Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Validity Of A Badminton Specific Vo2max Test Physical Education Essay

Validity Of A Badminton Specific Vo2max Test Physical Education Essay The characteristics of badminton have been studied in detail in an attempt to further the knowledge of coaches and athletes in order to improve performance and training regimes (Chin et al, 1995; Hughes and Cosgrove, 2007). Badminton is a sport that requires repeated high intensity, short duration movements that places both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems under physiological stress (Manrique and Badillo, 2003). During matches performers undertake bursts of high intensity activity followed by recovery periods regularly throughout the match. Matches at an elite level can vary in length from 20 minutes to an hour (Hughes and Cosgrove, 2007). Through the understanding of the sports technical, intermittent and explosive nature, athletes can train and prepare appropriately in order to meet the physiological demands placed on them during competition. During badminton match play, individuals require a combination of the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, as well as the physiological requirements of power, flexibility, agility and movement speed, all of which are essential to provide effective match performance. During match play, it has been identified that individuals will maintain heart rates of over 75% of Heart Rate maximum (HR max) in the doubles discipline and over 80% of HR max in singles (Hughes and Cosgrove, 2007). In order for athletes to be able to perform successfully at these intensities for an extended period of time, their aerobic energy systems must be able to hope with such demands. In order for this to be possible training must be conducted appropriately and specifically enough to allow for successful adaptations to occur. This training can be undertaken through work within a gymnasium where aspects of cardiovascular fitness and strength and conditioning can be improved, alongside on-court training to improve technical ability and fitness. Knowing the effectiveness of certain methods of training can give athletes an advantage when it comes to competition. Girard et al., (2005) highlighted the limitations of using treadmill testing within racquet sports such as squash and badminton. They emphasised that exercise testing on the treadmill is not specific enough for the muscles involved in these sports and is therefore inadequate for evaluating the specific demands of the sport. Consequently, assessing the effectiveness of training adaptations in relation to match performance can only be conducted through the use of specific testing. This has enforced the view that, the development of appropriate fitness tests in sport is generally considered to be one of the essential tasks of sports scientists (Chin et a l., 1995). Chin et al., (1995) suggested that the customary standardised tests for aerobic fitness are not sufficient for an accurate prediction of successful performance in most sports, especially racket sports. They go on to claim that due to the intermittent characteristics of badminton, an accurate fitness test cannot be appropriately simulated in a laboratory situation. Therefore, it is necessary to assess physiological profiles of such sports during field tests. Wonisch et al., (2003) suggested that the direct measurement of respiratory gas exchange variables under field conditions may be useful in future research. They also suggested that further studies under competition-like conditions may provide additional information about the impact of aerobic power in badminton. Recent technological advancements have enabled the development of lightweight ambulatory metabolic devices allowing for an accurate evaluation of racquet sports such as badminton whilst on court. This has proved essential for assessing the specific demands of sport due to the ability to analyse and record specific physiological contributions to exercise, such as VO2, VCO2 and RER, within 5 second intervals. Studies which have used this method of assessing the physiological demands of badminton include; Roecker et al. (2005) and Faude et al. (2007). Previously, physiological profiling using mixing-chamber based metabolic devices have been undertaken in football (Ferrauti et al. 2006), tennis (Smekal et al. 2001), and badminton (Faccini and Dal Monte, 1996) but were all unable to attain accurate and sport specific values reflecting the physiological demands. Sport-specific fitness tests have been created for the Badminton England and the Welsh Institute of Sport. These field tests have been designed to be highly sport-specific and easily administered by players and coaches (Hughes and Cosgrove, 2007). These tests are able to assess; jumping ability, movement speed, and aerobic performance. These tests have been used to provide specific fitness testing results which can enable the coach to identify whether an athleteà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s performance is being restricted by movement technique or general fitness (Hughes and Cosgrove, 2007). Recently a sport specific, incremental aerobic fitness test has been developed by the Badminton England. Hughes, (2003) designed the protocol that will be used to investigate the physiological responses of badminton performers whilst on court. This is aimed at participants reaching a point of exhaustion by the end of the testing. It is proposed that when athletes reach exhaustion during this type of test, VO2max values could be attained. This is what is to be studied during this research process and if found to be the case, this testing procedure could provide a more accurate and effective method of assessing VO2max, and could phase out the use of treadmill VO2max testing within badminton. Using a badminton-specific incremental test to generate VO2max results rather than the generic treadmill VO2max test can provide increased validity in the assessment of an individual badminton playerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fitness level. It is important to be able to assess athletes in such ways in order to improve performance and adapt training regimes, especially at an elite level. However, as of yet there has not been testing conducted into the relationships between the three different endurance tests used in the study; the treadmill test and the on-court incremental test, which both provide measures of performance in terms of time to fatigue and the VO2 max result; and the speed endurance test which measures performance in terms of maximal speed, average speed and fatigue throughout the test. VO2max on-court is not only related to aerobic fitness, but also technique and the efficiency of on court movement. This is why it is important to investigate whether these tests are suitable fo r widespread use within badminton for accurately assessing individualà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s playersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ fitness levels, as well as identifying the effectiveness of specific field testing for application within all sports. .

