The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the interrelationships of several important fitness characteristics in Division 1 athletes. Sport performance magnitude is the summation of an individual athlete’s technical, psychological, and fitness characteristics. Athletes who excel in any or all characteristics perform better in their chosen sports. General fitness characteristics that are important to almost all sports include strength, power, vertical jump height, shortdistance sprinting ability, muscularity, and body fat percentage. These variables have been shown in previous research to independently affect athletic performance outcomes, but their relationships to one another are less clear. Eighty Division I athletes from 4 sports were examined in a variety of fitness characteristics as part of a continuous athlete monitoring program. Data on strength, power, vertical jump height, short-distance sprinting speed, muscularity, and body fat percentage were collected and analyzed. Analysis revealed several important relationships. Firstly, strength is highly related to muscularity, with lean body mass as one of the most important determinants of strength. Secondly, athletes who can produce high relative (scaled per body mass) forces and powers tend to be considerably higher jumpers and much faster sprinters. Lastly, leaner athletes out-perform less lean athletes in almost every metric, especially relative strength and power, vertical jumping ability, and sprinting ability.

Electronic photoelectric barriers are established devices to time subjects in experiments or athletes in sports. The systems are reliable and precise, but also expensive. We propose a novel, affordable photoelectric barrier system based on consumer grade camera hardware and show how to build such a system with common electronic components and a smartphone. In two experiments with track and field athletes, we show that our novel system has similar accuracy than a professional photoelectric barrier system, but for a fraction of the costs.:1. Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1.2 Commercial Photoelectric Barriers 1.3 Image-based Change Detection 1.4 Existing Camera-based Systems 2. Novel Photoelectric Virtual Barriers System 2.1 Virtual Image-based Photoelectric Barriers 2.2 Mobile Image-based Photoelectric Virtual Barrier System 3. Experiments 4. Conclusion & Future Work

Content and language integrated learning is an approach to learning a language while studying subject matter, as well as the other way round. The intention with this dissertation has been to gather insights into teachers‘ perceptions regarding this approach and pupils’ perceived views regarding working with subject matter through the medium of English. Previous research within this area of study has shown that using this approach to learn content and language is increasing in Sweden primarily at upper secondary schools. This dissertation can be seen as twofold: firstly, a project was conducted in an 8th grade at a compulsory school in the southern part of Sweden that implement interdisciplinary work on a daily basis; secondly, data was gathered from questionnaires and interviews with both teachers and pupils who participated in the project. The results show that this approach is time-consuming and very challenging for pupils in general; it is particularly difficult for weaker pupils in English. Also, it may lead to shortcomings in the Swedish language, with terminology in particular. However, both teachers and pupils think that learning English while studying subject matter is effective, since pupils have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the English language more than otherwise. Working with subject matter in English is very different from doing it in Swedish and there are aspects that must be taken into consideration when planning, designing and implementing this approach at compulsory school level.

An increasing number of schools across Europe offer education which integrates the teaching of content with that of language, sometimes known as CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), or the Swedish equivalent SPRINT (språk- och innehållsintegrerad inlärning och undervisning). In Sweden this type of learning often goes under the name of cross-curricular or interdisciplinary work. This dissertation is a case study of one such project that integrated content and English and that took place in year 9 at a secondary school in southern Sweden. The purpose of the investigation was to find out what the teachers' and pupils' perceptions were of the use and role of English in this particular cross-curricular project. Applying case study methodology, data was collected using triangulation through observations, a focus group interview with the teachers and a pupil questionnaire. The results show that all the involved teachers and a majority of the pupils were positive towards the integration of content and language, but not on a permanent basis. The teachers felt that the project gave the pupils the opportunity to work with the language and develop communication skills. The pupils said that they had learned more speaking skills compared to being taught English as a separate subject, closely followed by writing and reading skills. However, some felt that they had not learned any grammar, which showed a view of English as a skills subject. The study shows that project-based cross-curricular work could be a successful way to integrate content and language, provided projects are well-planned and clearly structured.

Planning and estimating are important parts of Agile methodologies. Estimating aproject or sprint backlog for Agile teams is often quite challenging but there are many benefits of doing accurate estimations. Teams do not want to spend too much time esti-mating backlog items and are usually doing this by adopting methods such as planning poker. To estimate the size of the sprint backlog, the amount of work required for eachitem needs to be set, and also what pace the team is working with (Velocity) must betaken into consideration. This thesis is about finding guidelines for developing a tool toassist with sprint planning and to ease planning decisions such as how much work shouldbe included in each sprint and what kind of metrics should be visualized for influencingthe Scrum team and to increase team efficiency. The planning tool was evaluated byconducting user studies and collecting data from several sprints across different Scrumteams. The conducted user studies show that many teams did become more efficient byusing the planning tool. Although more extensive research would have to be made tofurther support this claim.

