Rate Of Movement Research Articles

Red fox home ranges, activity patterns, and resource selection on an Atlantic barrier island

AbstractRelatively little is known about red fox (Vulpes vulpes) spatial ecology on barrier islands, where semi‐linear habitat distribution and aquatic barriers may affect terrestrial movements. Because red foxes often are a predator of imperiled shorebirds in these ecosystems, and predation is often managed along with other factors such as habitat limitation, this information is needed to inform effective holistic management. The goals of this study were to describe red fox spatial ecology in a barrier island ecosystem and compare these findings to the existing literature on red fox space use in other coastal settings. We used global positioning system (GPS) collar data collected from 2015–2018 from 31 red foxes to estimate sizes of home ranges and core‐use areas, describe daily activity patterns, and investigate within‐home‐range resource selection among red foxes on Fire Island, New York, USA. Twenty‐two of 31 red foxes maintained distinct home ranges throughout the monitoring period, while 9 were transient, regularly traveling through the home ranges of other red foxes and among management units across the island. Observed GPS‐collared red fox home range sizes (95% time local convex hull [t‐LoCoH] isopleths) ranged from 10 ha to 659 ha, averaging 59 ± 7 ha (SE) among resident foxes and 447 ± 46 ha among transient foxes. Core‐use areas (50% t‐LoCoH isopleths) ranged from <1 ha to 268 ha, averaging 10 ± 1 ha among resident foxes and 67 ± 27 ha among transient foxes. Hourly minimum movement rates varied across the diel cycle and among individuals, averaging 216 m/hour ± 9 m/hour, and were highest 13–22 hours after sunrise. Within‐home‐range resource selection varied among activity periods. For example, red foxes selected areas closer than expected to vegetation based on availability during the daytime and twilight hours but farther than expected from vegetation at night. We recommend vegetation management in and around shorebird nesting areas to reduce daytime resting sites and hunting cover for red foxes while improving suitability for use by nesting shorebirds. We also suggest coordination of predator management activities across agencies in this situation and in others where predators regularly cross management unit boundaries. Overall, we found that many aspects of red fox space use in the study area, such as smaller average home ranges compared to those in other ecosystems, were similar to that of red foxes in other coastal settings; additional research is needed to determine whether this holds true in other barrier island systems.

Performance of a fine-scale acoustic positioning system for monitoring temperate fish behavior in relation to offshore marine developments

Rapid global expansion of offshore wind farms, tidal, and wave technologies signifies a new era of renewable energy development. While a promising means to combat the impacts of climate change, such developments necessitate fine-scale monitoring of biological communities to determine impacts associated with construction, operation, and eventual decommission. Here, we evaluate the performance of a gridded, Innovasea Systems, Inc. fine-scale acoustic telemetry positioning system (FSPS, n = 20 acoustic receivers) for tracking behaviors of diverse, temperate fish assemblages in relation to a subsea cable route supporting the Ørsted offshore wind development in coastal New York. We examined array performance through positioning error derived from receiver reference transmitters and tracked animals (n = 260) comprising 17 species of teleost and elasmobranch. We evaluated the effects of environmental variables (temperature, tilt, noise, and depth), transmitter power, individual movement rates, and receiver loss on horizontal positioning error (HPE) and route mean squared error (RMSE). Across a 16-month deployment period, many positions were derived for Atlantic sturgeon (n = 2,612), black sea bass (n = 9,175), clearnose skate (n = 10,306), summer flounder (n = 13,304), and little skate (n = 15,186), suggesting that these species may serve as sentinel candidates for assessing behavioral changes following construction, operation, and decommission. We found that receivers placed at the boundary of the grid exhibited higher HPE and RMSE, however these errors did not significantly change despite large receiver losses (25%). Generalized Linear Models revealed that temperature, noise, tilt, and depth were often significant predictors of HPE and RMSE, however, a substantial amount of variance was not explained by the models (~ 70%). Average movement rates ranged from 1.1 m s−1 (common thresher shark) to 0.03 m s−1 (little skate and summer flounder) but had minimal effects on positioning error. Finally, we observed that higher transmitter powers (158 dB) may lead to higher and more variable HPE values. Overall, these findings provide new insight into the drivers of FSPS array performance and illustrate their broad utility for monitoring fish behavior associated with offshore marine developments.

