Psychometric properties of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale-Second Edition in Peruvian students.

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale–Second Edition (RCMAS-2) among Peruvian students. The sample consisted of 472 participants aged between 7 and 18 years, of whom 250 were female (53%). Likewise, 191 were enrolled from third to sixth grade of primary school (40.5%), and 281 were registered from first to fifth grade of secondary school (59.5%). The results of the study indicated that the RCMAS-2 scores had adequate levels of reliability for all its dimensions (ordinal alpha > .70). On the other hand, a four-factor structure (Physiological anxiety, Worry/Social anxiety, Defensiveness I, and Defensiveness II) was found to be invariant to gender and schooling level. Also, convergent and discriminant validity evidence was provided. Finally, a moderate difference in Defensiveness II according to the schooling level through the latent mean structure analysis was found. Taking into account the results, it was concluded that the RCMAS-2 scores have evidence of reliability, validity, and equity for its use in Peruvian regular elementary school students.

Fibre Individualisation and Mechanical Properties of a Flax-PLA Non-Woven Composite Following Physical Pre-Treatments

Pre-treatments for plant fibres are very popular for increasing the fineness of bundles, promoting individualisation of fibres, modifying the fibre-matrix interface or reducing water uptake. Most pre-treatments are based on the use of chemicals and raise concerns about possible harmful effects on the environment. In this study, we used physical pre-treatments without the addition of chemical products. Flax tows were subjected to ultrasound and gamma irradiation to increase the number of elementary fibres. For gamma pre-treatments, a 20% increase in the number of elementary fibres was quantified. The biochemical composition of pre-treated flax tows exhibited a partial elimination of sugars related to pectin and hemicelluloses depending on the pre-treatment. The hygroscopic behaviour showed a comparable decreasing trend for water sorption-desorption hysteresis for both types of pre-treatment. Then, non-woven composites were produced from the pre-treated tows using poly-(lactid) (PLA) as a bio-based matrix. A moderate difference between the composite mechanical properties was generally demonstrated, with a significant increase in the stress at break observed for the case of ultrasound pre-treatment. Finally, an environmental analysis was carried out and discussed to quantitatively compare the different environmental impacts of the pre-treatments for composite applications; the environmental benefit of using gamma irradiation compared to ultrasound pre-treatment was demonstrated.

Visuospatial processing impairment following mild COVID-19

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infection causes coronavirus disease 2019. COVID-19 was an unknown infection that reached pandemic proportions in 2020 and has shown to bring long-term negative consequences. Here, we used a case-control design to investigate the performance of relatively young people recovered from COVID 19 in objective neuropsychological tests. We found significant differences between groups for all measures of the ROCFT with a large difference in the copy, a moderate difference in immediate recall, and a large difference in delayed recall. No significant differences were found for the measures from all the other five neuropsychological tests used.About one quarter of COVID 19 patients were below the 10th percentile according to normative data.

Principals’ Depth of Perception of Knowledge on Special Education Programs: How Much Do They Really Know?

In this study, research centered on the degree to which principals felt knowledgeable about basic generic leadership as well as special education functions. Current principals were selected from the 2018 state DOE databases from five states—Georgia, New York, Michigan, Vermont, and Oregon representing a wide demographic base. Ten (10) functions were generic leadership functions such as budget preparation or evaluating teachers while ten (10) others were related to special education such as authorship of Individual Education Plan (IEP’s) or Response to Intervention (RTI) strategies. Data suggest that a moderate difference exists with higher ratings attributed to generic leadership functions.

Transitional Flow on Model Propellers and Their Influence on Relative Rotative Efficiency

Unexpected low value of the relative rotative efficiency ηR is sometimes noted when scaling the towing tank model-test result with the ITTC-78 method to obtain the propulsive efficiency factors of propellers. The paper explains the causes of this phenomenon. The boundary layer state of three propellers was studied by a paint test and a RANS method. The paint tests showed that the propellers in behind conditions at low Reynolds number (Rn) are covered mainly with laminar flow, which is different from open water tests conducted at a high Rn. Apart from that a moderate difference in Rn between the open water and the self-propulsion test may lead to a low ηR value, the paper points out that flow separation in behind conditions could be another significant reason for the drop of ηR for some propellers. Therefore, two factors will lead to an unexpected decrease of ηR: (1) A slightly lower open water torque interpolated from an open water test carried out at a high Rn and (2) a slightly higher torque in a self-propulsion test due to laminar flow separation near the trailing edge. The phenomenon is caused by the Rn scaled effect and closely associated with design philosophy like the blade section profile, the chord length, and chordwise load distribution.

