@article{ChipmanFerrierBrenaetal.2014, author = {Chipman, Ariel D. and Ferrier, David E. K. and Brena, Carlo and Qu, Jiaxin and Hughes, Daniel S. T. and Schroeder, Reinhard and Torres-Oliva, Montserrat and Znassi, Nadia and Jiang, Huaiyang and Almeida, Francisca C. and Alonso, Claudio R. and Apostolou, Zivkos and Aqrawi, Peshtewani and Arthur, Wallace and Barna, Jennifer C. J. and Blankenburg, Kerstin P. and Brites, Daniela and Capella-Gutierrez, Salvador and Coyle, Marcus and Dearden, Peter K. and Du Pasquier, Louis and Duncan, Elizabeth J. and Ebert, Dieter and Eibner, Cornelius and Erikson, Galina and Evans, Peter D. and Extavour, Cassandra G. and Francisco, Liezl and Gabaldon, Toni and Gillis, William J. and Goodwin-Horn, Elizabeth A. and Green, Jack E. and Griffiths-Jones, Sam and Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P. and Gubbala, Sai and Guigo, Roderic and Han, Yi and Hauser, Frank and Havlak, Paul and Hayden, Luke and Helbing, Sophie and Holder, Michael and Hui, Jerome H. L. and Hunn, Julia P. and Hunnekuhl, Vera S. and Jackson, LaRonda and Javaid, Mehwish and Jhangiani, Shalini N. and Jiggins, Francis M. and Jones, Tamsin E. and Kaiser, Tobias S. and Kalra, Divya and Kenny, Nathan J. and Korchina, Viktoriya and Kovar, Christie L. and Kraus, F. Bernhard and Lapraz, Francois and Lee, Sandra L. and Lv, Jie and Mandapat, Christigale and Manning, Gerard and Mariotti, Marco and Mata, Robert and Mathew, Tittu and Neumann, Tobias and Newsham, Irene and Ngo, Dinh N. and Ninova, Maria and Okwuonu, Geoffrey and Ongeri, Fiona and Palmer, William J. and Patil, Shobha and Patraquim, Pedro and Pham, Christopher and Pu, Ling-Ling and Putman, Nicholas H. and Rabouille, Catherine and Ramos, Olivia Mendivil and Rhodes, Adelaide C. and Robertson, Helen E. and Robertson, Hugh M. and Ronshaugen, Matthew and Rozas, Julio and Saada, Nehad and Sanchez-Gracia, Alejandro and Scherer, Steven E. and Schurko, Andrew M. and Siggens, Kenneth W. and Simmons, DeNard and Stief, Anna and Stolle, Eckart and Telford, Maximilian J. and Tessmar-Raible, Kristin and Thornton, Rebecca and van der Zee, Maurijn and von Haeseler, Arndt and Williams, James M. and Willis, Judith H. and Wu, Yuanqing and Zou, Xiaoyan and Lawson, Daniel and Muzny, Donna M. and Worley, Kim C. and Gibbs, Richard A. and Akam, Michael and Richards, Stephen}, title = {The first myriapod genome sequence reveals conservative arthropod gene content and genome organisation in the centipede Strigamia maritima}, series = {PLoS biology}, volume = {12}, journal = {PLoS biology}, number = {11}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1545-7885}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.1002005}, pages = {24}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Myriapods (e. g., centipedes and millipedes) display a simple homonomous body plan relative to other arthropods. All members of the class are terrestrial, but they attained terrestriality independently of insects. Myriapoda is the only arthropod class not represented by a sequenced genome. We present an analysis of the genome of the centipede Strigamia maritima. It retains a compact genome that has undergone less gene loss and shuffling than previously sequenced arthropods, and many orthologues of genes conserved from the bilaterian ancestor that have been lost in insects. Our analysis locates many genes in conserved macro-synteny contexts, and many small-scale examples of gene clustering. We describe several examples where S. maritima shows different solutions from insects to similar problems. The insect olfactory receptor gene family is absent from S. maritima, and olfaction in air is likely effected by expansion of other receptor gene families. For some genes S. maritima has evolved paralogues to generate coding sequence diversity, where insects use alternate splicing. This is most striking for the Dscam gene, which in Drosophila generates more than 100,000 alternate splice forms, but in S. maritima is encoded by over 100 paralogues. We see an intriguing linkage between the absence of any known photosensory proteins in a blind organism and the additional absence of canonical circadian clock genes. The phylogenetic position of myriapods allows us to identify where in arthropod phylogeny several particular molecular mechanisms and traits emerged. For example, we conclude that juvenile hormone signalling evolved with the emergence of the exoskeleton in the arthropods and that RR-1 containing cuticle proteins evolved in the lineage leading to Mandibulata. We also identify when various gene expansions and losses occurred. The genome of S. maritima offers us a unique glimpse into the ancestral arthropod genome, while also displaying many adaptations to its specific life history.