Search Results (527)

Lateral elbow pain is a common condition often misattributed solely to tendinopathy, while subtle instability may represent a significant underlying cause. Traditional classifications of elbow instability primarily address traumatic or grossly unstable patterns, leaving minor forms underrecognized. Recent evidence has emphasized the role of the Radial-Lateral Collateral Ligament (R-LCL) in maintaining joint stability, and its elongation has been linked to Symptomatic Minor Instability of the Lateral Elbow (SMILE). This model describes a horizontal type of radiocapitellar instability, where ligamentous incompetence leads to compensatory overload of the extensor carpi radialis brevis, ultimately producing chronic pain. Advances in diagnostic tools—including dynamic ultrasound (HELP-US test), CT arthrography with the SMILE Index, and arthroscopic signs such as the Loose Collar Sign—have improved recognition of this condition. However, surgical controversies remain, particularly regarding the potential destabilizing role of lateral release in patients with unrecognized R-LCL pathology. Arthroscopic stabilization techniques, such as R-LCL plication or imbrication, have shown promising outcomes, offering pain relief and functional recovery with minimally invasive approaches. This review integrates anatomical, biomechanical, and clinical evidence into a structured diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm, aiming to reduce diagnostic uncertainty and guide tailored interventions. Recognition of microinstability, and, in particular, the SMILE model, is crucial to optimize management of patients with chronic lateral elbow pain refractory to conservative measures. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. The absence of reliable fluid biomarkers continues to hinder early diagnosis and effective monitoring of disease progression. Circulating microRNAs (cmiRNAs) are potential candidates, given their stability in biofluids and their ability to mirror pathological processes. We conducted a longitudinal study in 30 early-stage levodopa-naive PD patients (22 men, 8 women). Serum samples were collected at baseline (T0) and at a follow-up time point two years later (T2). A panel of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) (miR-146a-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-106a-5p) were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Data were expressed as relative expression (2^−ΔCt), and statistical analyses included sex-stratified comparisons and paired tests for longitudinal changes. At baseline, no significant differences were found in the expression of the miRNAs between male and female PD patients. In contrast, longitudinal within-subject analysis revealed a highly significant upregulation in miR-146a-5p expression from T0 to T2 in both sexes (p < 0.0001). No other miRNAs in the panel exhibited significant changes over time. CmiR-146a-5p levels rise markedly over time in PD patients, independent of sex, suggesting that this miRNA could be a dynamic biomarker of disease progression. Full article

Slope instability may cause severe casualties, property losses, and ecological damage. To accurately evaluate slope stability grades and mitigate geological hazards, a dynamic stability assessment method based on variable weight theory and trapezoidal cloud model is proposed. First, an evaluation index system for slope stability is established following the principles of uniqueness, purposefulness, and scientific validity. Then, to improve the accuracy of subjective constant weights, the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP) is employed to calculate subjective constant weights. Considering the contrast intensity and conflict among indicators, an improved CRITIC method is applied to determine objective constant weights. To balance subjective and objective factors and avoid constant weight imbalance, the optimal comprehensive constant weights are computed based on game theory, effectively reducing bias caused by single weighting methods. Furthermore, to fully account for the influence of indicator state values on their weights, variable weight theory is introduced to dynamically adjust the comprehensive constant weights. Finally, based on the variable weights of evaluation indicators, a trapezoidal cloud model is utilized to construct the slope stability evaluation model, which is validated through an engineering case study. The results indicate that the stability grade of Stage 1 is assessed as basically stable, while Stages 2 and 3 are evaluated as stable. Numerical simulations show the safety factors of the three stages are 1.36, 1.83, and 2.36, respectively, verifying the correctness of the proposed model. The proposed model demonstrates practical engineering value in slope stability assessment and can be referenced for slope reinforcement and hazard prevention in later stages. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits profound molecular heterogeneity between left-sided and right-sided tumors with distinct therapeutic responses that current static genomic analyses incompletely explain. We developed Dynamic Functional Influence Computation (DynaFIC), a computational framework modeling time-resolved signal propagation through biological networks to quantify functional influence beyond static expression levels. Using the GSE39582 dataset comprising 583 primary CRC samples, we performed confounder-adjusted differential expression analysis controlling for microsatellite instability status, BRAF mutations, Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage, age, and sex, identifying 105 laterality-associated genes that underwent DynaFIC temporal network analysis. Right-sided tumors exhibited dramatically higher network connectivity density despite fewer nodes, creating distributed vulnerability patterns with HOXC6 as the dominant regulator, achieving 200-fold influence through network amplification. Left-sided tumors showed compartmentalized, hierarchical organization with PRAC1 as the primary regulator and predictable expression-influence scaling. Temporal clustering revealed distinct propagation kinetics: right-sided tumors demonstrated rapid signal saturation requiring early intervention, while left-sided tumors exhibited sustained propagation permitting sequential approaches. Stability Volatility Index analysis showed right-sided tumors maintain significantly higher systemic vulnerability. These findings establish anatomical location as a fundamental network organizational principle, suggesting that incorporating temporal dynamics into cancer analysis reveals therapeutically relevant differences for precision medicine applications in colorectal cancer. Full article

