I feel good whether my friends win or my foes lose: brain mechanisms underlying feeling similarity.

People say they enjoy both seeing a preferred social group succeed and seeing an adversary social group fail. At the same time, they state they dislike seeing a preferred social group fail and seeing an adversary social group succeed. The current magnetic resonance imaging study investigated whether-and if so, how-such similarities in reported feeling states are reflected in neural activities. American football fans anticipated success and failure situations for their favorite or their adversary teams. The data support the idea that feeling similarities and divergences expressed in verbal reports carry with them significant neural similarities and differences, respectively. Desired (favorite team likely to win and adversary team likely to lose) rather than undesired (favorite team likely to lose and adversary team likely to win) outcomes were associated with heightened activity in the supramarginal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, insula, and cerebellum. Precuneus activity additionally distinguished anticipated desirable outcomes for favorite versus adversary teams.

Anger and fear: Separable effects of emotion and motivational direction on somatovisceral responses.

We studied whether emotion (anger vs. fear) and motivational direction (approach vs. withdrawal) have specific, separable, and independent somatovisceral response patterns. Imagination scripts about soccer game episodes with crossed Emotion x Motivational Direction content resulting in four experimental groups were presented to a total of N = 118 active soccer players. Self-reports reflected the emotion but not the motivational direction induction. Univariate and multivariate analyses of 24 somatovisceral variables and 2 a priori defined summary variables showed that anger and fear had specific response profiles with effect sizes correlating r = 0.53 with the respective effect sizes from a previous study. Approach and withdrawal profiles varied only in intensity. Emotion and motivational direction did not interact and had independent somatovisceral effects. Results suggest that anger and fear have separate underlying neurobiological organizations each capable of bi-directional motivational tuning of efferent pathways. Results support the Component Model of Somatovisceral Response Organization.

Effects of Anxiety on Anticipation and Visual Search in Dynamic, Time-Constrained Situations

We tested the predictions of Attentional Control Theory (ACT) by examining how anxiety affects visual search strategies, performance efficiency, and performance effectiveness using a dynamic, temporal-constrained anticipation task. Higher and lower skilled players viewed soccer situations under 2 task constraints (near vs. far situation) and were tested under high (HA) and low (LA) anxiety conditions. Response accuracy (effectiveness) and response time, perceived mental effort, and eye-movements (all efficiency) were recorded. A significant increase in anxiety was evidenced by higher state anxiety ratings on the MRF-L scale. Increased anxiety led to decreased performance efficiency because response times and mental effort increased for both skill groups whereas response accuracy did not differ. Anxiety influenced search strategies, with higher skilled players showing a decrease in number of fixation locations for far situations under HA compared with LA condition when compared with lower skilled players. Findings provide support for ACT with anxiety impairing processing efficiency and, potentially, top-down attentional control across different task constraints.

Impairments of peripheral motion change detection during smooth pursuit eye movements

