Test Conditions Research Articles

Feasibility Testing of the Bionet Sonar Ultrasound Transcutaneous Energy Transmission (UTET) System for Wireless Power and Communication of a LVAD.

To address the clinical need for totally implantable mechanical circulatory support devices, Bionet Sonar is developing a novel Ultrasonic Transcutaneous Energy Transmission (UTET) system that is designed to eliminate external power and/or data communication drivelines. UTET systems were designed, fabricated, and pre-clinically tested using a non-clinical HeartWare HVAD in static and dynamic mock flow loop and acute animal models over a range of pump speeds (1800, 2400, 3000 RPM) and tissue analogue thicknesses (5, 10, 15mm). The prototypes demonstrated feasibility as evidenced by meeting/exceeding function, operation, and performance metrics with no system failures, including achieving receiver (harvested) power exceeding HVAD power requirements and data communication rates of 10kB/s and pump speed control (> 95% sensitivity and specificity) for all experimental test conditions, and within healthy tissue temperature range with no acute tissue damage. During early-stage development and testing, engineering challenges for UTET size reduction and stable and safe operation were identified, with solutions and plans to address the limitations in future design iterations also presented.

Energetic and Exergetic Analyses of a Double-Pass Tubular Absorber for Application in Solar Towers

Abstract The present research integrates the concept of double-pass (DP) flows with high-temperature solar receivers to introduce an innovative design aimed at minimizing heat losses and optimizing performance. The new DP system was developed using a tubular absorber derived from billboard solar tower technology and operated with air as the heat transfer medium. Computational fluid dynamic models are developed based on an experimental campaign conducted at a solar furnace facility. The computational analyses indicated that employing the DP design instead of single-pass (SP) absorbers results in an average enhancement of energy and exergy efficiency by 35% and 225%, respectively, across all test conditions. However, this enhancement is accompanied by an average increase in pressure drop of ∼60%. The detailed exergy analysis also revealed the contribution of each term in the exergetic performance, identifying the exergy destruction between the sun and the absorber as the primary source, accounting for an average of ∼65% of the total inlet exergy for both SP and DP absorbers. Consequently, the DP presents itself as a promising alternative design for future solar tower configurations, offering improved Nu numbers up to ∼50% in air-based solar systems.

Advanced Analysis of Structural Performance in Novel Steel-Plate Concrete Containment Structures

This paper investigates the structural performance of novel steel-plate concrete containment structures, focusing on third-generation nuclear power plants. To address the challenges of increased complexities and costs associated with double-layer containment designs, this study explores the potential of steel-plate concrete structures to enhance safety, economic efficiency, and construction simplicity. The steel-plate concrete structure, characterized by its core concrete and dual steel plates, shows superior compressive strength, bending resistance, and elastoplasticity. Extensive numerical analyses, including finite element modeling and thermal-stress coupling, were conducted under various load conditions. Under structural integrity test conditions, the maximum radial displacement observed was 24.59 mm. Under design basis conditions, the maximum radial displacement was 47.61 mm; under severe accident conditions, it was 53.83 mm. The ultimate bearing capacity was 0.91 MPa, 2.17 times the design pressure. This study concludes that the steel-plate concrete containment structure maintains a high safety margin under all tested conditions, with stress and strain well within acceptable limits. It can effectively serve as a robust barrier against radioactive leakage and malicious impacts, providing a viable alternative to conventional containment designs.

