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Assessment of aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability in elite male soccer: a systematic review of test protocols used in practice and research
Full text linkBackground
Soccer requires players to cover distances around 10-12 km, with numerous consecutive sprints throughout the 90-minute game. As such, aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability (RSA) are crucial physical qualities for the modern soccer player to cope with the demands of the game. Nevertheless, a comprehensive and systematic search in aerobic fitness and RSA assessment procedures in elite soccer has yet to be conducted.
Objective
The aims of this systematic review were to: (1) identify the tests and outcome variables used to assess aerobic fitness and RSA of elite male soccer players, (2) provide normative values for the most common tests of aerobic fitness and RSA across different playing levels, and (3) report the reliability values of these aerobic fitness and RSA tests.
Methods
A systematic review of the academic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and OVID for studies published until August 2023 was conducted, following the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: 1) were original research studies, published in a peer-reviewed journal, and written in English language; 2) had the primary aim of assessing aerobic fitness and/or RSA; 3) players were male and older than 17 years of age (i.e., mean age of the group), and 4) their playing level was defined as “professional”, “international” or “elite”.
Results
For aerobic fitness testing, 124 studies and 35 different tests were identified. Of those, 26 tests (74%) were field-based, whereas only nine (26%) were laboratory-based tests. The incremental treadmill test to exhaustion was the most commonly used aerobic fitness assessment method (56 studies, 45%), with VO2max (ml/kg/min) being the most prevalent outcome variable (49 studies, 87%). The YYIR1 and YYIR2 were also commonly used tests, identified in 22 (18%) and 10 (8%) studies, respectively. The most frequently reported outcome variable in both tests was distance in meters, reported in 20 studies (91%) for YYIR1 and in all 10 studies (100%) for YYIR2. For RSA testing, 27 studies and 18 different tests were identified. Substantial variability in the identified RSA testing protocols was observed in terms of direction (linear vs. multidirectional), sprint repetitions (6-15), sprint distance (20-40 m), type of recovery (active vs. passive), and recovery duration (10-30 s). The 6 x 40 m shuttle sprint protocol with a 180° change of direction and 20 s passive recovery was the most common RSA test, employed in eight studies (29%).
Conclusions
This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the testing methods used to assess aerobic fitness and RSA in elite male soccer players. A total of 35 different aerobic fitness tests and 18 RSA tests were identified, highlighting the diversity in methodologies used. The most prevalent aerobic test was the incremental treadmill testing to exhaustion, with a median VO2max value of 58 ml/kg/min. Field-based tests were preferred due to their practicality, cost-efficiency, and ability to assess multiple athletes simultaneously. A substantial variability in RSA testing protocols was identified in terms sprint directions, distances, repetitions, and recovery types. Future research should focus on establishing the diagnostic accuracy of the most commonly used aerobic fitness tests to inform their utility in practice and bridge the gap between current testing practices and optimal fitness evaluation
A deeply personal affair: Stakeholder engagement in brand ‘refresh’ project of a hospice
Full text linkReporting the case of St Angela's hospice, in which stakeholders became involved in marketing work, gives key insights into the vital relationship between nonprofits and their stakeholders. Insider access to an 8-month project helps to address the paucity of work that explores the active engagement of stakeholders in the work of nonprofit organisations. This practice paper explores the emotional investment, participation and contribution, as well as the outcome aspirations of a diverse group of stakeholders involved in a project to ‘refresh’ a hospice brand. Recommendations are relevant for nonprofit senior leadership teams, trustees wanting to develop stakeholder involvement, as well as nonprofit stakeholders considering deepening their involvement with nonprofit organisations
Leg spin or off spin? orthodox or unorthodox?—an in‐depth examination of bowling–batting match‐ups and the effectiveness of spin variations in international and Franchise T20 cricket
Full text linkIn this study, 23,084 balls bowled by elite level spin bowlers across six competitions were analysed in order to fulfil two main aims; (1) investigate whether the type of spin bowler presents any tactical advantages and (2) investigate the most effective type of spin bowling variation. The results of logistic regression analyses revealed significant relationships between specific bowler–batter match‐ups and runs conceded (p < 0.001). Specifically, opposing match‐ups where the ball naturally spins away from right‐handed and left‐handed batters were revealed to be a particularly effective strategy at restricting runs conceded. Right-handed leg‐spin bowlers are revealed to be significantly more likely to take the wickets of right‐handed batters. Results also revealed that the ‘googly’ and ‘carrom ball’ variations are particularly effective at both, restricting runs scored and taking wickets when they are bowled to right‐handed batters (both p < 0.001). Evidence suggests that certain bowler–batter match‐ups present some tactical advantages and should therefore be taken into consideration in T20 cricket. Furthermore, the results also highlight the value of a wrist spinner capable of bowling ‘googly’ or ‘carrom ball’ variations. The findings of this study could potentially influence team selection, strategies, recruitment policy and general coaching practice
