bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of Flattened Multicarrier Signals from a Single Laser Source for 330 Gbps WDM-PON Transmission over 25 km SSMF
Authors: Ullah Sibghat , Liu Bo , Ullah Rahat , Ahmad Muhammad , Wang Fu , Zhang Lijia , Xin Xiangjun , Memon Kamran Ali , Khalid Hafiz Ahmad
Published: December 2017

A novel technique is proposed for optical frequency comb generation with a budget friendly system. A Mach-Zehnder modulator is used in connectivity with continuous wave optical signal which is filtered by rectangle optical filter and the signal is then amplified by erbium-doped fiber amplifier. With a frequency spacing of 10 GHz 33 useable OFC lines were generated with good tone to noise ratio which is quite impressive for such a cost effective setup. Each generated carrier carries differential phase shift keying based data of 10 Gbps. A total of 330 Gbps multiplexed data is successfully transmitted through a standard single mode fiber length of 25-km. During the downlink transmission the power penalties are observed to be negligible. The resulted eye diagrams are wide and promises to be a good system for wavelength division multiplexed-passive optical network.
Dependability of the information flow process at an intermodal transhipment point
Authors: Świeboda Justyna
Published: December 2017

A container terminal is an inherent part of intermodal transport. Dependable operation of the system on an inland terminal affects the transport of integrated units in intermodal transport. Each logistics system is a distinguished parallel flow of cargo and information. Both of these flows are dependent on each other and have an impact on the correctness of performing tasks.
Modelling of power supplies reliability in aspect of their technical and functional state
Authors: Dąbrowski Tadeusz , Chmiel Jerzy , Rosiński Adam
Published: December 2017

The article presents issues related to the modeling of reliability of power supply in terms of their technical and functional condition. There are designated relations allowing to determine the probability of staying the power supply in the state: full suitability, incomplete suitability and unsuitability. There is also examined the impact of time restore of the state of full suitability for the value of the probability of staying the power supply in the state of incomplete suitability.
Risk assessment issues in the process of freight transport performance
Authors: Tubis Agnieszka , Werbińska-Wojciechowska Sylwia
Published: December 2017

In the presented paper, authors focus on the issues related to risk assessment of transport processes performance. Thus, there are presented the basic definitions related to the research area. Later, there is discussed the possibility of risk assessment performance in the freight transport, outlining an assessment approach compatible with ISO 31000 standard and ERM concept. This gives the possibility for the presentation of risk assessment of transport processes performance in the chosen road transport company. The article concludes with a summary, including directions for further research.
Model of designating the critical damages
Authors: Zwolińska Bożena , Kubica Łukasz
Published: December 2017

Managing company in the lean way presumes no breakdowns nor reserves in the whole delivery chain. However, achieving such low indicators is impossible. That is why in some production plants it is extremely important to focus on preventive actions which can limit damages. This article depicts the method of designating the critical damages in accordance with lean maintenance method. The article consists of two parts which make for an integral body. Part one depicts the characteristic of a realistic object, it also contains productions capabilities analysis of certain areas within the production structure. Part two depicts the probabilistic model of shaping maximal time loss basing on emptying and filling interoperational buffers.
Development of Hand-Held Surgical Robot ODRO-2 for Automatic Bone Drilling
Authors: Boiadjiev George , Chavdarov Ivan , Delchev Kamen , Boiadjiev Tony , Kastelov Rumen , Zagurki Kazimir
Published: December 2017

This paper represents the development of a prototype robotic system for automatic bone drilling in orthopaedic surgery. A new design of the mechanical structure is proposed, answering the surgical requirements for the robot dimensions and weight to be as small as possible. The new structure design is based on idea of parallelism of the axis of the linear actuator and the axis of the rotary one. The control system is improved by using a new micro-controller. A new type of linear drive and a new force sensor (load cell) are built in, so that the quality characteristics of the “Orthopaedic bone Drilling Robot” (ODRO) are not only the same as previous its two versions, but becomes better.

An experimental setup is arranged and experiments are executed to test and to verify the robot quality features and functional capabilities.
Experimental Research of Rotational-and-Frictional Boring of Big Holes in Large Parts
Authors: Sherov K.T. , Sikhimbayev M.R. , Donenbayev B.S. , Sagitov A.A. , Ainabekova S.S.
Published: December 2017

When producing large-dimensional parts of heavy machines, the largest specific weight in the general labour input is made by the operations, connected with machining the main holes, i. e. holes of large diameter. To the holes of large diameter of large-dimensional parts, there are specified high requirements in the aspect of accuracy of the size, shape and arrangement. Machining of holes still remains one of the topical problems of present day mechanical engineering, in particular machine-building enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Solving the problem of ensuring accuracy and quality of machining large holes of large-dimensional parts requires the development of new resource-saving technologies of machining. In this work there are presented the results of studying a resource-saving method of rotation-friction boring of large diameter holes. There has been achieved good results in providing the quality indicators, when machining by the proposed method of rotation-friction boring with the use of the tool (a disk cutter) made of steel 90CrSi5 in comparison with well-known boring of holes. The diagram of chip formation of cutting and the results of studying the zone of chip formation by the metallographic method is also presented.
Torsional Wave Propagation in a Pre-Stressed Structure with Corrugated and Loosely Bonded Surfaces
Authors: Singh Manoj K. , Sahu Sanjeev A.
Published: December 2017

