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The central aim of this experiment was to compare acoustic parameters, formant frequencies and vowel space area (VSA), in adolescents with hearing-impaired (HI) and their normal-hearing (NH) peers; for kinematic parameters, the movements of vocal organs, especially the lips, jaw and tongue, during vowel production were analysed. The participants were 12 adolescents with different degrees of hearing impairment. The control group consisted of 12 age-matched NH adolescents. All participants were native Chinese speakers who were asked to produce the Mandarin vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/, with subsequent acoustic and kinematic analysis. There was significant difference between the two groups. Additionally, the HI group produced more exaggerated mouth and less tongue movements in all vowels, compared to their NH peers. Results were discussed regarding possible relationship between acoustic data, articulatory movements and degree of hearing loss to provide an integrative assessment of acoustic and kinematic characteristics of individuals with hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To help patients with disabilities of the arm and shoulder recover the accuracy and stability of movements, a novel and simple virtual rehabilitation and evaluation system called the Kine-VRES system was developed using Microsoft Kinect. METHODS: First, several movements and virtual tasks were designed to increase the coordination, control and speed of the arm movements. The movements of the patients were then captured using the Kinect sensor, and kinematics-based interaction and real-time feedback were integrated into the system to enhance the motivation and self-confidence of the patient. Finally, a quantitative evaluation method of upper limb movements was provided using the recorded kinematics during hand-to-hand movement. RESULTS: A preliminary study of this rehabilitation system indicates that the shoulder movements of two participants with ataxia became smoother after three weeks of training (one hour per day). CONCLUSION: This case study demonstrated the effectiveness of the designed system, which could be promising for the rehabilitation of patients with upper limb disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock avalanches represent a serious risk for human lives, properties, and infrastructures. On June 24, 2017, a catastrophic landslide destroyed the village of Xinmo (Maoxian County, Sichuan, China) causing a large number of fatalities. Adjacent to the landslide source area, further potentially unstable masses were identified. Among them, a 4.5-million m3 body, displaced during the landslide event by about 40 m, raised serious concerns. Field monitoring and a reliable secondary risk assessment are fundamental to protect the infrastructure and the population still living in the valley. In this framework, the use of distinct element methods and continuum model methods to simulate the avalanche process was discussed. Various models (PFC, MatDEM, MassMov2D, Massflow) were used with the aim of reproducing the Xinmo landslide and, as predictive tools, simulating the kinematics and runout of the potentially unstable mass, which could cause a new catastrophic event. The models were all able to reproduce the first-order characteristics of the landslide kinematics and the morphology of the deposit, but with computational times differing by several orders of magnitude. More variability of the results was obtained from the simulations of the potential secondary failure. However, all models agreed that the new landslide could invest several still-inhabited buildings and block the course of the river again. Comparison and discussion of the performances and usability of the models could prove useful towards the enforcement of physically based (and multi-model) risk assessments and mitigation countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On January 21st, 2016, a Ms 6.4 earthquake hit Menyuan County, Qinghai province, China. The nearest known fault is the Leng Long Ling (LLL) fault which is located approximately 7 km north of the epicenter. This fault has mainly shown sinistral strike-slip movement since the late Quaternary Period. However, the focal mechanism indicates that it is a thrust earthquake, which is different from the well-known strike-slip feature of the LLL fault. In this study, we determined the focal mechanism and primary nodal plane through multi-step inversions in the frequency and time domain by using the broadband regional seismic waveforms recorded by the China Digital Seismic Network (CDSN). Our results show that the rupture duration was short, within 0–2 s after the earthquake, and the rupture expanded upwards along the fault plane. Based on these fault parameters, we then solve for variable slip distribution on the fault plane using the InSAR data. We applied a three-segment fault model to simulate the arc-shaped structure of the northern LLL fault, and obtained a detailed slip distribution on the fault plane. The inversion results show that the maximum slip is 0.43 m, and the average slip angle is 78.8°, with a magnitude of Mw 6.0 and a focal depth of 9.38 km. With the geological structure and the inversion results taken into consideration, it can be suggested that this earthquake was caused by the arc-shaped secondary fault located at the north side of the LLL fault. The secondary fault, together with the LLL fault, forms a normal flower structure. The main LLL fault extends almost vertically into the base rock and the rocks between the two faults form a bulging fault block. Therefore, we infer that this earthquake is the manifestation of a neotectonics movement, in which the bulging fault block is lifted further up under the compresso-shear action caused by the Tibetan Plateau pushing towards the northwest direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term kinematic research of slowmoving debris slide is rare despite of the widespread global distribution of this kind. This paper presents a study of the kinematics and mechanism of the Jinpingzi debris slide located on the Jinsha river bank in southwest China. This debris slide is known to have a volume of 27×10 m in active state for at least one century. Field survey and geotechnical investigation were carried out to define the structure of the landslide. The physical and mechanical properties of the landslide materials were obtained by in-situ and laboratory tests. Additionally, surface and subsurface displacements, as well as groundwater level fluctuations, were monitored since 2005. Movement features, especially the response of the landslide movement to rainfall, were analysed. Relationships between resisting forces and driving forces were analysed by using the limit equilibrium method assuming rigid-plastic frictional slip. The results confirmed a viscous component in the long-term continuous movement resulting in the quasioverconsolidated state of the slip zone with higher strength parameters than some other types of slowmoving landslides. Both surface and subsurface displacements showed an advancing pattern by the straight outwardly inclined (rather than gently or reversely inclined) slip zone, which resulted in low resistance to the entire sliding mass. The average surface displacement rate from 2005 to 2016 was estimated to be 0.19~0.87 mm/d. Basal sliding on the silty clay seam accounted for most of the deformation with different degrees of internal deformation in different parts. Rainfall was the predominant factor affecting the kinematics of Jinpingzi landslide while the role of groundwater level, though positive, was not significant. The response of the groundwater level to rainfall infiltration was not apparent. Unlike some shallow slow-moving earth flows or mudslides, whose behaviors are directly related to the phreatic groundwater level, the mechanism for Jinpingzi landslide kinematics is more likely related to the changing weight of the sliding mass and the downslope seepage pressure in the shallow soil mass resulting from rainfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe Typhoon Vicente was the strongest tropical cyclone (TC) that has attacked Hong Kong (HK) since 1999. This paper presents a comprehensive observational study on this windstorm during its landfall, based on in-situ measurements from weather radars, radiosonde balloons, wind profilers and other ground-based devices at various meteorological stations in HK. Both its thermodynamic and kinematic structures are investigated to explore the TC characteristics at landfall. The results of this study reflected that the vortex extended to the tropopause around 16 km. Vertical profiles of pressure deficit below TC outflow layer depicted a linear distribution pattern with respect to isobar-expressed altitude, with a slope increasing almost linearly with increasing surface pressure deficit. The inner and outer rainband regions were respectively dominated by stratiform and convective precipitations, and the inner region was vertically separated into two discriminatory layers by the melting layer located at 5.4 km. The sea-air contrast temperature varied noticeably during the landfall process, with an increase of 1–1.5 °C in the TC inner region where sea-air flux exchange strengthened distinctly compared to that at outer areas. Vertical wind profiles from balloons showed that horizontal wind speed and wind direction experienced a sharp change around the tropopause, above which flow motions were dominated by the anti-cyclone of Tibetan high. The inflow layer depth was found on the order of 2 km, compared to 1–2 km for the atmospheric mixing layer depth. The gradient height, recognized via the maximum horizontal wind, was in the range of 0.5–2.5 km which decreased with decreasing radii prior to landfall. Examination of the results from wind profilers over marine, urban and rugged terrain showed that the wind structures in the TC boundary layer (TCBL) depended upon storm-relative position and underlying terrain features. Vertical profiles of marine winds in the inner rainband region demonstrated a jet feature, with mean speed being logarithmical with height in the lowest 1 km. TCBL winds above rugged areas were influenced severely by topographic effects. The low-level wind maximum, or the gradient speed, changed insignificantly above different sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yilan-Yitong Fault Zone (YYFZ), which is composed of two nearly parallel branches with a spacing of 5–30 km and a length of ∼1100 km, is considered to be the key branch of the Tancheng-Lujiang Fault Zone (TLFZ) in NE China. It was traditionally believed that the YYFZ experienced weak activity or was inactive during the Late Quaternary, without the capability to generate strong earthquakes (M ≥ 7), based on the absence of typical outcrops and large historical or instrumental earthquakes (M > 6). However, our paleoseismic study shows that the YYFZ is the primary seismotectonic structure (M ≥ 7) that poses significant earthquake threats to NE China. The synthesis of data collected from geologic investigations, geomorphic mapping, trench logging and the dating of samples indicates that the YYFZ is an active structure that has undergone segmented strong tectonic deformation since the Late Quaternary with a characteristic assemblage of landforms, including