An Electrical Stimulation Method to Control Deep Muscle Contraction using Surface Electrodes

Conventional EMS technology cannot stimulate deep muscles to induce muscle contraction using surface electrodes. Several treatments use electrical stimulation for various neurological conditions, including stroke and spinal cord injury. One such treatment is functional electrical stimulation (FES), a form of rehabilitation in which electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is provided while the muscles are being moved. Here, we show whether two interfering electrical stimulation pulses could stimulate the deep muscles of the forearm to control muscle contraction. The results showed that the strongest torques were generated across the subjects when the reference frequency was mid-frequency (4,000 Hz) and the beat frequencies were low (20 Hz, 40 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz and 320 Hz). This study is the first counterexample to demonstrate that it is possible to control muscle contraction in the deep muscles of the forearm using surface electrodes, which was previously thought to be impossible.

Acupoint stimulation-related therapies for the management of insomnia disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Review question / Objective: This meta-analysis will not only summarize all the ASRTs reported in clinical trials but also evaluate their effect on objective and subjective indices related to insomnia disorder. We will also perform subgroup analyses to identify possible confounders of the effects of ASRTs including treatment characteristics (e.g., acupoint selection, stimulation method, treatment duration) and patient characteristics (e.g., age, comorbidities, severity, and course of insomnia disorder). In doing so, we will endeavor to answer questions about whether efficacy varies according to the aspect of sleep targeted and whether the effects differ according to different modes of acupoint stimulation, acupoints applied, or specific types of insomnia, thereby providing the evidence to develop specific recommendations on prescribing ASRTs for insomnia disorder.

Treatment of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders in Children Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Literature Review

Speech disorders have the leading position among cognitive disorders and represent the urgent medical problem. The modern approach to the treatment of cognitive and behavioral disorders in children consists of the integrity of pharmacotherapeutic, correctional and psychotherapeutic, as well as non-invasive instrumental methods of brain neurostimulation. This article provides the overview of the currently available data on transcranial magnetic stimulation method as noninvasive treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders in children and its difference from physiotherapeutic methods used in traditional Russian practice.

Application of the Theory of Brainstorming in Visual Teaching of Music

Visual teaching is a teaching method or teaching tool that presents a clearer and more intuitive image of music works to students. Drawing on the theory of brainstorming, this paper explores the application of brainstorming, a brain stimulation method, in visual teaching of music. The main results are as follows: visual music teaching mainly improves music skills, cultivates music aesthetics, and enhances communicative competence. Once introduced to music class, the creative thinking method of brainstorming enables the teacher to train the divergent and creative thinking of students. During music teaching, brainstorming stimulates the learning interest, boosts the learning confidence, and cultivates the independent thinking of students. The research findings lay a theoretical basis for music course reform.

First Successful Smart Liner Deployed in a Side-Tracked Gas Well, Offshore Abu Dhabi

This paper presents a summary of the deployed Smart Liner- SL equivalent to the Limited Entry Liner- LEL as lower completion for the first time in a sidetracked Gas well, Offshore Abu Dhabi. R-1 is subdivided into several sub-layers, the reservoir properties are characterized by low porosity & low permeability (Tight). Reservoir quality in the Upper part is better in terms of porosity & permeability than the lower part. The gas production is mainly from top part of R-1 reservoir, no contribution from Lower part. In 2017, Data gathering was conducted on well A-1 (Coring, Logging & Pressure Points). Actual Gas production Offset wells are restricted from optimal production due to Well Integrity Sustainable Annulus Pressure, to compensate the restricted aged wells due to Well Integrity, Gas production can be increased to 3 times using SL as a stimulation method. The Smart Liner was selected as a lower completion and as a stimulation method for better flow distribution, improved well performance, effective Acid stimulation, also to ensure hole accessibility, allowing aggressive bullhead stimulation at high rate/pressure and high acid concentration at less time ~ 1.5days/job, in addition to eliminating high risk and high cost Coiled Tubing (CT) intervention for stimulation. The first step was to design the SL Completion Workflow with a representative well trajectory for the selected well to be fed and reservoir properties to be extracted from the dynamic model, and then to create a representative stimulation model utilizing property numerical software with all possible scenarios; open hole that represents PPL and suggested SL compartmentalization and holes distribution based on reservoir parameters along the lateral. Once the well model is created, different scenarios for different completion designs are to be run versus different acid concentrations and volumes till achieving the optimum results from stimulation point of view in addition to formation and facilities limitations. Drilling operations were very challenging; fortunately, we succeed to deploy the SL after final adjustment based on FMI Natural Fractures. The Smart Liner as stimulation has proved to be a cost-effective solution for gas wells comparing to advanced stimulation methods in addition to eliminating the high risk and high cost of the Coiled Tubing (CT) intervention for stimulation a huge savings in well construction with maximizing performance.

The Effectiveness Of Maturation Stimulation Method On Fecundity And Egg Diameter Of Freshwater Lobster (Cherax quadricarinatus)

Losbter air tawar (LAT) merupakan komoditas perikanan yang memiliki banyak keunggulan sehingga oleh Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan LAT dijadikan komoditas budidaya andalan. Akibatnya permintaan benih LAT semakin meningkat, sementara secara alami LAT hanya memijah 2 kali per tahun. Salah satu upaya untuk meningkatkan performa reproduksi LAT yaitu pemilihan metode perangsangan maturasi yang tepat. Sehingga perlu diteliti tentang beberapa metode perangsangan maturasi induk LAT yang dapat meningkatkan performa reproduksi yaitu fekunditas dan diameter telur LAT. Rancangan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah rancangan acak lengkap, dengan 4 perlakuan dan 3 kali pengulangan. Adapun perlakuan dalam penelitian ini adalah P1 (kontrol), P2 (ablasi tangkai mata), P3 (penambahan vitamin E pada pakan), dan P4 (penyuntikan hormon). Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, perlakuan metode perangsangan maturasi yang berbeda memberikan pengaruh yang tidak berbeda nyata (P>0.05) terhadap fekunditas dan diameter telur, namun berbeda nyata dengan perlakuan kontrol. Sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa metode maturasi yang berbeda hanya dapat mempercepat maturasi pada induk LAT dibanding perlakuan kontrol.

Geotechnical properties of yellow silty sand soil modified by bio-stimulation with presence of NiCl2

Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is now widely tried to improve the quality of mostly sandy soil due to its application prospect to sustainability, environment-friendly and cost-efficiency. The present study is aiming to evaluate the feasibility of bio-stimulation, one of MICP techniques, for strengthening the engineering quality of Shanghai silty sand soil, a special type of soil located in low hillside of west Shanghai, as well as the influence of two factors: CaCl2 as a cementing material and NiCl2 as a co-factor, which was rarely researched before and can be viewed as the influence of urease activity on bio-stimulation result. The direct shear test, unconfined compressive test, supersonic wave test and calcite mass test have been carried out to evaluate engineering performance of yellow silty sand soil enhanced by bio-stimulation method as well as their relationship with concentration of CaCl2 and NiCl2 solutions. The result shows that bio-stimulation method can significantly promote the characteristics of Shanghai yellow silty sand soil and there seems to be extreme point for concentration of CaCl2 and NiCl2 solution in improving the quality of Shanghai yellow silty sand. Microstructure and composition of treated soil by bio-stimulation method have also been analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), with giving the corresponding micro-mechanism of bio-cementation among soil particles.