An analytical model is presented to study the behaviour of propagation of torsional surface waves in initially stressed porous layer, sandwiched between an orthotropic half-space with initial stress and pre-stressed inhomogeneous anisotropic half-space. The boundary surfaces of the layer and halfspaces are taken as corrugated, as well as loosely bonded. The heterogeneity of the lower half-space is due to trigonometric variation in elastic parameters of the pre-stressed inhomogeneous anisotropic medium. Expression for dispersion relation has been obtained in closed form for the present analytical model to observe the effect of undulation parameter, flatness parameter and porosity on the propagation of torsional surface waves. The obtained dispersion relation is found to be in well agreement with classical Love wave equation for a particular case. The cases of ideally smooth interface and welded interface have also been analysed. Numerical example and graphical illustrations are made to demonstrate notable effect of initial stress, wave number, heterogeneity parameter and initial stress on the phase velocity of torsional surface waves.
The possibility of functioning micro-scale biogas plant in selected farm
Authors: Czekała Wojciech , Gawrych Karolina , Smurzyńska Anna , Mazurkiewicz Jakub , Pawlisiak Artur , Chełkowski Dawid , Brzoski Michał
Published: December 2017

Renewable energy sources (RES) become more and more popular. In Poland, biomass has the highest energy potential among all RES. Methane fermentation is one of possible ways to use it. The aim of the study was to perform energy and economic calculations for the biogas plant installation project in an existing farm situated in the Wielkopolska voivodeship. Because of the small area of the farm and the type of production, the calculations were carried out for micro-installation biogas plants. During the preparation of the project the production potential of the substrates was determined, allowing for further analyses. It was calculated that the electrical power of the designed biogas plant was 8.10 kW, with a total annual production of biogas at 29 471 m3. The obtained amount allows to generate in the cogeneration system 66 450 kWh of electricity and 71 190 kWh of heat energy. Some of the energy produced can be used on the farm and its surplus sold to the grid, which will allow for financial and environmental benefits.
Application of expanded polystyrene filter for tertiary treatment of domestic waste effluent in the UK
Authors: Fylypchuk Viktor , Induchny Stanislav , Pearce Pete , Fylypchuk Leonid , Martynov Serhii
Published: December 2017

The use of expanded polystyrene filters is a promising method for tertiary treatment of domestic waste effluent where biologically treated effluent is filtered through a layer of buoyant polystyrene beads. The advantage of such filters is in the absence of backwashing pumps, containers of clean washing water, while having low energy costs, high resistance of polystyrene to various chemical contaminants that may be in the effluent, easy automation of switching modes.

The article describes the features of the design and principles of the expanded polystyrene filter operation with an upward filtration flow which works in automatic mode. The article includes the comparison of operation and the structural technological characteristics of polystyrene filters with disc filters, which are usually used in practice of tertiary-treatment of effluent in the UK.

Experimental results were obtained from the operation of expanded polystyrene filters with an upward flow of filtration at two operational wastewater treatment plants. The effectiveness of the tertiary-treatment of waste effluent was evaluated by measures of BOD and COD in non-filtered and filtered samples, as well as total suspended solids during the months of the year and hours of the day. The filter demonstrated an average removal of 40% BOD, 28% of COD and 66% of TSS.
Farmers’ participation in Water User Association in western Iran
Authors: Gholamrezai Saeed , Sepahvand Fatemeh
Published: December 2017

One of the main challenges of water scarcity is the water consumption in the agriculture sector. Therefore, optimizing water consumption and applying an optimal management in the agriculture sector is necessary. The implementation of a participatory management of water resources in the rural areas and the creation of Water User Association (WUA) can be a successful approach towards this management. That requires the continuity of the management, the comprehensive participation of farmers, and the exploitation of water resources; however, this action needs to understand the factors affecting the behavior of consumers. Thus identifying the factors influencing farmers’ intentions towards participation in WUA is essential. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting farmers' intentions towards participation in water user association, by theory of planned behavior (TPB). There are 21 agriculture water pumping stations active in Lorestan Province. Farmers at each agriculture water pumping stations make up a Water User Association. The population of this study consisted of all WUAs in western Iran (N = 1990), and through a proportional stratified random sampling technique farmers were selected (N = 133) from the population. Moreover, the validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated at pre-test stage for different parts of the questionnaire ranging from 0.83 until 0.91. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20 software. The results revealed that there were effective variables including subjective norm, attitude, and extension training courses which contributed to the importance of participation in the water management, and that the educational level of farmer was a controlled variable that could affect farmers' attitudes towards participating in Water User Association; these factors could explain 53% of farmers' participation totally.
Evaluation of the possibilities of using water-damming devices on the Tyśmienica River to build small hydropower plants
Authors: Kowalczyk-Juśko Alina , Mazur Andrzej , Grzywna Antoni , Listosz Agnieszka , Rybicki Roman , Pytka Aneta , Dorozhynskyy Oleksandr , Jóźwiakowski Krzysztof , Gizińska-Górna Magdalena
Published: December 2017

