BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ATTACK TECHNIQUE IN TAI CHI PUSH HANDS

Tai Chi (TC) is a form of exercise developed from the martial art folk traditions of China. The force used in TC includes different principles of mechanical advantage. Push Hands are more advanced movements of TC exercise. No studies on the biomechanics analysis of TC push hands have been published. To analyze the kinematics, kinetic and electromyographic characteristics of TC Push Hands, an experienced TC master was asked to exhibit TC and normal pushing against another person for three trials. The movements were videotaped and digitised using a motion analysis system combine electromyographic and two force plates. The results indicated that the TC master cannot push the opponent over in normal pushing. The COG trajectories, kinetics, and EMG patterns are very different in normal and TC pushing. It is concluded that TC pushing is more strategic than normal pushing because its technique requires much less effort to cause the opponent’s imbalance

Does Organizational Structure influence IT investment and its effects on Operational Capability?

The effects of IT (Information Technology) have been examined extensively through various theoretical foundations and distinct disciplines. Most of these studies suggest that IS (Information Systems) plays a critical role in operational activities and performance, whereas IT facilitates a firm’s capability to deal with large amounts of information within and between organizations. It has been widely believed that IT enables an organization to improve its information capability, which in turn, enhances its operational efficiency and effectiveness. Prior research has assessed the effects of IT on operational performance. In order to provide an overview of how IT effects improve operational performance, we reviewed prior studies within the field of operations management including organizational factors such as organizational structure (centralization vs. decentralization) and business process. However, few studies have focused on the role of organizational structure in the relationship between IT investment and operational performance. Since organizational structure has been recognized as one of the key factors affecting operational improvement, this present research seeks to explore how organizational structure influences the relationship of IT investment on operational performance throughout IT capability at the organizational level

Inhibition of miR-182 represses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting SOX11

Purpose: To investigate the effect of microRNA-182 (miR-182) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its mechanisms of action.Methods: Sixty-five HCC tissues and matched adjacent tissues were obtained, and miR-182 and sexdetermining region on the Y Chromosome (SRY)-related HMG box 11 (SOX11) expression were quantified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SOX11-positive cells were identified by immunohistochemistry and the correlation between SOX11 and miR-182 expression was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Huh-7 cells were transfected with the miR-182 mimic, the miR-182 inhibitor, and/or si-SOX11, and cell proliferation was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the putative target gene of miR-182. A xenograft nude mouse model was established by transfection  with miR-182 antagomir, while tumor volume and weight were calculated. SOX11, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) protein levels were analyzed by western blot.Results: MiR-182 expression increased and SOX11 expression was decreased in HCC tissues (p < 0.05). Luciferase reporter assay data confirmed that miR-182 directly targets SOX11. Inhibition of miR-182 repressed proliferation and Bcl-2 expression, but increased protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved RAPP, and Bax in Huh-7 cells (p < 0.05). In addition, suppression of SOX11 reversed the effects of miR-182 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. The miR-182 antagomir decreased tumor growth and miR-182 expression but increased SOX11 expression in vivo (p < 0.05).Conclusion: MiR-182 and SOX11 may be novel therapeutic targets for HCC patients

Effects of Employee Satisfaction on the Relationship between IT Capability and Firm Performance

It has been widely accepted that Information Technology (IT) within an organization plays a determinant role of positively influencing the firm’s market performance. As technology becomes cheaper and more standardized, entry barriers to adopting advanced technology have been reduced. The adoption of such standardized and homogenous IT systems has lowered expectations of the competitive benefits resulting from the adopted IT. Thus, previous studies have shown mixed results in assessing the relationship between the adoption of IT and a firm’s market performance.Regarding the process of the adoption and use of IT, the skill level of employees has been argued as one of the key inputs to determine the relationship between IT and a firm’s market performance. Employees may resist the changes resulting from modification of current IT or the adoption of new IT. In order to lower such resistance, firms should provide organizational environments which allow associated employees to be comfortable when changing IT systems.Regarding the relationship between the IT resource and employees, previous studies have primarily focused on IT users. However, non-IT users are often affected by the use of IT. In this present study, we argue that all employees including both IT-users and non-IT users must be simultaneously considered in order to fully understand the relationship between IT capability and a firm’s performance. Such a relationship is the result of a comfortable and cooperative environment, which is linked to employee satisfaction. Thus, we propose in this study that employee satisfaction including non-IT-users within the firm’s environment positively affects the relationship between IT capability and firm market performance

Genetic Variation of Wood Density in Luanta Fir Tested in Central Taiwan

Forty-nine wind-pollinated families representing 8 provenances of Luanta fir (Cunninghamia konishii) were sampled from the species' range in Taiwan. The study plantation was established in central Taiwan with 49 ten-tree linear plots in each of 5 blocks in the randomized complete block design. In July 1998 at plantation age 25, a 0.45-cm caliber increment core sample was extracted at breast height in the east cardinal direction from the best tree per plot; altogether 245 cores (1 core/family/plot X 49 families X 5 blocks) were sampled. From each core, only the 6 outermost growth rings (near the bark) were used to determine extracted specific gravity according to the maximum moisture content method. Genetic variations among provenances and among families within provenances were tested following a general linear model. There was no apparent geographic variation pattern, and the main source of specific gravity variation was attributable to differences among families within provenance. Overall specific gravity was 0.36 and the narrow-sense family heritability was 0.46. Wood specific gravity is strongly controlled by additive genetic variance, suggesting that this trait would respond to selection breeding. The importance of family selection was emphasized in the improvement of this wood property in Taiwan

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EVADING WITH PUSHING TECHNIQUE IN TAI CHI PUSH HANDS

The traditional Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi (TC), include different forms and advanced interactive movements called Push Hands. Very few studies on the biomechanics analysis of TC push hands have been published. To investigate the characteristics of Tai Chi Push Hands, an experienced master was asked to perform the ‘evading with pushing technique’ when he was pushed by another person for three trials. The master’s movements were videotaped and digitized using a motion analysis system combining electromyography and force plate data. The results indicated that the master lowered his COG, shifted his body weight to rear foot, twisted his waist to evade the push, and pushed back with the strength from the lower limbs. It is concluded that the evading with pushing technique is a efficient and effective way to strike back