Search results for "etching"
showing 10 items of 186 documents
Effects of between-set interventions on neuromuscular function during isokinetic maximal concentric contractions of the knee extensors
2011
The presents study investigated the effects of between-set interventions on neuromuscular function of the knee extensors during six sets of 10 isokinetic (120°·s(-1)) maximal concentric contractions separated by three minutes. Twelve healthy men (age: 23.9 ± 2.4 yrs) were tested for four different between-set recovery conditions applied during two minutes: passive recovery, active recovery (cycling), electromyostimulation and stretching, in a randomized, crossover design. Before, during and at the end of the isokinetic session, torque and thigh muscles electromyographic activity were measured during maximal voluntary contractions and electrically-evoked doublets. Activation level was calcul…
972 The effectiveness of injury prevention program on reducing the incidence of lower limb injuries in adolescent male soccer players
2016
Background The highest incidence of injury is seen in adolescent playing pivoting sports such as soccer, basketball, and handball. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a neuromuscular prevention program in reducing knee and ankle injuries in adolescent male soccer players. Methods Fifty Malaysian boys [25 experimental (EXP); or a 25 control (CON)] adolescent male soccer players (age 13.3 ± 0.4 yr; BMI 20.9 ± 1.5 kg/m 2 ; stature: 160 ± 0.1 cm) from two sport schools, with 4.4 ± 0.5 years playing experience participated. The EXP group followed neuromuscular prevention program 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. The CON group was instructed to continue training and warm-up as usual. A neurom…
Changes in neural drive to calf muscles during steady submaximal contractions after repeated static stretches
2021
Key points: Repeated static-stretching interventions consistently increase the range of motion about a joint and decrease total joint stiffness, but findings on the changes in muscle and connective-tissue properties are mixed. The influence of these stretch-induced changes on muscle function at submaximal forces is unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, the changes in neural drive to the plantar flexor muscles after a static-stretch intervention were estimated. Neural drive to the plantar flexor muscles during a low-force contraction increased after repeated static stretches. These findings suggest that adjustments in motor unit activity are necessary at low forces to accommodate reduct…
The Stretch-Shortening Cycle
2006
Neuromuscular fatigue has traditionally been examined using isolated forms of either isometric, concentric or eccentric actions. However, none of these actions are naturally occurring in human (or animal) ground locomotion. The basic muscle function is defined as the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC), where the preactivated muscle is first stretched (eccentric action) and then followed by the shortening (concentric) action. As the SSC taxes the skeletal muscles very strongly mechanically, its influence on the reflex activation becomes apparent and very different from the isolated forms of muscle actions mentioned above. The ground contact phases of running, jumping and hopping etc. are example…
Influence of Aerobic Exercise After Static Stretching on Flexibility and Strength in Plantar Flexor Muscles
2020
Aerobic exercise could improve stretch-induced strength deficits. However, mechanisms of the improvement were unclear. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise after static stretching (SS) on flexibility and isometric strength in ankle plantar-flexor muscles. Fifteen healthy males received two interventions after SS of their ankle plantar-flexor muscles for 5 min. One was aerobic exercise for 10-min on a cycling ergometer, and the other was a 10-min rest as a control. Range of motion (ROM) of ankle dorsiflexion, passive torque at terminal ROM, muscle-tendon unit (MTU) stiffness, muscle tendon junction displacement, peak torque of ankle plantarflexion, and the …
Changes in spinal range of motion after a flexibility training program in elderly women
2014
Giuseppe Battaglia,1,2 Marianna Bellafiore,1,2 Giovanni Caramazza,2 Antonio Paoli,3 Antonino Bianco,1,2 Antonio Palma1,2 1Department of Law, Society, and Sport Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; 2Sicilian Regional Sports School of Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Sicily, Italy; 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy Background: Aging-related reduced spinal mobility can interfere with the execution of important functional skills and activities in elderly women. Although several studies have shown positive outcomes in response to spinal flexibility training programs, little is known about the management of sets and repetitions in traini…
Purification of Nano-Porous Silicon for Biomedical Applications
2011
Recently, various bio-medical applications of nanoporous silicon (np-Si) have been suggested. This work investigates the biocompatibility of np-Si particles taking into account hazardous residua confined in the pores after preparation. The emphasis is on the potential application of such particles as oxygen photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of cancer, which requires both negligible toxicity of np-Si particles in darkness and a high photo-cyto-toxic effect due to generation of singlet oxygen under illumination. Considerable amounts of water soluble toxic impurities are found to be present in the nanoporous shell of micrometer-sized np-Si particles immediately after their preparation b…
Plasma Functionalization of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Their Use in the Preparation of Nylon 6-Based Nanohybrids
2012
The possibility to obtain carbon nanotubes (CNT)/polyamide 6 composites with excellent mechanical properties in a simple, industrially scalable way is investigated. Commercial CNTs are treated by plasma while changing some key parameters (exposure time, plasma power, type of gas) in order to optimize the process and to achieve a sufficient degree of functionalization. The treated samples are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The most interesting samples are selected to be used as reinforcing fillers, in different concentrations, in a polyamide 6 matrix. The mechanical tests show a dramatic increase of both tens…
Strength training in treatment of chronic neck pain
2022
Background: Chronic non-specific neck pain is common in modern industrialized countries causing suffering, disability and considerable economical losses for individuals and society. Treatment is commonly advice for stretching and strength exercises in primary health care. However, if improvements are not satisfactory, patients may seek specialist care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal rehabilitation in treatment of chronic neck pain. Methods: The study group comprised of 56 patients with chronic neck pain, who participated rehabilitation for three weeks and one-week follow-up period after eight months at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. The aim …
Fabrication techniques for developing a functional microfluidic glass device suitable for detection in optical spectroscopy system
2012
Microfluidic devices offer the chance to manipulate and analyze fluids including bioassays and chemical reactions. In this study, a method to develop a microfluidic analysis system is proposed for detection of nanotubes by a Raman acquisition setup. Microchannels where fabricated in sodalime glass substrate by MeV ion beam lithography or electron beam lithography and wet etching. Fusion bonding (550 °C) was used to seal the microchannels. As a result a prototype microfluidic device with 1.6 µm deep channel that exhibit efficient sealing and suitable channel geometry was obtained. The microfluidic device was tested in a Raman spectroscopy detection system and the collected spectra showed the…