Relative Performance Levels Research Articles

Rowing and pain: does rowing lead to exercise-induced hypoalgesia?

Physical activity acutely alters pain processing known as exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). This randomized controlled crossover study investigated the effects of two different rowing exercises on EIH and to explore whether possible EIH effects are related to individual rowing specific performance. Fifty male experienced rowers conducted two rowing sessions (submaximal: 30 min of moderate rowing (70% of maximum heart rate); maximal: 350 m in an all-out fashion) and a control session. Pre and post exercise pain sensitivity was measured bilaterally using pressure pain thresholds (PPT; Newton (N)) at the elbow, knee, ankle, sternum, and forehead. Individual performance was determined as maximum watt/kg and was tested for correlations with changes in PPT. Higher PPT values were observed after maximal exercise at all landmarks with a mean change ranging from 2.5±7.8N (right elbow; p=0.027; dz=0.323) to 10.0±12.2N (left knee; p≤0.001; dz=0.818). The submaximal (range from-1.6±8.8N (Sternum; p=0.205; dz=0.182) to 2.0±10.3N (right ankle; p=0.176; dz=0.194)) and control session (range from-0.5±7.6N (left elbow; p=0.627; dz=0.069) to 2.6±9.1N (right ankle; p=0.054; dz=0.279)) did not induce changes. Relative performance levels were not correlated to EIH (range from: r = -0.129 (p=0.373) at sternum to r=0.176 (p=0.221) at left knee). EIH occurred globally after a short maximal rowing exercise while no effects occurred after rowing for 30 min at submaximal intensity. EIH cannot be explained by rowing specific performance levels in experienced rowers. However, the sample may lack sufficient heterogeneity in performance levels to draw final conclusions.

Mathematical game performance as an indicator of deliberate practice

The traditional classroom setting presents challenges when it comes to strengthening adaptive expertise in mathematics education through deliberate practice. This study aimed to investigate whether the Number Navigation Game (NNG) could help promote deliberate practice, and whether students’ performance in the game was related to their development of Adaptive Number Knowledge, perceived challenge, flow, and math interest. NNG is a game-based learning environment that requires students to progress by solving increasingly complex arithmetic problems, which is crucial for promoting adaptive number knowledge. Game performances of 214 Finnish students were analyzed and compared to the best possible performance for each game level. A growth mixture model based on the students' relative performance levels was used to gain insight into how students' game performance changed throughout the game, and how this related to their knowledge gains, perceived challenge, math motivation, and flow. There were four different profiles of students' game performance. The largest profile consisted of students who steadily improved their performance in the game, despite initially having lower-than-average performance. This group experienced lower levels of flow but achieved larger learning gains than the other groups, suggesting that their engagement may be more aligned with deliberate practice.

Clinical judgment performance of nurses in the application of the nursing process

Objective: To verify the applicability of the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR) instrument to rate nursing professionals’ performance regarding the development of clinical judgment in the application of the Nursing Process (NP). Materials and methods: Descriptive survey using the LCJR instrument —consisting of four phases and eleven dimensions— to classify clinical judgment. Results: Thirty-four nurses from a public hospital in western Santa Catarina, Brazil, distributed in six sectors, participated in the study. Nurses were classified by performance levels in relation to the ability of clinical judgment in the application of the steps of the NP. It was observed that at the “beginner” level there is a higher prevalence of professionals related to the dimensions Search for information, Recognizing deviations from expected standards, and Technical skills, linked to the intensive care unit clinic. As for the “exemplary” level, none of the sectors scored on the analyzed dimensions. Moreover, it was found that a longer time of clinical experience and of systematic application of the steps of the NP fosters a better classification in almost all dimensions. Conclusions: Through this research, we verified the assertiveness of the use of the instrument to evaluate the clinical judgment of nurses regarding the application of the steps of the NP. Thus, the use of the LCJR is encouraged as a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions performed to nurses and, consequently, stimulate clinical judgment.

Running Endurance in Women Compared to Men: Retrospective Analysis of Matched Real-World Big Data.

