KINEMATICS OF LOWER AND UPPER EXTREMITIES MOTIONS DURING THE FENCING LUNGE: RESULTS AND TRAINING IMPLICATIONS

INTRODUCTION: The fencing lunge belongs to the type of motions mostly used in this sport: a substantial element is represented by the action speed, avoiding or reducing the possibility of a defense or counterattack action by the opponent athlete. The objectives of this study are the presentation and valuation of the actual state of the execution of the fencing lunge on the basis of quantitative aspects using data of a three-dimensional analysis of lower and upper extremity movements. METHODS: Data were obtained using an electro-optical system (SELSPOT II), yielding the spatial coordinates of different body points of interest, and, by execution of a differentiation process, the velocity parameters of these points. Four female fencers of a higher fencing level served as test persons. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The interpretation of the numerical results consists at first of a description of the actual ‘state of the art’ of execution of the fencing lunge. In all test persons, the begin of the movement of hip and sword arm was registrated at the same time, the hip reaching horizontal values of about 2 m/s and the maximal foil velocity being about 4 m/s. It could be noticed the hit (measured and registrated using a wall target) coincided with the maximum speed value of the foil. Furthermore, taking into account the individual variations of the data, the possibilities of an optimization of the training technique are discussed, giving methodological hints towards a better or more effective training of the fencing lunge

MAT-708: MONITORING THE CORROSION PROCESS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE FLAT SLAB-COLUMN CONNECTION

The corrosion of the steel reinforcement embedded in a two-way reinforced concrete flat slab around the column stub area was investigated in this study, which aimed to studying the effect of corrosion on the shear punching behavior. Two square flat slab-column connections were cast, the flat slab dimension was 1900 mm × 1900 mm × 150 mm, and the column dimensions was 250 mm × 250 mm. A specific delaminated area was corroded around the column stub to emphasize the effect of corrosion around punching area. The corrosion reached two levels of mass loss uniformly over that specified area: 0% and 26%. Corrosion process was monitored under an accelerated corrosion technique through the application of a constant potential of fifteen volts to reach the targeted uniform corrosion level. Then, the corrode slab-column connection was loaded until failure for each slab occurred. The corrosion performance of the slab was evaluated based on the results of the current measurement, half-cell potential tests, and mass loss. The test results show that the corrosion of reinforcement rebar around the column stub in flat slab causes a significant loss in punching shear capacity and affects the structural integrity by increasing crack widths

Teaching and learning using mathematics software "The New Challenge"

Teaching and learning in mathematics curriculums in Universities by using mathematical software can be a difficult and demanding task, especially for novice learners. This paper presents efficient mathematical tool for teaching and learning of Linear Algebra courses. MAPLE software tool was used for teaching and learning of parts of the Linear Algebra course. Using MAPLE in teaching and learning mathematical concepts is a great challenge both from a didactical and a scientific point of view. In this paper we provide mathematical examples by using mathematical software and necessary steps as evidences that didactically it increases mathematical skills. By using interactive Maple worksheets and animated graphics, students can find the opportunity of numerous experiments that provide well understanding. Further the use of Maple provide conceptual and meaningful understanding for the student, several Maple can be designed to see, geometrical application of Linear Algebra topics. Indeed, utilizing ICT and particular the use of interactive facilities of Maple in teaching and learning which will provide a new challenge to both mathematics educators as well as students

Purification and characterization of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. G1

A cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was successively purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, and affinity chromatography on a-CD (epoxy)-Sepharose 6B column. The specific activity of the CGTase was increased approximately 2200-fold, from 8.43 U/mg protein to 18,866 U/mg protein. SDS-PAGE showed that the purified CGTase was homogeneous and the molecular weight of the purified CGTase was about 75 kDa. The molecular weight of the enzyme that was estimated by gel filtration under native condition was 79 kDa. This has indicated that Bacillus sp. G1 CGTase is a monomeric protein. The isoelectric point (pI) of the enzyme was about 8.8. Characterization of the enzyme exhibited optimum pH and temperature of 6.0 and 60 8C, respectively. The enzyme was stable from pH 7.0 to 9.0 and retained its high activity up to 60 8C. However, in the presence of 20 mM Ca2+, the purified CGTase is able to prolong its thermal stability up to 70 8C. CGTase was strongly inhibited by ZnSO4, CuSO4, CoCl2, FeSO4, FeCl3 and EDTA. Km and Vmax for the purified enzyme were 0.15 mg/ml and 60.39 mg bcyclodextrin/( ml min), respectively, with soluble starch as substrate. In cyclodextrin production, tapioca starch was found to be the best substrate used to produce CDs. The enzyme produced g- and b-CD in the ratio of 0.11:0.89 after 24 h incubation at 60 8C, without the presence of any selective agents

Physiological factors affecting the production of an antimicrobial substance by Streptomyces violatus in batch cultures