Bakgrund: Inom flera idrotter såsom fotboll, basket och innebandy är en bra sprintprestation viktigt. Sprintprestation påverkas av många olika faktorer. I litteraturen har det noterats en stark korrelation mellan prestation i vertikala och horisontella hopp och sprintprestation. Dessutom har flera studier påvisat hur prestation i Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP), som är en form av test av maximal statisk styrka i ben- och ryggmuskulaturen, har en måttlig eller stark korrelation med sprintprestation. Enligt författarnas kännedom har ingen studie undersökt korrelationen mellan sprintprestation och variablerna hopphöjd, hopplängd, Rate of Force Development (RFD), Relativ Power (RP) samt Peak Force (PF) hos unga manliga innebandyspelare. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka korrelationen mellan sprintprestation och prestation i IMTP-test och hopprestation hos unga manliga innebandyspelare. Metod: Deltagarna bestod av nio unga manliga innebandyspelare; 16 ± 1 år, 73,2 ± 6,5 kg och 179 ± 7 cm, som genomförde tester bestående av 20-metersprint, stående längdhopp, Countermovement Jump (CMJ) och IMTP. Resultat: Icke-signifikanta måttligt starka korrelationer noterades mellan sprintprestation och hopprestation (hopphöjd i CMJ, r=-0.455, p=0.219; hopplängd i stående längdhopp, r=-0.467, p=0.205; RP (w/kg) i CMJ, r=-0.356, p=0.348). Ingen av de övriga testresultaten (RFD och PF i IMTP-test) korrelerade med sprintprestation. Slutsats: Måttligt starka, icke-signifikanta korrelationer observerades mellan sprintprestation och hopprestation (hopphöjd i CMJ, hopplängd i stående längdhopp, RP (w/kg) i CMJ. Att de måttligt starka sambanden inte blev statistiskt signifikanta beror troligtvis på att studien hade för få deltagare (n=9). Det fanns ingen korrelation mellan sprintprestation och övriga variabler (RFD och PF i IMTP). Framtida forskning inom ämnet bör genomföras på ett större urval för att kunna få resultat med statistisk signifikans. / Background: Within several sports such as football, basketball and floorball sprint performance is an important ability. Sprint performance is influenced by a variety of factors. Previous literature has demonstrated that there may be a strong correlation between performance in vertical and horizontal jumping and sprint performance. In addition, several studies have shown how performance in Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP), which is a form of test of maximal static strength in the leg and back muscles, has a moderate or strong correlation with sprint performance. However the authors found no study that has examined the correlation between sprint performance and the variables jump height, jump length, RFD, RP and PF among young male floorball players. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between sprint performance and performance in IMTP-test and jump performance among young male floorball players. Method: The participants in this study consisted of 9 young male floorball players; 16 ± 1 years, 73,2 ± 6,5 kg och 179 ± 7 cm, that performed a variety of tests; 20 meter sprint, standing long jump, Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and IMTP. Results: Non-significant moderately correlations were noted between sprint performance and jump performance (jump height in CMJ, r=-0.455, p=0.219; jump length in standing long jump, r=-0.467, p=0.205; RP (w/kg) in CMJ, r=-0.356, p=0.348). None of the other test results (RFD and PF in IMTP-test) correlated with sprint performance. Besides that none of the test results had a correlation with a statistical significance. Conclusion: Moderately strong, non-significant correlations were observed between sprint performance and jump performance (jump height in CMJ, jump length in standing long jump, RP (w/kg) in CMJ). The relatively low number of participants (n=9) in this study may explain why the moderately strong relationships betweeen sprint and jump performance did not become statistically significant. There was no correlation between sprint performance and the other variables (RFD and PF in IMTP). Future research should be conducted on a larger sample in order to obtain results with statistical significance.

