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THE GRIP DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS BETWEEN BADMINTON SMASH AND JUMP SMASH
Full text linkBadminton smash is one of the most powerful and fastest techniques in racket sports. The purpose of this study was to analyze the grip force and pressure of a collegiate first-class badminton player while performing smash and jump smash movements. A grip pressure system (500Hz) and a high-speed digital camera (2000Hz) were simultaneously used to collect eighteen areas of grip force and pressure of the dominant hand, along with 2D kinematics motion images. The results revealed that the initial shuttle velocity of the jump smash was faster than that of the smash stroke. Additionally, the swing movement of the jump smash was faster than that of the smash. The maximum grip force and peak finger force point during the jump smash were greater compared to the smash. Furthermore, it was observed that the middle finger played a primary role when executing both the smash and jump smash strokes
SADDLE PERCEIVED COMFORT OF COMPETITIVE WOMEN ROAD CYCLISTS
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to identify which are the most used saddle types by competitive women cyclists and their effect on perceived comfort. A comfort questionnaire was completed by 60 elite women cyclists that competed in the Road Cycling Cup, and a picture of their saddle was taken. The participants saddles were classified according to their design (i.e., women, men, and unisex saddles) and their dimensions were also obtained. Women road cyclists find women’s saddles more comfortable than men’s ones, being the women’s saddle the type most used by the participants. However, experienced cyclists use men’s saddles. In addition, the type of saddle influenced the location of the pain and the cyclist’s position on the saddle, with the later potentially affecting bike-fit. Further research is needed to validate this hypothesis and examine potential consequences on performance
A VECTOR CODING PERSPECTIVE ON BREATHING COORDINATION: TWO CYCLISTS\u27 HANDLEBAR POSITIONS ANALYSIS
Full text linkThis study introduces a novel approach by applying the vector coding technique to describe the coordination of thoracoabdominal respiratory movements of two hand support positions adopted by cyclists during pedaling. Eleven male cyclists alternated between high and low hand positions. Breathing kinematic analysis during cycling using a 3D motion capture system provided compartmental volumes (superior and inferior thorax, and abdomen) of the breathing cycles. Predominant in-phase coordination among compartmental pairs was found, however, in a few cases, the transition phase from inspiration to expiration may induce an anti-phase pattern. This was mainly seen in Superior Thorax vs. Inferior Thorax, with 19.1% [10.1 – 26.7] during high hands and 27.2% [12.8-32.5] in the low hands position. The influence of hand positions on coordination was minimal, except for one subject
ESTIMATION OF ANTERIOR-POSTERIOR FORCE FROM VERTICAL GROUND REACTION FORCE IN COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP TEST
Full text linkThis study addresses the challenge of accurately estimating Horizontal Ground Reaction Force (hGRF) from Vertical Ground Reaction Force (vGRF) in the Counter-Movement Jump (CMJ) test. While vGRF is pivotal for quantifying vertical jump height, understanding hGRF provides insights into horizontal propulsion and overall jump efficiency. Athletes (n=40) who participated in the AIU Athletics championship were asked to perform the Counter-Movement jump in Kistler force plates. The force data was measured through bilateral Kistler Force plate model 9287CA with dimensions 1200x600x100 and analyzed using MARS software. Multiple regression in Microsoft excel showed that the hGRF accounts for 49.96% of vGRF and is statistically significant. This research contributes to refining jump biomechanics understanding, aiding practitioners in extracting comprehensive insights from standard jump-testing protocols
ESTIMATION OF JOINT AND TENDON LOADING DURING RUNNING USING ARTIFICIAL IMU DATA AND UNSUPERVISED NEURAL NETWORKS
Full text linkThis study aimed to estimate lower-limb joint- and tendon loads during treadmill running by combining artificial IMU (artIMU) data of four virtually placed sensors on the shanks and feet with a self-organising neural network approach. To achieve this, we simulated IMU (artIMU) data from marker trajectories of 28 runners, running at 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 m/s on a treadmill. A Kohonen self-organising map was trained with the artIMU data, and the joint and tendon loading was reconstructed as the hidden variables of the network. A leave-one-subject-out cross-validation resulted in a good to excellent estimation accuracy (R2 \u3e 0.87 and nRMS
GEN Z’S PERCEPTIONS AND USE PATTERNS OF SMARTPHONES IN NATURE-BASED RECREATION
