Search Results (61)

(1) Background: This study investigated developmental differences in gaze behaviors and performance during basketball free throws among youth athletes. (2) Methods: Forty-six male youth basketball players (U14, U16, U18) each performed 30 standardized free throws while wearing Tobii Pro Glasses 3 to record gaze data (Quiet Eye duration and Total Fixation duration). Shooting accuracy and cognitive workload (NASA-TLX) were also collected. One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted to examine age-related differences and the relationships between gaze behavior and performance. (3) Results: Shooting accuracy was moderately correlated with chronological age (r = 0.386, p = 0.010) and training experience (r = 0.367, p = 0.010), and total fixation duration was positively associated with training experience (r = 0.338, p = 0.025). Regression analyses showed that training experience predicted total fixation duration, and both age and experience predicted shooting accuracy when considered separately (p < 0.05), but neither predicted cognitive workload (p > 0.05). Age and training experience were positively associated with shot success. (4) Conclusions: In the youth free-throw task, Quiet Eye duration and total fixation duration were highly correlated but did not independently predict shooting success, while shooting performance was more strongly associated with age and training experience, and perceived cognitive workload remained stable across age groups. Full article

Conventional pneumatic precision planters still face challenges in combining high-speed operation with accurate seed placement and embryo protection under zero-velocity seeding conditions. This study presents a dual-motor rotating–throwing seed-metering device that simultaneously overcomes these challenges. Instead of relying on conventional imprecise airflow to generate initial velocity, seeds are accelerated and released by a motor-driven spoon with precisely defined kinematic profiles. By accurately controlling seed-throwing velocity and angle, the system compensates for the forward motion of the machine to achieve zero-velocity seeding and accurate landing point control across the full speed range. The elimination of seed tubes prevents frictional embryo damage, particularly benefiting fragile seeds such as cotton or peanuts. High-speed imaging (1000 fps) verified uniform initial seed ejection conditions, stable trajectories, and landing position errors below 1.5 cm at 7–13 km/h. The proposed electromechanical approach provides accurate metering, zero-velocity seeding, and seed protection under high-speed conditions, overcoming the inherent limitations of airflow-dependent systems and offering a robust alternative for precision agriculture. Compared with conventional pneumatic meters, the proposed system reduced seed landing variation by over 50%, demonstrating superior robustness under 7–13 km/h operation. Full article

Background: To evaluate the effects of a motion-triggered neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) shoulder strengthening program on rotational shoulder strength and throwing velocity in healthy, elite-level handball players. Methods: Fourteen male handball players were randomly allocated (1:1) to either the NMES or control group. Participants were assessed by a blinded investigator at baseline and after 6 weeks for clinical status, isometric dynamometer-based external (ER) and internal rotational (IR) maximal shoulder strength, and handball endurance and maximal throwing velocity (7 m free throw). Between time points, NMES subjects completed a standardized motion-triggered NMES shoulder strengthening program (3 sessions/week, 30 min for 6 weeks), whereas controls performed a conventional standardized strength program. Results: After completion of the motion-triggered NMES program, all NMES participants (100%) demonstrated significant gains in isometric ER strength (+1.4 ± 1.1 kg, p = 0.016) compared with 43% of controls, who demonstrated no overall improvement (−0.2 ± 1.8 kg, p = 0.740). Similarly, a significantly greater proportion of NMES participants improved endurance throwing velocity compared with controls (100% vs. 29%, p = 0.004), with a mean increase of +2.9 ± 2.8 km·h⁻¹ (p = 0.0.56). Maximum throwing velocity showed no between-group differences in the proportion of athletes with improved results (p = 0.899). Conclusions: A six-week motion-triggered NMES shoulder strengthening program improved external rotation strength and increased the proportion of athletes demonstrating enhanced endurance throwing velocity under fatigued conditions. However, when compared with conventional exercise alone, NMES did not confer additional benefits for maximal throwing velocity in this study. Therefore, NMES should be regarded as a complementary modality rather than a substitute for established shoulder strengthening exercises. Full article

