Articles tagged with Feet
Researchers have developed a novel vascular optical tomographic imaging system to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of peripheral artery disease in diabetics. The system uses near-infrared light to map hemoglobin concentration, revealing perfusion issues in extremities.
A recent study by UC Berkeley professor Michael Manga found that geysers erupt periodically due to underground loops and side-chambers that trap steam bubbles. The study suggests that these underground features heat the water column above, eventually leading to sudden boiling and pressure release.
Researchers found that warning signs with greater movement evoke a higher perception of risk, leading to earlier attention and stopping. Dynamic signs, such as those depicting figures running or sprinting, are more effective at grabbing drivers' attention.
A cluster of neurons in the spinal cord, known as RORα neurons, integrates sensory information from light touch sensors to control muscle movements. This 'mini-brain' helps regulate balance and prevents falls by making subtle adjustments to foot position.
A research team analyzed body size data for 25 marine species, including whales, sharks, and squids, to correct inaccuracies and understand the challenges of measurement. The study found that some species exhibit significant size variation within a single species.
A Penn State researcher developed a simple model to select the right-sized boulder to stop a truck traveling at 30 miles per hour. The model considers factors like soil density and boulder displacement, accurately predicting an effective boulder size for embassy protection.
A study found that leafy greens can be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 up to 180m away from a cattle feedlot, highlighting the need for revised buffer zone guidelines. The research suggests that airborne transport of bacteria can contribute to contamination, particularly in dry and dusty conditions.
During the annual hajj pilgrimage, scientists detected high levels of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide and benzene, in Mecca. The exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of heart failure, headaches, and other serious health issues, highlighting the need for improved regulations and reduced emissions.
A team of Penn State engineering students designed workstations that allow users to share space while maintaining their own work areas. The researchers used simulations to determine optimal table shapes and sizes for accommodating groups of different sizes, ultimately publishing their findings in Applied Ergonomics.
Tropical Storm Hagupit has become a Category One typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 70 knots, posing threats to islands in Micronesia. The storm is expected to continue moving west-northwest through the region and intensify before weakening on December 6.
Researchers at Washington State University have discovered a promising technology to expand the hard cider industry by mechanical harvesting of cider apples. The study found that machine harvesting can provide up to four times less labor than hand harvesting, resulting in significant cost savings and improved efficiency for orchards.
NASA's ISS-RapidScat tracked the winds of post-tropical cyclone Nuri as it moved parallel to Japan. The storm is now expected to bring strong winds and rough seas to Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has imaged the impact crater created by NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission. The crater is small, less than ten feet in diameter, due to the spacecraft's low mass and velocity.
A new drug delivered through a skin patch has shown promise in healing diabetic foot ulcers and preventing their recurrence. The drug increases the protein HIF-1α, which helps form new blood vessels needed for wound healing.
A new study has shown that even the lightest fingertip touch can significantly reduce sway in people with balance issues. The research, led by the University of Birmingham, found that this phenomenon is due to a sensory weighting mechanism that combines individual sensory feedback and motion cues from a partner.
A recent study has found evidence of a massive tsunami that struck the Hawaiian islands around 500 years ago, with waves reaching up to nine meters high. The discovery has prompted officials to revise their tsunami evacuation maps to account for the possibility of an extreme tsunami hitting the county.
Researchers found sthenurine kangaroos, an extinct family, had a sturdy spine and broad pelvis, ideal for weight-bearing on one leg. This contradicts the modern kangaroo's hopping habit, suggesting bipedal walking as their slow-speed locomotion.
A new study found that living close to a major road increases the risk of sudden cardiac death in women by 38% compared to those living far away. Researchers also discovered that proximity to major roads is associated with increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease.
Researchers at Ohio State University have gained insight into how the body moves when walking by watching people walk naturally on a treadmill. They discovered that tiny variations in pelvis movement and foot placement can predict future steps with high accuracy.
A study published by Kessler Foundation researchers found that using a foot drop stimulator during walking can retrain the temporal activation of the tibialis anterior muscle, improving muscle function. The results suggest that this intervention may facilitate recovery from foot drop, a common complication of stroke.
Hurricane Odile brought extreme rainfall to Mexico's Baja California peninsula and southwestern United States, with estimated totals reaching almost three feet. The TRMM satellite analyzed real-time data to track the storm's impact, revealing highest rainfall totals of over 160 mm in northwestern Texas.
