Mobility Issues Research Articles

Justice in access to urban ecosystem services: A critical review of the literature

Ecosystem services are crucial for urban resilience, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development. Incorporating these services in urban environments involves various principles, partnerships, organizational strategies, and methodologies. A vast body of research exists on ecosystem services. However, there is a lack of studies that address equity concerns in access to urban ecosystem services. This paper critically reviews the literature to investigate the state of access to ecosystem services in urban areas. We use deductive content analysis for this purpose. We explore traditional concepts of justice and update them by examining the sources and types of ecosystem services in urban environments. We examine justice typology considering various social, environmental, infrastructural, ecological, and mobility issues. We also explore different justice dimensions, including distributional, procedural, recognitional, and restorative issues. Results showed a notable prioritization of green infrastructures (73%) over blue infrastructures (5%). Furthermore, there has been an apparent emphasis on cultural services (42%) and regulating services (25%) in offering recreational activities, fostering social integration, improving place-making capabilities, showcasing adaptability, and demonstrating resilience. An important finding is that most of the publications (87%) highlight that there is no justice in access to ecosystem services. Regarding typologies, we found that there has been more attention to environmental justice, and infrastructural, ecological, and mobility justice are underexplored. As for dimensions, more attention has been paid to distributional and recognitional justice at the cost of restorative justice. A key shortcoming is that cities in the Global South are not adequately represented in the literature, despite their significance for achieving sustainable urban development in the coming decades.

Abstract 2830: Intravital multiphoton microscopy of bone metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract Clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) represents 80% of renal neoplasms, with bone as a major site for distant spread (35-40% of patients). These secondary lesions cause a variety of skeletal-related complications, including pain, spinal cord compression, hypercalcemia, mobility issues and fractures, posing a significant negative impact on patient quality of life and survival. Furthermore, bone is well-known as a site of therapy resistance, which confers to patients treated with systemic therapies significantly worse time-to-treatment failure and progression-free and overall survival compared to those without bone metastases. Because of the complexity of the bone microenvironment and the paucity of suitable models, preclinical investigation of bone metastasis and therapy response is challenging. Preclinical models of bone metastasis that integrate tissue engineering and advanced imaging techniques can facilitate the study of the mechanism of tumor progression and therapy response. We recently developed a window model amenable to intravital multiphoton microscopy (MPM) to longitudinally monitor human ccRCC lesions in tissue engineered bone constructs (TEBCs) in immunodeficient mice. TEBCs were generated by functionalizing polymeric polycaprolactone scaffolds with bone morphogenetic protein 7. Human ccRCC lesions, after implantation into the bone cavity, were longitudinally monitored for growth and niche development, using multi-parameter recording of collagen/bone matrix (SHG), bone surface (THG), blood vessels/stromal phagocytes (fluorescent dextran), and tumor cells (GFP). However, this model lacked key components of the immune system (including B and T-cells), which are of major interest in the study of tumor progression and (immune) therapy response. Therefore, we developed a tissue-engineered preclinical model that incorporate species-specific interactions between cancer and bone stromal cells, and account for an intact immune system. To this purpose, we optimized TEBC formation in C57BL/6 fluorescent reporter mice (Sp7-mCherry, osteoblasts; Trap-td-Tomato, osteoclasts; GFP, immune cells, αSMA-RFP fibroblasts; and Flk1-GFP, blood vessels), coupled to detection by intravital or ex vivo multiphoton microscopy analysis, to monitor the evolution and fate of the TEBC. Interestingly, the bone marrow in the core of the TEBC was replaced by a desmoplastic tissue with features like the foreign body response, including foreign body giant cells, which was not present in immunodeficient mice. By applying dual color GFP/αSMA-RFP mice, which expressed red fluorescence in activated fibroblasts, we confirmed the fibrotic nature of this core. To avoid its formation, we generated scaffold-free ossicle, by direct implantation of BMP7 and VEGF in the subcutaneous tissue. To conclude, we established a protocol for generating ectopic ossicles in immunocompetent mice. Citation Format: Stefan Maksimovic, Nina Constanza Boscolo, Sergio Barrios, Antonios Mikos, Matthew T. Campbell, Eleonora Dondossola. Intravital multiphoton microscopy of bone metastatic renal cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2830.

