In competitive swimming a spread in time of only 0.10, and 0.16 seconds constituted the difference between finishing second and seventh, and first and eighth, respectively, in the women's 50 yard freestyle at the 1993 NCAA Division III National Swimming & Diving Championships. Based on data collected over a period of years Maglischo (1993) noted that "improving the start can reduce race times by at least 0.10 second" (p. 544). Therefore it is beneficial to the outcome of a race to direct attention to maximizing the effectiveness of the racing start. The primary purpose of this study therefore was to compare kinetic and kinematic components of the grab and track style starts. During the past two decades extensive kinematic research has been done using cinematography. These studies used time, velocity, displacement, and the measure of angles (i.e. at takeoff and entry) to measure the relative effectiveness of various racing starts. Conversely, there has been limited analysis of racing starts using kinetic measurements. Four kinetic and five kinematic variables were evaluated in this study to compare the relative effectiveness of the starting techniques. Ten female varsity swimmers, who had used both starts interchangeably in competition, were selected for this study. Force components were obtained directly from a Kistler force platform. Block time, horizontal and vertical impulse, and average horizontal and vertical force values were obtained in subsequent analysis of the Force-time data. Each subject was videotaped as she executed three trials of each start. The video data were digitized and then analyzed using two dimensional video analysis techniques. The type of start technique used on each trial was randomly ordered. Kinematic variables of horizontal and vertical displacement of the center of mass, average horizontal velocity and vertical velocity were also obtained from the video data in order to determine which of the two starting techniques (i.e. grab vs. track) was the most effective. 2x10 (starting technique x subject) repeated measures Analyses of Variance indicated significant differences (p<0.01) between the starting styles for five of the nine dependent variables measured which provided support for the original contention that the track style start was the more effective of the two racing start techniques investigated. The results of this study provide support to the empirical and observational findings of earlier researchers. / Graduation date: 1995

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-49). / vi, 49 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Swim turns are a component of competitive swimming where considerable advantage can be gained or lost. This thesis investigates underwater dolphin and flutter kicking techniques and their application to exits following the turn in freestyle swimming. Five separate investigations were conducted to examine the kinetics and kinematics of each underwater kicking technique and are presented in expanded journal manuscript form. Studies one, two and three involved the comparison of freestyle turns when using flutter and dolphin kicking wall exit techniques. The results obtained indicated that freestyle turns using flutter kicking were faster than dolphin kicking in age-group swimmers. For this group, significant and equal improvements were made to flutter and dolphin kick turn performances following six weeks of dolphin kick and dolphin kick turn training. However, no difference in turn times were observed between kicking conditions by older and more highly skilled swimmers. Study four involved a kinematical comparison of maximal underwater free-swimming dolphin and flutter kicking. Results showed dolphin kick to be a superior underwater free-swimming technique. Greater foot width, increased ankle range of movement and greater vertical displacement of the ankle and foot during kicking were shown to be highly predictive of faster underwater dolphin kicking. Investigation five compared the drag forces and kinematics between the dolphin and flutter kicking techniques while subjects were towed at velocities representing those experienced following wall turn push-off. Results favour the dolphin kick as a superior underwater technique at these higher velocities. Increased underwater dolphin kicking efficiency, as measured by decreased net towing force, was found to be associated with larger kick amplitude – rate ratios, and higher kick amplitude – streamline length ratios. / Doctor of Philosophy