linear scarps and troughs, offset or deflected streams, linear sag ponds, small horsts and grabens. The latest ruptures of the YYFZ migrated from previous boundary faults into the basin interior, forming a left-stepping en echelon pattern in plain view, and the kinematics of these events in the Late Quaternary were dominated by reverse dextral slipping. Multi-segment cluster faulting might have occurred during three cluster periods, i.e., ∼34750–35812 a BP, ∼21700–22640 a BP, and ∼4000 a BP-present, which implies that the recurrence interval of large earthquakes along the YYFZ may be as long as tens of thousands of years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northwestern margin of the Hetao Graben, North China, is bounded by a pronounced 160-km-long Langshan Piedmont fault (LPF). The kinematics and recent tectonic activity of this rift-border fault and its accommodated extensional strain can help us better assess the seismic potentials. In this study, on the basis of high-resolution satellite images, digital elevation models acquired by small unmanned aerial vehicles using structure-for-motion techniques, field observations, and radiocarbon (14C) age dating, we demonstrate that (1) the LPF is a Holocene active normal fault with an average dip of ~607; the extension rate is estimated to be ~0.4-0.7mm/y, lower than geodetic strain rate; (2) the ongoing tectonic activity along this fault has played a significant role in controlling the present topography of the Langshan Mountains and neighboring areas; (3) slip partitioning probably occurred in the western Hetao Graben; namely, normal slip dominated the basin-bounding faults, and right-lateral slip occurred on the buried faults within the flat-lying graben. We suggest that precisely determined fault slip rates and geometry are needed with the aim of further quantifying the extensional strain distribution. The results of this study would be helpful in achieving a better understanding of fault development and evolution in actively extending regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the increasing number of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKAs in China, there is a clear need for a valid, short, joint-specific patient-reported outcome measure such as the Oxford Knee Score (OKS).Questions/purposes: To test the translated and cross-culturally adapted Chinese (Mandarin) version of the Oxford Knee Score (OKS-CV) and its (1) reliability, (2) construct validity, (3) dimensionality, and (4) responsiveness.Methods: Three native Chinese bilingual translators (a professional English translator, an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, an advanced-practice nursing specialist) translated the English-language OKS into Mandarin Chinese. A consensus panel created a synthesis of those efforts, which then was back-translated by two bilingual nonmedical, professional English-language translators. The OKS-CV was developed according to the guidelines of copyright holders. Between March 2013 and March 2015, 253 patients underwent TKAs. Among them, 114 Mandarin-speaking patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent primary unilateral TKA (age, 67 ± 7 years; range, 55-84 years; female, 80%; preoperatively 54% had moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis), completed the preoperative questionnaires, and were followed up, with a mean postoperative followup of 2.7 years (SD, 0.5 years). Eligibility criteria were (1) patients with knee osteoarthritis who were scheduled to have a primary unilateral TKA, (2) patients who were fluent in Mandarin, and (3) consent to participate. The exclusion criteria were: (1) lack of understanding of Mandarin, and (2) inability to comprehend the questionnaires owing to cognitive impairment. To evaluate test-retest reliability, another group of 35 Mandarin-speaking outpatients with knee osteoarthritis (age, 61 ± 10 years; range, 44-84 years; female, 77%) was recruited to complete the OKS-CV twice at a 1-week interval. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to quantify the correlations between the OKS-CV and the WOMAC, Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8TM), and EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire (EQ-5D). Exploratory factor analysis was performed to clarify dimensionality. The eigenvalue indicates the importance of each factor obtained from factor analysis. Responsiveness was determined by standardized response mean (SRM) and effect size (ES) from preoperative and postoperative scores of the OKS-CV. Floor and ceiling effects also were analyzed.Results: The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97) proved good. Convergent construct validity was supported by moderate to strong correlations between the OKS-CV and the WOMAC (r = -0.80, p < 0.001), the SF-8TM physical component summary (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), and the EQ-5D usual activities (r = -0.41, p < 0.001) and mobility (r = -0.35, p < 0.001). There also were correlations between the OKS-CV and the SF-8TM mental component summary (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and the EQ-5D anxiety/depression (r = -0.35, p < 0.001). The factor analysis yielded three factors with eigenvalues greater than 1. Responsiveness was excellent (SRM = 1.52; ES = 1.52). No floor or ceiling effect was observed.Conclusions: The OKS-CV showed good acceptability and psychometric properties for the intended population. Future studies are needed to evaluate the mental state of patients with knee osteoarthritis.Clinical Relevance: The OKS-CV appears to be a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument for Chinese patients with knee osteoarthritis. Based on these results we believe the OKS-CV can be used as a valuable tool for the assessment of patient-reported outcomes in Chinese patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking, slow running (jogging) and fast running often occur in daily life, Physical Education Class and Physical Fitness Test for children. However, potential impact of jogging and running on plantar pressure of children is not clear. The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of plantar pressure distribution patterns in obese and non-obese children during walking, jogging and running, and evaluate biomechanical effects of three movements on obese children. A 2-m footscan plantar pressure plate (RSscan International, Belgium) was used to collect the gait data of 20 obese children (10.69±2.11years; 1.51±0.11m; 65.15±14.22kg) and 20 non-obese children (11.02±1.01years; 1.48±0.07m; 38.57±6.09kg) during three movements. Paired t-test and independent sample t-test were performed for statistical comparisons and ANOVA was used for comparisons of gait characteristics among three movements. Significance was defined as p <0.05. Propulsion phase during jogging for obese children was the longest among three movements (p=0.02). Peak pressures under metatarsal heads IV, V (M4, M5), midfoot (MF), heel medial (HM) and heel lateral (HL) during jogging for obese children were the highest among three movements (p=0.005, p=0.003, p=0.004, p=0.03, p=0.01). Arch index (AI) of left foot during jogging for obese children was the largest (p=0.04).Conclusions: Plantar pressure distribution during three movements changed differently between two groups. The peak pressures under most plantar regions and AI during jogging for obese children were the largest among three movements, indicating that jogging caused more stress to their lower extremities. Obese children perhaps should not consider jogging as regular exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional moxibustion is a representative non-drug intervention in traditional Chinese medicine, and it has been reported to produce encouraging results and benefits in relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in previous clinical trials and systematic reviews. Given that increasing concerns on the safety of generated smoke from conventional moxibustion have received much attention, smoke-free moxibustion is regarded as a potential alternative. However, whether smoke-free moxibustion would display a similar efficacy to that of conventional moxibustion still remains unclear. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial attempts to investigate the difference of efficacy between conventional moxibustion and smoke-free moxibustion in patients with KOA.Methods/design: This is a multicenter, randomized, single-blinded, parallel-group clinical trial. A total of 138 eligible participants with KOA will be randomly allocated to two groups (conventional moxibustion group and smoke-free moxibustion group) in seven hospitals in China. Participants will receive 12 sessions of moxibustion treatment at three acupoints (EX-LE4, ST35, and ST36) over a period of 4 weeks (3 sessions per week). A smoke-removing device is placed at the top of the moxibustion device for the smoke-free moxibustion group (n = 69), while the conventional moxibustion group (n = 69) is treated with traditional moxibustion. The primary outcome measure will be the change of the global scale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) from the baseline to 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include the visual analog scale VASand Patient Global Assessment scores. Follow-up measurements will be performed on the 8th and 12th weeks after random allocation.Discussion: This study will contribute to providing a solid foundation for the selection of moxibustion in clinical application as well as future research in moxibustion therapy.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02772055 . Registered on 12 May 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of collar height and heel counter-stiffness of basketball shoes on ankle stability during sidestep cutting and athletic performance. 15 university basketball players wore customized shoes with different collar heights (high and low) and heel counter-stiffness (regular, stiffer and stiffest) for this study. Ankle stability was evaluated in sidestep cutting while athletic performance evaluated in jumping and agility tasks. All variables were analysed using two-way repeated ANOVA. Results showed shorter time to peak ankle inversion for both high collar and stiff heel counter conditions (P < 0.05), while smaller initial ankle inversion angle, peak inversion velocity and total range of inversion for wearing high collar shoes (P < 0.05). No shoe differences were found for performance variables. These findings imply that the collar height might play a larger role in lateral stability than heel counter-stiffness, while both collar height and counter-stiffness have no effect on athletic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical metrics by Corvis ST (CST) in healthy Chinese adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study used CST to measure intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and corneal biomechanical parameters, including time, velocity, length, deformation amplitude at the first (A1T, A1V, A1L, A1DA) and second applanation (A2T, A2V, A2L, A2DA), time, radius curvature and deformation amplitude at highest concavity (HCT, HCR, HCDA) and peak distance (PD).Results: A total of 158 healthy adults (158 eyes) were included in the final analysis. No significant differences were observed between male and female for any biomechanical parameters (All P>0.05). With increasing age, a significant trend of increase was detected among A1V, A1DA, A2T, A2DA, and HCDA (All P<0.05). The A1T decreased significantly with increasing age (P<0.001). The cluster analysis using Pearson coefficient divided the CST parameters into 5 sub-clusters, where IOP, A1T, A2V had strongest relation. The multivariable linear regression analyses demonstrated that age was independently associated with A1DA, A2DA, and HCDA. The IOP was positively associated with A1T, A2V, and HCR, while negatively with A1V, A2T, HCT, PD, and HCDA. The CCT was positively correlated with A1L, A1DA, A2L, A2V, or HCR.Conclusions: CST provided informative corneal biomechanical measurements in this Chinese population. Most corneal biomechanical parameters were associated with IOP, and several parameters were influenced by age or CCT, suggesting adjustment of these factors was needed before interpretations of CST outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies have investigated kinematic alterations in patients with an isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, a substantial proportion of patients with injured ACLs also have concomitant meniscal tears. Purpose: To evaluate the in vivo alteration of knee kinematics after an ACL tear, with or without a combined medial or lateral meniscal tear, during level walking activity. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Fifty-six patients with unilateral ACL-deficient (ACLD) knees were studied. Among these patients, 15 had isolated ACL injuries (group 1), 15 had combined ACL and medial meniscal injuries (group 2), 15 had combined ACL and lateral meniscal injuries (group 3), and 11 had combined ACL and medial/lateral meniscal injuries (group 4). The kinematics of each knee was determined using an optical tracking system during treadmill gait. Range of motion (ROM) and kinematic alterations were compared between the contralateral ACL-intact (ACLI) and ACLD knees. Results: All ACLD knees, with or without meniscal deficiency, had significantly less flexion than the ACLI knees (~3°-8°; P < .05). In groups 1, 3, and 4, the injured knees exhibited more femoral external rotation by approximately 1° to 2° (P < .05). Group 4 showed posterior femoral translation (anterior tibial translation) in the swing phase (~13 mm), while groups 2 and 3 showed increased anterior femoral translation (~2-3 mm). During medial-lateral translation, patients in group 2 had a more medial femoral shift (~4 mm) relative to the tibia initially, while those in group 4 exhibited a lateral femoral shift. Conclusion: The results indicate that meniscal injuries alter the kinematics of the ACLD knee when compared with knees with an isolated ACL injury. The location of the meniscal tear also affects knee kinematics. Clinical Relevance: Considering the varying effects of meniscal injuries on knee joint kinematics, these data provide insight into the pathological function of the ACL-injured knee joint during walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Models of speech production often abstract away from shared physiology in pitch control and lingual articulation, positing independent control of tone and vowel units. We assess the validity of this assumption in Mandarin Chinese by evaluating the stability of lingual articulation for vowels across variation in tone. Method: Electromagnetic articulography was used to track flesh points on the tongue (tip, body, dorsum), lips, and jaw while native Mandarin speakers (n = 6) produced 3 vowels, /pa/, /pi/, /pu/, combined with 4 Mandarin tones: T1 “high,” T2 “rising,” T3 “low,” and T4 “falling.” Results: Consistent with physiological expectations, tones that begin low, T2 and T3, conditioned a lower position of the tongue body for the vowel /a/. For the vowel /i/, we found the opposite effect, whereby tones that begin low, T2 and T3, conditioned a higher tongue body position. Conclusions: The physiology of pitch control exerts systematic variation on the lingual articulation of /a/ across tones. The effects of tone on /i/ articulation are in the opposite direction predicted by physiological considerations. Physiologically arbitrary variation of the type observed for /i/ challenges the assumption that phonetic patterns can be determined by independent control of tone (source) and vowel (filter) production units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are major threats to the construction and operation of electric towers of the Sichuan–Tibet Grid Interconnection Project (STGIP). The long, narrow project corridor is vulnerable to different types of landslides, making risk management a difficult task. In this study, a kinematic-based, landslide risk management framework that includes hazard analysis, risk estimation, risk evaluation, and risk control is proposed and implemented. The spatial density of historical landslides and the spatial distribution of landslide kinematics are used to analyze landslide hazard. Kinetic energy derived from the landslide physical process model is employed to analyze the vulnerability of the towers in the risk estimation step. Then, the landslide hazard and tower vulnerability are used to comprehensively evaluate the landslide risk level of the electric towers. Electric towers with high risk are mainly situated in areas near rivers and faults, with fragile steep slopes. Fragmented rock masses and a thick regolith cover provide abundant materials for landslides, and steep slopes supply the initial conditions and energy that make them a risk. Risk-control strategies are provided based on site-specific risk. The safe construction and operation of the STGIP in the past 10 years show the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed framework. We suggest that the workflow and guidelines for landslide risk management used in this study can be adopted for large engineering projects in complex environments. • Landslide risk management in the STGIP is challenged by complex conditions. • A kinematic-based landslide risk management framework for the STGIP is proposed. • This framework has supported the safe construction and operation of the STGIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study was designed to evaluate the function of the foot undergoing the procedure of percutaneous Achilles tenotomy (PAT) in case of clubfoot management in terms of gait analysis. Methods. Nineteen patients with unilateral clubfeet were retrospectively reviewed from our database from July 2012 to June 2016. The result in all the cases was rated as excellent according to the scale of International Clubfoot Study Group (ICSG). The affected sides were taken as Group CF and the contralateral sides as Group CL. Three-dimensional gait analysis was applied for the functional evaluation of the involved foot. Results. Statistical difference was found in physical parameters of passive ankle dorsiflexion and plantar-flexion. No statistical difference was found in temporal-spatial parameters. There was statistical difference in kinematic parameters of total ankle rotation, ankle range of motion, and internal foot progression angle and in kinetic parameters of peak ankle power. No statistical difference was found in other kinematic and kinetic parameters. Conclusions. It is demonstrated that the procedure of PAT is safe and efficient for correcting the equinus deformity in case of clubfoot management and preserving the main function of Achilles tendon at the minimum of four-year follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poststroke cavovarus foot greatly affects patients' activities of daily life and raises the risks of falls and consequent fractures. Acupuncture appears to be safe and effective in promoting motor functions and enhancing the activities of daily life among patients with poststroke cavovarus foot. The current study aims to study the biomechanical effect of acupuncture for poststroke cavovarus foot with objective outcome measurements. Methods/design: This is an assessor and analyst-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot study. A total of 60 eligible patients with poststroke cavovarus foot will be allocated by a 1:1 ratio into an acupuncture treatment group and a control group. Patients in the control group will receive conventional rehabilitation therapies, whereas a combination of acupuncture and conventional rehabilitation therapies will be applied in the acupuncture group. The primary outcome measures are three objective biomechanical parameters from the RSSCAN gait system: varus angle, dynamic plantar pressure distribution, and static plantar contact area. Scores of the Berg Balance Scale, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale, as well as other biomechanical parameters such as the step length and width, step time phase, and weight shifting phase will be selected as secondary outcome measurements. All assessments will be conducted at baseline, 4 weeks after the treatment course, and after a follow-up period of 3 months. Discussion: Results of the current study will provide detailed interpretations of the biomechanical effect of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation and foundations for future larger clinical studies. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-IPC-15006889 (8 August 2015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a promising assistive technology for stroke rehabilitation. Here we present the design and development of a multimuscle stimulation system as an emerging therapy for people with paretic stroke. A network-based multichannel NMES system was integrated based on dual bus architecture of communication and an H-bridge current regulator with a power booster. The structure of the system was a body area network embedded with multiple stimulators and a communication protocol of controlled area network to transmit muscle stimulation parameter information to individual stimulators. A graphical user interface was designed to allow clinicians to specify temporal patterns and muscle stimulation parameters. We completed and tested a prototype of the hardware and communication software modules of the multichannel NMES system. The prototype system was first verified in nondisabled subjects for safety, and then tested in subjects with stroke for feasibility with assisting mul-tijoint movements. Results showed that synergistic stimulation of multiple muscles in subjects with stroke improved performance of multijoint movements with more natural velocity profiles at elbow and shoulder and reduced acromion excursion due to compensatory trunk rotation. The network-based NMES system may provide an innovative solution that allows more physiological activation of multiple muscles in multijoint task training for patients with stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective study.Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of Bryan cervical disc arthroplasty at 10-year follow-up.Summary Of Background Data: Cervical arthroplasty is a new technique for treating degenerative cervical disease. Previous reports have shown that cervical arthroplasty with Bryan disc gained good clinical outcomes at 4- to 6-year follow-up.Methods: Clinical outcomes and dynamic x-ray examination were evaluated at baseline and at final follow-up.Results: Thirty-three patients with complete clinical and radiographic data were included in this study. The mean follow-up period was 120.5 months (116-130 months). Twenty-five patients underwent single-level arthroplasty and 7 underwent arthroplasty at 2 levels. One patient underwent arthroplasty at 3 levels. Eight of the 33 patients presented with radiculopathy and 25 patients with myelopathy. The 42 levels of surgery included C3/4 (3 levels), C4/5 (7 levels), C5/6 (26 levels) and C6/7 (6 level). The mJOA score of the 25 patients with myelopathy was 11.8 at the baseline and 15.9 at the final follow-up. No patient suffered from adjacent segment disease. Two patients received revision surgeries at the index level for recurrent radiculopathy caused by osteophyte formation and heterotopic ossification. On x-ray examination, the range of motion at the operated level was 7.8 degree at the baseline and 4.7 degree at the final follow-up. Heterotopic ossification was observed in 29 (69.0%) levels and heterotopic ossification of Grade 4 was observed in 14 levels. Adjacent segment degeneration was observed in 30 (47.6%) levels.Conclusion: Cervical arthroplasty using Bryan cervical disc prosthesis resulted in fine clinical outcomes in this study. Heterotopic ossification was common after Bryan disc arthroplasty, which decreased the range of motion.Level Of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North China Plate (NCP) underwent multi-phase intracontinental deformation during the Mesozoic, which is a much-debated research subject. Here we present a case study of this deformation inferred from regional-scale Helanshan superposed folds in the west of the NCP. New structural analyses and fault kinematic analyses in the Helanshan Structural Belt (HSB) indicate a two-stage syn-folding paleo-stress field, comprising early NNE–SSW compression, with mean orientations 190°/01° (plunge direction/plunge) for σ 1 , 283°/26° for σ 2 , and 100°/63° for σ 3 , and later WNW–ESE compression with mean orientations of σ 1 , σ 2 , and σ 3 at 124°/07°, 213°/04°, and 001°/75°, respectively. These results, combined with geochronological analysis, indicate two episodes of shortening in this belt during the Mesozoic. Late Triassic–Early Jurassic NNE–SSW shortening, which produced ∼8.1 km of horizontal shortening, led to the development of open WNW-trending fold structures. Subsequent Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous WNW–ESE shortening, which produced ∼18.7 km of horizontal shortening, reshaped the early WNW-trending structures and generated close, overprinting NNE-trending folds that resulted in the development of the regional-scale superposed folds in this area. In terms of geodynamics, the early NNE–SSW shortening is likely to be related to Indosinian intercontinental convergence between the North China Plate and the Yangtze Plate, and the later WNW–ESE shortening is likely to have been related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate. The regional structural analysis indicates that the whole of the western North China Plate experienced two-phase contractional deformation during the Mesozoic, as manifest by the early NNE–SSW and the late WNW–ESE shortening that characterized Mesozoic intracontinental deformation in the western NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shanxi Rift, an intracontinental belt along the eastern margin of the Ordos Block, North China Plate, has undergone multi-stage extensional deformation during the late Cenozoic. In this study, new fault kinematic analysis of boundary faults in the Shanxi Rift, constrained by geochronological data, defines a three-stage tectonic stress regime since the late Miocene, providing new structural evidence for deciphering the northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. The earliest stage involved a transtensional stress regime of NW–SE extension and NE–SW compression in the late Miocene–early Pleistocene (ca. 10–1.8 Ma) and characterized by mean principal stress axes of σ 1 at 344.7°/87.2°, σ 2 at 217.6°/01.1°, and σ 3 at 128.1°/01.0°. The early transtensional stress regime was responsible for the opening of the Shanxi Rift and was very likely associated with intensive right-lateral pull-apart activity in the eastern Ordos Block due to the northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. During the second stage, the stress regime changed to less intense NE–SW extension, with mean stress orientations of 323.3°/85.2° for σ 1 , 127.5°/02.9° for σ 2 , and 214.9°/02.6° for σ 3 in the early late Pleistocene (ca. 1.8–0.11 Ma). This stage is marked by a distinct shift from fluvio-lacustrine to fluvio-piedmont sedimentary facies at the end of the early Pleistocene, and the widespread eruption of basalt in the Datong Basin north of the Shanxi Rift. This short-lived extension appears to be the result of relaxation in the midst of crustal shortening during growth of the Tibetan Plateau. The third stage was transtensional, characterized by NNW–SSE extension and WNW–ESE compression ( σ 1 at 060°/88.9°, σ 2 at 074.9°/03.9°, and σ 3 at 164°/00°) since the late Pleistocene (ca. 0.11 Ma), causing dextral shear deformation in the Shanxi Rift and the disappearance of its paleo-lake. This stage resulted from regional ENE–WSW shortening due to northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main brittle faults in the Jiangsu part of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone, East China, are, from east to west, faults F 1 , F 5 , F 2 , F 3 , and F 4 . The details of their Quaternary activity remain controversial. We present structural, depositional, topographical, and geochronological evidence that indicates widespread fault activity during the Quaternary. Our fieldwork revealed that faults F 1 , F 5 , F 2 , and F 3 cut Quaternary sediments. Each fault produces a narrow gouge belt in the Quaternary sediments and incohesive fault rocks consisting of gouge, unconsolidated breccia and cataclastic belts in the bedrock. With the exception of dextral faulting along the northern part of the fault F 1 , the main Quaternary faults show evidence of thrusting with a minor dextral component. Analysis of a large amount of fault-slip data demonstrates that ENE–WSW compression was responsible for the Quaternary faulting. Our OSL dating results, combined with observed changes in Quaternary sediment thicknesses, indicate that except for Holocene activity on the northern part of fault F 1 , and probable Quaternary activity on the northern part of fault F 4 , the most recent period of activity on the main faults in the Jiangsu part of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone was the late Pleistocene. These inferences are consistent with the absence of M ⩾ 4.0 earthquakes along the fault zone. Fault displacement data and Quaternary sedimentation suggest that Quaternary activity was more intense in the late Pleistocene, and that faults F 2 and F 5 were the most intensely active. Our field investigation shows that faults F 1 –F 4 originated from the reactivation of Cretaceous graben-boundary faults whereas fault F 5, with its varied dip directions, was derived from the reactivation of antithetic normal faults associated with the boundary faults in the eastern graben. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The middle segment of the NNE–SSW-striking Tan-Lu Fault Zone (TLFZ) crosses the Bohai Bay in East China. This fault zone is a large seismically active belt that was responsible for the 1969 M (magnitude) 7.4 Bohai earthquake. However, the geometry, kinematics, and detailed characteristics of the most recent Quaternary seismic activity along the TLFZ in the Bohai Bay area are debated, primarily as the fault crops out below sea level in this area. Here, we present the results of a series of seismic profiles that enable the identification of Quaternary activity along the TLFZ within the Bohai Bay area. These data indicate that the Quaternary TLFZ crops out over a wide area of the Bohai Bay and is dominated by two main faults, both of which dip steeply to the west. Each of these two main faults consists of several left-stepping en-echelon faults. Quaternary activity along the TLFZ was generally focused along pre-existing Paleogene–Neogene faults. The seismic profiles, combined with the distribution of earthquakes in this area, demonstrate that the TLFZ in the southern and central areas of the Bohai Bay was last active during the Holocene, whereas the last movements along the faults in the northern Bohai Bay area range from late Pleistocene in the south to early–middle Pleistocene and the end of the Neogene in the north. The seismic profiles show both normal and reverse offset of the base of the Quaternary sediments by the Tan-Lu faults, although the normal offset predominates. Anticlines developed in Quaternary sediments occur close to the Quaternary Tan-Lu faults, and the TLFZ is also associated with an angular unconformity between Holocene and Pleistocene sediments. It is likely that the TLFZ was dominated by reverse dextral slip during the Holocene, whereas all of the Quaternary faulting before this involved alternating reverse and normal dextral slip. Oblique extension is most likely responsible for the normal dextral slip along the TLFZ, whereas focal mechanisms, GPS (global positioning system) data, and in situ stress measurements all suggest that ENE–WSW compression led to the reverse dextral faulting associated with numerous recent earthquakes in the Bohai Bay area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China Lead-based Research Reactor (CLEAR-I) will be built to develop the technologies of lead–bismuth eutectic cooled reactor. The In-Vessel Fuel Handling System (IVFHS) can achieve all positional refueling of the core by the complex operation of the double rotating plugs, the transfer machine and the rotor lift machine. One five degrees of freedom (5-DOF) rod mechanism of the IVFHS was proposed. Each joint parameter of the kinematic pairs was decided by the D-H method. The kinematics equation and velocity Jacobi matrix of the 5-DOF rod mechanism were deduced by the kinetic analysis. The rod position, rotation angle and velocity can be deduced by the moving trajectory of the transfer machine gripper. The feasibility was verified by the computer simulation and the principle prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Mesozoic geodynamic and tectonic relations between different blocks in East China remain controversial. The Subei-South Yellow Sea Basin (SB-SYSB) is located at the junction of different blocks and tectonic zones, including the North China Block (NCB), South China Block (SCB), Sulu Orogen and Tan-Lu Fault Zone (TLFZ). Therefore, the basin is a key location for understanding the regional geologic evolution of East China. Here, we present the geometry and kinematics of opposite thrust systems (OTSs) under the SB-SYSB based on seismic profiles, well data, magnetic reversion data and field observations. The OTSs are composed of two sets of thrust systems with opposite senses of motion: the northern top-to-the-southeast thrust system (N-TS) and southern top-to-the-northwest thrust system (S-TS). According to the structural styles, the N-TS and S-TS can be divided into the root, middle and frontal belts. The strikes of thrusts show a shift from NNE to N E - ENE and then to nearly E-W from west to east. The OTSs were suggested to have formed during the end of the middle Triassic to the middle Jurassic, and its deformation