Body Movements Research Articles

Design and data analysis of a wearable basketball training posture measurement system based on multifunctional conjugated polymer composite materials

Conjugated materials in basketball training are specific polymers included in sportswear to record and analyze player motions, helping to improve skills and prevent injuries by offering an in-depth analysis of the biomechanics and movements of athletes during training sessions. These materials provide basketball players with lightweight, long-lasting, and versatile qualities, offering comfortable gear that precisely monitors movements, complementing their training requirements for enhanced performance and technique improvement. This article describes creating and examining a novel wearable basketball conditioning posture assessment system called DMAS4B (Dynamic Motion Analysis System for Basketball). The technology includes sophisticated computer vision algorithms (CVA-Kalman Fusion Algorithm), Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), and versatile, conjugated polymer composite materials. These materials, strategically positioned within specially developed sportswear, enable real-time tracking and evaluation of basketball player locations during training sessions. DMAS4B includes gathering detailed body movement data and focusing on essential basketball skills like shooting technique, dribbling stance, and defensive alignments. The collected data is delivered wirelessly to the MotionPro+ Basketball Analytics Software, a specialized platform for thorough analysis and visualization. The ability of IMUs, multifunctional conjugated polymer composites, and computer vision algorithms to work together to record and analyze basketball player movements precisely is demonstrated in this study. The system’s implementation seeks to connect traditional training methods with advanced technology, providing athletes and coaches instant and thorough feedback on posture accuracy, balance, and mastery of techniques. The comprehensive examination of data collected from DMAS4B offers a novel method to improve basketball training programs, enhance player performance, and reduce the likelihood of injuries. In addition, the flexible character of this technology provides a foundation for possible use in various sports, transforming customised training methods worldwide.

Aristotle’s Nature-Bound Theology in Metaphysics Λ

Abstract In Metaphysics Λ, Aristotle appeals to the prime mover: an unmoved mover that is the first moving cause of the world. Elsewhere, he calls the science concerned with the prime mover ‘theology’ (Meta. E.1, 1026a19). But what is the point of this science? On a common view, its purpose is to give an account of the prime mover itself, and especially to prove its existence. By contrast, I argue that Aristotle’s theology in Metaphysics Λ is ‘nature-bound’: it ultimately aims at explaining facts about the perceptible world, in particular the motion of heavenly bodies and the cycle of generation of perishable substances.

Breathing the Earth: Bodily Exploration of Relationality in Eco-rituals and Dances

This video article is on the body movement, bodily exploration to make relationality with earth. On the body movements in environmental activism, rituals, and dances this article focuses. In spring 2003, the author attended a penance and walking called Samboilbae. Ever since, Samboilbae has been revered as representative, bodily, non-violent resistance in Korea. It has been recognized as highly sincere quest for resilience in human beings with more-than-human world, This video article tries to tell the participants’ bodily efforts and exploration toward embodiment of ecosomatic relationality between body and earth. At the second case, an invented ritual & performance based on old custom Maehyang, this article tries to tell ecological relationality embodied through the immersive or embedded matter and bodies in earth. At the last case, an invented ritual & performance based on old custom, Gaetje, the participants’ dances, ritual behaviors and materials were focused on. Bodily exploration into the forest and ocean for reciprocity, sensing and being sensed between human selves and earth, this article tries to tell.

Numerical-analytical optimization of orientation algorithms on a spherical model of angular motion of a rigid body

The problem of numerical-analytical optimization of three algorithms for determining orientation quaternions due to refinement of coefficients in the structure of algorithms is considered. Of them, two algorithms use the orientation vector as an "intermediate parameter". The coefficients are refined on the basis of computer modeling and the minimization of the error of the accumulated computational drift using the analytical reference model of the spherical motion of a rigid body as a model rotational motion in a sequence of Krylov angles that change over time according to a linear law. For this, the test motion model is supplemented by modeling ideal information from the outputs of the angular velocity sensors in the form of quasi-coordinates using analytical formulas for the apparent rotation vector. It is shown that the accumulated error of computational drift on the proposed reference model of rotary motion has a linear law of growth with time for all algorithms under consideration. As a result of the numerical experiment, new values ​​of the coefficients in the structures of the algorithms were obtained, which minimize the error of the accumulated drift and improve the characteristics of the trend of this error. The carried out optimization leads to a decrease by an order of magnitude of the maximum error value and a change in the linearly growing nature of the dependence of the calculation drift error on time to an oscillatory one. The results of the computational experiment are given.

