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Objective: Burn injuries pose a heightened risk of infection, which is primarily responsible for increased morbidity and mortality. Factors such as extensive skin damage and compromised immunity exacerbate this vulnerability. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are frequently identified in burns, with Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa often resistant to antibacterial agents. While Flaminal, an alginate-based wound dressing (Flen Health, Belgium), aids wound healing, its antibacterial effects are limited compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine (1% SSD). In contrast, Prontosan Wound Gel X, a betaine and polyhexanide-based hydrogel (B. Braun Medical AG, Switzerland), has been shown to effectively combat various microbes and promotes wound healing., Method: In this study, two research cohorts were retrospectively established (control group: patients receiving standard of care with the alginate-based wound dressing; intervention group: patients receiving the polyhexanide hydrogel wound dressing), comprising patients admitted to a burn centre between 2019 and 2022. Patients were eligible when continuous wound treatment with either of the two wound dressings was performed. Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) scans were conducted. Regions of interest (ROIs) were selected based on LDI scans and divided into healing time categories. Wound swabs were collected and the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was documented. Bacterial load was evaluated using a semiquantitative scale. Wound healing was recorded., Results: The control group consisted of 31 patients with 93 ROIs, while the intervention group had 67 ROIs involving 29 patients. Both groups exhibited similar proportions of healing time categories (p>0.05). The polyhexanide hydrogel dressing outperformed the alginate-based dressing in antiseptic efficacy by significantly reducing the incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa - and Staphylococcus aureus -positive cultures in patients' wounds. Wound healing time for conservative treatment was comparable between groups., Conclusion: In this study, the polyhexanide hydrogel dressing minimised Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in burn wounds, demonstrating strong antibacterial properties, emphasising its potential to minimise infections in burn injuries.

Identifying tools and processes to effectively and efficiently evaluate technologies is an area of need for many sport stakeholders. This study aimed to develop a standardised, evidence-based framework to guide the evaluation of sports technologies. In developing the framework, a review of standards, guidelines and research into sports technology was conducted. Following this, 55 experts across the sports industry were presented with a draft framework for feedback. Following a two-round Delphi survey, the final framework consisted of 25 measurable features grouped under five quality pillars. These were 1) Quality Assurance & Measurement (Accuracy, Repeatability, Reproducibility, Specifications), 2) Established Benefit (Construct Validity, Concurrent Validity, Predictive Validity, Functionality), 3) Ethics & Security (Compliance, Privacy, Ownership, Safety, Transparency, Environmental Sustainability), 4) User Experience (Usability, Robustness, Data Representation, Customer Support & Training, Accessibility) & 5) Data Management (Data Standardisation, Interoperability, Maintainability, Scalability). The framework can be used to help design and refine sports technology in order to optimise quality and maintain industry standards, as well as guide purchasing decisions by organisations. It may also serve to create a common language for organisations, manufacturers, investors, and consumers to improve the efficiency of their decision-making relating to sports technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-invasive scar management typically involves pressure therapy, hydration with silicones or moisturizers, and UV protection. Moisture loss from scars can lead to hypertrophic scar formation. Pressure therapy reduces blood flow, fibroblast activity, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) release. This study examined various moisturizers and liquid silicone gel's impact on microcirculation. 40 volunteers participated in a study where superficial abrasions were created to induce trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). Five moisturizers (TEDRA ® , TEDRA ® NT1, TEDRA ® NT3, Alhydran ® , Lipikar ® ) and BAP Scar Care ® silicone gel were tested. TEWL, hydration, and blood flow were measured up to 4 h post-application. Results showed that silicone had the least impact on occlusion and hydration. Alhydran ® reduced blood flow the most, while Lipikar ® increased it the most. TEDRA ® NT1 had reduced flow compared to TEDRA ® and TEDRA ® NT3. All TEDRA ® products exhibited high hydration, and all but silicone showed good occlusion. Moisturizers influenced skin microcirculation, with some causing decrease, while others increased flow. However, the clinical impact on scarring remains unclear compared to the evident effects of hydration and occlusion. More research is necessary to study moisturizers alone and with pressure therapy on scars, along with potential adverse effects of increased microcirculation on scars.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has enabled the adoption of digital health platforms for self-monitoring and diagnosis. Notably, the pandemic has had profound effects on athletes and their ability to train and compete. Sporting organizations worldwide have reported a significant increase in injuries manifesting from changes in training regimens and match schedules resulting from extended quarantines. While current literature focuses on the use of wearable technology to monitor athlete workloads to guide training, there is a lack of literature suggesting how such technology can mediate the return to sport processes of athletes infected with COVID-19. This paper bridges this gap by providing recommendations to guide team physicians and athletic trainers on the utility of wearable technology for improving the well-being of athletes who may be asymptomatic, symptomatic, or tested negative but have had to quarantine due to a close exposure. We start by describing the physiologic changes that occur in athletes infected with COVID-19 with extended deconditioning from a musculoskeletal, psychological, cardiopulmonary, and thermoregulatory standpoint and review the evidence on how these athletes may safely return to play. We highlight opportunities for wearable technology to aid in the return-to-play process by offering a list of key parameters pertinent to the athlete affected by COVID-19. This paper provides the athletic community with a greater understanding of how wearable technology can be implemented in the rehabilitation process of these athletes and spurs opportunities for further innovations in wearables, digital health, and sports medicine to reduce injury burden in athletes of all ages., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: JEV serves as an education consultant for Arthrex. TJG works as a consultant to several high-performance organizations, including sporting teams, industry, military, and higher education institutions., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Background: Hypertrophic scarring is a deviate occurrence after wound closure and is a common burn sequela. The mainstay of scar treatment consists of a trifold approach: hydration, UV-protection and the use of pressure garments with or without extra paddings or inlays to provide additional pressure. Pressure therapy has been reported to induce a state of hypoxia and to reduce the expression pattern of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), therefore limiting the activity of fibroblasts. However, pressure therapy is said to be largely based on empirical evidence and a lot of controversy concerning the effectiveness still prevails. Many variables influencing its effectivity, such as adherence to treatment, wear time, wash frequency, number of available pressure garment sets and amount of pressure remain only partially understood. This systematic review aims to give a complete and comprehensive overview of the currently available clinical evidence of pressure therapy., Methods: A systematic search for articles concerning the use of pressure therapy in the treatment and prevention of scars was performed in 3 different databases (Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane library) according to the PRISMA statement. Only case series, case-control studies, cohort studies, and RCTs were included. The qualitative assessment was done by 2 separate reviewers with the appropriate quality assessment tools., Results: The search yielded 1458 articles. After deduplication and removal of ineligible records, 1280 records were screened on title and abstract. Full text screening was done for 23 articles and ultimately 17 articles were included. Comparisons between pressure or no pressure, low vs high pressure, short vs long duration and early vs late start of treatment were investigated., Conclusion: There is sufficient evidence that indicates the value of prophylactic and curative use of pressure therapy for scar management. The evidence suggests that pressure therapy is capable of improving scar color, thickness, pain, and scar quality in general. Evidence also recommends commencing pressure therapy prior to 2 months after injury, and using a minimal pressure of 20-25 mmHg. To be effective, treatment duration should be at least 12 months and even preferably up to 18-24 months. These findings were in line with the best evidence statement by Sharp et al. (2016)., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None, there are no conflicts of interest for the authors., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.)