Introduction: In team sports the ability to use peripheral vision is essential to track a number of players and the ball. By using eye-tracking devices it was found that players either use fixations and saccades to process information on the pitch or use smooth pursuit eye movements (SPEM) to keep track of single objects (Schütz, Braun, & Gegenfurtner, 2011). However, it is assumed that peripheral vision can be used best when the gaze is stable while it is unknown whether motion changes can be equally well detected when SPEM are used especially because contrast sensitivity is reduced during SPEM (Schütz, Delipetkose, Braun, Kerzel, & Gegenfurtner, 2007). Therefore, peripheral motion change detection will be examined by contrasting a fixation condition with a SPEM condition. Methods: 13 participants (7 male, 6 female) were presented with a visual display consisting of 15 white and 1 red square. Participants were instructed to follow the red square with their eyes and press a button as soon as a white square begins to move. White square movements occurred either when the red square was still (fixation condition) or moving in a circular manner with 6 °/s (pursuit condition). The to-be-detected white square movements varied in eccentricity (4 °, 8 °, 16 °) and speed (1 °/s, 2 °/s, 4 °/s) while movement time of white squares was constant at 500 ms. 180 events should be detected in total. A Vicon-integrated eye-tracking system and a button press (1000 Hz) was used to control for eye-movements and measure detection rates and response times. Response times (ms) and missed detections (%) were measured as dependent variables and analysed with a 2 (manipulation) x 3 (eccentricity) x 3 (speed) ANOVA with repeated measures on all factors. Results: Significant response time effects were found for manipulation, F(1,12) = 224.31, p < .01, ηp2 = .95, eccentricity, F(2,24) = 56.43; p < .01, ηp2 = .83, and the interaction between the two factors, F(2,24) = 64.43; p < .01, ηp2 = .84. Response times increased as a function of eccentricity for SPEM only and were overall higher than in the fixation condition. Results further showed missed events effects for manipulation, F(1,12) = 37.14; p < .01, ηp2 = .76, eccentricity, F(2,24) = 44.90; p < .01, ηp2 = .79, the interaction between the two factors, F(2,24) = 39.52; p < .01, ηp2 = .77 and the three-way interaction manipulation x eccentricity x speed, F(2,24) = 3.01; p = .03, ηp2 = .20. While less than 2% of events were missed on average in the fixation condition as well as at 4° and 8° eccentricity in the SPEM condition, missed events increased for SPEM at 16 ° eccentricity with significantly more missed events in the 4 °/s speed condition (1 °/s: M = 34.69, SD = 20.52; 2 °/s: M = 33.34, SD = 19.40; 4 °/s: M = 39.67, SD = 19.40). Discussion: It could be shown that using SPEM impairs the ability to detect peripheral motion changes at the far periphery and that fixations not only help to detect these motion changes but also to respond faster. Due to high temporal constraints especially in team sports like soccer or basketball, fast reaction are necessary for successful anticipation and decision making. Thus, it is advised to anchor gaze at a specific location if peripheral changes (e.g. movements of other players) that require a motor response have to be detected. In contrast, SPEM should only be used if a single object, like the ball in cricket or baseball, is necessary for a successful motor response. References: Schütz, A. C., Braun, D. I., & Gegenfurtner, K. R. (2011). Eye movements and perception: A selective review. Journal of Vision, 11, 1-30. Schütz, A. C., Delipetkose, E., Braun, D. I., Kerzel, D., & Gegenfurtner, K. R. (2007). Temporal contrast sensitivity during smooth pursuit eye movements. Journal of Vision, 7, 1-15.

The Impact of Mobile Technology on the Viewing Experience of the Avid Sports Fan

Viewing sports on television is a very different experience than viewing a game in-person. Sports commentators on television are seemingly able to pull up random statistics as soon as something unexpected happens during a game. Because these statistics are discussed on television, any sports fan who wants to watch a game in-person misses out on the opportunity to hear them during the game. This study identifies what statistics, both common and uncommon, are considered important or interesting by avid sports fans who watch a particular sport at least two times per week. In addition, it considers the rise of mobile technology and the effects that this change of trend will have on business opportunities and experiences. The purpose of the project is to find a way to mimic the television viewing experience for fans who are watching in-person through the use of mobile technology, and in particular through the use of iPhone applications.

Children's Perceptions of Male and Female Athletes as Presented in Sports Illustrated for Kids

Despite gains made by Title IX in the past 36 years, including increased female participation in high school and collegiate sport, there is evidence that gender equity in sport is not fully achieved. Researchers target the media because they tend to shape social values and disseminate information to the masses (Kane, 1978, in Fink & Kensicki, 2002). As sports become more pervasive, framing theory has become particularly relevant. The purpose of this study is to build on the Hardin et al. (2002) study by examining the relationship among media sports coverage, gender equity in sport and the perceptions young sports fans begin to form about gender and sport based on media consumption. The researcher hypothesized that since women face discrimination in sport starting from the time that they choose to participate, children will perceive male athletes and their sports as more legitimate. Additionally, the media play a major role in shaping the views of audiences, so the way that they represent male and female athletes, including juxtaposing them, may have an impact on children. The researcher conducted a content analysis of 24 Sports Illustrated for Kids issues from 1996 to 1999 and 24 issues from 2006 to 2007. The researcher analyzed the content of photographs (N=3219) and of headlines (N=762) by using the definitions determined by Hardin et al. (2002). We found that there is a disproportionate amount of coverage devoted to male athletes and that the discrepancy between media representation between men and women in sport has grown since the mid-1990s. This study also includes a focus group conducted with three children from a community swimming program in a northeastern town and found that those children were acutely aware of the differences between men and women in sport based on the discussion. The researcher does not attempt to find a causal relationship between these children’s perceptions and the way media represents them, but rather uses the focus group to complement the content analysis. As children become sports consumers in later life, future research exploring the relationship between children’s perceptions and the media’s representations need to be done before causality and the significance of media effects are determined.

