Phenomenology is not phenomenalism. Is there such a thing as phenomenology of sport?

Background: The application of the philosophical mode of investigation called “phenomenology” in the context of sport. Objective: The goal is to show how and why the phenomenological method is very often misused in the sportrelated research. Methods: Interpretation of the key texts, explanation of their meaning. Results: The confrontation of concrete sport-related texts with the original meaning of the key phenomenological notions shows mainly three types of misuse – the confusion of phenomenology with immediacy, with an epistemologically subjectivist stance (phenomenalism), and with empirical research oriented towards objects in the world. Conclusions: Many of the discussed authors try to take over the epistemological validity of phenomenology for their research, which itself is not phenomenological, and it seems that this is because they lack such a methodological foundation. The authors believe that an authentically phenomenological analysis of sport is possible, but it must respect the fundamental distinctions that differentiate phenomenology from other styles of thinking

Computer Mediated Religious Life of Technoshamans and Cybershamans.

Libuse Martinkova discusses in her article “Computer Mediated Religious Life of Technoshamans and Cybershamans” the artificial dichotomy of 'Virtuality' and 'Reality' and online and offline borders. In the case study she presents two different groups and thus two different reasons for applying new technology to ritualistic settings: Computer technology is in one setting mainly used as a tool for specific shamanistic rituals whereas in the other setting computer technology serves as a space for conducting shamanic rituals

A review of applied methods in Europe for flood-frequency analysis in a changing environment

The report presents a review of methods used in Europe for trend analysis, climate change projections and non-stationary analysis of extreme precipitation and flood frequency. In addition, main findings of the analyses are presented, including a comparison of trend analysis results and climate change projections. Existing guidelines in Europe on design flood and design rainfall estimation that incorporate climate change are reviewed. The report concludes with a discussion of research needs on non-stationary frequency analysis for considering the effects of climate change and inclusion in design guidelines. Trend analyses are reported for 21 countries in Europe with results for extreme precipitation, extreme streamflow or both. A large number of national and regional trend studies have been carried out. Most studies are based on statistical methods applied to individual time series of extreme precipitation or extreme streamflow using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall trend test or regression analysis. Some studies have been reported that use field significance or regional consistency tests to analyse trends over larger areas. Some of the studies also include analysis of trend attribution. The studies reviewed indicate that there is some evidence of a general increase in extreme precipitation, whereas there are no clear indications of significant increasing trends at regional or national level of extreme streamflow. For some smaller regions increases in extreme streamflow are reported. Several studies from regions dominated by snowmelt-induced peak flows report decreases in extreme streamflow and earlier spring snowmelt peak flows. Climate change projections have been reported for 14 countries in Europe with results for extreme precipitation, extreme streamflow or both. The review shows various approaches for producing climate projections of extreme precipitation and flood frequency based on alternative climate forcing scenarios, climate projections from available global and regional climate models, methods for statistical downscaling and bias correction, and alternative hydrological models. A large number of the reported studies are based on an ensemble modelling approach that use several climate forcing scenarios and climate model projections in order to address the uncertainty on the projections of extreme precipitation and flood frequency. Some studies also include alternative statistical downscaling and bias correction methods and hydrological modelling approaches. Most studies reviewed indicate an increase in extreme precipitation under a future climate, which is consistent with the observed trend of extreme precipitation. Hydrological projections of peak flows and flood frequency show both positive and negative changes. Large increases in peak flows are reported for some catchments with rainfall-dominated peak flows, whereas a general decrease in flood magnitude and earlier spring floods are reported for catchments with snowmelt-dominated peak flows. The latter is consistent with the observed trends. The review of existing guidelines in Europe on design floods and design rainfalls shows that only few countries explicitly address climate change. These design guidelines are based on climate change adjustment factors to be applied to current design estimates and may depend on design return period and projection horizon. The review indicates a gap between the need for considering climate change impacts in design and actual published guidelines that incorporate climate change in extreme precipitation and flood frequency. Most of the studies reported are based on frequency analysis assuming stationary conditions in a certain time window (typically 30 years) representing current and future climate. There is a need for developing more consistent non-stationary frequency analysis methods that can account for the transient nature of a changing climate

Challenges in cancer research and multifaceted approaches for cancer biomarker quest

AbstractRecent advances in cancer biology have subsequently led to the development of new molecularly targeted anti-cancer agents that can effectively hit cancer-related proteins and pathways. Despite better insight into genomic aberrations and diversity of cancer phenotypes, it is apparent that proteomics too deserves attention in cancer research. Currently, a wide range of proteomic technologies are being used in quest for new cancer biomarkers with effective use. These, together with newer technologies such as multiplex assays could significantly contribute to the discovery and development of selective and specific cancer biomarkers with diagnostic or prognostic values for monitoring the disease state. This review attempts to illustrate recent advances in the field of cancer biomarkers and multifaceted approaches undertaken in combating cancer

