Stance Support Research Articles

Attentional concentration during physiotherapeutic intervention improves gait and trunk control in patients with stroke

The restoration of motor function is important in daily life in patients with brain damage. Although attentional concentration can affect motor function, most physical therapists focus only on therapeutic exercise. Therefore, we investigated changes in motor function in patients with high attentional concentration during our intervention. A total of 21 subjects diagnosed with stroke participated in the study. They were divided into the high attentional concentration group and low attentional concentration group based on the self-programmed attention index. The subjects underwent trunk strengthening and gait training for 30 min per session, twice a day, 5 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks. All patients wore electroencephalogram (EEG) devices during the treatment to enable EEG examinations. Diagnostic ultrasound was used to measure muscles of the abdomen: external oblique abdominal, internal oblique abdominal, transversus abdominis, and rectus abdominal muscles. A trunk impairment scale was used to evaluate trunk control. We used Gaitrite to measure the spatial and temporal components during gait. The group with high attentional concentration showed significant differences in abdominal muscle strength and trunk control. In gait, there was a significant difference in swing cycle, stance cycle, single cycle, double support cycle, stance time, and double support time. Therefore, attentional concentration should be considered to improve motor function as a part of therapeutic exercises for stroke patients.

SPACE, Parent-Based Treatment for Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety: Clinical Case Illustration

Efficacious treatments for childhood anxiety disorders include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medications, yet there is urgent need for additional efficacious treatment modalities. Parent-based treatment provides such an alternative. Recent literature has supported that SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an entirely parent-based treatment, is as efficacious as CBT in reducing child anxiety. SPACE focuses on systematically reducing family accommodation, or changes to parental behavior aimed at alleviating or avoiding a child's distress related to their anxiety disorder, while maintaining a supportive stance toward the child. To date, SPACE is the only intervention that places the reduction of parental accommodation at the center of its theoretical foundation and treatment objectives. This article provides theoretical and empirical background for SPACE and illustrates its implementation through a case description.

Assessment of Human Dynamic Gait Stability With a Lower Extremity Assistive Device.

This paper focuses on assessing gait stability by metrics derived from dynamical systems theory to understand the influence of unilateral robot assistance on the human walking pattern. A motorized assistive robot is applied to the right knee joint to provide stance support. The metrics related to global stability (the maximum Floquet multiplier, max FM), local stability (short-term and long-term divergence exponents, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]), and variability (median absolute deviation, MAD) are considered. These metrics are derived for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle joint angles. Additionally, a biomechanical metric, the minimum margin of stability is assessed. Experiments are conducted on 11 healthy participants with different robot controllers. The max FM and [Formula: see text] yield statistically significant results, showing that the unassisted (left) leg is more stable in right knee assistance conditions when compared to the normal walking condition due to inter-limb coordination. Moreover, MAD and [Formula: see text] show that the variability and chaotic order of walking pattern during assistance are lower than those of normal walking. The proposed control strategy (automatic impedance tuning, AIT) improves local and orbital gait stability compared to existing controllers such as finite-state machine (FSM). The assessment of dynamic gait stability presented in this paper provides insights for further improving control strategies of assistive robots to help a user reach improved gait stability while maintaining appropriate variability.

파리협정 제6.4조 지속가능발전메커니즘의 베이스라인 방법론 분석과 우리나라 협상 입장 연구

Under article 6 of the Paris Agreement, parties are allowed flexible methods to meet their nationally determined contribution (NDC) target. Article 6.4 provides one flexible scheme, the sustainable development mechanism (SDM), by establishing a baseline‐and‐crediting‐based market mechanism. Since 2016, international negotiation on elaboration of the rules․modalities․procedures for the SDM has been undertaken as part of the Paris rule book. In the negotiation, an essential issue is the baseline methodology to be adopted or prioritized of four representative methodologies of i) business‐as‐usual (BAU)‐based methodology, ii) historical emission methodology, iii) performance‐based methodology, and iv) best‐available technology (BAT) methodology. Currently, developed countries prefer BAT and performance‐based methodologies. On the contrary, developing countries support inclusion of BAU and historical emission methodologies. The Korean government has taken a stance in support of BAU methodology. Under this context, this paper attempts to analyze the characteristics of each methodology on the basis of four elements that determine balanced operation of the crediting‐based market mechanism and the merits and demerits of each methodology. With analytical results, this paper provides policy implications for Korea’s future negotiation.

