JUMPS IN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF WATER: AN OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENT TO JUMP ON LAND

The purpose of this study was to compare rate of force development (RFD) and rate of impact force (RIF) among on-land and in different levels of water jumps. Fourteen male participants were recruited in this study. Participants carried out the testing on land first and followed by testing in knee-high (LOW), trochanter major high (MID), and nasal-high (HIGH) of water. In each condition, participants performed 3 countermovement jumps (CMJ) separated by 15 sec rest. RFD and RIF were calculated. A repeated measure ANOVA was used for assessing the differences of variables among different conditions. The results showed that RFD for LOW is significantly lower than the others, and loading impact on-land is significantly higher than the others. Jumping in MID and HIGH are optimal levels of water for jumps training

Paper-based tuberculosis diagnostic devices with colorimetric gold nanoparticles

A colorimetric sensing strategy employing gold nanoparticles and a paper assay platform has been developed for tuberculosis diagnosis. Unmodified gold nanoparticles and single-stranded detection oligonucleotides are used to achieve rapid diagnosis without complicated and time-consuming thiolated or other surface-modified probe preparation processes. To eliminate the use of sophisticated equipment for data analysis, the color variance for multiple detection results was simultaneously collected and concentrated on cellulose paper with the data readout transmitted for cloud computing via a smartphone. The results show that the 2.6 nM tuberculosis mycobacterium target sequences extracted from patients can easily be detected, and the turnaround time after the human DNA is extracted from clinical samples was approximately 1 h

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF BADMINTON DIFFERENT FORWARD STEPS

The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical variables between 2-step and 3-step forward steps in badminton. Eight collegiate elite male badminton players participated in this study. Eight Vicon T-20 cameras (300 Hz) were used to record the 3D kinematics data and a Kistler force plate (1500 Hz) was used to collect the GRF data of the last steps. A Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank nonparametric statistical test was conducted to compare the differences between two kinds of forward step movements. The results showed that the movement time for 3-step movement was significantly faster than 2-step. We recommend that the badminton players should practice 3-step forward footwork technique. The additional strength and power training for lower limbs should be carried out for the footwork training

A novel mutation in the WFS1 gene identified in a Taiwanese family with low-frequency hearing impairment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wolfram syndrome gene 1 (<it>WFS1</it>) accounts for most of the familial nonsyndromic low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL) which is characterized by sensorineural hearing losses equal to and below 2000 Hz. The current study aimed to contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis of LFSNHL in an affected Taiwanese family.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Taiwanese family with LFSNHL was phenotypically characterized using audiologic examination and pedigree analysis. Genetic characterization was performed by direct sequencing of <it>WFS1 </it>and mutation analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pure tone audiometry confirmed that the family members affected with LFSNHL had a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss equal to or below 2000 Hz. The hearing loss threshold of the affected members showed no progression, a characteristic that was consistent with a mutation in the <it>WFS1 </it>gene located in the DFNA6/14/38 locus. Pedigree analysis showed a hereditarily autosomal dominant pattern characterized by a full penetrance. Among several polymorphisms, a missense mutation Y669H (2005T>C) in exon 8 of <it>WFS1 </it>was identified in members of a Taiwanese family diagnosed with LFSNHL but not in any of the control subjects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We discovered a novel heterozygous missense mutation in exon 8 of <it>WFS1 </it>(i.e., Y669H) which is likely responsible for the LFSNHL phenotype in this particular Taiwanese family.</p

Influence of Socioeconomic Factors, Gender and Indigenous Status on Smoking in Taiwan.

The indigenous Austronesian minority of Taiwan is heavily affected by health disparities which may include suffering from a greater burden of the tobacco epidemic. While a lack of representative data has historically precluded an investigation of the differences in smoking between Taiwanese ethnicities, these data have recently become available through an annual population-based telephone survey conducted by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare (previously known as the Bureau of Health Promotion (BHP), Department of Health). We used the BHP monitoring data to observe the prevalence of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure among indigenous and non-indigenous Taiwanese surrounding a tobacco welfare tax increase in 2006, investigate ethnic differences in smoking prevalence and environmental tobacco smoke exposure each year between 2005 and 2008, and perform multiple logistic regression to estimate measures of association between potential risk factors and smoking status. Despite significant ethnic and gender differences in smoking prevalence, smoking status was not found to be significantly associated with ethnicity after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors

THE DYNAMICAL ANALYSIS OF TABLE TENNIS FOREHAND AND BACKHAND DRIVES

The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamics parameters of table tennis drives by Taiwan collegiate first class table tennis players when they were performing straight and cross court forehand and backhand drives from receiving topspin and backspin serves. Ten Vicon MX-13+ high-speed cameras (250Hz) and two Kistler force plates (1500 Hz) were used to collect the kinematics and kinetics data. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank nonparametric statistical test was to compare the differences between forehand and backhand drives. The results showed that there were significant differences between forehand and backhand drives were in the ball initial velocity and the kinetics variables. The GRF data of the players were different between forehand and backhand drives when they performed four different paths of drive

Repeated Small Perturbation Approach Reveals Transcriptomic Steady States

The study of biological systems dynamics requires elucidation of the transitions of steady states. A “small perturbation” approach can provide important information on the “steady state” of a biological system. In our experiments, small perturbations were generated by applying a series of repeating small doses of ultraviolet radiation to a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. The biological response was assessed by monitoring the gene expression profiles using cDNA microarrays. Repeated small doses (10 J/m2) of ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure modulated the expression profiles of two groups of genes in opposite directions. The genes that were up-regulated have functions mainly associated with anti-proliferation/anti-mitogenesis/apoptosis, and the genes that were down-regulated were mainly related to proliferation/mitogenesis/anti-apoptosis. For both groups of genes, repetition of the small doses of UVB caused an immediate response followed by relaxation between successive small perturbations. This cyclic pattern was suppressed when large doses (233 or 582.5 J/m2) of UVB were applied. Our method and results contribute to a foundation for computational systems biology, which implicitly uses the concept of steady state

Nocturnal CPAP improves walking capacity in COPD patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

BACKGROUND: Exercise limitation is an important issue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it often co-exists with obstructive sleep apnoea (overlap syndrome). This study examined the effects of nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on walking capacity in COPD patients with or without obstructive sleep apnoea. METHODS: Forty-four stable moderate-to-severe COPD patients were recruited and completed this study. They all underwent polysomnography, CPAP titration, accommodation, and treatment with adequate pressure. The incremental shuttle walking test was used to measure walking capacity at baseline and after two nights of CPAP treatment. Urinary catecholamine and heart rate variability were measured before and after CPAP treatment. RESULTS: After two nights of CPAP treatment, the apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index significantly improved in both overlap syndrome and COPD patients, however these changes were significantly greater in the overlap syndrome than in the COPD group. Sleep architecture and autonomic dysfunction significantly improved in the overlap syndrome group but not in the COPD group. CPAP treatment was associated with an increased walking capacity from baseline from 226.4 ± 95.3 m to 288.6 ± 94.6 m (P < 0.05), and decreased urinary catecholamine levels, pre-exercise heart rate, oxygenation, and Borg scale in the overlap syndrome group. An improvement in the apnoea-hypopnoea index was an independent factor associated with the increase in walking distance (r = 0.564). CONCLUSION: Nocturnal CPAP may improve walking capacity in COPD patients with overlap syndrome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT0091426