Effects of sport-specific training conditions on performance in high school field hockey players.

Many sports (e.g. field hockey, lacrosse, ice hockey) require the use of a mouthguard (MG) and the constraint of carrying a stick during play. Previous research has shown that these two conditions individually can cause decrements to athletic performance; however no research has been conducted into effect of the combination of these two conditions on both aerobic and anaerobic performance parameters. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of both chronic (during all conditioning) and acute MG and stick (MG-STK) use on aerobic fitness and anaerobic capacity over the course of a 12-week training and competition period. Additionally, this study aimed to determine whether chronic mouthguard use changes perceptions related to comfort and use of mouthguards. METHODS: 38 apparently healthy female field hockey (FH) players (15+2 yrs) from a local high school team completed the study. Participants were placed in to one of two groups: experimental (EXP; completing all conditioning with MG-STK) or control (CTL; completing all conditioning without MG-STK) by stratified random sampling matched for team level (i.e. Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity) and initial aerobic testing performance. Aerobic fitness was measured using a standard multi-stage fitness test (the beep test), and anaerobic capacity was measured using six repeated 40m sprints. FH-specific training as prescribed by coaching staff was performed throughout the study, with testing performed at baseline (0 weeks), mid-season (6 weeks) and post-season (12 weeks). Participants performed two sets of testing at each time point, first without mouthguard and stick (WOMG-STK) and then with mouthguard and stick (MG-STK). Tests were performed \u3e48hrs apart and results were analyzed using a 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: No difference was found in any anthropometric measurements, either between or within groups throughout the season. No main effect was found in aerobic capacity between groups; however, MG-STK testing produced a reduction in aerobic fitness at every time point (WOMG-STK: 37.41+6.65 mL·kg-1·min-1­ vs. MG-STK: 33.16+4.32 mL·kg-1·min-1; p2maxincreased from baseline to mid-testing and decreased from mid- to post-testing, resulting in no significant change from pre- to post-season testing (PRE: 33.37+4.29 mL·kg-1·min-1; MID: 37.52+6.81 mL·kg-1·min-1; POST: 34.94+6.65 mL·kg-1·min-1). No difference was found between groups or test conditions in 10m sprint, but there was a significant difference between pre- and post-testing (PRE: 2.38+0.16s; POST: 2.27+0.25s; p CONCLUSION: Chronic use of a stick and mouthguard does not negatively affect aerobic or anaerobic capacity; however acute use does create performance decrements, regardless of training group

Longitudinal examination of neurocognitive function and community functioning in patients with recent onset and chronic schizophrenia

IntroductionThe importance of quantifying the impact of illness on functional abilities is well recognised. Previous research has indicated that the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia may have considerable functional significance (Green, 1996. 2000). However. evidence linking these two domains in schizophrenia research has largely come from cross-sectional or prospective short-term investigations. Thus, the predictive impact of these deficits on daily living is still unclear. The current study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between cognition and different aspects of community function. It also explored the linearity of the relationship between these domains, focusing on cognitive severity as a mediating factor, as well as task complexity. A better understanding of the degree and nature of functional limitations in schizophrenia may help focus on areas for remediation in order to maximise independence of functioning.MethodsFifty-four patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were· recruited from community psychiatric clinics serving the Hull and East Yorkshire, and South Humber Health Authorities. The patient group was initially divided into two categories, 'recent onset' and 'chronic', with the majority of these participants being treated as outpatients (57%). A small cognitive comparative group of twenty non-psychiatric, matched controls was also recruited. Symptoms, cognition and social function were comprehensively assessed at baseline, nine-months and eighteen-months. The Independent Living Skills Survey (ll.SS) and Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS) were utilised to quantify levels of community functioning, whilst a battery of manual and computerised neurocognitive tests were administered in order to establish patterns of cognitive deficit Constellations of clinical and affective symptoms were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Research Survey (BPRS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HADRS).ResultsFew differences were demonstrated between the two patient groups on predictor and outcome variables, thus the patient groups were pooled for subsequent analyses. Stepwise regression analyses determined that neurocognitive deficits, and in particular deficits of executive function, were important predictors of some aspects of community functioning in patients with schizophrenia, but not community functioning per se. Clinical and affective symptom variables were also found to significantly predict functional outcomes in the study, including overall social behaviour. In most models the variance explained by symptom variables was greater than that explained by cognitive variables. A non-linear relationship between cognitive functioning and social functioning was also suggested. Level of cognitive performance was found to discriminate social performance, whereby severe cognitive disturbance demonstrated poorer outcomes than either moderate or normal performance groups. However, few differences were found between 'normal performance' and 'moderate deficit' groups on social function scores. The study also implied that neurocognitive function did not differentially affect performance on basic and complex instrumental tasks.ConclusionsThese findings validate the hypothesis that neurocognitive deficits and clinical symptoms are important 'rate-limiting' factors, but cannot support the notion that neurocognitive impairments are functionally more important than the clinical symptoms of the disorder. A combined psychopharmacological and psychosocial approach that takes account of an individual's neurocognitive deficits would therefore appear to offer a reasonable treatment stratagem. The study also suggests that further investigation in larger studies with increased analytical strategies for capturing the non-linear reciprocal relationships between cognition and social function are needed. Finally, a substantial unexplained variance in social functioning exists, which indicates the need for investigations to evaluate other candidate risk factors in relation to both the clinical andcognitive symptoms of the disorder

