bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anaplastic lymphoma tyrosine kinase oncogene in human cancer: gene aberrations, methods of detection and therapeutic potential
Authors: Sabetta Rosalaura , Gargiulo Monica , Accardo Marina , Zito Marino Federica , Franco Renato
Published: July 2018

Anaplastic lymphoma tyrosine kinase (ALK) gene could be an attractive oncotarget in human cancers, since it is involved in several genetic alterations resulting in an aberrant activity of the receptor. To date, ALK-rearrangement represents a molecular target for the treatment of ALK-rearranged Non Small Cell Lung Cancer patients, who are highly sensitive to crizotinib, a specific inhibitor. ALK-rearranged patients treated with crizotinib show relevant clinical implications, however several different resistance mechanisms have been identified. Here we review various critical issues related to ALK-targeting therapy, including ALK gene aberrations, methods of detection, mechanism of acquired resistance and second-generation ALK inhibitors.
Application of omic technologies in cancer research
Authors: Wagner Sarah , Ball Graham R. , Pockley A. Graham , Miles Amanda K.
Published: July 2018

Understanding the biology of health and diseases such as cancer, generating insight into the triggers and potentiators of disease and the development of therapeutic approaches to counter and treat disease requires detailed interrogation of inherited genes, and the dynamic positioning of the transcriptome and proteome. In the last 10 years, significant technological developments and increases in sample throughput capabilities have led to a dramatic increase in the size and complexity of the datasets that can be generated. A key challenge now is to develop robust approaches for analysing and interpreting these, and converting data into biologically- and clinically-relevant information. Herein, we provide an overview of approaches for acquiring, integrating and interpreting complex datasets generated using multiple omic platforms, with a focus on the field of cancer research, and highlight key successful data handling and integration applications.
In memory of Leonardo Corcos
Authors: Zamboni Paolo
Published: July 2018

Not available
Inner-ear circulation in humans is disrupted by extracranial venous outflow strictures: Implications for Ménière’s disease
Authors: Toro Eleuterio F. , Borgioli Francesco , Zhang Qinghui , Contarino Christian , Müller Lucas Omar , Bruno Aldo
Published: July 2018

Ménière’s disease (MD) is a pathology of the inner ear, the symptoms of which include tinnitus, vertigo attacks, fluctuating hearing loss, and nausea. Neither cause nor cure are currently known, though animal experiments suggest that disruption of the inner ear circulation, including venous hypertension and endolymphatic hydrops, to be hallmarks of the disease. Recent evidence for humans suggests a potential link to strictures in the extracranial venous outflow routes. The purpose of the present work is to demonstrate that the inner-ear circulation in humans is disrupted by extracranial venous outflow stricture and to discuss the implications of this finding for MD. The hypothesis linking extracranial venous outflow strictures to the altered dynamics of central nervous system (CNS) fluid compartments is investigated theoretically via a global, closed-loop, multiscale mathematical model for the entire human circulation, interacting with the brain parenchyma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The fluid dynamics model for the full human body includes submodels for the heart, pulmonary circulation, arterial system, microvasculature, venous system and the CSF, with a specially refined description of the inner ear vasculature. We demonstrate that extracranial venous outflow strictures disrupt inner ear circulation, and more generally, alter the dynamics of fluid compartments in the whole CNS. Specifically, as compared to a healthy control, the computational results from our model show that subjects with extracranial outflow venous strictures exhibit: altered inner ear circulation, redirection of flow to collaterals, increased intracranial venous pressure and increased intracranial pressure. Our findings are consistent with recent clinical evidence in humans that links extracranial outflow venous strictures to MD, aid the mechanistic understanding of the underlying features of the disease and lend support to recently proposed biophysically motivated therapies aimed at reducing the overall pressure in the inner ear circulation. More work is required to understand the finer details of the condition, such as the associated dynamics of fluids in the perilymphatic and endolymphatic spaces, so as to incorporate such knowledge into the mathematical models in order to reflect the real physiology more closely.
Who knows the rationale of the refilling time measured by plethysmography?
Authors: Franceschi Claude
Published: July 2018

This mini-review analyzes the pathophysiology significance of the refilling time (RT) assessed in limbs after exercise by the means of plethysmographic techniques. Based on such a rationale the Author offers an interpretation of RT following suppression of reflux points respectively achieved by CHIVA or by ablative techniques, showing the pathophysiologic differences between two different and controversial strategies of managing chronic venous insufficiency.
Introducing renewable energy in vineyards and agricultural machinery: A way to reduce emissions and provide sustainability
Authors: Carroquino Javier , García-Casarejos Nieves , Gargallo Pilar
Published: July 2018

Climate change, depletion of nonrenewable resources in the current energies, pollution from them and the greater ecological awareness of the population, are factors that suggest the change of energy sources in business. The wine industry is concerned about sustainability and with a clear awareness of what climate change may mean for it. This sector is supposed to have a high receptivity to the implementation of clean energy, as this favours not only the environment but also the essence of its business. This work shows how the use of renewable energy, on a small scale, can be profitable in both vineyards and wineries. For this purpose, the European project LIFE REWIND (Renewable energy in the wine industry) has developed several actions, including the installation and operation of a prototype in a Spanish winery. This paper shows how to introduce renewable energy in wineries and vineyards in a profitable way, reducing the emissions of CO2 associated to the activity and the product, without changing the processes of cultivation or production.
Toxicity and disruption of quorum sensing in Aliivibrio fisheri by environmental chemicals: Impacts of selected contaminants and microplastics
Authors: Gagné François
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dissolved and particulate compounds on quorum sensing in the marine luminescent bacterium Aliivibrio fisheri. Bacteria were exposed to increasing concentrations of CuSO4 (Cu2+), gadolinium chloride (Gd3+), 20-nm silver nanoparticles (nanoAg) and 1-3 μm microplastic polyethylene beads for 250 min. During this period, luminescence measurements were taken at 5-min intervals. Toxicity was first examined by measuring luminescence output at 5-min and 30-min incubation time. Based on the effective concentration that decreases luminescence by 20% (EC20), the compounds were toxic at the following concentrations in decreasing toxicity: Cu2+ (3.2 mg/L) < nanoAg (3.4 mg/L, reported) < Gd3+ (34 mg/L) < microplastics (2.6 g/L). The data revealed that luminescence changed non-linearly over time. In control bacteria, luminescence changed at eight specific major frequencies between 0.04 and 0.27 cycle/min after Fourier transformation of time-dependent luminescence data. The addition of dissolved Cu2+ and Gd3+ eliminated the amplitude changes at these frequencies in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating loss of quorum sensing between bacteria at concentrations below EC20. In the presence of nanoAg and microplastic beads, the decreases in amplitudes were modest but compressed the luminescence profiles, with shorter frequencies appearing at concentrations well below EC20. Thus, loss of communication between bacteria occurs at non-toxic concentrations. In addition, with exposure to a mixture of the above compounds at concentrations that do not produce effects for Gd3+, nanoAg and microplastics, Cu2+ toxicity was significantly enhanced, suggesting synergy. This study revealed for the first time that small microplastic particles and nanoparticles can disrupt quorum sensing in marine bacteria.
Adult exogenous lipoid pneumonia: A rare and underrecognized entity in cytology – A case series
Authors: Sung Simon , Tazelaar Henry D. , Crapanzano John P. , Nassar Aziza , Saqi Anjali
Published: July 2018

Background:

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is a rare benign entity without specific clinical or imaging presentation. Although cytological studies – either bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) – may be pursued in patients with ELP, a definitive diagnosis is frequently rendered only on histology. The aim of this study is to highlight the cytological features of ELP.

Methods:

A search of cytopathology (CP) and surgical pathology (SP) diagnoses of ELP was conducted. The corresponding clinical and imaging features were obtained, and the morphology, particularly the presence and size of the intracytoplasmic vacuoles and background, was assessed.

Results:

Nine cases of ELP were identified, including eight with corresponding CP and SP. A neoplasm was suspected in three based on imaging, but ELP was not in the differential clinically or radiographically in any. Among the cases, six patients had BALs and three FNAs. All of the samples showed multiple large vacuoles within macrophages with at least some equal to or larger than the size of the cell nucleus. Similar vacuoles were noted extracellularly on smears.

Conclusions:

ELP is typically described in case reports in the clinical or radiological literature. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the largest series of adult ELP in CP. When large vacuoles are present in macrophages in cytology specimens, at least a suspicion of ELP can be suggested to initiate appropriate therapy, identify/remove the inciting agent, and preclude a more invasive procedure.
Geographical pattern of carcinoma gallbladder in Bihar and its association with river Ganges and arsenic levels: Retrospective individual consecutive patient data from Regional Cancer Centre
Authors: Madhawi Richa , Pandey Avinash , Raj Shraddha , Mandal Manish , Devi Seema , Sinha Prabhat Kumar , Singh Rajesh Kumar
Published: July 2018