Researchers found evidence that the Zhada Basin in southwest Tibet lost 3,000 to 5,000 feet of elevation around 3-4 million years ago. This finding was confirmed using ancient snail shells and clumped isotope thermometry techniques.
Researchers at MIT have created a robotic cheetah that can run at high speeds using an algorithm inspired by the biomechanics of real cheetahs. The robot's legs are programmed to exert a certain amount of force in the split second during which it hits the ground, allowing it to maintain speed and stability.
Researchers from MIT and Turkey analyzed 20 years of GPS data to predict a major earthquake near Istanbul. The analysis suggests that the next large earthquake will occur along a seismic gap beneath the Sea of Marmara, west of Istanbul.
A massive 85-foot-long and 65-ton dinosaur, Dreadnoughtus schrani, has been discovered with the most complete skeleton ever found of its type. The fossil offers an unprecedented window into the anatomy and biomechanics of this giant animal.
Researchers at Southern Methodist University found that elite sprinters use a unique gait feature to maximize speed, delivering a firm and rapid punch to the ground upon contact. The study, which compared data from competitive sprinters to other fast-running athletes, suggests that there is only one way to achieve high speeds.
Genevieve has been downgraded to a tropical storm, tracking northwestward at 8 knots per hour. Maximum sustained winds of 70 knots and gusts up to 85 knots are expected, making it far southeast of the Aleutian islands within 2-3 days.
Typhoon Halong is expected to make landfall in southern Japan on August 9 with maximum sustained winds near 85 knots, generating dangerous swells. The storm has already passed over the Minamidaito and Kitadaito Islands with hurricane-force winds.
Researchers found hundreds of juvenile whale sharks gathering on coral reefs near Saudi Arabia, providing a rare insight into their daily lives and movements. The study tracked the sharks' movements over years, revealing frequent deep dives and a sex ratio of 1:1 at the site.
A new study by Liza Shapiro at the University of Texas at Austin contradicts earlier claims that quadrupedal humans are a product of backward evolution. The research, published in PLOS One, shows that people with Uner Tan Syndrome (UTS) walk on all fours but use lateral sequences, not diagonal patterns characteristic of nonhuman primates.
A recent Texas A&M AgriLife Research study identified the impact of soils, land cover and water use on groundwater levels in Texas. The study found progressive decline in statewide decadal median water levels from 46 feet to 118 feet between the 1930s and 2000s.
Tropical Storm Neoguri has weakened significantly as it moves along the southeastern coast of Japan, now experiencing maximum wave heights near 8 feet due to moderate southwesterly wind shear. The JTWC expects Neoguri to continue transitioning into an extra-tropical cyclone as it enters cooler waters.
Two new fish-spawning reefs will be built in the St. Clair River to boost native species such as lake sturgeon, walleye, and lake whitefish. The $3.5 million project aims to restore habitat by providing river-bottom rock structures suitable for spawning.
A new study involving CU-Boulder reveals that red kangaroos use their tails as a powerful fifth leg to support and propel motion while grazing on all fours. The study, published in Biology Letters, shows that the kangaroo tail performs as much mechanical work as one of its legs.
The TRMM-based Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis system monitored near-real time rainfall totals for May 29 to June 6, 2014, during Tropical Storm Boris and System 90L's impact on Mexico. The satellite recorded the highest rainfall totals of over 535 mm in southern Mexico.
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is collapsing, with the Thwaites Glacier expected to disappear in centuries and raise sea levels by nearly 2 feet. The study provides a quantitative estimate of the collapse's rates, suggesting scenarios ranging from 200 to 500 years.
Tapah downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression due to strong vertical windshear and decreased sea surface temperature. The storm is currently tracking northwest at 10 knots per hour and expected to recurve to the northeast.
A new study shows that the odds of storm waters overflowing the Manhattan seawall have increased 20-fold due to a rise in storm tides and sea-level rise. The maximum height of 'once-in-10-years' storms has grown by almost a foot since the mid-19th century, making New York City more prone to frequent and extensive flooding.
A QUT physicist demonstrated that a siphon operates through gravity, not atmospheric pressure. The experiment involved a hypobaric chamber and showed that water flow remained constant despite changes in atmospheric pressure.
A study published in Avian Conservation and Ecology reveals that the iconic Blue-footed Booby population has declined by over 50% in less than two decades. The drastic drop is attributed to a lack of sardines in their diet, leading adult birds to elect not to breed, which in turn causes the population to shrink.
