5,217 research outputs found
Improved 1000-m running performance and pacing strategy with caffeine and placebo effect: a balanced placebo design study
Purpose: To investigate the placebo effect of caffeine on pacing strategy and performance over 1000-m running time-trials using a balanced placebo design.
Methods: Eleven well-trained male middle-distance athletes performed seven 1000-m time-trials (one familiarisation, two baseline and four experimental). Experimental trials consisted of the administration of four treatments: informed caffeine/received caffeine (CC), informed caffeine/received placebo (CP), informed placebo/received caffeine (PC), and informed placebo/received placebo (PP). Treatments were randomized. Split times were recorded at 200-, 400-, 600-, 800- and 1000-m and peak heart rate (HRpeak) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded at the completion of the trial.
Results: Relative to baseline, participants ran faster during CC (d = 0.42) and CP (d = 0.43). These changes were associated with an increased pace during the first half of the trial. No differences were shown in pacing or performance between baseline and the PC (d = 0.21) and open administration of placebo (d = 0.10). No differences were reported between treatments for HRpeak (η2 = 0.084) and RPE (η2 = 0.009).
Conclusions: Our results indicate that the effect of believing to have ingested caffeine improved performance to the same magnitude as actually receiving caffeine. These improvements were associated with an increase in pace during the first half of the time-trial
MST Resistive Wall Tearing Mode Simulations
The Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) is a toroidal device that, when operated as
a tokamak, is resistant to disruptions. Unlike most tokamaks, the MST plasma is
surrounded by a close fitting highly conducting wall, with a resistive wall
penetration time two orders of magnitude longer than in JET or DIII-D, and
three times longer than in ITER. The MST can operate with edge q_a < 2, unlike
standard tokamaks. Simulations presented here indicate that the MST is unstable
to resistive wall tearing modes (RWTMs) and resistive wall modes (RWMs). They
could in principle cause disruptions, but the predicted thermal quench time is
much longer than the experimental pulse time. If the MST thermal quench time
were comparable to measurements in JET and DIII-D, theory and simulations
predict that disruptions would have been observed in MST. This is consistent
with the modeling herein, predicting that disruptions are caused by RWTMs and
RWMs. In the low q_a regime of MST, the RWTM asymptotically satisfies the RWM
dispersion relation. The transition from RWTM to RWM occurs smoothly at q_a =
m/n, where m,n are poloidal and toroidal mode numbers
Development and High Pressure Burner Rig Demonstration of SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composite Combustor Liners with Environmental Barrier Coatings
No abstract availabl
A structural evaluation of the tungsten isotopes via thermal neutron capture
Total radiative thermal neutron-capture -ray cross sections for the
W isotopes were measured using guided neutron beams from
the Budapest Research Reactor to induce prompt and delayed rays from
elemental and isotopically-enriched tungsten targets. These cross sections were
determined from the sum of measured -ray cross sections feeding the
ground state from low-lying levels below a cutoff energy, E, where
the level scheme is completely known, and continuum rays from levels
above E, calculated using the Monte Carlo statistical-decay code
DICEBOX. The new cross sections determined in this work for the tungsten
nuclides are: b and
b;
b and b; b and
b; and,
b and b. These results are consistent with
earlier measurements in the literature. The W cross section was also
independently confirmed from an activation measurement, following the decay of
W, yielding values for that are consistent
with our prompt -ray measurement. The cross-section measurements were
found to be insensitive to choice of level density or photon strength model,
and only weakly dependent on E. Total radiative-capture widths
calculated with DICEBOX showed much greater model dependence, however, the
recommended values could be reproduced with selected model choices. The decay
schemes for all tungsten isotopes were improved in these analyses.Comment: 25 pages, 15 figures, 15 table
Spectral fluctuation characterization of random matrix ensembles through wavelets
A recently developed wavelet based approach is employed to characterize the
scaling behavior of spectral fluctuations of random matrix ensembles, as well
as complex atomic systems. Our study clearly reveals anti-persistent behavior
and supports the Fourier power spectral analysis. It also finds evidence for
multi-fractal nature in the atomic spectra. The multi-resolution and
localization nature of the discrete wavelets ideally characterizes the
fluctuations in these time series, some of which are not stationary.Comment: 7 pages, 2 eps figure
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) as a Potential Countermeasure for Phenotypic Characteristics of Sarcopenia: A Scoping Review
Background: Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle quantity and function associated predominantly with aging. Physical activity appears the most promising intervention to attenuate sarcopenia, yet physical activity guidelines are rarely met. In recent years high intensity interval training (HIIT) has garnered interested in athletic populations, clinical populations, and general population alike. There is emerging evidence of the efficacy of HIIT in the young old (i.e. seventh decade of life), yet data concerning the oldest old (i.e., ninth decade of life onwards), and those diagnosed with sarcopenic are sparse.
