Comparison of proprioception between Kinesiology and adhesive ankle taping: a randomised experimental study

Background: Literature shows conflicting results regarding the effects of Adhesive and Kinesiology taping effect on ankle proprioception. Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of Adhesive Taping (AT) and Kinesiology Taping (KT) on the ankle proprioception on a multi axial plane of motion and compare the two methods for any pre-eminence between them. Design: Randomised experimental study Method: Twenty healthy University affiliated participants were recruited. The participants were examined with the Biodex Balance Scale (BBS), in three parameters: non-taped, AT and KT taping in a random order. A monopodalic, dominant leg stance was utilised during the trials. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used in order to analyse the data. The alpha level was set at 0.05. Results: This study found that KT had statistically significant influence on the ankle proprioception at the sagittal plane of motion (p=0.037). The comparison between the KT and the non-taped for the Overall Stability Index was close to be significant (p=0.051). Kinesiology taping indicated improvement for the mean values compared to both AT and non-taped group. There were no statistically significant results between the AT and KT. Conclusion: The study indicates that an inexpensive modality, such as KT, can enhance ankle proprioception in healthy population and therefore reduce the occurrence of ankle injuries. Further studies are essential in order to investigate the effectiveness of taping methods on ankle proprioception in a population with ankle musculoskeletal injuries and pathology

DIFFERENCES IN DECELERATION BETWEEN THE PENULTIMATE AND FINAL STEPS OF REACTIVE AND PLANNED CROSSOVER CUTS

D. Athanasiadis, C.M.S.Mulligan, M.F. Norcross Oregon State University Penultimate and final step deceleration profiles during side-cuts differ under planned and reactive conditions which may impact performance. However, it is unclear how these steps are utilized in a crossover cut (XOC). PURPOSE: To determine whether deceleration is different between the penultimate and final steps of XOC and if those differences are modified by planning time. METHODS: Thirty-six females (Age: 20.9±1.7years; Height: 1.66 ± 0.07 m, Mass: 62.4 ±8.7 kg) completed 5 reactive (i.e., through a light stimulus) and planned 60oXOC off their dominant leg. Penultimate and final steps were captured using an optical motion capture system interfaced with two force plates. Braking impulse (i.e., area under the posterior ground reaction force curve) and the change in center of mass velocity (ΔCOMv) during the deceleration phase (initial contact to peak knee flexion) were quantified for each step. Within Subjects ANOVAs and planned, pairwise comparisons with a Bonferroni correction were used to compare the effects of condition, step, and their interaction on outcome variables (α≤0.05). RESULTS: We identified a significant interaction for braking impulse and ΔCOMv (p Funded by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research & Education Foundatio

Using Data Lake Stack in Animal Sciences

Big Data is a theme that receives a lot of attention, and is often characterised as managing and analysing large datasets to reveal new valuable patterns. In the livestock domain, big data is also becoming more common and is being anchored into the mind-set of researchers, due to, for example, sensors generating ..

Lyashko-Looijenga morphisms and submaximal factorisations of a Coxeter element

When W is a finite reflection group, the noncrossing partition lattice NCP_W of type W is a rich combinatorial object, extending the notion of noncrossing partitions of an n-gon. A formula (for which the only known proofs are case-by-case) expresses the number of multichains of a given length in NCP_W as a generalised Fuss-Catalan number, depending on the invariant degrees of W. We describe how to understand some specifications of this formula in a case-free way, using an interpretation of the chains of NCP_W as fibers of a Lyashko-Looijenga covering (LL), constructed from the geometry of the discriminant hypersurface of W. We study algebraically the map LL, describing the factorisations of its discriminant and its Jacobian. As byproducts, we generalise a formula stated by K. Saito for real reflection groups, and we deduce new enumeration formulas for certain factorisations of a Coxeter element of W.Comment: 18 pages. Version 2 : corrected typos and improved presentation. Version 3 : corrected typos, added illustrated example. To appear in Journal of Algebraic Combinatoric

Printed elastic membranes for multimodal pacing and recording of human stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes

Bioelectronic interfaces employing arrays of sensors and bioactuators are promising tools for the study, repair and engineering of cardiac tissues. They are typically constructed from rigid and brittle materials processed in a cleanroom environment. An outstanding technological challenge is the integration of soft materials enabling a closer match to the mechanical properties of biological cells and tissues. Here we present an algorithm for direct writing of elastic membranes with embedded electrodes, optical waveguides and microfluidics using a commercial 3D printing system and a palette of silicone elastomers. As proof of principle, we demonstrate interfacing of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which are engineered to express Channelrhodopsin-2. We demonstrate electrical recording of cardiomyocyte field potentials and their concomitant modulation by optical and pharmacological stimulation delivered via the membrane. Our work contributes a simple prototyping strategy with potential applications in organ-on-chip or implantable systems that are multi-modal and mechanically soft