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Anthropometric and physical characteristics of youth soccer in Timor-Leste: A multi-dimensional analysis of male players in a developing country
No full textThe objective of this study was to analyze the growth, maturation, and physical characteristics of youth soccer players in Timor-Leste. Anthropometric and physical data were collected from 217 Under-15, Under-13, Under-11, and Under-9 male soccer players from five clubs. The anthropometric parameters included height, sitting height, and body mass. These allowed calculations of maturity offset, peak-height velocity (PHV), and body mass index (BMI). The Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test (Level 1), Shuttle Sprint and Dribble Tests, Horizontal Jump Test, and Slalom Sprint and Dribble Tests were recorded to make physical assessments. Results showed youth soccer in Timor-Leste presented with lower values of anthropometric and physical parameters compared to more developed countries. Under-9 soccer players were predicted an age at PHV earlier than the other age-categories (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in BMI between age-categories. Regarding physical assessments, Under-11 performed better on the Slalom Sprint and Dribble Tests compared to Under-13 (p < 0.001). This investigation offers the first insights into the maturational, anthropometric, and athletic qualities of youth soccer players from Timor-Leste. It hopes to provide impetus for researchers to work with other developing countries in this field to breed more generalizable findings, and so, support the implementation of developmental programs
Blood flow restriction augments the cross-education effect of isometric handgrip training
No full textThe application of blood flow restriction (BFR) to low-intensity exercise may be able to increase strength not only in the trained limb but also in the homologous untrained limb. Whether this effect is repeatable and how that change compares to that observed with higher intensity exercise is unknown. Examine whether low-intensity training with BFR enhances the cross-education of strength compared to exercise without BFR and maximal efforts. A total of 179 participants completed the 6-week study, with 135 individuals performing isometric handgrip training over 18 sessions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) low-intensity (4 × 2 min of 30% MVC; LI, n = 47), 2) low-intensity with blood flow restriction (LI + 50% arterial occlusion pressure; LI-BFR, n = 41), 3) maximal effort (4 × 5 s of 100% MVC; MAX, n = 47), and 4) non-exercise control (CON, n = 44). LI-BFR was the only group that observed a cross-education in strength (CON: 0.64 SD 2.9 kg, LI: 0.95 SD 3.6 kg, BFR-LI: 2.7 SD 3.3 kg, MAX: 0.80 SD 3.1 kg). In the trained hand, MAX observed the greatest change in strength (4.8 SD 3.3 kg) followed by LI-BFR (2.8 SD 4.0 kg). LI was not different from CON. Muscle thickness did not change in the untrained arm, but ulna muscle thickness was increased within the trained arm of the LI-BFR group (0.06 SD 0.11 cm). Incorporating BFR into low-intensity isometric training led to a cross-education effect on strength that was greater than all other groups (including high-intensity training)
Promoting students’ interest through culturally sensitive curricula in higher education
No full textPrevious studies have emphasized culturally sensitive curricula in the context of enhancing minoritized students’ education. We examined the relationship between second-year higher education students’ perceptions of the cultural sensitivity of their curriculum and both majoritized and minoritized students’ interest in their course. A total of 286 (228 F) students rated the cultural sensitivity of their curriculum on six scales using a revised version of the Culturally Sensitive Curricula Scales (CSCS-R), the perceived quality of their relationships with teachers, and their interest. The CSCS-R widened the construct with two new scales and showed better reliability. Ethnic minority students (n = 99) perceived their curriculum as less culturally sensitive than White students (n = 182), corroborating previous findings. Black students perceived their curriculum as less culturally sensitive than Asian students. There were no significant differences between ethnic minority and White students on interest or perceived quality of relationships with teachers. Five dimensions of cultural sensitivity (Diversity Represented, Positive Depictions, Challenge Power, Inclusive Classroom Interactions, Culturally Sensitive Assessments) and perceived quality of relationships with teachers predicted interest. Ethnicity did not. Ensuring curricula and assessments represent diversity positively, challenge power and are inclusive may support students’ interest while reflecting an increasingly diverse society
The spatiality of the body in football
No full textThis research aims to address the critical issue of how the spatiality of the body intersects with football philosophy, with a specific focus on the context of training and match strategies. Traditionally, in football, coaching factors emerge within the training environment and are closely aligned with the intended game model. However, isolating these factors from the broader game model risks decontextualizing them, potentially undermining crucial aspects such as solidarity, team spirit, motivation, discipline, and rigor. Moreover, there is a pressing need to ensure that physical, technical, and psychological aspects are subordinated to tactical thinking and a relentless pursuit of victory during training sessions. This imposes a mindset of seriousness and rigor to effectively navigate the demands of complexity inherent in collective play. Drawing insights from philosophical discussions by Merleau-Ponty and Edgar Morin, as well as contributions from Manuel Sérgio and other scholars, this research seeks to deepen our understanding of the intricate relationships between players within a team. By exploring these dynamics, the study aims to shed light on how interactions among players shape team dynamics and influence individual players’ perceptions within the broader coaching context. Ultimately, the paper endeavours to contribute to a nuanced comprehension of the spatial and philosophical dimensions inherent in football training processes, thus offering valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners in the field
Unilateral high-load resistance training induced a similar cross-education of strength between the dominant and non-dominant arm
