Association of Emotional State and Body Composition with Gait Patterns

Department of Human Factors EngineeringWalking is an important element of various daily life activities. Walking can be the simplest indicator that can quantitatively characterize an individual's condition. To predict information about people based on their walk, multiple factors that influence walking have been researched. The factors could be divided into cognitive state and physical state. Therefore, this study selected emotional state and body composition as the main factors affecting walking to determine each of the two influences. In previous studies, the effect of emotional state and body composition was measured using a motion capture analysis or a force plate. However, identifying emotions and body composition through motion capture analysis requires sensors to be attached to a person and cannot be done in a noisy environment. As a result, it is impossible to find out the state of emotions and body composition through motion capture analysis in public places such as streets or shopping malls. Therefore, research into how a pressure platform can predict emotional state and body composition because a pressure platform does not need any sensors attached to the body and can be installed hidden. Forty-seven participants (24 men, mean 21.8 years, SD 2.3 years23 women, mean 22.2 years, SD 3.3 years) were recruited for this study. Before the main experiment, their body composition was measured in the morning by Inbody 570, which uses direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. In the main experiment, the participants performed four walking tasks. One was a natural walking task, and the others were the emotional walking tasks (sadness, neutral, and joy). Two-minute video clip-based stimuli were used to induce emotions. During the tasks, the participants walked barefoot on the 10 m walkway with an installed pressure platform back and forth. While walking, the gait patterns described by spatiotemporal parameters, diagram of the center of pressure (CoP), and force and pressure of foot were measured. After the tasks, the intensity of valence, arousal, and physical activity were measured by the two questionnaires. The analyses were conducted separately into men and women. Repeated ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc analyses was performed to examine the effect of emotions on gait patterns measured during the emotional walking tasks. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the effect of body composition on the gait patterns measured during the natural walking task. According to the intensity of valence, gait patterns were changed. Walking feeling joy increased stride length, cadence, and velocity and decreased step time. With increased walking speed, the percentage of stance phase and double support phase were reduced, and the swing phase was longer during a whole gait cycle. The length of the CoP path during the single support phase was increased. The first peak force and the second peak force during 100% of the gait cycle increased, and time to the first peak reduced. In the only men, less mediolateral displacement of the CoP intersection point was presented. In the men, height and right leg fat-free mass had a commonly positive correlation with stride length, walking speed, and length of the CoP path during the stance phase and the single support phase. They had a negative correlation with the anteroposterior of the CoP intersection point. Weight presented a strong correlation with a maximum force of forefoot and heel and was moderately correlated with midfoot. As the total and segmental fat mass increased, the maximum force of forefoot, midfoot, and heel increased similar to weight. The body mass index (BMI) was correlated with a maximum force of forefoot and midfoot. In the regression prediction model, total and segmental fat mass (right arm, trunk, and right leg fat mass) were indirectly predicted by decrease in two CoP variables, mediolateral displacement of CoP intersection point and length of CoP path during stance phase with a direct effect of increased maximum force of right forefoot and right midfoot. Total and segmental fat-free mass (right arm, trunk, and right leg fat mass) were indirectly predicted by the length of the CoP path during the stance phase and maximum force with the direct effect of decreased contact time of right heel. Contrary to the men, height and total fat-free mass were correlated with weight in the women. Weight was correlated with the maximum force of forefoot and heel. The maximum force of midfoot did not show the correlation with body composition. Weight, BMI, and total and segmental fat mass, which were intercorrelated with each other, were correlated with the contact time of forefoot and midfoot. In the regression prediction model, the direct effect predicted most of the fat mass and fat-free mass. Total and segmental fat mass were predicted by a decrease in length of CoP during the right single support phase and an increase in the maximum force of forefoot, while total and segmental fat-free mass were predicted by an increase in the maximum force of forefoot. This study will help to understand the relationship between emotion and body composition on gait patterns. It will be the basis for developing models to predict an individual's emotional state and body composition using a pressure platform, and further to provide personal information that can be used in marketing.clos

Solar-rechargeable battery based on photoelectrochemical water oxidation: Solar water battery

As an alternative to the photoelectrochemical water splitting for use in the fuel cells used to generate electrical power, this study set out to develop a solar energy rechargeable battery system based on photoelectrochemical water oxidation. We refer to this design as a "solar water battery". The solar water battery integrates a photoelectrochemical cell and battery into a single device. It uses a water oxidation reaction to simultaneously convert and store solar energy. With the solar water battery, light striking the photoelectrode causes the water to be photo-oxidized, thus charging the battery. During the discharge process, the solar water battery reduces oxygen to water with a high coulombic efficiency (>90%) and a high average output voltage (0.6 V). Because the reduction potential of oxygen is more positive [E0(O2/H2O) = 1.23 V vs. NHE] than common catholytes (e.g., iodide, sulfur), a high discharge voltage is produced. The solar water battery also exhibits a superior storage ability, maintaining 99% of its specific discharge capacitance after 10 h of storage, without any evidence of self-discharge. The optimization of the cell design and configuration, taking the presence of oxygen in the cell into account, was critical to achieving an efficient photocharge/discharge. © The Author(s) 2016.1

Growth rates and the prevalence and progression of scoliosis in short-statured children on Australian growth hormone treatment programmes