This study systematically evaluated postural control performance on dominant and non-dominant sides in young adults of different sexes using a Third-Order Polynomial Decay fitting method combined with time-domain stability features. A total of 126 participants (66 males, 60 females) performed single-leg landing tasks, during which ground reaction forces (GRF) and center of pressure (COP) data were collected using a Kistler 3D force platform and Bioware acquisition system. Dynamic stability times in the anterior–posterior, medial–lateral, and vertical directions were calculated with polynomial fitting, and additional time-domain measures were used to assess static and dynamic stability. Results showed that on the non-dominant side, participants exhibited significantly longer dynamic stability times (p = 0.015), greater root mean square distance (p = 0.005), and longer total sway path (p = 0.005) in the anterior–posterior direction compared with the dominant side. Significant sex differences were also found in vertical stability index (p = 0.044), dynamic stability index (p = 0.047), total sway path (p < 0.001), anterior–posterior sway path (p = 0.001), and medial–lateral sway path (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the dominant limb demonstrated superior stability, males showed better static control, and females displayed greater dynamic stability, underscoring the importance of targeted non-dominant training and sex-specific balance strategies. Full article

Vertical load fluctuations alter nose landing gear (NLG) system stiffness and complicate shimmy dynamics. Based on the full-scale NLG static stiffness test data, the relationship between shock absorber stroke and system stiffness was fitted, and a nonlinear shimmy model considering time-varying loads was established. The numerical solution was achieved using the established Simscape model. The research results show that, under constant load conditions, considering the nonlinear growth characteristic of NLG system stiffness with shock absorber stroke, the lateral shimmy amplitude of the NLG is significantly reduced, while the rotational shimmy amplitude increases slightly; among these, lateral stiffness plays a dominant role in influencing shimmy stability. In addition, time-varying loads aggravate shimmy through two paths: first, the fluctuation of load amplitude directly changes the force state; second, vertical movement causes changes in the shock absorber stroke, which in turn leads to dynamic adjustment of system stiffness. This is of great help in guiding the stiffness design of the NLG system and accurately evaluating shimmy stability. Full article

Dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) are an effective strategy to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and promote back health in sport horses. Previous studies focused mainly on multifidus muscle cross-sectional area, with limited data on locomotion and adaptation timing. This study evaluated locomotor changes using accelerometry, over 8 weeks of DME application in 14 sedentary horses: a DME group (n = 8) performing 10 different DME (3 neck flexions, 1 neck extension and 3 lateral bending exercises to each side), 5 repetitions of each DME per session, 3 sessions/week, and a control group (n = 6), that continued with their daily routine activities without any other training. During the study period, all horses were housed in medium-sized paddocks. Accelerometric measurements were performed at walk and trot before intervention, 2 h and 24 h after a DME session, and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The DME group showed significant increases in dorsoventral displacement and dorsoventral and mediolateral activities from week 4, at both walk and trot, which then stabilized. Longitudinal activity increased from week 2 on trot and from week 4 at walk. Locomotor symmetry and stride length improved at week 6, while stride frequency decreased at week 8; velocity remained unchanged. These findings indicate that DME enhances dorsoventral, mediolateral and longitudinal activities, producing longer, more symmetrical strides. Overall, DME appears to promote more symmetrical movement patterns. Full article

This work presents a comparative study of graphene exfoliation technologies from various graphite precursors—spectral graphite and thermally expanded graphite (Graflex)—using ultrasonic treatment and electrochemical methods in the presence of the ionic surfactant Nafion. The influence of exfoliation parameters, the nature of the starting material, and the presence of surfactant additives on the morphology, dispersibility, stability, and structural characteristics of the resulting graphene-containing dispersions was investigated. Particular attention is paid to a two-step technology combining pulsed electrochemical exfoliation with subsequent mild ultrasonic treatment. Comprehensive characterization of the samples was carried out using UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electron microscopy, electron diffraction (ED), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the use of Nafion significantly enhances exfoliation efficiency and contributes to the stabilization of the dispersions. Graphene sheets obtained from Graflex exhibit significantly larger lateral dimensions (up to 1 μm or more) compared to those exfoliated from spectral graphite (100–300 nm). The approach combining the use of Graflex and pulsed electrochemical exfoliation in the presence of Nafion with subsequent low-power ultrasonic treatment enables the production of few-layer graphene (1–3 layers) with high stability. Full article

