Technical demands of soccer match-play in the English Championship

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of match-play on the performance of technical actions in professional soccer players. Using computerized notational analysis, technical performance was quantified for the outfield players of one team during the 2010/2011 English Championship season. This retrospective study evaluated temporal patterns in the performance of players who completed more than 10 games (n=10). Total possessions and number of ball distributions were lower in the second versus the first half of match-play (10 ± 7%, P=0.010 and 11 ± 8% P=0.009,respectively). Analysis across 15-min intervals revealed reductions during the last 15-min of match-play in the total number of possessions (0:00-14:59 min: 11.8 ± 1.9 vs.75:00-89:59 min: 9.5 ± 1.7, P<0.05) and distributions (0:00-14:59 min: 10.9 ± 2.3 vs.75:00-89:59 min: 8.7 ± 2.1, P<0.05). The number of touches taken per possession, number of challenges, percentage of challenges won, length of forward distributions and percentage success of distributions were all similar between halves and across 15-min intervals. These results demonstrate that match-specific factors reduced total possessions and number of passes in the second half of match-play. Coaching staff could use this information to inform team tactics and technical training sessions

Corroboration, consent and community: a “meaning finitist” account of the forensic medical examination of rape and penetrative sexual assault complainers in Scotland

This thesis examines the construction of forensic medical evidence in penetrative sexual assault cases and the procedures that Forensic Medical Examiners (FMEs) employ in order to ensure the authority of that evidence. Drawing upon interviews and on the texts and artefacts that FMEs use in their work, the thesis employs the concept of “meaning finitism” to analyse how FMEs perform forensic examinations for evidential purposes. The thesis starts with an exploration of how medical practitioners are taught to identify and classify injuries of medico-legal significance, culminating in their being judged “safe” to provide expert testimony by other members of the clinical forensic medical community. The thesis next addresses the construction of what I call the “morphological account”: a set of judgements about the nature of a case based upon a combination of the observed injuries, the FME’s training and their previous experience of cases. While there is considerable agreement amongst practitioners about how to interpret injuries (a result of their training), because the morphological account involves personal judgement, there is also scope for differences of opinion. The thesis therefore explores the methods that FMEs employ to limit the risk of being seen to disagree with one another during trials. The thesis also examines the role that guidelines play in the forensic medical examination. The thesis argues that standardised medical kits and associated guidance documents were originally introduced in the early 1980s in response to sustained criticism of FMEs’ practices, and further developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the rise of Evidence-Based Medicine. Kits and guidance documents provide a means for FMEs to legitimate and explain their work to others, particularly during trials: they codify collective practice and provide FMEs with an aide memoire of the requisite procedures, without overly determining or constraining practice. Finally, I will argue that FMEs’ concern to ensure the authority of their evidence may sometimes limit the value of that evidence. Caution over drawing inferences that might be challenged in court, and a concern not to be seen as “prosecution-minded”, commonly leads FME to compose so-called “Neutral Reports” which neither confirm nor deny the complainer’s allegations. As Scottish Procedural Law makes provision for non-contentious evidence to be removed from trial, such neutral reports are likely to be dismissed from consideration

A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods

The pursuit of polymer parts produced through foam injection moulding (FIM) that have a comparable surface roughness to conventionally processed components are of major relevance to expand the application of FIM. Within this study, 22% talc-filled copolymer polypropylene (PP) parts were produced through FIM using both a physical and chemical blowing agent. A design of experiments (DoE) was performed whereby the processing parameters of mould temperatures, injection speeds, back-pressure, melt temperature and holding time were varied to determine their effect on surface roughness, Young’s modulus and tensile strength. The results showed that mechanical performance can be improved when processing with higher mould temperatures and longer holding times. Also, it was observed that when utilising chemical foaming agents (CBA) at low-pressure, surface roughness comparable to that obtained from conventionally processed components can be achieved. This research demonstrates the potential of FIM to expand to applications whereby weight saving can be achieved without introducing surface defects, which has previously been witnessed within FIM

