The lumbopelvic-hip musculature plays a critical role in controlling trunk movement during pitching. Training interventions targeting these muscles have been shown to enhance muscle function and increase ball speed. However, evidence linking improvements in lumbopelvic-hip strength and power to changes in trunk kinematics and joint moments during pitching is lacking. To investigate the effects of an 8-week strength-training intervention targeting the lumbopelvic-hip muscles on muscle function and pitching biomechanics in adolescent pitchers. Controlled laboratory study. Research laboratory/training facility. A total of 54 high school pitchers were enrolled into an intervention (age = 15.6 ± 1.5 years, height = 1.76 ± 0.07 m, mass = 72.0 ± 14.3 kg) or a control (age = 16.0 ± 1.0 years, height = 1.76 ± 0.12 m, mass = 76.4 ± 11.4 kg) group. All participants performed an 8-week training targeting the lumbopelvic-hip muscles. Changes in lumbopelvic-hip muscle function, trunk kinematics during pitching, joint loading, and ball speed were measured. The intervention resulted in greater improvements in trunk-rotation strength and power (F 1,44 range, 6.12-11.44; P range, .002-.02) and increases in elbow-varus moment (t 45 = 2.06, P = .046) and ball speed (t 45 = 2.37, P = .014). Although no between-groups differences were observed in pitching kinematic changes, improvements in trunk-rotation strength and power within the intervention group were correlated with a smaller pelvis rotation (a more "closed" pelvis) at lead-foot contact, smaller trunk-separation angle at lead-foot contact, and later timing of peak upper torso-rotation velocity (|r| = 0.436-0.566). The intervention effectively improved trunk-rotation strength and power and ball speed but increased elbow stress. This finding underscores the importance of reducing pitch counts or extending rest periods as ball speed increases. The intervention produced only limited changes in pitching kinematics. Enhanced trunk-rotation strength and power in the intervention group were associated with positive changes in trunk kinematics but no other kinematic adjustments. Combining strength training with technical feedback and extending the intervention duration may lead to greater biomechanical adaptations.
Lower limb strength is crucial in pitching, as force output correlates positively with pitching velocity. The countermovement jump (CMJ) is a common test for assessing lower limb strength, and previous research has hinted at its potential to predict performance in adult baseball players. However, further research is warranted concerning adolescent players. This study investigated the relationship between CMJ lower limb power and fastball velocity in adolescent baseball pitchers. Thirty-two adolescent male baseball pitchers from junior high school baseball teams executed three CMJs and threw five fastballs from a custom-made pitching mound. A Kistler force plate (2500 Hz) recorded ground reaction forces (GRFs) during the CMJ, and a pocket radar gun measured ball velocity. The Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between CMJ variables and ball speed. A stepwise-forward multiple regression model determined the contribution of CMJ variables to predicting fastball velocity in adolescent baseball pitchers. The CMJ variables (braking force, peak force, braking rate of force development, braking impulse, propulsive impulse, peak power, rate of power development, and leg stiffness) correlated positively with ball velocity. The regression analysis revealed that absolute braking force and body height explained 43.3% of the variance in velocity. In conclusion, adolescent pitchers with higher absolute braking force during the CMJ and greater body height are likely to achieve higher fastball velocity. Lower limb strength, assessed via CMJ tests, may aid in predicting adolescent pitchers' performance. These findings emphasize the importance of lower limb strength for pitching velocity and provide guidance to coaches for developing training programs to enhance adolescent players' fastball velocity.
