GAIT DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL FOLLOWING TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY: IMPLICATIONS FOR A RETURN TO ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of total hip arthroplasty (THA) on the biomechanics of the lower extremity during walking. Twenty THA patients and 20 healthy control participants performed several trials of level walking for which three-dimensional (3D) hip, knee and ankle angles, forces, moments and powers were recorded and calculated. Results revealed that the gait mechanics of THA patients do not return to normal following surgery, especially during the transition from double- to single-limb stance. These patients produced lower hip abduction moments that are perhaps a result of hip abductor weakness. Kinematic and kinetic adaptations at the distal joints were also found. Hip musculature deficiencies should be addressed in rehabilitation programs, especially if patients want to return to athletic activities

DO PEOPLE WITH UNILATERAL CAM FAI FAVOUR THEIR SYMPTOMATIC LEG DURING MAXIMAL DEPTH SQUATS?

Cam Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) is caused by an abnormally convex femoral head-neck junction and can damage the peripheral acetabulum in activities requiring a large hip range of motion (ROM). This study analyzed the three-dimensional (3D) ground reaction forces (GRF) and moments (GRM) and the resultant GRF of the symptomatic and asymptomatic legs in participants with unilateral cam FAI during a maximal depth squat. Seventeen participants with unilateral cam FAI performed 5 maximal depth squats with each leg on a separate forceplate. No significant differences were found between the two legs. These results indicate that participants with cam FAI do not favour their affected leg during maximal depth squats

Comportement sismique d'une ossature ductile en béton armé (R=4)

Dimensionnement de l'ossature à l'étude -- Description des essais sismiques -- Analyse des résultats expérimentaux -- Modélisation non-linéaire de l'ossature -- Modèle non-linéaire raffiné

LOWER LIMB BIOMECHANICAL ADAPTATIONS TO TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY EXIST DURING SITTING AND STANDING TASKS

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of total hip arthroplasty (THA) on lower limb mechanics during the tasks of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit. Twenty THA patients and 20 control participants performed three trials of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit. Three-dimensional (3D) hip, knee and ankle angles were calculated. Forces, moments and powers were obtained with an inverse dynamics approach. THA patients exhibited lower joint forces and moments, as well as lower hip flexion and higher abduction angles, near seat-on and seat-off. These results indicate that THA patients were able to adopt a strategy that allowed them to reduce loading at the operated lower limb joints. Although such a strategy may be desirable given that higher loads can increase friction and accelerate wear of the prosthesis, reduced loading may be an indication of inadequate muscle strength that needs to be addressed

A COMPARISON OF PRE- AND POST-OPERATIVE THREE-DIMENSIONAL HIP KINEMATICS DURING LEVEL WALKING IN PATIENTS WITH CAM FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT

Cam femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an idiopathic progressive pathological condition of the hip joint characterized by an abnormal bony protuberance on the femoral head-neck junction (Beck, Leunig, Parvizi, Boutier, Wyss & Ganz, 2004). During the limits of hip range of motion (ROM), the protuberance jams into the acetabulum (Ganz, Parvizi, Beck, Leunig, Nötzli & Siebenrock, 2003), resulting in acute hip and groin pain (Beaulé, LeDuff, & Zaragoza, 2007). Impingement has also been shown to occur within normal ROM of the hip during basic tasks such as walking, reducing peak hip abduction angles as well as hip frontal and sagittal ROM (Kennedy, Lamontagne & Beaulé, 2009). Cam FAI primarily affects young and athletic males (Ganz, Parvizi, Beck, Leunig, Nötzli & Siebenrock, 2003), and is common in hockey, football, soccer, rugby, martial arts and tennis athletes (Philippon, Schenker, Briggs & Kuppersmith, 2007). Restricted hip mobility during activities requiring low ROM suggests more pronounced limitations during demanding athletic tasks. Surgical procedures have been developed to remove the bony abnormality from the femoral head-neck junction with the objective of attenuating hip pain and restoring normal hip biomechanics, enabling athletes to return to sport. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical outcome of cam FAI corrective surgery by comapring pre-operative and post-operative three-dimensional (3-D) hip kinematics during level walking

A hazardous substance exposure prevention rating method for intervention needs assessment and effectiveness evaluation: the Small Business Exposure Index

Aims This paper describes the refinement and adaptation to small business of a previously developed method for systematically prioritizing needs for intervention on hazardous substance exposures in manufacturing worksites, and evaluating intervention effectiveness. Methods We developed a checklist containing six unique sets of yes/no variables organized in a 2 × 3 matrix of exposure potential versus exposure protection at three levels corresponding to a simplified hierarchy of controls: materials, processes, and human interface. Each of the six sets of indicator variables was reduced to a high/moderate/low rating. Ratings from the matrix were then combined to generate an exposure prevention \u27Small Business Exposure Index\u27 (SBEI) Summary score for each area. Reflecting the hierarchy of controls, material factors were weighted highest, followed by process, and then human interface. The checklist administered by an industrial hygienist during walk-through inspection (N = 149 manufacturing processes/areas in 25 small to medium-sized manufacturing worksites). One area or process per manufacturing department was assessed and rated. A second hygienist independently assessed 36 areas to evaluate inter-rater reliability. Results The SBEI Summary scores indicated that exposures were well controlled in the majority of areas assessed (58% with rating of 1 or 2 on a 6-point scale), that there was some room for improvement in roughly one-third of areas (31% of areas rated 3 or 4), and that roughly 10% of the areas assessed were urgently in need of intervention (rated as 5 or 6). Inter-rater reliability of EP ratings was good to excellent (e.g., for SBEI Summary scores, weighted kappa = 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–0.93). Conclusion The SBEI exposure prevention rating method is suitable for use in small/medium enterprises, has good discriminatory power and reliability, offers an inexpensive method for intervention needs assessment and effectiveness evaluation, and complements quantitative exposure assessment with an upstream prevention focus

