Two practical strategies for developing resultant muscle torque production using elastic resistance device

This investigation was conducted to quantify and compare Resultant Muscle Torque (RMT) pattern in quadriceps muscle using elastic resistance training device. Sixteen subjects completed 8-RM seated knee extension by elastic tubing with original length (E0) and elastic tubing with 30 decrement of original length (E30). Every repetition was partitioned into 6 phases (3 concentric and 3 eccentric) and mean value for external force and acceleration were calculated and synchronized for every phase of lifting. The magnitude of Resultant Muscle Torque was calculated based on the equation recommended by Enoka (2002) for dynamic motions. the RMT values among various exercise types phases demonstrated significantly higher value for E30 compared with E0 (all P < 0.05). This is except in the 3 rd and 4 th phases of contraction which no significant difference observed between E0 and E30. Accordingly, the magnitude of increasing RMT in phase 1 (2.6 ) and phase 6 (3.98 ) for E30 compared with E0 supported the effectiveness of two applied strategies in developing muscle torque production in ER exercises. © 2011 Springer-Verlag

Application of Clam (lokan) Shell as Beach Retaining Wall

This project is about investigating the possibility of using the local clam (lokan)l embedded in the concrete as beach retaining wall. Since the shell is considered as undesirable product and normally disposed in open area, the researchers taking this opportunity to determine the possibility of lokan shell powder as the alternative fine aggregate to increase the compressive strength of the concrete. From the compression test, by embedding lokan powder into the concrete, it can increase the compressive strength up to 16% (at 30 wt% of lokan powder) compared to concrete without lokan powder. Thus, it can be concluded that lokan powder which is waste material has high potential as the alternative fine aggregate to improve strength of the concrete and can be applied as a retaining wal

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set

Background Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (p < 0.001). Conclusions The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

The contribution of elasticresistance during the eccentric phase of a countermovement jump enhances performance.

The purpose of the present study was to identify the effect of additional elastic force on the kinetic and kinematic characteristics as well as the magnitude of leg stiffness during the performance of accentuated CMJs. Fifteen trained male subjects performed three types of CMJ including FCMJ (i.e. body weight), ACMJ-20 and ACMJ-30 (i.e. accentuated eccentric CMJ with downward tensile force equivalent to 20 and 30 body mass, respectively). A force platform synchronized with six high-speed infra-red cameras was used to measure vertical ground reaction force and displacement, respectively. The results demonstrated that using downward tensile force during the lowering phase of a CMJ and releasing the bands at the start of the concentric phase increased maximal concentric VGRF (6.34), power output (23.21), net impulse (16.65), and jump height (9.52) in ACMJ-30 compared with FCMJ (all p < .05). However, no significant difference was observed in the magnitude of leg stiffness between the three modes of jump. The results indicate that using downward recoil force of the elastic material during the eccentric phase of a CMJ could be an effective method to enhance jump performance by applying a greater eccentric loading on the parallel and series elastic components coupled with the release of stored elastic energy. The importance of this finding is related to the proposition that power output, net impulse, takeoff velocity and jump height are the key parameters for successful athletic performance and any training method that improves impulse and power production may improve sports performance particularly in jumping aspects of sport

Extraction of low molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoates from mixed microbial cultures using bio-based solvents

(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) obtained from waste/wastewater using a mixed microbial culture (MMC) usually varies in its properties due to daily variation in the waste/wastewater composition applied as feedstock. In the current study, the average molecular weight (MW) of PHBV was purposely reduced from about 1 MDa to about 200 kDa by drying the PHBV-rich biomass at elevated temperature of 120 °C for 18 h to ease extraction and handling. Furthermore, conversion into value-added chemicals such as trans-crotonic acid (trans-CA) and trans-2-pentenoic acid (2-PA) by thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) benefits from the lower MW. For the extraction of low MW PHBV, the use of the bio-based solvents 2-methyltetrahydroxyfuran (2-MTHF) and dihydrolevoglucosenone (cyrene) was studied. The maximum extraction yield of 62 ± 3 % with purity of &gt; 99 % was achieved with 2-MTHF at 80 °C for an hour with high biomass to solvent ratio of 5 % (g/mL). Cyrene-based extractions resulted in the highest yield of 57 ± 2 % with purity of &gt; 99 % at 120 °C in 2 h with 5 % (g/mL) biomass to solvent ratio. The mass balance closure over the extraction process indicated that about 15 % and 10 % of polymer has remained in the residual biomass after extraction by 2-MTHF and cyrene, respectively. The performance of these new solvents to extract polymers with various average MW was compared to the benchmark extractions using chloroform and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). It was found that for the polymers with low average MW the extraction efficiency of the proposed solvents exceeds the benchmark solvents.ChemE/Advanced Soft Matte