Grain size distribution in surface sediments samples of the continental shelf and slope of southeast Greenland

During "Meteor" Cruise 6/1966 in the northwest Atlantic a systematic survey of the bottom topography of the southeast Greenland continental margin was undertaken. Eighty-seven profiles transverse to the shelf edge at distances of 3-4 nautical miles and two longitudinal profiles parallel to the coast were carried out with the ELAC Narrow Beam Echo-Sounder giving a reliable record of even steep slopes. On the basis of the echo soundings the topography and morphology of the continental shelf and slope are evaluated. A detailed bathymetric chart and a serial profile chart were designed as working material for the morphological research. These maps along with the original echograms are morphometrically evaluated. The analysis of the sea bottom features is the basis of a subsequent morphogenetical interpretation, verified and extended by means of interpretation of magnetic data and sediment analysis (grain size, roundness, lithology). The results of the research are expressed in a geomorphological map. The primary findings can be summarized as follows: 1) The southeast Greenland shelf by its bottom topography can be clearly designated as a glacially formed area. The glacial features of the shelf can be classified into two zones nearly parallel to the coast: glacial erosion forms on the inner shelf and glacial accumulation forms on the outer shelf. The inner shelf is characterized by the rugged and hummocky topography of ice scoured plains with clear west/east slope asymmetry. On the outer shelf three types of glacial accumulation forms can be recognized: ice margin deposits with clearly expressed terminal moraines, glacial till plains and glaciomarine outwash fans. Both zones of the shelf can be subdivided into two levels of relief. The ice scoured plains, with average depths of 240 meters (m), are dissected to a maximum depth of 1060 m (Gyldenloves Trough) by trough valleys, which are the prolongations of the Greenland fjords. The banks of the outer shelf, with an average depth of 180 m, surround glacial basins with a maximum depth of 670 meters. 2) The sediments of the continental shelf can be classified as glacial due to their grain size distribution and the degree of roundness of the gravel particles. The ice margin deposits on the outer shelf can be recognized by their high percentage of gravels. On the inner shelf a rock surface is suggested, intermittently covered by glacial deposits. In the shelf troughs fine-grained sediments occur mixed with gravels. 3) Topography and sediments show that the southeast Greenland shelf was covered by an ice sheet resting on the sea floor during the Pleistocene ice-age. The large end moraines along the shelf edge probably indicate the maximum extent of the Wurm shelf ice resting on the sea floor. The breakthroughs of the end moraines in front of the glacial basins suggest that the shelf ice has floated further seaward over the increasing depths. 4) Petrographically the shelf sediments consist of gneisses, granites and basalts. While gneisses and granites occire on the nearby coast, basalt is not known to exist here. Either this material has been drifted by icebergs from the basalt province to the north or exists on the southeast Greenland shelf itself. The last interpretation is supported bythe high portion of basalt contained in the sediment samples taken and the strong magnetic anomalies probably caused by basaltic intrusions. 5) A magnetic profile allows the recognition of two magnetically differing areas which approximately coincide with the glacial erosion and accumulation zones. The inner shelf shows a strong and variable magnetic field because the glacially eroded basement forms the sea floor. The outer shelf is characterized by a weak and homogenous magnetic field, as the magnetized basement lies at greater depthy, buried by a thick cover of glacial sediments. The strong magnetic anomalies of the inner shelf are probably caused by dike swarms, similar to those observed further to the north in the Kangerdlugssuaq Fjord region. This interpretation is supported by the high basalt content of the sediment samples and the rough topography of the ice scoured plains which correlates in general with the magnetic fluctuations. The dike structures of the basement have been differentially eroded by the shelf ice. 6) The continental slope, extending from the shelf break at 313 m to a depth of 1270 m with an average slope of 11°, is characterized by delta-shaped projections in front of the shelf basins, by marginal plateaus, ridges and hills, by canyons and slumping features. The projections could be identified as glaciomarine sediment fans. This conclusion is supported by the strong decrease of magnetic field intensity. The deep sea hills and ridges with their greater magnetic intensities have to be regarded as basement outcrops projecting through the glaciomarine sediment cover. The upper continental rise, sloping seaward at about 2°, is composed of wide sediment fans and slump material. A marginal depression on the continental rise running parallel to the shelf edge has been identified. In this depression bottom currents capable of erosion have been recorded. South of Cape Farvel the depression extends to the accumulation zone of the "Eirik" sedimentary ridge. 7) By means of a study of the recent marine processes, postglacial modification of the ice-formed relief can be postulated. The retention effect of the fjord troughs and the high velocity of the East Greenland stream prevents the glacial features from being buried by sediments. Bottom currents capable of active erosion have only been found in the marginal depression on the continental rise. In addition, at the time of the lowest glacio-eustatic sea level, the shelf bottom was not situated in the zone of wave erosion. Only on the continental slope and rise bottom currents, sediment slumps and turbidity currents have led to significant recent modifications. Considering these results, the geomorphological development of the southeast Greenland continental terrace can be suggested as follows: 1. initial formation of a "peneplain", 2. fluvial incision, 3. submergence, and finally 4. glacial modification.

