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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2 plyometric training (PT) sessions on postural control (PC). Twelve physically active men (27.5 ± 6.41 years, 82.7 ± 13.0 kg, and 24.17 ± 8.87%F) performed PT in two moments (week 1 and week 3), with a 14-day recovery period. The PT consisted in 10 series of 10 CMJ jumps, with 1 min rest intervals. PC parameters were measured during 30 s, double-leg stance stabilometry trials with eyes open and closed on a force platform. Additionally, knee extensors and flexors maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) were evaluated at 90° and 70° knee joint positions using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex System 4 Pro, Biodex Medical Systems, United States) with participants seated at 85° hip flexion (0° = full hip extension). In both weeks, PC and MVIC were assessed before (Pre), and after 24, 48 and 72 h of the PT session. Significant changes were observed 24 h after the jump protocol for MVIC of the knee extensors (F = 3,66, P = 0.005). No changes during the recovery time were found for the MVIC of knee flexors. No week * time interactions were observed for any of the evaluated PC parameters (eyes open and closed). The PT used was able to reduce the MVIC of the knee extensors after 24 h,but failed to cause changes in PC parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SEMS-Journal is the property of Schwiez Zschr Sportmed Sporttraumatologie 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.)

Chronic joint instability is one of the most common symptoms of ankle sprains in performance handball. The aim of our research was to demonstrate the efficiency of proprioceptive exercises on static and dynamic joint stability in handball players, who suffered at least one ankle sprain, during the last year. The present paper is an experimental research, carried out over a period of four months, on Junior II handball players (n = 22). The static and dynamic joint stability as well as the degree of joint instability were established by using the IsoShift stabilometric platform and the identification of functional ankle instability questionnaire. The proprioceptive exercise programme had a positive effect on the assessed functional parameters, the results obtained having statistical significance on the number of ankle sprains (P < 0.002), dynamic balance (P < 0.001), open-eyed static balance (P < 0.001), closed-eyed static balance (P < 0.001) and degree of joint instability (P < 0.001). The use of proprioceptive exercises with open and closed eyes in treating joint instability has led to improved average values of the dynamic and static bipodal balance, which has highlighted their efficiency in improving joint stability in handball athletes with ankle sprains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A haven for articles of association freedom, in that it constitutes a company tailored to the will of its shareholders, the Simplified Public Limited Company has henceforth imposed itself as a commercial entity whose introduction into the OHADA space has crystallized the contractual design of the commercial company. It allows the partners to freely insert in their articles of association anything that is not expressly prohibited and relating to the constitution, governance, and dissolution of the company. Nevertheless, this exuberant articles of association freedom, which contrasts sharply with the absence of personal liability of the shareholders for company debts, may be detrimental to the interests of the shareholders, the company, and the economy. Mandatory commercial companies' rules and the general theory of commercial companies then timidly take it upon themselves to try to tame articles of association freedom and correct the defects of the Simplified Public Limited Company. All this heightens the feeling of distrust vis-à-vis articles of association freedom, which, in the absence of serious limitations, enslaves more than it releases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dans cet article, nous envisageons à explorer les aspects théoriques et pratiques de la nature juridique du contrat d’adhésion au risque de déséquilibre contractuel du point de vue du droit français, qui s’est avéré être une source d’inspiration pour d’autres systèmes juridiques. Tout au long de la vie, les gens sont souvent confrontés à la nécessité de conclure des contrats d’adhésion pour répondre à leurs besoins fondamentaux, mais agissant souvent en tant que consommateurs de services et de produits, les professionnels, contrairement à la bonne foi, soumettent des contrats écrits unilatéralement en leur faveur, créant un déséquilibre contractuel essentiel au détriment des consommateurs. En conséquence, l’objectif principal de cet article est de démontrer que le contrat d’adhésion est une source de déséquilibre contractuel, qui vient créer un avantage économique excessif en faveur des professionnels au détriment des consommateurs.

