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Trunk angular velocity: A convenient, valid and responsive substitute for force plate-based measures of dynamic postural stability

Objective Deficits in dynamic postural stability are associated with increased risk of lower limb injuries. Objective dynamic postural stability assessments typically require force plates, which are not commonly available in the clinic. Moreover, these outcomes are not directly related to balance strategies, which hampers clinical interpretation and translation to therapeutic goals. Direct measurements of kinematics can be more suitable in these respects. This study aims to investigate the concurrent validity and responsiveness of trunk angular velocity. Methods Data from fourteen healthy participants were analyzed using a within-subject design. Participants were standing on one leg on a platform with an embedded force plate that was used to impose mediolateral perturbations to evoke balance responses. To introduce variability within participants, perturbation amplitude and base-of-support width were manipulated. Time-to-stability, mean center of pressure speed and the mean vertical force deviation of the ground reaction force were derived from force plate data and mean trunk angular velocity was obtained from an inertial measurement unit. All outcomes were calculated over a five-second time window after perturbation onset. Multilevel correlations were calculated to assess the concurrent validity of trunk angular velocity. To compare the responsiveness of trunk angular velocity and force plate-based outcomes, effect sizes of a repeated measures ANOVA were used. Results Trunk angular velocity correlated strongly with center of pressure speed (r = 0.78) and the vertical force deviation (r = 0.74) and moderately with time-to-stability (r = 0.61). Trunk angular velocity demonstrated the largest effect sizes in the repeated measures ANOVA. Conclusion Trunk angular velocity is a promising outcome to use in the clinic. Its concurrent validity and responsiveness are supported by the results of this study.

Correction: Confronting historical legacies of biological anthropology in South Africa—Restitution, redress and community-centered science: The Sutherland Nine

RETRACTED: Digital twin–driven design and testing of laser shock processed aluminum–graphene composites for spacecraft docking tribology

The study presents the laser shock processed (LSP) aluminum–graphene composite development and performance evaluation as a solution for spacecraft docking systems that require high tribological reliability under vacuum and extreme thermal conditions. Hot extrusion produced a 0.02 wt% single-layer graphene composite that received LSP treatment using 3J energy with 70% pulse coverage degree. Post-LSP treatment showed both good graphene distribution across the material and refined grains throughout the surface. The treatment of LSP raised the Vickers hardness levels of the composite by 28% above the untreated sample’s outcome. The wear rate diminished by 42% under 60 N force and 0.15 m/s sliding speed in vacuum conditions. An improvement of 33% occurred in the sliding performance after LSP treatment because the COF reduced from 0.30 to 0.20. The constructed Python-based digital twin model employed multi-variable regression analysis for 30 experimental trials yielding an R² value of 0.91 and an RMSE value of 0.026 mm³/N·m. The predictive model results matched up with experimental data points within 5–8 percent ranges. Surface integrity along with wear resistance in aluminum alloys improves substantially through the application of LSP with graphene reinforcement which makes them appealing for space docking system mechanical components.

Where environment and malaria intersect: Exploring the spatio-temporal footprints of Plasmodium falciparum in Tanzania

Malaria remains a public health crisis in Tanzania, with persistent morbidities and mortalities. Malaria etiology is multifactorial, with environmental factors playing a vital role in mosquito development and malaria transmission. In Tanzania and most of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Plasmodium falciparum parasite remains the most prevalent and virulent malaria parasite. Using data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys and spatio-temporal analysis, we explore the environmental determinants of P. falciparum across different regions in Tanzania over the last 2 decades. The hotspots analysis showed that the Kigoma and Kagera regions in the north-west of Tanzania as well as the Lindi and Mtwara regions in southern Tanzania were consistently hotspots of P. falciparum malaria from 2000 to 2020. Our findings also reveal and reinforce the role of environmental factors in mediating malaria epidemiology in Tanzania. Factors such as the use of insecticide-treated nets, population, evapotranspiration and aridity were often adversely associated with P. falciparum incidence. In contrast, vegetative landcover, temperature, precipitation, and the number of wet days were directly associated with P. falciparum in Tanzania. However, the relationship between these environmental factors and malaria prevalence varied temporally and spatially. Our findings further showed that, the two most important environmental factors that mediate P falciparum incidence in Tanzania over the last two decades were precipitation and aridity. Other vital predictors included the use of insecticide nets and the number of wet days. The findings provide policy pointers for targeted malaria interventions in Tanzania in the context of environmental change.

