The effects of different volumes of dynamic stretching on 20-M repeated sprint ability performance

The purpose of this within-subjects counterbalanced design study is to elucidate the effects of different volumes of dynamic stretching on Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) performance. Thirteen male team sport athletes perfromed a repeated sprint ability test consisting of a maximal 6 x 20 meter sprint (with 30s active recovery between each sprint) following different volumes of dynamic stretching (DSS1, DSS2 and DSS3). The results showed no significant difference for all parameters between all the all dynamic stretching volumes. Results show that any of the dynamic stretching volumes may be used as a warm up prior to the repeated sprints session. However, DSS1 confers some advantage in terms of lesser times, though not statistically significant for BST, MST and TSTKeywords: fatigue; set; repetition; specific warm-up; recovery

Effects of adiponectin on markers of endothelial activation and markers of inflammation in human coronary artery endothelial cells

This study investigates the effect of adiponectin on endothelial activation and inflammatory marker secretion by human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCEAC) in vitro.Methodology: HCAEC at the seventh passage were divided into two groups and incubated or 24 hours at 37° C and 5% CO2 as follows: Control, and adiponectin-treated (30 μg/ml adiponectin) groups. Supernatants were analysed for ICAM-1, E-selectin, PAI-1 and IL-6 and COX-2 using ELISA. RT-PCR was used to analyse gene expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin, PAI-, IL-6, COX-2, NFkBp50 and NFkBp65. Data were analysed using independent t-test. Results: ICAM-1 and E-selectin level was significantly higher in leptin-adiponectin-treated groups (P<0.01). Endothelial activation marker protein level have no significant difference in adiponectin group when compared to control group.  mRNA expression showed significant increase in adiponectin group as compared to control. PAI-1 and COX-2 showed no significant increase in the level of protein in adiponectin group but IL-6 showed significant increased in the protein level (P<0.001) while mRNA expression of PAI-1 (P<0.05), COX-2 (P<0.01) and IL-6 (P<0.001) showed significant increase in treated group as compared to control. mRNA expression also showed significant increase in both the NFkBp50 and NFkBp65 signalling pathway.Conclusion: Adiponectin increases the secretion of IL-6 from HCEAC. This adipokinesmight have a significant role in the inflammatory and pro-atherogenic state of obesity.Keywords: HCAEC, Adiponectin, ICAM-1, E-selectin, IL-6, PAI-1, COX-2, NFkB

The influence of carbonization temperature on the development of carbon membrane with superior CO2/CH4 separation performance Pengaruh suhu karbonisasi kepada pembangunan membran karbon dengan kesan pemisahan gas CO2/CH4 yang cemerlang

In this study, P84-based carbon tubular membranes were fabricated and characterized in terms of their structural morphology and gas permeation properties, by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and pure gas permeation system, respectively. The polymer tubular membranes were then carbonized under nitrogen atmosphere at different carbonization temperatures of 600, 700, 800 and 900 °C, with heating rate of 3°C/min and thermal soak time of 30 minutes. The manipulation of carbonization temperatures was required to see if it could enhance the permeation properties as desired. Pure gas permeation tests were performed using CO2 and CH4 gases. The CO2/CH4 selectivity was found increasing as the carbonization temperature was increased from 600 to 800 °C. The carbon membrane carbonized at 800°C showed the most promising result for CO2/CH4 selectivity, rendering 69.48 and CO2 permeance of 206.1 GPU

Studi Simulasi Optimasi Parameter Proses Implantasi ION Nitrogen Multi Energi ke Dalam Permukaan SS 316L Menggunakan Program SRIM

