Motion Analysis Research Articles

Using insecticidal compounds to elucidate the potential role of neurotransmitters in Lepidoptera pupal ecdysis

Previously, we reported final-instar lepidopteran larvae exposed to low doses of imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam had arrest in pupal ecdysis, which is a novel adverse outcome for neonicotinoid insecticides. Since neonicotinoids disrupt acetylcholine signaling, we hypothesized that the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine plays a critical role in regulation of pupal ecdysis, likely by modulating the release of peptides from crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) neurons. In this paper, using two lepidopteran species, we undertook studies with five additional nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists and three muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonists to hypothesize the putative nAChR subunits that mediate pupal ecdysis. We also explored the potential role of mAChRs in regulation of pupal ecdysis. These findings, along with toxicokinetic analyses, suggest that pupal ecdysis may be mediated by the α1, β1, and β2 subunits of nAChRs without involvement of mAChRs. An analysis of ecdysis movements showed that neonicotinoid-treated lepidopteran larvae exhibited similar disruptions as observed in CCAP neuron-knockout Drosophila larvae. Based on findings to date, we hypothesize that acetylcholine regulates lepidopteran pupal ecdysis directly through CCAP neurons or by activating their upstream efferent inhibitory (likely GABA-releasing) neurons. Further studies are needed to elucidate the interplay between neuroendocrine hormones and neurotransmitters in lepidopteran pupal ecdysis.

Time domain analysis for motions of ships with the effects of steady flow using a Rankine panel method

Time domain analysis for motions of ships with the effects of steady flow using a Rankine panel method

MoWe: Motion Observation for Wind Estimation of Sailing Robots

ABSTRACTToward sustained mobility in complex marine environment, there is an urgent need for sailing robots to operate robustly when wind measurements are unavailable (e.g., wind sensors are damaged). This study proposes an effective motion observation‐based wind estimation (MoWe) scheme, which enables the robotic sailboat to consistently acquire wind information from its own maneuvers. MoWe incorporates motion analysis (MA) and data‐driven (DD) methods. In the MA method, dead zone constraints of the robotic sailboat are identified as crucial references in deriving wind direction. For the DD approach, the sailing robot as shown in Figure 1 is employed to collect a data set, which serves as the basis for regressing an estimator. We conducted extensive validation tests in both simulation and experiments. Results indicate favorable performance for both methods in simulated scenarios. Notably, the DD method exhibited higher estimation accuracy in all experiments. The mean absolute error (MAE) of estimated wind direction was 4.25°, with the range of confidence interval spanning from 25.13° to 33.56°, demonstrating the robustness of the DD method. Furthermore, the estimation of wind direction has been successfully applied in straight‐line sailing tests, and the wind magnitude has been estimated. The MAE of wind magnitude estimation was 1.13m/s.

Reaction time distribution analysis of bimanual movements with spatial and symbolic cues.

The movement preparation of bimanual asymmetric reaching movements is longer than bimanual symmetric movements. This bimanual asymmetric cost is small for spatially cued movements and large with symbolic cues. Previous research on these bimanual asymmetric costs has relied on mean reaction time. The goal of the present study was to better understand the sensorimotor mechanisms of spatially and symbolically cued bimanual asymmetric costs by employing reaction time distribution analysis. Reaction time distributions were described with the ex-Gaussian parameters of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. Forty-eight young adults made bimanual symmetric and asymmetric reaching movements that were spatially or symbolically cued. With spatial cues, there was a small cost to [Formula: see text] for bimanual asymmetric movements compared to symmetric ones. This was depicted as a 4.8 ms rightward shift to the reaction time distribution. The bimanual asymmetric cost with spatial cues is likely caused by the temporal coupling of bimanual asymmetric movements. With symbolic cues, there was a large cost to [Formula: see text] and small costs to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. This was depicted as the Gaussian and exponential components of the distribution having longer and more disperse reaction time for asymmetric movements. The bimanual asymmetric cost with symbolic cues is likely caused by two factors: stimulus-response translation of two different symbolic cues and temporal coupling of bimanual asymmetric movements. The bimanual asymmetric cost to µ with symbolic cues is likely a combination of both factors, with stimulus-response translation contributing more than temporal coupling. The bimanual asymmetric costs to σ and τ are exclusively caused by stimulus-response translation.

Synthetic data generation in motion analysis: A generative deep learning framework.

