Search Results (37)

With the vigorous development of speedy railway technology, steel rails, as an important structural infrastructure in speedy railways, play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the entire speedy railway operation. A brand-new type of speedy rail inspection robot and its fault detection method are proposed to solve a number of problems, such as the difficulty and low accuracy of real-time online detection of rail defects and damage in speedy railways. The brand-new rail inspection robot is driven by two drive wheels and adopts a standard rail gauge of 1435 mm, which ensures its speedy and smooth operation on the track as well as accurate motion posture information. Firstly, 12 common types of surface damage of the rail head were analyzed and classified into five categories based on their damage characteristics. The motion state of the rail inspection robot under the five types of surface damage of the rail head was analyzed and subjected to kinematic analysis. This study analyzed the relationship between the distinctive types of damage and the motion posture of the robot during the inspection of the five types of damage. Finally, experimental tests were conducted, and it was found that the robot’s motion posture would undergo sudden changes when inspecting distinctive types of injuries; the highest error rate was 3%. The effectiveness of this method was verified through experiments, and the proposed new track detection robot can greatly improve the track detection efficiency of high-speed railways and has specific academic research value and practical application value. Full article

Corpectomy is the surgical procedure of resecting a vertebral body or a part of it in order to decompress neural structures. Corpectomy is performed in patients with degenerative disease or cancer and following injury to the spine. We present a case of multilevel corpectomy in a female patient with massive degenerative disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis, combined with cervical myelopathy and osteoporosis. We present the case of a female patient who underwent C4-C5-C6 corpectomy and spinal stabilisation with a Cervical 3D Expandable cage and a cervical plate attached to the C3-C7 bodies. The rheumatoid arthritis caused degenerative changes, which, combined with the impact of environmental conditions and the patient’s postural defects, led to a pathological profile of the spine along the vertical and transverse axis, manifesting clinically as a cervical myelopathy with its characteristic neurological symptoms. Pre-operative imaging studies revealed a critical stenosis of the spinal canal. This report showcases an effective surgical technique for severe degenerative disease bearing an increased risk of tetraplegia that could be brought on by even a minor injury to the cervical spine in the presence of this kind of pathology. Multilevel cervical corpectomy can be an effective method for treating spinal canal stenosis to prevent the onset of neurological deficits. This procedure requires careful diagnostic work-up, surgical planning and an interdisciplinary approach, especially in patients with co-morbidities. Full article

Postural disorders in children and adolescents have an increasing incidence. The aim of this study was to identify the type of postural defects in school-age and preschool children, as well as the external risk factors determined by an inadequate lifestyle. The research included 134 children aged between 5 and 18 years, in whom postural defects were identified. The project involved an examination of the children’s body posture, a survey of the parents to determine the children’s lifestyle, blood tests, and spinal X-rays. A significant percentage (76%) of the children included in the study were underweight. The examination of postural defects in the students revealed scoliosis in 21% of the patients, kyphosis in 7.5%, and lordosis in 1.5%, while 70% of the patients presented an association between at least two postural defects. As far as risk factors are concerned, we identified the presence of rickets sequelae in 70% of the patients, the presence of pectus excavatum in 43% of the patients, genu varum in 15%, and flat foot in 12%. Additionally, 90% of the children had an incorrect posture at the desk, while 42% incorrectly carried their backpack on one shoulder only. In terms of diet quality, associations between an inadequate diet and postural disorders were found for kyphosis, scoliosis, and other deformities. In conclusion, postural abnormalities in children have an increased incidence from an early age and are a result of the change in lifestyle in recent years, represented by sedentarism, a lack of physical activity, the excessive use of electronic devices, stress, and an inadequate diet. Full article

(1) Background: Contracting diseases or being exposed to adverse environmental factors in the first year of life may impair the development of body posture and motor coordination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between data on the speed of passive verticalization, the number of risk factors and the quality of development in the first year of life, and the results of the functional examination of these individuals in adolescence. (2) Methods: Two groups of 60 volunteers, aged 9–14 years, were examined by performing functional tests and the retrospective analysis of their development up to the age of 1 year. The first group consisted of patients diagnosed with postural defects. The control group consisted of healthy people of the same age who volunteered for this study. (3) Results: Statistical analysis showed statistically significant differences between groups in terms of posture (p = 0.001), motor coordination (p = 0.001), and accumulated primitive reflexes (p = 0.001), as well as a high correlation between these disorders and the quality of development in the first year of life. In the first group, for the ages of 3–6 months (r = 0.96; p = 0.001), 6–9 months (r = 0.871; p = 0.001), and 9–12 months (r = 0.806; p = 0.001), no significant correlations were found with the age of 0–3 months. In the second group, the results were as follows: 0–3 months (r = 0.748; p = 0.001), 3–6 months (r = 0.862 p = 0.001), 6–9 months (r = 0.698; p = 0.001), and 9–12 months (r = 0.740; p = 0.001). In the group of adolescents with posture defects, we observed an earlier time of passive verticalization and sitting, as well as more frequent use of loungers, seats, and walkers (p = 0.026). (4) Conclusions: The analysis of this study’s data indicates that the development of body posture and motor coordination may be impaired due to accelerated and passive verticalization in the first year of life. Full article

