Determination of flexibility and mobility levels for female physical education students and motor asymmetry analysis

Background and Study Aim. The aim of the study is the determination of flexibility and mobility levels (norm values) for female physical education students and analyses of the motor asymmetry. Material and Methods. In the study, 10 female physical education and sport students whose mean body weight was 59.3 kg and body height were 167.7 centimeters were included. Flexibility and mobility performance was measured by using tests such as a Forward-Backward Split (FBS0), Leg Raise forward (LRF0), Leg Raise Sideward (LRS0), Side Spit (SS0), Arm-Trunk Angle (AT0), Seat and reach hip angle degree (SRHA0). Data analysis in the study was made by using the IBM SPSS statistics 26 program. To handle the results of the study, the Independent-samples T-test and percentile(s) statistics were used. Norm values were given in four categories (20th, 40th, 60th, 80th) and middle fifty (50th). Calculation of the angle degrees was made by using the Kinovea-0.9.4-x64.exe program. Results. The findings have shown that the forward-backward split and leg raise forward angle degree when the right leg was ahead is significantly higher (better flexibility) than the forward-backward split and leg raise forward angle degree when the left leg was ahead (p<0.05). However, differences in the leg raise sideward angle degree in the right and left leg were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions. The study determined the level (norm values) of flexibility and mobility of female physical education students. The right leg flexibility and mobility level resulted to be significantly higher in comparison to the left leg.

Indirect Reconstruction of Structural Responses Based on Transmissibility Concept and Matrix Regularization

A novel method is proposed based on the transmissibility concept and matrix regularization for indirectly measuring the structural responses. The inputs are some measured responses that are obtained via physical sensors. The outputs are the structural responses corresponding to some critical locations where no physical sensors are installed. Firstly, the transmissibility concept is introduced for expressing the relationship between the measured responses and the indirectly measured ones. Herein, a transmissibility matrix is formulated according to the theory of force identification under unknown initial conditions. Then, in order to reduce the size of the transmissibility matrix, structural responses are reshaped in a form of a matrix by using the concept of moving time windows. According to the matrix form of input-output relationship, indirect reconstruction of responses is boiled down to an optimization equation. Since inverse problem may be ill-conditioned, matrix regularization such as F-norm regularization is then recommended for improving the optimization problem. Herein, the penalty function is defined by using a weighted sum of two F-norm values, which correspond to the estimated responses of physical sensors and the ones of the concerned critical locations, respectively. Numerical simulations and experimental studies are finally carried out for verifying the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method. Some results show that the proposed method can be applied for indirectly measuring the responses with good robustness.

Prognostic factors associated with quality of life in heart failure patients considering the use of the generic EQ-5D-5L™ in primary care: new follow-up results of the observational RECODE-HF study

Background The implementation of care concepts fitting the needs of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) remains challenging. In this context, psycho-emotional well-being is not routinely assessed, and under-researched despite indications that it is of great relevance for, e.g., acceptance, adherence, and prognosis. The aim of this study was to observe clinical characteristics for their prognostic utility in HF patients, and to compare the patients’ health-related quality of life (QoL) with German population norm values. Methods The current post-hoc analysis was performed on data collected amongst participants of the RECODE-HF study who had fully answered the EQ-5D-5L™ items at both baseline and 12 months (n = 2354). The status in the patients’ self-assessment items, EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS) and EQ-5D index was categorized into worse/unchanged/improved. General linear mixed models (GLMM) with logit link were applied. Subgroups included 630 patients (26.8%) screened positive and 1724 patients (73.2%) screened negative for psychosocial distress (PSD). Results The 12-months change in EQ-5D index, generally resulting from change in individual EQ-5D items, additionally associated not only with high NYHA class but sociodemographics (employment/living alone/GP practice years) (96.2% correctly classified in GLMM). The 12- months change in individual QoL aspects showed associations with age*NYHA, gender, body-mass index, and comorbidities dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, asthma/chronic pulmonary disease. Important social roles were reflected in particular when HF patients lived alone or the doctor mentioned to the patient that the patient had HF. Patients with/without PSD differed in some sociodemographic and clinical parameters. However, no influence of PSD could be demonstrated in the 12-month follow-up of the EQ-5D-5L™. Nonetheless, comparison of the 12-months QoL with general German population norm values by age groups < 75 years and 75+ showed markedly health restrictions in HF patients in all EQ-5D-5L™ aspects. Conclusion Our analysis revealed different prognostic factors primarily associated with change of burden in different QoL aspects in HF patients. In GP practice it is important to consider in addition to the overall day-related VAS all the individual health-related QoL aspects to take a holistic view of the patient, as well as to pay particular attention to the interrelation of individual characteristics.

p-norms of histogram of oriented gradients for X-ray images

<span>Lebesgue spaces (</span><em><span>L^p</span></em><span> over </span><em><span>Rⁿ</span></em><span>) play a significant role in mathematical analysis. They are widely used in machine learning and artificial intelligence to maximize performance or minimize error. The well-known histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) algorithm applies the 2-norm (Euclidean distance) to detect features in images. In this paper, we apply different </span><em><span>p</span></em><span>-norm values to identify the impact that changing these norms has on the original algorithm. The aim of this modification is to achieve better performance in classifying X-ray medical images related to of COVID-19 patients. The efficiency of the </span><em><span>p</span></em><span>-HOG algorithm is compared with the original HOG descriptor using a support vector machine implemented in Python. The results of the comparisons are promising, and the </span><em><span>p</span></em><span>-HOG algorithm shows greater efficiency in most cases.</span>

