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Purpose: The study had 3 purposes: (1) to develop an index using machine-learning techniques to predict the fitness status of soccer players, (2) to explore the index's validity and its relationship with a submaximal run test (SMFT), and (3) to analyze the impact of weekly training load on the index and SMFT outcomes. Methods: The study involved 50 players from an Italian professional soccer club. External and internal loads were collected during training sessions. Various machine-learning algorithms were assessed for their ability to predict heart-rate responses during the training drills based on external load data. The fitness index, calculated as the difference between actual and predicted heart rates, was correlated with SMFT outcomes. Results: Random forest regression (mean absolute error = 3.8 [0.05]) outperformed the other machine-learning algorithms (extreme gradient boosting and linear regression). Average speed, minutes from the start of the training session, and the work:rest ratio were identified as the most important features. The fitness index displayed a very large correlation (r =.70) with SMFT outcomes, with the highest result observed during possession games and physical conditioning exercises. The study revealed that heart-rate responses from SMFT and the fitness index could diverge throughout the season, suggesting different aspects of fitness. Conclusions: This study introduces an "invisible monitoring" approach to assess soccer player fitness in the training environment. The developed fitness index, in conjunction with traditional fitness tests, provides a comprehensive understanding of player readiness. This research paves the way for practical applications in soccer, enabling personalized training adjustments and injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNLABELLED: Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with a propensity to colonize humans and persist on environmental surfaces. C. auris invasive fungal disease is being increasingly identified in acute and long-term care settings. We have developed a prototype cartridge-based C. auris surveillance assay (CaurisSurV cartridge; research use only) that includes integrated sample processing and nucleic acid amplification to detect C. auris from surveillance skin swabs in the GeneXpert instrument and is designed for point-of-care use. The assay limit of detection (LoD) in the skin swab matrix was 10.5 and 14.8 CFU/mL for non-aggregative (AR0388) and aggregative (AR0382) strains of C. auris, respectively. All five known clades of C. auris were detected at 2-3-5× (31.5-52.5 CFU/mL) the LoD. The assay was validated using a total of 85 clinical swab samples banked at two different institutions (University of California Los Angeles, CA and Wadsworth Center, NY). Compared to culture, sensitivity was 96.8% (30/31) and 100% (10/10) in the UCLA and Wadsworth cohorts, respectively, providing a combined sensitivity of 97.5% (40/41), and compared to PCR, the combined sensitivity was 92% (46/50). Specificity was 100% with both clinical (C. auris negative matrix, N = 31) and analytical (non-C. auris strains, N = 32) samples. An additional blinded study with N = 60 samples from Wadsworth Center, NY yielded 97% (29/30) sensitivity and 100% (28/28) specificity. We have developed a completely integrated, sensitive, specific, and 58-min prototype test, which can be used for routine surveillance of C. auris and might help prevent colonization and outbreaks in acute and chronic healthcare settings. IMPORTANCE: This study has the potential to offer a better solution to healthcare providers at hospitals and long-term care facilities in their ongoing efforts for effective and timely control of Candida auris infection and hence quicker response for any potential future outbreaks.