Willard Gibbs formulated in 1873 a mathematical function, the Gibbs energy, whose variation governs the perfect gas evolution. In 1895, Ludwig Boltzmann presented a microscopic description of the perfect gas in concordance with the phenomenological approach of Gibbs. The chemical thermodynamics has been historically developed using the model of the perfect gas from the existence of the chemical potential postulated in 1876 by Gibbs. The chemical potential, a quantity ascribed to every chemical species, represents the driving force of a chemical reaction. Chemists and physicists use since the beginning of the 20th century Gibbs and Boltzmann model to express the evolution laws of chemical reactions and phase transitions. This model, which presents a weakness to describe certain systems so-called as not ideal systems, was gradually declined in numerous successive empirical models of complexities and increasing predictive performances but restricted to particular systems. A unified model of microscopic evolutions based on kinetics is presented in this manuscript which is a clearly-cut breakthrough with thermodynamic chemistry: the existence of the chemical potential is not recognized and the calorimetric entropy from the second law of thermodynamics, which is consistent for heat transfer prediction, is not consistent to predict microscopic evolutions. Kinetic entropy rising from this approach replaces calorimetric entropy in the function that governs chemical reactions and phases equilibria evolutions.

Purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping (KT) in healthy semi-professional soccer players in both static and dynamic balances thorough a single blinded randomized placebo controlled crossover study. Equipment and methods Fifteen healthy male soccer players from the same team (A.C. Fucecchio) were recruited on a voluntary basis and evaluated in mid-season. A force platform was used to record forces and centre of pressure (CoP) data. Twenty seconds one-legged stance test was used to analyse static balance. For dynamic balancing test, subjects performed maximal vertical jump with both legs, landing on dominant limb, trying to balance as quickly as possible. Tasks were evaluated using CoP derived data as sway area, displacements in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions, total path length. In addition, time-to-stabilisation and jump height were evaluated only for dynamic task. Participants completed proposed tasks in three different conditions: tape, no-tape and placebo conditions, whose sequence was selected using computer-generated randomization. No significant differences between testing conditions were founded for all parameters investigated (P > 0.05). KT was not effective in improving both static and dynamic balances, otherwise showing no significant difference when compared to no-tape and placebo conditions. This may suggest that KT should not be used when the aim is to improve balance in healthy players focusing on ankle injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le vieillissement s’accompagne d’une diminution des capacités cognitives et motrices, représentant une augmentation du risque de chutes. Nous pouvons pallier cette dégradation par le biais d’entraînements spécifiques ; toutefois, les seniors peuvent manquer de motivation à entamer, poursuivre et respecter ces programmes d’entraînements. Une solution possible est le passage par les jeux vidéo. L’objectif du projet INCOME est d’évaluer les effets d’un programme d’entraînement ayant pour support un exergame sur différents paramètres chez des personnes âgées vivant en résidence autonomie municipale de la Ville de Limoges. Pour répondre aux besoins spécifiques des seniors, l’unité de recherche HAVAE et l’école 3iL ont conceptualisé et développé un exergame. Une étude pilote exploratoire teste ce jeu auprès de 40 personnes âgées via un entraînement de 30 minutes, 3 fois par semaines durant 3 mois. Ici, nous décrivons le contexte scientifique, la genèse et le contenu du projet, ainsi que des résultats préliminaires concernant la réception de ce jeu par le public.

Background: Due to their occupational status, military personnel are a high-risk group for low back pain (LBP). Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neuromuscular exercises on the severity of pain, functional disability, proprioception, and balance in military personnel with LBP. Methods: Military personnel with LBP were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n=15) and control (n=15). The intervention group performed 60 minutes of neuromuscular exercises three times per week for eight weeks while the control group continued their routine physical activities. Results: The mean post-intervention pain intensity, disability, and proprioception error significantly decreased in the intervention group. Whereas their mean post-interventions static and dynamic balance scores significantly increased. Conclusions: The results indicate eight weeks of neuromuscular exercise decreased pain intensity and improved functional ability, static and dynamic balance, and proprioception among military staff suffering chronic low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postural stability is showed to decline with age and to be particularly challenging for older people during multitasking activities. However, the effect of different levels of physical fitness on postural stability performances during multitasking remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of