Hand Anthropometry of Italian Elite Male Swimmers / Antropometría de la Mano en Nadadores Italianos Masculinos de Élite

SUMMARY: Hand size is part of the anthropometric parameters that are assessed in swimmers to select elite athletes, as certain anthropometric relationships involving hand measurements are significantly correlated with sports performance in various swimming disciplines. The authors present the results of the anthropometric study carried out on the hands of 15 elite male Italian swimmers from to the Italian national open water swimming team. All swimmers participated at least once in World Cup and Absolute Italian Championships, winning at least one medal in their sporting career. In particular, the sample includes a medallist at the World Championships, a winner of the World Cup ultra swim marathon circuit and medallists at the European Championships. The sample consisted of 15 elite male swimmers with a mean age of 28.93 years. The following anthropometric measurements were taken on each athlete: Stature; weight; seven dimensions on each hand: hand length; hand breadth metacarpal; palm length; middle finger length; index finger length; thumb distance; and the distance from the thumb root to first flexure line of the index finger - trigger length. The size of the hands is an important factor in the swimmer's propulsion and push as a larger hand allows for greater support in the water and consequently generates more resistance. The anthropometric characteristics of the hands of Italian swimmers are missing from the anthropometric data already reported in the literature and can be used to make comparisons with elite athletes from other nations. Furthermore, anthropometric measurements could be used as predictors to estimate the swimmers' chance of success.

El tamaño de la mano es uno de los parámetros antropométricos que se evalúan en los nadadores para seleccionar a los deportistas de élite. Los autores presentan los resultados de un estudio antropométrico realizado en las manos de 15 nadadores italianos masculinos de élite pertenecientes al equipo nacional de natación en aguas abiertas. Todos los nadadores participaron al menos una vez en Copas del Mundo y Campeonatos de Italia, ganando al menos una medalla en su carrera deportiva. En concreto, la muestra incluye un medallista en los Campeonatos del Mundo, un ganador de la Copa del Mundo del circuito de ultra maratón de natación y medallistas en los Campeonatos de Europa. La muestra consta de 15 nadadores masculinos de élite con una edad media de 28,93 años. Se tomaron las siguientes medidas antropométricas a cada atleta: estatura; peso; siete dimensiones en cada mano: longitud de la mano, anchura de la mano en el metacarpiano, longitud de la palma, longitud del primer, segundo y tercer dedo, distancia entre la raíz del primer dedo y la primera línea de flexión del segundo dedo. El tamaño de las manos es un factor importante para la propulsión y el empuje del nadador, ya que una mano más grande permite un mayor apoyo en el agua y, en consecuencia, genera más resistencia. Las características antropométricas de las manos de los nadadores italianos faltan en los datos antropométricos recolectados en la literatura y pueden utilizarse para hacer comparaciones con los atletas de élite de otras naciones. Además, las medidas antropométricas podrían utilizarse como predictores para estimar las posibilidades de éxito de los nadadores.

Pre-Ride Biomarkers and Endurance Horse Welfare: Analyzing the Impact of the Elimination of Superoxide Dismutase, δ-Aminolevulinic-Dehydratase, Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances, Iron, and Serum Amyloid A Levels in Elite 160 km Endurance Rides.

High elimination rates and concerns for horse welfare are important issues in endurance riding. Improved understanding of the causes of elimination could increase completion rates in this sport. We have identified pre-ride laboratory risk factors that enable an assessment of potential elimination before the ride. A longitudinal cohort study was performed among 49 healthy horses competing in the 160 km endurance ride at the 2016 World Championship of Endurance Riding in Samorin/Slovakia. Blood samples were taken before the event. For statistical evaluation, horses were categorized into three groups: finishers, lame horses, and metabolically eliminated horses. Risk factors were calculated for each group using multinominal logistic regression. δ-Aminolevulinic-dehydratase (ALAD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), iron, and serum amyloid A (SAA) were measured and did not show an impact on the race outcome, but elevated pre-ride superoxide dismutase (SOD) was shown to have an effect on lameness elimination (p = 0.011). It might serve as an indicator for withdrawing horses at risk of later elimination before endurance rides, ultimately resulting in lower elimination rates and an increase in overall horse welfare.

