scholarly journals A Perturbation Platform System for Balance Testing and Rehabilitation Interventions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey Pew ◽  
Soroosh Sadeh ◽  
Richard R. Neptune ◽  
Hao-Yuan Hsiao
Keyword(s):  
Single Mode ◽  
The United States ◽  
Original Position ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Balance Testing ◽  
Portable System ◽  
Platform System ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Falling is a leading cause of injury and death in the United States. Researchers and clinicians strive to identify and rehabilitate those at risk of falling in order to mitigate the impact of fall events and prevent future falls. Recently, perturbation-based balance testing and interventions have received increased attention, partly because reactive postural control responses triggered by perturbations are important for balance recovery during actual falls. However, current systems are limited by the need for multiple individuals to operate the device, downtime between trials to reset the perturbation and/or single mode functionality. To this end, we have developed a Perturbation Platform System that can induce perturbations in both vertical and angled directions. Results The system consists of two box platforms that can individually perform straight (25.4 mm, 50.8 mm and 76.2 mm) and angled (5°, 10°, and 15°) height changes while an individual is standing or walking overground. In addition, the system can automatically reset to the original position following perturbation. The platform achieves peak downward accelerations of 5.41 m/s2 during drop events that simulate sudden changes in foot-contact surfaces. Conclusions The novel system can be used in a laboratory setting to better understand balance response and control mechanisms. In addition, this portable system can be used in a clinical or home setting to provide perturbation-based balance exercises that aim to improve balance and mobility.

Air Emissions from the Incineration of Hazardous Waste

1990 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 23-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Timothy Oppelt
Keyword(s):  
Hazardous Waste ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
State Level ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
The United States ◽  
Air Emissions ◽  
Operational Experience ◽  
Large Measure ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

In the United States over the last ten years, concern over important disposal practices of the past has manifested itself in the passage of a series of federal and state-level hazardous waste cleanup and control statutes of unprecedented scope. The impact of these various statutes will be a significant modification of waste management practices. The more traditional and lowest cost methods of direct landfilling, storage in surface impoundments and deep-well injection will be replaced, in large measure, by waste minimization at the source of generation, waste reuse, physical/chemical/biological treatment, incinceration and chemical stabilization/solidification methods. Of all of the “terminal” treatment technologies, properly-designed incineration systems are capable of the highest overall degree of destruction and control for the broadest range of hazardous waste streams. Substantial design and operational experience exists and a wide variety of commercial systems are available. Consequently, significant growth is anticipated in the use of incineration and other thermal destruction methods. The objective of this paper is to examine the current state of knowledge regarding air emissions from hazardous waste incineration in an effort to put the associated technological and environmental issues into perspective.

The influence of behavioural and organisational characteristics on the success of international strategic alliances

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleema Kauser ◽  
Vivienne Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Strategic Alliance ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Alliance Performance ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
International Strategic Alliances ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

With the current trend toward globalisation and the increasing competitive and technological challenges of today's environment the formation of international strategic alliances has become an important part of many firm's international business strategies. Experience with international strategic alliances has shown that they face a number of problems, which can often result in the termination of the alliance. This study, therefore, aims to assess the impact of both behavioural and organisational characteristics on the success of international strategic alliances. The results show that behavioural characteristics play a more significant role in explaining overall alliance performance compared to organisational characteristics. High levels of commitment, trust, coordination, interdependence and communication are found to be good predictors of international strategic alliance success. Conflict, meanwhile, is found to hamper good performance. By contrast organisational characteristics such as structure and control mechanisms are found not to strongly influence the success of international strategic alliances.

scholarly journals The impact of British public opinion on women’s relationships with American GIs in Gloucestershire 1942-1946.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Abigail Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Female Sexuality ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Sexual Agency ◽  
The Public ◽  
Women's Relationships ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The main focus of this study is to determine the impact of public opinion on women’s relationships with American GIs in Gloucestershire 1942-1946. This involves understanding the scope of the relationships that were had and how race determined the way women who fraternised with US troops were portrayed to the public. Its primary aim is to provide new understanding of a subject that is under researched in Gloucestershire. Much attention has been given to the presence and impact of American soldiers in the Britain during the Second World War. However, no study has directly focused on Gloucestershire. This thesis also aims to understand if public opinion regarding women’s relationships with American soldiers impacted their sexual agency. Two main methods are used, the textual analysis of primary sources and the use of oral history accounts. The research reveals that sexual relationships with American soldiers added to the existing apprehension that surrounded female sexuality. Many local women had relationships with American soldiers, which aggravated some members of the public and the local authorities, especially if the soldier was black. Young working-class girls and women were particularly singled out for their immoral behaviour towards the US troops. The research also reveals that women in Gloucestershire expressed indifference and defiance towards the often-disapproving public opinion and control mechanisms implemented to influence the sexual agency of women. This thesis contributes to women’s history in Gloucestershire, uncovering a period of the county’s history that until now has not been researched.

