Congruence between Preferred and Perceived Coach Leadership behavior and Athlete Satisfaction: The Paradigm in Synchronized Swimming

Coach Leadership can be perceived as a behavioral process that under favorable conditions increases athlete performance and satisfaction According to the multidimensional model of leadership a basic prerequisite for the emergence of this effect is the congruence between preferred and perceived coach leadership behavior from the athletes vantage point This hypothesis was tested on a comprehensive sample of 165 Greek synchronized swimming athletes Athlete satisfaction was measured using the Athletes Satisfaction Scale while preferred and perceived leadership behavior was assessed with the Leadership Scale for Sports The present findings provide support for the hypothesis which states that the congruence between preferred and perceived coach leadership behavior leads to athletes satisfaction with leadership and partly with personal outcome At least three different constructs of leadership behavior training and instruction social support and positive feedback provide supplementary information for the formulation of the concept of satisfaction with leadershi

Mismatch task conditions and error related ERPs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The N200 component of event related potentials (ERPs) is considered an index of monitoring error related responses. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of mismatch conditions on the subjects' responses in an auditory identification task and their relation to the N200 of stimulus-locked ERPs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An auditory identification task required to correctly map a horizontal slider onto an active frequency range by selecting a slider position that matched the stimulus tone in each trial. Fourteen healthy volunteers participated in the study and ERPs were recorded by 32 leads.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results showed that the subjects' erroneous responses were equally distributed within trials, but were dependent on mismatch conditions, generated by large differences between the frequencies of the tones of consecutive trials. Erroneous trials showed a significantly greater negativity within the time window of 164-191 ms after stimulus, located mainly at the Cz and Fz electrodes. The LORETA solution showed that maximum activations, as well as maximum differences, were localized mainly at the frontal lobe.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that the fronto-central N200 component, conceived an index of "reorientation of attention", represents a correlate of an error signal, being produced when representation of the actual response and the required response are compared. Furthermore the magnitude of the amplitude of the N200 rests on the relation between the present and the previous stimulus.</p

The effect of obesity and dietary habits on oxidative stress in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Objective: Increased oxidative stress has been described in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether high oxidative stress is further influenced by obesity and dietary habits in euthyroid women with HT. Methods: Two hundred eighteen consecutive euthyroid women with HT were studied and separated in two groups; 102 with thyroxine replacement and 114 without. For the evaluation of oxidative stress, total lipid peroxide levels in serum (TOS) were measured and recoded as ‘high TOS’ vs ‘medium/low TOS’. The type of food and consumption frequency were recorded. Two binary variables were considered; normal vs low fruit consumption and daily vs sporadic vegetable consumption. Results: ‘High TOS’ was more frequent in women under thyroxine replacement (31.4% vs 14.7%, OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4–5.2). The prevalence of ‘high TOS’ was higher among overweight/obese women compared to women with normal BMI (30.4% vs 12.5%, OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5–6.4). Low fruit consumption was associated with increased ‘high TOS’ prevalence (30.6% vs 12.9%, OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4–6.2). Sporadic vegetable consumption was associated with increased ‘high TOS’ prevalence compared to daily consumption (29.9% vs 13.5%, OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3–5.7). The examined risk factors were independent and additive in their effect on TOS. At least three risk factors had to be concomitantly present for the likelihood of ‘high TOS’ to be significantly elevated. Conclusions: Oxidative stress is increased in women with HT under thyroxine replacement. Nevertheless, normal BMI, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, all contribute in maintaining oxidative stress at low levels

