Effect of the neuromuscular activation of knee extensors on vertical jump by using electrostimulation method

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is one of the methods of strength development during which there is no voluntary muscle contraction. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the neuromuscular activation of knee extensors on vertical jump by using electrostimulation method. Ten healthy trained male students in sports-sciences, aged 21-25 years, perform Sargent jump test. They perform two kinds of jump - squat jump and drop jump (42 cm heigh bench) immediately after electrostimulation and without electrostimulation. Both kinds of jump were performed with and without dynamic stretching. The subjects received electrostimulation for 2 minutes with preset program Explosive power on electrostimulator. We found no significant difference in measuring of heigh of squat jump, where neuromuscular activation by using electrostimulation method was or was not applied. The results showed that heigh of drop jumps significantly increased by using electrostimulation method +2,7 % (p = 0.005) with dynamic stretching and +3,3 % (p = 0.018) without stretching. The results showed that neuromuscular activation by using electrostimulation method (immediately before performance) can have positive effect on heigh of drop jump and so can be added to warm-up part before performance. Using electrostimulation method had no significant effect on squat jump performance

The running economy difference between running barefoot and running shod

Barefoot (BF) running is very popular topic among runners and coaches, and very often discussed in papers and even mass-media point is health aspect. The aim of this study is verify influence BF on physiological indicators. Nine women (age 21.1 ± 1.79 y.o., weight 59.7 ± 5.86 kg, height 164.8 ± 4.02 cm, no previous BF running experience, athletes, non-runners) completed two tests of running economy (RE) in minimal gap of 48 hours. Test of RE consisted of dynamic stretching warm-up and 7 minutes run on treadmill (constant velocity 7 km·h-1, inclination +1 %) BF and shoed (RS). Hearth rate (HR; beats·min-1) and oxygen uptake (RE, running economy; ml·kg-1·min-1) were collected in last two minutes of each test. There were found insignificant differences (α = .05) in HR (BF 160.92 ± 22.62 vs. RS 163.5 ± 20.99; p = .214) a RE (BF 31.5 ± 2.65 vs RS 30.21 ± 2.91; p = .086). There were been discovered seven individual lower values of RE in BF, as well as same number of lower values of HR (BF). Running barefoot is insignificant economical in among non-experienced barefoot women athletes.This investigation was conducted within the framework of a specific students’ research at the Masaryk University 0867/2013 "Factors affecting the economy of running 3"

Agings and the parameters in static postural way

There is strong scientific evidence from research trials that aging is associated with loss of muscle mass and decline of neuromuscular abilities. Postural stability is an important neuromuscular ability for the maintenance of upright posture as well as maintaining equilibrium or balance while performing movements and everyday activities. Postural stability is also an important factor in elderly people where postural instability is a major contributor to falls. In our study young and elderly subjects stood quietly in upright posture with parallel positions of their feet and opened eyes on a force platform and performed 3 trials with each trial lasting 30 s. The effects of healthy aging on postural sway parameters were studied. We found that age-related changes in postural sway mostly affect the velocity of the center of pressure movement and the mean amplitude center of pressure movement during static postural sway test

Indicators of obesity and the educational attainment of the Czech female population

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the relationship between selected indicators of obesity and the highest completed level of education in the adult female population of the Czech republic. As basic indicators of obesity, these following parameters were selected and measured via the bioimpedance method on the device InBody 720: BMI, WHR (waist-to-hip ratio), % body fat, % skeletal muscle mass, fitness score. The educational attainment of the tested women was inquired by a questionnaire. Based on the responses, we subsequently divided our sample into four categories according to the level of education: primary education, secondary education-apprenticeship, secondary education-graduate diploma, and university. The research was realized within the project CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0044. The measurements on the device InBody 720 and the accompanying survey were conducted between 2011-2013 in different regions of the Czech Republic. The sample consisted of 754 women divided into 3 age groups (18-39, 40-59, 60+ years). Based on the results (p<0.05), we can say that average values of the indicators obesity (BMI: 22.76, 24.88, 26.49 kg/m2, WHR: 0.85, 0.88, 0.90 and % body fat: 25.76, 30.23, 34.62%) increase with the increasing age of examined women. The average values of the fitness score (75.53, 73.86, 70.04 points) and % skeletal muscle mass (40.78, 38.15, 33.95%) decrease with increasing age. With regard to the educational attainment, women with secondary education-apprenticeship achieved the worst results. In contrast, the values in university educated women were the best in most indicators of obesity

Strength training and changes in the dynamics of running economy

The aim of this study was to examine an acute effect of 4RM training and plyometric training (PT) on running economy (RE; O2 consumption) in endurance runners during a 48 hour interval. Eight performance runners (age 25.4±1.4 years) completed a maximum strength training (4RM) of lower limbs (3 sets, rest 2 min, 5 exercises) and subsequently underwent a RE test on a treadmill (speed 8, 10 and 12 km·h-1) at three time intervals (0, +24 and +48 h) after the training. We found that the average VO2·BM-1·min-1 and ΔVO2·BM-1·min-1 at the given speed increased from baseline (a pretest 48 h before the strength intervention) by 2.3-5.6% and culminated after 24 h. These changes in RE after the strength intervention were not statistically significant, when compared to the pretest (48 h before the intervention). The second investigation was conducted in seven runners (age 25±1.6 years). This time the intervention was plyometric (7 sec load, rest 2 min, maximum intensity, 3 sets, 6 exercises on the dominant lower limb). We found that the average VO2·BM-1·min-1 and ΔVO2·BM-1·min-1 at given speeds at intervals 0, +24 and +48 h did not increase, when compared to the pretest (p < 0.05; max +1%). These minimal changes probably resulted from the design of the PT, which had not a sufficiently destructive effect on muscle cells. The comparison of these two investigations indicates a stronger (although statistically insignificant) deterioration of RE after 4RM training versus PT.This investigation was conducted within the framework of a specific students’ research at the Masaryk University 0790/2012 "Factors affecting the economy of running (the effect of explosive strength training and stretching acutely applied before performance on the economy of running) II"

Anthropometric characteristics in Czech elite female gymnasts

The aim of this paper is a description of selected parameters of body composition of elite sport gymnasts from the Czech Republic (30th place at 2010 World Championship). Eight Czech representatives (aged 18.4 +3.39) participated in this cross-sectional study realized in 2013. Data were measured according to standard testing protocols. Body height and arm spread via anthropometer (cm), body composition and body weight using 6-frequncy bio impedance (InBody 720), circumference characteristics using band meter. Body height of the researched group was 161.0 cm (+5.34), compared to average body height of American Olympic team (2nd in World ranking) was only 153cm in 2008 (+7) (Sands et al. 2012). Body weight of Czech gymnasts was 55.7 kg (+5.46), American women gymnasts according to Sandse et al. weighed only 47.5 kg (+5.7). BMI (kg.m-2) was measured 21.35 (+ 1.66) which is a higher value than according to Grasgruber et al (2008) an average value of this parameter in participants of 2003 World Championship finals (18.77 Europeans, 16.73 Asians). Average amount of subcutaneous fat 13.33 % (+2.81) was, on the contrary, lower than stated by Georgopoulos et al. in a study of 113 participants of European and World championships in last 15 years (16.4 %; +4.99). Hip-waist ratio was 0.85 (+0.03). Arm spread, particularly important in gymnastics due to effectiveness of leverage mechanisms, was measured 164.9 cm (+6.85), showing relatively long leverages, or above-average shoulder width considering average height of the group 161 cm. Long leverages are beneficial for floor exercise and vault. Overall, compared to World competition, Czech gymnasts show above-average height as well as BMI value. Considering relatively low amount of subcutaneous fat we speculate that compared to elite world competition, Czech gymnasts will show higher relative values of skeletal muscles which may disadvantage them in some aspects of performance

The dynamics of changes in the indicators of running economy within 48 hours after application of explosive strength training

The aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of the indicators of running economy (VO2·BM-1·min-1 and ΔVO2·BM-1·min-1) within 48 hours after the application of explosive strength intervention (ESI). Nine university students, recreational athletes (age 23.8 ± 1.56 years, height 178 ± 4.8 cm, weight 74.8 ± 2.91 kg) underwent ESI (6 explosive strength exercises, 3 sets, 8 reps, rest 90 sec, maximum intensity) aimed mainly at lower limbs. The testing of running economy (RE) was performed during four separate measurements (-48, 0, 24 and 48 h; 0 = test immediately after the intervention) at 8, 10, 12 km·h-1 (5 min intervals; the last 60 sec of each level were recorded). It was found that when compared with the pretest values (-48 h), the average ΔVO2·BM-1·min-1 at 8 km·h-1 changed by +3.8% immediately after the intervention (0), by +1.6% after 24 h, and by 0% after 48 h. At 10 km·h-1, the changes were 6.3 - 4.3 - 0.4%, and at 12 km.h-1 they were 5.2 - 4.3 - 1.5%. According to the available literature, it was realistic to expect a peak of O2 consumption during 48 h after the intervention, but this was not observed. The results show the greatest deterioration of RE immediately after the intervention, with a subsequent decline of O2 consumption to resting levels within 48 h.This investigation was conducted within the framework of a specific students’ research at the Masaryk University 0790/2012 "Factors affecting the economy of running (the effect of explosive strength training and stretching acutely applied before performance on the economy of running) II"

Control Software for Analyzer HP 89410A

Bakalářská práce je zaměřena na vytvoření obslužného softwaru spektrálního analyzátoru HP 89410A. První část poskytuje přehled vlastností analyzátoru a princip komunikace pomocí sběrnice GPIB, druhá část slouží k uvedení do problematiky způsobu grafického programování a také jako manuál k obslužnému softwaru s vysvětlením významu jednotlivých položek. V poslední, třetí části je uveden příklad validačního měření pro ověření funkčnosti softwaru.Bachelor's thesis is bent on creation control software for spectral analyzer HP 89410A. The first part offers overview capabilities of the analyzer and principle communication over the GPIB, second part serves to presentation to the problems graphical programming method and either as manual to control software with explanation of meaning individual entries. At last third part is introduced example of validation measure for check functionality software.

Acceleration of Data Compression Algorithms Using GPU

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá možnostmi akcelerace kompresního algoritmu na grafické kartě. Konkrétním zkoumaným algoritmem je kompresní algoritmus JPEG, který se používá pro kompresi obrazových dat. V textu jsou nejprve představeny technologie, pomocí kterých můžeme využívat výpočetní sílu grafických karet. Dále se práce zaměřuje na teoretický popis algoritmu JPEG a následně je popsána jeho implementace pomocí OpenCL a NVIDIA CUDA. Nakonec je provedeno srovnání výkonu těchto GPGPU technologií.  This bachelor's thesis is dealing with possibility of acceleration compression algorithm on graphical card. I have studied specifically the compression algorithm JPEG, which is used for compression image data. The text first introduced technology, which give access to us use computational power of graphics cards.  The work is also focused on the theoretical description of the JPEG and subsequently is describe its implementation using OpenCL and NVIDIA CUDA. Finally, there is a comparison of performance this GPGPU technologies.

Panoramic Photo Creation

Tato práce se zabývá problematikou automatického skládání panoramatických fotografií z jednotlivých snímků. Postupně rozebírá jednotlivé kroky algoritmů, a metody v nich používané, které jsou využívány při tvorbě panoramat. Dále se zaměřuje na návrh vlastního systému založeného na diskutovaných metodách pro konstrukci panoramat. Tento systém je v rámci práce realizován pomocí knihovny OpenCV, a je k němu vytvořeno grafické rozhraní za pomoci knihovny Qt. Nakonec jsou zhodnoceny výstupy tohoto navrženého a implementovaného systému na dostupných datových sadách.This thesis deals with issues automatic composing panoramic photos from individual photos. Gradually examines the various steps of algorithms and methods used in them, which are used in creating panoramas. It also focuses on the design of the own system based on methods discussed to construct panoramas. This system is implemented using OpenCV library and it is created also a graphical interface using a Qt library. Finally, are in this thesis evaluated outcomes of this designed and implemented system on available datasets.