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Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of damaged or defective organs due to injuries or illnesses, often requiring long-term supervision by a physiotherapist in clinical settings or at home. AI-based support systems have been developed to enhance the precision and effectiveness of physiotherapy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. These systems, which include game-based or tele-rehabilitation monitoring using camera-based optical systems like Vicon and Microsoft Kinect, face challenges such as privacy concerns, occlusion, and sensitivity to environmental light. Non-optical sensor alternatives, such as Inertial Movement Units (IMUs), Wi-Fi, ultrasound sensors, and ultrawide band (UWB) radar, have emerged to address these issues. Although IMUs are portable and cost-effective, they suffer from disadvantages like drift over time, limited range, and susceptibility to magnetic interference. In this study, a single UWB radar was utilized to recognize five therapeutic exercises related to the upper limb, performed by 34 male volunteers in a real environment. A novel feature fusion approach was developed to extract distinguishing features for these exercises. Various machine learning methods were applied, with the EnsembleRRGraBoost ensemble method achieving the highest recognition accuracy of 99.45%. The performance of the EnsembleRRGraBoost model was further validated using five-fold cross-validation, maintaining its high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical fertilizers play an integral role in advancing food production to combat the increasing food challenges and ensure food security. Unfortunately, the overuse of these fertilizers has negatively influenced the soil and the environment. Considering this aspect, two pot experiments were performed to evaluate the efficacy of biostimulants in vegetable production systems. The first experiment compared the effects of chemical fertilizers (CF) with glycine (GL), aspartic acid (AA), lysine (LY), and vitamin B complex (VB). The plant's physiological and morphological attributes and yield were studied. The results confirmed that VB has the potential to improve the rate of transpiration (26%), total chlorophyll content (27%), root diameter (213%), and dry matter (289%) compared with CF. In the second experiment, the effects of chemical fertilizers (CF) were compared with Isabion® (I), 25% CF + GL + LY (B1), 25% CF + GL + AA (B2), and 25% CF + AA + LY (B3). Similar attributes were analyzed to identify the influence of the applied treatments on turnip production. The results demonstrated that B2 enhanced the rate of photosynthesis (963%), transpiration (254%), and stomatal conductance (76%). Moreover, B1 improved the plant's fresh weight (6%) and moisture contents (4%) compared to CF. In conclusion, biostimulants (LY, VB, and B1) are capable of improving turnip performance and production compared to CF. Future studies must focus on the efficiency of biostimulants against the long-term application effects on soils, nutrient-use efficiency, and crop production. Furthermore, the mechanism of action needs to be addressed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? Of the main effects, MW and simplification (70%) were found to be optimal levels of watertight and simplification in almost all the scanning modes, regardless of sample geometry. Moreover, two sample geometries were scanned three dimensionally and are referred to as simple and complex samples in this research; The scanning errors were found to be lower for the complex sample, i.e., up to 0.1%, when compared to errors for the simple sample. The reduction in error up to such an extent was never reported before; What are the implications of main findings? Three-dimensional scanning research implies that the scanning of complex product components is preferred to the scanning of simple components, which may be easily modelled geometrically. Mode A of 3D scanning for complex sample was evaluated to be the optimal among all other modes of 3D scanning. The largest problem with scanning real objects involves bearing the huge costs of scanning and the low quality of point cloud data for a scanned object, thereby increasing the cost and lead time. Therefore, a need exists to improve the quality of scanning to save time, costs, and computational resources. In this research, the levels of optimal factors associated with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner were investigated, improving the quality of 3D scanning data. Optimizing the 3D scanner factors could help us acquire errorless digital scanned data that accurately resemble a 3D physical object and which may be further used in various engineering applications, e.g., additive manufacturing and non-engineering applications. For this study, four modes of 3D scanning (A, B, C, and D) were utilized with five crucial 3D scanning factors namely texture, watertightness, simplification, and alternate deployments of smoothness and sharpness. This research was divided into two stages. The former stage involved the 3D scanning of two samples with simple and complex geometrical intricacies and the later stage involved checking the scanned objects for any dimensional errors. A coordinate measuring machine (CMM) was used to measure the dimensional details of the real objects. For virtual metering, Solidworks was utilized. With reference to the limited literature in the current context, 3D scanning errors were highly reduced for the first time up to 0.1% for the complex sample when compared to the errors found for the simple sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents the numerical and empirical efforts to investigate the effect of friction stir welding (FSW) parameters on the weld temperature, weld strength, and weld hardness for novel brass known as yellow brass 405-20. The numerical approaches used to measure the weld temperature and weld strength were studied for the first time for yellow brass 405-20 and their validations via empirical studies. Two numerical models were simulated including transient thermal analysis and static structural analysis. Thermal distribution leading to maximum weld temperature during FSW of yellow brass was investigated via both simulations and experiments. Moreover, the ultimate tensile strength, namely the weld strength, was measured numerically and validated from its empirical counterpart. Finally, weld hardness was measured empirically to explore the