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Some technical limitations to using the eccentric mode to measure peak eccentric strength of the hamstrings (PTHecc) were raised. PTHecc also has limited validity to predict performance or injury risk factor. Therefore, our aim was to compare PTHecc and other isokinetic variables tested in the eccentric and passive modes. Twenty male hockey players (20.2 ± 1.1 years; 179.7 ± 6.9 cm; 73.4 ± 7.1 kg and 12.2 ± 3.4% of body fat) performed maximal eccentric contractions of the hamstrings at 60°·s−1 (three repetitions) and 180°·s−1 (five repetitions) on both legs and using the eccentric mode and the passive mode (automatic movement of the lever arm) of the Biodex System 4 isokinetic dynamometer. The following variables were measured: PTHecc, the angle of peak torque (APT,°), angle‐specific Hecc torque at intervals of 10° and the rate of torque development (RTD) in the first 50 ms and the first 100 ms. The main results showed that compared to the eccentric mode, the passive mode led to a significantly greater PTHecc in the non‐dominant leg only and significantly smaller APT, RTD and angle‐specific Hecc at angles close to knee flexion. In contrast, significantly greater angle‐specific Hecc was observed in the passive mode at angles close to extension (10°–40°). This suggests that, although eccentric or concentric modes can be used to compare isokinetic data to existing literature, it is preferable to use the passive mode to assess peak torque or torque close to knee extension. The eccentric mode might be better to assess variables at the start of movement such as RTD. Highlights Assessing the eccentric strength of the hamstrings is classically done using the eccentric mode, which has some technical limitations. Although only a few studies use the passive mode for this, it seems more appropriate. The passive mode allowed participants to produce a significantly greater eccentric hamstring peak torque in the non‐dominant leg only, with an angle of peak torque (APT) closer to full knee extension, compared to the eccentric mode, and hence is better to use to measure maximal effort. In the passive mode, participants developed significantly greater eccentric hamstring torque at angles close to knee extension (10°–40°) compared to the eccentric mode. Consequently, the passive mode seems preferable to use to measure outcomes at these angles. The passive mode did not allow participants to produce a rate of torque development as high as in the eccentric mode. Although this variable is most commonly measured during isometric contractions, the eccentric mode could be more appropriate to use compared to the passive mode to measure variables at the start of the movement when eccentric contractions are examined.

Acute febrile illness (AFI) is a sudden fever which can be caused by various viruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. This study aimed to identify viruses present in AFI patients via metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) through meta-analysis, and to compare the prevalence and viral load of the common viruses between AFI patients and healthy blood donors in northeastern Thailand. Our meta-analysis revealed that human anelloviruses—including torque teno virus (TTV), torque teno mini virus (TTMV), and torque teno midi virus (TTMDV)—were the most prevalent viruses detected. We confirmed their presence in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 203 AFI patients and 100 healthy blood donors using real-time PCR. TTV was the most identified anellovirus, detected in 84% of healthy donors and 61.08% of AFI patients. The mean TTV load was significantly lower in AFI patients compared to healthy donors. In AFI patients, TTV load increased in those with higher total white blood cell and neutrophil counts but decreased in those with higher lymphocyte counts. Our findings demonstrate high prevalence of anelloviruses, particularly TTV, in both AFI patients and healthy donors, and highlight the potential value of the TTV load in blood as an immune status biomarker in AFI patients.

The effective control of bolt preload can improve the assembly accuracy, performance, and service reliability of the structure. It is very necessary to construct an association between the torque and preload, which can effectively improve the control accuracy of the preload of the single-bolt connection structure. Firstly, through the analysis of the stress on the thread engagement surface and the bearing surface of the single-bolt connection structure, a novel model between torque and preload is established. Then, the influence factors of the torque-preload relation are analyzed. The impact of the frictional constant of the thread engagement surface and the carrying interface on bolt preload is analyzed. The dominance of the frictional constant of the carrying interface is determined. Finally, the efficacy of the model is confirmed through experiments.

The yaw acceleration required for circuit driving is determined by the time variation of the yaw rate due to two factors: corner radius and velocity at the center of gravity. Torque vectoring systems have the advantage where the yaw moment can be changed only by the longitudinal force without changing the lateral force of the tires, which greatly affects lateral acceleration. This is expected to improve the both the spinning performance and the orbital performance, which are usually in a trade-off relationship. In this study, we proposed a yaw moment control technology that actively utilized a power unit with a brake system, which was easy to implement in a system, and compared the performance of vehicles equipped with and without the proposed system using the Milliken Research Associates moment method for quasi-steady-state analysis. The performances of lateral acceleration and yaw moment were verified using the same method, and a variable corner radius simulation for circuit driving was used to compare time and performance. The results showed the effectiveness of the proposed system.