Optical Target Projector: Principle of Functioning and Basic Performance Test

Faced with measurement conditions such as high-temperature forging, strict prohibition of surface contamination, and toxic environments, using the projection point of an optical target projector (referred to as an “optical projector”) as a photogrammetric target has become a necessary method of high-precision industrial photogrammetry. In connection with the current industrial demand, we have analyzed the principles of optical projectors and introduced their optical characteristics and advantages in the field of industrial photogrammetry. On this basis, a series of tests such as brightness, roundness, and so on were conducted to determine the basic properties of the optical projector. A set of performance test methods including inner coincidence accuracy and outer coincidence accuracy were proposed; the tests included industrial photogrammetry system measurement repeatability, surface measurement precision, and a comparison test with laser tracker. The test conditions used optical projection points as the photogrammetry targets. The test results showed that the coordinate measurement repeatability of the industrial photogrammetry system is 0.010 mm, and the surface measurement precision is 0.007 mm under the condition of a single optical projector station, with little difference between the results under the condition of pasting retro-reflective targets. In the process of the comparison test with laser tracker, the image quality of the black measurement object obtained is obviously inferior to other surfaces, so the analysis of the point projector is greatly affected by the color of the measured object and other conditions, which provides a reference for the measurement object and application range of the industrial photogrammetric system based on optical targets. The results demonstrate the applicability and reliability of using the optical projection point of an optical projector as target points for photogrammetry.

Activity of antibiotics against Burkholderia cepacia complex in artificial sputum medium.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a collection of intrinsically drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that cause life-threatening disease in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Standard antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods have poor predictive value for clinical outcomes in Bcc infections, probably due in part to differences between in vitro testing conditions and the environment in which Bcc grow in the lungs of people with CF. To compare the activity of commonly used antibiotics under standard in vitro testing conditions with activity in conditions mimicking those found in vivo. Two Bcc strains were grown alone and with six different antibiotics (minocycline, ceftazidime, meropenem, tobramycin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) in two different media: standard cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth and an artificial sputum medium designed to simulate the environment in the lungs of people with CF through addition of components including mucin, free DNA and amino acids. Two different starting conditions were used for time-kill assays: a standard ∼5 × 106 cfu/mL inoculum, and a high-density inoculum in which bacteria were grown for 72 hours before addition of antibiotics. Growth detection was performed by colony enumeration and by detection of resazurin reduction. There were major discrepancies between standard susceptibility results and activity in our models. Some antibiotics, including ceftazidime, showed minimal activity in all time-kill assays despite low minimal inhibitory concentrations, while others, notably tobramycin, were more active in high-density growth conditions than in standard time-kill assays. This work underscores the urgent need to develop more clinically relevant susceptibility testing approaches for Bcc.

Development of a large diameter invitro flow loop thrombogenicity test system.

To accommodate a wider range of medical device sizes, a larger invitro flow loop thrombogenicity test system using 9.5 -mm inner diameter (ID) tubing was developed and evaluated based on our previously established 6.4 -mm ID tubing system. Four cardiopulmonary bypass roller pumps were used concurrently to drive four flow loops during testing. To ensure that each pump produced a consistent thrombogenic response for the same material under the same test conditions, a novel dynamic roller occlusion setting method was applied. Five materials with varying thrombogenic potentials were tested: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), silicone, 3D-printed nylon, latex, and nitrile rubber (BUNA). Day-old bovine blood was heparinized to a donor-specific concentration and recirculated through the flow loops containing test materials at 20 rpm for 1 h at room temperature. Material thrombogenicity was characterized by measuring the thrombus surface coverage, thrombus weight, and platelet (PLT) count reduction. The larger tubing system can differentiate thrombogenic materials (latex, BUNA) from the thromboresistant PTFE material. Additionally, silicone and the 3D-printed nylon exhibited an intermediate thrombogenic response with significantly less thrombus surface coverage and PLT count reduction than latex and BUNA but more thrombus surface coverage than PTFE (p < 0.05). The 9.5 -mm ID test system can effectively differentiate materials of varying thrombogenic potentials when appropriate pump occlusion settings and donor-specific anticoagulation are used. This system is being assessed in an interlaboratory study to develop standardized best practices for performing invitro dynamic thrombogenicity testing of medical devices and materials.

The Influence of Oil and Thermal Aging on the Sealing Characteristics of NBR Seals

Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) is widely used as a sealing material due to its excellent mechanical properties and good oil resistance. However, when using NBR material, the seal structure is unable to avoid the negative effects of rubber aging. Hence, the influence of oil and thermal aging on the characteristics of NBR seals was studied by coupling the mechanical behavioral changes with the tribological behavioral changes of NBR in oil and the thermal environment. For this paper, aging testing and compression testing of NBR were carried out. Additionally, friction testing between friction pairs under different aging times was carried out. The surface morphology of the NBR working surface under different aging conditions was also observed. Finally, coefficients of different test conditions were introduced into the finite element model of NBR seals. It can be seen from the results that the elastic modulus increased with the increase in aging time in the thermal oxidative aging testing. The elastic modulus after 7 days of thermal oxidative aging increased by 135.45% compared to the unaged case, and the elastic modulus after 7 days of oil aging increased by 15.03% compared to the unaged case. The compression set rate of NBR increased significantly with the increase in aging time and temperature. The coefficient of friction (COF) between friction pairs increased first and then decreased with the increase in aging time. The maximum contact pressure decreased by 2.43% between the shaft and sealing ring and decreased by 4.01% between the O-ring and groove. The proportion of the effective sealing area decreased by 3.05% between the shaft and sealing ring and decreased by 6.11% between the O-ring and groove. Furthermore, the sealing characteristics between the O-ring and groove were better than those between the shaft and sealing ring.

Thermodynamic approach for designing processing routes of 4Mn quenching and partitioning steel

AbstractThe study addresses the design and optimization of chemical composition and processing routes of new quenching and partitioning medium-Mn alloy using theoretical and experimental approaches. The thermodynamic calculations using Thermo-Calc and JMatPro software were carried out to characterize the influence of Mn, Si and Al contents on cementite formation and precipitation processes. The evolution of individual phases as a function of temperature under thermodynamic equilibrium conditions was estimated. The investigations included the determination of continuous cooling transformation (CCT) and the time–temperature transformation (TTT) diagrams of a model 4Mn alloy. The calculated equilibrium diagrams were compared with the experimental diagrams determined using dilatometric tests. Microstructural observations were carried out to verify the results of dilatometric measurements. The results of thermodynamic calculations and experimental tests showed the moderate agreement. It is related to the inaccuracy of currently available models in the used software and/or non-equilibrium conditions of experimental tests.

Nondestructive Fatigue Life Prediction for Additively Manufactured Metal Parts through a Multimodal Transfer Learning Framework

Understanding the fatigue behavior and accurately predicting the fatigue life of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) parts remain a pressing challenge due to complex failure mechanisms, time-consuming tests, and limited fatigue data. This study proposes a physics-informed data-driven framework, a multimodal transfer learning (MMTL) framework, to understand process-defect-fatigue relationships in L-PBF by integrating various modalities of fatigue performance, including process parameters, XCT-inspected defects, and fatigue test conditions. It aims to leverage a pre-trained model with abundant process and defect data in the source task to predict fatigue life nondestructively with limited fatigue test data in the target task. MMTL employs a hierarchical graph convolutional network (HGCN) to classify defects in the source task by representing process parameters and defect features in graphs, thereby enhancing its interpretability. The feature embedding learned from HGCN is then transferred to fatigue life modeling in neural network layers, enabling fatigue life prediction for L-PBF parts with limited data. MMTL validation through a numerical simulation and real-case study demonstrates its effectiveness, achieving an F1-score of 0.9593 in defect classification and a mean absolute percentage log error of 0.0425 in fatigue life prediction. MMTL can be extended to other applications with multiple modalities and limited data.

