Wide stance

The objective of this study was to establish the accuracy of the resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP) for the assessment of flat foot (FF) in children, aligned to the validity of the foot posture index (FPI). The RCSP cut-off point was explored, in context of both FF prevalence and the relationship between FF and body weight. A total of 205 healthy children, aged 5 to 10 years, participated in a cross-sectional study. Correlation was performed between RCSP and FPI. ROC curve technique was calculated to assess differentiation between groups...

BACKGROUND: Hip fracture occurs when an applied force exceeds the force that the proximal femur can support (the fracture load or "strength") and can have devastating consequences with poor functional outcomes. Proximal femoral strengths for specific loading conditions can be computed by subject-specific finite element analysis (FEA) using quantitative computerized tomography (QCT) images. However, the radiation and availability of QCT limit its clinical usability. Alternative low-dose and widely available measurements, such as dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and genetic factors, would be preferable for bone strength assessment...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Finite element simulations are widely employed as a non-invasive and cost-effective approach for predicting outcomes in biomechanical simulations. However, traditional finite element software, primarily designed for engineering materials, often encountered limitations in contact detection and enforcement, leading to simulation failure when dealing with complex biomechanical configurations. Currently, a lot of model tuning is required to get physically accurate finite element simulations without failures...

BACKGROUND: The cautionary stance normally taken towards tranexamic acid (TXA) is rooted in concerns regarding its complication profile, namely its purported risk for venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). In the present review, we intend to bring increased attention to TXA as a remarkably valuable tool that does not appear to increase the risk for VTE when used as indicated in select patients. METHODS: We queried three databases to identify reporting use of TXA during nontraumatic cranial neurosurgery procedures (excluded traumatic brain injury)...

Magnetorheological (MR) fluid exhibits the ability to modulate its shear state through variations in magnetic field intensity, and is widely used for applications requiring damping. Traditional MR dampers use the current in the coil to adjust the magnetic field strength, but the accumulated heat can cause the magnetic field strength to decay if it works for a long time. In order to deal with this shortcoming, a novel MR damper is proposed in this paper, which is based on a variable displacement permanent magnet to adjust the output resistance torque and applied to an exoskeleton joint for human load transfer assistance...

In this work, we explore the role of immigrant-critical alternative media in shaping collective emotions and users' evaluations of the immigration issue, using a conversational approach and an empirical case of Flashback, a prominent Swedish online platform where many immigration-related discussions take place. Our text and network-based analysis of more than 9,000 conversations during the last election period reveals that the platform users consume and distribute diverging types of media content across a wide ideological spectrum which, however, has a limited influence on the evolution of conversations and users' stances in the immigration debate...

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular dysfunction is common in older adults and more pronounced in neurodegenerative diseases. In Parkinson's disease (PD), a complex set of factors often prevents the effective performance of activities of daily living that require intact and simultaneous performance of the motor and cognitive tasks. METHODS: The cross-sectional study includes a multifactorial mixed-measure design. Between-subject factor grouping the sample will be Parkinson's Disease (early PD vs...

BACKGROUND: Early marriage is defined as the union of one or both partners before reaching the age of 18 for the first time. This practice is widely prevalent in underdeveloped countries, particularly in Ethiopia, and has been observed to have detrimental effects on the educational and personal development of both male and female individuals. METHODS: The present study conducted a comprehensive search of the Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and PubMed databases...

Joint kinematics are an important and widely utilized metric in quantitative human movement analysis. Typically, trajectory data for skin-mounted markers are collected using stereophotogrammetry, sometimes referred to as optical motion capture, and processed using various mathematical models to estimate joint kinematics (e.g., angles). Among the various sources of noise in optical motion capture data, soft tissue artifacts (STAs) remain a critical source of error. This study investigates the performance of the point cluster technique (PCT), an extension of the PCT using perturbation theory (PCT-PT), and singular value decomposition least squares (SVD-LS) method (as a reference) for 100 different marker configurations on the thigh and shank during treadmill walking...

INTRODUCTION: Single-leg stance tests have been widely used to evaluate static balance, like the Modified Flamingo Test. The evaluation of dynamic balance on small support surfaces is the objective of some tests like the Bar Test. RESEARCH QUESTION: How is the performance of postural control during the performance of these tests in schoolchildren between 6 and 11 years of age in both sexes? What are the reference values of these tests in this population? METHOD: A cross-sectional study in which a total of 282 children...

