Synergy-based functional electrical stimulation and robotic-assisted for retraining reach-to-grasp in stroke: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors have long-term upper limb impairment, which impacts the quality of life (QOL) and social reintegration, but there is lack of effective therapeutic strategies and novel technologies. Customized multi-muscle functional electrical stimulation (FES) based on the muscle synergy of healthy adults and robotic-assisted therapy (RAT) have been proved efficacy respectively. Synergy-based FES combined with RAT can be a novel and more effective therapy for upper limb recovery of stroke survivors from the perspective of synergistic enhancement. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of combined synergy-based FES and RAT, especially for motor control evaluated by reach-to-grasp (RTG) movements. The main objective of the following research protocol is to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy, as well as adoptability, of FES-RAT and FES or RAT rehabilitation program for upper limb function improvement after stroke. METHODS: This will be an assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial involving a 12-week intervention and a 6-month follow-up. Stratified randomization will be used to equally and randomly assign 162 stroke patients into the FES + conventional rehabilitation program (CRP) group, RAT + CRP group and FES-RAT + CRP group. Interventions will be provided in 5 sessions per week, with a total of 60 sessions. The primary outcome measurements will include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Biomechanical Assessment of RTG movements. The secondary outcome measurements will include quality of life and brain neuroplasticity assessments by MRI. Evaluations will be performed at five time points, including at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks from the start of treatment, and 3 months and 6 months following the end of treatment. A two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures will be applied to examine the main effects of the group, the time factor and group-time interaction effects. DISCUSSION: The results of the study protocol will provide high quality evidence for integrated synergy-based FES and RAT, and synergy-based FES alone and guide the design of more effective treatment methods for stroke rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2300071588.

[CiteSpace knowledge map analysis of research progress on Tripterygium wilfordii toxicity].

This study systematically searched CNKI and Web of Science(WoS) for the research papers on the toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii included from database inception to August 31, 2021, and visually displayed the authors, research institutions, keywords, and other contents using bibliometrics and CiteSpace 5.8.3. Furthermore, the current situation and research progress on T. wilfordii safety were also analyzed based on information extraction to find the research hotspot, evolution path, and development trend, and to provide references for future research. A total of 1 876 Chinese papers and 243 English papers were included in the study. The analysis of authors showed that WANG Qi and ZHANG Luyong had the most publications in Chinese and English papers, respectively. According to the analysis of research institutions, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control and China Pharmaceutical University possessed the largest number of Chinese and English papers, respectively, but there was less cooperation between them. The analysis of keywords in Chinese and English papers showed that the research contents of the safety of T. wilfordii mainly focused on clinical monitoring, mechanism, dosage form improvement, quality standard, component analysis, monomer research, efficiency and toxicity reduction, etc. Metabonomics, tripterine, and the underlying mechanism of toxicity were the research hotspots in the future. At present, the research on the toxicity of T. wilfordii is still under development. It is necessary to highlight the in-depth research and strengthen the inter-group and inter-region cooperation of authors or institutions to provide references for the research on the toxicity of T. wilfordii.

Force measurement in squeezed dissipative optomechanics in the presence of laser phase noise.

We investigate the force measurement sensitivity in a squeezed dissipative optomechanics within the free-mass regime under the influence of shot noise (SN) from the photon number fluctuations, laser phase noise from the pump laser, thermal noise from the environment, and optical losses from outcoupling and detection inefficiencies. Generally, squeezed light could generate a reduced SN on the squeezed quadrature and an enlarged quantum backaction noise (QBA) due to the antisqueezed conjugate quadrature. With an appropriate choice of phase angle in homodyne detection, QBA is cancellable, leading to an exponentially improved measurement sensitivity for the SN-dominated regime. By now, the effects of laser phase noise that is proportional to laser power emerge. The balance between squeezed SN and phase noise can lead to an sub-SQL sensitivity at an exponentially lower input power. However, the improvement by squeezing is limited by optical losses because high sensitivity is delicate and easily destroyed by optical losses.

Generation of mechanical squeezing and entanglement via mechanical modulations.

We discuss the generation of strong stationary mechanical squeezing and entanglement in the modulated two-and three-mode optomechanics. Following the reservoir engineering scheme, the beam-splitter and parametric optomechanical interactions can be simultaneously achieved through appropriately choosing the modulation frequency on mechanical motion, which is essential to strong squeezing and entanglement. In the two-mode modulated optomechanics, squeezing is tunable by the relative ratio of parametric and beam-splitter couplings, and also robust to thermal noise due to the simultaneously optically induced cooling process. In the three-mode modulated optomechanics, strong EPR-type entanglement is also attainable, which can surpass the 3dB limit of nondegenerate parametric interaction. However, the ideal entanglement is impossible since only one of mechanical Bogoliubov modes is cooled by the cavity mode, which also makes the entanglement fragile to the mechanical noise.

Grape hexokinases are involved in the expression regulation of sucrose synthase- and cell wall invertase-encoding genes by glucose and ABA.

