Your first step is to decide if you are looking to improve your performance. Your second step is to decide what areas of your performance you are looking for improvement in.

Are you looking for improvement in concentration, increased mental performance and something that will support you to avoid burn out and fatigue?

In this article in the series we’ll discuss adaptogens. These are the nootropics which would have little effect when taken on their own, or only have an effect when your body produces stress hormones (they help you “adapt” hence the name). These only show their benefit in demanding environments (like competitions and LANs), and are there to produce a “calm under pressure” result. The term adaptogens is given to natural metabolic regulators which increase the body’s resistance to a range of stresses, normalizing the effect these stresses have on the body without inducing side effects to disturb the natural functioning of the body.  Thus an adaptogen would allow the body to adapt to and avoid damage from a stress such as a bacterial infection or emotional pressure.

One of Vincto’s ingredients is Rhodiola rosea, is a widely accepted adaptogen.   Rhodiola rosea was shown to alleviate mental fatigue and improve general well-being in 17-19 year old students during an exam period. (1)  In another of 24 – 25 year old doctors showed reduced fatigue after night duty with no adverse affects. (2)

Vincto has been designed to provide you with this support which can be obtained from natural products which will help you to cope with the intense periods of concentration and stress encountered while gaming while maintaining optimum mental dexterity.  In addition to Rhodiola rosea the other natural ingredients work in harmony to support and enhance your performance.

1.  Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue–a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71.

2. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work.  Shevtsov, V. A., B. I. Zholus, V. I. Shervarly, V. B. Vol’skij, Y. P. Korovin, M. P. Khristich, N. A. Roslyakova, and G. Wikman.  Phytomedicine 10, no. 2-3 (2003): 95-105.

This is an annual meteor shower that lasts only one week and peaks around 21st October. The meteors or “shooting stars” appear to come from the constellation of Orion. What is your chance of seeing one? Who knows? There could be only 20 an hour or you could be in for a firework display of more than one a minute.

There are many excellent sites to get more information. Here are a couple I liked:

http://www.meteorblog.com/
http://www.chiff.com/science/orionids.htm

Thanks to Dr. Ashford for the link: http://memtrax.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/do-gamers-have-faster-brains/

It has to be noted that four gamers were dropped from the results because they became distracted.  Gamers will certainly feel a tug of sympathy for them.  It takes practice and dedication to focus for extended periods, it is tough.  Vincto is there to provide the crucial additional support that will give you that sharper response time that you are looking for and to keep up your focus.

But what about the four gamers in the above study who were distracted?

What do you think distracted them from their game?

What would distract you from your game?

Disclaimer: Nagling makes big downloads go faster, these speed hacks will reduce the speed you torrent pr0n at.

Do a pingtest to benchmark what you currently have, I use http://pingtest.net/.

You’ll need Regedit to carry out these speed hacks WIN+R type regedit and hit enter. If you are too scared to use regedit and extremely likely to destroy your PC, then go and get a man to do it for you.

Step 1:

First the famous TcpAckFrequency hack. Lookup the following key:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip
\Parameters\Interfaces\(NIC-id)

People often get confused at this point trying to determine which interface you need to change (I have 7 listed). Click on each on until you see the one that lists your IP address, DHCP server, domain name and other parameters you know flag your live adapter.

Right-click in this folder and make an DWORD called TcpAckFrequency and set it to 1. You can turn nagling back on by setting it to 2 or deleting the key.

Step 2:

Next give MSMessageQueue a kick. This is another place to disable nagling:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSMQ\Parameters

You should see a DWORD called TCPNoDelay there, if there isn’t right-click and make one and set it to 1. This disables nagling, setting it to 0 (or deleting the key) enables it.

Step 3:

Now take off TCP window autoscaling – you don’t need it for games.

From the command prompt:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

You can reverse this at a later date should you wish with this command:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=experimental

Close regedit, reboot, now go back and test your ping again. Tell me if you are not happier now.

And now a word from our sponsors: Vincto will improve your performance more than TcpAckFrequency. Think of it as reducing the ping between your eye, your brain and your hand. Thank you for your time.

Esports do not involve the same amount of physical activity as something like marathon running, but the endurance and the energy levels needed to keep up the hours of gaming put in by serious gamers are comparable. As the gamer sees his performance improving and perhaps compares his ability to the many astounding professional gamers, the challenge to tap all available resources to boost concentration and develop stronger alertness increases.

Training increases reaction times and accuracy not only for gamers but even for professionals such as airline pilots (1) when decisions have to be made with split-second accuracy. Top gamers can train for eight hours or more per day, honing their skills and tactics, both as a single player or with their team, therefore time and dedication are required to see improvements. Training has to be achieved without excessive fatigue for if fatigue sets in and with it will come a drop in accuracy and precision (2). Dedicated gamers push the human visual system to the limits, improving visual processing (3). As well as these improvements in visual perceptions, gamers enhance their performance in a wide variety of tasks (4). Gamers are better quick-fire decision makers and presented with both audio and visual tests are better than non-gamers at simple choice-making tasks. The very act of playing video games significantly reduces action times without sacrificing accuracy.

Whether a professional gamer, a newcomer or self-confessed addict, all gamers want to game at the maximum, the limit. The downsides of extended gaming are fatigue and exhaustion of energy levels. This can be offset by maintaining peak fitness levels, ensuring a healthy diet and keeping well hydrated (5).

Gamers need to be able to play keeping fatigue at bay while keeping their reaction times low and maintaining their precision. The effects of fatigue must be combated without dulling of reaction times or lowering of concentration. It is wiser to perk up with guarana and avoiding coffee and caffeine which can lead to wild fluctuations in energy levels.

A common complaint of a “sugar crash” after consuming energy drinks containing highly refined sugars which after a transitory boost leave them washed out. Many prefer a supplement like Vincto that contains no sugar, leaving the individual in control of personal dietary and calorie constraints.

Cognitive enhancers can be the answer to reach further in the quest for playing to your maximum capacity, ginseng has been shown to elicit cognitive improvements in young adults (6) and a mixture of ginseng and ginkgo biloba has been found to improve memory in healthy adults (7). These two herbs have been found to work synergistically – having more value when taken together than if used separately. Vincto has been specially designed to meet the needs of gamers and contains specially selected cognitive enhancers designed to meet the special requirements of gamers and to support them in their quest for maximal performance.

References:

1. Rate of Information Processing and reaction time of Aircraft Pilots and Non-Pilots, SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 2002, 28(2), 67-76)

2. CNS arousal and neurobehavioral performance in a short-term sleep restriction paradigm. Journal of Sleep Research 18(3): 291-303.) Cote, K. A., C. E. Milner, B. A. Smith, A. J. Aubin, T. A. Greason, B. P. Cuthbert, S. Wiebe, and S. E. G. Duffus. 2009

3. Gaming the Brain – Nature 467, 254-255 (15 September 2010)

4. Increasing speed of processing with action video games. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(6). 321-326 Dye, M.W.G., Green, C.S., & Bavelier, D. (2009, December)

5. Impaired cognitive function and mental performance in mild dehydration, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003) 57, Suppl 2, S24–S29, M-M G Wilson and J E Morley

6. Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity. J Psychopharmacol, July 2005; vol. 19, 4: pp. 357-365., Jonathon L. Reay, David O. Kennedy and Andrew B. Scholey.

7. Wesnes K, Ward T, McGinty A, et al. The memory enhancing effects of a Ginkgo biloba/Panax ginseng combination in healthy middle-aged volunteers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2000 Nov:152 (4):353-61.

A planet which could possibly support human life would need an atmosphere with breathable air, comfortable gravity and a temperature that would be tolerable.  The challenge has been to find such a planet circling one of the hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy.

A team from the University of California (UC) Santo Cruz and the Carnegie Institution of Washington has recently announced the discovery of a planet, Gliese 581g, that could meet these criteria.  The new findings are based on 12 years of observations of the red dwarf Gliese 581 located in the constellation Libra.

However, it would be life but not as we know it – half of the planet staying in perpetual darkness and the other half bathing in a perpetual life probably too hot for comfort – but between these two extremes the possibility of a habitable zone remains.

