with the MatLab 7.0 software (MathWorks®, South Natick, MA, USA). A band pass filter from 20 to 500 Hz was used to filter raw data before analysis.
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and Mood state (BRUMS)
All subjects self-rated overall perceived exertion using the Borg scale (6–20 points) [20] every minute of the time-to-exhaustion test. The subjects followed the instructions recommended by Borg to avoid any confusion among the perception of effort, discomfort or any other unpleasant sensation.
The volunteers filled out the Brazilian version of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) immediately before and after the experimental test session [21]. The questionnaire consists of 24 items divided into six domains: confusion, anger, depression, fatigue, tension, and vigour. The data were analysed based on the scores obtained for each domain before the experimental test and were also normalized by subtracting the score obtained at the end of the test from the score obtained before the tests.
Heart rate was measured continuously during all tests with an RS800 heart rate monitor (Polar®, Oy, Finland), with beat-to-beat recordings using the Polar Precision Performance software (Oy, Finland) for subsequent analysis. Heart rate was analysed using the mean of 5 s obtained at the end of each minute of the test.
For the sample size calculation, given this was an exploratory study we used a moderate effect size. If the results were not significant that would indicate that there would be no differences between the groups or the difference would be so small that would not be relevant. As we used ANOVA as the main method of analysis, a moderate effect size would be a partial η2 = 0.06. The sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1.7 considering power of 0.80, a correlation among the measurements of 0.85, nonsphericity correction ϵ = 0.75 and as aforementioned a partial η2 of 0.6. Using these parameters, sample size calculation resulted in a sample size of 11 subjects.
The assumptions of Normality and sphericity of the data were checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test and the Mauchly test and all the data showed normal distribution and sphericity. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test were used for comparison of time to exhaustion in the constant-load test and of BRUMS scores between the different stimulation conditions. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used for analysis of EMG, HR and RPE response, using the stimulation conditions and time as main factors. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. In addition, magnitude-based inference was applied to evaluate the time to exhaustion [22]. For this purpose, the percent chance was determined that the changes, obtained by logarithmic transformation, observed after the application of anodal or cathodal tDCS had a positive, trivial or negative effect compared to sham tDCS. The probability of the effects found was analysed as follows: <1% almost certainly not positive/inconclusive/negative; 1–5% very unlikely positive/inconclusive/negative; 5–25% unlikely positive/inconclusive/negative; 25–75% possibly positive/inconclusive/negative; 75–95% likely positive/inconclusive/negative; 95–99% very likely positive/inconclusive/negative, and >99% almost certainly positive/irrelevant/negative. If the negative and positive values presented results > 10%, the inference was considered inconclusive. The spreadsheets [23] available at http://www.sportsci.org/resource/stats/index.html were used for these analyses. In addition, the effect size (Cohen d) [24] was calculated for performance in the time-to-exhaustion test and interpreted using the recommendations proposed by Hopkins (3): < 0.2 trivial; 0.2–< 0.6 small; 0.6–< 1.2 moderate; 1.2–< 2.0 large; 2.0–< 4.0 very large; 4.0 nearly perfect (http://www.sportsci.org/resource/stats). Our spreadsheet including raw data is available at the following link: http://datadryad.org/review?doi=doi:10.5061/dryad.30p8j.
The intervention was well tolerated by all subjects. Only one subject reported weak headache after anodal stimulation.
A one-way repeated measure ANOVA was conducted to compare the effect of stimulation type (anodal, cathodal and sham) on time to exhaustion. There was a significant effect of stimulation type, Wilks' Lambda = 0.33, F (2,9) = 9.14, p = 0.007. The Bonferroni corrected post hoc tests (we also performed Cohen d effect size to further evaluate the effect of our experimental intervention) found the time to exhaustion was significantly larger in subjects receiving anodal stimulation as compared to those receiving cathodal (Cohen d = 0.47, small, p = 0.020) and sham (Cohen d = 0.7, moderate, p = 0.008) stimulation (Fig 2). However, no significant difference (Cohen d = 0.29, small, p = 0.496) was observed between cathodal and sham stimulation (Fig 2). Qualitative analysis also showed a greater magnitude of change in the test for subjects receiving anodal stimulation compared to the other conditions (Fig 3).
Fig 2. Time to exhaustion under the different experimental conditions.
* Significant difference compared to the sham condition (p = 0.02); † significant difference compared to the cathodal condition (p = 0.008).
Fig 3. Percent change between the different stimulation conditions.
The qualitative inferences were: cathodal x sham = 68 beneficial/31 trivial/2 harmful; anodal x sham = 99 beneficial/1 trivial/0 harmful; anodal x cathodal = 96.1 beneficial/3.8 trivial/0.03 harmful.
Additionally, the post hoc analysis to compute achieved power on time to exhaustion results based on the parameters generated by ANOVA (partial η2 = 0.65, nonsphericity correction ϵ = 0.85) presented value equal to 1.
There were no differences among the three stimulation conditions in RPE (Wilks' Lambda = 0.55, F (2,9) = 3.730, p = 0.07) (Fig 4A) or heart rate (Wilks' Lambda = 0.92, F (2,8) = 0.328, p = 0.73) (Fig 4B). However, ANOVA revealed only a main effect of time for the two variables (RPE: Wilks' Lambda = 0.03, F (5,6) = 36.115; HR: Wilks' Lambda = 0.005, F (6,4) = 124.113, p < 0.001), as expected.
Fig 4. Subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (A) and heart rate (HR) (B) along the time-to-exhaustion test under the three experimental conditions.
Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in any of the domains of the BRUMS scales. Fig 5 shows the results of each domain of mood states: anger (Wilks' Lambda = 0.64, F (2,7) = 1.90, p = 0.218), confusion (Wilks' Lambda = 0.93, F (2,7) = 0.25, p = 0.785), depression (Wilks' Lambda = 0.73, F (2,7) = 1.25, p = 0.341), fatigue (Wilks' Lambda = 0.67, F (2,7) = 1.65, p = 0.258), tension (Wilks' Lambda = 0.63, F (2,7) = 2.00, p = 0.205), and vigour (Wilks' Lambda = 0.92, F (2,7) = 0.92, p = 0.748). Analysis of delta variation in mood states also revealed no significant differences, irrespective of the domain analysed: anger (F (2,7) = 1.55; p = 0.242), confusion (F(2,7) = 0.82; p = 0.458), depression (F(2,7) = 2.8; p = 0.09), fatigue (F (2,7) = 0.60; p = 0.561), tension (F(2,7) = 0.17; p = 0.840), and vigour (F(2,7) = 1.24; p = 0.315).
Fig 5. Mood state reported as delta value (A) and BRUMS score before exercise (B).
The peak power achieved in the torque-velocity test did not differ between conditions (anodal = 836 ± 207 W, cathodal = 864 ± 294 W, and sham = 840 ± 246 W; F = 0.215; p = 0.809). EMG activity also did not differ during the test among the different conditions (Fig 6).
Fig 6. Electromyography responses of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles during the time-to-exhaustion test.
Normalized by the values obtained in the torque-velocity test. In the time domain, the results are reported as root mean square (RMS) and in the frequency domain as median frequency (MF).
The main finding of our study is the increase of exercise tolerance in the time-to-exhaustion test after anodal tDCS, irrespective of differences in physiological variables (heart rate, EMG), consistent with our initial hypothesis. However, in contrast to our expectations, perceptual and affective variables (RPE, BRUMS) did not differ between experimental conditions.
Specifically, our results are consistent with Cogiamanian et al. [8], who reported an increase in exercise tolerance after application of anodal stimulation for upper limb isometric exercise, without alterations in EMG indices. Nonetheless, application of a cathodal current did not affect performance. Despite their similarities, these studies differed with regard to the time and configuration of the electrodes during tDCS application—parameters that can influence the changes in cortical excitability that are induced by tDCS [6,16].
In this study, the configuration of the electrodes was selected to modulate motor cortex excitability and facilitation in both hemispheres [15], because the exercise protocol involves a large muscle mass in both legs. The reference electrode in our study was not placed at Fp2 or Fp3, as in most studies. Instead, we placed it in the occipital cortex to prevent alterations in the prefrontal regions of the cerebral cortex, which are related to the perception of effort [25].
Another methodological strength of our study was our decision to fix the constant-load test at 80% of peak power in a previous incremental test. This method shows good sensitivity when the objective is to evaluate factors that alter endurance exercise performance and allows us to analyse physiological responses in a controlled manner [13]. The heart rate (Fig 4) and EMG (Fig 6) responses behaved similarly over the 3 experimental sessions, whereas exercise tolerance was higher under the anodal tDCS condition.
Similarly, to our study, in which tDCS increased the time to exhaustion, other groups demonstrated that tDCS improve performances in other tasks by enhancing muscle strength. For instance, Tanaka et al. [9] observed that anodal tDCS increases pinch force during and 30 min after stimulation in healthy subjects. Later, in patients with stroke, Tanaka et al. [10] noted improvements in knee extensor strength of the paretic leg during application of anodal tDCS, but no difference was seen after 30 min.
In contrast to our initial hypothesis, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was unaltered between experimental conditions. It is possible that the area of stimulation (Cz) does not interfere with perceptual responses. The perception of effort is related to activity in the insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, and frontal operculum. Further, an increase in RPE correlates with an increase in central motor commands (movement-related cortical potential), as measured by electroencephalography at the Cz [26]. This relationship should be interpreted with caution, because in hypnosis experiments, in which the subjects were asked to imagine themselves performing an exercise, RPE rose, regardless of motor command [27,28]. It is also possible that subjects adjusted their level of effort according to time to exhaustion.
A study on direct electric stimulation in patients who were undergoing surgery reported that when the electrical stimulus was applied to the parietal cortex, the subjects believed that they had performed movements. However, no EMG activity or movement was observed. Conversely, stimulation of the premotor cortex triggered mouth and contralateral limb movements, which the patients denied that they made [29]. These data suggest that motor commands are not necessary for the formation of movement perception or the perception of effort.
In our study, no difference in EMG responses or heart rate was observed between the 3 experimental conditions. This finding was expected, because physiological variables are well controlled in time-to-exhaustion tests, as in this study [13], in which the load was constant throughout the test and the same load was used across experimental conditions. Our results agree with those of Marcora et al. [2], who subjected participants to mental fatigue before a time-to-exhaustion test. Although exercise tolerance declined after mental fatigue, no difference in physiological variables was observed compared with the control condition.
We suggest that the mechanisms of longer exercise tolerance that is mediated by anodal tDCS are related to an increase in intracortical facilitation and motor cortex excitability [30]. Thus TDCS allows to cycle for longer periods, because intracortical facilitation correlates with total workload when doing pull-ups [3]. To this end, a facilitation system for the motor cortex during exercise until exhaustion has been proposed [31,32].
In particular, Tanaka and Watanabe [32] developed a neural circuit for the action of this facilitatory pathway. First, sensory input from the peripheral system to the primary motor cortex reduces motor output (supraspinal fatigue), and a neural pathway that interconnects the spinal cord, thalamus, secondary somatosensory cortex, medial insular cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, premotor area, supplementary motor area, and primary motor cortex constitutes the inhibition system. Then, a facilitation system increases motor output from the primary motor cortex to overcome the existing supraspinal fatigue. A re-entrant neural circuit that bridges the limbic system, basal ganglia, thalamus, orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, premotor area, supplementary motor area, and primary motor area represents the facilitation system. Motivational input to this system enhances supplementary motor area activity, and subsequently, motor cortex enhances motor output to the peripheral system.