The James Webb Space Telescope features a primary mirror composed of 18 smaller lightweight mirror segments, each with precise actuators to align and shape the mirror. The segments are designed to work together as one giant mirror, capturing light from distant galaxies and stars in space.
South African and French scientists have dated the nearly complete skeleton of Little Foot to around 3 million years old, refuting previous claims of a younger age. The study analyzed stratigraphy, micro-stratigraphy, and geochemistry to determine the age of the fossil.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on Tropical Cyclone Lusi, revealing it had become a cold-core system with strongest winds spreading out. The storm is expected to bring gale-force winds and heavy rain to Northern New Zealand, particularly around North Cape.
A powerful storm system brought drastic temperature changes to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern US, with Washington D.C. experiencing a 40-degree drop in daytime temperatures and Buffalo, NY receiving 13.8 inches of snow.
Researchers found that sutures with stem cells led to quicker and stronger healing of Achilles tendon tears compared to traditional sutures. The study showed improved tendon strength and reduced risk of rerupture in rats, suggesting potential benefits for human patients.
A new tissue repair drug has been shown to improve healing rates for diabetic foot ulcers, reducing the risk of amputation. Patients treated with the drug were twice as likely to have their ulcers heal within eight weeks compared to those receiving a placebo.
Tropical Cyclone 15S has formed in the Mozambique Channel, with cloud top temperatures indicating powerful thunderstorms and potential for heavy rainfall. The cyclone is expected to strengthen into a hurricane-force storm over the next few days, generating 10-foot high waves.
A new study from Rice University and the University of North Texas suggests that physical similarity is not the dominant rule in human mating when it comes to height preferences. Women prefer taller partners mostly for protection and femininity, while men prefer shorter women but not extremely short ones for intimacy purposes.
A soft wearable robot developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers enables natural motions in the ankle, aiding patients with ankle-foot disorders. The device uses soft plastics and pneumatic artificial muscles to achieve a range of motion similar to a normal walking gait.
Researchers have found that controlling levels of reactive oxygen species can break the cycle of wounds that refuse to heal. Antioxidant supplements such as vitamin E and N-Acetyl cysteine were able to normalize conditions and promote healing in chronically infected wounds.
A research team has documented rarely seen pre-spawning behavior in bonefish, which should aid future conservation efforts. The study tracked a school of over 10,000 bonefish as they completed their spawning migrations in the Bahamas.
Scientists predict a 1.5-3.5 foot sea-level rise in New Jersey by 2050 and 2100, exceeding previous flood records, including Superstorm Sandy. This increase is attributed to global average sea-level rise, sediment compaction, and changes in ocean dynamics.
A new, giant species of extinct platypus, Obdurodon tharalkooschild, has been discovered in Australia. The estimated length of the species is nearly a meter, twice that of the modern platypus. The fossil record suggests that platypuses became smaller and reduced their teeth through time.
Researchers found that babies' brains show distinct activation patterns when watching an adult perform a task with different body parts. This somatotopic mapping helps facilitate imitation and could play a role in the baby's ability to copy actions themselves.
Researchers used the Anklebot robot to characterize the normal mechanics of the joint in healthy volunteers, finding that the ankle is strongest when moving up and down and weakest when turning inward. The findings may help clinicians better understand physical limitations caused by strokes and other motor disorders.
Researchers found that expansive postures, like standing up and spreading arms, make people feel powerful across cultures. However, some postures that violate cultural norms, such as putting feet on desk, have little effect on individuals from East Asia.
A new study by Rush University Medical Center found that mobility shoes significantly reduced knee loading in osteoarthritis patients, even after the shoes were no longer worn. The study suggests that footwear choice may be an important consideration in managing knee osteoarthritis.
The TRMM satellite has observed heavy rainfall and banding of thunderstorms around System 98W in the northwestern Pacific, indicating potential consolidation into a tropical depression. The system is expected to become a tropical depression within 24 hours as it moves northwards.
The NASA HS3 mission has revealed that Tropical Storm Humberto had a hybrid core structure, characterized by both warm and cold cores at different levels. This discovery provides new insights into the processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin.
The Arctic sea ice minimum extent for 2013 reached 1.97 million square miles, the sixth lowest on record, due to a late start of the melt season and cooler temperatures. The remaining sea ice cover is much thinner than it was in previous decades, with an average thickness of only 6.2 feet.