Oxygenated hemoglobin signal provides greater predictive performance of experimental condition than de-oxygenated

Continuous-wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging provides an estimate of relative changes in oxygenated and de-oxygenated hemoglobin content, from which regional neural activity is inferred. The relation between both signals is governed by neurovascular coupling mechanisms. However, the magnitude of concentration changes and the contribution of noise sources to each chromophore is unique. Subsequently, it is not apparent if either chromophore signal practically provides greater information about the underlying neural state and relation to an experimental condition. To assess this question objectively, we applied a machine-learning approach to four datasets and evaluated which hemoglobin signal best differentiated between experimental conditions. To further ensure the objective nature of the analysis, the algorithm utilized all samples from the epoched data rather than pre-selected features. Regardless of experimental task, brain region, or stimulus, the oxygenated hemoglobin signal was better able to differentiate between conditions than the de-oxygenated signal. Incorporating both signals into the analysis provided no additional improvement over oxygenated hemoglobin alone. These results indicate that oxyhemoglobin is the most informative fNIRS signal in relation to experimental condition.

The Impact of Information Sharing and Quality Assurance on Customer Service at UAE Banking Sector

In the present competitive market, information sharing and quality assurance are bothneeded for client support. This relationship was set up through a quantitative examinationstudy. The information was gathered utilizing the poll strategy, and the discoveries uncoveredthat, despite options, banks are continually enticed to bundle item contributions to draw inclients. This appeal stems exclusively from the arrangement of excellent administrations. Atlast, ideas are made for additional improvement to remain competitive in the monetary market.

Clinical efficacy of aflibercept treatment in patients with ranibizumab-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration

THE AIMwas to evaluate clinical efficacy of aflibercept treatment in patients with ranibizumab-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS.13 patients (13 eyes) after intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for 1 year (from 6 to 8 injections with an interval of 1.5 to 2 months). However, in all patients, there was a recurrence of the exudative activity of the process.Aflibercept treatment method consisted of 3 monthly loading intravitreal injections with follow-up period of 4 months. RESULTS.One month after 1st aflibercept injection among all patients, the average index of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased to 0.410.02 and the central retinal thickness (CRT) index decreased to 30714.5 m versus the initial CRT value 43164 m. After the 3rd aflibercept injection, the CRT index was the lowest and amounted to 189.513.0 m, which was accompanied BCVA increase to 0.420.03 versus 0.290.05 as the initial value. According to the optical coherence tomography data, after loading phase, good anatomical effect was observed with significant edema reduction, complete resorption of fluid in the subretinal space, and decrease of the pigment epithelial detachments height. CONCLUSION.Evaluating the results of our study, we found that the use of angiogenesis inhibitor aflibercept made it possible to suppress the signs of activity of choroidal neovascularization and to obtain additional improvement of visual functions in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, when the therapeutic effect from the early ranibizumab therapy was insufficient or completely absent.

Enhancing Occupant Safety by Pre-active Seat Control for Out-of-seat Position before Autonomous Emergency Braking Operation

The pre-active safety seat (PSS) is a recently developed active safety system for securing occupant safety in out-of-seat position (OOSP), which was applied in the Hyundai Genesis G80 in 2020. However, there has not been sufficient quantifiable verification supporting the effectiveness of the PSS. The present study was performed to determine the effectiveness of the PSS for occupant safety in OOSP and to identify areas for additional improvement. Six test conditions were considered to determine the effectiveness of the PSS for augmentation of occupant safety in OOSP. Ten healthy men participated in the tests. Compared with the no PSS condition, maximum head excursion and neck rotation were significantly decreased in the PSS condition by 0.31–0.79-fold and 0.33–0.48-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). The PSS condition in which the seat pan was moved forward to the mid position showed a greater effect in reducing the characteristic motions related to submarining, compared with the condition in which the seat pan was moved rearward to the mid position (p < 0.05). These results suggested that PSS augments occupant safety in OOSP. This study provides valuable insights in ameliorating risks to the occupant in unintended seat positions before braking and/or collision.

Identification of glycerol as a novel accelerator for sulphur vulcanization of unsaturated rubbers

Different organic polyols were investigated as accelerators for different type of vulcanization system such as sulphur, metal oxide, peroxide with different rubbers such as natural rubber (NR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR), butyl rubber (IIR), nitrile rubber (NBR) and chloroprene rubber (CR). Among all the polyols studied, glycerol found to be the most efficient accelerator for sulphur vulcanization of unsaturated rubbers. Moreover, from rheometric study glycerol was found to be reversion free and scorch safe accelerator. A detailed study was performed with glycerol for sulphur vulcanization of silica filled, SBR + BR-based standard passenger car radial (PCR) tire tread compound and plausible mechanism of acceleration was proposed. Finally, from the PCR tyre tread compound 70% of conventional accelerators, namely N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CBS) and di-phenyl guanidine (DPG) were replaced with 5 phr (parts per hundred gram of rubber) of glycerol and properties of the vulcanized compounds were measured. The results evidenced that glycerol could efficiently replace 70% conventional accelerators (CBS + DPG), with additional improvement of scorch time by 68%, tensile strength by 31.5%, elongation at break by 75.6% and tear strength by 9.4% of the PCR tyre tread compound. The increase in mechanical properties was due to the improvement in compatibility between silica and rubber in presence of glycerol. Moreover, glycerol is an environmentally benign (nitrogen free, halogen free), fossil free, low-cost material.

