CHANGES IN SPEED, AGILITY AND BODY COMPOSITION OF TOP-RANKED FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYERS DURING THE PLAYING SEASON

Handball is a dynamic Olympic sport dominated by acyclic movements (sudden changes in direction, jumps, landings, contacts between the players, etc.) with speed and agility playing an important role in their successful realization. Our aim was to establish which changes occurred in the body composition, speed and agility of top-ranked female handball players during the playing season. The parameters for estimating body composition were: body mass, body mass index (BMI), the percentage of muscle and fat. The ability to achieve speed (in 5, 10 and 30m sprints) and agility (new envelope test without a ball, straight slalom run without a ball and Straight slalom run with a ball, zig-zag with and zig-zag without a ball) was estimated with the portable timing system. The differences between the initial and the final measurements were established with the Student’s t-test. The results obtained show that there were statistically significant changes and weaker results in almost all the tested variables. The only improvements were detected in the maximum speed in 30m sprint and the agility without a ball (new envelope test and slalom run without a ball). It is recommended that the training plan should be carefully devised (the activities of the high intensity load should be applied throughout the season) as well as the plan for proper sports nutrition (body mass should be reduced with simultaneous increase in the muscular mass component)

Antithrombotic activity of flavonoids and polyphenols rich plant species

Cardiovascular diseases represent one of the most notable health problems of the modern civilization. Stroke and heart attack often lead to lethal outcome, and essential problem underneath being thrombus formation. Prophylactic approaches include acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel therapy on the level of primary hemostasis, i.e., primary clot formation. In the last five years, in the USA, health care expenses related to cardiovascular diseases have increased 50 %, to over 350 billion dollars. Thus, application of plant species and medicinal plants rich in polyphenols in prevention of thrombus formation are of interest. This is supported by the fact that the number of publications on antiaggregatory effect of polyphenols has doubled in the last decade. In this mini-review we focus on antiaggregatory effect of most abundant polyphenols – flavonoids, the effect of plant extracts rich in polyphenols (propolis, species Salvia sp., Calamintha nepeta L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Melissa officinalis L, Mentha x piperita L., Ocimum basilicum L., Origanum vulgare L., Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on platelet aggregation, association of chemical composition and antioxidant properties with the observed biological effect, and possible clinical significance of the published results

DIFFERENCES IN EXPLOSIVE STRENGTH OF ELITE FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYERS DURING THE COMPETITION SEASON

The aim of our research was to determine the explosive strength of the legs i.e., the height of the jump of the top-ranked female handball players during the season. 15 female players underwent the following tests for estimating the explosive strength of the legs: SJ, CMJ, CMJ free arm, CMJ right leg and CMJ left leg. The Student’s t-test was applied for establishing the changes between the measuring sessions during the season. The results obtained show that there were statistically significant changes and better results at the end of the season in the following parameters: CMJ right leg =.002 and CMJ left leg = .018, whereas no significant changes occurred in all the other two-leg jumps. Taking into consideration the fact that in performing different throws and goal shooting the most prominent movements in handball are done on one leg, the results were expected. It is recommended that throughout the season the training process should include additional exercises for improving and maintaining the ability of the handball players to jump (plyometric, proprioceptive and the combination of the two with the common strength improving exercises), since their positive effects have been proven by quite a few studies

Do we talk to a wall or pass on knowledge to students: The advantages and disadvantages of online learning

In the era of digitalization, boosted by Covid-19 pandemic, there is a constant need to measure the success of digital education, compare and reappraise its positive and negative outcomes, which are mainly dependent on the technical conditions available, as well as on the extent to which the previous knowledge of teachers has been adapted to practical and technical challenges. The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of digitized education as perceived by students in a qualitative survey, conducted in 2021/22. The starting point were two hypotheses related to positive aspects and two hypotheses related to negative aspects of online learning. An in-depth interview was conducted among 20 high school and 20 university students. By analyzing the results obtained, and juxtaposing them with the data taken from a quantitative survey administered prior to the qualitative one, in 2020/21, it is possible to compare the changes that took place and gain a better insight into the entire process, which has undergone certain improvements, but which also leaves room for further enhancement, particularly in terms of students' and teachers' motivation to actively engage and interact. This would help students overcome their distrust of online education

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN MECHANISMS OF THE REGULATION OF MOVEMENT AND THE COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF HANDBALL PLAYERS OF VARIOUS RANKS OF COMPETITION

