False Start Research Articles

Marine Harvest v Commission: Separate Fines for a Double False Start (C-10/18 P Mowi ASA v European Commission)

Marine Harvest v Commission: Separate Fines for a Double False Start (C-10/18 P Mowi ASA v European Commission)

Physiological characteristics of cognitive functions of cadets with military-training experience

Investigation of physiological mechanisms of cognitive functions and efficiency of cognitive activity is the major problem of military service psychophysiology. We have studied the effect of military-training experience on cognitive functions, heart rate variability and bioelectrical activity of sensorimotor cortex of cadets. Cadets with military-training experience from Suvorov Military (quantity of errors in Shulte’s test (0,16±0,57) in comparison with the cadets without military-training experience (0,54±1,08) (F=4,7; p=0,03). Cadets from Suvorov Military School had a higher quantity of false start (46,36±17,68) and lower quantity of retardation (86,39±17,44) on visual stimulus of test «Reaction on moving object». Cadets without military-training experience had quantity of false start - 38,04±18,95 (F=5,8; p=0,02) and quantity of retardation - 100,48±20,37 (F=15,1; p=0,001). Cadets with military-training experience solved a lower quantity of tasks in the test «Hours with rotation» (26,18±6,71) in comparison with the cadets without military-training experience (29,10±7,89; F=4,3; p=0,04). The maximum time of solving one task at cadets with military-training experience is more (38,07±10,66 sec) than at cadets without military-training experience (34,07±10,57 sec; F=4,0; p=0,05). Cadets with military-training experience had lower heart rate, the higher standard deviation of R-R-intervals and variation range, high level of relative power in the high-frequency spectral bound. They had high activity of sensorimotor cortex of right cerebral hemisphere in the tests with the switching of attention and had low activity of sensorimotor cortex of left cerebral hemisphere in the test with arithmetic tasks.

Assessing the Impact of Off-grid Solar Electrification in Rural Peru

In rural communities throughout the developing world, lack of access to electricity can have far-reaching impacts. Students are often unable to study after sunset for want of adequate lighting; access to technology is limited or nonexistent for lack of power to charge devices. For one off-grid community in rural Peru, this was not a satisfactory situation, and they approached Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) to work on a solution. Ultimately, after careful assessment and an enlightening false start, the Walla Walla University chapter of EWB-USA (EWB-WWU), in partnership with the community of Japura, designed and implemented standalone solar photovoltaic systems to electrify the community. The outline of this process is discussed in this article. A monitoring trip over a year after implementation allowed insight into the project’s health and sustainability and also taught the team lessons about training, communication, socioeconomic impact, and community empowerment. This assessment and the resulting lessons are the focus of this article.

Sprint start performance: the potential influence of triceps surae electromechanical delay

ABSTRACT In the sprint start, a defined sequence of distinct response delays occurs before the athlete produces a movement response. Excitation of lower limb muscles occurs prior to force production against the blocks, culminating in a movement response. The time delay between muscle excitation and movement, electromechanical delay (EMD), is considered to influence sprint start response time (SSRT). This study examined the delay in sprint start performance from EMD of the triceps surae muscle and examined whether certain sprinters gain an advantage in SSRT. Nineteen experienced sprinters performed sprint starts from blocks, with SSRT measured by an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)-approved starting block system. EMD times were detected during a heel-lift experiment. Using revised SSRT limits, based on concerns over the validity of the IAAF 100 ms false start limit, EMD produced a significant moderate correlation with SSRT (r = 0.572, p = 0.011). Regression analysis determined that together, EMD and signal processing time (the delay between the auditory signal and muscle excitation) accounted for 37% of the variance in SSRT. Initial results suggest EMD is part of the response time process and that certain athletes may gain a performance advantage due to reduced EMD.

Assessment of Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Its Impacts on Food Crop Yields in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria

This study investigated effects of indigenous climate change adaptation strategies on food crop yields in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. It assessed changes in future climate (2031–2055) relative to the baseline period (1992–2016) and their impacts on the yields of 3 staple food crops (maize, rice and cassava). Robustness of the identified adaptation options adopted by local farmers was examined with a view to evaluating the opportunities of integrating indigenous adaptation options for climate-smart agriculture (CSA). A regional climate–crop modeling system (RegCM-DSSAT) and structured questionnaire were used for the study. A warmer and wetter future climate was projected with higher frequency of occurrence of false start of rainfall. Results also suggested future rise in the yield of cassava (8.2%) but declines in maize (− 9.2%) and rice (− 3.6%). Use of organic fertilizer, irrigation or fadama farming system and change in planting dates were ranked highly efficient indigenous adaptation strategies for improved crop yields. Model simulations projected 3.9% increase in cassava yield when irrigation farming system was adopted. This approach was found to offset the negative impact of future warming on the yields of maize and rice and increased their yields by 6.53% and 1.31%, respectively. Combined use of fertilizer and change in planting date was found to significantly enhance yields of maize (27.53%) and rice (21.49%). The paper concludes that integrated approach to indigenous climate change adaptation strategies, as required in CSA, could significantly reduce negative effects of future warming on food crop yields.

