La performance sportive et la prévention des blessures en cyclisme sont étroitement liées à l'amélioration des capacités physiques, de la technique gestuelle ainsi qu'à l'optimisation du matériel utilisé.Dans ce contexte, nous avons étudié l'influence du recul de selle sur l'efficacité du mouvement de pédalage ainsi que sur les efforts internes au niveau du genou. Une approche de modélisation musculo-squelettique a été développée afin de quantifier indirectement les forces musculaires et articulaires exercées à partir de mesures externes cinématiques et dynamiques. Un intérêt tout particulier a été porté sur l'adéquation entre les mesures des efforts extérieurs, le modèle anthropométrique et les mesures cinématiques afin de diminuer les incohérences dynamiques associées à un système surdéterminé.A partir de ces mesures, les effets du recul de la selle sur la performance ont été évalués à travers l'indice d'efficacité de la force produite à la pédale et un nouvel indice, basé sur le travail mécanique externe. Les résultats ont montré qu'un positionnement de la selle plus reculé augmente l'efficacité du mouvement de pédalage.Concernant la prévention des blessures, notre analyse s'est portée sur l'effet du recul de selle sur deux troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) fréquents en cyclisme : le syndrome fémoro-patellaire et le syndrome de la bandelette ilio-tibiale. Nos résultats ont montré que le recul de selle ne modifie pas les forces fémoro-patellaires communément incriminées dans la survenue de ce syndrome. Par ailleurs, une position plus reculée augmente les forces fémoro-tibiales de compression par le biais notamment de la contraction excentrique des muscles ischio-jambiers. Bien que le syndrome de la bandelette ilia-tibiale soit classiquement décrit comme un syndrome de friction (syndrome de l'essuie-glace), le calcul de la force d'interaction entre la bandelette iliotibiale et l'épicondyle fémoral a montré que la compression est le facteur discriminant dans le pathoméchanisme. L'approche méthodologique de simulation développée dans ce cadre possède par ailleurs un fort potentiel afin de corriger les défauts techniques, d'optimiser les réglages matériels et améliorer la prise en charge thérapeutique des TMS.Plus généralement, les développements méthodologiques et implications cliniques issus de ces travaux trouvent des applications directes dans le milieu du cyclisme mais aussi dans l'étude de nombreuses activités sportives (notamment sur ergomètre) du point de vue de la performance, de la prévention des blessures et de la rééducation. / Performance and prevention of injuries in cycling are closely linked to the optimisation of individual's physical capacity and technique as weil as sport equipment.In this context, we have studied the influence of saddle setback on the effectiveness of pedalling and on knee joint loads. A musculoskeletal modelling was developed to estimate muscle and joint forces from experimental kinematic and dynamic measurements. We first focused on the adequacy between sensors data, anthropometrie model and kinematic measurements to obtain dynamically consistent input data.Then, the effect of sadd le setback on perforn1ance was evaluated through the index of pedal force effectiveness and a new index based on extemal mechanical work. Results have showed that a more backward sadd le position increases the effectiveness of pedalling.As regards to in jury prevention, our analysis focused on the effect of the saddle setback on two knee injuries commonly observed in cycling: the patellofemoral syndrome and iliotibial band syndrome. Our results showed that saddle setback do not influence patellofemoral joint forces that are usually linked to this syndrome. Moreover, a more backward saddle position increases tibiofemoral compression forces due to increasing eccentric contraction of the hamstrings.Commonly described as a friction syndrome, the computation of interaction force between iliotibial band and lateral femoral epicondyle have showed that the compression was the discriminating factor in the occurrence of the syndrome. The simulation approach developed here could be used as an additional tool to help correct potentially hartnful sport techniques, optimise equipment setup/design and improve the treatment of injuries.More generally, this thesis brings new methodological improvements and clinical implications that have broader applications on sport perfortnance, injury prevention and rehabilitation.

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Municipalities protect human health and environmental resources from impacts of urban natural gas drilling through setback distances; the regulation of distances between well sites and residences, freshwater wells, and other protected uses. Setback distances have increased over time, having the potential to alter the amount and geographical distribution of drillable land within a municipality, thereby having implications for future land use planning and increasing the potential for future incompatible land uses. This study geographically applies a range of setback distances to protected uses and freshwater wells in the city limits of Denton, Texas to investigate the effect on the amount of land remaining for future gas well development and production. Denton lies on the edge of a productive region of the Barnett Shale geological formation, coinciding with a large concentration of drillable land in the southwestern region of the study area. This region will have the greatest potential for impacts to future municipal development and land use planning as a result of future gas well development and higher setback standards. Given the relatively high acreage of drillable land in industrially zoned subcategory IC-G and the concern regarding gas well drilling in more populated areas, future drilling in IC-G, specifically in IC-G land cover classes mowed/grazed/agriculture and herbaceous, would have the least impact on residential uses and tree cover, as well as decreasing the potential for future incompatible land uses.

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Like in many parts of the world, South Africa has experienced a democratic decline. However, every country has its own reason for that decline. This paper will with the help of a case study method detect and analyze the possible reasons for the democratic backsliding in South Africa. The paper will keep its originality with the involvement of the Covid-19 pandemic and how it possibly affects the democratic state in the country. This study finds that there has been a lack of positive development in South Africa since the end of the apartheid regime. Poverty, Corruption, and a prevalent relative inequality still stain the South African society and the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed it to a new elevated level.

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