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the occurrence of body posture disorders and their changes under the influence of a physioprophylactic program in children depending on body weight. Methods: In the examined children, the general and segmental body composition and body posture were determined using a physiotherapeutic assessment based on the Kasperczyk method. Mass, overall, and segmental body composition were determined using the bioelectrical impedance method using a TANITA body composition analyzer. The study group of 76 children was divided due to body weight disorders into Group I (n = 51), in which BMI and fat mass values were within the normative limits for age and gender, and Group II (n = 19), comprising children whose body weight exceeded the norm and/or fat mass exceeded normative values. The examined children underwent a physioprophylactic. The program was conducted by qualified physiotherapists for 12 weeks, once a week for 30 min. The therapeutic program was focused on physioprevention of being overweight and the correction of body posture. Results: A distal distribution of fat mass was observed in the examined group. Asymmetry in the sagittal plane was found in 35% of children. No statistically significant differences were found in the presence of asymmetry in the sagittal plane between the groups. No statistically significant differences were found in the occurrence of posture irregularities between the groups. Conclusions: There were no changes in the weight and body posture of the examined children under the influence of the physiotherapy program. The lack of correlation in the examined group between body weight and posture irregularities in 5–6-year-olds may suggest the acquisition of posture defects as a consequence of the persistence of overweight or obesity. Full article

A wheeled-leg pipeline robot suitable for operation in small pipes is proposed to address the challenges of detecting the condition of pipelines, such as solution corrosion and crack defects, which cannot be conducted externally due to the pre-buried pipe system embedded in other structures. Inspired by existing pipeline robots, the proposed robot employs a mechanical structure with six wheeled legs arranged in an alternating pattern. To analyze the motion state of the pipeline robot turning in curved pipes, kinematic analysis based on geometry is conducted to figure out the kinematic characteristics of the robot navigating in curved pipes. The relationship between the motion trajectories of each contact wheel and the posture angle of the robot in the pipeline is the focal point. Additionally, a turning method preventing wheel slippage is proposed specifically for this type of robot. Finally, an experiment with the pipeline robot navigating in the curved pipeline is implemented and demonstrates successful passing through curved pipes with an inner diameter of 120 mm as well as a turning radius of 240 mm, with the effectiveness of the kinematic analysis validated. Full article

This paper describes the development of an in-pipe inspection robot system designed for large-diameter water pipes. The robot is equipped with a Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) sensor module. The robot system is intended for pipes with diameters ranging from 900 mm to 1200 mm. The structure of the in-pipe inspection robot consists of the front and rear driving parts, with the inspection module located centrally. The robot is powered by 22 motors, including eight wheels with motors positioned at both the bottom and the top for propulsion. To ensure that the robot’s center aligns with that of the pipeline during operation, lifting units have been incorporated. The robot is equipped with cameras and LiDAR sensors at the front and rear to monitor the internal environment of the pipeline. Pipeline inspection is conducted using the MFL inspection modules, and the robot’s driving mechanism is designed to execute spiral maneuvers while maintaining contact with the pipeline surface during rotation. The in-pipe inspection robot is configured with wireless communication modules and batteries, allowing for wireless operation. Following its development, the inspection robot underwent driving experiments in actual pipelines to validate its performance. The field test bed used for these experiments is approximately 1 km in length. Results from the driving experiments on the field test bed confirmed the robot’s ability to navigate various curvatures and obstacles within the pipeline. It is posited that the use of the developed in-pipe inspection robot can reduce economic costs and enhance the safety of inspectors when examining aging pipes. Full article

