balance measurements

The role of the cortex in shaping automatic whole-body motor behaviors such as walking and balance is poorly understood. Gait and balance are typically mediated through subcortical circuits, with the cortex becoming engaged as needed on an individual basis by task difficulty and complexity. However, we lack a mechanistic understanding of how increased cortical contribution to whole-body movements shapes motor output. Here we use reactive balance recovery as a paradigm to identify relationships between hierarchical control mechanisms and their engagement across balance tasks of increasing difficulty in young adults...

An increasing number of measurement electrodes have been designed to satisfy the demand for high-resolution detection using galvanic logging technology in complex formations. The forward modeling response analysis of logging tools has important guiding significance in the design of galvanic logging tools. Based on a three-dimensional finite element numerical simulation method, we established a forward model of galvanic multi-electrodes in a complex formation. We also designed a symmetrical resistance network model of the formation with equivalent resistance between two electrodes...

ZCCHC17 is a master regulator of synaptic gene expression and has recently been shown to play a role in splicing of neuronal mRNA. We previously showed that ZCCHC17 protein declines in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain tissue before there is significant gliosis and neuronal loss, that ZCCHC17 loss partially replicates observed splicing abnormalities in AD brain tissue, and that maintenance of ZCCHC17 levels is predicted to support cognitive resilience in AD. Here, we assessed the functional consequences of reduced ZCCHC17 expression in primary cortical neuronal cultures using siRNA knockdown...

The in-depth implementation of the "Broadband China Strategy" is of great significance in promoting the synergistic governance of urban carbon reduction and pollution reduction. In this paper, based on the "Broadband China" pilot program implemented in China in 2014 as a quasi-natural experiment, the coupled synergy model is used to measure the carbon and pollution reduction synergy index based on the balanced panel data of 277 prefectural-level cities and above in China from 2006 to 2020, and the staggered and synthetic DID methods are applied to investigate the impact of the Broadband China strategy on carbon and pollution reduction synergy and its mechanism...

Cardiac magnetic resonance cine images are primarily used to evaluate functional consequences, whereas limited information is extracted from the noncontrast pixel-wise myocardial signal intensity pattern. In this study we want to assess whether characterizing this inherent contrast pattern of noncontrast-enhanced short axis (SAX) cine images via radiomics is sufficient to distinguish subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from controls. Cine balanced steady-state free-precession images acquired at 1...

Stomatal conductance ( gs ) is a crucial component of plant physiology, as it links plant productivity and water loss through transpiration. Estimating gs indirectly through leaf temperature ( Tl ) measurement is common for reducing the high labor cost associated with direct gs measurement. However, the relationship between observed Tl and gs can be notably affected by local environmental conditions, canopy structure, measurement scale, sample size, and gs itself. To better understand and quantify the variation in the relationship between Tl measurements to gs , this study analyzed the sensitivity of Tl to gs using a high-resolution three-dimensional model that resolves interactions between microclimate and canopy structure...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to observe, using Footscan analysis, the effect of electromyographic feedback functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the changes in the plantar pressure of drop foot patients. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 34 stroke patients with foot drop. There were 17 cases received FES for 20 min per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks (the FES group) and the other 17 cases only received basic rehabilitations (the control group)...

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of social isolation on mental health and cognitive functions in Sprague Dawley (SD) and Wistar Albino (WIS) rat strains, prompted by the heightened awareness of such impacts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of social isolation on memory, learning, and behavioral changes in middle-aged SD and WIS rat strains and to investigate cortical trace element levels, seeking potential correlations between these levels and the observed behavioral responses to social isolation...

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has become a critical pathological mechanism of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). NLRP3 is a critical inflammatory pathway to maintain the immune balance. Recently, preclinical evidence showed that Resolvin D1 might potentially offer a new option for antidepressant treatment due to its protective effects through the inhibition of neuroinflammation. However, whether they have clinical value in the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of adolescent depression was unclear...

OBJECTIVES: Systematically measuring the work environment of healthcare employees is key to continuously improving the quality of care and addressing staff shortages. In this study, we systematically analyse the responses to the one open-ended question posed in the Dutch version of the Culture of Care Barometer (CoCB-NL) to examine (1) if the responses offered new insights into healthcare employees' perceptions of their work environment and (2) if the original CoCB had any themes missing...

