Learning and remembering strategies of novice and advanced jazz dancers for skill level appropriate dance routines

This study examined the influence of the challenge level of to-be-learned stimulus on learning strategies in novice and advanced dancers. In Study 1, skill-level appropriate dance routines were developed for novice and advanced jazz dancers. In Study 2, 8 novice and 9 advanced female jazz dancers attempted to learn and remember the two routines in mixed model factorial design, with one between-participants factor: skill level (novice or advanced) and two within-participants factors: routine (easy or difficult) and performance (immediate or delayed). Participants were interviewed regarding the strategies used to learn and remember the routines. Results indicated that advanced performers used atypical learning strategies for insufficiently challenging stimuli, which may reflect characteristics of the stimuli rather than the performer. The qualitative data indicate a clear preference of novice and advanced performers for spatial compatibility of stimuli and response.     

Leisure time physical activity in Australian women: relationship with well being and symptoms

This paper explores the association between moderate levels of physical activity (PA) and health benefits in well being and symptoms such as tiredness, back pain, and constipation. Participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, 14,502 young women (ages 18-23 years), 13,609 middle-age women (45-50 years), and 11,421 older women (ages 70-75 years), answered questions about vigorous and less vigorous exercise (used to determine a physical activity score), well being (SF-36), symptoms, and medical conditions. There were significant associations between the PA score and SF-36 in each cohort. Odds ratios (OR) for a range of symptoms and conditions were lower for women who reported low to moderate activity than for sedentary women, for example, for young women or for constipation = 0.76 (CI, 0.65-0.89), for middle-age women or for tiredness = 0.70 (0.63-0.78). There was no threshold of PA at which health benefits increased significantly. Although cross-sectional, the findings suggest that low-to-moderate levels of exercise are associated with a range of health benefits for women of all ages. These preliminary findings will be followed up during the longitudinal study.     

Nutrition for winter sports

Winter sports are played in cold conditions on ice or snow and often at moderate to high altitude. The most important nutritional challenges for winter sport athletes exposed to environmental extremes include increased energy expenditure, accelerated muscle and liver glycogen utilization, exacerbated fluid loss, and increased iron turnover. Winter sports, however, vary greatly regarding their nutritional requirements due to variable physiological and physique characteristics, energy and substrate demands, and environmental training and competition conditions. What most winter sport athletes have in common is a relatively lean physique and high-intensity training periods, thus they require greater energy and nutrient intakes, along with adequate food and fluid before, during, and after training. Event fuelling is most challenging for cross-country skiers competing in long events, ski jumpers aiming to reduce their body weight, and those winter sport athletes incurring repeated qualification rounds and heats. These athletes need to ensure carbohydrate availability throughout competition. Finally, winter sport athletes may benefit from dietary and sport supplements; however, attention should be paid to safety and efficacy if supplementation is considered.     

An analysis of the relationship between the linear hammer speed and the thrower applied forces during the hammer throw for male and female throwers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the cable force and linear hammer speed in the hammer throw and to identify how the magnitude and direction of the cable force affects the fluctuations in linear hammer speed. Five male (height: 1.88 +/- 0.06 m; body mass: 106.23 +/- 4.83 kg) and five female (height: 1.69 +/- 0.05 m; body mass: 101.60 +/- 20.92 kg) throwers participated and were required to perform 10 throws each. The hammer's linear velocity and the cable force and its tangential component were calculated via hammer head positional data. As expected, a strong correlation was observed between decreases in the linear hammer speed and decreases in the cable force (normalised for hammer weight). A strong correlation was also found to exist between the angle by which the cable force lags the radius of rotation at its maximum (when tangential force is at its most negative) and the size of the decreases in hammer speed. These findings indicate that the most effective way to minimise the effect of the negative tangential force is to reduce the size of the lag angle.     

Putting proficiency: contributions of the pelvis and trunk

Putting proficiency is a key determinant of golfing success and yet minimal biomechanical research has been published on this important skill. Little is known about the motion and coordination of the pelvis and trunk during the putting motion. The purpose of this study was to present detailed three-dimensional (3D) kinematic profiles of the pelvis and trunk during the putting motion, and to determine if differences in kinematics exist between proficient and non-proficient golfers. A 3D analysis (100 Hz) was conducted on 10 single figure handicap golfers using a six-camera motion capture system. Participants completed 18 putts (2 m) towards a cup in an indoor facility and were subsequently divided into two groups based on putting proficiency (Proficient: >79%; Non-proficient: <79%). Variables assessed were the linear movements of the centre of mass (COM) and head, and the angular movements of the pelvis and trunk. Effect size statistics showed that the Proficient putters tended to move predominantly in the frontal plane (towards the target), while the non-proficient putters moved more sagittally. In addition, the Non-proficient putters recorded greater movement variability. The implications of this study suggest that putting proficiency is enhanced when the COM moves towards the target.     

