Measurements of Location-Dependent Nitric Oxide Levels on Skin Surface in relation to Acupuncture Point

Location-dependent skin surface’s partial nitric oxide pressure (pNO) is studied using highly sensitive amperometric NO microsensor with a small sensing area (diameter  = 76 μm). The pNO level of LI4 (Hegu) acupuncture point is measured and compared with the pNO level of nonacupuncture point. In addition, the mapping of pNO is carried out over the left wrist skin area one- as well as two-dimensionally. Statistically higher pNO levels near the position of acupuncture points than non-acupuncture points are observed consistently, implying tight relationship between the level of NO release of skin and acupuncture points. The amperometric planar NO microsensor successfully monitors the heterogeneity of skin pNO distribution in high spatial resolution due to its advantageous features such as high sensitivity and small sensing dimension. The current study suggests the direct connection between NO and acupuncture points and possibly provides beneficial information to understand physiological roles and basis of the acupuncture points

ALTERATIONS IN JOINT KINEMATICS AND KINETICS DURING DOWNHILL RUNNING

The purpose of this investigation was to find how joint kinematics and kinetics during downhill running change compared to level running. Fifteen recreational runners ran on a force plate imbedded treadmill with three different slopes (0 º, -6º, and -9º) at a controlled speed of 3.2 m/s. Ten steps on each slope were selected for analysis. Increased knee flexion with decreased ankle plantar-flexion and hip flexion was found during downhill running compared to level running. Decreased peak propulsive ground reaction force and posterior impulse were found during downhill running compared to level running. Additionally, increased extension moment with increased negative joint power at the knee and decreased plantar-flexion moment with decreased negative joint power at the ankle were found during downhill running compared to level running

SPRINTING CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN’S 100 METER FINALS AT THE IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHOPS DAEGU 2011

This study analyzed the sprinting characteristics of the finalists during the women's 100 m event in the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011 in order to provide important information to track and field coaches and athletes. Five high speed cameras (Casio, Japan) with a sampling frequency of 300 Hz were used to calculate the number of steps, step length, and stride frequency of the eight sprinters in the women’s final event. There was a tendency to show a better performance time with a high number of steps (p=0.13) and shorter stride length (p=0.14) among the eight sprinters. Furthermore, stride frequency and performance time were negatively correlated as a higher stride frequency had a positive impact on performance time (p=0.02). Based on the relationship between COM velocity and lower extremity joint angles, the 4 top ranked sprinters showed the different strategies to maintain a high COM velocity during the mid portion of the race

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 interacts with hepatitis B virus core particle, but not with HBc protein, to promote HBV replication

Here, we demonstrate that the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 interacts noncovalently with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core particle through phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline (pS/TP) motifs in the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) but not with particle-defective, dimer-positive mutants of HBc. This suggests that neither dimers nor monomers of HBc are Pin1-binding partners. The 162TP, 164SP, and 172SP motifs within the HBc CTD are important for the Pin1/core particle interaction. Although Pin1 dissociated from core particle upon heat treatment, it was detected as an opened-up core particle, demonstrating that Pin1 binds both to the outside and the inside of the core particle. Although the amino-terminal domain S/TP motifs of HBc are not involved in the interaction, 49SP contributes to core particle stability, and 128TP might be involved in core particle assembly, as shown by the decreased core particle level of S49A mutant through repeated freeze and thaw and low-level assembly of the T128A mutant, respectively. Overexpression of Pin1 increased core particle stability through their interactions, HBV DNA synthesis, and virion secretion without concomitant increases in HBV RNA levels, indicating that Pin1 may be involved in core particle assembly and maturation, thereby promoting the later stages of the HBV life cycle. By contrast, parvulin inhibitors and PIN1 knockdown reduced HBV replication. Since more Pin1 proteins bound to immature core particles than to mature core particles, the interaction appears to depend on the stage of virus replication. Taken together, the data suggest that physical association between Pin1 and phosphorylated core particles may induce structural alterations through isomerization by Pin1, induce dephosphorylation by unidentified host phosphatases, and promote completion of virus life cycle

LOWER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS OF SKI MOTION ON HILLS

This research study aimed to collect thre- dimensional joint angles of the lower extremity during a basic ski motion in order to provide more quantitative teaching guide-lines for ski instructors. Eleven infrared cameras were placed to cover the capture volume of three different stopping movements (e.g. “Pflug Fahren”) on hills. Six ski instructors participated in the test. Three trials of each stop were selected for comparison. Based on the results, skiers tended to use the edge of the ski and maintain a wider “V” shape at the shortest stop distance (e.g. 2m) compared to the other stops. Also, each skier had to invert the foot with a less flexed and more abducted knee and hip position as the stopping distance was decreased. This information will be useful for the development of more objective teaching guide-lines for beginner skiers