Study Design.: Retrospective cohort study. Objective.: Although there are several methods available to assess upper limb function in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, few methods can evaluate the degree of upper limb functional impairment in activities of daily living. Summary of Background Data.: We devised and evaluated the utility of a new assessment method called the 10 Coins Test, which is based on daily movements. Materials and Methods.: The study included 39 patients who underwent spinal surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy and who were followed up for 1 year postoperatively. The mean age was 65.2±11.5 years, with 31 (79.5%) male and 8 (20.5%) female patients. The 10 Coins Test is a simple examination that measures the time it takes to pick up and move 10 coins forward. Patient satisfaction with surgery was evaluated on a 5-point scale. We compared the 10 Coins Test results, patient satisfaction, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) results before and after surgery. Results.: The mean time to perform the 10 Coins Test was 27.4 seconds for the dominant hand and 24.5 seconds for the nondominant hand preoperatively. In the control group, the average time was 14.6 seconds for the dominant hand and 15.0 seconds for the nondominant hand. The cut-off value was 16.2 seconds. There was a significant difference in the 10 Coins Test time and satisfaction for both hands at 1 week postoperatively compared with preoperatively. The JOACMEQ upper limb motor function showed a significant improvement 3 months postoperatively compared with preoperatively. The 10 Coins Test result was correlated with satisfaction and the JOACMEQ upper limb motor function. Conclusion.: The 10 Coins Test allows for the quantitative evaluation of complex movements. It is convenient and highly useful for assessing upper limb function in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to analyze the evolution, reliability, and validity of agility testing in athletes. The results indicated the necessity of prioritizing reactive agility (RA) as the primary focus in the scientific assessment of athletes' agility performance. The cutting and "stop and go" tests were the most widely used agility tests, utilizing light or human random signals as stimuli. Overall, the agility tests demonstrated that high reliability and poor agility performance could be predictive indicators of higher sports injury rates. Convergent validity between the agility and change of direction speed (CODS) tests was moderate. Agility tests could also differentiate athletes with different performance levels and age groups. Future practitioners should focus on customizing the "gold standard" agility tests for specific sports, which includes evaluating the reliability and validity of these tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional Intelligence (EI) in teaching is associated with various educational outcomes and processes. However, it has typically been measured through self-reports and general EI assessments, lacking a specific performance test with greater ecological validity in relation to the demands of the professional educational context. This study describes the development and validation results of the Video-Test of Emotional Intelligence for Teachers (ViTIED), a new performance-based measure to assess the EI of secondary education teachers based on ability EI model and the situational judgment test paradigm. The test comprises 12 video scenes designed to elicit intra- and interpersonal processes, as well as both positive and negative emotions. A total of 163 Spanish teachers (36% male, 64% female; mean age = 40.32 years) completed the ViTIED, along with personality, perceived EI, and burnout assessments. Test scores provide initial evidence of adequate reliability, as well as content, convergent, and divergent validity. Continued validation of this measure will benefit evaluation and intervention processes with teachers, as well as research on the impact of teachers' EI on the teaching–learning processes and the well-being of the educational community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power transformers are fundamental components in electrical grids, requiring robust insulation to operate reliably under various abnormal conditions, including overvoltages caused by lightning or switching. As defined by existing standards, the Basic Insulation Level (BIL) or Switching Insulation Level (SIL) of a transformer validates its reliability through impulse testing. These tests presume linearity in the overall system and equipment being tested. They compare waveforms at reduced and full impulse levels to detect or enhance insulation failures. Traditionally, this relies on visual inspection due to subjective acceptance criteria. This article presents a historical background review of the practices involving the use of analogue instruments evolved into digital oscilloscopes and digitizers, and the ways in which they enhance waveform acquisition and analysis capabilities. Despite advances in digital processing, including analyses on the frequency domain rather than only on time, such as transfer function analysis and coherence functions, and other signal transformations, such as wavelet calculation, interpreting differences in waveform records remains subjective. This article presents the development of a tool designed to emulate traditional photographic methods for waveform comparison. Moreover, the TRIMP software used enables multiple comparisons using various similarity and dissimilarity metrics in both the time and frequency domains, providing a robust system for identifying significant differences. The developed methodology and implemented metrics can form the basis for future machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) applications. While digital tools offer significant advantages in impulse testing, improve reliability, reduce subjectivity, and provide robust decision-making metrics, their test approval remains based on visual comparisons due to consolidated engineering practices. Regardless of the metrics or indications obtained, the developed tool is a powerful graphic visualizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop copula-based