Radiation heat savings in polysilicon production: validation of results through a CVD laboratory prototype

This work aims at a deeper understanding of the energy loss phenomenon in polysilicon production reactors by the so-called Siemens process. Contributions to the energy consumption of the polysilicon deposition step are studied in this paper, focusing on the radiation heat loss phenomenon. A theoretical model for radiation heat loss calculations is experimentally validated with the help of a laboratory CVD prototype. Following the results of the model, relevant parameters that directly affect the amount of radiation heat losses are put forward. Numerical results of the model applied to a state-of-the-art industrial reactor show the influence of these parameters on energy consumption due to radiation per kilogram of silicon produced; the radiation heat loss can be reduced by 3.8% when the reactor inner wall radius is reduced from 0.78 to 0.70 m, by 25% when the wall emissivity is reduced from 0.5 to 0.3, and by 12% when the final rod diameter is increased from 12 to 15 cm

Caffeinated Energy Drinks Boost Physical Performance In Several Sport Modalities: Should They Be Considered By Antidoping Authorities?

Caffeine has been consumed by man for centuries although the manner of consumption has varied among different geographical zones, according to the source of caffeine present in natural foods (e.g., coffee, tea, mate, guaraná, kola, etc.). By the end of XIX century, John S. Pemberton created the first non-natural caffeinated-beverage that contained caffeine form the kola nut. The use of this beverage – universally known as Coca-Cola- increased exponentially worldwide and favored the apparition of hundreds of commercial caffeinated drinks with similar characteristics. Although first energy drinks were marketed in Thailand in the 1970s, these drinks became widely popular when they were introduced in the European in the 1990s. Despite the commercial availability of numerous caffeinated beverages and foods, energy drinks have gained popularity in the last years, likely because they provide a higher dose of caffeine per serv

Acute p‑synephrine ingestion increases whole‑body fat oxidation during 1‑h of cycling at Fatmax

Purpose: p-Synephrine, the principal alkaloid of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), is widely used in dietary supplements for weight loss due to its purported effect of increasing fat oxidation. However, there is a paucity of scientific information about its effectiveness in enhancing fat oxidation during exercise. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of an acute dose of p-synephrine on substrate oxidation during prolonged and constant intensity exercise. Methods: In a double-blind and randomized experiment, 14 healthy subjects performed two acute experimental trials after ingesting either p-synephrine (3 mg kg-1) or a placebo (cellulose). Energy expenditure and fat oxidation rates were continuously measured by indirect calorimetry during 1 h of continuous cycling at Fatmax, the intensity that induces maximal fat oxidation rate. Results: In comparison to the placebo, energy expenditure during 1 h of cycling remained unchanged with p-synephrine (698 ± 129 vs. 686 ± 123 kcal, P = 0.08). However, p-synephrine increased whole-body fat oxidation (33.6 ± 10.4 vs. 37.3 ± 9.8 g, P < 0.01) while also reducing carbohydrate oxidation (99.5 ± 30.4 vs. 85.0 ± 28.4 g, P < 0.01). However, the magnitude of the shift on substrate oxidation induced by p-synephrine was small. Conclusion: Acute ingestion of p-synephrine augments fat oxidation during prolonged and constant-intensity exercise

Adductor squeeze test and groin injuries in elite football players: A prospective study

during the competitive season of professional football teams. Design: Prospective Cohort study. Setting: Controlled laboratory environment. Participants: Seventy-one players volunteered to participate. Main outcome measures: In the pre-season, maximal hip adductor strength was measured by means of the isometric adductor squeeze test. Hip adductor strength, normalized by body mass, was compared between players who suffered a groin injury (n ¼ 18) vs uninjured players (n ¼ 53). Risk ratios (RR) were used to evaluate the likelihood of players to suffer this type of injury. Results: Most of the reported groin injuries occurred during competitive matches (5.5 per 1000 match hours). Maximal isometric hip adductor strength was lower in the groin-injured group compared with their uninjured counterparts (429.8 ± 100 vs 564 ± 58.7 N, d¼ 1.58 and 5.40 ± 1.27 vs 7.71 ± 0.89 N/kg, d¼ 1.88, respectively). Results revealed that values of maximal isometric adductor strength lower than 465.33 N increased the probability to suffer a groin injury by 72%. Furthermore, values of force relative to body mass lower than 6.971 N/kg increased the probability to suffer a groin injury by 83%. Conclusion: The assessment of Hip adductor strength, in addition to other measurements, might help practitioners to determine the probability of suffering an overuse groin injuries in elite football players.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ADORA2A C Allele Carriers Exhibit Ergogenic Responses to Caffeine Supplementation