A new series of strongly coupled oscillators based upon (porphinato)Pd, (porphinato)Pt, and bis(terpyridyl)ruthenium(II) building blocks is described. These RuPPd , RuPPt , RuPPdRu , and RuPPtRu chromophores feature bis(terpyridyl)Ru(II) moieties connected to the (porphinato)metal unit via an ethyne linker that bridges the 4'-terpyridyl and porphyrin macrocycle meso -carbon positions. Pump-probe transient optical data demonstrate sub-picosecond excited singlet-to-triplet-state relaxation. The relaxed lowest-energy triplet (T 1 ) excited states of these chromophores feature absorption manifolds that span the 800-1200 nm spectral region, microsecond triplet-state lifetimes, and large absorptive extinction coefficients [ε(T 1 → T n ) > 4 × 10 4 M -1 cm -1 ]. Dynamic hyperpolarizability (β λ ) values were determined from hyper-Rayleigh light scattering (HRS) measurements carried out at several incident irradiation wavelengths over the 800-1500 nm spectral region. Relative to benchmark RuPZn and RuPZnRu chromophores which showed large β HRS values over the 1200-1600 nm range, RuPPd , RuPPt , RuPPdRu , and RuPPtRu displayed large β HRS values over the 850-1200 nm region. Generalized Thomas-Kuhn sum (TKS) rules and experimental hyperpolarizability values were utilized to determine excited state-to-excited state transition dipole terms from experimental electronic absorption data and thus assessed frequency-dependent β λ values, including two- and three-level contributions for both β zzz and β xzx tensor components to the RuPPd , RuPPt , RuPPdRu , and RuPPtRu hyperpolarizability spectra. These analyses qualitatively rationalize how the β zzz and β xzx tensor elements influence the observed irradiation wavelength-dependent hyperpolarizability magnitudes. The TKS analysis suggests that supermolecules related to RuPPd , RuPPt , RuPPdRu , and RuPPtRu will likely feature intricate dependences of experimentally determined β HRS values as a function of irradiation wavelength that derive from substantial singlet-triplet mixing, and complex interactions among multiple different β tensor components that modulate the long wavelength regime of the nonlinear optical response.

Integrated sustainability assessment (ISA) models can trigger change towards sustainable agriculture. This paper reports the implementation of an existing ISA model in Flanders, MOTIFS (Monitoring Tool for Integrated Farm Sustainability), in two cases in dairy farming selected from private/public accountancy/consultancy networks. Interactive learning between model developers (scientists) and model users (farmers and advisers) is examined with two objectives: first, to identify critical success factors (CSFs) for implementation; and Second, to suggest improvements for MOTIFS or ways to use MOTIFS. Through a qualitative research methodology, based on open coding of data collected in farmer discussion groups, 10 CSFs are derived that are linked to the various implementation steps. Sufficient attention should be paid to attitude of model users, compatibility, data availability and user-friendliness, particularly when an ISA model is used in existing networks. Improvements in the ISA model and its use are suggested, such as more focus on the organization of the discussion sessions. Training of advisers, enhancement of their facilitation skills, involvement of experts and a thorough planning of sessions are suggested for MOTIFS to become more effective in supporting learning and sustainable farm management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study is to compare the surface electromyographic amplitude, activation ratio, and onset latency of the main scapular stabilizing muscles between five typical rehabilitative exercises., Design: Twenty-seven healthy participants performed five scapular exercises (wall slide, wall push-up plus, prone horizontal abduction with external rotation, external rotation in side lying, and low row) while simultaneously recording surface electromyographic of serratus anterior, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and upper trapezius. Surface electromyographic amplitudes, onset latencies, and activation ratios were calculated., Results: Prone horizontal abduction with external rotation showed an excellent upper trapezius/middle trapezius (0.43) and upper trapezius/lower trapezius (0.30) muscle balance with high (>50% maximum voluntary isometric contraction) middle trapezius and lower trapezius amplitudes, a low (<20% maximum voluntary isometric contraction) upper trapezius amplitude, and an early activation of the scapular stabilizing muscles (-474.7 to 89.9 ms) relative to upper trapezius. External rotation in side lying showed excellent upper trapezius/serratus anterior (0.26), upper trapezius/middle trapezius (0.32), and upper trapezius/lower trapezius (0.21) activation ratios and, along with low row and wall slide, showed early activation of the scapular stabilizing muscles (-378.1 to -26.6 ms)., Conclusions: Prone horizontal abduction with external rotation presented optimal scapular neuromuscular control. Although external rotation in side lying, low row, and wall slide did not meet all the criteria associated with optimal scapular neuromuscular control, these exercises could be used in early stages of shoulder rehabilitation because they favor early activation of the scapular stabilizing muscles., Competing Interests: Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Octopolar D 2 -symmetric chromophores, based on the MPZnM supermolecular motif in which (porphinato)zinc(II) (PZn) and ruthenium(II) polypyridyl (M) structural units are connected via ethyne linkages, were synthesized. These structures take advantage of electron-rich meso -arylporphyrin or electron-poor meso -(perfluoroalkyl)porphyrin macrocycles, unsubstituted terpyridyl and 4'-pyrrolidinyl-2,2';6',2″-terpyridyl ligands, and modulation of metal(II) polypyridyl-to-(porphinato)zinc connectivity, to probe how electronic and geometric factors impact the measured hyperpolarizability. Transient absorption spectra obtained at early time delays ( t delay < 400 fs) demonstrate fast excited-state relaxation, and formation of a highly polarized T 1 excited state; the T 1 states of these chromophores display expansive, intense T 1 → T n absorption manifolds that dominate the 800-1200 nm region of the NIR, long (μs) triplet-state lifetimes, and unusually large NIR excited absorptive extinction coefficients [ε(T 1 → T n ) ∼ 10 5 M -1 cm -1 ]. Dynamic hyperpolarizability (β λ ) values were determined from hyper-Rayleigh light scattering (HRS) measurements, carried out at multiple incident irradiation wavelengths spanning the 800-1500 nm spectral domain. The measured β HRS value (4600 ± 1200 × 10 -30 esu) for one of these complexes, RuPZnRu, is the