Purpose: Acute ankle sprain may affect ankle function during sport and daily activities. This study aimed to use vector coding technique to analyze the difference over time between injured and healthy lower limb during the first week of acute ankle sprain phase (P1) and post a 1-month recovery phase (P2) to understand the return-to-play coordination strategy in the lower extremity. Methods: Six females attended the gait experiments with attached 40 reflective markers using eight-camera Vicon motion capture system. All participants walked barefoot while turning in four directions (T0°, T45°, T90°, T135°) at their self-selected speed. Coordination patterns were classified as in-phase, anti-phase, proximal or distal dominancy between lower limb joints involving hip, knee, ankle, subtalar, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint. Results: P1 showed more proximal joint dominant in Hip-Knee coupling angles but P2 displayed more distal joint dominant in Knee-Ankle joint coordination pattern and mainly distal joint dominant in Ankle-MTP coupling angle mapping. The Ankle-TMT1 and Ankle-TMT5 coordination patterns matched best in straight walking but worst in T135 walking. Conclusions: Investigating inter-segmental coordination in different turning movements could provide insights into gait changes from acute ankle sprain from one-month return-to-play recovery. Knowledge of lower limb coordination pattern may provide clinical implications to improve dynamic balance and gait stability for individuals with acute ankle sprain.

UNASSIGNED: More responsive, reliable, and clinically valid endpoints of disability are essential to reduce size, duration, and burden of clinical trials in adult persons with spinal muscular atrophy (aPwSMA).
UNASSIGNED: The aim is to investigate the feasibility of smartphone-based assessments in aPwSMA and provide evidence on the reliability and construct validity of sensor-derived measures (SDMs) of mobility and manual dexterity collected remotely in aPwSMA.
UNASSIGNED: Data were collected from 59 aPwSMA (23 walkers, 20 sitters and 16 non-sitters) and 30 age-matched healthy controls (HC). SDMs were extracted from five smartphone-based tests capturing mobility and manual dexterity, which were administered in-clinic and remotely in daily life for four weeks. Reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients, ICC) and construct validity (ability to discriminate between HC and aPwSMA and correlations with Revised Upper Limb Module, RULM and Hammersmith Functional Scale - Expanded HFMSE) were quantified for all SDMs.
UNASSIGNED: The smartphone-based assessments proved feasible, with 92.1% average adherence in aPwSMA. The SDMs allowed to reliably assess both mobility and dexterity (ICC > 0.75 for 15/22 SDMs). Twenty-one out of 22 SDMs significantly discriminated between HC and aPwSMA. The highest correlations with the RULM were observed for SDMs from the manual dexterity tests in both non-sitters (Typing, ρ= 0.78) and sitters (Pinching, ρ= 0.75). In walkers, the highest correlation was between mobility tests and HFMSE (5 U-Turns, ρ= 0.79).
UNASSIGNED: This exploratory study provides preliminary evidence for the usability of smartphone-based assessments of mobility and manual dexterity in aPwSMA when deployed remotely in participants\' daily life. Reliability and construct validity of SDMs remotely collected in real-life was demonstrated, which is a pre-requisite for their use in longitudinal trials. Additionally, three novel smartphone-based performance outcome assessments were successfully established for aPwSMA. Upon further validation of responsiveness to interventions, this technology holds potential to increase the efficiency of clinical trials in aPwSMA.