Monday, January 20, 2020

The Many Possible Interpretations of Hamlet :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

The Many Possible Interpretations of Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Towards the close of the play, Hamlet has a short exchange alone with Horatio, which seems intended to "set up" the final encounter with Laertes, the Queen, Claudius, and the whole Court, and to make absolutely clear the nature of his own involvement. The passage exists in two good versions; the second Quarto of 1604, and the Folio of 1623, which is now thought to represent Shakespeare's revision of the earlier version.11 This second text adds fourteen lines in which Hamlet seeks to justify, as "perfect conscience," his determination to kill Claudius with his own "arm"--or rather to "quit" him, which implies repaying as well.12 He then asks whether he would not be "damned" if he did nothing to eradicate "this canker of our nature" (V.ii.68-70). But even this later addition to the play does not establish a "plain and simple faith."13 We notice that Hamlet expresses himself in rhetorical questions which seem to qualify his momentary certainty. And only minutes later, as th e last encounter approaches, his reluctance to tell all ("Thou wouldst not think how ill all's here about my heart; but it is no matter," ll. 208-09) and a further intrusion of vigorous and baffling wordplay cloud over these ultimate issues once more. Immediately before the King and Queen enter on stage, Hamlet's words, spoken as he again finds himself alone with Horatio, are so tricky--or perhaps tricksy--that they baffled the original compositors of the text and have set modern editors at variance.14 Neither the Quarto nor Folio makes sense and various emendations have been proposed. No/knows; has/owes; leave/leaves; ought/all; of what/of ought, all collide and change places with each other in the different versions. Today a text might read, "Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows aught, what is't to leave betimes?" or "Since no man of ought he leaves, knows, what is't to leave . . .," or ". . . no man owes aught of what he leaves, what is't . . .," or ". . . no man knows of aught he leaves, what is't . . . ." (Was the speech ever absolutely clear in Shakespeare's autograph manuscript, or in his head?) With Hamlet's next words, as trumpet and drums [page 24] announce the King's arrival, the play's hero contrives yet another avo idance-tactic, refusing to talk further with a surprisingly curt "Let be.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Natural Resources And The Economy Of Middle East Essay

The role of oil in the economies of the Middle East has altered over time and it is possible to recognize stages in its development. At first the main benefit was financial for the reason that, even though revenues were modest from the 1930s to the 1960s, these met most of the expenditure needs of the royal households in the Gulf and funded the major proportion of government current spending. Since oil production expanded in the 1960s revenues grew, and the quadrupling of oil prices in 1973-4 resulted in an enormous windfall. This could be interpreted as the second stage. Oil revenue was viewed mainly as a means of funding investment rather than just current expenditures, despite the fact that for some of the Gulf states the revenue was so great that it was probable to put some aside into ‘funds for future generations’. Because Middle East production stagnated and declined in several countries, the link between oil prices and development became of crucial significance. This was obvious from the infrastructure boom ensuing from the 1979 oil price rises, and the virtual halt to major investment projects following the price falls of the 1980s. (Mohamed Rabie, 1992). A third phase has now started in which the volume of exports and the price of crude oil is becoming of less importance for the economies of the region. Oil is less vital as an output however more crucial as an input. It is the marketing of refined products and petrochemicals which matters more and more, not the sales of crude oil. In these state of affairs pricing issues turn out to be more complex. Low domestic pricing of oil inputs can assist the international competitiveness of the Middle Eastern refining and petrochemicals industry, particularly during the entry, start-up and infant-industry phases. In the longer term Middle Eastern crude oil may not be internationally traded, instead it is oil products exports which will matter. In this situation OPEC’s declining significance as a cartel is less damaging to the economies of the Middle East than might otherwise have been the case. Diversification into