Thus, the output (exit of information from the motor cortex to the corticospinal pathways and, consequently, motoneurons) from the primary motor cortex is regulated primarily by the balance between inhibition and facilitation, leading us to speculate that anodal tDCS at the Cz has a facilitatory effect for longer periods, increasing exercise tolerance.
Nevertheless, we agree that the balance between inhibitory and excitatory information in the primary motor cortex determines the amount of motor output and, consequently, the end of exercise. In addition, tDCS alters corticospinal excitability, and thus, the effects might not be restricted to changes in intracortical excitability but might extend, for instance, to distant areas of the motor corticospinal tract.
We cannot directly confirm that the changes in excitability and intracortical facilitation are responsible for altering the performance observed in our study. However, some authors showed that changes in excitability and intracortical facilitation are responsible for changing the performance of locomotor muscles [33, 34]. In particular, Sidhu et al. [33] reported an impairment in maximal voluntary activation after exhaustive exercise in these muscles, suggesting that fatigue can impair the neural drive for locomotor muscles.
Therefore, intracortical facilitation probably occurs when time to exhaustion increases, but further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis. Furthermore, the tDCS montage can influence other brain areas related to performance, such as parietal cortex or occipital. A more specific stimulation should be applied to investigate each area separately.
Our results suggest that anodal tDCS increases exercise tolerance in a cycling-based, constant-load exercise test, performed at 80% of peak power. Performance was enhanced in the absence of changes in physiological variables, such as heart rate and EMG, and perceptual variables, such as RPE, during the test. Moreover, anodal tDCS did not alter the profile of mood states before or after the time-to-exhaustion test versus cathodal and sham conditions. These results, if confirmed in time-trial protocols, will advance the theoretical and applied use of tDCS in improving athletic performance and its examination in future studies to better understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of exercise tolerance and fatigue.
Additional studies should be conducted to confirm our results—for instance, experiments that determine whether tDCS alters performance in pacing exercises, such as time-trial exercise, and studies that measure the effects of tDCS as recovery technique between exercise sessions. In addition, whether tDCS can be used as a tool for recovery in athletes with signs and symptoms of non-functional overreaching and overtraining should be examined. tDCS might be applied not only to cycling activities but also to tasks that require the acquisition and retention of new motor skills and to high-precision sports, such as shooting and archery.
Conceived and designed the experiments: MVC LRA. Performed the experiments: MVC NMO HB. Analyzed the data: MVC NMO HB MB. Wrote the paper: MVC NMO MB PSB FF LRA. Language review: FF.
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On February, 15th, 2011 City council of Simferopol, without having resisted charisma of the prime minister of Crimea Vasily Dzharty, has allowed to develop to Spiritual steering of Moslems of Crimea the land management project on offtake of the ground area by the area of 2,7 hectares under the Cathedral mosque. This decision have supported 71 of 72 registered deputies of the City Council.
Hosanna the premiere sing till now. And, it is necessary to notice, it is fair. For Vasily Dzharty for one and a half minute has made that Medzhlis couldn't overcome for one and a half ten years.
For the general acquaintance with a situation we will make short digression to history.
The question on building of the main cult construction of Moslems of Crimea — a cathedral mosque «Dzhuma Dzhami» — is exaggerated since 1996. All this time deputies of the Simferopol City Council conducted slow war against Spiritual steering of Moslems of Crimea, invariably refusing SMMC on all inquiries about ground area allocation under building of the Cathedral mosque, and philosophically listening to «terrible» reciprocal statements of a management of Medzhlis.
The first refusal has been given out on a site in city center — opposite to the Central market. Now on this site market «Svetofor» is located.
The second time SMMC has been refused site drive on a place of the former cinema «World». Subsequently this site has been transferred to»CrimeaAvtoGAZ» under building of «Recreation center of motorists». By this time about any Recreation center speech isn't conducted, but the site and remained behind «Autogas».
The third refusal has given out the Simferopol City Council on a site around park «Salgirka», having proved the refusal by that on this place the cemetery of German soldiers settled down. Later this site has been transferred under the Botanical garden to Taurian national university of V.I.Vernadsky.
The fourth refusal SMMC has received on the ground area on 75В, Naberejnaya Street. Now on this site the magnificent sports complex «Konsol-sports the Premium Club» is constructed.
In 2004 the Simferopol City Council has offered under building of Dzhuma Dzhami some ground areas — on a choice. In SMMC have chosen territory the area of 2,7 hectares, located on 22,Yaltinskaya Street on a roundabout line Yalta-Simferopol. The same year one of City Council sessions has authorized for engineering specifications gathering on ground area assignment in rent.
Four years later. All this time, according to SMMC, the documentation prepared and the project of the Cathedral mosque was coordinated. However, on January, 10th, 2008, when all necessary documents have been assembled, the city council has unexpectedly refused allocation of the specified ground area. To create at least visibility of validity of refusal, in April of the same year people's choices have hastily transferred a site on 22, Yaltinskaya Street under development of a park economy — forest park arrangement «Anniversary». The target mission of a site has been changed also — it have engaged in the list of the recreational earths.
In a pointed manner provocative actions of the City Council have quite naturally caused a wave of national indignation among the Muslim population of Crimea. For calm of passions deputies have offered under building of Dzhuma Dzhami other site — to the address 6, Lugovaya Street. SMMC has refused, demanding restoration of the rights to a site on 22, Yaltinskaya Street. There and then in the engaged press the mass hysteria on charge of the Crimean Tatars in obstinacy and excessive fastidiousness has begun.