[The medical support of large-scale international events].

The medical support is one of the most important components of effectiveness of international sports events. The purpose of the study is to analyze results of implementation of organizational approaches to medical support of international sports competitions at the World Skills Championship 2019 in Kazan, previously developed and successfully approved on the model of the 2013 World's Students Games (Kazan). The medical support plan included preparation of regulatory base, resources of medical infrastructure at sports venues, including personnel training and measures to eliminate the medical and sanitary consequences of emergencies. At the objects of the Championship, 21 medical aid posts, 23 mobile medical teams functioned, and 22 ambulance teams were on duty. The estimated number of medical staff involved in work at the Championship venues was 120 people, or 8.9 people per 100 contestants. There were 1883 registered medical requests. The largest percentage of requests fell on staff (29.6%), volunteers (20.4%), contestants (18.1%) and visitors (10.7%). Among the accredited persons, the most requested medical assistance was for respiratory diseases (8.5 ‰), diseases of the nervous system (8.4 ‰) and injuries (7.2 ‰). The application of developed approaches to medical support of international sports competitions for the World Skills World Championship allowed to organize provision of medical care to client groups at high level.

Within-Match Performance Dynamics - Momentary Strength in Handball.

Handball is an Olympic team sport characterized by changes of ball possession, where teams either play on offense or defense. In this paper, we model momentary strength in handball as scoring probabilities based on a double moving average. In this cross-sectional observational study, the aim was to describe the dynamics of momentary strength in handball from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Momentary strength can be used to further characterize the nuances of the sport by identifying different phases in a match. The momentary strength model was applied to the 2019 International Handball Federation (IHF) Men's World Championship. Ninety-six games were analyzed. The results showed that momentary strength could be used to better understand the dynamic interaction process between two teams. The Spearman correlation between the teams' median momentary strength and their final ranks at the Championship was -0.830. Virtually each team faced phases in its matches with a momentary scoring probability lower than 0.10 and with 4 exceptions also higher than 0.90. Twelve out of the 24 teams showed phases with a momentary scoring probability of exactly 0 as well as exactly 1.

Age and Hydration of Competing Horses Influence the Outcome of Elite 160 km Endurance Rides.

High elimination rates and the concern for horse welfare are important issues in endurance riding. An improved understanding of the causes of elimination could increase completion rates in this sport. We have identified pre-ride risk factors that allow an assessment of potential elimination before the ride. A longitudinal cohort study was performed among 49 healthy horses competing in the 160 km endurance ride at the 2016 World Championship of Endurance Riding in Samorin/Slovakia. Blood samples were drawn before the ride. For statistical evaluation, horses were categorized in three groups: finishers, lame and metabolically eliminated horses. Risk factors were calculated for each group using multinomial logistic regression. A 1% increase in hematocrit levels was associated with a higher OR for elimination (lameness: OR 1.26, p = 0.017; metabolic: OR 1.34, p = 0.010). Furthermore, increased potassium values correlated negatively with the race outcome. For a 1 mmol/l increase in potassium, the lameness OR was 4.21, p = 0.039 and metabolic OR was 1.15, p = 0.848. Eight-year-old horses had a 100% elimination rate and survival analyses showed a significantly higher hazard for elimination (p = 0.025). We thus conclude that age and hydration affect the outcome of elite endurance rides. Further investigation of age as a risk factor seems to be clinically relevant and adjustments of FEI qualification modes may be appropriate.

Pistol and Rifle Performance: Gender and Relative Age Effect Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The sport overrepresentation of early-born athletes within a selection year is called relative age effect (RAE). Moreover, gender performance differences depend on the sport. The main objectives of the study were to compare performances between gender and RAE in precision shooting events. METHOD: The results of 704 shooters who participated in the most recent World Shooting Championship were compared. Performance was analysed by event (rifle and pistol), gender and category (junior and senior), together with RAE and six ranges of ranking positions. RESULTS: The results of the study indicated that men scored higher than women in pistol events and that no performance differences were found in rifle events when the whole group was compared. According to the birth trimester, no significant differences were found in the participant's distribution, nor in performance in any case. CONCLUSIONS: The main conclusions of the study are: (1) the men's pistol performance is better than the women's even though RAE is not associated to the shooting score in any case; (2) men and women performed equally in the general analysis, but their performances were different depending on category and event with no RAE influence.

