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Syftet med studien var att med en experimentell design undersöka ifall individens tro på sin förmåga, d.v.s. self-efficacy påverkar utfallet av idrotts prestationer. Detta undersöktes genom att manipulera self-efficacy i en bänkpressövning och därefter mäta eventuella prestationsförändringar under tre sessioner. 21 deltagare (10 kvinnor, 11 män, M = 23, SD = 2.95) med lite eller ingen tidigare erfarenhet av styrketräning deltog. Deltagare delades slumpmässigt in i tre grupper: (LG) lättare vikt än deltagarna trodde, (TG) tyngre vikt än deltagarna trodde och (KG) kontrollgrupp, vikten överensstämde med deltagarnas uppfattning. Situationsspecifika self-efficacy mätningar (SSE) gjordes före och efter manipulationen. Den fysiska self-efficacyn mättes med hjälp av fysisk self-efficacy skala (PSE). Resultatet visade att den tunga gruppen, vilken lyfte mer vikt än de trodde, ökade signifikant mer i vikt vid bänkpresslyftet än kontrollgruppen. Manipulationen som antogs påverka situationsspecifikt self-efficacy visade sig förutsäga prestationens utfall och en signifikant skillnad visades mellan mätningarna. Den tunga gruppen visade störst förändring på SSE formuläret från första till tredje sessionen. PSE-resultaten visade ingen signifikant förändring mellan mätningarna. Resultatet föreslår att self-efficacy går att manipulera och kan påverka idrottsprestationer. / The purpose of the study was to investigate in an experimental design whether an individual's belief in his ability, i.e. self-efficacy affect the outcomes of athletic performance. This was examined by manipulating self-efficacy in a bench press exercise and measures possible performance changes during three sessions. 21 participants (10 woman, 11 men, M = 23, SD = 2.95) who had little or no previous experience of weight training participated. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: (LG) participants lifted easier than thought, (HG) participants lifted heavier than thought and (CG) control group, participants lifted the weight they thought. Situational specific self-efficacy measures (SSE) were taken before and after manipulation. The physical self-efficacy was measured using the physical self-efficacy scale (PSE). The results showed that the heavy group had increased significantly more weight than the control group. The manipulations assumed effect on self- efficacy (SSE) proved to be a prediction of performance outcomes and a significant difference was demonstrated between the measurements. The heavy group showed the greatest decreased in SSE from session one to third. PSE results showed no significant changes between measurements. The results suggest that self-efficacy can be manipulated and can affect sport performance.

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Over the past 10 years, growing concerns over the modification of fibers have led researchers to focus on enriching the carboxyl group content of fibers by chemical oxidation and topochemical grafting. The current series of experiments continues this line of research by investigating the carboxyl group content of fibers during kraft pulping, alkaline peroxide bleaching, and 2,2,6,6-tetrametyl-1-piperidinyloxy radical (TEMPO)-KBr-NaClO oxidation system. The first experiment characterizes changes in the carboxyl group content of fibers for two sets of kraft pulps: 1) conventional laboratory cooked loblolly pine kraft pulps, and 2) conventional pulping (CK) versus Lo-Solids pulping (LS) pulps. The results indicate that effective alkali (EA), temperature, and H-factor are the primary factors controlling fiber charge during kraft pulping. Another set of kraft pulps distinguished by conventional pulping and Lo-Solids pulping were investigated to determine the effect of H-factor and pulping protocol on fiber charge. The second experiment examines the influence of alkaline peroxide treatment on elementally chlorine-free (ECF) bleached softwood kraft pulp. The effect of increased fiber charge on refining, cationic starch adsorption, and hornification was examined. The final experiment investigates the effect of TEMPO-mediated oxidation of an ECF bleached softwood kraft pulp on carboxyl group content, carbonyl group contents, degree of polymerization, and water retention value of fibers. The results show that TEMPO-mediated oxidation is useful in enriching the carboxyl and carbonyl groups to fibers, as well as enhancing the property of water adsorption of fibers. These findings suggest that: (1) kraft pulping process can be modified to obtain the target carboxyl group content, (2) terminal peroxide bleaching provides higher fiber charge which can save energy and chemical charge of subsequent refining and wet-end processes, respectively, as well as reduce hornification during drying, (3) TEMPO-mediated oxidation of fibers is capable of improving the properties of fibers, including fiber charge and water adsorption, and enhancing final paper strength.

Content: The application of split leather is an important issue in leather industry as most of them was not properly treated and wasted. In this study the application of choline chloride (ChCl), urea (U) and corresponding deep eutectic solvents (DES) on the modification of thermal stability and mechanical strength of mink split leather was investigated. TGA and DSC results indicated DES treatment enhanced thermal stability of split leather, and ChCl treatment reduced the stability. While, U treatment provided a kinetic inhibition during the thermal-decomposition. In terms of the mechanical strength, both ChCl and U treatment reduced burst intensity and extended height. While, after DES treatment the burst intensity and extended height increased significantly. In terms of the dosage, 7% DES provided best performance. Results mentioned above illustrated that DES formed by simply mixing ChCl and U provided strong interaction with fiber, enhanced the crosslinks. A hypothesis of [Ch(Urea)]+[Cl(Urea)]- type structure was proposed, as it enabled DES forming strong hydrogen bonds with functional groups on leather fiber, enhancing the crosslinks and therefore improving the thermal stability and mechanical strength. The DES treatment on leather fibers improved their overall performance and thereby broaden their applications. Take-Away: 1. DES obtained by mixing ChCl and urea presented very different effect in leather treatment, as the thermal stability and physical strength of leather improved significantly after the DES treatment. 2. A hypothesis of [Ch(Urea)]+[Cl(Urea)]- type structure was proposed, illustrating a formation of strong hydrogen bonds between DES and functional groups on leather fiber. This enhances the crosslinks and therefore improves the thermal and mechanical strength of leather.