}, language = {en} } @article{ProcterCottrellWattsetal.2016, author = {Procter, Duncan S. and Cottrell, Joan E. and Watts, Kevin and Hofreiter, Michael and Robinson, Elva J. H.}, title = {Does cooperation mean kinship between spatially discrete ant nests?}, series = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {2045-7758}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.2590}, pages = {8846 -- 8856}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Eusociality is one of the most complex forms of social organization, characterized by cooperative and reproductive units termed colonies. Altruistic behavior of workers within colonies is explained by inclusive fitness, with indirect fitness benefits accrued by helping kin. Members of a social insect colony are expected to be more closely related to one another than they are to other conspecifics. In many social insects, the colony can extend to multiple socially connected but spatially separate nests (polydomy). Social connections, such as trails between nests, promote cooperation and resource exchange, and we predict that workers from socially connected nests will have higher internest relatedness than those from socially unconnected, and noncooperating, nests. We measure social connections, resource exchange, and internest genetic relatedness in the polydomous wood ant Formica lugubris to test whether (1) socially connected but spatially separate nests cooperate, and (2) high internest relatedness is the underlying driver of this cooperation. Our results show that socially connected nests exhibit movement of workers and resources, which suggests they do cooperate, whereas unconnected nests do not. However, we find no difference in internest genetic relatedness between socially connected and unconnected nest pairs, both show high kinship. Our results suggest that neighboring pairs of connected nests show a social and cooperative distinction, but no genetic distinction. We hypothesize that the loss of a social connection may initiate ecological divergence within colonies. Genetic divergence between neighboring nests may build up only later, as a consequence rather than a cause of colony separation.}, language = {en} } @article{AtsawawaranuntComasBruMozhdehietal.2018, author = {Atsawawaranunt, Kamolphat and Comas-Bru, Laia and Mozhdehi, Sahar Amirnezhad and Deininger, Michael and Harrison, Sandy P. and Baker, Andy and Boyd, Meighan and Kaushal, Nikita and Ahmad, Syed Masood and Brahim, Yassine Ait and Arienzo, Monica and Bajo, Petra and Braun, Kerstin and Burstyn, Yuval and Chawchai, Sakonvan and Duan, Wuhui and Hatvani, Istvan Gabor and Hu, Jun and Kern, Zoltan and Labuhn, Inga and Lachniet, Matthew and Lechleitner, Franziska A. and Lorrey, Andrew and Perez-Mejias, Carlos and Pickering, Robyn and Scroxton, Nick and Atkinson, Tim and Ayalon, Avner and Baldini, James and Bar-Matthews, Miriam and Pablo Bernal, Juan and Breitenbach, Sebastian Franz Martin and Boch, Ronny and Borsato, Andrea and Cai, Yanjun and Carolin, Stacy and Cheng, Hai and Columbu, Andrea and Couchoud, Isabelle and Cruz, Francisco and Demeny, Attila and Dominguez-Villar, David and Dragusin, Virgil and Drysdale, Russell and Ersek, Vasile and Finne, Martin and Fleitmann, Dominik and Fohlmeister, Jens Bernd and Frappier, Amy and Genty, Dominique and Holzkamper, Steffen and Hopley, Philip and Kathayat, Gayatri and Keenan-Jones, Duncan and Koltai, Gabriella and Luetscher, Marc and Li, Ting-Yong and Lone, Mahjoor Ahmad and Markowska, Monika and Mattey, Dave and McDermott, Frank and Moreno, Ana and Moseley, Gina and Nehme, Carole and Novello, Valdir F. and Psomiadis, David and Rehfeld, Kira and Ruan, Jiaoyang and Sekhon, Natasha and Sha, Lijuan and Sholz, Denis and Shopov, Yavor and Smith, Andrew and Strikis, Nicolas and Treble, Pauline and Unal-Imer, Ezgi and Vaks, Anton and Vansteenberge, Stef