largest yet reported for any chromophore at a 1500 nm irradiation wavelength, highlighting that appropriate engineering of strong electronic coupling between multiple charge-transfer oscillators provides a critical design strategy to realize octopolar NLO chromophores exhibiting large β HRS values at telecom-relevant wavelengths. Generalized Thomas-Kuhn sum (TKS) rules were utilized to compute the effective excited-state-to-excited-state transition dipole moments from experimental linear-absorption spectra; these data were then utilized to compute hyperpolarizabilities as a function of frequency, that include two- and three-state contributions for both β zzz and β xzx tensor components to the RuPZnRu hyperpolarizability spectrum. This analysis predicts that the β zzz and β xzx tensor contributions to the RuPZnRu hyperpolarizability spectrum maximize near 1550 nm, in agreement with experimental data. The TKS analysis suggests that relative to analogous dipolar chromophores, octopolar supermolecules will be likely characterized by more intricate dependences of the measured hyperpolarizability upon irradiation wavelength due to the interactions among multiple different β tensor components.

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. OBJECTIVES: To examine the timing of the 3 portions of the trapezius muscle in relation to the posterior deltoid (PD) muscle and in relation to one another during 4 selected shoulder exercises: (1) prone extension, (2) forward flexion in side lying, (3) external rotation in side lying, and (4) prone horizontal abduction with external rotation. BACKGROUND: Deficiencies in trapezius muscle recruitment have been identified in patients with shoulder pain. Alterations in the trapezius muscle activation level and timing have been identified in previous research. Scapular muscle exercises in which the middle trapezius (MT) and lower trapezius (LT) muscle showed optimal activity with minimal upper trapezius (UT) muscle participation have been recently identified. However, it is currently unknown if these exercises also promote early activation of the scapular stabilizing musculature. METHODS: The intermuscular and intramuscular timing of muscle activation (based on an activation level of greater than 10% maximum voluntary contraction beyond basic activity) of the 3 portions of the trapezius muscle during 4 exercises were examined by surface EMG in 30 healthy subjects on the dominant side (14 males, 16 females). A 1-sample t test was used to determine which portions of the trapezius muscle were activated significantly earlier or later than the PD (intermuscular timing). An analysis of variance for repeated measures (3 levels) was used for each exercise to determine possible timing differences among the 3 portions of the trapezius muscle (intramuscular timing). RESULTS: Intermuscular and intramuscular differences in timing of the portions of the trapeziusmuscle were found. The UT was activated significantly later than the PD (P<.01), and the MT was activated significantly earlier than the PD (P<.01), during the prone extension exercise. During the horizontal abduction with external rotation exercise, the MT (P<.01) and the LT (P = .01) were activated significantly earlier than the PD. During prone extension, side-lying external rotation, and prone horizontal abduction with external rotation, significant differences were found between the UT and MT, between the UT and LT, but not between the MT and LT. In these exercises the MT and LT were activated significantly earlier than the UT. During forward flexion in side lying, no significant timing differences were found between the activation of the portions of the trapezius. CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of the LT during prone extension, the prone extension exercise and the prone horizontal abduction with external rotation exercise promote early activation of the MT and LT in relation to the scapular and glenohumeral prime mover. Taking into account the limited generalizability of the results due to a narrow age range, these exercises are potentially promising for the treatment of intermuscular and intramuscular timing disorders of the trapezius muscle. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39(10):743-752. doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.3089. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Shoulder horizontal abduction exercise in the prone position is effective for strengthening the lower trapezius muscle. However, this exercise is difficult for patients with acute pain or those undergoing initial rehabilitation because of the postural characteristics of the exercise. This study aimed to (1) investigate the effect of a shoulder horizontal abduction exercise when performed with a different amount of shoulder rotation on the trapezius muscle activation and scapular anterior/posterior tilt angle and (2) evaluate the effect of shoulder rotation on the acromiohumeral distance while sitting. Fifteen healthy men performed shoulder horizontal abduction exercise in three shoulder positions (internal rotation, neutral rotation, and external rotation). During exercises, we measured trapezius muscle activity using an electromyography system and scapular anterior/posterior tilt angle using an inclinometer application. We also measured the acromiohumeral distance using real-time ultrasonography before the exercises. Increases in lower trapezius and middle trapezius muscle activities and a decrease in scapular anterior tilt occurred in shoulder external rotation compared with other positions (p<0.001). Shoulder external rotation also significantly increased acromiohumeral distance in the sitting position (p<0.05). We propose that shoulder external rotation effectively and safely increases middle and lower trapezius muscle activities during the sitting shoulder horizontal abduction exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rituximab (RTX) and eculizumab (ECU) are treatment options for refractory myasthenia gravis (MG), but comparative clinical data derived from real‐world experience are limited. Here, we describe the baseline characteristics, treatment, and safety outcomes of patients with antiacetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive (AChR+) generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) treated with ECU and/or RTX in our clinic. Methods: Patients with refractory AChR+ gMG who received ECU or/and RTX treatment for more than 1 year at the Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine were included in this observational study. After obtaining written patient consent, data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Results: Twelve patients treated with ECU and 25 patients treated with RTX were included in the analysis. Groups