Search

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has great influence in many physiological or pathological processes in organisms. In the site of bone defects, the overproduced ROS significantly affects the dynamic balance process of bone regeneration. Many antioxidative organic and inorganic antioxidants showed good osteogenic ability, which has been widely used for bone repair. It is of great significance to summarize the antioxidative bone repair materials (ABRMs) to provide guidance for the future design and preparation of osteogenic materials with antioxidative function. Here, this review introduced the major research direction of ABRM at present in nanoscale, 2-dimensional coating, and 3-dimensional scaffolds. Moreover, the referring main active substances and antioxidative properties were classified, and the positive roles of antioxidative materials for bone repair have also been clearly summarized in signaling pathways, antioxidant enzymes, cellular responses and animal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dots on natural backgrounds can elicit significant pupillary constrictions within the entire image phase associated with parasympathetic activation, suggesting disgust rather than fear. Although studies have reported that dots on faces elicit stronger disgust than dots on non-face backgrounds, it remains unclear whether dots on a face elicit stronger pupil constrictions than non-face backgrounds. Pupillometry was used while viewing dots on faces and compared with luminance- and spatial frequency-controlled images (dots on phase-scrambled faces) and luminance-controlled images (face only, phase-scrambled faces). Relative pupillary constrictions were elicited when dots were placed on faces and phase-scrambled faces; however, the response to dots on faces did not differ significantly from that to the control stimuli. Approximately 3–5 s after stimulus onset, pupillary responses to dots on faces recovered to baseline faster than those to dots on phase-scrambled faces with a larger pupil size. The initial pupillary constrictions observed are consistent with those in response to dots on natural backgrounds, suggesting that regardless of the background, dots may stimulate parasympathetic activation and elicit disgust rather than fear. The faster recovery from the pupil constriction and larger pupil size in the later phase may be caused by a dynamic balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic neuronal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed high-bandwidth consumption services such as cloud computing require large-capacity, long-distance, and wide-coverage development requirements for Next-Generation Passive Optical Networks (NG-PON2). With the development of NG-PON2 technology, the optical line terminal (OLT) device structure of passive optical network (PON) system is also increasingly complex and heterogeneous. This leads to the problem of network congestion and low bandwidth utilization caused by the unbalanced use of link and port resources in the traditional core network in the PON network. Based on the 40G coherent PON experimental system, this paper studies the traffic balancing problem of OLT equipment, and proposes a dynamic traffic balancing strategy based on real-time monitoring of load sharing and reporting of police and periodic adjustment. The experimental results show that the designed dynamic traffic balancing strategy can effectively reduce the PON network blocking rate and improve bandwidth utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial deterioration as one of the widespread problems in archaeological site museums significantly affects their safety and exhibits. This paper systemically investigated the environments and conditions of microbial outbreaks in the Dadiwan No. F901 site museum, which is a representative archaeological site of prehistoric Yangshao culture. The morphology and harmful characteristics of the outbreak microorganisms were analyzed by microscopic techniques. The ultraviolet resistance of harmful microorganisms was also studied. Combining these findings with the original facilities of the site museum, a scientific and reasonable project was proposed to control and prevent the activity of harmful microorganisms. In addition, a 1% OIT/DCOIT biocide concentration was applied to inhibit microorganism-caused deterioration, in combination with mechanical removal based on laboratory tests and screening in situ. The effectiveness of microbial control was assessed using a portable microscope, ATP bioluminescence assay, and color difference detection. As a long-lasting preventive measure for microbial deterioration, an ultraviolet sterilization system can efficaciously prevent the re-outbreak of microbial deterioration to form a relatively stable dynamic balance for the surroundings of the site. This study is a resultful exploration in terms of microbial control and plays an important role in the sustainable protection of archaeological site museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) and impaired static and dynamic balances are the risk factors of the anterior cruciate ligament injuries in football players. This study aims to investigate the effect of the knee control program on knee valgus angle and static and dynamic balances in young male football players with DKV. Methods This is a quasi-experimental study. Of 156 young male football players, 48 with DKV were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention group (n=24, Mean age=12.70±0.62 years, height=1.52±0.07 m, weight=48.87±6.67 kg, BMI=21.10±2.18 kg/m2) and control group (n=24, mean age=12.58±0.65 years, height= 1.52±0.08 m, weight= 50.45±6.79 kg, BMI=21.88±2.92 kg/m2). The drop-jump test, Stork test, and Y balance test were used to measure dynamic knee valgus angle, static balance, and dynamic balance, respectively. The intervention group received the knee control program as a warm-up exercise for 8 weeks, while the control group performed their routine warm-up exercises during this time. Analysis of covariance and the paired t-test were used to evaluate differences in the study variables. Results In the intervention group, there was a significant reduction in knee valgus angle (P=0.001) and significant improvements in static balance (P=0.001) and dynamic balance (P=0.001) in the post-test phase compared to the pre-test phase, but there were no significant differences in the control group (P>0.05). Moreover, the results showed significant differences between the two groups in knee valgus angle (P=0.001), static balance (P=0.001) and dynamic balance (P=0.002). Conclusion The knee control program is effective in reducing dynamic knee valgus angle and improving static and dynamic balances in young football players with DKV. Thus, it seems that this program can reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in young male football players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The anterior cruciate ligament injury in athletes is associated with disorders related to balance and postural control. Poor balance is a predictor of lower limb injury in athletes. This study aims to investigate the different neuromuscular parameters that affect the static and dynamic balance in adolescent male football players with Dynamic Knee Valgus (DKV). Methods This is a correlational study. Participants were 83 adolescent male football players with DKV (age: 12.63±0.72 years, height: 1.69±0.07 meters, weight: 23.23±7.74 58 kg, BMI: 20.32±2.38 kg/m2), who were selected using a purposive sampling method. The presence of DKV was assessed by the squat test. The strength of the trunk and hip muscles was assessed by manual muscle testing (MMT), trunk endurance by the McGill test, and range of motion (ROM) of hip and ankle joints by a goniometer. Moreover, the static and dynamic balances were evaluated by the Bass Stick test and Y balance test, respectively. The Pearson correlation test was used to examine the relationships at a significance level of 0.05. All statistical operations were performed by SPSS software, version 24. Results The results of the present study showed a significant relationship between static balance and the study parameters (P≤0.05) except for trunk flexion strength (P=0.16) and ROM (P<0.05), hip flexion ROM (P=0.83), hip extension ROM (P=0.96), hip abduction ROM (P=0.77) and ankle dorsiflexion ROM (P=0.94). The dynamic balance at anterior-posterior direction had a significant relationship with trunk endurance and left-side plank (P=0.07) and strength (P=0.05), but not with plank test score (P=0.45). The dynamic Y balance at posteromedial direction had a significant relationship with all variables except for 60° flexion (P=0.40), plank (P=0.53), left-side plank (P=0.09), and trunk extension strength (P=0.23). The results of the study also showed the significant relationship of dynamic balance at posterolateral direction and the total score of Y balance test with total trunk endurance test score (P=0.03, P=0.003) and right-side plank (P=0.005, P=0.001). Moreover, trunk extension strength and hip strength variables had a significant relationship with posterolateral dynamic balance and total Y balance test score (P≤0.05). Furthermore, the ROM of ankle dorsiflexion had a significant relationship with balance at the posteromedial (P=0.03), posterolateral (P=0.02) directions and the total Y balance score (P=0.02). Conclusion Static balance of adolescent male soccer players with DKV has a significant relationship with trunk endurance, trunk strength and thigh strength. There is a significant relationship between dynamic balance and trunk endurance, trunk strength, hip strength, and ankle dorsiflexion ROM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: While suspension training devices are increasingly gaining popularity, there is limited evidence on their effects on balance, and no comprehensive assessment has been conducted. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 9-session suspension training program on dynamic and static balance, stability, and functional performance. Materials and Methods: A total of forty-eight healthy adults, aged between 18 and 30, participated in a 9-session suspension training program. The program included exercises targeting upper and lower body muscles as well as core muscles. Balance was comprehensively assessed using various dynamic balance tests, including the Y Balance Test (YBT) as the primary outcome, single-leg Emery test, and sideways jumping test. Static balance was evaluated through the monopedal and bipedal Romberg tests. Changes from baseline were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test. Results: Thirty-nine participants (mean age: 21.8 years) completed the intervention. The intervention resulted in significant improvements in YBT, jumping sideways, Emery, and 30s-SST scores (p < 0.001). Platform measures indicated enhanced monopedal stability (p < 0.001) but did not show a significant effect on bipedal stability (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Suspension training is a safe and feasible method for improving dynamic balance and functional performance in healthy, untrained young adults. However, it does not appear to significantly impact the ability to maintain a static posture while standing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-, height- and weight-matched children were recruited to the experimental group (EG; n = 31) and control group (n = 32). Following a 16-week soccer training program, balance ability and dominant-side lateral knee and ankle kinesthesia changes were tested. Regarding balance ability, the Sway Index, when children stood on a firm or foam surface with their eyes closed in the static balance test, and the dynamic balance test time were 13.5%, 11.6%, and 14.3% lower in the EG than in the control group, respectively. The scores in the left and right directions were 23.7% and 24.2% higher in the EG, respectively. Regarding kinesthesia, the angle of knee extension and ankle metatarsal flexion and dorsiflexion were 13.4%, 20.0%, and 16.8% lower in the EG than in the control group. These results indicate children in the EG had a better performance. After soccer exercise, children aged 5-6 years displayed improved balance in the left and right directions and improved knee extension, ankle plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion kinesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with a long-term design issue of dynamic line balancing (DLB) when work- sharing is allowed among stations. The work-sharing can be implemented by floating works or floating workers where a portion of tasks or workers is shifted to the succeeding station respectively. We suggest a mathematical model to minimise line cycle time in floating-worker environments. The line considered in this study is a 2-skill chaining line where each worker can help only the immediately downstream station. We suggest a closed form condition of balanceable floating-worker lines (FRL) in case of straight line configuration and U-shaped line configurations along with a comparison with floating-work lines (FKL). We could prove that the FRL is more efficient than the FKL as long as the floating line is balanceable. In case of a U-shaped line, we find that both the FKL and the FRL are always balanceable with the minimum cycle time, which is the total task time divided by the number of stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research / Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu is the property of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The stability and postcritical behaviour of a horizontal flag undergoing gravity-induced deformation and periodic contact with a nearby horizontal rigid wall are experimentally investigated. The results elucidate the combined effects of gravity and contact on flutter, and reveal design principles for application to triboelectric energy harvesting. By varying the free-stream velocity, flag thickness and distance between the flagpole and the wall, the dynamics of the flag are classified into quasistatic equilibrium, flutter, partial contact and saturated contact modes. Considering the significance of gravitational effects, a new dimensionless flow velocity is proposed to identify the distribution of the dynamic modes, and its definition varies according to whether the wall is placed above or below the flag. The critical conditions for transitions between the dynamic modes are determined from the balance of fluid dynamic and gravitational effects. The distance from the flagpole to the wall is found to be more critical for transitions in the lower-wall configuration than in the upper-wall configuration. The peak contact force as well as the oscillation amplitude and frequency at postequilibrium exhibits remarkably different trends depending on the location of the wall. The peak contact force imposed on the wall by the fluttering flag weakens as the distance to the wall increases in the case of an upper wall, whereas it becomes stronger in the case of a lower wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a new variant of the model of the morphological pattern for thermokarst plains with fluvial erosion involving numerous remote sensing data. This variant of the model takes into account different trends of the thermokarst processes for watershed plains and lowered bottoms of khasyreis (drained thermokarst lakes). The model is tested at eight key sites differing in physiography, climate, and geocryology. Testing is based on high-resolution remote sensing data. The model is verified with a statistical analysis of lake area distributions within both watershed plain surface and lowered bottoms of khasyreis, demonstrating a state of dynamic balance in the course of emergence, growth, and drainage of the thermokarst lakes. The analysis shows that the morphological pattern of the thermokarst plains with fluvial erosion changes evolutionarily, with a reduction in the area of the main watershed surface according to a dependence close to exponential; the specific type of the dependence results primarily from the ratio of the lake generation density and the location density of the fluvial sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen oxide radicals (NOx ≡ NO + NO2) emitted by fuel combustion are important precursors of ozone and particulate matter pollution, and NO2 itself is harmful to public health. The Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS), launched in space in 2020, now provides hourly daytime observations of NO2 columns over East Asia. This diurnal variation offers unique information on the emission and chemistry of NOx,but it needs to be carefully interpreted. Here we investigate the drivers of the diurnal variation of NO2 observed by GEMS during winter and summer over Beijing and Seoul. We place the GEMS observations in the context of ground-based column observations (Pandora instruments) and GEOS-Chem chemical transport model simulations. We find good agreement between the diurnal variations of NO2 columns in GEMS, Pandora, and GEOS-Chem, and we use GEOS-Chem to interpret these variations. NOx emissions are four times higher in the daytime than at night, driving an accumulation of NO2 over the course of the day, offset by losses from chemistry and transport (horizontal flux divergence). For the urban core, where the Pandora instruments are located, we find that NO2 in winter increases throughout the day due to high daytime emissions and increasing NO2/NOx ratio from entrainment of ozone, partly balanced by loss from transport and with negligible role of chemistry. In summer, by contrast, chemical loss combined with transport drives a minimum in the NO2 column at 13–14 local time. Segregation of the GEMS data by wind speed further demonstrates the effect of transport, with NO2 in winter accumulating throughout the day at low winds but flat at high winds. The effect of transport can be minimized in summer by spatially averaging observations over the broader metropolitan scale, under which conditions the diurnal variation of NO2 reflects a dynamic balance between emission and chemical loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gait asymmetry is often accompanied by the bilateral asymmetry of the lower limbs. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) technique is widely used in different populations and scenarios as a potential tool to improve lower limb postural control. However, whether cerebral cortex bilateral tDCS has an interventional effect on postural control as well as bilateral symmetry when crossing obstacles in healthy female remains unknown. Methods: Twenty healthy females were recruited in this prospective study. Each participant walked and crossed a height-adjustable obstacle. Two-way repeated ANOVA was used to evaluate the effect of group (tDCS and sham-tDCS) and height (30%, 20%, and 10% leg length) on the spatiotemporal and maximum joint angle parameters for lower limb crossing obstacles. The Bonferroni post-hoc test and paired t-test were used to determine the significance of the interaction effect or main effect. The statistically significant differences were set at p < 0.05. Results: The Swing time (SW) gait asymmetry (GA), Stance time (ST) GA, leading limb hip-knee-ankle maximum joint angles and trailing limb hip-knee maximum joint angles decreased in the tDCS condition compared to the sham-tDCS condition at 30%, 20% leg's length crossing height except for 10% leg's length, whereas there was a significant decrease in SW/ST GA between the tDCS condition and the sham-tDCS condition at 30%, 20%, 10% leg's length crossing height (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that tDCS intervention is effective to reduce bilateral asymmetry in spatio-temporal parameters and enhance dynamic balance in female participants during obstacle crossing when the heights of the obstacles were above 10% of the leg's length. Trial registration No: ChiCTR2100053942 (date of registration on December 04, 2021). Prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological sexes (male and female) have been reported to influence postural control and balance due to differences in musculoskeletal structures, hormonal factors, and neuromuscular control. These factors can contribute to the turning performance, potentially leading to an increased incidence of falls, particularly during turning. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the whole-body coordination and stepping characteristics and during standing turns in healthy adults to determine the effects of biological sex and turn speed. Fifty participants (25 males and 25 females) completed 180° standing turns on level ground. Inertial Measurement Units (XSENS) were used to measure whole-body movement turning kinematics and stepping characteristics. Moreover, clinical outcome of dynamic balance was measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG). Participants were randomly tasked to turn at three speeds; fast, moderate, or slow to the left and right sides. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare the independent variables between male and females, and Friedman tests with Dunn's tests for pairwise comparisons were used to compare between the three turning speeds within the two groups. The results demonstrated that significant differences were seen between males and females during fast turning for the leading foot onset (p = 0.048) and in the slow speed for the total step (p = 0.033), showing that these were greater in female with an increase in turn speed. In addition, significant differences were seen only in the males when comparing different speeds in the trailing foot onset latency (p = 0.035), step size (p = 0.009), and total number of steps (p = 0.002), while in the females a significant difference was found in peak head yaw velocity between fast and slow turn speeds, and moderate and slow turn speeds. Finally, there was no significant difference in TUG between groups. Therefore, these findings show differences between biological sexes in the response to whole-body coordination and step characteristics, indicating that females tend to have more changes in stepping characteristics compared to males due to differences in turning speed. This can affect their balance and stability. However, the differences in biological sex did not impact the dynamic balance and fall risk due to the lack of a significant difference shown by TUG between males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global aging situation is severe, and the medical pressures associated with aging issues should not be underestimated. The need and feasibility of studying aging and intervening in aging have been confirmed. Aging is a complex natural physiological progression, which involves the irreversible deterioration of body cells, tissues, and organs with age, leading to enhanced risk of disease and ultimately death. The intestinal microbiota has a significant role in sustaining host dynamic balance, and the study of bidirectional communication networks such as the brain-gut axis provides important directions for human disease research. Moreover, the intestinal microbiota is intimately linked to aging. This review describes the intestinal microbiota changes in human aging and analyzes the causal controversy between gut microbiota changes and aging, which are believed to be mutually causal, mutually reinforcing, and inextricably linked. Finally, from an anti-aging perspective, this study summarizes how to achieve delayed aging by targeting the intestinal microbiota. Accordingly, the study aims to provide guidance for further research on the intestinal microbiota and aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms subserving motor skill acquisition and learning in the intact human brain are not fully understood. Previous studies in animals have demonstrated a causal relationship between motor learning and structural rearrangements of synaptic connections, raising the question of whether neurite-specific changes are also observable in humans. Here, we use advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sensitive to dendritic and axonal processes, to investigate neuroplasticity in response to long-term motor learning. We recruited healthy male and female human participants (age range 19-29) who learned a challenging dynamic balancing task (DBT) over four consecutive weeks. Diffusion MRI signals were fitted using Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), a theory-driven biophysical model of diffusion, yielding measures of tissue volume, neurite density and the organizational complexity of neurites. While NODDI indices were unchanged and reliable during the control period, neurite orientation dispersion increased significantly during the learning period mainly in primary sensorimotor, prefrontal, premotor, supplementary, and cingulate motor areas. Importantly, reorganization of cortical microstructure during the learning phase predicted concurrent behavioral changes, whereas there was no relationship between microstructural changes during the control phase and learning. Changes in neurite complexity were independent of alterations in tissue density, cortical thickness, and intracortical myelin. Our results are in line with the notion that structural modulation of neurites is a key mechanism supporting complex motor learning in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold winters over Eurasia often coincide with warm winters in the Arctic, which has become known as the "warm Arctic–cold Eurasia" pattern. The extent to which this observed correlation is indicative of a causal response to sea ice loss is debated. Here, using large multimodel ensembles of coordinated experiments, we find that the Eurasian temperature response to Arctic sea ice loss is weak compared to internal variability and is not robust across climate models. We show that Eurasian cooling is driven by tropospheric and stratospheric circulation changes in response to sea ice loss but is counteracted by tropospheric thermodynamical warming, as the local warming induced by sea ice loss spreads into the midlatitudes by eddy advection. Although opposing effects of thermodynamical warming and dynamical cooling are found robustly across different models or different sea ice perturbations, their net effect varies in sign and magnitude across the models, resulting in diverse model temperature responses over Eurasia. The contributions from both tropospheric dynamics and thermodynamics show substantial intermodel spread. Although some of this spread in the Eurasian winter temperature response to sea ice loss may stem from model uncertainty, even with several hundred ensemble members, it is challenging to isolate model differences in the forced response from internal variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing research on CH4 displacement by N2 mainly focuses on the gas injection displacement mechanism and the factors affecting displacement efficiency. And most of them are theoretical analyses at the model level or multifactor analyses at the simulation test level, while there are few targeted physical simulation tests and quantitative analyses. Given the above problems, the experiment system was used to study the gas migration evolution law and time-varying characteristics of CH4 displacement by N2 in coal under different injection