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The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of Thai massage on gait parameters including stride length, step length, step width, and gait speed, hamstring flexibility, trunk flexibility, and hip, knee and ankle range of motion while walking in normal adults aged 19-25 years. A randomized crossover trial was used. Thirty healthy subjects (17 females and 13 males) with the tightness of hamstring muscles as indicated by a straight-leg-raising (SLR) ranged between 40 to 70 degrees participated. Each of them received a session of 1-hour Thai massage and a controlled condition of 1-hour resting on a bed with a 2-day washout period. Changes in all parameters between Thai massage session and control session results were analyzed by independent t-test. Changes between pretest and posttest for both sessions were performed by dependent t-test. Significantly differences were found between-group comparison in hamstring flexibility (4.88°; 95%CI, 1.52 to 8.23), trunk flexibility (2.35 cm.; 95%CI, 1.25 to3.45), step length (1.94 cm.; 95%CI, 0.40 to 3.47), and stride length (4.77 cm.; 95%CI 2.12 to 7.41) (p<0.05). However, no differences were found in changes of gait speed, the range of motion of hip, knee, and ankle. We concluded that one session of Thai massage could provide immediate effects to improve some gait parameters, body flexibility, and hamstring flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We generalize the concept of strong walk-regularity to directed graphs. We call a digraph strongly ℓ-walk-regular with ℓ>1 if the number of walks of length ℓ from a vertex to another vertex depends only on whether the first vertex is the same as, adjacent to, or not adjacent to the second vertex. This generalizes also the well-studied strongly regular digraphs and a problem posed by Hoffman. Our main tools are eigenvalue methods. The case that the adjacency matrix is diagonalizable with only real eigenvalues resembles the undirected case. We show that a digraph Γ with only real eigenvalues whose adjacency matrix is not diagonalizable has at most two values of ℓ for which Γ can be strongly ℓ-walk-regular, and we also construct examples of such strongly walk-regular digraphs. We also consider digraphs with non-real eigenvalues. We give such examples and characterize those digraphs Γ for which there are infinitely many ℓ for which Γ is strongly ℓ-walk-regular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic analyses in donkeys are likely to face compromises in terms of sample size and population structure. This study aims at implementing a suitable model to estimate breeding values and genetic parameters for gaits in Andalusian donkeys. Empirical observation revealed that ambling donkeys (showing a slightly uneven, non-isochronous 1-2, 3-4 lateral sequence gait) did not walk (i.e. presented an isochronous, even 1-2-3-4 sequence gait) and vice versa. However, the two donkey groups could trot, equally. In this study, 2700 gait records were registered from 300 donkeys. The sample included 1350 gait records from 169 ambling/trotting donkeys and 1350 gait records from 131 walking/trotting donkeys. Fixed effects included year, season, sex, farm/owner, husbandry system, weather, ground type and appraisers. Weight and age were included as covariates. MTDFREML software was used to estimate (co)variance components, genetic parameters and predict breeding values and their accuracies in both sets, separately. Gaits’ heritability ± SE estimates were 0.56 ± 0.155, 0.53 ± 0.317 and 0.67 ± 0.166 for amble, walk and trot, respectively. Genetic correlations were 0.31 ± 0.216, 0.42 ± 0.115 and 0.28 ± 0.178, for amble and walk, amble and trot and walk and trot, respectively. Not all gaits are suitable to treat every human sensomotor condition. We developed a locomotion selection index, assessing the relative loss/gain in index accuracy when each gait modality was excluded to develop different gait specific therapeutic lines to genetically select the best performing donkeys from each gait modality. Our results suggest that gait genetic lines could be developed and may be potential selection criteria to consider in assisted-therapy donkey breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether tropical climate and an external load would influence mental chronometry and whether imagery ability would act as a modera- tor. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire Revised was used to determine good and poor imagers. Participants had to walk and imagine walking toward three tar- gets with and without a 10-kg weight in an airconditioned setting (AC) or tropical climate (TC). Movement times were recorded with a stopwatch. The isochrony index was used to evaluate motor imagery quality. The results revealed that poor imagers had slower times in motor imagery that in actual walking condition and had a lower isochrony index in the AC than in the TC condition at 10-m and 15-m. Regardless of the climate condition, good imagers had a lower isochrony index in the unloaded than in the loaded condition and had a significantly lower iso- chrony index than poor imagers in all conditions. Tropical climate and poor indivi- dual imagery ability can negatively influence mental chronometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This piece follows two demonstrations from London and Los Angeles. A decade apart, the protests are described at first hand (London) and via mediated sources such as uploaded videos to twitter (Los Angeles). In this article, I build upon the resistant capability of organization within networks of communication and isolate one of the products of this organization; the street protest, in terms of its sonorous form in contrast to both its physical (numbers of protesters, critical mass) or symbolic presence (slogans, placards, banners). Using narrative, and examples such as the jangling of keys (Wenceslas Square, Prague, 1989), I take this murmur and buzzing of voices that declare a political intention as an opportunity to ask what the political identity of this public becomes when its symbolic meaning is 'denatured' (Barthes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrian and bicyclist safety is of growing concern, especially given the increasing numbers of urban residents choosing to walk and bike. Sharing the roads with automobiles, these road users are particularly vulnerable. An intuitive conceptual model is proposed of the determinants of injury severity in crashes between vehicles and nonmotorized road users. Using 10 years of crash data from San Francisco, CA, we estimate logistic regression models to illuminate key determinants of crash severity for both pedestrian and bicyclist collisions. The analyses are separated by party at fault to test the novel hypothesis that environmental factors affecting driver speed and reaction time may be especially important when the driver is not at fault. Pedestrian results are broadly consistent with prior research, and offer considerable support for this hypothesis. The strongest predictors of injury severity include pedestrian advanced age, driver sobriety, vehicle type, and a set of variables that help determine driver speed and reaction time. Bicyclist results were weaker overall, and the distinction by party at fault was less important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mainstream education promotes a narrow conception of listening, centred on the reception and comprehension of human meanings. As such, it is ill-equipped to hear how sound propagates affects, generates atmospheres, shapes environments and enacts power. Yet these aspects of sound are vital to how education functions. We therefore argue that there is a need to expand listening in education, and suggest that listening walks could provide a pedagogy for this purpose. Using interview data in which early years practitioners reflect on a listening walk, we show how the method can: (i) produce heightened multisensory experiences of spaces; (ii) generate forms of difficulty and discomfort that produce new learning; and (iii) influence practice, particularly practitioners' ability to empathise with young children. Listening walks function by disrupting everyday sensory habits, provoking listeners to listen anew to their own listening, in an open-ended way that is not tied to predetermined learning outcomes. The method therefore has wider pedagogic potential for rethinking education and childhood beyond rationality, representation and meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct a graph-theoretic model for Jacobsthal and Jacobsthal-Lucas numbers. As byproducts, we then develop addition formulas for the Jacobsthal family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Movement & Sport Sciences / Science & Motricité is the property of EDP Sciences 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.)

