Showing papers by "University of Jyväskylä published in 1995"

Geometry of Sets and Measures in Euclidean Spaces: Fractals and Rectifiability

Abstract: Acknowledgements Basic notation Introduction 1 General measure theory 2 Covering and differentiation 3 Invariant measures 4 Hausdorff measures and dimension 5 Other measures and dimensions 6 Density theorems for Hausdorff and packing measures 7 Lipschitz maps 8 Energies, capacities and subsets of finite measure 9 Orthogonal projections 10 Intersections with planes 11 Local structure of s-dimensional sets and measures 12 The Fourier transform and its applications 13 Intersections of general sets 14 Tangent measures and densities 15 Rectifiable sets and approximate tangent planes 16 Rectifiability, weak linear approximation and tangent measures 17 Rectifiability and densities 18 Rectifiability and orthogonal projections 19 Rectifiability and othogonal projections 19 Rectifiability and analytic capacity in the complex plane 20 Rectifiability and singular intervals References List of notation Index of terminology

The effects of self-efficacy on computer usage

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of self-efficacy, belief in one's capabilities of using a computer in the accomplishment of specific tasks, on computer usage. It introduces an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) that explicitly incorporates self-efficacy and its determinants (experience and organizational support) as factors affecting computer anxiety, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and the use of computer technology. A survey of 450 microcomputer users in Finland found strong support for the conceptual model. In accordance with TAM, perceived usefulness had a strong direct effect on usage, while perceived ease of use had indirect effect on usage through perceived usefulness. Self-efficacy had both direct and indirect effects on usage, demonstrating its importance in the decision to use computer technology. It also had a strong direct effect on perceived ease of use, but only an indirect effect on perceived usefulness through perceived ease of use. Computer experience was found to have a strong positive direct effect on self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and usage. Organizational support and computer anxiety had only indirect effects on usage, mainly through perceived usefulness. Implications of these findings are discussed for researchers and practitioners.

Knee osteoarthritis in former runners, soccer players, weight lifters, and shooters

Abstract: Objective. To determine the relationship between different physical loading conditions and findings of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. We selected 117 male former top-level athletes (age range 45–68 years) who had participated in sports activities with distinctly different loading conditions: 28 had been long-distance runners, 31 soccer players, 29 weight lifters, and 29 shooters. Histories of lifetime occupational and athletic knee loading, knee injuries, and knee symptoms were obtained, and subjects were examined clinically and radiographically for knee findings of OA. Results. The prevalence of tibiofemoral or patellofemoral OA based on radiographic examination was 3% in shooters, 29% in soccer players, 31% in weight lifters, and 14% in runners (P = 0.016 between groups). Soccer players had the highest prevalence of tibiofemoral OA (26%), and weight lifters had the highest prevalence of patellofemoral OA (28%). Subjects with radiographically documented knee OA had more symptoms, clinical findings, and functional limitations than did subjects without knee OA. By stepwise logistic regression analysis, the risk for having knee OA was increased in subjects with previous knee injuries (odds ratio [OR] 4.73), high body mass index at the age of 20 (OR 1.76/unit of increasing body mass index), previous participation in heavy work (OR 1.08/work-year), kneeling or squatting work (OR 1.10/work-year), and in subjects participating in soccer (OR 5.21). Conclusion. Soccer players and weight lifters are at increased risk of developing premature knee OA. The increased risk is explained in part by knee injuries in soccer players and by high body mass in weight lifters.

Attraction of kestrels to vole scent marks visible in ultraviolet light

Abstract: IN northern Europe, broad four-year oscillations in small rodent and raptor populations are synchronous over hundreds of square kilometers1–6. Crashes in vole populations can induce wide emigration (> 1,000 km) of their predators7 –9, but almost nothing is known about how predators rapidly detect areas of vole abundance. Here we report on laboratory and field experiments on voles (Microtus agrestis) and kestrels (Falco tinnunculus). Voles mark their runaways with urine and faeces, which are visible in ultraviolet light. Wild kestrels brought into captivity were able to detect vole scent marks in ultraviolet light but not in visible light. In the field, kestrels hunted preferentially near experimental nest-boxes where artificial trails were treated with vole urine and faeces. We suggest that kestrels flying over an area can see and use vole scent marks to assess vole numbers. This ability would enable kestrels to 'screen' large areas in a relatively short time. Our results provide a novel explanation for how raptors detect patches of high vole densities without prior knowledge of local food resources.

