Coactivation Patterns of the Biceps and Triceps Brachii in Division I Baseball Pitchers

Agonist-antagonist coactivation patterns provide valuable insights into the coordination and efficiency of movement, serving as a reliable indicator of proficiency in a task as intricate as throwing. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine biceps and triceps brachii coactivation patterns in overhead throwing athletes during isokinetic contractions. METHODS: Twelve (21.40 ± 1.36 yrs., 185 ± 4.79 cm, 90.78 ± 7.65 kg) Division I baseball pitchers participated in this study. Following a familiarization visit, subjects completed maximal voluntary isokinetic contractions (MVC) of the biceps and triceps brachii followed by randomized percentage-based contractions at 25% and 50% MVC. All contractions were performed on a Biodex System 4 dynamometer at a velocity of 60°/sec, and surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record muscle activation from the biceps and triceps brachii. Root mean square (RMS) coactivation ratios were calculated for both bicep flexion and tricep extension. A 2-way [muscle action (flexion vs extension) x intensity (25% vs 50% vs MVC)] repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare RMS ratios. RESULTS: There was no significant muscle action x intensity interaction (p\u3e0.05); however, there was a significant main effect on intensity (pCONCLUSION: The observed differences in coactivation imply that overhead throwing athletes demonstrate greater proficiency in maximal effort contractions of the biceps and triceps brachii. This is to be expected, as these movements more closely replicate the demands of sport-specific performance

Dyskeratosis congenita: clinical report and review of the literature

WOS: 000289426000012PubMed: 20096085Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is an inherited disorder that usually presents in males, consisting of the triad of leukoplakia of the mucous membranes, nails dystrophy and skin pigmentation. Oral and dental abnormalities may also be present. Most cases are X-linked autosomal dominant, but recessive forms have also been reported. This study describes herein a case in which the classic triad of signs was present, along with the development of leukoplakia in the buccal mucosa. Our patient, a 25-year-old man, presented with several characteristic systemic features of this condition, together with the following oral features: hypodontia, delayed dental eruption, short blunt roots, extensive caries, gingival inflammation and bleeding, loss of alveolar bone and buccal mucosa with leukoplakia and irregular ulcers. The patient was given full preventive care. The primary teeth were extracted under local anaesthesia. After establishing optimal oral health, oral hygiene instructions were given to the patient and he was rehabilitated with fixed and removable partial denture. Prosthetic treatments were carried out after establishing optimal oral health. This treatment option appears beneficial in this patient, resulting in rehabilitation of occlusion and less mechanical irritation to the oral mucosa

Dancing on the intersections of (un)acceptability: reflections/flextions on disengagement in higher education

There is increasingly pressure for academic institutions to engage (diverse) ‘publics’ and work towards a more open and inclusive higher education. This inclusive approach is apparent in strategies for student recruitment, with attempts made by institutions to both attract and retain those from across intersections of society, diversifying the student population rather than limiting it to its traditional white middle-class demographic. In addition, in attempts to make higher education more inclusive, universities find new ways to engage ‘publics’ in different academic processes and practices. However, despite this, academia still remains fairly exclusive and even elitist; this differs between institutions and is dependent upon where each institution sits within the wider hierarchy of higher education. Elitism and exclusivity not only have implications for prospective students and ‘publics’- bringing into question some of academia’s ‘strategies of inclusion’, but there are also implications for prospective and active members of academic staff. In this context, this chapter specifically focuses on the role of the academic within higher education and the extent to which one’s background plays a role in shaping academic identity and academic membership. This chapter will also consider the hierarchy of higher education, evident by the implicit rules and rituals of different academic institutions. In addressing such issues I will draw on my own personal experiences of working and studying in academia, as an ex-lap-dancer, and discuss how my occupational background has often led me to question my academic identity, credibility and sense of belonging within the wider ‘academy’, leaving me feeling disengaged. By drawing on academic disengagement in this way, the extent to which academic institutions are truly zones of inclusion is brought into question, but this also addresses some of the wider issues about the types of ‘publics’ who are fostered in and out of academia