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Enhancing postural control, pain and disability through proprioceptive training in individuals with low back pain: a proof-of-concept.
No full textLow back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of global disability. Individuals with LBP often exhibit impaired proprioceptive postural control, which may contribute to the persistence of their condition. The effectiveness of targeted proprioceptive training in addressing these deficits and alleviating pain and disability remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of proprioceptive training on (1) proprioceptive postural control and (2) associated pain and disability in individuals with LBP.
Twenty-five individuals with recurrent LBP (14 men, 11 women; mean age 47 ± 10 years; BMI 24.1 ± 2.3) participated in an 8-week proprioceptive training program focusing on sensing, differentiating, and localizing lumbar postures, movements, and muscle activation. Participants integrated these exercises into their daily routines.
Postural control assessments were performed on stable and unstable surfaces with visual input occluded. Muscle vibration stimulated ankle and back muscle spindles to induce center of pressure (COP) displacements, measured using a force plate. A ratio of COP displacement in response to ankle versus back muscle vibration was calculated. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Modified Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (MDQ) and self-reported percentage improvements in pain and disability (0–100%). Non-parametric statistical methods were used.
Proprioceptive training led to increased COP displacement in response to back muscle vibration on stable (p = 0.036) and unstable surfaces (p = 0.043). The ratio of ankle-to-back muscle vibration indicated greater reliance on lumbar proprioception under unstable conditions (p = 0.034). Clinically, MDQ scores improved significantly (pre-training: 27 ± 10; post-training: 14 ± 10, p < 0.001), alongside substantial reductions in disability (51%) and pain (49%).
Proprioceptive training improved lumbar proprioception and postural control, likely through enhanced muscle spindle sensitivity and segmental control. Participants shifted from rigid ankle strategies to adaptive lumbar proprioceptive reliance, improving adaptability to unstable conditions. These benefits were accompanied by significant reductions in pain and disability, underscoring the clinical value of proprioceptive training for individuals with LBP.Research Foundation Flanders - FWO (grant 11B6522N, grant G072122N
African catfishes and their monogenean gill parasites: barcoding, diversity and biogeography
No full textAfrica is one of the regions with a high concentration of aquatic biodiversity. This
continent also has many scientifically underexplored areas, which means there is
still much to be done regarding research on aquatic biodiversity. To contribute to
this topic, we focused on three families of economically important catfishes that
are widely distributed across several ichthyological provinces of the African
continent: Auchenoglanididae, Bagridae, and Clariidae.
Our results provide the first available COI and/or Cyt-b sequences for three
species of catfishes collected from Lake Tanganyika: Chrysichthys acsiorum (COI
and Cyt-b), Dinotopterus cunningtoni (COI) and Malapterurus tanganyikaensis
(COI). We also provide the first-ever genetic data for any member of Bagrobdella
(28S rDNA and 18S-ITS1 sequences of Bagrobdella vanhovei and B.
vansteenbergei) and for Quadriacanthus aegypticus (28S rDNA sequences).
In this study, we present seven new records of monogeneans (B. anthopenis, B.
fraudulenta, B. vanhovei, B. vansteenbergei, Q. aegypticus, Macrogyrodactylus
clarii, M. karibae). Bagrobdella vanhovei and B. vansteenbergei are reported for
the first-time outside of Lake Tanganyika. These two species are now known to
occur throughout the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Bagrobdella fraudulenta only occurs in the ichthyological province of Nilo-Sudan:
in the Niger River in Bamako, Mali, and in Lake Albert, in Uganda. This is the first
time it is also reported from the Congolese side of Lake Albert. Quadriacanthus
aegypticus and Macrogyrodactylus karibae, already known from the DRC, are
reported for the first time in Lakes Kivu and Tanganyika, respectively. This is also
the first time that Macrogyrodactylus clarii is recorded in the ichthyological
province of the Congo. We described a new species of Quadriacanthus: Q.
lindiensis. We estimate that at least 500 monogenean species parasitising African catfishes
remain undescribed. We found that Auchenoglanis occidentalis requires a
taxonomic revision as it is composed of at least three groups/potential species:
one restricted to the Congolese province, another confined to the Upper Guinea
province, and the third present throughout the Nilo-Sudanese province.
We combined DNA barcoding of the host with a screening of its monogenean
parasites to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Clarias gariepinus. The
populations of C. gariepinus in Lakes Kivu and Edward share COI sequences,
suggesting that the evolutionary origin of this fish may be the paleolake
Obweruka, which formerly encompassed Lakes Kivu, Edward, and Albert. Among
these three lakes, we only found monogenean parasites on the population of C.
gariepinus from Lake Kivu. This population found to be parasitised by two only
species of monogeneans: Q. aegypticus and M. clarii. Given the poor parasite
fauna in these populations of origin, we hypothesize that the current gill parasite
fauna of this wide-spread fish built up via lateral transfer as it spread throughout
the continent.
