Worst-case User Analysis in Poisson Voronoi Cells

In this letter, we focus on the performance of a worst-case mobile user (MU) in the downlink cellular network. We derive the coverage probability and the spectral efficiency of the worst-case MU using stochastic geometry. Through analytical and numerical results, we draw out interesting insights that the coverage probability and the spectral efficiency of the worst-case MU decrease down to 23% and 19% of those of a typical MU, respectively. By applying a coordinated scheduling (CS) scheme, we also investigate how much the performance of the worst-case MU is improved.Comment: Accepted, IEEE Communications Letter

DOSE FASTER HOPPING FREQUENCY IMPROVE RESPONSE TIME AND KICKING SPEED IN TAEKWONDO ROUNDHOUSE KICK?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rhythmic hopping frequency on the response time and kicking speeds in Taekwondo roundhouse kick. Eleven elementary and middle-school athletes voluntarily participated in this study. They performed five roundhouse kicks at three different hopping frequencies (normal, 15% faster than normal, and 15% slower than normal) and no hop condition. Results indicated that the 15% slower hopping frequency induced a significantly longer response time than the 15% faster frequency. The 15% faster frequency resulted in faster maximum kicking speed than normal frequency did, while there was no difference in contact kicking speed. Partially the faster hopping frequency would be beneficial to kicking performance

JOINT KINEMATICS AND MUSCLE ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL BANK-SHOTS IN BASKETBALL FREE-THROW

The study purpose was to investigate joint kinematics and muscle activations and compare clean-shot (CS) and bank-shot (BS) in men’s basketball free-throw. Ten high school male basketball athletes were recruited and asked to perform 10 CS and 10 BS, respectively, in random order. Kinematic results indicated that the range of motions (ROM) of knee, hip, and elbow joints for BS were greater (2.9 to 15.1%) than those of CS. During the projection phase, peak angluar velocities of all joints except the wrist of BS were greater than those of CS. The muscle activity of the triceps brachii increased by about 10.5% across all phases of BS compared to CS. In conclusion, the strategy of successful BS depends on increased joint ROMs and muscle activations of the triceps but similar peak angular velocity of the wrist to CS during the projection phase

Clinical Approach to the Standardization of Oriental Medical Diagnostic Pattern Identification in Stroke Patients

In Korea, many stroke patients receive oriental medical care, in which pattern-identification plays a major role. Pattern-identification is Oriental Medicine's unique diagnostic system. This study attempted to standardize oriental medical pattern-identification for stroke patients. This was a community-based multicenter study that enrolled stroke patients within 30 days after their ictus. We assessed the patients' general characteristics and symptoms related to pattern-identification. Each patient's pattern was determined when two doctors had the same opinion. To determine which variables affect the pattern-identification, binary logistic regression analysis was used with the backward method. A total of 806 stroke patients were enrolled. Among 480 patients who were identified as having a certain pattern, 100 patients exhibited the Fire Heat Pattern, 210 patients the Phlegm Dampness Pattern, nine patients the Blood Stasis Pattern, 110 patients the Qi Deficiency Pattern, and 51 patients the Yin Deficiency Pattern. After the regression analysis, the predictive logistic equations for the Fire Heat, Phlegm Dampness, Qi Deficiency, and Yin Deficiency patterns were determined. The Blood Stasis Pattern was omitted because the sample size was too small. Predictive logistic equations were suggested for four of the patterns. These criteria would be useful in determining each stroke patient's pattern in clinics. However, further studies with large samples are necessary to validate and confirm these criteria

Flightless-I Controls Fat Storage in Drosophila

Triglyceride homeostasis is a key process of normal development and is essential for the maintenance of energy metabolism. Dysregulation of this process leads to metabolic disorders such as obesity and hyperlipidemia. Here, we report a novel function of the Drosophila flightless-I (fliI) gene in lipid metabolism. Drosophila fliI mutants were resistant to starvation and showed increased levels of triglycerides in the fat body and intestine, whereas fliI overexpression decreased triglyceride levels. These flies suffered from metabolic stress indicated by increased levels of trehalose in hemolymph and enhanced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2??). Moreover, upregulation of triglycerides via a knockdown of fliI was reversed by a knockdown of desat1 in the fat body of flies. These results indicate that fliI suppresses the expression of desat1, thereby inhibiting the development of obesity; fliI may, thus, serve as a novel therapeutic target in obesity and metabolic diseases

Dihydrotestosterone-Inducible IL-6 Inhibits Elongation of Human Hair Shafts by Suppressing Matrix Cell Proliferation and Promotes Regression of Hair Follicles in Mice

Autocrine and paracrine factors are produced by balding dermal papilla (DP) cells following dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-driven alterations and are believed to be key factors involved in male pattern baldness. Herein we report that the IL-6 is upregulated in balding DP cells compared with non-balding DP cells. IL-6 was upregulated 3hours after 10–100nM DHT treatment, and ELISA showed that IL-6 was secreted from balding DP cells in response to DHT. IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and glycoprotein 130 (gp130) were expressed in follicular keratinocytes, including matrix cells. Recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6) inhibited hair shaft elongation and suppressed proliferation of matrix cells in cultured human hair follicles. Moreover, rhIL-6 injection into the hypodermis of mice during anagen caused premature onset of catagen. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that DHT-inducible IL-6 inhibits hair growth as a paracrine mediator from the DP

SIRT6 Depletion Suppresses Tumor Growth by Promoting Cellular Senescence Induced by DNA Damage in HCC

The role of Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in liver cancer remains controversial. Thus, we identified the specific role of SIRT6 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SIRT6 expression was significantly higher in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues from 138 patients than in an immortalized hepatocyte cell line, THLE-2 and non-tumor tissues, respectively. SIRT6 knockdown by shRNA suppressed the growth of HCC cells and inhibited HCC tumor growth in vivo. In addition, SIRT6 silencing significantly prevented the growth of HCC cell lines by inducing cellular senescence in the p16/Rb- and p53/p21-pathway independent manners. Microarray analysis revealed that the expression of genes involved in nucleosome assembly was apparently altered in SIRT6-depleted Hep3B cells. SIRT6 knockdown promoted G2/M phase arrest and downregulation of genes encoding histone variants associated with nucleosome assembly, which could be attributed to DNA damage. Taken together, our findings suggest that SIRT6 acts as a tumor promoter by preventing DNA damage and cellular senescence, indicating that SIRT6 represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.11137Ysciescopu

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF BACK-SOMERSAULT KICKS IN TAEKWONDO

This study was purposed to investigate biomechanical differences between best and worst trials in performing back-somersault kicks in Taekwondo. Six elite members of college Taekwondo demonstration team participated in this study and executed each ten trials of single back-somersault kick and double back-somersault kick, respectively. High speed motion capturing system collected positions of 21 markers on major anatomical locations to obtain motion data of full body segments. After post-processing procedure, results showed that the best trial of back-somersault kicks indicated longer preparation time (countermovement), larger range of motions of hip joint, and higher peak angular velocities of knee and hip joints prior to take-off than those of the worst trial. We concluded that athletes should avoid a quick countermovement before take-off, which induces insufficient strain energy of lower extremities and ground reaction impulse. Therefore, a sufficient time for muscle contractions are required to develop high power