Warm-up with baseball bats of varying moments of inertia: effect on bat velocity and swing pattern

The purpose of this study was to determine if warm-up with baseball bats of different moments of inertia has an effect on swing pattern and bat velocity. Ten experienced baseball players (ages 20-25 years) voluntarily participated in this study. Each participant was required to complete 10 dry swings (5 warm-up and 5 postwarm-up) at maximum effort within 3 different conditions. Post warm-up was always with a standard bat (I = .27 kgm2; 83.8 cm, 9.1 N). Warm-up for Condition 1 was with the standard bat. Condition 2 required participants to warm up with a standard bat plus a 6.1 N lead donut (I = .49 kgm2, 83.8 cm, 15.6 N). Condition 3 required participants to warm up with a hollow plastic bat (I = .08 kgm2; 83.8 cm, 3.34 N). Quantitative and qualitative analyses indicated that following warm-up with the weighted bat (largest moment of inertia), swing pattern was significantly altered, and post warm-up velocity was the lowest of the three conditions.     

Geometric algebra for the High School Program

Summary Plane affine geometry is developed from four axioms, up to the construction of a field (in general non-commutative), introduction of coordinates and derivation of equations for lines. The development is intended to be intelligible and rewarding to better high school students.     

Dynamics of Illegal Participation in Peer-to-Peer Networks—Why Do People Illegally Share Media Files?

In 1997, a law was passed in Spain that mandated that “broadcastings of general interest” be free-to-air rather than pay-per-view. Since that time, a soccer match of the Spanish First Division—considered a public benefit activity—can be viewed on a weekly basis for free throughout the regular season. The aim of this article is to determine whether a “general interest” for these free-to-air broadcastings exists. To perform the empirical analysis, a demand equation for a TV audience is estimated using a unique panel data set on a regional level, in which the dependent variable is the number of viewers of free-to-air matches in each Spanish region during the period 2008–2012. The model specifications consider whether a particular region has a team competing in the First Division and other socioeconomical and sporting variables. The results conclude that a nationwide “general interest” in free-to-air broadcasting of soccer matches, which would support Spanish law, does not exist, with the exception of matches played by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, Fútbol Club Barcelona, and local teams.     

Messages About Sex on Israeli Television: Comparing Local and Foreign Programming

A content analysis of 584 prime-time programs examines messages about sex on Israeli television, comparing local and foreign shows. A 2-week composite sample from 7 commercial broadcast, cable, and satellite channels is analyzed. Results show that sexual content is highly prevalent, with a significantly higher frequency in foreign than local shows. Less than 20% of programs with sexual content address sexual health and risks; foreign shows again exceed local ones. Few differences emerge between local and foreign content in the contextual presentation of sex. Findings are discussed in light of theory, research, and implications for audience effects, policy, and education.     

It Takes a Village to Raise an Information Technology Project: Suggestions on Collaboration From Our 10-Community-College Consortium

This article describes the collaborative evolution of the Midwest Center for Information Technology (MCIT)—which is a consortium of 10 different community colleges across the four states of Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota—that was established to improve information technology (IT) education across the region. MCIT has been funded as a Regional Center by the National Science Foundation in three different grants from the Advanced Technological Education program (ATE) due to its successful collaborative model, alignment with research and best practices, focused regional interventions, and data driven decision-making. The fiscal agent for the consortium is unique. It is not one of the community colleges, but rather it is the Applied Information Management Institute (AIM), a business driven nonprofit focused on IT improvement in the midwestern region. The MCIT model, thus, builds a close partnership with local IT businesses and the IT programs in the 10 participating community colleges. This article describes the MCIT model for collaboration, the joint activities undertaken by the 10 colleges and AIM and the results to date of these shared institutional efforts. This article also discusses challenges associated with such a large-scale collaborative effort, and it provides suggestions for collaborative practice for other community colleges seeking to work together in larger consortiums.     

Test–retest Reliability and Construct Validity of an Online and Paper Administered Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES)

ABSTRACT

The Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES) has been used internationally; however, PANES properties have not been assessed in all geographical contexts. Our objectives were to assess the reliability and validity of an online and paper version of the PANES in Canadian adults. Reliability was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), percent of overall agreement (p₀) and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient (κ). Lower 95% confidence interval (CI) ICC ranged from 0.10 to 0.70. Lower 95%CI for κ statistics ranged from ?0.20 to 0.64 and p₀ ranged from 80.1% to 95.7%. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (α) estimated internal consistency of the PANES (α = 0.58 for the paper version and α = 0.55 for the online version). Mean scores for the PANES Built Environment Index (BEI) significantly differed by neighborhood street pattern (p < .05). The PANES administrated via paper or online provides reliable overall agreement and valid estimates of the self-reported neighborhood built environment supportiveness of physical activity.