Assessing the reliability and validity of agility testing in team sports: a systematic review

The aims of this systematic review were to: 1) examine the reliability of the reactive agility tests and, 2) analyse the discriminatory validity of the agility tests. A literature search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We explored PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Cochrane Plus databases looking for articles about agility in team sports. After filtering for article relevance, only 42 studies met the inclusion criteria; 37 of which assessed the reliability of agility tests and 22 assessing their validity. Reliability showed a high ICC in almost all studies (range 0.79-0.99) with the exception of two studies. In addition, other studies also assessed the reliability of decision time (ICC=0.95), movement time (ICC=0.92) and decision accuracy (ICC=0.74-0.93), all of which exhibited acceptable reliability. Furthermore, these data show high discriminatory validity, with higher performance players being faster than lower performance level players (mean = 6.4%, range = 2.1-25.3%), with a faster decision time (mean = 23.2%, range = 10.2-48.0%) with the exception of one study, and better decision accuracy (mean = 9.3%, range = 2.5-21.0%). Thus, it can be concluded that reactive agility tests show good reliability and discriminatory validity. However, most agility tests occur in simple contexts whereby only two possible responses are possible. Therefore, future research should consider creating more specific and complex environments which challenge the cognitive process of high-level athletes

Effects of 8-weeks of isoinertial vs. cable-resistance training on motor skills performance and interlimb asymmetries

Two training interventions conducted on youth handball athletes

Relationship between inter-limb asymmetries and speed and change of direction speed in youth handball players

The aims of the present study were to quantify inter-limb asymmetry from jumping, change of direction speed (CODS) and iso-inertial tests and to establish the association between those asymmetry scores and performance during speed and CODS tests in youth handball athletes. Twenty-six youth handball players (age: 16.2 0.9 years) volunteered to participate in this study and performed single leg countermovement jumps (SLCMJ), broad jumps (SLBJ), lateral jumps (SLLJ), CODS tests at 180º (CODS180) and 90º (CODS90), change of direction actions with iso-inertial overload (crossover step (CRO) and lateral shuffle step (LSS)) and 20 m sprint test. Excellent ICC values were found for all tests (ICC = 0.96-1.00) with the exception of the dominant limb during the CODS90 test (ICC = 0.69). Inter-limb asymmetry scores ranged from 3.66-12.67%. Iso-inertial asymmetry values were higher than those found during jumping tasks (9.8-12.7% vs. 3.66-8.76%). Spearman's r correlations showed significant relationships between CRO asymmetry and CODS90 performance on both limbs (r = 0.48-0.51; p < 0.05) and CODS180 (r = 0.41-0.51; p < 0.05) and sprint test (r = 0.46; p < 0.05). These results show the test-specific nature of asymmetries in youth handball players, with iso-inertial device and CODS deficit presenting the greatest magnitude of asymmetries. Furthermore, inter-limb differences during iso-inertial device (CRO) were associated with reduced CODS and sprint performance. These results suggest that the use of iso-inertial devices for the detection of inter-limb asymmetry may be more effective than total time during traditional CODS tests and that larger imbalances are associated with reduced athletic performance in youth handball players

ОЦІНКА ЯКОСТІ ПОВЕРХНЕВИХ ВОД РІЧОК КОШОВА ТА ВЕРЕВЧИНА У ЗОНІ УРБОГЕННОГО ВПЛИВУ МІСТА ХЕРСОН

Irrational use of water resources has led to anthropogenic transformation of riverbeds, lower quality indicators, violation of the ecological balance of aquatic ecosystems. An urgent task today is to restore the ecological condition of the tributaries of the Dnieper, which are an indicator of its quality. The purpose of the investigation was to assess the ecological condition of the rivers Koshova and Verevchyna in the zone of urban impact of the city of Kherson.The general assessment of the level of pollution of the hydroecosystems was carried out according to the method of calculating the pollution coefficient and the method of comparing the hydrochemical parameters with the fishery standards of the maximum permissible concentrations. According to the analysis of the quality conditionof surface waters of the Verevchyna River, it was established that the mineralization at the place of wastewater mineralization was 1.4 MPC, pH – 1.02 MPC, PO4 – 3 MPC, NO2 – 16 MPC. The background content of phosphate phosphate was observed in the mouth of the Verevchyna River.The quality of surface water the Koshova River met the standards for the concentration of pollutants in terms of nitrate nitrogen, total iron, dissolved oxygen and mineralization. The concentration of chemical oxygen demand and phosphates was 4 MPC.According to the assessment of the ecological condition of surface waters, it was established that the Verevchyna River belongs to the very dirty V class of quality in terms of the level of pollution with the value of the pollution coefficient of 25.6. According to the  classification scale of  ecological condision of surface waters, the Koshova River belong to the category moderately pollution  III class of quality. To improve the ecological condition of Koshova and Verevchyna rivers and reduce anthropogenic pressure on natural watercourses, restoration of natural drainage, cleaning of river banks, organization of timely garbage removal along of watercourse banks, reconstruction and construction of stormwater treatment plants and sewage treatment are proposed.Нераціональне використання водних ресурсів призвело до антропогенної трансформації русел річок, зниження якісних показників, порушення екологічної рівноваги водних екосистем. Актуальним завданням на сьогодні є відновлення екологічного стану приток р. Дніпро, які являються індикатором його якості. Мета дослідження полягала у здійсненні оцінки екологічного стану річок Кошова та Веревчина у зоні урбогенного впливу міста Херсон.Загальна оцінка рівня забруднення досліджуваних гідроекосистем здійснювалася за методикою розрахунку коефіцієнта забруднення та методу порівняння гідрохімічних показників з рибогосподарськими нормами ГДК. Згідно аналізу якісного стану поверхневих вод р. Веревчиної встановлено, що мінералізація у місці скиду стічних вод становила 1,4 ГДК, рН – 1,02 ГДК, РO4 – 3 ГДК, NO2 – 16 ГДК. Фоновий вміст фосфору фосфатного спостерігався у гирловій частині р. Веревчина. Якість поверхневих вод річки Кошова відповідала нормативам концентрації забруднюючих речовин за показниками нітратного азоту, загального заліза, розчиненого кисню та мінералізації. Концентрація ХСК та фосфатів становила 4 ГДК.Згідно проведеної оцінки екологічного стану поверхневих вод встановлено, що р. Веревчина за рівнем забруднення відносилася до дуже брудної V класу якості із величиною коефіцієнта забруднення 25,6. Поверхневі води річки Кошова згідно шкали класифікації якості оцінені як помірно забруднені III класу.Для покращення екологічного стану р. Кошова, р. Веревчина та зменшення антропогенного навантаження на природні водотоки запропоновано відновлення природного дренажу, розчищення берегів річок, здійснення організації своєчасного вивезення сміття вздовж берегів водотоків, реконструкцію та будівництво очисних споруд для зливових вод та удосконалення методів очистки каналізаційних вод