Thus any of accusers hasn't taken into consideration that a site on 6, Lugovaya Street — very much and very disputable territory.
First, under this modest address there are some tens hectares of the earth. Which site from these hectares will be allocated under a mosque — in sessions it has not been precisely specified.
Secondly, on a part of this territory some years the ground glade of the protest is located. Thus, the City Council decision can be regarded, as attempt to push off foreheads of the Crimean Tatars and Spiritual steering of Moslems of Crimea, having created enmity thereby and a distemper in the people.
Thirdly, to the same address the site to the Republican rehabilitation center of children-invalids has been allocated. Mosque building on a place of a children's rehabilitation complex isn't obviously possible — neither on Islamic, nor by universal principles.
Fourthly, some years ago for this territory the project of settlement has been developed for invalids «Social village», providing building on 42 hectares of the earth of many-storeyed houses, schools, a kindergarten and church. «A habitation problem is very important, people stand on the room account since 1983-84, it for years didn't dare» — with bitterness the chairman of the Simferopol compartment «Union of the organization of invalids of Ukraine» Ivan Plohotnichenko marks. To select the earth at invalids, let even under building of the Cathedral mosque — blasphemy from the point of view of Islam. And not only Islam.
Conditions round the Cathedral mosque were heated. SMMC has addressed in court.
On May, 12th, 2010 Economic court ARC has satisfied statement of claim SMMC for allocation of a site for a mosque on 22, Yalyinskaya Street. However Office of Public Prosecutor ARK has addressed with the appeal in the Higher economic court of Ukraine.
On May, 17th, 2010, on the threshold of mourning date of the Crimean Tatar deportation people — on May, 18th, 1944 — has appeared the Decree of the President of Ukraine, containing separate position about necessity to resolve a question on building of the Cathedral mosque.
On January, 26th, 2011 the Higher economic court of Ukraine has made the decision on the case of building of the Cathedral mosque in Simferopol on 22,Yaltinskaya Street having obliged the Simferopol City Council in 10-day term to conclude with SMMC the ground area lease contract on 22, Yaltinskaya Street.
On February, 15th, 2011, the City Council of Simferopol from Vasily Dzharty's giving has given out SMMC the permission to working out of the project of land management — on it time any more for site delivery in rent, and for drive of the earth to constant using. On the one hand it is good. With another — documents have been prepared under rent. It means that all circulations on instances should be begun with zero. And it not to eat any more it is good.
If the management of Medzhlis and SMMC has insisted on strict performance of a judgement, it would be possible to spend within one and a half months coordination under already available project and to begin works on mosque building. However nobody insisted.
Actually, the City Council has made the decision contradicting the decision of court, and «fathers of the Tatar democracy» have made this decision canceling 4 years of work SMMC, with mildness of innocent persons conducted on sacrifice.
And in what, as a matter of fact, a problem? We clear up.
In the decision of deputies from 2/15/2011 it is a question not of earth allocation. Better to say, it at all the end, and again only the beginning. SMMC have allowed to develop the project, and only in the course of working out it will be found out, whether its realization on this place is possible.
If to consider that the previous coordination lasted about 4th years, it is possible to present, what is the time SMMC will spend this time. And nobody guarantees that by the time of when documents will be ready, the next structure of deputies once again won't change the mind. Or the relation of Dzharty to Medzhlis won't change. As practice shows, last argument — the most powerful.
Or not to be? That is a question!
What tendencies were opened with the above-stated epopee — at all with building, and only with place allocation under possible building of the Cathedral mosque?
First, existence in Crimea powerful lobby was unequivocally and undoubtedly showed. In turn, it means that countersteering to building of the Cathedral mosque will proceed at all possible levels. The lobby is, nobody cancelled it, hence — it will work. To lobby. To torpedo. To search for excuses. To play for time. As it is successful, as well as the last 15 years.
Secondly, the true relation of the Crimean and Ukrainian authorities to Medzhlis and its leaders was showed. The relation, frankly speaking, not all that well. Approximately, as to a watchdog. It hold on a chain, throw from time to time a peace of bread, with affection name on public a member of a family from time to time — but never will plant for a table and never will ask its opinions on a family council. At the same time from the favourite implicit submission, knowledge of commands «the Place is required!», «to a foot!», «faugh!» And «Fas!», and also a gift a slipper. In the form of the humanitarian help on arrangement of the Crimean Tatars. Though to equip the Ukrainian citizens Ukraine, instead of Turkey should. No less than to build temples.
Thirdly, absolute political incapacity of leaders of Medzhlis of M.Dzhemilev and R.Chubarov. Being People's Deputies of Ukraine (M.Dzhemilev since 1998 on the present, R.Chubarov with 1998 for 2007) which status allows to solve almost any problems, neither that, nor another haven't used the powers to help with the permission of a question of the Cathedral mosque.
Pointed refusals in a place for the Cathedral mosque simply obliged to giving of deputy inquiries or to parliamentary hearings. But isn't present. Leaders of Medzhlis haven't seen in it necessity. Apparently, such state of affairs suited them. Otherwise than still it is possible to explain such «cool» relation to powerful political tools of influence?
And can, and there is no influence? There is no authority on the deputy case of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine? There is no authority on the deputy case of the Supreme Rada of Crimea? There is nothing, except an armchair?
If to compare destiny of two temples — the Cathedral mosque and Alexander Nevsky's temple — a difference impresses. For an orthodox temple there was a place in the city center. The park part has been cut down. The memorable ensemble to defenders of the Native land is transferred. In the shortest terms the necessary documentation is assembled and coordinated. By this time temple building is in an end stage.
