Assessment of Isokinetic Knee and Shoulder Strength in Elite Youth Boxers: Correlation with Punch Impact Force

This study aimed to assess the isokinetic strength performance of the knee and shoulder in amateur boxer, and further to explore the contribution of knee and shoulder peak torque to different punches. Boxers (6 females and 8 males) were measured the dynamic concentric torque of knee flexion(F) and extension(E), shoulder external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) at 60°/S, 180°/S. We tested the punching force of three techniques by Kistler Instruments. At 60°/S, F/E ratios of the dominant (D) knee of female boxers were lower than those of non-dominant (ND) side (p=0.03). At two angular velocities, all boxers demonstrated higher ER/IR ratios in ND (p=0.011 for males, p=0.025 for females). Bilateral difference of knee flexor in females was greater (p=0.038) than that in males. The maximum correlation was found at 180°/S between punching forces and the joints strength. ANOVA analyses revealed that athletes with greater punching force tend to have higher knee strength. Although correlations between shoulders strength and punching forces were strong, they did not discriminate between athletes who punched with higher punching force. In order to effectively transfer muscle strength to punching force, rapid completion of action should be highlighted in strength training, especially lower-limb strength.

Reduced Graphene Oxide Supported Cobalt-Calcium Phosphate Composite for Electrochemical Water Oxidation

We report the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst composed of cobalt–calcium phosphate on reduced graphene oxide (CoCaP/rGO). Our catalyst is prepared by the anodic electrolysis of calcium phosphate/rGO mixture loaded on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) in Co2+ aqueous solution. TEM, XPS and XRD experiments confirm that the crystal phase of calcium phosphate (CaP) is transferred into an amorphous phase of calcium oxide with phosphate (5.06 at%) after anodic electrolysis. Additionally, the main cation component of calcium is replaced by cobalt ion. The current–voltage characteristics of CoCaP/rGO showed a shoulder peak at 1.10 V vs. NHE, which originated from Co2+ to higher oxidation states (Co3+ or Co4+) and a strong wave from water oxidation higher +1.16 V vs. NHE at neutral condition (pH 7). CoCaP and CoCaP/rGO showed 4.8 and 10 mA/cm2 at 0.47 V of overpotential, respectively. The enhanced OER catalytic activity of CoCaP/rGO arises from the synergetic interaction between the amorphous phase of CoCaP and electric conducting graphene sheets.

Phyto-nano-hybrids of Ag-CuO particles for antibacterial activity against drug-resistant pathogens

Background The present study reports the antibacterial potential of phyto-nano-hybrid particles Ag-CuO (silver-copper oxide) against drug-resistant pathogens isolated from a Russian hospital in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. The synthesis of nano-hybrid was achieved by phytogenic source by using leaves of Murraya koenigii. The nano-hybrid particles were well characterized using hyphenated techniques and results of the antibacterial assay was tabulated. Results The UV-visible spectra displayed absorption at 420 nm with the shoulder peak at 355 nm indicating the hybridization. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of phenol, amine, methyl, carbohydrate and aromatic as major functional groups. The XRD analysis revealed the presence of Bragg’s intensities at 2 theta angle depicting the crystalline nature of Ag-CuO nano-hybrid. The TEM analysis displayed the polydispered properties of Ag-CuO nano-hybrid with the size in the range of 60–80 nm exhibiting different shapes ranging from spherical, rod and oval. The antibacterial activity of Ag-CuO nano-hybrid was tested against multidrug-resistant pathogens that resulted in highest activity against P. aeruginosa strain with an inhibition zone of 14 mm in diameter. The MIC concentrations ranged from 0.3125 to 2.5 μg/ml and broth dilution assay displayed dose-dependent properties of Ag-CuO nano-hybrid particles. Conclusion The obtained results are interesting to report the preliminary insight to develop biocompatible hybrid particles to combat drug-resistant pathogens. The developed nano-hybrid particles displayed activity against all the test pathogens investigated against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Thus, the study forms preliminary investigation to report nano-hybrid particles as broad spectrum antibacterial agents.

Effects of Kinesiology Taping on Shoulder Posture and Peak Torque in Junior Baseball Players with Rounded Shoulder Posture: A Pilot Study

Rounded shoulder posture (RSP) causes an imbalance of the adjacent joints due to the malalignment of the shoulder joint, and thus affects the strength of the muscles surrounding the shoulder. This study aimed to investigate the effect of rounded shoulder taping (RST) on shoulder posture and muscle strength in junior baseball players. Nineteen junior baseball players participated in the study, which used a crossover design at an interval of 1 week. The participants were randomized to receive rounded shoulder taping (RST) and sham kinesiology taping (SKT) using kinesiology tape. RSP was measured using two 12-inch combination squares, and shoulder peak torques were measured by isokinetic equipment. The results showed that RST led to significant changes in RSP (p < 0.05), but no significant changes were observed with SKT (p < 0.05). RST led to significant changes in the peak torques of external rotation and internal rotation of the shoulder (p < 0.05), but no significant changes were observed with SKT (p < 0.05). These results suggest that RST could help to correct RSP and improve peak torque of external and internal rotation of the shoulders of junior baseball players with RSP.

