Layout of sport-specific field tests adopted in this study.

<p>See text for details.</p

Bland-Altman plots of the differences between actual game-related statistic and predicted values.

<p>(a): mean points scored per match (TP); (b): mean free-throw points scored per match (FT); (c): mean two- and three-point field-goals scored per match (FG).</p

The two measurements of sitting height.

<p>SitH1: the vertical distance from the vertex of the head to floor; SitH2: the vertical grip reach from a seated position, was measured as the maximal distance from the tip of the dactylion III at the maximum to the floor, with the upper arms extended overhead as much as possible.</p

Pearson’s two-tailed r between game-related statistics and field tests in younger WB players (n = 52).

<p>TP, total points scored; FT, successful free-throws; FG, two- and three-point successful field-goals.</p><p>T_1, 5 m sprint; T_2, 20 m sprint with ball; T_3, Suicide; T_4, Pass for accuracy; T_5, Spot-shot; T_6, Lay-ups; T_7, Maximal pass. P_c, Benjamini and Hochberg corrected P-value.</p><p>All correlations are statistically significant.</p

Recruitment flowchart.

<p>Recruitment flowchart.</p

Bivariate correlation (Pearson’s two-tailed r for continuous variables; Spearman’s ρ for categorical variables) between age, WB experience, functional points class, anthropometric and body composition variables, and performance variables (field tests [T1-T7] and game-related statistics) in younger WB players (n = 52).

<p>T_1, 5 m sprint; T_2, 20 m sprint with ball; T_3, Suicide; T_4, Pass for accuracy; T_5, Spot-shot; T_6, Lay-ups; T_7, Maximal pass; TP, total points scored; FT, successful free-throws; FG, two- and three-point successful field-goals. P_c, Benjamini and Hochberg corrected P-value.</p><p>Significant correlations are in bold.</p

<b>Stabilization of Nanosized Borohydrides for Hydrogen Storage: Suppressing the Melting with TiCl</b>₃<b>Doping</b>

Lightweight complex hydrides, M­(BH₄)_<i>n</i> (M = Li, Na, Mg, and Ca; <i>n</i> = 1 for Li and Na, <i>n</i> = 2 for Mg and Ca), are believed to be promising hydrogen storage materials with extreme high hydrogen density up to 18.5 mass %. However, these materials suffer high dehydrogenation temperature, melting, and reversibility problems, which exclude them from the list of practical hydrogen storage systems. Herein, borohydrides (M­(BH₄)_<i>n</i>–Ti, with M = M₁ or M₂ and <i>n</i> = 1 or 2), were modified with TiCl₃ via a wet chemistry approach, and in some cases this led to the formation of solvent-stabilized nanoparticles. As a result of TiCl₃ modification, the melting before hydrogen release was suppressed as evidenced by DSC and thermal microscopy observations. Furthermore, the hydrogen release temperature of M­(BH₄)_<i>n</i>–Ti was significantly reduced. For example, the dehydrogenation temperature of NaBH₄–Ti was reduced from 570 to 120 °C. Ti modification was also found to improve to some extent the reversibility of the doped materials. In particular, up to 2 mass% H₂ was reversibly cycled for Ca­(BH₄)₂<i>-</i>Ti at 300 °C and 9 MPa H₂ pressure, in comparison to 400 °C and 70 MPa for pristine Ca­(BH₄)₂. This study demonstrates a simple method to synthesize surfactant-free Ti-doped nanosized borohydrides, and by removing the melting of these materials, it provides a new path toward the stabilization of borohydride particles at the nanoscale

FA_0.8MA_0.2Sn_<i>x</i>Pb_1–<i>x</i>I₃ Hybrid Perovskite Solid Solution: Toward Environmentally Friendly, Stable, and Near-IR Absorbing Materials

We report the first investigation addressing the synthesis and characterization of the FA_0.8­MA_0.2­Sn_<i>x</i>Pb_1–<i>x</i>­I₃ solid solution showing a complete solubility of Sn on the Pb-site leading to cubic single-phase materials. The explored composition shows excellent phase stability and absorbance in the near-IR spectral region

Image_1_Modulatory Effect of Aerobic Physical Activity on Synaptic Ultrastructure in the Old Mouse Hippocampus.PDF

<p>Aerobic physical exercise (APE) leads to improved brain functions. To better understand the beneficial effect of APE on the aging brain, a morphometric study was carried out of changes in hippocampal synapses of old (>27 months) Balb/c mice undergoing treadmill training (OTT) for 4 weeks in comparison with old sedentary (OS), middle-aged sedentary (MAS) and middle-aged treadmill training (MATT) mice. The inner molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (IMLDG) and the molecular stratum of Ammon’s horn1 neurons (SMCA1) were investigated. The number of synapses per cubic micron of tissue (numeric density, Nv), overall synaptic area per cubic micron of tissue (surface density, Sv), average area of synaptic contact zones (S), and frequency (%) of perforated synapses (PS) were measured in electron micrographs of ethanol-phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) stained tissue. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA). In IMLDG, an effect of age was found for Nv and Sv, but not S and %PS. Similar results were found for exercise and the interaction of age and exercise. In post hoc analysis Nv was higher (60.6% to 75.1%; p < 0.001) in MATT vs. MAS, OS and OTT. Sv was higher (32.3% to 54.6%; p < 0.001) in MATT vs. MAS, OS and OTT. In SMCA1, age affected Nv, Sv and %PS, but not S. The effect of exercise was significant for Sv only. The interaction of age and exercise was significant for Nv, Sv and %PS. In post hoc analysis Nv was lower in OS vs. MAS, MATT and OTT (−26.1% to −32.1%; p < 0.038). MAS and OTT were similar. Sv was lower in OS vs. MAS, MATT and OTT (−23.4 to −30.3%, p < 0.004). MAS and OTT were similar. PS frequency was higher in OS vs. MAS, MATT and OTT (48.3% to +96.6%, p < 0.023). APE positively modulated synaptic structural dynamics in the aging hippocampus, possibly in a region-specific way. The APE-associated reduction in PS frequency in SMCA1 of old mice suggests that an increasing complement of PS is a compensatory phenomenon to maintain synaptic efficacy. In conclusion, the modulation of synaptic plasticity by APE gives quantitative support to the concept that APE protects from neurodegeneration and improves learning and memory in aging.</p

The FA_1–<i>x</i>MA_<i>x</i>PbI₃ System: Correlations among Stoichiometry Control, Crystal Structure, Optical Properties, and Phase Stability

The FA_1–<i>x</i>MA_<i>x</i>PbI₃ solid solution has been carefully investigated in terms of the MA/FA stoichiometry, crystal structure, and optical properties. This work allowed for the determination of reliable correlations between the amount of protonated amine and the physicochemical properties. The deleterious effect of aging on the mixed MA/FA composition was observed by diffraction and optical measurements, showing progressive phase separation within the samples