Background: Indo-Gangetic basin is known to have higher incidence of gallbladder cancer. Proximity to River Ganga and high heavy metal in soil exposure have been postulated as risk factors. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the geographical pattern of gallbladder cancer from consecutive patient database enrolled in hospital-based cancer registry (HBCR). Objectives: To evaluate demographic profile and districtwise/zonewise dispersion of gallbladder cancer cases registered in HBCR from year 2014 to 2016. To evaluate association of carcinoma gallbladder (CaGB) due to proximity of Ganges, districts of high soil arsenic levels and referral bias. Materials and Methods: Demographic profile and district-based location of individual consecutive gallbladder cancer patient registered in Regional Cancer Centre from the year 2014 till 2016 were analyzed. Population data from 2011 census and arsenic soil content data from central groundwater body were obtained. Frequency distribution, cross tabulation, and odds ratio were used to analyze risk of CaGB across population subsets in Bihar. Results: A total of 1291 consecutive patients of CaGB were registered from 2014 to 2016. Median age at diagnosis was 55 years (range 18–95 years). Male to female ratio was 0.6. Patna (16%) followed by Vaishali (5.8%), Sitamarhi (5%), Madhubani (4.7%), Gaya (4%), and Samastipur (4%) had highest cases. Districts along main central River Ganga (n = 12) and those exposed to high arsenic soil content (n = 15) had higher odds ratio for CaGB, 1.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54–1.91, P = 0.001), and 1.45 (95% CI: 1.30–1.62, P = 0.001), respectively. Districts within 100 km radius of our institute had higher gallbladder cancer cases, odds ratio 1.81 (95% CI: 1.62–2.03, P = 0.001), suggesting significant referral bias predominantly contributed by cases registered under Patna and Vaishali districts. Conclusion: CaGB is major public health problem in Bihar. Exposure to high soil arsenic levels and proximity to River Ganga are strongly associated with gallbladder cancer. Systematic population-based longitudinal studies are needed to explore above hypothesis.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: An institutional analysis
Authors: Gogia Ajay , Das Chandan K. , Kumar Lalit , Sharma Atul , Tiwari Akash , Sharma M.C , Mallick Soumya
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics, cell of origin, response to therapy, and the outcome of patients with DLBCL. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study which included all patients with DLBCL registered at our center, between May 1, 2013, and July 31, 2015. The data regarding demography, clinical presentation, histopathology, stage, prognostic index, treatment, and treatment-related outcome were collected from prospectively maintained clinical case records of the patients. Results: In the study, we included 267 patients. The median age is 49 (20–81) years with male: female ratio of 2:1. B symptoms were seen in 124 (45%) of patients. Early Stages (I and II) were seen in 130 (52%) patients, while advanced Stages (III and 1V) were seen in 119 (48%) patients. Bulky disease (>7.5 cm) was seen in 30% of cases, and bone marrow was involved in 12%. Extranodal involvement is present in 35% of cases. Cell of origin data was available in 160 (60%) of cases, of which 88 (55%) were germinal center and 72 (45%) were activated B cell in origin. The distribution according to the international prognostic index (IPI) was as follows: low risk 40%, intermediate risk 45%, and high risk in 15%. Rituximab was used in 45% of cases. The overall response rate was 84% with a complete response (CR) rate of 70.5%. The CR rates were better with RCHOP compared with CHOP (77% vs. 61.5%, P = 0.001) and good-risk IPI (83.3% vs. 65.2%, P < 0.001) compared with intermediate- and high-risk IPI. Median follow-up period was 24 months, and 2-year event-free survival (EFS) was 70%. The presence of B symptoms, high IPI, failure to attain CR, poor PS, and nonrituximab-based chemotherapy were significantly associated with lower EFS. Conclusions: This is the first study from India, which investigated the impact of chemotherapy with or without rituximab in context of cell of origin. Adding rituximab to CHOP showed better response rate and EFS irrespective of cell of origin.
Breast-conserving radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost; field-in-field three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy versus inverse intensity-modulated radiotherapy – A dosimetric comparison: Do we need intensity-modulated radiotherapy?
Authors: Joseph Bindhu , Farooq Nisma , Kumar Sabari , Vijay C.R , Puthur Kurian J. , Ramesh C. , Lokesh Vishwanath
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose: To examine the feasibility of improving breast-conserving radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) and analyzing the efficiency of forward versus inverse intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques in providing the same. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) field-in-field (FIF) plans with simultaneous and sequential boost and IMRT SIB plans were generated for the datasets of 20 patients who had undergone breast-conserving surgery. The 3 plans were compared dosimetrically for efficiency in terms of planning target volume (PTV) coverage (PTV 95%), homogeneity and conformity, dose delivered to ipsilateral/contralateral lungs (I/L: V10, V20, C/L: Vmean, V5), heart and contralateral breast (Vmean, V30 for heart and Vmean, V1, V5 for C/L breast). Results: The FIF 3DCRT plan with SIB (PLAN B) was more homogeneous than the classical technique with sequential boost (PLAN A). There were less hot spots in terms of Dmax (63.7 ± 1.3) versus Dmax (68.9 ± 1), P < 0.001 and boost V107%, B (0.3 ± 0.7) versus A (3.5 ± 5.99), P = 0.001. The IMRT SIB (PLAN C) did not provide any significant dosimetric advantage over the 3DCRT SIB technique. IMRT SIB plan C was associated with increased dose to contralateral lung in-terms of V5 (10.35 +/- 18.23) vs. (1.13 +/- 4.24), P = 0.04 and Vmean (2.12 ± 2.18) versus Vmean (0.595 ± 0.89), P = 0.008. There was 3-fold greater exposure in terms of Monitor Unit (MU) (1024.9 ± 298.32 versus 281.05 ± 20.23, P < 0.001) and treatment delivery time. Conclusions: FIF 3DCRT SIB provides a dosimetrically acceptable and technically feasible alternative to the classical 3DCRT plan with sequential boost for breast-conserving radiotherapy. It reduces treatment time by 2 weeks. IMRT SIB does not appear to have any dosimetric advantage; it is associated with significantly higher doses to contralateral lung and heart and radiation exposure in terms of MU.
El Palimpsesto del ensanche de Madrid
Authors: De Sobrón Martínez Luis , Muñoz de Pablo María José
Published: July 2018

