Current Applications Research Articles

Longitudinal Retrospective Study of a Wearable NMES System to Determine the Effects on Arm Usage in Hemiparetic and Hemiplegic Patients

ABSTRACT Introduction Brain disorders such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, cerebral palsy (CP), and surgical interventions can result in aberrant motor function in the contralateral limbs, resulting in paralysis, weakness, and/or spasticity. It is known that, in the short term, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), the application of low-level electrical currents to motor nerves to induce muscle contractions in paralyzed muscles, can stimulate affected muscle groups and increase arm mobility. However, there remains a paucity of longitudinal evidence examining NMES-mediated improvements of arm usage. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a long-term BioSleeve intervention on the recovery of arm mobility in hemiparetic patients. Study Design The design of this study is a retrospective cohort study. Methods We examined self-reported arm usage in patients with 1) TBI, 2) stroke, 3) hemispherectomy, or 4) CP who wore Axiobionics’ BioSleeve NMES device and compared this to arm usage achieved from years of conventional therapy. Results The device was well-tolerated. Patients reported an average increase in arm usage from 9.9% to 43.5%, with the TBI subcohort reporting a consistent increase in arm usage of 5.7% per year over the treatment period. Conclusions This study supports the literature suggesting that longitudinal NMES can be used to increase arm usage in hemiplegic patients. Clinical Relevance Statement This study supports the use of wearable NMES intervention in the treatment of arm hemiparesis.

Application of quantum dot light-emitting diode harvest by quantum dot solar cells

Recent progress in photovoltaic (PV) cell usage has been hindered due to a shortage of suitable materials that emit adequate wavelengths of light energy and convert it to electricity. Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) and quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) have been identified as promising artificial light sources and PV cell types to nicely fit into this solution, not only complying with that but also being controllable, flexible, portable, and lightweight. The purpose of this study is to provide a review of the application of how QLEDs can be collected for QDSCs. First, we introduce QLEDs as artificial light sources, briefly outline their mechanics and benefits, and compare them to other light sources for QDSC harvesting. Then, we summarize the mechanisms that occur when a QDSC absorbs a photon from a QLED, as well as how these energy flow pathways influence artificial light energy harvest. Finally, we explore the optoelectronic properties of lead sulphide (PbS) and lead selenide (PbSe) as appropriate quantum dots (QDs) materials for current applications in QDSC and QLED technologies. We anticipate that the literature will be comprehensive and relevant to the scientific community interested in creating artificial light energy harvesting and thus researching the most recent alternative method of getting healthy energy.

Extension of Negative-Sequence Current Compensation Range Based on Negative- and Zero-Sequence Voltage Injection for Hybrid Cascaded STATCOM

Negative sequence voltage (NSV) injection is an effective cluster balancing control for CHB STATCOM, which has a higher capability in eliminating unbalanced active powers than zero sequence voltage (ZSV) injection. Unfortunately, NSV is employed for negative sequence current control under unbalanced current compensation applications, and only ZSV injection is used for cluster balancing, thereby seriously limiting negative sequence current compensation range (NCCR). To extend NCCR, the converter with a common DC link, called power exchange unit (PEU), is inserted into CHB to form a hybrid cascaded structure, which can freely exchange the unbalanced active powers via the common DC link. However, only ZSV injection method fails to take the advantage of this hybrid cascaded converter (HCC) to extend NCCR. In this paper, the NSV injection with a simple algorithm in dq frame is proposed for the HCC STATCOM with negative sequence current compensation. Owing to the PEU, the NSV of CHB for cluster balancing is counteracted by superposing an opposite NSV into PEU, thus transferring unbalanced active power from CHB to PEU and not affecting the negative sequence current control. Due to the limit of PEU capacity, the ZSV injection is also employed, and thus a novel cluster balancing control based on NSV and ZSV injection is proposed, based on which the NCCR is greatly extended. Finally, the proposed control is verified by the experimental results on a 400V / 7.5kvar HCC STATCOM.

UAV Remote Sensing Technology: A Review of Chinese Agricultural Patents

Background: With the progress of science and technology and the advent of the new era, UAV remote sensing technology has developed rapidly in recent years and the application fields have been increasing. UAV remote sensing technology is widely used in the field of agriculture, crop growth monitoring, crop yield prediction, crop information monitoring, pest and disease detection and other aspects are more prominent. Objective: By analyzing and discussing the existing Chinese patents on UAV remote sensing technology, we summarize the current applications and future development prospects of UAV remote sensing technology in China's agricultural field. Methods: An overview of current Chinese patents on different directions of UAV remote sensing technology in the agricultural field, and an analysis of the methods used to achieve different application implementation effects. Results: By analyzing the existing Chinese patents on UAV remote sensing technology, we conclude that the functions they can achieve for different crops can be applied to the data collection of all crops, and analyze their characteristics to summarize future development trends. Conclusion: Through an in-depth study of Chinese UAV remote sensing patents in agriculture, it can be concluded that UAV remote sensing technology can achieve higher applicability and lower cost in agriculture, and for its information collection for one crop, it can be extended to apply to all crops. In the future, UAV remote sensing technology can be more easily and quickly applied to crop information acquisition in the agricultural field.

Extended Reality and Older Adult Mental Health: A Systematic Review of the Field and Current Applications

Extended Reality and Older Adult Mental Health: A Systematic Review of the Field and Current Applications

Hardware-in-the-loop setup for enhanced modular multi-level converter with reduced circulating currents

Owing to its essential features, such as modularity and exceptional power quality, the modular multilevel converter (MMC) emerges as the optimal converter topology for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) applications. Traditionally, MMCs are controlled through a method called nearest level modulation (NLM), which generates N+1 AC output voltages, where N represents the number of sub modules (SMs) per arm. In this paper, we introduce a modified NLM technique designed to yield 2N+1 and 4N+1 levels, with a focus on efficiently controlling internal dynamics. The proposed MMC is evaluated using a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environment to obtain real-time simulation outcomes. This MMC topology demonstrates a reduction in circulating currents and capacitor voltage ripple.

Design of Real Time Intelligent System for Women Safety

Background: Even the technology has advanced a lot in these modern times, women's safety is still a massive issue. Women are not safe anywhere. Their safety is an essential and decisive issue in today’s world. They face extreme troubles when they are alone, travelling on lonely roads and at workplace. Education is essential for everyone and especially for women. It is a powerful weapon to end poverty. Government and NGOs have made many rules and regulations but the crime against women has not ended. There are many instances of harassment, abuse, eve-teasing, kidnapping, domestic violence and rape. Women are working equally as men but still their safety is a big challenge. With the boom in the IT and corporate sector, many women are now working and even during nightshifts. Objectives: A Real Time Intelligent System for Women Safety has been proposed to overcome these limitations. Methods: In this paper, many women's safety systems that were proposed or developed have been discussed. Major drawbacks in the current system, devices or applications have been highlighted. Latest technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence or data science have been ignored. Results: The proposed system will be highly sophisticated with the latest techniques and women will feel safe in all situations. It will predict the safe route while moving alone. Conclusion: Moreover, it will record the evidence and will also suggest the rights of women.

Impact of biotic stresses on the Brassicaceae family and opportunities for crop improvement by exploiting genotyping traits.

