Search Results (764)

The integration of large-scale renewable energy sources has increased the complexity of operation and maintenance in modern power systems, causing on-site substation operation and maintenance activities to exhibit stronger continuity and dynamics, and thereby placing higher demands on real-time operational perception and safety judgment. However, existing behavior recognition methods have difficulty accurately identifying operational states in complex scenarios involving continuous actions, partial occlusions, and fine-grained manipulations. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a safety behavior recognition method for substation operations based on a dual-path spatiotemporal network. Personnel localization is achieved using YOLOv8, while behavior classification is performed through the SlowFast framework. In the Slow pathway, an ECA attention mechanism is integrated with residual structures to enhance the representation of sustained operational postures. In the Fast pathway, a multi-path excitation residual network is introduced to fuse temporal, channel, and motion information, improving the multi-scale representation of local action variations. Furthermore, to mitigate the issue of class imbalance in substation operation data, Focal Loss based on binary cross-entropy is incorporated to adaptively down-weight easily classified samples. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a recognition accuracy of 87.77% and an F1-score of 85.56% across multiple operation scenarios. The results further indicate improved recognition stability and adaptability, supporting safe substation operation and maintenance in renewable energy-integrated power systems. Full article

Intelligent lower-limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robots are increasingly superseding traditional rehabilitation equipment, making them a focus of research in this field. However, existing systems remain challenged by dynamic instability resulting from various disturbances during actual walking. To address this limitation, this study proposes a novel dynamic stability criterion. Through an analysis of the principles and limitations of the traditional zero-moment point (ZMP) stability criterion, particularly during the late single-leg support phase, a new stability criterion is introduced, which is founded on the swing projection polygon during single-leg support. This approach elucidates the variation patterns of the stability polygon during a single-step motion and facilitates a qualitative analysis of the stability characteristics of the human–robot system in multiple postures. To further enhance the stability and smoothness of gait trajectories in lower-limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robots, the shortcomings of conventional gait planning approaches, namely their non-intuitive nature and discontinuity, are addressed. A recurrent gait planning method leveraging Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks is proposed. The integration of the periodic motion characteristics of human gait serves to validate the feasibility and correctness of the proposed method. Finally, based on the recurrent gait planning method, the dynamic stability of walking postures is verified through theoretical analysis and experimental comparisons, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of key factors influencing dynamic stability. Full article

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder among middle-aged women, often leading to impaired dynamic balance and increased fear of movement. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dynamic stability training using the inertial load of water on balance ability and pain in middle-aged women with CLBP. Methods: Twenty-nine participants aged 40–65 years with CLBP were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group wore a water-filled aquavest, and the control group wore a weighted vest. Both groups performed 12 weeks of dynamic stability training twice per week. Outcome measures included the Y-Balance Test and Center of Pressure parameters, Visual Analogue Scale and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Data were analyzed using mixed-design two-way repeated-measures (between–within) analysis of variance to examine time, group, and interaction effects. Results: A significant group × time interaction effect was found in Y-Balance Test reach distances of the non-dominant leg, with the aquavest group showing greater improvements compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Center of Pressure analysis revealed decreased non-dominant leg Anterior–Posterior Root Mean Square in the aquavest group, indicating enhanced postural stability. Both groups showed decreased VAS and TSK. Conclusions: Dynamic stability training using inertial load of water effectively improved both quantitative and qualitative aspects of dynamic balance in middle-aged women with CLBP and can serve as a functional intervention for neuromuscular rehabilitation. Full article