The state of taxonomy of monogeneans parasitising African catfishes is advancing.
We noted that 67% of the first authors currently active in describing new species
of monogeneans from African catfishes are early-career researchers based in
Africa
Reading multiplicity in unfoldings from ε-neighborhoods of orbits
No full textWe consider generic analytic 1-parameter unfoldings of saddle-node germs of analytic vector fields on the real line, their time-one maps and the Lebesgue measure of ε-neighborhoods of the orbits of these time-one maps. The box dimension of an orbit gives the asymptotics of the principal term of this Lebesgue measure and it is known that it is discontinuous at bifurcation parameters. To recover continuous dependence of the asymptotics on the parameter, here we expand asymptotically the Lebesgue measure of ε-neighborhoods of orbits of time-one maps in a Chebyshev system, uniformly with respect to the bifurcation parameter. We use Ecalle-Roussarie-type compensators. We show how the number of fixed points of the time-one map born in the universal analytic unfolding of the parabolic point corresponds to the number of terms vanishing in this uniform expansion of the Lebesgue measure of ε-neighborhoods of orbits
Longitudinal trajectories of muscle impairments in growing boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
No full textBackground Insights into the progression of muscle impairments in growing boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) remain incomplete due to the frequent oversight of normal maturation as a confounding factor, thereby restricting the delineation of sole pathological processes. Objective To establish longitudinal trajectories for a comprehensive integrated set of muscle impairments, including muscle weakness, contractures and muscle size alterations, while correcting for normal maturation, in DMD. Methods Thirty-three boys with DMD (aged 4.3-17 years) were included. Fixed dynamometry, goniometry, and 3D freehand ultrasound were used to repeatedly assess lower limb muscle strength, passive range of motion (ROM) and muscle size, resulting in 161, 178 and 64 assessments for the strength, ROM and ultrasound dataset, respectively. To account for natural strength development, ROM reduction, and muscle growth in growing children, muscle outcomes were converted to unit-less z-scores calculated in reference to typically developing (TD) peers. This allows the interpretation of the muscle outcomes as deficits or alterations with respect to TD. Mixed-effect models estimated the longitudinal change in muscle impairments. Results At 4.3-4.9 years of age, all muscle strength outcomes and several ROMs (i.e., dorsiflexion, hamstrings, and hip extension) showed deficits relative to TD, while m. medial gastrocnemius size was increased. Most muscle outcomes remained stable or slightly improved until the ages of 6.6-9.4 years (except knee flexion strength). After this period, muscle strength (-0.27 to -0.45 z-score/year; p < 0.0044), dorsiflexion ROM (-0.23 to -0.33 z-score/year; p < 0.0007), m. medial gastrocnemius size (-0.56 z-score/year; p = 0.0022), and m. rectus femoris size (-0.36 z-score/year; p = 0.0054) declined. Conclusions The current study established longitudinal trajectories of muscle impairments in boys with DMD. The results provided enriched history data and revealed promising outcome measures that could enhance the detection of the efficacy of novel therapeutic strategies. Future studies are necessary to validate these outcomes.This research was funded by Duchenne Parent Project NL (17.011) and by the Research Foundation – Flanders (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen) through a research fellowship to IV (1188923N). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
Recent Advances in Diamond Science and Technology
No full textI am pleased to present this Topical Section of Physica Status Solidi (a), highlighting recent advancements in diamond science and technology. This collection features cutting-edge research in diamond-based materials and devices, with contributions stemming from the 28th edition of the international Surface and Bulk Defects in Diamond (SBDD) workshop. The workshop brought together researchers from diverse fields to discuss the latest developments, and the papers featured in this Topical Section reflect the latest innovations of diamond research. The papers cover a wide range of topics, from fundamental studies of defect creation in diamond to innovative approaches in quantum sensing, device fabrication, and electrochemical processes. These contributions underscore the importance of diamond's unique properties in real-world applications, particularly in the fields of quantum information and biomedicine. Novel experimental techniques are introduced, such as a combined confocal-AFM setup that enables sub-diffractional spatial resolution for quantum sensing, and a study on boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond coatings for self-sensing