THE EFFECT OF APPLIED DIRECTION OF KINESIO TAPING IN ANKLE MUSCLE STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of applied direction of Kinesio taping (KT) in ankle range of motion and calf muscle strength. Twenty healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this study. The ankle plantar flexor muscle strength and ankle dorsiflexion ROM were assessed in knee flexion and knee extension before and after taping applied. Two applied directions, heel to posterior of knee cap (insertion to origin of calf muscles) and posterior of knee cap to heel (origin to insertion of calf muscles) were applied over both side of calf muscles, respectively. The results had not showed significantly difference in any of the results. The beneficial effects of applied direction of KT has not provided scientific evidence in this study. Future study may be able to seek other methods to identify the effect on strength or flexibility while KT applied

Purin-6-One Derivatives as Phosphodiesterase-2 Inhibitors

A series of purin-6-one derivatives were synthesized, and their in vitro inhibitory activity against phosphodiesterase-2 (PDE2) was evaluated by using a fluorescence polarization assay. Three compounds, that are, 2j, 2p, and 2q, showed significant inhibitory activity against PDE2 with IC50 values of 1.73, 0.18, and 3.43 μM, respectively. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was performed to explore the relationship between the chemical structures of these compounds and their inhibitory activity. Compounds 2j, 2p, and 2q were further selected for molecular docking study. The docking results suggested that these ligands bind with hydrophobic pockets of the catalytic active site of PDE2, where a Tyr655 residue was found to be important in binding with compound 2p, the most potent inhibitor identified in this study. Our present study provides useful information for the future design of novel PDE2 inhibitors

An Empirical Study of Civil Servants’ Lifelong E-Learning Continuance Intention

E-learning is an effective way for job-training and continuous education. In recognizing the need for civil servants to embrace the lifelong learning to sustain competitiveness, many countries around the world have created policies to develop e-learning. This study is focus on civil servants’ e-learning continuance intention and through e-learning experience to achieve lifelong learning. Based on Information system (IS) success model proposed by Seddon (1997) and adding organizational factors (Incentive, Supervisor Support, and Technical Support) to survey civil servants’ e-learning behaviour. The sample for the study was taken from the civil servants in Taiwan who have the experience of using the lifelong e-learning websites. The results also support Seddon’s IS success model. Finally, the implications and limitations of the study are discussed

Effect of variable shipping frequency on production-distribution policy in a vendor-buyer integrated system

This paper investigates the effect of variable shipping frequency on production-distribution policy in a vendor-buyer integrated system. In a recent article Chiu et al. [1] derived the optimal replenishment lot size for an economic production quantity problem with multi-delivery and quality assurance, based on an assumption that the number of shipment is a given constant. However, in a vendor-buyer integrated system in supply chain environment, joint determination of replenishment lot size and number of shipments may help such a system to gain significant competitive advantage in terms of becoming a low-cost producer as well as having tight linkage to customer. For this reason, the present study extends the work of Chiu et al. [1] by considering shipping frequency as one of the decision variables and incorporating customer’s stock holding cost into system cost analysis. Hessian matrix equations are employed to certify the convexity of cost function that contains two decision variables, and the effect of variable shipping frequency on production-distribution policy is investigated. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate practical usage of the research result

Solving finite production rate model with scrap and multiple shipments using algebraic approach

This paper solves a finite production rate (FPR) model with scrap and multiple shipments using an algebraic method. Classic FPR model assumes a continuous inventory issuing policy to satisfy demand and perfect quality production for all items produced. However, in real life vendor-buyer integrated production-inventory system, multiple shipment policy is practically used in lieu of a continuous issuing policy and generation of defective items during production run is inevitable. In this study, it is assumed that all defective items are scrap and the perfect quality items can only be delivered to customers if the whole lot is quality assured at the end of the production run. A conventional approach for solving the FPR model is the use of differential calculus on the long-run average cost function with the need to prove optimality first. This paper demonstrates that optimal lot size and its overall costs for the aforementioned FPR model can be derived without derivatives. As a result, it enables students or practitioners who have little knowledge of calculus to understand and to handle with ease the real-life FPR model

Current research in perineural invasion of cholangiocarcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Perineural invasion is a common path for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) metastasis, and it is highly correlated with postoperative recurrence and poor prognosis. It is often an early event in a disease that is commonly diagnosed in advanced stages, and thus it could offer a timely therapeutic and diagnostic target if better understood. This article systematically reviews the progress of CCA neural invasion-related molecules.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE and PubMed databases for articles from January 1990 to December 2009, using the keywords "cholangiocarcinoma," "perineural invasion," "nerve growth factor"(NGF), "neural cell adhesion molecule" (NCAM), "matrix metalloproteinase"(MMP), "neurotransmitter," "acetylcholine" (Ach), and "transforming growth factor" (TGF)." Additional papers and book chapters were identified by a manual search of references from the key articles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From above we found that the molecules NGF, NCAM, MMP, Ach and TGF may have prognostic significance in, and offer clues to the mechanism of CCA neural invasion.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cholangiocarcinoma's increasing worldwide incidence is especially poignant in view of both the lacking effective therapies, and the fact that it is commonly diagnosed in advanced stages. As CCA neural invasion often appears early, more complete characterization of its molecular pathology could lead to the identification of targets for the diagnosis and therapy of this devastating malignancy.</p

Solving finite production rate model with scrap and multiple shipments using algebraic approach

This paper solves a finite production rate (FPR) model with scrap and multiple shipments using an algebraic method. Classic FPR model assumes a continuous inventory issuing policy to satisfy demand and perfect quality production for all items produced. However, in real life vendor-buyer integrated production-inventory system, multiple shipment policy is practically used in lieu of a continuous issuing policy and generation of defective items during production run is inevitable. In this study, it is assumed that all defective items are scrap and the perfect quality items can only be delivered to customers if the whole lot is quality assured at the end of the production run. A conventional approach for solving the FPR model is the use of differential calculus on the long-run average cost function with the need to prove optimality first. This paper demonstrates that optimal lot size and its overall costs for the aforementioned FPR model can be derived without derivatives. As a result, it enables students or practitioners who have little knowledge of calculus to understand and to handle with ease the real-life FPR model

6,8-Dihydr­oxy-3-methyl­isocoumarin

The title compound, C10H8O4, was isolated from the fermentation culture of the endophytic fungus Cephalo­sporium sp. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are connected into a one-dimensional chain along [101] by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the hydroxyl and carbonyl functionalities. The chains are linked by non-classical C—H⋯O inter­actions, forming extended two-dimensional layers approximately parallel to (11)