Interpersonal coordination tendencies supporting the creation/prevention of goal scoring opportunities in futsal

Research on 1vs1 sub-phases in team sports has shown how one player coordinates his/her actions with his/her opponent and the location of a target/goal to attain performance objectives. In this study, we extended this approach to analysis of 5vs5 competitive performance in the team sport of futsal to provide a performance analysis framework that explains how players coordinate their actions to create/prevent opportunities to score goals. For this purpose, we recorded all 10 futsal matches of the 2009 Lusophony Games held in Lisbon. We analysed the displacement trajectories of a shooting attacker and marking defender in plays ending in a goal, a goalkeeper's save, and a defender's interception, at four specific moments during performance: (1) assisting attacker's ball reception; (2) moment of passing; (3) shooter's ball reception, and; (4) shot on goal. Statistical analysis showed that when a goal was scored, the defender's angle to the goal and to the attacker tended to decrease, the attacker was able to move to the same distance to the goal alongside the defender, and the attacker was closer to the defender and moving at the same velocity (at least) as the defender. This study identified emergent patterns of coordination between attackers and defenders under key competitive task constraints, such as the location of the goal, which supported successful performance in futsal.

Simulation of pesticide behavior in a paddy block by a pesticide fate and transport model

A simulation model (PCPF-B) was developed based on the PCPF-1 model to predict the runoff of pesticides from paddy plots to a drainage canal in a paddy block. The block-scale model now comprises three modules: (1) a module for pesticide application, (2) a module for pesticide behavior in paddy fields, and (3) a module for pesticide concentration in the drainage canal. The PCPF-B model was first evaluated by published data in a single plot and then was applied to predict the concentration of bensulfuron-methyl in one paddy block in the Sakura river basin, Ibaraki, Japan, where a detailed field survey was conducted. The PCPF-B model simulated well the behavior of bensulfuron-methyl in individual paddy plots. It also reflected the runoff pattern of bensulfuron-methyl at the block outlet, although overestimation of bensulfuronmethyl concentrations occurred due to uncertainty in water balance estimation. Application of water management practice such as water-holding period and seepage control also affected the performance of the model. A probabilistic approach may be necessary for a comprehensive risk assessment in large-scale paddy areas.

Fate and transport of bensulfuron-methyl and imazosulfuron in paddy fields: Experiments and model simulation

Experiments were conducted to determine the fate of bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) and imazosulfuron (IMS) under paddy conditions. Initially, laboratory experiments were conducted and the photolysis half-lives of the two herbicides were found to be much shorter than their hydrolysis half-lives in aqueous solutions. In the aerobic water–soil system, dissipation followed first-order kinetics with water half-lives of 9.1 and 11.0 days and soil half-lives of 12.4 and 18.5 days (first phase) and 35.0 and 44.1 days (second phase) for bensulfuron-methyl and imazosulfuron, respectively. However, the anaerobic soil half-lives were only 12.7 and 9.8 days for BSM and IMS, respectively. The values of K d were determined to be 16.0 and 13.8 for BSM and IMS, respectively. Subsequent field measurements for the two herbicides revealed that dissipation of both herbicides in paddy water involved biphasic first-order kinetics, with the dissipation rates in the first phase being much faster than those in the second phase. The dissipation of bensulfuron-methyl and imazosulfuron in the paddy surface soil were also followed biphasic first-order kinetics. These results were then used as input parameters for the PCPF-1 model to simulate the fate and transport of BSM and IMS in the paddy environment (water and 1-cm surface soil layer). The measured and simulated values agreed well and the mass balance error during the simulation period was −1.2 and 2.8% of applied pesticide, respectively, for BSM and IMS.

Micro paddy lysimeter for monitoring solute transport in paddy environment

The micro paddy lysimeter (MPL) was developed and evaluated for its performance to simulate solute transport in paddy environment under laboratory conditions. MPLs were constructed using soil collected from Field Museum Honmachi of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan. For the physical characteristics of the hardpan layer, parameters such as thickness, and soil aggregate size, affecting the percolation rate were studied. For the plow layer, two types of plow soils, sieved and un-sieved soils were compared. The sieved soil plow layer was produced by mixing air-dried soils of different aggregate sizes of D > 9.50, 9.50 ≥ D > 4.75, 4.75 ≥ D > 2.0 mm and D ≤ 2.0 mm at 47.1, 19.5, 20.6, and 12.8%, respectively. The un-sieved plow layer soil was directly used after collecting from the field. Inert tracer was applied to ponding water with controlled boundary conditions to evaluate the reproducibility of the soil hydraulic characteristics. HYDRUS-1D was used to evaluate the movement of bromide tracer in the MPL. The proposed conditions of the MPL were that the hardpan layer can be made from soil aggregates smaller than 0.425 mm with 2 cm thickness and that the plow layer can be prepared with sieved or un-sieved soils. With these conditions, the obtained results proved that MPLs can be a useful tool to simulate solute transport in paddy environment.

