The Relationship of Forward Pass Catching Ability in Football and Selected Anatomical Measurements and Motor Responses

American football has undergone many significant changes since its first recorded game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. Once change has been the growth in the importance of the forward pass to the offense. Rockne cites the year 1912 as a turning point of the growth in popularity of football. It was during this year that the Rules Committee removed many of the restrictions against the forward pass and made more definite the penalties against interfering with the receiver. Rockne states that this increase in the popularity of football is due “entirely to the open game, to the increase of the versatility of the offense, and to the perfection of the technique of the forward pass.” In order to have a functional pass attack, a good passer, pass protection, and receivers who can catch the football, are necessary. Of the afore mentioned three, Fuoss feels that the receiving phase is the most important factor in a potent passing offense. Men who have been associated with the coaching profession know that the passer can be great, the receiver fast, and the pass protection perfect, but is the receiver cannot catch the football, the passing game fails. Much has been written about developing the quarterback. McKinley agrees that developing a quarterback is important, but states, “that a quarterback is only as good as the receivers to whom he is throwing.” The ability of a receiver to catch a football depends on certain physical qualities. If a select number qualities could be identified, it would be of value to coaches for predicting the success of their receivers on the basis of these traits. Knowing what qualities a good pass receiver possesses would also be of value to college and professional coaches in their recruitment programs. The present study was directed toward investigating the relationship of selected anatomical measurements and motor responses to forward pass catching ability in football. The purpose of this investigation was to study the relationship between forward pass catching ability in football and the qualities of grip strength, hand size, kinesthetic perception, peripheral vision, depth perception, and hand reaction time. Hand-eye coordination, agility, and leg power

How CBAM can become a steppingstone towards carbon pricing globally

Following the introduction of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), this policy brief considers issues relating to its implementation, in particular the possibility to reduce CBAM liability if a carbon price has already been paid in the country of origin of the goods. This provision is designed to incentivise the use of carbon pricing across the world. However, the legal text leaves room for interpretation and the EU will have to clarify these issues further in the coming months. This offers a golden opportunity to encourage carbon pricing in third countries, whether regulatory or non-regulatory, and thereby strengthen global action to address climate change.Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

Towards an EU policy agenda for Voluntary Carbon Markets

The future of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) remains uncertain as environmental quality concerns, trust issues and market fragmentation prevents the emergence of a sizeable and liquid market. VCM growth will depend largely on better market organisation and oversight, and on strengthening environmental integrity. This policy brief diagnoses problems and outlines the EU’s actions that could contribute constructively to the further development of VCM and attainment of the goals of the Paris Agreement.Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Darunavir and Etravirine in HIV-1–Infected, Treatment-Experienced Patients in the Gender, Race, and Clinical Experience (GRACE) Trial

Objectives. Evaluation of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of darunavir and etravirine among HIV-1–infected, treatment-experienced adults from GRACE, by sex and race. Methods. Patients received darunavir/ritonavir 600/100mg twice daily plus other antiretrovirals, which could include etravirine 200mg twice daily. Population pharmacokinetics for darunavir and etravirine were determined over 48 weeks and relationships assessed with virologic response and safety. Rich sampling for darunavir, etravirine, and ritonavir was collected in a substudy at weeks 4, 24, and 48. Results. Pharmacokinetics were estimated in 376 patients for darunavir and 190 patients for etravirine. Median darunavir AUC12h and C0h were 60,642ng·h/mL and 3624ng/mL, respectively; and for etravirine were 4183ng · h/mL and 280ng/mL, respectively. There were no differences in darunavir or etravirine AUC12h or C0h by sex or race. Age, body weight, or use of etravirine did not affect darunavir exposure. No relationships were seen between darunavir pharmacokinetics and efficacy or safety. Patients with etravirine exposure in the lowest quartile generally had lower response rates. Rich sampling showed no time-dependent relationship for darunavir, etravirine, or ritonavir exposure over 48 weeks. Conclusions. Population pharmacokinetics showed no relevant differences in darunavir or etravirine exposure by assessed covariates. Lower etravirine exposures were associated with lower response rates

Certifying land-use based carbon dioxide removals : outline of a strawman proposal

