Kinematics Adaptation and Inter-Limb Symmetry during Gait in Obese Adults

The main purpose of this study is to characterize lower limb joint kinematics during gait in obese individuals by analyzing inter-limb symmetry and angular trends of lower limb joints during walking. To this purpose, 26 obese individuals (mean age 28.5 years) and 26 normal-weight age- and sex-matched were tested using 3D gait analysis. Raw kinematic data were processed to derive joint-specific angle trends and angle-angle diagrams (synchronized cyclograms) which were characterized in terms of area, orientation and trend symmetry parameters. The results show that obese individuals exhibit a kinematic pattern which significantly differs from those of normal weight especially in the stance phase. In terms of inter-limb symmetry, higher values were found in obese individuals for all the considered parameters, even though the statistical significance was detected only in the case of trend symmetry index at ankle joint. The described alterations of gait kinematics in the obese individuals and especially the results on gait asymmetry are important, because the cyclic uneven movement repeated for hours daily can involve asymmetrical spine loading and cause lumbar pain and could be dangerous for overweight individuals.

Dynamics of collapse of an impact central uplift: Evidence from folds and faults in the collar of the Vredefort Dome, South Africa

ABSTRACT Structural analysis of overturned metasedimentary strata of the lower Witwatersrand Supergroup in the inner collar of the Vredefort Dome reveals the presence of tangential folds and faults associated with the 2.02 Ga impact. The folds are distinct from previously identified subradially oriented, vertical to plunging-inclined, gentle folds that are interpreted as the products of convergent flow (constriction) during the initial stages of central uplift formation. The tangential folds comprise disharmonic, open, asymmetric, horizontal to plunging-inclined anticline-syncline pairs with centripetally dipping axial planes and right-way-up intermediate limbs. They display centripetal-down vergence (anticline radially outward of the syncline) that is consistent with steep inward-directed shear of the overturned strata. We attribute this kinematic pattern to subvertical collapse of the Vredefort central uplift during the latter stages of crater modification. The folds are cut by pseudotachylite-bearing steep to vertical tangential faults that display center-down slip of <10 m up to ~150 m. Both the tangential folds and the faults suggest that the large-scale overturning of strata related to outward collapse of the Vredefort central uplift was accompanied by a component of inward-directed collapse via layer-parallel shearing and folding, followed by faulting. Subradially oriented faults with conjugate strike separations of 1–2 km in the NNE collar of the dome suggest penecontemporaneous tangential extension of the inner collar rocks. This evidence indicates that second-order structures in the metasedimentary collar of the Vredefort Dome preserve a complex, multistage record of evolving strain associated with both initial convergent and upward flow (constriction) related to central uplift rise and later divergent and downward flow (flattening) linked to its collapse, and that centripetally directed collapse features may be important components of the structural inventory of very large central uplifts.

Biomechanical demands of percussive techniques in the context of early stone toolmaking

Recent discoveries in archaeology and palaeoanthropology highlight that stone tool knapping could have emerged first within the genera Australopithecus or Kenyanthropus rather than Homo . To explore the implications of this hypothesis determining the physical demands and motor control needed for performing the percussive movements during the oldest stone toolmaking technology (i.e. Lomekwian) would help. We analysed the joint angle patterns and muscle activity of a knapping expert using three stone tool replication techniques: unipolar flaking on the passive hammer (PH), bipolar (BP) flaking on the anvil, and multidirectional and multifacial flaking with free hand (FH). PH presents high levels of activity for Biceps brachii and wrist extensors and flexors. By contrast, BP and FH are characterized by high solicitation of forearm pronation. The synergy analyses depict a high muscular and kinematic coordination. Whereas the muscle pattern is very close between the techniques, the kinematic pattern is more variable, especially for PH. FH displays better muscle coordination and conversely lesser joint angle coordination. These observations suggest that the transition from anvil and hammer to freehand knapping techniques in early hominins would have been made possible by the acquisition of a behavioural repertoire producing an evolutionary advantage that gradually would have been beneficial for stone tool production.

The Relationship Between the Perceived Movement Quality and the Kinematic Pattern of Complex Skills in Gymnastics

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the perceived movement quality of a gymnastics skill and its kinematic pattern, as well as the influence of expertise. Thirty participants with different levels of gymnastics expertise (n = 10 visual experts, n = 10 motor experts and n = 10 novices) were recruited for the study. They were instructed to compare the movement quality of eleven video sequences, showing different handstand - back handspring performances. To extract the kinematics, the performances were digitized. By means of an ongoing cluster analysis, the kinematic pattern as well as the pattern of the perceived movement quality of the skills were determined for each experimental group. The results of the cluster analysis of the different experimental groups were analyzed and compared. Expertise differences were found regarding the pattern of the perceived movement quality. There was a significant correlation between the dendrograms of the visual experts and the motor experts (p = .021), as well as between the dendrograms of the visual experts and the novices (p = .011). There was no significant correlation between the dendrograms of the motor experts and the novices (p = .173). The pattern of the perceived movement quality was not correlated with the holistic kinematic pattern of judged skills (p > .143). These results suggest perceptual and cognitive differences of the participants due to their different previous visual and motor experience.