Manganese (Mn), a cofactor for various enzyme classes, is an essential trace metal for all organisms. However, overexposure to Mn causes neurotoxicity. Here, we evaluated the effects of exposure to Mn chloride (MnCl₂) on viability, morphology, synapse function (based on neurogranin expression) and behavior of zebrafish larvae. MnCl₂ exposure from 2.5 h post fertilization led to reduced survival (60%) at 5 days post fertilization. Phenotypical changes affected body length, eye and olfactory organ size, and visual background adaptation. This was accompanied by a decrease in both the fluorescence intensity of neurogranin immunostaining and expression levels of the neurogranin-encoding genes nrgna and nrgnb, suggesting the presence of synaptic alterations. Furthermore, overexposure to MnCl₂ resulted in larvae exhibiting postural defects, reduction in motor activity and impaired preference for light environments. Following the removal of MnCl₂ from the fish water, zebrafish larvae recovered their pigmentation pattern and normalized their locomotor behavior, indicating that some aspects of Mn neurotoxicity are reversible. In summary, our results demonstrate that Mn overexposure leads to pronounced morphological alterations, changes in neurogranin expression and behavioral impairments in zebrafish larvae. Full article

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of the Halmágyi–Curthoys head impulse (thrust) test and Romberg’s test in detecting vestibular hypofunctioning among two groups of 50 vertigo patients each; the two groups were randomly assigned. The assessment utilized the visual analog scale (VAS) to quantify subjective experiences of vertigo. The results revealed distinctive patterns in the detection of vestibular hypofunctioning, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each test. The Halmágyi–Curthoys head impulse test demonstrated utility in identifying vestibular hypofunctioning and its effect on vestibulo–ocular reflexes, particularly in cases with sudden head movements. Romberg’s test was useful in assessing postural instability in vestibular hypofunctioning due to defects in vestibulospinal reflexes. The integration of VAS scores provided valuable subjective insights into the patient experience. This comparative analysis contributes to a nuanced understanding of diagnostic tools for vestibular hypofunctioning in vertigo patients, offering clinicians valuable information for tailored assessments and interventions. Full article

The pipeline ground-penetrating radar stands as an indispensable detection device for ensuring underground space security. A wheeled pipeline robot is deployed to traverse the interior of urban underground drainage pipelines along their central axis. It is subject to influences such as resistance, speed, and human factors, leading to deviations in its posture. A guiding wheel is employed to rectify its roll angle and ensure the precise spatial positioning of defects both inside and outside the pipeline, as detected by the radar antenna. By analyzing its deflection factors and correction trajectories, the intelligent correction control of the pipeline ground-penetrating radar falls into the realm of nonlinear multi-constraint optimization. Consequently, a time-series-based correction angle prediction algorithm is proposed. The application of the long short-term memory (LSTM) deep learning model facilitates the prediction of correction angles and torque for the guiding wheel. This study compares the performance of LSTM with an autoregressive integrated moving average model under identical dataset conditions. The subsequent findings reveal a reduction of 4.11° and 8.25 N·m in mean absolute error, and a decrease of 10.66% and 7.27% in mean squared error for the predicted correction angles and torques, respectively. These outcomes are achieved utilizing the three-channel drainage pipeline ground-penetrating radar device with top antenna operating at 1.2 GHz and left/right antennas at 750 MHz. The LSTM prediction model intelligently corrects its posture. Experimental results demonstrate an average correction speed of 5 s and an average angular error of ±1°. It is verified that the model can correct its attitude in real-time with small errors, thereby enhancing the accuracy of ground-penetrating radar antennas in locating pipeline defects. Full article

This paper aims to provide an overview of the fundamentals, development, and evolution of residence time distribution (RTD) methodology and its applications to the flow and mixing of fluids (and solid particles) modeling in different systems. A concise literature analysis is followed by a succinct presentation of RTD methodology’s experimental and theoretical foundations and RTD-based mathematical modeling, highlighting its importance. An experimental demonstration of RTD diagnostics on a photochemical reactor is performed to identify the most practical locations for the inlet/outlet pipes (axial or radial) and the photochemical reactor’s ideal working posture (horizontal, vertical, or inclined) and to understand the level of mixing and to determine the fluid flow defects. Using the relevant RTD functions and the corresponding central moments, it was possible to show that short circuits and dead zones occurred in each of the six considered reactor configurations. Following these investigations, design solutions were proposed to achieve a convenient exposure time, proper mixing, and uniform irradiation inside the reactor. Full article

Background: The correspondence between various aspects of human postural parameters and the spatial relation of the jaws is of increasing interest among scientists. Emerging research suggests that the stomatognathic system and posture play, in a broad sense, significant roles. Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between various malocclusion types and gait parameters, the distribution of foot pressure on the ground, and body balance. Methods: The study involved 155 patients aged 12-16. The subjects were divided into groups according to their malocclusion—Angle’s class II (n = 32), Canine class II (n = 31), and Overbite (n = 46). The control group (n = 46) comprised children not demonstrating any defects. The study data were collected by direct observation of the oral cavity. Gait analysis was carried out using the Wiva^® Science sensor, and the distribution of foot forces on the ground and body balance was determined via the E.P.S R/1 pedobarographic mat. The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was applied for statistical analysis. Results: Analysis of the results obtained showed statistically significant differences in left step duration (p = 0.042) and the duration of the right step (p = 0.021), as well as the projection of the body’s center of gravity on the left foot (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Distoocclusion in the anterior part of the mandible may cause different positioning of the head and neck, as well as varying tension of the muscles, further leading to balance disorders while walking. Full article