pressures. The experimental results show that the whole process of CH4 displacement by N2 can be divided into three stages: stage I (original equilibrium stage); stage II (dynamic balance stage); stage III (new equilibrium stage). The concentration of CH4 and N2 presents an opposite variation trend, and the variation rate of CH4 and N2 increased first and then decreased. The breakthrough time was 50 minutes, 45 minutes, 35 minutes, 25 minutes, and 20 minutes, respectively, under different injection pressures. The displacement efficiency increased with the injection pressures, while the replacement ratio decreased with the injection pressures. The maximum flow rate of CH4 was 0.085 mL/min, 0.110 mL/min, 0.130 mL/min, 0.222 mL/min, and 0.273 mL/min, respectively, under different injection pressures. The accumulated production of CH4 was 3.59 mL, 3.91 mL, 4.39 mL, 5.58 mL, and 5.94 mL, respectively, under different injection pressures. The effective injection pressure range was 1.6~2 MPa. This research can provide a reference for the theoretical research of N2-ECBM-related technology in low permeability reservoirs and the selection of injection pressure in the field technology implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In previous work, we introduced a distributed collections library for the APGAS for Java programming model. This library makes it possible for programmers to develop complex distributed programs thanks to the many abstractions and computation patterns supported. In particular, programmers can fully and dynamically change the distribution of data entries through high‐level abstractions. However, the problem of balancing the load between processes remains, especially in cases where multiple processes may be concurrently executing on a single host, or when the performance of the hosts used differs. To address this issue and to relieve the burden of programming a load balancing strategy for a specific application, we created a dynamic load balancer integrated into our library. This load balancer operates within a specific context in a manner which does not interfere with the program legibility. Internally, we implement a scheme inspired by the lifeline‐based global load balancer scheme first introduced in ×$$ \times $$10. We evaluate the performance of our integrated load balancer on a small‐scale Beowulf cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Focusing on the relationship between frail older people and gait speed is vital to minimize the need for long-term care or increased support. The relationship between gait speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance, is not well understood in older people requiring long-term care or support. Therefore, this study aimed to provide new insights into the relationship between gait speed, respiratory muscle strength, and dynamic balance in community-dwelling older people who required long-term care or support and used a daycare center. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 49 community-dwelling older people (21 men, 28 women) aged >65 years who were certified as requiring long-term care or support under the Japanese system. The participants' maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), walking speed (maximal and normal walking speed), and maximal double-step length test (MDST) results were recorded. The measurement data were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results. Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed correlations between PImax and the following: maximal walking speed (r = 0:606, p < 0:001), normal walking speed (r = 0:487, p < 0:001), and MDST (r = 0:435, p = 0:002). Correlations were also observed between PEmax and the following: maximal walking speed (r D0:522, p< 0:001), normal walking speed (r D0:467, p<0:001), and MDST (r D0:314, pD0:028). Moreover, a correlation was found between MDST and both maximal walking speed and (r = 0:684, p < 0:001) and normal walking speed (r = 0:649, p < 0:001). The effect size was 0.379. Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with maximal walking speed as the dependent variable showed that maximal walking speed was significantly associated with MDST (p < 0:001) and PEmax (p = 0:036), with an effect size of 0.272. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.593 (p < 0:001). Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with normal walking speed as the dependent variable showed that normal walking speed was significantly associated with MDST (p<0:001) and PEmax (pD0:021), with an effect size of 0.272. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.497 (p<0:001). Multiple regression analysis using a forced entry method with MDST as the dependent variable showed that MDST was significantly associated with PImax (p<0:025), with an effect size of 0.243. The model's adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.148 (p=0:017). Conclusions. Respiratory muscle strength and dynamic balance were related to walking speed in older people requiring long-term care or support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to understand the characteristics and dynamical processes of two rotating buoyant fluids (two adjacent river plumes) under ideal geostrophic conditions and further reveal their interaction mechanism. Experimental studies were conducted on a rotating tank, where the discharge (Qup) and density anomaly (g′up) in the upstream inflow were modified to investigate the resultant dynamics over two plumes. Instantaneous velocity fields were measured using the particle image velocimetry to re-construct the 3D plume structure. Based on high-resolution velocity measurements, the upstream coastal current wraps around the downstream bulge and transports further downstream, in association with the downstream coastal current. An alongshore transport equilibrium theory applicable to the plume-to-plume system was proposed to classify the plume alignment types at the laboratory scale. We discover that the increasing Qup or g′up promotes the alongshore transport and inhibits the offshore extension of the downstream bulge. The g′up adjustment decides the alignment types of two interacting plumes, while the Qup adjustment determines the degree of the interaction effect. Coastal currents transform from parallel to vertical alignment as g′up decreases until they become weak coastal currents where the alignment cannot be recognized. The alignment types directly modify the mass and momentum dynamic balance and can further affect the mass exchange between plume water and ambient water. The mechanisms of two interacting plumes provide a comprehensive perspective on the multi-source river plume system in nature, such as adjacent mountainous rivers, delta estuaries, and buoyancy-driven coastal current systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite vast research on engine knock, there remains a limited understanding of the interaction between reaction front propagation, pressure oscillations, and fuel chemistry. To explore this through computational fluid dynamics, the adoption of advanced numerical methods is necessary. In this context, the current study introduces ARCFoam, a computational framework that combines dynamic mesh balancing, chemistry balancing, and adaptive mesh refinement with an explicit, density-based solver designed for simulating high-speed flows in OpenFOAM. First, the validity and performance of the solver are assessed by simulating directly initiated detonation in a hydrogen/air mixture. Second, the study explores the one/two-dimensional (1D/2D) hotspot ignition for the primary reference fuel and illuminates the impact of transitioning to 2D simulations on the predicted combustion modes. The 2D hotspot simulations reveal a variety of 2D physical phenomena, including the appearance of converging shock/detonation fronts as a result of negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior and shock wave reflection-induced detonation. The main results of the paper are as follows: (1) NTC chemistry is capable of drastically changing the anticipated reaction front propagation mode by manipulating the local/global reactivity distribution inside and outside the hotspot, (2) subsonic hotspot ignition can induce detonation (superknock) through the generation of shock waves and subsequent wall reflections, and (3) while the 1D framework predicts the initial combustion mode within the hotspot, significant differences between 1D and 2D results may emerge in scenarios involving ignition-to-detonation transitions and curvature effect on shock/detonation front propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophage is a kind of immune cell which is closely related to atherosclerosis (As). With the change of internal environment, macrophage can polarize into different phenotype. Under the physiological environment, the polarization of macrophages is in dynamic balance. In the As state, the polarization balance is destroyed and the corresponding phenotypic macrophages are differentiated, which play different roles in each stage of As. The debate between Zheng and Xie exists in the whole process of