Measuring Kinematic Response to Perturbed Locomotion in Young Adults

Daily life activities often require humans to perform locomotion in challenging scenarios. In this context, this study aimed at investigating the effects induced by anterior-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) perturbations on walking. Through this aim, the experimental protocol involved 12 participants who performed three tasks on a treadmill consisting of one unperturbed and two perturbed walking tests. Inertial measurement units were used to gather lower limb kinematics. Parameters related to joint angles, as the range of motion (ROM) and its variability (CoV), as well as the inter-joint coordination in terms of continuous relative phase (CRP) were computed. The AP perturbation seemed to be more challenging causing differences with respect to normal walking in both the variability of the ROM and the CRP amplitude and variability. As ML, only the ankle showed different behavior in terms of joint angle and CRP variability. In both tasks, a shortening of the stance was found. The findings should be considered when implementing perturbed rehabilitative protocols for falling reduction.

Effects of Tai-Chi Chuan Practice on Patterns and Stability of Lower Limb Inter-Joint Coordination During Obstructed Gait in the Elderly

Losing balance or tripping during obstacle-crossing is one of the most frequent causes of falls in the elderly. As a low speed, low impact exercise, Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) can be promising in helping the elderly develop strategies for improved balance, inter-joint coordination, and end-point control during obstacle-crossing. This study investigates the effects of TCC training on the patterns and variability of the lower-limb inter-joint coordination during obstacle-crossing in the elderly. Fifteen older TCC practitioners and 15 healthy controls crossed obstacles of three different heights, while sagittal angles (x) and angular velocities (x′) of the hips, knees and ankles were measured and their phase angles obtained. The continuous relative phases (CRP) of the hip-knee and knee-ankle coordination were also calculated. The standard deviations of the CRP curve points were averaged to obtain deviation phase (DP) values for the stance and swing phases. The TCC group was found to cross obstacles with increased leading and trailing toe-clearances with unaltered CRP values when the swing toe was above the obstacle. Long-term TCC training altered the patterns and magnitudes of the CRPs primarily over double-limb support and significantly reduced the variabilities of leading knee-ankle and trailing hip-knee and knee-ankle CRP curves over the crossing cycle, regardless of obstacle height. The current results suggest that long-term TCC practice was helpful for a crossing strategy with significantly increased foot-obstacle clearances and reduced variability of the way the motions of the lower limb joints are coordinated during obstacle-crossing. These benefits may be explained by the long-lasting effects of continuous practice of the slow movement patterns emphasizing between-limb transfer of body weight in TCC.

Special directions of improving the efficiency of prevention and combating domestic violence (on the example of the work of the National police of the Kharkiv region)

Problem setting. According to the information of the National Service of Ukraine for 2020, state bodies that counteract domestic violence recorded 211,353 appeals for cases of such offenses. This is four times more than in 2019 (225). Thus, 180921 appeals were received from women, 27676 from men and 2756 from children [1]. Also in 2020, 921 individuals were convicted of domestic violence in Ukraine. Analysis of recent research. Important issues regarding the problem of combating domestic violence were discussed by such scientists as: O. Bandurka, O. Bezpalova, A. blaga, A. Galai, V. Galay, O.Juzha, L. Kryzhna, O. Kostyr, Yu. Krupka, K. Levchenko, O. Litvinov, G. Moshak, M. Panov, S. Pronevich, Ya. Sotak, O.Sstarkov, etc. In the works of these scientists, a thorough analysis of the use of international experience, determination of effective directions and measures to prevent and counter domestic violence was carried out. Purpose and objectives of the study. The purpose of the study is to investigate and analyze the actions of the National Police of Ukraine, which are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of combating domestic violence, and explore the experience of EU law enforcement agencies in responding to domestic violence. Tasks of the research are: to provide proposals on the directions of effective response of the National Police of Ukraine to cases of domestic violence; to highlight the need for interaction of National Police units with other structures of executive authorities and local self-government. Scientific novelty of research. The study considers proposals to increase the efficiency of the National Police in combating domestic violence, as well as ways to implement them. The interaction of the National Police with local executive bodies and local self-government is considered. Article’s main body. The article considers the importance of prevention and counteraction to domestic violence, as well as the functioning of the National Police of Ukraine in this field of law enforcement, observance of human rights and freedoms, legal grounds for preventing domestic violence, both in Ukraine and in the EU. The provisions of the current legislation of Ukraine concerning the peculiarities of bringing to responsibility for committing domestic violence are analyzed. The need to strengthen responsibility for domestic violence is determined. The attention is focused on strengthening the legislative activity of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the adoption of new laws on the legal regulation of domestic violence. Conclusions. Based on the research, we express suggestions for improving the work of the National Police of Ukraine in combating domestic violence, in particular: (1) taking into account the experience of the mobile groups of the National Police in combating domestic violence in the Kharkiv region, to prepare and submit to the Department of the NPU proposals for improving regulatory documents on this area of work taking into account the experience of the police of European countries; (2) to take measures to ensure effective interaction of mobile teams of social and psychological assistance (Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine) with mobile response groups (National Police of Ukraine), including: compatible visits to messages, exchange of information, joint coordination meetings, organization of classes for initial training, retraining and training of members of these groups ect.

