This study characterises articulatory-kinematic strategies to differentiate the sibilants /s/ and /ʃ/ in individuals before and after tongue cancer surgery. We further evaluate whether successful differentiation can be predicted by auditory and somatosensory motor learning abilities. Acoustic and electromagnetic articulography data were collected longitudinally (pre-surgery, and 6, 12, and 18 months post-surgery) from Dutch individuals treated for T1-T3 tongue tumours (n = 12). Sex- and age-matched typical speakers (n = 11) were tested once. We analysed the Euclidean distance (ED) between the tongue's position for /s/ and /ʃ/, alongside the centre of gravity. Altered formant feedback and bite-block experiments assessed motor learning from auditory and somatosensory input. Speakers showed a reduced ED between sibilants at the tongue tip (TT) six months post-surgery compared to pre-surgery. While performance improved over time, pre-surgery levels were not regained. ED reductions were associated with changes in lip aperture and jaw positioning. No differences were found between patients and typical speakers in acoustic or kinematic measures at any time point. No robust association was found between auditory/somatosensory motor learning ability and sibilant differentiation. Together, while TT control was reduced following tongue cancer surgery, speakers compensated using the lips and jaw to preserve the sibilant contrast.

Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) represents an important model for sustainable development, which faces increasing pressure under rapid modernization. This study investigates 205 Zhejiang Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (Zhejiang-IAHS) using spatial analytical methods and the GeoDetector model to examine their spatiotemporal evolution, spatial patterns, and driving factors. The results indicate that: (1) The temporal frequency of Zhejiang-IAHS formation follows an inverted U-shaped trajectory, and the spatial gravity center oscillated between Shaoxing and Jinhua across different historical periods; (2) Zhejiang-IAHS exhibits a polycentric and uneven clustering structure, high-density clusters are predominantly located in plains and basin areas, while different Zhejiang-IAHS types display distinct geographical affinities; (3) Regarding the driving mechanisms of the present-day distribution, the GeoDetector analysis reveals that the explanatory power of social factors and economic factors is significantly stronger than that of natural conditions. Specifically, contemporary elements such as cultural infrastructures are identified as dominant forces associated with the spatial clustering and retention of these heritage systems. Interaction analysis further reveals a synergistic mechanism wherein static resource endowments are activated by dynamic socioeconomic conditions, with the interaction between transportation networks and tourism development being particularly pronounced. These findings suggest that while natural endowments provided the initial foundation for heritage formation, modern socioeconomic vitality plays a decisive role in their current identification and preservation. These findings highlight that activating static natural endowments through dynamic social factors and economic factors is key to the contemporary persistence of IAHS, offering a theoretical framework for understanding their spatiotemporal evolution.

To observe the effects of penetrating needling combined with sling exercise therapy (SET) on lower limb motor function, balance, and spasticity in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were randomly divided into a control group (33 cases, 1 dropout) and a penetrating needling group (33 cases, 1 dropout). All participants received standard medical treatment, rehabilitation training, and routine acupuncture as baseline therapy. The control group received additional SET, while the penetrating needling group received additional SET combined with penetrating needling therapy. The penetrating needling technique was applied from Ququan (LR8) to Xiyangguan (GB33), from Yanglingquan (GB34) to Yinlingquan (SP9), from Fuyang (BL59) to Jiaoxin (KI8), and from Qiuxu (GB40) to Zhaohai (KI6). Outcome measures, including the Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity motor function (FMA-L), Berg balance scale (BBS), modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and gait analysis data (assessed using a force plate system), were evaluated before and after treatment. After treatment, both groups showed significant improvements:increased FMA-L and BBS scores, decreased MAS scores, reduced postural sway parameters (eyes-open ball length, eyes-open ellipse area, eyes-closed ball length, and eyes-closed ellipse area), decreased load on the healthy side and medial-lateral load asymmetry, and increased step frequency, step speed, and load on the affected side (all P<0.05). The penetrating needling group demonstrated superior improvements in all measures compared to the control group (P<0.05). The combination of penetrating needling and SET helps balance the medial-lateral plantar load distribution between the healthy and affected sides in post-stroke hemiplegic patients, shifts the center of gravity toward the midline, enhances standing stability, improves motor and balance functions, and alleviates spasticity.