The diagnostic value of ultrasonography-derived edema of the temporal artery wall in giant cell arteritis: a second meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ultrasonography of temporal arteries is not commonly used in the approach of patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA) in clinical practice. A meta-analysis of primary studies available through April 2004 concluded that ultrasonography could indeed be helpful in diagnosing GCA. We specifically re-examined the diagnostic value of the ultrasonography-derived halo sign, a dark hypoechoic circumferential thickening around the artery lumen, indicating vasculitic wall edema, in GCA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Original, prospective studies in patients with suspected GCA that examined ultrasonography findings of temporal arteries using the ACR 1990 classification criteria for GCA as reference standard, published through 2009, were identified. Only eight studies involving 575 patients, 204 of whom received the final diagnosis of GCA, fulfilled technical quality criteria for ultrasound. Weighted sensitivity and specificity estimates of the halo sign were assessed, their possible heterogeneity was investigated and pooled diagnostic odds ratio was determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Unilateral halo sign achieved an overall sensitivity of 68% (95% CI, 0.61-0.74) and specificity of 91% (95% CI, 0.88-0.94) for GCA. The values of inconsistency coefficient (I²) of both sensitivity and specificity of the halo sign, showed significant heterogeneity concerning the results between studies. Pooled diagnostic odds ratio, expressing how much greater the odds of having GCA are for patients with halo sign than for those without, was 34 (95% CI, 8.21-138.23). Diagnostic odds ratio was further increased to 65 (95% CI, 17.86-236.82) when bilateral halo signs were present (sensitivity/specificity of 43% and 100%, respectively). In both cases, it was found that DOR was constant across studies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Temporal artery edema demonstrated as halo sign should be always looked for in ultrasonography when GCA is suspected. Providing that currently accepted technical quality criteria are fulfilled, halo sign's sensitivity and specificity are comparable to those of autoantibodies used as diagnostic tests in rheumatology. Validation of revised GCA classification criteria which will include the halo sign may be warranted.</p

UTICAJ VEŠBI NA SUVOM NA PERFORMANSE SPORTISTKINJA U UMETNIČKOM PLIVANJU

It is a common practice among female athletes of artistic swimming to execute a dry-land drill of their routine just before its final execution in the water. The potential advantages of this established procedure have never been confirmed on an experimental basis. This study aimed at providing statistical evidence vindicating the dry-land drill. Forty seven Greek athletes of artistic swimming (seven of whom belong to the Greek National team) were given a routine containing standard figures, positions and movements. This routine was performed twice, with and without prior dry-land drill, executed in a random order with a lapse of one week between the two performances. The same three international judges were recruited to rate the performances in the standard three panels of execution, difficulty and artistic impression. The ratings of the performance including a dry-land drill were significantly better (paired t-test, p<0.001) than those without it. This improvement was consistent in all categories and levels of athletes. The enhancement in the performance brought about by the execution of a dry-land drill was more pronounced in younger athletes. The improvement in athletes’ performance when they execute a dry-land drill may play an important role in the ranking of the athletes in national and international events. Dry-land drill should be recommended as a standard operating procedure in artistic swimmingUobičajena je praksa među takmičarkama u umetničkom plivanju da izvode vežbu na suvom u svojoj rutini neposredno pre konačnog izvođenja u vodi. Potencijalne prednosti ovog utvrđenog postupka nikada nisu potvrđene na eksperimentalnoj osnovi. Ova studija je imala za cilj da pruži statističke dokaze koji potvrđuju značaj vežbi na suvom terenu. Četrdeset sedam grčkih sportista umetničkog plivanja (od kojih sedam nastupa za grčku reprezentaciju) dobilo je rutinu koja sadrži standardne figure, položaje i pokrete. Ova rutina je izvedena dva puta, sa i bez prethodne vežbe na suvom, izvedena nasumičnim redosledom sa pauzom od jedne nedelje između dva izvođenja. Tri međunarodne sudije su angažovane da ocenjuju performanse u standardna tri panela izvođenja, težine i umetničkog utiska. Ocene performansi uključujući vežbe na suvom bile su značajno bolje (upareni t-test, p<0,001) od onih bez njih. Ovo poboljšanje je bilo dosledno u svim kategorijama i nivoima sportista. Poboljšanje performansi koje je donelo izvođenje vežbe na suvom bilo je izraženije kod mlađih sportista. Poboljšanje performansi sportista kada izvode vežbu na suvom može igrati važnu ulogu u rangiranju sportista na nacionalnim i međunarodnim takmičenjima. Vežbe na suvom treba preporučiti kao standardni operativni postupak u umetničkom plivanju

