APPLICATIONS OF MODELLING TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SPORTS TECHNIQUE

Models of high jumping, high bar circling, swinging on rings, tumbling, diving, twisting and balancing can give insight into the mechanics of these movements and provide a basis for coaching in order to improve performance. Such models can also be used to investigate the viability of new movements or new techniques. Training aids based on models of sports movements have the potential to speed learning and enable athletes to reach new levels of achievement

A CASE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF THE UPPER ARM DEFINITION ON SHOULDER AND ELBOW KINEMATICS DURING THE BADMINTON SMASH

The aim of this case study was to identify the effect of the upper arm definition on shoulder and elbow kinematics during the badminton smash. A method was proposed that corrects the false external rotation when using the shoulder-elbow-wrist plane based on the carrying angle (ISB-2C) and compared to ISB recommendations for defining the upper arm (ISB-1 and ISB-2). Differences were found in shoulder and elbow kinematics, in particular angular velocities. Both magnitude and the time history of the angular velocity were affected. In particular, use of the medial and lateral epicondyles was unable to detect a reasonable signal for pronation/supination. ISB-2C reduces some of the problems associated with ISB-1 and ISB-2 e.g. soft-tissue artifact, proximity of medial and lateral epicondyles to the humeral longitudinal axis and false external rotation caused by the carrying angle

WHICH JOINT ANGLE CHANGES HAVE MOST EFFECT ON BALL RELEASE SPEED IN OVERARM THROWING?

An eight-segment angle-driven simulation model of the trunk and upper limbs plus ball was developed to determine which joint angle changes have most influence on ball release speed. 15 overarm throwing trials were recorded, and the joint angle time histories of each trial were input into the simulation model. Systematically replacing specific joint angle time histories with a constant value and observing the effect on ball release speed showed that overarm throwing was most sensitive to trunk extension/flexion, trunk ext./internal rotation, scapula ext./internal rotation, upper arm flexion/extension, upper arm add/abduction, upper arm ext./internal rotation and forearm extension/flexion. During coaching or performance, attention should be focused on these angles because any changes could have a substantial effect on the ball release speed

ADJUSTMENT IN THE FLIGHT PHASE OF 1M SPRINGBOARD FORWARD PIKE DIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the variability in 1m springboard forward pike dives (101B). Variability of body orientation angle at takeoff and water entry together with joint angle time histories of 15 forward pike dives, performed by an international diver, were determined using video analysis. A computer simulation model was used to investigate the effects of initial conditions variability and flight phase configuration variability on outcome (orientation at entry) variability. It was found that the variation in the simulated orientation at entry arising from variability in the initial conditions was greater than the actual variation. This indicates that the diver used feedback correction to make adjustments during flight to reduce the variability of his entry angle

ADJUSTMENT IN THE TAKEOFF PHASE OF 1-M SPRINGBOARD FORWARD DIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate whether any adjustment is made during the board contact phase of 1-m springboard forward dives. Variability of body orientation angle at landing from hurdle (touchdown) and at takeoff together with joint angle time histories of 15 forward pike dive takeoffs, performed by an international diver, were determined using video analysis. A computer simulation model of a diver and springboard was used to determine the effects of perturbations of initial conditions on takeoff variability. The variation at takeoff obtained in the simulation outcome was much greater than in the actual performance, indicating that the diver made adjustments during the board contact phase. The diver varied his body configuration during the board recoil phase to adjust his body orientation, leading to low variability at takeoff

NiGe on Ge(001) by reactive deposition epitaxy: An in situ ultrahigh-vacuum transmission-electron microscopy study

We use an ultrahigh-vacuum transmission-electron microscopy, equipped with an electron-beam evaporator directed at a heating stage in the pole piece, to follow the reaction pathway of Ni on Ge(001) substrate at 300 °C. Using reactive deposition, we illustrate that epitaxial orthorhombic NiGe (a = 5.381 Åa=5.381Å, b = 3.428 Åb=3.428Å, and c = 5.811 Åc=5.811Å) phase can be grown directly without the initial formation of metal-rich Ni2GeNi2Ge phase. The epitaxial orientation of the NiGe islands and the underlying Ge(001) substrate were found to be NiGe(01)//Ge(001)NiGe(1¯01)∕∕Ge(001) and NiGe[010]//Ge[110]NiGe[010]∕∕Ge[110].Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87854/2/201908_1.pd

In situ micro gas tungsten constricted arc welding of ultra-thin walled 2.275 mm outer diameter grade 2 commercially pure titanium tubing

Ultra-thin walled cooling tubes for heat exchangers and condenser units have applications in multiple high-value manufacturing industries. Grade 2 commercially pure titanium (CP-2 Ti) requires far less mass to achieve the same mass flow handling abilities as stainless steel tubing yet it is more challenging to join, particularly at wall thicknesses less than 500 μm (termed ultra-thin walled tube). This paper presents a single-pass joinery method that produces reliable welds on 2.275 mm outer diameter (OD), 160 ± 10 μm wall thickness tubing with a service life of 20 of more years. This is achieved through an automated orbital gas tungsten constricted arc welding (GTCAW) process incorporating enveloping low-mass sleeves used in tandem with a buttressing internal gas pressure to support the molten metal and maintain consistent internal diameter inside the tube. The industrial applicability is demonstrated through the production of a 1:1 scale mock-up of a fixed geometry CO2 cooling circuit for a next-generation particle detector. The tensile strengths of the joints, 403.8 ± 4.2 MPa, exceed the tensile strength of the parent CP-2 Ti

Non-Boolean probabilities and quantum measurement

A non-Boolean extension of the classical probability model is proposed. The non-Boolean probabilities reproduce typical quantum phenomena. The proposed model is more general and more abstract, but easier to interpret, than the quantum mechanical Hilbert space formalism and exhibits a particular phenomenon (state-independent conditional probabilities) which may provide new opportunities for an understanding of the quantum measurement process. Examples of the proposed model are provided, using Jordan operator algebras.Comment: 12 pages, the original publication is available at http://www.iop.or