Swinging

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether lower limb joints mutually compensate for each other, resulting in motor synergy that suppresses toe vertical position fluctuation, and whether walking speeds affect lower limb synergy. METHODS: Seventeen male university students walked at slow (0.85 ± 0.04 m/s), medium (1.43 ± 0.05 m/s) and fast (1.99 ± 0.06 m/s) speeds on a 15-m walkway while lower limb kinematic data were collected...

Characterized by symptoms that remain or appear for the first time within three months of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID can manifest itself in different ways, including in non-hospitalized or asymptomatic cases. Thus, this study offers an overview of long COVID in Brazil, especially of its diagnosis, symptoms, and challenges for new health management. Data from a study that investigated long COVID in people affected by COVID-19 were used. These original data stem from a survey with adult Brazilians (aged 18 years or older) who had COVID-19 that collected information from March 14 to April 14, 2022, by a questionnaire on social media...

The pathophysiological interplay between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) is complex and can involve a variety of mechanisms by which SDB can worsen PH. These mechanistic pathways include wide swings in intrathoracic pressure while breathing against an occluded upper airway, intermittent and/or sustained hypoxemia, acute and/or chronic hypercapnia, and obesity. In this review, we discuss how the downstream consequences of SDB can adversely impact PH, the challenges in accurately diagnosing and classifying PH in the severely obese, and review the limited literature assessing the effect of treating obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome on PH...

Spatial-temporal optical vortices (STOVs) have recently become the focus of newly structured optical fields. In this paper, their propagation on a 2D curved surface named the constant Gaussian curvature surface (CGCS) is studied. Using the matrix optics approach, we provide the analytical solution of the STOV propagation under the paraxial approximation on the CGCS with positive curvature. One method of creating timers is made possible by the spatiotemporal distribution direction of STOV light intensity, which swings like a pendulum throughout the evolution, in contrast to propagation on a flat surface...

Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors as basic electronic devices of integrated circuits have been greatly developed and widely used in the past decades. However, as the thickness of the conducting channel decreases, the interface electronic scattering between the gate oxide layer and the channel significantly impacts the performance of the transistor. To address this issue, van der Waals heterojunction field-effect transistors (vdWJFETs) have been proposed using two-dimensional semiconductors, which utilize the built-in electric field at the sharp van der Waals interface to regulate the channel conductance without the need of a complex gate oxide layer...

Planar silicon nanowires (SiNWs), grown by using low temperature catalytic approaches, are excellent 1D channel materials for developing high-performance logics and sensors. However, a deterministic position and size control of the metallic catalyst droplets, that lead to the growth of SiNWs, remains still a significant challenge for reliable device integration. In this work, we present a convenient but powerful edge-trimming catalyst formation strategy, which can help to produce a rather uniform single-row of indium (In) catalyst droplets of D cat = 67 ± 5 nm in diameter, with an exact one-droplet-on-one-step arrangement...

Robotic lower-limb prostheses, with their actively powered joints, may significantly improve amputee users' mobility and enable them to obtain healthy-like gait in various modes of locomotion in daily life. However, timely recognition of the amputee users' locomotive mode and mode transition still remains a major challenge in robotic lower-limb prosthesis control. In the paper, the authors present a new multi-dimensional dynamic time warping (mDTW)-based intent recognizer to provide high-accuracy recognition of the locomotion mode/mode transition sufficiently early in the swing phase, such that the prosthesis' joint-level motion controller can operate in the correct locomotive mode and assist the user to complete the desired (and often power-demanding) motion in the stance phase...

The introduction of resistant and lightweight materials in the construction industry has led to civil structures being vulnerable to excessive vibrations, particularly in footbridges exposed to human-induced gait loads. This interaction, known as Human-Structure Interaction (HSI), involves a complex interplay between structural vibrations and gait loads. Despite extensive research on HSI, the simultaneous effects of lateral structural vibrations with fundamental frequencies close to human gait frequency (around 1...

Quantitative analysis of human gait is critical for the early discovery, progressive tracking, and rehabilitation of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and cerebral palsy. Gait analysis typically involves estimating gait characteristics, such as spatiotemporal gait parameters and gait health indicators (e.g., step time, length, symmetry, and balance). Traditional methods of gait analysis involve the use of cameras, wearables, and force plates but are limited in operational requirements when applied in daily life, such as direct line-of-sight, carrying devices, and dense deployment...

Carboxylic acids can be isolated from fermentation broths using reactive liquid-liquid extraction, offering an alternative to the environmentally harmful state-of-the-art process of precipitating calcium lactate. To enhance the sustainability of liquid-liquid extraction processes, greener solvents, such as natural deep eutectic solvents, are investigated. However, fermentation broths often exhibit pH values unsuitable for carboxylic acid extraction, which can be adjusted using mineral acids, though mineral acids may be co-extracted...