To determine whether the gap in endurance performance between men and women is reduced as distances increase, i.e. if there is a sex difference in endurance, one can analyse the performance of elite runners, all participants, or one can pair women and men during short-distance events and examine the difference over longer distances. The first two methods have caveats, and the last method has never been performed with a large dataset. This was the goal of the present study. A dataset including 38,860 trail running races from 1989 to 2021 in 221 countries was used. It provided information on 1,881,070 unique runners, allowing 7251 pairs of men and women with the same relative level of performance to be obtained, i.e. the same percentage of the winner time of the considered race on short races (25-45km-effort) that were compared during longer races (45-260km-effort). The effect of distance on sex differences in average speed was determined using a gamma mixed model. The gap between sexes decreased as distance increases, i.e. men's speed decreased by 4.02% (confidence interval 3.80-4.25) for every 10km-effort increase, whereas it decreased by 3.25% (confidence interval 3.02-3.46) for women. The men-women ratio decreases from 1.237 (confidence interval 1.232-1.242) for a 25km-effort to 1.031 (confidence interval 1.011-1.052) for a 260km-effort. This interaction was modulated by the level of performance, i.e. the greater the performance level of the runner, the lower the difference in endurance between sexes. This study shows for the first time that the gap between men and women shrinks when trail running distance increases, which demonstrates that endurance is greater in women. Although women narrow the performance gap with men as race distance increases, top male performers still outperform the top women.

Do Animal Welfare Schemes Promote Better Animal Health? An Empirical Investigation of German Pork Production

Animal welfare programs support lower production intensity and environmental enrichment to create additional value for animals and consumers, by facilitating farms to resolve the conflict between animal welfare and efficient farming. Yet, the success of such enrichments in improving animal welfare and thus the productive performance depends on farmers’ production process management. Complexity of animal welfare, and its unclear role for the hog finishing process’ performance, challenges the evaluation of animal welfare programs. Using unique farm-level data comprising cost accounting and production economic data, participation status in the German program “Initiative Tierwohl” and animal health scores collected at the abattoir, we investigate the relationship between farm performance, animal health and program participation. This study relies on relative farm performance measures of technical and cost efficiency, obtained by nonparametric data envelopment analysis. Statistical correlation analysis and distribution difference testing was supported by locally estimated scatterplot smoothing. The findings indicate the possibility for high farm performance with low prevalence rates of internal organ alterations, also for non-participants. Program participants, however, achieved better relative farm performance and higher levels of respiratory health scores. Based on the indications from abattoir data, no statistically significant relationship between animal health and farm performance, and no moderating role of the program could be found for the sampled farms. We conclude that low threshold programs, such as the “Initiative Tierwohl”, might provide an incentive for adjusting the environment and can thus contribute to increasing sustainability in pork production.

Factors Influencing Running Velocity at Lactate Threshold in Male and Female Runners at Different Levels of Performance.

BackgroundThe primary aim was to examine the relationship between lactate threshold (LT) expressed as percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and running velocity at LT (LTV). A secondary aim was to investigate to what extent VO2max, oxygen cost of running (CR), and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) determined LTV. A third aim was to investigate potential differences in LT and LTV between elite, national and recreational runners, as well as possible gender differences regarding VO2max, CR, LT, and LTV.MethodsSeventy-five competitive runners (37 males and 38 females) with an average VO2max of 63.0 ± 9.3 mL⋅kg–1⋅min–1, and an average LTV of 13.6 ± 2.3 km⋅h–1 were tested for VO2max, LT, LTV, MAS, and CR.ResultsLactate threshold did not correlate with LTV. With an r – value of 0.95 (p < 0.001) and a standard error of estimate of 4.0%, the product of MAS and individual LT determined 90% of LTV, outside a range of ±0.27 km⋅h–1. LTV increased with higher performance level. However, LT did not differ between elite, national and recreational runners. Female runners had 2.5% higher LT, 8% lower LTV, and 21% lower VO2max, but 9% better CR than male runners.ConclusionLactate threshold did not correlate with LTV. The product of MAS and LT correlated strongly with LTV. There were no differences between elite, national and recreational runners regarding LT, but female runners had higher LT than the male runners. Female runners at the same relative performance level had lower LTV and VO2max, but better CR than male runners.

The relative performance levels of archers in ranking rounds and matches

Major international target archery competitions include World Cups, World Championships and the Olympic Games. Those events include both a 72-arrow ranking round and then one-on-one ranked knock-out matches, until one archer or team remains. Previous modelling of the probabilities of winning podium positions at these events has assumed that the distance of an archer’s arrows from the centre of the target is normally distributed and that an archer’s performance levels in ranking rounds and matches are the same. This paper considers those two assumptions. For the top level of men’s recurve archers, this study determined that those assumptions are reasonable.