As formation and development, while macrophage polarization runs through the whole stage of As syndrome differentiation and change. On account of this, this paper discusses the relationship between macrophage polarization and As based on the theory of Zheng and Xie, and propose that attention should be paid to the combination of macro and micro in the clinical prevention and treatment of As, and it can control the inflammatory response and stabilize plaque by regulating the macrophage polarization, thus providing an emerging target for the treatment of As with traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel p‐adaptive discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method has been developed to solve the Euler equations on three‐dimensional tetrahedral grids. Hierarchical orthogonal basis functions are adopted for the DG spatial discretization while a third order TVD Runge‐Kutta method is used for the time integration. A vertex‐based limiter is applied to the numerical solution in order to eliminate oscillations in the high order method. An error indicator constructed from the solution of order (p)$$ (p) $$ and (p−1)$$ \left(p-1\right) $$ is used to adapt degrees of freedom in each computational element, which remarkably reduces the computational cost while still maintaining an accurate solution. The developed method is implemented with under the Charm++ parallel computing framework. Charm++ is a parallel computing framework that includes various load‐balancing strategies. Implementing the numerical solver under Charm++ system provides us with access to a suite of dynamic load balancing strategies. This can be efficiently used to alleviate the load imbalances created by p‐adaptation. A number of numerical experiments are performed to demonstrate both the numerical accuracy and parallel performance of the developed p‐adaptive DG method. It is observed that the unbalanced load distribution caused by the parallel p‐adaptive DG method can be alleviated by the dynamic load balancing from Charm++ system. Due to this, high performance gain can be achieved. For the testcases studied in the current work, the parallel performance gain ranged from 1.5× to 3.7×. Therefore, the developed p‐adaptive DG method can significantly reduce the total simulation time in comparison to the standard DG method without p‐adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of literature demonstrates that both place attachment and social capital play considerable, and likely interdependent, roles in disaster recovery. This paper contributes to our understanding of these constructs by presenting findings from a longitudinal, mixed‐methods study of communities impacted by a home buyout program implemented in New York after Hurricane Sandy (N = 111). Results suggest a dynamic balance between place dependence, place identity, and bonding social capital, in which the relative importance of each construct can shift over time, and where losses in one of these areas may lead to cascading losses in the other areas. For buyout participants, increases in place dependence were associated with increases in bonding social capital, indicating that relocatees either regained both place dependence and bonding social capital in their new homes and communities, or they lost and did not regain both, depending on whether their new home and community met their emotional and functional needs sufficiently. For residents who remained in place, higher levels of place dependence were associated with losses in bonding social capital, reflecting the potential consequences of living in postdisaster limbo. Implications for future buyout research, policy, and practice are discussed. Highlights: There is a dynamic balance between place dependence, place identity, and social capital in disasters.Comparative data suggest significant, unrecovered losses in communities affected by home buyouts.Disaster survivors face tradeoffs in recovery between aspects of place attachment and social capitalPostdisaster relocation had negative effects on place identity and bonding social capitalWe must consider the substantial losses associated with buyouts in balance with potential benefits [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of SportsMetrics neuromuscular training programs on core strength, balance and performance of female athletes with ligament dominance. Methods: Eighty-four female athletes (30 volleyball, 30 basketball and 24 soccer players) with ligament dominance were equally divided into training group (TG) and control group (CG). The TG underwent SportsMetrics neuromuscular trainings for 6 weeks, while the CG kept up with their regular trainings. The Tuck jump, McGill's, Y Balance, T and Illinois agility, speed tests 20-yard and 40-yard, and vertical jump tests were used to assess the ligament dominance, core strength, balance, agility, speed and lower extremity power. Results: The ANCOVA test exhibited a significant enhancement in core strength of soccer (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.60) and volleyball (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.51) players, dynamic balance of soccer (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.74) and basketball (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.60) players, agility of soccer (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.54), basketball (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.27), and volleyball (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.40), speed of soccer (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.52), basketball (p = 0.04, η2 = 0.16) and volleyball (p = 0.03, η2 = 0.17) players, and jump height of soccer (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.39), basketball (p = 0.02, η2 = 0.21), and volleyball (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.36) players. Knee abduction angles significantly decreased in soccer (p < 0.01, ƞ2 = 0.71), basketball (p < 0.01, ƞ2 = 0.42) and volleyball (p < 0.01, ƞ2 = 0.76) players after SportsMetrics neuromuscular training programs. Conclusion: Application of SportsMetrics neuromuscular training programs either modifies the knee injury risk factors or enhances performance among female athletes with ligament dominance. Female athletes with ligament dominance are recommended to incorporate sport-specific SportsMetrics neuromuscular training programs into their training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The video services that account for the majority of global network traffic consume significant amounts of electricity and network resources to meet the large-scale demand of users. Variations in user interest and social influence lead to high maintenance costs for achieving a dynamic balance between supply and demand, which negatively impacts the sustainable development of video services. In this paper, we propose a social-aware video-sharing solution using demand prediction of epidemic-based propagation in wireless networks (SDPEP). SDPEP constructs a video propagation model based on user "pull" and "push" sharing behaviors and designs an estimation method for calculating the probability of video fetching by investigating user interests and social relationships. SDPEP uses the probability of video fetching to calculate the basic reproduction number during epidemic-based video propagation, predicting user demand during the propagation process. To ensure efficient caching with low-cost adjustments to video distribution, SDPEP employs a caching-based adjustment strategy for distributing videos while maintaining dynamic balance between supply and demand. Extensive testing shows that SDPEP outperforms other state-of-the-art solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torsion deformable spatial beam and Costello theory are used to establish longitudinal-torsional-lateral coupled model of round balance rope. Based on Coulomb's friction law and longitudinal-torsional-lateral coupled model, the nonlinear coupled dynamic model with friction constraint of round balance rope is established. Meanwhile, time-varying multi-segments non–equal-length element transformation method (TMN-ETM) is proposed to save computation time. Then, natural frequencies, lateral responses are calculated when the coupled stiffness coefficient is zero. And the calculations are compared with traditional solution method. The results show that only about few areas in the round balance rope loop have large stress norm value, while the rest parts have small stress values. Besides, dynamic responses of the balance rope with balance rope suspension rotor releasing are conducted. When the static friction is converted to dynamic friction, the friction torque and angle acceleration will be mutated at the switching instants, and slip-stick transition in angle acceleration occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effects of a 5 min virtual reality training program (VR) on dynamic balance in tennis players. Fifty-eight college tennis players (mean age 22.9 ± 3.1 years, weight 73.9 ± 10.8 kg, height 176.6 ± 8.4 cm) were allocated to either the control group (placebo) (CG, n = 