Caffeine’s ergogenic effects on exercise performance are generally explained by its ability to bind to adenosine receptors. ADORA2A is the gene that encodes A2A subtypes of adenosine receptors. It has been suggested that ADORA2A gene polymorphisms may be responsible for the inter-individual variations in the effects of caffeine on exercise performance. In the only study that explored the influence of variation in ADORA2A—in this case, a common polymorphism (rs5751876)—on the ergogenic effects of caffeine on exercise performance, C allele carriers were identified as “non-responders” to caffeine. To explore if C allele carriers are true “non-responders” to the ergogenic effects of caffeine, in this randomized, double-blind study, we examined the acute effects of caffeine ingestion among a sample consisting exclusively of ADORA2A C allele carriers. Twenty resistance-trained men identified as ADORA2A C allele carriers (CC/CT genotype) were tested on two occasions, following the ingestion of caffeine (3 mg/kg) and a placebo. Exercise performance was evaluated with movement velocity, power output, and muscle endurance during the bench press exercise, countermovement jump height, and power output during a Wingate test. Out of the 25 analyzed variables, caffeine was ergogenic in 21 (effect size range: 0.14 to 0.96). In conclusion, ADORA2A (rs5751876) C allele carriers exhibited ergogenic responses to caffeine ingestion, with the magnitude of improvements similar to what was previously reported in the literature among samples that were not genotype-specific. Therefore, individuals with the CT/CC genotype may still consider supplementing with caffeine for acute improvements in performance

Effect of caffeine on muscle oxygen saturation during short‑term all‑out exercise: a double‑blind randomized crossover study

Purpose The ergogenic effect of oral caffeine administration on short-term all-out exercise performance is well established. However, the potential mechanisms associated with caffeine’s ergogenicity in this type of exercise are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether caffeine intake modifies muscle oxygen saturation during the 15-s Wingate Anaerobic Test. Methods Fifteen moderately trained individuals (body mass = 67.4 ± 12.3 kg; height 171.3 ± 6.9 cm; age 31 ± 6 years) took part in two identical experimental trials after the ingestion of (a) 3 mg/kg of caffeine or (b) 3 mg/kg of cellulose (placebo). After 60 min for substances absorption, participants performed a 15-s Wingate test on a cycle ergometer against a load representing 7.5% of participant’s body mass. Muscle oxygen saturation was continuously measured during exercise with near-infrared spectroscopy and blood lactate concentration was measured 1 min after exercise. Results In comparison to the placebo, the oral administration of caffeine increased peak power by 2.9 ± 4.5% (from 9.65 ± 1.38 to. 9.92 ± 1.40 W/kg, P = 0.038; effect size (ES), 95% confidence intervals = 0.28, 0.05–0.51), mean power by 3.5 ± 6.2% (from 8.30 ± 1.08 to 8.57 ± 1.12 W/kg, P = 0.044; ES = 0.36, 0.01–0.71) and blood lactate concentration by 20.9 ± 24.7% (from 12.4 ± 2.6 to 14.8 ± 4.0 mmol/L, P = 0.005; ES = 0.59, 0.16–1.02). However, caffeine did not modify the curve of muscle oxygen desaturation during exercise (lowest value was 23.1 ± 14.1 and 23.4 ± 14.1%, P = 0.940). Conclusion Caffeine’s ergogenic effect during short-term all-out exercise seems to be associated with an increased glycolytic metabolism with no influence of enhanced muscle oxygen saturation

