Scientific Research Publishing

Numerous papers have been published in recent years related to the importance of mental training in sports. Mental training is the segment of sports psychology that concentrates specifically on helping athletes break through the mental barriers that are keeping them from performing up to their peak potential.  Tennis and field hockey are complex and dynamic games in which players repeatedly make decisions regarding stroke technique selection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the mental training of motor performance can be useful or not in learning tennis and field hockey strokes (forehand, backhand; push pass, hit). The study was carried out on the basis of teaching an interventional sport education program of tennis and field hockey. 24 university students participated in the study and were divided into 12 students for the experimental group and 12 students for the scientific treatment of the tests, recruited from the 3rd grade of the Faculty of Physical...

The possible association between personality and hearing problems may occur for various reasons. Personality traits may manifest themselves in a lifestyle that can adversely affect hearing. Equally early hearing loss could affect personality development. This study explored psychological, biomedical, and social factors in childhood and adulthood associated with the occurrence of self-reported hearing problems in adulthood. In total, 4828 participants with complete data on parental social class at birth, childhood hearing impairment measured at age 7 years and cognitive ability accessed at age 11 years, educational qualifications obtained at age 33 years, the Big-Five-Factor personality traits measured at age 50 years, current occupational levels and self-reported hearing problems at age 54 years were included in the study. The authors first examined the characteristics of the study population. Second, correlation matrix of all the variables used in the study was examined. Third, t...

Sudden death (SD) is defined as an unexpected fatal event that occurs in an apparently healthy person. The relationship between SD and sports is time-bound, as most of these events occur during or immediately after training or competition. These cases consistently make headlines in sports media, generating uncertainty in this community, as it is difficult to understand how young, energetic and apparently healthy people can die while playing their usual sports. So it is necessary to invest sufficient resources to address the problem through a multidisciplinary approach, identifying individuals at high risk who may benefit from preventive treatment strategies. This paper described the case of sudden death in a young professional athlete who was successfully aided and resuscitated outside the hospital, and reviewed the literature about sudden death in sports. A 16-year-old boy, competing on an elite rowing team, felt dizzy and lost consciousness during a monitored training session. U...

In this study, conditions affecting the competitiveness of young group athletes in different countries were investigated through a comparative evaluation of opinions expressed by coaches and instructors dispatched overseas through the JFA Social Action Program in Asia. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 36 head coaches and coaches of men’s national football teams, and youth teams. There were 24 valid respondents used in the analysis (a valid response rate of 66.7%). Appointed countries were classified into 3 groups based on the FIFA rankings announced immediately after instructors participating in the Social Action Program in Asia left for their appointed countries. The authors analyzed the mean and standard deviation and then conducted an ANOVA on the overall scores of the four items ( technical aspects, tactical aspects, physical strength aspects, and mental strength aspects ) on the Players’ Competitiveness Evaluation Scale. Results of the one-way analysis of varianc...

Polymer composites are widely used materials with applications in multiple industries. However, its versatility that led to subsequent rise in polymer consumption has prompted an increase in research on alternative materials to address the associated environmental concerns. The properties of a composite system are a complex function of a number of micromechanics parameters, based on the synergistic interaction between the composite’s microstructure. Therefore, the study of micromechanics made it possible to predict the material’s properties as a function of constituent properties and local conditions. In this study, a numerical representative volume element (RVE) model was used to predict the mechanical properties of a Rice Husk Particulate (RHP)-Epoxy composite for use as an alternative material in non-critical applications. Seven different analytical models Counto, Ishai-Cohen, Halpin-Tsai, Nielsen, Nicolais, Modified Nicolais and Pukanszky were used as comparison tools for...

