Search Results (65)

Despite the growing demand for functional gluten-free (GF) foods, the application of Quercus pubescens acorn flour remains largely underexplored. This study addresses this gap by optimizing GF cookies using response surface methodology (RSM) and prepared with Q. pubescens acorn flour and xanthan gum to balance technological quality, sensory acceptability, and functional value. A three-level full factorial design (FFD) evaluated the effects of acorn flour proportion (0, 50 and 100%), and xanthan gum level (1, 2 and 3%) on physicochemical properties (moisture, water activity, color, texture, and dimensions), sensory attributes using a 9-point hedonic scale, proximate composition, and bioactive and antioxidant properties (total polyphenols, tannins, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP). Linear and quadratic polynomial models adequately described the experimental data (R² = 0.86–0.99; non-significant lack of fit). Increasing acorn flour content significantly intensified cookie darkening, reduced snapping force and bending stiffness, reduced spread factor, and affected sensory perception, while xanthan gum improved structural integrity and dimensional stability. Multi-response optimization identified an optimal formulation containing 41.05% acorn flour and 1.46% xanthan gum, achieving balanced color development (darkness index ≈ 62), bending stiffness (~38 N/mm), and high overall sensory acceptability (~7.8). The optimized GF cookies exhibited a favorable nutritional profile and antioxidant properties, characterized by elevated total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, confirming the functional potential of acorn flour. The optimized cookies (containing 41.05% acorn flour) exhibited a six-fold increase in total phenolic content (from 1.63 to 10.08 mg GAE/g) and 8–10 times higher antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) compared to the control, confirming the substantial functional potential of Q. pubescens in gluten-free systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Blood Flow Restriction training has been suggested as a method to enhance strength and neuromuscular adaptations at low exercise intensities. Early reports indicate potential effects on pain perception, myofascial stiffness, and flexibility; however, the evidence remains inconsistent. Method: Twenty-two healthy adults participated in a randomized, within-participant, contralateral-controlled design, performing 5 min of treadmill walking (4–5 km/h) with and without blood flow restriction at 70% arterial occlusion pressure. Pressure pain threshold, hip range of motion, and hamstring stiffness were measured before and after the intervention. Adverse effects were recorded. Results: Changes in pain threshold, range of motion, and myofascial stiffness were similar between conditions. The pressure pain threshold decreased slightly in both conditions, regardless of BFR, while range of motion and stiffness remained unchanged. Mild, short-lasting sensations (cuff pressure, erythema, tingling) were reported, with no adverse events. Conclusions: A single short session of low-intensity BFR walking did not change pain sensitivity, flexibility, or myofascial stiffness in healthy adults. The protocol was well tolerated. Repeated or longer interventions may be needed to see measurable effects. Full article

Humans could sensitively perceive and identify objects through dense mechanoreceptors distributed on the skin of curved fingertips. Inspired by this biological structure, this study presents a general conformal integration method for flexible tactile sensors on curved fingertip surfaces. By adopting a spherical partition design and an inverse mode auxiliary layering process, it ensures the uniform distribution of stress at different curvatures. The sensor adopts a 3 × 3 tactile array configuration, replicating the 3D curved surface distribution of human mechanoreceptors. By analyzing multi-point outputs, the sensor reconstructs contact pressure gradients and infers the softness or stiffness of touched objects, thereby realizing both structural and functional bionics. These sensors exhibit excellent linearity within 0–100 kPa (sensitivity ≈ 36.86 kPa⁻¹), fast response (2 ms), and outstanding durability (signal decay of only 1.94% after 30,000 cycles). It is worth noting that this conformal tactile fingertip integration method not only exhibits uniform responses at each unit, but also has the preload-free advantage, and then performs well in pulse detection and hardness discrimination. This work provides a novel bioinspired pathway for conformal integration of tactile sensors, enabling artificial skins and robotic fingertips with human-like tactile perception. Full article

