A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE KINETIC ANALYSIS OF A LINK-SEGMENT MODEL

The computer program LINK has been created to aid the biomechanics instructor in the teaching and demonstration of kinetic analysis of a knee joint link-segment model. Written in the BASIC computer programming language, this program is designed to be a step-by-step demonstration tool complete with geometric diagrams, discussion of pertinent terms, and mastery tests. Input values are based upon anthropometric measurements, force values recorded from an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex), and corresponding knee angles. Preset values may be selected for demonstration, or the user may input hisher own data. The output is calculated values of force, torque, and power (for the knee joint angles utilized). Specific geometry for these calculations are based upon the anthropometric measures. This computer program is written to be used with all IBM compatible microcomputers

Proximal lava drainage controls on basaltic fissure eruption dynamics

Hawaiian basaltic eruptions commonly initiate as a fissure, producing fountains, spattering, and clastogenic lava flows. Most fissures rapidly localize to form a small number of eruptive vents, the location of which may influence the subsequent distribution of lava flows and associated hazards. We present results from a detailed field investigation of the proximal deposits of episode 1 of the 1969 fissure eruption of Mauna Ulu, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i. Exceptional preservation of the deposits allows us to reconstruct vent-proximal lava drainage patterns and to assess the role that drainage played in constraining vent localization. Through detailed field mapping, including measurements of the height and internal depth of lava tree moulds, we reconstruct high-resolution topographic maps of the pre-eruption ground surface, the lava high-stand surface and the post-eruption ground surface. We calculate the difference in elevation between pairs of maps to estimate the lava inundation depth and lava drainage depth over the field area and along different segments of fissure. Aerial photographs collected during episode 1 of the eruption allow us to locate those parts of the fissure that are no longer exposed at the surface. By comparing with the inundation and drainage maps, we find that fissure segments that were inundated with lava to greater depths (typically 1–6 m) during the eruption later became foci of lava drainage back into the fissure (internal drain-back). We infer that, in these areas, lava ponding over the fissure suppressed discharge of magma, thereby favouring drain-back and stagnation. By contrast, segments with relatively shallow inundation (typically less than ~ 1 m), such as where the fissure intersects pre-eruptive topographic highs, or where flow away from the vent (outflow) was efficient, are often associated with sub-circular vent geometries in the post-eruption ground surface. We infer that these parts of the fissure became localization points for ongoing magma ascent and discharge. We conclude that lava inundation and drainage processes in basaltic fissure eruptions can play an important role in controlling their localization and longevity

Asymptotic dynamics in 3D gravity with torsion

We study the nature of boundary dynamics in the teleparallel 3D gravity. The asymptotic field equations with anti-de Sitter boundary conditions yield only two non-trivial boundary modes, related to a conformal field theory with classical central charge. After showing that the teleparallel gravity can be formulated as a Chern-Simons theory, we identify dynamical structure at the boundary as the Liouville theory.Comment: 16 pages, RevTeX, no figure

ATTENUATION OF GROUND REACTION FORCES IN DISMOUNTS FROM TEH BALANCE BEAM

Epidemiological studies have documented the incidence of injuries in female gymnasts . In comparison to other sports, the incidence of injury in gymnastics is high relative to other sports. One epidemiology study prompted the author to state that "...women's gymnastics should he recognized as a hazardous sport." To understand the etiology 01 injury, researchers have identified injuries by sites, types and/or events (floor, uneven bars, vault, and balance beam). Dismounts, considered an element 01 all events, have drawn attention as an injury mechanism. Studies have shown he dismount, especially when gymnasts attempt to "stick" their lauding, to be a major component of the incidence of injury. This study investigated ground reaction forces in the dismount from the balance beam under two styles (stick and roll-out of the landing). Attenuation of relatively high impact forces through modification of landing may be used, at minimum, in practices to reduce the exposure to gymnasts to this physical contraindication. Subjects were 23 female gymnasts who ranged in age (118 to 201 months, mean=158.8, SD=23.7) and level (5 to 10). Each subject was asked to perform two types of dismounts (roundoff and barani) from a balance beam and to land each dismount with two the different styles onto a mot adhered to a force platform. AU subjects had ground reaction forces for both styles of the roundoff. and 14 subjects had ground reaction forces for both styles of the barani dismount. Table 1 contains a summary of the ground reaction forces as a percentage of body weight. Our results indicate that vertical ground reaction forces are significantly reduced by rolling out of the landing