Soils with negative pore pressures are usually referred to as unsaturated soils. The voids of these soils are normally filled with both water and air. The Soil Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC), which represents the capacity of the soil to store and release water when matric suction is applied, is defined as the relationship between the matric suction and the degree of saturation or gravimetric water content for unsaturated soils. In this regard, the SWCC has widely been identified as the key soil information required for the analysis of seepage, stability and volume change problems involving unsaturated soils. In fact, many experimental works have reported on the unsaturated soil properties, and the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) test has contributed significantly to the interpretation of matric suction. Since traditional instruments cannot apply stress in SWCC tests, some researchers have developed suction controlled triaxial apparatus, by which SWCC tests are performed...

Ginger, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries where it is mainly used as food spice and for medicinal purposes. In the foods and beverages industry, ginger is used as an additive for its aroma and pungency. The chemical composition of fresh ginger varies with varieties or cultivar, the location for which the ginger is cultivated [3], extraction methods and the processing methods. Ginger is rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. However, there are limited studies on the antioxidant and scavenging power of processed ginger. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects that processing has on the total phenolic and flavanoid content of ginger and its antioxidant potential using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Radical-Scavenging Activity and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). Fresh ginger (FG) was used as a control with oven drying (OD) sun dry...

Several investigators have described the utility and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided transthoracic cutting needle biopsy and fine needle aspiration in chest lesions. However, these studies were conducted only in the conventional B mode, and thus occurrence of mis-targeting is possible. Recently, fusion image with real-time US and computed tomography (CT) has been introduced in interventional radiology. In the chest, fusion image can be used to assist in detecting the pleural-lesion contact area in extremely small solid nodules. Moreover, the fusion image of the pleural membrane associated with solid component of part-solid ground-glass nodule (GGN), results in localization of the lesion. In this paper, the authors described the clinical benefit of US-guided lung biopsy using fusion image and aimed to retrospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy and complication rates of US-guided lung biopsy with B-mode alone and those of a fusion image created using real-time US and compu...

Soil CO 2 efflux is the primary carbon efflux from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere. It is composed of autotrophic (plant) and heterotrophic (microbial) metabolic processes, and is usually quantified at the soil surface as a single source flux. Isotopic methods are a good tool for isolating heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration but are difficult to setup in situ and very costly. Thus, heterotrophic and autotrophic carbon efflux contributions to the gross soil carbon efflux are not well understood. Accurate quantification of carbon fluxes is necessary to construct carbon budget models and accurately estimate ecosystem productivity. Soil CO 2 effluxes, as most ecosystem processes, are sensitive to seasonal and environmental change. It is understood that soil CO 2  effluxes are significantly lower during the winter of temperate ecosystems and assumed microorganisms dominate efflux origination. In this paper, the authors hypothesized that heterotrophic contributi...

Graphite is a crystalline form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a hexagonal structure. It is widely used in the nuclear industry and in research facilities due to its extreme purity and its ability to withstand extremely high temperatures and high irradiation doses (fast neutrons). The widely use of graphite has led to increasing amounts of irradiated graphite pending disposal. It is estimated that there are at least 250,000 tonnes of irradiated graphite worldwide that will require eventual disposal. This graphite arises from a number of sources, but principally comprises moderator and structural materials for experimental reactors, production reactors, commercial power reactors and fuel assemblies. The radionuclides in irradiated graphite presenting the most significant long-term hazard are Carbon 14 (C-14) and Chlorine 36 (Cl-36) with half-lives of 5730 and 301,000 years respectively. For a better understanding of the way in which C-14 is produced, its distri...

Plasma is an ionized gas made up of free electrons and positively charged ions. For wound treatment, non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jets are generally made from noble gases like helium. Plasma treatment has been found to have properties that can accelerate wound healing and has been attracting attention with a rapid increase in the interest in medical devices based on cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) in recent years. Fractional CO 2 (FXCO 2 ) laser therapy has been used for skin resurfacing. However, the downtime after irradiation, such as the period with redness and/or pigmentation of the irradiated skin, is of concern. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate and compare the effects of CAP on acute wounds created by a fractional CO 2  (FXCO 2 ) laser on four treatment groups. This study was conducted between September 2017 and November 2018 to compare treatment outcomes of four identically-sized irradiated regions on the left forea...

