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The deconstruction and reconstruction of sports coaching: An interview with Professor Robyn Jones: A commentary
Get PDFBariatric surgery is accompanied by changes in extracellular vesicle-associated and plasma Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4
Get PDFBACKGROUND:
Bariatric surgery markedly reduces fat mass with beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by a variety of cells, including adipocytes, and may mediate some of these benefits. However, the effects of bariatric surgery on circulating EVs are unclear.
METHODS:
Concentration of plasma EVs isolated by ultracentrifugation at baseline, 1 and 6 months post-bariatric surgery (n = 20) was established using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. EV origin (CD9: exosome; CD41: platelet; CD235a: erythrocyte; CD11b: leukocyte; CD144: endothelial), cytokine (interferon γ, interleukin-6, TNF-α) and adipocyte marker (adiponectin, FABP4, PPARγ) expression was measured by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay.
RESULTS:
EV concentration and cell-of-origin markers (CD41, CD235a, CD11b, CD144) did not alter in response to surgery, neither did EV-expressed interferon γ, IL-6, TNF-α, adiponectin, PPARγ or CD9. EV-derived fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) increased at 1 month (+ 49%) before returning to baseline by 6 months (- 51%, p < 0.05), corresponding to similar changes in circulating plasma FABP4 (+ 22 and - 24% at 1 and 6 months, respectively; p < 0.001). Patients who underwent biliopancreatic diversion had lower FABP4-expressing EVs at 6 months compared to those who underwent sleeve gastrectomy/gastric banding (p < 0.05), despite similar percentage weight reduction (- 19 vs - 20%, respectively). CD9 expression correlated with EV-expressed FABP4, adiponectin, TNF-α and interferon γ (r = 0.5, r = 0.59, r = 0.53, r = 0.41, respectively, p < 0.005), suggesting transport by an EV population of exosomal rather than microvesicular origin.
CONCLUSIONS:
Bariatric surgery leads to a transient change in circulating EV- and plasma-derived FABP4, reflecting alterations in adipose tissue homeostasis
What do coaches orchestrate? Unravelling the 'quiddity' of practice
Get PDFThe general purpose of this article is threefold. Firstly, it is to further the notion of coaching as orchestration through developing insight into precisely how and what coaches orchestrate. Secondly, it is to firmly position coaching as a relational practice, whilst thirdly it is to better define coaching’s complex nature and how it can be somewhat ordered. Following an introduction where the purpose and value of the paper are outlined, we present the reflective method of critical companionship through which we explored and addressed the aforementioned purposes. The case for the quiddity, or the 'just whatness' (i.e., the inherent nature or essence) of coaching as involving complex, relational acts which can be somewhat explained through recourse to the developing theory of orchestration is subsequently made. In doing so, two precise examples of how we as coaches orchestrate sporting practice are presented. The paper concludes with both a summary of the principal argument(s) made, and some reflective considerations for future directions
Error and Anomaly Detection for Intra-Participant Time-Series Data
Get PDFIdentification of errors or anomalous values, collectively considered outliers, assists in exploring data or through removing outliers improves the statistical analysis. In biomechanics, outlier detection methods have explored the ‘shape’ of the entire cycles, although exploring fewer points using a ‘moving-window’ may be advantageous. Hence, the aim was to develop a moving-window based method for detecting trials with outliers in intra-participant time-series data. The test data were the angles and displacements for the strides or cycles (mean 38 cycles) from treadmill running, with outliers detected through two-stages. Stage-1 was a one-dimensional (spatial) outlier detection at each time-point, where any data-value of a scaled median-absolute-deviation away from the median at that time-point led to removing that cycle. Stage-2 was a two-dimensional (spatial-temporal) outlier detection of a moving-window-standard-deviation (mwSD) across cycles and across the moving-window size (size of ± 0, 1, 2 or 3 time-points), where any data-value greater than the scaled mwSD led to removing that cycle. Scaling was performed using the t-statistic for three significance levels of 0.01, 0.001 or 0.0001. Fewer cycles were removed with smaller scaling and smaller window size. Appropriate settings were stage-1 scaling of 0.0001 (mean 3.5 cycles removed) and stage-2 scaling of 0.01 with a moving-window size of 1 (mean 2.6 cycles removed). Settings in the supplied Matlab code should be customised to each data set, and trials with outliers assessed to justify whether to retain or remove those trials. The method provides an effective method to identify trials with outliers in intra-participant time-series data
Physical education in Taiwan: When students begin to take control
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect on self-regulated learning (SRL) of a physical education (PE) pedagogy based on Zimmerman’s (2000) model of SRL by means of an 8-week PE curriculum intervention in Taiwan. Participants were 632 Taiwanese students (aged 13.9 ±0.3 years; 28 PE classes) and a wait list control class (n = 21; aged 14.1 ±0.2 years). Constructs from the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, and the Five Component Scale for Self-Regulation were measured pre-and post the intervention by means of on an
online survey platform. Multiple repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine if there were any significant differences pre- and post the intervention and any interaction effects between the intervention and the control. The classes who participated in the intervention showed relatively small mean increases in enjoyment,
perceived competence, intrinsic value, self-efficacy, cognitive strategy use, goal setting, strategy implementation and strategy monitoring. In contrast for the control class, eight out of the eleven factors showed relatively larger negative changes in scores. These data indicate that with this sample the benefits of adopting a selfregulated learning approach in PE lessons over an 8-week period appeared to be more about maintenance of the stability of these personal characteristics rather than the enhancement of them
3D Computer Modeling Analysis of the Surface Area and Thread Volume of the Common Sliding Hip Screw
Get PDFIntroduction: The Sliding Hip Screw (SHS) is a tried and tested method used to treat intertrochanteric hip fractures. Lag screw cut-out is a major complication of SHS fixation and accepted risk factors are often re-evaluated. We aim to demonstrate a new hypothesis of cut-out using 3D reconstructive modelling. We propose that the risk of cut-out is much greater in lag screws with a smaller thread surface area and larger thread volume.
