The influence of anxiety on visual attention in climbing

The object of the current study was to investigate anxiety-induced changes in movement and gaze behavior in novices on a climbing wall. Identical traverses were situated at high and low levels on a climbing wall to manipulate anxiety. In line with earlier studies, climbing times and movement times increased under anxiety. These changes were accompanied by similar changes in total and average fixation duration and the number of fixations, which were primarily aimed at the holds used for climbing. In combination with these findings, a decrease in search rate provided evidence for a decrease in processing efficiency as anxiety increased.     

Hyperlab: A universal provider system and an interactive test bench for distance learning

This project describes the development of a universal student friendly distance learning (DL) provider system via the Internet and in particular the development of a lab environment for engineering students in ICT. Application of most DL courses is still hampered by the need for high-speed links, unrealistic computer and software resources at the student site and the impossibility to run Windows or Unix applications over the Internet. The described solution solves practically all of these problems. Moreover, since courses, (simulation) programs, databases, etc. can be added or changed, the system is not only teacher friendly but also costeffective. The major part of the work concerns the design of an electronic lab environment at the university that can be remotely used via the Internet. The main aim is to provide the student with meta-cognitive knowledge as can be provided only by real lab exercises. In this case the student must work him/herself through a course on passive filters. After choosing the right topology for the particular filter-lab task, he/she must design the correct circuit diagram and verify it with a standard circuit simulation program. Next, with a matrix shown on screen, he/she interconnects the circuit components and measuring equipment. The results of the measurements performed at the lab in the university are sent back to the student (via the Internet). The lab report is automatically generated. Simultaneously, the set up and the different instruments can be visualized via a web camera. Thus, the design of the electronic lab environment is user, student and teacher friendly.     

Technical possibilities for optimising the ski-binding-boot functional unit to reduce knee injuries in recreational alpine skiing

This review study focuses on knee injuries in recreational alpine skiing. The objectives of this study were (1) to provide selected knowledge derived from current and past knee injury epidemiology; (2) to outline the most important knee injury mechanisms; and (3) to review and discuss how modifications of the skiing equipment might alleviate the risk of knee injuries. This review represents the essence of a comprehensive research report and considers the content of more than 230 scientific papers, further “grey literature”, patents, international standards and other publications. Knee injuries are the most frequent injuries in alpine skiing and their incidence rate remained high despite a decline of the incidence of other skiing injuries in recent years. Women have a higher knee injury risk, but age and tiredness appear not to be significant factors. Apart from the commonly described injury mechanisms “phantom foot” and “boot-induced anterior drawer” other more sophisticated injury categorisations are given. The ski radius, the ski length and the standing height on the ski may be relevant ski parameters. For the binding, the release mechanisms in different mechanical degrees of freedom, the impact tolerance and the maintenance frequency are discussed. In the ski boot, the height of the upper, the boot liner, the shaft stiffness, and the position on the ski may play a role. The biggest challenge, but probably also the biggest opportunity for a reduction of knee injury rates seems to be the development of a mechatronic binding. The current strategies to develop these types of bindings are explained and illustrated by one example. Some of the possible parameters which may be essential for the necessary control algorithms are described. Finally, considerations regarding the strategic and operational implication of the analysed technical measures are given.     

Differences in the Intensity and Duration of Adolescents' Sports and Exercise Across Physical and Social Environments

We used data from the American Time Use Survey (years 2003–06) to analyze whether the intensity and duration of high school students' (ages 15–18 years) sports and exercise bouts differed across physical and social environments. Boys' sports and exercise bouts were more likely to reach a vigorous intensity when taking place at school and with friends/acquaintances/other people; whereas girls' sports and exercise bouts were more likely to reach a vigorous intensity when outdoors and alone. For boys and girls, bout durations were greater at school and with friends/acquaintances/other people than in other environments. Overall, environmental influences on the intensity but not duration of sports and exercise bouts appear to differ between boys and girls.     

Effects of a motivational climate inntervention for coaches on young athletes' sport performance anxiety

The mastery approach to coaching is a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to promote a mastery-involving motivational climate, shown in previous research to be related to lower anxiety in athletes. We tested the effects of this intervention on motivational climate and on changes in male and female athletes'cognitive and somatic performance anxiety over the course of a basketball season. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that the athletes in the intervention condition perceived their coaches as being more mastery-involving on the Motivational Climate Scale for Youth Sports when compared to athletes in an untreated control condition. Relative to athletes who played for untrained coaches, those who played for the trained coaches exhibited decreases on all subscales of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 and on total anxiety score from preseason to late season. Control group athletes reported increases in anxiety over the season. The intervention had equally positive effects on boys and girls teams.     

Characterizing the mechanical parameters of forward and backward falls as experienced in snowboarding

Wrist injuries are frequently observed after falls in snowboarding. In this study, laboratory experiments mimicking forward and backward falls were analysed. In six different falling scenarios, participants self-initiated falls from a static initial position. Eighteen volunteers conducted a total of 741 trials. Measurements were taken for basic parameters describing the kinematics as well as the biomechanical loading during impact, such as impact force, impact acceleration, and velocity. The effective mass affecting the wrist in a fall also was determined. The elbow angle at impact showed a more extended arm in backward falls compared to forward falls, whereas the wrist angle at impact remained similar in forward and backward falls. The study results suggest a new performance standard for wrist guards, indicating the following parameters to characterize an impact: an effective mass acting on one wrist of 3-5 kg, an impact angle of 75 degrees of the forearm relative to the ground, and an impact velocity of 3 m/s.     

Direct memberships in foreign copyright collecting societies as an entrepreneurial opportunity for music publishers – needs,challenges, opportunities and solutions

Journal of Cultural Economics - In the competitive, increasingly international music business, publishers are developing new ways to increase effectiveness and efficiency of the monetization of the...     

Effects of Negative Political Advertising on Individuals' Cynicism and Self-Efficacy: The Impact of Ad Type and Message Exposures

Prior research has indicated that exposure to negative political advertising can foster among individuals feelings of alienation, distrust, and apathy toward government or the political process. However, investigation regarding the amount of exposure to such advertising and the form in which it is presented remains scant. This experimental study examined the impact of ad type (character based vs. issue based) and amount of advertising exposures on individuals' cynicism and perceived self-efficacy in relation to the government. Results indicated that issue-based attack ads aired during the 2004 presidential election led to greater cynicism and lower self-efficacy than did character-based attack ads. A significant interaction revealed that the difference on the self-efficacy measure was greatest at the highest exposure level, indicating that continual exposure to ads dealing with governmental policies may nurture the perception that the political process is overly complex, which subsequently can decrease individuals' beliefs that they can make a difference.     

Uruguay's utopian broadcasting: Political and artistic freedom

It is perhaps inevitable, but none the less disturbing to discover errors, in standard reference works. The source of the error may be well hidden, but it is the responsibility of each researcher to check “accepted” findings, whenever opportunity presents itself. This is as true with respect to bibliographic citations as to research data or analysis. This “research coup” by Frank Kahn is one of several comments on Lawrence Lichty's “Who's Who on Firsts: A Search for Challengers” published in the Winter, 1965–66 issue of the Journal. Many corrections or additions were published in the Spring, 1966, issue, and readers are urged to send in other “challenges” as soon as possible. Mr. Kahn, Lecturer in radio and television at Queens College, has contributed to the Journal of Broadcasting in the past.