Motor Components Research Articles

Dropping Objects in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Clinical and Electrophysiological Features.

Background Dysfunction in both afferent sensory and efferent motor components of the median nerve may contribute to the manifestation of the symptom of dropping objects (DO) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of CTS patients with dropping objects (wDO) and those without dropping objects (w/oDO). The study evaluated the correlation between DO symptoms and median partial conduction block, as well as the reduction in median motor conduction velocity at the wrist. Methodology An examination for CTSand the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) were performed. Median and ulnar sensory and motor nerve conduction studies were conducted in both upper extremities, and the percentage decrease in the median compound motor action potential amplitude at the wrist level was calculated. Results The study included 201 female participants aged between 22 and 88 years, comprising 57 patients withCTSwDO, 78 patients with CTSw/oDO, and 66 healthy controls. In the CTSwDO group, compared to the CTSw/oDO group, BCTQscores were significantly higher, the prevalence of sensory deficits was more pronounced, and a larger number of hands, both dominant and non-dominant, were classified as stage 3 or higher in the clinical CTS classification. However, no correlation was found between the presence of DO symptoms and any neurophysiological findings. Conclusions DO may be a symptom of clinical severity in CTS, as previously reported.No neurophysiological parameter that could be associated with DO was identified.

Fire detection and suppression in gas-plants using automatic sensors among electrical/electronic technology education graduates in Nigeria

Software systems such as Proteus, Matlab, and an Arduino Uno programming software system, comprising an Infra-red flame sensor, a 5v Motor and other components like Buzzer, relay, light emitting diode, transistor, resistor and capacitors, were used in order to detect smoke, flame or fire and suppress it in a laboratory. The methodology of the system's design, as well as the operation of the system, were schematically highlighted. The control measures and maintenance strategies to be deployed for the smooth functioning of the system design were also discussed, wherever they are used. Solutions to checkmate fire disasters were proffered. The workings of the system are that when the sensor registers or turns zero (0), it means that there is no fire, flame or smoke to suppress, while when it turns to one (1), it indicates that there is smoke or fire to suppress. The process recorded 95% success.

Tablet-based Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure copy task: a novel application to assess spatial, procedural, and kinematic aspects of drawing in children

The paper-and-pencil Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) copy task has been extensively used to assess visuo-constructional skills in children and adults. The scoring systems utilized in clinical practice provide an integrated evaluation of the drawing process, without differentiating between its visuo-constructional, organizational, and motor components. Here, a tablet-based ROCF copy task capable of providing a quantitative assessment of the drawing process, differentiating between visuo-constructional, organizational, and motor skills, is trialed in 94 healthy children, between 7 and 11 years of age. Through previously validated algorithms, 12 indices of performance in the ROCF copy task were obtained for each child. Principal component analysis of the 12 indices identified spatial, procedural, and kinematic components as distinct dimensions of the drawing process. A composite score for each dimension was determined, and correlation analysis between composite scores and conventional paper-and-pencil measures of visuo-constructional, procedural, and motor skills performed. The results obtained confirmed that the constructional, organizational, and motor dimensions underlie complex figure drawing in children; and that each dimension can be measured by a unique composite score. In addition, the composite scores here obtained from children were compared with previsions results from adults, offering a novel insight into how the interplay between the three dimensions of drawing evolves with age.

A Survey of ECT Anesthesia Practice Variation in Finland.