The long-term effects of physical loading and exercise lifestyles on back-related symptoms, disability, and spinal pathology among men.

Abstract: Study design Historical cohort, including selected subgroups. Objectives To understand the long-term effects of exercise on back-related outcomes, back pain, sciatica, back-related hospitalizations, pensions, and magnetic resonance imaging findings were studied among former elite athletes. Summary of background data Exercise and sports participation have become increasingly popular, as have recommendations of exercises for back problems, but little is known about their long-term effects. Methods Questionnaires were returned by 937 former elite athletes and 620 control subjects (83% response rate). Identification codes allowed record linkage to hospital discharge and pension registers. Magnetic resonance images were obtained of selected subgroups with contrasting physical loading patterns. Results Odds ratios for back pain were lower among athletes than among control subjects, with significant differences in endurance, sprinting and game sports, and wrestling and boxing. No differences in the occurrence of sciatica or in back-related pensions and hospitalizations were seen. When comparing lumbar magnetic resonance images of 24 runners, 26 soccer players, 19 weight lifters, and 25 shooters, disc degeneration and bulging were most common among weight lifters; soccer players had similar changes in the L4-S1 discs. No significant differences were seen in the magnetic resonance images of runners and shooters. Conclusions Maximal weight lifting was associated with greater degeneration throughout the entire lumbar spine, and soccer with degeneration in the lower lumbar region. No signs of accelerated disc degeneration were found in competitive runners. However, back pain was less common among athletes than control subjects and there were no significant differences in hospitalizations or pensions. No benefits were shown for vigorous exercise compared with lighter exercise with respect to back findings.

Parasites as Indicators of Water Quality and the Potential Use of Helminth Transmission in Marine Pollution Studies

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on parasites as indicators of water quality and the potential use of helminth transmission in marine pollution studies. There are good reasons for focusing on parasitic organisms in general and helminth parasites in particular, in the search for highly sensitive indicators. First, there are more parasitic than free-living species. Second, helminth parasites have complex life cycles and the different developmental stages have widely differing requirements, therefore, each stage must be assessed separately for sensitivity to environmental change, thereby widening the choice of potential indicators. Many biotic and abiotic factors affect the numbers and distribution of marine. With regard to numbers, there is much information on prevalence, intensity, mean intensity, relative density or abundance, and diversity. In some instances, a parasite may be directly susceptible to the toxic effects of pollutants, in which case pollution may reduce infection prevalence and intensity. If the host is more susceptible than the parasite to the pollutant, its resistance to infection may be lowered, leading to higher prevalence and intensity.

Physical Activity and Psychological Well-being among People Aged 65 to 84 Years

Abstract: This report deals with the findings of an epidemiological interview carried out among two representative samples (n = 800 + 800) consisting of persons born in 1904-13 and in 1914-23, and living at home in the year 1988 in the city of Jyvaskyla, central Finland. The participation rate was 80% (n = 1244). It appeared that overall involvement in physical exercise decreased with increasing age, especially among the women. About 50% of the subjects carried out regular walking exercise and 40% practised some form of home gynastics which was considered not to be very intensive. About 20% of the subjects were no more physically active than was essential for performing their daily activities. According to log-linear and regression models, there was a significant association between higher prevalence of depression and no regular physical exercise. Self-rated meaningfulness of life and better subjective health were also significantly related to regular and intensive physical exercise. These relationships were more obvious among the younger cohort (65-74 years). The results suggest that involvement in physical exercise may promote positive perceptions of psychological well-being among the elderly. On the other hand, psychological well-being seemed to be an important predictor for staying physically active at advanced ages. These findings are based on a cross-sectional study and therefore leave open the question of direction of causality which will be pursued in a follow-up survey.

Muscle Strength and Mobility as Predictors of Survival in 75–84 - Year - old People

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine the association of physical capacity, as determined on the basis of self-report and physical measurements, with survival in three groups of elderly people aged 75, 80 and 75-84 years. The main aspects of physical capacity were mobility, walking speed, hand grip strength and knee extension strength. Although 1142 persons participated in mobility interview, of whom 466 also took part in the walking speed test, and 463 in the strength tests. The follow-up periods ranged from 48 to 58 months. Risk of death was significantly related to difficulties in indoor mobility among the 75-84-year-olds (odds ratio = 1.99, 95% confidence interval = 1.27-3.13) and 75- and 80- year-olds (OR = 1.60, CI = 1.07-2.38) and outdoor mobility among the 75-84-year-olds (OR = 2.44, CI = 1.63-3.67) and 75- and 80-year-olds (OR =2.75, CI = 1.72-4.40). The odds ratios for hand grip strength (OR = 1.86, CI=1.13-3.07), knee extension strength (OR =2.52, CI = 1.50-4.42) and walking time over 10 meters (OR = 1.98, CI = 1.18-3.34) for the 75- and 80-year-olds were also significant. Since these variables can be easily measured and provide valuable information about functional capacity and risk of death they merit inclusion in medical examination of elderly clients.

Production and decay of 269 110

Abstract: In an experiment carried out to identify element 110, we have observed anα-decay chain, that can be unambiguously assigned to269110. In a scries of preexperiments the excitation functions of the fusion reactions50Ti +208Pb→258104* and58Fe +208Pb→266108* were measured with high precision in order to get the optimum projectile energies for the production of these heavy elements. The cross-section maxima of the 1n evaporation channels were observed at excitation energies of 15.6 MeV and 13.4 MeV, respectively. These data result in an optimum excitation energy of 12.3 MeV of the compound nucleus for the production of269110 in the reaction62Ni +208Pb→269110 + 1n. In irradiations at the corresponding beam energy of 311 MeV we have observed a decay chain of 4 subsequent a decays. This can be assigned to the isotope with the mass number 269 of the element 110 on the basis of delayed α-α coincidences. The accurately measured decay data of the daughter isotopes of the elements 108 to 102, obtained in the previous experiments, were used. The isotope269110 decays with a hair-life of (270 -120 +1300 ) μs by emission of (11.132±0.020) MeV alpha particles. The production cross-section is (3.3 -2.7 +6.2 ) pb.

Effects of strength and endurance training on thigh and leg muscle mass and composition in elderly women

Abstract: The effects of 18 wk of intensive strength and endurance training on knee extensor, knee flexor, and lower leg muscle mass and composition were studied in 76- to 78-yr-old women. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), lean tissue CSA, and relative proportion of fat were determined using computed tomography. The strength-trained women increased their total muscle lean tissue CSA of the thigh (1.5%; P = 0.035), quadriceps CSA (4.5%; P = 0.021), quadriceps lean tissue CSA (5.8%, P = 0.009), and mean Hounsfield unit of the lower leg muscles (11.2%; P = 0.035) compared with the changes that occurred in the control group during the experiment. The change in quadriceps lean tissue CSA because of the strength training was also significant compared with that in the endurance group. The relative proportion of fat within the quadriceps muscle decreased due to the strength training compared with the changes that occurred in the endurance group. The results show that intensive strength training can induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy in elderly women and thereby also reduce the relative amount of intramuscular fat, whereas the effects of endurance training are negligible.

In vivo achilles tendon loading' during jumping in humans

Abstract: Elastic behaviour of the human tendomuscular system during jumping was investigated by determination of the in vivo Achilles tendon force. A buckle-type transducer was implanted under local anaesthesia around the right Achilles tendon of an adult subject. After calibration, the Achilles tendon force was recorded together with the triceps surae muscle electromyogram activity and high speed filming and ground reaction force during: a maximal vertical jump from a squat position, a maximal vertical jump from an erect standing position with a preliminary counter-movement, and repetitive submaximal hopping on the spot. Jumping heights were 33, 40 and 7 cm in the squat, the counter movement, and the hopping positions, respectively. The peak Achilles tendon force and mechanical work by the calf muscles were 2233 N and 34 J in the squat jump, 1895 N and 27 J in the counter movement jump, and 3786 N and 51 J when hopping. The changes in tendon length were estimated assuming a stiffness constant calculated from the tendon architecture. The percentages of elastic energy stored in the Achilles tendon during jumping were 23 %, t7% and 34% of the total calf muscle work in the squat jump, the counter movement jump, and hopping, respectively.

