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Scoring probability maps in the basketball court with Indicator Kriging estimation
No full textMeasuring players’ and teams’ shooting performance in the basketball court can give important information aimed to the definition of both game strategies and personalized training programs. From a methodological point of view, the estimation of the scoring probability can be faced by resorting to different tools in the field of statistical or algorithmic modelling. As a matter of fact, the most natural theoretical framework for this problem is that of spatial statistics, with the particularity that the analysis is based on the binary measurement variable informing about whether a shot is made or missed. In this paper we propose the use of spatial statistics tools suited to this specific context, namely lorelograms to investigate the spatial correlation and Indicator Kriging to draw scoring probability maps. A structured case study is presented, dealing with all the teams of the Italian Basketball First League, based on a non-public dataset containing substantive additional information, that allows interesting insights about assisted and uncontested shots
Effect of metacognitive interpersonal therapy on brain structural connectivity in borderline personality disorder: Results from the CLIMAMITHE randomized clinical trial
Get PDFBackground: Recently, we showed that Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT) is effective in improving clinical symptoms in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Here, we investigated whether the effect of MIT on clinical features is associated to microstructural changes in brain circuits supporting core BPD symptoms. Methods: Forty-seven BPD were randomized to MIT or structured clinical management, and underwent a clinical assessment and diffusion-weighted imaging before and after the intervention. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean, radial, and axial diffusivities maps were computed using FSL toolbox. Microstructural changes were assessed (i) voxel-wise, with tract based spatial statistics (TBSS) and (ii) ROI-wise, in the triple network system (default mode, salience, and executive control networks). The effect of MIT on brain microstructure was assessed with paired tests using FSL PALM (voxel-wise), Linear Mixed-Effect Models or Generalized Linear Mixed Models (ROI-wise). Associations between microstructural and clinical changes were explored with linear regression (voxel-wise) and correlations (ROI-wise). Results: The voxel-wise analysis showed that MIT was associated with increased FA in the bilateral thalamic radiation and left associative tracts (p < .050, family-wise error rate corrected). At network system level, MIT increased FA and both interventions reduced AD in the executive control network (p = .05, uncorrected). Limitations: The DTI metrics can't clarify the nature of axonal changes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that MIT modulates brain structural connectivity in circuits related to associative and executive control functions. These microstructural changes may denote activity-dependent plasticity, possibly representing a neurobiological mechanism underlying MIT effects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02370316 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02370316)
Wear and damage behaviors of wheel-rail with different material matchings under various sand deposition densities of rail top in desert environments
Get PDFIn desert environments, the phenomenon of sand particles depositing on the rail top and contaminating the wheel-rail interface is common because the railway is an open system. This work aimed to investigate the wear and damage behaviors of wheel-rail with different material matchings under various sand deposition densities of rail top in desert environments. The results showed that as sand deposition density increased, adhesion coefficient first decreased sharply and then increased slowly, and finally decreased slowly. It was caused by the combined effect of sand solid lubrication, oxide solid lubrication, and surface roughness of wheel and rail. The oxidative wear increased first, peaking at about 0.2 g/m 2 , and then decreased, whereas the fatigue wear decreased consistently. For wheel and rail materials with similar hardness, the wheel-rail material matching with high carbon content exhibited excellent anti-wear and anti-fatigue performances. The wear and damage of wheel and rail were relatively mild when the sand deposition density was lower than 0.4 g/m 2
Successful Omalizumab treatment in delayed pressure urticaria as confirmed by stimulation test
No full textCardiorespiratory Responses to Exercise in Hypobaric versus Normobaric Hypoxia: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Crossover Study