This study presents a flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle designed for three-dimensional trajectory tracking. The design features center-of-gravity-based steering, three actuators, and omits a dedicated yaw actuator, time-varying wingbeat patterns, and high-frequency actuator switching. To investigate the dynamics of the proposed design, a modified nonlinear controllability framework was developed for theoretical analysis, and a series of flight experiments were conducted to validate the analytical results. The analysis indicates that, despite the absence of a dedicated yaw actuator, the yaw torque required for three-dimensional maneuvering arises from center-of-gravity shifts, asymmetric wing aerodynamics, and an intrinsic feedback mechanism that stabilizes the angle difference between vehicle's yaw angle and trajectory rotation angle. Furthermore, the yaw dynamics exhibit nonminimum phase behaviors in response to center-of-gravity movement. Based on these findings, a multi-tier control architecture is proposed to accommodate these unique dynamics for autonomous flight. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed design can perform three-dimensional trajectory tracking, with attitude errors below 5° and altitude deviations within 10 cm in most cases.

Military medicine has been organized for 2 decades around the time interval between injury and definitive surgical care. The Golden Hour mandate in Afghanistan, paired with Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines and damage-control resuscitation, produced some of the lowest battlefield mortality rates in the history of armed conflict. More recent conflicts complicate this framework. In northwest Syria, deliberate attacks on hospitals reduced outpatient and trauma care for weeks following each strike, with population-level reductions in service use rather than individual mortality the dominant signal. In Ukraine, drone-contested evacuation, degraded hospital function, and disrupted medical logistics have failed concurrently under large-scale combat operations, in a pattern that the Golden Hour model was not designed to address. This Commentary argues that across these 3 mature conflict settings, the dominant clinical risk has broadened from individual-casualty survival to compound treatment-system degradation. The argument describes one axis of change rather than a universal trajectory: the French experience in the Sahel illustrates that prolonged casualty care can become the dominant problem even without deliberate hospital targeting or system collapse, and other conflicts including Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territory require their own analyses. What is consistent across the contemporary record, however, is that hospital protection, logistics resilience, and continuity of evacuation now sit at the center of military-medical capability rather than at its margin. Three doctrinal implications follow. First, hospital protection and facility dispersal should be incorporated into clinical-readiness curricula. They produce measurable effects on patient outcomes and warrant treatment as clinical capabilities rather than as adjacent engineering problems. Second, prolonged field care must shift from contingency planning to baseline operational capability, as the Sahel, Syrian, and Ukrainian experiences converge on this point, even though their underlying mechanisms differ. Third, medical logistics deserves the same operational rigor as direct patient care, including blood distribution, cold-chain continuity, warehouse dispersion, and cyber resilience of supply-management systems. Preliminary signals from the ongoing 2026 U.S.-Israeli-Iranian conflict, including verified attacks on health care, regional supply-chain disruption, and a cyber-mediated interruption affecting medical-device manufacturing, are broadly concordant with this trajectory. They are presented as hypothesis-generating only, not as evidence of a validated new doctrinal phase. The main limitations are selective conceptual synthesis and the asymmetry between mature peer-reviewed evidence and ongoing-event reporting. The conclusion is operationally direct: military medicine is no longer adequately described by transport time alone. Trauma-care survivability under threat is now the central problem.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) results from cartilage degeneration and abnormal load distribution, leading to impaired biomechanics and postural control. Foot abnormalities such as hypermobility, flat feet, and pronation-common in KOA-may contribute to the degeneration process of the knee joint structures. Stabilization and proprioceptive exercises, as well as orthopedic inserts, can modify these factors by improving muscle function and redistributing load. However, studies directly comparing their effectiveness using objective assessment methods are lacking. Postural control plays a key role in KOA because it reflects the integration of balance systems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of these interventions and their combination on postural balance in centre of pressure (COP) and clinical outcomes (KOOS - knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score) in patients with early KOA. Participants were randomly divided into four groups: "Exercises" (n = 43), "Orthopaedic insoles" (n = 43), "Mixed" (n = 39), "Control" (n = 41). During the qualification process, a posturographic examination was performed on a force platform with eyes open and closed in a standing position. Participants were also assessed using the KOOS questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed in Statistica 13 using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test. A significance level of p = 0.05 was used. Posturographic parameters such as sways length and mean speed with eyes open and closed improved, and the ellipse area of the center of gravity decreased in the mixed group (p = 0.001). The largest clinical effects were observed for sways length with eyes open (d = 2.512) between the control and exercise groups and for sways length with eyes closed (d = 2.172), ellipse area with eyes open (d = 1.361), and mean speed with eyes closed (d = 2.193) between the control and mixed groups. Quality of life (QoL) and functioning improved statistically, and significant between-group differences were found for pain, symptoms, physical activities of daily living (ADL), sports/recreation, and QoL (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the exercise group and the orthopedic insole group in terms of symptoms, ADL, sports/recreation, and QoL. A significant clinical effect was observed on the KOOS pain score between the insoles and exercise groups (d = 1.122). The combined use of orthopedic insoles and exercises is the most effective method of rehabilitation.Trial registration: The study was registered in the international Research Registry database (https://www.researchregistry.com/) under registration number researchregistry11661.

