The Effect of Static Stretching and Order of Warm-Up on the Isokinetic Peak Torque of the Knee Extensors

The purposes of these studies were to determine if an acute static stretch influenced isokinetic peak torque (IPT), and to examine if the order in which the warm up routine was performed affected peak knee extension torque. Twenty trained college male students performed maximal isokinetic knee extensions under four conditions: a control consisting of no stretching, a stretch only trial, jog then stretch, and stretch then jog conditions. Each stretch was held for a total volume of 360 s. Measurements were taken on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer at speeds of 60º s-1 and 300º s-1. Data were analyzed using t-tests to compare the stretch condition with the control. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the stretch and the control at 300 º s-1 (p = 0.03 t = 2.42) but not at 60 º s-1 (p = 0.16). A 2 x 3 ANOVA (300 º s-1 x 60 º s-1, and control x stretch then jog x jog then stretch) yielded no significance at either speed (p \u3e 0.05). Conclusions from this study indicate that stretching should not be the sole exercise in a warm-up routine as previous research confirms the decrease in IPT after stretching. Another finding of this study is that the negative effects of stretching can be diminished when combined with an aerobic activity such as jogging prior to performance. Further research is needed to determine the underlying factors that contribute to the post stretch decrease in IPT and the factors that lead to the restoration of force after aerobic activity. Caution is advised since these were controlled tests in a laboratory and results may vary with actual performance

Altitude Operational Characteristics of Prototype J40-WE-8 Turbojet Engine

The altitude operational characteristics of the prototype J40-WE-8 turbojet engine were determined in the NACA Lewis altitude wind tunnel. The operational characteristics that were obtained include (1) compressor surge characteristics, (2) acceleration and deceleration rates, (3) steady-state windmilling-engine characteristics, (4) altitude ignition characteristics, and (5) the effect of two grades of fuel on steady-state engine performance at an altitude of 45,000 feet and a flight Mach number of 0.20. The altitude ignition characteristics determined include the effects of (1) ignition fuel flow, (2) two ignition procedures, (3) fuel temperatures, and (4) two grades of fuel on ignition characteristics. The compressor surge line, when presented as a function of compressor pressure ratio and corrected engine speed, was not affected by changes in flight condition and was independent of engine-inlet installation and of the manner in which surge was approached, rapidly or slowly. Also there was no effect of altitude or engine-inlet installation on the compressor surge recovery line when presented as a function of compressor pressure ratio and corrected engine speed

Steady-state Engine Windmilling and Engine Speed Decay Characteristics of an Axial-flow Turbojet Engine

A wind tunnel investigation has been conducted to determine the steady-state windmilling and engine speed decay characteristics of the J34-WE-32 turbo-jet over a range of altitudes from 5000 to 50,000 feet and simulated flight Mach numbers from 0.19 to 1.06. The effect of an engine accessory load on the speed decay characteristics was also determined. The accessory load was about 7.8 horsepower for engine speeds above 4000 rpm and decreased with decreasing engine speed. An analysis of the speed decay data was made and engine speed decay rates were determined for hypothetical accessory loads up to 40 horsepower

Measurements of UV radiation on rotating vertical plane at the ALOMAR Observatory (69° N, 16° E), Norway, June 2007

International audienceErythemaly weighted UV and total UVA irradiance measured at the ALOMAR (Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research; 69° N, 16° E) in June 2007 by two Kipp & Zonen UV broadband meters type, UV-S-AE-T, are examined. One unit is movable and mounted to rotating vertical plane, and the other is permanently fixed horizontally. The UV broadband meters measure simultaneously to allow the comparison of UV irradiances on vertical and horizontal plane. The entire range of relative exposure variations during clear-sky conditions over ALOMAR is examined using STAR and Radonic1 model (developed at the Meteorological Institute, Munich) for various action spectra (erythema, UVA, and vitamin D3). It seems that multiplication of the daily mean dose from a standard broadband meter placed horizontally by 0.5 gives reasonable estimation of the daily mean exposure on a vertical plane randomly oriented towards Sun. The extreme value and daily variability of relative exposure are the highest for UVA, next for UVB, then for vitamin D3 weighed UV irradiance. The minima of relative exposure (~0.20?0.30) are almost the same for all weighting functions. Specific cloud configuration could lead to significant enhancement of UV relative exposure of rotating plane being the most pronounced when biometer is in shadow. A statistical model is proposed, that it is able to simulate vitamin D3 weighted UV irradiances on vertical surface using explanatory variables: erythemal and total UVA irradiance from standard (horizontal) observations by Kipp & Zonen dual band biometer, the orientation of vertical plane, solar zenith angle, and column amount of total ozone. Statistical model will allow to reconstruct (or monitor) vitamin D3 weighted UV irradiances using available past (or actual) data

Age-Related Differences in Vertical Jump Power and Muscle Size and Quality of the Vastus Lateralis

