Exploring the relationship between effort perception and poststroke fatigue

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that poststroke fatigue, a chronic, pathologic fatigue condition, is driven by altered effort perception.MethodsFifty-eight nondepressed, mildly impaired stroke survivors with varying severity of fatigue completed the study. Self-reported fatigue (trait and state), perceived effort (PE; explicit and implicit), and motor performance were measured in a handgrip task. Trait fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale-7 and Neurologic Fatigue Index. State fatigue was measured with a visual analog scale (VAS). Length of hold at target force, overshoot above target force, and force variability in handgrip task were measures of motor performance. PE was measured with a VAS (explicit PE) and line length estimation, a novel implicit measure of PE.ResultsRegression analysis showed that 11.6% of variance in trait fatigue was explained by implicit PE (R = 0.34; p = 0.012). Greater fatigue was related to longer length of hold at target force (R = 0.421, p < 0.001). A backward regression showed that length of hold explained explicit PE in the 20% force condition (R = 0.306, p = 0.021) and length of hold and overshoot above target force explained explicit PE in the 40% (R = 0.399, p = 0.014 and 0.004) force condition. In the 60% force condition, greater explicit PE was explained by higher force variability (R = 0.315, p = 0.017). None of the correlations were significant for state fatigue.ConclusionTrait fatigue, but not state fatigue, correlating with measures of PE and motor performance, may suggest that altered perception may lead to high fatigue mediated by changes in motor performance. This finding furthers our mechanistic understanding of poststroke fatigue.

Effect of chewing and cutting condition for V-shape three-dimensional titanium miniplate for fixation of mandibular angle fractures (MAFs)

PurposeMiniplate shapes determine the fixation stability to promote best healing and osseointegration process of mandibular fracture. In clinical treatment, the common method used two straight-type miniplate or I-shape miniplate; sometimes this method is not stable enough or limited by the fracture geometry and caused high risk of failure due to screw loosening. This paper aims to investigate a new type of miniplate called V-shape miniplate design as an alternative to the standard straight plate based on total displacement, von Mises stress, stress transfer parameter (STP) and strain energy density transfer parameters (SEDPTs) for two types of bite force condition, which is cutting and chewing condition.Design/methodology/approachThe 3D fixation models were constructed and the finite element (FE) simulation is based on the two-bite force load that ranges from 50 to 700 N based on cutting and chewing bite force condition using ANSYS Workbench 19.2.FindingsIn result comparison, the maximum loading of the V-shape miniplate can reduce deformation by 5.9%, reduce stress by 0.58% reduce strain by 8.1% in cutting condition while reducing deformation by 6.43%, reduce stress by 15.25%, reduce strain by 10.1% in chewing condition. To assess the stress transfer behavior of miniplates fixations to the mandibular bone, the STP and SEDPT were evaluated at the normal cortex screw and the locking head screw. In the simulation, the locking head screw is vertical to the bone structure while the cortex screw is 95 degrees to the bone structure, as a result, the STP value for locking head screw is 1.0073 while in cortex screw is 0.7408.Research limitations/implicationsMeanwhile, the SEDPT value for locking head screw is 2.7574 and 1.8412 for cortex screw.Practical implicationsClinically, V-shape miniplate has shown factual data that can be used for prototyping. STP and SEDTP values provide evidence of how fixation stability is better than I-shape miniplate.Originality/valueIn conclusion, the newly designed V-shape miniplate has overall better stability than the standard I-shape miniplate, and the locking head screw has the STP value closer to 1 than the standard cortex screw; it means the locking screw is better in reducing the stress shielding.

Homoclinics for singular strong force Lagrangian systems

We study the existence of homoclinic solutions for a class of Lagrangian systems $\begin{array}{} \frac{d}{dt} \end{array} $(∇Φ(u̇(t))) + ∇uV(t, u(t)) = 0, where t ∈ ℝ, Φ : ℝ2 → [0, ∞) is a G-function in the sense of Trudinger, V : ℝ × (ℝ2 ∖ {ξ}) → ℝ is a C1-smooth potential with a single well of infinite depth at a point ξ ∈ ℝ2 ∖ {0} and a unique strict global maximum 0 at the origin. Under a strong force condition around the singular point ξ, via minimization of an action integral, we will prove the existence of at least two geometrically distinct homoclinic solutions u± : ℝ → ℝ2 ∖ {ξ}.

Maximal proper force, black hole horizons and matter as curvature in momentum space

Starting with the study of the geometry on the cotangent bundle (phase space), it is shown that the maximal proper force condition, in the case of a uniformly accelerated observer of mass [Formula: see text] along the [Formula: see text] axis, leads to a minimum value of [Formula: see text] lying [Formula: see text] the Rindler wedge and given by the black hole horizon radius [Formula: see text]. Whereas in the uniform circular motion case, we find that the maximal proper force condition implies that the radius of the circle cannot exceed the value of the horizon radius [Formula: see text]. A correspondence is found between the black hole horizon radius and a singularity in the curvature of momentum space. The fact that the geometry (metric) in phase spaces is observer-dependent (on the momentum of the massive particle/observer) indicates further that the matter stress energy tensor and vacuum energy in the underlying space-time may admit an interpretation in terms of the curvature in momentum spaces. Some final comments are made pertaining to the Asymptotic Safety program in gravity and why phase space geometry seems to be a proper arena for a space–time–matter unification.

The Analysis on Suspension of Fire Robot Based on FEA

The suspension of fire robot, one of necessary components, directly impacts the environmental adaptability, and the strength of suspension has great importance to the life of robot. In the paper, the structure and the stress condition of the suspension was analyzed. The force condition of suspension is simplified as a 2-D diagram, the load acting on the elbow were simplified in two direction, A finite element model, which simulated the impact load and optimized the design of suspension, was established, and the result of the simulation shows the suspension structure is reasonable and the strength of the component is enough.

Dynamic Analysis and Optimization of Pivot Points of Telescopic Jib Based on Genetic Algorithm

Using ADAMS software to create a virtual prototype model of luffing mechanism of QY20A crane truck. The entire work process of telescopic arm is analyzed, and the result shows that luffing cylinder lifting force is maximum at the beginning moment. The luffing cylinder force is calculated in different conditions based on the analysis and select the maximum force condition as optimized conditions, make the mathematical model of optimization and optimized using genetic algorithm, which played a guiding role for the of telescopic boom design.

Mechanics Analysis of Reduction Case Based on the Finite Element Method

Reduction is a main part in the heavy transmission device, and the case of it is the bearing body. It may lose efficacy if the strength is not enough due to too much load on it. Thus, it is very important when its stiffness improved greatly but its weight increases slowly. The tradition method is very difficult to accomplish mechanics analysis because the case shape and force condition on it is very complex. The finite element method is employed here and parameterized model is built. The weakness part was found out according to the results. The parameterized model provides the basis for the optimization of reduction case.