Full text linkGeneration Z (Gen Z), individuals born between 1997 and 2012, are often defined by their relationship to technology, specifically smartphones. Gen Z is defined as the first digital natives, those who grew up with and had early access to smartphones. As Gen Z comes into adulthood, they represent the largest demographic of those who participate in nature-based recreation (NBR), and are the future of NBR participation. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how prevalent smartphone use is amongst Gen Z individuals while participating in NBR and how smartphone use potentially enhances or diminishes ones’ NBR experience. This study investigated how likely an individual was to carry and use a smartphone while participating in NBR, how smartphones were being used, and how smartphone use potentially enhances or diminishes the recreational experience. Methods: Data was collected through surveys distributed to college age Gen Z individuals over a one-month period. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine use type and perception of use. Results: This study found that 95.7% of participants carried a smartphone on their last NBR experience, 91.3% claiming they are likely to carry a smartphone and 60.5% saying they are likely to use them. Photography, navigation and safety were the top three uses of smartphones while participating in NBR. The majority of those surveyed claimed personal use of smartphones enhanced their NBR experience, while others’ use diminished their NBR experience
Tribal Relations and NAGPRA: Consciousness, Connectedness, and Cause
Full text linkNative American Grave Protection Act (NAGPRA) was enacted in 1990 as a way for federally recognized tribes to bring home Ancestors and belongings that have been held captive in universities, museums, and government agencies. This thesis examines if NAGPRA helps Tribal nations in their goals for repatriation and protection as intended. By connecting with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO) from Anishinaabe Tribes in the State of Michigan via survey and interview, this study demonstrates that Indigenous voices are important, especially in writing their own history. This thesis sought to answer the questions: Does NAGPRA harm or help tribes? Where are the Indigenous voices? It argues that, while the NAGPRA process may seem beneficial, it can cause harm to tribe-to-institution relationship facilitation, hindering repatriation abilities and disregarding the primary basis for the law: that all humans deserve human rights. The author and this work are situated at the intersection between Anthropology and Native American Studies. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted through these intersecting lenses alongside Indigenous Standpoint Theory, resulting in the discovery of thematic elements such as consciousness, connectedness, and cause. The results from the knowledge shared indicated that NAGPRA was helpful in the letter of the law and suggest that the law has gone as far as it can. The problem lies within the spirit of the law. This was seen in the lack of recognition of Indigenous science and perspectives, dehumanizing language, lack of compliance, and poor effort from institutions to form relationships with Tribal nations
EFFECT OF UPPER BODY FATIGUING EXERCISE ON SHOULDER DYNAMIC STABILITY IN OVERHEAD AND NON-OVERHEAD ATHLETES
Full text linkOverhead athletes may be at an increased risk for shoulder injury if fatiguing exercise results in reduced shoulder dynamic stability. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of upper body fatiguing exercise on shoulder dynamic stability of overhead athletes and non-overhead athletes. We measured dynamic stability of the shoulder in n = 16 participants (Non-Overhead: n = 10, 24.3 ± 4.67 years; Overhead: n = 6, 22.67 ± 1.75 years) using the Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (UQYBT) followed by completion of an upper body exercise protocol. Dynamic stability was re-assessed at 1-, 5-, and 10-minutes following completion of the exercise protocol. A mixed effects model was used to determine the effects of group, time, and the interaction of group and time on dynamic stability. Group and time were designated as fixed effects with random effects in participants. Alpha was set at 0.05 for all analyses. Reach distance was reduced for all participants at 1-minute post-exercise compared to baseline scores for composite (57.97 ± 15.89% AL, p \u3c 0.001) and superolateral reach (78.63 ± 12.81% AL, p \u3c 0.01). Inferolateral reach was significantly reduced in non-overhead athletes but not overhead athletes (p \u3c 0.01). The results indicate the ability to dynamically stabilize the shoulder is reduced after fatiguing exercise. However, the reduction appears to be transient and recovers in a short period of time (p \u3e 0.05). Due to training effects, overhead athletes may also have increased protection against the effects of exercise on shoulder dynamic stability
Something Like Human
No full textThis project is a work of speculative fiction set in a fictional future in which the remnants of post-climate change post-nuclear war humanity have relocated to colonies on the Galapagos Islands. The novel follows the young daughter of a metalworker, Kyra Krikorian, as she befriends a squid boy, who she names OctoBoy. Concurrently, the novel explores her adulthood and the ramifications of this friendship, including her relationship with Kristoffer’s hybrid species, called Octolopodoids. It explores themes related to ecology, oppressive governments, the nature of faith, queerness, and the limits of science. This thesis represents the first five-eighths of the project, work upon which is ongoing as of April 2024