Effect of Playing Venue on Pre-Competition Cortisol Level and Competitive State Anxiety in University Basketball Players

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of playing venue for pre-competition cortisol and state anxiety in university male basketball players. Ninety six players from public and private universities of Lahore have evaluated during eight competitive matches played at home (n=4) and away (n=4) venues. Blood samples were collected to analyze the cortisol concentrations by the ELISA assay and state anxiety was assessed using the CSAI-2 questionnaire. All the data collection took place before the pre-match warm-up. Data was analyzed by using paired sample t test. Results showed that cortisol was significantly (p-0.002) elevated on away ground, whereas, somatic state anxiety was markedly (p-0.001) increased on an opponents home ground. In conclusion, it is suggested that playing venue affects cortisol response and anxiety score values on away ground that results in psychological interventions for players to deal with all threats and stressful stimuli of playing venue factors affecting the players performance on an opponents home ground.

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Using Traditional and Paradoxical Imagery Interventions with Reactant Intramural Athletes

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.11.2.175 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 175-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jennifer E. Carter ◽

Anita E. Kelly

Keyword(s):

Mental Imagery ◽

State Anxiety ◽

Psychological Reactance ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Free Throw ◽

College Basketball ◽

Self Confidence ◽

Somatic State ◽

And Control

This study explored the moderating effect of psychological reactance on the success of traditional and paradoxical mental imagery treatments that were aimed at reducing anxiety in athletes. Intramural college basketball players (N = 73) were recruited through advertisements for a free-throw contest, and their anxiety and free-throw performance were measured following treatment in one of three groups: confidence imagery, paradoxical imagery, or control. As predicted, in the paradoxical condition, high-reactant athletes reported having significantly lower somatic state anxiety and significantly higher state self-confidence than did low-reactant athletes. In contrast, high- and low-reactant athletes did not differ in their anxiety scores in both the confidence imagery and control conditions. Results suggested that reactance does moderate the effect of the success of traditional and paradoxical imagery treatments for reducing athletes’ anxiety.

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A Test of Multidimensional Anxiety Theory with Male Wheelchair Basketball Players

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly ◽

10.1123/apaq.14.2.108 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 108-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Stéphane Perreault ◽

Dan Q. Marisi

Keyword(s):

State Anxiety ◽

Future Research ◽

Anxiety State ◽

Cognitive State ◽

Wheelchair Basketball ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Self Confidence ◽

Statistical Support ◽

Somatic State ◽

Multidimensional Anxiety Theory

The purpose of the present field study was to examine the predictions of Multidimensional Anxiety Theory (MAT; Martens et al., 1990) with elite male wheelchair basketball players. Thirty-seven elite male wheelchair basketball players completed the CSAI-II prior to each of three tournament games. Results were analyzed using the intraindividual procedures recommended by Sonstroem and Bernado (1982), and separate polynomial trend analyses were used to test the predictions of MAT. Results did not provide statistical support for MAT in that there were no reliable trends between cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, state self-confidence, and basketball performance. Avenues for future research are suggested.

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Clinical trials — the personal perspective of the research physician?

Annals of the Russian academy of medical sciences ◽

10.15690/vramn1356 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 256-263

Author(s):

Maria Y. Egorova ◽

Irina A. Shuvalova ◽

Olga I. Zvonareva ◽

Igor D. Pimenov ◽

Olga S. Kobyakova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Medical Care ◽

New Technologies ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Study Drug ◽