The value of a non-sport-specific motor test battery in predicting performance in young female gymnasts

Gymnastics talent identification focuses on the identification of young gymnasts who display characteristics for potential success in the future. The aim of this study was to identify which current performance characteristics are related to performance in competition 2 years later. Twenty-three female gymnasts aged 7-8 years completed a multidimensional test battery measuring anthropometric, physical, and coordinative characteristics and were technically evaluated by expert coaches. Two years later, the all-around competition results of those gymnasts now participating in elite (n = 12) and sub-elite (n = 11) competition were obtained. None of the initial measurements significantly correlated with the results of the sub-elite gymnasts 2 years later. For the elite gymnasts, a non-sport-specific motor test battery correlated strongly with the competition result, with more than 40% of the variation in competition performance being explained by the result on that test 2 years earlier. Neither the coaches' judgement nor the anthropometric and physical characteristics were sensitive enough to predict performance. A motor coordination test might be valuable in the early identification of gymnasts, as its discriminative and predictive qualities might be sufficiently powerful for selection within a relatively homogeneous population of gymnasts exhibiting similar anthropometric and physical profiles.     

TGMD-3在中国3~12岁儿童基本运动技能测试中的信效度研究

目的: 验证TGMD-3在中国3~12岁儿童基本运动技能测试中的可靠性和有效性。方法: 选取上海、深圳、重庆、洛阳、长沙的512名3~12岁儿童为研究对象进行TGMD-3测试,对测试的难度、区分度、一致性信度、重测信度和评价者信度、结构效度进行统计检验。结果: TGMD-3的13个项目难度范围为0.27~0.78,区分度范围为0.38~0.49。每个年龄组儿童基本运动技能测试(TGMD-3)的内部一致性系数范围为0.808~0.902,其中男女生的内部一致性系数均为0.95;总体的基本运动技能评价者信度(肯德尔协同系数)w为0.944, 2值为28.331,达到显著性水平;重测检验中,移动式运动技能(组内相关系数)ICC为0.755、球类运动技能(组内相关系数)ICC为0.741、总的基本运动技能(组内相关系数)ICC为0.743,均达到了较高水平。通过探索性因子分析验证了TGMD-3的双因子结构,并通过验证性因子分析支持双因子模型(χ²(64)=103.28,p<0.001,CFI=0.960,TLI=0.952,RMSEA=0.049,SRMR=0.043)。结论: TGMD-3儿童基本运动技能测试具有良好的项目难度、区分度,以及可靠的内部一致性信度、重测信度和结构效度,对我国3~12岁儿童具有良好的适用性,可以作为我国儿童基本运动技能发展评价的有效工具。     

Exercise cardiac power and the risk of heart failure in men: A population-based follow-up study

Background:Little is known about exercise cardiac power(ECP),defined as the ratio of directly measured maximal oxygen uptake with peak systolic blood pressure during exercise,on heart failure(HF)risk.We examined the association of ECP and the risk of HF.Methods:This was a population-based cohort study of 2351 men from eastern Finland.The average time to follow-up was 25 years.Participants participated at baseline in an exercise stress test.A total of 313 cases of HF occurred.Results:Men with low ECP(<9.84 mL/mmHg,the lowest quartile)had a 2.37-fold(95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.68-3.35,p<0.0001)hazards ratio of HF as compared with men with high ECP(>13.92 mL/mmHg,the highest quartile),after adjusting for age.Low ECP was associated with a 1.96-fold risk(95%CI:1.38-2.78,p<0.001)of HF after additional adjustment for conventional risk factors.After further adjustment for left ventricular hypertrophy,the results hardly changed(hazards ratio=1.87,95%CI:1.31-2.66,p<0.001).One SD increase in ECP(3.16 mL/mmHg)was associated with a decreased risk of HF by 28%(95%CI:17%-37%).Conclusion:ECP provides a noninvasive and easily available measure from cardiopulmonary exercise tests in predicting HF.However,ECP did not provide additional value over maximal oxygen uptake.     

The changing of the sponsorship market

Since the time of state socialism, Hungarian sport has been totally financed by the state. Therefore, Hungarian soccer and sponsorship market is a relatively new and unexplored subject of research in the field of sports sponsorship, as most studies so far have focused on the major European soccer leagues. The main objective of this paper, focusing on the Hungarian soccer sponsorship market, was to evaluate the range of soccer sponsorship objectives and the range of evaluation tools that sponsors use to measure the effectiveness of their sponsorships. A combined approach of qualitative and quantitative research methods served as the methodological foundation of this study. In the quantitative phase, representatives of the sponsor companies (n=103) were asked to rate the importance of the sponsorship objectives and the importance of the evaluation techniques used to measure the effectiveness of their sponsorships. The results of this study have implications for the sports sponsorship industry, the Hungarian soccer club sponsors, and the sport properties too. According to the research results, many of the Hungarian sponsor companies have failed to assess the effectiveness of sponsorship in meeting their objectives. The research can be used to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of soccer sponsorship in Hungary.     

基于专利引文分析的时间线技术

在对专利引文可视化技术现状进行分析的基础上,将基于引文分析的时间线技术运用到专利文献的可视化分析。详细阐述该技术的理论依据、设计思想,并用美国专利数据库中的DVD激光头专利进行技术应用,证明该技术能揭示专利文献中的技术热点及其发展演变,并挖掘关键技术。