Training aids can play an important role in the training of athletes, but only if they assist in the learning of correct technique. The design of a training aid differs considerably from the design of other products because it is crucial that the mechanisms used in learning a skill must be taken into consideration. Research has shown that this can be achieved by: encouraging specific motor skills, providing feedback, providing support in a safe environment, permitting repetition, permitting progressive learning, or by providing some combination of these. For this to be possible an in-depth understanding of the biomechanical requirements of the sporting activity is essential. A study was carried out to determine the fundamental requirements of a training aid, and to then design and build two working prototype gymnastics training aids. Elite training sessions were observed and High Performance coaches were interviewed to establish the skills that required a training aid and the customer requirements for such a device. On the basis of this information two contrasting gymnastics skills were chosen. The first was a handstand on the rings, a complex motor control skill requiring the gymnast to balance on two moving pendulums, requested by 100% of the coaches interviewed. The second skill was a backward handspring, often the first backward dynamic skill most gymnasts will learn, requested by 89% of the coaches interviewed. The training aids were required to simplify the learning of the skill, whilst still utilising correct technique. The backward handspring aid was also required to effectively support the gymnast but not obstruct a good performance. A biomechanical analysis of each skill was carried out in order to inform the design of suitable training aids. The aids were designed and manufactured in accordance with British Standards, and were then biomechanically assessed to ensure that they correctly aided the learning of the skills. In order to assess the aids: displacement, force and muscle activation data were collected and were used to compare the gymnastics skills with and without the aids. The data showed that the training aids replicated the correct biomechanical requirements of the actual skills: the handstand aid was shown to utilise the same control mechanism as was observed on the rings, and the backward handspring aid permitted a unobstructed good performance and assisted in the learning of the skills with correct technique. Both aids were also demonstrated to out-perform any of the existing training aids.

The exploitation of illicit substances, such as drugs and explosives, is on the rise. Special attention must therefore be considered to reduce the transportation and storage of these illicit substances by improving the capability of detection, even when hidden from view. Although analytical methods of detection for both drugs and explosives have improved over time, biological detectors, such as canines, are still commonly used. In comparison to humans, these canines have a larger number of olfactory receptors and a greater olfactory epithelium surface area, providing them with a more enhanced olfaction than that of humans. The premise for the detection of illicit drugs and explosives is based on the premise that these substances though hidden, will emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs are not often the parent drug or explosive, they are essentially a chemical associated with the source and provide a reliable indication of the illicit substance. Previous successful research has been conducted on the identification of the active odors present in the headspace of cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA but instead for marijuana and heroin there have been minimum success. Thus, in the present research a method using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was optimized to identify the VOCs makeup of heroin and marijuana to further identify the active odor compound(s) responsible for the alert response of biological detectors (canines). A mixture of acetic acid and acetylsalicylic acid was identified as target odor mimic for heroin by certified detector canines, while a mixture of limonene and caryophyllene was recognized as odor mimic for marijuana by conducting ORTs. The training aids developed successfully mimic the scent of the actual illicit substance and can be used to improve the capabilities of both drug and explosive detection canines. Additionally, as growing threat of improvised explosives has created a worldwide concern and emphasized the requirement of a greater spectra of canine training aids that covers the complete range of explosives available, a new approach for the creation of training aids for IEDs have been evaluated. The use of a dynamic collection system have proved to be an option to develop fast and reliable canine training aids for IEDs.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / With bombings in the United States on the rise for the first time since 2016, the detection and identification of explosives remains of pertinent interest to law enforcement agencies. This work presents two soon-to-be published research articles that focus on the detection and identification of explosives by both chemical instrumentation and canines. The first article, Quantitative Analysis of Smokeless Powder Particles in Post-Blast Debris via Gas Chromatography/Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (GC/VUV), utilizes gas chromatography/vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (GC/VUV) to determine the difference in chemical composition of two smokeless powders in both pre- and post-blast conditions. The compounds of interest in this study were nitroglycerin, 2,4- dinitrotoluene, diphenylamine, ethyl centralite, and di-n-butyl phthalate. Concentration changes between pre- and post-blast smokeless powder particles were determined as well as microscopic differences between pre- and post-blast debris for both smokeless powders in all devices. To our knowledge, this is the first use of GC/VUV for the quantification of explosives. The second article, An Odor-Permeable Membrane Device for the Storage of Canine Training Aids, proposes the use of an odor-permeable membrane device (OPMD) as a standardized storage method for canine training aids. It is hypothesized that the OPMD would minimize cross-contamination between training aids, and that the OPMD could be used for canine training as well as storage. The goal of this research is to use flux and evaporation rate to quantify the explosive odor that escapes from the OPMD compared to unconfined explosives. Preliminary data suggests that there is an exponential relationship between relative boiling point and evaporation rate. It has been determined that compounds with higher boiling points have lower evaporation rates than compounds that have lower boiling points. The materials studied thus far are known odor compounds produced by explosive formulations. These include nitromethane, nitroethane, 1- nitropropane, r-limonene, and toluene.

