Is the inside pass a performance indicator? Observational analysis of elite basketball teams

Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: 1) analizar la influencia del pase interior en el éxito del ataque y 2) detectar si la localización espacial de pasador y receptor, y la acción motriz inmediata del receptor afectan sobre el rendimiento del pase interior. Cuatro observadores analizaron un total de nueve partidos de Playoff de la Euroliga 2012, obteniendo un total de 1324 fases de ataque. Se utilizó la metodología observacional a través de un diseño de seguimiento, ideográfico y multimiensional. Se elaboró un instrumento ad-hoc para lograr un registro sistemático de las conductas de juego. Para el primer objetivo se incluyeron los siguientes criterios para cada fase de ataque: 1) eficacia ofensiva, 2) zona de lanzamiento, 3) total de puntos anotados en la fase de ataque, 4) tiempo de posesión y 5) número de pases. Para el segundo objetivo se analizó, en aquellas fases de ataque con pase interior: 1) localización espacial del pasador, 2) localización espacial del receptor y 3) acción inmediata del receptor. Se comprobó la fiabilidad interobservadores mediante el iìndice multirater k free (Randolph, 2005), obteniendo un valor por encima de .84 en cada variable. Al final del proceso se evaluó la concordancia intraobservadores mediante el Kappa de Cohen, obteniendo un valor mínimo de .90. Para el análisis estadístico se calcularon la U de Mann-Whitney, tablas de contingencia, Chi-cuadrado y regresión logística multinomial. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que 1) aquellas fases de ataque en las que se realiza el pase interior resultan más efectivas y obtienen una mayor cantidad de puntos, y 2) la localización espacial del pasador y la acción inmediata del receptor resultan determinantes en la eficacia del pase interior, siendo el pase exterior con recepción interior la opción con mayores garantías de éxito. Éstos resultados sugieren la consideración del pase interior como un indicador de rendimiento en baloncesto (AU)

The purposes of this study were: 1) to analyse the influence of inside pass on the basketball offensive success and 2) to detect the influence of both passer and receiver location, and the receiver immediate action on successful inside pass. The sample was 1324 attack phases of nine games of the 2012 Euroleague Playoff. All recorded matches were analysed by four observers. Observational methodology was used through a follow-up, ideographic, and multidimensional design approach. An ad-hoc instrument was developed in order to obtain behaviour systematic registration. For the first aim, analysed criteria were: 1) offensive effectiveness, 2) shooting zone, 3) total points scored by attack phase, 4) possession duration and 5) number f passes. For the second one: 1) passer location, 2) receiver location, and 3) immediate receiver action were registered for each inside pass attack. Multirater k free index (Randolph, 2005) was used to measure inter-observers agreement, obtaining a value over .84 in each case. In addition, intraobservers reproducibility was evaluated at the end of the observation process by calculating Cohen’s Kappa, obtaining a minimum value of .90. For statistical data analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, crosstabs, Chi-square and multinomial logistic regression were carried on. The finding results show that a) those attack phase in which inside pass is done are more effective and achieve a larger amount of points, and b) passer location and immediate receiver action determinate a successful inside pass, being the outside pass with an inside reception the most effective option. These results suggest to consider the inside pass as a performance indicator in basketball (AU)

Efeito da ingestão de taurina no desempenho físico: uma revisão sistemática / Effect of taurine intake on physical performance: a systematic review

Objetivo. Presentar los efectos de la taurina (Tau) en la capacidad aeróbica y anaeróbica, además de describir sus mecanismos de acción. Método. Se ha realizado una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos PubMed/Medline y SportDiscus, teniendo como criterios de inclusión estudios con humanos, publicados en lengua inglesa, entre el 1 de enero de 2000 hasta el 1 de septiembre de 2011. La manera de consumo de Tau fue: Tau aislada o como ingrediente de bebidas energéticas evaluada con un suplemento placebo. La calidad de los estudios seleccionados fue valorada por la escala de PEDro siendo considerados los artículos con puntuaciones por encima de 5. Resultados. Fueron seleccionados 14 estudios, siendo 11 los que obtuvieron cambios en la capacidad física aeróbica y 3 en la anaeróbica. Se observaron mejoras significativas en las actividades aeróbicas (8 de los 11 artículos) de igual manera que en las anaeróbicas (2 de los 3 estudios) tras ingesta de Tau frente a placebo. Conclusión. El consumo agudo de apenas 1 g de Tau, independiente del tiempo previo de ingesta presentó un efecto positivo frente la capacidad física aeróbica y anaeróbica. El principal efecto ergogénico que se observó en el componente aerobio fue aumentar la capacidad temporal para realizar un ejercicio, sin embargo en la actividad anaerobia proporcionó una mejora en la respuesta de los iones de calcio durante la contracción muscular(AU)