No full textIt was previously hypothesized that the cross-education of strength is asymmetrical, where a greater transfer of strength is observed from the dominant to the non-dominant limb. The purpose of this study was to examine if the magnitude of cross-education of strength differed between dominant and non-dominant limbs following unilateral high-load resistance training. One hundred and twenty-two participants were randomized to one of the three groups: 1) training on the dominant arm (D-Only), 2) training on the non-dominant arm (ND-Only) and 3) a time-matched non-exercise control (Control). The training groups completed 6?weeks (18 sessions) of unilateral elbow flexion exercise. Each training session started with one-repetition maximum (1RM) training (≤ five attempts), followed by four sets of high-load exercise (i.e. 8?12RM). Strength changes of the untrained arm were compared between groups. Changes in the strength of the untrained arm were greater in D-Only (1.5?kg) and ND-Only (1.3?kg) compared to Control (?0.2?kg), without differences between D-Only and ND-Only. Unilateral resistance training increased strength in the opposite untrained arm, and the magnitude of this effect was similar regardless of which arm was trained. However, there is still considerable uncertainty on this topic and additional research is warranted to confirm the current findings
Machine learning approaches for accurate energy content prediction in foods using nutritional data
No full textThis study marks a step toward more effectively translating nutritional information to inform public health policy as well as individual dietary choices. Motivated by the increase in diet-related health issues, this research aims to analyze a comprehensive nutritional dataset to uncover valuable insights. Using the USDA National Nutrient Database, the study employs data preprocessing to clean the data, exploratory data analysis to identify hidden patterns, and various machine learning models to predict nutritional values. The results demonstrate the usefulness of these models in explaining the composition data and highlight a range of trends and relationships within the observed amounts. The discussion emphasizes that these findings could be instrumental in guiding health professionals and policymakers toward healthier dietary guidelines. The significance of this research lies in its potential to advance public health through more sophisticated nutritional recommendations
Diabetic patient readmission predictive analysis: a comparative study of machine learning models of hospital readmissions
No full textHospital readmissions are a major concern in healthcare due to their impact on patient morbidity, hospital workload, and increased healthcare costs. This study aims to predict the readmission of diabetic patients within 30 days postdischarge, addressing the critical need for efficient resource allocation and improved patient care. The motivation stems from the high prevalence of diabetes and the associated risk of complications leading to frequent readmissions. Using a comprehensive dataset from 1999 to 2008, encompassing 130 US healthcare facilities, the research employs advanced machine learning techniques to develop a predictive model. Data preprocessing and feature engineering are meticulously applied to enhance model accuracy. Various classifiers, including Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbors, AdaBoost, Naive Bayes, Random Forest, and Logistic Regression, are evaluated against standard performance metrics. Results indicate that the Naive Bayes model achieves the highest F1 score of 0.81, outperforming other models. The study concludes that predictive modeling can significantly enhance clinical decision making and optimize healthcare resources, underlining its importance in managing diabetic patient care
Blood flow restriction augments the cross-education effect of isometric handgrip training
Get PDFThe application of blood flow restriction (BFR) to low-intensity exercise may be able to increase strength not only in the trained limb but also in the homologous untrained limb. Whether this effect is repeatable and how that change compares to that observed with higher intensity exercise is unknown. Examine whether low-intensity training with BFR enhances the cross-education of strength compared to exercise without BFR and maximal efforts. A total of 179 participants completed the 6-week study, with 135 individuals performing isometric handgrip training over 18 sessions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) low-intensity (4 × 2 min of 30% MVC; LI, n = 47), 2) low-intensity with blood flow restriction (LI + 50% arterial occlusion pressure; LI-BFR, n = 41), 3) maximal effort (4 × 5 s of 100% MVC; MAX, n = 47), and 4) non-exercise control (CON, n = 44). LI-BFR was the only group that observed a cross-education in strength (CON: 0.64 SD 2.9 kg, LI: 0.95 SD 3.6 kg, BFR-LI: 2.7 SD 3.3 kg, MAX: 0.80 SD 3.1 kg). In the trained hand, MAX observed the greatest change in strength (4.8 SD 3.3 kg) followed by LI-BFR (2.8 SD 4.0 kg). LI was not different from CON. Muscle thickness did not change in the untrained arm, but ulna muscle thickness was increased within the trained arm of the LI-BFR group (0.06 SD 0.11 cm). Incorporating BFR into low-intensity isometric training led to a cross-education effect on strength that was greater than all other groups (including high-intensity training)
Male and female perceptions of supervision during strength training
Get PDFA cross-sectional survey was distributed to 1322 members of a 1-on-1 personalized strength training studio. A total of 366 respondents (n = 134 male and n = 232 female), all aged over 20 years, reported considerable training experience, with 55% of the males and 42% of the females reporting 5+ years of experience. The data were analyzed and reported descriptively with differences >5% identified based on the use of a 5-point Likert scale, the sample size, and the nature of the observations. Disparities between the males and females were identified; the males reported higher perceptions of managing effort, technique, and programming without supervision compared to the females. Safety was noted as being more important to the females compared to the males. Qualitatively, additional themes were raised including an analogy of the personal relationship between the trainer and trainee being similar to that between medical professionals and patients. This was validated where the participants discussed their adaptations from supervised strength training for maintaining quality of life in aging and recovering from medical conditions and injury. The data are discussed in the context of a previous body of literature suggesting males falsely report higher levels of confidence in tasks compared to females, particularly in relation to effort, role models, and verbal encouragement. We posit that the greater confidence expressed by males at least partially explains the greater engagement in strength training practices by males compared to females, as well as explaining the higher level of participation in supervised strength training by females compared to males. This research proves beneficial for strength training practitioners in enhancing their understanding and expectations of clients, as well as hopefully proving insightful in engaging more people in strength training
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