Slovenian Validation of the Children’s Perceived Use of Self-Regulated Learning Inventory

The importance of self-regulated learning (SRL) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and measures for assessing students’ self-regulation skills and knowledge are greatly needed. We present the results of the first thorough adaptation of the Children’s Perceived use of Self-Regulated Learning Inventory (CP-SRLI). The inventory, consisting of 15 scales measuring nine components of SRL, was administered to a sample of 541 Slovenian ninth graders. Confirmatory factor analyses supported internal structure validity of most components, but two components required some structural modifications. Internal consistency coefficients were acceptable for the majority of scale scores and were highly comparable to the original ones. While metric invariance across gender was confirmed, the scalar invariance of some scales needs further examination. Meaningful correlations with relevant externally assessed and self-reported self-regulation and school performance variables indicated good criterion validity of the inventory. The Slovenian version of the CP-SRLI thus proved to be a sufficiently valid and reliable instrument for assessing pupils’ learning self-regulation.

Yeast chromium and digestible lysine levels in finishing pigs subjected to high ambient temperatures

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effects of chromium yeast and digestible lysine levels on the performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Sixty-four barrows with an initial weight of 72.77 ± 7.20 kg and final weight of 119.44 ± 9.47 kg were used, distributed in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme, with two levels of chromium yeast (Cr0: 0 ppb and Cr800: 800 ppb) and two levels of digestible lysine (L0: recommended level and L+10%: 10%). The recorded air temperature of 30.9 ± 3.7 ºC during the experimental period was considered as heat stress. Performance variables were not influenced (P>0.05); however, L+10% showed an increase (P<0.05) in daily digestible lysine intake. Carcass characteristics of the animals were not influenced (P>0.05) by the chromium or digestible lysine levels. Supplementation with 800 ppb of yeast chromium and a 10% increase in the level of digestible lysine, isolated or associated, did not improve the performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs, subjected to high ambient temperatures.

Hatching, embryo death and chicks growth in dual purpose and brawl hens under natural hypobaric conditions

The present study aimed to compare results for hatchability and growing performance of chicks from 2 biotypes, dual purpose (DP) and brawl (BR), in hipobaric conditions (2718 m above sea level). In experiment 1, a total of 352 hatching eggs were randomly arranged, 176 egg of DP y 176 BR. In experiment 2, a total of 114 one-day-old unsexed chickens were reared for 28 d. The experimental design for hatchability and chick performance variables was completely randomized with 2 treatments (DP and BR). There were no differences between the studied treatments for hatchability results (p>0.05). Hens’ biotype affected chicken performance in the rearing phase (p<0.01), where the DP chickens had better body weight and feed conversion than BR, but BR chickens had lower mortality than DP chickens.

A Discriminant Model For Skill Oriented Prediction of Female Cricketers Depending Upon Selected Performance Parameters

Research Purpose. The study aimed to develop a discriminant model for cricketers on the basis of physiological & anthropometric variables. Material and Methods. The study included sixty female seniors BCCI board players representing five different states with mean age 23.4 ± 2.03, mean height 152.1 ± 3.44, and mean weight 52.4 ± 4.21. A multivariate technique was used to predict the cricket performance by classifying the players into batsmen and pace bowlers on the basis of selected physiological & anthropometrical variables. Results. All the assumptions were positively full-filled (Shapiro-Wilk test p > 0.05 and F = 8.121, p = 0.264 for Box’sM test) for applying discriminant analysis to develop the model. A total of eleven performance variables were initially selected for the study and after applying the stepwise statistical technique of discriminant analysis, the model selected certain variables, namely Muscle Mass (1.311), Fat (-0.182) & Shoulder Diameter (0.292) and showed its effectiveness as the Eigenvalue for the fit model was 0.848. Conclusion. A discriminant function F1 = -29.531 + (1.311 × Muscle Mass) + (-0.182 × Fat) + (0.292 × Shoulder Diameter) was developed. The percentage of total variation explained by the model was 71.9%. A total of 93.2% of the observations were correctly classified using the proposed discriminant model.

ENVIRONTMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING, COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, FIRM PERFOMANCE: INDONESIA’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

Abstrack This study aims to examine the indirect relationship between Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) and Firm Performance through Competitive Advantage. The contribution of this paper is that there is a Competitive Advantage mediating the relationship of EMA and improving firm performance. The study was conducted on 444 manufacturing companies in Indonesia from 2013-2017. The novelty in this study is a research model that makes Competitive Advantage a mediation for EMA and Firm performance variables, and Competitive Advantage variables using market share proxy. The results of this study are EMA has a positive effect on Firm Performance, EMA has a positive effect on Competitive Advantage, Competitive Advantage has a positive effect on Firm Performance, and Competitive Advantage as Quasi Mediating from the influence of EMA on Firm Performance. Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji hubungan tidak langsung antara environmental management accounting (EMA) dan kinerja perusahaan (firm performance) terhadap keunggulan kompetitif (competitive advantage). Kontribusi penelitian ini ialah menunjukan keunggulan kompetitif memediasi antara EMA dan meningkatkan kinerja perusahaan. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada 444 perusahaan manufaktur di Indonesia selama 2013-2017. Kebaruan dari penelitian ini penggunaan keunggulan kompetitif sebagai variabel mediasi untuk EMA dan kinerja perusahaan, serta penggunaan pangsa pasar sebagai proksi variabel keunggulan kompetitif. Hasil penelitian ini ialah EMA memiliki pengaruh positif terhadap kinerja perusahaan, keunggulan kompetitif memiliki pengaruh positif terhadap kinerja perusahaan, dan keunggulan kompetitif, keunggulan kompetitif sebagai mediasi semu dari pengaruh EMA terhadap kinerja perusahaan.

Oculomotor Behavior Predict Professional Cricket Batting and Bowling Performance

Importance: A new, shorter version of cricket was introduced recently (Twenty20; T20). Since its inception, T20 cricket has rapidly become a popular and exciting format of cricket. However, there is little understanding of factors such as visual-motor control that influence expert performance.Objective: The purpose of this project is to determine if a series of oculomotor measures can predict batting and bowling performance in professional cricket players.Design: This study used a cross-sectional design. Each participant took part in a suite of eye-tracking tests to measure oculomotor behavior compared to their performance data.Participants: This study used a sample of 59 male T20 league professional cricket players (30 Bowlers and 29 Batsman).Results: One-way univariate analyses of variance examined the differences in oculomotor behavior between batsman and bowlers. A series of multiple regression analyses was conducted to evaluate how well the visual variables predict bowling and batting performance variables. Results demonstrate that several oculomotor eye tracking measures were good predictors of run performance and strike rate, including sports total score, sports on-field score, and sports functional score. Likewise, several of the same metrics predicted Runs and Wicket performance for bowlers. Overall, results provided further validation to a growing body of literature supporting the use of eye-tracking technology in performance evaluation.

Influence of COVID-19 Restrictions on Training and Physiological Characteristics in U23 Elite Cyclists

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated mobility restrictions caused many athletes to adjust or reduce their usual training load. The aim of this study was to investigate how the COVID-19 restrictions affected training and performance physiology measures in U23 elite cyclists. METHODS: Twelve U23 elite cyclists (n = 12) participated in this study (mean ± SD: Age 21.2 ± 1.2 years; height 182.9 ± 4.7 cm; body mass 71.4 ± 6.5 kg). Training characteristics were assessed between 30 days pre, during, and post COVID-19 restrictions, respectively. The physiological assessment in the laboratory was 30 days pre and post COVID-19 restrictions and included maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), peak power output for sprint (SprintPmax), and ramp incremental graded exercise (GXTPmax), as well as power output at ventilatory threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP). RESULTS: Training load characteristics before, during, and after the lockdown remained statistically unchanged (p > 0.05) despite large effects (>0.8) with mean reductions of 4.7 to 25.0% during COVID-19 restrictions. There were no significant differences in maximal and submaximal power outputs, as well as relative and absolute V̇O2max between pre and post COVID-19 restrictions (p > 0.05) with small to moderate effects. DISCUSSION: These results indicate that COVID-19 restrictions did not negatively affect training characteristics and physiological performance measures in U23 elite cyclists for a period of <30 days. In contrast with recent reports on professional cyclists and other elite level athletes, these findings reveal that as long as athletes are able to maintain and/or slightly adapt their training routine, physiological performance variables remain stable.