Background: First rib stress fractures (FRSFs) are exceptionally rare in skeletally immature athletes and are frequently overlooked because their symptoms mimic more common scapular conditions such as scapular dyskinesis or thoracic outlet syndrome. Early and accurate identification is critical to avoid delayed union, prolonged disability, and misdirected management. Case Presentation: We report a 12-year-old elite baseball pitcher with progressive scapular winging and audible snapping during pitching. Unlike typical posterior-type fractures near the costotransverse joint, imaging revealed a cortical discontinuity precisely at the serratus anterior enthesis, consistent with repetitive traction enthesopathy. High-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) identified cortical disruption with periosteal edema, and dynamic ultrasound reproduced the patient’s snapping and pain in real time, establishing a direct clinical–imaging correlation. Conservative three-phase rehabilitation (scapular stabilization, serratus anterior activation, and structured return-to-throwing) led to complete union and pain-free return to sport within 12 weeks. Discussion: This case highlights the superior diagnostic efficacy of MSK-US for FRSFs in adolescents. The posterior scanning approach facilitated bilateral comparison and growth plate assessment. Dynamic examination provided a functional correlation beyond static imaging, identifying a novel snapping mechanism. This underscores the value of MSK-US in visualizing not just anatomy but also pathophysiology. Conclusions: This is among the youngest documented cases of first rib stress fracture diagnosed with dynamic ultrasound. Its novelty lies in the following: (1) occurrence at the serratus anterior enthesis, (2) reproduction of snapping during provocative maneuvers, and (3) expansion of the etiological spectrum of scapular dyskinesis to include rib pathology. Dynamic ultrasound should be considered a frontline modality for adolescent throwers with unexplained periscapular pain. Full article

Background: Adolescent obesity represents a global public health issue, with an urgent need for tailored intervention strategies, particularly in school settings. Objectives: This study investigated the impact of adapted basketball training—with and without video summaries—on BMI, fitness, motivation, and technical skills in adolescents with moderate obesity. Methods: Fifty-five participants were randomly assigned to one of three instructional modalities—a modified basketball program enriched with video summaries (ADAPT + VID), a modified program without videos (ADAPT), and a traditional program (CONT)—and completed an eight-week intervention. Before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention, participants in all three groups underwent testing to assess: (i) anthropometric measurements (BMI), (ii) technical accuracy (passing, dribbling, and shooting), (iii) physical fitness using the Intermittent Fitness Test 15-15 (Spartacus Test), and (iv) motivation using the Situational Motivation Scale. Results: Assessments revealed significant improvements in the ADAPT + VID group, with notable reductions in BMI (d = 0.25, p < 0.05), enhanced physical fitness (d = 0.19, p = 0.002), and improved performance in passing (d = 1.42, p < 0.001), dribbling (d = 1.30, p < 0.001), and free-throw shooting (d = 0.80, p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant increase in intrinsic motivation (d = 1.18, p < 0.001) and a reduction in amotivation (d = 1.12, p < 0.001) were observed. Conclusions: These findings suggest that incorporating pedagogical video summaries into an adapted basketball program may effectively improve physical health, motor skills, and motivation among adolescents with moderate obesity. Full article

Virtual reality (VR) has become increasingly popular and has started entering homes, schools, and clinics, yet evidence on how children interact during free-form, unguided play remains limited. Understanding how interaction dynamics relate to player performance is essential for designing more accessible and engaging VR experiences, especially in educational contexts. For this reason, we developed VRBloons, a child-friendly VR game about popping balloons. The game logs real-time gameplay telemetry such as total hand movement, accuracy, throw rate, and other performance related gameplay data. By analyzing several feature-engineered metrics using unsupervised clustering and non-parametric statistical validation, we aim to identify distinct behavioral patterns. The analysis revealed several associations between input preferences, movement patterns, and performance outcomes, forming clearly distinct clusters. From the performed analysis, input preference emerged as an independent dimension of play style, supporting the inclusion of redundant input mappings to accommodate diverse motor capabilities. Additionally, the results highlight the opportunities for performance-sensitive assistance systems that adapt the difficulty of the game in real time. Overall, this study demonstrates how telemetry-based profiling can shape the design decisions in VR experiences, offering a methodological framework for assessing varied interaction styles and a diverse player population. Full article

