Specificity in the physical preparation of elite rugby union football players

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The present thesis explored various applications of training specificity with regard to elite-level rugby union football players of various ages. A novel approach to metabolic conditioning employing skill-based conditioning games was investigated with elite-level senior professional players, during the course of a preseason training period. Training responses were assessed using a submaximal intermittent shuttle test performed at weekly intervals. Significant differences post-training (p<0.01) were observed for %HRmax reached during the final test stage and recovery of HR from the end of the final stage to the end of the final 1-minute rest period. The second study examined effectiveness of a circuit format for strength training in elite senior professional players during a preseason training period. Following the circuit based strength training, deadlift and bench pull I-RM strength scores were significantly improved both in comparison to pre-tests (p<0.01) and end season scores (p<0.01). Bench press scores were also significantly improved following the training period (p<0.01), and post-test bench press scores were improved relative to end season scores, albeit to a lesser extent (p<0.05). An Olympic lift training intervention was undertaken with Junior academy-level rugby union players. The effect of the application of these lifts on mean power output measured using test apparatus that simulated the ruck clean movement featured in rugby union football was examined. The considerably greater increases of the training group on this measure (28% vs 8%) were reflected in greater statistical significance (p<0.01) relative to the improvement for the control group (p<0.05). A significant interaction effect also indicated the training groups responded significantly differently on the test measure following training. A weighted ballistic push up training mode, incorporating a prototype shoulder harness, was investigated in a group of junior academy-level rugby football players. The training group recorded significant improvements in work output measured using a concentric-only push test (p<0.05), whereas countermovement push-up test scores approached significance (P=0.063). The final study employed an overweight ball complex training intervention. Following training the elite academy professional players who served as subjects showed significant improvements (p<0.05) in right-handed and left-handed mean and peak pass velocities

COMPARISON OF STEP-BY-STEP KINEMATICS OF RESISTED, NORMAL AND ASSISTED 30 M SPRINTS IN EXPERIENCED SPRINTERS

The purpose of this study was to compare step-by-step kinematics of resisted, normal and assisted 30m sprints in experienced sprinters. Step-by-step kinematics were measured using infrared mat and laser gun in sixteen subjects during each 30 m sprint under the respective condition. The main findings were that almost all measured kinematics were affected by resisted and assisted sprint conditions. The one exception was that step frequency did not show any marked differences between assisted sprint condition in comparison to normal sprints. It is notable that employing this approach in combination with laser gun and infrared mat over 30 m makes it straightforward to analyse step-by step kinematics under different conditions in training. This approach could provide coaches, researchers and athletes with more detailed information and monitor changes in kinematics during training

Successful Strategies for Recruitment and Hiring of Veterans

Transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce is both a daunting experience and a formidable challenge for many highly skilled veterans. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the successful strategies of Fortune 500 business leaders for the recruitment and hiring of veterans. Person-organization fit theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. The targeted population consisted of 3 business leaders from 3 separate Fortune 500 businesses in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with successful strategies for recruiting and hiring veterans. Data collected from interviews and supporting documents were coded and analyzed using a mind-mapping technique, and 3 themes emerged: veteran awareness and edification, business leader awareness and edification, and working with strategic partners. The study findings may provide business leaders who lack veteran recruitment and hiring strategies opportunities to access skilled veterans seeking employment. The social implications of this study revolves around potential enhancements to business leaders\u27 understanding of what highly skilled veterans may bring to their organizations\u27 operational portfolio. Additionally, this study may contribute to veteran job seekers\u27 awareness of the importance of preparing themselves for the career transition between military service and the civilian workforce

SIG-DB: leveraging homomorphic encryption to Securely Interrogate privately held Genomic DataBases

Genomic data are becoming increasingly valuable as we develop methods to utilize the information at scale and gain a greater understanding of how genetic information relates to biological function. Advances in synthetic biology and the decreased cost of sequencing are increasing the amount of privately held genomic data. As the quantity and value of private genomic data grows, so does the incentive to acquire and protect such data, which creates a need to store and process these data securely. We present an algorithm for the Secure Interrogation of Genomic DataBases (SIG-DB). The SIG-DB algorithm enables databases of genomic sequences to be searched with an encrypted query sequence without revealing the query sequence to the Database Owner or any of the database sequences to the Querier. SIG-DB is the first application of its kind to take advantage of locality-sensitive hashing and homomorphic encryption to allow generalized sequence-to-sequence comparisons of genomic data.Comment: 38 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables, 1 supplemental table, 7 supplemental figure

Specificity in the physical preparation of elite rugby union football players

The present thesis explored various applications of training specificity with regard to elite-level rugby union football players of various ages. A novel approach to metabolic conditioning employing skill-based conditioning games was investigated with elite-level senior professional players, during the course of a preseason training period. Training responses were assessed using a submaximal intermittent shuttle test performed at weekly intervals. Significant differences post-training (p<0.01) were observed for %HRmax reached during the final test stage and recovery of HR from the end of the final stage to the end of the final 1-minute rest period. The second study examined effectiveness of a circuit format for strength training in elite senior professional players during a preseason training period. Following the circuit based strength training, deadlift and bench pull I-RM strength scores were significantly improved both in comparison to pre-tests (p<0.01) and end season scores (p<0.01). Bench press scores were also significantly improved following the training period (p<0.01), and post-test bench press scores were improved relative to end season scores, albeit to a lesser extent (p<0.05). An Olympic lift training intervention was undertaken with Junior academy-level rugby union players. The effect of the application of these lifts on mean power output measured using test apparatus that simulated the ruck clean movement featured in rugby union football was examined. The considerably greater increases of the training group on this measure (28% vs 8%) were reflected in greater statistical significance (p<0.01) relative to the improvement for the control group (p<0.05). A significant interaction effect also indicated the training groups responded significantly differently on the test measure following training. A weighted ballistic push up training mode, incorporating a prototype shoulder harness, was investigated in a group of junior academy-level rugby football players. The training group recorded significant improvements in work output measured using a concentric-only push test (p<0.05), whereas countermovement push-up test scores approached significance (P=0.063). The final study employed an overweight ball complex training intervention. Following training the elite academy professional players who served as subjects showed significant improvements (p<0.05) in right-handed and left-handed mean and peak pass velocities.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo