The Effects of VR-assisted and Overground Gait Adaptation Training on Balance and Walking Ability in Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effects of virtual reality(VR)-assisted gait adaptation training with the overground gait adaptation training on balance and walking in patients with stroke. METHODS: Fifty-four eligible patients were enrolled. All patients were randomly divided into a VR and control group, with 27 patients in each group. The VR group received VR-assisted training on the treadmill, whereas the control group received overground training in a physical therapy room. After the intervention, patients were assessed using walking speed, obstacle avoidance ability, timed up and go (TUG) test, postural stability, and the Barthel Index (BI). RESULTS: Significant improvements in walking speed, obstacle avoidance ability, TUG test and eye-opening center of pressure (COP) speed were observed after the intervention (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in eye-closing COP speed, tandem COP speed, single-leg COP speed, and BI (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke patients may benefit from VR-assisted gait adaptation training in improving walking and static balance function and reducing the risk of falls.

Diversity and distribution variation of urban spontaneous vegetation with distinct frequencies along river corridors in a fast-growing city.

River corridors are vital to urban ecology, regulating climate and providing habitats for animals. Spontaneous plants naturally colonize various spaces therein, where they play important roles. Previous studies have explored many factors driving spontaneous plant diversity at the city scale and in specific habitats. However, we lack a holistic understanding of the diversity and distribution of variation of spontaneous vegetation that directly reflects the effects of urbanization. We conducted a field study of 1250 sample plots along river corridors in Chengdu, a fast-growing city in China, and the spontaneous plants in fifteen microhabitat types were surveyed. Diversity and distribution patterns were examined for species with distinct dispersal abilities. There was a far greater richness of occasional species compared to dominant and common species, but occasional species were markedly less abundant. Vacant lots and natural riverbanks harbored the most species, but revetment walls and lawns also supported a considerable number of species, especially in the city center. Species diversity among different urban areas was strongly related to microhabitat conditions. The proportions of dominant, common, and occasional species varied among communities. In communities on vacant lots of less urbanized areas, the richness of dominant species was greater, whereas in green spaces created by planted vegetation, occasional species were more diverse. Green space microenvironments are hospitable to some rare species. Urbanization and microhabitats have co-effects and thus ultimately determine diversity and distribution patterns. Such patterns, if linked to ecological and ornamental value, can provide a new perspective and nature-based solutions to urban rewilding and landscape design.

Platelet thrombus formation by upstream activation and downstream adhesion of platelets in a microfluidic system.

Platelet activation causes platelet aggregation and their adhesion to the vascular wall. In the circulatory environment, platelet activation and adhesion might not occur at the same site. In this study, we developed a microfluidic platform to examine platelet adhesion and aggregation under pathophysiological shear flow. Upstream platelet activation was conducted either using agonists or by shear flow, whereas downstream platelet adhesion was induced using collagen-coated microbeads packed in a tube. Adopting microbeads, activated platelets led to rapid occlusion and blood flow arrest. The degree of platelet adhesion and aggregation was monitored by measuring the blood migration distance, allowing a flow-through in the microchannel until it was blocked. Downstream platelet adhesion was strongly dependent on the upstream activation parameters including shear rate ranges between 754 and 2400 s-1, shearing time greater than 10 s, and incubation time greater than 20 s. Furthermore, through the integration of various leading-edge technical elements, the present system produced comprehensive real-time results of platelet-associated thrombus formation. Thus, this disposable device might help examine platelet dysfunction for preoperative patients and antiplatelet therapy in the clinic.