201 research outputs found
Achilles Pain, Stiffness, and Muscle Power Deficits: Achilles Tendinitis
The Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association presents this sixth set of clinical practice guidelines on Achilles pain, stiffness, and muscle power deficits that are characteristic of Achilles Tendinitis. These clinical practice guidelines are linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). The purpose of these practice guidelines is to describe evidence-based orthopaedic physical therapy clinical practice and provide recommendations for (1) examination and diagnostic classification based on body functions and body structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions, (2) interventions provided by physical therapists, (3) and assessment of outcome for common musculoskeletal disorders
Segregated tunneling-percolation model for transport nonuniversality
We propose a theory of the origin of transport nonuniversality in disordered
insulating-conducting compounds based on the interplay between microstructure
and tunneling processes between metallic grains dispersed in the insulating
host. We show that if the metallic phase is arranged in quasi-one dimensional
chains of conducting grains, then the distribution function of the chain
conductivities g has a power-law divergence for g -> 0 leading to nonuniversal
values of the transport critical exponent t. We evaluate the critical exponent
t by Monte Carlo calculations on a cubic lattice and show that our model can
describe universal as well nonuniversal behavior of transport depending on the
value of few microstructural parameters. Such segregated tunneling-percolation
model can describe the microstructure of a quite vast class of materials known
as thick-film resistors which display universal or nonuniversal values of t
depending on the composition.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures (Phys. Rev. B - 1 August 2003)(fig1 replaced
On the rotational dynamics of the Rattleback
The Rattleback is a very popular science toy shown to students all over the
world to demonstrate the non-triviality of rotational motion. When spun on a
horizontal table, this boat-shaped object behaves in a peculiar way. Although
the object appears symmetric, the dynamics of its motion seem very asymmetric.
When spun in the preferred direction, it spins smoothly, whereas in the other
direction it starts to oscillate wildly. The oscillation soon dies out and the
rattleback starts to spin in the preferred way. We will construct and go
through an analytical model capable of explaining this behaviour in a simple
and intelligible way. Although we aim at a semi-pedagogical treatise, we will
study the details only when they are necessary to understand the calculation.
After presenting the calculations we will discuss the physical validity of our
assumptions and take a look at more sophisticated models requiring numerical
analysis. We will then improve our model by assuming a simple friction force.Comment: 17 pages and 2 figures, typos corrected, some minor additions and
rewording
General practitioners’ perspectives on campaigns to promote rapid help-seeking behaviour at the onset of rheumatoid arthritis
Objective. To explore general practitioners’ (GPs’ ) perspectives on public health campaigns to encourage people with the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to seek medical help rapidly. Design. Nineteen GPs participated in four semistructured focus groups. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results. GPs recognised the need for the early treatment of RA and identified that facilitating appropriate access to care was important. However, not all held the view that a delay in help seeking was a clinically significant issue. Furthermore, many were concerned that the early symptoms of RA were often non-specific, and that current knowledge about the nature of symptoms at disease onset was inadequate to inform the content of a help-seeking campaign. They argued that a campaign might not be able to specifically target those who need to present urgently. Poorly designed campaigns were suggested to have a negative impact on GPs’ workloads, and would “clog up” the referral pathway for genuine cases of RA. Conclusions. GPs were supportive of strategies to improve access to Rheumatological care and increase public awareness of RA symptoms. However, they have identified important issues that need to be considered in developing a public health campaign that forms part of an overall strategy to reduce time to treatment for patients with new onset RA. This study highlights the value of gaining GPs’ perspectives before launching health promotion campaigns
X-Ray Analysis of Oxygen-induced Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in Pt/Co/AlOx trilayer
X-ray spectroscopy measurements have been performed on a series of Pt/Co/AlOx
trilayers to investigate the role of Co oxidation in the perpendicular magnetic
anisotropy of the Co/AlOx interface. It is observed that high temperature
annealing modifies the magnetic properties of the Co layer, inducing an
enhancement of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The microscopic
structural properties are analyzed via X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, X-ray
Magnetic Circular Dichroism and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy measurements.
