Inter-level Differences Research Articles

Assessing reproducibility in sedimentary macroscopic charcoal count data

AbstractCurrent understanding of global late Quaternary fire history is largely drawn from sedimentary charcoal data. Since publication, CharAnalysis increasingly has been relied upon as a robust method for analyzing these data. However, several underlying assumptions of the algorithm have not been tested. This study uses replicated charcoal count data to examine the assumption of Poisson distribution and reproducibility of peak detection. Results show <10% of the replicate counts are Poisson distributed, a maximum peak replication rate of 60%, and, for >90% of the data, intra-level count differences were larger than the threshold used to identify significance in inter-level differences. A pronounced “edge effect” was observed at the beginning and end of the records, cautioning against validation of results based on sections corresponding to the historical period. The proximal cause for low reproducibility is likely a lack of spatial randomness of charcoal particles at the scale of a core diameter. Until and unless decomposition methods can be developed that accommodate the observed limitations inherent in particle count data, best practices for interpreting charcoal records may be to rely on qualitative interpretations based on smoothed influx values and minimum particle count values in the hundreds.

Concept-based pragmatics instruction

This article presents parts of a replication study on the development of sociopragmatic capacity in beginner and intermediate university students' understanding of German singular address pronouns (du/Sie) through concept-based pragmatics instruction (CBPI). The CBPI intervention consisted of six group sessions with a pre-test - instruction - post-test design. While minor inter-level differences exist, all participants in the intervention exhibited enhanced sociopragmatic capacity. Participants demonstrated a shift from rule-of-thumb-based thinking to a focus on the meaning potential of utterances. By appropriating sociopragmatic concepts through CBPI, learners also gained an understanding of their own agency in the meaning design of address pronouns as well as the consequences of creating particular meanings.

Cardiac T2 mapping: robustness and homogeneity of standardized in-line analysis

Background and purposeInterpretation of T2 values remains difficult due to limited comparability across hardware and software systems and the lack of validated measurement recommendations for the number and orientation of mandatory slices. Our aims were to provide a standardized comparison of intra- and inter-individual T2 values in the short and long axes and to investigate inter-scanner reproducibility.Method and materialsNinety cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies in 30 healthy subjects were performed with three identical 1.5 T CMR scanners (same hardware and software) using a balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) gradient echo sequence in three short axis (SAx) and three long axis (LAx) views. A commercially available T2 mapping software package of the latest generation with automatic in-line motion correction was used for acquisition. Regions of interest were manually drawn in each of the 16 myocardial segments according to the American Heart Association (AHA) model in three SAx and three LAx acquisitions. Analysis of inter-scanner, inter-segmental, intra-segmental, inter-regional and inter-level differences was performed.ResultsInter-scanner reproducibility was high and the mean myocardial T2 value for all evaluated segments was 45.7 ± 3.4 ms. Significant inter-segmental variations of mean T2 values were found. Mean intra-segmental T2 values were comparable between LAx and SAx acquisitions in 72%. Significantly higher T2 values were found in apical segments and a significant disparity among different regions was found for SAx and LAx orientations.ConclusionStandardized cardiac T2 mapping is highly reproducible on identical CMR systems. T2 values vary significantly between single heart segments, regions, levels, and axes in young, healthy subjects.

Pharmacology Education at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Nigeria: 5‐Perceptions Relative to Other Subjects Among Undergraduate Students in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

It is generally believed that likes and dislikes of any subject are important determinants of how the subject is rated along a spectrum of ‘best to worst’, which in turn determines future career choices. Our previous study had shown that pharmacy student of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), taking their last pharmacology course in their final year (500L), ranked pharmacology as their best‐liked subject relative to other core subjects. The primary objective of this follow‐up survey was to ascertain if this also held true at the lower levels of study; in terms of how pharmacology fared amidst 9 core subjects, namely: anatomy, biochemistry, clinical pharmacy, pathology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and physiology. Another objective was to determine the students' likes and dislikes regarding pharmacology, as well as their post‐graduation interests. Link to a 7‐item questionnaire deployed on SurveyMonkey, was sent to undergraduate pharmacy students in FPS who had 48 h to complete it. The respondents who were 59.76% male, aged 18–34 years, were 82, made up of 200L (15), 300L (17), 400L (13) and 500L (37). Data analyses was mostly automatic on the SurveyMonkey, but string inputs to the open‐ended question requesting from each respondent, 2 likes and 2 dislikes of pharmacology, were reviewed manually by two trained research assistants. A focus group discussion (FGD) of students participants guided by the questionnaire was also held. Pharmacology was consistently within the three best‐liked subjects out of 9, across all levels: 1st (200L), 3rd (300L and 400L), and 2nd (500L). As best‐liked subject, pharmacology was superseded only by clinical pharmacy (1st, 300L–500L), pharmaceutical chemistry (1st, 200L) and pharmaceutics (2nd, 300L–400L). Though more elaborate, this trend was similar to our previous study. Top reasons why pharmacology was liked, were: ease of understanding, provision of drug information, and the subject being interesting. Across the levels, top dislikes of pharmacology, were: poor teaching methods, the need to cram the subject matter, patterns of examination, and above all, the subject's heavy workload. Again, these likes and dislikes were mostly in agreement with the aforementioned previous study. The FGD centered on the dislikes, with the students suggesting strategies for improvements. The students' future interests relating to pharmacology were varied, and included: postgraduate studies (24.39%), research in pharmaceutical industries (32.93%) or in biomedical institutes (20.73%), but especially in regulatory agencies (34.15%). There appeared to be no inter‐level differences in future interests, except that these were more uniformly distributed at the higher levels. Teaching pharmacology in tertiary institutions, was accorded the least interest. We conclude that pharmacology was a highly rated subject across all levels of study among undergraduate pharmacy students at ABU, who were eager for improvements and keen on diverse pharmacology‐related careers.Support or Funding InformationNilThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Race Strategies of Open Water Swimmers in the 5-km, 10-km, and 25-km Races of the 2017 FINA World Swimming Championships.

