Soft and Hard Implant Fabrication Using 3D-Bioplotting TM

At the Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum we have developed a new process (3DBioplotting TM) that permits most kind of polymers and biopolymers to be used in 3D scaffold design, including hydrogels (e.g. collagen, agar), polymer melts (e.g. PLLA, PGA, PCl) and twocomponent systems (e.g. chitosan, fibrin). Cells can be incorporated within the construction process, making this an ideal Rapid Prototyping technique for Organ Printing. Tailor-made biodegradable soft or hard scaffolds can so be fabricated in a short time using individual computer-tomography data from the patient. In-vitro tests showed promising results and in-vivo experiments are now under observation.Mechanical Engineerin

The prevalence of glaucoma in indigenous Australians within Central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study

Aims To determine the prevalence of glaucoma within the indigenous Australian population living in central Australia. Methods 1884 individuals aged ≥20 years, living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of ‘Central Australia,’ were recruited for this study. This equated to 36% of those aged ≥20 years and 67% of those aged ≥40 years within this district. Slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment and intraocular pressure measurement, followed by stereoscopic slit-lamp funduscopy of the optic nerve, was performed. Selected patients underwent automated visual-field testing. The diagnosis of glaucoma was based on pre-existing definitions. Glaucoma prevalence data are presented. Results Seventeen individuals had glaucoma (0.90%). Causes of secondary glaucoma were found in four with neovascular glaucoma, two with uveitic glaucoma and four who had developed glaucoma subsequent to trauma or surgery. The remaining seven had no identifiable cause for their glaucoma and were thus classified as open-angle glaucoma equating to a prevalence of 0.52% (95% CI 0.14% to 0.90%) for those aged ≥40 years. Of these, four had an intraocular pressure ≤21 mm Hg, and three had an intraocular pressure >21 mm Hg. Conclusion The prevalence of open-angle glaucoma among indigenous Australians within central Australia was 0.52% for those aged ≥40 years. After adjustment for the age distribution of our sample, this is one-third the prevalence seen among the non-indigenous Australian population and is despite a higher prevalence of ocular parameters considered to be associated with glaucoma

Cadence, Stride Rate and Stride Length During Triathlon Competition

Triathlon research shows cycling alters the physiological response of subsequent running but, at present, biomechanical changes are unresolved. This study examined cycling cadence and running stride rate (SR) and length (SL) used by senior elite triathletes during competition. These variables were then compared to running and triathlon performance. Data from 51 elite male World Championships triathletes were analysed via video recordings and Video Expert II Coach. Triathletes revealed consistent cadences throughout the majority of the cycle (96.8 +2.7 rpm) and run (90.9 +2.4 rpm) disciplines. However, a cadence increase (99.6 +5.7 rpm) was recorded at the completion of the cycle prior to running. Running SR and SL was significantly lower at the end of the run indicating a level of fatigue (p\u3c0.01). Running SL was significantly and positively correlated with running and triathlon performance (p\u3c0.01) suggesting those that could maintain a longer SL had a faster run and better final finishing position

Modelling human factors in perceptual multimedia quality: On the role of personality and culture

Perception of multimedia quality is shaped by a rich interplay between system, context, and human factors. While system and context factors are widely researched, few studies in this area consider human factors as sources of systematic variance. This paper presents an analysis on the influence of personality (Five-Factor Model) and cultural traits (Hofstede Model) on the perception of multimedia quality. A set of 144 video sequences (from 12 short movie excerpts) were rated by 114 participants from a cross-cultural population, producing 1232 ratings. On this data, three models are compared: a baseline model that only considers system factors; an extended model that includes personality and culture as human factors; and an optimistic model in which each participant is modeled as a random effect. An analysis shows that personality and cultural traits represent 9.3% of the variance attributable to human factors while human factors overall predict an equal or higher proportion of variance compared to system factors. In addition, the quality-enjoyment correlation varied across the movie excerpts. This suggests that human factors play an important role in perceptual multimedia quality, but further research to explore moderation effects and a broader range of human factors is warranted