Well Being ◽

Personal Perspective ◽

Public And Private ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

To Receive

Background. The organization of clinical trials (CTs) requires the participation and coordination of healthcare providers, patients, public and private parties. Obstacles to the participation of any of these groups pose a risk of lowering the potential for the implementation of CTs. Researchers are a key human resource in conducting of CT. Their motivation for participation can have a significant impact on the recruitment and retention of patients, on the quality of the data collected, which determines the overall outcome of the study. Aims to assess the factors affecting the inclusion of Russian physicians-researchers in CT, and to determine their role in relations with patients-participants. Materials and methods. The study was organized as a part of the Russian multicenter face-to-face study. A survey was conducted of researchers from 10 cities of Russia (20172018). The participation in the survey for doctors was anonymous and voluntary. Results. The study involved 78 respondents. Most research doctors highly value the importance of research for science (4,84 0,39), society (4,67 0,46) and slightly lower for participating patients (4,44 0,61). The expectations of medical researchers are related to improving their financial situation and attaining new experience (n = 14; 18,18%). However, the opportunity to work with new technologies of treatment and diagnosis (n = 41; 52,56%) acted as a motivating factor. According to the questionnaire, the vast majority of research doctors (n = 29; 37,18%) believe that the main reason for patients to participate in CT is to receive quality and free medical care. The most significant obstacle to the inclusion of participants in CT was the side effects of the study drug (n = 38; 48,71%). Conclusions. The potential of clinical researchers in Russia is very high. The patient-participant acts for the research doctor as the subject of the study, and not the object, so the well-being of the patient is not indifferent to the doctor. However, the features of the functioning of our health care system form the motivation of doctors-researchers (additional earnings, professional self-development) and the way they perceive the motivation of patients (CT as an opportunity to receive quality medical care).

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The influence of intention implementation on throw effectiveness of young basketball players

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity ◽

10.2478/bjha-2014-0029 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Dominika Wilczynska ◽

Patrycja Lipinska ◽

Malgorzata Wolujewicz-Czerlonko

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Test Results ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Physical Effort ◽

Male And Female ◽

Mental Preparation ◽

Physiological Cost ◽

State Orientation ◽

Efficiency Test ◽

Visualization Techniques

AbstractBackground: The purpose of the following research was to find out the influence of imaginary training based on intention implementation on throw effectiveness of young basketball players, both male and female in stressogenic situations. Individual differences (action vs state orientation) between players were also measured in this research.Material/Methods: 76 players (32 females and 44 males) in the cadet category (15-16 years old) from basketball clubs of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot took part in this research. In the first stage all players did a throw efficiency test ERPE 05 under two conditions, and their heart rate was measured. Then players were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first one did imaginary training based on the influence of intention implementation for 10 days, while the other did not. After 10 days ERPE 05 test under two conditions was run again.Results: Test results showed that intention implementation does not influence effectiveness improvement in stressogenic conditions as far as state-oriented players are concerned, but it does lower the physiological cost of physical effort in form of a decreased heart rate.Conclusions: This research proves that visualization training based on implementation instructions does influence young players’ physiology and significantly lowers their heart rate under stressogenic conditions. However useful, visualization techniques used in this research still need other tests and should be applied for a longer period of time to acutely show how they affect young players’ mental preparation

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Improving the Strength of Abrasive Wheels and Optimizing the Control over the Strength of Composite Abrasive Materials

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.946.380 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 946 ◽

pp. 380-385

Author(s):

Boris A. Chaplygin ◽

Viacheslav V. Shirokov ◽

Tat'yana A. Lisovskaya ◽

Roman A. Lisovskiy

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Test Results ◽

Key Factors ◽

Special Equipment ◽

Material Density ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Control Factors ◽

Reinforcing Material ◽

Special Studies ◽

First Time

The strength of abrasive wheels is one of the key factors affecting the performance of abrasive machining. The paper discusses ways to improve the strength of abrasive wheels. The stress-state mathematical model presented herein is a generalization of the existing models. It is used herein to find for the first time that there are numerous optimal combinations of the elastic modulus and reinforcing material density, which result in the same minimum value of the objective function. It is found out that increasing the radius of the reinforcing component while also optimizing the mechanical properties of its material may increase the permissible breaking speed of the wheel several times. We herein present a regression equation and a nomogram for finding the optimal combination of control factors. Conventional methods for testing the mechanical properties of materials, which have been proven reliable for testing metals and alloys, are not as reliable for testing abrasive materials, as the test results they generate are not sufficiently stable or accurate. We therefore propose an alternative method that does not require any special equipment or special studies.

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Evaluation of Bleeding Resistance in Chip Seal and Asphalt Emulsion Residue Rheology

Coatings ◽

10.3390/coatings9100670 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 670

Author(s):

Preeda Chaturabong

Keyword(s):

Influence Factors ◽

Application Rate ◽

Test Methods ◽

Test Results ◽

Asphalt Emulsion ◽

Aggregate Gradation ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Chip Seal ◽

