RINTC-E: Towards seismic risk assessment of existing residential reinforced concrete buildings in Italy

The RINTC research project (RINTC Workgroup, 2018), financed by the Italian Department of Civil Protection, is aimed at evaluating the seismic risk of buildings conforming to the Italian building code. Within the framework of this project, the attention has been recently focused on existing buildings, too. In this study, case-study structures, representative of the existing residential reinforced concrete (RC) building stock in Italy, are analyzed. These structures are three-storey buildings with compact rectangular plan, and they have been defined through a simulated design process, in order to represent two types of buildings, namely designed for gravity loads only during 1970s (gravity load designed, GLD) or for moderate seismic loads during 1990s (seismic load designed, SLD). GLD buildings are assumed to be located in three different sites, namely Milan, Naples and Catania, in increasing order of seismic hazard. SLD buildings are assumed to be located in L'Aquila. The assumed design typologies are consistent with the seismic classification of the sites at the assumed ages of construction. The presence of typical nonstructural masonry infill walls (uniformly distributed in plan as external enclosure walls) is taken into account, assuming three configurations along height, namely “bare” (without infills), uniformly infilled and “pilotis” (without infills at the bottom storey) buildings. Two (not code-based) Limit States are investigated, namely Usability-Preventing Damage, corresponding to an interruption of the building use, and Collapse. RC elements are modelled with a lumped plasticity approach, through an empirical-based macromodel. The possible occurrence of shear failures in columns is taken into account through a preliminary classification of the expected failure mode (flexure- or shear-controlled, in the latter case prior to or following flexural yielding) and, if needed, a modification of the backbone of the nonlinear moment-chord rotation response, through empirical models providing the expected deformation capacity at shear and axial failure, the latter meant as the (initiation of) loss of axial-load-carrying-capacity. The nonlinear response of beam-column joints is modelled, too, with a “scissors model” based on concentrated springs representing the nonlinear response of the joint panel, at the intersection of beams' and columns' centerlines, through a preliminary evaluation of the expected failure mode (i.e. prior to or following yielding of adjacent beam/column elements). Materials properties are provided by literature studies, consistent with the age of construction of the buildings. The in-plane response of infills is modelled, taking into account the presence of openings, too. Modeling should be considered as simplified and, from some points of view, still preliminary, since advances are foreseen within the project in order to capture further failure modes that can occur in structural and nonstructural elements of older, nonductile RC buildings. Nonlinear static analyses, allowing to identify the (top) displacement capacity at the investigated Limit States, are carried out. Multiple stripe nonlinear time history bi-directional analyses of the three-dimensional structural models are carried out in order to evaluate the demand, for ten stripes - each corresponding to a return period ranging from 10 to 105 years - and for twenty couples of records for each stripe. Records were selected, within the activities of the research project, based on a Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis at the sites of interest for the selected return periods. Results are illustrated, highlighting the role of a - although obsolete - seismic design in the response of the buildings and in their capacity, more specifically in terms of displacement capacity at Collapse, but also in terms of demand estimated from multiple stripe analyses. Finally, demand-to-capacity ratios at the investigated Limit States are analyzed, which allow, within the scope of the project, the assessment of the seismic risk of the case study structures

What is known about the role of rural-urban residency in relation to self-management in people affected by cancer who have completed primary treatment? A scoping review.

Purpose Despite wide acknowledgement of differences in levels of support and health outcomes between urban and rural areas there is a lack of research that explicitly examines these differences in relation to self-management in people affected by cancer following treatment. This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature that examines self-management in people affected by cancer who were post-treatment from rural and urban areas. Methods Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for conducting a scoping review was utilised. Keyword searches were performed in: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science. Supplementary searching activities were also conducted. Results 438 articles were initially retrieved and 249 duplicates removed leaving 192 articles that were screened by title, abstract and full text. 9 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. They were published from 2011-2018 and conducted in the USA (n=6), Australia (n=2) and Canada (n=1). None of the studies offered insight into self-managing cancer within a rural-urban context in the UK. Studies used qualitative (n=4), mixed methods (n=4) and quantitative designs (n=1). Conclusion If rural and urban populations define their health in different ways as some of the extant literature suggests then efforts to support self-management in both populations will need to be better informed by robust evidence given the increasing focus on patient centred care. It is important to consider if residency can be a predictor of as well as, a barrier or facilitator to self-management

Emg Signal Spectral Analysis Of Superficial Quadriceps Muscles During Constant Load Submaximal Cycling Exercise [análise Espectral Do Sinal Emg Dos Músculos Superficiais Do Quadríceps Durante Exercício Submáximo De Carga Constante No Cicloergômetro]