How close is it? Just 20 light years away from Earth. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/gliese_581_feature.html

Phosphatidylserine (commonly abbreviated to PS) is a phopholipid, consisting of a serine molecule attached to fatty acids. Phosphatidylserine occurs naturally in meat, eggs, dairy products and vegetables. It is found in highest concentrations in the offal of cows, pigs, chickens and in mackerel, herring, and eels. Only small amounts are found in dairy products and vegetables.

Before the 1990s, phosphatidylserine supplements were derived from bovine (cow) brain. In the scientific literature this product is referred to as brain phosphatidylserine or bovine cortex phosphatidylserine (BC-PS). Due to fears over bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, BC-PS is no longer used. Phosphatidylserine supplements are now derived from soy. Soy-derived PS is referred to in the scientific literature as S-PS.

It goes without saying that VINCTO uses phosphatidylserine derived from the soy plant.

The literature on bovine cortex phosphatidylserine is extensive, whereas the literature on soy-derived phosphatidylserine is small and relatively new. However, the soy and bovine phosphatidylserine products differ chemically. Because of the chemical differences between them, as well as the differences between potential animal and plant contaminants, the results of scientific studies using BC-PS are not directly transferable to soy-derived PS. Many popular websites claim benefits for S-PS by referring to experiments that used BC-PS. This is inaccurate. The article below refers only to experiments using soy-derived phosphatidylserine.

Physiological Function

According to scientific studies, PS is an important component of normal cell membranes. PS is involved in the cholinergic system and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. It also plays a role in the immune system.

Cognitive Effects

Scientific studies suggest that soy-derived phospholipids may enhance the effects of Ginkgo biloba on memory.

In a 2007 UK double-blind crossover study, 28 healthy young volunteers received Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) 120mg alone, GBE complexed with PS, GBE complexed with phosphatidylcholine (PCh), and placebo, separated by 7 days. Administration of GBE complexed with phosphatidylserine resulted both in improved secondary memory performance and significantly increased speed of memory task performance across all of the post-dose testing sessions (up to 6h after dose), whereas GBE on its own was not associated with markedly improved performance, and GBE with PCh produced a modest improvement. The authors conclude: “Complexation with phosphatidylserine appears to potentiate the cognitive effects associated with a low dose of GBE. Further research is required to identify whether this effect is due to the complexation of the extracts, their mere combination, or the separate psychopharmacological actions of the two extracts.”

Kennedy, D. O., et al. (2007), ‘Acute cognitive effects of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract complexed with phosphatidylserine’, Human Psychopharmacology, (4), 199-210.

Scientific studies suggest that soy-derived PS may reduce stress responses to emotional and mental stressors by reducing levels of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol.

In a recent study in Germany, EEG recordings were taken in 16 healthy subjects at baseline and immediately after stress induced by cognitive tasks. EEG was recorded at 17 electrode positions and fast Fourier transforms (FFT) determined power at Theta, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1 and Beta-2. Supplementation with PS (no dose given; source must be plant-derived, given the date) for 42 days, resulted in significantly decreased Beta-1 power in right hemispheric frontal brain regions (P < 0.05) in healthy subjects before and after induced stress. Treated subjects were more relaxed than control subjects.

Baumeister, J., et al. (2008), ‘Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stress’, Nutritional neuroscience, (3), 103-10.

A study in the Netherlands examined the effects of supplementation with a complex of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and PS. 4 groups of 20 subjects received 400, 600, or 800mg/day supplementation, or placebo, for 3 weeks, followed by the Trier Social Stress Test (a mental and emotional stressor). 400mg supplementation (but not higher doses) blunted serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, blunted salivary cortisol responses to the test, and exerted a positive effect on emotional responses to the test. The placebo group showed increased distress after the test, whereas the group treated with 400 mg supplement showed decreased distress.

Hellhammer, J., et al. (2004), ‘Effects of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) on the endocrine and psychological responses to mental stress’, Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands), (2), 119-26.

Adverse Effects and Contraindications

According to clinical trials, S-PS seems safe and well tolerated even at very high doses (such as 600mg/day for 12 weeks).

VINCTO contains a safe low dose of S-PS.

WARNING. Scientific studies suggest that phosphatidylserine may enhance the effect of heparin – therefore people taking anticoagulant drugs should consult their doctor first before taking VINCTO or any other product containing phosphatidylserine.

