Physical Position Research Articles

Second-order optimization strategies for neural network quantum states.

The Variational Monte Carlo (VMC) method has recently seen important advances through the use of neural network quantum states. While more and more sophisticated ansatze have been designed to tackle a wide variety of quantum many-body problems, modest progress has been made on the associated optimization algorithms. In this work, we revisit the Kronecker-Factored Approximate Curvature (KFAC), an optimizer that has been used extensively in a variety of simulations. We suggest improvements in the scaling and the direction of this optimizer and find that they substantially increase its performance at a negligible additional cost. We also reformulate the VMC approach in a game theory framework, to propose a novel optimizer based on decision geometry. We find that on a practical test case for continuous systems, this new optimizer consistently outperforms any of the KFAC improvements in terms of stability, accuracy and speed of convergence. Beyond VMC, the versatility of this approach suggests that decision geometry could provide a solid foundation for accelerating a broad class of machine learning algorithms. This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'.

Photon strength functions and nuclear level densities: invaluable input for nucleosynthesis.

The pivotal role of nuclear physics in nucleosynthesis processes is being investigated, in particular the intricate influence of photon strength functions (PSFs) and nuclear level densities (NLDs) on shaping the outcomes of the i-, r- and p-processes. Exploring diverse NLD and PSF model combinations uncovers large uncertainties for (p,[Formula: see text]), (n,[Formula: see text]) and ([Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]) rates across many regions of the nuclear chart. These lead to potentially significant abundance variations of the nucleosynthesis processes and highlight the importance of accurate experimental nuclear data. Theoretical insights and advanced experimental techniques lay the ground work for profound understanding that can be gained of nucleosynthesis mechanisms and the origin of the elements. Recent results further underscore the effect of PSF and NLD data and its contribution to understanding abundance distributions and refining knowledge of the intricate nucleosynthesis processes. This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'.

Nuclear clustering-manifestations of non-uniformity in nuclei.

Well-developed [Formula: see text] clusters are known to exist in light [Formula: see text] nuclei, and their properties are reasonably well described with modern nuclear structure theories. However, 'modestly' developed clusters in medium to heavy nuclei remain little understood, both theoretically and experimentally. Extension of the focus to include modestly developed clusters leads us to a concept of 'generalized clusters' and 'cluster ubiquitousness'. The former includes clusters more weakly bound than an [Formula: see text] cluster, such as deuteron, triton and [Formula: see text], and even clusters partially broken owing to nuclear medium effects. The latter means the existence of clusters in any nuclei, where cluster development was not previously discussed. Effects of the tensor and the spin-orbit interactions on the coexistence of clusters with independent nucleons are discussed using recent nuclear theoretical models. A mixture of the clusters with shell-like components plays an essential role in the synthesis of elements in the universe and the origin of life, together with an [Formula: see text] decay. It is also pointed out that clustering in heavy nuclei may accelerate fission and fusion processes. Future experimental plans using cluster knockout reactions, which have the potential to extract information of 'generalized clusters' in a variety of nuclei including stable and unstable nuclei, are also discussed. This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'.

Hyperons in neutron stars: studies of hyperon spectroscopy and the hyperon-nucleon interaction with the K-long Facility.

Elucidating the role of strange baryons (hyperons) in neutron stars requires detailed knowledge of hyperon-nucleon interactions in the light (u,d,s) quark sector. The structure of the hyperons and their excitation spectra also directly impact, and are an input to, models of big-bang nucleosynthesis. The upcoming K-long Facility will provide a much-needed intense and clean neutral strange meson beam, from which hyperons can be produced at rates where hyperon structure, hyperon-nucleon interactions and higher-order interactions can be studied with a new level of accuracy and for hitherto unreachable measurements. The new facility has the potential to address long-standing questions surrounding the strange sector of the strong force and its relevance to the structure of atomic nuclei, neutron stars and the cosmos at large. This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'.

Nuclear structure opportunities with GeV radioactive beams at FAIR.

