Relative Duration Research Articles

Breaststroke and butterfly intercycle kinematic variation according to different competitive levels with Statistical Parametric Mapping analysis

Breaststroke and butterfly are complex swimming techniques requiring refined motor skills to perform successfully, with coordinated and consistent interaction between propulsive and resistive forces being decisive when considering swimmers expertise. The current study analysed those techniques intercycle kinematic variation in two swimmers cohorts. Twenty elite and 15 national level swimmers performed one 25 m breaststroke and one 25 m butterfly sprints, with an underwater camera recording images at 120 Hz in the sagittal plane. Mean velocity, maximum and minimum velocities, stroke rate and length, intracycle velocity variation and phases relative duration were calculated for consecutive cycles (elite: five breaststroke/butterfly, national level: eight breaststroke/seven butterfly). The two highest peaks and the lower peak in between in breaststroke were also addressed. Intercycle and inter-groups analysis were performed using ANOVA, ANCOVA and Statistical Parametric Mapping. Elite and national level differed regarding breaststroke mean and maximum velocities, 1st and 2nd peaks and minimum between peaks (1.30 ± 0.02 vs 1.15 ± 0.02 m/s, 2.13 ± 0.05 vs 1.88 ± 0.06 m/s, 1.63 ± 0.05 vs 1.48 ± 0.05 m/s, 2.13 ± 0.05 vs 1.86 ± 0.05 m/s, 1.33 ± 0.04 vs 1.23 ± 0.04 m/s), and butterfly mean, maximum and minimum velocities, stroke rate and intracycle velocity variation, respectively (1.65 ± 0.01 vs 1.50 ± 0.01 m/s, 2.20 ± 0.04 vs 2.09 ± 0.04 m/s, 1.12 ± 0.04 vs 0.79 ± 0.04 m/s, (57.9 ± 0.9 vs 54.9 ± 1.0cycles/min, 18.4 ± 1.3 vs 23.7 ± 1.3 %). Elite and national level swimmers showed consistent breaststroke intercycle kinematic variation, but a butterfly mean velocity decay, with the upper limbs release and recovery, and the outsweep phases originating variability between butterfly cycles. Skill levels contrasted in technical and strategic features at sprint breaststroke and butterfly but showed similar velocity variability between consecutive swimming cycles.

Developmental Aspects of Greek Vowel Reduction in Different Prosodic Positions

This study investigates the development of Greek vowel reduction across different prosodic positions (stressed, pre-stressed, post-stressed), examining normative data from 72 participants aged 3 years to adulthood and balanced for gender. Participants performed a delayed repetition task, producing real trisyllabic words with the vowels [i, ε, ɐ, o, u] examined in the second syllable. Measurements included relative vowel duration, normalized acoustic vowel space areas, and Euclidean distances of vowels from the centroid of the acoustic space. Our findings show that changes in speech motor control, system stiffness, and stress marking with age, along with children’s prosody sensitivity, contributed to several developmental milestones: the completion of the developmental trajectory of relative vowel duration and temporal vowel reduction at early adolescence; the attainment of adult-like spatial vowel characteristics and their reduction at preschool age; and the early acquisition of the prosodic strength of the stress conditions, leading to vowel reduction from the stressed to pre-stressed to post-stressed conditions. The correlation strength between temporal and spatial vowel reduction across ages revealed age-related differences in spatiotemporal speech organization, with significant gender-related differences observed only in vowel space areas, where females exhibited larger areas possibly related to sociophonetic factors. Intrinsic vowel duration appeared from age 3.

Normalising sequence lengths using the relative duration of episodes: an application to doctoral trajectories in Germany.

To address significant variation of sequence lengths of doctoral trajectories, we propose sequence normalisation using the relative duration of episodes. We employ episode data from a panel study of doctorate holders in Germany where doctoral trajectories are measured in single months and differ in length up to several years. Utilising normalised sequences instead of absolute sequences, we are better able to identify typical trajectories. The graphical presentation of the cluster solutions more accurately depicts the underlying processes. Furthermore, it offers the possibility to define reference sequences without a fixed length. Normalising sequences instead of distances thus proves an easily implementable method to compare sequences of different lengths when the identification of patterns is a priority.

