The WE SENSE study protocol: A controlled, longitudinal clinical trial on the use of wearable sensors for early detection and tracking of viral respiratory tract infections.

Background: Viral respiratory tract infections (VRTI) are extremely common. Considering the profound social and economic impact of COVID-19, it is imperative to identify novel mechanisms for early detection and prevention of VRTIs, to prevent future pandemics. Wearable biosensor technology may facilitate this.

Effect of Clothing Fabric on 20-km Cycling Performance in Endurance Athletes.

Examine the effect of synthetic fabrics (SYN, 60% polyester: 40% nylon) vs. 100% cotton fabric (CTN) on the 20-km cycling time trial (20 kmCTT) performance of competitive cyclists and triathletes. In this randomized controlled crossover study, 15 adults (5 women) aged 29.

Biodegradability and Safety Study of LifeMesh™, a Novel Self-adhesive Mesh, in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Self-adhesive meshes are being developed to avoid complications due to traumatic fixation methods. LifeMesh™ is a novel self-adhesive mesh with a biodegradable gelatin adhesive layer developed for hernia repair. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and biodegradability of LifeMesh in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 6 weeks, in comparison to a bare polypropylene (BPP) mesh fixed with sutures.

Effects of an improved biomechanical backpack strap design on load transfer to the shoulder soft tissues.

The aim of the present study was to characterize shoulder strap structure and mechanical properties that may alleviate strains and stresses in the soft tissues of the shoulder. Utilizing a finite element model of the shoulder constructed from a single subject, we have quantified skin stresses exerted by backpack straps and the strains at the subclavian artery (SCA). For this end, standard shape straps with stiffness of 0.

Biomechanical Model for Stress Fracture-related Factors in Athletes and Soldiers.

Unlabelled: Stress fractures (SF) are one of the most common and potentially serious overuse injuries.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a computational biomechanical model of strain in human tibial bone that will facilitate better understanding of the pathophysiology of SF.

Methods: The MRI of a healthy, young male was used for full anatomical segmentation of the calf tissues, which considered hard-soft tissues biomechanical interactions.

Effect of Load Carriage on Upper Limb Performance.

Unlabelled: Carrying heavy backpacks are often associated with shoulder discomfort or pain, loss of sensorimotor functions, and brachial plexus injuries that might hamper performance. On the basis of previous research, the cause of these symptoms could be tissue deformations of the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery caused by the shoulder straps.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the upper extremity hemodynamic and neural function and to assess how they are associated with brachial plexus tissue deformation during heavy load carriage.

The effect of mechanical strains in soft tissues of the shoulder during load carriage.

Soldiers and recreational backpackers are often required to carry heavy loads during military operations or hiking. Shoulder strain appears to be one of the limiting factors of load carriage due to skin and underlying soft tissue deformations, trapped nerves, or obstruction of blood vessels. The present study was aimed to determine relationships between backpack weights and the state of loads in the shoulder׳s inner tissues, with a special focus on the deformations in the brachial plexus.

Deformations in the Shoulder Tissues During Load Carriage: A Computational Model.

Shoulder soft tissue deformations seem to be one of the limiting factors of load carriage among soldiers and recreational backpackers that are required to carry heavy loads. Yet, there are no loading limits related to the forces borne by the shoulders, and the backpacks designs are not consistent with providing pressure relief from this sensitive anatomical region. The aim of this study was to develop a model that will enable to study the biomechanical loads that develop in the shoulder under heavy loads and to help in optimizing load carriage systems design.

Physiological and cognitive military related performances after 10-kilometer march.

Background: Prior operational activities such as marching in diverse environments, with heavy backloads may cause early fatigue and reduce the unit's readiness. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of 10-kilometer (km) march on selected, military oriented, physiological and cognitive performances. Eight healthy young males (age 25 ± 3 years) performed a series of cognitive and physiological tests, first without any prior physiological strain and then after a 10 km march in comfort laboratory conditions (24°C, 50%RH) consisting a 5 km/h speed and 2-6% incline with backload weighing 30% of their body weight.

Tibial stress changes in new combat recruits for special forces: patterns and timing at MR imaging.

Purpose: To characterize the incidence, location, grade, and patterns of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in the tibia in asymptomatic recruits before and after 4-month basic training and to investigate whether MR imaging parameters correlated with pretraining activity levels or with future symptomatic injury.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by three institutional review boards and was conducted in compliance with HIPAA requirements. Volunteers were included in the study after they signed informed consent forms.

Variation in tibial functionality and fracture susceptibility among healthy, young adults arises from the acquisition of biologically distinct sets of traits.

Physiological systems like bone respond to many genetic and environmental factors by adjusting traits in a highly coordinated, compensatory manner to establish organ-level function. To be mechanically functional, a bone should be sufficiently stiff and strong to support physiological loads. Factors impairing this process are expected to compromise strength and increase fracture risk.

The effect of prolonged physical activity performed during extreme caloric deprivation on cardiac function.

Background: Endurance exercise may induce transient cardiac dysfunction. Data regarding the effect of caloric restriction on cardiac function is limited. We studied the effect of physical activity performed during extreme caloric deprivation on cardiac function.

Sweat rate prediction equations for outdoor exercise with transient solar radiation.

We investigated the validity of employing a fuzzy piecewise prediction equation (PW) [Gonzalez et al. J Appl Physiol 107: 379-388, 2009] defined by sweat rate (m(sw), g·m(-2)·h(-1)) = 147 + 1.527·(E(req)) - 0.

Modeling mechanical strains and stresses in soft tissues of the shoulder during load carriage based on load-bearing open MRI.

Shoulder strain is a major limiting factor associated with load carriage. Despite advances in backpack designs, there are still reports of shoulder discomfort, loss of sensorimotor functions, and brachial plexus syndrome. The current study is aimed at characterizing mechanical loading conditions (strains and stresses) that develop within the shoulder's soft tissues when carrying a backpack.

Prediction model for attrition from a combat unit training program.

The purpose of this study was to develop a prediction model for the attrition rate of soldiers from an 8-month advanced military training program based on physical and psychological factors. Two groups of 59 and 61 healthy, fit young men (18.7 ± 0.

Hand immersion in cold water alleviating physiological strain and increasing tolerance to uncompensable heat stress.

The current study examines the use of hand immersion in cold water to alleviate physiological strain caused by exercising in a hot climate while wearing NBC protective garments. Seventeen heat acclimated subjects wearing a semi-permeable NBC protective garment and a light bulletproof vest were exposed to a 125 min exercise-heat stress (35 degrees C, 50% RH; 5 km/h, 5% incline). The heat stress exposure routine included 5 min rest in the chamber followed by two 50:10 min work-rest cycles.

Motivation, cohesion, satisfaction, and their relation to stress fracture among female military recruits.

The purpose of this study was to compare ratings of motivation, satisfaction, self-efficacy, and cohesion between male and female soldiers undergoing basic training (BT) in a gender-integrated unit and to study whether the ratings differ in a subgroup of women who suffered stress fractures (SF) during the course of training. Data were collected from 3 different companies of an integrated combat unit using questionnaires that were completed by 41 male and 160 female soldiers (age 18.5 +/- 0.