Gait analysis is a non-invasive, cost-effective method for detecting subtle motor changes in neurodegenerative disorders. This study uses an exploratory approach to identify temporal–kinetic gait feature relationships specific to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington (HUNT) and Parkinson (PARK) disease versus healthy controls (CONTROL) using recent advances in InterCriteria Analysis (ICrA). The novelty lies in the (i) comprehensive temporal–kinetic feature set, (ii) use of ICrA to characterize inter-feature coordination patterns at population and disease-group levels and (iii) interpretation in a neuromechanical context. Forty-one temporal/kinetic features were extracted from left/right leg ground reaction force and rate-of-force-development signals, considering laterality, gait phase (stance, swing, double support), magnitudes, waveform correlations, and inter-/intra-limb asymmetries. The analysis included 14,580 steps from 64 recordings in the Gait in Neurodegenerative Disease Database: 16 CONTROL (4054 steps), 13 ALS (2465), 20 HUNT (4730), 15 PARK (3331). Sensitivity analysis identified strict consonance thresholds (μ ≥ 0.75, ν ≤ 0.25), selecting <5% strongest inter-feature relations from 820 feature pairs: population level (16 positive, 14 negative), group-level (15–25 positive, 9–14 negative). ICrA identified group-specific consonances—present in one group but absent in others—highlighting disease-related alterations in gait coordination: ALS (15/11 positive/negative, disrupted bilateral stride coordination, prolonged stance/double-support, decoupled stride/cadence, desynchronized force-generation patterns—reflecting compensatory adaptations to muscle weakness and instability), HUNT (11/7, severe temporal–kinetic breakdown consistent with gait instability—loss of bilateral coordination, reduced swing time, slowed force development), PARK (1/2, subtle localized disruptions—prolonged stance and double-support intervals, reduced force during weight transfer, overall coordination remained largely preserved). Benchmarking vs. Pearson correlation showed strong linear agreement (R2 = 0.847, p < 0.001), confirming that ICrA captures dominant dependencies while moderating the correlation via uncertainty. These results demonstrate that ICrA provides a quantitative, interpretable framework for characterizing gait coordination patterns and can guide principled feature selection in future predictive modeling.

Food drying is a widely used preservation technique; however, achieving high energy efficiency while maintaining product quality remains a significant challenge. This study aims to analyze comprehensive experimental data obtained during the hot-air drying process of the Paşa pear (regional pear) and the system’s autonomous control structure using an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI)-based method. The intelligent drying system, operating for approximately 17.5 h under two temperatures (50 °C and 65 °C) and two air speeds (0.63 m/s and 1.03 m/s), continuously adjusted the temperature and air speed using a PLC-based control mechanism; it ensured stable control throughout the process by monitoring parameters such as product weight, moisture, inlet–outlet temperatures, and air speed in real time. Experimental results showed that drying performance varied significantly with operating conditions, with product mass decreasing from 450 g to 103 g. The innovative aspect of the study is that it obtained quantitative, interpretable rules without discretization by applying the oscillatory chaotic sunflower optimization algorithm (OCSFO) to multidimensional control and process data for the first time. Thanks to its chaotic search mechanism, OCSFO accurately analyzed complex drying dynamics and created rules that achieved over 90% success for high, medium, and low performance classes. The obtained explainable rules clearly demonstrate that drying temperature and air velocity are the dominant determining parameters for drying efficiency, while energy consumption and cabin temperature distribution play a supporting role in distinguishing between efficiency classes. These rules clearly demonstrate how changes in controlled temperature and air velocity, combined with product weight and heat transfer, affect drying performance. Thus, the study offers a robust framework that identifies critical factors affecting drying performance through a transparent artificial intelligence approach that leverages both the autonomous control system and XAI-based rule mining.