Despite literature on the pacing strategies of endurance sports, there is an existing lack of knowledge about the swimmers’ tactical decisions in the open water races. The aims of the present research were (1) to compare the pacing profiles and tactical strategies of successful elite open water swimmers (men and women) in the 5-km, 10-km, and 25-km races and (2) to relate these pacing strategies to the end race results. Intermediate split times, positions and gaps with leaders of the first ten swimmers classified in the 2017 FINA World Swimming Championships races were collected from the public domain and were related to the finishing positions. Overall swimming velocities of the 5-km races were faster than the 10-km (δ 0.03 ± 0.03 m/s) and the 25-km (δ 0.14 ± 0.01 m/s) events with male swimmers achieving relatively faster mean velocities than females in the 5-km (δ 0.12 ± 0.01 m/s) compared to the 25-km (δ 0.08 ± 0.01 m/s) events. Medallist swimmers achieved moderate faster overall velocities than finalists in the 25-km races (0.01 ± 0.01 m/s) only. Inter-level differences were detected in selected splits for each race distance. Pacing profiles presented lap to lap velocity improvements in the 5-km and men’s 10-km races (from +0.02 ± 0.00 to +0.11 ± 0.01 m/s) but also mid-race decreases in the women’s 10-km and on the 25-km races. Successful swimmers were located in the leading positions of the 5-km races but at mid-group in the first part of the 10-km and 25-km races, with time gaps with leaders of 15–20 s. Faster lap swimming velocities, mid-race leading positions and shorter time-gaps were only related to the finishing positions in the last lap of the 10-km and in the three last laps of the 25-km events, but also in the first lap of the women’s 5-km race. Despite different mid-race positioning, successful open water swimmers typically presented negative pacing profiles, a consistent control of mid-race gaps with leaders (15–20 s maximum) and great spurts (4–6% faster than mean race velocities) at the end of races. Coaches and swimmers should be aware of the different race dynamics depending to the event distance in order to select optimal race strategies.

Age- and gender-related changes in pediatric thoracic vertebral morphology

Background contextAlthough it is well known that the growth of thoracic spine changes significantly with age, gender, and vertebral level in the skeletally normal pediatric population, there have been very few studies attempting to comprehensively quantify such variations. Biomechanical and computational models of the growing thoracic spine have provided insight into safety and efficacy of surgical and noninvasive treatments for spinal deformity. However, many of these models only consider growth of the vertebral body and pedicles and assume a consistent growth rate for these structures across thoracic levels. PurposeTo enhance the understanding of age-, gender-, and level-related growth dynamics of the pediatric thoracic spine by comprehensively quantifying the thoracic vertebral morphology for subjects between 1 and 19 years. Study designA retrospective computed tomography (CT) image analysis study. MethodsRetrospectively obtained chest CT scans from 100 skeletally normal pediatric subjects (45 males and 55 females between the ages 1 and 19 years) were digitally reconstructed using medical imaging software. Surface point clouds of thoracic vertebrae were extracted and 26 vertebral geometry parameters were measured using 25 semiautomatically identified surface landmarks and anatomical slices from each thoracic vertebra (T1–T12). Data were assessed for normality, symmetry, and age-, gender-, and level-related differences in geometric measures and growth. Linear regression was performed to estimate of the rates of variation with age for each measurement. ResultsAsymmetries (bilateral, superior-inferior, and anteroposterior) were observed in vertebral body heights, end plate widths and depths, and interfacet widths. Within genders, significant interlevel differences were observed for all geometric measures, and significant differences in the rates of growth were found across thoracic levels for most parameters. Significant differences were observed between genders for pedicle, spinous process, and facet measurements. Growth rates of the pedicles and vertebral bodies were also found to vary significantly between genders. ConclusionsThe rates of growth for most thoracic vertebral structures varied between genders and across vertebral levels. These growth rates followed trends similar to those of their associated vertebral dimensions and this indicates that, across levels and between genders, larger vertebral structures grow at faster rates, whereas smaller structures grow at a slower rate. Such level- and gender-specific information could be used to inform clinical decisions about spinal deformity treatment and adapted for use in biomechanical and computational modeling of thoracic growth and growth modulation.

