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Copyright of Journal of Computer Engineering & Applications is the property of Beijing Journal of Computer Engineering & Applications Journal Co Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is an urgent need for mathematical models that can be used to inform the deployment of surveillance, early warning and management systems for transboundary pest invasions. This is especially important for desert locust, one of the most dangerous migratory pests for smallholder farmers. During periods of desert locust upsurges and plagues, gregarious adult locusts form into swarms that are capable of long-range dispersal. Here we introduce a novel integrated modelling framework for use in predicting gregarious locust populations. The framework integrates the selection of breeding sites, maturation through egg, hopper and adult stages and swarm dispersal in search of areas suitable for feeding and breeding. Using a combination of concepts from epidemiological modelling, weather and environment data, together with an atmospheric transport model for swarm movement we provide a tool to forecast short- and long-term swarm movements. A principal aim of the framework is to provide a practical starting point for use in the next upsurge. Author summary: There is a critical need for tools that can help manage and predict the spread of transboundary pests, especially the desert locust, one of the most destructive pests for smallholder farmers and pastoralists. During upsurges, desert locusts form massive swarms that can travel long distances, causing severe damage to crops and natural vegetation. To address this, we have developed an integrated modelling framework designed to predict the behaviour of these migratory locust populations. The framework takes into account the selection of breeding sites, the life cycle of the locust (from egg to adult), and the movement of swarms as they search for food and breeding grounds. By combining techniques from epidemiological modelling, weather forecasting, environmental data, and atmospheric models, the tool is designed to forecast locust swarm movements in both the short and long term. The ultimate goal of the framework is to provide a practical resource that can be used to prepare for and respond to future locust upsurges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Hip muscle lengthening is commonly associated with the normal function of the lumbar spine and lower extremities. Some evidence correlates hamstring and iliopsoas tightness with low back pain (LBP). Undergraduates are more prone to LBP as they are involved in prolonged sitting and poor posture. This study aims to assess the impact of hip muscle lengthening on LBP. Methods: This article involves a descriptive study of 70 students who were recruited from Zefat Academic College. Measurement of hamstrings and iliopsoas muscle lengthening, as well as a constructive questionnaire, were used. Results: The majority of participants (80% for hamstrings and 96% for iliopsoas) manifested normal muscle lengthening. Muscle flexibility was significantly higher among females. Logistic regression analyses revealed that hamstring lengthening (right) and stress-related study are significantly associated with LBP. Conclusions: The current study indicates that muscle length is female-dependent and right–left muscle length is symmetrical. Increased hamstring length could be related to LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatments that combine both elastic and rigid taping in knee osteoarthritis have not yet been investigated in the literature. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to investigate how the combination taping technique affects functional status, disability, and quadricep isokinetic torque in cases of knee osteoarthritis. Patient Methods: A total of fifty-four patients were assigned to the experimental group or control group. Conventional physical therapy was provided to both groups, in addition, participants in the experimental group also received combination taping. Disability, functional status, and isokinetic quadriceps torque were assessed at baseline, six weeks (post-intervention), and twelve weeks (follow-up). Results: MANOVA showed that post-intervention measurements were significantly better than baseline measurements of both groups, except for isokinetic quadriceps torque, which showed a nonsignificant difference in the control group. The control group's follow-up measurements revealed nonsignificant differences from those taken after the intervention, whereas the experimental group's differences were significant excluding isokinetic quadriceps torque. Measurements taken at post-intervention and follow-up revealed that the experimental group had significantly improved compared to the control groups. Conclusions: Combination taping was found to be more beneficial when used in addition to conventional physical therapy than when used alone in knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to androgen receptor (AR)–targeted therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) is characteristic of an aggressive subtype called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and is often associated with tumor relapse. Both relapse and poor prognosis in patients with CRPC are associated with increased abundance of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SKP2. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic potential of combined inhibition of AR and SKP2 for CRPC. We found that combined targeting of AR and SKP2 with small-molecule inhibitors decreased proliferation in two CRPC cell lines in culture and in xenografts in humanized mice. Furthermore, combined therapy in mice markedly decreased the growth of Pten/Trp53 double-knockout tumors, a particularly invasive model of CRPC, whereas disruption of either AR or SKP2 alone only modestly suppressed their growth. Mechanistically, the inhibition of SKP2 in CRPC cells induced autophagy-dependent apoptosis and promoted luminal-associated phenotypes, which promoted responsiveness to AR-targeted therapy. These effects were further enhanced by coinhibition of AR and were not induced by the AR inhibitor alone. Our findings indicate that targeting both AR and SKP2 signaling pathways is necessary to treat CRPC. Editor's summary: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) does not respond to androgen deprivation, is highly aggressive, and has a poor prognosis for patients. Celada et al. found a pharmacological approach to restore the sensitivity of CRPC to androgen signaling–targeted therapy. Inhibiting the enzyme SKP2, which is a component of a cell cycle regulatory complex, induced autophagy that subsequently initiated cell death. Cotreatment with an androgen receptor inhibitor enhanced those effects and suppressed tumor growth in mice. The findings suggest that this combination approach may be effective for treating CRPC. —Leslie K. Ferrarelli [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic ankle instability is associated with long-term neuromuscular deficits involving poor postural control and peroneal muscular impairment. Symptoms of chronic ankle instability hinder engagement in physical activity and undermine the patient's quality of life. Despite the existence of various treatment modalities, none has conclusively provided evidence of clinical effectiveness in counteracting neuromuscular deficits, such as arthrogenic muscle inhibition of the peroneal longus (PL). Pulse electromagnetic field therapy employed as an adjunct biophysical therapy can potentially improve stability by mitigating peroneal muscle weakness and by activating the peroneal muscle. We postulate that by combining standard care (muscle strengthening, balance training, and range of motion exercise) with pulse electromagnetic field therapy, postural control stability and peroneal muscle weakness will significantly improve. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 48 adults with chronic ankle instability will be recruited and randomly allocated into either the intervention or control groups. The intervention group (n = 24) will receive active pulse electromagnetic field therapy and standard exercise training, while the control group (n = 24) will receive sham pulse electromagnetic field therapy and standard exercise training for 8 weeks. Primary and secondary outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, week 4, 8 as well as at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. Discussion: Chronic ankle instability is a common debilitating condition without a curative conservative treatment. Investigating different treatment modalities will be essential for improving rehabilitation outcomes in this clinical population. This study will investigate the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on the functional and clinical outcomes in the chronic ankle instability population. This trial may demonstrate this non-invasive biophysical therapy to be an effective measure to help patients with CAI. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05500885. Registered on August 13, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Slovenica is the property of Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

SYNOPSIS: This study examines how firms deploy customer analytics in their performance measurement and reporting systems. Firstly, we synthesize insights from the literature on customer analytics in accounting and marketing and conduct interviews with experts in the field. We then present the results of an online survey conducted among a sample of subscription-based firms known for their early adoption of customer analytics. Our findings reveal that the use of customer analytics varies significantly by metric type, with traditional indicators (e.g., number of customers) showing higher levels of integration compared with more advanced metrics, such as customer lifetime value and customer equity. The extent of adoption in performance measurement and reporting systems appears to depend on the ability of a firm to fit customer analytics into its organizational architecture. We conclude by identifying research avenues reflecting current trends that will likely shape the emerging literature on customer analytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterflies are among the most effective bioindicators of climate change; however, their diversity in many rural areas of the Central Himalayas remains understudied. This study provides an assessment of butterfly diversity in the foothills of Bhorletar, Madhya Nepal Municipality, Lamjung District, Nepal, within an elevation range of 420–600 m. Conducted between July 2019 and January 2021, the survey involved opportunistic observations and photography of adult butterflies in their natural habitats, with sampling occurring six times each month. The study aimed to investigate the species composition, richness, and abundance of butterflies across the survey period and identify seasonal changes in species composition and richness. A total of 94,009 individuals across 226 species, 129 genera, and six families were documented. During this study, Halpe arcuata Evans, 1937 and Hasora taminatus bhavara Fruhstorfer, 1911 were recorded for the first time in Nepal. Additionally, Halpe filda Evans, 1949 and Ctenoptilum vasava vasava (Moore, [1866]) were recorded for only the second and third