Utilizing Synergism between the Transverse Abdominal and Pelvic Floor Muscles at Different Postures in Nulliparous Women: A Randomized Case-Control Study

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training (PFM-T) in combination with transverse abdominal (TRA) muscle activation (cPFM-T) in female urinary incontinence. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We enrolled nulliparous women in supine (SUG) (<i>n</i> = 22), sitting (SIG) (<i>n</i> = 19), and control (COG) (<i>n</i> = 14) groups. We conducted an 8-week cPFM-T programme. We examined the effect of training on the parameters with the Kruskal-Wallis test, the pairwise comparisons with the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Wilcoxon rank test with the Bonferroni correction. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Before training, 15 participants reported occasional urinary leakage. After cPFM-T, 7 participants reported that urinary leakage had disappeared. Maximal isometric contraction of the PFMs until fatigue improved significantly in the SUG (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and SIG (<i>p</i> = 0.015) groups but not significantly in the COG group (<i>p</i> = 0.499). Holding time increased in the SUG (<i>p</i> = 0.972) and the SIG (<i>p</i> = 0.717) groups and decreased in the COG group (<i>p</i> = 0.132). The dynamic endurance of the PFM improved significantly in the SUG group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) but not in the SIG (<i>p</i> = 0.798) and the COG (<i>p</i> = 0.153) groups. The number of maximal fast contractions within 1 min increased in both the SUG (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and SIG (<i>p</i> = 0.813) groups and decreased in the COG group (<i>p</i> = 0.257). Relaxation improved significantly in the SIG group (<i>p</i> = 0.011). TRA mucle thickness increased in both training groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Slow-twitch fibres of the PFM can be trained effectively with PFM-T in both the body positions.

Increasing Upper Body Strength of Wrestling Athletes through Bulgarian Bag Exercise

Wrestling is a fighting sport that requires strength, especially in the upper body. However, the strength training carried out so far is still conventional and monotonous, while literature studies have provided various other, more modern and effective alternatives for strength training, one of which is the Bulgarian Bag. This study aims to examine the effect of training using Bulgarian Bag on the strength of the upper body of wrestling athletes. Research on Bulgarian Bag itself is still relatively small because Bulgarian Bags themselves are still relatively new. The research method used is an experimental method with a pre-test post-test control group design. The subjects of this study were wrestling athletes in West Bandung Regency with 10 male athletes taken by total sampling from the population. The research instrument used was a dynamic endurance hand grip strength test and a push up test which was given 2 times to the subject. Subjects were divided into two groups, namely the experimental group which was given the Bulgarian Bag exercise and the control group which was given the conventional exercise. T-test using SPSS version 24 was performed as data analysis in this study. The results showed that the Bulgarian Bag exercise had a significant effect on increasing the strength of the upper extremity of wrestling athletes. So it can be concluded that training using Bulgarian Bags can be used as the right choice to increase the strength of the upper body of wrestling athletes. The authors suggest integrating these exercises into a structured strength training program.

In-Vitro Investigation of Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of Transmucosal versus Submerged Bone Level Implants Used in Fixed Prosthesis

Background: The present in vitro study aimed to investigate the fatigue performance of different dental fixtures in two different emergence profiles. Biological failures are frequently reported because the problem canonly be solved by replacing a failing implant with a new one. Clinicians addressed minor mechanical failures, such as bending, loosening or the fracture of screws, abutment, or the entire prosthesis, by simply replacing or fixing them. Methods: Transmucosal and submerged bone-level dental implants underwent fatigue strength tests (statical and dynamical performance) by a standardized test: UNI EN ISO 14801:2016. Two types of emergence profiles (Premium sub-crestal straight implant with a cylindrical-shaped coronal emergence or Prama one-piece cylindrical-shape implant with transmucosal convergent neck and hyperbolic geometry) were tested, and dynamic fatigue were run to failure. Data was analyzed by a suitable statistical tool. Results: The Wöhler curve of 0.38 cm Premium group c2, appeared to be significantly different from that of the 0.38 cm Prama group c3 (nonparametric one-way ANOVA χ2 = 6; degree of freedom = 1; probability = 0.0043) but not from that of the 0.33 cm Premium group c1 (nonparametric one-way ANOVA χ2 = 0.62; degree of freedom = 1; probability = 0.4328). Fatigue performance of configuration 2 was one and a half times better than that of configuration 3. Group c3 had a better ultimate failure load (421.6 ± 12.5 N) than the other two settings i.e., c1 (324.5 ± 5.5 N) and c2 (396.3 ± 5.6) reaching almost a nonsignificant level. Conclusions: It was observed that a transmucosal implant design could provide the highest resistance to static fracture. On the other hand, an equicrestal implant design could increase dynamic endurance.

