Deviations In Patterns Research Articles

Can microplastics variability drive the colonization dynamics of periphytic protozoan fauna in marine environments?

In recent years, microplastics have become a global environmental hot topic of concern. To explore the effects of different concentrations of microplastics on colonization dynamics of periphytic protozoan fauna, a 21-day study was conducted in temperature-controlled circulation systems. Periphytic protozoan communities were used as test organisms and exposed to five concentrations of MPs: 0, 1, 5, 25, and 125 mg l−1, identification and enumeration were conducted on days 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21. The results showed that the colonization dynamics were driven by MPs and significantly shifted at concentrations over 5 mg l−1. However, a notable decline in maximum species richness and abundance was observed in the high concentrations of microplastic, along with significant deviations in colonization patterns from the control group (0 mg l−1). Therefore, it is suggested that the colonization dynamics of periphytic protozoa can serve as a bioindicator for assessing microplastic concentrations in marine environments.

Laser ultrasound wave pattern analysis for efficient defect detection in samples with curved surfaces

Many production processes involve curved sample surfaces, such as welding or additive manufacturing. These pose new challenges to characterization methods for quality inspection, which are usually optimized for flat extended sample geometries. In this paper, we present a laser ultrasound (LUS) method that can be used to efficiently detect defects (e.g., voids), without extensive scanning effort and without a prior knowledge of the defect location, in finite samples with curved surfaces. The developed method starts with generalized simulations of the LUS wave patterns in samples with varying radii of curvature and width as well as varying excitation size and mechanism (thermoelastic or ablative). Based on the wave pattern analysis, it is possible to predict how every point in the weld can be reached with only few excitation spots. In a second step, we assume a grid of finite size defects at locations at which such voids are most likely formed and perform a thorough simulation analysis that is based on B-Scans to find a few pairs of excitation–detection points most favorable for finding defects anywhere in the weld seam. These results are then compared to the wave pattern analysis, discussing similarities and deviations from the predictions. In a final step, the simulations are compared to experimental results, verifying the almost threefold increase in the detectability of defects by choosing the predicted optimal excitation–detection positions. It is expected that this method will significantly improve the reliability and time efficiency of detecting internal defects in samples with curved surfaces in potential industrial applications.

Residual gait deviations in children treated by medial open reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip at long-term follow-up: a comparison with healthy controls.

This study aimed to analyze and compare gait patterns and deviations at long-term follow-up in children who received medial open reduction (MOR) before 18months for unilateral or bilateral hip developmental dysplasia (DDH). A retrospective chart review was conducted on children who underwent MOR. The study population was divided into two groups: the unilateral group, including unilateral (five children with unilateral) and bilateral (five children with bilateral DDH). Ten healthy children were recruited for the control group. Spatiotemporal, kinematic, stiff-knee gait (SKG), and kinetic gait characteristics were analyzed. Stance time was significantly shorter in both the unilateral (median [IQR]; 590ms, [560.0-612.5] and bilateral (575ms, [550-637.5]) groups than in the control group (650, [602.5-677.5]) (p < 0.001), whereas swing time did not differ substantially (p = 0.065) There was no considerable difference in the mean knee flexion at swing between the unilateral (31.6°, [30-36]) and control (30.11°, [27.8-33.6] groups (p > 0.05), but the bilateral group (28.5°, [24.9-32.1]) showed the lower values than the other groups (p < 0.001 for bilateral vs unilateral group; p = 0.008 bilateral vs unilateral group). All the SKG parameters significantly differed among the groups in multi-group comparisons (p < 0.001 for each parameter). Three children had borderline SKG, and two had not-stiff limbs in the unilateral group. In the bilateral group, four children had stiff limbs, and one had borderline SKG. Most kinetic gait parameters were not statistically different between groups (p > 0.05). This study has revealed notable deviations in gait patterns of children with DDH treated by MOR at long-term follow-up compared to healthy children's gait. MOR could negatively affect pelvic motion during gait due to impaired functions of the iliopsoas and adductor muscles, and SKG can be encountered secondary to iliopsoas weakness.

