Body Regions Research Articles

Zoning of the Lower Volga Region and Formation of Territory, Okrug, District and Rural Bodies of Soviet Authority in 1928: First Stage

Introduction. The article examines the process of formation of the Lower Volga region and Soviet authorities at the level of regional, district, and rural administration at the first stage of zoning (before the liquidation of okrugs). Methods and materials. The research was carried out based on traditional methods of historical research (historical-genetic, retrospective, historical-systemic, and historical-comparative). The use of an array of unpublished archival documents stored in the State Archives of the Volgograd Region and the Documentation Center for Contemporary History of the Volgograd Region, and materials from periodicals and legislative sources of government bodies of the USSR and the RSFSR, greatly facilitated the research process. Analysis. The study is aimed at identifying the regional specifics of the zoning process and the accompanying process of formation of Soviet authorities (at the level of councils and executive committees of councils of the Lower Volga region). Results. The zoning of the Lower Volga region already at the first stage revealed a range of problems, the systematic solution of which in the future will make it possible to transform the agricultural region into the industrial center of the Volga region. In the process of reform, along with positive aspects – the reduction in cost of the management apparatus, the bringing closer to the population of Soviet authorities endowed with significant powers (district executive committees and councils) – there were also clearly negative consequences. The distance of rural councils from middle management and the consolidation of individual rural councils, on the one hand, led to the planned reduction of hardware costs but, on the other hand, excluded remote villages from active public life. Districts became the main operational unit of economic and Soviet work in the region. There were several issues to address, including the imbalance between districts with different population sizes, from small ones with just over 2,000 people to large ones with populations approaching 100,000. Additionally, there was a lack of communication between administrative units and personnel problems, which emerged as a significant hurdle in the development of district and rural Soviet administration at the second stage of zoning (in the conditions of the liquidation of okrugs).

Decoding the Root Lignification Mechanism of Angelica sinensis through Genome-wide Methylation Analysis.

Angelica sinensis is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with significant economic and medicinal value. However, early bolting and flowering can occur during the second year of the vegetative growth period, rendering the roots unviable for medicinal use and resulting in substantial economic losses. Consequently, the growing interest in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying early bolting or increased root lignification in A. sinensis. Here, we conducted whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and observed an increase in whole-genome DNA methylation levels on chromosomes after bolting in A. sinensis. Comparative analysis revealed methylation patterns in the upstream, gene body, and downstream regions in the context of CG, CHG, and CHH, suggesting a possible association between CHH-type methylation of promoters and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, joint analysis of transcriptomic and methylomics data revealed a positive correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression. We identified the hyperDMR gene in the CHH background within the promoter region; this gene is also a key gene (AsCOMT1), exhibiting dual catalytic activity and facilitating the synthesis of both ferulic acid and lignin. Enzyme kinetic analysis demonstrated that AsCOMT1 preferentially catalyzes the synthesis of lignin monomer precursors. These findings highlight the important regulatory role of DNA methylation in bolting and the synthesis of secondary metabolites in A. sinensis, providing valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Therefore, as DNA methylation plays an important regulatory role in A. sinensis bolting and secondary metabolite synthesis, it has potential significance in the analysis of the underlying molecular mechanism.

X-ray imaging of multiple adjacent regions in paediatric patients: Potential utility for diagnosis and patient management

BackgroundIn emergency presentations, it is not uncommon for patients to present with imaging requests of multiple body regions to detect concurrent injury. While current literature explores diagnostic efficacy of adjacent imaging for forearm fractures, there is limited research on its effectiveness across all extremities. This paper explores the diagnostic yield of X-ray adjacent imaging of the upper and lower limb in paediatric patients. MethodsA retrospective audit was performed using information available on radiology request forms from paediatric patients (age <18 years) that had multiple X-rays of adjacent body regions over six months at two hospitals. The main or first X-ray was referred to as initial imaging, while all subsequent X-rays of adjacent regions was considered secondary imaging. Clinical history and radiologists’ findings were collected, categorised, and analysed using Chi square. ResultsThere were 661 X-rays performed across 277 patients. Initial imaging was significantly more likely to detect injuries or abnormalities (35 %) than X-rays of adjacent regions (1.6 %), with 94 % of all abnormalities detected on initial imaging overall (χ2(3) = 241.247, p < 0.001). X-ray request forms with no clinical symptoms were significantly more likely to have no findings detected (χ2(3) = 53.493, p < 0.001). ConclusionX-ray imaging of a body region adjacent to an injury has low diagnostic yield, suggesting the need for interventions to reduce unnecessary adjacent X-ray imaging. Clinical history information was often limited and concurrent injuries were low.