Gas-filled recoil separator for studies of heavy elements

Abstract: A gas-filled recoil separator for the study of heavy elements has been constructed. The separator is of type QDQQ with the first, vertically focusing, quadrupole providing improved matching to the acceptance of the dipole magnet. The separator has been designed also for use in vacuum mode in which case a mass resolving power of ≈ 100 is estimated. The deflection angle is 25° and the radius of curvature is 1850 mm. Maximum beam rigidity is 2.2 T m. In the first experiments, new isotopes in the region Z = 85–90 have been synthesized.

The New element 111

Abstract: The new element 111 was produced and unambiguously identified in an experiment at SHIP, GSI Darmstadt. Three nuclei of the isotope272111 were observed in irradiations of209Bi targets with64Ni projectiles of 318 MeV and 320 MeV energy. The cross-sections are (1.7 −1.4 +3.3 ) pb and (3.5 −2.3 +4.6 ) pb, respectively. The nuclei decay by a emission into the new and so far the heaviest isotopes of the elements 109 and 107 with mass numbers A=268 and A=264. Theα-decay chains were followed down to the known nuclei260105 and256Lr.

Acute Hormonal Responses to Heavy Resistance Exercise in Men and Women at Different Ages

Abstract: To examine acute endogenous hormonal responses to heavy resistance exercise eight young women (YW) and eight young men (YM) in the 30-year age group, seven middle-aged women (MW) and eight middle-aged men (MM) in the 50-year age group as well as eight elderly women (EW) and eight elderly men (EM) in the 70-year age group performed a heavy resistance exercise session with three different exercises (bench press, sit-up exercise and bilateral leg press). The relative loading intensity and volume of the exercise session were kept the same for each subject so that they performed each of the 5 sets of each exercise with the maximal load possible for 10 repetitions per set (10 repetition maximum). The recovery time between the sets was 3 minutes. The loading led to acute significant decreases in maximal isometric leg extension force by 19 +/- 7% (p < 0.001), 31 +/- 15% (p < 0.01) and by 14 +/- 12% (p < 0.01) in YW, MW and EW, respectively, and by 24 +/- 16% (p < 0.01), 34 +/- 9% (p < 0.001) and by 20 +/- 12% (p < 0.001) for YM, MM and EM, respectively. The mean concentrations of serum testosterone and cortisol remained statistically unchanged for all female groups. Significant increases took place in testosterone concentrations in YM (p < 0.05) and in MM (p < 0.01) and in cortisol in MM (p < 0.01), while EM demonstrated no change at all. Serum growth hormone (GH) increased in women both in YW from 3.6 +/- 3.4 to 11.7 +/- 8.2 micrograms x l-1 (p < 0.01) and in MW from 0.3 +/- 0.1 to 6.5 +/- 5.6 micrograms x l-1 (p < 0.05), while EW demonstrated no change. In men GH concentrations increased in YM from 0.1 +/- 0.1 to 21.2 +/- 18.1 micrograms x l-1 (p < 0.05) and in MM from 0.3 +/- 0.2 to 6.0 +/- 5.4 micrograms x l-1 (p < 0.05), while EM demonstrated no change. The primary results indicate that the response of GH concentrations to the same relative heavy resistance work load is greatly lowered with increasing age both in men and women, while acute responses in testosterone levels are minor.

Renormalized Proton-Neutron Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation and Its Application to Double Beta Decay

Abstract: A self-consistent method of treating excitations of the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation is presented. The non-self-consistent methods violate the Pauli exclusion principle and lead to an eventual collapse of the ground state. This behavior renders a reliable calculation of the nuclear matrix elements, relevant for the prediction of double-beta-decay half-lives, difficult. The present formalism promotes the Pauli exclusion principle and avoids the collapse of the double-beta-decay matrix elements. We have applied this formalism to the double beta decay of ${}^{100}$Mo.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings and their relationships in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Insights into the etiopathogenesis of spinal degeneration.