times, respectively, in Nepal, following a gap of approximately three decades. The most abundant species was Pieris canidia indica Evans, 1926 (Relative Abundance [RA] 2.55%), followed by Pseudozizeeria maha maha (Kollar, [1844]) (RA 2.13%). Species richness showed an annual bimodal distribution, peaking in April (180 species) and August (161 species), while the lowest richness was observed in January and February, with 68 and 75 species, respectively. Diversity indices included a Shannon–Wiener index of 4.71, Pielou's J index of 0.87, an effective number of species of 111.24, and Margalef's richness index of 19.65, indicating high species diversity with a well‐balanced mix of species evenness and richness. This study offers the first peer‐reviewed checklist of butterflies from Bhorletar, providing crucial baseline data for future research and conservation efforts, and highlights the remarkable seasonal and species diversity within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is a multitude of evidence supporting the use of manual and manipulative therapy techniques for patients with cervicogenic headache (CGH). However, evidence in finding and comparing the efficacy of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization with manual therapy in unilateral cervicogenic headache is lacking. Therefore, the objective of the study is to find and compare the long term effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization along with spinal manipulation therapy in patients with cervicogenic headache. Methods: It is a randomized, single-blinded controlled study conducted at University hospital. Overall, 64 participants with CGH were divided into spinal manipulation therapy group (SMT; n = 32) and spinal manipulation therapy with instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (ISM) group (SMT + ISM; n = 32) and they received the respective treatment for 4 weeks. In addition, both groups received 10 min of heat therapy and neck isometric exercises three times a day. The primary (CGH frequency) and secondary (CGH pain intensity, CGH disability neck pain frequency, pain intensity, pain threshold, neck disability index and quality of life) scores were measured at baseline, after 4 weeks, and at 6 months. Results: The reports of the SMT and SMT + ISM group were compared. Following 4 weeks of training, and at 6 months follow up the SMT + ISM group showed more significant changes in the primary outcome (CGH frequency) with a −4.3 [(95% confidence interval (CI) −4.80 to −3.79] and −1.7 (95% CI −1.92 to −1.47), when compared with the SMT group alone (p = 0.001). The secondary outcomes (CGH pain intensity, CGH disability, neck pain frequency, neck pain intensity, neck disability index, and quality of life) also shows more significant changes in the SMT + ISM group than the SMT group (p = 0.001). The same gradual improvement can be seen in the above variables at 6 months follow up. At the same time, neck pain threshold level does not show any improvement at 4 weeks (p ≥ 0.05) but shows a statistical difference at 6 months follow up. No such adverse effects or consequences were noted during or after the intervention. Conclusions: The study concluded that spinal manipulation therapy with instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization provided better long-term outcomes in patients with cervicogenic headache. This study provided a piece of sound physical therapy evidence for a widespread and costly clinical condition, such as cervicogenic headache. Clinical Trial Registration: The trial was registered prospectively in the Indian clinical trial registry with CTRI/2020/06/026243 on 30/06/2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine any differences between the prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in ballet dancers who are girls compared with age-matched nondancers, and to establish if any relations exist between the presence of scoliosis and generalized joint hypermobility, age of menarche, body mass index (BMI), and the number of hours of dance training per week., Design: Cross-sectional, matched pair study., Setting: Dance school., Participants: Dancers (n=30) between the ages of 9 and 16 years were recruited from a certified dance school in Western Australia; each dancer provided a consenting age-matched nondancer (n=30)., Interventions: Not applicable., Main Outcome Measures: Measurements were taken for angle of trunk rotation using a scoliometer (presence of scoliosis) and for height and weight to produce generalized joint hypermobility using Beighton criteria and an age-adjusted BMI, respectively. A subjective questionnaire regarding age of menarche and participation in dance and other sports was completed., Results: Thirty percent of dancers tested positive for scoliosis compared with 3% of nondancers. Odds ratio calculations suggest that dancers were 12.4 times more likely to have scoliosis than nondancers of the same age. There was a higher rate of hypermobility in the dancer group (70%) compared with the nondancers (3%); however, there were no statistically significant relations between scoliosis and hypermobility, age of menarche, BMI, or hours of dance per week., Conclusions: Adolescent dancers, similar to adult dancers, are at significantly higher risk of developing scoliosis than nondancers of the same age. Vigilant screening and improved education of dance teachers and parents of dance students may be beneficial in earlier detection and, consequently, reducing the risk of requiring surgical intervention., (Copyright © 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A computer pattern recognition system, RAPID, was used to measure the spontaneous activity of male Sprague-Dawley rats during six