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We propose an augmented reality (AR)-based training system for basketball free-throws. The optimal shot trajectory for free-throws is projected by a head-mounted display according to the shooter’s release point. The efficacy of the training system was assessed in novice shooters by comparing changes in success rates and eye-gaze behavior (quiet eye [QE]) between AR-training and control-training groups. The success rate during the AR training with the optimal trajectory did not differ from the pre-training rate; however, in post-AR training, i.e., after removal of the optimal trajectory, the success rate increased. Additionally, AR training increased the QE duration (QED) compared with that recorded during pre- and post-training blocks. In contrast, the control group showed no change in the success rate or QED. These findings imply that our AR training system affected QE behavior and improved free-throwing shooting performance after training. Thus, our system is expected to enhance basketball free-throw shooting performance.

This study used an augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display to generate three-dimensional (3D) perceived motions involving optic flow and evaluated their effects on aiming motor skill in dart throwing. The motions were generated by random white spheres moving in 3D space. Six motion patterns were assessed: random, lateral, radial expansion, radial contraction, combined random and radial expansion, and diagonal radial expansion. The effects of these motion patterns on aiming accuracy were compared to a control condition lacking sphere motions. We observed significant effects of radial expansion and contraction motions, as well as lateral motion, but not of the other motions. The radial expansion and lateral motions biased the dart positions, whereas the radial contraction motion reduced lateral variance. These findings imply that AR-based perceived motion has the potential to enhance motor skills by reducing error and variance. Therefore, although other types of motion may also exert effects, this study provides a basis for further research on AR-based illusions of motion perception.

This study investigates a method for generating obstacle avoidance trajectories for arbitrary convex polyhedrons. We propose a formulation that converts discrete conditions into continuous equation forms to avoid convex polyhedron obstacles. The condition that the evaluation point be located outside of the convex polyhedron can be transformed into a constraint in the continuous equation form and incorporated into the optimization calculation to generate avoidance trajectories. Avoidance trajectory generation using the Legendre pseudospectral method is performed for convex polyhedral obstacles of various shapes. The results show that the proposed method successfully generates avoidance trajectories for arbitrary convex polyhedral obstacles.

Background For achieving equity of the accessibility to primary healthcare, measuring potential geographical accessibility is essential. The provider-to-population ratio is the most frequently used measure. However, it is difficult to be used in closer region because it does not take into consideration the people and health services beyond its boundary. In order to overcome this problem, we measured the potential access to hospital, using both distance measures and the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method. The aim of this study was to compare the number of hospitals in the neighborhood and the E2SFCA score with regard to the amount and equity for access to hospitals. Methods This descriptive study used publicly available data from 2010. The E2SFCA score and number of neighborhood hospitals were obtained from Tochigi province in Japan using a geographic information system. Dataset of four measures by each census tract was obtained. The measures were E2SFCA score, number of hospitals within the 5 km range, number of hospitals within the 10 km range, and number of hospitals within the 15 km range. Correlation and disparity analyses with the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient were performed. Results The measures were obtained in a smaller area than municipality considering adjacent areas using a geographical approach. The E2SFCA score was 5.3 [3.2–7.3] hospitals/million (median [quantile range]), compared to 5.6 hospitals/million in total for the given district. The median number of hospitals within the 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km ranges were 1, 39, and 47, respectively. There was no hospital within the 5 km range in one third of the blocks. Both the number of hospitals within the 10 km range and those within the 15 km range were well correlated. Regional difference became smaller as the distance to count the number of hospitals increased. The gap between small number of hospitals and the high E2SFCA score indicated the location of community hospital in depopulated areas. Conclusions The E2SFCA method is superior for analyzing spatial access to hospital, because it provides information in the closer sub-regions. Regional differences were hardly seen in access to hospital beyond the 10 km range. Further studies in other regions and countries are needed for precise assessment.

This study investigates the application of obstacle avoidance trajectory generation considering the vehicle shape of a micro ground vehicle by successive convexification and state-triggered constraints. The avoidance trajectory is generated by numerical computation and path-following experiments are conducted to assess the generated trajectory. The numerical computation results indicate that the trajectory obtained by the algorithm successfully avoids obstacles considering the vehicle shape and satisfies the constraints. The experiment includes the model predictive control to follow the generated trajectory. Numerical computations and experiments confirm the usefulness of the trajectory generation algorithm.