20) or the right-handed experimental group (RTG, n = 20) and left-handed experimental group (LTG, n = 18), both of which took part in the 5 min VR intervention program. Pre-tests included anthropometric measures and the Y Balance Test (YBT), and the post-test was the Y Balance Test (YBT). Three YBT trials were performed in anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions. After the training intervention, in the right-handed experimental group (RTG), significant differences were observed for two variables: anterior reach (right foot) (p = 0.00) and posterior medial reach (right foot) (p = 0.03). In other analyzed variables, there were no significant differences. Additionally, the effect size was small. In the left-handed experimental group (LTG), statistically significant improvements were identified in five out of six analyzed variables: anterior reach (left foot) (p = 0.00), posterior medial reach (left foot) (p = 0.00), posterior lateral reach (left foot) (p = 0.00), posterior medial reach (right foot) (p = 0.00), and posterior lateral reach (right foot) (p = 0.00). The effect size ranged between small and medium. No significant changes were observed in the control group (CG) after the training intervention. Moreover, for all variables, the time*group interaction is determined. Anterior reach (left foot), posterior medial reach (left foot), posterior medial reach (right foot), and posterior lateral reach (right foot) showed significant interactions (F = 3.04, p = 0.05; F = 3.50, p = 0.03; F = 6.08, p = 0.00; and F = 4.69, p = 0.01). The outcome of this study leads us to a further understanding that if a player were to partake in VR activity, it could show a positive effect on their dynamic balance performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling and simulation have become fundamental tools for the microclimatic analysis of greenhouses under various climatic conditions. These models allow precise control of the climate inside the structures and the optimization of their performance under any situation. In Colombia, the availability of energy balance models adapted to local greenhouses and their climate is limited, which affects the decision-making of both technical advisors and growers. This study focused on calibrating and evaluating a dynamic energy balance model to predict the thermal behavior of an innovative type of plastic-covered greenhouse designed for the Bogotá savanna. The selected model considers fundamental heat and mass transfer processes, incorporating parameters that depend on the architecture of the structure and local climatic conditions, making it suitable for protected agriculture in Colombia. The results of the post-calibration evaluation showed that the model is highly accurate, with a temperature prediction efficiency close to 86%. This ensures that the model can accurately predict the thermal behavior of the greenhouse being evaluated. It is important to note that the model can also anticipate phenomena characteristics of Colombian greenhouses, such as thermal inversion. This advance has become a valuable tool for decision-making in protected agriculture in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrodynamic performance is an essential factor in the design of a watercraft, and the navigation scenario determines the complexity of its operation. This study aims to identify the effect of speed and length on the hydrodynamic behavior of a semi-planing watercraft in shallow waters. A computational fluid dynamics tool was employed to predict the trim, heave, and resistance parameters of two different hulls: a base hull and a craft with an increased hull length. The two hulls had similar hydrodynamic characteristics. The effects of speed and hull length on these predicted parameters obtained for the two hulls were compared. The results showed a low resistance uncertainty and a reduction in dynamic trim for longer hull lengths. These findings highlight the importance of considering balance and dynamic trim in designing shallow-draft watercrafts to ensure an optimal performance in specific conditions, such as rivers with depth restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

System-wide information management (SWIM) is a complex distributed information transfer and sharing system for the next generation of Air Transportation System (ATS). In response to the growing volume of civil aviation air operations, users accessing different authentication domains in the SWIM system have problems with the validity, security, and privacy of SWIM-shared data. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes a SWIM cross-domain authentication scheme based on a consistent hashing algorithm on consortium blockchain and designs a blockchain certificate format for SWIM cross-domain authentication. The scheme uses a consistent hash algorithm with virtual nodes in combination with a cluster of authentication centers in the SWIM consortium blockchain architecture to synchronize the user's authentication mapping relationships between authentication domains. The virtual authentication nodes are mapped separately using different services provided by SWIM to guarantee the partitioning of the consistent hash ring on the consortium blockchain. According to the dynamic change of user's authentication requests, the nodes of virtual service authentication can be added and deleted to realize the dynamic load balancing of cross-domain authentication of different services. Security analysis shows that this protocol can resist network attacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks, replay attacks, and Sybil attacks. Experiments show that this scheme can reduce the redundant authentication operations of identity information and solve the problems of traditional cross-domain authentication with single-point collapse, difficulty in expansion, and uneven load. At the same time, it has better security of information storage and can realize the cross-domain authentication requirements of SWIM users with low communication costs and system overhead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte is the property of Centro Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The S region on the full characteristic curve of pump-turbine is one of the important key features that affect its operation stability. In S region, one specific rotational speed value (n 11) corresponds to three specific flow rate values (Q 11), which causes the unit to fluctuate between different operation conditions. In this paper, focusing on the special region of pump-turbine, based on the combination of model experiment and numerical simulation, the S-region dynamic model of pump-turbine is established. The internal flow mechanism of pump-turbine is analyzed in detail from the perspective of Flow Energy Dissipation (FED). The results show that the high FED component is different at different operating points, but the flow energy maintain balance in the pump-turbine unit. High FED area displayed in near-wall or inter-channel of different components under different flow conditions. Besides, the generation of S region is related to the dynamic balance of energy especially in the no-load region. The analysis results of this paper provide theoretical basis for scientific and stable operation of pump-turbine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater images are usually suffering from the issues of quality degradation, such as low contrast due to blurring details, color deviations, non-uniform lighting, and noise. Since last few decades, many researches are undergoing for restoration and enhancement for degraded underwater images. In this paper, we proposed a novel algorithm using modified anisotropic diffusion filter with dynamic color balancing strategy. This proposed algorithm performs based on an employing effective noise reduction as well as edge preserving technique with dynamic color correction to make uniform lighting and minimize the speckle noise. Furthermore, reanalyze the contributions and limitations of existing underwater image restoration and enhancement methods. Finally, in this research provided the detailed objective evaluations and compared with the various underwater scenarios for above said challenges also made subjective studies, which shows that our proposed method will improve the quality of the image and significantly enhanced the image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to lack of robustness, Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion (NDI) control cannot resist the influence of disturbances. In this paper, an adaptive fault‐tolerant control method, called Improved Model Reference‐based Adaptive NDI (IMR‐ANDI), is proposed and applied to develop a fault‐tolerant flight controller to improve robustness to faults and disturbances. To improve the estimation accuracy, this paper also modified the piecewise‐constant adaptation, which improves the accuracy of adaptive estimation without increasing the sampling frequency. Moreover, a low‐pass filter is introduced to the control law creatively to weaken the disturbance of high‐frequency dynamics to the adaptation, which