Design of a Semi-Powered Stance-Control Swing-Assist Transfemoral Prosthesis.

This paper describes the design of a new type of knee prosthesis called a stance-control, swing-assist (SCSA) knee prosthesis. The device is motivated by the recognition that energetically-passive stance-controlled microprocessor-controlled knees (SCMPKs) offer many desirable characteristics, such as quiet operation, low weight, high-impedance stance support, and an inertially-driven swing-phase motion. Due to the latter, however, SCMPKs are also highly susceptible to swing-phase perturbations, which can increase the likelihood of falling. The SCSA prosthesis supplements the behavior of an SCMPK with a small motor that maintains the low output impedance of the SCMPK swing state, while adding a supplemental closed-loop controller around it. This paper elaborates upon the motivation for the SCSA prosthesis, describes the design of a prosthesis prototype, and provides human-subject testing data that demonstrates potential device benefits relative to an SCMPK during both non-perturbed and perturbed walking.

P4699Gait pattern and muscle oxygen saturation changes act synergistically to improve exercise tolerance after multimodal training in patients with symptomatic lower extremity artery disease

Abstract Introduction Patients with atherosclerotic lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) have impaired walking capacities leading to decreased quality of life. Previous studies showed that LEAD patients also have altered gait pattern (decrease speed, cadence and step length, and increased stance phase). Reduced strength and endurance of lower limb muscles play a major implication in these adaptations. Supervised exercise training (SET) is effective in improving walking performances in symptomatic LEAD patients. However, there is no clear consensus whether SET also influences gait pattern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of SET on gait pattern and calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) changes. Methods Fontaine stage II LEAD's patients following a 3-month multimodal (Nordic walking and lower limbs strengthening) SET were investigated. Constant-load treadmill incline walking test (2.5–3.2 km/h at 12%) was used to determine pain-free walking distance (PFWD) and maximal walking distance (MWD). During the treadmill test, spatiotemporal parameters (Physilogs®, GaitUp, Switzerland) and calf StO2 (NIRS, PortaMon, Artinis, The Netherlands) were assessed at baseline, PFWD and MWD. Ankle-brachial Index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) were also measured. All assessments were performed prior and after SET. Results Twenty stage II LEAD patients (62.7±2.4 yr, 80% men, 75% stage IIa) were included. Following SET, PFWD (98.5±10.0 pre- vs. 177.0±31.7m post-SET; P=0.012), and MWD (396.0±62.6 pre- vs. 633.0±107.4m post-SET; P=0.01) significantly increased. ABI (0.85±0.05 pre- vs. 0.85±0.03 post-SET; P=0.96) and TBI (0.61±0.03 pre- vs. 0.65±0.04 post-SET; P=0.07) did not change significantly. Following SET, patients had significantly shorter stride duration (−3%, P=0.05), higher cadence (+3%, P=0.04), longer double support (+10%, P=0.04), shorter swing (−3%, P=0.03), and longer stance duration phase (+2%, P=0.03). In addition, after SET patients also had significantly longer duration of the loading response (+9%, P=0.04) and foot-flat (+3%, P=0.04), and shorter duration of the push-off phase (−8%, P=0.01). Stride length was shorter although not significant (−2%, P=0.13). After SET, delta StO2 (baseline=0) was greater at PFWD (+33%) and at MWD (+68%; P=0.05, with no significant interaction effect). Conclusions These results confirm beneficial effects of SET on walking performances. After SET, the prolonged duration of loading response and foot-flat (stance sub-phases associated with limited calf muscles activation) may be a strategy to increase calf muscles oxygenation. The observed greater calf muscle oxygen desaturation (increased oxygen extraction) after SET may be related to an improved microvascular milieu leading to a better match between muscle oxygen delivery and utilization during exercise. Taken together, gait pattern and muscle oxygen desaturation changes may act synergistically to improve exercise tolerance in patients with LEAD. Acknowledgement/Funding None

Financial Conflicts of Interest and Stance on Tobacco Harm Reduction: A Systematic Review.