The development of high-clearance, electrically powered agricultural machinery is essential for improving farming efficiency and sustainability. This study presents the design and development of a high-clearance e-vehicle to support a robotic cotton picker, enabling efficient navigation through densely planted cotton fields. A Python-based computational model was used to determine significant vehicle parameters, including centre of gravity, slope stability, turning dynamics, and moment of inertia. The centre of gravity was located at 585.54 mm longitudinally, 867.47 mm laterally, and 1083.46 mm in height from reference points. Stability analysis revealed maximum upgrade and downgrade slopes of 28.39° and 43.67°, respectively, with critical turning speeds of 24.71 km/h for left turns and 27.26 km/h for right turns. The moment of inertia about the centre of gravity was calculated as 51135.31 kg-mm-s2. Additionally, the vehicle's speed performance was evaluated under different motor speeds and gear settings, with a maximum speed of 12.19 km/h achieved in motor speed mode 1 at gear 2. The results confirm that the e-vehicle maintains stability while manoeuvring slopes and turns, effectively operating in fields with row spacings of 900 mm and 675 mm. This study contributes to the advancement of energy-efficient agricultural machinery, addressing challenges in navigating complex crop geometries and supporting the transition to sustainable precision farming.

ABSTRACT Purpose This study examined the long-term development of environmental social work as a field characterized by strong political-normative claims about what social work ought to do in relation to environmental crises, alongside a comparatively limited cumulative empirical evidence base concerning actual professional practice and impact. Method Using a mixed bibliometric and full-text topic-modeling design, the study analyzed peer-reviewed ESW scholarship retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Bibliometric analyses covered 761 publications (1966–2025), while full-text topic modeling and lexical-semantic analyses were conducted on 716 extractable full-text articles (1972–2025) using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), Structural Topic Modeling (STM), and bibliometric science-mapping techniques implemented in R. Results The findings suggest that environmental social work expanded additively rather than paradigmatically, with successive discourses and vocabularies accumulating without displacing earlier ones. This pattern produced wide thematic dispersion, conceptual plurality, and multiple centers of gravity without clear paradigmatic dominance. Discussion Four dominant framing styles ‒ crisis-emergency, normative justice-advocacy, pedagogical-competency, and ecological-relational-spiritual ‒ coexisted across the literature but remained weakly integrated. Overall, the study argues that environmental social work is best understood as a polycentric, evolving political-normative praxis field rather than a coherent theoretical sub-discipline.

