The role of path length- and speed-related factors for the enhancement of section performance in alpine giant slalom

Knowing how to enhance alpine skiing performance is essential for effective coaching. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of path length- and speed-related factors for performance enhancement, while skiing on a homogeneously set/constantly inclined giant slalom course section (average gate distance: 27?m; offset: 8?m; slope inclination: 26°). During a video-based three-dimensional kinematic field-experiment, the data of six athletes who skied a two-gate section on four different types of skis were collected. The performance parameter analysed was section time. The performance predictors analysed were centre of mass (CoM), path length and the change in specific mechanical energy per entrance speed along the analysed section. Furthermore, since the current study examined alpine skiing performance within short sections, the skier’s entrance speed was also considered. Classified as a high-performance and a low-performance group based on section time, slow and fast trials significantly differed in CoM path length, the change in specific mechanical energy per entrance speed and entrance speed. The entrance speed of all trials analysed ranged between 15.25 and 17.66?m/s. In trials with both high and low entrance speed, the change in specific mechanical energy per entrance speed was found to be more relevant for the prediction of section time than CoM path length. However, further studies should investigate whether such a prioritization can be unrestrictedly generalized to other situations, such as entrance speeds, course sets, slope inclinations and competition disciplines different to those assessed in the current study.     

Prior knowledge in mathematics and study success in engineering: informational value of learner data collected from a web-based pre-course

The article describes the development and evaluation of a web-based pre-course in mathematics, delivered to four cohorts of engineering students at a German university. Based on demographic, personal, and learning-related data relationships between students’ preconditions, their learning gains in the pre-course, and study success in the degree programme were analysed. The results support the existing literature in that domain-related prior knowledge and secondary school achievement play a dominant role regarding study success in engineering. The analyses also showed that the influence of cognitive predictors could only be compensated for by a strong learner engagement. At-risk students with high pre-course learning gains showed significantly better first-year performance. The number of self-tests a student attempted was positively related to pre-course learning gains and even to first-year performance, suggesting that this variable is a good indicator of student engagement.     

Current status of cadaver sources in Turkey and a wake‐up call for Turkish anatomists

Persisting difficulties in body procurement in Turkey led to the acquisition of donated, unclaimed, autopsied, and imported bodies regulated under current legislature. Yet, no study had investigated the extent of the on‐going cadaver problem. This study was aimed to outline cadaver sources in anatomy departments and their effectiveness by means of an online survey. Additionally, official websites of each department were investigated regarding any information on body donation. Unclaimed cadavers (84.8%) were the major source for anatomy departments, followed by donated (50%) and imported cadavers (39.1%). Foundation‐based medical faculties were more likely to import cadavers (P = 0.008). There was a moderate increase (r_s = 0.567; P = 0.018) in donation registrations to our department after 2000. The departments in cities with significantly higher City‐Based Gross Domestic Product measures (US$9,900 vs. US$16,772, P = 0.041), frequencies for mid‐ or high‐school graduates (30.4% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.041), and frequencies for under‐ or post‐graduates (13.1% vs. 15.8%, P = 0.24) had managed to use donated cadavers. Anatomy departments’ major reasons for using unclaimed cadavers were education (45.9%), unclaimed cadavers being the only source (24.3%), and receiving inadequate donations (21.6%). Nine out of seventy‐four departments (12.2%) provided information regarding body donation on their websites. Body procurement remains as a serious problem in Turkey and it is apparent that current legislature does not provide a sufficient cadaver inflow. Similarly, anatomy departments’ effectiveness in public awareness of body donation and support in the National Body Donation Campaign seems questionable. Anat Sci Educ 11: 155–165. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

Stabilität der physischen Fitness im Kindesalter

Monitoring of physical fitness (PF) in childhood is important from a societal as well as individual perspective to ensure and support healthy child development. Hence, the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs together with the German Olympic Federation recommend the usage of motor tests, for instance in schools, to implement targeted interventions. Results of motor assessments are interpreted using reference categories to prevent overinterpretation of small but meaningless intra- and inter individual differences. Furthermore, temporal trends can influence the validity of these reference categories. The aims of the study are (1) to examine short- and medium-term changes in PF in middle childhood (2) to evaluate implications for reference values and the validity of the construct PF, (3) to provide valid reference values for eight- to nine-year-old children. In the school years 2011–2016, over 20,000 third-graders completed the German Motor Test (GMT) in the project “Berlin has Talent”. Possible temporal trends are examined using regressions and cross-tables. Implications of these changes on the construct PF are analyzed using Rasch measurement. Four out of seven tasks showed temporal changes. However, the validity and unidimensionality of the GMT are confirmed (p?>?0.90), if balancing backwards is excluded from the model. On the one hand, task-related changes of children’s motor performance within five years support the requirement of a comprehensive continuous monitoring to enable early interventions. On the other hand, they call for continuous evaluation of reference values of the GMT, which should rely on representative and sufficiently large samples.     