Real-time energy management simulation for enhanced integration of renewable energy resources in DC microgrids

The presented work addresses the growing need for efficient and reliable DC microgrids integrating renewable energy sources. However, for the sake of practicality, implementing complex control strategies can increase system complexity. Thus, efficient methodologies are required to provide efficient energy management of microgrids while increasing the integration of renewable energy sources. The primary contribution of this work is to investigate the issues related to operating a DC microgrid with conventional control designed to power DC motors using readily available, non-advanced control strategies with the objective of achieving stable and reliable grid performance without resorting to complex control schemes. The proposed microgrid integrates a combination of uncontrollable renewable distributed generators (DGs) alongside controllable DGs and energy storage systems, including batteries and supercapacitors, connected via DC links. The Incremental Conductance (InCond) algorithm is employed for maximum power point tracking to maximize power output from the PV system. The energy management strategy prioritizes the solar system as the primary source, with the battery and supercapacitor acting as backup power sources to ensure overall system reliability and sustainability. The effectiveness of the microgrid under various operating conditions is evaluated through extensive simulations conducted using MATLAB. These simulations explore different power generation scenarios, including normal operation with varying load levels and operation under Standard Test Conditions (STC). Moreover, fault analysis of the DC microgrid is performed to examine system reliability. The system performance is evaluated using real-time simulation software (OPAL-RT) to validate the effectiveness of the approach under real-time conditions. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the efficacy of operating a DC microgrid with conventional controllers, ensuring grid stability and reliability across various operating conditions and fault scenarios while prioritizing the use of renewable energy sources. The results illustrated that system efficiency increases with load, but fault tolerance measures, can introduce trade-offs between reliability and peak efficiency.

Femtosecond laser writing of durable open microfluidic channels via a mode-switchable strategy

Open microfluidic systems offer significant advantages, including the elimination of external pumps and facilitating fluid access at any point along the channel. However, their deployment in harsh environments is commonly compromised due to the delicate nature of hydrophilic chemical coatings and the vulnerability of open microchannels to clogging and contamination. Here, a bioinspired, demand-responsive mode-switchable strategy is proposed to enhance the mechanical durability of open microfluidic systems. Specifically, under harsh conditions or when long-term storage is necessary, this strategy allows the open microfluidic device to transition to a protective mode simply through releasing the strain, thereby preserving the integrity of the structure and hydrophilic coatings. The stretched open microfluidic mode enables spontaneous liquid spreading along a hydrophilic microchannel scribed by femtosecond laser. This mode-switchable strategy provides the open microfluidic device with robustness to maintain spontaneous liquid flow, even under severe testing conditions such as 2000 cycles of cotton swab rubbing, sand impact, sandpaper abrasion, tape peeling, twisting, and finger rubbing. A proof-of-concept application involving blood type analysis on this mode-switchable open microfluidic device showcases its superior mechanical durability under severe environmental conditions. The proposed strategy paves the way for the broader use of open microfluidic devices in various practical applications.

5G Networks Based on Software Defined Network

A software-defined network (SDN) based 5G architecture that utilizes three controllers to improve network performance is proposed in this paper. The controllers are responsible for managing functions related to access mechanism, core connectivity, and network transport. The proposed architecture aims to address solutions for the challenges of traditional 5G networks such as scalability, flexibility, and resource allocation. The paper investigates two networks: 5G without SDN and 5G with SDN. The performance of these networks is evaluated by simulation tests using OMNeT++. The results show a considerable improvement in performance measures such as throughput, packet error rate (PER), and energy consumption. Under favorite test conditions, improvements of 46%, 88% and 94%, in throughput, PER, and energy consumption are achieved. The main finding of the paper is that the proposed SDN-based 5G architecture with multi-controllers is a promising arrangement to overcome the challenges of 5G networks.

