Practical precooling: effect on cycling time trial performance in warm conditions

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two practical precooling techniques (skin cooling vs. skin + core cooling) on cycling time trial performance in warm conditions. Six trained cyclists completed one maximal graded exercise test (VO2(peak) 71.4 +/- 3.2 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and four approximately 40 min laboratory cycling time trials in a heat chamber (34.3 degrees C +/- 1.1 degrees C; 41.2% +/- 3.0% rh) using a fixed-power/variable-power format. Cyclists prepared for the time trial using three techniques administered in a randomised order prior to the warm-up: (1) no cooling (control), (2) cooling jacket for 40 min (jacket) or (3) 30-min water immersion followed by a cooling jacket application for 40 min (combined). Rectal temperature prior to the time trial was 37.8 degrees C +/- 0.1 degrees C in control, similar in jacket (37.8 degrees C +/- 0.3 degrees C) and lower in combined (37.1 degrees C +/- 0.2 degrees C, P < 0.01). Compared with the control trial, time trial performance was not different for jacket precooling (-16 +/- 36 s, -0.7%; P = 0.35) but was faster for combined precooling (-42 +/- 25 s, - .8%; P = 0.009). In conclusion, a practical combined precooling strategy that involves immersion in cool water followed by the use of a cooling jacket can produce decrease in rectal temperature that persist throughout a warm-up and improve laboratory cycling time trial performance in warm conditions.     

A comparison of the physiological response to simulated altitude exposure and r-HuEpo administration.

Concerns have been raised about the morality of using simulated altitude facilities in an attempt to improve athletic performance. One assumption that has been influential in this debate is the belief that altitude houses simply mimic the physiological effects of illegal recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEpo) doping. To test the validity of this assumption, the haematological and physiological responses of 23 well-trained athletes exposed to a simulated altitude of 2650-3000 m for 11-23 nights were contrasted with those of healthy volunteers receiving a low dose (150 IU x kg(-1) per week) of r-HuEpo for 25 days. Serial blood samples were analysed for serum erythropoietin and percent reticulocytes; maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was assessed before and after r-HuEpo administration or simulated altitude exposure. The group mean increase in serum erythropoietin (422% for r-HuEpo vs 59% for simulated altitude), percent reticulocytes (89% vs 30%) and VO2max (6.6% vs -2.0%) indicated that simulated altitude did not induce the changes obtained with r-HuEpo administration. Based on the disparity of these responses, we conclude that simulated altitude facilities should not be considered unethical based solely on the tenet that they provide an alternative means of obtaining the benefits sought by illegal r-HuEpo doping.     

Survey Says…?: Assessing Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Use and Awareness for Responsive Service Delivery

Abstract

The object of this study is to assess Texas A&M University (TAMU) students/faculty/staff members’ use and awareness of the Libraries’ free document delivery and interlibrary loan service, branded as “Get It For Me.” Since 2010, we have continued to see a decline in new user registrations each year. Previous Get It For Me user surveys conducted in 2003 and 2011 indicated that the overall satisfaction of registered users was high and customer feedback gleaned from these surveys was used to initiate a number of service improvements. But what about the large percentage of the campus community who do not use the Get It For Me service? Are they aware of what this service has to offer? If so, why might they choose not to use it? If they are not aware of the service, might they use it if they knew more about how it can assist them in their scholarly endeavors? Instead of only surveying those customers who have used this service, we invited everyone on TAMU College Station campus to participate in the survey. Promoting the service is a vital component of service delivery.     

Infant Temperament: Stability by Age,Gender, Birth Order,Term Status,and Socioeconomic Status

Two complementary studies focused on stability of infant temperament across the 1st year and considered infant age, gender, birth order, term status, and socioeconomic status (SES) as moderators. Study 1 consisted of 73 mothers of firstborn term girls and boys queried at 2, 5, and 13 months of age. Study 2 consisted of 335 mothers of infants of different gender, birth order, term status, and SES queried at 6 and 12 months. Consistent positive and negative affectivity factors emerged at all time points across both studies. Infant temperament proved stable and robust across gender, birth order, term status, and SES. Stability coefficients for temperament factors and scales were medium to large for shorter (< 9 months) interassessment intervals and small to medium for longer (> 10 months) intervals.     

体形变化（肥胖）对体育教师职业形象影响的调查分析

职业的特殊性对体育教师的身体形态要求有别于其他职业。运用文献资料、访谈、问卷调查等方法探究身体形态与体育教师职业形象的关系,表明：公众对体育教师职业形象外在仪表中的体重和身高两项有较高要求,肥胖可降低其职业能力,进而有损职业形象地提升。体育教师职前拥有良好的体形,但职后10年内体重增加,超重和肥胖发生概率略高于其他人群,产生的原因也体现出独特性。运动时间和量剧减、饮食习惯意识薄弱、饮食无规律等不良生活方式是引起体育教师肥胖的重要环境因素,由此提出相应的策略。     

Synergy Between On-the-job Training and Academic Education in the Case of a Newly Created Part-time Engineering Curriculum

Part-time vocational engineering curricula provide a response to a number of present-day demands related to economic developments. Their aim is to transform experienced higher technicians into engineering managers through a combination of knowledge derived from past experience in working positions and in new situations, with courses and activities in an academic institution. Synergy between the two streams can be achieved by specific means such as dual tutoring by the academic institution and the company, training in the capacity of synthesis regarding technological developments in progress, observation and analysis by the learner of his/her own work station, field research on team management and the writing of a final professional dissertation in the company.