Search Results (1,339)

In landslide-prone areas, spatial gaps in InSAR-derived deformation maps caused by incomplete SAR coverage hinder continuous surface deformation assessment and limit reliable landslide analysis. To address this problem, we propose an explainable AI (XAI) framework that integrates SBAS-InSAR, ensemble machine learning, and Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to estimate surface deformation in SAR-scarce regions. Geological and engineering factors, including protective measures, distance to roads, and land use, were combined with remote sensing and field data to build a comprehensive dataset. Four ensemble models (LightGBM, XGBoost, Random Forest, and CatBoost) were trained and evaluated, with XGBoost achieving the best performance (R² = 0.816, RMSE = 6.85 mm, MAE = 4.27 mm). Validation against two GNSS benchmarks confirmed sub-millimeter accuracy (0.6 mm and 0.3 mm). Both XGBoost and CatBoost delineated continuous deformation patterns consistent with field-observed damage. SHAP analysis provided model interpretability, highlighting elevation and human-engineering factors as key drivers: areas farther from roads and under cultivation were more prone to downslope movement, while damaged protective works exhibited greater deformation. By coupling InSAR with XAI, this study achieves accurate and interpretable surface deformation estimation in data-scarce regions, advancing landslide assessment and early warning applications. Full article

Microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) pollution has emerged as a pervasive and still insufficiently quantified pressure on terrestrial ecosystems, yet its consequences for wild herbivores remain incompletely understood. As key links between primary producers and higher trophic levels, wild herbivores occupy a critical ecological position and may serve both as exposed receptors and as biological vectors of plastic contamination. This manuscript presents a narrative review that synthesizes recent advances in understanding the physiological, behavioural, and ecological implications of MP and/or NP exposure in free-ranging herbivorous mammals, integrating evidence from field surveys, experimental studies, ecological modelling, and supportive mechanistic findings from livestock and experimental mammalian systems. Available evidence indicates that MPs and NPs are consistently detected in wild herbivores from both human-modified and protected landscapes, demonstrating widespread terrestrial exposure. Reported biological effects include oxidative stress, digestive dysfunction, inflammatory and immune responses, altered gut microbial communities, impaired nutrient assimilation, and organ-level damage, although much of the mechanistic evidence derives from controlled laboratory or livestock-based studies rather than direct wildlife investigations. Behavioural responses remain comparatively underexplored, particularly in large-bodied herbivores, with limited evidence for altered foraging, habitat use, and stress-related behaviours. At the ecosystem level, emerging studies suggest that herbivores may contribute to the landscape-scale redistribution of MPs and NPs through movement and faecal deposition, with potential downstream effects on soil processes, nutrient cycling, and plant–herbivore interactions. However, the current evidence base is constrained by major methodological and conceptual limitations, including the lack of standardized detection and reporting protocols, limited ecological realism in exposure studies, taxonomic and geographic biases, and poor resolution of long-term population-level and food-web consequences. Overall, the available literature indicates that MP and NP pollution represent a multifaceted and emerging risk to wild herbivores and the ecosystems they inhabit. Future research should prioritize standardized contamination-controlled monitoring, non-invasive faecal surveillance, ecologically realistic chronic exposure studies, and integrated conservation frameworks that recognize wild herbivores as sentinel species for terrestrial plastic pollution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-derived phytochemicals are being increasingly explored for their ability to treat various illnesses, especially those affecting the vasculature. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acts as a crucial mediator during the late phase of sepsis, promoting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and thereby fueling inflammation and systemic complications. Higher plasma HMGB1 levels not only hinder accurate diagnosis and prognosis but also worsen disease outcomes in inflammatory states. Picropodophyllotoxin (PPT), a key bioactive ingredient isolated from the root of Podophyllum hexandrum, has shown a range of beneficial effects, including anti-cancer and anti-proliferative actions, across several tumor types. Nevertheless, its possible involvement in HMGB1-driven severe vascular inflammation remains unexplored. The current work aimed to investigate whether PPT could influence lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HMGB1 activity and its related inflammatory signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: A combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches was used to assess the anti-inflammatory action of PPT. These included measurements of endothelial barrier function, cell survival, leukocyte attachment and migration, levels of cell adhesion molecules, and the release of pro-inflammatory factors. Both cultured human endothelial cells and mouse disease models were used to thoroughly evaluate how PPT affects HMGB1-triggered inflammatory reactions. Results: The findings showed that PPT markedly reduced HMGB1 movement from inside HUVECs to the outside, thereby limiting its release into the environment. Moreover, PPT effectively decreased neutrophil sticking and migration, lowered the appearance of HMGB1 receptors, and prevented the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a master switch in inflammatory signaling. At the same time, PPT treatment strongly lowered tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, adding to its anti-inflammatory profile. Conclusions: Taken together, these results indicate that PPT potently inhibits HMGB1-driven inflammatory processes by acting at several levels of the inflammatory cascade, such as HMGB1 movement, receptor binding, NF-κB activation, and subsequent cytokine release. Therefore, PPT stands out as a hopeful therapeutic option for HMGB1-related inflammatory diseases and deserves further exploration in preclinical and clinical studies. Full article

