Effect of the Negative Ion Band on Athletic Performance

Negative Ion bands have been suggested to increase various areas of athletic performance. At this time, the authors are not aware of any studies on these bands. Purpose: To determine if a True Power Energy Band (True Power LLC, Melrose, MA) had an effect on various measures of performance. Methods: Forty-one subjects (age = 29.3±7.1 yrs, ht = 171.5±9.7 cm, wt = 85.4±23.2 kg) had their height and weight measured and were then randomized to wear the True Power band (TB) or a silver bracelet placebo band (PB) (Hobby Lobby). After 5 days, subjects were assessed on reaction time using a color response test and a response test in which the subject clicked a highlighted dot as it appeared in a 5x5 table (www.intelligencetest.com/reflex/index). The subjects then performed a standard balance test (stork test) without shoes, two flexibility tests (V-sit-and-reach & trunk rotation), and two strength tests (hand grip using a dynamometer & push-ups to exhaustion). The tests were conducted in this order with as much rest between trials as needed. One week later, this same procedure was followed but with the opposing band. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine if differences exist between the bands, with Alpha set at .05. Results: There were no significant differences in the tests of color (TB = 0.43±0.14, PB = 0.41±0.11 sec), dots (TB = 16.9±3.0, PB = 17.0±2.6 score), stork (TB = 4.4±3.4, PB = 4.7±4.1 sec), V-sit-and-reach (TB = 15.2±16.8, PB = 15.5±17.3 cm), trunk rotation (TB = 35.8±15.0, PB = 37.3±14.0 cm), hand grip (TB = 42.4±12.1, PB = 42.8±11.0 kg), and push-ups (TB = 23.4±10.5, PB = 25.8±11.7 total), p \u3e .05 for all tests. Conclusion: There seems to be no effect of Negative Ion bands on tests of reaction time, balance, flexibility, or muscular strength. The claims of performance in these types of bands have yet to be validated

Calculating fertilizer value of supplemental feed for cattle on pasture (2006)

Most cattle maintained on pasture receive supplemental feed during some portion of the year. Supplements are commonly fed to grazing cattle when pasture forage quality and quantity are below animal requirements

Transverse momentum dependent quark densities from Lattice QCD

We study transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs) with non‐local operators in lattice QCD, using MILC∕LHPC lattices. We discuss the basic concepts of the method, including renormalization of the gauge link. Results obtained with a simplified operator geometry show visible dipole deformations of spin‐dependent quark momentum densities.United States. Dept. of Energy (grant DEFG02- 94ER40818

Grain refinement in a AlZnMgCuTi alloy by intensive melt shearing: A multi-step nucleation mechanism

This is a post-print version of the article. Copyright @ 2010 Elsevier B.V.Direct chill (DC) cast ingots of wrought Al alloys conventionally require the deliberate addition of a grain refiner to provide a uniform as-cast microstructure for the optimisation of both mechanical properties and processability. Grain refiner additions have been in widespread industrial use for more than half a century. Intensive melt shearing can provide grain refinement without the need for a specific grain refiner addition for both magnesium and aluminium based alloys. In this paper we present experimental evidence of the grain refinement in an experimental wrought aluminium alloy achieved by intensive melt shearing in the liquid state prior to solidification. The mechanisms for high shear induced grain refinement are correlated with the evolution of oxides in alloys. The oxides present in liquid aluminium alloys, normally as oxide films and clusters, can be effectively dispersed by intensive shearing and then provide effective sites for the heterogeneous nucleation of Al3Ti phase. As a result, Al3Ti particles with a narrow size distribution and hence improved efficiency as active nucleation sites of alpha-aluminium grains are responsible for the achieved significant grain refinement. This is termed a multi-step nucleation mechanism.Funding was obtained from the EPRSC

SUBJECT: PESTICIDE VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND EMISSION ADJUSTMENTS FOR FIELD CONDITIONS AND ESTIMATED VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND REDUCTIONS–INITIAL ESTIMATES

The purposes of this memorandum is to develop refined emission adjustment factors to account for the effect of application method on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from pesticides, with particular emphasis on fumigants, and to estimate the VOC reductions associated with changes to fumigant application methods. Each year, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) updates an inventory of pesticide VOC emissions for May–October for specified areas and compares the emissions on a relative basis to 1990 or 1991 as the base year. DPR currently assumes 100 % of applied fumigants volatilize to the air. Field monitoring data shows that fumigant emissions are less than 100 % and vary with application method. There are several dozen field studies that measured fumigant emissions. Emissions vary from 9 to 100 % of the amount applied, depending on the fumigant and application method. However, data is not available for all application methods in current use or in use during the 1990/91 base year. When no data is available, emissions have been estimated with surrogate data. In addition to emission estimates associated with each application method, DPR has estimated the frequency with which the various application methods were used during 1990/91 base year, as well as currently. Registrant data and pesticide use reports (PURs) were used for these estimates

Immersive Visualization for Enhanced Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

Modern biomedical computer simulations produce spatiotemporal results that are often viewed at a single point in time on standard 2D displays. An immersive visualization environment (IVE) with 3D stereoscopic capability can mitigate some shortcomings of 2D displays via improved depth cues and active movement to further appreciate the spatial localization of imaging data with temporal computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results. We present a semi-automatic workflow for the import, processing, rendering, and stereoscopic visualization of high resolution, patient-specific imaging data, and CFD results in an IVE. Versatility of the workflow is highlighted with current clinical sequelae known to be influenced by adverse hemodynamics to illustrate potential clinical utility