Relevance of the topic. Basketball is a sports game the aim of which is to throw the ball into the opponent’s basket. The improvement in basketball is directly linked to one of the most significant problems arising to basketball players, coaches and researchers: the improvement of accuracy of shooting and free throws (Nemeth, 2002; Stonkus, 2003; Emma, 2004; Sivils, 2010; Filippi, 2011). The dependence of the efficiency of shooting as the main technical action in playing basketball is manifold: the accuracy of shooting is determined by biomechanical parameters (Brancazio, 1981; Hudson, 1985; Miller, 2002; Fontanella, 2007; Bartlett, 2008), movement stability (Millslagle, 2002; Button et al., 2003; Okubo, Hubbard, 2006; Bartlett et al., 2007; Lam et al., 2009), and ability of the human body to adapt to physical loads of different intensity (McInnes et al., 1995; Ziv, Lidor, 2009; Mongomery et al., 2010) and types as well as mental abilities of players (Burke, Brown, 2002; Vealey, Greenleaf, 2006; Malinauskas, 2010). Changes in the shooting indices during a basketball match are influenced by active actions of opponents’ defence, defensive systems applied, physical and mental condition of players, the importance of the match and its result. The accuracy of free throws is specifically influenced by the result of the game and the mental condition of the players in relation to the result (Stonkus, 2003; Wissel, 2011). It has been established that free throws make 20–25 percent of... [to full text] / Temos aktualumas. Krepšinis – tai sportinis dviejų komandų po penkis žaidėjus žaidimas aikštėje varant, perduodant vienas kitam ir metant kamuolį į varžovų komandos krepšį. Krepšinio tobulėjimas yra tiesiogiai susijęs su viena iš svarbiausių problemų, kylančių žaidėjams, treneriams bei mokslininkams – metimų ir baudos metimų tikslumo gerinimu (Nemeth, 2002; Stonkus, 2003; Emma, 2004; Sivils, 2010; Filippi, 2011). Pagrindinio technikos veiksmo žaidžiant krepšinį – kamuolio metimo į krepšį efektyvumo priklausomybė daugialypė: metimų tikslumą žaidžiant lemia biomechaniniai žaidėjo atliekamo veiksmo rodikliai (Brancazio, 1981; Hudson, 1985; Miller, 2002; Fontanella, 2007; Bartlett, 2008), judesių stabilumas (Millslagle, 2002; Button et al., 2003; Okubo, Hubbard, 2006; Bartlett et al., 2007; Lam et al., 2009), organizmo gebėjimas prisitaikyti prie įvairaus intensyvumo ir pobūdžio fizinių krūvių (McInnes et al., 1995; Ziv, Lidor, 2009; Mongomery et al., 2010), psichinės savybės (Burke, Brown, 2002; Vealey, Greenleaf, 2006; Malinauskas, 2010). Metimų rodiklių kaitą rungtynių metu lemia aktyvūs varžovų gynybos veiksmai, taikomos gynybos sistemos, žaidėjų fizinė bei psichinė būklė, atsižvelgiant į rungtynių svarbą, jų rezultatą. Baudos metimo tikslumui išskirtinį poveikį daro rungtynių rezultatas ir su juo susijusi atliekančio metimą krepšininko psichinė būklė (Stonkus, 2003; Wissel, 2011). Nustatyta, kad baudos metimai sudaro 20–25 proc. visų per rungtynes pelnytų taškų (Kozar et al... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Human scent and human remains detection canines are used to locate living or deceased humans under many circumstances. Human scent canines locate individual humans on the basis of their unique scent profile, while human remains detection canines locate the general scent of decomposing human remains. Scent evidence is often collected by law enforcement agencies using a Scent Transfer Unit, a dynamic headspace concentration device. The goals of this research were to evaluate the STU-100 for the collection of human scent samples, and to apply this method to the collection of living and deceased human samples, and to the creation of canine training aids. The airflow rate and collection material used with the STU-100 were evaluated using a novel scent delivery method. Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems were created containing representative standard compounds delivered at known rates, improving the reproducibility of optimization experiments. Flow rates and collection materials were compared. Higher air flow rates usually yielded significantly less total volatile compounds due to compound breakthrough through the collection material. Collection from polymer and cellulose-based materials demonstrated that the molecular backbone of the material is a factor in the trapping and releasing of compounds. The weave of the material also affects compound collection, as those materials with a tighter weave demonstrated enhanced collection efficiencies. Using the optimized method, volatiles were efficiently collected from living and deceased humans. Replicates of the living human samples showed good reproducibility; however, the odor profiles from individuals were not always distinguishable from one another. Analysis of the human remains samples revealed similarity in the type and ratio of compounds. Two types of prototype training aids were developed utilizing combinations of pure compounds as well as volatiles from actual human samples concentrated onto sorbents, which were subsequently used in field tests. The pseudo scent aids had moderate success in field tests, and the Odor pad aids had significant success. This research demonstrates that the STU-100 is a valuable tool for dog handlers and as a field instrument; however, modifications are warranted in order to improve its performance as a method for instrumental detection.

Methylone, Ethylone, Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) collectively referred to as bath salts are a new trend of illicit substances known as synthetic cathinones. Designed by chemically modifying the core structure of the compound cathinone, synthetic cathinones became prevalent within the United States around the mid-2000s. As a cheap and less controlled alternative to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), it has become heavily abused, prompting emergency scheduling by federal regulators. Although regulations have been placed to halt incoming traffic of these drugs, lack of ground efforts still leave a large percentage of bath salts available. This study is two-fold, as it seeks to develop an extraction method for the development of Volatile Organic Compound profiles associated with various synthetic cathinones; and also determine the odorant used for canine recognition. The initial goal of this dissertation was to develop an extraction method to characterize various cathinone derivatives. The present study concluded that by employing a Polydimethylsiloxane Divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) coated fiber along with complimentary soft ionization techniques, the volatile components and all parent drugs could be identified within sixteen synthetic cathinone cases. The second goal of the dissertation was to assess and enhance the detection capabilities of narcotic detection teams. Canine field detection is routinely used to stop the increasing distribution influx of drugs into the United States that go undetected by standard procedures currently employed. Although currently canines can detect a multitude of drugs including heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine; this study revealed that more than ten canine teams (throughout south Florida) were not able to detect the presence of synthetic cathinones with current training material. While concerns have grown concerning the safety and reliability of canines being trained on various illicit substances, this research aimed to develop a safe, efficient, controlled alternative to training any canine for detection in the form of a Controlled Mimic Permeation System (COMPS). Field examination concluded that 3,4-methylenedioxypriophenone was the odorant responsible for the canine recognition of the cathinone derivative odor. Therefore a mimic training aid was developed and deployed within the field to enhance the detection capabilities of various canine teams.

<p>  </p> <p>With bombings in the United States on the rise for the first time since 2016, the detection and identification of explosives remains of pertinent interest to law enforcement agencies. This work presents two soon-to-be published research articles that focus on the detection and identification of explosives by both chemical instrumentation and canines. The first article, <em>Quantitative Analysis of Smokeless Powder Particles in Post-Blast Debris via Gas Chromatography/Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (GC/VUV)</em>, utilizes gas chromatography/vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (GC/VUV) to determine the difference in chemical composition of two smokeless powders in both pre- and post-blast conditions. The compounds of interest in this study were nitroglycerin, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, diphenylamine, ethyl centralite, and di-n-butyl phthalate. Concentration changes between pre- and post-blast smokeless powder particles were determined as well as microscopic differences between pre- and post-blast debris for both smokeless powders in all devices. To our knowledge, this is the first use of GC/VUV for the quantification of explosives. The second article, <em>An Odor-Permeable Membrane Device for the Storage of Canine Training Aids</em>, proposes the use of an odor-permeable membrane device (OPMD) as a standardized storage method for canine training aids. It is hypothesized that the OPMD would minimize cross-contamination between training aids, and that the OPMD could be used for canine training as well as storage. The goal of this research is to use flux and evaporation rate to quantify the explosive odor that escapes from the OPMD compared to unconfined explosives. Preliminary data suggests that there is an exponential relationship between relative boiling point and evaporation rate. It has been determined that compounds with higher boiling points have lower evaporation rates than compounds that have lower boiling points. The materials studied thus far are known odor compounds produced by explosive formulations. These include nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, r-limonene, and toluene. </p>