Effectiveness of low-intensity electrical current in accelerating the en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth following first-premolar extraction in young adult patients with Class II division 1 malocclusion: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Many efforts have been made to shorten fixed appliance orthodontic treatment time by accelerating the rate of tooth movement. Low-intensity electrical stimulation (LIES) is one of the proposed physical methods that has not yet been well studied in the medical literature. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LIES in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement in cases of en-mass retraction of the upper anterior teeth. Patients who attended the Department of Orthodontics at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Damascus, between September 2019 and February 2021, for treatment were carefully checked. All patients who met the eligibility criteria were invited to participate in this RCT. Young adult patients having class II division I malocclusion were equally and randomly assigned into the low-intensity electrical stimulation group (LIES), and traditional en-masse retraction group (TRAD). The mini-implants assisted en-masse retraction technique was used to close the extracted upper first premolar spaces in both groups. NiTi closed coil springs (250g/side) were used. Electrical stimulation of 15-20μA for each tooth was applied on the upper anterior teeth using a recently developed intraorally removable device in the LIES group. The primary outcome was the en-masse retraction rate, the secondary outcomes were changes in the first molar position, intermolar width, and intercanine width. These outcomes were measured on the digital photographs of the maxilla cast using the Image J program. Two-sample t-test with Bonferroni's correction was utilized to explore any significant differences between the two groups in all studied variables. Of the 168 patients examined by the researcher, 38 patients with Class II division I malocclusion (30 females and 8 males; mean age: 21.1±2.31 years) were finally recruited in this RCT. The overall en-masse retraction rate was significantly greater in the LIES group compared to the TRAD group (1.02±0.08, 0.73±0.04mm/month respectively; P<0.001). In addition, the monthly rate of space closure was significantly greater in this group at all evaluation times (P<0.001). A small increase was noted in the intercanine width (1.60±0.27, and 1.65±0.33mm respectively). Negligible changes were noted in the first molar positions and intermolar width, with insignificant differences between the two groups. LIES according to the protocol applied in this trial accelerated the upper anterior teeth en-masse retraction rate by approximately 28% compared to the traditional en-masse retraction method. While this acceleration was statistically significant, may not have substantial clinical implications. This trial protocol was registered in the Clinical Trials database (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05350280).

Differential Rotation of Individual Sunspots and Pores

The analysis of the rotation rate of individual sunspots and pores was performed according to the data from the processing of observations by the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager in the period 2010–2024. Sunspots stood out in the images in the continuum. To accurately track the spots, we processed five images for each day. To determine the polarity of the magnetic field, we superimposed the contours of sunspots on observations of magnetic fields at the same time. This made it possible to track the movement of more than 210,000 individual sunspots and pores. It is found that the rotation rate is influenced by the rotation rate of the solar atmosphere and the systematic proper motions of the spots. Sunspots and pores of the leading polarity have a rate of meridional movement ≈2.4% faster than spots of the trailing polarity. We also found that regular sunspots, which have umbrae and penumbrae, rotate ≈1.5% faster than solar pores, in which penumbrae are absent. The dependence of the rotation rate on the area is found. For sunspots with an area of S > 10 μhm, the rotation rate is practically independent of the area. Small sunspots, with an area of S < 10 μhm, rotate ≈1.7% more slowly.

Capillary infiltration measurements by finite size drop method: wetting, spreading and infiltration of liquid silver in porous iron

The study proposes a direct method for studying capillary infiltration of porous media using high-speed measurements of the shape of an imbibited droplet of finite size. The method assumes isotropic infiltration, and the change in the droplet volume on the surface is equated to the volume of imbibited liquid. The shape of the imbibited volume in the case of a droplet of finite volume is assumed to be a flattened spheroid. In the mathematical model, the rate of change of the apparent volume obtained in the experiment is reduced to the rate of movement of the liquid front in the porous media.Measurements of capillary processes in the silver (melt)-iron (porous or dense solid) system were carried out at various temperatures in a vacuum of 10-3Pa to verify the model. Time dependencies of the wetting contact angle and the contact diameter of pure silver melt on the surface of dense solid iron, the imbibition rate of silver melt into porous iron, and the kinetics of sintering of iron powder were measured. All measurements were conducted using direct methods of high-speed video and thermal imaging. As a result, in addition to the application of the proposed imbibition model, kinetic dependencies of the mentioned processes at various temperatures in the range from 1000 to 1150 °C were obtained and their activation energies were determined.

