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ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Conclusion Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are potential treatments for ameliorating age‐related physical dysfunctions caused by sarcopenia, cachexia and chronic illnesses such as cancer. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse the effect of SARMs on physical performance and body and evaluate their safety profile.A systematic review search criteria following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed in three databases for studies reporting physical parameter outcomes after SARM intervention. Study variables included title, author, publication date, study year, number of patients, dosage, mean age, mean follow‐up time, pre and post‐intervention outcomes and rates of complications.Nine studies, including 970 patients with a mean age of 57.1 years (35.3−75.9) and a mean follow‐up of 80 days (14−180), were included. Six SARMs were analysed: LGD‐4033, PF‐06260414, GSK2881078, GTx‐024, MK‐0773 and OPK‐88004. Mean pre‐intervention stair climbing power (five studies), one repetition maximum leg press (four studies) and short physical performance battery (SPPB) score (two studies), lean body mass (seven studies) and fat mass (five studies) were 352.24 W (69.79−678.7), 1822.77 N (1176.8−2407.3), 9.15 (7.95−9.9), 49.46 kg (30.94−63.9) and 21.99 kg (13.3−33), respectively. Mean post‐intervention values were 315.16 W (89.46−525.73 W), 2191.27 N (1375.87−2462.9 N), 9.79 (8.88−10.4), 50.86 kg (31.02−67.29) and 21.85 kg (12.54−32.16), respectively.SARMs have a positive effect on physical performance and body composition and are associated with moderate rates of mild to moderate adverse effects (AEs) and a low rate of severe AEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text is a fictional story about two colleagues, Rose and Scott, who meet at a conference in Oxford. Rose, a newly-minted professor, is researching the connection between an Egyptian glass fish in the British Museum and a portrait of a young woman on a mummy case in the Louvre. Scott, also an Egyptologist, expresses interest in Rose's project and they discuss it further. However, during a conference presentation, Scott presents Rose's project as his own, leaving Rose feeling humiliated and betrayed. The text delves into Rose's journey as she confronts Scott about his theft and her frustrations with academia, highlighting the challenges she faces as a woman in the field. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract\nIMPLICATION FOR REHABILITATIONThis study investigated the effects of using the LiftCar-150 track-based stair-climbing robot on muscle activity, usability, and psychological anxiety. While stair-climbing robots enhance mobility for individuals with physical disabilities, existing research has predominantly focused on engineering perspectives, with limited attention to user-centered outcomes. Ten healthy participants and an 80 kg dummy rider completed stair-climbing tasks at slow (5 m/min) and fast (7 m/min) speeds. Muscle activity in the middle trapezius (MT), erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), gluteus maximus (Gmax), gluteus medius (Gmed), and anterior deltoid (AD) muscles was recorded by electromyography. Usability was evaluated in terms of safety, efficiency, and satisfaction using a 5-point Likert scale, while psychological anxiety was assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10. Results showed that during stair ascent, activities of the back extensors (ES and MF) and gluteus muscles (Gmax and Gmed) significantly increased compared to descent, while anterior deltoid activity was higher during descent. Usability scores averaged 4.05 for stability, 4.1 for efficiency, and 3.7 for satisfaction. Perceived psychological anxiety scores were 4.2 ± 0.3 and 5.4 ± 0.5 at slow speed, and 3.5 ± 0.2 and 5.7 ± 0.4 at fast speed during ascent and descent, respectively. While operators recognized the robot’s stability and efficiency, satisfaction levels were neutral, and specific muscle activation was increased. These findings provide essential insights into optimizing the design and usability of stair-climbing robots to better address user needs.The proposed user-centered approach in this study can be used to improve performance and user satisfaction of a wide range of mobility device.To reduce extensor muscle activity caused by forward bending during initial stair climbing, it is necessary to modify the fixed handle design to allow adjustable handle height.Additionally, exploring options for weight reduction and repositioning the power button may further optimize the LiftCar-150, contributing to increased usability and satisfaction for operators.The proposed user-centered approach in this study can be used to improve performance and user satisfaction of a wide range of mobility device.To reduce extensor muscle activity caused by forward bending during initial stair climbing, it is necessary to modify the fixed handle design to allow adjustable handle height.Additionally, exploring options for weight reduction and repositioning the power button may further optimize the LiftCar-150, contributing to increased usability and satisfaction for operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots are becoming integral to society and industries due to their enormous advantages. Among the various categories of mobile robots, including wheeled robot, tracked robot, and legged robots, the latter stands out as a better choice for most field applications due to their adaptability across various terrains. The purpose of this review is to study the locomotion capabilities of quadruped robots and judge their suitability for climbing applications as most unexplored applications of automation and robotics are required to climb. This review explores the locomotion capabilities of quadruped robots. It covers different aspects of quadruped robots like types of legs, leg design, gait patterns, and their mathematical formulations, and types of motions like omnidirectional motion and body sway motion. It also emphasizes its fault-tolerant gait, adaptability, and reliability. The paper also focuses on slope and stair climbing, outlining design requirements and applications. The study includes an examination of the applicability of various gaits under different conditions and the methods for increasing stability without compromising speed. Overall, the review serves as a valuable resource for future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive muscle co-contraction is one of the factors related to the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). A previous study demonstrated that pain, joint instability, lateral thrust, weight, and lower extremity alignment were listed as factors affecting excessive co-contraction in knee OA. However, this study aimed to assess the association between fear-avoidance beliefs and muscle co-contraction during gait and stair climbing in people with knee OA. Twenty-four participants with knee OA participated in this cross-sectional study. Co-contraction ratios (CCRs) were used to calculate muscle co-contraction during walking and stair climbing, using surface electromyography. Fear-avoidance beliefs were assessed by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) for kinesiophobia and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) for pain catastrophizing. Secondary parameters that may influence co-contraction, such as degree of pain, lateral thrust, weight, and lower extremity alignment, were measured. The relationships between the CCR during each movement, TSK-11, and PSC were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and partial correlation analysis, adjusted by weight and lower extremity alignment. Partial correlation analysis showed a significant correlation only between medial muscles CCR and TSK-11 during stair descent (r = 0.54, p < 0.05). Our study revealed that kinesiophobia could be associated with co-contraction during stair descent in people with knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful orthopaedic interventions globally, with over 450,000 procedures annually in the U.S. alone. However, issues like aseptic loosening, dislocation, infection and stress shielding persist, necessitating complex, costly revision surgeries. This highlights the need for continued biomaterials innovation to enhance primary implant integrity and longevity. Implant materials play a pivotal role in determining long-term outcomes, with titanium alloys being the prominent choice. However, emerging evidence