Surgical Planning for Pattern Strabismus in Patients with Intermittent Exotropia: Evaluating Techniques and Outcomes

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Background or purpose&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: Intermittent exotropia is the most common cause of divergent deviation. Pattern strabismus may coexist with horizontal deviations in up 35% of cases. Managing pattern strabismus concomitantly with the correction of horizontal strabismus poses a challenge due to imbalances in force vectors. This study aims to evaluate the effects of planning an intermittent exotropia surgery considering the presence of pattern strabismus and its surgical resolution. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Methods&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: Observational retrospective study of patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgical correction at center between 2017 and 2022. Patients were categorized by the presence of pattern strabismus and furthermore by surgical technique for the correction of said incomitance (weakening of inferior oblique muscles or vertical transposition of lateral rectus muscles). Outcomes of post-surgical horizontal deviation and presence of postoperative pattern strabismus were statistical analyzed between groups using SPSS software v28.0. A p-value &amp;lt;0,05 was considered significant. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Results&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: A total of 169 patients had surgical correction for intermittent exotropia. Pattern strabismus was observed in 35,5% of patients, primarily V-pattern (88,3%). Most were male (58, 35%) with mean age of 15,13±16,38 years. 41,7% patients with pattern strabismus underwent correction of the incomitance. All techniques showed significant reduction of horizontal near (p&amp;lt;0,001) and distance (p&amp;lt;0,001) deviation. However, incomitance correction favored strongly not only the collapsing of pattern strabismus (p=0,027) but also achieved better results in postoperative distance (p=0,002) and near (p=0,031) horizontal deviation. The two techniques for resolution of pattern strabismus showed comparable results in postoperative horizontal near deviation values and resolution of pattern strabismus, favoring vertical transposition in horizontal distance deviation values (p=0,015). &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusions&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: The presence of pattern deviations should be actively persecuted in pre-operatively appointments to plan the surgery appropriately, as benefits in correcting the vertical incomitance are supported by this study findings. Both vertical transposition of lateral rectus muscles and weakening of inferior oblique muscles are effective techniques to correct vertical incomitances.

Natural reversal of cavefish heart asymmetry is controlled by Sonic Hedgehog effects on the left-right organizer.

The direction of left-right visceral asymmetry is conserved in vertebrates. Deviations of the standard asymmetric pattern are rare, and the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here, we use the teleost Astyanax mexicanus, consisting of surface fish with normal left-oriented heart asymmetry and cavefish with high levels of reversed right-oriented heart asymmetry, to explore natural changes in asymmetry determination. We show that Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling is increased at the posterior midline, Kupffer's vesicle (the teleost left-right organizer) is enlarged and contains longer cilia, and the number of dorsal forerunner cells is increased in cavefish. Furthermore, Shh increase in surface fish embryos induces asymmetric changes resembling the cavefish phenotype. Asymmetric expression of the Nodal antagonist Dand5 is equalized or reversed in cavefish, and Shh increase in surface fish mimics changes in cavefish dand5 asymmetry. Shh decrease reduces the level of right-oriented heart asymmetry in cavefish. Thus, naturally occurring modifications in cavefish heart asymmetry are controlled by the effects of Shh signaling on left-right organizer function.

Seasonal dependence of deterministic versus stochastic processes influencing soil fungal community composition in a lowland Amazonian rain forest

The contribution of deterministic versus stochastic processes to the spatio-temporal assembly of soil microbial communities in tropical forests requires quantification so that responses to climate change may be accurately projected. Here we report the spatio-temporal composition of soil fungal communities in a topographically homogeneous forest area in central Amazonia. Soil fungal communities have a greater turnover in space than over time. Stochastic processes are inferred to dominate in the rainy season and deterministic processes in the dry season. Our study highlights the importance of spatial heterogeneity in the absence of environmental gradients and its relationship with seasonal patterns that modulate spatial heterogeneity and contribute to environmental determinism versus stochasticity for fungal community assembly. This baseline may serve to assess deviations in community patterns caused by changes in biotic interactions with above-ground vegetation, such as those resulting from shifts in taxonomical/functional composition of trees driven by climate change.

Development of Biomarkers Potentially Sensitive to Early Psychosis Using Mismatch Negativity (MMN) to Complex Pattern Deviations.