The long developmental trajectory of body representation plasticity following tool use

Humans evolution is distinctly characterized by their exquisite mastery of tools, allowing them to shape their environment in more elaborate ways compared to other species. This ability is present ever since infancy and most theories indicate that children become proficient with tool use very early. In adults, tool use has been shown to plastically modify metric aspects of the arm representation, as indexed by changes in movement kinematics. To date, whether and when the plastic capability of updating the body representation develops during childhood remains unknown. This question is particularly important since body representation plasticity could be impacted by the fact that the human body takes years to achieve a stable metric configuration. Here we assessed the kinematics of 90 young participants (8–21 years old) required to reach for an object before and after tool use, as a function of their pubertal development. Results revealed that tool incorporation, as indexed by the adult typical kinematic pattern, develops very slowly and displays a u-shaped developmental trajectory. From early to mid puberty, the changes in kinematics following tool use seem to reflect a shortened arm representation, opposite to what was previously reported in adults. This pattern starts reversing after mid puberty, which is characterized by the lack of any kinematics change following tool use. The typical adult-like pattern emerges only at late puberty, when body size is stable. These findings reveal the complex dynamics of tool incorporation across development, possibly indexing the transition from a vision-based to a proprioception-based body representation plasticity.

Online proprioception feeds plasticity of arm representation following tool-use in healthy aging

Following tool-use, the kinematics of free-hand movements are altered. This modified kinematic pattern has been taken as a behavioral hallmark of the modification induced by tool-use on the effector representation. Proprioceptive inputs appear central in updating the estimated effector state. Here we questioned whether online proprioceptive modality that is accessed in real time, or offline, memory-based, proprioception is responsible for this update. Since normal aging affects offline proprioception only, we examined a group of 60 year-old adults for proprioceptive acuity and movement’s kinematics when grasping an object before and after tool-use. As a control, participants performed the same movements with a weight—equivalent to the tool—weight-attached to their wrist. Despite hampered offline proprioceptive acuity, 60 year-old participants exhibited the typical kinematic signature of tool incorporation: Namely, the latency of transport components peaks was longer and their amplitude reduced after tool-use. Instead, we observed no kinematic modifications in the control condition. In addition, online proprioception acuity correlated with tool incorporation, as indexed by the amount of kinematics changes observed after tool-use. Altogether, these findings point to the prominent role played by online proprioception in updating the body estimate for the motor control of tools.

Fully Lagrangian Method For Shear Band Capturing

<p>KeyWords: FEM, Legandre element, plasticity, localization, shear band</p><p> </p><p>The phenomenon of strain localization is widespread and can reveal both during the geodynamic sliding</p><p>of plates at macro scale length and at scales, character to a wells and mining. Herein we propose</p><p>accurate way to solve problems based on the spectral Legendre element with incremental formulation,</p><p>elastoplastic deformations, a consistent linearized matrix for governing relations. Two models of materials</p><p>are taken into account: the Drucker-Prager (pressure dependent) model and the Mises (pressure</p><p>insensitive) model. This report presents a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the kinematic pattern of</p><p>the lines of plastic deformations at different characteristic scales and types of stress states. It is shown for</p><p>general case pressure dependent Drucker-Prager model, in contrast to Mises model, solution can not possess</p><p>symmetric and continuous values: both radial and hoop stresses in the case of thick-walled cylinder</p><p>under compression can have periodic symmetry, but are discontinuous along the thickness.</p>

The Effect of Maximal Speed Ability, Pacing Strategy, and Technique on the Finish Sprint of a Sprint Cross-Country Skiing Competition

Purpose: To investigate the contribution from maximal speed (Vmax) and %Vmax to the finish sprint speed obtained in a cross-country sprint in the classical and skating style, as well as the coinciding changes in kinematic patterns and the effect of pacing strategy on the %Vmax. Methods: Twelve elite male cross-country skiers performed two 80-m Vmax tests on flat terrain using the classical double-poling and skating G3 techniques, followed by 4 simulated 1.4-km sprint time trials, performed with conservative (controlled start) and positive (hard start) pacing strategies in both styles with a randomized order. In all cases, these time trials were finalized by sprinting maximally over the last 80 m (the Vmax section). Results: Approximately 85% of Vmax was obtained in the finish sprint of the 1.4-km competitions, with Vmax and %Vmax contributing similarly (R2 = 51–78%) to explain the overall variance in finish sprint speed in all 4 cases (P < .05). The changes in kinematic pattern from the Vmax to the finish sprint included 11–22% reduced cycle rate in both styles (P < .01), without any changes in cycle length. A 3.6% faster finish sprint speed, explained by higher cycle rate, was found by conservative pacing in classic style (P < .001), whereas no difference was seen in skating. Conclusions: Vmax ability and %Vmax contributed similarly to explain the finish sprint speed, both in the classic and skating styles, and independent of pacing strategy. Therefore, sprint cross-country skiers should concurrently develop both these capacities and employ technical strategies where a high cycle rate can be sustained when fatigue occurs.