Tengsl streituvaldandi þátta í starfsumhverfi, svefns og stoðkerfisverkja hjá millistjórnendum í opinberri þjónustu

Millistjórnendur eru í krefjandi hlutverki og upplifa sig oft eins og milli steins og sleggju. Þeir gegna þungavigtarhlutverki en störf þeirra einkennast af miklu vinnuálagi og streitu. Þó hafa þeir fengið fremur litla athygli í stjórnendafræðum, einkum innan heilbrigðisþjónustunnar. Við vitum til dæmis lítið um áhrif þessa krefjandi starfs á heilsu þeirra, til dæmis hvort streituvaldandi þættir í starfsumhverfinu tengjast stoðkerfisverkjum og svefni. Tilgangur þessarar rannsóknar var að skoða þessi tengsl. Um er að ræða lýsandi þversniðsrannsókn þar sem gögnum var safnað með forprófuðum spurningalista sem sendur var rafrænt á 137 hjúkrunardeildarstjóra í gegnum Outcome-kannanakerfið. Svarhlutfall var 80,9%. Lýsandi tölfræði og ályktunartölfræði var notuð við úrvinnslu gagna. Niðurstöður sýndu skýr tengsl streituvaldandi þátta í starfsumhverfi, stoðkerfisverkja og ófullnægjandi svefns eftir að stjórnað var fyrir áhrifum af aldri, hjúskaparstöðu og fjölda stöðugilda í hjúkrun á deild. Streituvaldandi þættir í starfsumhverfinu og svefn höfðu tengsl við styrkleika stoðkerfisverkja á hálssvæði og herðum og svefn hafði tengsl við styrkleika verkja í neðri hluta baks. Meiri streita þýddi meiri stoðkerfisverki á hálssvæði og í herðum að teknu tilliti til svefns. Ófullnægjandi svefn þýddi aftur meiri stoðkerfisverki frá öllum þremur líkamssvæðunum að teknu tilliti til streituvaldandi þátta. Saman skýrðu streituvaldandi þættir í starfsumhverfinu og ófullnægjandi svefn, að teknu tilliti til aldurs, hjúskaparstöðu og fjölda stöðugilda við hjúkrun á deild, 17% af heildarbreytileika í styrkleika stoðkerfisverkja á hálssvæði, 21% í herðum og 14% í neðri hluta baks. Fram kom marktæk samvirkni milli streituvaldandi þátta í starfsumhverfinu og svefns varðandi styrkleika stoðkerfisverkja á hálssvæði. Niðurstöður þessarar rannsóknar verða vonandi til þess að hugað verði betur að streituvaldandi þáttum í starfsumhverfi millistjórnenda svefni og stoðkerfisverkjum þeirra.

A novel codominant plumage color pattern of white breast patches in WugangTong geese was controlled by EDNRB2

Two basic plumage color patterns are observed in adult geese: solid grey (G) or colorless white (W). However, a Chinese indigenous breed, the Wugangtong goose (WGT), continues to be subject to selective breeding efforts as it displays segregation of plumage colors, including G, W, and a novel color pattern designated Wb (G with white breast circles). The underlying genetic mechanisms responsible for the Wb phenotype are yet to be determined. The current study employed the population differentiation index (FST) to analyze 90 geese exhibiting diverse plumage colors, identifying the fifth intron of EDNRB2 as a particularly noteworthy region with the highest FST values. Sanger sequencing of the region surrounding the EDNRB2 gene identified a 14-bp insertion within exon 3 as the causal mutation. The heterozygosity of this 14-bp insertion and wild-type alleles was completely associated with the Wb phenotype, thereby substantiating the codominant nature of the G and W phenotypes. An inter-species corroborated this finding cross between the graylag (no 14-bp insertion) and the swan goose (homozygous for the 14-bp insertion) breeds, as hybrids from this cross exhibited the Wb phenotype. Transcriptomes from white breast patches and gray dorsal skins of 4 Wb geese were compared. A significant downregulation of genes involved in melanin synthesis and melanocyte development was observed, including EDRNB2 and MLANA. The downregulation of MLANA indicated that the mutated EDNRB2 resulted in melanocyte loss in specific body regions, as MLANA is a marker gene for melanocytes. The findings were corroborated by melanin staining using the Mansson-Fontana method, which revealed no melanin particles deposited in the white breast patches. In summary, the gray plumage color was codominant to the white color in WGT geese, and plumage color variations were controlled by EDNRB2. The findings of our study offer valuable and practical guidance for the purification of plumage colors among WGT, whether through traditional phenotype selection or molecular breeding methods.

