Training Patterns Research Articles

Crustal and Upper Mantle Structure of the Assam Valley Region, NE India: A Review of Geophysical Findings

The northeastern region of India is one of the six most seismically active convergent plate tectonic areas in the world. The north–south convergence along the Indo-Tibetan Himalayan Ranges and the east–west subduction within the Indo-Burma Ranges create a complex stress regime, resulting in significant seismic activity and a history of great/large earthquakes. The region’s intricate strain patterns, active faults, and potential seismic gaps underscore the need for detailed subsurface studies to effectively assess seismic hazards and impending seismicity. Geophysical research is essential for understanding the region’s geodynamic evolution, seismotectonics, and mineral resources. This manuscript reviews the geological and tectonic settings of the region and summarizes recent geophysical studies, including seismic, gravity, magnetic, and magnetotelluric surveys conducted in the Assam Valley and adjacent areas (within latitudes 24.5–28.5° N and longitudes 89–97.5° E). The review highlights key findings on hydrocarbon-bearing sediments, the configuration of the crystalline basement, the heterogeneous structures of the crust and upper mantle, and seismic discontinuities. By synthesizing these results, the review aims to enhance the understanding of seismic hazards in Northeast India, guide mitigation strategies, and identify key knowledge gaps to direct future research efforts.

Electrocardiographic markers predict hemodynamic parameters in adults with uncorrected secundum atrial septal defect

BackgroundPrecapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) as complication in atrial septal defect (ASD) is closely related to right heart hemodynamics, such as right atrial pressure (RAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Right heart catheterization (RHC) as the gold standard for their measurement is invasive and not widely available in Indonesia. Electrocardiography (ECG) was proposed to be alternative in this matter.MethodThis is a retrospective observational study with cross-sectional design. We collected data and measured ECG parameters of secundum ASD patients who underwent elective RHC from May 2019 until November 2023. We compared several ECG parameters based on RAP (< 8 and ≥ 8 mmHg) and PVR (< 5 and ≥ 5 WU).ResultEighty-three patients were included. The RV1 was the only ECG marker that showed significant difference based on RAP (AUC 0.639, sensitivity 61.7%, specificity 61.1%, p = 0.030) and PVR (AUC 0.801, sensitivity 73.2%, specificity 81%, p < 0.001). Several ECG parameters were found significantly different based on PVR value only, namely SV5 (AUC 0.773, sensitivity 80.5%, specificity 71.4%, p < 0.001), SV6 (AUC 0.823, sensitivity 80.5%, specificity 81%, p < 0.001), right ventricular Sokolow–Lyon index (RVSLI) (AUC 0.841, sensitivity 82.9%, specificity 83.3%, p < 0.001), R/SV1 (sensitivity 97.6%, specificity 16.7%, p = 0.031) as well as right ventricular strain (sensitivity 87.8%, specificity 69%, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed RVSLI (OR 15.66 (4.46–55.02), CI 95%) and right ventricular strain pattern (OR 9.23 (2.43–35.14), CI 95%) had the best predictive value for PVR ≥ 5 WU.ConclusionIn adults with secundum ASD, several ECG markers have potential role in predicting PVR ≥ 5 WU with satisfying sensitivity and specificity, but not in predicting RAP.

A rare neurological association of bicuspid aortic valve: A case report

A 45-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department with a 2-h history of sudden onset right-sided headache and difficulty walking. Initial non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the brain was unremarkable. Twelve-lead electrocardiogram showed left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with strain pattern. On echocardiography, the aortic valve was noted to be bicuspid, associated with at least moderate eccentric aortic regurgitation and moderate aortic stenosis. In view of the initial presentation of ataxia and headaches, and the finding of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) on echocardiography, an urgent CT of aorta and carotid arteries was performed, revealing dissection of the right vertebral artery and a right lateral medullary infarct. Aortic root dilatation and aortic dissection are well known complications of BAV. However, vertebral artery dissection in the context of BAV with a normal aortic root is unusual, and to our knowledge has only been reported once in the literature so far.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Commensal Enterococcus spp. Isolates from Chickens in Hungarian Poultry Farms Between 2022 and 2023.

