Infrared thermography-calorimetric quantitation of energy expenditure in biomechanically different types of jūdō throwing techniques: a pilot study

It was the purpose of this pilot study to assess the energy expenditure (EE) of two biome-chanically different jūdō throws, namely, the simple mechanical couple-based uchi-mata vs. the lever-based throw ippon-seoi-nage, using infrared thermal calorimetry (ITC). Testing subjects included one Caucasian female elite athlete (age: 26.4 years) and one male veteran jūdōka (age: 50.8 years). ITC images were captured by an Avio NEC InfRec R300 camera and thermal data obtained were plotted into a proprietary equation for estimation of EE. Data were compared to respiratory data obtained by a Cosmed K4 b2 portable gas analyzer. Oxy-gen consumption as estimated by ITC capture during practice of uchi-mata was markedly lower than during performance ippon-seoi-nage in the female (457 mL•min-1 vs. 540 mL•min-1, P<0.05) and male subject (1,078 mL•min-1 vs. 1,088 mL•min-1, NS), with the difference in values between both genders subject being significant (P<0.01). The metabolic cost of the exercise (uchi-mata vs. ippon-seoi-nage) itself was 1.26 kcal•min-1 (88 W) vs. 1.68 kcal•min-1 (117 W) (P<0.05) in the female subject, and 2.97 kcal•min-1 (207 W) (P<0.01) vs. 3.02 kcal•min-1 (211 W) (NS) in the male subject. Values for the female were significantly differ-ent (P<0.01) from those of the male subject. The results support the initial hypothesis that the couple-based jūdō throws (in this case, uchi-mata) are energetically more efficient than lever-based throws, such as ippon-seoi-nage. Application of this approach may be of practical use for coaches in optimizing energy-saving strategies in both elite and veteran jūdō athletes

Probing deviations from General Relativity with the Euclid spectroscopic survey

We discuss the ability of the planned Euclid mission to detect deviations from General Relativity using its extensive redshift survey of more than 50 Million galaxies. Constraints on the gravity theory are placed measuring the growth rate of structure within 14 redshift bins between z=0.7 and z=2. The growth rate is measured from redshift-space distortions, i.e. the anisotropy of the clustering pattern induced by coherent peculiar motions. This is performed in the overall context of the Euclid spectroscopic survey, which will simultaneously measure the expansion history of the universe, using the power spectrum and its baryonic features as a standard ruler, accounting for the relative degeneracies of expansion and growth parameters. The resulting expected errors on the growth rate in the different redshift bins, expressed through the quantity f\sigma_8, range between 1.3% and 4.4%. We discuss the optimisation of the survey configuration and investigate the important dependence on the growth parameterisation and the assumed cosmological model. We show how a specific parameterisation could actually drive the design towards artificially restricted regions of the parameter space. Finally, in the framework of the popular "\gamma -parameterisation", we show that the Euclid spectroscopic survey alone will already be able to provide substantial evidence (in Bayesian terms) if the growth index differs from the GR value \gamma=0.55 by at least \sim 0.13. This will combine with the comparable inference power provided by the Euclid weak lensing survey, resulting in Euclid's unique ability to provide a decisive test of modified gravity.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, accepted by MNRA

Detecting the Highest Redshift (z > 8) QSOs in a Wide, Near Infrared Slitless Spectroscopic Survey

We investigate the prospects of extending observations of high redshift QSOs to z>8 by means of a very wide-area near-infrared slitless spectroscopic survey, e.g. the planned survey with the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope. For any QSOs at z>8.06 the strong Lyman-alpha line will enter the wavelength range of the Euclid near-infrared spectrometer and imaging photometer (NISP). We perform a detailed simulation of Euclid NISP slitless spectroscopy (with the parameters of the wide survey) in an artificial field containing QSO spectra at all redshifts up to z=12. The simulation spectra are analysed with an automated redshift finder, and a detection rate estimated as a function of H magnitude and redshift. Spectroscopic identification of QSOs would reach deeper limits for the redshift ranges where either H-alpha (0.678.06) is visible. Furthermore, if photometrically-selected z>8 spectra can be re-examined and re-fitted to minimize the effects of spectral contamination, the QSO detection rate in the Lyman-alpha window will be increased by an estimated 60% and will then be better here than at any other redshift, with an effective limit H=21.5. With an extrapolated rate of QSO evolution, we predict the Euclid wide (15000 sq. deg.) spectroscopic survey will identify 20-35 (19-33 with a small correction for lineless objects) very luminous QSOs at z>8.06.Comment: 16 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Xylella fastidiosa gene expression analysis by DNA microarrays

Xylella fastidiosa genome sequencing has generated valuable data by identifying genes acting either on metabolic pathways or in associated pathogenicity and virulence. Based on available information on these genes, new strategies for studying their expression patterns, such as microarray technology, were employed. A total of 2,600 primer pairs were synthesized and then used to generate fragments using the PCR technique. The arrays were hybridized against cDNAs labeled during reverse transcription reactions and which were obtained from bacteria grown under two different conditions (liquid XDM2 and liquid BCYE). All data were statistically analyzed to verify which genes were differentially expressed. In addition to exploring conditions for X. fastidiosa genome-wide transcriptome analysis, the present work observed the differential expression of several classes of genes (energy, protein, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, transport, degradation of substances, toxins and hypothetical proteins, among others). The understanding of expressed genes in these two different media will be useful in comprehending the metabolic characteristics of X. fastidiosa, and in evaluating how important certain genes are for the functioning and survival of these bacteria in plants

Anales del III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad "Debate en torno a la nueva agenda urbana"

Acta de congresoEl III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad “Debates en torno a la NUEVa Agenda Urbana”, ha sido una apuesta de alto compromiso por acercar los debates centrales y urgentes que tensionan el pleno ejercicio del derecho a la ciudad. Para ello las instituciones organizadoras (INVIHAB –Instituto de Investigación de Vivienda y Hábitat y MGyDH-Maestría en Gestión y Desarrollo Habitacional-1), hemos convidado un espacio que se concretó con potencia en un debate transdisciplinario. Convocó a intelectuales de prestigio internacional, investigadores, académicos y gestores estatales, y en una metodología de innovación articuló las voces académicas con las de las organizaciones sociales y/o barriales en el Foro de las Organizaciones Sociales que tuvo su espacio propio para dar voz a quienes están trabajando en los desafíos para garantizar los derechos a la vivienda y los bienes urbanos en nuestras ciudades del Siglo XXI