The long-term athlete development model: physiological evidence and application

Within the UK, the "Long Term Athlete Development" (LTAD) model has been proposed by a variety of national governing bodies to offer a first step to considering the approach to talent development. The model, which is primarily a physiological perspective, presents an advancement of understanding of developing athletic potential alongside biological growth. It focuses on training to optimize performance longitudinally, and considers sensitive developmental periods known as "windows of opportunity". However, it appears that there are a number of problems with this theoretical model that are not necessarily transparent to coaches. Principally, the model is only one-dimensional, there is a lack of empirical evidence upon which the model is based, and interpretations of the model are restricted because the data on which it is based rely on questionable assumptions and erroneous methodologies. Fundamentally, this is a generic model rather than an individualized plan for athletes. It is crucial that the LTAD model is seen as a "work in progress" and the challenge, particularly for paediatric exercise scientists, is to question, test, and revise the model. It is unlikely that this can be accomplished using classical experimental research methodology but this should not deter practitioners from acquiring valid and reliable evidence.     

Hearing “Quack” and Remembering A Duck: Evidence for Fluency Attribution in Young Children

Previous research has suggested that fluency does not influence memory decisions until ages 7–8. In two experiments (n = 96 and n = 64, respectively), children, aged 4, 6, and 8 years (Experiments 1 and 2), and adults (Experiment 2) studied a list of pictures. Participants completed a recognition test during which each study item was preceded by a sound providing either a highly predictive or mildly predictive context in order to make some test items more conceptually fluent. Overall, highly predictive items were recognized at a higher rate than mildly predictive items demonstrating an earlier development of the fluency heuristic than previously observed. The study provides insight into how children develop metacognitive expectations and when they start to use them to guide their memory responses.     

"交通规划"课程思政教学改革探索与实践

随着建设交通强国的政策性、引领性文件相继出台,培育高素质、有担当、对党忠诚、对人民负责的交通科技人才,弘扬劳模精神和工匠精神,是交通领域人才培养的时代要求。以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导,充分利用交通发展历程中的人、事、物,交通工程专业本身的职业特点和使命担当,交通发展进程中的国家战略和行业需求及发展态势,通过价值引领与知识传授相结合,培育和引领交通工程专业学生的理想信念、政治信仰、价值取向、社会责任,全方位提高学生的能力和素质,是交通工程专业人才培养的新要求。交通规划课程具备国家层面、精神层面、个人素养、科学观和方法论等各个层面的德育元素和价值引领,进行交通规划课程思政教学改革和实践探索,有利于培养具有新时代特征的交通工程专业德育人才。     

适用于海洋物联网教学的水体测量装置设计

实施海洋强国战略的关键是深海研究能力的提升,这离不开深海探测装置的研究.因此,设计一种深度可调的深海探测装置,能够自动调节角度传感器深度,测量指定深度的水质参数.通过对深海探测装置原理构造和应用的学习,可以调动学生学习热情,引导学生积极参与深海探测装置的设计与制作,培养学生实践能力和团队协作能力.     

Describing the plastic deformation of aluminium softball bats

Hollow aluminium bats were introduced over 30 years ago to provide improved durability over wooden bats. Since their introduction, however, interest in hollow bats has focused almost exclusively around their hitting performance. The aim of this study was to take advantage of the progress that has been made in predicting bat performance using finite elements and apply it to describe bat durability. Accordingly, the plastic deformation from a ball impact of a single-wall aluminum bat was numerically modelled. The bat deformation from the finite-element analysis was then compared with experiment using a high-speed bat test machine. The ball was modelled as an isotropic, homogeneous, viscoelastic sphere. The viscoelastic parameters of the ball model were found from instrumented, high-speed, rigid-wall ball impacts. The rigid-wall ball impacts were modelled numerically and showed good agreement with the experimentally obtained response. The strain response of the combined bat-ball model was verified with a strain-gauged bat at intermediate ball impact speeds in the elastic range. The strain response of the bat-ball model exhibited positive correlation with the experimental measurements. High-speed bat-ball impacts were performed experimentally and simulated numerically at increasing impact speeds which induced correspondingly increased dent sizes in the bat. The plastic deformation from the numerical model found good agreement with experiment provided the aluminium work hardening and strain rate effects were appropriately described. The inclusion of strain rate effects was shown to have a significant effect on the bat deformations produced in the finite-element simulations. They also helped explain the existence of high bat stresses found in many performance models.     

'It was Better than Sitting in a Group and Talking'. An Evaluation of a Film-Making Project with Young People in Trouble or 'At Risk' in School

This paper will explore some issues raised by an evaluation of a Scottish video making project which works with young people in trouble or 'at risk' in school. In the paper we reflect on the problems of evaluating work with troubled and troublesome pupils and on the difficulties of both collecting and presenting appropriate evidence. It offers a contribution to continuing debates over educational exclusion and inclusion and to the research literature on strategies for supporting young people in school. The paper also raises key questions about the planning and evaluating of support services for young people by schools.     

浅谈材料科学与工程专业化学纤维方向“卓越工程师”课程体系改革

实施卓越工程师教育培养计划是我国高等工程教育的重大改革措施。本文介绍了我校在借鉴国内外高等工程教育成功经验的基础上,根据我国化学纤维行业发展对专业设置的要求,结合我校材料科学与工程专业的现状,以工程技术为主线,着力提高学生的工程意识和工程素质,培养学生的工程实践能力及创新精神。通过整合课程模块,改革实践教学体系,多层次训练学生的工程实践与创新能力,以期为地方高校化纤人才培养提供有益的指导。     

Field and laboratory measurements of softball player swing speed and bat performance

The swing speed of the bat is one of the most important factors affecting the hit-ball speed. Most field studies tend to focus on measuring ball speed, which is easier to measure and quantify than bat speed. For this reason, relatively little data exist describing bat motion in field conditions. The following describes a relatively large swing speed field study involving bats of the same model with nearly constant weight and varying inertia. The study was conducted using right-handed batters on a regulation outdoor field with a live pitcher. Swing speed was measured by tracking markers on the bat with two high-speed video cameras so that the bat markers could be traced in three-dimensional space. The ball motion was tracked using the same high-speed video cameras and a three-dimensional Doppler radar system. Bat swing speed was observed to be proportional to the batter skill level and the normalised swing speed increased with decreasing bat inertia. The bat centre of rotation during impact was close to the knob of the bat. The bats were tested under controlled laboratory conditions using a standardised performance test. The field and laboratory results showed good agreement including the hit-ball speed and the subtle effect of bat inertia on the maximum performance location. The vibrational response of the bats was considered using modal analysis. The maximum performance location was correlated with the node of the first vibrational mode.     

Understanding students’ experiences of professionalism learning: a ‘threshold’ approach

Professionalism is a core element of curricula in many disciplines but can be difficult to teach and learn. This study used audio-diary methodology to identify professionalism threshold concepts in a small group learning setting in undergraduate medicine and to understand factors that might facilitate students to ‘get’ such concepts. Fifteen students and seven tutors kept audio-diaries over two terms. Data were analysed qualitatively for content. The key themes were then cross referenced to threshold concept criteria (e.g. where language indicated that learning was troublesome, integrative or transformative). Seven potential threshold concepts were identified which centred on students’ developing professional identities including working with uncertainty, considering the bigger picture, not needing to know everything and professional culture. Reflection on workplace experiences within a small group helped students ‘get’ these concepts. The study concludes that threshold concepts and audio-diaries are useful tools for understanding lived experiences of professionalism learning.