intensity decreased from west to east and from the root belt to the frontal belt. Combining these lines of evidence with published geochronological data for the Dabie-Sulu Orogen and other structural elements in East China, we provide a comprehensive synthesis and propose a new tectonic model to explain the early Mesozoic geodynamic and tectonic relations in East China. We emphasize the following points: (1) The Sulu Orogen might extend to the Northern Depression in the offshore SYSB and be bounded by the North Fault of the Central Massif to the south, indicating that the Sulu Orogen is significantly wider than stated in previous studies. (2) The N-TS was driven by the subduction of the YZB and the exhumation of the Sulu HP–UHP metamorphic rocks. In contrast, the S-TS was probably controlled by the orogenic uplift of the Jiangnan Orogen. (3) The dragging of the thrusts in the SB-SYSB and adjacent areas indicates that the sinistral motion of the TLFZ was coeval with the formation of the OTSs and was likely caused by the clockwise rotation of the SCB. (4) Finally, this clockwise rotation probably triggered intense corner compression between the Sulu Orogen, TLFZ and East Marginal Fault of the Yellow Sea, resulting in a genetic relation among the Sulu Orogen, the SCB, the Korean Peninsula and the Xu-Huai Belt. • The OTSs were controlled by subduction of the SCB, the exhumation of the Sulu Orogen and the uplift of the Jiangnan Orogen; • The Sulu Orogen might extend to the Northern Depression in the SYSB and be bounded by the North Fault of the Central Massif; • The TLFZ was coeval with the formation of the OTSs; • We proposed a model to illustrate the relationship among the Sulu Orogen, the SCB, the Korean Peninsula and the Xu-Huai Belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qingyi ductile shear zone is located in the Western Shandong Province, North China Craton, and it strikes NNW-SSE with a nearly vertical mylonitic foliation and horizontal stretching lineation. This shear zone is characterized by dextral strike-slip shearing. The estimated kinematic vorticity numbers of the studied mylonites ranging from 0.79 to 0.99 indicate that the shear zone is dominated by simple shear. Microstructures, quartz fabrics and mineral assemblages reveal that this shear zone is developed in upper greenschist facies with deformation temperatures of 400–500 °C. Zircon U–Pb data of mylonites and a late-kinematic vein constrain the timing of shearing at ∼2501 Ma. Biotite 40Ar/39Ar age data of the late-kinematic vein suggest the end of late tectono-thermal events and crustal stabilisation at ∼1878 Ma. Based on the geometry, kinematics and geochronology, the Qingyi ductile shear zone is interpreted to result from microblock amalgamation and indicates a horizontal tectonic regime of the Western Shandong Province during the late Neoarchean period. • The Qingyi ductile shear zone features dextral strike-slip shearing. • Deformation temperature of the shear zone reaches 400–500 °C. • Timing of shearing deformation is ∼2501 Ma. • This shear zone indicates microblock amalgamation during the late Neoarchean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NE to ENE trending Mesozoic Xingcheng-Taili ductile shear zone of the northeastern North China Craton was shaped by three phases of deformation. Deformation phase D 1 is characterized by a steep, generally E–W striking gneissosity. It was then overprinted by deformation phase D 2 with NE-sinistral shear with K-feldspar porphyroclasts forming a subhorizontal low-angle stretching lineation on a steep foliation. During deformation phase D 3 , lateral motion accommodated by ENE sinistral strike-slip shear zones dominated. Associated fabrics developed at upper greenschist metamorphic facies conditions and show the deformation characteristics of middle- to shallow crustal levels. In some parts, the older structures have been in turn overprinted by late-stage sinistral D 3 shearing. Finite strain and kinematic vorticity in all deformed granitic rocks indicate a prolate ellipsoid (L-S tectonites) near plane strain. Simple shear-dominated general shear during D 3 deformation is probably of general significance. The quartz c-axis textures indicate prism-gliding with a dominant rhomb slip and basal slip system formed mainly at low-middle temperatures. Mineral deformation behavior, quartz c-axis textures, quartz grain size and the Kruhl thermometer demonstrate that the ductile shear zone developed under greenschist facies metamorphic conditions at deformation temperatures ranging from 400 to 500 °C. Dislocation creep is the main deformation mechanism at a shallow crustal level. Fractal analysis showed that the boundaries of recrystallized quartz grains had statistically self-similarities. Differential stresses deduced from dynamically recrystallized quartz grain size are at around 20–39 MPa, and strain rates in the order of 10 −12 to 10 −14 s −1 . This indicates deformation of granitic rocks in the Xingcheng-Taili ductile shear zone at low strain rates, which is consistent with most other ductile shear zones. Hornblende-plagioclase thermometer and white mica barometer indicate metamorphic conditions of medium pressures at around ca. 3–5 kbar and temperatures of 400–500 °C within greenschist facies conditions. The main D 3 deformation of the ENE-trending sinistral strike-slip ductile shearing is related to the roll-back of the subducting Pacific plate beneath the North China Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain catchments are prone to flash flooding due to heavy rainfall. Enhanced understanding of the generation and evolution processes of flash floods is essential for effective flood risk management. However, traditional distributed hydrological models based on kinematic and diffusion wave approximations ignore certain physical mechanisms of flash floods and thus bear excessive uncertainty. Here a hydrodynamic model is presented for flash floods based on the full two-dimensional shallow water equations incorporating rainfall and infiltration. Laboratory experiments of overland flows were modelled to illustrate the capability of the model. Then the model was applied to resolve two observed flash floods of distinct magnitudes in the Lengkou catchment in Shanxi Province, China. The present model is shown to be able to reproduce the flood flows fairly well compared to the observed data. The spatial distribution of rainfall is shown to be crucial for the modelling of flash floods. Sensitivity analyses of the model parameters reveal that the stage and discharge hydrographs are more sensitive to the Manning roughness and initial water content in the catchment than to the Green-Ampt head. Most notably, as the flash flood augments due to heavier rainfall, the modelling results agree with observed data better, which clearly characterizes the paramount role of rainfall in dictating the floods. From practical perspectives, the proposed model is more appropriate for modelling large flash floods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexible wooden boards are still being used on the scaffolds at some construction worksites in China. We examined if the board dimension, acclimation phase and construction work experience influence workers' walking strategies on these boards. Among the 40 construction workers recruited, half of them had more than 1 year of construction work experience. The participants' body sway and the gait adjustments were captured and analysed. Our analysis showed the width and thickness of the boards had significant effects on walking speed. There is a significant interaction between construction experience and board width on stride width, whereas the interaction between construction experience and acclimation phase affects step length and walking speed. The body sway at the C6/C7 and L5/S1 locations are significantly affected by most of the factors. We also found that once the participants acclimated to the board condition, the sway variability increased. Practitioner Summary:This study investigated gait and postural adjustments of workers with different construction experience while walking over wooden scaffold boards, which is one of the activities highly associated with falling accidents in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify the effectiveness of Chinese herbal fomentation in treating chronic neck pain by means of changes in cervical kinematics. Methods: Seventy-six patients with chronic neck pain were included in the study and were randomized into two groups based on the random number generator of the SPSS software: fomentation combined with Chinese herbal (Group 1) and fomentation without any medicine (Group 2). In both groups, the fomentation lasted for 60 min and heated to 35 °C, once a day for 28 consecutive days. Standard lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were obtained including the neutral, full flexion, and full extension positions. Before and after intervention, the following parameters were used to evaluate the changes in kinematics: range of motion (ROM), sagittal alignment and instantaneous center of rotation (ICR). Results: After treatment, the ROM was signifcantly higher than that of before treatment in Group 1 (51.5, 95% CI: 49.8-55.9; P<0.05). There was no significant difference between before and after treatment in Group 2 ( P>0.05). Although C2-C7 cervical alignment was increased in both groups after treatment, no significant difference was detected between before and after treatment ( P>0.05). For Group 1, the significant X coordinate variation was only observed at C5/C6 level (38.1; 95% CI: 34.0, 42.1; P<0.05). There was a significant upward trend in the Y coordinate of the ICR at C5/C6 (−30.5; 95% CI: −34.3, −26.8; P<0.05) and C6/C7 after treatment (−6.1; 95% CI: −6.7, −5.4; P<0.05). For Group 2, the ICR location of each level was not statistically different between the pre- and post-treatment ( P>0.05). Conclusions: Chinese herbal fomentation could improve abnormal mobility in terms of ROM and ICR. Chinese herbal fomentation might be an effective treatment for chronic neck pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like pedestrians, bicyclists are vulnerable road users, representing a population with a high risk of fatal and severe injuries in traffic accidents as they are unprotected during vehicle collisions. The objective of this study is to investigate the kinematics response of bicyclists and the correlation of the injury severity with vehicle impact speed. Twenty-four car-bicyclist cases with detailed information were selected for accident reconstruction using mathematical models, which was implemented in the MADYMO program. The dynamic response of bicyclists in the typical impact configuration and the correlation of head impact conditions were analyzed and discussed with respect to the head impact speed, time of head impact and impact angle of bicyclists to vehicle impact speed. Furthermore, the injury distribution of bicyclists and the risk of head injuries and fractures of lower limbs were investigated in terms of vehicle impact speed. The results indicate that wrap-around distance (WAD), head impact speed, time of head impact, head impact angle, and throw-out distance (TOD) of the bicyclists have a strong relationship with vehicle impact speed. The vehicle impact speed corresponding to a 50% probability of head AIS 2+ injuries, head