Validating the Balance of Semi-Professional Dancers by Use of the Jenaer-Standing-Stability-Score (JESS-Score)

Introduction Postural control plays a central role in dance performance. The most dance styles contain manifold balance requirements. However, the data available on balance performance in dance is meagre. The dancers’ balancing ability depends on different components, which are still not totally understood. It can be assumed that standing stability as well as balance and therefore the test results of dancers are better than those of the recently published norm values. The aim of the study is to compare and verify the published standard values of the Jenaer-Standing-Stability-Score (JESS-Score). Material and Methods 24 dancers were included and measured with the first version of the recently published JESS-Score. 11 items include the assessment of mobility, sensorimotor skills, posture control and strength endurance. The dancers average test results are compared to the norm population. Results The dancers reached the norm or were even better concerning the tested items of the JESS-Score. Conclusion Standing stability and balance are basic requirements for dancing. The components measured by the JESS-Score are clearly involved in the equilibrium performance. Moreover, it shows the applicability of the JESS-Score norm values to a healthy, but untrained control population.

Evaluation of a short version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-RD8): results from a representative German sample

Background Attachment insecurity is a prominent risk factor for the development and course of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. The Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire is a widely used self-report to assess attachment related anxiety and avoidance. However, its length has the potential to restrict its use in large, multi-instrument studies. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief version of the ECR-R, and provide norm values for the German population. Methods A screening version of the original ECR-R was developed through principal components analysis of datasets from several previous studies. In a representative sample of 2428 randomly selected individuals from the German population, we compared fit indices of different models by means of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). We investigated the convergent validity of the screening version in an independent convenience sample of 557 participants. Correlations between the short and the full scale were investigated in a re-analysis of the original German ECR-R evaluation sample. Results CFA indicated a satisfactory model fit for an eight-item version (ECR-RD8). The ECR-RD8 demonstrated adequate reliability. The subscales correlated as expected with another self-report measure of attachment in an independent sample. Individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety, but especially higher levels of attachment avoidance were significantly more likely to not be in a relationship, across all age groups. Correlations between the short and the full scale were high. Conclusions The ECR-RD8 appears to be a reliable, valid, and economic questionnaire for assessing attachment insecurity. In addition, the reported population-based norm values will help to contextualize future research findings.

Walking with robot-generated haptic forces in a virtual environment: a new approach to analyze lower limb coordination

Background Walking with a haptic tensile force applied to the hand in a virtual environment (VE) can induce adaptation effects in both chronic stroke and non-stroke individuals. These effects are reflected in spatiotemporal outcomes such as gait speed. However, the concurrent kinematic changes occurring in bilateral lower limb coordination have yet to be explored. Methods Chronic stroke participants were stratified based on overground gait speed into lower functioning (LF < 0.8 m/s, N = 7) and higher functioning (HF ≥ 0.8 m/s, N = 7) subgroups. These subgroups and an age-matched control group (N = 14, CG) walked on a self-paced treadmill in a VE with either robot-generated haptic leash forces delivered to the hand and then released or with an instrumented cane. Walking in both leash (10 and 15 N) and cane conditions were compared to pre-force baseline values to evaluate changes in lower limb coordination outcomes. Results All groups showed some kinematic changes in thigh, leg and foot segments when gait speed increased during force and post-force leash as well as cane walking. These changes were also reflected in intersegmental coordination and 3D phase diagrams, which illustrated increased intersegmental trajectory areas (p < 0.05) and angular velocity. These increases could also be observed when the paretic leg transitions from stance to swing phases while walking with the haptic leash. The Sobolev norm values accounted for both angular position and angular velocity, providing a single value for potentially quantifying bilateral (i.e. non-paretic vs paretic) coordination during walking. These values tended to increase (p < 0.05) proportionally for both limbs during force and post-force epochs as gait speed tended to increase. Conclusions Individuals with chronic stroke who increased their gait speed when walking with tensile haptic forces and immediately after force removal, also displayed moderate concurrent changes in lower limb intersegmental coordination patterns in terms of angular displacement and velocity. Similar results were also seen with cane walking. Although symmetry was less affected, these findings appear favourable to the functional recovery of gait. Both the use of 3D phase diagrams and assigning Sobolev norm values are potentially effective for detecting and quantifying these coordination changes.

Retrospective Investigation of Contralateral Hearing Thresholds of Patients With Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the contralateral hearing of patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS). Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Pure-tone audiograms of the contralateral ear from patients with a wait-and-scan strategy were compared to the ones who received therapy. Due to a possible bias caused by the therapy, hearing thresholds before and after radiotherapy or surgery were compared separately with the wait-and-scan group. Methods From 1979 to 2017, 508 patients with sporadic VS could be included in the study. Of these, 240 received regular controls in the sense of wait-and-scan, 72 underwent radiotherapy (63 audiograms before and 43 after radiotherapy), and 196 had a surgery (186 audiograms before and 146 after surgery). Age-normalized hearing thresholds of the contralateral ear from patients with a wait-and-scan strategy were compared to ones who received therapy. In addition, hearing thresholds were compared to norm values. Results There was no evidence for a difference in the contralateral hearing of patients with sporadic VS between the wait-and-scan and therapy groups. The mean difference of hearing thresholds in our sample to norm values was found to be larger for the high frequencies and more pronounced in male patients. Conclusion There was no evidence for a difference in the contralateral hearing loss of patients with sporadic VS between the wait-and-scan and therapy groups. However, there was some indirect indication of poorer contralateral hearing in all patients with sporadic VS compared to normative values.