The Gravity-Loading countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS) and its effect upon aerobic exercise performance

© 2016 IAA The Russian Pingvin suit is employed as a countermeasure to musculoskeletal atrophy in microgravity, though its 2-stage loading regime is poorly tolerated. The Gravity-Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS) has been devised to comfortably compress the body via incrementally increasing longitudinal elastic-fibre tensions from the shoulders to the feet. We tested whether the Mk III GLCS was a feasible adjunct to sub-maximal aerobic exercise and resulting VO2Max predictions. Eight healthy subjects (5♂, 28±6 yr) performed cycle ergometry at 75% VO2Max (derived from an Astrand-Rhyming protocol) whilst wearing a GLCS and gym clothing (GYM). Ventilatory parameters, heart rate (HR), core temperature (TC), and blood lactate (BL) were recorded along with subjective perceived exertion, thermal comfort, movement discomfort and body control. Physiological and subjective responses were compared over TIME and between GYM and GLCS (ATTIRE) with 2-way repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests respectively. Resultant VO2Max predictions were compared with paired t-tests between ATTIRE. The GLCS induced greater initial exercise ventilatory responses which stabilised by 20 min. HR and TC continued to rise from 5 min irrespective of ATTIRE, whereas BL was greater in the GLCS at 20 min. Predicted VO2Max did not differ with ATTIRE, though some observed differences in HR were noteworthy. All subjective ratings were exacerbated in the GLCS. Despite increased perception of workload and initial ventilatory augmentations, submaximal exercise performance was not impeded. Whilst predicted VO2Max did not differ, determination of actual VO2Max in the GLCS is warranted due to apparent modulation of the linear HR-VO2 relationship. The GLCS may be a feasible adjunct to exercise and potential countermeasure to unloaded-induced physiological deconditioning on Earth or in space

Sexualidade da pessoa com deficiência intelectual - Atitudes de pais e profissionais

Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicologia Educacional, apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto UniversitárioTendo em conta que as atitudes dos pais e profissionais face à sexualidade das pessoas com deficiência intelectual têm um papel preponderante na disponibilização de oportunidades de vivências e experiências sexuais e na passagem de informação correcta acerca da sexualidade (Brown & Pirtle, 2008), o presente estudo pretende conhecer e analisar as atitudes e necessidades que ambos têm, bem como verificar se existem diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre elas. Tendo sido utilizada uma abordagem mista através da utilização do questionário ASQ-ID- Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire (Individuals with an Intellectual Disability) e de uma entrevista semi-estruturada, o presente estudo contou com uma amostra de 130 participantes (80 profissionais e 50 pais), dos quais três mães e três profissionais foram entrevistados. Os resultados obtidos confirmaram a nossa hipótese de que existem diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas atitudes dos pais e profissionais, demonstrando que os profissionais têm atitudes mais liberais. Através das entrevistas, verificámos que os profissionais têm necessidades de formação no que toca à capacidade para intervirem de forma adequada nas várias manifestações sexuais dos seus clientes, tendo sido enfatizada a necessidade do envolvimento da família neste processo, a consideração das diferenças individuais e a promoção de contextos favoráveis nas instituições para as vivências e experiências sexuais desta população. Por fim, atestou-se ainda através do discurso dos inquiridos, a falta de um consenso dentro das instituições acerca daquilo que devem fazer em situações onde os clientes necessitam de resposta.ABSTRACT: Given that the attitudes of parents and professionals towards sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities have a role in providing opportunities for experiences and sexual experiences and pass correct information about sexuality (Brown & Pirtle, 2008), this study seeks to examine and analyze the attitudes and needs that both have and see if there are statistically significant differences between them. Having used a mixed approach by using the questionnaire ASQ-ID-Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire (Individuals with an Intellectual Disability) and a semi-structured interview, this study involved a sample of 130 participants (80 professionals and 50 parents), of which three mothers and three professionals were interviewed. The results confirmed our hypothesis that there are significant differences in the attitudes of parents and professionals, demonstrating that professionals have more liberal attitudes. Through the interviews, we found that professionals have training needs in relation to the ability to intervene appropriately in various sexual manifestations of its customers, having emphasized the need to involve the family in this process, consideration of individual differences and promoting favorable contexts in institutions for sexual experiences and the experiences of this population. Finally, it is also attested by the discourse of the respondents, the lack of consensus within institutions about what they should do in situations where customers need to be answered

Predictive modelling of soils’ hydraulic conductivity using artificial neural network and multiple linear regression

As a result of heterogeneity nature of soils and variation in its hydraulic conductivity over several orders of magnitude for various soil types from fine-grained to coarse-grained soils, predictive methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity of soils from properties considered more easily obtainable have now been given an appropriate consideration. This study evaluates the performance of artificial neural network (ANN) being one of the popular computational intelligence techniques in predicting hydraulic conductivity of wide range of soil types and compared with the traditional multiple linear regression (MLR). ANN and MLR models were developed using six input variables. Results revealed that only three input variables were statistically significant in MLR model development. Performance evaluations of the developed models using determination coefficient and mean square error show that the prediction capability of ANN is far better than MLR. In addition, comparative study with available existing models shows that the developed ANN and MLR in this study performed relatively better

Using radiographs to analyze equivalent weakest transverse interface of fracture healing

目的地提取X线平片中包含的骨折愈合力学信息,为临床骨折愈合治疗过程定量判断愈合程度提供有效并且简便实用的方法.方法 12只家兔胫骨中部横断造成骨折模型,并穿针进行滑动固定.利用力传感器在胫骨中部体表从前向后横向手动加载.通过安装在滑动固定器上的微位移传感器测量断端活动位移.采用计算机数据采集系统记录加载力值P和滑动架滑动位移ΔL关系曲线.以K=P/ΔL值代表带滑动固定器兔胫骨整体等效抗弯刚性.每周测量1次.采用经过数字化改造的手提X线机每周拍摄正,侧位X线片;在delphi软件开发环境中编写图像处理和计算程序.在X线正,侧位片灰度分析基础上,沿胫骨轴向扫描计算寻找等效最弱截面并计算其等效抗弯截面惯性矩,得到定量的抗弯刚度和断裂强度判据.结果家兔骨折愈合拆架时间分布在29~41 d.在正侧位X线片上获得计算机模拟的等效最弱截面分界线,且得到其抗弯截面惯性矩.最弱抗弯截面惯性矩与最强抗弯截面惯性矩的比值随愈合时间逐渐升高.侧位片比值术后第1周为(0.31±0.17),第2周为(0.34±0.13),第3周为(0.43±0.20),第4周为(0.56±0.23).正位片位片比值术后第1周为(0.40±0.19),第2周为(0.47±0.16),第3周为(0.56±0.20),第4周为(0.66±0.11).家兔骨折胫骨在体抗弯刚性测试所得K值术前平均为(3.976±4.986)N.μm-1,术后第1周为(0.679±1.026)N.μm-1,术后第2周为(2.115±3.233)N.μm-1,术后第3周为(3.459±4.723)N.μm-1,术后第4周为(4.788±4.831)N.μm-1.从1~4周愈合过程,X线片计算得到的最弱抗弯截面惯性矩和最强抗弯截面惯性矩的比值与K值之间具有很好的相关性.结论外骨痂生长有较强规律性,并且在普通正侧位X线平片易于辨认.从骨折近端和远端分别生长的骨痂在愈合进程中逐渐合拢,最终弥合.本文所述方法较好地反映了实际读片感