[Truncated abstract] Resistance training is increasingly popular for improving strength qualities such as hypertrophy, maximal strength, endurance and power. Although many resistancetraining programmes now adhere to the concept of periodisation, the number of studies examining its structure and design are few, and there are just a handful of studies that have examined periodised training for the maintenance of strength and power. Even rarer, are periodised resistance-training studies that utilise female subjects. Previous studies have compared non-periodised training regimens such as Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE), and the two main models of periodisation, Linear Periodisation (LP) and Undulating Periodisation (UP). Results are inconclusive as to whether the efficacy of the periodised training programmes were due to the manipulation of training variables such as volume and intensity, or that training programmes with higher doses of volume induced better training responses. However, to make effective comparisons between training programmes, the training volume or workload (total load lifted x total repetitions) and training intensity have to be equated between the groups under examination. While the intensities (percentage of one-repetition maximum, 1 RM) for improving strength qualities such as hypertrophy and maximal strength have general consensus among resistance-training practitioners, there exists disagreement over the intensity that should be used during the training of power. Thus, it is important to first identify the load for power training before comparisons can be made between LP and UP programmes using equal training volumes. ... The final study found that adhering to two UP maintenance training programmes with equalised volumes and intensities twice a week increased upper-body strength and maintained lower-body strength adequately across a 3-wk phase. The results from these studies support previous results that suggest training programmes with higher workloads and repetitions produce superior strength and power adaptations, and it is not specifically the variation of training volume and intensity within a periodised programme that improves strength qualities. Thus, both periodised programmes used in this thesis can be recommended for untrained and moderatelytrained women as both LP and UP were found to be similarly effective for increasing upper- and lower-body hypertrophy, strength and power.

Notre travail porte sur la conception de l’histoire d’Antonio Gramsci, appréhendée à partir du problème de la périodisation (comment discerner les distinctions pertinentes dans le cours des événements, et faire droit aux ruptures radicales comme les révolutions ?). Nous montrons que Gramsci évite l’écueil d’une philosophie de l’histoire dogmatique, qu’elle soit matérialiste ou idéaliste. Son historicisme s’accompagne d’une constante attention à la concrétude et à la complexité des pratiques, situations et acteurs historiques – loin de les homogénéiser comme Althusser le lui a reproché. Pour autant, et contrairement aux philosophies néo-idéalistes (Croce et Gentile) contre lesquelles elle se construit, sa pensée ne dissout pas l’unité et la consistance du processus historique en une multiplicité de cas absolument singuliers et contingents. Elle parvient à saisir les époques historiques comme des totalités relativement cohérentes, qualitativement distinctes les unes des autres, et à rendre leur succession intelligible. En ce sens, ses réflexions fournissent des ressources précieuses pour répondre au « refoulement » de l’histoire qui nous semble caractériser de nombreuses théories post-modernes, et en particulier le post-marxisme de Laclau et Mouffe. Gramsci propose donc une philosophie de l’histoire ouverte, lourde d’enjeux pratiques. Pour le montrer, nous étudions les concepts historico-politiques décisifs qu’il forge (rapports de force, bloc historique, hégémonie, révolution passive, crise, etc.), et les analyses qu’il consacre à des périodes et situations historiques déterminées (Renaissance, Réforme, Révolution française, Risorgimento, fascisme, américanisme, etc.). / This dissertation examines Antonio Gramsci’s conception of history, especially as developed in The Prison Notebooks, and focuses on the issue of periodisation – how to make out relevant parting lines in the course of events, what to make of radical breaks like revolutions? We show here that Gramsci steers clear of a dogmatic philosophy of history, whether materialist or idealist. His historicism is borne up by a deep attention to the complexity of things and practices, of historical situations and agents – which he is very far from homogenising, despite Althusser’s claims to the contrary. Yet, unlike Italian neo-idealist philosophy and the theories of Croce and Gentile against which Gramsci develops his own, his conception of history never dissolves the unity and consistency of the historical process into a multiplicity of isolated, contingent cases. He is able to grasp historical periods as relatively consistent wholes, intrinsically distinct from each other, and to make sense of their succession. To that extent, his reflections provide us with invaluable tools to work against the “repression” of history which characterises much post-modern thinking, especially the post-Marxism of Laclau and Mouffe. Gramsci offers instead an open-ended philosophy of history, with decisive practical implications. To highlight this, we look at the key historico-political concepts he develops in his writings (power relations, historical bloc, hegemony, passive revolution, crisis), and at his analysis of specific periods and historical situations, such as the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, the Italian Risorgimento, Fascim, or Americanism and Fordism.

This thesis in Church History presents a biographic study on the life of Ben Marais against the political and ecclesiastic background of South Africa of the 20th century. The significance of Ben Marais’ life is approached through his correspondence with the secretaries of the World Council of Churches during the 1960s and 1970s. The letters, pertaining to the World Council of Churches financial and moral support for the organisations fighting against Apartheid, reflect on Ben Marais’ involvement with the World Council and his particular concerns. Through a study on the life of Ben Marais insight can be gained into the thinking of the leadership of the NG Kerk. The study presents Ben Marais as a prophet who challenged the then popular tendencies in the NG Kerk theology on policy justification and on the relation between religion and nationalism. The central question in this study asks, what led an ordinary man, of humble background, to the insights he reflected, and guided him through times of transparent opposition to maintain his belief in what was right and just? What was the essence of his theology and understanding of the South African problem? To what extent could the church leaders of the present, and the future learn from his example and life, in terms of the tribulations faced, different schools of thought, and sentiments, both nationalistic and spiritual? The study then wishes to test the following hypothesis: Ben Marais can be considered as one of the steadfast and humble prophets of the church in Southern Africa during the 20th century, who serves as an example of Christian Brotherhood, regardless of the perplexities, for present and future generations on relations between the affairs of faith, state and society. The thesis presents a broader introduction on Church Historiography. Ben Marais’ own historiographical reflection is considered. The approaches to history are summarised as background to the periodisation model adopted by the study. The study wishes to work with a thematic model set against a chronological framework. Sensitivity to geographical concerns is also expressed. Afrikaner Nationalism is not seen in isolation, but in relation to African, English and Indian Nationalism. / Thesis (DD)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted