National Competition Research Articles

Sex-based differences in swimming performance in 10-years-old-and-under athletes in short course national competition.

The need for sex-segregated youth swimming is debated. A previous report indicates that male swimmers aged 10-and-under are 1%-2% faster than females in long course freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and individual medley (IM), but not breaststroke events. Another report indicates that at age 10 males are 1%-2.5% faster than females in long course freestyle events. However, there are no evaluations for short course competitions. Therefore, the top eight performances for both sexes from the National Club Swimming Association Age Group Championships (a short course meet) for the years 2016-2023 in the 10-and-under age group were analyzed. Males were 1.16%-2.63% faster (p<0.05; effect sizes 0.376-0.596) than females in the 50yards (yd; 45.7m), 100 yd (91.4m), and 200yd (182.9m) freestyle, 100yd backstroke, 50yd breaststroke, 100yd butterfly, and 100 and 200 yd IM. There were no significant sex-based differences in the 500yd (457.2m) freestyle, 50yd backstroke, 100yd breaststroke, or 50yd butterfly. The individual fastest time for a female was faster than for a male in the 50, 100, and 500 yd freestyle, 50 and 100yd backstroke, 50 and 100yd butterfly, and 100yd IM. Although in eight out of 12 events the individual fastest times were from females, in eight out of 12 events the average male times were significantly faster. The present data suggest that although some exceptional individual 10-and-under female swimmers do exist, their performance is not representative of the typical sex-based differences in swimming performance.

MERGER CONTROL REGIME IN MALAYSIA: PAST, PRESENT AND WAY FORWARD

Merger control is one of the main pillars of a competition law regime. Without a merger control provision, a competition authority is unable to prevent a problematic merger that lessens competition in the market from being consummated. Malaysia, having its national cross-sector competition law regime in place only since 2010, has, apart from sectoral regulations, no merger control regime in place. The country has adopted a sectoral approach to merger control, empowering certain regulators to oversee merger activities in a specific market or industry. Since 2020, the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has been working on the proposed amendments to the Competition Act 2010 (CA 2010), aiming to incorporate a merger control regime as one of its main agendas. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the development of the merger control regime in Malaysia. The main contribution of this paper is the analysis of the merger control regime in the proposed amendment of the CA 2010 and an understanding of the issues and challenges involved in the enforcement of merger control provisions. The research is doctrinal, based on descriptive and analytical methods, and relies on both primary and secondary data. The research is doctrinal, utilising descriptive and analytical methods, and relies on both primary and secondary data. It also incorporates a comparative element by examining experiences from more developed jurisdictions, such as the European Union and the United States, which have extensive experience in enforcing merger control. Conclusions can be drawn from debates in these jurisdictions regarding potential adjustments to their respective merger control regimes.

Prioritising and including children in intersectoral policymaking: uncovering Immunity to Change in Ghana

Despite strong commitments to improving children’s well-being, nearly a third of Ghanaian children aged 36–59 months are not developmentally on track, with additional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Improvements...

Competition law through the lenses of national constitutions: connecting competitive markets with socio-economic and environmental values

Abstract This article analyses competition legislation through the lenses of national constitutions, given that these constitutions establish the foundational structures of national legal systems to which competition laws inherently belong. Building on existing constitutional literature, it posits that competition laws should be construed in accordance with the values promoted in national constitutions. The analysis is situated within the contemporary discourse surrounding the ongoing ‘just transition’ towards a carbon-neutral economy, i.e., a process in which socio-economic values (pertaining to the right to work, right to healthcare, and right to food) and environmental values (pertaining to a clean environment, biodiversity, and reducing emissions) constitute guiding tenets. Such a context invites the question of whether competition laws should be built and interpreted in a manner that facilitates the enhanced integration of socio-economic and environmental values enshrined in national constitutions. These contemplations are pivotal, since law plays a constitutive role in designing socio-economic structures, with the structuring of competitive markets being no exception. In light of this, the paper conducts a review of how national constitutions across the world safeguard competitive markets, socio-economic values, and environmental values. Specifically, the article categorizes the regulatory frameworks identified within all 52 national constitutions that explicitly protect competitive markets alongside socio-economic and environmental values. Subsequently, the paper transitions to an examination of two countries—Poland and South Africa—to elucidate how national competition laws reflect constitutional choices. It demonstrates that their constitutions and competition laws were shaped in a manner that offers a different space for incorporation of socio-economic and environmental values in the interpretation of competition laws. The article relies on an analysis of the texts of national constitutions and competition statutes, as well as selected case law of constitutional courts and ordinary courts. Overall, the article seeks to incite an academic discourse regarding the significance of national constitutions in the realm of antitrust. At the same time, it expands upon the literature concerning economic constitutions, especially regarding the European Union and its Member States.