Hydropower plants in Poland currently use only 19% of the river’s energy potential. Development of hydropower is limited by environmental regulations as well as by economic grounds. From the environmental point of view, it is desirable to build small hydropower plants integrated into the local landscape. This paper presents results of the research aimed at estimating the amount of energy that could be produced in the case of small hydroelectric power plants on weirs existing on the Tyśmienica River. There is also a legal framework that should be adapted at hydropower development. It was calculated that the technical capacity of the small hydropower plants that could be built on 4 existing weirs, is 0.131 MW. These power plants could produce 786 MWh of electricity per year. The economic efficiency of this production is currently difficult to assess, because a new support system for renewable energy sources is currently being implemented, which will be a decisive factor for entrepreneurs. It should be borne in mind that potential investments will be made in protected areas within the Natura 2000 network, which may limit their constructing or impose the obligation to assess their impact on selected environmental elements. Location within the protective area does not eliminate such investments, especially when solutions with the least possible environmental impact are used.
Community engagement for irrigation water management in Lao PDR
Authors: Kuntiyawichai Kittiwet , Dau Quan V. , Inthavong Saengdavanh
Published: December 2017

Sustainable water resources management and community engagement are essential for water security. Referring to the above context, this study proposed to carry out an assessment of community engagement for irrigation water management in the Nam Haad Left Irrigation Project (NHLIP). The household and community level practices and the farmers’ levels of participation in irrigation water management of the NHLIP were carefully considered. From respondents’ responses, the results revealed that a husband-wife partnership plays a remarkable role in irrigation water management of the NHLIP for rice farming. The results also proved that most of the respondents engage with a high participation level in managing irrigation water of the NHLIP project as illustrated by a high score of 3.80 on the five-point Likert scale. To determine the significance of each activity on farmers’ levels of participation in irrigation water management of the NHLIP, a stepwise multiple regression analysis was employed and the standardized regression equation for determining overall participation levels can be presented as:Y= 0.538x1+ 0.831x8+ 0.534x14+ 0.607x18+ 7.572. Finally, the outcomes of this study indicated the willingness of participation in cooperating and supporting the activities related to the improvement and management of the NHLIP project.
Investigations of the mechanism of the fouling in microgranular adsorptive filtration
Authors: Malczewska Beata
Published: December 2017

The application of microgranular adsorptive filtration (μGAF) has been successfully used in conjunction with membrane filtration. It proves to be efficient not only in removal of natural organic matter (NOM) but also it significantly reduces the extent of fouling. There are a few mathematical models evaluated to understand the underlying mechanism of fouling. This paper describes a method of predicting filtration capacities using constant flow datasets collected when μGAF was applied. The results suggest that the behaviour of fouling in microgranular adsorptive filtration system varies between different filtration operations and natural water quality. In analysed case the mechanism of pores blocking can be described by the complete blocking mechanism.
The influence of sandy clay bed material to local scour behaviour
Authors: Rustiati Nina B. , Dermawan Very , Rispiningtati R. , Limantara Lily M.
Published: December 2017

As a type of gate that is used to control the water level upstream, sluice gate is the gate with simple shape and outstanding ability to flush the sediment. The operation of the gate is considered an important process. The up and down movement of the gate would affect the velocity and cause local scour as the result of fluctuating rate. This research aims to assess the effects of discharge and gate-opening height variations, as well as the type of bedchannel material, on the change of depth of scour (ds). The research was conducted of open channel flow model with a sluice gate able to up and down movement. The discharges used in the research were 9 types ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 dm3·s−1. There were 5 variations in the height of gate-opening ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 cm at intervals of 0.5 and types of channel-bed material. The results of the research showed that the depth of scour can be analysed as a function of discharge, height of gate-opening, height of water level upstream and downstream, and the type of bed material used. The scour depth equation on is

$d_s = 1.7822\left( {{Q \over a}} \right)^{1.1347} a$

. Calculated coefficient of determination of the relationship between two types of channel-bed material and the depth of scour was R2 = 0.946. Consequently, it can be concluded that the equation can be applied on both types of bed-channel material.
Water quality index assessment of Koudiat Medouar Reservoir, northeast Algeria using weighted arithmetic index method
Authors: Bouslah Soraya , Djemili Lakhdar , Houichi Larbi
Published: December 2017

Water quality index (WQI) is a mathematical tool used to transform large quantities of water quality data into a single number which present water quality level. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the quality of Koudiat Medouar Dam in Batna (Algeria) to assess its suitability for drinking purposes. Samples were assessed for ten (10) physicochemical settings namely pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, nitrate, sulphate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. The calculation of WQI was done via weighted arithmetic index method. The WQI values ranged from 99.097 to 174.92 during 2015. It reflected that the water samples were in February in the range of very poor quality and ranged to be in unsuitable for drinking rang in the all other months. The WQI of the present study reveals dam water is contaminated and not suitable for drinking purpose without giving treatment.
Changes of species composition of the Poa pratensis-Festuca rubra plant communities in drainage peatland
Authors: Urban Danuta , Grzywna Antoni
Published: December 2017