El análisis de un plano inédito del Ensanche de Madrid desvela diversas incógnitas, planteadas hace tiempo, sobre el paradero de algunos de los dibujos de Carlos María de Castro y sobre el complejo proceso de su tramitación. Se puede concluir que en el mismo documento se encuentran trazas superpuestas de varios momentos: los primeros dibujos de levantamiento del territorio, la propuesta original de ordenación del Ensanche, el anteproyecto oficialmente aprobado y la ciudad que resultó finalmente. Estas trazas son el testimonio de las similitudes y discrepancias entre la idea de ciudad propuesta por Castro, la prevista por la Administración y el proceso real sobre el terreno.
El Capitolio de La Habana, geometría y proporción a través de sus planos originales
Authors: Mestre Martí María , Jiménez Delgado Antonio , Ródenas López Manuel , Jiménez Vicario Pedro Miguel
Published: July 2018

El objetivo de la investigación realizada en el Capitolio de La Habana se centra en estudiar el edificio, sus soluciones constructivas y materiales, en base a la extensa documentación gráfica y fotográfica existente en los diferentes archivos de la ciudad. Esta documentación constituye una fuente rigurosa de información técnica, útil para analizar en detalle el edificio y comprender y datar sus diferentes fases constructivas. La investigación ha sido desarrollada en La Habana, Cuba, durante los últimos cinco años en coordinación con la Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad y ha permitido crear un archivo de planos, imágenes, y otros documentos gráficos como base de futuras investigaciones. Este artículo se centra en analizar la obra a partir de sus planos originales (geometría y proporción, técnicas de representación, calidad gráfica), que son una obra de arte en sí mismos y que nunca hasta ahora han visto la luz. Se trata de un minucioso trabajo realizado a mano por varios arquitectos e ingenieros cubanos.
Diseño y compilación de corpus paralelos alineados: dificultades y (algunas) soluciones en el ejemplo de un corpus de textos museísticos traducidos (inglés-español)
Authors: Leiva Rojo Jorge
Published: July 2018

Text corpora are tools having both a long tradition in research and a variety of applications. Of all existing types, this paper focuses specifically on parallel, aligned corpora. By taking one of this corpora as a starting point—a parallel, aligned corpus from museum texts originally written in English and subsequently translated into Spanish—, the aim of this article is to propose a methodology that consists of four basic stages. By the revision of previous literature on the topic, and by using multiple software programs—proprietary and free, specifically created for corpus compilation and created for other purposes—, it is concluded that, although the compilation of corpora such as the one that was intended is a feasible task, the procedure is full of obstacles. Some obstacles were overcome, while some were not; that is the case, for example, of the repetitions on the aligned corpus, which are not present in the corpus.
Elaboración de un corpus cacográfico desde la disponibilidad léxica en estudiantes sevillanos. Un análisis para la enseñanza de la lengua
Authors: Trigo Ibáñez Ester , Romero Oiva Manuel Francisco , Santos Díaz Inmaculada Clotilde
Published: July 2018

The lexical availability arose with a predominantly didactic character: the teaching of a language. However, most research studies do not include among their objectives the study of the orthographic situation of the population studied. In this article, we part from a review of the different investigations of lexical availability that have paid attention to the orthographic aspects –its patterns of analysis and cataloguing– to propose a common procedure that allows future diatopic comparisons. After that, a detailed analysis of the orthographical situation is carried out from a sample of 400 pre-university students that will constitute the cacographic corpus of the most frequent errors of these users. This corpus will be categorized around four categories –accentuation, letters, morphosyntax and lexicon– and forty subcategories. This detailed analysis of spelling errors will be very useful in the field of language teaching in order to plan and develop materials, which could help solving orthographical problems presented by the users and learners of Spanish, both as a mother tongue and as a foreign language.
Consideraciones sobre la polivalencia del término asociación desde la perspectiva neurocognitiva del léxico
Authors: Varo Varo Carmen
Published: July 2018

The concepts of association and associative are present in lexical studies since the dawn of modern linguistics. They have been the subject of multiple conceptual interpretations but not without problems. Both conceptions of associative relationship as a connection between the two psychological faces of the linguistic sign and as in absentia relationships coexist, especially in Linguistics dictionaries, with the interpretation (almost opposite) as connotation or, in other words, as a sense relationship which lies outside of word meaning. In contrast, current advances in the neurocognitive research of the lexicon, which have contributed to the reconstruction of the semantic system from a cerebral perspective, lead us necessarily to a new interpretation of these notions that is transferred from the word level to its formal and semantic traits.
Introducing an Advance Tax Ruling (ATR) Regime
Authors: Waerzeggers Christophe , Hillier Cory
Published: July 2018

