Using a sample of 21 OECD-countries we measure productivity in top-edge economic research by using data envelopment analysis (DEA). DEA is a tool for evaluating relative efficiency and is widely used when there are multiple inputs and outputs and one lacks a specific functional form of a production function. The publications in 10 economics journals with the highest average impact factor over the time period 1980-1998 are taken as research output. Inputs are measured by R&D expenditures, number of universities with economics departments and (as uncontrolled variable) total population. Under constant returns-to-scale the USA are in dominant position with remarkable distance to other countries. Under variable returns-to-scale the efficiency frontier is created by the USA with most productive scale size (MPSS), and by Ireland and New Zealand, which are technical efficient but scale inefficient. All countries - except the USA - display increasing returns-to-scale, which shows that they have a possibility to improve their efficiency by scaling up their research activities. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

The purpose of this study is to determine physiological adaptations in trained male high-school runners before and after high-intensity training associated with a crosscountry season. Testing occurred on five separate occasions at the Human Performance Laboratory. After the first familiarization session, the subjects performed a treadmill graded exercise test in which maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory threshold was measured. Submaximal oxygen consumption and blood lactate concentration at three running speeds (10, 12, and 14 km'hf 1 at 0% grade) was determined in a second testing session. After the cross-country season (13 weeks) the subjects returned to the laboratory and performed the same graded exercise and submaximal exercise tests. VO2max significantly increased, VT tended to increased, however, not significant. There were no changes in submaximal economy or lactate except for significant decline in blood lactate at 14 km hf' . Although these variables are associated with endurance performance in adults, there is very little information available regarding the effects of endurance training on these variables in the adolescent age group. Knowing the extent of the adaptations will help to optimize the training programs for age group. / School of Physical Education

This study evaluated the training adaptations in female adolescent cross-country runners over two training seasons. Although the effects of endurance training in this population are understood, the specific adaptations resulting from pre-season and in-season training are not clear. The physiological changes occurring over these two training seasons in 10 female runners (15.7 ± 0.8 yrs, 165.6 ± 5.6 cm, 53.8 ± 6.1 kg) were assessed. Maximal exercise responses were measured during a continuous graded exercise test and submaximal exercise responses were quantified at 7 and 8 mph. Isokinetic muscle strength was assessed at four movement speeds (60-240°/sec) and muscle power was calculated using vertical jump height. Body composition also was assessed. HR at maximal and submaximal exercise declined during pre-season training and then increased during in-season training. Blood lactate [BLa] measurements at 7 and 8 mph decreased following summer training. Whole body bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density, and femoral head BMC increased. In conclusion, it appears that high volume, low intensity training lowers [BLa] with no corresponding change in oxygen utilization in highly trained female adolescents. Running also appears to have a positive impact on bone mass in female adolescents. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model is an innovation created in response to the Canadian Sport Policy (Canadian Heritage, 2007). The LTAD is an “athlete centered, coach driven, and administration, sport science, and sponsor supported” (Canadian Sport Centres, 2006, p. 33) athlete-development model. Since little research has been completed focusing on this model (viz., Black & Holt, 2009) this thesis had the purpose to better understand the adoption of the LTAD by cross-country ski (XCS) coaches. Two articles present a case study of three XCS club’s coaches, and a descriptive qualitative analysis of XCS coaches (N=13). Both analyses used Rogers’ (2003) Diffusion of Innovations theoretical framework to structure the narrative-interview guide, coding structure, and thematic analysis. Two key results of the thesis were an understanding of the link between a club’s characteristics and a coach’s perceived attributes of the LTAD, and secondly a proposed classification system for XCS coaches.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.I.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-69). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Washington University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [57]-65). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Northern Colorado, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [148]-160) Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Northern Colorado, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [148]-160)

Syfte Denna studie syftar till att undersöka och beskriva hur det förhåller sig med korrelationen vad beträffar svenska elitlängdskidåkares prestationsförmåga under längdskidtävlingar relaterat till längdskidåkares kroppsvikter. Metod Totalt deltog 23 kvinnliga och 21 manliga svenska elitlängdskidåkare i studien. Kroppsvikt och kroppslängd samlades in via ett frågeformulär som skickades till var och en av individerna. Resultat från tävlingar samlades in via en tiddatabas på nätet. Svenska skidförbundet gör kapacitetsanalyser på tider från Svenska FIS tävlingar och publicerar dessa på webbsiten www.skidtid.se. All data analyserades för att fastställa korrelationer mellan tider och individernas kroppsvikt. Resultat Endast en svag korrelation mellan längdskidåkares kroppsvikt och prestation kunde fastställas när det gäller placering i mål samt placering på platta partier, utförspartier och uppförspartier. Slutsatser Denna studie visar att elitlängdskidåkares kroppsvikt inte är en avgörande faktor till framgång. / Purpose statement The purpose of the study is to examine if Swedish elite cross-country skiers body mass is correlated to the results on competitions. Method Twenty female and thirty male swedish elite cross-country skiers took part in the study. Body mass and body height were collected by a questionnaire which was sent to the skiers. Competition results was collected from a database. The swedish ski federation make capacity analysis from swedish FIS competitions and present them on the webpage www.skidtid.se. All data was analyzed to describe correlations between times and the individual body weight. Results Only weak correlation between swedish elite cross-country skiers bodyweight and race performance at finish, on flat course sections, downhill and uphill sections were found. Conclusions This study shows that elite cross-country skiers bodyweight is not the determinant factor for race performance.