This study examines the extent of variation in anesthesia practices among Finnish neuromodulation units providing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and investigates recent changes within individual units. An electronic survey was carried out among Finnish neuromodulation units exploring staff demographics, anesthesia practices (including agents and adjuvants), patient physiology monitoring, observed adverse effects, patient follow-up times, and recent anesthesia protocol changes. Finland has 26 neuromodulation units providing ECT, of which 18 (69%) responded to our study. The research uncovered significant differences in anesthesia practices, including induction agent choice, convulsion motor component monitoring, staff educational backgrounds, and reported adverse effects. Propofol was the most commonly used anesthetic in 14 units (78%). Three units (17%) reported using methohexital in 80%-100% of their patients, whereas in contrast, methohexital was not used at all in 10 units (56%). Electromyography seizure activity was quantitatively measured in 6 units (33%), whereas 10 units (56%) did not measure electromyography seizure activity at all. The remaining 2 units assessed seizure activity through visual observation. Headache requiring medication was the most commonly reported adverse effect, and it was reported as a frequent problem in 3 units (18%). Based on the variation in anesthesia practices identified in the study, we suggest there may be benefits to developing a national guideline for standardizing treatment.

Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the inner speech, with emphasis on the role of incorporating clinical data.

Neuroscience has largely conceptualized inner speech, sometimes called covert speech, as being a part of the language system, namely, a precursor to overt speech and/or speech without the motor component (impoverished motor speech). Yet interdisciplinary work has strongly suggested that inner speech is multidimensional and situated within the language system as well as in more domain general systems. By leveraging evidence from philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience and cognitive science, we argue that neuroscience can gain a more comprehensive understanding of inner speech processes. We will summarize the existing knowledge on the traditional approach to understanding the neuroscience of inner speech, which is squarely through the language system, before discussing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the cognitive, linguistic and neural substrates/mechanisms that may be involved in inner speech. Given our own interests in inner speech after brain injury, we finish by discussing the theoretical and clinical benefits of researching inner speech in aphasia through an interdisciplinary lens.

Association of Urinary Incontinence with Sensory-Motor Performance in Women with Multiple Sclerosis.

The relationship between somatosensory and motor components of urinary incontinence in individuals with MS has not been extensively addressed. The study was aimed at investigating the association of urinary incontinence severity with motor and sensory performance in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). A cross-sectional single-center prospective study was conducted in 337 women with MS. The severity of MS symptoms was assessed using the SymptoMScreen questionnaire. The urinary incontinence status of the participants was evaluated using the Urinary Incontinence Inventory (UDI-6) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). Physical performance was considered with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the 5-Times Sit-to-Stand (5TSTS) test. In addition, the sensory performance of the individuals with MS was queried using the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) and Sensory Sensitivity Scale (SeSS). The UDI-6 (r=0.685, p<0.05) and IIQ-7 (r=0.759, p<0.05) correlated highly with SymptoMScreen. Among the physical performance measures, TUG (r=0.012, p<0.05) and 5TSTS (r=0.096, p<0.05) were weakly associated with UDI-6, but not statistically significantly. Similarly, there was a low correlation between IIQ-7 and TUG (r=-0.005, p<0.05) and 5TSTS (r=0.068, p<0.05). UDI-6 (0.360, p<0.05) and IIQ-7 (0.378, p<0.05) correlated moderately with SASS. On the other hand, SeSS had a low correlation coefficient with UDI-6 (0.305, p<0.05) and IIQ-7 (0.272, p<0.05). The results revealed that sensory performance was more associated with urinary incontinence in women with MS than physical performance. The urinary incontinence severity was also related to MS symptoms (bladder control, walking, spasticity, stiffness cognitive function). Future studies should consider the potential impact of sensory performance on urinary incontinence and focus on explaining the mechanism behind this relationship.

White matter microstructure alterations of the posterior limb of internal capsule in first-episode drug naive schizophrenia patients