OPTIMAL Motor Teaching Strategies Employed in Physiotherapy for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: An Observational Study

Aims To describe the teaching strategies that physiotherapists currently employ in individual therapy sessions for children with DCD using the OPTIMAL theory for motor learning as a framework, focused on (1) autonomy (supporting autonomy vs. therapist-controlled), (2) expectancies (enhancing vs. lowering expectancies), and (3) attention (promoting an internal vs. an external focus of attention). Methods Eighteen physiotherapy sessions were videotaped and analyzed with Noldus The Observer XT using the OPTIMAL Strategies Observational Tool (OSOT). Relative duration (% of session time) and frequency were extracted for teaching strategies related to autonomy, expectancies, and attention. Results Physiotherapists mostly applied strategies to support autonomy and enhance expectancies in contrast to therapist-controlled strategies, and lowering expectancies. Strategies to promote either an internal or an external focus of attention were used to a similar extent. Furthermore, strategies were frequently combined; physiotherapists often employed more than one teaching strategy at a time. Conclusions The insight into current physiotherapy teaching practice that this study provides can help inform research and application regarding effective motor teaching for children with DCD. Follow up studies are needed to further investigate how child and task characteristics influence teaching strategy employment and to examine physiotherapists’ reasoning behind their choice of strategies.

Methodology for Estimating the Basic Reproductive Number of Current Variants of the Virus SARS-CoV-2

Relevance. The high infectivity and mutagenicity of SARS-CoV-2, combined with the relative short duration of the immune response, means that the problem of controlling the incidence of COVID-19 will continue to be relevant. Aims. To plan anti-epidemic measures, you need to know the quantitative value of the basic reproductive number (R0), however, the available methods for estimating the R0 made it possible to estimate it only for the initial version of SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, the task was set to develop a method for estimating R0 for current pathogen variants based on the rate of change from one variant to another, including both viruses and bacteria. Materials and methods. A modification of the SIR model for two variants of SARS-CoV-2 and actual data on the incidence of COVID-19 and the results of sequencing the virus SARS-CoV-2 isolated in Moscow are used. Results. It was found that for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant R0 was about 10, and for the current Omicron variants it exceeds 30. Discussion. In contrast to existing methods, the proposed method allows one to estimate R0 in the context of anti-epidemic measures, as well as by the dynamics of morbidity in a population with a collective immune status, taking into account the typical structure of the circulating SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion. The proposed method makes it possible to estimate the change in the basic reproductive number of the SARS-CoV-2 based on the rate of displacement of one variant by another

Daily sunshine grids for Austria since 1961 – combining station and satellite observations for a multi-decadal climate-monitoring dataset

Grid datasets of sunshine duration at high spatial resolution and extending over many decades are required for quantitative applications in regional climatology and environmental change (e.g., modelling of droughts and snow/ice covers, evaluation of clouds in numerical models, mapping of solar energy potentials). We present a new gridded dataset of relative (and derived absolute) sunshine duration for Austria at a grid spacing of 1 km, extending back until 1961 at daily time resolution. Challenges in the dataset construction were consistency issues in the available station data, the scarcity of long time series, and the high variation of cloudiness in the study region. The challenges were addressed by special efforts to correct evident breaks in the station series and by adopting an analysis method, which combines station data with satellite data. The methodology merges the data sources non-contemporaneously, using statistical patterns distilled over a short period, which allowed involving satellite data even for the early part of the study period. The resulting fields contain plausible mesoscale structures, which could not be resolved by the station network alone. On average, the analyses explain 47% of the spatial variance in daily sunshine duration at the stations. Evaluation revealed a slight systematic underestimation (− 1.5%) and a mean absolute error of 9.2%. The average error is larger during winter, at high altitudes, and around the 1990s. The dataset exhibits a conditional bias, which can lead to considerable systematic errors (up to 15%) when calculating sunshine-related climate indices.