Psychopathological and neuropsychological endophenotypes of children with disruptive behaviour

Childhood Disruptive Behaviors (DBs) are a robust predictor of delinquency, academic failure, social difficulties, and persistent mental health disorders and one of the most frequent reasons for referral to children's mental health services. Although high prevalence and referral rates and negative outcomes signal great need, current treatment approaches are inadequate with recent data estimating that approximately 25–40% of children continue to experience clinically-significant symptoms following treatment completion. Current research points to heterogeneity as one factor limiting treatment effectiveness, and the present study aimed to distill some of this heterogeneity by identifying data driven subgroups based on key dimensions of psychopathology and neuropsychological abilities. First, data from children 6–12 years ( n = 143) referred to a clinic for youth with DBs were analyzed using Latent class analysis (LCA) to determine classes (i.e., subgroups) based on measures of children's callous-unemotional (CU) traits, emotion regulation, and objective executive function (EF) task performance. Second, identified classes were compared on three parent- and teacher-rated outcome variables: level of functional impairment, social functioning, and conduct problems. Four classes emerged with varying relative levels of psychopathology and EF task performance. Classes with elevated levels of CU traits and poor selective attention had the greatest levels of conduct problems and overall impairment. Findings may inform more refined assessment processes, the discovery of novel treatment targets, and future treatment innovation for children with DBs and their families.

How gaze time on screen impacts the efficacy of visual instructions

This article explores whether GTS (gaze time on screen) can be useful as an engagement measure in the screen mediated learning context. Research that exemplifies ways of measuring engagement in the on-line education context usually does not address engagement metrics and engagement evaluation methods that are unique to the diverse contemporary instructional media landscape. Nevertheless, unambiguous construct definitions of engagement and standardized engagement evaluation methods are needed to leverage instructional media's efficacy. By analyzing the results from a mixed methods eye-tracking study of fifty-seven participants evaluating their visual and assembly performance levels in relation to three visual, procedural instructions that are versions of the same procedural instruction, we found that the mean GTS-values in each group were rather similar. However, the original GTS-values outputted from the ET-computer were not entirely correct and needed to be manually checked and cross validated. Thus, GTS appears not to be a reliable, universally applicable automatic engagement measure in screen-based instructional efforts. Still, we could establish that the overall performance of learners was somewhat negatively impacted by lower than mean GTS-scores, when checking the performance levels of the entire group (N = 57). When checking the stimuli groups individually (N = 17, 20, 20), the structural diagram group's assembly time durations were positively influenced by higher than mean GTS-scores.

Comparative Study of Performance and Productivity of MVC and MVVM design patterns

Abstract. The research compares the patterns for user interfaces Model View Controller (MVC) and Model ViewView Model (MVVM) using .Net technologies for the system development for sales and purchasing management of a company. The inductive method is used to recognize, obtain and measure the results of performance and productivity variables based on the tests of two prototypes created for the MVC and MVVM pattern. For the performance tests we used: performance measurement tools Visual Studio 2012 Ultimate. The obtained results show that MVVM pattern presents better conditions of performance and productivity meeting the 95.1% of its performance levels with respect to the MVC pattern that fulfills the 41.6% of its performance levels in relation to the performance and productivity with a level of significance of 95% and a margin of error of 5%.

Ongoing Relative Performance Evaluation for a CO2 EOR Asset in a Worldwide Peer Group

. Operators of a CO2 EOR asset need to know the relative performance level of their asset against its peers. The ongoing relative performance evaluation method is appropriate for this purpose. We first choose 52 CO2 assets around the world as the peer group, and then define the four ranking levels in terms of CO2consumption ratio. Only the final values of CO2consumption ratio for the group are obtained, and therefore cannot be used for an ongoing evaluation during a CO2 EOR asset’s life circle. Consequently, numerical reservoir simulation is employed to quantify the process values corresponding to the four ranking levels. Type curve plots are generated on the basis of the process values and utilized for the ongoing relative performance evaluation of a CO2 EOR asset in China.

Productive efficiency and its determinants in the Community Dental Service in the north-west of England.

To assess the efficiency of service provision in the Community Dental Services and its determinants in the North-West of England. 40 Community Dental Services sites operating across the North-West of England. A data envelopment analysis was undertaken of inputs (number of surgeries, hours worked by dental officers, therapists, hygienists and others) and outputs (treatments delivered, number of courses of treatment and patients seen) of the Community Dental Services to produce relative efficiency ratings by health authority. These were further analyzed in order to identify which inputs (determined within the Community Dental Services) or external factors outside the control of the Community Dental Services are associated with efficiency. Relative efficiency rankings in Community Dental Services production of dental healthcare. Using the quantity of treatments delivered as the measure of output, on average the Community Dental Services in England is operating at a relative efficiency of 85% (95% confidence interval 77%- 99%) compared to the best performing services. Average efficiency is lower when courses of treatment and unique patients seen are used as output measures, 82% and 68% respectively. Neither the input mix nor the patient case mix explained variations in the efficiency across Community Dental Services. Although large variations in performance exist across Community Dental Services, the data available was not able to explain these variations. A useful next step would be to undertake detailed case studies of several best and under-performing services to explore the factors that influence relative performance levels.

