bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The French staff material from Johann Georg Pasch
Authors: Dupuis Olivier 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Johann Georg Pasch was a very prolific author who published a large number of books during the third quarter of the seventeenth century. Some of these included physical exercises with a long staff and presented by Pasch himself as coming from France. Among all the known editions, four different versions can be isolated; this offers the possibility to study the filiation of the edition process. This study is combined with a textual criticism of the material, beginning with a comprehensive biography from the author and finishing with the questioning of the French origin.
Income and working time of a Fencing Master in Bologna in the 15th and early 16th century
Authors: Battistini Alessandro , Corradetti Niki 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Since ancient times, the master-at-arms profession has always been considered essential for the education of the nobility and the common citizenship, especially in the Middle Ages. Yet, we know nothing about the real standard of living of these characters. The recent discovery of documents, which report the sums earned by fencing masters to teach combat disciplines, has brought us the possibility to estimate how highly this profession was regarded, and what its actual economic value was in the Italian late Middle Ages. They also give us also a material view into the modes of operation of a sala d’arme in those times.
Using different comparative methods based on the quoted currencies, primary goods and the cost of living, it was possible to analyze prices and duration of various military teachings offered by the fencing Masters in the late Middle Ages and equivalent viable activities of the time. We use three ways to calculate equivalent income levels in euros: from the silver content of the coins (bolognini, equivalent to the soldo); from purchasing power in relation to bread prices; and from equivalent wages. As a result we were able to define more accurately both the accessibility of these services for citizens and the relative value to other professions.
This cursory research study also aims to estimate approximately the current equivalent wages of a fencing master operating in the Italian peninsula in the 15th and early 16th century, confirming that this job was comparable to a modern, highly specialized, profession.
Pole-weapons in the Sagas of Icelanders: a comparison of literary and archaeological sources
Authors: Orkisz Jan H. 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
The Icelandic sagas are a major source of information on the Vikings and their fighting prowess. In these stories, several mysterious pole-weapons appear, which are often called “halberds”, for lack of a better word. In order to better identify what these weapons could have been, and to provide a better understanding of how the sagas relate to the Viking-age events they describe, we confront textual and archaeological evidence for several of these weapons (the höggspjót, the atgeirr, the kesja, the krókspjót, the bryntroll and the fleinn), keeping in mind the contextualisation of their appearances in sagas. The description of the use of each weapon allows to pick several candidates likely to correspond to the studied word. Without a perfect knowledge of what context the authors of the sagas wanted to describe, it appears to be impossible to give a final answer. However, we show that some specific types of spears are good candidates for some of the studied weapons.
Cross-cultural adaptation of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ’07) for the population of Polish children
Authors: Nowak Agata 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Study aim: The purpose of this article is to present the cultural adaptation of the DCDQ’07 (Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire) as one of the popular and most frequently-used diagnostic instruments for diagnosing DCD in school-age children.

Material and method: The procedure for translating and evaluating the selected psychometric parameters of the DCDQ has been conducted in compliance with the guidelines for the procedure [4]. The study involved 152 parents of school-age children; the control group included 32 children. Additionally, a group of 75 children was tested with the KTK test. To assess the test–retest reliability, the group of 50 parents was tested twice with the DCDQ at an interval of 14 days.

Results: The study proved that the DCDQ is an accurate and reliable instrument for screening DCD in Polish children. The high value of all of the analysed psychometric parameters is evidenced by the following: a sensitivity of 0.75, a specificity of 0.63 and a test-retest reliability of 0.93. Internal consistency is also satisfactory and amounts to 0.92. The study also determined that the score of the DCDQ depends on the gender of the tested child, and not on his/her age.

Conclusions: According to the research, DCDQ is a useful instrument that allows for the screening of DCD in school-age children. The Polish version of the questionnaire is definitely going to fill in the gap among diagnostic instruments and will allow for further development of research on the epidemiology of DCD.
Influence of a nine-day alpine ski training programme on the postural stability of people with different levels of skills
Authors: Staniszewski Michał , Zybko Przemysław , Wiszomirska Ida 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Study aim: In alpine skiing, balance is one of the key elements that determine the effectiveness of the ride. Because of ski boots, the foot and ankle joint complex is excluded from the process of maintaining the stability of the body. The aim of the study was to determine to what extent a few days of skiing activities and the level of technical skills affect the skiers’ level of postural stability.