Understanding how the brain processes complex real-world experiences remains a central challenge in cognitive neuroscience. Naturalistic movie neuroimaging has gained prominence by using temporally continuous stimuli that approximate everyday perception. However, cinematic experience is not equivalent to real-world cognition. Films are systematically constructed through film forms such as editing, camera movement, and sound, which diverge from natural perceptual conditions and shape cognitive processing. In this review, we rethink naturalistic movie neuroimaging by foregrounding film form as a central explanatory factor. We propose a conceptual framework for studying human cognition through film form, in which film form is conceptualized as a mediating layer between naturalistic movie neuroimaging and cognitive processing. We synthesize behavioral and neuroimaging evidence showing that multiple film forms exert domain-specific influences on attention, emotion, and memory. To organize these findings, we propose the Film Cognition Matrix, which maps film forms onto core cognitive domains and supports comparative research. Finally, we argue that interpretations of naturalistic movie neuroimaging should explicitly model film form as a mediator. Future directions include computationally modeling to isolate film-form effects on neural activity, expanding film-form–cognition mapping, exploring interactive and immersive media, and clarifying the boundary between real-world cognition and cinematic aesthetics. Full article

The squat is a fundamental multi-joint movement widely studied in strength training and biomechanics. While numerous experimental and computational studies have examined squat kinematics and joint loading, the mechanisms governing how squat technique adapts to increasing external load remain insufficiently understood. In particular, inverse-dynamics-based approaches often overlook explicit constraints imposed by limited joint moment capacity. This study presents a computational framework for predicting load-dependent adaptations of squat posture. The human body was represented as a multi-segment rigid-body system, with joints modeled as nonlinear rotational elements with bounded moment capacity. A reference squat trajectory was first generated kinematically, and a constrained optimization procedure was then applied at each motion frame to determine a mechanically admissible posture under increasing barbell load. The results show that higher loads lead to systematic posture adaptations, including increased torso inclination and redistribution of rotational demand from the knee toward the hip joint. For the highest load, peak torso pitch increased from 30° to over 40°, while joint utilization exceeded unity, indicating the onset of yielding. These findings identify joint moment capacity as a key constraint governing squat technique and demonstrate the potential of the proposed framework for predictive biomechanical analysis. Full article

Objective: Functional training exercises involve complex multi-joint movements that challenge traditional rule-based or data-driven recognition systems. This paper introduces a Movement Description Language (MDL) designed to formally represent, analyze, and evaluate such exercises using camera-based pose estimation and interpretable, composable structures. Methods: The proposed MDL models each exercise as a finite-state machine defined by pose-derived angle proxy transitions, allowing movements to be described in a modular and reusable way. Demonstrated with MediaPipe landmark extraction from monocular video, while the MDL remains compatible with any pose estimation algorithm, the framework focuses on exercise phase detection and repetition counting. Experimental validation was conducted on a dataset of 1513 videos of 12 functional exercises (squats, deadlifts, lunges, shoulder presses, planks, push-ups, pull-ups, bent-over rows, box jumps, thrusters, overhead squats, and burpees) obtained from public pose datasets, competition footage, and recordings of 9 participants in real-world environments. Results: Automated repetition counts were compared against manually annotated ground truth, showing an overall repetition-counting accuracy of 97.2%, with a mean per-exercise accuracy of 98.8% (range 95–100%). The MDL successfully handled both simple and compound exercises, maintaining reliable phase detection despite variations in execution speed, camera perspective, and environmental conditions. Conclusions: The system was implemented using real-time pose estimation to demonstrate the practical execution of the MDL framework. The proposed MDL provides a transparent, extensible, and computationally efficient framework for functional exercise analysis. By bridging human-readable movement semantics with executable motion logic, it enables interpretable automatic repetition counting and phase detection, offering an alternative to black-box recognition approaches. The results support its potential for scalable deployment in training, monitoring and movement analysis applications. The proposed system is not intended for biomechanical measurement or clinical-grade kinematic analysis, but rather for interpretable modeling of exercise structure and repetition detection using approximate pose-derived signals. Full article