Aggregating weight transfer online portfolio strategy based on investors’ attention

BackgroundSubstantial evidence has emerged supporting the use of telemonitoring for patients with heart failure (HF) [1-3]. However, the implementation of new digital care models in healthcare is progressing slowly due to various barriers, such as technological concerns, staff shortages and time constraints [4]. Furthermore, experience from telemedicine studies shows that a considerable proportion of the daily transmitted telemonitoring data contains findings that are clinically unremarkable.PurposeThe primary hypothesis of this study is that an AI-based algorithm for daily risk detection will accurately identify HF patients requiring intervention in a post-hoc analysis from a cohort participating in a telemedicine care programme.Study designThe Telemedical Interventional Management in Heart Failure 3 (TIM-HF3) study is a new multicentre cohort study designed to generate data for the retrospective validation of an AI-based algorithm. Telemedical care was provided as part of standard care in accordance with Germany´s quality-assurance agreement for HF telemonitoring. In addition to routine parameters - daily transfer of blood pressure, 2-lead ECG, body weight and self-assessment- participants also measured peripheral oxygen saturation daily and recorded standardised voice samples weekly. A six-minute activity test and a quality of life questionnaire (PROMIS) were carried out during the baseline visit (BV) and the final visit (FV). Follow-up ranged from 6 to 18 months with BV conducted onsite and the FV via telemedicine. Recruitment took place from March 2023 to March 2024. All hospitalisations were adjudicated by an independent Endpoint Committee.The retrospectively used AI-algorithm, previously described in detail [5], was trained on data of the TIM-HF2 study. To maximize applicability, we applied identical inclusion and exclusion criteria (see picture 1). The algorithm was trained to predict unplanned HF hospitalisations within the following seven days. Baseline risk for each patient was calculated from BV-parameters. Thereafter, a daily risk score indicating the probability of HF hospitalisation within the next seven days was computed from the telemonitoring data. Only patients in the top-risk deciles were flagged for medical assessment by telemedical physicians (see picture 2). From these flags, we derived the sensitivity and specificity for detecting both telemedical interventions and hospitalisations. The goal was to ensure that ≥95% of patients who were hospitalised due to HF were reviewed in the week before the event, despite assessing only ≈30% of patients on any given day.ConclusionsAI-based algorithms can efficiently filter telemonitoring data to identify patients who need intervention, thereby improving patient care and conserving clinical resources. Nevertheless, integrating AI into routine care demands robust scientific validation and careful implementation planning.Inclusion and exclusion criteriaAI-based selection of patients

Differences in calf-raise exercise and short-foot exercise on feedforward and feedback activation in healthy young.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurological disorder that impairs motor control and coordination due to brain injury or abnormalities before, during, or shortly after birth. Although robotic gait training can improve overall gait patterns in CP, interventions targeting the 'foot rockers' motion, essential for stable weight transfer and effective push-off, have received limited attention. In this study, five adults with CP were recruited to train on a robotic treadmill system in which controlled downward forces were applied to the pelvis during walking, promoting implicit motor learning to develop an improved foot rockers strategy. Following this, during overground walking, participants received distinct real-time auditory cues at heel strike and push-off, providing self-awareness feedback to reinforce and maintain the foot rockers pattern acquired during treadmill training. Post-training analyses reported increased Tibialis Anterior activation during early stance, enhancing dorsiflexion and heel strike, and greater Soleus and Gastrocnemius engagement in late stance for stronger push-offs (p <0.05). These functional gains were reflected in key spatiotemporal metrics: longer step length, greater toe clearance, a reduced stance percentage, and a shorter double stance time (p <0.05). Participants also exhibited increased range of motion of the foot and increased knee and hip extension throughout stance, reflecting a more upright lower limb (p <0.05). Survey responses confirmed that participants acknowledged the resistive treadmill training for strengthening their muscles and influencing their walking patterns, and reported that the auditory biofeedback enhanced their awareness of heel-to-toe contact. Participants emphasized the necessity of incorporating both interventions, highlighting its potential as a promising approach to improving foot rockers and overall gait pattern in adults with CP.

