Intra-Individual Variability For Basketball Free Throws

Several studies have attempted to identify differences between subjects in the performance of basketball free throws. All of these studies have been twodimensional analyses of free throw kinematics and have analyzed only interindividual variability. An analysis of the directional errors for 1042 free throws completed by NCAA Division I varsity basketball players has revealed that 32.8% of missed free throws were off-line to the left, and 19.5% were off to the right. This is indicative of movement outside the sagittal plane. To date, a three-dimensional analysis of free throw shooting has not been reported in the literature, however. Also, since performers do not execute athletic movements in an identical manner each time, intra-individual variability is a component of athletic performance that should be considered. The purpose of this study was to complete a three-dimensional kinematic analysis of the intraindividual variability in basketball free throws. The subjects were members of an NCAA Division I varsity basketball team who attempted a minimum of 30 free throws in games over the course of a season. Five players met this criterion. A total of 648 free throws (FT) were videotaped during games (317 FT) and regular team practices (331 FT) throughout the season. The result of each free throw was classified into one of nine categories--swish, short make, long make, left make, right make, short miss, long miss, left miss, or right miss. A representative sample of free throws was selected that approximated each player's overall performance both in accuracy and error tendency. The number of free throws varied from 10 to 14 for each player. The free throw percentage for the 60 free throws analyzed was 73.3%, compared to an accuracy rate of 73.6% for the 648 free throws recorded. The subjects' free throw percentages ranged from 56.5% to 83.8%. Kinematic variables included range of motion at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle joints, trunk rotation, arm horizontal abduction/adduction, foot elevation angle, release height, velocity, and angle, and vertical and horizontal center of gravity position. Mean values for kinematic parameters were used to compare inter-individual variability. Intra-individual variability was defined as ± 1 standard deviation from the mean for each subject. Results indicate that intraindividual variability was larger than inter-individual variability for wrist and elbow ROM, and release velocity. Inter-individual variability was greater than intra-individual variability for hip, knee, and ankle ROM. The intra- and inter-individual differences were comparable for other variables. The findings suggest that multiple samples may be required to ensure representative data

A reexamination of Factors Contributing to Apparel Majors\u27 Stress and Abilities to Effectively Manage their Time

This study is a replication of the time spent and stress study reported in 2006. The purpose of this study was to provide an update to the original results, noting differences and similarities among students today vs. five years ago

Using the Multidimensional Students\u27 Life Satisfaction Scale to Examine the Psychological Wellness of Today\u27s Undergraduate Students

Life satisfaction, or the global evaluation of ones\u27 own life, is an essential component of subjective well-being. The increasing formation of wellness programs in higher education settings is evidence of institutional efforts to enhance the quality of life, psychological well-being, and holistic development of students

Single-cell lineage tracing in the mammary gland reveals stochastic clonal dispersion of stem/progenitor cell progeny.

The mammary gland undergoes cycles of growth and regeneration throughout reproductive life, a process that requires mammary stem cells (MaSCs). Whilst recent genetic fate-mapping studies using lineage-specific promoters have provided valuable insights into the mammary epithelial hierarchy, the true differentiation potential of adult MaSCs remains unclear. To address this, herein we utilize a stochastic genetic-labelling strategy to indelibly mark a single cell and its progeny in situ, combined with tissue clearing and 3D imaging. Using this approach, clones arising from a single parent cell could be visualized in their entirety. We reveal that clonal progeny contribute exclusively to either luminal or basal lineages and are distributed sporadically to branching ducts or alveoli. Quantitative analyses suggest that pools of unipotent stem/progenitor cells contribute to adult mammary gland development. Our results highlight the utility of tracing a single cell and reveal that progeny of a single proliferative MaSC/progenitor are dispersed throughout the epithelium.This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council programme grant no. MR/J001023/1 (B.L-L. and C.J.W). F.M.D. was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council CJ Martin Biomedical Fellowship (GNT1071074). O.B.H. was funded by a Wellcome Trust PhD studentship (105377/Z/14/Z)

Adaptive changes in morphological indicators of children's athletics footprints

Purpose - to obtain statistical data on the size characteristics of the feet of children 12-16 years of age and on their basis the establishment of the features of morphological indicators that characterize the transverse arch of the feet (the values of the lateral and medial angles of the right and left foot). Establishment of regularities in changing the parameters of the longitudinal and transverse arch of the foot of the young athletes, depending on the sport specialization and the nature of the cyclic treadmill. Development of rational internal form of special footwear for children of athletes of the age group of 12-16 years, which ensures the effective performance of athlete's exercises

Basketball game-related statistics that discriminate between teams season-long success

The aim of the present study was to identify the game-related statistics that discriminate between season-long successful and unsuccessful basketball teams participating in the Spanish Basketball League (LEB1). The sample included all 145 average records per season from the 870 games played between the 2000-2001 and the 2005-2006 regular seasons. The following game-related statistics were gathered from the official box scores of the Spanish Basketball Federation: 2- and 3-point field-goal attempts (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, blocks (both made and received), and fouls (both committed and received). To control for season variability, all results were normalized to minutes played each season and then converted to z-scores. The results allowed discrimination between best and worst teams' performances through the following game-related statistics: assists (SC=0.47), steals (SC=0.34), and blocks (SC=0.30). The function obtained correctly classified 82.4% of the cases. In conclusion, season-long performance may be supported by players' and teams' passing skills and defensive preparation

Alterations in Content and Localization of Defensins in Rat Ileum and Jejunum Following Ischemia-Reperfusion. Specific Peptides, in Specific Places, for Specific Jobs?

Objective: To determine alterations in quantities and distributions of natural antimicrobials following ischemia-reperfusion injury. We hypothesized that these compounds would be upregulated in areas of small intestine where changes in permeability and cellular disruption were likely and where protective mechanisms would be initiated. Methods: Rats with ischemia-reperfusion underwent superior mesenteric artery clamping and reperfusion. Shams were subjected to laparotomy but no clamping. Ileum and jejunum were harvested and sectioned, and subjected to fluorescence deconvolution microscopy for determinations of content and localization of rat beta defensins, 1, 2, 3; rat neutrophil protein-1; and cathelicidin LL-37. Modeling was performed to determine cellular location of antimicrobials. Results: Ischemia-reperfusion increased neutrophil defensin alpha (RNP-1) in jejunum; rat beta defensin 1 was increased 2-fold in ileal mucosa and slightly reduced in jejunal mucosa; rat beta defensin 2 was reduced by ischemia-reperfusion in ileum, but slightly increased in jejunum; rat beta defensin 3 was concentrated in the muscularis externa and myenteric plexus of the jejunum; ischemia-reperfusion did not alter cathelicidin LL-37 content in the small intestine, although a greater concentration was seen in jejunum compared with ileum. Conclusion: Ischemia-reperfusion injury caused changes in antimicrobial content in defined areas, and these different regulations might reflect the specific roles of jejunum versus ileum