During constant-force operations in complex marine environments, underwater manipulators are affected by hydrodynamic disturbances and unknown, time-varying environment stiffness. Under classical impedance control (IC), this often leads to large transient contact forces and steady-state force errors, making high-precision compliant control difficult to achieve. To address this issue, this study proposes a Bayesian recursive least-squares-based fuzzy adaptive impedance control (BRLS-FAIC) strategy with displacement correction for underwater manipulators. Within a position-based impedance-control framework, a Bayesian Recursive Least Squares (BRLS) stiffness identifier is constructed by incorporating process and measurement noise into a stochastic regression model, enabling online estimation of the environment stiffness and its covariance under noisy, time-varying conditions. The identified stiffness is used in a displacement-correction law derived from the contact model to update the reference position, thereby removing dependence on the unknown environment location and reducing steady-state force bias. On this basis, a three-input/two-output fuzzy adaptive impedance tuner, driven by the force error, its rate of change, and a stiffness-perception index, adjusts the desired damping and stiffness online under amplitude limitation and first-order filtering. Using an underwater manipulator dynamic model that includes buoyancy and hydrodynamic effects, MATLAB simulations are carried out for step, ramp, and sinusoidal stiffness variations and for planar, inclined, and curved contact scenarios. The results show that, compared with classical IC and fuzzy adaptive impedance control (FAIC), the proposed BRLS-FAIC strategy reduces steady-state force errors, shortens force and position settling times, and suppresses peak contact forces in variable-stiffness underwater environments. Full article

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition characterised by chronic pain, which may or may not be associated with muscular stiffness. Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. The loss of muscle mass is a key factor in the progression of both fibromyalgia and sarcopenia and therefore warrants thorough evaluation. It has been demonstrated that obesity directly influences factors that increase pain perception and disease severity and reduce quality of life. The primary objective of this study was to examine the association between fibromyalgia and the increased risk of developing sarcopenia. Methods: The sample consisted of 84 patients diagnosed with FM. We assessed sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric variables (circumferential and ultrasound) pain with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and algometry, risk of developing sarcopenia with SARC-F, quality of sleep, anxiety, and depression using validated questionnaires. Results: A total of 96.3% of the participants were women. Overall, 56.3% of the sample presented a high risk of sarcopenia according to SARC-F, VAS scores showed significant negative correlations with anxiety (p < 0.01) and with almost all algometric measures (p < 0.05). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) demonstrated a positive and significant correlation with sleep quality (p < 0.01) and depression (p < 0.01). Furthermore, presence of a high risk of sarcopenia according to SARC-F was significantly associated with FIQ scores (p = 0.002) and depression (p < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a significant association between the impact of FM and a high risk of developing sarcopenia according to SARC-F. This population exhibits a high degree of pain, which are significantly associated with elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Full article

In response to the personalized and precise rehabilitation needs for motor injuries and stroke associated with population aging, this study proposes a design method for an intelligent rehabilitation trainer that integrates Bayesian information gain (BIG) and axis matching techniques. Grounded in the biomechanical characteristics of the human ankle joint, the design fully draws upon biomimetic principles, constructing a 3-PUU-R hybrid serial–parallel bionic mechanism. By mimicking the dynamic variation of the ankle’s instantaneous motion axis and its balance between stiffness and compliance, a three-dimensional digital model was developed, and multi-posture human factor simulations were conducted, thereby achieving a rehabilitation process more consistent with natural human movement patterns. Natural randomized disability grade experimental data were collected for 100 people to verify the validity of the design results. On this basis, a Bayesian information gain framework was established by quantifying the reduction of uncertainty in rehabilitation outcomes through characteristic parameters, enabling the dynamic optimization of training strategies for personalized and precise ankle rehabilitation. The rehabilitation process was modeled as a problem of uncertainty quantification and information gain optimization. Prior distributions were constructed using surface EMG (electromyography) signals and motion trajectory errors, and mutual information was used to drive the dynamic adjustment of training strategies, ultimately forming a closed-loop control architecture of “demand perception–strategy optimization–execution adaptation.” This innovative integration of probabilistic modeling and cross-joint bionic design overcomes the limitations of single-joint rehabilitation and provides a new paradigm for the development of intelligent rehabilitation devices. The deep integration mechanism-based dynamic axis matching and Bayesian information gain holds significant theoretical value and engineering application prospects for enhancing the effectiveness of neural plasticity training. Full article

