Annals of Applied Sport Science
Volume:6 Issue: 4, Winter 2018

Myocardial fibrosis is identified as a major side effect of Diabetes Mellitus on the heart. Some bio-markers including the ratio of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in collagen synthesis and collagen degradation are clinically useful in the diagnosis and identification of myocardial fibrosis. In addition, regular aerobic exercise training is one of the major and non-pharmacological solutions for preserving and promoting cardiovascular health.

Thus, the current research aims at investigating the effect of aerobic training on levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) in diabetic rats.

30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (healthy control, diabetic control, and exercise diabetic). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 55 mg/kg per body weight. The exercise program comprised eight weeks of running on a bar for 60 minutes at a speed of 25 m/min. Biopsy was carried out 48 h after the last exercise session, and cardiac levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 values were measured by the ELISA sandwich method.

The findings of the current research indicated that diabetes induction caused significant increase in cardiac levels of MMP-9 and significant reduction of TIMP-1 compared to the healthy group. In addition, it was revealed that the implementation of 8 weeks-aerobic exercise significantly reduced cardiac levels of MMP-9 and significantly increased TIMP-1 compared to the group without exercise.

The execution of aerobic training in diabetic rats inhibited progressive factors of myocardial fibrosis and thus fibrosis risk in diabetic heart is highly reduced.

There is little evidence to support the comprehensiveness of FMS in sports populations to predict injuries. Ignoring rapid decelerations and high eccentric forces which may be characteristics of high risk for injury are evident in these tests. With this in mind, it seems logical to use tests to assess the performance of athletes so as to evaluate speed components as well as to identify the potential risk factors for injury. This can be a good complement to FMS.

This study aimed to identify functional movement screening tests to predict injuries in volleyball.

In this descriptive study, 20 high-level experts in volleyball were selected through purposive sampling. The data were collected in 2017 through semi-structured interviews and field notes. The interview transcripts were encoded using MAXQDA10 software®. To extract the categories and subjects, the thematic analysis approach was used.

In the first analysis process, the initial codes were extracted and finally, 38 of the 82 existing potential tests were identified. Then, after various stages of determining the validity and reliability of 12 tests—deep squat, inline lunge, trunk stability push up, rotary stability, shoulder mobility, triple hop for distance, hexagon, lateral lunge, triple jump for distance, sidearm medicine ball throw, closed kinetic chain upper extremity and squat jump—were identified for inclusion in this tool.

Based on the results of the interviews, it could be concluded that the interviewees’ choices were based more on the tests’ similarity with the type of movement patterns and performance capabilities in volleyball and considering the anatomical areas prone to injury as well.

Neuro-feedback (NFB) and physical activities are considered alternative treatments for children with ADHD that aims to optimize brain activity. Assessments of the behavioral efficacy of NF and physical interventions have produced inconsistent results. Like physical activity, yoga has been argued to be beneficial for improvement of neurological and physiological activity and behavior in a range of populations.

The present randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluates the effects of NFB and yoga exercise intervention on sustained attention in children with ADHD.

Using a multicenter three-way parallel group RCT design, children with ADHD, aged 7–11, were randomly assigned to NFB (n = 7), yoga (n = 7) or control (n = 7) over a period of 8 weeks. NFB training consisted of 24 sessions of theta/beta training at Cz and Yoga exercise training composed of 24 sessions of 45 minutes over 8 weeks. Sustained attention and memory were assessed using parameters derived from the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R).

Significant improvements in sustain attention and memory were observed over time in both Yoga and NFB compare to control group. To our knowledge, this is the first study that simultaneously evaluates NFB with Yoga treatment.

These findings suggest that alternative therapies such as yoga exercises and NFB can be complementary to behavioral interventions for children with attention problem. Hence, the findings do not support NFB and yoga training applied as a stand-alone treatment in children with ADHD.

Brand personality as a part of brand identity plays an important role in communications; if a brand has no personality, it cannot introduce itself and stay in the mind of the customer. Customer understanding about a brand is far more important than what is expressed as brand reality. Thus, developing an appropriate personality for creating a compatible image of the brand in the customer’s mind will be an important factor. Therefore, organizations must develop appropriate primitive principles to establish a long relationship with customers.

This study was conducted to identify and introduce intervening and fundamental factors affecting the formation of brand personality of the Iran Football League.

Here, a qualitative research was conducted using a grounded research method. Data collection tools involved deep interviews with experts (23 individuals) selected by purposive and snowball sampling. Data analysis was performed using open encodings, axial, and selective methods.

Based on the qualitative interviews, 33 signs were obtained for conditions influencing the formation of league brand personality (contextual factors and intervening conditions). Having analyzed these factors and summarized the findings based on the connection index and similarity with each other, and with the constant comparison, these signs were eventually reduced to five concepts or categories including product factors, factors unrelated to the product as well as the external and macro environment.