Abstract Aim The main purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of a very heavy resisted sprint training regimen and a unresisted sprint training regimen on sprint, acceleration and jump performance in late pubertal adolescent football (soccer) players at mid- to post-PHV and >95% PAH. Method In total 27 male football players were recruited as volunteer participants. The participants had no previous experience with resisted sprint training. The participants were randomly assigned to either the resisted sprint (RST) (n=9) or unresisted sprint (UST) (n=10) training group. However, the grouping was matched based on the force-velocity (F-v) profiling. A control group (i.e. TAU group n=8) was matched with the experimental groups based on age and anthropometrics. The training was done twice a week for four weeks, consisting of either resisted or unresisted sprints. 24 of the original 27 participants could later be included for statistical analysis. During intervention the TAU group performed the regular team training with no additional stimuli from the researchers. Anthropometrics, sprint, acceleration and jump performance testing was tested pre- and post-training intervention. Results The four-week training intervention resulted in significant improvements of sprint- and acceleration for the RST-group. The improvements were 3,8% (±0.05) in T30, 4,2% (±0.06) in T20, 5,7% (±0.06) in T10, and 7,9% (±0.06) in the T5. The RST and UST groups also had significant improvements in both vertical and horizontal jump performance. Further there were several significant between group changes in both sprint and jump performance favoring the RST group over both the UST and TAU groups. Conclusion The conclusions are that in this population a very heavy RST regimen elicits improvements in sprint and acceleration performance whilst a UST regimen does not. Further, both the RST- and UST- training regimens elicit improvements in both vertical and horizontal jump performance. The improvements of the present study follow the pattern of previous studies in the field indicating a greater horizontal force generating ability. However, the improvements in the present study are larger than previously seen, indicating that this type of training might be extra beneficial to enhance sprint and jump performance in late pubertal adolescent athletes. The findings of the present study also contradict the typical recommendations of using light resistance loads (i.e. the 10% rule) when it comes to RST. Heavier loads, as in this case 103,5% of body weight on average, can indeed be used to produce sprint and acceleration gains in a late pubertal adolescent athlete population. The improvement in these short sprints (5-30m) versus the eventual performance decrease in longer sprints 40-70m (e.g. due to less effective maximal velocity phase) is a trade off which logically should be worthwhile for team sport athletes. / Abstrakt Syfte Det huvudsakliga syftet med denna studie var att undersöka och jämföra effekterna av väldigt tungt belastad sprintträning och obelastad sprintträning på sprint-, acceleration och hopprestation hos unga fotbollsspelare i sena tonåren som ligger på en mognadsgrad av ”mid- post-PHV” samt >95% PAH. Metod Totalt 27 fotbollsspelare rekryterades som frivilliga deltagare. Deltagarna hade ingen tidigare erfarenhet av belastad sprintträning. Deltagarna blev slumpmässigt indelade till antingen den belastade (RST) eller den obelastade (UST) träningsgruppen. Dock skedde grupperingen med deltagarnas kraft- hastighetsprofilering som bas, då grupperna blev matchade efter denna. Kontrollgruppen (TAU n=8) matchades med experimentgrupperna efter ålder och antropometri. Träningen bestod av väldigt tungt belastad eller obelastad sprintträning och utfördes två gånger i veckan under fyra veckor. 24 av de initialt 27 deltagarna kunde inkluderas för vidare analys. Under interventionen genomförde TAU den vanliga lagträningen utan ytterligare träningsstimuli från forskarna. Antropometri, sprint, acceleration och hopprestation testades före respektive efter interventionen. Resultat Den fyra veckor långa träningsinterventionen resulterade i signifikanta förbättringar i sprint och acceleration för RST-gruppen. Förbättringarna var 3,8% (±0.05) i T30, 4,2% (±0.06) i T20, 5,7% (±0.06) i T10, och 7,9% (±0.06) i T5. RST och UST grupperna hade också signifikanta förbättringar i både vertikal och horisontell hopprestation. Vidare fanns det flera signifikanta mellangruppsskillnader i både sprint- och hopprestation till fördel för RST gruppen över både UST och TAU grupperna. Konklusion Konklusionen är att ett väldigt tungt RST-träningsprogram framkallar signifikanta förbättringar i både sprint, acceleration och hopprestation medan ett UST-träningsprogram inte gör det. Vidare kan konkluderas att både ett RST- och ett UST-träningsprogram signifikant förbättrar både vertikal och horisontell hopprestationen. Förbättringarna följer mönstret från tidigare studier på området och indikerar en större horisontell kraftproduktion. Dock är förbättringarna större än vad som tidigare observerats vilket indikerar att denna typ av träning kan vara extra förtjänstfull för denna population. Resultaten motsäger även den typiska rekommendationen kring lätta vikter (dvs. 10% regeln) vid belastad sprintträning. Tyngre belastning, som i detta fall i genomsnitt 103,5% av kroppsvikten, kan användas för att producera sprint- och accelerationsförbättringar i denna population. Förbättringen av denna typ av korta sprinter (5-30m) gentemot den eventuella prestationsförsämringen i längre sprinter (40-70m) torde vara ett byte som är värt att göra för lagidrottare.

