Contribution of eccentric strength to cutting performance in female soccer players

The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of eccentric strength to performance of a 70-90° cutting task (CUT) (time to complete: 5 m approach, 70-90° cut, 3 m exit). Nineteen female soccer players (mean ± SD age, height and mass; 21.6 ± 4.4 years, 1.67 ± 0.07 m and 60.5 ± 6.1 kg) from the top two tiers of English women’s soccer participated in the study. Each player performed 6 trials of the CUT task whereby three-dimensional motion data from 10 Qualisys pro-reflex cameras (240 Hz) and ground reaction forces from two AMTI force platforms (1200 Hz) were collected. Relative eccentric knee extensor (ECC-KE) and flexor peak moments (ECC-KF) were collected from both limbs at 60°·s-1 using a Kin Com isokinetic dynamometer. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that minimum center of mass (CM) and approach velocities (CM velocity at touchdown of penultimate foot contact) could explain 82% (79% adjusted) of the variation in CUT completion time (F(1,16) = 36.086, P < 0.0001). ECC-KE was significantly (P < 0.05) moderately associated (R ≥ 0.610) with velocities at key instances during the CUT. High (upper 50th 14 percentile) ECC-KE individuals (n = 9) had significantly (P ≤ 0.01; d ≥ 1.34) greater velocities at key instances during the CUT. The findings suggest that individuals with higher ECC-KE produce faster CUT performance, by approaching with greater velocity and maintaining a higher velocity during penultimate and final contact, as they are better able to tolerate the larger loads associated with a faster approach

Near-infrared observations of the Z about 2.3 IRAS source FSC 10214 + 4724

Near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of the extremely luminous IRAS source FSC 10214+4724 have been obtained using the Cassegrain infrared camera on the 200 inch (5.08 m) Hale Telescope. A low-resolution spectrumm (⋋/d⋋ ~ 100) in the 2.0-2.4 μm atmospheric window shows a very strong Hɑ line at the optically determined redshift z = 2.286. The observed rest-frame equivalent width of Hɑ is 0.07 ± 0.02 μm, consistent with the largest values found in quasars. The images show an unresolved source, while the near-infrared colors are somewhat redder than the mean colors of quasars observed at the same redshift. The reddening inferred is A_v ~ 1.5 mag, with an upper limit of ~ 3.0 mag. The observations presented here cannot distinguish between starburst and quasar models for this source. Starburst models require -10^(12) M_☉ of stars to have been formed over 10^7-10^8 yr. If FSC 10214+4724 is a quasar, the reddening-corrected bolometric luminosity is approximately equal to the observed infrared luminosity

A Needs and Resource Assessment of Continuing Medical Education in Haiti

Background: Haiti has a chronic physician shortage, and the country has been facing an increased disease burden since the 2010 earthquake and the subsequent introduction of cholera. In such resource-challenged settings, access to postgraduate medical education often is limited due to inadequate financial, structural, and academic resources. A crucial component to improved health in Haiti is the expansion of continuing medical education (CME). To our knowledge there have been no previous studies investigating the continuing professional development needs of Haitian physicians working in this context. Objective: The objectives of this study are to describe the educational resources available to Haitian physicians and to understand their continuing professional development needs. Methods: We performed a needs and resource assessment of CME available to Haitian physicians using surveys and focus groups. We surveyed 62 physicians and led 3 focus groups. Questions gathered data on physicians’ access to educational resources. Descriptive statistics were calculated from surveys, and focus group transcripts were manually reviewed for themes. Findings: In all, 82 conference attendees were invited to participate. Of these, 62 physicians completed the needs and resource assessment survey. Of the participants, 16% had a medical library at work and 31% had access to a computer at work. Educational conferences were available at work for 27% of participants, and 50% attended conferences outside of work. Less than half (45%) identified a clinical mentor. Focus group participants described inadequate tangible and reference resources, lack of colleague support, and lack of avenues for specialty training and employment. Conclusions: In this needs assessment, Haitian physicians identified lack of support for clinical decision making, poor access to CME activities, limited professional development, and absence of employment opportunities as key areas of need in support of their clinical and professional work

Mapping localized surface plasmons within silver nanocubes using cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging

Localized surface plasmons within silver nanocubes less than 50 nm in size are investigated using high resolution cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging. Multivariate statistical analysis of the multidimensional luminescence dataset allows both the identification of distinct spectral features in the emission and the mapping of their spatial distribution. These results show a 490 nm peak emitted from the cube faces, with shorter wavelength luminescence coming from the vertices and edges; this provides direct experimental confirmation of theoretical predictions

Total Synthesis of (±)-Phomoidride D

Described herein is a synthetic strategy for the total synthesis of (±)‐phomoidride D. This highly efficient and stereoselective approach provides rapid assembly of the carbocyclic core by way of a tandem phenolic oxidation/intramolecular Diels–Alder cycloaddition. A subsequent SmI2‐mediated cyclization cascade delivers an isotwistane intermediate poised for a Wharton fragmentation that unveils the requisite bicyclo[4.3.1]decene skeleton and sets the stage for synthesis completion

Search for Yukawa Production of a Light Neutral Higgs Boson at LEP

Within a Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) a search for a light Higgs boson in the mass range of 4-12 GeV has been performed in the Yukawa process e+e- -> b bbar A/h -> b bbar tau+tau-, using the data collected by the OPAL detector at LEP between 1992 and 1995 in e+e- collisions at about 91 GeV centre-of-mass energy. A likelihood selection is applied to separate background and signal. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the expected background. Within a CP-conserving 2HDM type II model the cross-section for Yukawa production depends on xiAd = |tan beta| and xihd = |sin alpha/cos beta| for the production of the CP-odd A and the CP-even h, respectively, where tan beta is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the Higgs doublets and alpha is the mixing angle between the neutral CP-even Higgs bosons. From our data 95% C.L. upper limits are derived for xiAd within the range of 8.5 to 13.6 and for xihd between 8.2 to 13.7, depending on the mass of the Higgs boson, assuming a branching fraction into tau+tau- of 100%. An interpretation of the limits within a 2HDM type II model with Standard Model particle content is given. These results impose constraints on several models that have been proposed to explain the recent BNL measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, Submitted to Euro. Phys. J.

Multi-Jet Event Rates in Deep Inelastic Scattering and Determination of the Strong Coupling Constant

Jet event rates in deep inelastic ep scattering at HERA are investigated applying the modified JADE jet algorithm. The analysis uses data taken with the H1 detector in 1994 and 1995. The data are corrected for detector and hadronization effects and then compared with perturbative QCD predictions using next-to-leading order calculations. The strong coupling constant alpha_S(M_Z^2) is determined evaluating the jet event rates. Values of alpha_S(Q^2) are extracted in four different bins of the negative squared momentum transfer~\qq in the range from 40 GeV2 to 4000 GeV2. A combined fit of the renormalization group equation to these several alpha_S(Q^2) values results in alpha_S(M_Z^2) = 0.117+-0.003(stat)+0.009-0.013(syst)+0.006(jet algorithm).Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, this version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.; it replaces first posted hep-ex/9807019 which had incorrect figure 4

Measurement of the Hadronic Cross-Section for the Scattering of Two Virtual Photons at LEP

The interaction of virtual photons is investigated using the reaction e+e- -> e+e- hadrons based on data taken by the OPAL experiment at e+e- centre-of-mass energies sqrt(s_ee)=189-209 GeV, for W>5 GeV and at an average Q^2 of 17.9 GeV^2. The measured cross-sections are compared to predictions of the Quark Parton Model (QPM), to the Leading Order QCD Monte Carlo model PHOJET to the NLO prediction for the reaction e+e- -> e+e-qqbar, and to BFKL calculations. PHOJET, NLO e+e- -> e+e-qqbar, and QPM describe the data reasonably well, whereas the cross-section predicted by a Leading Order BFKL calculation is too large.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figures, Submitted to Eur.Phys.J.

Measurement of triple gauge boson couplings from WW production at LEP energies up to 189 GeV

A measurement of triple gauge boson couplings is presented, based on W-pair data recorded by the OPAL detector at LEP during 1998 at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV with an integrated luminosity of 183 pb^-1. After combining with our previous measurements at centre-of-mass energies of 161-183 GeV we obtain k_g=0.97 +0.20 -0.16, g_1^z=0.991 +0.060 -0.057 and lambda_g=-0.110 +0.058 -0.055, where the errors include both statistical and systematic uncertainties and each coupling is determined by setting the other two couplings to their SM values. These results are consistent with the Standard Model expectations.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.