Background: The lunge exercise is commonly adopted in public fitness programs. However, inadequate training experience and knowledge may result in improper actions, resulting in lowering training efficacy and possibly causing exercise-related diseases. Methods: Twenty-four male fitness trainees (12 novices and 12 experienced seniors) were recruited. Kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation were measured during forward and backward lunges with different loading positions. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA and one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM1D) were employed to explore various between training experience across different loading positions and lunge directions. Results: Hip, knee, and ankle ROM and angle peaks were significantly greater in novices than in seniors (P < 0.001). During forward lunges, dumbbells reduced hip moments and stiffness in novices (P < 0.001), while barbells increased ankle moments in seniors (P = 0.022). In the backward lunges, novices showed increased negative power and significant joint instability with dumbbells. Conclusions: Training experience is the significant influence during male lunge exercises. Novices show more stability when using dumbbells instead of barbells for forward lunges. Novices are less stable during backward lunges than more experienced seniors. Overall, novices get a greater benefit of training with dumbbells, while seniors are less likely to hurt their knees and ankles when they use barbells.

The paper presents a strength analysis of a pressed joint of two conical pipes with the aim of finding out whether this method of connection is suitable for telecommunication masts. In this paper, a solution using an engineering approach and a finite element method (FEM) numerical analysis for transversal direction will be compared.

This paper applied an integrated approach to Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) by combining the Rough Analytic Hierarchy Process (RAHP) and Neural Network, specifically a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) for a specific problem of smartphone selection. The Rough Analytic Hierarchy Process, grounded in rough set theory, proves adept at handling uncertainties in decision-making processes. Through the integration of RAHP and MLP, this study provides a comprehensive framework for ranking mobile phone criteria, focusing on camera quality, selfie capabilities, audio performance, display features, battery life, and pricing. The practical example employed demonstrates the applicability of the proposed methodology in real-world decision-making scenarios, the fusion of RAHP and MLP emerges as a potent solution for Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) problems, offering decision-makers confidence in navigating intricate scenarios. This integrated approach signifies a new era of robust decision-making, enhancing outcomes across diverse domains by synergizing structured prioritization and uncertainty management. The paper proceeds with a literature review, outlining existing approaches in decision-making scenarios. The methods section details the operations with rough numbers, the Rough Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the Multi-Layer Perceptron. A numerical example of mobile phone selection is presented, illustrating the application of the integrated approach. In the presented numerical example, two scenarios are provided: one without a price criterion and another with a price criterion. In the price-less scenario, the Honor Magic5 Pro is chosen, while in the scenario considering price, the Oppo Find X6 Pro is selected as the best option.

Purpose – This paper aims to systematically review key theories, constructs and empirical findings from studies that applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) within domains of public procurement research. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted, from which 37 relevant publications from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) that met the inclusion criteria and published between 2010 and 2024 were analysed. Findings – Over the period of 15 years, PLS-SEM has been widely applied in public procurement research, especially in developing countries. Past research from 2010 to 2014 focused solely on e-procurement adoption and implementation, whereas from 2015 to 2019, research interests included e-procurement adoption and implementation, strategic alliances and other aspects of the construction industry. Recent studies from 2020 to 2024 further emphasise contemporary issues such as sustainability, innovation, technology adoption and performance. Institutional theory dominates as the primary theoretical lens, followed by resource-based view and agency theory. Key constructs are based on e-procurement, user perceptions, system quality, governance, innovation, sustainability, risks and performance. Despite growing interests, little is known on evidence from moderated mediation analysis, and most reviewed studies revealed mixed research findings in the research field, offering rich opportunities for future research. Social implications – The paper enhances evidence-based policymaking grounded from consolidated theoretical foundations, constructs and findings from the public procurement research. This is relevant for improving public procurement processes, and support transparency and efficiency in the public sector. Technological aspects associated with Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain have received little attention in public procurement research. Therefore, future studies should consider these technologies, as they have substantial social implications. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review that consolidates studies using PLS-SEM in public procurement research from Scopus and WoS. This review provides a foundational reference point for future research and offers a clearer picture that shapes the thematic direction of future studies that use PLS-SEM in public procurement research.