Introduction Performance in cross-country skiing is influenced by the skier’s ability to continuously produce propelling forces and force magnitude in relation to the net external forces. A surrogate indicator of the “power supply” in cross-country skiing would be a physiological variable that reflects an important performance-related capability, whereas the body mass itself is an indicator of the “power demand” experienced by the skier. To adequately evaluate an elite skier’s performance capability, it is essential to establish the optimal ratio between the physiological variable and body mass. The overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to investigate the importance of body-mass exponent optimization for the evaluation of performance capability in cross-country skiing. Methods In total, 83 elite cross-country skiers (56 men and 27 women) volunteered to participate in the four studies. The physiological variables of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and oxygen uptake corresponding to a blood-lactate concentration of 4 mmol∙l-1 (V̇O2obla) were determined while treadmill roller skiing using the diagonal-stride technique; mean oxygen uptake (V̇O2dp) and upper-body power output (Ẇ) were determined during double-poling tests using a ski-ergometer. Competitive performance data for elite male skiers were collected from two 15-km classical-technique skiing competitions and a 1.25-km sprint prologue; additionally, a 2-km double-poling roller-skiing time trial using the double-poling technique was used as an indicator of upper-body performance capability among elite male and female junior skiers. Power-function modelling was used to explain the race and time-trial speeds based on the physiological variables and body mass. Results The optimal V̇O2max-to-mass ratios to explain 15-km race speed were V̇O2max divided by body mass raised to the 0.48 and 0.53 power, and these models explained 68% and 69% of the variance in mean skiing speed, respectively; moreover, the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the body-mass exponents did not include either 0 or 1. For the modelling of race speed in the sprint prologue, body mass failed to contribute to the models based on V̇O2max, V̇O2obla, and V̇O2dp. The upper-body power output-to-body mass ratio that optimally explained time-trial speed was Ẇ ∙ m-0.57 and the model explained 63% of the variance in speed. Conclusions The results in this thesis suggest that V̇O2max divided by the square root of body mass should be used as an indicator of performance in 15-km classical-technique races among elite male skiers rather than the absolute or simple ratio-standard scaled expression. To optimally explain an elite male skier’s performance capability in sprint prologues, power-function models based on oxygen-uptake variables expressed absolutely are recommended. Moreover, to evaluate elite junior skiers’ performance capabilities in 2-km double-poling roller-skiing time trials, it is recommended that Ẇ divided by the square root of body mass should be used rather than absolute or simple ratio-standard scaled expression of power output. / <p>Incorrect ISBN in printed thesis: 973-91-7601-270-3</p>

<p>The aims of this study were to investigate the mechanisms underlying (1) the ageing-related motor handicap at the whole muscle, cellular, contractile protein and myonuclear levels; and (2) ageing-related differences in muscle adaptability.</p><p>In vivo muscles function was studied in the knee extensors. Decreases were observed in isokinetic and isometric torque outputs in old age in the sedentary men and women and elite master sprinters. A 20-week long specific sprint and resistance training successfully improved the maximal isometric force and rate of force development in a subgroup of master sprinters.</p><p>In vitro measurements were performed in muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle. Immunocytochemical and contractile measurements in single membrane permeabilized muscle fibres demonstrated ageing- and gender-related changes at the myofibrillar level. In sedentary subjects, data showed a preferential decrease in the size of muscle fibres expressing type IIa MyHC in men, lower force generating capacity in muscle fibres expressing the type I MyHC isoform in both men and women and lower maximum velocity of unloaded shortening (V₀) in fibres expressing types I and IIa MyHC isoforms in both men and women. The master sprinters also experienced the typical ageing-related reduction in the size of fast-twitch fibres, a shift toward a slower MyHC isoform profile and a lower V₀ of type I MyHC fibres, which played a role in the decline in explosive force production capacity. The fast-twitch fibre area increased after the resistance training period. A model combining single muscle fibre confocal microscopy with a novel algorithm for 3D imaging of myonuclei in single muscle fibre segments was introduced to study the spatial organisation of myonuclei and the size of individual myonuclear domains (MNDs). Significant changes in the MND size variability and myonuclear organization were observed in old age, irrespective gender and fibre type. Those changes may influence the local quantity of specific proteins per muscle fibre volume by decreased and/or local cooperativity of myonuclei in a gender and muscle fibre specific manner.</p><p>In conclusion, the ageing-related impairments in in vivo muscle function were related to significant changes in morphology, contractile protein expression and regulation at the muscle fibre level. It is suggested that the altered myonuclear organisation observed in old age impacts on muscle fibre protein synthesis and degradation with consequences for the ageing-related changes in skeletal muscle structure and function. However, the improved muscle function in response to a 20-week intense physical training regime in highly motivated physically active old subjects demonstrates that all ageing-related in muscle function are not immutable.</p>

