TY - JOUR A1 - Ketelhut, Maike A1 - Göll, Fabian A1 - Braunstein, Björn A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Abel, Dirk T1 - Comparison of different training algorithms for the leg extension training with an industrial robot JF - Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering N2 - In the past, different training scenarios have been developed and implemented on robotic research platforms, but no systematic analysis and comparison have been done so far. This paper deals with the comparison of an isokinematic (motion with constant velocity) and an isotonic (motion against constant weight) training algorithm. Both algorithms are designed for a robotic research platform consisting of a 3D force plate and a high payload industrial robot, which allows leg extension training with arbitrary six-dimensional motion trajectories. In the isokinematic as well as the isotonic training algorithm, individual paths are defined i n C artesian s pace by sufficient s upport p oses. I n t he i sotonic t raining s cenario, the trajectory is adapted to the measured force as the robot should only move along the trajectory as long as the force applied by the user exceeds a minimum threshold. In the isotonic training scenario however, the robot’s acceleration is a function of the force applied by the user. To validate these findings, a simulative experiment with a simple linear trajectory is performed. For this purpose, the same force path is applied in both training scenarios. The results illustrate that the algorithms differ in the force dependent trajectory adaption. KW - Rehabilitation Technology and Prosthetics KW - Surgical Navigation and Robotics Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2018-0005 SN - 2364-5504 VL - 4 IS - 1 SP - 17 EP - 20 PB - De Gruyter CY - Berlin ER - TY - GEN T1 - Prüfungsordnung für die Masterstudiengänge „Information Systems Engineering“ und „Information Systems Engineering (Teilzeit)“ an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 5. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 114/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Master KW - Information Systems Engineering KW - Information Systems Engineering (Teilzeit) Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - 2. Ordnung zur Änderung der Beitragsordnung der Studierendenschaft der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 7. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 115/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Änderungsordnung KW - Beitragsordnung der Studierendenschaft Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Beitragsordnung der Studierendenschaft der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 11. Dezember 2018 – FH-Mitteilung Nr. 168/2018 in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung der Änderungsordnung vom 7. November 2019 – FH-Mitteilung Nr. 115/2019 (Nichtamtliche lesbare Fassung) T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 116/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Lesbare Fassung KW - Beitragsordnung der Studierendenschaft Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Gesamtprüfungsordnung für den Bachelorstudiengang „Bauingenieurwesen mit Orientierungssemester“ an der Fachhochschule Aachen und der RWTH Aachen : vom 8. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 117/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Gesamtprüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Bauingenieurwesen mit Orientierungssemester KW - RWTH Aachen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Ordnung zur Änderung der Prüfungsordnung für die Bachelorstudiengänge Bauingenieurwesen, Bauingenieurwesen mit Praxissemester, Bauingenieurwesen mit Auslandssemester, Bauingenieurwesen Double Degree (NUST) und Bauingenieurwesen Dual an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 8. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 118/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Änderungsordnung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Bauingenieurwesen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Prüfungsordnung für die Bachelorstudiengänge Bauingenieurwesen, Bauingenieurwesen mit Praxissemester, Bauingenieurwesen mit Auslandssemester, Bauingenieurwesen Double Degree (NUST), Bauingenieurwesen Dual und Bauingenieurwesen mit Orientierungssemester im Fachbereich Bauingenieurwesen an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 28. Juni 2018 – FH-Mitteilung Nr. 89/2018 in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung der Änderungsordnung vom 8. November 2019 – FH-Mitteilung Nr. 118/2019 (Nichtamtliche lesbare Fassung) T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 119/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Lesbare Fassung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Bauingenieurwesen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Ordnung zur Änderung der Prüfungsordnung für den Bachelorstudiengang Holzingenieurwesen im Fachbereich Bauingenieurwesen an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 8. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 120/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Änderungsordnung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Holzingenieurwesen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Prüfungsordnung für die Bachelorstudiengänge Holzingenieurwesen, Holzingenieurwesen mit Praxissemester, Holzingenieurwesen mit Auslandssemester, Holzingenieurwesen Dual und Holzingenieurwesen mit Orientierungssemester : vom 28. Juni 2018 – FH-Mitteilung Nr. 90/2018 in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung der Änderungsordnung vom 8. November 2019 – FH-Mitteilung Nr. 120/2019 (Nichtamtliche lesbare Fassung) T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 121/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Lesbare Fassung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Holzingenieurwesen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Zugangsordnung für die Masterstudiengänge „Energiewirtschaft & Informatik“ (3 Semester) und „Energiewirtschaft & Informatik“ (4 Semester) Fachbereich Energietechnik Fachbereich Medizintechnik und Technomathematik an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 8. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 122/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Zugangsordnung KW - Master KW - Energiewirtschaft KW - Informatik Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Prüfungsordnung für die Masterstudiengänge „Energiewirtschaft & Informatik“ (3 Semester) und „Energiewirtschaft & Informatik“ (4 Semester) Fachbereich Energietechnik Fachbereich Medizintechnik und Technomathematik an der Fachhochschule Aachen : vom 8. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 123/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Master KW - Energiewirtschaft KW - Informatik Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Quittmann, Oliver J. A1 - Abel, Thomas A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Strüder, Heiko K. T1 - Biomechanics of all-out handcycling exercise: kinetics, kinematics and muscular activity of a 15-s sprint test in able-bodied participants JF - Sports Biomechanics N2 - This study aims to quantify the kinematics, kinetics and muscular activity of all-out handcycling exercise and examine their alterations during the course of a 15-s sprint test. Twelve able-bodied competitive triathletes performed a 15-s all-out sprint test in a recumbent racing handcycle that was attached to an ergometer. During the sprint test, tangential crank kinetics, 3D joint kinematics and muscular activity of 10 muscles of the upper extremity and trunk were examined using a power metre, motion capturing and surface electromyography (sEMG), respectively. Parameters were compared between revolution one (R1), revolution two (R2), the average of revolution 3 to 13 (R3) and the average of the remaining revolutions (R4). Shoulder abduction and internal-rotation increased, whereas maximal shoulder retroversion decreased during the sprint. Except for the wrist angles, angular velocity increased for every joint of the upper extremity. Several muscles demonstrated an increase in muscular activation, an earlier onset of muscular activation in crank cycle and an increased range of activation. During the course of a 15-s all-out sprint test in handcycling, the shoulder muscles and the muscles associated to the push phase demonstrate indications for short-duration fatigue. These findings are helpful to prevent injuries and improve performance in all-out handcycling. KW - Handbike KW - sEMG KW - Paralympic sport KW - performance testing KW - high-intensity exercise Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2020.1745266 SN - 1752-6116 (Onlineausgabe) SN - 1476-3141 (Druckausgabe) VL - 21 IS - 10 SP - 1200 EP - 1223 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Charlotte A1 - Braunstein, Björn A1 - Stäudle, Benjamin A1 - Attias, Julia A1 - Süss, Alexander A1 - Weber, Tobias A1 - Mileva, Katya N. A1 - Rittweger, Jörn A1 - Green, David A. A1 - Albracht, Kirsten T1 - Gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running differs between simulated Lunar and Martian gravities JF - Scientific reports N2 - The international partnership of space agencies has agreed to proceed forward to the Moon sustainably. Activities on the Lunar surface (0.16 g) will allow crewmembers to advance the exploration skills needed when expanding human presence to Mars (0.38 g). Whilst data from actual hypogravity activities are limited to the Apollo missions, simulation studies have indicated that ground reaction forces, mechanical work, muscle activation, and joint angles decrease with declining gravity level. However, these alterations in locomotion biomechanics do