Modulation of the goodness of fit in hydrological modelling based on inner balance errors

In hydrological modelling, a good result for the criterion of goodness of fit does not always imply that the hypothesis of mass conservation is fulfilled, and models can lose their essential physical soundness. We propose a way for detecting this anomaly by accounting the resulting water balance during model simulation and use it to modulate the obtained goodness of fit. We call this anomaly in water balance as “inner balance error of the model”. To modulate the goodness of fit values, a penalty function that depends on this error is proposed. In addition, this penalty function is introduced into a multi-criteria objective function, which is also tested. This procedure was followed in modelling the Headwater of the Tagus River (Spain), applying the monthly abcd water balance model. Modulation of the goodness of fit allowed for detecting balance errors in the modelling, revealing that in the simulation of some catchments the model tends to accumulate water in, or release water from, the reservoir that simulates groundwater storage. Although the proposed multi-criteria objective function solves the inner balance error for most catchments, in some cases the error cannot be corrected, indicating that any error in the input and output data is probably related to groundwater flows.

New Method of Materials Flow Calculation for Double-String SLCI Type Cement Plant (Part 1: The Whole Clinker Plant)

Materials flow values are instrumental in many industries for controlling and simulating processes, designing new equipment as well as modifying existing plants. They are sometimes impossible to determine by direct measurement in an operating plant due to the very high temperatures. This study attempted to overcome the difficulties associated with this measurement by proposing a new method to calculate materials flow of a double-string suspension preheater type of cement plant with separate line and in-line calciners (SLC-I), with heat balance error less than 1%. This study was divided into two sequential parts, with the first part presented in this paper. The methodology of the first part was to solve the conservation law of the main clinker plant equipment, supported by Bogue’s equation, the heat of calcination, and the thermodynamic properties of the related materials. The least-square method was employed for solving the overdetermined system equations obtained in the second part. The results of the first part were: the ratio of heat formation to specific heat consumption was 52.13% (> 50%), and the gas exhausted from the plant yielded more than 117 MW heat equivalent, which can potentially be recovered for electricity production.

Location, location, location -- Considering relative catchment location to understand subsurface losses

The analysis of large samples of hydrologic catchments is regularly used to gain understanding of hydrologic variability and controlling processes. Several studies have pointed towards the problem that available catchment descriptors (such as mean topographic slope or average subsurface properties) are insufficient to capture hydrologically relevant properties. Here, we test the assumption that catchment location, i.e. the relative properties of catchments in relation to their surrounding neighbours, can provide additional information to reduce this problem. We test this idea in the context of Great Britain for a widely discussed problem, that of catchment water balance errors due to subsurface losses. We test three hypotheses while considering different locational aspects (1) location to coast, (2) location next a relevant neighbour and (3) location within the drainage basin, utilizing only basic and widely available geological and topographical information. We find that subsurface losses from catchments with a highly permeable geology connection to the coast are in order of 20% water balance error. We define a simple topographic-geologic index that is able to partially explain water balance issues between neighbours of highly permeable catchments. The results imply that location, geology and topography combine to define the differences of water balances of UK catchments compared to what we would expect from their climatic setting alone. The simple index defined here can easily be derived globally and tested regarding its wider applicability.

Assessment of Static and Dynamic Balance in Swimmers

Background: Swimming can be defined as an activity in which a person practices a regulated Olympic sport in order to move as fast as possible through the water due to the propulsive forces generated by arm, leg, and body movements overcoming the resistance of water. Swimming is performed in either a supine or prone position with a bilaterally-symmetric motion and is influenced by buoyancy. In other words, it is nearly unaffected by gravity and requires the same muscle exertion of both the right and left extremities. Balance is considered to be an important component of motor performance tasks. It is controlled by the central nervous system with the help of input from the visual, tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular systems (5) Balance can be defined as a condition during which the body's center-of-gravity (COG) is maintained within its base of support (BOS). Methodology: In this study, 50 Competitive swimmers were included. 36 Male and 14 Female, with a mean age, height and weight of 22.68 years, 175.56 cm and 70.94 kg respectively. Each had a swimming career more than 5 years, Training at least 5 days a week for 2 hours or more with an average of 10.12 years, 5.54 days a week for 2.68 hour training sessions. Static Balance was assessed using Balance Error Scoring System where the subjects were asked to stand with their eyes closed for 20 seconds in 6 Different Positions and the number of errors made were noted. Dynamic Balance was assessed using Star Excursion Balance Test were, a Star was marked on the ground to have 8 directions. The subject stood in the center of the star and had to reach as far as they could in each direction. This distance from the middle to the point of contact of their toe was noted and relative distance was calculated using Limb Length. The Results of both the test was compared with the normal data present. Result: The result of the test done to evaluate static balance; BESS showed that out of 50 participants 19 had superior balance, 18 had above average balance and 13 had broadly normal balance and the errors on the firm surface and soft surface had a mean and standard deviation of 2 ± 1.12 and 4.1±1.31 respectively. On the other hand, the test done to evaluate dynamic balance; SEBT showed that in each direction on an average the swimmer could reach 119.21±8.39 % relative distance in each direction. Conclusion: Different tests were conducted in the study to understand if competitive swimmers are somehow weak in terms of static and dynamic balance. The entire study is based on the effectiveness of maintaining and enhancing the static and dynamic stability among the swimmers. This study concludes that competitive swimmers have Superior Static and Dynamic Balance because of strong core muscles used to keep their body streamlined during swimming and good flexibility and neuromuscular feedback. Key words: Balance, Swimmers, Star Excursion Balance test (SEBT), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS).