Background: The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the most significant challenges of our generation. It is crucial to continuously monitor AMR, not only by investigating clinical, pathogenic strains but also by monitoring commensal bacterial strains, as they can serve as natural reservoirs of resistance. Infections caused by Enterococcus species are increasingly recognized as emerging threats to both animal and public health. Among economically important livestock, poultry as a major source of animal protein for humans is a frequent carrier of enterococci, and also of sporadically detected clinical disease. Methods: This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Enterococcus strains (n = 499) isolated from chicken farms in Hungary. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for 15 antibiotics, including 10 with established clinical breakpoints. Results: The strains exhibited good sensitivity to amoxicillin, one of the first-line treatments for Enterococcus infections in veterinary medicine, with only 20.8% showing resistance. However, we observed an alarming 27.9% resistance rate to vancomycin, which is reserved to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains in humans. A comparison of our findings with Hungarian hospital records revealed that the resistance patterns of poultry-derived Enterococcus faecalis strains were very similar to those of human isolates, particularly regarding penicillins and aminoglycosides. Conclusions: Overall, the increasing rates of AMR reinforce the importance of conducting periodic studies to establish long-term trends. For multidrug-resistant strains, next-generation sequencing is recommended to elucidate the genetic basis of resistance.

Quantification of internal disc strain under dynamic loading via high-frequency ultrasound.

Measurement of internal intervertebral disc strain is paramount for understanding the underlying mechanisms of injury and validating computational models. Although advancements in noninvasive imaging and image processing have made it possible to quantify strain, they often rely on visual markers that alter tissue mechanics and are limited to static testing that is not reflective of physiologic loading conditions. The purpose of this study was to integrate high-frequency ultrasound and texture correlation to quantify disc strain during dynamic loading. We acquired ultrasound images of the posterior side of bovine discs in the8 transverse plane throughout 0-0.5mm of assigned axial compression at 0.3-0.5Hz. Internal Green-Lagrangian strains were quantified across time using direct deformation estimation, a texture correlation method. Median principal strain at maximal compression 0.038 ± 0.011 for E1 and -0.042 ± 0.012 for E2. Strain distributions were heterogeneous through the discs, with higher strains noted near the disc endplates. This methodological report shows that high-frequency ultrasound can be a valuable tool for quantification of disc strain under dynamic loading conditions. Further work will be needed to determine if diseased or damaged discs reveal similar strain patterns, opening the possibility of clinical use in patients with disc disease.

Improving the Competence of Writing Scientific Papers for Family Planning Field Workers Through the Reverse Writing Method and Socio Emotional Franchising

The aim of this research is to find a writing training pattern that makes it easier for Indonesian Family Planning Field Workers and raises motivation to write, which can have an impact on the lack of results in the form of writing from Family Planning Field Workers. This research uses a mix method with research and development, namely the ADDIE method. Researchers developed online training using “writing with the reverse method” for Indonesian family planning field workers and became a solution for initiative during activities and post pandemic COVID-19 by establishing good collaboration with the population and family planning training center. The output of the innovation is in the form of three printed books, a Copyright certificate for the book Population Education and Family Planning, training tools in the form of the scientific writing training curriculum, training modules, teaching materials, broadcast materials and also learning designs as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between the training and publishing partners and private training providers. The conclusion of this research is that there is an increase in the writing skills of family planning instructors by 87% with the output in the form of participants’ written works. With the concept of mutual benefit and inclusion, it is hoped that this networking activity in improving family planning field workers writing competency will be a means for Indonesian family planning and population Board employees to grow together. It is recommended that this activity be sustainable and have more leverage in the future.