Public relations in liquid modernity: How big data and automation cause moral blindness

Despite coming from a world-famous, widely published sociologist and ethicist, Zygmunt Bauman’s thought has not significantly influenced scholarship on public relations. Although Bauman’s works indeed challenge classical theories of public relations, they also offer concepts that can reshape current understandings of how organisations interact with publics. Referring to Bauman’s social and ethical theory, in this article, I argue that amid the transition from solid to liquid modernity, the boundaries between public relations and other communications disciplines also become liquid and ultimately dissolve. As a consequence, experts from traditional disciplines within communications (e.g. public relations, marketing and corporate communications) increasingly compete with data engineers to influence publics, and in the process, their attempts at persuasive communication neglect moral considerations. In light of that dynamic, I contend that the recent data scandal involving Cambridge Analytica does not represent a false start but the dark future of digital communications management.

Evaluation of head impact exposure measured from youth football game plays.

There is a growing body of literature informing efforts to improve the safety of football; however, research relating on-field activity to head impacts in youth football is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare head impact exposure (HIE) measured in game plays among 3 youth football teams. Head impact and video data were collected from athletes (ages 10-13 years) participating on 3 youth football teams. Video analysis was performed to verify head impacts and assign each to a specific play type. Each play was categorized as a down, punt, kickoff, field goal, or false start. Kickoffs and punts were classified as special teams. Downs were classified as running, passing, or other. HIE was quantified by play type in terms of mean, median, and 95th percentile linear and rotational acceleration. Mixed-effects models were used to assess differences in acceleration among play types. Contact occurring on special teams plays was evaluated using a standardized video abstraction form. A total of 3003 head impacts over 27.5 games were analyzed and paired with detailed video coding of plays. Most head impacts were attributed to running (79.6%), followed by passing (14.0%), and special teams (6.4%) plays. The 95th percentile linear acceleration measured during each play type was 52.6g, 50.7g, and 65.5g, respectively. Special teams had significantly greater mean linear acceleration than running and passing plays (both p = 0.03). The most common kick result on special teams was a deep kick, of which 85% were attempted to be returned. No special teams plays resulted in a touchback, and one resulted in a fair catch. One-third of all special teams plays and 92% of all nonreturned kicks resulted in athletes diving toward the ball. The results demonstrate a trend toward higher head impact magnitudes on special teams than for running and passing plays, but a greater number of impacts were measured during running plays. Deep kicks were most common on special teams, and many returned and nonreturned kicks resulted in athletes diving toward the ball. These results support policy changes to youth special teams plays, including modifying the yard line the ball is kicked from and coaching proper return technique. Further investigation into biomechanical exposure measured during game impact scenarios is needed to inform policy relevant to the youth level.

Analysis of false start bone lesions produced by an electrical oscillating autopsy saw.

Postmortem dismemberment results from the use of sharp or sharp blunt instruments. Saws produce specific bone lesions, and the observation of certain saw mark features allows for the recognition of certain characteristics of the saw and its teeth. At autopsy, sections of the skull and other parts of the skeleton are usually achieved using an electrical oscillating autopsy saw. In cases of dismemberment, this autopsy saw may create additional marks to those produced by the criminal activity. In order to help the forensic pathologist to differentiate the two types of marks, this experimental study used a stereomicroscope to examine 130 experimental false starts produced on animal and human bones by an oscillating autopsy saw. A flagrant succession of narrow and wide aspects of the walls (in a "figure of 8" shape), with obvious oval bone islands and undulating striae are patterns typically left behind by oscillating autopsy saws, but the depth of the false starts plays an important role in the variation of the features. In particular, superficial false starts tend to be associated with larger kerf widths, straight walls, and longitudinal bone islands.

