A high-performance brain switch based on code-modulated visual evoked potentials

Objective. Asynchronous brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are more practical and natural compared to synchronous BCIs. A brain switch is a standard asynchronous BCI, which can automatically detect the specified change of the brain and discriminate between the control state and the idle state. The current brain switches still face challenges on relatively long reaction time (RT) and high false positive rate (FPR). Approach. In this paper, an online electroencephalography-based brain switch is designed to realize a fast reaction and keep long idle time (IDLE) without false positives (FPs) using code-modulated visual evoked potentials (c-VEPs). Two stimulation paradigms were designed and compared in the experiments: multi-code concatenate modulation (concatenation mode) and single-code periodic modulation (periodic mode). Using a task-related component analysis-based detection algorithm, EEG data can be decoded into a series of code indices. Brain states can be detected by a template matching approach with a sliding window on the output series. Main results. The online experiments achieved an average RT of 1.49 seconds when the average IDLE for each FP was 68.57 minutes (1.46e-2 FP/min) or an average RT of 1.67 seconds without FPs. Significance. This study provides a practical c-VEP based brain switch system with both fast reaction and low FPR during idle state, which can be used in various BCI applications.

Regulating the Homogeneity of Thiol-Maleimide Michael-Type Addition-Based Hydrogels Using Amino Biomolecules

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based synthetic hydrogels based on Michael-type addition reaction have been widely used for cell culture and tissue engineering. However, recent studies showed that these types of hydrogels were not homogenous as expected since micro domains generated due to the fast reaction kinetics. Here, we demonstrated a new kind of method to prepare homogenous poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels based on Michael-type addition using the side chain amine-contained short peptides. By introducing such a kind of short peptides, the homogeneity of crosslinking and mechanical property of the hydrogels has been also significantly enhanced. The compressive mechanical and recovery properties of the homogeneous hydrogels prepared in the presence of side chain amine-contained short peptides were more reliable than those of inhomogeneous hydrogels while the excellent biocompatibility remained unchanged. Furthermore, the reaction rate and gelation kinetics of maleimide- and thiol-terminated PEG were proved to be significantly slowed down in the presence of the side chain amine-contained short peptides, thus leading to the improved homogeneity of the hydrogels. We anticipate that this new method can be widely applied to hydrogel preparation and modification based on Michael-type addition gelation.

A prior exposure to Serratia marcescens or xenobiotics primes Drosophila enterocytes against a recurring cytoplasmic purge

The cytoplasmic extrusion of enterocytes is a fast response to an exposure to pore-forming toxin (PFT)-producing bacteria whereby their apical cytoplasm is extruded into the intestinal lumen. As a result of this purge, the intestinal epithelium becomes thin prior to a subsequent recovery. We report here that the ingestion of ethanol or caffeine induces a similar response, which suggests that a common purging process is triggered by bacterial toxins and abiotic toxicants. We also delineate an additional mechanism that is initiated by these stimuli that we refer to as priming. The initial exposure of the intestinal epithelium to either PFT or xenobiotics protects enterocytes against a further round of purging upon a second bacterial infection. Priming prevents the epithelium from being persistently thin in the context of chronic intestinal infections. We have identified the upper part of the p38b MAPK pathway as well as the homeobox-containing transcription factors E5/EMS as being required for priming and not for the regrowth of enterocytes after the cytoplasmic purge. Unexpectedly, the priming process appears to function cell-nonautonomously. Our findings suggest that the cytoplasmic purge extrusion has been selected because it constitutes a fast reaction to accidental exposure to bacterial toxins or toxicants.

Improving Traffic Safety By Using Waze User Reports

Road inspection regularity and existing types made by road maintenance crew have not been good enough to be aware what is really happening on the roads. Road users' contribution in road traffic safety is very important to ensure fast reaction on different road hazards. It is important to ensure not only the most common ways to report road hazards on state roads by phone, by email and on social media, but also expand data sources options in modern and user-friendly way. Waze navigation application already had functionality to report road hazards – to warn other application users, but no one acted to solve these road hazards until someone reported them through existing communication channels supported by Latvian State roads or Latvian road maintainer. To ensure better road traffic safety and faster reaction time on road hazards solving, Latvian road maintainer gained access to Waze report feed, and, in corporation with Riga Technical university, made a system for analysing and processing Waze data. As the result - Latvian roads maintainer can improve road safety by faster reaction to road hazards reported by Waze users. Today, up to 70 % from total reports processed by Latvian road maintainer are generated by Waze.