In this study， to investigate the dynamic evolution and driving factors of carbon emissions resulting from land use in China across multiple spatial scales， we employed the 30-meter resolution China land use/cover change （LUCC） dataset in conjunction with DMSP/OLS nighttime light data. Utilizing a combination of the carbon emission coefficient method， spatial autocorrelation analysis， coefficient of variation， SLOPE trend analysis， gravity center migration analysis， and the logarithmic mean Divisia index （LMDI） method， a comparative analysis was conducted to examine the spatiotemporal evolution and determinants of land use carbon emissions at the provincial， municipal， and county levels. The key findings are as follows： ① Across all three spatial scales， per-unit land carbon emissions exhibited a spatial pattern characterized by "high in the southeast and low in the northwest，" evolving from a "point-core" to a "regional aggregation" structure. At the provincial and municipal levels， per-unit carbon emissions have shown a consistent upward trend， whereas at the county level， emissions first increased and then declined， with the growth rate showing a downward trajectory. ② At all scales， the local spatial distribution of per-unit land carbon emissions was predominantly characterized by positive spatial autocorrelation， with the "low-low" （LL） clustering type being the most prevalent. Finer spatial scales revealed more detailed patterns of carbon emission clustering and spatial heterogeneity. ③ Spatially， the trends in per-unit land carbon emissions followed the pattern： eastern &gt; western， coastal &gt; inland， with "slow growth" and "relatively slow growth" being the dominant trend categories. As the spatial resolution increased （i.e.， scale decreased）， the diversity of trend types became more pronounced. ④ Significant differences were observed in the spatial location and movement trajectories of the carbon emission gravity centers across the three scales. At the provincial level， the gravity center was located between Jiangsu and Anhui provinces， moving southwestward； at the municipal level， it shifted between Anhui and Henan provinces； while at the county level， it remained within Shangqiu City in Henan Province， tracing a northwestward "7-shaped" path. ⑤ The nature and intensity of the factors influencing land use carbon emissions varied considerably across spatial scales and temporal stages. Over the past two decades， energy efficiency has exerted the most significant inhibitory effect on carbon emissions across all scales， whereas economic development has been the most prominent driving force. These findings provide critical insights for formulating scale-specific emission reduction strategies and offer valuable guidance for advancing China's "dual carbon" goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Musculoskeletal problems and bio-mechanical analysis of selected Bharatanatyam dance poses.

ABSTRACTTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) mapping provides valuable insight into corticospinal organisation and plasticity, but conventional protocols are often too time‐consuming to be practical in clinical settings. This study aimed to refine a rapid, multimuscle TMS mapping protocol capable of comprehensively characterising upper limb motor representations, including both distal and proximal muscles, and to examine how stimulation intensity and voluntary muscle activity shape cortical map metrics and motor evoked potential (MEP) latency. Nineteen healthy adults underwent neuronavigated TMS mapping of eight upper limb muscles using a rapid random walk protocol. Cortical maps were acquired at multiple stimulation intensities referenced to the motor threshold of the first dorsal interosseous muscle, both at rest and during a task requiring low levels of muscle activity. Map area, volume and centre of gravity were quantified using relative and absolute thresholds, alongside automated analysis of MEP onset latency. Cortical representations showed stable somatotopic organisation across conditions, with proximal‐muscle centres of gravity located more medially than distal muscles. Increasing stimulation intensity preferentially expanded distal muscle map area and volume, whereas voluntary muscle activity selectively facilitated proximal‐muscle representations, even after controlling for background muscle activity. These effects revealed a clear proximal–distal gradient in the physiological modulation of cortical maps. MEP latencies were shorter for proximal muscles and during active contraction. At rest, latency increased with distance from the map centre for several muscles, but this spatial gradient was abolished or inverted during voluntary activity. These findings demonstrate that rapid, multimuscle cortical mapping is feasible and yields physiologically meaningful metrics across the upper limb. The results highlight a functional dissociation between proximal and distal representations and underscore the importance of combining high‐intensity resting and active mapping conditions to obtain a complete assessment of corticospinal integrity, with direct relevance for future clinical studies in neurological populations.

Projecting future climate change impacts on the spatial distribution of a large squid in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

As a predominantly agrarian nation, cutting emissions from agriculture is essential to achieving its "dual carbon" targets. The primary source of agricultural production, cultivated land, has a major impact on the sector's total carbon emissions. However, the spatial correlation network features have received little attention in previous investigations, which have mostly concentrated on driving variables and emission measurements. Examining the spatial network characteristics of cultivated land carbon emissions (CLCE) provides a basis for promoting coordinated regional emission reduction. This study integrates the carbon emission coefficient method, standard deviational ellipse, ESDA, a modified gravity model, and social network analysis to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution and spatial network structure of CLCE in China from 2000 to 2023. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) China's CLCE increased overall, with fluctuations, from 6028.83 × 104t in 2000 to a peak of 9111.60 × 104t in 2015, before decreasing to 7555.91 × 104t in 2023. (2) Spatially, the center of gravity of CLCE has continuously shifted northwestward, exhibiting a significant positive spatial autocorrelation characterized mainly by "high-high" clustering. (3) CLCE demonstrates a clear networked spatial structure, with increasing overall spatial connection strength, good connectivity, and stability, though the overall network compactness remains to be improved. (4) The spatial network of CLCE exhibits a "core-periphery" structure, with Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan serving as long-term core provinces, while the northwest and northeast regions are mostly located at the periphery. The research offers theoretical support for developing low-carbon agricultural strategies and promoting coordinated regional emission reduction policies in China.