Assessment of arterial whole blood redox potential during cardiopulmonary bypass

Introduction Imbalance in the redox equilibrium is common in any type of aggression. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) initiation induces metabolic perturbations, and reliable biological monitoring tools for this condition are currently limited (e.g., lactate/pyruvate ratio). The measurement of arterial whole blood redox potential (Eredox) provides a systemic assessment of the redox state and may serve as a valuable marker for detecting metabolic perturbations during CPB. In this prospective exploratory study involving patients undergoing cardiac surgery, we investigated variations in Eredox and lactate/pyruvate ratio during CPB initiation. Methods Using a prospective exploratory study design, we assessed the changes in Eredox and relevant variables during the initiation of CPB in 16 cardiac surgery patients. Results Upon initiation of CPB we observed a significant decrease in arterial whole blood redox potential (101.90 mV + /- 11.52 vs. 41.80 mV + /- 10,26; p < 0.0001). Concomitantly, the lactate/pyruvate ratio significantly increased (12.81 + /- 0.90 vs 67.1 + /- 7.94; p < 0.0001) while the acetoacetate/β-hydroxybutyrate ratio significantly decreased (1.11 + /- 0.19 vs. 0.54 + /- 0.05 at 0 min; p = 0.0055). The circulatory failure indicated by changes in the lactate/pyruvate ratio and ketone bodies at the initiation of CPB correlated with a significant reduction in Eredox. Conclusion Arterial Eredox is a novel variable that holds promise in the detection and monitoring of metabolic aggression during CPB. Its assessment during CPB initiation could provide valuable insights into the patient’s circulatory status, as the Eredox appears to be more sensitive than lactate for monitoring circulatory insufficiency.

Sexual and reproductive health challenges among adolescents and young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus disability in Uganda: A qualitative study

Introduction Globally, 180 million young people aged 10–24 live with a physical or mental health disability. Their rights to sexual and reproductive health have been denied often overshadowed by the societal negative knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes. This study sough to explore sexual and reproductive health challenges among adolescents and young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus disability in Uganda. Methods This was an exploratory community based cross-sectional qualitative study among adolescents in Uganda. We conducted 60 semi structured interviews, 30 with Adolescents and young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and 30 with caregivers between March 2021 and February 2022 to explore their sexual and reproductive health challenges. Through thematic analysis, we identified common themes across the interviews regarding their challenges. Results Participants reported a number of sexual and reproductive health challenges including sexual violence and abuse, incontinence and stigma, Inability to feel sexually empowered, other adolescents are coerced to take birth control methods without their informed decision. Negative Socio-cultural beliefs, lack of and inaccessible sexual reproductive health information and poor menstrual health management. Conclusion Adolescents and young people with spina bifida experience a number of sexual and reproductive challenges that are not given attention and often overshadowed by the negative knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices within the society. Therefore, there is need to develop and implement programs and awareness campaigns aimed for the empowerment of individuals with SB to seek knowledge and skill building regarding sexual and reproductive health.

Improving nutrition outcomes through enhanced allocative efficiency of investments in 24 high risk counties in Kenya: An Optima Nutrition modelling study