Comprehensive analysis of the performance of a microfluidic photoelectrochemical solar cell with heat exchanger

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a type of photoelectrochemical cell that converts sunlight directly into electricity using a photoanode with a dye-sensitized, nonporous semiconductor layer. This study investigates the impact of integrating microfluidic capabilities into DSSCs, resulting in a flow-cell configuration that introduces new electrical characteristics without compromising its performance. The primary goal of the work was to define and determine the values of heat, mass, and charge transport resistances, and to explore their relationships with the cell’s current–voltage characteristics, temperature, light intensity, and spectra. We employed both experimental methods and computational fluid dynamics using the Lattice-Boltzmann solver to analyze the cell’s dynamics. A novel multilayered microfluidic DSSC (µDSSC) was designed, featuring an innovative “gapless” configuration with a photoactive surface area exceeding 7 cm2, integrated directly with a microfluidic heat exchanger. This configuration allowed the µDSSC to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of at least 6 % under standard test conditions, with a fill factor reaching up to 68 %. By gradually covering the cell surface, the impact of series resistance (Rs) on PCE was minimized, enabling a maximum PCE of 19–22 %. A new integral definition of the fill factor (IFF) was proposed, which accurately describes the performance of cells constrained by ion mass transport resistance. For the gapless µDSSC, the IFF ranged from 58 % to 88 %. Additionally, we introduced a maximum cell efficiency (MCE) parameter to represent the cell’s efficiency at the theoretical limit of Rs = 0, determined to be 20.7 % for the gapless µDSSC. This MCE value is specific to the cell and is independent of the illuminated surface area and incident light intensity. The thermal efficiency of µDSSC cells is generally limited by heat conduction through the multilayer structure, but at practical cell surface temperatures of 50–80 °C, this limitation is 3 to 6 times less significant than the limitation imposed by the maximum solar energy flux reaching the cell surface. The integration of microchannels into the cell led to a 58 % reduction in hydraulic resistance along the main flow direction. While electrolyte flow typically reduces efficiency in wide-gap DSSCs, the gapless configuration minimizes mass transport resistance, ensuring that fluid flow does not adversely affect the performance of gapless µDSSCs.

Reliability analysis of 50000 kN hydraulic support test bench under shrinkage test conditions

The large mining-height hydraulic support test-bed serves as a crucial tool for heavy hydraulic support factory inspections and type testing. With the successful development of the ZY29000/45/100D hydraulic support, the need for a large high-mining hydraulic support test-bed has become evident. This paper combines the theory of rigid-flexible coupling in virtual prototypes and ADAMS multi-body dynamic simulation technology to analyze the strength of the 50,000 kN hydraulic support test-bed. ANSYS classic modules were employed to address the flexibility of key components within the test-bed. The fatigue life of the test-bed was analyzed using NSOFT software, the von Mises yield criterion, and the Goodman modified curve. The S-N curve of material parameters for the test-bed components was used to conduct a shrinkage test. The results indicate that the lowest position is the most vulnerable during the shrinkage test. Among the key components, the stress on the pin bearing is 356.6 MPa, which is 167.9 %, 123.3 %, and 41.6 % higher than that of the pillar, movable beam, and base, respectively. The fatigue life of the base under low, medium, and high shrinkage conditions is1.1×107, 4.0×108, and 1.7×108, with damage values of 8.8×10-8, 2.5×10-9, and 5.7×10-9, respectively. The base’s life under low shrinkage conditions is the shortest, followed by that under high shrinkage conditions. These research findings provide technical guidance and an optimization foundation for the successful development of a 50000 kN hydraulic support test-bed. They also offer a new method and approach for analyzing and predicting the fatigue life of key components in large-scale industrial and mining equipment operating under complex conditions, with promising practical applications.

HPTLC – densitometric method of analysis for estimation of efonidipine hydrochloride and telmisartan used in treatment of hypertension

Precise, accurate, and sensitive high performance thin layer chromatographic method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of efonidipine hydrochloride (EFD) and telmisartan (TEL) in a tablet dosage form which is used in treatment of hypertension. The proposed method used aluminum plates pre-coated with silica gel 60 F254 as a stationary phase and n-butanol: toluene: acetic acid (3:7:0.2, v/v/v) as a mobile phase for separation purpose. Compact spots of TEL and EFD were obtained at Rf 0.73 and 0.37, respectively. Densitometric detection was carried out at 299 nm in UV. Linear responses were shown by the detector over the range of 200–1200 ng/band for both drugs. The proposed method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The method was successfully applied for estimation of both drugs in tablet formulations. Forced degradation study was carried and efonidipine was found to be susceptible to base hydrolysis and oxidative stress degradation while TEL was stable in acid-base hydrolysis, oxidative stress, dry heat and photo stability testing conditions. The developed method can be used for the analysis of stability samples. Greenness assessment of developed method was performed using AGREE software. The method was found to be greener having greenness score of 0.69.