Population stratification based on healthcare trajectories: A method for encouraging adaptive learning at meso level

This paper proposes a method to support population management by evaluating population needs using population stratification based on healthcare trajectories.Reimbursed healthcare consumption data for the first semester of 2017 contained within the inter-mutualist database were analysed to create healthcare trajectories for a subset of the population aged between 60 and 79 (N = 22,832) to identify (1) the nature of health events, (2) key transitions between lines of care, (3) the relative duration of different events, and (4) the hierarchy of events. These factors were classified using a K-mers approach followed by multinomial mixture modelling.Five population groups were identified using this healthcare trajectory approach: “low users”, “high intensity of nursing care”, “transitional care & nursing care”, “transitional care”, and “long time in hospital”.This method could be used by loco-regional governing bodies to learn reflectively from the place where care is provided, taking a systems perspective rather than a disease perspective, and avoiding the one-size-fits-all definition. It invites decision makers to make better use of routinely collected data to guide continuous learning and adaptive management of population health needs.

Planning sentences and sentence intonation in Estonian

The notion of advance planning of sentence intonation is grounded in the positive correlation between the sentence-initial intonation peaks and sentence duration. This study examined real-time sentence planning and intonation using visual world speech production. In two eye-tracking experiments, native Estonian speakers described transitive events involving multiple actors. Conceptual complexity of the resulting picture descriptions was manipulated through a pictorial design, while sentence length was controlled for by manipulating specific task characteristics. In Experiment I, conceptual complexity of the picture descriptions varied together with linguistic complexity, while linguistic complexity was held constant in Experiment II. As the conceptual complexity of utterances increased, the duration of naming gazes also increased, indicating less incremental conceptual planning. Notably, while utterance-initial intonation peaks did not correlate with the relative duration of naming gazes, they were influenced by utterance length. These findings highlight advance planning of intonation in Estonian. Furthermore, they suggest that intonation planning depends on linguistic information that is rapidly activated after establishing a comprehensive conceptual framework during earliest stages of preverbal planning.

Robust Methods for Assessing the Characteristics of Locomotor Activity Based on Markerless Video Capture Data

Introduction. Analysis of locomotor activity is essential in a number of biomedical and pharmacological research designs, as well as environmental monitoring. The movement trajectories of biological objects can be represented by time series exhibiting a complex multicomponent structure and non-stationary dynamics, thus limiting the effectiveness of conventional correlation and spectral time series analysis methods. Recordings obtained using markerless technologies are typically characterized by enhanced noise levels, including both instrumental noise and anomalous errors associated with false estimates of the location of the points of interest, as well as gaps in the trajectories, promoting an urgent need in the development of robust methods to assess the characteristics of locomotor activity.Aim. Development of robust methods for assessing the characteristics of locomotor activity capable of efficient processing of noisy recordings obtained by markerless video-based motion capture systems.Materials and methods. In order to assess the characteristics of locomotor activity, the relative movements of body parts of laboratory animals were analyzed using the stability metrics of the mutual dynamics of their trajectories, their relative delays, as well as the relative duration of the recording fragments when relatively stable mutual dynamics could be observed. The local maxima of the cross-correlation function of two body fragments, the minima of the standard deviation of the difference between their Hilbert phases, as well as their relative delays, were used as the metrics of mutual dynamics.Results. The considered phase metrics were shown to explicitly reflect changes in locomotor activity, while the assessment of time delays using phase metric was shown to be prone to periodic error. The above limitation could be largely overcome using the correlation metrics, assuming that phase and correlation metrics could be combined.Conclusion. The proposed robust methods provide stable estimates of the characteristics of locomotor activity based on markerless video capture recordings, altogether increasing the efficiency of diagnostic procedures and assessment of the therapeutic effect during rehabilitation.