Introduction Undernutrition remains a significant global challenge, severely impacting children’s development and growth. To address this, the Sustainable Development Goals target a substantial reduction in stunting and wasting by 2025. Achieving these goals requires scaling up evidence-based nutritional interventions; however, limited budgets pose challenges in funding all necessary programs. To assist policymakers in making informed decisions, the World Bank developed the Optima Nutrition Modelling tool, which optimizes the allocation of nutrition investments. Kenya, with its high prevalence of stunting, was the focus of this study. Using the Optima Nutrition model, we aimed to (1) assess the impact of scaling up evidence-based nutrition interventions and (2) determine how existing resources could be optimized to reduce stunting, wasting, and anemia in children under five and anemia in pregnant women across 24 counties with the poorest nutrition outcomes. Methods Utilizing the Optima Nutrition model, we analyzed demographic and intervention data to assess the impact and allocation of interventions. Scenario analyses and optimization techniques were employed to reallocate resources and evaluate their potential impact on reducing undernutrition. Results When scaled up to 95% coverage and maintained until 2030, across the counties the interventions resulted in median relative reductions of 14.6% in stunting prevalence, 23% in wasting prevalence, 20.6% in anaemia prevalence among children and 64.2% in anaemia prevalence among pregnant women. For stunting, the optimized scenarios prioritized infant and young child feeding education, vitamin A supplementation, lipid-based nutrition supplements for children, and balanced energy-protein supplementation and multiple micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women. For wasting, cash transfers was prioritized. For anaemia in children, long-lasting insecticide treated bednets and IFA fortification of maize were prioritized. For anaemia in pregnant women, multiple micronutrient supplementation, iron and folic acid supplementation and long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets were prioritized. Conclusion This study provided a comprehensive assessment of the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and anemia among children under five years in 24 counties in Kenya. The Optima model suggested that scaling up nutrition-specific interventions under the same baseline budgets could lead to significant reductions in stunting, wasting, and anemia in Kenya. Additionally, the study identified interventions that should be prioritized during nutrition intervention resource allocation.

Productivity model and analysis of influencing factors on horizontal fracture productivity in ultra-low permeability reservoir

Ultra-low permeability reservoir is characterized by the complex seepage law, Darcy’s law is not applicable to which and it is difficult to predict vertical well horizontal fracture productivity effectively. In this study, according to the law of equivalent percolation resistance, vertical well fracturing horizontal fracture seepage field is divided into two areas by pseudo-well assumptions: the reservoir external seepage resistance generated outside pseudo-well, where seepage flow is radial flow. Reservoir inner seepage resistance generated in pseudo-well, where seepage flow is vertical linear unidirectional flow. Based on principle of hydroelectricity similarity, the inner with the external seepage resistance were combined in series, the vertical well horizontal fracture productivity prediction model was established, and the productivity influence factors were analyzed by simulation. The results demonstrated that horizontal permeability had a great influence on oil production, and vertical permeability had little influence on the production. The bigger starting pressure gradient existed the critical value, the oil wells production showed a marked decline with the value bigger.

Synergistic effects of Rhynchosia nulubilis and Polygonum multiflorum extract combination on cell proliferation via targeting IGFBP-1 & NT-3 and cytotoxicity suppression in testosterone-induced human dermal papilla cells

This study examines the synergistic effects of extracts from Rhynchosia nulubilis (RN) and Polygonum multiflorum (PM) on the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and the alleviation of testosterone-induced cytotoxicity. Human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) were treated with varying concentrations of RN and PM extracts, administered both individually and in multiple combinations at different ratios. The findings indicated that a 4:1 combination of RN and PM extracts significantly enhanced hDPC proliferation relative to the individual extracts, particularly in the presence of testosterone, which induced cytotoxicity. A significant synergistic effect was observed at a 4:1 ratio, resulting in the creation of a human growth factor array to identify targets associated with this synergy. The combined-extract group exhibited elevated levels of two significant growth factors: insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). This was additionally validated through Western blot analysis. HPLC analysis identified six compounds and screening was conducted. As a result, genistein derived from RN and 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (2354-T2G) sourced from PM may be responsible for these effects. This is the first study to illustrate the significant synergistic effect of the combination of RN and PM, suggesting a potential treatment strategy that boosts the efficacy of natural compounds through synergy. The results suggest that the combined extracts could be useful as an effective treatment strategy for hair loss and associated disorders. Furthermore, this synergy-based approach has potential applications in future research on natural products.