Current cheerleading skill assessment predominantly relies on coaches' subjective evaluations, lacking quantifiable biomechanical benchmarks. Although electromyography and ground reaction forces provide critical neuromuscular and kinetic insights, their computational integration for automated motion quality assessment remains underdeveloped in aesthetic sports. This study systematically investigates the Tour à la Seconde through explainable machine learning, establishing an interpretable human-AI collaboration framework to bridge empirical coaching knowledge with data-driven biomechanical diagnostics. Twenty-eight elite athletes (18-22 years, 3+ years training) performed standardized Tour à la Seconde while synchronized 14-lead EMG (2000Hz) and triaxial force plate data were captured. Biomechanical feature engineering encompassed: Neuromuscular dynamics: RMS amplitudes, inter-muscular coherence. Kinetic signatures: Vertical force phasing (Fz_peak), medio-lateral impulse (Fy_impulse), dynamic stability index. A hierarchical modeling approach employing PyCaret's automated ML optimized 12 classifiers via leave-athlete-out cross-validation. SHAP value decomposition elucidated biomechanical determinants of expert-rated performance (binary classification threshold: coach score ≥7/10). The XGBoost model achieved superior generalizability (86% cross-validation accuracy vs. LightGBM's 82%, logistic regression's 76%), with three biomechanical drivers identified: Rotational stability control: Fz_peak timing (SHAP=0.41) correlating with centrifugal force management. Ankle proprioception: Gastrocnemius activation intensity (0.33) reflecting plantarflexion precision. Neuromuscular synergy: Inter-muscular coordination (0.28), indicating kinetic chain efficiency. Notably, while decision trees showed complete training accuracy (100%), 21% test accuracy drop revealed critical overfitting risks. The model's strong congruence with expert evaluations (κ=0.72, 95%CI:0.65-0.79) validates its potential as a coach-assistive tool, particularly through real-time visualization of weight transfer dynamics and muscle activation sequencing. This work establishes a novel computational paradigm for aesthetic sports biomechanics, decoding cheerleading rotational skills through explainable multimodal learning. The framework's technical viability for real-time deployment—evidenced by latency-optimized feature engineering (&lt; 50ms processing time)— AI-enhanced athletic training systems. Future research directions include inertial sensor fusion for 3D kinematic validation and cross-domain adaptation to gymnastics and dance.

Objectives: Obesity, which is the biggest problem of our age, is thought to negatively affect balance. Therefore, our study aims to examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on static and dynamic balance. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted on adults between September 2021 and July 2022. One hundred and twenty participants aged between 18-65 years who were independent in daily living activities were included in the study. Static balance was assessed using the Flamingo balance test and the Prokin Tecnobody Isokinetic Balance Device (TecnoBody S.R.L., Dalmine, Bergamo, Italy), while dynamic balance was evaluated with the Y balance test and the Prokin Tecnobody Dynamic Balance Platform Results: Flamingo balance test results had the highest values in obese individuals and statistically significant differences between the groups in the measurement conducted with the right foot (p=0.001). In Tecnobody parameters, underweight individuals demonstrated faster weight transfer completion times, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p=0.028). Although it was observed that the static and dynamic balance values of underweight individuals were better than other groups and obese individuals were worse, the difference was not statistically significant (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that high BMI can negatively affect the static and dynamic balance in individuals. Therefore, attention should be paid to balance problems, especially for obese individuals.

Objective: To investigate the effects of magnesium sulfate wet compress applied during the second stage of labor in vaginal delivery on maternal and neonatal outcomes, and to provide evidence for perineal protection in midwifery practice. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 117 women who delivered vaginally between September and October 2025 at the study center were enrolled. According to perineal management during the second stage of labor, participants were assigned to the magnesium sulfate wet compress group or the control group. Maternal outcomes (labor duration, perineal laceration rate, NRS pain score, perineal edema, and postpartum cold compress requirement) and neonatal outcomes (body length, birth weight, Apgar score, and transfer rate) were compared between groups. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P &gt; 0.05). Compared with the control group, parturients in the observation group had significantly lower pain scores at 2 hours postpartum, as well as lower incidences of perineal edema and reduced demand for cold compress therapy; moreover, the rates of perineal laceration and episiotomy were significantly decreased (P &lt; 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to neonatal length, birth weight, Apgar score, or neonatal transfer rate (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Magnesium sulfate wet compress during the second stage of labor is a safe and feasible intervention that effectively reduces perineal pain, edema, and birth-related perineal trauma without compromising neonatal outcomes. Larger randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