Artificial muscles translate the biological principles of motion into soft, adaptive, and multifunctional actuation. This review accordingly highlights research into natural actuation strategies, such as skeletal muscles, muscular hydrostats, spider silk, and plant turgor systems, to reveal the principles underlying energy conversion and deformation control. Building on these insights, polymer-based artificial muscles based on these principles, including pneumatic muscles, dielectric elastomers, and ionic electroactive systems, are described and their capabilities for efficient contraction, bending, and twisting with tunable stiffness and responsiveness are summarized. Furthermore, the abilities of carbon nanotube composites and twisted yarns to amplify nanoscale dimensional changes through hierarchical helical architectures and achieve power and work densities comparable to those of natural muscle are discussed. Finally, the integration of these actuators into soft robotic systems is explored through biomimetic locomotion and manipulation systems ranging from jellyfish-inspired swimmers to octopus-like grippers, gecko-adhesive manipulators, and beetle-inspired flapping wings. Despite rapid progress in the development of artificial muscles, challenges remain in achieving long-term durability, energy efficiency, integrated sensing, and closed-loop control. Therefore, future research should focus on developing intelligent muscular systems that combine actuation, perception, and self-healing to advance progress toward realizing autonomous, lifelike machines that embody the organizational principles of living systems. Full article

The premium electric-vehicle market demands exceptionally quiet transmissions because the absence of engine masking makes gearbox noise more perceptible. Virtual NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) evaluation requires coupling elastic deformation, gear–tooth contact, and vibration transmission through bearings and housing within a single environment. This study develops an integrated workflow in MSC ADAMS for predicting the NVH behavior of a 23/81-tooth helical gear pair. Finite element-based flank stiffness is imported, and a nonlinear contact model is applied to flexible teeth. Baseline simulation at 50 Nm and 200 rpm yields a static transmission error (TE) of 7.5 µm and a dynamic peak-to-peak TE of 0.7 µm, with the fundamental mesh tone at 77 Hz. Increasing tip relief by +0.10 mm lowers RMS TE by 31% and the first mesh order by 3.1 dB while raising the flank pressure from 1.65 GPa to 1.88 GPa. The workflow efficiently supports early-stage gear-noise optimization prior to the development of physical prototypes. Full article

Background: Foam Rolling (FR) involves applying intense pressure to soft tissues, which can cause discomfort or pain due to the mechanical stimulation. This study aims to explore the relationship between individuals’ attitudes toward pain and the changes in the biomechanical properties of myofascial tissues induced by FR, as measured using myotonometry. Understanding this relationship may be valuable for optimizing recovery and performance in both recreational and athletic settings. Methods: Thirty-two healthy men (mean age: 24.3 ± 4.56 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: ROL30 (30 s of FR) and ROL120 (120 s of FR). The MyotonPRO device was used to evaluate changes in biomechanical parameters: stiffness, frequency, logarithmic decrement, relaxation time, and creep, before and after FR. Measurements were taken from the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, erector spinae, and longissimus colli muscles. Data were analyzed for each muscle and as a combined sum across both sides of the body. Psychological factors were assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Survey of Pain Attitudes (SOPA), analyzing both total and subscale scores. Correlations between PCS/SOPA scores and changes in myotonometric parameters were calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: In the ROL30 group, 11 significant correlations were found between myotonometric changes and PCS/SOPA scores (r ranging from −0.55 to −0.76 and from 0.54 to 0.77), with the most prominent correlation observed between the sum of decrement and PCS total score (r = −0.55). In the ROL120 group, 3 significant correlations were identified (r ranging from −0.60 to −0.62), including a notable one between the sum of decrement and PCS helplessness (r = −0.60). Conclusions: Attitudes toward pain appear to show associations with certain outcomes of foam rolling. These findings suggest that individual pain perceptions may be related to the applied force during FR and, consequently, the treatment’s effectiveness. Assessing pain-related attitudes beforehand could help personalize FR interventions, particularly in athletes and active individuals, where pain is a routine aspect of training. Identifying negative pain attitudes may also improve pain management and enhance FR effectiveness, though further research is needed. Future studies should include larger sample sizes and validated scales to better understand the role of pain attitudes and their potential causal influence on FR outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Comparative studies examining postoperative pain and cosmetic outcomes following single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SLA) and three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TLA) in pediatric patients with appendicitis have produced inconsistent results. We aimed to determine whether SLA offers practical benefits over TLA in terms of recovery-phase pain relief and long-term cosmetic satisfaction in pediatric patients. Methods: This prospective comparative study included children aged 15 years or younger who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis. The degree of pain reduction was compared between the SLA and TLA groups on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, and 7, both at rest and during coughing and ambulation, using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VASP). Global cosmetic satisfaction was assessed at 1 month and 3 years postoperatively using the Visual Analog Scale for Cosmesis (VASC). Scar perception was evaluated with the Patient and Parental Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS). The primary outcome was the degree of pain reduction during ambulation on POD7. The secondary outcome was global cosmetic satisfaction at 3 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used as a sensitivity analysis to control for baseline differences. Continuous variables were assessed for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar among 238 patients (127 SLA and 111 TLA). SLA resulted in significantly greater pain reduction during ambulation on POD7 (deltaVASP7_walk: −6.22 ± 2.60 vs. −5.06 ± 3.23, p < 0.01, mean difference = −1.16, Cohen’s d = 0.39). However, this difference did not reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) threshold of 1.3. PSM analysis with 82 matched pairs confirmed the results, with even larger effect sizes. At 3 years, the SLA group reported significantly higher cosmetic satisfaction (VASC: median 10 [9–10] vs. 8 [6–9], p < 0.001, r = 0.44), surpassing the MCID of 1.5. The TLA group scored worse in scar perception regarding color, stiffness, thickness, and irregularity. Mediation analysis indicated that 66% of the overall effect on cosmetic satisfaction was mediated by scar perception. Conclusions: Although SLA offers statistically significant yet clinically marginal benefits in early postoperative pain reduction, it provides substantial benefits in long-term cosmetic satisfaction compared with TLA in pediatric patients. Full article

