Baseline Postural Control Measures: An Indicator for Increased Injury Frequency Following Sports Related Concussion

INTRODUCTION: An increase in acute lower extremity (LE) injuries have been observed in athletes following sports-related concussion.1, 2, 3 It has been suggested that lingering postural control deficits as a result of concussive injury, may play a role in the increased prevalence of injury.1 PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between baseline postural control metrics (Root Mean Square; Peak Excursion Velocity; Sample Entropy) and acute LE injury frequency in NCAA Division I student athletes (SA) with a previous history of concussion. METHODS: Eighty-four NCAA Division I SA were selected from a single university, 42 SA with a previous history of concussion (CONC) and 42 without as the control group (CTRL). Baseline postural control assessment, measured via force platform (Sample frequency 1000Hz), and medical charts were retrospectively reviewed. Postural control assessment consisted of three trials of eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) quiet stance for duration of 30 sec. Center of pressure data was used to quantify peak excursion velocity (PEV), root mean square (RMS) and sample entropy (SampEn) in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) direction. Medical records were assessed for all acute LE injuries sustained one-year following baseline postural control assessments. RESULTS: Chi squared analysis revealed a significant increase in frequency (p = 0.025) of acute LE injuries within CONC (22/49 = 44.9%) in comparison to CTRL (10/44 = 22.7%). Paired sample t-test demonstrated a significant decreased in EC PEV AP (p = 0.006) of the CONC group (0.063 ± 0.025) compared to CTRL (0.078 ± 0.038) with moderate effect (Cohen’s d = 0.487), but lacked significance in all other conditions. While the logistic regression model lacked overall significance (p = 0.379), participant group (B = 1.302, P = 0.033) and EO SampEn AP (B = -6.086, P = 0.062) were significant predictors for acute LE injury. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that SA with a previous history of concussion do have a higher acute LE injury frequency than those without a history of concussion. And variations in baseline postural control assessments may help to identify this increase in frequenc

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Professional project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Journalism from the School of Journalism, University of Missouri--Columbia

The Gorgoneion in Greek Architecture

This is a regional study of the continuous use of the gorgoneion in Greek architecture from the Archaic through the Classical and Hellenistic periods. These later phases have been largely ignored as previous research on the gorgoneion has tended to concentrate on examples from the early periods. The study is divided into two parts: a comprehensive catalogue (Part II) which compiles all of the architectural gorgoneia known through publications and personal observation; and the main text (Part I) which is a synthesis of the evidence derived from the catalogue. The discussion in Part I is divided into four chapters dealing with the history, distribution and influences affecting the use of the gorgoneion in (1) the Greek Mainland; (2) Crete and the Cyclades; (3) East Greece; (4) Magna Graecia. A fifth chapter examines the occurrence of the gorgoneion in the architecture of non-Greek areas (Phrygia, Iycia and Cyprus in the East, and Etruria, Central and Southern Italy in the West) from the 6th century B.C. to the Roman period in order to understand the Greek use of the motif in its proper context. Conclusions summarize the evidence, suggest some patterns of transmission, and speculate on the origin and significance of the gorgoneion as an apotropaic device in greek architecture vis-a-vis the depictions of the entire gorgon. A supporting appendix, at the end of Part I, attempts to document most of the known uses of the entire figure of Medusa as an architectural motif in Greek and non-Greek contexts. Although primitive gorgoneia decorating buildings occur on the Greek Mainland as early as the beginning of the 7th century B.C., no consistent or lasting tradition for the use of the motif is established in this region, except in Aetolia in NW Greece, where gorgoneia from an early period decorate first antefixes and metopes of temples of Apollo. Elsewhere on the Mainland, use of the motif is largely derived from outside sources: gorgoneion antefixes from Central Italic sites in the West; the decoration of simas from East Greece; and the 4th century and Hellenistic embellishment of funerary monuments from the Near East. No strong tradition for the use of the motif can be traced to the Cyclades or Crete, although a symbolic association of the gorgoneion with late Archaic temples of Diktaian Zeus may exist for the latter. The gorgoneion makes a relatively late appearance in East Greek architecture (ca. mid 6th century B.C.), and is confined primarily to the decoration of antefixes and simas. The gorgoneion seemsto be most at home in Magna Graecia. It is best attested as an antefix decoration in possible adaptation of the Italic tradition of human head antefixes. The Western Greek use of the motif on revetment plaques may also be influenced by Italic (specifically Campanian) prototypes. The specialized Sicilian use of pedimental gorgoneia, however, has no prototypes in Italic or Mainland Greek architecture. The non-Greek and Roman usage of the gorgoneion is proportionately greater and more varied than its use in Greek architecture. Although, in some instances, the non-Greek application of the motif parallels its use in contemporary Greek architecture, in others we can see distinct regional differences in interpretation and context. This is most obvious in the Near Eastern and Etruscan funerary association which may have influenced the Greeks in the 4th century and the Hellenistic period