Age is associated with postural control performance following youth concussion

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of age on postural control outcomes among patients being seen during their initial post-concussion clinical visit. METHODS: Youth patients were seen≤14 days post-concussion, and completed a series of postural control evaluations: tandem gait, Romberg, and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) tests. RESULTS: We included 109 children 8–12 years of age (24%female, evaluated median = 7 [interquartile range = 4–10] days post-injury) and 353 adolescents aged 13–18 years (36%female, evaluated median = 7 [4–10] days post-injury). There was a higher proportion of children who demonstrated abnormal tandem gait relative to adolescents (26%vs. 11%; p < 0.001). They also made more BESS errors in single (median = 5 [2–10] vs. 4 [2–6] errors) and tandem (median = 3 [1–6] vs. 2 [0–4]) firm stances. After covariate adjustment, children demonstrated worse tandem gait (adjusted odds ratio = 3.05, 95%CI = 1.68–5.53) and more firm surface BESS errors (double stance β=0.51, 95%CI = 0.22–0.80; single stance β= 1.18, 95%CI = 0.42–1.95; tandem stance β= 0.98, 95%CI = 0.28–1.68) than adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Tandem gait and BESS performance following concussion differ in children compared to adolescents who present within 2 weeks of injury. Clinicians assessing and managing concussion should recognize age differences in postural control performance when assessing those with concussion.

Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5th Edition (SCAT5): Normative Reference Values for the National Rugby League Women's Premiership

Objective: To establish normative reference values for the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5th Edition (SCAT5) for the new National Rugby League Women's Premiership.Methods: Preseason SCAT5 baseline testing was administered individually to all National Rugby League Women's Premiership players (N = 117). Testing was completed by the medical staff. Normative reference values were calculated for the components of the SCAT5, including the Standardized Assessment of Concussion, modified Balance Error Scoring System, and the Symptom Scale. A small case series of players who sustained concussions were included to illustrate the use of the new normative data.Results: The median Standardized Assessment of Concussion total score was 27.0 (M = 26.9, SD = 2.1). The median modified Balance Error Scoring System score was 2.0 (M = 2.4, SD = 2.2). The median number of symptoms score was 1.0 (M = 3.2, SD = 4.7) and the median symptom severity score was 2.0 (M = 5.4, SD = 8.2). The most common baseline symptom was fatigue or low energy (33%), followed by trouble sleeping (24%), headache (23%), neck pain (22%), and difficulty remembering (21%). In the total sample, 41% reported no symptoms. The clinical interpretation of these new normative data to a case series of women with concussions is provided.Conclusions: Normative reference values are provided for the SCAT5 for women who are professional rugby league players. Using these normative data will improve clinical interpretation of SCAT5 scores following a concussion.

