Search

Problem Statement: Both the aerobic and the anaerobic metabolic systems contribute to the majority of competitive swimming events with a significant energy supply coming from glycolysis, which can lead to blood lactate accumulation. Importantly, stroke technique is a significant determinant of the energy cost of swimming. Head turning for inhalation can potentially affect hydrodynamic resistance, in turn influencing performance, while breathing restriction may contribute to fatigue. Purpose: Sufficient breathing is more important in longer distances with greater aerobic demand, thus, it is expected that restricting oxygen delivery would alter the metabolic contribution of these durations. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to compare metabolic responses to an incremental swim test with different breathing patterns in young competitive swimmers in the 200-m front crawl. Approach: Competitive male youth swimmers were recruited (n=8, Age=15-2, Height=177.5-9.6, Body weight=65.3-11.8) from a local swim club. A 7 x 200m incremental swim test was conducted with two different breathing rates: 1, breathing every three strokes (BR3) 2, breathing every five strokes (BR5) in a counterbalanced fashion and blood lactate and heart rate (HR) responses were recorded. Data were compared using a 2-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Results: Although there was a main effect for time (p=0.000), lactate and HR responses did not show significant condition by time interaction for the BR3 and BR5 breathing conditions (p=0.098 and p=0.262, respectively). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were almost identical on the 10-point Borg-scale between the two conditions at the completion of the swim test without any statistically significant difference (p=0.402). Conclusions: Experienced swimmers may attempt to control their breathing in order to increase swimming velocity by reducing drag without compromising performance due to lactate accumulation and fatigue. The current findings demonstrate that restricted breathing is feasible for longer (e.g. 200m) swimming distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The position of the Gemeric Superunit within the Western Carpathians is unique due to the occurrence of the Lower Palaeozoic basement rocks together with the autochthonous Upper Palaeozoic cover. The Gemeric granites play one of the most important roles in the framework of the tectonic evolution of this mountain range. They can be observed in several small intrusions outcropping in the western and south-eastern parts of the Gemeric Superunit. Moreover, these granites are particularly interesting in terms of their mineralogy, petrology and ages. The comprehensive geological and geophysical research of the Gemeric granites can help us to better understand structures and tectonic evolution of the Western Carpathians. Therefore, a new and original 3D density model of the Gemeric granites was created by using the interactive geophysical program IGMAS. The results show clearly that the Gemeric granites represent the most significant upper crustal anomalous low-density body in the structure of the Gemeric Superunit. Their average thickness varies in the range of 5–8 km. The upper boundary of the Gemeric granites is much more rugged in comparison with the lower boundary. There are areas, where the granite body outcrops and/or is very close to the surface and places in which its upper boundary is deeper (on average 1 km in the north and 4–5 km in the south). While the depth of the lower boundary varies from 5–7 km in the north to 9–10 km in the south. The northern boundary of the Gemeric granites along the tectonic contact with the Rakovec and Klátov Groups (North Gemeric Units) was interpreted as very steep (almost vertical). The results of the 3D modelling show that the whole structure of the Gemeric Unit, not only the Gemeric granite itself, has an Alpine north-vergent nappe structure. Also, the model suggests that the Silicicum–Turnaicum and Meliaticum nappe units have been overthrusted onto the Golčatov Group.

A controlled laboratory experiment was used to assess the efficacy of the cognitive processes that underlie risk taking decision making in young and elderly people. Thirty-six participants took part in the study: half the subjects were elderly (mean age of 74) and the other half were young adults (mean age of 19). The elderly participants made equivalent decisions to those of the control young adults. Both age-groups of participants systematically and comparably changed their behavior as a function of risk levels. Furthermore, the elderly participants, relative to young adults, did not exhibit any slowing down in the speed of processing the information involved in making risk taking decisions, reflecting that healthy elderly people are cognitively apt to making risk taking decisions. Both age-groups took comparably less time on the easy trials (trials with either low or high levels of risk) and comparably more time on the difficult trials (trials with medium levels of risk). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]