Asphalt Emulsions

Chip seal bleeding is influenced by many factors, including design inputs, material properties, and project-specific conditions. It reduces the surface texture of the pavement and thus compromises the safety of the traveling public. Even though factors that bring about premature bleeding are known, currently, no laboratory test methods for evaluating bleeding in chip seals have been specified. The objective of this paper is to present the results of an investigation of the influence factors of asphalt emulsion residue properties measured by the ASTM D7405 multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) test, as well as other factors related to chip seal bleeding resistance as measured by the modified loaded wheel test (MLWT). In this study, the MSCR test was used as a tool for evaluating the performance of asphalt emulsions because it has been identified as a potential test related to bleeding in the field. In addition, MLWT was selected as a tool for evaluating chip seal bleeding performance in the laboratory. The results of the MLWT showed that the emulsion application rate (EAR), aggregate gradation, and emulsion properties were significant factors affecting bleeding. The MSCR test was found to be a promising tool for the performance evaluation of asphalt emulsion residue, as the test was able to differentiate between emulsion chemistries and modifications in terms of sensitivity to both temperature and stress. In relation to chip seal bleeding resistance, only the creep compliance (Jnr) obtained from the MSCR test results was identified as a significant property affecting potential for bleeding.

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Influence of sex and gonadal status of sheep on cortisol secretion in response to ACTH and on cortisol and LH secretion in response to stress: importance of different stressors

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1730113 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 173 (1) ◽

pp. 113-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

AI Turner ◽

BJ Canny ◽

RJ Hobbs ◽

JD Bond ◽

IJ Clarke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Sex Difference ◽

Restraint Stress ◽

Cortisol Response ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Response To Stress ◽

Lh Secretion ◽

Gonadal Status ◽

Major Mediator

There are sex differences in the response to stress and in the influence of stress on reproduction which may be due to gonadal steroids but the nature of these differences and the role of the gonads are not understood. We tested the hypotheses that sex and the presence/absence of gonads (gonadal status) will influence the cortisol response to injection of ACTH, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and isolation/restraint stress, and that sex and gonadal status will influence the secretion of LH in response to isolation/restraint stress. Four groups of sheep were used in each of three experiments: gonad-intact rams, gonadectomised rams, gonad-intact ewes in the mid-luteal phase of the oestrous cycle and gonadectomised ewes. In Experiment 1 (n=4/group), jugular blood samples were collected every 10 min for 6 h; after 3 h, two animals in each group were injected (i.v.) with ACTH and the remaining two animals were injected (i.v.) with saline. Treatments were reversed 5 days later so that every animal received both treatments. Experiment 2 (n=4/group) used a similar schedule except that insulin was injected (i.v.) instead of ACTH. In Experiment 3 (n=5/group), blood samples were collected every 10 min for 16 h on a control day and again 2 weeks later when, after 8 h of sampling, all sheep were isolated and restrained for 8 h. Plasma cortisol was significantly (P<0.05) elevated following injection of ACTH or insulin and during isolation/restraint stress. There were no significant differences between the sexes in the cortisol response to ACTH. Rams had a greater (P<0.05) cortisol response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia than ewes while ewes had a greater (P<0.05) cortisol response to isolation/restraint stress than rams. There was no effect of gonadal status on these parameters. Plasma LH was suppressed (P<0.05) in gonadectomised animals during isolation/restraint stress but was not affected in gonad-intact animals, and there were no differences between the sexes. Our results show that the sex that has the greater cortisol response to a stressor depends on the stressor imposed and that these sex differences are likely to be at the level of the hypothalamo-pituitary unit rather than at the adrenal gland. Since there was a sex difference in the cortisol response to isolation/restraint, the lack of a sex difference in the response of LH to this stress suggests that glucocorticoids are unlikely to be a major mediator of the stress-induced suppression of LH secretion.

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Field Tests of Guide Vanes and Runner Blades of a Large Bulb Turbine for Output Deficiency Diagnosis

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.212-213.1057 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 212-213 ◽

pp. 1057-1061 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhong Liu ◽

Zhu Qing Huang ◽

Shu Yun Zou ◽

Hong De Rao

Keyword(s):

Field Tests ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Hydropower Plant ◽

Test Results ◽

Guide Vanes ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Runner Blade ◽

Main Factors ◽

Theoretical Analyses ◽

Bulb Turbine

The 3# bulb turbine in Hongjiang Hydropower Plant has faced the problem of output deficiency since its commission in Sept. 2003, which caused a large economic loss. Following simple theoretical analyses on the main factors affecting the turbine’s output and efficiency, the field test schemes were determined to measure the shapes and intervals of guide vanes and runner blades of the 3#, 5# and 6# turbines. The test results discover that the average blade intervals of the 3# turbine are generally less than those of the 5# one. Suggestions on runner blade installation adjustment and combined curve modification are given.