Physical properties of 4 cores from the Bengal Fan

New stratigraphic and high-resolution seismic data from the Bengal Fan indicate that the world's largest fan shows active growth during the most recent sea-level rise and the recent highstand. This unique phenomenon contradicts common sequence-stratigraphic models, and the sediment preserved provides new insight into the sedimentological response of a fan system to sea-level rise, climatic terminations, and monsoon intensity during the past climatic cycle. We present a detailed dated sequence of turbidite sedimentation based on a core transect perpendicular to the active channel-levee system in the upper mid-fan area. Between the two major terminations 1a (12 800 14C yr B.P.) and 1b (9700 14C yr B.P.), and especially at the end of the Younger Dryas, a 13-km-wide channel built up levees 50 m high. With decreasing sediment supply, continued sea-level rise, and increasing monsoon intensity during the early Holocene, turbidity currents were confined to the channel and gradually filled it. The canyon "Swatch of No Ground," a shelf depocenter that serves as the source for frequent turbidity currents, and the channel-levee system provide the unique opportunity for studying an active highstand system. Many fans showed this behavior only during lowered sea-level.

Geochemical parameters of sediments and water of the Black Sea, data of Cruise 8 of R/V Vityaz-2

The book presents results of comprehensive geological investigations carried out during Cruise 8 of R/V "Vityaz-2" to the western part of the Black Sea in 1984. Systematic studies in the Black Sea during about hundred years have not weakened interest in the sea. Lithological and geochemical studies of sediments in estuarine areas of the Danube and the Kyzyl-Irmak rivers, as well as in adjacent parts of the deep sea and some other areas were the main aims of the cruise. Data on morphological structures of river fans, lithologic and chemical compositions of sediments in the fans and their areal distribution, forms of occurrence of chemical elements, role of organic matter and gases in sedimentation and diagenesis are given and discussed in the book.

Entre el testimonio y la autobiografía, Cartucho y la construcción de una memoria poética/política

Cartucho. Relatos de la lucha en el norte de México de Nellie Campobello es un libro excepcional que debido a su posicionamiento político y a la originalidad de su propuesta estética ha sido ignorado y despreciado, siempre a la sombra de los textos canónicos de la literatura de la revolución mexicana. Leemos el texto de Campobello bajo las claves del testimonio y de la autobiografía. Su construcción de una mirada infantil para contar desde una perspectiva villista los enfrentamientos en el norte revolucionario implica un rechazo del registro realista así como la indagación de una reescritura poética-política que recrea una memoria radical, a-moral y provocativa de los hechos de la revolución.

