Greater Movement Research Articles

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Hand Sanitizer

Hands are the to begin with mode of transmission of organisms and diseases. Hand cleanliness is a key guideline and work out in the anticipation, control and lessening of contaminations. Due to COVID widespread the require of hand sanitizer has expanded which causes less dryness to hand. Considering the require, we arranged a polyherbal sanitizer utilizing seven plant extricates with other fixings counting isopropyl liquor, camphor, hydrogen peroxide, glycerol and water. The fixings were chosen on the premise of their antimicrobial property. The fixings and sanitizer were assessed for antimicrobial property and appeared strong action against gram positive microbes S. aureus, though blend of extricates appeared strong action against all the bacterial strains utilized but B. cereus. The sanitizer moreover appeared strong action against all the strains utilized in the climbing arrange of Klebsiella spp. > B. cereus > S. aureus > S. pyogenes > P. aeruginosa > Dermatophyte > E. coli and gave zone of hindrance of 18±0.05, 12±0.03, 11±0.01, 10±0.01, 9±0.5, 9±0.01 and 7±0.001 mm separately. The antimicrobial action was compared with other commercial hand sanitizer and greatest movement was appeared against Klebsiella spp. and least against E. coli and P. aeruginosa by all the sanitizer utilized. The adequacy of hand sanitizer was checked on hands of 38 volunteers of research facility specialists, patients and their relatives with composed and verbal assent. The sanitizer decreased or disposed of the development of pathogens confined from hands. Time interim impact was moreover checked at a time crevice of two hours too appeared the impact of hand sanitizer for longer time with diminishment in bacterial development. The sanitizer pH was soluble with great rack, surface and odor. No turbidity was seen when kept at higher temperature for 3 months and appeared no skin dryness with relieving impact after utilizing sanitizer on diverse volunteers.

MR imaging methods to study meniscal position and mechanics

ObjectiveMeniscal mechanics have been studied widely due to the high prevalence of meniscal injuries and their strong association with knee degeneration. Computational models and cadaver studies have contributed to our understanding of the menisci but require assumptions to extrapolate to living people. Imaging modalities provide the ability to make key measurements in vivo. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the menisci required to make important measurements related to mechanical function. This mini review summarizes MR approaches that have been used to make measurements related to meniscal mechanics, including morphology, position, movement, shape, and extrusion. DesignA literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar, with search terms including “meniscus” and “MRI” in combination with “mechanics”, “position”, “shape”, “movement”, “size”, “loaded”, and “unloaded”. Articles were manually reviewed and selected by consensus between the authors as constituting the most important examples of work required to illustrate the breadth of measurement and imaging approaches used in research on meniscal function. ResultsMRI has been used for quantitative 3D analyses of the morphology and position of the menisci. Morphological analyses included measurements of meniscal volume, thickness, width, and bulging. Positional analyses included measurements of the overlap between the meniscal surface and tibial joint surface, the amount of extrusion, and the percentage of joint surface area and meniscal area that were covered or uncovered. Open MR scanners have been used to measure the movement of the menisci from full extension to deep flexion. MR compatible loading devices have been used to study the effect of loading on meniscal morphology and extrusion. Studies using these methods have found that there are differences in meniscal morphology between healthy and osteoarthritic participants, that the lateral meniscus and anterior horns have greater movement throughout flexion, and that meniscal extrusion increases under load. ConclusionsMRI has improved our insight into meniscal mechanics. Simulated weightbearing, open imaging through the range of knee flexion, and image processing to yield 3D measurements have all contributed to this progress. These approaches have strong potential to explore clinically motivated research questions related to meniscal mechanics.

Finite element analysis of the stability of retrograde intramedullary nail and plate-screw combinations for periprosthetic femoral fractures following total knee replacement.