downstream production means that it matters much less that oil prices are performing like those of other main commodities, with cyclical volatility and a long-term tendency to decline. The economies of the Middle East may still be oil-dependent; however the nature of this dependence is altering from output to input dependence. This has the advantage of being more controllable. Some of the issues which were important in the literature on the oil and development link are debatably now less pertinent in a period of lower oil prices. There was a long debate in the 1970s and 1980s regarding whether oil windfalls were a blessing or a curse. One argument for the latter view was the view that oil-dependent economies tended to undergo from ‘Dutch disease’, so called due to the effect of gas exports from the Netherlands in driving up the guilder, making manufacturing exports uncompetitive and imports cheaper, with ensuing adverse consequences for unemployment. Even though this argument is at first sight persuasive, and there was certainty proof in its support in the Netherlands and arguably in Britain, its relevance to the Middle East is open to question. (Mohammed Akacem, 1992). The countries of the Gulf had little local manufacturing capacity in the 1970s which could have been threatened, and the lack of labour was more of an issue than unemployment. Oil exports were in any case denominated in dollars, as were most imports, consequently the level of the exchange rate was of comparatively minor significance for trade. A strong exchange rate checked inflationary pressures, and any depreciation would merely have resulted in imported inflation which would have added to that generated domestically through supply bottlenecks. For countries such as Egypt, with manufacturing capacity and non-oil exports for instance cotton and textiles, Dutch disease was more likely, particularly as oil became more and more the leading export after the return of the Suez fields by Israel, and there was as well the indirect effect of Gulf oil exports on the exchange rate through remittances. Investigation by economists, particularly Bent Hansen, made known little empirical support for Dutch disease in Egypt. Cotton and textiles were mainly exported to Eastern Europe under bilateral trade deals that had administered rather than market prices. Imports were subject to tariffs, quotas, foreign exchange controls and other restrictions. The official exchange rate was itself-controlled, while admittedly at a high, and perhaps overvalued, level in the 1970s. It is uncertain, though, if a lower rate would have done much to boost exports, given the supply constraints in the Egyptian economy. (R. K. Ramazani, 1998). Oil revenues were most likely of more consequence at the political economy level, as they reinforced the role of the state by increasing both its power of patronage and its capability to control economic activity. There was less need to collect other forms of tax revenues due to the significance of oil revenues, and also conceivably less government accountability. All countries in the Gulf adopted some form of development planning, simply so as to find out their expenditure priorities and ascertain how spending plans interacted. The consultation when planning the expenditure of oil revenues merely extended to the government ministries, though, and not to the general public. In addition, governments often ignored their own development plans if circumstances changed, either through new defence and security concerns or due to the changing price of oil. References: John Page (1999). The Impact of Lower Oil Prices on the Economies of Gulf States; Middle East Policy, Vol. 6 Marc J O’Reilly (1999). Oil Monarchies Without Oil: Omani & Bahraini Security in a Post-Oil Era; Middle East Policy, Vol. 6 Mohamed Rabie (1992). The Politics and Economics of Oil; Middle East Policy, Vol. 1

Friday, January 3, 2020

Contract Law Advice - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1723 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Law Essay Type Analytical essay Tags: Contract Law Essay Did you like this example? Legal Issue: Is Jehni able to legally force Jek to sell the charger at $25. Relevant Rules of Law: 1. Contract is an agreement giving rise to obligations which are enforced or recognised at law. What the parties agree on must be clear and unambiguous. In order for a contract to be legally binding, four key elements must be present which are namely, offer, acceptance, consideration and intention to create legal relations. 2. Offer is an expression made by one party (Offeror) to another party (Offeree) communicating the offerors willingness to perform a promise. Offers can be made in writing, orally or by conduct. In order to determine if there is an offer, it depends whether the offeror intends to be bound by his actions. 