Ponies used in equine-assisted therapy (EAT) (hippotherapy) often carry imbalanced riders, which is a cause for concern as regards the health of the ponies. A low degree of lameness or an abnormal gait is not always detectable by a veterinarian, subjectively, but this is enabled by using a motion analysis equipment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of inertial sensor technology utilization to analyze ponies’ kinematic motion at walking gait. Ten ponies were instrumented with the inertial sensors and made to walk 20 m in two trials (departure and return) for the forelimb data set (n=10), which was then repeated in the second round for the hindlimb (n=3). The ponies were assigned three interventions: walking with no rider, walking with a rider with typical development (normal rider), and walking with a rider with physical disability (disabled rider). The movement speed, stride length, and stride duration were measured by a video camera. The limb range of motion and the angular velocity were detected by inertial sensors. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the kinematic motion of the forelimb at walking gait for all interventions and no significant differences between the left and the right forelimbs except in the case of the anterior phase of the angular velocity of the arm when walking with a disabled rider (P<0.05). The hindlimb data set was not statistically compared due to insufficient “n” number. In conclusion, the inertial sensor technology is feasible to use on pony kinematic motion, especially when the sensor is attached to the forelimb. It seems that the ponies could modify the natural kinematic motion when walking with a load on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many scholars have confirmed the close correlation between street network configurations and pedestrian behavior. To elaborate on this discussion and to analyze the connection between street layout and walking using sophisticated methods, we attempt to capture the links and surrounding network features of urban street patterns. To this end, we employ the following four elements: closeness , betweenness , severance , and efficiency . Our empirical study examines street network configurations via a multi-scale network radius. The results show that locations with closer destinations and areas where people pass more frequently throughout a given network are associated with higher walking volume. Furthermore, a greater resemblance between straight-line and path distances from origins to destinations tend to encourage walking mobility. A longer convex hull, with a maximum radius that covers a wider shape and structure of links, is the most favorable setting for walking within a radius of up to 500 m. We confirm that a higher convex hull-shape index reveals more deviation from the circularity of a street network's convex hull. This negatively affects walking within a radius of 1–2 km. We conclude that link and network radius-based attributes of street formations have significant effects on the spatial variations of walking within multi-scale walkable neighborhoods. The framework and results are intended to help with the design of pedestrian-friendly street patterns and to create sustainable and livable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conduct a methodological investigation of the spatial coverage and temporal variability of Google Street View (GSV) images adopting a people-based approach. Specifically, we focus on walk commute trajectories (i.e., home-to-work trips) of 97,505 people from 45 small- and medium-sized cities in the U.S., which have been rarely discussed in previous studies. Our results reveal that 44% of commute routes do not have adequate GSV image spatial coverage. Results also demonstrate the substantial variability in their temporal ranges. We reveal that the average monthly variation in timestamps of GSV images on commute trajectories is approximately seven years, and only about 10% of samples contain GSV images taken within one year. Lastly, we illustrate regional differences in the spatial coverage scores and temporal variability levels of the 45 cities. As our results demonstrate that GSV images are imperfect in their spatial coverage and temporal variability, we recommend researchers be aware of these methodological limitations and potential negative impacts on their conclusions. • We examined the spatial coverage and temporal variability of Google Street View (GSV) images. • We focused on 45 small- and medium-sized cities in the U.S. • 44% of commute routes do not have adequate GSV image spatial coverage. • We found substantial variability in the temporal ranges of GSV images. • Researchers should be aware of these limitations and potential negative impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can a native landscape become a photographic image ? Do habits weigh on photographers or do they, on the contrary, make them more astute in their analyses ? In other words, does such proximity promote or proscribe a photographic project ? To answer these questions, which already suggest a shift from the land to the landscape, we take a look at the Flamand national forest in a woodland area of the Médoc region. After demonstrating the existence of a “geohistorical” link between Flandre, Médoc and the notion of the landscape, we reflect on the interlocking utilitarian and iconic dimensions of the forest through its emblematic maritime pine by using our photographs. Thanks to this geohistorical and photographic exploration, we show to what extent the simplistic beauty of the touristic image, by conferring on the land a “varnish”, eludes the complex technical resources needed to maintain a correspondence between the environment and its representation.

This article considers a particular temporality—referred to as a state of moving stillness—within two different events: the screendance body that moves without appearing to get anywhere, and the dying body that moves but is not moving to anywhere. It focuses on Singing in the Rain (1952) directed by Kelly and Donen and a practice as research screendance project, made by the author, entitled Walk (2016). By placing events from art and life together here, alongside contemporary philosophies of temporality, the article works to illuminate something of the complex relationship between movement, time, and progression in each one, throwing light on the role that art, and screendance in particular, can play in our relationship to mortality.

When Greco-Roman deities appeared among human beings in anthropomorphic shapes, their outward form and gait soon revealed their true identity. By contrast, the Markan Jesus has no ‘inescapably divine’ demeanour. His unassuming presence, his hurried walk and his interactions with people of low public standing and honour place a constant question markover his identity. Paradoxically, his purposeful walk in obscurity, which ends on the cross, reveals his true character as the suffering Son of God who ransoms his life for many. The risen Jesus, whose divine nature Mark does not express in terms of a glorified body, continues his enigmatic walk before his disciples en route to Galilee.

