Search

In badminton, accurate service height detection is critical for ensuring fairness. We developed an automated service fault detection system that employed computer vision and machine learning, specifically utilizing the YOLOv5 object detection model. Comprising two cameras and a workstation, our system identifies elements, such as shuttlecocks, rackets, players, and players’ shoes. We developed an algorithm that can pinpoint the shuttlecock hitting event to capture its height information. To assess the accuracy of the new system, we benchmarked the results against a high sample-rate motion capture system and conducted a comparative analysis with eight human judges that used a fixed height service tool in a backhand low service situation. Our findings revealed a substantial enhancement in accuracy compared with human judgement; the system outperformed human judges by 3.5 times, achieving a 58% accuracy rate for detecting service heights between 1.150 and 1.155 m, as opposed to a 16% accuracy rate for humans. The system we have developed offers a highly reliable solution, substantially enhancing the consistency and accuracy of service judgement calls in badminton matches and ensuring fairness in the sport. The system’s development signifies a meaningful step towards leveraging technology for precision and integrity in sports officiation.

This study investigated how midsole hardness of basketball footwear affects lower extremity biomechanics and impacts perception in drop vertical jumps. Eighteen male basketball players performed drop vertical jumps from three heights (31 cm, 46 cm, 61 cm) in basketball shoes of different midsole hardness (50, 60 Asker C). Biomechanical variables of the lower extremity and subjective perception were measured. This study found a significant drop height effect on the lower extremity biomechanics (p < 0.05), with greater ground reaction forces, joint kinetics, and prelanding muscle activation levels observed at higher drop heights. Basketball shoes with a softer midsole led to higher forefoot peak force (p = 0.028) amid lower rearfoot peak force (p = 0.046), lower peak flexion moments at the ankle (p = 0.024) and hip joints (p = 0.029), and greater prelanding muscle activation in the rectus femoris (p = 0.042) and tibialis anterior (p = 0.043). It is concluded that changing midsole hardness within a commercially relevant range triggered a different prelanding muscle activation strategy and hence altered the magnitudes of ground reaction forces and joint loadings during landing. Subjectively, participants perceived higher landing impacts with greater drop heights, though the strength of the associations were weak.

Epigenetic inheritance describes the transmission of gene regulatory information across generations without altering DNA sequences, enabling offspring to adapt to environmental conditions. Small RNAs have been implicated in this, through both the oocyte and the sperm. However, as much of the cellular content is extruded during spermatogenesis, it is unclear whether cytoplasmic small RNAs can contribute to epigenetic inheritance through sperm. Here we identify a sperm-specific germ granule, termed the paternal epigenetic inheritance (PEI) granule, that mediates paternal epigenetic inheritance by retaining the cytoplasmic Argonaute protein WAGO-3 during spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identify the PEI granule proteins PEI-1 and PEI-2, which have distinct functions in this process: granule formation, Argonaute selectivity and subcellular localization. We show that PEI granule segregation is coupled to the transport of sperm-specific secretory vesicles through PEI-2 in an S-palmitoylation-dependent manner. PEI-like proteins are found in humans, suggesting that the identified mechanism may be conserved., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

This study investigated the between-limb asymmetry in kinetic and temporal characteristics during bilateral plyometric drop jumps from different heights. Seventeen male basketball players performed drop jumps from 3 heights on two platforms in randomized orders. Vertical ground reaction force data were analysed with respect to the lead limb (i.e. the limb stepping off the raised platform first) and trail limb. Peak forces and loading rates of each limb were calculated. The absolute time differential between the two limbs at initial ground contact and takeoff were determined. The frequency of symmetrical landing and taking off with "both limbs together" were counted using 3 time windows. Results showed that the lead limb displayed higher peak forces and loading rates than the trail limb across all heights (p <.05). As drop height increased, the absolute time differentials decreased at initial ground contact (p <.001) but increased at takeoff (p =.035). The greater the preset time window, the more landings and takeoffs were classified as bilaterally symmetrical. In conclusion, higher drop heights allowed subjects to become more bilaterally symmetrical in the timing of landing but this reduction in temporal asymmetry did not accompany with any reduction in kinetic asymmetry.