Early Cretaceous to Eocene magmatic evolution of Livingston Island, South Shetland Archipelago: Geochronological and isotope geochemical constraints from intrusive suites

The magmatic products exposed across Livingston Island comprise a part of the South Shetland magmatic arc built on an active continental margin. The main magmatic phases of Livingston Island include the Early to Late Cretaceous plutonic and volcanic rock associations, the Eocene plutons, and some sporadically distributed intrusions of Paleocene to Eocene dykes. The intrusions were emplaced into the strongly deformed turbiditic sedimentary rocks of the Miers Bluff Formation. 40Ar39Ar and zircon UPb geochronologic data presented here define four distinct episodes of intrusive activity represented by the emplacement of the Hesperides (125 Ma), the Cerro Mirador (104–97 Ma), the Siddons Point (80 Ma) and the Barnard Point suites (42 Ma), in addition to some dyke intrusions with emplacement ages of 105 to 40 Ma. The intrusions are represented by mafic to intermediate compositions characterized by middle potassic, calc-alkaline affinities, with only a few samples from the Eocene activity exhibiting tholeiitic character. Trace element, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope and zircon Hf isotope variations indicate magma generation in a subduction setting with extensive involvement of continental crust-derived melts for the Early to Late Cretaceous activity. The effects of crustal input on melt chemistry appear to have diminished in time, especially from the Paleocene onwards, leading to magma generation with typical oceanic island arc geochemical signatures. This change in melt chemistry is likely partly related to the roll-back induced overriding plate extension which resulted in a time-integrated increase in the rate of melt movement and a decrease in the residence time in crustal levels. Slab steepening caused by the systematic decrease in plate convergence rate led to an enhanced involvement of isotopically depleted mantle component, producing a heterogeneous source with variable subduction signature.

Exploring the extensive movements and home range of one of North America’s most mobile fish: the freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)

AbstractFreshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens are a unique and ubiquitous freshwater species of the family Sciaenidae. Despite the species’ wide distribution and unique biogeography, life history, and behavior, surprisingly little is known about freshwater drum movement ecology. In this study, we use passive acoustic telemetry tags and a broad-scale gridded receiver array to track the interannual and seasonal movement of freshwater drum tagged in tributaries of the North and South Basins of Lake Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). First, tagged freshwater drum had lower survival in the south basin where higher fishing pressure is thought to be a cause of mortality. We found that freshwater drum in Lake Winnipeg are remarkably mobile, with mean monthly movement rates among the highest on record for any freshwater fish. In the spring, fish entered rivers prior to spawning. A few weeks later, most individuals moved into lake habitat where they made extensive lateral movements. Home range and hotspot analysis revealed seasonal and population-specific patterns of occupancy, with elevated densities in lake habitat during the ice-on period and dispersed distributions during open water. Both populations remained almost exclusively in their respective rivers and basins. Homing and site fidelity were apparent, with nearly all fish returning to their original tagging river during each successive spawning season. The results bolster the existing information on freshwater drum movement ecology and may help enhance conservation and management strategies, particularly toward addressing commercial bycatch.