Utilizing RNAi, miRNA, siRNA, lncRNA and exploiting genotyping traits can help safeguard the food supply from illnesses and pest damage to Brassicas, as well as reduce yield losses caused by plant pathogens and insect pests. In the natural environment, plants face significant challenges in the form of biotic stress, due to various living organisms, leading to biological stress and a sharp decline in crop yields. To cope with these effects, plants have evolved specialized mechanisms to mitigate these challenges. Plant stress tolerance and resistance are influenced by genes associated with stress-responsive pathogens that interact with various stress-related signaling pathway components. Plants employ diverse strategies and mechanisms to combat biological stress, involving a complex network of transcription factors that interact with specific cis-elements to regulate gene expression. Understanding both plant developmental and pathogenic disease resistance mechanisms can allow us to develop stress-tolerant and -resistant crops. Brassica genus includes commercially important crops, e.g., broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and rapeseed, cultivated worldwide, with several applications, e.g., oil production, consumption, condiments, fodder, as well as medicinal ones. Indeed, in 2020, global production of vegetable Brassica reached 96.4 million tones, a 10.6% rise from the previous decade. Taking into account their commercial importance, coupled to the impact that pathogens can have in Brassica productivity, yield losses up to 60%, this work complies the major diseases caused due to fungal, bacterial, viral, and insects in Brassica species. The review is structured into three parts. In the first part, an overview is provided of the various pathogens affecting Brassica species, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and insects. The second part delves into the exploration of defense mechanisms that Brassica plants encounter against these pathogens including secondary metabolites, duplicated genes, RNA interference (RNAi), miRNA (micro-RNA), siRNA (small interfering RNA), and lncRNA (long non-coding RNA). The final part comprehensively outlines the current applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology aimed at enhancing crop quality. Taken collectively, this review will contribute to our enhanced understanding of these mechanisms and their role in the development of resistance in Brassica plants, thus supporting strategies to protect this crucial crop.

Accelerated thermal ageing on performance of polypropylene‐based semiconducting screen for high voltage direct current cable applications—Effect of antioxidants

AbstractThe potential of using eco‐friendly thermoplastic polypropylene (PP)‐based insulation for high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable has been widely investigated but much less work on the PP‐based semiconducting screen (SC). Considering a long service life (>30 years) under high temperature and high electrical stress is required for typical HVDC cables, and investigations on the effect of antioxidant (AO) concentration and thermal oxidative stability, mechanical, and electrical properties of PP‐based SCs have been conducted. It has been demonstrated that an appropriate combination and amounts of AOs are critical for achieving high thermal stability and maintaining the mechanical properties of SC after ageing in a harsh environment (150°C, with Cu, in air, 7 days). Although higher amounts of space charges have been observed in SC/PP/SC samples with higher AO concentrations, the impact on space charge behaviours is less after ageing, suggesting that ageing (or operating at high temperature) leads to microstructure evolution in SC and can potentially mitigate space accumulation in PP‐based insulating materials.

Two dimensional shear wave elastography—Basic principles and current applications

AbstractUltrasound‐based elastography techniques are increasingly available on modern ultrasound systems. The application of elastography extends the utility of ultrasound, yielding new information about the impact of disease on tissue biomechanics. By modifying the B‐mode imaging pulse, an Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse produces shear waves in selected tissue. Quantifying the speed of the resultant shear wave provides an indirect assessment of tissue stiffness, with stiffer tissue producing faster shear wave movement than softer tissue. Two main types of ultrasound shear wave elastography are currently in use. Point shear wave elastography uses one or two pulses to measure shear wave speeds over a small fixed area. Alternatively, two‐dimensional shear‐wave elastography provides a colour elastogram map over a larger area, allowing the operator to select specific regions of interest to measure shear wave speed. This article will discuss the essential physics principles, and clinical uses of two‐dimensional shear wave elastography, aiming to provide sonographers with a basic understanding of the technology and current applications.

The current application and evidence for robotic approach in abdominal surgery: A narrative literature review.

The current application of robotic surgery is evolving at a high pace in the current years. The technical advantages enable several abdominal surgical procedures to be performed minimally invasive instead of open surgery. Furthermore, procedures previously performed successfully using standard laparoscopy are now performed with a robotic approach, with conflicting results. The present narrative review reports the current literature on the robotic surgical procedures typically performed in a typical Scandinavian surgical department: colorectal, hernia, hepato-biliary, and esophagogastric surgery.