The effects of alcohol hangover on mood and performance assessed at home

The current study evaluated the next day consequences of a social night of drinking compared to a no alcohol night, with standardised mood and portable screen-based performance measures assessed in the morning at participants’ homes, and a breathalyser screen for zero alcohol. A mixed sex group (n = 20) took part in the study. Participants reported consuming on average 16.9 units (135 g) alcohol, resulting in a hangover rating of 60 (out of 100) compared to 0.3 following the no alcohol night. Statistical significance comparisons contrasting the hangover with the no alcohol condition revealed an increase in negative mood and irritability during hangover and an (unexpected) increase in risk and thrill seeking. Performance scores showed an overall slowing of responses across measures, but with less impact on errors. The results support the description of hangover as a general state of cognitive impairment, reflected in slower responses and reduced accuracy across a variety of measures of cognitive function. This suggests a general level of impairment due to hangover, as well as increased negative mood. The use of a naturalistic design enabled the impact of more typical levels of alcohol associated with real life social consumption to be assessed, revealing wide ranging neurocognitive impairment with these higher doses. This study has successfully demonstrated the sensitivity of home-based assessment of the impact of alcohol hangover on a range of subjective and objective measures. The observed impairments, which may significantly impair daily activities such as driving a car or job performance, should be further investigated and taken into account by policy makers

Long-term changes in communities of native coccinellids: population fluctuations and the effect of competition from an invasive non-native species

1. We assessed the changes in abundance and community composition of native species of coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on deciduous trees that occurred between 1970s and 2010s, in the Czech Republic. 2. As the composition of adult communities varies with host plant and season, coccinellids were sampled in May–June from Acer, Betula and Tilia trees using a standardised sweeping method. This was done before (1976–1986) and after (2011–2014) the arrival of Harmonia axyridis in 2006, with interim samples from a period immediately before it arrived in the Czech Republic (2002–2006). 3. Twenty-one native species were identified in the total sample of 2674 adults. The abundance of Adalia bipunctata, Coccinella quinquepunctata and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata decreased over the whole period sampled. Declines in abundance of these species were already evident prior to the arrival of H.axyridis. Recent declines in Adalia decempunctata and Calvia quatuordecimguttata followed the arrival H. axyridis. Their abundance was increasing prior to the arrival of H. axyridis, but decreased following its invasion and the latter species might have affected their decline. The abundance of only one species, Calvia decemguttata, increased. Although the abundance of many species decreased and the frequency of some species varied, the diversity of native coccinellid populations (Shannon index) was similar over the 40 years of this study. 4. The changes in species composition can in part be attributed to H. axyridis, the role of other factors (e.g. climate change, habitat degradation) in the long-term fluctuations in abundance of coccinellids should be considered in future assessments

Active Labour Market Policies of Selected European Countries and Their Competitiveness

Creating balance conditions in the labour market is a result of the state efforts in the form of implementation of ALMP to incorporate job-seekers. The structural reforms of ALMP are complementary greater than some of the effects of each of them taken individually. The structure, efficiency and competitiveness of costs expended on ALMPs in selected EU countries show the strengths and weaknesses of the labour market as well as its ability to stabilise after adverse macroeconomic development. At the same time, the labour demand strengthens the level of competitiveness on product markets. The main objective of the contribution is to analyse the expenditures on ALMPs in the context of changes in unemployment and to evaluate their competitiveness in selected European countries in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015. The partial aim is to capture and evaluate Slovakia’s position in the context of used ALMPs measures, to evaluate the effects of the most important and competitive ALMPs measures of Slovakia at the macroeconomic level and to deal with the monitoring of the measures in terms of their applicability in practice. To achieve the objective, there are descriptive statistical methods, comparative analysis, and cluster analyses used. The results show that the effectiveness of expenditure on ALMP affects the development of unemployment in selected EU countries differentl

Surface hidrolysis of polyacrylonitrile with nitrile hydrolysing enzymes from Micrococcus luteus BST20

A new Micrococcus luteus strain BST20 was isolated with ability to metabolize PAN polymers as sole carbon source. Out of seven synthetized PAN copolymers containing different moieties of acrylic acid and/or vinyl acetate the polymer with lowest crystallinity (PAN with 5% vinyl acetate) was most easily metabolized. 13C labelled PAN was completely converted to the acrylic acid by this strain. M. luteus BST20 produced membrane-bound nitrile hydrolysing enzymes able to convert nitrile groups on PAN powder surface to the corresponding acids. Similarly, nitrile groups on PAN fabrics were transformed to the corresponding acid as indicated by an K/S increased after dying with Methylene blue and the released ammonia. On small soluble substrates the enzyme system showed a preference for aliphatic and aromatic substituted aliphatic nitriles.European Commission - GRD 2000-30110 “Biosyntex”, COSTD25/0002/0