628 research outputs found
MUSCLE ACTIVATION AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL KINEMATICS OF UPPER EXTREMITY IN SNATCH WEIGHT LIFTING
INTRODUCTION: Previously, there was little weightlifting research focused on biomechanics of the elbow and the shoulder joints (Bartonietz, 1996). Therefore, the purposes of this study were to evaluate the kinematics of upper extremity on sagittal plane during 1st pull, transition from the 1st to the 2nd pull, 2nd pull, turnover under the barbell, catch phase, and rising from the squat position phases of snatch weight lifting and to examine upper-limb muscles activity during snatch weight lifting. The EMG signals were analyzed using the normalized linear envelopes
Existence theorems for a crystal surface model involving the p-Laplace operator
The manufacturing of crystal films lies at the heart of modern
nanotechnology. How to accurately predict the motion of a crystal surface is of
fundamental importance. Many continuum models have been developed for this
purpose, including a number of PDE models, which are often obtained as the
continuum limit of a family of kinetic Monte Carlo models of crystal surface
relaxation that includes both the solid-on-solid and discrete Gaussian models.
In this paper we offer an analytical perspective into some of these models. To
be specific, we study the existence of a weak solution to the boundary value
problem for the equation - \Delta e^{-\mbox{div}\left(|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla
u\right)}+au=f, where are given numbers and is a given
function. This problem is derived from a crystal surface model proposed by
J.L.~Marzuola and J.~Weare (2013 Physical Review, E 88, 032403). The
mathematical challenge is due to the fact that the principal term in our
equation is an exponential function of a p-Laplacian. Existence of a
suitably-defined weak solution is established under the assumptions that
, and . Our investigations reveal that the
key to our existence assertion is how to control the set where
-\mbox{div}\left(|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u\right) is
INVITATION: An Elderly Friendly ICT-enabled Interactive Installation to Promote Social Participations
Many countries are facing significant challenges posed by aging populations, and many of these elderly people are increasingly socially isolated, raising the need to develop senior-friendly services and settings for community life. ICT-enabled technologies can be used to help the elderly maintain adequate degrees of social participation. This paper reports the design and production of an innovative recreation installation featuring elderly friendly technologies to enhance the social lives of elderly Chinese people. The contents are composed of modernized visualization elements of traditional Chinese painting designed to engage elderly Chinese people and promote interaction and participation.</p
Enhanced inhibitory synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn mediates antinociceptive effects of TC-2559
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>TC-2559 is a selective α4β2 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist and α4β2 nAChR activation has been related to antinociception. The aim of this study is to investigate the analgesic effect of TC-2559 and its underlying spinal mechanisms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>1) <it>In vivo </it>bioavailability study: TC-2559 (3 mg/kg) had high absorption rate in rats with maximal total brain concentration reached over 4.6 μM within first 15 min after administration and eliminated rapidly with brain half life of about 20 min after injection. 2) <it>In vivo </it>behavioral experiments: TC-2559 exerts dose dependent antinociceptive effects in both formalin test in mice and chronic constriction injury (CCI) model in rats by activation of α4β2 nAChRs; 3) Whole-cell patch-clamp studies in the superficial dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord slices: perfusion of TC-2559 (2 μM) significantly increased the frequency, but not amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). The enhancement of sIPSCs was blocked by pre-application of DHβE (2 μM), a selective α4β2 nicotinic receptor antagonist. Neither the frequency nor the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) of spinal dorsal horn neurons were affected by TC-2559.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Enhancement of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn via activation of α4β2 nAChRs may be one of the mechanisms of the antinociceptive effects of TC-2559 on pathological pain models. It provides further evidence to support the notion that selective α4β2 subtype nAChR agonist may be developed as new analgesic drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain.</p
ANTRODIA CINNAMOMEA EXTRACT ATTENUATES CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED CHRONIC LIVER FIBROSIS IN SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS
Background: Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) mycelia have been traditionally used by majority of the indigenous populace in Taiwan for symptoms including treating alcohol intoxication. Other beneficial effects have been studied at some point. The present study evaluated the hepato-protection effects in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Methods: The model used carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce a chronic liver injury in male rats. Animals were treated with silymarin 200 mg/kg and AC mycelia at doses of 206, 619 and 1,032 mg/kg. The effects of AC on hepatic enzyme markers alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST) and other biochemical parameters were measured in the CCl4 -induced rats.
Results: AC demonstrated a hepato-protective effect by decreasing ALT and AST levels and increasing albumin levels in CCl4 treated rats. The effects of AC on the activity of antioxidant enzymes were evaluated. AC administration restored the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GrD). The degree of liver fibrosis was significantly reduced by AC administration in CCl4 -treated rats.
Conclusion: These results suggest that AC could protect the hepatocytes from CCl4 -induced liver injury likely via an antioxidant mechanism
Transmission of H7N9 influenza virus in mice by different infective routes.