EFFECT OF STATIC PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON CENTRAL HEMODYNAMICS AND ARTERIAL DISTENSIBILITY IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES INVOLVED IN SWIMMING AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

The purpose of the paper is to compare arterial distensibility in endurance sports atheletes (track and field athletes and swimmers), in whom adaptation to muscle activity is formed in interaction with various environmental factors. Materials and methods. Qualified athletes (adolescents aged 13–17) performed a 5-minute isometric handgrip exercise, corresponding to 20 % of the maximum compression force. The authors assessed athletes’ hemodynamics, arterial elasticity and cardiac parameters using the SphygmoCor technology. Results. At rest, swimmers demonstrated increased systolic blood pressure, lower values of heart rate, augmentation index and relative systole duration. Immediately after load, swimmers showed an increase in blood pressure, augmentation pressure, and left ventricular contractility as a consequence of sympathoadrenal system activation during exercise. In skiers the answers were reduced. After 20-minute recovery, diastolic pressure and augmentation index in swimmers dropped below the baseline. It was probably due to the vasodilatory effect of acidic metabolic products washed out after exercise from isometrically contracted ischemic forearm muscles. Conclusion. The characteristic aspects of aquatic training influence background hemodynamic parameters, arterial distensibility and responsiveness to local isometric load.

Machine learning-based aggressiveness assessment model construction for crabs: A case study of swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Aggressiveness trait-based selection is crucial for alleviating interspecies cannibalism in economic crab species and enhancing survival rates in aquaculture. However, there is a lack of efficient and simple methods for assessing aggressiveness. In this study, we measured aggressiveness of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus through repeated mirror tests and fighting experiments. Factor analysis and the K-means algorithm were used to assess aggressiveness quantitatively and qualitatively. A combination of multiple linear regression and support vector machine (SVM) analyses was employed to construct an aggressiveness assessment model for swimming crabs and explore the relationship between aggressiveness and fighting ability. The results showed significant correlations among repeated aggressive behaviors (attacking, chela extending, defending, crossing, reverse walking, and freezing). Aggression score was significantly correlated with fighting behaviors, and there were significant differences in fighting abilities among different levels of aggressiveness. This suggested that aggressive behaviors are consistent within individuals and that aggressiveness, as a personal trait, affects the fighting ability of swimming crabs. Aggression score (Y) and clustering results of K-means can serve as assessment indicators of aggressiveness. The predictive variables for the quantitative assessment model were relative movement distance (X1) and freezing duration (X2). The adjusted R-square of the optimized quantitative model was 0.72, it also had the smallest Sigma, AIC, MSE, and RMSE values and the best fitting regression equation, which was Y = 0.023X1 – 0.001X2 – 0.002. The predictor variables for the qualitative assessment model were relative movement distance, freezing frequency, and duration. SVM was used to construct the qualitative model, and the prediction accuracy was 92%, sensitivity was 84%, and specificity was 100%, indicating the model has a good classification and prediction effect. The machine learning-based aggressiveness assessment model constructed in this study provides a behavioral method for the selection and high-throughput measurement of economic crab species with excellent aggressiveness traits, giving it important industrial application value.

Efficacy, effectiveness and immunogenicity of reduced HPV vaccination schedules: A review of available evidence.

Current National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance recommends human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines be administered as a two or three-dose schedule. Recently, several large clinical trials have reported the clinical benefit of a single HPV vaccine dose. As a result, the World Health Organization released updated guidance on HPV vaccines in 2022, recommending a two-dose schedule for individuals aged 9-20 years, and acknowledging the use of an alternative off-label single dose schedule. The objective of this overview is to provide a detailed account of the available evidence comparing HPV vaccination schedules, which was considered by NACI when updating recommendations on HPV vaccines. To identify relevant evidence, existing systematic reviews were leveraged where possible. Individual studies were critically appraised, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence. Available evidence suggests that a one, two, or three-dose HPV vaccine schedule may provide similar protection from HPV infection. While antibody levels against HPV vaccine types were statistically significantly lower with a single dose schedule compared to two or three doses, titres were sustained for up to 16 years. The clinical significance of lower antibody titres is unknown, as there is no established immunologic correlate of protection. While the available evidence on single-dose HPV vaccination schedules shows a one-dose schedule is highly effective, continued follow-up of single-dose cohorts will be critical to understanding the relative duration of protection for reduced dose schedules and informing future NACI guidance on HPV vaccines.

Neuromuscular Strength and Power Predict Musculoskeletal Injury and Attrition During Marine Corps Recruit Training.

