Sports medicine : physical fitness and rehabilitation

Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the physiology of the human organism when subjected to stress; it teaches the adaptation and the reactions of the human machine to varying degrees of physical exercise; it indicates the pleasures and pitfalls of games and instructs what should be done to encourage the widest possible participation in sports together with the least danger of injury. The fruits of sports medicine are beneficial also outside the field of sport; all non-sportsmen indistinctly, of whatever age group, can reap such fruits.peer-reviewe

Nutrition and diet in athletes

The value of different articles of food as sources of energy to athletes is discussed. Carbohydrates are the chief and best sources to be preferred to fats and proteins. The diet of an athlete must be well-balanced to contain essential elements in sufficient proportional quantities to supply required calories. Regular weighing of athletes is important to ascertain that the input is equal to the output. Nutrition and dieting are one of the cardinal mainstones on which depends maximum performance. Proper nutrition of an athlete is as important as the intense training he undergoes. A sound dietary regime is absolutely essential to guarantee maximum physical fitness and consequently performance.peer-reviewe

Peace and Conflict: Engineering Responsibilities and Opportunities

In many conflicts, the consequences of engineering projects are among the problems at issue, and engineers are unavoidably parties to the problems. Engineers need to raise their awareness of the potential effects of their projects, especially in situations of serious social and political contention, and to explore alternative designs or engineering solutions, and methods of implementation, that may ameliorate rather than exacerbate tensions. Engineers will also need to dialogue effectively with the many stakeholders affected if these projects are to be politically viable and achieve their technical purposes. The paper draws on several case studies of engineering projects in conflict situations, especially in developing countries. The article offers a check list of factors to take into account when designing and locating power, irrigation, mining, transport, and other types of engineering projects, in areas of conflict or potential conflict. The focus of the paper is primarily, but not entirely, on social conflict

The impact of site-visits on the development of biological cognitive knowledge

Classroom-based science teaching tends to be dominated by teaching that stifles the students’ natural curiosity and eagerness to discover their surroundings. Knowledge makes sense to students particularly when it is learned within the context of an authentic experience. Thus classroom-based science needs to be complimented by out-of-classroom activities which offer direct and relevant information that influences students’ learning. Students build new knowledge on already existing schema, thus it is important for both teacher and students to question and evaluate their knowledge to be able to build on solid grounds. This paper illustrates examples of meta-cognitive tools (i.e. Vee diagrams and concept maps) used before and after site-visits to explore the contribution of out-of-classroom activities to the students’ biological cognitive development. This research shows that site-visits are a necessary part of science learning because they help students develop observational and reasoning skills, link biology to personal life experiences and contextualise inert classroom knowledge, making it more meaningful and easier to remember.peer-reviewe