Background: Grit, academic self-efficacy, and academic stress are crucial factors affecting a student’s ability to adapt to college. Objectives: The influence of grit on academic self-efficacy and academic stress among college physical therapy students was analyzed. Design: Questionnaire design. Methods: A total of 208 three-year undergraduate physical therapy students were surveyed using a structured questionnaire that assessed their grit, academic self-efficacy, and academic stress. The levels of each factor, the subfactors influencing each factor, and their correlations were analyzed. Results: Among college physical therapy students, having lower daily study hours was associated with lower grit and academic self-efficacy and higher academic stress. Younger students showed lower self-regulatory efficacy and self-confidence and higher levels of academic stress (P<.05). An analysis of the correlations of each factor revealed a significant correlation: the higher the students’ grit, the higher their academic self-efficiency and the lower their academic stress. Additionally, higher academic self-efficacy was significantly associated with lower academic stress (P<.001). Conclusion: To enhance the grit and academic self-efficacy of three-year college physical therapy students and reduce their academic stress, it is necessary to manage their learning time, develop educational support programs according to age, and apply various teaching methods.

Background: Core muscles provide important dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine. The twist sit-up can simultaneously stimulate the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis (TrA) muscles. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of knee angles during twist sit-up exercises and determine the most efficient knee angle for performing this exercise. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study recruited 30 students from S University regardless of gender. The subjects performed a total of 10 twist sit-ups at five different knee angles (0, 40, 65, 90, and 105 degrees), divided between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides. The thickness of abdominal muscles (EO, IO, and TrA), was measured using ultrasonography on rest position and full contraction position for each angle of knee flexion and compared between angles. Results: There were significant differences in the ipsilateral EO, IO, and TrA muscle thickness at different knee flexion angles (P<0.5). There was a significant difference in the thickness of EO between 0 and 105 degrees and between 40 and 105 degrees (P<0.5), a significant difference in the thickness of IO between 0 and 105 degrees (P<0.5), and a significant difference in the thickness of TrA between 0 and 105 degrees, 40 and 90 degrees, and 65 and 90 degrees (P<0.5). Conclusion: In conclusion, the muscles involved in axial rotation i.e., EO and IO, maximally contract at a knee flexion angle of 105 degrees. Therefore, this may be the most optimal angle to perform twist sit-ups.

Background: Since core competence-based training is in demand, this study aimed to revise suitable major competencies for the Department of Physical Therapy at U University and use them to propose appropriate educational processes. Objectives: This research was to modify the competencies established in 2020 for Physical Therapy using focus group interviews, validate them using the Delphi survey, and modify a curriculum that aligns with competencies. Design: Panel survey research. Methods: This case study was conducted at U University. To reform curricula based on major competence, related documents were analyzed, expert opinions were obtained, and expert panel group Delphi survey was conducted. Results: The three major competencies of the Department of Physical Therapy at U University and 6 sub-competencies were defined by focus group interviews and review by the Physical Therapy Department Curriculum Committee. Additionally, the validity of the major competencies was established by the Delphi survey. Conclusions: Through step-by-step analysis, the current curriculum was revised into three major competencies and six sub-competencies, and the validity of the selected competencies was secured through a Delphi survey.

Background: Thoracic kyphosis is a condition characterized by an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine, often leading to decreased trunk range of motion and various health complications. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a rolling corrector on trunk range of motion (ROM) and thoracic kyphosis angle in individuals with thoracic kyphosis. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty participants with a thoracic kyphosis angle of 40 degrees or more were randomly assigned to either the rolling corrector group (RCG) or the control group (CG). The RCG used the rolling corrector for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for two weeks, while the CG received no intervention. Trunk ROM and thoracic kyphosis angle were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The RCG showed significant improvements in trunk flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM, as well as in the thoracic kyphosis angle, in within-group comparisons (P<.05). The CG did not exhibit significant changes in any of these variables (P<.05). Significant differences between the RCG and CG were observed in trunk ROM and thoracic kyphosis angle (P<.05). Conclusion: The rolling corrector was effective in improving trunk ROM and reducing the thoracic kyphosis angle in individuals with thoracic kyphosis. These findings suggest that the rolling corrector may be a beneficial intervention for managing thoracic kyphosis.

Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots (FCQDs), a new generation of carbon nanomaterials, have attracted a lot of attention throughout the years. This paper applied a straightforward and environmentally beneficial way to create water-soluble FCQDs hydrothermally from coconut shells. The as-prepared FCQDs have desirable functional groups and exhibit strong blue-emitting fluorescence with a relative quantum yield of 0.6 and 0.7%. The optical bandgap of FCQDs is calculated using UV–Vis spectra to be between 3.9 and 4.4 eV. Optical studies show that FCQDs have good fluorescence properties when excited at 360 nm. Whereas the fluorescence decay lifetime using TCSPC are 1.6–0.99 ns. The synthesized FCQDs were found by HRTEM to have a spherical shape and a particle-size distribution of 2.8–5.4 nm. As-prepared FCQDs has a very low hemotoxicity of 0.5 to 1.3%, which indicates that they have acceptable biocompatibility and are not hazardous. According to the DPPH antioxidant data, FCQDs had a stronger antioxidant activity compared to earlier reports. These important characteristics enable its applications in biomedical, food packaging, fluorescence imaging, photocatalysis, and sensing. The enhanced antioxidant characteristics of the produced FCQDs make them appropriate for use in biomedical, bioimaging, chemical, and industrial applications. The as-synthesized FCQDs were used for the detection of ferric ions with good selectivity.

Building step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunctions has recently emerged as a highly effective approach for developing superior photocatalysts for water purification. Herein, a C3N5/ Ag3PO4 (CA) S-scheme heterojunction was prepared by in situ growth of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles on 2D C3N5 nanosheets. Notably, under visible-light irridiation, CA exhibited significantly higher activity in the photodegradation of LEVO, which is about 28.38, 2.41, and 2.14 times higher than the rates for C3N5, Ag3PO4, and the mixture, respectively. Based on the radical scavenging experiments, the mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic performance has been analyzed, is attributed to improved interfacial charge separation, the elevated redox potential of photon-generated electrons and holes, and the increased generation of active species resulting from the S-scheme transfer of photoinduced carriers. Additionally, CA demonstrates greater stability than either C3N5 or Ag3PO4 alone in the photo-oxidation of LEVO and the photodegradation of RhB. In essence, this study not only deepens our comprehension of the photocatalytic mechanism of CA, but also pioneers a novel concept for the development of highly effective and stable S-type heterojunction photocatalysts.

This study involved the heterogenization of a binder pitch (BP) using a small amount of nanocarbon to improve physical properties of the resulting graphite electrode (GE). Heterogenization was carried out by adding 0.5–2.0 wt.% platelet carbon nanofiber (PCNF) or carbon black (CB) to a commercial BP. To evaluate the physical properties of the BPs, we designed a new model graphite electrode (MGE) using needle coke as a filler. The heterogenized binder pitch (HBP) with PCNF or CB clearly increased the coking value by 5–13 wt.% compared to that of the as-received BP. Especially, the model graphite electrodes prepared with HBPs containing 1.0 wt.% PCNF or CB showed significantly improved physical properties compared to the control MGE from the as-received BP. Although the model graphite electrodes prepared with HBPs showed similar properties, they had smaller pore sizes than the control. This indicates that heterogenization of the BP can effectively decrease the pore size in the MGE matrix. Correlating the average pore sizes with the physical properties of the model graphite electrodes showed that, for the same porosity, matrices formed by the HBP with a smaller average pore size can effectively improve the apparent density, tensile strength, and oxidation resistance of the model graphite electrodes.

Mesocrystals are macroscopic structures formed by the assembly of nanoparticles that possess distinct surface structures and collective properties when compared to traditional crystalline materials. Various growth mechanisms and their unique features have promise as material design tools for diverse potential applications. This paper presents a straightforward method for metal–organic coordination-based mesocrystals using nickel ions and terephthalic acid. The coordinative compound between Ni2+ and terephthalic acid drives the particle-mediated growth mechanism, resulting in the mesocrystal formation through a mesoscale assembly. Subsequent carbonization converts mesocrystals to multidirectional interconnected graphite nanospheres along the macroscopic framework while preserving the original structure of the Ni-terephthalic acid mesocrystal. Comprehensive investigations demonstrate that multi-oriented edge sites and high crystallinity with larger interlayer spacing facilitate lithium ion transport and continuous intercalation. The resulting graphitic superparticle electrodes show superior rate capability (128.6 mAh g− 1 at 5 A g− 1) and stable cycle stability (0.052% of capacity decay per cycle), certifying it as an advanced anode material for lithium-ion batteries.