Western military doctrine has long relied on Clausewitz’s much-debated “center of gravity” as a model for depicting an enemy’s primary source of strength. This article brings a fresh perspective to the question of whether the model remains relevant by comparing it to the character of war and the operational environment across three ages of warfare: the Professionalized Age, the Industrialized Age, and the Digital Age.

This comprehensive study presents a computational fluid dynamics analysis to evaluate the performance of high-performance shortboard surfboards with and without fins under various operating conditions subjected to rotational motion about their centre of gravity simulating realistic interaction with the flow. Computational simulations were conducted across angles of attack ranging from 0 to 15°, the resulting lift, drag, and lift-to-drag ratios were compared. Performance evaluation of the different scenarios indicates that the presence of fins consistently enhances lift generation and slightly increases drag, with an overall improvement in hydrodynamic efficiency up to a critical angle. The lift-to-drag ratio peaked between 7° and 9°, suggesting an optimal range for manoeuvrability and performance. This study provides a reproducible CFD methodology and offers new insights into the role of fins in surfboard dynamics. The study is performed on a full-scale surfboard, showing close agreement with the scaled model and prior studies, confirming the accuracy of the numerical analysis.

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Pectus excavatum in children is associated with altered sagittal postural alignment and balance control.A structured exercise program is associated with improvements in head and shoulder alignment and postural stability.Changes in scapular alignment may be related to improvements in stabilometric parameters.What are the implications of the main findings?Exercise-based rehabilitation may be considered in the conservative management of children with pectus excavatum.Combined postural and stabilometric assessment can support objective evaluation of treatment outcomes.Targeting thoracic mobility, breathing, and trunk muscle function may improve postural control.Early physiotherapy intervention may help reduce compensatory postural adaptations.These findings support the integration of physical therapy into pediatric orthopedic care.Background: Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common anterior chest wall deformity in children and adolescents. It may lead to postural adaptations of the trunk and spine and can influence the distribution of the center of gravity. Methods: A total of 35 patients with PE, with a Haller index < 3.25, aged 5–17 years, followed a structured exercise program including postural correction exercises, thoracic mobility exercises, breathing retraining, and trunk extensor strengthening for three months after proper instruction by a specialist. Patients were assessed before and after the intervention. Postural alignment was evaluated laterally (right and left) using the GaitON Posture Analysis System, and static balance was assessed using the PoDATA 2.0 stabilometric platform (Chinesport, Italy), which analyzes plantar pressure distribution and center of pressure (COP) displacement during orthostatic stance. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Stabilometric analysis demonstrated a reduction in COP trajectory length, confidence ellipse area, and maximum velocity, indicating improved postural control and reduced sway. Postural analysis revealed statistically significant improvements in head and shoulder girdle alignment. Correlations suggest a potential relationship between segmental alignment and stabilometric parameters and a possible reduction in thoracic hyperkyphosis associated with PE. Conclusions: Postural and stabilometric assessment in PE highlights changes in the analyzed parameters and suggest that a structured exercise program may be associated with improvements in biomechanical function and neuromuscular control. These methods can be integrated into conservative management and therapeutic strategies.