Load Distribution After Serial Resection of the Posterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus and Subsequent Meniscal Allograft Transplant: A Biomechanical Study.

Data are lacking as to when a meniscal allograft transplant (MAT) may be biomechanically superior to a partially resected lateral meniscus. Lateral MAT using a bone bridge technique would restore load distribution and contact pressures in the tibiofemoral joint to levels superior to those of a partial lateral meniscectomy. Controlled laboratory study. Eleven fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were evaluated in 5 lateral meniscal testing conditions (native, one-third posterior horn meniscectomy, two-thirds posterior horn meniscectomy, total meniscectomy, MAT) at 3 flexion angles (0°, 30°, and 60°) under a 1600-N axial load. Pressure sensors were used to acquire contact pressure, contact area, and peak contact pressure within the tibiofemoral joint. Limited (one-third and two-thirds) partial lateral posterior horn meniscectomy showed no significant increase in mean and peak contact pressures as well as no significant decrease in contact area compared with the intact state. Total meniscectomy significantly increased mean contact pressure at 0° and 30° (P = .008 and P < .001, respectively), increased peak contact pressure at 30° (P = .04), and decreased mean contact area in all flexion angles compared with the native condition (P < .01). Lateral MAT significantly improved mean contact pressure compared with total meniscectomy at 0° and 30° (P = .002 and P = .003, respectively) and increased contact area at 30° and 60° (P = .003 and P = .009, respectively), although contact area was still significantly smaller (24.1%) after MAT relative to the native meniscus (P = 0.015). However, allograft transplant did not result in better tibiofemoral contact biomechanics compared with limited partial meniscectomy (P > .05). The peripheral portion of the lateral meniscus provided the most important contribution to the distribution of contact pressure across the tibiofemoral joint in the cadaveric model. Total meniscectomy significantly increased mean and peak contact pressure in the cadaveric model and decreased contact area. Lateral MAT restored contact biomechanics close to normal but was not superior to the partially meniscectomized status. Surgeons should attempt to preserve a peripheral rim of the posterior lateral meniscus. Meniscal allograft transplant appears to improve but not normalize mean contact pressure and contact area relative to total lateral meniscectomy.

Online state of charge estimation of LiFePO4 battery based on EKF-AUKF algorithm with reference compensation for estimation results

The state of charge(SOC) is an important index in Battery Management System(BMS) for smart grids and electric vehicles, whose accuracy is affected by model and sensor errors. In this paper, an online SOC estimation method based on EKF-AUKF algorithm with reference compensation for estimation results is proposed. Firstly, a joint estimation method based on extended Kalman filter(EKF) and adaptive unscented Kalman filter(AUKF) algorithm is adopted to estimate SOC under Beijing bus dynamic stress test(BBDST) condition. The result shows that the estimation error is within 2 %. Secondly, the characteristics of EKF-AUKF algorithm under voltage and current sampling errors are analyzed over the whole SOC range. The results indicate that voltage measurement error increases SOC estimation error. Then, an online reference is built by calculating the sum of the estimation result of ampere-hour counting(AHC) method and constant deviation, and then the difference between the estimation result of EKF-AUKF algorithm and online reference can be obtained. The absolute value of the difference is used to compare with limit deviation value and compensate the SOC of EKF-AUKF method by different compensation coefficients. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified under different operating conditions. The experimental results show that the proposed method can greatly improve the SOC estimation accuracy under large voltage error.