The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) is in its final construction stage next to the campus of the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung Helmholtzzentrum for heavy-ion research in Darmstadt, Germany. Once it starts its operation, it will be the main nuclear physics research facility in many basic sciences and their applications in Europe for the coming decades. Owing to the ability of the new fragment separator, Super-FRagment Separator, to produce high-intensity radioactive ion beams in the energy range up to about 2 GeV/nucleon, these can be used in various nuclear reactions. This opens a unique opportunity for various nuclear structure studies across a range of fields and scales: from low-energy physics via the investigation of multi-neutron systems and halos to high-density nuclear matter and the equation of state, following heavy-ion collisions, fission and study of short-range correlations in nuclei and hypernuclei. The newly developed reactions with relativistic radioactive beams (R3B) set up at FAIR would be the most suitable and versatile for such studies. An overview of highlighted physics cases foreseen at R3B is given, along with possible future opportunities, at FAIR. This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'.

The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars.

The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars.

Characterization of a Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene in Wheat Breeding Line Jingzi 102 Using Bulk Segregant RNA Sequencing.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide. Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici is a destructive disease threatening wheat yield and quality. The utilization of resistant genes and cultivars is considered the most economical, environmentally friendly, and effective method to control powdery mildew. Wheat breeding line Jingzi 102 was highly resistant to powdery mildew at both seedling and adult plant stages. Genetic analysis of F1, F2, and F2:3 populations of "Jingzi 102 × Shixin 828" showed that the resistance of Jingzi 102 against powdery mildew isolate E09 at the seedling stage was controlled by a single dominant gene, temporarily designated PmJZ. Using bulked segregant RNA sequencing combined with molecular markers analysis, PmJZ was located on the long arm of chromosome 2B and flanked by markers BJK695-1 and CIT02g-20 with the genetic distances of 1.2 and 0.5 centimorgan, respectively, corresponding to the bread wheat genome of Chinese Spring (International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium RefSeq v2.1) 703.8 to 707.6 Mb. PmJZ is most likely different from the documented Pm genes on chromosome 2BL based on their physical positions, molecular markers analysis, and resistance spectrum. Based on the gene annotation information, five genes related to disease resistance could be considered as the candidate genes of PmJZ. To accelerate the application of PmJZ, the flanking markers BJK695-1 and CIT02g-20 can serve for marker-assisted selection of PmJZ in wheat disease-resistance breeding.

Variations in touch representation in the hummingbird and zebra finch forebrain

Somatosensation is essential for animals to perceive the external world through touch, allowing them to detect physical contact, temperature, pain, and body position. Studies on rodent vibrissae have highlighted the organization and processing in mammalian somatosensory pathways.1,2 Comparative research across vertebrates is vital for understanding evolutionary influences and ecological specialization on somatosensory systems. Birds, with their diverse morphologies, sensory abilities, and behaviors, serve as ideal models for investigating the evolution of somatosensation. Prior studies have uncovered tactile-responsive areas within the avian telencephalon, particularly in pigeons,3,4,5,6 parrots,7 and finches,8 but variations in somatosensory maps and responses across avian species are not fully understood. This study aims to explore somatotopic organization and neural coding in the telencephalon of Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna) and zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) by using invivo extracellular electrophysiology to record activity in response to controlled tactile stimuli on various body regions. These findings reveal unique representations of body regions across distinct forebrain somatosensory nuclei, indicating significant differences in the extent of areas dedicated to certain body surfaces, which may correlate with their behavioral importance.

Analysis of the Motion Postures in Equestrian Sports Based on Multi-Sensor Data Fusion

Horse riding, in its essence, is both an art and a captivating sport. In these events, riders showcase their refined skills and deep bond with their horses, most notably through changes in physical positioning. This research aims to accurately capture and analyze the spatial postures of riders in equestrian sports, exploring the dynamic differences between professional and amateur riders. To achieve this, we employed a multi-sensor data fusion approach based on human kinetics theories, enhanced by an extended Kalman filter. This method, combined with an optical tracking system, enabled us to intricately compare and analyze the 3D postures of riders during walking and trotting phases. Our research captured these nuanced postural shifts using an inertial sensor network, yielding nine-axis motion data of riders during their performance. The accuracy of our fusion technique was validated using the optical tracking system. By analyzing the motion data, we discerned posture variations among the riders of differing expertise levels, even when executing the same riding technique. The insights from this research offer a quantifiable metric for refining equestrian training and contribute to understanding the complex dynamics of rider–horse interaction.