BACKGROUND: Turning difficulties have been reported in stroke persons, but studies have indicated that fall history might not significantly affect turning performance. Fear of falling (FOF) is common after a fall, although it can occur in individuals without a fall history.
OBJECTIVE: Could FOF have an impact on turning performance among chronic stroke patients?
METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 97 stroke persons. They were instructed to perform 180° and 360° turns, and their performance was represented by angular velocity. FOF was evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Falls that occurred 12 months prior to the study assessment were recorded.
RESULTS: A higher FES-I score was significantly correlated with a decline in angular velocity in all turning tasks after adjustment for demographic data. The correlation remained significant after controlling for falls history. Participants with a high level of FOF exhibited significantly slower angular velocities during all turning tasks compared with those with a low level of FOF. Participants with a moderate level of FOF had a significantly slower angular velocity than did those with a low level of FOF during the 360° turn to the paretic side only.
CONCLUSIONS: A higher level of FOF, regardless of fall history, was significantly associated with a reduced angular velocity during turning. A high level of FOF affected turning performance in all tasks. Turning performance may not be affected by fall experience. Anxiety about falling may have a greater effect on turning performance than does fall history.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to explore the test-retest reliability of fNIRS in measuring frontal and parietal cortices activation during straight walking and turning walking in older adults, in order to provide a theoretical foundation for selecting assessment tools for clinical research on motor control and some diseases such as Parkinson\'s disease in older adults.
UNASSIGNED: 18 healthy older participants (69.1 ± 0.7 years) were included in this study. The participants completed straight walking and figure-of-eight turning walking tasks at self-selected speeds. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman scatter plots were used to assess the test-retest reliability of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) changes derived from fNIRS. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
UNASSIGNED: The test-retest reliability of HbO2 in prefrontal cortex (ICC, 0.67-0.78) was good and excellent, in frontal motor cortex (ICC, 0.51-0.61) and parietal sensory cortex (ICC, 0.53-0.62) is fair and good when the older adults performed straight and turning walking tasks. Bland-Altman diagram shows that the data consistency is fair and good.
UNASSIGNED: fNIRS can be used as a clinical measurement method to evaluate the brain activation of the older adults when walking in a straight line and turning, and the results are acceptable repeatability and consistency. However, it is necessary to strictly control the testing process and consider the possible changes in the repeated measurements.

Research into new composites utilizing cubic boron nitride (PcBN) shows promise for enhancing cutting tool performance. The unique properties of these materials stem from the addition of microfibers made of refractory compounds to their structure. This study looks at developing two-layer composites based on cBN group BL, reinforced with SiCw and Al2O3w microfibers. The goal is to improve tool stability when cutting hardened steels with impact loads. PcBN composite samples were made by sintering a mixture of cBN powder with bundles and microfibers under 7.7 GPa pressure. Bond material selection was based on analyzing the relationship between Poisson\'s ratio (η) and plasticity parameter (G/B). The density, Young\'s modulus, Poisson\'s ratio, and hardness of the composites were determined, and the microstructure of samples with TiCN bond was studied. Tool-life tests were conducted on two-layer cutting inserts made of PcBN reinforced with SiCw and Al2O3w microfibers during the machining of hardened KhVG steel (HRC 55) under impact loads at cutting speeds of 100 and 200 m/min.

UNASSIGNED: Individuals after a vestibular schwannoma resection (VSR) experience significant vestibular symptoms that can be provoked with turning. Vestibular rehabilitation assists in recovery of function and symptom relief, however turning response is unknown.
UNASSIGNED: Examine peak turning speed response to surgery and rehabilitation.
UNASSIGNED: Eight participants with a vestibular schwannoma (PwVS) and five healthy controls (HC) participated in this study. Peak turning speed (PTS) was captured with inertial measurement units (IMU) at the head and/or trunk during turning tasks at a pre-operative, post-operative and post-treatment assessment. Vestibular rehabilitation was provided twice weekly for six weeks. Linear mixed models were used to assess change in PTS across time points.
UNASSIGNED: PwVS performed slower PTS than HC prior to surgery. PTS was significantly slower post-operatively compared to pre-operative during walking with head turns (B = -61.03, p = 0.004), two-minute walk test (B = -37.33, p = 0.015), 360° turn (B range from 50.05 to -57.4, p < 0.05) and complex turning course (CTC) at the trunk (B = -18.63, p = 0.009). Post-treatment PTS was significantly faster than pre-operative during CTC at the head (B = 18.46, p = 0.014) and trunk (B = 15.99, p = 0.023).
UNASSIGNED: PwVS may have turning deficits prior to surgical resection. PTS was significantly affected post-operatively, however improved with rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The laterality of motor symptoms is considered a key feature of Parkinson\'s disease (PD). Here, we investigated whether gait and turning asymmetry coincided with symptom laterality as determined by the MDS-UPRDS part III and whether it was increased compared to healthy controls (HC).
METHODS: We analyzed the asymmetry of gait and turning with and without a cognitive dual task (DT) using motion capture systems and wearable sensors in 97 PD patients mostly from Hoehn & Yahr stage II and III and 36 age-matched HC. We also assessed motor symptom asymmetry using the bilateral sub-items of the MDS-UPDRS-III. Finally, we examined the strength of the association between gait asymmetry and symptom laterality.
RESULTS: Participants with PD had increased gait but not more turning asymmetry compared to HC (p < 0.05). Only 53.7% of patients had a shorter step length on the more affected body side as determined by the MDS-UPDRS-III. Also, 54% took more time and 29% more steps during turns toward the more affected side. The degree of asymmetry in the different domains did not correlate with each other and was not influenced by DT-load.
CONCLUSIONS: We found a striking mismatch between the side and the degree of asymmetry in different motor domains, i.e., in gait, turning, and distal symptom severity in individuals with PD. We speculate that motor execution in different body parts relies on different neural control mechanisms. Our findings warrant further investigation to understand the complexity of gait asymmetry in PD.

