Search Results (18)

(1) Background: Gait analysis technologies have advanced; however, traditional systems like optical motion capture are lab-bound and costly, limiting rehabilitation monitoring. This cross-sectional study evaluates self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) insoles combined with IMU sensors to assess gait asymmetry, plantar pressure signatures, age effects and injury history in rehabilitation patients, aiming to enable portable, battery-free phenotyping. (2) Methods: Fifty-three patients (22 females, 31 males; age, 29 ± 26 years) from Astana clinics with trauma histories (e.g., spine, ankle, fractures) and 10 healthy references underwent a 2 min walk test (2MWT). TENG insoles captured plantar loading; ankle/knee IMUs measured spatiotemporal parameters (cadence, asymmetry). The data were normalized; the analyses used an ANOVA and correlations (Python 3.14.3). (3) Results: The TENG sensors showed force/frequency linearity (up to 10 V at 20 N). The cadence averaged 101 ± 10 steps/min, declining with age (r = −0.31, p = 0.03) and fractures (r = −0.23, p = 0.04). The asymmetry varied (−54% to +31%) without category differences. Flatfoot (55%) was linked to lateral loading shifts; condition-specific waveform signatures emerged (e.g., lateral heel in ankle issues). (4) TENG-IMU systems feasibly capture gait phenotypes in heterogeneous cohorts, supporting out-of-lab monitoring for personalized rehabilitation without batteries. Prospective validation is required for further practical implications. Full article

Lane departure can cause lateral vehicle collisions and, in severe cases, lead to vehicles running off the road. Such incidents often occur on curved sections and ramps. This study focuses on loop ramps. To quantify the impact of geometric alignment characteristics of loop ramps on lane departure behaviors, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) aerial photography was used to collect operation videos of 10 loop ramps at 6 interchanges, and 762 pieces of vehicle trajectory data under free-flow conditions were extracted based on DataFromSky. Combined with the indicators of equivalent radius and trajectory design curvature difference, vehicle trajectories were systematically classified into three patterns via k-means clustering: in the direction of centrifugal force (IDCF), against the direction of centrifugal force (ADCF), and no-offset normal driving (NOND). A multinomial logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the influence of loop ramp geometric alignment characteristics on departure behaviors. The results show that for the horizontal alignment elements of loop ramps, an increase in circular curve radius, a decrease in circular curve length, and a decrease in the length of the transition curve entering the circular curve all increase the risk of IDCF; conversely, the increase in these geometric parameters tend to increase the risk of ADCF. For the vertical alignment elements, there is a significant nonlinear negative correlation between the adjacent maximum gradient difference and lane departure behaviors. For the cross-section of loop ramps, widening can significantly suppress the risk of IDCF but slightly increase the risk of ADCF. This study reveals the synergistic influence mechanism of the three-dimensional (horizontal, vertical, and cross-sectional) geometric characteristics of combined alignments on lane departure behaviors at interchange loop ramps. Full article

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with sleep disturbance, namely insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing. This study aims to evaluate the overall sleep characteristics of ALS patients, their association with lung function tests, and possible predictive survival factors. We conducted a retrospective observation study among ALS patients monitored during a pulmonology consultation. Type one polysomnography (PSG) and lung function tests were performed once the patients presented with sleep-related symptoms, and the relationship between their parameters was assessed, as well as a survival analysis. We included 35 patients, with an overall diminished sleep efficiency, a partially conserved forced vital capacity (FVC), and low maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). A positive correlation between FVC and REM sleep percentage was observed. A survival analysis showed that a normal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep percentage and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) ≥ 15/h were independent predictors of survival. We observed a trend for higher sleep quality in patients with conserved lung function. A better sleep quality was associated with a higher survival. Obstructive events (reduced or absence of airflow associated with continued or increased inspiratory effort) did not seem to impact survival. Full article

