Motivational climate, goal orientation, perceived sport ability, and enjoyment within Finnish junior ice hockey players

The aim of this study was to investigate the relations among situational motivational climate, dispositional approach and avoidance achievement goals, perceived sport ability, and enjoyment in Finnish male junior ice hockey players. The sample comprised 265 junior B-level male players with a mean age of 17.03 years (SD=0.63). Players filled questionnaires tapping their perceptions of coach motivational climate, achievement goals, perceived sport ability, and enjoyment. For the statistical analysis, players were divided into high and low perceived sport ability groups. Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed an indirect path from task-involving motivational climate via task-approach goal to enjoyment. Additionally, SEM demonstrated four other direct associations, which existed in both perceived ability groups: from ego-involving motivational climate to ego-approach and ego-avoidance goals; from ego-approach goal to ego-avoidance goal; and from task-avoidance goal to ego-avoidance goal. Additionally, in the high perceived sport ability group, there was an association from task-involving motivational climate to enjoyment. The results of this study reveal that motivational climate emphasizing effort, personal development and improvement, and achievement goal mastering tasks are significant elements of enjoyment in junior ice hockey

Field location and player roles as constraints on emergent 1-vs-1 interpersonal patterns of play in football

This study examined effects of player roles on interpersonal patterns of coordination that sustain decision-making in 1-vs-1 sub-phases of football in different field locations near the goal (left-, middle- and right zone). Participants were fifteen U-16 yrs players from a local competitive amateur team. To measure interpersonal patterns of coordination in the 1-vs-1 dyads we recorded: (i) the relative distance value between each attacker and defender to the centre of the goal, and (ii), the relative angle between the centre of the goal, each defender and attacker. Results revealed how variations in field locations near the goal (left-, middle- and right-zones) constrained the relative distance and relative angle values that emerged between them and the goal. It reveals that relative position of the goal is a key informational variable that sustained participants’ behaviours for dribbling and shooting. Higher values of relative distance and angle were observed in the middle zone, compared to other zones. Players’ roles also constitute a constraint on the interpersonal coordination for dribbling and shooting. Additionally, it seems that players’ foot preference constrains the dynamics of interpersonal patterns of coordination between participants, especially in left and right zones. The findings suggest that to increase participants’ opportunities for action, coaches should account with field positions, players’ roles and preference foot

Effects of textured compression socks on postural control in physically active elderly individuals

The aim of this investigation was to analyze the role of textured compression socks on somatosensory function in a sample of physically active elderly individuals when performing a static balancing task. Both textured insoles and athletic tape are deemed to be beneficial for enhancing proprioception because of the capacity for exploiting availability of “sensorimotor system noise”, which enhances movement control and individuals’ joint position perception. It was hypothesized that the compression feature in knee length socks would provide greater stimulation to lower leg mechanoreceptors, and help participants achieve better balance control. Participants (N=8) performed a 30-s Romberg static balance test protocol under three conditions (barefoot; wearing commercial socks; wearing textured compression socks), in a counterbalanced order, with four levels of performance difficulty: (1) standing on a stable surface with open eyes (SO); (2) a stable surface with closed eyes (SC); (3) a foam surface with open eyes (FO); and (4) a foam surface with closed eyes (FC). Two commonly investigated recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) measures (% Det and entropy) were extracted from the recurrence plot for multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). There were no significant interactions between the levels of performance difficulty and the sock treatments, p> 0.05 for both % Det and entropy in both Anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions. There was no significant main effect of sock treatments, P> 0.05). However, a main effect for performance difficulty on % Det and entropy was observed in both AP and ML directions. The RQA measures demonstrated that the sensory systems in elderly individuals are able to aid the adaptive re-organization of postural behaviour in response to changing task constraints (performance difficulty levels)

Kiusatun prosessi:tapaustutkimus kahdesta kiusaamisprosessista kiusatun näkökulmasta ja kiusaamisen vaikutuksista

