bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Breeding Biotechnologies in Romanian Livestock
Authors: Sandu Mariana , Mantea Stefan
Published: November 2016

For livestock holdings, the breeding sector is the most important and the level of breeding technical indicators is the path to profit or loss. It can be said that in animal husbandry, this is the sector with the highest degree of technicality and that is why there were made efforts in research to create modern techniques that allow the man to control all these phenomena and the level of indicators to not depend only on the capabilities of the bull, boar, ram and rooster, etc.

The aim of this paper is to provide a view upon the use of breeding biotechnologies in Romanian livestock. Based on the data of National Agency for Improvement and Reproduction in Animal Husbandry were analyzed the dynamics of artificial insemination, in species of livestock contained in Official Control of Production (COP). The dynamics of embryo transfer in cattle, in Romania, in the period 2000-2012 is based on data reported by the Romanian Association of Embryo Transfer (A.R.E.T.) to the European Association of Embryo Transfer (A.E.T.E.).

Although until 1990 agricultural research and the system of state enterprises favored the application of these biotechnologies, after 1990, the highly divided property in agriculture and the lack of organization of farmers in associative forms resulted in the restricted use of these modern techniques.

Regarding the use A.I., in the analyzed period, the total number of A.I. decreased by 55%, due to the changes that have occurred since 1990, with the restructuring that occurred in livestock (reducing the number of large farms and the continue decline of the number of females) and in the national network of breeding and selection of animals.

In Romania, due to high costs, embryo transfer is not a method currently used and accessible to ordinary farmers, being used mostly to obtain the bulls used in artificial insemination network or the cows as steers mothers.
Analysis of Groundwater Qualitative Parameters in the Hill and Plain Sector of Dambovita County – Romania
Authors: Nitu Iulia , Murarescu Ovidiu , Muratoreanu George , Frinculeasa Madalina , Cosac Aurelia Corina
Published: November 2016

Water intended for human consumption (whether natural or after applying appropriate treatment techniques) must comply with the values of quality parameters according to the laws and regulations in force. The geographical area analysed in this study covers part of Dambovita County and lies at the contact between the Outer Subcarpathian Hills at the Curvature and Candesti Piedmont, the High Plain of Targoviste and Titu Subsidence Plain. Considering that the population in this area is also supplied with water from individual wells, which capture surface aquifers, changes in some potability parameters may appear punctually, inducing a number of health impairments if consumed over a long period of time. 12 sample points have been chosen in localities considered to be vulnerable and a number of parameters (pH, Ca2+, Cl-) have been analysed in the laboratory. Analyses have revealed excessive MAC (Maximum Allowable Concentration) in some locations such as Glodeni and Gheboaia.
The Influence of Some Climatic Conditions for Quality Production of Winter Wheat
Authors: Nitu Iulia
Published: November 2016

The cereales are very important for human consumption and for animal feed too. From this point of view, over the time, it aimed to diversify the assortment varieties, in special for winter wheat. The main objectives for the research project were the analysis of bakery quality potential for winter wheat varieties cultivated in Oltenia Plain according with evolution of climatic conditions.
Die deutschsprachigen Marginaltexte der Grazer Handschrift UB, Ms. 781 als interdisziplinärer Prüfstein explorativer Revisionsforschung und Editionstechnik
Authors: Hofmeister Wernfried , Böhm Astrid , Klug Helmut W.
Published: November 2016

This paper tests a typology for text revisions that has been developed in collaboration with Andrea Hofmeister-Winter (cf. preceding paper) against a practical example: the manuscript Graz, UB, Ms. 781. The implied scenario is a genetic online presentation of the German marginal texts Konrad’s of Heimesfurt hinvart, Seckauer Brautwerbungsspruch, Seckauer Margaretenlegende, and Seckauer Marienleben. The texts, which are heterogeneously edited, have not yet been studied in regard to text revisions. For this project, they were transcribed according to the Graz dynamic editing method and an evaluation of this base text indicates that a digital representation of the texts and revisions would be the best means for answering text-genetic research questions. The basis for this is a TEI-XML model of the source texts that incorporates the typology for text revisions.
Bytes, Books and Readers
Authors: Rasmussen Krista Stinne Greve
Published: November 2016

In diesem Beitrag werden Ergebnisse aus der Dissertation der Autorin Bytes, Books, and Readers. A Historical Analysis of the Transition from Printed to Digital Scholarly Editions Focusing on ‘The Writings of Søren Kierkegaard’ (2015) vorgestellt. Dabei wird dem Wechselverhältnis zwischen der Geschichte von Editionen und der Entwicklung der Digital Humanities besonderes Augenmerk geschenkt, um zu demonstrieren, wie bedeutsam die Analyse der Überlieferung und der Textbegriff für die Geschichte von Editionen sind. Beispiele aus Alastair McKinnons erster digitaler Edition von Soren Kierkegaards Samlede Værker machen anschaulich, wie notwendig es ist, auch die Geschichte digitaler Editionen zu schreiben.
Automatic speech segmentation using
throat-acoustic correlation coefficients
Authors: Mussabayev Rustam Rafikovich , Kalimoldayev Maksat N. , Amirgaliyev Yedilkhan N. , Mussabayev Timur R.
Published: November 2016