Background. Tobacco companies have actively promoted the substitution of cigarettes with purportedly safer tobacco products (e.g., smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes) as tobacco harm reduction (THR). Given the tobacco, e-cigarette, and pharmaceutical industries' substantial financial interests, we quantified industry influence on support for THR. Objectives. To analyze a comprehensive set of articles published in peer-reviewed journals assessing funding sources and support for or opposition to substitution of tobacco or nicotine products as harm reduction. Search Methods. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO with a comprehensive search string including all articles, comments, and editorials published between January 1, 1992, and July 26, 2016. Selection Criteria. We included English-language publications published in peer-reviewed journals addressing THR in humans and excluded studies on modified cigarettes, on South Asian smokeless tobacco variants, on pregnant women, on animals, not mentioning a tobacco or nicotine product, on US Food and Drug Administration-approved nicotine replacement therapies, and on nicotine vaccines. Data Collection and Analysis. We double-coded all articles for article type; primary product type (e.g., snus, e-cigarettes); themes for and against THR; stance on THR; THR concepts; funding or affiliation with tobacco, e-cigarette, pharmaceutical industry, or multiple industries; and each author's country. We fit exact logistic regression models with stance on THR as the outcome (pro- vs anti-THR) and source of funding or industry affiliation as the predictor taking into account sparse data. Additional models included article type as the outcome (nonempirical or empirical) and industry funding or affiliation as predictor, and stratified analyses for empirical and nonempirical studies with stance on THR as outcome and funding source as predictor. Main Results. Searches retrieved 826 articles, including nonempirical articles (21%), letters or commentaries (34%), editorials (5%), cross-sectional studies (15%), systematic reviews and meta-analyses (3%), and randomized controlled trials (2%). Overall, 23.9% disclosed support by industry; 49% of articles endorsed THR, 42% opposed it, and 9% took neutral or mixed positions. Support from the e-cigarette industry (odds ratio [OR] = 20.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.3, 180.7), tobacco industry (OR = 59.4; 95% CI = 10.1, +infinity), or pharmaceutical industry (OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.3, 3.7) was significantly associated with supportive stance on THR in analyses accounting for sparse data. Authors' Conclusions. Non-industry-funded articles were evenly divided in stance, while industry-funded articles favored THR. Because of their quantity, letters and comments may influence perceptions of THR when empirical studies lack consensus. Public Health Implications. Public health practitioners and researchers need to account for industry funding when interpreting the evidence in THR debates.

Walking impairments after severe tibia plateau fractures. A gait pattern analysis

PurposeTibia plateau fractures are severe knee injuries which have a great impact on the patients' lives, but in what extend is not clear yet in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term gait alternations after severe tibia plateau fractures treated with circular Ilizarov frame. Materials & methodsGait pattern evaluation was performed to patients who were treated with circular Ilizarov frame after severe tibia plateau fractures (Schatzker IV-VI), three to six months after the frame removal. Gait evaluation performed by using a force plate in a walking platform at self selected speeds. Data collected from two walking tasks for each limb. Demographic, clinical, radiological and quality of life questionnaire (SF-12v2) and COST data were also collected. ResultsThe gait pattern of sixteen patients (aged 48.8 ± 13.3 years), following treatment with circular Ilizarov frame for severe tibia plateau fractures (Schatzker IV-VI) was analysed. The tests were performed at an average of 10.4 months after the initial treatment. SF-12v2 Mental scores have returned to normal (mean 55.8 ± 11.9) but physical scores remained impaired (mean 40.6 ± 11.3). COST scores reached average levels (mean 54.1 ± 19.8).A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to compare the GRFs and gait timing data of the affected limb with the normal one. Single limb support interval was significantly reduced to the affected limb (p < 0.001) and terminal stance phase was prolonged for the normal limb (p = 0.05). The rest of the GRF and gait timing data did not reach significant differences. ConclusionsDuring the early stages of rehabilitation following severe tibia plateau fractures treated with circular Ilizarov frame, the gait pattern returns to normal curve morphology, but with reduced single limb support and terminal stance phases at the affected knee. Mental status returns to normal but symptoms and function remain impaired.