PKM Konveksi Sebagai Sarana Pengembangan Industri Kreatif Di Desa Kebonagung Kecamatan Pakisaji Kabupaten Malang

UMKM convection is a business that must be strengthened in relation to the implementation of the MEA. Srawung Convection UMKM which are partners for the Community Partnership Program have existed in Kebonagung Village, Pakisaji District, Malang Regency since 2014. The existence of Srawung Convection UMKM is very much felt by Vocational High Schools (SMK) in the City and District of Malang as an internship place to train clothing making skills t-shirts/t-shirts. Thus indirectly the existence of Srawung Convection UMKM helps overcome unemployment in the City and Regency of Malang through the creation of new t-shirt convection business actors. The problems that were agreed with Srawung Convection UMKM were: 1) Production aspects and 2) Economic aspects. Based on the results of the meeting and joint coordination with the Srawung Convection UMKM, it was agreed that the above problems were resolved by the following methods: 1) Convection UMKM Productivity Improvement Program which included: procurement and training of single needle sewing machines, procurement and training of chain sewing machines, and cloth cutting machines and 2) Convection UMKM Management Aspect Improvement Program which includes: business management training, production management training, marketing training, production planning training, financial management training, inventory training, marketing training, and HR management training. The results of the implementation of the PKM program: 1) The productivity of Srawung Convection UMKM increased by 100%, 2) The ability of the management aspects of Srawung Convection UMKM increased by 100%

Arch-Support Induced Changes in Foot-Ankle Coordination in Young Males with Flatfoot during Unplanned Gait Termination

Objective: The efficacy of arch orthoses in posture adjustment and joint coordination improvement during steady-state gait is well documented; however, the biomechanical changes of gait sub-tasks caused by arch support (AS), especially during gait termination, are poorly understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate how the acute arch-supporting intervention affects foot–ankle coordination and coordination variability (CV) in individuals with flatfoot during unplanned gait termination (UGT). Methods: Twenty-five male patients with flatfoot were selected as subjects participated in this AS manipulation study. A motion capture system was used for the collection of the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) and ankle kinematics during UGT. MPJ-Ankle coordination and CV were quantified using an optimized vector coding technique during the three sub-phases of UGT. A paired-sample t-test from the one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping of one-dimensional was applied to examine the data significance. Results: Significant differences for the joint kinematics between non-arch-support (NAS) and AS were exhibited only in the MPJ transverse plane during the middle and later periods of UGT (p = 0.04–0.026). Frontal plane MPJ-ankle coordination under AS during stimulus delay significantly decreased from 177.16 ± 27.41° to 157.75 ± 32.54° compared with under NAS (p = 0.026); however, the coordination pattern had not changed. Moreover, no significant difference was found in the coupling angle variability between NAS and AS in three planes during sub-phases of UGT (all p > 0.5). Conclusions: The detailed intrinsic characteristic of AS induced acute changes in lower extremity segment coordination in patients with mild flatfoot has been recorded. This dataset on foot-ankle coordination characteristics during UGT is essential for explaining foot function and injury prediction concerning AS manipulation. Further studies are expected to reflect lower limb inter-joint coordination during gait termination through the long-term effects of AS orthoses.

Analysis of Gait Characteristics Using Hip-Knee Cyclograms in Patients with Hemiplegic Stroke

Gait disturbance is a common sequela of stroke. Conventional gait analysis has limitations in simultaneously assessing multiple joints. Therefore, we investigated the gait characteristics in stroke patients using hip-knee cyclograms, which have the advantage of simultaneously visualizing the gait kinematics of multiple joints. Stroke patients (n = 47) were categorized into two groups according to stroke severity, and healthy controls (n = 32) were recruited. An inertial measurement unit sensor-based gait analysis system, which requires placing seven sensors on the dorsum of both feet, the shafts of both tibias, the middle of both femurs, and the lower abdomen, was used for the gait analysis. Then, the hip-knee cyclogram parameters (range of motion, perimeter, and area) were obtained from the collected data. The coefficient of variance of the cyclogram parameters was obtained to evaluate gait variability. The cyclogram parameters differed between the stroke patients and healthy controls, and differences according to stroke severity were also observed. The gait variability parameters mainly differed in patients with more severe stroke, and specific visualized gait patterns of stroke patients were obtained through cyclograms. In conclusion, the hip-knee cyclograms, which show inter-joint coordination and visualized gait cycle in stroke patients, are clinically significant.

Modality-specific attractor dynamics in dyadic entrainment

Rhythmic joint coordination is ubiquitous in daily-life human activities. In order to coordinate their actions towards shared goals, individuals need to co-regulate their timing and move together at the collective level of behavior. Remarkably, basic forms of coordinated behavior tend to emerge spontaneously as long as two individuals are exposed to each other’s rhythmic movements. The present study investigated the dynamics of spontaneous dyadic entrainment, and more specifically how they depend on the sensory modalities mediating informational coupling. By means of a novel interactive paradigm, we showed that dyadic entrainment systematically takes place during a minimalistic rhythmic task despite explicit instructions to ignore the partner. Crucially, the interaction was organized by clear dynamics in a modality-dependent fashion. Our results showed highly consistent coordination patterns in visually-mediated entrainment, whereas we observed more chaotic and more variable profiles in the auditorily-mediated counterpart. The proposed experimental paradigm yields empirical evidence for the overwhelming tendency of dyads to behave as coupled rhythmic units. In the context of our experimental design, it showed that coordination dynamics differ according to availability and nature of perceptual information. Interventions aimed at rehabilitating, teaching or training sensorimotor functions can be ultimately informed and optimized by such fundamental knowledge.