balances the dynamic performance and robustness as well as prevents the system oscillation. Finally, a fault‐tolerant flight controller is developed based on the IMR‐ANDI and verified under the actuator fault and center of gravity variations. All simulation and hardware‐in‐the‐loop experiment results conform to the theoretical analysis, indicating that the developed IMR‐ANDI fault‐tolerant controller is robust to faults and disturbances and can achieve expected control performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in cancer initiation and progression, which were critical components to maintain the dynamic balance of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) in the cancer genome could disturb the transcriptome level of miRNA to deregulate this balance. However, the driving effects of SCNAs of miRNAs were insufficiently understood. Methods: In this study, we proposed a method to dissect the functional roles of miRNAs under different copy number states and identify driver miRNAs by integrating miRNA SCNAs profile, miRNA-target relationships and expression profiles of miRNA, mRNA and lncRNA. Results: Applying our method to 813 TCGA breast cancer (BRCA) samples, we identified 29 driver miRNAs whose SCNAs significantly and concordantly regulated their own expression levels and further inversely dysregulated expression levels of their targets or disturbed the miRNA-target networks they directly involved. Based on miRNA-target networks, we further constructed dynamic ceRNA networks driven by driver SCNAs of miRNAs and identified three different patterns of SCNA interference in the miRNA-mediated dynamic ceRNA networks. Survival analysis of driver miRNAs showed that high-level amplifications of four driver miRNAs (including has-miR-30d-3p, has-mir-30b-5p, has-miR-30d-5p and has-miR-151a-3p) in 8q24 characterized a new BRCA subtype with poor prognosis and contributed to the dysfunction of cancer-associated hallmarks in a complementary way. The SCNAs of driver miRNAs across different cancer types contributed to the cancer development by dysregulating different components of the same cancer hallmarks, suggesting the cancer specificity of driver miRNA. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the efficacy of our method in identifying driver miRNAs and elucidating their functional roles driven by endogenous SCNAs, which is useful for interpreting cancer genomes and pathogenic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most attempts to synthesize supramolecular nanosystems are limited to a single mechanism, often resulting in the formation of nanomaterials that lack diversity in properties. Herein, hierarchical assemblies with appropriate variety are fabricated in bulk via a superstructure‐induced organic–inorganic hybrid strategy. The dynamic balance between substructures and superstructures is managed using covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as dual building blocks to regulate the performances of hierarchical assemblies. Significantly, the superstructures resulting from the controlled cascade between COFs and MOFs create highly active photocatalytic systems through multiple topologies. Our designed tandem photocatalysis can precisely and efficiently regulate the conversion rates of bioactive molecules (benzo[d]imidazoles) through competing redox pathways. Furthermore, benzo[d]imidazoles catalyzed by such supramolecular nanosystems can be isolated in yields ranging from 70 % to 93 % within tens of minutes. The multilayered structural states within the supramolecular systems demonstrate the importance of hierarchical assemblies in facilitating photocatalytic propagation and expanding the structural repertoire of supramolecular hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke, which is a common clinical cerebrovascular disease, causes approximately 83% of survivors to suffer from balance impairments. Balance and gait training (BGT) is widely used to restore balance in patients with stroke. However, its wide variety presents clinicians with a dilemma when selecting interventions. This study aimed to compare and rank BGT interventions by quantifying information based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) of non-gait-trained controls and head-to-head RCTs and compared the effects of 12 BGT interventions. A total of nine literature databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, ClinicalTrials.gov, CNKI, and Chinese biomedical literature databases, were searched from their database inception to August 2023. Two authors independently selected studies and extracted data. The difference in outcomes, which were expressed as standardized mean differences and confidence intervals (CIs) of 95%, were explored in this meta-analysis. Results: A total of 66 studies with 1,933 participants were included. Effect size estimates showed that not all BGT interventions were more effective than controls, with treadmill training as the least effective for balance test batteries (SMD= -0.41, 95% CI [-1.09, 0.27]) and proactive balance (SMD= -0.50, 95% CI [-1.14, 0.14]). Bodyweight- supported treadmill training with external stimulation was most effective for proactive balance and dynamic steady-state balance (SMD=1.57, 95% CI [-0.03, 3.16]); SMD=1.18, 95% CI [0.67, 1.68]. Virtual reality gait training (SMD=1.37, 95% CI [0.62, 2.11]) had the best effect on improving balance test batteries, while dual-task BGT (SMD=1.64, 95% CI [0.50, 2.78]) had the best effect on static steady-state balance. After analyses for possible impact covariates, the findings through the outcomes did not change substantially. Confidence in the evidence was generally low or very low. Conclusion: This NMA suggested that virtual reality gait training was the most effective BGT modality for improving balance test batteries. Body-weight support treadmill training with external stimulation was the most effective for improving active and dynamic balance. In addition, dual-task BGT was the best choice for improving static balance. However, balance is a multidimensional concept, and patients' different needs should be considered when selecting BGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs tend to become one of the main switching elements in power electronics applications of medium- and high-power density. Usually, SiC MOSFETs are connected in parallel to increase power rating. Unfortunately, unequal current sharing between power devices occurs due to mismatches in the technical parameters between devices and the layout of the power circuit. This current imbalance causes different current stress upon power switches, raising concerns about power system reliability. For over a decade, various methods and techniques have been proposed for balancing the currents between parallel-connected SiC MOSFETs. However, most of these methods cannot be implemented unless the deviation between the technical parameters of semiconductor switches is known. This requirement increases the system cost because screening methods are extremely costly and time-consuming. In addition, most techniques aim at suppressing only the transient current imbalance. In this paper, a simple but innovative current balancing technique is proposed, without the need of screening any power device. The proposed technique consists of an open-loop system capable of balancing the currents between two parallel-connected SiC MOSFETs, with the aid of two active gate drivers and an FPGA, actively and independently of the cause. Experimental test results validate that the proposed open-loop method can successfully achieve suppression of current imbalance between parallel-connected SiC MOSFETs, proving its durability and validity level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring dynamic balance during gait is critical for fall prevention in the elderly. The current study aimed to develop recurrent neural network models for extracting balance variables from a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the sacrum during walking. Thirteen healthy young and thirteen healthy older adults wore the IMU during walking and the ground truth of the inclination angles (IA) of the center of pressure to the center of mass vector and their rates of changes (RCIA) were measured simultaneously. The IA, RCIA, and IMU data were used to train four models (uni-LSTM, bi-LSTM, uni-GRU, and bi-GRU), with 10% of the data reserved to evaluate the model errors in terms of the root-mean-squared errors (RMSEs) and percentage relative RMSEs (rRMSEs). Independent t-tests were used for between-group comparisons. The sensitivity, specificity, and Pearson's r for the effect sizes between the model-predicted data and experimental ground truth were also obtained. The bi-GRU with the weighted MSE model was found to have the highest prediction accuracy, computational efficiency, and the best ability in identifying statistical between-group differences when compared with the ground truth, which would be the best choice for the prolonged real-life monitoring of gait balance for fall risk management in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic cathodes