Human Daily Breathing Monitoring via Analysis of CSI Ratio Trajectories for WiFi Link Pairs on the I/Q Plane.

The measurement of human breathing is crucial for assessing the condition of the body. It opens up possibilities for various intelligent applications, like advanced medical monitoring and sleep analysis. Conventional approaches relying on wearable devices tend to be expensive and inconvenient for users. Recent research has shown that inexpensive WiFi devices commonly available in the market can be utilized effectively for non-contact breathing monitoring. WiFi-based breathing monitoring is highly sensitive to motion during the breathing process. This sensitivity arises because current methods primarily rely on extracting breathing signals from the amplitude and phase variations of WiFi Channel State Information (CSI) during breathing. However, these variations can be masked by body movements, leading to inaccurate counting of breathing cycles. To address this issue, we propose a method for extracting breathing signals based on the trajectories of two-chain CSI ratios on the I/Q plane. This method accurately monitors breathing by tracking and identifying the inflection points of the CSI ratio samples' trajectories on the I/Q plane throughout the breathing cycle. We propose a dispersion model to label and filter out CSI ratio samples representing significant motion interference, thereby enhancing the robustness of the breathing monitoring system. Furthermore, to obtain accurate breathing waveforms, we propose a method for fitting the trajectory curve of the CSI ratio samples. Based on the fitted curve, a breathing segment extraction algorithm is introduced, enabling precise breathing monitoring. Our experimental results demonstrate that this approach achieves minimal error and significantly enhances the accuracy of WiFi-based breathing monitoring.

Interoceptive Ability and Emotion Regulation in Mind-Body Interventions: An Integrative Review.

It is increasingly recognized that interoceptive ability, the capacity to detect, interpret, and consciously integrate signals related to the physiological condition of the body, is central to emotion experience and regulation. Interoceptive ability can be trained and improved through mind-body interventions. This article attempts to provide an integrative review of the link between interoceptive ability and emotion regulation in mind-body interventions. To this aim, (1) we address the constructs of interoceptive ability and mind-body interventions in relation to the double pathway of emotion regulation, and (2) we include a review of selected empirical and qualitative studies. These show that mindfulness meditation affects the brain-body axis through top-down processing, improving both interoceptive ability and emotion regulation. Interventions based on bottom-up processing through body movement and emotional expression are illustrated, but it is argued that they are still under-investigated. In light of the literature reviewed, we contend that interoceptive ability is a crucial aspect associated with the effects of mind-body interventions on emotion regulation. Additionally, we suggest that if studied through both quantitative and qualitative methods, interoceptive ability may serve as a general construct that allows a more integrated view of the polarities related to the spectrum of embodied experience: top-down and bottom-up emotion processing, observational and non-observational body awareness, conscious and unconscious level of interoception.

Developing an intelligent IoT-enabled wearable multimodal biosensing device and cloud-based digital dashboard for real-time and comprehensive health, physiological, emotional, and cognitive monitoring using multi-sensor fusion technologies