BACKGROUND: Intravenous albumin has limited indications supported by randomised controlled trials, yet it is often prescribed for indications not supported by evidence. AIM: To reduce unnecessary transfusion of albumin. INTERVENTIONS: Under the leadership of a multidisciplinary quality improvement team, evidence-based recommendations were disseminated in tandem with a new electronic order set, an educational strategy, qualitative interviews with prescribers and a return policy change to reduce wastage...

BACKGROUND: Instrumented measurements of postural control provide a more accurate insight into the motor development of children with autism. This study aimed to identify postural control deficits in autistic children during quiet standing before and after transient locomotor task. It was hypothesized that the parameters that characterize the trajectory of center of foot pressure (COP) displacement would be higher in autistic children compared to typically developing children. METHODS: Sixteen autistic children aged 6-10 but without a comorbidity diagnosis, were enrolled in the study group...

Domestic dogs can maintain health on complete and well-balanced canine plant-based nutrition (K9PBN). Novel insight on health outcomes in dogs consuming K9PBN is of relevance to veterinary professionals and consumers given a growing interest in non-traditional dog foods with perceived health benefits, while considering potential safety concerns. We aimed to investigate nutritional equivalence by measuring clinical health outcomes in adult dogs fed K9PBN over twelve months compared to a meat-based diet at baseline...

Although naturally Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) causes meningitis resulting in death or sequela of neurological symptoms in pigs and humans, severely threatening public health in the world, it has been difficult to build up and confirm experimental meningitis mouse models with obvious neurological syndrome for about two decades, which strongly hampers the in-depth study on the control measures and mechanisms of SS2-induced meningitis. In this study, a typical meningitis mouse model of SS2 was successfully established, as confirmed by the behavioral indicators of balance beam test, suspension test, and gait analysis...

The determination of amino acid (AA) requirements for mammals has traditionally been done through nitrogen (N) balance studies, but this technique underestimates AA requirements in adult animals. There has been a shift toward researchers using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique for the determination of AA requirements in humans, and recently in dogs. However, the determination of AA requirements specific to adult dogs and cats at maintenance is lacking and the current requirements outlined by the National Research Council are based on a dearth of data and are likely underreporting the requirements of indispensable AA (IAA) for the population...

The focus of precision medicine is on decision support, often in the form of dynamic treatment regimes, which are sequences of decision rules. At each decision point, the decision rules determine the next treatment according to the patient's baseline characteristics, the information on treatments and responses accrued by that point, and the patient's current health status, including symptom severity and other measures. However, dynamic treatment regime estimation with ordinal outcomes is rarely studied, and rarer still in the context of interference - where one patient's treatment may affect another's outcome...

PURPOSE: Hypertension is an important risk factor in cardio-epidemiological research, but data quality remains a concern. We validated different registry-based definitions of hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cohort included all first-time responders of the Danish National Health Surveys (2010, 2013, or 2017). Prescription-defined hypertension was defined as ≥1 or ≥2 filled prescriptions of antihypertensive specific drugs in ≥1 or ≥2 different antihypertensive drug classes within 90, 180, or 365 days before survey response...

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a blunt cannula technique using hyaluronic acid fillers for achieving the Bratz doll lip aesthetic, characterized by enhanced volume and sharp definition. METHODS: Thirty volunteers, 22-40 years of age, were selected based on specific inclusion criteria at Albany Cosmetic and Laser Center for 6 months. The technique involved precise filler injections using a Steriglide blunt cannula. Pre- and postprocedure measurements of lip dimensions and angular changes were meticulously documented and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics software...

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition developing from a supplementary chromosome 21, referred to as trisomy 21. It ranks among the most prevalent developmental disabilities. People with DS often live inactive lifestyles, not meeting the weekly physical activity guidelines. With age, they face increased risks of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, as well as neurological and orthopedic concerns. Physiotherapy is especially important for improving balance, coordination, strength, and endurance in adults over the age of 50...

It is widely known controversies about the results of violent video game increase aggression. However, the role of competitive video games, has received less research attention, and the underlying mechanisms of their influence are unknown. This study aimed to expand the existing literature by systematically exploring the effects of competitive video game exposure on adolescent aggression and the mediating role of impulsivity. In so doing, three types of studies (collectively N = 2919, mean age varied from 13...