Get PDFPurpose: There is controversy whether there are meaningful physiological differences between hypobaric (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH). This study aimed to compare the cardiorespiratory responses to acute HH and NH under strictly controlled conditions. We hypothesized no differences at rest and during submaximal exercise, whereas during maximal exercise, a higher maximal ventilation (V̇Emax), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) in HH than in NH. Methods: In a randomized, single-blind, crossover design, eight young healthy subjects (three females) were studied in an environmental chamber in which either the barometric pressure (HH) or the inspired oxygen fraction (NH) was reduced to the equivalent of ~4000 m altitude. Measurements were taken at rest, during submaximal (moderate and high intensity) and maximal cycling exercise. Results: All resting parameters were similar between HH and NH, except for a lower root mean square of the successive R-R interval differences in HH (p < 0.05). SpO2 was 2% higher in HH at all exercise intensities (p < 0.05). During submaximal exercise, minute ventilation was similar between HH and NH. However, HH yielded a 7% lower tidal volume during moderate-intensity exercise (p < 0.05) and a lower respiratory exchange ratio during high-intensity exercise (p < 0.01). V̇Emax and V̇O2max were 11% and 6% higher in HH, respectively (p < 0.01 for both). SpO2 at maximal exercise was positively correlated with V̇Emax, V̇Emax/V̇O2max and V̇O2max. Conclusions: The higher V̇O2max found in HH than in NH can be attributed to the higher V̇Emax counteracting desaturation at maximal exercise. Conversely, submaximal SpO2 improved in HH through mechanisms other than increased ventilation. These findings are likely due to respiratory muscle unloading in HH, which operated through different mechanisms depending on exercise intensity
Measurement of HΛ3 production in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV
No full textThe first measurement of HΛ3 and H ̅Λ ̅3 differential production with respect to transverse momentum and centrality in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV is presented. The HΛ3 has been reconstructed via its two-charged-body decay channel, i.e., HΛ3→3He+π−. A Blast-Wave model fit of the pT-differential spectra of all nuclear species measured by the ALICE collaboration suggests that the HΛ3 kinetic freeze-out surface is consistent with that of other nuclei. The ratio between the integrated yields of HΛ3 and He3 is compared to predictions from the statistical hadronisation model and the coalescence model, with the latter being favoured by the presented measurements
Recovered Ammonia as a Sustainable Energy Carrier: Innovations in Recovery, Combustion, and Fuel Cells
Get PDFRecovered ammonia, extracted from waste streams such as industrial leachates
and organic waste, represents a unique opportunity to harness a sustainable, carbon-free
energy resource. This paper focuses on the energy potential of ammonia recovered from
waste, emphasizing its role as a critical element in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Integrating recovered ammonia into energy systems enables industries to reduce
dependence on conventional ammonia production, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and
advance circular economy practices. The study reviews advanced technologies for recovering
ammonia from waste, as well as its application in combustion processes and fuel cells.
Particular emphasis is placed on optimizing ammonia combustion to minimize nitrogen
oxide (NOx) emissions and on utilizing recovered ammonia in direct ammonia fuel cells
and hydrogen generation for fuel cells. Challenges associated with scaling waste recovery
technologies and integrating recovered ammonia into existing energy infrastructures are
critically examined. By providing an in-depth assessment of the environmental and economic
benefits of using recovered ammonia as an energy source, this paper highlights its
potential to decarbonize sectors such as transportation, industry, and power generation
Partiti ed elezioni: l’esperienza tedesca
No full textL'articolo esplora sinteticamente l'evoluzione storica e giuridica della evoluzione della legislazione sui partiti in Germania, con un focus sulle dinamiche di democrazia interna e sulla regolamentazione delle candidature. Dalla fondazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco alla Repubblica di Weimar, fino al moderno assetto costituzionale della Legge Fondamentale del 1949, gli autori analizzano il rapporto tra strutture partitiche e rappresentanza democratica.
Particolare attenzione è dedicata al principio di democraticità interna ai partiti, alla loro organizzazione territoriale e ai meccanismi decisionali, evidenziando come il modello tedesco realizzi garanzie di partecipazione della base attraverso una disciplina legislativa abbastanza dettagliata, nonostante residuino significativi spazi di autonomia organizzativa. L'analisi si conclude con una breve riflessione sulle sfide contemporanee, tra cui la stabilità del numero di iscritti e l'efficacia dei partiti come strumenti di partecipazione politica attiv