not necessarily scale to the gravity level, the reduction in gastrocnemius medialis activation even appears to level off around 0.2 g, while muscle activation pattern remains similar. Thus, it is difficult to predict whether gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running on Moon will basically be the same as on Mars. Therefore, this study investigated lower limb joint kinematics and gastrocnemius medialis behavior during running at 1 g, simulated Martian gravity, and simulated Lunar gravity on the vertical treadmill facility. The results indicate that hypogravity-induced alterations in joint kinematics and contractile behavior still persist between simulated running on the Moon and Mars. This contrasts with the concept of a ceiling effect and should be carefully considered when evaluating exercise prescriptions and the transferability of locomotion practiced in Lunar gravity to Martian gravity. KW - Bone quality and biomechanics KW - Environmental impact KW - Skeletal muscle KW - Tendons KW - Ultrasound Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00527-9 SN - 2045-2322 N1 - Corresponding author: Charlotte Richter VL - 11 IS - Article number: 22555 PB - Springer Nature CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Werkhausen, Amelie A1 - Willwacher, Steffen A1 - Albracht, Kirsten T1 - Medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles shorten throughout stance during sprint acceleration JF - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports N2 - The compliant nature of distal limb muscle-tendon units is traditionally considered suboptimal in explosive movements when positive joint work is required. However, during accelerative running, ankle joint net mechanical work is positive. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how plantar flexor muscle-tendon behavior is modulated during fast accelerations. Eleven female sprinters performed maximum sprint accelerations from starting blocks, while gastrocnemius muscle fascicle lengths were estimated using ultrasonography. We combined motion analysis and ground reaction force measurements to assess lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics, and to estimate gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit length during the first two acceleration steps. Outcome variables were resampled to the stance phase and averaged across three to five trials. Relevant scalars were extracted and analyzed using one-sample and two-sample t-tests, and vector trajectories were compared using statistical parametric mapping. We found that an uncoupling of muscle fascicle behavior from muscle-tendon unit behavior is effectively used to produce net positive mechanical work at the joint during maximum sprint acceleration. Muscle fascicles shortened throughout the first and second steps, while shortening occurred earlier during the first step, where negative joint work was lower compared with the second step. Elastic strain energy may be stored during dorsiflexion after touchdown since fascicles did not lengthen at the same time to dissipate energy. Thus, net positive work generation is accommodated by the reuse of elastic strain energy along with positive gastrocnemius fascicle work. Our results show a mechanism of how muscles with high in-series compliance can contribute to net positive joint work. KW - locomotion KW - muscle mechanics KW - running KW - sprint start KW - ultrasonography Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13956 SN - 0905-7188 (Druckausgabe) SN - 1600-0838 (Onlineausgabe) VL - 31 IS - 7 SP - 1471 EP - 1480 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Monti, Elena A1 - Waldvogel, Janice A1 - Ritzmann, Ramona A1 - Freyler, Kathrin A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Helm, Michael A1 - De Cesare, Niccolò A1 - Pavan, Piero A1 - Reggiani, Carlo A1 - Gollhofer, Albert A1 - Narici, Marco Vincenzo T1 - Muscle in variable gravity: “I do not know where I am, but I know what to do” JF - Frontiers in Physiology N2 - Performing tasks, such as running and jumping, requires activation of the agonist and antagonist muscles before (motor unit pre-activation) and during movement performance (Santello and Mcdonagh, 1998). A well-timed and regulated muscle activation elicits a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) response, naturally occurring in bouncing movements (Ishikawa and Komi, 2004; Taube et al., 2012). By definition, the SSC describes the stretching of a pre-activated muscle-tendon complex immediately followed by a muscle shortening in the concentric push-off phase (Komi, 1984). Given the importance of SSC actions for human movement, it is not surprising that many studies investigated the biomechanics of this phenomenon; in particular, drop jumps (DJs) represent a good paradigm to study muscle fascicle and tendon behavior in ballistic movements involving the SSC. Within a DJ, three main phases [pre-activation, braking, and push-off (PO; Komi, 2000)] have been recognized and extensively studied in common and challenging conditions, such as changes in load, falling height, or simulated hypo-gravity (Avela et al., 1994; Arampatzis et al., 2001; Fukashiro et al., 2005; Ishikawa et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007; Ritzmann et al., 2016; Helm et al., 2020). These studies show that the timing and amount of triceps-surae muscle-tendon unit pre-activation in DJs are differentially regulated based on the load applied to the muscle, being optimal in normal “Earth” gravity conditions (Avela et al., 1994), but decreased in simulated hypo-gravity, hyper-gravity (Avela et al., 1994; Ritzmann et al., 2016), or unknown conditions (i.e., unknown falling heights; Helm et al., 2020). Some authors indicated that, when falling from heights different from the optimal one [defined as the drop height giving a maximum DJ performance indicated as peak ground reaction force (GRF) or jump high], electromyographic (EMG) activity of the plantar flexors increases from lower than optimal to higher than optimal heights (Ishikawa and Komi, 2004; Sousa et al., 2007). These findings highlight the ability of the central nervous system to regulate the timing and amount of pre-activation according to different jumping conditions, thus regulating muscle fascicle length, tendon and joint stiffness as well as position, in order to safely land on the ground and quickly re-bounce. Similarly, to pre-activation, also in the braking phase, the plantar flexors are differentially regulated. In optimal height (i.e., load) jumping conditions, gastrocnemius medialis (GM) fascicles shorten at early ground contact (possibly due to the intervention of the stretch reflex; Gollhofer et al., 1992) and behave quasi-isometrically in the late braking phase, enabling tendon elongation, and storage of elastic energy (Gollhofer et al., 1992; Fukashiro et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007). When increasing the falling height (augmenting the impact GRF), the quasi-isometric behavior of fascicles disappears, and fast fascicle lengthening occurs (Ishikawa et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007). In the third and last PO phase, fascicles shorten and the tendon releases the elastic energy previously stored. Bobbert et al. (1987) reported no influence of jumping height on the work done and on the net vertical impulse assessed during PO; this observation suggests that, despite an optimal DJ performance might be achieved only in specific conditions (falling heights, loads), the central nervous system seems to be able to regulate muscle behavior in order to effectively perform the required task also in challenging situations. Although the regulation of triceps-surae muscle-tendon unit in DJs has been extensively investigated, very few studies focused on sarcomeres behavior during the performance of this SSC movement (Kurokawa et al., 2003; Fukashiro et al., 2005, 2006). Sarcomeres represent muscle contractile units and are known to express different amounts of force depending on their length (Gordon et al., 1966; Walker and Schrodt, 1974); thus, understanding the time course of their responses during DJs is fundamental to gain further insights into muscle force-generating capacity. In vivo measurement of sarcomere length in humans has been so far been performed only in static positions and under highly controlled experimental conditions (Llewellyn et al., 2008; Sanchez et al., 2015). Instead, human sarcomere length estimation (achieved by dividing GM measured fascicle length for a fixed sarcomere number) in dynamic contractions provided an indirect measure of sarcomere operating range during squat jump, countermovement jump, and DJ (Fukashiro et al., 2005, 2006; Kurokawa et al., 2003). The results of these studies showed that sarcomeres operate in the ascending limb of their length-tension (L-T) relationship in all types of jumps, and particularly so in DJ. However, most of the available observations on sarcomere and muscle fascicle behavior were made in condition of constant gravity. Thus, in order to understand how sarcomere and muscle fascicle length are regulated in variable gravity conditions, we performed experiments in a parabolic flight, involving variable gravity levels, ranging from about zero-g to about double the Earth’s gravity (1 g; Waldvogel et al., 2021). Specifically, the aims of the present study were as follows: 1. To investigate the ability of the neuromuscular system in regulating fascicle length in response to conditions of variable gravity. 