Exploring accuracy and impact of concurrent and retrospective self-talk among golfers

The current study aimed to provide insight into the types and frequency of self-talk of skilled golfers (n = 6) by considering and comparing concurrent verbalization and retrospective reports. Each participant wore a microphone to record his thoughts while verbalizing them for the duration of nine holes of golf on three separate occasions. The researchers transcribed and coded this verbalized self-talk. Participants also completed a retrospective self-talk questionnaire at the conclusion of each round. Results suggest that participants’ concurrent verbalization and retrospective reports were inconsistent, specifically with regard to function (i.e., motivational versus instructional) and valence (i.e., positive, negative, and neutral), and that participants felt their concurrent verbalization more accurately reflected their experiences. The results support previous research that indicates that retrospective reports of self-talk may not provide accurate insight into what athletes actually say to themselves as they perform in their sports, while asserting that concurrent verbalization may be a more accurate representation of their self-talk experiences

Features in the ion emission of Cu, Al, and C plasmas produced by ultrafast laser ablation

© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. The bi-modal nature of charge integrated ion kinetic energy distributions, which result from ultrafast laser produced plasmas, is discussed in this paper. A negatively biased Faraday cup was used as a charge collector to measure ion distributions from three different solid targets that had been irradiated with an ultrafast laser in the fluence range 0.1-1 J/cm2. A bi-modal time of flight distribution is found for all three targets (C, Al, and Cu). In the case of the metallic targets (Al and Cu), high- and low-kinetic energy peaks exhibit quite different dependencies on laser fluence, whereas for the semi-metallic target (C), both peaks scale similarly with ultrafast laser fluence. The results are discussed within the framework of a one dimensional capacitor model resulting in ion acceleration

Correction: assortative mating in fallow deer reduces the strength of sexual selection.

PMCID: PMC3182158 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.This article corrects this one: PLoS One. 2011; 6(4): e18533. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018533[This corrects the article on p. e18533 in vol. 6.]

Design guide for helicopter transmission seals

A detailed approach for the selection and design of seals for helicopter transmissions is presented. There are two major types of seals presently being used and they are lip type seals and mechanical type seals. Lip type seals can be divided in conventional lip seals and hydrodynamic lip seals. Conventional lip seals can be used for slow-speed, low-pressure, low-temperature sealing. Hydrodynamic lip seals although they are as pressure and temperature limited as conventional lip seals, can operate at a higher speed. Mechanical types seals are comprised of face seals and circumferential seals. Face seals are capable of high speed, high pressure, and high temperature. Circumferential seals can be used in high-speed and high-temperature applications, but will leak excessively at moderate pressures. The performance goals of transmission seals are a life that is at least equal to the scheduled overhaul interval of the gearbox component and a leakage rate of near zero

Preliminary study of the sedimentation of Lake St. Clair from minor river and stream tributaries

Sediment samples collected from the minor tributary streams and rivers of Lake St. Clair were analyzed to determine if there were any distinct mineral assemblages within the <64 micrometer size fraction. These assemblages could then identify lake sediment provenances. Mineral assemblages were identified for all the streams and rivers by x-ray dffraction analysis, and were found to be uniform in composition. It is suggested that the sources for the suspended and bottom sediments of the streams and rivers have similar compositions, such as that of a uniform till plain. The distribution patterns of the fluvially transported sediments in the lake can not be determined solely on the basis of the composition of the <64 micrometer size fraction.No embarg

Superconductivity - some aspects of the theories and possible applications

Superconductivity is an effect exhibited by certain materials at very low temperatures in which normal electrical resistivity disappears completely. Summaries of the current theories which attempt to account for this phenomena are presented, and, various proposals for making use of this effect in practical devices are examined and discussed. Proposals for a programme of research in the application of superconductivity to rotating electrical machines are outlined

Study of high voltage solar array configurations with integrated power control electronics

Solar array electrical configurations for voltage regulatio

Composite materials for rail transit systems

The potential is explored for using composite materials in urban mass transit systems. The emphasis was to identify specific advantages of composite materials in order to determine their actual and potential usage for carbody and guideway structure applications. The literature was reviewed, contacts were made with major domestic system operators, designers, and builders, and an analysis was made of potential composite application to railcar construction. Composites were found to be in use throughout the transit industry, usually in secondary or auxiliary applications such as car interior and nonstructural exterior panels. More recently, considerable activity has been initiated in the area of using composites in the load bearing elements of civil engineering structures such as highway bridges. It is believed that new and improved manufacturing refinements in pultrusion and filament winding will permit the production of beam sections which can be used in guideway structures. The inherent corrosion resistance and low maintenance characteristics of composites should result in lowered maintenance costs over a prolonged life of the structure