From ERL to MBZIRC: Development of An Aerial-Ground Robotic Team for Search and Rescue

This chapter describes the efforts of the LARICS team in the 2019 European Robotics League (ERL) Emergency Robots and the 2020 Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) robotics competitions. We focus on the implementation of hardware and software modules that enable the deployment of aerial-ground robotic teams in unstructured environments for joint missions. In addition to the overall system specification, we outline the main algorithms for operation in such conditions: autonomous exploration of unknown environments and detection of objects of interest. Analysis of the results shows the success of the developed system in the competition arena of two of the largest outdoor robotics challenges. Throughout the chapter, we highlight the evolution of the robotic system based on the experience gained in the ERL competition. We conclude the chapter with key findings and additional improvement ideas to advance the state of the art in search and rescue applications of heterogeneous robotic teams.

Improved Process Efficiency in Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion of Nanoparticle Coated Maraging Tool Steel Powder

Research and development in the field of metal-based additive manufacturing are advancing steadily every year. In order to increase the efficiency of powder bed fusion of metals using a laser beam system (PBF LB/M), machine manufacturers have implemented extensive optimizations with regard to the laser systems and build volumes. However, the optimization of metallic powder materials using nanoparticle additives enables an additional improvement of the laser–material interaction. In this work, tool steel 1.2709 powder was coated with silicon carbide (SiC), few-layer graphene (FLG), and iron oxide black (IOB) on a nanometer scale. Subsequently, the feedstock material and the modified powder materials were analyzed concerning the reflectance of the laser radiation and processed by PBF-LB/M in a systematic and consistent procedure to evaluate the impact of the nano-additivation on the process efficiency and mechanical properties. As a result, an increased build rate is achieved, exhibiting a relative density of 99.9% for FLG/1.2709 due to a decreased reflectance of this modified powder material. Furthermore, FLG/1.2709 provides hardness values after precipitation hardening with only aging comparable to the original 1.2709 material and is higher than the SiC- and IOB-coated material. Additionally, the IOB coating tends to promote oxide-formation and lack-of-fusion defects.

Retraining selective trunk muscle activity: A key to more successful rehabilitation outcomes for hemiparetic stroke patients

BACKGROUND: Hemiparetic patients lose the ability to move their trunk selectively, abdominals are affected and neither voluntary nor reflex activity is present. OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the inclusion of specific exercises for the trunk muscles in a rehabilitation program for chronic hemiparetic patients could lead to an additional improvement. METHODS: A multiple-participant single-subject design was replicated in patients with hemiplegia. The study was conducted in two cycles: for the first cycle (A), patients received conventional rehabilitation program, then for the second cycle (B), six months later, the same subjects received conventional rehabilitation therapy plus an additional specific selective trunk muscles training. Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10 meters distance walk test (10 MWT), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and instrumental gait analysis were performed before and after both treatment cycles. RESULTS: Significant changes were observed in TIS and 10 MWT after the two treatment cycles. However, after treatment cycle B, BBS and FIM score showed an additional improvement. Whereas, after treatment cycle A gate analysis did not relevantly changed, but after cycle B a significant improvement was registered in velocity, cadence and percentage of stance in the gait cycle. CONCLUSIONS: In our patients, the training for selective activation of the trunk muscles had led to a consistent improvement of gate analysis parameters, and hemiparesis-related disability in stance and activities of daily living.

The effects of app-based mindfulness practice on the well-being of university students and staff

Mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and stress have been increasing in many countries and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated their toll. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to provide evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression, and accumulating evidence is emerging in support of using mindfulness apps yielding small-to-moderate treatment effects. The study was a 4-week randomized controlled trial with 561 university students and staff as participants, divided into a treatment group (mindfulness app) and an active control group (psychoeducational online content). Depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated as primary study outcomes. Saliva cortisol samples were also collected from a subgroup of the treatment arm (n = 29). Using the mindfulness app for four weeks resulted in small reductions in stress (d = .16), and depression (d = .16). Attrition was 28.0%. Subjects who practiced more did not experience additional improvement in wellbeing. Mindfulness apps offer modest but clear benefits to users in terms of improved mental health. They present a promising supplement to traditional mental health services.

Recovering of oxygenation, physical function and disability in patients with COVID-19

The present cases report describes middle-time course of respiratory and physical variables in eight COVID-19 patients who were transferred from ICU of COVID Hub in our subacute COVID-19 unit. Secondly, they were admitted in a pulmonary rehabilitation unit and, at discharge, a tele-rehabilitation program was provided as a continuum of care at home. Time course of oxygenation, physical function and disability were recorded. As expected, the acute event produced in these patients a dramatic worsening in oxygenation and physical activities, with a substantial improvement in oxygenation and mild disability after the sub-acute stay. After rehabilitation program, the patients showed additional improvement in particular in physical function. Anyway, this recover was not complete for all patients. The majority of COVID-19 survivors experienced ARF recovered oxygenation, physical function and disability within a median time of 137 days. A minority needs further follow up and rehabilitation maintenance due to incomplete recovery.