KINEMATICAL ANALYSES OF TWO STYLES IN BREAST STROKES SWIMMING

In order to determine the best wave style technique for the youth Jordanian breaststrokers and to accurately pin point the differences in the kinematics variables a 3D analysis was conducted. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate some kinematics variables of both styles: the Hip Wave Undulation (HWU) and the Hip Wave Undulation with Feet Breaking Surface (HWUBS), and to compare the variables: Stroke Length SL, Stroke Rate SR, Velocity V, Stroke Time ST, Hip Displacement HD and Feet Displacement FD. Subjects were assigned to swim at their maximum speed with both styles at different order so that the best trial according to their time was analyzed. Both males and females showed an intriguing feature of the CG body velocity curve per cycle and both had decreasing velocity in slow rate when they used (HWUBS). Thus, one may conclude that an exaggerated hip undulation was executed to allow for feet to break the surface of the water which affected their velocity reduction during the stroke cycle

ANALYSIS OF THE SPRINT START, SWIMMING START AND VOLLEYBALL PUSH OFF IN GENERATING IMPULSE-MOMENTUM

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between impulse and change of momentum in three types of ground take-off. Three athletes from the swimming, sprinting and volleyball national teams executed three trials from an AMTI force platform synchronized with video capturing system of starting take-off. APAS software was used for further analysis. Results indicate that the swimmers and the sprinter are less capable of getting equal impulse relationship to the change of momentum due to deviation of reaction forces into the desired motion

Biomechanics of the clean and jerk in weightlifting national Jordanian team

Seven elite national Jordanian weightlifters were videoed at 50 fields per second from the sagittal plane during the execution of the clean and jerk (C&J) on an AMTI force platform with 3 weights of submaximal lifts; low medium and high weights (35%, 65%, 85%) of their maximum. Linear and angular kinematics of the barbell with the ground reaction forces histories of the lower body were analysed using Kinova & APAS. A significant decrease was found in the maximum vertical velocity of the barbell during the second pull of the heaviest lift (p < 0.05). Maximum extension velocity of the hip joint significantly increased during the first pull of the heaviest lift (p < 0.05). Vertical velocity and maximum bar height decreased during the second pull, especially at 85%. Angle-angle diagrams of the knee and hip profile showed major differences among participants, especially at the 85% lift of their maximum

Structure of Burnout among Omani Male and Female Teachers: Invariance of Structure across Gender

Previous studies have supported the conceptualization that burnout consists of three aspects: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. When the proposed structure of burnout was tested in several studies, these three aspects were confirmed. However, several researchers found that depersonalization consists of two factors rather than one. The first factor is related to the job, while the second factor is related to students. The original factor structure (3-factor model) and the revised structure were tested by few Arab researchers. Recently, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) has been introduced to the Omani educational setting. This study aimed to test the two structures of MBI with a representative sample of Omani teachers (N=2446). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the 4-factor model was superior and more parsimonious (CFI = .919, RMSEA = .051) than the 3-factor model (CFI = .887, RMSEA = .059). Three of the four factors had a high reliability coefficient (emotional exhaustion, a = .87, personal accomplishment, a = .76, depersonalization-job, a = .79) while depersonalization of students had low reliability (a = .47). The latter seems to be culture specific

Does job value boost self-efficacy and protect against burnout among teachers in Oman?

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to examine if the perception of teaching value and a teacher's self-efficacy (SE) are related to burnout. Previous research has shown a strong relation between teachers SE and burnout. Rarely, however, job value has been included in any of the previous studies. Method. A stratified random sample (N =2446) of Omani teachers was drawn. Three measures: Job value, Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) and the teachers' sense of efficacy scale (TSES) were used. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the proposed factor structure of the measures as well as the proposed structural model. Results. The invariance tests proved that the structure of constructs and the relations between constructs were invariant across gender. Job value significantly related to both SE and burnout dimensions. Consistent with predictions, SE of student engagement related to all three burnout dimensions; whereas the other two dimensions of SE didn’t relate to burnout dimensions in the expected direction. Job value and SE explained significant variances in each of the burnout dimensions. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of this study highlight the importance of job value and SE of engaging students as cognitive self-regulatory mechanisms used in the stressful situations like teaching and to help control stress and burnout. Ministry of education, media and socity at large should be aware of the social status of teaching and teachers and provide more respect to the teachers and their job. Such respect would improve the morale of teachers and help them become more efficacious and less exhausted

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Optimization of triple jump performance: A simple model

A simple mathematical model was presented to simulate the motion of the center of gravity of a human body throughout the three flight phases of the triple jump. Equations of the three phases were used in one chain equation in which the independent input variable was the initial touchdown velocity to the hop phase. The final equation of motion was manipulated as a function of the three support times. The path of the center of gravity during the support and flight of an elite triple jumper was superimposed against the path generated from the model. Finally, the optimization routine was formulated. The results of the optimization of a particular subject indicated that increasing the hop phase distance ratio by 1.8% and decreasing the step phase distance ratio by 4.4% would allow the jumper to increase the jump phase distance ratio by 2.6%. This could be done by using the same amount of energy as in the original jump. By using this distribution of the three phases, the subject would gain about 0.56m compared to the original total distance. The results of optimization were found to be similar to actual changes made by athletes in performing over time in different competitions. Estimates of possible error indicate a high sensitivity to the force generated by the subject at takeoff from each phase and the vertical position of the center of gravity at takeoff of each phase. Further study and validation of the results are recommended

A KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF AN ELITE FEMALE TRIPLE JUMPER

The long jump and the triple jump are the two horizontal jumping events in track and field. While a considerable amount of attention has been given to the analysis of the long jump only a few biomechanical research studies han been given to the analysis of the triple jump (Fukashiro et al., 1931, 1933,; Hay, 1975; Hay, Miller, 1J35; Knoedel, 1985; Ramey, 1982; Smith, Haven, 1980). None of these studies, however, has included the analysis of changes in a jumper's performance over time and none has included women triple jumpers. Hay and Miller (1985, p. 135) state that the paucity of research on the triple jump "is somewhat surprising, given that with three times as many takeoffs and landings the event makes much greater technical demand on those who compete in it than does the long jump.

Structure of Burnout among Omani Male and Female Teachers: Invariance of Structure across Gender

Previous studies have supported the conceptualization that burnout consists of three aspects: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. When the proposed structure of burnout was tested in several studies, these three aspects were confirmed. However, several researchers found that depersonalization consists of two factors rather than one. The first factor is related to the job, while the second factor is related to students. The original factor structure (3-factor model) and the revised structure were tested by few Arab researchers. Recently, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) has been introduced to the Omani educational setting. This study aimed to test the two structures of MBI with a representative sample of Omani teachers (N=2446). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the 4-factor model was superior and more parsimonious (CFI = .919, RMSEA = .051) than the 3-factor model (CFI = .887, RMSEA = .059). Three of the four factors had a high reliability coefficient (emotional exhaustion, a = .87, personal accomplishment, a = .76, depersonalization-job, a = .79) while depersonalization of students had low reliability (a = .47). The latter seems to be culture specific