The objective of this study was to examine the vegetation cover and describe the floristic diversity of selected plant communities of extensive and abandoned grasslands within the Forest of Parczew PLB060006 – a Natura 2000 protected area. Floristic surveys were conducted in the meadows in years 2001 and 2013 under the conditions of natural succession of the communities Poa pratensis-Festuca rubra. The area is situated in the northern part of the Lublin Voivodeship, in the physiographic mesoregion the Łęczna-Włodawa Lakeland. Those communities were characterized by average species richness and floristic diversity index values. The cover index decreased considerably in the case of 8 species, and increased for 12 species. A large increase in the cover index of Holcus lanatus, Deschampsia caespitosa, Galium mollugo, Anthriscus sylvestris and Polemonium caeruleae is particularly noteworthy. In 2001, 39 species of plants were recorded in all relevés, compared to 41 species recorded in 2013. Over 12 years, 11 species disappeared, but 13 new ones emerged. For the time being, the average species richness N increased from 12 to 16 per relevé. The biodiversity index H' increased from 2.8 to 3.6.
Impact of land use on soils microbial activity
Authors: Urbański Krzysztof , Jakubiak Mateusz
Published: December 2017

The article considered the influence the various types of land use on microbial activity of soils and thus using this parameter as a universal test of soil quality. Samples for soil respiration studies were taken from agricultural areas, meadows, forests and urban areas (estate cottages). All samples were subjected to the same analytical procedure and the method of measurement was followed by a Substrate-Induced Respiration (SIR) method. Since all the samples were from neighbouring regions and were characterized by similar soil parameters, the obtained results allowed to assess the quality of the soil environment of the surveyed area and to evaluate the total rating of whole area. The obtained results allowed to observe slight divergences between soil samples taken from areas of different use. And although statistically, in this case, these differences were not significant, the characteristics of the respiration curves clearly indicate that there is a dependency between the form of use and the size and rate of soil respiration. In addition, the results have shown that single family housing does not exhibit as much anthropopression to the soil environment as it might seem.
Issues related to marginal lands with reference to selected agricultural problematic areas
Authors: Wójcik-Leń Justyna , Sobolewska-Mikulska Katarzyna
Published: December 2017

Functions of rural areas are influenced, among others, by historical conditions of social development, such as: the intensity of population growth, the insufficient level of produced crops and the permanent food shortages. Such approach to rural areas contributed to development of less useful areas, characterised by the low production potential, for agricultural purposes. Besides, those areas are also characterised by the intensive fragmentation of arable lands and directing the agricultural production to meet own demands of farmers. Professional publications include many proposals concerning definitions of marginal lands with reference to problematic areas. It mainly depends on the field of research, the authors and the approach to the discussed issues. The objective of this paper is to review the terminology and characteristics of marginal areas and problematic areas. As a result, the original definition of agricultural problematic areas will be proposed by the authors; this is important in Poland, in particular, when those issues are considered from the perspective of increasing the size of problematic areas and agricultural development in those areas.
Flow cytometry as a valuable tool to study cyanobacteria:A mini-review
Authors: Poniedziałek Barbara , Falfushynska Halina I. , Rzymski Piotr
Published: December 2017

Flow cytometry (FCM) is routinely used in medical and veterinary diagnostics although it is also widely applied in environmental studies, including phytoplankton investigations. Cyanobacteria are wide-spread photosynthetic microorganisms that attract attention due to their ecology and potential toxicity. Therefore, novel research tools are being applied in their investigation. This paper characterizes FCM as a technique that enables photopigments (chlorophylls and phycocyanin) expressed by cyanobacteria to be excited and their emission to be subsequently detected. This feature not only allows cells to be counted in a rapid manner but also enables a wide range of potential applications in ecological and biochemical studies. The main advantages of FCM, such as rapid, automatic and precise measurements requiring small sample volumes, are also discussed in this paper along with challenges including analyses of filamentous cyanobacteria and signal overlapping. It is expected that FCM will continue to be used in some fields of cyanobacterial studies.
Pharmaceutical pollution of aquatic environment: an emerging and enormous challenge
Authors: Rzymski Piotr , Drewek Agnieszka , Klimaszyk Piotr
Published: December 2017

The global use of pharmaceuticals is on the systematic rise and leads to contamination of surface waters with xenobiotic compounds with a wide range of bioactivity. Waters that receive urban and medical effluents are particularly threatened. The presence of pharmaceuticals in these ecosystems can lead to unpredictable ecological impacts and responses, and may also have an impact on human health. At the same time the identification and quantification of these chemicals, to a large extent remains a subject to scientific investigation than part of a thorough monitoring programme. Their biological effects on aquatic organisms are mainly recognized experimentally and often using concentrations far exceeding environmentally relevant levels. This review paper defines the main sources of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, discusses the fate of these compounds and summarizes the current state-of-the-art of pharmaceutical monitoring in Polish surface waters.
Frequency effects over the lifespan: a case study of Attenborough’s r’s
Authors: MacKenzie Laurel
Published: December 2017

