130,669 research outputs found
Game Profile-Based Training in Soccer: A New Field Approach
No full textDello Iacono, A, Martone, D, Cular, D, Milic, M, and Padulo, J. Game profile-based training in soccer: a new field approach. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3333-3342, 2017-The aim of the study was to profile and compare the time-motion, physiological, and neuromuscular responses of both National Youth League (NYL) and UEFA Youth League (UYL) matches with those of an experimental game profile-based training (GPBT) protocol. Time-motion traits and physiological, perceptual, and neuromuscular responses were investigated in 24 male soccer players across 14 matches and 6 GPBT training sessions, for a total of 420 samples. The GPBT had a greater influence on time-motion traits and perceptual responses than the NYL and UYL matches (all p < 0.001). No significant GPBT vs. match differences were found for mean heart rate or blood lactate (F = 1.228, p = 0.304, and F = 0.978, p = 0.385, respectively). Finally, the GPBT protocol led to greater impairment of the neuromuscular explosive performances when compared with those of the postmatch scores (squat jump: F = 19.991, p < 0.001; countermovement jump: F = 61.703, p < 0.001). Results identified the GPBT protocol as characterized by relatively greater high-intensity workloads than official NYL and UYL matches, requiring increased demanding efforts. In light of these outcomes, the GPBT protocol can be considered an advantageous training method for elite soccer players, capable of stimulating the physical effort and physiological capabilities required during a match. This approach is favorable when designing a training intervention according to the principle of sport specificity, as it is based on the specific metabolic demands
Validity and Reliability of a Light-Based Electronic Target for Testing Response Time in Fencers
No full textDe Giorgio, A, Iuliano, E, Turner, A, Millevolte, C, Cular, D, Ardigò, LP, and Padulo, J. Validity and reliability of a light-based electronic target for testing response time in fencers. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-Response time (RT) is a fencing fundamental sensorimotor skill. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of a light-based electronic target in fencers, designed to measure and train this entity. Ninety-five fencers (M = 53; F = 42) were tested in regard to their RT, using a light-based electronic target, for 3 different attack types: simple attack, the lunge, and an attack after a 1.5-m thrust. All subjects were divided into elite vs. novice fencers. Elite fencers had national and international rankings, and were again divided with regard to used weapon: épéeists (n = 32; M = 19; F = 13) and foilists (n = 30; M = 13; F = 17). Measurement was evaluated for validity/reliability, sensitivity/specificity, and correlation. Reliability was high for all attack types (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94-0.96). Lower RTs were found in males for 2 attack types with good sensitivity (81-93%)/specificity (50-91%) for all attack types. Elite fencers responded faster than novice fencers for all attack types (p < 0.001), whereas elite males were faster than females for 2 attack types (p < 0.01). Lower RTs in females correlated with level for one attack type (r = 0.797, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the light-based electronic target system was found to be highly reliable and therefore could be used by fencing athletes as a further measure of performance
External Responsiveness of the SuperOpTM Device to Assess Recovery After Exercise: A Pilot Study
No full textPost-exercise recovery is a complex process involving a return of performance and a
physiological or perceptual feeling close to pre-exercise status. The hypothesis of this
study is that the device investigated here is effective in evaluating the recovery state
of professional cyclists in order to plan effective training. Ten professional male cyclists
belonging to the same team were enrolled in this study. Participants performed a 7-day
exercise program [D1, D4, and D7: low-intensity training; D2 and D5: passive recovery;
D3: maximum oxygen consumption (VO2Max) test (for maximum mechanical power
assessment only); and D6: constant load test]. During the week of monitoring, each
morning before getting up, the device assessed each participant’s so-called Organic
Readiness {OR [arbitrary unit (a.u.)]}, based on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR),
features of past exercise session, and following self-perceived condition. Based on its
readings and algorithm, the device graphically displayed four different colors/values,
indicating general exercise recommendations: green/3 = “you can train hard,” yellow/2
= “you can train averagely,” orange/1 = “you can train lightly,” or red/0 = “you should
recover passively.” During the week of research, morning OR values and Bonferroni
post-hoc comparisons showed significant differences between days and, namely, values