Advance tax rulings are a common feature of mature tax systems. The tax systems of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and South Africa all have established ruling practices. Taxpayers can obtain an advance tax ruling in nearly all OECD member countries. Increasingly, many non-OECD countries are also offering advance tax rulings. An advance tax ruling regime seeks to promote clarity and consistency regarding the application of the tax law for both taxpayers and the tax authority. However, there are also inherent risks associated with the proliferation of granting confidential advance tax rulings which are not published or otherwise reported. This Tax Law IMF Technical Note focuses on designing an advance tax ruling regime in the nature of private tax rulings.
Considering values in the sport experiences of wheelchair basketball players
Authors: Pezdek Krzysztof
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to discuss a diversity of sport experiences in individuals with physical disabilities who are members of a wheelchair basketball club. The sample of the study consisted of 10 males with physical disabilities (aged 18–40 years).

Methods

The study used in-depth interviews, and a systems method was applied to analyse the interview data. The method allows for examining sport as a value which is neither fully autonomous nor predetermined.

Results

Despite the differences in the sample, it can be assumed that players with physical disabilities experience sport in similar ways. However, their experiences may differ in terms of kinds, forms, contents, positions, and functions of sport. This diversity represents the dynamics of relations, interactions, and interdependences among values in the participants’ respective axiological systems. Besides, it also reflects the ways in which the participants perceive themselves in the context of multiple practices of daily life.

Conclusions

An essential difference between the experience of players from various countries may therefore lie chiefly in the context (e.g. social, economic, political) in which players function and in which they realize particular values. Further research should take this context into account and investigate in particular its dependencies and relations with other values, such as health, physical ability, work, education, etc. Also, research concerning how sport is experienced from the perspective of different types and levels of disability or from the perspective of gender could prove interesting.
A novel intervention program (CricFit) for the strength and conditioning of adolescent cricket players
Authors: Pote Lee , Christie Candice
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the effects of a 4-week field-based intervention program (CricFit) on general fitness, with the program designed to reflect the demands of the game in an adolescent population.

Methods

The total of 28 schoolboy cricketers (aged 15–19 years) were assigned to either a control (n = 14) or experimental (n = 14) group. Both groups performed traditional net and field-based training over a 4-week period (one net- and one field-based session), with the experimental group executing 2 additional 35–45-minute conditioning sessions per week. Prior to and post the 4-week period, measures were recorded with a test battery that was specific to the movement demands associated with intermittent sports.

Results

Both groups showed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in most responses, but the changes for the experimental group were greater than those shown in the control group, likely owing to the additional conditioning sessions. Furthermore, significant (p < 0.05) changes were observed between the two groups for the percentage body fat, flexibility, plank time, 20-m sprint time, push ups, and 25-m shuttle distance.

Conclusions

It was concluded that the CricFit intervention program can be used by coaches and conditioning specialists to improve cricket-specific fitness throughout the pre-season period.
Relationship between muscle architecture and badminton-specific physical abilities
Authors: Nadzalan Ali MD , Mohamad Nur Ikhwan , Lee Jeffrey Low Fook , Chinnasee Chamnan
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The study aimed at determining the relationships between muscle architecture and badminton-specific physical abilities.

Methods

The total of 30 university level badminton players (mean age: 22.1 ± 1.4 years) were recruited as participants and underwent assessment of muscle architecture and badminton-specific physical abilities. Pennation angle, fascicle length, and muscle thickness of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris were determined with ultrasonography for muscle architecture variables. Lunge one repetition maximum (1RM), lunge relative 1RM, standing long jump, vertical jump, and agility t-test were performed for physical abilities. The relationship between all muscle architectures and physical abilities was determined with the use of Pearson correlation.

Results

The results showed that the pennation angle and muscle thickness were positively correlated while fascicle length was negatively correlated with the physical abilities except for the agility test.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that the possibilities of training performed by athletes affect their muscle architecture; further studies are required to examine how different kinds of training affect muscle architecture, which can then influence performance in sports.
Effect of visual and vestibular information on spatial perception on gait
Authors: Faquin Bruno Secco , Candido Cristiane Regina Coelho , Mochizuki Luis , Okazaki Victor Hugo Alves
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Walking demands controlling body segments based on sensory information. Experimental manipulation of sensory information provides insight about how it interacts in situations of occlusion or perturbation of such information. This study examined the effect of manipulation of visual and vestibular information on spatial perception during gait.

Methods

Thirty-two participants aged between 19-34 years old walked straight ahead for 7 meters to reach the center point of the pathway. The authors measured the number of steps, movement time, and absolute error (deviation from the center of pathway end). They analyzed six experimental conditions: without spin with vision, without spin with visual occlusion, without spin with visual perturbation, with spin and vision, with spin and visual occlusion, and with spin and visual perturbation. Friedman's ANOVA test was used to compare the experimental conditions with a significance of 5% (p < 0.05).