This study aimed to compare the Flightscope Mevo ​+ ​launch monitor against a previously validated system (Trackman 4) during full golf swings in an indoor setting. Mevo+ and Trackman 4 were compared concurrently for driver (n ​= ​118, 118, 174 shots, respectively). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) reported consistency and absolute agreement. Bland-Altman plots reported limits of agreement. Moderate to excellent consistency was reported for all values for driver (ICC ​= ​0.66-0.996), 7-iron (ICC ​= ​0.50-0.996) and pitching wedge (ICC ​= ​0.55-1.00) except angle of attack which was poor for both 7-iron and pitching wedge (ICC ​= ​0.06 & 0.03, respectively). For absolute agreement, Mevo ​+ ​demonstrated moderate to excellent levels for most driver (ICC range ​= ​0.58-0.98), 7-iron (ICC range ​= ​0.83-0.94) and pitching wedge (ICC range ​= ​0.77-0.999) variables. Driver swing plane (ICC absolute ​= ​0.24), 7-iron angle of attack, clubhead speed, dynamic loft and spin rate (ICC absolute ​= ​0.02, 0.44, 0.23, 0.49, 0.42, respectively) and pitching wedge angle of attack, dynamic loft, and swing plane (ICC absolute ​= ​0.01, 0.25, 0.43, respectively) had poor agreement. Mevo+ is consistent with Trackman 4 for all variables except angle of attack. It does however provide different absolute values, but usually in a consistent, systematic manner, across a number of variables. Coaches, club fitters, golfers, and scientists should be aware of these systematic differences when attempting to compare performance across launch monitors or when solely using the Mevo ​+ ​system to aid performance, club building and fitting, or for research purposes.
Injured-list (IL) time reflects the clinical and competitive impact of pitching injuries, but determinants of cumulative injury burden have rarely been evaluated league-wide using integrated workload and pitch-tracking data. To leverage large-scale public data to identify pitcher characteristics associated with cumulative time-loss IL burden due to shoulder and elbow injuries, accounting for exposure and role. Case-control study. This study analyzed aggregated data from the study period between 2015 and 2025 for 1445 Major League Baseball pitchers (≥1000 pitches). Injury burden was defined as cumulative IL days per pitcher over the study period and stratified into shoulder (S), elbow (E), and a total combined (S+E) category using public injury designations. Candidate predictors included pitcher demographic characteristics, advanced performance metrics, pitch-tracking characteristics, and within-game pitch-to-pitch delta measures reflecting adjacent-pitch variation in velocity and release characteristics. We used negative binomial models to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) for IL days, accounting for differences in pitching exposure by including the natural logarithm of total pitches thrown as an exposure offset and adjusting for pitching role using the percentage of appearances as a starting pitcher. Candidate predictors were screened in univariate models and then entered into multivariable models. The cohort accrued 147,765 total IL days (47,022 shoulder; 100,743 elbow). In multivariable models, higher strikeout rate (IRR, 1.24), 4-seam velocity (IRR, 1.18), and 4-seam spin (IRR, 1.13) were independently associated with greater combined S+E burden (all P < .001). Joint-specific models revealed divergent signals: greater release extension was associated with lower shoulder injury burden (IRR, 0.87; P < .001), whereas higher pitch-to-pitch velocity delta (IRR, 1.08; P = .009) was specifically associated with greater elbow burden. Univariate screening identified several additional factors significantly associated with cumulative and joint-specific outcomes, including arm angle, pitch usage (eg, changeups and sliders), and "Plus" metrics. Cumulative injury burden is driven by a high-performance phenotype, but risk signals diverge meaningfully by joint. Shorter release extension and greater pitch-to-pitch velocity delta emerged as distinct, potentially modifiable correlates of shoulder and elbow injury burden, respectively. These findings identify mechanical and consistency-based signals that warrant prospective investigation to refine individualized workload management and injury prevention.
The movement and positioning of the body during the early phases of the pitching motion can have cascading effects on downstream mechanics. While stride mechanics have been the focus of recent research, the role of stance foot mechanics in generating ground reaction force (GRF) and influencing stride kinematics remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether stance foot centre of pressure (COP) location and heel lift timing are related to stride-phase GRF and stride kinematics in baseball pitchers. Biomechanical data were collected from 60 high school and 15 collegiate pitchers using a motion capture system and force platforms. Within the high school pitchers, COP location at the time of peak forward GRF and heel lift timing were analysed in relation to GRF and stride mechanics. Most high school and collegiate pitchers generated peak forward force through the forefoot and maintained heel contact with the ground throughout most (~85%) of the stride phase of pitching. The timing of heel lift and COP location at the time of peak forward GRF were not associated with forward propulsive force, stride mechanics, or ball speed, but were associated with pelvis orientation at lead foot contact in high-school pitchers.