(1) D2 (after low intensity training) was higher than D4 (after VO2Max test; P = 0.033
and d = 1.296) and (2) D3 and D6 (after passive recovery) were higher than D4 (after
VO2Max test; P = 0.006 and d = 2.519) and D5 (after low intensity training; P = 0.033
and d = 1.341). The receiver operating characteristic analysis area under curve (AUC)
recorded a result of 0.727 and could differentiate between D3 and D4 with a sensitivity
and a specificity of 80%. Preliminarily, the device investigated is a sufficiently effective
and sensitive/specific device to assess the recovery state of athletes in order to plan
effective training
Pulmonary function is related to success in junior elite Kumite karatekas
No full textSpirometry can be considered a method for measuring lung capacity and speed of air-flow through the airways. Due to its simple application, it is commonly used in sport diagnostics. Aims of this research were to determine the values of ventilation function variables in karatekas competing in kumite discipline and their relationship to result. The sample included 51 junior karate athletes (with defined subgroups of more successful [n=31] and less successful [n=20]), competing in kumite discipline, from nine European countries. Their values of some ventilation function variables were measured. Measurement procedures were chosen and used according to acknowledged literature. By univariate analysis of differences, significant differences between more successful and less successful competitors were determined in the following variables: forced vital capacity (more successful 5.24±0.56 l; less successful 4.27±0.61 l; p=0.00), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (more successful 4.13±0.68 l; less successful 3.69±0.57 l; p=0.02), ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (more successful 78.98±10.29%; less successful 86.64±8.37%; p=0.01) and maximal voluntary ventilation (more successful 150.46±31.14 l/min; less successful 125.50±29.49 l/min; p=0.01). More successful contestants showed higher values in some relevant variables compared to less successful ones supporting a relationship to result
MeSH term explosion and author rank improve expert recommendations
No full textInformation overload is an often-cited phenomenon that reduces the productivity, efficiency and efficacy of scientists. One challenge for scientists is to find appropriate collaborators in their research. The literature describes various solutions to the problem of expertise location, but most current approaches do not appear to be very suitable for expert recommendations in biomedical research. In this study, we present the development and initial evaluation of a vector space model-based algorithm to calculate researcher similarity using four inputs: 1) MeSH terms of publications; 2) MeSH terms and author rank; 3) exploded MeSH terms; and 4) exploded MeSH terms and author rank. We developed and evaluated the algorithm using a data set of 17,525 authors and their 22,542 papers. On average, our algorithms correctly predicted 2.5 of the top 5/10 coauthors of individual scientists. Exploded MeSH and author rank outperformed all other algorithms in accuracy, followed closely by MeSH and author rank. Our results show that the accuracy of MeSH term-based matching can be enhanced with other metadata such as author rank
Intra-positional and inter-positional differences in somatotype components and proportions of particular somatotype categories in youth volleyball players
No full textObjective(s). Main aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse intra-positional, inter-positional differences in proportions of particular somatotype categories in youth volleyball players. Methods. Heath-Carter method was used to determine somatotype characteristics of 181 young female volleyball players (age 14.05 +/- 0.93, height 170.03 +/- 7.61 cm, mass 57.80 +/- 8.59 kg, body mass index 19.99 +/- 2.37 kg/m(2), somatotype 4.33-2.79-3.73 +/- 1.02-1.02-1.25). Dependent variables were playing position, player efficacy. Only 7 somatotype categories (of possible 13) were obtained. Results. By analysing intra-positional differences, a significantly higher frequency of somatotype categories dominated by the ectomorph component was established in a subsample of more successful players, and a significantly higher frequency of somatotype categories dominated by the endomorph component was found in a subsample of less efficient players. The most frequent somatotype category in all player positions in a sample of more efficient volleyball players is the balanced ectomorph. The smallest number of somatotype categories (only three) was obtained in the subsample of more efficient middle hitters. It indirectly indicates that the most stringent requirements for selection according to the body build are for that position. Similar small inter-positional differences were obtained in both subsamples. Ectomorph somatotype component was most pronounced in young middle-hitters, and endomorph in liberos. Small inter-positional differences in both subsamples are probably consequences of previous selection processes within the clubs. Conclusion. Results obtained in this study provide a clearer insight into inter-positional, intra-positional differences in somatotype categories of young female volleyball players