Material and methods: The study involved 10 beginner (20.7 ± 1.1 years, 76.4 ± 8.7 kg, 184.4 ± 6.1 cm) and 10 advanced (20.5 ± 0.5 years, 80.5 ± 13.7 kg, 184.5 ± 9.5 cm) skiers, who participated in a nine-day ski training camp. Measurements of the postural stability were taken on the first and last days of the camp, on an AccuSway (AMTI, USA) stabilometric platform.

Results: In both groups, a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in stability was observed after the training camp only while standing in ski boots. While standing on two feet, the participants were more stable barefoot (p < 0.05), and when standing on one foot they were more stable in the ski boot trial (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Skiing had a positive effect on the postural stability only in measurement conditions that were similar to those in which this stability was practiced, i.e. in measurements involving ski boots. The restriction of mobility within the ankle joint significantly influenced the training-induced changes in the postural stability of both beginner and advanced alpine skiers.
Blood ammonia and lactate responses to incremental exercise
in highly-trained male sprinters and triathletes
Authors: Kantanista Adam , Kusy Krzysztof , Zarębska Ewa , Włodarczyk Michał , Ciekot-Sołtysiak Monika , Zieliński Jacek 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Study aim: To compare the blood ammonia and lactate concentrations in sprinters and triathletes during an incremental treadmill exercise test and in the 30 minutes of recovery.
Material and methods: The study included 10 male sprinters and 14 male triathletes who compete at the national and international level. A treadmill test until exhaustion was administered. Blood samples for ammonia and lactate were obtained when the athletes were at rest, during and immediately after exercise, and between 5 and 30 min after exercise.

Results: The ammonia concentration and time course were similar in the sprinters and triathletes (F = 1.81, p ≥ 0.05, η2 = 0.08). An exercise-related increase in blood ammonia was almost linear, regardless of the exercise intensity. In the case of lactate, the interactions between the concentrations measured in the sprinters and triathletes were statistically significant (F = 5.78, p ≤ 0.001, η2 = 0.21). Post-hoc tests revealed that the lactate concentrations differed significantly between the sprinters and triathletes in the 18th min (p ≤ 0.01) and the 21st min (p ≤ 0.001) of the exercise test. The blood lactate increased in a nonlinear manner (slowly at lower intensities and rapidly at higher intensities). During the 30 min recovery period, both the ammonia and lactate levels decreased linearly. However, in the sprinters, the peak values were maintained in the first stage of recovery (5 min post-exercise).

Conclusions: The study showed that the blood ammonia concentration may be a useful marker of exercise-related metabolic responses in sprint-trained as well as in endurance-trained competitive athletes. Blood ammonia levels were more intensity-sensitive across the whole intensity range during the incremental exercise when compared to the blood lactate levels.
Leg stiffness and potential energy in the countermovement phase
and the CMJ jump height
Authors: Struzik Artur , Zawadzki Jerzy , Rokita Andrzej 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Study aim: The elastic potential energy accumulated in the musculotendinous units during the countermovement phase of a jump adds up to the energy supplied by the contracting muscles used in the take-off phase. Consequently, the total mechanical energy used during the jump may reach higher values. Stiffness represents a quantitative measure of a body’s elastic properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the relationship between leg stiffness and the countermovement jump height.

Material and methods: 24 basketball players from the II Division participated in the study. The measurements employed a Kistler force plate and a BTS SMART system for the motion analysis. Each study participant performed three countermovement jumps with arm swings. Leg stiffness in the countermovement phase was determined from the slope of the ground reaction forces curve, with respect to the coexisting height of the greater trochanter of the femur. The decline in the gravitational potential energy of the centre of mass during the countermovement phase is partially accumulated in the form of potential elastic energy through the stretched musculotendinous units, and consequently contributes to the jump height.

Results: We found a statistically significant relationship between leg stiffness and a decline in the potential energy during the countermovement phase. The relationship between leg stiffness and the jump height was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: The distribution of measurements may suggest the presence of local maximums, with their locations representing a value of leg stiffness that allows for high values of changes in the potential energy and the jump height to be obtained. Therefore, the presence of a specific value for leg stiffness that would be the most favourable for the accumulation of potential elastic energy is likely. However, this study cannot unequivocally confirm this fact, and the confirmation of the above statement will require further experimentation.
Strategies of coping with stress and the sport results of alpine skiers
and tennis players
Authors: Knittel Michał , Guszkowska Monika 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Study aim: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between strategies of coping with stress caused by participating in sport competitions and the results of those competitions, as well as to differentiate the applied coping strategies according to the practiced sport discipline (tennis and alpine skiing).