Mandibular fractures are very common in maxillofacial trauma surgery. While previous studies have focused on possible risk factors related to post-operative complications, none have tried to identify pre-existing conditions that may increase the risk of mandibular fractures. We hypothesized, through clinical observation, that anatomical conditions involving poor dental contacts, such as malocclusions, may increase the risk of mandibular fractures. This work was subdivided into two parts. In the first part, Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data of four healthy patients characterized by different dentoskeletal occlusions (class I, class II, class III, and anterior open bite) have been used to develop four finite element models (FEMs) that accurately reproduce human bone structure. A vertical and lateral impact have been simulated at increasing speed on each model, analyzing the force distribution within the mandibular bone. Both vertical and lateral impact showed higher level of stress at the impact point and in the condylar area in models characterized by malocclusion. Specifically, the class III and the open bite models, at the same speed of impact, had higher values for a longer period, reaching critical stress levels that are correlated with mandibular fracture, while normal occlusion seems to be a protective condition. In the second part of this study, the engineering results were validated through the comparison with a sample of patients previously treated for mandibular fracture. Data from 223 mandibular fractures, due to low-energy injuries, were retrospectively collected to evaluate a possible correlation between pre-existing malocclusion and fracture patterns, considering grade of displacement, numbers of foci, and associated CFI score. Patients were classified, according to their occlusion, into Class I, Class II, Class III, and anterior open bite or poor occlusal contact (POC). Class I patients showed lower frequencies of fracture than class II, III, and open bite or POC patients. Class I was associated with displaced fractures in 16.1% of cases, class II in 47.1%, class III in 48.8% and open bite/POC in 65.2% of cases (p-value < 0.0001). In class I patients we observed a single non-displaced fracture in 51.6% of cases, compared to 12.9% of Class II, 19.5% of Class III and 22.7% of the open bite/POC group. Our analysis shows that class I appears to better dissipate forces applied on the mandible in low-energy injuries. A higher number of dental contacts showed a lower rate of multifocal and displaced fractures, mitigating the effect of direct forces onto the bone. The correlation between clinical data and virtual simulation on FEM models seems to point out that virtual simulation successfully predicts fracture patterns and risk of association with different type of occlusion. Better knowledge of biomechanics and force dissipation on the human body may lead to the development of more effective safety devices, and help select patients to plan medical, orthodontic/dental, and/or surgical intervention to prevent injuries. Full article

Respiratory failure assessment is among the most debatable research topics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical research due to the wide heterogeneity of its presentation. Among the different pulmonary function tests (PFTs), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) has shown potential utility as a diagnostic and monitoring marker, able to capture early respiratory modification in neuromuscular disorders. In the present study, we explored calculated MVV (cMVV) as a prognostic biomarker in a center-based, retrospective ALS population belonging to the Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta registry for ALS (PARALS). A Spearman’s correlation analysis with clinical data and PFTs showed a good correlation of cMVV with forced vital capacity (FVC) and a moderate correlation with some other features such as bulbar involvement, ALSFRS-R total score, blood oxygen (pO₂), carbonate (HCO₃⁻), and base excess (BE), measured with arterial blood gas analysis. Both the Cox proportional hazard models for survival and the time to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) measurement highlighted that cMVV at diagnosis (considering cMVV(40) ≥ 80) is able to stratify patients across different risk levels for death/tracheostomy and NIV indication, especially considering patients with FVC% ≥ 80. In conclusion, cMVV is a useful marker of early respiratory failure in ALS, and is easily derivable from standard PFTs, especially in asymptomatic ALS patients with normal FVC measures. Full article

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are complex, multifactorial disorders with significant social and economic impact in today’s society. NDDs are predicted to become the second-most common cause of death in the next few decades due to an increase in life expectancy but also to a lack of early diagnosis and mainly symptomatic treatment. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, there are yet no reliable biomarkers identifying the complex pathways contributing to these pathologies. The development of new approaches for early diagnosis and new therapies, together with the identification of non-invasive and more cost-effective diagnostic biomarkers, is one of the main trends in NDD biomedical research. Here we summarize data on peripheral biomarkers, biofluids (cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma), and peripheral blood cells (platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs)), reported so far for the three most common NDDs—Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). PLTs and RBCs, beyond their primary physiological functions, are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of biomarkers for NDDs. Special attention is given to the morphological and nanomechanical signatures of PLTs and RBCs as biophysical markers for the three pathologies. Modifications of the surface nanostructure and morphometric and nanomechanical signatures of PLTs and RBCs from patients with AD, PD, and ALS have been revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is currently experiencing rapid and widespread adoption in biomedicine and clinical medicine, in particular for early diagnostics of various medical conditions. AFM is a unique instrument without an analog, allowing the generation of three-dimensional cell images with extremely high spatial resolution at near-atomic scale, which are complemented by insights into the mechanical properties of cells and subcellular structures. Data demonstrate that AFM can distinguish between the three pathologies and the normal, healthy state. The specific PLT and RBC signatures can serve as biomarkers in combination with the currently used diagnostic tools. We highlight the strong correlation of the morphological and nanomechanical signatures between RBCs and PLTs in PD, ALS, and AD. Full article

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) hold enormous potential in cardiac disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. Furthermore, patient-specific iPSC-CMS can be tested for personalized medicine. To provide a deeper understanding of the contractile force dynamics of iPSC-CMs, we employed Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) as an advanced detection tool to distinguish the characteristics of force dynamics at a single cell level. We measured normal (vertical) and lateral (axial) force at different pacing frequencies. We found a significant correlation between normal and lateral force. We also observed a significant force–frequency relationship for both types of forces. This work represents the first demonstration of the correlation of normal and lateral force from individual iPSC-CMs. The identification of this correlation is relevant because it validates the comparison across systems and models that can only account for either normal or lateral force. These findings enhance our understanding of iPSC-CM properties, thereby paving the way for the development of therapeutic strategies in cardiovascular medicine. Full article

Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) enable advanced surface functionalization with broad applications in various fields such as micro- and nanoelectronics, medicine, microbiology, tribology, anti-icing systems, and more. This study demonstrates the possibility of achieving anisotropy in the tribological behavior of C45-grade steel structured by nanosecond laser radiation using the LIPSS method. The lateral surface of the steel roller was irradiated with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at an optimum intensity I = 870 MW/cm² for the formation of LIPSS. Two sets of samples were formed with LIPSS that were perpendicular and parallel to the roller’s rotational motion direction. The Raman intensity maps revealed that the LIPSS structure consisted of periodically arranged oxides at the top of hills. At the same time, the valleys of the LIPSS structures were almost not oxidized. These results correlated well with scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping and atomic force microscopy measurements. A comparison of Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra revealed that both the magnetite phase and traces of the hematite phase were present on the surface of the samples. Tribological tests were performed in two cycles with periodic changes in the normal clamping force and sliding speed. It was found that the LIPSS structures which were formed perpendicularly to the sliding direction on the roller had a significantly greater impact on the friction processes. Structures oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion had a positive influence on reducing the energy consumption of a friction process as well as increasing the wear resistance compared to LIPSS formed parallel to the direction of motion or ones having a non-texturized surface. Laser texturing to produce LIPSS perpendicular to the direction of motion could be recommended for friction pairs operating under low-load conditions. Full article

(1) The unilateral countermovement jump is commonly used to examine frontal plane kinetics during unilateral loading and to identify athletes with an increased risk of lower limb injuries. In the present study, we examined the biomechanical mechanisms of knee and pelvis stabilization during unilateral vertical jumps. (2) Healthy males performed jumps on a force plate with the dominant leg. Activity of the dominant-side gluteus medius and the contralateral-side quadratus lumborum and erector spinae muscles was recorded with surface EMG. The EMG data were normalized to the EMG activity recorded during maximal voluntary isometric hip abduction and lateral trunk flexion contractions. During jumps, the propulsive impulse was measured, and the pelvis and thigh segmental orientation angles in the frontal plane were recorded and synchronized with the EMG data. (3) The magnitude of knee valgus during the jump did not correlate with hip abduction force, but negatively correlated with gluteus medius activity. This correlation became stronger when gluteus medius activity was normalized to hip abduction force. Propulsive impulse did not correlate with any neuromechanical measurement. (4) We conclude that hip abduction force itself does not regulate the magnitude of knee valgus during unilateral jumps; rather, the gluteus medius should be highly activated to increase frontal-plane knee joint stability. Full article