This work considers one of the approaches to
the solution of the task of discrete speech signal automatic
segmentation. The aim of this work is to construct such an
algorithm which should meet the following requirements:
segmentation of a signal into acoustically homogeneous
segments, high accuracy and segmentation speed, unambiguity
and reproducibility of segmentation results, lack
of necessity of preliminary training with the use of a special
set consisting of manually segmented signals. Development
of the algorithm which corresponds to the given
requirements was conditioned by the necessity of formation
of automatically segmented speech databases that
have a large volume. One of the new approaches to the
solution of this task is viewed in this article. For this purpose
we use the new type of informative features named
TAC-coefficients (Throat-Acoustic Correlation coefficients)
which provide sufficient segmentation accuracy and effi-
ciency.
Random-walk mobility analysis of Lisbon’s plans
for the post-1755 reconstruction
Authors: de Sampayo Mafalda Teixeira , Sousa-Rodrigues David
Published: November 2016

The different options for the reconstruction of
the city of Lisbon in the aftermath of the 1755 earthquake
are studied with an agent-based model based on randomwalks.
This method gives a comparative quantitative measure
of mobility of the circulation spaces within the city.
The plans proposed for the city of Lisbon signified a departure
from the medieval mobility city model. The intricacy
of the old city circulation spaces is greatly reduced
in the new plans and the mobility between different areas
is substantially improved. The simulation results of the
random–walk model show that those plans keeping the
main force lines of the old city presented less improvement
in terms ofmobility. The plans that had greater design freedom
were, by contrast, easier to navigate. Lisbon’s reconstruction
followed a plan that included a shift in the traditional
notions of mobility. This affected the daily lives
of its citizens by potentiating an easy access to the waterfront,
simplifying orientation and navigability. Using the
random-walk model it is shown how to quantitatively measure
the potential that synthetic plans have in terms of
the permeability and navigability of different city public
spaces.
Texture recognition by the methods of topological
data analysis
Authors: Makarenko Nikolay , Kalimoldayev Maksat , Pak Ivan , Yessenaliyeva Ainur
Published: November 2016

High spatial resolution satellite images are different
from Gaussian statistics of counts. Therefore, texture
recognition methods based on variances become ineffective.
The aim of this paper is to study possibilities
of completely different, topological approach to problems
of structures classification. Persistent Betti numbers are
signs of texture recognition. They are not associated with
metrics and received directly fromdata in form of so-called
persistence diagram (PD). The different structures built on
PD are used to get convenient numerical statistics. At the
present time, three of such objects are known: topological
landscapes, persistent images and rank functions. They
have been introduced recently and appeared as an attempt
to vectorize PD. Typically, each of the proposed structures
was illustrated by the authors with simple examples.However,
the practical application of these approaches to large
data sets requires to evaluate their efficiency within the
frame of the selected task at the same standard database.
In our case, such a task is to recognize different textures
of the Remote Sensing Data (RSD). We check efficiency of
structure, called persistent images in this work. We calculate
PD for base containing 800 images of high resolution
representing 20 texture classes. We have found out
that average efficiency of separate image recognition in the
classes is 84%, and in 11 classes, it is not less than 90%. By
comparison topological landscapes provide 68% for average
efficiency, and only 3 classes of not less than 90%.
Reached conclusions are of interest for new methods of
texture recognition in RSD.
Automatic extraction of corollaries from semantic
structure of text
Authors: Nurtazin Abyz T. , Khisamiev Zarif G.
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study is to develop an algorithm
for automatic representation of the text of natural language
as a formal system for the subsequent automatic extraction
as reasonable answers to profound questions in
the context of the text, and the deep logical consequences
of the text and related areas of knowledge to which the
text refers. The most universal method of constructing algorithms
of automatic treatment of text for a particular
purpose is a representation of knowledge in the form of
a graph expressing the semantic values of the text. The
paper presents an algorithm of automatic presentation of
text and its associated knowledge as a formal logic programming
theory for sufficiently strict texts, such as legal
texts. This representation is a semantic-syntactic as
the causal-investigatory relationships between the various
parts are both logical and semantic. This representation of
the text allows to resolve the issues of causal-investigatory
relationships of present concepts, as methods of the theory
and practice of logic programming and methods of
model theory as well. In particular, these means of classical
branches of mathematics can be used to address
such issues as the definition and determination of consequences
and questions of consistency of the theory.
The multipliers of multiple trigonometric Fourier
series
Authors: Ydyrys Aizhan , Sarybekova Lyazzat , Tleukhanova Nazerke
Published: November 2016

We study the multipliers of multiple Fourier series
for a regular system on anisotropic Lorentz spaces.
In particular, the sufficient conditions for a sequence of
complex numbers {λk}k∈Zn in order to make it a multiplier
of multiple trigonometric Fourier series from Lp[0; 1]n to
Lq[0; 1]n , p > q. These conditions include conditions Lizorkin
theorem on multipliers.
Some properties of asymmetric Hopfield neural
networks with finite time of transition between
states
Authors: Suleimenov Ibragim , Mun Grigoriy , Panchenko Sergey , Pak Ivan
Published: November 2016

