Additional Proprioceptive Stimulation Enhances an Acute Effect of Lower Limbs Resistance Exercise on Balance

( Erika Zemkova ),( Dusan Hamar ) 한국스포츠정책과학원(구 한국스포츠개발원) 2007 International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences Vol.19 No.2

This study compares the parameters of balance after lower limbs resistance exercise performed under the influence of proprioceptive stimulation and those under normal conditions. A group of 24 physical education students underwent in different days 6 sets of 6 semi squats performed with an additional load of 75% of body weight (each session was separated by 2 min of rest) either under normal conditions or under the influence of proprioceptive stimulation. Vertical counter shocks (frequency10 Hz, amplitude 3 mm) were applied by means of a special platform. One minute prior to and two minutes after exercise the velocity of the centre of pressure (COP) was registered at 100 Hz using stabilographic system FiTRO Sway check based on dynamometric platform. The results showed a significantly (p<0.01) higher increase in velocity of the COP immediately after squats performed under the influence of proprioceptive stimulation (from 6.8 ± 1.1 to 11.8 ± 1.4 mm/s) as compared to those under normal conditions (from 6.9 ± 1.2 to 9.8 ± 1.2 mm/s). However, in both cases its values returned to pre exercise level within 70 seconds. It may be concluded that additional proprioceptive stimulation enhances an acute effect of lower limbs resistance exercise on the parameters of balance.

Improving Nutritional Quality of Cocoa Pod (Theobroma cacao) through Chemical and Biological Treatments for Ruminant Feeding: In vitro and In vivo Evaluation

Erika B. Laconi,Anuraga Jayanegara 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.3

Cocoa pod is among the by-products of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. The aim of this study was to apply a number of treatments in order to improve nutritional quality of cocoa pod for feeding of ruminants. Cocoa pod was subjected to different treatments, i.e. C (cocoa pod without any treatment or control), CAm (cocoa pod+1.5% urea), CMo (cocoa pod+3% molasses), CRu (cocoa pod+3% rumen content) and CPh (cocoa pod+3% molasses+Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculum). Analysis of proximate and Van Soest’s fiber fraction were performed on the respective treatments. The pods were then subjected to an in vitro digestibility evaluation by incubation in rumen fluid-buffer medium, employing a randomized complete block design (n = 3 replicates). Further, an in vivo evaluation of the pods (35% inclusion level in total mixed ration) was conducted by feeding to young Holstein steers (average body weight of 145±3.6 kg) with a 5×5 latin square design arrangement (n = 5 replicates). Each experimental period lasted for 30 d; the first 20 d was for feed adaptation, the next 3 d was for sampling of rumen liquid, and the last 7 d was for measurements of digestibility and N balance. Results revealed that lignin content was reduced significantly when cocoa pod was treated with urea, molasses, rumen content or P. chrysosporium (p<0.01) with the following order of effectiveness: CPh>CAm>CRu>CMo. Among all treatments, CAm and CPh treatments significantly improved the in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility (p<0.05) of cocoa pod. Average daily gain of steers receiving CAm or CPh treatment was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.01) with an increase of 105% and 92%, respectively. Such higher daily gain was concomitant with higher N retention and proportion of N retention to N intake in CAm and CPh treatments than those of control (p<0.05). It can be concluded from this study that treatment with either urea or P. chrysosporium is effective in improving the nutritive value of cocoa pod.

Induction of fertile estrus without the use of steroid hormones in seasonally anestrous Suffolk ewes

Erika Elizabeth Miguel-Cruz,Octavio Mejia-Villanueva,Luis Zarco 아세아·태평양축산학회 2019 Animal Bioscience Vol.32 No.11