Longitudinal examination of neurocognitive function and community functioning in patients with recent onset and chronic schizophrenia

IntroductionThe importance of quantifying the impact of illness on functional abilities is well recognised. Previous research has indicated that the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia may have considerable functional significance (Green, 1996. 2000). However. evidence linking these two domains in schizophrenia research has largely come from cross-sectional or prospective short-term investigations. Thus, the predictive impact of these deficits on daily living is still unclear. The current study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between cognition and different aspects of community function. It also explored the linearity of the relationship between these domains, focusing on cognitive severity as a mediating factor, as well as task complexity. A better understanding of the degree and nature of functional limitations in schizophrenia may help focus on areas for remediation in order to maximise independence of functioning.MethodsFifty-four patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were· recruited from community psychiatric clinics serving the Hull and East Yorkshire, and South Humber Health Authorities. The patient group was initially divided into two categories, 'recent onset' and 'chronic', with the majority of these participants being treated as outpatients (57%). A small cognitive comparative group of twenty non-psychiatric, matched controls was also recruited. Symptoms, cognition and social function were comprehensively assessed at baseline, nine-months and eighteen-months. The Independent Living Skills Survey (ll.SS) and Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS) were utilised to quantify levels of community functioning, whilst a battery of manual and computerised neurocognitive tests were administered in order to establish patterns of cognitive deficit Constellations of clinical and affective symptoms were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Research Survey (BPRS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HADRS).ResultsFew differences were demonstrated between the two patient groups on predictor and outcome variables, thus the patient groups were pooled for subsequent analyses. Stepwise regression analyses determined that neurocognitive deficits, and in particular deficits of executive function, were important predictors of some aspects of community functioning in patients with schizophrenia, but not community functioning per se. Clinical and affective symptom variables were also found to significantly predict functional outcomes in the study, including overall social behaviour. In most models the variance explained by symptom variables was greater than that explained by cognitive variables. A non-linear relationship between cognitive functioning and social functioning was also suggested. Level of cognitive performance was found to discriminate social performance, whereby severe cognitive disturbance demonstrated poorer outcomes than either moderate or normal performance groups. However, few differences were found between 'normal performance' and 'moderate deficit' groups on social function scores. The study also implied that neurocognitive function did not differentially affect performance on basic and complex instrumental tasks.ConclusionsThese findings validate the hypothesis that neurocognitive deficits and clinical symptoms are important 'rate-limiting' factors, but cannot support the notion that neurocognitive impairments are functionally more important than the clinical symptoms of the disorder. A combined psychopharmacological and psychosocial approach that takes account of an individual's neurocognitive deficits would therefore appear to offer a reasonable treatment stratagem. The study also suggests that further investigation in larger studies with increased analytical strategies for capturing the non-linear reciprocal relationships between cognition and social function are needed. Finally, a substantial unexplained variance in social functioning exists, which indicates the need for investigations to evaluate other candidate risk factors in relation to both the clinical andcognitive symptoms of the disorder