There were implemented samples of asymmetric
Hopfield neural networks which have finite time of transition
from one state to another. It was shown that in such
systems, various oscillation modes could occur. It was revealed
that the oscillation of the output signal of certain
neuron could be treated as extra logical variable, which
describes the state of the neuron. Asymmetric Hopfield
neural networks are described in terms of ternary logic.
Such logic may be employed in image recognition procedure.
Georgia marble at the Minnesota State Capitol
The Effects of Mineralogy and Climate on
Durability
Authors: Whitenack Paul , Shotwell L. Brad , Scheffler Michael J.
Published: November 2016

Based on visual observations and tests made
of Georgia marble units that have been in service at the
historic Minnesota State Capitol for 110 years, a fielddiscernible
correlation exists between marble unit mineralogical
composition and unit weathering performance.
Field studies noted over the course of a five-year restoration
project of the capitol exterior were used to categorize
the original marble cladding into four perceptible types,
which were evaluated by field testing that suggested a
correlation between the textural and mineralogical differences
within the marble and its long-term durability.
To test this theory, field-issued repair assignments made
during an exterior marble restoration project at the capitol
were examined statistically. The nature and frequency
of assigned repairs were compared to the type of marble
from which they were originally fabricated to determine
whether a correlation existed. The results of this comparison
provided convincing statistical verification of the link
between mineralogy and durability. This hypothesis was
then verified through detailed petrographic analysis in a
laboratory setting, which determined that marble consisting
of a smaller, more interlocked grain configuration that
was more dolomitic than calcitic in its basic chemistry consistently
proved to be more durable in weathering performance
over time. The paper describes the process followed
by the authors to categorize and study the distinct varieties
of Georgia marble present on the Minnesota State Capitol,
and how this information was used to guide the restoration
process with the intent of maximizing the anticipated
service life of new marble replacements.
Physiological Factors Analysis in Unpressurized
Aircraft Cabins
Authors: Patrao Luis , Zorro Sara , Silva Jorge
Published: November 2016

Amateur and sports flight is an activity with
growing numbers worldwide. However, the main cause of
flight incidents and accidents is increasingly pilot error, for
a number of reasons. Fatigue, sleep issues and hypoxia,
among many others, are some that can be avoided, or, at
least, mitigated. This article describes the analysis of psychological
and physiological parameters during flight in
unpressurized aircraft cabins. It relates cerebral oximetry
and heart rate with altitude, as well as with flight phase.
The study of those parameters might give clues on which
variations represent a warning sign to the pilot, thus preventing
incidents and accidents due to human factors.
Results show that both cerebral oximetry and heart rate
change along the flight and altitude in the alert pilot. The
impaired pilot might not reveal these variations and, if this
is detected, he can be warned in time.
Study of ATO nanoparticles by the solvothermal method for thermal insulated coated glass: a green energy application
Authors: Anh Trinh Xuan , Tung Duong Thanh , Nhan Do Quy , Hoang Tran Vinh , Trung Do Quang , Thu Le Dieu , Hoang Phan Huy , Cuong Nguyen Duy
Published: November 2016

Antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles (NPs) (Sb-doped content 3%, 10%, and 15%) were synthesized by the (2 l autoclave, medium-scale) solvothermal method followed by sintering at various temperatures (500°C, 800°C, 900°C and 1000°C) so they would crystallize. The particle size increased from several to tens of nanometers with the increase of sintered temperature from 500°C to 1000°C, sharply from 800°C to 1000 °C; ~30 g of final product was received for each experiment. More interestingly, the crystallinity of the as-synthesized ATO was also increased with the increasing Sb doped content from 3% to 15%. The ATO NPs were coated onto glass substrates and then sintered at 500°C, which effectively prevented transmittance of infrared (IR) wavelengths (>800 nm) with 10% wt Sb-doped content, which is useful for thermal insulated glass coating application.
Some transitive motion verbs and related lexemes in Late Luwian
Authors: Yakubovich Ilya
Published: November 2016

This paper discusses the meaning and etymology of several problematic Late Luwian lexemes belonging to a common semantic field and sharing the determinative 〈PES₂〉. The Late Luwian verb (PES2.PES2)paya- ‘to send’, which previously resisted etymological interpretation, is taken as a cognate of wiya- ‘send’, known through the Luwian onomastics of the Empire period. Some forms of (PES2)pazza- are explained as synonyms and cognates of Kizzuwatna Luwian pazza-di ‘to carry’, while for others the traditional interpretation ‘to pass’ can be confirmed, although this meaning is probably due to a secondary development of the same root. Among a number of interpretations that are possible for the Late Luwian verb (PES2)wa/i-za- the preference is given to the reading wazza-, translation ‘to lead’ and etymological connection with (PES)usa- ‘to lead here’. Finally, the paper addresses verbal forms that are ambiguous or likely belong to homonymous roots lying outside the semantic field under scrutiny.
The problem of the -a ending in the Hittite dative/locative
Authors: Frantíková Dita
Published: November 2016