Objectives: In this scoping review of the literature, we aggregated information regarding HIIT as a potential intervention to attenuate phenotypic characteristics of sarcopenia.
Eligibility Criteria: Original investigations concerning the impact of HIIT on muscle function, muscle quantity or quality, and physical performance in older individuals (mean age ≥60 years of age) were considered.
Sources of Evidence: Five electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL]) were searched.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework (2005). Review selection and characterization were performed by two independent reviewers using pretested forms.
Results: Authors reviewed 1,063 titles and abstracts for inclusion with 74 selected for full text review. Thirty-two studies were analyzed. Twenty-seven studies had a mean participant age in the 60s, two in the 70s, and three in the 80s. There were 20 studies which examined the effect of HIIT on muscle function, 22 which examined muscle quantity, and 12 which examined physical performance. HIIT was generally effective in Improving muscle function and physical performance compared to non-exercised controls, moderate intensity continuous training, or pre-HIIT (study design-dependent), with more ambiguity concerning muscle quantity.
Conclusions: Most studies presented herein utilized outcome measures defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). However, there are too few studies investigating any form of HIIT in the oldest old (i.e., ≥80 years of age), or those already sarcopenic. Therefore, more intervention studies are needed in this population
Amnestically induced persistence in random walks
We study how the Hurst exponent depends on the fraction of the
total time remembered by non-Markovian random walkers that recall only the
distant past. We find that otherwise nonpersistent random walkers switch to
persistent behavior when inflicted with significant memory loss. Such memory
losses induce the probability density function of the walker's position to
undergo a transition from Gaussian to non-Gaussian. We interpret these findings
of persistence in terms of a breakdown of self-regulation mechanisms and
discuss their possible relevance to some of the burdensome behavioral and
psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs, subm. to Phys. Rev. Let
Intracerebroventricular Catalase Reduces Hepatic Insulin Sensitivity and Increases Responses to Hypoglycemia in Rats
Specialized metabolic-sensors in the hypothalamus regulate blood glucose levels by influencing hepatic glucose output and hypoglycemic counter regulatory responses. Hypothalamic reactive oxygen species (ROS) may act as a metabolic signal mediating responses to changes in glucose, other substrates and hormones. The role of ROS in the brain's control of glucose homeostasis remains unclear. We hypothesized that hydrogen peroxide (HO), a relatively stable form of ROS, acts as a sensor of neuronal glucose consumption and availability and that lowering brain HO with the enzyme catalase would lead to systemic responses increasing blood glucose. During hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps in rats, ICV catalase infusion resulted in increased hepatic glucose output, which was associated with reduced neuronal activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC). Electrophysiological recordings revealed a subset of ARC neurons expressing pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) that were inhibited by catalase and excited by HO. During hypoglycemic clamps, ICV catalase increased glucagon and epinephrine responses to hypoglycemia, consistent with perceived lower glucose levels. Our data suggest that HO represents an important metabolic cue which, through tuning the electrical activity of key neuronal populations such as POMC neurons, may have a role in the brain's influence of glucose homeostasis and energy balance.This work was supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Grant 1-2006-29 and the Diabetes UK Grant RD05/ 003059 (to M.L.E.), the Wellcome Trust Grant WT098012 (to L.K.H.), and Cambridge Medical Research Council Centre for Study of Obesity and Related Disorders. In addition, PhD studentships/fellowships were supported for S.P.M. (Elmore Fund), P.H. (Sir Jules Thorn Trust), and C.-Y.Y. (Chang Gung University College of Medicine Grant numbers CMRPG6B0291 and CMRPG6B0292)
Possibility between earthquake and explosion seismogram differentiation by discrete stochastic non-Markov processes and local Hurst exponent analysis
The basic purpose of the paper is to draw the attention of researchers to new
possibilities of differentiation of similar signals having different nature.
One of examples of such kind of signals is presented by seismograms containing
recordings of earthquakes (EQ's) and technogenic explosions (TE's). We propose
here a discrete stochastic model for possible solution of a problem of strong
EQ's forecasting and differentiation of TE's from the weak EQ's. Theoretical
analysis is performed by two independent methods: with the use of statistical
theory of discrete non-Markov stochastic processes (Phys. Rev. E62,6178 (2000))
and the local Hurst exponent. Time recordings of seismic signals of the first
four dynamic orthogonal collective variables, six various plane of phase
portrait of four dimensional phase space of orthogonal variables and the local
Hurst exponent have been calculated for the dynamic analysis of the earth
states. The approaches, permitting to obtain an algorithm of strong EQ's
forecasting and to differentiate TE's from weak EQ's, have been developed.Comment: REVTEX +12 ps and jpg figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
E, December 200
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