In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients, a breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL1) value >10% at 3 months of therapy is statistically associated with poorer outcome, yet many of these patients still achieve satisfactory outcomes. We investigated 528 first-line imatinib-treated patients to determine whether patients with the poorest outcome can be better discriminated at 3 months. All outcomes were significantly superior for the 410 patients with BCR-ABL1 ≤10% at 3 months (P < .001). However, the poorest outcomes among the 95 evaluable patients with BCR-ABL1 >10% at 3 months were identified by the rate of BCR-ABL1 decline from baseline, assessed by estimating the number of days over which BCR-ABL1 halved. Patients with BCR-ABL1 halving time <76 days (n = 74) had significantly superior outcomes compared with patients whose BCR-ABL1 values did not halve by 76 days (n = 21; 4-year overall survival, 95% vs 58%, P = .0002; progression-free survival, 92% vs 63%, P = .008; failure-free survival, 59% vs 6%, P < .0001; and major molecular response, 54% vs 5%, P = .008). By multivariate analysis, the halving time was an independent predictor of outcome in this poor risk group. Our study highlighted that the rate of BCR-ABL1 decline may be a critical prognostic discriminator of the patients with very poor outcome among those >10% at 3 months. The International Randomized IFN vs STI571 (IRIS) trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00006343. The Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Optimization and Selectivity (TOPS) trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00124748. The Therapeutic Intensification in DE-novo Leukaemia (TIDEL) I trial was registered at http://www.ANZCTR.org.au as #ACTRN12607000614493. The TIDEL II trial was registered at http://www.ANZCTR.org.au as #ACTRN12607000325404., (© 2014 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Recent studies have demonstrated that some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can maintain remission after discontinuation of imatinib. A prerequisite is stable, undetectable BCR-ABL1. It is not known how many patients achieve this response or the factors associated with its achievement. We examined 423 de novo imatinib-treated patients to determine the cumulative incidence of achieving the discontinuation criteria as defined in the CML8 study (≥2 years of undetectable BCR-ABL1 [Stable MR(4.5)]), and predictive factors. After 8 years of imatinib, the cumulative incidence of Stable MR(4.5) was 36.5%. Therefore, 9% to 15% of first-line imatinib-treated patients would maintain remission after discontinuation. The BCR-ABL1 level at 3 months and factors at diagnosis were examined for association with Stable MR(4.5): Sokal risk, age, sex, and assigned imatinib dose. The only independent predictors were female sex (54.4% vs 27.2%; P = .018) and the 3-month BCR-ABL1 (P < .001). The highest cumulative incidence of Stable MR(4.5) after 8 years was 78.2% for patients with BCR-ABL1 ≤ 0.10%(IS) at 3 months (n = 38). Time to major molecular response (MMR) influenced the time to reach Stable MR(4.5) (P < .001), suggesting slower dynamics of response with a delayed MMR. The findings justify the focus on rapid reduction of BCR-ABL1 as a strategy to maximize potential suitability for imatinib discontinuation studies. The Iris trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00006343. The Tops trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00124748. The TIDEL I trial was registered at www.ANZCTR.org.au as ACTRN12607000614493. The TIDEL II trial was registered at www.ANZCTR.org.au as ACTRN12607000325404.

Sessile serrated adenomas are now recognised as precursor lesions of a substantial subset of colorectal cancers arising via a so-called "serrated pathway". However, their biological markers remain to be defined. The aim of our study was to identify differentially expressed genes in sessile serrated adenomas and conventional adenomas. Gene expression analysis demonstrated molecular differences between polyp types. Further studies using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction on cathepsin E (CTSE) demonstrated a significantly (p < 0.05) higher expression in sessile serrated adenomas as compared to hyperplastic polyp and tubular adenomas. Trefoil Factor 1 showed the same trend of expression for sessile serrated adenomas as compared to hyperplastic polyps and was significantly higher in both polyps compared to tubular adenomas. Immunohistochemistry for both proteins demonstrated strong cytoplasmic staining of abnormal crypts in all sessile serrated adenomas, while staining in tubular adenomas and hyperplastic polyps was absent or weak and focal. BRAF and KRAS mutation analysis were employed to further validate polyp discrimination. The findings demonstrated the positive association of the BRAF mutation, V600E, with sessile serrated adenomas and KRAS mutations with tubular adenomas (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the over-expression in CTSE, in particular, and TFF1 in sessile serrated adenomas compared to both hyperplastic polyps and tubular adenomas.