ObjectivesPrevious studies have shown that microstructural alterations in white matter (WM) could contribute to the symptom manifestation and support the dysconnectivity hypothesis in schizophrenia patients. These alterations were pervasive, non-specific, and reported inconsistently across the literature. This study aimed to specifically investigate the microstructure alterations of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) in first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia patients. Utilizing a multicompartmental biophysical model, we further explored the correlation between these alterations and syndrome scale scores. MethodsThirty-two individuals with first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenia (FES) and thirty demographically matched healthy controls were enrolled. High-resolution multi-shell diffusion MRI data were collected, followed by the application of a three-compartment Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model to scrutinize the alterations in white matter microstructure. Changes in sensory and motor fibers within the PLIC were specifically focused on. Additionally, the correlation between these pathological changes and scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was investigated. ResultsThe Neurite density index (NDI) in the left PLIC was significantly lower in FES patients compared to healthy individuals, and positively correlated with PANSS positive syndrome scores (r = 0.0379, p = 0.046). In the sensory component (left superior thalamic radiation within PLIC, STR_P), the NDI was significantly elevated (p < 0.0001). Conversely, the NDI in the motor component (left corticospinal tract within PLIC, CST_P) was reduced (p = 0.007) in FES patients compared to healthy individuals, and strongly correlated with PANSS positive syndrome scores (p < 0.020) and PANSS total scores (p < 0.045). Moreover, the NDI deviation of STR from total PLIC (fSTR_P) and NDI deviation in STR_P and CST_P compared to PLIC region (fPLIC) were significantly higher in FES patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.00001), with an area under the curve (AUC) of fPLIC reaching 0.872. ConclusionThe study’s findings provided new insights into the discrepancy of white matter microstructure changes associated with the sensory and motor fibers in the PLIC region in FES patients. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting that WM microstructural alterations play a critical role in schizophrenia pathophysiology.

A rare presentation of cubital tunnel syndrome by accessory anconeus muscle

Cubital tunnel syndrome (Cu TS) is the second most frequent upper extremity compressive neuropathy after carpal tunnel syndrome. Cu TS is idiopathic; however, it has been linked to ulnar nerve vulnerability and anconeus epitrochlearis (AE) muscle hypertrophy. Although there are few studies in the literature that reveal AE muscle as one of the causes of Cu TS, its prevalence is low. The goal of this case report is to raise awareness regarding the existence of AE muscle as a potential cause of Cu TS, as well as the imaging findings of Cu TS in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 17-year-old male patient complained of intermittent pain in the medial aspect of the left elbow and paresthesia in the left hand. Examination revealed hyperextension of meta carpalphalangeal joints and flexion of proximal interphalangeal joints of the 4th and 5th digits, besides the sensory deficit along the ulnar border of the 5th digit. A nerve conduction study revealed non-stimulable sensory and motor components of the right ulnar nerve. MRI with T1-weighted fast spin echo, Fat sat proton density-weighted, and gradient echo T2*-weighted sequence showed AE - on the posteromedial aspect of the elbow. The ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel appeared thickened and edematous with bright perineural fat signals with maintained fascicular architecture, secondary to compression by the anconeus muscle. This paper reviews imaging findings of ulnar neuropathy secondary to accessory anconeus muscle and explains the importance of MRI imaging for accurate diagnosis. Knowing MRI imaging is vital in the modern imaging era for accurate diagnosis.

Methodology for the Detection of Contamination and Gradual Outer Race Faults in Bearings by Fusion of Statistical Vibration–Current Features and SVM Classifier

Bearings are one of the main components of induction motors, machines widely employed in today’s industries, making their monitoring a primordial task; however, most systems focus on measuring one physical magnitude to detect one kind of fault at a time. This research tackles the combination of two common faults, grease contamination and outer race damage, as lubricant contamination significantly impacts the life of the bearing and the emergence of other defects; as a contribution, this paper proposes a methodology for the diagnosis of this combination of faults based on a proprietary data acquisition system measuring vibration and current signals, from which time domain statistical and fractal features are computed and then fused using LDA for dimensionality reduction, ending with an SVM model for classification, achieving 97.1% accuracy, correctly diagnosing the combination of the contamination with different severities of the outer race damage, improving the classification results achieved when using vibration and current signals individually by 7.8% and 27.2%, respectively.