indicates scope for optimized materials. The nickel-free β titanium alloy Ti-27Nb shows promise with excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. Using finite element analysis (FEA), this study investigated the biomechanical performance and safety factors of a hip bone implant made of nickel-free titanium alloy (Ti-27Nb) under actual loading during routine day life activities for different body weights. The FEA modelled physiological loads during walking, jogging, stair ascent/descent, knee bend, standing up, sitting down and cycling for 75 kg and 100 kg body weights. Comparative analyses were conducted between untreated versus 816-hour simulated body fluid (SBF) treated implant conditions to determine in vivo degradation effects. The FEA predicted elevated von Mises stresses in the implant neck for all activities, especially stair climbing, due to its smaller cross-section. Stresses increased substantially with a higher 100 kg body weight compared to 75 kg, implying risks for heavier patients. Safety factors were reduced by up to 58% between body weights, although remaining above the desired minimum value of 1. Negligible variations were observed between untreated and SBF-treated responses, attributed to Ti-27Nb's excellent biocorrosion resistance. This comprehensive FEA provided clinically relevant insights into the biomechanical behaviour and integrity of the Ti-27Nb hip implant under complex loading scenarios. The results can guide shape and material optimization to improve robustness against repetitive stresses over long-term use. Identifying damage accumulation and failure risks is crucial for hip implants encountering real-world variable conditions. The negligible SBF effects validate Ti-27Nb's resistance to physiological degradation. Overall, the study significantly advances understanding of Ti-27Nb's suitability for reliable, durable hip arthroplasties with low revision rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of pedestrians in a non-constrained environment is difficult to predict. In wearable robotics, this poses a challenge, since devices like lower-limb exoskeletons and active orthoses need to support different walking activities, including level walking and climbing stairs. While a fixed movement trajectory can be easily supported, switches between these activities are difficult to predict. Moreover, the demand for these devices is expected to rise in the years ahead. In this work, we propose a cloud software system for use in wearable robotics, based on geographical mapping techniques and Human Activity Recognition (HAR). The system aims to give context to the surrounding pedestrians by providing hindsight information. The system was partially implemented and tested. The results indicate a viable concept with great extensibility prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia has been reported to be associated with short-term outcomes after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The "strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls" (SARC-F) questionnaire has been widely used as a screening tool for sarcopenia; however, SARC-F combined with body mass index and age (SARC-F+EBM) has recently been reported to be more useful than SARC-F alone. This study aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia, measured using SARC-F+EBM, and short-term outcomes after gastric ESD. Methods: Patients who underwent gastric ESD at our institution between May 2020 and June 2023 were included, and their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. A SARC-F+EBM score ≥ 12 indicated sarcopenia. We evaluated the incidence of adverse events and the length of hospital stay in the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups. Results: Overall, 263 patients (64 and 199 in the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups, respectively) were investigated. The incidence of adverse events with a Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade ≥ 3 was not significantly different between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups (6.2% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.791). The proportion of patients with an extended hospital stay (≥ 10 days) was significantly higher in the sarcopenia group than that in the non-sarcopenia group (12.5% [8/64] vs. 3.5% [7/199], p = 0.012). Multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia and lesions that present technical difficulty in ESD were independent risk factors for extended hospital stays (≥ 10 days). Of the eight cases having extended hospital stays in the sarcopenia group, four were due to the management after gastric ESD, three were due to family circumstances, and one was due to decreased activities of daily living. Conclusions: Sarcopenia is not a predictor of adverse events associated with gastric ESD. However, patients with sarcopenia may be hospitalized for longer owing to non-ESD-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with developmental disabilities lack sufficient physical activity in their daily lives. The purpose of this study was to see if children with developmental disabilities who participated in stair-climbing exercises had better physical performance and health status than children with developmental disabilities who did not. This study adopted a pre-and-post-test experimental design, enrolling 30 subjects (experimental group, 15; control group, 15) with developmental disabilities aged 5–7 years from pediatric rehabilitation treatment departments of two regional teaching hospitals in Taiwan. The experimental group received stair-climbing exercises and physical therapy twice a week for eight consecutive weeks. The primary outcomes were health-related physical fitness assessment items, including body composition (body mass index: BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (stair-climbing test), muscular fitness (knee-bend sit-ups), and flexibility (Chair Sit and Reach Test). The post-test measurements of BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness, sit-ups, and muscular flexibility of children in the experimental group were significantly better than the pre-test measurements. The stair-climbing exercise training results for cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and muscular flexibility in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group. Stair-climbing exercise improves the physical fitness of children with developmental disabilities. The results of this study suggest that children with developmental disabilities should be encouraged to engage in this convenient and easy stair-climbing exercise to improve physical performance and health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of mobile intelligent terminal in the teaching of physical education in colleges and universities opens up a new world for teachers' education and students' study. Based on modern mobile wireless network terminal technology, this paper presents a motion attitude recognition system based on quaternion algorithm. The wireless mobile system adopts HMCL electronic module, and is equipped with MEMS chip of digital communication, which greatly eliminates the accumulation error of gyroscope and improves the accuracy of azimuth data acquisition. The data of 7 triaxial ADXL345 accelerometers and triaxial L3G4200D gyroscopes were combined with Kalman filtering for data fusion. Using the updated angular velocity data and initial value, the quaternion is constantly updated to solve the joint Angle. The experiment of human body climbing stairs with load of 0 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg and 15 kg was carried out. The experimental results were compared with those captured by high-speed camera. The error of joint Angle and motion posture of the experimenter was controlled within 5%, which verified the correctness of the model. In physical education, teachers can use this terminal system to accurately grasp whether the students' movements are standard or not, so that the teaching effect can be effectively guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to identify the optimal design of the unicompartmental femoral component through parameter analysis and stability evaluation. Methods: A finite element (FE) analysis was applied to analyse and adjust the parameter combinations of the anterior tilt angle of the posterior condyle resection surface, the position of the peg, the length of the peg and the inclination angle of the peg, resulting in 10 different FE models. Setting three knee flexion angles of 8.4° (maximum load state during walking), 40° (maximum load state