Search Results (819)

Copper is a strategic raw material and an important component in electric motors, widely used across industries because of its excellent conductivity and recyclability. It plays an important role in the transformation from fossil fuel-based systems to green, electrified systems. However, substantial material losses continue throughout the lifecycle of electric motors, even with copper’s intrinsic capacity for circularity. Also, copper’s increasing demand, which is driven by the emergence of electric vehicles, industrial electrification, and renewable energy infrastructure, poses questions regarding its sustainable supply. The recovery of secondary copper sources from end-of-life (EoL) products is becoming more and more important in this context. However, it is still difficult to achieve circularity of copper, especially from industrial electric motors. This study investigates the challenges of closing the loop for copper during the lifecycle of motors in industrial applications. Based on an examination of EoL strategies, material flow insights, and practical investigation, the research pinpoints significant inefficiencies in the current processes. The widespread use of scraping as an approach of end-of-life management is one significant issue. Most of the electric motors are not built to separate their components, which makes both mechanical and manual disassembly difficult. The quality of recovered copper is thus compromised by the dominance of mixed metal shredding methods in the recycling step. This study highlights the need for systemic changes in addition to technical solutions to address copper circularity issues. It requires a focus on circularity in designing, giving disassembly and metal recovery a priority. This study focuses on circularity and its technological challenges in a value chain of copper. It not only identifies different processes such as supply chain disconnections and design constraints, but it also suggests workable solutions to close the copper flow loop in the electric motor sector. Copper quality and recovery is ultimately a problem involving design, technology, and cooperation, in addition to resources. This study supports the transition to a more sustainable and circular electric motor industry by offering a basis for directing such changes in industry practices and prospective EU regulations. Full article

Electroencephalography (EEG) has attracted significant attention as an effective modality for interaction between the physical and virtual worlds, with EEG-based person identification serving as a key gateway to such applications. Despite substantial progress in EEG-based person identification, several challenges remain: (1) how to design an end-to-end EEG-based identification pipeline; (2) how to perform automatic electrode selection for each user to reduce redundancy and improve discriminative capacity; (3) how to enhance the backbone network’s feature extraction capability by suppressing irrelevant information and better leveraging informative patterns; and (4) how to leverage higher-level information in EEG signals to achieve intent recognition (i.e., EEG-based task/activity recognition under controlled paradigms) on top of person identification. To address these issues, this article proposes, for the first time, a unified deep learning framework that integrates automatic electrode selection, person identification, and intent recognition. We introduce a novel backbone network, AES-MBE, which integrates automatic electrode selection (AES) and intent recognition. The network combines a channel-attention mechanism with a multi-scale bidirectional encoder (MBE), enabling adaptive capture of fine-grained local features while modeling global temporal dependencies in both forward and backward directions. We validate our approach using the PhysioNet EEG Motor Movement/Imagery Dataset (EEGMMIDB), which contains EEG recordings from 109 subjects performing 4 tasks. Compared with state-of-the-art methods, our framework achieves superior performance. Specifically, our method attains a person identification accuracy of 98.82% using only 4 electrodes and an average intent recognition accuracy of 91.58%. In addition, our approach demonstrates strong stability and robustness as the number of users varies, offering insights for future research and practical applications. Full article

Background: Reaction time and coordination are key performance components in team sports such as handball, particularly during the developmental years. Integrating visual and cognitive stimuli through smart technologies has been shown to facilitate motor skill development in young athletes. Methods: This study evaluated the effects of a BlazePod-based training protocol on reaction time, visuomotor coordination, movement quickness, and change-of-direction performance in junior male handball players aged 12–14 years. Thirty-two athletes (mean age = 13.37 ± 0.29 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 16), in which the traditional neuromotor/coordination block of regular practice was replaced with BlazePod-based drills three times per week for eight weeks, or to a control group (n = 16), which trained the same capacities with traditional handball-specific exercises without technology. Training frequency (3 sessions/week), session duration (90 min), and the workload of the 30 min neuromotor block were matched between groups. Motor performance was assessed using four tests: Focus Reactions, Fast Feet, Clap Challenge, and the Agility T-Test. Paired- and independent-samples t-tests were applied to compare pre- and post-intervention scores. Results: The experimental group showed significant within-group improvements in Focus Reactions (p = 0.002) and AgilTT_ShuffleLeft (p = 0.014), whereas the control group showed no improvements and a small but significant worsening in Focus Reactions. Between-group comparisons at post-test revealed significant differences in favor of the experimental group for Fast Feet (p = 0.036), Clap Challenge (p = 0.008), AgilTT_Overall (p < 0.001), and AgilTT_SprintBack (p = 0.003). Conclusions: The integration of BlazePod technology into handball training produced measurable improvements in reaction speed and lateral agility among junior players. These findings suggest that technology-assisted neuromotor training represents a viable training modality that can replace a traditional neuromotor block within youth handball practice while maintaining overall training dose. Full article

