Influence of joint position on ankle plantarflexion in humans

The contractile properties of the triceps surae (medial and lateral gastrocnemii and soleus) have been studied in humans. In comparison with most other human muscles, the triceps complex had a slow twitch (mean contraction and half-relaxation times 112.4 +/- 11.1 and 99.6 +/- 14.4 ms, respectively) and a low tetanus fusion frequency (60 Hz). Stretching the muscle caused both the contraction and half-relaxation times to become longer. With the knee bent, the optimum length for torque development corresponded to almost full dorsiflexion of the ankle. Similar results were obtained with the knee extended. The optimum position of the ankle differed considerably from the position of the joint when the leg was at rest. Although the position of the ankle joint affected electromyographic (EMG) activity recorded during maximal voluntary contraction, there was little change in the EMG-to-M wave ratio.

Influence of joint position on ankle dorsiflexion in humans

A method is described for investigating the contractile properties of the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle. With the joint in the midposition the tibialis anterior was found to contribute less than half of the maximum voluntary torque, the remainder presumably being provided by the long extensors of the toes. The mean contraction and half-relaxation times of tibialis anterior muscles in healthy young men were 81.2 +/- 7.4 (SD) ms and 83.6 +/- 17.2 ms, respectively. When the tibialis anterior was stretched, the twitch became slower and more complete fusion of the contractions occurred during tetanic stimulation at low frequencies. Stimulation of tibialis anterior at 30 and 40 Hz disclosed that the optimum length of the muscle corresponded to about 10 degrees of plantarflexion. Maximum voluntary torque was also developed at 10 degrees of plantarflexion and decreased sharply as the ankle was dorsiflex beyond 5 degrees. The position assumed by the ankle joint at rest depended on whether the subject was sitting, standing, or lying, but was always greater, in the plantarflexed direction, than the "optimum" position for torque development. At low rates of stimulation the torque continued to increase throughout the full range of plantarflexion, probably because of the elasticity of the tendon. During maximum effort motoneuronal excitability did not appear to be influenced significantly by changes in joint angle.

Endurance capacity of untrained males and females in isometric and dynamic muscular contractions

The capacity to perform isometric and dynamic muscle contractions at different forces has been measured in two separate groups of subjects: 25 men and 25 women performed sustained isometric contractions of the knee-extensor muscles of their stronger leg to fatigue, at forces corresponding to 80%, 50% and 20% of the maximum voluntary force of contraction (MVC). The second experimental model involved a bilateral elbow-flexion weight lifting exercise. Eleven women and 12 men performed repetitions at loads corresponding to 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% and 50% of maximum load (1RM), at a rate of 10 X min-1 to the point of fatigue. Males were stronger (p less than 0.001) than females in both the static (675 +/- 120 N vs 458 +/- 80 N; mean +/- SD) and dynamic (409 +/- 90 N vs 190 +/- 33 N) contractions. Isometric endurance time of the males at a force corresponding to 20% of MVC was less than that of the females (180 +/- 51 s vs 252 +/- 56 s; p less than 0.001) but there was no difference between the sexes at 50% or 80% of MVC. Similarly, when the sexes were compared using dynamic elbow-flexion exercise, the female subjects were able to perform a greater number of repetitions than males at loads of 50% (p less than 0.005), 60% (p less than 0.001) and 70% (p less than 0.025) of 1RM, but there was no difference between the sexes at loads of 80% or 90% of 1RM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A Robust Protocol for Pd(II)-catalyzed C-3 Arylation of (1H) Indazoles and Pyrazoles: Total Synthesis of Nigellidine Hydrobromide

C3-arylated indazole and pyrazoles are privileged structural motifs in agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. C-3 C-H arylation of (1H) indazole and pyrazole has been a significant challenge due to the poor reactivity of the C-3 position. Herein, we report a practical Pd(II)/Phen catalyst and conditions for direct C-3 arylation of indazole and pyrazole with ArI or ArBr without using Ag additives as halide scavengers. The use of toluene, chlorobenzene, trifluoromethylbenzene and mesitylene as the solvent was found to be crucial for the selectivity and reactivity. We further demonstrate the robustness of this protocol through the first total synthesis of Nigellidine hydrobromide as well as expedient preparation of heterocycles structurally related to pesticides and drug molecules.

Synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of copper(I) amide complexes and studies on their role in the modified Ullmann amination reaction

A series of copper(I) alkylamide complexes have been synthesised; copper(I) dicyclohexylamide (1), copper(I) 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (2), copper(I) pyrrolidide (3), copper(I) piperidide (4), and copper(I) benzylamide (5). Their solid-state structures and structures in [D6 ]benzene solution are characterised, with the aggregation state in solution determined by a combination of DOSY NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Complexes 1, 2 and 4 are shown to exist as tetramers in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. In [D6 ]benzene solution, complexes 1, 2 and 5 were found by using (1) H DOSY NMR to exist in rapid equilibrium between aggregates with average aggregation numbers of 2.5, 2.4 and 3.3, respectively, at 0.05 M concentration. Conversely, distinct trimeric, tetrameric and pentameric forms of 3 and 4 were distinguishable by one-dimensional (1) H and (1) H DOSY NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 3-5 are found to react stoichiometrically with iodobenzene, in the presence or absence of 1,10-phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand, to give arylamine products indicative of their role as potential intermediates in the modified Ullmann reaction. The role of phenanthroline has also been explored both in the stoichiometric reaction and in the catalytic Ullmann protocol.