dual-task (DT) and triple-task (TT) performances on postural stability among older adults with a different level of physical fitness (i.e., master cyclists and physically active), and to compare them with healthy untrained older and young adults. Seven master cyclists (mean age 70 ± 3 years), 7 physically active older adults (mean age 73 ± 1 year) 10 untrained older adults (mean age 73 ± 3 years) and 10 untrained young adults (mean age 25 ± 2 years) participated in the study. Data were recorded during: 1) a quiet upright stance task (single-task) and while performing an additional (dual-task), 2) manual, 3) cognitive task or 4) manual and cognitive task concurrently (triple-task). Area and Perimeter described by the center of pressure and mean velocity in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions were analyzed. Generally, a decrease in postural stability variables (area, perimeter, mean velocity in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions) was observed during dual and triple-task in all groups (all P values < 0.05). A general worse postural stability was observed in untrained older adults compared to young adults in manual and cognitive DT. Moreover, untrained older group showed worse values in area, perimeter, mean velocity in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions related to untrained young group (percentage differences: 243.3, 76.4, 107.7 and 51.1% respectively, all P values < 0.05) during triple-task performance. Additionally, the results showed a trend toward better postural stability of master cyclists and physically active older adults compared to untrained older adults in single-rather than in dual- and triple-task performance. The results underlined that to be a cyclist or to be physically active during aging are beneficial to maintain postural stability during multitasking activity and consequently to decrease the risk of falling observed in aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Vapor pressure correlations compiled for 38 refrigerants and 262 working pairs. • Refrigerants include water, ammonia, CO 2 , alcohols, HFCs, HFOs, and hydrocarbons. • Generalized vapor pressure functional forms enable cross comparisons. • Correlation valid ranges are provided where available. • An enabling dataset for thermodynamic simulations of sorption systems. Sorption devices are important tools for the efficient utilization of fuels and waste heat. Amid a tremendous diversity of cycles and applications, all sorption systems have an equilibrium vapor pressure that depends on the sorbent temperature and composition. The vapor pressure properties of working fluids are reported in the literature in a variety of ways, which impedes wide-ranging cross comparisons or screening studies for novel applications. This work compiles equilibrium vapor pressure properties for 123 liquid absorbents with 31 absorbates and 139 solid adsorbents with 16 adsorbates. The adsorption pairs are represented with six functional forms. Most of the absorption pairs are represented with 10 functional forms, plus several that are represented with custom empirical equations. Because the functional forms used in the literature vary widely, in this work each functional form was generalized. This paper is designed to facilitate comparisons of working fluid properties for screening studies, provide a quick reference to existing research, and present a framework for standardizing the reportage of vapor pressure equilibrium data for existing and future working pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Comprendre: Revista Catalana de Filosofía is the property of Herder Editorial S.L. 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.)

Résumé: Les chutes peuvent avoir de multiples conséquences préjudiciables chez les personnes âgées, particulièrement pour les femmes. Pour prévenir le risque de chute, les programmes d'intervention composés d'exercices physiques centrés sur l'équilibre apparaissent être les plus efficaces, ce qui a conduit à la multiplication de ce type d'actions au niveau local. Cependant, ces dernières sont très rarement évaluées. Méthode. Notre échantillon se compose de 26 femmes (âgées de 75,0 ± 6,7 ans), réparties aléatoirement dans deux groupes : un groupe intervention (GI) ayant bénéficié d'un programme d'APA centré sur l'équilibre et réalisé dans un cadre associatif et un groupe contrôle (GC). Des indicateurs physiques objectifs (capacités motrices, équilibre), subjectifs (confiance en son équilibre) ainsi que de santé (qualité de vie), chez des femmes âgées de plus de 65 ans, autonomes vivant à domicile, ont été évalués. Résultats. Suite au programme, une amélioration des capacités d'équilibre (augmentation significative du score à la POMA ; p < 0,05), des capacités motrices (diminution significative du score au TUG ; p < 0,01) et de la confiance en son équilibre (augmentation significative à ABC-S ; p < 0,05) ont été observées chez les participantes du GI. Conclusion. La mise en place de programme court par une association à destination des femmes âgées autonomes semble être un dispositif préventif intéressant pour réduire le risque de chute. Falls can have multiple detrimental consequences in the elderly, and this is particularly relevant for women. To prevent the risk of falling, intervention programmes based on physical exercises focusing on balance appear to be the most efficient, which explains the multiplication of this type of action at the local level. However, these