measures and testing procedures for the conditional asymmetry of a random variable given another. The resulting tests are ranked based and thus robust to the outliers. The asymptotic properties of the test statistics are investigated. Simulation studies and real data analysis are conducted to illustrate the performance of the proposed tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that often leads to severe disability. Although exercise, particularly strength training, improves health outcomes in MS, no standardized, reliable tool exists for functional assessment to inform tailored exercise prescriptions and patients' categorization. This study aimed to validate the reliability of the MScope battery, a comprehensive tool incorporating structural, functional, and neuromuscular assessments to objectively evaluate patients with MS. A reproducibility study was conducted with 40 MS patients who completed the MScope battery twice, 72 h apart. Tests included structural (muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris), functional (sit-to-stand, timed up-and-go, 10 m and six-minute walking test), and neuromuscular tests (isometric strength during the squat and leg extension exercises and handgrip strength). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Bland–Altman plots, and the coefficient of variation (CV) were used to evaluate intra- and inter-day reliability. The MScope battery showed high intra- and inter-day reliability, with ICC values ranging from 0.79 to 0.99. Muscle thickness measurements, along with handgrip strength, demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC > 0.9, CV < 5%). Functional tests, including the timed up-and-go, 10 m walk, and sit-to-stand variations, maintained consistent scores (ICC > 0.85, CV < 10%). The six-minute walking test exhibited excellent inter-day reliability (ICC = 0.94, CV < 4%). Neuromuscular assessments showed strong reliability with minor day-to-day variability (ICC = 0.75–0.95, CV < 8%). The battery's overall consistency supports its use as a reliable tool for assessing functional status in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the large-scale construction of urban rail transit viaducts in China, the noise problem caused by trains traversing these sections has become increasingly prominent and a key technical challenge that restricts the sustainable development of rail transit. There are two main noise sources when trains pass on rail transit viaducts, namely, wheel-rail noise (WRN) and bridge-borne noise (BBN). However, most of the existing rail transit viaduct noise prediction models consider only a single noise source. In this study, a total noise prediction model incorporating both WRN and BBN was established using the finite element method (FEM), the boundary element method (BEM), and statistical energy analysis (SEA). The viaducts of Wuhan Metro Line 2 were selected as the research object, and noise tests of trains passing on the viaducts were carried out to validate the total noise prediction model. Based on the validated model, the spatial distribution characteristics and attenuation laws of the total noise were investigated, along with the influence of train speed on the total noise. The results show that the prediction model accurately simulated the total noise caused by trains passing on viaducts. When a train passed on the viaduct at a speed of 60 km/h, the total noise near the viaduct reached 88 dB(A) and decreased with the increase in the distance; at 120 m from the track centerline, the total noise decreased to less than 57 dB(A). As the distance increased, the total noise diminished across the entire frequency spectrum. Notably, low-frequency noise decayed at a slower rate than high-frequency noise. As the distance from the track centerline doubled, the total noise decreased by about 4.23 dB(A). The total noise increased with train speed. When the train speed doubled, the total noise at 30 m and 120 m from the track centerline increased by 6.32 dB(A) and 5.96 dB(A), respectively. The reason for this phenomenon is that the wheel-rail forces increase with the increase in train speed. This study will have important guiding significance and scientific value for the sustainable development of urban rail transit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jump actions are common in several sports, and their performance is related to a myriad of biomechanical and physiological factors, with links to athletic performance and imbalances. Currently, a valid, field-based, easy-to-use tool to assess the quality of an explosive jump movement, similar to the required sports movements, is unavailable. Thus, the present study aimed to design and validate a field-based, easy-to-use tool that can be used to assess the quality of movement during an explosive single-leg countermovement jump (SL-CMJ). Ten experts participated in the content validation process for the checklist, including checking item relevance, definition accuracy, and scoring adequacy. Content validity was measured using the Aikens V format. The checklist included the items "Foot orientation," "Knee valgus/varus," "Internal/external hip flexed orientation," "Pelvis tilt," "Thorax tilt," "Thorax rotation," "Foot pronation/supination," "Asymmetrical hip," and "Lumbo-pelvic association". The items achieved a 0.60–0.99 in relevance, 0.70–1.00 in definition accuracy, and 0.80–0.83 in scoring adequacies in the Aikens V proof. The results from the context validation process suggest that the tool may be appropriate to assess athletesʼ quality of explosive movement. Furthermore, the results derived from such assessments may help to design better and safer training interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Many statistical inferences for a multivariate innovation‐based copula time series model rely on the serial independence of innovation vectors after filtering the conditional means and conditional covariance. Zero (respectively nonzero) serial cross‐correlations for the heteroscedastic noises before filtering the conditional covariance may suggest the use of univariate (respectively multivariate) GARCH models. This paper develops a zero serial cross‐correlation test for the heteroscedastic noises with heavy tails