Identification of candidate genes for Fusarium head blight resistance from QTLs using RIL population in wheat.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) stands out as one of the most devastating wheat diseases and leads to significantly grain yield losses and quality reductions in epidemic years. Exploring quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FHB resistance is a critical step for developing new FHB-resistant varieties. We previously constructed a genetic map of unigenes (UG-Map) according to the physical positions using a set of recombinant-inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross of 'TN18 × LM6' (TL-RILs). Here, the number of diseased spikelets (NDS) and relative disease index (RDI) for FHB resistance were investigated under four environments using TL-RILs, which were distributed across 13 chromosomes. A number of 36 candidate genes for NDS and RDI from of 19 stable QTLs were identified. The average number of candidate genes per QTL was 1.89, with 14 (73.7%), two (10.5%), and three (15.8%) QTLs including one, two, and 3-10 candidate genes, respectively. Among the 24 candidate genes annotated in the reference genome RefSeq v1.1, the homologous genes of seven candidate genes, including TraesCS4B02G227300 for QNds/Rdi-4BL-4553, TraesCS5B02G303200, TraesCS5B02G303300, TraesCS5B02G303700, TraesCS5B02G303800 and TraesCS5B02G304000 for QNds/Rdi-5BL-9509, and TraesCS7A02G568400 for QNds/Rdi-7AL-14499, were previously reported to be related to FHB resistance in wheat, barely or Brachypodium distachyon. These genes should be closely associated with FHB resistance in wheat. In addition, the homologous genes of five genes, including TraesCS1A02G037600LC for QNds-1AS-2225, TraesCS1D02G017800 and TraesCS1D02G017900 for QNds-1DS-527, TraesCS1D02G018000 for QRdi-1DS-575, and TraesCS4B02G227400 for QNds/Rdi-4BL-4553, were involved in plant defense responses against pathogens. These genes should be likely associated with FHB resistance in wheat.

MHBase: A comprehensive database of short microhaplotypes for advancing forensic genetic analysis

Microhaplotypes (MHs) were first recommended by Prof. Kidd for use in forensics because they can improve human identification, kinship analysis, mixture deconvolution, and ancestry prediction. Since their introduction, extensive research has demonstrated the advantages of MHs in forensic applications and provided useful data for different populations. Currently, two databases, ALFRED (ALlele FREquency Database) and MicroHapDB (MicroHaplotype DataBase), house the published MH information and population data. We previously constructed a single nucleotide polymorphism SNP-SNP MH database (D-SNPsDB) of MHs within 50 bp on the whole human genome for 26 populations integrating basic data such as physical genome positions, mapping of variant identifiers (rsIDs), allele frequencies, and basic variant information. Building upon the previous research, we further selected MHs containing at least two variants (SNPs and/or insertions/deletions [InDels]) within a short DNA fragment (≤ 50 bp) in 26 populations based on the 1000 Genomes Project dataset (Phase 3) to construct a more comprehensive database. Subsequently, we established a user-friendly website that allows users to search the MH database (MHBase) based on their research objectives and study population to find suitable loci and provides other functions such as querying reported loci, performing online calculations using the PHASE software, and calculating ancestral-related parameters. The loci in the database are classified as SNP-based MHs, which include only SNPs, and InDel-including MHs, which contain at least one InDel. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the MHBase and an analysis of shared loci at the global and continental levels, ancestral markers, the genetic distance within loci, and mapping with the genome annotation file. The website is an accessible and useful tool for researchers engaged in marker discovery, population studies, assay development, and panel design.