Because of the difficulty of baseball players with capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions to return to sport (RTS), multiple operative strategies have been used for these lesions. However, there has yet to be a systematic review of RTS outcomes in specifically baseball players. The purpose of this study was to compare the RTS rates between surgical procedures for capitellar OCD lesions in youth baseball players, with a secondary purpose of comparing improvements in elbow range of motion (ROM) and improvements in Timmerman-Andrews scores between surgical procedures. The authors hypothesized that RTS rates would not differ based on the surgical procedure for capitellar OCD lesions in youth baseball players. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. The authors performed a literature search in February 2025 to identify studies evaluating postoperative outcomes for the treatment of capitellar OCD lesions in youth baseball players. Surgical procedures were grouped into debridement/loose-body removal ± microfracture, fixation procedures, bone peg grafting, and autologous osteochondral transplantation. Preoperative and postoperative elbow flexion and extension ROM, Timmerman-Andrews scores, and RTS rate and time were collected. Meta-analysis included pooled effect estimates for improvements in flexion ROM, extension ROM, and Timmerman-Andrews scores, as well as the proportion of RTS, applying a common effect model. Overall, 462 studies were screened and 16 studies were included. There were 389 total youth baseball players and 89% of lesions were unstable. RTS after autologous osteochondral transplantation (175/182; 96%) was more likely than after fixation (68/76; 89%), bone peg grafting (27/31; 87%), or debridement/loose-body removal ± microfracture (59/70; 84%) (P = .022). Overall, 31 of 60 (52%) pitchers were able to return to pitching. Fixation procedures were associated with greater improvements in elbow extension ROM (8° vs 3°; P = .013) than autologous osteochondral transplantation. Fixation procedures (score, 71) and autologous osteochondral transplantation (score, 58) also had greater improvements in Timmerman-Andrews scores than bone peg grafting (score, 26; P < .001); however, there was significant heterogeneity across studies and large differences in preoperative Timmerman-Andrews scores across groups. Overall, 92% of youth baseball players RTS after operative management of capitellar OCD lesions, with the highest RTS rates after autologous osteochondral transplantation; however, almost half of pitchers are unable to return to pitching. Clinicians can counsel injured youth baseball players that capitellar OCD lesions indicated for autologous osteochondral transplantation can have similar or better RTS outcomes than OCD lesions indicated for fixation or debridement ± microfracture.
Throwing velocity is among the most consistently implicated and controversial risk factors for ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury. Collegiate pitchers' perceptions of the importance of fastball velocity for competitive success along with the relationship between velocity and injury risk has yet to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to describe collegiate pitchers' attitudes toward fastball velocity and its relationship with UCL injury risk. It was hypothesized that pitchers would place substantial importance on velocity and that a significant proportion would be aware of, and willing to accept, greater UCL injury risk in exchange for increased fastball velocity. Cross-sectional study. An anonymous online survey was distributed to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) baseball pitchers from August to October 2025. The final survey instrument consisted of 30 questions divided into 4 sections: (1) demographics and injury history; (2) perceived pitching effectiveness; (3) opinions on the importance of fastball velocity; and (4) relationship between fastball velocity and UCL injury risk. Categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages and continuous variables as means with standard deviations. Chi-square tests compared attitude responses across NCAA division levels, history of prior UCL injury, and fastball velocity groups. A total of 169 collegiate pitchers completed the survey. Most agreed that velocity is critical for in-game success (89.1%), college recruitment (66.9%), and advancement to professional baseball (91.8%), while also acknowledging its association with increased UCL injury risk (67.6%). On average, pitchers were willing to accept a 10.0% ± 10.9% increase in UCL injury risk for a 1-mph gain in velocity. High-velocity pitchers were more likely to play in Division I (69.2% vs 17.6%; P < .001), be starters (63.8% vs 40.2%; P = .002), and perceive themselves as effective (98.8% vs 89.7%; P = .02). Low-velocity pitchers more often agreed they would have been recruited by a better college program had they thrown harder in high school (90.8% vs 66.3%; P < .001). Pitchers with a UCL injury history more often agreed that sustaining earlier UCL surgery was preferable (63.6% vs 36.7%; P = .001). This study showed that collegiate pitchers view fastball velocity as vital for competitive success and career advancement. Despite acknowledging the link between velocity and UCL injury risk, many are willing to accept added risk in exchange for enhanced performance.
