An Electromyographic and Video Motion Analysis Study of Sprinters at Varying Speeds and Inclines

Athletes desire to succeed in their respective sport. Several training programs claim to enhance athletic performance by loading specific muscles and joints needed for increased speed, power, and strength in a sport specific manner. One such training regimen is the Frappier Acceleration® program, in which the core element involves sprinting on a treadmill at varying speeds and inclines. The purpose of this study is to describe muscle activity and joint motion while running on a treadmill at different speeds and inclines. Eleven males between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two years of age ran on a treadmill at five different conditions at varying speeds and inclines. One of these trials consisted of the subject walking at 2.4 mph and a 0 percent grade in order to obtain a baseline for comparison of the other four trials. Surface electrodes and joint markers were used to analyze electromyographic activity of eight muscles and calculate joint angles while running. A descriptive analysis was then performed comparing the five trials. From our results we conclude that the sprinter does adopt different strategies and muscle recruitment patterns to compensate for increases in slope. There is an increase in EMG activity in the Vastus Lateralis, Rectus Femoris, Gluteus Maximus, and Tibialis Anterior when running at 8 mph and 25 percent grade when compared to the level condition, and an increase in the EMG activity of all recorded muscles when running at 13 mph and 25 percent grade vs. level running. Examination of range of motion revealed that there was greater overall motion of the hip on the incline trials while displacements of the knee and ankle were relatively similar

LOW-RANK COAL: Its Present and Future Role in the United States

Low-rank coals-lignite and subbituminous coal-are those that have been subjected to the least metamorphic change during the coal-forming process. As such, they retain greater fractions of moisture and volatile matter and contain less fixed carbon than the high-rank coals-bituminous and anthracite. The primary measure used to classify the lower ranks of coal is the heating value. Lignite is defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (standard D-388) as coal with a heating value less than 8300 Btujlb, on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis (m,mmf). Subbituminous coal ranges in heating value from 8300 to 11,500 Btujlb (m,mmf). Bituminous coal and anthracite range from 10,500 to over 15,000 Btu/lb (m,mmf)

DOE-EERC jointly sponsored research program

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Cooperative Agreement DE-FC21-93MC30098 funded through the Office of Fossil Energy and administered at the Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) supported the performance of a Jointly Sponsored Research Program (JSRP) at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) with a minimum 50% nonfederal cost share to assist industry in commercializing and effectively applying efficient, nonpolluting energy technologies that can compete effectively in meeting market demands for clean fuels, chemical feedstocks, and electricity in the 21st century. The objective of the JSRP was to advance the deployment of advanced technologies for improving energy efficiency and environmental performance through jointly sponsored research on topics that would not be adequately addressed by the private sector alone. Examples of such topics include the barriers to hot-gas cleaning impeding the deployment of high-efficiency power systems and the search for practical means for sequestering CO{sub 2} generated by fossil fuel combustion. The selection of particular research projects was guided by a combination of DOE priorities and market needs, as provided by the requirement for joint venture funding approved both by DOE and the private sector sponsor. The research addressed many different energy resource and related environmental problems, with emphasis directed toward the EERC's historic lead mission in low-rank coals (LRCs), which represent approximately half of the U.S. coal resources in the conterminous states, much larger potential resources in Alaska, and a major part of the energy base in the former U.S.S.R., East Central Europe, and the Pacific Rim. The Base and JSRP agreements were tailored to the growing awareness of critical environmental issues, including water supply and quality, air toxics (e.g., mercury), fine respirable particulate matter (PM{sub 2.5}), and the goal of zero net CO{sub 2} emissions

Task 7.1 - Strategic Planning

Energy industry decisions on resources, utilization technologies, and environmental control measures are made in reference to changing patterns of fuel cost and availability, emerging technological choices, externality impacts, and governmental policies, statutes, and regulations. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has endeavored to maintain a highly relevant research focus through activities dating back to the benchmark 1980 Low-Rank Coal Study, 1983 defederalization plans, and the 1991 comprehensive white paper on energy policy and technologies. Work was completed in FY94 on an energy and environmental profile for selected East Central European nations and more recently on a series of in-house white papers dealing with key environmental issues including global warming. Task 7.0 continues a limited effort devoted to strategic studies under the base Cooperative Agreement. The objective of this activity is to understand the potentialities, limitations, and status of competing energy technologies in terms of scientific basis, state of development, technical barriers, cost, efficiency, policy treatment, and environmental performance for the purpose of planning and evaluating research activities under the Cooperative Agreement. This work is to provide guidance in planning the broad outline for future research under the Cooperative Agreement in keeping with industry needs and national goals. This is being accomplished through the combination of directed studies, under Activity 1, Technical Assessment, and under Activity 2, Technical Oversight

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: Grasshopper Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum): Breeding range Suitable habitat Area requirements Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity Species’ response to management Management Recommendations Habitat Characteristic

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: Field Sparrow

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla): Breeding range Suitable habitat Area requirements Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity Species’ response to management Management Recommendations Habitat Characteristic

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: Sprague’s Pipit

Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii): Breeding range Suitable habitat Area requirements Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity Species’ response to management Management Recommendations Habitat Characteristic

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: Sprague’s Pipit

Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii): Breeding range Suitable habitat Area requirements Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity Species’ response to management Management Recommendations Habitat Characteristic

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: Grasshopper Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum): Breeding range Suitable habitat Area requirements Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity Species’ response to management Management Recommendations Habitat Characteristic

Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl ( Speotyto cunicularia hypugaea): Breeding range Suitable habitat Prey habitat Area requirements Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism Breeding-season phenology and site fidelity Species’ response to management Management Recommendations Characteristic