and Veiga-Pires, Cristina and Voarintsoa, Ny Riavo and Wang, Xianfeng and Wong, Corinne and Wortham, Barbara and Wurtzel, Jennifer and Zong, Baoyun}, title = {The SISAL database}, series = {Earth System Science Data}, volume = {10}, journal = {Earth System Science Data}, number = {3}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, organization = {SISAL Working Grp Members}, issn = {1866-3508}, doi = {10.5194/essd-10-1687-2018}, pages = {1687 -- 1713}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Stable isotope records from speleothems provide information on past climate changes, most particularly information that can be used to reconstruct past changes in precipitation and atmospheric circulation. These records are increasingly being used to provide "out-of-sample" evaluations of isotope-enabled climate models. SISAL (Speleothem Isotope Synthesis and Analysis) is an international working group of the Past Global Changes (PAGES) project. The working group aims to provide a comprehensive compilation of speleothem isotope records for climate reconstruction and model evaluation. The SISAL database contains data for individual speleothems, grouped by cave system. Stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon (delta O-18, delta C-13) measurements are referenced by distance from the top or bottom of the speleothem. Additional tables provide information on dating, including information on the dates used to construct the original age model and sufficient information to assess the quality of each data set and to erect a standardized chronology across different speleothems. The metadata table provides location information, information on the full range of measurements carried out on each speleothem and information on the cave system that is relevant to the interpretation of the records, as well as citations for both publications and archived data.}, language = {en} } @article{ComasBruHarrisonWerneretal.2019, author = {Comas-Bru, Laia and Harrison, Sandy P. and Werner, Martin and Rehfeld, Kira and Scroxton, Nick and Veiga-Pires, Cristina and Ahmad, Syed Masood and Brahim, Yassine Ait and Mozhdehi, Sahar Amirnezhad and Arienzo, Monica and Atsawawaranunt, Kamolphat and Baker, Andy and Braun, Kerstin and Breitenbach, Sebastian Franz Martin and Burstyn, Yuval and Chawchai, Sakonvan and Columbu, Andrea and Deininger, Michael and Demeny, Attila and Dixon, Bronwyn and Hatvani, Istvan Gabor and Hu, Jun and Kaushal, Nikita and Kern, Zoltan and Labuhn, Inga and Lachniet, Matthew S. and Lechleitner, Franziska A. and Lorrey, Andrew and Markowska, Monika and Nehme, Carole and Novello, Valdir F. and Oster, Jessica and Perez-Mejias, Carlos and Pickering, Robyn and Sekhon, Natasha and Wang, Xianfeng and Warken, Sophie and Atkinson, Tim and Ayalon, Avner and Baldini, James and Bar-Matthews, Miryam and Bernal, Juan Pablo and Boch, Ronny and Borsato, Andrea and Boyd, Meighan and Brierley, Chris and Cai, Yanjun and Carolin, Stacy and Cheng, Hai and Constantin, Silviu and Couchoud, Isabelle and Cruz, Francisco and Denniston, Rhawn and Dragusin, Virgil and Duan, Wuhui and Ersek, Vasile and Finne, Martin and Fleitmann, Dominik and Fohlmeister, Jens Bernd and Frappier, Amy and Genty, Dominique and Holzkamper, Steffen and Hopley, Philip and Johnston, Vanessa and Kathayat, Gayatri and Keenan-Jones, Duncan and Koltai, Gabriella and Li, Ting-Yong and Lone, Mahjoor Ahmad and Luetscher, Marc and Mattey, Dave and Moreno, Ana and Moseley, Gina and Psomiadis, David and Ruan, Jiaoyang and Scholz, Denis and Sha, Lijuan and Smith, Andrew Christopher and Strikis, Nicolas and Treble, Pauline and Unal-Imer, Ezgi and Vaks, Anton and Vansteenberge, Stef and Voarintsoa, Ny Riavo G. and Wong, Corinne and Wortham, Barbara and Wurtzel, Jennifer and Zhang, Haiwei}, title = {Evaluating model outputs using integrated global speleothem records of climate change since the last glacial}, series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {15}, journal = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {4}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, organization = {SISAL Working Grp}, issn = {1814-9324}, doi = {10.5194/cp-15-1557-2019}, pages = {1557 -- 1579}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Although quantitative isotope data from speleothems has been