The Effects of Injury Experience in Lower Extremities on Joint Range of Motion, Muscle Extensibility, and Dynamic Stability in Elite Volleyball Players

PURPOSE This study investigates the impact of injury experience on ankle dorsiflexion, quadriceps extensibility, and dynamic stability in elite adolescent and adult volleyball players. METHODS A total of 485 players (adolescents=337, adults=115) reported lower extremities injuries, with measurements taken for ankle dorsiflexion and quadriceps extensibility using the weight- bearing lunge test and Ely’s test, respectively. The Y-balance test was used for dynamic stability. Measurements were conducted on the injured leg of players with knee and/or ankle injuries and the dominant leg of healthy players. Four groups were classified based on injury experience, and comparisons were made between both legs. Additionally, the variables of adolescent players were compared to those of adults. RESULTS Adolescent players with knee injuries exhibited a larger difference in ankle dorsiflexion between both legs, while adult players with ankle injuries demonstrated an asymmetry of ankle dorsiflexion. Regardless of age, players with knee or ankle injuries displayed lower dynamic stability compared to healthy players. Notably, adults with knee injuries showed a larger difference in dynamic stability between both legs. CONCLUSIONS To prevent and rehabilitate volleyball-related injuries, comprehensive injury risk factors, including age, should be managed in the injury prevention strategies

Running Performance Profile among Playing Positions and Quarters in Elite Female Field Hockey Players

PURPOSE This study aimed to compare the running-related variables during competitions across playing positions and quarters in elite female field hockey players. METHODS A total of 136 data from 41 players were collected using GPS units during national-level competitions. The running-related variables included the total distance covered (TD, unit: m), relative distance (RD, unit: m/min), proportion of low-(LID, 0-6 km/h), moderate-(MID, 6.1-15 km/h), and high-intensity (HID, ≥15.1 km/h) distance of the total distance covered (unit: %), and sprint efforts (SE, ≥19.1 km/h, ≥1s; unit: bouts). RESULTS The defenders’ TD (5,619.77±1,046.14 m) was shorter than that of midfielders (5,475±1,043.33 m) and forwards (4,684.22± 1,066.11 m), and the RD of midfielders (103.64±9.10 m/min) was longer than that of forwards (99.03±10.37 m/min) and defenders (92.42±10.85 m/min). The midfielders had the highest MID(47.08±5.51%), while the highest HID (16.23±3.62%) was observed in the forwards. Defenders performed 35.12±5.25 bouts, with the highest number of sprints among the playing positions. Regardless of the playing positions, 1 quarter had the highest TD, RD, and HID, and the SE was the highest in 4 quarter. CONCLUSIONS The players’ specific requirements can be managed by practitioners and coaches using the running performance profile; further, it can be used to design training programs containing suitable running volumes to improve players’ performance

The Differences of Shoulder Range of Motion and Dynamic Stability in Upper Extremity Depending on Ages and Experiences of Shoulder Injuries among Volleyball Players

PURPOSE This study aimed to verify the differences in shoulder range of motion (ROM) and dynamic stability in the upper extremities depending on the players’ ages and frequency of sports injuries in the shoulder joint. METHODS A total of 519 volleyball players enrolled in the Korea Volleyball Association and Korean Volleyball Federation participated in this study. All participants answered questions about their experiences of sports-related shoulder injuries and were then categorized into shoulder-injured and non-injured groups. Shoulder ROM (flexion/extension and internal/external rotation) and upper quarter Y-balance (YBT-UQ) were tested by trained examiners. The YBT-UQ was normalized to the arm length (%AL) of the players. RESULTS Among elementary and middle school players, the shoulder-injured group had lower internal rotation than the non-injured group. In addition, elementary school players with a history of shoulder injuries performed worse in the YBT-UQ test. Regardless of their history of shoulder injury, older patients tended to have decreased shoulder flexion and extension. In the injured group, younger players had lower internal rotation of the shoulder. CONCLUSIONS These results showed that player age should be considered for rehabilitation to prevent shoulder sports-related injuries in volleyball players

Wood Pellet Driven-Biochar Characterization Produced at Different Targeted Pyrolysis Temperatures

The imperative transition to renewable energy drives the need for innovation. Biomass, particularly wood pellets, has demonstrated poor performance in co-firing scenarios. This study employed pyrolysis to convert wood pellets into biochar with improved fuel quality. The biochar production and characterization were investigated at pyrolysis temperatures of 400°C to 500°C. The findings revealed significant improvements: the observed fixed carbon content increased from 67.2% to 78.8%, and the calorific value increased 1.2 times higher within the pyrolysis temperature increased. On the other hand, as the pyrolysis temperature increased from 400°C to 500°C, biochar yields decreased from 49% to 37%. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis revealed distinct weight loss during heating, illuminating component volatilization and residue accumulation. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy elucidated structural changes, demonstrating the evolution of cellulose and hemicellulose into aromatic structures. Ultimately, these insights into biochar characteristics informed the optimization of pyrolysis processes, contributing to the production of superior biochar for renewable energy applications. Keywords: biochar, biomass, carbon storage, pyrolysis, wood pelle

Effects of Neuromuscular Training on the Rear-foot Angle Kinematics in Elite Women Field Hockey Players with Chronic Ankle Instability

