Search Everything

Tip: Search using "First Name + Last Name", e.g.
János Kiss instead of Kiss János.

Publications - 6289

Walking on a Balance Beam as a New Measure of Dynamic Balance to Predict Falls in Older Adults and Patients with Neurological Conditions

Urs Granacher Tibor Hortobágyi Azusa Uematsu Rosangela Alice Batistela József Tollár Andréia Abud da Silva Costa Lianne Sanders Tomas Vetrovsky Andréia Abud da Silva Costa Bence Csutorás Klaudia Széphelyi Szilvia Kóra Renato Moraes Renato Moraes

Publication Name: Sports Medicine Open

Publication Date: 2024-12-01

Volume: 10

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Beam walking is a new test to estimate dynamic balance. We characterized dynamic balance measured by the distance walked on beams of different widths in five age groups of healthy adults (20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years) and individuals with neurological conditions (i.e., Parkinson, multiple sclerosis, stroke, age: 66.9 years) and determined if beam walking distance predicted prospective falls over 12 months. Methods: Individuals with (n = 97) and without neurological conditions (n = 99, healthy adults, age 20–60) participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Falls analyses over 12 months were conducted. The summed distance walked under single (walking only) and dual-task conditions (walking and serial subtraction by 7 between 300 to 900) on three beams (4, 8, and 12-cm wide) was used in the analyses. Additional functional tests comprised grip strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery. Results: Beam walking distance was unaffected on the 12-cm-wide beam in the healthy adult groups. The distance walked on the 8-cm-wide beam decreased by 0.34 m in the 20-year-old group. This reduction was ~ 3 × greater, 1.1 m, in the 60-year-old group. In patients, beam walking distances decreased sharply by 0.8 m on the 8 versus 12 cm beam and by additional 1.6 m on the 4 versus 8 cm beam. Beam walking distance under single and dual-task conditions was linearly but weakly associated with age (R2 = 0.21 for single task, R2 = 0.27 for dual-task). Age, disease, and beam width affected distance walked on the beam. Beam walking distance predicted future falls in the combined population of healthy adults and patients with neurological conditions. Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analyses using data from the entire study population, walking ~ 8.0 of the 12 m maximum on low-lying beams predicted future fallers with reasonable accuracy. Conclusion: Balance beam walking is a new but worthwhile measure of dynamic balance to predict falls in the combined population of healthy adults and patients with neurological conditions. Future studies are needed to evaluate the predictive capability of beam walking separately in more homogenous populations. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT03532984.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00723-7

Application of Bivariate Extreme Value models to describe the joint behavior of temporal and speed related surrogate measures of safety

A. Borsos

Publication Name: Accident Analysis and Prevention

Publication Date: 2021-09-01

Volume: 159

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Limitations of historical crash data and the advantages of surrogate measures of safety have already been stressed by various authors. To describe nearness-to-collision, mostly time-based indicators are applied, and there is a consensus among researchers that speed-related indicators are needed to account for the severity dimension. There have been attempts to fit bivariate Extreme Value models to predict the number of crashes, however modeling crash frequency together with severity has received much less attention. The aim of this paper is to apply Extreme Value models to various pairs of temporal and speed-related indicators in order to investigate the dependence structure between them as well as to construct probability based risk levels and examine them in relation to severity levels. Bivariate threshold excess models were fitted to a dataset of left-turning and straight moving vehicle interactions recorded in a signalized intersection. The dependence structure between variable pairs were thoroughly investigated; it was concluded that temporal and speed related indicators were found independent, which means that road users getting close to each other in time does not necessarily come with high speeds. Therefore these indicators should be combined in order to properly predict severity; a temporal indicator on its own is not enough to make inferences about the severity of events. Using the calculated joint probability of events risk levels were constructed illustrating the events of equal probability.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106274

Carbon accounting measurement with digital non-financial corporate reporting and a comparison to european automotive companies statements

Cecília Szigeti Árpád Tóth Alex Suta

Publication Name: Energies

Publication Date: 2021-09-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 18