Infrequent stimulus deviations from repetitive sequences elicit mismatch negativity (MMN) even passively, making MMN practical for clinical applications. Auditory MMN is typically elicited by a change in one (or more) physical stimulus parameters (eg, pitch, duration). This lower-order simple MMN (sMMN) is impaired in long-term schizophrenia. However, sMMN contains activity from release from stimulus adaptation, clouding its face validity as purely deviance-related. More importantly, it is unreliably reduced in samples of first-episode psychosis, limiting its utility as a biomarker. Complex pattern-deviant MMN (cMMN) tasks, which elicit early and late responses, are based on higher-order abstractions and better isolate deviance detection. Their abstract nature may increase the sensitivity to processing deficits in early psychosis. However, both the early and late cMMNs are small, limiting separation between healthy and psychotic samples. In 29 healthy individuals, we tested a new dual-rule cMMN paradigm to assess additivity of deviance. Sounds alternated lateralization between left and right, and low and high pitches, creating a left-low, right-high alternating pattern. Deviants were a repeated left-low, violating lateralization and pitch patterns. Early and late cMMNs on the dual-rule task were significantly larger than those on the one-rule extra tone cMMN task (P < .05). Further, the dual-rule early cMMN was not significantly smaller than pitch or duration sMMNs (P > .48, .28, respectively). These results demonstrate additivity for cMMN pattern-violating rules. This increase in cMMN amplitude should increase group difference effect size, making it a prime candidate for a biomarker of disease presence at first psychotic episode, and perhaps even prior to the emergence of psychosis.

Stress-impaired reward pathway promotes distinct feeding behavior patterns.

Although dietary behaviors are affected by neuropsychiatric disorders, various environmental conditions can have strong effects as well. We found that mice under multiple stresses, including social isolation, intermittent high-fat diet, and physical restraint, developed feeding behavior patterns characterized by a deviated bait approach (fixated feeding). All the tested stressors affected dopamine release at the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell and dopamine normalization reversed the feeding defects. Moreover, inhibition of dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area that projects into the NAcc shell caused similar feeding pattern aberrations. Given that the deviations were not consistently accompanied by changes in the amount consumed or metabolic factors, the alterations in feeding behaviors likely reflect perturbations to a critical stress-associated pathway in the mesolimbic dopamine system. Thus, deviations in feeding behavior patterns that reflect reward system abnormalities can be sensitive biomarkers of psychosocial and physical stress.

The role of social-evaluative threat for cortisol profiles in response to psychosocial stress: A person-centered approach.

Heterogeneity in individuals' physiological stress responses is central to theories linking stress with vulnerability to disease. Although multiple cortisol profiles have been reported in response to acute psychological stress, most prior work focuses on a single, average pattern and relative deviations from it, such as greater or lesser response peaks or reactivity. The present aims were to identify cortisol stress response trajectory classes using a data-driven approach and test whether social-evaluative threat (SET), a reliable elicitor of cortisol, predicted a greater likelihood of membership in the more reactive profiles. Data were pooled from 13 acute laboratory stressor studies from two geographically distinct U.S. university communities. Participants included 1,258 adults ranging from 18 to 52 years (Mage = 20.5; 62% women; 38% men) with diverse racial/ethnic identities and socioeconomic statuses. Studies included a version of the Trier Social Stress Test and at least three salivary cortisol assessments. SET was tested in three ways: study conditions with evaluators present, perceptions of evaluation, and ratings of shame-related emotions. Latent group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify cortisol response patterns that best fit the data. Results revealed five unique cortisol response profiles. Consistent with hypotheses, SET conditions, greater perceived evaluation, and greater shame-related emotions predicted membership in the most reactive response trajectories. The findings highlight the high degree of heterogeneity that characterizes cortisol stress response profiles, which has important implications for theories of stress and health and methodological approaches in future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Preface

