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Assessment of Lower Limb Muscle Volume Using 3D Ultrasonography: Validity and Reliability Compared to MRI
No full textIntroduction Muscle volume is a crucial indicator of muscle strength and neuromuscular health, traditionally assessed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). While MRI provides high accuracy, it is costly and time-consuming. Three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) offers a more accessible alternative but requires rigorous validation due to setup dependent accuracy. This study evaluates the validity and reliability of a custom 3DUS setup for measuring lower limb muscle volumes, compares it to MRI, and documents the methodology for broader research adoption.
Methods We recruited 10 healthy participants (5 males, 5 females; 18–40 years). The protocol included two 3DUS sessions and one MRI session spaced one week apart. The 3DUS scans were acquired by one experienced operator, while two operators analyzed the captured volumes from the second scanning timepoint. Target muscles—biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis, tibialis anterior, and vastus lateralis—were scanned using a linear probe (12L3, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) integrated with a motion capture system (Optitrack Flex 3, NaturalPoint, Corvallis, OR, USA). Data synchronization and reconstruction were performed using 3D Slicer. MRI scans were acquired using a 3T whole-body scanner (MAGNETOM Prisma, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany), and muscle volumes were segmented using Dafne and 3D-Slicer software. Validation was enhanced with phantom models (100–600 mL) scanned via both modalities. Reliability metrics included intra-class correlation (ICC), coefficients of variation (CV%), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC) and standardized mean bias.
Results Test-retest reliability of 3DUS was high for all muscles, with ICCs ranging from 0.97 to 0.99 (95% confidence intervals between 0.86–0.99) and CV% values between 2.0 and4.6% (95% CI between 1.3–6.7%). MDC values were below 5 mL for all muscles, indicating sensitivity to detect small volume changes. The biceps femoris exhibited the highest test-retest reliability, while the gastrocnemius medialis showed lower but acceptable agreement. Inter-rater reliability was similarly high, with ICCs exceeding 0.97 (95% CIs between 0.51–0.99) for all assessed muscles and minimal variability between operators (CV%: 2.1–3.2%, 95% CIs between 1.1–4.7%). Tibialis anterior yielded the highest inter-rater reliability results, vastus lateralis the lowest. Compared to MRI, 3DUS underestimated muscle volumes, with mean biases ranging from -15.4% to -44.6%. Agreement was highest for the tibialis anterior and lowest for the gastrocnemii. Standardized mean biases were classified as moderate to very large, ranging from -0.92 to -2.64. In contrast, phantom scans confirmed high accuracy for both 3DUS and MRI, suggesting measurement errors in vivo were likely due to probe pressure and sweep inconsistencies.
Discussion/Conclusion Our 3DUS system demonstrated excellent reliability for assessing muscle volumes between sessions and raters, but showed limited comparability to MRI, systematically underestimating volumes. The magnitude of underestimation appeared to be influenced by muscle architecture and location. Calibration refinements, including reduced probe pressure and optimized sweep protocols, are underway to improve accuracy. Nonetheless, 3DUS is a promising, cost-effective tool for longitudinal muscle assessments, particularly for detecting intervention-induced changes. Our openly accessible documentation of the methodology supports reproducibility and further innovation in the field
Physiological differences in cardiopulmonary exercise testing between children and adults
No full textPurpose: This study examines age- and sex-related physiological differences in cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between children and adults, focusing on ventilatory thresholds (VT) and oxygen uptake efficiency slope and plateau (OUES; OUEP).
Methods: The cross-sectional analysis comprised 24 children (7–11 years), 20 moderately- trained (MTA) and 20 well-trained (WTA) adults (20–30 years). They performed a maximal CPET on a cycle ergometer, while respiratory responses were measured. Linear regression models analyzed differences by age and sex of the key outcome parameters VT1, VT2, OUES and OUEP.
