EFFECTS OF RUNNING BIOMECHANICS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ILIOTIBIAL SYNDROME IN MALE RUNNERS — A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

This study aimed to determine the gait characteristics that easily induce ITBS and explore the gait changes after the occurrence of ITBS. 30 healthy male runners participated in our study, 15 in ITBS and control group respectively. All participants underwent two gait trials, namely, before the first day of their routine running and after 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of running, the ITBS group exhibited greater peak anterior pelvic tilt and hip flexion angle than the control group. The ITBS group showed increased peak trunk inclination angle, whereas the control group demonstrated lower peak hip flexion and peak hip adduction than those at the beginning of running. Decreased peak hip flexion and peak hip adduction angle was a gait adjustment strategy that could be used to avoid ITBS occurrence. Excessive trunk posture and pelvic activity during running are also ITBS risk factors

EFFECTS OF PNF INTERVENTION ON PAIN, JOINT PROPRIOCEPTION AND KNEE MOMENTS IN THE ELDERLY WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS DURING STAIR ASCENDING

In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of a 6-week proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) intervention on stair pain, joint proprioception, and external knee moment in the elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) during stair ascending. A total of 27 elderly patients with KOA participated in our study. Fourteen of the patients were included in the PNF group, and 13 were included in the control group. The WOMAC measures for specific pain and joint motion sense measures were used, and gait test were performed at weeks 0 and 6. After a 6-week PNF intervention, the PNF group showed a decreased “using stairs” pain score, decreased difficulty with “climbing stairs” score, decreased joint kinesthesia threshold, increased knee flexion moment (KFM), and decreased knee adduction moment (KAM) during climbing stairs. We suggest the use of PNF intervention, which relieves joint pain, enhances muscles strength and proprioception recovery, increases KFM, and decreases KAM, in the treatment of KOA in elderly patients

DETRAINING EFFECTS OF TAI CHI ON STATIC BALANCE IN OLDER WOMEN

This study aimed to investigate the detraining effects of Tai Chi (TC) on balance ability in single leg stance (SLS). TC, brisk walking (BW), and control (C) groups completed a 16-week intervention and 8-week detraining program. Time and center of pressure trajectory in SLS was tested with pressure plate at baseline, 16th, 24th week. Primary outcome (Time) and secondary outcomes (Lng, Area, D-ap, D-ml) improved significantly at the 16th week in the TC and BW groups. Most outcomes increased significantly at the 24th week compared to the 16th week in the BW group. TC was effective to improve balance ability and maintaining intervention gains and is recommended as an appropriate exercise to prevent falls in the older adults

Metal-organic framework-derived Ni 2 P/nitrogen-doped carbon porous spheres for enhanced lithium storage

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs)/carbonaceous matrices have gradually attracted attention in the field of energy storage. In this study, we presented nickel phosphide (Ni2P) nanoparticles anchored to nitrogen-doped carbon porous spheres (Ni2P/NC) by using metal-organic framework-Ni as the template. The comprehensive encapsulation architecture provides closer contact among the Ni2P nanoparticles and greatly improves the structural integrity as well as the electronic conductivity, resulting in excellent lithium storage performance. The reversible specific capacity of 286.4 mA h g−1 has been obtained even at a high current density of 3.0 A g−1 and 450.4 mA h g−1 is obtained after 800 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. Furthermore, full batteries based on LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2||Ni2P/NC exhibit both good rate capability and cycling life. This study provides a powerful and in-depth insight on new advanced electrodes in high-performance energy storage devices

Developing a class of dual atom materials for multifunctional catalytic reactions

Dual atom catalysts, bridging single atom and metal/alloy nanoparticle catalysts, offer more opportunities to enhance the kinetics and multifunctional performance of oxygen reduction/evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions. However, the rational design of efficient multifunctional dual atom catalysts remains a blind area and is challenging. In this study, we achieved controllable regulation from Co nanoparticles to CoN4 single atoms to Co2N5 dual atoms using an atomization and sintering strategy via an N-stripping and thermal-migrating process. More importantly, this strategy could be extended to the fabrication of 22 distinct dual atom catalysts. In particular, the Co2N5 dual atom with tailored spin states could achieve ideally balanced adsorption/desorption of intermediates, thus realizing superior multifunctional activity. In addition, it endows Zn-air batteries with long-term stability for 800 h, allows water splitting to continuously operate for 1000 h, and can enable solar-powered water splitting systems with uninterrupted large-scale hydrogen production throughout day and night. This universal and scalable strategy provides opportunities for the controlled design of efficient multifunctional dual atom catalysts in energy conversion technologies