Periprosthetic fractures following total knee replacement are rare but challenging. The goal of the treatment is to achieve the most stable fixation that allows early mobilization. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical results of the use of different fixation systems in the treatment of distal femur periprosthetic fractures with finite element analysis. A total knee prosthesis was implanted in Sawbone femur models. A transverse fracture line was created in the supracondylar region and was fixed in four different groups. In group 1, fracture line fixation was fixed using retrograde intramedullary nailing. In group 2, fixation was applied using a lateral anatomic distal femoral. In group 3, in addition to the fixation made in group 1, a lateral anatomic distal femoral plate was used. In group 4, in addition to the fixation made in group 2, a 3.5 mm Limited Contact Dynamic Compression Plate (LC-DCP) was applied medially. Computed Tomography (CT) scans were taken of the created models and were converted to three-dimensional models. Axial and rotational loading forces were applied to all the created models. The least deformation with axial loading was observed in the double plate group. Group 3 was determined to be more advantageous against rotational forces. The greatest movement in the fracture line was found in group 2. The application of the medial plate was determined to reduce the tension on the lateral plate and increase stability in the fracture line. Combining a lateral anatomic plate with intramedullary nailing or a medial plate was seen to be biomechanically more advantageous than using a lateral plate or intramedullary nailing alone in the treatment of distal femoral periprosthetic fractures.

The Adhesive Capsulitis Corticosteroid and Dilation (ACCorD) randomized controlled trial.

Is it feasible to conduct a definitive multicentre trial in community settings of corticosteroid injections (CSI) and hydrodilation (HD) compared to CSI for patients with frozen shoulder? An adequately powered definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT) delivered in primary care will inform clinicians and the public whether hydrodilation is a clinically and cost-effective intervention. In this study, prior to a full RCT, we propose a feasibility trial to evaluate recruitment and retention by patient and clinician willingness of randomization; rates of withdrawal, crossover and attrition; and feasibility of outcome data collection from routine primary and secondary care data. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises that prompt early management of frozen shoulder is initiated in primary care settings with analgesia, physiotherapy, and joint injections; most people can be managed without an operation. Currently, there is variation in the type of joint injection: 1) CSI, thought to reduce the inflammation of the capsule reducing pain; and 2) HD, where a small volume of fluid is injected into the shoulder joint along with the steroid, aiming to stretch the capsule of the shoulder to improve pain, but also allowing greater movement. The creation of musculoskeletal hubs nationwide provides infrastructure for the early and effective management of frozen shoulder. This potentially reduces costs to individuals and the wider NHS perhaps negating the need for a secondary care referral. We will conduct a multicentre RCT comparing CSI and HD in combination with CSI alone. Patients aged 18 years and over with a clinical diagnosis of frozen shoulder will be randomized and blinded to receive either CSI and HD in combination, or CSI alone. Feasibility outcomes include the rate of randomization as a proportion of eligible patients and the ability to use routinely collected data for outcome evaluation. This study has involved patients and the public in the trial design, dissemination methods, and how to include groups who are underserved by research. We will disseminate findings among musculoskeletal clinicians via the British Orthopaedic Association, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Royal College of Radiologists, and the Royal College of General Practitioners. To ensure wide reach we will communicate findings through our established network of charities and organizations, in addition to preparing dissemination findings in Bangla and Urdu (commonly spoken languages in northeast London). If a full trial is shown to be feasible, we will seek additional National Institute for Health and Care Research funding for a definitive RCT. This definitive study will inform NICE guidelines for the management of frozen shoulder.

Loneliness in the Daily Lives of People With Mood and Psychotic Disorders.

Loneliness, the subjective experience of feeling alone, is associated with physical and psychological impairments. While there is an extensive literature linking loneliness to psychopathology, limited work has examined loneliness in daily life in those with serious mental illness. We hypothesized that trait and momentary loneliness would be transdiagnostic and relate to symptoms and measures of daily functioning. The current study utilized ecological momentary assessment and passive sensing to examine loneliness in those with schizophrenia (N = 59), bipolar disorder (N = 61), unipolar depression (N = 60), remitted unipolar depression (N = 51), and nonclinical comparisons (N = 82) to examine relationships of both trait and momentary loneliness to symptoms and social functioning in daily life. Findings suggest that both trait and momentary loneliness are higher in those with psychopathology (F(4,284) = 28.00, P < .001, ηp2 = 0.27), and that loneliness significantly relates to social functioning beyond negative symptoms and depression (β = -0.44, t = 6.40, P < .001). Furthermore, passive sensing measures showed that greater movement (β = -0.56, t = -3.29, P = .02) and phone calls (β = -0.22, t = 12.79, P = .04), but not text messaging, were specifically related to decreased loneliness in daily life. Individuals higher in trait loneliness show stronger relationships between momentary loneliness and social context and emotions in everyday life. These findings provide further evidence pointing to the importance of loneliness transdiagnostically and its strong relation to social functioning. Furthermore, we show that passive sensing technology can be used to measure behaviors related to loneliness in daily life that may point to potential treatment implications or early detection markers of loneliness.