used to evaluate isotope-enabled model simulations, currently no consensus exists regarding the most appropriate methodology through which to achieve this. A number of modelling groups will be running isotope-enabled palaeoclimate simulations in the framework of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6, so it is timely to evaluate different approaches to using the speleothem data for data-model comparisons. Here, we illustrate this using 456 globally distributed speleothem δ18O records from an updated version of the Speleothem Isotopes Synthesis and Analysis (SISAL) database and palaeoclimate simulations generated using the ECHAM5-wiso isotope-enabled atmospheric circulation model. We show that the SISAL records reproduce the first-order spatial patterns of isotopic variability in the modern day, strongly supporting the application of this dataset for evaluating model-derived isotope variability into the past. However, the discontinuous nature of many speleothem records complicates the process of procuring large numbers of records if data-model comparisons are made using the traditional approach of comparing anomalies between a control period and a given palaeoclimate experiment. To circumvent this issue, we illustrate techniques through which the absolute isotope values during any time period could be used for model evaluation. Specifically, we show that speleothem isotope records allow an assessment of a model's ability to simulate spatial isotopic trends. Our analyses provide a protocol for using speleothem isotope data for model evaluation, including screening the observations to take into account the impact of speleothem mineralogy on δ18O values, the optimum period for the modern observational baseline and the selection of an appropriate time window for creating means of the isotope data for palaeo-time-slices.}, language = {en} } @article{HammamiChaabeneKharratetal.2021, author = {Hammami, Raouf and Chaabene, Helmi and Kharrat, Fatma and Werfelli, Hanen and Duncan, Michael and Rebai, Haithem and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Acute effects of different balance exercise types on selected measures of physical fitness in youth female volleyball players}, series = {BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation}, volume = {13}, journal = {BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1758-2555}, doi = {10.1186/s13102-021-00249-5}, pages = {8}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Earlier studies have shown that balance training (BT) has the potential to induce performance enhancements in selected components of physical fitness (i.e., balance, muscle strength, power, speed). While there is ample evidence on the long-term effects of BT on components of physical fitness in youth, less is known on the short-term or acute effects of single BT sessions on selected measures of physical fitness. Objective To examine the acute effects of different balance exercise types on balance, change-of-direction (CoD) speed, and jump performance in youth female volleyball players. Methods Eleven female players aged 14 years participated in this study. Three types of balance exercises (i.e., anterior, posterolateral, rotational type) were conducted in randomized order. For each exercise, 3 sets including 5 repetitions were performed. Before and after the performance of the balance exercises, participants were tested for their static balance (center of pressure surface area [CoP SA] and velocity [CoP V]) on foam and firm surfaces, CoD speed (T-Half test), and vertical jump height (countermovement jump [CMJ] height). A 3 (condition: anterior, mediolateral, rotational balance exercise type) × 2 (time: pre, post) analysis of variance was computed with repeated measures on time. Results Findings showed no significant condition × time interactions for all outcome measures (p > 0.05). However, there were small main effects of time for CoP SA on firm and foam surfaces (both d = 0.38; all p < 0.05) with no effect for CoP V on both surface conditions (p > 0.05). For CoD speed, findings showed a large main effect of time (d = 0.91; p < 0.001). However, for CMJ height, no main effect of time was observed (p > 0.05). Conclusions Overall, our results indicated small-to-large changes in balance and CoD speed performances but not in CMJ height in youth female volleyball players, regardless of the balance exercise type. Accordingly, it is recommended to regularly integrate balance exercises before the performance of sport-specific training to optimize performance development in youth female volleyball players.