Silencing and Un-silencing of Tetracycline-Controlled Genes in Neurons

To identify the underlying reason for the controversial performance of tetracycline (Tet)-controlled regulated gene expression in mammalian neurons, we investigated each of the three components that comprise the Tet inducible systems, namely tetracyclines as inducers, tetracycline-transactivator (tTA) and reverse tTA (rtTA), and tTA-responsive promoters (Ptets). We have discovered that stably integrated Ptet becomes functionally silenced in the majority of neurons when it is inactive during development. Ptet silencing can be avoided when it is either not integrated in the genome or stably-integrated with basal activity. Moreover, long-term, high transactivator levels in neurons can often overcome integration-induced Ptet gene silencing, possibly by inducing promoter accessibility

Platinum/Nickel Bicarbonate Heterostructures towards Accelerated Hydrogen Evolution under Alkaline Conditions

Heterostructured nanomaterials, generally have physicochemical properties that differ from those of the individual components, and thus have potential in a wide range of applications. New platinum (Pt)/nickel bicarbonate (Ni(HCO 3 ) 2 ) heterostructures are designed for an efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Notably, the specific and mass activity of Pt in Pt/Ni(HCO 3 ) 2 are substantially improved compared to the bare Pt nanoparticles (NPs). The Ni(HCO 3 ) 2 provides abundant water adsorption/dissociation sites and modulate the electronic structure of Pt, which determine the elementary reaction kinetics of alkaline HER. The Ni(HCO 3 ) 2 nanoplates offer a platform for the uniform dispersion of Pt NPs, ensuring the maximum exposure of active sites. The results demonstrate that, Ni(HCO 3 ) 2 is an effective catalyst promoter for alkaline HER

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Improves Pain and Descending Mechanics Among Elderly With Knee Osteoarthritis

Purpose Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disease that causes pain and limits functionality in the elderly during daily activities, especially during stair descent. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) practices promote multiple‐plane joint movements, which relieve pain and increase joint range of motion (ROM). This study aims to examine the effects of a 12‐week PNF intervention on pain relief, passive and active joint ROM, external knee adduction moment (KAM), and hip adduction moment (HAM) in the elderly with KOA during stair descent. Materials and Methods Seventy‐six elderly who were diagnosed with KOA were assessed for eligibility and, 36 of them met the inclusive criteria, were randomly divided into two groups: the twelve‐week PNF intervention group and the control group. Pain score was measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Passive joint ROM was measured using a goniometer. Active joint ROM, KAM, and HAM during stair descent were measured using a motion analysis system with a force platform. All the data were recorded at weeks 0, 6, and 12. Results Compared to the control group, the PNF group showed a decreased pain score; increased passive hip, knee, and ankle ROM; a decreased minimum knee flexion angle, and increased HAM during stair descent. Perspective Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation intervention is a successful method to relieve symptoms of KOA. It relieves pain without increasing KAM, enhances passive ROM, increases active knee flexion ROM, and increases HAM during stair descent in the elderly with KOA

Low-Coordinate Iridium Oxide Confined on Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution

Highly active and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is greatly desired. Iridium oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (IrO2/GCN) heterostructures are designed with low-coordinate IrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) confined on superhydrophilic highly stable GCN nanosheets for efficient acidic OER. The GCN nanosheets not only ensure the homogeneous distribution and confinement of IrO2 NPs but also endows the heterostructured catalyst system with a superhydrophilic surface, which can maximize the exposure of active sites and promotes mass diffusion. The coordination number of Ir atoms is decreased owing to the strong interaction between IrO2 and GCN, leading to lattice strain and increment of electron density around Ir sites and hence modulating the attachment between the catalyst and reaction intermediates. The optimized IrO2/GCN heterostructure delivers not only by far the highest mass activity among the reported IrO2-based catalysts but also decent durability