Modeling Rainfall Impact on Slope Stability: Computational Insights into Displacement and Stress Dynamics

The susceptibility of loess slopes to collapses, landslides, and sinkholes is a global concern. Rainfall is a key factor exacerbating these issues and affecting slope stability. In regions experiencing significant infrastructure and urban growth, understanding and mitigating rainfall effects on loess landslides is crucial. ADINA numerical software 9 was utilized to explore rain-induced erosion’s influence on landslide dynamics. The simulations were based on local rainfall trends. The rainfall intensities examined were as follows: 200 mm/day, 300 mm/day, and 400 mm/day. The results indicate a pronounced impact of rainfall intensity on both the movement and stress levels within the slope. Higher rainfall intensities lead to increased movement and a wider stress impact area at the base of the slope. It was observed that surface movement is minimal at the slope crest but increases towards the bottom, with the greatest movement seen at the slope’s base.

Motor performance and attention outcomes in children born very preterm.

To examine the relationship between motor performance and attention in children born very preterm and at term, and investigate the presence of individual profiles of motor and attention performance. Attention and motor performance at 7 and 13 years were assessed in 197 children born very preterm (52.5% male) and 69 children born at term (47.8% male) between 2001 and 2003. Linear regression models were fitted including an interaction term for birth group. Subgroups of children with similar attention and motor performance profiles were identified using latent profile analysis. Balance was positively associated with all attention outcomes at both ages (p < 0.006). There were specific birth group interactions for aiming and catching and manual dexterity with attention at 13 years, with positive associations observed only for children born very preterm (p < 0.001). At 7 years, three profiles were observed: average attention and motor functioning; average motor functioning and low attention functioning; and low attention and motor functioning. At 13 years, two profiles of average attention and motor functioning emerged, as well as one profile of below-average attention and motor functioning. Children born very preterm were overrepresented in the lower functioning profiles (born very preterm 56%; born at term 29%). Motor functioning at age 7 years may be a useful marker of later attention skills, particularly for children born very preterm who are at greater risk of poorer long-term cognitive outcomes. Balance was positively associated with attention in children born very preterm and at term. Relationships between motor performance and attention at age 13 years differed between children born very preterm and at term. Heterogeneous motor functioning and attention outcomes were noted for children born very preterm and at term. Children born very preterm were more likely to have lower attention and motor functioning profiles than children born at term. There was greater movement in motor functioning and attention profiles between the ages of 7 and 13 years in children born very preterm.

Reliability and validity of gait dynamic balance assessment in adult spinal deformity patients using a two-point trunk motion measuring device

BACKGROUND CONTEXTAdult spinal deformity (ASD) patients often complain of walking discomfort. However, dynamic balance evaluation methods of gait in ASD have not been well established. DESIGNCase series study. PURPOSECharacterize the gait of ASD patients using a novel two-point trunk motion measuring device. PATIENT SAMPLESixteen ASD patients scheduled for surgery and 16 healthy control subjects. OUTCOME MEASURESTrunk swing width and track length of the upper back and sacrum. METHODSGait analysis was performed using a two-point trunk motion measuring device on 16 ASD patients and 16 healthy control subjects. Three measurements were taken for each subject, and the coefficient of variation was determined to compare measurement accuracy between the ASD and control groups. Trunk swing width and track length were measured in three dimensions for comparisons between the groups. The relationship among output indices, sagittal spinal alignment parameters, and quality of life (QOL) questionnaire scores was examined as well. RESULTSNo significant difference was found for the precision of the device between the ASD and control groups. Compared with controls, the walking style of ASD patients tended to have larger right-left swing of the trunk (+14.0 cm and +23.3 cm at the sacrum and upper back, respectively), larger horizontal plane movement of the upper body (+36.4 cm), less vertical movement (-5.9 cm and -8.2 cm up-down swing at the sacrum and upper back, respectively), and longer gait cycle (+0.13 sec). Regarding QOL in ASD patients, greater right-left/front-back swing of the trunk, greater movement in the horizontal plane, and longer gait cycle were associated with lower QOL scores. Conversely, greater vertical movement was associated with higher QOL. CONCLUSIONSASD patients had unique gait characteristics, the intensity of which were associated with diminished QOL. The two-point trunk motion measuring device may be reliable and useful for the clinical assessment of balance during gait in ASD patients.