Nitrogen ion implantation at 50 keV of energy on the surface of SS 316 stainless steel, by calculation will only be able to reach a depth of 561 Å and the ions will be distributed Gaussian effectively at a depth of 561 Å ± 339 Å, so that from the surface to a depth of 222 Å is not filled by ions (empty) which of course will affect the properties of the implanted surface. The solution to the problem is to implant the target several times at <50 keV of energy. To minimize the un-filled volume, the study of simulation and calculation has been conducted. In this study a simulation using TRIM program to know how many times the target should be implanted at different energies and also the calculation of the amount of nitrogen ions that should be implanted, so that the distribution of nitrogen ions can be evenly distributed from the surface to 561 Å. From the results of simulations and calculations the results show that the target must be implanted at least 6 times implantation at energy 50 keV,40 keV, 30 keV, 20 keV and 10 keV. Under these conditions the dose that must be implanted are 7,4×1017ion/cm2, 6,44×1017ion/cm2, 4,6×1017 ion/cm2, 3×1017 ion/cm2 and 1,6×1017 ion/cm2. The total doses and amount of nitrogen filling the implanted volume are 7,32%.

Design of a Low Voltage Class AB Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA)

A variable gain amplifier (VGA) is one of the most significant component in many applications such as analog to digital converter (ADC). In communication receiver, VGA is typically employed in a feedback loop to realize an automatic gain control (AGC), to provide constant signal power to baseband analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for unpredictable received signal strengths. Gain range, power consumption and bandwidth of ADC are strongly influenced by the performance of operational amplifier. VGA is the key element for amplifying process in ADC. However, current class AB VGA is experiencing the limit of bandwidth, which is not suitable for high speed automatic gain control AGC. In order to overcome these limitations a high linearity and wide bandwidth of VGA is indispensable. The aim of this research is to get higher gain and larger bandwidth for VGA. In this research, a low cost, low power voltage and wide bandwidth class AB VGA is designed to mitigate this constraint. Superiority of the proposed VGA has been confirmed by circuit simulation using CEDEC 0.18-μm CMOS process with the help of tools from Mentor Graphics in designing a 100-MHz VGA under 1V supply voltage draining total static power consumption less than 125uW. The results show that the circuit is able to work with high linearity and wide bandwidth by varying Rf and Rs. Therefore, the frequency response (Gain) and the wide bandwidth of this class AB VGA is better than previously reported class AB VGA. Consequently, this modified class AB VGA is appropriate for high speed applications

Evaporation lifetime and boiling curve on hemispherical stainless steel (304) surface

The purpose of this research is to study and investigate the evaporation lifetime and boiling curve on a hemispherical heated surface. The selected material was stainless steel (304). A nearly perfect and smooth hemispherical surface was developed by using EDM die sinker. For the test liquid, distilled water was used during the experimental work. The average droplet temperature was 31.36 °C corresponding to liquid subcooling ∆Tsub = 68.64K. Based on the theoretical calculation, the diameter of the water droplet was approximately 5.00 mm. Meanwhile, the impact height was approximately 65.0 mm corresponding to the theoretical impact velocity of 1.129 m/s. The material was heated using a digital hot plate which was able to give an accurate reading and stable temperature fluctuation during the heating process. The temperature ranged from a low temperature of Tw = 100 °C to a high temperature of Tw = 300 °C. As a result, the boiling curve showed a similar pattern of other experimental work that consists of two (2) important points which are the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) and Leidenfrost temperature

HPCSA Serious Injury Narrative Test guideline

Current South African Road Accident Fund (RAF) legislation requires a medical determination of the seriousness of injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents to determine whether the claimant is entitled to a claim for general damages. Such medical assessments are submitted in the form of RAF 4 Serious Injury Assessment Reports. Contested claims for serious injury are referred to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Appeal Tribunals for final determination. The legislation prescribes 2 instruments, namely the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides (6th edition) and the Narrative Test for this purpose. Whereas the AMA Guides are published in a comprehensive book, and training courses are provided in their use, existing legislation does not provide any indication of the required structure, content or criteria of a Narrative Test report. This document is published by the HPCSA Appeal Tribunals as a guideline to the performance of the Narrative Test; what it is, reasons for applying it and who should compile it, as well as the required structure, content and criteria thereof. A Narrative Test Report should include relevant and meaningful comment in relation to each of the 6 sections described in the article.