observational periods distributed over 11 days after a single oral dose of triethyltin bromide (TET) at 3 or 5 mg/kg. These observational periods were distributed between those taken under red light conditions during the animals normal dark cycle (Days 2, 7, and 10 after exposure) and those taken under white light conditions during the animals normal light cycle (Days 3, 6, and 11 after exposure). Significant disruption of the normal behavioral patterns were observed on Days 2 and 7 for the 3 mg/kg-exposed group and on Days 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10 for the 5 mg/kg-exposed group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Albino rats immunized with sonicated microfilaria! antigen incorporated in Freund's complete adjuvant, produce antibodies that promote cell-mediated adhesion and killing of Litomosoides carinii microfilariae in vitro. Using highly purified cell populations, it has been shown that macrophage's and neutrophils are mos active in this phenomenon. Eosinophils. while adhering readily Eo parasites in the presence of the antibody, did not affect the viability of the parasites when observed after 24 hr incubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of coating polypropylene fabric with polypropylene or polyethylene have been studied. Extrusion coating was most easily adaptable to commercial use, and gave good bond strength for poly propylene coating. Polyethylene gave marginally low bond strengths which can be improved by various surface treatments prior to coating. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context: Hip and groin injuries are common in field sports such as football, with measurement of hip strength and range of motion (ROM) recommended for assessment of these conditions. We aimed to report hip strength, hip ROM, and functional task performance in young elite Australian football athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifty-eight newly drafted Australian Football League athletes completed hip abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation, and flexion strength testing with an adjustable stabilized or hand-held dynamometer. Hip internal rotation and external rotation, bent knee fall out, and ankle dorsiflexion ROM were also measured. Players completed hop for distance, side bridge, and star excursion balance functional tests. We compared findings between the dominant and nondominant limbs. Results: We found small deficits unlikely to be clinically meaningful in the dominant limb for hip abduction and adduction strength, and a small deficit in the nondominant limb for external rotation strength and side bridge time. Athletes had lower hip internal rotation (mean difference 2.56°; 95% confidence interval, 0.87 to 4.26) and total rotation ROM (2.03°; 95% confidence interval, 0.06 to 4.01) on the dominant limb. Conclusions: There were no meaningful differences between dominant and nondominant limbs for hip strength, ROM, or functional tests. Our results may be used for benchmarking young male Australian football athletes when targeting optimal strength and returning from injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volleyball players are at high risk of overuse shoulder injuries, with spike biomechanics a perceived risk factor. This study compared spike kinematics between elite male volleyball players with and without a history of shoulder injuries. Height, mass, maximum jump height, passive shoulder rotation range of motion (ROM), and active trunk ROM were collected on elite players with (13) and without (11) shoulder injury history and were compared using independent samples t tests (P < .05). The average of spike kinematics at impact and range 0.1 s before and after impact during down-the-line and cross-court spike types were compared using linear mixed models in SPSS (P < .01). No differences were detected between the injured and uninjured groups. Thoracic rotation and shoulder abduction at impact and range of shoulder rotation velocity differed between spike types. The ability to tolerate the differing demands of the spike types could be used as return-to-play criteria for injured athletes.

Objectives: Upper cervical movement impairment and muscle dysfunction have been identified as core components of cervicogenic headache (CGH) pathogenesis. The purpose of this single-group pre-post test pilot study was to investigate the short-term effects of a specific soft tissue massage (SSTM) intervention to the cervical spine on range of upper cervical motion., Methods: Eight subjects (mean age 28.1 years) with published criteria of CGH (mean history of headache for 7.1 years) were investigated. Range of rotation of the upper cervical spine to the left and right was determined by the flexion-rotation test. Movement was assessed in three phases: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention. The SSTM intervention consisted of an 8-minute soft tissue massage to the cervical muscles bilaterally., Results: Pre-intervention measures of flexion-rotation test range of motion prior to the intervention over two assessment points were consistent. In contrast, a repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant improvement in range of rotation to the left and right after the first (P<0.01), second (P<0.01), but not third intervention (P = 0.19), from an average range of 27.5° at baseline to 45.9° at the third treatment session. After the 2-week post-intervention phase, range of motion remained stable without decline, and was considered full range., Discussion: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence of the potential for SSTM to improve, at least in the short-term, upper cervical range of motion in people with CGH.