BIOINSPIRED UNDERWATER ROBOT WITH SHAPE MEMORY MET-AL-BASED ACTUATORS

A bio-inspired robot was implemented in a fish whose main objective is the analysis of the interaction of the pectoral and caudal fins during the two-dimensional displacement, the pectoral and caudal fins were implemented for rotation and displacement, its pectoral fin has a dimension of 30mm high and 33mm wide, It consists of two parts, its base with cavities to house the actuator and its cover to hold and compact the fin, the caudal fin is created from a mold with cavities to house the actuator with a rigid fin at the end to have a greater movement, its dimension is 91. 69mm long, 30mm wide at the beginning and 40mm wide at the end, the robot as a whole has a dimension of 249.37mm long and 92.5mm wide with a weight of 254.5g. The actuators based on nitinol shape memory metals were used, for which tests were conducted with 2 wire gauges with diameters of 0. 5mm and 1mm, the 0.5mm cable has an activation of 60±10°C and the 1mm of 40±10°C, for which it was first analyzed the force developed by each of the actuators at different temperatures obtaining the following results, the 0. 5mm when subjected to force tests with a configuration of 60°C activation temperature with a voltage of 1.25 V at 2 A manages to lift an intermediate weight in terms of our tests of 20g reaches its final set point but with a not favorable time and having small deformations in its initial engraving, the 1mm material was subjected to the same tests with a configuration of 40°C activation temperature with a voltage of 0. 54 V at 2.25 A having favorable results in terms of reaching its final set point in the desired time and without having any final deformation, for which already established the tests it is analyzed that the two arrive to lift corresponding but the material of 0. 5mm material consumes more energy with a longer time than the 1mm material, so for the displacement of the robot the 1mm material was chosen because it has the necessary force to fulfill its objective, besides not consuming energy in excess. Once analyzed it was possible to achieve the two-dimensional displacement with pectoral and flow fins, with an oscillatory movement of the rigid flow fin, and turns with the pectoral fins, with an activation of 40°C at 0.54V with 2.25A and with the 1mm actuators a speed of 3.33 m/s was obtained.

Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Windlass Mechanism Using Weightbearing Computed Tomography in Healthy Volunteers.

The windlass mechanism (WM) increases the longitudinal arch of the foot via tension of the plantar aponeurosis during dorsiflexion of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The purpose of this study was to perform a 3-dimensional evaluation of the displacement of each joint and the height of the navicular during dorsiflexion of the first MTP joint by using weightbearing computed tomography (CT). Participants were 6 men and 8 women with 23 healthy feet. CT of the foot with a load equivalent to the participant's body weight was performed. The first MTP joint was in the neutral position and dorsiflexed 30 degrees. Between the conditions, we measured the (1) rotation of each bone, (2) rotation of the distal bone with respect to the proximal bone at each joint, and (3) height of the navicular. With respect to the tibia, the calcaneus was at 0.8 ± 0.7 degrees dorsiflexion and 1.4 ± 0.9 degrees inversion, while the talus was at 2.0 ± 1.2 degrees dorsiflexion and 0.1 ± 0.8 degrees eversion. The navicular was at 1.3 ± 1.2 degrees dorsiflexion and 3.2 ± 2.1 degrees inversion, whereas the medial cuneiform was at 0.3 ± 0.6 degrees plantarflexion and 1.3 ± 1.1 degrees inversion. At the talonavicular joint, the navicular was at 0.7 ± 1.3 degrees plantarflexion, whereas at the cuneonavicular joint, the medial cuneiform bone was at 1.4 ± 1.4 degrees plantarflexion. The height of the navicular increased by 1.1 ± 0.6 mm. We 3-dimensionally confirmed the dynamics of WM and found that the calcaneus, navicular, and medial cuneiform moved in all 3 planes. The results suggest that the cuneonavicular joint has the greatest movement among the joints. We believe that these findings will help to elucidate the pathogenesis of WM-related diseases and lead to advances in treatments for pathologies involving the longitudinal arch. Level IV, case series.