The 2nd International Conference and the 11th Congress of the Entomological Society of Indonesia 2023 (ICCESI 2023) Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 29 September – 1 October 2023 “Mitigation of Climate Change through Beneficial Insect Utilization to Support Sustainable Ecosystem and Food Security” The Indonesian Entomological Society (ESI) has successfully held the 2nd International Conference and 11th Congress of the Indonesian Entomological Society 2023 (ICCESI 2023) on 29 September - 1 October 2023, entirely offline at the Santika Premiere Hotel Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The event involved the committee from the center, all branches, and members of ESI from Universitas Andalas, who were assigned as the primary hosts. ICCESI 2023 has the theme “Mitigating climate change through the use of beneficial insects to support sustainable ecosystems and food security.” The main objective was to provide a venue for ideal platform of researchers, academics, and practitioners to gather, share information, and discuss their results and scientific experiences by making entomology a special reference to adaptation to climate change.Climate change is closely related to weather changes, including deviations in temperature patterns. The world is warmer than ever. The last two decades have seen the warmest temperatures since the 1800s and the warmest ten years ever. The dry season is getting longer, and water is getting scarcer. Lack of water and rising temperatures make growing more difficult for plants. The land gradually becomes less productive. Climate change damages environmental health, hampers production, and destroys food crops. Global food yields are expected to decline by 30% by 2050 if we cannot adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Indonesian Entomological Society (ESI) wants to be an integral part of overcoming this problem in Indonesia and the worldOverall, insects have a very important role in the continuity of human life, not only as frightening pests but also as a beneficial role for humans, including as biological pest control agents, pollinators, sources of protein, medicines, clothing materials, and decorations, and inspiration. With their specifications and adaptability, insects can provide enormous opportunities to survive in various extreme conditions, including climate change. This opportunity must be supported by comprehensive studies and research for human life and welfare while minimizing negative impacts on living creatures and the environmentList of Documentations, The Committee, Schedule, Symposium Schedule, Paralel Schedule are available in this Pdf.

Deviations in RSV epidemiological patterns and population structures in the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infection, with the greatest impact on infants, immunocompromised individuals, and older adults. RSV prevalence decreased substantially in the United States (US) following the implementation of COVID-19-related non-pharmaceutical interventions but later rebounded with abnormal seasonality. The biological and epidemiological factors underlying this altered behavior remain poorly defined. In this retrospective cohort study from 2009 to 2023 in Chicago, Illinois, US, we examined RSV epidemiology, clinical severity, and genetic diversity. We found that changes in RSV diagnostic platforms drove increased detections in outpatient settings post-2020 and that hospitalized adults infected with RSV-A were at higher risk of intensive care admission than those with RSV-B. While population structures of RSV-A remained unchanged, RSV-B exhibited a genetic shift into geographically distinct clusters. Mutations in the antigenic regions of the fusion protein suggest convergent evolution with potential implications for vaccine and therapeutic development.

Behavioral toxicity and neurotoxic mechanisms of PLA-PBAT biodegradable microplastics in zebrafish

Escalation of ecological concern due to biodegradable plastics has attracted the attention of many contemporary researchers. This study searched to investigate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutyleneadipate-co-terephthalate (PLA-PBAT) bio-microplastics on 3-month-old zebrafish to elucidate their potential toxic mechanisms. Acute toxicity assessments revealed 96 h-LC50 value of 12.69 mg/L for PLA-PBAT. Sub-chronic exposure of over 21 days revealed deviations in critical behavioral patterns and physiological indicators. In treated groups, weight gain and specific growth rates were significantly lower than those obtained for the control group, such that high doses induced significant reductions in total organ coefficient (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between zebrafish mortality and increased doses. Detailed behavioral evaluations revealed a dose-dependent decrease in the speed and range of swimming, along with modifications in shoaling behavior, anxiety-like responses, and avoidance behaviors. Brain tissues transcriptomic analyses revealed the molecular responses underlying sub-chronic exposure to PLA-PBAT. Totally 702 DEGs and 5 KEGG pathways were significantly identified in low-dose group, with the top 2 significant pathways being ribosome pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. Totally 650 DEGs and 5 KEGG pathways were significantly identified in medium-dose group, with the top 2 significant pathways being Herpes simplex virus 1 infection pathway and complement and coagulation cascades pathway. Totally 1778 DEGs and 16 KEGG pathways were significantly identified in high-dose group, with the top 2 significant pathways being metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 and drug metabolism - cytochrome P450 pathway. Most significantly enriched pathways are associated with immune responses. The validation of key gene in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway also confirmed its high correlation with behavioral indicators. These results indicate that PLA-PBAT is likely to cause behavioral abnormalities in zebrafish by triggering immune dysregulation in the brain.