An Automated Method of Predicting Clear-Air Turbulence

Clear-air turbulence (CAT) prediction is vitally important to military aviation and the successful completion of Department of Defense (DoD) operations such as air to air refueling and new national defensive weapon systems such as directed energy platforms. The unique mission requirements of military aircraft often require strict avoidance of turbulent regions. Traditionally, weather forecasters have found it difficult to accurately predict CAT. In order to forecast regions where CAT might occur, forecasters must first determine the location of breaking waves caused by either Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities or topographically forced internal gravity waves (mountain waves) in the atmosphere. The United States Air Force (USAF) 15th Operational Weather Squadron (15th OWS) requested an updated method of predicting CAT and this request was ranked as one of the highest priority research needs by the HQ USAF Director of Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations. A new method of forecasting turbulence was developed in this work and the operational model was delivered to the 15th OWS for immediate inclusion into their operations. This method combines output from the Knapp-Ellrod index and the Naval Research Laboratory s Mountain Wave Forecast Model (MWFM) onto a single chart. Displaying these tools together allows forecasters to view both causes of CAT simultaneously. Furthermore, a new visualization tool is developed that allows a forecaster to view several layers at the same time as well as a composite chart to greatly reduce the time required to produce turbulence charts by OWS forecasting centers worldwide. Tests of forecast accuracy, as determined by pilot reports (PIREPS), between charts currently produced by USAF OWSs and this new method were compared, with the new method producing far superior forecast results. This method revolutionize

The Gorgoneion in Greek Architecture

This is a regional study of the continuous use of the gorgoneion in Greek architecture from the Archaic through the Classical and Hellenistic periods. These later phases have been largely ignored as previous research on the gorgoneion has tended to concentrate on examples from the early periods. The study is divided into two parts: a comprehensive catalogue (Part II) which compiles all of the architectural gorgoneia known through publications and personal observation; and the main text (Part I) which is a synthesis of the evidence derived from the catalogue. The discussion in Part I is divided into four chapters dealing with the history, distribution and influences affecting the use of the gorgoneion in (1) the Greek Mainland; (2) Crete and the Cyclades; (3) East Greece; (4) Magna Graecia. A fifth chapter examines the occurrence of the gorgoneion in the architecture of non-Greek areas (Phrygia, Iycia and Cyprus in the East, and Etruria, Central and Southern Italy in the West) from the 6th century B.C. to the Roman period in order to understand the Greek use of the motif in its proper context. Conclusions summarize the evidence, suggest some patterns of transmission, and speculate on the origin and significance of the gorgoneion as an apotropaic device in greek architecture vis-a-vis the depictions of the entire gorgon. A supporting appendix, at the end of Part I, attempts to document most of the known uses of the entire figure of Medusa as an architectural motif in Greek and non-Greek contexts. Although primitive gorgoneia decorating buildings occur on the Greek Mainland as early as the beginning of the 7th century B.C., no consistent or lasting tradition for the use of the motif is established in this region, except in Aetolia in NW Greece, where gorgoneia from an early period decorate first antefixes and metopes of temples of Apollo. Elsewhere on the Mainland, use of the motif is largely derived from outside sources: gorgoneion antefixes from Central Italic sites in the West; the decoration of simas from East Greece; and the 4th century and Hellenistic embellishment of funerary monuments from the Near East. No strong tradition for the use of the motif can be traced to the Cyclades or Crete, although a symbolic association of the gorgoneion with late Archaic temples of Diktaian Zeus may exist for the latter. The gorgoneion makes a relatively late appearance in East Greek architecture (ca. mid 6th century B.C.), and is confined primarily to the decoration of antefixes and simas. The gorgoneion seemsto be most at home in Magna Graecia. It is best attested as an antefix decoration in possible adaptation of the Italic tradition of human head antefixes. The Western Greek use of the motif on revetment plaques may also be influenced by Italic (specifically Campanian) prototypes. The specialized Sicilian use of pedimental gorgoneia, however, has no prototypes in Italic or Mainland Greek architecture. The non-Greek and Roman usage of the gorgoneion is proportionately greater and more varied than its use in Greek architecture. Although, in some instances, the non-Greek application of the motif parallels its use in contemporary Greek architecture, in others we can see distinct regional differences in interpretation and context. This is most obvious in the Near Eastern and Etruscan funerary association which may have influenced the Greeks in the 4th century and the Hellenistic period

A survey of readmissions to the Veterans Administration Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts: Part III - A study of selected social and medical factors associated with seventy readmissions at the Bedford Veterans Administration Hospital from July to September, 1949.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

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A rediscovered life: A selective annotated edition of the letters of Caroline Elizabeth Norton, 1828-1877

This thesis is a selective and annotated edition of 168 of the 2127 extant letters by Caroline Elizabeth Norton currently known to be available in both the public and private domain, which have been collected and transcribed for the project. The selection includes both the first extant letter, dated 28 July [1828] and the last, written on 10 June 1877, five days before her death. Those of Caroline Norton’s letters already published in an annotated edition have not been included in the selection. The letters are grouped chronologically into five chapters, each representing approximately a decade of the author’s life. Each chapter is preceded by a lengthy commentary outlining the key historical and political events of each period and providing a thematic analysis of how the letters, including the residual 92% of correspondence not selected for the edition, comment on aspects of Caroline Norton’s life, beliefs, work, family, relationships and society. In particular the discussion will focus on how the letters challenge existing notions in these areas and reflect on comparably under-investigated or almost entirely non-researched biographical topics, such as the epistolary strategy Caroline Norton employed to secure the Infant Custody Act, her views on literature and other writers, her health, and the nature of her relationships with her family, particularly her son Brinsley, and other key individuals in her life, such as Mary Shelley, Edward Trelawny, Lord Melbourne and Sidney Herbert. The five chapters are prefaced by an introduction that initially summarises Caroline Norton’s significance and biography. This is followed by a literary review, discussions of how my research relates to her place in nineteenth-century literature and to the literature of epistolary studies and a summary of the principal findings of this thesis. The main body of the thesis is followed by a bibliographical appendix, the methodology adopted is set out a second appendix, while a third contains sample reproductions of the manuscripts of four letters with accompanying transcripts