Skin‐Inspired in‐Sensor Encoding of Strain Vector Using Tunable Quantum Geometry

AbstractHuman skin provides crucial tactile feedback, allowing to skillfully perceive various objects by sensing and encoding complex deformations through multiple parameters in each tactile receptor. However, replicating this high‐dimensional tactile perception with conventional materials' electronic properties remains a daunting challenge. Here, a skin‐inspired method is presented to encode strain vectors directly within a sensor. This is achieved by leveraging the strain‐tunable quantum properties of electronic bands in the van der Waals topological semimetal Td‐WTe2. Robust and independent responses are observed from the second‐order and third‐order nonlinear Hall signals in Td‐WTe2 when subjected to variations in both the magnitude and direction of strain. Through rigorous temperature‐dependent measurements and scaling law analysis, it is established that these strain responses primarily stem from quantum geometry‐related phenomena, including the Berry curvature and Berry‐connection polarizability tensor. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that strain‐dependent nonlinear Hall signals can efficiently encode high‐dimensional strain information using a single device. This capability enables accurate and comprehensive sensing of complex strain patterns in the embossed character “NJU”. The findings highlight the promising application of topological quantum materials in advancing next‐generation, bio‐inspired flexible electronics.

Experimental analysis on post-fire performance of GRAC filled steel tubular columns and thermal properties of GRAC

This paper presents experimental investigation on the post-fire performance of geopolymeric recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube (GRACFST) columns and temperature field of GRAC cubes. A total of 10 GRACFST column specimens were tested to investigate their post-fire performance. A total of 10 GRACFST column specimens were tested to evaluate their performance after exposure to fire, considering various parameters: (a) cross-section type (circular and square); (b) testing conditions (ambient temperature test, post-fire test without initial load, and full-coupled post-fire test); (c) target temperatures (20 ℃, 600 ℃, and 800 ℃); and high-temperature exposure durations (30 min and 180 min). The study examined failure modes, temperature evolution, deformation and strain patterns, and post-fire ultimate bearing capacities. The test data revealed the commendable post-fire performance of GRACFST columns, as evidenced by the residual strength index typically falling within the range of 0.83 to 1.11. To calibrate the thermal properties of GRAC materials, a series of temperature field tests of GRAC cubes at different target temperatures (200 ℃, 400 ℃, 600 ℃ and 800 ℃) were conducted. These tests provided data on temperature distribution within the cubes and mass loss due to high temperatures. Using back analysis of these temperature field tests, thermal property models for GRAC, including thermal conductivity, specific heat, and density, were developed and validated by simulating temperature data from existing fire and post-fire tests of GRACFST columns. The proposed thermal property models are crucial for designing this novel composite column type for fire resistance applications.

Clustering regional patterns of left ventricular longitudinal strain in systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary hypertension.

Systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary hypertension (SSc-PH) is a heterogeneous disease, often complicated by concomitant left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. However, the contribution of heterogeneity in LV dysfunction is unclear. The objective in this study was to identify regional clusters of LV longitudinal strain via echocardiography to determine how subgroups of LV dysfunction contribute to mortality in SSc-PH. We performed a retrospective observational study on 124 patients with SSc-PH in which LV longitudinal strain was collected over a 16-segment model. We applied K-means clustering to LV longitudinal strain at each segment using the Calinski-Harabasz index. Our primary outcome was time to all-cause mortality. Patients with SSc-PH were divided into two clusters (Cluster 1: N=59; Cluster 2: N=65). The most pronounced differences in longitudinal strain between each cluster were observed at the basal and mid segments, particularly at the interventricular septum. In comparison to Cluster 1, Cluster 2 was characterized by both regional and global reductions in LV and right ventricular (RV) free wall longitudinal strain, greater PH severity, and greater functional limitation by New York Heart Association with a hazard ratio of 2.06 (95% CI: 1.21, 3.50) for all-cause mortality. Using K-means clustering of regional patterns of LV longitudinal strain, we identified a distinct phenotype of patients at increased risk for mortality. Most of the pronounced differences in longitudinal strain between each cluster were observed at the basal and mid segments, particularly at the interventricular septum.