Widening participation and contextual entry policy in accounting and finance

ABSTRACTThe paper examines the performance of accounting and finance students entering university via a ‘widening participation’ scheme that seeks to attract students who have been historically under-represented in higher education. Focus is placed on the policy of providing contextual entry offers that recognise that academic qualifications be judged in the social context in which they were achieved. Accounting and finance recruits the highest proportion of ‘widening participation’ students at a UK ‘Russell Group’ university and provides a key arena for investigating widening participation policy. The study is based on a quantitative analysis of relative performance levels over 12 years and interview findings with 27 students. The quantitative results show that those receiving contextual offers perform at least as well at university level as students with equivalent entry qualifications, thereby supporting contextual entry offer policy. The paper also provides insights into why accounting and finance is popular with ‘widening participation’ students.

Revenue management analysis with competitive sets

Growing concerns about the integrity of the revenue per available room index—the lodging industry de facto performance measure—stem from previously published empirical evidence concerning the competitive set’s venerability and from management’s financial incentives to outperform the hotel’s competitive set. This study demonstrates the potential of the decision to include or exclude a hotel in, or from, competitive set averages to bias its performance index. The analysis shows that the bias potential is nonlinear and asymmetric in relation to the subject hotel’s revenues, and uses this revealed asymmetry to prove that when future relative performance levels are uncertain, exclusion tactics is preferred. Finally, the study demonstrates how the relative nature of the performance indicator, coupled with management potential opportunistic inclusion/exclusion competitive set tactics, are detrimental to the perceived desirability of co-opetition strategies.

The effect of the MTHFR C677T mutation on athletic performance and the homocysteine level of soccer players and sedentary individuals.

This study investigated athletic performance and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in relation to the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation and explored the relationship between this mutation and other cardiac risk factors in soccer players and sedentary individuals. The study groups consisted of randomly selected soccer players (n=48) from the Turkish Super and Major League and sedentary male students (n=48) aged 18-27. Anthropometric variables, aerobic and anaerobic thresholds were measured, furthermore, biochemical assays were performed. The level of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, Hcy, folate, vitamin B12, hemogram and MTHFR C677T was investigated. The results showed that there was a statistical difference between the two groups in terms of body mass, body fat, the BMI, the aerobic threshold heart rate (ATHR), aerobic threshold velocity (ATVL) and anaerobic threshold velocity (ANTVL). The soccer players were found to have lower levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and higher levels of folate than the sedentary participants. The analysis of the alleles of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism showed that the participants that carried TT genotypes had a lower level of vitamin B12 and folate, and a higher level of Hcy than the participants carrying CC and CT genotypes. In conclusion, the baseline homocysteine and cardiovascular fitness levels of healthy young males with the TT genotypes of the MTHFR C677T genotype were found to strongly correlate with their levels of Hcy.

Are there any top FDI performers among EU-15 and CEE countries? A comparative panel data analysis

This paper examines the major determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 26 European Union (EU) countries using panel data. Our empirical study takes a different approach by separating European countries into two groups: Western (EU-15) countries and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The results from the panel data analysis of FDI inflows to 26 EU countries for the period 1994-2012 show that: (1) traditional location variables such as market size, trade openness, unemployment, infrastructure, tax rate and unit labour costs are able, to a large extent, to explain FDI flows to both groups of countries; (2) there are country-specific factors such as economic growth, unit labour costs and credit risk that contribute to the differences in FDI patterns across EU-15 and CEECs; and (3) policy and institutional quality factors are found to play an important role for both groups of countries. When analyzing host countries based on their relative level of performance, we find that the top ten FDI performers are able to attract a significant amount of FDI because of their macroeconomic stability and high level of institutional development, while for EU countries with low FDI dominance, policy and institutional risk factors play a more important role.

