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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess changes in blood glucose level, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in elderly women aged over 65 years with hypertension and either normal glycemic control, impaired fasting glucose tol erance, or diabetes mellitus. We also wished to investigate the relationship between stages of diabetes and physical fitness. [Methods] A total of 24 elderly women with hypertension were assigned to a control group (CON; n=7), impaired fasting glucose group (IFG; n=9), and diabetes mellitus group (DM; n=8). In each group, blood glucose level, bra chial ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV), and blood pressure were measured at baseline as well as 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. Physical fitness factors such as hand grip strength, balance test, 4 m gait speed test, chair stand test, short physical performance battery, and 6-minute walking test were subsequently assessed. [Results] In all three groups, blood glucose levels were significantly increased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. In the DM group, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before and after a 75 g OGTT than in the CON group. In the CON group, PWV was significantly increased at 60 minutes after a 75 g OGTT; however, there were no changes in other groups after glucose ingestion. In the CON group, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT compared to baseline. However, there was no change in blood pressure after ingestion in the DM group. The IFG group had greater grip strength than the CON group; however, there were no differences in other variables between the groups. [Conclusion] After a 75 g OGTT, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes maintain higher blood glucose levels compared to those with hypertension alone. Un like elderly women with hypertension alone, those with hypertension and diabetes did not show changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure after a 75 g OGTT. Therefore, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes may not be able to control their blood vessels following a 75 g OGTT due to impaired vascular endothelial function. Moreover, there was no association between diabetes stage and physical fitness in elderly women with hypertension.

Background Participation in exercise, and dietary and nutritional intakes have an impact on the risk and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), but these effects may differ according to whether a person lives alone or in a multi-person household. We analyzed differences in physical activity (PA) levels and energy intake according to household-type and MetS presence among young adults, to investigate the relationships among these factors. Methods Data of 3974 young adults (aged > 19 years and Results Logistic regression data showed that low PA levels and higher energy intake were associated with MetS incidence and its components in young adults, after adjusting for body mass index, smoking, household-type, and sex. Overall, there was no significant difference in PA level between the MetS and non-MetS group. The total energy intake was higher in the MetS than in the non-MetS group (p p p Conclusions We found significant association among low PA levels, high energy intake, and MetS components in young Korean adults, but with patterns differing according to household type. Energy intake was higher in young adults with than those without MetS, who lived in multi-person households, while young adults with MetS who lived alone had lower PA levels and lower energy intake than those without MetS. These findings highlight the need for different approaches of implementing PA and nutrition strategies according to the type of household in order to prevent MetS.

We examined the different effects of body mass index (BMI) level on resistance training during menstrual cycle. Thirty-six female subjects performed resistance training and subjects were divided into three groups: BMIunder, BMInorm, BMIover. Subjects completed 12 weeks of sub-maximal resistance training with 3 sets of 8–12 repetitions. Maximum isometric force test was measured before and after training in the follicular phase (FP) and the luteal phase (LP). Maximum isometric force of whole groups (BMIunder, BMInorm, BMIover) was significantly increased both FP and LP after 12-week resistance training. Maximum isometric force after training and absolute increase value in BMInorm and BMIover were no significantly different between FP and LP. However, significant different of maximum isometric force after training (FP, 79.08±11.60; LP, 84.05±12.38) and absolute increase value (FP, 9.63±5.47; LP, 15.13±6.06) were found between FP and LP just by BMIunder. We suggest that if muscle strength is measured in the FP (LP) before training and then they should be measured same phase, such as FP and LP after training and BMIunder can be influenced muscle strength in LP.