No Exit: Arab existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre, and decolonization by Yoav Di-Capua

Reviewed by: No Exit: Arab existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre, and decolonization by Yoav Di-Capua Hugo Zetterberg No Exit: Arab existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre, and decolonization By Yoav Di-Capua. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018. Jean-Paul Sartre is well known to scholars, students and general readers alike, and much has been written and commented on his work over the years. The same can also be said of French intellectuals' role in shaping the discussion of decolonisation—the work of James D. Le Sueur in particular stands out in this aspect.1 Focusing on Sartre but looking beyond the hexagon, Yoav Di-Capua fills an important scholarly gap as he shows the impact that the famous existentialist had on literature and society in independent Arab nations. Providing a thorough overview of the literary establishment mainly in Egypt and Lebanon, Di-Capua traces its transformation throughout the 1950s and 1960s and how it was influenced by Sartre. The book is organised to lead up to Sartre's visit to Egypt and Israel in 1967, with the first chapter explaining the background and introducing the main protagonists for the journey that was organised by Les Temps Modernes in order to make Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir acquainted with the dynamics of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The visits were followed by a special issue of the journal, containing articles by both Arab and Israeli writers and Sartre's Arab followers also expected him to take a public stance in support of Palestine. As Sartre and De Beauvoir instead came out in support of Israel on the eve of the 1967 war (a topic dealt with in the ninth chapter), the existentialist went from being seen as a hero to a traitor, and the Arab writers who had produced the impressive canon of wujudiyya or Arab existentialism severed their ties to Sartre. The second chapter takes a step back and introduces the reader to a number of leading writers in the pre-war and immediate post-war period and shows that some—notably Suhayl Idris—were more willing than others to adapt Sartrean existentialism to the context of Egyptian decolonisation. The third chapter continues with the theme of commitment and the debate that it caused between a newer generation who wished to be committed writers and the older pre-independence authors who believed in "art for art's sake" (79). The picture is further complicated by Communism, which also favoured commitment but of a different kind that did not require intellectual freedom. The fourth and fifth chapters explore the tensions that intellectuals faced as the Pan-Arab state encouraged a certain version of the intellectual and victimised those who diverged from their proscribed role. The sixth chapter turns to the reception of Sartre's works in the region before 1967 and shows that his philosophy often was confused with that of Camus. The seventh chapter provides a detailed overview of Sartre's global engagement, noting how his preface to Fanon's book made readers link him to violence. This, taken together with the importance of Sartrean concepts for understanding the cultural and social impact of (neo-)colonialism made Arab readers expect Sartre to support the Palestinian cause. Chapter eight, which covers the visit of Sartre and De Beauvoir to the region shows that neither philosopher–both sympathetic to the State of Israel as a consequence of having witnessed state Anti-Semitism in France–was prepared to question the Jewish state's right to exist. The ninth and concluding chapter outlines the aftermath of the trip, and the reactions to Sartre signing the open letter in support of Israel together with other French intellectuals. With an extensive survey of wujudiyya literature and its writers, Di-Capua convincingly demonstrates that Sartre did have an extensive impact on Arabic writing. The published sources are complemented with correspondence between Les Temps Modernes and the Israeli and Arab co-organisers of the visit, as well as with official papers from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other archives in the country. This impressive body of source material is used to show what was at stake for each actor, whose life trajectory is conveyed to the reader through...

The Political Transformation of Golf in Modern South Korea

Since golf was introduced to South Korea in the early 1900s, it has been strongly influenced by the politics that reflects socio-political contexts. Therefore, it is important to explore the political influences of golf on the context of its socio-political transformation. In this study, we explored how social and political backgrounds under each of the political administrations have affected the development of golf in South Korea. For this purpose, we utilized the socio-historical approach through document analysis to summarize the golf-related policy stances of nine presidential administrations from the Syngman Rhee government (1948–1960) to Park Geun-hye government (2013–2017). As a result, the Syngman Rhee administration pursued the construction of golf courses to bolster national security. The military regimes of Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan constructed golf courses as a means of cementing support among military circles to establish political legitimacy, and also as a means of diplomacy. The Roh Tae-woo administration initiated a construction boom in golf courses to promote sports for all. The Kim Young-sam administration announced a ‘no golf’ stance, while Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun-both of whom had roots in the opposition-strove to encourage golf as a means of embracing their conservative counterparts while also diluting their progressive and contrarian image. Lee Myung-bak included golf among the core strategic tourist industries, while his successor, Park Geun-hye, first prohibited public officers from playing golf before pivoting to a supportive stance later on in her administration.