Results: Children exhibited higher absolute VO2 at VT1 (d=.66) and VT2 (d=.58) values than MTA but slightly lower VO2 at VT2 values compared to WTA (d=.35). Adults demonstrated higher OUES (MTA: d=.37; WTA: d=1.45) and OUEP (MTA: d=.81; WTA: d=.60) values than children. However, children had higher relative OUES when adjusted for body mass (OUESrel) (MTA: d=.1.80; WTA: d=.87). Males demonstrated higher values as females for VO2 at VT2 (d=.81), OUES (d=.79) and OUEP (d=.41), respectively. In contrast, females had higher VO2 at VT1 (d=.59) and VT2 (d=.44) relative to VO2peak as males.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that compared to adults, children rely more on oxidative metabolism, reflected in higher ventilatory thresholds relative to their aerobic capacity. Absolute OUES and OUEP increased with age, but OUESrel values indicate that maturation influences efficiency more than body mass, reflecting underlying metabolic and physiological differences. These age- and sex-specific patterns highlight the need for further longitudinal research to clarify the roles of growth and training on these parameters
Preventing sensory and motor dysfunctions in children receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy: PrepAir study - an update
No full textIntroduction Thanks to modern therapy, the survival rate for children with cancer is constantly improving. However, the strong treatment with chemotherapy also takes its toll. It leads to delays in motor milestones (e.g. running, climbing), which limits social reintegration as well as quality of life (Bjornard et al. 2018). Peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of chemotherapy and a crucial cause of many functional disorders. It causes severe symptoms such as loss of sensation, pain, numbness, absent reflexes as well as loss of balance control. Depending on the neurotoxic agent, 52-100% of children are affected by CIPN (Kandula et al. 2016). We hypothesize that CIPN plays a crucial role for childrens well-being and reintegration and its prevention is of utmost importance. The PrepAir study therefore investigates the potential of preventive sensorimotor training to prevent CIPN. The aim is to preserve relevant sensory and motor functions in children so that they receive their planned medical therapy and become fitter and more socially integrated survivors.
Methods We are thefore currently running a large, prospective, multicenter, randomized and controlled study in six hospital centers (Basel, Bern, Aarau, St. Gallen, Freiburg (D), Berlin (D)). N=131 children between 6-18 years, undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy, will be assigned to an intervention group or a treatment-as-usual group. After therapy, the control group will also receive the training. The primary endpoint of the study is the onset of CIPN. In addition, numerous secondary endpoints such as postural control, strength of the lower limbs, CIPN-related pain, movement-related leisure activities, physical self-concept and quality of life are assessed.
Results The study has so far been implemented in four centers (Basel, Freiburg, Bern and Berlin). We have so far recruited N=19/131 children and adolescents (Basel: N=6, Freiburg: N=12, Bern: N=1; %f=47.4; mean age= 16.44 years; cancer type 42.1% leukemia ALL, 42.1% lymphoma, 15.8% solid tumor).
Discussion/Conclusion We hypothesize that less children in the intervention group will develop symptoms of CIPN and will be able to maintain relevant motor and sensory functions which will enable them to receive their planned medical therapy but also to stay on the age-appropriate motor development level, improve their quality life and enhance social reintegration after therapy. This would show that specific exercise therapy is more than just a lifestyle intervention, it could be a therapy option without further side- effects, changing supportive care in oncology.
References
Bjornard, K. L., Gilchrist, L., Inaba, H., Diouf, B., Hockenberry, M. J., Kadan-Lottick, N. S., Bowers, D. C., Dolan, M. E., Ullrich, N. J., Evans, W. E., & Ness, K. K. (2018). Peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescents treated for cancer. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(10), 744–754. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30236-0
Kandula, T., Park, S. B., Cohn, R. J., Krishnan, A. V., & Farrar, M. A. (2016). Pediatric chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review of current knowledge. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 50, 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.09.00
Engagement and Follower Growth: Social Media Strategies of Swiss Athletes at the Paris Olympics
No full textIntroduction Social media platforms enable athletes to market themselves and engage with the public, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers. Understanding the factors driving engagement and follower growth on social media during high-visibility events is critical for athletes to leverage their athletic performance for brand growth and endorsement opportunities (Bredikhina et al., 2023; Su et al., 2020). This study investigates how athletic performance and social media behavior influence engagement and follower growth on Instagram among Swiss athletes during the Summer Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
Methods The Instagram activity of the 128-member Swiss Olympic delegation to Paris 2024 was analyzed, focusing on posts made during the 2024 Olympics. Instagram was selected due to its large user base in Switzerland (Kemp, 2024) and as all but one of the delegation members held an Instagram account. Follower growth was calculated and the top-performing athletes, including medalists and the top ten in follower growth metrics, were selected for a detailed analysis. In total, 183 posts of 21 athletes were coded for post type, likes, comments, engagement rate, visual elements, caption themes and collaborations. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between engagement metrics, follower growth, post type and frequency, as well as Olympic results.
