1,721,028 research outputs found
The Impact of Technical Error of Measurement on Somatotype Categorization
No full textInquiry into somatotype often seeks to assign participants into somatotype groups. The aim of this study was to demonstrate how the intra-tester reliability of anthropometric measures can influence how somatotype is categorized. Sixty-eight physically active males (mean [SD] 24.8 [7.9] y; 79.8 [14.4] kg; 1.81 [0.07] m) had their anthropometric profiles measured and somatotype components calculated. Technical error of measurement (TEM) was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall somatotype calculation (RTEM) for the data collected by the lead researcher. CIs were further calculated based on the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry accreditation Level 1 and 2/3 thresholds. Somatotype groups were categorized as either simple (four groups) or detailed (13 groups). RTEM had the smallest TEM values (0.05 somatotype units). Detailed somatotype categorization demonstrated larger potential for misclassification (39.7–72.1%) versus simple categorization (29.4–38.2%). Researchers investigating somatotype should keep technical skill high and group according to the four simple somatotype categories in order to maintain acceptable categorization reliability
Reliability of oscillometric central blood pressure and central systolic loading in individuals over 50 years: Effects of posture and fasting
Full text linkBackground and aims The between-day reliability of oscillometric pulse wave analysis has been demonstrated in a young, healthy population but not in an older sample. This study examined the between-day reliability of the SphygmoCor XCEL in individuals over 50 years. As blood pressure is measured in a range of postures and fasting states (supine/seated, fasted/non-fasted), this study also investigated the effect of these variables on central blood pressure and central systolic loading. Methods Fifty-one adults (m = 21; age 57 ± 6.4 y) were tested on three mornings in supine and seated conditions and in fasted and non-fasted states. Data was analysed as a whole and for normotensive (n = 25) and hypertensive participants (n = 26). Results SphygmoCor XCEL demonstrated strong reliability in the whole sample for central systolic and diastolic blood pressures, augmentation index (AIx) and AIx75 (ICC = 0.77–0.95). Significant interaction effects were observed in central diastolic blood pressure, central pulse pressure, augmentation index (AIx) and AIx75 (p < 0.05; ηp 2 = 0.10–0.23). Fasting state had a greater influence on central pressures in a seated than supine posture, but a greater effect on central systolic loading measures in a supine posture. Conclusions The SphygmoCor XCEL is a reliable tool to assess central haemodynamic variables in an older population. It would be pertinent for clinicians and researchers to record central measures in a supine posture to minimise the effects of food consumption. Conversely, the assessment of central systolic loading should occur in a seated condition to minimise the influence of varying fasting states.</p
Return to physical activity after high tibial osteotomy or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and pooling data analysis
No full textBACKGROUND: The 2 most common definitive surgical interventions currently performed for the treatment of medial osteoarthritis of the knee are medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Research exists to suggest that physically active patients may be suitably indicated for either procedure despite HTO being historically indicated in active patients and UKA being more appropriate for sedentary individuals.PURPOSE: To help consolidate the current indications for both procedures regarding physical activity and to ensure that they are based on the best information presently available.STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.METHODS: A search of the literature via the MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases was conducted independently by 2 reviewers in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies that reported patient physical activity levels with the Tegner activity score were eligible for inclusion. Patient demographics, operative variables, and patient-reported outcome scores were abstracted from the included studies.RESULTS: Thirteen eligible studies were included, consisting of 401 knees that received HTO (399 patients) and 1622 that received UKA (1400 patients). The patients' mean age at surgery was 48.4 years for the HTO group and 60.6 years for the UKA group. Mean follow-up was 46.6 months (HTO) and 53.4 months (UKA). All outcome scores demonstrated an equal or improved score for activity and knee function regardless of the operation performed. Operative variables during HTO had a larger effect on outcome than during UKA.CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent HTO were more physically active pre- and postoperatively, but patients undergoing UKA experienced an overall greater increase in their physical activity levels and knee function according to Tegner and Lysholm scores. Activity after HTO may be influenced by operative factors such as the implant used and the decision to include a graft material in the osteotomy gap, although this requires further research. Some studies found that patients were able to return to physical activity postoperatively despite having an age or body mass index that would traditionally be a relative contraindication for HTO or UKA.</p
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe 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
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
The Relationship between Skinfold and Ultrasound Measures of Subcutaneous Fat in Untrained Healthy Males
Full text linkUltrasound measurement of adipose tissue offers an alternative measure of body composition with less technical skill requirement than skinfolds. However, the relationship between skinfold and ultrasound measurements of adipose tissue is uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare these measures in a healthy untrained male population. One hundred male participants (aged 18–40 years) of varying body compositions had skinfold measures taken at the biceps, triceps and front thigh sites. Ultrasound measures were also taken at the same sites using B-wave ultrasound with a linear probe in the transverse plane. Strong, significant (p < 0.01), positive correlations were observed between skinfold and ultrasound measures at the biceps (r = 0.828), triceps (r = 0.813), and front thigh (r = 0.888) sites. However, there was significant (p < 0.01) variance between the techniques at all measurement sites. Whilst skinfold and ultrasound measures of adipose tissue have good linear agreement, skinfolds are consistently higher at all sites indicating a difference in the nature of the tissue measured via each technique. The exact nature of the relationship should be established on a population-specific basis.</p
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