The operational efficiency and precision of boom sprayers, as critical equipment for protecting field crops, are vital to global food security and agricultural sustainability. In precision agriculture systems, achieving uniform pesticide application fundamentally depends on maintaining stable boom posture during operation. However, severe boom vibration not only directly causes issues like missed spraying, double spraying, and pesticide drift but also represents a critical bottleneck constraining its functional realization in cutting-edge applications. Despite its importance, achieving absolute boom stability is a complex task. Its suspension system design faces a fundamental technical contradiction: effectively isolating high-frequency vehicle vibrations caused by ground surfaces while precisely following large-scale, low-frequency slope variations in the field. This paper systematically traces the evolutionary path of self-balancing boom technology in addressing this core contradiction. First, the paper conducts a dynamic analysis of the root causes of boom instability and the mechanism of its detrimental physical effects on spray quality. This serves as a foundation for the subsequent discussion on technical approaches for boom support and balancing systems. The paper also delves into the evolution of sensing technology, from “single-point height measurement” to “point cloud morphology perception,” and provides a detailed analysis of control strategies from classical PID to modern robust control and artificial intelligence methods. Furthermore, this paper explores the deep integration of this technology with precision agriculture applications, such as variable rate application and autonomous navigation. In conclusion, the paper summarizes the main challenges facing current technology and outlines future development trends, aiming to provide a comprehensive reference for research and development in this field. Full article

Introduction: The increasing development of wearable devices for postural monitoring (provide feedback on posture) or correction (mechanical or biofeedback to promote change) is partly driven by the rising prevalence of poor posture in the general population and its impact on pain perception and functional capacity. Objective: Examine the effects of wearable devices on posture correction or prevention and on related outcomes, including postural alignment, muscle activity, pain and functional performance. Methods: The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro for studies published between 2012 and 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs involving participants with postural deviations or at risk of developing them, who underwent interventions using wearable devices that provided vibratory, auditory, visual, or tactile biofeedback. Results: Eight studies reported immediate improvements in postural alignment, body awareness, and self-reported pain, particularly with devices providing vibratory or visual biofeedback. Functional task stability improved, and muscle activity during risky postures decreased. However, the strong heterogeneity across devices and protocols, small sample sizes, short intervention durations, and, in some cases, the lack of independent control groups limit the strength and generalizability of these findings. Conclusions: Wearable devices have potential as complementary tools in physiotherapy due to their autonomous and potentially effective nature. Nevertheless, current evidence remains insufficient to support definitive clinical recommendations. Full article

Background: Chronic kidney disease and haemodialysis treatment are associated with physiological and functional alterations that compromise postural stability, favouring frailty and the risk of falls. These conditions directly affect the quality of life and autonomy of people undergoing haemodialysis, constituting an important challenge for rehabilitation nursing. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between falls, frailty and quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease on a regular haemodialysis programme, identifying implications for rehabilitation nursing care. Methods: This was a quantitative, observational and cross-sectional study conducted with 62 participants from a haemodialysis unit in northern Portugal. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL-SF™ 1.3) were applied. Statistical analysis used parametric and non-parametric tests, considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of falls in the year preceding the data collection was 32.2%, and the prevalence of frailty was 40.3%. A significant association was found between frailty and falls (p = 0.038) and between sex and falls (p = 0.002). The dimensions Symptoms/problems and Effects of kidney disease on daily life showed lower scores among participants with falls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Frailty and poorer illness perception were associated with the occurrence of falls and with lower quality of life. Comprehensive assessment and the implementation of rehabilitation programmes led by specialist nurses in rehabilitation nursing are essential to promote functionality, safety and autonomy in people undergoing haemodialysis. Full article

In mobile robotics, path planning enables autonomous navigation to specified destinations. However, complex terrain can lead to excessive tilting or even overturning, compromising stability and safety. Traditional path-planning algorithms often fail to fully account for dynamic terrain variations and robot motion constraints. To address these limitations, this paper proposes the novel dual-layer Hybrid-A* algorithm, enhanced with dynamic phase windows. This approach represents a significant innovation by integrating real-time feedback mechanisms and adaptive adjustments to phase windows, enabling continuous path refinement in response to both environmental changes and robot motion limitations. The guidance layer introduces a bicubic interpolation-based super-resolution technique to refine elevation maps, offering more accurate posture estimation. In the planning layer, we propose the dynamic use of multiple cost functions, an adaptive expansion radius, pruning strategies, and a phase-window activation mechanism, effectively addressing the computational challenges posed by large search spaces. The integration of these strategies allows the algorithm to outperform traditional methods, particularly in unstructured environments with complex terrain. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in generating optimized paths that satisfy robot motion constraints, ensuring both efficiency and safety in real-world applications. Full article