Background/Objectives: The uprighting of mesially tipped mandibular second molars following first molar loss is a complex surgical and orthodontic challenge. Conventional methods often result in reciprocal anchorage loss. Mini-implants (MIs) have emerged as essential temporary anchorage devices (TADs) that provide absolute anchorage and enable more predictable tooth movements. Methods: Numerical simulations were performed to evaluate the forces required for mandibular second molar uprighting under two conditions: first, only with the second molar present, and second, with both the second and the third molars present. Although the periodontal ligament exhibits nonlinear and viscoelastic behavior in vivo, a linear elastic approximation was adopted to allow for a reliable evaluation of comparative stress distribution and initial displacement patterns within the scope of this exploratory biomechanical study. Stress distribution in the roots, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone was assessed for each scenario. Two three-dimensional (3D) models of the left mandibular segment were created from scans of a human mandible and its teeth. The first model included the canine, the first and second premolars, and the second molar. A second model additionally incorporated the third molar. A retromolar MI was placed in both models. Molar uprighting was simulated using a spring connecting the implant to a button bonded on the mesial surface of the second molar. A force of 200 g was applied because in clinical orthodontic practice, forces that exceed approximately 2 N may cause pain or undesirable tooth mobility. Displacements along the X, Y, and Z axes, as well as regions of peak stress, were analyzed. Results: Model 1 showed maximum displacements at the furcation/mid-root, distal root apex, and distal crown, with von Mises stresses of 0.470 to 0.371 MPa. In Model 2, peak displacements occurred at the mesial root and crown, with stresses of 0.185 and 0.149 MPa, respectively. The magnitude of displacements was in the order of 10⁻⁵ mm. Such values represent initial mechanical responses rather than clinically observable tooth movements. However, the differences between models (e.g., the stress reduction) are expected to be clinically meaningful. Conclusions: Since clinical measurements regarding the stress distribution on teeth and surrounding tissues during orthodontic molar uprighting movements are impossible to perform, the finite element method (FEM) can offer insight into these aspects. The presence of the third molar significantly modulates the biomechanics of second molar uprighting via retromolar MIs. When the third molar is present, the second molar exhibits a reduced tendency for deformation during distalization, although this leads to a slower displacement. This FEM provides biomechanical insights but does not support direct clinical decision-making. The present findings should be viewed as theoretical biomechanical tendencies that require confirmation through clinical, experimental, and longitudinal studies before translation into clinical practice. Full article

Background: This review discusses the application of eye-tracking technology in the detection and monitoring of binocular vision anomalies among children. Methods: A scoping review using PRISMA guidelines was conducted through Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed using the keywords “eye-tracking,” “binocular,” “vision,” “anomalies,” “paediatrics,” and “children” from 2015 to 2025. Studies excluded were not written in English, did not apply the eye tracker as a research tool, involved an ineligible population, or involved non-human subjects. Results: The search strategy identified 77 citations, yet only 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. This review revealed a variety of binocular vision anomalies detectable through eye-tracking systems, along with the specific models and parameters employed in these assessments. Application of eye-tracking technology in diagnosing conditions such as strabismus and amblyopia demonstrated potential for improved accuracy and early detection. Discussion: Eye-tracking technology demonstrates considerable potential for the detection and monitoring of binocular vision anomalies in children, particularly as a non-invasive method for early screening, thereby strengthening its clinical applicability. By assessing fixation stability, saccadic movements, and vergence responses, eye-tracking allows for the early detection of subtle visual anomalies, especially in the paediatric population. Conclusions: Eye-tracking technology represents a valuable advancement in paediatric vision care, enabling the more objective and earlier detection of binocular vision anomalies in the paediatric population. Full article