Method: The four commonly used SHS lag screw systems (Biomet, Synthes, Stryker and Smith & Nephew) were CT scanned and the images processed and turned into 3D computer models for further analysis.
Results: There were significan differences between the surface area and thread volumes of the lag screws between manufacturers ranging from 67.0mm2 - 347.4 mm2 and 166.376mm3 - 225.687mm3 respectively.
Discussion: Assuming the consistency of bone is equal, we propose that the risk of cut-out is much greater in lag screws with a smaller surface area to thread volume ratio (SA:TV). The reamer design of lag screws is also discussed.
Conclusion: Although there are many non-modifiable risk factors that contribute to screw cut-out, selecting the right raw materials for SHS fixation will have a favorable impact on the overall risk
Exercise-Induced Cardiac Remodeling: Lessons from Humans, Horses, and Dogs
Get PDFPhysical activity is dependent upon the cardiovascular system adequately delivering blood to meet the metabolic and thermoregulatory demands of exercise. Animals who regularly exercise therefore require a well-adapted heart to support this delivery. The purpose of this review is to examine cardiac structure, and the potential for exercise-induced cardiac remodeling, in animals that regularly engage in strenuous activity. Specifically, we draw upon the literature that has studied the “athlete’s heart” in humans, horses, and dogs, to enable the reader to compare and contrast cardiac remodeling in these three athletic species. The available literature provides compelling evidence for exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in all three species. However, more work is required to understand the influence of species/breed specific genetics and exercise-related hemodynamics, in order to fully understand the impact of exercise on cardiac structure
See no Evil: Challenges of security surveillance and monitoring
Get PDFWhile the development of intelligent technologies in security surveillance can augment human capabilities, they do not replace the role of the operator entirely; as such, when developing surveillance support it is critical that limitations to the cognitive system are taken into account. The current article reviews the cognitive challenges associated with the task of a CCTV operator: visual search and cognitive/perceptual overload, attentional failures, vulnerability to distraction, and decision-making in a dynamically evolving environment. While not directly applied to surveillance issues, we suggest that the NSEEV (noticing – salience, effort, expectancy, value) model of attention could provide a useful theoretical basis for understanding the challenges faced in detection and monitoring tasks. Having identified cognitive limitations of the human operator, this review sets out a research agenda for further understanding the cognitive functioning related to surveillance, and highlights the need to consider the human element at the design stage when developing technological solutions to security surveillance
Emotional experiences in youth tennis
Get PDFAbstract
Objectives
To explore adolescents' emotional experiences in competitive sport. Specifically, this study sought to identify, 1) The emotions adolescents' experience at tennis tournaments, 2) The precursors of the emotions they experience, and, 3) How adolescents attempt to cope with these emotions.
Design
Case-study.
Method
Four adolescent tennis players competed in four or five tennis matches under the observation of a researcher. Immediately following each match, participants completed a post-match review sheet and a semi-structured interview. A further semi-structured interview was completed at the end of the tournament. Review sheets, notes from match observations, and video recordings of matches were used to stimulate discussions during final interviews. All data were analyzed following the procedures outlined by Miles and Huberman (1994).
Results
Participants cited numerous positively and negatively valenced emotions during matches and tournaments. Participants' emotions seemed to be broadly influenced by their perceptions of performance and outcomes, as well as their opponent's behavior and player's perceptions of their own behavior. Participants described various strategies to cope with these emotions, such as controlling breathing rate, focusing on positive thoughts, and individualized routines. Further, if participants perceived them to be facilitative, negative emotions could be beneficial for performance.
Conclusion
This study provided original insights into the complexity of adolescent athletes' emotional experiences at competitions and highlights the critical need for further in-depth examinations of youth sport to fully comprehend the experiences of young people. Most notably, the findings highlight the necessity of considering the impact of both intra- and interpersonal influences on adolescents' emotional experiences, while also accounting for temporal changes
Vocabulary Acquisition via Drama: Welsh as a second language in the primary school setting
Get PDFThis paper tests a new method of teaching vocabulary to young second language learners through the medium of drama, specifically the effect of drama teaching techniques on vocabulary acquisition among primary school learners of Welsh. Vocabulary Acquisition via Drama (VAD) is based on principles derived from both process drama and communicative and task-based approaches to language teaching, and involves three phases: pre-drama, drama and post-drama activities. The research design involves two experimental and one control group, and a pre-post-retention test format on three measures of vocabulary acquisition: picture naming, sentence formulation and improvisation tasks. Results show a beneficial effect for VAD. The discussion section of the paper addresses the potential contribution of this approach to teaching second/foreign language vocabular