OPUS HS Trier
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Traditional bone setting in Nigeria from the perspectives of patients and physiotherapists — clinical insights for low back pain management
Full text linkBackground: Traditional bone setting (TBS) remains a prevalent healthcare practice in Nigeria, offering complementary treatments for musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain (LBP). This study explores the perspectives of both patients and physiotherapists regarding TBS and its implications for the management of LBP.
Methods: A qualitative research approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 25 participants (13 patients who had utilized TBS services for LBP, and 12 physiotherapists). Theoretical sampling was employed in participant recruitment until saturation. Recordings were transcribed and thematic analysis was conducted as a secondary analysis. Reporting was informed by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
Results: Eleven (11) participants were female and 14 were male; with a mean age of 35 years. Five themes were identified from this study: driving impetus for TBS, influencing perceptions with information, turning to TBS as a final recourse, exploring the primary alternative, and integrating TBS. The shift towards TBS for LBP stems from deficiencies in prevailing healthcare practices in Nigeria. Patients and physiotherapists hold varying perspectives regarding cultural significance, and effectiveness and safety of TBS compared to professional physiotherapy interventions. Accessibility, affordability, and perceived efficacy are common facilitators for the patronage of TBS among patients, while others were hesitant and viewed it as a last resort. Negative perception of physiotherapists about TBS for LBP were based on concerns regarding the lack of scientific evidence, standardized practices, and potential complications associated with the procedures.
Conclusion: Participants consider TBS viable when professional physiotherapy fails, citing expectations for therapist-guided techniques, affordability, and cultural factors. Physiotherapists remain cautious, stressing the need for evidence-based care and noting severe TBS complications. Some participants advocate for integrating TBS with professional healthcare through collaboration and better communication. This study, supported by literature, highlights the potential for TBS integration, with open communication and training fostering collaboration. Future studies could investigate the practicality of this integration, prioritizing culturally appropriate, safe, and effective approaches to LBP management
The tension of usable safety, security and privacy
Full text linkLocal disasters such as the Ahr Valley flood in Germany, the international backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian War, or the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic place high demands on the people and organisations that are involved in these situations and contexts to save lives, mitigate damage, provide comfort, or organise reconstruction. Novel technologies are constantly making their way into everyday life, such as artificial intelligence, big data, decentralised networks, internet of things, or virtual reality. Their adaptation, acceptance, usability, usefulness, and legal framework conditions for safety-critical systems must be researched and tested thoroughly. In this special issue, we investigate the use of computer-based solutions in areas and situations of direct relevance to people’s lives and well-being (Usable Safety), as well as contributions to user-oriented resilience concepts of sociotechnical systems concerning potential attacks (Usable Security) and data protection mechanisms (Usable Privacy)
Culture matters - Why the Rights of Nature don't fit the European Union
Full text link[AI generated:] This article explores the cultural dependencies and symbolic nature of the Rights of Nature (RoN) within the context of the European Union (EU). It argues that the successful implementation of RoN in regions like New Zealand and Ecuador is deeply rooted in indigenous cultural perspectives, which contrast sharply with the anthropocentric legal frameworks prevalent in Western industrialized nations. The article highlights how the recognition of non-human entities as legal subjects in these countries is often a socio-political strategy rather than a genuine shift towards ecocentrism. The case of illegal gold mining in Ecuador exemplifies the ongoing dominance of anthropocentric perspectives, where economic interests frequently undermine environmental protections.
In contrast, the EU's approach to environmental justice is shaped by a lack of indigenous populations and the complexities of transposing EU law into national legislation. The EU primarily focuses on ecosystem services, emphasizing the necessity of environmental protection for human survival rather than granting rights to nature. This anthropocentric viewpoint is further reflected in societal attitudes towards environmental policies, where fears of economic disadvantage and social conflict hinder acceptance of transformative measures.
The article concludes that the global community is at a historic crossroads regarding ecological transformation, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches to avoid social resistance. In cultures where the protection of natural entities aligns with spiritual beliefs, RoN could be beneficial if implemented meaningfully. However, in EU countries where spirituality is diminishing and indigenous populations are scarce, adopting RoN may risk alienating the public and exacerbating political divisions. Therefore, enhancing existing environmental legislation is crucial to foster trust in its effectiveness and fairness, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not disproportionately affected
Overlooked – Presence and awareness cues in the metaverse
Full text linkThis article examines how “Presence and Awareness Cues” (PAACs) such as read receipts, online status indicators, and typing notifications shape data disclosure in computer-mediated communication (CMC), with particular focus on emerging metaverse contexts. PAACs are often overlooked in current policy debates despite their potential to reveal sensitive behavioral, relational, and even physiological information. Drawing on a broad review of related literature, we propose a conceptual framework outlining four pillars of mediated presence (PAACs, content, aesthetics, and fidelity), offering policymakers a technology-agnostic lens for anticipating developments in augmented and virtual settings.
