Análisis del espacio de interacción en fútbol

El objetivo del trabajo es conocer cuál es la dinámica en el uso del espacio de interacción que los equipos desarrollan en un partido de com- petición. Se estudiaron seis partidos de la Liga española, registrándose la ubicación espacial de jugadores y el balón en cada una de las posesiones individuales de balón (N = 6793) que dispusieron los jugadores durante la competición. Los registros se codificaron a partir de la salida de datos que aporta la tecnología video tracking del sistema AMISCO Pro® que permitió registrar variables como: amplitud (AMP), profundidad (PRO) y superficie (SUP) del espacio de juego efectivo del equipo, la altura de la defensa (AD) en relación a la portería que defiende, la distancia entre la línea retrasada de un equipo respecto a la adversaria (DD) cuando los equipos tuvieron o no posesión del balón, y las distancias del balón respecto a la banda derecha (BD) e izquierda (BI) para el equipo en posesión del balón. Las variables espaciales se contextualizaron en relación a la ubicación del balón en el eje longitudinal del espacio a partir de la subdivisión del terreno de juego en cinco zonas transversales. Los resultados fueron los siguientes: valores superiores estadísticamente significativos con relación a las variables espaciales AMP, PRO y SUP cuando el equipo tuvo posesión del balón respecto a cuando no la tuvo, no así para las variables BD y BI, así como para AD y DD con relación a las 5 zonas transversales del terreno de juego con y sin posesión del balón. Las conclusiones de este trabajo permiten aumentar el conocimiento referente a la interacción de los equipos que disputan un partido, y en consecuencia, gestionar la importancia de los requerimientos estratégicos espaciales con relación a la dinámica del juego y al rendimiento.The aim of the study was to determine ways in which soccer players make spatial use of the pitch during a competition match. Six matches from the Spanish league were studied, recording the spatial location of the players and ball in each individual instance of ball possession (N = 6793) during competitive play. Coding was performed using data obtained from the AMISCO Pro® video tracking system, which enabled the following variables to be recorded: the width (WID), depth (DEP) and surface area (SFA) of a team's effective playing area; the position of the defensive line (PD) in relation to the goal being defended; the distance between a team's defensive line and the opposing team (DD), both when the team was in possession of the ball and when it was not; and, for the team with the ball, the distance between the ball and the right touchline (BR) and between the ball and the left touchline (BL). The spatial variables were contextualized, considering the longitudinal location of the ball by dividing the pitch into five transverse zones. The results showed that the values of WID, DEP and SFA were significantly higher when the team was in possession of the ball, as opposed to when it was not. However, this was not the case for the BR and BL variables. Ball possession was, however, associated with significant differences in the case of the PD and DD variables with respect to the five transverse pitch zones. The results of this study shed further light on interaction between soccer teams, and they should help coaches to manage the strategic use of space so as to improve performance

Estudio de la Percepción Subjetiva del Esfuerzo en Tareas de Entrenamiento en Fútbol a través de la Teoría de la Generalizabilidad

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceived exertion by soccer players (on a 10-point scale) during brief side-games during the training process. A total of 14 amateurs took part in 27 brief side-games over nine training sessions that altered the order, spatial orientation andnumber of players per team. The variance was analysed through the General Linear Model (GLM) with these three facets and the accuracy of generalization was estimated. Furthermore, an ANOVA analysis was performed to determine the degree of significance of the differences between variables. The results indicate that both the change in spatial orientation and number of players per team affect the perception of the task's intensity, improving the players' perception when the space is not oriented and the number of players is reduced, while the order facet did not provide the model with any variability. We conclude that the inclusion and modification of the orientation and number of players per team variables allow coaches to optimize the training process in soccer

La Teoría de la Generalizabilidad en las primeras fases del método observacional aplicado en el ámbito de la iniciación deportiva : calidad del dato y estimación de la muestra