This study investigated the reliability of manual examination procedures and the frequency that each or multiple segments in the upper cervical spine above the C4 vertebra were the dominant source of pain in subjects with cervicogenic headache (CGH). Eighty subjects were evaluated, 60 with CGH (39 females, mean age 33 years) and arbitrarily a further 20 asymptomatic subjects (13 females, mean age 34 years) included to reduce examiner bias, but subsequently omitted from data analysis. Two experienced physiotherapists examined on the same day each subject with standard manual examination procedures, independently rating each segment in the upper cervical spine above the C4 vertebra for involvement. Examiners were blind to each other's findings and the subject's clinical status. Standard and adjusted Kappa coefficients were calculated for each segment in symptomatic subjects only. Chi-squared analysis for goodness of fit was used to identify the segment that was most frequently determined the predominant symptomatic segment. Manual examination above the C4 vertebra showed good reliability. The C1/2 segment was most commonly symptomatic, with a positive finding at this segment in 63% of cases. The high frequency of C1/2 involvement in CGH highlights the importance of examination and treatment procedures for this motion segment., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study evaluates the association between probable cervicogenic headache (CGH) and associated headache symptoms and cervical spine impairment identified by the flexion-rotation test (FRT)., Methods: This was an observational study. Ninety-two subjects were evaluated, 72 with probable CGH and 20 who were asymptomatic. Headache symptoms were evaluated by questionnaire. A single blind examiner conducted the FRT, reporting the test state (positive or negative) before measuring range of motion (ROM). Fifteen subjects reported headache during testing and were subsequently retested when pain-free. A paired t test was used to determine whether FRT mobility to the most restricted side differed when the subject was experiencing headache. Univariate linear regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between subject and headache characteristics, and range of motion during the FRT. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine relationships between subject and headache characteristics and whether the FRT was positive or negative., Results: Mean ROM was significantly reduced (P < .01) by 6° in the presence of headache, but this did not influence test interpretation. Regression analysis revealed that half the variance in FRT ROM was explained by an index of headache severity or component parts but not by other headache characteristics., Conclusions: These findings indicate a relationship between cervical movement impairment and the presence and severity of CGH., (Copyright © 2010 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to compare the findings of the cervical flexion-rotation test (FRT) between subjects with probable cervicogenic headache (CGH), migraine without aura (Migraine), and multiple headache forms (MHF). An additional aim was to identify the diagnostic accuracy of the FRT in CGH evaluation. Sixty subjects were evaluated: 20 with CGH, 20 with Migraine, and 20 with MHF. Subject and headache symptoms were evaluated by questionnaire. A single-blind examiner conducted the FRT, reporting the test state (positive or negative) before measuring range of motion using a goniometer. The average range of unilateral rotation to the most restricted side was 25°, 42° and 35° for groups CGH, Migraine and MHF, respectively. The difference between groups was significant (P < 0.001). Range of rotation was significantly reduced in the CGH group when compared to groups Migraine (P < 0.001) and MHF (P = 0.001), with an additional smaller significant difference between groups Migraine and MHF (P = 0.039). A receiver operating curve revealed that an experienced examiner using the FRT was able to make the correct diagnosis 85% of the time (P < 0.001), with a positive cut-off value of 30°. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that 44% of the variance in FRT range of motion was explained by the presence of two variables: neck movement or positions provoke headache, and neck symptoms precede headache, but not by other factors associated with migraine. These findings provide further evidence supporting the clinical utility of the FRT in CGH evaluation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of lower cervical facet joint pain (CFP) on the flexion-rotation test (FRT)., Methods: A single blind, comparative group design was used to investigate whether lower CFP influences FRT mobility and examiner interpretation. Twenty-four subjects were evaluated, 12 with cervicogenic headache (age 26-63 years) and 12 with lower CFP (age 44-62 years), confirmed by therapeutic cervical facet joint intervention. A single blinded examiner conducted the FRT, reporting the test state (positive or negative) before measuring range of motion using a goniometer. Subjects with lower CFP were evaluated by the FRT prior to therapeutic intervention and were excluded from analysis if they did not gain complete symptomatic relief following the procedure. Only subjects with immediate complete relief were included., Results: The average range of unilateral rotation to the limited side during the FRT was 26 and 37.5° for the cervicogenic headache and lower CFP groups respectively. The difference between groups was significant (P<0.01). Sensitivity and specificity for cervicogenic headache diagnosis was 75 and 92% respectively. A receiver operating curve revealed that an experienced examiner using the FRT was able to make the correct diagnosis 90% of the time (P<0.01), with a positive cut-off value of 32°., Discussion: These findings provide further evidence for the clinical utility of the FRT in cervical examination and cervicogenic headache diagnosis.