Direct stellarator coil design using global optimization: application to a comprehensive exploration of quasi-axisymmetric devices

Many stellarator coil design problems are plagued by multiple minima, where the locally optimal coil sets can sometimes vary substantially in performance. As a result, solving a coil design problem a single time with a local optimization algorithm is usually insufficient and better optima likely do exist. To address this problem, we propose a global optimization algorithm for the design of stellarator coils and outline how to apply box constraints to the physical positions of the coils. The algorithm has a global exploration phase that searches for interesting regions of design space and is followed by three local optimization algorithms that search in these interesting regions (a ‘global-to-local’ approach). The first local algorithm (phase I), following the globalization phase, is based on near-axis expansions and finds stellarator coils that optimize for quasisymmetry in the neighbourhood of a magnetic axis. The second local algorithm (phase II) takes these coil sets and optimizes them for nested flux surfaces and quasisymmetry on a toroidal volume. The final local algorithm (phase III) polishes these configurations for an accurate approximation of quasisymmetry. Using our global algorithm, we study the trade-off between coil length, aspect ratio, rotational transform and quality of quasi-axisymmetry. The database of stellarators, which comprises approximately 200 000 coil sets, is available online and is called QUASR, for ‘quasi-symmetric stellarator repository’.

Human–Robot Cooperation Control Strategy Design Based on Trajectory Deformation Algorithm and Dynamic Movement Primitives for Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robots

Compliant physical interactions, interactive learning, and robust position control are crucial to improving the effectiveness and safety of rehabilitation robots. This paper proposes a human–robot cooperation control strategy (HRCCS) for lower limb rehabilitation robots. The high-level trajectory planner of the HRCCS consists of a trajectory generator, a trajectory learner, a desired trajectory predictor, and a soft saturation function. The trajectory planner can predict and generate a smooth desired trajectory through physical human–robot interaction (pHRI) in a restricted joint space and can learn the desired trajectory using the locally weighted regression method. Moreover, a triple-step controller was designed to be the low-level position controller of the HRCCS to ensure that each joint tracks the desired trajectory. A nonlinear disturbance observer is used to observe and compensate for total disturbances. The radial basis function neural networks (RBFNN) approximation law and robust term are adopted to compensate for observation errors. The simulation results indicate that the HRCCS is robust and can achieve compliant pHRI and interactive trajectory learning. Therefore, the HRCCS has the potential to be used in rehabilitation robots and other fields involving pHRI.

Pre-breeding of spontaneous Robertsonian translocations for density planting architecture by transferring Agropyron cristatum chromosome 1P into wheat.

We developed T1AL·1PS and T1AS·1PL Robertsonian translocations by breakage-fusion mechanism based on wheat-A. cristatum 1P(1A) substitution line with smaller leaf area, shorter plant height, and other excellent agronomic traits Agropyron cristatum, a wild relative of wheat, is a valuable germplasm resource for improving wheat genetic diversity and yield. Our previous study confirmed that the A. cristatum chromosome 1P carries alien genes that reduce plant height and leaf size in wheat. Here, we developed T1AL·1PS and T1AS·1PL Robertsonian translocations (RobTs) by breakage-fusion mechanism based on wheat-A. cristatum 1P (1A) substitution line II-3-1c. Combining molecular markers and cytological analysis, we identified 16 spontaneous RobTs from 911 F2 individuals derived from the cross of Jimai22 and II-3-1c. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to detect the fusion structures of the centromeres in wheat and A. cristatum chromosomes. Resequencing results indicated that the chromosomal junction point was located at the physical position of Triticum aestivum chromosome 1A (212.5Mb) and A. cristatum chromosome 1P (230Mb). Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) in pollen mother cells showed that the produced translocation lines could form stable ring bivalent. Introducing chromosome 1PS translocation fragment into wheat significantly increased the number of fertile tillers, grain number per spike, and grain weight and reduced the flag leaf area. However, introducing chromosome 1PL translocation fragment into wheat significantly reduced flag leaf area and plant height with a negative effect on yield components. The pre-breeding of two spontaneous RobTs T1AL·1PS and T1AS·1PL was important for wheat architecture improvement.

AC-Modulated XPS Enables to Externally Control the Electrical Field Distributions on Metal Electrode/Ionic Liquid Devices.

