Ultimate is the fastest growing field sport in America. Created in 1968, forty-five years later the sport was still on the periphery of the mainstream but reached new heights in 2013 – two professional leagues, over 800 college teams and a broadcasting deal with ESPN – and the discussions throughout the sports’ history have never been as relevant. Self-officiation and the Spirit of the Game are the main tenets that make up the ethos of the sport and its community. These unique aspects differentiate Ultimate’s predominate culture from that of mainstream sports culture. This study shows the countercultural ties and survival of the ethos during the adolescent period of Ultimate’s evolution (1987-2010). It examines the progression of the community’s established grassroots culture and the governing body of the sport alongside the influx of young players with mainstream sports attitudes who bolstered certain organizers’ attempts to alter Ultimate in the hopes of gaining “legitimacy” through adding third-party officials, commercialization and corporate sponsorship.

During postmortem metabolism, hydrogen ions accumulate in the muscle and gradually lower the pH from 7.2 to an ultimate pH near 5.6. The ultimate pH of meat is widely valued as an indicator of fresh meat quality as it directly affects the quality characteristics of color, texture, and water holding capacity. Therefore, our research was conducted to identify the processes responsible for determining ultimate pH. Pigs harboring the AMPK�•3R200Q mutation produce meat with extremely low ultimate pH (pH ~ 5.3) that is detrimental to quality. This phenomenon is often attributed to a greater glycogen content in muscle from the mutant pigs compared to wild-type pigs. However, our research indicated that greater glycolytic flux in muscle from these pigs causes a lower ultimate pH rather than greater tissue glycogen deposition. On the other hand, however, AMPK�•3R200Q pigs contain more mitochondria and retain greater oxidative capacity. Hence, we hypothesized that mitochondria may contribute to the lower ultimate pH in muscle of these pigs. To test our hypothesis, isolated mitochondria were incorporated into an in vitro system the mimics postmortem glycolysis. Mitochondria enhanced glycolytic flux and pH decline in the in vitro system similar to that of AMPK�•3R200Q pigs. After a series of experiments, we found that the causative agent for enhanced glycolytic flux is a soluble mitochondrial protein. In other experiments, mitochondrial F1-ATPase was found to be responsible for the majority of this effect, principally through promoting greater ATP hydrolysis at lower pH values, thereby allowing for greater flux through glycolysis. These data suggest that variations in ultimate pH may be more thoroughly explained and predicted by the abundance of mitochondria. Broiler pectoralis major muscle, which is a highly glycolytic muscle, possesses high ultimate pH (pH ~ 5.9) compared to pork and beef. We postulated that rapid carcass chilling reduces the flux through glycolysis, thereby causing premature termination of postmortem metabolism. Yet, chilling was only partially responsible for the high ultimate pH of pectoralis major muscle. However, we showed that pectoralis major of broiler chicken exhibits lower phosphofructokinase-1 activity compared to porcine longissimus lumborum muscle, which limits the flux through glycolysis. / Ph. D. / Consumer demand for high quality meat has increased dramatically over the past two decades. In order to meet this demand, it is crucial to understand factors that control the development of fresh meat quality characteristics. Consumers purchase meat based on color, but repeat purchases are also influenced by meat freshness, texture, and juiciness. These quality attributes develop after the animal has been harvested during the conversion of muscle to meat through a series of biochemical reactions. This conversion results in muscle acidification (pH decline) caused by the degradation of stored muscle energy that acidifies muscle. Normally, the muscle pH drops from a neutral value in living muscle to an acid value (~5.6) in fresh meat. In some cases, however, excessive acidification occurs and this can dramatically impact fresh meat quality characteristics. Our research program focuses on the mechanisms responsible for this extended acidification. To that end, we use mutant pigs known as RN– that produce meat with extremely low ultimate pH known as “acid meat”. While most believe that the extended pH decline in muscle of these pigs is a function of elevated energy in the muscle prior to harvesting, we showed that theses pigs have different muscle prior to harvest and this difference cause increased acidification during the transformation of muscle to meat. To investigate this issue further, we also examined the contribution of mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) to this process mainly because muscle from the RN– pigs containing around 50% more mitochondria compared to normal pigs. Curiously, we have shown mitochondria participate in this process. Because mitochondria require oxygen to function and harvesting animals disrupts oxygen delivery to the muscle, mitochondria were considered irrelevant to the development of meat quality characteristics. Our studies have definitively proved that mitochondria can contribute to meat quality and may be key in improving fresh meat quality.

