Most lizards feed on a variety of food items that may differ dramatically in their physical and behavioral characteristics. Several lizard families are known to feed upon hard-shelled prey (durophagy). Yet, specializations toward true molluscivory have been documented for only a few species. As snails are hard and brittle food items, it has been suggested that a specialized cranial morphology, ...

The kinematics and dynamics of two industrial cooperating robots are presented in this paper. The NOC (natural orthogonal complement) method is used to derive the dynamical equations for the motion of two cooperating robots. The joint torques of the two robots are determined based on the optimization techniques in order to obtain unique solution for joint torques. To this end, minimizing the cr...

The influence of osmolality of the external medium on the calcium (Ca) dependency of contractility of isolated electrically excited cat papillary muscle was examined. Maximum unloaded velocity of shortening was directly measured by load clamping the muscle from the preload (at the length, Lmax, at which maximum active tension was developed) to zero load (zero load clamp). Peak velocity of short...

The ability to stabilize the gun is crucial for performance in Olympic pistol shooting and is thought to be related to the shooters muscular strength. The present study examines the relation between performance and finger flexor force as well as shoulder abduction isometric force in senior male air pistol shooting. 46 Spanish national level shooters served as test subjects of the study. Two max...

OBJECTIVE To determine the feasibility and acceptability of using peak power and force, measured by jumping mechanography (JM), to detect early age-related features of sarcopenia in older women. METHODS Community-dwelling women aged 71-87 years were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Physical function tests comprised the short physical performance battery (SPPB), grip strength and, if...

In this study, we examined the relative control of reaction time and force in responses of the lower limb. Fourteen female participants (age 21.2 +/- 1.0 years, height 1.62 +/- 0.05 m, body mass 54.1 +/- 6.1 kg; mean +/- s) were instructed to exert their maximal isometric one-leg extension force as quickly as possible in response to an auditory stimulus presented after one of 13 foreperiod dura...

The purpose of this study was to determine if ground reaction forces were influenced by shoe design (adult vs. youth) for female children when running. Subjects (n = 10, 12.0 ± 1.1 years old; 154 ± 4.9 cm; 46.2 ± 14.3 kg; shoe size 3.5-7 youth) were fit with a shoe model available in youth and adult sizes. Subjects ran 10 trials per shoe condition across a force platform placed in the middle of...

Using finite element software developed for metal cutting by Third Wave Systems we investigate the forces involved in chatter, a self-sustained oscillation of the cutting tool. The phenomena is decomposed into a vibrating tool cutting a flat surface work piece, and motionless tool cutting a work piece with a wavy surface. While cutting the wavy surface, the shearplane was seen to oscillate in a...

BACKGROUND There is limited appreciation of the risks and benefits of the few salvage treatment options available for inadequate motor function following incomplete spontaneous recovery or surgical repair of major peripheral nerve injuries. The lack of a reliable and economical animal model has hindered laboratory investigation into this difficult clinical problem. We propose a straightforward ...

Few data exist on the temporal relationship between catecholamines and muscle force production in vivo. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of preexercise arousal on sympathoadrenal neurohormones on muscular force expression during resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men completed two experimental conditions separated by 7 days: 1) acute heavy resistance exercise prot...