Elevated rates of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) and attrition are documented in military recruit training. By identifying and addressing modifiable risk factors, the rate of successful training completion and military readiness can be enhanced. Despite their impact, the causes of MSIs and attrition among U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) recruits remain underexplored. This study investigates demographic, psychological, and physiological predictors of MSIs and attrition among USMC recruits. In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated USMC recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island and San Diego. Recruits were briefed and invited to volunteer. All recruits who were medically cleared to participate in recruit training were eligible to participate in the study. We gathered baseline data on potential predictors at the start of training, with follow-up data on MSIs and attrition collected post-training. Analyzed predictors encompassed dynamic and static strength measures from countermovement jumps, isometric mid-thigh pulls; and participant surveys. We employed multiple logistic regression to discern risk factors for MSI and attrition. Our study comprised 584 USMC recruits (183 female recruits, 19.49 ± 1.88 years, 160.10 ± 7.17 cm, 61.19 ± 8.05 kg; 401 males, 18.94 ± 1.92 years, 172.97 ± 7.26 cm, 73.86 ± 11.04 kg). We observed 193 MSIs in 135 recruits, with 80.31% affecting the lower extremity (LE). Notably, lower relative peak power (odds ratio [OR] 0.91 [0.89, 0.94], P < .001) and shorter eccentric deceleration duration (OR 0.99 [0.99, 1.00], P = .005) were significant predictors of MSIs. Specifically, for LE MSIs, similar trends were noted for relative peak power and eccentric deceleration duration, with additional risks associated with lower body mass index (OR 0.93 [0.86, 0.99], P = .036) and previous LE MSIs (OR 2.25 [1.18, 4.27], P = .013). Attrition was more likely with a reduced eccentric deceleration impulse (OR 0.98 [0.97, 0.99], P < .001) and prolonged time to peak force (OR 1.36 [1.17, 1.59], P < .001) and cigarette use (OR 2.12 [1.01, 4.43], P = .046). MSIs and attrition during USMC recruit training significantly undermine force readiness and escalate costs. Our research has pinpointed several modifiable risk factors, chiefly reduced muscular power and cigarette smoking. We advocate for neuromuscular training programs to bolster strength and power, integrated nutrition and exercise strategies for optimal body composition, and support for smoking cessation to alleviate the incidence of MSIs and curtail attrition. Initiating training with a gradual increase in activity intensity can provide a critical window to correct pre-existing neuromuscular imbalances and weaknesses, particularly those stemming from prior MSIs. Effectively addressing these risk factors is pivotal for diminishing the rates of MSIs and attrition among recruits, thereby enhancing overall military readiness and operational efficiency.

Vertical transmission of aerosols between building flats through drainage system: A review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been demonstrate to be transmitted through fecal aerosols in building drainage systems (BDS), emphasizing the urgent need to understand its specific transmission pathways and mechanisms. This paper concludes the two periods of aerosols transmission in BDS: airflows caused by pressure fluctuations during toilet flushing and airflows induced by the chimney effect. It also compares the airflow velocity, air pressure, and transmission duration during these two periods. Subsequently, research methods (e.g., aerosol experiments, tracer gas experiments, and numerical simulations), influencing factors, and related conclusions regarding aerosols transmission in BDS were thoroughly concluded and analyzed. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the research methods are compared, offering valuable insights on essential future research directions and drainage system design. Although there is a qualitative understanding of the vertical transmission mechanism in BDS, which summarize the pathway of aerosols transmission as “respiratory/fecal aerosols-drainage pipes-faulty floor drains-bathrooms”, it is imperative to establish a quantitative understanding of the relative importance and duration of aerosols transmission during these two periods. Further research urgently needs to assess the risk levels of aerosols transmission during both periods and establish pressure-coupling curves for these two periods. Overall, both designers and scholars can utilize this review as a reference to mitigate the potential risk of vertical aerosols transmission in BDS, so that BDS can be appropriately designed to minimize pressure fluctuations and the water seal in floor drains can be regularly checked.

Genotype-Dependent Response to Desmopressin in Hemophilia A and Proposal of a Predictive Response Score.