Ankle injuries are the most common injuries in sports. However, very little is known about sex differences in ankle range of motion (ROM) between ankle joints with an episode of ankle sprain (ASE) and those without an episode of ankle sprain (non-ASE). This study aimed to investigate the differences of ankle ROM between men and women with and without ASE. 26 ASE had at least one episode of ankle injury in the last 6 to 12 months. 35 non-ASE served as a control group. All subjects were examined in supine position and the ankle ROM was calculated by the sum of inversion (IV), eversion (EV), plantar flexion (PF) and dorsiflexion (DF) in both ankles. Subjects with ASE had a significantly smaller ROM regarding EV than non-ASE subjects in both ankles. The male subjects with ASE had a significantly higher EV and IV compared with the female subjects. However, ROM in PF was significantly lower among men compared with women who had ASE. Our findings suggest that the ROM after ASE affects PF in male and EV in female patients. This could point to sex-based prevention and rehabilitation after ankle injury. Sprunggelenksverletzungen sind die häufigsten Verletzungen im Sport. Allerdings ist sehr wenig bekannt über geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede der Beweglichkeit des Fußgelenks (ROM) zwischen Sprunggelenken mit einer Episode einer Sprunggelenksverletzung (ASE) und einer ohne Sprunggelenksverletzung (non-ASE). Ziel dieser Untersuchung war die Untersuchung der Unterschiede der Sprunggelenksbeweglichkeit zwischen Männern und Frauen mit und ohne einer ASE. 26 ASE hatten in den letzten 6 bis 12 Monaten mindestens eine Episode einer Sprunggelenksverletzung. 35 non-ASE dienten als Kontrollgruppe. Die Probanden wurden in Rückenlage untersucht und der ROM des Sprunggelenks wurde durch die Summe von Inversion (IV), Eversion (EV), Plantar-Flexion (PF) und Dorsal-Flexion (DF) in beiden Sprunggelenken berechnet. Probanden mit ASE hatte eine deutlich kleinere ROM in der EV als non-ASE in beiden Sprunggelenken. Die männlichen Probanden mit ASE hatten eine deutlich größere EV und IV als Frauen. Allerdings war die ROM in der PF bei den Männern deutlich geringer als bei Frauen, die eine ASE hatten. Unsere Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die ROM des Sprunggelenks nach ASE insbesondere die PF bei den Männern und die EV bei den Frauen betrifft. Dies könnte auf eine geschlechtsspezifische Prävention und Rehabilitation nach einer Sprunggelenksverletzung hinweisen.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of ovulation (OV) on dynamic balance in young female. Thirty-two eumenorrheic healthy women participated in Biodex Balance System (BBS) test for postural stability and a limit of stability menstrual cycle. BBS was tested in the menses (MS), OV, and luteal phase (LP). The limits of stabilities (total, forward-left, forward-right, backward-left, and backward-right) were significantly higher in the OV (total, 61.44±14.77; forward-left, 67.50± 15.17; forward-right, 69.50±14.43; backward-left, 64.00±20.32; and back-ward-right, 69.06±13.59) than in the MS (total, 55.44±14.63; forward-left, 60.00±15.98; forward-right, 62.17±9.78; backward-left, 57.83±19.09; and backward-right, 57.28±13.73). Furthermore, the LP (65.11±13.79) was a significantly higher limit of stability than MS (57.28±13.73) during back-ward-right. The present study showed that estrogen negatively influences postural stability. The postural sway in limits of stabilities (total, forward-left, forward-right, backward-left, and backward-right) were significantly the greatest in the OV. Since there is a different postural stability between MS, OV, and LP, this should be taken into account when devising training programs to avoid risk factor of fall and joint injury.

