A comparative analysis of the physical fitness profile of Korean women's national amateur boxers by weight category.

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in specific physical fitness of the national amateur women's boxer. The Korean women's national amateur boxers were classified into the lightweight category (LWC, n=21) and middleweight category (MWC, n=13), and body composition (percentage body fat and body mass index) and specific physical fitness (maximal muscle strength, anaerobic power, isokinetic muscle strength, cardiopulmonary endurance) were measured. The Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted to determine the differences in the body composition and specific physical fitness in women's boxers. The percentage body fat (P=0.004) and body mass index (P<0.001) were significantly higher in the LWC compared to MWC. In addition, LWC showed significantly higher isokinetic muscle strength (P<0.001), upper anaerobic mean power (P=0.002), maximal muscle strength (P=0.003), and maximal heart rate at anaerobic threshold (P=0.029), maximal oxygen consumption (P<0.001) and the 20-m shuttle-run exercise (P=0.004) compared to MWC. In conclusion, the body fat percentage and body mass index levels among body composition were significantly higher in the MWC than in the LWC, and the constant muscle strength, maximum muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary endurance levels were significantly higher in the LWC than in the MWC. The results of this study are expected to provide useful data for planning future strategies for efficient and scientific training programs for each weight category.

Demonstration of a roll-to-roll-configurable, all-solution-based progressive assembly of flexible transducer devices consisting of functional nanowires on micropatterned electrodes.

We demonstrate continuous fabrication of flexible transducer devices consisting of interdigitated (IDT) Ag microelectrodes interconnected by ZnO nanowires (ZNWs), created via serially connected solution-processable micro- and nanofabrication processes. On an Ag layer obtainable from the mild thermal reduction of an ionic Ag ink coating, the roll-to-roll-driven photolithography process [termed photo roll lithography (PRL)] followed by wet-etching can be applied to continuously define the IDT microelectrode structure. Conformal ZNWs can then be grown selectively on the Ag electrodes to interconnect them via an Ag-mediated hydrothermal ZNW growth that does not require high-temperature seed sintering. Given that all of these constitutive processes are vacuum-free and solution-processable at a low temperature, and are compatible with continuous processing onto flexible substrates, they can be eventually configured into the roll-to-roll-processable progressive assembly. Through parametric optimizations of processes consisting of the roll-to-roll-configurable, solution-based progressive assembly of nanostructures (ROLSPAN), a flexible transducer consisting of ZNW-interconnected, PRL-ed IDT Ag electrodes can be developed. This flexible architecture faithfully performs UV sensing as well as optoelectronic transduction. The ROLSPAN concept along with its specific applicability to flexible devices may inspire many diverse functional systems requiring high-throughput low-temperature fabrication over large-area flexible substrates.

Low-temperature large-area fabrication of ZnO nanowires on flexible plastic substrates by solution-processible metal-seeded hydrothermal growth.

We have developed the low-temperature conformal ZnO nanowire fabrication on flexible plastic substrates by utilizing the solution-processible metal seed-assisted hydrothermal ZnO crystallization. Structural evolution of ZnO nanowires controlled by major parameters involving growth temperature, growth time, and seed coating condition, has been systematically investigated towards uniform and large-area growth of conformal ZnO nanowires. Direct ZnO nanowire growth on flexible plastics without undergoing the high-temperature seed sintering has been realized by developing the low-temperature Ag-seeded hydrothermal ZnO nanowire growth. The nanoporous Ag layer favorable for ZnO crystal nucleation and continued nanowire growth can be reduced from the Ag ion solution coating at the temperature as low as 130 °C. This tactfully enables the selective hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowires on the Ag patterns on flexible plastics. Such an all-solution-processible low-temperature fabrication protocol may provide an essential and practical solution to develop many diverse applications including wearable and transparent electronics, sensors, and photocatalytic devices. As one example, we demonstrate that a transparent UV sensor can be devised based on the ZNW growth on the Ag micromesh electrode.

The effects of 10 weeks of ß-alanine supplementation on peak power, power drop, and lactate response in Korean national team boxers.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of ß-alanine (BA) supplementation on peak power, power drop, and lactate response in elite male amateur boxers. Nineteen male Korean national team boxers were divided into groups with either BA (n=9) or placebo (PL, n=10) supplementation. BA consumed 4.9-5.4 g/day of BA with training for 10 weeks and PL took PL in a similar manner. Physical fitness and lactate changes in sparring were measured before and after the 10-week intervention. Significant interactions (P<0.05) were shown for lower body peak power (P=0.049) and upper body power drop (P=0.042). Positive effects for the BA group were shown for lower body peak power (Cohen d=0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-1.35) and the maintenance of upper body power output (d=-0.91; 95% CI, -1.61 to -0.17). These findings suggest that Korean national amateur boxers who consumed BA demonstrated differential responses following a training intervention in specific physical fitness when compared to boxing athletes who consumed a PL.

