Development of a web based system for supplying crowd sourced geospatial data using open data technologies

103 σ.Σχεδιάστηκε και υλοποιήθηκε μία βάση δεδομένων για να αποθηκεύει σύνολα δεδομένων με τις θέσεις σημείων ενδιαφέροντος που συλλέγονται με τη μέθοδο του crowd sourcing. H βάση κατασκευάστηκε με το PostgreSQL ένα σύστημα διαχείρισης βάσεων δεδομένων που προσθέτει υποστήριξη για γεωγραφικά αντικείμενα με την επέκταση PostGIS σε αντικειμενοσχεσιακή βάση δεδομένωνA spatial database was designed and implemented for storing datasets containing the position of points of interest that were collected via crowdsourcing technique. Database has been created with PostgreSQL a database management system that adds support for geographic objects (PostGIS extension) to an object relational databaseΠαύλος Ξ. ΑγγελόπουλοςΜαριέττα Α. Καταβενάκ

Soft-Tissue Techniques in Sports Injuries Prevention and Rehabilitation

Participation in sports, in addition to its positive effects, leads to injuries caused by contact with the opponent or the high loads that develop on the musculoskeletal structures during the sports activities. Sports injuries mainly include (a) acute injuries such as muscle strains and ligament sprains, tendon injuries, dislocations and subluxations, fractures, and skin injuries but also (b) overuse injuries such as tendinopathies and painful myofascial syndromes. Many therapeutic techniques are used to treat these injuries, such as therapeutic exercise, various electrotherapy procedures and soft tissue techniques. Soft tissue techniques aim to promote health and well-being through their mechanical effects on the body’s soft tissues such as friction, compression, tissues sliding and myofascial release. Sports soft-tissue procedures are applied either directly with the hands of therapists such as classical massage or with the use of special equipment such as tools made of stainless steel (ERGON instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization), elastic ischemic bandages (Kinetic flossing technique) and cups (cupping therapy). The following chapter analyzes the therapeutic effects of the above therapeutic interventions by presenting recent scientific evidence that supports their effects on the soft tissue’s dysfunctions of the human body and various pathological conditions

Blood Flow Restriction Training in Cardiovascular Disease Patients

Over the past two decades, blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has gained popularity not only in athletic performance training, but also with many researchers and physical therapists as an innovative rehabilitation tool. Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise is a novel exercise modality in clinical settings, which induces muscle hypertrophy and increases strength with low to moderate training intensity through increased anabolic processes mediated by BFR (usually with cuff inflation). BFR limits arterial and venous blood flow and leads to blood pooling, which could increase the effects of exercise-induced training. Strength training at lower intensities (20–40% of maximum strength) in combination with BFR showed similar effects on muscle hypertrophy as training at 70% strength level without BFR. In this context, considering that periods of immobilization (or reduced functionality) due to pathology, injury, or surgery cause harmful effects on muscle mass and strength in both young and old people, muscular adaptations of occlusion exercise could be beneficial to the elderly and post-operative patients in rehabilitation regarding muscle regeneration. Furthermore, as this type of exercise does not require high loads, it might be a feasible method in cardiac rehabilitation. Therefore, this chapter aims to review all recent literature regarding the impact of low-load BFR resistance training in patients with cardiovascular pathologies on muscle strength and hypertrophy, vascular function, safety, cardiovascular responses, and inflammatory markers

Direct-sequence spread-spectrum acoustic communications with CRV Decomposition

Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DS-SS) is among the preferred modulation techniques for military applications. DS-SS offers three greatly desired characteristics. It allows for the development of Low Probability of Detection (LPD) and Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) systems and has a very good performance in fading channels. This thesis investigates the performance of the "Cross-Product RV (CRV) decomposition" as the basis of blind-equalization algorithms. The CRV is a rank-revealing decomposition alternative to the Eigenvalue Decomposition (EVD) that can provide a recursively updated estimate of the signal and noise subspace at a reduced computational cost. The CRV updating algorithm is implemented in MATLAB and evaluated in a previously proposed communication scheme intended for use in an underwater acoustic network called Seaweb. The underwater channel is modeled with the Monterey-Miami Parabolic Equation Model (MMPE) for various multipath perturbations. The receiver performance is examined using Monte Carlo simulation. Bit-error rates versus signal-to-noise ratio are presented for various, noise assumptions, and receiver synchronization assumptions.http://archive.org/details/directsequencesp109451613Lieutenant, Hellenic NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Converting a conventional hydraulic steering system to autonomous: Design and study of the subsystems