}, language = {en} } @article{WerfelliHammamiSelmietal.2021, author = {Werfelli, Hanen and Hammami, Raouf and Selmi, Mohamed Amine and Selmi, Walid and Gabrilo, Goran and Clark, Cain C. T. and Duncan, Michael and Sekulic, Damir and Granacher, Urs and Rebai, Haithem}, title = {Acute Effects of Different Plyometric and Strength Exercises on Balance Performance in Youth Weightlifters}, series = {Frontiers in Physiology}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Physiology}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-042X}, doi = {10.3389/fphys.2021.716981}, pages = {9}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background: High-intensity muscle actions have the potential to temporarily improve the performance which has been denoted as postactivation performance enhancement. Objectives: This study determined the acute effects of different stretch-shortening (fast vs. low) and strength (dynamic vs. isometric) exercises executed during one training session on subsequent balance performance in youth weightlifters. Materials and Methods: Sixteen male and female young weightlifters, aged 11.3±0.6years, performed four strength exercise conditions in randomized order, including dynamic strength (DYN; 3 sets of 3 repetitions of 10 RM) and isometric strength exercises (ISOM; 3 sets of maintaining 3s of 10 RM of back-squat), as well as fast (FSSC; 3 sets of 3 repetitions of 20-cm drop-jumps) and slow (SSSC; 3 sets of 3 hurdle jumps over a 20-cm obstacle) stretch-shortening cycle protocols. Balance performance was tested before and after each of the four exercise conditions in bipedal stance on an unstable surface (i.e., BOSU ball with flat side facing up) using two dependent variables, i.e., center of pressure surface area (CoP SA) and velocity (CoP V). Results: There was a significant effect of time on CoP SA and CoP V [F(1,60)=54.37, d=1.88, p<0.0001; F(1,60)=9.07, d=0.77, p=0.003]. In addition, a statistically significant effect of condition on CoP SA and CoP V [F(3,60)=11.81, d=1.53, p<0.0001; F(3,60)=7.36, d=1.21, p=0.0003] was observed. Statistically significant condition-by-time interactions were found for the balance parameters CoP SA (p<0.003, d=0.54) and CoP V (p<0.002, d=0.70). Specific to contrast analysis, all specified hypotheses were tested and demonstrated that FSSC yielded significantly greater improvements than all other conditions in CoP SA and CoP V [p<0.0001 (d=1.55); p=0.0004 (d=1.19), respectively]. In addition, FSSC yielded significantly greater improvements compared with the two conditions for both balance parameters [p<0.0001 (d=2.03); p<0.0001 (d=1.45)]. Conclusion: Fast stretch-shortening cycle exercises appear to be more effective to improve short-term balance performance in young weightlifters. Due to the importance of balance for overall competitive achievement in weightlifting, it is recommended that young weightlifters implement dynamic plyometric exercises in the fast stretch-shortening cycle during the warm-up to improve their balance performance.}, language = {en} } @misc{NevillNegraMyersetal.2021, author = {Nevill, Alan M. and Negra, Yassine and Myers, Tony D. and Duncan, Michael J. and Chaabene, Helmi and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Are Early or Late Maturers Likely to Be Fitter in the General Population?}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {695}, issn = {1866-8364}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-48992}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-489928}, pages = {18}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The present study aims to identify the optimal body-size/shape and maturity characteristics associated with superior fitness test performances having controlled for body-size, sex, and chronological-age differences. The sample consisted of 597 Tunisian children (396 boys and 201 girls) aged 8 to 15 years. Three sprint speeds recorded at 10, 20 and 30 m; two vertical and two horizontal jump tests; a change-of-direction and a