The influence of motor skills on the short sprint results

Background and Study Aim. The curriculum of physical education in high schools is based on learning motor skills, as well as their development in sports sections, where the 100-meter sprint dominates. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of motor skills on the 100 m running results. Material and Methods. The research was conducted on a sample of 80 high school students in Novi Pazar and Kraljevo, aged 16 and 17 years (± 6 months). 12 variables were used to assess motor skills, three variables each: explosive power, segmental speed, repetitive power, and flexibility (standing long jump), triple jump, five jumps. For estimating segmental speed: foot tapping, hand tapping, foot tapping on the wall. For the assessment of repetitive power: lifting the torso on the Swedish bench, mixed pull-ups, squats. To assess flexibility: deep bench press, twine, stick twist. Results. Results were obtained to confirm that there is a positive influence of motor skills on the 100 m sprint results at the level of (p=.000). The results in the 100 m sprints are statistically significantly dependent on the motor skills that manifest segmental speed and explosive power. Variables (standing long jump, foot tapping on the wall and foot tapping) have a statistically significant effect on the criterion variable of the 100 m sprint. Conclusions. Recommendation to future researchers would be to conduct a study over a longer period of time with the aim of examining the biomechanical factors that determine the success in sprint, is the production of force in the phase of sprint acceleration and sprint deceleration.

Connectivity of EEG synchronization networks increases for Parkinson’s disease patients with freezing of gait

Freezing of gait (FoG), a paroxysmal gait disturbance commonly experienced by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), is characterized by sudden episodes of inability to generate effective forward stepping. Recent studies have shown an increase in beta frequency of local-field potentials in the basal-ganglia during FoG, however, comprehensive research on the synchronization between different brain locations and frequency bands in PD patients is scarce. Here, by developing tools based on network science and non-linear dynamics, we analyze synchronization networks of electroencephalography (EEG) brain waves of three PD patient groups with different FoG severity. We find higher EEG amplitude synchronization (stronger network links) between different brain locations as PD and FoG severity increase. These results are consistent across frequency bands (theta, alpha, beta, gamma) and independent of the specific motor task (walking, still standing, hand tapping) suggesting that an increase in severity of PD and FoG is associated with stronger EEG networks over a broad range of brain frequencies. This observation of a direct relationship of PD/FoG severity with overall EEG synchronization together with our proposed EEG synchronization network approach may be used for evaluating FoG propensity and help to gain further insight into PD and the pathophysiology leading to FoG.

Stereotactic guide for posterior approach to lateral ventricle

Background Free-hand tapping of the lateral ventricle through the posterior approach is a standard procedure. There are occasions, however, when more than one pass is needed. One way to make it easy and safe is to use a neuro-navigation approach. This requires extra setup. Therefore, the authors in this paper describe the use of a simple device to accurately place the catheter tip in the frontal horn. Main body The device is rectangular with two open arms with co-linear free ends. Based on axial CT or MR images, a trajectory that travels within the ventricle from the posterior to the anterior horn is chosen. The anterior and posterior points of the trajectory are marked on the scalp. A burr hole is placed at the posterior point. The anterior free end is then attached to the anterior trajectory point on the scalp using an EKG pad and to the posterior to a plug placed in the burr hole. The ventricle is tapped through a central hole in the burr hole plug. All 12 patients had accurate catheter placement at the first attempt using this system. Short conclusion This is a simple device that used CT or MR images and surface markings to accurately tap the ventricle.

Transparent Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Thermoplastic Polyurethane Films

This study aims at investigating flexible and transparent thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as a novel material for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices with a polyethylene terephthalate layer. Devices having TPU—either as a flat film or as electrospun micrometer-dimension fibers with varying concentrations of TPU—were tested. The best output performing device provided 21.4 V and 23 μA as open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current respectively, with the application of a small force of 0.33 N indicating the high efficiency of the device. Devices with flat films-obtained using the doctor-blade (DB) technique—have high transparency (80%) as well as high TENG output. The topography of the TPU layer, characterized by atomic force microscopy, reveals nanoscale roughness of the film surface. Finally, we demonstrate that gentle hand tapping on the TENG device can power upto 11 light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The high transparency, lightweight, simple fabrication, flexibility, and robust features of such device make it an added value for various optoelectronic applications.

