Can lifelong endurance exercise improve ageing through beneficial effects on circadian timing function, muscular performance and health status in men? Protocol for a comparative cross-sectional study

A well-synchronized circadian system is a manifestation of an individual's health. A gradual weakening of the circadian timing function characterizes aging. Regular exercise has been suggested as a modality to improve many detrimental changes associated with aging. Therefore, we aim to examine the benefits and risks of lifelong endurance exercise on age-dependent changes in the circadian time-keeping function, the performance of the muscular system and health status. The study protocol has a comparative cross-sectional design, including groups of senior (65 to 75 years old, n=16) and young (20-30 years old, n=16) endurance runners and triathletes. Age-matched groups of young and elderly sedentary men are included as controls. The circadian function is evaluated mainly by measurement of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin, a metabolite of the hormone melatonin shown to participate in the modulation of sleep cycles. The 6-sulphatoxymelatonin will be assessed in urine samples collected upon awakening in the morning and in the late evening, as a marker of melatonin production. In addition, sleep/activity rhythms and sleep quality will be measured by wrist actigraphy. Performance of the muscular system will be assessed by examination of muscular strength and quantifying of gene expression in the skeletal muscle tissue samples. Health status and age-induced reduction in immune function are to be analysed via the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory immune markers in the plasma and skeletal muscle, body composition, bone density and physical fitness

Technological progress and its impact on the music industry

This thesis deals with positive and negative effects of technological progress on the music industry. The first part presents important changes during the evolution of the music industry to its current status. Other chapters are trying to analyze current trends and their specific features in the field of production, distribution and promotion of music in the world and the Czech Republic. Special chapter is devoted to new forms of financing music project. The work also deals with the analysis of the current music consumption habits of music consumers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The last chapter deals with the approach of Czech and Slovak musicians to new possibilities in production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for the functioning of their musical projects. Key words

Positive and negative impacts of globalization on the current field of music production \u2013 Analysis of rock scene in Czech Republic and Slovakia

Bakalářská práce se zabývá vlivy globalizace na současnou rockovou scénu na Slovensku a v Čechách. V první části se věnuje vysvětlení globalizace, její forem a následně vývoji rockové hudby a její momentálního stavu z globálního hlediska, i z pohledu České republiky a Slovenska. Následující kapitoly poukazují na obecnou problematiku fungování rockových skupin a dopady globalizace na ně. Především půjde o hudební produkci, propagaci, živé vystupování a prodej své tvorby. Práce se rovněž zabývá analýzou cen a specifik nahrávacích studií, hudebních klubů a firem zaměřených na merchandise, fungujících na Slovensku a v Čechách. K získání potřebných informací byl zároveň zhotoven dotazník, zaměřený na rockove hudebníky na Slovensku a v České republice, který je vyhodnocen v poslední kapitole této práce.This bachelor thesis deals with the effects of globalization on the current rock scene in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The first part is devoted to the explanation of globalization, its forms and development of rock music and its current state from a global perspective, and from the perspective of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The following sections show the general issue of the functioning of the rock bands and the impact of globalization on that. In particular, it will be a music production, promotion, live performance and selling. The author also deals with the analysis of prices and specifics of recording studios, music clubs and merchandise aimed at companies operating in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. To obtain the necessary information there was also made questionnaire, focused on rock musicians in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which is evaluated in the last chapter of this work.Bakalárska práca sa zaoberá vplyvmi globalizácie na súčasnú rockovú scénu na Slovensku a v Čechách. V prvej časti sa venuje vysvetleniu globalizácie, jej foriem a následne vývoju rockovej hudby a jej momentálneho stavu z globálneho hľadiska, aj z pohľadu Českej republiky a Slovenska. Nasledujúce kapitoly poukazujú na všeobecnú problematiku fungovania rockových skupín a dopady globalizácie na ne. Predovšetkým pôjde o hudobnú produkciu, propagáciu, živé vystupovanie a predaj svojej tvorby. Práca sa takisto zaoberá analýzou cien a špecifík nahrávacích štúdií, hudobných klubov a firiem zameraných na merchandise, fungujúcich na Slovensku a v Čechách. K získaniu potrebných informácií bol zároveň zhotovený dotazník, zameraný na rockových hudobníkov na Slovensku a v Českej republike, ktorý je vyhodnotený v poslednej kapitole tejto práce

Aging and Possible Benefits or Negatives of Lifelong Endurance Running: How Master Male Athletes Differ from Young Athletes and Elderly Sedentary?

Regular physical activity, recommended by the WHO, is crucial in maintaining a good physical fitness level and health status and slows down the effects of aging. However, there is a lack of knowledge of whether lifelong endurance running, with a volume and frequency above the WHO limits, still brings the same benefits, or several negative effects too. The present study aims to examine the protentional benefits and risks of lifelong endurance running training in Master male athletes, as this level of physical activity is above the WHO recommendations. Within the study, four main groups of participants will be included: (1) endurance-trained master athletes, (2) endurance-trained young athletes, (3) young sedentary adults, and (4) elderly sedentary. Both groups of athletes are strictly marathon runners, who are still actively running. The broad spectrum of the diagnostic tests, from the questionnaires, physical fitness testing, and blood sampling to muscle biopsy, will be performed to obtain the possibility of complexly analyzing the effects of lifelong endurance physical activity on the human body and aging. Moreover, the study will try to discover and explain new relationships between endurance running and diagnostic parameters, not only within aging