Database forensic investigation process models: a review

Database Forensic Investigation (DBFI) involves the identification, collection, preservation, reconstruction, analysis, and reporting of database incidents. However, it is a heterogeneous, complex, and ambiguous field due to the variety and multidimensional nature of database systems. A small number of DBFI process models have been proposed to solve specific database scenarios using different investigation processes, concepts, activities, and tasks as surveyed in this paper. Specifically, we reviewed 40 proposed DBFI process models for RDBMS in the literature to offer up- to-date and comprehensive background knowledge on existing DBFI process model research, their associated challenges, issues for newcomers, and potential solutions for addressing such issues. This paper highlights three common limitations of the DBFI domain, which are: 1) redundant and irrelevant investigation processes; 2) redundant and irrelevant investigation concepts and terminologies; and 3) a lack of unified models to manage, share, and reuse DBFI knowledge. Also, this paper suggests three solutions for the discovered limitations, which are: 1) propose generic DBFI process/model for the DBFI field; 2) develop a semantic metamodeling language to structure, manage, organize, share, and reuse DBFI knowledge; and 3) develop a repository to store and retrieve DBFI field knowledge

Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia:lessons learnt from a national perinatal audit

OBJECTIVES: To describe characteristics of neonates with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia (SNH) and to gain more insight in improvable factors that may have contributed to the development of SNH. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study, based on national Dutch perinatal audit data on SNH from 2017 to 2019. PATIENTS: Neonates, born ≥35 weeks of gestation and without antenatally known severe blood group incompatibility, who developed hyperbilirubinaemia above the exchange transfusion threshold. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Characteristics of neonates having SNH and corresponding improvable factors. RESULTS: During the 3-year period, 109 neonates met the eligibility criteria. ABO antagonism was the most frequent cause (43%). All neonates received intensive phototherapy and 30 neonates (28%) received an exchange transfusion. Improvable factors were mainly related to lack of knowledge, poor adherence to the national hyperbilirubinaemia guideline, and to incomplete documentation and insufficient communication of the a priori hyperbilirubinaemia risk assessment among healthcare providers. A priori risk assessment, a key recommendation in the national hyperbilirubinaemia guideline, was documented in only six neonates (6%). CONCLUSIONS: SNH remains a serious threat to neonatal health in the Netherlands. ABO antagonism frequently underlies SNH. Lack of compliance to the national guideline including insufficient a priori hyperbilirubinaemia risk assessment, and communication among healthcare providers are important improvable factors. Implementation of universal bilirubin screening and better documentation of the risk of hyperbilirubinaemia may enhance early recognition of potentially dangerous neonatal jaundice

Integrating interconception care in preventive child health care services:The Healthy Pregnancy 4 All program

BackgroundMost parents with young children pay routine visits to Well-Baby Clinics, or so-called Preventive Child Health Care (PCHC) services. This offers a unique opportunity to promote and deliver interconception care. This study aimed to integrate such care and perform an implementation evaluation.MethodsIn seven Dutch municipalities, PCHC professionals were instructed to discuss the possibility of an interconception care consultation during each routine six-months well-baby visit. The primary outcome of this study was coverage of the intervention, quantified as the proportion of visits during which women were informed about interconception care. Secondary outcomes included adoption, fidelity, feasibility, appropriateness, acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention, studied by surveying PCHC professionals and women considering becoming pregnant.ResultsThe possibility of interconception care was discussed during 29% (n = 1,849) of all visits, and 60% of the PCHC physicians adopted the promotion of interconception care by regularly informing women. About half of the PCHC professionals and most women judged integration of interconception care in PCHC appropriate and acceptable. Estimated feasibility was poor, since 13% of the professionals judged future integration in daily practice as probable. The uptake of interconception care consultations was low (n = 4 consultations).ConclusionsPromotion of interconception care was achieved in approximately one-third of the routine PCHC consultations and appeared promising with regards to adoption, appropriateness and acceptability. However, concerns on feasibility and uptake of interconception care consultations in daily practice remain. Suggestions for improvement may include further integration of interconception care health promotion in routine PCHC consultations, while allocating sufficient resources