We present the time-dependent Quantum Geometric Tensor (tQGT) as a comprehensive tool for capturing the geometric character of insulators observable within linear response. We show that tQGT describes the zero-point motion of bound electrons and acts as a generating function for generalized sum rules of electronic conductivity. It therefore enables a systematic framework for computing the instantaneous response of insulators, including optical mass, orbital angular momentum, and dielectric constant. This construction guarantees a consistent approximation across these quantities upon restricting the number of occupied and unoccupied states in a low-energy description of an infinite quantum system. We outline how quantum geometry can be generated in periodic systems by lattice interference and examine spectral weight transfer from small frequencies to high frequencies by creating geometrically frustrated flat bands.

The Effect of Functional Inspiratory Muscle Training versus Inspiratory Muscle Training on Trunk Control and Respiratory Functions in Individuals with Chronic Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Study.

Summary Efficient transfer of weight on bit (WOB) in long horizontal wells remains a key challenge in drilling operations. In this study, we present a segmented drillstring axial creep tool (ACT) that integrates single-point hydraulic excitation with multipoint mechanical vibration to enhance friction reduction and WOB transmission. A Φ175-mm prototype, designed based on biomimetic principles inspired by earthworm peristalsis, was developed and evaluated through laboratory and field tests. Laboratory results show that at flow rates of 20–36 L/s, the ACT generated near-sinusoidal pressure pulsations with a maximum amplitude of 2.55 MPa and a frequency of 2.75–7.8 Hz, corresponding to an axial excitation force up to 48 kN. Field applications in three horizontal wells demonstrated rate of penetration (ROP) improvements of 15.5–92.2% compared with conventional friction-reduction tools, without additional pressure drop. The ACT operated reliably for 350.5 hours, confirming its durability and stability. These findings verify the ACT’s capability to significantly enhance drilling efficiency and provide practical guidance for optimizing friction-reduction tools in extended-reach well drilling.

The Mott insulator α − RuC l 3 , featuring the intertwined interplay of spin-orbit coupling and Kitaev spin correlations, provides an unparalleled platform for probing quantum many-body physics. Using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, we compare temperature-dependent dI / dV spectra between grown monolayers and exfoliated bulk samples. Both systems exhibit pronounced Mott gap softening near 110 K, manifested by spectral weight transfer from Hubbard bands toward the Fermi level, resulting in low-energy correlated charge delocalization. Although this gap softening coincides with Kitaev paramagnetic and structural phase transitions in bulk crystals, monolayer studies provide compelling insights. By eliminating structural phase transition in monolayer sample, we suggest that spin correlations, rather than Coulomb interactions alone, may govern charge dynamics within the Mott-Hubbard framework, challenging conventional Mott-Hubbard paradigms. These results resolve a long-standing controversy regarding the Mott gap magnitude in α − RuC l 3 and experimentally confirm the critical role of spin correlations in Mott physics.