Egyptian Journal of Biology Vol.3 2001: 1-1

Mining network-level properties of Twitter altmetrics data

© 2019, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary. Social networking sites play a significant role in altmetrics. While 90% of all altmetric mentions come from Twitter, the known microscopic and macroscopic properties of Twitter altmetrics data are limited. In this study, we present a large-scale analysis of Twitter altmetrics data using social network analysis techniques on the ‘mention’ network of Twitter users. Exploiting the network-level properties of over 1.4 million tweets, corresponding to 77,757 scholarly articles, this study focuses on the following aspects of Twitter altmetrics data: (a) the influence of organizational accounts; (b) the formation of disciplinary communities; (c) the cross-disciplinary interaction among Twitter users; (d) the network motifs of influential Twitter users; and (e) testing the small-world property. The results show that Twitter-based social media communities have unique characteristics, which may affect social media usage counts either directly or indirectly. Therefore, instead of treating altmetrics data as a black box, the underlying social media networks, which may either inflate or deflate social media usage counts, need further scrutiny

The protective effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles against hepatic oxidative damage induced by monocrotaline

Kamal A Amin1, Mohamed S Hassan2, El-Said T Awad3, Khalid S Hashem11Department of Biochemistry, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EgyptObjective: The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles to protect against monocrotaline (MCT)-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model.Method: Twenty male Sprague Dawley rats were arbitrarily assigned to four groups: control (received saline), CeO2 (given 0.0001 nmol/kg intraperitoneally [IP]), MCT (given 10 mg/kg body weight IP as a single dose), and MCT + CeO2 (received CeO2 both before and after MCT). Electron microscopic imaging of the rat livers was carried out, and hepatic total glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities were quantified.Results: Results showed a significant MCT-induced decrease in total hepatic GSH, GPX, GR, and GST normalized to control values with concurrent CeO2 administration. In addition, MCT produced significant increases in hepatic CAT and SOD activities, which also ameliorated with CeO2.Conclusions: These results indicate that CeO2 acts as a putative novel and effective hepatoprotective agent against MCT-induced hepatotoxicity.Keywords: monocrotaline, ceruim oxide nanoparticle, hepatotoxicity, oxidative stres

Comparing monolithic and fused core HPLC columns for fast chromatographic analysis of fat soluble vitamins

HPLC stationary phases of monolithic and fused core type can be used to achieve fast chromatographic separation as an alternative to UPLC. In this study, monolithic and fused core stationary phases are compared for fast separation of four fat-soluble vitamins. Three new methods on the first and second generation monolithic silica RP-18e columns and a fused core pentafluoro-phenyl propyl column were developed. Application of three fused core columns offered comparable separations of retinyl palmitate, DL-α-tocopheryl acetate, cholecalciferol and menadione in terms of elution speed and separation efficiency. Separation was achieved in approx. 5 min with good resolution (Rs >5) and precision (RSD ≤ 0.6 %). Monolithic columns showed, however, a higher number of theoretical plates, better precision and lower column backpressure than the fused core column. The three developed methods were successfully applied to separate and quantitate fat-soluble vitamins in commercial products

Role of combined grey scale US and US tissue elastography in differentiating solid thyroid nodules

AbstractBackgroundUltrasonographic (US) examination is an accurate method for detecting thyroid nodules, but its use in differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules is relatively low. US elastography has been applied to study the hardness/elasticity of nodules to differentiate malignant from benign lesions thus deviating a significant group of patients from unnecessary FNAB.ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to evaluate the validity of combined grey scale US and tissue elastography in differentiating benign form malignant solid thyroid nodules.MethodsThe study included 46 selected patients with solid thyroid nodules according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients underwent surgery for compressive symptoms or suspicion of malignancy on FNA cytology. US features and tissue elastography were scored according to the Rago criteria (1).ResultsOn US elastography: all the 31 cases with a final diagnosis of benign nodule had a score of 1–3, while 14 of 15 (94.1%) with a final diagnosis of carcinoma had a score of 4–5, with a sensitivity of 93.3%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 97.8%. Combined US and elastography reveals that hypoechogenicity/score 4–5 was most predictive of malignancy with sensitivity 80% and specificity 100%; and accuracy 93.4%.ConclusionsUS elastography seems to have great potential as a new tool for differentiating solid thyroid nodules and for recommending FNAC. Combined grey scale US features and US elastography added no significant value when compared with US elastography alone. Further prospective studies are needed

EFFECT OF ALGAE EXTRACTS ON GROWTH, YIELD, AND ESSENTIAL OIL OF FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) PLANT

Algae are natural bioactive materials rich in protein, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, and Mo) hence; they have beneficial effects on plant growth. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of foliar spraying with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ml l-1) of two algal species extracts including Amphora coffeaeformis (Bacillariophyta) and Pediastrum boryanum (Chlorophyta) on growth parameters, fruits yield, essential oil productivity, and chemical constituents of fennel plant during the two successive seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). The results indicated that all treatments significantly affected all parameters compared to the control. Among the different concentrations used, the highest rate (2.0 ml l-1) of Pediastrum boryanum caused the maximum significant increase in plant height, number of branches, number of umbels, fruits yield (g)/plant, the weight of 1000 fruits (g), essential oil percentage, yield (ml)/plant, components as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium percentage in dry fruits. Therefore, using algae (A. coffeaeformis and P. boryanum) extract for enhancing yield and essential oil production is recommended