This study examined whether there are differences between range of motion (ROM) and balance in lower extremities according to gender. A total of 31 male and 28 female students measured plantar flexion (PF), dorsiflexion, inversion (IV), eversion (EV), hip flexion (HF), hip internal rotation (HIR), and hip external rotation (HER) and tested on the Biodex Balance System. ROM of PF and HF were significantly high the female group and ROMs of IV, EV, HIR, and HER were significantly higher the male group than in the female group. Low ROM of PF may be more negative related to overall balance, especially, back balance in males; therefore, it is necessary to assess and plan the training program for PF ROM in male students.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-week treadmill-based (MT) and track-based (TT) walking program on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), muscular endurance, muscle strength, and ankle range of motion (ROM) in ankle sprain experienced young people. Twenty subjects (12 males, 8 females) volunteered to participate in this study and divided into two groups (MT and TT). All subjects completed MT and TT 4 times per week with each session of 60 min with 65% from maximum heart rate. Incremental test on treadmill and 20-m shuttle run test for endurance capacity (VO2max), 2-km walking test for muscular endurance, vertical jump for strength, and ankle ROM for flexibility were analyzed before and after the training intervention. We found significant increase in incremental, 2-km walking and 20-m shuttle run after both MT and TT. Just after TT were significant increased vertical jump and ankle ROM. In conclusion, TT seems to induce a more positive effect on muscle strength in lower extremity and ankle ROM than treadmill-based walking training in ankle sprain experienced young people.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference effect of estrogen on muscle tone of medial and lateral thigh muscle during ovulation (OV). Twenty-eight untrained eumenorrheic healthy women tested muscle stiffness and frequency of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris during menstrual cycle (MC). MC were divided into menses (MS), OV, and luteal phase (LP). The muscle frequency of vastus medialis and semitendinosus were significant higher in OV (13.83±1.58 Hz, 15.62±2.39 Hz) than LP (13.18±0.85 Hz, 14.67± 1.62 Hz). Also the muscle stiffness of vastus medialis and semitendinosus were significant higher in OV (211.74±46.03 N/m, 241.95±48.35 N/m) than LP (184.26±26.09 N/m, 215.42±35.29 N/m). The present study showed the highest muscle stiffness and frequency at OV and this might be due to the rapid increase of sole hormone in estrogen. Especially, medial part of quadriceps and hamstrings might be influenced during the MC with high concentration of estrogen at OV.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-week aqua walking and jogging program on muscle function, ankle range of motion (ROM), balance and fell efficacy in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) patients. Six patients (2 males, 4 females) with DLSS participated in aquatic exercise program 3 times per week with each session of 60 min (warming-up, aqua walking, aqua jogging and cool down) at 1 m 20 cm-1 m 30 cm deep pool. Janda's muscle function test, ankle ROM, Berg balance scale (BBS) and fall efficacy scale (FES) were analyzed before and after the training intervention. We found significant increases in balance, muscle function, ankle ROM and fall efficacy after training intervention. In conclusion, aquatic exercise seems to affect physical function and fall efficacy positively in elderly DLSS patients.

Due to the energy-constrained nature of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), a variety of communication protocols which rely on cluster-based topologies to enhance network capacity or to prolong network operational lifetime have been well studied heretofore. In this paper, we instead study a comprehensive perspective that searches for an optimal operation that considers backbone node placement and communication scheduling methods, as well as network connectivity properties. Specifically, we aim to answer the following three questions: how many backbone nodes are necessary, where to position these nodes, and which backbone nodes can communicate simultaneously to maximally serve the networks. We study the scalability of our approach and its dependency on parameters such as network size and density and present simulation results.

Network-wide broadcast has been extensively studied. In this paper, we introduce the problem of all-to- one-hop broadcast. Specifically, we are interested in the required time slots within which all nodes can receive unit-size messages from all one-hop neighbors and aim to minimize the broadcast latency. To this end, we decompose the optimal broadcast latency problem into two methodical sub-problems and present a scheduling method. To complete collision-free transmission in minimum time slots a graph-coloring scheme is used, and to reduce the overall waiting latency a linear arrangement scheme is used. Simulation studies show that the novel one-hop broadcast scheduling method can reduce the latency from 4% to 19% depending on the network size and density.

Longevity is a critical requirement for wireless sensor networks to application domains like environmental monitoring. Deterministic communication protocols that assume that packet loss implies congestion suffer due to the non-negligible probability of a wireless link being lossy even at very short distances. In this paper, we propose a localized probabilistic routing scheme aimed at extending network lifetime while coping with lossy links. The proposed protocol is informed by our study of the centralized algorithm that optimally computes paths. We obtain the most relevant properties from the centralized optimal routing algorithm and present their statistical models. The proposed routing scheme, based on the statistical models, is a promising step towards an optimal solution.

We address the problem of energy balancing in multi-hop wireless networks to optimize their operational lifetime. We first present a localized routing algorithm. Then, for a performance evaluation of the localized algorithm, we present a centralized routing algorithm because a centralized approach with global knowledge can closely approach the optimal solution. Unlike many previous energy-aware routing protocols, both of our presented algorithms consider total energy expenditure for guaranteed packet delivery. We use simulation to study their performance under a variety of network conditions. The simulation results show, firstly, that both schemes achieve significant improvement of energy balancing proportional to node density and, secondly, our proposed localized routing scheme achieves a performance comparable to the centralized scheme under dense networks.

We explore the effect of certain network properties for energy balancing in wireless ad-hoc networks. We report the extent to which the improvement on energy balancing can be achieved by strategic placements of an additional relaying node in networks running energy-efficient routing protocols.