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COMPARISON OF FOURTH GENERATION ELISA AND RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS(HCV) INFECTION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

10.36106/2000717 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 15-17

Author(s):

Stuti Kansra Arora ◽

Mala Chhabra ◽

Anuradha Anuradha ◽

Arvind Achra ◽

Nandini Duggal

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Test ◽

Rapid Diagnostic Test ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Treatment Initiation ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Hcv Infection ◽

Fourth Generation ◽

World Population ◽

Test Results ◽

Blood Samples

Introduction:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has emerged as one of the major global health challenge affecting about 2 - 3% of the world population. Epidemiological studies have shown that HCV infection is a major risk factor for development of Acute hepatitis,chronic liver disease,cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Early diagnosis of HCV is important to link hepatitis testing to care and treatment initiation. Aim:To compare sensitivity and specificity of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) with fourth generation ELISA Material and Method: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital from January 2018 to December 2018.Blood samples of patients suspected with hepatitis were tested using ELISA and rapid diagnostic test Results: In our study 26378 blood samples were tested for HCV,using fourth generation ELISA.Of these,581(2.20%) samples were found to be positive by ELISA.These HCV positive samples along with equal number of ELISA negative samples were tested by rapid diagnostic test. Sensitivity and specificity of the rapid diagnostic test was found to be 72.98 % and 100% respectively. Discussion:Rapid diagnostic test can be used during emergency hours but their results must be followed by ELISA test results in a tertiary care hospital.Reporting of false negative results should be minimized for rapid linkage to treatment initiation and to avoid silent transmission of infection.

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Vaccine Passport - A blockchain based architecture for secure, tamper-resistant, privacy-enhanced credentialing mechanism of vaccination and verification of test results (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.32411 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hsiu An Lee ◽

Hsin-Hua Kung ◽

Wei-Chen Wu ◽

Jai Ganesh Udayasankaran ◽

Yu-Chih Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Protection ◽

Low Cost ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Data Accuracy ◽

Test Results ◽

Public And Private ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Laboratory Test Results ◽

Encryption And Decryption ◽

International Data

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The prevention and treatment methods for COVID-19 are not yet clear. At present, there are at least 287 preventive vaccines against COVID-19 in the world, of which 5 vaccines are available for emergency use as of June 2021, but none has completed clinical trial. Nevertheless, with the development of vaccines, disease conditions in various countries are gradually controlled. OBJECTIVE The vaccination rate has increased in time, and activities in various countries have gradually recovered. Therefore, the focus of the next stage is confirming and proving that everyone is vaccinated to ensure that those without vaccines will not become a breach in the next wave of diseases. The vaccination or RT-PCR test results are all certified and verified by paper documents issued by hospitals or testing institutions. Meanwhile, falsified documents are a major risk factor in confirming the vaccination status and laboratory test results. Although the Vaccine Passport (VP) may become an important key to future global activities based on the current strategy, the problems of document verification and data use among countries have not yet been resolved. METHODS The blockchain architecture proposed in this research can be applied together by public and private entities and be rapidly expanded. Furthermore, the open ledger of blockchain achieves transparency and data accuracy. On the other hand, smart contracts (SCs) achieve authorization and authentication, while the encryption and decryption mechanisms achieve data protection. In order to make it globally available, the international data standard “Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR)” is adopted into this research. In general, this blockchain architecture can achieve global vaccine passport verification accurately and at a low cost. RESULTS The open nature of the blockchain contributes to establishing transparency and data accuracy. Total three entities are included in this blockchain architecture. All of the authorization are public in the open ledger. The smart certificate enables authorization and authentication, while the encryption and decryption mechanism ensure data protection. This proof of concept demonstrates the design of blockchain architecture which, when adopted, can achieve global vaccine passport verification accurately and at a cost country can afford. An actual vaccine passport case was established and demonstrated in this study. Open blockchain, individually authorized authentication mechanisms, and international standard vaccine passports were adopted. CONCLUSIONS Blockchain architecture is used to build the authentication process of an executable international vaccine passport, with advantages of low cost, high interoperability, effectiveness, security and verifiability.

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