As synchrotron radiation sources (SRSs) expand to cover a broader energy range, the demand for hybrid detectors with improved spatial and energy resolution is increasing. This paper presents the design and characterization of a prototype pixel readout ASIC featuring a small pixel size and low noise, developed for low energy soft X-ray applications. This chip adopts the single photon-counting (SPC) approach and each pixel consists of a front-end amplifier, a discriminator, a charge injection circuitry and a pair of 15-bit counters with associated logic. Fabricated in a 130 nm CMOS process, the chip integrates a 2 × 16 pixel matrix with a 50 µm ×50 µm pixel size. Measurement results indicate the maximum pixel equivalent noise charge (ENC) across the matrix is 20 e-rms without sensor attached. The results validate that the chip design has the potential to deliver a low-energy resolution for soft X-ray applications.
Background/Objectives: Tinnitus and reactions to the tinnitus are different dimensions that can be explored in research and in clinical settings. Notably, these dimensions can elucidate priorities and the most problematic areas for patient-centered approaches. The aim of this study is to determine how tinnitus is perceived and impacts people who have experienced tinnitus for different durations. Methods: People with tinnitus were invited to participate in a survey at the University of Iowa Tinnitus Website. 709 people responded and documented their perceived sound, problems experienced, and duration of tinnitus. We assessed correlations between the duration of tinnitus and the pitch rating, the loudness rating, and the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire scores. Additionally, we performed a multiple linear regression analysis, considering the dependent variable 'duration of tinnitus', to explore associations between duration of tinnitus and the aforementioned factors. This was a cross-sectional study based on comparisons of responses from patients with different tinnitus durations, rather than examining the same patients longitudinally. Results: The analysis demonstrated that respondents with a longer duration of tinnitus reported higher loudness ratings (p = 0.010). However, their reactions to tinnitus (Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire) were associated with a decrease compared with a shorter duration of tinnitus (p = 0.048). There was no association between pitch rating and duration of tinnitus. Conclusions: Our findings indicated louder tinnitus was associated with a longer duration of tinnitus. However, in general, the functional impact of the tinnitus was associated with a decrease. Notably, there was considerable variability among individuals, suggesting that additional factors contribute to these relationships. These findings can be considered in treatment decisions and counseling strategies.
Underwater Acoustic Target Recognition (UATR) plays a significant role in intelligent sonar and underwater environmental monitoring systems, but successful recognition in underwater environments of complex scenarios is a significant challenge because of the effects of ambient noise, signal attenuation, and dynamic propagation. The recent developments in deep learning have enhanced automatic generation of features in acoustic signal classification, and the vast majority of existing models represent a trade-off between recognition accuracy and computational efficiency. In this regard we introduce Lightweight Hybrid Attention Network with Multi Scale Feature Integration (DCAT) a new deep learning system that combines depthwise separable convolutions to extract local features efficiently in parallel in conjunction with transformer-based global temporal dependency modeling attention modules. The key innovation of DCAT is its adaptive fusion mechanism, which conditionally combines contextual information of the two transformer branches with different receptive fields with varying scales with the purpose of allowing the model to ideally capture small-scale local features and long-range acoustic structures. The framework employs robust preprocessing and feature engineering, including Zero Crossing Rate (ZCR), Root Mean Square Energy (RMSE), Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), and Chroma features, computed from 22.05 kHz sampled audio, combined with data augmentation techniques—pitch shifting, time stretching, and Gaussian noise addition—to enhance generalization to real-world acoustic variability. Evaluated on two benchmark datasets, DeepShip and ShipsEar, DCAT achieves superior classification accuracies of 98.84% and 99.16%, respectively, while maintaining extremely low computational complexity of only 0.52 million parameters and 6.1 million FLOPs, supporting real-time inference with latency below 0.7 ms per sample. Comparative studies show that DCAT is more accurate and more efficient compared to state-of-the-art networks, including Transformer, ResNet1D, and AResNet, which substantiate its ability to trade-off discriminative power with resource economy. The suggested model sets a new standard of performance efficiency of underwater acoustic target recognition, which offers a promising framework to the next-generation autonomous sonar, underwater surveillance, and marine ecological monitoring systems.