Desmopressin (DDAVP) is used in patients with moderate/mild hemophilia A (PWMHs) to increase their factor VIII (FVIII) level and, if possible, normalize it. However, its effectiveness varies between individuals. The GIDEMHA study aims to investigate the influence of F8 gene variants. The study collected the trajectory of FVIII levels from therapeutic intravenous DDAVP tests in four French hemophilia treatment centers. A pharmacological analysis was performed associated with efficacy scores according to F8 variants: absolute and relative responses, as well as new scores: absolute duration (based on duration with FVIII ≥ 0.50 IU.mL-1) and relative duration (based on half-life). From enrolled 439 PWMHs, 327 had a hot-spot F8 variant (with ≥5 PWMHs). For these, the median (min-max) basal and peak FVIII were 0.20 (0.02-0.040) and 0.74 (0.14-2.18) IU.mL-1 respectively, with FVIII recovery being 3.80 IU.ml-1 (1.15-14.75). The median FVIII half-life was 3.9 hours (0.7-15.9 hours). FVIII was normalized (≥0.50 IU.mL-1) in 224/327 PWMHs (69%) and the median time with normalized FVIII was 3.9 hours (0.0-54.1 hours). Following the response profiles to DDAVP defined by the four efficacy scores, four groups of F8 variants were isolated, and then compared using survival curves with normalized FVIII (p < 0.0001): "long-lastingly effective" [p.(Glu739Lys), p.(Ser2030Asn), p.(Arg2178His), p.(Gln2208Glu), and T-stretch deletion in intron 13]; "moderately effective" [p.(Ser112Phe), p.(Ala219Thr), p.(Thr2105Ile), p.Phe2146Ser), and p.(Asp2150Asn)]; "moderately ineffective" [p.Ala81Asp), p.(Gln324Pro), p.(Tyr492His), p.(Arg612Cys), p.(Met701Val), p.(Val2035Asn), and p.(Arg2178Cys)]; and "frequently ineffective" [c.-219C > T, p.(Cys2040Tyr), p.(Tyr2169His), p.(Pro2319Leu), and p.(Arg2326Gln)]. In view of our data, we propose indications for DDAVP use in PWMH based on F8 variants for minor and major invasive procedures.

Seismic hazard study for the duration of ground-motions triggered by intraslab earthquakes

This paper presents a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the duration of ground motions in Mexico City caused by intraslab earthquakes. The study implies establishing criteria to measure the duration of ground motions and developing predictive equations (GMPEs) for its estimation. Focus is placed on the relative significant duration, DSr\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$D_{Sr}$$\\end{document}, which is based on the accumulation of energy of ground motions. The study extends to the development of hazard curves that allow estimating the annual probability of exceedance of said parameter. The scope is limited to ground motions caused by intraslab earthquakes occurring in Mexico and that engineeringly affect its capital, Mexico City, which is in a geographical region where the effects of soil-dynamic amplification are manifested considerably. A strong-motion database that includes 1517 horizontal accelerograms, with peak ground acceleration, PGA\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$PGA$$\\end{document}, greater than or equal to 3 cm/s2, recorded during 21 earthquakes from 1994 to 2023 were used to develop the GMPEs. The quantitative description of the time, size, and spatial distribution of the seismic-activity occurrence was defined using a catalog of 46 earthquakes that occurred from 1900 to 2023. The earthquakes have moment magnitude, Mw\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$M_{w}$$\\end{document}, greater than or equal to 6. With the tools developed, amplitude- and duration-based hazard-consistent accelerograms can be simulated and used in nonlinear dynamic analyses (NDAs) of structures. This study includes an application example where three sites in Mexico City are selected to compute inelastic response spectra. Hysteretic-energy demands up to 5 times higher are found after a comparison between the inelastic-response spectra from hazard-consistent accelerograms and those provided by current Mexican regulations.