Evidence for Differences in Mens and Womens Volleyball Games Based on Skills Effectiveness in Four Consecutive Olympic Tournaments

This study compares the differences in effectiveness of the five volleyball skills (serve, reception, attack, block, and dig) between men and women in high- level tournament games played at the last four consecutive Olympics. Results showed that men&apos;s and women&apos;s volleyball games are completely differentiated by two outcome measures. The first one is the higher proportion of faulty serves performed by men which is essentially attributable to the 19 cm difference in net height, while the second one derives from the fact that men outperform women at the execution of the attack

The diagnostic value of ultrasonography-derived edema of the temporal artery wall in giant cell arteritis: a second meta-analysis

Background: Ultrasonography of temporal arteries is not commonly used in the approach of patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA) in clinical practice. A meta-analysis of primary studies available through April 2004 concluded that ultrasonography could indeed be helpful in diagnosing GCA. We specifically re-examined the diagnostic value of the ultrasonography-derived halo sign, a dark hypoechoic circumferential thickening around the artery lumen, indicating vasculitic wall edema, in GCA. Methods: Original, prospective studies in patients with suspected GCA that examined ultrasonography findings of temporal arteries using the ACR 1990 classification criteria for GCA as reference standard, published through 2009, were identified. Only eight studies involving 575 patients, 204 of whom received the final diagnosis of GCA, fulfilled technical quality criteria for ultrasound. Weighted sensitivity and specificity estimates of the halo sign were assessed, their possible heterogeneity was investigated and pooled diagnostic odds ratio was determined. Results: Unilateral halo sign achieved an overall sensitivity of 68% (95% CI, 0.61-0.74) and specificity of 91% (95% CI, 0.88-0.94) for GCA. The values of inconsistency coefficient (I-2) of both sensitivity and specificity of the halo sign, showed significant heterogeneity concerning the results between studies. Pooled diagnostic odds ratio, expressing how much greater the odds of having GCA are for patients with halo sign than for those without, was 34 (95% CI, 8.21-138.23). Diagnostic odds ratio was further increased to 65 (95% CI, 17.86-236.82) when bilateral halo signs were present (sensitivity/specificity of 43% and 100%, respectively). In both cases, it was found that DOR was constant across studies. Conclusion: Temporal artery edema demonstrated as halo sign should be always looked for in ultrasonography when GCA is suspected. Providing that currently accepted technical quality criteria are fulfilled, halo sign’s sensitivity and specificity are comparable to those of autoantibodies used as diagnostic tests in rheumatology. Validation of revised GCA classification criteria which will include the halo sign may be warranted

Macrolides for better resolution of community-acquired pneumonia: A global meta-analysis of clinical outcomes with focus on microbial etiology

Objectives: This meta-analysis examined the impact of macrolides on resolution of CAP and interpretation of clinical benefit according to microbiology; emphasis is given to data under-reported countries (URCs).Methods: This meta-analysis included 63 publications published between 1994 and 2022. Publications were analyzed for resolution of CAP (6,465 patients) and 30-day mortality (58,759 patients). A separate meta-analysis was done for the prevalence of respiratory pathogens in URCs.Results: Mortality after 30 days was reduced by the addition of macrolides (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.82). The odds ratio (OR) of CAP resolution when macrolides were added to the treatment regimen was 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.52). The most prevalent pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.68%; 95% CI 9.36-16.95%). Analysis of the epidemiology from the URCs included 12 publications. The most prevalent pathogens were S. pneumoniae (24.91%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.90%).Conclusions: The addition of macrolides to the treatment regimen led to relative 35% decrease of 30-day mortality and to 23% relative increase resolution of CAP.Registration: PROSPERO; number CRD42022325280