Generative deep learning has emerged as a promising data augmentation technique in recent years. This approach becomes particularly valuable in areas such as motion analysis, where it is challenging to collect substantial amounts of data. The objective of the current study is to introduce a data augmentation strategy that relies on a variational autoencoder to generate synthetic data of kinetic and kinematic variables. The kinematic and kinetic variables consist of hip and knee joint angles and moments, respectively, in both sagittal and frontal plane, and ground reaction forces. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) did not detect significant differences between real and synthetic data for each of the biomechanical variables considered. To further evaluate the effectiveness of this approach, a long-short term model (LSTM) was trained both only on real data (R) and on the combination of real and synthetic data (R&S); the performance of each of these two trained models was then assessed on real test data unseen during training. The principal findings included achieving comparable results in terms of nRMSE when predicting knee joint moments in the frontal (R&S: 9.86% vs R: 10.72%) and sagittal plane (R&S: 9.21% vs R: 9.75%), and hip joint moments in the frontal (R&S: 16.93% vs R: 16.79%) and sagittal plane (R&S: 13.29% vs R: 14.60%). The main novelty of this study lies in introducing an effective data augmentation approach in motion analysis settings.

Analysis of near-fault ground motions in the February 2023 Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, earthquake sequence

Analysis of near-fault ground motions in the February 2023 Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, earthquake sequence

The Eternal Path between Sound and Sense: Luciano Berio's Linguistic Exploration in Sinfonia and Coro

Abstract This study examines Luciano Berio's integration of twentieth-century linguistic and semiotic concepts in his works Sinfonia and Coro, focusing on the interplay between sound, meaning, and structure. It highlights Berio's exploration of the unconscious mind and the idea of ‘universality of experience', suggesting that humans may possess an innate musical ability similar to that of language. The article also discusses the concept of the ‘theatre of the mind', where Berio combines musical and textual elements to evoke images or situations for the audience's interpretation. Through an analysis of the third movement of Sinfonia and Coro, the study illustrates how Berio implicitly develops a system of signification that evokes meaning, showcasing both musical and textual productivity, along with the notion of ‘the infinite use of finite means’. This exploration contributes to understanding how twentieth-century linguistics and semiotics can inform contemporary music and signify meaning within it.

Unification Of Agro-Industrial businesses In the Sugar-Energy Sector: A Study of The Value of the Company

Objective: Carrying out a comparative study to assess impact on company value next to the unification of two agro-industrial plants in the sugar-energy sector. Method: Study with an applied nature consisting of two stages with different approaches. The first was qualitative and provided subsidies for the second stage, which was quantitative with predominantly exploratory characteristics. The technical procedure used was the case study with the use of research protocols and data collection gathered from in-depth interviews, documentary consultations and field observations. For the analysis’ results, the Content Analysis technique was used, in addition to the calculation of the Discounted Cash Flow with risk analysis by the Monte Carlo Simulation. Result: In summary, it can be said that it was possible to identify that the company opted for the correct decision by unifying its units. Originality: The work draws a parallel between company mergers and the unification of the company under study. Subject not frequently addressed in the literature. Theoretical/Methodological Contributions: The study provided a detailed structure with the steps to be followed with interview scripts, analysis of variables and calculations of Company Value and Risk Analysis for future unification movements of other companies, in this or another sector. Social Contributions: The study can contribute to the perception of the top management of the company under study, converging on the result of unification. Keywords: Risks; Sugar-energy sector; Valuation.

The effect of locomotive syndrome on the trajectory of sleep disturbance in geriatric oncology inpatients

ObjectiveTo explore the developmental trajectory of sleep disturbance in geriatric oncology inpatients and assess the impact of locomotive syndrome (LS) on this trajectory.MethodsThis longitudinal study enrolled 284 geriatric oncology inpatients through convenience sampling from August 2023 to February 2024 at the Oncology Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. Sleep quality was monitored for seven days following admission (T0-T6) using a wrist motion analyzer. The developmental trajectory of sleep disturbance was analyzed using the latent category growth model (LCGM). Patients were categorized into the LS group (n=177) and the non-LS group (n=107) based on the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). Comparisons were made between the two groups regarding the distribution of sleep disturbance trajectories.ResultsThree potential categories for the development trajectory of sleep disturbance in inpatients were identified: non-sleep disturbance, sleep disturbance improvement, and sleep disturbance persistence. The lowest sleep quality was observed on the second day after admission (T2). In the non-LS group, 40 cases (37.4%) experienced no sleep disturbance, 45 cases (42.1%) showed improvement, and 22 cases (20.6%) showed persistence of sleep disturbance. In the LS group, 32 cases (18.1%) experienced no sleep disturbance, 50 cases (28.2%) showed improvement, and 95 cases (53.7%) exhibited persistent sleep disturbance. Significant differences were found in the trajectory distribution of sleep disturbance between the two groups (P<0.001).ConclusionsSleep disturbance is prevalent in geriatric oncology inpatients, with an incidence of 74.6% (212/284), and is most severe on the third day after admission. Patients with LS exhibit lower overall sleep quality and a higher likelihood of persistent sleep disturbances.

