Shoulder posture and median nerve sliding

Background: Patients with upper limb pain often have a slumped sitting position and poorshoulder posture. Pain could be due to poor posture causing mechanical changes (stretch; localpressure) that in turn affect the function of major limb nerves (e.g. median nerve). This studyexamines (1) whether the individual components of slumped sitting (forward head position, trunkflexion and shoulder protraction) cause median nerve stretch and (2) whether shoulderprotraction restricts normal nerve movements.Methods: Longitudinal nerve movement was measured using frame-by-frame cross-correlationanalysis from high frequency ultrasound images during individual components of slumped sitting.The effects of protraction on nerve movement through the shoulder region were investigated byexamining nerve movement in the arm in response to contralateral neck side flexion.Results: Neither moving the head forward or trunk flexion caused significant movement of themedian nerve. In contrast, 4.3 mm of movement, adding 0.7% strain, occurred in the forearm duringshoulder protraction. A delay in movement at the start of protraction and straightening of thenerve trunk provided evidence of unloading with the shoulder flexed and elbow extended and thescapulothoracic joint in neutral. There was a 60% reduction in nerve movement in the arm duringcontralateral neck side flexion when the shoulder was protracted compared to scapulothoracicneutral.Conclusion: Slumped sitting is unlikely to increase nerve strain sufficient to cause changes tonerve function. However, shoulder protraction may place the median nerve at risk of injury, sincenerve movement is reduced through the shoulder region when the shoulder is protracted andother joints are moved. Both altered nerve dynamics in response to moving other joints and localchanges to blood supply may adversely affect nerve function and increase the risk of developingupper quadrant pain

Zonal analysis of two high-speed inlets

Using a zonal technique, thin layer Navier-Stokes solutions for two high speed inlet geometries are presented and compared with experimental data. The first configuration consists of a 3-D inlet preceded by a sharp flat plate. Results with two different grids demonstrate the importance of adequate grid refinement in high speed internal flow computations. The fine grid solution has reasonably good agreement with experimental heat transfer and pressure values inside the inlet. The other configuration consists of a 3-D inlet mounted on a research hypersonic forebody. Numerical results for this configuration have good agreement with experimental pressure data along the forebody, but not inside the inlet. A more refined grid calculation is currently being done to better predict the flowfield in the inlet

On-Farm Research Trial on Iowa Strawberry Production with USDA/NRCS Soil Quality Test Kit

The profitability of strawberry production is dependent in large part on the condition, or quality, of the soil being used. Soils with poor physical structure, chemical properties, or biological activity require more cultivation, fertilizers, and other inputs to maintain economic viability. In general, cultivation of the soil for crop production degrades the soil. At some point, the cost of inputs will outweigh the value of the strawberry crop being produced. It is therefore essential for growers to monitor the productive capacity of their soil

Comparison of Sustainable and Conventional Weed Management Systems in Junebearing Strawberry Production

Few herbicides are registered for use in Junebearing matted-row strawberry culture. This study was conducted to develop alternative methods of weed management. The experiment evaluated the effects of two conventional and two alternative weed management systems on Junebearing matted-row strawberry production

Effect of FourWeed Management Systems on Soil Quality in Junebearing Strawberry Production

Few herbicides are registered for use in Junebearing matted-row strawberry culture. This study was conducted to explore alternative methods of weed management that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. The experiment evaluated the effects of two conventional and two alternative weed management systems on soil quality in Junebearing matted-row strawberry production. The experiment began in 2004 and was completed after the 2007 strawberry harvest

Effect of Living or Straw Mulch on Weed Management and Soil Quality in Grape Vineyards

The use of herbicides in vineyards has been a cost-effective way for in-row weed management. However, as public concerns about pesticide run-off, ground water quality, and soil erosion have increased, grape growers have become aware of a need for alternative methods of weed management. The overall objective of this project was to identify optimal weed-management practices that maximize grapevine growth and development as well as maintain or improve vineyard soil quality

Soil Quality Interest Survey of Iowa Small Fruit Growers

The profitability of strawberry production is dependent on the condition, or quality, of the soil. Soils with poor physical structure, chemical properties, or biological activity require more cultivation, fertilizers, and other inputs to maintain economic viability. In general, cultivation of the soil for crop production degrades the soil. It is therefore essential for growers to monitor the productive capacity of their soil. Because the concept of ‘soil quality’ is a relatively recent development, a survey of Iowa berry growers was conducted to coincide with soil quality field research and outreach projects. A short questionnaire was mailed to participants to gauge their awareness of soil quality before the study began and after it was completed

Gynaecological surveillance in high risk women

Increasing availability of genetic testing and falling costs of the tests suggests that growing numbers of unaffected women will be identified worldwide who are at increased risk of gynaecological malignancies. The challenge in those identified is to prevent and detect the disease early without causing significant harm. Currently surgery remains the cornerstone of management. Most women undergoing surgery do not report a significant deterioration of their physical and mental health-related quality of life (1). However the resulting premature menopause is associated with decrease in sexual functioning and vasomotor symptoms even in women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)(2)(3). As a result there is a continued effort to develop effective screening strategies for high risk women