Einstellungen von Sportlehramtsstudierenden zur Sprachbildung im Sportunterricht

An assessment of attitudes toward language awareness in physical education classes offers the possibility to evaluate learning and teaching opportunities related to this topic offered at universities. However, valid research instruments for this undertaking are currently lacking. The present article reports on the development and validation of a questionnaire for assessing attitudes toward language awareness in sports classes (“Erfassung von Einstellungen zur Sprachbildung im Sportunterricht,” ESBiS). A validation study of the ESBiS included N?=?254 student physical education teachers, 37.8% female, mean age 22.16 years, standard deviation 2.74 years. Explorative factor analysis identified a five-factor structure with the ESBiS factors linguistic goal and performance transparency, promotion of writing, language-corrective feedback, use of scaffolding, and advancement of technical vocabulary. The analyses indicate good factorial validity and reliability of the individual scales. The ESBiS factors can be satisfactorily modelled using confirmatory factor analyses. The ESBiS instrument thus demonstrates good psychometric quality. Furthermore, in some instances, very low positive correlations of the ESBiS factors with the validation criterion of multicultural attitudes could be shown. Additionally, correlation analyses with individual characteristics of the student physical education teachers showed that the developed instrument has sensitivity and discriminatory ability.     

Injuries in formal and informal non-professional soccer – an overview of injury context,causes, and characteristics

The objective of this study is to analyse context, causes, and characteristics of injuries in non-professional soccer. Therefore, a retrospective telephone survey was carried out with persons who were injured while playing soccer and who reported this accident to the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva). Based on these data, an analysis of 708 soccer injuries was performed. The findings show that 30.1% of the injuries occurred during informal soccer play, and 75.4% of the injured persons were soccer club members. 53.0% of all injuries were caused by contact and 29.5% by foul play. Foul play was not associated with injury severity. With respect to injury severity, twisting/turning and being tackled by an opponent were identified as the most influental injury causes. Moreover, the risk of being severely injured was particularly high players of the 30+/40+ amateur leagues. In conclusion, the findings highlight that 30+/40+ league players are a major target group for the prevention of severe soccer injuries. Soccer clubs may constitute an appropriate multiplier for implementing prevention strategies such as fair play education, healthy play behaviours, and prevention programmes. Finally, a better understanding of injury situations leading to severe injuries is needed to improve injury prevention.     

Swimming and peak bone mineral density: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aims to determine the effects of regular swimming on bone mineral density (BMD) in young adults (18–30 years). A systematic search was performed in Pubmed, SPORTDiscus and the Cochrane Library from the earliest possible year to March 2016. Swimmers were compared to non-athletic controls (CG) and to high-impact athletes (HIGH). Effect sizes with the Hedges g in random effects models were developed. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analyses. Swimmers presented similar BMD values to CG in whole-body (g = ?0.20; P = 0.251), femoral neck (g = ?0.05; P = 0.818) and lumbar spine (g = 0.18; P = 0.492); and lower BMD in the whole-body (g = ?1.21; P < 0.001), femoral neck (g = ?1.51; P < 0.001) and lumbar spine (g = ?0.84; P = 0.017) than the HIGH. For the whole-body differences, the higher the latitude the smaller the differences between swimmers and HIGH (B = 0.10; P = 0.001). For the femoral neck differences, age also seemed to reduce the differences between groups (B = 0.19; P = 0.020). Young adult swimmers present similar BMD values than CG and lower values than HIGH.     

数据新闻佳作的新闻价值与报道理念探析

随着大数据技术的不断发展,数据新闻越来越多地应用于新闻传播领域。全球数据新闻奖既是数据新闻业界“元老级”的奖项,也是权威象征。分析数据新闻奖历届获奖作品的新闻价值和报道理念,把握全球数据新闻的发展趋势,以期为我国数据新闻的发展提供参考与借鉴。     

An example of the use of dynamic mathematics software to create problem-solving environments that serve multiple purposes

Problem-solving is regarded as a major component of mathematical performance, and well-designed problem-solving-based learning environments have the potential to assist students in developing a meaningful understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures. In this respect, given its various features, dynamic mathematics software has been regarded by mathematics educators as a promising tool for designing such environments. This study presents an example of the use of technology to create a dynamic learning environment through a discussion of the pedagogical value of a problem selected for an activity, followed by the implementation sequence of the problem-solving activity in the classroom. The students’ experiences during the implementation of the activity are also discussed; and finally, an additional version of the problem is recommended for use in the classroom.     

构建基于SQL Server2005的数据挖掘模型

介绍数据挖掘软件的发展和SQL Server 2005数据挖掘功能,提出构建基于SQL Server2005的数据挖掘模型,并给出数据挖掘解决方案的具体步骤.