Characterization and Stability of the Antimony-Quercetin Complex

Purpose: Quercetin is a flavonoid known for its therapeutic properties and for forming complexes. Although the antimony-quercetin (SbQ) complex has been produced before, no previous exploration of its characteristics has been published in literature. Thus, this study aimed to characterize this complex, assess its stability and investigate its complexation site through its antibacterial activity. Methods: The SbQ complex was synthetized using Sb(III) potassium tartrate trihydrate and quercetin anhydrous (1:1) (v/v) as a solution and dried using three methods: rotaevaporation, lyophilization and spray drying. The material, in solution, was analyzed by UV-vis and fluorimetry; and, in the powder, by X-ray diffraction (XRD), both scanning electronic and fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated via broth microdilution. Results: UV-vis exhibited a shoulder peak at 291 nm indicating metal chelation at C-ring of quercetin and confirmed 1:1 stoichiometry. Spectrofluorimetry showed an increase of intensity with the complex formation with an emission band (525 nm). After drying, XRD and SEM indicated loss of crystallinity and a difference in shape and size of the complex compared to its precursors. FT-IR suggested by a shift of frequency of the carbonyl group (1661 cm-1) that the quercetin bond to antimony by the C-3, followed by positions C-5 and C-4 carbonyl, which has been confirmed by MIC through the structure-activity relationship of the antibacterial activity of quercetin. Conclusion: These results provided a characterization of SbQ complex with the confirmation of its binding site, working as a guide for future studies involving this complex.

An Shoulder Peak Resistant Pin Security Scheme using Concentrate Haptic Feedback

:Fundamental PIN-area plans are vulnerable against recognition strikes. To overhaul the assurance from observation attacks, some discernment ambushes safe PIN-segment plans for PDAs reliant on sounds just as haptics have been proposed. In any case, none of existing observation attacks safe PIN-entry plans can achieve both incredible security and high accommodation. Here in, we propose another discernment attacks safe PIN-segment scheme, Loc-HapPIN, for contact screen contraptions giving limited haptic analysis. By using the advancement of limited haptic info, the convenience and the insurance from discernment ambushes are improved. In addition, the customer can pick the viability security setting sensible for them.

Fabrication and Investigation of 26NCA Films Exhibiting Tunable Blue Fluorescence Based on LVPVDM

The development of metallic fluorescent materials, π-conjugated molecular systems with high-efficiency generation of blue light, and new ways to fabricate metallic/organic luminescent materials plays an important role in the fields of large-scale flat panel displays and soft optical devices. Herein, different fluorescent films have been fabricated by low vacuum physical vapor deposition method (LVPVDM), including single/two-component films. Compared with raw materials, all films show novel fluorescent behaviors, which means potential application in the fields of multicolor luminescence and thickness-optical response sensors. Meanwhile, the speculation is demonstrated in many ways that the maximum emission (λemmax) at 406 nm and 426 nm of pristine 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (26NCA) is caused by the crystal structure, while the shoulder peak at 445 nm is caused by the self-structure of 26NCA molecule. Significantly, this speculation may afford new insight into the relationship between not only crystal structure and luminescence, but also molecular self-structure and luminescence, which means a new strategy to tune the fluorescent behaviors based on molecular self-structure by LVPVDM. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to fabricate single/multicomponent metallic/organic film materials with tunable blue luminescence properties, which have potential application in the fields of next generation of photofunctional materials.

Luminescence Spectroscopical Properties of Plagioclase Particles from the Hayabusa Sample Return Mission: An Implication for Study of Space Weathering Processes in the Asteroid Itokawa

We report a systematic spectroscopical investigation of three plagioclase particles (RB-QD04-0022, RA-QD02-0025-01, and RA-QD02-0025-02) returned by the Hayabusa spacecraft from the asteroid Itokawa, by means of scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence microscopy/spectroscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The cathodoluminescence properties are used to evaluate the crystallization effects and the degree of space weathering processes, especially the shock-wave history of Itokawa. They provide new insights regarding spectral changes of asteroidal bodies due to space weathering processes. The cathodoluminescence spectra of the plagioclase particles from Itokawa show a defect-related broad band centered at around 450 nm, with a shoulder peak at 425 nm in the blue region, but there are no Mn- or Fe-related emission peaks. The absence of these crystal field-related activators indicates that the plagioclase was formed during thermal metamorphism at subsolidus temperature and extreme low oxygen fugacity. Luminescence characteristics of the selected samples do not show any signatures of the shock-induced microstructures or amorphization, indicating that these plagioclase samples suffered no (or low-shock pressure regime) shock metamorphism. Cathodoluminescence can play a key role as a powerful tool to determine mineralogy of fine-grained astromaterials.