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the thoracic–lumbar spine are common in older adults and can lead to pain, kyphotic posture, impaired postural control, and altered gait. These changes increase the risk of falls and reduce functional mobility, highlighting the need for effective assessment and intervention strategies. Objectives: To analyze stability and gait in patients who sustained a thoracic–lumbar spinal fracture and underwent minimally invasive surgery. Methods: Seventeen patients participated in this study (women = 11, age 68.36 ± 6.15 years, body weight 68.18 ± 12.8 kg, height 161.45 ± 5.26 cm; men = 6, age 62.67 ± 4.41 years, body weight 78.5 ± 20.36 kg, height 176.67 ± 12.64 cm). All participants had undergone minimally invasive spinal surgery using percutaneous screws reinforced with bone cement 12 months prior. Each patient underwent two assessments: postural stability measurement and biomechanical gait analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica software (StatSoft, PL), with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: In the stability test, seven participants could not complete the measurement due to falls (FRT = 6.45 ± 2.43), six performed within the normal range (FRT = 2.41 ± 0.9), and four were below the normal range for their age group (FRT = 2.22 ± 1.7). Patients exhibited slower walking speed, shorter stride length, and reduced hip extension during the stance phase (approximately 5° less) due to a forward-leaning posture and cautious gait. Foot placement was flat rather than heel-first, likely as a compensatory strategy to enhance safety. Conclusions: Patients after osteoporotic thoracic–lumbar vertebral fractures treated with minimally invasive surgery demonstrate shorter, wider, and slower steps, along with reduced postural stability, indicating a persistent risk of forward falls. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of a passive upper-limb exoskeleton in agricultural work using a repeated-measures design with 24 adult males across three exoskeleton conditions (No Exo, Prototype, and Airframe), three work directions (left, front, and right), and two work distances (near and far). Outcomes included muscle activity, center of pressure travel, task completion time, perceived exertion, body part discomfort, and usability. Airframe use significantly reduced shoulder and upper-arm muscle activity by about 25–35 percent, consistent with the mechanical sharing of shoulder elevation torque. Erector spinae activity showed a compensatory increase trend, suggesting heightened trunk stabilization demands. Center of pressure varied by direction and distance, with greater excursion for leftward and far tasks, but did not differ among exoskeleton conditions, indicating preserved postural stability. Task time was unaffected by exoskeleton and distance but was longest for leftward tasks. Perceived exertion and discomfort varied by direction and distance and tended to be lower on average with Airframe. Usability differed only in the effectiveness factor, which favored Airframe. An integrated evaluation emphasizing EMG, center of pressure, and perceived fatigue, with usability as needed, is recommended for field validation. Full article

Effective training is essential for addressing the continuous requirement for enhancing productivity and safety in construction. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for simulating site environments with high fidelity. While previous studies have explored the potential of VR in construction training, there is potential to incorporate advanced construction theories, such as lean principles, which are critical for optimizing work processes and safety. Thus, this study aims to develop an integrated VR-lean training system that integrates lean principles into traditional VR training, focusing on improving productivity and ergonomic safety—two interrelated challenges in construction. This study developed a virtual training environment for scaffolding installation, employing value stream mapping—a key lean tool—to guide trainees in eliminating waste and streamlining workflows. A before-and-after experimental design was implemented, involving 64 participants randomly assigned to non-lean VR or integrated VR-lean training groups. Training performance was assessed using productivity and ergonomic safety indicators, while a post-training questionnaire evaluated training outcomes. The results demonstrated significant productivity improvements in integrated VR-lean training compared to non-lean VR training, including a 12.3% reduction in processing time, a 21.6% reduction in waste time, a 20.8% increase in productivity index, and an 18.4% decrease in number of errors. These gains were driven by identifying and eliminating waste categories, including rework, unnecessary traveling, communication delays, and idling. Additionally, reducing rework contributed to a 7.2% improvement in the safety risk index by minimizing hazardous postures. A post-training questionnaire revealed that training satisfaction was strongly influenced by platform reliability and stability, and user-friendly, easy-to-navigate interfaces, while training effects of the integrated training were enhanced by before-session on waste knowledge and after-training feedback on optimized workflows. This study provides valuable insights into the synergy of lean principles and VR-based training, demonstrating the significant impact of lean within VR scenarios on productivity and ergonomic safety. The study also provides practical recommendations for designing immersive training systems that optimize construction performance and safety outcomes. Full article

