The relation of body mass index to muscular viscoelastic properties in normal and overweight individuals

Background: The body mass index (BMI) is closely related to fat tissue, which may have direct or indirect effects on muscle function. Previous studies have evaluated BMI and muscle viscoelastic properties in vivo in older people or individual sexes; however, the relationship between BMI and muscular viscoelastic properties is still unknown. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of BMI with muscular viscoelastic properties, and to compare these properties in a young sedentary population with normal and overweight individuals. Methods: A total of 172 healthy sedentary individuals (mean age, 26.00 ± 5.45 years) were categorized by sex (male and female) and BMI classification (normal (BMI, 18.50–24.99 kg/m2), overweight (BMI = 25.00–29.99 kg/m2)). Body weight was evaluated using an electronic scale, while height was measured using a standard stadiometer. BMI was calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. The viscoelastic properties (tone, stiffness, and elasticity) of the biceps brachii (BB) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were measured bilaterally using the MyotonPRO device at rest. Results: The bilateral BF tone and stiffness, right BB stiffness, and elasticity showed weak correlations with BMI in all participants. Furthermore, the bilateral BF tone and stiffness, right BB stiffness and elasticity, and left BB stiffness were weakly positively correlated with male sex. Only the right BB elasticity was weakly positively correlated with BMI in females (p 0.05). The overweight group showed increased bilateral BF stiffness and tone, right BB stiffness, and reduced bilateral BB elasticity compared to the normal-weight group (p 0.05). Greater bilateral BB tone, BF tone and stiffness, and lower BF elasticity were observed in males than in females (p 0.05). Conclusions: The BB and BF viscoelastic properties were weakly correlated with BMI. Males showed greater muscle tone and stiffness, and lower elasticity. The overweight individuals showed increased stiffness and tone, particularly in lower extremities, and reduced elasticity in upper extremities. The effect of BMI–sex interactions on the viscoelastic properties was not clear. Higher BMI (increased mechanical load) might cause the human body to develop different muscular viscoelastic adaptations in the extremities. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Assessment of the mechanical characteristics of the lower extremity muscles with myotonometric measurements in healthy individuals

Introduction. This study aimed to establish normative values for stiffness, tone, and elasticity of lower extremity muscles and to determine age and sex differences. Methods. overall, 389 participants (199 females, 190 males) were included. The mechanical properties of the tibialis anterior (TA), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis obliquus (VMo), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles were assessed bilaterally with the MyotonPRo device. The data were compared with respect to sex and age. Results. The mechanical properties were significantly higher bilaterally in males than females in all parameters (p < 0.05). Right TA stiffness and elasticity, GM tone and stiffness were higher than left in females (p < 0.05). Greater VMo elasticity and RF tone were found in left vs. right (p < 0.05). Right GL-VL stiffness and elasticity were greater than left in males (p < 0.05). VMo-RF tones were bigger in left compared with right (p < 0.05). Among age groups, right-left TA tone and stiffness were greater in group 1 (18-28 years old) (p < 0.05). Right-left VL-VMo tones, and left RF stiffness and tone were lower in group 2 (29-39 years old) (p < 0.05). Right GM-VMo stiffness, right-left TA-GL-GM-VMo and RF elasticity were greater in group 3 (40-50 years old) compared with others (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The mechanical properties of leg muscles were bilaterally higher in males. different characteristics were observed of different muscles for both sexes. GL-GM-VMo-RF elasticity decreased, and TA stiffness and VMo tone increased with advancing age in both legs. © University School of Physical Education in Wrocła

Soft Γ-Modules

In this paper, the denitions of soft  Γ-module, soft Γ-module homomorphism and soft Γ-exactness are introduced with the aid of the concept of soft set theory introduced by Molodtsov. In the meantime, some of their properties and structural characteristics are investigated and discussed. Thereafter, several illustrative examples are given