This paper uses a small-scale case study of the speech of a single speaker at two points in time to investigate the question of whether and how speakers’ mental representations change over their lives. Specifically, I test two predictions of usage-based models of phonological representation: that individuals surrounded by a changing community will show the community change in their own production, and that this individual-level change will show an effect of item frequency. The community change under study is the loss in English Received Pronunciation of [ɾ] as a realization of /ɹ/; the speaker studied is Sir David Attenborough, a well-known British nature documentary narrator. I find that Attenborough’s narrations do not show evidence of him participating in the community change away from [ɾ] over time; however, he does show a different sort of change, by which heincreaseshis rate of [ɾ] in high-frequency collocations in later life. I propose that this result may be attributable to Attenborough’s mental representation of high-frequency collocations becoming more word-like over time. The results speak to questions about the malleability of mental representations and the role of the individual language user in cases of community change.
Exploring xenophobic and homophobic attitudes in Malta: Linking the perception of social practice with textual analysis
Authors: Assimakopoulos Stavros , Muskat Rebecca Vella
Published: December 2017

Reporting on research undertaken under the auspices of the C.O.N.T.A.C.T. project, the present paper investigates the roots of xenophobic and homophobic attitudes in Malta and the extent to which these can be pinpointed in the lexical choices made in discriminatory comments posted online in reaction to local news stories pertaining to migrants and members of the LGBTIQ community. Adopting
Proximizing the Ukraine conflict: The case of the United States and the Czech Republic
Authors: Berrocal Martina
Published: December 2017

The conflict in Ukraine has been in the focus of the international politics for the last four years. The fact that it takes place not only on the battlefield but also in form of a discursive war has become strikingly evident. An inherent part of a conflict construction is the legitimization of one’s own positions and actions. According to
Incivility and confrontation in online conflict discourses
Authors: Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk Barbara
Published: December 2017

The paper aims to uncover the interactional discourse negative emotion dynamics in online conflict discourses in Polish and English and identify conditions for transitory group emergence. The analysed comments concern the present challenges to the status and position of the European Union as well as its existential legitimacy crisis, including the status of refugees and immigration throughout the years 2012-2017. It is shown that negative emotionality underlying incivility axis patterns as identified throughout the CMC discourse threads, functions as a stronger driving force towards a unity of particular group identification than a comparable set of positive emotionality parameters.

There are cultural and language-related aspects of these processes identified with regard to differences between Polish and English in terms of discourse strategies, cultural dimensions, presence of incivility and emotionality dynamics. Considered from the overall level of the relationship between conflict and emotions, what is observed is the radicalization of the attitudes and their language expression, accompanied by the rise in emotional arousal as evidenced both in the English and Polish sets of data, although differences in the degree of its overtness are still distinct.
More Gender Equality, More Homogamy? A Cohort Comparison in Six European Countries
Authors: Falcon Julie , Joye Dominique
Published: December 2017

We study whether educational homogamy has increased following the rise of women’s educational attainment and of egalitarian couples in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. From the analysis of data from the European Union and Swiss Labour Force Surveys over a 15-year period (1999–2013), we observe that educational homogamy did not increase across cohorts, although we find substantial differences in the degree of homogamy according to couple arrangements.
Educational Sorting in Mixed Marriages in Switzerland
Authors: Potarca Gina , Bernardi Laura
Published: December 2017

According to status-caste exchange theory, intermarriages involve transactions in which higher educated immigrants trade status for the ethnic advantage of the less-educated native partners. Looking at 2 836 currently married Swiss immigrants, we find that the highly skilled “exchange” their status only when pairing with a medium-educated native. Results also show that younger cohorts of immigrants are more likely to choose hypogamy when marrying a same-origin immigrant than when partnering a native.
From an Alternative to a Precarious Family Form? The Changing Role of Education in Nonmarital Childbearing in Germany
Authors: Konietzka Dirk , Kreyenfeld Michaela
Published: December 2017

This paper examines the association of education and family forms based on data of the German microcensus 1996–2012. The investigation shows that highly educated women in western Germany had a higher probability of living in a nonmarital instead of a marital union. With an increase in the share of nonmarital births, the association has reversed. Likewise, the highly educated couples were initially the vanguards of living in nonmarital unions with children, but they are nowadays the least likely to do so. Patterns differ between eastern and western Germany, though.
Sensitivity of the Footeval Test to Different Training Modes
Authors: Manouvrier Christophe , Cassirame Johan , Ahmaidi Said
Published: December 2017