A variety of biosensors have been recently introduced as wearable devices to collect physiological data, with applications ranging from personalized medicine and point-of-care diagnostics to home and fitness monitoring, among others, garnering substantial interest. This interest has been fueled by the increasing demand for ubiquitous, continuous, and pervasive vital signs monitoring, coupled with advancements in biosensor technology and IoT-enabled capabilities. Existing research studies have only relied on a limited number of health- and physiological-related indicators (thus, do not offer a comprehensive health monitoring and assessment system) due to the technical difficulties to integrate multiple sensors. In fact, the issues of multimodality, heterogeneity, and complexity of data as well as the interoperability among sensors make it challenging to seamlessly integrate multiple sensors into one system. This study overcame these technical challenges by leveraging multi-sensor fusion capabilities to develop an intelligent, IoT-enabled wearable multi-modal biosensing device and cloud-based digital dashboard for real-time, comprehensive health, physiological, emotional, and cognitive monitoring. First, 18 different health- and physiological-related indicators were identified. Second, 14 different sensors were used to acquire the entire data for the 18 different indicators using a hardware sensing system designed using four ESP32 microcontroller boards integrated with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity by fusing the various data from the 14 different sensors. Third, the designed system was developed as a wearable device that can be installed on the hip as well as the right and left feet using 3D printed parts. Fourth, a web-based digital dashboard was created onan edge computing server that was hosted on a microprocessor to instantly publish the data, and a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to provide intuitive and real-time visualization of the various health-related indicators using the Django and JavaScript-based React.js web development frameworks. The accuracy of the developed IoT-enabled biosensing system was tested and validated by benchmarking and comparing the obtained results from the proposed system with those aquired from various commercially used sensors. The validation outcomes reflected that the proposed system achieved an accuracy of more than 90 % for most of the 18 considered indicators and an accuracy greater than 85 % for all indicators. This study adds to the body of knowledge by being the first research capable of reporting the following 18 indicators into a single biosensing system in real-time: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrooculogram (EOG), Electromyography (EMG), Photoplethysmography (PPG), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature (ST), skin humidity (SH), blood glucose level (BGL), blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation (SpO2), body weight pressure (BWP), body motion (BM), electrodermal activity (EDA), galvanic skin response (GSR), and skin conductance responses (SCR). The proposed system provides rich information on various vital signs and could be used for a wide window of applications, including monitoring and assessing health status; emotional and arousal status; mental and cognitive status; behavioral, physical, and attention status; and physiological status. The developed system is not specific to a particular industry but rather could be used for any sector of interest. This paper lays the ground to significant advancements in wearable sensor technology, data visualization techniques, and health monitoring practices.

Impact of Propofol Administered before Extubation on Respiratory Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aims/Background Perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) are common in pediatric anesthesia, especially in otolaryngology procedures. In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the impact of administering propofol before extubation on PRAEs in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Methods We enrolled children aged 3 to 8 years old, of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classes I to III, scheduled for tonsillectomy, and randomly divided them into propofol and control groups. The subjects in the propofol group received multiple small doses of propofol (0.5 mg/kg per dose, total 1-2 mg/kg) until the patient resumed regular spontaneous breathing and exhibited no bodily movements. The subjects in the control group received 0.15 mL/kg of saline. The primary outcome was the rate of PRAEs, such as laryngospasm, bronchospasm, breath-holding spell, severe coughing, desaturation, and airway obstruction, post-extubation. The secondary outcomes were the extubation time, pre-extubation Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration at extubation, incidence of postoperative agitation, time to consciousness, and Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) pain score in the recovery room. Results were reported with risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), as well as the p-values indicating statistical significance. Results A total of 239 patients were included, including 119 in the propofol group and 120 in the control group. Our findings indicated no significant difference in the rate of PRAEs between the two groups (5.9% vs 10.8%, RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.31, p = 0.17). However, the propofol group showed a notable decrease in moderate to severe coughs (13.4% vs 60.0%, RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.36, p < 0.001) and postoperative agitation (4.2% vs 60.8%, RR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.17, p < 0.001). Conclusion This trial demonstrated that while administering repeated small doses of propofol before extubation does not significantly reduce respiratory adverse events in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, it does significantly reduce the incidence of severe coughing, improving postoperative recovery and clinical outcomes. Moreover, propofol helps reduce postoperative agitation, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of postoperative care, and maintaining its valuable clinical role in postoperative management. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05769842).

TURKISH SIGN LANGUAGE EXPRESSIONS RECOGNITION USING DEEP LEARNING AND LANDMARK DATA

Sign language is a vital communication tool for hearing-impaired individuals to express their thoughts and emotions. Turkish Sign Language (TSL) is based on hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements. In this study, deep learning models were developed to recognize 41 commonly used TSL expressions. An original dataset was created using the Media Pipe Holistic framework to capture the 3D landmarks of hand, face, and body movements. The study trained and evaluated GRU, LSTM, and Bi-LSTM models, as well as hybrid architectures such as CNN+GRU, GRU+LSTM, and GRU+Bi-LSTM. In the training of the models, a hold-out validation method was used. 80% of the dataset was allocated for training and 20% for testing. Additionally, 20% of the training data was used for validation. Among Deep Learning models, the CNN+GRU hybrid model achieved the highest accuracy rate of 96.72%, outperforming similar studies in the literature. Our results demonstrate that deep learning techniques can effectively classify TSL expressions, with the CNN+GRU combination showing particularly high performance. Future work will focus on expanding the dataset and developing real-time recognition systems that incorporate both skeleton images and landmarks.