STIPS algorithm enables tracking labyrinthine patterns and reveals distinct rhythmic dynamics of actin microridges

Tracking and motion analyses of semi-flexible biopolymer networks from time-lapse microscopy images are important tools that enable quantitative measurements to unravel the dynamic and mechanical properties of biopolymers in living tissues, crucial for understanding their organization and function. Biopolymer networks are challenging to track due to continuous stochastic transitions, such as merges and splits, which cause local neighborhood rearrangements over short time and length scales. To address this, we propose the Spatio Temporal Information on Pixel Subsets algorithm to track these events by creating pixel subsets that link trajectories across frames. Using this method, we analyzed actin-enriched protrusions, or 'microridges,' which form dynamic labyrinthine patterns on squamous cell epithelial surfaces, mimicking 'active Turing-patterns.' Our results reveal two distinct actomyosin-based rhythmic dynamics in neighboring cells: a common pulsatile mechanism between 2 and 6.25 min period governing both fusion and fission events contributing to pattern maintenance, and cell area pulses predominantly exhibiting 10 min period.

The effect of adding hip strengthening exercises to lumbar stabilizing exercises on gait for the treatment of non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionTo evaluate the impact of adding hip strength exercises to lumbar stabilizing exercises on pain, disability, and spatio-temporal parameters of gait in the treatment of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP).MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, 60 patients diagnosed with NSLBP were randomized into two equal groups. The subjects were randomly allocated to either group A, the control group (<i>n</i> = 30), performing lumbar stabilizing exercises, or group B, the study group (<i>n</i> = 30), receiving lumbar stabilizing exercises and a progressive hip strengthening exercise program. The frequency of intervention was 3 sessions per week for six weeks. In this trial, the Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity, Modified Oswestry Disability Index for disability, and Kinovea 2D motion analysis for spatio-temporal parameters were evaluated pre-treatment and after six weeks.ResultsThere were statistically significant differences between groups in changes in pain scores (<i>p</i> = 0.035), the disability index (<i>p</i> = 0.012), and COG vertical displacement (<i>p</i> = 0.017). There were no statistically significant differences in stride length, stride time, stride speed, or cadence between the control and study groups (<i>p</i> > 0.005).ConclusionsAdding hip strengthening exercises to a lumbar stabilization exercise program can reduce pain and disability and decrease COG vertical displacement more than a lumbar stabilization exercise program alone in NSLBP patients. However, no differences were found in gait speed, cadence, stride length, and stride time.

Comparison of statistical behavior of wall-attached motions in rough and smooth open channel flows

A set of high-resolution, time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements were conducted in an open channel, with closely arranged glass spheres of 6 mm used to rough the bed, at low to moderate Reynolds numbers (Reτ≈ 600–2000) and intermediate to high relative submergences (h/ks = 6.3–14.7, where h is the flow depth and ks is the equivalent roughness height). Analyses of the wall-attached motions (WAMs) in rough-wall open channel flows (OCFs) are performed using linear coherence spectra at various wall-normal positions, and results of two smooth-wall OCFs are also included for comparison (Reτ≈ 500 and 900). The WAMs in rough-wall OCFs exhibit self-similar properties in the region of 0.2 <y/h< 0.8 (y is the wall-normal position and h is the flow depth), where the critical wavelength of WAMs (denoted as λxWA) increases linearly with y. Furthermore, WAMs in rough OCFs have larger streamwise wavelengths (λxWA≈ 25 y) and inclination angles (θuuWA≈ 18°) compared to their smooth-wall counterparts (λxWA≈ 18.3 y, θuuWA≈ 14°). The strength of WAMs in rough OCFs was lower than that in smooth OCFs, due to the effects of rough wall elements.

3-Dimensional quantitative analysis of mandibular motion in TMD and healthy subjects: Comparison with clinical observations.

