BIOMECHANICAL MODELING APPLIED TO HUMAN MOVEMENT ANALYSIS

Biomechanical modelling can be a helpful instrument in human movement analysis. Here, the focus will be set on analyzing human movement using inverse dynamics. Dealing with inverse problems, one important issue is the transfer of a real motion to the model and how to find an optimal description of the movement. Furthermore, joint models, the description of joint kinematics, as well as the individual adaptability of those models will influence the results of human movement analysis

Axiomatic Bargaining Theory on Opportunity Assignments

This paper discusses issues of axiomatic bargaining problems over opportunity assignments. The fair arbitrator uses the principle of "equal opportunity" for all players to make the recommendation on re- source allocations. A framework in such a context is developed and several classical solutions to standard bargaining problems are reformulated and axiomatically characterized. Working Paper 06-4

“DYNAMIC TRACKING”, A METHOD FOR SMOOTHING KINEMATIC DATA

One basic problem in biomechanical modelling is the transfer of a real motion to a model. Here the motion of an ice speed skater should be transferred to the alaska 3D MBS man model DYNAMICUS. To find an optimal description for the motion of the man model Dynamic Tracking has been used and investigated. The results show that this method is a useful possibilty to recieve time histories for the inner co-ordinates close to reality

INFLUENCE OF BODY MASS INDEX ON ROWING KINEMATICS

Rowing meets the criteria for weight loss as defined by the American College of Sport Medicine. Little research exists on the influence of body shape on movement kinematics. Even if rowing is a non weight bearing exercise, the body shape may have an influence on rowing motion and joint reactions. This study investigated rowing movement kinematics between normal weight and overweight subjects. Differences were found for hip abduction and adduction angles. This knowledge can help to understand the influence of body weight and body shape on movement kinematics and can help to avoid overloading the joints

ELITE OUTSIDE HITTERS IN VOLLEYBALL DO NOT MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM IMPACT HEIGHT IN HIGH SPIKE JUMPS

It is assumed that a high impact height is a relevant factor for success in volleyball spikes. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether outside hitters hit the ball at the highest possible impact height. Spikes from position IV were analysed at a tournament of the European League. The posture of the athletes was less extended in the trunk and upper limb with increasing jump height. Regarding the body posture at the moment of impact, there was no effect on the post impact ball speed. It is concluded that there could be enhancement with respect to the impact height as jump height increases even in elite athletes without reducing ball speed. This should be addressed within the training process

Results of the AEROS satellite program: Summary

Published literature reporting aeronomic data collected on two AEROS missions is summarized. The extreme ultraviolet solar radiation and other significant parameters of the thermosphere/ionosphere were investigated. Kinetic pressure, the quantity of atomic nitrogen, and partial densities of helium, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and atomic nitrogen were determined. The thermal electron population, superthermal energy distribution, plasma density, ion temperature, and composition according to ion types were measured. The chief energy supply in the thermosphere was calculated. Aeronomic calculations showing that variations in the parameters of the ionosphere cannot be correlated with fluctuations of extreme ultraviolet solar radiation were performed. The AEROS data were compared with data from S3-1, ISIS, and AE-C satellites. Models of the thermosphere and ionosphere were developed

Design and compilation of an object-oriented macroprogramming language for wireless sensor networks

open5siWireless sensor network (WSN) programming is still largely performed by experts in a node-centric way using low-level languages such as C. Although numerous higher-level abstractions exist, each simplifying a specific aspect of distributed programming, real applications often require to combine multiple abstractions into a single program. Using current programming frameworks, this represents a difficult task. In previous work, we therefore defined a conceptual framework that facilitates abstraction composition by defining sound compositional rules among few fundamental abstraction categories. The framework is extensible: programmers can add new abstractions within the boundaries determined by the compositional rules. In this paper we describe the design of a language - called MPL - that instantiates this conceptual framework. To support the extensible nature of the framework, the language is object-oriented, which allows programmers to add new abstractions by inheriting from existing classes that implement predefined interfaces. We modeled the syntax after Java, to make it more palatable to inexperienced embedded programmers. Compared to Java, we modified the language to enable efficient execution on WSN devices. We designed and implemented a compiler that translates MPL language into executable C code, which spares the overhead of a virtual machine. By comparing MPL implementations against functionally-equivalent Contiki/C implementations of several benchmark applications, we determined that the performance overhead of MPL is limited, and yet the programming task is simplified.openOppermann, Felix Jonathan; Römer, Kay; Mottola, Luca; Picco, Gian Pietro; Gaglione, AndreaOppermann, Felix Jonathan; Römer, Kay; Mottola, Luca; Picco, Gian Pietro; Gaglione, Andre

Classification of scale-free networks

While the emergence of a power law degree distribution in complex networks is intriguing, the degree exponent is not universal. Here we show that the betweenness centrality displays a power-law distribution with an exponent \eta which is robust and use it to classify the scale-free networks. We have observed two universality classes with \eta \approx 2.2(1) and 2.0, respectively. Real world networks for the former are the protein interaction networks, the metabolic networks for eukaryotes and bacteria, and the co-authorship network, and those for the latter one are the Internet, the world-wide web, and the metabolic networks for archaea. Distinct features of the mass-distance relation, generic topology of geodesics and resilience under attack of the two classes are identified. Various model networks also belong to either of the two classes while their degree exponents are tunable.Comment: 6 Pages, 6 Figures, 1 tabl

Imaging atlas for eligibility and on-study safety of potential knee adverse events in anti-NGF studies (Part 1)

SummaryMonoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit nerve growth factor (NGF) have demonstrated both, good analgesic efficacy and improvement in function in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Despite initial promising data, trials in OA had been suspended by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to concerns over accelerated rates of OA progression. Imaging will play a crucial role in future clinical trials to define eligibility of potential participants and to monitor safety during the course of these studies. This will require baseline and frequent follow-up radiographs of both, the index joints and other large weight bearing joints to identify subjects at risk prior inclusion and on study so treatment can be discontinued.This imaging overview in the form of an atlas describes and illustrates potential exclusionary joint imaging findings at eligibility and potential adverse joint events on radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in studies investigating a-NGF compounds. The overarching goal of this atlas is to facilitate trial design and to promote a common language and understanding between potential expert readers. This first section of the atlas will focus on knee joint specific findings that are relevant to a-NGF studies

Egalitarian justice and expected value

According to all-luck egalitarianism, the differential distributive effects of both brute luck, which defines the outcome of risks which are not deliberately taken, and option luck, which defines the outcome of deliberate gambles, are unjust. Exactly how to correct the effects of option luck is, however, a complex issue. This article argues that (a) option luck should be neutralized not just by correcting luck among gamblers, but among the community as a whole, because it would be unfair for gamblers as a group to be disadvantaged relative to non-gamblers by bad option luck; (b) individuals should receive the warranted expected results of their gambles, except insofar as individuals blamelessly lacked the ability to ascertain which expectations were warranted; and (c) where societal resources are insufficient to deliver expected results to gamblers, gamblers should receive a lesser distributive share which is in proportion to the expected results. Where all-luck egalitarianism is understood in this way, it allows risk-takers to impose externalities on non-risk-takers, which seems counterintuitive. This may, however, be an advantage as it provides a luck egalitarian rationale for assisting ‘negligent victims’