The Safer Driver App Decreases Mobile Phone Induced Distracted Driving: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial

When using a mobile phone while driving, people are more at risk of causing or being in a crash. To address distracted driving behaviours related to mobile phone use, we developed a mobile coaching app, Safer Driver. The app collects data on a person's driving behaviour and implements behavioural change techniques to help people make smart changes to reduce their distracted driving behaviour. Initially 814 participants were randomly assigned to a 30-day trial period of the Safer Driver app (intervention group, n=573) or the control app (control group, n=241). The control app did not provide any coaching and only collected driving behaviour data. We measured the relative distraction duration score as a proximal outcome. Only participants who were assessed as distracted drivers at the start of the trial were included in our main analysis. This resulted in 182 distracted drivers in the intervention condition who interacted with the Safer Driver app and 86 distracted drivers in the control condition. In line with our hypothesis, the relative distraction duration score was significantly lower at the end of the trial period for distracted drivers who received digital coaching via the Safer Driver app, compared to distracted drivers who received the control app. The findings from this trial indicate that digital coaching via a smartphone application has the potential to decrease mobile phone usage while driving. Digital coaching is a promising way of changing people's behaviour towards safer driving habits.

A DNA circuit that records molecular events.

Characterizing the relative onset time, strength, and duration of molecular signals is critical for understanding the operation of signal transduction and genetic regulatory networks. However, detecting multiple such molecules as they are produced and then quickly consumed is challenging. A MER can encode information about transient molecular events as stable DNA sequences and are amenable to downstream sequencing or other analysis. Here, we report the development of a de novo molecular event recorder that processes information using a strand displacement reaction network and encodes the information using the primer exchange reaction, which can be decoded and quantified by DNA sequencing. The event recorder was able to classify the order at which different molecular signals appeared in time with 88% accuracy, the concentrations with 100% accuracy, and the duration with 75% accuracy. This simultaneous and highly programmable multiparameter recording could enable the large-scale deciphering of molecular events such as within dynamic reaction environments, living cells, or tissues.

Effects of postharvest piling up in bulk on qualities of Camellia oleifera seeds

The study investigated the effects of postharvest piling up in bulk on Camellia oleifera seed qualities, including moisture content, oil content, fatty acid composition, soluble sugar, soluble protein content, acid value, peroxide value, lipase activity, lipoxygenase activity, and mold colony, under varying relative humidity (60%, 80%, 98%) and time durations (1–8 days). Additionally, it examined the impact of piling temperature and diverse postharvest treatments. The results revealed that piling up in bulk promoted the post-ripening of Camellia oleifera seeds, leading to a gradual decrease in seed moisture content while initially increasing oil content before stabilizing. After 2 days of piling, seed oil content increased by 5.65%, 4.40%, and 1.06% under RH conditions of 60%, 80%, and 98%, respectively. However, after 4 days, the oil content declined by 8.36%, 6.06%, and 4.14%, respectively. The proportions of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids declined gradually, while monounsaturated fatty acids increased significantly. The acid value decreased, correlating positively with lipase activity. Mold colonies on seeds increased minimally with piling duration, while those on fruit shells increased sharply by 1–4 logarithmic units after the 4th day. When examining the effect of temperature, higher piling temperatures were found to gradually increase the seed oil content. Based on the order of oil content, the different treatment methods were ranked as follows: piling up in bulk-sun drying > piling up in bulk-drying > shelling-sun drying > direct sun drying > shelling-drying. Therefore, these findings advance our understanding of postharvest piling up in bulk of Camellia oleifera seeds and provide valuable insights for selecting treatment methods and parameters.

Listening effort for L2 accents: Adults’ adaptation to Mandarin accented english

Using task-evoked pupillary response (TEPR) and dual-task procedures, prior research has shown that adults recruit additional cognitive resources when processing fully intelligible L2-accented speech compared to speech in their own L1 accent (McLaughlin and Van Engen, 2020; Brown et al., 2020). In this study, we investigated the relationship between three prosodic measures (relative word duration variance, pitch stability, and pitch range) and changes in listening effort for L1 and L2 speakers over the course of an experiment. Using growth curve analysis, we found significant interactions between each of the three measures and trial number, indicating that prosodic factors influence speech adaptation. However, these interactions were in opposite directions for the L1 and L2 speakers. Thus, adult monolingual English listeners rely on prosodic information to adapt to a particular speaker’s voice, but use that information differently based on speaker identity.