Le rugby à XV est un sport collectif qui se caractérise en match par des courses et des collisions de hauteintensité très variables selon les positions. La première partie des travaux, qui s’est centrée sur l’analyse del’activité par centrale d’analyse cinématique, a mis en évidence une activité de haute intensité plus importante enCoupe d’Europe qu’en TOP14 qui varie selon les cinq postes de jeu en termes de répétitions d’efforts et dedistances parcourues à haute intensité notamment chez les avants. De plus, ces activités de haute intensitédiminuent en première et deuxième mi-temps et sont différentes selon les positions. En effet, une diminution plusprécoce est observée chez les avants et les trois-quarts ailes, qui est majorée au niveau des accélérations entre lesdeux dernières périodes d’un match pour les avants démontrant un impact de la fatigue. A l’inverse, les arrièresarrivent globalement à maintenir une intensité élevée. Ainsi, au regard des résultats de la première partie, ladeuxième partie des travaux a consisté en la mise en place d’un entraînement par répétition de sprints en hypoxieinduite par hypoventilation à bas volume pulmonaire. Celui-ci a permis une amélioration significative de lacapacité à répéter des sprints après sept séances d’entraînement par hypoventilation chez les joueurs très entraînés,alors qu’aucun changement n’a été observé dans le groupe normoxie. L’entraînement en rugby à XV se caractérisepar la répétition d’efforts de haute intensité à dominante dynamique (courses) et statique (musculation, phases decombat) qui vont impacter le remodelage du ventricule gauche de manière spécifique. La troisième partie a montré,à partir d’échocardiographies de repos en mode 2D-strain, une hypertrophie physiologique majorée chez les avantscomparativement aux arrières. Cette hypertrophie s’accompagne d’une augmentation des pressions de remplissageet une diminution de la relaxation lors de la diastole, notamment chez les avants. Enfin, malgré une torsionventriculaire inchangée, les rotations et les vitesses de rotation sont plus grandes au niveau basal et plus faibles auniveau apical chez les joueurs de rugby à XV. Ainsi, cette thèse CIFRE apporte de nouvelles données au niveaude l’analyse de l’activité, des méthodes d’entraînement facilement applicables pour l’entraîneur, ainsi que desdonnées plus spécifiques à l’évaluation cardiaque de repos pour le clinicien. / Rugby union is a team sport characterized by high-intensity collisions and running efforts during gameswhich are position-dependent. Accounting for the five different positional groups, the first part of this thesisdemonstrated greater high-intensity activity in European cup when compared to the TOP14 rugby unioncompetition; with position-dependent variations in the frequency of repeated high-intensity efforts and the relativedistance of high-speed movements in forwards. A decrease in high-intensity movement parameters was observedduring the first and second halves of a competitive rugby union match. Indeed, the decrease in high-intensitymovements was earlier in forwards and outside backs who peaked in high-intensity accelerations between the lasttwo periods of the game, while backs were able to maintain their high-intensity activity throughout the match.Collectively, the capacity for a player to repeat high-intensity efforts during a rugby union game varied by thelevel of competition and was influenced by the onset of fatigue. In this context, the second part of this thesis was to conduct a repeated-sprint training in hypoxia. Hypoxia was induced by voluntary hypoventilation at low lungvolume. This training protocol has largely improved the repeated-sprint ability performance in highly-trainedrugby union players after seven training sessions of hypoventilation, whereas it was unaltered in the controlnormoxic group. Such training demands in rugby union (characterised by repeated high-intensity efforts indynamic (running) and static (weightlifting, fighting)) have a specific impact on left ventricular remodelling. Thelast part of this thesis, using 2D-speckle-tracking resting echocardiography, demonstrated that LV hypertrophywas greater in forwards when compared to backs and to control group. Systolic function remained unchanged, butdiastolic function was altered, mainly in forwards, with an increase in filling pressures and a decrease in leftventricular relaxation. Finally, left ventricular twisting was similar while rugby union players exhibited lowerapical and higher basal rotations velocities compared to controls. Collectively, this CIFRE research programprovided new data in activity analysis and training methods that are widely applicable to a range of rugby unionprograms and data on left ventricular morphology, function and mechanics for the clinician.