scholarly journals Navy Beans Impact the Stool Metabolome and Metabolic Pathways for Colon Health in Cancer Survivors

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Baxter ◽  
Renee Oppel ◽  
Elizabeth Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Navy Bean ◽  
Acute Response ◽  
Navy Beans ◽  
The Impact

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and emerging evidence supports that increased consumption of legumes, such as navy beans, can reduce risk. Navy bean consumption was previously shown to modulate host and microbiome metabolism, and this investigation was performed to assess the impact on the human stool metabolome, which includes the presence of navy bean metabolites. This 4-week, randomized-controlled trial with overweight and obese CRC survivors involved consumption of 1 meal and 1 snack daily. The intervention contained 35 g of cooked navy bean or macronutrient matched meals and snacks with 0 g of navy beans for the control group (n = 18). There were 30 statistically significant metabolite differences in the stool of participants that consumed navy bean at day 28 compared to the participants’ baseline (p ≤ 0.05) and 26 significantly different metabolites when compared to the control group. Of the 560 total metabolites identified from the cooked navy beans, there were 237 possible navy bean-derived metabolites that were identified in the stool of participants consuming navy beans, such as N-methylpipecolate, 2-aminoadipate, piperidine, and vanillate. The microbial metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids were also identified in stool after 4 weeks of navy bean intake including cadaverine, hydantoin-5 propionic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, and caprylate. The stool relative abundance of ophthalmate increased 5.25-fold for navy bean consumers that can indicate glutathione regulation, and involving cancer control mechanisms such as detoxification of xenobiotics, antioxidant defense, proliferation, and apoptosis. Metabolic pathways involving lysine, and phytochemicals were also modulated by navy bean intake in CRC survivors. These metabolites and metabolic pathways represent an acute response to increased navy bean intake, which merit further investigation for improving colonic health after long-term consumption.

scholarly journals Connected Play in Virtual Worlds: Communication and Control Mechanisms in Virtual Worlds for Children and Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Yao Du ◽  
Thomas D. Grace ◽  
Krithika Jagannath ◽  
Katie Salen-Tekinbas
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Multiplayer Games ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Platform Comparison ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Technology plays an essential role in shaping youth’s communication and social interactions in online multiplayer games. Due to physical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 global pandemic, online multiplayer games like Minecraft and Roblox are well-positioned to amplify healthy communication/social connections and mitigate the impact of social isolation. Research so far has been focused on how these gaming environments support youth development from the perspectives of individual stakeholders (e.g., caregivers, educators, designers, and developers). However, features of these games, such as communication and parental controls, are often misaligned with the ways in which children develop communication and social skills. Using a series of case studies of popular virtual worlds and online games, this paper provides an analysis of critical design features that serve youth throughout different stages of childhood and early adolescence. We offer three main contributions: (a) a comparison matrix of similarities and differences in communication and control features between platforms; (b) an evaluation of design features in selected virtual world platforms that promote safe and positive social interactions; and (c) a method for cross-platform comparison aimed at helping researchers, designers, and practitioners examine specific dimensions of social communication and play experience in virtual worlds.

scholarly journals The Impact of Insect Herbivory in the Level of Cannabinoids in CBD Hemp Varieties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Jackson ◽  
Lenneisha Gilbert ◽  
Tigist Tolosa ◽  
Shellyann Henry ◽  
Victoria Volkis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicoverpa Zea ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Insect Herbivory ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
The United States ◽  
Corn Earworm ◽  
Herbivore Damage ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In the United States, industrial hemp is defined as a Cannabis sativa L. plant not containing more than 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9THC) by dry weight. Plants respond to insect herbivore damage by changing their chemistry to counter the effects of herbivore attack. Here, we hypothesized that the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) infestation might impact the level of cannabinoids (Cannabidiol (CBD) and D9THC). Results In a laboratory trial, the CBD hemp, Cherry Blossom, and The Wife varieties were subjected to herbivore damage (HD), Mechanical damage (MD), and Control. After 24hrs of the treatments, we found a significant increase in CBD and D9THC in HD plants compared with MD and Control plants. Similar experiments were conducted in the field condition. A substantial increase in CBD and D9THC observed in herbivore damaged hemp plants compared to the control plants. However, in the field trial, the levels of cannabinoids were not significantly higher in The wife variety. Interestingly, the Corn earworm larvae fed with CBD and D9THC spiked diet showed a significant reduction in body mass, as compared to the larvae fed with the control diets.ConclusionsThe level of cannabinoids seems not genetically fixed somewhat; it is affected by insect herbivory. Our results suggest that CBD hemp plants are exposed to insect herbivory spikes in cannabinoid production and surpass the 0.3 % legal limit of D9THC. The growth and development of Corn earworm, the number one hemp pest in North America affected by cannabinoids. The increased concentration of CBD and D9THC observed in herbivore damaged hemp plants might be associated with the direct deterrence of the corn earworm larvae. Further research underway using different hemp varieties to assess if herbivory and other biotic stressors impact the level of cannabinoids.