Robot-assisted rehabilitation has demonstrated significant efficacy in improving motor function among patients with physical and neurological impairments. The development of effective rehabilitation robots requires careful integration of mechanical design and control systems to ensure safe, compliant, and intention-oriented human–robot interaction while delivering appropriate therapeutic assistance and feedback. Parallel robot manipulators have increasingly gained attention in rehabilitation applications due to their superior precision, structural stiffness, and high load capacity compared to their serial counterparts. This paper presents a scoping review of control strategies specifically implemented in parallel rehabilitation robots between 2015 and 2025. The control strategies include position control, force control, compliance control, adaptive control, intelligent control, and hybrid control. Our analysis showed a progressive shift from traditional position-based control toward more sophisticated adaptive and intelligent strategies that better accommodate patient-specific needs and therapeutic requirements. Full article

Background: We explored a new approach for increasing participation in daily life for individuals with severe movement impairments. The core of the approach is an application designed to Translate Intentions into Action (TIA) as a motivational tool for both leisure and clinical training sessions. Methods: The TIA application was developed to enable users to activate motivational feedback, like sounds, music, or videos, through movement measured with an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). IMUs were calibrated to user-specific thresholds based on individual movement potential. TIA was tested in two different age groups to assess applicability throughout lifespan and across different motor capacities. Results: The results indicated that TIA can be used for improved participation when positive feedback is provided during the intervention sessions. Observations demonstrated that regardless of age and motor capabilities, increased participation was achieved. TIA demonstrated the far-reaching potential to enhance the engagement and motivation of individuals with different levels of severe disabilities. Conclusions: By providing personalized, positive feedback through movement-activated outputs, TIA can be used by a wide range of people, with or without motor disabilities, to control digital outputs, such as video and audio. These findings suggest that TIA can be a valuable tool in both clinical and leisure settings to promote meaningful participation in activities. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by age-dependent degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, a process mediated by α-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired proteostasis. While BAP31—an endoplasmic reticulum protein critical for protein trafficking and degradation—has been implicated in neuronal processes, its role in PD pathogenesis remains poorly understood. To investigate the impact of BAP31 deficiency on PD progression, we generated dopamine neuron-specific BAP31 conditional knockout with DAT-Cre (cKO) mice (Slc6a3cre-BAP31^fl/fl) and subjected them to MPTP-lesioned Parkinsonian models. Compared to BAP31^fl/fl controls, Slc6a3cre-BAP31^fl/fl mice exhibited exacerbated motor deficits following MPTP treatment, including impaired rotarod performance, reduced balance beam traversal time, and diminished climbing and voluntary motor capacity abilities. BAP31 conditional deletion showed no baseline phenotype, with deficits emerging only after MPTP. Our results indicate that these behavioral impairments correlated with neuropathological hallmarks: decreased NeuN neuronal counts, elevated GFAP astrogliosis, reduced tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the substantia nigra, and aggravated dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Mechanistically, BAP31 deficiency disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis by suppressing the PINK1–Parkin mitophagy pathway. Further analysis revealed that BAP31 regulates PINK1 transcription via the transcription factor Engrailed Homeobox 1. Collectively, our findings identify BAP31 as a neuroprotective modulator that mitigates PD-associated motor dysfunction by preserving mitochondrial stability, underscoring its therapeutic potential as a target for neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