The Hubble rate in averaged cosmology

The calculation of the averaged Hubble expansion rate in an averaged perturbed Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmology leads to small corrections to the background value of the expansion rate, which could be important for measuring the Hubble constant from local observations. It also predicts an intrinsic variance associated with the finite scale of any measurement of H_0, the Hubble rate today. Both the mean Hubble rate and its variance depend on both the definition of the Hubble rate and the spatial surface on which the average is performed. We quantitatively study different definitions of the averaged Hubble rate encountered in the literature by consistently calculating the backreaction effect at second order in perturbation theory, and compare the results. We employ for the first time a recently developed gauge-invariant definition of an averaged scalar. We also discuss the variance of the Hubble rate for the different definitions.Comment: 12 pages, 25 figures, references added, clarity improved, frame switching subtlety fixed, results unchanged, v3 minor typos fixe

Gravitational Energy of Kerr and Kerr Anti-de Sitter Space-times in the Teleparallel Geometry

In the context of the Hamiltonian formulation of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity we compute the gravitational energy of Kerr and Kerr Anti-de Sitter (Kerr-AdS) space-times. The present calculation is carried out by means of an expression for the energy of the gravitational field that naturally arises from the integral form of the constraint equations of the formalism. In each case, the energy is exactly computed for finite and arbitrary spacelike two-spheres, without any restriction on the metric parameters. In particular, we evaluate the energy at the outer event horizon of the black holes.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, to appear in JHEP11(2003)00

Modulation of actin polymerization affects nucleocytoplasmic transport in multiple forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Although defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) may be central to the pathogenesis of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, the molecular mechanisms modulating the nuclear pore function are still largely unknown. Here we show that genetic and pharmacological modulation of actin polymerization disrupts nuclear pore integrity, nuclear import, and downstream pathways such as mRNA post-transcriptional regulation. Importantly, we demonstrate that modulation of actin homeostasis can rescue nuclear pore instability and dysfunction caused by mutant PFN1 as well as by C9ORF72 repeat expansion, the most common mutation in ALS patients. Collectively, our data link NCT defects to ALS-associated cellular pathology and propose the regulation of actin homeostasis as a novel therapeutic strategy for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases

Status of Vectorized Monte Carlo for Particle Transport Analysis

The conventional particle transport Monte Carlo algorithm is ill suited for modem vector supercomputers because the random nature of the particle transport process in the history based algorithm in hibits construction of vectors. An alterna tive, event-based algorithm is suitable for vectorization and has been used recently to achieve impressive gains in perfor mance on vector supercomputers. This re view describes the event-based algorithm and several variations of it Implementa tions of this algorithm for applications in particle transport are described, and their relative merits are discussed. The imple mentation of Monte Carlo methods on multiple vector parallel processors is con sidered, as is the potential of massively parallel processors for Monte Carlo par ticle transport simulations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67177/2/10.1177_109434208700100203.pd

General analysis of self-dual solutions for the Einstein-Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory in (1+2) dimensions

The solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory are studied in (1+2) dimensions with the self-duality condition imposed on the Maxwell field. We give a closed form of the general solution which is determined by a single function having the physical meaning of the quasilocal angular momentum of the solution. This function completely determines the geometry of spacetime, also providing the direct computation of the conserved total mass and angular momentum of the configurations.Comment: 3 pages, REVTEX file, no figure