A SIMPLE METHOD FOR MONITORING SPRINGBOARD REACTION FORCE IN GYMNASTIC VAULTING

This work was to found a new method for measuring the reaction force of springboard (BRF), which provides scientific supports to the diagnosis of take-off technique. The elastic moduli of GYMNOVA soft and hard springboards were derived by method of mechanics of material, then the springboards were tested in static, dynamic experiments and computer simulations. An equation with different coefficients for soft and hard spring boards, which describe force-displacement of the springboard, F=kx+cx was obtained and validated. This equation can be used with convenience by employing a high speed camera shooting to the springboard for rapidly monitoring the take-off BRF, and provide scientific supports in the enhancement of vaulting techniques, and in injury preventions as well

Phenol Adsorption on Nitrogen-Enriched Activated Carbon from Wood Fiberboard Waste

Nitrogen-enriched activated carbons were prepared from wood fiberboard waste using 50% potassium hydroxide solution. Activated carbons were obtained with an impregnation ratio (gram chemical agent/gram wood fiberboard waste) of 3 in 850°C activation temperature carbonized for 60 min. Nitrogen content in activated carbon was 1.33% by analysis. Effects of contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage level, and temperature on phenol adsorption capacity of activated carbons were investigated. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 100 min at the given phenol concentration of 250 mg/L. When 0.1 g of the carbon absorbent and 100 mL of phenol solution at 250 mg/L were used, maximum adsorption capacity of phenol on activated carbon can reach 207 mg/g. The kinetics of phenol adsorption followed nicely the pseudo-second-order rate expression. In the adsorption isotherm, the Langmuir model fit better than the Freundlich model in phenol adsorption. This study suggests that nitrogen-enriched activated carbon prepared from wood fiberboard waste can be used effectively for removal of phenol compounds from aqueous solutions

miRNAs as Regulators of Antidiabetic Effects of Fucoidans

open access articleDiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease with a high mortality rate worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), and other small noncoding RNAs, serve as endogenous gene regulators through binding to specific sequences in RNA and modifying gene expression toward up- or down-regulation. miRNAs have become compelling therapeutic targets and play crucial roles in regulating the process of insulin resistance. Fucoidan has shown potential function as an a-amylase inhibitor, which may be beneficial in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, many studies on fucoidan focused on the decrease in blood glucose levels caused by ingesting low-glucose food or glucose-lowering components. However, the importance of miRNAs as regulators of antidiabetic effects was rarely recognized. Hence, this review emphasizes the antidiabetic mechanisms of fucoidan through regulation of miRNAs. Fucoidan exerts a vital antidiabetic effect by regulation of miRNA expression and thus provides a novel biological target for future research

Anti-tumor effects of ephedrine and anisodamine on SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line

Background: To investigate the effects of ephedrine and anisodamine on the proliferation of human breast cancer.Materials and Methods: SKBR3 cell was treated with or without ephedrine and / or anisodamine,  respectively. The trypan blue exclusion assay was used to determine cell numbers. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. The concentration of cAMP and cyclin D1 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was used to measure PKA.Results: Ephedrine and anisodamine inhibited cell proliferation and arrested SKBR3 cells at G0/G1 phases. Ephedrine and anisodamine increased the level of CD1 in SKBR3 cells. Furthermore, significant change in intracellular cAMP concentration was found in SKBR3 cells treated with ephedrine and anisodamine. The phosphorylation of PKA substrate was not activated after 48 hours of treatment with ephedrine and  anisodamine.Conclusion: Ephedrine and anisodamine inhibit the proliferation of SKBR3 cells via a significantly change of intracellular cAMP concentration.Key words: anisodamine, breast cancer, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, ephedrine, proliferation Abbreviations: cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; ELISA,  enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; CD1, cyclin D1; SNS, sympathetic nervous system

Peculiar properties in quasi-normal spectra from loop quantum gravity effect

We investigate the quasi-normal mode (QNM) spectra for scalar and electromagnetic fields over a covairant loop quantum gravity black hole (LQG-BH). For the fundamental modes, the LQG effect reduces the oscillations in the scalar field, however it induces stronger oscillations in the electromagnetic field, comparing to the classical case. Under the scalar field perturbation, the system enjoys faster decaying modes with more oscillations than the electromagnetic field. Some peculiar phenomena emerge in the scalar field's QNM spectra with high overtones for the angular quantum numbers $l>0$. It is that the LQG-BH has a larger real part of QNM with high overtones than the Schwarzschild black hole (SS-BH). Such an anomalous phenomenon results in the oscillation of the scalar field in the LQG-BH to be nearly identical to that in the SS-BH. Therefore, the high overtone modes of the scalar field in LQG-BH play an important role in the modes with $l>0$. This anomalous phenomenon, however, does not occur in the electromagnetic field's QNM spectra.Comment: 28 pages,10 figure

Performance of a dipstick dye immunoassay for rapid screening of Schistosoma japonicum infection in areas of low endemicity

BACKGROUND: The dipstick dye immunoassay (DDIA), recently commercially available in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China), is a rapid and simple test to detect human antibodies against Schistosoma Japonicum. Its performance and utility for screening schistosome infection in low endemic areas is little known. We therefore carried out a cross-sectional survey in seven villages with low endemicity of schistosomiasis in P.R. China and assessed the performance and utility of DDIA for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Stool samples were collected and examined by the Kato-Katz method and the miracidium hatching technique. Serum samples, separated from whole blood of participants, were tested by DDIA. RESULTS: 6285 individuals aged 6-65 years old participated in this study, with a prevalence of schistosomiasis of 4.20%. Using stool examination as a gold reference standard, DDIA performed with a high overall sensitivity of 91.29% (95% CI: 87.89-94.69%) and also a high negative predictive value, with a mean value of 99.29% (95% CI: 98.99-99.58%). The specificity of DDIA was only moderate (53.08%, 95% CI: 51.82-54.34%). Multivariate analysis indicated that age, occupation and history of schistosome infection were significantly associated with the false positive results of DDIA. CONCLUSIONS: DDIA is a sensitive, rapid, simple and portable diagnostic assay and can be used as a primary approach for screening schistosome infection in areas of low endemicity. However, more sensitive and specific confirmatory assays need to be developed and combined with DDIA for targeting chemotherapy accurately

Effectiveness of Adherence to Standardized Hypertension Management by Primary Health Care Workers in China: a Cross-sectional Survey 3 Years after the Healthcare Reform

The standardized hypertension management provided by primary health care workers is an important part of China's recent health care reform efforts. Investigating 5,116 hypertensive patients from a cross-sectional survey conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2012, this study found that adherence to standardized hypertension management is associated with positive effects on hypertension-related knowledge, healthy lifestyle behavior, antihypertensive medical treatments, and blood pressure control. It will be necessary to provide primary health care workers with sufficient training and reasonable incentives to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of hypertension management