BackgroundOn 19 February 2013, the first patient infected with a novel influenza A H7N9 virus from an avian source showed symptoms of sickness. More than 349 laboratory-confirmed cases and 109 deaths have been reported in mainland China since then. Laboratory-confirmed, human-to-human H7N9 virus transmission has not been documented between individuals having close contact; however, this transmission route could not be excluded for three families. To control the spread of the avian influenza H7N9 virus, we must better understand its pathogenesis, transmissibility, and transmission routes in mammals. Studies have shown that this particular virus is transmitted by aerosols among ferrets.MethodsTo study potential transmission routes in animals with direct or close contact to other animals, we investigated these factors in a murine model.ResultsViable H7N9 avian influenza virus was detected in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, intestine, and brain of model mice. The virus was transmissible between mice in close contact, with a higher concentration of virus found in pharyngeal and ocular secretions, and feces. All these biological materials were contagious for naïve mice.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the possible transmission routes for the H7N9 influenza virus were through mucosal secretions and feces
The matricellular protein CYR61 promotes breast cancer lung metastasis by facilitating tumor cell extravasation and suppressing anoikis
Matricellular proteins play multiple roles in primary tumor growth, local invasion and tumor angiogenesis. However, their contribution to metastasis and the putative mechanisms involved are less well characterized. In ER-negative human breast cancer, elevated expression levels of the matricellular protein Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) are associated with more aggressive progression. Here, we investigated the role of CYR61 in breast cancer lung metastasis using the triple negative human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and SUM159. Silencing of CYR61 significantly decreased lung metastasis from tumors orthotopically implanted in pre-irradiated or naive mammary tissue and upon tail vein injection. Constitutive CYR61 silencing impaired cancer cell extravasation to the lung during the first 24 hours after tail vein injection. In contrast, CYR61 inducible silencing starting 24 hours after cancer cell injection had no impact on lung metastasis formation. In vitro experiments revealed that CYR61 silencing decreased cancer cell transendothelial migration and motility, reduced CYR61 levels present at the cell surface and sensitized cancer cells to anoikis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CYR61-dependent cell survival under non-adhesive conditions relied, at least partially, on β1 integrin ligation and AMPKα signaling while it was independent of AKT, FAK and ERK1/2 activation. Our data provide the first evidence that CYR61 promotes breast cancer lung metastasis by facilitating tumor cell extravasation and protecting from anoikis during initial seeding to the lung. The uncovered CYR61-β1 integrin-AMPKα axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target to prevent breast cancer metastasis to the lung
Anticancer potentials of sinomenine from Sinomenium acutum: A mini-review
Sinomenine, an important isoquinoline from Sinomenium acutum (Menispermaceae), is currently considered as a reliable drug for treating various malignant cancers including breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, osteosarcoma cervical cancer, and esophageal cancer. The pharmacological mechanisms are probably related to induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This paper was aimed at reviewing the anticancer potential of sinomenine, which is expected to be beneficial in developing this compound as a candidate drug for cancer therapy.Keywords: Sinomenine, Anticancer, Sinomenium acutum, Traditional Chinese Medicin
Poly[[[μ2-1,1′-(butane-1,4-diyl)bis(1H-imidazole)-κ2 N 3:N 3′](μ2-2,6-dimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarboxylato-κ2 O 3:O 5)zinc] dihydrate]
In the title coordination polymer, {[Zn(C9H7NO4)(C10H14N4)]·2H2O}n, the ZnII ion displays a distorted tetrahedral geometry with two imidazole N atoms from two 1,1′-(butane-1,4-diyl)bis(imidazole) (bbi) ligands and two carboxylate O atoms from two 2,6-dimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (dpdc) ligands. The bbi and dpdc ligands bridge the ZnII ions, forming layers parallel to (011). O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between the imidazole rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.807 (5) Å] connect the layers. Two of the three uncoordinated water molecules are disordered, each over two 0.25-occupancy positions
The stellar halo of isolated central galaxies in the Hyper Suprime-Cam imaging survey
We study the faint stellar halo of isolated central galaxies, by stacking
galaxy images in the HSC survey and accounting for the residual sky background
sampled with random points. The surface brightness profiles in HSC -band are
measured for a wide range of galaxy stellar masses
() and out to 120 kpc. Failing to account for
the stellar halo below the noise level of individual images will lead to
underestimates of the total luminosity by . Splitting galaxies
according to the concentration parameter of their light distributions, we find
that the surface brightness profiles of low concentration galaxies drop faster
between 20 and 100 kpc than those of high concentration galaxies. Albeit the
large galaxy-to-galaxy scatter, we find a strong self-similarity of the stellar
halo profiles. They show unified forms once the projected distance is scaled by
the halo virial radius. The colour of galaxies is redder in the centre and
bluer outside, with high concentration galaxies having redder and more
flattened colour profiles. There are indications of a colour minimum, beyond
which the colour of the outer stellar halo turns red again. This colour
minimum, however, is very sensitive to the completeness in masking satellite
galaxies. We also examine the effect of the extended PSF in the measurement of
the stellar halo, which is particularly important for low mass or low
concentration galaxies. The PSF-corrected surface brightness profile can be
measured down to 31 at 3-
significance. PSF also slightly flattens the measured colour profiles.Comment: accepted by MNRAS - Significant changes have been made compared with
the first version, including discussions on the extended PSF wings,
robustness of our results to source detection and masking thresholds and more
detailed investigations on the indications of positive colour gradient
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