Body surface temperature of rats reveals both magnitude and sex differences in the acute stress response

Understanding how biological markers of stress relate to stressor magnitude is much needed and can be used in welfare assessment. Changes in body surface temperature can be measured using infrared thermography (IRT) as a marker of a physiological response to acute stress. While an avian study has shown that changes in body surface temperature can reflect the intensity of acute stress, little is known about surface temperature responses to stressors of different magnitudes and its sex-specificity in mammals, and how they correlate with hormonal and behavioural responses. We used IRT to collect continuous surface temperature measurements of tail and eye of adult male and female rats (Rattus norvegicus), for 30 minutes after exposure to one of three stressors (small cage, encircling handling or rodent restraint cone) for one minute, and cross-validated the thermal response with plasma corticosterone (CORT) and behavioural assessment. To obtain individual baseline temperatures and thermal responses to stress, rats were imaged in a test arena (to which they were habituated) for 30 seconds before and 30 minutes after being exposed to the stressor. In response to the three stressors, tail temperature initially decreased and then recovered to, or overshot the baseline temperature. Tail temperature dynamics differed between stressors; being restrained in the small cage was associated with the smallest drop in temperature, in male rats, and the fastest thermal recovery, in both sexes. Increases in eye temperature only distinguished between stressors early in the response and only in females. The post stressor increase in eye temperature was greater in the right eye of males and the left eye of females. In both sexes encircling may have been associated with the fastest increase in CORT. These results were in line with observed behavioural changes, with greater movement in rats exposed to the small cage and higher immobility after encircling. The female tail and eye temperature, as well as the CORT concentrations did not return to pre-stressor levels in the observation period, in conjunction with the greater occurrence of escape-related behaviours in female rats. These results suggest that female rats are more vulnerable to acute restraint stress compared to male rats and emphasise the importance of using both sexes in future investigations of stressor magnitude. This study demonstrates that acute stress induced changes in mammalian surface temperature measured with IRT relate to the magnitude of restraint stress, indicate sex differences and correlate with hormonal and behavioural responses. Thus, IRT has the potential to become a non-invasive method of continuous welfare assessment in unrestrained mammals.

Evolutionary design for sustainability during climate change

This article reveals the thermodynamics of human sustainability on earth: (i) Production of power increases and, necessarily, the consumption of source energy increases (fuel, food, area covered by solar panels and windmills). Greater efficiency and energy conservation do not translate into less fuel consumption. (ii) Consequently, the world population will continue to increase monotonically. (iii) The power generated, consumed, and dissipated by the world population will continue to increase because every individual and group makes decisions in the direction of achieving greater wealth. The scatter in the data (the diversity) is because more advanced societies facilitate greater human movement per unit of fuel consumed. The way forward consists of making consistent steps on several paths: (a) Greater efficiency, (b) Cleaner power generation, (c) More economical distribution of power on the globe, and (d) Greater flow connectivity (empowering) of the pockets of populations that, unlike advanced societies, do not benefit from greater movement (access) per unit of fuel consumed. Any idea that moves a population toward greater movement (access) counts: increasing power plant efficiency, power & refrigeration, transportation evolution, energy in buildings, climate evolution and prediction, and reshaping the coastline.

Dominance patterns in concurrent vowel recognition

When hearers encounter multiple people speaking at the same, they can often pick out the speech of one person from the others, but the mechanisms which they use in their acoustic discrimination process are not fully understood. To look into vowel discrimination processes, this project entailed combining sound files of minimal pairs generated by synthetic speakers. As a point of departure from many similar experiments, these files were standardized for pitch and intensity. Participants were asked to select the word they heard from a list of four potential words that shared the same beginning and ending consonants, differing only in the vowel. Participants were significantly more likely to select a word if its vowel had a higher F1 than the F1 of the other vowel of the combined audio file. Higher F2 and F3 frequencies and greater movement of F1 also contributed to increased selection rates, although not as much as the F1 ratio. Participants were also asked to describe a subset of the combined sound files. That task showed similar dominance patterns, such that participants were often unaware of the presence of one of the concurrent vowels.