before fitting a multivariate heteroscedasticity model. Applications to exchange rates and mutual fund returns show that this critical assumption could be problematic sometimes and conducting such a test is necessary before building and using a multivariate innovation‐based copula time series model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to compare the effects of inhalation anesthesia applied with sevoflurane or desflurane and intravenous anesthesia with propofol on early postoperative cognitive functions. Methods: This study included patients with the ASA I-III classes, aged between 30-70 years and who underwent elective laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. The cognitive function levels of the patients were determined by performing the Mini-Cog test the day before the surgery. The patients were randomly divided into three groups as Group I (Desflurane), Group II (Sevoflurane), and Group III (Propofol). After induction of anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil rocuronium, endotracheal intubation was performed in all patients. In addition to the remifentanil infusion administered to all patients during the maintenance of anesthesia, anesthesia depth was provided with desflurane, sevoflurane inhalation or propofol infusion, with a bispectral index (BIS) of 40-60. The Modified Aldrete Recovery Scores (MARS) were measured and recorded at the postoperative 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th minutes in all patients. Pain levels were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) at the 10th, 20th, and 30th minutes postoperatively. The Mini-Cog test was repeated by the same physician at the postoperative 24th hour and compared with the preoperative values. Results: There was no difference in demographic characteristics, duration of surgery and anesthesia, postoperative MARS and VAS values between the three groups (for all, p>0.05). While there was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative Mini-Cog test scores in the Desflurane and Propofol groups (p>0.05), it was observed that the Mini-Cog test in the sevoflurane group was significantly lower than in the Propofol group and Desflurane group (p=0.002 and p=0.012, respectively). Conclusion: It was concluded that desflurane and propofol did not have negative effects on cognitive functions, while sevoflurane had a negative effect on postoperative cognitive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is uncertain how transfusion knowledge translates to practice. The purpose of the study was to determine if higher scores on a validated Transfusion Camp knowledge assessment test were associated with transfusion order appropriateness. Study Design and Methods: Eligible participants included postgraduate trainees and faculty physicians who had prescribed at least four transfusion orders in the preceding 6 months at two hospitals. Participant data and knowledge were collected using a web‐based questionnaire with a validated Transfusion Camp knowledge assessment tool. The most recent 4–10 consecutive transfusion orders per prescriber were independently dually adjudicated for appropriateness based on published criteria. The primary outcome was the correlation between the score on six questions on red blood cells (RBCs), platelets (PLTs), and plasma from the validated test and the percentage order appropriateness. Generalized linear regression was conducted to determine if factors (sex, specialty, participation in Transfusion Camp, previous transfusion education, self‐rated knowledge) were associated with appropriate orders. Results: Seventy‐four participants (45 trainees, 29 faculty; 31 females, 43 males) completed the test. Median score was 66.7% (interquartile range [IQR]: 50.0, 83.3) for six questions on RBCs, PLTs, and plasma transfusions. Of 546 transfusion orders adjudicated, appropriateness was 90.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 87.9%–93.0%). The correlation between prescriber test scores and order appropriateness was very weak (r = −.08). In multivariable analysis, female prescribers (p =.02) and beginner (vs. intermediate) self‐rated knowledge (p =.01) were associated with higher transfusion appropriateness. Conclusion: Transfusion knowledge test scores did not correlate with order appropriateness. Factors other than knowledge are key to understanding how to improve appropriate blood use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the structure and failure of toxic goods wagon. Furthermore, the connection and corrosion of the wagon sun shield were investigated on site. According to the field analysis, the aerodynamic model of a group of five vehicles was established, and the stress of the sun shield under the aerodynamic load was analyzed. The finite element model was built and the static simulation analysis of four kinds of working cases was carried out. Two kinds of sun shield specimens with different thickness were manufactured, and the wagon was tested under the normal bolt condition and missed bolts condition. Based on the above research, the paper proposes the optimized scheme. Finally, the connection scheme of the sun shield is modified. The modified sun shield works well in service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oscillating grease-lubricated slewing bearings are used in several applications. One of the most demanding and challenging is the rotor blade bearings of wind turbines. They allow the rotor blades to be turned to control the rotational speed and loads of the complete turbine. The operating conditions of blade bearings can lead to lubricant starvation of the contacts between rolling elements and raceways, which can result in wear damages like false brinelling. Variable oscillating amplitudes, load distributions, and the grease properties influence the likelihood of wear occurrence. Currently, there are no methods for rating this risk based on existing standards. This work develops an empirical methodology for assessing and quantifying the risk of wear damage. Experimental results of small-scale blade bearings show that the proposed methodology performs well in predicting wear damage and its progression on the raceways. Ultimately, the methods proposed here can be used to incorporate