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) is a key technology in ocean resource development, and its link stability is often limited by the difficulty of optical alignment in complex underwater environments. In response to this difficulty, this study has focused on improving the Real-Time Detection Transformer v2 (RT-DETRv2) model. We have improved the underwater light source detection model by collaboratively designing a lightweight backbone network and deformable convolution, constructing a cross-stage local attention mechanism to reduce the number of network parameters, and introducing geometrically adaptive convolution kernels that dynamically adjust the distribution of sampling points, enhance the representation of spot-deformation features, and improve positioning accuracy under optical interference. To verify the effectiveness of the model, we have constructed an underwater light-emitting diode (LED) light-spot detection dataset containing 11,390 images was constructed, covering a transmission distance of 15–40 m, a ±45° deflection angle, and three different light-intensity conditions (noon, evening, and late night). Experiments show that the improved model achieves an average precision at an intersection-over-union threshold of 0.50 (AP50) value of 97.4% on the test set, which is 12.7% higher than the benchmark model. The UWOC system built based on the improved model achieves zero-bit-error-rate communication within a distance of 30 m after assisted alignment (an initial lateral offset angle of 0°–60°), and the bit-error rate remains stable in the 10⁻⁷–10⁻⁶ range at a distance of 40 m, which is three orders of magnitude lower than the traditional Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) underwater optical communication system (a bit-error rate of 10⁻⁶–10⁻³), verifying the strong adaptability of the improved model to complex underwater environments. Full article

In this study, we investigate a shielded capacitive power transfer (S-CPT) system that employs cast iron road covers as transmission electrodes for both dynamic and static charging of electric vehicles. Coupling capacitance was evaluated from S-parameters using copper, aluminum, ductile cast iron, structural steel, and carbon steel electrodes, with additional comparisons of ductile iron surface conditions (casting, machining, electrocoating). In a four-plate S-CPT system operating at 13.56 MHz, capacitance decreased with electrode spacing, yet ductile cast iron reached ~70 pF at 2 mm, demonstrating a performance comparable to that of copper and aluminum despite having higher resistivity and permeability. Power transmission experiments using a Ø330 mm cast iron cover meeting road load standards achieved 58% efficiency at 100 W, maintained around 40% efficiency at power levels above 200 W, and retained 45% efficiency under 200 mm lateral displacement, confirming robust dynamic performance. Simulations showed that shield electrodes enhance grounding, stabilize potential, and reduce return-path impedance. Finite element analysis confirmed that the ductile cast iron electrodes can withstand a 25-ton design load. The proposed S-CPT concept integrates an existing cast iron infrastructure with thin aluminum receiving plates, enabling high efficiency, mechanical durability, EMI mitigation, and reduced installation costs, offering a cost-effective approach to urban wireless charging. Full article

This study focuses on the design and implementation of an Adaptive High-Order sliding mode control for by-wire ground vehicle systems. The controller integrates advanced technologies such as Active Front Steering (AFS) and Rear Torque Vectoring (RTV), aimed at enhancing vehicle dynamics. However, lateral velocity remains one of the most challenging variables to measure, even in modern vehicles. To address this limitation, a High-Order Sliding Mode (HOSM)-based observer with adaptive gains is proposed. The HOSM observer provides critical information for the operation of the dynamic controller, ensuring the tracking of desired references. Compared with traditional observers, the proposed adaptive HOSM observer achieves finite-time convergence of state estimation errors and exhibits enhanced robustness against external disturbances, as confirmed through simulation results. The adaptive gains dynamically adjust the system parameters, enhancing its precision and flexibility under changing environmental conditions. This dynamic approach ensures efficient and reliable performance, enabling the system to respond effectively to complex scenarios. The stability of the dynamic HOSM controller with adaptive gain is analyzed through a Lyapunov-based approach, providing solid theoretical guarantees. Its performance is evaluated using detailed simulations conducted in CarSim 2017 software. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed controller is highly effective in ensuring accurate trajectory tracking. Full article

Long-range rotating wrap-around-fin rockets may exhibit non-convergent conical motion at high Mach numbers, causing increased drag, reduced range, and potential flight instability. This study employs the implicit dual time-stepping method to solve the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations for simulating the flow field around a high aspect ratio wrap-around-fin rotating rocket at supersonic speeds. Validation of the numerical method in predicting aerodynamic characteristics at small angles of attack is achieved by comparing numerically obtained side force and yawing moment coefficients with experimental data. Analyzing the rocket’s angular motion process, along with angular motion equations, reveals the necessary conditions for the yawing moment to ensure stability during angular motion. Shape optimization is performed based on aerodynamic coefficient features and flow field structures at various angles of attack and Mach numbers, using the yawing moment stability condition as a guideline. Adjustments to parameters such as tail fin curvature radius, tail fin aspect ratio, and body aspect ratio diminish the impact of asymmetric flow induced by the wrap-around fin on the lateral moment, effectively resolving issues associated with near misses and off-target impacts resulting from dynamic instability at high Mach numbers. Full article