Running for two (or three!): the journey of an ultramarathoner across two pregnancies.

There is a lack of evidence regarding the safety of long-duration and vigorous-intensity physical activity during pregnancy, such as that required during an ultramarathon. This case study is the first to examine the training, performance, health, and delivery outcomes for an ultramarathoner across two successive pregnancies (one twin and one singleton) that were delivered when the athlete was 41 and 43 yr, respectively. During her twin pregnancy, she ran an average of 91.72 ± 23.17 km across 9.06 ± 2.38 h/wk. Both twins were normal for gestational age and delivered at 37 wk. Twin 2 experienced mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy but made a full recovery following treatment. Twin pregnancy increases the risk of this complication, and there is no evidence to suggest that it is associated with vigorous-intensity endurance activity. During her singleton pregnancy, the participant's distance and pace increased, running on average 157.80 ± 14.69 km across 14.08 ± 1.60 h/wk. She also competed in five races including three ultramarathons and ranked well, with no adverse events during or following each of the races. She delivered prematurely (36 wk and 6 days), but her baby was normal for gestational age.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides the first description of a pregnant female ultramarathoner's training patterns, performance outcomes, and health and birthing outcomes across two pregnancies.

Analysis of Deformation Along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust Using GPS Observation Data

Abstract Indonesia is located on the World Plate and composed of several microblocks. One of the microblocks in Indonesia is along the Back-Arc Thrust of Flores, which is suspected to cause many earthquakes throughout 2022 in Bali and Nusa Tenggara. The high activity of earthquakes encourages the need for deformation monitoring as a mitigation effort. This study aims to analyse the movement and strain patterns that occur in the Flores Back-arc as an effort to see the deformation that occurs. This research uses BIG GPS CORS observation data from 2019-2023 and processed using GAMIT/GLOBK software. The results then will be estimated to obtain velocities, strains, and compare them with the earthquake occurrence. This study shows that the horizontal displacement is dominantly towards the northeast within 20-57 mm/year and dominantly subsidence for vertical displacement with the largest value of −62 mm/year. The high velocity is related to several large earthquakes, one of which is the Flores earthquake in 2021 which caused a offset of up to 19 mm at CBJW, CRTG, CREO, and CLBJ stations. In addition, the strain pattern shows that compression is dominant in the study area with a value range of to 29.3 to 55.7 nstrain/year. While the extension value has a range of 2.7 to 16.9 nstrain/year. The results show that the Southeast region has a high level of energy accumulation as seen from the high values of compression and extension that occur. While the Northwest region shows high energy accumulation indicated by the dominance of compression values due to Flores back-arc thrust in the north.

Experimental and Numerical Simulation on the Generation and Development of Cumulative Plastic Strain of Cement Sheath in Salt Cavern Gas Storage Well

ABSTRACTSalt cavern gas storage is an important technical means to balance the demand for staggered energy supply. Due to the repeated injection and extraction of natural gas in gas storage facilities, sealing integrity failure in the wellbore of gas storage facilities frequently occurs. In response to this, considering the cyclic loading and unloading of the pressure load inside the casing, mechanical tests of set cement were carried out under alternating loads, quantifying the cumulative plastic strain change law of set cement and revealing the deterioration characteristics of its mechanical properties. A numerical model of cumulative plastic strain of casing cement sheath formation under alternating load was established based on the obtained experimental parameters. Comparative verification was conducted using experimental data, and the variation law of cumulative plastic strain of cement sheath was analyzed. The distribution of cumulative plastic strain on the cement sheath bonding surface of the entire wellbore was quantified. The research results indicate that the higher the internal pressure value of the casing, the earlier the plastic strain appears, and with the increase in the number of alternating loads, the cumulative plastic strain increases approximately linearly. After the internal pressure increased by 30 MPa, the cumulative plastic strain increased by a maximum of 46.75%. When the number of loading and unloading cycles under alternating loads is small, reducing the elastic modulus (6 GPa) of the cement sheath can effectively reduce its cumulative plastic strain. However, as the number of loading and unloading cycles under alternating loads exceeds a specific value, the cumulative plastic strain produced by high elastic modulus (15 GPa) cement sheaths decreases. Finally, the distribution pattern of cumulative plastic strain along the wellbore under different gas injection times and complex formation conditions was analyzed. Suggestions for establishing well barriers in salt cavern gas storage during cementing were proposed. The research results can provide theoretical and engineering references for evaluating the sealing integrity of gas storage wells.