Results

Occlusion and perturbation of visual information, and the perturbation of vestibular information, both affected the spatial orientation. The more sources of information that were occluded and/or perturbed; the greater was the decline of spatial perception. However, participants were able to perform the task of walking in all conditions with the manipulation of sensory information.

Conclusions

The authors suggest that there is a dynamic hierarchy in which the sensory sources can contribute in a particular way, due to the constraint imposed on the system.
Analysis of reactive agility and change-of-direction speed between soccer players and physical education students
Authors: Rauter Samo , Coh Milan , Vodicar Janez , Zvan Milan , Krizaj Josef , Simenko Jozef , Szmajda Lukasz , Mackala Krzysztof
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The main goal of the experiment was to examine the differences between reactive agility (RA) as non-planned (randomly selected stimuli) movement and change-of-direction speed (CODS) as pre-planned movement among different levels of sports performance - young soccer players and physical education students.

Methods

The two groups in the study included 36 young male and female soccer players and 58 male and female physical education students. Timing for universal agility was defined by two different specification: pre-planned agility as a change of direction speed and non-planned (randomly selected stimuli) agility as reactive agility. The study used FitLight Trainer, a wireless system of interconnected light powered sensors.

Results

Soccer players were significantly faster in selected test of CODS (-1.73s; 13.1%) and RA (-2.34s; 14.3%). The greatest difference between male and female subjects was observed in the non-planned universal reactive agility UA-RA (-2.84s; 17.9%). A t-test indicated statistically significant gender differences in the selected test of pre-planned (non-reactive) and non-planned (reactive) agility among soccer players and students.

Conclusions

The practical message for coaches and related professionals is that agility in team sports (including soccer) as motor skills represent various physical qualities. Therefore, it should be diagnosed and developed via separate assessments and training.
Variations in important aerobic fitness parameters and physical characteristics during two consecutive preseason periods in adolescent soccer players
Authors: Manou Vasiliki , Dalamitros Athanasios A. , Kellis Spiros
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This study examined the variations in selected aerobic fitness parameters, namely maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), running velocity at VO2max (vVO2max), running velocity at ventilatory threshold (vAnT) and 1-minute post-exercise heart rate recovery (%HRrec) as well as height, body mass and percentage of body fat (%BF) in high-level adolescent soccer players. The relationship between %BF and VO2max values was also analyzed.

Methods

25 athletes (mean age: 14.5 ± 1.3 years) were measured at the second week of the preseason period (1st period) and at the same corresponding week after a 12-month period (2nd period).

Results

VO2max, vVO2max and vAnT increased significantly by 6.6, 6.5 and 3.27%, respectively, from the 1st to 2nd period (p ≤ 0.01 - 0.05; effect size (ES) = -0.35 - 0.66). In contrast, %HRrec remained relatively unchanged (-0.5%) during the same period (p > 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.01). %BF showed a negative trend, but no significant correlation with VO2max was found during the same period (r = -0.331; p > 0.05). Significant variations were found for height and body mass (2.64 and 11.17%; p ≤ 0.01; effect size (ES) = -0.56 and -0.72, respectively), but not for %BF (1.34%; p > 0.05; effect size (ES) = -0.27).

Conclusions

This data can provide useful information regarding physiological aerobic adaptations and changes in physical characteristics as a result of a year of soccer training, including growth and maturations processes, during the specific periods tested.
Contextual interference effects on motor skill acquisition, retention and transfer in sport rifle shooting
Authors: Moretto Nelson Alexandre , Marcori Alexandre Jehan , Okazaki Victor Hugo Alves
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Motor learning is the response to a new experience or practice of a skill that results in the production of a new motor skill. The contextual interference (CI) effect is a learning effect which describes the benefits of interference during practice as improved skill retention and skill transfer. Though it is an established phenomenon, the efficacy of CI has not yet been proven in complex motor tasks. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the CI effect on motor skill acquisition, retention, and transfer in sport rifle shooting.

Methods

32 subjects were equally divided into two practice groups: high contextual interference (HCI) and low contextual interference (LCI). Four blocks of thirty shots were performed 10 meters from the target. Three positions (standing, sitting, and lying down) were used to manipulate the CI effect. The HCI group changed positions before each shot, while the LCI group shot 10 times in the same position before changing to the next one. All conditions were randomized between groups and subjects. One week after the 120 acquisition shots, retention and transfer (15 and 25 meters from the target) tests were carried out.

Results

Accuracy between groups during the acquisition phase, retention test results, and transfer test results were similar between groups. Therefore, the CI effect was not observed in any of the phases of motor learning in sport rifle shooting.