AFM cantilevers , which facilitate advanced nanoscale measurements. Other research papers explore temperature-sensing using cathodolumi-nescence spectroscopy of nitrogen-doped nanodiamonds and the application of graphene on diamond for electronic devices, demonstrating the growing intersection of diamond with other advanced materials for next-generation technologies. Together, these papers showcase the ongoing evolution of diamond research, highlighting its multifaceted role in both fundamental science and emerging technological innovations. As research in diamond technology progresses, so too does the need for advanced characterization techniques to better understand and optimize these materials. The 28th SBDD workshop, held in February 2024 in Hasselt, Belgium, provided a platform for delegates to exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and envision the future of diamond research. I hope that this collection of articles will continue the vibrant discussions initiated at the workshop, inspire new avenues of research, and contribute to the ongoing development of diamond-based technologies, both within this field and across related disciplines. Hasselt, February 2025
Noot – De relativiteit van de uitputtingsvereiste in het kader van de zaak der wegen
No full textB. Gemeentewegen bij de Vlaamse regering moet worden aangemerkt als een dergelijke beroepsmogelijkheid die-in beginsel-door een belanghebbende moet worden aangewend opdat hij zich ontvankelijk tot de Raad van State kan richten. 14.2. Dit kan evenwel niet onverkort worden toegepast wanneer in concreto moet worden vastgesteld dat door het handelen van het bestuur zelf het bestuurlijk beroep niet de vereiste effectiviteit kon hebben, wat te dezen-zoals hierna zal blijken-het geval is. 15. Terecht wijst verzoekster erop dat de verwerende partij op geen enkele wijze enige kennisgeving heeft gedaan van de bestuurlijke beroepsmogelijkheid tegen de gemeente-raadsbeslissing van 28 juni 2022. 16. Nochtans bepaalt artikel 18, tweede lid, van het ge-meentewegendecreet dat, indien de reguliere procedure wordt gevolgd, een specifieke kennisgeving moet gebeuren aan "iedereen die in het kader van het openbaar onderzoek een standpunt, opmerking of bezwaar heeft ingediend". De uitdrukkelijke bedoeling van de decreetgever om een gelijke rechtsbescherming te garanderen, ongeacht of gebruik wordt gemaakt van de reguliere procedure of de afwijkingsmoge-lijkheid, brengt met zich mee dat in het laatste geval een gelijkwaardige kennisgeving moet gebeuren. 17. Wanneer een bestuurlijke beslissing ter kennis moet worden gebracht, dient ook melding te worden gemaakt van de beroepsmogelijkheden. 18. Doordat de verwerende partij het bestreden gemeente-raadsbesluit niet aan verzoekster heeft ter kennis gebracht mét melding van de (bestuurlijke) beroepsmogelijkheden tegen die specifieke beslissing over de zaak van de wegen, is de verwerende partij tekortgekomen aan de op haar rus-tende verplichtingen. 19. Door haar onwettige handelswijze heeft de verwerende partij te dezen de effectiviteit van de beroepsmogelijkheid bij de Vlaamse regering beslissend ondergraven. (…) Noot-De relativiteit van de uitputtingsver-eiste in het kader van de zaak der wegen De feiten De bestreden beslissing waarover de Raad van State zich in dit arrest heeft gebogen, betreft het besluit van 28 juni 2022 van de gemeenteraad van Erpe-Mere betreffende de goedkeuring van de zaak der wegen en het rooilijnplan toestemming voor de aanleg van een fietspad in landbouwgebied dat zal fungeren als verbindingsweg tussen twee bestaande gemeente-wegen. Concreet gebeurde de goedkeuring middels de aflevering van een omgevingsvergunning. Het 1. Over de vereiste dat het administratief beroep op ontvankelijke wijze werd uitgeput, zie bv. VAN LERSBERGHE P., 'Het georganiseerd administratief beroep als toelaatbaarheidsvoorwaarde van de rechtsvordering' , noot onder Rb. Brussel 2 januari 2004, RABG 2005, p. 817. 2. RvS 22 december 2022, 255.364 3. VERMEIRE N., 'Geen shortcut mogelijk bij de bekendmaking van de beslissing over de zaak der wegen' , noot onder RvS 17 januari 2023, nr. 255.504, STORM 2023, afl. 1, 12. 4. RvS 29 juni 1998, 74.704; RvS 22 april 1999, 79.873. gemeenteraadsbesluit kaderde met andere woorden in de geïntegreerde procedure, vervat in artikel 12, § 2 van het Decreet houdende de gemeentewegen van 12 augustus 2019 (hierna "Gemeentewegendecreet"). De verzoekster is actief als landbouwer in de omge-ving. Ze diende tijdens het openbaar onderzoek een bezwaar in. Na de goedkeuring van de vergunnings-aanvraag door de gemeenteraad, wendt zij zich recht-streeks tot de Raad van State door middel van een an-nulatieverzoek. De uitputtingsvereiste en het Gemeentewegende-creet Het arrest gaat in op een van de basisprincipes van rechtsbescherming ten aanzien van overheidsoptre-den: wie een jurisdictioneel beroep wenst in te stel-len tegen een administratieve rechtshandeling, kan dit pas doen nadat de mogelijkheid tot het instellen van een georganiseerd beroep op ontvankelijke wijze werd uitgeput. 