Type D personality as a predictor of smoking cessation failure in smoking high school adolescents

The aim of this study was to identify the association between type D personality and smoking cessation among high school students who had participated in a stop smoking program. From 27 high schools, we recruited 279 smoking students who had participated in a stop smoking program between May 29, 2015, and January 25, 2016. About 26.5% of participants had a type D personality. A logistic regression analysis revealed that initiating smoking before or during 5th grade, smoking 21 or more cigarettes daily, and having a type D personality were significantly related to smoking cessation failure. Type D personality was significantly associated with social nicotine dependency and was a predictor of smoking cessation failure after a stop smoking program. Accordingly, type D personality should be considered along with other smoking‐related factors when attempting to promote smoking cessation among high school adolescents.     

Determination of critical parameters among elite female shot putters

The aim of this study was to determine if critical parameters for elite performance could be identified among a population of female shot putters. The performance of seven of the top women shot putters competing at the 2002 USA National Championships was examined. Video data were captured using two Panasonic 60 Hz cameras and the best throws of each athlete were digitized and analyzed using a Peak Motus three-dimensional motion analysis system. Thirty variables were examined for their effect on the distance of the throw. Correlation analysis indicated that measured distance was positively correlated with release speed (r = 0.97, p < 0.0003) and shoulder-hip separation (r = 0.72, p < 0.06) and negatively correlated with release angle (r = -0.74, p < 0.056), rear knee angle at rear foot touchdown (r = -0.93, p < 0.003) and rear knee angle at release (r = -0.76, p < 0.047). Greater knee flexion angle at both rear foot touch down and release along with a neutral shoulder-hip angle at release were identified as the most critical parameters for success among this sample of elite women shot putters. The unique observation about the knee positions at specific events should assist in new training and coaching developments.     

Effects of teacher gender and principal gender on ratings of teacher performance

The Ohio State University     

Literature reading in the United States: Data from national surveys and their policy implications

Who reads literature? Using national survey data, Nicholas Zill and Marianne Winglee analyze the audience for quality fiction, poetry, and drama—its size, potential for growth, demographic composition, and reading preferences. They discuss the factors that affect literary participation and investigate the mechanisms of these effects. They then examine the policy implications of their findings and suggest several ways that publishers, book-sellers, and librarians can use the survey results to increase the reading of quality fiction, poetry, and drama.