Quinoa is renowned for its high nutritional value, which not only meets the nutritional needs of the human body but also makes it a suitable option for individuals with diabetes and celiac disease due to its low sugar and gluten-free characteristics. In China, the primary cultivation regions of quinoa are the Tibetan Plateau, the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, and Northwest China, which are predominantly characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain, resulting in the gradual development of mechanized harvesting processes. The efficacy of the mechanized harvesting process in these regions is suboptimal, exhibiting poor clearance and efficiency. In this paper, the design and MBD-EDEM coupling analysis of the quinoa combine harvester’s cleaning and screening mechanism is carried out to simulate the cleaning process of quinoa threshing materials. The results show that the vibrating screen can complete the forward sliding and dispersed throwing up of the materials and effectively avoid the accumulation of the threshing materials. The coupling results of the permeability of each material in the cleaning and screening mechanism, as well as the vibrating screen movement condition, indicate that when the herringbone screen opening degree is set in the range of 15° to 30°, the cleaning and screening device can achieve a high cleaning efficiency while maintaining a low impurity rate. Field trial data further confirm that within this opening range, the cleaning effect and efficiency both exhibit significant advantages. Full article

In elite basketball, closely contested games are often decided in the last minute, where a single possession can significantly alter the outcome. The objective of this study was to analyze the offensive patterns and effectiveness of successful play sequences executed during the last minute and overtime periods of the 2022–2023 EuroLeague men’s basketball season. Specifically, we examined how offensive strategies varied based on score conditions and team status (winning, losing, or tied) in games with a score difference of three points or fewer, representing a maximum one-possession margin. The sample consisted of 709 technical–tactical actions performed in one-possession games during the last minute and overtime periods of the men’s EuroLeague 2022–2023 season. An observational methodology was employed using the LINCE PLUS software with a purpose-designed observational instrument. Descriptive analyses and chi-square (χ²) tests were conducted using SPSS 25, and T-Pattern analysis was performed with Theme 6 software. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that teams leading at the start of the possession executed a higher number of successful actions, primarily through free throws drawn from fouls committed by the opposing team. Additionally, plays involving few or no passes, executed within the first 17 s of possession, and completed by point guards or centers, were associated with higher success rates. While less frequent, fast breaks proved to be more effective than set offenses. Furthermore, the study highlights the role of elite playmakers in late-game situations, as their ability to read defenses and create scoring opportunities plays a crucial role in determining offensive success. The practical implications of this study can assist coaches in optimizing offensive strategies during high-pressure moments in elite men’s basketball by refining late-game decision-making and tactical planning. Full article

Timeouts are a widely supported strategy in the literature, recognized for directly influencing team performance during basketball games. This study aimed to analyze and define the successful patterns of actions after timeouts (ATOs) during critical moments in the 2022/23 EuroLeague season. The sample was drawn from the last two minutes and overtime of 169 games with a final point difference of 10 points or fewer, totaling 365 ATOs. An observational methodology was used, applying the LINCE PLUS software version 2.1.0 and an ad hoc observational instrument. Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests (χ²) were conducted using SPSS 25.0, and T-pattern analysis was performed with Theme 6 software. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Teams in the lead often concluded successful plays through free throws following opponent fouls, while teams trailing behind attempted to close the gap by committing fouls to force free throws in defense and scoring two-point baskets on offense. The findings offer insights into ATOs strategies that can support coaches and technical staff in training and adapting these actions to meet competition demands during critical game moments. These results may assist in enhancing team performance and decision-making under high-stakes conditions. Full article