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of treatments based on gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), GnRH-prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), and/or intense exposure to novel rams to induce fertile estrus without the use of steroid hormones in seasonally anestrous Suffolk ewes. Methods: In the first experiment, ewes were treated with one injection of GnRH, two injections of GnRH administered 7 days apart, or a sequence of GnRH-PGF2α-GnRH (GPG). In the second experiment anestrous ewes were exposed, for 36 days starting on the day of weaning, to groups of four rams of three different breeds that were alternated every day. Besides exposure to the male effect (ME), the ewes were injected with saline solution (ME group, n = 20), with GnRH (ME-GnRH group, n = 20) or with a sequence of GnRH-PGF2α-GnRH (ME-GPG group, n = 20). The rams used for male-effect were fitted with aprons to prevent mating, and ewes detected in estrus were bred to selected fertile rams. Ovarian activity was monitored by progesterone determinations in both experiments. Results: In the first experiment sustained induction of ovarian activity was not achieved and no ewe was detected in estrus. In the second experiment induction of sustained ovarian activity was achieved in all groups. Most of the ewes were detected in estrus, 76.7% of the ewes were mated during a 36-d breeding period and 71.7% of all the ewes became pregnant during that period. No significant differences between groups were found for any of these variables. However, estrus detection efficiency was higher in the ME-GnRH group than in the ME group (p<0.05). Conclusion: An intense male-effect, that included the continuous presence and frequent alternation of several rams of different breeds, was sufficient to induce ovarian activity and fertile estrus in Suffolk ewes during the period of deep anestrus without the use of hormones, although addition of GnRH improved the efficiency of estrus detection.

Addressing overuse in emergency medicine: evidence of a role for greater patient engagement

Erika H. Newton 대한응급의학회 2017 Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine Vol.4 No.4

Overuse of health care refers to tests, treatments, and even health care settings when used in circumstances where they are unlikely to help. Overuse is not only wasteful, it threatens patient safety by exposing patients to a greater chance of harm than benefit. It is a widespread problem and has proved resistant to change. Overuse of diagnostic testing is a particular problem in emergency medicine. Emergency physicians cite fear of missing a diagnosis, fear of law suits, and perceived patient expectations as key contributors. However, physicians’ assumptions about what patients expect are often wrong, and overlook two of patients’ most consistently voiced priorities: communication and empathy. Evidence indicates that patients who are more fully informed and engaged in their care often opt for less aggressive approaches. Shared decision making refers to (1) providing balanced information so that patients understand their options and the trade-offs involved, (2) encouraging them to voice their preferences and values, and (3) engaging them—to the extent appropriate or desired—in decision making. By adopting this approach to discretionary decision making, physicians are better positioned to address patients’ concerns without the use of tests and treatments patients neither need nor value.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori Potential of Three Edible Plants Known as Quelites in Mexico

Erika Gomez-Chang,Guadalupe Vanessa Uribe-Estanislao,Maricruz Martinez-Martinez,Amanda Galvez-Mariscal,Irma Romero 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.11

“Quelites” are edible plants that are part of the traditional agro-ecosystems in Mexico. These plants, despite their already known nutritional properties, are now considered neglected and underutilized species. With the objective of promoting their reinsertion in the markets and mainly, in daily diets, efforts have been made to study them from multidisciplinary approaches to demonstrate their beneficial properties. To generate evidence of an added health-promoting value that would encourage quelites consumption, in the present work, the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of three representative quelite species, Anoda cristata (Alache), Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Chaya), and Crotalaria pumila (Chepil), was tested. H. pylori is considered the etiological agent of gastritis, ulcer, and gastric cancer, and represents a public health problem in Mexico and worldwide. Aqueous (AQ) and dichloromethane–methanol (DM) extracts were obtained from the three species of quelites to investigate their effect on H. pylori growth and on two of its colonization factors (adherence and urease activity). DM extracts from Chaya, Chepil, and Alache exert the best inhibitory effect on bacterial growth, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 62.5, 125, and 250 μg/mL, respectively. AQ and DM extracts inhibit bacterial adhesion by 30% to 50%. None of them has an effect on urease activity. The two flavonoids present in A. cristata, acacetin and diosmetin, inhibit H. pylori growth by ∼90% with 3.9 μg/mL. These results provide new information about the anti-H. pylori potential of three edible quelites, and give an added value, since their routine consumption may impact on the prevention and/or control of H. pylori-associated diseases.