The paper discusses that applying of CNO and IRNO type weighting functions results different TP models, including controller and observer. Selection of weighting functions has influence on the TP model transformation and the LMI based design. Present paper introduces the LMI based observer and controller design of the inverted pendulum via the TP model transformation based method using CNO and IRNO type weighting functions. The TP transformation is accomplished by qLPV modeling and HOSVD method. The paper gives a conclusion and a comparison of the original and estimated state variables and the impact of applying two types of weighting functions. The aim of present paper is to prove that using different type of weighting functions influences the TP models and LMI methods, but LMIs still result feasible solution for controller and observer design. Furthermore the modification allows to choose the better controller/observer.

Advanced driver-assistance and autonomous systems require perception that is both robust and affordable. Monocular cameras are promising due to their ubiquity and low cost, yet detecting abrupt road surface irregularities such as curbs and bumps remains challenging. These sudden road gradient changes are often only a few centimeters high, making them difficult to detect and resolve from a single moving camera. We hypothesize that stable image-based homography, derived from robust geometric correspondences, is a viable method for predicting sudden road surface gradient changes. To this end, we propose a monocular, geometry-driven pipeline that combines transformer-based feature matching, homography decomposition, temporal filtering, and late-stage IMU fusion. In addition, we introduce a dedicated dataset with synchronized camera and ground-truth measurements for reproducible evaluation under diverse urban conditions. We conduct a targeted feasibility study on six scenarios specifically recorded for small, safety-relevant discontinuities (four curb approaches, two speed bumps). Homography-based cues provide reliable early signatures for curbs (3/4 curb sequences detected at a 5 cm threshold). These results establish feasibility for monocular, geometric curb detection and motivate larger-scale validation. The code and the collected data will be made publicly available.

A new virtual reality-based test battery is now under development as part of an aptitude test and skill development project to support human resource assessment. This test space focuses on the subjects' virtual rotation skills. Namely the ability to both internally visualize and to manipulate the spatial orientation of a 3D cube with specific configurable parts missing. This paper includes a detailed description of the test space, the logged variables, the methods for the virtual rotations, and the possible configurations.