ExacTrac Dynamic (EXTD) is an advanced surface-guided radiotherapy system that integrates thermal imaging with optical surface tracking. However, the effect of surface temperature on EXTD positional uncertainty has not been sufficiently characterized. This study aimed to fundamentally characterize the impact of surface temperature changes on EXTD positional errors along individual axes. Simultaneous monitoring was performed using EXTD and an external thermal camera on geometric and thoracic phantoms during surface cooling. Tracking areas were defined for each phantom. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between surface temperature and positional errors, including the overall translational error (ΔDTrans) and translational and rotational errors along each axis. ΔDTrans increased as surface temperature decreased, with greater temperature dependence in smaller tracking areas. The maximum regression slopes of ΔDTrans were -0.867 mm/°C and -0.984 mm/°C in the geometric and thoracic phantoms, respectively. In the geometric phantom, consistent positive correlations were observed in the vertical and pitch directions, suggesting systematic temperature-dependent behavior. In the thoracic phantom, the longitudinal direction showed weak negative correlations, whereas the roll direction showed the greatest temperature dependence, indicating stronger effects of surface geometry. For rotational errors, the standard errors decreased as the tracking area increased. Overall, the influence of surface temperature varied according to axis. No significant differences were found in the temperature changes at which tracking was lost among the tracking areas. Accurate EXTD monitoring requires an understanding of these characteristics and the definition of appropriate tracking areas.
Maxillary incisal display (MID) is a key feature in orthodontic and orthognathic surgical planning that critically impacts esthetics and forms the basis for the vertical positioning of the maxilla. In orthognathic surgical planning, several approaches are taken to position the maxilla to determine the MID, but little evidence exists in the relationship between maxillary movement and MID. The purpose of this study was to measure the association between MID and maxillary movements in maxillary orthognathic surgery. This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive cases of maxillary orthognathic surgery at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery over a 19-month period. Inclusion criteria were age between 12 and 64 years and presence of cone-beam computed tomography scans before (T0) and at least 6 months after (Tp) surgery. Exclusion criteria were soft tissue strain or abnormalities on cone-beam computed tomography and the presence of facial clefts or syndromic craniofacial deformities. The primary predictor variable was vertical maxillary movement (VM) at the maxillary central incisor (U1). Secondary predictor variables were anteroposterior maxillary movement (APM) at U1 and maxillary pitch (MP). The primary outcome variable was MID change from T0 to Tp, measured by a single examiner. Covariates included use of V-Y closure technique, age, and sex. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression including the predictor variables and V-Y closure were performed. Level of statistical significance was P < .05. In 19 eligible subjects (78.9% [15] females, age 18.3 ± 1.6 years), the MID decreased by 1.17 ± 4.01 mm. Mean VM, APM, and MP were 0.90 mm (range, -3.70 to 10.80), 1.98 mm (range, -1.90 to 6.3), and 2.10 ° (range, -11.40 to 19.40), respectively. Regression showed a strong relationship between MID change and VM only (adjusted R2 = 0.883, P < .001), with a near 1:1 relationship (coefficient 0.921). APM, MP, and V-Y closure did not show a significant relationship (P = .5-.8). MID is primarily associated with VM, which explains 88.3% of variances. APM, MP, and V-Y closure showed no such associations in this sample. Knowledge of the predictors of MID can guide the clinician in surgical planning for dentofacial deformities involving the maxilla.
Softball continues to grow in popularity within the United States. With the growth of the sport and specific movements required for sport, there are most common injury patterns seen among these athletes. The windmill pitching motion is specifically associated with a certain subset of injuries. The goal is to better understand these injury patterns so that we can better manage these athletes and allow for safe and effective return to competitive levels of sport.