Céspedes de estadios de fútbol : Mendoza (Argentina)

Se considera los estados de desarrollo de los céspedes de estadios de fútbol en Mendoza (Argentina). Desde un punto de vista fitosociológico se determinan dos grupos de plantas: Molinio-Arrhenatheretea R. Tx. 1937 (campos húmedos y pisoteados, con vegetación subnitrófila e higrófita) y Stellarietea mediae R. Tx. 1950 (vegetación arvense de los cultivos). Se indican las etapas dinámicas que se producen por sobrepisoteo y labores culturales. Del análisis se desprende que: 1. El sobrepisoteo y falta de cuidados culturales conducen a la pérdida de la cubierta vegetal y a la formación de peladeros sin vegetación. 2. La comunidad de Cynodon dactylon L., junto con elementos de la Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, es la más aceptada. Su cobertura representa el mejor estado del campo. 3. Adecuadas prácticas culturales asegurarían el mantenimiento y/o conservación de los céspedes favoreciendo la práctica del deporte y aportando belleza escénica.

Tab. 2: Grain-sizes of cobble on the surface of sanderwurzel

yResults of 13 field investigations between 1966 and 1990 of the southwestern to eastern margin of Kötlujökull and its proglacial area are summarized with respect to sandar and their formation. Generally, the results are based on sedimentological examinations in the field and laboratory, on analyses of aerial photographs, and investigations of the glacier slope. The methods permitted a more detailed reconstruction of sandar evolution in the proglacial area of Kötlujökull since 1945, of tendencies in development and of single data going back until the last decades of the 19th century. Accordingly, there existed special periods of "flachsander"-formations with raised coarsegrained "sanderwurzels" resultant from the outbreak of subglacial meltwater tunneloutlets and other periods with "hochsander-"formations by supraglacial drainage. At present the belts of hochsanders in front of the glacier come up to more than 4 m in thickness and 1000 m in width, therefore containing perhaps more sediment direct in front of Kötlujökull than the old belts of flachsanderwurzels. In one case the explosion-like subglacial meltwater outburst combined with the genesis of a sanderwurzel could be observed for a time and is thoroughly discussed. The event is referred to the outburst of a sub- to inglacial meltwater body being under extreme hydrostatic press ures which is combined with the genesis of a new subglacial tunneloutlet as a new flachsander. Often these outbursts led to the destruction of a morainic belt more than 1000 m in width. Presumably the whole event was finished in not more than a few days. In addition to a characteristic pear-shaped form and water-moved stones up to diameters of 1 m the wurzels possess a single "main-channel" with rectangular cross-sections as far as 4 m deep and 50 m wide just as small flat channels resembling fish bones in connection with the main channel. Presumably, they have been active only in the last stage of wurzel formation. With regard to the subglacial tunnel gates long-living L-meltwater outlets are distinguished from short-living K-meltwater outlets. These are always combined with a raised coarse-grained sanderwurzel, but its meltwater discharge is generally decreasing and ceases after some years, whereas the discharge of L-meltwater outlets continues unchanged for long times (except seasonal differences). The material of flachsanders is preponderantly composed of mugearitic and andesitic cobble extending at least for some kilometres from the glacier margin, whereas the hochsanders correspond to medium to coarse sands without clay and without alternations into the direction of flow. The hochsander fans are covered with small braidet channels. Their sedimentary structures are determined by the short time changing of supraglacial meltwater discharge and the upper flow regime combined with the development of antidunes, which rule the channel-flows during the main activity periods in summer. Unlike the subglacial drainage the supraglacial drainage led to only weak effects of erosion on the glacier foreland. So the hochsanders refilled depressions of morainic areas or grew up on older flachsanderwurzels. Whereas all large flachsanders developed in front of approximate stationary glacier margins, the evolution of coherent belts of hochsanders were combined with progressive glacier fronts. On the other hand, there was obviously no evolution at all of large sandar in front of back-melting margins of Kötlujökull. Based on examinations of the glacier surface and on analyses of aerial photographs the different types of sandar are referred to different structures of the glacier snout. Finally chances of surviving of sandar in the proglacial area of Kötlujökull are shortly discussed just as the possibility of an application of the Islandic research results on Pleistocene sandar in northern Germany.