Sex-specific associations between total and regional Fat-to-muscle Mass ratio and cardiometabolic risk: findings from the China National Health Survey

BackgroundThe fat-to-muscle mass ratio (FMR), integrating the antagonistic effects of fat and muscle mass, has been suggested as a valuable indicator to assess cardiometabolic health independent of overall adiposity. However, the specific associations of total and regional FMR with cardiometabolic risk are poorly understood. We aimed to examine sex-specific associations of total and regional FMR with single and clustered cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs).Methods13,505 participants aged 20 years and above were included in the cross-sectional study. Fat mass and muscle mass were assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analysis device. FMR was estimated as fat mass divided by muscle mass in corresponding body parts (whole body, arm, leg, and trunk). Clustered CRFs was defined as the presence of two or more risk factors, including hypertension, elevated blood glucose, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), and hyperuricemia. IR was assessed by the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore the associations of FMR in the whole body and body parts with single and clustered CRFs.ResultsThe odds ratios (ORs) increased significantly for all single and clustered CRFs with the per quartile increase of total and regional FMR in both sexes (P for trend < 0.001), following adjustment for confounders. Among the regional parts, FMRs of the legs presented the strongest associations for clustered CRFs in both men and women, with adjusted OR of 8.54 (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.12–10.24) and 4.92 (95% CI: 4.24–5.71), respectively. Significant interactions (P for interaction < 0.05) were identified between age and FMRs across different body parts, as well as between BMI status and FMRs in different regions for clustered CRFs. Restricted cubic splines revealed significant non-linear relationships between FMRs of different body parts and clustered CRFs in both sexes (P for nonlinear < 0.05).ConclusionsFMRs in the whole body and different regions were significantly associated with single and clustered CRFs in the general Chinese population. The association between FMR and clustered CRFs was more pronounced in youngers than in the elderly.

The Structure of Cilium Inner Junctions Revealed by Electron Cryo-tomography.

The cilium is a microtubule-based organelle critical for many cellular functions. Its assembly initiates at a basal body and continues as an axoneme that projects out of the cell to form a functional cilium. This assembly process is tightly regulated. However, our knowledge of the molecular architecture and the mechanism of assembly is limited. By applying electron cryotomography and subtomogram averaging, we obtained subnanometer resolution structures of the inner junction in three distinct regions of the cilium: the proximal region of the basal body, the central core of the basal body, and the flagellar axoneme. The structures allowed us to identify several basal body and axoneme components. While a few proteins are distributed throughout the entire length of the organelle, many are restricted to particular regions of the cilium, forming intricate local interaction networks and bolstering local structural stability. Finally, by knocking out a critical basal body inner junction component Poc1, we found the triplet MT was destabilized, resulting in a defective structure. Surprisingly, several axoneme-specific components were found to "infiltrate" into the mutant basal body. Our findings provide molecular insight into cilium assembly at its inner Junctions, underscoring its precise spatial regulation.