Tiivistelmä. Pro gradu -tutkielmamme tavoitteena oli selvittää erilaisia koulukiusaamiseen vaikuttavia ja altistavia tekijöitä sekä koulukiusaamisen seurauksia ja uhrin käyttämiä puolustusmekanismeja. Tavoitteenamme oli myös tutkia koulukiusaamisprosessia ja sen kehittymistä. Kiusaamista on tutkittu paljon, mutta pidempien kiusaamisprosessien ja kiusaamisen vaikutusten tutkimusta on varsin vähän. Tutkimuksemme on kahden tapauksen tapaustutkimus, jossa tarkastellaan koulukiusaamisprosessia erityisesti kiusatun näkökulmasta. Tapauksina on kaksi henkilöhistoriaa, jotka rajoitimme ajallisesti kiusaamisen alkamisesta haastatteluhetkeen. Kummallakin henkilöllä koulukiusaaminen oli alkanut ala-asteella ja päättynyt vasta yläasteella. Tutkimuskysymykset muodostimme tutkimusasetelman pohjalta koskemaan kiusaamisprosessin etenemistä ja prosessiin vaikuttavia tekijöitä, kiusatun reaktioissa näkyviä puolustusmekanismeja ja sosiaalisia hallintakeinoja ja kiusaamisen vaikutuksia kiusaamisen uhriin. Molempia henkilöitä haastateltiin kaksi kertaa. Haastattelut olivat luonteeltaan teemahaastatteluita. Ensimmäiset haastattelut perustuivat Hamaruksen koulukiusaamisprosessin piirteiden etsimiseen ja prosessin kuvaukseen. Toiset haastattelut perustuivat ensimmäisistä haastatteluista poimittuihin tilanteisiin, joista pyrimme syventämään haastattelussa kuvaa kiusatun reaktioista ja tunteista tilanteessa. Lisäksi syvennyimme kiusaamisen jälkeiseen aikaan ja siihen, millaisia vaikutuksia henkilöt ovat kokeneet kiusaamisella olleen heidän elämäänsä. Aineisto litteroitiin ja luokiteltiin luokitteluohjelman avulla. Analyysin luokat muodostimme tutkimusasetelmasta johtamiemme tutkimuskysymysten pohjalta. Analyysi oli yhdistelmäanalyysi muun muassa sisällön analyysin ja aikasarja-analyysin viitekehyksiä soveltaen. Tulkinnan pohjana oli löytää ja avata aineistosta näkyviä ja piiloisia sisältöjä ja peilata niitä taustateoriaan. Tutkimuksen tuloksissa tuli esille, että tutkittavista kiusaamisprosesseista varsinkin toinen noudattelee melko tarkasti Päivi Hamaruksen väitöskirjassaan esittämää kaavaa. Toisessa tapauksessa prosessi edetessään saa kaavasta poikkeavia piirteitä. Kiusaamisen alkamiseen selkeästi yhteydessä olevia tekijöitä olivat mm. muutto uuteen kouluun, luokan huono ilmapiiri ja opettajan rooli luokassa. Kiusaamisen uhreilla esiintyi selkeästi useita erilaisia defenssimekanismeja joihin vaikuttivat monet eri asiat, kuten kotitausta, ikä ja kiusaamisen laatu. Koulukiusaamisen päättyminen ei lopettanut uhrien prosessia, sillä kummallakin haastatelluista oireiden kehittyminen jatkui vielä kiusaamisen päättymisen jälkeenkin. Tutkimuksessa haastateltiin kahta eri henkilöä, joten näytteen pienuudesta johtuen yleistyksiä on varottava. Toisaalta tapaustutkimukseen tutustuessaan tulee ymmärtää, ettei tutkimuksen tavoitteenakaan ole luoda uusia teoreettisia malleja. Kummankin haastatellun tarinassa tuli ilmi, että kiusaamisella on varsin vakavat seuraukset, mutta myös kiusaamisilmiön hahmottaminen auttaa uhria käsittelemään omaa vaikeaa menneisyyttä. Sen vuoksi olisi tärkeää, että kiusaamisen etenemisprosessin peruskaava olisi laajemminkin ihmisten tiedossa

Evaluation of early childhood education quality across Europe

The aim of the current study was to present the initial results of the evaluation of early childhood education (ECE) quality in six European countries. This study discusses various aspects of the ECE quality in different educational systems. Such comparisons can create a fertile ground for communication and collaboration among the educational communities of different European countries and promote open education. Implications and future recommendations are also discussed

Регіональні й глобальні наслідки незалежності Косово

У статті розглянуто регіональні й міжнародні аспекти проголошення незалежності Косово. Проаналізовано конфліктні аспекти косовської проблеми у регіональному й глобальному контекстах.В статье рассматриваются региональные и международные аспекты провозглашения независимости Косово. Проанализировано конфликтные аспекты косовской проблемы в региональном и глобальном контекстах.The article presents the regional and international aspects of Kosovo Independents. Special attention is to the conflict of Kosovo in the regional and global context

Revision Rates After Primary ACL Reconstruction Performed Between 1969 and 2018 : A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis

Background: Numerous studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), have been published on the optimal graft choice for primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Purpose: To review existing studies to investigate whether advances in orthopaedics have affected revision rates after primary ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The PubMed database was searched from inception to December 31, 2020, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Patient series, observational studies, clinical trials, and registry-based studies investigating primary ACL reconstruction were included, as were high-quality RCTs from an additional study. The minimum required follow-up time for inclusion was 1 year. The primary outcome measure was the pooled prevalence of revision ACL reconstruction. The effect of the year the surgery was performed on revision rates was evaluated with metaregression analysis. All graft types were analyzed simultaneously, and all analyses were repeated separately for each graft type. Results: Overall, 330 articles with 52,878 patients were included, with a median patient age of 28 years (range, 15-57 years). The primary ACL reconstructions were performed between 1969 and 2018. At a median of 2.3 years of follow-up, the overall revision rate was 3.14% (95% CI, 2.76% to 3.56%); it was 2.71% (95% CI, 2.25% to 3.27%) for hamstring autografts, 2.38% (95% CI, 1.82% to 3.11%) for bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autografts, and 5.24% (95% CI, 4.02% to 6.80%) for other graft types. For hamstring grafts, the revision rate increased over time (year of surgery), with a 0.0434 (95% CI, 0.0150 to 0.0718) increase effect in the logit-transformed scale for every additional year. There was a slight decrease in revision rates for BPTB (β = –0.0049; 95% CI, –0.0352 to 0.0254) and other graft types (β = –0.0306; 95% CI, –0.0608 to −0.0005) over time; however, confidence intervals for BPTB included the zero change. Conclusion: Based on this systematic review and meta-analysis, ACL reconstruction is a reliable procedure with overall low historical revision rates. BPTB autograft had the lowest revision rate and a slightly decreasing trend of failures during the past 45 years, although both BPTB and hamstring autografts are reliable graft choices.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Identifying technical, physiological, tactical and psychological characteristics that contribute to career progression in soccer

This study sought to examine which technical, physiological, tactical and psychological characteristics at age 15 years contribute to successful soccer performance at age 19 years. Participants were male soccer players (n = 114; mean age 15.4±0.3 years), divided into elite and sub-elite groups based on their performance level at age 19 years. Technical, physiological, tactical and psychological characteristics were recorded when players were 15-year olds. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that performance level at age 19 was clearly associated with technical skills of passing and centering as well as agility and motivation levels recorded at age 15 years. These results extend our understanding of career progression in youth soccer and highlight the multidimensional nature of talent development processes in soccer. Moreover, it seems crucial that coaching support should be devoted to the development of passing and centering skills, agility and motivation in the development of youth players

Status report of the JYFL-ECR ion sources

"Ion beam cocktails" are mixtures of ions with near-identical charge-to-mass ratios. In conjunction with the JYFL-ECRIS, the K130-cyclotron acts as a mass analyzer: the switch from one ion to another within the same cocktail is simple and fast. In the case of the first ion beam cocktail, the oxygen and argon gases were mixed into the gas feed line. At the same time the magnesium and iron ion beams were produced using the MIVOC method. Magnesocene and ferrocene compounds were both mixed into the MIVOC chamber. This capability is especially useful in the study of single event effects (SEE) in space electronics. All gaseous elements from H to Xe can be produced. The non-gaseous elements produced so far are C, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Ge. A major technical modification since the construction (in 1990) of the JYFL-ECRIS was made in January 98: a negatively biased disc replaces now the first plasma stage. After a couple of months experience with the modified source the change was found to be towards a correct direction. The source is now much easier to use and the good operating conditions are well repeated. A real advantage is the new magnetic field settings which are practically the same for all kind of beams, gaseous and solids. Due to the requirements of ion beams with higher charges and heavier elements than the present JYFL-ECRIS can produce, JYFL decided to begin a design and construction project of a new ECR ion source, called as ECRIS 2. The project aims to a source that is based mainly on the design of the 14 GHz AECR-U source at the LBNL. Some modifications made into the similar source under construction at the NSCL/MSU will be utilized here. The new source will be installed horizontally in the basement of the ECRIS laboratory. It requires a new beam-line from the source to the cyclotron injection line, since the old vertically located JYFL-ECRIS will be preserved in operation. The new source is planned to be operational during the year 2000

Diatoms and acid lakes. Proceedings of a workshop of the 8th International Diatom Symposium, Paris, September 1984

Diatom analysis of lake sedimentshasbecome one of the most important techniques used in the contemporary debate on lake acidification. In recent years the relationship between diatom assemblages and pH has been quantified allowing the pH history of individual lakes to be reconstructed. Much reliance is placed on these reconstructions yet we have little understanding of the causal mechanisms that underlie the impressive statistics. There has been little research on the ecology and physiology of diatom taxa in acid and acidifying waters and we have little information on the role of either planktonic or non-planktonic diatoms in acid lake ecosystems. This Workshop, hence, was not only devoted to the exchange of information on current research projects but also to a discussion of some of the ecological questions that require resolution to improve our understanding of the diatom:pH relationship