O desenvolvimento de técnicas que deem sobrevida a navios com mais de 20 anos de navegação interior é crucialmente importante para um país com a demanda de mobilidade como a que tem o Brasil. Nesse sentido, uma técnica que pode ser citada é a determinação da vida útil potencial (VUP), que propõe uma forma de avaliar o aumento da vida útil de embarcações de navegação interior. Na busca por índices globais que identifiquem as condições do navio, considera-se o cálculo do momento fletor último da seção mestra do navio. O presente trabalho apresenta, de forma detalhada, a aplicação dos principais métodos de cálculo do momento fletor último em três casos de estudo: um perfil caixão, o perfil reduzido de embarcação de fundo duplo (estudada por Nishihara, 1983) e a seção mestra de uma embarcação típica utilizada para navegação na Bacia do Sudeste (NT Guarita). Os métodos empregados para o cálculo do momento fletor último são: métodos direto e iterativo propostos pela Associação Internacional de Sociedades Classificadoras (IACS 2008), Método da Resistência Direta, Método da Largura Efetiva e análises não lineares através do Método dos Elementos Finitos. Com o intuito de obter uma resposta mais coerente, é proposta uma modificação no Método Iterativo [IACS, 2008]. O método modificado é então utilizado no estudo de sensibilidade do momento fletor último frente à redução de espessura das chapas de convés (considerando a seção mestra da embarcação NT Guarita). Os resultados obtidos, bem como as conclusões a respeito, são apresentados ao final do trabalho. Adicionalmente, é proposto um índice para uso na avaliação do nível de não linearidade da resposta dos elementos locais, quando submetidos a reduções de espessura. / The increasing of ships life extension can only be provided by new methodologies development. A new method to determine the potential ship shelf life is being proposed, being part of the new method, in this document the ultimate bending momentum of the master ship section is study. The study presents the application of the most popular methods to calculate the ultimate bending for three different cases: box section, double hull ship studied by Nishihara, 1983 and master section of a typical boat used in Bacia do Sudeste, NT Guarita. The methods applied to calculate the ultimate bending momentum are: direct and iterative methods proposed by the International Association of Classification Societies, IACS 2008, Direct Strength Method, Method of Effective Width and also non-linear analysis using the Finite Element Method. In order to obtain a more coherent response, a change in the Iterative Method [IACS, 2008] has been proposed. The new method is used to study the sensitivity of the ultimate momentum to the reduction of deck thickness applied the NT Guarita. The results and conclusions will be presented in this study. Additionally, will be proposed an index to evaluate the level of non-linearity of the local elements response, when exposed to thickness reduction.

O desenvolvimento de técnicas que deem sobrevida a navios com mais de 20 anos de navegação interior é crucialmente importante para um país com a demanda de mobilidade como a que tem o Brasil. Nesse sentido, uma técnica que pode ser citada é a determinação da vida útil potencial (VUP), que propõe uma forma de avaliar o aumento da vida útil de embarcações de navegação interior. Na busca por índices globais que identifiquem as condições do navio, considera-se o cálculo do momento fletor último da seção mestra do navio. O presente trabalho apresenta, de forma detalhada, a aplicação dos principais métodos de cálculo do momento fletor último em três casos de estudo: um perfil caixão, o perfil reduzido de embarcação de fundo duplo (estudada por Nishihara, 1983) e a seção mestra de uma embarcação típica utilizada para navegação na Bacia do Sudeste (NT Guarita). Os métodos empregados para o cálculo do momento fletor último são: métodos direto e iterativo propostos pela Associação Internacional de Sociedades Classificadoras (IACS 2008), Método da Resistência Direta, Método da Largura Efetiva e análises não lineares através do Método dos Elementos Finitos. Com o intuito de obter uma resposta mais coerente, é proposta uma modificação no Método Iterativo [IACS, 2008]. O método modificado é então utilizado no estudo de sensibilidade do momento fletor último frente à redução de espessura das chapas de convés (considerando a seção mestra da embarcação NT Guarita). Os resultados obtidos, bem como as conclusões a respeito, são apresentados ao final do trabalho. Adicionalmente, é proposto um índice para uso na avaliação do nível de não linearidade da resposta dos elementos locais, quando submetidos a reduções de espessura. / The increasing of ships life extension can only be provided by new methodologies development. A new method to determine the potential ship shelf life is being proposed, being part of the new method, in this document the ultimate bending momentum of the master ship section is study. The study presents the application of the most popular methods to calculate the ultimate bending for three different cases: box section, double hull ship studied by Nishihara, 1983 and master section of a typical boat used in Bacia do Sudeste, NT Guarita. The methods applied to calculate the ultimate bending momentum are: direct and iterative methods proposed by the International Association of Classification Societies, IACS 2008, Direct Strength Method, Method of Effective Width and also non-linear analysis using the Finite Element Method. In order to obtain a more coherent response, a change in the Iterative Method [IACS, 2008] has been proposed. The new method is used to study the sensitivity of the ultimate momentum to the reduction of deck thickness applied the NT Guarita. The results and conclusions will be presented in this study. Additionally, will be proposed an index to evaluate the level of non-linearity of the local elements response, when exposed to thickness reduction.