Smart Guns, the Law, and the Second Amendment

Smart guns, which originally meant personalized guns that only the owner could fire, had a false start as a promising new technology several years ago. Nevertheless, policymakers have shown renewed interest in the wake of highly publicized incidents of gun violence, as well as advances in technology. The first generation of smart guns foundered on problems with the reliability of the technology, as well as a legislative misstep that would have banned all other guns as soon as smart guns appeared in the retail market, triggering massive boycotts of certain manufacturers and dealers, and a subsequent abandonment of the project by the gun industry overall. Newer technologies, however, such as improved biometric grip identifiers, precision-guided rifles that rarely miss, blockchain or “glockchain” automated tracking, and optical scopes that send videos to smart phones, have revived interest in the products. At least one state in 2019 (NJ) passed carefully drafted legislation promoting the introduction of personalized guns, while another (AZ) passed legislation discouraging the adoption of digital ledgering technology for firearms. In addition, some leading candidates in the 2020 primary have advocated for smart guns as a solution to gun violence. This paper will explore the emerging second-generation smart gun technology, its potential for adoption by the military, law enforcement, and civilian markets, and the realistic prospects for improvements in safety or reduction in gun violence. This discussion will include the disconnect between policy agendas regarding firearm safety and technological enhancements driven by current consumer demand – and the murky moral assumptions that undergird both.

India beyond the Ganges: Defining Arakanese Buddhism in Persianate colonial Bengal

In the late eighteenth century a Scotsman returned from Bengal with one of the largest private libraries of Persian texts collected in the Subcontinent. Among those manuscripts were several volumes of translations of Arakanese and Pali texts into Persian, as well as quasi ethnographic accounts on Buddhism as it was practiced in what is seen today as the frontier region between South and Southeast Asia. In this article I look at this archive and the historical moment that surrounds its making in the perspective of the development of Buddhist studies. This large corpus of texts happened to be a false start in the history of the study of Theravāda Buddhism, but it constitutes a unique source to learn about local forms of Buddhism on the eve of the fall of the Arakanese kingdom and the integration of its religious institutions within the Burmese sangha. While discussing a selection of texts from this vast corpus, I pay special attention to the culturally layered transmission of knowledge on Arakanese Buddhism via the work of Bengali munshīs (i.e., Persian secretary). I argue that this layered transmission caused the almost immediate obsolescence of this corpus as a source of information in the early colonial context. However, for the cultural historian, those Persian texts contrast with the then emerging institutionalised orientalist discourses and offer a new vantage point for the study of Arakanese Buddhism.

Rehabilitating the ‘City of Pigs’


 
 
 In this paper, I contend that the standard interpretation of the Republic, according to which “the city of pigs” (CP) is an entirely deficient precursor to the one ideally just state, Kallipolis, is untenable. In the vital respect of unity, which for Plato is the defining condition of virtue in the soul and the city, CP is equally if not more just than Kallipolis. In part 1, I outline CP in terms of what I contend are the three organizing principles that secure its unity (“trade specialization”; “right size”; and “modesty”), before proceeding to defend this unity from some typical criticisms. The aim is to show that CP is unified and hence just, which allows us to make sense of why Socrates describes it as “complete” (telea), “true” (alêthinê), and “healthy” (hugiês), despite Glaucon’s protestations. To do so, I will have to first argue against objections from those who interpret CP as a suggestio falsi, or an exercise in playful irony, sketched only to establish the need for Kallipolis. In part 2, I then proceed to show that although Kallipolis is in certain respects superior to CP, it suffers from structural disunity relating to its heretofore unnoticed or downplayed geographical and social scissions—scissions that are requisite and unavoidable for its very organization. As such, Socrates tacitly suggests, I contend, that these scissions mark a disunity that results from reneging CP’s third organizing principle: the “modesty” principle. When Socrates, on his interlocutors’ demands, expands CP by allowing in items and conditions of luxury that provoke pleonexia (greed or covetousness) thus giving birth to the “feverish city,” he leads us to see the necessity of a kind of set-up in Kallipolis with a socially and geographically disparate class of guardians that is saturated by disunity. The overall argument of this paper is that Socrates takes us on a dialectical journey, leading us to see that unity and hence justice in each city depends upon each citizen doing her job and no more than her job (i.e., the principle of trade specialization) (433A-B). Both CP and Kallipolis are sketched for this heuristic purpose—to allow us to see this vision of justice. Socrates’ point in taking us on the dialectical journey, I contend, is to enable us to realize not just what justice is but what inhibits or threatens justice—namely, luxury, or more precisely wealth. CP is not a good model to allow us to see this, but this does not render it a suggestio falsi or an unrealistic false start. Indeed, on my reading, Socrates is not only serious when he dubs the city of pigs true and healthy, but we have to take these pronouncements seriously in order to properly accompany him on the journey and properly see his vision of political justice and injustice.
 