Comprehensive, comparable, and timely estimates of demographic metrics—including life expectancy and age-specific mortality—are essential for evaluating, understanding, and addressing trends in population health. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of timely and all-cause mortality estimates for being able to respond to changing trends in health outcomes, showing a strong need for demographic analysis tools that can produce all-cause mortality estimates more rapidly with more readily available all-age vital registration (VR) data. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) is an ongoing research effort that quantifies human health by estimating a range of epidemiological quantities of interest across time, age, sex, location, cause, and risk. This study—part of the latest GBD release, GBD 2023—aims to provide new and updated estimates of all-cause mortality and life expectancy for 1950 to 2023 using a novel statistical model that accounts for complex correlation structures in demographic data across age and time. We used 24 025 data sources from VR, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources to estimate all-cause mortality for males, females, and all sexes combined across 25 age groups in 204 countries and territories as well as 660 subnational units in 20 countries and territories, for the years 1950–2023. For the first time, we used complete birth history data for ages 5–14 years, age-specific sibling history data for ages 15–49 years, and age-specific mortality data from Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems. We developed a single statistical model that incorporates both parametric and non-parametric methods, referred to as OneMod, to produce estimates of all-cause mortality for each age-sex-location group. OneMod includes two main steps: a detailed regression analysis with a generalised linear modelling tool that accounts for age-specific covariate effects such as the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and a population attributable fraction (PAF) for all risk factors combined; and a non-parametric analysis of residuals using a multivariate kernel regression model that smooths across age and time to adaptably follow trends in the data without overfitting. We calibrated asymptotic uncertainty estimates using Pearson residuals to produce 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) and corresponding 1000 draws. Life expectancy was calculated from age-specific mortality rates with standard demographic methods. For each measure, 95% UIs were calculated with the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. In 2023, 60·1 million (95% UI 59·0–61·1) deaths occurred globally, of which 4·67 million (4·59–4·75) were in children younger than 5 years. Due to considerable population growth and ageing since 1950, the number of annual deaths globally increased by 35·2% (32·2–38·4) over the 1950–2023 study period, during which the global age-standardised all-cause mortality rate declined by 66·6% (65·8–67·3). Trends in age-specific mortality rates between 2011 and 2023 varied by age group and location, with the largest decline in under-5 mortality occurring in east Asia (67·7% decrease); the largest increases in mortality for those aged 5–14 years, 25–29 years, and 30–39 years occurring in high-income North America (11·5%, 31·7%, and 49·9%, respectively); and the largest increases in mortality for those aged 15–19 years and 20–24 years occurring in Eastern Europe (53·9% and 40·1%, respectively). We also identified higher than previously estimated mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa for all sexes combined aged 5–14 years (87·3% higher in GBD 2023 than GBD 2021 on average across countries and territories over the 1950–2021 period) and for females aged 15–29 years (61·2% higher), as well as lower than previously estimated mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa for all sexes combined aged 50 years and older (13·2% lower), reflecting advances in our modelling approach. Global life expectancy followed three distinct trends over the study period. First, between 1950 and 2019, there were considerable improvements, from 51·2 (50·6–51·7) years for females and 47·9 (47·4–48·4) years for males in 1950 to 76·3 (76·2–76·4) years for females and 71·4 (71·3–71·5) years for males in 2019. Second, this period was followed by a decrease in life expectancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, to 74·7 (74·6–74·8) years for females and 69·3 (69·2–69·4) years for males in 2021. Finally, the world experienced a period of post-pandemic recovery in 2022 and 2023, wherein life expectancy generally returned to pre-pandemic (2019) levels in 2023 (76·3 [76·0–76·6] years for females and 71·5 [71·2–71·8] years for males). 194 (95·1%) of 204 countries and territories experienced at least partial post-pandemic recovery in age-standardised mortality rates by 2023, with 61·8% (126 of 204) recovering to or falling below pre-pandemic levels. There were several mortality trajectories during and following the pandemic across countries and territories. Long-term mortality trends also varied considerably between age groups and locations, demonstrating the diverse landscape of health outcomes globally. This analysis identified several key differences in mortality trends from previous estimates, including higher rates of adolescent mortality, higher rates of young adult mortality in females, and lower rates of mortality in older age groups in much of sub-Saharan Africa. The findings also highlight stark differences across countries and territories in the timing and scale of changes in all-cause mortality trends during and following the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–23). Our estimates of evolving trends in mortality and life expectancy across locations, ages, sexes, and SDI levels in recent years as well as over the entire 1950–2023 study period provide crucial information for governments, policy makers, and the public to ensure that health-care systems, economies, and societies are prepared to address the world's health needs, particularly in populations with higher rates of mortality than previously known. The estimates from this study provide a robust framework for GBD and a valuable foundation for policy development, implementation, and evaluation around the world. Gates Foundation.

The education process, which includes teachers and students, as well as the teaching environment in general, has drawn the attention of the education process due to desirable characteristics such as the educational function, which is distinguished by evolution in its performance methods, scalability, coherence, cost savings, and efficiency. Over the last several decades, e-teaching has varied from the traditional education style, where teachers encounter many difficulties while implementing the traditional education style. Researchers have arrived at conclusions regarding the variables that influence teachers’ acceptance of e-teaching by asking respondents to fill out questionnaires, conduct interviews, collect relevant information, and analyze the data obtained. In addition, colleges and universities have been searching for innovative ways to make education readily available to learners and make teaching easier for teachers. Despite the great importance of e-teaching in Iraq to support higher education and human development in contemporary ways, the implementation of e-teaching resists multiple challenges in Iraq. The proposed work can summarize these challenges as the few lecturers and trainers who provide training courses in preparing electronic lectures, information and communications technology infrastructure, electronic lectures and educational materials, tutors, and technical expertise. This paper aimed to identify factors determining the effect of activating e-teaching in Iraq. The research will elaborate on the concept of e-teaching in Iraq and discuss its importance and impacts with significant emphasis on Iraq. The current work concludes that e-teaching in Iraq has made meaningful progress in three universities.