Due to its inherent high hardness, strength, and plasticity, tantalum-tungsten (Ta-W) alloy poses a considerable challenge in machining, resulting in pronounced tool wear, diminished tool lifespan, and suboptimal surface quality. This study undertook experiments utilizing uncoated carbide tools, TiAlN-coated carbide tools, and AlTiN-coated carbide tools for machining Ta-2.5W alloy. The investigation delved into the intricacies of surface temperature, tool longevity, and the distinctive wear characteristics under varying coating materials and cutting parameters. Concurrently, a comprehensive exploration of the wear mechanisms affecting the tools was conducted. Among the observed wear modes, flank wear emerged as the predominant issue for turning tools. Across all three tool types, adhesive wear and diffusion wear were identified as the principal wear mechanisms, with the TiAlN-coated tools displaying a reduced level of wear compared to their AlTiN-coated counterparts. The experimental findings conclusively revealed that TiAlN-coated carbide tools exhibited an extended tool lifespan in comparison to uncoated carbide tools and AlTiN-coated carbide tools, signifying superior cutting performance.

Manufacturing processes in industry applications are often controlled by the evaluation of surface topography. Topography, in its overall performance, includes form, waviness, and roughness. Methods of measurement of surface roughness can be roughly divided into tactile and contactless techniques. The latter ones are much faster but sensitive to external disturbances from the environment. One type of external source error, while the measurement of surface topography occurs, is a high-frequency noise. This noise originates from the vibration of the measuring system. In this study, the methods for reducing high-frequency errors from the results of contactless roughness measurements of turned surfaces were supported by machine learning methods. This research delves into optimizing filtration methods for surface topography measurements through the application of machine learning models, focusing on enhancing the accuracy of surface roughness assessments. By examining turned surfaces under specific machining conditions and employing a variety of digital filters, the study identifies the Gaussian regression filter and spline filter as the most effective methods at a 22.5 µm cut-off. Utilizing neural networks, support vector machines, and decision trees, the research demonstrates the superior performance of SVMs, achieving remarkable accuracy and sensitivity in predicting optimal filtration methods.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a dance intervention on selected functional parameters during the 180° turning phase of the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test in people with Parkinson\'s Disease (PwPD). Methods: Fifteen adults clinically diagnosed with idiopathic PD were allocated into dance intervention (DIG; n = 7 ; age 73 ± 2 years) and control (CG; n = 8; age 64 ± 5 years) groups. The dance intervention lasted for 3 months (1 hour, twice a week). At baseline, all participants completed the Unified PD Rating Scale-part III, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form, and the Hoehn & Yahr scale. Pre- and post-intervention, the primary outcomes were measured (number of steps and time to complete the 180° turning phase of the TUG test) at 2 speeds (comfortable walking and as quickly and safely speed) while using the Xsens® 3D motion suit. The secondary outcome (girdle dissociation) was assessed by calculating the difference between pelvis and affected shoulder orientation in the transverse plane (dissociation angles) at each data point during the TUG test\'s 180° turning phase. Results: At participant\'s comfortable walking speed, the functionality during the 180° turning remained unaffected following the dance intervention. However, at participant\'s fast speed, the dance intervention group significantly reduced the number of steps with a large effect size, and the total time taken to complete the 180° turning with a medium effect size. Post-intervention, most participants in the dance intervention group reduced the affected shoulder and pelvic girdle dissociation and turned more \"en bloc.\" Conclusion: Dance can improve selected functional parameters during the 180° turning at fast speed in PwPD. The current results should be considered in rehabilitation programs.