An Electromyographic lnvestigation of the Quadriceps Muscles During the Performance of Multiple Angle Isometric Exercises

In clinical practice, physical therapists often employ various forms of quadriceps strengthening exercise to target the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the vastus medialis (VM) component of the quadriceps muscle. These strengthening exercises usually consist of multiple angle isometrics (MAI) performed throughout the range from 0°to　120°knee ｆｌexion. There is no evidence that any of these exercises is able to selectively target the individual component of the quadriceps muscle group. The aim of this study is to provide electromyographic evidence of quadriceps muscle selectivity during the performance of MAI exercise. Eleven subjects (7 females and 4 males) participated in this study. The mean age of subjects was 19.36+1.43 years, and the mean weight was 53.00+5.16 kg. Ag/AgCI surface electrodes were attached to the subjects' thigh, at sites corresponding to the vastus lateralis (VL), VM, VMO, and the rectus femoris (RF). Subjects were asked to perform isometric knee extension excrcises at 7 positions corresponding to 20°,３０°,45°,60°,75°,90°,and 110°knee flexion. Each exercise was performed for 3 repetitions : with a 5-seconds hold period, and a rest interval of 30 seconds. The order of exercise was randomized. The raw EMG data was processed using a Butterworth band pass filter (10 to 240 Hz), rectified and integrated (IEMG). The IEMG data was analyzed using a paired T test. The level of significance was set at 0.05. In general, the results showed that the mean IEMG of the RF, VMO and VL increased as knee flexion angle increased while the mean IEMG of the VMO remained relatively unchanged throughout the tested range. The VM/VL ratio decreased, while the VMO/VL ratio increased as knee flexion angle increased. These results demonstrate that it is possible to selectively exercise the different components of the quadriceps muscles using multiple angle isometric exercises between 20°and 110°knee flexion.Article紀要 25: 1-9(2000)departmental bulletin pape

Plasmonic color filters as dual-state nanopixels for high-density microimage encoding

Plasmonic color filtering has provided a range of new techniques for “printing” images at resolutions beyond the diffraction-limit, significantly improving upon what can be achieved using traditional, dye-based filtering methods. Here, a new approach to high-density data encoding is demonstrated using full color, dual-state plasmonic nanopixels, doubling the amount of information that can be stored in a unit-area. This technique is used to encode two data sets into a single set of pixels for the first time, generating vivid, near-full sRGB (standard Red Green Blue color space)color images and codes with polarization-switchable information states. Using a standard optical microscope, the smallest “unit” that can be read relates to 2 × 2 nanopixels (370 nm × 370 nm). As a result, dual-state nanopixels may prove significant for long-term, high-resolution optical image encoding, and counterfeit-prevention measures

(E)-1-[1-(6-Bromo-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)ethyl­idene]thio­semicarbazide

The title compound, C12H10BrN3O2S, exists in an E configuration with respect to the C=N bond. The approximately planar 2H-chromene ring system [maximum deviation = 0.059 (1) Å] is inclined at a dihedral angle of 17.50 (5)° with respect to the mean plane through the thio­semicarbazide unit and an intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond generates an S(5) ring. In the crystal structure, adjacent mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming [010] chains built up from R 2 2(8) loops, such that each S atom accepts two such bonds. These chains are further inter­connected into sheets parallel to the ab plane via short Br⋯O inter­actions [3.0732 (13) Å] and a π–π aromatic stacking inter­action [3.7870 (8) Å] is also observed

3-{2-[2-(3-Hy­droxy­benzyl­idene)hydrazin-1-yl]-1,3-thia­zol-4-yl}-2H-chromen-2-one hemihydrate

In the title compound, C19H13N3O3S·0.5H2O, both organic mol­ecules (A and B) exist in E configurations with respect to the acyclic C=N bond and have similar overall conformations. In mol­ecule A, the essentially planar thia­zole ring [maximum deviation = 0.010 (2) Å] is inclined at inter­planar angles of 11.44 (10) and 32.50 (12)°, with the 2H-chromene ring system and the benzene ring, respectively. The equivalent values for mol­ecule B are 0.002 (2) Å, 7.71 (9) and 12.51 (12)°. In the crystal structure, neighbouring mol­ecules are inter­connected into infinite layers lying parallel to (010) by O—H⋯O, O—H⋯N, N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Further stabilization of the crystal structure is provided by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯π and π–π [centroid–centroid distance = 3.6380 (19) Å] inter­actions