were comparable with regard to demographic and clinical characteristics, including age at onset of MG, disease duration, and history of thymoma. ECU was associated with significantly better outcomes compared with RTX, as measured by decreases in the mean MG activities of daily living score at 1 (p = 0.024), 3 (p < 0.001), 6 (p < 0.001), and 12 (p < 0.001) months of treatment; steroid‐sparing effect after 1 year of treatment (decrease in mean [standard deviation] daily prednisolone dose of −21.8 mg [13.5] vs. −6.6 mg [9.4] with RTX; p < 0.001); and need for rescue treatment and number of myasthenic crisis episodes during treatment (p < 0.001). No new safety signals were observed with either treatment. Conclusion: Our data provide real‐world evidence supporting ECU over RTX to treat patients with refractory AChR+ gMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of this study was to investigate if exercise into pain is more effective than no pain in RCRSP. Patients and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a physiotherapy clinic in Belgium. Forty-three participants with chronic RCRSP were randomly allocated to G1 (exercising into pain) or G2 (exercising without pain) in a 12-week intervention with 6-month follow-up. Primary outcome was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI); secondary outcomes were pain intensity, fear-avoidance beliefs, fear of pain, quality of life, strength, and range of motion. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), after 9 weeks (T1), 12 weeks (T2), and 6 months (T3) from the first session and analysed with linear mixed models. Results: No between-group difference in SPADI (time-by-group interaction, p = 0.25) up to 6 months was found, with mean difference (G1-G2) at T1 = 5.78 (CI95%: − 3.43,14.59; p = 0.33), at T2 = 0.93 (CI95%: − 7.20,9.05; p = 0.82), at T3 = 4.15 (CI95%: − 2.61,10.92; p = 0.33). No between-group differences were found for any other outcomes. Conclusion: Pain provocation seems not to be necessary in RCRSP for achieving successful treatment effect in pain and disability reduction, fear-related beliefs, and quality of life up to 6 months. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04553289. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During resistance training protocols, people are often encouraged to target the scapular stabilizing musculature (middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior) while minimizing shoulder prime mover activation (upper trapezius and large glenohumeral muscles) in their training regime, especially in overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis. To increase the activation levels in the stabilizing muscles without drastically increasing the activation in the prime movers, unstable surfaces are frequently used during closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises. However, the specific influence of Redcord slings (RS) as an unstable surface tool on the shoulder muscle activation levels has rarely been investigated, despite these results may be used for adequate exercise selection. Therefore, a controlled laboratory study was performed on 47 healthy subjects (age, 22 ± 4.31 years; height, 176 ± 0.083 cm; weight, 69 ± 8.57 kg) during 4 CKC exercises without and with RS: half push-up (HPU), knee push-up (KPU), knee prone bridging plus (KPBP), and pull-up. When using RS, serratus anterior muscle activation decreased during the KPU and KPBP exercise. In addition, a drastic increase in pectoralis major muscle activation was found during the HPU and KPBP exercise. Consequently, the use of RS does not necessarily imply that higher levels of scapular stabilizer muscle activation will be attained. These findings suggest that RS might be an appropriate training tool when used within a general strengthening program but should not be preferred over a stable base of support when training for specific scapular stabilization purposes.

The scapula functions as a bridge between the shoulder complex and the cervical spine and plays a very important role in providing both mobility and stability of the neck/shoulder region. The association between abnormal scapular positions and motions and glenohumeral joint pathology has been well established in the literature, whereas studies investigating the relationship between neck pain and scapular dysfunction have only recently begun to emerge. Although several authors have emphasised the relevance of restoring normal scapular kinematics through exercise and manual therapy techniques, overall scapular rehabilitation guidelines decent for both patients with shoulder pain as well as patients with neck problems are lacking. The purpose of this paper is to provide a science-based clinical reasoning algorithm with practical guidelines for the rehabilitation of scapular dyskinesis in patients with chronic complaints in the upper quadrant.

Objective: To compare the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and the change of this distance during abduction between the dominant and nondominant shoulders of female overhead athletes and to compare AHD between elite and recreational female athletes., Design: : Case-control study., Setting: Laboratory, institutional., Independent Variables: "Side" (dominant and nondominant), "group" (elite and recreational athletes), and "degree of abduction" (0, 45, and 60 degrees)., Participants: Sixty-two female overhead athletes participated in this study: 29 elite handball players and 33 recreational overhead athletes of different sports disciplines (volleyball, water polo, squash, and badminton)., Main Outcome Measures: Acromiohumeral distance was measured at 3 positions of abduction using ultrasound: at 0, 45, and 60 degrees of abduction., Results: Acromiohumeral distance measurements showed good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.88 and 0.92). In all overhead athletes, the AHD was significantly larger on the dominant side compared with the nondominant side, at all positions of abduction (mean difference = 0.94 ± 0.18 mm). Significant reduction of the AHD during abduction occurred relative to the initial size at 0 degree of abduction, at both sides. When comparing elite and recreational athletes, the AHD was significantly larger in elite athletes (mean difference = 0.92 ± 0.47 mm). Moreover, significantly less reduction occurred during the first degrees of abduction (0-45 degrees) in elite athletes (9.37% ± 2.17% reduction) compared with the recreational athletes (17.68% ± 2.03% reduction)., Conclusions: The AHD is larger on the dominant side compared with the nondominant side and in elite female athletes compared with recreational female athletes. Moreover, less reduction of the AHD occurs in the elite athlete group during the first 45 degrees of abduction.

