Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies on Radula of the Spider Conch Lambis lambis and Lambis adamii. (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Strombidae) fromThondi Coast, Palk Bay- Tamil Nadu -South East Coast of India.

The present study describes the morphology of two species of radula using SEM technique. In both Lambis species the radula Lambis lambis and Lambis adamii is taenioglossate type consist of one median tooth flanked by one pair of lateral teeth withtwo pairs of marginals on each side (7 teeth per row). In taenioglossan the radular formula is 2+1+1+1+2. In most details the radula of Lambis adamii resembles that of Lambis lambis but few apparent differences occur. The base of the central teeth is broad in Lambis adamii whereas in Lambis lambis it was concave. Lambis adamii and Lambis lambis the subquadrate central tooth with middle six cusps and in Lambis adamii the base of the central teeth is concave while in the Lambis lambis it was straight. In Lambis adamii two to three cusps present in the lateral teeth and it was inclined radular central where as in Lambis lambis the inner cusp is longer and sli

Item parcels in structural equation modelling: an applied study in sport management

The purpose of this study is to describe the influences of different parceling strategies on goodness-of-fit measures and parameter estimates of a sport management structural model with latent variables. The use of small sample sizes to test models with a large number of parameters can produce poor fit indexes, mainly because many indicators tend to increase the chances of cross-loadings, which in turn reduce the common variance. Considering that in social and behavioral sciences is not quite easy to have access to large-enough samples, item parceling has been proposed as a remedy for this kind of situation. Using a theoretically-supported sport management model and real data, we compared total disaggregation model (items as indicators) with partial disaggregation models (parcels as indicators) and total aggregation model (summated score as the indicator). Results showed that different strategies of parceling could lead to very distinct conclusions. Implications for future studies using parceling in the field of sport management are discussed

Laser wobble welding of steel to Aluminium busbar joints for Li-ion battery packs

In this work, Laser wobble welding of Steel to Aluminium busbar joints was investigated for Li-ion battery pack applications. The effect of wobble amplitude on the properties of the weld was studied. It is observed that wobble amplitude significantly influenced the weld geometry, microstructure, mechanical strength, and electrical resistance. As wobble amplitude increases the weld depth reduces linearly and the severity of weld cracking was significantly reduced. Welds with an aspect ratio below 1, produce almost a crack-free microstructure. The optimum wobble amplitude was found to be 0.8–1 mm for the selected laser power density. Under optimum parametric conditions, the weld strength reaches 1 KN, equalling that of the thin steel sheet. In addition, the optimum welds showed a low volume of intermetallic phase formation which improved both electrical conductivity and tensile strength. The results of this study facilitate an effective joining solution for a cost-effective aluminium busbar material to steel-cased cylindrical cells

A Review of Controlling Motivational Strategies from a Self-Determination Theory Perspective: Implications for Sports Coaches

The aim of this paper is to present a preliminary taxonomy of six controlling strategies, primarily based on the parental and educational literatures, which we believe are employed by coaches in sport contexts. Research in the sport and physical education literature has primarily focused on coaches’ autonomysupportive behaviours. Surprisingly, there has been very little research on the use of controlling strategies. A brief overview of the research which delineates each proposed strategy is presented, as are examples of the potential manifestation of the behaviours associated with each strategy in the context of sports coaching. In line with self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2002), we propose that coach behaviours employed to pressure or control athletes have the potential to thwart athletes’ feelings of autonomy, competence,and relatedness, which, in turn, undermine athletes’ self-determined motivation and contribute to the development of controlled motives. When athletes feel pressured to behave in a certain way, a variety of negative consequences are expected to ensue which are to the detriment of the athletes’ well-being. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness and interest in the darker side of sport participation and to offer suggestions for future research in this area

Facile fabrication of thin metal oxide films on porous carbon for high density charge storage

In an effort to minimize the usage of non-renewable materials and to enhance the functionality of the renewable materials, we have developed thin metal oxide coated porous carbon derived from a highly abundant non-edible bio resource, i.e., palm kernel shell, using a one-step activation-coating procedure and demonstrated their superiority as a supercapacitive energy storage electrode. In a typical experiment, an optimized composition contained ~10 wt.% of Mn2O3 on activated carbon (AC); a supercapacitor electrode fabricated using this electrode showed higher rate capability and more than twice specific capacitance than pure carbon electrode and could be cycled over 5000 cycles without any appreciable capacity loss in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. A symmetric supercapacitor prototype developed using the optimum electrode showed nearly four times higher energy density than the pure carbon owing to the enhancements in voltage window and capacitance. A lithium ion capacitor fabricated in half-cell configuration using 1 M LiPF6 electrolyte showed larger voltage window, superior capacitance and rate capability in the ~10 wt.% Mn2O3@AC than the pure analogue. These results demonstrate that the current protocol allows fabrication of superior charge storing electrodes using renewable materials functionalized by minimum quantity of earthborn materials

Convergence and divergence of elite sport policies: is there a one-size-fits-all model to develop international sporting success?