Abstract: Study design Descriptive epidemiologic study about magnetic resonance imaging findings in the spine. Objectives To describe the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging findings in a general population at spinal levels T6-S1, and to examine the relationships of these findings within each spinal level and between levels. Summary of background data The prevalence of specific findings and the associations between findings and spinal levels can provide general insights into the etiopathogenesis of spinal degeneration. Methods Subjects consisted of 232 men from a population sample (mean age 49.3 years). Signal intensity, disc bulging, disc herniation, and endplate irregularities were among 11 findings assessed from magnetic resonance images. Results The disc signal intensities were assessed to be lowest in the lumbar and middle thoracic regions. Disc bulging and disc height narrowing were most common in the lower levels of both the thoracic and lumbar regions. All magnetic resonance imaging findings except herniations and endplate irregularities were clearly associated with age. Osteophytes were most highly associated with disc bulging in levels T6-L3, and with endplate irregularities in the lower lumbar levels. Disc herniations were not consistently associated with any other findings. The disc levels that most highly correlated are grouped as follows: T6-T10, T10-L4, and L4-S1. Conclusions With the exception of endplate irregularities and herniations, the magnetic resonance imaging findings appeared to be associated with the same pathogenic process. The interaction of mechanical factors and spinal structures varies between spinal levels, and the degeneration common in the lower parts of the thoracic and lumbar spine could be an outcome of vulnerability for torsional forces. Some gross guidelines for grouping findings can be drawn from disc level correlations.

Neuromuscular adaptations during intensive strength training in middle-aged and elderly males and females.

Abstract: Effects of progressive heavy resistance strength training combined with explosive types of exercises for 12 weeks on electromyographic activity (EMG), muscle cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris (QF), isometric maximal force and force-time curve of the leg extensor muscles were investigated in 9 middle-aged males and 9 females in the 50-year age group (M50; range 44-57), (F50; range 43-54), and in 10 elderly males and 11 females in the 70-year age group (M70; range 64-73), (F70; range 66-73). Great gradual increases took place in maximal force during the 12-week training period both in M50 (from 2834 +/- 452 N to 3941 +/- 772 N; p < 0.001) and in F50 (from 2627 +/- 725 N to 3488 +/- 1017 N; p < 0.001) as well as in M70 (from 2591 +/- 736 N to 3075 +/- 845 N; p < 0.01) and in F70 (from 1816 +/- 427 N to 2483 +/- 408 N; p < 0.001). Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) increases occurred also in the maximum integrated EMGs of the trained muscles in all groups primarily during the first 8 weeks of the training. Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) enlargements took place during the 12-week training period in the CSA of the QF muscle in all groups. Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) shifts occurred in all groups in the shape of the absolute force-time curves and the maximal rate of force production increased (p < 0.05-0.001) during the training as well. The present findings suggest that progressive heavy strength training combined with explosive types of exercises may lead to considerable increases not only in maximal strength but also in explosive force production characteristics of the trained muscles accompanied by adaptations in the nervous system as well as by muscular hypertrophy not only in middle-aged but in elderly males and females as well.

A cross‐cultural and multi‐behavioral analysis of the relationship between nonverbal immediacy and teacher evaluation

Abstract: Nonverbal immediacy of teachers has been demonstrated to be substantially associated with increased cognitive and affective learning in students. The assumption underlying the current research is that teacher communication behaviors that enhance student learning will also enhance positive evaluations of teachers by those students. This study sought to determine what specific teacher nonverbal immediacy behaviors are most associated with students' evaluations of their teachers. Our research was based on data drawn from the cultures of Australia, Finland, and Puerto Rico as well as the dominant United States culture. Each study was conducted in the primary language of the sample studied. The results of this research permit a comparison of the relationship between nonverbal immediacy and teacher evaluation across diverse cultural and linguistic communities as well as multi‐cultural comparisons of the importance of individual immediacy behaviors to teacher evaluation.

A Big Five personality inventory in two non‐Indo‐European languages

Abstract: In this study we report on two successful replications of a five‐factor personality inventory in two non‐Indo‐European languages, Estonian and Finnish, which both belong to the group of Uralic lang...

Neuromuscular performance in voluntary bilateral and unilateral contraction and during electrical stimulation in men at different ages.

