Using backward adjustment with model predictive control for adaptive control of nonlinear soft artificial muscle.

Soft artificial muscles possess inherent compliance and safety features, rendering them highly suitable for applications in wearable robots and unstructured environments. However, accurately modeling the nonlinearity of soft actuators proves to be a challenging task. In this paper, we present an adaptive control method that leverages model learning and model parameter backward adjustment.

Corticomuscular coupling alterations during elbow isometric contraction correlated with clinical scores: an fNIRS-sEMG study in stroke survivors.

The study aimed to investigate changes in corticomuscular coupling during elbow flexion and extension in stroke survivors using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and surface electromyography (sEMG), and to evaluate the relationship between coupling characteristics and clinical assessment scales. This study recruited 12 stroke survivors and 12 age-matched healthy subjects, and further divided the subjects into the affected side group, healthy-side group and age-matched healthy group. They performed elbow flexion and extension tasks at 30% and 70% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC).

Investigating the Stroke- and Aging-related Changes in Intermuscular Coupling by Refined Composed Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy.

Although the entropy algorithm is widely applied in signal complexity analysis, its stability and reliability are limited due to the existence of abnormal signal points. In order to explore the influence of aging and stroke on the human neuromuscular system, refined fuzzy entropy and refined composed multiscale fuzzy entropy were proposed and applied in this study. The simulation results verified that the proposed algorithm improves the stability and the accuracy of entropy estimation.

Bioequivalence of Water-Soluble Progesterone Injection (GenSci070) in Healthy Chinese Postmenopausal Women Volunteers.

Purpose: To study the pharmacokinetic characteristics of progesterone (GenSci070) in healthy Chinese postmenopausal women volunteers and to evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of GenSci070 and reference formulation.

Methods: In this randomized, open-label, single-center, single-dose, 2-period, 2-sequence, 2-way crossover study, 50 postmenopausal healthy women were recruited and received a single subcutaneous injection of test (GenSci070) or reference formulation 25 mg, respectively. Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis method using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.

Effects of stress factors on biogenic isoprene emissions and their contribution to ozone and secondary organic aerosols in China.

Isoprene serves an important part in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, while also exerting a crucial influence on atmospheric photochemical processes and global climate change. The regional climate-chemistry-ecosystem model (RegCM-Chem-YIBs) was employed in the following study to estimate the biogenic isoprene emissions (BISP) in China during 2018-2020. The model explored the relative contributions of various stress factors such as drought, carbon dioxide (CO), and surface ozone (O) to isoprene emissions.

Association of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure with Reproductive Hormones in the General Population and the Susceptible Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, has hormone-like activity and endocrine-disrupting effects. However, the types of reproductive hormones associated with DEHP vary across the studies. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to pool existing epidemiological evidence.

Measurements of cesium PJ-series quantum defect with the microwave spectroscopy.

High-precision microwave spectroscopy has been used to measure the transition frequency of nS → nP (n is the principle quantum number) and further the quantum defect of nP states in a standard cesium magneto-optical trap. A microwave field with 30-μs duration coupling the nS → nP transition yields a narrow linewidth microwave spectroscopy with the linewidth approaching the Fourier limit. After carefully compensating the stray electric and magnetic field and using the diluted atomic gas, we extract improved quantum defects of nP state, δ(nP) = 3.

ATXN2 loss of function results in glaucoma-related features supporting a role for Ataxin-2 in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) pathogenesis.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The most common form, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), is a genetically complex trait with high heritability. Genome-wide association studies have identified significant POAG and IOP association of a genomic region on chromosome 12 that includes ATXN2 as well as 7 other genes.

Human Collaborative Control of Lower-Limb Prosthesis Based on Game Theory and Fuzzy Approximation.

For leg prosthesis user, the soft tissue and skin under the stump of are not accustomed to weight bearing, excessive continuous contact pressure can lead to the risk of degenerative tissue ulceration. This article presents a novel human-robot collaborative control scheme that achieves control weight self-adjustment for robotic prostheses to minimize interaction torque. To establish the human-robot interaction relationship, we regard the contact pressure between human residual limb and the prosthetic receiving cavity as the interaction force.

Effects of PM and Its Components on Disease Severity in Patients with Schizophrenia and the Mediating Role of Thyroid Hormones.

Studies have indicated the different effects of PM components on human health. However, specific components that influence the severity of disease in schizophrenia patients and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, a repeated measures study for schizophrenia was constructed based on Anhui Mental Health Center.

Wavelet Coherence Analysis of Post-Stroke Intermuscular Coupling Modulated by Myoelectric-Controlled Interfaces.

Intermuscular coupling reflects the corticospinal interaction associated with the control of muscles. Nevertheless, the deterioration of intermuscular coupling caused by stroke has not received much attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of myoelectric-controlled interface (MCI) dimensionality on the intermuscular coupling after stroke.

Extreme temperatures, PM and trajectories of impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity: A longitudinal study of patients with schizophrenia.

Background: The climate change scenario has witnessed an increase in extreme temperature events (ETEs), including heat waves and cold spells, and a heightened occurrence of compounding with fine particulate matter (PM). However, the impact of this phenomenon on the sensitivity to thyroid hormones (THs) in humans is unclear, especially in a group as specific as schizophrenia.

Methods: A longitudinal study was constructed using longitudinal measurements of thyroid function in schizophrenia in the Anhui Mental Health Center.

The costs, health and economic impact of air pollution control strategies: a systematic review.

Background: Air pollution poses a significant threat to global public health. While broad mitigation policies exist, an understanding of the economic consequences, both in terms of health benefits and mitigation costs, remains lacking. This study systematically reviewed the existing economic implications of air pollution control strategies worldwide.

Effects of socioeconomic status and regional inequality on the association between PM and its components and cardiometabolic multimorbidity: A multicenter population-based survey in eastern China.

Background: Despite evidence linking fine particulate matter (PM) to cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM), the impact of its components remains unclear. Socioeconomic status (SES) and regional disparities may confound their association. We aim to evaluate the associations between PM components and CMM and explore how socioeconomic status and regional disparities affect these relationships.

Facet-selective growth of halide perovskite/2D semiconductor van der Waals heterostructures for improved optical gain and lasing.

The tunable properties of halide perovskite/two dimensional (2D) semiconductor mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures offer high flexibility for innovating optoelectronic and photonic devices. However, the general and robust growth of high-quality monocrystalline halide perovskite/2D semiconductor heterostructures with attractive optical properties has remained challenging. Here, we demonstrate a universal van der Waals heteroepitaxy strategy to synthesize a library of facet-specific single-crystalline halide perovskite/2D semiconductor (multi)heterostructures.

Impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity exacerbates the effect of PM and its components on dyslipidemia in schizophrenia.

Background: Dyslipidemia in schizophrenia causes a serious loss of healthy life expectancy, making it imperative to explore key environmental risk factors. We aimed to assess the effect of PM and its constituents on dyslipidemia in schizophrenia, identify the critical hazardous components, and investigate the role of impaired thyroid hormones (THs) sensitivity in this association.

Methods: We collected disease data on schizophrenia from the Anhui Mental Health Center from 2019 to 2022.

Mapping of spastic muscle activity after stroke: difference between passive stretch and active contraction.

Background: Investigating the spatial distribution of muscle activity would facilitate understanding the underlying mechanism of spasticity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of spastic muscles during passive stretch and active contraction by high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG).

Methods: Fourteen spastic hemiparetic subjects and ten healthy subjects were recruited.

Evaluation of Drug-Drug Interaction Between Henagliflozin and Hydrochlorothiazide in Healthy Chinese Volunteers.

Purpose: Henagliflozin is an original, selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a common anti-hypertensive drug. This study aimed to evaluate the potential interaction between henagliflozin and HCTZ.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of 9 populations of four species in the genus (Asparagaceae).

To characterize the chromosomes of the four species of Miller, 1754, used in traditional Chinese medicine, Hua, 1892, Collett et Hemsley, 1890, (Miller, 1768) Druce, 1906, and Redouté, 1811, and have an insight into the karyotype variation of the genus , fluorescence hybridization (FISH) with 5S and 45S rDNA oligonucleotide probes was applied to analyze the karyotypes of 9 populations of the four species. Detailed molecular cytogenetic karyotypes of the 9 populations were established for the first time using the dataset of chromosome measurements and FISH signals of 5S and 45S rDNA. Four karyotype asymmetry indices, CV, CV, M and Stebbins' category, were measured to elucidate the asymmetry of the karyotypes and karyological relationships among species.

Microwave coupled Zeeman splitting spectroscopy of a cesium nP Rydberg atom.

We perform measurements of microwave spectra of cesium Rydberg 51S → 51P transitions with the linewidth approaching the Fourier limit. A two-photon scheme excites the ground-state atoms to the Rydberg 51S state, and a weak microwave photon couples the Rydberg transition of 51S → 51P. The hyperfine structure of 51P can be clearly resolved with a narrow linewidth microwave spectra by using the method of ion detection.

Study on the Thermal Stability of the Sweet-Tasting Protein Brazzein Based on Its Structure-Sweetness Relationship.

Brazzein (Brz) is a sweet-tasting protein composed of 54 amino acids and is considered as a potential sugar substitute. The current methods for obtaining brazzein are complicated, and limited information is available regarding its thermal stability. In this study, we successfully expressed recombinant brazzein, achieving a sweetness threshold of 15.