Terminological Features of Studying the Language of Choreography (Based on Irish Dance Terms)

Introduction. The article examines issues related to the difficulties of describing poorly ordered terminologies. Domestic terminologists traditionally include choreography terminology among such types. This terminological area provides unique material for research, since it combines verbal specialized knowledge, as well as graphic illustrative explanatory support to clarify and record the body movements of performers. In connection with the development of the anthropocentric direction in linguistics, the study of the terminology of classical choreography, as well as the terms of folk dances, provides an opportunity to comprehend the technologies of art, in which the direct relationship of emotions, movement, strength of folk character, expression of freedom and the joy of being is manifested. Methodology and sources. Interest in the study of the terminology of humanitarian, economic and legal disciplines has become widespread in recent decades. The changed social context and social landscape have highlighted a huge layer of terminological vocabulary that was previously not in demand for large-scale terminology research.Methods of cognitive terminology allow us to consider not only systemic phenomena in terminology, categorization and conceptualization of special knowledge, but also key concepts that develop in synchrony and diachrony. The descriptive method and the method of definitional analysis are decisive for this work. The studied English terms of Irish folk dance were obtained by continuous sampling from original literature, terminological dictionaries and glossaries. Results and discussion. The uniqueness of the Irish folk dance terminology nomination lies, firstly, in the use of two languages: English and Gaelic. Secondly, the spread of the Irish diaspora across different continents creates the preconditions for the development of dance schools around the world and the consolidation of this bilingual terminology. In addition, organizing certification of teachers and holding festivals and competitions at the regional and world level contributes to the standardization of not only dances, but also terms. It seems that the publication of the best examples of dance heritage and recording them for posterity helped create the characteristic performing culture that we have seen in recent decades. Conclusion. The relevance of the work is due to the fact that the sphere of choreographic terminology in general and the terminology of Irish folk dances is an insufficiently studied area due to objective difficulties caused by the use of a combination of verbal and non-verbal resources to characterize dance movements. In addition, the study shows that the peculiarity of the terminological nomination, which, for historical reasons, preserves the balance of two languages, gives particular specificity to the contexts in which these terminological units operate.

Why imitation matters for a speech and language pathologist?

Dear Editor, I want to shed light on an important preverbal skill “Imitation” for speech Language Pathologists and parents. Imitation arises very early in typical development and serves as a pivotal factor in a baby's acquisition of new skills from infancy, toddler stage, childhood and beyond. Initially, a newborn's abilities, like sucking for feeding, are reflexive and innate, requiring no explicit teaching.1 In typical development, learning to imitate often occurs spontaneously. Observing and mimicking parents, siblings, or peers is how a child learns to navigate various milestones, such as feeding, using the potty, riding a bike, writing, and tying shoes.2. Additionally, imitation plays a significant role in social development, aiding in making friends and learning to interact and play with others. 3 There are many levels of imitation developed by professionals in the form of hierarchy. Organizing them into smaller, achievable steps with practical examples and detailed instructions serves as a helpful reminder.4 The following are the levels of imitation: Level-1: The child will mimic actions with objects Your goal is for the child to mimic listed actions. Demonstrate each action 3 to 5 times, assisting if needed. Use simple language and short phrases. For example; 1-Pop a bubble on the floor with your hand, saying "Pop!" 2-Pop a bubble in the air with your finger, also saying "Pop!" Level-2: The child will mimic movements, gestures, and sign language with bubbles Demonstrate the body movements and gestures for the child to copy. Assist him in performing each gesture after showing him 3 to 5 times. Remember, the child is not expected to talk yet, but your simple and repetitive words are crucial. For example; 1-Kick, stomp, or clap bubbles while saying "Pop!" 2- Then, clap to show excitement after popping bubbles and say "Yayyy (yahoo)." Level-3: The child will mimic facial and mouth movements without speaking while interacting with bubbles Keep it simple and use single words. Emphasize the importance of copying the movements. For example; 1-Blow a bubble and utter "Blow!" 2-Mimic eating a bubble, then say "Eat!" Level-4: Model play sounds for the child to imitate while playing with bubbles together For example 1-Model the sound /p-p-p/ without a vowel as you pop bubbles. 2-Enhance anticipation by audibly inhaling before blowing 5. Dear Editor, by adhering to these guidelines and instructions, parents and professionals alike can initiate therapy effectively, paving the way for success and reaching significant milestones.