O desenvolvimento de técnicas que deem sobrevida a navios com mais de 20 anos de navegação interior é crucialmente importante para um país com a demanda de mobilidade como a que tem o Brasil. Nesse sentido, uma técnica que pode ser citada é a determinação da vida útil potencial (VUP), que propõe uma forma de avaliar o aumento da vida útil de embarcações de navegação interior. Na busca por índices globais que identifiquem as condições do navio, considera-se o cálculo do momento fletor último da seção mestra do navio. O presente trabalho apresenta, de forma detalhada, a aplicação dos principais métodos de cálculo do momento fletor último em três casos de estudo: um perfil caixão, o perfil reduzido de embarcação de fundo duplo (estudada por Nishihara, 1983) e a seção mestra de uma embarcação típica utilizada para navegação na Bacia do Sudeste (NT Guarita). Os métodos empregados para o cálculo do momento fletor último são: métodos direto e iterativo propostos pela Associação Internacional de Sociedades Classificadoras (IACS 2008), Método da Resistência Direta, Método da Largura Efetiva e análises não lineares através do Método dos Elementos Finitos. Com o intuito de obter uma resposta mais coerente, é proposta uma modificação no Método Iterativo [IACS, 2008]. O método modificado é então utilizado no estudo de sensibilidade do momento fletor último frente à redução de espessura das chapas de convés (considerando a seção mestra da embarcação NT Guarita). Os resultados obtidos, bem como as conclusões a respeito, são apresentados ao final do trabalho. Adicionalmente, é proposto um índice para uso na avaliação do nível de não linearidade da resposta dos elementos locais, quando submetidos a reduções de espessura. / The increasing of ships life extension can only be provided by new methodologies development. A new method to determine the potential ship shelf life is being proposed, being part of the new method, in this document the ultimate bending momentum of the master ship section is study. The study presents the application of the most popular methods to calculate the ultimate bending for three different cases: box section, double hull ship studied by Nishihara, 1983 and master section of a typical boat used in Bacia do Sudeste, NT Guarita. The methods applied to calculate the ultimate bending momentum are: direct and iterative methods proposed by the International Association of Classification Societies, IACS 2008, Direct Strength Method, Method of Effective Width and also non-linear analysis using the Finite Element Method. In order to obtain a more coherent response, a change in the Iterative Method [IACS, 2008] has been proposed. The new method is used to study the sensitivity of the ultimate momentum to the reduction of deck thickness applied the NT Guarita. The results and conclusions will be presented in this study. Additionally, will be proposed an index to evaluate the level of non-linearity of the local elements response, when exposed to thickness reduction.

Denne oppgaven utforsker forbedringspotensialet i musikknotasjonen til to samtidsmusikk komposisjoner. Oppgaven er vinklet gjennom en klassisk skolert cellist med erfaring innom samtidsmusikk. Cellisten observerer problemer som oppstår under innstuderingen og prøver å løse dem gjennom kunnskap fra design, notasjonspraktikk og perseptuell psykologi. Cellisten former en ny utgave av komposisjonene via dialog med komponistene. Til slutt drøfter cellisten hvilken forskjell endringene gjorde. / This thesis explores the possibilities of improvement in the musical notation of two pieces of contemporary music. The work is viewed through a classical trained cellist with experience in contemporary music. The cellist examines the problems encountered during rehearsal of the compositions and tries to find the root of the problems through principles of design, notation and perceptual psychology. A new version of the score is formed through dialogs between the cellist and the composers. The cellist discusses in the end whether the changes had an effect or not.

ABSTRACT PEEK matrix reinforced by carbon fibers as one thermoplastic composite material is studied. Thermoplastic composites have the advantages of high specific stiffness and strength, longer fatigue life, good resistance to moisture absorption and high temperature condition. The thesis is aimed to investigate the mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of the centrally notched AS-4/PEEK composite laminates subjected to tension-tension fatigue loading at elevated temperature. We use three common types of laminates, such as cross-ply , quasi-isotropic and angle-ply . After centrally notched, we first obtain the base-line data of mechanical properties by tensile tests at five different temperatures, such as 25¢J¡B75¢J¡B100¢J¡B125¢J¡B150¢J. Then, the fatigue tests are conducted, we receive the fatigue strength and life and establish the stress-life curves. The fatigue characteristics and fracture mechanism of a centrally notched composite laminate at elevated temperature are also recorded and observed. The empirical results can be concluded as follows. At the same temperature, the laminate of cross-ply possesses the largest ultimate strength and fatigue strength, quasi-isotropic the second angle-ply the smallest. As for the elastic modulus, the laminate of cross-ply is larger than that of quasi-isotropic. However, the large strain of angle-ply is within the plastic range that is out of the limit of the study. Thus, a further investigation is needed for angle-ply laminates alone. After centrally notched, the net area is reduced of the specimen, and then the elastic modulus is raised and the ultimate strength and fatigue strength of composite materials are lower. As the temperature increasing, the ultimate strength, fatigue strength and elastic modulus are all decreasing.