actions are very rarely evaluated. Methods. Our sample consists of 26 women (75.0 ± 6.7 years old), randomly assigned to two groups: an intervention group (GI) that has benefited from a balance-oriented adapted physical activity (APA) program focused on balance and conducted in an associative structure; and a control group (GC). Our study aims to evaluate different parameters such as physical (functional mobility, balance), subjective (balanced confidence) and health (quality of life) indicators in women over 65 years of age, living independently at home. Results. In people completing the program, we observed an improvement in equilibrium capabilities (significant increase in POMA score; p < 0.05), in balance and functional mobility (significant decrease in TUG score; p < 0.01) and in balance confidence (significant increase in ABC-S; p < 0.05). Conclusion. The implementation of a short programme by the associative structure seems to be an interesting approach for the prevention of falls in autonomous elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staying Well, Independent and Fit Together (SWIFT), a seniors' exercise program, aims to promote health, strength, mobility and community engagement. We compared quality of life and balance confidence in SWIFT participants and non-participants, aged 60 years and older. Methods: Cross-sectional study comparing participants and non-participants in SWIFT program using Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABCS). Results: Seventy participants completed surveys, 41 in experimental and 29 in control group. We found a statistically significant between group difference favoring the control group in overall OPQOL score but not in OPQOL subscale nor overall ABCS scores. Participants in both groups participating in weekly exercises had non-significantly higher quality of life subscale scores. Conclusion: Results suggest seniors in both study groups who participate in exercise have non-significantly higher quality of life scores compared to those who do not participate in exercise. Participation in the SWIFT exercise program or activity in general, contributes to quality of life in seniors. non-participants à l'aide de l'Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) et de l'échelle de mesure du degré de confiance de la personne dans son équilibre associé aux gestes de la vie quotidienne (échelle ABC-S). Résultats : Soixante-dix participants ont rempli les questionnaires, 41 dans le groupe expérimental et 29 dans le groupe témoin. On a observé une différence importante sur le plan statistique entre les groupes en faveur du groupe de contrôle pour ce qui est du score global au OPQOL, mais non pour le score de la souséchelle du OPQOL ni pour le score global de l'échelle ABC-S. Chez les sujets des deux groupes faisant les exercices hebdomadaires, on n'a pas observé de scores supérieurs significatifs de la sous-échelle de la qualité de vie. Conclusion : Les résultats semblent montrer que chez les sujets âgés des deux groupes suivant le programme d'exercices, les scores de qualité de vie ne sont pas plus élevés, d'une manière significative, que ceux des sujets ne suivant pas le programme. Le programme SWIFT, et de façon générale l'activité physique, contribue à la qualité de vie des personnes âgées. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content: "Il y a des jardins à la française et il y a des jardins à l’anglaise. Les jardins à la française sont marqués par l’ordre, la symétrie, l’équilibre des plans et des volumes, la régularité des chemins qui obéissent à une pensée maîtrisée et qui présentent esthétiquement cette maîtrise. Les jardins à l’anglaise sont marqués par la dissymétrie, le déséquilibre des plans et des volumes, l’irrégularité de chemins tortueux dont on ne sait où ils mènent ; c’est un désordre étudié, et qui doit dissimuler l’artifice supérieur dont il est le produit, selon le principe « l’art cache l’art ». Il y a des livres qui ressemblent à des jardins à l’anglaise, avec leurs parcours sinueux, leurs caprices, leurs raisonnements esquissés mais inaboutis, leur désordre étudié, la dissimulation de la rhétorique subtile qui les commande en sous-œuvre. Et puis il y a des livres qui ressemblent à des jardins à la française, marqués par l’ordre, la symétrie, l’équilibre, la régularité, la cohérence et je dirais la probité de la pensée. Les chemins sont nets, et, même lorsqu’ils font de complexes et savants détours, on sait d’où l’on vient et on sait où l’on va."

Towards developing more effective interventions for fall-related injuries, this study analysed a novel database from six retirement home facilities over a 4-year period comprising 1,877 fallers and 12,445 falls. Falls were characterized based on location, activity, injury site, and type, and the database was stratified across four levels of care: Independent Living, Retirement Care, Assisted Care, and Memory care. Falls most occurred within the bedroom (62.8%), and during unknown (38.1%), walking (20.2%), and transfer tasks (14.6%). Approximately one in three (37%) of all falls resulted in an injury, most commonly involving the upper limb (31.8%), head (26.3%), and lower limb (22.2%), resulting in skin tears (35.3%), aches/pains (29.1%), or bruises (28.0%). While fall location, activity, and injury site were different across levels of care, injury type was not. The data from this study can assist in targeting fall-related injury prevention strategies across levels of care within retirement facilities.