AIS 3+ injuries, and lower limb fracture risk for bicyclists is 53.8 km/h, 58.9 km/h, and 41.2 km/h, respectively. A higher vehicle impact speed produces a higher injury risk to bicyclist. The results could provide background knowledge for the establishment or modification of pedestrian regulations considering bicyclist protection as well as being helpful for developing safety measures and protection devices for bicyclists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convergent plate margins could have an immediate impact on intraplate deformation in the adjacent sedimentary basin. In the Tarim Basin, a strike-slip fault network in the Guchengxu High is adjacent to the Tethys (northern Tibetan Plateau). This paper uses high-quality 3-D seismic data to unravel the geometry and kinematics of the strike-slip fault network and the genetic relationship with the Tethys tectonics. Within the fault network, the left-lateral NNE- and ENE-oriented strike-slip faults are a result of sequential evolution rather than conjugate faults. The sub-vertical ENE-oriented strike-slip faults are widely spaced with stepping-segmented geometry in the west, whereas they are relatively clustered with larger vertical throws close to the Cherchen fault. They were interpreted as a series of the Cherchen fault-related structures due to oblique blocking of the Tazhong Uplift and block deflection. It responded to the Late Ordovician Altyn Tagh/Tarim collisional orogeny and the Cherchen fault. The NNE-oriented strike-slip faults are characterized by underlying sub-vertical faults and two layers of overlying normal faults. These NNE-oriented strike-slip faults have large transversal compressional components, commonly presenting reverse drags on both sides of the underlying sub-vertical faults. These NNE-oriented faults initiated on pre-existing discontinuities (extensional joints) and offset the ENE-oriented ones when NNW-oriented stress was transmitted to plate interiors during this Late Ordovician orogeny. Afterward, two layers of overlying normal faults formed due to dragging of the covers during the Middle Silurian–Early Carboniferous reactivation and the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian inversion, in response to subduction of the Kunlun Ocean and opening of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, respectively. The strike-slip fault network in plate interiors evolved as immediate responses to the Tethys tectonics at plate boundaries. • The 3-D seismic data detailedly characterize the strike-slip fault network in the Guchengxu High. • The strike-slip fault network is a result of sequential evolution rather than a series of conjugate faults. • The strike-slip fault network in the Guchengxu High evolved in response to the Tethys tectonics at plate boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neoproterozoic Jiangnan accretionary orogenic belt recorded the accretion and collision of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks to form a stablized South China Block, but related geometry and kinematics is poorly constrained, leading to largely varied tectonic models. Here, we present detailed field investigation and kinematic analysis of the plutonic-metamorphic complexes in the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang areas of the west Jiangnan orogenic belt, which enables identification of extensional granite-cored domes. In the dome margins, down-dipping lineations display a radial pattern and dome dominated foliations are extensively developed. The shearing structures within the plutonic-metamorphic complexes display extensional shearing surrounding the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang granitic dome cores. Gneissic granites and massive ones from both the Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang plutons yield comparable crystallization ages of ca. 835–823 Ma that are within age errors of each other, as are the sheared recrystallized asymmetric quartz veins and mylonites dated at 831 Ma. Overall ages of the deformed Sibao Group and the undeformed overlying Danzhou Group, along with those of the granite plutons and mylonites, suggest formation of the granite-cored domes at ca. 835–823 Ma, coeval to the timing of emplacement of the granitic plutons. Locally, top-to-the-E thrusting structures are also observed in the west Yuanbaoshan and Sanfang areas and are inferred as at ca. 860–835 Ma, coinciding well with E- or SE- directed structures developed elsewhere in the Jiangnan orogenic belt, but in contrast with doming extensional shearing structures. Therefore, overall geometry and kinematics in the west Jiangnan belt indicate development of granitic dome related extensional ductile shearing deformation dated at ca. 835–823 Ma and a possible top-to-the-E compressional ductile thrusting deformation within 860–835 Ma. Given the previously inferred regional geology observations, along with age and chemical data across the Jiangnan orogenic belt, the dominant extensional shearing deformation in the region argue for a slab roll-back event within an accretionary belt, typical of domes-and-basins structures formed in accretionary convergent continental margin. The top-to-the-E thrusting is here interpreted as corresponding to compressional regime generated by the west directed subduction of oceanic crust beneath the northern Guangxi continental margin arc in the west Jiangnan orogenic belt. • Two stages of Neoproterozoic ductile deformation identified in the west Jiangnan accretionary orogenic belt. • The ca. 835–823 Ma extensional domes-and-basins were generated by a slab roll-back event in an accretionary belt. • The ca. 860–835 Ma top-to-the-E thrusting indicates west directed subduction beneath the western Jiangnan belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated geological-geophysical methods have been used to depict the geometric characteristics and kinematic evolution of the Shunbei 5 (SB5) and adjacent Shunbei1 (SB1) strike-slip faults in the central Tarim Basin, China. Geometric evidence for strike-slip faulting includes the occurrence of positive and negative flower structures in stepover zones, oblique secondary splay faults, en echelon folds, and adjacent secondary faults. The multi-humped along-strike and along-dip displacement variations of the SB5 fault provide insights into the initial segmentation, interaction and polycyclic growth of the fault zones both in plan and section views: The SB5 fault initiated as an apparent "X-type" conjugate pure shear fault system in the north and a simple shear fault system in the south respectively. At depth (mainly in Cambrian to Middle Ordovician rocks), the northern and southern parts of the SB5 fault exhibit a typical dextral strike-slip architecture consisting of multiple fault segments connected via transpressional push-up or transtensional pull-apart stepovers or bends. The southern part has a linear, narrow sinistral ridge system. At shallower depths (in Upper Ordovician to Middle Devonian rocks), the lower subvertical faults propagated upwards as en echelon normal faults in the north, and as a two-phase, partitioned system consisting of boundary grabens and en echelon normal faults that dissected the early-formed border grabens in the south. With progressive deformation, the northern and southern parts of the SB5 fault reactivated and transferred into one large, sinistral fault in Upper Devonian to Permian rocks. Four major tectonic phases matching the kinematic evolutions of regional fault systems and uplifts in the study region, have also been recognized in the Middle Ordovician to Cretaceous. The pull-apart stepover and single fault zones developed in Middle Ordovician rocks are favorable fracture-related reservoirs. • Temporospatial distributions of the SB5 fault have been interpreted. • Along-strike and along-dip displacements have been investigated to analyze fault segmentation and polycyclic evolution. • Four major strike-slip movements that occurred from the Middle Ordovician to Permian have been recognized. • The SB5 fault initiated as different strike-slip systems, then reactivated as one large fault with the same sinistral motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 24, 2017, a catastrophic rock avalanche with a volume of 5.08 × 106 m occurred in Xinmo village, Maoxian County, Sichuan Province, SW China. Several studies focusing on the triggering factors, failure mechanism and dynamic process of the Xinmo landslide have been reported in the literature. However, there are few studies with detailed three-dimensional investigations based on numerical modeling that assess the post-failure stage of the landslide. In the present study, the three-dimensional material point method is used to reproduce the kinematics of the landslide to obtain better insight into the disaster by considering the effects of fragmentation and entrainment. Based on this framework, a velocity-weakening friction law is implemented to describe the basal friction between the moving mass and the substrate, and a strain–softening Drucker–Prager constitutive model is used to describe the internal deformation of the moving mass. The entrainment processes obtained with and without the proposed model are compared, and the simulated results generated with the presented models showing the distribution characteristics of the materials in the deposit area match the observed results fairly well. The implementation of a velocity-weakening friction law and a strain-softening Drucker–Prager constitutive model in the material point method may provide valuable insight for the enforcement of physically based risk assessments of "rockslide-debris avalanches". • The 3D material point method modeling of the Xinmo landslide overcomes some limitations of other numerical methods. • The model accurately reflected the effects of fragmentation and entrainment. • Kinematic energy curves were developed to examine the post-failure behavior of the Xinmo landslide. • Topography played a crucial role in kinetic energy growth and dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 69 in-depth vehicle-PTW accidents captured on video are analyzed. • A 5-steps human function failure model is used to excavate the accident causation. • Poor visibility exists widely in crossing and oncoming accident bundles. • A wider sensing area (field of view = 90°, view detection range = 35 m) is necessary to detect more effectively the conflict PTWs. As the use of powered two-wheeler (PTW) becomes increasingly prevalent, PTW accidents are emerging as a major threat to the people's life and property in China. Understanding the risky behaviors, psychological failures and kinematics in vehicle-to-PTW accidents is an important first step in addressing this issue. Here 69 vehicle-to-PTW accidents captured on video from the Traffic Accident Investigation and Research in China (TAIRC) database are selected and reconstructed. All accidents are categorized into different crash scenarios using a harmonized method. Accident causations are identified from the perspectives of praxeology and psychology. Kinematics characteristics, such as impact speed and relative position, are also analyzed. The results show the crossing accident bundle is the most frequent followed by rear, oncoming and run-up accident bundles, with proportions of 43.48 %, 27.54 %, 11.59 % and 17.39 % respectively. Accident causations of