It is shown that annealing enhances the amount of interfacial oxide, which may
be at the origin of a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Evidence for validity and reliability of a french version of the FAAM
BACKGROUND: The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is a self reported questionnaire for patients with foot and ankle disorders available in English, German, and Persian. This study plans to translate the FAAM from English to French (FAAM-F) and assess the validity and reliability of this new version.METHODS: The FAAM-F Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and sports subscales were completed by 105 French-speaking patients (average age 50.5 years) presenting various chronic foot and ankle disorders. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficients between the FAAM-F subscales and the SF-36 scales: Physical Functioning (PF), Physical Component Summary (PCS), Mental Health (MH) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach's Alpha (CA). To assess test re-test reliability, 22 patients filled out the questionnaire a second time to estimate minimal detectable changes (MDC) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).RESULTS: Correlations for FAAM-F ADL subscale were 0.85 with PF, 0.81 with PCS, 0.26 with MH, 0.37 with MCS. Correlations for FAAM-F Sports subscale were 0.72 with PF, 0.72 with PCS, 0.21 with MH, 0.29 with MCS. CA estimates were 0.97 for both subscales. Respectively for the ADL and Sports subscales, ICC were 0.97 and 0.94, errors for a single measure were 8 and 10 points at 95% confidence and the MDC values at 95% confidence were 7 and 18 points.CONCLUSION: The FAAM-F is valid and reliable for the self-assessment of physical function in French-speaking patients with a wide range of chronic foot and ankle disorders
Piezoresistivity and conductance anisotropy of tunneling-percolating systems
Percolating networks based on interparticle tunneling conduction are shown to
yield a logarithmic divergent piezoresistive response close to the critical
point as long as the electrical conductivity becomes nonuniversal. At the same
time, the piezoresistivity or, equivalently, the conductivity anisotropy
exponent remains universal also when the conductive exponent is not,
suggesting a purely geometric origin of . We discuss our results in
relation to the nature of transport for a variety of materials such as
carbon-black--polymer composites and RuO_2-glass systems which show
nonuniversal transport properties and coexistence between tunneling and
percolating behaviors.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Added discussion on experiment
Lower limb biomechanics during running in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Abnormal lower limb biomechanics is speculated to be a risk factor for Achilles tendinopathy. This study systematically reviewed the existing literature to identify, critique and summarise lower limb biomechanical factors associated with Achilles tendinopathy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched electronic bibliographic databases (Medline, EMBASE, Current contents, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus) in November 2010. All prospective cohort and case-control studies that evaluated biomechanical factors (temporospatial parameters, lower limb kinematics, dynamic plantar pressures, kinetics [ground reaction forces and joint moments] and muscle activity) associated with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy were included. Quality of included studies was evaluated using the Quality Index. The magnitude of differences (effect sizes) between cases and controls was calculated using Cohen's d (with 95% CIs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nine studies were identified; two were prospective and the remaining seven case-control study designs. The quality of 9 identified studies was varied, with Quality Index scores ranging from 4 to 15 out of 17. All studies analysed running biomechanics. Cases displayed increased eversion range of motion of the rearfoot (d = 0.92 and 0.67 in two studies), reduced maximum lower leg abduction (d = -1.16), reduced ankle joint dorsiflexion velocity (d = -0.62) and reduced knee flexion during gait (d = -0.90). Cases also demonstrated a number of differences in dynamic plantar pressures (primarily the distribution of the centre of force), ground reaction forces (large effects for timing variables) and also showed reduced peak tibial external rotation moment (d = -1.29). Cases also displayed differences in the timing and amplitude of a number of lower limb muscles but many differences were equivocal.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There are differences in lower limb biomechanics between those with and without Achilles tendinopathy that may have implications for the prevention and management of the condition. However, the findings need to be interpreted with caution due to the limited quality of a number of the included studies. Future well-designed prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.</p
Size Quantization in Planar Graphene-Based Heterostructures: Pseudospin Splitting, Interface States, and Excitons
A planar quantum-well device made of a gapless graphene nanoribbon with edges
in contact with gapped graphene sheets is examined. The size-quantization
spectrum of charge carriers in an asymmetric quantum well is shown to exhibit a
pseudospin splitting. Interface states of a new type arise from the crossing of
dispersion curves of gapless and gapped graphene materials. The exciton
spectrum is calculated for a planar graphene quantum well. The effect of an
external electric field on the exciton spectrum is analyzed.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure
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