A buttoning of a tree that has vertices v1, v2, . . . , vn is a closed walk that starts at v1 and travels along the shortest path in the tree to v2, and then along the shortest path to v3, and so forth, finishing with the shortest path from vn to v1. Inspired by a problem about buttoning a shirt inefficiently, we determine the maximum length of buttonings of trees

To what extent is it possible to give an objective representation of a changing landscape by means of photography ? Which criteria should be adopted to achieve this ? Is this the purpose of a photographic observatory ? To answer these questions, it is necessary to reflect on the belief in a so-called mechanical photographic image and to look at what has become of this belief in science and subsequently in art. Thus we shall follow the thread of observation, even if this means unravelling the notion until we encounter the that of objectivity which is implicitly associated with it. From that point on, based on an interview with the photographer Gilbert Fastenaekens, followed by an analysis of photographic images of empty landscapes, the aim will be to demonstrate the inadequacy of terms such as “neutrality”, “distance”, or even “detachment” ; often used confusedly in analysing the approach of photographers. When working on an assignment, although they are focusing on the landscape, photographers are entirely engaged in the field of photographic composition, albeit with a trained and highly instrumented eye. As for the images they produce, it is because they are taken within a long sequence of technical attachments that the very idea of a detached view should be considered as highly doubtful.

In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the field of walk rehabilitation. Motor cortex signals in bipedal monkeys have been interpreted to predict walk kinematics. Epidural electrical stimulation in rats and in one young paraplegic has been realized to partially restore motor control after spinal cord injury. However, these experimental trials are far from being applicable to all patients suffering from motor impairments. Therefore, it is thought that more simple rehabilitation systems are desirable in the meanwhile. The goal of this review is to describe and summarize the progress made in the development of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces dedicated to motor rehabilitation systems. In the first part, the main principles of human locomotion control are presented. The paper then focuses on the mechanisms of supra-spinal centers active during gait, including results from electroencephalography, functional brain imaging technologies [near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron-emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT)] and invasive studies. The first brain-computer interface (BCI) applications to gait rehabilitation are then presented, with a discussion about the different strategies developed in the field. The challenges to raise for future systems are identified and discussed. Finally, we present some proposals to address these challenges, in order to contribute to the improvement of BCI for gait rehabilitation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of rider's skill on the plasma cortisol levels of trekking horses on two courses, walking on field and forest courses (about 4.5 to 5.1 km each). Three riders of different skills did horse trekking ( HT) in a tandem line under a fixed order: advanced-leading, beginner-second and intermediate-last. A total of six horses were used and they experienced all positions in both courses; a total of 12 experiments were done. Blood samples were obtained before HT, immediately after and 2 h after HT. As a control, additional blood samples were obtained from the same horses on non-riding days. Irrespective of the course and the rider's skill, the cortisol level before HT was higher than that of control ( P < 0.05). In both courses, the cortisol levels immediately after HT ridden by the advanced rider were higher than that of control ( P < 0.05). However, in every case, the cortisol level 2 h after HT was closely similar to the level of the control. Thus, we concluded the stress of trekking horse was not sufficient to disturb the circadian rhythm of the cortisol level, irrespective of the course and the rider's skill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the three-axis ground reaction force (GRF) distribution during straight walking. Small three-axis force sensors composed of rubber and sensor chips were fabricated and calibrated. After sensor calibration, 16 force sensors were attached to the left shoe. The three-axis force distribution during straight walking was measured, and the local features of the three-axis force under the sole of the shoe were analyzed. The heel area played a role in receiving the braking force, the base area of the fourth and fifth toes applied little vertical or shear force, the base area of the second and third toes generated a portion of the propulsive force and received a large vertical force, and the base area of the big toe helped move the body's center of mass to the other foot. The results demonstrate that measuring the three-axis GRF distribution is useful for a detailed analysis of bipedal locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-component systems (TCSs) are key elements in bacterial signal transduction in response to environmental stresses. TCSs generally consist of sensor histidine kinases (SKs) and their cognate response regulators (RRs). Many SKs exhibit autokinase, phosphoryltransferase and phosphatase activities, which regulate RR activity through a phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cycle. However, how SKs perform different enzymatic activities is poorly understood. Here, several crystal structures of the minimal catalytic region of WalK, an essential SK from Lactobacillus plantarum that shares 60% sequence identity with its homologue VicK from Streptococcus mutans, are presented. WalK adopts an asymmetrical closed structure in the presence of ATP or ADP, in which one of the CA domains is positioned close to the DHp domain, thus leading both the β- and γ-phosphates of ATP/ADP to form hydrogen bonds to the ϵ- but not the δ-nitrogen of the phosphorylatable histidine in the DHp domain. In addition, the DHp domain in the ATP/ADP-bound state has a 25.7° asymmetrical helical bending coordinated with the repositioning of the CA domain; these processes are mutually exclusive and alternate in response to helicity changes that are possibly regulated by upstream signals. In the absence of ATP or ADP, however, WalK adopts a completely symmetric open structure with its DHp domain centred between two outward-reaching CA domains. In summary, these structures of WalK reveal the intrinsic dynamic properties of an SK structure as a molecular basis for multifunctionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the movement of duck that is able to move on land and water utilizing its webbed feet, a novel design of an amphibious robot has been presented in this paper. In contrary, the orthodox design of amphibious robot utilizes the tracks or wheels on land and switches to the propeller to move in water. The proposed design employs same propulsion system as webbed feet to move on land and water. After studying the movement of the duck underwater, a conclusion has been drawn that it is swimming in the water by moving its webbed feet back and forth to generate force to push its body forward. Recreating this phenomenon of duck movement, hybrid robot locomotion has been designed and developed which is able to walk, swim and climb steps using the same propulsion system. Moreover, webbed feet would be able to walk efficiently on muddy, icy or sandy terrain due to uneven distribution of robot weight on the feet. To be able to justify the feasibility of the design, simulations are being carried out using SimulationXpress of the SOLIDWORKS software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bajo Palabra: Journal of Philosophy is the property of Bajo Palabra: Journal of Philosophy 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.)

Mechanical properties of an articulated ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) are closely related to gait performance in individuals post-stroke. This paper presents a pilot study on the mechanical properties of a novel articulated AFO with adjustable plantarflexion resistance, dorsiflexion resistance and alignment, and its effect on ankle and knee joint kinematics and kinetics in an individual post-stroke during gait. The mechanical properties of the AFO were quantified. Gait analysis was performed using a 3D motion capture system with a split-belt instrumented treadmill under 12 different settings of the mechanical properties of the AFO [i.e. 4 plantarflexion resistances (P1 < P4), 4 dorsiflexion resistances (D1 < D4), 4 initial alignments (A1 < A4)]. The AFO demonstrated systematic changes in moment–angle relationship in response to changes in AFO joint settings. The gait analysis demonstrated that the ankle and knee angle and moment were responsive to changes in the AFO joint settings. Mean ankle angle at initial contact changed from −0.86° (P1) to 0.91° (P4) and from −1.48° (A1) to 4.45° (A4), while mean peak dorsiflexion angle changed from 12.01° (D1) to 6.40° (D4) at mid-stance. The novel articulated AFO appeared effective in influencing lower-limb joint kinematics and kinetics of gait in the individual post-stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Estrada index of a simple connected graph of order is defined as , where are the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of . In this paper, we characterize all tetracyclic graphs of order with maximal Estrada index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Joints kinematics assessment based on inertial measurement systems, which include attitude and heading reference system (AHRS), are quickly gaining in popularity for research and clinical applications. The variety of the tasks and contexts they are used in require a deep understanding of the AHRS accuracy for optimal data interpretation. However, published accuracy studies on AHRS are mostly limited to a single task measured on a limited number of segments and participants. This study assessed AHRS sensors kinematics accuracy at multiple segments and joints through a variety of tasks not only to characterize the system's accuracy in these specific conditions, but also to extrapolate the accuracy results to a broader range of conditions using the characteristics of the movements (i.e. velocity and type of motion). Twenty asymptomatic adults ([Formula: see text] = 49.9) performed multiple 5 m timed up and go. Participants' head, upper trunk, pelvis, thigh, shank and foot were simultaneously tracked using AHRS and an optical motion capture system (gold standard). Each trial was segmented into basic tasks (sit-to-stand, walk, turn).Results: At segment level, results revealed a mean root-mean-squared-difference [Formula: see text] varying between 1.1° and 5.5° according to the segment tracked and the task performed, with a good to excellent agreement between the systems. Relative sensor kinematics accuracy (i.e. joint) varied between 1.6° and 13.6° over the same