joint health. A maximum temperature of 598 °C was recorded, which was much below the melting point of brass. Joint strength of 228 MPa was observed, which is 83% of the base brass strength. Microscopic examination of the weldment revealed the underlying mechanisms of less weld strength as compared to the parent brass material strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-nutritive metals, especially cadmium (Cd), are present in P fertilizers; the long-term application of these P fertilizers leads to Cd build-up in the soil. The current study aims to evaluate the impacts of P sources and rates on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.) and the bioavailability of Cd. Twelve treatments including rock phosphate 4 g kg−1 (RP1); 8 g kg−1 (RP2); 12 g kg−1 (RP3)); single super phosphate 333 mg kg−1 (SSP1); 444 mg kg−1 (SSP2); 555 mg kg−1 (SSP3); di-ammonium phosphate 130 mg kg−1 (DAP1); 174 mg kg−1 (DAP2); 218 mg kg−1 (DAP3); mono-ammonium phosphate 115 mg kg−1 (MAP1); 154 mg kg−1 (MAP2); 193 mg kg−1 (MAP3) in two soil textures (sandy and clayey) were assessed. Results revealed that all P sources significantly influenced the plant growth and yield characteristics of maize (p ≤ 0.05). In both soil textures, P in soil and plant, plant growth and yield characteristics were maximized by MAP and DAP. Cadmium build-up in soil and uptake was also significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected by P sources, levels, and soil texture. It was observed that Cd build-up in soil and uptake by plants boosted with increasing P levels. Maximum Cd concentration in plant root and shoot was found with SSP3, and its concentration in soil increased with MAP3, whereas the concentration was higher in sandy texture. The study concludes that type of P fertilizer should be determined based on texture and human consumption of the crop to avoid Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar industry produces a variety of organic byproducts causing disposal as well as environmental issues. This study investigated the safe use of these byproducts in assessment of soil physicochemical properties and metal accumulation in rice. A field experiment was performed with following treatments: control only NPK (CF), NPK + sugarcane bagasse (SB), NPK + press mud (PM), NPK + sugarcane vinasse (SV), NPK + SB + PM (SB + PM), NPK + SB + SV (SB + SV), NPK + PM + SV (PM + SV), NPK + SB + PM + SV (SB + PM + SV). Total byproduct input was (1.25 t ha−1) as recommended for organic inputs in the local area. The results indicated that integrated use of these amendments with chemical fertilization improved soil properties and rice yield. Organic matter was significantly improved in SB + SV (191.3%), SB + PM + SV (164.4%), and SB + PM (150.9%). Total N was significantly enhanced in SB + SV (193%), SB + PM + SV (166%), and SB + PM (152.5%); extractable P was high in SB (103%), PM + SV (89.7%), and SB + PM (51%); extractable K was significantly improved in PM (39.6%) and SB (33.4%); extractable Zn was significantly enhanced in SB (1172.8%), SV (829.2%) and PM (819.1%) in soil. Rice grain yield was significantly enhanced in SB (213.1%) and PM (208.8%) while combined application also improved the yield with reference to the CF. The application of SB + PM improved N (58.7%), P (27.4%), K (11.5%), and Zn (166.4%) concentration in grain, while metal accumulation was within the permissible limit. Zn concentration was significantly enhanced in SB + PM (166.4%) whereas the concentration of Cd and Pb was significantly reduced with the application of byproducts. Health assessment results showed no harmful effects for humans. Results conclude that these byproducts are good nutrients source and improve soil physicochemical properties without any health hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the major crops cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and the primary purpose is to obtain raw sugar. It is an important substance for sugar and alcohol production by both the sugar and beverage industries. During cane processing, various byproducts are obtained, namely sugarcane bagasse, bagasse ash, pressmud cake, sugarcane vinasse, and spent wash. There are many challenging problems in storage, and they cause great environmental pollution. This review discusses their properties by which they can be used for cleaner agricultural and environmental sustainability. Utilization of byproducts results in value-added soil properties and crop yield. Replacing chemical fertilization with these organic natured byproducts not only minimizes the surplus usage of chemical fertilizers but is also cost-effective and an eco-friendly approach. The drawbacks of the long-term application of these byproducts in the agricultural ecosystem are not well documented. We conclude that the agriculture sector can dispose of sugar industry byproducts, but proper systematic disposal is needed. The need arises to arrange some seminars, meetings, and training to make the farming community aware of byproducts utilization and setting a friendly relationship between the farming community and industrialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) are mineral nutrients required for adequate plant growth, enzyme activation, water retention and photosynthetic activities. However, Pakistani soils are alkaline and have serious problems regarding Zn deficiency. The current study aims at finding the nutrient–nutrient interaction of K and Zn to affect maize plants' (i) physiological processes and (ii) productivity. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted at the research area of the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Two maize genotypes, DK-6142 (hybrid) and Neelam (non-hybrid), were used with three K fertilizer doses, i.e., 0, 60 and 100 kg ha−1 in all possible combinations with three Zn fertilizer doses, i.e., 0, 16 and 24 kg ha−1. The treatments were replicated under a completely randomized block design. The results elucidated that the combined application of K and Zn with K60 + Zn16 treatment significantly increased agronomic, productive, and physiological attributes. It has improved fresh biomass (89%), dry biomass (94%), membrane stability index (142%), relative water content (200%) and chlorophyll contents (191%) as compared to the control. Moreover, the mineral uptake of K and Zn was significantly improved with their maximum fertilization rate in hybrid genotype compared to non-hybrid and CK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]