Swim turns are a component of competitive swimming where considerable advantage can be gained or lost. This thesis investigates underwater dolphin and flutter kicking techniques and their application to exits following the turn in freestyle swimming. Five separate investigations were conducted to examine the kinetics and kinematics of each underwater kicking technique and are presented in expanded journal manuscript form. Studies one, two and three involved the comparison of freestyle turns when using flutter and dolphin kicking wall exit techniques. The results obtained indicated that freestyle turns using flutter kicking were faster than dolphin kicking in age-group swimmers. For this group, significant and equal improvements were made to flutter and dolphin kick turn performances following six weeks of dolphin kick and dolphin kick turn training. However, no difference in turn times were observed between kicking conditions by older and more highly skilled swimmers. Study four involved a kinematical comparison of maximal underwater free-swimming dolphin and flutter kicking. Results showed dolphin kick to be a superior underwater free-swimming technique. Greater foot width, increased ankle range of movement and greater vertical displacement of the ankle and foot during kicking were shown to be highly predictive of faster underwater dolphin kicking. Investigation five compared the drag forces and kinematics between the dolphin and flutter kicking techniques while subjects were towed at velocities representing those experienced following wall turn push-off. Results favour the dolphin kick as a superior underwater technique at these higher velocities. Increased underwater dolphin kicking efficiency, as measured by decreased net towing force, was found to be associated with larger kick amplitude – rate ratios, and higher kick amplitude – streamline length ratios. / Doctor of Philosophy

La formation de nanostructures bien définies par autoassemblage de briques organiques a reçu de nombreuses attentions dues à leurs potentielles applications en chimie comme en biologie. Parmi toutes ces éléments organiques, les peptides et pseudopeptides font partie des plus prometteurs de par leur ressemblance aux protéines. Nous pouvons dénombrer de nombreux autoassemblages peptidiques, comme les nanotubes, les nanofibres, les vésicules, les nanosphères etc… Dans ce contexte, nous nous sommes intéressés à la synthèse et à l’étude structurale globale des hydrazinopeptides. Grâce à leur azote supplémentaire, ces pseudopeptides bis-azotés sont capables de s’auto-assembler en de nouvelles structurations. Les 1:1[α/α-Nα-Bn-hydrazino]peptides linéaires ont démontré se structurer en hydrazinoturn et γ-turn en solution. Nous mettrons en évidence la capacité des analogues 1:1[ß/α-Nα-Bn-hydrazino]peptides linéaires à s’autostructurer en hydrazinoturn en solution, n’impliquant pas le squelette du motif ß-aminoacide. De la même manière, nous démontrerons la capacité des pseudopeptides purs hydrazino à se structurer en solution en une structure très solide formées de successions d’hydrazinoturn, observable à l’état cristallin également. Dans un deuxième temps, et dans le cadre de l’élaboration de structures nanotubulaires, nous avons étudié une série de 1:1[α/α-Nα-Bn-hydrazino]peptides cycliques, et tout particulièrement les cyclotétramères. Dans ce contexte, nous avons cherché à mettre en lumière les différents paramètres pouvant influencer l’organisation nanotubulaires dans nos macrocycles, dans le but d’élaborer la meilleure stratégie afin d’obtenir cette nanostructuration en vues d’éventuelles applications. Les différents paramètres étudiés sont les suivants : la stratégie de synthèse, la chiralité, l’orientation des chaînes latérales, et enfin l’aptitude à former des gels / The formation of nanostructures with well-defined organic brick self-assembly has received much attention due to their potential applications in chemistry and biology. Among all these organic elements, peptides and pseudopeptides are among the most promising because of their similarity to proteins. We can enumerate many peptides self-assembly, such as nanotubes, nonafibres, vesicles, nanospheres etc … In this context, we are interested by the synthesis and overall structural study of hydrazinopeptides. Thanks to the additional nitrogen, these bis-nitrogen pseudopeptides are able to self-assemble into new structuring. The 1:1[α/α-Nα-Bn-hydrazino] linear peptides showed coalesce into hydrazinoturn and γ-turn in solution. We have highlighted the ability of analogues of 1:1[ß/α-Nα-Bn-hydrazino] linear peptides to be structured in hydrazinoturn only, in solution. Similarly, we have demonstrated the ability of pure α-Nα-Bn-hydrazino pseudopeptides to be structured in a very solid solution structure formed of hydrazinoturn observable also in crystal state. Secondly, and as part of the development of nanotube structures, we have studied a serie of 1:1[α/α-Nα-hydrazino] cyclic peptides, and especially cyclotetrameres. In this context, we have sought to highlight the various parameters that may affect the organization in nanotubes, in order to develop the best strategy to achieve this potential application in nanostructuring views. The various parameters studied are: the synthetic strategy, the chirality, the orientation of side chains, and finally the ability to form gels