Depending on bone mineral density, implant loosening occurs in up to 54 % of cases after spinal instrumentation. This leads to compromised healing, instability and mechanical pain, often requiring surgical revision. Revision strategies strongly depend on the remaining bone stock within the pedicle and include the use of larger diameter or dual pitch screws, implant cementation, alternative screw trajectories such as the cortical bone trajectory (CBT), impaction grafting, and extension to the intact adjacent segment. This study biomechanically compares screws with a 2 mm larger diameter (LD), CBT screws, and craniocaudal "rescue screws" (RS) in the setting of loosened cemented and native index pedicle screws. Biomechanical study on human cadavers METHODS: The vertebral bodies of 5 human cadaveric lumbar spines were dissected. After randomization and simulated screw loosening with a 1 mm larger tapping, each test trajectory was tested in alternating order on all lumbar levels. RS and LD screws were analyzed for cemented and uncemented index pedicle screws. The respective contralateral pedicle was instrumented with a conventional pedicle screw as an intra-sample reference. Maximum bending load-to-failure [Nm] in flexion was recorded for all screws in a biomechanic testing machine. In total, revision screws showed a significantly higher (+25.9 %; p=0.006) maximum torque (34.0 Nm) than controls (27 Nm). In native index screws, LD screws showed the highest median torque (35.3 Nm; +19.5 %). Rescue screws showed an 11.6 % torque increase (32.1 Nm) compared to contralateral controls. In cemented index screws, this effect was even greater for both LD (45.1 Nm, +59.2 %) and rescue screws (48.9 Nm; +41%). CBT screws did not restore the mechanical strength of the index screw in the context of prior screw loosening (29.4 Nm; -2.7 %). Followed by Rescue pedicle screws, LD screws showed the best mechanical performance in this cadaveric screw loosening model for cemented and native index pedicle screws. CBT screws are not useful in the context of pedicle screw loosening. In light of the increasing number of revision surgeries, the Rescue pedicle screw offers a biomechanically robust and technically simple revision strategy using standard implants and infrastructure if larger diameter screws are no longer applicable due to significant bone loss.
The development of musical abilities, including absolute pitch, musical memory, rhythm sense, and musicality, at a high degree is determined by a hereditary component (up to 68 %). The studies implementing a genome-wide linkage and association approach to musical aptitude have revealed more than 100 genetic loci. This spectrum is comprised of the genes encoding for transcription factors and those responsible for neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, genes fixed as a result of positive selection of musicality, and those related to inner ear formation. Since no studies linking musical aptitude with genes have been previously conducted in Russia, the present study aimed at replicating the association of 17 previously identified genetic variants with developing musical abilities in Russians. Genotyping of SNPs in the GATA2, PCDH7, UNC5C, ASAP1, SBSPON, DCBLD2, KALRN, VLDLR, OTOF, GRIN2B, FoxP1, FoxP2, BDNF, EGR1, and SNCA genes was performed using competitive allele-specific PCR in a sample of students who underwent rigorous contest selection at admission to the conservatory and in the corresponding control group. A series of logistic regression analyses were used both to evaluate the main effect of SNP and to identify the best prognostic model based on various loci. The mathematical model obtained by including only statistically significant SNPs consisted of GATA2 rs9854612, SNCA rs356168, rs3910105, ASAP1 rs3057, and VLDLR rs1454626 (р = 0.0018, pseudo r2 = 0.188, AUC = 0.791). The addition of all examined SNPs as predictors enabled the construction of a statistically significant model with a higher predictive ability (р = 0.012, pseudo r2 = 0.380, AUC = 0.889). The results revealed indicate a potential cumulative gene effect, confirming the involvement of dopaminergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, the reelin pathway and the role of alpha-synuclein in musicality formation. Формирование музыкальных способностей, включающих абсолютный слух, музыкальную память, чувство ритма, музыкальность, в значительной степени определяется наследственной составляющей (до 68 %). Проведенные к настоящему времени работы с использованием полногеномного анализа сцепления и ассоциаций с музыкальной одаренностью позволили выявить более 100 генетических локусов. В этот спектр входят гены транскрипционных