Effect of photobiomodulation and corticopuncture methods on tooth displacement and gene expression: animal study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Peroxiredoxin 1 (PRX1), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and type I collagen (COL1) and the rate of tooth movement comparing 3 accelerated tooth movement (ATM) methods: Corticopuncture (CP), photobiomodulation (PBM) and the combined technique (CP + PBM) on days 1, 3, 7 and 14. Orthodontic tooth movement was induced in 24 male Wistar rats. CP procedure included three perforations: two in the palate and one mesial to the molars. GaAlAs diode laser irradiation was performed on days 0, 2, 4 and 6, totaling 4 irradiations. 14 days (810nm, 100 mW, 15s). Gingival tissue was collected from the cervical area of both first molars and qPCR was performed to isolate and quantify mRNA levels. All ATM groups showed increased tooth displacement compared to control after 14 days (20% for PBM; 40% for CP and 60% for CP + PBM). PBM showed higher VEGF expression on days 1,3 and 7 followed by CP and CP + PBM. PRX1 levels increased on days 1 and 3 in PBM and CP + PBM. GLUT1 increased on day 3 in all groups. No difference was found on levels of VEGF, PRX1 and GLUT1 among the groups on day 14, except for COL1 which increased significantly in PBM group. All ATM methods showed higher expression of all of VEGF, PRX1, GLUT1, COL1 than control group. PBM and CP + PBM groups had more expression related to angiogenesis, glucose uptake, oxidative stress and collagen synthesis.

Effectiveness of a customized intraoral photobiomodulator for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement

The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of a Customized Intraoral Photobiomodulator for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement using a split mouth design as only limited studies have been done to compare the effectiveness of LLLT and their iatrogenic effects between experimental and control group in the same individual (split mouth technique) with the help of a customised intraoral photobiomodulator. Consented Patients (n = 15) undergoing orthodontic therapy, diagnosed with Class 1 bimaxillary malocclusion were subjected to experiment based on randomly assigned split mouth design for both experiments in all 4 quadrants. At retraction phase, a customized introral photobiomodulator was given to all patients and the amount of anterior teeth retraction was measured at 1 month interval for 4 months (T0-T4). Apical root resorption was measured by CBCT taken at the beginning of study phase (t0) and end of 4th month (t1). PBM showed an increase in the rate of tooth movement of 4.12fold in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd month. Mandibular canine showed the maximum amount of root resorption whereas the maxillary and mandibular premolars the least. There were similar results when pulp vitality was evaluated where all the teeth in experimental and control side showed positive results to cold test. From our study, PBM is a better method compared to control group as it has shown increased rate of orthodontic teeth movement.

The effect of low level laser therapy and piezocision in canine retraction: A prospective randomized split-mouth study

This study evaluated and compared the duration for retraction of maxillary canines in subjects who underwent piezocision and low-level laser therapy.: The study sample consisted of 12 adult patients in a prospective randomized split-mouth study design, requiring therapeutic extraction of bilateral maxillary first premolar and bilateral canine distalization. The subjects were evaluated for 4 months or till the time taken for the maxillary canine to achieve positive contact with the maxillary second premolars bilaterally. Intervention in the form of low-level laser therapy was carried out on one side using a diode laser vis-a viz piezocision on the other side. This was followed by a comparative evaluation of canine retraction due to both the interventions on their respective sides. The LLLT group showed 1.105 times the canine retraction in 4 months as compared to the group subjected to piezocision and the findings are statistically significant (P Value = 0.09) using paired t test . The canine showed a mean distal movement of 3.14mm and 2.84 mm in LLLT and piezocision group respectively. The rate of tooth movement is slightly higher in teeth exposed to LLLT. From the results, we can also infer that there is a constant decline in the rate of tooth movement throughout the duration of the study. With no need for incision and a lesser chance of damage to hard and soft tissue, LLLT appears to be a comparatively attractive option for acceleratory orthodontics.

Constraining the extent of Greater India: New late Paleocene paleomagnetic data from the Tethyan Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau

The collision of India and Asia formed the Himalayas and caused the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Greater India comprises the part of the Indian plate that was subducted beneath Asia and the Tethyan Himalaya. Quantitative constraints on the extent of Greater India are needed to study the process of the India-Asia collision. However, such constraints are lacking and the topic remains debated. We present paleomagnetic data from late Paleocene (∼58 Ma) mafic rocks from the western Tethyan Himalaya. The mean paleomagnetic direction is Ds/Is = 348.5°/+6.5° with k = 38.7 and a95 = 5.2°, which passed the fold, reversals, and paleosecular variation tests. The results define the paleolatitude of the Tethyan Himalaya as 3.3 ± 4.5°N at ∼ 58 Ma for the reference site of 29.9°N/83.3°E. A comparison of the Paleogene paleolatitudes of the Tethyan Himalaya shows that the terrane moved northward by 1540 ± 290 km between ∼ 60 Ma and ∼ 50 Ma, with a rate of movement of 15.4 ± 2 cm/yr. The new paleomagnetic result confirms that the extent of Greater India was 1130 ± 400 km and was essentially uniform from east to west. This finding implies that the collision between India and Asia was nearly be quasi-synchronous from the middle-eastern to western segments along the Indus-Tsangpo suture zone.