3. However, in some cases, what seems to be an offer may only be construed as an invitation to treat. According to the case of Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd (1952), a display of goods and prices in a shop is usually considered to be an invitation to treat and not an offer. In such cases, the offer is made when a customer selects the item he wants and bring it to the cashier to pay for it. This general principle has been affirmed by the Singapore High Court in Chwee Kin Keong Others v Digilandmall.com Pte Ltd (2004). 4. In some instances, communication may not constitute an offer but a mere request or provision of information. According to case of Harvey v Facey (1893), there was no contract because the second telegraph merely amounted to a provision of information and not an offer. 5. Besides offer, acceptance is required for a contract to be legally enforceable. Acceptance refers to the unconditional expression of assent to the terms of the offer. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Contract Law Advice" essay for you Create order Application of Law: According to the case, Jeks display of his goods for sale is not to be construed as an offer. The law states that, a seller will only have limited stock for the goods available for sale. If the display of goods is to be construed as an offer, the seller will have to sell more than what he has in stock. Therefore, the seller does not have intention to be bound by the display of his or her goods for sale. Thus, Jeks display of goods for sale does not constitutes an offer but an invitation for others to commence negotiations. This is further accentuated in the case of Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd (1952) where the display of goods only constituted an invitation to treat. Furthermore, Jehnis asking of the price of the charger is a mere request for information from Jek and Jeks response that it cost $25 amounted to only a provision of information to Jehni. Therefore, there is no offer made by Jek. (Harvey v Facey (1893)). On the other hand, an offer is made by Jehni (offeror) when she said OK, but I dont have the cash now but I will come by on Monday to pick it up. However, when Jek (offeree) replied Dont worry, I will be here every day next week, it does not show that Jek accepted or agreed to Jehnis offer and promise to sell the charger to her at $25. Therefore, it is only to be construed as an additional provision of information that he will be around for the next week. Conclusion: Therefore, it is evident that Jehni did offer Jek to buy the charger at $25 but it was not accepted by Jek. Besides that, the display of goods for sale by Jek is only to be construed as an invitation to treat. Thus, without an unconditional expression of assent by Jek to Jehnis offer, there is no legally binding contract and Jehni cannot legally force Jek to sell the charger to her at $25. Assignment Question (B) Legal Issue: Whether there is a binding agreement between Jek and Bill for the 3 XPBs. Relevant Rules of Law: 1. Contract is an agreement which gives rise to obligations which are enforced or recognised at law. What the parties agree on must be clear and unambiguous. In order for a contract to be legally binding, four key elements must be present which are namely, offer, acceptance, consideration and intention to create legal relations. 2. Offer is an expression made by one party (Offeror) to another party (Offeree) communicating the offerors willingness to perform a promise. Offers can be made in writing, orally or by conduct. In order to determine if there is an offer, it depends whether the offeror intends to be bound by his actions. 3. A unilateral contract is a contract brought into existence by the act of one party in response to a conditional promise by another. The offeree makes no promise but simply performs the condition attached the offerors promise. (Harvela Investments Ltd v Royal Trust Co of Canada (CI) Ltd Ors (1984)). 4. However, in some cases, what seems to be an offer may only be construed as an invitation to treat. According to the case of Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd (1952), a display of goods and prices in a shop is usually considered to be an invitation to treat and not an offer. In such cases, the offer is made when a customer selects the item he wants and bring it to the cashier to pay for it. This general principle has been affirmed by the Singapore High Court in Chwee Kin Keong Others v Digilandmall.com Pte Ltd (2004). 