The Effectiveness of Motor Imagery in Balance and Functional Status of Older People with Early-Stage Dementia.

Dementia involves the loss of cognitive abilities and impairs functional abilities in daily life. In motor imagery (MI) techniques, motor acts are mentally rehearsed without any overt body movements. The purpose of the randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of MI on the motor function of older adults with dementia. Overall, 160 participants (43 men, 117 women, MMSE M = 23.20, SD = 0.15) from an Athens Day Care Center of the Alzheimer Association were randomized to (a) the MI and exercise group (experimental group) (n = 55), (b) the only exercise group (1st control group) (n = 52) and (c) the neither MI nor exercise group (2nd control group) (n = 53). The exercise session comprised 24 physiotherapy exercise sessions, lasting 45 min each, twice a week for 12 weeks. The exercises were selected from the Otago Exercise Program. Three assessments were performed: (a) one week prior to the program, (b) at one and a half months and (c) after the program. The experimental group performed a 30-minute MI with exercise program content after the end of every physiotherapy exercise session. The Multidirectional Reach Test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to assess participants' balance and functional status. In the intention to treat analysis (18 participants dropped out), the 3 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA indicated statistically significant results between the three groups on (a) the TUG (F = 3.06, df (2), p = 0.04), (b) the FTSST (F = 3.00, df (2), p = 0.05), (c) the forward direction test (F = 4.14 df (2), p = 0.02), the lateral right and the lateral left direction tests (F = 3.90, df (2), p = 0.02 and F = 7.87, df (2), p = 0.00, respectively), and (d) the FGA (F = 4.35, df (2), p = 0.01). The Friedman test showed significant statistical significant differences among the three groups for BBS (X2 = 7.62, df = 2, p = 0.22), and an effect size of partial η2 coefficient for F-tests was found. Post hoc comparisons using a Bonferroni test for ANOVA and Wilcoxon test for Friedman indicated that the mean scores for the experimental group and the 1st control were significantly better than the 2rd control group in many dependent variables. The study showed a positive effect of MI on balance and the functional status of older adults with early stages of dementia with possible beneficial effects on maintaining independence and reducing physical decline.

Fully degradable, highly sensitive pressure sensor based on bipolar electret for biomechanical signal monitoring

In view of the global ecosystem crisis resulting from the ubiquitous electronic waste (e− and plastic waste), the engineering of advanced electronic devices from sustainable materials is gaining considerable attention. Nevertheless, the development of advanced, maybe even degradable electronics with comparable or even improved functionality remains a great challenge. In this article a fabrication process for a fully degradable, highly sensitive pressure sensor based on electrets is proposed enabling the creation of a universal platform for monitoring various biomechanical signals. The high sensitivity of the proposed biomechanical electret-based sensor utilizes electrostatic induction of highly deformable cellular polylactic acid (PLA) films with a serrated ripple structure and an improved bipolar charge storage capability. This biodegradable pressure sensor possesses competitive mechanical signal detection performance, obtaining a high pressure sensitivity (10 V/kPa), robust working stability (∼30,000 continuous cycles), short electromechanical response/recovery time (∼17 ms), and satisfactory heat resistance up to 60 °C. By tailoring the thickness of the encapsulation layer, the functional lifetime of the biomechanical sensor in physiological environment can be controlled effectively, facilitating adaptability to various implantable application scenarios. Altogether, the present work not only proposes an effective fabrication process for high-performance pressure sensors, but also provides new insight into the design of sustainable electronics with controllable lifetime thereby minimizing their environmental footprint. The developed sensor promises great potential in monitoring multiple biomechanical signals inside and outside the human body (e.g., body movements and physiological activities) as well as an environment-friendly realization of green electronics.