We then present findings from a six-country survey (n = 18,358) examining whether and how users notice, interpret, and control PAACs, as well as their willingness to share additional cues in advanced AR/VR environments. Results indicate that most users recognize PAACs across diverse online services and adapt their behavior accordingly. These insights underscore potential policy gaps when biosignals such as heart rate and gaze become integral to projected availability or emotional states.
We conclude that balancing consumer protection with user-friendly interfaces calls for more nuanced oversight, especially as the European AI Act and related legislation could inadvertently limit the adoption of intuitive PAACs. Future research should probe how users negotiate these cues in fully interoperable metaverse environments, particularly when multiple identities or cross-application interactions come into play
Feasibility and user experience of augmented reality psychoeducation and mindfulness body scan for chronic low back pain
Full text linkBackground: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is prevalent and a multimodal therapy is indicated, including psychological treatment. Effective conventional treatments involve psychoeducation and mindfulness-based body scans, while virtual reality offers superior but temporary pain relief. Augmented Reality (AR), which combines conventional and virtual methods, is a novel therapeutic strategy.
Methods: We investigated the viability and acceptability of an AR intervention for CLBP by incorporating psychoeducation and mindfulness-based body scan techniques. 40 participants in two studies with a one-arm design underwent an educational AR intervention (Study I, n1 = 18) and an enhanced version with an additional body scan (Study II, n2 = 22). The studies focused on evaluating technical feasibility and multiple facets of user experience.
Results: The results demonstrated high feasibility with low dropout rates (Study I: 10%, Study II: 0%). User experience ratings ranged from “Above Average” to “Excellent,” with the advanced intervention receiving higher ratings. While Study I showed no significant changes in affect pre- vs. post-intervention, Study II exhibited a significant reduction in negative affect and improved valence. Qualitative analysis provided insights into technical requirements and user perceptions.
Discussion: The AR prototype emerges as a promising psychoeducational tool for CLBP, aligning with current treatment guidelines and providing a basis for future controlled clinical trials. Limitations include the absence of a high-pain intervention group, as Study I reported a pain intensity of M = 1.05 and Study II reported M = 1.77 (Range: 0–10). Further research such as clinical trials with control groups is required to validate the efficacy of the piloted approach. The AR-based psychoeducation and mindfulness body scan intervention for CLBP demonstrated technical feasibility and a good user experience
Determining the natal origin of the reintroduced allis shad (Alosa alosa) in the Rhine River using otolith microchemistry
Full text linkLocally extinct since the 1960s, the anadromous allis shad (Alosa alosa) was reintroduced into the Rhine system through a restocking programme beginning in 2007. The population is now showing positive signs of recovery, with natural reproduction occurring for several years and a decreasing proportion of stocked fish. These findings suggest the future establishment of a self-sustaining population. Our study aimed to identify the spawning sites in the Rhine system. We conducted a tank experiment and kept shad larvae in water from four sub-catchments of the Rhine system. We analysed trace substance concentrations in water samples and the microchemical composition of otoliths from reared larvae. Using a random forest model, we were able to correctly attribute the larvae to the sub-catchment where they were raised based on elemental/ratio (Sr/Ca) and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr). From the 66 allis shad caught in the Rhine system between 2017 and 2020, seven individuals (11%) were identified as being stocked. Of the 59 remaining individuals that came from natural reproduction, 37 were attributed to the Rhine, 7 to the Neckar and 4 to the Lippe sub-catchments with high certainty. We also observed allis shads dispersed in adjacent catchment areas and a homing behaviour. A total of 27% of the adults (n = 9) and 8% of the juveniles (n = 2) were assigned to any of the four sub-catchments included in our model, suggesting the need to expand the model and include additional sub-catchments to cover all spawning sites in the Rhine system and adjacent catchments
Perceptions and beliefs of physical therapists regarding the mechanisms of manual therapy
Full text linkBackground: Manual therapy (MT) is a widely utilized approach for managing musculoskeletal pain and functional disorders, particularly through joint mobilizations. Traditionally explained by immediate biomechanical processes, a paradigm shift has occurred in the last few decades, recognizing neurophysiological mechanisms as crucial contributors.
Objectives: To evaluate whether this shift is also reflected by clinicians, this study explores the beliefs and perceptions of physical therapists regarding the mechanisms underlying MT through an online survey design. The focus was if dominantly peripheral biomechanical model or a neurophysiological explanatory model prevails.