Revisiting the Druze Politics in Palestine under British Colonial Rule

There is an established literature which argues that the Druze of Palestine were either neutral during the Colonial period or supportive of the Zionist Agency and its plans. The aim of this research is to counter the Zionist narratives that promote the concept of Druze–Zionist cooperation. I argue that the Druze were supportive of the Palestinian-Arab cause, and they heavily participated in the anti-colonial activities of the Palestinians, politically and militarily. Their military participation was manifested in their participation in the events of 1929, 1936, and 1948. Politically, Sheikh Amin Tarif led the community in their stance against Zionism. This research will provide a new account and narrative for the Druze role in the events in mandatory Palestine, revealing their supportive stance to the Palestinian national struggle.

Spatiotemporal and kinematic changes in gait while carrying an energy harvesting assault pack system

Soldiers are fielded with a variety of equipment including battery powered electronic devices. An energy harvesting assault pack (EHAP) was developed to provide a power source to recharge batteries and reduce the quantity and load of extra batteries carried into the field. Little is known about the biomechanical implications of carrying a suspended-load energy harvesting system compared to the military standard assault pack (AP). Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the impact of pack type and load magnitude on spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters while walking at 1.34 m/s on an instrumented treadmill at decline, level, and incline grades. There was greater forward trunk lean while carrying the EHAP and the heavy load (decline: p < 0.001; level: p = 0.009; incline: p = 0.003). As load increased from light to heavy, double support stance time was longer (decline: p = 0.012; level: p < 0.001; incline: p < 0.001), strides were shorter (incline: p = 0.013), and knee flexion angle at heel strike was greater (decline: p = 0.033; level: p = 0.035; incline: p = 0.005). When carrying the EHAP, strides (decline: p = 0.007) and double support stance time (incline: p = 0.006) was longer, the knee was more flexed at heel strike (level: p = 0.014; incline: p < 0.001) and there was a smaller change in knee flexion during weight acceptance (decline: p = 0.0013; level: p = 0.007; incline: p = 0.0014). Carrying the EHAP elicits changes to gait biomechanics compared to carrying the standard AP. Understanding how load-suspension systems influence loaded gait biomechanics are warranted before transitioning these systems into military or recreational environments.

Pelvic belts and pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: influence on temporal and spatial gait parameters

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to analyze temporal and spatial parameters of gait during pregnancy in women with and without PGP, to evaluate the effect of pelvic belts on temporal and spatial gait parameters, and to compare two types of belts. A total of 46 pregnant women with PGP, 58 healthy pregnant women and 23 non-pregnant women were recruited. Temporal and spatial parameters were analysed by an walkway. Two pelvic belts for pregnant women were used. An analysis of variance for repeated measures were used. In pregnant women with PGP, compared to healthy pregnant women, gait cycle and stance phase times were lower and single support time was higher. Compared to the non-pregnant women, gait velocity and step length were lower. Stance phase and double support times were higher. During pregnancy, wearing a pelvic belt modified gait velocity, single support phase, step length, step width, stance phase and toe in/out in pregnant women with PGP. Gait adaptations in pregnant women with PGP showed nearly the same changes found in women without PGP. The belts had an effect on gait in pregnant women with PGP, probably through a biomechanical and proprioceptive mechanism.

Euro Area Policies: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Member Countries

This is a time to strengthen the resilience of the euro area and raise its long-term growth potential. Despite the recent slowdown and coming end of quantitative easing, growth remains strong and monetary conditions accommodative. Member countries should grasp the opportunity to address deep structural challenges, rebuild thin policy buffers, and rebalance externally. Mounting downside risks add urgency. The supportive monetary stance should be maintained until inflation is convincingly converging to objective. As net asset purchases draw to a close, clear forward guidance will become even more important.

Foot pressure analysis of gait pattern in older Japanese females requiring different personal care support levels.

[Purpose] This study evaluated gait parameters and foot pressure in two regions of the feet among older females with different personal care support needs to analyze factors that contribute to higher support requirements. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-two older females were divided into support-need and care-need level groups. Gait parameters (speed, cadence, step length, step width, gait angle, toe angle, double support phase, swing phase, and stance phase) and foot pressure during a 5-m walk were measured and analyzed in the two groups. [Results] The percentage of the double support phase on both feet and the right stance phase were significantly higher in the care-need level group, while that of the right swing phase was significantly lower than that of the support-need level group. Additionally, the phase showing peak pressure on the left rear foot was significantly delayed and the left forefoot pressure in the terminal stance was significantly lower in the care-need level group than in the support-need level group. [Conclusion] These findings show that the temporal duration parameters and foot pressure on a particular side were significantly different between the two groups and suggest that these differences were associated with a higher care level.