different crash scenarios have great differences whether in accident responsibilities or in psychological failures. For instance, the PTW riders who violate the traffic regulations need to be mainly responsible for most crossing accidents, whereas most rear accidents are blamed on drivers who fail to properly check their mirrors when they turn, turn around or change lanes. From the perspective of psychology, the perception failures encountered by both drivers and riders are a typical causation in crossing accidents, while it is a contributing factor in rear accidents that a failure of prognosis from the rider combined with a failure of perception from the driver. Visual obstruction exists widely in crossing and oncoming accident bundles. The impact speeds of vehicles and PTWs are often less than 40 km/h in all accident bundles. A wider sensing area (field of view = 90°, view detection range = 35 m) should be achieved to more effectively detect the conflict PTWs. These findings about vehicle-PTW accidents provide a stronger support for the development of prevention countermeasures and advanced driver assistance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baxian sag is a typical half-graben-like depression whose controlling boundary is a normal fault, the Niudong Fault. We studied the three-dimensional (3D) geometry and kinematics of this fault based on high-resolution 3D pre-stack depth migration seismic data and drilling data from the Baxian Sag. By analysing the geometries and structural deformation of the hanging wall units of the Niudong Fault, we defined the spatial variation and kinematical characteristics of the fault. The Niudong Fault is marked by a major listric normal fault that soles into a detachment surface at depth. Based on fault strikes and dips, we divided the Niudong Fault into three sections and seventeen zones. Geometrically, the Niudong Fault seems to be a single fault. While kinematically, it is not a single fault in the strict sense as various blocks of the fault have their own growth activities dominated by unidirectional and lateral growth. Map-view restoration of the Niudong Fault shows that the hanging wall was dominated by anticlockwise rotation; while cross-section restoration demonstrates that, the hanging wall was deformed by inclined shear. • High resolution 3D depth migration data are available for the study of listric fault. • 3D Geometric and kinematic models of the boundary Niudong Fault are constructed. • The Niudong Fault is not a single fault and its various sections underwent their own activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report remote sensing evidence and reconnaissance field observations for an actively evolving transpressional duplex 150 km north of Tibet, in the southern Beishan region of western China. We analyze Landsat-8, Google Earth and SRTM-30 data to reveal active fault traces, kinematics, offset contacts and landforms, and the overall duplex geometry in an area of limited recorded seismicity compared to surrounding regions. Eight NE-striking faults transfer sinistral displacement between E-W bounding faults and accommodate N-S shortening by sinistral-reverse displacements that have tilted the internal duplex blocks. The potential moment magnitude of a surface-rupturing event on one fault, that displays a twenty km-long, 1–3 m-high surface scarp, is estimated to be 6.6. Our study adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests the Beishan is a region of subtly expressed, but widespread, continental interior, strike-slip reactivation at low strain rates - challenging the long-held view that the Beishan has anomalous crustal stability within the huge Indo-Eurasia deformation field. • Discovery of an actively evolving transpressional duplex in the Beishan, west China. • Duplex is within sinistral fault array which has reactivated Beishan crust N of Tibet. • Quaternary fault scarps suggest potential earthquake hazard. • Crustal stability of Beishan region needs further assessment. • Crustal reactivation of Beishan is part of modern Indo-Eurasia deformation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purely empirical and numerical methods are widely used in landslide movement prediction because they can forecast the failure time and consider influence factors, respectively. However, the combination of these two methods for prediction is rare. This paper develops an integrated landslide movement prediction model that can fully consider landslide kinematics and external influence factors using the Verhulst inverse function (VIF) and the random forest (RF) algorithm. The VIF is applied to describe the kinematic behavior of landslides using the rationale of three-stage creep deformation. The RF algorithm is to quantify the response of landslide displacement to the influence of external factors such as reservoir water level and rainfall intensities. The novelty of the VIF-RF model is illustrated by applying to a reservoir landslide, Gapa Landslide, in Southwestern China. The results show that the VIF-RF model shows significant improvement in predicting landslide movement compared with the VIF or RF model. The error analysis confirms that the root mean square error of the VIF-RF decreases by more than 20% compared with the VIF and RF models. In addition, the mean absolute percentage error of the VIF-RF models is less than 5%, a decrease by 2.3% and 10.1% compared to the VIF and RF models, respectively. The feasibility of the VIF-RF model for predicting movement of other reservoir landslides was successfully verified by the Majiagou landslide in the TGRA. The developed VIF-RF model indicates the Gapa landslide deformation is at the primary stage over the monitoring period. The displacement at the G1 and G2 monitoring locations of the Gapa landslide is projected to increase to 2719.8 and 2438.8 mm in January 2021, respectively, and the average rate in the accelerated deformation periods is projected to be 67.8 mm/month. The presented VIF-RF model provides an effective approach for predicting the long-term landslide deformation and identifying its deformation stage. • A novel prediction approach incorporating Verhulst Inverse Function (VIF) and Random Forest (RF) algorithm is proposed. • The VIF-RF model can consider landslide kinematic characteristics and external influence factors. • Predictions can be used to identify the deformation stage of a landslide. • The model overcomes the limitation of machine learning models in predicting future displacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The WNW-trending dextral transpression occurred at ~250–225 Ma in South China. • NE-trending sinistral transpression was developed in the late Triassic in the SCB interior. • A Triassic two-stage intra-continental orogenesis is proposed in the South China Block. • It was derived by Paleotethyan scissor-like closure and its adjacent interactions. The South China Block (SCB) is tectonically bounded by the Tethyan and Pacific subduction zones and the Qinling-Dabie HP-UHP metamorphic zone. Triassic tectonic activity was a key phase in the tectonic history of the SCB and in creating the fundamental framework of East Asia. The geometry and kinematics of the Triassic deformation sheds light on the mechanism driving intra-continental orogenesis in the SCB. Our new field- and mapped- based structural analysis, along with thermo-chronological dating results, reveal two-stage distinct Triassic deformations in the southern SCB involving top-to-north dextral thrusting at ~250–225 Ma and NE-trending sinistral transpression at ~230–190 Ma. Early Triassic dextral transpression is marked by WNW-trending high-strain zones and thrust nappes/sheets, which might have been rooted beneath the Hainan-Yunkai basement along a low angle, middle-upper crustal basal detachment. It transformed from a thick-skinned fold-and-thrust belt to thin-skinned Jura-like patterns with northerly-propagating deformation. Late Triassic NE-trending sinistral transpression was accompanied by a series of the parallel folds and thrusts in the SCB interior, resulting in the development of the regional positive-flower geometry and reactivation of the pre-existing structures. Such signatures, in combination with the available geological, geochronological, and paleogeographic observations, suggest two-stage (early-middle and late Triassic) intra-continental orogenesis in the SCB, were controlled by the clockwise scissor-like closure of the Paleotethyan Ocean and its interactions with the adjoining blocks including deep-subduction beneath the North China Block and limited lateral extrusion due to the obstructing paleo-Pacific plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two stages of folds are identified on the northern margin of the North China Craton. • The D 1 folds were crossly superimposed by the D 2 folds and both formed in Paleozoic. • A dynamic transition occurred in middle Paleozoic in the northernNorth China Craton. Accretionary kinematic history of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt (CAOB) remains unclear in previous geological studies. Based on detailed structural analysis of newly identified folds on the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), we propose a tectonic model suggesting that Paleozoic accretion of the orogenic belt includes two phases of deformation. The first phase of deformation is oblique collision of the Bainaimiao Arc and the NCC, which was followed by orthogonal subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the second phase of deformation. The change of plate kinematics is supported by two generations of folding, namely D 1 (D B) and D 2 (D A). Both D 1 (D B) and D 2 (D A) folds developed in the Bayan Obo Group (BOG), a Meso- and Neoproterozoic rift sequence deposited on the passive continental margin of the NCC. D 1 (D B) folds were superimposed by the east-west trending D 2 (D A) folds. The D 1 (D B) folds developed as a result of oblique collision of the Bainaimiao arc and the NCC. The D 2 (D A) folds developed in response to the southward orthogonal subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate. They formed between latest Silurian and Early Permian, coeval with the two accretion events at the northern edge of the NCC. Our study suggests that multiphase deformation of sedimentary layers on the subducting plates provide important constraints for kinematic evolution of plate tectonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basin-bounding fault system along the southeastern margin of the Ordos Block records three stages of extensional deformation during the Quaternary. This Quaternary deformation in the uppermost crust is possibly related to crust-mantle decoupling. • Three stages of extensional deformation were established during the Quaternary. • Transformation of kinematics resulted in transition of geomorphic pattern. • Quaternary extensional deformation resulted from the crust-mantle decoupling. The southeastern margin of the Ordos Block (SEMOB) is located at the juncture of the North China Block, the Ordos Block, and the Qinling Orogen. A series of faulted basins has developed in this area since the Cenozoic. The latest focal mechanism solution and stress field analyses indicate that the SEMOB is located at the adjacent regions of present different stress field, although the structural activity and internal mechanisms of this changing