Fate and transport of nursery-box-applied tricyclazole and imidacloprid in paddy fields

The fate and transport of tricyclazole and imidacloprid in paddy plots after nursery-box application was monitored. Water and surface soil samples were collected over a period of 35 days. Rates of dissipation from paddy waters and soils were also measured. Dissipation of the two pesticides from paddy water can be described by first-order kinetics. In the soil, only the dissipation of imidacloprid fitted to the simple first-order kinetics, whereas tricyclazole concentrations fluctuated until the end of the monitoring period. Mean half-life (DT₅₀) values for tricyclazole were 11.8 and 305 days, respectively, in paddy water and surface soil. The corresponding values of imidacloprid were 2.0 and 12.5 days, respectively, in water and in surface soil. Less than 0.9% of tricyclazole and 0.1% of imidacloprid were lost through runoff during the monitoring period even under 6.3 cm of rainfall. The pesticide formulation seemed to affect the environmental fate of these pesticides when these results were compared to those of other studies.

Cloning and gastrointestinal expression of rat hephaestin: Relationship to other iron transport proteins

The membrane-bound ceruloplasmin homolog hephaestin plays a critical role in intestinal iron absorption. The aims of this study were to clone the rat hephaestin gene and to examine its expression in the gastrointestinal tract in relation to other genes encoding iron transport proteins. The rat hephaestin gene was isolated from intestinal mRNA and was found to encode a protein 96% identical to mouse hephaestin. Analysis by ribonuclease protection assay and Western blotting showed that hephaestin was expressed at high levels throughout the small intestine and colon. Immunofluorescence localized the hephaestin protein to the mature villus enterocytes with little or no expression in the crypts. Variations in iron status had a small but nonsignificant effect on hephaestin expression in the duodenum. The high sequence conservation between rat and mouse hephaestin is consistent with this protein playing a central role in intestinal iron absorption, although its precise function remains to be determined.

Structural and lithium ion transport studies in sol-gel-prepared lithium silicophosphate glasses

Lithium silicophosphate glasses have been prepared by a sol-gel route over a wide range of compositions. Their structural and electrical properties have been investigated. Infrared spectroscopic studies show the presence of hydroxyl groups attached to Si and P. MAS NMR investigations provide evidence for the presence of different phosphatic units in the structure. The variations of de conductivities at 423 K and activation energies have been studied as a function of composition, and both exhibit an increasing trend with the ratio of nonbridging oxygen to bridging oxygen in the structure. Ac conductivity behavior shows that the power law exponent, s, is temperature dependent and exhibits a minimum. Relaxation behavior has been examined in detail using an electrical modulus formalism, and modulus data were fitted to Kohlraush-William-Watts stretched exponential function. A structural model has been proposed and the unusual properties exhibited by this unique system of glasses have been rationalized using this model. Ion transport in these glasses appears to be confined to unidimensional conduits defined by modified phosphate chains and interspersed with unmodified silica units.

Cycling for transport and recreation: Associations with the socio-economic, natural and built environment

This study examined associations between objective environmental attributes and, separately, transport (TC) and recreational cycling (RC). Environmental attributes were more strongly associated with TC than RC. Distances to areas with the best bicycle infrastructure and urban amenities may be key environmental factors influencing TC but not RC. Government investments in bicycle infrastructure within inner Brisbane appear to have resulted in more TC than in outer areas and to appeal to residents of both the most and least disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Extending this infrastructure to residents living in disadvantaged and advantaged neighbourhoods outside the CBD could expand TC participation.

Phase conversions in calcium manganites with changing Ca/Mn ratios and their influence on the electrical transport properties

The phase-interconversions between the spinel-, brownmillerite-, defect rocksalt and perovskite-type structures have been investigated by way of (i) introducing deficiency in A-sites in CaxMn2-xO3 (0.05 <= x <= 1) i.e., by varying Ca/Mn ratio from 0.025 to 1 and (ii) nonstoichiometric CaMnO3-delta (CMO) with 0.02 <= delta <= 1. The temperature dependence of resistivity (rho-T) have been investigated on nonstoichiometric CaMnO3-delta (undoped) as well as the CMO substituted with donor impurities such as La3+, Y3+, Bi3+ or acceptor such as Na1+ ion at the Ca-site. The rho-T characteristics of nonstoichiometric CaMnO3-delta is strongly influenced by oxygen deficiency, which controls the concentration of Mn3+ ions and, in turn, affects the resistivity, rho. The results indicated that the substitution of aliovalent impurities at Ca-site in CaMnO3 has similar effects as of CaMnO3-delta ( undoped) annealed in atmospheres of varying partial pressures whereby electron or hole concentration can be altered, yet the doped samples can be processed in air or atmospheres of higher P-O2. The charge transport mechanisms of nonstoichiometric CaMnO3-delta as against the donor or acceptor doped CaMnO3 (sintered in air, P-O2 similar to 0.2 atm) have been predicted. The rho (T) curves of both donor doped CaMnO3 as well as non-stoichiometric CaMnO3-delta, is predictable by the small polaron hopping (SPH) model, which changes to the variable range hopping (VRH) at low temperatures whereas the acceptor doped CaMnO3 exhibited an activated semiconducting hopping ( ASH) throughout the measured range of temperature (10-500 K).