As redes sociotécnicas da comunidade gamer : Habilidades cognitivas, capitalismo cognitivo e pirataria no orkut

In the perspective of the so called 'cognitive capitalism', this paper intends to analyze the sharing and customization strategies developed in Brazilian online game communities. Under Bruno Latour's Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this work describes these socio-technical networks electing the human and non human relevant actants for their role on what could also be depicted as an distributed cognitive process (HUTCHINS, 2000). This alternative way of participative consumption deals with the social and creative production of tutorials; in-game and out-game editing and all sorts of gathering, organization and distribution of virtual data. The communities studied are related to the game Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) in their multiple platforms

La resistencia especial en el fútbol

La finalidad de esta tesis es establecer un análisis de la metodología de entrenamiento de la resistencia especial en el futbolista. Su objetivo no está vinculado a realizar propuestas prácticas de entrenamiento, sino más bien, se tratará de abordar una posible justificación fisiológico - metabólica, a partir de la relevancia bioenergética de la creatina, en función de la creciente especialización que debe ir adquiriendo el proceso del entrenamiento deportivo a largo plazo, enfocado al logro de altos rendimientos deportivos. A partir del análisis de conceptos terminológicos de referencia, se asienta la idea general de este trabajo, es decir, la estructuración y desarrollo de la resistencia en los deportes de conjunto, como el fútbol. Los pilares de una adecuada planificación son el conocimiento y la aplicación de distintas leyes y principios del entrenamiento deportivo y su relación con los distintos medios y métodos de entrenamiento, como así también, los efectos de adaptación que provocan. Por lo tanto, a partir del análisis de los requerimientos morfológicos - funcionales de las competiciones de elite en fútbol, se pueden elaborar modelos que servirán de base y como objetivo final al cual debe ser orientado el proceso de entrenamiento. Es decir, que un entrenamiento multianual con miras a la formación de futbolistas de elite, debe respetar la especialización creciente de las cargas de entrenamiento, estableciendo una sucesión metodológica adecuada en función de los objetivos de cada etapa. En función de lo expuesto, se realiza un análisis que va desde la resistencia como capacidad física y su metodología de entrenamiento, recorriendo distintos conceptos y manifestaciones, pasando por el análisis de distintas zonas de intensidad o áreas funcionales, y desembocando en la metodología de entrenamiento intermitente de la resistencia o resistencia especial -en los deportes de conjunto-. Y es a partir de todo el análisis precedente que estamos en condiciones de abordar el entrenamiento específico en el fútbol, y más detalladamente la resistencia específica o intermitente que requiere este deporte. El entrenamiento intermitente puede ser considerado como una metodología cuyo énfasis es puesto en modificaciones que se producen a nivel muscular, por sobre factores centrales de rendimiento, presentándose como una variante óptima para el entrenamiento de la resistencia muscular local y específica del futbolista. Básicamente, el entrenamiento intermitente actuaría sobre dos puntos centrales: la mejora del sistema shuttle de la CrP, y sobre la rapidez de entrega de oxígeno al inicio del ejercicio. Aquí aparece la importancia de la suplementación con Cr: que al aumentar las concentraciones del sustrato, y junto con el entrenamiento, que mejora las reacciones enzimáticas implicadas, potenciaría las mejoras buscadas con este tipo de metodología. Queda por determinar cual es el preciso mecanismo de acción por el cual la recuperación de los fosfatos altamente energéticos se produce: si por biogénesis mitocondrial en las fibras reclutadas - generalmente FT -; o mediante el sistema de proteínas transportadoras de Cr - destacando la importancia de las ST - o por algún otro mecanismo no conocido. Su descubrimiento permitiría direccionar más precisamente el entrenamiento deportivo.