The Decentralisation of the DMA’s Enforcement System

Abstract The harmonisation of the internal market is a fundamental aspect of the EU acquis, and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is no exception. It aims to harmonise digital markets across the Union on the basis of the concepts of contestability and fairness. The DMA is enforced through a quasi-centralised enforcement system, with the European Commission as its sole enforcer and national competition authorities (NCAs) playing a secondary and supporting role in monitoring. The EC’s centralisation of enforcement powers is key to ensuring harmonisation. This paper highlights the potential risks at the national level due to NCA involvement in the enforcement and monitoring of the DMA. While the Regulation does not need to be transposed into national law to be effective, some Member States have introduced legislation specifying which authorities are responsible for enforcement and how they should apply their powers in line with the DMA. The paper examines these legislative developments, revealing potential deviations that undermine the effective enforcement of the DMA and disrupting its current centralised enforcement system.

Review of the exhibition and catalog: Girlfriends. For the anniversary of Varvara Stepanova. Exhibition catalog. Moscow: Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (2024)

The exhibition "Girlfriends. To the anniversary of Varvara Stepanova", (curators A.A. Danilova, A.A. Savinov, A.N. Lavrentiev), which opened in July 2024 at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts reveals the contribution of Russian avant-garde artists to the formation of constructivism as an influential global trend in architecture and design, the development of domestic fashion design, graphic design, theater. The exhibition presents the works of A.I. Akhtyrko (students of A.M. Rodchenko in VKhUTEMAS), E.A. Ignatovich (a photojournalist and journalist who worked with V.F. Stepanova), L.S. Popova, O.V. Rozanova, V.F. Stepanova, G.D. and O.D. Chichagov (artists of children's books). The cultural and educational foundation "Magic of Fashion" under the leadership of N.B.Kozlova provided reconstructions of clothing models according to the projects of N.P.Lamanova, V.I. Mukhina, L.S.Popova and V.F.Stepanova. 15 museums and private collections provided works from their collections for the exhibition: paintings, graphics, photographs, drawings for fabric and theatrical costume designs (Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, GTG, RGALI, Theater Museum, museums of St. Petersburg, Saratov, Ulyanovsk and other collections). The unifying historical and documentary space of the exhibition was excerpts from the diaries of V.F.Stepanova about the avant-garde exhibitions held in 1915-1920, where artists participated, documents and articles by O.V. Rozanova. The exhibition catalog, prepared by a team of authors (design by the ABCdesign publishing group), reflects the main sections of the exhibition: "Acquaintance", "The Birth of constructivism", "Theater", "Fashion", "From a futuristic book to a new layout". The publication was recognized as the "Book of the Year" by experts of the Annual National Competition 2024. The exhibition and catalog reflect the bright innovative nature of the art of the artists of the 1920s, who boldly invaded new areas of the designer's activity, such as cinema, photography and mass media, poetry and fashion. They have left a significant mark on Russian art, pedagogy and art criticism.

Impactful medical school experiences and choosing a career in neurosurgery: A new beginning for the national undergraduate neuroanatomy competition.

Impactful medical school experiences and choosing a career in neurosurgery: A new beginning for the national undergraduate neuroanatomy competition.

ESTRATÉGIAS DE CONFORTO AMBIENTAL PARA QUADRAS FECHADAS VOLTADAS A ESPORTES DE ALTO RENDIMENTO

Sports architecture, with its particularities, is essential to optimize the efficiency of environments, considering the specific needs of each sport. This article addresses environmental comfort strategies applied to indoor courts intended for high-performance sports, highlighting the importance of an architecturally planned environment to ensure the well-being of athletes and optimize their performance. The study focuses on thermal, visual, acoustic and ergonomic aspects, and analyzes how each of these factors influences sports performance. In addition, it explores the interaction between the body and the physical environment, proposing solutions that favor the creation of functional and comfortable spaces for sports practice and competitive events. The research, of a bibliographic and exploratory nature, brings together concepts of environmental psychology and athletic performance, in addition to highlighting the construction strategies of ventilation, lighting and acoustic control that can be applied to indoor courts with the aim of promoting human well-being. The work proposes solutions so that sports centers offer adequate conditions for sports practice, supporting the creation of environments that favor both the satisfaction and the enhancement of the performance of athletes. From this study, it is possible to define the importance of the preparation and competition environment in the performance of high-performance athletes, and architecture, linked to environmental comfort, is shown to be a tool for the development of these spaces, essential for success in national and international sports competitions.