Objectives: To describe and compare the activation levels of the upper and lower trapezius muscle and study the influence of trunk and lower extremity position or movement during eight variations of a scapular retraction exercise., Design: Descriptive study. Exercise performance was standardized and individualized based on height, age and body weight., Methods: Individual muscle activation was captured by surface electromyography in thirty young healthy overhead athletes. Exercises were performed in front of a pulley apparatus., Results: The mean values for upper trapezius and lower trapezius were 6.59% and 15.93% of maximum voluntary isometric contractions respectively. Main effects were found for "exercise" (F=2.60; p=0.037) and "muscle part" (F=25.44; p<0.001) in an ANOVA for repeated measures model showing higher lower trapezius muscle activation compared to the upper trapezius across exercises. An unipodal squat position on the contralateral leg increased trapezius muscle activation by 3.93% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (p=0.019) compared to the conventional seated performance of the exercise. No differences between phases were found and no exercise activated a particular muscle part (upper trapezius or lower trapezius) to a greater extent in comparison with other exercises since no two-way interactions were found with p<0.05., Conclusions: All exercise variations may be useful in the early phases of scapular rehabilitation training because of their favorable trapezius muscle balance activation. Standing in a squat position on the contralateral leg can result in a slight increase in trapezius muscle activation. However, future comparative effectiveness studies are needed to identify the long-term training benefits of these exercises., (Copyright © 2012 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study., Objectives: To assess the effect of conscious correction of scapular orientation on the activation of the 3 sections of the trapezius muscle during shoulder exercises in overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis., Background: Previous research has led to the recommendation of 4 exercises for training of the trapezius muscle: prone extension, sidelying external rotation, sidelying forward flexion, and prone horizontal abduction with external rotation. However, the extent to which conscious correction of scapular orientation impacts trapezius muscle activation levels during these exercises is unknown., Methods: Absolute (upper trapezius [UT], middle trapezius [MT], lower trapezius [LT]) and relative (UT/MT and UT/LT) muscle activation levels were determined with surface electromyography in 30 asymptomatic overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis, during 4 selected exercises performed with and without conscious correction of scapular orientation. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to determine if a voluntary scapular orientation correction strategy influenced the activation levels of the different sections of the trapezius during each exercise., Results: With conscious correction of scapular orientation, activation levels of the 3 sections of the trapezius muscle significantly increased during prone extension (mean ± SD difference: UT, 5.9% ± 8.6% maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC]; MT, 13.8% ± 11.0% MVIC; LT, 9.8% ± 10.8% MVIC; P<.05) and sidelying external rotation (UT, 2.2% ± 4.4% MVIC; MT, 6.7% ± 10.6% MVIC; LT, 13.3% ± 24.4% MVIC; P<.05). There was no difference between conditions for sidelying forward flexion and prone horizontal abduction with external rotation. The UT/MT and UT/LT ratios were similar between conditions for all 4 exercises., Conclusion: Conscious correction of scapular orientation during the prone extension and sidelying external rotation exercises can be used to increase the activation level in the 3 sections of the trapezius in overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis. Although lack of kinematic data limits the interpretation of the results, this study suggests that conscious correction of scapular orientation can be performed without altering the favorable UT/MT and UT/LT ratios that have been previously reported for these exercises.

Background: Previous research has identified some specific exercises to correct scapular muscle balance and onset timing in healthy subjects. However, evidence for their effectiveness in overhead athletes with impingement symptoms has been lacking until now., Hypothesis: A 6-week exercise program consisting of previously selected exercises is able to improve muscle activation and onset timing during shoulder elevation. This program may also change pain and functionality levels in overhead athletes with mild impingement symptoms., Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4., Methods: Forty-seven overhead athletes with mild impingement symptoms (25 men and 22 women) were enrolled in this study. Before and after the 6-week training program, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score was individually obtained and maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) values were determined by surface electromyography. Mean muscle activation levels, muscle ratio data, and muscle onset timing were assessed for the upper (UT), middle (MT), and lower (LT) trapezius and serratus anterior (SA) muscle during arm elevation in the scapular plane., Results: Forty participants completed the exercise program. The SPADI scores significantly decreased from 29.86 ± 17.03 during initial assessment to 11.7 ± 13.78 during postmeasurements (P < .001). The 3 trapezius muscle parts showed increased MVIC values and decreased activation levels during arm elevation, whereas this was not the case for the SA muscle. After the training program, UT/SA significantly decreased, whereas UT/MT and UT/LT did not change (P < .05). No differences in muscle timing between pre- and postmeasurements could be identified. The LT showed significant earlier activation compared with UT (-0.47; P < .001) and MT (-0.49; P < .001). The serratus anterior showed significant earlier activation compared with the UT (-0.74; P < .001), MT (-0.76; P < .001), and LT muscles (F = 0.27; P = .046)., Conclusion: This is the first longitudinal study to demonstrate that previously selected exercises (1) improve pain and function based on SPADI scores, (2) reduce relative trapezius muscle activation, and (3) alter UT/SA ratios. However, they were unable to change the timing of the scapular muscles during arm elevation when compared before and after a 6-week training program in overhead athletes with mild impingement symptoms.

