Does extensive on-water rowing increase muscular strength and endurance?

The purpose of this study was to compare changes in aerobic condition, strength, and muscular endurance following 8 weeks of endurance rowing alone or in combination with weight-training. Twenty-two elite rowers were assigned to (1) rowing (n = 10, 250-270 km · week?1) or (2) rowing (n = 12, 190-210 km · week?1) plus four weight-training sessions each week. Pre and post mean and standardized effect-size (ES) differences in aerobic condition (watts at 4 mmol · L?1) and strength (isometric pull, N), prone bench-pull (6-repetition maximum, 6-RM), 5- and 30-repetition leg-press and 60-repetition seated-arm-pull (J, performed on a dynamometer) normalized by body mass and log-transformed were analysed, after adjusting for gender. The standardized differences between groups were trivial for aerobic condition (ES [±90% CI] = 0.15; ±0.28, P = 0.37) and prone bench-pull (ES = 0.27; ±0.33, P = 0.18), although a moderate positive benefit in favour of rowing only was observed for the seated-arm-pull (ES = 0.42; ±0.4, P = 0.08). Only the weight-training group improved isometric pull (12.4 ± 8.9%, P < 0.01), 5-repetition (4.0 ± 5.7%, P < 0.01) and 30-repetition (2.4 ± 5.4%, P < 0.01) leg-press. In conclusion, while gains in aerobic condition and upper-body strength were comparable to extensive endurance rowing, weight-training led to moderately greater lower-body muscular-endurance and strength gains.     

If you build it,will they come?: A case study of digital spaces and brand in the National Basketball Association

This case addresses the relationship between sport and digital spaces by introducing students to strategic marketing processes related to developing a team-managed fan website. The case was created in conjunction with three former members of the Cleveland Cavaliers who helped create www.cavfanatic.com, the official fan site of the team. Key areas addressed within the case study are brand development, brand communication, and brand extension. The case follows a new hire, Natalie, as she joins the new media team of www.cavfanatic.com. The sport marketers she works with review the development of the website and provide information on the strategic development process they went through. In the end, Natalie is charged with looking forward and developing further strategies to continue to engage the Cavaliers fans and to develop the CavFanatic brand.     

Managing modern universities

This is the second part of a paper based on one delivered at the AUA Annual Conference, Promoting Excellence in HE Management, at the University of Nottingham, 2–4 April 2007. It continues discussion of the application of employment legislation to university restructuring exercises, and in particular, the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations 2006, which appeared in the previous issue of perspectives. The application of these rules to transfers of departments and courses between universities is considered here.     

A Model Tutorial Program for University and School Collaboration

The Teaching/Learning Centre (T/LC) located in the Jacksonville State University College of Education is an award winning, on‐campus, after school tutoring‐program for a diverse population of K‐12 children. While the overall intent of the T/LC is to provide a practicum for teacher preparation, the T/LC has increasingly become a community resource for improving academic achievement among area K‐12 school students. The T/LC practicum allows the preservice teacher to interact with children by individualising a one‐on‐one tutorial within the university setting under university supervision. Preservice teachers gain additional professional practice through communication with parents, guardians, teachers, and professors. Preservice teachers gain confidence and self satisfaction while learning to interact with students from varying backgrounds in a caring and supportive manner.     

Towards a collegiate approach to curriculum management in primary and middle schools

Informed professionals in the education service have put forward a model of good management practice in primary and middle schools, with particular emphasis on the curriculum. Tensions within the model contribute to a gap which exists between the model and actual practice in many schools. A management development approach may help with implementing this model of collegiate management.     

Homophobia in medical students of the University of Hong Kong

Homosexuality is now accepted as a normal variant of human sexuality, but homophobia among healthcare professionals is well documented. Establishment of trustful doctor–patient relationships is impossible in the presence of homophobia. We were interested to examine the extent of homophobia among medical students, the future doctors. This article aims to study attitudes of medical students of the University of Hong Kong towards homosexuality and to identify significant factors affecting their attitudes. A cross‐sectional study was performed on students of the University of Hong Kong. Attitudes towards homosexuality were compared between medical and non‐medical students. More than 25% of the medical students agreed with the statement ‘homosexuality is a psychological disorder that requires therapy’. More than 15% would avoid any physical contact with homosexuals to minimise the chance of contracting diseases, especially AIDS. Comparison between the medical students and non‐medical students showed that the attitudes of the medical students were significantly more homophobic. Factors explaining the difference included the importance of religion in the formation of moral values, gender, experience of working closely with homosexual friends, sexual orientation, experience of the heterosexual sexual act, acquaintance of homosexual friends, and experience of homosexual love relationships. In conclusion, there appeared to be a certain level of homophobia among the medical students. This could possibly be explained by their lack of experience of working closely with homosexual friends. Relevant curriculum modification and development are urgently needed, to provide ongoing opportunities for students to realise their own values that could unconsciously affect their clinical judgements.