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The regulatory environment for both sustainability and financial reporting is changing as standardisation and digital reporting (e.g., XBRL) are gaining traction within regulators. The measurement methodology and mandatory information content of disclosures are yet to be decided for corporate CO2 reporting by EU regulators and standard-setting organisations. In our study, we reviewed the sustainability reports of three leading German automotive groups by revenue for the period 2016–2020 as a case study. The research methodology was carried out with text-mining-aided content analysis to provide a collection of sustainability standards (GRI and SASB) in the evaluation of emissions reporting. As an addition to prior literature, conditions of relevance and clarity regarding published information were introduced in the evaluation process of compliance to CO2 disclosures. Companies by reporting practice were assigned to different stages of carbon management and actual emissions were evaluated. In the conclusions, discussion of the reliability of reported sustainability information, the applicability of digital reporting is provided through regional perspectives. We found that although analytical methods are available to assess the level of corporate carbon management, their usefulness is limited if the data are not reliable. Significant progress can be expected from analyses using standardised, comparable corporate carbon data.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/en14185607

The effect of mixed fatigue on knee biomechanics and muscle activation during sidestep cutting in elite soccer players

Yaodong Gu Gusztáv Fekete Dong Sun Dongxu Wang Yang Song Xuanzhen Cen Diwei Chen Bojie Xuan Kuiyu Chen Monèm Jemni

Publication Name: BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation

Publication Date: 2026-12-01

Volume: 18

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it is also a sport with a high rate of injury. The study aims to investigate the effects of physical and mental mixed fatigue (PMF) on knee biomechanics during sidestep cutting maneuvers in elite male soccer players, thereby assessing the potential mechanisms underlying non-contact knee injuries. Methods: Thirty-six elite male soccer players were recruited (age: 21.61 ± 1.22 years; body mass: 75.16 ± 6.34 kg; height: 175.8 ± 3.53 cm; shoe size: 41–44 EUR). Following a targeted fatigue induction protocol, key lower limb biomechanical data were acquired during anticipated sidestep cutting maneuvers both pre- and post-PMF. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing paired sample t-tests and one-dimensional Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM1d). Results: Following PMF, knee valgus increased at initial contact (P = 0.022). Kinetic analysis, supported by SPM1d, revealed a marked transition from an extensor-dominant to a flexor-dominant pattern in sagittal knee moments (P = 0.007), alongside elevated knee valgus moments (P = 0.039). Neuromuscularly, quadriceps and lateral gastrocnemius activation (iEMG/RMS) significantly decreased, whereas compensatory increases were observed in the hamstrings and medial gastrocnemius (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: While PMF preserved most kinematics, the statistically significant increase in knee valgus, though small in magnitude, suggests an impaired frontal-plane control that may elevate Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) strain. The shift from quadriceps to hamstring dominance reflects a compensatory neuromuscular strategy. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating cognitive load into injury-prevention programs and monitoring mental fatigue to reduce non-contact knee injury risks.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1186/s13102-026-01637-5

The effect of computer network errors on genetic algorithms

Miklós F. Hatwágner András Horváth

Publication Name: Pollack Periodica

Publication Date: 2007-08-01

Volume: 2

Issue: 2

Page Range: 3-12

Description:

Genetic algorithms are widely used in engineering, to solve nonlinear, multi-target optimization problems with multiple variables (e.g. optimization of geometry of flow domains, parameters of control systems). The parallelization of software using genetic algorithms is very important because in a typical practical problem they need huge computational power. Fortunately it is easy to implement a master-slave style parallelization. Our goal was to investigate the effect of random errors that can occur in a cluster of workstations on the efficiency of the genetic algorithm. © 2007 Akadèmiai Kiadó.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1556/Pollack.2.2007.2.1

Correlation between the mechanical and the geometrical state of railway vehicle carriages

No authors available

Publication Name: Proceedings of the Mini Conference on Vehicle System Dynamics, Identification and Anomalies

Publication Date: 2002-12-01

Volume:

Issue:

Page Range: 261-269

Description:

The railway vehicle's carriage body must be mechanically repaired if cracks appear in its structure. In such cases all factors concerning the mechanical state of the carriage body should be examined, such as connection between the carriages, adjustment of the wheel forces, the different running states and running on straight and curved track. The aim of this study is to provide the mechanical stress values summarising the simultaneous effects of all these factors.