The aims of this study were to investigate the ankle position, the changes and persistence of ankle kinematics after neuromuscular training in athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI). A total of 21 national women’s field hockey players participated (CAI = 12, control = 9). Ankle position at heel strike (HS), midstance (MS), and toe touch (TT) in the frontal plane during walking, running and landing were measured using 3D motion analysis. A 6-week neuromuscular training program was undertaken by the CAI group. Measurements of kinematic data for both groups were measured at baseline and the changes in kinematic data for CAI group were measured at 6 and 24 weeks. The kinematic data at HS during walking and running demonstrated that the magnitude of the eversion in the CAI group (−5.00° and −4.21°) was less than in the control group (−13.45°and −9.62°). The kinematic data at MS also exhibited less ankle eversion in the CAI group (−9.36° and −8.18°) than in the control group (−18.52° and −15.88°). Ankle positions at TT during landing were comparable between groups. Following the 6-week training, the CAI participants demonstrated a less everted ankle at HS during walking and running (−1.77° and −1.76°) compared to the previous positions. They also showed less ankle eversion at MS (−5.14° and −4.19°). Ankle orientation at TT changed significantly to an inverted ankle position (from −0.26° to 4.11°). The ankle kinematics were restored back to the previous positions at 24 weeks except for landing. It appeared that athletes with unstable ankle had a relatively inverted ankle position, and that 6-week neuromuscular training had an immediate effect on changing ankle orientation toward a less everted direction. The changed ankle kinematics seemed to persist during landing but not during walking and running

Biosensors Based on Bivalent and Multivalent Recognition by Nucleic Acid Scaffolds

Several biological macromolecules adopt bivalent or multivalent interactions to perform various cellular processes. In this regard, the development of molecular constructs presenting multiple ligands in a specific manner is becoming crucial for the understanding of multivalent interactions and for the detection of target macromolecules. Nucleic acids are attractive molecules to achieve this goal because they are capable of forming various, structurally well-defined 2D or 3D nanostructures and can bear multiple ligands on their structures with precisely controlled ligand–ligand distances. Thanks to the features of nucleic acids, researchers have proposed a wide range of bivalent and multivalent binding agents that strongly bind to target biomolecules; consequently, these findings have uncovered new biosensing strategies for biomolecule detection. To date, various bivalent and multivalent interactions of nucleic acid architectures have been applied to the design of biosensors with enhanced sensitivity and target accuracy. In this review, we describe not only basic biosensor designs but also recently designed biosensors operating through the bivalent and multivalent recognition of nucleic acid scaffolds. Based on these designs, strategies to transduce bi- or multivalent interaction signals into readable signals are discussed in detail, and the future prospects and challenges of the field of multivalence-based biosensors are explored

Biosensors Based on Bivalent and Multivalent Recognition by Nucleic Acid Scaffolds

Several biological macromolecules adopt bivalent or multivalent interactions to perform various cellular processes. In this regard, the development of molecular constructs presenting multiple ligands in a specific manner is becoming crucial for the understanding of multivalent interactions and for the detection of target macromolecules. Nucleic acids are attractive molecules to achieve this goal because they are capable of forming various, structurally well-defined 2D or 3D nanostructures and can bear multiple ligands on their structures with precisely controlled ligand–ligand distances. Thanks to the features of nucleic acids, researchers have proposed a wide range of bivalent and multivalent binding agents that strongly bind to target biomolecules; consequently, these findings have uncovered new biosensing strategies for biomolecule detection. To date, various bivalent and multivalent interactions of nucleic acid architectures have been applied to the design of biosensors with enhanced sensitivity and target accuracy. In this review, we describe not only basic biosensor designs but also recently designed biosensors operating through the bivalent and multivalent recognition of nucleic acid scaffolds. Based on these designs, strategies to transduce bi- or multivalent interaction signals into readable signals are discussed in detail, and the future prospects and challenges of the field of multivalence-based biosensors are explored

Bias dependence of PBTI degradation mechanism in metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors with La-incorporated hafnium-based dielectric

Metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) with various concentrations of La incorporated in Hf-based dielectrics were characterized to evaluate the effect of La on devices' reliability. Compared with the small dependence of positive bias stress instability (PBTI) on stress bias in samples without La incorporation, significant dependence of PBTI degradation on stress bias was observed in the La-incorporated samples. HRTEM analysis and flat band voltage modulation data supported the interface dipole model, suggesting that this bias dependence of PBTI degradation in the La-incorporated samples could be explained by changes of electron tunneling mechanism due to interface dipoles.close2

Torrefaction and Degradative Solvent Extraction As Means of Processing Rice Husk Waste

The high moisture level and ash content of biomass often hinder its further processing. In this study, torrefaction and degradative solvent extraction were employed to upgrade rice husk waste. Biomass torrefied at five different temperatures, in addition to dry raw biomass for comparison, was extracted in 1-methylnaphthalene at 300 °C for 1 h. Two solid fractions were obtained: extracted biomass (EB) and residue biomass (RB). The extraction yields of the EB and RB were 12–19.3% and 31.7–52% (db), respectively. The torrefaction temperature affected the extraction yields and slightly influenced product characteristics. The EB had almost no ash content as it was concentrated in the RB. However, both the EB and RB had higher heat values and carbon content as well as lower oxygen content than the raw biomass. Therefore, our findings suggest that EB could be utilized not only as fuel but also as functional materials