Study Design: Reliability of clinical measurements over time., Objectives: To determine the long-term stability and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the flexion-rotation test (FRT) measurements over days in subjects with cervicogenic headache (CGH)., Background: The FRT is used by physical therapists to assist in identifying upper cervical movement impairment, as well as to gauge treatment effectiveness. Test-retest reliability for the FRT has been reported, but the stability of range-of-motion measures taken during the FRT over time and the MDC have not been investigated., Methods: Fifteen subjects with CGH were evaluated on headache-free days using the FRT by a blinded examiner at baseline, 2, 4, and 14 days later. An additional 10 asymptomatic subjects were included for blinding purposes. On each occasion, the examiner measured range of motion and determined whether the FRT was positive or negative., Results: For subjects with CGH, there was no significant change in FRT range of motion over days (P>.05). Intraclass correlation coefficients for intratester reliability were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90 to 0.98) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.94 to 0.99) for right and left rotation, respectively. MDC90 was 4.7 degrees for right rotation and 7 degrees for left rotation. Examiner interpretation of the FRT was consistent over time, with kappa = 0.92., Conclusions: This study provides evidence that FRT measurements are stable over time, and the MDC90 indicates that a change in FRT range of motion of at least 7 degrees is required to be confident that a change has occurred due to an intervention rather than measurement error.

Throwing velocity and vertical jumping ability are essential components for shooting and passing in water polo. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between throwing velocity and water jump height in highly skilled female water polo players. Throwing velocity and head height at ball release were measured in twenty-two female players (age 20.41 years (6.16); weight 68.28 kg (8.87)) with two 50 frames per second cameras while shooting at goal. Water jump height was also measured with a modified Yardstick device. Multiple regression analyses showed that peak lower limb power was the most significant predictor of maximal velocity. Power alone accounted for 62% of the variance in maximum velocity (p<0.001). Once power was entered into the model none of the other physical characteristics (lean mass, fat mass, land jump height and anthropometry) made a significant contribution to throwing velocity. After controlling for the effect of power, head height at ball release accounted for an additional significant proportion of the variance in maximal velocity (R(2) change 7%; p=0.049). Lower body power was a significant predictor of higher throwing velocity in highly skilled female water polo players. Players with relatively higher underlying levels of lower limb power who are able to generate greater elevation out of the water are able to throw the ball faster., (Copyright 2009 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Single-leg landings with or without subsequent jumping are frequently used to evaluate landing biomechanics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of subsequent jumping on the external knee abduction moment and trunk and hip biomechanics during single-leg landing. Thirty young adult female participants performed a single-leg drop vertical jumping (SDVJ; landing with subsequent jumping) and single-leg drop landing (SDL; landing without subsequent jumping). Trunk, hip, and knee biomechanics were evaluated using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system. The peak knee abduction moment was significantly larger during SDVJ than during SDL (SDVJ 0.08 [0.10] N·m·kg−1·m−1, SDL 0.05 [0.10] N·m·kg−1·m−1, P =.002). The trunk lateral tilt and rotation angles toward the support-leg side and external hip abduction moment were significantly larger during SDVJ than during SDL (P <.05). The difference in the peak hip abduction moment between SDVJ and SDL predicted the difference in the peak knee abduction moment (P =.003, R2 =.252). Landing tasks with subsequent jumping would have advantages for evaluating trunk and hip control as well as knee abduction moment. In particular, evaluating hip abduction moment may be important because of its association with the knee abduction moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether Mulligan ankle tape influenced the performance in subjects with unilateral chronic ankle instability (CAI) during static balance; postural sway recovery patterns after hopping and dynamic tracking balance tasks., Design: A cross-sectional, within-subjects experimental study design between 4 ankle conditions (taped; untaped: injured and uninjured)., Participants: 20 volunteer recreational athletes with unilateral CAI were recruited. Means and standard deviations highlighted the athletes' characteristics: age =23+/-1 years; height=173.1+/-2.4 cm; weight=69.3+/-3 kg; Functional Ankle Disability Index (FADI)=93.5+/-5.1% and FADI Sport=84.2+/-9.4%., Interventions: Mulligan ankle taping., Main Outcome Measurements: Static balance (10s); postural sway recovery patterns after a 30s functional hop test (immediately, 30 and 60s); dynamic tracking balance tasks (wandering, target overshoot and reaction-time)., Results: Between the four conditions, static balance showed no significant differences (p=0.792); significant changes occurred in postural sway over time (p<0.001); no significant changes were reported for the dynamic tracking tasks. Wandering was highly correlated with reaction-time and overshooting (p<0.01)., Conclusion: Under resting and fatigued conditions, Mulligan ankle taping did not impact on the neuromuscular control during static and dynamic balance in subjects with healthy and unstable ankles.