Intrusion kinetics and interfacial degradation mechanism of PU-steel system in chloride ion environment: A multiscale study

This study utilised density functional theory (DFT) to predict the movement pathways and rates of chloride ions within polyurethane (PU), as well as their molecular dynamics and charge distribution during the erosion process. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical tests revealed chemical and electrochemical changes at the PU/steel interface after immersion in sodium chloride solution. Shear strength and nanoindentation tests were used to examine the impact of microscale erosion on macroscale mechanical properties. The results showed that chloride-ion penetration into PU requires overcoming a substantial energy barrier driven by the concentration gradient between the saline solution and PU. After immersion in sodium chloride solution, the −NCO functional groups in PU were disrupted, reducing chemical stability and molecular elasticity. This process accelerates the hydrolysis of ester bonds, leading to a decline in interfacial mechanical properties. Electrochemical results showed that the resistance of the PU coating decreased over time, indicating a transition in the electrochemical reactions that eventually led to interfacial corrosion. After prolonged immersion, both the interfacial shear strength and modulus significantly decreased, whereas the shear ductility initially increased but later decreased.

Abstract 4128698: Mental Health and Sleep Quality as Determinants of Physical Activity Levels in Depressed Rural Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Background: Disparities in coronary heart disease (CHD) and other chronic related conditions, such as poor sleep quality and psychological distress, have been observed in rural areas. Both conditions can negatively affect disease progression, possibly through their impact on physical activity. The relationships, however, among sleep quality, psychological distress, and physical activity among depressed rural CHD patients have not been examined. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of sleep quality (i.e., sleep fragmentation [frequent sleep interruption] and nocturnal/sleep movement [increased rates of movement, ‘tossing and turning’ during sleep]) and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and perceived stress) with levels of physical activity (i.e., sedentary, light, and moderate to vigorous) in depressed rural patients with CHD. Methods: A total of 142 depressed rural CHD patients (aged 57.0±11.9 years, 97% White) completed surveys on demographic characteristics, anxiety (Brief Symptom Inventory), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4). Participants also wore accelerometer activity monitors for seven days (ActiGraph GT9X Link) to capture physical activity levels and sleep quality. Three different hierarchical regression models were conducted to predict each level of physical activity (sedentary, light, and moderate-vigorous) with predictor variables entered in blocks. Block 1 included demographic variables (i.e., age, sex, marital status, employment status). Block 2 included sleep quality measures, and Block 3 included psychological distress. Results: Participants spent 466±126.0 min/day while awake being sedentary, 483±119.9 min/day in light activity, and 90±65.9 min/day in moderate to vigorous activity. We found that stress was significantly associated with greater sedentary time (B = 6.56, p = .043) and less time in light activity (B = -7.99, p = .024). Nocturnal/sleep movement was significantly associated with increased sedentary time (B = 3.14, p &lt; .001) and decreased time in light (B = -5.29, p =.002) and moderate-vigorous activity (B = -2.58, p = .003). Anxiety was not associated with physical activity. Conclusions: Poor sleep quality and greater perceived stress are associated with a more sedentary lifestyle, a major risk factor for CHD. Addressing both stress and sleep management may play a role in reducing CHD risks associated with inactivity among depressed rural patients with CHD.