True Triaxial Laboratory Study of the Strain Patterns Measured by Distributed Fiber Optics for Hydraulic Fracturing of Multilevel Horizontal Wells

Summary As the exploitation of oil and natural gas has progressed, hydraulic fracturing has become a primary method for increasing oilfield production. Simultaneous hydraulic fracturing of several perforation clusters, by employing limited-entry methods, has become standard in horizontal well stimulation. However, challenges such as unclear fracture identification and limited monitoring methods persist in hydraulic fracturing. This study integrates an optical frequency domain reflector with true triaxial fracturing of multilevel horizontal wells to develop a physical simulation system for monitoring fractures in a laboratory setting via distributed fiber optics. By employing fiber optics, dynamic monitoring of fractures during the fracturing process of multilevel horizontal wells can be achieved. The results indicate that monitoring with distributed fiber optics can clearly record data and accurately determine the initiation points of fractures. The strain data induced by the fractures on the fibers can be interpreted to deduce the fracture width. If a fracture deflects upon encountering a fiber, the fiber will exhibit tensile strain within an abnormal range. When using distributed fiber optics for monitoring fractures in multilevel horizontal wells, it is crucial to optimize the placement of fractures to ensure that the signals detected by the fibers are complete and avoid signal loss. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of using distributed fiber optics for fracture monitoring in multilevel horizontal well fracturing experiments, overcoming the limitations of current single-method approaches to monitoring laboratory true triaxial hydraulic fractures.

Experimental research on fatigue behavior of concrete under acid rain corrosive environment

Concrete infrastructures such as high-speed railway bridges, road pavements, and airport runways in acid rain areas are severely affected by fatigue loading and environmental corrosion. To investigate the impact of acid rain corrosion on the fatigue resistance of concrete, 12 groups of concrete specimens were exposed to acid rain spray tests and then subjected to bending fatigue testing. These tests comparatively examined the impact of different stress levels and corrosion ages on the concrete's fatigue life, strain, and damage pattern. Additionally, the fatigue life reliability of the concrete was analyzed using the Weibull distribution theory and equations were developed to predict the fatigue life of the concrete under different probabilities of failure. The results indicate that both stress level and acid rain corrosion age significantly affect the ultimate strain and fatigue life of concrete. High stress levels combined with prolonged acid rain exposure severely degrade the fatigue performance of the concrete. The fatigue life of the concrete follows a Weibull distribution, and the P-S-N curves and fatigue life equations developed based on data from various failure probabilities show a high linear association with values larger than 0.9. These findings can serve as a reference for predicting the fatigue life of concrete in areas affected by acid rain.

Sex Differences in Youth and Young Adult Sport Training Patterns, Specialization, and Return to Sport Durations.