Results Athletic performance positively correlated with engagement rate (r = .288, p < .01). Comments showed a moderate positive correlation with follower growth (r = .508, p < .05) and post frequency (r = .603, p < .05). However, post frequency negatively correlated with the percentage of follower growth (r = −.442, p < .05). Notably, post type and athletic performance were negatively correlated (r = −.214, p < .05). No significant correlations were found between athletic results and overall follower growth. However, it must be noted that these analyses are based on a subset of the delegation and may not reflect the entire delegation, but rather only the top performers.
Discussion/Conclusion These results suggest that athletes should prioritize engagement-driving posts over frequency and that photos can be just as valuable as reels if they capture the right moments highlighting celebratory moments and personal growth. Additionally, athletic performance does not guarantee follower growth, increasing post-performance engagement is crucial. This research extends understanding of the factors contributing to follower growth. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of leveraging such events on the athletes’ brands and the potential economic growth this leverage brings.
References
Bredikhina, N., Gupta, K., & Kunkel, T. (2023). Superboosting the athlete social media brand: Events as an opportunity for follower growth. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(6), 1819–1842. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2074497
Kemp, S. (2024). Digital 2024: Switzerland. Kepios. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-switzerland
Su, Y., Baker, B. J., Doyle, J. P., & Kunkel, T. (2020). The rise of an athlete brand: Factors influencing the social media following of athletes. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 29(1), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.32731/smq.291.302020.0
Campusschulen, Entwicklungsteams, Partnerschulnetzwerk – Zu den Herausforderungen und Erträgen von Kooperationen zwischen Schule und Hochschule im Rahmen der Qualitätsoffensive Lehrerbildung
No full textKooperationen zwischen Schule und Hochschule stellen häufig genutzte Instrumente dar mit dem Ziel, die Theorie-Praxis-Verzahnung in der Lehrkräftebildung zu verbessern. Während der Qualitätsoffensive Lehrerbildung wurden in Deutschland verschiedene solcher Formate initiiert, so auch an den Universitäten Potsdam, Konstanz und Lüneburg. Bisher wurden sie isoliert betrachtet. Nun tragen in diesem Beitrag Vertreterinnen der drei Standorte ihre Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse zu Kooperationen zwischen Schule und Hochschule zusammen und analysieren entstandene Erträge und Herausforderungen. Mit fünf wesentlichen Implikationen werden konkrete Ansatzpunkte für die Realisierung und die Verstetigung von Kooperationen zwischen Schule und Hochschule geboten
Gestaltungsprinzipien von Podcasts und ihr Einfluss auf den Konzeptwechsel im Lehramtsstudium – Eine experimentelle Studie
No full textDie Studie prüft den Einfluss von Gestaltungsprinzipien von Podcasts auf den Überzeugungswandel von 97 Lehramtsstudierenden zum Lerntypenmythos. Die Studierenden wurden zufällig einem Podcastformat zugeteilt: Konzeptwechselpodcast, widerlegender Podcast oder Sachpodcast. Der Konzeptwechselpodcast und der widerlegende Podcast führten im Vergleich zum Sachpodcast in einem direkt anschliessenden Posttest (p = .008, ηp2 = .07) und sieben Wochen später (p = .016, ηp2 = .07) zu geringer ausgeprägten Überzeugungen zum Lerntypenmythos. Zu beiden Messzeitpunkten zeigte sich kein signifikanter Vorteil des Konzeptwechselpodcasts gegenüber dem widerlegenden Podcast. Die Befunde betonen die Relevanz von Podcastgestaltungsprinzipien für Konzeptwechsel
«Mindful integration» bei der Unterrichtsplanung: Evidenzorientiertes Denken von Lehrkräften als Konstruktion von Argumenten aus multiplen Quellen
No full textEvidenzorientiertes Denken und Handeln von Lehrkräften zeigt sich in der Unterrichtsplanung, wenn Entscheidungen rational begründet werden. Dafür können verschiedene Wissensbestände herangezogen und in didaktische Argumentationen integriert werden. Solche Integrationsprozesse scheinen nur selten spontan zu gelingen. Der Beitrag skizziert, wie Integrationsprozesse beim Schreiben didaktischer Argumentationen aus der Perspektive der Leseforschung zum Umgang mit multiplen Quellen besser verstanden werden könnten. Der Beitrag leitet daraus Hypothesen zur Informationsintegration bei Lehrkräften und Ansätze zur Förderung evidenzorientierter Unterrichtsplanung ab
Deprofessionalisierung durch den Einsatz von Assistenzpersonen?