Effects of prolonged exercise versus multiple short exercise sessions on risk for metabolic syndrome and the atherogenic index in middle-aged obese women: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many people, although they may recognise the positive effects of exercise, do not exercise regularly owing to lack of time. This study aimed to investigate the effects of prolonged single-session exercise and multiple short sessions of exercise on the risk of metabolic syndrome and the atherogenic index in middle-aged obese women. METHODS: Thirty-six participants were divided into the single-session group, multiple-session group, and control group. The single-session group engaged in one session of treadmill exercise for 30 min a day; the multiple-session group had three sessions of 10 min a day. Both groups exercised 3 days/week for 12 weeks. The control group did not perform any exercise. RESULTS: The single-session group showed decreases in weight (0.97 kg [95% C.I. = 0.09-1.83], p < .05), body mass index (0.43 kg/m2 [95% C.I. = 0.03-0.81], p < .05), and fat mass (1.65 kg, [95% C.I. = 0.78-2.51], p < .01). Systolic blood pressure dropped in the single-session group (6.66 mmHg, [95% C.I. = 1.44-11.88], p < .05), and diastolic blood pressure dropped in the multiple-session group (3.38 mmHg, [95% C.I. = 1.44-5.88], p < .01). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol rose in the single-session group (4.08 mg/dL, [95% C.I. = -8.08-(-)0.07], p < .05) and dropped in the control group (10.75 mg/dL [95% C.I. = 1.95-19.54], p < .01). According to post hoc analysis, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased more in the single-session group than the control group (95% C.I. = 0.61-21.88, p < .05). Glucose levels decreased in both the single-session group (16 mg/dL [95% C.I. = 5.64-26.35], p < .01) and the multiple-session group (12.16 mg/dL, [95% C.I. = 2.18-22.14], p < .05). Waist circumference decreased in the single-session group (2.65 cm [95% C.I. = 1.46-3.83], p < .001) and multiple-session group (2.04 cm, [95% C.I. = 1.51-2.73], p < .001). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels rose in both the multiple-session group (-15.79 mg/dL [95% C.I. = -34.24-(-)3.78], p < .05) and the control group (-22.94 mg/dL [95% C.I. = -44.63-(-)1.24], p < .05). The atherogenic index increased in the control group (-1.06 [95% C.I. = -1.69-(-)0.41], p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that prolonged exercise is superior to multiple short sessions for improving the risk of metabolic syndrome and the atherogenic index in middle-aged obese women. However, multiple short sessions can be recommended as an alternative to prolonged exercise when the goal is to decrease blood glucose or waist circumference.

Effects of 16-week functional movement screen training program on strength and flexibility of elite high school baseball players.

Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a way to pretest functional movement. This study examined the effects of the FMS training program on the strength and flexibility of 62 elite male high school baseball players (31 in the training group, 31 in the control group). All players who received less than two points on each FMS test item had to join the 16-week, three times weekly FMS training program. To analyze results among the FMS participants, measures including intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and repeated measure ANOVA were utilized. The Kappa coefficient was 0.805 when the intraclass correlation coefficient of the three participants was inspected. Strength showed a significant interaction depending on time and group (hand grip strength: P=0.011, bench press and squat both for one-repetition maximum (1RM): P=0.001 and P=0.008, respectively). Back muscle strength did not show a significant difference (P=0.660). Trunk forward flexion showed no interaction depending on time and groups (P=0.983) but trunk extension backward showed significant differences depending on groups (P=0.004) and time (P=0.001). Splits showed a significant difference depending on time and groups (P=0.004). The FMS training program improved the strength and flexibility of elite high school baseball players.

The stimulating effects of nitric oxide on intermediate conductance Ca²âº-activated K⁺ channels in human dermal fibroblasts through PKG pathways but not the PKA pathways.

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in dermal fibroblasts and is important during wound healing. Intermediate conductance Ca²âº-activated K+ (IK; IK1; KCa3.1; IKCa; SK4; KCNN4) channels contribute to NOS upregulation, NO production, and various NO-mediated essential functions in many kinds of cells. To determine if the action of NO is linked to IK channel regulation in human dermal fibroblasts, we investigated the expression of IK channels in the cells and the effects and mechanisms of NO on the channels using RT-PCR, western blot analysis, immunocytochemistry and whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamp techniques. The presence of functional IK channels at the RNA, protein and membrane levels was demonstrated and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) was shown to significantly increase IK currents. The effects of NO were abolished by pretreatment with KT5823 or 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) but not with KT5720. In addition, IK currents were increased by protein kinase G1α or 8-bromo-cGMP but not by forskolin, 8-bromo-cAMP, or catalytic subunits of protein kinase A (PKAcs). On the other hand, PKAcs with cGMP did not increase IK currents, and pretreatment with KT5720 did not block the stimulating effects of 8-Br-cGMP on the IK channels. These data suggest that NO activates IK channels through the PKG but not the PKA pathways, and it seems there is no cross activation between PKG and PKA pathways in human dermal fibroblasts.

Salivary cortisol and immunoglobulin A responses during golf competition vs. practice in elite male and female junior golfers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress and immune responses to a competition in elite male and female junior golfers. Six male (16.2 +/- 1.4 years) and 6 female junior golfers (16.4 +/- 1.1 years) completed salivary collections during competition vs. practice rounds on 2 different days. Salivary samples were collected on 4 occasions (rest, before, during, and after rounds). Salivary cortisol and IgA were measured for stress and immune responses, respectively. Our results were as follows: (a) Salivary cortisol level was higher in competition than practice in male golfers (p = 0.009) but it was similar in female golfers. In male golfers, salivary cortisol level was higher before a round than at rest (p = 0.029), but it was higher after rounds than at rest (p = 0.016) in female golfers. (b) Salivary IgA was elevated during competition than during practice rounds in male golfers (p = 0.019), but not in females (p = 0.152). Salivary IgA was not significantly different among salivary collection times although it tended to be elevated during and after rounds for both male and female golfers. In conclusion, salivary cortisol and IgA were elevated during golf competition compared with practice in male junior golfers, but they were not in female golfers. Furthermore, salivary cortisol was higher before a round than rest in men, but it was higher after a round than rest in women. Both male and female junior golfers, however, showed similar salivary IgA responses during golf. Our results suggest that sex might play a role on stress and immune responses during a game of golf in elite junior golfers.