This study is based on a detailed international comparison of the elite sport policies of 15 nations as part of the SPLISS (Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success) study. It aims to provide deeper insights into the phenomena of convergence and divergence of elite sport policies. The research uses a mixed methods approach based on document reviews, interviews with high performance directors and surveys of 3142 athletes, 1376 coaches and 246 performance directors. There appears to be no generic blueprint for achieving international sporting success. Nations that perform well in international competition show varying patterns of relative strengths and weaknesses across nine pillars, 96 critical success factors, and 750 sub-factors. While the basic raw ingredients of the recipe might be common in broad terms, the combinations in which they are mixed are diverse. Much of this diversity appears to be driven by social, cultural and political factors

A Comparison of Mini-FLOTAC and McMaster Techniques, Overdispersion and Prevalence of Parasites in Naturally Infected North American Bison (\u3cem\u3eBison bison\u3c/em\u3e) in the USA

Several quantitative diagnostic techniques are available to estimate gastrointestinal parasite counts in the feces of ruminants. Comparing egg and oocyst magnitudes in naturally infected samples has been a recommended approach to rank fecal techniques. In this study, we compared the Mini-FLOTAC (sensitivity of 5 eggs per gram (EPG)/oocysts per gram (OPG)) and different averaged replicates of the modified McMaster techniques (sensitivity of 33.33 EPG/OPG) in 387 fecal samples from 10 herds of naturally infected North American bison in the Central Great Plains region of the USA. Both techniques were performed with fecal slurries homogenized in a fill-FLOTAC device. In the study population, prevalence of strongyle eggs, Eimeria spp. oocysts, Moniezia spp. eggs and Trichuris spp. eggs was 81.4%, 73.9%, 7.5%, and 3.1%, respectively. Counts of strongyle eggs and Eimeria spp. oocysts obtained from 1 to 3 averaged technical replicates of the modified McMaster technique were compared to a single replicate of the Mini-FLOTAC. Correlation between the two techniques increased with an increase in the number of averaged technical replicates of the modified McMaster technique used to calculate EGP/OPG. The correlation for Moniezia spp. EPG when averaged triplicates of the modified McMaster technique were compared to a single replicate of the Mini-FLOTAC count was high; however, the correlation for Trichuris spp. eggs was low. Additionally, we used averaged counts from both techniques to show the overdispersion of parasites in bison herds

Cultural Orientations of sport managers

Various interpretations of sport management are cultural constructs underpinned by core assumptions and values held by members of professional communities. Sport managers world wide share common problems, but differ in how they resolve them. These universal differences emerge from the relationships they form with other people, and their attitude to time, activities and the natural environment. This paper examines the role of sport managers’ cultural orientations in the interpretation and practice of sport management. Using a multiple dimension model (Hampden-Turner and Trompenaars, 2000) it sketches the cultural profiles of fifteen sport managers from seven countries. A combination of methods was employed including questionnaires, interviews and participant observation. It is contended that the culture of sport management concerns a social process by which managers get involved in reconciling seven fundamental cultural dilemmas in order to perform tasks and achieve certain ends. Thus, a knowledge of the cultural meaning of sport management in a particular country would equip sport managers with a valuable tool in managing both the cultural diversity of their own work forces and in developing appropriate cross-cultural skills needed for running international events, marketing campaigns, sponsorship deals and joint ventures

Culture change in elite sport performance teams: Examining and advancing effectiveness in the new era

Reflecting the importance of optimizing culture for elite teams, Fletcher and Arnold (2011) recently suggested the need for expertise in culture change. Acknowledging the dearth of literature on the specific process, however, the potential effectiveness of practitioners in this area is unknown. The present paper examines the activity's precise demands and the validity of understanding in sport psychology and organizational research to support its delivery. Recognizing that sport psychologists are being increasingly utilized by elite team management, initial evidence-based guidelines are presented. Finally, to stimulate the development of ecologically valid, practically meaningful knowledge, the paper identifies a number of future research directions