факторов, регуляции нейрогенеза и синаптической пластичности; гены, закрепленные в ходе позитивной селекции музыкальности, а также связанные с особенностями формирования внутреннего уха. Поскольку ранее в Российской Федерации исследований по изучению связи музыкального таланта с генетической компонентой не проводилось, настоящая работа направлена на репликацию ассоциации ранее идентифицированных 17 однонуклеотидных вариантов (SNP) с формированием музыкальных способностей у русских. Генотипирование полиморфных локусов в генах GATA2, PCDH7, UNC5C, ASAP1, SBSPON, DCBLD2, KALRN, VLDLR, OTOF, GRIN2B, FoxP1, FoxP2, BDNF, EGR1, SNCA проводилось с помощью конкурентной аллель-специфичной ПЦР в выборке студентов, прошедших строгий конкурсный отбор при поступлении в консерватории, и в соответствующей контрольной группе. Метод логистической регрессии применялся как для оценки основного эффекта отдельных полиморфных вариантов, так и для выявления наилучшей прогностической модели, содержащей различные генетические локусы. Математическая модель, полученная в результате включения только ассоциированных SNP, состояла из генетических локусов GATA2 rs9854612, SNCA rs356168 и rs3910105, ASAP1 rs3057 и VLDLR rs1454626 (р = 0.0018, псевдо-r2 = 0.188, AUC = 0.791). Добавление всех изученных генетических локусов в качестве предикторов в регрессионный анализ позволило создать статистически значимую модель, обладающую более высокой прогностической способностью (р = 0.012, псевдо-r2 = 0.380, AUC = 0.889). Полученные результаты указывают на потенциальный кумулятивный эффект белковых продуктов изученных генов, подтверждая вовлеченность дофаминергической и ГАМКергической нейротрансмиссии, рилинового пути и роль альфа-синуклеина в формировании музыкальности.
The article highlights the effects of quasi-ballistic and diffusive transport on electron mobility, band gap, and electrostatic behavior in scaled Nanosheet FETs. It also provides comprehensive physical insight into the effects of different scattering mechanisms on the gate-length scaling process (from 16 nm to 6 nm) and their impact on performance metrics. The temperature is modeled from 220 K to 450 K to analyze its effect on electron mobility and the lateral electric field profile. It is observed that defects, such as oxygen vacancies, affect the work function of the gate stack region and induce scattering mechanisms at the oxide interface, thereby enhancing band-to-band and trap-assisted tunneling of electrons. Increased temperature in the device causes significant phonon scattering, resulting in approximately a 45% drop in the mobility, with a standard deviation of 328.7 cm²/V·s. The higher phonon and surface-scattering rates at elevated temperatures modify the band gap profiles, leading to a reduction of 48-72 meV in the band gap. Due to the reduced scattering and lower contact-poly pitch, the highest drive current is achieved at a 6 nm gate length in the quasi-ballistic and diffusive transport regimes. Gate-length scaling suffers from increased scattering rates and higher tunneling probabilities, leading to higher leakage current and a reduced ION/IOFF ratio. Scattering mechanisms introduce resistance in the channel region, resulting in a drop in mobility. The electrostatic profiles and mobilities are mapped along the channel to comprehend the device operation at the scaled node.
An attractive goal in the study of Gregorian chant melodies is reconstructing unobserved melodies as they may have been transmitted along their history, especially as early chant notation does not capture pitch exactly. We propose doing this computationally using Ancestral State Reconstruction over phylogenetic trees. Bayesian phylogenetic trees have shown promise as a tool to study the evolution of chant melodies, by inferring a plausible topology of chant transmission. However, the inferred trees cannot be used as Ancestral State Reconstruction inputs directly, because they are undirected, and their branch lengths conflate time and evolutionary rate. We therefore first apply Divergence Time Estimation to separate them and represent the tree in a directed form on the time dimension. Using Ancestral State Reconstruction, we then obtain reconstructions of melodies for each of the ancestral nodes, in addition to their distribution in time obtained from Divergence Time Estimation, and thus recover a phylogeny of chant melody with a music-historical interpretation. We applied this method to the Christmas Vespers dataset, and compare the results against musicological knowledge and melodies reconstructed at Solesmes using methods of contemporary philology, which shows potential for reconstructing cultural transmission through time.