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals are important for assessing muscle activity, neuromuscular behavior, and movement stability. sEMG signals are widely used in athlete performance monitoring and human–machine interface applications. However, existing methods have limitations in classification, accuracy and generalization across users. In this study, a real-world dataset was generated from 30 professional wrestlers using an 8-channel system based on 10 physical movements and technical elements. Nine time-domain and energy features, mean absolute value (MAV), integrated EMG (IEMG), root mean square (RMS), simple square integral (SSI), fourth power (4POW), wavelength (WL), difference absolute standard deviation (DASDV), variance (VAR), and average amplitude change (AAC), were systematically evaluated separately and in combination. Five classifiers were compared: Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Neural Networks (NNs). The models were evaluated for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and F1-score. The generalization ability was analyzed through cross-subject (24/6) and cross-session validation protocols. The nine feature combinations achieved the highest classification accuracy of 97.8% with the RF algorithm. The proposed approach can serve as a practical basis for real-time muscle activity monitoring, movement classification, and rehabilitation systems. Full article

Birds serve as the primary natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses (AIVs), harboring nearly all known AIV subtypes. The seasonal migratory movements of wild birds play a significant role in the transmission and dissemination of AIVs. Jianhu Lake in Dali, Yunnan Province, serves as a vital congregation point along avian migratory routes, providing an ideal habitat for birds. In this study, a total of 619 avian samples were collected from the Jianhu area, from which four H6N2 subtype AIV strains were successfully isolated. Among these, A/grey heron/Jianhu/JH-89/2024 (hereafter referred to as JH-89) and A/grey heron/Jianhu/JH-91/2024 (JH-91) were isolated from grey herons (Ardea cinerea); A/mareca penelope/Jianhu/JH-2-11/2025 (JH-2-11) from a Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope); and A/duck/Jianhu/JH-1-1/2025 (JH-1-1) from a domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus). Genomic analyses revealed that these four H6N2 isolates belong to the Eurasian lineage, with all eight gene segments originating from complex reassortment events among diverse Asian isolates. In vitro assays demonstrated that the representative strain JH-2-11 replicated efficiently in various human- and animal-derived cell lines. In vivo infection models revealed that, without prior adaptation, the JH-2-11 strain successfully infected BALB/c mice, resulting in suppressed body weight gain and severe pathological lesions in the respiratory tract (nasal turbinates, trachea, and lungs), without causing mortality or extrapulmonary dissemination. Collectively, although these H6N2 viruses evolve primarily within avian hosts, they exhibit potential for mammalian adaptation and require continuous epidemiological monitoring. Full article

The fundamental differences between high- and low-frequency ultrasound for medical purposes were demonstrated. A model describing the effect of ultrasound on erythrocyte aggregation was developed, and the rapid movement of erythrocytes toward the nodes of a standing acoustic wave was demonstrated, with its velocity compared to the rate of erythrocyte dissociation under the influence of shear forces. The t-test was used to assess the statistical significance of differences between two blood samples and confirmed the effect of low-frequency ultrasound intensity on erythrocyte aggregation. The study employed a patented low-frequency ultrasound transducer generating a traveling acoustic wave that produces shear forces capable of disrupting erythrocyte aggregates into individual erythrocytes. Since the developed technique is intended for human therapy, it is assumed that the proposed low-frequency ultrasound parameters are safe for flowing blood. Due to deeper and more precise penetration of the acoustic signal into tissues, this ultrasound transducer may be promising for improving microcirculation and alleviating patient condition without medication, as well as for reducing blood pressure and heart rate. The developed technique also enables more effective disruption of heart valve plaques and shows therapeutic potential for tumor treatment and in vivo drug encapsulation. Since erythrocytes in diabetic patients are stiffer than those in healthy individuals, their passage through capillaries is more difficult. Therefore, the developed and patented ultrasound-based sole stimulation technique may produce a positive physiological effect by stimulating blood flow in the capillaries of patients with foot ulcers. Full article