Conclusions

It is possible these results are associated with the amount of practice, level of CI used, and complex characteristic of the task.
Upscaling surface energy fluxes over the North Slope of Alaska using airborne eddy-covariance measurements and environmental response functions
Authors: Serafimovich Andrei , Metzger Stefan , Hartmann Jörg , Kohnert Katrin , Zona Donatella , Sachs Torsten
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The objective of this study was to upscale airborne flux measurements of
sensible heat and latent heat and to develop high-resolution flux maps. In
order to support the evaluation of coupled atmospheric–land-surface models we
investigated spatial patterns of energy fluxes in relation to land-surface
properties. We used airborne eddy-covariance measurements acquired by the Polar 5
research aircraft in June–July 2012 to analyze surface fluxes.
Footprint-weighted surface properties were then related to 21 529 sensible
heat flux observations and 25 608 latent heat flux observations using both
remote sensing and modeled data. A boosted regression tree technique was
used to estimate environmental response functions between spatially and
temporally resolved flux observations and corresponding biophysical and
meteorological drivers. In order to improve the spatial coverage and spatial
representativeness of energy fluxes we used relationships extracted across
heterogeneous Arctic landscapes to infer high-resolution surface energy flux
maps, thus directly upscaling the observational data. These maps of projected
sensible heat and latent heat fluxes were used to assess energy partitioning
in northern ecosystems and to determine the dominant energy exchange
processes in permafrost areas. This allowed us to estimate energy fluxes for
specific types of land cover, taking into account meteorological conditions.
Airborne and modeled fluxes were then compared with measurements from an
eddy-covariance tower near Atqasuk. Our results are an important contribution for the advanced, scale-dependent
quantification of surface energy fluxes and they provide new insights into the
processes affecting these fluxes for the main vegetation types in
high-latitude permafrost areas.
Impacts of compound extreme weather events on ozone in the present and future
Authors: Zhang Junxi , Gao Yang , Luo Kun , Leung L. Ruby , Zhang Yang , Wang Kai , Fan Jianren
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry
(WRF-Chem) was used to study the effect of extreme weather events on
ozone in the US for historical (2001–2010) and future (2046–2055) periods
under the RCP8.5 scenario. During extreme weather events, including heat
waves, atmospheric stagnation, and their compound events, ozone concentration
is much higher compared to the non-extreme events period. A striking enhancement
of effect during compound events is revealed when heat wave and stagnation
occur simultaneously as both high temperature and low wind speed promote the
production of high ozone concentrations. In regions with high emissions,
compound extreme events can shift the high-end tails of the probability
density functions (PDFs) of ozone to even higher values to generate extreme
ozone episodes. In regions with low emissions, extreme events can still
increase high-ozone frequency but the high-end tails of the PDFs are
constrained by the low emissions. Despite the large anthropogenic emission
reduction projected for the future, compound events increase ozone more than
the single events by 10 to 13 %, comparable to the present, and high-ozone episodes with a maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) ozone concentration over
70 ppbv are not eliminated. Using the CMIP5 multi-model ensemble, the
frequency of compound events is found to increase more dominantly compared to
the increased frequency of single events in the future over the US, Europe,
and China. High-ozone episodes will likely continue in the future due to
increases in both frequency and intensity of extreme events, despite
reductions in anthropogenic emissions of its precursors. However, the latter
could reduce or eliminate extreme ozone episodes; thus improving projections of
compound events and their impacts on extreme ozone may better constrain
future projections of extreme ozone episodes that have detrimental effects on
human health.
Amplification of light absorption of black carbon associated with air pollution
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Zhang Qiang , Cheng Yafang , Su Hang , Li Haiyan , Li Meng , Zhang Xin , Ding Aijun , He Kebin
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The impacts of black carbon (BC) aerosols on air quality,
boundary layer dynamics and climate depend not only on the BC mass
concentration but also on the light absorption capability of BC. It is well
known that the light absorption capability of BC depends on the amount of
coating materials (namely other species that condense and coagulate on BC). However, the difference of light absorption capability of
ambient BC-containing particles under different air pollution conditions
(e.g., clean and polluted conditions) remains unclear due to the
complex aging process of BC in the atmosphere. In this work, we investigated
the evolution of light absorption capability for BC-containing particles
with changing pollution levels in urban Beijing, China. During the campaign
period (17 to 30 November 2014), with an increase in PM1 concentration
from ∼ 10 to ∼ 230 µg m−3, we found that the mass-weighted averages of the aging degree and
theoretical light absorption capability of BC-containing particles increased
by ∼ 33 % and ∼ 18 %, respectively,
indicating stronger light absorption capability of BC-containing particles
under more polluted conditions due to more coating materials on the BC
surface. By using an effective emission intensity (EEI) model, we further found
that aging during regional transport plays an important role in the
difference in the light absorption capability of BC-containing particles
under different air pollution levels. During the pollution episode,
∼ 63 % of the BC over Beijing originated from regional
sources outside of Beijing. These regionally sourced BC-containing particles
were characterized by more coating materials on BC surfaces due to more
coating precursors within more polluted air, which contributed
∼ 75 % of the increase in theoretical light absorption
capability of BC observed in Beijing during the polluted period (PM1 of
∼ 230 µg m−3) compared to that in the clean period
(PM1 of ∼ 10 µg m−3). Due to the increase in
theoretical light absorption capability of BC associated with air pollution,
the direct radiative forcing of BC was estimated to be increased by
∼ 18 % based on a simple radiation transfer model. Our work
identified an amplification of theoretical light absorption and direct
radiative forcing under a more polluted air environment due to more coating
materials on BC. The air pollution control measures may, however,
break the amplification effect by reducing emissions of both BC and the
coating precursors and achieve co-benefits of both air quality and climate.
Gas-phase composition and secondary organic aerosol formation from standard and particle filter-retrofitted gasoline direct injection vehicles investigated in a batch and flow reactor
Authors: Pieber Simone M. , Kumar Nivedita K. , Klein Felix , Comte Pierre , Bhattu Deepika , Dommen Josef , Bruns Emily A. , Kılıç Doǧuşhan , El Haddad Imad , Keller Alejandro , Czerwinski Jan , Heeb Norbert , Baltensperger Urs , Slowik Jay G. , Prévôt André S. H.
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles have recently been identified as a
significant source of carbonaceous aerosol, of both primary and secondary
origin. Here we investigated primary emissions and secondary organic aerosol
(SOA) from four GDI vehicles, two of which were also retrofitted with a
prototype gasoline particulate filter (GPF). We studied two driving test
cycles under cold- and hot-engine conditions. Emissions were characterized by
proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (gaseous
non-methane organic compounds, NMOCs), aerosol mass spectrometry (sub-micron
non-refractory particles) and light attenuation measurements (equivalent
black carbon (eBC) determination using Aethalometers) together with
supporting instrumentation. Atmospheric processing was simulated using the
PSI mobile smog chamber (SC) and the potential aerosol mass oxidation flow
reactor (OFR). Overall, primary and secondary particulate matter (PM) and
NMOC emissions were dominated by the engine cold start, i.e., before thermal
activation of the catalytic after-treatment system. Trends in the
SOA oxygen to carbon ratio (O : C) for OFR and SC were
related to different OH exposures, but divergences in the H : C remained
unexplained. SOA yields agreed within experimental variability between the
two systems, with a tendency for higher values in the OFR than in the SC (or,
vice versa, lower values in the SC). A few aromatic compounds dominated the
NMOC emissions, primarily benzene, toluene, xylene isomers/ethylbenzene and
C3-benzene. A significant fraction of the SOA was explained by those
compounds, based on comparison of effective SOA yield curves with those of
toluene, o-xylene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene determined in our OFR, as well
as others from literature. Remaining discrepancies, which were smaller in the
SC and larger in the OFR, were up to a factor of 2 and may have resulted from
diverse reasons including unaccounted precursors and matrix effects. GPF
retrofitting significantly reduced primary PM through removal of refractory
eBC and partially removed the minor POA fraction. At cold-started conditions
it did not affect hydrocarbon emission factors, relative chemical composition
of NMOCs or SOA formation, and likewise SOA yields and bulk composition
remained unaffected. GPF-induced effects at hot-engine conditions
deserve attention in further studies.
Investigating the yield of H2O and H2 from methane oxidation in the stratosphere
Authors: Frank Franziska , Jöckel Patrick , Gromov Sergey , Dameris Martin
Published: July 2018