The construction of urban underground space develops very fast, and tunnel intersection construction has become a common practice, attracting significant attention due to the associated deformation responses and risk control challenges. To systematically review the research landscape and cutting-edge developments in this field, this study conducts a comprehensive analysis based on 744 publications (1994–2025) from the Web of Science Core Collection using bibliometric methods. Firstly, through visual analyses of annual publication trends, journal distributions, and keyword co-occurrences, the study reveals the evolution and research hotspots of the past three decades. Subsequently, three core dimensions are explored in depth: deformation mechanisms and patterns, deformation analysis methods for ground and existing structures, and ground control and reinforcement techniques. The review highlights the following: (1) Research focus has shifted from single construction scenarios to the complex interactions among multiple tunnels, yet the cumulative deformation effects caused by repeated soil disturbances during sequential excavation remain inadequately understood. (2) The bidirectional coupling between existing tunnels and surrounding soil has become a major research focus and challenge. Particularly in the presence of high-stiffness structures, the “free-field” assumption in the commonly used two-stage method is being questioned, necessitating the development of more refined computational theories. (3) Optimization of construction schemes under complex conditions is key to disturbance control, but current research still lacks systematic multi-objective optimization approaches. In addition, this paper analyzes the current research status and future directions to enhance the deformation perception capability and control technologies in tunnel construction influence zones, thereby further improving the safety and intelligence level of tunnel construction. Full article

Electrification introduces additional NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) challenges during the development of powertrain mounting systems due to high-frequency excitations from the powertrain and the absence of masking effects from the combustion engine. In these frequency ranges, engine mounts can stiffen up to a factor of five due to continuum resonances, reducing their structure-borne sound isolation properties and negatively impacting the customer’s NVH perception. Common hardening factors used during elastomer mount development are therefore limited in terms of their applicable validation frequency range. This study presents a methodology for determining decoupled permissible stiffness ranges for a double-isolated mounting system up to 1500 Hz, based on solution space engineering. Instead of optimizing for a single best design, we seek to maximize solution boxes, resulting in robust stiffness ranges that ensure the fulfillment of the formulated system requirements. These ranges serve as NVH requirements at the component level, derived from the sound pressure level at the seat location. They provide tailored guidelines for mount development, such as geometric design or optimal resonance placement, while simultaneously offering maximum flexibility by spanning the solution space. The integration of machine learning approaches enables the application of large-scale finite-element models within the framework of solution space analysis by reducing the computational time by a factor of $7.19·{10}^3$. From a design process standpoint, this facilitates frontloading by accelerating the evaluation phase as suppliers can directly benchmark their mounting concepts against the permissible ranges and immediately verify compliance with the defined targets. Full article