remain unclear. In this paper we describe the results of a study into the fault systems and Quaternary deformation between the Linfen and Weihe basins on the SEMOB. Based on the deformation sequences, kinematic analyses and activity timing, we found that the strain field in SEMOB underwent three evolutionary stages during the Quaternary: NW–SE extension in the early Pleistocene, NE–SW extension in the middle Pleistocene, and ca. N–S oblique extension from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene. This evolution of the strain field affected both the geomorphic patterns and the activity of paleo-earthquake events along the SEMOB during the Quaternary. Quaternary extensional deformation in the upper crust along the SEMOB possibly resulted from crust-mantle decoupling, which may be related to eastward expansion of the Tibetan Plateau and subduction of the Pacific and Philippine Sea plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Field observations demonstrate the geometry and kinematics of Seertengshan Piedmont Fault. • Both planar and curved normal faults characterize the outcropping fault zones. • Sequential development of normal faults resulted in rotation of fault blocks. • Similarity of geometry and kinematic behaviors exists at multiple spatial scales. Although rotation of fault blocks during seismic and long-term periods has long been recognized in extensional tectonic regimes, the geometry and kinematic behaviors of normal faults at outcrop scale have scarcely been investigated in sufficient detail. In this study, combining with the analysis of high-resolution topography acquired by small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV) using the structure-from-motion (SfM) technique, we present the results of our field observations on the structural characteristics of the Seertengshan Piedmont Fault (SPF), a major active normal fault bounding the northern margin of the Hetao Graben, North China. Although previous studies have reported the recent tectonic activity of this fault including timing of most recent earthquake, average slip rate and repeat time of paleo-earthquakes, few of them have focused on geometric patterns of the outcropping fault zones, which provide excellent outcrop-scale examples to investigating geometry and kinematics of active normal faults. Besides the observed prominent fault scarps indicative of recent tectonic activity along the SPF, outcrop observations indicate that in some cases both planar and curved normal faults are developed, forming complex fault zones. Sequential development of normal faults may have rotated the early-formed fault blocks, resulting in shallowly dipping faults and highly tilted strata. Collectively, structural similarities probably exit among normal faults at multiple spatial scales. We suggest that the results of this study are also helpful for a better understanding of structural development and evolution in other actively extending areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longstanding theories in the field of neurophysiology have held that walking in rats is an unconscious, rhythmic locomotion that does not require cortical involvement. However, recent studies have suggested that the extent of cortical involvement during walking actually varies depending on the environmental conditions. To determine the impact of environmental conditions on cortical engagement in freely walking rats, we recorded limb kinematics and signals from implanted electroencephalography arrays in rats performing a series of natural behaviors. We found that rat gaits were significantly different across various locomotion terrains (e.g. walking on an upslope vs. downslope). Further, rat forelimbs and hindlimbs showed similar patterns of motion. The results also suggested that rat cortical engagement during walking varied across environmental conditions. Specifically, α band power significantly increased during 30° downslope walking in the posterior parietal, left secondary motor, and left somatosensory clusters. Additionally, during 30° upslope walking, the β band power was greater in the left primary motor and left and right secondary motor sources. Further, rats walking on up- or downslopes of varying steepness were found to have different cortical activities. Compared with 10° downslope walking, α band power was greater during 30° downslope locomotion in the left primary motor and somatosensory sources. These findings support the hypothesis that cortical contribution during walking in rats is influenced by environmental conditions, underlining the importance of goal-directed behaviors for motor function rehabilitation and neuro-prosthetic control in brain-machine interfaces., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The article discusses the Zanhuang tectonic mélange in the Zanhuang Massif of the Central Orogenic Belt in China which seperates the Eastern Block from an Archean arc terran. It is one of the best-preserved Archean tectonic mélanges in the world and contains complex tectonic mixture of metapsammites, quartzites mixed with volcanic rocks and metapelites. The article also presents diagrams of the kinematic framework in the mélange.

Gaoqing-pingnan fault zone characterized as "S" plane shape is the boundary ofwestern Dongying depression. The western Dongying depression includes twosecondary negative tectonic units: Huagou and Boxing sub-depression. The study areaunderwent several phases of extension in the early Cenozonic, but the extensionaldirection mainly deflects along nearly N-S. According to the changes of the faultstrike, Gaoqing-pingnan fault zone can be divided into three segments: Huagou(E-W), Pingnan (NNE), and Binnan (NEE). By analysis of 3D seismic interpretationresults and geometry model, we find that the attitude and combination type of thethree segments are markedly different although they are influenced by the sameextension stages. On attitude, Huagou and Binnan segments paralleling to earlyCenozoic structural strike of Dongying depression are characterized by slowerdip angles, but the Pingnan segment which parallels to strike of Tanlu fault zoneis characterized by steeper dip angles. On combination types of faults, Huagouand Binnan segments mainly develop extensional types; Binnan segment not onlydevelop extensional types like formers, but also develop strike-slip types such as halfa flower and horsetail faults in vertical profile, feathery and en echelon faults inplane. In order to explain the structural differences, further study on kinematics wasdone with seismic coherence cube and Strata thickness data of wells. The timeslices of coherence cube and seismic sections indicate that nearshore fans whichdevelop in hanging wall of Pingnan segment in the Es4-Es1 migrate along the NWdirection. What is more important, Strata isopachous map reveals the same kinematicsregularity that the depocenter of Boxing sub-depression also migrate along the NNEdirection in Es4 -Es1. In contrast, both of migratory direction of fans and depocenter inHuagou sub-depression are perpendicular to the strike of Huagou segment during Es4-Es1. In conclusion, the structural evolution of Pingnan segment is controlled bythe oblique extension, but the Huagou and Binnan segments are controlled by theperpendicular extension in the early Cenozonic. This study offers a case study onunderstanding the evolution of a segmented normal fault zone in rift basin of eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the elderly and is the primary cause of the loss of motor function and disability in this population. Exercise therapy is a core, basic and matureand treatment method of treating patients with KOA. Exercise therapy is "strongly recommended" or "recommended" in the diagnosis and treatment guidelines of osteoarthritis in many countries, and most scholars advocate exercise therapy as the preferred rehabilitation method for KOA patients. However, poor long-term adherence is a serious problem affecting the therapeutic effect of this mature treatment. The objective of this study was to construct a concise and practical adherence rating scale (ARS) based on the exercise therapy adherence prediction model in patients with knee osteoarthritis.Methods: A binary logistic regression model was established, with the adherence of 218 cases of KOA patients as the dependent variable. The patients' general information, exercise habits, knowledge, attitude, and exercise therapy were independent variables. The regression coefficients were assigned to various variables in the model, and the ARS was constructed accordingly. Receiver operating characteristic curves and curve fitting were used to analyse the effect of the ARS in predicting the adherence and to determine the goodness of fit for the adherence. The external validity of the ARS was examined in a randomized controlled trial.Results: The construction of the adherence model and the ARS included the following variables: age (1 point), education level (1 point), degree of social support (2 points), exercise habits (3 points), knowledge of KOA prevention and treatment (2 points), degree of care needed to treat the disease (1 point), familiarity with exercise therapy (4 points) and treatment confidence (3 points). The critical value of the total score of the ARS was 6.50, with a sensitivity of 87.20% and a specificity of 76.34%.Conclusions: A KOA exercise therapy adherence model and a simple and practical ARS were constructed. The ARS has good internal validity and external validity and can be used to evaluate the adherence to exercise therapy in patients with KOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normative tibiofemoral data of Chinese or Asian subjects during gait is rarely reported. This study is aimed at investigating the six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) knee kinematics of adult Chinese during gait, based on a novel portable system. Twenty-eight healthy Chinese subjects (56 knees) were studied during their treadmill gaits. A set of optical marker clusters were attached to the thighs and shanks of each subject, who was tracked by an optical joint kinematics measurement system. Knee landmarks were initially digitized with respect to the marker cluster sets to determine the local coordinate systems for calculation of 6DOF knee joint kinematics. The range of motion (ROM) in 6DOF and 5 kinematic parameters were calculated and compared between bilateral knees and genders. We discovered that knee rotations, as well as motion in proximodistal and mediolateral translations, showed similar patterns in flexion and extension. However, the anteroposterior translations did not show a clear pattern. The results of ROM in 6DOF obtained in this study are comparable with those reported in existing literature. No statistical difference was found between left and right knees either in the ROMs or in the 5 kinematic parameters. However, the ROM in the mediolateral direction during gait was found to be higher in men than women (P=0.014). In addition, the femurs of female subjects rotated more internally than the femurs of male during the stance phase (P=0.011). We concluded that normal Chinese knees exhibited distinct gait patterns, except for anteroposterior motion. Women and men exhibit different axial rotations and mediolateral translation patterns during their treadmill gait., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)