S100A4 downregulates filopodia formation through increased dynamic instability

Cell migration requires the initial formation of cell protrusions, lamellipodia and/or filopodia, the attachment of the leading lamella to extracellular cues and the formation and efficient recycling of focal contacts at the leading edge. The small calcium binding EF-hand protein S100A4 has been shown to promote cell motility but the direct molecular mechanisms responsible remain to be elucidated. In this work, we provide new evidences indicating that elevated levels of S100A4 affect the stability of filopodia and prevent the maturation of focal complexes. Increasing the levels of S100A4 in a rat mammary benign tumor derived cell line results in acquired cellular migration on the wound healing scratch assay. At the cellular levels, we found that high levels of S100A4 induce the formation of many nascent filopodia, but that only a very small and limited number of those can stably adhere and mature, as opposed to control cells, which generate fewer protrusions but are able to maintain these into more mature projections. This observation was paralleled by the fact that S100A4 overexpressing cells were unable to establish stable focal adhesions. Using different truncated forms of the S100A4 proteins that are unable to bind to myosin IIA, our data suggests that this newly identified functions of S100A4 is myosin-dependent, providing new understanding on the regulatory functions of S100A4 on cellular migration

The Change in Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation after Stellate Ganglion Block

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is known to increase blood flow to the innervations area of the stellate ganglion. Near infrared spectroscopy reflects an increased blood volume and allows continuous, non-invasive, and bedside monitoring of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2). We investigated the influence of SGB on bilateral cerebral oxygenation using a near infrared spectroscopy. METHODS: SGB was performed on 30 patients with 1% lidocaine 10 ml using a paratracheal technique at the C6 level and confirmed by the presence of Horner's syndrome. The blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rSO2 were measured before SGB and 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after SGB. Tympanic temperature of each ear was measured prior to SGB and 20 minutes after SGB. RESULTS: The increments of the rSO2 on the block side from the baseline were statistically significant at 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. The rSO2 on the non-block side compared with the baseline, however, decreased at 15 and 20 minutes. The difference between the block and the non-block sides was significant at 15 and 20 minutes. The BP at 10, 15 and 20 minutes was increased and the HR was increased at 10 and 15 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an increment of the rSO2 on the block side from the baseline; however, the rSO2 on the non-block side decreasedope

Comparison of trauma systems in Asian countries: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the demographic characteristics and trauma service structures and processes of hospitals in 15 countries across the Asia Pacific, and to provide baseline data for the integrated trauma database: the Pan-Asian Trauma Outcomes Study (PATOS). METHODS: Medical directors and emergency physicians at PATOS-participating hospitals in countries across the Asia Pacific were surveyed through a standardized questionnaire. General information, trauma care system data, and trauma emergency department (ED) outcomes at each hospital were collected by email and analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Survey data from 35 hospitals across 15 countries were collected from archived data between June 2014 and July 2015. Designated trauma centers were identified as the highest hospital level for trauma patients in 70% of surveyed countries. Half of the hospitals surveyed had special teams for trauma care, and almost all prepared activation protocol documents for these teams. Most hospitals offered specialized trauma education programs, and 72.7% of hospitals had a hospital-based trauma registry. The total number of trauma patients visiting the ED across 25 of the hospitals was 300,376. The overall survival-to-discharge rate was 97.2%; however, it varied greatly between 85.1% and 99.7%. The difference between survival-to-discharge rates of moderate and severe injury groups was highest in Taiwan (41.8%) and lowest in Thailand (18.6%). CONCLUSION: Trauma care systems and ED outcomes vary widely among surveyed hospitals and countries. This information is useful to build further detailed, systematic platforms for trauma surveillance and evidence-based trauma care policies

Impaired dynamin 2 function leads to increased AP-1 transcriptional activity through the JNK/c-Jun pathway

Activation of AP-1 transcription factors, composed of the Jun and Fos proteins, regulates cellular fates, such as proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis. Among other stimuli, the AP-1 pathway can be initiated by extracellular ligands, such as growth factors or cytokines, which undergo internalization in complex with their receptors. Endocytosis has been implicated in the regulation of several signaling pathways; however its possible impact on AP-1 signaling remains unknown. Here we show that inhibition of dynamin 2 (Dyn2), a major regulator of endocytic internalization, strongly stimulates the AP-1 pathway. Specifically, expression of a dominant-negative Dyn2 K44A mutant increases the total levels of c-Jun, its phosphorylation on Ser63/73 and transcription of AP-1 target genes. Interestingly, DNM2 mutations implicated in human neurological disorders exhibit similar effects on AP-1 signaling. Mechanistically, Dyn2 K44A induces AP-1 by increasing phosphorylation of several receptor tyrosine kinases. Their activation is required to initiate a Src- and JNK-dependent signaling cascade converging on c-Jun and stimulating expression of AP-1 target genes. Cumulatively, our data uncover a link between the Dyn2 function and JNK signaling which leads to AP-1 induction

Precise measurement of the W-boson mass with the CDF II detector

We have measured the W-boson mass MW using data corresponding to 2.2/fb of integrated luminosity collected in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Samples consisting of 470126 W->enu candidates and 624708 W->munu candidates yield the measurement MW = 80387 +- 12 (stat) +- 15 (syst) = 80387 +- 19 MeV. This is the most precise measurement of the W-boson mass to date and significantly exceeds the precision of all previous measurements combined