No prospective studies have investigated the relationship between nutritional status, tolerability to antifibrotic therapy, and mortality in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). This prospective longitudinal study enrolled 290 consecutive patients with fibrotic ILDs who initiated antifibrotic therapy, including 164 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 126 with non-IPF. Nutritional status was assessed using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). Overall, 106 patients (36.6%) were classified as having malnutrition-related risk (GNRI < 98) at baseline. The prevalence of malnutrition-related risk was comparable between patients with IPF and non-IPF, although it tended to be higher in the non-IPF group than in the IPF group. Patients with malnutrition-related risk showed higher cumulative incidence of antifibrotic therapy discontinuation. Importantly, in both IPF and non-IPF groups, the mortality risk was significantly higher in patients with malnutrition-related risk than in those without. Longitudinally, a lower GNRI at 1 year was associated with shorter survival. In multivariable analyses, baseline malnutrition-related risk was independently associated with increased risk of therapy discontinuation and mortality, even after adjusting for the ILD–gender–age–physiology index. These findings indicate that assessment of nutritional status helps predict antifibrotic therapy tolerability and mortality risk in patients with fibrotic ILD.

In this study, the tracking control of a micro ground vehicle (MGV) is investigated using the course coordinate. The course layout, which consists of the straight section and the curved section, is defined by the course coordinate with the station axis and the lateral position axis. The course angle and the curvature, which are defined as functions of the station value from the optimization technique, are used in the feedforward and feedback control of the tracking controller. The proposed method is evaluated using numerical simulations and indoor experiments. The results show that the MGV can successfully track the target lane and perform the double lane-change well.

Background Recently, deaths due to mucormycosis in immunocompromised hosts have increased; however, the clinical and pathological features of mucormycosis are not fully understood, especially in view of the associated high mortality and rare incidence in immunocompetent patients. Case presentation We have described a rare autopsy case of a 67-year-old Japanese man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who contracted mucormycosis. He had not been on any immunosuppressants, and his immune functions were intact. Since 3 days prior to admission to our hospital, he had experienced progressive dyspnea, productive cough, and fever. Chest computed tomography revealed pleural effusion in the left lower hemithorax and consolidation in the right lung field. Although he was administered with tazobactam-piperacillin hydrate (13.5 g/day), renal dysfunction occurred on the ninth disease day. Therefore, it was switched to cefepime (2 g/day). However, his general condition and lung-field abnormality worsened gradually. Cytological analysis of the sputum sample at admission mainly revealed sporangiophores and unicellular sporangioles, while repeated sputum culture yielded Cunninghamella species. Therefore, he was diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis. Liposomal amphotericin B (5 mg/kg/day) was initiated on the 28 th disease day. However, chest radiography and electrocardiography detected cardiomegaly and atrial fibrillation, respectively, and he died on the 37 th disease day. A postmortem examination revealed clusters of fungal hyphae within the arteries of the right pulmonary cavity wall, the subpericardial artery, intramyocardial capillary blood vessels, and the esophageal subserosa vein. Direct sequencing revealed that all fungal culture samples were positive for Cunninghamella bertholletiae . Conclusions Cunninghamella bertholletiae could rapidly progress from colonizing the bronchi to infecting the surrounding organs via vascular invasion even in immunocompetent patients.

Sex differences in gut microbiota may affect health and aging, but evidence in elderly populations is limited and inconsistent. This study examined sex-specific similarities and differences in gut microbiota diversity and composition among apparently healthy elderly Japanese individuals using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 100 community-dwelling adults aged 75–83 years (54 males, 46 females). Fecal samples underwent metagenomic sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity were assessed across six taxonomic levels, and taxonomic differences were evaluated using non-parametric tests. No significant sex differences were observed in alpha diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, evenness, Chao1) at any taxonomic level. Beta diversity based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity and PCoA also showed no sex-specific clustering. However, certain taxa differed in relative abundance. Males showed higher abundances of Bacteroidota (phylum), Bacteroidia and Betaproteobacteria (class), and Bacteroidales and Burkholderiales (order) (p < 0.05). No significant differences were detected at the family, genus, or species levels. Overall, gut microbial diversity and community structure were largely similar between elderly males and females, with only modest sex-associated differences at higher taxonomic levels. These findings suggest that biological sex may have a limited influence on gut microbiota composition in advanced age and provide population-level reference data for future longitudinal and interventional studies in elderly cohorts.

Background: The validity of four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT scan for distinguishing COPD from asthma has not been established. Purpose: To assess whether four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT scan can aid in the diagnosis of COPD by comparing local lung movement during tidal breathing between COPD and asthma. Patients and Methods: Thirty-three COPD patients (30 males and three females; median age 74; range 44-89 years) and 11 asthma patients (five males and six females; median age 55; range: 32-75 years) underwent whole-lung dynamic-ventilation CT scan. CT data were reconstructed, one respiratory cycle to 10 phases, and in addtion we reconstructed threefold new phase data sets. We then analyzed local lung movement during tidal breathing using unpaired t-tests and chi-squared tests. Results: The local lung movement in COPD patients was significantly smaller than in asthma patients, especially in the ventral part of the lung. This was so even in patients who had mild emphysema (Goddard score <8). Conclusion: Quantitative evaluation using four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT scan demonstrated that local lung movement during tidal breathing, particularly in the ventral lung, was smaller in COPD than in asthma patients, which may help distinguish COPD from asthma. Keywords: COPD, asthma four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT