Practical precooling strategies and cycling time trial performance

Whole-body precooling can improve endurance exercise performance, especially in the heat; however there are logistical considerations that restrict the use of various precooling strategies prior to actual competition. Precooling is proposed to collectively reduce deep skin and body temperature and in effect, increase the heat storage capacity of an athlete, thereby allowing a greater amount of work to be completed prior to attainment of a critical core temperature. While there is a sound theoretical basis for implementing precooling to improve cycling time trial performance in the heat, the practicalities of employing effective precooling strategies in the field warrant further investigation. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effectiveness of various practical precooling strategies for reducing core temperature and improving cycling time trial performance in hot (32-35ºC; 50-60% r.h.) and temperate (20-22 ºC; 50-60% r.h.) conditions. The first three studies of this thesis involved the manipulation of body temperature via a range of precooling strategies that were applied under hot and humid environmental conditions. In study 1, eight precooling strategies involving external application or internal ingestion of cold water and ice were evaluated for their effectiveness in lowering deep body temperature, with due consideration regarding their application in a practical setting. The novel strategy identified in this study, which involved the combined application of iced towels and ingestion of an ice-slurry (“slushie”) made from sports drink, was then compared with an established cooling strategy (Study 2). Both the new and established precooling strategies achieved noticeable cooling effects (moderate and very large, respectively) but only the new strategy enhanced mean power output (3%, 8W) during a 46.4 km laboratory-based cycling protocol, with performance improvements detected in the second half of the time trial. This strategy was also found to be practical to implement. In study 3, practical precooling and hyperhydration were evaluated to assess whether their combination offered further benefits to endurance cycling time trial performance, when assessed over the same laboroatory protocol. The main findings indicated that practical precooling and hyperhydration, with and without the co-ingestion of glycerol, failed to achieve a clear enhancement of cycling performance. However, when practical precooling and hyperhydration without glycerol was compared to the control condition (i.e., hyperhydration alone), there was a 2% (30 s) improvement in cycling performance time, which was detected in the second half (climb 2) of the time trial. These improvements may be partially explained by a lower percieved exertion, which was observed during the initial 10 km of the time trial. Study 4 was conducted to validate anecdotal reports and laboratory-based observations of thermoregulatory strain in elite cyclists during a real-life event performed in temperate environmental conditions. The rationale for this study was to determine whether the magnitude of hyperthermia achieved during real-life cycling performed in temperate conditions was high enough to possibly benefit from precooling. Although fluid losses during racing were mild (1.3%), cyclists experienced hyperthermia, at magnitudes typically associated with heat-stress induced fatigue (\u3e67% of observations). Therefore, in the final study of this thesis, the effects of practical precooling on 45.6 km cycling time trial performance was examined in both hot (32˚C) and temperate (21˚C) environmental conditions. The effectiveness of practical precooling was enhanced in temperate conditions, such that there was a greater magnitude of body cooling achieved. However, this strategy failed to provide a clear performance benefit in temperate conditions and instead, was likely to impair performance, particularly in the first (flat) section of the time trial course (-2.3%, 8 W). Collectively, the studies contained within this thesis have contributed to the development of a practical precooling strategy involving the combined application of iced towels and ingestion of a slushie made from sports drink. These studies confirm the effectiveness of this novel strategy in reducing skin and core temperature and enhancing heat storage capacity prior to the commencement of exercise. However, the associated reduction in thermoregulatory strain translates into a performance enhancement in hot, but not temperate conditions. This thesis has provided detailed information regarding the range of factors that may be involved in altering the efficacy of a precooling manoeuvre and offers a highly practical insight into the application of precooling strategies aimed at improving field-based sports performance specific to time trial cycling

The second finale of Beethoven's string quartet Opus 130: a study of the composing score and autograph manuscript