tasks. On a global scheme, analysis of the effect of velocity on sensor kinematics accuracy showed that AHRS are better adapted to motions performed between 50°/s and 75°/s (roughly thigh and shank while walking).Conclusion: Results confirmed that pairing of modules to obtain joint kinematics affects the accuracy compared to segment kinematics. Overall, AHRS are a suitable solution for clinical evaluation of biomechanics under the multi-segment tasks performed although the variation in accuracy should be taken into consideration when judging the clinical meaningfulness of the observed changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a home-based walk trip generation model, based on the built environment around households, controlling for sociodemographic influences. Two-stage hurdle models are estimated based on a household travel survey in Portland, Oregon. The first stage predicts the probability of households making any home-based walk trips. The second stage predicts the number of home-based walk trips for the subset of households that make such trips. The study also tests built environment variables for three different buffer widths around household locations to see which scale best explains walking behavior. The results show that sociodemographic characteristics are strong predictors of walk trip generation. Specifically, household size, income, and number of workers in the household influence the probability of a household having any walk trips, while household size and number of children in the household affect the number of walk trips made by the subset of households making walk trips. Characteristics of the built environment are also significant. Activity density, transit stop density, employment accessibility, intersection density, and most interestingly, sidewalk quality are associated with the decision to walk as a mode of travel, while land-use entropy, transit stop density, employment accessibility, sidewalk quality, and traffic calming and signal are predictors of the number of walk trips made by households making walk trips. Sidewalk quality is represented by a single principal component that neatly captures the common variance in an array of sidewalk variables. To our knowledge, this is the first walk trip generation model to include a measure of sidewalk quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by introducing the Ω class of function (where ω ∈ Ω if ω: [0, ∞)→[0, ∞) is non-decreasing, continuous, ω(2t) ≤ 2ω(t) and ω(t) = 0ifft = 0) and using the C-class function F, we introduced the notions Fα-ωϕ-generalized cyclic contractive mappings in the setting of metric-like space (X, σ) and Fωϕ- generalized cyclic graphic contractive mapping in a graph G endowed with (X, σ). We prove such mappings necessarily have a unique fixed point in complete metric-like space. Also, examples are given to illustrate the main theorems and we present an application to show the existence of solutions of integral equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Transport microenvironments tend to have higher air pollutant concentrations than other settings most people encounter in their daily lives. The choice of travel modes may affect significantly individuals' exposures; however such considerations are typically not accounted for in exposure assessment used in environmental health studies. In particular, with increasing interest in the promotion of active travel, health impact studies that attempt to estimate potential adverse consequences of potential increased pollutant inhalation during walking or cycling have emerged. Such studies require a quantification of relative exposures in travel modes. Methods The literature on air pollution exposures in travel microenvironments in Europe was reviewed. Studies which measured various travel modes including at least walking or cycling in a simultaneous or quasi-simultaneous design were selected. Data from these studies were harmonized to allow for a quantitative synthesis of the estimates. Ranges of ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) of air pollution exposure between modes and between background and transportation modes were estimated. Results Ten studies measuring fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles (UFP), and/or carbon monoxide (CO) in the walk, bicycle, car and/or bus modes were included in the analysis. Only three reported on CO and BC and results should be interpreted with caution. Pedestrians were shown to be the most consistently least exposed of all across studies, with the bus, bicycle and car modes on average 1.3 to 1.5 times higher for PM 2.5 ; 1.1 to 1.7 times higher for UFP; and 1.3 to 2.9 times higher for CO; however the 95% CI included 1 for the UFP walk to bus ratio. Only for BC were pedestrians more exposed than bus users on average (bus to walk ratio 0.8), but remained less exposed than those on bicycles or in cars. Car users tended to be the most exposed (from 2.9 times higher than pedestrians for BC down to similar exposures to cyclists for UFP on average). Bus exposures tended to be similar to that of cyclists (95% CI including 1 for PM 2.5 , CO and BC), except for UFP where they were lower (ratio 0.7). Conclusion A quantitative method that synthesizes the literature on air pollution exposure in travel microenvironments for use in health impact assessments or potentially for epidemiology was conducted. Results relevant for the European context are presented, showing generally greatest exposures in car riders and lowest exposure in pedestrians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate recognition of patients' movement intentions and real-time adjustments are