Development and reliability of two core stability field tests

Because of the recognized link between core stability and back and lower extremity injury in sport, additional field tests that assess the strength and power component of core stability are needed to identify athletes at risk of such injury. To that end, we developed and tested the reliability of the front and side abdominal power tests (FAPT and SAPT), which were adapted from plyometric medicine ball exercises. The FAPT and SAPT were performed by explosively contracting the core musculature using the arms as a lever to project a medicine ball. Twenty-four untrained young women (aged 20.9 +/- 1.1 year) completed three trials each of the FAPT and SAPT on separate nonconsecutive days. The average distance the medicine ball was projected on each day was recorded; power was inferred from this measure. There was an approximately 3% increase in the mean distance between the testing sessions for the FAPT and SAPT; this was not significant and indicates there was no learning effect in the measurement protocol. Heteroscedasticity was present in the SAPT data but not the FAPT data. For the FAPT, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.95, standard error of measurement was 24 cm, and random error using the limits of agreement method was 67.5 cm. For the SAPT, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.93, mean coefficient of variation was 9.8%, and the limits of agreement ratio was 36.8%. The FAPT and SAPT displayed excellent test-retest reliability, as well as acceptable measurement error. These findings suggest the FAPT and SAPT are reliable tests and may be used to assess the power component of core stability in young women.     

Interrater reliability and time measurement validity of speed-agility field tests in adolescents

The aim of this study was to examine the interrater reliability (trained vs. untrained raters) and criterion-related validity (manual vs. automatic timing) of the 4 × 10-m shuttle run and 30-m running speed tests (times measured). The study comprised 85 adolescents (38 girls) aged 13.0-16.9 years from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study. The time required to complete the 4 × 10-m shuttle run and 30-m running tests was simultaneously measured (a) manually with a stopwatch by both trained and untrained raters (for interrater reliability analysis), and (b) by using photoelectric cells (for validity analysis). Systematic error, random error, and heteroscedasticity were studied with repeated-measured analysis of variance and Bland-Altman plots. The systematic error for untrained vs. trained raters and the untrained raters vs. photoelectric cells were in all cases ～0.1 seconds (p < 0.01), that is, untrained raters recorded higher times. No systematic error was found between trained raters and photoelectric cells (p > 0.05). No heteroscedasticity was shown in any case (p > 0.05). The findings indicate that manual measurements by a trained rater, using a stopwatch, seem to be a valid method to assess speed and agility fitness testing in adolescents. Researchers must be trained to minimize the measurement error.     

Studies on the development of an ELISA kit for microbiological monitoring. 1. Evaluation of the reliability of the prototype kit by field tests

The prototype of an ELISA kit using protein A as the second reaction reagent for mice and anti-rat IgG for rats was prepared for seromonitoring of the Sendai virus and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)/sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDAV)/Parker's rat coronavirus (PCV) infections. The respective antigen strains and protein concentrations were Sendai virus MN strain, 2 micrograms/ml and MHV Nu-67 strain, 5 micrograms/ml. The reliability of this prototype kit was investigated in two field tests performed on a total of 10,094 mouse and rat sera from 147 institutions. The results indicated that the two types of kits for the two species of animals were highly specific, but it is necessary to increase the detection sensitivity of the MHV antigen for the MHV antibody of mice and SDAV/PCV antibodies of rats.     

Between-session reliability of four hop tests and the agility T-test

The purposes of this study were firstly to investigate whether learning affects were present in the administration of 4 hop tests and the Agility T-test and secondly to assess the between-session reliability of these tests. Twenty-two recreational athletes (11 women: age 22.3 ± 3.7 years, height 167.7 ± 6.2 cm, weight 59.2 ± 6.9 kg and 11 men: age 22.8 ± 3.1 years, height 179.8 ± 4 cm, weight 79.6 ± 10 kg) took part in the study. The subjects performed 6 repetitions of each hop test and 4 repetitions of the Agility T-test once a week over a period of 3 weeks. Distances were normalized to leg length and presented as a percentage value for the single, triple and crossover hop. Results showed that there were significant differences in scores between genders and that learning affects were present in all tests. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.76 to 0.92 for the hop tests and 0.82 to 0.96 for the Agility T-test. The results indicated that the hop and Agility T-tests are reliable tests for use with subjects in a clinical or team sport environment. The error measurement statistics presented could be of help to practitioners to determine whether changes in individuals' scores in the hop and Agility T-tests are because of a true change in performance or measurement error. Of most importance was the fact that all subjects achieved at least 90% limb symmetry index on all 4 hop tests. Therefore, we recommend that a minimum limb symmetry value of 90%, rather than previously recommended 85%, should be adopted during rehabilitation and conditioning.     