65 A Retrospective Cohort Study of the Use of Vivostat PRF Autologous Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Patient Outcomes in Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Abstract Aim Vivostat PRF is an autologous platelet-rich fibrin spray that is prepared in theatre from the patient’s own blood and has shown that its use as a biological sealant intra-operatively reduces transfusion rates and decreases haemarthrosis after total knee replacement (TKR). We undertook a retrospective time-based comparative cohort study examining relevant patient outcomes, comparing patients undergoing TKR surgery with Vivostat PRF versus without. Method 106 patients undergoing TKR surgery between 2008 and 2017 were studied. Patients were selected for inclusion via hospital records and divided into two groups: those who had received Vivostat PRF intra-operatively (n = 59), and those who hadn’t (n = 47) (the control group). Primary outcomes included haemoglobin drop pre- vs post-operatively, range of movement (ROM) at follow-up appointments, number of days post-operatively in hospital until the patient was able to manage stairs, post-operative pain scores and transfusion rates. Results There was a statistically significant difference in the haemoglobin drop between the two groups, with a drop of 27.5g/L in the study group compared to 31.9g/L in the control group (p = 0.019). ROM at day 3 post-operatively was better in the Vivostat group by 5.0o (p = 0.0018), and at 3 months post-operatively there was 7.8o greater movement (p = 0.004). No statistically significant differences were seen in the pain scores; however, early rehabilitation performance was improved in the Vivostat group, with a quicker time to being able to manage stairs post-operatively (p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in transfusion rates. Conclusions This study showed that there are benefits in using Vivostat PRF in TKR surgery.

Changes in intrathoracic pressure, not arterial pulsations, exert the greatest effect on tracer influx in the spinal cord

BackgroundCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation in the brain has garnered considerable attention in recent times. In contrast, there have been fewer studies focused on the spine, despite the expected importance of CSF circulation in disorders specific to the spine, including syringomyelia. The driving forces that regulate spinal CSF flow are not well defined and are likely to be different to the brain given the anatomical differences and proximity to the heart and lungs. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of heart rate, blood pressure and respiration on the distribution of CSF tracers in the spinal subarachnoid space, as well as into the spinal cord interstitium.MethodsIn Sprague Dawley rats, physiological parameters were manipulated such that the effects of spontaneous breathing (generating alternating positive and negative intrathoracic pressures), mechanical ventilation (positive intrathoracic pressure only), tachy/bradycardia, as well as hyper/hypotension were separately studied. To investigate spinal CSF hydrodynamics, in vivo near-infrared imaging of intracisternally infused indocyanine green was performed. CSF tracer transport was further characterised with in vivo two-photon intravital imaging. Tracer influx at a microscopic level was quantitatively characterised by ex vivo epifluorescence imaging of fluorescent ovalbumin.ResultsCompared to mechanically ventilated controls, spontaneous breathing animals had significantly greater movement of tracer in the subarachnoid space. There was also greater influx into the spinal cord interstitium. Hypertension and tachycardia had no significant effect on spinal subarachnoid spinal CSF tracer flux and exerted less effect than respiration on tracer influx into the spinal cord.ConclusionsIntrathoracic pressure changes that occur over the respiratory cycle, particularly decreased intrathoracic pressures generated during inspiration, have a profound effect on tracer movement after injection into spinal CSF and increase cord parenchymal tracer influx. Arterial pulsations likely drive fluid transport from perivascular spaces into the surrounding interstitium, but their overall impact is less than that of the respiratory cycle on net tracer influx.