Research on Hybrid Teaching Driven by Big Data Application Development Competition

With the increasing emphasis placed by the country on vocational education, it has become a key focus for vocational colleges to encourage their students to participate in national vocational skills competitions, through which they can enhance their professional qualities, theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and employability. The big data technology major of Jiangsu Maritime Institute has analyzed the knowledge and skill points required in big data application development skills competitions, and has constructed a project-driven hybrid teaching approach based on the Chaoxing Cloud Course Platform, which utilizes a SPOC (Small Private Online Course) approach. By aligning with the workflows and tasks of big data technology-related job positions, the major integrates skills competition projects into its curriculum, realizing a learner-centered, integrated online and offline learning approach. Through teaching practice, this teaching method has achieved good results, improving the quality of teaching and students' learning enthusiasm, and providing new methods and perspectives for the reform of big data technology professional courses in higher vocational education.

How can you help us, Mr Darwin? Social Darwinism in the history of Chinese international thought

Abstract Social Darwinism was a pathbreaker in the history of Chinese international thought. In this study, we explore the hitherto sparsely discussed process of the reception of social Darwinism in China, which led to a fundamental transformation in Chinese thinking about the international order and the position of China vis-à-vis Western powers. Drawing on the work of three leaders of that intellectual transformation – Yan Fu, Kang Youwei, and Liang Qichao – we analyse issues such as the struggle for existence and survival, national and racial competition, and statism. We demonstrate how the three aforementioned thinkers modified the original Darwinist thought, enriching it with voluntarism and radical collectivism, all in order for the emerging set of ideas to suit China’s historically determined needs. Overall, our analysis contributes to both the history of International Relations thought in China and the broader debate on the globalisation of IR theory and IR knowledge production.

Cooperation between national courts and EU institutions in competition law cases

The article explores the interplay between national courts and European Union institutions in the context of competition law enforcement of rules enshrined in Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. Cooperation between national competition authorities and national courts on one hand and EU institutions on the other hand is crucial for ensuring the effective and consistent application of competition rules. The article deals with the mechanisms of this cooperation. It examines the role of the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in providing guidance to national competition authorities and national courts. The article underscores the importance of a cohesive approach to competition law enforcement that is applied by national institutions of the EU member states. The concept and meaning of legal security in criminal law is well defined by Professor Jadwiga Potrzeszcz who states that "legal security is a state achieved by law established in general, and in particular by means of criminal law, in which human life’s goods and interests are protected in the most comprehensive and effective possible manner (and) harmonizes properly with the most important functions of criminal law, namely with a protective function and a guarantee function." (Potrzeszcz, 2018, p. 301) In accordance with the aforementioned definition, the author aims to introduce Criminal Codes that were in effect in the territory of present-day Slovakia, shedding light on whether they were guarantees of legal security in the state or not, i.e., whether they protected "human life’s goods and interests in the most comprehensive and effective possible manner."

The Race Within a Race: Starting Together, Finishing Apart

Every four years the world’s best athletes come together to compete in the Olympic games, electrifying audiences with incredible feats of speed, strength, endurance and skill as personal best performances and new records are set. However, the exceptional talent that underpin such performances is incomprehensible to most casual observers who often cannot appreciate how unique these athletes are. In this regard, endurance running, specifically the marathon, a 42.195 km foot race, provides one of the few occasions in sport outside of Olympic, world and national competitions, that permits sport scientists and fans alike to directly compare differences in the physiology between recreational and elite competitors. While these individuals may all cover the same distance, on the same course, on the same day – their experience and the physiological and psychological demands placed upon them are vastly different. There is, in effect, a “race within a race”. In the current review we highlight the superior physiology of the elite endurance athlete, emphasizing the gap between elite competitors and well-trained, but less genetically endowed athletes. We draw attention to a range of inconsistencies in how current sports science practices are understood, implemented, and communicated in terms of the elite and not-so-elite endurance athlete.

