Evaluation intégrée des mesures agro-environnementales territorialisées à enjeu "qualité des eaux" sur la période 2007 à 2011 : le projet MAEVEAU

The MAEVEAU project has developed an approach for an integrated assessment of effectiveness of regionalized Agro-Environmental Measures (MAET) intended to preserve water quality in relation to pesticides. This approach investigates the concept of efficiency through a triple analysis: the impact (net effects), the environmental cost-effectiveness and the role of organizational factors in the contracting process. The impact is assessed by a quasi-experimental approach by counterfactuals and examines adaptation of the matching method to the regionalized MAET. Cost-effectiveness analysis is based on integrated modeling spatially distributed coupling the agro-hydrological SWAT model, pesticides pressure indicators and a bio-economic model optimizing gross margin. The effectiveness of organizational factors focuses on transaction costs, the role of collective action and preferences for alternative contracts.La recherche conduite dans le projet MAEVEAU a développé une démarche d'évaluation intégrée de l'efficacité des Mesures Agro-Environnementales Territorialisées (MAET) à enjeu préservation de la qualité de l'eau vis-à-vis des pesticides sur la période 2007 à 2011. La question scientifique traite le concept d'efficacité de la politique en s'appuyant sur une triangulation des approches: une évaluation de l'impact (c'est-à-dire des effets propres de la politique), une évaluation coût-efficacité environnementale et une évaluation du rôle des facteurs organisationnels dans le processus d'adhésion. L'impact est évalué par une approche quasi-expérimentale par contrefactuel et questionne l'adaptation de la méthode du matching à la territorialisation des MAET. L'analyse coût-efficacité s'appuie sur une modélisation intégrée spatialisée couplant modèle agro-hydrologique, indicateurs pesticides spatialisés et optimisation économique des marges brutes. L'efficacité des facteurs organisationnels s'est intéressée aux coûts de transaction, au rôle de l'action collective et aux préférences pour des contrats alternatifs

Low mass dimuon production in proton and ion induced interactions at SPS

The low mass dimuon spectra collected in p-U collisions by the NA38 experiment significantly exceeds the total cross section expected from previous analysis, done by other experiments. The `excess' events have a harder \pt\ distribution than the muon pairs from $\eta$ and $\omega$ Dalitz decays, expected to dominate the mass window 0.4--0.65~GeV/$c^2$. We conjecture that the excess events might be due to \qqbar\ annihilations, negligible at low \pt\ but made visible by the \mt\ cut applied in the NA38 data. Taking this assumption to parametrise the p-U spectra, we proceed with the analysis of the S-Cu, S-U and Pb-Pb data, collected by the NA38 and NA50 experiments, where we find that the measured mass spectra does not seem to exceed the expected low mass `cocktail' by more than 20\,\%

Shape abnormalities of the caudate nucleus correlate with poorer gait and balance : results from a subset of the ladis study

Objective Functional deficits seen in several neurodegenerative disorders have been linked with dysfunction in frontostriatal circuits and with associated shape alterations in striatal structures. The severity of visible white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging has been found to correlate with poorer performance on measures of gait and balance. This study aimed to determine whether striatal volume and shape changes were correlated with gait dysfunction. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging scans and clinical gait/balance data (scores from the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) were sourced from 66 subjects in the previously published LADIS trial, performed in nondisabled individuals older than age 65 years with WMHs at study entry. Data were obtained at study entry and at 3-year follow-up. Caudate nuclei and putamina were manually traced using a previously published method and volumes calculated. The relationships between volume and physical performance on the SPPB were investigated with shape analysis using the spherical harmonic shape description toolkit. Results There was no correlation between the severity of WMHs and striatal volumes. Caudate nuclei volume correlated with performance on the SPPB at baseline but not at follow-up, with subsequent shape analysis showing left caudate changes occurred in areas corresponding to inputs of the dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor, and motor cortex. There was no correlation between putamen volumes and performance on the SPPB. Conclusion Disruption in frontostriatal circuits may play a role in mediating poorer physical performance in individuals with WMHs. Striatal volume and shape changes may be suitable biomarkers for functional changes in this population

Anterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms mimicking vestibular schwannomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Unruptured anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) aneurysms are rare but potentially lethal cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lesions that may be misdiagnosed as vestibular schwannomas when they present with vestibulo-cochlear symptoms. METHODS: We report two cases of unruptured but symptomatic AICA aneurysms initially referred to us as atypical vestibular schwannomas requiring surgery. Two discriminant MR features are described. RESULTS: One patient refused treatment. The other was successfully treated by coil occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Caution is advised before suspecting a CPA mass to be a purely extra-canalicular schwannoma, given its extreme rarity. Deafness and cerebellar ischemia may be prevented if AICA aneurysms are correctly identified preoperatively. In the absence of specific arterial imaging, two MR features may distinguish them from vestibular schwannomas: (1) the absence of internal auditory canal enlargement and (2) the "blurry dot sign," representing blood flow artefacts on pre- and postcontrast studies

Predictors of selection into an elite level youth football academy: A longitudinal study

Talent identification in football is complex. Research regarding talent indicators that predict selection into professional academies is increasingly multi-disciplinary, though is typically cross-sectional, failing to consider whether the rate of change of those indicators influences selection. The aim of this study was to determine if longitudinal changes in talent indicators are associated with selection into a professional football academy. A total of 110 Dutch male football players (aged 8–12) playing in a youth development programme of a professional club were included in the study. Players were assessed regularly on their anthropometry, physical fitness, gross motor coordination, technical ability, and psychosocial capacities over four years. A subset of players was then selected into the academy. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses revealed the indicators that best predicted selection. The best indicator was the 30 m sprint speed, with prediction not improving when including other predictors or their rate of change. The individuals that the club ultimately selected at age 12 could have been predicted well above chance levels using the sprint speeds at age nine or ten. The relative consistency of the rate of improvement in indicators across participants meant that the rate at which they developed played little role in selections

Assessment of Visual Function and Performance in Paralympic Judo for Athletes with Vision Impairment

SIGNIFICANCE Paralympic judo currently requires all athletes to compete against each other in one class irrespective of their level of vision impairment (VI). Recent evidence suggests that multiple classes are required to enhance fairness, yet it remains unclear how many classes are necessary and what vision tests should be used to define those classes. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to quantify the relationship between vision and performance in judo for individuals with VI. The results were expected to inform the development of evidence-based criteria to structure Paralympic judo competition. METHODS The visual function of 53 elite VI judokas was assessed using a test battery that included tests of visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity, light sensitivity, depth perception, motion perception, visual search, and central visual field. Performance was assessed by measuring the ratio of fights won across all competitions the participants took part in in the 2 years before and after vision testing. Pearson correlation coefficients and decision tree analyses were used to determine the relationship between vision and performance. Partial correlations were also conducted to determine the unique ability of each measure of visual function to predict judo performance. RESULTS Visual acuity was the best predictor of judo performance and remained the only visual function related to performance when controlling for correlations between VA and other visual functions. Decision tree analyses suggested to split athletes into two groups for more legitimate competition, using a cutoff point around 2.6 logMAR. Within each of the two resulting subgroups, no correlations remained between any of the visual functions and performance. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that VI judo competition should be split into separate categories for partially sighted and functionally blind athletes. The inclusion of visual functions in addition to VA does not improve the ability to predict performance in VI judo

Predictors of selection into an elite level youth football academy: A longitudinal study

Talent identification in football is complex. Research regarding talent indicators that predict selection into professional academies is increasingly multi-disciplinary, though is typically cross-sectional, failing to consider whether the rate of change of those indicators influences selection. The aim of this study was to determine if longitudinal changes in talent indicators are associated with selection into a professional football academy. A total of 110 Dutch male football players (aged 8–12) playing in a youth development programme of a professional club were included in the study. Players were assessed regularly on their anthropometry, physical fitness, gross motor coordination, technical ability, and psychosocial capacities over four years. A subset of players was then selected into the academy. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses revealed the indicators that best predicted selection. The best indicator was the 30 m sprint speed, with prediction not improving when including other predictors or their rate of change. The individuals that the club ultimately selected at age 12 could have been predicted well above chance levels using the sprint speeds at age nine or ten. The relative consistency of the rate of improvement in indicators across participants meant that the rate at which they developed played little role in selections

Chemical and sensory effects of the intense sweeteners aspartame acesulfame k, sodium saccharinate and cyclamate orange flavours soft drinks

International audienc