Wave-induced sediment and rhodolith mobility on a narrow insular shelf dominated by wave variability (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil)

This study combines numerical modeling and empirical equations to define spatial fields of wave-induced sediment and rhodolith mobility in a narrow insular shelf that is subject to a seasonal wave regime: the Fernando de Noronha insular shelf. From analyses of the annual, summer and winter wave climates, we noticed an intense directional variability in swell waves coming predominantly from opposing directions between the studied seasons (northern swell in summer and southern swell in winter), reflecting higher wave energy on the north coast during summer and lower energy during winter. The longitudinal transport at the northern coast, which is predominantly oriented to the southwest, is also higher in the summer months and lower in the rest of the year. To describe the spatial variation in wave-induced mobility under summer and winter wave conditions, we consider empirical sediment movement equations, based on mean grain size and density values. Carbonate bioclastic sediments, which are predominant in the Fernando de Noronha shelf, are remobilized by waves throughout the entire shelf. However, in the nearshore zone, this movement occurs intensely for all sizes. The depth and shelf side affected by wave-induced mobility vary according to the wave climate variability that determines the direction and type of wave prevailing in the regime. When swell waves come from the north (summer scenarios), mobility is greater mainly on the northern shelf; however, when trade wind waves come from the southeast and swell waves come from the south (winter scenarios), greater movement is produced on the south face. Wave-induced sediment mobility occurs at depths of up to 60 m, near the shelf break, indicating the importance of the shelf morphology. The movement of rhodoliths, which presents a lower density and larger diameter than the sediments, eventually occurs under extreme wave conditions up to depths of approximately 30 m in areas that vary seasonally around the island according to the predominant wave direction. These characteristics are favorable to rhodolith development. With our results, we hope to better understand the wave action on the bottoms of high-energy island shelves by identifying the sediment movement patterns attributed to wave climate variability and morphological characteristics of the shelf.

The impacts of COVID-19 crisis on spillovers between the oil and stock markets: Evidence from the largest oil importers and exporters

This study examines the multiscale spillovers and nonlinear causalities between the crude oil futures market and the stock markets of the United States (US), Canada, China, Russia, and Venezuela before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the wavelet coherency method, we find strong co-movement between the oil futures market and these five stock markets, particularly from March 2020 to May 2020 (initial period of the COVID-19 outbreak) at high frequency. Furthermore, we find positive co-movements at low frequency during the overall COVID-19 period. This finding suggests that the bearish trend of stock markets is associated with a downward movement in oil prices. Using the wavelet-based Granger causality approach, we find that the oil and stock indices have less co-movement on a smaller scale but greater movement on a larger scale across all periods. As an exception, the Russian market is significantly influenced by oil prices, even on a small scale, before the COVID-19 period, but not after the beginning of the pandemic. We also find effects in the opposite direction—the Canadian and U.S. markets influence oil prices on a small scale during the COVID-19 period, an effect that is not visible for the U.S. market in the pre-COVID-19 sample. The results also show a significant bidirectional causality from oil to stock markets and vice versa during Russian-Saudi oil price war at high scale. Furthermore, we find that investors should hold more oil futures than stock shares in their portfolios for all periods. This evidence confirms that oil instruments are important for hedging during normal periods and act as safe-haven assets during crisis periods. We observe that the U.S. and Canadian stock markets were more affected by oil price shocks than were other countries.

Proximal and distal movement patterns during a graphomotor task in typically developing children and children with handwriting problems

BackgroundTherapists specializing in handwriting difficulties in children often address motor problems including both proximal and distal movements in the upper extremity. Kinematic measures can be used to investigate various aspects of handwriting. This study examined differences in movement patterns in proximal and distal joints of the upper extremity during graphomotor tasks between typically developing children with and without handwriting problems. Additionally, it explored relationships between movement patterns, speed, and legibility of writing.MethodsForty-one children, aged 7–11 years, were assessed with the Aleph Aleph Ktav Yad Hebrew Handwriting assessment and the Beery Test of Visual Motor Integration and, based on their scores, were divided into a research group (with handwriting difficulties) and a control group (without handwriting difficulties). Upper extremity joint movement patterns were analyzed with a motion capture system. Differences in the quality of shapes traced and copied on a graphics tablet positioned horizontally and vertically were compared. Between-group differences and relationships with speed and legibility were analyzed.ResultsIn both groups, there was greater movement in the distal compared to the proximal joints, greater movement when performing the task in a horizontal compared to a vertical plane, and greater movement when tracing than copying. Joint movements in the arm executed scaled-down versions of the shapes being drawn. While the amount of joint displacement was similar between groups, children in the research group showed greater dissimilarity between the drawn shape and the shape produced by the proximal joints. Finally, the drawing measure on the tablet was a significant predictor of legibility, speed of writing, visual motor integration and motor coordination, whereas the dissimilarity measure of joint movement was a significant predictor of speed of writing and motor coordination.ConclusionsThis study provides support for the role of the distal upper extremity joints in the writing process and some guidance to assist clinicians in devising treatment strategies for movement-related handwriting problems. While we observed differences in proximal joint movements between the children with and without handwriting difficulties, the extent to which they are responsible for the differences in drawing quality remains to be determined. Further studies should use a similar methodology to examine additional tasks such as drawing shapes of varying sizes.