 

A False Start? British Perspectives on Italy’s Participation in the Early Phases of the European Economic Integration Process: The Case of the OEEC (1948–1952)

This article examines how Anglo-Italian relationships unfolded in the aftermath of the Second World War within the framework of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). By analysing Italy’s participation in the early stages of the European integration process through the lens of British diplomacy, this contribution aims to shed new light on the international dimension of Rome’s post-1945 political and economic strategies. First, the article considers the main concerns that characterized Italy’s involvement in the OEEC activities between the late 1940s and the early 1950s: the promotion of the circulation of the intra- and extra-European manpower and the liberalization of trade and payments. Second, rather than making a ‘classic’ comparison between the divergent policies – particularly the internal and international economic programmes – that Britain and Italy pursued within the OEEC, this article highlights the extent to which an ‘asymmetry of power’ impacted Italy’s ability to realize its strategies. To conclude, the essay assesses how bilateral and multilateral relationships in the OEEC arena mutually contributed to the shaping of Italy and Britain’s patterns of post-WWII economic reconstruction.

Ready, set, go: Cortical hemodynamics during self-controlled sprint starts

ObjectivesSuccessful sprint starts require self-control: Athletes need to avoid a false start (impulse control) and at the same time need to start as fast as possible (action initiation). Research from cognitive neuroscience shows that such self-control acts hinge on activity in areas in the lateral Prefrontal Cortex (lPFC). We are harnessing these findings in order to accurately analyze and better understand the neural basis of self-controlled sprint start performance. DesignIn a within-subject experimental design, participants executed three different sprint start sequences (Ready-Set-Go) for ten times each. In the no-start condition, participants only had to avoid producing a false start (impulse control) and in the experimental conditions - either with fixed or with supposedly variable set-start intervals - they additionally had to execute a fast start (impulse control + action initiation). MethodsWe used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess cerebral oxygenation in the lPFC during sprint start in 33 male participants. ResultsResults show that cerebral oxygenation increased after the set-signal and this increase was particularly pronounced in the fixed and supposedly-variable start conditions. Post-hoc analyses further indicated that oxygenation differences between no-start and the two start conditions were particularly pronounced in anterior parts of the LPFC. DiscussionThis is the first study to reveal oxygenation changes in self-control relevant cortical areas during sprint start performance. This substantiates the claim that sprint starts impose self-control demands and provides a much called for application of neuroscience findings to the sport context.

Art for Sale: Covering the Contemporary, Courting the Commercial

Art for Sale: Covering the Contemporary, Courting the Commercial

Risk management options in maize cropping systems in semi-arid areas of Southern Africa

Although rainfed cropping in semi-arid areas is risky due to frequent droughts and dry spells, planting early with the first rains is often expected to result in yield benefits. We hypothesised that planting early leads to yield benefits if the planting coincides with a mineral N flush at the start of the season but leads to crop failure if there is a false start to the cropping season. The effects of different management options, including tillage (ploughing and ripping), mulch (two levels 0 and 2 t ha−1) and fertility amendments (five levels: 0; 20 and 40 kg N ha−1; 5 t manure ha−1 and 5 t ha−1 manure + 20 kg N ha−1) on grain yields were simulated using the calibrated and tested APSIM model over a 30-year period (1984–2015). Yields were simulated and compared across seven planting date scenarios (1 November, 15 November, 30 November, 15 December, 31 December, 15 January and planting when cumulative rainfall of 20 mm was received in three consecutive days). Planting with the first rains with manure + 20 kg N ha−1 resulted in the best average yield of 2271 kg ha−1 whilst the poorest average yields of 22 kg ha−1 were observed with planting on 15 January with no fertility amendment (0 kg N ha−1). Planting early (1 Nov to 15 Nov) and with the first rains resulted in exceeding the food self-sufficiency threshold of 1080 kg ha-1 in 40–83 % of the cases if fertility amendments are applied, as well as a low probability of complete crop failure, ranging from 0 to 40%. Grain yield penalties due to a false start followed the trend: ripper + mulch > plough + mulch > ripper (no mulch) averaging 256, 190 and 182 kg ha-1 respectively across all the fertility treatments. The model was able to simulate the occurrence of the mineral N flush with the first rains. Its coincidence with planting resulted in average yield benefits of 712, 452, 382 and 210 kg ha-1 for the following respective planting dates: 1 Nov, 15 Nov, 30 Nov, variable date when >20 mm rainfall was received. Early planting, in combination with reduced tillage, mulch and N containing fertility amendments is critical to reduce risk of crop failure in the smallholder cropping systems of semi-arid areas of southern Africa and achieve the best possible yields.

Europe’s Anti-immigrant Parties: False Start or Second Wind?