And 15 years aren't solved a question not that that with building — with a place for the Cathedral mosque. Whether only the Islamofobian lobby is guilty of such pitiable state of affairs? Why SMMC and a Medzhlis management so obediently agreed with refusals on the earth in city center? Why so documents painfully long prepared? Why haven't addressed for the help to the people?
Perhaps, in an Antiislamic lobby participate not only note Islamophobes, but also the people naming with Moslems and occupying high posts in a management of a representative body of the Crimean Tatar people?
Enough informed circles inform that some times possibility of reception of good sites under mosque building has been missed only because demands haven't been properly issued, and representatives SMMC and a management of a Medzhlis didn't show due persistence at sessions of sessions of the City Council, being limited to public statements in a press.
The example of a temple of Alexander Nevsky shows that it is possible to do all quickly. Especially if to consider that sponsoring this temple Sergey Kunitsyn wasn't the deputy of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine and, hence, Dzhemilev and Chubarov possessed smaller legal possibilities, rather than.
Perhaps, not constructed mosque is much more favourable to heads of Medzhlis, than operating?
Indeed! While the mosque isn't present — there is an occasion to loud statements without the subsequent sensational cases. There is an occasion to «warming up» of religious feelings of the Crimean Moslems and untwisting of interconfessional opposition. There is an occasion once again to go abroad and to be cried for the whole world for a hard lot оf the Crimean Tatar people, habitually stretching to both hands behind the next handout.
Whereas the constructed and operating mosque instantly deprives «national parents» of all these «possibilities».
The mosque costs. The service goes. People pray. All is good.
If to take a chart of Simferopol and to note on it all sites which have refused to allocate under the Cathedral mosque, we will see an interesting picture.
First, each subsequent point is further from the central part of a city, than previous. Very similar on a picture of the lost battle when the broken army departs all further and further, handing over to winners the most valuable territories.
Secondly, with each new place the Cathedral mosque all further and further kept away from inhabited files with the big concentration of the Muslim population.
If to look at a map of the city, it is possible to see that the Crimean Tatars are concentrated in a direction of Feodosiya lines: Hoshkeldi, Beloye (1-2-3-4-5), Kamenka. In the same party the big glades of the protest having every chance to become in the future by inhabited files with the prevailing Muslim population — «Strelkovaya» and «Autogas» are located.
Similar situation and in area the Nikolaev line — Dubki — marshal Zhukov where it is located populous and the greatest in Crimea Crimean Tatar glade of the protest «Dubki».
In area of 22 Yaltinskaya Street concentration of the Crimean Tatars unlike more low. Accordingly, the non-Muslim population for which building of the Cathedral mosque doesn't represent any interest prevails and causes, more likely, irritation.
If to consider that the mosque in settlements should be — whenever possible — taken away from suburbs to provide to inhabitants the maximum convenience of its visiting the arrangement of the Cathedral mosque on 22, Yaltinsjkaya Street creates the maximum INCONVENIENCES for the Simferopol Moslems. Hence, the huge mullions-strong construction time most part will be empty, being filled, at the best, only on Fridays and during religious holidays.
The above-stated facts — are obvious. The Medzhlis management was based on what other reasons, choosing a site on 22, Yaltinskaya Street?
In a city there are no free earths more? Any of glades of the protest with pleasure would agree to accept the Cathedral mosque in the territory. It would be proved from different directions: from the point of view of Islam — a considerable quantity of Moslems in a file; from the point of view of the free earth — on all glades of the protest the territory is provided; from the point of view of assistance to the people in struggle for the earth — building of the Cathedral mosque on a protest glade in times would accelerate process of legislative registration of this file.
Convenient approaches? To completeness, misters! Everyone who went on the Yalta line in the summer — will confirm absurdity of this argument. From May till October departure from a city in a Yalta direction is overloaded — and now in this stream hundreds the Moslems will be added also, aspiring to spend a Friday Mohammedan prayer in the Cathedral mosque. Why at a place choice this hasn't been considered very much and very important factor?
Why it was impossible to seize the very first site, in city center — opposite to the Central market — with the same eagerness, as well as in a site on 22, Yaltinskaya Street? Why it was impossible to organize national picket on this place, keeping it for the Cathedral mosque how it people on glades of the protest and how do it, eventually, have made on Yalta? Why didn't demand, didn't achieve, and low asked and, having been refused, submissively started to elicit other place — obviously the worst?
And, maybe, all has been considered and thought over? Perhaps, before the Crimean Tatar people and the Muslim world performance has been played, and the place under the Cathedral mosque has been defined with such calculation — as much as possible to complicate both building, and use of Dzhuma Dzhami?
How many the author rummaged in the Internet — couldn't find anywhere neither the detailed description of the project of the Cathedral mosque, nor the data about the developer of this project. On site of SMMC about the project there is no mention though SMMC acts in a role of the customer.
Why the project of the Cathedral mosque is coded? Why didn't pass neither national discussion of this project, nor competition of projects? What were conditions of the tender for project working out? What cost of working out of this project? What cost of building according to the design-budget documentation? What conditions of the tender for building?
Questions — reasonable. A cathedral mosque build on behalf of the people and for the people. Accordingly, the people should know — who and on what conditions projects, who and on what conditions builds, who and on what conditions pays building.
It is a lot of questions and under that poor data under the project which all the same managed to be found. On video the grandiose construction having of very few lines of traditional Islamic temple architecture appears at us, characteristic for Crimea — behind an exception, unless, four minarets. But the project general view very much reminds shopping center or expocenter. We will not go into details further architecture, but we will note the most important attributes of the public building which absence will essentially complicate mosque visiting for parishioners.