The objective of this study was to investigate possible differences in the EMG signal spectral analysis of the superficial quadriceps muscles, using the techniques short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and continues Wavelet (CWT) db4 type during constant load submaximal cycling exercise. Fourteen male subjects, healthy and physically active (25.8 ± 3.3 years, 82.1 ± 7.3 kg, 181.3 ± 5.5 cm) were submitted to constant load submaximal test (Tcons) with exercise intensity corresponding to 80% of maximum load until voluntary exhaustion. The EMG of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF) of the right leg were recorded throughout the period of the Tcons to obtain the parameters: median frequency (MF), fatigue index EMG (FIslp) and variance of MF. The results showed no statistically significant differences for the variables MF, FIslp and variance of MF in any of the muscles examined in different time periods, when comparing STFT and CWT (P> 0.05). Thus, our findings suggest the use of both analytical techniques in constant load submaximal cycling exercise when the target is to quantify muscle fatigue with EMG spectral indicators.222211220Barria, E.A., Jagadeesh, J.M., Multiresolution estimation of motion using the wavelet transform Proceedings (1994) Spie, 2303 (2), pp. 542-553. , LondonBeck, T.W., Housh, T.J., Johnson, G.O., Weir, J.P., Cramer, J.T., Coburn, J.W., Malek, M.H., Comparison of Fourier and wavelet transform procedures for examining the mechanomyographic and electromyographic frequency domain responses during fatiguing isokinetic muscle actions of the biceps brachii (2005) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 15 (2), pp. 190-199. , DOI 10.1016/j.jelekin.2004.08.007, PII S105064110400077XBigland-Ritchie, B., Rice, C.L., Garland, S.J., Walsh, M.L., Task-dependent factors in fatigue of human voluntary contractions (1995) Fatigue: Neural and Muscular Mechanisms, pp. 361-380. , GANDEVIA, S.C. et al. New York: Plenum PressBonato, P., Roy, S.H., Knaflitz, M., De Luca, C.J., Time frequency parameters of the surface myoelectric signal for assessing muscle fatigue during cyclic dynamic contractions (2001) IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 48 (7), pp. 745-753. , DOI 10.1109/10.930899, PII S0018929401051321Camata, T.V., Lacerda, T.R., Altimari, L.R., Bortolloti, H., Fontes, E.B., Dantas, J.L., Nakamura, F.Y., Moraes, A.C., Association between the electromyographic fatigue threshold and ventilatory threshold (2009) Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 49 (6-7), pp. 102-108. , LeuvenCamata, T.V., Dantas, J.L., Abrao, T., Brunetto, M.A., Moraes, A.C., Altimari, L.R., Fourier and Wavelet spectral analysis of EMG signals in supramaximal constant load dynamic exercise (2010) Conference Proceedings IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1 (1), pp. 1364-1367. , Buenos AiresCarneiro, J.G., Gonçalves, E.M., Camata, T.V., Altimari, J.M., MacHado, M.V., Batista, A.R., Guerra Junior, G., Altimari, L.R., Influence of gender on EMG signs of the quadriceps muscles and performance in shortterm high-intensity exercise (2010) Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 50 (7-8), pp. 326-332. , LeuvenDa Silva, R.A., Lariviere, C., Arsenault, A.B., Nadeau, S., Plamondon, A., The comparison of wavelet- and Fourier-based electromyographic indices of back muscle fatigue during dynamic contractions: Validity and reliability results (2008) Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 48 (3-4), pp. 147-162Dantas, J.L., Camata, T.V., Brunetto, M.A., Moraes, A.C., Abrão, T., Altimari, L.R., Fourier and Wavelet spectral analysis of EMG signals in isometric and dynamic maximal effort exercise (2010) Conference Proceedings IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1 (1), pp. 5979-5982. , Buenos AiresDaubechies, I., (1992) Ten Lectures on Wavelets, CBMSNSF Conference Series in Applied Mathematics, , 1 ed., Ed. SIAMDe Luca, C.J., The use of surface electromyography in biomechanics (1997) Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 13 (2), pp. 135-163Flanders, M., Choosing a wavelet for single-trial EMG (2002) Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 116 (2), pp. 165-177. , DOI 10.1016/S0165-0270(02)00038-9, PII S0165027002000389Hermens, H.J., Freriks, B., Disselhorstklug, C., Rau, G., Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures (2000) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 