Scholars and performers have long wondered when and why Beethoven composed an alternative ending to his string quartet, Opus 130. The original, the Grosse Fuge, was an immense and heavy multi-sectioned fugal finale; the second was a much shorter and lighter hybrid sonata-rondo form finale. The second finale was the last substantial piece Beethoven composed and is reminiscent of earlier dance-like 2/4 Allegro finales composed by Beethoven, likely influenced by Haydn. This style is seemingly incongruous with our current understanding of Beethoven’s late style, centered around foreign harmonies and forms, with expansive thematic material. While research on this topic has been extensive, including studies in biography, source material, reception history, and harmonic and formal analysis, it has not led to a fully adequate understanding of this second finale. My study aims to provide a fresh understanding of this movement through the examination and evaluation of the later stages of its composition. The major sections of revision found in the composing score, Berlin, Deutsche Staatsbibliothek, MS Autograph 19c, and the autograph fair copy, Berlin, Deutsche Staatsbibliothek, MS Grasnick 10, are closely studied here for the first time. In order to highlight important steps in the creative process, I have selected four heavily revised areas from each of the sonata-form sections of this movement as shown in both manuscripts. My interpretation of these revisions is based on comparison to parallel sections in both manuscripts and the final version, as shown in transcriptions of these passages from the sketches along with accompanying images of the original pages. For each of these sections, I attempt to suggest the order in which Beethoven made his revisions, and I discuss their formal, thematic and harmonic implications. As a whole, these revisions reveal Beethoven’s concern for economical treatment of thematic material, especially motives from theme 1a, and a concern for playing upon the harmonic and formal expectations of his audience. The voicing of theme 2a in the exposition and recapitulation, and the voicing and texture of theme 1a in the development, the false and authentic recapitulations and the coda are analyzed in terms of momentum, sectional balance, texture, and dramatic tension. I suggest that further study of these sketches and related primary source material might help to revise our notion of Beethoven’s late style

Effect of Protein Sources on Early Turkey Performance and Gastrointestinal Tract Development

Nutrition during the early life of turkey poults has a long lasting impact on bird performance, as well as gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development. This research focused on understanding the impact of protein source provided in the feed on performance and GIT development. All statistical analysis was completed using Proc Mixed in SAS 9.3 and significant differences were set at P≤0.05, while trends were identified for P≤0.10. The first study (5 x 2 factorial arrangement) evaluated apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility (AIAAD) of five high protein feed ingredients (soybean meal, SBM; corn gluten meal, CGM; canola protein concentrate, CPC; fish meal, FM; and porcine meal, PM) in male broiler chickens at 5 and 21 d with 6 replications of 30 and 8 chicks, respectively. The AMEn was not affected by bird age for CPC, FM, CGM, and SBM, however, the d 5 value for PM was higher than the d 21 value. The response of AIAAD was variable and dependent on amino acid and protein source, but overall, there was an increase in AIAAD with increasing age, with the largest increase observed for CGM. These AMEn and AIAAD values were then used to formulate the diets for a second experiment. The diets for this experiment consisted of a high SBM control diet, and four additional diets with either CPC, FM, PM, or CGM replacing 25% of the protein that was supplied by SBM in the control diet. This experiment was set up as a completely randomized design with four pens of 23 turkey poults per protein source. Body weights, feed and water intake, and mortality were recorded on a weekly basis. At the same time, four pens of 21 poults per protein source were used to study the impact of these diets on GIT development and blood metabolic profiling. At hatch, placement, d 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21, intestinal tract and tissue weights were collected and recorded (2 poults per replication per time point). Ileal segments were collected at hatch, placement, d 1, 3, 5, and 7 from 2 poults per replicate pen of the SBM and PM diets to study the effect of diet on intestinal morphology, number of goblet cells, and transcript abundance for selected genes relating to barrier function and inflammation. Blood samples were also drawn at these time points for blood metabolite analysis. Data were analyzed as a 5x9 factorial for tissues weights, a 2x5 factorial for histology and gene expression, and a 5x5 factorial for blood analysis. Planned contrasts were used on the performance, tissue, and blood data to compare the SBM diet to the average of the remaining diets, the PM diet to the average of the remaining diets, and the addition of animal or vegetable proteins. Inclusion of an additional protein source increased body weight up to 14 d, in comparison to poults fed the SBM diet, but feed efficiency and water consumption were not affected. The effect of diet on tissue weights were small, with the exception of the pancreas weight, which were higher in the birds fed vegetable protein diets. Age had an effect on all tissue weights, which peaked between d 2 and 7, as well as on digestive tract morphology and gene expression. There was an increase in gene expression between placement and d 1, which could illustrate the importance of feed as an activator of barrier function and the immune system. The goblet cell counts revealed a greater proportion of neutral goblet cells in PM fed birds associated with accelerated mucus maturation. The research shows there are benefits to limiting the amount of SBM provided in early turkey feeds, especially prior to two weeks of age

