Effects of a hip belt on transverse plane trunk coordination and stability during load carriage.

This study examined the transverse plane kinematics of the pelvis, thorax and head while participants walked at a range of speeds on a treadmill under three load conditions: no load, with a loaded backpack with no hip belt and with a loaded backpack with a hip belt. Research has suggested that one mechanism for adapting to heavy loads carried with no hip belt is to reduce the amplitudes and relative phase of transverse plane pelvic and thoracic rotations, in order to minimize rotational torque on the loaded upper body. Transverse plane rotation amplitudes of the pelvis, thorax, backpack and head were calculated from 3D kinematic data for 12 healthy subjects, walking at speeds of 0.5, 0.9, 1.3 and 1.7 ms(-1). Relative phase relation and its variability were also computed for pelvis-thorax rotations and backpack-thorax rotations. Stability of the coordination pattern was estimated as an inverse function of the variability in relative phase. The backpack with the hip belt allowed significantly larger transverse plane rotation amplitudes, along with increased stability of the coordination pattern, than the backpack with no hip belt. Motion patterns of the backpack and thorax suggested that the backpack frame was used to assist with the deceleration and reversal of the loaded thorax, driven by the pelvis through the hip belt connection. Use of the frame in this way may have required less trunk muscle activation and allowed for improved pattern stability.

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics: Flavour Lattice Averaging Group (FLAG).

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D- and B-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in the semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio [Formula: see text] and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. The latter quantities are an addition compared to the previous review. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (also new compared to the previous review), as well as those for D- and B-meson-decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. Finally, we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Ankle braces effectively reduce recurrence of ankle sprains in female soccer players.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of ankle bracing and taping in preventing recurrencess of ankle sprains, specifically in female athletes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Varsity soccer players' medical records over a five-year period were retrospectively reviewed at a Division III women's college. Data were extracted regarding any history of ankle sprain(s), type of intervention used as prophylaxis after the ankle sprain, number of exposures, and any incidence of recurrence. SUBJECTS: All collegiate varsity soccer players who had suffered a previous sprain to either one or both ankles (38 players) were identified as subjects. MEASUREMENTS: Each previously injured ankle (n = 56) was considered as a case for the analysis. Ankles that had a previous sprain received one of four interventions: 1) a canvas, laced ankle brace (n = 19), 2) taping (n = 12), 3) a combination of taping and ankle bracing (n = 8), or 4) no treatment (n = 17). RESULTS: The four intervention groups had a total of 1717 practice exposures and 650 competitive game exposures; exposures did not differ among the 4 groups. Ankle sprain recurrence frequency was 0%, 25%, 25%, and 35% for the braced, taped, combination, and untreated groups, respectively. The recurrence incidence for the braced group was significantly lower than that of the other three groups. The ankle sprain recurrence frequency did not differ among the taped, combination, and no treatment groups. CONCLUSION: We suggest that prophylactic ankle bracing is effective in reducing the incidence of ankle sprains in female soccer players with a previous history of ankle sprains.

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics.

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio [Formula: see text] of decay constants and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory and review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing. The inclusion of heavy-quark quantities significantly expands the FLAG scope with respect to the previous review. Therefore, we focus here on [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters, since these are most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. In addition we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].