Doctor Anonymous: Creating Contexts for Homosexuality as Mental Illness.

In this essay, the author describes how he faced institutionalized homophobia during his psychiatric training, and how he later wrote a play inspired by the life of a gay psychiatrist. Despite Freud's supportive stance, homosexuality aroused the antipathy of American organized psychiatry and psychoanalysis and came to be listed as an illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Dr. John E. Fryer outed himself as "Dr. H Anonymous" at a 1972 meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, and the next year homosexuality was removed from the DSM. The 2014 play Doctor Anonymous offers a fictionalized account of this watershed moment in the history of the gay rights movement. The author discusses his own psychotherapeutic work with gay male patients, including those who had previously been treated with conversion therapy, and explores how the play mirrors his own life experience and the experience of his patients.

The relation between patient characteristics and their carers' use of a directive versus collaborative support stance.

Collaborative support provided by carers (family and friends) of individuals with eating disorders has been shown to be integral to patient motivation and clinical outcome. Little is known about factors that contribute to carers' use of collaborative, as opposed to directive, support stance. This exploratory research investigated associations between patient characteristics and carers' support beliefs and behaviors. Eating disorder patients (n = 72) completed measures of readiness for change, eating disorder, and psychiatric symptom severity, and interpersonal functioning. Their carers (n = 72) completed measures of collaborative and directive support. Patient demographic variables, readiness for change, and psychiatric symptom severity were not associated with carer beliefs or behaviors. However, some patient interpersonal functioning scores were; higher Domineering/Controlling scores were associated with carers viewing directive support as more helpful, and with their use of more directive support behaviors. Higher Vindictive/Self-Centered and Intrusive/Needy scores in patients were also associated with carers viewing directive support as more helpful. This exploratory study suggests that carers may be more prone to utilizing a directive, rather than a collaborative, support stance with patients experiencing higher levels of threat, anger, and hostility, and lower levels of safety, closeness, and trust.

Gaze position interferes in body sway in young adults.

Postural control is influenced by eye movements. Gaze fixation, which comprises a component of ocular vergence, is important in the acquisition of highly specific task information, but its relation to postural control is little investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of gaze fixation position (central and lateral fixations) on postural sway in young adults. Forty young adults with ages ranging from 20 to 35 years were invited to participate in the study. Postural sway was measured in quiet stance in bipedal support in three 60-s trials under the following conditions: gaze fixation on a target positioned in front of participant, gaze fixation on a target positioned on right side of participant, and gaze fixation on a target positioned on left side of participant. The following center of pressure parameters (COP) in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral directions (ML) were analyzed for each of the trials: body sway displacement, mean velocity of sway, root mean square (RMS) of sway, and median frequency. In addition, detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) exponent, in anteroposterior and medio-lateral directions, was calculated. The COP presented greater AP and ML displacement (p<0.03, effect size=1.37; and p<0.03, effect size=1.64, respectively) and RMS AP and ML (p<0.04, effect size=1.66; and p<0.02, effect size=2.50, respectively) for lateral gaze fixation compared to central gaze fixation. These results suggest that gaze fixation on a laterally positioned target increases body sway in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions.

Aquaponics in Urban Agriculture: Social Acceptance and Urban Food Planning

Aquaponics is emerging as a novel technology with particular potential for urban agriculture (UA). The social acceptance of aquaponics and its place in urban food planning has not previously been studied. This study used focus groups, key informant interviews, and scenario analyses to investigate the reactions of Adelaide’s urban food opinion leaders and local government area (LGA) officials to aquaponics. Most of the focus group participants were unfamiliar with aquaponics. The perceived negatives of the technology received greater attention than the perceived benefits. Aquaponics was thought to be most competitive in either niche or wholesale markets, with a need for scaled guidelines from backyard to large-scale commercial production. For aquaponics in urban settings the influence of urban planning and policy is an important, but to date unstudied, consideration. The urban growers’ opinions of the overcomplicated nature of urban food planning corresponded with the mixed policy responses of the LGAs towards UA. This further supports the participants’ desire for a supportive State Government stance on UA to encourage consistency in LGAs.

Immigration and public opinion in Australia

Recent opinion poll data on immigration policy confirm longstanding trends of majority opposition to the formal government position. But a breakdown of the attitudes of those with university education and those without reveals a much more supportive stance within the former group. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s