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Les troubles de la marche et les chutes chez les sujets âgés deviennent un problème majeur de santé publique de par leur fréquence et leurs conséquences en termes de perte d'autonomie et de coûts de prise en charge. Les altérations du système locomoteur avec le vieillissement, ainsi que la fréquence des pathologies affectant directement ou indirectement ce système, expliquent l'incidence très élevée de ces troubles qui croit avec l'avancée en âge. Les interventions visant à réduire le risque de récidive de chute ou à améliorer une locomotion déjà perturbée ont des résultats décevants. Un programme de prévention primaire pourrait être plus efficace, mais reste à tester dans une large population présymptomatique. Gait disorders and falls in elderly persons become a major public health concern because of high occurrence and consequences on functional independence and costs of care. Damages caused by growing age to the locomotor system together with numerous pathologies affecting directly or indirectly gait and balance, explain high incidence of such troubles in advanced age. Mutifactorial intervention aimed to prevent subsequent fall or to improve gait when already impaired give poor results. A primary prevention program should be more effective but remains to be studied in large presymptomatic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To compare the levels of pain, grip strength, balance and gait in older adults with and without post-Chikungunya chronic arthralgia (PCCA).Methods: Sixty-two older adults, 30 with and 32 without PCCA participated in the study. Pain level was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Gait during a 10-m walk was assessed using inertial sensors. Semi-static balance was assessed during an eyes-closed bipedal balance test on a force platform, and grip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer.Results: Participants with PCCA presented severe levels of pain (VAS > 7.5), poorer balance, lower grip strength, walked slower, with lower cadence and stride length and higher stride time and stride length variability than participants without PCCA (P < 0.001 for all variables).Conclusions: Older adults with PCCA had high levels of pain, impaired balance and gait and lower grip strength compared to older adults without PCCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cet article a pour objectif de discuter d’un point de vue communicationnel la notion d’équilibre dans les environnements immersifs. Il s’agit de tenter de cerner un des aspects complexes des expériences vécues par les utilisateurs de ce type d’environnements dans des situations plutôt ludiques typiques des jeux vidéo. Les auteurs questionnent cette notion en articulant leur réflexion autour des couples théoriques engagement-distanciation et présence-attention (voire hyper-attention). Ils s’appuient pour cela sur des travaux antérieurs qui ont tenté de saisir et de conceptualiser la complexité de ces expériences communicationnelles particulières (Bonfils, 2014 ; 2015), et dans le même temps de relire ces questionnements à l’épreuve d’un terrain (World of Warcraft) investigué actuellement par l’un des deux auteurs. Le constat de départ porte sur le fait que les expériences vécues par les utilisateurs en immersion nécessitent de leur part de produire des efforts cognitifs importants pour vivre pleinement ces situations. En effet, les environnements immersifs conçus aujourd’hui par les designers et les développeurs sont de plus en plus riches visuellement et proposent de plus en plus d’interactions sophistiquées qui permettent aux utilisateurs d’utiliser de manière croissante leur corps ou sa projection (en l’occurrence son avatar) entre espaces physique et numérique. L’idée avancée alors par les auteurs consiste à faire l’hypothèse que ces utilisateurs en quête de flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 2008) et de plaisirs sensibles sont en proie à des conflits récurrents entre les activités de perception et les modes d’actions possibles liés aux activités de production. Il en résulte de fait une quête constante et souvent inconsciente pour les utilisateurs d’équilibre, d’engagement, de distanciation et d’auto-régulation au sein de plusieurs sphères, à l’articulation de différents espaces.

