Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging to assess the acute effects of moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training on thigh muscles.

This study investigated the use of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) to compare skeletal muscle perfusion during and after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) to determine the impact on fat oxidation outcomes. Twenty overweight volunteers were recruited for the study. Each participant received one HIIT intervention and one MICT intervention using a cycling ergometer. Participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan before, immediately after, and 1 and 2 h after each intervention. The IVIM parameters (D, fD*) of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and biceps femoris long head were obtained. Changes in IVIM parameters of these muscles after both exercise interventions were compared using a two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance. In the rectus femoris, the fD* increased immediately after exercise intervention (d = 0.69 × 10-3  mm2 /s, p < 0.0083) and 2 h after exercise intervention (d = 0.64 × 10-3  mm2 /s, p < 0.0083) compared with before exercise. The increase in the fD* in the HIIT group was greater than that in the MICT group (d = 0.32, p = 0.023). In the vastus lateralis, the fD* increased immediately after the exercise intervention (d = 0.53 × 10-3  mm2 /s, p < 0.001) and returned to the pre-exercise level 1 h after exercising. The increase in the fD* in the HIIT group was lower than that in the MICT group (d = -0.21, p = 0.015). For the biceps femoris long head, the fD* was not significantly different between the two exercise interventions before and after exercise. Furthermore, the fD* 60 min after the HIIT intervention correlated with maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), whereas fD* immediately after the MICT intervention correlated with VO2max. In summary, IVIM parameters can be used to evaluate differences in muscle perfusion between HIIT and MICT, and show a correlation with VO2max.

Intrathecal rapamycin attenuates the mechanical hyperalgesia of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice.

Paclitaxel is an extensively used chemotherapy antitumor drug and paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is one of the most common side effect. Rapamycin, originally used as an adjuvant drug for chemotherapy, has recently been found to possess potential neuroprotective activities. Our purposes of this study are to verify the effect of rapamycin on PIPN, which contributes to a new target for PIPN treatment. Mice were given paclitaxel or rapamycin with different injection methods. Paw withdrawal threshold was tested at different time points for mechanical sensitivity assessment. Administration of paclitaxel, both 2 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, could induce mechanical hypersensitivity. 0.01 mg intrathecal injection of rapamycin showed the best effect on attenuate the mechanical hyperalgesia of PIPN. Intrathecal injection of only rapamycin would not induce the mechanical hyperalgesia while when rapamycin and paclitaxel were used together the mechanical hyperalgesia induced by paclitaxel could be attenuated. Paclitaxel could induce mechanical hyperalgesia in mice and rapamycin could attenuate such mechanical hyperalgesia of PIPN.

Effects of Mn content on austenite stability and mechanical properties of low Ni alumina-forming austenitic heat-resistant steel: a first-principles study.

Low Ni alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) heat-resistant steel is an advanced high-temperature stainless steel with reduced cost, good machinability, high-temperature creep strength, and high-temperature corrosion resistance. Using the First-principles approach, this study examined the effect of Mn content on austenite stability and mechanical properties at the atomic level. Adding Mn to low Ni-AFA steel increases the unit cell volume with an accompanying increase in the absolute value of formation energy; the austenite formed more easily. The austenitic matrix binding energy decreases and remains negative, indicating austenite stability. As the Mn content increases from 3.2 to 12.8 wt%, the system's bulk modulus (B) rises significantly, and the shear modulus (G) falls. In addition, the system's strength and hardness decrease, and the Poisson ratio of the austenite matrix increases with improved elasticity; the system has excellent plasticity with an increase in the B/G. For the Fe22-Cr5-Ni3-Al2 system, with the increase of Mn content, the electron density distribution between the atoms is relatively uniform, and the electrons around the Mn atoms are slightly sparse, which will slightly reduce the structural stability of the matrix. The experiment demonstrated the matrix maintains the austenitic structure when adding 3.2-12.8 wt% Mn elements to low Ni-AFA steel. At an Mn content of 8 wt%, the overall mechanical properties of the high-Mn AFA steel are optimal, with a tensile strength of 581.64 MPa, a hardness of 186.17 HV, and an elongation of 39%.

Morphological Evolution of TiB2 and TiAl3 in Al-Ti-B Master Alloy Using Different Ti Adding Routes.