Abstract On a sample of 180 handball players divided into 3 subsamples number 60 participants each, who belong to the I, II and republic handball league of Serbia,a system of 9 variables (6 motor and 3 cognitive) was applied with the aim of determining the statistically significant relations between the system of variables of motor and cognitive variables. The data were processed using a canonical correlation analysis. Using Bartlett’s Chi-square test for handball players of various ranks of competition we tested the statistical significance of the coefficients of the canonical correlation which explains the linear combinations between the groups of variables, that is, the connection between two systems of variables. By solving the characteristic equations of the cross-correlation matrix we obtained, as the roots of these equations, the coefficients of the determination of the canonical correlation for I league handball players (Rc2=.23, Rc2=.10, Rc2=.08), for II league handball players (Rc2=.24) and national level handball players (Rc2=.23). By analyzing the obtained canonical factors of both groups of variables we may say that the cognitive mechanisms have a certain significance for achieving success in handball, at the level of concrete, individual and isolated motor and cognitive abilities, and thus of the greatest importance for handball in general, irrespective of the level of the competition and level of success. A further more detailed study of the connection between the effectiveness of the parallel processor which is responsible for the visual spatialization and the factor of the structuring of movement is needed. Key words: handball, intelligence, motor skills

Arganovo ulje

Although known for centuries as an excellent oil for skin and hair care, argan oil has become increasingly popular as indispensable ingredient in cosmetology or pharmacy. Argan oil is the most expensive edible oil in the world, obtained by cold press from argan (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) plant seeds, which only grows in the area of southwestern Morocco. Major constituents of argan oil are triglycerides containing up to 80 % of monounsaturated including oleic and linolenic acids alongside with polyphenols, squalens and tocopherols. Th ese constituents are responsible for biological properties of argan oil that include antiinfl ammatory, cardioprotective and antioxidant among others

DIFFERENCES IN AGILITY AND EXPLOSIVE POWER OF BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN RELATION TO THEIR POSITIONS ON THE TEAM

Basketball is a sports game which consists of rapid changes in direction of movement, sudden stopping and starting for driving and dribbling and a great number of jumps. The various positions on a basketball team precisely determine the requirements for specific forms of movement, even though contemporary basketball strives for all players in all positions to possess the aforementioned abilities. A sample of 15 male basketball players, divided into three groups of five players each, based on their positions on the team, including the guard, forward and center position, was used to determine differences in agility (Agility T Test, Hexagon Agility Тest, Illinois Agility Test и Lane Agility Drill) and explosive power (the Squat jump, Countermovement Jump, Drop Jump and One-legged Counter Movement Jump). To determine the differences between the basketball players in relation to their positions on the team, the ANOVA analysis for independent samples was used as was a post-hoc analysis. The research results have indicated that there is a difference between the guard position compared to the forward and center position

Obrazovne nejednakosti u srednjoškolskom obrazovanju iz učeničke i nastavničke perspektive

