The Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău (Romanian: Universitatea „Vasile Alecsandri” din Bacău) is a public university in Romania, located in Bacău. Named in honor of the poet Vasile Alecsandri, it was founded in 1990.
The Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) has proven to be a valid and reliable method for assessing soccer skill performance. However, there are various preparation protocols that exist for the LSPT. The aim of this study is to determine how many trials are required to gather reliable data during LSPT familiarisation. 81 subelite male youths (12.70 ± 2.67 years; 158.32 ± 17.21 cm; 49.01 ± 14.19 kg) and 17 professional female soccer players (21.47 ± 2.37 years; 164.70 ± 5.00 cm; 57.11 ± 4.27 kg) participated in the study. Following a brief explanation, the participants underwent five repetitions of the LSPT, after which differences between trials were analysed using mixed ANOVA for original time, penalty time, and performance time of LSPT. Adjusted residual values and the Smallest Worthwhile Change (SWC) approach were employed to assess the distributions across repetitions and the practical significance of the observed differences. Mixed-repeated measures ANOVA showed that Trial 1 significantly underperformed relative to the subsequent four trials across all LSPT values (p < .05). There were no statistical differences observed within other trials. Considerable improvement was noted solely between the first trials and subsequent attempts; exceeding the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) thresholds of 1.38 s, 2.29 s, and 3.36 s for original time, penalty time, and total performance time, respectively. Performance time enhanced by 5
BACKGROUND:Technological innovation increasingly shapes modern sport, influencing performance, athlete safety, and regulatory governance. While new technologies enhance training and monitoring, they also raise concerns regarding fairness, health protection, and ethical legitimacy, commonly described as technological doping. The fragmented nature of the literature in this field requires integrative synthesis. METHODS:A structured narrative synthesis was conducted using systematic searches and predefined eligibility criteria to identify studies addressing performance technologies, digital monitoring and detection systems, healthcare compliance, and governance and ethical frameworks. Twenty-four studies spanning empirical, policy, and conceptual domains were included. RESULTS:Mechanical technologies, particularly advanced carbon-plate footwear, were associated with approximately 1-3% faster marathon performances and measurable alterations in lower-limb kinematics and kinetics under fatigue, while running-specific prostheses demonstrated performance-relevant differences in stiffness and energy return properties. Wearable monitoring systems supported training optimization but raised concerns related to surveillance and athlete autonomy. Artificial intelligence-based medication screening tools demonstrated high operational performance, with reported recognition accuracy ranging from approximately 92% to 98%, sensitivity approaching 1.00, and strong specificity for identifying prohibited substances from prescription images. Healthcare studies identified persistent knowledge gaps, medication risks, and the importance of pharmacists and education programs. Governance analyses revealed disparities in laboratory capacity and regulatory ambiguity when addressing emerging technologies, while ethical scholarship questioned the boundaries of legitimate enhancement. CONCLUSIONS:Technological doping reflects an interconnected performance-health-governance challenge rather than an isolated equipment issue. The synthesis demonstrates that technological doping is driven by measurable performance gains, digitally mediated compliance systems, and uneven regulatory capacity, indicating that future governance must shift from reactive equipment bans toward integrated, evidence-based oversight of biomechanical, digital, and healthcare technologies.
This study presents an integrated experimental–numerical–optimization framework for designing additively manufactured metallic cellular panels against 7.62 × 39 AP BZ projectiles in accordance with STANAG 4569 level 2. Maraging steel M300 specimens, plates and cellular cores are produced by Selective Laser Melting. A triaxiality–Lode–rate dependent Tabulated Johnson–Cook model is calibrated using quasi-static perforation tests reproducing experiments within excellent quantitative and qualitative correspondence. The validated model is applied to a vertical–horizontal (VH) cellular topology: ballistic tests at 709.8 m/s give a mean residual velocity of (122.1 m/s), while simulations predict 115.7 m/s (5.2
BACKGROUND:Psychological determinants are increasingly recognized as central contributors to both performance decline and recovery in competitive sport; however, contemporary evidence integrating injury-related and non-injury performance contexts remains fragmented. OBJECTIVE:This systematic review synthesized empirical evidence (2016-2025) examining psychological determinants associated with return to sport (RTS), reinjury risk, burnout, injury incidence, and performance decline among competitive athletes. METHODS:Conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus identified peer-reviewed studies published between January 2016 and December 2025. Eligibility criteria were defined using a PICO framework. Prospective cohort studies, longitudinal multi-wave investigations, one randomized controlled trial, matched cohort studies, diary-based designs, and injury-related observational studies were included. Due to heterogeneity in constructs and outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively. RESULTS:Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, including prospective cohort studies, multi-wave longitudinal designs, one randomized controlled trial, one matched cohort study, and a diary-based investigation. Seven independent cohorts examined psychological readiness using the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury scale (ACL-RSI) in athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (sample sizes ranging from n = 39 to n = 384), consistently demonstrating that higher readiness predicted successful RTS at 6-24 months, while two prospective studies reported contrasting associations with second ACL injury risk. Four longitudinal studies (n = 93-491) showed that increased burnout and controlled motivation predicted performance decline and dropout trajectories, whereas higher resilience and mental toughness reduced burnout progression. One seasonal longitudinal study (n = 21) linked elevated cognitive anxiety and mood disturbance to increased injury incidence. CONCLUSION:Psychological determinants operate across deterioration and restoration pathways. Psychological readiness shows the strongest predictive consistency for RTS, while burnout, motivational climate, and resilience significantly shape long-term performance sustainability and injury-related outcomes.
The aim of this study was to identify specialists’ opinions regarding the role of swimming in the development of morphofunctional capacity in young adults aged between 25 and 30 years. The research had a descriptive-observational design and was conducted using a questionnaire-based survey. A total of 101 specialists in the field of physical education and sport participated in the study. The research instrument included nine closed-ended items addressing the perceived effects of swimming on physiological systems, aerobic capacity,recovery processes, psychological benefits, muscular development, and motivational factors. The results indicated a high level of consensus, with swimming being considered a highly effective means of improving morphofunctional capacity, reducing stress, and promoting balanced physical development. The conclusions highlight the importance of swimming as a complex physical activity with significant health benefits.