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) has been utilized to extract local electrical potential profiles by recording core-level binding energy shifts upon application of the AC [square-wave (SQW)] bias with different frequencies. An electrochemical system consisting of a coplanar capacitor with a polyethylene membrane (PEM) coated with the Ionic Liquid (IL) N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (DEME-TFSI) as the electrolyte is investigated. Analyses are carried out in operando, such that XPS measurements are recorded simultaneously with current measurements. ILs have complex charging/discharging processes, in addition to the formation of Electrical Double Layers (EDL) at the interfaces, and certain properties of these processes can be captured using AC modulation within appropriate time windows of observation. Herein, we select two frequencies, namely, 10 kHz and 0.1 Hz, to separate effects of the fast polarization and slow migratory motions, respectively. Moreover, the local potential developments after adding two equivalent series resistors at three different physical positions of the device have been carefully evaluated from the binding energy shifts in the F 1s peak representing the anion of the IL. This circuit modification allows us to quantify the AC currents passing through the device, as well as the system's impedance, in addition to revealing the potential variations due the IR drops. The complex AC-modulated local XPS data recorded can also be faithfully reproduced using the unmodulated F 1s spectrum and by convoluting it with electrical circuit output provided by the LT-Spice software. The outcome of these efforts is a more realistic equivalent circuit model, which can be related to chemical/physical makeup of the electrochemical system. An important finding of this methodology emerges as the possibility to induce additional local electrical field developments within the device, the directions of which can be reversed controllably.

ПРИРОДНЫЕ ПРЕДПОСЫЛКИ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ РЕКРЕАЦИОННОГО КОМПЛЕКСА НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ ПРИГОРОДНОЙ ЗОНЫ Г. ТАМБОВА

The article considers the recreational potential of the territory of the suburban zone of the city of Tambov, as well as a set of natural factors and properties of this geographical environment, favorable for the formation and development of recreational complex. The physical and geographical position, natural conditions, relief, hydrography, climate and vegetation cover of the territory are analyzed, and natural resources for recreation and tourism are estimated. The main directions and opportunities for the development of the recreational complex, including the organization of ecological trails, the creation of recreation areas, the development of sports tourism and infrastructure have been identified.

Development of Novel Genomewide Simple Sequence Repeat Markers for Acer truncatum Bunge and Assessment of Their Transferability to Other Closely Related Species

Acer truncatum Bunge is a versatile woody tree species with high economic and medicinal value in the production of bioactive substances and unsaturated fatty acids (especially nervonic acid). However, the exploitation and evaluation of A. truncatum germplasm resources are limited owing to a lack of sound molecular marker systems. In this study, a large set of genomewide simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers of A. truncatum was developed based on its whole-genome sequences. A total of 462,331 SSR loci were identified in the genome sequences, 99.3% (459,193) of which were located on 13 chromosomes. The chromosome length was significantly positively correlated with the number of SSR loci on the chromosome (r = 0.977, p < 0.001). The (A/T)n, (AT/TA)n, and (AAT/ATT/TAA/TTA/TAT/ATA)n were the most frequent motifs for mono-, di-, and trinucleotide repeat motifs, respectively, showing A/T-base bias. After BLASTN and electronic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses, 199,990 loci with specific physical positions were screened. Most of the SSR loci were located in the intergenic regions and fewest in the coding sequences (CDSs). The frequency of loci with tri- and hexanucleotide repeat motifs was the highest in the CDSs, potentially serving to maintain the stability of gene function and structure. In randomly selected 105 SSR markers, 82 (78.1%) showed allelic polymorphism, with polymorphism information content (PIC) values of 0.032–0.926 (0.481 on average). The SSRs in the noncoding regions exhibited significantly higher PIC values than those in the CDSs. The transferability of the 105 markers was 48.6%–59.0% to seven other Acer species. The large set of valid SSR markers provides a powerful tool for studies on population genetics, conservation genetics, linkage mapping, comparative genomics, and marker-assisted breeding of the genus Acer.

Hidden Markov modeling of single-particle diffusion with stochastic tethering.