IN CROATIAN: Cilj istraživanja prikazanog u ovoj monografiji bio je produbiti razumijevanje različitih aspekata obrazovnih nejednakosti u srednjoškolskom obrazovanju iz učeničke i nastavničke perspektive. U tu svrhu prvo su predstavljene neke od teorija važnih za objašnjenje i razumijevanje obrazovnih nejednakosti (teorija kulturne reprodukcije, teorija situiranih očekivanja i vrijednosti, teorija prijetnje stereotipom i model manjinskog stresa), zajedno s pregledom recentnih istraživanja obrazovnih nejednakosti u srednjoškolskom obrazovanju u Hrvatskoj. U drugom dijelu izloženi su rezultati aktualnog kvantitativnog i kvalitativnog istraživanja s učenicima i nastavnicima srednjih škola. Istraživanje je provedeno u 25 srednjih škola iz Grada Zagreba te Krapinsko-zagorske, Međimurske, Varaždinske i Zagrebačke županije. Provedena su anketna istraživanja s učenicima (N=1238) i nastavnicima (N=268), te fokus grupe s učenicima i intervjui s nastavnicima. Rezultati kvantitativnog istraživanja s učenicima pokazuju da su nejednakosti u obrazovnim ishodima i dobrobiti učenika povezani s društvenim porijeklom, vrstom školskog programa, rodom, kao i sa statusom ranjivosti učenika. Razgovori s učenicima upućuju na razmjernu osviještenost nepovoljnog položaja određenih skupina učenika u školi. Učenici pritom posebno izdvajaju učenike s teškoćama i učenike s (financijski ili relacijski) nepovoljnom obiteljskom situacijom, dok se druge skupine učenika u nepovoljnom položaju spominju rijetko (npr. učenici-putnici) ili se uopće ne navode. Nastavnici su u svojim procjenama anketom ispitanih aspekata obrazovnih nejednakosti razmjerno homogeni, posebno s obzirom na dob i predmetno područje u kojem poučavaju. U tom smislu njihove odgovore obilježava visoka razina prihvaćanja i poštivanja vrijednosti jednakosti i sociokulturne različitosti, kao i pozitivna procjena školske klime. Kada je riječ o učenicima u nepovoljnom položaju u školi, nastavnici smatraju da siromaštvo i konfliktni odnosi u obitelji, problemi mentalnog zdravlja, invaliditet i zdravstvene poteškoće najviše smanjuju šanse učenika za uspjeh u srednjoj školi. Nasuprot tome, individualna obilježja učenika poput roda, seksualne orijentacije ili etničke pripadnosti znatno manji postotak nastavnika doživljava kao izvor ranjivosti koji može umanjiti obrazovne šanse učenika. Da se adresiranje različitih oblika ranjivosti u školi ne odvija bez poteškoća, vidljivo je iz razgovora s nastavnicima u kojima se ukazuje na brojne izazove u radu s učenicima u nepovoljnom položaju, kao i na moguće predrasude samih nastavnika prema ranjivim učenicima u školi. Dobiveni nalazi potvrđuju da je obrazovne nejednakosti potrebno adresirati s obzirom na razlike u obrazovnim ishodima, ali i s obzirom na razlike u dobrobiti učenika. Naglašava se da je takva integralna perspektiva važan preduvjet da škole, u većoj mjeri nego do sada, kompenziraju obrazovne prilike i mogućnosti za pojedince iz različitih skupina u nepovoljnom položaju. --------------- IN ENGLISH: The aim of the research presented in this monograph was to deepen the understanding of various aspects of educational inequalities in secondary education from the perspective of students and teachers. For that purpose, firstly some of the theories important for the explanation and understanding of educational inequalities were presented (the theory of cultural reproduction, the situated expectancy-value theory, the theory of stereotype threat and the minority stress model), along with an overview of recent research into educational inequalities in secondary education in Croatia. In the second part, the results of the present quantitative and qualitative research with secondary school students and teachers were provided. The research was conducted in 25 secondary schools in the City of Zagreb, as well as Krapina-Zagorje, Međimurje, Varaždin and Zagreb Counties. The questionnaire surveys were conducted with students (N=1238) and teachers (N=268), while focus groups included students, and interviews involved teachers. The results of the quantitative research with students show that inequalities in educational outcomes and students' well-being are related to the social background, type of the school programme, gender, as well as the students' vulnerable status. The focus groups with students reveal that they are rather aware of an unfavourable position of certain groups of students at school. They particularly point to students with disabilities and students with an unfavourable family situation (financial or relational). Other groups of vulnerable students are rarely mentioned (e.g. students-commuters), or not mentioned at all. The teachers are rather homogenous in their assessments of the surveyed aspects of educational inequalities, especially with regard to age and their respective subjects. In that sense, their answers point to a high level of accepting and respecting of the values of equality and sociocultural diversity, as well as the positive assessment of the school climate. When it comes to students in an unfavourable position at school, teachers find that poverty and conflict family relations, mental health problems, disability and health problems are the factors mostly reducing the students' chances to succeed in secondary school. Contrarily, students' individual characteristics, such as gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity, are perceived by a significantly lesser percentage of teachers as the source of vulnerability that can decrease the students' educational odds. The addressing of various forms of vulnerability at school does not always go smoothly, which is evident in the interviews with teachers, in which numerous challenges in working with vulnerable students are pointed to, as well as the possible prejudice of the teachers themselves towards the vulnerable students at school. The findings confirm that educational inequalities need to be addressed with regard to the differences in educational outcomes, but also according to the differences in students' well-being. It is emphasised that such an integral perspective is an important precondition for schools to compensate, more strongly than previously, the educational chances and oportunities for students belonging to various vulnerable groups