As a vital hub for energy and industry in China, the Yellow River Basin plays a crucial role in advancing the national "dual carbon" strategy. Based on industrial carbon emissions data from 957 counties across nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin from 2003 to 2022, this study employs the Mann-Kendall trend test, Theil-Sen slope estimation, Moran's I index, and the gravity center migration model to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and evolution of carbon emissions at the county level. Furthermore, a Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model is constructed to identify the key influencing factors and their spatiotemporal heterogeneity. The results reveal that: ① Industrial carbon emissions in the basin continuously increased over the study period. Counties in the lower reaches exhibited a significantly faster growth rate. While parts of the middle reaches maintained a relatively low emission profile, resource-intensive industrial counties such as Shenmu showed persistently high emissions. The upper reaches remained low-emission regions, resulting in a spatial structure characterized by "high in the east, low in the west" and dispersed high-emission values. ② The global Moran's I indices were all positive and statistically significant at the 99% confidence level, indicating strong spatial autocorrelation. High-high clusters remained stable in the border areas of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Ningxia, while low-low clusters were concentrated in upstream regions with weaker industrial bases. ③ The carbon emission centroid remained largely within Shanxi Province, with limited migration paths. The standard deviation ellipse stretched along the southwest-northeast axis, showing consistent spatial orientation. ④ The GTWR model achieved an R2 of 0.873, outperforming the OLS, TWR, and GWR models. Regression results indicated that industrial added value, urbanization rate, and industrial enterprise assets exerted significant positive effects in most regions, while investments in industrial pollution control and per capita disposable income had a suppressive effect in certain counties, exhibiting clear spatial heterogeneity. These findings provide a scientific basis for differentiated spatial governance of industrial carbon reduction in the Yellow River Basin.

A rollover index should be utilised to detect rollover of an articulated heavy vehicle and provide early warning to drivers. Usually, the rollover index is calculated based on the roll plane model of sprung mass. However, obtaining the model parameters of the sprung mass in real time, such as the centre of gravity and roll centre, which change with different loads, is a challenging task. Based on the roll plane model of the unsprung mass, a method is developed for calculating the rollover index of a multi-axle semi-trailer in this paper. The lateral-load transfer ratio for each axle of a multi-axle semi-trailer is calculated using the axle roll rate measured by a gyro sensor, suspension deflection measured by two displacement sensors and suspension torques identified by an adaptive sliding mode observer. The rollover indices calculated using the roll plane models of sprung and unsprung masses are compared and analysed. The results show that the rollover index calculated using the roll plane model of the unsprung mass has high accuracy and is less affected by suspension roll stiffness, centre of gravity height and roll centre height. The proposed calculation method is easy to implement in rollover warning and control systems.

Visual and auditory information are seamlessly integrated when speech is perceived. This is illustrated by the McGurk effect, where incongruent visual information from the speaker's face alters the consonant the listener hears. However, it remains unclear how acoustic features of speech influence this illusion. In this study, perceptual data from 52 listeners exposed to McGurk stimuli (acoustic [pa] with visual [ka] spoken by four speakers) were combined with acoustic analyses of [pa], [ta], and [ka] to examine whether key features of plosive consonants, the noise burst, and formant transitions influence the effect. The following six acoustic cues of these features were analyzed: the center of gravity and duration of the noise burst and the frequency range and duration of the second and third formant transitions. Linear mixed modeling showed that most of these features contributed to the illusion, with the duration of the second formant transition being the strongest cue. In some cases, perception shifted as the acoustic difference decreased; for example, the McGurk stimulus was heard more as TA when the second formant transition of [pa] resembled that of [ta]. This study demonstrated that specific acoustic phonetic cues contribute systematically to the McGurk effect.

The risk of falling increases with age, affecting approximately one in three individuals over 65 and one in two over 80 annually. In Japan, the fall rate among older adults ranges from 8.5% to 25.3%, and falls are a major cause of fractures and long-term care needs. Balance impairment is one of the key factors contributing to falls, as maintaining the body’s center of gravity within the base of support is essential for stable walking. To address this issue, this study proposes a method for classifying balance conditions during walking using acceleration data collected from four sensors attached to the waist. Two classification approaches were examined: MiniROCKET as a kernel-based method, and InceptionTime as a deep learning method. By comparing these two representative time-series classification paradigms, the study aims to clarify which approach is more suitable for gait balance assessment. Furthermore, a preliminary analysis was conducted to determine the optimal number and placement of sensors. The results suggest that the proposed method can effectively identify deviations from normal gait, indicating its potential for anomaly detection in walking balance. Identifying the minimal number of sensors required to maintain sufficient accuracy is crucial for practical applications, and this study provides a foundation for future verification with elderly populations to enhance long-term daily monitoring and fall-risk prevention.