Effects of 4-Week training intervention with unknown loads on power output performance and throwing velocity in junior team handball players

PURPOSE:To compare the effect of 4-week unknown vs known loads strength training intervention on power output performance and throwing velocity in junior team handball players. METHODS:Twenty-eight junior team-handball players (17.2 ± 0.6 years, 1.79 ± 0.07 m, 75.6 ± 9.4 kg)were divided into two groups (unknown loads: UL; known loads: KL). Both groups performed two sessions weekly consisting of four sets of six repetitions of the bench press throw exercise, using the 30%, 50% and 70% of subjects' individual 1 repetition maximum (1RM). In each set, two repetitions with each load were performed, but the order of the loads was randomised. In the KL group, researchers told the subjects the load to mobilise prior each repetition, while in the UL group, researchers did not provide any information. Maximal dynamic strength (1RM bench press), power output (with 30, 50 and 70% of 1RM) and throwing velocity (7 m standing throw and 9 m jumping throw) were assessed pre- and post-training intervention. RESULTS:Both UL and KL group improved similarly their 1RM bench press as well as mean and peak power with all loads. There were significant improvements in power developed in all the early time intervals measured (150 ms) with the three loads (30, 50, 70% 1RM) in the UL group, while KL only improved with 30% 1RM (all the time intervals) and with 70% 1RM (at certain time intervals). Only the UL group improved throwing velocity in both standing (4.7%) and jumping (5.3%) throw (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The use of unknown loads has led to greater gains in power output in the early time intervals as well as to increases in throwing velocity compared with known loads. Therefore unknown loads are of significant practical use to increase both strength and in-field performance in a short period of training

Color image segmentation using perceptual spaces through applets for determining and preventing diseases in chili peppers

Plant pathogens cause disease in plants. Chili peppers are one of the most important crops in the world. There are currently disease detection techniques classified as: biochemical, microscopy, immunology, nucleic acid hybridization, identification by visual inspection in vitro or in situ but these have the following disadvantages: they require several days, their implementation is costly and highly trained. This paper proposes a method for knowing and preventing the disease in chili peppers plant through a color image processing, using online system developed in Java applets. This system gets results in real time and remotely (Internet). The images are converted to perceptual spaces [hue, saturation and lightness (HSL), hue, saturation, and intensity (HSI) and hue saturation and value (HSV)]. Sequence was applied to the proposed method. HSI color space was the best detected disease. The percentage of disease in the leaf is of 12.42%. HSL and HSV do not expose the exact area of the disease compared to the HSI color space. Finally, images were analyzed and the disease is known by the expert in plant pathology to take preventive or corrective actions.Keywords: Applets, knowing disease, color image segmentation, perceptual spacesAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(7), pp. 679-68

The flashfm approach for fine-mapping multiple quantitative traits

Funder: “Expanding excellence in England” award from Research EnglandJoint fine-mapping that leverages information between quantitative traits could improve accuracy and resolution over single-trait fine-mapping. Using summary statistics, flashfm (flexible and shared information fine-mapping) fine-maps signals for multiple traits, allowing for missing trait measurements and use of related individuals. In a Bayesian framework, prior model probabilities are formulated to favour model combinations that share causal variants to capitalise on information between traits. Simulation studies demonstrate that both approaches produce broadly equivalent results when traits have no shared causal variants. When traits share at least one causal variant, flashfm reduces the number of potential causal variants by 30% compared with single-trait fine-mapping. In a Ugandan cohort with 33 cardiometabolic traits, flashfm gave a 20% reduction in the total number of potential causal variants from single-trait fine-mapping. Here we show flashfm is computationally efficient and can easily be deployed across publicly available summary statistics for signals in up to six traits.Wellcome Trust [WT107881

El ácido valproico tiene efecto neuroprotector en un modelo de estrés oxidativo agudo en ratas

The excess of the free radical production at has been implied has a common factor in pathogenesis of a big number of neurodegenerative processes, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and in ischemia/reperfusion induced brain damage. Valproic Acid (VPA), which traditionally has been used as an antiepileptic drug, now is proposed as a neuroprotective agent, but is not clear it’s mechanisms of action. In this paper, its effect was investigated in an acute oxidative stress model with Sprague Dawley rats, in which iron sulfate was used as injury and lipid peroxidation and carbonylated proteins were quantified at cerebral cortex, showing that it blocked formation of free radicals. Levels of MDA atcerebral cortex that received oxidative injury in the group of animals treated with VPA were 57% lower in comparison to control group, also the amount of carbonylated proteins was 65% lower in the cerebral cortex of experimental animals in contrast to control group. Furthermore, it was found that the antioxidant effect showed by the VPA, was equally significant than showed by vitamin E.El exceso de producción de radicales libres en el cerebro ha sido implicada como un factor común en la patogénesis de un gran número de procesos neurodegenerativos, incluyendo la enfermedad de Alzheimer, la enfermedad de Parkinson, y en la isquemia/reperfusión cerebral. El ácido valproico (VPA) que tradicionalmente ha sido utilizado como fármaco antiepiléptico, actualmente se propone como agente neuroprotector, pero aún no está claro cual es su mecanismo de acción. En esta investigación se probó su efecto en un modelo de estrés oxidativo agudo en ratas Sprague Dawley para lo cual se usó el sulfato de hierro como agente inductor de daño y se cuantificó la peroxidación lipídica y proteínas carboniladas en corteza cerebral, demostrándose que bloqueó la formación de radicales libres. Los niveles de malondialdehído en la corteza cerebral que recibió la agresión oxidativa en el grupo de animales tratados con VPA fueron 57% inferiores en relación al grupo control que no recibió VPA, mientras que la cantidad de proteínas carboniladas fue un 65% inferior en la corteza cerebral de los animales experimentales en comparación al grupo control. Adicionalmente se encontró que el efecto antioxidante exhibido por el VPA, fue igual de significativo al presentado por la vitamina E