Material and methods: The study encompassed 83 university students (39 women and 44 men) who were participating in the Polish University Championships in tennis (n = 32) and alpine skiing (n = 51). The research was based on the Coping Inventory for Competitive Sports (CICS) questionnaire and was adapted to Polish conditions by the authors of this study. The results achieved during the competition were also recorded during the study.

Results: Possibly due to the nature of their sport, the tennis players used coping actions to a greater extent than the alpine skiers, regardless of the nature of the action. The application of task-focused strategies and the lower use of emotion-focused and avoidance strategies allowed the athletes to achieve higher results during the competition.

Conclusions: Task-focused strategies should be developed in order to improve the competitive results of athletes. Taking the situational nature of the coping strategies into consideration, coping strategies can be designed and modified to improve the achieved results.
The contribution of paraoxonase 1 and myeloperoxidase
to HDL-cholesterol functionality
Authors: Malara Marzena , Kęska Anna , Lutosławska Grażyna 
Published: May 2016

Summary
The purpose of this study was to analyse the scientific evidence concerning the effects of two enzymes – paraoxonase 1 and myeloperoxidase – on the functions of HDL-cholesterol. It is well documented that disturbed circulating lipoproteins (a high total and high LDL-cholesterol, and low HDL-cholesterol) bring about atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is recognised as the main cause of death all around the world. In consequence, numerous studies have focused on procedures which will improve the plasma lipoproteins profile by decreasing the total cholesterol and the LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and increasing the HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). However, the anti-atherogenic role of HDL-C has been challenged in studies showing that genetically elevated HDL-cholesterol does not offer protection against CVD. Moreover, it has been found that raising the circulating HDL-cholesterol fails to reduce atherosclerosis. The doubts concerning the protective role of HDL-C have been supported by in vitro studies which indicate that the HDL-C from patients with atherosclerosis does not have a protective action, but does stimulate inflammation and free radical synthesis. The above data suggests that HDL-C, commonly recognised as protective against atherosclerosis, in some circumstances becomes pro-atherogenic, and is thus dysfunctional. Our review focuses on two enzymes – paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) – which markedly affect the properties of HDL-C and contribute to its anti – or pro-atherogenic activity. Moreover, the effects of the diet and physical activity on PON1 and MPO are summarised with respect to the HDL-C functionality.
Impact of a social media exercise service on individuals and employees
Authors: Santtila Matti , Grönqvist Kalle , Räisänen Jussi , Kyröläinen Heikki 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Study aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of a social media exercise platform (HeiaHeia, Helsinki,
Finland) on the level of physical activity, physical fitness, wellbeing and body weight of the service users.
Material and methods: The subject group consisted of 2862 individuals who voluntarily participated in a web survey. Their
age, gender, body mass index, physical fitness level and activity information were self-reported.