ThP7.5 - District General Hospital Management of Chest Trauma in Frail Adults: A Need for National Guidelines for Frailty in General Surgery

Abstract Annually, 16,000 adults face chest trauma, with blunt injuries in the elderly leading to high mortality rates. In TARN Chest trauma ranks as the second deadliest trauma in older adults, following head injuries. There's significant inconsistency, nationally, in the General Surgical management of these patients. Aims This study evaluates outcomes at a DGH to establish a basis for national guidelines Methods Single centre retrospective review of patients over the age of 65 presenting with chest trauma from Jan 2022 to Jan 2023. Results 114 Patients were included. Median age was 81 with a male predominance of 57.9%. Mortality was 17/109 (15.6%). Mechanisms of injury were fall from standing height (71.9%), fall from height &amp;gt;2m (18.8%) and RTA 9.3%. Median Rib fractures sustained were 4 (range 0 - &amp;gt;10). 51.8% of the patients had an associated pleural injury, 14 patients required a drain. 70 (61.4%) had isolated chest injuries, 29 (25.4%) had one other injured body region and 15 (13.2%) had three or more injured body regions. Median STUMBL score was 25 (9 – 52), 42.6% had a score of ≥ 27. 16.4% of patients were vulnerable and 51% were frail. Median Charlson co-morbidity index was 5 (range 2-11). 39% of patients had timely Geriatric review during admission and 14% were not referred. Conclusion DGH General Surgery teams admit high volumes of frail patients with chest trauma. Nationally there is an absence of general surgery chest trauma guidance (BOASTs now archived). These patients are complex requiring early support from Geriatricians to guide the goals of care. Careful consideration should be given to referral pathways, MDT and priorities of care.

Comparative Analysis of Water Quality Index (WQI) from Selected Water Bodies in Different Regions of Southeast Nigeria

This study was carried out to compare the water quality index of selected water bodies in Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from two streams, Ihiku and Iyiechu (upstream and downstream) and the experimental research was used for this study. Several physico-chemical characteristics were analyzed in line with W.H.O, USEPA, S.O.N. The results obtained from the physico- chemical parameters ranged as follows: air shade temperature (23.3-25.0), pH (5.7-6.8), Electrical conductivity (15.5-20.4), Total hardness (33-40.5), Alkalinity (55.5-70.8), Biological Oxygen Demand (2.6-5.0), Dissolved Oxygen (6.5-8.0), Sulphate (1.8-5.7), phosphate (5.2-7.0) and silica (0.66-0.78). The result showed that there were variations in the concentration as a result of anthropogenic activities of man. The water quality index was also checked and compared to standards. The Pearson’s Correlation Moment was performed at 0.01% level. The result showed that values obtained were statistically significant. However, adequate treatment facilities that purify sewage prior to discharge or disposal should be adopted.

Abstract IA004: Risk of therapy-related subsequent cancers in individuals with germline TP53 variants

Abstract Background. Based primarily on in vitro and animal studies, germline TP53 variants are considered to confer sensitivity to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage, but data in humans are sparse. We sought to quantify risk of developing radiotherapy and chemotherapy-related subsequent neoplasms by pooling individual-level data from nine cohorts of individuals with confirmed pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline TP53 variants. Methods. 891 individuals were followed from six months after first cancer until diagnosis of a subsequent neoplasm, death or date of last follow-up. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy for each cancer were considered as time-dependent covariates in Cox regression models with age as the time-scale, adjusted for sex and occurrence of prior malignant or benign tumors. Subsequent cancers were classified as in- or out-of-field based on the body region of previous cancers. Results. Among 891 individuals, 643 (72.2%) were female and 297 (33.3%) were diagnosed with a first cancer before age 20 years. Breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed first cancer (N=371), followed by soft tissue sarcoma (N=131) and central nervous system cancers (N=84). First cancer treatment included radiotherapy for 237 (26.6%) and/or chemotherapy for 421 (47.3%) individuals. Analyses are underway to define the characteristics of subsequent neoplasms (including age at diagnosis, latency, and distribution of diagnosis type) and to calculate relative and absolute risk estimates for radiotherapy and chemotherapy overall and by subsequent neoplasm type. Conclusions. This study will quantify the contribution of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to the risk of subsequent cancers among individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Understanding the magnitude of this risk will support health care providers and patients in making informed decisions about cancer management. Citation Format: Anita Villani, Payal Khincha, Jessica Hatton, Sara Schonfeld, Catherine Goudie, Leatrisse Oba, Kishan Pithadia, Birte Sänger, Christian Kratz, Anh N. Le, Caitlin Orr, Kara N. Maxwell, Anne Naumer, Jennie Vagher, Wendy Kohlmann, Joshua Schiffman, Elizabeth Santana dos Santos, Orli Michaeli, Jacob J. Carson, Derek S. Tsang, Raymond Kim, Jamie L. Maciaszek, Kim E. Nichols, Victoria E. Goodman, Suzanne P. MacFarland, Lara Reichman, Maria Isabel Achatz, Sharon Savage, David Malkin, Lindsay M. Morton. Risk of therapy-related subsequent cancers in individuals with germline TP53 variants [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2024 Sep 5-8; Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(17 Suppl):Abstract nr IA004.

