Towards standardisation of surface electromyography measurements in the horse: Bipolar electrode location

The use of surface electromyography in the field of animal locomotion has increased considerably over the past decade. However, no consensus exists on the methodology for data collection in horses. This study aimed to start the development of recommendations for bipolar electrode locations to collect surface electromyographic data from horses during dynamic tasks. Data were collected from 21 superficial muscles of three horses during trot on a treadmill using linear electrode arrays. The data were assessed both quantitatively (signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and coefficient of variation (CoV)) and qualitatively (presence of crosstalk and activation patterns) to compare and select electrode locations for each muscle. For most muscles and horses, the highest SNR values were detected near or cranial/proximal to the central region of the muscle. Concerning the CoV, there were larger differences between muscles and horses than within muscles. Qualitatively, crosstalk was suspected to be present in the signals of twelve muscles but not in all locations in the arrays. With this study, a first attempt is made to develop recommendations for bipolar electrode locations for muscle activity measurements during dynamic contractions in horses. The results may help to improve the reliability and reproducibility of study results in equine biomechanics

Star cluster formation and star formation: the role of environment and star-formation efficiencies

“The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com”. Copyright Springer. DOI: 10.1007/s10509-009-0088-5By analyzing global starburst properties in various kinds of starburst and post-starburst galaxies and relating them to the properties of the star cluster populations they form, I explore the conditions for the formation of massive, compact, long-lived star clusters. The aim is to determine whether the relative amount of star formation that goes into star cluster formation as opposed to field star formation, and into the formation of massive long-lived clusters in particular, is universal or scales with star-formation rate, burst strength, star-formation efficiency, galaxy or gas mass, and whether or not there are special conditions or some threshold for the formation of star clusters that merit to be called globular clusters a few billion years later.Peer reviewe

Gemerkte moleculen

Steeds meer wordt bij chemische onderzoekingen gebruik gemaakt van radioactief gemerkte moleculen. Bij het oplossen van het probleem, hoe de gewenste moleculen te verkrijgen, kan de isotopengroep van het Centraal Laboratorium TNO dikwijls behulpzaam zijn

Report of Committee III.2: Fatigue and Fracture

COMMITTEE MANDATE Concern for crack initiation and growth under cyclic loading as well as unstable crack propagation and tearing in ship and offshore structures. Due attention shall be paid to practical application and statistical description of fracture control methods in design, fabrication and service. Consideration is to be given to the suitability and uncertainty of physical models