for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) feature intrinsic flexibility and favorable kinetics, but they suffer from high solubility. Herein, a partial charge regulation strategy is deployed by designing a small organic molecule with extended π‐conjugated plane, namely benzo[i]benzo[6′,7′]quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5‐abc]phenazine‐5,10,16,21‐tetraone (PTONQ). The charge equalization of active sites induced by the extended π‐conjugated plane of the PTONQ molecule combined with high aromaticity renders the molecule low solubility, fast charge transfer, and high structural stability. The fabricated Zn//PTONQ battery cycles more than 500 h at 175 mA g−1 with small capacity reduction, fast charged/discharged kinetics, and anti‐freeze performance (below ‐20°C). By a series of ex situ characterizations, it is attested that the capacity originates mainly from Zn2+ insertion/removal of PTONQ without H+ incorporation, which also accounts for the formation of Znx(CF3SO3)y(OH)2x‐y·nH2O by‐products. This result benefits the understanding of the by‐product formation mechanism of organic cathode and paves a new way to advance the aqueous Zn‐organic batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study compares the balance control and cognitive responses of subjects with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) to those of astronauts immediately after they return from long-duration spaceflight on board the International Space Station. Methods: Twenty-eight astronauts and thirty subjects with BVP performed five tests using the same procedures: sit-to-stand, walk-and-turn, tandem walk, duration judgment, and reaction time. Results: Compared to the astronauts' preflight responses, the BVP subjects' responses were impaired in all five tests. However, the BVP subjects' performance during the walk-and-turn and the tandem walk tests were comparable to the astronauts' performance on the day they returned from space. Moreover, the BVP subjects' time perception and reaction time were comparable to those of the astronauts during spaceflight. The BVP subjects performed the sit-to-stand test at a level that fell between the astronauts' performance on the day of landing and 1 day later. Discussion: These results indicate that the alterations in dynamic balance control, time perception, and reaction time that astronauts experience after spaceflight are likely driven by central vestibular adaptations. Vestibular and somatosensory training in orbit and vestibular rehabilitation after spaceflight could be effective countermeasures for mitigating these post-flight performance decrements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) struggle with static and dynamic balance, yet there is limited understanding of the underlying neuromechanical mechanisms that underpin poor balance control in these children. Eighteen children with DCD and seven typically developing (TD) children aged 7-10 years stood with eyes open on a moveable platform progressively translated antero-posteriorly through three frequencies (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 Hz). Myoelectric activity of eight leg muscles, whole-body 3D kinematics and centre of pressure were recorded. At each frequency, postural data were divided into transition-state and steady-state cycles. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model with follow-up Tukey's pairwise comparisons. At the slowest frequency, children with DCD behaved like age-matched TD controls. At the fastest frequency, children with DCD took a greater number of steps, had a greater centre of mass variability, had a greater centre of pressure area, and tended to activate their muscles earlier and for longer than TD children. Children with DCD did not alter their postural response following prolonged exposure to platform movement, however they made more, non-structured postural adjustments in the medio-lateral direction as task difficulty increased. At the faster oscillation frequencies, children with DCD adopted a different muscle recruitment strategy to TD children. Activating their muscles earlier and for longer may suggest that children with DCD attempt to predict and react to postural disturbances, however the resulting anticipatory muscle excitation patterns do not seem as finely tuned to the perturbation as those demonstrated by TD children. Future work should examine the impact of balance training interventions on the muscle recruitment strategies of children with DCD, to ensure optimal interventions can be prescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities assemble through a complex set of interactions between microbes and their environment, and the resulting metabolic impact on the host ecosystem can be profound. Microbial activity is known to impact human health, plant growth, water quality, and soil carbon storage which has lead to the development of many approaches and products meant to manipulate the microbiome. In order to understand, predict, and improve microbial community engineering, genome-scale modeling techniques have been developed to translate genomic data into inferred microbial dynamics. However, these techniques rely heavily on simulation to draw conclusions which may vary with unknown parameters or initial conditions, rather than more robust qualitative analysis. To better understand microbial community dynamics using genome-scale modeling, we provide a tool to investigate the network of interactions between microbes and environmental metabolites over time. Using our previously developed algorithm for simulating microbial communities from genome-scale metabolic models (GSMs), we infer the set of microbe-metabolite interactions within a microbial community in a particular environment. Because these interactions depend on the available environmental metabolites, we refer to the networks that we infer as metabolically contextualized, and so name our tool MetConSIN: Metabolically Contextualized Species Interaction Networks. Author summary: We present a method for analysis of community dynamic flux balance analysis by constructing an interaction network between microbes and metabolites in a microbial community. To do so, we reformulate community wide dynamic flux balance analysis as a sequence of ordinary differential equations, which can in turn be interpreted as networks. We then provide the sequence of interaction networks which depend on and dynamically alter the available metabolite pool, as well as the time-averaged network over the course of simulated growth on a finite resource medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating and dose-limiting side effect of systemic cancer therapy. In many cancer survivors, CIPN persists after treatment ends and is associated with functional impairments, abnormal gait patterns, falls, and diminished quality of life. However, little is known regarding which patients are most likely to develop CIPN symptoms that impair mobility and increase fall risk, when this risk develops, or the optimal timing of early intervention efforts to mitigate the impact of CIPN on functioning and fall risk. This study will address these knowledge gaps by (1) characterizing trajectories of symptoms, functioning, and falls before, during, and after treatment in adults prescribed neurotoxic chemotherapy for cancer; and (2) determining the simplest set of predictors for identifying individuals at risk for CIPN-related functional decline and falls. Methods: We will enroll 200 participants into a prospective, observational study before initiating chemotherapy and up to 1 year after completing chemotherapy. Eligible participants are aged 40–85 years, diagnosed with stage I-III cancer, and scheduled to receive neurotoxic chemotherapy. We perform objective assessments of vibratory and touch sensation (biothesiometry, tuning fork, monofilament tests), standing and dynamic balance (quiet stance, Timed-Up-and-Go tests), and upper and lower extremity strength (handgrip dynamometry, 5-time repeated chair stand test) in the clinic at baseline, every 4–6 weeks during chemotherapy, and quarterly for 1 year post-chemotherapy. Participants wear devices that passively and continuously measure daily gait quality and physical activity for 1 week after each objective assessment and self-report symptoms (CIPN, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, pain, cognition, anxiety, and depressive symptoms) and falls via weekly electronic surveys. We will use structural equation modeling, including growth mixture modeling, to examine patterns in trajectories of changes in symptoms, functioning, and falls associated with neurotoxic chemotherapy and then search for distinct risk profiles for CIPN. Discussion: Identifying simple, early predictors of functional decline and fall risk in adults with cancer receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy will help identify individuals who would benefit from early and targeted interventions to prevent CIPN-related falls and disability. Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05790538) on 3/30/2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]