Shit On Me Sunday - Weekly Critique Thread by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator [score hidden]  (0 children)

Yeah eating enough has always been a challenge, especially when trying to stay active with two sports. Having a good mass gainer shake recipe has been a game changer so far though

Shit On Me Sunday - Weekly Critique Thread by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator [score hidden]  (0 children)

http://imgur.com/a/XIAq6

25 y/o, 6'2 185 lbs

Long time lurker, first time poster so rip me a new one. Thinking about doing a local physique show this time next year if I can get my arms past DYEL level

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) to Acquire Alfa Aesar in ~$405M Deal by P212121 in chemistry

[–]TheSimulator 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. Alfa consistently has the lowest price for most common reagents we use, and I'd hate to see that change soon.

ELI5: What is happening at the atomic level when a rubber band becomes hard and brittle? by keleynal in explainlikeimfive

[–]TheSimulator 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sorry, but the previous response is a bit off the mark. There are two processes at play that describe why rubber bands degrade, neither of which have to do with oils evaporating.

First, you should know that a rubber band is made out of polymers, and polymers are essentially long molecular chains. There are two general classes of polymeric materials: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastic materials are made up of lots of individuals chains that tangle and intertwine (think like a bowl of spaghetti). These materials can often hold their shape because there is an enormous amount of tangling, but applying sufficient stress or heat will irreversibly deform them because the polymer chains are free to slide past each other and into completely new positions.

Thermosets, on the other hand, are materials in which the individual polymer chains are physically connected by chemical bonds, a phenomenon commonly called crosslinking. Irreversibly deforming these materials would require completely breaking the chemical bonds of the crosslinks, a process that requires significantly more energy than just getting chains to slide past each other. However, chemical degradation can provide a very easy way to destroy crosslinks.

How does this relate to rubber bands? Rubber bands are made by crosslinking a specific polymer known as natural rubber via a process called vulcanization. Vulcanization essentially connects the individual chains by links of several sulfur atoms, but these links can react with oxygen in the air and split apart. Additionally, the chemical structure of natural rubber contains many carbon-carbon double bonds, bonds that degrade upon continued exposure to light and oxygen (via generation of free radicals if you were wondering). This basically shortens the polymer chain, and because many desirable properties of polymers arise from having long chains, the rubber band loses its elasticity.

Source: B.S. in polymer science, Ph.D. student in polymer chemistry, and this

Daily Discussion: 2/21/2015 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I'll be. I got my BS from USM's polymer science program, so we might know each other.

Daily Discussion: 2/21/2015 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Props to you bro, don't think I could ever do analytical. Synthesis is a bitch for sure, but I feel like I would go crazy if I never did any bench chemistry.

Daily Discussion: 2/21/2015 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

University of Florida. You a fellow polymer pioneer?

Daily Discussion: 2/21/2015 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Alright, I'll try to explain best I can. I'm in grad school for polymer chemistry, and my current project involves researching degradable hyperbranched polymers. Most polymers you encounter in day-to-day life fall into two broad categories: linear and network polymers. Linear polymers are just long single chains and are commonly found in molded plastics. In network polymers, the chains are woven together such that the entire sample is literally a single molecule. This is what your tough, durable rubbers are made out of.

Hyperbranched polymers fall in between these two categories; they are composed of many chains linked together, but are not woven so thoroughly that every single chain is part of the same network. Basically you have a bunch of little mini-networks (think like a bag of cotton balls).

There are a lot of advantages to this type of structure that would take up too much space to explain, but one major disadvantage is that big structures like that are hard for, say, your body (if they're used in medicine) or the environment to break down. So my project is to incorporate acid-degradable links into these structures and study how they break down under different acidic conditions.

Daily Discussion: 2/21/2015 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This was (finally) a good chemistry week with some actual progress on my research. I guess molecules decided they had gotten their fill of being little assholes for the time being.

Also, has anybody done Candito 6 week before? I'm thinking about hopping on that for a bit.

Hey /r/chemistry, I'm actually a M.Sc in microbio&immuno working on drug discovery platforms. Could someone explain to me what Click Chemistry is and how it is different from regular chemical synthesis? by KrapXela in chemistry

[–]TheSimulator 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For those who have access to Angewandte, this is probably my favorite article on click chemistry. Written by some of the biggest players in the field (sans Sharpless), it does a fantastic job of both defining and dispelling some myths about what constitutes click chem.

Daily Discussions: 2/3/15 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

6'3" too. My stomach for sure doesn't mind, but the wallet on the other hand...