during stair climbing) and 90° (maximum load state during squatting exercise), quantitatively analysing the micromotion values of the bone–prosthesis interface and defining a weighted scoring formula to evaluate the stability of different FE models. The validity of the FE analysis was verified using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) device. Results: The errors between the FE analysis and the DIC test at three flexion angles were 5.6%, 1.7% and 11.1%. The 10 different femoral component design models were measured separately. The FE analysis demonstrated that the design with a 0° anterior tilt angle of the posterior condyle resection surface, both pegs placed on the distal resection surface, lengthened 5 mm pegs and a 10° peg inclination angle provided the best stability. Conclusion: The current study proposed a method for evaluating the stability of the femoral component design. The optimal intersurface stability design of the unicompartmental femoral component was achieved with two pegs placed on the distal resection surface, a 5‐mm peg length increment and a 10° peg inclination. These results might provide a reference for the selection of unicompartmental femoral components in clinical practice and therefore improve the survival rate of future unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Level of Evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger flexor pulley injuries are the most common overuse injuries sustained by climbers. These injuries are caused by forceful gripping techniques specific to climbing, making them uncommon in non-climbing activities. With the growing popularity of climbing, there is a rising need for accurate diagnosis and improved treatment methods. This paper explores current diagnostic techniques, including physical examination, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. It also discusses treatment options, which range from conservative rehabilitation to surgery, depending on the severity of the injury. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of injury prevention through proper warm-up and avoiding excessive strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: N95 or Type II filtering face pieces (FFP2) are often worn during work hours or on public transportation to prevent airborne infection. The aim of this randomized controlled crossover study is to assess the impact of FFP2 induced breathing resistance on pulmonary function, blood gas values and discomfort during walking and stair climbing. Methods: N = 16 healthy adults (24.8 ± 2.2 years; 10 females,) participated. Interventions included (1) six minutes of walking in a 16-meter-long hallway (612 m) and (2) eight minutes of stair climbing in a two-story staircase (420 stairs), both with and without a FFP2 (> 48 h wash-out). Spiroergometric data (Ventilation, breathing frequency, tidal volume, oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide exhalation (primary outcome), end tidal carbon dioxide- and oxygen pressure) and self-reported response (Perceived exertion, dyspnoea and pain) were assessed during activities. Blood gas analysis (capillary carbon dioxide- (pCO2) (primary outcome) and oxygen partial pressure (pO2), pH, lactate and base excess) was measured immediately after cessation of activities. Manipulation effects (FFP2 versus no mask) were tested using repeated measures analyses of variance. Results: Analysis showed no effect of FFP2 on pCO2 or other blood-gas parameters but on carbon dioxide exhalation during walking: (mean 1067, SD 209 ml/min) (mean 1908, SD 426 ml/min) (F(15) = 19.5; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.566) compared to no mask wearing (mean 1237, SD 173 ml/min; mean 1908, SD 426 ml/min). Ventilation was decreased and dyspnoea was increased by FFP2 during activities. FFP2 led to lower oxygen uptake and lower end tidal oxygen but higher end tidal carbon dioxide during stair climbing. Conclusions: FFP2 decreased ventilation based on slower breathing patterns and led to limitations in pulmonary gas exchange and increased subjective dyspnoea. However, invasive diagnostics revealed no signs of clinically relevant metabolic effects immediately after everyday physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climbing gyms aim to continuously improve their offerings and make the best use of their infrastructure to provide a unique experience for their clients, the climbers. One approach to achieve this goal is to track and analyze climbing sessions from the beginning of the ascent until the climber's descent. Detecting the climber's descent is crucial because it indicates when the ascent has ended. This paper discusses an approach that preserves climber privacy (e.g., not using cameras) while considering the convenience of climbers and the costs to the gyms. To this aim, a hardware prototype has been developed to collect data using accelerometer sensors attached to a piece of climbing equipment mounted on the wall, called a quickdraw, which connects the climbing rope to the bolt anchors. The sensors are configured to be energy-efficient, making them practical in terms of expenses and time required for replacement when used in large quantities in a climbing gym. This paper describes the hardware specifications, studies data measured by the sensors in ultra-low power mode, detects sensors' orientation patterns during descent on different routes, and develops a supervised approach to identify lowering. Additionally, the study emphasizes the benefits of multidisciplinary feature engineering, combining domain-specific knowledge with machine learning to enhance performance and simplify implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractExploration of virtual reality locomotion has a rich history, including in the creation of taxonomies categorising individual techniques. However, most existing research collects data from academic sources only, with both historic industry practitioner exploration and a state-of-the-art understanding of locomotion in commercial applications comparatively underexplored. This systematic software-level review of the complete locomotion options in 330 of the most used virtual reality applications released between 2016 and 2023 on the Steam, Meta, Oculus, Viveport, and SideQuest platforms highlights the trends and gaps that exist between industry and academic exploration. Results suggest a decline in the usage of teleportation, with the prevalence of titles containing at least one teleportation technique decreasing from 48% of those released in 2016 to 18% in 2023. Arm-tracked grabbing locomotion techniques such as climbing meanwhile are being increasingly adopted by practitioners, from almost unused in 3% of applications released in 2016 to over 30% in each year between 2020 and 2023. Additionally, although the tracking capabilities afforded by consumer-level head-mounted display hardware has resulted in a high exploration of room-scale tracking, the large academic focus on walking-based locomotion appears to not be shared by practitioners, where room-scale tracking instead is most often paired with conventional controller joystick sliding locomotion. Finally, temporal analysis results showing the growing number of locomotion techniques offered in an average application signifies the need for further accessibility-related locomotion research, particularly in areas beyond visual sickness mitigation. Our findings highlight the continuing evolution of locomotion in commercial virtual reality applications, with industry practitioner locomotion technique adoption rates displaying the divergent interests between industry and academia, in turn adding rigour to future locomotion selections across both domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were (1) to determine how stair-climbing-based exercise snacks (ES) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and (2) to explore whether ES could improve maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) in inactive adults. Healthy, young, inactive adults (n: 42, age: 21.6 ± 2.3 years, BMI: 22.5 ± 3.6 kg·m−2, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak): 33.6 ± 6.3 mL·kg−1·min−1) were randomly assigned to ES, MICT, or Control. ES (n = 14) and MICT (n = 13) groups performed three sessions per week over 6 weeks, while the control group (n = 15) maintained their habitual lifestyle. ES involved 3 × 30 s "all-out" stair-climbing (6 flight, 126 steps, and 18.9 m total height) bouts separated by >1 h rest, and MICT involved 40 min × 60%–70% HRmax stationary cycling. A significant group × time interaction was found for relative