10 (5), pp. 361-374. , OxfordHostens, I., Seghers, J., Spaepen, A., Ramon, H., Validation of the wavelet spectral estimation technique in Biceps Brachii and Brachioradialis fatigue assessment during prolonged low-level static and dynamic contractions (2004) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 14 (2), pp. 205-215. , DOI 10.1016/S1050-6411(03)00101-9Hug, F., Laplaud, D., Lucia, A., Grelot, L., A comparison of visual and mathematical detection of the electromyographic threshold during incremental pedaling exercise: A pilot study (2006) Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20 (3), pp. 704-708. , DOI 10.1519/R-17405.1Hummel, A., Laubli, T., Pozzo, M., Schenk, P., Spillmann, S., Klipstein, A., Relationship between perceived exertion and mean power frequency of the EMG signal from the upper trapezius muscle during isometric shoulder elevation (2005) European Journal of Applied Physiology, 95 (4), pp. 321-326. , DOI 10.1007/s00421-005-0014-7Hunter, A.M., St Clair Gibson, A., Lambert, M.I., Nobbs, L., Noakes, T.D., Effects of supramaximal exercise on the electromyographic signal (2003) British Journal of Sports Medicine, 37 (4), pp. 296-299. , DOI 10.1136/bjsm.37.4.296Karlsson, S., Yu, J., Akay, M., Time-frequency analysis of myoelectric signals during dynamic contractions: A comparative study (2000) IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 47 (2), pp. 228-238. , DOI 10.1109/10.821766, PII S0018929400008867Knaflitz, M., Bonato, P., Time-frequency methods applied to muscle fatigue assessment during dynamic contractions (1999) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 9 (5), pp. 337-350. , DOI 10.1016/S1050-6411(99)00009-7, PII S1050641199000097Kumar, D.K., Pah, N.D., Bradley, A., Wavelet Analysis of Surface Electromyography to Determine Muscle Fatigue (2003) IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 11 (4), pp. 400-406. , DOI 10.1109/TNSRE.2003.819901Laubli, T., Hermens, H., Sjogaard, G., Neuromuscular assessment of the elderly worker, NEW: A multidisciplinary European research project (2006) European Journal of Applied Physiology, 96 (2), pp. 107-109. , DOI 10.1007/s00421-005-0045-0MacIsaac, D., Parker, P.A., Scott, R.N., The short-time Fourier transform and muscle fatigue assessment in dynamic contractions (2001) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 11 (6), pp. 439-449. , DOI 10.1016/S1050-6411(01)00021-9, PII S1050641101000219Merletti, R., Rainoldi, A., Farina, D., Surface electromyography for noninvasive characterization of muscle (2001) Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 29 (1), pp. 20-25Ng, J.K.-F., Richardson, C.A., Kippers, V., Parnianpour, M., Bui, B.H., Clinical applications of power spectral analysis of electromyographic investigations in muscle function (1996) Manual Therapy, 1 (2), pp. 99-103. , DOI 10.1054/math.1996.0257Nybo, L., Nielsen, B., Perceived exertion is associated with an altered brain activity during exercise with progressive hyperthermia (2001) Journal of Applied Physiology, 91 (5), pp. 2017-2023Oliveira, A.D.E.S., Goncalves, M., EMG amplitude and frequency parameters of muscular activity: Effect of resistance training based on electromyographic fatigue threshold (2009) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 19 (2), pp. 295-303. , OxfordSo, R.C., Ng, J.K., Lam, R.W., Lo, C.K., Ng, G.Y., EMG Wavelet analysis of quadriceps muscle during repeated knee extension movement (2009) Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 41 (4), pp. 788-796. , HagerstownSparto, P.J., Parnianpour, M., Barria, E.A., Jagadeesh, J.M., Wavelet analysis of electromyography for back muscle fatigue detection during isokinetic constant-torque exertions (1999) Spine, 24 (17), pp. 1791-1798. , DOI 10.1097/00007632-199909010-00008Troiano, A., Naddeo, F., Sosso, E., Camarota, G., Merletti, R., Mesin, L., Assessment of force and fatigue in isometric contractions of the upper trapezius muscle by surface EMG signal and perceived exertion scale (2008) Gait and Posture, 28 (2), pp. 179-186. , DOI 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2008.04.002, PII S0966636208000994Vitor-Costa, M., Pereira, L.A., Oliveira, R.S., Pedro, R.E., Camata, T.V., Abrao, T., Brunetto, M.A., Altimari, L.R., Fourier and Wavelet spectral analysis of EMG signals in maximal constant load dynamic exercise (2010) Conference Proceedings IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1 (1), pp. 4622-4625. , Buenos Aire