First, absence of parking place which is the vital attribute for the temple kept away from parishioners is evident. Everyone who visits Friday Mohammedan prayers in a mosque «Arraid» on Mokrousov's street, knows, what chains of cars are built there during the Dzhuma-Mohammedan prayer. Considering that the mosque in «Arraide» contains nearby 500 persons, and Dzhuma-Dzhami should contain a minimum in 7-8 times more — it is possible to imagine quantity of motor transport before the Cathedral mosque. Where it to put? On a two-way carriageway, and without that overloaded with a transport stream to Yalta?
Secondly, in the project there are no covered stops of public transport near to a mosque and there are no safe transitions across the road — either underground, or elevated. Usual transition-zebra of a problem of safety won't solve. 2-3 thousand persons, passing a carriageway on «zebra», will elementary block all movement. And long expectation of public transport without a roof over the head — when after the Dzhuma-Mohammedan prayer simultaneously leaves a mosque some hundreds persons — employment not from pleasant, especially in «non-flying» weather.
Thirdly, scale of the declared project of the Cathedral mosque doesn't correspond to real possibilities of Medzhlis managements, SMMC. It is necessary to notice that Islam doesn't welcome a facade. And, if many mosques became greatness and beauty symbols — that only because they were under construction and completed not one ten years, and financial possibilities of governors allowed to build fine temples, and — not on last money and not on the humanitarian help of other states.
Whether it is necessary to start building of a mullions-strong complex which will be stretched, at the best, on tens years in the absence of the money, and in the worst — and remains semiconstructed? Or the Crimean Tatars should become eternal moral debtors a Turk, constructed for them the main mosque of Crimea? And whether it is a shame to ask to make others what should become a national symbol? And Dzhuma-Dzhami if it will be constructed by the foreign sponsor becomes whose symbol of awe of the Lord of the worlds? Turkish? Arabian? Still someone's?
People relics should be created by the people… And let this relic doesn't become the eighth miracle of the world — but it will be the relic of the Crimean Tatars erected by the Crimean Tatar people in glory Supreme.
Really we so have left from the Allah what we can not construct a temple? Or we were convinced of it by «fathers of the nation», used the best efforts that the Crimean Tatars have lost a self-confidence and the forces?
For what mosques are under construction? For worship the Allah. An example to they be tens mosques on protest glades. Round these mosques there is no noise. About them don't write in newspapers, don't remove plots of the program of news. Those people who live around know about their building only. People who build these small temples. People who pray in them to the Creator.
In it sense of a mosque. In worship. The person, the Lord, a place for prayers. Anything else. The higher forces participate in creation of such mosques. Therefore they don't need neither the documentation, nor in a semi-official organ, in a sensation. They simply are under construction also people come to them to pray simply.
All the rest round mosques that doesn't concern worship — from crafty.
From it — fussy searches of «the best place» as though for the Lord there are «the best» and «worst» places. From it — humiliation before demonstrative islamophobian decisions the power as though there is a power above the power Supreme. From it — procrastination of building of the Cathedral mosque under any far-fetched pretexts as though for the Allah matters, whether is at a temple the pieces of paper-documents thought up by people.
Therefore the Cathedral mosque that isn't enough in this process of worship and too much policy isn't under construction. For this reason Dzhuma-Dzhami still very much and very long won't be constructed. There will be reasons. Also has put here — at all in a mosque, as that. Business in the people who have incurred responsibility for its building.
Unless can build a mosque the person who is not observing instructions of the Allah? Unless the people who are not making Mohammedan prayers, using forbidden and making the forbidden can feel sincerely about a Muslim temple? Unless the figures very often sitting with Christian and Judaic priests, but never visiting Islamic mudzhtahida, ulems and sheikhs can advance business of Islam?
The temple erected for worship, is under the protection of Supreme. The people using building of a temple for political gamble, execute will of a devil.
To each person the Lord has put a principle of distinction of good and harm in soul. Therefore doing harm knows that it does harm. Also it is its realized choice. The person — a unique being on the earth to which the Founder grants the right to choose meaningly. It is the highest blessing. And same — the higher penalty. Its choice becomes what exactly for the person — everyone solves itself. In it wisdom of the Allah. In it love of the Founder to the creation.
Dzhuma-Dzhami is necessary. To all Moslems of Crimea. Therefore it will be constructed.


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The Community Justice (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Parliament on 7 May 2015.
Read the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill and accompanying documents
As set out in the Policy Memorandum, the aim of the Bill is "to help create a stronger community justice system based on local collaborative strategic planning and delivery, with national leadership, support and assurance". The Bill therefore abolishes the eight existing regional community justice authorities and creates a new model for community justice services. These proposals follow reports published in 2012 by the Commission on Women Offenders and by Audit Scotland which highlighted concerns about the current model for community justice, and two subsequent Scottish Government consultations which identified support for introduction of a new model.
The Committee issued a call for written evidence on 19 May 2015. The closing date for submissions was Wednesday 12 August 2015.
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Read the Justice Committee 18th Report 2015 (Session 4): Stage 1 Report on the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill
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Consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 concluded with the debate in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2015.
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Letter from the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs to the Convener (4 February 2016) (414KB pdf)
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As millennials continue to bore into the real estate market, renting has become the mainstay of the younger generation. Inability to save and lack of a strong credit history are key contributors to homeownership rates dropping. If this trend continues the next Generation, Z, will be absolutely forced into renting.
RentCafe recently released an incredibly detailed study indicating that Generation Z will pay over $102,000 in rent by the time they hit age 30. This is based on millennials spending approximately 45% of their income on rent, which averages out to $92,600 by the time they hit 30. Compare this to Baby Boomers who paid approximately $66,900 in rent before turning 30.