These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Indigenous people have exploited exposed mammoth tusks for jewellery but as the rate of the melting of the permafrost has increased in recent years so has the trade in ivory from these tusks that can measure up to 16 foot long.  Russia exports 60 tonnes of mammoth ivory a year to China which is the biggest market for ivory.

The new source of ivory is welcomed by some and viewed with caution by others.  The WWF warns that the worldwide trade in illegal elephant ivory has been increasing since 2004 and jumped dramatically in 2009.  Some commentators feel that the mammoth ivory could staunch the flow of the illegal elephant ivory and yet others see it as a convenient shield to protect and dissimulate the illegal ivory.

Still others question the desire, in this age of technology, to possess a bauble crafted from the bones of another creature.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8026187/Russia-digs-up-woolly-mammoth-remains-for-guilt-free-ivory.html

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/ancient-find-poses-threat-to-elephants/story-e6frg6so-1225929672703

Canterbury University associate professor Jim Briskie believes the country’s native birds may not have learnt to mask their smells like their continental counterparts, making them an easy target for predators.

Briskie believes that if odour is a problem for these birds he may be able to design a deodorant that would be effective in protecting them.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4162691/Native-bird-smells-may-lure-predators

Rhodiola rosea is a plant in the Crassulaceae family that lives at high altitudes in Europe, Asia, and the Indian Himalayas. Also known as ‘golden root’, ‘roseroot’, or ‘Aaron’s rod’. Rhodiola rosea is considered an ‘adaptogen’ in complementary medicine. According to popular websites and articles, it is used in traditional medicine in Scandanavia, Russia, Mongolia, Eastern Europe, and Asia to stimulate the nervous system, enhance physical and mental performance, treat fatigue, anxiety and depression, and in Chinese medicine it is used for anti-ageing, anti-cancer, anti-oxidative stress.

Active Compounds

A recent study shows that the root extract of Rhodiola rosea contains 17 chemical compounds, belonging to the phenylalkanoids and monoterpene analogues. Biologically active substances include the glycosides salidroside (a phenylpropanoid glycoside), rosavin, rosin, rosarin, rosiridin, the phenols tyrosol and hydroquinone. Many of the clinical trials on Rhodiola rosea used a standardized root extract called SHR-5 (produced by Swedish Herbal Institute).

Physiological Function

Scientific studies in vitro have shown that compounds in Rhodiola rosea extract inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Scientific studies in vitro have also shown that Rhodiola rosea has potent antioxidant activity.

Cognitive Effects

Scientific studies suggest that Rhodiola rosea may alleviate the effects of stress and fatigue

In a double-blind study, students taking Rhodiola rosea (undisclosed dosage) for 20 days during exams showed improved physical fitness, mental fatigue and neuromotor tests. “The most significant improvement in the SHR-5 group was seen in physical fitness, mental fatigue and neuro-motoric tests (p <0.01)."

Spasov, A. A., G. K. Wikman, V. B. Mandrikov, I. A. Mironova, and V. V. Neumoin. ‘A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen.’ Phytomedicine 7, no. 2 (2000): 85-89.

In a double-blind study, administration of a single dose of either 370mg (n=41) or 555mg (n=20) Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 dry extract produced a significant antifatigue effect (measured by cognitive tests) in healthy young male cadets. “The study showed a pronounced antifatigue effect reflected in an antifatigue index defined as a ratio called AFI. The verum [drug] groups had AFI mean values of 1.0385 and 1.0195, 2 and 3 capsules respectively, whilst the figure for the placebo group was 0.9046. This was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) for both doses (verum groups), whilst no significant difference between the two dosage groups was observed. There was a possible trend in favour of the lower dose in the psychometric tests."

Shevtsov, V. A., B. I. Zholus, V. I. Shervarly, V. B. Vol’skij, Y. P. Korovin, M. P. Khristich, N. A. Roslyakova, and G. Wikman. ‘A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work.’ Phytomedicine 10, no. 2-3 (2003): 95-105.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of patients with fatigue syndrome, treatment with Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 at 576mg/day for 28 days reduced cortisol response and reduced fatigue, improving the ability to concentrate. The authors conclude “When the two groups were compared, however, significant effects of the SHR-5 extract in comparison with the placebo were observed in Pines’ burnout scale and the CCPT II [Conners' computerised continuous performance test II] indices omissions, Hit RT SE, and variability. Pre-versus post-treatment cortisol responses to awakening stress were significantly different in the treatment group compared with the control group. It is concluded that repeated administration of R. rosea extract SHR-5 exerts an anti-fatigue effect that increases mental performance, particularly the ability to concentrate, and decreases cortisol response to awakening stress in burnout patients with fatigue syndrome.”