Swim Positioning and its Influence on Triathlon Outcome

Questions have been raised regarding which of the three legs of a triathlon influences the final finishing position. Some coaches subjectively believe that the swim and run are more important than the cycle, especially since the introduction of drafting during the cycle. This study analysed race position shifts between each of the three disciplines to assess the importance of the swim finish position and final finish position during draft legal Olympic distance triathlon events. Ten male and 10 female triathlon world cup events during one season were analysed. The results suggested that the triathlon swim leg is important because the winner exited the water in the first pack in 90% of elite male and 70% of elite female races. Correlations were also derived from finishing order for the whole triathlon and a finishing order that included the swim only, cycle only or run only time. For men, the average correlations for final finishing order with each of the swim, cycle and run, respectively, were 0.49, 0.67 and 0.86 and for the women; average correlations were 0.39, 0.67 and 0.85. Hence, this indicated that it was important to exit the water in the first pack and run well after cycling to achieve a successful final finishing position

Incidence of visual impairment due to cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study

Author version made available in accordance with the publisher's policy.Background: To estimate the incidence and causes of visual impairment for the purposes of service provision among the indigenous Australian population within central Australia from its most common causes, namely cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma. Design: Clinic-based cohort study. Participants: One thousand eight hundred eighty four individuals aged =20 years living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of 'Central Australia'. Methods: From those initially recruited, 608 (32%) participants were reviewed again between 6 months and 3 years (median 2 years). Patients underwent Snellen visual acuity testing and subjective refraction. Following this, an assessment of their anterior and posterior segments was made. Baseline results were compared with those who were reviewed. Main Outcome Measures: The annual incidence rates and causes of visual impairment (vision worse than Snellen visual acuity 6/12 in at least one eye). Results: The incidence of visual impairment in at least one eye was 6.6%, 1.2% and 0.7% per year for cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma, respectively (7.9%, 1.5% and 0.7% per year for those aged =40 years). Advancing age was the main risk factor common to all three. Conclusion: It is important to be mindful not only of the prevalence of disease in a community but also of the rate at which new cases are occurring when allocating resources to address the ocular health needs of this region. Compared with historical data, diabetic retinopathy is emerging as a new and increasing threat to vision in this population.Australian National Health & Medical Research Counci

The Relationship Between Stride Rates, Lengths and Body Size and their Affect on Elite Triathletes’ Running Performance During Competition

Previous research has suggested that a degree of predictability exists in the relationship between self-selected running stride rates (SR) and stride lengths (SL) with measures of body size such as mass, height and limb lengths. Significant correlations have also been revealed between these body size measures and performance and between SL and performance. However, there is also evidence to suggest that triathlon performance may be related to maintaining a longer SL during the final run. Hence, the aim of this investigation was to examine whether there was any relationship between SR and SL, with body masses and heights of senior elite triathletes during the run stage of a triathlon. The SRs and SLs of 37 male senior elite Triathlon World Championships competitors were analysed via videography and Video Expert II Coach. These values were correlated with the athletes’ body masses and heights (p\u3c0.01). The results indicated a limited relationship between height and mass with SR in the early stages of the run. However, a significant, positive correlation existed between SL and height at all points from 3 km to the end of the run. Those triathletes who were taller used longer strides. Further research is warranted to examine the effects of cycling on the subsequent run discipline during triathlon and if body size and shape of triathletes have evolved as the young sport of triathlon develops

Brood patch and sex-ratio observations indicate breeding provenance and timing in New Zealand storm petrel (Fregetta maoriana)

We used measurements of brood patch and moult status to estimate the breeding phenology of New Zealand Storm-Petrel, using birds caught at sea within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park near Auckland, New Zealand. Birds caught October–January had completely downy brood patches, whereas birds caught February–April had bare brood patches with an observed male bias in the February sex-ratio, consistent with a female pre-laying exodus typical of petrels and with the existence of an unknown colony in the region. No birds captured exhibited primary moult, which is known to occur in storm-petrels during their non-breeding season. Our data support the conclusion that the New Zealand storm-petrel breeds during January–June in northern New Zealand and that field surveys for the species on offshore islands in this region during this period are warrante

The DRIFT Dark Matter Experiments

The current status of the DRIFT (Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks) experiment at Boulby Mine is presented, including the latest limits on the WIMP spin-dependent cross-section from 1.5 kg days of running with a mixture of CS2 and CF4. Planned upgrades to DRIFT IId are detailed, along with ongoing work towards DRIFT III, which aims to be the world's first 10 m3-scale directional Dark Matter detector.Comment: Proceedings of the 3rd International conference on Directional Detection of Dark Matter (CYGNUS 2011), Aussois, France, 8-10 June 201