Quality changes of spotless shad during storage at different conditions

KORAL, SERKAN/0000-0001-7424-2481; Kose, Sevim/0000-0001-6029-0458WOS: 000377012900006This study investigates the effect of using ice in combination with refrigeration on the sensory, physico-chemical and microbiological attributes of spotless shad during storage. Spotless shad kept in ice under refrigerated conditions had better sensory, physicochemical and microbiological quality as compared with control groups. the shelf life of samples kept at ambient temperature without ice was 2 days. Using ice and refrigeration only extended the shelf-life for 3 days and 4 days, respectively, while ice application with refrigeration further increased the shelf-life by 10 days. Physico-chemical and microbiological results usually supported sensory values. Histamine values were below EU (European Union) and FDA permitted levels for the shelf-life of fish

Self-Efficacy Beliefs Of Prospective Primary Mathematics Teachers About Mathematical Literacy

The aim of this study was to examine the self-efficacy beliefs about mathematical literacy among teachers of primary school mathematics and the relationship between the self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics. To that end, a descriptive research study was conducted with 550 prospective teachers studying primary school mathematics and teaching at three Turkish universities in three different cities. We obtained data through use of the Mathematical Literacy Self-efficacy Scale and a Scale Measuring Attitude towards Mathematics. The self-efficacy beliefs of prospective teachers about mathematical literacy were compared according to their gender, the grade level(s) they were being trained to teach, and the university they attended. Additionally, the relationship between the self-efficacy beliefs of the prospective teachers about mathematical literacy and their attitudes towards mathematics were examined. We also examined whether attitude is a predictor of self-efficacy beliefs. Based on the research findings, we determined that the self-efficacy beliefs of prospective teachers about mathematical literacy were high and these beliefs did not change according to gender, the grade level(s) they were being trained to teach, or the university they attended. Further, the results of the study revealed a significantly low relationship between the self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes of prospective teachers towards mathematics. The findings of this study indicate that prospective teachers’ attitudes towards mathematics are an important predictor of self-efficacy beliefs about mathematical literacy

N-Cyano-7α-methoxy­carbonyl-6,14-endo-ethenotetra­hydro­northebaine

In the title compound (systematic name: methyl 17-cyano-3,6-dimeth­oxy-4,5α-ep­oxy-6,14-endo-ethenomorphinan-7-carboxyl­ate), C23H24N2O5, the dihydro­furan ring adopts a twist conformation, while the piperidine ring is in a chair conformation. The benzene-fused cyclo­hexene ring adopts an envelope conformation. An intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bond is observed. Inter­molecular C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds form C(5) chains along the a and b axes, respectively, and together they form a three-dimensional network

1-Meth­oxy-3-o-tolyl­bicyclo­[2.2.2]oct-5-ene-2,2-dicarbonitrile

In the title compound, C18H18N2O, the cyclo­hexene and cyclo­hexane rings of the bicyclo­[2.2.2]oct-5-ene unit adopt distorted boat conformations. In the crystal, mol­ecules exist as C—H⋯N hydrogen-bonded centrosymmetric R 2 2(14) dimers, which are further linked by C—H⋯π inter­actions

5-Diethyl­amino-2-[(E)-(2,4-dimeth­oxy­phen­yl)imino­meth­yl]phenol

The title Schiff base, C19H24N2O3, exists in the crystal structure in the phenol–imine tautomeric form with an intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The planes of the aromatic rings form a dihedral angle of 36.8 (8)°. The crystal packing is characterized by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.478 (4)Å]

Arduous Journey to Hedjaz: Turkestani Pilgrims, The Caliph and Istanbul (16th -20th Centuries)

This article aims to analyse how the unique religious ritual such as the Muslim pilgrimage the hajj can draw together, politically and culturally, two civilizations with historical ties and commonalities as well as create a mutual interaction between them. In the 16th century, the Ottoman conquest of the Islamic Holy Lands was the beginning of a new era for the Islamic world. This new situation brought about a novel dimension for the Ottomans and all the Muslim states. The paths of all Muslims who wished to fulfil the sacred duty, the hajj pilgrimage, intersected within the Ottoman domains. Central Asian pilgrims who could not undertake the pilgrimage via Iran due to political problems had to cover almost all of the Ottoman domains from north to south to undertake this ritual. As a result, they became the carriers of culture from Central Asia to Anatolia and from Anatolia to Central Asia