Context: Swimming requires well-balanced scapular-muscle performance. An additional strength-training program for the shoulders is pursued by swimmers, but whether these muscle-training programs need to be generic or specific for endurance or strength is unknown., Objective: To evaluate isokinetic scapular-muscle performance in a population of adolescent swimmers and to compare the results of training programs designed for strength or muscle endurance., Design: Controlled laboratory study., Setting: University human research laboratory., Patients or Other Participants: Eighteen adolescent swimmers., Intervention(s): Each participant pursued a 12-week scapular-training program designed to improve either muscle strength or muscle endurance., Main Outcome Measure(s): Bilateral peak force, fatigue index, and protraction/retraction strength ratios before and after the scapular-training program., Results: Scapular protraction/retraction ratios were slightly higher than 1 (dominant side  =  1.08, nondominant side  =  1.25, P  =  .006). Side-to-side differences in retraction strength were apparent both before and after the training program (P  =  .03 and P  = .05, respectively). After the training program, maximal protraction (P < .05) and retraction (P < .01) strength improved on the nondominant side. Peak force and fatigue index were not different between the training groups. The fatigue indexes for protraction on both sides (P < .05) and retraction on the nondominant side (P  =  .009) were higher after the training program., Conclusions: We describe the scapular-muscle characteristics of a group of adolescent swimmers. Both muscle-strength and muscle-endurance programs improved absolute muscle strength. Neither of the strength programs had a positive effect on scapular-muscle endurance. Our results may be valuable for coaches and physiotherapists when they are designing exercise programs for swimmers.

Six new dicationic 2D nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores with pyrazinyl-pyridinium electron acceptors have been synthesized by nucleophilic substitutions of 2,6-dichloropyrazine with pyridyl derivatives. These compounds have been characterized as their PF(6)(-) salts by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Large red shifts in the intense, π → π* intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transitions on replacing -OMe with -NMe(2) substituents arise from the stronger π-electron donor ability of the latter. Each compound shows a number of redox processes which are largely irreversible. Single crystal X-ray structures have been determined for five salts, including two nitrates, all of which adopt centrosymmetric packing arrangements. Molecular first hyperpolarizabilities β have been determined by using femtosecond hyper-Rayleigh scattering at 880 and 800 nm, and depolarization studies show that the NLO responses of the symmetric species are strongly 2D, with dominant "off-diagonal" β(zyy) components. Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic measurements on the ICT bands afford estimated static first hyperpolarizabilities β(0). The directly and indirectly derived β values are large, and the Stark-derived β(0) response for one of the new salts is several times greater than that determined for (E)-4'-(dimethylamino)-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium hexafluorophosphate. These Stark spectroscopic studies also permit quantitative comparisons with related 2D, binuclear Ru(II) ammine complex salts.

Amphiphilic donor-acceptor meso-ethynyl porphyrins with polar pyridinium electron-acceptor head groups and hydrophobic dialkyl-aniline electron donors have high molecular hyperpolarizabilities (as measured by hyper-Rayleigh scattering) and high affinities for biological membranes. When bound to water droplets in dodecane, or to the plasma membranes of living cells, they can be used for second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy; an incident light of wavelength 840 nm generates a strong frequency-doubled signal at 420 nm. Copper(II) and nickel(II) porphyrin complexes give similar SHG signals to those of the free-base porphyrins, while exhibiting no detectable two-photon excited fluorescence.

Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most common thiol-containing molecules discovered in biological systems, and it plays an important role in many cellular functions, where changes in physiological glutathione levels contribute to the progress of a variety of diseases. Molecular imaging employing fluorescent probes is thought to be a sensitive technique for online fluorescence detection of GSH. Although various molecular probes for (intracellular) GSH sensing have been reported, some aspects remain unanswered, such as quantitative intracellular analysis, dynamic monitoring, and compatibility with biological environment. Some of these drawbacks can be overcome by sensors based on nanostructured materials, that have attracted considerable attention owing to their exceptional properties, including a large surface area, heightened electro-catalytic activity, and robust mechanical resilience, for which they have become integral components in the development of highly sensitive chemo- and biosensors. Additionally, engineered nanomaterials have demonstrated significant promise in enhancing the precision of disease diagnosis and refining treatment specificity. The aim of this review is to investigate recent advancements in fabricated nanomaterials tailored for detecting GSH. Specifically, it examines various material categories, encompassing carbon, polymeric, quantum dots (QDs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), metal-based, and silicon-based nanomaterials, applied in the fabrication of chemo- and biosensors. The fabrication of nano-biosensors, mechanisms, and methodologies employed for GSH detection utilizing these fabricated nanomaterials will also be elucidated. Remarkably, there is a noticeable absence of existing reviews specifically dedicated to the nanomaterials for GSH detection since they are not comprehensive in the case of nano-fabrication, mechanisms and methodologies of detection, as well as applications in various biological environments. This research gap presents an opportune moment to thoroughly assess the potential of nanomaterial-based approaches in advancing GSH detection methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastic yarns are the key component of high-performance compression garments. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate anti-fatigue yarns with high mechanical force and long elongation for generating compression garments with prolonged wear. In this paper, we report the development of anti-fatigue double-wrapped yarns with excellent mechanical properties by wrapping high-denier Spandex with nylon filaments in opposite twists. In particular, high-denier (560 D) Spandex as the core was untwisted, which can maximally reduce the interaction between the core and wrapping filaments, enabling high elongation of double-wrapped yarns. In addition, we chose 70 D nylon filaments with a tensile force of 3.87 ± 0.09 N as the wrapping materials to provide sufficient force for double-wrapped yarns. Notably, opposite twists were induced for the inner and outer wrapping filaments to achieve a balanced stable yarn structure. By systematically optimizing manufacturing parameters, including inner wrapping density, outer wrapping density, take-up ratio, and drafting ratio, we obtained double-wrapped yarn with excellent tensile stress (32.59 ± 0.82 MPa) and tensile strain (357.28% ± 9.10%). Notably, the stress decay rate of optimized yarns was only 12.0% ± 2.2%. In addition, the optimized yarn was used as the weft-lining yarn for generating weft-lined fabrics. The elastic recovery rate of the obtained fabric was decreased by only 2.6% after five cyclic stretches, much lower than the control fabric. Our design of anti-fatigue double-wrapped yarns could be widely used for fabricating high-performance compression garments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle imbalances in the upper body can lead to ineffective movement patterns and potential injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activity, impact, and muscle activation ratio of the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and pectoralis major (PM) during the knee push-up plus (KPUP) exercise under various loads. Method: Electromyography assessed scapular muscle activity in 32 healthy adults (15 males, 17 females) during three KPUP variations. Results: PM and UT showed no significant activity differences across loads, whereas SA and LT did. SA activity was significantly higher in the weighted KPUP (WKPUP) 3 kg than that in KPUP and WKPUP 1 kg. LT activity was also significantly higher in WKPUP 3 kg compared to KPUP and WKPUP 1 kg, with KPUP showing higher activity than WKPUP 1 kg. PM/SA ratios remained consistent across loads, while UT/LT ratios varied significantly, being notably lower at 3 kg compared to 0 kg and 1 kg. Similarly, UT/SA ratios differed significantly among loads, being notably lower at 3 kg and 1 kg compared to 0 kg. Conclusion: WKPUP with 3 kg demonstrated significantly higher SA and LT activity compared to KPUP and WKPUP 1 kg. The lowest UT/LT ratio was observed during the WKPUP 3 kg, suggesting its effectiveness for optimizing muscle activation balance during KPUP exercises. These findings may inform the development of exercise protocols aimed at improving scapular stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The proposed kinematic analysis protocol can play a role in detecting electromyographic and kinematic alterations of the shoulder for the pre-clinical detection of the risk factors for overuse pathologies. Moreover, the proposed exercise prevention protocol has shown valuable results in optimizing shoulder movement and can be proposed to overhead athletes as a part of their athletic preparation. Scapular dyskinesia, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, upper posterior labral anterior tears, and rotator cuff injuries are common in athletes who play "overhead" sports due to their repetitive excessive movements. The aims of this study are to propose a new protocol with kinematic analysis coupled with sEMG and to objectively analyze the effect of a specific prevention exercise protocol. Thirty-two subjects (age: 22 ± 4 years, height: 183 ± 3.2 cm, BMI: 23 ± 0.96 kg/m2), including sixteen healthy subjects (Group A) and sixteen male water polo athletes (Group B), underwent a three-dimensional motion analysis based on optoelectronic and sEMG systems. A functional evaluation was performed on Group A and Group B to assess the reliability of the operator-dependent tasks and collect a series of normative data, before starting the prevention protocol (T0) and after 8 weeks (T1). The athletes performed a specific exercise protocol to prevent shoulder injuries. In Group B, the movements of abduction (T0: 111° ± 24°; T1: 140° ± 13°) and extension (T0: 72°± 10°; T1: 84° ± 2.8°) of the glenohumeral joint and the scapulothoracic joint (T0: 33° ± 8.36°; T1: 40.5° ± 10.6°) significantly improved. A significant reduction (in %) in the maximum voluntary contraction (MCV) at T1 of the upper trapezius, teres minor, and pectoralis major was observed. This protocol provides objective data in a simple and reliable way for the functional assessment of the shoulder in water polo players during the sport season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scapular dyskinesis is a shoulder dysfunction that can be asymptomatic or associated with pain or weakness. Reduced strength and fatigue resistance of the scapular protractor and retractor muscles that stabilize the scapula might contribute to dyskinesis. To determine the strength and fatigue resistance profiles of participants with symptomatic or asymptomatic scapular dyskinesis and compare them with healthy control (HC) individuals using isokinetic assessment. Cross-sectional study. University hospital. Twenty HC individuals and 21 overhead athletes with symptomatic (n = 10) or asymptomatic (n = 11) scapular dyskinesis. Strength (peak torque, maximum work), fatigue resistance (total work), and protraction:retraction ratios measured during a closed chain isokinetic protocol (40 repetitions in concentric mode at 24.4 cm/s). The scapular protractors' strength and fatigue resistance were higher (P <.01) in HC individuals (peak torque = 5.0 ± 0.9 N/kg, maximum work = 2.4 ± 0.5 J/kg, total work = 72.4 ± 0.6 J/kg) than in asymptomatic (peak torque = 3.4 ± 0.7 N/kg, maximum work = 1.7 ± 0.4 J/kg, total work = 50.0 ± 13.7 J/kg) or symptomatic (peak torque = 3.8 ± 0.6 N/kg, maximum work = 1.8 ± 0.3 J/kg, total work = 58.1 ± 12.9 J/kg) dyskinetic participants. The symptomatic dyskinetic group presented the highest retractor strength and fatigue resistance (P <.01) values (peak torque = 5.2 ± 0.6 N/kg, maximum work = 2.9 ± 0.8 J/kg, total work = 87.7 ± 22.7 J/kg), followed by the HC individuals (peak torque = 4.7 ± 1.0 N/kg, maximum work = 2.1 ± 0.5 J/kg, total work = 65.3 ± 17.9 J/kg) and the asymptomatic dyskinetic participants (peak torque = 3.9 ± 1.0 N/kg, maximum work = 1.9 ± 0.6 J/kg, total work = 58.6 ± 18.5 J/kg). The protraction:retraction ratios showed a gradual decrease (P <.001) from the HC individuals (1.1) to the asymptomatic (0.9) and symptomatic (0.7) dyskinetic participants. Scapular dyskinesis is characterized by weaker scapular protractors and reduced agonist:antagonist ratios, especially when patients are symptomatic. Targeting the scapular protractors to achieve a better balance of scapular musculature in rehabilitation and strengthening programs may improve shoulder symptoms and function, but more interventional studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparing athletes for competition requires the diagnosis and monitoring of relevant physical qualities (e.g., strength, power, speed, endurance characteristics). Decisions regarding test selection that attempt to measure these physical attributes are fundamental to the training process yet are complicated by the myriad of tests and measurements available. This article presents an evidenced based process to inform test measurement selection for the physical preparation of athletes. We describe a method for incorporating multiple layers of validity to link test measurement to competition outcome. This is followed by a framework by which to evaluate the suitability of test