Internal Migration in Nepal: Resilience to Departure and Host Area

The present study aims to explain the current situation of internal migration and resilience. It is based on secondary sources of information. Mixed method is used to depict the complex scenario of inter-regional migration. Internal migration is a common phenomenon in Nepalese social history. It is generally attributed to poverty, low income, scarce fertile land, lack of opportunity, disparity of population distribution and resources. The unnatural flow of population from hilly to Tarai and rural to urban areas is an issue of study. Migration creates an unprecedented challenge to modern society. The resilience of society either to the host area or the place of departure being painful. The issue of mobility of the people generates disparities of population distribution and resources. Due to uncontrolled movement of people either temporarily or permanently, balanced social and cultural issues are being destroyed and several complexities are emerging. Ancient migration pattern was guided by the scarcity of food and security. Current migration issues are governed by the luxuries of life. Over pressure of population in Tarai and urban areas and dearth of people in hilly region creates havoc in life of both the places.

Characteristics of Homebound and Patients with Disability Who Use Home-Based Primary Care in Korea: A Retrospective Study for 2018-2022.

(1) Background and Methods: This study evaluated characteristics of South Korean patients necessitating home-based primary care (HBPC) from 2018 to 2022, distinguishing between homebound individuals with chronic conditions and those with registered disabilities. (2) Result: Among 171 HBPC recipients, 56.1% were homebound, predominantly older with a median age of 81 years (interquartile range (IQR 68.5-86.0)), while 43.9% were disabled, generally younger with a median age of 39 years (IQR, 28-64). Activities of daily living were assessed, revealing a median score of 14 (IQR, 10-19), indicative of high care dependency. The most common conditions among homebound patients were dementia (27.1%) and physical mobility difficulties (21.9%), whereas mental disabilities (53.3%) and mobility issues (36.0%) prevailed in disabled patients. The primary HBPC needs for homebound patients included management of acute medical conditions (27.1%) and sores (17.7%). Conversely, regular health check-ups (46.7%) and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (26.7%) were prevalent among the disabled group. (3) Conclusion: Notably, over 90% of HBPC patients required assistance with daily activities, highlighting significant differences in the needs and characteristics between older, homebound individuals with multiple comorbidities and younger, disabled patients receiving medical aid. These insights emphasize the necessity to develop customized HBPC programs to adequately cater to the diverse patient needs within South Korea.

Effects of Telerehabilitation Combining Diaphragmatic Breathing Re-Education and Shoulder Stabilization Exercises on Neck Pain, Posture, and Function in Young Adult Men with Upper Crossed Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Forward head posture and rounded shoulder posture are common postural variants found in upper crossed syndrome, which can lead to limited neck mobility, respiratory problems, and other issues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of telerehabilitation, combining diaphragmatic breathing re-education and shoulder stabilization exercises, on young men with upper crossed syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic over 4 weeks. Methods: The study included 37 participants aged in their 20s and 30s who were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received diaphragmatic breathing re-education and shoulder stabilization exercises, while the control group only underwent shoulder stabilization exercises. Both groups were trained three times a week for four weeks using telerehabilitation. The comparison of within-group pre-post differences in the experimental and control groups was conducted using a paired t-test, while the effects of treatment were assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: After 4 weeks, both groups showed significant improvements in the pain pressure threshold of the upper trapezius, craniovertebral angle, round shoulder posture, shoulder tilt degree, neck disability index, and closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (all p < 0.05). The results showed a significant difference between the Time effect (p adj < 0.05/4) for both sides of PPT, CVA, and STD and both sides of RSP, NDI, and CKCUEST, and an interaction between the Time × Group effects (p adj < 0.05/4) for the Rt. PPT, CVA, and STD. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the telerehabilitation training group, which included diaphragmatic breathing re-education and shoulder stabilization exercises, was more effective in improving Rt. PPT, CVA, and STD in males with UCS.