Characteristics of equestrian accidents and injuries leading to permanent medical impairment

BackgroundEquestrian sports, also referred to as equestrianism, is practiced all over the world and a popular leisure activity in Sweden. Equestrianism is the country’s second-largest youth sport, and previous studies indicate that accidents are common in equestrianism. However, few previous studies have examined acute equestrian injuries leading to permanent medical impairment (PMI).MethodsBy using nationwide insurance data comprising all injured equestrians registered in the Swedish Equestrian Federation, the aim was to analyse characteristics of equestrian accidents and particularly injuries leading to PMI, both in general and by age, gender, incident type, injury type and injured body region. Injury incidence and injuries leading to PMI were examined. All equestrians injured during 2017–2021 were included (n = 6,876), however, only injuries occurring in 2017 and 2018 were used to analyse the risk and the injury distribution of injuries leading to PMI. Injury incidence was calculated separately for males and females, as well as for different age groups, by dividing the number of insurance claims by the number of members multiplied by 1,000. Risk Ratio (RR) was calculated between gender. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to analyse differences in distribution for categorical variables.ResultsThe majority of injuries affected females, correlating to approximately three times higher risk, compared to males. The age group 21–40 years were associated with the highest injury risk (14.26/1,000 registered riders). In total 12% of all injuries led to PMI. Injuries to the upper and lower extremities, along with fractures, had a higher risk of resulting in a PMI. The risk of injury leading to PMI was higher among riders over 20 years of age.ConclusionsThe fact that females face nearly three times the injury risk of males, and riders aged 21–40 had the highest injury risk while younger riders (Luke KL, McAdie T, Smith BP, Warren-Smith AK. New insights into ridden horse behaviour, horse welfare and horse-related safety. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2022;246:105539.); (Havlik HS. Equestrian sport-related injuries: a review of current literature. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010;9(5):299–302.); (Samuels K, Bettis A, Davenport DL, Bernard AC. Occupational vs. non-occupational equestrians: Differences in demographics and injury patterns. Injury. 2022;53(1):171–5.); (Gharooni A-A, Anwar F, Ramdeep R, Mee H. Severe equestrian injuries: A seven-year review of admissions to a UK major trauma centre. Trauma. 2023;25(1):41–7.); (Hasler RM, Gyssler L, Benneker L, Martinolli L, Schotzau A, Zimmermann H, et al. Protective and risk factors in amateur equestrians and description of injury patterns: A retrospective data analysis and a case - control survey. J Trauma Manag Outcomes. 2011;5:4.); (Meredith L, Brolin K, Ekman R, Thomson R. Analyses of injuries to equestrians in a Swedish district over a 16-year period. Translational Sports Med. 2019;2:270–8.) had a lower risk, indicates that preventive efforts should target both older and female riders. Injuries predominantly resulting in PMI involve upper and lower extremities, however, to prevent the most serious injuries significantly affecting a rider’s daily life, measures preventing head and spinal cord neck injuries, must be implemented. Head injures remain the most frequent, serious and most significant group of injuries to prevent and mitigate, within equestrian sports.

Pattern of Road Traffic Injuries Presenting at a Tertiary Hospital in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) constitute a major economic and health challenge globally, particularly in developing countries. Nasarawa state, north-central Nigeria, is heavily motorised due to the use of motorcycles as a popular means of transportation. The study aims to determine the pattern and prevalence of RTIs within the state. Materials and Methods: A 6-year retrospective study was conducted at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia, Nasarawa state. Data were obtained from the medical records of patients admitted with RTIs at the hospital and were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Results: A total of 929 patients with 1307 injuries were reported. There were 518 (55.8%) males and 411 (44.2%) females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The age of the patients ranged from 1–85 years, with a mean age of 30 ± 20 years. Young adults aged 18–44 years constituted the most injured age group. Motorcycle-related crashes accounted for injuries in 530 (57.1%) patients. These injuries were predominantly traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and extremity injuries. The body region most affected was the head and face (560, 42.8%), with traumatic brain injuries (448, 32.7%) being the most common type. After treatment, most patients (571, 61.5%) were discharged home, while the mortality rate was 2.4%. Conclusion: In our study, motorcycle-related crashes were prevalent. Young adult males were mostly the victims of RTIs. Traumatic brain injuries and extremity injuries were the predominant types of injuries, often associated with motorcycle and pedestrian crashes. Multisystem injuries and TBIs were major factors contributing to mortality.