on-demand lubrication runs of pitch bearings, which would make turbine operation more reliable and cost-efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ratooning rice plants have a high moisture content and strong adhesion during harvesting. Traditional cleaning devices are prone to clogging when processing ratooning rice, resulting in a series of problems such as high grain loss rate and high grain impurity rate. In response to the above issues, this article adopts the CFD-DEM coupling method to design a spiral step cleaning device. A detailed analysis was conducted on the influence of the cone angle and thickness of the spiral-stepped skeletons on the flow state, and flow velocity and pressure distribution cloud maps were obtained under different structural parameters. The vortex morphology under different thicknesses of the spiral-stepped skeletons was compared, and the structural parameters of the device were determined. The motion trajectory and distribution of impurity particles under different inlet flow velocities were analyzed using data superposition, and the appropriate inlet flow velocity range was determined. A test bench was built, and a three-factor quadratic regression orthogonal rotation combination experiment was conducted with fan speed, feeding rate, and device inclination angle as experimental factors. The results of the bench test show that the performance index reaches its optimum when the device inclination angle, fan speed, and feeding rate are 2.47°, 2906 r/min, and 4.0 kg/s, respectively. At this time, the grain impurity rate, grain loss rate, and sieve clogging rate are 2.21%, 2.15%, and 3.5%, respectively. Compared to those of traditional cleaning equipment, these value are reduced by 44.5%, 39.6%, and 83.9%, respectively. This study can provide ideas for the design of ratooning rice cleaning devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed trains obtain energy through the pantograph-catenary system. The safe and stable operation of this system is crucial for the train's normal operation. The catenary is exposed to air over a long period, resulting in varying degrees of oxidation. However, the impact of interface oxidation on the friction and wear performance of the pantograph-catenary system and the damage characteristics of the slide plate material under different degrees of interface oxidation has not been well understood. Using a reciprocating pantograph-catenary current-carrying friction and wear test rig, this study quantitatively examined the effect of interface oxidation on the friction and wear performance of the pantograph-catenary system by adding copper oxide powder to the contact interface. Tests under current-carrying and non- current-carrying conditions were compared to analyze the competition between mechanical and electrical wear during interface oxidation. The results demonstrated that, under non-current-carrying conditions, interface oxidation effectively reduced the slide plate wear rate and friction coefficient. Under current-carrying conditions, the friction coefficient and slide plate wear rate decreased initially and then increased as the oxide film thickness increased. A suitable thickness of the oxide film reduced the mechanical wear of the contact pair materials and enhanced the contact conditions of the pantograph-catenary system. However, as the oxide film thickness continued to increase, electrical wear became dominant, exacerbating material loss. Observations of the slide plate wear morphology revealed that, under non-current conditions, the addition of the oxide film significantly reduced adhesion between the slide plate and the catenary. Under current-carrying conditions, when the oxide film thickness was 4.6 µm, the the slide plate surface appeared relatively smooth, with large areas of copper transfer layers. As the oxide film thickness further increased, the ablation marks on the slide plate surface became more pronounced. The research results of this study provide guidance for understanding the damage mechanism of the pantograph-catenary system and for enhancing the contact performance of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a 2D numerical simulation method for predicting the resistance of ships navigating in pack ice. The key contribution of this study lies in the derivation of analytical closed-form solutions for calculating the flexural deformation and stress distribution in an elastic plate using Symplectic Mechanics and Hooke's laws. These solutions are used to determine the failure mode of ice floes. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFMs) and the weight function method are utilized to analyze crack initiation, propagation, and fracture. Ice is broken when a crack propagates to 14.5% of the ice length. The compressive strength of ice and the contact area are used to calculate the ice load. A collision method was developed based on the Sweep and Prune (SAP) and Gilbert–Johnson–Keerthi (GJK) algorithms. A program for predicting the resistance of ships navigating in pack ice was developed based on MATLAB and the aforementioned theories. The navigation resistance of RV Xuelong at different ice concentrations and speeds was simulated and compared with the model test results from an ice tank. The comparison shows that the simulation results are consistent with the test results, with an average error of 9.05%, indicating the effectiveness and reliability of this numerical method. This study lays a solid foundation for future research on autonomous ship navigation in pack ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Computer Measurement & Control is the property of Magazine Agency of Computer Measurement & Control and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the increasing use of innovative force plate systems in applied sports settings and the impact that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have on team success, the purpose of the present study was to compare the lower-body neuromuscular performance characteristics of athletes who underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and their non-injured counterparts (i.e., healthy controls). Forty-five male (thirteen injured) and twenty-six female (ten injured) semi-professional