Correction: Impact of productive social safety net on households’ vulnerability to poverty in Tanzania

South China sea issue and Southeast Asian countries’ perception of China’s image: An empirical study based on GDELT big data

How does the South China Sea issue affect China’s image in Southeast Asian countries? Has it diminished Southeast Asian countries’ perception of China? Based on the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT) from 2010 to 2024, this study empirically examines the impact of the South China Sea issue on Southeast Asian countries’ perception of China’s image using a panel multiple linear regression model. The empirical results show a significant positive correlation between the South China Sea issue and Southeast Asian countries’ perception of China’s image. Specifically, the positive impact of verbal events, material events, and the scale of events related to the South China Sea significantly enhances the positive evaluation and recognition of China among Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, GDP plays a moderating role in this process, weakening the positive impact of verbal events, factual events, and the scale of South China Sea events on China’s positive evaluation and recognition. In Southeast Asian countries with territorial disputes and sovereignty conflicts with China, the influence of factual events and the scale of South China Sea events on the perception of China’s image is more pronounced. In contrast, in Southeast Asian countries without such disputes, verbal events have a more significant impact on their perception of China’s image.

Evaluation of an inpatient psychocardiological rehabilitation program in Austria: Psychosocial outcomes of a six-month cohort study

Background Resources for psychosocial care in conventional cardiologic settings are limited. To address this gap, the first inpatient psychocardiological rehabilitation program in Austria aimed at providing integrative rehabilitation for patients with concurrent heart and mental health conditions has been piloted. The six-week program is provided in two consecutive rehabilitation modules and focuses on psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions embedded within the key elements of conventional cardiac rehabilitation. The objective of this cohort study was to evaluate the psychosocial outcomes of the pilot program, with a particular emphasis on longer-term results. Methods This study is a quantitative observational outcome evaluation based on patient-reported data collected at four consecutive time points during and six months after completing the two-part program. We conducted a repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with heart-focused anxiety (CAQ), global psychological distress (SCL-90®-S) and health-related quality of life (SF-12) as combined dependent variables. Time and social functioning (SAS-SR) on admission were included as explanatory variables. Ninety patients provided informed consent, finished the program and provided follow-up data. Results Six months after rehabilitation, significant reductions were observed in patients’ heart-focused anxiety (ηp2 =.144) and global psychological distress (ηp2 =.057) as well as a significant increase in mental quality of life (ηp2 =.137) compared to the admission values. Effect sizes expectedly decreased over time. Physical quality of life remained relatively constant over time and was the only outcome for which social integration on admission was not a significant prognostic factor. Conclusions The results indicate sustainable reductions in psychosocial symptoms and improvements in health-related quality of life following the inpatient psychocardiological rehabilitation program in Austria. Targeted referral of patients to psychocardiological rehabilitation, individualized bio-psycho-social treatment plans and the provision of need-based, integrated aftercare are essential for achieving and sustaining optimal rehabilitation outcomes.

Assessing yield stability of pearl millet and rice cropping systems across West Africa using long-term experiments and a modeling approach

Long-term field experiments (LTEs) provide invaluable insights into temporal yield patterns of agronomic interventions. However, the number of LTEs and agronomic management options tested withing these experiments remain limited compared to the diversity of farming systems in West Africa. Well-tested crop models may be used to identify crop management strategies with high temporal yield stability. This study examines the yield stability of pearl millet and rice under various management options in West Africa, utilizing both experimental and modeling approaches. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) for pearl millet and rice were calibrated and tested for locally-recommended varieties using LTE data from Niger (pearl millet) and Senegal (rice). Yield stability was evaluated with multiple metrics, including the adjusted coefficient of variation, the sustainable yield index, and the Finlay-Wilkinson regression coefficient. Both APSIM models exhibited a strong performance for grain yield, with Willmott’s indices of agreement at 0.74 for pearl millet and 0.90 for rice, and absolute root mean square errors of 0.19 and 1.20 Mg ha-1, respectively. The models effectively reproduced yield stability patterns across a variety of management options including planting date, planting density, fertilizer treatments, and residue retention. Combining fertilizer applications with crop residue retention enhanced yield stability in pearl millet, while season-specific nitrogen management strategies reduced yield variability in rice. Our study underscores the potential of well-tested crop models to complement LTEs in investigating pearl millet and rice yield stability, offering actionable insights for agronomic intensification strategies to enhance productivity and sustainability.