The Coaches’ Eye: Exploring coach decision-making during talent identification

For decades, researchers and practitioners interested in talent identification have discussed the coaches’ eye: the elusive ability that allows some coaches to ‘see’ qualities in an athlete that point to their talent or future potential. While there is significant anecdotal evidence of coaches who possess this ability, there is little empirical research supporting the validity or reliability of the coaches’ eye. Guided by ecological dynamics, this thesis employs mixed methodologies to explore the decision-making that underpins how high-level coaches identify talent in Olympic combat sports. These four studies captured the processes of thirty- four coaches during the talent identification process, exploring and identifying the factors that impact on a coach’s ability to perform this integral task. A systematic review and meta-synthesis revealed that ‘instinct’ is a primary contributor to coach decision-making during talent identification (TID), allowing coaches to ‘know it when they see it’. Semi-structured interviews with international coaches explored this ‘instinct’ during TID and revealed that coaches require experience, time and knowledge of context in order to identify talent. An instrumental case study corroborated these results, and also found that there is a significant conceptual difference between talent identification and talent selection, in the eyes of this coach. Both studies indicated that coaches likely select athletes based on their capabilities as a coach, not purely on athlete ability or potential. The final study found that nine national-level coaches did not agree on the rankings of talented youth judo athletes after four days. This finding indicates that the coaches’ eye is subjective and confirms the novel findings of the prior studies; namely that coaches require time to get to know athletes, their opinions of the athletes’ talent changed over time, and coaches vary in who they ‘see’ as talented. Finally, two new models are presented: the Coach-Informed Talent Identification Process and a novel model of the Coaches’ Eye in Talent Identification. The experiential coach knowledge gathered in this thesis informed the creation of these models. This thesis indicates that the coaches’ eye is the lens through which coaches view athletes, using their expertise and experience to interpret the athlete’s raw potential, and the time spent with the athlete and the context of their identification to determine whom they will select into their team. It appears that coaches perceive talent with reference to what they can develop in an athlete; thus, coaches must be involved in the identification and selection of talented athletes. These results indicate that National Sporting Organisations should ensure that coaches are provided with the necessary time, education and guidance to ensure that athlete outcomes are optimised. This thesis provides an understanding of how the coaches’ eye works during TID and a new understanding of this term. These findings have implications for the ongoing practice and research of talent identification in combat sports, and this work contain recommendations for both coaches and national sporting organisations to improve the confidence, accuracy and reliability of the coaches’ eye when forecasting talent

Methane Dynamics in St. Louis Bay, Mississippi

A method of dissolved methane analysis was developed utilizing cavity ring-down spectroscopy and headspace equilibration. Samples of 70 mL were collected in 140 mL plastic syringes and equilibrated with a methane free headspace. Reproducibility was high (i.e. 4% typical RSD), and samples were successfully measured in the low nanomolar to high micromolar range. During method development, multiple research cruises were undertaken in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Stations included the Orca Basin, the Deepwater Horizon site, and the surrounding area. The Deepwater Horizon site showed no continuing leakage from October 2010 to June 2013. Samples collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Orca Basin were in agreement with previous published work. Using the new methodology, the methane dynamics of St. Louis Bay, MS was researched through a mass balance approach. The mass balance equations allowed simpler fluxes of the estuary to be measured, while complex fluxes were calculated. The total methane inventory of St. Louis Bay was found to vary between 900-7000 moles. The dominant sink was found to be air-sea flux, which varied between 4000-100,000 mol/day. River flux was found to be insignificant, ranging between 70-400 mol/day. The rate of air-sea flux prevented the river flux from affecting the interior of the estuary. Sediment flux remained as the only source of methane to the interior. Radon measurements were collected to estimate the magnitude of the sediment flux; however, concentrations were too low to be precisely measured

Social Anxiety and Response to Touch : a preliminary exploration of broader autism phenotype in females

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm)Subclinical autism-related traits have been shown in the general population to be independently related to both social anxiety and sensory sensitivity. The present study examined the relationship between autistic traits as measured by the Autism Quotient (AQ) and its relationship to social anxiety and tactile sensation abnormalities. One hundred and seventy-three female university students completed the AQ, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and the touch subscale of the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile. Results revealed that the relationship between social anxiety and tactile sensation abnormalities to be fully mediated by the level of autistic traits. Of the two subscales forming the LSAS (anxiety and avoidance), the avoidance score related more strongly to tactile sensation abnormalities and was again found to be moderated by the AQPeer reviewedFinal Published versio