Target blood pressure for septic and vasodilatory shock: what is optimal?

International audienc

Gender differences in use and preferences of agricultural information sources in Pakistan

Purpose: Rural advisory services ensure agricultural information is disseminated to rural populations, yet they are less accessible to women. This research provides insight on gender differences in information access by investigating frequency of use and preference of agricultural information sources by gender in a rural setting, differentiated according to literacy and age. Design/Methodology/approach: This study interviewed 401 male/female individuals in farm households in Jhang and Bahawalpur district of Punjab, Pakistan in 2016. Findings: Men and women farmers’ use and preferences in accessing information sources are extremely different. Women hardly use sources for agricultural information, and value interpersonal communication from informal sources. In contrast, men use and value official agencies more. Radio, surprisingly, was very rarely used, contradicting previous findings of research elsewhere. Age and literacy affect differences between women more than it does between men, particularly for convenient locations to access information. Practical implications The study identified and refined major gender differences regarding use and preference for agricultural information in relation to age and literacy, and helps to articulate options to improve gender equality of access to agricultural information in Pakistan. Theoretical implications: The focus and outcomes regarding gender intersecting with age and literacy in agricultural information access imply the need for more refined socioeconomic models, discerning and interrelating gender and other social dimensions beyond the standard of male-headed households. Originality/value: This paper adds to the growing body of evidence on information access according to gender, highlighting the need to investigate deeper socio-cultural issues around age and literacy

Identifying gender-responsive approaches in rural advisory services that contribute to the institutionalisation of gender in Pakistan

Purpose: Unequal reach and access to information is an issue that affects women involved in agricultural activities around the world. Recent initiatives to address gender unequal access to agricultural information have been clumsy, overlooking participatory approaches that focus on transformative change. This study uses Pakistani rural advisory services to compare farmers' and extension workers’ perceptions of access to agricultural information, to identify culturally acceptable gender-responsive schemes. Design/methodology/approach: One-hundred and eleven extension workers in Pakistan’s public rural advisory services were interviewed and crosstabulated with farmers’ answers in previous studies. Findings: Male extension workers are aware that women access less information less often; however they might not be aware of its importance in the gender inequality debate. Lead farmers could offer a potentially transformative knowledge pathway because of its blend of formal and informal interactions – both systems favoured by female smallholders. An exclusively female-led lead farmer approach could be developed and trialled in specific areas of the province. Practical implications: Targeted initiatives focusing on improving awareness and importance of gender inequalities in information access as well as specific extension system development centred on lead female farmers and extension agents are important in institutionalising gender and creating transformative change. Theoretical implications: Linking these activities to in-depth social network and agricultural innovation system analyses would provide further evidence of the importance of focused gender activities and their impact on food security. Originality/value: This paper highlights the importance of analysing individual perceptions to understand the types of initiatives that could be considered for a wider institutionalisation of gender in RAS

Stationary components of HeI in strong magnetic fields - a tool to identify magnetic DB white dwarfs

In only three of the 61 known magnetic white dwarfs helium has been identified unambiguously while about 20% of all non-magnetic stars of this class are known to contain HeI or HeII. Until recently, data for HeI data were available only for magnetic fields below 20MG. This changed with the publication of extensive data by the group in Heidelberg. The corresponding calculations have now been completed for the energetically lowest five states of singlet and triplet symmetry for the subspaces with |m| <= 3; selected calculations have been performed for even higher excitations. In strongly magnetized white dwarfs only line components are visible whose wavelengths vary slowly with respect to the magnetic field, particularly stationary components which have a wavelength minimum or maximum in the range of the magnetic fields strengths on the stellar surface. In view of the many ongoing surveys finding white dwarfs we want to provide the astronomical community with a tool to identify helium in white dwarfs for fields up to 5.3GG. To this end we present all calculated helium line components whose wavelengths in the UV, optical, and near IR vary slowly enough with respect to the field strength to produce visible absorption features. We also list all stationary line components in this spectral range. Finally, we find series of minima and maxima which occur as a result of series of extremal transitions to increasingly higher excitations. We estimated the limits for 8 series which can possibly give rise to additional absorption in white dwarf spectra; one strong absorption feature in GD229 which is yet unexplained by stationary components is very close to two estimated series limits.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication by Astronomy and Astrophysic