2. To estimate sarcomere operative length in the different DJ phases, in order to calculate its theoretical force production and its possible modulation in conditions of variable gravity. We hypothesized that muscle fascicles would be differentially regulated in different gravity conditions compared to 1 g, particularly in anticipation of landing and re-bouncing in unknown gravity levels. In addition, we hypothesized that sarcomeres would operate in the upper part of the ascending limb of their L-T relationship, possibly lengthening during the braking phase (especially in hyper-gravity) while operating quasi-isometrically in 1 g. KW - parabolic flight KW - drop jump KW - hypo-gravity KW - hyper-gravity KW - sarcomere operating length Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.714655 SN - 1664-042X VL - 12 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Dreschers, Martin ED - Mönning, Rolf-Dieter T1 - §25 Arbeitsrechtliche Probleme im Rahmen der Betriebsfortführung T2 - Betriebsfortführung in Restrukturierung und Insolvenz Y1 - 2023 SN - 978-3-8145-2012-4 (print) SN - 978-3-8145-5888-2 (e-book) U6 - https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15375/9783814558882-028 SP - 947 EP - 988 PB - RWS Verlag CY - Köln ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Dreschers, Martin ED - Kübler, Bruno M. ED - Bork, Reinhard ED - Prütting, Hanns T1 - §18 Grenzüberschreitende Eigenverwaltung T2 - HRI II - Handbuch Restrukturierung in der Insolvenz Y1 - 2023 SN - 978-3-8145-2010-0 (print) SN - 978-3-8145-5871-4 (e-book) U6 - https://doi.org/10.15375/9783814558714-028 SP - 524 EP - 556 PB - RWS Verlag CY - Köln ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Werkhausen, Amelie A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Cronin, Neil J A1 - Paulsen, Gøran A1 - Bojsen-Møller, Jens A1 - Seynnes, Olivier R T1 - Effect of training-induced changes in achilles tendon stiffness on muscle-tendon behavior during landing JF - Frontiers in physiology N2 - During rapid deceleration of the body, tendons buffer part of the elongation of the muscle-tendon unit (MTU), enabling safe energy dissipation via eccentric muscle contraction. Yet, the influence of changes in tendon stiffness within the physiological range upon these lengthening contractions is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of training-induced stiffening of the Achilles tendon on triceps surae muscle-tendon behavior during a landing task. Twenty-one male subjects were assigned to either a 10-week resistance-training program consisting of single-leg isometric plantarflexion (n = 11) or to a non-training control group (n = 10). Before and after the training period, plantarflexion force, peak Achilles tendon strain and stiffness were measured during isometric contractions, using a combination of dynamometry, ultrasound and kinematics data. Additionally, testing included a step-landing task, during which joint mechanics and lengths of gastrocnemius and soleus fascicles, Achilles tendon, and MTU were determined using synchronized ultrasound, kinematics and kinetics data collection. After training, plantarflexion strength and Achilles tendon stiffness increased (15 and 18%, respectively), and tendon strain during landing remained similar. Likewise, lengthening and negative work produced by the gastrocnemius MTU did not change detectably. However, in the training group, gastrocnemius fascicle length was offset (8%) to a longer length at touch down and, surprisingly, fascicle lengthening and velocity were reduced by 27 and 21%, respectively. These changes were not observed for soleus fascicles when accounting for variation in task execution between tests. These results indicate that a training-induced increase in tendon stiffness does not noticeably affect the buffering action of the tendon when the MTU is rapidly stretched. Reductions in gastrocnemius fascicle lengthening and lengthening velocity during landing occurred independently from tendon strain. Future studies are required to provide insight into the mechanisms underpinning these observations and their influence on energy dissipation. KW - achilles tendon KW - energy absorption KW - energy dissipation KW - mechanical buffer KW - stiffness Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00794 SN - 1664-042X IS - 9 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - GEN T1 - Richtlinie zur Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen in den Gebäuden und Liegenschaften der FH Aachen (Veranstaltungsrichtlinie) : vom 20. November 2019 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 124a/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Richtlinie KW - Veranstaltungsrichtlinie KW - Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Richtlinie zur Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen in den Gebäuden und Liegenschaften der FH Aachen (Veranstaltungsrichtlinie) : vom 20. November 2019 Anlage 1 aktualisiert am 22. Januar 2020 T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 124b/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Richtlinie KW - Veranstaltungsrichtlinie KW - Durchführung von Sonderveranstaltungen KW - Aktualisierung Y1 - 2019 ER -