VO2peak (p < 0.05) with ES significantly increasing by 7% compared to baseline (MD = 2.5 mL·kg−1·min−1 (95% CI = 1.2, 3.7), Cohen's d = 0.44), while MICT had no significant effects (MD = 1.0 mL·kg−1·min−1 (−1.1, 3.2), Cohen's d = 0.17), and Control experienced a significant decrease (MD = −1.7 mL·kg−1·min−1 (−2.9, −0.4), Cohen's d = 0.26). MFO was unchanged among the three groups (group × time interaction, p > 0.05 for all). Stair climbing-based ES are a time-efficient alternative to MICT for improving CRF among inactive adults, but the tested ES intervention appears to have limited potential to increase MFO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection may decrease respiratory and physical functions. To evaluate whether robot-assisted stair climbing training (RASCT) would improve pulmonary and physical functions in a patient post-severe COVID-19 infection. A 48-year-old woman who had experienced severe COVID-19 underwent a 6-week inpatient rehabilitation. She persistently exhibited impaired pulmonary and physical functions, including walking and balance impairment. We provided a 30-min outpatient RASCT biweekly for 6 weeks. After training, maximal inspiratory and maximal expiratory pressures improved from 81 and 74 cmH2O to 104 and 81 cmH2O, respectively. The walking speed improved from 1.15 to 1.21 m/s. In balance ability, physical performance battery score and timed up-and-go test improved from 8 to 11 s and 10.89 to 9.95 s, respectively. Regarding exercise capacity, the 6-min walk test distance improved from 453 to 482 m, and the number of 1-min sit-to-stand test improved from 20 to 23, with improved pulse rate and saturation level. The physical and psychological domain scores of the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale-BREF improved from 44 to 63 and 69 to 81, respectively; Falls Efficacy Scale-International scores improved from 38 to 21. RASCT, as part of a rehabilitation plan, was feasible and effective for this patient after severe COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early aseptic loosening is caused by deficient osteointegration of the femoral stem due to increased micromotions and represents a common mode of failure in uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study hypothesized that a higher femoral offset, a smaller stem size and obesity increase femoral micromotion, potentially resulting in early aseptic loosening. A finite element analysis was conducted based on computed tomography segmented model of four patients who received a THA with a triple‐tapered straight stem (Size 1, 3, 6). The influence of femoral stem offset (short neck, standard, lateral), head length (S to XXL), femoral anteversion and obesity during daily activities of fast walking and stair climbing was analyzed. The micromotions for the femoral stem zones were compared to a threshold representing a value above which only partial osseointegration is expected. The minimum femoral offset configuration compared to the maximum offset configuration (short neck stem, S head vs. lateral stem, XXL head) leads to a relative mean micromotion increase of 24% for the upper stem zone. Increasing the body weight (body mass index 30–35 kg/m2) increases the micromotion by 20% for all stem zones. The obese population recorded threshold‐exceeding micromotions for stem sizes 1 and 3 for all offset configurations during stair climbing. Higher femoral offset, a smaller stem size, and higher loading due to obesity lead to an increase in micromotion between the prosthesis and proximal femur and represent a risk configuration for impaired osseointegration of a triple‐tapered straight stem, especially when these three factors are present simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology can completely isolate the equipment from the power supply, and has been widely used. However, the transmission efficiency of WPT system is optimal only as the transmitting coil was completely aligned with the receiving coil. But in practical applications, the mobile devices are all dynamic system, and perfectly alignment of the coils is a very demanding condition. In order to solve this problem, the paper proposed a coil position adaptive adjustment control scheme of WPT system with lateral misalignment or angular misalignment. Firstly, the relationship between transmission efficiency and lateral misalignment and angular misalignment was analyzed. And the research results show that if there is a lateral misalignment between the coils, the transmission efficiency can be optimized by adjusting the angular misalignment. Secondly, based on the hill climbing algorithm, a coil position adaptive adjustment control method was proposed. Finally, a coil position adaptive adjustment WPT system experimental platform was built, and the experimental researches are carried on. The results of the experiment show that as the transfer distance is 0.10 m and the lateral misalignment is 0.12 m, the transfer efficiency can be increased from 38.38% to 55.61% through the proposed control scheme. And the results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of control scheme proposed in the paper. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectus defects are a group of congenital conditions found in approximately 1 in 250 people, where the sternum is depressed back towards the spine (excavatum), protrudes forwards (carinatum) or more rarely is a mixture of both (arcuatum or mixed defects). For the majority of patients, it is well tolerated, but some patients are affected psychologically, physiologically or both. The deformity becomes apparent at a young age due to the growth of the ribs and the cartilage that links them to the sternum. The majority of defects are mild and are well tolerated, i.e. they do not affect activity and do not cause psychological harm. However, some young people develop lower self-esteem and depression, causing them to withdraw from activities (such as swimming, dancing) and from interactions that might 'expose' them (such as sleepovers, dating, going to the beach and wearing fashionable clothes). This psychological harm occurs at a crucial time during their physical and social development. A small number of patients have more extreme depression of their sternum that impedes their physiological reserve, which can occur when engaging in strenuous exercise (such as running) but can also limit moderate activity such as walking and climbing stairs. The effects can be so extreme that symptoms occur at rest or cause life-threatening compression of the major blood vessels and organs. The group of patients with physiological impairment usually also suffer from low self-esteem and depression. This paper summarizes the current evidence for the different treatment strategies for this condition, including supportive care, psychological support and non-surgical techniques including bracing and vacuum bell therapy. We also consider surgical techniques including the Ravitch procedure, the Nuss procedure (minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum), pectus implants and other rare procedures such as Pectus Up. For the majority of patients, supportive care is sufficient, but for a minority, a combination of the other techniques may be considered. This paper also outlines best practice guidance for the delivery of such therapies, including standardized assessment, consent to treatment, audit, quality assurance and long-term support. All the interventions have risks and benefits that the patient, parents and clinicians need to carefully consider and discuss when deciding on the most appropriate course. We hope this evidence review of 'Best Practice for Pectus' will make a significant contribution to those considerations and help all involved, from patients to national policy makers, to deliver the best possible care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the excellent maneuverability and obstacle crossing of legged robots, it is possible for an autonomous legged wall-climbing robots to replace manual inspection of ship exterior panels. However, when the magnetic adsorption legged wall-climbing robot steps on the convex point or convex line of the wall, or even when the robot missteps, the robot is likely to detach from the ferromagnetic wall. Therefore, this paper proposes a tactile sensor for the legged magnetic adsorption wall-climbing robot to detect the magnetic adsorption state and improve the safety of the autonomous crawling of the robot. The tactile sensor mainly comprises a three-dimensional (3D)-printed shell, a tactile slider, and three isometric sensing units, with an