Validity and intra-rater reliability of an Android phone application to measure cervical range-of-motion

Concurrent validity and intra-rater reliability using a customized Android phone application to measure cervical-spine range-of-motion (ROM) has not been previously validated against a gold-standard three-dimensional motion analysis (3DMA) system

Kinetic Phenomena in Thin Film Electronic Materials

Contains reports on twelve research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 85-06505)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Contract AFOSR-85-0154)Semiconductor Research Corporation (Contract 87-SP-080)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 85-06565)International Business Machines, Inc.Sony International Business Machines, Inc.National Science Foundation (Grant DMR 84-18718)International Business Machines, Thomas J. Watson Research CenterJoint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAALO3-86-K-0002)National Science Foundation (Grant DMR 85-06030)Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (Contract DL-H-261827)Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, Inc

Neural Networks for Data Quality Control and Air Pollution Nowcasting

There is evidence to implicate the role of the cervical spine in influencing postural control, however the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore standing postural control mechanisms in older adults with neck pain (NP) using measures of signal frequency (wavelet analysis) and complexity (entropy). This cross-sectional study compared balance performance of twenty older adults with (age = 70.3 ± 4.0 years) and without (age = 71.4 ± 5.1 years) NP when standing on a force platform with eyes open and closed. Anterior–posterior centre-of-pressure data were processed using wavelet analysis and sample entropy. Performance-based balance was assessed using the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). The NP group demonstrated poorer functional performance (TUG and DGI, p 0.05). Our results demonstrate that older adults with NP have poorer balance than controls. Furthermore, wavelet analysis may reveal unique insights into postural control mechanisms. Given that centre-of-pressure signal movements in the very-low and moderate frequencies are postulated to be associated with vestibular and muscular proprioceptive input respectively, we speculated that, because NP demonstrate a diminished ability to recruit the muscular proprioceptive system compared to controls, they rely more on the vestibular system for postural stability

The concurrent validity and intrarater reliability of the Microsoft Kinect to measure thoracic kyphosis

This study aims to investigate the concurrent validity and intrarater reliability of the Microsoft Kinect to measure thoracic kyphosis against the Flexicurve. Thirty-three healthy individuals (age: 31±11.0 years, men: 17, height: 170.2±8.2 cm, weight: 64.2±12.0 kg) participated, with 29 re-examined for intrarater reliability 1–7 days later. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using the Flexicurve and the Microsoft Kinect consecutively in both standing and sitting positions. Both the kyphosis index and angle were calculated. The Microsoft Kinect showed excellent concurrent validity (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.76–0.82) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.81–0.98) for measuring thoracic kyphosis (angle and index) in both standing and sitting postures. This study is the first to show that the Microsoft Kinect has excellent validity and intrarater reliability to measure thoracic kyphosis, which is promising for its use in the clinical setting

An exploratory study examining factors underpinning postural instability in older adults with idiopathic neck pain

There is limited understanding of potential mechanisms underpinning postural control deficits in people with neck pain. This study examined several characteristics that might explain impaired postural stability in a group of older adults with neck pain, and compared the results in this cohort with that of asymptomatic controls. In this cross-sectional study we compared physical activity, lower limb motor and sensory function, vestibular and visual function, falls efficacy and dizziness handicap in 84 older adults with (n=35, age 69.6±6.3) and without (n=49, age 69.4±4.7) idiopathic neck-pain. Additionally, dynamic balance was assessed using the dynamic gait index (DGI) and standard and wavelet analysis of static balance was computed after data capture. Physical activity levels, lower limb motor and sensory function, vestibular function and visual contrast sensitivity were not different between groups (p>0.05). The neck-pain group demonstrated higher falls efficacy (p=0.01), greater levels of dizziness handicap (

Neck musculature fatigue affects specific frequency bands of postural dynamics during quiet standing

Proprioceptive input from the neck is important for maintenance of upright standing. Although neck musculature fatigue has been demonstrated to impair standing balance, there is limited understanding of the underlying postural mechanisms. This study aimed to further examine the effects of neck musculature fatigue on standing by using modern analysis of center of pressure (CoP) data. Forty-eight young healthy adults stood quietly on a balance board for 1 min before and after performing repeated weight-resisted scapular elevation exercises. In a supplementary study on 20 participants, we examined (i) the effects of visual deprivation and (ii) the test–retest reliability of the traditional and wavelet-based CoP measures. Test–retest reliability of the CoP measures was moderate to good (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.58 to 0.94). With neck muscle fatigue or without vision, traditional measures of CoP velocity and standard deviation increased monotonically. Wavelet analysis revealed that CoP velocity within the ultralow (<0.10 Hz) and moderate (1.56–6.25 Hz) frequency bands increased post-fatigue. Without vision, CoP velocity increased in all but the ultralow frequency band. Our data suggest that post-fatigue, vision may be the main compensatory postural mechanism for altered neck proprioception. In conclusion, our findings reveal more nuances than the simple assertion that neck musculature fatigue increased postural sway and they advocate the use of wavelet analysis in examining postural mechanisms associated with neck proprioception

CD137L-DCs, Potent Immune-Stimulators—History, Characteristics, and Perspectives

10.3389/fimmu.2019.02216Frontiers in Immunology10221