The article makes focus on the rise of Western Europe’s far-right parties which act with anti-immigrant agenda amid 2010s European migrant crisis. Massive influxes of refugees and migrants have accumulated huge political significance and triggered off a wide range of conflicts (both on international and national levels). The migrant crisis has indicated many social-political challenges for European countries. The crisis has been synchronous with a rise of popularity of right populist political movements (old ones as well as new ones), which promote restrictions of immigration etc. At the same time it cannot be ignored that West European right-wing populist political movements achieved some success in previous decades, well ahead of the current migrant crisis. Immigration issue has been a centerpiece of political discourses of West European right-wing parties (National Front in France, for instance) since late 1970s – early 1980s. But it is quite obvious that the 2010s migrant crisis became a trigger for revitalization of the far-right movements which are outspoken critics of the European Union as “a supra- national body” dictating its conditions to the member countries. Besides, the crisis gave a boost to a rise of new populist movements (for example, “Alternative for Germany”). In 2017 the populist right-wing parties in Europe won the largest support over the three past decades. Recently the right populist forces appeared in elections in a number of European countries (Germany, Austria, France etc.) as tough competitor of traditional mainstream political parties and won parliamentary representation and/or representation in the government coalitions. Furthermore, these movements demonstrate attempts to change their image to shift to political mainstream. However, in the foreseeable future, any cardinal breakthrough and far-right anti- immigrant parties’ coming to the power in Western Europe’s coutrnies is hardly possible.

Saw marks in bones: A study of “secondary features” of false start lesions

In this experiment, 170 experimental false starts on human (120 lesions) and pig bones (50 lesions) were analyzed under stereomicroscope. The goal was to evaluate the potential of three “secondary” features (patterns of striae on the kerf floor, blade drift and bone islands) to diagnose saw class and saw set. We also assessed the performance of each of these features in ambiguous cases observed in a previous study, based on three main characters (minimum width of the kerf, shape of the kerf walls, and shape of the kerf profile). Among these three “secondary” features, striae on the kerf floor proved to be useful: the undulating or undulating/straight pattern of the striae on the kerf floor indicates an alternating set whereas thin and straight striae indicates a wavy set. Blade drift and bone islands may be indicative of large teeth size. These secondary features, in combination with the three main characters previously studied, may help identify the class of the saw.

Analysis of Class Characteristics of Reciprocating Saws.

Criminal dismemberment is accomplished using a variety of tools and frequently used to dispose or facilitate the transport of human remains in an attempt to hinder forensic investigation. The present research examined features that may differentiate cuts made in bone by various commercially available reciprocating saw blades. The partial limbs of adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were used as a proxy for human remains and were cut using five reciprocating saw blades and a hand-powered hacksaw. The resulting false start and complete kerfs were examined macroscopically and microscopically. Kerf characteristics in which significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between reciprocating blades were noted including minimum kerf width, kerf false start shape, presence of cut surface drift and harmonics, exit chipping size, and striation regularity. Interblade differences generally reflect class characteristics previously established for hand-powered blades. The present research may aid in the identification of reciprocating saw use in forensic contexts.

Who Speaks? Thirtieth Anniversary Dossier: Interventions

Who Speaks? Thirtieth Anniversary Dossier: Interventions

Reversible DNA data hiding using multiple difference expansions for DNA authentication and storage

Recently the data hiding techniques on DNA sequence have attracted interest for DNA authentication and high-capacity DNA storage. However, since DNA sequence represents the primary information that directs the functions of organism, it is necessary for distortion-free DNA data hiding, so-called reversible DNA data hiding, with high capacity, low change rate of nucleotide bases, biological preservation, and reversibility. In this paper, we address two approaches of reversible DNA data hiding using multiple difference expansions. Reversible DNA data hiding should consider the string structure of a DNA sequence, the biological functionality, the efficient recovery, and the optimal embedding capacity. Our method converts the string sequence of four characters (A,T,C,G) of noncoding DNA sequences into decimal-coded values and embeds the watermark into coded value sequence using two approaches; DE-based multiple bits embedding (DE-MBE) using pairs of neighboring values and consecutive DE-MBE (CDE-MBE) using previous embedded coded values as the current estimated ones. Two approaches use comparison searching to prevent false start codons that produce false coding regions (exons) and embed multiple bits for maximal expandability of differences within the range of coded values. From experimental results using bacterial and archaeal sequences, we verified that our CDE-MBE have a higher embedding capacity of 1.13times~9.03times than conventional methods, and produce no false start codons, verify the security by secure numerical coding and recover the host sequence perfectly without a reference sequence. In particular, CDE-MBE has an embedding capacity that is two times greater than that of DE-MBE.