Rent burdens have been the hardest on younger Millennials, aged 22-29, with 47%. Older Millennials clock in at 44%. With a substantial amount of income dedicated to renting, Millennials will not be afforded the luxury of owning a home easily.
Furthermore, Millennials earn and pay more in rent than both Generation X, and Baby Boomers. The income difference ranges from $4,500 to $10,900 while the rent difference ranges from $10,400 to $21,600.
Without a drastic shift in the real estate market, it will become more and more difficult for Millennials and subsequent generations to make the leap from renting to home ownership.


Multi-platinum-selling rock band ALICE IN CHAINS has debuted the video for new hit single "Lesson Learned" on Yahoo! Music. Conceived and directed by Paul Matthaeus, known for his groundbreaking main titles on the award-winning HBO series "Six Feet Under" and "True Blood", and produced with Bobby Hougham and Sevrin Daniels of Blank Design, the video is comprised of over 6,000 still pictures stitched together to create a visually stunning stop-frame animated clip.
Using physical lacerations as a metaphor for lessons learned, the video sees a young man and woman plummet through a derelict industrial building. Tattered clothes dissolve off, revealing wounds that symbolize emotional learning. The video was shot entirely as a stop–frame animation, but with live actors on set. The clip can be seen below.
Following the Grammy-nominated smash "Check My Brain" and second single "Your Decision", "Lesson Learned" is the third consecutive top five single to be released from ALICE IN CHAINS' gold-certified new album "Black Gives Way To Blue" (Virgin/EMI). It's also the 13th top ten hit of the band's illustrious career.
The "Lesson Learned" video follows the recently released "Acid Bubble" clip, an interactive video produced by Spy Films and director Nick Goso in which users manipulate their perspective and experience 360-degree environments.
ALICE IN CHAINS (guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, guitarist/vocalist William DuVall, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez) have spent the past year performing a string of sold out headlining tours around the world in support of "Black Gives Way To Blue". Fueled by lead single "Check My Brain", which rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Rock Songs Chart, "Black Gives Way To Blue" entered Billboard's Top 200 at No. 5. They maintained momentum with follow-up hit "Your Decision", which also shot straight to No. 1.
ALICE IN CHAINS is currently headlining BlackDiamondSkye, a monolithic triple bill featuring special guests DEFTONES and MASTODON.


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Teppo Kesäläinen (born 15 February 1942) is a Finnish rower. He competed in the men's coxed four event at the 1964 Summer Olympics.

References

1942 births
Living people
Finnish male rowers
Olympic rowers of Finland
Rowers at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Sportspeople from Pori

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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By: veritumsandus 21 Jun 2017 21 Jun 2017
Bureau of the Treasury, Central People's Government, Citizens' Party of Sandus, CivBanca, Collegium Sacerdotum, Commission for the Command Economy, Cooperatives, National News, News, Nobility, Office of the Sôgmô, Royal News
Solstice Report: We shall never let up!
This past season has proven to be further evidence and testament of Sandum perseverance and of the persistance of the Sandum spirit. Sandus, its state, and its nation have continued collectively through the most difficult periods yet in some of our citizens' lives. Three Sandum citizens, in the highest positions of authority and power in Sandus, either completed a thesis or a degree, and one both, in their respective fields. Others returned to higher education, while some others grappled with significant personal decisions. The contemporary world has proven to be erratic, with much stress and anxiety about its future. But, one thing is clear: Sandus, under our current government, is here to stay.
Despite tremendous personal work, Sandum citizens have remained committed to Sandum culture and the ideals of the Sandum Philosophy. Today, we are even more aware of the suffering of all people—Sandum citizen or not. The risk for failure and for crisis is all the more greater, both personally and nationally, but Sandus has shown it can and will succeed. This quarter is further historical proof of the persistance and endurance of our courage and strong will.
Tremendous work has been completed in this past quarter, and the prospects are all the more promising for the next quarter. Significant changes to the Sandum economy have been completed; new Sandum workers are preparing for their work; the Philia Plan for the Major Societal Shift has been accomplished; and, the Council and the Party are courageously forging new paths of development and the Sôgmô is at þess post.
Charity Taxes: Above Average, but Trends continue
Charity taxes over the past Spring season have increased since the Winter season, and this past season has come close to breaking records and was the fourth most charitable season in terms of donations. $604.16 USD were donated to charity in the Spring season of 2017, up slightly from the $395 given to charity last season in Winter 2017. The amount, however, is less than half of the most money ever donated in Sandus in Summer 2016, when Sandus donated more than $1,000 to charity.
When compared to hours volunteered, Sandum citizens volunteered more than 99 hours for philanthropic causes, the highest in recent years. These causes included working for animal shelters, mentoring and tutoring, working on service projects, and helping others in dire straights and mental crises.
Trends related to charity taxes have continued to show that taxes are slightly up. The average charity taxes for each season so far is $273.14, meaning that the State of Sandus has donated more money ($136.02) in the past season than the average. Charity taxes, we suspect, will continue to rise because of a few factors. First, there are more Sandum citizens than when Sandus started doing charity taxes, and there are more than twice as many citizens from when Sandus suffered its citizenship crisis in 2013. Second, Sandum citizens are more increasingly more prosperous and are working more hours and more jobs, while their wages are increasing with their age. In terms of volunteer work, however, there have been no significant changes.