The relevance of the hip-spine interaction in understanding the biomechanical behavior of the hip has led to surgeons assessing spinopelvic characteristics prior to total hip arthroplasty (THA), to identify patients at risk. However, to identify patients with abnormal spinopelvic characteristics, sagittal X-rays of the pelvis and spine are suggested/required, which are associated with increased radiation/cost. The sagittal pelvic tilt is an important parameter to assess as it governs sagittal balance for weight transfer and high values (&gt;19°) have been associated with increased dislocation risk. The aim of this study was to assess whether pre-operative anteroposterior pelvic radiographs (the gold standard of pre-THA) can be used to identify patients with abnormal tilt. In doing so, the secondary aim was to describe features that would allow surgeons to estimate sagittal tilt from AP pelvic radiographs. This is a prospective, IRB-approved, consecutive, case series from a tertiary, academic, center. 300 patients (mean age: 64.8±11.4years; 53.5% females; mean BMI: 28.9±6.0kg/m 2 ), with osteoarthritis, listed for THA underwent detailed pre-operative radiographic evaluations of their hip- and spine anatomy/characteristics. Patients underwent standing and supine AP pelvic radiographs to measure several parameters i. distance between several anatomical landmarks (sacrococcygeal joint, femoral heads, sacro-iliac joint, transischial line, trans-ASIS line, height and width of obturator foramen), which allowed for calculation of various ratios and ii. the sacro-femoral pubic angle (SFP) (Figure 1). SFP has been suggested as an evaluator of sagittal pelvic tilt (SFP-derived-PT = 74 – SFP). On a standing, lateral, spinopelvic radiograph, pelvic tilt (PT – measure of sagittal, weight-transfer, balance) and pelvic incidence (PI – reflects pelvic morphology) were measured. A PT &gt;19° was considered high. The mean standing pelvic tilt in this population was 15.8°±7.6°, 34% had a high pelvic tilt. Moderate correlation was found between pelvic tilt and the vertical distance between symphysis and a line connecting distal end of sacroiliac joint (Fig.1 C) ( rho = −0.410; p&lt;0.001), pubic symphysis to sacroiliac index (PS-SI) (Fig.1 C/D) ( rho = −0.426; p&lt;0.001), ratio between height of foramen obturator and distance between tear drops (Fig.1 E/G) ( rho = 0.455; p&lt;0.001), sacro-femoral-pelvic angle (Fig.1 SFP) ( rho = −0.421;; p&lt;0.001) and vertical distance from symphysis to transischial line (Fig.1 TSITA) ( rho = 0.414; p&lt;0.001). Multivariate analysis with a model predicting 60% of the variation found that E/G, TSITA and sex were the most important predictors. Correlation between PT and SFP-derived PT was moderate ( rho = 0.421; p&lt;0.001). The difference between PT and SFP-derived PT, correlated with PI ( rho = −0.4; p&lt;0.001). An SFP value less than 60° was indicative of risk for high pelvic tilt (sensitivity 88%; specificity 59%). TSITA (vertical distance from symphysis to transischial line) and ratio between height of foramen and distance between tear drops are variables that can help to assess pelvic tilt on standing AP pelvic radiographs. An SFP value &lt;60° can be used as a relevant screening tool for increased pelvic tilt (PT &gt;19°). However, none of the variables on an AP pelvic radiograph strongly correlated with pelvic tilt, showing the need for additional spinopelvic radiographs in at least those with low SFP and patients at-risk of adverse spinopelvic characteristics (age, degenerative lumbar spine or arthrodesis). For any figures or tables, please contact the authors directly.

Background/Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) alters lower limb biomechanics, often leading to an asymmetric plantar pressure distribution. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to restore joint function and may normalize plantar loading, but evidence from instrumented static pressure analysis is limited. The objective of this study was to compare static plantar pressure distributions before and after TKA in individuals with knee OA and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Methods: A pre-post study was conducted on 77 individuals with severe knee OA (Kellgren–Lawrence grade 4) who underwent TKA and 77 matched healthy controls. The plantar pressure area, average pressure, and maximal pressure were assessed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively using a Win-Track force platform. Standard postoperative rehabilitation was followed. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Compared with controls, pre-TKA patients presented significantly lower plantar pressure area, average pressure, and maximal pressure than controls (p &lt; 0.001). At 6 and 12 months post-TKA, the plantar pressure area (p &lt; 0.001) and average pressure (p = 0.001) improved significantly, with more balanced bilateral loading and increased forefoot weight transfer. At 12 months, no significant differences in any plantar pressure parameters remained between the TKA and control groups. Conclusions: Severe knee OA is associated with altered static plantar pressure patterns, characterized by reduced loading and asymmetry. TKA effectively restores plantar pressure distribution, achieving normalization within 12 months. The incorporation of plantar pressure assessment into pre- and postoperative care may guide targeted rehabilitation and enhance functional recovery.