Hexokinase (HXK, EC 2.7.1.1) is a multifunctional protein that both is involved in catalyzing the first step of glycolysis and plays an important role in sugar signaling. However, the supporting genetic evidence on hexokinases (CsHXKs) from grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) berries has been lacking. Here, to investigate the role of CsHXK isoforms as glucose (Glc) and abscisic acid (ABA) sensors, we cloned two hexokinase isozymes, CsHXK1 and CsHXK2 with highly conserved genomic structure of nine exons and eight introns. We also found adenosine phosphate binding, substrate recognition and connection sites in their putative proteins. During grape berry development, the expression profiles of two CsHXK isoforms, sucrose synthases (SuSys) and cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes increased concomitantly with high levels of endogenous Glc and ABA. Furthermore, we showed that in wild type grape berry calli (WT), glucose repressed the expression levels of sucrose synthase (SuSy) and cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, while ABA increased their expression levels. ABA could not only effectively improve the expression levels of SuSy and CWINV, but also block the repression induced by glucose on the expression of both genes. However, after silencing CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 in grape calli, SuSy and CWINV expression were enhanced, and the expressions of the two genes are insensitive in response to Glc treatment. Interestingly, exogenous ABA alone could not or less increase SuSy and CWINV expression in silencing CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 grape calli compared to WT. Meantime, ABA could not block the repression induced by glucose on the expression of SuSy and CWINV in CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 mutants. Therefore, Glc signal transduction depends on the regulation of CsHXK1 or CsHXK2. ABA signal was also disturbed by CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 silencing. The present results provide new insights into the regulatory role of Glc and ABA on the enzymes related to sugar metabolism in grape berry.

Organocatalytic [4 + 2] cyclocondensation of α,ß-unsaturated acyl chlorides with imines: highly enantioselective synthesis of dihydropyridinone and piperidine derivatives.

The cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclocondensation of α,ß-unsaturated acyl chlorides with imines is developed to give the corresponding substituted dihydropyridinones in good yields with high to excellent enantioselectivities. Reduction of the dihydropyridinones gave highly optically active substituted tetrahydropyridinone and piperidine derivatives.

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes with oxodienes.

NHC catalysis: N-heterocyclic carbenes were found to be efficient catalysts for the unprecedented [4+2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes and oxodienes, giving the corresponding dihydropyrans in good yield with good diastereoselectivity (see scheme). Deuteration experiment reveals that the reaction is possibly initiated by the addition of N-heterocylic carbene to nitroalkenes.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition of ketenes and 3-aroylcoumarins: highly enantioselective synthesis of dihydrocoumarin-fused dihydropyranones.

The N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclization of ketenes and 3-aroylcoumarins has been developed to give the corresponding dihydrocoumarin-fused multisubstituted dihydropyranones in high yield with good diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity.

Creation of four-mode weighted cluster states with atomic ensembles in high-Q ring cavities.

Two schemes for the preparation of weighted continuous variable cluster states with four atomic ensembles are proposed. In the first scheme, the four separated atomic ensembles inside a two-mode ring cavity are driven by pulse laser fields. The basic idea of the scheme is to transfer the ensemble bosonic modes into suitable linear combinations that can be prepared in a pure cluster state by a sequential application of the laser pulses with the aid of the cavity dissipation. In the second one, we take two separate two-mode cavities, each containing two atomic ensembles. The distant cavities are coupled by dissipation in a cascade way. It has been found that the mixed cluster state can be produced. These schemes may contribute towards implementing continuous variable quantum computation, quantum communication and networking based on atomic ensembles.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed homoenolate additions with N-aryl ketimines as electrophiles: efficient synthesis of spirocyclic γ-lactam oxindoles.

In pole position: A simple and efficient approach to spirocyclic γ-lactam oxindoles by the N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed addition of homoenloate equivalents to N-aryl isatinimines has been developed (see scheme). The use of N-aryl isatinimines as electrophiles in the NHC-catalyzed umpolung reaction of α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes is demonstrated for the first time.

Life cycle assessment of rice bran oil production: a case study in China.

Environmental problems caused by the food processing industry have always been one of the concerns for the public. Herein, for the first time, a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was employed to evaluate the environmental impact of rice bran oil production. Four subsystems, namely, transportation of the raw rice bran to oil factory, crude oil extraction, oil refining, and oil storage, were established. The product sustainability software GaBi and the method CML 2001-Jan. 2016 were used to calculate and analyze the environmental burdens at each stage of the rice bran oil production chain. The results show the oil refining stage had the greatest environmental impact, followed by the oil extraction stage. High demands for coal and electricity make a critical difference in generating vast majority of environmental impacts. Modifying the electricity source and replacing traditional fuels with cleaner ones will do bring benefits to the sustainable development of the industry.

Highly enantioselective γ-amination of α,ß-unsaturated acyl chlorides with azodicarboxylates: efficient synthesis of chiral γ-amino acid derivatives.

The cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed γ-amination of α,ß-unsaturated acyl chlorides with azodicarboxylates to give the corresponding dihydropyridazinones in good yields with high enantioselectivities has been developed. Reductive ring opening of the dihydropyridazinones afforded series of cyclic and acyclic γ-amino acid derivatives in good yields with high enantiopurity.

Role of argon plasma coagulation in treatment of esophageal varices.