If brand personality is defined based on market research or peoplechr('39')s tastes, adapting the whole system with the brand personality and present promises is a tedious task. On the other hand, the research method contributes to obtaining the same pattern for each product category or service. So in order to build a brand personality from the organization perspective, managers and planners should identify intervening conditions and contextual factors which can disrupt the strategies adopted (intervening factors). Alternatively, with appropriate contextualization, they can contribute to the development of these strategies and act toward these factors for the formation of the brand personality of the league.

Attention to the loyalty of fans to the long-term success of sports organizations has become increasingly important. On this note, it seems necessary to pay attention to the variables that predict and influence the loyalty of spectators. Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of satisfaction in the effect of team reputation and team quality on the loyalty of the fans of national volleyball team in Iran.

For this reason, five Ponzi et al. (2011) team reputation, Oliver (1980) satisfaction, Mahony (2000) behavioral loyalty, and Zhang et al. (1997) team quality questionnaires were used. A sample of 261 fans that were present at the World League Championship to see the Iranian national volleyball teams were randomly selected and questionnaires were distributed among them.

The results of structural equation modeling showed that team quality and team reputation are strong predictors of loyalty of fans (β = 0.691, β = 0.681). In addition, the satisfaction of fans has a mediating role in the relationship between team reputation and team quality with loyalty of fans (β = 0.043, p < 0.05).

In view of the fact that the impact factor of two team quality and team reputation variables on the loyalty was high, paying attention to these two variables is very important in the formation of loyalty of the fans of the national team of Iran and strong strategies must be devised to achieve this.

One of the most important elements of life are physical activity and sport: these are the basis of health during life. In order for society to benefit from the advantages of physical activity and sport, it is necessary to know the factors influencing this phenomenon.

The purpose of this paper is to design a sport development model in the free trade-industrial zones of Iran.

The research was qualitative, and was done using the grounded theory approach and based on the systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin (1998). The geographic area of the research included seven free trade trade-industrial zones of Iran; the data collection tool was a semi-structured interview. Participants in the research were the sport authorities of Iran’s free zone, sport officers, officers of the Ministry of Sport and Youth of free zones, staff members of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and sports professors; interviews involved 22 informed persons.

The results of data coding showed that causal factors (individual, interpersonal, and structural) centrally affect sport development. Cultural, social, economic, political, technological, legal, and environmental factors were also selected as context and interventional factors. Development of management; development of space, equipment, and great sports events; cultural and social development; scientific and legal development; and development of financial resources were designated as strategies for the development of sport, which will also lead to economic, cultural, social, environmental, and political consequences.

Given the positive outcomes for the development of sport, it can be useful as an effective tool in achieving the major goals of Iran’s free trade-industrial zones.

Considering the importance of the role of performance appraisal in organizations, we conclude that performance evaluation has played a major role in achieving human resource productivity. On the other hand, due to the importance of human resources and the role played by the organization, attention to the attitudes and behaviors of this valuable factor is very important.

This study aimed to present a performance evaluation model according to performance improvement and satisfaction of staff of individual sports federations and those that have historical aspect.

152 staffs of individual sports federations and those that have a historical aspect of Iran from totaling 260 staffs were participated in this study. To assess organizational performance, improvement of organizational performance (Achieve) of Hersey and Goldsmith and JDI standard questionnaire were used to measure job satisfaction. Structural equations were used for fitting the model to the data.

The results showed a significant relationship between job satisfaction and its components with improvement of performance and its components.

According to the results, factor load indicated a positive and significant relationship between satisfaction and performance which shows the best fit of a suitable model.

Considering the position and importance of sports federations in Iran and their very important duties and dependence on the Ministry of Sports and Youth in terms of financial resources, they must be responsive to their performance in providing services and implementing their programs. The duties are namely the development and promotion of sports at the public and championship levels, coordination of competitions at the local and national levels, selection of athletes, and training and development of national teams for participation in the international fields. Therefore, there is a growing need for a practical framework to improve the performance of sports federations.

The purpose of this study was to present an executive model for improving the performances of sports federations.

Considering the qualitative and exploratory nature of the subject, the grounded theory was applied as a qualitative research method using the Glaser model. First, a preliminary list of effective factors was identified through primary studies. It was followed by semi-structured interviews conducted with 25 elites who were aware of the subject of the study.

The open coding results denoted that 83 indicators could improve the performances of the Iranian sports federations. At the axial coding stage, the indicators were classified into 19 concepts. Finally, the five categories of “management and leadership,” “resources,” “specific performance of federation,” “information and communication,” and “education and research affairs” were identified through selective coding.

“Discovering and Growing the Talents”, Legal and Ethical Issues”, Interaction and collaboration with other organizations and institutions”, Training and Promotion human resources including coaches and referees” and “Organizing National Teams” are concepts that improve the performance of sports federations, and managers should pay attention to them.