Factors associated with non-specific low back pain in field hockey: a cross-sectional study of Premier and Division One players

Introduction and purpose: Several risk factors have been identified that alter risk of developing non-specific low back pain (LBP) in the general population. However, there is a lack of evidence around general and sport-specific factors associated with the odds of developing LBP in field hockey players, despite the prevalence being high (33-67%). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine what factors are associated with the risk of reporting non-specific LBP in field hockey. Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was distributed to those who competed in the men’s and women’s Premier Division, Division 1 North and Division 1 South for field hockey. The questionnaire consisted of a participant information sheet, definitions sheet, participant characteristics, injury history, training-related factors, and work and personal factors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the key factors associated with the odds of reporting LBP. Results: A total of 194 responses were received. Results from the logistic regression indicated that age (>25 years), playing internationally, use of a smaller stick, partaking in the drag flick, experiencing stiffness/tightness after hockey, training 0-2 and 3-5 hours per week, competing in two matches per week, lifting heavy objects at work, perceiving work to impact recovery, and experiencing a stressful life event were associated 1.43-7.39 greater odds of LBP. In contrast, being a male, being of smaller stature, perceived work to increase fatigue, perceiving sleep to be good quantity, and experiences less frequent job stress were associated with lower odds of non-specific LBP (odds ratio (OR) = 0.11 to 0.60). A summary of key factors is presented in Table 1. Conclusion: The results of this study provide seven prominent factors that medical professionals involved in field hockey can consider when identifying individual at greater or lesser risk of LBP, when developing screening processes, and when developing training practices

Superlubricity of pH-responsive hydrogels in extreme environments

Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(AAm-co-AA)) hydrogels are highly tunable and pH-responsive materials frequently used in biomedical applications. The swelling behavior and mechanical properties of these gels have been extensively characterized and are thought to be controlled by the protonation state of the acrylic acid (AA) through the regulation of solution pH. However, their tribological properties have been underexplored. Here, we hypothesized that electrostatics and the protonation state of AA would drive the tribological properties of these polyelectrolyte gels. P(AAm-co-AA) hydrogels were prepared with constant acrylamide (AAm) concentration (33 wt%) and varying AA concentration to control the amount of ionizable groups in the gel. The monomer:crosslinker molar ratio (200:1) was kept constant. Hydrogel swelling, stiffness, and friction behavior were studied by systematically varying the acrylic acid (AA) concentration from 0-12 wt% and controlling solution pH (0.35, 7, 13.8) and ionic strength (I = 0 or 0.25 M). The stiffness and friction coefficient of bulk hydrogels were evaluated using a microtribometer and borosilicate glass probes as countersurfaces. The swelling behavior and elastic modulus of these polyelectrolyte hydrogels were highly sensitive to solution pH and poorly predicted the friction coefficient (µ), which decreased with increasing AA concentration. P(AAm-co-AA) hydrogels with the greatest AA concentrations (12 wt%) exhibited superlubricity (µ = 0.005 ± 0.001) when swollen in unbuffered, deionized water (pH = 7, I = 0 M) and 0.5 M NaOH (pH = 13.8, I = 0.25 M) (µ = 0.005 ± 0.002). Friction coefficients generally decreased with increasing AA and increasing solution pH. We postulate that tunable lubricity in P(AAm-co-AA) gels arises from changes in the protonation state of acrylic acid and electrostatic interactions between the probe and hydrogel surface

Future of the Search for Life: Workshop Report

International audienceThe 2-week, virtual Future of the Search for Life science and engineering workshop brought together more than 100 scientists, engineers, and technologists in March and April 2022 to provide their expert opinion on the interconnections between life-detection science and technology. Participants identified the advances in measurement and sampling technologies they believed to be necessary to perform in situ searches for life elsewhere in our Solar System, 20 years or more in the future. Among suggested measurements for these searches, those pertaining to three potential indicators of life termed “dynamic disequilibrium,” “catalysis,” and “informational polymers” were identified as particularly promising avenues for further exploration. For these three indicators, small breakout groups of participants identified measurement needs and knowledge gaps, along with corresponding constraints on sample handling (acquisition and processing) approaches for a variety of environments on Enceladus, Europa, Mars, and Titan. Despite the diversity of these environments, sample processing approaches all tend to be more complex than those that have been implemented on missions or envisioned for mission concepts to date. The approaches considered by workshop breakout groups progress from nondestructive to destructive measurement techniques, and most involve the need for fluid (especially liquid) sample processing. Sample processing needs were identified as technology gaps. These gaps include technology and associated sampling strategies that allow the preservation of the thermal, mechanical, and chemical integrity of the samples upon acquisition; and to optimize the sample information obtained by operating suites of instruments on common samples. Crucially, the interplay between science-driven life-detection strategies and their technological implementation highlights the need for an unprecedented level of payload integration and extensive collaboration between scientists and engineers, starting from concept formulation through mission deployment of life-detection instruments and sample processing systems