Tachycardia and hypertension enhance tracer efflux from the spinal cord

BackgroundDisruption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/interstitial fluid (ISF) exchange in the spinal cord is likely to contribute to central nervous system (CNS) diseases that involve abnormal fluid accumulation, including spinal cord oedema and syringomyelia. However, the physiological factors that govern fluid transport in the spinal cord are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of cardiac pulsations and respiration on tracer signal increase, indicative of molecular movement following infusion into the spinal cord grey or white matter.MethodsIn Sprague Dawley rats, physiological parameters were manipulated such that the effects of spontaneous breathing (generating alternating positive and negative intrathoracic pressures), mechanical ventilation (positive intrathoracic pressure only), tachycardia (heart atrial pacing), as well as hypertension (pharmacologically induced) were separately studied. Since fluid outflow from the spinal cord cannot be directly measured, we assessed the molecular movement of fluorescent ovalbumin (AFO-647), visualised by an increase in tracer signal, following injection into the cervicothoracic spinal grey or white matter.ResultsTachycardia and hypertension increased AFO-647 tracer efflux, while the concomitant negative and positive intrathoracic pressures generated during spontaneous breathing did not when compared to the positive-pressure ventilated controls. Following AFO-647 tracer injection into the spinal grey matter, increasing blood pressure and heart rate resulted in increased tracer movement away from the injection site compared to the hypotensive, bradycardic animals (hypertension: p = 0.05, tachycardia: p < 0.0001). Similarly, hypertension and tachycardia produced greater movement of AFO-647 tracer longitudinally along the spinal cord following injection into the spinal white matter (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Tracer efflux was strongly associated with all blood vessel types.ConclusionsArterial pulsations have profound effects on spinal cord interstitial fluid homeostasis, generating greater tracer efflux than intrathoracic pressure changes that occur over the respiratory cycle, demonstrated by increased craniocaudal CSF tracer movement in the spinal cord parenchyma.

Hip Flexibility and Pitching Biomechanics in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers.

Inadequate hip active range of motion (AROM) may stifle the energy flow through the kinematic chain and decrease pitching performance while increasing the risk for pitcher injury. To examine the relationship between hip AROM and pitching biomechanics during a fastball pitch in adolescent baseball pitchers. Cross-sectional study. Biomechanics laboratory. A sample of 21 adolescent male baseball pitchers (age = 16.1 ± 0.8 years, height = 183.9 ± 5.2 cm, mass = 77.9 ± 8.3 kg). Bilateral hip external-rotation (ER), internal-rotation, flexion, abduction, and extension AROM were measured. Three-dimensional biomechanics were assessed as participants threw from an indoor pitching mound to a strike-zone net at regulation distance. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were used to determine relationships between hip AROM and biomechanical metrics. Negative correlations were found at foot contact between back-hip ER AROM and torso-rotation angle (r = -0.468, P = .03), back-hip ER AROM and back-hip abduction angle (r = -0.474, P = .03), and back-hip abduction AROM and lead-hip abduction angle (r = -0.458, P = .04). Back-hip extension AROM was positively correlated with increased stride length (r = 0.446, P = .043). Lead-hip abduction AROM was also positively correlated with normalized elbow-varus torque (r = 0.464, P = .03). We observed several relationships between hip AROM and biomechanical variables during the pitching motion. These findings support the influence that hip AROM can have on pitching biomechanics. Overall, greater movement at the hips allows the kinematic chain to work at maximal efficiency, increasing the pitch velocity potential.