Objective. Describe the effects of taurine (Tau) on aerobic and anaerobic physical performance as well as its mechanisms of action. Method. A systematic literature review on PubMed/Medline and SPORTDiscus was performed, including studies on humans which were published in English between January 1st, 2000 and September 1st, 2011.The forms of Tau intake were as the isolated compound (Tau) or as an ingredient in energy drinks analyzed with a placebo supplement. The quality of the selected articles was assessed using the PEDro scale and included articles with at least 5 points. Results. After the filtering process, 14 studies were selected from which 11 presented changes in aerobic physical performance and 3 in anaerobic physical performance. Significant improvements were observed in aerobic activities (8 out of 11 articles) and in anaerobic activities (2 out of 3 studies) after intake of Tau, compared to the placebo. Conclusion. The consumption of only 1 g of Tau, regardless of the time prior to intake, showed a beneficial effect on aerobic and anaerobic physical performance. The main ergogenic effect observed in the aerobic component was an increase on the temporal capacity of performing an exercise, whereas for the anaerobic activity there was a better response of calcium ions during muscle contraction(AU)

Influencia de determinantes socio-demográficos en la adherencia a las recomendaciones de actividad física en personas de entre 15 y 74 años de Madrid / Influence of socio-demographic correlates on the adherence to physical activity recommendations in adults aged from 15-to 74 years. Madrid, Spain

Fundamento: Conocer el nivel de adherencia de las personas a las recomendaciones de actividad física (AF) es de interés socio-sanitario. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir el nivel de adherencia a las recomendaciones de AF por los adultos de la Comunidad de Madrid, así como analizar su asociación con posibles determinantes socio-demográfi-cos. Métodos: En el presente estudio transversal se realizó una encuesta telefónica a una muestra de 1.500 personas de 15 a 74 años de la Comunidad de Madrid. La AF se evaluó con la versión 2 del Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQv2) y se clasificó en tres niveles de intensidad (bajo, moderado y alto), según procedimiento de análisis del GPAQv2. Las variables socio-demográficas estudiadas fueron: sexo, edad, nivel de estudios, ocupación, estado civil, consumo de tabaco y salud percibida. Para analizar la asociación entre las características socio-demográficas y la AF, se realizaron análisis de regresión logística multinomial. Resultados: El 82% de los varones y 78% de las mujeres (80% en total) tenían un nivel global de AF moderado o alto, y el 40,1% y el 22,6% (31% en total) de los varones y mujeres, respectivamente, alcanzó las recomendaciones de AF en el tiempo libre. Tenían más probabilidades de no alcanzar las recomendaciones de AF los participantes con estudios superiores (OR: 2,05; 95%IC: 1,48-2,86), los fumadores habituales (OR: 1,41; 95%IC: 1,04-1,90) y los que percibían su salud como mala (OR: 3,58; 95%IC: 2,39-5,38). En cuanto a la edad fueron las personas del grupo entre 35-44 años las que tenían menos probabilidades de no cumplirlas (OR: 0,61; 95%IC: 0,39-0,95) y 45-54 (OR: 0,52; 95%IC: 0,32-0,83). Conclusiones: El 20% de las personas de la Comunidad de Madrid que tienen entre 15 y 74 años no cumplen con las recomendaciones mínimas de AF, y cuando se considera la AF realizada exclusivamente durante el tiempo libre se llega al 69% de los participantes que no alcanzan las recomendaciones de AF. El nivel de estudios, el hábito de fumar y la percepción de tener mala salud influyen en los niveles de AF(AU)

Background: To know the adherence to physical activity recommendations of the population is of clinical and social interest. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of Spanish adults adhering to the physical activity recommendations, and to examine the influences of socio-demographic correlates. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study we conducted a telephone survey of 1,500 Spanish adults (15-74 years old) from Madrid (Spain). Physical activity (work place, transport and leisure time) was assessed with the version 2 of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQv2). Participants were categorized in three physical activity levels (low, moderate and high). The socio-demographic correlates included: gender, age, educational level, employment status, marital status, smoking status, and self-perceived health. The association between socio-demographic factors and physical activity was examined with multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 82% of men and 78% of women (total 80%) had moderate to high levels of physical activity, yet, when considering the leisure time physical activity, only 40,1% of mean and 22,6% of women (total 31.1%) reach the recommendations. Participants with university degree (OR: 2.05; 95%IC: 1.48-2.86), those who were smokers (OR: 1.41; 95%IC: 1.04-1.90), and those who perceived their health as bad (OR: 3.58; 95%IC: 2.39-5.38) were more likely to not to reach the recommendations. In contrast, those participants aged 35-44 years (OR: 0.61; 95%IC: 0.39-0.95) and 45-54 years (OR: 0.52; 95%IC: 0.32-0.83) were less likely not to reach the recommendations. Conclusions: The 20% of adults from Madrid did not reach the physical activity recommendations, and when considering only leisure time physical activity, only 69% reached the recommendations. The findings suggest that the educational level, smoking status, and the self-perceived health seem to be key determinants. There is a large diversity in the physical activity levels in the population subgroup; therefore, there is a need of developing socialecological approaches to physical activity promotion(AU)