To address the lack of inertia in full-power converter wind turbines and the inability of existing mechanical speed regulation technologies to achieve power smoothing without converters, this paper proposes a novel hybrid wind energy storage system integrating a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and an electromechanical flywheel. This system establishes a cascaded topology featuring “CVT-based source-side speed regulation and electromechanical flywheel-based terminal power stabilization.” By utilizing the CVT for speed decoupling and introducing the flywheel via a planetary differential branch, the system retains physical inertia by eliminating large-capacity converters and overcomes the bottleneck of traditional mechanical transmissions, which struggle to balance constant frequency with stable power output. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system reduces the active power fluctuation range by 47.60% compared to the raw wind power capture. Moreover, the required capacity of the auxiliary motor is only about 15% of the rated power, reducing the reliance on power electronic converters by approximately 85% compared to full-power converter systems. Furthermore, during a grid voltage dip of 0.6 p.u., the system restricts rotor speed fluctuations to within 0.5%, significantly enhancing Low Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) capability. Full article

Purpose: This study assessed the adaptations resulting from implementing an experimental, integrated training program tailored to sex-specific traits. The aim was to enhance motor abilities, aerobic capacity, and metabolic variables in female and male rugby sevens athletes. Methods: Employing a combined observational and experimental design, initial and post-intervention assessments were conducted over three months (March–June 2023) with 24 elite professional players, divided equally by sex (12 females, 12 males). The protocol consisted of 12 micro-cycles, each lasting 7 days and comprising 12 training sessions. The evaluations included sprint and jumping tests, as well as functional assessments such as resting metabolic rate and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Results: Using one-way repeated measures ANOVA, significant improvements were noted across all performance parameters (p < 0.001), with effect sizes ranging from small to very large. Sex-specific differences were evident, with females demonstrating consistent improvements in aerobic capacity and jumping ability, while males excelled in explosive power and longer sprints. Despite initial performance disparities, both sexes improved in short-distance sprints (10 m and 40 m). Cardiovascular efficiency improved as indicated by reduced maximum heart rates and lower respiratory quotients. Conclusions: Males showed superior progress in strength and explosive power tests, reflecting distinct physiological traits. These findings underscore the need for individualized and sex-specific training programs to optimize performance in high-intensity sports, such as rugby sevens. Full article

As one of the few carotenoid-producing microorganisms, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa remains underexplored for its antioxidant activity. This study investigated the effects of R. mucilaginosa JAASSRY on D-galactose-induced aging mice. The high-dose JAASSRY (HR) significantly increased body weight by 9.89% compared to the model group (AM), while reducing organ indices of the spleen, liver, kidneys, and brain (p < 0.01). Compared with the AM group, the HR group exhibited increased serum activities of SOD (20.26%), GSH-Px (9.03%), and CAT (133.01%), with a 24.87% decrease in MDA level. In brain tissue, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities increased by 79.49%, 8.45%, and 60.23%, respectively, while MDA decreased by 8.29%. R. mucilaginosa JAASSRY also dose-dependently alleviated structural damage in the hippocampus and spleen and improved motor strength and learning-memory capacity. Furthermore, R. mucilaginosa JAASSRY increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and reduced Proteobacteria, Helicobacter, and Oscillospira, while enhancing antioxidant capacity by modulating nucleotide, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism. Lactobacillus and Pediococcus were positively correlated with memory latency and CAT/SOD activities (p < 0.05), whereas Actinormyces and Dehalobacterium showed negative correlations. Notably, HR performed comparably or superiorly to β-carotene in improving cerebral oxidative stress and beneficial microbiota, suggesting its potential in neuroprotection and gut–brain axis regulation. In conclusion, R. mucilaginosa JAASSRY mitigates aging-related oxidative damage and behavioral deficits by modulating gut microbiota structure and function, demonstrating its promise as a β-carotene alternative in animal husbandry and functional foods. Full article