With the development of endoscopic therapy, argon plasma coagulation (APC) has been widely used by endoscopists. It has many advantages, such as simple to operate, low cost, and minimal invasiveness. Because of its capability of lesion ablation and hemostasis, APC has several indications in the gastrointestinal tract. One of them is esophageal varices. The aim of this review is to summarize the research on APC in this field to provide a reference for clinical practice.

Enantioselective synthesis of indole-fused dihydropyranones via catalytic cycloaddition of ketenes and 3-alkylenyloxindoles.

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes were found to be efficient catalysts for the formal [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkyl(aryl)ketenes and 3-alkylenyloxindoles to give the corresponding 3,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-b]indol-2-ones in excellent yields with good diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Microbial production of 2,3-butanediol from Jerusalem artichoke tubers by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

2,3-Butanediol is one of the promising bulk chemicals with wide applications. Its fermentative production has attracted great interest due to the high end concentration. However, large-scale production of 2,3-butanediol requires low-cost substrate and efficient fermentation process. In the present study, 2,3-butanediol production by Klebsiella pneumoniae from Jerusalem artichoke tubers was successfully performed, and various technologies, including separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), were investigated. The concentration of target products reached 81.59 and 91.63 g/l, respectively after 40 h in batch and fed-batch SSF processes. Comparing with fed-batch SHF, the fed-batch SSF provided 30.3% higher concentration and 83.2% higher productivity of target products. The results showed that Jerusalem artichoke tuber is a favorable substrate for 2,3-butanediol production, and the application of fed-batch SSF for its conversion can result in a more cost-effective process.

Aqueous two-phase extraction of 2,3-butanediol from fermentation broths by isopropanol/ammonium sulfate system.

A novel aqueous two-phase system consisted of 2-propanol/ammonium sulfate was used for the extraction of 2,3-butanediol from fermentation broths. The maximum partition coefficient and recovery of 2,3-butanediol reached 9.9 and 93.7%, respectively, and more than 99% of the cells and about 85% of the soluble proteins were removed when 34% (w/w) 2-propanol and 20% (w/w) ammonium sulfate were used. The separated cells could be re-used as inocula for subsequent fermentations. The aqueous two-phase system described in this study may have potential application in the extraction of 2,3-butanediol produced by industrial fermentation processes.

The efficacy of non-pharmacological methods of pain management in school-age children receiving venepuncture in a paediatric department: a randomized controlled trial of audiovisual distraction and routine psychological intervention.

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY/PRINCIPLES: Non-pharmacologic analgesia has been demonstrated to alleviate pain and distress in invasive procedures. Nevertheless, the practice has not been adopted widely in paediatric departments because nurses are often too busy to perform a time consuming procedure. METHODS: Three hundred patients (8-9 years) requiring venepuncture for intravenous treatment were randomized into audiovisual distraction group (n = 100, watching cartoon films), intervention group (n = 100, receiving psychological intervention) and control group (n = 100, without any intervention). RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the audiovisual distraction and the intervention groups for cooperation, venepuncture times and pain intensity (assessed with visual analogue scale, VAS). However, cooperation in the control group was more passive than in the intervention group (P <0.05) but not apparently different to the audiovisual distraction group (P >0.05). Venepuncture time was significantly higher in the control group than in the other two groups (P <0.05). Venepuncture caused moderate pain in children (VAS score: 5.22 +/- 2.53 in the control group). VAS scores indicated that procedures were more painful in the control group than in the audiovisual distraction or the intervention group (VAS score: 4.55 +/- 2.26 and 4.38 +/- 2.32 in the audiovisual distraction and intervention groups respectively, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Audiovisual distraction was demonstrated to be effective in reducing self-reported pain, improving patient cooperation and increasing success rate in venepuncture procedures and was as successful as routine psychological intervention. It is highly recommended as an effective, labour saving and easy to administer analgesia and should be used to help prevent pain from venepuncture in school age children.

Biosynthesis of 4-vinylguaiacol from crude ferulic acid by Bacillus licheniformis DLF-17056.

4-vinylguaiacol, a kind of volatile phenolic compound with tobacco flavor, is widely used as a component of edible flavor and intermediate of medicine. Ferulic acid is usually used as substrate for the biosynthesis of 4-vinylguaiacol. However, the price of ferulic acid is high, leading to high production cost. In this study, a feasible low-cost process for the production of 4-vinylguaiacol was developed. The ultrasonic assisted weak alkali was used to extract protein from rice bran, and waste liquid and residue were then mixed to extract crude ferulic acid by alkaline hydrolysis. Subsequently crude ferulic acid without further purification was directly converted into 4-vinylguaiacol via alginate-immo cells of the strain Bacillus licheniformis DLF-17056, which was newly isolated and highly active with ferulic acid conversion to 4-vinylguaiacol. 4-Vinylguaiacol could be produced up to 0.76 g/L from 1.0 g/L ferulic acid within 24 h biotransformation. Furthermore, the immobilized biocatalysts retained above 60% initial activity even after 8 times biotransformations. Thereby, it was assumed that our study would contribute to the industrial production of 4-vinylguaiacol from ferulic acid.