Gait performance in older adults across the cognitive spectrum: Results from the GAIT cohort.

Gait performance can provide valuable insights into cognitive functioning in older adult and may be used to screen for cognitive impairment. However, the optimal test condition and spatiotemporal parameter for accuracy have not yet been determined. This study aims to determine the gait measure with the highest accuracy identifying cognitive decline. A total of 711 participants were recruited, including 332 cognitively healthy individuals, 264 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 115 with dementia, with a mean age of 72 years (interquartile range 69-76), and 43% (n = 307) of women. The participants underwent gait assessment in three different conditions, including a single task and dual tasks of counting backward by ones and naming animals. Gait performance was deteriorated as cognitive impairment progressed. The gait test performed during naming animals condition was the most accurate in differentiating between cognitive groups. Specifically, the naming animals gait speed was more accurate in discriminating control participants from those with cognitive impairment (area under the curve [AUC] = 76.9% for MCI and 99.7% for people with dementia with control group as reference). The coefficient of stride length variability while naming animals was the most effective parameter in discriminating between MCI and dementia groups (AUC = 96.7%). The naming animals dual-task gait test can be a valuable assessment for screening cognitive impairment in older adults, regardless of their cognitive abilities. The test is useful in clinical settings for subjects with a range of cognitive profiles.

Evaluating cervical spine mobility and Fitt's law compliance: The DidRen laser test adapted for virtual reality with age and sex effects

Cervical spine mobility assessment is crucial in rehabilitation to monitor patient progress. This study introduces the DidRen VR test, a virtual reality (VR) adaptation of the conventional DidRen laser test, aimed at evaluating cervical spine mobility.We conducted a cross-sectional study involving fifty healthy participants that underwent the DidRen VR test. The satisfaction of Fitts' law within this VR adaptation was examined and we analyzed the effects of age and sex on the sensorimotor performance metrics.Our findings confirm that Fitts' law is satisfied, demonstrating a predictable relationship between movement time and the index of difficulty, which suggest that the DidRen VR test can simulate real-world conditions. A clear influence of age and sex on performance was observed, highlighting significant differences in movement efficiency and accuracy across demographics, which may necessitate personalized assessment strategies in clinical rehabilitation practices.The DidRen VR test presents an effective tool for assessing cervical spine mobility, validated by Fitts' law. It offers a viable alternative to real-world method, providing precise control over test conditions and enhanced engagement for participants. Since age and sex significantly affect sensorimotor performance, personalized assessments are essential. Further research is recommended to explore the applicability of the DidRen VR test in clinical settings and among patients with neck pain.

Stress-controlled medium-amplitude oscillatory shear (MAOStress) of PVA–Borax

We report the first-ever complete measurement of MAOStress material functions, which reveal that stress can be more fundamental than strain or strain rate for understanding linearity limits as a function of Deborah number. The material used is a canonical viscoelastic liquid with a single dominant relaxation time: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer solution cross-linked with tetrahydroborate (Borax) solution. We outline experimental limit lines and their dependence on geometry and test conditions. These MAOStress measurements enable us to observe the frequency dependence of the weakly nonlinear deviation as a function of stress amplitude. The observed features of MAOStress material functions are distinctly simpler than MAOStrain, where the frequency dependence is much more dramatic. The strain-stiffening transient network model was used to derive a model-informed normalization of the nonlinear material functions that accounts for their scaling with linear material properties. Moreover, we compare the frequency dependence of the critical stress, strain, and strain-rate for the linearity limit, which are rigorously computed from the MAOStress and MAOStrain material functions. While critical strain and strain-rate change by orders of magnitude throughout the Deborah number range, critical stress changes by a factor of about 2, showing that stress is a more fundamental measure of nonlinearity strength. This work extends the experimental accessibility of the weakly nonlinear regime to stress-controlled instruments and deformations, which reveal material physics beyond linear viscoelasticity but at conditions that are accessible to theory and detailed simulation.