crucial in rehabilitation exoskeleton robots. However, some patients are unable to utilize electromyography (EMG) signals for this purpose due to poor or missing signals in their lower limbs. In order to address this issue, we propose a novel method that fits gait parameters using cerebral blood oxygen signals. Two types of walking experiments were conducted to collect brain blood oxygen signals and gait parameters from volunteers. Time domain, frequency domain, and spatial domain features were extracted from brain hemoglobin. The AutoEncoder-Decoder method is used for feature dimension reduction. A regression model based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) model was established to fit the gait parameters and perform incremental learning for new individual data. Cross-validation was performed on the model to enhance individual adaptivity and reduce the need for individual pre-training. The coefficient of determination (R2) for the gait parameter fit was 71.544%, with a mean square error (RMSE) of less than 3.321%. Following adaptive enhancement, the coefficient of R2 increased by 6.985%, while the RMSE decreased by 0.303%. These preliminary results indicate the feasibility of fitting gait parameters using cerebral blood oxygen information. Our research offers a new perspective on assisted locomotion control for patients who lack effective myoelectricity, thereby expanding the clinical application of rehabilitation exoskeleton robots. This work establishes a foundation for promoting the application of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology in the field of sports rehabilitation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ma, Li, Zhu, Peng and Sun.)

Open spaces in cities, such as green spaces and parks, are key elements of urban landscapes and urban sustainability. Open spaces improve the quality of the environment, quality of life, and promote social interaction and inclusion. There is evidence of positive impacts on health. This research analyses the potential accessibility to open spaces in two Chilean cities, Valdivia and Temuco. Analysis of accessibility is based on patterns of daily mobility by travelers while considering their trips and transport modes, in particular walking. Statistical analysis of trip length forms the basis of an adaptive threshold for the calculation of a cumulative potential measure of accessibility. The analysis shows that, for these two cities, variations in accessibility tend to be driven by age and gender, and less by income. There are also variations between the two cities, with Temuco showing better levels of accessibility, as a consequence of residents generally undertaking longer walking trips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ungulates showa conspicuous nodding motion of the head when walking. Until now, the functional significance of this behaviour remained unclear. Combining in vivo kinematics of quadrupedal mammals with a computer model, we show that the timing of vertical displacements of the head and neck is consistent with minimizing energy expenditure for carrying these body parts in an inverted pendulum walking gait. Varying the timing of head movements in the model resulted in increased metabolic cost estimate for carrying the head and neck of up to 63%. Oscillations of the head-neck unit result in weight force oscillations transmitted to the forelimbs. Advantageous timing increases the load in single support phases, in which redirecting the trajectory of the centre of mass (COM) is thought to be energetically inexpensive. During double support, in which--according to collision mechanics--directional changes of the impulse of the COM are expensive, the observed timing decreases the load. Because the head and neck comprise approximately 10% of body mass, the effect shown here should also affect the animals' overall energy expenditure. This mechanism, working analogously in high-tech backpacks for energy-saving load carriage, is widespread in ungulates, and provides insight into how animals economize locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to find whether it is possible to explain different plantar loading during absorption and propulsive stages of stance in the observed persons by means of basic body indicators or time characteristics of gait. Fifty-one healthy women participated in the study; their age range was between 30 and 60 years of age. The women were divided into two groups according to whether they reached higher values of vertical ground reaction during absorption (group A, 8 women, 16 %) or propulsive (group B, 43 women, 84 %) stage of stance. Capacitive pressure insoles in the shoe were used (PedarX, Novel Munich). During laboratory survey each woman performed monitored natural walk. Three stances of each leg were assessed, always from between the third and eighth steps. Five parameters had been chosen for monitoring, three recording force characteristics of gait and two time parameters. Group A reached relative value of 121 % of BW during the first stage and 110 % of BW during the second one. Group B reached 105 % in the initial stage, and 117 % of BW in the other stage. A significant difference was found for F1 parameter between groups A and B, not for the second part of stage. Group A manifested shorter duration of both stages of stance (not significantly different from group B). The level of relationship between stance duration as well as its stages and force manifestations in both groups of women was very low (from r= 0.010 to 0.015). Only in group A, the weight of the women correlated with relative values of both F1 and F2 (r = - 0.795, r = - 0.625 resp.).