Effectiveness of asfotase alfa for treatment of adults with hypophosphatasia: results from a global registry

BackgroundHypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited disease caused by deficient activity of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase. Many adults with HPP have a high burden of disease, experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, limited mobility, and dental issues, contributing to decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HPP may be treated with the enzyme replacement therapy asfotase alfa though real-world data in adults are limited. This analysis was conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness of asfotase alfa among adults in the Global HPP Registry.MethodsThe Global HPP Registry is an observational, prospective, multinational study. Adults ≥ 18 years of age were included in this analysis if they had serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity below the age- and sex-adjusted reference ranges, and/or ALPL variant(s), and received asfotase alfa for ≥ 6 months. Mobility was assessed with the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and patient-reported outcomes tools were used to assess pain (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form), quality of life (36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2 [SF-36v2]), and disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index) at multiple time points from baseline through Month 36. Data were collected as per usual standard of care; patients may not have contributed data at all time points.ResultsA total of 190 patients met the inclusion criteria. For patients with ≥ 1 follow-up measurement, the mean distance achieved on 6MWT increased from 404 m (range 60–632 m) at baseline (n = 31) to 484 m at Month 12 (range 240–739 m; n = 18) and remained above baseline through Month 36 (n = 7). Improvements in mean self-reported pain severity scores ranged from − 0.72 (95% CI: − 1.23, − 0.21; n = 38) to − 1.13 (95% CI: − 1.76, − 0.51; n = 26) and were observed at all time points. Improvements in the Physical Component Summary score of SF-36v2 were achieved by Month 6 and sustained throughout follow-up. There was a trend toward improvement in the Mental Component Summary score of SF-36v2 at most time points, with considerable fluctuations from Months 12 (n = 28) through 36 (n = 21). The most frequent adverse events were injection site reactions.ConclusionsAdults with HPP who received asfotase alfa for ≥ 6 months experienced improvements in mobility, physical function, and HRQoL, which were maintained over 3 years of follow-up.Registration: NCT02306720; EUPAS13514.

Assessing Job Accessibility and Sustainable Mobility among Low-income Groups in Penang, Malaysia

Sustainable mobility emerges as a more viable approach for addressing urban mobility challenges and enhancing overall quality of life. The primary cause of urban mobility issues may be attributed to the urban built environment, wherein various physical features such as buildings, public infrastructure, and transit systems have significantly contributed to the reliance on private vehicles. Hence, this study examines job accessibility and the background of mobility among the low-income groups who are the urban workers in Penang Island, Malaysia to determine the factor of this target group's dominant transport mode choice. Using the quantitative method, this study was conducted using a questionnaire with 306 respondents selected by stratified random sampling based upon a ratio to represent the low-income households in the northeast and southwest districts of Penang. The study revealed that individuals from low-income backgrounds exhibit a significant reliance on privately owned vehicles. Furthermore, individuals in question exhibit a preference for owning and utilising economically viable, temporally expedient modes of transportation that optimise spatial efficiency, such as motorbikes, for their daily commute to their place of employment. Policymakers may take into account the factors of affordability and punctuality when formulating a transport system that is characterised by both cost-effectiveness and efficiency, thereby addressing the mobility requirements of low-income groups.

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy European Patient Survey: Assessing Patient Reported Disease Burden and Preferences in Clinical Trial Participation.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness leading to permanent disability. There are no curative treatments, however, there are several upcoming clinical trials testing new therapies in FSHD. This study aimed to explore the disease burden and patient preferences of people with FSHD to ensure that clinical trials can be designed to include outcome measures that are relevant and important to patients. A survey was developed with a steering committee clinicians and physiotherapists with relevant experience in the disease, patient representatives, a registry expert and industry consultants. Themes of the survey included; participant demographics, disease progression and impact on function, factors encouraging or discouraging clinical trial participation, and positive outcomes of a clinical trial. 1147 participants responded to the online survey, representing 26 countries across Europe and a range of disease severities. The study highlighted the key symptoms causing concern for FSHD patients - muscle weakness and mobility issues - reflecting what participants want targeted for future therapies. The need for clear information and communication throughout clinical trials was emphasised. Factors most encouraging trial participation included access to new investigational therapies, access to trial results and benefits for the FSHD community. Factors most discouraging trial participation included travel related issues and fear of side effects. The results from this study identify the patient reported burden of FSHD and should provide researchers and industry with areas of therapeutic research that would be meaningful to patients, as well as supporting the development of patient centric outcome measures in clinical trials.