Landing biomechanics are strongly influenced by task complexity, yet the combine effects of different landing demands and taping on stability, kinetics, and kinematics remain unclear. Nineteen female athletes performed 40 cm drop landings (DL), drop jump landings (DJL), and countermovement jumps (CMJ) under four knee taping conditions: no tape (NT), rigid tape (RT), dynamic tape (DT), and kinesio tape (KT). Stability indices were compared across tasks and taping conditions. Continuous landing-phase biomechanics were analysed using SPM1d repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). SPM1d revealed significant GRF differences between landing tasks (0–3%, p = 0.026; 15–25%, p < 0.001), with DT (p = 0.02) and KT (p = 0.03) reducing peak landing forces in the DJL compared to DL. The DL showed greater biomechanical stability overall, with better dynamic postural stability index (DPSI) across all taping conditions. However, TTS was significantly shorter in the DJL than the DL in RT (p = 0.005), DT and KT (p = 0.037). Significant joint kinematic differences were found between tasks and taping, particularly at the ankle, knee, and hip. Landing complexity influences joint loading and stability. Knee taping may attenuate impact forces and improve stabilisation during complex tasks, suggesting a potential role in enhancing movement efficiency and supporting injury-prevention. Full article

Background: Oral health (OH) seems to be relevant for the number of sick and injured days (NSID), missing matches (MM) and secondarily for the physical performance (PP). Aim: The objective was to clarify possible associations between OH, NSID, and PP for elite soccer players. Methods: Thirty-nine male athletes (age: 24.6 ± 4.2 years, age range: 17–34 years) from a third league professional soccer team were examined concerning several dental parameters (decayed, missing, and filled teeth, DMFT; periodontal screening index, PSI; approximal plaque index, API; papillary bleeding index, PBI) and PP parameters. The PP diagnostic contains grip strength, posturography, jump and sprint tests, and an endurance test on treadmill. Furthermore, the number of sick and injured days and missing matches was collected and assessed over four seasons. Results: We could not find any relevant (r > 0.7) correlations between sick and injured days or missing matches and variables of different dimensions (OH, PP). The soccer players showed a remarkable level of oral health (missing teeth, MT: 0.18 ± 0.56), jumping performance (44.5 ± 5.42 cm), and grip strength (53.7 ± 7.02 kg). The endurance capacity (velocity at 4 mmol/L lactate threshold, v4: 14.9 ± 1.11 km/h) was on an average level, whereas the levels of postural stability (stability indicator, ST: 20.0 ± 4.55) and sprinting performance (10 m sprint: 1.79 ± 0.09 s) were comparatively low. Only five players (13%) reported that oral health had ever had a negative impact on his physical performance. Two players (5%) reported currently tooth pain and six players (15%) bleeding gums or grinding teeth. Conclusions: Based on the high level of dental health, it was difficult to prove any relationships between OH and the NSID/MM or PP. Nevertheless, it seems that young soccer players benefit particularly from improved oral health programs. The excellent dental care appears to have a positive effect on general health and physical performance in soccer. Full article