Abstract. An important driver of climate change is stratospheric water vapor (SWV), which in turn is influenced by the oxidation of atmospheric methane (CH4). In order to parameterize the production of water vapor (H2O) from CH4 oxidation, it is often assumed that the oxidation of one CH4 molecule yields exactly two molecules of H2O. However, this assumption is based on an early study, which also gives evidence that this is not true at all altitudes. In the current study, we re-evaluate this assumption with a comprehensive systematic analysis using a state-of-the-art chemistry–climate model (CCM), namely the ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model, and present three approaches to investigate the yield of H2O and hydrogen gas (H2) from CH4 oxidation. We thereby make use of the Module Efficiently Calculating the Chemistry of the Atmosphere (MECCA) in a box model and global model configuration. Furthermore, we use the kinetic chemistry tagging technique (MECCA-TAG) to investigate the chemical pathways between CH4, H2O and H2, by being able to distinguish hydrogen atoms produced by CH4 from H2 from other sources.We apply three approaches, which all agree that assuming a yield of 2 overestimates the production of H2O in the lower stratosphere (calculated as 1.5–1.7). Additionally, transport and subsequent photochemical processing of longer-lived intermediates (mostly H2) raise the local yield values in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere above 2 (maximum  >  2.2). In the middle and upper mesosphere, the influence of loss and recycling of H2O increases, making it a crucial factor in the parameterization of the yield of H2O from CH4 oxidation. An additional sensitivity study with the Chemistry As A Boxmodel Application (CAABA) shows a dependence of the yield on the hydroxyl radical (OH) abundance. No significant temperature dependence is found. We focus representatively on the tropical zone between 23° S and 23° N. It is found in the global approach that presented results are mostly valid for midlatitudes as well. During the polar night, the method is not applicable.Our conclusions question the use of a constant yield of H2O from CH4 oxidation in climate modeling and encourage to apply comprehensive parameterizations that follow the vertical profiles of the H2O yield derived here and take the chemical H2O loss into account.