ABSTRACT AS4/PEEK (APC-2) is a thermoplastic composite materials consisting of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) reinforced with AS4 carbon fibers. APC-2 has been widely used in many weight critical applications because of high specific strength and stiffness, good corrosion resistance, good formability and high temperature durability. However, the susceptibility of composite materials to damage result from low-velocity impacts (for example, from dropped tools, runway stones or hailstones) is a major problem. Low-velocity impact induces internal damage in the composite laminate without any visible sign on the surface, but it is result in a loss of laminate strength. This paper is aimed to investigate the mechanism and mechanical performance of [0/90] and [0/+45/90/-45] laminates subjected to Drop-Weight Impact by a cylindro-conical, a cylindro-hemisphere and a cylindrical impactor tip at temperature of 25¢J, 75¢Jand 125¢J. The study of impact response and post impact strength of composite laminates subjected to low velocity impact shows that the failure mechanism is predominantly delamination and fiber breakage. Generalizing the results of experiment, we can conclude that an impactor with a small nose (cylindro-conical) induces a larger impact-induced damage than one with a large nose (cylindrical), as well as a greater degree of fiber breakage. But for the reduction of post-impact strength, the cylindro-hemisphere impcator induces the most reduction of strength than the cylindro-conical and the cylindrical impactors. The post-impact residual strength of [0/90] specimens is higher than [0/+45/90/-45] specimens. But, [0/+45/90/-45] specimens are better to resist the impact effect. As for the effect of elevated temperature, we found that when the temperature increases, the damage extent reduces slowly. Keywords: composite, low-velocity impact, temperature effect, young's modulus, ultimate strength

The ultimate value of surface roughness and its characteristic for the polishing process was investigated in this thesis. To find out the nature of ultimate surface roughness by means of the hydrodynamic polishing process and can be used for all polishing method. A preliminary mathematical model that was proposed to explain the ultimate surface roughness proceedings and a series of experiments was planed to verify suitable of this model. Starting with the rule for ultimate surface roughness happened. The assumption that abrasive particle at roughness peak and valley machining capability differ less than one atom, the ultimate surface roughness be attained. We can propose the mathematical model of ultimate surface roughness based on this rule and the previous study of hydrodynamic polishing process. Following by useing the computer simulation to help us exploring ultimate surface roughness characteristic and testing experiments fit for the forecasting. Finally, we explain reasons that cause the experiment results not agree with the model anticipation and propose better lubrication condition to polish the optimum surface.

The finite element method is used to investigate the effects of welding-induced residual stress and distortion on the strength and behaviour of ship hull structures. A finite element welding simulation consisting of sequentially coupled transient thermal and nonlinear structural analyses is used to predict the three-dimensional residual stress and distortion fields in welded stiffened plates. Three types of stiffener commonly used in commercial and naval applications are considered. The welding simulation is followed by a 'shakedown' analysis to study the possibility of residual stress relief caused by cyclic loads. The strength and behaviour of stiffened plates under axial load is characterized by normalized plots of average axial stress versus axial strain, commonly referred to as load-shortening curves. These curves are used to evaluate the effects of welding-induced residual stress and distortion on stiffened plate behaviour with and without considering stress relief by shakedown. Load-shortening curves generated by finite element analysis are also compared with load-shortening curves produced using analytical methods including those prescribed in ship structural design standards published by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). To conclude, a hull girder ultimate strength analysis is carried out using Smith's method with load-shortening curves generated by several different methods. Results indicate that welding-induced residual stress and distortion decrease the ultimate strength of flat-bar, angle, and tee-stiffened plates investigated in this study by as much as 17%, 15% and 13%, respectively. Stiffened plate ultimate strength values calculated using IACS common structural rules agreed reasonably well with results from numerical models in most cases. There was however, a significant discrepancy between the numerical load-shortening curves and the IACS curves in the post-ultimate regime, where the IACS curves overestimated the post-ultimate strength of stiffened plates by as much as 30%. To investigate stress relief by shakedown, axial stresses of 25% and 50% of the yield stress were applied and residual stresses were reduced by approximately 20% and 40%, respectively. In some cases, these reductions in residual stress led to increases in stiffened plate ultimate strength as high as 7%. Analysis of a box girder using load-shortening curves from a finite element model including residual stresses and distortions predicted by welding simulation predicted a bending moment capacity within 2.7% of the experimentally measured value. Using load-shortening curves from the IACS common structural rules, the ultimate strength was overestimated by 17%. / Thesis .pdf/A