Self-tuning trajectory tracking control for concrete pouring construction robots based on PID-NFTSMC and CPO algorithm

This paper presented a self-tuning trajectory tracking control strategy for concrete pouring construction robots operating under external disturbances and system uncertainties. To enhance operational stability and robustness, the study integrated proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control with nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (NFTSMC), enabling faster convergence to the desired trajectory and reduced steady-state errors. Additionally, the study employed the crested porcupine optimizer (CPO) algorithm to automatically optimize PID control gains and NFTSMC sliding surface parameters, ensuring adaptability across varying conditions. The proposed control strategy was validated through extensive simulations, demonstrating superior trajectory tracking performance. The PID-NFTSMC controller achieved a maximum trajectory tracking error of 0.098740 and a root-mean-square (RMS) error of 0.007405 for Joint 1. For Joint 2 and Joint 3, the proposed controller exhibited maximum errors of 0.105880 and 0.088740, with RMS errors of 0.009859 and 0.007605, respectively. The convergence time for three joints was 0.1553s, 0.1540s and 0.0100s respectively. These results confirmed that concrete pouring construction robots operating had fast and high accuracy trajectory tracking and robustness against external disturbances. The findings highlight the practical significance of this approach in improving the precision and reliability of concrete pouring construction robots.

SCRQE: Subjective comparative relation quintuple extraction from questions in product domain

The extraction of subjective comparative relations is essential in the field of question answering systems, playing a crucial role in accurately interpreting and addressing complex questions. To tackle this challenge, we propose the SCQRE model, specifically designed to extract subjective comparative relations from questions by focusing on entities, aspects, constraints, and preferences. Our approach leverages multi-task learning, the Natural Language Inference (NLI) paradigm, and a specialized adapter integrated into RoBERTa_base_go_emotions to enhance performance in Element Extraction (EE), Compared Elements Identification (CEI), and Comparative Preference Classification (CPC). Key innovations include handling X- and XOR-type preferences, capturing implicit comparative nuances, and the robust extraction of constraints often neglected in existing models. We also introduce the Smartphone-SCQRE dataset, along with another domain-specific dataset, Brands-CompSent-19-SCQRE, both structured as subjective comparative questions. Experimental results demonstrate that our model outperforms existing approaches across multiple question-level and sentence-level datasets and surpasses recent language models, such as GPT-3.5-turbo-0613, Llama-2-70b-chat, and Qwen-1.5-7B-Chat, showcasing its effectiveness in question-based comparative relation extraction.

MeVGAN: GAN-based plugin model for video generation with applications in colonoscopy

The generation of videos is crucial, particularly in the medical field, where a significant amount of data is presented in this format. However, due to the extensive memory requirements, creating high-resolution videos poses a substantial challenge for generative models. In this paper, we introduce the Memory Efficient Video GAN (MeVGAN)–a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) that incorporates a plugin-type architecture. This system utilizes a pre-trained 2D-image GAN, to which we attach a straightforward neural network designed to develop specific trajectories within the noise space. These trajectories, when processed through the GAN, produce realistic videos. We deploy MeVGAN specifically for creating colonoscopy videos, a critical procedure in the medical field, notably helpful for screening and treating colorectal cancer. We show that MeVGAN can produce good quality synthetic colonoscopy videos, which can be potentially used in virtual simulators.

