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JRRD tipsheet: Focus on spinal cord injury, gait, stroke, power mobility and more

The JRRD tipsheet focuses on the latest research and best practices for managing spinal cord injury, gait disorders, stroke recovery, and power mobility. Studies investigate functional electrical stimulation for controlling seated posture, terrain's impact on gait characteristics, and the effect of restricted spinal motion on gait.

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalThe Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development·DateJul 17, 2006

Penn State to recycle tires into roads

Penn State's Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies is recycling 500,000 discarded tires into road fill, reducing sediment pollution and mosquito breeding grounds. The project uses bailed tires to fill degraded dirt roads, incorporating drainage structures to prevent water runoff.

Vol. 42, No. 5 JRRD tipsheet: Focus on spinal cord injury and prosthetics

Researchers have made significant advancements in managing chronic pain in spinal cord injury patients. Studies show that specific pain patterns are stable over time, while others can be improved through treatment. Additionally, virtual reality systems have been shown to provide natural movement control and flexibility for balance trai...

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalThe Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development·DateMar 24, 2006

The Valentine's Day candy dish

A study by Cornell University researcher Brian Wansink found that women eat significantly more Hershey Kisses when they are in clear containers on their desks, but fewer when they are six feet away. This suggests that the temptation factor plays a role in overeating, and that making food less visible can lead to reduced consumption.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateFeb 9, 2006

Anti-adhesive layers leave no hope for insects

Researchers from Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and University of Hohenheim investigate the effect of two-layered crystalline wax on insect attachment. The upper layer contaminates insects' feet, while the lower layer reduces contact area between feet and substrate, resulting in slippery zone that traps insects.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJan 13, 2006

Hairy feet stick better to wet ceilings

Geckos' hairy feet exhibit an extreme adhesive ability due to a 'dry' system that uses water. The researchers found that increased air humidity strengthens the capillary forces between spatulae and substrates, enabling geckos to stick better on wet ceilings.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 9, 2005

Explaining why the Millennium Bridge wobbled

The Millennium Bridge's wobble was caused by a sudden synchronization of pedestrians' footsteps, which became unstable as more people joined in. Researchers found that only around 160 people were needed to trigger this phenomenon, which could be used to inform future bridge designs.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateNov 2, 2005

I think, therefore I fall

A woman's fear of falling led to a psychological disorder affecting her ability to walk, but treatment helped improve her bearing and mobility. After discovering the condition was not physically related, she began walking again after six months of physical therapy and reduced medication.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalCognitive and Behavioral Neurology·DateOct 7, 2005

Volcanoes inner workings disclosed when the Earth moved

Researchers studied tiltmeter data from the Soufriere Hills Volcano to understand its behavior and inner workings. They found that pressure is centered around a half mile below the dome or nearly 2.5 miles above the magma chamber, suggesting a more extensive region involved in pressurization.

SourcePenn State·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 9, 2005

NRL measures record wave during Hurricane Ivan

During NRL's Slope to Shelf Energetics and Exchange Dynamics field experiment, six current profiler moorings deployed on the continental shelf directly measured large waves up to 27.7 meters high during Hurricane Ivan. The measurements provide valuable data for assessing potential impacts of energetic storm waves on offshore structures.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·JournalScience·DateAug 4, 2005

Bacteria feed on smelly breath (and feet)

A recent study published in Environmental Microbiology found methylotrophic bacteria present in the mouths of healthy volunteers and those with gum disease, but no association between bacterial levels and bad breath. The discovery may lead to a natural way of reducing smelly breath and feet.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology·DateJul 26, 2005

Measuring a monster

The study highlights the catastrophic effects of the December 26, 2004 tsunami on Banda Aceh and Lohknga in Indonesia. Water reached 9 meters at the shoreline and over 15 meters inland, with wave-driven sea water inundating areas up to 25 meters above sea level.

Robots walk with close-to-human efficiency

Researchers at Cornell University and their colleagues have built robots that mimic the human gait, consuming energy comparable to a human walker. The robots use simple control programs, suggesting that steady-state human walking might require only simple control as well.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateFeb 17, 2005