The energetics and benefit of an arm swing in submaximal and maximal vertical jump performance

The aims of this study were to investigate the energy build-up and dissipation mechanisms associated with using an arm swing in submaximal and maximal vertical jumping and to establish the energy benefit of this arm swing. Twenty adult males were asked to perform a series of submaximal and maximal vertical jumps while using an arm swing. Force, motion and electromyographic data were recorded during each performance and used to compute a range of kinematic and kinetic variables, including ankle, knee, hip, shoulder and elbow joint powers and work done. It was found that the energy benefit of using an arm swing appears to be closely related to the maximum kinetic energy of the arms during their downswing, and increases as jump height increases. As jump height increases, energy in the arms is built up by a greater range of motion at the shoulder and greater effort of the shoulder and elbow muscles but, as jump height approaches maximum, these sources are supplemented by energy supplied by the trunk due to its earlier extension in the movement. The kinetic energy developed by the arms is used to increase their potential energy at take-off but also to store and return energy from the lower limbs and to "pull" on the rest of the body. These latter two mechanisms become more important as jump height increases with the pull being the more important of the two. We conclude that an arm swing contributes to jump performance in submaximal as well as maximal jumping but the energy generation and dissipation sources change as performance approaches maximum.     

Effects of AM3 (Inmunoferon) on increased serum concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor receptors I and II in cyclists

The aims of this study were to examine the changes in plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines induced by training and competition in professional cyclists. We report the serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), tumour necrosis factor receptors I and II (TNFR-I and -II) in a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial involving the administration of AM3 (Inmunoferon), an oral booster immunomodulator, or placebo to 16 professional cyclists (n = 8 in each group) for 65 consecutive days. Serum was collected just before treatment began (baseline), at the end of pre-competition training, before the mountain stage of the competition (60 days), 4 h after finishing this stage (62 days), and 18 h after the fifth and last day of competition (65 days). To determine the normal levels of cytokines and soluble TNF receptors, individual samples from 14 moderately trained healthy controls were studied. After 60 days of training, the serum concentrations of IL-6 did not differ significantly from those at the beginning of the study for either group of cyclists (placebo and AM3). A significant rise was seen in IL-6 concentrations in both the AM3 and placebo groups at 62 days, 4 h after finishing the mountain stage. The increase was significantly greater in the placebo group than in the AM3 group. At 65 days of treatment, 18 h after the fifth and last day of competition, IL-6 concentrations were similar to those recorded at the end of the training, but were significantly higher in the placebo group than in the AM3 group. At the end of training, serum TNFR-I concentrations in both groups of cyclists were significantly lower than at baseline. The concentrations of serum TNFR-I and -II both 4 h after finishing the mountain stage and 18 h after the fifth and last day of competition were significantly higher than those recorded after training in both groups. Professional cycling competition is associated with increases in serum IL-6 and TNFR-I and -II concentrations. Inmunoferon treatment reduced significantly the concentrations of IL-6 but not those of TNFR-I and -II.     

Perception of kinematic characteristics of tennis strokes for anticipating stroke type and direction

The purpose of this study was to determine the sources of visual information used by highly skilled tennis players in anticipating their opponent's shots. In Experiment 1, motion analysis of the strokes showed that the relative motion between the racquet and forearm was different between the ground strokes and lobs, but there were no reliable kinematic differences when shot direction was varied. In Experiment 2, 12 skilled tennis players observed the opponent hitting strokes in a normal video or in a point-light display with different segments occluded. Players' anticipation accuracy was not degraded by the use of the point-light display. Occluding the racquet and forearm significantly reduced the participant's ability to determine the type of stroke produced.     

Teachers' perspectives on the challenges of teaching physical education in urban schools: the student emotional filter

The purpose of this study was to analyze how the challenges of urban schools influence physical education teachers' emotional understanding and connections with their students and the implications on their teaching. Sixty-one elementary physical educators from an urban school district in the midwestern U.S. were interviewed multiple times (N = 136) over 3 years using interpretive methodology. Teachers reported five unique challenges that significantly shaped their thinking about students and their careers, along with strategies they used to overcome or manage those challenges. The challenges were: (a) insufficient instructional resources, (b) implementing culturally relevant pedagogy, (c) dealing with community violence, (d) integrating more games in curricula, and (e) teaching in a culture of basketball. Implications centered on the guilt-inducing nature of urban teaching, developing an informed and realistic vision of urban physical education, and the role of teacher preparation and professional development.     

Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football player

In soccer, the players perform intermittent work. Despite the players performing low-intensity activities for more than 70% of the game, heart rate and body temperature measurements suggest that the average oxygen uptake for elite soccer players is around 70% of maximum (VO(2max). This may be partly explained by the 150 - 250 brief intense actions a top-class player performs during a game, which also indicates that the rates of creatine phosphate (CP) utilization and glycolysis are frequently high during a game. Muscle glycogen is probably the most important substrate for energy production, and fatigue towards the end of a game may be related to depletion of glycogen in some muscle fibres. Blood free-fatty acids (FFAs) increase progressively during a game, partly compensating for the progressive lowering of muscle glycogen. Fatigue also occurs temporarily during matches, but it is still unclear what causes the reduced ability to perform maximally. There are major individual differences in the physical demands of players during a game related to physical capacity and tactical role in the team. These differences should be taken into account when planning the training and nutritional strategies of top-class players, who require a significant energy intake during a week.     

论教师与学生的关系

教师与学生关系的性质对学生自觉性和自尊心的形成有极重要的意义.教育工作的实际经验指出,假定教师能对个别学生表扬他的任何积极方面,那末,学生就能开始注意并培养自已的这些优点. 在很多情况中,学生对自己力量没有自信心的原因,就是在教师方面对他们的能力估计不足。这个事实指出了教师与学生建立的关系上所产生的感化作用是多麽巨大,它不仅能够破坏个别学生,而且还能破坏全级学生对自己力量的信任.女教师纳·克,为了对自己的工作做得不好作辩护,经常向学生们说,他们没有能力,总是不肯好好学习等话。结果,学生们本来能够学习得很好的,丧失了自信心,这样,他们就学习得更坏,成为学校里成绩最坏的一班。这就是说:女教师纳·克只看见了学生的弱点。但是在某一时期内,这个女教师的位置上派来了另一位新教师,她很有经验而且也富有钻研心.最初几天,她注意了学生思想上已有的习惯,和他们一班所以在“学校中最坏”的原因。她就在班上开始培养学生对自己力量的自信心.她从思想上去影响学生,告诉他们,如果能够坚持和系统地工作,便会学习得很好.女教师与学生们的新的关系和正确地组织教学工作,获得了非常良好的成绩.学生们对待自己也不同了,他们信任了自己的力量,对未来的发展前途表现了无限向往.这一班“眼看着”有了转变。过了几个月,学生们自己     

语文课中自然知识的综合复习

在教学过程中进行经常而有系统的复习是学生进步条件之一。在语文课中的自然知识也应当进行综合复习的。在这种课上,只是复习已教过的最基本的和最重要的材料:明确学生的概念,扩大学生的理解力,补足学生的知能。一至三年级的综合复习课大概每一堂课可以复习一课。进行综合复习课时,必须尽量利用过去所应用过的一切教材(例如:实物教材:“活的和干燥的植物和动物标本”、图片、表格、模型、自然历、地图等等)。     

ЛК—3号飞向月球——一个假想的科学故事

一九……年五月十一日二十点十二分莫斯科时间。舱中映射着喷气式发动机和喷出的红色火焰的反照。仅历数分之一秒我们的“ЛК—3”号便稳静地与地球的新卫星——小月球分离开了。小月球是苏维埃人用自己的智慧和双手创造出来的。它是一切星球间航行艇的起点。     

和死亡作鬥爭

“蘇聯共產黨和蘇聯政府對於改善人民的物質生活,提高人民的文化水平和保護勞動人民的健康非常關心。在世界上没有一個國家像蘇聯具有這樣分佈廣闊的普及免費醫療的機構。在世界上也没有一個國家,醫學在那里比在蘇聯更順利地獲得發展。十九次黨代表大會的指示中曾這樣說:“醫學工     

地球与行星的构造

对於研究地球——我们生活在其上面的行星——构造的学者们来说。能够直接研究到的仅仅是地球的极薄的表面层。这一层仅祇含有地球全部物质的百分之一还不到。关於地球的内部构造,只得根据间接的标志求判断——根据内部密度的估计,根据地震波的传播性质和传播速度等等。这时候对於研究家偿显示重大帮助的是关于别的和地球相近的太阳系里天体的知识——例如行星、陨星和彗星。