Several methods could be used to measure the forces from skis or roller skis in cross-country skiing. Equipment that could measure medio-lateral forces may be of good help for investigating the relevant skating techniques. The aim of this study was to validate a pair of newly designed two-dimensional force measurement roller skis. The vertical and medio-lateral forces which were perpendicular to the body of the roller ski could be measured. Forces were resolved into the global coordinate system and compared with the force components measured by a force plate. A static and dynamic loading situation for the force measurement roller ski was performed to reveal the validity of the system. To demonstrate whether the force measurement roller ski would affect roller skiing performance on a treadmill, a maximum speed test with the V2 technique was performed by using both normal and force measurement roller skis. The force-time curves obtained by these two different force measurement systems were shown to have high similarity (coefficient of multiple correlations > 0.940). The absolute difference for the forces in the X and Z directions over one push-off cycle was 3.9–33.3 N. The extra weight (333 g) of the force measurement roller ski did not affect the performance of the skiers. Overall, the newly designed two-dimensional force measurement roller ski in this study is valid for use in future research during daily training for skate skiing techniques. Full article

The imaging and force–distance curve modes of atomic force microscopy (AFM) are explored to compare the morphological and mechanical signatures of platelets from patients diagnosed with classical neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and healthy individuals. Our data demonstrate the potential of AFM to distinguish between the three NDDs—Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and normal healthy platelets. The common features of platelets in the three pathologies are reduced membrane surface roughness, area and height, and enhanced nanomechanics in comparison with healthy cells. These changes might be related to general phenomena associated with reorganization in the platelet membrane morphology and cytoskeleton, a key factor for all platelets’ functions. Importantly, the platelets’ signatures are modified to a different extent in the three pathologies, most significant in ALS, less pronounced in PD and the least in AD platelets, which shows the specificity associated with each pathology. Moreover, different degree of activation, distinct pseudopodia and nanocluster formation characterize ALS, PD and AD platelets. The strongest alterations in the biophysical properties correlate with the highest activation of ALS platelets, which reflect the most significant changes in their nanoarchitecture. The specific platelet signatures that mark each of the studied pathologies can be added as novel biomarkers to the currently used diagnostic tools. Full article

Vegetation is the main component of the terrestrial Earth, and it plays an imperative role in carbon cycle regulation and surface water/energy exchange/balance. The coupled effects of climate change and anthropogenic forcing have undoubtfully impacted the vegetation cover in linear/non-linear manners. Considering the essential benefits of vegetation to the environment, it is vital to investigate the vegetation dynamics through spatially and temporally consistent workflows. In this regard, remote sensing, especially Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), has offered a reliable data source for vegetation monitoring and trend analysis. In this paper, two decades (2000 to 2020) of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) NDVI datasets (MOD13Q1) were used for vegetation trend analysis throughout Iran. First, the per-pixel annual NDVI dataset was prepared using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) by averaging all available NDVI values within the growing season and was then fed into the PolyTrend algorithm for linear/non-linear trend identification. In total, nearly 14 million pixels (44% of Iran) were subjected to trend analysis, and the results indicated a higher rate of greening than browning across the country. Regarding the trend types, linear was the dominant trend type with 14%, followed by concealed (11%), cubic (8%), and quadratic (2%), while 9% of the vegetation area remained stable (no trend). Both positive and negative directions were observed in all trend types, with the slope magnitudes ranging between −0.048 and 0.047 (NDVI units) per year. Later, precipitation and land cover datasets were employed to further investigate the vegetation dynamics. The correlation coefficient between precipitation and vegetation (NDVI) was 0.54 based on all corresponding observations (n = 1785). The comparison between vegetation and precipitation trends revealed matched trend directions in 60% of cases, suggesting the potential impact of precipitation dynamics on vegetation covers. Further incorporation of land cover data showed that grassland areas experienced significant dynamics with the highest proportion compared to other vegetation land cover types. Moreover, forest and cropland had the highest positive and negative trend direction proportions. Finally, independent (from trend analysis) sources were used to examine the vegetation dynamics (greening/browning) from other perspectives, confirming Iran’s greening process and agreeing with the trend analysis results. It is believed that the results could support achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by serving as an initial stage study for establishing conservation and restoration practices. Full article