This paper addresses, from the observational methodology, the study of early stages of sports initiation, in terms of reliability and estimation of the sample, from the use of the Generalizability Theory. The purpose of this study was: 1) to analyse data quality of the ad hoc observational tool applied to Basque pelota, 2) to learn about the accuracy of generalizing from a hypothetical coding and recording of different numbers of games. Fleiss' and Cohen's Kappa coefficients were calculated, and an analysis of variance and generalizability were implemented. Study results support the conclusion that we have a tool for evaluating the game that is applicable in the formative stages of Basque pelota, and the number of games necessary to generalize with a particular degree of accuracy.Este trabajo aborda, desde la metodología observacional, el estudio de las primeras etapas del proceso de iniciación deportiva, en cuanto a la fiabilidad y estimación de la muestra, a partir del uso de la Teoría de la Generalizabilidad. El propósito de este estudio fue 1) analizar la calidad del dato de la herramienta de observación configurada ad hoc aplicada a la pelota vasca; 2) conocer la precisión de generalización a partir de una hipotética codificación y registro de diferente número de partidos. Para ello se calcularon las Kappas de Fleiss y Cohen, y se implementaron análisis de la varianza y de generalizabilidad. Los resultados del estudio permiten concluir que se dispone de una herramienta para la evaluación de la acción de juego aplicable en las etapas formativas de pelota vasca y el número de partidos necesarios para generalizar con un grado de precisión particular

Housekeeping genes essential for pantothenate biosynthesis are plasmid-encoded in Rhizobium etli and Rhizobium leguminosarum

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A traditional concept in bacterial genetics states that housekeeping genes, those involved in basic metabolic functions needed for maintenance of the cell, are encoded in the chromosome, whereas genes required for dealing with challenging environmental conditions are located in plasmids. Exceptions to this rule have emerged from genomic sequence data of bacteria with multipartite genomes. The genome sequence of <it>R. etli </it>CFN42 predicts the presence of <it>panC </it>and <it>panB </it>genes clustered together on the 642 kb plasmid p42f and a second copy of <it>panB </it>on plasmid p42e. They encode putative pantothenate biosynthesis enzymes (pantoate-β-alanine ligase and 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethyltransferase, respectively). Due to their ubiquitous distribution and relevance in the central metabolism of the cell, these genes are considered part of the core genome; thus, their occurrence in a plasmid is noteworthy. In this study we investigate the contribution of these genes to pantothenate biosynthesis, examine whether their presence in plasmids is a prevalent characteristic of the <it>Rhizobiales </it>with multipartite genomes, and assess the possibility that the <it>panCB </it>genes may have reached plasmids by horizontal gene transfer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of mutants confirmed that the <it>panC </it>and <it>panB </it>genes located on plasmid p42f are indispensable for the synthesis of pantothenate. A screening of the location of <it>panCB </it>genes among members of the <it>Rhizobiales </it>showed that only <it>R. etli </it>and <it>R. leguminosarum </it>strains carry <it>panCB </it>genes in plasmids. The <it>panCB </it>phylogeny attested a common origin for chromosomal and plasmid-borne <it>panCB </it>sequences, suggesting that the <it>R. etli </it>and <it>R. leguminosarum panCB </it>genes are orthologs rather than xenologs. The <it>panCB </it>genes could not totally restore the ability of a strain cured of plasmid p42f to grow in minimal medium.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study shows experimental evidence that core <it>panCB </it>genes located in plasmids of <it>R. etli </it>and <it>R. leguminosarum </it>are indispensable for the synthesis of pantothenate. The unusual presence of <it>panCB </it>genes in plasmids of <it>Rhizobiales </it>may be due to an intragenomic transfer from chromosome to plasmid. Plasmid p42f encodes other functions required for growth in minimal medium. Our results support the hypothesis of cooperation among different replicons for basic cellular functions in multipartite rhizobia genomes.</p

