Search Results (81)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to indicate which variables are the most important determinants of swimming results in the 50 m front crawl among non-elite pre-pubertal female swimmers. Methods: The study group consisted of 14 female swimmers (at the time of the research commencement—biological age: 10.52 ± 0.37 years; body mass: 34.99 ± 2.77 kg; height: 146.00 ± 3.05 cm). The study was conducted over three years. The swimmers performed capacity training recommended by the British Swimming Federation. Every 6 months, in the participants the following parameters were measured: percentage of body fat; anthropometric measurements; aerobic and anaerobic capacity; and respiratory parameters: vital capacity—VC, forced expiratory volume—FEV1, and forced vital capacity—FVC. Additionally, a 50 m front crawl swim test was performed. Results: After adjusting for multicollinearity, the most influential determinants of swimming performance were anthropometric measures: shoulder width was the most influential predictor, with a regression coefficient of −0.66, followed by foot length (with a beta of −0.15) and chest depth (with a beta of 0.008). The remaining anthropometric and physical predictors did not contribute to the prediction of 50 m freestyle performance. Conclusions: These research results suggest to coaches and trainers that sports performance in sprint distances in pre-pubertal girls is not determined by aerobic and anaerobic capacity or body fat but is based on the somatic build of the swimmer. Full article

With accelerating urbanization, the outdoor thermal environment has become a critical factor affecting the thermal comfort of public spaces, particularly in high-density commercial districts and pedestrian-concentrated areas. To enhance thermal comfort and livability in public outdoor space, this study proposes a thermal demand-responsive design approach that integrates thermal conditions with pedestrian flow dynamics. A commercial pedestrian mall featuring semi-open public spaces and air-conditioned interior retail areas was selected as a case study. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted based on design-phase documentation and field measurements to model the thermal environment. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was employed to assess thermal comfort levels, and thermal discomfort was further quantified using the Heat Discomfort Index (HI). Simultaneously, pedestrian density distribution (λ) was analyzed using the agent-based simulation software MassMotion (Version 11.0). A demand of thermal comfort (DTC) index was developed by coupling UTCI-based thermal conditions with pedestrian density, enabling the spatial quantification of thermal demand across the whole commercial pedestrian mall. For example, in a sidewalk area parallel to the main street, several points exhibited high discomfort levels (HI = 0.95) but low pedestrian volume, resulting in DTC values approximately 0.2 units lower than adjacent zones with lower discomfort levels (HI = 0.7) but higher foot traffic. Such differences demonstrate how DTC can reveal priority areas for intervention. Key zones requiring thermal improvement were identified based on DTC values, providing a quantitative foundation for outdoor thermal environment design. This method provides both a theoretical foundation and a practical tool for the sustainable planning and optimization of urban public spaces. Full article

Background: Mastectomy, a common treatment for breast cancer, often leads to complications such as pain, fibrosis, restricted mobility, lymphedema, reduced strength in the affected arm, and emotional distress. Non-pharmacological therapies, including massage therapy, offer a holistic approach to managing these symptoms. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of massage therapy on the symptomatology in women post-mastectomy for breast cancer. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases including PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, Dialnet, Science Direct, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies published in English or Spanish over the past 16 years. The search was conducted in March 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies, retrospective analyses, and secondary trial analyses involving women aged 45–64 who received massage therapy as a complementary treatment. Results: Twenty-six studies involving 1522 participants were included. Interventions assessed were manual lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, foot massage, classical massage, and the Cyriax technique. The key findings demonstrated significant benefits, including improved range of motion, reduced arm circumference and lymphedema volume, enhanced quality of life, and increased relaxation. Conclusions: According to the results of this systematic review, massage therapy interventions can have a positive impact on the symptomatology in women post-mastectomy for breast cancer and may represent a suitable complementary approach to post-mastectomy breast cancer treatment. Full article