Islamic Boarding School Managementto Develop Students' Talents and Interests

This study focuses on examining the implementation of Islamic boarding school management in its efforts to develop the talents and interests of students, both in terms of methods and programs carried out by the Islamic boarding school. The approach to this research is qualitative with a case study type. Data and data sources were obtained from the research subjects, namely the Al-Mukhlisin Islamic Boarding School, Padang Lawas, North Sumatra. Data collection techniques were carried out by in-depth interviews with the leaders of the Islamic boarding school, teachers, and students. Direct observation of daily activities at the Islamic boarding school. And documentation of documents and physical evidence at the location. The method used by the Islamic boarding school as the result of the analysis to determine the talents and interests of students is through daily observation, extracurricular activities, interviews, and discussions, as seen from the involvement of students in external competitions. This method allows the Islamic boarding school to see and improve students' talents according to their skills. The programs show comprehensive and structured management implementation, such as extracurricular activities of Tahfidz Al-Qur'an, calligraphy art, music art and various sports. In addition, this Islamic boarding school also routinely sends its students to participate in multiple national and international competitions, which have resulted in various achievements. These programs not only increase the skills and knowledge of students but also form strong characters and personalities by Islamic values. The Islamic boarding school also provides adequate facilities such as laboratories, art rooms, and fields that support activities as extracurricular activities. This study states that effective and innovative management is the primary key to developing the talents and interests of students. The originality of this Islamic boarding school management development research manages various innovative programs that include academic, religious, art, and sports activities and produces various achievements of students in multiple fields.

The contribution of organic private label products to private label share outcomes

PurposeThe growing demand for sustainable consumption motivates retailers to consider including organic private label products in private label assortments to attract and serve health and environmentally conscious consumers, while also possibly improving the image of the private label brand as well. This study aims to examine the impact of prioritizing organic private label products in private label assortments on private label share outcomes.Design/methodology/approachTheoretical predictions are empirically examined using a comprehensive store panel sales data set covering 50 distinct metropolitan markets in the USA from 2008 to 2011 in the yogurt product category.FindingsFindings indicate that private label products may provide strategic value for certain retailers, based on a variety of private label assortment, national brand competition and retailer characteristic dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsThis research serves as initial empirical evidence on how organic products may influence private label category share. Future research should consider additional product categories and geographic markets and also seek to understand consumer perceptual factors in more detail.Practical implicationsRetail managers can better understand the role that organic products play in private label portfolios.Originality/valueWhile much previous work has examined how organic products sell relative to conventional products and a sizable literature has investigated private label brand strategy, little research has explicitly examined the role of organic products within private label assortments.

Solidarity as a Political Determinant of Health: Insights from EU Competition Policy

Context: The connection between law and political determinants of health is not well understood, but nevertheless it is suggested that the two are inseparable, and this represents an upstream level with scope for influencing other determinants of health (particularly social determinants). Solidarity underpins European health care systems, and given its clear link with redistribution, it can be seen as a means for addressing health inequities. As such, solidarity may be seen as a political determinant of health in the specific context of European Union (EU) competition policy. Methods: A range of EU case law, treaty provisions, and European Commission publications relating to EU competition policy are analyzed. Findings: Solidarity is typically juxtaposed as antithetical to competition and thus as underpinning exceptions to the applicability of prohibitions on anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominance, and state aid. Case law indicates an additional dynamic between definitions of solidarity at the EU and national levels. Conclusions: This analysis leads to two groups of considerations when framing solidarity as a political determinant of health in the EU competition policy context: first, the predominance of solidarity suggests it may shape competition reforms; second, the EU–member state dynamic indicates less EU-level reach into national competition reforms in health care than may be expected.

Relationship of Physical Factors to the Occurrence of Injuries in Young Gymnasts.

There is a large population of young athletes who participate in gymnastics, and the prevention of injury in junior athletes is considered important. However, few studies have prospectively investigated the relationship between physical factors and the occurrence of injury. To investigate the physical characteristics that are factors in the injury occurrence in elementary and junior high school gymnasts. Prospective observational study. A total of 36 healthy young gymnasts (at national competition level) were enrolled in the study. Once a week for 23 weeks, injuries were prospectively investigated using self-report questionnaires under the supervision of a research staff. Joint range of motion (hip, ankle, shoulder, and wrist), tightness (Thomas test, Ely test, straight leg raise [SLR], triceps surae, combined abduction test [CAT], horizontal flexion test [HFT]), and muscle elasticity (multifidus) were assessed to compare differences in physical function between injured and non-injured participants. Injuries occurred most commonly in the wrist (42.1%), lower back (30.2%), and foot (9.5%) among males, whereas heel (22.2%), knee (16.0%), and lower back (12.8%) were the most common injury sites among females. Wrist injuries in male athletes showed decreased shoulder joint range of motion, and lower back injuries showed decreased hip and shoulder joint range of motion. Lower back injuries in female athletes showed decreased hip extension mobility. Heel and knee joint injuries in females also showed increased range of motion and decreased tightness. The results of this study indicate that the factors related to flexibility differ according to injury location. Further studies are required to clarify the physical factors that influence injury occurrence by examining the effects of the gymnasts' muscle strength, age, individual factors, and left-right differences. 3.