Dysprosium is one of the most critical elements for global economies due to its essential role in the green energy transition. Although it is added in small quantities as an alloying element, dysprosium plays a crucial role in NdFeB magnets used in wind turbines and industrial motors. On the other hand, the limited resources and production capacity of dysprosium contribute to supply shortages and raise concerns about its long-term availability. Therefore, there is a need for efficient techniques that will enable the recovery of dysprosium from secondary materials to bridge the gap between supply and demand while addressing the risks associated with securing a stable supply. This review focuses on (bio)hydrometallurgical and solvometallurgical methods for recovering dysprosium from key secondary sources such as spent NdFeB magnets, phosphogypsum, and coal ash. Although these wastes do not always contain high concentrations of dysprosium, they can have a simpler elemental composition compared to primary sources (a few tens or hundreds of ppm Dy) and are more readily available. Spent NdFeB magnets, with a few percent Dy, show the most promise for recycling. In contrast, coal fly ashes (with several ppm Dy), although widely available, bind dysprosium in an inert phase, requiring substantial pretreatment to enhance the release of the desired element. Phosphogypsum, while not yet a significant source of dysprosium (several ppm Dy), is increasingly recognized as a potential source for other rare earth elements. Although conventional hydrometallurgical methods are commonly used, these are typically unselective for dysprosium recovery, whereas unconventional solvometallurgical approaches show preferential extraction of dysprosium over base metals. Full article

Purpose: To evaluate short-term motor and sensory–motor outcomes following postoperative OT in children with IXT after strabismus surgery. Methods: This prospective before–after observational study included children with IXT who underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession and were referred for postoperative OT based on predefined clinical criteria. A structured 12-week OTplan was initiated approximately six months after surgery. Outcome measures included angle of deviation (prism diopters, PD), near point of convergence (cm), positive fusional vergence amplitudes (PD), and convergence amplitudes at distance and near (PD). Pre- and post-therapy changes were analysed using paired-samples t-tests with effect sizes calculated using Cohen’s d. Final postoperative alignment was additionally compared cross-sectionally between children who underwent OT and those managed without OT. Results: Eighty-eight children had complete paired motor and sensory–motor data and were included in the analyses. Changes in static ocular alignment were small, with mean residual deviation improving from −7.02 ± 6.91 PD to −5.22 ± 6.60 PD after OT (mean change +1.80 PD; p < 0.01; d ≈ 0.30). No significant difference in final postoperative alignment was observed between the OT and non-OT groups (p = 0.827). In contrast, marked improvements were observed in sensory–motor outcomes. Positive fusional vergence amplitude increased from 7.30 ± 8.33 PD to 22.19 ± 9.26 PD (p < 0.001; d ≈ 1.5). Distance convergence amplitude improved from 7.30 ± 8.33 PD to 22.19 ± 9.26 PD, and near convergence amplitude from 10.95 ± 12.50 PD to 33.29 ± 13.89 PD (both p < 0.001; d ≈ 1.5). Near point of convergence showed a modest but significant improvement. Conclusions: Postoperative OT was associated with substantial short-term improvements in sensory–motor function, particularly fusional and convergence capacities, while changes in static ocular alignment were small and of limited clinical relevance. These findings support the role of OT as a functional adjunct to surgery, aimed at enhancing binocular control and postoperative sensory–motor stability in children with IXT. Full article

The accelerated development of smart devices and the increased demand for technological services have given rise to new services with great potential for development in the market. Applications for museums are no exception, and more and more institutions are including such solutions in the cultural industry. However, there is still much to be developed, given the difficulties that people with disabilities have in accessing them. In this work were studied the characteristics that the future application (App) of the Helga de Alvear Museum in Cáceres should have so that it can be used satisfactorily by the maximum number of visitors, regardless of their sensory, intellectual, or motor capacity. Kansei Engineering has identified the emotions and sensations that favour the interaction of users with the application and which have been converted into functionalities and design requirements in order to present a graphic proposal and structure for the App. The appearance and functioning of this App are presented visually, supported by an initial theoretical and research part that has helped to identify the rest of the specific objectives. Some specifications to take into account are functional, non-functional, programming, sequence diagrams, and basic interface requirements. This application has two generic and five specific itineraries to solve the disabilities mentioned in this paper, making it accessible to the different groups. The importance of obtaining an equivalence between the essential requirements of the standard and the basic design specifications that should regulate the work process resides not only in having a direct equivalence but also in obtaining guidelines for other designers who want to face extensive regulation and need help to interpret it and be able to make decisions straightforwardly. Full article