This study aims to mitigate slope-collapse hazards that threaten life and property at the Lujiawan resettlement site in Wanbi Town, Dayao County, Yunnan Province, within the Guanyinyan hydropower reservoir. It integrates centimeter-level point-cloud data collected by a DJI Matrice 350 RTK equipped with a Zenmuse L2 airborne LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) sensor with detailed structural-joint survey data. First, qualitative structural interpretation is conducted with stereographic projection. Next, safety factors are quantified using the limit-equilibrium method, establishing a dual qualitative–quantitative diagnostic framework. This framework delineates six hazardous rock zones (WY1–WY6), dominated by toppling and free-fall failure modes, and evaluates their stability under combined rainfall infiltration, seismic loading, and ambient conditions. Subsequently, six-degree-of-freedom Monte Carlo simulations incorporating realistic three-dimensional terrain and block geometry are performed in RAMMS::ROCKFALL (Rapid Mass Movements Simulation—Rockfall). The resulting spatial patterns of rockfall velocity, kinetic energy, and rebound height elucidate their evolution coupled with slope height, surface morphology, and block shape. Results show peak velocities ranging from 20 to 42 m s⁻¹ and maximum kinetic energies between 0.16 and 1.4 MJ. Most rockfall trajectories terminate within 0–80 m of the cliff base. All six identified hazardous rock masses pose varying levels of threat to residential structures at the slope foot, highlighting substantial spatial variability in hazard distribution. Drawing on the preceding diagnostic results and dynamic simulations, we recommend a three-tier “zonal defense with in situ energy dissipation” scheme: (i) install 500–2000 kJ flexible barriers along the crest and upper slope to rapidly attenuate rockfall energy; (ii) place guiding or deflection structures at mid-slope to steer blocks and dissipate momentum; and (iii) deploy high-capacity flexible nets combined with a catchment basin at the slope foot to intercept residual blocks. This staged arrangement maximizes energy attenuation and overall risk reduction. This study shows that integrating high-resolution 3D point clouds with rigid-body contact dynamics overcomes the spatial discontinuities of conventional surveys. The approach substantially improves the accuracy and efficiency of hazardous rock stability assessments and rockfall trajectory predictions, offering a quantifiable, reproducible mitigation framework for long slopes, large rock volumes, and densely fractured cliff faces. Full article

Lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) requires precise limb measurements for treatment evaluation and compression garment design. Tape measurement (TM) is the standard method but is time-consuming. Smartphones with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology may offer fast and efficient alternatives for three-dimensional imaging and measurement. This study evaluated the accuracy, reliability, and time efficiency of LiDAR measurements compared with those of TM in patients with LEL. A healthy volunteer and 55 patients were included. Circumferences of the foot, ankle, calf, knee, and thigh and the volume were measured using TM and smartphones with LiDAR. The water displacement method was used to validate volume measurements. The measurement time, reliability, correlation, agreement, and systematic differences between the methods were assessed. LiDAR showed excellent reliability in the healthy volunteer (inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.960–0.988) and significantly reduced the measurement time compared with TM (64.0 ± 15.1 vs. 115.3 ± 30.6 s). In patients with LEL, strong correlations and agreements were observed for ankle, calf, and knee measurements. However, foot and thigh measurements showed lower correlations and larger discrepancies. LiDAR has excellent accuracy and reliability in measuring the circumference and volume of the lower leg and has the potential to reduce the time required to acquire data. Limitations include lower accuracy for foot and thigh measurements and the current workflow complexity, which requires the use of multiple software tools. Full article