measurements based on contemporary validity theory that considers technical, decision-making, and organisational factors. Example applications of the framework are described to demonstrate its utility in different settings. The systems presented here will assist in distilling the range of measurements available into those most likely to have the greatest impact on competition performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The normal value of the scapular muscle activity ratio during arm elevation is not clear. OBJECTIVE: To obtain normal values of the scapular muscle activity ratio during arm elevation in healthy individuals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 47 healthy people. The participants performed shoulder flexion and lowered task with 90-degree movements every 2 seconds. Muscle activities of scapular muscles were measured. For normalization, the maximum isometric contraction of the shoulder flexion was measured at 90∘ (reference contraction). The integrated electromyographic value (IEMG) obtained during the task was normalized by IEMG during the reference contraction and the relative IEMG value was calculated. Then, the scapular muscle activity ratio was computed. The relationship between muscle strength and other factors was also investigated. RESULTS: The median values for upper trapezius/serratus anterior and upper trapezius/lower trapezius were often approximately 1, and that for upper trapezius/middle trapezius was often between 1 and 2. The shoulder flexion isometric strength and scapular muscle activity ratio showed significant negative correlations in multiple phases. CONCLUSION: Normal values for upper trapezius/serratus anterior and upper trapezius/lower trapezius during arm elevation and lowering were generally 1. Low muscle strength may contribute to an abnormal scapular muscle activity balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being adopted across many domains such as transport, healthcare, defence and sport, with football codes no exception. Though there is a range of potential benefits of AI, concern has also been expressed regarding potential risks. An important first step in ensuring that AI applications in football are usable, beneficial, safe and ethical is to understand the current range of applications, the AI models adopted and their proposed functions. This systematic review aimed to identify different applications of AI across football codes to synthesise current knowledge and determine whether potential risks are being considered. The systematic review included 190 peer-reviewed articles. Nine areas of application were found ranging from athlete evaluation and event detection to match outcome prediction and injury detection and prediction. In total, 27 different AI models were identified, with artificial neural networks the most frequently applied. Five AI assessment metrics were identified including specificity, recall, precision, accuracy and F1-score. Four potential risks were identified, concerning data security, usability, data biases and inappropriate athlete load management. It is concluded that, though a wide range of AI applications currently exist, further work is required to develop AI for football and identify and manage potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unstable surfaces are commonly utilized to enhance the flexibility of the musculoskeletal system for achieving training or rehabilitation goals. However, their effects on shoulder muscle activation during various push-up (PU) exercises have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to synthesize electromyography (EMG) data of shoulder muscles in individuals without scapular dyskinesis performing different PU exercises on both stable and unstable surfaces. Methods: A systematic online search was conducted in electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, up to January 16, 2024, using predefined sets of keywords. Out of the 1,971 titles and abstracts screened, 80 articles were reviewed in detail by two independent researchers to check the eligibility, of which 28 eligible studies were ultimately included. Following assessment of the quality and risk of bias, the studies were categorized based on exercises and muscle groups, and a meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed to estimate the overall effect size. Results: The use of unstable surfaces led to a decrease in anterior deltoid activity during PU [P = 0.032; I2 = 91.34%; SMD = -0.630 (95% CI -1.205, -0.055)], an increase in pectoralis major activity during PU [P = 0.006; I2 = 63.72%; SMD = 0.282 (95% CI 0.079, 0.484)], as well as during knee PU [P = 0.018; I2 = 32.29%; SMD = 0.309 (95% CI 0.052, 0.565)], and an increase in triceps brachii activity during PU [P = 0.000; I2 = 85.05%; SMD = 0.813 (95% CI 0.457, 1.168)], knee PU [P = 0.000; I2 = 0.00%; SMD = 0.589 (95% CI 0.288, 0.891)], as well as during push-up plus [P = 0.006; I2 = 13.16%; SMD = 0.563 (95% CI 0.161, 0.965)]. However, the use of unstable surfaces did not show a significant effect on the EMG activity of the pectoralis major during push-up plus [P = 0.312; I2 = 22.82%; SMD = 0.207 (95% CI -0.194, 0.609)]. Conclusions: Unstable surfaces can modulate muscle activity in different PU exercises, while the effects on the targeted muscles depend on the type of exercise. The findings of this review provide a framework based on the level of activity of each shoulder muscle during different PU exercises, which can help coaches, trainers, and sports therapists select the most suitable type of PU for designing training or rehabilitation programs. Particularly, the most suitable exercise for increasing anterior deltoid activity is PU on a stable surface. To concurrently increase activity of the pectoralis major and triceps brachii, adding unstable surfaces under hands during knee PU and standard PU is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past the molecular engineering of coordination metal complexes has attracted new interest in the field of nonlinear optics (NLO), which find their applications in optoelectronics and optical data storage technology it is the transition metal along with the organic moieties that induce the control over the optical nonlinearity these properties of the materials not only enhance the intensity but also have a drastic effect on the polarization of incident laser light. This is an important criterion for all-optical switching applications. Coordination metal complexes are a very good target to aim at because of their robustness, physical and chemical stability, and other variable degrees that lead to an increment in NLO responses, most importantly all these properties can be either manipulated or tailored or tunable according to the requirement. Apart from the metal center, these molecules acting as legend must be chromophoric with donor-acceptor nature. In these molecules, the NLO response is intrinsically based on the 'push-pull' mechanism of the electrons. Obviously to these molecules, when a metal is in contact, the electronic push-pull mechanism alters rendering the molecule non-symmetric. This review article mainly concentrates on small mononuclear metal complexes for NLO application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]