Effect of Acute and Chronic Oral l-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise Performance Based on the Exercise Intensity: A Systematic Review

l-Carnitine (l-C) and any of its forms (glycine-propionyl l-Carnitine (GPL-C) or l-Carnitine l-tartrate (l-CLT)) has been frequently recommended as a supplement to improve sports performance due to, among others, its role in fat metabolism and in maintaining the mitochondrial acetyl-CoA/CoA ratio. The main aim of the present systematic review was to determine the effects of oral l-C supplementation on moderate- (50–79% V˙O2 max) and high-intensity (≥80% V˙O2 max) exercise performance and to show the effective doses and ideal timing of its intake. A structured search was performed according to the PRISMA® statement and the PICOS guidelines in the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases, including selected data obtained up to 24 October 2021. The search included studies where l-C or glycine-propionyl l-Carnitine (GPL-C) supplementation was compared with a placebo in an identical situation and tested its effects on high and/or low–moderate performance. The trials that used the supplementation of l-C together with additional supplements were eliminated. There were no applied filters on physical fitness level, race, or age of the participants. The methodological quality of studies was evaluated by the McMaster Critical Review Form. Of the 220 articles obtained, 11 were finally included in this systematic review. Six studies used l-C, while three studies used l-CLT, and two others combined the molecule propionyl l-Carnitine (PL-C) with GPL-C. Five studies analyzed chronic supplementation (4–24 weeks) and six studies used an acute administration (<7 days). The administration doses in this chronic supplementation varied from 1 to 3 g/day; in acute supplementation, oral l-C supplementation doses ranged from 3 to 4 g. On the one hand, the effects of oral l-C supplementation on high-intensity exercise performance variables were analyzed in nine studies. Four of them measured the effects of chronic supplementation (lower rating of perceived exertion (RPE) after 30 min at 80% V˙O2 max on cycle ergometer and higher work capacity in “all-out” tests, peak power in a Wingate test, and the number of repetitions and volume lifted in leg press exercises), and five studies analyzed the effects of acute supplementation (lower RPE after graded exercise test on the treadmill until exhaustion and higher peak and average power in the Wingate cycle ergometer test). On the other hand, the effects of l-C supplementation on moderate exercise performance variables were observed in six studies. Out of those, three measured the effect of an acute supplementation, and three described the effect of a chronic supplementation, but no significant improvements on performance were found. In summary, l-C supplementation with 3 to 4 g ingested between 60 and 90 min before testing or 2 to 2.72 g/day for 9 to 24 weeks improved high-intensity exercise performance. However, chronic or acute l-C or GPL-C supplementation did not present improvements on moderate exercise performance.

Technostress, Work Performance, Job Satisfaction, and Career Commitment of Teachers amid COVID-19 Crisis in the Philippines

The perception of technostress in education constantly increasing to unprecedented levels is not new. However, in novel situations like the global COVID-19 crisis, technostress and its influence on important teaching facets deserve a revisit. This paper focuses on the association of technostress on the sample characteristics and organizational performance variables of the teachers in the context of emergency distance education brought by the COVID-19 crisis. Following a mainly correlational research design, 2,272 teachers from Mindanao, Philippines were taken as a sample. The data collected through adapted instruments were treated using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the teachers experience moderate level of technostress, very high levels of work performance and job satisfaction, and high level of career commitment. It was further revealed that technostress and its four sets significantly differed across age, gender, marital status, and teaching experience. Lastly, it was found out that technostress has a significant negative relationship with work performance. The practical implications of these outcomes on the professional development of the teachers in the context of emergency distance education are discussed at the end of the study.