While distinguishing between collis and caput patterns in cervical dystonia (CD) has clear clinical and therapeutic relevance, the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) on segmental spinal excitability and inhibitory function in caput-pattern CD have not been previously investigated. This study aimed to advance understanding of the effects of BoNT-A and its broader neurophysiological impact in cervical dystonia, particularly in the caput subtype. The study utilised non-invasive neurophysiological methods to assess F-wave and cutaneous silent period (CSP or CuSP) parameters in 21 CD patients with caput motor patterns at waning and peak response phases of BoNT-A therapy. Significant prolongation of Fmin latency, increased F–M interlatency, reduced F-wave amplitude, and a marked increase in CSP duration and onset latencies were observed following BoNT-A administration, indicating that BoNT-A not only reduces spinal motoneuron excitability and strengthens spinal inhibitory processes, but also highlights its capacity to modulate central sensorimotor pathways beyond local chemodenervation. Together, the observed changes in CSP support its use as a potential biomarker for nervous system effects of BoNT-A in dystonia; however, further validation in controlled studies is warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Astrocytic redox-inflammatory signaling has been implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology and may constrain hippocampal neurogenesis. We previously identified an astrocytic NOX4–MPO–OPN axis associated with impaired neurogenic capacity. Here, we tested whether a saffron-derived antioxidant (SDA; Crocus sativus extract) and Passiflora incarnata L. extract (PI) modulate this pathway in an MPTP-induced PD mouse model. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomized to Sham, MPTP, and treatment groups (n = 9/group for behavior; n = 4–5/group for histology/immunoblotting). SDA or PI (50 mg/kg/day, oral, 5 weeks) was administered, with resveratrol as a positive control. Behavioral, histological, and molecular analyses were performed by investigators blinded to group allocation where feasible. Results: SDA and PI were associated with reduced NOX4/MPO/OPN signals, mainly in GFAP-positive astrocytes, along with recovery of neurogenesis markers (Ki67, DCX, BrdU/NeuN) and synaptic markers (PSD95, synaptophysin), and improved motor performance. Mitochondrial and oxidative injury markers (TIM23, TOM20, OXPHOS subunits; 4-HNE) and apoptotic markers (Bax, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2) also shifted toward Sham levels. Given previous reports of Passiflora extracts’ sedative effects, we note that metabolic measures (body weight, food intake, and water intake) were similar across groups; however, specific tests for sedation or arousal were not conducted. Conclusions: These findings offer preclinical evidence that SDA and PI modulate redox-inflammatory and mitochondrial stress signatures and are associated with neurogenic, synaptic, and behavioral improvements in an acute MPTP model. Further validation in chronic/genetic PD models and pharmacokinetic/brain exposure studies will be necessary to confirm their translational potential. Full article

Traditional path planning methods primarily optimize distance or time, without fully considering the impact of slope gradients in park road networks, variations in vehicle load capacity, and braking energy recovery characteristics on the energy consumption of pure electric commercial vehicles. To address these issues, this paper proposes a globally optimized path planning method based on energy consumption minimization. The proposed method introduces a multi-factor coupled energy consumption model for pure electric commercial vehicles, integrating slope gradients, load capacity, motor efficiency, and energy recovery. Using this vehicle energy consumption model and the park road network topology map, an energy consumption topology map representing energy consumption between any two nodes is constructed. An energy-optimized improved ant colony optimization algorithm (E-IACO) is proposed. By introducing an exponential energy consumption heuristic factor and an enhanced pheromone update mechanism, it prioritizes energy-saving path exploration, thereby effectively identifying the optimal energy consumption path within the constructed energy consumption topology map. Simulation results demonstrate that in typical three-dimensional industrial park scenarios, the proposed energy-optimized path planning method achieves maximum reductions of 10.57% and 4.90% compared to the A* algorithm and ant colony optimization (ACO), respectively, with average reductions of 5.14% and 1.97%. It exhibits excellent stability and effectiveness across varying load capacities. This research provides a reliable theoretical framework and technical support for reducing logistics operational costs in industrial parks and enhancing the economic efficiency of pure electric commercial vehicles. Full article