Manouvrier, C, Cassirame, J, and Ahmaidi, S. Sensitivity of the footeval test to different training modes. J Strength Cond Res 34(5): 1440–1447, 2020—The aim of this study is to assess the impact of preseason training and more specifically about different training modality to Footeval test. This study also compares those sensibility with classic test, Vameval. A total of 36 young elite players' performance were split in 3 groups to perform 2 times a week a specific complements training: generic (GENERIC), small-sided game (SSG), and technical (TECH). After 4 weeks with training intervention, all players improved their performance to Footeval and Vameval tests. Regarding improvement, we noted that each training complement obtained different magnitude of modification. For all groups, Footeval increase was more important than Vameval. Small-sided game obtained highest improvement to Footeval (15 ± 1.8%) but lowest to Vameval (5 ± 0.9%). Oppositely, GENERIC and TECH groups obtained highest improvement to Vameval test (8 ± 1.4 and 8 ± 2.0%) but lower modification to Footeval (11 ± 2.2 and 16 ± 2.3%), respectively. Even if we removed the effect of maximum aerobic speed increase, SSG obtains better improvement than other training modality to Footeval.
Effect of Thigh-Compression Shorts on Muscle Activity and Soft-Tissue Vibration During Cycling
Authors: Hintzy Frédérique , Gregoire Nicolas , Samozino Pierre , Chiementin Xavier , Bertucci William , Rossi Jérémy
Published: December 2017

Hintzy, F, Gregoire, N, Samozino, P, Chiementin, X, Bertucci, W, and Rossi, J. Effect of thigh-compression shorts on muscle activity and soft-tissue vibration during cycling. J Strength Cond Res 33(8): 2145–2152, 2019—This study examined the effects of different levels of thigh compression (0, 2, 6, and 15 mm Hg) in shorts on both vibration and muscle activity of the thigh during cycling with superimposed vibrations. Twelve healthy males performed a 18-minute rectangular cycling test per shorts condition (randomized cross-over design) on a specifically designed vibrating cycloergometer. Each test was composed of 2 intensity levels (moderate then high) and 3 vibration frequencies of 18.3, 22.4, and 26.3 Hz, corresponding to cadences of 70, 85, and 100 rpm, respectively. Muscle vibrations were measured with 2 triaxial accelerometers located before and on the lower-body compression garment, to quantify, respectively, the input and output vibrations, and vastus lateralis muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography. Both vibration and electromyography signals were measured throughout the tests and quantified using root-mean-square analyses. The study showed that the use of a thigh-compression shorts at 6–15 mm Hg significantly reduced both the vibration transmissibility to the thigh and the muscle activity, with higher effect size at higher superimposed vibrations. The thigh-compression shorts garment therefore seems to be 1 way to dampen vibrations transmitted to the cyclists and then to reduce the negative consequences of these vibrations on muscles.
Acute Effects of Different Rest Intervals Between Sets of Resistance Exercise on Neuromuscular Fatigue in Trained Older Women
Authors: Jambassi Filho José C. , Gurjão André L.D. , Prado Alexandre K.G. , Gallo Luiza H. , Gobbi Sebastião
Published: December 2017

Jambassi Filho, JC, Gurjão, ALD, Prado, AKG, Gallo, LH, and Gobbi, S. Acute effects of different rest intervals between sets of resistance exercise on neuromuscular fatigue in trained older women. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2235–2240, 2020—The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of different rest intervals (RIs) between sets on total volume, time under tension, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and integrated electromyography (iEMG) activity of the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles. Twenty-one resistance-trained older women (66.4 ± 4.4 years; 69.1 ± 11.4 kg; 157.5 ± 5.0 cm) completed 3 different test sessions, performed 48–72 hours apart, in a randomized and counterbalanced within-subjects design. In 2 test sessions, the participants performed 3 sets to voluntary exhaustion with loads that corresponded to 15 maximum repetitions, with either 1-minute RI (RI-1) or 3-minute RI (RI-3). In another test session, the participants remained at rest for 15 minutes. The total volume of exercise and time under tension for the RI-3 session was statistically higher (p ≤ 0.05) than the RI-1 session. Postexercise MVC for the RI-3 session showed significantly greater reductions (−7.8%; p ≤ 0.05) compared with the RI-1 and control sessions. No significant changes in postexercise iEMG activity of the VL and VM were shown for any of the sessions (all p > 0.05). The findings of this study suggest that different RIs between sets lead to different acute neuromuscular responses. The longer RI seemed to induce higher neuromuscular fatigue, likely due to higher total volume and time under tension. Thus, longer RI may be a strategy that possibly would lead to greater long-term gains in muscle strength and hypertrophy of the lower limbs in trained older women.
Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise Reduces Hyperglycemia and Enhances Glucose Control Over a 24-Hour Period in Women With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cruz Loumaíra Carvalho da , Teixeira-Araujo Alfredo A. , Passos Andrade Karoline T. , Rocha Thaise Camila O Gomes , Puga Guilherme Morais , Moreira Sérgio R.
Published: December 2017