Advances in microcellular injection moulding

Injection moulding is a well-established replication process for the cost-effective manufacture of polymer-based components. The process has different applications in fields such as medical, automotive and aerospace. To expand the use of polymers to meet growing consumer demands for increased functionality, advanced injection moulding processes have been developed that modifies the polymer to create microcellular structures. Through the creation of microcellular materials, additional functionality can be gained through polymer component weight and processing energy reduction. Microcellular injection moulding shows high potential in creating innovation green manufacturing platforms. This review article aims to present the significant developments that have been achieved in different aspects of microcellular injection moulding. Aspects covered include core-back, gas counter pressure, variable thermal tool moulding and other advanced technologies. The resulting characteristics of creating microcellular injection moulding components through both plasticising agents and nucleating agents are presented. In addition, the article highlights potential areas for research exploitation. In particular, acoustic and thermal applications, nano-cellular injection moulding parts and developments of more accurate simulations

High Temperature Adiabatic Heating in µ-IM Mould Cavities—A Case for Venting Design Solutions

Micro-injection moulding (µ-IM) is a fabrication method that is used to produce miniature parts on a mass production scale. This work investigates how the process parameter settings result in adiabatic heating from gas trapped and rapidly compressed within the mould cavity. The heating of the resident air can result in the diesel effect within the cavity and this can degrade the polymer part in production and lead to damage of the mould. The study uses Autodesk Moldflow to simulate the process and identify accurate boundary conditions to be used in a gas law model to generate an informed prediction of temperatures within the moulding cavity. The results are then compared to physical experiments using the same processing parameters. Findings from the study show that without venting extreme temperature conditions can be present during the filling stage of the process and that venting solutions should be considered when using µ-IM

A Novel Hybrid Foaming Method for Low-Pressure Microcellular Foam Production of Unfilled and Talc-Filled Copolymer Polypropylenes

Unfilled and talc-filled Copolymer Polypropylene (PP) samples were produced through low-pressure foam-injection molding (FIM). The foaming stage of the process has been facilitated through a chemical blowing agent (C6H7NaO7 and CaCO3 mixture), a physical blowing agent (supercritical N2) and a novel hybrid foaming (combination of said chemical and physical foaming agents). Three weight-saving levels were produced with the varying foaming methods and compared to conventional injection molding. The unfilled PP foams produced through chemical blowing agent exhibited the strongest mechanical characteristics due to larger skin wall thicknesses, while the weakest were that of the talc-filled PP through the hybrid foaming technique. However, the hybrid foaming produced superior microcellular foams for both PPs due to calcium carbonate (CaCO3) enhancing the nucleation phase

An Exercise Protocol that Replicates Soccer Match-Play

This study compared the demands of a soccer match simulation (SMS) incorporating 90 min of soccer-specific movement with passing, dribbling and shooting skills with those of competitive match-play (match). 10 elite youth soccer players participated in SMS and match-play while ingesting fluid-electrolyte beverages. No differences existed between trials for mean HR (SMS, match: 158 +/- 4 beats.min(-1), 160 +/- 3 beats.min(-1); P=0.587), peak HR (SMS, match: 197 +/- 3 beats.min(-1), 197 +/- 4 beats.min(-1); P=0.935) and blood glucose concentrations (SMS, match: 4.5 +/- 0.1 mmol.L(-1), 4.6 +/- 0.2 mmol.L(-1); P=0.170). Inter-trial coefficient of variation (with Bland and Altman limits of agreement) were 2.6% (-19.4-15.4 beats.min(-1)), 1.6% (-14.3-14.7 beats.min(-1)) and 5.0% (-0.9-0.7 mmol.L(-1)) for mean HR, peak HR and blood glucose concentrations. Although the pattern of blood lactate response was similar between trials, blood lactate concentrations were higher at 15 min in SMS when compared to match. Notably, blood glucose concentrations were depressed by 17 +/- 4% and 19 +/- 5% at 15 min after half-time during match-play and SMS, respectively. Time spent completing low-intensity, moderate-intensity and high-intensity activities were similar between trials (P>0.05). In conclusion, the SMS replicates the physiological demands of match-play while including technical action