Results: Most of the service users (78.1%) exercised more than three times a week. About 75% of the users reported that they
were in good or excellent physical fitness, while about 50% were overweight. More than half (64.6%) of the service users
reported that they had perceived an increase in their level of physical activity; and 46.4% of them reported that they had perceived
an advance in their physical fitness after using the social media service. In addition, 54.0% of the users perceived an
increase in their wellbeing. Every fifth (21.3%) user reported a decreased body weight after using the service. Those users with
lower levels of physical fitness, lower physical activity and who were overweight were more likely to report that the use of the
present service was beneficial. In total, about 75% of the service users reported at least one benefit after using the service.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the use of the social media exercise service can lead to an enhanced perceived
level of physical activity, fitness and wellbeing. It also impacts positively on the users’ body weight. Thus, the present social
media service can be recommended for use, especially for overweight, unfit and sedentary customers.
The clear and dark sides of water: influence on the coiled coil folding domain
Authors: Vajda Tamás , Perczel András 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
The essential role of water in extra- and intracellular coiled coil structures of proteins is critically evaluated, and the different protein types incorporating coiled coil units are overviewed. The following subjects are discussed: i) influence of water on the formation and degradation of the coiled coil domain together with the stability of this conformer type; ii) the water’s paradox iii) design of coiled coil motifs and iv) expert opinion and outlook is presented. The clear and dark sides refer to the positive and negative aspects of the water molecule, as it may enhance or inhibit a given folding event. This duplicity can be symbolized by the Roman ‘Janus-face’ which means that water may facilitate and stimulate coiled coil structure formation, however, it may contribute to the fatal processes of oligomerization and amyloidosis of the very same polypeptide chain.
Recent advances in the characterization of Crl, the unconventional activator of the stress sigma factor σS/RpoS
Authors: Cavaliere Paola , Norel Françoise 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
The bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme is a multisubunit core enzyme associated with a σ factor that is required for promoter-specific transcription initiation. Besides a primary σ responsible for most of the gene expression during active growth, bacteria contain alternative σ factors that control adaptive responses. A recurring strategy in the control of σ factor activity is their sequestration by anti-sigma factors that occlude the RNAP binding determinants, reducing their activity. In contrast, the unconventional transcription factor Crl binds specifically to the alternative σ factor σS/RpoS, and favors its association with the core RNAP, thereby increasing its activity. σS is the master regulator of the general stress response that protects many Gram-negative bacteria from several harmful environmental conditions. It is also required for biofilm formation and virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. In this report, we discuss current knowledge on the regulation and function of Crl in Salmonella and Escherichia coli, two bacterial species in which Crl has been studied. We review recent advances in the structural characterization of the Crl-σS interaction that have led to a better understanding of this unusual mechanism of σ regulation.
Plasma miR-21 and miR-31 as Predictive Biomarkers for Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Daneberga Zanda , Broka Elza , Kalniete Dagnija , Nakazawa-Miklasevica Miki , Ustinova Monta , Skuja Elina , Purkalne Gunta , Miklasevics Edvins 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Introduction. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Evaluation of patient response to the applied therapy regime is still challenging. Routine laboratory tests during follow-up do not provide necessary information on therapy efficacy. To improve life expectancy and quality of life for patient with CRC ongoing researches is concentrated to discovering new, reliable biomarkers which could contribute to define patients prognosis and choice of therapy. One of topical research field for searching new biomarkers is mi-RNS.
Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to analyze relative expression changes of miR-21 and miR-31 as potential biomarkers for evaluation of therapy efficacy in mCRC.
Material and methods. In the present study seven patients with mCRC diagnosis were included. After surgery all patients received first line therapy with oxaliplatin. Blood samples for present study were collected every 2-3 weeks. Relative expression of miR-31 and miR-21 assessed with real time PCR. Data analysis carried out by delta delta Ct (ΔΔCt) algorithm. Correlation analysis was performed by R programme ver. 3.1.2 using Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results. Our results in the correlation analysis for CEA serum level and relative expression level of miR-21 and miR-31 did not confirm significant correlation. MiR-31 showed increased expression soon after administration of therapy with a drop of relative expression closer to the CDP I. Acquired results revealed trend of increase in relative expression of miR-21 in PFS II compared to PFS I. Correlation analysis for miR-31 and miR-21 did not reach statistical reliability.
Conclusions. The relative expression alteration pattern of miR-31 and miR-21 in plasma during the therapy is promising biomarker for evaluation of therapy efficacy. These findings need to be validated in large cohort sample set.
Chromosomal Aberration in Colorectal Cancer Family
Authors: Miklasevics Edvins , Kupila Mikko , Kalniete Dagnija , Eglite Inese , Berzina Dace , Ustinova Monta , Purkalne Gunta , Daneberga Zanda 
Published: May 2016

Summary
Introduction. Lynch syndrome, previously more commonly known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, is a hereditary cancer syndrome with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Usually it is caused by mutations the MMR genes. In 20 - 25% of cases patients are not found to have mutations in any of these genes. Chromosomal aberrations as a cause of the Lynch syndrome were examined in this study.
Aim of the study. To identify chromosomal aberrations which may lead to colorectal cancer.
Material and methods. Twelve patients, corresponding to either Amsterdam I/II criteria or Bethesda guidelines, which have been tested negative for mutations in Lynch genes have been karyotyped were karyotyped with SNP array chips, in order to determine if they had potentially heritable chromosomal aberrations which could be responsible for increased risk of malignancy.
Results. One patient with a 14.7Mbp duplication framed by small deletions was chosen to be the most likely patient to suffer from an inherited carcinogenic chromosomal aberration. The preceding deletion was found to contain the coding region of BRE, encoding a component of the BRCA1-A complex; we believe that this deletion is the most carcinogenic component of the aberration and likely responsible for Lynch syndrome in this case. The larger duplication furthermore contained the coding regions for 83 genes, some of which have been shown to promote malignant disease when overexpressed.
Conclusion. Because of the clinically grossly tolerable nature of the aberration it is possible that it was vertically transmitted and contributed to the onset of colorectal cancer in the patient and his mother and maternal aunt.