Actoprotective Activity of Dimethylaminoethanol Compounds Combined with Intermediates of the Citric Acid Cycle

The article presents the results of evaluation of actoprotective activity of combined dimethylaminoethanol compounds containing intermediates of the citric acid cycle (L-malate, α-ketoglutarate, succinate and fumarate). The effect of long-term intragastric administration of pharmacological agents for 4 weeks at a dose of 75 mg/kg on the static, dynamic endurance, motor coordination and body weight gain of “trained” laboratory animals was assessed in comparison with reference actoprotector ethylthiobenzimidazole (25 mg/kg, intragastrically). It was found that the most promising substances for further study are alpha-ketoglutarate and succinate compounds. After 1 month of training, dynamic endurance and coordination of movements were most infl uenced by DMAE-malate (increase by 60%, p=0.011), static endurance was increased during the 2nd week by DMAE-malate (by 16%, p=0.005) and DMAE-ketoglutarate (by 15.8%, p=0.006), on the 4th week – DMAE-ketoglutarate (by 19.7%, p=0.0001) and DMAE-succinate (by 12.2%, p=0.003). A pronounced body weight increase was observed in the group receiving DMAE-ketoglutarate (by 29%, p=0.022). In general, combined compounds of dimethylaminoethanol with alpha-ketoglutarate, malate and succinate showed the highest actoprotective activity.

Skeletal muscle phenotype signaling with ex vivo endurance-type dynamic contractions in rat muscle

Skeletal muscle phenotype may influence the response sensitivity of myocellular regulatory mechanisms to contractile activity. To examine this, we employed an ex vivo endurance-type dynamic contraction model to evaluate skeletal muscle phenotype-specific protein signaling responses in rat skeletal muscle. Preparations of slow-twitch soleus and fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus skeletal muscle from 4-wk old female Wistar rats were exposed to an identical ex vivo dynamic endurance-type contraction paradigm consisting of 40 minutes of stretch-shortening contractions under simultaneous low-frequency electrostimulation delivered in an intermittent pattern. Phosphorylation of proteins involved in metabolic signaling and signaling for translation initiation was evaluated at 0, 1, and 4 hours after stimulation by immunoblotting. For both muscle phenotypes, signaling related to metabolic events was upregulated immediately after stimulation, with concomitant absence of signaling for translation-initiation. Signaling for translation-initiation was then activated in both muscle phenotypes at 1-4 hours after stimulation, coinciding with attenuated metabolic signaling. The recognizable pattern of signaling responses support how our ex vivo dynamic muscle contraction model can be utilized to infer a stretch-shortening contraction pattern resembling stretch-shortening contraction of in vivo endurance exercise. Moreover, using this model, we observed that some specific signaling proteins adhering to metabolic events or to translation initation exhibited phosphorylation changes in a phenotype-dependent manner, whereas other signaling proteins exhibited phenotype-independent changes. These findings may aid the interpretation of myocellular signaling outcomes adhering to mixed muscle samples collected during human experimental trials.