Objective: This study was conducted to address the harsh working environment of agricultural machinery and improve the wear resistance of soil-contacting components such as rotary tiller blades, thereby extending their service life. Method: Plasma-cladding technology was employed to prepare an iron-based wear-resistant coating on the surface of rotary tiller blades. The following parameter combination was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM): a cladding current of 144A, a cladding speed of 23 mm/s, a powder feeding rate of 23 g/min, and a cladding distance of 12 mm. The microstructure morphology, phase composition, microhardness, and wear resistance of the wear-resistant cladding layer were investigated. Results: The results indicate that the interface of the cladding layer is clean and free from significant porosity or defects, exhibiting good metallurgical bonding with the substrate. The primary phases identified in the cladding layer include α-Fe, Cr₇C₃, Cr₂Fe₁₄C, and Cr-Ni-Fe-C solid solutions. The average hardness of the cladding layer is 1171 Hv0.5, approximately 2.9 times that of the substrate. In wet sand–rubber wheel wear tests under identical conditions, the weight loss of the cladding layer is only 1/21 that of 65Mn steel, with minimal wear morphology. Field trials showed that the wear of the cladding layer rotary tiller blade was reduced by 24.5% compared with the unclad blade. The presence of the cladding layer significantly protected the integrity of the cutting edge, ensuring the functionality of the rotary tiller blade in cutting and throwing soil; thus, its original appearance was maintained even after prolonged wear. The findings of this study can provide a valuable reference for the enhancement of wear resistance for other soil-contacting components. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined the influence of competition level and player position on shooting accuracy and kinematic parameters in U18 male basketball players, focusing on two-point jump shots and free throws. Methods: Thirty-eight higher-level (HL-group) and forty-one lower-level (LL-group) participants, categorized into guard, forward, and center subgroups, completed a two-point basketball shooting test, followed by a free-throw shooting test after a 30 min interval. These tests were administered using a crossover, counterbalanced approach with the Latin square method to ensure effective randomization. Results: The results indicated that the HL group displayed significantly faster (12.5%) shot release times (RTs) and closer-to-optimal 45° (8.1%) ball entry angles (EAs) into the hoop for free throws, as well as superior (24.2%) shot success rates (SSRs) for two-point jump shots compared with the LL group. Across all groups and subgroups, a higher EA was achieved in two-point shots than in free throws, though free throws showed higher SSR. This study found no positional differences in shooting mechanics or performance, suggesting that modern training practices may foster consistency across player roles. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the potential for targeted drills to improve RTs, EAs, and SSRs, especially in LL players. Coaches can apply these insights to enhance shooting mechanics and consistency, thereby elevating performance in young basketball athletes. Future research should investigate the impact of fatigue and defensive pressure on shooting parameters across varied competitive contexts. Full article

Burst morphology is a crucial indicator for evaluating the effectiveness of blasting, as it directly reflects the actual state of the blasting results. The results of rock displacement following blasting partially reflect the effectiveness of throw blasting, while the rock ejection process serves as the macroscopic manifestation of the blasting method. To accurately assess the impact of different delay times on burst formation, this study addressed the issues of rock movement and ejection in underground blasting. Using three-dimensional modeling, we constructed a FEM–SPH model and utilized LS-DYNA numerical simulation software to investigate the movement patterns of rock in precise delayed blasting scenarios underground. This study explored the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of rock movement post-blasting. Digital electronic detonators were used to set precise inter-row delay times of 25 ms, 50 ms, and 75 ms. The results revealed that the ejection distance of blasted rock in underground mining increased with longer inter-row delay times, while the slope angle of the blasted muck pile decreased as the delay time increased. Furthermore, at a micro level, the study found that a 75 ms delay created new free surfaces, providing effective compensation space for subsequent blasts, thereby improving blasting outcomes. Analysis of the 25 ms and 50 ms delay periods indicated a clamping effect on rock movement. Field comparisons of blasting results were conducted to validate the influence of precise delay times on the movement patterns and spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of blasted rock. Full article