Content: Development of eco-friendly chemicals from natural renewable resources are widely explored owing to its eco-acceptable and sustainability. Exploring biopolymers is the need of an hour to combat the sustainability in leather processing. Finishing is an imperative step that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the final leathers, in which, protein finishing system is known for its glazing properties. Commonly used cross-linkers as such formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are restricted owing to biocompatibility issues. However, the use of crosslinker is inevitable for protein finish system. In the present research, nano-bio polyaldehyde (NBP) system is established through selective oxidation of starch; the size of the system is fine-tuned in the nano range for effective and efficient crosslinking through emulsion technique. The architectural design of NBP is ascertained as a good crosslinking agent for leather finishing chemicals from the characterization studies. A particle size of the NBP system found to be in the range of 80-110 nm. The surface properties of NBP treated leathers were characterized by the contact angle. The leather samples showed improved hydrophobicity nature with a contact angle of ~ 126º and also enhanced wet, rub fastness, color fastness, and adhesion strength. The study provides an insight on tunability of known biopolymers for developing sustainable technology. Take-Away: An insight on tunability of known biopolymers for developing sustainable technology

Nors Lietuvos plento ir treko dviratininkų rengimo klausimais mokslinių publikacijų yra paskelbta nemažai, tačiau Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų rengimo, fizinių ir funkcinių galių kaitos mokslinių tyrimų duomenų literatūros šaltiniuose mes neaptikome. Todėl yra aktualu išryškinti Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų esminius parengtumo ir treniruočių bruožus, kurie vėliau leistų tobulinti šios rungties dviratininkų rengimą. Tikslas. Ištirti Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų rengimą ir jų fizinių ir funkcinių galių dinamiką metiniu treniruočių ciklu. Uždaviniai: ištirti Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų rengimąsi kalnų dviračių kroso ir maratono varžyboms ir išryškinti rengimo ypatumus; nustatyti Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų fizinio išsivystymo rodiklių kaitą metiniu rengimosi ciklu; nustatyti Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų fizinių ir funkcinių galių rodiklių kaitą metiniu rengimosi ciklu; išanalizuoti ir apibendrinti Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkų varžybinę veiklą. Buvo analizuotas kalnų dviratininkų atliktas fizinis krūvis parengiamuoju ir varžybiniu laikotarpiais. Atlikta sportininkų dienoraščių analizė. Tyrimuose dalyvavo Lietuvos kalnų dviratininkai (n = 19). Išmatuoti antropometriniai ir fiziometriniai fizinio išsivystymo rodikliai. Specialiam anaerobiniam alaktatiniam galingumui nustatyti buvo taikomas 10s trukmės maksimalių pastangų testas, o mišriam anaerobiniam alaktatiniam glikolitiniam galingumui nustatyti naudotas Wingate 30 s trukmės maksimalių pastangų testas. Aerobinis pajėgumas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / We found many studies investigating Lithuanian track and road cyclists, however there are no studies on the training characteristics, physical strength and functional ability of Lithuanian mountain bikers. Therefore it is highly relevant to highlight the essential features of the preparation and training of Lithuanian mountain bikers, which would allow us to improve the training process. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of training, physical strength and functional ability of Lithuanian mountain bikers during the annual training cycle. The tasks of this study: to investigate the training for cross country and cross country marathon events of Lithuanian mountain bikers and highlight the training features; to establish the changes in indices of the physical development, physical strength and functional ability during the annual training cycle; to analyze and summarize the competitive activity of Lithuanian mountain bikers. Nineteen Lithuanian mountain bikers (19 – 29 years old) who participated in cross country and cross country marathon events were tested during the preparatory and competitive phase of their season. Anthropometric and physiometric indices of physical development were measured. Muscle power in the different zones of energy production was studied. The 10-second test was performed to estimate the special alactic anaerobic power output, whereas the 30-second Wingate test was performed to estimate composite alactic anaerobic glycolytic power... [to full text]

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Existing evidence shows people are able to attribute an individual's behavioural characteristics based on their facial features with a certain level of accuracy; one such characteristic is the perception of physical strength in potential opponents within the male intersexual competition. Physical strength seems be assessed upon the level of masculine facial features development. However, attributions may be influenced by other factors - namely personality traits of the evaluator or the so-called Other-race effect. In this study portrait photographs of men from Europe and Africa were rated by a group of European evaluators on a perceived physical strength. The aim of this study was to assess the link between attributed physical strength, actual physical strength (grip strength) and facial morphology described by relative facial width (fWHR) the Index of Masculinity (potential effects of age, body weight and height on said variables were controlled for). The use of stimuli of different ethnic origin enabled us to test the accuracy of physical strength attributions and actual physical strength in context to the Other-race effect hypothesis. According to its wording people tend to attribute characteristics with higher accuracy to individuals, who belong to the same population, or with whom they are...