HealthyTrailsBR – The prevalence of running-related injuries and cramps, and the description of personal and running characteristics in Brazilian trail runners: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPhysical activity in natural environments, such as trail running, is a way to nurture physical and mental health. However, running has an inherent risk of musculoskeletal injuries. ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of running-related injuries (RRI) and cramps, and to describe the personal and training characteristics of Brazilian trail runners. MethodsA total of 1068 trail runners were included in this observational cross-sectional study. The participants had at least six months of trail running experience. The data were collected between April 2019 and February 2020 through an online and self-reported survey. ResultsThe point prevalence of RRIs was 39.2 % (95 % credible interval [CrI]: 36.3, 42.1). The body region with the highest point prevalence was the knee. The 12-month period prevalence of RRIs was 69.2 % (95 %CrI: 66.4, 72.0). The body region with the highest 12-month period prevalence was the lower leg. 1- and 12-month period prevalence of cramps was 19.5 % (95 %CrI: 17.1, 21.9) and 36.0 % (95 %CrI: 33.0, 38.8), respectively. Triceps surae was the muscle most affected by cramps. ConclusionsTwo in 5 (40 %) trail runners reported being injured at the time of data collection, and about 2 of 3 reported previous RRIs in the last 12 months. The most prevalent injured body regions were the knee and the lower leg. One in 5 trail runners reported cramps in the last month, increasing to 36 % in the last 12 months. Knowing better the characteristics of the population and the burden of health conditions may inform better decisions regarding implementation actions toward trail running practice.

Vacuum-based and body-mounted robotic-patient interface with an integrated metasurface for MRI-guided interventions

Abstract The increased clinical relevance of image-guided procedures, particularly of interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI), highlights the need for advanced devices and robotics to optimize those procedures. To enable a realistic integration of robotics into the clinical workflow, robotic-patient interfaces (RPI) are required to ensure both functionality and usability. However, current concepts have issues with patient accessibility and safety, user handling, or performing interventions on versatile body regions. This work presents a novel silicone-based RPI to flexibly mount the ’Micropositioning Robotics for Image-Guided Surgery’ (μRIGS) system on differently shaped body regions through vacuum, regulated with an electronic miniature pump. Maximum holding forces of 60N at −0.1 bar and 66N at −0.2 bar relative vacuum pressure were reached depending on the applied human body area and tensile force angles. MRI with the integrated metasurface indicated up to 200% signal enhancement, enabling improved tissue contrast within the first 20mm in depth. The multifunctional design supported the incorporation of the sterile iMRI workflow concept. This RPI enables a realistic integration of future technologies such as miniature robots, tracking markers, and instrument holders into complex interventional workflows. Further long-term studies are needed to evaluate the effects of vacuum application lasting for 1-2 hours on different skin types.

Highly conductive copper-coated polyamide yarn for wearable sensing and Joule heating applications

A highly conductive yarn was developed by electroless deposition of copper metal particles on the polyamide 6 yarn. The successful incorporation of Cu particles into the substrate was revealed by surface and elemental characterizations. The Cu/PA 6 yarn exhibited superior electrical conductivity (2.3 Ω/cm) with improved mechanical properties. The excellent electromechanical properties demonstrated by the Cu/PA 6 composite revealed its sensing capacity for a wide range of strains. Therefore, the composite yarn was affixed to the different regions of the human body and was capable of successfully monitoring various human motions, including finger bending, wrist bending, knee bending, drinking, and writing. In addition, rapid heat generation with high and uniform surface temperature (66.3 °C at 4.0 V in 45 s) validated the potential of the Cu/PA 6 yarn for wearable thermal heating devices. Moreover, rapid heating at a lower voltage, when attached to a wristband, revealed the capability of the composite yarn for localized heating or region-specific temperature regulation for personalized healthcare or comfort. This study informs a facile and effective strategy for developing robust yarn-shaped e-textiles for advanced wearable sensing and thermal heating.