Insights on the African Upper Mantle From Quasi‐Love Wave Scattering

AbstractThe African upper mantle is diverse, featuring several cratonic roots, active and magmatic continental rifting, abundant intra‐plate volcanism, and several oceanic hotspots offshore. Relatively small‐scale mantle convection processes, some possibly related to lithospheric thickness variations, have been proposed to account for patterns of volcanism and topography. A key constraint on such features and processes can be found via seismic anisotropy, but limited coverage of seismograph stations across the continent has resulted in sparse observations. Quasi‐Love waves, produced by scattering of Love to Rayleigh energy at lateral gradients in upper mantle seismic anisotropy, can provide information about seismic anisotropy well away from seismograph stations. We catalog 525 observations of Quasi‐Love waves across the region and back‐project to scattering points, revealing locations of lateral gradients in upper mantle seismic anisotropy. Quasi‐Love wave scattering occurs at craton edges, likely due to the contrast between lithospheric and asthenospheric anisotropy, and close to ancient orogenic belts, indicating changes in fossilized lithospheric anisotropy from past collisional events. Scattering surrounding the proposed Al‐Kufrah cratonic remnant in north‐east Africa supports its existence as cratonic lithosphere. Scattering also occurs below thin lithosphere, suggesting deviations in asthenospheric flow patterns (such as localized upwellings), notably beneath the East African Rift, oceanic hotspot tracks, and the Cameroon Volcanic Line. Quasi‐Love scattering is abundant in the Indian Ocean and beneath Madagascar, consistent with small‐scale dynamic processes in the asthenosphere that likely relate to the complex rifting history of this ocean basin and the dispersed micro‐continents within.

Stationary stable cross-correlation pattern and task specific deviations in unresponsive wakefulness syndrome as well as clinically healthy subjects.

Brain dynamics is highly non-stationary, permanently subject to ever-changing external conditions and continuously monitoring and adjusting internal control mechanisms. Finding stationary structures in this system, as has been done recently, is therefore of great importance for understanding fundamental dynamic trade relationships. Here we analyse electroencephalographic recordings (EEG) of 13 subjects with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) during rest and while being influenced by different acoustic stimuli. We compare the results with a control group under the same experimental conditions and with clinically healthy subjects during overnight sleep. The main objective of this study is to investigate whether a stationary correlation pattern is also present in the UWS group, and if so, to what extent this structure resembles the one found in healthy subjects. Furthermore, we extract transient dynamical features via specific deviations from the stationary interrelation pattern. We find that (i) the UWS group is more heterogeneous than the two groups of healthy subjects, (ii) also the EEGs of the UWS group contain a stationary cross-correlation pattern, although it is less pronounced and shows less similarity to that found for healthy subjects and (iii) deviations from the stationary pattern are notably larger for the UWS than for the two groups of healthy subjects. The results suggest that the nervous system of subjects with UWS receive external stimuli but show an overreaching reaction to them, which may disturb opportune information processing.

A Comparative Analysis of Surgical Outcomes for Infantile Esotropia With and Without Prior Botulinum Toxin A Injection.

To compare the surgical outcomes in patients who had a failed botulinum toxin A injection before surgery versus those who had surgery as primary treatment (primary surgery) for infantile esotropia. The files of patients who had strabismus surgery in the Strabismus Unit of Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital between January 2012 and March 2022 were reviewed. This study included 104 eyes of 52 patients with infantile esotropia. The angle of deviation before and 1, 3, and 6 months after botulinum toxin A injection or surgery, complications, pattern deviations, family history, abnormal head position, history of prematurity, intensive care unit admission, and consanguineous marriage were noted. A successful outcome was defined as ocular alignment of 10 prism diopters (PD) or less. The study population consisted of 52 patients: 27 (52%) boys and 25 (48%) girls. In the botulinum toxin A group (n = 26), the mean age at admission was 14.0 ± 6.8 months, whereas the mean preoperative near and far angle of deviation were 41.92 ± 12.2 and 41.3 ± 13.0 PD, respectively. The mean age at the time of surgery was 40.6 ± 18.1 months. In the primary surgery group (n = 26), the mean age at admission was 34.0 ± 15.9 months. The mean preoperative near and far angle of deviation were 37.3 ± 8.0 and 35.3 ± 10.5 PD, respectively. The mean age at the time of surgery was 48.1 ± 18.5 months. The success rates 6 months after treatment in the botulinum toxin A group and the primary surgery group were 76.9% and 88.5% in near (P > .05) and 80.8% and 88.5% in far (P > .05), respectively. Three patients had transient ptosis and one had consecutive exotropia after botulinum toxin A injection. In infantile esotropia treatment, strabismus surgery after failed botulinum toxin A injection compared to primary surgery has statistically comparable surgical success rates. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(4):245-251.].