Test-retest reliability of three different countermovement jumping tests

In studies of physical performance comprising muscle strength and power, a vertical jump is a test method that frequently is used. It is important to have access to accurate measuring tools providing data with high reproducibility. Studies have shown that body composition also may play an important part in physical performance. The purpose of this study was to determine test-retest reliability for 3 different kinds of vertical jumps and to correlate jump height with body composition. Thirty-four normally trained subjects (women n = 17) between 18 and 25 years participated. Test-retest, on 3 kinds of vertical jumps, was performed with a median of 7 days between jumps. Methods used were a countermovement jump (CMJ) on a contact mat, with and without arm swing, and an Abalakow jump (AJ) using measuring tape, with arm swing. Body composition was assessed with the use of bioelectric impedance analysis. The results showed that high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were observed between testing occasions for all 3 vertical jumps (ICC between 0.48 and 0.88). The AJ in women presented the lowest ICC. Also the correlation between CMJ and AJ was high (rs = 0.88). Moderate-to-high correlations could be shown between body composition and CMJ in women (rs = -0.57-0.76). In conclusion, very high test-retest reliability for CMJ on a contact mat was found. For the AJ using a measuring tape, ICC were overall high, but a moderate nonsignificant ICC were found in women, indicating poor reproducibility. The data from the CMJ and AJ may be compared if approximately 25% of the AJ value is subtracted. In practice, this means that vertical jump tests have high reproducibility and can be used as measures of power development.     

Test-retest reliability of 4 single-leg horizontal hop tests

The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of 4 single-leg horizontal hop tests (i.e., single hop for distance, triple hop for distance, crossover hop for distance, and 6-m hop for time), with a time interval of approximately 4 weeks separating the 2 testing sessions. Eighteen healthy, young, adult men, all cadets enrolled at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, performed the single hop for distance, the triple hop for distance, the crossover hop for distance, and the 6-m hop for time during 2 testing sessions separated by 31.2 +/- 0.4 days. Reliability data for each of the single-leg hop tests were studied through a repeated measures analysis of variance, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and standard errors of measurement (SEMs). The ICCs ranged from 0.92 to 0.97 for the 4 single-leg hop tests. The SEMs for the single-leg hop tests that assessed the distance hopped ranged from 4.61 to 17.74 cm. The SEM for the 6-m hop for time test was 0.06 seconds. No significant differences were noted when the mean scores of the 2 test trials were compared by a repeated measures analysis of variance for any of the single-leg hop tests. These results indicate that the single-leg hop tests examined in this study offer strength and conditioning professionals a reliable method to assess the single-leg horizontal hopping capabilities of healthy, young, adult men, with intervals of approximately 4 weeks between testing sessions.     

Empirical tests of the reliability of phylogenetic trees constructed with microsatellite DNA

Microsatellite DNA loci or short tandem repeats (STRs) are abundant in eukaryotic genomes and are often used for constructing phylogenetic trees of closely related populations or species. These phylogenetic trees are usually constructed by using some genetic distance measure based on allele frequency data, and there are many distance measures that have been proposed for this purpose. In the past the efficiencies of these distance measures in constructing phylogenetic trees have been studied mathematically or by computer simulations. Recently, however, allele frequencies of 783 STR loci have been compiled from various human populations. We have therefore used these empirical data to investigate the relative efficiencies of different distance measures in constructing phylogenetic trees. The results showed that (1) the probability of obtaining the correct branching pattern of a tree (PC) is generally highest for DA distance; (2) FST*, standard genetic distance (DS), and FST/(1-FST) give similar PC-values, FST* being slightly better than the other two; and (3) (deltamu)2 shows PC-values much lower than the other distance measures. To have reasonably high PC-values for trees similar to ours, at least 30 loci with a minimum of 15 individuals are required when DA distance is used.     