Περίληψη: Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματοποιείται ανάλυση των συστημάτων διεύθυνσης οχημάτων. Περιγράφονται οι επενεργητές για τον έλεγχο του κάθε συστήματος διεύθυνσης. Μελετώνται οι τρόποι μετατροπής του υδραυλικού συστήματος διεύθυνσης του ηλεκτρικού οχήματος ECO-CAR σε αυτόνομο σύστημα διεύθυνσης. Σχεδιάζεται το σύστημα διεύθυνσης του οχήματος και προσεγγίζεταιη απαιτούμενη ροπή/δύναμη στροφής, μέσω θεωρητικών υπολογισμών και πραγματικών μετρήσεων. Επιλέγεται ο επενεργητής και γίνεται η τοποθέτηση του στο σύστημα διεύθυνσης του οχήματος. Παρουσιάζεται η δομή του συστήματος ελέγχου διεύθυνσης και προσομοιωμένη λειτουργία του

Effects of instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization at three different application angles on hamstring surface thermal responses.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the thermal skin responses (thermal buildup and retention rate) to instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) procedures applied on hamstrings at different angles. [Participants and Methods] Thirty university students (age: 20 ± 4 years, weight: 70.61 ± 9.11 kg, height: 168.5 ± 7.5 cm) received three sessions of 10-min Ergon(®) IASTM treatment on their dominant limbs' hamstrings at 20°, 60°, and 90° application angles, respectively. The skin temperature was measured with a thermometer immediately before and after treatment, and every minute thereafter until it returned to the baseline value. [Results] IASTM resulted in a significant increase in skin temperature irrespective of the application angle. The thermal retention rate produced by the treatment at a 90° angle was significantly higher than that produced by the 20° application angle (78.9 vs. 64.53 min). No significant differences were observed between the 60° and 90° angle applications (72.5 vs. 78.9 min). [Conclusion] IASTM application at 60° and 90° angles can increase and retain the hamstring's skin temperature for more than an hour, creating the conditions for potential positive adaptations to local metabolism and muscle tone

Posterior thigh thermal skin adaptations to radiofrequency treatment at 448 kHz applied with or without Indiba(®) fascia treatment tools.

[Purpose] This study aimed to evaluate the posterior thigh's skin thermal responses to 448-kHz radiofrequency-based therapy applied either in the form of standard application (Indiba(®)Activ) or combined soft tissue treatment (Indiba(®)Fascia treatment). [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy males (22 ± 3 years of age, weight 75.2 ± 4.9 kg, height 178.5 ± 4.7) received four different treatments which included a) Indiba(®)Activ (IA) radiofrequency treatment, b) Indiba(®)Fascia (IF), c) Indiba(®)Activ placebo (IAP) and d) Indiba(®)Fascia Placebo (IFP) in the posterior thigh of their dominant lower limb, while the non-dominant served as the control. Skin temperature was recorded pre- and post-treatment and every minute until the surface temperature reached pre-treatment levels using a wireless infrared thermometer. [Results] Both radiofrequency-based therapy groups IA and IF led to a significant increase in skin temperature compared to placebo applications. The IF intervention led to an average retention of elevated temperature for 164.2 minutes compared to 54.8 minutes of IA, 23.17 of IFP and 17.6 minutes of IAP. [Conclusion] These findings indicate that radiofrequency treatment at 448 kHz can induce and sustain significant thermal skin adaptations reflecting an increased blood circulation and metabolism of underlying tissues

Cold-Water Immersion and Sports Massage Can Improve Pain Sensation but Not Functionality in Athletes with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

This study aimed to investigate the effects of cold-water immersion (CWI) and sports massage on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in amateur athletes. Sixty male amateur athletes were randomised into four equal groups (n = 15) receiving either CWI, sports massage, their combination, or served as controls after applying plyometric training to their lower extremities. The main outcomes measures were pain, exertion, rectus femoris perimeter, knee flexion range of motion, knee extensors isometric strength and serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels examined before the plyometric training, immediately after the treatment, and 24, 48 and 72 h post exercise. We observed no significant differences between study groups in the most tested variables. CWI improved pain compared to the combined application of CWI and sports massage, and the control group both on the second and third day post exercise. Sports massage combined with CWI also led to a significant reduction in pain sensation compared to the control group. In conclusion the treatment interventions used were effective in reducing pain but were unable to affect other important adaptations of DOMS. Based on the above, sports scientists should reconsider the wide use of these interventions as a recovery strategy for athletes with DOMS