Canonical relations between anthropometric and motor dimensions among 12-year-old students

The aim of this empirical research was to examine the correlations between the groups of variables of anthropometric characteristics (16) and motor skills (21) among 154 students (AM = 11,53 SD = 1,12). The method of canonical correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the pairs of linear functions of predictor and criterion variables. The obtained canonical coefficients and canonical weights revealed that, with significance level (p ≤ 0,0,5 or p ≤ 0,01), there is a high level of correlation between linear combinations of the examined morphological characteristics and motor skills, where the explained mutual variance was 80% for the first and 33% for the second canonical function. The extracted relevant canonical pairs were interpreted hypothetically as "integrated morphological factor and the factor of static and repetitive strength and coordination", and the second one was interpreted as "morphological factor and the factor of explosive strength". The set of the first canonical morphological factor and the factor of static and repetitive strength, and coordination, is the maximum weight on the variables body mass, body height, forearm circumference, horizontal reverse plank, knee push-ups, and stick mobility, while the biggest contribution to the structure of the second canonical morphological factor and the factor of static and repetitive strength have variables 20m sprint with standing start, standing long jump, hand tapping and foot tapping. The obtained results of the analyzed bicomponent canonical model reveal more defined and predictable structure of the correlation between anthropometric characteristics and motor manifestations, and therefore give guidelines for planning, developing and controlling the training processes during physical education classes.

STUDY OFTHEINFLUENCE OF WRISTTAPPING ON ALPHA-RHYTHM SYNCHRONIZATION IN A

Objective: To study the effect of hand tapping on the synchronization of the alpha rhythm in healthy adults. Materials and Methods: The study included 51 clinically healthy volunteers of working age. Results: We have shown that under the influence of wrist tapping in a state of sensory deprivation in healthy adults there is a statistically significant change in the peak frequency (p = 0.0006) and peak power of the alpha rhythm (p = 0.0003), but the width of the peak plateau remains unchanged (p = 0.2). This effect of wrist tapping indicates the potential for clinical use in JME, since it was previously shown that if the selected external frequencies enter into resonance with the neurons of the antiepileptic system, then an antiepileptic effect can be obtained.

THE INFLUENCE OF INTEGRATION OF PHYSICAL AND MUSIC EDUCATION ON CLASS TEACHING STUDENTS MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

The aim of this research was the integration of Physical and Musical activities to the development of motor skills of class teaching students. The sample of 64 survey participants consisted of primary school students, aged 9 and 10 (± 6 months) from Niš and divided into two groups - experimental and control group, 32 participants in each group. The participants from the experimental group participated in the additional Physical Education lessons which included coordination and speed exercises, that is, the integrated lessons, while the survey participants from the control group were included only in regular Physical Education lessons, and also in Music Education lessons. The following motor skills were examined: Speed, Agility, Flexing, Explosive strength, Repetitive strength and Segmental speed. The obtained results show that there is a statistically significant difference in 20 meter run with the elongated start (M20VS .000), 30 meter run with the elongated start (M30VS .000), figure-of-eight agility run test (MKOT .000), side steps (MKUS .000), standing forward bend (MDPK .000), split (MŠPA .000), standing long jump (MSDM .000), standing triple jump (MTRS .000), foot tapping (MTAN .005) and hand tapping (MTAP .001). Given the results obtained, the design of a special program that would include the integration of the content of these subject areas would contribute to the development of elementary physical and musical skills.

Potential of IMU-Based Systems in Measuring Single Rapid Movement Variables in Females with Different Training Backgrounds and Specialization

The aim of this paper is to determine the discriminative potential of the IMU-based system for the measurement of rapid hand movement properties, i.e., relevant kinematic variables in relation to different groups of participants. The measurement of the kinematics of the rapid hand movement was performed using a standard hand tapping test. The sample in this research included a total of 70 female participants and was divided into 3 subsamples. The discriminant analysis has identified two functions, DF1 and DF2, that explain 91.1 and 8.1% of the variance, respectively. The differences between the examined subsamples originate from the variables grouped in DF1, which were statistically significant (p≤0.000). In relation to this function, the national volleyball team centroid position was shifted with -1.108 and -1.968 standard deviation values from the control group and youth volleyball team, respectively. The difference between control and Voll_Youth groups was -0.860 standard deviation value. The factors with the greatest discriminative potential among the groups represent the temporal characteristics of the rapid hand movement, i.e., the time elapsed between the onset of the movement and the first and second tap, as defined by the variables t1 and t2, respectively. The established findings clearly indicate that IMU sensors are practically applicable in relation to the sensitive measurement of rapid arm movement capability of female athletes.