To establish a quantitative method for objectively assessing 3-dimensional (3D) mandibular trajectories and comparing clinical evaluations with computational analyses. In total, 184 volunteers were recruited and grouped into control (n = 121) and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) groups (n = 63) according to the dual-axis DC/TMD checklist. 3D trajectories were generated by integrating mandibular motion and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) records. Via digitalized data processing, the following 3 outcomes were assessed: (1) smoothness using the best-fitting polynomial curve, (2) open-closure separation by measuring the deviation between open-closure phases, and (3) condylar trajectory symmetry by comparing left and right movements. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were used to determine agreement between expert observations and quantitative results. Reference ranges for each parameter from the normal population were calculated. Mann‒Whitney test was used to analyze the features of the trajectories between the two groups. ICC confirmed strong consistency between the parametric variations and expert observations (smoothness: 0.797; open-closure separation: 0.820; left-right symmetry: 0.920). Quantitative analyses revealed significant differences (P < 0.043 for smoothness, P < 0.01 for separation, and P = 0.012 for symmetry) in all comparisons between movement trajectories of normal participants and those with TMD, with the latter group exhibiting greater variation and irregularities. The normal range of smoothness was calculated for condylar trajectories between 0 and 0.25 and 0-0.10 for incisal point trajectories. Open-closure separation normal range was computed between 0 and 2.28 mm for incisal point trajectory, 0-1.90 mm for left condylar trajectory, and 0-1.76 mm for right condylar trajectory. The normal range of symmetry between condylar trajectories was calculated to be between 0 and 4.21 mm. This quantitative analysis was confirmed to be reliable and consistent with expert observations. This allowed for the discovery of substantially quantified differences in smoothness, open-closure separation, and symmetry of the motion trajectories in TMD patients versus controls.

Numerical investigation on droplet lateral movement in post-dryout region

This paper presents a numerical study of droplet lateral movement and droplet deposition behaviors in the post-dryout region using the Discrete Particle Model (DPM) in ANSYS FLUENT. The investigation focuses on the analysis of droplet lateral movement, including single droplet trajectory, the statistic distribution and average value of droplets radial velocity, and droplet transverse between central and near wall regions. The single droplet trajectory shows the droplet dynamic behavior in the near wall region vividly. The droplet radial velocities are plotted as histogram to display the droplets statistic characteristics. The average value of droplets radial velocities toward the wall are plotted along the radial distance. In addition, to quantitatively display the size and evaporation effect on droplet deposition, three new parameters presenting overall movement behavior, i.e. droplet deposition mass flux, droplet deposition velocity as well as droplet entrainment velocity are introduced and derived from the CFD results. The comparison of results with varying initial droplet size indicates that droplets with smaller sizes exhibit higher average velocities toward the wall. A smaller initial droplet size leads to a higher deposition velocity, lower entrainment velocity, and thus a higher droplet deposition mass flux. The histogram of droplet radial velocities reveals that the droplet evaporation significantly reduces the number of droplets with small radial velocities toward the wall, resulting in a decrease in overall droplet deposition mass flux. Furthermore, through the comparison of overall movement behavior parameters, evaporation not only inhibits droplet motion toward the wall but also noticeably enhances droplet movement away from the wall. This inhibition effect on droplet deposition and enhancement effect on droplet entrainment become more pronounced with increasing evaporation intensity.

Toward a Conjunctural Analysis of New York City's Housing Movement

ABSTRACTThe work of Antonio Gramsci points the way to the analysis of political conjunctures in ways that are complementary to, but go beyond, those of historical institutionalists. With a focus on the layering of longer‐ and shorter‐term movement and policy dynamics, as well as on the fundamental contradictions that fuel social struggles, the approach is applied here to an analysis of recent housing struggles in New York City. Tracing the historical and organizational roots of contemporary fights over social housing, rent regulation, and evictions, the article argues that broader political backlash has hampered the movement, while the institutional innovations of the movement—and over 80 years of policy—remain resources for a broader and more radical future.

Coastal vulnerability to extreme weather events: An integrated analysis of erosion, sediment movement, and land subsidence based on multi-temporal optical and SAR satellite data.

Coastal areas undergo continuous transformations, altering their geometry under the influence of external forces like tides, waves, and extreme events. Thus, monitoring the impact of extreme weather events on coastal regions is crucial to prevent potential cascading hazards. Here, we utilized time-series optical and SAR satellite data and tide records, coupled with sophisticated analytical techniques, to analyze erosion processes, sediment transport, and vertical land movement (VLM) at an embayed sandy beach (i.e., Haeundae Beach, South Korea). We found a significant erosion rate of -4.12m/year during typhoon periods, compared to non-typhoon periods (-3.61m/year). Between 2017 and 2023, 5.63ha of beach area and 14,428.9m3 of sediment were lost due to typhoon-induced sand movement, leading to coastline retreat and foreshore erosion. The PS-InSAR-derived localized VLM trends of fast-subsiding areas (-3.57mm/year), combined with a current sea-level rise (2.34mm/year), underscores the heightened vulnerability to future extreme weather events. The findings of this study provide insights into the erosional processes, land subsidence, and sediment transport due to extreme weather events, which can contribute to the development of erosion control technologies and engineering applications to prevent cascading hazards. The proposed integrated framework can be implemented in similar coastal environments to mitigate climate-change-induced coastal vulnerabilities.

A Revisit to D-Criterion-Based Sensor Trajectory Planning in Bearing-Only Target Motion Analysis

A Revisit to D-Criterion-Based Sensor Trajectory Planning in Bearing-Only Target Motion Analysis

Kinematic analysis of upper limb fractures: Insights for rehabilitation strategies.

Upper limb fractures significantly alter movement, impacting function and recovery. Three-dimensional motion analysis allows precise assessment of these changes. Sixty patients were divided into four groups: shoulder, elbow, wrist fractures, and controls. Functional assessment was performed using the DASH questionnaire, followed by three-dimensional kinematic analysis with eight Oqus 300 cameras and 14 reflective markers on the thorax, scapula, humerus, forearm, and hand. The Acromion Marker Cluster method was used for accurate scapular tracking. Tasks analyzed included hand on shoulder, hand on back, and hand on neck. All measured variables are expressed in degrees. The analysis focused on the differences in maximum joint angles for each degree of freedom across the tasks. These differences were assessed using MANOVA, followed by ANOVAs and Tukey's post hoc test when applicable. Significant kinematic differences were observed between the fracture groups and the control group across all tasks. Shoulder fracture patients exhibited the greatest reductions in humeral flexion and abduction. Elbow fracture patients showed the most restricted elbow flexion. Wrist fracture patients presented significantly reduced radial/ulnar deviation. These movement impairments were observed across all tasks, with the most pronounced limitations seen in the hand-to-shoulder task. Effect sizes (η2) indicated clinically meaningful impacts, particularly for shoulder and wrist movements. This study reveals distinct kinematic alterations following upper limb osteosynthesis, emphasizing the need for individualized rehabilitation strategies addressing these specific movement impairments to optimize recovery.

Motion analysis for the evaluation of dynamic spasticity during walking: A systematic scoping review.

Three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis has the potential to assess dynamic spasticity (DS). However, little is known about which parameters can be utilized for assessment. To evaluate the application of 3D gait analysis in assessing DS during walking and to identify the most relevant parameters for clinical practice. A systematic scoping review was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians. A literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using the following inclusion criteria: (i) clinical trial study; (ii) focused on the relationship between spasticity and gait analysis indicators during walking. The risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data were analyzed using content analysis and quantification techniques. Four key parameters in 3D gait analysis-spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, kinetics, and myoelectric signals-are utilized to evaluate alterations in DS during walking. Among the spatiotemporal parameters, the most frequently used metrics are speed, stride length, and cadence. In kinematics, the ankle and knee joint angles are the most commonly measured indicators. For kinetics, the ankle joint moment and plantar pressure are the primary focus. For myoelectric signals, the most utilized metrics include the patterns and duration of muscle co-contraction. 3D gait analysis is feasible for precisely evaluating DS during walking. However, to obtain a comprehensive evaluation, it is essential to integrate multiple metrics. High-quality research is urgently needed to provide more precise assessment protocols by analyzing changes in gait parameters before and after spasticity interventions.

Position and orientation determination using quadric fitting optimization for object’s motion analyzing

Abstract The accurate determination of the position and orientation of moving objects from images is a critical challenge in visual sensing, with significant implications for robotics, augmented reality and computer vision. Traditional pose estimation methods often fail in complex scenarios due to inconsistent and imprecise feature extraction. This research introduces a novel quadric fitting optimization framework that exploits the compact representation of ellipsoids for robust motion analysis. We propose Manhattan and Euclidean norm-based solvers, designed to optimize quadric fitting for varying object scales and distances. A hybrid approach is developed to strategically fuse these solvers to maximize accuracy and efficiency in various practical applications. Theoretical analysis and extensive experimental validation demonstrate the significant improvements offered by our method over conventional techniques, particularly under challenging conditions. This work not only advances the state of the art in object pose determination, but also provides a solid foundation for improved manipulation and understanding of moving objects in dynamic environments.&amp;#xD;