The influence of different sources of polyphenols on submaximal cycling and time trial performance

The primary purpose of the study was to establish the effects of commercially available polyphenol-rich antioxidant supplements, Pycnogenol® with added bioflavonoids (PYC-B) and CherryActive (CHA), on 20 km cycling performance. Using a double-blind counterbalanced, repeated-measures design, nine male cyclists or triathletes (32.1 ± 11.2 years; maximal aerobic capacity 4.2 ± 0.7 L•min-1; maximal power output 391.7 ± 39.5 watts) consumed 200 mg of CHA, 120 mg of PYC-B, or 200 mg of placebo (PLA) capsules, 2 days before and on the day of each experimental trial. The experimental trials consisted of four 5 minute stages at 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% maximal power output (Wmax), followed by a 20 km time trial (TT). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between trials for heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, gross mechanical efficiency, oxygen consumption, or blood lactate, at any of the intensities completed during the initial 20 minute phase of the trial (p>0.05). Final 20 km TT times were not significantly different between trials (p=0.115), but, compared to PLA, PYC-B did significantly increase power output by 6.2% over the final 5 km of the TT (p=0.022). The study suggests that the PYC-B supplement could be beneficial towards the end of an intense bout of cycling exercise. However, as total 20 km time was not significantly different between trials the doses used are unlikely to benefit 20 km cycling time trial performance

Kinetic Mixing as the Origin of Light Dark Scales

We propose a model in which supersymmetric weak scale dark matter is charged under a U(1)_d dark gauge symmetry. Kinetic mixing between U(1)_d and hypercharge generates the appropriate hierarchy of scales needed to explain PAMELA and ATIC with a GeV scale force carrier and DAMA (or INTEGRAL) using the proposals of inelastic (or, respectively, exciting) dark matter. Because of the extreme simplicity of this setup, observational constraints lead to unambiguous determination of the model parameters. In particular, the DAMA scattering cross section is directly related to the size of the hypercharge D-term vacuum expectation value. The known relic abundance of DM can be used to fix the ratio of the dark sector coupling to the dark matter mass. Finally, the recent observation of cosmic ray positron and electron excesses can be used to fix the mass of the dark matter through the observation of a shoulder in the spectrum and the size of the kinetic mixing by fitting to the rate. These parameters can be used to make further predictions, which can be checked at future direct detection, indirect detection, as well as collider experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 2 plots, published version, some clarifications adde

Post-Newtonian gravitational radiation and equations of motion via direct integration of the relaxed Einstein equations. IV. Radiation reaction for binary systems with spin-spin coupling

Using post-Newtonian equations of motion for fluid bodies that include radiation-reaction terms at 2.5 and 3.5 post-Newtonian (PN) order O[(v/c)^5] and O[(v/c)^7] beyond Newtonian order), we derive the equations of motion for binary systems with spinning bodies, including spin-spin effects. In particular we determine the effects of radiation-reaction coupled to spin-spin effects on the two-body equations of motion, and on the evolution of the spins. We find that radiation damping causes a 3.5PN order, spin-spin induced precession of the individual spins. This contrasts with the case of spin-orbit coupling, where there is no effect on the spins at 3.5PN order. Employing the equations of motion and of spin precession, we verify that the loss of total energy and total angular momentum induced by spin-spin effects precisely balances the radiative flux of those quantities calculated by Kidder et al.Comment: 10 pages, coincides with published versio

Germination Patterns in Dicotyledons

Seedlings of about 3500 species of dicotyledons were classified as exhibiting either phanerocotylar or cryptocotylar germination. The percentages of cryptocotylar species in the orders as circumscribed by Dahlgren (J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 80:91-124, 1980) were calculated and grouped into five classes whose distributions were plotted onto a bubble-diagram. The resulting pattern revealed a concentration of cryptocotyly in primitive families thereby supporting the view that within the dicotyledons, cryptocotyly is the primitive germination pattern

Analysis of Some Variations in Method of Performing the Push-Up among College Women

This study utilized 90 college women from Central Washington University to determine if there are significant differences in strength scores between Rowney Knees-on Push-up Method and three body position variations and cadences. The main outcome of this research reflected two significant differences between Rowney\u27s method and body position and cadences. No significant differences were found between experimental body position variations and cadences. The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that changes in push-up technique may produce significant differences in strength scores

Deletion-Induced Triangulations

Let d \u3e 0 be a fixed integer and let A ⊆ ℝd be a collection of n ≥ d + 2 points which we lift into ℝd+1. Further let k be an integer satisfying 0 ≤ k ≤ n-(d+2) and assign to each k-subset of the points of A a (regular) triangulation obtained by deleting the specified k-subset and projecting down the lower hull of the convex hull of the resulting lifting. Next, for each triangulation we form the characteristic vector defined by Gelfand, Kapranov, and Zelevinsky by assigning to each vertex the sum of the volumes of all adjacent simplices. We then form a vector for the lifting, which we call the k-compound GKZ-vector, by summing all the characteristic vectors. Lastly, we construct a polytope Σk(A) ⊆ ℝ|A| by taking the convex hull of all obtainable k-compound GKZ-vectors by various liftings of A, and note that \Sigma_0(\A) is the well-studied secondary polytope corresponding to A. We will see that by varying k, we obtain a family of polytopes with interesting properties relating to Minkowski sums, Gale transforms, and Lawrence constructions, with the member of the family with maximal k corresponding to a zonotope studied by Billera, Fillamen, and Sturmfels. We will also discuss the case k = d = 1, in which we can provide a combinatorial description of the vertices allowing us to better understand the graph of the polytope and to obtain formulas for the numbers of vertices and edges present

Premeditated Deceit: The Atomic Energy Commission Against Joseph August Sauter

About 130 miles northwest of Minneapolis, lies the farming community of Farwell, Minnesota (pop. 103). This is the case of Joe Sauter, a sheep farmer who in 1958 filed a claim against the Atomic Energy Commission for loss of livestock, damage to trees, and personal injuries that he believed were the result of radioactive fallout. This case will detail the efforts of the AEC to cut short the claim of radiation injury by suppressing key radiological data which would have substantiated Sauter\u27s claim and proved damaging to the AEC. Officials within the AEC knowingly and willfully made false statements and representations, not only to Sauter, but to the agricultural representatives who investigated the sheep deaths on Sauter\u27s farm on behalf of the AEC. Later, Sen. Clinton Anderson (D-MN), chairman of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, and Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, chairman of two subcommittees on disarmament and international health, both made specific requests to the AEC for radioactive hotspots in Minnesota and North Dakota. The AEC withheld the information learned on Sauter\u27s farm in order to protect the broader interests of the AEC in producing nuclear warheads and promoting nuclear energy