Cruz, LC, Teixeira-Araujo, AA, Andrade, KTP, Rocha, TCOG, Puga, GM, and Moreira, SR. Low intensity resistance exercise reduces hyperglycemia and enhances glucose control over a 24-hour period in women with type 2 diabetes. J Strength Cond Res 33(10): 2826–2835, 2019—The study herein aimed to compare glucose concentration and hyperglycemic responses of 24 hours after resistance exercise (RE) performed in different intensities in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Twelve women with T2D (55.2 ± 4.0 years; 70.1 ± 11.4 kg; and 155.7 ± 3.3 cm) performed 4 experimental sessions divided into 2 blocks separated by 7 days and in randomized order: block-A (session-1: control-CONT40% and session-2: RE40% of one repetition maximum [1RM] test) and block-B (session-3: CONT80% and session-4: RE80%1RM). The RE sessions were performed over 40 minutes with 3 circuits of 7 exercises each, with 40%1RM and 80%1RM with 16 and 8 repetitions for each set, respectively. Glucose was monitored over 24 hours after each experimental session through continuous glucose-monitoring system. One-way ANOVA for repeated measures showed that area under the curve of glucose concentration was reduced (p ≤ 0.05) after RE40%1RM (193.738 ± 33.186 mg·dl−1 × 1.380 min−1) when compared with CONT40% (263.937 ± 26.665 mg·dl−1 × 1.380 min−1), CONT80% (254.721 ± 35.836 mg·dl−1 × 1.380 min−1), and RE80%1RM (263.966 ± 62.795 mg·dl−1 × 1.380 min−1). Hyperglycemia (>160 mg·dl−1) was less prevalent (p ≤ 0.05) during the total period after RE40%1RM (20.8 ± 21.2%) when compared with CONT40% (77.4 ± 18.3%), CONT80% (69.4 ± 24.6%), and RE80%1RM (66.0 ± 33.7%). There was a lower hyperglycemic state in RE40%1RM (p ≤ 0.05) vs. CONT40%, CONT80%, and RE80%1RM after breakfast (1:25 ± 0:54 vs. 4:00 ± 0:00, 3:40 ± 0:53, and 3:25 ± 1:09 hours, respectively), lunch (1:25 ± 2:03 vs. 4:55 ± 0:17, 4:25 ± 1:26, and 3:40 ± 2:06 hours, respectively), and dinner (0:15 ± 0:27 vs. 3:15 ± 0:45, 3:25 ± 0:47, and 2:50 ± 1:31 hours, respectively). During the sleeping period, there was a lower hyperglycemic state (p ≤ 0.05) in RE40%1RM (0:20 ± 0:39 hours) vs. RE80%1RM (4:05 ± 3:08 hours). A single low-intensity RE40%1RM decreases hyperglycemic prevalence over a 24-hour period and ameliorates glucose control after meals and in sleeping periods in women with T2D.
Decoding Trans-Saccadic Memory
Authors: Edwards Grace , VanRullen Rufin , Cavanagh Patrick
Published: December 2017

We examine whether peripheral information at a planned saccade target affects immediate postsaccadic processing at the fovea on saccade landing. Current neuroimaging research suggests that presaccadic stimulation has a late effect on postsaccadic processing, in contrast to the early effect seen in behavioral studies. Human participants (both male and female) were instructed to saccade toward a face or a house that, on different trials, remained the same, changed, or disappeared during the saccade. We used a multivariate pattern analysis of electroencephalography data to decode face versus house processing directly after the saccade. The classifier was trained on separate trials without a saccade, where a house or face was presented at the fovea. When the saccade target remained the same across the saccade, we could reliably decode the target 123 ms after saccade offset. In contrast, when the target was changed during the saccade, the new target was decoded at a later time-point, 151 ms after saccade offset. The “same” condition advantage suggests that congruent presaccadic information facilitates processing of the postsaccadic stimulus compared with incongruent information. Finally, the saccade target could be decoded above chance even when it had been removed during the saccade, albeit with a slower time course (162 ms) and poorer signal strength. These findings indicate that information about the (peripheral) presaccadic stimulus is transferred across the saccade so that it becomes quickly available and influences processing at its expected new retinal position (the fovea).

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHere we provide neural evidence for early information transfer across saccades. Specifically, we examined the effect of presaccadic sensory information on the initial neuronal processing of a postsaccadic stimuli. Using electroencephalography and multivariate pattern analysis, we found the following: (1) that the identity of the presaccadic stimulus modulated the postsaccadic latency of stimulus relevant information; and (2) that a saccadic neural marker for a saccade target stimulus could be detected even when the stimulus had been removed during saccade. These results demonstrate that information about the peripheral presaccadic stimulus was transferred across the saccade and influenced processing at a new retinal position (the fovea) directly after the saccade landed.
Attention Shifts Recruit the Monkey Default Mode Network
Authors: Arsenault John T. , Caspari Natalie , Vandenberghe Rik , Vanduffel Wim
Published: December 2017