Implementing Anaerobic Speed Reserve Testing in the Field: Validation of vVO2max Prediction From 1500-m Race Performance in Elite Middle-Distance Runners

Purpose: Anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), defined as the speed range from velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake (vVO2max) to maximal sprint speed, has recently been shown to be an important tool for middle-distance coaches to meet event surge demands and inform on the complexity of athlete profiles. To enable field application of ASR, the relationship between gun-to-tape 1500-m average speed (1500v) and the vVO2max for the determination of lower landmark of the ASR was assessed in elite middle-distance runners. Methods: A total of 8 national and 4 international middle-distance runners completed a laboratory-measured vVO2max assessment within 6 wk of a nonchampionship 1500-m gun-to-tape race. ASR was calculated using both laboratory-derived vVO2max (ASR-LAB) and 1500v (ASR-1500v), with maximal sprint speed measured using radar technology. Results: 1500v was on average +2.06 ± 1.03 km/h faster than vVO2max (moderate effect, very likely). ASR-LAB and ASR-1500v mean differences were −2.1 ± 1.5 km/h (large effect, very likely). 1500v showed an extremely large relationship with vVO2max, r = .90 ± .12 (most likely). Using this relationship, a linear-regression vVO2max-estimation equation was derived as vVO2max (km/h) = (1500v [km/h] − 14.921)/0.4266. Conclusions: A moderate difference was evident between 1500v and vVO2max in elite middle-distance runners. The present regression equation should be applied for an accurate field prediction of vVO2max from 1500-m gun-to-tape races. These findings have strong practical implications for coaches lacking access to a sports physiology laboratory who seek to monitor and profile middle-distance runners.

Changes in Dynamic Strength Index in Response to Strength Training

The primary aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of a four-week period of in-season strength training on the dynamic strength index (DSI). Pre and post a four-week period of strength-based training, twenty-four collegiate athletes (age = 19.9 ± 1.3 years; height = 1.70 ± 0.11 m; weight 68.1 ± 11.8 kg) performed three isometric mid-thigh pulls and countermovement jumps to permit the calculation of DSI. T-tests and Cohen’s effect sizes revealed a significant but small (p = 0.009, d = 0.50) decrease in DSI post-training (0.71 ± 0.13 N·N−1) compared to pre-training (0.65 ± 0.11 N·N−1); however, when divided into high and low DSI groups, differential responses were clear. The low DSI group exhibited no significant or meaningful (p = 1.000, d = 0.00) change in DSI pre to post-training (0.56 ± 0.05 N·N−1, 0.56 ± 0.09 N·N−1, respectively), whereas the high DSI group demonstrated a significant and large decrease (p = 0.034, d = 1.29) in DSI pre to post-training (0.85 ± 0.05 N·N−1, 0.74 ± 0.11 N·N−1, respectively), resulting in a significant and moderate difference (p = 0.034, d = 1.29) in the change in DSI between groups. These results demonstrate that DSI decreases in response to strength training, as expected, due to an increase in isometric mid-thigh pull peak force, with minimal change in dynamic (countermovement jump) peak force.

Learning Style Preferences among College Students

The purpose of this study was to determine what factors other than individual preferences affect undergraduate students’ learning style preferences, if learning style is influenced by gender, age, college affiliation and/or type of activities. A total of 185 students from the University of Bahrain, Bahrain, participated in an online VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic) for younger people questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 16 items about learning style preferences and three about participants’ demographics. The results showed that participants generally preferred multi-modular learning style with both kinesthetic and visual learning styling being most preferred while Reading/Writing was the least preferred. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences between students learning styles based on age and gender, but it was a moderate difference. What mostly affected the preferences, however, was the type of activities or tasks, something which in turn resulted in some difference among colleges. This suggests that VARK preferences need to be related to activity type rather than be observed at individual reference. Recommendations were provided at the end of the study.

The Energy Cost of Running with the Ball in Soccer

Running with the ball is a soccer-specific activity frequently used by players during match play and training drills. Nevertheless, the energy cost (EC) of on-grass running with the ball has not yet been determined. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess the EC of constant-speed running with the ball, and to compare it with the EC of normal running. Eight amateur soccer players performed two 6- min runs at 10 km/h on artificial turf, respectively with and without the ball. EC was measured with indirect calorimetry and, furthermore, estimated with a method based on players’ accelerations measured with a GPS receiver. The EC measured with indirect calorimetry was higher in running with the ball (4.60±0.42 J/kg/m) than in normal running (4.19±0.33 J/kg/m), with a very likely moderate difference between conditions. Instead, a likely small difference was observed between conditions for EC estimated from GPS data (4.87±0.07 vs. 4.83±0.08 J/kg/m). This study sheds light on the energy expenditure of playing soccer, providing relevant data about the EC of a typical soccer-specific activity. These findings may be a reference for coaches to precisely determine the training load in drills with the ball, such as soccer-specific circuits or small-sided games.

Field Performance and Genetic Analysis in Some Advanced Lines of Mustard (Brassica rapa L.)

Twenty four genotypes including four check varieties of mustard (Brassica rapaL.) were collected for estimating the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance of different characters related to the yield and yield components. The experiment was conducted at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University research farm, Dhaka during 2013-2014. Days to 50% flowering and days to 80% maturity showed moderate difference between the phenotypic and genotypic variance whereas, minimum differences were found in number of primary branches plant-1, number of secondary branches plant-1, number of seeds siliqua-1, siliqua length and thousand seed weight and yield plant-1. Number of secondary branches plant-1 showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance in percentage of mean. On the other hand, days to 50% flowering, no. of siliqua plant-1, yield plant-1 showed high heritability with moderate genetic advance in percentage of mean. Days to 80% maturity, no. of primary branches plant-1, no. of seeds siliqua-1 showed high heritability coupled with low genetic advance in percentage of mean. The study showed that variations in the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in traits under study which can facilitate selection for further improvement of important traits of Brassica rapa L.The Agriculturists 2016; 14(1) 112-121