Introduction: Traditional dance training is designed to develop a well-balanced dancer, yet laterality has the ability to impair bilateral strength and functional symmetry. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lateral preference on elite level dancers by conducting a bilateral comparison of lower limb strength and pirouette performance. A pirouette is an essential turning skill in dance technique, wherein multiple revolutions are completed on a single supporting leg along the longitudinal axis. Methods: Eight highly trained female dancers performed three maximal effort single leg countermovement jumps (SCMJ) on each lower limb, as well as ten single pirouette en dehors in both the preferred and non-preferred directions. Results: A lateral preference questionnaire indicated a rightward bias was prevalent amongst this group of dancers for both footedness and preferred turning direction. Significantly more successful pirouettes were performed in the preferred (73%) compared to the non-preferred condition (50%). The SCMJ data demonstrated no significant differences in jump height and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) at take-off, suggesting no bilateral strength asymmetry between the lower limbs. There were also no significant differences in any of the discrete biomechanical pirouette performance variables: displacement of the center of mass over center of pressure (COM-COP), trunk angle, knee flexion and external hip rotation of the gesture leg in retiré position, as well as GRF production and peak pelvic rotational angular velocity at push-off. However, non-significant trends toward greater COM-COP displacement at retiré (0.08 m ± 0.03 vs 0.06 m ± 0.04) and peak pelvic angular velocity at push-off (1.04 revs/s ± 0.20 vs 0.99 revs/s ± 0.22) were observed in the non-preferred compared to the preferred direction, respectively. Conclusion: Therefore, the lower success rate of non-preferred pirouettes may be a result of postural instability or the use of a less efficient weight transfer strategy.

ObjectiveThe research examined how activator-assisted talocrural joint manipulation affects joint range of motion and balance and jumping performance and dynamic weight transfer parameters in elite male volleyball players immediately after treatment.MethodThe study included 60 elite male volleyball players aged 18–25 years with at least 3 years of professional volleyball experience. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 30) and control (n = 30) group. The experimental group received talocrural joint manipulation using an activator device, while the control group received a sham technique. Ankle joint range of motion, Y-balance test, vertical and horizontal jump tests, and pedobarographic weight transfer measurements were performed before and after the intervention.ResultsAfter manipulation, an increase of 4.7% (p < 0.001) in plantar flexion and 3.7% (p = 0.041) in dorsiflexion was observed in the right foot of the study group. In the Y balance test, an improvement of 7% (p < 0.001) in the right-side posteromedial reach distance and 5% (p < 0.001) in the posterolateral reach distance was observed. An increase of 2.3% (p < 0.001) in vertical jump height and 1.3% (p < 0.001) in horizontal jump distance was recorded. A significant increase of 10% (p < 0.001) was observed in the dynamic speed value on the left side. In the control group, changes in all parameters remained below 1%.ConclusionThe activator-assisted talocrural joint manipulation technique delivers quick results for elite male volleyball players by enhancing joint range of motion and balance and jumping performance. The technique should be used in pre-competition preparation for sports which need explosive power and balance.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT07072260, July 9, 2025. Retrospectively registered.

