Validation of criterion-referenced archery cutting scores.

This study investigated an empirical method for setting optimal cutting scores for a criterion-referenced archery test. The classification-outcome probabilities and approaches to validity suggested by Berk were utilized. Pretest scores were obtained on 35 uninstructed college-age women on six ends (six arrows each) from 20 yards (18.3 m) after an unrecorded warm-up end. Posttest scores were after 15 weeks of instruction. Score distributions were the primary determinant for accurately classifying students as true mastery and true nonmastery. Accuracy is a function of the amount of overlap between distributions. Using the point at which the distributions overlapped, classification accuracy was estimated. Probabilities associated with 80 points were p(TM) + p(TN) = .83 and p(FM) + p(FN) = .14. Scores above and below 80 points had lower probabilities of classification accuracy. Reliability estimated using Kappa was .59. Statistical validity of the cutting score (phi) was .68.

Failure of caffeine to affect metabolism during 60 min submaximal exercise.

Caffeine consumption prior to athletic performance has become commonplace. The usual dosage is approximately 200 mg, a level of caffeine ingestion equivalent to two cups of brewed coffee. This study was designed to examine the effects of a common level of caffeine ingestion, specifically 200 mg, on metabolism during submaximal exercise performance in five males. The subjects performed two 60-min monitored treadmill workouts at 60% maximal heart rate during a 2-week period. The subjects were randomly assigned, double-blind to receive a caffeine or placebo capsule 60 min prior to exercise. Testing was performed in the afternoon following a midnight fast. Venous blood was withdrawn pre-exercise, every 15 min during the workout, and 10 min after recovery. Blood was analysed for free fatty acid, triglycerides, glucose, lactic acid, haemoglobin and haematocrit. The respiratory exchange ratio (R), perceived exertion (RPE) and oxygen uptake were measured every 4 min during exercise. An examination of the data with repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant differences between the two groups. Within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that 200 mg caffeine failed to affect metabolism during 60 min submaximal exercise.

The effect of pangamic acid on maximal treadmill performance.

The effect of pangamic acid (calcium gluconate and N, N-Dimethylglycine) ingestion was examined during short-term maximal treadmill performance on 16 male track athletes. The study was conducted as a double-blind experiment with an experimental group (E) whose members each ingested six 50-mg pangamic acid tablets per day and a control group (C) whose members each ingested six placebo tablets per day for three weeks. The placebo tablets were identical to the pangamic acid tablets in appearance. Subjects were tested by using the Bruce treadmill protocol before and after treatment. The following parameters were examined: maximal heart rate (HR), treadmill time (TM), recovery HR at minutes 1 and 3, and pre-test and post-test blood glucose and lactate levels. Pre-treatment data were 183 bpm (E) and 194 bpm (C) for maximal HR, 16.99 min (E) and 16.49 min (C) for TM, 132.13 mg% (E) and 133.38 mg% (C) for post-test glucose, and 64.63 mg% (E) and 76.13 mg% (C) for post-test lactate. Post-treatment data were 181 bpm (E) and 194 bpm (C) for maximal HR, 17.21 min (E) and 16.83 min (C) for TM, 138.88 mg% (E) and 139.13 mg% (C) for post-test glucose, and 70.88 mg% (E) and 66.58 mg% (C) for post-test lactate. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) between groups after treatment. It was concluded that ingestion of pangamic acid does not produce significant changes in short-term maximal treadmill performance.