The allative is one of the three distinct spatial cases that Hittite is known to have used in the course of its written history, alongside the locative and the ablative. The allative ending was -a, and with the i-stems, we find the ending (-i)-ya. In some instances, it is known to have been used in dative-locative function. This feature is confirmed by the post-Old Hittite era, although the allative itself becomes moribund after the Old Hittite period. The traditional hypothesis for this syntactic peculiarity is that it is motivated phonologically: the dative-locative of the i-stems was rather “unmarked”, as the ending -i blended into the stem. This led speakers/writers to use the more overtly marked -iya even for the dative-locative, as -iya did not have any other grammatical function by that time. Whether this hypothesis can be proved or disproved by the textual evidence is the purpose of this paper. An important argument in the discussion is the fact that there are indications that this feature actually appears already in Old Hittite. The textual evidence shows that the case ending -a in its variant -iya in the i- and ai-stems is already used to mark location and beneficiary/recipient in OH/OS. It also refutes the standard view that the -iya ending spread in post-OH to disambiguate the multifunctional dative-locative singular ending -i, in those stem classes or elsewhere.
In defense of Narten roots
Authors: Keydana Götz
Published: November 2016

In this paper I argue that at least in Vedic, Narten roots existed. They were distinguished by lexically specified dominant accent, whereas non-Narten roots were underlyingly unaccented. Underlying lexical accent accounts for the static accent in the present tense as well as barytonesis in primary derivatives with recessively accented suffixes. The second characteristic feature of Narten roots, the lengthened grade in the strong stem of the present, is still best explained as an upgrading. This hypothesis is strengthened in a scenario where the analogy is fed by channel bias. In Vedic, the system of lexically accented roots was on the verge of collapse. This explains not only secondary thematic presents like rā́jati, but also sheds new light on forms like sā́hant- and sāhvā́ṃs-.
A partial tree of Central Iranian
Authors: Korn Agnes
Published: November 2016

Relations within the Iranian branch of Indo-European have traditionally been modelled by a tree that is essentially composed of binary splits into sub- and sub-subbranches. The first part of this article will argue against this tree and show that it is rendered outdated by new data that have come to light from contemporary and ancient languages. The tree was also methodologically problematic from the outset, both for reasons of the isoglosses on which it is based, and for not taking into account distinctions such as shared innovations vs. shared archaisms. The second part of the paper will present an attempt at an alternative tree for Iranian by proposing a subbranch which I will call “Central Iranian”. Such a branch seems to be suggested by a set of non-trivial morphological innovations shared by Bactrian, Parthian and some neighbouring languages. The reconstruction of the nominal system of Central Iranian which will then be proposed aims to show the result one arrives at when trying to reconstruct a subbranch as strictly bottom-up as possible, i. e. using only the data from the languages under study, and avoiding profitting from Old Iranian data and from our knowledge about the proto-languages.
Twin pregnancy in women above the age of 45 years: maternal and neonatal outcomes
Authors: Avnon Tomer , Haham Alon , Many Ariel
Published: November 2016

Childbearing age continues to rise and, with the increasing implementation of assisted reproductive technology (ART), the number of multiple pregnancies has also risen. This is a retrospective cohort study on maternal and neonatal outcomes of the twin pregnancies of 57 women aged ≥45 years compared to 114 younger women who gave birth in our institution between January 2011 and August 2015. Data were extracted from the real-time computerized database. The rates of hypertensive complications and pre-eclampsia (PE) were much higher in the study group compared to the controls (24/57 vs. 19/114, P=0.000 and 15/57 vs. 13/114, P=0.013, respectively). The respective incidence of very low birth weight (VLBW) was also significantly higher (14/114 vs. 12/228, P=0.021). Infants in the study group required four times more intubation and had a higher admission rate to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) compared to control infants (14/114 vs. 6/228 P=0.000 and 42/114 vs. 57/228, P=0.023, respectively). We conclude that women older than 45 years with twin pregnancies have higher maternal and perinatal complications with worse outcomes in comparison with younger women. When pregnancy is attempted via ART, embryo transfer of only one embryo should be considered in this age group.
Dogon adjective-numeral inversion
Authors: Heath Jeffrey
Published: November 2016

In several Dogon languages, the ordering of simple N-Adj-Num DPs is strict. Adjectives and numerals also differ from each other in morphology and tonosyntax. When an inversion licensor (usually a reference restrictor) is addèd, N-Adj-Num is optionally inverted to N-Num-Adj. Pronominal possessors are also subject to reordering in some of the languages. The order of two adjectives in N-Adj1-Adj2 is free, so a syntactically conditioned stem-class merger between numerals, adjectives, and pronominal possessors would account for optional inverted orderings. However, morphological and tonosyntactic processes follow inversion and are sensitive to stem-class categories, showing that inversion cannot be postsyntactic. This suggests that the relevant word-classes belong to a supercategory medial modifier that is activated in linearization by an inversion licensor, but is disregarded by morphology and tonosyntax. Typological comparisons, e.g. to Slavic numerals, are superficial, so the approach here is micro-typological, focusing on variations within a broadly shared family-specific system.
Wohin strebt die differentielle Objektmarkierung im Spanischen?
Authors: Kabatek Johannes
Published: November 2016

