Trunk and Lower Extremity Kinematics During Stair Descent in Women With or Without Patellofemoral Pain

There is limited evidence indicating the contribution of trunk kinematics to patellofemoral pain (PFP). A better understanding of the interaction between trunk and lower extremity kinematics in this population may provide new avenues for interventions to treat PFP

Front Immunol

NK cells are phenotypically and functionally diverse lymphocytes due to variegated expression of a large array of receptors. NK-cell activity is tightly regulated through integration of receptor-derived inhibitory and activating signals. Thus, the receptor profile of each NK cell ultimately determines its ability to sense aberrant cells and subsequently mediate anti-viral or anti-tumor responses. However, an in-depth understanding of how different receptor repertoires enable distinct immune functions of NK cells is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the phenotypic diversity of primary human NK cells by performing extensive phenotypic characterization of 338 surface molecules using flow cytometry (n = 18). Our results showed that NK cells express at least 146 receptors on their surface. Of those, 136 (>90%) exhibited considerable inter-donor variability. Moreover, comparative analysis of CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells identified 70 molecules with differential expression between the two major NK-cell subsets and allowed discrimination of these subsets via unsupervised hierarchical clustering. These receptors were associated with a broad range of NK-cell functions and multiple molecules were not previously associated with predominant expression on either subset (e.g. CD82 and CD147). Altogether, our study contributes to an improved understanding of the phenotypic diversity of NK cells and its potential functional implications on a cellular and population level. While the identified distinct signatures in the receptor repertoires provide a molecular basis for the differential immune functions exerted by CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells, the observed inter-individual differences in the receptor repertoire of NK cells may contribute to a diverging ability to control certain diseases

Application of WINROSA for controller adaptation in robotics and classification in quality control

This paper presents two applications of the WINROSA software tool. In the first application a data-based generated fuzzy modul is used to adapt the parameters of the position controller of an industrial robot to optimise the continuous path accuracy. It is shown how to learn from good and poor control strategies. The second application is the classification of automatic gear boxes by 149 characteristics. It is demonstrated that a data-based generated fuzzy modul is a promising approach for handling this very complex problem. A new method for complexity reduction is used to reduce the number of necessary process characteristics by analysing their relevance for the classification

Increasing Motivation Among Part-Time Workers

The part-time workforce is expected to keep growing at the same rate it has been over the past five years. Over 30% of employees in the retail, service, and dining industries are part-time workers. What incentives do part-time workers have to do their job well? Unlike full-time employees, part-time workers often have other priorities that come before their work. However, both require a comfortable work setting that fosters the highest levels of efficiency and productivity. How can managers meet the needs and motivate the part-time workforce? Often, full-time workers are highly motivated because they derive satisfaction from their jobs, while part-time workers often look at their job as only work, simply a paycheck, or merely a stepping stone to their careers. Using techniques such as worker recognition, frequent feedback, incentives and bonuses, and personal contact, a manager can provide the motivation part-time employees need to do their job well. In the end, giving part-time employees a reason to feel excited about their work will produce a great resource of skill, energy, potential, and increased success for companies

Effect of eccentric exercise on neuromuscular function of the biceps brachii

This study investigated the effects of a bout of exercise-induced muscle damage on strength and motor skill of the elbow flexor muscles. Eight subjects performed 35 maximal isokinetic eccentric elbow flexions at 90 degrees per sec and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, surface electromyography (EMG), plasma creatine kinase (CK) and tracking error associated with a one-dimensional elbow flexion/extension visuomotor pursuit task were studied at intervals up to 28 days after exercise. Subjects showed a post-exercise decline in MVC (mean = 63+/- 11%(s.d.) of pre-exercise after 1 day, p<0.02) and were still significantly weaker at 21 days. The delayed-onset plasma CK rise and the absence of any quantitative change in surface EMG sugest that the observed weakness was related to muscle fibre damage. Tracking performance decreased in all subjects with the greatest tracking error occurring 1 day post-exercise (mean = 127% +/- 20% of control value, p<0.02). There was a significant negative correlation between strength and tracking performance following exercise (r=0.724). the results demonstrate that performance in activities requireing fine motor control will be impaired for a number of days following a bout of damaging exercise