Olsson, E. M. G., B. von Scheele, and A. G. Panossian. ‘A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study of the Standardised Extract SHR-5 of the Roots of Rhodiola rosea in the Treatment of Subjects with Stress-Related Fatigue.’ Planta Medica 75, no. 2 (2009): 105-112.

In a double-blind crossover study, 56 young healthy physicians on night duty took standardized SHR-5 extract (dose undisclosed in abstract) daily for 2 weeks with statistically significant improvement in test scores of perceptive and cognitive function. The authors conclude “The effect was measured as total mental performance calculated as Fatigue Index. The tests chosen reflect an overall level of mental fatigue, involving complex perceptive and cognitive cerebral functions, such as associative thinking, short-term memory, calculation and ability of concentration, and speed of audio-visual perception. These parameters were tested before and after night duty during three periods of two weeks each: a) a test period of one RRE [rhizome Rhodiola rosea extract]/placebo tablet daily, b) a washout period and c) a third period of one placebo/RRE tablet daily, in a double-blind cross-over trial. The perceptive and cognitive cerebral functions mentioned above were investigated using 5 different tests. A statistically significant improvement in these tests was observed in the treatment group (RRE) during the first two weeks period. No side-effects were reported for either treatment noted. These results suggest that RRE can reduce general fatigue under certain stressful conditions.”

Darbinyan, V., A. Kteyan, A. Panossian, E. Gabrielian, G. Wikman, and H. Wagner. ‘Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue – A double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty.’ Phytomedicine 7, no. 5 (2000): 365-371.

Clinical studies on patients with depression or anxiety suggest that Rhodiola rosea may improve these symptoms. NOTE: We could not find any studies conducted on healthy people to assess mood effects and the studies below are included for background information research purposes on this ingredient. VINCTO is not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III clinical trial, adults with mild to moderate depression received Rhodiola rosea extract SHR-5 340mg/day (n=31), SHR-5 680mg/day (n=29) or placebo for 6 weeks. Overall depression, together with insomnia, emotional instability and somatization, but not self-esteem, improved significantly from baseline tests following medication, whereas placebo group did not. The authors conclude “It is concluded that the standardized extract SHR-5 shows anti-depressive potency in patients with mild to moderate depression when administered in dosages of either 340 or 680 mg/day over a 6-week period.”

Darbinyan, V., G. Aslanyan, E. Amroyan, E. Gabrielyan, C. Malmstrom, and A. Panossian. ‘Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.’ Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 61, no. 5 (2007): 343-348.

In a small pilot study (with no control group) 10 adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder received 340mg/day R rosea extract for 10 weeks, showing improved anxiety score compared to baseline. The authors conclude “Significant improvement in GAD [generalized anxiety disorder] symptoms was found with R. rosea, with a reduction in HARS [Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale] scores similar to that found in clinical trials.”

Bystritsky, A., L. Kerwin, and J. D. Feusner. ‘A pilot study of Rhodiola rosea (Rhodax (R)) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).’ Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 14, no. 2 (2008): 175-180.
Adverse Effects and Contraindications.

Rhodiola rosea is generally well tolerated. Most clinical studies reported no adverse effects (even at high doses). One clinical trial reported dizziness and dry mouth in patients with generalized anxiety disorder treated with Rhodiola rosea extract 340mg/day.

VINCTO contains a safe dose of Rhodiola rosea root extract.

WARNING. If you are taking piperine consult your doctor before using VINCTO, as a rat study showed altered pharmacological activity with combined Rhodiola rosea extract and piperine.

Panossian, A., N. Nikoyan, N. Ohanyan, A. Hovhannisyan, H. Abrahamyan, E. Gabrielyan, and G. Wikman. ‘Comparative study of Rhodiola preparations on behaviorol despair of rats.’ Phytomedicine 15, no. 1-2 (2008): 84-91.

These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.