The stability of the body during locomotion is a fundamental requirement for walking animals. The mechanisms that coordinate leg movement patterns are even more complex at water–air interfaces. Water striders are agile creatures on the water surface, but they can be vulnerable to leg damage, which can impair their movement. One can assume the presence of certain compensatory biomechanical factors that are involved in the maintenance of postural balance lost after an amputation. Here, we studied changes in load distribution among the legs and assessed the effects of amputation on the locomotory behavior and postural defects that may increase the risk of locomotion failure. Apparently, amputees recover a stable posture by applying leg position modifications (e.g., widening the stance) and by load redistribution to the remaining legs. Water striders showed steering failure after amputation in all cases. Amputations affected locomotion by (1) altering motion features (e.g., shorter swing duration of midlegs), (2) functional constraints on legs, (3) shorter travelled distances, and (4) stronger deviations in the locomotion path. The legs functionally interact with each other, and removal of one leg has detrimental effects on the others. This research may assist the bioinspired design of aquatic robots. Full article

Background: Severe acquired brain injury (sABI) encompasses a range of neurological impairments. Visual dysfunction, particularly homonymous visual field defects (HVFDs) and homonymous hemianopia (HH), commonly afflicts sABI survivors, affecting their cognitive and motor rehabilitation. This study presents the FunctionaL Assessment Scale of Hemianopia (FLASH), developed to analyze the most common postural behaviors exhibited by sABI patients with hemianopia during activities of daily living. A comparison to traditional static automated perimetry for diagnosing visual field deficits (VFDs) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the FLASH was used. Additionally, this study also aimed to assess its reliability. Methods: Fifty-six patients (25 F, 31 M, mean age 60.59 ± 14.53) with strokes in the sub-acute phase (<6 months from the onset) were assessed with both FLASH and a Humphrey Field Analyzer. Results: After removing two items found to be less reliable than others, FLASH showed high sensitivity (81%) and specificity (77%) when compared to static automated perimetry. Inter-rater reliability was also high, with an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.954, as well as the internal consistency computed by Cronbach’s alpha, equal to 0.874. Conclusion: FLASH could offer a valuable and cost-effective screening tool for VFD in sABI patients during neurorehabilitation, with potential implications for healthcare cost reduction. Full article

A considerable number of problems begin in childhood due to lifestyle changes, which include a transition from a previous period of extensive movement to prolonged hours of staying in a sitting position at school. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of back and side view postural defects in the study group of school-aged children and identify risk factors associated with the formation of postural abnormalities in the study group. Methods: This study was conducted on a group of 141 children aged 7–10, attending the first to third grades at a primary school in Białystok (northeastern Poland). This study involved measuring the children’s height and weight, assessing the children’s body posture based on the FITS method (Functional Individual Scoliosis Therapy) by Białek and M’hango (the authors of this study), and administering a diagnostic survey addressed to parents and guardians of the children (n = 104) using a self-designed questionnaire. Results: Almost all defects were more prevalent in boys, especially in the case of stature triangles (p = 0.0489) and knee alignment in the sagittal plane (p = 0.038). The age of the subjects differentiated the incidence of defects in the scapulae (p = 0.0037) and shoulder (p = 0.0129) alignment, correlating negatively with age. The risk of postural defects for knees (p = 0.0391) and abdominal arching (p = 0.0240) was significant with a higher BMI. The following lifestyle-related factors were significant: the seat for doing homework (stature triangles p = 0.0253), time spent in front of a computer (positioning of the scapulae in relation to each other p = 0.0233; vertical view of the intergluteal cleft p = 0.0324), and snacking between meals (feet p = 0.0003; shoulder positioning p = 0.0013; stature triangles p = 0.0186; positioning of the scapulae in relation to each other p = 0.0404). Conclusions: The body posture of the examined children was closed with the head pushed forward and drooped, rounded shoulders, hyperlordosis, and pelvic anteversion. Most exhibited various types of abnormalities related to the feet. The recognized risk factors for posture defects are overweight/obesity, the male gender, children who are older, lack of an adjustable work chair, 2 h a day or more spent using the computer, and snacking between meals. Full article