Ecological factors affecting midcontinent light goose recruitment

A full understanding of population dynamics requires knowledge about the relative contributions of both adult survival and recruitment to population growth rate. Avian life cycles consist of a number of reproductive stages leading to recruitment, each of which is highly susceptible to annual variability in environmental conditions. The purpose of my research was to identify key ecological factors associated with a long-term decline in the per capita gosling production of Ross’s geese (Chen rossii) and lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) using historical data collected from 1992-2014 at Karrak Lake, Nunavut. I evaluated effects of (i) nutritional deficiencies of pre-breeding female Ross’s geese and lesser snow geese stemming from density-dependence following large increases in nesting population size and (ii) phenological mismatch between peak gosling hatch and peak forage quality, inferred from measurements of NDVI on brood-rearing areas. Annual gosling production (i.e., proportional composition of young during brood-rearing) was reduced for both species when the mass of nutrient reserves for pre-breeding females arriving to nest were lighter. Mismatch between peak gosling hatch and peak forage quality was also related to decreases in gosling production, while delays in nest initiation negatively affected clutch size and nest success (i.e., ≥ 1 egg hatched). Vegetation phenology was significantly earlier in years with warmer spring (i.e., 25 May – 30 June) surface air temperatures. Additionally, increased mismatch over the course of the 23-year study period apparently resulted from advancing vegetation phenology without a contemporaneous advance in goose breeding phenology. I did not find evidence of a direct effect of annual nesting population size on colony gosling production. Given an absence of information on the pre-fledging stage of the life cycle for geese originating from Karrak Lake, I studied the effect of conditions experienced during early life on the growth and survival of goslings. Time constraints due to strong seasonality at arctic-nesting grounds highlight the importance of foraging conditions (i.e., quality, quantity, availability) for offspring during brood-rearing. I found that an increase in the number of nesting geese was associated with a reduction in gosling survival for both Ross’s geese and snow geese. There was weak evidence that snow goose gosling body size was negatively related to breeding population size at the colony, while no effect was detected for Ross’s geese. Increasing mismatch between the seasonal peak in vegetation quality and timing of hatch was negatively related to both gosling size and survival probability; suggestive of nutritional stress. My results lend support to the notion that both global (i.e., climate change) and local (i.e., foraging/habitat conditions) phenomena may result in reduced offspring production and success, and alludes to the possibility of an eventual decline in recruitment into the breeding cohort

Book Review: Financial Therapy: 5 Steps Toward Financial Freedom

Financial Therapy: 5 Steps Toward Financial Freedom and its accompanying workbook, Guide to Financial Therapy Forms and Handouts: 5 Steps Toward Financial Freedom, was created to provide an intervention model to help clients become more financially literate and protect them from financial predators

One Touchy Topic: Targeting Students’ Sense of Touch through Multiple Activities

This article provides exploratory experiences for First Grade students to refine their understanding of their sense of touch and develop their observation skills. The activities scaffold from open-ended exploratory investigations to application activities in which students categorize items using their understanding of touch. The activities also make explicit links to help students develop language and writing skills. This activity promotes National Science Education Content Standards A and B, and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Continuing the Quest for Legitimacy: The Institutionalization of Hip-Hop DJing Education

Since the early 2000s, many hip-hop DJs have taken on teaching roles in educational institutions, whether in secondary schools, universities, or for-profit ventures. This thesis explores this development as part of an ongoing quest for legitimacy within hip-hop and the broader world and also as a response to the increasing dominance of digital technologies. Teaching offers DJs the opportunity to preserve their foundational values of innovation, experimentation, and personalization. Their approach tends to be fundamentally multimodal, emphasizing the use of sight, sound, and touch to demonstrate the artistry necessary to becoming a DJ. There are many benefits to formal education, such as bringing about gender equality in the field, as well as concerns related to standardization and authenticity of pedagogical methods based on informal learning traditions. My study is more broadly relevant to popular music institutionalization, authenticity debates in hip-hop education, and informal and formal approaches to learning music.Master of Art

Potential Impacts to Resident Populations, Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project

In 2014, the Alaska Energy Authority is preparing to construct a hydropower dam on Alaska\u27s Susitna River, known as the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. Changes to water levels, sediment content, and flow rates are likely to affect the river itself and the salmon that are sustained by the Susitna ecosystem. The potential geomorphological and biological impacts of the dam as they could affect activity in the local communities are studied using currently available data. GIS tools are applied to identify areas of reservoir fill, risk of erosion, and endangerment of salmon habitat; then compare these impact areas to areas used by residents. The study intends to provide a local context whereby Alaskans can understand impacts surrounding the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project