Dynamics control of powered hydraulic roof supports in the underground longwall mining complex

The study presents the dynamic analysis of the hydraulic cylinders operated in the powered roof support sections as an important part of the longwall underground mining complexes. This type of hydraulic unit is subjected to frequent shock impacts from the significant rock masses released on the top of mined caverns. Hydraulic props are equipped with safety valves with steel helical springs, which intend to reduce peak loads by the relief of internal pressure. These valves respond to shock with a time delay due to the limited velocity of the pressure wave inside the cylinder and an additional pipe of a small section, which restricts fluid flow in outer space. The new approach represented in this paper is based on mathematical modelling of the interaction of the hydraulic and mechanical parts and using additional signals to control safety valves. Detection of shock in advance (0.02-0.05 s) allows reducing pressure peaks by 30% and avoid failures. The challenges are the development of a “smart valve” with optimised control functions by the signals from additional sensors (vibration, deformation, piston position) and providing fast reaction time with a high flow rate under pressures up to 100 MPa.

Pd-HPW/SiO2 Bi-Functional Catalyst: Sonochemical Synthesis, Characterization, and Effect on Octahydroquinazolinone Synthesis

A Palladium-doped silica-supported heteropoly acid (HPW) (1%Pd-HPW/SiO2) bi-functional catalyst was produced using ultrasonic and conventional procedures. Both forms of catalyst were characterized with distinct analytical approaches in order to access the advantages of each one. The presence of the required functional groups in the catalyst was confirmed using FT-IR. The crystallinity of ultrasonically generated 1%Pd-HPW/SiO2 was confirmed with XRD. The existence of necessary elements in the catalyst was also suggested by XPS and EDX data. BET was used to calculate the surface area of the ultrasonically synthesized catalyst (395 m2 g−1), and it was found to be greater than that of the non-ultrasonic synthesized catalyst (382 m2 g−1). The N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm indicated mesoporous structures. The SEM morphology at a similar magnification exhibited quite different shapes. In comparison to traditional methods, ultrasonic approaches produce higher yields in less time and use less energy. Furthermore, the effect of the preparation method of the 1%Pd-HPW/SiO2 catalyst was extensively studied with respect to the synthesis of octahydroquinazolinones. Excellent product yields, a fast reaction time, and simple work-up methods are some peculiarities associated with the ultrasonically synthesized catalyst. The recycling study was also investigated and found suitable for up to four reaction cycles.

The Delivery of Nitric Oxide in the Cardiovascular System: Implication for Clinical Diagnosis and Therapy

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key molecule in cardiovascular homeostasis and its abnormal delivery is highly associated with the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The assessment and manipulation of NO delivery is crucial to the diagnosis and therapy of CVD, such as endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic progression, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular manifestations of Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, due to the low concentration and fast reaction characteristics of NO in cardiovascular system, the clinical applications centered on the NO delivery are challenging. In this tutorial review, we first summarized the methods to estimate the in vivo NO delivery process based on the clinical images and mathematical modeling to assess the endothelial function and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque. Then, the emerging bioimaging technologies that have the potential to directly measure the arterial NO concentration were discussed, including the Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical sensor. Aside from the diagnostic methods, therapies aimed at controlling NO delivery to regulate CVD were reviewed, including the inhaled NO therapy to treat the pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19, stem cell therapy and NO-releasing platform to treat endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

Videogame exposure positively associates with selective attention in a cross-sectional sample of young children

There is growing interest in how exposure to videogames is associated with young children’s development. While videogames may displace time from developmentally important activities and have been related to lower reading skills, work in older children and adolescents has suggested that experience with attention-demanding/fast-reaction games positively associates with attention and visuomotor skills. In the current study, we assessed 154 children aged 4–7 years (77 male; mean age 5.38) whose parents reported average daily weekday recreational videogame time, including information about which videogames were played. We investigated associations between videogame exposure and children’s sustained, selective, and executive attention skills. We found that videogame time was significantly positively associated only with selective attention. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the directional association between time spent playing recreational videogames and attention skills.