Science is clear that to reduce the impacts of climate change increasing amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) will have to be removed from the atmosphere, even if all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were to be completely eliminated. Land-based activities, such as forest, agricultural or soil management, have the potential to remove and/or store significant amounts of carbon. However, a number of concerns exist around the measurability and the non-permanence of natural carbon sinks, with related risks of ‘greenwashing’ due to reversals, leakages, and double-counting. These concerns will need to be addressed satisfactorily when developing a robust, transparent, and dynamic EU-wide CO2 removals certification system. It should be developed step-by-step and allow for learning-bydoing. Initial focus should be on those land-based CO2 removal options for which high-quality monitoring capability already exists, such as afforestation, reforestation, agro-forestry and biochar. Transparency will be key. Each CO2 removal certificate – representing a tonne of CO2 removed from the atmosphere for a specified period of time – will have to carry a minimum set of information including geo-references, period of validity, methodologies used and on-going monitoring requirements to be followed. Additional information, for example, in terms of promoting biodiversity, could highlight co-benefits. The governance of an EU-wide certification system will have to clarify roles and responsibilities of different public and private actors, establishing sufficient checks and balances in developing methodologies and their use, keeping track of issuance, ownership, and transactions in the central EU registry, as well as regulating public access. If successful, an EU-wide CO2 removal certification system could set a new international standard. In the EU, it would lay the foundation for creating performance-based incentive systems, which can be created via standards, direct public support like under the Common Agriculture Policy, voluntary markets, and compliance markets such as the EU emissions trading system

Dependence of Intramyocardial Pressure and Coronary Flow on Ventricular Loading and Contractility: A Model Study

The phasic coronary arterial inflow during the normal cardiac cycle has been explained with simple (waterfall, intramyocardial pump) models, emphasizing the role of ventricular pressure. To explain changes in isovolumic and low afterload beats, these models were extended with the effect of three-dimensional wall stress, nonlinear characteristics of the coronary bed, and extravascular fluid exchange. With the associated increase in the number of model parameters, a detailed parameter sensitivity analysis has become difficult. Therefore we investigated the primary relations between ventricular pressure and volume, wall stress, intramyocardial pressure and coronary blood flow, with a mathematical model with a limited number of parameters. The model replicates several experimental observations: the phasic character of coronary inflow is virtually independent of maximum ventricular pressure, the amplitude of the coronary flow signal varies about proportionally with cardiac contractility, and intramyocardial pressure in the ventricular wall may exceed ventricular pressure. A parameter sensitivity analysis shows that the normalized amplitude of coronary inflow is mainly determined by contractility, reflected in ventricular pressure and, at low ventricular volumes, radial wall stress. Normalized flow amplitude is less sensitive to myocardial coronary compliance and resistance, and to the relation between active fiber stress, time, and sarcomere shortening velocity

Primary hemiarthroplasty versus conservative treatment for comminuted fractures of the proximal humerus in the elderly (ProCon): A Multicenter Randomized Controlled trial

Background. Fractures of the proximal humerus are associated with a profound temporary and sometimes permanent, impairment of function and quality of life. The treatment of comminuted fractures of the proximal humerus like selected three-or four-part fractures and split fractures of the humeral head is a demanding and unresolved problem, especially in the elderly. Locking plates appear to offer improved fixation; however, screw cut-out rates ranges due to fracture collapse are high. As this may lead to higher rates of revision surgery, it may be preferable to treat comminuted fractures in the elderly primarily with a prosthesis or non-operatively. Results from case series and a small-sample randomized controlled trial (RCT) suggest improved function and less pain after primary hemiarthroplasty (HA); however these studies had some limitations and a RCT is needed. The primary aim of this study is to compare the Constant scores (reflecting functional outcome and pain) at one year after primary HA versus non-operative treatment in elderly patients who sustained a comminuted proximal humeral fracture. Secondary aims include effects on functional outcome, pain, complications, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Methods/Design. A prospective, multi-center RCT will be conducted in nine centers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Eighty patients over 65 years of age, who have sustained a three-or four part, or split head proximal humeral fracture will be randomized between primary hemiarthroplasty and conservative treatment. The primary outcome is the Constant score, which indicates pain and function. Secondary outcomes include the Disability of the Arm and Shoulder (DASH) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, radiographic healing, health-related quality of life (Short-form-36, EuroQol-5D) and healthcare consumption. Cost-effectiveness ratios wi