Effective epileptic seizure detection with hybrid feature selection and SMOTE-based data balancing using SVM classifier
Full text linkEpileptic seizures, a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, pose significant challenges in timely diagnosis and management. Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures, affects over 70 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite significant advances in medical science, accurate and timely diagnosis of epileptic seizures remains a challenge, with misdiagnosis rates reported to be as high as 30%. The consequences of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can be severe, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life for patients. Therefore, this paper presents a novel approach to enhancing epileptic seizure detection through the integration of Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling Technique (SMOTE) for data balancing and a Hybrid Feature Selection Technique—Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). The proposed model aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of seizure detection systems by addressing data imbalance and extracting discriminative features from electroencephalograms (EEG) signals. Experimental results demonstrate substantial performance gains, with the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier achieving 97.30% accuracy, 99.62% Area Under the Curve (AUC), and 93.08% F1 score, which outperform the results of the existing studies from the literature. The results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed model in advancing seizure detection systems, highlighting the potential to improve diagnostic capabilities and patient outcomes
Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) range wide priority setting discussion & recommendations
No full textBehaviour change interventions to promote physical activity in people with intermittent claudication: the OPTIMA systematic review
Full text linkBackground
People with intermittent claudication are significantly less active compared to their peers without intermittent claudication, worsening future health outcomes. Supervised exercise therapy is not commonly available, but behaviour change techniques in unsupervised interventions can improve physical activity. Specific behaviour change techniques, theoretical mechanisms and contextual features linked to effectiveness remain unclear.
Objectives
To conduct an integrative synthesis of: effectiveness of behaviour change technique-based interventions on daily physical activity and clinical-/patient-reported outcomes; behaviour change techniques and theoretical mechanisms within effective behaviour change technique-based interventions; feasibility and acceptability. Primary outcomes: short term ( 6 months) of daily physical activity. Secondary outcomes: clinical-/patient-reported outcomes.
Data sources
Seven primary studies databases; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Health Technology Assessment Database and Trial Registers to 31 August 2023.
Review methods
Systematic review 1: interventions incorporating ≥ 1 behaviour change technique (coded using Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy version 1, and Theoretical Domains Framework). Systematic review 2: quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods research on patient/provider experiences. Study quality assessed using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials; Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies – of Interventions and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results
Fifty-three articles (41 studies) were included in systematic review 1, and 28 articles (28 studies) in systematic review 2. Eleven randomised controlled trials demonstrated that behaviour change technique-based interventions increased daily physical activity in the short term [increase of 0.20 standardised mean difference (95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.33), ~ 473 steps/day] with high certainty. Evidence of maintenance of daily physical activity is unclear (increase of 0.12 standardised mean difference; ~ 288 steps/day). Behaviour change techniques aimed at improving patients’ intentions to engage in physical activity were most effective. Network analysis suggests that behaviour change technique-based interventions improved daily physical activity and may be better than supervised exercise therapy in maintaining daily physical activity. behaviour change technique-based interventions were acceptable and had short-medium-term benefits to initial/absolute claudication distance/time, walking impairment scores and disease-specific quality of life.
Conclusions
The behaviour change technique-based interventions are effective, targeting intention to engage in physical activity, in improving daily physical activity and functional outcomes in the short term, although evidence is limited for maintenance. There is a need for more randomised controlled trials examining daily physical activity and clinical outcomes, including longer-term follow-up, with detailed descriptions of behaviour change techniques, costs and provider views.
Study registration
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42020159869.
Funding
This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR130664) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment ; Vol. 29, No. 18. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information
Shakespeare on the radio: a century of BBC plays
No full textBrings together Shakespearean performance, audio drama studies and media history to offer the first detailed examination of Shakespeare productions on British radio.
* Opens up a new area of Shakespearean performance: audio production.