The First Annual Sandum Budget: an optimistic forecast
The national budget, the second to be proposed by the Sôgmô, has been approved by the Commission for the Command Economy (CCE). The budget proposes that the State of Sandus spend $1,050 USD in "hard" expenses falling into four categories: website upkeep, salaries for Sandum workers, cooperatives' expenses, and cultural expenses for holidays. Hard expenses include those for which economic activity is planned, while "soft" expenses—a planned budget of $950—are for reserved funds. Soft expenses include a Special Philia fund for cultural development, a Matter Realist fund for material production, a Trans*ition fund for trans* people's transitions, a Health Reimbursement fund to help cover healthcare costs, and a flexible spending account.
Most planned revenue will be from voluntary taxes, with the Sôgmô's personal contributions covering the hard expenses with monthly contributions of $90 USD per month. Approximately another $400 in individual voluntary taxes will cover soft expenses, while a final approximate revenue of $100 might come from cooperatives' profits.
The First Salaries are Deposited
By now, the first annual salaries have been deposited in CivBanca by the Bureau of the Treasury. 88¶c in total was deposited in five citizens' accounts based on their work appointments in Sandus's cooperatives. Of those five, the average Sandum worker has 2-3 appointments, while most Sandum citizens do not work in Sandum cooperatives at all. In the future, these salaries will be able to be redeemed for goods and services in and outside of Sandus through a conversion system to be set up by the Commission for the Command Economy. The Central People's Government hopes, as well, to push citizens to join at least one cooperative as a worker.
Sôgmô's Constitutional Project
Work has started in earnest on the Sôgmô's Constitutional Project, a project envisioned by the 2016 Philia Plan for the Major Societal Shift. The project is meant to develop a coherent, comprehensive view of Sandus's constitution and all its component parts and to educate citizens on the constitution of the State of Sandus. This project will be completed in the future through a complex virtual model describing Sandus's constitution and a variety of other infographics and visual media. The first part of this project will come on 24 June when the Sôgmô presents þess lecture on the Sandum constitution at MicroCon in Atlanta, GA, USA.
A New Capital for Sandus:
With the Sôgmô's move in August, concerns are being raised about how Sandus will respond to þess departure and living permanently away from Kremlum Sandus Province. How will Sandus cope with the Sôgmô's departure?
The location of the seat of power will have to change, that is certain, and it will follow það to the peninsula of Michigan. We can perhaps find precedent in the monarchical history of Europe, where the seat of power was located wherever the king was. This is compelling, and, since the Gradient Sovereign Condominium Theory proposes that Sandum sovereignty is wherever an individual citizen is, the State of Sandus will already follow the Sôgmô. In some way, the theory makes this a nonissue. But the key, perhaps, to the Sôgmô's location of power and capital should be the placement of the Sandum pignae d'esti.
The pignae d'esti (the name was never officially translated into Latin) contain the Sôgmô's Dharmachakra on þess altar, the statue of Holy Athena the Mother, and the so-called "Pavorio pigno"—the vase of our national colours filled to the brim with peacock feathers. To these should be added the national tricolour and the Books of the Armilustrium, the compilation of all the books washed in Armilustrium ceremonies. Finally, future pignae should be developed to meet future circumstances and to encompass future citizens and all citizens' experiences, as well. In the future, perhaps a specific work-group in the Collegium Sacerdotum should be developed to maintain the pignae and to develop even more ones.
Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus & the new Nobility
Medals for recipients of the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus will hopefully arrive in time to be given at MicroCon. If not, they will be sent by mail at a later date. This will include medals for Olivia-Eugenie and Jean Pierre of Aigues-Mortes and Dominic DeSaintes-Bellemare, as well as a couple extra medals which can be kept or given at the convention.
In addition, in May, the Sôgmô awarded Sandus's first knighthood to Charles Edward Wright, of Indian Head, Maryland, who is þess former coworker and supervisor. The knighthood is the first grant in the Sandum Table of Noble Ranks, though more are planned for the future. In addition, in the coming months, the Sôgmô will collectively grant all members of the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus the status of "gentleperson" in the Sandum system of nobility.
Finally, the Sôgmô is considering establishing more medals and decorations in the future, but such decision shall be taken with much gravity and with the advice of the þess advisers and counsellors.
CCE approves the Sôgmô's proposal, new economic powers
Sôgmô presents on the Sandum Constitution at MicroCon 2017


After a relatively long absence from South Korea's fast-paced music scene (half a year seems like forever in K-pop years), the boys of iKON are back on their home turf with a sophomore album.
The 12-track collection – aptly titled Return – is a homecoming of sorts for the group that has been busy promoting its music in neighbouring Japan.
Leading off with the summery Love Scenario, the record is sonically different from the get go. The loud and aggressive sound of past hits such as Dumb & Dumber and Rhythm Ta are tapered down on this offering.
What listeners get, instead, are toned down pop pieces with some hip-hop and soft rock stylings.
The feathery pop sound of Everything and Love Me are meek next to what contemporaries such as EXO and BTS have released in recent times.
Elsewhere, the melodic Jerk and reflective Hug Me bring to mind great B-sides from sunbae (Korean honorific term for experienced peers) labelmates like BigBang and Epik High.
That comparison could be attributed to the fact that YG's heavyweights such as BigBang's Taeyang, Epik High's Tablo and PSY are some of the songwriters on Return.
While the new musical direction adds another dimension to iKON's artistry, one can't help but long for its grittier front.
Fortunately, the group's rappers B.I. and Bobby step up with scintillating verses on some tracks.
One And Only – the solo track from leader B.I. – is an in-your-face song that oozes much confidence.
Meanwhile, the EDM-laced Sinosijak features some brash and club-ready beats.
The boys of iKON certainly have much to catch up on after their hiatus. But as far as brazen rap verses go, the group is still one of K-pop's best.
'Return' is a decent homecoming for iKON.