Abstract: A group of 33 men divided into three different age groups, M30 years (n = 11), M50 years (n = 12) and M70 years (n = 10) volunteered as subjects for examination of their maximal voluntary isometric bilateral and unilateral forces and force-time curves of the knee extensor muscle group as well as electromyogram activity of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and rectus femoris muscles of the right and/or left leg contractions. Electrical stimulation (ES) of 50 Hz was also given by two surface tin electrodes for each subject and each leg separately with the maximal tolerable intensity for recording the isometric force evoked. The maximal force produced by the voluntary isometric unilateral knee extension combined with ES was also measured. Maximal voluntary bilateral force of 1142 (SD 82) N in M30 was greater (P < 0.001) and the force of 1094 (SD 228) N in M50 was also greater (P < 0.05) than that of 962 (SD 70) N recorded for M70. The shapes of the isometric force-time curves, especially in absolute values, differed also among the groups so that the force produced during the early positions of the curve were in M30 greater (P < 0.05-0.001) than the force produced M50 and in M70. Neither the maximal voluntary bilateral force per the summed unilateral force nor the average integrated EMG between the bilateral and unilateral conditions differed significantly from each other either in M30, M50 or in M70. The force produced by pure ES was significantly greater in M30 (P < 0.05) than in M50 and M70, but the latter two groups were not significantly different. When ES was combined with the voluntary contractions, the absolute force values declined (P < 0.05-0.001) with increasing age similarly to those forces produced by the voluntary contractions alone. The present results suggest that increasing age results in great decreases both in the maximal voluntary strength and explosive force characteristics of the neuromuscular system but no bilateral deficit may necessarily be observed either in neural activation or in force production in a simple single joint isometric force production task of the knee extensors. The finding that no difference was observed between M50 and M70 in the force caused by ES alone despite the difference in maximal voluntary force indicated that in addition to the well-known age-related peripheral decrease in muscle mass, maximal voluntary neural activation of these muscles may also decrease to some extent contributing in part to the decrease in strength, especially at older ages.

Sobolev-Poincaré implies John

Abstract: We establish necessary conditions for the validity of Sobolev-Poincare type inequalities. We give a geometric characterisation for the validity of this inequality for simply connected plane domains.

Extra-pair paternity and male characteristics in the pied flycatcher

Abstract: The pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) is sexually dichromatic with extreme variation in male plumage coloration. The benefit for males of having black plumage is controversial, and few studies have found evidence for a sexual selection benefit of being black rather than brown. However, blacker males may be better able to achieve extra-pair fertilizations (EPFs), which may be an important component of sexual selection. We studied the role of EPFs in sexual selection in the pied flycatcher by establishing a set-up where two males with different back coloration (blacker vs browner) bred simultaneously near each other. DNA fingerprinting analysis revealed that 11% of offspring resulted from EPFs, and that 22% of broods included extra-pair young (EPY) among 36 nests containing 223 nestlings. We found no evidence that browner males suffered more often from EPFs than blacker males. There was no correlation of male or female morphology or age with EPF frequency. However, breeding pairs with low genetic similarity had EPY in their nests significantly more often. Thus we argue that females paired with genetically dissimilar males may try to avoid the effects of extreme outbreeding by seeking extra-pair copulations (EPCs). Alternatively, incompatibility between genetically dissimilar mates may simply expose females to more extra-pair copulations.

In Search of the Core Features of Dyslexia: Observations Concerning Dyslexia in the Highly Orthographically Regular Finnish Language