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Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are water-soluble proteins found at high concentration in the lymph fluid of pheromone-sensing hairs on insect antennae. PBPs could function as pheromone transporters, ferrying the hydrophobic odorants to their cognate odorant receptors. However, it is also possible for these proteins to bind the odorants near the dendritic membrane of pheromone-sensing neurons and, therefore, function as scavengers. The two functions are not mutually exclusive. In this paper, the transporter and (or) scavenger roles of PBPs in pheromone perception were investigated using the pheromone of the gypsy moth (7 R, 8 S)-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane and analogues with heteroatom (O or S) substitutions in the hydrocarbon chain. PBP-ligand equilibrium dissociation constants ( Kd) were correlated with electroantennogram (EAG) response patterns of male gypsy moth antennae to the pheromone, its enantiomer, and their respective analogues. EAG measures the potential drop across the antenna due to odorant receptor activation and subsequent ion channel opening. Three quantifiable properties of the EAG responses were used: lag times from stimulus to response onset, depolarization rates (rate of receptor activation), and repolarization rates (rate of receptor deactivation). Negative correlations were observed between Kd and lag times and between Kd and repolarization rates. Positive correlations were seen with Kd against depolarization rates. The inverse relationship of Kd constants with lag times and the direct relationship with depolarization rates strongly supports transporter function of PBPs. Interestingly, the inverse correlation of Kd constants with repolarization rates suggests a scavenger effect. These results indicate that PBP affects odorant receptor activity through both odorant transport and scavenger functions. Through differences in ligand binding affinities, PBPs influence pheromone availability for receptor activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objective To test the effect of gluteus medius (GM) vibration on the reduction of asymmetric body weight distribution in individuals with hemiparesis (HP) at two stages of postural recovery. Methods The effects of GM vibration according to the shift of the body weight (%Shift) onto the paretic leg during GM vibration were registered while standing on a force-platform in 40 HP (19 left and 21 right; mean age 54.7 ± 10.6 years, mean time after stroke 2.0 ± 1.3 months), as soon as they could stand without assistance and 4 to 6 weeks later, and in 40 control subjects (mean age 54.7 ± 10.5 years). Results Without vibration, baseline body weight (BW) distribution was characterized by underloading of the paretic limb (mean BW on the paretic limb 37.2% ± 13.1%). At the early stage of balance recovery, % shift toward the paretic limb induced by GM vibration differed significantly between left and right HP ( P = 0.049) and between left HP and controls (C) ( P = 0.022) and was related to BW asymmetry (r = 0.437, P = 0.004). Later, GM vibration reduced asymmetric BW distribution in most HP and no difference was found between left and right HP and between left and C. Conclusion At an advanced stage of postural recovery, GM vibration could help encourage HP to put weight on the affected limb. Interestingly, a behavioral difference was initially observed between right and left HP that could probably be explained by a different strategy due to the baseline severity of the BW asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing the rehabilitation of co-located infrastructure assets (pavements, pipelines, culverts, etc.) has become a major challenge for municipalities due to the varying rehabilitation requirements of these assets and the need for better coordination of rehabilitation works. Yet, most of the existing fund-allocation methods are not structured to address co-located infrastructure rehabilitation work in a systematic manner. This paper, therefore, extends the enhanced benefit-cost analysis (EBCA) optimization method that was developed earlier for a single asset type, to the case of co-located assets. The extended EBCA approach arrives at near-optimum funding decisions by achieving an equilibrium state at which fair and equitable allocations are made among all asset categories. Using a real case study consisting of bridges and culverts co-located in the right of way of a pavement network along with two different implementation strategies, EBCA proved to be able to arrive at near-optimum fund-allocations supported with a credible economic justification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Evidence for nonlocal muscle fatigue (NLMF) has been inconsistent in adults, with no studies investigating youth. The objective was to examine NLMF in youth. Forty-two young males (age, 10-13 years) were tested for maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force of the ipsilateral and contralateral knee extensors at 90° and 120° knee flexion, elbow flexors at 90°, handgrip, knee extensor isokinetic torque (300°·s−1 analyzed at 90° and 120° knee flexion), as well as a unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) and Y Balance test (YBT). Isokinetic fatigue group ( n = 15) had unilateral fatigue induced with 10 sets of 20 repetitions of maximal isokinetic knee extensor contractions at 300°·s−1. Isometric fatigue group ( n = 15) used 10 repetitions of 6-s knee extensor MVIC whereas the control group ( n = 12) were not fatigued. There was no significant difference in the response to the isometric- or isokinetic-fatigue intervention protocols. Main time effects indicated that NLMF was evident with the contralateral knee extensor MVIC at 90° ( p = 0.008; 8.9%), knee extensor isokinetic torque at 90° ( p < 0.001; 11.4%), and 120° ( p = 0.05; 5.4%), CMJ ( p = 0.02; 11.5%), handgrip ( p = 0.06; 4.5%), elbow flexors ( p < 0.001; 7.7%), and YBT ( p = 0.001; 5.6%). Ipsilateral NLMF deficits occurred with handgrip ( p < 0.001; 7.3%), elbow flexors MVICs ( p < 0.001; 10.7%), CMJ ( p = 0.02; 12.2%), and YBT ( p = 0.002; 3.8%). NLMF with similar relative fatigue-induced deficits of fatigued and nonfatigued limbs suggest that youth fatigue is highly dependent upon the extent of activation or inhibition of the nervous system. Coaches of young athletes might consider developing technical motor skills before fatiguing exercise components, which might hinder the proficiency of their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Orthodontie Française is the property of John Libbey Eurotext 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.)