* Rereads these productions: rather than stuffy ‘Auntie Beeb’ educational plays, these are pieces of entertainment produced by exuberant people giving their interpretation of Shakespeare.
* Based on new research using documentary evidence and archive audio recordings.
* Every extant production has been listened to, providing a comprehensive account of the sound of these plays on BBC radio.
Taking you inside Shakespeare’s plays on the radio – how they sound and how they change and evolve – Andrea Smith provides an innovative history of Shakespearean performance. Based on meticulous new research using documentary evidence and archive audio recordings, Smith explores what it means to present Shakespeare as audio and how this can help us to gain a greater understanding of the plays themselves and the art of performing them. The BBC’s remit to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ has led to assumptions that these plays were presented as scholarly works rather than showbiz. Wrong! They feature all the careful crafting of any other production of Shakespeare’s work. This book puts these audio productions on a par with other forms of Shakespearean performance and offers detailed case studies to further the readers’ understanding of Shakespeare’s texts on air
Poland’s right-wing constructions of the others at the Polish-Belarussian border (2021–2023)
No full textThis chapter explores how Otherness has been constructed in right-wing political discourses in Poland. Using critical discourse analysis, the authors examine how the former government, with previously ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), has framed people on-the-move at the Polish-Belarusian border, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, as a threat to the Polish nation and the EU. The chapter focuses on the interplay of ethnicity, religion and gender in shaping these narratives, noting that Poland's position as part of the European periphery and its history of emigration and immigration contribute to these dynamics. This chapter sheds light on the multifaceted processes underpinning the construction of Otherness through the right-wing political discourses
User evaluation of clinical simulation-based learning developed by FORCE (Framework for Online Radiographer Clinical Education)
Full text linkIntroduction
The FORCE initiative, funded by the EU, was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on radiography education. It offers a virtual learning environment (VLE) filled with clinical simulation scenarios targeting Diagnostic Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiotherapy. These scenarios are designed to provide open-access, simulation-based learning (SBL) resources that help radiography undergraduates engage in problem-based learning across relevant clinical knowledge and professional awareness. This study presents the results of an online survey aimed at evaluating the FORCE VLE and SBL resources to guide future development.
Methods
The survey targeted academic and clinical staff in Radiography and student Radiographers. It was based on the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and modified to include topics relevant to online learning, using a five-point Likert Scale (LS). The questionnaire consisted of four sections: research information and consent; socio-demographic data; LS-based questions on case structure, content, interactivity, technical aspects, multimedia quality, and overall experience; and open-text responses.
Results
Of the 407 invited participants, 109 (27 %) responded, with 77 % being students and 23 % clinical or academic radiographers from 13 countries. English proficiency was reported by 76 % of respondents. The median LS was consistently 4 across all categories, indicating high satisfaction. Content analysis of 159 open-text comments revealed 139 positive opinions on the SBL resources.
Conclusion
The FORCE VLE SBL resources were highly regarded for their interactivity, applicability, and support in consolidating knowledge and enhancing patient care. Suggestions for improvement were minor, mainly focusing on navigation and specific content preferences.
Implications for practice
Expanding the availability of online SBL cases could enhance Radiographer education and promote inclusivity across the field
Innovative approaches in teaching coding skills to young children: a scoping review
Full text linkThis scoping review explores innovative approaches to teaching coding skills to young children, a crucial competency in our increasingly digital world. For consistency in terminology, the study uses the term young children to describe individuals up to nine years old. The research integrates data from several educational settings and explores approaches such as game-based learning, graphical coding treatments, hands-on robotics, and unplugged activities. The study highlights the effectiveness of tools such as ScratchJr, KIBO robots, Code Karts, and Blink debugging in enhancing young children’s computational thinking and problem solving abilities and increasing interest in coding. A number of studies have shown that coding enhances cognitive development in young children by encouraging computational thinking, which is vital for future careers and other fields such as STEM. Using unplugged approaches promotes communication, motor skills, and socialisation. A key recommendation to educators, which this study suggests, is to design coding programmes to suit the developmental stages of different age groups.
There are, however, some limitations to the study, including the use of a single database and the lack of longitudinal studies to estimate long-term impacts. One of the study’s limitations is the absence of longitudinal studies to estimate long-term effects. It is important to note that despite these challenges, the findings highlight how innovative teaching approaches could equip young children with the fundamental skills needed to succeed in a technologically advanced society. Future work should focus on collecting empirical data from coding schools for young children