The effect of caffeine mouth rinse on self-paced cycling performance

The aim of the study was to determine whether caffeine mouth rinse would improve 30 min self-paced cycling trial. Twelve healthy active males (age 20.5±0.7 years, mass 87.4±18.3 kg) volunteered for the study. They attended the laboratory on 3 separate occasions performing a 30 min self-paced cycling trial. On one occasion water was given as a mouth rinse for 5 s (PLA), on another occasion a 6.4% maltodextrin (CHO) solution was given for 5 s and finally a caffeine solution (containing 32 mg of caffeine dissolved in 125 ml water; CAF) was given for 5 s. Distance cycled, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, cadence, speed and power output were recorded throughout all trials. Distance cycled during the CAF mouth rinse trial (16.2±2.8 km) was significantly greater compared to PLA trial (14.9±2.6 km). There was no difference between CHO and CAF trials (P=0.89). Cadence, power and velocity were significantly greater during the CAF trial compared to both PLA and CHO (P0.05). Caffeine mouth rinse improves 30 min cycling performance by allowing the participant to increase cadence, power and velocity without a concurrent increase in perceived exertion and heart rate

The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation: Reflections on Its Development and First Seven Years

Background: The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation (IDPE) program at Western Michigan University (WMU) was designed and developed to address the increasing need and demand for highly trained and skilled evaluators. After only six and a half years, the program’s graduates are serving in important evaluation leadership positions throughout the world. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide readers with a historical overview and up-to-date description of the IDPE and is intended for those who are interested in evaluation curriculum and advances in the profession. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: Not applicable. Data Collection and Analysis: In this article each of the program’s current and previous leaders reflect on their role in the IDPE. Findings: The concept, design, and operations of this program should be of interest both to evaluation scholars and to those who administer graduate education programs in evaluation.  Keywords: evaluation training, doctoral programming, interdisciplinary programming, evaluation histor

Spillway Rock Scour Analysis - Composite of Physical & Numerical Modelling, Paradise Dam, Australia

A number of problems and solutions of rock scour downstream of spillways have been evaluated using a composite approach, based on the gathering of detailed data from a physical model and utilising those data in a sequence of calibration and application of numerical modelling of the scour. Our paper will describe the application of the Computational Scour Model (CSM - Bollaert, 2002 and subsequent) as the numerical procedure that makes the composite approach a proven methodology for such problems. The paper will focus on a case study application of the procedure based on the experiences of flooding and scour at the Paradise Dam, Queensland, Australia. Flooding in 2013 caused substantial scour downstream of the primary spillway. The occurrence led to a series of studies for the evaluation of the geology, and the evident hydraulics behaviour using a well-instrumented physical model to capture pressure and velocity transients, all as part of a process to determine the scour mechanism, and to determine the response of the spillway and areas downstream to future floods of larger magnitude. Utilising the transient data from approximately 60 pressure transducers, ADV measurements for transient velocities, together with the detailed geologic assessment, the comprehensive scour modelling procedures developed by Bollaert were applied for calibration of the numerical model and its application for possible discharge scenarios. The paper will discuss the design and construction of the physical model and instrumentation as a key part of securing adequate data for the composite procedure, and go on to illustrate the outcomes of the CSM procedures

An inverse finite element method with an application to extrusion with solidification

The flow and solidification of planar jets are analysed by means of an efficient inverse isotherm finite element method. The method is based on a tessellation that is constructed by isotherms as characteristic co-ordinate lines transverse to the flow direction. Thus opposite sides of finite elements lie on isotherms. The method allows the simultaneous determination of the location of the isotherms with the primary unknowns, namely, the velocity, the pressure, the temperature and the location of the free surface. Thus the determination of the location of the solidification front (which is known to pose significant computational difficulties) is automatic. This facilitates the control of the location of the solidification front by controlling macroscopic variables such as the flow rate, the cooling rate and the capillary design. The location of the solidification may then be suitably chosen to influence the frozen-in orientation and structure in extrusion of high-performance materials such as composites and polymers, in continuous casting of metals and in growth of crystals.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50200/1/1650090505_ftp.pd

Self-gravitating fluid shells and their non-spherical oscillations in Newtonian theory

We summarize the general formalism describing surface flows in three-dimensional space in a form which is suitable for various astrophysical applications. We then apply the formalism to the analysis of non-radial perturbations of self-gravitating spherical fluid shells. Spherically symmetric gravitating shells (or bubbles) have been used in numerous model problems especially in general relativity and cosmology. A radially oscillating shell was recently suggested as a model for a variable cosmic object. Within Newtonian gravity we show that self-gravitating static fluid shells are unstable with respect to linear non-radial perturbations. Only shells (bubbles) with a negative mass (or with a charge the repulsion of which is compensated by a tension) are stable.Comment: 20 pages, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal, typos correcte

Is Social Psychology Really Different?

Gergen (1976), outlines a number of problems that make it difficult to apply general social psychological the ories, or to assess their validity unequivocally. These dif ficulties are not unique to social psychology, however. The application of general scientific principles has never been a simple matter, not even in the well-established physical sci ences. Moreover, there are formidable difficulties in asses sing general theoretical propositions in every field of in quiry, since empirical procedures will inevitably depend on assumptions about local field conditions, the adequacy of meas urement techniques, and the like. As a consequence, if re sults are inconsistent with theoretical expectations, there will always be some uncertainty as to where the problem lies. Social psychologists should not assume that their difficulties are totally unlike those encountered in other fields of sci entific inquiry. The problems raised by Gergen do not, con sequently, rule out the possible development and application of general social psychological theories.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69124/2/10.1177_014616727600200417.pd

Multi-Orbital Molecular Compound (TTM-TTP)I_3: Effective Model and Fragment Decomposition

The electronic structure of the molecular compound (TTM-TTP)I_3, which exhibits a peculiar intra-molecular charge ordering, has been studied using multi-configuration ab initio calculations. First we derive an effective Hubbard-type model based on the molecular orbitals (MOs) of TTM-TTP; we set up a two-orbital Hamiltonian for the two MOs near the Fermi energy and determine its full parameters: the transfer integrals, the Coulomb and exchange interactions. The tight-binding band structure obtained from these transfer integrals is consistent with the result of the direct band calculation based on density functional theory. Then, by decomposing the frontier MOs into two parts, i.e., fragments, we find that the stacked TTM-TTP molecules can be described by a two-leg ladder model, while the inter-fragment Coulomb energies are scaled to the inverse of their distances. This result indicates that the fragment picture that we proposed earlier [M.-L. Bonnet et al.: J. Chem. Phys. 132 (2010) 214705] successfully describes the low-energy properties of this compound.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, published versio

Self-Assembled Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces as moulds for Photonic Band Gap Materials

We propose systems with structures defined by self-assembled triply periodic minimal surfaces (STPMS) as candidates for photonic bandgap materials. To support our proposal we have calculated the photonic bands for different STPMS and we have found that, at least, the double diamond and gyroid structures present full photonic bandgaps. Given the great variety of systems which crystalize in these structures, the diversity of possible materials that form them and the range of lattice constants they present, the construction of photonic bandgap materials with gaps in the visible range may be presently within reach.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, RevTe