Utilising Synergism Between the Transverse Abdominal and Pelvic Floor Muscles at Different Postures in Nulliparous Women: a Randomized Case Control Study

Background: To determine the effects of the pelvic floor muscle training (PFM-T) in combination with transverse abdominal muscle (TRA) activation (cPFM-T) in female urinary incontinence.Methods: We enrolled nulliparous women in supine (SUG) (n = 22), sitting (SIG) (n = 19) and control (COG) (n = 14) groups. We performed the 8-week cPFM-T programme. We examined the effect of training on the parameters with the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the pairwise comparisons with the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Wilcoxon-rank test with the Bonferroni correction.Results: Before training, 15 participants reported occasional urinary leakage. After cPFM-T seven participants reported that urinary leakage had disappeared. Maximal isometric contraction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) until fatigue improved significantly in the SUG (p < 0.001) and SIG (p = 0.015) and not significantly in the COG (p = 0.499). Holding time increased in the SUG (p = 0.972) and the SIG (p = 0.717), and decreased in the COG (p = 0.132). The dynamic endurance of the PFM improved significantly in the SUG (p < 0.001), but not in the SIG (p = 0.798) and the COG (p = 0.153). The number of maximal fast contractions within 1 minute increased in both the SUG (p < 0.001) and the SIG (p=0.813) and decreased in the COG (p = 0.257). Relaxation improved significantly in the SIG (p = 0.011). TRA thickness increased in both training groups.Conclusions: Slow-twitch fibres of the PFM can be trained effectively with PFM-T in both the body positions.Trial registration: This study was registered in the Hungarian National Healthcare Service Center: 019234/2014/OTIG Registered 07 April 2014 modification: 096623-002/2015/OTIG Registered 11 November 2015 https://www.aeek.huThe study was retrospectively registered in ClincalTrials.gov NCT04577872 Registered 22 September 2020. https:// https://clinicaltrials.gov

Aspects of the methodology of plant populations research (by means of the example of rare species)

In this work basic concepts and problematic issues of modern population ecology of plants are considered. Quite different views on many aspects of terminology and research methodology one can observed in the scientific literature. Basic terms such as: «vitality», «age structure», «ontogenetic structure», «self-renewal», «strategy», «regeneration niche», «buffering», population size establishment, etc can be interpreted differently, which causes significant discrepancies in research methodology, and thus are reflected in the interpretation of results. The population is considered as an indivisible and unique set of individuals of one species, which is characterized by self-reproduction while maintaining its main properties. The statemen concerning the population as a unit of biodiversity accountability is justified. The study of strategy, intra-population diversity, viability and mechanisms of self-recovery has shown that the existence of populations for a long time is ensured by a certain structure. The structure of the population is a set of quantitative and qualitative components of its organization at the individual and group level, which characterize the structure and ensure the functioning of the population as a whole system. At the same time, establishing which structural elements play a leading role in the changed environmental conditions continues to be an urgent task for species of different life forms in the variety of conditions of their habitats. The example of isolated populations of rare species shows the most typical stages of structure change due to pessimization of living conditions: simplification of spatial structure, aging or pseudo-rejuvenation, reduction of vitality of individuals and population loci, reduction of self-sufficiency and reproduction, simplification and reduction of ontogenesis of individuals, predominance of death rate over birth rate, reduction of area, number and density, cessation of formation of generative individuals, cessation of undergrowth replenishment, reduction of vegetative reproduction, loss of population viability. An integral characteristic that reflects the current state of the population based on the most important individual and group parameters of structure, growth, development and reproduction is the vitality of the population. Intrapopulation structural components - population loci of reproduction - are of the greatest importance in preserving the viability of populations and ensuring the prospects of their existence in the event of adverse changes in the environment. Among population structures, the highest dynamic endurance and stability of functioning for a long time under different conditions of natural and anthropogenically altered environment were found in metapopulations. Understanding of the processes taking place on the verge of existence of the population during its emergence, and especially during the period of its loss of viability and extinction, is extremely important. However, there are still not so many researches aimed at revealing the patterns of behavior of populations during these most vulnerable periods of their long life cycle.