This study aimed to identify the relationship between body composition (fat-free mass and body fat percentage) and physical performance (countermovement jump, CMJ; throwing ball; maximal isometric handgrip strength, MIHS dominant and non-dominant hands; 10-m and 20-m sprints with and without ball) in Chilean professional basketball players. Its secondary aim was to analyze if there were differences in body composition and physical performance according to sex. This was a cross-sectional study that analyzed 23 professional basketball players with a mean age of 24.0 ± 4.92 years, distributed among male professional basketball players (male professional BPs, n = 12) and female professional basketball players (female professional BPs, n = 14). The main results indicate the correlation presented significant relationships between fat-free mass with CMJ (r = 0.760; p < 0.0001; ES = 1.43), MIHS dominant hand (r = 0.783; p < 0.0001; ES = 1.50) and MIHS non-dominant hand (r = 0.805; p < 0.0001; ES = 1.85), throwing ball (r = 0.586; p = 0.001; ES = 0.56), 10 m sprint with ball (r = −0.510; p = 0.007; ES = 0.35), and 20 m sprint with ball (r = −0.143; p = 0.046; ES = 0.16). As did body fat percentage with CMJ (r = −0.647; p = 0.000; ES = 0.56), throwing the ball (r = −0.657; p = 0.000; ES = 0.58), MIHS dominant hand (r = −0.745; p < 0.0001; ES = 1.17), and MIHS non-dominant hand (r = −0.820; p < 0.0001; ES = 1.50). In conclusion, body composition is related to physical performance in professional basketball players. Meanwhile, male professional BPs had better body composition and physical performance than female professional BPs. Full article

Elbow injuries related to the throwing motion in baseball during the growth period present difficulties for early detection and may cause serious future disabilities. This study aimed to comprehensively determine the characteristics and clinical assessment of elbow pain in youth baseball players. Two hundred and sixteen young baseball players underwent elbow medical examination. Basic information and physical examination, clinical assessment, and ultrasonography results were examined. Univariate analyses were statistically performed between the pain-free (98 participants) and elbow pain (118 participants) groups. The mean age was 11.6 years, and ultrasonographic abnormalities were found on the medial side of the elbow in 37.5%. In total, 118 (54.6%) participants experienced elbow pain, with 64.4% of them complaining of elbow pain on the medial side. Players with multiple positions (≥2 positions) had a significantly higher prevalence of elbow pain. Height, weight, length of baseball experience, and positive rates of horizontal flexion and moving valgus stress tests were higher in the elbow pain group than in the pain-free group. The risk factors and clinical assessment for elbow pain are useful for the prevention and early detection of throwing elbow injuries in youth baseball players. Full article

The present study examined the impact of skill level on the integration of contextual prior information and kinematic information alongside post-error adjustment during action anticipation in basketball. Twenty-three collegiate basketball players and twenty-three control participants engaged in anticipating as quickly and accurately as possible the outcomes of free throws, utilizing video clips depicting basketball players’ actions, both with and without contextual prior information. Anticipatory performance and the difference in anticipatory performance following errors and correct responses were analyzed based on skill level and the congruency of contextual prior information (none, congruent, and incongruent). The findings revealed that the congruency of contextual prior information significantly affects action anticipation, with skill level moderating this effect. Moreover, skill level influenced the congruency effect on accuracy discrepancies between post-error and post-correct trials during action anticipation, with controls showing greater sensitivity to previous trial performance compared to experts. These results provide further evidence for the notion that individuals employ Bayesian reliability-based strategies to integrate different information sources and underscore the role of skill level in adjusting anticipatory judgments following errors during action anticipation. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms that differentiate skill levels in action anticipation, potentially guiding the development of targeted training interventions. Full article