Gender influence on the adaptation of atrial performance to training

Background: High-intensity training has been associated with atrial remodelling and arrhythmias in men. Our purpose was to analyse atrial performance in female endurance athletes, compared to male athletes and controls. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. We included four groups: female athletes, females controls, male athletes and male controls. Left (LA) and right atrial (RA) volumes and function were assessed using 2D and speckle-tracking echocardiography to determine peak atrial strain-rate at atrial (SRa) and ventricular contraction (SRs), as surrogates of atrial contractile and reservoir function, respectively. ANOVA and Bonferroni’s statistical tests were used to compare variables among groups. Results: We included 82 subjects, 39 women (19 endurance athletes, 20 controls) and 43 men (22 endurance athletes, 21 controls). Mean age was similar between groups (36.6?±?5.6 years). Athletes had larger bi-atrial volumes, compared to controls (women, LA 27.1 vs. 15.8?ml/m², p?<?0.001; RA 22.31 vs. 14.2?ml/m², p?=?0.009; men, LA: 25.0 vs. 18.5?ml/m², p?=?0.003; RA 30.8 vs. 21.9?ml/m², p?<?0.001) and lower strain-rate (women, LASRa ?1.60 vs. ?2.18?s^?1, p?<?0.001; RASRa ?1.89 vs. ?2.38?s^?1, p?=?0.009; men, LASRa ?1.21 vs. ?1.44?s^?1, p?=?1; RASRa ?1.44 vs. ?1.60?s^?1, p?=?1). However, RA indexed size was lower and bi-atrial deformation greater in female athletes, compared to male athletes. Conclusions: The atria of both male and female athletes shows specific remodelling, compared to sedentary subjects, with larger size and less deformation at rest, particularly for the RA. Despite a similar extent of remodelling, the pattern in women had greater bi-atrial myocardial deformation and smaller RA size.     

Level of gymnastic skill as an intrinsic constraint on postural coordination.

In this study, we considered the interacting effects of expertise in gymnastics, the type of support surface and the required frequency of head movement on the emergence of postural modes of coordination. A group of elite female gymnasts and a control group of non-gymnasts were asked to track the fore-aft motion of a target with their heads. Two support surface conditions (a balance beam vs the floor) were crossed with four frequencies of target motion. The relative phase between the angular motion of the ankles and hips was analysed. Two stable patterns emerged: an in-phase mode and an anti-phase mode, with the hip-ankle relative phase close to 0 degrees and 180 degrees, respectively. Increasing target frequency produced a change from in-phase to anti-phase coordination, in conditions where no instructions were given to the participants (Experiment 1) as well as in those where participants were instructed to maintain an in-phase mode for as long as possible (Experiment 2). This change, however, occurred earlier for the non-gymnasts than for the gymnasts. We conclude that 0 degrees and 180 degrees are two stable postural coordination modes, that expertise in gymnastics leads to a functional modification of existing patterns of coordination, and that expertise in general can be considered an intrinsic constraint on coordination.     

Topological domain states and magnetoelectric properties in multiferroic nanostructures

Multiferroic nanostructures have been attracting tremendous attention over the past decade, due to their rich cross-coupling effects and prospective electronic applications. In particular, the emergence of some exotic phenomena in size-confined multiferroic systems, including topological domain states such as vortices, center domains, and skyrmion bubble domains, has opened a new avenue to a number of intriguing physical properties and functionalities, and thus underpins a wide range of applications in future nanoelectronic devices. It is also highly appreciated that nano-domain engineering provides a pathway to control the magnetoelectric properties, which is promising for future energy-efficient spintronic devices. In recent years, this field, still in its infancy, has witnessed a rapid development and a number of challenges too. In this article, we shall review the recent advances in the emergent domain-related exotic phenomena in multiferroic nanostructures. Specific attention is paid to the topological domain structures and related novel physical behaviors as well as the electric-field-driven magnetic switching via domain engineering. This review will end with a discussion of future challenges and potential directions.     

Control of locomotion in expert gymnasts in the absence of vision

The main aim of this study was to determine how gymnasts are affected by the removal of vision when executing simple moves. A secondary aim was to establish whether crucial sensory cues exist for blindfolded gymnasts. Eight expert gymnasts were asked to maintain a straight displacement during three types of blindfolded locomotion: walking, steering a wheelchair and verbally ordering a second person pushing their wheelchair. In the first two conditions, active displacement made proprioceptive cues available to update the body trajectory. In the last condition, however, proprioceptive cues were greatly reduced, since the gymnasts displaced passively. The performance of the gymnasts was compared to that of eight experts in other non-gymnastic sports (control group). The results showed that the participants veered in all conditions. However, except in the verbal condition, the gymnasts departed less from linearity than the controls. We conclude that: (1) even for a simple motor task, gymnasts' performance is altered by eliminating vision; (2) compared with other sportsmen and women, gymnasts are better able to deal with the absence of vision when proprioceptive cues are available. These findings suggest two possible explanations: (1) gymnasts are more able to 'pick up' crucial information and (2) a gymnast's proprioceptive system is more sensitive.     

Do eco-innovations harm productivity growth through crowding out? Results of an extended CDM model for Italy

This paper discusses the results for Italy of a CDM model (Crepon et al., 1998) further extended with the objective of evaluating drivers and productivity effects of environmental innovations. The particular nature of environmental innovations, especially as regards the need of government intervention to create market opportunities, is likely to affect the way through which they are pursued (innovation equation within the CDM model) and their effect on productivity (productivity equation).     

On the aesthetic production of atmospheres: the rhetorical workings of biopower at The CELL

Drawing upon Foucault's notion of biopower and Böhme's theory of atmospheres, we analyze The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (The CELL), a nonprofit institution in Denver, Colorado dedicated to preventing terrorism. Specifically, we argue that The CELL rhetorically induces visitors to submit to and actively participate in continuous surveillance by subjecting them to a strategic succession of atmospheres that affectively and emotively enlists their bodies in its cause. This largely material rhetoric utilizes the design aesthetics of controlled movement, simulation, interactivity, and pseudodialogue. We conclude by reflecting on the implications for rhetorical and security studies.