Deep removal of phosphate from electroplating wastewater using novel Fe-MOF loaded chitosan hydrogel beads.

Since the electroplating industry is springing up, effective control of phosphate has attracted global concerns. In this study, a novel biosorbent (MIL-88@CS-HDG) was synthesized by loading a kind of Fe-based metal organic framework called MIL-88 into chitosan hydrogel beads and applied in deep treatment of phosphate removal in electroplating wastewater. The adsorption capacities of H2PO4- on MIL-88@CS-HDG could reach 1.1 mmol/g (corresponding to 34.1 mg P/g and 106.7 mg H2PO4-/g), which was 2.65% higher than that on single MOF powders and chitosan hydrogel beads. The H2PO4- adsorption was well described by the Freundlich isotherm model. Over 90% H2PO4- could be adsorbed at contact time of 3 h. It could keep high adsorption capacity in the pH range from 2 to 7, which had a wider pH range of application compared with pure MIL-88. Only NO3- and SO42- limited the adsorption with the reduction rate of 11.42% and 23.23%, proving it tolerated most common co-existing ions. More than 92% of phosphorus could be recovered using NaOH and NaNO3. Electrostatic attraction between Fe core and phosphorus in MIL-88@CS-HDG and ion exchange played the dominant role. The recovered MIL-88@CS-HDG remained stable and applicable in the treatment process of real electroplating wastewater even after six adsorption-regeneration cycles. Based on the removal properties and superb regenerability, MIL-88@CS-HDG is potentially applicable to practical production.

Motor Imagery-Based Brain-Computer Interface Combined with Multimodal Feedback to Promote Upper Limb Motor Function after Stroke: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the brain-computer interface (BCI) has seen rapid development, which may promote the recovery of motor function in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Twelve stroke patients with severe upper limb and hand motor impairment were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups: motor imagery (MI)-based BCI training with multimodal feedback (BCI group, n = 7) and classical motor imagery training (control group, n = 5). Motor function and electrophysiology were evaluated before and after the intervention. The Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE) is the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures include an increase in wrist active extension or surface electromyography (the amplitude and cocontraction of extensor carpi radialis during movement), the action research arm test (ARAT), the motor status scale (MSS), and Barthel index (BI). Time-frequency analysis and power spectral analysis were used to reflect the electroencephalogram (EEG) change before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the FMA-UE score increased significantly in the BCI group (p = 0.006). MSS scores improved significantly in both groups, while ARAT did not improve significantly. In addition, before the intervention, all patients could not actively extend their wrists or just had muscle contractions. After the intervention, four patients regained the ability to extend their paretic wrists (two in each group). The amplitude and area under the curve of extensor carpi radialis improved to some extent, but there was no statistical significance between the groups. CONCLUSION: MI-based BCI combined with sensory and visual feedback might improve severe upper limb and hand impairment in chronic stroke patients, showing the potential for application in rehabilitation medicine.

Motor imagery based brain-computer interface control of continuous passive motion for wrist extension recovery in chronic stroke patients.

Motor recovery of wrist and fingers is still a great challenge for chronic stroke survivors. The present study aimed to verify the efficiency of motor imagery based brain-computer interface (BCI) control of continuous passive motion (CPM) in the recovery of wrist extension due to stroke. An observational study was conducted in 26 chronic stroke patients, aged 49.0 ± 15.4 years, with upper extremity motor impairment. All patients showed no wrist extension recovery. A 24-channel highresolution electroencephalogram (EEG) system was used to acquire cortical signal while they were imagining extension of the affected wrist. Then, 20 sessions of BCI-driven CPM training were carried out for 6 weeks. Primary outcome was the increase of active range of motion (ROM) of the affected wrist from the baseline to final evaluation. Improvement of modified Barthel Index, EEG classification and motor imagery pattern of wrist extension were recorded as secondary outcomes. Twenty-one patients finally passed the EEG screening and completed all the BCI-driven CPM trainings. From baseline to the final evaluation, the increase of active ROM of the affected wrists was (24.05 ± 14.46)˚. The increase of modified Barthel Index was 3.10 ± 4.02 points. But no statistical difference was detected between the baseline and final evaluations (P > 0.05). Both EEG classification and motor imagery pattern improved. The present study demonstrated beneficial outcomes of MI-based BCI control of CPM training in motor recovery of wrist extension using motor imagery signal of brain in chronic stroke patients.