Ecological Field Theory: the concept and field tests

Ecological field theory (EFT) quantifies plant spatial influences as pulsating geometric zones about individual plants. It provides the basis for a methodology to include spatial interactions between plants of different size, function and growth-form in models of plant community dynamics. The key components of EFT are: 1. the influence domain of individuals (D), 2. the field intensity within the domains (I), 3. the influence surface (ID) and 4. the intensity of interactions (II). The means to calculate these key components are outlined and several tests of the methodology as applied to a semi-arid eucalypt woodland are presented. The tests include a comparison of measured shrub growth with a computer implementation of EFT (the RESCOMP model) and spatial growth data from the eucalypt woodland to support the postulates included in EFT. Practical uses expected for the method are in agroforestry, landscape rehabilitation, simulations of disturbance effects and in determining invasibility of plant communities.Abbreviations ARGR = Actual Relative Growth Rate - EFT = Ecological Field Theory - IRM = Integrated Rate Method - PRGR = Potential Relative Growth Rate - RESCOMP= RESource COMPetition model - SMRGR = Spatially Modified Relative Growth Rate     

Validity and reliability of agility tests in junior Australian football players

Young, W, Farrow, D, Pyne, D, McGregor, W, and Handke, T. Validity and reliability of agility tests in junior Australian football players. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3399-3403, 2011-The importance of sport-specific stimuli in reactive agility tests (RATs) compared to other agility tests is not known. The purpose of this research was to determine the validity and reliability of agility tests. Fifty junior Australian football players aged 15-17 years, members of either an elite junior squad (n = 35) or a secondary school team (n = 15), were assessed on a new RAT that involved a change of direction sprint in response to the movements of an attacking player projected in life size on a screen. These players also underwent the planned Australian Football League agility test, and a subgroup (n = 13) underwent a test requiring a change of direction in response to a left or right arrow stimulus. The elite players were significantly better than the school group players on the RAT (2.81 ± 0.08 seconds, 3.07 ± 0.12 seconds; difference 8.5%) but not in the arrow stimulus test or planned agility test. The data were log transformed and the reliability of the new RAT estimated using typical error (TE) expressed as a coefficient of variation. The TE for the RAT was 2.7% (2.0-4.3, 90% confidence interval) or 0.07 seconds (0.5-1.0), with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.33. For the test using the arrow stimulus, the TE was 3.4% (2.4-6.2), 0.09 (0.06-0.15) seconds, and ICC was 0.10. The sport-specific stimulus provided by the new RAT is a crucial component of an agility test; however, adoption of the new RAT for routine testing is likely to require more accessible equipment and several familiarization trials to improve its reliability.     

Evaluation of physical fitness from field tests at high altitude in circumpubertal boys: comparison with laboratory data

Field tests of running and laboratory tests were performed in La Paz [high altitude (HA), 3700 m] and in Clermont-Ferrand [low altitude (LA), 300 m] to investigate their validity at HA. Prepubertal boys of mean ages 10.6 years (HA1,n = 16; LA1,n = 28) and pubertal boys of 13.7 years (HA2,n = 12; LA2,n = 41) took part in the study. All the boys performed a 30-m sprint (v _30m), a 30-s shuttle run (v _3os) and a progressive shuttle run test until their maximal aerobic velocity (v _maxsRT). Maximal oxygen consumption was extrapolated from the last test. . In the laboratory, the boys performed a force-velocity test (P _max), a Wingate test (P _Wing) and a graded test to measure maximal oxygen consumption ; direct method) on a cycle ergometer. At similar ages, there was no significant difference between HA and LA boys forv _30m andP _max. Thev _30s of HA boys was 3%–4% lower than those of LA boys (P<0.05); there was no significant difference forP _Wing. Significant relationships were observed at both altitudes betweenP _max (watts per kilogram) andv _30m (HA:r=0.76; LA:r=0.84) and betweenP _Wing andv _30s (HA:r=0.67; LA:r = 0.77); the slopes and the origins were the same at HA and LA. The ,v _maxSRT and were lower by 9%, 12% and 20%, respectively, at HA than at LA (P<0.05). However, the relationships between and (litres per minute) at HA (r=0.88) and at LA (r=0.93) were identical. In conclusion, chronic hypoxia did not modify performance in very short dash exercises. The influence of HA appeared when the exercise duration increased and, during a maximal shuttle run test, performance was reduced by 10% at HA. Moreover, it was possible to assessP _max,P _Wing and at HA as well as at LA from field tests.     