handgrip-strength tests, were assessed during physical-education classes. Allometric modelling was used to identify the benefit of being an early or late maturer. Findings showed that being tall and light is the ideal shape to be successful at most physical fitness tests, but the height-to-weight "shape" ratio seems to be test-dependent. Having controlled for body-size/shape, sex, and chronological age, the model identified maturity-offset as an additional predictor. Boys who go earlier/younger through peak-height-velocity (PHV) outperform those who go at a later/older age. However, most of the girls' physical-fitness tests peaked at the age at PHV and decline thereafter. Girls whose age at PHV was near the middle of the age range would appear to have an advantage compared to early or late maturers. These findings have important implications for talent scouts and coaches wishing to recruit children into their sports/athletic clubs.}, language = {en} } @misc{WerfelliHammamiSelmietal.2021, author = {Werfelli, Hanen and Hammami, Raouf and Selmi, Mohamed Amine and Selmi, Walid and Gabrilo, Goran and Clark, Cain C. T. and Duncan, Michael and Sekulic, Damir and Granacher, Urs and Rebai, Haithem}, title = {Acute Effects of Different Plyometric and Strength Exercises on Balance Performance in Youth Weightlifters}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, issn = {1866-8364}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-54310}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-543109}, pages = {11}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background: High-intensity muscle actions have the potential to temporarily improve the performance which has been denoted as postactivation performance enhancement. Objectives: This study determined the acute effects of different stretch-shortening (fast vs. low) and strength (dynamic vs. isometric) exercises executed during one training session on subsequent balance performance in youth weightlifters. Materials and Methods: Sixteen male and female young weightlifters, aged 11.3±0.6years, performed four strength exercise conditions in randomized order, including dynamic strength (DYN; 3 sets of 3 repetitions of 10 RM) and isometric strength exercises (ISOM; 3 sets of maintaining 3s of 10 RM of back-squat), as well as fast (FSSC; 3 sets of 3 repetitions of 20-cm drop-jumps) and slow (SSSC; 3 sets of 3 hurdle jumps over a 20-cm obstacle) stretch-shortening cycle protocols. Balance performance was tested before and after each of the four exercise conditions in bipedal stance on an unstable surface (i.e., BOSU ball with flat side facing up) using two dependent variables, i.e., center of pressure surface area (CoP SA) and velocity (CoP V). Results: There was a significant effect of time on CoP SA and CoP V [F(1,60)=54.37, d=1.88, p<0.0001; F(1,60)=9.07, d=0.77, p=0.003]. In addition, a statistically significant effect of condition on CoP SA and CoP V [F(3,60)=11.81, d=1.53, p<0.0001; F(3,60)=7.36, d=1.21, p=0.0003] was observed. Statistically significant condition-by-time interactions were found for the balance parameters CoP SA (p<0.003, d=0.54) and CoP V (p<0.002, d=0.70). Specific to contrast analysis, all specified hypotheses were tested and demonstrated that FSSC yielded significantly greater improvements than all other conditions in CoP SA and CoP V [p<0.0001 (d=1.55); p=0.0004 (d=1.19), respectively]. In addition, FSSC yielded significantly greater improvements compared with the two conditions for both balance parameters [p<0.0001 (d=2.03); p<0.0001 (d=1.45)]. Conclusion: Fast stretch-shortening cycle exercises appear to be more effective to improve short-term balance performance in young weightlifters. Due to the importance of balance for overall competitive achievement in weightlifting, it is recommended that young weightlifters implement dynamic plyometric exercises in the fast stretch-shortening cycle during the warm-up to improve their balance performance.