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This study examined the relationship between spinal morphological changes and gait characteristics in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using inertial measurement unit (IMU) analysis. Twenty-three female patients with AIS scheduled for corrective surgery underwent a preoperative gait analysis using an IMU positioned at the third lumbar vertebra. Gait stability indicators were calculated, including root mean square (RMS) values for mediolateral (RMSx), anteroposterior, and vertical components. Peak mediolateral components in four coronal plane quadrants were also analyzed. Relationships with the main thoracic (MT) curve, the thoracolumbar (TL) curve, and thoracic kyphosis (TK) were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation. The MT curve is positively correlated with RMSx, whereas TK exhibited a negative correlation. Gait symmetry analysis revealed a positive correlation between the MT curve and peak mediolateral trunk acceleration in the second (left upper) quadrant, and negative correlations for TK in the first (right upper) and fourth (right lower) quadrants. Patients with AIS who have right-convex MT curves demonstrated leftward center-of-gravity shifts, although reduced TK limited this compensatory mechanism. These findings may inform the development of rehabilitation strategies for AIS.

This study investigated whether wakeful targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during short rest intervals improves motor learning. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups and performed a sequential key-press task under each condition: (1) TMR regular group: auditory cues played at the same speed as the previous task, (2) TMR fast group: auditory cues played 1.3 times faster, and (3) TMR random group: auditory cues randomized in pitch. To examine the motor learning effect of cue structure, we compared motor learning across three groups (TMR regular , TMR fast , and TMR random ). The TMR fast group enhanced early learning gains compared with the TMR regular group. Electroencephalogram data revealed stronger functional connectivity centered on the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) in the TMR fast group than in the TMR regular group. Together, these findings suggest that wakeful TMR can enhance early motor learning depending on cue timing and structure, highlighting the importance of optimizing sensory parameters for learning improvement.

Background Skill acquisition of motor learning between virtual environments (VEs) and real environments (REs) may be related. Although studies have previously examined the transfer of motor learning in VEs and REs through the same tasks, only a small number of studies have focused on studying the transfer of motor learning in VEs and REs by using different tasks. Thus, detailed effects of the transfer of motor skills between VEs and REs remain controversial. Here, we investigated the transfer of sequential motor learning between VEs and REs conditions. Methods Twenty-seven healthy volunteers performed two types of sequential motor learning tasks; a visually cued button-press task in RE (RE task) and a virtual reaching task in VE (VE task). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups in the task order; the first group was RE task followed by VE task and the second group was VE task followed by RE task. Subsequently, the response time in RE task and VE task was compared between the two groups respectively. Results The results showed that the sequential reaching task in VEs was facilitated after the sequential finger task in REs. Conclusions These findings suggested that the sequential reaching task in VEs can be facilitated by a motor learning task comprising the same sequential finger task in REs, even when a different task is applied.

This study investigated whether wakeful targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during short rest intervals improves motor learning. Participants were randomly assigned to the following four groups and performed a sequential key-press task under each condition: (1) TMRno group: no auditory stimuli, (2) TMRregular group: auditory cues played at the same speed as the previous task, (3) TMRfast group: auditory cues played 1.3 times faster, and (4) TMRrandom group: auditory cues randomized in pitch. The TMRregular group suppressed early learning gains compared with the TMRno and TMRfast groups. Electroencephalogram revealed reduced functional connectivity centered on the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) in the TMRregular group. In contrast, the TMRfast group preserved early learning and exhibited improved lOFC-centered functional connectivity compared with the TMRregular group. Therefore, wakeful TMR might either hinder or support motor learning, depending on cue timing and structure, emphasizing the need to optimize sensory parameters for effective learning improvement.

The effect of ocean acidification, caused by the increase in p CO 2 in seawater, on phytoplankton population and on related organic nitrogen production was experimentally examined by use of a natural coastal microbial population. p CO 2 and pH were controlled by aeration with air in which p CO 2 was at the current level (control), for which ambient air was used, and with air in which p CO 2 was “800” and “1200” ppm, in 500-L culture vessels. The experiment was continued for 15 days after addition of the inorganic nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. During most of the experimental period, a minor increase in phytoplankton biomass was noted, probably because of low irradiance, an increase in phytoplankton biomass was observed at the end of the experiment. Flow cytometric and microscopic observations revealed that this increase was because of Chrysochromulina sp. (Haptophyceae). The growth of Chrysochromulina sp . was most obvious in the control vessel, and tended to be obscured by increasing p CO 2 (decrease in pH), indicating the possibility that ocean acidification inhibits the growth of specific phytoplankton groups, for example Chrysochromulina sp . Production of particulate organic nitrogen (PON), determined by the 15 N tracer method, also diminished under acidified conditions compared with that at the current level.