The Relationship between Dance Expectations, Resilience, and Body Satisfaction of Ballet Learners in the New Normal Era

Objectives Physical movements and non-physical activities appeared in dance education learning during the new normal period. Physical movements and non-physical activities that appeared in the dance education learning in the new normal period can affect learning dance. a study requests to verify the related to psychological factors stemming from engagement in dance education based on body movement and physical activities for maintaining seamless academic progress during the new normal era. Methods In this study, 288 majors who chose ballet-related classes in university education subjects were purposefully conveniently sampled. The hypothesis is verified by multiple regression analysis. Results First, the ‘health and vitality’ of the ED significantly affected BSQ's ‘dissatisfaction about feeling fat, shame &amp; inferiority about body shape’. ‘health and vitality’ and ‘concern’ of the ED had a significant effect on BSQ's attitude concerning body image perception. Second, ED's ‘achievement and pleasure’ had a significant relationship with ‘calmness and patience’. ED's ‘achievement and pleasure’ had a significant relationship with ‘hope for the future’. ED's ‘achievement and pleasure’ had a significant relationship with ‘interest’. Third, the ‘calmness and patience’ of resilience had a significant relationship with ‘dissatisfaction about feeling fat, shame, and inferiority about body shape’. Conclusions The ‘health and vitality’ of expectations for dance is related to ‘dissatisfaction about body shape’ and concerning body image perception'. The ‘achievement and pleasure’ of expectations for dance is related to ‘calmness and patience’, ‘hope for the future’, and ‘interest’. The ‘calmness and patience’ of resilience is related to ‘dissatisfaction about body shape’.

A translanguaging perspective on multilingual identity construction of a native English teacher on a Chinese social media platform

ABSTRACT Native English-Speaking Teachers (NESTs) have long been assumed as monolingual, and the translanguaging practices and multilingual identity construction of NESTs have been under-explored. This study investigates how NESTs construct multilingual identity in online English teaching videos through translanguaging. Focusing on one NEST on a popular Chinese social media platform, a combination of multimodal video analysis and qualitative content analysis was conducted. The findings reveal that the NEST breaks linguistic barriers, incorporating gestures, body movements, signs, languages, and different speaking styles to share her experiences, evaluations, and emotions about language and language learning and teaching. These translanguaging practices empowered her to traverse the boundaries of distinctive L1 and L2 identities and develop multiple multilingual identities: an experienced English teacher with Chinese as an additional language, a foreigner valuing English language learning in China, and a passionate English speaker proud of learning Chinese. Findings reveal that translanguaging affords the NEST to construct trans-lingual, trans-cultural, and trans-national identities, while such multilingual identity construction is interwoven with her NEST identity. These findings call for a need to shift from viewing NESTs as monolingual models to multilinguals with translanguaging competences and reflect that nativeness and nonnativeness are not exclusive categories but mutually constitutive subjectivities.

The biomechanics of public speaking: Enhancing political communication and persuasion through posture and gesture analysis

Effective public speaking is critical in political communication, where non-verbal cues such as posture, gestures, facial expressions, and body movements significantly influence audience perception. Despite the known impact of these biomechanics, research in diverse cultural contexts remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining the biomechanics of public speaking in the Philippines, focusing on 16 political speakers and 211 audience participants from varied demographic backgrounds. The study uses advanced motion capture technology, high-definition video recordings, and audience perception surveys to investigate how specific non-verbal elements affect audience engagement and perception. Challenges include accurately measuring and isolating the effects of these biomechanical factors amidst varied cultural and linguistic influences. The findings reveal that an upright posture significantly enhances perceived confidence (r = 0.72, p = 0.003) and trustworthiness (r = 0.65, p = 0.004), while high-frequency gestures positively correlate with clarity (β = 0.47, p = 0.008) and persuasiveness (β = 0.66, p = 0.003). Head movements, such as nodding, significantly increase audience engagement (F-value = 5.73, p = 0.002), and high-intensity smiling enhances emotional responses (t-value = 4.86, p = 0.001). These results underscore the importance of biomechanics in political communication, demonstrating that specific gestures and postures are critical in conveying confidence and persuasiveness. The study contributes to the field by offering insights into the strategic use of body language, particularly in multicultural settings, to enhance audience engagement and speaker effectiveness.