soccer players volunteered to participate in the present study. Each athlete performed three countermovement vertical jumps (CMJs) while standing on a uniaxial force plate system sampling at 1000 Hz. The injured athletes completed a nine-month recovery protocol and were screened 11–13 months post-ACLR. The dependent variables included the force–time metrics within both the eccentric and concentric phases of the CMJ. Independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U-test were used to examine statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in each variable (i.e., ACL-injured vs. healthy controls). The results revealed no significant between-group differences in any CMJ force–time metrics of interest (e.g., concentric peak force, eccentric mean power, countermovement depth) between ACL-injured and non-injured athletes, including inter-limb asymmetry measures (i.e., peak takeoff and landing force). Besides implying the effectiveness of the implemented rehabilitation protocol, these findings suggest that the CMJ may not present a sufficient neuromuscular performance stimulus needed to expose lower-limb asymmetries and strength and power deficiencies 11–13 months post-ACLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an article in the field of mineral materials. Non-sintered ceramsite were prepared using iron tailings and fly ash as the main raw materials, and the effects of iron tailings proportion on the stacking density, apparent density, water absorption, and strength of non-sintered ceramsite were studied at different material mix ratio. The results showed that with the increase of iron tailings proportion, the stacking and apparent density of ceramsite gradually increased, while the water absorption gradually decreased. The strength shows a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. The method of preparing ceramsite from iron tailings can significantly improve the utilization rate of iron tailings. The non-sintered ceramsite production have practical application value and can provide a new way for the comprehensive utilization of iron tailings with good economic and environmental benefits.

This paper aims to critically analyze lexical contents in national English standardized tests in an EFL context. Using the Compleat Lexical Tutor corpus tool, the lexical profiles of these exams are meticulously examined, revealing the distribution of word types, tokens, and word families across various frequency bands. The findings show that the lexical demands in the standardized tests are inconsistent across the examined years, with a predominant emphasis on high-frequency words and recognition-based knowledge. The study concludes by offering recommendations to improve the test design, advocating for a more balanced approach that better reflects the complexities of vocabulary knowledge.

This article analyzes the structural and semantic features of the French folk tale “Sleeping Beauty,” which was recorded at the end of the 19th century by the folklorist L. Dardy in a remote corner of the Gascony. Due to the isolation of the region, this fairy tale not only contains elements of local culture but also maintains its archaic structure free from later literary influences. It allows us to identify the ancient core of the plot, which is associated with initiation rites and mythological ideas about circular time. In the structure of the fairy tale, there are 15 different functions. The narrative arrangement of these functions has several deviations from the traditional pattern and determines an important aspect of the plot that is relevant for its continuation in later literature and culture. One of these deviations is the doubling of function VIII, which involves villainy or lacking. This leads to a focus on two main characters, the victim and the seeker hero, and the simultaneous liquidation of villainy and lacking. Turning to the actions of the hero-seeker, the fairy tale “forgets” about the protagonist (Sleeping Beauty) for a while, who does not undergo traditional tests, does not engage in an open conflict with the antagonist, and does not win over the latter. Instead, she remains inactive for a significant part of the story, which creates a functional and semantic gap and contributes to the emergence of numerous later interpretations of the story filled with new motivations.

The fixed stroke fatigue test cannot simulate the real loading conditions of the landing gear, and the variable stroke fatigue test has increasingly become mainstream. A modular test device for fatigue tests for aircraft landing gears was designed, and the automatic control of the buffer stroke was realized with ectopic displacement control technology effectively. The horizontal loading cylinder could follow the wheel axis actively with the displacement active control technology. The follow-up loading along the vertical direction was realized by constructing a polar coordinate system and making the loading line automatic alignment. A split-type dummy wheel was designed to improve the loading accuracy, and a booster cylinder was designed to realize the control loading of high pressure combined with the hydraulic control system. The test results show that the technical scheme meets the design requirements, and the fatigue test was completed successfully. The device for landing gear variable stroke fatigue testing is appropriate for other landing gear static/fatigue tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high power loaders, the drive axle is a key part of the drive train and its low power loss is critical to maintain consistently excellent performance. Calculating its power loss is challenging due to the complexity of its internal structure. A platform for calculating the power loss of the drive axle including the main reducer, the brake and the wheel-edge reducer was constructed in the Matlab platform, and the distribution of various power losses in the drive axle was obtained, while the accuracy of the calculation platform was verified accordingly through experiments. The results show that the calculation error is within 12%. The proposed modeling method and results provide important reference for the rapid and low-cost development of new generation drive axle products.