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
External Responsiveness of the SuperOpTM Device to Assess Recovery After Exercise : A Pilot Study
No full textPost-exercise recovery is a complex process involving a return of performance and a physiological or perceptual feeling close to pre-exercise status. The hypothesis of this study is that the device investigated here is effective in evaluating the recovery state of professional cyclists in order to plan effective training. Ten professional male cyclists belonging to the same team were enrolled in this study. Participants performed a 7-day exercise program [D1, D4, and D7: low-intensity training; D2 and D5: passive recovery; D3: maximum oxygen consumption (VO2Max) test (for maximum mechanical power assessment only); and D6: constant load test]. During the week of monitoring, each morning before getting up, the device assessed each participant's so-called Organic Readiness {OR [arbitrary unit (a.u.)]}, based on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), features of past exercise session, and following self-perceived condition. Based on its readings and algorithm, the device graphically displayed four different colors/values, indicating general exercise recommendations: green/3 = “you can train hard,” yellow/2 = “you can train averagely,” orange/1 = “you can train lightly,” or red/0 = “you should recover passively.” During the week of research, morning OR values and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons showed significant differences between days and, namely, values (1) D2 (after low intensity training) was higher than D4 (after VO2Max test; P = 0.033 and d = 1.296) and (2) D3 and D6 (after passive recovery) were higher than D4 (after VO2Max test; P = 0.006 and d = 2.519) and D5 (after low intensity training; P = 0.033 and d = 1.341). The receiver operating characteristic analysis area under curve (AUC) recorded a result of 0.727 and could differentiate between D3 and D4 with a sensitivity and a specificity of 80%. Preliminarily, the device investigated is a sufficiently effective and sensitive/specific device to assess the recovery state of athletes in order to plan effective training
"Closing the R&D Gap, Evaluating the Sources of R&D Spending"
No full textBoth spending and tax policies have been implemented in the United States with the goal of stimulating private sector research and development (R&D). Karier questions whether current R&D policy, especially the research and experimentation tax credit, can contribute to closing the gap between nondefense expenditures on R&D in the United States and such expenditures in other countries, such as Japan and Germany. He also explores possible changes to our current R&D policy to make it more effective.
Intra-positional and inter-positional differences in somatotype components and proportions of particular somatotype categories in youth volleyball players
No full textObjective(s). Main aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse intra-positional, inter-positional differences in proportions of particular somatotype categories in youth volleyball players. Methods. Heath-Carter method was used to determine somatotype characteristics of 181 young female volleyball players (age 14.05±0.93, height 170.03±7.61 cm, mass 57.80±8.59 kg, body mass index 19.99±2.37 kg/m2, somatotype 4.33-2.79-3.73±1.02-1.02-1.25). Dependent variables were playing position, player efficacy. Only 7 somatotype categories (of possible 13) were obtained. Results. By analysing intra-positional differences, a significantly higher frequency of somatotype categories dominated by the ectomorph component was established in a subsample of more successful players, and a significantly higher frequency of somatotype categories dominated by the endomorph component was found in a subsample of less efficient players. The most frequent somatotype category in all player positions in a sample of more efficient volleyball players is the balanced ectomorph. The smallest number of somatotype categories (only three) was obtained in the subsample of more efficient middle hitters. It indirectly indicates that the most stringent requirements for selection according to the body build are for that position. Similar small inter-positional differences were obtained in both subsamples. Ectomorph somatotype component was most pronounced in young middle-hitters, and endomorph in liberos. Small inter-positional differences in both subsamples are probably consequences of previous selection processes within the clubs. Conclusion. Results obtained in this study provide a clearer insight into inter-positional, intra-positional differences in somatotype categories of young female volleyball players
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