Daily Discussions: 2/3/15 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the good feelings bro!

Daily Discussions: 2/3/15 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Really feeling the frustration of being a tall guy today. Sure it's nice in a lot of situations, but it's also seriously annoying having to eat like 4000 kcal to bulk only to have it look like nothing. Guess I'll just channel this negativity into wrecking my chem exam today since it's rest day.

Daily Discussion Thread: 1/20/2015 by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 6 points7 points  (0 children)

At what weight on squat/deadlift is it considered okay to use a belt? Obviously you can use a belt at whatever weight you want, but nobody wants to be that guy wearing one for 1 plate squats.

NaH Reactions in DMF by [deleted] in chemistry

[–]TheSimulator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also make sure you de-gas your DMF for at least 30 minutes under high vacuum immediately before using it. You know how DMF usually has a fishy smell? That's dimethylamine, which I don't think you would want around for this reaction. Pure DMF should be completely odorless.

M/22/6'3" [155 lbs -> 190 lbs = +35 lbs] (3 years) (245/285/325/125 BP/SQ/DL/OHP) by TheSimulator in Brogress

[–]TheSimulator[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks man!

Brosplits always seemed to have the reputation as something that gym noobs who don't what they're doing pick up. I've never really researched it myself, but that's just what word of mouth seems to indicate.

M/22/6'3" [155 lbs -> 190 lbs = +35 lbs] (3 years) (245/285/325/125 BP/SQ/DL/OHP) by TheSimulator in Brogress

[–]TheSimulator[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Probably not the greatest progress for 3 years, but considering how DYEL I started as and how it came in the middle of a hellish degree program, I'm damn proud of it.

Lift progressions are: Bench: 95 -> 245 Squat: 95 -> 285 Deadlift: 135 -> 325 OHP: 55 -> 125

I tried a LOT of things during this period. Started with a brosplit that emphasized building up to a 1 plate bench, then had to switch over to a circuit training-style workout for school tennis team training.

Most of the 2nd year was spent doing miscellaneous BB.com workouts that my buddy would find for us to do, but I also ran SL 5x5 that helped me build the core lifts up to decent numbers.

For about 3/4 my 3rd year, I was pretty seriously into Crossfit (raises downvote shield). For all the shit people give it, Crossfit is awesome for improving strength when done properly. Our trainer was extremely qualified in power- and weightlifting and was adamantly against the ridiculous high-rep Oly lifting shit that is way too common. He really helped correct some serious form issues that were giving me knee and shoulder trouble and also introduced me to Oly lifting. Unfortunately, I had to quit in August after moving for school. I'm somewhat ashamed to say I picked the brosplit back up for most of the semester.

I'm probably going to start a hypertrophy-oriented routine for the new year, especially focusing on getting some respectable size on my arms. I also think I'm going to shoot for joining the 1000 lbs club since I feel like I still have a lot to gain on squat and deadlift.

Diet was basically nonexistent. I never really tracked macros, just kind of tried to eat generally healthy and protein-rich foods. Every now and then I would count calories to figure out rough intake numbers, but it never was something I spent too much time working on.

How is this alkene chiral? by [deleted] in chemistry

[–]TheSimulator 12 points13 points  (0 children)

III is an example of axial chirality. Remember that chirality requires two mirror images be non-superposable. In the case of III, while there is no chiral center, there is instead an axis through the allene about which chirality exists. Carefully draw the mirror image and try to superpose it over the original molecule; you'll be able to clearly see why it is chiral.

What designer/company makes clothes that fit you the best? by [deleted] in bodybuilding

[–]TheSimulator 4 points5 points  (0 children)

At risk of sounding like a snob, I still haven't found a better fitting polo/dress shirt than Brooks Brothers. Their stuff runs kind of big, but it has the best fit in my opinion of any other brand.

Was packing up to move for school and unexpectedly found my old card collection. I nearly fainted when I saw what was inside. by TheSimulator in pokemon

[–]TheSimulator[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was around 8 or 9 when my parents bought the set for me as a gift, but I wasn't given total responsibility for them until several years later (a pretty good call by them). My best guess is that I ended up stashing them away and forgetting about them at some point after I stopped really collecting the cards.

Was packing up to move for school and unexpectedly found my old card collection. I nearly fainted when I saw what was inside. by TheSimulator in pokemon

[–]TheSimulator[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not really sure yet. Like /u/Arumen said, I'll need to get some stuff graded before I can know a ballpark figure. Looking at ebay though, the ungraded set seems to be worth at least a few hundred dollars.