This article investigates the housing precarity of EU migrant workers in the Dutch–German border region, focusing on the Venlo Greenport area. Drawing on documentary analysis, 28 interviews, field observations, and stakeholder engagement, it explores how local governance, market dynamics, and framing practices shape housing outcomes. While EU law guarantees free movement, housing remains excluded from the EU rights frameworks, leaving workers dependent on employer-linked or agency-controlled short-stay facilities. These arrangements—often overcrowded, surveilled, and formally temporary—become long-term solutions, producing what we term short-stay sedentarism: prolonged residence in housing designed to deny permanence. The study conceptualises the local “battleground” where municipalities, employers, housing providers, NGOs, and residents negotiate competing interests. Seven interpretive frames—nuisance/disorder, cowboys, human rights, NIMBY, shadow power, integration, and unwanted accumulation—structure these debates, legitimising certain strategies while obscuring structural deficiencies. Findings reveal that certification and enforcement, while intended to improve standards, often entrench precariousness by sustaining the short-stay model. Emerging integration-oriented policies signal a shift but remain fragile amid economic imperatives and spatial constraints. The paper argues that addressing housing precarity requires structural reforms: expanding access to regular housing, reducing employer dependency, and recognising migrant workers as long-term residents rather than temporary labour inputs. Full article

This study develops a reduced-order predictive model of the Sit-To-Stand (STS) task to examine whether a simplified biomechanical representation can reproduce key STS patterns reported in the literature and to investigate the role played in movement by a flexible trunk. The model represents the human body as a planar multibody system and formulates STS as an optimization problem within a discrete mechanics framework. This formulation combines reduced model complexity, explicit torso flexibility, and a structure-preserving numerical approach for trajectory generation. Simulations were used to evaluate the effects of movement duration, reduced joint strength, and seat height on joint torques, kinematics, trunk motion, and ground reaction forces (GRFs). The results reproduced several qualitative trends reported in previous experimental studies, including increased peak joint torques and GRFs with shorter movement duration, lower joint strength, and reduced seat height, as well as greater compensatory trunk motion under more demanding conditions. These findings suggest that the proposed framework captures key adaptive features of STS mechanics and may provide useful insights for rehabilitation analysis and the design of assistive technologies such as lower-limb exoskeletons and rehabilitation devices. At the same time, the present work should be regarded as an initial methodological study, since validation is currently qualitative and further experimental calibration, quantitative validation, and sensitivity analysis remain part of ongoing work. Full article

We developed a dual-arm motion recognition system designed for real-time upper-limb movement analysis using video input. The system integrates MediaPipe Hands for skeletal critical point detection, a feature extraction pipeline that encodes spatial and temporal characteristics from upper-limb joints, and a three-layer long short-term memory network for temporal modeling and classification. By computing directional vectors from the shoulder to the elbow and wrist, a 168-dimensional feature vector is generated per frame. Sequences of 90 frames are used to capture full motion patterns. The system effectively supports multi-class recognition of coordinated dual-arm gestures, offering applications in rehabilitation, gesture control, and human–computer interaction. Full article

This study examines whether international food price dynamics provide a reliable signal of undernourishment and human development outcomes relevant to the attainment of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030. We apply wavelet coherence analysis to the FAO Food Price Index and the prevalence of undernourishment (SDG Indicator 2.1.1) over 2001–2023, testing statistical significance against an AR(1) red-noise null hypothesis. Hybrid ARIMA–Random Forest models generate probabilistic price forecasts through 2030. Despite strong raw coherence (R² ≈ 0.77), only 7.8% of time–frequency cells achieve statistical significance, indicating that apparent co-movement largely reflects autocorrelation rather than substantive dependence. Where significant coherence emerges, it concentrates at medium-run horizons (3–6 years), consistent with undernourishment as a habitual dietary adequacy measure linked to sustained affordability pressures affecting health, productivity, and human capital formation. Rolling correlation analysis reveals suggestive evidence of a regime change around 2012—from negative to positive correlation—coinciding with a slowdown in progress toward reducing hunger, although the 5-year rolling windows yield only 19 observations, limiting the power of formal structural break tests. Price forecasts exhibit rapidly widening confidence intervals (by ±131 index points by 2030), underscoring fundamental limits to predictability. The annual PoU series comprises only 23 observations, which constrains the estimation of long-run (8–12-year) wavelet cycles; results at those horizons should therefore be interpreted with caution. These findings caution against mechanistic inferences from global price indices to hunger and human development outcomes, redirecting policy emphasis toward domestic transmission channels and nutrition-sensitive safety nets. Full article