5. Section 11 of the Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) states that an offer or acceptance can be sent electronically in the form of an electronic communication. In addition, 6. Section 13 Subsection 1 of the ETA states that despatch of an electronic communication occurs when the message leaves an information system under the control of the originator. 7. Next, Section 13 Subsection 2 and 3 of the ETA states that receipt occurs either when the electronic commun ication becomes capable of being retrieved by the addressee at an electronic address designated by him or if the electronic communication is received at an electronic address that has not been designated by the addressee, receipt occurs when the message becomes capable of being retrieved by the addressee and when he becomes aware of it. 8. Section 14 of the ETA mention that the default rule is of an offer of goods / services via the internet will only be considered as an invitation to treat, unless the offeror makes it clear that he intends to be bound by it. 9. An offer can be withdrawn at any time prior to acceptance. One of the ways of such termination is through the lapse of time. If an offeror states that his offer is open for a specified period, a purported acceptance after that period would not be effective unless it can be shown that the offerors conduct and other evidence after the lapsed offer continue to govern their relationship after the specified period. (Panwell Pte Ltd Anor v Indian Bank (No 2) (2002)) 10. Another way where an offer can be withdrawn is where a counter-offer is made. This is when an offeree accepts an offer on a condition and the offeree will become the offeror in the counter-offer. In a counter-offer, the original offer will be rejected and a new offer by the offeree will be in place. In Hyde v Wrench (1840), it was held that there was no contract because Hydes reply on 8 June was a counter-offer which extinguished the offer of 6 June. 11. Besides offer, acceptance is required for a contract to be legally enforceable. Acceptance refers to the unconditional expression of assent to the terms of the offer. Application of Law: From the case, the special price applied to the first 50 XPBs should be construed as an offer. Reason being, in the case of unilateral contracts, contract is accepted only by the actions of the offeree and not a promise exchanged with the promisor. However, in such a special price sale, the offeree has to promise the offeror the $25. In the case of Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (1892), the advertisement by the defendant constituted an offer because it was offered to anyone who contracted influenza and to show the intention by the defendant, they deposited 1000 pounds in their bank. However, this intention is not present in the case of Jek and Bill where Jek only offered the special price to the first 50 potential customers. Moreover, even if it is an offer made by Jek, it is not evident from the case that Bill is one of the 50 first customers. Since the offer by Jek is not a unilateral contract, we move on to study Section 13 of the ETA, where it states that the offer by Jek placed on his website is to be construed as an invitation to treat. On Monday 1st September, when Bill emailed Jek that he is interested in the 3 black-coloured XPBs, it makes Bill the offeror. Following that, on Wednesday 3rd September, when Bill received the reply, Jek explained that the black XPBs were out of stock, so he counter-offered Bill with the 3 pink-coloured XPBs and mentioned that if Bill wants three pink XPBs, he must email immediately or transfer the amount of $75 to his bank account as there are other interested buyers. However, Bill did not reply to Jek immediately, but only replied him 2 days later on Friday 5th September. With that, it is clear that the counter-offer by Jek would have lapsed and offer would have been invalid after 3rd September as he required an immediate reply. Furthermore, Jek did in-fact email Bill on 5th September stating that all (5) pink-coloured XPBs were sold out but the email went to Bills junk mail. According to Section 13 Subsection 2 and 3 of ETA, Jek would have fulfilled the criteria of sending the email to Bills designated email address as it is the same email address Bill used to email Jek. Even if the lapse of time is not in place, Jek would have fulfilled the criteria of withdrawing the offer (5th September morning) before Bill (replied at 5th September 5PM) accepted the offer. Conclusion: In conclusion, since there is no unilateral contract and the counter-offer made by Jek has lapsed, it is evident that there is no legally enforceable contract formed. Therefore, there is no binding agreement between Jek and Bill for the 3 XPBs. [C1]:Link cases to application