The Pathophysiology of Scoliosis Across the Spectrum of Human Physiological Systems

Scoliosis is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. It can lead to various health issues, affecting mobility, respiratory function, and overall quality of life. There are several types of scoliosis, including idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular, degenerative, and functional. The severity of scoliosis is measured by the degree of spinal curvature, typically expressed in degrees through a system known as the Cobb angle. Early detection and intervention are fundamental in managing scoliosis, as more severe forms may necessitate bracing or surgical intervention. Healthcare professionals must understand the different types of scoliosis and their unique characteristics to tailor appropriate treatment plans.Scoliosis can significantly impact various physiological systems, including the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, lymphatic, muscular, nervous, and respiratory systems. In the circulatory system, scoliosis can cause hemodynamic changes, impaired venous return, cardiac strain, and pulmonary complications. In the digestive system, scoliosis can lead to gastric displacement, impaired intra-abdominal pressure, gastroesophageal reflux, and nutritional implications. The endocrine system can be affected by scoliosis, leading to neuroendocrine dysregulation, growth hormone abnormalities, cortisol dysregulation, and impact on thyroid function. Scoliosis can also affect the integumentary system, leading to pressure ulcers, altered skin sensation, and hygiene challenges. In the lymphatic system, scoliosis can cause lymphatic obstruction, impaired immune response, altered inflammatory responses, fibrosis, and secondary lymphedema. Scoliosis can affect the muscular system, leading to muscle imbalance, myofascial pain, respiratory muscle weakness, and mobility issues. The nervous system can also be impacted by scoliosis, leading to neural compression, central nervous system impact, neurological dysfunction, and coordination challenges. In the respiratory system, scoliosis can cause thoracic deformities, reduced lung compliance, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, respiratory muscle weakness, increased work of breathing (WOB), and an increased risk of respiratory infections.Recognizing and addressing the interplay between scoliosis and these physiological systems is integral for healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to individuals with scoliosis.Current research on scoliosis has made progress in diagnostic tools and techniques, including the use of imaging methods like MRI and X-ray, wearable sensors, and 3D reconstruction techniques for better evaluation of spinal motion and function, along with treatment strategies like Schroth exercises and braces, and management measures for respiratory and circulatory problems. However, there are limitations to current studies, such as the heterogeneity of scoliosis, compartmentalized approaches, limited longitudinal studies, reliance on retrospective data, and the need for standardized measures and diagnostic criteria. Future research prospects include advancements in genetic research, biomechanics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, longitudinal studies, non-invasive treatments, and multidisciplinary collaborations among researchers, clinicians, and technologists.

Experience-based Modifications of the Bed Band ReAlised through Co-dEsign (EMBRACE)

BackgroundUpper body limitations are a common disability in neurological conditions including stroke and multiple sclerosis. Care of patients with upper body limitations while in bed involves positioning techniques to maximise...

Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique on Balance and Mobility in Chronic Stroke Patient

This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted impact of stroke, a cerebrovascular disorder, on individuals, emphasizing the physical, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of its aftermath. Stroke is a major global health concern, contributing significantly to mortality and disability. The immediate consequences involve neurological impairments such as paralysis, speech difficulties, and impaired vision, while the emotional toll includes coping with loss and adjusting to new realities. Long-term cognitive implications affect memory, attention, and executive function, adding complexity to the recovery journey. Communication challenges, physical limitations, and the risk of secondary complications are discussed, highlighting the importance of a continuum of care. The role of caregivers is explored, emphasizing the emotional, physical, and financial burdens they face. Technological innovations, such as virtual reality and robotics, are introduced as promising tools in stroke rehabilitation. The focus then shifts to balance and mobility issues in stroke survivors, particularly the impact of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation emerges as a dynamic and versatile therapeutic approach, offering promise for improved functional outcomes and enhanced quality of life in the evolving landscape of stroke care and rehabilitation. The review delves into the neurophysiological ballet of PNF, emphasizing neuromuscular stimulation, neuroplasticity, and motor learning. Clinical applications of PNF in orthopaedic, neurological, geriatric, and paediatric rehabilitation are discussed, highlighting its versatility.

Predicting COVID-19 cases in Belo Horizonte-Brazil taking into account mobility and vaccination issues.