STUDY DESIGN AND AIM: This was a longitudinal chart review of a diverse group (cohort) of patients undergoing HGH (Human Growth Hormone) treatment. Clinical and radiological examinations were performed with the aim to identify the presence and progression of scoliosis. METHODS AND COHORT: 185 patients were recruited and a database incorporating the age at commencement, dose and frequency of growth hormone treatment and growth charts was compiled from their Medical Records. The presence of any known syndrome and the clinical presence of scoliosis were included for analysis. Subsequently, skeletally immature patients identified with scoliosis were followed up over a period of a minimum four years and the radiologic type, progression and severity (Cobb angle) of scoliosis were recorded. RESULTS: Four (3.6%) of the 109 with idiopathic short stature or hormone deficiency had idiopathic scoliosis (within normal limits for a control population) and scoliosis progression was not prospectively observed. 13 (28.8%) of 45 with Turner syndrome had scoliosis radiologically similar to idiopathic scoliosis. 11 (48%) of 23 with varying syndromes, had scoliosis. In the entire cohort, the growth rates of those with and without scoliosis were not statistically different and HGH treatment was not ceased because of progression of scoliosis. CONCLUSION: In this study, there was no evidence of HGH treatment being responsible for progression of scoliosis in a small number of non-syndromic patients (four). An incidental finding was that scoliosis, similar to the idiopathic type, appears to be more prevalent in Turner syndrome than previously believed

Social learning for sustainable development:findings from a case study in Sweden

Managing natural resources and socio-ecological systems sustainably is one of the greatest challenges for society today. In order to deal with the complexities and uncertainties inherent to this challenge, adaptive management, collaborative (participatory) management and adaptive co-management have been advocated as governing tools instead of a traditional top-down approach. Much research has advocated that the crucial element of these three alternative management approaches is social learning. While a lot of research has investigated the preconditions, contents and outcomes of social learning, little is known about the processes of social learning. This thesis explores how social learning processes unfolded in a regional collaborative project, the Resolve project, carried out in Sweden. The methodological approach used is action research. The data was collected mainly by observing the project team’s internal workshops and also through observing interviews and official workshops in which diverse local stakeholders participated. The present study makes several noteworthy contributions to existing knowledge about social learning by providing detailed descriptions of social learning processes. The significant findings of thesis were that social learning was facilitated and encouraged through the opportunity to ask critical questions and to engage in collective decision-making. These findings enhance our understanding of social learning processes

From Education to Action: The Effectiveness of CEMUS courses in promoting behavior and action towards sustainable development

This thesis studied four CEMUS courses offered in spring 2011. The purpose of this study was: 1) to measure CEMUS students‘ self-reported behavior and action as well as behavior intention towards sustainable development; 2) to analyze different factors and barriers to their behavior and action; 3) to analyze course coordinators‘ knowledge and perspectives about behavior change and action towards sustainable development; and 4) to analyze each course‘s impact on students. Finally, this thesis discusses how education can be improved to foster behavior and action towards sustainable development. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. According to the results, most CEMUS students were willing to recycle; to switch off electricity when it‘s not needed; and to travel by bicycle or public transportation instead of by car. On the other hand, fewer students had a willingness to pay for environmental costs and to cut down water consumption and waste. Among the opportunities for indirect action, it was political participation and working within the field of sustainable development (SD) that were most preferred. In contrast, much fewer students were willing to avoid purchasing products from companies with poor track records on CSR, to participate in voluntary work related to SD and to donate money for social or environmental causes. The two most frequently perceived constraints for behavior change among students were a lack of money and obstructive social norms. As a course outcome, four out of six coordinators expect students to take action afterwards but there is a lack of knowledge on how to encourage students to behave and act more sustainably. Based on the results, this thesis discussed what kinds of learning methods can be applied in CEMUS and ESD. It was concluded that education should focus on a specific domain and a small spatial scale, and assign project assignments in which students communicate and interact with stakeholders. Such an approach will help to approach the goals of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). CEMUS could also implement the theory of locus of control, emotional involvement and four different kinds of knowledge in their education in order to improve the effectiveness of CEMUS courses when it comes to promoting behavior and action towards sustainable development

Low back muscle activity when using a smartphone while walking

Concurrent use of a smartphone while walking may influence low back muscle activation patterns due to restricted arm motions, limited trunk rotation and walking with the head in a flexed position. The objective of this study was to quantitatively determine the effects of smartphone use while walking on the level of myoelectric activity of the low back extensor muscles. Fifteen asymptomatic young smartphone users who were familiar with smartphone use while walking participated in this experiment. The electromyography (EMG) of the lumbar erector spinae muscles were collected bilaterally when they were conducting three walking tasks on a treadmill: 1) walking without smartphone use (upright walking); 2) web-browsing while walking; and, 3) texting while walking. Results found that the normalized EMG of the lumbar erector spinae muscles were significantly (p<0.05) greater when using a smartphone while walking as compared to when walking without using the phone. It indicates that using a smartphone while walking could pose larger muscular load to the low back extensor muscles than that of walking without using a phone

Well-Dispersed ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticles onto Graphene as Superior Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

We prepared well-dispersed ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles on a graphene sheet by a facile one-step hydrothermal method using glucose as a novel linker agent and low-cost graphene flake. It was found that the glucose linkage on graphene not only prevented the aggregation of ZFO particles, but also induced the exfoliation of graphene flakes. The addition of glucose during the synthesis made surface linkages on the graphene surface, and it reacted with ZFO precursors, resulting in the well-dispersed ZFO nanoparticles/graphene composite. Furthermore, the size distribution of the resultant composite particles was also shifted to the smaller particle size compared to the composite prepared without glucose. The newly prepared ZFO/graphene composite provided a higher lithium storage capability and cycle performance compared to the ZFO/graphene sample which was prepared without glucose. The good dispersion of ZFO nanoparticles on graphene and the small particle size of the composite led to markedly improved electrochemical performance. Its reversible discharge capacity was 766 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1, and it also maintained as 469 mAh g−1 at 6 A g−1