Variable-Temperature EPR and Transport Studies on Poly(4,4'-methylenedianiline): Evidence for Bipolarons

The correlation between magnetic and transport properties is examined by studying poly(4,4'-methylenedianiline)(PMDA) salts and their bases using EPR and conductivity measurements. Five different PMDA salts (doped polymers)were prepared by chemical polymerization of 4,4'-methylenedianiline using different protonic acids. The PMDA bases were obtained by dedoping the salts using ammonium hydroxide. Ambient temperature electrical conductivity measurements show evidence for the doped PMDA system to be highly disordered. The EPR spectra of the samples were recorded in the range 20-200 "C, and the results were analyzed on the basis of the polaron-bipolaron model, which is typical of nondegenerate systems. Both PMDA salts and their bases consist of self-trapped, highly mobile polarons or radical cations. EPR studies on PMDA salts show evidence for the presence of thermally activated and temperature independent (or Pauli type) paramagnetism while the bases show thermally activated, Pauli and Curie-Weiss types of paramagnetism. The paramagnetism arises due to polarons.It is proposed that charge transport takes place through both polarons and bipolarons.

Ionic transport in (PEG)x LiBr systems

Ionic conductivity in (PEG)(x)LiBr systems is measured using the complex impedance method in the temperature range -20 degrees C to 100 degrees C. For x = 6 and 10, above a certain concentration dependent temperature T-c, a power law fit based on mode coupling theory is seen to better explain the data than the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) expression. Li-7 NMR linewidth measurements indicate two regions of motional narrowing, one attributable to segmental motion and the other to translational diffusion.

Probing the Neutral Edge Modes in Transport across a Point Contact via Thermal Effects in the Read-Rezayi Non-Abelian Quantum Hall States

Non-Abelian quantum Hall states are characterized by the simultaneous appearance of charge and neutral gapless edge modes, with the structure of the latter being intricately related to the existence of bulk quasiparticle excitations obeying non-Abelian statistics. Here we propose a scenario for detecting the neutral modes by having two point contacts in series separated by a distance set by the thermal equilibration length of the charge mode. We show that by using the first point contact as a heating device, the excess charge noise measured at the second point contact carries a nontrivial signature of the presence of the neutral mode. We also obtain explicit expressions for the thermal conductance and corresponding Lorentz number for transport across a quantum point contact between two edges held at different temperatures and chemical potentials.

Security issues for future intelligent transport systems

Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS) allow in-vehicle systems, and ultimately the driver, to enhance their awareness of their surroundings by enabling communication between vehicles and road infrastructure. C-ITS are widely considered as the next major step in driving assistance systems, aiming at increasing safety, comfort and mobility for drivers. However, any communicating systems are subjected to security threats. A key component for providing secure communications at a large scale is a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Due to the safety-critical nature of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications, a C-ITS PKI has functional, performance and scalability requirements that differ from traditional non-automotive environments. This paper identifies and defines the key functional and security requirements for C-ITS PKI systems and analyses proposed C-ITS PKI standards against these requirements. In particular, the proposed US and European C-ITS PKI systems are identified as being too complex and not scalable. The paper also highlights various privacy, security and scalability concerns that should be considered for a secure C-ITS PKI solution in the Australian transport landscape.

Study of Ion Transport in Lithium Perchlorate-Succinonitrile Plastic Crystalline Electrolyte via Ionic Conductivity and in Situ Cryo-Crystallography

Ion transport mechanism in lithium perchlorate (LiClO4)-succinonitrile (SN), a prototype of plastic crystalline soft matter electrolyte is discussed in the context of solvent configurational isomerism and ion solvation. Contributions of both solvent configurational isomerism and ion solvation are reflected in the activation energy for ion conduction in 0-1 M LiClO4-SN samples. Activation energy due to solvent configurational changes, that is, trans-gauche isomerism is observed to be a function of salt content and decreases in presence of salt (except at high salt concentrations, e.g. 1 M LiClO4-SN). The remnant contribution to activation energy is attributed to ion-association. The X-ray diffraction of single crystals obtained using in situ cryo-crystallography confirms directly the observations of the ionic conductivity measurements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and NMR line width measurements provide additional support to our proposition of ion transport in the prototype plastic crystalline electrolyte.