This study compared the profile of daily activities and variables of functional fitness between elderly men and women, as well as the relation of their time spent walking per day with the remaining study variables concerning each gender. Thirty healthy elderly (15 men; 66 ± 6 years), sedentary and physically independent, had their daily activities evaluated objectively by a multi-axial accelerometer as well as their metabolic and functional fitness variables by means of specific protocols. Both men and women presented similar time spent in walking per day, even though men had higher intensity during walking. Women spent longer time standing, and men, sitting. A better performance was achieved by men in most physical tests in regard to absolute values but not in relative values. In conclusion, despite their different patterns of daily activities, elderly men and women do not differ in time spent walking per day.Este estudio comparó el perfil de la actividad de la vida diaria y variables de aptitud funcional entre hombres y mujeres mayores, así como la relación de su tiempo de caminata por día con las demás variables estudiadas en cada género. Treinta mayores saludables (15 hombres, 66±6 años), sedentarios y físicamente independientes, tuvieron sus actividades diarias evaluadas objetivamente por un acelerómetro multi-axial, así como variables de aptitud física y funcional evaluados por protocolos específicos. Todos presentaron tiempo gasto andando por día semejantes, a pesar de que los hombres se muevan con mayor intensidad. Las mujeres permanecieron más tiempo en pie y los hombres más tiempo sentados. Los hombres presentaron mejor desempeño en valores absolutos en la mayoría de los testes físicos, perono en valores relativos. Se concluyó que los hombres y las mujeres mayores no se difieren en tiempo de caminata por día.Este estudo comparou o perfil da atividade da vida diária e variáveis de aptidão funcional entre homens e mulheres idosos, bem como a relação de seu tempo de caminhada por dia com as demais variáveis estudadas em cada gênero. Trinta idosos saudáveis (15 homens, 66 ± 6 anos), sedentários e fisicamente independentes, tiveram suas atividades diárias avaliadas objetivamente por um acelerômetro multi-axial, bem como variáveis de aptidão física e funcional avaliadas por protocolos específicos. Homens e mulheres apresentaram tempo gasto andando por dia semelhantes, apesar dos homens se movimentarem com maior intensidade. As mulheres permaneceram mais tempo em pé e os homens mais tempo sentados. Os homens apresentaram melhor desempenho em valores absolutos na maioria dos testes físicos, mas não em valores relativos. Em conclusão, apesar de seus diferentes padrões de atividades diárias, os homens idosos e mulheres não diferem em tempo de caminhada por dia.

Nowadays, public spaces have to be planned to allow a full accessibility for people with disabilities. The measures proposed to improve pedestrian mobility need to consider the surrounding space from the users’ point of view. However, urban space cannot be purged of any obstacles, since a favourable areas for some users can simultaneously be unfavourable to others. Therefore, disability is addressed as the result of a situation where the balance between urban planning and the user’s demands, according to his own physical characteristics, are inexistent or not efficient. A socio-spatial answer to the expectation of a “handicap of situation” approach seems to pass by the location and the identification of the nature of spaces at the scale of a neighbourhood, but also by adapted routes to users at the scale of a segment. To achieve this, a pedestrian-oriented data collection and analysis, an urban audit, is provided to complete a geographical information system and to configure potential moving restrictions in respect of various users.