Recently, composite materials consisting of ionic liquids (ILs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a great deal of attention due to their fantastic properties. Many theoretical studies have been performed on their special structures and gas separation applications. Yet, the mechanism for the diffusion of ILs inside MOF channels still remains unclear. Here, the DFT calculations (e.g., rigid and relaxed potential energy surface, PES, scan) together with frontier orbital analysis, natural charge analysis, and energy decomposition analysis were performed to investigate the diffusion behavior of a typical IL, [C4 mim][PF6 ], into the ZIF-8 SOD cage...

We investigated the effects of gate bias regarding the degradation of electrical characteristics during gamma irradiation. Moreover, we observed the punch through failure of 1.2 kV rated commercial Silicon Carbide (SiC) Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) due to the influence of gate bias. In addition, the threshold voltage (VT ) and on-resistance (Ron ) of the SiC MOSFETs decreased significantly by the influence of gate bias during gamma irradiation. We extracted the concentration of carriers and fixed charge (QF ) in oxide using N-type SiC MOS capacitors and Transmission Line Measurement (TLM) patterns to analyze the effects of gamma irradiation...

Leveraging poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [(PVDF-TrFE)] as the dielectric, we fabricated organic ferroelectric field-effect transistors (OFe-FETs). These devices demonstrate quasi-static transfer characteristics that include a hysteresis window alongside transient phenomena that bear resemblance to synaptic plasticity-encapsulating excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) as well as both short-term and long-term potentiation (STP/LTP). We also explore and elucidate other aspects such as the subthreshold swing and the hysteresis window under dynamic state by varying the pace of voltage sweeps...

BACKGROUND: Maintaining gait stability is an important factor for preventing falls of normal adults. Thus, it is necessary to conduct research on gait variables in normal adults. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we conducted research on the effect of rhythmic exercise using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns on gait variables in normal adults. METHODS: Thirty-two subjects were divided into two groups, the training and control groups, with 16 subjects in each group...

Non-volatile memory based on thin-film transistor is crucial for system-on-panel and flexible electronic systems. Achieving high-performance and reliable thin-film transistor (TFT) memory still remains challenging. Here, for the first time, we present a ZnO TFT memory utilizing self-assembled Au nanocrystals with a low thermal budget, exhibiting excellent memory performance, including a program/erase window of 9.8 V, 29% charge loss extrapolated to 10 years, and remarkable endurance characteristics. Moreover, the memory exhibits favorable on-state characteristics with mobility, subthreshold swing, and current on-off ratio of 17...

The present study aimed to formulate and characterize a hesperetin formulation to achieve adequate deposition and retention of hesperetin in the epidermis as a target for some cosmetic/dermatological actions. To derive the final emulgel, various formulations incorporating different proportions of Polysorbate 80 and hyaluronic acid underwent testing through a Box-Behnken experimental design. Nine formulations were created until the targeted emulgel properties were achieved. This systematic approach, following the principles of a design of experiment (DoE) methodology, adheres to a quality-by-design (QbD) paradigm, ensuring a robust and purposeful formulation and highlighting the commitment to a quality-driven design approach...

In this paper, we proposed a miniature quadrupedal piezoelectric robot with a mass of 1.8 g and a body length of 4.6 cm. The robot adopts a novel spatial parallel mechanism as its transmission. Each leg of the robot has two degrees of freedom (DOFs): swing and lift. The trajectory necessary for walking is achieved by the appropriate phasing of these two DOFs. A new manufacturing method for piezoelectric actuators was developed. During the stacking process, discrete patterned PZT pieces are used to avoid dielectric failure caused by laser cutting...

Soil adhesion is one of the important factors affecting the working stability and quality of agricultural machinery. The application of bionic non-smooth surfaces provides a novel idea for soil anti-adhesion. The parameters of sandy loam with 21% moisture content were calibrated by the Engineering Discrete Element Method (EDEM). The final simulated soil repose angle was highly consistent with the measured soil repose angle, and the obtained regression equation of the soil repose angle provides a numerical reference for the parameter calibration of different soils...

BACKGROUND: Congenital dislocation of the knee (CDK) may be idiopathic or associated with another condition, such as Larsen syndrome or arthrogryposis. Surgical reduction of type-3 dislocation may require quadricepsplasty (QP) or femoral diaphyseal shortening (FS). Because it is unknown which treatment is more effective, we evaluated long-term outcomes using patient-reported questionnaires and gait analysis, comparing results by surgery type and underlying diagnosis. METHODS: Twelve patients (mean age, 19 mo) were treated surgically for CDK from 1985 to 2015 and studied 9 to 30 years postoperatively...

Hamada, Y, Akasaka, K, Otsudo, T, Sawada, Y, Hattori, H, Kikuchi, Y, and Hall, T. Golfers' performance is improved more by combining foam rolling and dynamic stretch to the lead hip than practice golf swinging. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Warming up is considered effective in improving performance and preventing injury. Despite this, there have been few studies investigating warm-up programs in golf and whether specific factors contribute to improved performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of combined foam rolling and dynamic stretch (FR + DS) to the lead hip on golf swing performance, hip range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength in amateur golfers using a randomized crossover design...