Simple tests for the validation of multiple field spin relaxation data

¹⁵N spin relaxation data is widely used to extract detailed dynamic information regarding bond vectors such as the amide N–H bond of the protein backbone. Analysis is typically carried using the Lipari–Szabo model-free approach. Even though the original model-free equation can be determined from single field R ₁, R ₂ and NOE, over-determination of more complex motional models is dependent on the recording of multiple field datasets. This is especially important for the characterization of conformational exchange which affects R ₂ in a field dependent manner. However, severe artifacts can be introduced if inconsistencies arise between experimental setups with different magnets (or samples). Here, we propose the use of simple tests as validation tools for the assessment of consistency between different datasets recorded at multiple magnetic fields. Synthetic data are used to show the effects of inconsistencies on the proposed tests. Moreover, an analysis of data currently deposited in the BMRB is performed. Finally, two cases from our laboratory are presented. These tests are implemented in the open-source program relax, and we propose their use as a routine check-up for assessment of multiple field dataset consistency prior to any analysis such as model-free calculations. We believe this will aid in the extraction of higher quality dynamics information from ¹⁵N spin relaxation data.     

Sex-specific reliability and multidimensional stability of responses to tests assessing neuromuscular function

The objective of this study was to estimate sex-specific effects in the test–retest cross-reliability of peripheral and central changes in nonlinear and linear measures of a surface electromyography signal during a brief (5 second) and sustained (2 minute) isometric maximal voluntary contraction, combined with superimposed electrical stimulation involving the ankle plantar flexors over five identical trials. In this study, we repeated the testing protocol used in our previous study of 10 women (age 20.9, SD = 0.3 years) (Bernecke et al., 2015) in a group of 10 men (age 21.2, SD = 0.4 years). Despite the central (sex effect; p < 0.05, η_p² > 0.71, SP > 70%) and peripheral fatigability (sex effect; p < 0.01, η_p² > 0.8, SP > 90%) during sustained isometric maximal voluntary contraction, and lower reliability for central activation ratio during brief (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.95 for men and ICC = 0.82 for women) and sustained maximal voluntary contraction (ICC > 0.82 for men and ICC > 0.66 for women) over ankle plantar flexors expressed in women more than in men, all the ICCs of all indices measured by tests assessing neuromuscular function across the five identical test–retest trials were found as meaningful (correlation significance of p < 0.05 was reached) and no significant differences were found between trials for any of the measured variables. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated greater central and peripheral fatigue for female participants following sustained (2 minute) isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the plantar flexor muscles for all repeated trials and indicated an acceptable agreement between measurements of the characteristic variables made using the three different devices (dynamometry, electrical stimulation, and surface electromyography) over time for both sexes.     

Increased reliability of the legal protection of Soviet inventions in the field of microbiology

The reliability of juridical protection of microbiological inventions which may result in the production of a commercial product is discussed in the paper. If the structure of an invention is strain-method-product, then juridical protection of each of the objects is possible. Protection of a product would be most reliable, but this is not always possible. Protection of a microbial strain is less typical of an invention, and is not reliable. Protection of a microbiological method of production has advantages over protection of a microbial strain since, in this case, the theory of equivalents can be applied.