The pandemic caused millions of deaths around the world and forced governments to take drastic measures to reduce the spread of Coronavirus. Understanding the impact of social distancing measures on urban mobility and the number of COVID-19 cases allows governments to change public policies according to the evolution of the pandemic and plan ahead. Given the increasing rates of vaccination worldwide, immunization data may also represent an important predictor of COVID-19 cases. This study investigates the impact of urban mobility and vaccination upon COVID-19 cases in Belo Horizonte, Brazil using Prophet and ARIMA models to predict future outcomes. The developed models generated projections fairly close to real numbers, and some inferences were drawn through experimentation. Brazil became the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic shortly after the first case was officially registered on February 25th, 2020. In response, several municipalities adopted lockdown (total or partial) measures to minimize the risk of new infections. Here, we propose prediction models which take into account mobility and vaccination data to predict new COVID-19 cases.

Spatial Variability of Selected Soil Chemical Parameters in Low-yielding Paddy Production Block in Mahaweli System H, Sri Lanka

Although water availability for paddy production in Mahaweli System H is abundant, paddy yield is lower in Nochchiyagama (278 km2), chosen for soil assessment. Paddy yield data were used to identify the low-yielding division using the area-weighted average. Twenty-five random locations were generated, and soil samples were collected for pH, soil conductivity (EC), salinity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) analysis. ArcGIS software was used to create spatial distribution maps and related geostatistical analyses for each parameter. Vector files were created with their associated properties, and thematic maps were generated using spatial interpolation techniques, such as universal kriging (UK), ordinary kriging (OK), and inverse distance weighted (IDW) methods of interpolation techniques to identify the best interpolation method for soil chemical parameters mapping. The entire Nochchiyagama land was observed to have a slightly acidic pH (5.6-5.9) range that may have affected rice crop growth due to nutrient mobility and uptake issues. The spatial interpolation evaluation suggests that at least two-thirds of the area observed for lower TDS levels (591-654 mg/L) is potentially unsafe paddy production. Elevated levels of EC (3.1-7.24 dS/m) along with TDS may lead to physiological drought due to interferences in ion uptake. In overall, spatial interpolation evaluation indicators suggest that the UK method was observed with a lower mean relative error (MRE) than the other two interpolations. However, EC distribution showed low MRE in both IDW and OK interpolation techniques. The IDW method was observed to have a lower RMSE (Root mean square error). The UK spatial interpolation performed better for TDS and salinity predictions than other methods. This study found consistent regional differences in low paddy yields in Mahaweli system H using the UK method for analyzing soil chemical parameters. &#x0D; Keywords: Electrical conductivity, Interpolation errors, Salinity, Spatial interpolation

Optimizing wearable motion tracking by assessing sagittal joint angle accuracy with minimal sensor use

Introduction&#x0D; Wearable motion tracking technology often focuses on reducing the number of sensors to simplify design and lower costs. Research has shown that single IMUs can reconstruct leg kinematics (Gholami et al., 2020; Hossain et al., 2022; Lim et al., 2020) and ground reaction forces (Jiang et al., 2020) effectively. Additionally, model-based methods have demonstrated the feasibility of using fewer gyroscopes to estimate stride length and motion range in healthy individuals and patients with coxarthritis (Salarian et al., 2013). In this study, we aim to assess the precision of sagittal joint angle estimations using strain sensors while minimizing sensor count.&#x0D; Methods&#x0D; We conducted a study with ten participants based on our previous work that involved collecting single-leg treadmill running data to monitor lower limb joint angles with piezoresistive strain sensors. Subjects ran on an instrumented treadmill at 8-10 km/h, wearing athletic pants embedded with nine strain sensors located on the hip, knee, and ankle. Optical motion capture provided reference kinematics. Our prior research achieved less than 1.5° error in the sagittal plane using a machine-learning approach. The current study explores the extent to which sensor reduction is possible without meaningful loss of accuracy. Three evaluation measures were used for assessment: Pearson correlation, dynamic time warping, and root-mean-squared error.&#x0D; Results&#x0D; The results from our correlation analysis will be used to develop a model that optimally balances between accuracy and minimizing the number of sensors. This has practical implications in sports science, where athletes could benefit from less intrusive and more comfortable performance monitoring, and in healthcare, for remote monitoring of patients with mobility issues.&#x0D; References&#x0D; Gholami, M., Napier, C., &amp; Menon, C. (2020). Estimating lower extremity running gait kinematics with a single accelerometer: A deep learning approach. Sensors, 20(10), Article 2939. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20102939&#x0D; Hossain, M. S., Bin, Dranetz, J., Choi, H., &amp; Guo, Z. (2022). DeepBBWAE-Net: A CNN-RNN based deep superlearner for estimating lower extremity sagittal plane joint kinematics using shoe-mounted IMU sensors in daily living. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 26(8), 3906-3917. https://doi.org/10.1109/jbhi.2022.3165383&#x0D; Jiang, X., Napier, C., Hannigan, B., Eng, J. J., &amp; Menon, C. (2020). Estimating vertical ground reaction force during walking using a single inertial sensor. Sensors, 20(15), Article 4345. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20154345&#x0D; Lim, H., Kim, B., &amp; Park, S. (2020). Prediction of lower limb kinetics and kinematics during walking by a single IMU on the lower back using machine learning. Sensors, 20(1), Article 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20010130&#x0D; Salarian, A., Burkhard, P. R., Vingerhoets, F. J. G., Jolles, B. M., &amp; Aminian, K. (2013). A novel approach to reducing number of sensing units for wearable gait analysis systems. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 60(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2012.2223465

PADRÃO OU IMPOSIÇÃO DE MOBILIDADE? O ACESSO DAS MULHERES AO VEÍCULO INDIVIDUAL E FATORES DE GÊNERO.

Women are the biggest users of public transportation in Brazil, considering data between 1977 and 2007; and this pattern is justified by several socioeconomic factors (Svab, 2016; Nanya et al. 2019). The study addresses gender and urban mobility issues by analyzing the barriers to women's access to private vehicles, taking into account income and the distribution of household expenses. This analysis takes into account transportation expenses, the average income of women by region and the cost of a vehicle. The results show that women with an average national income commit between nine and seventeen years to buying a popular vehicle. The commitment of income when a woman opts for individual modes of transportation is very representative within the budget, making it impossible for the use of cars or motorcycles to be an effective commuting option for a portion of women in the country.

Constructing Hierarchical CoGa2O4-S@NiCo-LDH Core-Shell Heterostructures with Crystalline/Amorphous/Crystalline Heterointerfaces for Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

The rational design and construction of composite electrodes are crucial for overcoming the issues of poor working stability and slow ionic electron mobility of a single component. Nevertheless, it is a big challenge to construct core-shell heterostructures with crystalline/amorphous/crystalline heterointerfaces in straightforward and efficient methods. Here, we have successfully converted a portion of crystalline CoGa2O4 into the amorphous phase by employing a facile sulfidation process (denoted as CoGa2O4-S), followed by anchoring crystalline NiCo-layered double hydroxide (denoted as NiCo-LDH) nanoarrays onto hexagonal plates and nucleation points of CoGa2O4-S, synthesizing dual-type hexagonal and flower-like 3D CoGa2O4-S@NiCo-LDH core-shell heterostructures with crystalline/amorphous/crystalline heterointerfaces on carbon cloth. Furthermore, we further adjust the Ni/Co ratio in LDH, achieving precise and controllable core-shell heterostructures. Benefiting from the abundant crystalline/amorphous/crystalline heterointerfaces and synergistic effect among various components, the CoGa2O4-S@Ni2Co1-LDH electrode exhibits a specific capacity of 247.8 mAh·g-1 at 1 A·g-1 and good rate performance. A CoGa2O4-S@Ni2Co1-LDH//AC flexible asymmetric supercapacitor provides an energy density of 58.2 Wh·kg-1 at a power density of 850 W·kg-1 and exhibits an impressive capacitance retention of 105.7% after 10,000 cycles at 10 A·g-1. Our research provides profound insights into the design of other similar core-shell heterostructures.

Detection of Fall Risk Behaviors in Patients with Severe Mobility Issues Using FMCW Radar: Sitting Up and Sitting on the Side of the Bed

This study aimed to detect fall risk behaviors using radar—a non-contact sensor—to prevent falling accidents, which are one of the most fatal problems faced by older adults. Hospitals and nursing homes often have patients who cannot move alone without caregivers. In this context, the process of a patient sitting up from a lying-down position shortly before standing up has been observed as a fall risk behavior. This study added movement information as a new characteristic feature to the range and velocity information used in conventional radarbased behavior recognition studies. Performance comparisons confirmed that the addition of movement information performs excellently in detecting risk situations. Furthermore, a bidirectional long short-term memory model was trained using a feature to predict risk situations. The model exhibited accuracy, recall, and precision rates of 93.84%, 88.57%, and 99.07%, respectively. Additionally, its performance in detecting fall risk behavior was verified by conducting experiments involving continuous behaviors.

Understanding the drivers of rural household scaling up of integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems. A systematic review and bibliometric analysis

This literature review focuses on the drivers of Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry Systems (ICLFS) adoption by small farmers. It has enabled us to identify current trends and analyze the various drivers of adoption and knowledge gaps. According to the PRISMA literature review protocol, 1,352 scientific publications have been selected and analyzed after a Scopus database search. Data analysis was carried out in two steps. A systematic review was performed with the metadata of scientific publications using the Biblioshiny package of R 4.3.1 software. Then, the 42 most relevant publications were used for a brief narrative synthesis. The results showed that between 2003 and 2023, publications were made in 587 different sources. 73% of publications were scientific articles. 91% of publications were written by an average of 05 co-authors. The effectiveness of Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry Systems (ICLFS) practices, the production of organic matter and the effects on farmers’ livelihoods are the research topics considered. Five categories of factors were identified to facilitate the adoption of ICLFS by small farmers: (i) farmer profile, (ii) farm characteristics, (iii) economic factors, (iv) institutional factors and (v) biophysical factors. Policy orientations are the most decisive of all the factors identified, followed by the establishment of extension systems and social networks between farmers. This paper makes three main recommendations. Firstly, it recommends the implementation of collaborative research frameworks between West African researchers and those from East Africa, Asia and South America, who have more experience in this area. In addition, this study suggests that future research on the adoption of ICLFS should take into account herd mobility issues in the adoption process. Finally, it suggests that ICLFS should be taken into account in development policies and implemented through action research projects, mostly in West Africa.

Use of QUIC for Mobile-Oriented Future Internet (Q-MOFI)

With the proliferation of mobile devices and various mobile services, ensuring smooth mobility for users has become a major challenge. The future internet is expected to be more mobile-friendly, with advancing technologies that will transform internet management in the coming decades. These technological advancements will help address mobility issues and provide a better internet experience for mobile devices and users. The transport layer plays a crucial role in the internet protocol suite by enabling communication between applications running on different servers. However, the widely used protocols, TCP and UDP, have several limitations, such as unreliability and slow performance due to three-way handshakes. To tackle these issues, Google introduced quick UDP internet connections (QUIC). QUIC aims to enhance latency, delay, and data transmission reliability. Q-MOFI, a future internet architecture focused on mobile devices and based on QUIC, strives to achieve these goals. Moreover, it enhances throughput by implementing multiplexing. Q-MOFI outperforms traditional UDP-based MOFI in terms of throughput gains, minimizing packet loss, and reducing binding operation latency, even when the number of hosts increases. The efficiency of this model has been validated through experimental testing.

THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMME FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC SPINAL PAIN: OUTCOMES WITH WORK STATUS AS THE PRIMARY FOCUS.

To assess the efficacy of the multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation programme for chronic spinal patients as to work status, physical functioning, pain intensity, health-related quality of life and the psychosocial domain. This is a retrospective, single-centre, observational cohort study. A total of 209 subjects (mean age 41.5 ± 11.4 years) with chronic spinal pain participated in the rehabilitation programme. Evaluations were conducted through standardized questionnaires at baseline and at the end of the rehabilitation programme. Patients were more likely to be at work. Sick leave and work VAS changed significantly. Patients in blue-collar jobs are less likely to return to work. Pain intensity, physical functioning, health-related quality of life and lumbar and cervical range of motion improved significantly. The multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation programme for chronic spinal patients improved the rate of return to work. In daily clinical practice, attention must be given to reducing mobility issues in daily life in order to get patients back to work. The occupational therapist should give patients with blue-collar jobs sufficient attention early in the programme in order to achieve a higher rate of return to work.