Leg movement during cycling is constrained to the pedal/crank path and predominantly occurs in a sagittal plane. Medial-lateral force (FML) applied to the pedals is considered as a waste and does not contribute to the pedaling. The aim of this study was to examine the changes in FML across different cadences and workloads, and to examine the correlation with lateral knee movement (Q-angle). Twenty-two cyclists completed six trials at three workloads (2, 2.5 and 3 W/kg) and three cadences (75, 85, 95 rpm). Forces were recorded from the force pedal mounted to the left side. Absolute and normalized (to the peak total force) FML were compared across conditions and cross-correlation with Q-angle was calculated. Absolute FML was significantly different across cadences and workloads (p < 0.05) with higher absolute FML at higher cadence. There was no significant difference in normalized FML across the three cadences. There was a significant decrease in normalized FML (~10 N) at higher workloads. Statistically significant correlations were found between the FML and Q-angle (R = 0.70–0.77). The results demonstrate the link between the FML and Q-angle in healthy pain-free cyclists during stationary cycling. It has also been observed that smaller normalized magnitude of the FML is present when the force effectiveness is increased. Full article

We aimed to synthesise the results of previous studies addressing the impact of overweight and obesity on plantar pressure in children and adolescents. An electronic search of scientific literature was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus database, with keywords: “plantar pressure” AND “children” AND “obesity”; “plantar pressure” AND “adolescents” AND “obesity”, “plantar pressure” AND “children” AND “overweight”, “plantar pressure” AND “adolescents” AND “overweight”. Twenty-two articles were included in the review and the following data were recorded: authors, publication year, type of technology (systems, software) for the determination of plantar pressure, study characteristics. Most of the articles used dynamic plantar pressure determination with only four using static plantar pressure measurement. Using ultrasonography with static plantar pressure determination, the correlation between structural and functional changes in the feet of obese children. In overweight and obese children and adolescents, important findings were recorded: higher contact area, increased maximum force beneath the lateral and medial forefoot, increased pressure–time integral beneath the midfoot and 2nd–5th metatarsal regions. Significantly increased foot axis angle and significantly flatter feet were observed in obese subjects in comparison to their normal-weight counterparts. The obese children presented increased midfoot fat pad thickness, with decreased sensitivity of the whole foot and midfoot. Full article

Associations of modulators of quality of life (QoL) and survival duration are assessed in the fatal motor neuron disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Major categories include clinical impression of mood (CIM); physical health; patient social support; and usage of interventions, pharmaceuticals, and supplements. Associations were assessed at p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 significance thresholds using applicable methods (Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, logistical regression, random forests, Fisher’s exact test) within a retrospective cohort of 1585 patients. Factors significantly correlated with positive (happy or normal) mood included family support and usage of bi-level positive airway pressure (Bi-PAP) and/or cough assist. Decline in physical factors like presence of dysphagia, drooling, general pain, and decrease in ALSFRS-R total score or forced vital capacity (FVC) significantly correlated with negative (depressed or anxious) mood (p < 0.05). Use of antidepressants or pain medications had no association with ALS patient mood (p > 0.05), but were significantly associated with increased survival (p < 0.05). Positive patient mood, Bi-PAP, cough assist, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and accompaniment to clinic visits associated with increased survival duration (p < 0.001). Of the 47 most prevalent pharmaceutical and supplement categories, 17 associated with significant survival duration increases ranging +4.5 to +16.5 months. Tricyclic antidepressants, non-opioids, muscle relaxants, and vitamin E had the highest associative increases in survival duration (p < 0.05). Random forests, which examined complex interactions, identified the following pharmaceuticals and supplements as most predictive to survival duration: Vitamin A, multivitamin, PEG supplements, alternative herbs, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, stimulant laxatives, and antispastics. Statins, metformin, and thiazide diuretics had insignificant associations with decreased survival. Full article