Spatiotemporal patterns of throwing muscle synergies in yips-affected baseball players

“Yips” are involuntary movements that interfere with the automatic execution of sports movements. However, how the coordination among the various muscles necessary for sports movements is impaired in athletes with yips remains to be fully understood. This study aimed to assess whether muscle synergy analysis through non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) could identify impaired spatiotemporal muscle coordination in baseball players with throwing yips. Twenty-two college baseball players, including 12 with and 10 without yips symptoms participated in the study. Electromyographic activity was recorded from 13 ipsilateral upper extremity muscles during full-effort throwing. Muscle synergies were extracted through NMF. Cluster analysis was conducted to identify any common spatiotemporal patterns of muscle synergies in players with yips. Whether individual players with yips showed deviations in spatiotemporal patterns of muscle synergies compared with control players was also investigated. Four muscle synergies were extracted for each player, but none were specific to the yips group. However, a more detailed analysis of individual players revealed that two of the three players who presented dystonic symptoms during the experiment exhibited specific patterns that differed from those in control players. By contrast, each player whose symptoms were not reproduced during the experiment presented spatiotemporal patterns of muscle synergies similar to those of the control group. The results of this study indicate no common spatiotemporal pattern of muscle synergies specific to the yips group. Furthermore, these results suggest that the spatiotemporal pattern of muscle synergies in baseball throwing motion is not impaired in situations where symptoms are not reproduced even if the players have yips symptoms. However, muscle synergy analysis can identify the characteristics of muscle coordination of players who exhibit dystonic movements. These findings can be useful in developing personalized therapeutic strategies based on individual characteristics of yips symptoms.

Comparison of Foot Kinematics Between Normal Arch and Flexible Flatfoot Using the Oxford Foot Model: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Symptomatic flexible flatfoot causes alterations in gait, but exactly how this condition affects the intersegmental motion of the foot during the gait cycle remains unclear. Previous studies have examined the kinematics, yielding inconsistent findings. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate how flexible flatfoot deformity, defined as Johnson and Strom classification staging II, affects the intersegmental motion of the foot during fast walking based on a comparison with the matched control group. Eleven participants with symptomatic flexible flatfoot and 11 healthy matched control participants were recruited using a foot screening protocol incorporated through a foot physical examinations and radiographic measurements. All demographic characteristics exhibited comparable profiles between the groups. During controlled walking, kinematic outcomes pertaining to the hallux, hindfoot, forefoot, and tibia were collected using the multisegmental Oxford Foot Model. All spatiotemporal parameters were comparable between the groups. In comparison to the control group, individuals with symptomatic flexible flatfoot demonstrated increased hallux valgus and plantarflexion, increased forefoot abduction, heightened hindfoot eversion, and internal rotation. Notably, no significant major differences were observed in the tibia motion segment. Further, significant correlations were identified between static foot measurements and the extent of the maximum deviation observed during dynamic kinematic assessments. Compared with age- and gender-matched controls, participants with symptomatic flexible flatfoot exhibited significant gait pattern deviations. A significant correlation also exists between static foot deformity measurements and dynamic kinematic deviations. Collectively, these findings have implications for developing targeted therapeutic interventions to address flexible flatfoot. Level III, diagnostic study.

Analyzing the impact of fare-free public transport policies on crowding patterns at stations using crowdsensing data

Fully or partially fare-free public transport (FFPT) is a measure to make public transport (PT) more attractive and affordable. Cities worldwide are experimenting with a variety of fare discount policies, which will lead to spatiotemporal changes in mobility patterns, including crowding in PT stations. However, the response of PT stations to these policies can vary due to the heterogeneity in their surrounding built environment and other factors. Non-conventional data sources could be used to better model and understand these spatiotemporal dynamics. In this study, we propose a three-step methodological framework to understand the impact of FFPT or extreme fare discount interventions on PT demand patterns, specifically focusing on crowding patterns in PT stations, using crowdsensing data. First, we design a busyness-based similarity measure that leverages the histogram method to capture changes in crowding patterns. Then, we employ a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to cluster PT stations based on their crowding pattern deviations at different stages of policy implementation. This clustering step enables the identification of distinct station types based on their response to the policy. Finally, we train a LightGBM model to learn the relationship between crowding pattern changes and the spatial–temporal characteristics of PT stations, using the busyness-based station types identified by GMM as labels. We apply our methodology to a public transport experiment in Germany during the summer of 2022 when the country introduced a monthly “9-EUR” ticket valid on local and regional PT nationwide. The clustering results show three station types: unaffected, mildly stimulated, and intensely stimulated stations. Furthermore, the classifier indicates that the station’s location, activity options near the station, and population within the adjacent area of the station, and the crowding patterns under normal operations (before policy implementation) play a significant role in the heterogeneity of the 9-EUR ticket’s impact. The insights gained from our study can help planners better understand and manage the crowding at PT stations during fare interventions.