Abstract: A goal of many researchers in recent years has been to explore the core feature(s) of dyslexia. Three methods that could be used for this purpose are as follows. One method is to examine and specify in detail the cognitive/reading deficits still present in adulthood and thus to identify deficit(s) instead of a delay. The second method is to use crosslinguistic comparisons (see Jackson, Hu, & Ju, Vol. I, 1994; Assink & Kattenberg, Vol. I, 1994; Wolf, Pfeil, Lotz, & Biddle, Vol. I, 1994). Any real core feature of dyslexia should be present universally independent of the language and language-specific experience among those who have received adequate training in reading. The third method is to try to study dyslexia prospectively by following the developmental route(s) leading to its appearance. A serious search for precursor(s) can be made in a prospective study only if one is able to identify with sufficient success a group of children at an early age who will later become dyslexic. Children being born in families with multiple dyslexic members comprise such a group. If dyslexia is a lifelong difficulty as is generally argued (Catts, 1989; Kamhi, 1992) and about half or more of the dyslexics have a familial background of dyslexia (Hallgren, 1950; Zerbin-Rudin, 1967; DeFries & Gillis, 1991; Lubs, Rabin, Feldman, Jallad, Kusch, & Gross-Glenn, 1993), this strategy should identify a sizeable number of developmental dyslexics as Scarborough (e.g., 1990) has recently successfully shown.

Warm underwater water-jet massage improves recovery from intense physical exercise

Abstract: The effects of warm underwater water-jet massage on neuromuscular functioning, selected biochemical parameters (serum creatine kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, serum carbonic anhydrase, myoglobin, urine urea and creatinine) and muscle soreness were studied among 14 junior track and field athletes. Each subject spent, in a randomized order, two identical training weeks engaged in five strength/power training sessions lasting 3 days. The training weeks differed from each other only in respect of underwater water-jet massage treatments. These were used three times (20 min each) during the treatment week and not used during the control week. During the treatment week continuous jumping power decreased and ground contact time increased significantly less (P < 0.05) and serum myoglobin increased more than during the control week. It is suggested that underwater water-jet massage in connection with intense strength/power training increases the release of proteins from muscle tissue into the blood and enhances the maintenance of neuro-muscular performance capacity.

Electron-gas clusters: the ultimate jellium model

Abstract: The local spin-density approximation is used to calculate ground- and isomeric-state geometries of jellium clusters with 2 to 22 electrons. The positive background charge of the model is completely deformable, both in shape and in density. The model has no input parameters. The resulting shapes of the clusters exhibit breaking of axial and inversion symmetries; in general the shapes are far from ellipsoidal. Those clusters which lack inversion symmetry are extremely soft against odd-multipole deformations. Some clusters can be interpreted as molecules built from magic clusters. The deformation produces a gap at the Fermi level. This results in a regular odd-even staggering of the total energy per electron and of the HOMO level. The strongly deformed 14-electron cluster is semimagic. Stable isomers are predicted. The splitting of the plasmon resonance due to deformation is estimated on a classical argument.

Student beliefs (or metacognitive knowledge) about SLA reconsidered

Abstract: In applied linguistics, interest in student beliefs (or metacognitive knowledge) about second language acquisition (SLA) is fairly recent, growing out of the emphasis on learner autonomy and on learner strategies in SLA. The purpose of this paper is to review those few studies that have been published so far, to give an outline of definitions of beliefs and research methodology, and finally to provide alternatives to these, based on recent developments in the social sciences. With a reconsideration of beliefs come reconsiderations of research data and methods.

Muscle strength in healthy people and in patients suffering from recent-onset inflammatory arthritis.

Abstract: Neuromuscular function was compared among 20 patients with relatively recent onset (symptomatic period 17 +/- 24 months) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (experimental group; EG), and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy people (control group; CG). The comparison was repeated after a period of 6 months, when 16 patients had carried out progressive strength training. At baseline maximal grip strength and maximal dynamic unilateral strength of the knee extensors in the EG were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in comparison to the CG. The groups did not differ from each other in maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors and extensors or the knee extensors. The 6-month dynamic strength training in the EG resulted in significant increases in maximal dynamic strength of the knee extensors (P < 0.001), in isometric grip strength (P < 0.001) and in isometric strength of the trunk flexors (P < 0.05) and extensors (P < 0.05) to the level of the healthy controls. Only minor changes took place in explosive strength and maximal isometric strength of the knee extensors. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < 0.001), Ritchie's articular index (P < 0.01) and modified health assessment questionnaire (P < 0.01) improved significantly during the training period. The results suggest that inflammatory arthritis decreases dynamic and/or isometric muscle strength in selected muscle groups of the body already in the early stages of disease. However, progressive dynamic strength training rapidly increases the neuromuscular performance capacity of the patients even to the level of healthy people without detrimental effects on disease activity.