Background. Digitalization of education has actualized the need to search for new methodological solutions adequate to the organizational conditions of blended learning, which would contribute to a high educational results achievement in engineering specialties students’ humanitarian training in the university’s lecture-based humanitarian disciplines. Purpose. To develop an effective teaching methodology for a lecture-based humanitarian discipline "Business Communication in Russian" using digital educational resources as a means of ensuring independent students’ theoretical and practical work, their educational activities results monitoring. Materials and methods. The article presents the experience of the results of theoretical scientific and methodological literature analysis and our own pedagogical practice generalization. The comparison of pedagogical documentation analyses results and the results of the groups in the traditional form and using digital educational resources was used. Results. A methodology for teaching the lecture discipline "Business Communication in Russian" relevant for technical universities has been developed in the context of transferring students' practical work to digital educational resources. It ensures effective formation of communicative competence from the standpoint of information and linguistic approaches. The lecture format of training implements the idea of ​​"immersion", which is achieved by: 1) presenting the content of the discipline as a system of modules formed on the basis of information "compression" into oriented graphs reflecting the logical and value aspects of learning; 2) using digital means of visualizing the semantic accents of the lecture; 3) dialogization of learning. Independent work of students implements a practical training format, involves parallel with classroom classes taking an electronic course on the digital educational platform of the university: completing theoretical and practical tasks aimed at updating and enriching the communicative experience of students. Modular control is carried out in the form of testing. The assessment is point-rating; the final one is cumulative, with permission to correct the current result.

The task of constructing test sequences difference characteristics was studied. Its relevance for generating controlled random tests and complexity in finding difference measures for the case of symbolic tests were substantiated. The limitations of using traditional distance characteristics to obtain a measure of the difference between test sets are shown. For the binary case, a new measure of the difference MH(Ti, Tk) of two character test sets Ti and Tk is defined based on the classical Hamming distance. This measure represents n components, each of which is determined by the Hamming distance between the binary set Ti and the pattern Tk cyclically shifted by v bits. The main properties of the proposed dissimilarity measure are reviewed and its effectiveness for classifying test candidates when generating controlled random tests is shown. Experimental results are presented that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed difference measure.

Background: Semantic and short-term episodic memory are impaired in some brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Objective: Development and validation of an almost self-administered, but cognitively demanding four-minute test identifying very mild cognitive impairment (vMCI). Methods: The innovative hedgehog PICture Naming and Immediate Recall (PICNIR) consisted of two parts. The first task was to write down the names of 20 black-and-white pictures to evaluate long-term semantic memory and language. The second task involves immediate recall and writing the names of as many previously named pictures as possible in one minute. The PICNIR is assessed using the number of naming errors (NE) and correctly recalled picture names (PICR). The PICNIR and a neuropsychological battery were administered to 190 elderly individuals living independently in the community. They were divided into those with vMCI (n = 43 with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 24 ± 3 points) and sociodemographically matched cognitively normal (CN) individuals (n = 147 with MoCA 26 ± 3). Both subgroups had predicted mean Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 28–29 points. Results: Compared to CN, vMCI participants made more NE (0.3 ± 0.6 versus 0.6 ± 0.9; p = 0.02) and recalled fewer PICR (8.9 ± 2.2 versus 6.8 ± 2.2; p < 0.000001). Discriminative validity was satisfactory using the area under the ROC curve (AUC): 0.76 for PICR, 0.74 for MoCA, 0.67 for MoCA-five-word recall, and 0.59 for NE. The AUCs of PICR and MoCA were comparable and larger than those of MoCA five-point recall or NE. Logical Memory scores, RAVLT scores, Digit symbol, and animal fluency correlated with PICR. Conclusions: The picture-based PICNIR is an ultra-brief, sensitive cognitive test valid for assessing very mild cognitive impairment. Its effectiveness should be validated for other languages and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinearity in count time series is commonly encountered in practice. To better explain the nonlinear phenomena in count time series, this article introduces a new threshold INAR(1) model using the idea of serially dependent innovation. The proposed model contains some existing INAR(1) models as special cases and establishes a connection between the threshold