Analysis of the deployment scale and investment prediction of China’s coal power carbon capture technology under typical scenarios before 2050

This study evaluates the potential for green and low-carbon transformation in China’s coal-fired power sector by analyzing seven representative scenarios, including projections for total installed capacity, power generation, and coal-fired power metrics before 2050. Carbon emissions are estimated using a conversion factor of 0.899 kg CO₂ per kWh, while deployment scales and emission reduction potentials for carbon capture technologies are calculated based on IEA (2022) assumptions for low (30%) and high (90%) installation ratios. The study further quantifies installation and operational costs, investment requirements by 2050, and annual investments from 2030 to 2050 under both scenarios. Results demonstrate that high-proportion carbon capture deployment can significantly accelerate the sector’s low-carbon transition, fostering an emerging industry worth over 20 trillion yuan and delivering dual benefits of emissions reduction and economic growth. Policy support for large-scale implementation is critical. By pioneering multi-scenario modelling, this research systematically projects China’s coal-fired CCUS deployment needs under 1.5°C and 2°C climate targets, integrating IEA frameworks with domestic policy scenarios to assess industrial-scale potential and inform decision-making. This work provides the first systematic integration of IEA projections with China-specific policy scenarios, offering policymakers a framework to balance climate targets with energy transition realities.

Emergency department’s patient safety culture perceived by healthcare workers: A scoping review protocol

A strong patient safety culture is critical for ensuring effective healthcare systems, particularly in high-risk environments such as emergency departments. Assessing patient safety culture requires the identification of strengths and weaknesses within clinical departments to enable targeted improvement. Patient safety in emergency departments is especially vulnerable due to overcrowding, necessity for rapid decision-making, and high pressure. However, the existing literature has not been systematically mapped to understand how healthcare workers perceive the patient safety culture in these settings. This scoping review aims to synthesize and map available evidence on patient safety culture as perceived by healthcare workers in emergency departments. This review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology designed explicitly for scoping reviews, and the results will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The inclusion criteria will be based on the Population (healthcare workers), Concept (patient safety culture), and Context (emergency department settings) framework. A comprehensive search will be conducted in PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, KISS, and grey literature sources, such as ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global and Google Scholar. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two researchers, with a third researcher resolving discrepancies. Descriptive analysis will summarize the study characteristics, while content and thematic analyses will identify key themes related to patient safety culture. The findings will be presented at academic conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Navigating the AI landscape in SMEs: Overcoming internal challenges and external obstacles for effective integration

Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is hampered by a variety of internal and external challenges. This article analyses these hurdles and underlines the need of an adaptation framework designed particularly for SMEs. The study collects primary data by conducting detailed interviews with representatives from six different SMEs in distinct sectors. The results indicate substantial internal obstacles, including reluctance to change, fear of job displacement by technology, and restricted resources, all of which impede the incorporation of AI. SMEs encounter a dynamic technological landscape, stringent regulatory requirements, and intense rivalry externally, necessitating agile and prompt strategy adjustments, a challenge often faced by SMEs. Ultimately, this research highlights the need of creating AI implementation plans that are customized to the distinct requirements and situations of SMEs. More adaptable and supportive legislative frameworks are essential to assist these enterprises in efficiently using AI and staying competitive in the digital era. This study contributes to the current discourse on technological progress in SMEs and establishes the foundation for next policies and initiatives designed to enhance their competitive edge using AI technology.

TP-RotatE: A knowledge graph representation learning method combining path information and rules to capture complex relational patterns

Representation learning on a knowledge graph (KG) aims to map entities and relationships into a low-dimensional vector space. Traditional methods for representation learning have predominantly focused on the structural aspects of triples within the KG. While existing approaches have endeavored to integrate path information and rules to enhance the structural richness of KGs, these efforts have been constrained by the lack of consideration for complex relational representations and contextual information. In this study, we introduce TP-RotatE, an innovative method that leverages the semantic context of triples to effectively capture more intricate relational patterns. Specifically, our model harnesses contextual information surrounding the head entity and distills relevant rules. These rules are then integrated with path information to offer a more holistic perspective on the relationships embedded within complex vector spaces. Furthermore, the synergy between rules and paths empowers the knowledge-embedded model to handle the intricacies of complex relationships. Experimental results on a benchmark dataset confirm that TP-RotatE surpasses current baseline methods in KG inference tasks, achieving state-of-the-art performance.