Longitudinal Study of Individual Exercises in Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics.

The performance evolution in rhythmic gymnastics depends on changes in code of points. At the beginning of each Olympic cycle the code of points changes and therefore, the content of the competition exercises, as well. This study aimed to analyze - for each apparatus - the evolution of number of technical elements and final score over the last two decades (last 13 world championships), how they have been affected by changed code of points, and how the final score relates to the number of technical elements performed. The sample consisted of 416 exercises in five apparatus: ball (96), rope (40), hoop (96), ribbon (88), and clubs (96). The following variables were gathered: code of points, apparatus, technical group, total number of elements, final classification, and final score. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects on the number of elements and final score in each apparatus. The number of technical elements increased in all apparatus, between 7.4 and 20% over a 10-year period. There were mixed evolutions of final score between the different apparatus, between -6.3 and 14% over a 10-year period. There is small increase in number of elements in hoop and a small decrease in rope after a code change. There was a small decrease in final score in championships after a code change in hoop, moderate in clubs and ribbon, and large in rope. There was a negative relationship between number of elements performed and final score in clubs. In conclusion, the code change generally effects the final score negatively, but there were apparatus specific effects of code change on number of elements and relationship between number of elements and final score.

Modelling the dynamics of a large rock landslide in the Dolomites (eastern Italian Alps) using multi-temporal DEMs.

Latest advances in topographic data acquisition techniques have greatly enhanced the possibility to analyse landscapes in order to understand the processes that shaped them. High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), such as LiDAR-derived ones, provide detailed topographic information. In particular, if multi-temporal DEMs are available, it is possible to carry out a detailed geomorphic change detection analysis. This analysis may provide information about the dynamics of large landslides and may thus, be useful for landslide risk assessments. However, LiDAR-derived DEMs are mostly available only as post-event surveys. The technique is relatively recent, and local or national authorities only started widespread surveys in the last decade. Therefore, it is of a certain interest to analyse the effectiveness of DEMs derived from technical cartography to produce reliable volumetric estimates related to large landslides. This study evaluates the use of a multi-source DEM of Difference (DoD) analysis for the investigation of a large landslide -Le Laste-, which occurred on November 12, 2014 on Mount Antelao (eastern Italian Alps). The landslide initiated as a 365,000 m3 rockslide close to the summit of the mountain and transformed into a debris avalanche during its runout. The comparison of pre- and post-event DEMs allowed for the identification and quantification of erosion and deposition areas, and for the estimation of landslide volume. A sound back-analysis of the landslide with the 3D numerical model DAN3D was based on this comparison and on seismic records of the event. These seismic records proved to be remarkably useful, as they allowed for the calibration of the simulated landslide velocity. This ensured the reliability of the model notwithstanding the topographic datasets, intrinsic uncertainties. We found that using a pre-event DEM derived from technical cartography tends to slightly overestimate the volume with respect to the use of the more accurate LiDAR-derived DEM. In recent years, the landslide risk around Mt. Antelao has been increasing alongside the ever-growing population and human activities in the area. Sediment accumulations produced by the Le Laste landslide significantly amplified the debris flow hazard by providing new sediment sources. Therefore, it is crucial to delineate the distribution of this material to enable an adequate debris flow hazard assessment. The material properties derived from the back-analysis of the Le Laste landslide can be used to simulate the runout of possible future events, and to generate reliable hazard zone maps, which are necessary for effective risk mitigation.