The arm of an atmospheric diving suit(ADS) is composed of various types of rotating joints and spacers connected in series. Divers complete various movements required for underwater operations by driving the rotation of various joints on their arms. In order to enable the ADS arm to follow the diver’s arm to achieve corresponding movements and prevent individual joints from being difficult to rotate during the operation process, it is necessary to analyze the proportional relationship of the rotational resistance moment of each joint under the typical operation trajectory of ADS. This paper estimates the resistance torque of arm joints, analyzes the characteristic factors that affect joint resistance torque, and completes the design of each joint under the condition of a certain resistance torque ratio. Based on the above results, the project team carried out the design of the arm, completed the processing of the prototype, and conducted underwater tests. The experimental results indicate that the joints of the ADS arm can complete various underwater operations with the diver’s arm.

A model for a spin-torque nano-oscillator based on the self-sustained oscillation of a magnetic skyrmion is presented. The system involves a circular nanopillar geometry comprising an ultrathin film free magnetic layer with a strong Dzyaloshinkii-Moriya interaction and a polariser layer with a vortex-like spin configuration. It is shown that spin-transfer torques due to current flow perpendicular to the film plane leads to skyrmion gyration that arises from a competition between geometric confinement due to boundary edges and the vortex-like polarisation of the spin torques. A phenomenology for such oscillations is developed and quantitative analysis using micromagnetics simulations is presented. It is also shown that weak disorder due to random anisotropy variations does not influence the main characteristics of the steady-state gyration.

Purpose Neuromuscular fatigability is task-dependent, but the influence of the contraction pattern on neuromuscular fatigability is largely unknown. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate if neuromuscular fatigability is affected by the contraction pattern of exhausting isometric exercises. Methods Thirteen participants sustained a plantar flexors MVC for 1 min (MVC 1-MIN ) before and after exhausting exercises designed to produce a similar mean torque (30% MVC), and following a 10-min rest period. Exercises consisted of intermittent (INT), continuous (CON) or variable (continuous contraction alternating between moderate and low intensity, VAR) contractions performed until task failure. Results The INT resulted in greater exercise duration and torque-time integral than CON and VAR. MVC similarly decreased after all exercises due to neural and muscular impairments. The torque loss during the MVC 1-MIN increased after all exercises to a similar extent, mainly because of neural alterations. Contrary to MVC, the torque loss during the MVC 1-MIN returned to baseline value after the recovery period. Conclusion INT, CON and VAR exercises, performed with identical mean torque and until exhaustion, led to a similar neuromuscular fatigability. When the mean torque is matched among exercises, the contraction pattern does not influence the extent of neuromuscular fatigability, assessed through the maximal torque production and sustainability. The present findings are crucial to consider for the management of neuromuscular fatigability in physical conditioning in both athletes and patients.

Spin-based devices can reduce energy leakage and thus increase energy efficiency. They have been seen as an approach to overcoming the constraints of CMOS downscaling, specifically, the Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) which has been the focus of much research in recent years. Its nonvolatility, scalability and low power consumption are highly attractive when applied in several components. This paper aims at providing a survey of a selection of MTJ applications such as memory and analog to digital converter, among others.

In order to optimize the system efficiency of distributed drive electric vehicles, based on the MAP of the efficiency of the drive motor system, the objective function of the optimal efficiency is established, and the problem of the no-load loss of the drive motor is considered. A torque distribution control strategy method considering the no-load loss of the motor is proposed. Then, AVL CRUISE and Simulink are used to establish a joint simulation platform, and a comparative simulation test analysis is carried out under ECE conditions. The simulation results show that the torque distribution strategy considering the loss makes the distributed drive motor work in a relatively high efficiency range. Compared with the torque distribution strategy without considering the loss, the power consumption is reduced by 3.4%, which effectively improves the vehicle economy. The research results can provide a reference for system efficiency optimization of distributed drive electric vehicles.

Torque Teno Virus (TTV) is a highly prevalent non-pathogenic DNA virus whose plasma levels may be related to the host’s immune status. TTV gained attention about 25 years ago, but its replication is not fully understood, nor is its relationship with the host's immune system. Despite this lack of knowledge, TTV is currently being investigated as a functional biomarker of the immune system in patients with immunological damage and inflammatory diseases. Monitoring TTV viral load over time may help clinicians in making therapeutic decisions regarding immunosuppression as well as the likelihood of infectious complications. This review summarizes what we do and do not know about this enigmatic virus.