NIR-intervened thermally accelerated urease-propelled MOF nanosubmarine for antibiotic-free antibacterial inhibition via single-wavelength synergistic PDT/PTT

The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics poses a serious threat to global human health. Herein, we have developed a thermal-accelerated biomacromolecular urease-driven MOF-based nanomotor (ZIF-8@PDA@ICG@Ur) mediated via NIR-intervened antimicrobial therapy. In this system, we have attempted for the first time to introduce an easy-to-operate light combination therapy strategy (only one light source is required) into an enzyme-driven MOF motor system to achieve antibiotic-free antibacterial therapy. The purpose of this research is to utilize the increased thermal energy from the photothermal effect to enhance the activity of urease, boost the driving force, which further increases the contact efficiency of the nanocarrier with the bacteria to enhance the bacterial killing power. In 50 mM urea solution, the rate of nanomotor movement was increased by about 1.24 times under NIR light irradiation compared to that without light. In addition, the synergistic effect of enhanced autonomous movement, NIR-controlled on-demand phototherapy and zinc ions release achieved 99.99 % antibacterial activity without antibiotics. The developed NIR-intervened design in this manuscript endows urease-based nanomotors with attractive propulsion feature and contributes to a novel strategy for against diseases caused by bacterial infections.

Bionic ankle-assisted rehabilitation training system based on biomechanical evaluation

In modern society, people’s life rhythm is getting faster and faster. Ankle injury would significantly reduce the frequency of people’s activities, which has a great impact on people’s normal work and life. As a new medical method, the bionic ankle rehabilitation training system is used to assist rehabilitation doctors to help patients complete joint flexibility and recovery training. In the research method of ankle biomechanical characteristics, the detection of ankle joint patient’s motion is particularly important. The purpose of this paper is to study how to design a bionic ankle assisted rehabilitation training system based on image processing. Therefore, this paper proposes an image-based moving target detection method, which has the advantages of high reliability and simple operation, and can improve the recognition rate of the ankle joint movement. The experimental results of this paper showed that the system can realize the predetermined trajectory movement and run the system stably. In terms of patient following error, it was kept within 0.03cm. The following error of the ankle joint trajectory was up to 0.03cm and the lowest was 0.01cm, which was almost negligible. In terms of accuracy, the accuracy of the system was also very high, and it can respond and determine the patient’s actions quickly, thereby helping patients to better perform rehabilitation training.

Habitat use and movement patterns of broad-snouted caimans (Caiman latirostris) in an impacted Atlantic forest environment in Brazil

BackgroundAnimal habitat use can be influenced by a suite of factors including intraspecific interactions and resource availability. The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is the largest crocodylian species distributed in freshwater environments of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, where it inhabits many types of human-impacted and preserved habitats. Despite their ability to occupy ecologically different water bodies, little is known about their movement patterns and their habitat use. We investigated the variation in movements and space use of adult caimans relative to sex, body condition, and environmental conditions in northeastern Brazil.MethodsWe conducted long-term capture surveys from 2013 to 2022 and used GPS telemetry from 2021–2022 (n = 12 individuals) to assess movement patterns and home ranges of caimans and their habitat use based on Brownian Bridge Movement Modeling (BBMM) and Generalized Linear Mixed Modeling (GLMM).ResultsFemales ranged farther from reservoir’s forested margins, exploring a greater diversity of habitats during the wet/non-reproductive season. During the dry/reproductive season, females remained close to nesting sites within forest fragments. The body condition of caimans did not change significantly over the wet and dry season, indicating that resources are available year-round. Caimans moved more at night than during daytime, likely due to nocturnal foraging and possibly avoiding periods of increased human activity. Female movement rates were positively associated with rainfall, in a pattern likely linked to nest attendance in the dry season. Male movement was positively correlated with reservoir volume in the wet season, possibly due to increased availability of habitats in comparison to dry periods and to decreased overlap with territories controlled by other males. Home ranges estimated as 95% utilization distributions were relatively small in both sexes, averaging 0.64 km2 (range: 0.001–1.4 km2), as were their core areas estimated as 50% utilization distributions, which averaged 0.12 km2 (range: 0.0003–0.12 km2). Small core areas may indicate that caimans remain most of their time in a specific habitat, suggesting abundant resource availability or territoriality.ConclusionsOur work reveals the complexity of social interactions and how caimans select their habitats in a highly altered environment.