A Copa do Mundo de 1982 e o "turbilhão de emoções" nas crônicas de Nelson Motta / The World Cup of 1982 and the "Turbilhão de emoções" in Nelson Motta chronicles / El Mundial de Fútbol de 1982 y la "Turbilhão de emoções" en las crónicas de Nelson Motta

Resumo O objetivo da presente pesquisa é analisar as crônicas de Nelson Motta referentes à Copa de 82, a fim de perceber quais eram as impressões/concepções do autor acerca da Copa do Mundo, bem como da equipe brasileira que disputou tal campeonato. Para tal, apoiou-se nos preceitos da análise literária proposta por Antonio Candido (1992; 2000), que leva em conta a fusão de texto (vinculado à autonomia estética do autor) e o contexto (momento social a que o escritor e sua obra pertencem). A partir da análise de tais crônicas é possível notar o encantamento de Motta quanto à seleção brasileira, bem como a reverberação de uma teoria freyriana.

Abstract This research aims to analyze the chronicles of Nelson Motta related to World Cup of 1982, in order to understand what were the impressions of the author about the World Championship, as well as about the Brazilian team. To this end, it was based on the principles of literary analysis proposed by Antonio Candido (1992; 2000), which talks about the merger between text (linked to the aesthetic autonomy of the author) and context (social moment that the writer and his works belong). From the analysis of these chronicles is possible to note the enchantment of Motta for the Brazilian national team, and the reverberation of a Freyrean theory.

Resumen El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las crónicas de Nelson Motta relacionadas con el Mundial de Fútbol de 1982 con el fin de entender cuáles eran las impresiones/opiniones del autor sobre el Mundial de Fútbol, así como sobre la selección brasileña que jugó ese campeonato. Para ello se basó en los principios de análisis literario propuestos por Antonio Candido (1992; 2000), que tienen en cuenta la combinación entre texto (vinculado con la autonomía estética del autor) y contexto (momento social al cual pertenecen el escritor y su obra). Del análisis de estas crónicas es posible observar el encanto que Motta sentía por la selección brasileña, así como la reverberación de una teoría freyriana.

O corpo híbrido: análise midiática da participação do atleta Oscar Pistorius no Mundial de Atletismo de 2011 / Body hybrid: media analysis of the participation of the athlete Oscar Pistorius in the Athletics World Championship of 2011 / El cuerpo híbrido: análisis mediático de la participación del atleta Oscar Pistorius en el Mundial de Atletismo de 2011

Resumo O texto objetiva abordar questões pertinentes ao corpo híbrido – fusão natural/artificial –observadas no portal globo.com em relação à participação polêmica de Oscar Pistorius no Mundial de Atletismo/2011. Durante o evento identificamos 23 notícias relacionadas a Pistorius, analisadas-as a partir do método da hermenêutica de profundidade. Constatamos um agendamento em relação ao referido atleta, pelo seu ineditismo e pela polêmica envolvida, ou seja, por ser ele um atleta biamputado que compete com próteses – que o caracteriza como um corpo híbrido – junto a atletas sem deficiência. A participação de Pistorius requer uma abertura para a percepção de diferentes níveis de realidade e percepção.

Abstract The text aims at addressing issues related to the hybrid body–natural/artificial fusion–observed at Globo.com portal regarding the Pistorius polemic involvement in the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. During the event we have identified 23 news report related to Pistorius, analyzing them taking the depth hermeneutic method in consideration. We have found a scheduling in relation to the cited athlete for his originality and controversy, i.e., because he is a bi-amputated athlete who competes with prosthesis–which characterizes a hybrid body - along with athletes without disabilities. Pistorius' participation requires openness to the awareness of different levels of reality and perception.

Resumen El presente texto aborda cuestiones relativas al cuerpo híbrido –fusión natural/artificial– planteadas en el portal Globo.com en relación con la polémica en torno a la participación de Pistorius en el Mundial de Atletismo de 2011. Durante el evento, se encontraron 23 noticias relacionadas con Pistorius y se las analizó a partir de la metodología hermenéutica profunda. Se constató un seguimiento en relación con este atleta inédito y polémico, pues se trata de un deportista cuyas piernas habían sido amputadas y que competía con prótesis, por lo que se lo clasifica como un cuerpo híbrido, al mismo nivel de corredores que no presentan esa deficiencia. La participación de Pistorius exige llevar a cabo una reflexión sobre diferentes niveles de realidad y percepción.