Quantum multifractality as a probe of phase space in the Dicke model

We study the multifractal behavior of coherent states projected in the energy eigenbasis of the spin-boson Dicke Hamiltonian, a paradigmatic model describing the collective interaction between a single bosonic mode and a set of two-level systems. By examining the linear approximation and parabolic correction to the mass exponents, we find ergodic and multifractal coherent states and show that they reflect details of the structure of the classical phase space, including chaos, regularity, and features of localization. The analysis of multifractality stands as a sensitive tool to detect changes and structures in phase space, complementary to classical tools to investigate it. We also address the difficulties involved in the multifractal analyses of systems with unbounded Hilbert spacesComment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Cellular uptake mechanisms and endosomal trafficking of supercharged proteins

Supercharged proteins can deliver functional macromolecules into the cytoplasm of mammalian cells with potencies that exceed those of cationic peptides. The structural features of supercharged proteins that determine their delivery effectiveness and the intracellular fate of supercharged proteins once they enter cells have not yet been studied. Using a large set of supercharged GFP(scGFP) variants, we found that the level of cellular uptake is sigmoidally related to net charge, and that scGFPs enter cells through multiple pathways including clathrin-dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Supercharged proteins activate Rho and ERK1/2, and also alter the endocytic transport of transferrin and EGF. Finally, we discovered that the intracellular trafficking of endosomes containing scGFPs is altered in a manner that correlates with protein delivery potency. Collectively, our findings establish basic structure-activity relationships of supercharged proteins and implicate the modulation of endosomal trafficking as a determinant of cell-penetration and macromolecule-delivery efficiency.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Cumulated burden of Covid-19 in Spain from a Bayesian perspective

Background The main goal of this work is to estimate the actual number of cases of Covid-19 in Spain in the period 01-31-2020/06-01-2020 by Autonomous Communities. Based on these estimates, this work allows us to accurately re-estimate the lethality of the disease in Spain, taking into account unreported cases. Methods A hierarchical Bayesian model recently proposed in the literature has been adapted to model the actual number of Covid-19 cases in Spain. Results The results of this work show that the real load of Covid-19 in Spain in the period considered is well above the data registered by the public health system. Specifically, the model estimates show that, cumulatively until June 1st, 2020, there were 2 425 930 cases of Covid-19 in Spain with characteristics similar to those reported (95% credibility interval: 2 148 261 2 813 864), from which were actually registered only 518 664. Conclusions Considering the results obtained from the second wave of the Spanish seroprevalence study, which estimates 2 350 324 cases of Covid-19 produced in Spain, in the period of time considered, it can be seen that the estimates provided by the model are quite good. This work clearly shows the key importance of having good quality data to optimize decision-making in the critical context of dealing with a pandemic.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Two Paths to Transforming Markets through Public Sector Energy Efficiency: Bottom Up versus Top Down

ABSTRACT The evolution of government purchasing initiatives in Mexico and China, part of the PEPS (Promoting an Energy-efficient Public Sector) program, demonstrates the need for flexibility in designing energy-efficiency strategies in the public sector. Several years of pursuing a top-down (federally led) strategy in Mexico produced few results, and it was not until the program was restructured in 2004 to focus on municipal-level purchasing that the program gained momentum. Today, a new partnership with the Mexican federal government is leading to an intergovernmental initiative with strong support at the federal level. By contrast, the PEPS purchasing initiative in China was successfully initiated and led at the central government level with strategic support from international experts. The very different success trajectories in these two countries provide valuable lessons for designing country-specific public sector energy-efficiency initiatives. Enabling conditions for any successful public sector purchasing initiative include the existence of mandatory energyefficiency performance standards, an effective energy-efficiency endorsement labeling program, an immediate need for energy conservation, a simple pilot phase (focusing on a limited number of strategically chosen products), and specialized technical assistance. Top-down purchasing programs are likely to be more successful where there is high-level political endorsement and a national procurement law in place, supported by a network of trained purchasers. Bottom-up (municipally led) purchasing programs require that municipalities have the authority to set their own purchasing policies, and also benefit from existing networks of cities, supported by motivated municipal leaders and trained purchasing officials