scholarly journals Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on documented cases of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Banholzer ◽  
Eva van Weenen ◽  
Bernhard Kratzwald ◽  
Arne Seeliger ◽  
Daniel Tschernutter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Credible Interval ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Global Epidemic ◽  
Country Analysis ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly evolved into a global epidemic. To control its spread, countries have implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as school or border closures, while others have even enforced complete lockdowns. Here we study the impact of NPIs in reducing documented cases of COVID-19. Documented case numbers are selected because they are essential for decision-makers in the area of health-policy when monitoring and evaluating current control mechanisms.MethodsWe empirically estimate the relative reduction in the number of new cases attributed to each NPI. A cross-country analysis is performed using documented cases through April 15, 2020 from n = 20 countries (i.e., the United States, Canada, Australia, the EU-15 countries, Norway, and Switzerland).ResultsAs of April 15, venue closures were associated with a reduction in the number of new cases by 36 % (95% credible interval [CrI] 20–48 %), closely followed by gathering bans (34 %; 95% CrI 21–45 %), border closures (31 %; 95% CrI 19–42 %), and work bans on non-essential business activities (31 %; 95% CrI 16–44 %). Event bans lead to a slightly less pronounced reduction (23 %; 95% CrI 8–35 %). School closures (8 %; 95% CrI 0–23 %) and lockdowns (5 %; 95% CrI 0–14 %) appeared to be the least effective among the NPIs considered in this analysis.ConclusionsWith this cross-country analysis, we provide early estimates regarding the impact of different NPIs for controlling the COVID-19 epidemic. These findings are relevant for evaluating current health-policies.

scholarly journals State-level needs for social distancing and contact tracing to contain COVID-19 in the United States 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihsueh A. Chiu ◽  
Rebecca Fischer ◽  
Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Epidemic Curve ◽  
Dynamics And Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Starting in mid-May 2020, many US states began relaxing social distancing measures that were put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. To evaluate the impact of relaxation of restrictions on COVID-19 dynamics and control, we developed a transmission dynamic model and calibrated it to US state-level COVID-19 cases and deaths. We used this model to evaluate the impact of social distancing, testing and contact tracing on the COVID-19 epidemic in each state. As of July 22, 2020, we found only three states were on track to curtail their epidemic curve. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia may have to double their testing and/or tracing rates and/or rolling back reopening by 25%, while eight states require an even greater measure of combined testing, tracing, and distancing. Increased testing and contact tracing capacity is paramount for mitigating the recent large-scale increases in U.S. cases and deaths.

scholarly journals Medical Capacity Shortages Facilitated the Rapid Dissemination of COVID-19 in Wuhan, New York State, and Italy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuehao Xu ◽  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Lixian Qian
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
York State ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Rapid Dissemination ◽  
City State ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

AbstractDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, every public health system faced the potential challenge of medical capacity shortages. Infections without timely diagnosis or treatment may facilitate the stealth transmission and spread of the virus. Using infection and medical capacity information reported in Wuhan in China, New York State in the United States, and Italy, we developed a dynamic susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered (SEIR) model to estimate the impact of medical capacity shortages during the COVID-19 outbreak at the city, state, and country levels. After accounting for the effects of travel restrictions and control measures, we find that the number of infections in Wuhan could have been 39% lower than the actual number if the medical capacity were doubled in this city. Similarly, we find the less shortages in medical capacity in both New York state and Italy, the faster decline in the daily infection numbers and the fewer deaths. This study provides a method for estimating potential shortages and explains how they may dynamically facilitate disease spreading during future pandemics such as COVID-19.

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