The objective of this retrospective, observational study, was to assess the association of transport duration (0.5, 8, 17, or 24 h) with calf survival, diseases (diarrhea and pneumonia), and preweaning average daily gain (ADG). A total of 392,064 calves (dairy females = 125,901 transported 0.5 or 24 h and dairy-beef [DB] cross = 266,111 transported 8 or 17 h) born from Holstein-Jersey (HxJ) dams at 15 farms under the same overall management were included (from January 2022 through March 2024). Calves (female = 146,163 and male = 125,953) were transported following the conditioning protocol in 2,973 loads with a mean age 3.2 d to two separate calf raising-facilities. Dystocic births, failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunity, calf birth and weaning weights, birth season, calf sex, calf breed, and birth year were recorded. Calf diarrhea and pneumonia, mortality upon arrival at calf raising-facility and up to weaning (60 ± 3 d), and ADG from birth to weaning were recorded. Data were analyzed using GLIMMIX, MIXED, PHREG, or PROC LOGISTIC procedures of SAS. Dam parity, calf health, calf birth season and year, FPT, dystocia, calf sex, calf breed and calf age at transportation were associated with calf mortality up to weaning (P < 0.05). Overall, calf mortality upon arrival at the calf-raising facility was 0.015%, and it did not differ statistically by transport duration. Calves fed two colostrum meals had less FPT compared to one meal (P < 0.0001), regardless of sex or breed. Overall, calf mortality at weaning was 2.49% but varied by transport duration with 3.56% (0.5 h), 1.01% (8 h), 2.18% (17 h), and 1.55% (24 h; P < 0.0001). Calf mortality at weaning differed (P < 0.0001) by transport duration, mostly due to FPT, calf diseases (pneumonia and diarrhea), female dairy calves born to first-calf heifers, sex within DB, birth season, birth year, calf-raising facility and gestation length. Dairy calves transported 24 h (0.76 ± 0.01 kg/d) had higher ADG compared to those dairy calves transported 0.5 h (0.65 ± 0.02 kg/d; P < 0.0001); primarily due to the confounding effect of parity. ADG did not differ for DB calves transported 8 h (0.86 ± 0.04 kg/d) or 17 h (0.82 ± 0.02 kg/d), regardless of parity. While a causal relationship between transport duration and survival or ADG cannot be established, these findings show that key health-related factors early in life play a much larger role in calf mortality at weaning than transport duration.

This study aimed to evaluate biochemical changes in urine associated with mineral and connective tissue metabolism in horses diagnosed with laminitis, and to identify potential markers for early diagnosis and monitoring of this condition. Twenty horses participated in the study: 10 clinically healthy (control group) and 10 animals with laminitis. A clinical examination was conducted, assessing behavior, posture, response to palpation, and physiological indicators. Concentrations of calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), uronic acids, hydroxyproline, and creatinine were determined in urine samples. To eliminate the influence of variations in urine output, the ratio of each indicator to the creatinine level was calculated. Animals with laminitis exhibited the following characteristic clinical signs: weight transfer to the hind limbs; shortened gait; lameness; increased pulsation of the palmar arteries; pain; and localized temperature increase in the hoof area. Biochemical analysis of the urine revealed significant increases in calcium (+31.1%), phosphorus (+78.8%), uronic acids (+49.4%), and hydroxyproline (+50.6%) levels (p &lt; 0.001). The Ca/P ratio decreased by 24% (p &lt; 0.001). Relative indicators also increased: Ca/creatinine (30.2%), P/creatinine (75.0%), uronic acids/creatinine (47.4%), and hydroxyproline/creatinine (50.0%). The obtained data showed that laminitis in horses is accompanied by local and systemic metabolic disorders. Urine markers and their creatinine ratios can be used as additional, sensitive indicators of laminitis severity and treatment effectiveness

Objective: Spinal pathologies are common musculoskeletal disorders in industrialized societies, often leading to impaired thoracic rotation, which is crucial for spinal stability and weight transfer during movement. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a physiotherapy program on thoracic rotation in individuals with spinal pathologies. Method: The study group consisted of 56 patients with spinal pathologies, including 32 with lumbar and 24 with cervical involvement, while the control group comprised 34 healthy individuals without spinal pathologies. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; disability was evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index and the Neck Disability Index; physical performance was measured using the Five-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test; and quality of life was assessed with the Short-Form 36 Health Survey. Thoracic rotation degree was measured using a goniometer. The physiotherapy program, prescribed by a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, was implemented by a physiotherapist for the study group. It consisted of 15 sessions, conducted five days per week, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes. The entire program spanned three weeks. Assessments were performed once for the control group and both before and after physiotherapy for the study group. Results: The baseline assessments revealed that the study group had significantly lower thoracic rotation degrees and higher disability levels compared to the control group (p&lt;0.05). Following the physiotherapy intervention, the study group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in thoracic rotation, pain reduction, quality of life, and sit-to-stand test performance (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Physiotherapy effectively reduces pain and improves quality of life in individuals with spinal pathologies. However, despite improvements, thoracic rotation remains lower than in healthy individuals. Incorporating targeted exercises for thoracic rotation into physiotherapy programs may enhance clinical outcomes in this population.