On referee bias, crowd size, and home advantage in the English soccer Premiership

In a recent paper in this journal, Boyko and colleagues (2007) identified differences in attendance and referee bias as factors influencing home advantage at soccer matches in the English Premiership. A replication of their study using more recent data found no evidence to sustain either of their claims.     

Correlations between serum and salivary hormonal concentrations in response to resistance exercise

The aim of present study was to examine the relationships between serum and salivary values of free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol before and after a session of resistance exercise. Twenty-eight healthy men (mean age 40 years, s = 4) participated in the present study. Serum and salivary samples were collected at rest and after a multiple-sets resistance exercise protocol, of approximately 25 minutes duration. Concentrations of free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol were measured using radioimmunoassay kits. No significant correlation was observed between serum free testosterone and salivary testosterone (r = 0.22 to 0.26, P > 0.05). Serum cortisol was significantly correlated with salivary cortisol before (r = 0.52, P = 0.005) and after (r = 0.62, P = 0.001) the exercise protocol. Serum and salivary concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone were significantly correlated before (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and after (r = 0.7, P < 0.001) exercise. The results of the present study suggest that even under exercise conditions, the salivary values of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone can reflect the behaviour of these hormones in blood. However, further studies are necessary to verify if salivary testosterone reflects the behaviour of serum free testosterone during resistance exercise.     

Self-efficacy and outcome expectancy in beginning weight training class: their relations to students' behavioral intention and actual behavior

This study was an initial attempt to investigate the relationships among self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, behavioral intention, and actual behavior over time in a beginning weight training class. A total of 109 participants completed questionnaires assessing their self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, and intentions for future weight training. Their attendance and workout logs were calculated as a measure of actual behavior. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive relationships among all the variables during both program periods. Multiple regression analyses indicated that outcome expectancy initially played a more important role than self-efficacy in predicting behavioral intention and actual behavior. However, self-efficacy appeared more influential at midprogram. Findings of this study can enhance our understanding of the determining factors for individuals' motivated behaviors in college physical activity classes.     

Planning changes to health library services on the basis of impact assessment

Background: Various methods of impact assessment for health library services exist, including a toolkit developed for the UK. The Knowledge, Resource and Information service (KRIS) for health promotion, health service commissioning and public health (Bristol area, UK) commissioned an independent team at Aberystwyth University to provide an impact assessment and evaluation of their services and to provide evidence for future planning. Objective: The review aimed to provide an action plan for KRIS through assessing the impact of the current service, extent of satisfaction with existing services and views on desirable improvements. Methods: Existing impact toolkit guidance was used, with an adapted impact questionnaire, which was distributed by the KRIS staff to 244 users (response rate 62.3%) in early 2009. The independent team analysed the questionnaire data and presented the findings. Results: Users valued the service (93% considered that relevant information was obtained). The most frequent impacts on work were advice to patients, clients or carers, and advice to colleagues. Literature searching and current awareness services saved staff time. Many users were seeking health promotion materials. Conclusion: The adapted questionnaire worked well in demonstrating the service impacts achieved by KRIS, as well as indicating desirable improvements in service delivery.     

Let's stick together: collaborative purchasing of electronic journals in the National Health Service

AIM: To describe the process and the lessons learned from the collaborative purchasing of electronic journals by National Health Service (NHS) libraries in the East Midlands, UK. RESULTS: The background to a successful joint purchasing initiative is described, including the methodology for selecting titles and the formula for dividing the payment. Factors that have a bearing on successful collaboration are discussed, including use of a Framework Agreement, licensing conditions and measuring impact. CONCLUSION: NHS librarians working together can leverage collective benefits for users through collaborative purchasing.     

大规模数据挖掘中的数据流管理

在企业环境中,管理数据流或者实时数据更新是任何数据挖掘操作的一个主要挑战。无论是数据还是元数据．都要确保数据流的稳定、正确、可验。在这种环境下,实时数据更新很复杂,且数据量大而难懂。管理频繁变化的数据和元数据对企业是巨大的挑战。本文阐述了在管理企业数据的任务中的技术问题,并提出了一种解决方法。这种解决方法可以结合多个领域里的知识,如工程技术和统计学,来理解和标准化企业挖掘的准备工作,以使信息采集和质量管理自动化。     

Medicine and literature: a section in a medical university library

Objectives: In 2007, the Alberto Malliani Medical Library of the Università degli Studi in Milan decided to order some novels for its students. The library purchased 24 titles written by famous authors and planned to add others in the future. The proposal for this action was made by a professor, with whom the library had previously co‐operated in organising meetings for students. This article summarises the results of this experiment over 4 years, from its conception, to determine whether any positive outcome has resulted, including how library users welcomed this addition to the library and evaluation of its economic sustainability. Results: Data from July 2007 to December 2010 are presented in terms of the initial purchases, costs, and volume of lending for this section of the library; in addition, readers’ preferences are examined. Conclusions: A university medical library can act as a stimulus to its students’ new or renewed interest in literature, assuming that the novels, biographies, and short stories can contribute positively to the training of medical students. Therefore, setting up a special section can be useful, even though the costs of this section must be limited. A questionnaire could be the method of gathering information about users’ assessment.     

完善长跑的许多细节问题

本文着重讨论耐力性训练中一些被忽略的方面。这些方面并不见得过分重要,但它们是一切世界级长跑运动员应当具备的素质。这些问题是跑的经济性、防止受伤和饮食,它们都对比赛成绩有影响。古老的谚语说过,“许多细节组成完美,而完美却不是细节。”本文着重讨论耐力性训练中一些被忽略的方面。这些方面并不见得过分重要,但它们是一切世界级长跑运动员应当具备的素质。这些问题是跑的经济性、防止受伤和饮食,它们都对比赛成绩有影响。古老的谚语说过,     

如何对付运动损伤引起的疼痛

了解损伤引起的心理因素和尽可能帮助运动员对付由疼痛带来的不舒服感觉是十分必要的。探讨影响疼痛或和忍耐力的手段可以分为物质的、行为的和认识的三种。假如读者对大多数物质手段已经具有足够的知识和经验,只是缺乏有关行为和认知手段的详细材料,因而,在这里只简单地介绍一些物