BHRF1 is highly conserved in primate virus analogues of Epstein-Barr virus

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein BHRF1 (BamHI rightward reading frame 1) was the first viral member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis-regulating proteins described. In vitro studies imply that BHRF1 is dispensable for virus-induced cellular transformation and virus replication. However, in contrast to several essential viral genes that show divergence outwith their functional domains, sequence data from a wide range of EBV isolates show there is striking conservation of the BHRF1 gene. Contrary to the in vitro studies, the high degree of conservation hints at a more important role for BHRF1. Analogous viruses are endemic in each of the higher primate species. Whilst their genome organisation is colinear, limited sequence analysis indicates that the viruses have diverged significantly and that only important functional domains of proteins are likely to be conserved. We have isolated the BHRF1 equivalents from the viruses which infect chimpanzees (Herpesvirus pan) and baboons (Herpesvirus papio) and find that they are highly homologous in both species, strengthening the hypothesis that BHRF1 plays a significant, evolutionarily conserved function in vivo and that changes to the protein are not well tolerated.

Reversibility and reactivity in an acid catalyzed cyclocondensation to give furanochromanes - a reaction at the 'oxonium-Prins' vs. 'ortho-quinone methide cycloaddition' mechanistic nexus

Herein we report a combined experimental and computational investigation of the acid catalyzed cyclocondensation reaction between styrenyl homoallylic alcohols and salicylaldehyde to form furanochromanes. We disclose a previously unreported isomerisation of the 'unnatural' trans-fused products to the diastereomeric 'natural' cis-fused congeners. Notwithstanding the appeal of assuming this corresponds to endo to exo isomerisation of Diels-Alder (D-A) adducts via concerted retro-cycloaddition/cycloaddition reactions of an in situ generated ortho-quinone methide with the styrenyl alkene, our combined Hammett/DFT study reveals a stepwise Prins-like process via discrete benzylic carbocation intermediates for all but the most electron deficient styrenes. As these reactions fortuitously lie at the intersection of these two mechanistic manifolds, it allows us to propose an experimentally determined indicative ρ + value of ca. -3 as marking this nexus between a stepwise Prins-type pathway and a concerted cycloaddition reaction. This value should prove useful for categorising other reactions formally involving 'ortho-quinomethides', without the need for the extensive computation performed here. Logical optimisation of the reaction based upon the mechanistic insight led to the use of HFIP as an additive which enables exclusive formation of 'natural' cis-fused products with a ∼100-fold reaction rate increase and improved scope.

Base-free, tunable, Au-catalyzed oxidative esterification of alcohols in continuous flow

Under continuous flow conditions, hydrogen peroxide oxidizes primary alcohols in methanol over Au/TiO₂, without the need for added base.

Physiology of weight-lifting exercise

This review describes the major features of skeletal muscle adaptation to weight-lifting exercise. Changes in contraction time, fiber size, and possibly fiber number may result in response to prolonged weight-training. Effective strength-training programs, both for athletics and rehabilitation, require recognition of the concept of "specificity of training," realization of the tendency of human skeletal muscle to adapt differently to different forms of physiologic stress.

The glycerylphosphorylcholine content of the rat epididymis after injecting alpha-chlorohydrin and ligating the vasa efferentia

The concentration of GPC in the 4 segments (initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda) of the rat epididymis was examined at various times (4 hours. 2, 5, 10 and 20 days) following injection of a lesion-forming dose (90 mg/kg body weight) of alpha-chlorohydrin and bilateral ligation of the vasa efferentia. There was a reduction in the overall GPC concentration of the epididymis 2 days after both treatments and a further decrease until 20 days when a slight increase occurred. It is suggested that a lesion-forming dose of alpha-chlorohydrin, like ligation of the vasa efferentia, could inhibit the synthesis and/or release of GPC within the epididymis by blocking off androgen supply in the testicular fluid.

Continuous vs. interval training: a review for the athlete and the coach

Both interval and continuous training are necessary in order to maximize the endurance athlete's potential for competition. Continuous submaximal training exerts its greatest effect upon the oxygen transport system of the body, while high intensity endurance-interval training exerts its greatest effect on the structural and biochemical properties of the muscle. The physiological basis for both forms of training is discussed and recommendations are made for year-round training and training to elevate the anaerobic threshold.