optimized geometry. The experiment shows that the triboelectric tactile sensor can monitor the sliding depth of the tactile slider and control the light-emitting device (LED) signal light. In addition, in the demonstration experiment of detecting the adsorption state of the robot's foot, the triboelectric tactile sensor has strong adaptability to various ferromagnetic wall surfaces. Finally, this study establishes a robot gait control system to verify the feedback control ability of the triboelectric tactile sensor. The results show that the robot equipped with the triboelectric tactile sensor can recognize the dangerous area on the crawling wall and autonomously avoid the risk. Therefore, the proposed triboelectric tactile sensor has great potential in realizing the tactile sensing ability of robots and enhancing the safety and intelligent inspection of ultra-large vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the higher injury rate of falls on steps versus level ground, few studies have examined the influence of age and fall history on step descent. The purpose of this study was to determine the lead and trail limb neuromuscular function (peak joint moments and powers, electromyographic activity) differences between young females (n = 15) and older females with (n = 15) and without (n = 15) a fall history while descending a single step. Trail limb moments and powers did not differ between groups. Lead limb sagittal plane powers at the hip and knee were greater in the young adults. Electromyographic co-activation levels (knee and ankle) were not significantly different between groups. However, peroneal activation was greater in the older groups, which may have assisted in stabilizing the ankle joint in lieu of increased co-activation at the ankle. These results demonstrate consideration of step descent is important in working with older women at risk of falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the incidence of accidents involving falls from height at construction sites caused by workers climbing guardrails is still high. Traditional unsafe behavior management mainly relies on a safety patrol of construction-site supervisors, which consumes considerable laborpower and time. There is still a critical need for an automated safety management method to identify unsafe guardrail climbing behavior. This study proposes a worker behavior identification method based on visual data fusion of a worker's surrounding environment and posture data. Videos of seven participants' guardrail climbing behavior through multiangle and multidistance cameras were analyzed to verify this method. By analyzing the environment and posture of the participants, three methods based on environment, posture, and fusion data were used to detect the stage of guardrail climbing action of the workers and compare them with the ground truth labeled by safety experts. The precision and recall of worker guardrail climbing behavior based on the fusion method were 82% and 83% respectively, which is better performance than that obtained using a single method. The data fusion–based method avoids the misjudgment generated by a single detection method and can identify the guardrail climbing behavior more accurately. Practical Applications: Guardrail climbing is a typical unsafe behavior that exposes workers to a high risk of falling from height. However, there is a lack of research on the interaction between workers and guardrail systems in the construction industry. This study provides a nonintrusive method for automating detection and management of guardrail climbing behavior on construction site. Using existing surveillance cameras, this method can be deployed at low cost with slight interference with workers. Based on the detection, appropriate interventions are expected to effectively reduce workers' unsafe behaviors during construction and improve safety on site. The detection of guardrail climbing, which is one of the variety of unsafe behaviors associated with falls from height, can enrich the intelligent construction safety management system effectively. Moreover, this study also provides reference and quantitative indicators (e.g., a guardrail climbing unsafe behavior database) for risk assessment and early warning of workers who are exposed to risk of fall from height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that increasing trunk flexion may optimize patellofemoral joint loading. However, this postural change could cause an excessive Achilles tendon force (ATF) and injury risk during movement. This study aimed to examine the effects of increasing trunk flexion during stair ascent on ATF, ankle biomechanics, and vertical ground reaction force in females. Twenty asymptomatic females (age: 23.4 [2.5] y; height: 1.6 [0.8] m; mass: 63.0 [12.2] kg) ascended stairs using their self-selected and flexed trunk postures. Compared with the self-selected trunk condition, decreases were observed for peak ATF (mean differences [MD] = 0.14 N/kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06 to 0.23; Cohen d = −1.2; P =.003), average rate of ATF development (MD = 0.25 N/kg/s; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.43; Cohen d = −0.9; P =.010), ankle plantar flexion moment (MD = 0.08 N·m/kg; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.13; Cohen d = −1.1; P =.005), and vertical ground reaction force (MD = 38.6 N/kg; 95% CI, 20.3 to 56.90; Cohen d = −1.8; P <.001). Increasing trunk flexion did not increase ATF. Instead, this postural change was associated with a decreased ATF rate and magnitude and may benefit individuals with painful Achilles tendinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain at the tip of the stem of a knee prosthesis (End-of-Stem Pain) is a common problem in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It may be caused by a problematic interaction between stem and bone, but the exact biomechanical correlate is still unknown. On top of this, there is no biomechanical study investigating End-of-Stem Pain at the distal femur using human specimens. Aim of this study was to find out whether the implantation of a revision total knee implant leads to high femoral surface strains at the tip of the stem, which the authors expect to be the biomechanical correlate of End-of-Stem Pain. We implanted 16 rotating hinge knee implants into 16 fresh-frozen human femora using the hybrid fixation technique and comparing two reaming protocols. Afterwards, surface strains on these femora were measured under dynamic load in two different load scenarios (climbing stairs and chair rising) using digital image correlation (DIC) and fracture patterns after overcritical load were analysed. Peak surface strains were found at the tip of the stem in several measurements in both load scenarios. There were no significant differences between the two compared groups (different trial sizes) regarding surface strains and fracture patterns. We conclude that implantation of a long intramedullary stem in revision TKA can lead to high surface strains at the tip of the stem that may be the correlate of femoral End-of-Stem Pain. This finding might allow for a targeted development of future stem designs that can lead to lower surface strains and therefore might reduce End-of-Stem Pain. Digital Image Correlation proved valid for the measurement of surface strains and can be used in the future to test new stem designs in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: This study explores Spanish heritage speakers' (HSs) knowledge of clitic climbing and the (extra-)linguistic factors that modulate it. Design: Heritage speakers of Spanish completed three screening tasks (a background language questionnaire, a productive vocabulary task, and proficiency task) and two experimental tasks (an elicited production task, and a forced choice task) examining their knowledge of clitic climbing in different contexts. Data and Analysis: Thirty-nine participants completed two experimental tasks. Each task included 32 critical items distributed in four conditions. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Findings: Patterns of language exposure and use are a strong predictor for clitic climbing knowledge while the effects of age of onset of bilingualism found contradict our hypothesis. Originality: This study examines production and interpretation data of clitic climbing knowledge in combination with extralinguistic factors that may facilitate heritage language acquisition and maintenance. Sequential bilinguals show a stronger enclisis bias than simultaneous bilinguals. Significance: The results show that, in cases of optionality, self-reported heritage language exposure and use may be a stronger predictor than age of onset of bilingualism of the dominant language. Limitations: This study does not have acceptability data on either grammatical or ungrammatical instances of proclisis or enclisis. In addition, because the test items feature different verbs, no lexical analysis can be conducted. Finally, using an adapted version of the BLP instead of its original normed version restricts opportunities for comparability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in creating barrier-free environments, many buildings still have stairs, making accessibility a significant concern for wheelchair users, the majority of whom check for accessibility information before venturing out. This paper focuses on developing a transformable quadruped wheelchair to address the mobility challenges posed by stairs and steps for wheelchair users. The wheelchair, inspired by the Unitree B2 quadruped robot, combines wheels for flat surfaces and robotic legs for navigating stairs and is equipped with advanced sensors and force detectors to interact with its surroundings effectively. This research utilized reinforcement learning, specifically curriculum learning, to teach the wheelchair stair-climbing skills, with progressively increasing complexity in a simulated environment crafted in the Unity game engine. The experiments demonstrated high success rates in both stair ascent and descent, showcasing the wheelchair's potential in overcoming mobility barriers. However, the current model faces limitations in tackling various stair types, like spiral staircases, and requires further enhancements in safety and stability, particularly in the descending phase. The project illustrates a significant step towards enhancing mobility for wheelchair users, aiming to broaden their access to diverse environments. Continued improvements and testing are essential to ensure the wheelchair's adaptability and safety across different terrains and situations, underlining the ongoing commitment to technological innovation in aiding individuals with mobility impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the impact of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on physiological and performance outcomes during a 120-m vertical high-rise ascent in firefighters with CRF levels at or above (higher-fit) and below (lower-fit [LF]) the national recommended minimum physical employment standard (VO2max 42.3 mL·kg-1·min-1). Methods: Twenty-eight firefighters completed two high-rise firefighting trials (continuous and discontinuous ascent with predetermined 1-minute rest breaks). Task time, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, core body temperature, and thermal comfort were recorded at predetermined elevations. Results: Task time was significantly longer in both trials for the LF group. Ratings of perceived exertion and thermal comfort were also significantly higher in the LF group, with three times more LF firefighters being unable to complete the ascent without sounding their low-air alarm. Conclusions: Higher CRF improves performance and efficiency during stair-climbing in simulated high-rise firefighting tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic control is a fundamental part of autonomous robots. Modular legged and climbing robots are complex machines made up of a variety of subsystems, ranging from a single robot with simple legs to a complex system composed of multiple legs (or modules) with computing power and sensitivity. Their complexity, which is increased by the fact of needing elements for climbing, makes a correct structure crucial to achieve a complete, robust, and versatile system during its operation. Control architectures for legged robots are distinguished from other software architectures because of the special needs of these systems. In this paper, we present an original classification of modular legged and climbing robots, a comprehensive review of the most important control architectures in robotics, focusing on the control of modular legged and climbing robots, and a comparison of their features. The control architecture comparison aims to provide the analytical tools necessary to make informed decisions tailored to the specific needs of your robotic applications. This article includes a review and classification of modular legged and climbing robots, breaking down each category separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR), functional deficits at the knee can persist. It remains unclear if neighboring joints compensate for the knee during demanding activities of daily living. Purpose: To assess long-term alterations in lower limb mechanics in patients after PCLR. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 28 patients who had undergone single-bundle unilateral isolated or combined PCLR performed stair navigation, squat, sit-to-stand, and stand-to-sit tasks at 8.2 ± 2.2 years after surgery. Motion capture and force plates were used to collect kinematic and kinetic data. Then, 3-dimensional hip, knee, and ankle kinematic data of the reconstructed limb were compared with those of the contralateral limb using statistical parametric mapping. Results: Side-to-side differences at the knee were primarily found during upward-driven movements at 8 years after surgery. The reconstructed knee exhibited lower internal rotation during the initial loading phase of stair ascent versus the contralateral knee (P =.005). During the sit-to-stand task, higher flexion angles during the midcycle (P =.017) and lower external rotation angles (P =.049) were found in the reconstructed knee; sagittal knee (P =.001) and hip (P =.016) moments were lower in the reconstructed limb than the contralateral limb. In downward-driven movements, side-to-side differences were minimal at the knee but prominent at the ankle and hip: during stair descent, the reconstructed ankle exhibited lower dorsiflexion and lower external rotation during the midcycle versus the contralateral ankle (P =.006 and P =.040, respectively). Frontal hip moments in the reconstructed limb were higher than those in the contralateral limb during the stand-to-sit task (P =.010); during squats, sagittal hip angles in the reconstructed limb were higher than those in the contralateral limb (P <.001). Conclusion: Patients after PCLR exhibited compensations at the hip and ankle during downward-driven movements, such as stair descent, squats, and stand-to-sit. Conversely, residual long-term side-to-side differences at the knee were detected during upward-driven movements such as stair ascent and sit-to-stand. Clinical Relevance: After PCLR, side-to-side differences in biomechanical function were activity-dependent and occurred either at the knee or neighboring joints. When referring to the contralateral limb to assess knee function in the reconstructed limb, concentric, upward-driven movements should be prioritized. Compensations at the hip and ankle during downward-driven movements lead to biases in long-term functional assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Participation in adventure as a recreational therapy intervention is well-recognized for its benefits for people with disabilities. Advances in technology and adaptive equipment have increased accessibility to adventure-based activities for those with physical disabilities. Climbing has long been established to facilitate the psychological state of flow; however, there is little research on the experience of flow in individuals with physical disabilities and adaptive climbing, specifically. Purpose: This study investigated if flow is experienced differently between individuals with and without physical disabilities who participated in climbing programs and to determine if there was a relationship between flow and intentions in future participation in climbing. Methodology: The Flow State Scale-2 was used to assess flow and additional questions measured participation. Findings: The global flow score on the FSS-2 indicated that climbers with and without disabilities both experienced a flow-like state. Climbers without disabilities reported a significantly higher sense of control, one of the nine dimensions of flow. Implications: With a better understanding of how people with physical disabilities experience flow, practitioners can better design interventions to facilitate this experience and should know how flow can best be used to promote an active leisure lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's first Mars sampling return mission (Tianwen‐3) is designed to launch and retrieve