A Radar-Based Opioid Overdose Detection Device for Public Restrooms: Design, Development, and Evaluation Study.

The opioid epidemic is a growing crisis worldwide. While many interventions have been put in place to try to protect people from opioid overdoses, they typically rely on the person to take initiative in protecting themselves, requiring forethought, preparation, and action. Respiratory depression or arrest is the mechanism by which opioid overdoses become fatal, but it can be reversed with the timely administration of naloxone. In this study, we described the development and validation of an opioid overdose detection radar (ODR), specifically designed for use in public restroom stalls. In-laboratory testing was conducted to validate the noncontact, privacy-preserving device against a respiration belt and to determine the accuracy and reliability of the device. We used an ODR system with a high-frequency pulsed coherent radar sensor and a Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pi Ltd), combining advanced technology with a compact and cost-effective setup to monitor respiration and detect opioid overdoses. To determine the optimal position for the ODR within the confined space of a restroom stall, iterative testing was conducted, considering the radar's bounded capture area and the limitations imposed by the stall's dimensions and layout. By adjusting the orientation of the ODR, we were able to identify the most effective placement where the device reliably tracked respiration in a number of expected positions. Experiments used a mock restroom stall setup that adhered to building code regulations, creating a controlled environment while maintaining the authenticity of a public restroom stall. By simulating different body positions commonly associated with opioid overdoses, the ODR's ability to accurately track respiration in various scenarios was assessed. To determine the accuracy of the ODR, testing was performed using a respiration belt as a reference. The radar measurements were compared with those obtained from the belt in experiments where participants were seated upright and slumped over. The results demonstrated favorable agreement between the radar and belt measurements, with an overall mean error in respiration cycle duration of 0.0072 (SD 0.54) seconds for all recorded respiration cycles (N=204). During the simulated overdose experiments where participants were slumped over, the ODR successfully tracked respiration with a mean period difference of 0.0091 (SD 0.62) seconds compared with the reference data. The findings suggest that the ODR has the potential to detect significant deviations in respiration patterns that may indicate an opioid overdose event. The success of the ODR in these experiments indicates the device should be further developed and implemented to enhance safety and emergency response measures in public restrooms. However, additional validation is required for unhealthy opioid-influenced respiratory patterns to guarantee the ODR's effectiveness in real-world overdose situations.

Sleep Variability, Sleep Irregularity, and Nighttime Blood Pressure Dipping.

Circadian rhythm regulates many important biological functions in humans. The goal of this study is to explore the impact of day-to-day deviations in the sleep-wake cycle on nighttime blood pressure (BP) dipping and further examine whether the ethnic difference in day-to-day deviations in sleep patterns can explain the ethnic difference in nighttime BP dipping. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and 7-day accelerometer data were obtained from 365 adult participants (age range, 18.7-50.1 years; 52.6% Black participants and 47.3% European Americans; 64.1% females). Systolic BP dipping level was used to represent nighttime BP dipping. The SD of sleep duration was calculated as the index of sleep variability, and the SD of sleep midpoint was calculated as the index of sleep irregularity. A 1-hour increase in the SD of sleep midpoint was associated with a 1.16% decrease in nighttime BP dipping (P<0.001). A 1-hour increase in the SD of sleep duration was associated with a 1.39% decrease in nighttime BP dipping (P=0.017). The ethnic difference in the SD of sleep midpoint can explain 29.2% of the ethnicity difference in BP dipping (P=0.008). Sleep variability and sleep irregularity are associated with blunted BP dipping in the general population. In addition, data from the present investigation also demonstrate that the ethnic difference in sleep irregularity could partly explain the ethnic difference in BP dipping, an important finding that may help reduce the health disparity between Black participants and European Americans.