Three different Ti addition routes were used to prepare an Al-5Ti-B Master Alloy: the halide salt route, the Ti-sponge route, and the partial Ti-sponge route. In the halide salt route, the raw materials were Al + KBF4 + K2TiF6; K2TiF6 was completely replaced by pure titanium for the Ti-sponge route versus the halide salt route; in the partial Ti-sponge route, K2TiF6 was partially replaced by pure titanium. Here, 30% Ti-sponge or 60% Ti-sponge route means that 30% or 60% K2TiF6 was replaced by pure titanium, respectively. The above Ti addition routes have a significant influence on the growth pattern and morphological evolution of TiAl3 and TiB2, which greatly affect the refining performance of Al-Ti-B Master Alloy. When using the halide salt route, a streamlined "rich Ti, B area" exists in the aluminum melt, which is a complex compound of (Tix, Al1-x) By. The "rich Ti, B area" is essential for the nucleation and growth of TiAl3 and TiB2. Blocky TiAl3 was obtained and its average size was 4.7 µm based on the halide salt route. In the Ti-sponge route, the nucleation of TiAl3 mainly depends on the mutual diffusion of Al and Ti, and TiAlx forms around pure Ti particles, i.e., the so-called Ti-TiAlx mechanism. The average size of the blocky TiAl3 was 9.8 µm based on the Ti-TiAlx mechanism. For the partial Ti-sponge route, the "rich Ti, B area" gradually decreases with the increase in Ti powder's contents, and large TiAl3 coexists with the small TiAl3. Compared with the Ti-sponge route, the halide salt route can form smaller TiAl3. In the Ti-sponge route, there is a small amount of "rich Ti, B area" due to the influence of the Ti-TiAlx mechanism, which does not meet the requirements of TiB2 growth. In the halide salt route, there is sufficient "rich Ti, B area", which is conducive to the formation of TiB2. Both the crystal defects and the crowded growth environment caused by the "rich Ti, B area" are fundamental reasons for the fragility and the irregular shape of the TiB2. The refining effect of the Al-Ti-B Master Alloy prepared by the halide salt route is better than the Ti-sponge route. The refining effect of 30% Ti-sponge route is better than that of Ti-sponge route and worse than that of halide salt route.

The Effect of 6-Week Combined Balance and Plyometric Training on Dynamic Balance and Quickness Performance of Elite Badminton Players.

The study aimed to investigate the effect of combined balance and plyometric training on dynamic balance and quickness performance of elite badminton athletes. Sixteen elite male badminton players volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to a balance-plyometric group (PB: n = 8) and plyometric group (PT: n = 8). The PB group performed balance combined with plyometric training three times a week over 6 weeks (40 min of plyometrics and 20 min of balance training); while the PT group undertook only plyometric training for the same period (3-4 sets × 8-12 reps for each exercise). Both groups were given the same technical training (badminton techniques for 6 days a week). The dynamic stability and quick movement ability were assessed at baseline and after the intervention by measuring the performance of dynamic posture stability test (DPSI and COP), T-running test and hexagon jump test. The results showed that compared to PT, PB induced significantly greater improvements in F-DPSI, L-DPSI (p = 0.003, 0.025, respectively), F-COPAP, F-COPML, F-COPPL, L-COPPL (p = 0.024, 0.002, 0.029, 0.043, respectively), T-running test and hexagon jump test (p < 0.001). The change in L-DPSI, L-COPAP, L-COPML did not differ between PB and PT (p > 0.907). The findings suggest that combined training holds great promise of improving the dynamic balance and quickness performance in elite badminton athletes.

The Role of Klotho Protein Against Sevoflurane-Induced Neuronal Injury.

The effects of general anesthetics on the developing brain have aroused much attention in recent years. Sevoflurane, a commonly used inhalation anesthetic especially in pediatric anesthesia, can induce developmental neurotoxicity. In this study, the differentially expressed mRNAs in the hippocampus of newborn rats exposed to 3% sevoflurane for 6 h were detected by RNA-Sequencing. Those data indicated that the mRNA of Klotho was increased after exposure to sevoflurane. Moreover, the protein expression of Klotho was assayed by Western Blot. Besides over-expression and under-expression of Klotho protein, we also detected changes of cell proliferation, ROS, JC-1, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in PC12 cells exposed to sevoflurane. After exposure to 3% sevoflurane, the expression of Klotho protein increased in the hippocampus of neonatal rats. In PC12 cells, exposure to sevoflurane could increase cellular ROS level, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and Bcl-2/Bax ratio. While overexpression of Klotho alleviated the above changes, knockdown of Klotho aggravated the injury of sevoflurane. Klotho protein could reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury induced by sevoflurane in the neuron.

Low temperature in situ synthesis and the formation mechanism of various carbon-encapsulated nanocrystals by the electrophilic oxidation of metallocene complexes.

The core-shell nanostructures have the advantages of combining distinctive properties of varied materials and improved properties over their single-component counterparts. Synthesis approaches for this class of nanostructures have been intensively explored, generally involving multiple steps. Here, a general and convenient strategy is developed for one-step in situ synthesis of various carbon-encapsulated nanocrystals with a core-shell structure via a solid-state reaction of metallocene complexes with (NH4)2S2O8 in an autoclave at 200 °C. A variety of near-spherical and equiaxed nanocrystals with a small median size ranging from 6.5 to 50.6 nm are prepared as inner cores, including Fe7S8, Ni3S4 and NiS, CoS, TiO2, TiO2 and S8, ZrO2, (NH4)3V(SO4)3 and VO2, Fe7S8 and Fe3O4, MoS2 and MoO2. The worm-like carbon shell provides exclusive room for hundreds of nanocrystals separated from each other, preventing nanocrystal aggregation. The synergistic effect of ammonium and a strong oxidizing anion on the electrophilic oxidation of metallocene complexes containing a metal-ligand π bond contributes to the carbon formation at low temperature. It is considered that the cyclopentadienyl ligand in a metallocene complex will decompose into highly reactive straight chain olefinic pieces and the metal-olefin π interaction enables an ordered self-assembly of olefinic pieces on nanocrystals to partially form graphitizable carbon and a core-shell structure. The high capacity, good cycling behavior and rate capability of Fe7S8@C and Ni3S4 and NiS@C electrodes are attributed to the good protection and electrical conductivity of the carbon shell.