samples around 2030. Three tentative landing areas (TLAs) (Amazonis, Chryse and Utopia Planitiae, i.e., TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U) are selected based on elevation <−2,000 m and latitude between 17° and 30°N. As a dominant feature of Martian meteorology, dust storms manifest in all seasons and affect the accuracy and safety of Mars exploration missions. Tianwen‐3's landing, sampling and ascent phases are in the dust storm season. Therefore, analyzing dust storm activity around landing areas is significant for the Tianwen‐3 mission. According to Mars Daily Global Maps taken by Mars Orbiter Camera spanning Martian years 24–28, 2,476 dust storm events around the three TLAs were identified in this research. Dust storm temporal probabilities within TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U were calculated as 0%–44.69%, 0%–66.29% and 0%–33.64%, separately. Dust storm spatial probabilities around the TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U were computed, with ranges of 0%–10.71%, 0%–14.55% and 0%–19.96% during the T1 period (Ls = 161–309°), and 0%–6.75%, 0%–7.65% and 0%–8.26% during the T2 period (Ls = 342‐55°), respectively. Finally, considering the temporal and spatial distribution of dust storms, we recommend the T2 period as the launch scenario. Three safe periods (Ls = 2–18°, 4–12°, and 356–4°) were assigned for the entry‐descent‐landing (EDL) phase, along with one period (Ls = 45–55°) for the take‐off and ascent phase. Five circular landing zones with dust storm spatial probability <3% were selected for the Tianwen‐3 mission. Plain Language Summary: Tianwen‐3 is the first Mars sampling return mission by China, scheduled to launch and return samples around 2030. Three tentative landing areas (TLAs), Amazonis Planitia (TLA‐A), Chryse Planitia (TLA‐C), and Utopia Planitia (TLA‐U), located at elevations of <−2,000 m and within the latitude range of 17°–30°N. Three TLAs are situated along the trajectories of Martian dust storm sequences. The harsh dusty conditions significantly impact the success of the Mars exploration mission. Therefore, it is meaningful to analyze the dust storm occurrence probability within and around three TLAs. In this study, we utilized Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Daily Global Maps to (a) detect the dust storm events around three TLAs in five consecutive Mars years (MY 24–28); (b) calculate and analyze the temporal and spatial probabilities of dust storm occurrence; and (c) designate the safe landing areas, the preferred take‐off and ascent and entry‐descent‐landing (EDL) periods for the Tianwen‐3 mission. Key Points: Dust storms within three tentative landing areas exhibit distinct seasonality and heterogeneity throughout a Mars year, with clear solstitial pause periodsDust storm spatial‐temporal analysis reveals that the T2 period is more suitable as the launch scenario for the Tianwen‐3The preferred entry‐descent‐landing period, preferred take‐off and ascent period, and safe landing areas are chosen for the Tianwen‐3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning to descend stairs requires motor and cognitive capacities on the part of infants and opportunities for practice and assurance of safety offered by caregivers. The American Academy of Pediatrics prescribes the age strategy to teach toddlers to safely descend stairs but without much consideration for individual differences in infants' skills or caregivers' techniques. The purpose of this study was to observe the natural ways in which caregivers teach infants to descend stairs at home and the extent to which infants abide. Of particular interest was to examine the dynamic nature of caregivers' teaching and infants' learning over the session with attention to individual differences. Dyads (N = 59) were videorecorded on Zoom for 10 min interacting on stairs at home in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Italy, and Spain. Infants (n = 30 girls, 29 boys; 13-month-olds ± 1 week) were novice walkers (M = 2.04 months walking experience). Caregivers used a variety of teaching strategies and focused on "backing" and "scooting." Infants were more likely to heed caregivers' guidance when caregivers provided hands-on support and verbal encouragement suggesting infants were engaged and responsive to caregivers' overtures. Infants' walking experience predicted change in descent strategy over the session. Although infants did not show evidence of learning over the session, consistent caregiver instruction suggested caregivers were persistent, if not effective, teachers. Teaching and learning motor skills in a potentially risky task creates a unique opportunity for interaction, allowing infants and caregivers to learn from one another. Public Significance Statement: This work contributes to the general body of knowledge regarding infant motor development and problem solving in specific contexts. This study is one of the first to explore the nature of caregiver-infant interaction on stairs and identifies caregiver teaching strategies and infant motor characteristics that are associated with safe infant stair descent. By doing so, we hope to encourage further investigation of infant behavior in this context, upon which recommendations to caregivers for safe infant descent may be based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability with substantial healthcare costs, and efficient nonsurgical treatment methods are still needed. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and exercise therapy are used frequently in clinical practice. Whether PRP or PRP combined with exercise is more effective than exercise alone is unclear. Questions/purposes (1) Which treatment relieves knee osteoarthritis pain better: PRP alone, exercise, or PRP combined with exercise? (2) Does PRP alone, exercise, or PRP combined with exercise yield better results in terms of the WOMAC score, performance on the 40-m fast-paced walk test and stair climbing test, and the SF-12 health-related quality of life score? Methods In this randomized, controlled, three-arm clinical trial, we recruited patients with mild-to-moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence Grade II or III) knee osteoarthritis with a minimum of 3 points on the 11-point numeric rating scale for pain. During the study period, 157 patients with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis were screened and 84 eligible volunteers were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1:1) into either the exercise group (28), PRP group (28), or PRP + exercise group (28). Follow-up proportions were similar between the groups (exercise: 89% [25], PRP: 86% [24], PRP + exercise: 89% [25]; p = 0.79). All patients were analyzed in an intention-to-treat manner. There were no between-group differences in age, gender, arthritis severity, and baseline clinical scores (pain, WOMAC, functional performance tests, and health-related quality of life). The exercise group underwent a 6-week structured program consisting of 12 supervised individual sessions focused on strengthening and functional exercises. Meanwhile, the PRP group received three weekly injections of fresh, leukocyte-poor PRP. The PRP + exercise group received a combined treatment with both interventions. The primary outcome was knee pain over 24 weeks, measured on an 11-point numeric rating scale for pain (ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst pain, with a minimum clinically important difference [MCID] of 2). The secondary outcome measures included the WOMAC index (ranging from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicating a lower level of disability and an MCID of 12), the durations of the 40-meter fast-paced walk test and stair climbing test, and the SF-12 health-related quality of life score. For the a priori sample size calculation, we used the numeric rating scale score for pain at 24 weeks as the primary outcome variable. The MCID for the numeric rating scale was deemed to be 2 points, with an estimated standard deviation of 2.4. Based on sample size calculations, a sample of 24 patients per group would provide 80% power to detect an effect of this size between the groups at the significance level of p = 0.05. Results We found no clinically important differences in improvements in pain—defined as ≥ 2 points of 10—at 24 weeks when comparing exercise alone to PRP alone to PRP + exercise (1.9 ± 0.7 versus 3.8 ± 1.8 versus 1.4 ± 0.6; mean difference between PRP + exercise group and exercise group -0.5 [95% confidence interval -1.2 to 0.4]; p = 0.69). Likewise, we found no differences in WOMAC