Quantification of virus syndrome in chili peppers

One of the most important problems to produce chili crops is the presence of diseases caused by pathogen agents, such as viruses, therefore, there is a substantial necessity to better predict the behavior of the diseases of these crops, determining a more precise quantification of the disease’s syndrome that allows the investigators to evaluate better practices, from handling to the experimental level and will permit producers to take opportunistic corrective action thereby, reducing production loses and increasing the quality of the crop. This review discussed methods that have been used for the quantification of disease in plants, specifically for chili peppers crops, thereby, suggesting a better alternative for the quantification of the disease’ syndromes in regards to this crop. The result of these reflections indicates that most methods used for quantification are based on visual assessments, discarding differences of data between distinctive evaluators. These methods generate subjective results.Key words: Quantification, plant diseases, severity, syndrome, viruses

Polarized recombination of acoustically transported carriers in GaAs nanowires

The oscillating piezoelectric field of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is employed to transport photoexcited electrons and holes in GaAs nanowires deposited on a SAW delay line on a LiNbO3 crystal. The carriers generated in the nanowire by a focused light spot are acoustically transferred to a second location where they recombine. We show that the recombination of the transported carriers occurs in a zinc blende section on top of the predominant wurtzite nanowire. This allows contactless control of the linear polarized emission by SAWs which is governed by the crystal structure. Additional polarization-resolved photoluminescence measurements were performed to investigate spin conservation during transport

Análisis del somatotipo de jugadores juveniles de fútbol asociación

The anthropometric characteristics of the subjects in association football were rarely considered in the selection of young soccer players in relation to their positions on the pitch. At present, in this sport it is becoming more and more frequent, as well as adding variables that contribute to the improvement of sports performance. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to identify and analyze the somatotype of amateur level players enrolled in the delfines academy who participate in the Veracruz soccer league, within the selection criteria of the participants is that they are in the age range of 14-17 years, they were evaluated for body composition through the bioimpedance technique (tanita tbf 300a, manual), with this the values ​​of weight, height, and BMI were obtained. Likewise, the anthropometry technique was obtained to obtain a complete profile of each player taking as a reference the calculation of the Heath - Carter somatotype, one of the results obtained is the prevalence of the endomorph somatotype for the forwards (2.87 ± 0. 76), defenders (2.99±0.55) and midfielders (2.55±0.47) and mesomorph: forwards (5.34±1.17), defenders (5.86±1.55) and midfielders (4.71±0.67), It was shown that the means present less mesomorphy and greater ectomorphy with (3.64±1.29). It is concluded from the results obtained that the predominance is of the balanced mesomorphic component, a situation that coincides with the results of other investigations, where the players of the amateur sector and professional soccer players according to the position they occupy on the pitch presenting a somatotype similar to those found in the studyLas características antropométricas de los sujetos en el fútbol asociación pocas veces eran consideradas en la selección de los jóvenes futbolistas en relación con sus posiciones dentro del terreno de juego. En la actualidad, en este deporte se hace cada vez más frecuente, así como sumar variables que coadyuvan a la mejora del rendimiento deportivo. Por tanto, el objetivo principal de esta investigación es identificar y analizar el somatotipo de jugadores de nivel amateur inscritos en la academia delfines que participa en la liga veracruzana de fútbol, dentro de los criterios de selección de los participantes es que estén en el rango de edad de 14-17 años, a ellos se les evaluación de composición corporal a través de la técnica de bioimpedancia (tanita tbf 300a, manual), con ello se obtuvieron los valores de peso, talla, IMC. Así mismo se utilizó la técnica de antropometría para obtener un perfil completo de cada jugador tomando como referencia el cálculo del somatotipo de Heath – Carter, alguno de los resultados obtenidos es la prevalencia del somatotipo de endomorfo para los delanteros (2,87±0,76), defensas (2.99±0,55) y medios campistas (2,55±0,47) y mesomorfo: delanteros (5,34±1,17), defensas (5,86±1,55) y medios campistas (4,71±0,67), Se observó que los medios presentan menor mesomorfia y mayor ectomorfia con (3,64 ±1,29). Se concluye por los resultados obtenidos que la predominancia es del componente mesomórfico balanceado, situación que coinciden con los resultados de otras investigaciones, donde los jugadores del sector amateur y jugadores de fútbol profesional de acuerdo a la posición que ocupan en el terreno de juego presentan un somatotipo similar a los hallazgos en el estudio