No full textIm Beitrag wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern der Einsatz von Assistenzpersonen in Schulen zur Deprofessionalisierung führt. Dabei werden Deprofessionalisierungstendenzen diskutiert und es wird dargestellt, welche Effekte der Einsatz von Assistenzen auf das Lernen der Schülerinnen und Schüler hat. Des Weiteren wird aufgezeigt, dass die Forderung nach Anleitung von Assistenzen in der Praxis kaum umgesetzt wird. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden zwei Herangehensweisen skizziert, die aufzeigen, wie Lehrpersonen in der Aus- und Weiterbildung für die Zusammenarbeit mit Nichtprofessionalisierten professionalisiert werden könnten
Opera is African: Oríkì, Narrativity, and the Politics of Power in Yorùbá Opera
Get PDFOpera is African: Oríkì, Narrativity, and the Politics of Power in Yorùbá Opera
Introduction: Oríkì as an Operatic Device
Opera is African and the politics of power has shaped its poetics in Nigeria since ancient times. Focusing on the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, this paper examines how institutional power dynamics have shaped the history and practice of opera since the pre-colonial era. In addition to discussing indigenous precolonial practices and their extension in new forms, I examine how Nigerian opera composers have engaged with the issue of power in their work. The operas that I discuss are Hubert Ogunde’s Yoruba Ronu, Akin Euba’s Chaka, and Bode Omojola\u27s most recent opera, Funmilayo, all of which explore the dynamics of power in two ways: as a focus of plot and libretto and in terms of how they resist, or rework Western operatic forms associated with the “colonial matrix of power.” My discussion tackles these issues historically and analytically. I examine the precolonial roots of opera in Western Nigeria, the impact of European musical and theatrical practices, and analyze the types of choices and decisions that inform the works of 20th-century Yoruba operatic composers. My conclusion reflects on the significance of these works in terms of the anti-colonial or decolonial strategies they propose
Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit (2012): Black Opera’s Complex Relation with Colonial Modernity
Get PDFZiyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit (2012) belongs to that corpus of cultural productions that are all-black cast but are produced and financed by white, mainstream finance. This position of being black-themed production financed by white finance brings multi-layered complexities. In the case of Ziyankomo, its composition: the libretto and music compositions are by African artists, just as its cast is black, but its financing and production are by a white-owned company, Opera Africa and mixture of corporate and post-apartheid government linked entities. This black-art-white-finance arrangement does not auger well with the ideological positions of the black-white politics in South Africa, in that it introduces into the production ambiguous, irreconcilable clashes that pit Africans’ call for liberation on one hand, with the maintenance of the logic of coloniality on the other. Ziyankomo selection of its historical narrative adds to this ambiguity in that it eschews honest reflections about Africans, in this case the Zulu historical experience and the violence of the colonial encounter. Instead, it opts for selective experiences that recreate detached, ahistorical surface representations, which fly in the face of the calls for decolonisation (Ngugi 1986) and decoloniality (Mignolo 2018). Arguably, Ziyankomo’s take on the motif of the figure of the dancing Zulu warrior locates it with a collection of South African productions whose revisiting of the image of the dancing Zulu warrior marks continuities with racist, colonial British representations of the Zulu warrior of the Empire Exhibitions. In South Africa, anthropological politics of the 1930s undergirded some constructions whereby there were massive calls for the retribilisation of the Bantu, the indigenous people of South Africa. Drawing from interdisciplinarity of epistemologies of whiteness studies, Eric Hobswam and Terence Ranger’s notion of invented traditions (1983) and Walter Mignolo’s concept of Decoloniality this article, intends to explore the historical underpinnings of ideological ramifications of the anthropological turn, which betrays long shadows of colonialist-apartheid values and their constrictions of post-apartheid contemporary African performances. The article argues that Ziyankomo is firmly located in cultural productions meant for exotic entertainment while simultaneously obfuscating contingent historical realities affecting Africans. The question the article raises relate to the extent to which ethnic nationalism can be tied to ontological understandings of pre-colonial value systems within a whiteness culture of erasure? Who funds black opera and how can such funding structures be seen to be advancing a decolonial question? Ziyankomo then in this discussion becomes anchor and site to investigate black opera production and issues of social justice within the current structures of its funding model
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