The statistics of the diffusive motion of particles often serve as an experimental proxy for their interaction with the environment. However, inferring the physical properties from the observed trajectories is challenging. Inspired by a recent experiment, here we analyze the problem of particles undergoing two-dimensional Brownian motion with transient tethering to the surface. We model the problem as a hidden Markov model where the physical position is observed and the tethering state is hidden. We develop an alternating maximization algorithm to infer the hidden state of the particle and estimate the physical parameters of the system. The crux of our method is a saddle-point-like approximation, which involves finding the most likely sequence of hidden states and estimating the physical parameters from it. Extensive numerical tests demonstrate that our algorithm reliably finds the model parameters and is insensitive to the initial guess. We discuss the different regimes of physical parameters and the algorithm's performance in these regimes. We also provide a free software implementation of our algorithm.

Mapping of a Major-Effect Quantitative Trait Locus for Seed Dormancy in Wheat.

The excavation and utilization of dormancy loci in breeding are effective endeavors for enhancing the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat varieties. CH1539 is a wheat breeding line with high-level seed dormancy. To clarify the dormant loci carried by CH1539 and obtain linked molecular markers, in this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of weak dormant SY95-71 and strong dormant CH1539 was genotyped using the Wheat17K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and a high-density genetic map covering 21 chromosomes and consisting of 2437 SNP markers was constructed. Then, the germination percentage (GP) and germination index (GI) of the seeds from each RIL were estimated. Two QTLs for GP on chromosomes 5A and 6B, and four QTLs for GI on chromosomes 5A, 6B, 6D and 7A were identified. Among them, the QTL on chromosomes 6B controlling both GP and GI, temporarily named QGp/Gi.sxau-6B, is a major QTL for seed dormancy with the maximum phenotypic variance explained of 17.66~34.11%. One PCR-based diagnostic marker Ger6B-3 for QGp/Gi.sxau-6B was developed, and the genetic effect of QGp/Gi.sxau-6B on the RIL population and a set of wheat germplasm comprising 97 accessions was successfully confirmed. QGp/Gi.sxau-6B located in the 28.7~30.9 Mbp physical position is different from all the known dormancy loci on chromosomes 6B, and within the interval, there are 30 high-confidence annotated genes. Our results revealed a novel QTL QGp/Gi.sxau-6B whose CH1539 allele had a strong and broad effect on seed dormancy, which will be useful in further PHS-resistant wheat breeding.

Improving assessment of procedural skills in health sciences education: a validation study of a rubrics system in neurophysiotherapy

BackgroundThe development of procedural skills is essential in health sciences education. Rubrics can be useful for learning and assessing these skills. To this end, a set of rubrics were developed in case of neurophysiotherapy maneuvers for undergraduates. Although students found the rubrics to be valid and useful in previous courses, the analysis of the practical exam results showed the need to change them in order to improve their validity and reliability, especially when used for summative purposes. After reviewing the rubrics, this paper analyzes their validity and reliability for promoting the learning of neurophysiotherapy maneuvers and assessing the acquisition of the procedural skills they involve.MethodsIn this cross-sectional and psychometric study, six experts and 142 undergraduate students of a neurophysiotherapy subject from a Spanish university participated. The rubrics’ validity (content and structural) and reliability (inter-rater and internal consistency) were analyzed. The students’ scores in the subject practical exam derived from the application of the rubrics, as well as the rubrics’ criteria difficulty and discrimination indices were also determined.ResultsThe rubrics´ content validity was found to be adequate (Content Validity Index > 0.90). These showed a unidimensional structure, and an acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.71) and inter-rater reliability (Fleiss’ ƙ=0.44, ICC = 0.94). The scores of the subject practical exam practically covered the entire range of possible theoretical scores, showing all the criterion medium-low to medium difficulty indices - except for the one related to the physical therapist position-. All the criterion exhibited adequate discrimination indices (rpbis > 0.39), as did the rubric as a whole (Ferguson’s δ = 0.86). Students highlighted the rubrics´ usefulness for learning the maneuvers, as well as their validity and reliability for formative and summative assessment.ConclusionsThe changed rubrics constitute a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the execution quality of neurophysiotherapy maneuvers from a summative evaluation viewpoint. This study facilitates the development of rubrics aimed at promoting different practical skills in health-science education.