Interlimb Coordination during Double Support Phase of Gait in People with and without Stroke.

This study aims to identify differences between participants with and without stroke regarding the ipsilesional and contralesional lower limbs kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity and their variability during double support phase of gait. Eleven post-stroke and thirteen healthy participants performed 10 gait trials at a self-selected speed while being monitored by an optoelectronic motion capture system, two force plates and an electromyographic system. The following outcomes were evaluated during the double support: the time and the joint position; the external mechanical work on the centre of mass; and the relative electromyographic activity.

Swimmers' Effective Actions during the Backstroke Start Technique.

The analysis of the external forces of swimming starts has revealed how swimmers propel themselves out of the block, but data should be properly interpreted to fully understand force-generation mechanisms. This study aimed to assess horizontal and vertical forces in the backstroke start based on swimmers' structural and propulsive actions. Firstly, a simulated structural force was estimated by two transient backstroke-start inter-segmental realistic body positions: a maximally tucked position and an extended one (just before the hands-off and the take-off, respectively).

Repeatability and Temporal Consistency of Lower Limb Biomechanical Variables Expressing Interlimb Coordination during the Double-Support Phase in People with and without Stroke Sequelae.

Reliable biomechanical methods to assess interlimb coordination during the double-support phase in post-stroke subjects are needed for assessing movement dysfunction and related variability. The data obtained could provide a significant contribution for designing rehabilitation programs and for their monitorisation. The present study aimed to determine the minimum number of gait cycles needed to obtain adequate values of repeatability and temporal consistency of lower limb kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic parameters during the double support of walking in people with and without stroke sequelae.

Modelling and Predicting Backstroke Start Performance Using Non-Linear and Linear Models.

Our aim was to compare non-linear and linear mathematical model responses for backstroke start performance prediction. Ten swimmers randomly completed eight 15 m backstroke starts with feet over the wedge, four with hands on the highest horizontal and four on the vertical handgrip. Swimmers were videotaped using a dual media camera set-up, with the starts being performed over an instrumented block with four force plates.

Effect of wetted surface area on friction, pressure, wave and total drag of a kayak.

Using theoretical principles, the components of drag (friction D , pressure D and wave D ) of a single-seat kayak were analysed. The purpose was to examine the effect of changes in wetted surface area due to changes in kayaker's weight and the relative contribution of D , D and D to the total passive drag as function of velocity. The total passive drag values were based on experimental data collected in a single-seat kayak.

Portuguese version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) among assembly workers: Cultural adaptation, reliability and validity.

Objectives: Reliable and valid instruments are essential for understanding fatigue in occupational settings. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI).

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 218 workers from an automotive industry involved in assembly tasks for fabrication of mechanical cables.

The effect of different foot and hand set-up positions on backstroke start performance.

Foot and hand set-up position effects were analysed on backstroke start performance. Ten swimmers randomly completed 27 starts grouped in trials (n = 3) of each variation, changing foot (totally immersed, partially and totally emerged) and hand (lowest, highest horizontal and vertical) positioning. Fifteen cameras recorded kinematics, and four force plates collected hands and feet kinetics.

Is passive drag dependent on the interaction of kayak design and paddler weight in flat-water kayaking?

Drag is one of the major factors that influences kayaking performance. To focus on the drag of the kayak's hull shape and the paddlers' weight per se, the passive drag (Dp) was measured on a flat-water sprint course for one paddler with added weights. Dp was measured by an electromechanical towing device using a load cell, at incremental and constant velocities from 2.

Effective Swimmer's Action during the Grab Start Technique.

The external forces applied in swimming starts have been often studied, but using direct analysis and simple interpretation data processes. This study aimed to develop a tool for vertical and horizontal force assessment based on the swimmers' propulsive and structural forces (passive forces due to dead weight) applied during the block phase. Four methodological pathways were followed: the experimented fall of a rigid body, the swimmers' inertia effect, the development of a mathematical model to describe the outcome of the rigid body fall and its generalization to include the effects of the inertia, and the experimental swimmers' starting protocol analysed with the inclusion of the developed mathematical tool.

Evaluating Transportation by Comparing Several uses of Rotary Endodontic Files.

Aim: To evaluate the frequent use of ProTaper Next (PTN; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) systems on shaping ability of root canal utilizing Solidworks (2014, Dassault Systemes) software.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six root canals in clear resin blocks (Dentsply-Maillefer) were allocated into six experimental groups (n = 36). Six new sets of PTN instruments (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) were used six times to shape the resin blocks.

Discovering mammography-based machine learning classifiers for breast cancer diagnosis.

This work explores the design of mammography-based machine learning classifiers (MLC) and proposes a new method to build MLC for breast cancer diagnosis. We massively evaluated MLC configurations to classify features vectors extracted from segmented regions (pathological lesion or normal tissue) on craniocaudal (CC) and/or mediolateral oblique (MLO) mammography image views, providing BI-RADS diagnosis. Previously, appropriate combinations of image processing and normalization techniques were applied to reduce image artifacts and increase mammograms details.

Three-dimensional reconstruction and characterization of human external shapes from two-dimensional images using volumetric methods.

This work presents a volumetric approach to reconstruct and characterise 3D models of external anatomical structures from 2D images. Volumetric methods represent the final volume using a finite set of 3D geometric primitives, usually designed as voxels. Thus, from an image sequence acquired around the object to reconstruct, the images are calibrated and the 3D models of the referred object are built using different approaches of volumetric methods.

Holographic stress analysis in a distal extension removable partial denture.

This study examines stress analysis of the mandible when submitted to mastication simulated forces over a distal extension removable partial denture. Two situations were analyzed upon loading: small pins had been placed over the bone crest and under the denture; low amplitude loads were applied over tooth 34-37. Holographic interferometry techniques were used to assess mandible's deformation.