Differential Object Marking (DOM) in Spanish has been studied under various aspects: Spanish as a typical DOM language in typology, Spanish as the most salient Romance DOM language, Spanish and its diachronic evolution and diatopic variation. The present paper discusses different accounts that were given in the literature for the emergence and tendencies of DOM in Spanish. It tries to show that there is, apart from all the semantic and syntactic factors traditionally discussed, an overall basic value of DOM in Spanish which can be extracted analysing those cases where the presence or absence of DOM establishes an obvious opposition in meaning. It is claimed that the contemporary system emerged in Early Modern Spanish and that it seems rather stable in the Spanish speaking world. Furthermore, as a contemporary tendency within this system there seems to be an increase of DOM in cases where marking is facultative, with regional differences within the Spanish speaking world.
Cervantes y el humanismo. El somnium humanista en la Cueva de Montesinos (El coloquio de los perros y Quijote, II, 22–23)
Authors: López Jorge García
Published: November 2016

Miguel de Cervantes lived a time of transition between the 15th century humanism and new literary genres that we identify with the aesthetic and ideological leadership of Justus Lipsius (1547-1606). Focusing especially on El coloquio de los perros and on chapters II, 22 and II, 23 of Don Quixote, the essay examines Cervantes’ use of the genre of somnium for various purposes. Especially in chapter II, 23 of Don Quixote, Cervantes criticizes the new literary genre boomed at the end of the 16th century in the light of his own aesthetic convictions from the reflection on the Poetics of Aristotle. By doing so, Cervantes expresses aesthetic positions of great originality, and of a singular, almost individual independence from dominant poetic and rhetoric currents at the beginning of the 17th century.
Dikē as Global World Order: An Orphic Inheritance in Aeschylus?
Authors: Pinchard Alexis
Published: November 2016

The figure of Dikē in Aeschylus is not exactly the same as in Hesiod: it has a cosmic dimension; it grants also afterlife to individuals, while not excluding salvation. These features match several Orphic fragments and testimonies, especially those quoted by Greek philosophers. Therefore, an Orphic influence on Aeschylus would make sense; moreover, beyond Orphism, an Indo-European inheritance should be considered.
Orpheus and mousikê in Greek Tragedy
Authors: Semenzato Camille
Published: November 2016

Much as he is famous, Orpheus is only mentioned by name fourteen times in the Greek tragedies and tragic fragments that have survived the ravages of time. Furthermore he is never shown as a protagonist, but always evoked by a dramatic character as an example, a parallel, a peculiarity, or a fantasy. This legendary singer is mentioned every time, if not explicitly, at least implicitly, in conjunction with μουσική, the ‘art of the Muses’, namely ‘music’ in its fullest sense. Each of these allusions recalls and highlights his prodigious and superhuman musical qualities and abilities.
Soliton and Shock Profiles in Electron-positron-ion Degenerate Plasmas for Both Nonrelativistic and Ultra-Relativistic Limits
Authors: Haider Md. Masum
Published: November 2016

An attempt has been taken to find a general equation for degenerate pressure of Chandrasekhar and constants, by using which one can study nonrelativistic as well as ultra-relativistic cases instead of two different equations and constants. Using the general equation, ion-acoustic solitary and shock waves have been studied and compared, numerically and graphically, the two cases in same situation of electron-positron-ion plasmas. Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) and KdV–Barger equations have been derived as well as their solution to study the soliton and shock profiles, respectively.
Photo-CIDNP in the Reaction Center of the Diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana Observed by 13C MAS NMR
Authors: Zill Jeremias C. , Kansy Marcel , Goss Reimund , Köhler Lisa , Alia A. , Wilhelm Christian , Matysik Jörg
Published: November 2016

Photo-CIDNP MAS NMR presents a unique tool to obtain insight into the photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) of bacteria and plants. Using the dramatic enhancement of sensitivity and selectivity of the solid-state photo-CIDNP effect, structural as well as functional information can be obtained from the cofactor molecules forming a light-induced spin-correlated radical pair (SCRP) in a given reaction center. Here we demonstrate that the effect can be observed in a further species, which belongs neither to the plant nor the bacteria kingdom. Cyclotella (C.) meneghiniana is a member of the diatom phylum and, therefore, belongs to the kingdom of chromista. Chromista are some of the most productive organisms in nature, even in comparison to trees and terrestrial grasses. The observation of the effect in chromista indicates that the effect occurs in all photosynthetic organisms and completes the list with the last phototrophic kingdoms. Our data also demonstrate that the photo- and spin-chemical machineries of photosystem I of plants and chromista are very similar with respect to structure as well as function.
Using the Split Squat to Potentiate Bilateral and Unilateral Jump Performance
Authors: Bishop Chris J. , Tarrant Joe , Jarvis Paul T. , Turner Anthony N.
Published: November 2016