Bird eggshell coloring depends on superficial pigments. Japanese quail eggshells are pigmented with protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). The PpIX is accumulated by the shell gland epithelial cells and secreted onto the shell surface 3.5 - 2 h before oviposition. In this paper, to investigate factors involved in the secretion of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a superficial eggshell pigment, from shell gland epithelial cells of Japanese quail, we cultured cells in Ham’s F12 medium with calcium chloride and quail plasma. Japanese quail ≥ 10 weeks old were used and laid on a regular clutch in the experiment. The quail were individually caged in a windowless environment-controlled room under a cycle of 14 h light/10 h dark. Food and water were available ad libitum. Eggs were collected at 5, 3, or 0.5 h before estimated oviposition or 1 h after oviposition. Shells removed of shell membrane were extracted in 6 mL hydrogen chloride-methanol solution (1:1, 20% HCl and 100% methanol) for 24 h ...

Fresh grapes are very sensitive to microbial spoilage during storage, even under refrigerated conditions, having relatively high moisture contents. Therefore, within a few weeks following harvest, they must either be consumed or processed into various products. Drying is the most common method for grape processing. It can process grapes into raisins for longer shelf-life by reducing the moisture content to a low level. The peel of the grape plays a critical role in controlling the drying process. Grape peel consists of a wax layer as a protective barrier against fungal pathogens. However, this coating reduces permeability and therefore hinders the process of water transfer. Due to this, prior to drying, several chemical and physical pretreatments are used to enhance permeability and increase the drying rate, while preserving the physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory qualities of the final product. In this paper, an abrasive pretreatment for enhancing the drying rate and ...

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair.  Numerous published clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of different lasers at various wavelengths for hair removal. The three commonly used hair removal lasers are of specific wavelengths: 755 nm, 810 nm, and 1064 nm, each preferred certain types of skin and hair characteristics. The current evaluation reported the safety and efficacy of unique blended modes 755/810 nm and 810/1064 nm diode lasers for hair removal. Results from 50 subjects ( 44 females, 6 males ) treated with the 755/810 nm handpiece and 50 subjects ( 50 females ) who were treated with the 810/1064 nm handpiece were accumulated from a few clinics in the USA, Canada, France, and Israel during 2018. Subjects underwent 3 treatment sessions 6 weeks apart and were followed up with 6 months post their last treatment. The study efficacy was ...

Given the depletion of oil reservoir energy and the limited discovery of new reservoirs, petroleum researchers have begun seeking more efficient techniques to improve the use rate of oil; one of the most promising methods is Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR), which has been used over the last three decades. Enhanced Oil Recovery is the process of increasing the amount of oil that can be recovered from an oil reservoir, usually by injecting a substance into an existing oil well to increase pressure, reduce the viscosity of the oil and change reservoir wettability. In recent times, chemicals called Ionic Liquids (ILs) have been used to enhance the oil recovery factor. Many studies have measured the properties of ionic liquids at different concentrations mixed either with water or other solvents. These investigations discovered that some ionic liquid types are capable of increasing mixture viscosity. The main objective of this experimental work was to investigate the efficie...

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It begins at the top of the left ventricle, the heart’s muscular pumping chamber. An aortic dissection (AD) is a serious condition in which the inner layer of the aorta tears. Blood surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect). It usually occurs in a weakened area of the aortic wall and is often a life-threatening condition and represents one of the rare true emergencies in cardiac surgery.  There are two kinds of aortic dissections (Type A and Type B). The difference is where the dissection is located. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphologic characteristics of aortic enlargement in type-B AD. A total of 120 patients with uncomplicated acute type-B aortic dissection (uATBAD) were divided into 4 groups (PE, PU, TE, and TU) according to the presence of a patent or thrombosed false lumen (FL) with or without aortic enlargement. In all groups...