A unifying function associated with the default mode network (DMN), which is more active during rest than under active task conditions, has been difficult to define. The DMN is activated during monitoring the external world for unexpected events, as a sentinel, and when humans are engaged in high-level internally focused tasks. The existence of DMN correlates in other species, such as mice, challenge the idea that internally focused, high-level cognitive operations, such as introspection, autobiographical memory retrieval, planning the future, and predicting someone else's thoughts, are evolutionarily preserved defining properties of the DMN. A recent human study demonstrated that demanding cognitive shifts could recruit the DMN, yet it is unknown whether this holds for nonhuman species. Therefore, we tested whether large changes in cognitive context would recruit DMN regions in female and male nonhuman primates. Such changes were measured as displacements of spatial attentional weights based on internal rules of relevance (spatial shifts) compared with maintaining attentional weights at the same location (stay events). Using fMRI in macaques, we detected that a cortical network, activated during shifts, largely overlapped with the DMN. Moreover, fMRI time courses sampled from independently defined DMN foci showed significant shift selectivity during the demanding attention task. Finally, functional clustering based on independent resting state data revealed that DMN and shift regions clustered conjointly, whereas regions activated during the stay events clustered apart. We therefore propose that cognitive shifting in primates generally recruits DMN regions. This might explain a breakdown of the DMN in many neurological diseases characterized by declined cognitive flexibility.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTActivation of the human default mode network (DMN) can be measured with fMRI when subjects shift thoughts between high-level internally directed cognitive states, when thinking about the self, the perspective of others, when imagining future and past events, and during mind wandering. Furthermore, the DMN is activated as a sentinel, monitoring the environment for unexpected events. Arguably, these cognitive processes have in common fast and substantial changes in cognitive context. As DMN activity has also been reported in nonhuman species, we tested whether shifts in spatial attention activated the monkey DMN. Core monkey DMN and shift-selective regions shared several functional properties, indicating that cognitive shifting, in general, might constitute one of the evolutionarily preserved functions of the DMN.
Biogradska predromanička skulptura
Authors: Josipović Ivan
Published: December 2017

U članku se analizira sačuvana predromanička skulptura iz Biograda koja se temeljem stilskih i likovno-morfoloških karakteristika nastoji grupirati u homogene skupine i atribuirati klesarskim produkcijama djelatnima od posljednjih desetljeća 8. do kraja 9. stoljeća. Najveći broj ulomaka prepoznat je kao rad nedavno definiranog klesarskog ateljea nazvanog Radionica plutejâ zadarske katedrale, a čije je djelovanje pritom okvirno datirano u posljednja desetljeća 8. i(li) na sami početak 9. stoljeća. Nekoliko ostalih ulomaka povezano je s klesarskim radionicama djelatnima u vrijeme hrvatskih knezova Trpimira i Branimira, a čime su ujedno datirani oko sredine, tj. u posljednju četvrtinu 9. stoljeća. Za većinu preostalih reljefa bilo je tek moguće ustvrditi da pokazuju karakteristike zreloga predromaničkog stila 9. stoljeća, dok su dva zanimljiva ulomka temeljem njihovih stilskih karakteristika datirana u nešto kasnije razdoblje, jedan u sredinu 11., a drugi u prvu četvrtinu 12. stoljeća. Konačno, analizom i atribuiranjem jednog pilastra koji je naknadno preklesan u arhitrav, a koji je pronađen u zadarskoj crkvi Sv. Krševana, utvrđena je kronološka distinkcija između dviju ranih klesarskih produkcija djelatnih na širem zadarskom području, a od kojih je jedna Radionica plutejâ zadarske katedrale, pa se time ujedno uspjelo doći i do preciznije datacije najveće grupe predromaničkih reljefa iz Biograda.
O gradnji, funkciji i rušenju krstionice-zvonika dubrovačke romaničke katedrale
Authors: Marinković Ana
Published: December 2017

Članak okuplja do sada poznate likovne i pisane izvore o krstionici dubrovačke romaničke katedrale, kojima se pridužuju neki novi – prvenstveno dokumentacija o njenome rušenju iz ranih 1830-ih godina, te na temelju njihove usporedne analize dopunjava dosadašnje znanje o njenome izgledu (posebice artikulacija interijera zgrade krstionice s plitkom, segmentnom, kupolom s rebrima). Predlaže se povezivanje dubrovačke krstionice ne samo s formalnim uzorima iz biskupskih središta Padske nizine (Parma), već i s općenitijim konceptom rituala uskršnjeg krštenja, razvijenog u talijanskim srednjovjekovnim komunama. Usporedbom izvora također se uspostavlja kronologija promjene funkcije građevine, od prvotnog naglaska na zvonik, preko posvjedočene krstioničke funkcije krajem XIV i početkom XV stoljeća, do preostale funkcije crkve za svakodnevno bogoslužje, nakon prenošenja obreda krštenja u samu katedralu.
Prilog poznavanju slikarskih kontakata između Dubrovačke Republike, Mletačke Albanije i južne Italije početkom 16. stoljeća s posebnim osvrtom na „slučaj“ slikara Michelea Greca iz Valone
Authors: Prijatelj Pavičić Ivana
Published: December 2017

Autorica se bavi slikarskim izrazom na prostoru Dalmacije i južnog Jadrana krajem XV. i tijekom prvih desetljeća XVI. stoljeća u kojem su bili pomiješani bizantska stilizacija, morfologija i ikonografija s renesansnim stilom, tipologijom i ikonografijom. Takav se stilski hibridni izraz javlja i u djelima pravoslavnih i kod pojedinih rimokatoličkih slikara. Posebnu pažnju posvećuje slikaru Micheleu Grecu iz Valone, djelatnom u Moliseu početkom XVI. stoljeća.