scores at 24 weeks of follow-up when comparing exercise alone to PRP alone to PRP + exercise (10 ± 9 versus 26 ± 20 versus 7 ± 6; mean difference between PRP + exercise group and exercise group -3 [95% CI -12 to -5]; p = 0.97). There were no differences in any of the other secondary outcome metrics among the PRP + exercise and exercise groups. Conclusion PRP did not improve pain at 24 weeks of follow-up in patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis compared with exercise alone. Moreover, exercise alone was clinically superior to PRP alone, considering function and the physical component of health-related quality of life. Despite the additional costs and endeavors related to PRP products, the combination of PRP and exercise did not differ from exercise alone. The results of this randomized controlled trial do not support the use of PRP injections in the treatment of patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. Consequently, exercise alone is the recommended treatment for reducing pain and enhancing function throughout this timeframe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ambulation using standard axillary crutches (SACs) is associated with increased energy expenditure (EE) and decreased ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Using a hands‐free crutch (HFC) displays potential for easier completion of ADLs and reduction in energy requirements. Objectives: To determine if a HFC elicits lower EE and heart rate (HR), improvement in performance of ADLs, and decreased rating of perceived exertion (RPE) compared to common ambulatory devices. Design: A randomized crossover‐controlled trial. Setting: University community. Participants: Twenty healthy college students. Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed a 6‐minute walk test at 50 m/min, an ADLs course, and a two‐flight stair climb with SACs, HFC, knee scooter (KS), and unassisted ambulation (UA). The order of trial conditions was randomized. EE, HR, time to complete ADLs course and stair climb, and RPE during each condition were obtained. One‐way analyses of variance were performed to compare EE, HR response, and RPE between the assistive devices and UA. Results: In all outcomes UA resulted in lower EE, HR, and RPE compared to all the assistive devices (p <.05). For the ADLs course, EE was the same for the three assistive devices, whereas HR was significantly lower for HFC compared to SACs and KS (p <.05). RPE for HFC and KS was lower than SACs (p <.05). For the 6MWT, each device significantly differed from the other devices for EE, HR, and RPE, with KS eliciting the lowest values, followed by HFC. For the stair climbing task, HFC elicited lower EE, HR, and RPE than SACs. Fourteen participants indicated their overall preference for HFCs. Conclusions: In individuals prescribed weight‐bearing restrictions, using a HFC may offer an easier and more preferred alternative to more commonly used SACs during ambulation, stair climbing, and other ADLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WheTLHLoc 4W is the second version of a hybrid leg–wheel–track small‐scale ground mobile robot, developed for surveillance and inspection applications. It differs from its predecessor, WheTLHLoc 2W, in two main aspects: the number of wheels (four instead of two), and the new leg design. The overall size of the robot varies depending on the configuration: 500 × 420 × 140 mm (length × width × height) in tracked mode with lowered legs, 315 × 420 × 310 mm in tracked mode with raised legs, and 430 × 420 × 260 mm in wheeled mode. The robot is sufficiently small to explore narrow spaces, both indoors and outdoors, switching between wheeled locomotion on compact surfaces and tracked locomotion on irregular and yielding terrain. Due to its small length, the robot can stand on one tread of a stair. Nevertheless, it is capable of climbing stairs, and the step height limit has been augmented from 165 mm to 180 mm (+9.1%) with respect to the first version, keeping constant the robot overall size. This enhancement has been achieved through a mechanical redesign of the two rotating legs: each leg now features a pair of smaller wheels, actuated by the same actuator through a gear train, instead of a single larger wheel. The significant increase in the maximum step height expands the robot's capabilities for indoor environments, as stairs with a rise higher than 180 mm are extremely uncommon. The paper discusses the mechanical design of WheTLHLoc 4W, the trajectory planning for step/stair climbing, and provides an analytical comparison between the novel architecture and the first version in terms of stability against overturn and slippage. These analytical results are then experimentally verified. The findings demonstrate that the new leg design not only increases the maximum step height (+9.1%), but also reduces the minimum friction coefficient required for successful stair climbing (−19.1% for the maximum step). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We observe that the majority of the studies regarding the walking impaired concentrate on wheelchair users. However, there are many people who are capable of walking in a limited way and not using wheelchairs. Our overall target working in this domain is a personally customizable navigation assistant for the physically disabled. Here, we present the theoretical steps toward this target. We propose a mathematical model for the area to be accessed using graphs. A survey study was carried out to determine some critical coefficients representing the relative difficulty of stair climbing and traveling on non-flat surfaces. The proposed algorithm takes in five personal parameters representing the individual's physical capabilities and the graph representation of the area. First, it prunes the graph by eliminating the non-traversable edges for that person. If the source and destination nodes are still connected, an effort graph is obtained from the area graph considering the relative effort coefficients. Lastly, the minimum effort path is calculated on the effort graph. This three-stage algorithm and the graph structure we propose can lead to personally customizable navigation applications solving many accessibility problems faced by the disabled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to examine the dose–response associations of device-measured physical activity types and postures (sitting and standing time) with cardiometabolic health. Methods: We conducted an individual participant harmonised meta-analysis of 12,095 adults (mean ± SD age 54.5±9.6 years; female participants 54.8%) from six cohorts with thigh-worn accelerometry data from the Prospective Physical Activity, Sitting and Sleep (ProPASS) Consortium. Associations of daily walking, stair climbing, running, standing and sitting time with a composite cardiometabolic health score (based on standardised z scores) and individual cardiometabolic markers (BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, HbA1c and total cholesterol) were examined cross-sectionally using generalised linear modelling and cubic splines. Results: We observed more favourable composite cardiometabolic health (i.e. z score <0) with approximately 64 min/day walking (z score [95% CI] −0.14 [−0.25, −0.02]) and 5 min/day stair climbing (−0.14 [−0.24, −0.03]). We observed an equivalent magnitude of association at 2.6 h/day standing. Any amount of running was associated with better composite cardiometabolic health. We did not observe an upper limit to the magnitude of the dose–response associations for any activity type or standing. There was an inverse dose–response association between sitting time and composite cardiometabolic health that became markedly less favourable when daily durations exceeded 12.1 h/day. Associations for sitting time were no longer significant after excluding participants with prevalent CVD or medication use. The dose–response pattern was generally consistent between activity and posture types and individual cardiometabolic health markers. Conclusions/interpretation: In this first activity type-specific analysis of device-based physical activity, ~64 min/day of walking and ~5.0 min/day of stair climbing were associated with a favourable cardiometabolic risk profile. The deleterious associations of sitting time were fully attenuated after exclusion of participants with prevalent CVD and medication use. Our findings on cardiometabolic health and durations of different activities of daily living and posture may guide future interventions involving lifestyle modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]