Large aperture 2D arrays improve ultrasound imaging by increasing lateral resolution at depth, owing to the inverse relationship between beamwidth and aperture size, and by enabling higher contrast resolution through electronic focusing in elevation. We present a 4,096-element (128 × 32) large-aperture 2D ultrasound array with element pitches of 0.65 mm (azimuth) and 0.5 mm (elevation), operating at a 2.4 MHz center frequency with over 80% -6 dB bandwidth. The Active aperture measures 83.2 mm × 16 mm and is integrated with custom multiplexing ASICs, local preamplifiers for sensitivity enhancement, and an FPGA-based control interface, forming a fully reconfigurable imaging platform. Phantom experiments using a commercial CIRS 054GS tissue-mimicking phantom demonstrated penetration beyond 120 mm. The system achieved axial and lateral resolutions of 0.40 mm and 0.46 mm respectively at depths of 51 mm, with a maximum CNR of 2.13 and gCNR of 0.94 for cyst targets. These results validate the effectiveness of the large aperture 2D array for high-resolution volumetric ultrasound imaging and underscore the promise for future clinical translation.
This finite element analysis (FEA) systematically compared the axial pullout resistance of six pedicle screw augmentation techniques in osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae to inform clinical decision-making. Seven patient-specific L3 vertebral models were reconstructed from osteoporotic male patients (68 ± 5 years). Seven screw configurations were tested: unaugmented control (A), increased diameter (B), globally reduced pitch (C), locally reduced pitch at cortical zone (D), cement augmentation (E), bicortical purchase (F), and cortical bone trajectory (CBT, G). A total of 49 FE models were subjected to axial pullout at 0.01 mm/s. Maximum pullout force and von Mises stress in cortical/cancellous bone were recorded. Groups E (2349 ± 219 N), F (2307 ± 321 N), and G (2425 ± 460 N) showed substantially higher pullout resistance than control (1238 ± 36 N), with improvements of 88%, 92%, and 96%, respectively; the three performed comparably. Group B showed moderate improvement (26%). Group G recorded the highest cortical bone stress (265 ± 12 MPa), while Group E had the lowest cancellous bone stress (2.6 ± 0.2 MPa). Cement augmentation, bicortical fixation, and CBT significantly enhance axial pullout resistance in osteoporotic bone by reinforcing load-bearing capacity or optimizing cortical engagement. Modifications limited to diameter or pitch provide only marginal benefits. Augmentation strategy should be individualized based on bone quality, anatomy, and operative requirements.
This study investigated the main and interactive effects of age, gender, and speech task on Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) and Smoothed Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPPs) in healthy Persian-speaking adults. A sample of 156 vocally healthy Persian speakers (78 males, 78 females) aged 20-50 years was classified into three age decades. Participants performed sustained vowels, sentence reading, conversational speech, and counting. CPP and CPPs were extracted using Praat software. To study main effects, data were analyzed using nonparametric tests. The main and interactive effects were also examined using the nonparametric version of repeated-measures ANOVA, and the ANOVA-Type Statistic (ATS) was reported. To measure effect size, Cliff's Delta was calculated for pairwise comparisons. The effect of age was statistically significant for CPP and CPPs across nearly all tasks (P < 0.001), with a stronger effect on CPP (ATS=442.78, df=1, P < 0.0001). A significant gender effect was observed for both cepstral measures in most tasks (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), with a stronger effect on CPPs (ATS=325.16, df=1.83, P < 0.0001). Also, a highly significant main effect of speech task was observed on CPP and CPPs (P < 0.001), indicating a comparable degree of influence on both measures based on the ATS. All two-way interactions were significant (P < 0.0001), with the age ⁕ speech task interaction emerging as the most robust (CPP: ATS=17,729.43, df=2.14; CPPs: ATS=21,826.13, df=2.94). Crucially, the three-way interaction was statistically significant (P < 0.0001; CPP: ATS= 366.75, df=2.8; CPPs: ATS= 516.61, df=3.63) and Cliff's Delta mostly represented strong (≤ 0.474) or perfect separation (+1 or -1) of two independent variables. Findings demonstrate that age, gender, and speech tasks operate interdependently to influence vocal quality in healthy Persian-speaking adults. These complex interactions should be considered when interpreting cepstral measures for Persian-speaking adults.