Young female athletes may have higher rates of overuse injuries and sport specialization than male athletes. The association of sports specialization and return to sport (RTS) timeframe is also unknown. Specialized female athletes will have more intense, year-round training patterns, more overuse injuries, and longer RTS times than male athletes. Cohort study. Level 3. Injured athletes aged 10 to 23 years presenting to a sports medicine clinic reported their degree of sport specialization and training patterns. Skeletal maturity was estimated using the Khamis-Roche method. Injury type and RTS timeframes were categorized from electronic medical records. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis assessed associations between variables. A total of 485 athletes (40.2% female) were enrolled. Higher degrees of sport specialization were associated strongly with overuse injuries (P < 0.01). After adjusting for specialization, female athletes were more likely to sustain an overuse injury (adjusted odds ratio, 1.49; P = 0.04). Female athletes participated in fewer total physical activity hours per week (P < 0.01), fewer free play hours per week (P < 0.01), and participated in their main sport for more months of the year than their male counterparts (P = 0.02). Female athletes were more likely to be at a higher developmental stage than male athletes (P < 0.01). RTS timeframes were increased in athletes with serious overuse injury; however, no association was found between degree of specialization and RTS time regardless of sex. Female athletes are more likely to sustain overuse injuries with more organized, year-round, training and less free play compared with their male counterparts. Female sex may be an independent risk factor of overuse injury. Future strategies to mitigate these risks may include increased free play hours and limiting year-round training through seasonal rest.

Mechanistic exploration of odorant binding protein-mediated chlorpyrifos resistance in Nilaparvata lugens: Insights from insecticide sequestration and transcriptional regulation

The effectiveness and sustainable application of insecticides are severely threatened by the rapid evolution of resistance in agricultural pests. Recent research indicates that odorant binding proteins (OBPs) may be involved in facilitating insecticide resistance, while the specific mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, 11 OBPs were identified from Nilaparvata lugens. Among them, OBP5 exhibited high and specific expression in the head, and showed constitutive overexpression in the chlorpyrifos-resistant strain. Knockdown of OBP5 notably restored susceptibility to chlorpyrifos in N. lugens, while overexpression of OBP5 in Escherichia coli significantly enhanced bacterial tolerance to chlorpyrifos. Fluorescence competitive binding assay confirmed the strong binding affinities of OBP5 to chlorpyrifos and its active metabolite chlorpyrifos-oxon. Molecular docking studies proposed a critical interacting amino acid (Lys147) in the binding site, which was further validated by comparative binding studies between wildtype OBP5 and the mutated protein OBP5K147A. Furthermore, Lim1β that also presented overexpression pattern in the resistant strain, was found to regulate expression of OBP5 through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Our findings demonstrate that the overexpression of OBP5 contributes to chlorpyrifos resistance by binding and sequestering the insecticides, shedding light on the sequestration resistance mechanism conferred by OBPs and offering potential targets for resistance management.

Single-Scene SAR Image Data Augmentation Based on SBR and GAN for Target Recognition

High-performance neural networks for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) often encounter the challenge of data scarcity. The lack of sufficient labeled SAR image datasets leads to the consideration of using simulated data to supplement the dataset. On the one hand, electromagnetic computation simulations provide high amplitude accuracy but are inefficient for large-scale datasets due to their complex computations and physical models. On the other hand, ray tracing simulations offer high geometric accuracy and computational efficiency but struggle with low amplitude correctness, hindering accurate numerical feature extraction. Furthermore, the emergence of generative adversarial networks (GANs) provides a way to generate simulated datasets, trying to balance computational efficiency with image quality. Nevertheless, the simulated SAR images generated based on random noise lack constraints, and it is also difficult to generate images that exceed the parameter conditions of the real image’s training set. Hence, it is essential to integrate physics-based simulation techniques into GANs to enhance the generalization ability of the imaging parameters. In this paper, we present the SingleScene-SAR Simulator, an efficient framework for SAR image simulation that operates under limited real SAR data. This simulator integrates rasterized shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) with cycle GAN, effectively achieving both amplitude correctness and geometric accuracy. The simulated images are appropriate for augmenting datasets in target recognition networks. Firstly, the SingleScene-SAR Simulator employs a rasterized SBR algorithm to generate radar cross section (RCS) images of target models. Secondly, a specific training pattern for cycle GAN is established to translate noisy RCS images into simulated SAR images that closely resemble real ones. Finally, these simulated images are utilized for data augmentation. Experimental results based on the constructed dataset show that with only one scene SAR image containing 30 target chips, the SingleScene-SAR Simulator can efficiently produce simulated SAR images that exhibit high similarity in both spatial and statistical distributions compared with real images. By employing simulated SAR images for data augmentation, the accuracy of target recognition networks can be consistently and significantly enhanced.

Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum at Madrasah Tsanawiyah in Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia

This study examines the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of the Merdeka curriculum, with a particular focus on the integration of Arabic language teaching at Madrasah Tsanawiyah in Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia. This study utilized a qualitative multi-case approach, focusing on three public madrasah's and one private madrasah. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and document analysis, with respondents comprising 20 seventh-grade Arabic and general subject teachers, four madrasah principals, four curriculum deputies, and four madrasah operators. Findings reveal that the Merdeka curriculum planning, implementation, and evaluation at Madrasah Tsanawiyah in Aceh Tamiang varied across institutions. While some schools demonstrated systematic approaches, disparities emerged in teacher training patterns, readiness for 21st-century skills, and the availability of digital education facilities. These challenges hindered the effective implementation of the curriculum and resulted in the absence of a clear evaluation framework. This study recommends that the government and education policymakers enhance teacher training distribution, improve digital education infrastructure, increase teacher welfare, and establish structured evaluation frameworks to optimize curriculum implementation in addressing global challenges.

The long-term vascular and myocardial outcomes in selected Kawasaki disease patients with regression of giant coronary artery aneurysms.

Giant coronary artery aneurysms and myocardial fibrosis after Kawasaki disease may lead to devastating cardiovascular outcomes. We characterised the vascular and myocardial outcomes in five selected Kawasaki disease patients with a history of giant coronary artery aneurysms that completely regressed. Five patients were selected who had giant coronary artery aneurysm in early childhood that regressed when studied 12-33 years after Kawasaki disease onset. Coronary arteries were imaged by coronary CT angiography, and coronary artery calcium volume scores were determined. We used endocardial strain measurements from CT imaging to assess myocardial regional wall function. Calprotectin and galectin-3 (gal-3) as biomarkers of inflammation and myocardial fibrosis were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The five selected patients with regressed giant coronary artery aneurysms had calcium scores of zero, normal levels of calprotectin and gal-3, and normal appearance of the coronary arteries by coronary computed tomography angiography. CT strain demonstrated normal peak systolic and diastolic strain patterns in four of five patients. In one patient with a myocardial infarction at the time of Kawasaki disease diagnosis at the age of 10 months, CT strain showed altered global longitudinal strain, reduced segmental peak strain, and reduced diastolic relaxation patterns in multiple left ventricle segments. These patients illustrate that regression of giant aneurysms after Kawasaki disease is possible with no detectable calcium, normal biomarkers of inflammation and fibrosis, and normal myocardial function. Individuals with regressed giant coronary artery aneurysm still require longitudinal surveillance to assess the durability of this favourable outcome.

A portable wireless spirometer device for long-term pulmonary function monitoring and training

Portable wireless respiration sensing devices provide a promising solution to the limitations of traditional spirometers, offering practical options for daily use and long-term monitoring. In this study, we introduce a compact and lightweight respiration sensing device (4.2 × 4.6 × 8.3 cm3, ∼78 g) that delivers real-time wireless feedback, enabling users to assess their pulmonary functions and adjust their breathing patterns for effective breathing training. The parameters of the airflow sensor were determined through theoretical deformation calculations, ensuring a sensing range that covers all potential human respiratory values. Additionally, an optimized airway design significantly improves the device’s sensitivity, achieving approximately a 10.4-fold increase in airflow acceleration at the sensor position. This portable device features a cross-platform interactive graphical interface, making it suitable for various applications, such as convenient expiratory tests, daily exercise assessments, and breathing training. Experimental results demonstrate the device’s capability to accurately distinguish the expiratory characteristics of six volunteers and effectively track respiratory recovery following high-intensity exercise. Furthermore, the device integrates seamlessly into engaging games designed to promote consistent breathing training.