Comparison of starts and turns of national and regional level swimmers by individualized-distance measurements

The aim of this study was to compare the race characteristics of the start and turn segments of national and regional level swimmers. In the study, 100 and 200-m events were analysed during the finals session of the Open Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) tournament. The “individualized-distance” method with two-dimensional direct linear transformation algorithm was used to perform race analyses. National level swimmers obtained faster velocities in all race segments and stroke comparisons, although significant inter-level differences in start velocity were only obtained in half (8 out of 16) of the analysed events. Higher level swimmers also travelled for longer start and turn distances but only in the race segments where the gain of speed was high. This was observed in the turn segments, in the backstroke and butterfly strokes and during the 200-m breaststroke event, but not in any of the freestyle events. Time improvements due to the appropriate extension of the underwater subsections appeared to be critical for the end race result and should be carefully evaluated by the “individualized-distance” method.

Binaural Interlevel Differences and Alternate Binaural Loudness Balance in Cochlear Implant Recipients

Objectives: We analyzed the effect of a single sided cochlear implant in recipients with single sided deafness. Methods: Twenty adult recipients of a cochlear implant with an acoustically hearing ear on the other side were included in this 2012 study. We analyzed the binaural interlevel differences (BILD), the alternate binalural loudness balance (ABLB) and the pitch matching abilities of these subjects. Results: In the BILD, the speech reception threshold (SRT) improved by 6 dB ( P = 0.0022) compared with single sided hearing without cochlear implants. At the ABLB, the mean of similar sensed loudness between acoustic and cochlear implant hearing was between 49 and 54 dB. The pitch matching was in the range of three pure tones in these patients. Conclusions: Patients with asymmetric hearing or single sided deafness have a clear benefit in the BILD test.

The independence of adaptation to interaural time and level changes

Changes in interaural time and interlevel differences (ITDs and ILDs) for a sound moving in the free field normally imply movement in the same direction. Research has shown that listeners can be adapted to and show aftereffects for each of these cues separately [W. H. Ehrenstein, Perception 23, 1249–1255 (1994)]. Psychophysical evidence of ILD to ITD conversion, however, raises the question whether adaptation is independent between these two channels. The present experiment explores their possible independence in order to better specify where in the auditory pathway their adaptation occurs. Listeners will be adapted to sounds with dynamically varying ITD and ILD cues alone, in concert or in conflict with each other (the latter conditions implying either the same or opposite direction of movement). ITD and ILD adaptation will be measured separately via test sounds changing in either of these cues alone. If aftereffects for one cue are unaffected by the implied movement direction of the other, then adaptation most likely lies early in the auditory pathway (e.g., the olivary bodies). However, if aftereffects show an influence of one cue on the other, some later physiological site of convergence may be involved in adaptation (e.g., the inferior colliculus).

Interferometric Wavelengths of Thorium Lines between 9050 and 2566 Å

486 vacuum wavelengths of the thorium spectrum in the range 9050–2566 Å have been measured by comparison with the isotope Kr 86 line at 6057 Å, by using a reflecting echelon interferometer crossed externally with a Littrow spectrograph. Tests of accuracy by recurring interlevel differences indicate that the average error is about 1 in 107. Details are given of the sealed-off Schüler tube used as the thorium source. Difficulties which arose from the use of an Ebert spectrograph to photograph the spectrum are discussed.

Vacuum wavelength measurements in the ultra-violet spectrum of iron

The vacuum wavelengths of twenty-seven lines in the spectrum of iron have been measured in the region 2458 to 2853 Å using a reflecting echelon interferometer. Since the standard error is less than ± 0⋅0001, and this is supported by an examination of inter-level differences, the wavelengths have been expressed to eight significant figures.

Vacuum wave-length measurements in the ultra-violet spectrum of isotope neon-20

The vacuum wave-lengths of 21 lines in the spectrum of 20 10 Ne have been measured in the region 3376 to 3756 Å using a reflecting echelon interferometer. Since the standard error is rather less than ± 0·0001 Å and this is supported by an examination of inter-level differences, the wave-lengths have been expressed to eight significant figures.