1 Deze uitputtingsvereiste vormt een wezenskenmerk van het georganiseerd administratief beroep, zo blijkt uit de vaste rechtspraak van de Raad van State. 2 Het georganiseerd administratief beroep stelt de burger in de gelegenheid om reeds op het ad-ministratieve niveau zijn (on)gelijk te halen en kan daarom als een belangrijk onderdeel van de rechts-bescherming van burgers worden gezien. 3 Het is dan ook niet verwonderlijk dat deze beroepsmogelijkheid zich opdringt. Om op ontvankelijke wijze een juris-dictioneel beroep in te stellen, volstaat het met andere woorden dat de bestreden bestuurshandeling niet meer vatbaar is voor een georganiseerd administratief beroep. 4 Hieruit volgt dat het verzoek in casu onontvankelijk dient te worden verklaard, aldus de vergunningver-lenende gemeente. Artikel 31/1 van het decreet van 25 april 2104 betreffende de omgevingsvergunning (hierna "Omgevingsvergunningendecreet") bepaalt immers dat tegen een beslissing over de zaak der we-gen een georganiseerd administratief beroep open-staat bij de Vlaamse Regering. Rekening houdend met de uitputtingsvereiste, had de verzoekster volgens de vergunningverlenende overheid voorafgaandelijk aan het beroep bij de Raad van State-op ontvankelijke wijze-beroep moeten aantekenen bij de Vlaamse Re-gering. De verzoekster wijst er echter op dat de verwerende partij (aan haar) geen kennis heeft gegeven van de bestuurlijke beroepsmogelijkheid tegen het bestreden gemeenteraadsbesluit. Op deze manier heeft de verwerende partij de effectiviteit van het bestuurlijk Wolters Kluwer-Tijdschrift voor gemeenterecht T.Gem. 2025/2-11
Development and Investigation of Lightweight Photovoltaics Modules Using Multi-Wire Interconnection Technology against Thermo-mechanical Load towards Vehicle-integrated Photovoltaics Applications
No full textVarious lightweight photovoltaics (PV) modules have been developed in recent years with adaptations to reach the increasing demands of integrated photovoltaics, such as building-or vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (B-/VIPV). However, the reliability of such a module is rarely explored, which could hinder the commercialization of lightweight PV modules in integrated PV applications. In this report, we develop lightweight PV modules using a novel multi-wire interconnection technology with a glass-fiber reinforced carrier foil. Next, we investigate the reliability of lightweight modules under thermal cycling (based on IEC 61215:2021) compared to the glass-glass structure. We show that the foil direction can greatly influence thermo-mechanical reliability due to oriented glass fibers. Microcracks in the solder joint level are detected after the aging test. Efforts to use numerical modeling to understand failure mechanisms will be provided at the conference
Descriptive study and evaluation of shrink hoods with recycled content for regulatory compliance
No full textIn preparation for the European Commission's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), mandating 35% recycled content in tertiary plastic transport packaging by 2030, distributors are already producing films with similar content. As part of the TETRA-CORNET MultiRec project (HBC.2023.0176), funded by VLAIO VLAIO and in collaboration with industry partners, this case study evaluates shrink hoods with 30% and 35% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, designed to protect palletised loads of 1.3 tons of bricks. This study provides a framework for systematic assessment of these films, enabling their improvement in a later phase, aligning with regulatory requirements and ensuring transport performance, and identifying correlations between mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties as well as transport performance. Key mechanical properties, such as coefficient of friction (dynamic COF: 0.19–0.25), tensile stress, and thermal shrinkage, were analysed, revealing notable variability between films. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) assessed thermal transitions (melting peaks: 118–124 °C) and molecular weights, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified additives. PCR granulates exhibited notable variability, including lower melt enthalpy (95-103 J/g) compared to the full films (>108 J/g), indicating reduced crystallinity. Granulate colour varied noticeably, with lighter ones having lower molecular weight (199.6 kg/mol) than darker ones (275.3 kg/mol). Transport simulations further highlighted performance differences between films, emphasizing the need for tighter control over variables such as PCR composition, compensatory measures in virgin fractions, and production parameters. In conclusion, this study highlights the variability in both PCR granulate and film properties, emphasizing the need for systematic and open research to address performance challenges and support the transition to circular materials while maintaining sufficient transport protection in demanding applications