The efficiency of pedaling and the muscular recruitment are improved with increase of the cadence in cyclists and non-cyclists

The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of pedaling (EP) and the electromyographic activity (EMG) between cyclists and non-cyclists during cycling in different cadences. Using a cyclosimulator, 12 cyclists (26.5 ± 4.5 years; 68.2 ± 10.5 kg; 175.6 ± 8.2 cm) and 9 non-cyclists (25.1 ± 4.3 years; 72.6 ± 9.8 kg; 174.6 ± 6.2 cm), performed a maximum incremental test (IT), and subsequently, two constant load tests (T) in different cadences (60 and 90 rpm) at the intensity of the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMG ) determined in IT Before the T, the subjects performed a maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) for the normalization of the EMG data of T. During T. the EMG of the studied muscles was recorded, as well as the EP. Although there was a trend of higher values in all occasions for the cyclists, there were no statistical differences in EP and the EMG when compared in a same cadence between groups. However, when the EMG is compared in different cadences in the same group, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the muscles that work during the recovery phase with the increase in cadence, in both groups, being more evident in the cyclists. In conclusion, the hypothesis that cyclists had better technique than non-cyclists was not confirmed statistically. However, it was found that the increase in cadence improves the EP and the recruitment in both groups

Association Between The Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold And Ventilatory Threshold

The objective of this study is to verify the coincidence between the occurrence of the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGth) and the ventilatory threshold (Vth) in an incremental test in the cyclosimulator, as well as to compare the calculation of the RMS from the EMG signal using different time windows. Thirteen male cyclists (73.7 ± 12.4 kg and 174.3 ± 6.2 cm) performed a ramp incremental test (TI) in a cyclosimulator until voluntary exhaustion. Before the start of each TI subjects had the active bipolar electrodes placed over the superficial muscles of the quadriceps femoris (QF) of the right leg: rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL). The paired student's t test, pearson's correlation coefficient and the analysis method described by Bland and Altman for the determination of the concordance level were used for statistical analysis. The significance level adopted was P &lt; 0.05. Although no significant differences were found between Vth and the EMG th calculated from windows of 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds in the studied muscles, it is suggested that the EMGth values determined from the calculation of the RMS curve with windows of 5 and 10 seconds seem to be more appropriate for the calculation of the RMS curve and determination of EMGth from visual inspection.496-7305310Basmajian, J.V., DeLuca, C.J., (1985) Muscles Alive: Their Functions Revealed by Electromyography, , Williams & WilkinsBland, J.M., Altman, D.G., Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement (1986) Lancet, 1, pp. 307-310(2006) Encyclopedia of Medical Devices and Instrumentation, pp. 98-109. , DELUCA, C.J.: Electromyography. In: WEBSTER, J.G. (Ed.). John Wiley PublisherGordon, C.C., Chumlea, W.C., Roche, A.F., Stature, recumbent length, and weight (1988) Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual, , T. LOHMAN, G., ROCHE, A.F. and MARTORELL, F., eds. Champaign: Human KineticsHelal, J.N., Guezennec, C.Y., Goubel, F., The aerobic-anaerobic transition: Re-examination of the threshold concept including an electromyographic approach (1987) Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 56, pp. 643-649Hermens, H.J., Freriks, B., Disselhorst-Klug, C., Rau, G., Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures (2000) J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., 10 (5), pp. 361-374Hug, F., Laplaud, D., Savin, B., Grelot, L., Occurrence of electromyographic and ventilatory thresholds in professional road cyclists (2003) Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 90 (5-6), pp. 643-646Hug, F., Raucher, M., Kipson, N., Jammes, Y., EMG signs of neuromuscular fatigue related to the ventilatory threshold during cycling exercise (2003) Clin. Physiol. Funct. Imaging., 23 (4), pp. 208-214Hug, F., Faucher, M., Marqueste, T., Guillot, C.H., Kipson, N., Jammes, Y., Electromyographic signs of neuromuscular fatigue are concomitant with further increase in ventilation during static handgrip (2004) Clin. Physiol. Funct. Imaging., 24 (1), pp. 25-32Hug, F., Laplaud, D., Lucia, A., Grelot, L.A., Comparison of visual and mathematical detection of the electromyographic threshold during incremental pedaling exercise: A pilot study (2006) Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20 (3), pp. 704-708Merletti, R., Knaflitz, M., DeLuca, C.J., Electrically evoked myoelectric signals (1992) Crit. Rev. Biomed. Eng., 19 (4), pp. 293-340McLellan, T.M., Ventilatory and plasma lactate response with different exercise protocols: A comparison of methods (1985) Int. J. Sports Med., 6 (1), pp. 30-35Moritani, T., (1980) Anaerobic Threshold Determination by Electromyography (Doctoral Dissertation), , University of Southerns CaliforniaNagata, A., Muro, M., Moritani, T., Yoshida, T., Anaerobic threshold determination by blood lactate and myoelectric signals (1981) Jpn. J. Physiol., 31 (4), pp. 585-597Viitasalo, J.T., Luhtanen, P., Rahkila, P., Rusko, H., Electromyographic activity related to aerobic and anaerobic threshold in ergometer bicycling (1985) Acta. Physiol. Scand., 124 (2), pp. 287-29