Background: The continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates the development of targeted strategies based on the immunological profiles of distinct age groups. Despite this imperative, comprehensive insights into the dynamics and broad-spectrum efficacy of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against emerging variants across different age groups, particularly in children, remain inadequate. Methods: Following the termination of China’s dynamic ‘zero-COVID-19’ policy in January 2023, which coincided with a widespread Omicron outbreak and numerous breakthrough infections, a longitudinal cohort study was established encompassing all age groups in Hubei, China. Follow-up assessments were conducted in March (Visit 1), June (Visit 2), and October (Visit 3) 2023. A total of 320 individuals were randomly selected and stratified into three age categories: children (<18 years, n = 80), adults (18–59 years, n = 167), and the elderly (≥60 years, n = 73). The NAbs against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5, and JN.1 were evaluated for each group. Trajectory modeling was employed to classify antibody trends into five categories: low-level stability, median-level stability, high-level stability, early increase, and late increase. Results: In March 2023, children exhibited significantly higher NAb levels against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5, and JN.1 compared to adults and the elderly. However, these levels rapidly declined. From June to October 2023, no significant difference in NAb levels was observed between children and the other age groups. Regarding the broad-spectrum effectiveness of NAbs, the effectiveness in children was comparable to that of adults and the elderly in March 2023. However, from June to October 2023, children’s effectiveness became significantly lower than that of the other age groups. Trajectory analysis revealed that the highest proportions of high-level stability (31.3%) and median-level stability (42.5%) were observed among children. In contrast, adults and the elderly were most commonly categorized into the early increase (adult 46.7%, elderly 49.3%) and median-level stability (adult 22.1%, elderly 20.5%) categories. Conclusions: Although children initially demonstrate higher levels of NAbs, these levels decrease more rapidly than in adults and the elderly, eventually equalizing in later stages of recovery. Furthermore, the broad-spectrum effectiveness of NAbs in children is narrower than in other age groups. These findings suggest that children are at an elevated risk of infection with newly emerging variants, underscoring the urgent need to intensify focus on reinfections among children and develop tailored strategies to protect this vulnerable population. Full article

To enhance the path-tracking accuracy and control stability of articulated underground vehicles navigating high-curvature tunnels, this paper proposes a novel Multi-Time-Scale Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (MTS-NMPC) strategy. The core innovation lies in its dynamic adaptation of the prediction horizon to simultaneously compensate for the body torsion effects and yaw deviations induced by high-speed cornering. A high-fidelity vehicle dynamics model is first established. Subsequently, an adaptive mechanism is designed to adjust the prediction horizon based on the reference speed and road curvature. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed MTS-NMPC achieves remarkable reductions of 35% and 17% in the maximum lateral tracking error and heading deviation, respectively, compared to conventional NMPC. It also improves stability by suppressing the velocity fluctuations of the articulated joint. The superior control performance and robustness of our method are further validated through field tests in an underground mine. Full article

In-wheel motor (IWM)-driven electric vehicles (EVs) are susceptible to road excitation, which can induce eccentricity between the stator and rotor of the IWM. This eccentricity leads to unbalanced electromagnetic forces (UEFs) and electromechanical coupling (EMC) effects, severely degrading vehicle dynamic performance. To address this issue, this study first established an EMC system model encompassing UEF, IWM drive, and vehicle dynamics. Based on this model, four typical operating conditions—constant speed, acceleration, deceleration, and steering—were designed to thoroughly analyze the influence of EMC effects on vehicle dynamic response characteristics. The analysis results were validated through real-vehicle experiments. The results indicate that the EMC effects caused by motor eccentricity primarily affect the vehicle’s vertical dynamics performance (especially during acceleration and deceleration), leading to increased vertical body acceleration and reduced ride comfort, while having a relatively minor impact on longitudinal and lateral dynamics performance. Additionally, these effects significantly increase the relative eccentricity of the motor under various operating conditions, further degrading motor performance. To mitigate these negative effects, this paper designs an active suspension controller based on distributed model predictive control (DMPC). Simulation and experimental validation demonstrate that the proposed controller effectively improves ride comfort and body posture stability while significantly suppressing the growth of the motor’s relative eccentricity, thereby enhancing motor operational performance. Full article