On self-propagating methodological flaws in performance normalization for strength and power sports

Performance in strength and power sports is greatly affected by a variety of anthropometric factors. The goal of performance normalization is to factor out the effects of confounding factors and compute a canonical (normalized) performance measure from the observed absolute performance. Performance normalization is applied in the ranking of elite athletes, as well as in the early stages of youth talent selection. Consequently, it is crucial that the process is principled and fair. The corpus of previous work on this topic, which is significant, is uniform in the methodology adopted. Performance normalization is universally reduced to a regression task: the collected performance data are used to fit a regression function that is then used to scale future performances. The present article demonstrates that this approach is fundamentally flawed. It inherently creates a bias that unfairly penalizes athletes with certain allometric characteristics, and, by virtue of its adoption in the ranking and selection of elite athletes, propagates and strengthens this bias over time. The main flaws are shown to originate in the criteria for selecting the data used for regression, as well as in the manner in which the regression model is applied in normalization. This analysis brings into light the aforesaid methodological flaws and motivates further work on the development of principled methods, the foundations of which are also laid out in this work.

Book review: Studying mobile media: cultural technologies, mobile communication, and the iPhone, by Hjorth, Larissa, Burgess, Jean and Richardson, Ingrid (eds), Routledge, New York, 2012

A review of a series of articles exploring the role of online networked mobile devices, such as the iPhone, in changing communication, with multidisciplinary relevance. The articles examine the smartphone as a cultural object, a platform for specific uses as a multi-purpose input device and its evolution from a personal communication device to a multimedia tool with implications for politics and social change.

Size and power properties of structural break unit root tests

In this article, we compare the small sample size and power properties of a newly developed endogenous structural break unit root test of Narayan and Popp (NP, 2010) with the existing two break unit root tests, namely the Lumsdaine and Papell (LP, 1997) and the Lee and Strazicich (LS, 2003) tests. In contrast to the widely used LP and LS tests, the NP test chooses the break date by maximizing the significance of the break dummy coefficient. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the NP test has better size and high power, and identifies the structural breaks accurately. Power and size comparisons of the NP test with the LP and LS tests reveal that the NP test is significantly superior.

Analyzing track sprint cyclists' performances using position-specific maximal-torque and power-cadence relationships

Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of maximal Torque-Cadence (T-C) and Power-Cadence (P-C) relationships, for the performances of world class track sprint cyclists. If these relationships are affected by the function of the lower limb muscles, the ability of cyclists to generate torque and power at a given cadence may vary depending on their riding position. During sprint events (individual and team sprints and Keirin), cyclists alternate between standing and seated positions. The T-C and P-C relationships may change with the position adopted by the cyclists. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the necessity to define position specific maximal T-C and P-C relationships. METHODS: Eight junior elite track cyclists from the National Talent Identification squad undertook two inertial-load tests that consisted of four all-out sprints each. One test was undertaken at the velodrome in a standing position on a carbon fibre track bike, and the other test was completed in a seated position on an air-braked stationary ergometer. A calibrated SRM power meter interfaced to a custom instrumentation package was used for all mechanical measurements. Maximal T-C and P-C relationships were analysed to calculate maximal Torque (T0), maximal Power (Pmax) and optimal pedalling cadence (PCopt). RESULTS: All individual T-C and P-C relationships obtained for both body positions were fitted by linear regressions (r2=0.95 ± 0.02) and second order polynomials (r2=0.96 ± 0.01), respectively. T0 was higher (209 ± 2.2N.m vs. 177.0 ± 3.9N.m, p<0.05), PCopt was lower (112.5 ± 11.4rpm vs. 120.1 ± 6.7rpm, p<0.05), and Pmax was higher (1261 ± 235W vs. 1076 ± 183W, p<0.05) in standing position compared to seated position. CONCLUSION: Analysis of track sprint cyclists’ performances can be improved by the determination of position-specific maximal T-C and P-C relationships .

Communication and new media: From broadcast to narrowcast

Firmly grounded in a political economy approach, this new Canadian edition is an innovative introduction to media and communication that examines issues of ownership, access, and control as technologies combine to create new hybrid technologies that are changing the way we relate to each other and the world around us. Expertly adapted to meet the needs and interests of Canadian students, this text maintains a global perspective while integrating Canadian research, data, government policy and legislation, and examples throughout.

Celebrity and power : fame in contemporary culture

Through a new introduction for this edition, Marshall investigates the viewing public's desire to associate with celebrity and addresses the explosion of instant access to celebrity culture, bringing famous people and their admireres closer than ever before.  He explores the concept of the new public intimacy: a product of social media in which celebrities from lady Gaga to Barack Obama are expected to continuously campaing for audiences in new ways. The new introduction also details the development of celebrity studies and the need for research into the construction of persona in contemporary culture as the dimension of publicizing the self has expanded through online culture.

Everyday communication and identity work of Chinese students in Australia

 Chinese cultural patterns have heavily influenced Chinese students’ everyday communication and identity work in Australia. The process of their becoming identity is represented in everyday communication. All those changes in their everyday communication trigger their identity work. Their identity work is an intense and ongoing project; its influences are unfinalisable.