A Study on the Cultural Value of the Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition Through Its History+

A Study on the Cultural Value of the Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition Through Its History+

Based on Sportomics: Comparison of Physiological Status of Collegiate Sprinters in Different Pre-Competition Preparation Periods.

This study aimed to assess the impact of pre-competition training by comparing the differences of collegiate sprinters in physiological state between strengthening and tapering training period by sportomics and combining their sport performance. Fifteen collegiate sprinters were investigated or tested on their body composition, dietary habits, energy expenditure, sleep efficiency, heart rate and respiratory rate during training, blood (blood cells, biochemical and immune markers) and urine (urinalysis), gut microbiome distribution, microbiome and blood metabolites, and their functions during the strengthening (Group A) and tapering training period (Group B) prior to competing in the national competitions. We found that 26.67% of sprinters achieved personal bests (PB) after the competition. The limb skeletal muscle mass and lymphocyte ratio of male sprinters in Group B were lower than those in Group A, and the serum creatine kinase (CK) level was higher than Group A (p < 0.05). The levels of serum CK, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and urine-specific gravity (SG) of the two groups were higher than the upper limit of the reference value. The detection rates of urine white blood cell (WBC) and protein in Group B were higher than those in Group A. The gut microbiome health index (GMHI) of Group A was higher than that of Group B, and the microbial dysbiosis index was lower than that of Group B. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) in Group A was higher than that in Group B. There were 65 differential metabolites in the A/B group, and the enriched pathway was mainly the NF-kappa B signaling pathway (up); B/T cell receptor signaling pathway (up); Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation (up); phenylalanine metabolism (up); and growth hormone synthesis, secretion, and action (up). There were significant differences in blood metabolites between the A and B groups, with a total of 89 differential metabolites, and the enriched pathway was mainly the NF-kappa B signaling pathway (up), T cell receptor signaling pathway (up), Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation (up), and glycerophospholipid metabolism (down). In conclusion, the imbalance of the gut microbiome and inflammation and immune-related metabolites of collegiate sprinters during the pre-competition tapering training period may be the cause of their limited sports performance.

The Privacy/Antitrust Curse: Insights from GDPR Application in Competition Law Proceedings

In response to the emergence of large online platforms whose business model revolves around the collection and processing of personal data, it is usually suggested that competition and data protection are synergistic, hence requiring an integrated approach. In this respect, Europe represents the testing ground for evaluating how privacy breaches may inform antitrust investigations. Indeed, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the one side and the German Facebook antitrust decision on the other side are considered the benchmarks of this new stance aimed at linking market power and data power. This paper tests the concrete viability of such an approach, analyzing how data protection rules and principles have been applied in antitrust proceedings by the European Commission and national competition authorities. Notably, the paper aims at demonstrating the fallacy of the narrative which describes the relationship between privacy and antitrust in terms of synergy and complementarity. Furthermore, the paper maintains that the principles recently affirmed by the European Court of Justice in Meta do not appear conclusive in addressing the issue. The strategic use of privacy as a business justification to pursue anticompetitive advantages currently addressed in the numerous Apple ATT investigations indeed shows the tension between these areas of law. Therefore, rather than strengthening the antitrust enforcement against gatekeepers and their data strategies, the inclusion of privacy harms in antitrust proceedings turns out to be a potential curse for competition authorities, providing players with an opportunity for regulatory gaming to undermine the antitrust enforcement. JEL Codes: D83, K21, L12, L4

Sports-Related Genomic Predictors Are Associated with Athlete Status in Chinese Sprint/Power Athletes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between variant loci significantly associated with sports-related traits in the GWAS Catalog database and sprint/power athlete status, as well as to explore the polygenic profile of elite athletes. Methods: Next-generation sequencing and microarray technology were used to genotype samples from 211 elite athletes who had achieved success in national or international competitions in power-based sports and from 522 non-athletes, who were healthy university students with no history of professional sports training. Variant loci collected from databases were extracted after imputation. Subsequently, 80% of the samples were randomly selected as the training set, and the remaining 20% as the validation set. Results: Association analysis of variant loci was conducted in the training set, and individual Total Genotype Score (TGS) were calculated using genotype dosage and lnOR, followed by the establishment of a logistic model, with predictive performance evaluated in the validation set. Association analysis was performed on 2075 variant loci, and after removing linked loci (r2 > 0.2), 118 Tag SNPs (p ≤ 0.05) were identified. A logistic model built using 30 Tag SNPs (p ≤ 0.01) showed better performance in the validation set (AUC = 0.707). Conclusions: Our study identified 30 new genetic molecular markers and demonstrated that elite sprint/power athlete status is polygenic.