Comparing Satisfaction, Life-Stress, Coping and Academic Performance of Counselling Students in On-Campus and Distance Education Learning Environments

Distance education students are confronted with a range of additional challenges as part of their tertiary study experience. A quantitative approach was used to identify the challenges they face, their relative levels of satisfaction, coping strategies, and academic performance. Two hundred and ninety-five students (64 male and 231 female) participated by completing a survey that included measures of satisfaction, stress, coping, and academic performance. All were enrolled in an Australian university and studied either on campus or in one of two distance education (DE) modes, off-campus and offshore. While there were some differences in satisfaction expressed between DE and on-campus students, there were no significant differences between the groups on measures of stress or academic performance. The differences between the three groups’ use of coping strategies was less clear. Possible explanations for the differences between the groups are discussed.

Composite Strain Hardening Properties of High Performance Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Hybrid fibres addition in concrete proved to be a promising method to improve the composite mechanical properties of the cementitious system. Fibre combinations involving different fibre lengths and moduli were added in high strength slag based concrete to evaluate the strain hardening properties. Influence of hybrid fibres consisting of steel and polypropylene fibres added in slag based cementitious system (50% CRL) was explored. Effects of hybrid fibre addition at optimum volume fraction of 2% of steel fibres and 0.5% of PP fibres (long and short steel fibre combinations) were observed in improving the postcrack strength properties of concrete. Test results also indicated that the hybrid steel fibre additions in slag based concrete consisting of short steel and polypropylene (PP) fibres exhibited a the highest compressive strength of 48.56 MPa. Comparative analysis on the performance of monofibre concrete consisting of steel and PP fibres had shown lower residual strength compared to hybrid fibre combinations. Hybrid fibres consisting of long steel-PP fibres potentially improved the absolute and residual toughness properties of concrete composite up to a maximum of 94.38% compared to monofibre concrete. In addition, the relative performance levels of different hybrid fibres in improving the matrix strain hardening, postcrack toughness, and residual strength capacity of slag based concretes were evaluated systematically.

Risk-based seismic performance assessment of Yielding Shear Panel Device

Yielding Shear Panel Devices (YSPDs) have recently been proposed to facilitate passive energy dissipation of building frames during seismic activity and hence protect major structural components from excessive stress. A YSPD is composed of a thin steel diaphragm plate encapsulated within a square hollow steel tube, which is bolted to the structure to utilize the inelastic shear deformation capability of the steel diaphragm plate for energy dissipation and for consequent modification to the structural response. This paper conducts probabilistic performance evaluation to assess the appropriateness of YSPDs given uncertainty in the occurrence and intensity of earthquakes, material strength, stiffness, structural response, etc., and evaluate performance based on size, number and configuration of YSPDs. A fragility analysis is conducted, which identifies the probability of exceeding a structural damage level depending on ground motion intensity, along with a limit state probability analysis to quantify the annual exceedance probability of a specified damage level. A mathematical model to represent YSPDs in a finite element code is developed and the model is used for analyzing a case study steel moment frame with alternative YSPD designs. The study reveals the potential for considerable reduction in the median fragility and annual limit state exceedance probability due to the inclusion of YSPDs through a V-brace system. However, the effectiveness of different YSPD orientations is varied and their relative performance levels are discussed in detail. Overall, the study shows the suitability of YSPD as a passive energy dissipation device and the potential to utilize this device to help achieve performance-based objectives for buildings in seismic zones.

Impact of Contextual Factors and Substance Characteristics on Perspectives toward Cognitive Enhancement

Enhancing cognitive performance with substances–especially prescription drugs–is a fiercely debated topic among scholars and in the media. The empirical basis for these discussions is limited, given that the actual nature of factors that influence the acceptability of and willingness to use cognitive enhancement substances remains unclear. In an online factorial survey, contextual and substance-specific characteristics of substances that improve academic performance were varied experimentally and presented to respondents. Students in four German universities rated their willingness to use and moral acceptance of different substances for cognitive enhancement. We found that the overall willingness to use performance enhancing substances is low. Most respondents considered the use of these substances as morally unacceptable. Situational influences such as peer pressure, policies concerning substance use, relative performance level of peers, but also characteristics of the substance, such as perceptions of substance safety, shape the willingness and acceptability of using a substance to enhance academic performance. Among the findings is evidence of a contagion effect meaning that the willingness was higher when the respondents have more CE drug users in their social network. We also found deterrence effects from strong side effects of using the substance, as well as from policy regulations and sanctions. Regulations might activate social norms against usage and sanctions can be seen as costly to users. Moreover, enhancement substances seem to be most tempting to low performers to catch up with others compared to high performers. By identifying contextual factors and substance characteristics influencing the willingness and acceptability of cognitive enhancers, policy approaches could consider these insights to better manage the use of such substances.