Introduction: Evidence for the diagnostic yield of noninvasive diagnostic assessment for the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is poor. Pulse volume recordings (PVRs) at the forefoot level could be a valuable diagnostic tool in the presence of medial arterial calcification. Patients and methods: Patients with DFS who underwent invasive angiography between 01/2020 and 11/2024 and had corresponding PVRs performed within 30 days prior to the procedure were included. DFS was classified according to the Wagner–Armstrong classification. Clinical characteristics and hemodynamic parameters, including systolic ankle pressures and ankle–brachial index were recorded. PVRs were analyzed semiquantitatively by investigators blinded to the clinical information and quantitatively with determination of upstroke time (UST), upstroke ratio (USR), and maximum systolic amplitude (MSA). Angiographic PAD severity was graded according to the GLASS classification. Statistical analysis included univariate significance tests, 2 × 2 contingency tables, receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) analysis and determination of interobserver agreement. Results: In this study, 90 extremities of 70 patients were analyzed, 47 of whom had an ABI ≥ 1.3. Critical limb-threatening ischemia with non-pulsatile PVRs was evident in 6.7%. An abnormal PVR curve morphology (mildly or severely abnormal) yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 63.3% and 85.7% for detection of severe PAD (GLASS stages 2 and 3). Interobserver agreement of semiquantitative PVR rating was substantial (Cohen’s kappa 0.8) in 51 evaluated cases. For detection of any PAD (GLASS ≥ 1) or severe PAD (GLASS ≥ 2), we found the highest diagnostic accuracy for MSA (area under the curve [AUC] 0.89 and 0.82). With a cut-off value of 0.58 mmHg, MSA had a sensitivity of 91.4% and a specificity of 80.8% for detection of any PAD (GLASS ≥ 1). MSA with a cut-off of 0.27 mmHg had a sensitivity of 72.2% and a specificity of 77.1% for detection of severe PAD, whereas the sensitivity and specificity for detection of inframalleolar disease were 62.9% and 69.4%, respectively. Results were consistent in subgroup analyses. Conclusions: PVRs with extraction of quantitative features offer promising diagnostic yield for detection of PAD in the setting of DFS. MSA outperformed UST and USR but showed limited capability of detecting impaired inframalleolar outflow. Full article

In this study, we present a methodology for predicting timber board foot volume using a forest landscape model, incorporating allometric equations and forest inventory data. The research focuses on the Ozark Plateau, a 48,000-square-mile region characterized by productive soils and varied precipitation. To simulate timber volume, we used the LANDIS PRO forest landscape model, initialized with forest composition data derived from the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots. The model accounted for species-specific growth rates and was run from the year 2000 to 2100 at five-year intervals. Timber volume estimates were calculated using both quadratic mean diameter (QMD) and tree diameter in the Hahn and Hansen board foot volume equation. These estimates were compared across different forest types—deciduous, coniferous, and mixed stands—and verified against FIA plot data using a paired permutation test. Results showed high correlations between QMD and tree diameter methods, with a slightly lower volume estimate from the QMD approach. Projections indicate significant increases in board foot volume for key species groups such as red oak and white oak while showing declines toward the end of the model period in groups like shortleaf pine due to age-related mortality and regeneration challenges. The model’s estimates closely align with state-level FIA data, underscoring the effectiveness of the integrated approach. The study highlights the utility of integrating landscape models and forest inventory data to predict timber volume over time, offering valuable insights for forest management and policy planning. Full article

This study explores the water inrush phenomenon and its control measures during tunnel construction in enclosed karst geological conditions through a real case study. Using numerical simulation methods, the study investigates the variations in water level drawdown, drainage volume, and the changes in principal stress and displacement at four locations (arch waist, left arch waist, left arch foot, and arch bottom) during tunnel construction under three excavation methods (full-face excavation method (FFEM), bench excavation method (BEM), and reserved core soil excavation method (RCSEM)), six water head heights (122 m, 162 m, 202 m, 242 m, 282 m, 322 m), and five excavation advances (0.5 m, 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, 2.5 m). The results show that, compared to controlling excavation advance, water level drawdown and drainage volume are more sensitive to increases in initial water head height. The reserved core soil method results in the smallest drainage volume and water level drawdown, effectively controlling stress increase and significantly mitigating arch bottom uplift. The RCSEM has the smallest drainage volume, making it an ideal choice for ecological protection. Full article

Stony debris flows originating from the two basins of Jaron di Sacomedan and Jaron dei Ross pose a significant threat to the inhabited area of Chiapuzza (Dolomites, Northeastern Italian Alps) and the national road SS 51. In the upper part of the Jaron dei Ross basin, a large scree at the foot of a rocky amphitheater undergoes morphological changes due to frequent rockfalls. Previous mitigation efforts have proven inadequate, and after identifying the causes of their failure, new control measures are being planned. These works aim to direct debris flows towards a deposition area capable of intercepting flows from both the Jaron dei Ross and Jaron di Sacomedan basins. Essentially, the upper works in the Jaron dei Ross basin divert debris flows away from the populated area and channel them to a location where the sediment volume transported by debris flows from both basins can be stored. This solution is designed to protect both the Chiapuzza community and the SS51 national road. Full article