Improving the energy harvesting performance of clamped flexible plates using vortex shedding behind bluff bodies: A computational study

This study assesses flow-induced vibrations of clamped flexible plates with the objective of improving their energy harvesting performance. Toward this, a rectangular bluff body is placed between the two clamped flexible plates to harness the vortices generated behind the bluff body. The strain energy of the plate is used as a measure of energy harvesting performance. Computational studies are performed for different parameters of interest, such as dimensions and material properties of the plate and dimensions and locations of the bluff body. The effects of these stated parameters on flow-induced vibration response and vortical structures are investigated, and the optimal values for the location and geometry of the bluff body, as well as the aspect ratio and Young's modulus of the plate for energy harvesting performance, are determined. The results show that vortex shedding from the bluff body strongly influences the dynamic behavior and energy output of the flexible structures inside the wake region of the bluff body at different locations. Additionally, the aspect ratio and its effect on vorticity and energy harvesting are discussed in detail, along with the average displacement and average lift force experienced by the plates. The outcomes of this work offer significant insights into optimizing the design of clamped flexible plates for optimal energy generation by cleverly exploiting the vortex shedding behind fixed bluff bodies.

Patterns of dermal denticle loss in sharks.

As they grow, sharks both replace lost denticles and proliferate the number of denticles by developing new (de novo) denticles without prior denticle shedding. The loss and replacement of denticles has potential impacts on the energetic cost of maintaining the skin surface, the biomechanical functions of shark skin, as well as our ability to predict shark abundance from fossil denticle occurrence in sediment cores. Here, we seek to better understand patterns of denticle loss and to show how denticles are being replaced in mature sharks. We illustrate shark skin surfaces with missing denticles and quantify both within-species and between-species patterns of missing denticles using images from across regions of the body for two species and images at similar body regions for 16 species of sharks. Generally, sharks are missing similar numbers of denticles (0%-6%) between species and regions. However, there are exceptions: in the smooth dogfish, the nose region is missing significantly more denticles than most posterior-body and fin regions, and the common thresher shark is missing significantly more denticles than the smooth dogfish, leopard shark, angel shark, bonnethead, and gulper shark. Denticle regrowth starts with crown development and mineralization beneath the epidermis, followed by eruption of the crown, and finally the mineralization of the root. The pulp cavity of replacement denticles is initially large and surrounded by a thin shell of enameloid upon eruption of the denticle. After eruption of the denticle, the deposition of dentine continues internally after the denticle reaches its final position. Replacement of missing denticles, representing less than 6% of the skin surface at any one time, may not compromise hydrodynamic function, but by constantly updating the skin surface throughout life, sharks may reduce surface fouling and maintain a functional complex skin surface by repairing local damage to individual denticles.

Assessing gait dysfunction severity in Parkinson’s Disease using 2-Stream Spatial-Temporal Neural Network

Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, significantly impacts the quality of life for millions of people worldwide. PD primarily impacts dopaminergic neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra, resulting in dopamine deficiency and gait impairments such as bradykinesia and rigidity. Currently, several well-established tools, such as the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) Scale, are used for evaluating gait dysfunction in PD. While insightful, these methods are subjective, time-consuming, and often ineffective in early-stage diagnosis. Other methods using specialized sensors and equipment to measure movement disorders are cumbersome and expensive, limiting their accessibility. This study introduces a hierarchical approach to evaluating gait dysfunction in PD through videos. The novel 2-Stream Spatial-Temporal Neural Network (2S-STNN) leverages the spatial–temporal features from the skeleton and silhouette streams for PD classification. This approach achieves an accuracy rate of 89% and outperforms other state-of-the-art models. The study also employs saliency values to highlight critical body regions that significantly influence model decisions and are severely affected by the disease. For a more detailed analysis, the study investigates 21 specific gait attributes for a more nuanced quantification of gait disorders. Parameters such as walking pace, step length, and neck forward angle are found to be strongly correlated with PD gait severity categories. This approach offers a comprehensive and convenient solution for PD management in clinical settings, enabling patients to receive a more precise evaluation and monitoring of their gait impairments.

