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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 (&#x2265;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.

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 &#xb1; 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 &#xb1; 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&#xb0; vs 3&#xb0;; 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 &#xb1; microfracture.

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&#xa0;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.

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.

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% &#xb1; 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.

A single-mode sapphire photonic crystal fiber (S-PCF) fabricated via femtosecond laser direct writing is demonstrated, with a fiber Bragg grating inscribed in the core. A two-step cladding strategy is proposed: waveguide arrays are written point-by-point along the fiber axis in a hexagonal lattice to form an artificial photonic crystal cladding. The lower half of the lattice is first inscribed, followed by embedding the FBG in the core and then completing the upper half to form a full PCF. This approach enables flexible geometry design, refractive index modulation, and precise modal control. Experiments show single-mode guidance under different lattice pitches, cladding layers, and index modulation. The fabricated sapphire PCF-FBG exhibits effective confinement with a near-Gaussian mode distribution, 0.20&#xa0;nm bandwidth, 14.45&#xa0;dB SNR, and a reflectivity of 48.5%. It also demonstrates stable high-temperature performance from 20 to 1500&#x2009;&#xb0;C with enhanced temperature sensitivity.

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 (&#x394;DTrans) and translational and rotational errors along each axis. &#x394;DTrans increased as surface temperature decreased, with greater temperature dependence in smaller tracking areas. The maximum regression slopes of &#x394;DTrans were -0.867&#xa0;mm/&#xb0;C and -0.984&#xa0;mm/&#xb0;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.

Hard carbon has been widely recognized as the most commercially viable anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs); however, its inherently low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), typically 60-90%, remains a critical bottleneck constraining practical full-cell deployment. While extensive research has addressed ICE optimization, existing reviews have predominantly focused on individual precursor types or isolated strategies, lacking a unified cross-precursor comparative framework. This review systematically deconstructs the complete causal continua-from chemical composition through carbonization trajectories and microstructural evolution to ultimate ICE outcomes-across five major precursor categories: biomass, synthetic resins, pitches, coal-based materials, and saccharides. An "SSA-closed pore-defect" three-parameter trade-off framework is proposed to elucidate the microstructural origins of precursor-dependent ICE divergences. Cross-categorical benchmarking reveals that resin-based precursors achieve the highest ICE (95%) through ultra-low specific surface area and extensive closed porosity, pitch-based systems deliver the most consistent ICE distribution (86-91%), and coal-derived carbons are confined to the lowest tier (78-85%). The differentiated efficacy of carbonization conditions and post-treatment strategies across precursor types is critically evaluated, demonstrating that optimal process selection is inextricably linked to precursor taxonomy. Building upon these analyses, a precursor selection decision roadmap targeting three application-specific ICE thresholds is constructed, providing actionable guidance for matching precursor-process combinations to industrial requirements. The comparative framework is grounded in 25 representative studies selected through explicit inclusion criteria (detailed in the Introduction), and its predictive utility is illustrated for emerging precursor candidates beyond the five canonical categories. This cross-precursor perspective offers a systematic reference for accelerating the commercialization of hard carbon anodes in SIBs.

To evaluate the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of third-generation dual-source CT with high-pitch scanning for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were unable to hold their breath. A total of 144 patients with AF and inability to hold their breath were enrolled and assigned into 2 groups: the high-pitch scanning group (N=70) and the prospective ECG-triggered sequential scanning group (N=74). Image quality, radiation dose, and diagnostic performance were compared between the 2 groups. The subjective image quality in the high-pitch group was significantly superior to that in the sequential group ( P <0.001), and it was particularly noticeable in mid-distal coronary artery segments. Radiation dose was significantly lower in the high-pitch group (effective dose: 1.52&#xb1;0.57 vs. 6.23&#xb1;3.41&#xa0;mSv, P <0.001). The diagnostic performance for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis (&#x2265;50%), as assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) and diagnostic accuracy, was significantly superior in the high-pitch group compared with the sequential group ( P <0.05). Third-generation dual-source CT with high-pitch scanning demonstrated superior image quality, significantly reduced radiation dose, and enhanced diagnostic performance in CCTA for patients with AF who were unable to perform breath-holding. Therefore, it can be recommended as the preferred noninvasive imaging technique for this patient population.

High-density CMOS-based neural probes provide unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution for in-vivo electrophysiology, yet accurate validation of implant position remains challenging. Here we present LFP-LOC, a simple and interpretable method for intraoperative validation and refinement of probe anatomical location based on the spatial distribution of local field potential (LFP) power. Using spontaneous activity recordings performed in rodents, we compute power spectral densities in canonical LFP bands and apply dimensionality reduction and clustering to identify electrodes with shared spectral signatures. Across multiple implant sites, probe technologies, electrode layouts, and experimental conditions, the resulting clusters consistently align with anatomical boundaries. Applied to high-density probes with up to 1,024 electrodes/channels and sub-30&#x202f;&#x3bc;m pitch, power features converge within approximately 20&#x202f;s of recordings, allowing online intraoperative assessment. By leveraging the robust relationship between LFP power and brain structure, LFP-LOC enables rapid validation and adjustment of probe placement during surgery, complements histological validation, and may facilitate mesoscale electrophysiological studies.