A tensor decomposition reveals ageing-induced differences in muscle and grip-load force couplings during object lifting

Do motor patterns of object lifting movements change as a result of ageing? Here we propose a methodology for the characterization of these motor patterns across individuals of different age groups. Specifically, we employ a bimanual grasp-lift-replace protocol with younger and older adults and combine measurements of muscle activity with grip and load forces to provide a window into the motor strategies supporting effective object lifts. We introduce a tensor decomposition to identify patterns of muscle activity and grip-load force ratios while also characterizing their temporal profiles and relative activation across object weights and participants of different age groups. We then probe age-induced changes in these components. A classification analysis reveals three motor components that are differentially recruited between the two age groups. Linear regression analyses further show that advanced age and poorer manual dexterity can be predicted by the coupled activation of forearm and hand muscles which is associated with high levels of grip force. Our findings suggest that ageing may induce stronger muscle couplings in distal aspects of the upper limbs, and a less economic grasping strategy to overcome age-related decline in manual dexterity.

Evaluating the clinical impact of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in patients with blunt trauma with hemorrhagic shock and coexisting traumatic brain injuries: a retrospective cohort study.

The impact of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) on traumatic brain injuries remains uncertain, with potential outcomes ranging from neuroprotection to exacerbation of the injury. The study aimed to evaluate consciousness recovery in patients with blunt trauma with shock and traumatic brain injuries. Data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program from 2017-2019. During the study period, 3,138,896 trauma registries were examined, and 16,016 adult patients with blunt trauma, shock, and traumatic brain injuries were included. Among these, 172 (1.1%) underwent REBOA. Comparisons were conducted between patients with and without REBOA after implementing 1:3 propensity score matching to mitigate disparities. The primary outcome was the highest Glasgow Coma Scale score during admission. The secondary outcomes encompassed the volume of blood transfusion, the necessity for hemostatic interventions and therapeutic neurosurgery, and mortality rate. Through well-balanced propensity score matching, a notable difference in mortality rate was observed, with 59.7% in the REBOA group and 48.7% in the non-REBOA group (P=0.015). In the REBOA group, the median 4-hour red blood cell transfusion was significantly higher (2800 mL [1500, 4908] vs. 1300 mL [600, 2500], P<0.001). The REBOA group required lesser hemorrhagic control surgeries (31.8% vs. 47.7%, P<0.001) but needed more transarterial embolization interventions (22.2% vs 15.9%, P=0.076). The incidence of therapeutic neurosurgery was 5.1% in the REBOA group and 8.7% in the non-REBOA group (P=0.168). Among survivors in the REBOA group, the median highest Glasgow Coma Scale score during admission was significantly greater for both total (11 [8, 14] vs. 9 [6, 12], P=0.036) and motor components (6 [4, 6] vs. 5 [3, 6], P=0.037). The highest GCS score among the survivors with predominant pelvic injuries was not different between the two groups (11 [8, 13] vs. 11 [7, 14], P=0.750). Patients experiencing shock and traumatic brain injury have high mortality rates, necessitating swift resuscitation and prompt hemorrhagic control. The use of REBOA as an adjunct for bridging definitive hemorrhagic control may correlate with enhanced consciousness recovery.

Conjunction as a cohesive device in the disturbed discourse of people with aphasia

Aphasia is a speech disorder that signifi cantly affects the social functioning of people who have suffered a stroke. Although there is an increase in linguistic research on discourse, there is also an observable shortage of studies concerning cohesion and coherence in mixed aphasia in the Polish context. One of the determinants of cohesion is the conjunction, which was analysed in the utterances in the presented research. Among other things, a more frequent use of conjunctions was observed in the control group, and, by contrast, conjunctions were the rarest in those with mixed aphasia with a motor component. The study showed that patients with mixed aphasia with a sensory component used more conjunctions indicating purpose and cause-and-effect reltionship, which may indicate attempts to form subordinate sentences and a desire to continue speaking. Research indicates the need to enrich therapeutic activities in exercises that develop the skill of using conjuncƟ ons properly in utt erances.

Intertrochanteric femoral fracture with lateral wall fracture at the lag screw insertion site may cause postoperative anterior wall fracture and lead to deterioration in activities of daily living

BackgroundIncomplete reduction and fixation of intertrochanteric femoral fractures significantly affect patients' daily activities. The lateral wall's integrity is pivotal in such fractures. This study examines instability, particularly lateral wall fractures at the lag screw insertion site and postoperative anterior wall fractures. MethodsOverall, 161 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures were included. Three-dimensional computed tomography was conducted preoperatively and 3 weeks postoperatively to determine the postoperative anterior wall fractures incidence. Patient background, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative telescoping, and daily living activities were compared. ResultsThe study recorded 51 cases of lateral wall fractures at the lag screw insertion site and 17 of postoperative fractures of the anterior wall. Postoperative fractures of the anterior wall were found in 3 of 110 and 14 of 51 patients in the group without and with the lag screw insertion site, respectively. The group of postoperative fractures of the anterior wall had significantly lower bone mineral density, longer operative time, and increased intraoperative blood loss. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the group of postoperative fractures of the anterior wall showed increased telescoping and decreased motor component of the functional independence measure (with postoperative fractures of the anterior wall: 28, without postoperative fractures of the anterior wall: 30), and significant reductions were observed in the transfer and locomotion items, indicating lower limb function (with postoperative fractures of the anterior wall group: 11, without postoperative fractures of the anterior wall group: 12). ConclusionsPostoperative anterior wall fractures occurred in 27.5% cases with lateral wall fractures at the lag screw insertion site. Three-dimensional computed tomography is useful for preoperative evaluation of lateral wall fractures at the lag screw insertion site to assess instability. Postoperative fractures of the anterior wall related reduction in daily living activities needs attention.

Gender characteristics of the manifestation of cognitive and sensorimotor functions in young basketball players aged 13-14

It is known that success in sports is associated with the ability to quickly and accurately perform a visual search, store a large number of objects in memory, and respond in a timely manner to changes in the situation. The range of data on cognitive-sensorimotor skills of young basketball players does not sufficiently highlight gender characteristics, the consideration of which in the process of mastery formation is an important factor in achieving success in elite sports. Purpose: to find out the gender characteristics of the cognitive-sensorimotor activity support of basketball players aged 13-14 in the annual training cycle. Material and methods: young basketball players aged 13-14 were studied. Studies of sensorimotor and cognitive development were conducted using automated programs. Slices of cognitive and sensorimotor data were carried out at two stages: at the beginning of the annual training cycle and at its end. Results: data on the manifestation of types of thinking in young basketball players of 13-14 years of age of different genders indicated unequal dominance, in boys the dominant type was logical thinking, regardless of the stage of the study, and in girls - operational thinking. At both stages of the study, basketball players showed a higher level of associative and operational thinking than boys, and basketball players had a higher level of logical thinking than girls. At the end of the study, girls were ahead of boys in terms of abstract thinking, but showed the same performance in spatial thinking. Differences in indicators of sensorimotor functions were obtained. Girls demonstrated higher accuracy of right PPO with the difference maintained throughout the training year. Over the course of the annual training cycle, the advantage of boys in the higher accuracy of PPO from the left-top and the advantage of girls in the speed of RV 1-3 at the exit of the object from the right disappeared. At the same time, the advantage of the boys in the speed of the PZMR for the exit of the object from the left-top and the RV 1-3 for the exit of the object from the left was preserved. Conclusions: different profiles of cognitive and sensorimotor development of 13-14-year-old basketball players of different genders during the annual training cycle were established. The group of basketball players was distinguished by an intensive increase in indicators of operational thinking, accuracy of PPO and РВ1-3 on the movement of the object on the right, speed of PZMR from above. The group of female basketball players was distinguished by an increase in the indicators of abstract and spatial thinking, as well as the accuracy of left, top and bottom PRO. According to the accuracy of response to moving objects, right-sided perceptual dominance was established in boys and left-sided - in girls. It was also established that 13-14-year-old basketball players demonstrated the superiority of the influence of the motor component on sensorimotor development and lower possibilities of influence of the cognitive component than girls, 13-14-year-old female basketball players had the advantage of the influence of the cognitive component on sensorimotor development and lower possibilities of the influence of the motor component than boys.

DIY Ventilator using Arduino

Abstract: This document shows the summaries of the several tests we have taken. Breathing occurs in the human lungs. Every time they inhale, they push a system that triggers motivation and the exhalation process. It is really reasonably priced. This can be used when a patient's vital condition is in jeopardy and they are suffering from the harmful consequences of lung or breathing problems. It usesa stepper motor component to propel the ambulance bag. Heartbeat levels are low during breathing, although this component can be. The levels of respiration and heartbeat are displayed on the LED screen. A ringer is included in the system to sound alert in the event that any anomalies related to a patient's critical condition or breathing problem are discovered. In addition, to prevent over- or under-air pressure, the ventilator should be able to track the patient's blood oxygen saturation level and exhale lung strain. The Arduino-powered ventilator that we are developing here satisfies all of these requirements, making it an affordable and dependable do-it-yourself ventilator that can be useful during a pandemic

Reducing Emotional Distress with Open-Label Placebos: Assessing the Role of Motor Engagement in Pill Consumption.

It has been posited that ingesting a pill constitutes a pivotal action that facilitates the effects of open-label placebos (OLPs: placebos honestly prescribed). In the present OLP experiment, the motor components of a placebo treatment were systematically varied. The participants (n = 183) were randomly allocated to one of four groups that all viewed aversive pictures. The 'active OLP' group took a placebo pill with specific instructions concerning the sequence of motor actions for the intake. The 'usual OLP' group swallowed the pill (without specific motor instructions), while the third group received an 'imaginary OLP' (no pill intake). The fourth group applied cognitive reappraisal (CR; active control group) to reduce emotional distress. The participants rated their affective state as well as the efficacy and plausibility of the treatment approach. Moreover, blood pressure and pulse were recorded as indicators of bodily arousal. The four groups did not differ in their valence ratings and physiological measures. The 'imaginary OLP' received higher ratings for both effectiveness and plausibility than the 'usual OLP'. CR was rated as superior relative to all OLP conditions. In conclusion, reducing emotional distress with OLPs does not necessitate the consumption of a placebo pill. In terms of acceptability and ease of implementation, CR stands as a well-established alternative.

Auditory rhythm facilitates perception and action in children at risk for developmental coordination disorder

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder featuring deficits in motor coordination and motor timing among children. Deficits in rhythmic tracking, including perceptually tracking and synchronizing action with auditory rhythms, have been studied in a wide range of motor disorders, providing a foundation for developing rehabilitation programs incorporating auditory rhythms. We tested whether DCD also features these auditory-motor deficits among 7–10 year-old children. In a speech recognition task with no overt motor component, modulating the speech rhythm interfered more with the performance of children at risk for DCD than typically developing (TD) children. A set of auditory-motor tapping tasks further showed that, although children at risk for DCD performed worse than TD children in general, the presence of an auditory rhythmic cue (isochronous metronome or music) facilitated the temporal consistency of tapping. Finally, accuracy in the recognition of rhythmically modulated speech and tapping consistency correlated with performance on the standardized motor assessment. Together, the results show auditory rhythmic regularity benefits auditory perception and auditory-motor coordination in children at risk for DCD. This provides a foundation for future clinical studies to develop evidence-based interventions involving auditory-motor rhythmic coordination for children with DCD.

A Realistic Method for Diagnosing Bearing Faults of Three-Phase Induction Motor using Advanced Support Vector Machine Algorithm

Bearings are one of the most crucial components of any induction motor. The faults or failure of bearings can lead to high maintenance and operational costs. To ensure the induction motor operates consistently, it is crucial to identify and diagnose bearing faults at an early stage. In this perspective, this manuscript presents a method based on least square support vector machine (LSSVM) to identify the bearing defects of an induction motor. The IM parameters, such as stator currents, input voltage, and rotor speed, were extracted using experimental setup at different loads and health conditions of bearing. Then these parameters were used to train and validate the LSSVM algorithm in MATLAB to diagnose the bearing defects. The proposed method provides 97.14% fault prediction accuracy with an RBF kernel.

Strobe training as a visual training method that improves performance in climbing.

Strobe training is a form of visual training where the athlete has to practice during intermittently dark conditions. Strobe training improves visual, perceptual, and cognitive skills, which will enhance athletic performance. Strobe training can influence multiple training components in climbing: psychological, tactical, physical, and technical training. The study was conducted on 17 elite climbers from Romania (10 male and 7 female), representing the entire National Youth Climbing Team. The research group was divided into a control group (n = 8) and an experimental group (n = 9). The used instruments were the Cognitrom battery (for cognitive skills, such as spatial skills and reactivity), the Witty SEM system (for motor-cognitive skills, such as cognitive agility, visual processing speed, and visual memory), and the International Rock Climbing Research Association (IRCRA) performance-related test battery for climbers (climbing-specific motor skills). The experimental group had 20 strobe training sessions, which took place during one calendar year, as an additional session to their climbing schedule done with their principal trainer. The strobe session was once a week, depending on the periodization of the macrocycle (preparatory, competitional, and transition periods). The control group and the experimental group had similar climbing training sessions during the 1-year macrocycle in terms of intensity and volume of their training. Strobe training improved on-sight performance (d = 0.38) and red-point performance (d = 0.36). Strobe training improved the majority of cognitive skills [all spatial skills (d = 1.27 for mental image transformation; d = 1.14 for spatial orientation; d = 1.59 for image generation) and simple reaction time (d = 0.99)]. Strobe training improved all motor-cognitive skills (d = 0.16 for visual memory; d = 1.96 for visual memory errors; d = 1.39 for visual processing speed; d = 1.94 for visual processing errors; d = 1.30 for cognitive agility). Strobe training improved many climbing-specific parameters (flexibility and upper body strength) (d = 0.44 and d = 0.47 for flexibility parameters; d = 0.50 to 0.73 for upper body strength parameters). Strobe training is an effective training method for enhancing performance that should be used on more experienced climbers. It acts more on spatial skills, rather than on reactivity skills, developing the visual-motor coordination system. Strobe training has greater effects on climbers aged below 16 years, as youth athletes rely more on visual input compared to adults. The improvement in climbing-specific variables was due to the additional climbing session done weekly. Strobe training acts more on the cognitive component of training than on the motor component of training in climbing.

Comparative study of a high‐speed permanent magnet motor when powered by different methods

AbstractThe authors present the multi‐physical field performances comparative research for a 30 kW, 30,000 r/min high‐speed permanent magnet motor (HSPMM) when the motor is powered by the sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) voltage inverter and sinusoidal voltage source, respectively. Firstly, electromagnetic performances including torque, voltage and current of the HSPMM with different driving methods are compared and analysed by the finite element method (FEM). Considering the effects of high operation frequency, power losses of the HSPMM with different driving methods under full‐load conditions are calculated and compared with the skin effect and the proximity effect considered for HSPMM winding copper loss estimation. Based on the above analysis, a prototype driven by the SPWM voltage inverter is manufactured, with its electromagnetic and thermal performances tested and verified. In addition, several influencing factors of the HSPMM rotor eddy current loss are studied, with their effects on the HSPMM under different driving methods further analysed and compared as well. A novel equivalent power supply method is proposed to effectively save the calculation time with a negligible error. Finally, in order to further improve the heat dissipation capacity of the HSPMM, a novel cooling method is intensively studied with its influencing factors further analysed. The cooling effect of the novel cooling method and the temperature of the motor components are verified and calculated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method.