Harm, risk, and doping analogies: a counter-response to Kious.

Brent Kious has objected to our previous criticism of his views on doping, maintaining that we, by and large, misrepresented his position. In this response, we strengthen our original misgivings, arguing that (1) his views on risk of harm in sport are either uncontroversially true (not inconsistent with the views of many doping opponents) or demonstrably false (attribute to doping opponents an overly simplistic view), (2) his use of analogies (still) indicates an oversimplification of many issues surrounding the question of doping in sports, and (3) his doping analogies are insufficiently precise to support his conclusions.

Dispelling a few false-positives: a reply to MacGregor and McNamee on doping.

McGregor and MacNamee recently, in this journal, offered several criticisms of an earlier article in which I attempted to refute a number of arguments for the claim that doping in sports is morally wrong. Their criticisms are numerous, but focus on four domains. First, they sketch a view on which the risk profiles of different sports may make doping permissible in some and impermissible in others. Second, they suggest that my criticisms of safety-based arguments assume that doping opponents are bent on harm elimination, rather than harm management. Finally, they offer two methodological criticisms, the first pertaining to my use of analogical arguments, and the second pertaining to the general difficulties of making revisionist arguments in ethics. I defend my criticisms of safety-based arguments by showing that these do not rest on the assumptions McGregor and MacNamee attribute to me and by noting that their own view about the variable relevance of safety considerations is underdeveloped. As for their methodological arguments, I endeavor to show that these are misplaced, in that they either rest on misinterpretations of my earlier article or on an excessively high standard for ethical argumentation.

Seria a moralidade determinada pelo cérebro? Neurônios-espelhos, empatia e neuromoralidade / Does the brain have anything to do with morality? Mirror neurons, empathy and neuromorality

O objetivo do artigo é analisar o impacto do progresso das neurociências, em particular da descoberta dos neurônios-espelhos, sobre as teses referentes à moralidade. Analisamos as tentativas atuais de naturalizar a moralidade baseadas nessa descoberta, a partir da qual se reduzem os princípios éticos a propriedades biológicas da natureza humana. Investigamos como os estudos em psicologia sobre a função da empatia, da capacidade de se colocar na perspectiva do outro e da simulação corporificada ganharam nova credibilidade, poder explicativo e, sobretudo, relevância teórica por causa da descoberta dos sistemas de neurônios-espelhos. Como parte desse movimento, observamos novas tentativas nas pesquisas atuais em estabelecer conexões funcionais e possivelmente causais entre o cérebro e o pensamento moral. Consideramos, numa perspectiva crítica, essas tentativas e a busca renovada pela formulação de uma ética naturalizada.

This paper aims to consider the impact of progress in the neurosciences, in particular the discovery of mirror neurons, on the study of morality. It analyzes the current attempts at naturalizing moral principles based on this discovery, reducing human morality to basic biological properties. It explores how psychological studies on empathy, perspective taking and embodied simulation have gained new credibility, explanatory power, and overall theoretical "traction" because of the discovery of mirror neuron systems. As part of this movement, there are now renewed attempts by researchers at establishing functional links, possibly causal links, between brain and moral thought. These attempts and the renewed quest toward naturalizing ethics are critically considered.

Performance-enhancing technologies and moral responsibility in the military.

New scientific advances have created previously unheard of possibilities for enhancing combatants' performance. Future war fighters may be smarter, stronger, and braver than ever before. If these technologies are safe, is there any reason to reject their use? In this article, I argue that the use of enhancements is constrained by the importance of maintaining the moral responsibility of military personnel. This is crucial for two reasons: the military's ethical commitments require military personnel to be morally responsible agents, and moral responsibility is necessary for integrity and the moral emotions of guilt and remorse, both of which are important for moral growth and psychological well-being. Enhancements that undermined combatants' moral responsibility would therefore undermine the military's moral standing and would harm combatants' well-being. A genuine commitment to maintaining the military's ethical standards and the well-being of combatants therefore requires a careful analysis of performance-enhancing technologies before they are implemented.