The Effect of Caffeine on the Velocity of Half-Squat Exercise during the Menstrual Cycle: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Recent literature confirms the ergogenic effect of acute caffeine intake to increase muscle strength and power in men. However, the information about the effect of caffeine on muscle performance in women is uncertain and it is unknown whether its ergogenicity is similar during the menstrual cycle. The goal of this investigation was to assess the effect of acute caffeine intake on mean and peak velocity of half-squat exercise during three different phases of the menstrual cycle. Thirteen trained eumenorrheic athletes (age = 31 ± 6 years; body mass = 58.6 ± 7.8 kg) participated in a double-blind, crossover and randomized experimental trial. In the early follicular (EFP), late follicular (LFP) and mid luteal phases (MLP), participants either ingested a placebo (cellulose) or 3 mg/kg/bm of caffeine in an opaque and unidentifiable capsule. In each trial, participants performed a half-squat exercise at maximal velocity with loads equivalent to 20%, 40% 60% and 80% of one repetition maximum (1RM). In each load, mean and peak velocity were measured during the concentric phase of the exercise using a rotatory encoder. In comparison to the placebo, a two-way ANOVA showed that the ingestion of 3 mg/kg/bm of caffeine increased mean velocity at 60% 1RM in EFP (Δ = 1.4 ± 2.7%, p = 0.04; ES: 0.2 ± 0.2) and LFP (Δ = 5.0 ± 10.4%, p = 0.04; ES: 0.3 ± 0.4). No other statistical differences were found for the caffeine-placebo comparison for mean velocity, but caffeine induced an ergogenic effect of small magnitude in all of the menstrual cycle phases. These results suggest that the acute intake of 3 mg/kg/bm of caffeine induces a small effect to increase movement velocity during resistance exercise in eumenorrheic female athletes. The positive effect of caffeine was of similar magnitude in all the three phases of the menstrual cycle

Can genetic testing identify talent for sport?

Elite athlete status is a partially heritable trait, as are many of the underpinning physiological, anthropometrical, and psychological traits that contribute to elite performance. In recent years, our understanding of the specific genetic variants that contribute to these traits has grown, such that there is considerable interest in attempting to utilise genetic information as a tool to predict future elite athlete status. In this review, we explore the extent of the genetic influence on the making of a sporting champion and we describe issues which, at present, hamper the utility of genetic testing in identifying future elite performers. We build on this by exploring what further knowledge is required to enhance this process, including a reflection on the potential learnings from the use of genetics as a disease prediction tool. Finally, we discuss ways in which genetic information may hold utility within elite sport in the future, including guiding nutritional and training recommendations, and assisting in the prevention of injury. Whilst genetic testing has the potential to assist in the identification of future talented performers, genetic tests should be combined with other tools to obtain an accurate identification of those athletes predisposed to succeed in sport. The use of total genotype scores, composed of a high number of performance-enhancing polymorphisms, will likely be one of the best strategies in the utilisation of genetic information to identify talent in sport

The Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on Measures of Rowing Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this paper was to conduct a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies examining the acute effects of caffeine ingestion on measures of rowing performance. Crossover and placebo-controlled experiments that investigated the effects of caffeine ingestion on measures of rowing performance were included. The PEDro checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Seven studies of good and excellent methodological quality were included. None of the included studies examined on-water rowing. The majority of studies that were included in the meta-analysis used a 2000m rowing distance with only one using 1000m distance. Results of the main meta-analysis indicated that caffeine enhances performance on a rowing ergometer compared to placebo with a mean difference of −4.1 s (95% confidence interval (CI): −6.4, −1.8 s). These values remained consistent in the analysis in which the study that used a 1000m distance was excluded (mean difference: −4.3 s; 95% CI: −6.9, −1.8 s). We also found a significant increase in mean power (mean difference: 5.7 W; 95% CI: 2.1, 9.3 W) and minute ventilation (mean difference: 3.4 L/min; 95% CI: 1.7, 5.1 L/min) following caffeine ingestion. No significant differences between caffeine and placebo were found for the rating of perceived exertion, oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, and heart rate. This meta-analysis found that acute caffeine ingestion improves 2000m rowing ergometer performance by ~4 s. Our results support the use of caffeine pre-exercise as an ergogenic aid for rowing performance