BACKGROUND: Finding the best subset of gait features among biomechanical variables is considered very important because of its ability to identify relevant sports and clinical gait pattern differences to be explored under specific study conditions. This study proposes a new method of metaheuristic optimization-based selection of optimal gait features, and then investigates how much contribution the selected gait features can achieve in gait pattern recognition. METHODS: Firstly, 800 group gait datasets performed feature extraction to initially eliminate redundant variables...

BACKGROUND: In the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) pursued equity in healthcare access and treatment, but ACA implementation varied, especially limiting African Americans' gains. Marketplaces for subsidized purchase of coverage were sometimes implemented with limited outreach and enrollment assistance efforts. Reflecting state's ACA receptivity or reluctance, state's implementation may rest on sociopolitical stances and racial sentiments. Some states were unwilling to provide publicly supported healthcare to nonelderly, non-disabled adults- "the undeserving poor" -who evoke anti-black stereotypes...

Finite element (FE) models have been widely used to investigate knee joint biomechanics. Most of these models have been developed to study adult knees, neglecting pediatric populations. In this study, an atlas-based approach was employed to develop subject-specific FE models of the knee for eight typically developing pediatric individuals. Initially, validation simulations were performed at four passive tibiofemoral joint (TFJ) flexion angles, and the resulting TFJ and patellofemoral joint (PFJ) kinematics were compared to corresponding patient-matched measurements derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)...

Imaging the bone microstructure under progressively increasing loads allows for observing the microstructural failure behavior of bone. Here, we describe a protocol for obtaining a sequence of three-dimensional microstructural images of the entire proximal femur under progressively increasing deformation, causing clinically relevant fractures of the femoral neck. The protocol is demonstrated using four femora from female donors aged 66-80 years at the lower end of bone mineral density in the population (T-score range = -2...

Participation and collaboration of citizens and organized stakeholders in public decision-making is widely believed to improve environmental governance outputs. However, empirical evidence on the benefits of participatory governance is largely scattered across small-N case studies. To synthesize the available case-based evidence, we conducted a broad case-based meta-analysis across 22 Western democracies, including 305 individual cases of public environmental decision-making. We asked: How do 'more' participatory decision-making processes compare against 'less' participatory ones in fostering - or hindering - strong environmental governance outputs, (i...

BACKGROUND: Knee stability can be safely and reliably restored using medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, which is widely recognized in patients with recurrent lateral patellar instability. However, the literature regarding its influence on static balance control is limited. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of MPFL reconstruction on balance control and determine its functional significance. METHODS: The study comprised 26 patients with recurrent lateral patellar instability, scheduled for MPFL reconstruction, and 26 matched healthy controls who underwent double-leg stance static posturographic tests pre- and postoperatively on a vertical force platform...

This article analyses research findings from the PROWELLMIGRANTS project which qualitatively investigated the impact of COVID-19 upon migrants' wellbeing and mental health in Kerala, India. It draws from a novel conceptual framework that combines assemblage-thinking with theories of social contracts in disasters. The article first explores how past development processes and contemporary migration policies in Kerala, and India more widely, generated conditions of vulnerability for migrant workers in Kerala prior to the pandemic...

Although rejected by the World Health Organization, the human and even veterinary formulation of ivermectin has widely been used for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In this work we leverage Twitter to understand the reasons for the drug use from ivermectin supporters, their source of information, their emotions, their gender demographics, and location information, in Nigeria and South Africa. Topic modelling is performed on a Twitter dataset gathered using keywords 'ivermectin' and 'ivm'. A model is fine-tuned on RoBERTa to find the stance of the tweets...

Introduction: Under plantar loading regimes, it is accepted that both pressure and shear strain biomechanically contribute to formation and deterioration of diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). Plantar foot strain characteristics in the at-risk diabetic foot are little researched due to lack of measurement devices. Plantar pressure comparatively, is widely quantified and used in the characterisation of diabetic foot ulceration risk, with a range of clinically implemented pressure measurement devices on the market...

One of the most important facets of reproductive freedom and justice is the right to abortion. For centuries, the debate on legalisation and regulation of abortion has caused ethical dilemmas with proponents for both sides of the argument. India, a developing nation, with a wide spectrum of cultures, traditions, socio-economic statuses and religious beliefs, would be expected to be grappling with this problem. However, India since the 1970s made a clear stance on the matter of abortion. Respecting the right to personal liberty, reproductive freedom of women and upholding the importance of women's health, Medical Termination Pregnancy (MTP) has been legal in India since 1971...