The Nili Patea caldera; evolving magma, explosive eruptions and hydrothermal deposits on Mars.

A geological history connecting: Caldera formation, with an ignimbrite or pluton base. Post-caldera dacite flows, resurgent dome, and mafic ring fault volcanism

Improvement of lipid profile by probiotic/protective cultures: study in a non-carcinogenic small intestinal cell model.

Plasma lipid levels are important risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Previous findings have shown that probiotic bacteria exert positive effects on hypercholesterolemia by lowering serum cholesterol and improving lipid profile that, in turn, leads to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Most of these studies were carried out with tumoral cell lines that have a metabolism quite different from that of normal cells and may thus respond differently to various stimuli. Here, we demonstrate the beneficial effects of some probiotics on cholesterol levels and pathways in normal small intestinal foetal epithelial tissue cells. The results show that Lactobacillus plantarum strain PCS 26 efficiently removes cholesterol from media, exhibits bile salt hydrolase activity, and up-regulates several genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. This study suggests that Lactobacillus plantarum PCS 26 might act as a liver X receptor agonist and help to improve lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic patients or even dislipidemias in complex diseases such as the metabolic syndrome

Evolving magmas, explosive eruptions and hydrothermal deposits at Nili Patea Caldera, Syrtis Major, Mars

Nili Patera is a 45 km diameter caldera at the centre of the Syrtis Major Planum volcanic province. Nili Patera is unique amongst martian volcanic terrains in that it is now below the surrounding planum and hosts a diverse range of volcanic landforms and mineralogies. Our work addresses the stratigraphic and structural context of the caldera, based on these important, and well-known, initial observations: • Evidence of effusive and explosive volcanism. • A compositional diversity from olivine-rich basalts to dacite and feldspathic units. • Outcrops with spectral features indicative of hydrothermal silica in sinter mounds. • Asymmetric collapse with a maximum subsidence of 1800 m; dropping the caldera floor below the surrounding volcanic shield. • A 300 m high resurgent dome in the western caldera floor. We present a geological map (figure 1) and stratigraphic history of Nili Patera (figure 2) in which these geological findings are put into a nine-part geological history (figure 3). Additionaly, we consider the implications of the caldera’s evolution for the evolution of Syrtis Major Planum and Highland Patera style volcanoes in general

Images and images: Current roles of therapeutic radiographers.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic radiography is a small profession and has adapted in response to advanced techniques. An increase in on-line adaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) will require role extension for therapeutic radiographers (TRs). This study will investigate the current role description for TRs and the activities they currently undertake with regards to MRIgRT. METHOD: A training needs analysis was used to ask TRs about their current roles and responsibilities and essential skills required for MRIgRT. For the purposes of this paper, the authors present the results from the demographics of the individual, their current job title with roles and responsibilities, and experience with decision making and image assessment. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: 261 responses were received (n = 261). Only 28% of job titles listed contained the protected title of 'therapeutic radiographer'. Advanced clinical practice roles were expressed by participants indicating that if a service need is presented, emerging roles will be created. Variation existed across the standardised roles of TRs and this discrepancy could present challenges when training for MRIgRT. TRs are pivotal in image verification and recognition on a standard linac, and skills developed there can be transferred to MRIgRT. Decision making is crucial for adaptive techniques and there are many skills within their current scope of practice that are indispensable for the MRIgRT. CONCLUSION: It has been demonstrated that TRs have a range of roles that cover vast areas of the oncology pathway and so it is important that TRs are recognised so the pivotal role they play is understood by all. TRs have extensive soft-tissue IGRT knowledge and experience, aiding the evolution of decision-making skills and application of off-protocol judgments, the basis of MRIgRT. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Role development and changes in education for therapeutic radiographers