}, language = {en} } @misc{HammamiChaabeneKharratetal., author = {Hammami, Raouf and Chaabene, Helmi and Kharrat, Fatma and Werfelli, Hanen and Duncan, Michael and Rebai, Haithem and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Acute effects of different balance exercise types on selected measures of physical fitness in youth female volleyball players}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {713}, issn = {1866-8364}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-51747}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-517477}, pages = {10}, abstract = {Background Earlier studies have shown that balance training (BT) has the potential to induce performance enhancements in selected components of physical fitness (i.e., balance, muscle strength, power, speed). While there is ample evidence on the long-term effects of BT on components of physical fitness in youth, less is known on the short-term or acute effects of single BT sessions on selected measures of physical fitness. Objective To examine the acute effects of different balance exercise types on balance, change-of-direction (CoD) speed, and jump performance in youth female volleyball players. Methods Eleven female players aged 14 years participated in this study. Three types of balance exercises (i.e., anterior, posterolateral, rotational type) were conducted in randomized order. For each exercise, 3 sets including 5 repetitions were performed. Before and after the performance of the balance exercises, participants were tested for their static balance (center of pressure surface area [CoP SA] and velocity [CoP V]) on foam and firm surfaces, CoD speed (T-Half test), and vertical jump height (countermovement jump [CMJ] height). A 3 (condition: anterior, mediolateral, rotational balance exercise type) × 2 (time: pre, post) analysis of variance was computed with repeated measures on time. Results Findings showed no significant condition × time interactions for all outcome measures (p > 0.05). However, there were small main effects of time for CoP SA on firm and foam surfaces (both d = 0.38; all p < 0.05) with no effect for CoP V on both surface conditions (p > 0.05). For CoD speed, findings showed a large main effect of time (d = 0.91; p < 0.001). However, for CMJ height, no main effect of time was observed (p > 0.05). Conclusions Overall, our results indicated small-to-large changes in balance and CoD speed performances but not in CMJ height in youth female volleyball players, regardless of the balance exercise type. Accordingly, it is recommended to regularly integrate balance exercises before the performance of sport-specific training to optimize performance development in youth female volleyball players.}, language = {en} } @article{NevillNegraMyersetal.2021, author = {Nevill, Alan M. and Negra, Yassine and Myers, Tony D. and Duncan, Michael J. and Chaabene, Helmi and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Are Early or Late Maturers Likely to Be Fitter in the General Population?}, series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {18}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, number = {2}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph18020497}, pages = {16}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The present study aims to identify the optimal body-size/shape and maturity characteristics associated with superior fitness test performances having controlled for body-size, sex, and chronological-age differences. The sample consisted of 597 Tunisian children (396 boys and 201 girls) aged 8 to 15 years. Three sprint speeds recorded at 10, 20 and 30 m; two vertical and two horizontal jump tests; a change-of-direction and a handgrip-strength tests, were assessed during physical-education classes. Allometric modelling was used to identify the benefit of being an early or late maturer. Findings showed that being tall and light is the ideal shape to be successful at most physical fitness tests, but the height-to-weight "shape" ratio seems to be test-dependent. Having controlled for body-size/shape, sex, and chronological age, the model identified maturity-offset as an additional predictor. Boys who go earlier/younger through peak-height-velocity (PHV) outperform those who go at a later/older age. However, most of the girls' physical-fitness tests peaked at the age at PHV and decline thereafter. Girls whose age at PHV was near the middle of the age range would appear to have an advantage compared to early or late maturers. These findings have important implications for talent scouts and coaches wishing to recruit children into their sports/athletic clubs.}, language = {en} }