The study aimed to investigate the effect of combined balance and plyometric training on dynamic balance and quickness performance of elite badminton athletes. Sixteen elite male badminton players volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to a balance-plyometric group (PB: n = 8) and plyometric group (PT: n = 8). The PB group performed balance combined with plyometric training three times a week over 6 weeks (40 min of plyometrics and 20 min of balance training); while the PT group undertook only plyometric training for the same period (3–4 sets × 8–12 reps for each exercise). Both groups were given the same technical training (badminton techniques for 6 days a week). The dynamic stability and quick movement ability were assessed at baseline and after the intervention by measuring the performance of dynamic posture stability test (DPSI and COP), T-running test and hexagon jump test. The results showed that compared to PT, PB induced significantly greater improvements in F-DPSI, L-DPSI (p = 0.003, 0.025, respectively), F-COPAP, F-COPML, F-COPPL, L-COPPL (p = 0.024, 0.002, 0.029, 0.043, respectively), T-running test and hexagon jump test (p < 0.001). The change in L-DPSI, L-COPAP, L-COPML did not differ between PB and PT (p > 0.907). The findings suggest that combined training holds great promise of improving the dynamic balance and quickness performance in elite badminton athletes.

In the research a commercial pure aluminium was cold rolled by 98% accumulative severe plastic deformation and then ultra-fast annealed at 350 °C−520 °C with the 1000 °C/s heating rate and 1.0 s holding time. The microstructure evolution and the mechanisms of the recovery and recrystallization for the above ultra-fast annealed pure aluminium were analyzed by Gleeble 3500 thermal simulation system, electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD),and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For the ultra-fast annealing pure aluminum, the grain size increases from 2.05 μm to 17.10 μm with the increase of annealing temperature from 410 °C to 520 °C; the tensile strength of the annealed pure aluminium decreases from 116.48 MPa to 53.43 MPa, and the uniform elongation increases from 1.20% to 39.78%. When annealing at 410 °C, the storage energy was transformed into the driving force for grain nucleation, which greatly refined the grains. When annealing at 380 °C ∼ 410 °C, the pure aluminium is in the stage of recrystallization, and the average grain size refined to 2.05 μm. When annealing at 435 °C, the number of small-angle grain boundaries (<15°) was significantly reduced and the number of large-angle grain boundaries increased. When the annealing temperature increased to 470 °C or 520 °C, the crystalline grains had merged each other, leading to the grain size grow to 17.10 μm. The annealing temperature of ultra-fast annealing should be in the range of 410 °C to 435 °C for optimizing the mechanical performances of commercial pure aluminum.

The core-shell nanostructures have the advantages of combining distinctive properties of varied materials and improved properties over their single-component counterparts. Synthesis approaches for this class of nanostructures have been intensively explored, generally involving multiple steps. Here, a general and convenient strategy is developed for one-step in situ synthesis of various carbon-encapsulated nanocrystals with a core-shell structure via a solid-state reaction of metallocene complexes with (NH4)2S2O8 in an autoclave at 200 °C. A variety of near-spherical and equiaxed nanocrystals with a small median size ranging from 6.5 to 50.6 nm are prepared as inner cores, including Fe7S8, Ni3S4 and NiS, CoS, TiO2, TiO2 and S8, ZrO2, (NH4)3V(SO4)3 and VO2, Fe7S8 and Fe3O4, MoS2 and MoO2. The worm-like carbon shell provides exclusive room for hundreds of nanocrystals separated from each other, preventing nanocrystal aggregation. The synergistic effect of ammonium and a strong oxidizing anion on the electrophilic oxidation of metallocene complexes containing a metal-ligand π bond contributes to the carbon formation at low temperature. It is considered that the cyclopentadienyl ligand in a metallocene complex will decompose into highly reactive straight chain olefinic pieces and the metal-olefin π interaction enables an ordered self-assembly of olefinic pieces on nanocrystals to partially form graphitizable carbon and a core-shell structure. The high capacity, good cycling behavior and rate capability of Fe7S8@C and Ni3S4 and NiS@C electrodes are attributed to the good protection and electrical conductivity of the carbon shell.

Low Ni alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) heat-resistant steel is an advanced high-temperature stainless steel with reduced cost, good machinability, high-temperature creep strength, and high-temperature corrosion resistance. Using the First-principles approach, this study examined the effect of Mn content on austenite stability and mechanical properties at the atomic level. Adding Mn to low Ni-AFA steel increases the unit cell volume with an accompanying increase in the absolute value of formation energy; the austenite formed more easily. The austenitic matrix binding energy decreases and remains negative, indicating austenite stability. As the Mn content increases from 3.2 to 12.8 wt%, the system's bulk modulus (B) rises significantly, and the shear modulus (G) falls. In addition, the system's strength and hardness decrease, and the Poisson ratio of the austenite matrix increases with improved elasticity; the system has excellent plasticity with an increase in the B/G. For the Fe22–Cr5–Ni3–Al2 system, with the increase of Mn content, the electron density distribution between the atoms is relatively uniform, and the electrons around the Mn atoms are slightly sparse, which will slightly reduce the structural stability of the matrix. The experiment demonstrated the matrix maintains the austenitic structure when adding 3.2–12.8 wt% Mn elements to low Ni-AFA steel. At an Mn content of 8 wt%, the overall mechanical properties of the high-Mn AFA steel are optimal, with a tensile strength of 581.64 MPa, a hardness of 186.17 HV, and an elongation of 39%.

In recent years, photoelectrochemistry has attracted more and more attention as an efficient method of organic synthesis. A combination of the amazing performance of photochemical catalysis and the anti-thermodynamic properties of electrochemical catalysis has greatly simplified several organic syntheses. In this paper, we introduce typical photoelectrochemical reactions, summarize several catalysts widely applied in photoelectrochemistry, and propose a perspective for further applications of photoelectrochemistry.