ANÁLISE DAS CONDICIONANTES DE LESÕES ESPORTIVAS NA PRÁTICA DO VOLEIBOL FEMININO EM ATLETAS JOVENS

O voleibol é uma das modalidades esportivas mais praticadas no mundo. Acompanhado desta prática, está presente o risco de lesões musculoesqueléticas, especialmente nos membros inferiores. Tais lesões podem ser causadas por fatores intrínsecos ou extrínsecos. A proposta deste estudo, foi analisar as condicionantes intrínsecas estruturais, estáticas e dinâmicas das principais lesões esportivas envolvidas na prática junto a atletas de voleibol e a necessidade de propor ações preventivas de Fisioterapia Esportiva. Trata-se de um estudo observacional do tipo transversal, realizado com 34 atletas do sexo feminino, idade de 12,74 ± 1,16 anos, praticantes de voleibol há no mínimo um ano. Foi aplicado um questionário referente a informações antropométricas e queixas referente a dor e lesões das atletas, plantigrafia e os seguintes testes funcionais: Step Down Test, Star Excursion Balance Test, Balance Error Scoring System. A frequência de treinos era de 2 à 3 vezes por semana, tempo de prática ficou entre 1 a 4 anos envolvendo 85,3% das atletas. Em relação ao índice do arco plantar a maioria apresentou normal. O valgismo de joelho prevaleceu em grande parte das avaliadas. O segmento corporal com mais queixa de dor foi o joelho e lesões o tornozelo. O período de treinamento teve mais lesões do que em competição. Em relação aos achados da avaliação, é considerada necessária a adoção de medidas de prevenção, evitando agravos musculoesqueléticos nas praticantes de voleibol.

The Effects of a 10-Week Neuromuscular Training on Postural Control in Elite Youth Competitive Ballroom Dancers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a 10-week neuromuscular training (NMT) program on the postural control of elite youth competitive ballroom dancers. Forty-two dancers (21 couples) were randomly assigned to either the NMT group (n = 22) or the control group (CG; n = 20). Participants in NMT underwent a three-sessions-per-week NMT program for 10 weeks. Testing at baseline and after the 10 weeks intervention included the Y-balance test (YBT) and Modified-Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS). Results of YBT indicated that NMT participants demonstrated increased reach in the posterolateral and posteromedial directions for the right and left lower limb, whereas no significant change was found in the anterior direction for both limbs. Results of Modified-Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS) showed that NMT participants displayed significantly decreased errors of the double-leg floor (p = 0.026), single-leg foam (p = 0.010), double-leg foam (p = 0.003), tandem floor (p = 0.031), and tandem foam (p = 0.038), while no significant change was found in single-leg floor performance (p = 0.476). CG participants did not exhibit any significant change during the 10-week period. In summary, the study affirmed that the 10-week NMT program enhanced the postural control performance of youth ballroom dancers and showed effects on ballroom dance-specific performance and lower-limb injury prevention. The results suggest that NMT may be a valuable addition to ballroom dance training regimens.

Predictive Accuracy of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 and Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening, Individually and In Combination: A National Collegiate Athletic Association–Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium Analysis

Background: Vestibular and ocular symptoms in sport-related concussions are common. The Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening (VOMS) tool is a rapid, free, pen-and-paper tool that directly assesses these symptoms and shows consistent utility in concussion identification, prognosis, and management. However, a VOMS validation study in the acute concussion period of a large sample is lacking. Purpose: To examine VOMS validity among collegiate student-athletes, concussed and nonconcussed, from the multisite National Collegiate Athletic Association–Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. A secondary aim was to utilize multidimensional machine learning pattern classifiers to deduce the additive power of the VOMS in relation to components of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3). Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Preseason and acute concussion assessments were analyzed for 419 student-athletes. Variables in the analysis included the VOMS, Balance Error Scoring System, Standardized Assessment of Concussion, and SCAT3 symptom evaluation score. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all tools, including Kolmogorov-Smirnov significance and Cohen d effect size. Correlations between tools were analyzed with Spearman r, and predictive accuracy was evaluated through an Ada Boosted Tree machine learning model’s generated receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Total VOMS scores and SCAT3 symptom scores demonstrated significant increases in the acute concussion time frame (Cohen d = 1.23 and 1.06; P < .0001), whereas the Balance Error Scoring System lacked clinical significance (Cohen d = 0.17). Incorporation of VOMS into the full SCAT3 significantly boosted overall diagnostic ability by 4.4% to an area under the curve of 0.848 ( P < .0001) and produced a 9% improvement in test sensitivity over the existing SCAT3 battery. Conclusion: The results from this study highlight the relevance of the vestibular and oculomotor systems to concussion and the utility of the VOMS tool. Given the 3.8 million sports-related and 45,121 military-related concussions per year, the addition of VOMS to the SCAT3 is poised to identify up to an additional 304,000 athletes and 3610 servicemembers annually who are concussed, thereby improving concussion assessment and diagnostic rates. Health care providers should consider the addition of VOMS to their concussion assessment toolkits, as its use can positively affect assessment and management of concussions, which may ultimately improve outcomes for this complex and common injury.