RUNNING APPROACH VELOCITY AND ENERGY TRANSFORMATION IN DIFFICULT VAULTS IN GYMNASTICS

Introduction: Running approach velocity is the most important phase of energy production in gymnastic vaults. The take-off from a springboard and the push-off from a vaulting horse are phases of energy transformation. Difficult vaults in gymnastics can be characterized by a high and wide second flight phase. In this phase rapid airborne rotations are performed. These difficult saltos demand an appropriate level of translational impulse and angular momentum. Methods: A special measuring system wasused with two 50 Hz video cameras connected by genlock. Running approach velocity was measured with a laser velocity system. Additionally, the vault was recorded with a high speed video system (500 Hz). This setup was applied at the 1997 World Gymnastics Championships in Lausanne. Results: About 300 running approach velocities for different vaults were analyzed. The highest speed was 8.9 m/s in the men’s competition and 7.9 m/s in the women’s competition. The male gymnasts reached approximately 1 m/s higher running approach velocity than female gymnasts. The highest flight was 3 m over the mat. These parameters were measured in handspring vaults. With round off entry vaults (Yurchenko) the running approach velocity and the heights of the second flight phase were slightly lower. Conclusions: The investigations during the 1997 World Gymnastics Championships prove that the greatest difficulties also demand the highest levels of running approach velocity. Concerning the take-off it is interesting to note that after contact with the springboard the knee and hip joints were fixed. Therefore, the take-off from the elastic springboard is more a tension-shortening cycle than a stretchshortening cycle. The first flight phase is very low but with a high level of angular momentum. The transformation index of the energy and angular momentum from the first flight phase to the second flight phase proves that both parameters have decreased. The extensive databases make it possible to recommend training programs for the FIG. In addition to that, recommendations were made for the new point code. This point code will be valid after the 2000 Olympic Games. References: Brueggemann, G.-P. (1994). Biomechanics of Gymnastic Techniques. Sport Science Review, Champaign, 3, 2, 79-120. Komi, P.V. (1992). Stretch-shortening cycle. In Komi, P.V. (Ed.). The encyclopaedia of sports medicine. Vol. III: Strength and power in sport. Oxford, UK: Blackwall Scientific, 169-179. Krug, J. & Noble, L. (1997). Application for Participation in the 1997-98 ISBS Gymnastics Project. Fig. 1: Measuring Syste

Health Demands Moderate the Link Between Willpower Beliefs and Physical Activity in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background Regular physical activity (PA) was found to alleviate pain and improve functioning among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). Heightened health demands due to OAK severity, body mass index (BMI), and depressive symptoms may require self-regulatory strategies to engage in more PA. Research on willpower—the capacity to exert self-control—suggests that believing that willpower is a nonlimited rather than a limited resource predicts effective self-regulation specifically when demands are high. The present study examines the association of OAK patients’ willpower beliefs with their daily PA as a function of health demands. Methods To identify the moderating role of OAK severity (WOMAC), BMI, and depressive symptoms (CES-D) on the link between willpower beliefs and objectively assessed PA over a 7-day period, baseline data of a registered randomized controlled trial with 243 patients (Mage = 65.47 years, SD = 0.49) were examined in secondary analyses. Results Moderation analyses revealed that overall positive associations of willpower beliefs with PA were further qualified by OAK severity, BMI, and depressive symptoms. When patients faced less health demands, believing that willpower is nonlimited was associated with more PA. When health demands were higher, willpower beliefs were not associated with PA. Conclusion OAK patients’ willpower beliefs were associated with PA. However, facing more health demands seemed to erase this beneficial link. Improving willpower beliefs by way of intervention may help to shed more light on predictive direction and ways to overcome barriers to regular physical activity

Consanguinity and pregnancy outcomes in a multi-ethnic, metropolitan European population

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the risk of major anomalies in the offspring of consanguineous couples, including data on the prenatal situation. Methods: Over 20years (1993-2012), 35391 fetuses were examined by prenatal sonography. In 675 cases (1.9%), parents were consanguineous, with 307 couples (45.5%) related as first cousins, 368 couples (54.5%) beyond first cousins. Detailed information was retrieved on 31710 (89.6%) fetuses, (consanguineous 568: 1.8%). Results: Overall prevalence of major anomalies among fetuses with non-consanguineous parents was 2.9% (consanguineous, 10.9%; first cousins, 12.4%; beyond first cousins, 6.5%). Adjusting the overall numbers for cases having been referred because of a previous index case, the prevalences were 2.8% (non-consanguineous) and 6.1% (consanguineous) (first cousin, 8.5%; beyond first cousin, 3.9%). Further adjustment for differential rates of trisomic pregnancies indicated 2.0%/5.9% congenital anomalies (non-consanguineous/consanguineous groups), that is, a consanguinity-associated excess of 3.9%, 6.1% in first cousin progeny and 1.9% beyond first cousin. Conclusions: The prevalence of major fetal anomalies associated with consanguinity is higher than in evaluations based only on postnatal life. It is important that this information is made available in genetic counselling programmes, especially in multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities, to enable couples to make informed decisions

Die Fernwirkungen von Beweisverwertungsverboten

Die Fernwirkungen von Beweisverwertungsverboten. - Augsburg : AV-Verl., 1992. - VII, 175 S. - Zugl.: Augsburg, Univ., Diss., 199

Effective conjugation and Raman intensities in oligo(para-phenylene)s: A microscopic view from first-principles calculations

© 2005 American Institute of Physics. The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1867355DOI: 10.1063/1.1867355Electron-phonon coupling in oligo(para-phenylene)s is addressed in terms of the off-resonance Raman intensities of two distinct modes at 1220 and 1280 cm−1. On the basis of Albrecht’s theory, vibrational coupling and Raman intensities are calculated from first-principles quantum-chemical methods. A few-state model is used to evaluate the dependence of the mode intensities on oligomer length, planarity, and excitation wavelength. The link between electron delocalization∕conjugation and Raman intensities is highlighted. Extending on prior studies, the present work focuses on providing an in-depth understanding of the origin of this correlation in addition to reproducing experimental findings. The model applied here allows us to interpret the results on a microscopic, quantum-mechanical basis and to relate the observed trends to the molecular orbital structure and nature of the excited states in this class of materials. We find quantitative agreement between the results of the calculations and those of measurements performed on oligo(para-phenylene)s of various chain lengths in the solid state and in solution

Application of SiGe:C BiCMOS to Wireless and Radar

Heterojunction bipolar transistors with carbon-doped SiGe base layer (SiGe:C HBTs) showing fT and fmax values as high as 200 GHz have been developed and integrated into a 0.25µm CMOS platform. The combination of these high-performance HBTs with a modern CMOS backbone and a full menu of passive elements enables the fabrication of advanced wireless communication and radar systems. In this paper, we address the application of IHP’s 200GHz SiGe:C BiCMOS process in two fields, the wireless communication in the 60GHz ISM band and radar applications at 24GHz, 77GHz and at frequencies above 94GHz