The problem with which this study was concerned was that of comparing three methods of executing the competitive breaststroke turn and their effects on swimming fifty yards. The turns utilized were the AAU, NCAA, and somersault. A related purpose was that of analyzing the time a breaststroke competitor was to be submerged on the glide following the turn. One hundred four male, senior swimmers from teams in the Arkansas AAU were rated on five components of the breaststroke. Twenty-nine advanced and thirty novice breaststrokers were selected from this group to participate in this study. The subjects were timed for a distance of fifty yards using, in order, the AAU, NCAA, and somersault turns.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Comparative Media Studies, 2007. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Includes bibliographical references. / The American daytime serial drama is among the oldest television genres and remains a vital part of the television lineup for ABC and CBS as what this thesis calls an immersive story world. However, many within the television industry are now predicting that the genre will fade into obscurity after two decades of declining ratings. This study outlines how the soap opera industry is and could be further adapting to the technological and social changes of a convergence culture to maintain and revitalize the genre's relevance for viewers and advertisers alike. CBS/Procter and Gamble Productions/TeleVest's As the World Turns will serve as a case study for these changes. This project examines how the existing fan base plays an active role in gaining and maintaining new fans by researching historical and contemporary examples of social relationships that fans form with other fans and the show itself. In addition to looking at how these fan communities operate, this thesis focuses on how soap operas have adapted and might adapt to alternate revenue models such as product placement, capitalize on their vast content archives, and tell stories through multiple media formats. The study concludes that soap operas should be managed as brands and not ephemeral television content because of their permanence in the television landscape, that fans outside the target advertising demographic should be empowered as proselytizers for the show, and that a transgenerational storytelling approach best utilizes the power of the genre to tell its stories. / by Samuel Earl Ford. / S.M.

Over the years, the Burgess group has been focusing on the preparation and testing of small molecules that mimic protein secondary structures for protein-protein interactions. The most successful compounds made are C10 peptide macrocycles that effectively mimic β-turns and have given promising results from biological testing. These peptide macrocycles have also been dimerized to give even more effective ligands for protein-protein interaction. The successes of the peptide macrocycles have enabled us to look into increasing the chemical diversity of our libraries. This we believe will not only improve our ability to obtain high affinity ligands for the receptors of interest, but will also allow us to investigate other receptors. To achieve this, peptoids were incorporated into the C10 system to replace the peptides in the i+1 and i+2 positions. With the help of Microwave irradiation, semi-peptoid macrocycles were synthesized with a total reaction time of less than 2 h. These compounds were characterized and found to mimic β-turn, and show promising biological activity towards the Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR).

Fossil fuels and their byproducts are a vital part of our economy, and society. Until renewable energy sources and energy storage technologies advance to the point where they are reliable and inexpensive, the US Economy will continue to depend upon fossil fuels. Current resources are being consumed, and the "easy to reach" reserves are becoming depleted. This leads to the requirement for more exploratory drilling, and the potential for more disasters like the recent Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Drilling is the first of several steps in the creation of a productive oil or natural gas well. Completing a well involves casing the walls in concrete to prevent damage to the surrounding rock formations and to ensure that all of the oil or gas is captured without escaping to the surrounding environment. Ensuring the piping, which is used to case wells, is assembled correctly and to manufacturer's specifications is the focus of this study. Individual pipe sections are screwed together with a requirement for torque and number of turns. Each joint must be verified to ensure integrity, and minimize the possibility of a spill or leak. The torque measurement can be accomplished by a "torque sub", a sensor installed in-line with the drill string. The torque sub is a wireless sensor that transmits torque data to the control system for logging and display. This thesis defines the parameters required to integrate a "number of turns" measurement into an existing torque sub so that both parameters can be captured, recorded and reported using a single device. The Yost Engineering 3-Space Sensor was evaluated for use in this application. The configuration that gave the most accurate data was selected, along with the determination of some correction factors to account for site specific variation in the signals. A calibration algorithm is discussed, along with several unique methods for ensuring that the sensor output doesn't drift over the course of the joint make-up process. / text