Previous studies have reported that decreases in muscle size and quality of the vastus lateralis (VL) may contribute to the lower vertical jump power observed in old compared to young males. However, we are aware of no previous studies that have examined the contribution of VL muscle size and quality to age-related power differences in females, nor have there been any studies that examined these differences between young, middle, and older age groups. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of age on vertical jump power and muscle size (cross-sectional area [CSA]) and quality (echo intensity [EI]) of the VL in young, middle-aged, and old females. METHODS: Twenty-six young (age = 22 ± 2 yr; height = 163 ± 7 cm; mass = 61 ± 8 kg), 30 middle-aged (36 ± 5 yr; 164 ± 7 cm; 62 ± 11 kg), and 23 old (71 ± 5 yr; 161 ± 5 cm; 59 ± 10 kg) females underwent two diagnostic ultrasound assessments followed by three countermovement vertical jumps (CMJs). Peak power output (Pmax; W) was measured during the CMJs using a portable force plate. VL CSA (cm2) and EI (AU) were measured on the right leg using a portable B-mode ultrasound imaging device and linear-array probe. One-way ANOVAs and post-hoc analyses were used to compare Pmax, CSA, and EI between age groups. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (r) were used to examine the relationships between Pmax and CSA and EI. RESULTS: Higher Pmax and CSA values were observed for the young (Pmax = 2257.40 ± 438.42 W; CSA = 20.59 ± 4.23 cm2) compared to the old (Pmax = 1098.55 ± 242.10 W; CSA = 10.69 ± 2.47 cm2) and middle-aged (Pmax = 1958.20 ± 341.87 W; CSA = 18.05 ± 4.24 cm2) and the middle-aged compared to the old (P ≤ 0.001-0.039). EI values for the young (104.29 ± 16.86 AU) and middle-aged (107.71 ± 17.30 AU) were lower than the old (128.35 ± 14.99 AU) (P \u3c 0.001), but they were not different from each other (P = 0.720). There was a significant positive relationship between Pmax and CSA (r = 0.830; P \u3c 0.001) and a significant negative relationship between Pmax and EI (r = -0.442; P \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that vertical jump power and muscle size and quality decrease with age. The significant relationships observed between Pmax and CSA and EI perhaps suggest that these age-related declines in VL muscle size and quality may play an important role in the lower vertical jump power observed in middle-aged and older adults

Preliminary Transient Performance Data on the J73 Turbojet Engine. II - Altitude, 35,000 Feet

A program was undertaken to determine the J73 turbojet engine compressor stall and surge characteristics and combustor blow-out limits encountered during transient engine operation. Data were obtained in the form of oscillograph traces showing the time history of several engine performance parameters with changes in engine fuel flow. The data presented in this report are for step changes in fuel flow at an altitude of 35,000 feet, at flight Mach numbers of 0.3, 0.8, and 1.2, and at several engine-inlet temperatures

Monte Carlo studies of the intrinsic time-domain response of nanoscale three-branch junctions

We present a Monte Carlo time-domain study of nanostructured ballistic three-branch junctions (TBJs) excited by both step-function and Gaussian picosecond transients. Our TBJs were based on InGaAs 2-dimensional electron gas heterostructures and their geometry followed exactly the earlier experimental studies. Time-resolved, picosecond transients of both the central branch potential and the between-the-arms current demonstrate that the bandwidth of the intrinsic TBJ response reaches the THz frequency range, being mainly limited by the large-signal, intervalley scattering, when the carrier transport regime changes from ballistic to diffusive

Reduction in Asthma Morbidity in Children as a Result of Home Remediation Aimed at Moisture Sources

OBJECTIVE: Home dampness and the presence of mold and allergens have been associated with asthma morbidity. We examined changes in asthma morbidity in children as a result of home remediation aimed at moisture sources. DESIGN: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, symptomatic, asthmatic children (n = 62), 2–17 years of age, living in a home with indoor mold, received an asthma intervention including an action plan, education, and individualized problem solving. The remediation group also received household repairs, including reduction of water infiltration, removal of water-damaged building materials, and heating/ventilation/air-conditioning alterations. The control group received only home cleaning information. We measured children’s total and allergen-specific serum immuno-globulin E, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and urinary cotinine. Environmental dust samples were analyzed for dust mite, cockroach, rodent urinary protein, endotoxin, and fungi. The follow-up period was 1 year. RESULTS: Children in both groups showed improvement in asthma symptomatic days during the preremediation portion of the study. The remediation group had a significant decrease in symptom days (p = 0.003, as randomized; p = 0.004, intent to treat) after remodeling, whereas these parameters in the control group did not significantly change. In the postremediation period, the remediation group had a lower rate of exacerbations compared with control asthmatics (as treated: 1 of 29 vs. 11 of 33, respectively, p = 0. 003; intent to treat: 28.1% and 10.0%, respectively, p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: Construction remediation aimed at the root cause of moisture sources and combined with a medical/behavioral intervention significantly reduces symptom days and health care use for asthmatic children who live in homes with a documented mold problem

Dietary protein intake is associated with maximal and explosive strength of the leg flexors in young and older blue collar workers

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary PRO intake and maximal and rapid strength of the leg flexors in blue collar (BC) working men. Twenty-four young (age=23.2±2.1 yrs), and nineteen older aged (age=52.8±5.2 yrs) men employed in BC occupations completed a three day dietary record and isometric strength testing of the leg flexors. Food logs were analyzed for total protein (TPRO) and essential amino acid (EAA) intake. Rapid and maximal strength capacities were examined from the rate of torque development at 50ms (RTD50) and peak torque (PT) of the torque-time curves, respectively. Pearson correlations and partial correlations were used to examine the relationships between TPRO and EAA intake on strength variables. PT was positively correlated to TPRO and EAA intake in the young (r=0.439 and 0.431;P0.05) between TPRO and strength variables when controlling for EAA intake. TPRO intake explained 20–44% of the variance in rapid and maximal strength for both age groups. EAA intake was largely responsible for the positive relationship between PRO intake and strength. Across young and older aged blue collar working male populations, protein consumption was associated with both maximal and explosive strength capacities of the leg flexors muscle group