Friction contact regulation has been widely acknowledged, yet research on micro-textured meshing interfaces appears to have reached an impasse. Conventional wisdom holds that the similarity of micro-element configurations is the key factor contributing to textured interface issues. The traditional perception is transcended, and a novel method for presetting the optimal parameters of gradientized micro-textured interface elements is proposed. The study has analyzed the Interface Enriched Lubrication (IEL) performance and meshing Anti-Scuffing Load-Bearing Capacity (ASLBC) of periodic symmetrical and continuously gradient micro-elements. By actively regulating IEL behavior through geometric constraint effects, dynamic micro-cavity lubrication storage units are formed, thereby extending the retention time of medium film layers. The textured edges induce micro-vortices, delaying scuffing failures induced by load-bearing. Validation analyses demonstrate that optimal micro-element configurations can distribute contact stress to achieve stress homogenization, with the maximum contact stress reduced by 21%. The localized hydrodynamic effect of micro-textured elements increases interfacial meshing stiffness by 5.32% while decreasing friction torque by 27.3%. This investigation reveals a synergistic mechanism between IEL performance and meshing ASLBC under heavy loads conditions. The findings confirm that gradient-based micro-textured element configuration presetting offers an effective solution to reconcile the inherent trade-off between lubrication and load-bearing performance in heavy loads applications. Full article

Exoskeleton robots function as augmentation systems that establish mechanical couplings with the human body, substantially enhancing the wearer’s biomechanical capabilities through assistive torques. We introduce a lumbar spine-assisted exoskeleton design based on Variable-Stiffness Pneumatic Artificial Muscles (VSPAM) and develop a dynamic adaptation mechanism bridging the pneumatic drive module with human kinematic intent to facilitate human–robot cooperative control. For kinematic intent resolution, we propose a multimodal fusion architecture integrating the VGG16 convolutional network with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. By incorporating self-attention mechanisms, we construct a fine-grained relational inference module that leverages multi-head attention weight matrices to capture global spatio-temporal feature dependencies, overcoming local feature constraints inherent in traditional algorithms. We further employ cross-attention mechanisms to achieve deep fusion of visual and kinematic features, establishing aligned intermodal correspondence to mitigate unimodal perception limitations. Experimental validation demonstrates 96.1% ± 1.2% motion classification accuracy, offering a novel technical solution for rehabilitation robotics and industrial assistance. Full article

Background: Ginger contains gingerols, shagaols, paradols, gingerdiones, and terpenes, which have been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties and inhibit pain receptors. For this reason, ginger has been marketed as a natural analgesic. This study examined whether a specialized ginger extract obtained through supercritical CO₂ extraction and subsequent fermentation affects pain perception, functional capacity, and markers of inflammation. Methods: Thirty men and women (56.0 ± 9.0 years, 164.4 ± 14 cm, 86.5 ± 20.9 kg, 31.0 ± 7.5 kg/m²) with a history of mild to severe joint and muscle pain as well as inflammation participated in a placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-arm study. Participants donated fasting blood, completed questionnaires, rated pain in the thighs to standardized pressure, and then completed squats/deep knee bends, while holding 30% of body mass, for 3 sets of 10 repetitions on days 0, 30, and 56 of supplementation. Participants repeated tests after 2 days of recovery following each testing session. Participants were matched by demographics and randomized to ingest 125 mg/d of a placebo or ginger (standardized to contain 10% total gingerols and no more than 3% total shogaols) for 58 days. Data were analyzed by a general linear model (GLM) analysis of variance with repeated measures, mean changes from the baseline with 95% confidence intervals, and chi-squared analysis. Results: There was evidence that ginger supplementation attenuated perceptions of muscle pain in the vastus medialis; improved ratings of pain, stiffness, and functional capacity; and affected several inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, INF-ϒ, TNF-α, and C-Reactive Protein concentrations), particularly following two days of recovery from resistance exercise. There was also evidence that ginger supplementation increased eosinophils and was associated with less frequent but not significantly different use of over-the-counter analgesics. Conclusions: Ginger supplementation (125 mg/d, providing 12.5 mg/d of gingerols) appears to have some favorable effects on perceptions of pain, functional capacity, and inflammatory markers in men and women experiencing mild to moderate muscle and joint pain. Registered clinical trial #ISRCTN74292348. Full article