A Case Study of the Flipped Classroom in a Korean University General English Course

( Erika Choe ),( Myeong-hee Seong ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2016 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.20 No.2

Research has proven the effectiveness of Flipped Classrooms (FC) for a variety of settings. However, more exploration needs to be done in regards to how FC can be used effectively in foreign language classrooms. The purpose of this study was to 1) explore student perceptions of FC in a Korean university general English course and 2) provide suggestions to inform better instructional practices. The FL model applied to the study was based on the University of Texas at Austin Center for Teaching and Learning and was conducted in a general English course for one semester at a university in South Korea. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected in the form of a questionnaire administered to 80 students at the end of the course. The results were largely positive. Over half of students felt that the FC model aided their English studies. Students felt the FC gave them more chances to communicate in English, in addition to greater participation, preparedness, and feedback. Students also reported that the FC helped them have a deeper understanding of the course content. However, some students reported some dissatisfaction with the FC. When questioned regarding the disadvantages of FC, many reported the time requirement of the online homework and quizzes in addition to the video quality and variety of activities could be improved upon. Suggestions on how to use the FC more effectively are provided at the end of the paper.

Wet air oxidation of paracetamol over precious metal/Ti mesh monolith catalyst

Erika Szabados,Gyuri Sági,Ferenc Somodi,Boglárka Maróti,Dávid Srankó,Antal Tungler 한국공업화학회 2017 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.46 No.-

The catalytic wet oxidation of paracetamol (PAR) was tested with Pt, Ru, Ir containing Ti monolithsmeasuring COD, TOC and TN conversion and compared with that of the non-catalytic reaction. Thedecrease of PAR concentration during reaction was followed by UV–vis spectrometry also. The catalystswere characterized by XPS, PGAA, TPR and SEM-EDX. The monometallic Pt and Ru/Ti catalysts were themost active, even below 150 C. RuO2/Ti had the highest specific activity. After 100 h reaction time the Ptloss was 23%, while the RuO2/Ti kept its Ru content. The RuO2/TiO2 composite formation explains thehighest activity and stability.

Balance Readjustment after Different Forms of Exercise: A review

( Erika Zemkova ) 한국스포츠정책과학원(구 한국스포츠개발원) 2009 International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences Vol.21 No.1

The study provides a review of our investigations on the effect of different forms of exercise on postural stability. Our findings showed that postural sway response to exercise depends on its type, intensity, and duration, however further studies are needed to investigate the role of different forms of muscle contraction and different activation of muscle fibers in its changes after exercise. As a possible physiological mechanisms of post-exercise balance impairment the following may be considered: fatigue, hyperventilation, deterioration of cutaneous, proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual inputs, muscle damage, dehydration, hyperthermia, dizziness, and so forth. In sports where impaired balance resulting from exercise may adversely affect the performance, both the magnitude of balance impairment in an initial phase of recovery and the speed of its readjustment should be taken in account. In theory, a decline of sway variables during recovery may be divided into three phases reflecting the effect of exercise on postural stability.

Genetically modified non-human primate as human disease models

Erika Sasaki 한국실험동물학회 2013 한국실험동물학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2013 No.8

Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions towards Culture and Culture-related Topics in Non-English Major Korean University English Language Classrooms

Erika Choe,Chase Karcher,Daniel Cuffey,성명희 한국영어어문교육학회 2018 영어어문교육 Vol.24 No.4

This paper aims to primarily assess two things: 1) student and teacher perceptions regarding culture and the sources of cultural content in the Korean university EFL context, and 2) the specific culture-related topics that teachers and students in this setting prefer to teach and learn, respectively. Both qualitative and quantitative data was gathered through questionnaires distributed to 607 students currently enrolled in English conversation classes offered at a Korean university and 12 professors of English at the university. The first section asked teachers and students about: 1) the importance of culture in the language classroom, 2) how they valued different sources of culture (target, international, source), and 3) how their interest in certain culture-related topics affected their motivation to study. The second section asked both groups about their preference for specific culture-related topics (including both Big “C” and little “c” topics). The results revealed that while both students and teachers agreed on the importance of culture in class, students preferred to study native English speaking (target) cultures over non-native cultures. Results also showed that both students and teachers found topics like “popular culture” and “lifestyles” interesting, yet differed on others. Discussion for application and relevance are also provided.