Efficient thermal management has become a critical challenge for modern nanoelectronic and microelectronic devices as heat dissipation increasingly limits performance and reliability. Thermal rectification (TR), the directional dependence of heat flow, provides a&#xD;promising strategy for regulating nanoscale energy transport and enabling thermal diodes, logic gates, and autonomous heat regulators. In this work, we employ non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations to investigate TR in silicon (Si) prism-shaped nanostructures with trapezoidal cross-sections characterized by the pitch angle &#x3b8;. The simulations reveal that geometric asymmetry strongly influences phonon transport, leading to tunable rectification behavior across different system lengths and angles. We systematically analyze the dependence of the rectification ratio on the pitch angle, structure length, and applied temperature bias, uncovering conditions under which pronounced rectification and non-linear heat transport emerge. The optimized Tersoff potential was employed to capture anharmonic effects and phonon scattering with high fidelity. These results underscore geometry-driven phonon filtering as a controllable approach to achieve directional heat transport in Si nanostructures. Moreover, they extend previous insights on spontaneous heat currents and infinite thermal rectification-previously observed in asymmetric graphene systems-to technologically relevant Si platforms. The influence of key geometrical parameters-namely, pitch angle, length, and thickness-on the thermal rectification ratio was systematically investigated. Overall, this study provides atomistic design guidelines for Si-based thermal rectifiers and establishes prism-shaped nanostructures as viable candidates for next-generation thermal management and energy conversion technologies.

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 &#xd7; 16 pixel matrix with a 50 &#xb5;m &#xd7;50 &#xb5;m 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.

Efficient segmental pitch control is critical for butterfly swimming propulsion and alignment, yet its role in youth performance remains unclear. This study quantified head, shoulder, and hip pitch kinematics using wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) in 41 competitive swimmers (9-11 years). Participants performed two maximal 25-m butterfly trials and were classified into faster and slower groups. Pitch angle, velocity, frequency, time, and pitch deviation index were extracted. Between-group differences were assessed using independent t-tests, and associations with performance were examined using Pearson correlations. Faster swimmers exhibited smaller head pitch angles during the Breath phase (p < 0.001, d = -2.01), along with greater shoulder pitch velocities and frequencies (all p < 0.05, d = 0.67-1.07). They also demonstrated shorter pitch times and lower pitch deviation indices (all p < 0.05, d = 0.66-1.92), indicating more efficient and stable movement patterns. In contrast, hip kinematics showed fewer and less consistent differences between groups. Several head and shoulder variables during the Breath phase were moderately correlated with sprint time (r = 0.32-0.43, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that sprint butterfly performance in youth swimmers is primarily associated with more controlled and stable upper-body pitch motion, particularly during breathing.

Background/Objectives: Hearing loss is frequently misunderstood by communication partners and healthcare providers of patients with hearing loss alike, leading to gaps in counseling, medical adherence, and empathy. Hearing loss simulation is a technique that can clarify patient experience by illustrating how hearing loss affects daily listening and speech discrimination. The current research explores the influences of a web-based hearing loss simulator on how hearing loss is understood by communication partners, audiologists, and medical providers/students. Methods: Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, 72 participants (communication partners, audiologists, and medical providers/residents) completed a guided trial with the hearing simulator, either one-on-one or in group settings, and subsequently completed a questionnaire regarding their experiences. The simulation trial included demonstrations of hearing loss and amplification across four listening environments: speech in quiet, in noise, at a distance, as well as listening to instrumental music. Results: Communication partners reported that they gained a better understanding of their partner's hearing loss, with all expressing increased feelings of empathy towards their partner and individuals with hearing loss. When compared to audiologists, communication partners were significantly more surprised by the impact of hearing loss on speech understanding. Medical providers and students emphasized the value of the simulator as a counseling tool and highly recommended that other providers use the simulator with their patients. Conclusions: Simulating hearing loss can be beneficial for counseling purposes and medical training. These findings suggest that hearing loss simulation can enhance empathy and communication across clinical and educational contexts.

This study investigated the main and interactive effects of age, gender, and speech task on Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) and Smoothed Cepstral Peak Prominence&#xa0;(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&#xa0;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 <&#xa0;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 &#x2055; 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 (&#x2264;&#xa0;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.

Compared to fixed-bottom offshore wind farms, offshore floating wind farms experience unstable platform motions that induce rotor misalignment. Such misalignment causes wake redirection, necessitating its consideration in wake modeling for enhanced accuracy. This study focuses on: developing an analytical solution for wake center deflection incorporating rotor misalignment based on counter-rotating vortex pair kinematics; proposing a 3D wake model using this deflection solution for wind speed prediction; and validating the analytical model against high-fidelity simulations with the coupled SOWFA-OpenFAST framework. The results computed by the dynamic wake model exhibit excellent agreement with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) data, confirming its strong capability in predicting spatial wake distributions under rotor misalignment conditions and accurately identifying wake positions. Finally, a dynamic wake model is derived using the Lagrangian approach. This research provides a predictive framework for offshore floating wind farm wakes, enhances wind farm power output forecasting accuracy, and establishes a computational foundation for effective wake steering control.