Methods: The study involved a national cross-sectional survey of 569 physical therapists, average age 36.5y (9.7), and 58 % female. Based on a fictitious case scenario, participants rated on a scale from 0 % to 100 %, the involvement of anatomical structures and physiological mechanisms and provided additional suggestions.
Results: The majority of responders attributed significant involvement to the brain (75 %), myofascial structures (71 %), peripheral nervous system (68 %), and cervical joints (60 %). Mechanisms such as endogenous pain modulation (73 %), placebo effects (72 %), muscle activity (68 %), and neuromuscular responses (62 %) were commonly endorsed. The data indicated that socio-demographic and work-related characteristics are weakly associated to specific beliefs, emphasizing the complex nature of these perspectives. The findings underscore the diversity in physical therapists' beliefs and highlight the importance of understanding the mechanisms, as they significantly contribute to the perceived effectiveness of MT.
Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the current landscape of beliefs among German physical therapists, contributing to the ongoing dialogue between basic research and clinical practice in MT
Mechanoelectrical Effects in Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymers as Structural Health Monitoring
Full text linkNatural fiber-reinforced polymers are gaining popularity as sustainable structural materials. However, their inherent variability can limit their reliability in load-bearing applications. To address this issue, we investigate a novel structural health monitoring method that leverages mechanoelectrical effects in flax fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. In our study, a contactless capacitive coupled measurement setup records electrical polarization during fatigue testing at four load levels. The polarization signals we observed increased with increasing load levels. Additionally, changes in polarization correlate with changes in dynamic modulus, providing early indicators of potential failure. This work lays the foundation for a new type of structural health monitoring in natural fiber-reinforced polymers
New Methods in Food Processing and Analysis
Full text linkThe food industry is currently undergoing a profound transformation. Growing demands for sustainable production; heightened expectations of safety, quality, and quantity; and the urgent need for greater efficiency call for innovative solutions (see, for example, and the references therein). The transformation of the food system is supported and simultaneously demanded by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and related initiatives such as the Global Panel. An important task in this regard is assigned to production, processing and analysis.
This Special Issue on New Methods in Food Processing and Analysis brings together research that highlights how new technologies can help shape the future of food, addressing some of these demands.
The articles in this collection present advances that, in part, go beyond incremental improvements. They showcase novel processing technologies, ranging from ultrasound to pulsed electric fields as pretreatment for innovative extraction processes and drying to ethanol pickling.
At the same time, state-of-the-art analytical tools, such as laser-induced breakdown and fluorescence spectroscopy (combined with machine learning) for olive oil authentication and real-time-monitoring of dough mixing, open new avenues for controlling and optimizing food production.
What unites these diverse approaches is their relevance to current challenges being faced. Ensuring sustainability, maintaining authenticity, and safeguarding traceability in complex supply chains are not merely technical issues—they are a concern of public trust and global food security. The contributions to this Special Issue therefore not only expand the scientific frontier but also provide practical strategies for industry and policy
Sensorimotor stabilization exercises with and without behavioral treatment in low back pain: Feasibility and effects of a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Full text linkObjectives: To investigate the feasibility and effects of a sensorimotor stabilization exercise intervention with and without behavioral treatment in nonspecific low back pain.
Design: A three-armed multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Five study sites across Germany (3 orthopedic university outpatient clinics, 1 university sports medicine department, and 1 clinical institution).
Participants: Six hundred and sixty-two volunteers (N=662) (59% females, age 39±13y) with low back pain.
Interventions: Sensorimotor training (SMT), sensorimotor training with behavioral therapy (SMT+BT), and usual care group (UCG; continuation of the already ongoing individual treatment regime). Intervention groups performed a 12-week (3wk center-based, 9wk home-based) program.
Main Outcome Measures: Adherence, dropout rates, adverse events, and intervention effects on pain intensity, disability, and trunk torque (gain scores, repeated measures analysis of variance, α-level<0.05).
Results: In total, 220 participants received SMT, 222 received SMT+BT, and 170 were analyzed as UCG. Dropout rates were 10% for SMT and SMT+BT at week 3, 31% and 30% at week 4, and 49% and 50% at week 12. Adherence rates above 80% were reached in both interventions; 134 adverse events occurred. Intervention effects compared to UCG were found for pain intensity (SMT, P=.011, effect size d=0.41), disability (SMT+BT, P=.020, d=0.41), and peak torque (SMT, P=.045, d=0.38; SMT+BT, P=.019, d=0.44), with overall small effect sizes.
Conclusions: Participants were highly adherent to the sensorimotor exercise, but showed increased dropout rates, particularly during home-based training. Both interventions proved to be feasible, and although only SMT showed an increased effect on pain intensity compared to UCG, the SMT+BT showed positive effects on disability. Both interventions led to increases in strength, indicative of a neuromuscular adaptation