TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mkaouer, Bessem
A1  - Amara, Samiha
A1  - Bouguezzi, Raja
A1  - Ben Abderrahmen, Abderraouf
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
T1  - Validity of a new sport-specific endurance test in artistic gymnastics
JF  - Frontiers in sports and active living
N2  - Introduction   General and particularly sport-specific testing is an integral aspect of performance optimization in artistic gymnastics. In artistic gymnastics, however, only non-specific field tests have been used to assess endurance performance (e.g., Multistage Shuttle Run Test; Cooper's Test).
Methods   This study aimed to examine the validity of a new sport-specific endurance test in artistic gymnastics. Fourteen elite-level gymnasts (i.e., eight males and six females) participated in this study. The newly developed artistic gymnastics-specific endurance test (AGSET) was conducted on two different occasions seven days apart to determine its reliability. To assess the concurrent validity of AGSET, participants performed the multistage shuttle run test (MSRT). Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were directly assessed using a portable gas analyzer system during both protocols. Additionally, the total time maintained (TTM) during the AGSET, maximum heart rate (HRmax), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and blood lactate concentration (BLa) during the two protocols were collected.
Results   The main findings indicated that all variables derived from the AGSET (i.e., VO2max, MAS, HRmax, BLa, and RER) displayed very good relative (all intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC] > 0.90) and absolute (all typical errors of measurement [TEM] < 5%) reliability. Further, results showed that the ability of the AGSET to detect small changes in VO2max, MAS, BLa, and RER was good (smallest worthwhile change [SWC0.2] > TEM), except HRmax (SWC0.2 < TEM). Additionally, results showed a nearly perfect association between the VO2max values derived from the AGSET and MSRT (r = 0.985; coefficient of determination [R-2] = 97%) with no statistically significant differences (p>0.05). The mean (bias) +/- 95% limits of agreement between the two protocols were 0.28 +/- 0.55 mlminkg-1.
Discussion   AGSET seems to present very good reliability and concurrent validity for assessing endurance performance in elite artistic gymnastics. In addition, the newly developed protocol presents a good ability to detect small changes in performance.
KW  - artistic gymnastics
KW  - field test
KW  - aerobic endurance
KW  - validity
KW  - reliability
KW  - assessment
KW  - physical fitness
KW  - elite athletes
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1159807
SN  - 2624-9367
VL  - 5
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koc, Julian
A1  - Simovich, Tomer
A1  - Schönemann, Eric
A1  - Chilkoti, Ashutosh
A1  - Gardner, Harrison
A1  - Swain, Geoffrey W.
A1  - Hunsucker, Kelli
A1  - Laschewsky, André
A1  - Rosenhahn, Axel
T1  - Sediment challenge to promising ultra-low fouling hydrophilic surfaces in the marine environment
JF  - Biofouling : the journal of bioadhesion and biofilm research
N2  - Hydrophilic coatings exhibit ultra-low fouling properties in numerous laboratory experiments. In stark contrast, the antifouling effect of such coatings in vitro failed when performing field tests in the marine environment. The fouling release performance of nonionic and zwitterionic hydrophilic polymers was substantially reduced compared to the controlled laboratory environment. Microscopy and spectroscopy revealed that a large proportion of the accumulated material in field tests contains inorganic compounds and diatomaceous soil. Diatoms adhered to the accumulated material on the coating, but not to the pristine polymer. Simulating field tests in the laboratory using sediment samples collected from the test sites showed that incorporated sand and diatomaceous earth impairs the fouling release characteristics of the coatings. When exposed to marine sediment from multiple locations, particulate matter accumulated on these coatings and served as attachment points for diatom adhesion and enhanced fouling. Future developments of hydrophilic coatings should consider accumulated sediment and its potential impact on the antifouling performance.
KW  - hydrogel
KW  - field test
KW  - fouling release
KW  - marine biofouling
KW  - sediment
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2019.1611790
SN  - 0892-7014
SN  - 1029-2454
VL  - 35
IS  - 4
SP  - 454
EP  - 462
PB  - Taylor & Francis
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mühlbauer, Thomas
A1  - Pabst, Jan
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Buesch, Dirk
T1  - Validity of the jump-and-reach test in subelite adolescent handball players
JF  - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA
KW  - Vertec device
KW  - Optojump system
KW  - vertical jump height
KW  - field test
KW  - athlete testing
KW  - region/point elastic gym floor
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001607
SN  - 1064-8011
SN  - 1533-4287
VL  - 31
SP  - 1282
EP  - 1289
PB  - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
CY  - Philadelphia
ER  -