Flexible pressure sensors are increasingly recognized for their potential use in wearable electronic devices, attributed to their sensitivity and broad pressure response range. Introducing surface microstructures can notably enhance sensitivity; however, the pressure response range remains constrained by the limited volume of the compressible structure. To overcome this limitation, this study implements an aligned airgap structure fabricated using 3D printing technology. This structure, designed with a precisely aligned triaxial airgap configuration, offers high deformability under pressure, substantially broadening the pressure response range and improving sensitivity. This study analyzes the key structural parameters—the number of axes and pore size—that influence the compressibility and stability of the dielectric material. The results indicate that the capacitive pressure sensor with an aligned airgap structure, manufactured via 3D printing, exhibits a wide operating pressure range (50 Pa to 500 kPa), rapid response time (100 ms), wide limit of detection (50 Pa), and approximately 21 times enhancement in sensitivity (~0.019 kPa⁻¹ within 100 kPa) compared with conventional bulk structures. Furthermore, foot pressure monitoring trials for wearable sensor applications demonstrated exceptional performance, indicating the sensor’s suitability as a wearable device for detecting plantar pressure. These findings advocate for the potential of 3D printing technology to supplant traditional sensor manufacturing processes. Full article

Background: This study compared the effects of low- and moderate-volume supplementary plyometric training in preadolescent female handball players. Methods: Thirty-nine preadolescent handball players (age: 12.9 ± 0.5 years, maturity offset: −1.50 ± 0.56 years) were randomly assigned into three groups: low-volume plyometric training group (LPT, n = 12); moderate-volume plyometric training group (MPT, n = 15); and control group (CG, n = 12). The supplementary plyometric training program was performed twice per week for 10 weeks, along with normal training (3 times/week). Each supplementary session included two upper- and three lower-body exercises performed for two sets (LPT, 36–54 foot contacts, duration 12 min) or four sets (MPT, 72–108 foot contacts, duration 24 min). The CG performed technical handball drills for 20 min. Results: Compared with the control group, both LPT and MPT resulted in similar improvements in modified T-test performance (15.1% and 18.6%, p < 0.01, respectively); linear sprint performance over 5, 10, and 20 m (between 5.1% and 8.8%, p = 0.02 to 0.001); countermovement jump (28.0% and 22.1%, p < 0.05, respectively); and standing long jump (12.6% and 12.5%, p = 0.024, respectively). Handgrip strength and overarm shot ball velocity improved similarly in all groups (CG, MPT, and LPT), by 8–11% (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Very-low-volume supplementary plyometric training performed for 12 min per session for two sessions per week results in considerable improvements in running speed, change of direction ability, and leg power and is as effective as a moderate-volume program. These findings are important for pre-adolescent female team sports players, who may benefit from a minimal but effective supplementary training, resulting in large benefits in leg speed and power. Full article

Excessive application of fertilizers in drip-irrigated wheat production can suppress yields, lower nutrient utilization efficiency, and lead to economic and environmental issues such as nitrogen residues in the soil. Based on a recommended fertilizer application (RF) strategy that takes into account target yield and nutrient requirements, this study explores the responses of wheat plant traits, changes in topsoil and subsoil nutrients, fertilizer utilization, and economic benefits under this strategy. From 2022 to 2023, a field experiment was conducted in a typical oasis spring wheat production area at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. The treatments included no fertilizer control (CK), the farmer’s conventional practice (FP), recommended fertilizer (RF), RF with nitrogen omission (RF-N), phosphorus omission (RF-P), and potassium omission (RF-K). The results showed that compared with FP, the RF reduced 91 kg N ha⁻¹ (30.3%) and 33 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ (24.8%) in 2022, and 69 kg N ha⁻¹ (23.0%) and 2 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ (1.5%) in 2023. The effect in 2023 was better; RF also decreased the NO₃⁻¹-N residue in the 0–100 cm soil layer by 40.1 kg N ha⁻¹ compared with FP, with no significant difference in wheat grain yield (RF: 5382.9 kg ha⁻¹) or economic benefit (RF: USD 1613.1 ha⁻¹). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between RF and FP in pre-anthesis NP transport or post-anthesis NP accumulation; however, RF significantly increased pre-anthesis potassium transport volume (15.8%) and transport rate (12.5%). RF led to a 16.3% increase in nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), while there was no significant difference in phosphorus utilization efficiency (PUE) compared with FP. The fertilizer yield effect for RF was evaluated as N > P > K. Correlation analysis indicated that grain yield was significantly positively correlated with pre-anthesis NPK transport and post-anthesis NP accumulation. It was also positively correlated with organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, and Olsen-P content in both the topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–40 cm), but not with available potassium in the soil. Therefore, conducting soil tests and determining fertilizer recommendations based on the proposed RF method at harvest can reduce fertilizer usage and achieve a balance between the conflicting objectives of environmental protection, increased crop yields, nutrient utilization efficiency, and improved economic benefits in oasis agricultural areas facing excessive fertilizer application. Full article

Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes, with treatment requiring offloading. This study aimed to capture how the accelerometer-assessed physical activity profile differs in those with DFUs compared to those with diabetes but without ulceration (non-DFU). Participants were requested to wear an accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist for up to 8days. Physical activity outcomes included average acceleration (volume), intensity gradient (intensity distribution), the intensity of the most active sustained (continuous) 5–120 min of activity (MX_CONT), and accumulated 5–120 min of activity (MX_ACC). A total of 595 participants (non-DFU = 561, DFU = 34) were included in the analysis. Average acceleration was lower in DFU participants compared to non-DFU participants (21.9 mg [95%CI:21.2, 22.7] vs. 16.9 mg [15.3, 18.8], p < 0.001). DFU participants also had a lower intensity gradient, indicating proportionally less time spent in higher-intensity activities. The relative difference between DFU and non-DFU participants was greater for sustained activity (MX_CONT) than for accumulated (MX_ACC) activity. In conclusion, physical activity, particularly the intensity of sustained activity, is lower in those with DFUs compared to non-DFUs. This highlights the need for safe, offloaded modes of activity that contribute to an active lifestyle for people with DFUs. Full article

This pre-clinical study was designed to demonstrate how vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) should be administered, either alone or when combined with radiation in clinically relevant fractionated radiation schedules, for the optimal anti-tumor effect. CDF1 mice, implanted in the right rear foot with a 200 mm³ murine C3H mammary carcinoma, were injected with various doses of the most potent VDA drug, combretastatin A-1 phosphate (CA1P), under different schedules. Tumors were also locally irradiated with single-dose, or stereotactic (3 × 5–20 Gy) or conventional (30 × 2 Gy) fractionation schedules. Tumor growth and control were the endpoints used. Untreated tumors had a tumor growth time (TGT5; time to grow to 5 times the original treatment volume) of around 6 days. This increased with increasing drug doses (5–100 mg/kg). However, with single-drug treatments, the maximum TGT5 was only 10 days, yet this increased to 19 days when injecting the drug on a weekly basis or as three treatments in one week. CA1P enhanced radiation response regardless of the schedule or interval between the VDA and radiation. There was a dose-dependent increase in radiation response when the combined with a single, stereotactic, or conventional fractionated irradiation, but these enhancements plateaued at around a drug dose of 25 mg/kg. This pre-clinical study demonstrated how VDAs should be combined with clinically applicable fractionated radiation schedules for the optimal anti-tumor effect, thus suggesting the necessary pre-clinical testing required to ultimately establish VDAs in clinical practice. Full article

We evaluated the effect of compression leggings with micromassage in association with physical activity on women with lipedema, not previously treated and without recent changes in body weight. The treatment resulted in an improvement in all subjective parameters, in spontaneous and evoked pain, in the volume of the limbs, in the absence of significant changes in body weight, and regardless of the duration of use, age, years of illness, the clinical stage, and body mass index (BMI). Evoked pain did not improve in areas affected by untreated lipedema; foot circumferences did not increase. We found a significant reduction in the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and skin evaluated in multiple points of the lower limb. Micromassage compression leggings are proposed as an integral part of conservative treatment. A method is proposed for the clinical evaluation of evoked pain, called the Progressive Pain Check (PPC), which allows for the calculation of a numerical score called the Ricolfi–Patton Score (RPS) and for the ultrasound evaluation of tissues. The method is simple and repeatable and allows for completion of the clinical evaluation of the patient at diagnosis and for an evaluation of the effects of various treatments, even applied to just one side of the body. Full article