Open Access: No

DOI: DOI not available

Exercise Addiction: a Thematic Analysis of Self-Reported Cases for Clinical Insight and Prevention

Celal Bulgay Ignatius Darma Juwono Attila Szabo

Publication Name: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Exercise addiction (EA) is a potentially harmful behavioral disorder that remains clinically undefined, with research often relying on symptom-based models that overlook subjective experiences. This study reviewed 63 self-reported EA cases using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis to identify recurring experiential patterns that may go beyond the component model of addictions (CMA). Nine themes emerged: loss of control, diverse exercise engagement, identity fusion, emotional coping, social disconnection, health denial, gender disparity, compulsive quantification, and severe physical consequences. The findings provide ecologically valid insights into the psychological and social dynamics of EA. Some themes partially overlapped with the CMA, but also with obsessive passion and self-determination, highlighting the limitations of current research frameworks and the need for more inductive, person-centered approaches. The results have practical implications for prevention, early detection, and intervention strategies and contribute to the ongoing effort to establish clinical diagnosis criteria for EA.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s11469-025-01549-4

Shear Bond Strength in Stone-Clad Façades: Effect of Polypropylene Fibers, Curing, and Mechanical Anchorage

Amin Ghodousian Hossein Mehdikhani Oveys Ghodousian Majid Movahedi Rad Vahid Shafaie Mohammad Gorji

Publication Name: Polymers

Publication Date: 2024-11-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 21

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study investigates the shear bond strength between four widely used façade stones—travertine, granite, marble, and crystalline marble—and concrete substrates, with a particular focus on the role of polypropylene fibers in adhesive mortars. The research evaluates the effects of curing duration, fiber dosage, and mechanical anchorage on bond strength. Results demonstrate that Z-type anchorage provided the highest bond strength, followed by butterfly-type and wire tie systems. Extended curing had a significant impact on bond strength for specimens without anchorage, particularly for travertine. The incorporation of polypropylene fibers at 0.2% volume in adhesive mortar yielded the strongest bond, although lower and higher dosages also positively impacted the bonding. Furthermore, the study introduces a novel fuzzy logic model using the Dombi family of t-norms, which outperformed linear regression in predicting bond strength, achieving an R2 of up to 0.9584. This research emphasizes the importance of optimizing fiber dosage in adhesive mortars. It proposes an advanced predictive model that could enhance the design and safety of stone-clad façades, offering valuable insights for future applications in construction materials.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/polym16212975

Investigating Combustion Process of N-Butanol-Diesel Blends in a Diesel Engine with Variable Compression Ratio

Kristóf Lukács György Szabados Ákos Bereczky

Publication Name: Clean Technologies

Publication Date: 2021-09-01

Volume: 3

Issue: 3

Page Range: 618-628

Description:

The search for alternative fuels for internal combustion engines is ongoing. Among the alternatives, plant-based fuels can also be mentioned. Alcohol is not a common fuel for diesel engines because the physical and chemical properties of the alcohols are closer to those of gasoline. In our research, the combustion properties of diesel-n-butanol mixtures have been investigated to obtain results on the effect of butanol blending on combustion. Among the combustion properties, ignition delay, in-cylinder pressure, and heat release rate can be mentioned. They have been observed under different compression conditions on an engine on which the compression ratio can be adjusted. The method used was a quite simple one, so the speed of the engine was set to a constant 900 rpm without load, while three compression ratios (19.92, 15.27, and 12.53) were adjusted with a fuel flow rate of 13 mL/min and the pre-injection angle of 18◦ BTDC. Blending butanol into the investigated fuel does not significantly affect maximal values of indicated pressure, while much more effect on the pressure rising rate can be detected. Furthermore, heat release rate and ignition delay increased at every compression ratio investigated. Despite the low blending rates of butanol in the mixtures, butanol significantly affects the combustion parameters, especially at high compression ratios.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol3030037