Experimental study on leakage and wear characteristics of C/C composite finger seal

Purpose The carbon/carbon (C/C) composite finger seal experiment was performed on a high-speed seal tester. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the leakage and wear characteristics of C/C composite finger seal under various operating conditions. Design/methodology/approach Static, dynamic, endurance and post endurance tests were carried out. For static and performance tests, the pressure differential changed from 0.1 to 0.6 MPa and the rotor speed varied from 1,000 to 9,000 r/min. Two endurance tests were conducted for 4 h, with each mounting two finger seals. The seal leakage was monitored by mass flowmeters, and the wear depth was measured and calculated by using three-dimensional profilometer. Findings Results showed that the seal leakage increases with pressure differential but decreases with rotor speed. Leakage rate is lower when speed is decelerated than that with the speed stepped up. During a time history, material removal caused by wear has significant influence on leakage data causing higher leakage than the results before endurance test. Particular interest is that the uneven wear characteristic on finger foot bottom was firstly revealed, showing severe wear in foot heel area than that in foot toe. Originality/value This study could provide experimental guidance for finger seal designers. Additionally, the uneven wear characteristic of finger foot was firstly revealed, which showed the necessity of further theoretical research on finger seal wear.

Education of endurance in children of middle school age in lessons of physical culture

The influence of a set of exercises on the development of endurance of secondary school students is revealed in the article. One of the factors that adversely affects the health of school-age children is the low mobility of life. Therefore, physical education occupies a special place in the system of physical education of school-age children. Physical fitness testing is an element of stage control both in the sports training system and in the practice of physical education. However, the ability of children of different ages to exercise some physical activity is limited by the adaptive potential of the growing organism's systems, and as practice shows, the reserve capacity of the student body is significantly reduced, which negatively affects the physical qualities of children, and especially endurance. Endurance is considered one of the basic motor abilities of the person. The endurance index with great precision indicates the overall health of the person and the functionality of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Analyzing the indicators of the level of endurance development in the studied contingent of children it is established that the level of endurance development of students of 4-5 grades, is equal to the mark of 3 points, which corresponds to the "average level". The study shows changes in the level of endurance development in students engaged in the recommended complexes and the relationship of endurance types with indicators of overall physical performance. The results of the correlation analysis showed the presence of a high correlation of static endurance with dynamic endurance (r = 0,883). Also, a high statistical relationship is observed in the study of the relationship of dynamic strength endurance and speed-endurance (r = 0,858). Preparing a physically healthy and in all respects advanced generation is an important task of our society. Properly organized physical education and sports, which should be included in the daily life of young people from an early age, occupy the first place in this task.

Factor structure of the comprehensive preparedness of shooters 14-15 years old, specializing in shooting from classic bow

<p><strong>The purpose</strong> of the work: to determine the factor structure of the complex preparedness of shooters of 14-15 years who specialize in the Classic bow, for rational construction of the training process of athletes of this age category.</p><p><strong>Material and methods.</strong> The experiment was attended by 16 bow-shooters (girls) aged 14-15 years old, specializing in Classic bow, sport school "Avangard" in Kyiv. The experiment was conducted in the preparatory period, September 2018. The archers were tested for physical fitness (shuttle running 4x9m, push-ups 30 s, jumping with skipping-rope, running 30 m, Romberg test, hanging on bent hands at an angle of 90˚, jump in length from place, raising the torso to a sitting position, dynamometry of the right and left hands), technical preparedness (holding the bow in the "stretch", archery 18 m, archery 60 m, stretching the bow on the right and left hand for 30 s). The obtained data were processed mathematically using factor analysis methods.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>. The factor structure of physical and technical preparedness of shooters, which are at the stage of specialized basic training, is established. Five factors were identified: static power endurance, dynamic power endurance, coordination capabilities, speed capabilities, strength capabilities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>. It is revealed that the most important indicators of the complex training of archers 14-15 years old are the indicators of shooting in the open air and indicators of the static strength of the archer, as well as indicators of shooting in the room and indicators of the dynamic endurance of the archer, indicating the dependence of physical and technical training. The use of rational means and methods of physical and technical training in the training process of athletes is recommended.</p>