Measuring Changes in Upper Body Movement Due to Fasting Using a Camera.

Understanding activity levels during fasting is important for promoting healthy fasting practices. While most existing studies focus on step counts to objectively assess the impact of fasting on activity levels and behavioral changes, the results have been mixed. Despite evidence showing that individuals spend a significant amount of time sitting while fasting, there has been no objective measurement of body movement or activity levels during sitting and fasting. This research employs a video-based, unobtrusive human body movement measurement system to monitor upper body movements during fasting and non-fasting periods over several days. Key movement features, such as inactivity, movement speed, and movement scale, were automatically extracted from the video monitoring data using a computer vision pipeline. These features were then statistically compared using t tests between fasting and non-fasting periods, analyzed by hour of the day and across different days. The results of the monitoring of five participants during typical daily sitting office work and fasting for 3-5 days indicate no consistent pattern of upper body movement changes due to fasting among the participants.

A mobile electrical stimulator for therapeutic modulation of the vestibular system - design, safety, and functionality.

Low-intensity noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is a promising non-invasive treatment for enhancing vestibular perceptual performance and postural control in patients with chronic vestibular hypofunction. However, this approach has so far been studied mainly under laboratory conditions. Evidence indicates that continuous application of nGVS in daily life is necessary for it to be effective. To address this need, we have developed a mobile nGVS stimulator and conducted a series of pilot studies to evaluate its safety, tolerability, functionality, and therapeutic effects. The device is a lightweight, compact, and portable AC stimulator featuring a user-friendly interface for the individualized adjustment of nGVS parameters. It includes an integrated motion sensor that automatically activates stimulation during body movement and deactivates it during inactivity, optimizing its practical use in real-world settings. The stimulator adheres to strict safety standards and, in initial long-term use, has exhibited only mild side effects (e.g., skin irritation and headaches), likely attributable to the current electrode placement, which requires further optimization. As expected, the device consistently elicits known vestibular sensorimotor reflex responses in healthy individuals. Importantly, further pilot studies in healthy participants demonstrate that the device can reliably replicate known facilitating effects on vestibular perception and postural control. Together, these findings suggest that this mobile stimulation device can facilitate the translation of nGVS into therapeutic everyday use.

Classical characters of spinor fields in torsion gravity

Abstract We consider the problem of having relativistic quantum mechanics re-formulated with hydrodynamic variables, and specifically the problem of deriving the Mathisson–Papapetrou–Dixon equations (describing the motion of a massive spinning body moving in a gravitational field) from the Dirac equation. The problem will be answered on a general manifold with torsion and gravity. We will demonstrate that when plane waves are considered the MPD equations describe the general relativistic wave-particle duality with torsion (Guedes and Popławski 2024 Class. Quantum Grav. 41 065011), but we will also see that in such a form the MPD equations become trivial.

Multi-Dimensionally Functionalized Pressure Sensor for Human Motion Detection Based on 1D AgNWs/2D rGO-Coated 3D Porous Sponge.

This study presents a conductive-type pressure sensor based on a conductive composite of 1D/2D nanomaterials coated onto a 3D nonconductive polymer structure with various pores. A 3D porous elastomer for the substrate was fabricated by using a sugar template, which led to an increased mechanical deformation range. The sugar template enhanced the surface roughness of the polymer, resulting in an improvement in the adhesion of nanomaterials to the polymer surface. Subsequently, it was functionalized by coating with hybrid nanomaterials of 1D silver nanowires (AgNWs) and 2D reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through a dip-coating process. When pressure is applied, the rGO/AgNWs/ecoflex pressure sensor deforms along the direction of the applied force, causing the conductive multidimensional nanomaterials to come into contact. Consequently, the improved networks between the two nanomaterials expanded the current paths, increasing the current detected through the electrodes attached to the sensor. The rGO/AgNWs/ecoflex pressure sensor, with its porous structure within the flexible ecoflex, demonstrated a high sensitivity (up to 2.29 kPa-1) over a wide detection range of 0-120 kPa. This enables the monitoring of a wide range of motions, including small pressures such as subtle touch, respiratory vibrations, and drinking, as well as large pressures such as human bodily movements, finger/arm bending, and foot pressure, making it an excellent candidate for applications requiring precise pressure detection.