Variation in metabolism and partitioning of carbohydrates, particularly fructans, between annual and perennial Cichorium species remains a challenging topic. To address this problem, an annual (endive, Cichorium endive L. var. Crispum; Asteraceae) and a biennial species (chicory, Cichorium intybus L. var. Witloof; Asteraceae) were compared with in terms of variability in carbohydrate accumulation and expression patterns of fructan-active enzyme genes, as well as sucrose metabolism at various growth and developmental stages. In general, constituents such as 1-kestose, nystose, and inulin were detected only in the root of chicory and were not present in any of the endive tissues. For both species, flower tissue contained maximum levels of both fructose and glucose, while for sucrose, more fluctuations were observed. On the other hand, all the genes under study exhibited variation, not only between the two species but also among different tissues at different sampling times. In endive root compared to endive leaf, the expression of cell wall invertase genes and sucrose accumulation decreased simultaneously, indicating the limited capacity of its roots to absorb sucrose, a precursor to inulin production. In addition, low expression of fructan fructan fructosyltransferase in endive root compared to chicory root confirmed the inability of endive to inulin synthesis. Overall, annual and biennial species were different in the production of inulin, transport, remobilization, and unloading of sucrose.

Several studies compared African runners with runners from other places with difference ethnicities to identify biomechanical factors that may contribute to their extraordinary running performance. However, most studies only assessed runners at the elite level. Whether the performance difference was a result of nature or nurture remains unclear.

This case study aimed to assess the effect of geographical origin and the effect of training on running biomechanics.

We recruited twenty male runners from two regions (Asian and Africa) at two performance levels (elite and recreational), and asked them to run on an instrumented treadmill at 12 km∙h

. We measured running kinetics and kinematics parameters, and focused on the parameters that have been shown associated with running performance. We used Friedman test to compare the effect of geographical origin and training on running biomechanics.

Compared to recreational runners, elite runners applied higher amount of ground reaction force in both vertical andrs expressed higher vertical stiffness and higher step rate, which might lead to a lower CoM vertical displacement, and furthermore reduce mechanical energy loss.

Assessing postural stability in Parkinson’s disease (PD) often relies on measuring the stepping response to an imposed postural perturbation. The standard clinical technique relies on a brisk backwards pull at the shoulders by the examiner and judgement by a trained rater. In research settings, various quantitative measures and perturbation directions have been tested, but it is unclear which metrics and perturbation direction differ most between people with PD and controls.

(1) Use standardized forward vs. backward perturbations of a support surface to evaluate reactive stepping performance between PD and control participants. (2) Evaluate the utility of using principal components analysis to capture the dynamics of the reactive response and differences between groups.

Sixty-two individuals participated (40 mild-to-moderate PD, off medication). buy NU7441 Standardized rapid translations of the support surface were applied, requiring at least one step, backward or forward, to restore balance. The number of steps taken and the projection of the first principal component (PC1) of the center of pressure (COP) time series were entered in linear repeated-measures mixed effect models.

Forward falls required significantly fewer steps to recover than backward falls. PC1 captured more than half of the variance in the COP trajectory. Analysis of the PC1 projection revealed a significant interaction effect of group (PD vs. controls) by direction, such that there was a group difference in forward stepping, but not backward.

Forward reactive stepping in PD differed from controls more than backward-stepping. PC1 projections of the COP trajectory capture the dynamics of the postural response and differ between PD and controls.

Forward reactive stepping in PD differed from controls more than backward-stepping. PC1 projections of the COP trajectory capture the dynamics of the postural response and differ between PD and controls.

Individuals with a lower limb amputation (LLA) have an increased risk of falls and often report lower balance confidence. They must compensate for altered mechanics and prosthetic limitations in order to execute appropriate motor responses to postural perturbations. Personalised exercise could be an effective strategy to enhance balance and reduce falls.

In this study, we investigated whether a personalised exercise programme could improve postural control and self-reported balance confidence in individuals with an LLA.

Participants were block randomised into two groups (exercise, n = 7; control, n = 7) based on age and level of amputation. The exercise group completed a 12-week personalised exercise programme, including home-based exercise sessions, consisting of balance, endurance, strength, and flexibility training. The control group continued with their normal daily activities. All participants performed the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Motor Control Test (MCT) on the NeuroCom SMART Equitest,g asymmetry in the control group suggests that a lack of targeted exercise training may have detrimental effects, with potential adverse long-term musculoskeletal consequences, that were quantifiable within a short timeframe.

Soldiers that suffer a service-related knee musculoskeletal injury routinely develop joint osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is a substantial and costly problem among soldiers, yet it is unknown how body borne load and duration of walking impact knee adduction biomechanics linked to progression and severity of osteoarthritis.

This study determined the adaptations in magnitude and variability of knee adduction joint angle (KAA) and moment (KAM) during prolonged walking with body borne load.

Thirteen recreationally active participants had knee biomechanics quantified while walking over-ground for 60-min at 1.3 m/s with three body borne loads (0, 15, and 30 kg). Magnitude and variability of KAA and KAM measures were quantified and submitted to a RM ANOVA to test the main effect and interactions between load (0, 15 and 30 kg) and time (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min).

Body borne load increased peak KAM (p < 0.001), whereas time increased peak and range of KAA (both p < 0.001). Specifically, peak KAM increased with each addition of body borne load (all p < 0.