Bishop, CJ, Tarrant, J, Jarvis, PT, and Turner, AN. Using the split squat to potentiate bilateral and unilateral jump performance. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2216–2222, 2017—The purpose of this study was to examine if a split squat conditioning exercise with no or light loads could potentiate unilateral and bilateral jump performance. Twelve semiprofessional rugby players (age: 22.3 ± 1.4 years; height: 1.84 ± 0.05 m, mass: 92.4 ± 9.6 kg) from the English National League 1 performed a series of unilateral and bilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ) and broad jumps (BJ) over the course of 2 testing days. Both testing days involved performing baseline jumps before completing 2 sets of 10 repetitions of a split squat, this completed with either bodyweight (testing session 1) or a 30 kg weighted vest (testing session 2). A 5-minute recovery period was permitted both after the warm-up and the completion of the split squat exercise. Significantly larger bilateral jump scores were reported after completion of the bodyweight split squat: CMJ (p = 0.001, ES = 0.44, [mean difference 2.517]), BJ (p = 0.001, ES = 0.37, [mean difference 3.817]), and the weighted vest split squat; CMJ (p = 0.001, ES = 0.8, [mean difference 4.383]), BJ (p = 0.001, ES = 0.68, [mean difference 6.817]). The findings of this study demonstrate that no or light loads of a split squat conditioning exercise are able to potentiate bilateral jump performance in semiprofessional rugby players without the need for expensive weight room equipment. As such, this may provide coaches with a viable option of enhancing bilateral jump performance as part of a warm-up or on-field conditioning practice.
Impact of Measured vs. Predicted Residual Lung Volume on Body Fat Percentage Using Underwater Weighing and 4-Compartment Model
Authors: Nickerson Brett S. , Esco Michael R. , Bishop Phillip A. , Schumacker Randall E. , Richardson Mark T. , Fedewa Michael V. , Wingo Jonathan E. , Welborn Bailey A.
Published: November 2016

Nickerson, BS, Esco, MR, Bishop, PA, Schumacker, RE, Richardson, MT, Fedewa, MV, Wingo, JE, and Welborn, BA. Impact of measured vs. predicted residual lung volume on body fat percentage using underwater weighing and 4-compartment model. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2519–2527, 2017—The purpose of this study was to compare underwater weighing (UWW) and 4-compartment (4C) model body fat percentage (BF%) for predicted vs. simultaneously measured residual lung volume (RLV). Forty-seven women and 33 men (age = 22 ± 5 years) had UWW and 4C model BF% determined using Boren et al. (RLVBOREN), Goldman and Becklake (RLVGB), and Miller et al. (RLVMILLER) RLV prediction equations. Criterion UWW BF% included body density (BD) values with simultaneous RLV. Criterion 4C model BF% included BD through UWW with simultaneous RLV, total body water through bioimpedance spectroscopy, and bone mineral content through dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The standard error of estimate (SEE) for UWW and 4C model BF% determined through RLV prediction equations varied from 2.0 to 2.6% and from 1.3 to 1.5%, respectively. The constant error (CE) was significantly different for UWW BF% when using RLVBOREN, RLVGB, and RLVMILLER (all p < 0.016; CE = 0.7, −2.0, 1.0%, respectively). However, the CEs for RLVBOREN and RLVMILLER were not significant in the 4C model (p = 0.73 and 0.11; CE = 0.1 and 0.2%, respectively), whereas RLVGB remained significantly different (p < 0.001; CE = −1.5%). The 95% limits of agreement were less than ±5.2% for UWW BF% and less than ±3.1% for the 4C model when using the 3 RLV equations. When used in a 4C model, the RLV equations yielded a smaller CE, SEE, and 95% limits of agreement than UWW BF% results. However, because of the range of individual error shown in the current study, caution should be employed when using the 4C model as a criterion method with predicted RLV.
Warm-up for Sprint Swimming: Race-Pace or Aerobic Stimulation? A Randomized Study
Authors: Neiva Henrique P. , Marques Mário C. , Barbosa Tiago M. , Izquierdo Mikel , Viana João L. , Teixeira Ana M. , Marinho Daniel A.
Published: November 2016

Neiva, HP, Marques, MC, Barbosa, TM, Izquierdo, M, Viana, JL, Teixeira, AM, and Marinho, DA. Warm-up for sprint swimming: race-pace or aerobic stimulation? A randomized study. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2423–2431, 2017—The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 2 different warm-up intensities on 100-m swimming performance in a randomized controlled trial. Thirteen competitive swimmers performed two 100-m freestyle time-trials on separate days after either control or experimental warm-up in a randomized design. The control warm-up included a typical race-pace set (4 × 25 m), whereas the experimental warm-up included an aerobic set (8 × 50 m at 98–102% of critical velocity). Cortisol, testosterone, blood lactate ([La−]), oxygen uptake (V̇o
2), heart rate, core (Tcore and Tcorenet) and tympanic temperatures, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Stroke length (SL), stroke frequency (SF), stroke index (SI), and propelling efficiency (ηp) were assessed for each 50-m lap. We found that V̇o
2, heart rate, and Tcorenet were higher after experimental warm-up (d > 0.73), but only the positive effect for Tcorenet was maintained until the trial. Performance was not different between conditions (d = 0.07). Experimental warm-up was found to slow SF (mean change ±90% CL = 2.06 ± 1.48%) and increase SL (1.65 ± 1.40%) and ηp (1.87 ± 1.33%) in the first lap. After the time-trials, this warm-up had a positive effect on Tcorenet (d = 0.69) and a negative effect on [La−] (d = 0.56). Although the warm-ups had similar outcomes in the 100-m freestyle, performance was achieved through different biomechanical strategies. Stroke length and efficiency were higher in the first lap after the experimental warm-up, whereas SF was higher after control warm-up. Physiological adaptations were observed mainly through an increased Tcore after experimental warm-up. In this condition, the lower [La−] after the trial suggests lower dependency on anaerobic metabolism.
Mammalian FMRP S499 Is Phosphorylated by CK2 and Promotes Secondary Phosphorylation of FMRP
Authors: Bartley Christopher M. , O’Keefe Rachel A. , Blice-Baum Anna , Mihailescu Mihaela-Rita , Gong Xuan , Miyares Laura , Karaca Esra , Bordey Angélique
Published: November 2016

The fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is an mRNA-binding regulator of protein translation that associates with 4-6% of brain transcripts and is central to neurodevelopment. Autism risk genes’ transcripts are overrepresented among FMRP-binding mRNAs, and FMRP loss-of-function mutations are responsible for fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of monogenetic autism. It is thought that FMRP-dependent translational repression is governed by the phosphorylation of serine residue 499 (S499). However, recent evidence suggests that S499 phosphorylation is not modulated by metabotropic glutamate receptor class I (mGluR-I) or protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), two molecules shown to regulate FMRP translational repression. Moreover, the mammalian FMRP S499 kinase remains unknown. We found that casein kinase II (CK2) phosphorylates murine FMRP S499. Further, we show that phosphorylation of FMRP S499 permits phosphorylation of additional, nearby residues. Evidence suggests that these nearby residues are modulated by mGluR-I and PP2A pathways. These data support an alternative phosphodynamic model of FMRP that is harmonious with prior studies and serves as a framework for further investigation.
Long-Term Potentiation at the Mossy Fiber–Granule Cell Relay Invokes Postsynaptic Second-Messenger Regulation of Kv4 Channels
Authors: Rizwan Arsalan P. , Zhan Xiaoqin , Zamponi Gerald W. , Turner Ray W.
Published: November 2016

Mossy fiber afferents to cerebellar granule cells form the primary synaptic relay into cerebellum, providing an ideal site to process signal inputs differentially. Mossy fiber input is known to exhibit a long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic efficacy through a combination of presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. However, the specific postsynaptic mechanisms contributing to LTP of mossy fiber input is unknown. The current study tested the hypothesis that LTP induces a change in intrinsic membrane excitability of rat cerebellar granule cells through modification of Kv4 A-type potassium channels. We found that theta-burst stimulation of mossy fiber input in lobule 9 granule cells lowered the current threshold to spike and increases the gain of spike firing by 2- to 3-fold. The change in postsynaptic excitability was traced to hyperpolarizing shifts in both the half-inactivation and half-activation potentials of Kv4 that occurred upon coactivating NMDAR and group I metabotropic glutamatergic receptors. The effects of theta-burst stimulation on Kv4 channel control of the gain of spike firing depended on a signaling cascade leading to extracellular signal-related kinase activation. Under physiological conditions, LTP of synaptically evoked spike output was expressed preferentially for short bursts characteristic of sensory input, helping to shape signal processing at the mossy fiber–granule cell relay.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTCerebellar granule cells receive mossy fiber inputs that convey information on different sensory modalities and feedback from descending cortical projections. Recent work suggests that signal processing across multiple cerebellar lobules is controlled differentially by postsynaptic ionic mechanisms at the level of granule cells. We found that long-term potentiation (LTP) of mossy fiber input invoked a large increase in granule cell excitability by modifying the biophysical properties of Kv4 channels through a specific signaling cascade. LTP of granule cell output became evident in response to bursts of mossy fiber input, revealing that Kv4 control of intrinsic excitability is modified to respond most effectively to patterns of afferent input that are characteristic of physiological sensory patterns.
Effects of Long-Term Exercise on Age-Related Hearing Loss in Mice
Authors: Han Chul , Ding Dalian , Lopez Maria-Cecilia , Manohar Senthilvelan , Zhang Yanping , Kim Mi-Jung , Park Hyo-Jin , White Karessa , Kim Yong Hwan , Linser Paul , Tanokura Masaru , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Baker Henry V. , Salvi Richard J. , Someya Shinichi
Published: November 2016