INAR(1) model and the threshold INARCH(1) model. The basic probabilistic and statistical properties of the new model are investigated. Model parameters, including the threshold variable, are estimated by the conditional least squares, modified quasi-likelihood and conditional maximum likelihood methods. Asymptotic properties and numerical results of the estimates are also studied. An application to the monthly trading volume of stock B in Shanghai Stock Exchange is conducted to show the practicability of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Helicobacter pylori infects over 50% of the global population, prompting the issuance of guidelines for effective diagnosis and treatment. However, research on guideline dissemination and adherence is limited. Therefore, we assessed the nationwide status of H. pylori eradication therapies in Korea before and after guideline updates. Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, this retrospective cohort study analyzed changes in H. pylori eradication therapies across three periods: Phase I (2006–2007), Phase II (2014–2015), and Phase III (2021–2022). It examined therapy regimens, confirmation tests, and retreatment rates. Results: Among 1,657,746 patients included, the number undergoing eradication therapy increased across the phases (Phase I: 234,365; Phase II: 493,889; Phase III: 929,492). The use of conventional triple therapy declined from 96.1% in Phase I to 88.3% in Phase III, while non‐bismuth and bismuth quadruple therapies increased to 6.8% and 3.3%, respectively, in Phase III. The proportion of patients following a 1‐week regimen of conventional triple therapy decreased from 90.3% in Phase I to 54.2% in Phase III, while a 2‐week regimen increased to 36.1% in Phase III. Confirmation testing within 1 year of therapy increased from 21.3% in Phase I to 43.0% in Phase III, whereas retreatment rates increased from 3.8% in Phase I to 8.8% in Phase III. Conclusions: Guideline updates have influenced H. pylori eradication practices in Korea, leading to increased use of quadruple therapies with longer treatment durations. However, further improvements in confirmatory tests and retreatment following failed initial therapy are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The performance of GPT-4 in nursing examinations within the Chinese context has not yet been thoroughly evaluated. Objective: To assess the performance of GPT-4 on multiple-choice and open-ended questions derived from nursing examinations in the Chinese context. Methods: The data sets of the Chinese National Nursing Licensure Examination spanning 2021 to 2023 were used to evaluate the accuracy of GPT-4 in multiple-choice questions. The performance of GPT-4 on open-ended questions was examined using 18 case-based questions. Results: For multiple-choice questions, GPT-4 achieved an accuracy of 71.0% (511/720). For open-ended questions, the responses were evaluated for cosine similarity, logical consistency, and information quality, all of which were found to be at a moderate level. Conclusion: GPT-4 performed well at addressing queries on basic knowledge. However, it has notable limitations in answering open-ended questions. Nursing educators should weigh the benefits and challenges of GPT-4 for integration into nursing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Machine Tool & Hydraulics is the property of Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (GMERI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To solve the problem of the high loss rate of threshing devices during the mechanical harvesting of ratoon rice, we propose a method using the principle of rigid–flexible coupling in this paper to reduce losses. Through analysis of the forces and collisions on ratoon rice grains during the threshing process, it has been confirmed that changing the structure and materials of the threshing contact components can effectively reduce grain loss. A rigid–flexible coupling rod tooth was designed, and the overall structural parameters of the device were determined based on force analysis results and dimensional boundary conditions. The MBD-DEM coupling method was used to simulate the threshing process, and the force conditions of the threshing rod teeth and threshing drum were obtained. The influence of the feeding amount and of the flexible body thickness on the crushing of ratoon rice grains was analyzed. In order to obtain the device's optimal parameter combination, a three-factor quadratic regression orthogonal rotation combination experiment was conducted with drum speed, flexible body thickness, and rod tooth length as experimental factors. The optimization results showed that when the drum speed, flexible body thickness, and rod tooth length were 684 r/min, 3.86 mm, and 72.7 mm, respectively, the crushing rate, entrainment loss rate, and uncleaned rate were 1.260%, 2.132%, and 1.241%, respectively. The bench test showed that it is feasible to use the MBD–DEM coupling method to measure the motion and force of ratoon rice. The rigid–flexible coupling threshing device can reduce the grain crushing rate while ensuring grain cleanliness. Compared with traditional threshing devices, the crushing rate and entrainment loss rate of the rigid–flexible coupling threshing device were reduced by 55.7% and 27.5%, respectively. The research results can provide a reference for the design of threshing devices for ratoon rice harvesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]