Metabolic optimisation of the basketball free throw

The free throw (FT) is a fundamental basketball skill used frequently during a match. Most of actual play occurs at about 85% of maximum heart rate (HR). Metabolic intensity, through fatigue, may influence a technically skilled move as the FT is. Twenty-eight under 17 basketball players were studied while shooting FTs on a regular indoor basketball court. We investigated FT accuracy in young male basketball players shooting at three different HRs: at rest, at 50% and at 80% of maximum experimentally obtained HR value. We found no significant FT percentage difference between rest and 50% of the maximum HR (FT percentage about 80%; P > 0.05). Differently, at 80% of the maximum HR the FT percentage decreased significantly by more than 20% (P < 0.001) down to about 60%. No preliminary warm-up is needed before entering game for the FT accuracy. Furthermore, we speculate that time-consuming, cooling-off routines usually performed by shooters before each FT may be functional to improve its accuracy.     

The new institutional governance of Italian state universities: what role for the new governing bodies?

Tertiary Education and Management - In 2010, a comprehensive reform required Italian state universities to restructure their institutional governance by revising their statutes. This interpretative...     

A microfluidics assisted porous silicon array for optical label-free biochemical sensing

A porous silicon (PSi) based microarray has been integrated with a microfluidic system, as a proof of concept device for the optical monitoring of selective label-free DNA-DNA interaction. A 4 × 4 square matrix of PSi one dimensional photonic crystals, each one of 200 μm diameter and spaced by 600 μm, has been sealed by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels circuit. The PSi optical microarray elements have been functionalized by DNA single strands after sealing: the microfluidic circuit allows to reduce significantly the biologicals and chemicals consumption, and also the incubation time with respect to a not integrated device. Theoretical calculations, based on finite element method, taking into account molecular interactions, are in good agreement with the experimental results, and the developed numerical model can be used for device optimization. The functionalization process and the interaction between DNA probe and target has been monitored by spectroscopic reflectometry for each PSi element in the microchannels.     

Factors Affecting Students' Acceptance of Tablet PCs: A Study in Italian High Schools

To maximize the advantages of the tablet personal computer (TPC) at school, this technology needs to be accepted by students as new tool for learning. With reference to the Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, the aims of this study were (a) to analyze factors influencing high school students' acceptance of TPCs and (b) to detect any difference in this influence considering the frequency of TPC use, students' gender, and school grade. Two hundred and ninety-six students from six high schools in the Milan area participated in the study. Data were collected using an online survey. The results showed that empowerment in learning, perceived usefulness, and support conditions affect learning use, and empowerment in learning and affect influence communicative use of TPCs. The implications of these results are discussed. (Keywords: tablets, acceptance, digital technologies, high school, path analysis)