Confirmatory factor analysis of the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS) among adolescent athletes

The aim of the present study was to examine the factorial validity of the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS; Thomas et al., 1999) among adolescent athletes using confirmatory factor analysis. The TOPS was designed to assess eight psychological strategies used in competition (i.e. activation, automaticity, emotional control, goal-setting, imagery, negative thinking, relaxation and self-talk,) and eight used in practice (the same strategies except negative thinking is replaced by attentional control). National-level athletes (n = 584) completed the 64-item TOPS during training camps. Fit indices provided partial support for the overall measurement model for the competition items (robust comparative fit index = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.88, root mean square error of approximation = 0.05) but minimal support for the training items (robust comparative fit index = 0.86, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.81, root mean square error of approximation = 0.06). For the competition items, the automaticity, goal-setting, relaxation and self-talk scales showed good fit, whereas the activation, emotional control, imagery and negative thinking scales did not. For the practice items, the attentional control, emotional control, goal-setting, imagery and self-talk scales showed good fit, whereas the activation, automaticity and relaxation scales did not. Overall, it appears that the factorial validity of the TOPS for use with adolescents is questionable at present and further development is required

Quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication

© 2017, The Author(s). Background: Intermittent claudication (IC) is a common condition that causes pain in the lower limbs when walking and has been shown to severely impact the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The QoL is therefore often regarded as an important measure in clinical trials investigating intermittent claudication. To date, no consensus exits on the type of life questionnaire to be used. This review aims to examine the QoL questionnaires used in trials investigating peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Material and methods: A systematic review of randomised clinical trials including a primary analysis of QoL via questionnaire was performed. Trials involving patients with diagnosed PAD were included (either clinically or by questionnaire). Any trial which had QoL as the primary outcome data was included with no limit being placed on the type of questionnaire used. Results: The search yielded a total of 1845 articles of which 31 were deemed appropriate for inclusion in the review. In total, 14 different QoL questionnaires were used across 31 studies. Of the questionnaires 24.06% were missing at least one domain when reported in the results of the study. Mean standard deviation varied widely based on the domain reported, particularly within the SF36. Discussion: Despite previous recommendations for Europewide standardisation of quality of life assessment, to date no such tool exists. This review demonstrated that a number of different questionnaires remain in use, that their completion is often inadequate and that further evidence-based guidelines on QoL assessment are required to guide future research

What do young athletes implicitly understand about psychological skills?

One reason sport psychologists teach psychological skills is to enhance performance in sport; but the value of psychological skills for young athletes is questionable because of the qualitative and quantitative differences between children and adults in their understanding of abstract concepts such as mental skills. To teach these skills effectively to young athletes, sport psychologists need to appreciate what young athletes implicitly understand about such skills because maturational (e.g., cognitive, social) and environmental (e.g., coaches) factors can influence the progressive development of children and youth. In the present qualitative study, we explored young athletes’ (aged 10–15 years) understanding of four basic psychological skills: goal setting, mental imagery, self-talk, and relaxation. Young athletes (n = 118: 75 males and 43 females) completed an open-ended questionnaire to report their understanding of these four basic psychological skills. Compared with the older youth athletes, the younger youth athletes were less able to explain the meaning of each psychological skill. Goal setting and mental imagery were better understood than self-talk and relaxation. Based on these findings, sport psychologists should consider adapting interventions and psychoeducational programs to match young athletes’ age and developmental level

EOS MLS observations of dehydration in the 2004-2005 polar winters

We prove various estimates for the first eigenvalue of the magnetic Dirichlet Laplacian on a bounded domain in two dimensions. When the magnetic field is constant, we give lower and upper bounds in terms of geometric quantities of the domain. We furthermore prove a lower bound for the first magnetic Neumann eigenvalue in the case of constant field.Comment: 19 page

Small vessel vasculitis and dry gangrene secondary to combined CTLA-4 and PD-1 blockade in malignant mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumour with an overall poor prognosis. In October 2020, first line treatment with the PD-1 antagonist nivolumab and the CTLA-4 antagonist ipilimumab for unresectable disease was FDA approved-the first approved treatment regime since 2004. Interim analyses from the phase 3 CHECKMATE-743 study shows improvements in overall survival. Skin-related toxicities are the most commonly reported any-grade treatment-related adverse event from combined nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a case of a 35-year-old white male who developed digital ischaemia secondary to small vessel vasculitis after receiving PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade therapy for MPM. His progressive ischaemia became gangrenous, and he required multi-speciality input and treatment with prednisolone, prostacyclin, mycophenolate mofetil and hydroxychloroquine. CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the importance of early detection, intervention, and a multispecialty approach to managing such complications in order to minimise the associated morbidity and mortality

Toward an understanding of optimal development environments within elite English soccer academies

This study examined the factors perceived by successful coaches to underpin optimal development environments within elite English soccer academies. A semistructured interview guide was developed to interview 10 expert coaches about the environments they create for players at a key stage in their development. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively content analyzed. The results identified a wide range of factors resulting in a conceptual framework that explained how these factors interact to underpin an optimal environment. Subcomponents of this framework included organizational core (e.g., advocate a player-driven ideology), adaptability (e.g., embrace novel ideas & approaches), player welfare (e.g., understand players' world-view), key stakeholder relationships (e.g., build trust with parents), involvement (e.g., encourage players' ideas/feedback), and achievement oriented (e.g., establish an explicit pathway to senior level). Collectively, the findings highlight the importance of establishing strong, dynamic, organizational cultures at elite youth soccer academies. Ways that academies might be helped to establish such environments are discussed

Fertilizer inspection and analysis, spring, 1949

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Fertilizer inspection and analysis, fall 1948

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The integration of single case designs in coaching contexts: A commentary for applied sport psychologists

From personal experiences of working with coaches toward the modification of behaviors and psychological constructs that include motivation, enjoyment, and self-confidence, this commentary highlights how the integration of single case designs can enhance the services of sport psychology practitioners. Interventions within golf, soccer, and tennis are outlined, targeting factors pertinent to the coaches, their players or team members, and the development of relationships with parents. Single case designs are posited as enabling the implementation of personal, evidence-based interventions that yield perceptible differences in cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses within athletic populations; factors that enhance and underpin the practitioner-coach relationship

Post-translocational folding of secretory proteins in Gram-positive bacteria

AbstractThe transport of proteins from their site of synthesis in the cytoplasm to their functional location is an essential characteristic of all living cells. In Gram-positive bacteria the majority of proteins that are translocated across the cytoplasmic membrane are delivered to the membrane–cell wall interface in an essentially unfolded form. They must then be folded into their native configuration in an environment that is dominated by a high density of immobilised negative charge—in essence an ion exchange resin. It is essential to the viability of the cell that these proteins do not block the translocation machinery in the membrane, form illegitimate interactions with the cell wall or, through intermolecular interactions, form insoluble aggregates. Native Gram-positive proteins therefore have intrinsic folding characteristics that facilitate their rapid folding, and this is assisted by a variety of folding factors, including enzymes, peptides and metal ions. Despite these intrinsic and extrinsic factors, secretory proteins do misfold, particularly if the cell is subjected to certain types of stress. Consequently, Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis encode membrane- and cell wall-associated proteases that act as a quality control machine, clearing misfolded or otherwise aberrant proteins from the translocase and the cell wall