Regular physical exercise reduces the risk for obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and disability and is associated with longer lifespan expectancy (Taylor et al., 2004; Pahor et al., 2014; Anton et al., 2015; Arem et al., 2015). In contrast, decreased physical function is associated with hearing loss among older adults (Li et al., 2013; Chen et al., 2015). Here, we investigated the effects of long-term voluntary wheel running (WR) on age-related hearing loss (AHL) in CBA/CaJ mice, a well established model of AHL (Zheng et al., 1999). WR activity peaked at 6 months of age (12,280 m/d) and gradually decreased over time. At 24 months of age, the average WR distance was 3987 m/d. Twenty-four-month-old runners had less cochlear hair cell and spiral ganglion neuron loss and better auditory brainstem response thresholds at the low and middle frequencies compared with age-matched, non-WR controls. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of inner ear tissues from 6-month-old controls and runners revealed that WR resulted in a marked enrichment for GO gene sets associated with immune response, inflammatory response, vascular function, and apoptosis. In agreement with these results, there was reduced stria vascularis (SV) atrophy and reduced loss of capillaries in the SV of old runners versus old controls. Given that SV holds numerous capillaries that are essential for transporting oxygen and nutrients into the cochlea, our findings suggest that long-term exercise delays the progression of AHL by reducing age-related loss of strial capillaries associated with inflammation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNearly two-thirds of adults aged 70 years or older develop significant age-related hearing loss (AHL), a condition that can lead to social isolation and major communication difficulties. AHL is also associated with decreased physical function among older adults. In the current study, we show that regular exercise slowed AHL and cochlear degeneration significantly in a well established murine model. Our data suggest that regular exercise delays the progression of AHL by reducing age-related loss of strial capillaries associated with inflammation.
Bottom-Up versus Top-Down Induction of Sleep by Zolpidem Acting on Histaminergic and Neocortex Neurons
Authors: Uygun David S. , Ye Zhiwen , Zecharia Anna Y. , Harding Edward C. , Yu Xiao , Yustos Raquel , Vyssotski Alexei L. , Brickley Stephen G. , Franks Nicholas P. , Wisden William
Published: November 2016

Zolpidem, a GABAAreceptor-positive modulator, is the gold-standard drug for treating insomnia. Zolpidem prolongs IPSCs to decrease sleep latency and increase sleep time, effects that depend on α2 and/or α3 subunit-containing receptors. Compared with natural NREM sleep, zolpidem also decreases the EEG power, an effect that depends on α1 subunit-containing receptors, and which may make zolpidem-induced sleep less optimal. In this paper, we investigate whether zolpidem needs to potentiate only particular GABAergic pathways to induce sleep without reducing EEG power. Mice with a knock-in F77I mutation in the GABAAreceptor γ2 subunit gene are zolpidem-insensitive. Using these mice, GABAAreceptors in the frontal motor neocortex and hypothalamic (tuberomammillary nucleus) histaminergic-neurons of γ2I77 mice were made selectively sensitive to zolpidem by genetically swapping the γ2I77 subunits with γ2F77 subunits. When histamine neurons were made selectively zolpidem-sensitive, systemic administration of zolpidem shortened sleep latency and increased sleep time. But in contrast to the effect of zolpidem on wild-type mice, the power in the EEG spectra of NREM sleep was not decreased, suggesting that these EEG power-reducing effects of zolpidem do not depend on reduced histamine release. Selective potentiation of GABAAreceptors in the frontal cortex by systemic zolpidem administration also reduced sleep latency, but less so than for histamine neurons. These results could help with the design of new sedatives that induce a more natural sleep.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMany people who find it hard to get to sleep take sedatives. Zolpidem (Ambien) is the most widely prescribed “sleeping pill.” It makes the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA work better at its receptors throughout the brain. The sleep induced by zolpidem does not resemble natural sleep because it produces a lower power in the brain waves that occur while we are sleeping. We show using mouse genetics that zolpidem only needs to work on specific parts and cell types of the brain, including histamine neurons in the hypothalamus, to induce sleep but without reducing the power of the sleep. This knowledge could help in the design of sleeping pills that induce a more natural sleep.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on health status in non-vitamin D deficient people with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Westra S , Krul-Poel Y H M , van Wijland H J , ter Wee M M , Stam F , Lips P , Pouwer F , Simsek S
Published: November 2016

Objective

Increased levels of depressive symptoms, fatigue or pain (all dimensions of reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL)) are common in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Earlier studies have reported associations between low vitamin D status and fatigue and depressive symptoms. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dimensions of HRQOL in people with type 2 DM.

Design

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods

The effect of monthly cholecalciferol 50,000 IU vs placebo on HRQOL was assessed in 275 adults with type 2 DM derived from general practices. HRQOL at baseline and after six months using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) was collected. Linear regression analyses were used to compare the change in HRQOL over time between the vitamin D and placebo group.

Results

187/275 (68%) completed baseline and follow-up SF-36 and were included in the analysis. Median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D almost doubled in the intervention group compared to that in the placebo group (58.5–106.0 nmol/L vs 60.0–61.5 nmol/L, respectively). A small significant difference (adjusted B: −8.90; 95% CI: −17.16 to −0.65) between both groups was seen concerning the SF-36 domain role limitations due to physical problems in disadvantage of the vitamin D group.

Conclusions

Six months of vitamin D supplementation did not improve HRQOL in non-vitamin D-deficient people with type 2 DM managed on oral antidiabetic therapy.
MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Growth and growth hormone therapy in short children born preterm
Authors: Boguszewski Margaret Cristina da Silva , Cardoso-Demartini Adriane de Andre
Published: November 2016

Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm across the world every year, with less than 37 completed weeks of gestation. Survival rates increased during the last decades with the improvement of neonatal care. With premature birth, babies are deprived of the intense intrauterine growth phase, and postnatal growth failure might occur. Some children born prematurely will remain short at later ages and adult life. The risk of short stature increases if the child is also born small for gestational age. In this review, the effects of being born preterm on childhood growth and adult height and the hormonal abnormalities possibly associated with growth restriction are discussed, followed by a review of current information on growth hormone treatment for those who remain with short stature during infancy and childhood.