Evaluation of Rate of Space Closure Between Platelet Rich Plasma (Prp) Injection and Piezocision in Bimaxillary Protrusion Cases

Aim: Reducing orthodontic treatment duration is a significant concern for both patients and clinicians, as prolonged treatments can lead to complications like dental caries, root resorption, and decreased patient compliance. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two minimally invasive techniques—Piezocision and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection—in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement during space closure in patients with bimaxillary protrusion. Methods: Sixteen patients diagnosed with Angle's Class I bimaxillary protrusion requiring extraction of first premolars were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (n = 8) underwent Piezocision-assisted orthodontic treatment, while Group B (n = 8) received submucosal PRP injections. In both groups, one side of the maxillary arch served as the experimental side, and the contralateral side served as the control. Measurements of space closure were taken at the initiation of retraction (T₀) and after 90 days (T₁). Results: Both Piezocision and PRP significantly enhanced the rate of space closure compared to their control sides. However, Piezocision demonstrated a statistically faster rate of tooth movement than PRP injection. The mean difference in space closure between the Piezocision and PRP groups at T₁ was significant (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: While both Piezocision and PRP injections effectively accelerated orthodontic tooth movement, Piezocision proved to be more efficient in reducing treatment time. Clinicians may consider Piezocision as a preferred method for patients seeking expedited orthodontic treatment.

A 3-D-Printed Multiparametric Wearable System Based on Fiber Bragg Gratings for Shoulder Movement and Respiratory Rate Monitoring

A 3-D-Printed Multiparametric Wearable System Based on Fiber Bragg Gratings for Shoulder Movement and Respiratory Rate Monitoring

Sensitivity of Cerebellar Reaching Ataxia to Kinematic and Dynamic Demands.

Individuals with cerebellar ataxia often face significant challenges in controlling reaching, especially when multijoint movements are involved. This study investigated the effects of kinematic and dynamic demands on reaching movements by individuals with cerebellar ataxia and healthy controls using a virtual reality task. Participants reached to target locations designed to elicit a range of coordination strategies between shoulder and elbow joint movements. Results showed that the cerebellar group exhibited greater trajectory curvature and variability in hand paths compared to controls, with pronounced deficits in the initial hand movement direction. Kinematic simulations indicated that early hand movement errors were sensitive to the required onset times and rates of joint movements and were most impaired when opposite direction joint movements were required (e.g., elbow extension with shoulder flexion). This highlights significant disruptions in motion planning and feedforward control in the cerebellar group. Dynamic analysis showed that cerebellar participants' movements were more impaired in reaching directions where interaction torques normally assist the desired elbow and shoulder movements, which required them to rely more on muscle torques to move. These reach directions were also those that required opposite direction joint movements. Overall, our data suggest that reaching deficits in cerebellar ataxia result from 1) the early-phase motion planning deficits that worsen with tight timing requirements and 2) the inability to compensate for interaction torques, particularly when they assist the intended movement.

The Dynamic Cause of Volcanic Age Disparity in the Halmahera Arc, Eastern Indonesia, Based on Thermal Simulation

A notable feature of volcanic activity in the Halmahera arc since the Middle Miocene is that eruptions have occurred episodically from south to north, rather than simultaneously. However, the dynamic cause of the volcanic age disparity between the northern and southern regions remains unresolved. To investigate this, thermal simulation methods were employed to calculate the temperature structures of the subducted slab and mantle wedge under varying movement rates of subduction and overriding plates. Simulation results indicate that arc magmatism is favored at lower subduction rates or higher overriding plate movement rates. During the Middle Miocene, the northward drift of the Australian plate propelled the Obi microplate southward via left-lateral strike-slip faults, accelerating its movement rate. In contrast, the movement rate of the Halmahera microplate in the north remained lower, unaffected by the Australian plate. The accelerated movement of the Obi microplate resulted in the rapid generation of a higher temperature zone, facilitating arc volcanism on Obi Island in the late Middle Miocene. Meanwhile, the lower movement rate of the Halmahera microplate delayed the formation of a favorable high-temperature zone for arc volcanism, leading to the emergence of volcanism on Halmahera Island in the late Pliocene.