The Effects of a Combined Supplementation of Creatine and Sodium Bicarbonate on Repeated Sprint Performance

Abstract The Effects of a Combined Supplementation of Creatine and Sodium Bicarbonate on Repeated Sprint Performance James Jeremy Barber There is well-established research that suggests both creatine and sodium bicarbonate are effective ergogenic aids. However, only one published study has examined the combined effects of creatine and sodium bicarbonate. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a combined supplementation of creatine monohydrate and sodium bicarbonate would further enhance the well-documented effects of creatine supplementation alone on repeated sprint performance. Thirteen healthy and fit males (Mean age = 21.15 ± 0.65 years and mean VO2 max = 66.72 ± 5.78) participated in this experimental study using a double-blinded crossover study design in which each subject was used as his own control. All subjects completed 3 conditions, followed by a 3-week washout period between each condition: 1) Placebo (Pl; 5 g maltodextrin + 0.5 g/kg maltodextrin), 2) Creatine (Cr; 5 g + 0.5 g/kg maltodextrin), and 3) Creatine plus sodium bicarbonate (Cr+Sb; 5g + 0.5 g/kg sodium bicarbonate). Each condition was a 2-day supplementation. In the morning after each supplementation, peak power, RPP, mean power, RMP, fatigue index, and perceptions of fatigue and GI distress were assessed during six 10-second repeated Wingate tests. Blood bicarbonate, pH, and lactate were measured 5 minutes before testing and immediately after the last Wingate sprint. The main findings were; 1) Cr+Sb produced 7% greater relative peak power and 4.6% greater peak power values than placebo, and 2) Cr+Sb demonstrated the greatest attenuation of decline in relative peak power over six repeated sprints. However, in contrast to our hypotheses, no benefits from either supplementation were observed for relative mean power, fatigue index, and perception of fatigue. Considering that this current study found benefits from combining creatine and sodium bicarbonate, it suggests that combining the supplements may improve repeated sprint performance. Future research on a greater sample size, a specific athletic population, various exercise modes, and comparing results with a sodium bicarbonate alone supplementation would be beneficial in determining if this combined supplementation is worthwhile

Order-Disorder Transition in a Two-Layer Quantum Antiferromagnet

We have studied the antiferromagnetic order -- disorder transition occurring at $T=0$ in a 2-layer quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet as the inter-plane coupling is increased. Quantum Monte Carlo results for the staggered structure factor in combination with finite-size scaling theory give the critical ratio $J_c = 2.51 \pm 0.02$ between the inter-plane and in-plane coupling constants. The critical behavior is consistent with the 3D classical Heisenberg universality class. Results for the uniform magnetic susceptibility and the correlation length at finite temperature are compared with recent predictions for the 2+1-dimensional nonlinear $\sigma$-model. The susceptibility is found to exhibit quantum critical behavior at temperatures significantly higher than the correlation length.Comment: 11 pages (5 postscript figures available upon request), Revtex 3.

Disorder Induced Phase Transition in a Random Quantum Antiferromagnet

A two-dimensional Heisenberg model with random antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange is studied using quantum Monte Carlo techniques. As the strength of the randomness is increased, the system undergoes a transition from an antiferromagnetically ordered ground state to a gapless disordered state. The finite-size scaling of the staggered structure factor and susceptibility is consistent with a dynamic exponent $z = 2$.Comment: Revtex 3.0, 10 pages + 5 postscript figures available upon request, UCSBTH-94-1

Best Practices for Virtual Care: A Consensus Statement From the Canadian Rheumatology Association

Objective. To develop best practice statements for the provision of virtual care in adult and pediatric rheumatology for the Canadian Rheumatology Association\u27s (CRA) Telehealth Working Group (TWG). Methods. Four members of the TWG representing adult, pediatric, university-based, and community rheumatology practices defined the scope of the project. A rapid literature review of existing systematic reviews, policy documents, and published literature and abstracts on the topic was conducted between April and May 2021. The review informed a candidate set of 7 statements and a supporting document. The statements were submitted to a 3-round (R) modified Delphi process with 22 panelists recruited through the CRA and patient advocacy organizations. Panelists rated the importance and feasibility of the statements on a Likert scale of 1-9. Statements with final median ratings between 7-9 with no disagreement were retained in the final set. Results. Twenty-one (95%) panelists participated in R1, 15 (71%) in R2, and 18 (82%) in R3. All but 1 statement met inclusion criteria during R1. Revisions were made to 5/7 statements following R2 and an additional statement was added. All statements met inclusion criteria following R3. The statements addressed the following themes in the provision of virtual care: adherence to existing standards and regulations, appropriateness, consent, physical examination, patient-reported outcomes, use in addition to in-person visits, and complex comanagement of disease. Conclusion. The best practice statements represent a starting point for advancing virtual care in rheumatology. Future educational efforts to help implement these best practices and research to address identified knowledge gaps are planned

Ethnic and gender differences in applicants' decision-making processes: An application of the theory of reasoned action

Contains fulltext : 54483.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)11 p

Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Atmospheric parameters, such as pressure (P), temperature (T) and density, affect the development of extensive air showers initiated by energetic cosmic rays. We have studied the impact of atmospheric variations on extensive air showers by means of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The rate of events shows a ~10% seasonal modulation and ~2% diurnal one. We find that the observed behaviour is explained by a model including the effects associated with the variations of pressure and density. The former affects the longitudinal development of air showers while the latter influences the Moliere radius and hence the lateral distribution of the shower particles. The model is validated with full simulations of extensive air showers using atmospheric profiles measured at the site of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

The exposure of the hybrid detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It consists of a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level and a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The "hybrid" detection mode combines the information from the two subsystems. We describe the determination of the hybrid exposure for events observed by the fluorescence telescopes in coincidence with at least one water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array. A detailed knowledge of the time dependence of the detection operations is crucial for an accurate evaluation of the exposure. We discuss the relevance of monitoring data collected during operations, such as the status of the fluorescence detector, background light and atmospheric conditions, that are used in both simulation and reconstruction.Comment: Paper accepted by Astroparticle Physic

The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The fluorescence detector comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers. In this paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for relative and absolute calibration. We also discuss the operation and the monitoring of the detector. Finally, we evaluate the detector performance and precision of shower reconstructions.Comment: 53 pages. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section

Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W->enu and W->munu decays, using data from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 35 pb^-1. Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and the missing transverse energy, the W decay angular distribution projected onto the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions f0, fL and fR over two ranges of W transverse momentum (ptw): 35 < ptw < 50 GeV and ptw > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For ptw > 50 GeV, the values of f0 and fL-fR, averaged over charge and lepton flavour, are measured to be : f0 = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and fL-fR = 0.252 +/- 0.017 +/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second include all systematic effects.Comment: 19 pages plus author list (34 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables, revised author list, matches European Journal of Physics C versio

Observation of a new chi_b state in radiative transitions to Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) at ATLAS

The chi_b(nP) quarkonium states are produced in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4 fb^-1, these states are reconstructed through their radiative decays to Upsilon(1S,2S) with Upsilon->mu+mu-. In addition to the mass peaks corresponding to the decay modes chi_b(1P,2P)->Upsilon(1S)gamma, a new structure centered at a mass of 10.530+/-0.005 (stat.)+/-0.009 (syst.) GeV is also observed, in both the Upsilon(1S)gamma and Upsilon(2S)gamma decay modes. This is interpreted as the chi_b(3P) system.Comment: 5 pages plus author list (18 pages total), 2 figures, 1 table, corrected author list, matches final version in Physical Review Letter