The acquisition, processing, and monitoring of biomechanical variables in dynamic environments require sensor network architectures capable of handling high concurrency and large data volumes. This study aims to develop, validate, and deploy a robust asynchronous network architecture of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 for real-time biomechanical signal acquisition, overcoming the range, speed, and stability limitations of prior implementations. A network of six IMUs was implemented, with communication managed by a hybrid Python 3.10–LabVIEW 2022 Q3 framework. This architecture ensures concurrent, asynchronous data acquisition while maintaining stable sensor interconnection through virtual port emulation. System evaluation demonstrated superior technical performance, exhibiting high acquisition efficiency (close to 100%) and data loss below ±2% across 75 assessments per sensor. These assessments were obtained by evaluating the posture of 25 participants during three postural experiments, with a maximum indoor range of 40 m and an outdoor range of 105 m, validating the system’s scalability and robustness for motion capture. The approach was applied in a case study using a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) to assess the upper limb via the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method. The system successfully quantified the temporal distribution of injury risk bilaterally, overcoming the limitations of observational methods and providing objective metrics crucial for occupational health in seated tasks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) spinal and pelvic alignment plays a critical role in maintaining anticipatory postural control. However, the extent to which specific multiplanar alignment parameters influence feedforward activation of trunk stabilizing muscles remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether sagittal, coronal, and transverse postural deviations predict anticipatory muscle activation patterns during externally induced perturbations. Methods: Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from bilateral external oblique (EO), lumbar multifidus (LM), and transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) muscles in 100 asymptomatic young adults (18–25 years) performing dynamic right-leg raises. Spinal and pelvic alignment was quantified using rasterstereography, including sagittal and coronal imbalance, pelvic tilt, torsion, rotation, vertebral rotation, and spinal curvatures (kyphotic and lordotic angles). Regression models examined how these parameters predicted EMG onset latency and activation amplitude. Results: Distinct alignment patterns were associated with altered anticipatory control. Increased vertebral rotation and greater sagittal imbalance were linked to delayed activation of EO and LM, while asymmetries in pelvic torsion and tilt were related to less efficient TrA/IO recruitment. Conversely, more balanced spinal curvatures corresponded with earlier, more coordinated muscle activation across the trunk. Conclusions: Multiplanar spinal and pelvic alignment significantly influences anticipatory neuromuscular strategies. Identifying how specific postural deviations disrupt feedforward activation provides a functional basis for targeted rehabilitation programs aiming to restore alignment, enhance trunk stability, and prevent recurrent postural dysfunction. Full article

Background/Objectives: Maintaining postural control is critical for preventing falls, especially in older adults, yet traditional center-of-pressure (COP) analyses may not capture subtle age-related balance impairments. In this study, we integrated a dynamic posturographic assessment—the Tiptoe Rising Test—with an innovative Trend Change Index (TCI) analysis, a method adapted from stock market technical indicators, to enhance the sensitivity of balance evaluations. Methods: Twenty-four healthy older adults (65+ years) and twenty healthy young adults (18–30 years) completed both the Limits of Stability (LOS) test and the Tiptoe Rising Test. During each assessment, COP data were continuously recorded via a force plate, and both conventional COP parameters (e.g., sway range, velocity, standard deviation) and dynamic TCI metrics (including TCI_dT, TCI_dS, TCI_dV, and TCI_per_s) were computed. Results: Our results indicate that while the LOS test showed limited group differences using standard COP measures—particularly during less dynamic phases—the TCI-derived indices revealed moderate to large effect sizes in capturing temporal and spatial fluctuations in postural adjustments. Notably, the Tiptoe Rising Test, with its inherently dynamic challenge, produced robust differences between young and older participants, with TCI metrics consistently demonstrating enhanced sensitivity in detecting subtle balance impairments. Conclusions: These findings suggest that incorporating TCI analysis with dynamic balance tasks, such as the Tiptoe Rising Test, provides a more comprehensive and discriminative assessment of postural control. This integrated approach holds promise for early detection of balance deficits and may inform targeted interventions aimed at fall prevention in the elderly population. Full article