Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Be Parameterized and Standardized? A Narrative Review

The integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Western health systems and research requires a rational communicable theory, scientific proof of efficacy and safety, and quality control measures. The existence of clear definitions and the diagnosis standardization are critical factors to establish the patient’s vegetative functional status accurately and, therefore, systematically apply TCM therapeutics such as the stimulation of reflex skin areas known as acupoints. This science-based conceptualization entails using validated methods, or even developing new systems able to parameterize the diagnosis and assess TCM related effects by objective measurements. Traditionally, tongue and pulse diagnosis and the functional evaluation of action points by pressure sensitivity and physical examination may be regarded as essential diagnostic tools. Parameterizing these techniques is a future key point in the objectification of TCM diagnosis, such as by electronic digital image analysis, mechanical pulse diagnostic systems, or the systematic evaluation of acupoints’ electrophysiology. This review aims to demonstrate and critically analyze some achievements and limitations in the clinical application of device-assisted TCM diagnosis systems to evaluate functional physiological patterns. Despite some limitations, tongue, pulse, and electrophysiological diagnosis devices have been reported as a useful tool while establishing a person’s functional status.

Fatigue and Corrosion Fatigue of the Roll Steels with Surface Nanostructure

Fatigue and corrosion fatigue of 50KhN and 60Kh2M roll steels with surface nanocrystalline structure induced by mechanical-pulse treatment were studied. The increment of fatigue and corrosion fatigue of the steels with surface nanocrystalline structure were shown and revealed the factors which causes this increment.

Эффект запаздывания при импульсном возбуждении актюатора на основе быстрозакаленного сплава Ti-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-NiCu с термоупругим мартенситным переходом

The pulse response of the actuator based on rapidly quenched Ti_2NiCu alloy with a thermoelastic martensitic transformation and the shape memory effect is studied experimentally. The mechanical response of the actuator cooled by running water is preserved when the duration of the excitation (activating) electric pulses decreases to 2 ms. High-speed activation is accompanied by a delay in the mechanical pulse in comparison with the excitation electric pulse. The minimum duration of the mechanical pulse, taking into account the delay, was 8 ms, which corresponds to a frequency of 125 Hz with periodic activation. Estimates show that the delay time includes both the time of mechanical inertia and the time of thermal inertia associated with heat transfer. The possible limitation of the rate of activation due to kinetic phenomena during the thermoelastic martensitic transition is evaluated.

Effect of Nanostructurisation of Structural Steels on its Wear Resistance and Hydrogen Embittlement Resistance

Surface mechanical pulse treatment of medium-carbon low alloyed steels by high speed friction has been developed. Its major features are surfaces provided with the nanostructure with grain size of 20...50 nm, increased surface hardness and, correspondingly wear resistance. This nanostructure is subjected to the tempering temperature of 500 °С. Hydrogen charging of the strengthening materials decreases their plasticity, more considerably in steels with higher carbon content. However, it is possible to use mechanical pulse treatment to achieve high characteristics of strength, wear resistance and plasticity in hydrogen, selecting as-received matrix structure and the tempering temperature after surface treatment.

The Impact of Helical Gear Parameters Based on Axial Meshing Transmission on Swash Plate Pulse CVT Characteristics

A new structure of mechanical pulse CVT –rotational swash plate pulse CVT was put forward. This paper analyzed the impact of helical gear parameters on swash plate pulse CVT characteristics, it can be seen that the angular velocity of output shaft is proportional to the angle between Swash plate surface and vertical cross section of the input shaft and the swash plate surface, the gear modulus has no effect on the transmission ratio, the guide rod pitch diameter is the major factor contacting gear tooth Strength, when the other parameters unchanged, ( is the pitch helix angle)is proportional to the output torque, and is inversely proportional to the output torque.