Comparable Conditioned Pain Modulation and Painful-Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Conditioned pain modulation and exercise-induced hypoalgesia reflect inhibitory pain controls emanating from the brain. The aim of this study was to compare the extent of pain inhibition from exercise-induced hypoalgesia (isometric wall squat), conditioned pain modulation (cold-water immersion), and their combination (wall squat followed by cold water in fixed order) in healthy pain-free adults. Sixty-one participants (median age 21 years) completed 3 sessions (wall-squat, cold-water, and combined) in random order. Sessions were separated by at least a week. In each session, pressure-pain thresholds, single-pinprick-pain ratings, and pinprick-temporal summation of pain (the fifth minus the first) were obtained at quadriceps, forearms, and forehead, before and after wall squat and/or cold water. Each intervention inhibited pain to pressure (partial η2 = .26) and single pinprick (partial η2 = .16) to a similar extent; however, pressure-pain inhibition was negligible in the forehead. After adjusting for age and sex, single-pinprick-pain inhibition in the forehead induced by wall squat was associated with that induced by cold water (adjusted R2 = .15; P = .007), and stronger pain inhibition was predicted by a higher thigh-pain rating to wall squat (adjusted R2 = .10; P = .027). Neither intervention affected pinprick-temporal summation of pain. Together, the findings suggest that pain-inhibitory effects of exercise-induced hypoalgesia and conditioned pain modulation may overlap when exercise is at least moderately painful (6/10 intensity). Pressure pain in body regions remote from the exercised or conditioned sites may be weakly modulated. PerspectiveThe current findings suggest that pain-inhibitory effects induced by painful wall squat and by cold-water immersion may overlap. The magnitude of pain inhibition in the forehead remote from the exercised thigh or the conditioned foot appears smaller, which could be examined further in future research.

The epidemiology of employee injuries in a monitoring sentinel unit of a coastal area in China:A nine-year retrospective analysis of clinical data

The epidemiology of injury among subgroups of minors, older adults, students, and athletes has previously been investigated; however, studies investigating employee-related injuries are limited. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the epidemiological characteristics and dynamic change trends of injury among employees over a nine-year period in a coastal area in China to provide a reference for formulating injury prevention and control measures among employees. All 14,168 employee injury cases registered in a hospital injury monitoring system were analyzed from January 2013 to December 2021. The male-to-female sex ratio of the employee injury cases was 3.52:1. The floating-to-registered residence population ratio was 2.05:1. March, May, July, and September–October were peak months for employee injuries. Within the day, the injury cases of employees reached five peaks at 0800, 1000, 1500, 1800, and 2000 h. The highest five causes of injury were falling, blunt injuries, motor vehicle accidents, sharps injuries, and non-motor vehicle accidents. The highest five injury types were fracture; concussion or contusion of the brain; injury from a sharp instrument, bite, or open wound; contusion or abrasion; and sprain or strain. The main locations of the injuries were roads and streets, industrial and building sites, and homes. Vulnerable body regions included the upper limbs, lower limbs, head, trunk, and multiple regions. The independent predictors of all outcomes were census register classification; age; injury causes, locations and types; vulnerable body regions; and injury severity; on multivariate logistic regression analysis (P < 0.05). The average durations of missed work in the different injury outcome groups due to injuries among employees were 50.21, 42.57, 44.57, and 38.20 days, respectively. The average number of missed work days due to injuries was 49.77 days, with an increasing annual trend (F = 79.872, P < 0.01). The average hospitalization cost for employee injuries was ¥16250.37, with a decreasing annual trend (F = 4.621, P < 0.01). The average length of hospitalization was 15.22 days, with a decreasing annual trend (F = 76.657, P < 0.01), and the average number of days of missed work due to injuries was 49.77 days, with an increasing annual trend (F = 79.872, P < 0.01). The correlation coefficients showed a significant positive correlation between the average length of hospitalization and average hospitalization expenses, with an increasing trend from 2014 to 2021 (P < 0.05). Most employee injuries occurred in the male and floating populations. Targeted intervention measures should be implemented according to the epidemiological characteristics of injuries in relation to different populations, sexes, and ages to prevent and control injuries.