O142: Current clinical applications and limitations of graft augmentation in rotator cuff repair: a systematic review

Abstract Background Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are a leading source of chronic and acute shoulder pain globally, with causes spanning from tendon degeneration to traumatic injury. Especially prevalent in the aging population, RCTs have a significant retear rate despite surgical intervention, and recent years have seen an increase in the use of grafts in surgery to address many of the clinical issues previously encountered in tendon-healing. Objectives To compare the effectiveness of various grafts in graft-augmentation surgery for full-thickness rotator cuff tears, assessed with functional and clinical outcomes. Selection criteria Adult patients with MRI-diagnosed full-thickness RCT and subsequently underwent graft-augmentation surgery; followed-up >1year, with assessment for retear and quantitative clinical outcomes. Results 32 primary studies, mean follow-up of 2 years and total of 1052 patients were included. The effectiveness of graft-augmentation was assessed using retear rate, ASES, Constant, UCLA and VAS. Graft-augmentation significantly improves all functional and clinical scores (p<0.05), and decreases retear rate to an average of 18.5% >1year post-surgery (p<0.0001), with no significant difference in effectiveness between the 4 different types of grafts. (p>0.05). No significant difference in outcomes was found in graft-augmentation between different tear sizes. Conclusions Graft augmentation for RCTs shows significant improvements in clinical and functional outcomes, and significantly lowers retear rate compared to conservative treatment or surgery without graft augmentation. The choice of graft has been shown to be of less importance than the clinical decision to use surgical-intervention with graft-augmentation, which applies to full-thickness tears of all sizes; both primary and revision tears.

Materials and Strategies to Enhance Melt Electrowriting Potential.

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging additive manufacturing (AM) technology that enables the precise deposition of continuous polymeric microfibers, allowing for the creation of high-resolution constructs. In recent years, MEW has undergone a revolution, with the introduction of active properties or additional functionalities through novel polymer processing strategies, the incorporation of functional fillers, postprocessing, or the combination with other techniques. While extensively explored in biomedical applications, MEW's potential in other fields remains untapped. Thus, this review explores MEW's characteristics from a materials science perspective, emphasizing the diverse range of materials and composites processed by this technique and their current and potential applications. Additionally, the prospects offered by postprinting processing techniques are explored, together with the synergy achieved by combining melt electrowriting with other manufacturing methods. By highlighting the untapped potentials of MEW, this review aims to inspire research groups across various fields to leverage this technology for innovative endeavors.

Current developments and future perspectives of nanotechnology in orthopedic implants: an updated review.

Orthopedic implants are the most commonly used fracture fixation devices for facilitating the growth and development of incipient bone and treating bone diseases and defects. However, most orthopedic implants suffer from various drawbacks and complications, including bacterial adhesion, poor cell proliferation, and limited resistance to corrosion. One of the major drawbacks of currently available orthopedic implants is their inadequate osseointegration at the tissue-implant interface. This leads to loosening as a result of immunological rejection, wear debris formation, low mechanical fixation, and implant-related infections. Nanotechnology holds the promise to offer a wide range of innovative technologies for use in translational orthopedic research. Nanomaterials have great potential for use in orthopedic applications due to their exceptional tribological qualities, high resistance to wear and tear, ability to maintain drug release, capacity for osseointegration, and capability to regenerate tissue. Furthermore, nanostructured materials possess the ability to mimic the features and hierarchical structure of native bones. They facilitate cell proliferation, decrease the rate of infection, and prevent biofilm formation, among other diverse functions. The emergence of nanostructured polymers, metals, ceramics, and carbon materials has enabled novel approaches in orthopaedic research. This review provides a concise overview of nanotechnology-based biomaterials utilized in orthopedics, encompassing metallic and nonmetallic nanomaterials. A further overview is provided regarding the biomedical applications of nanotechnology-based biomaterials, including their application in orthopedics for drug delivery systems and bone tissue engineering to facilitate scaffold preparation, surface modification of implantable materials to improve their osteointegration properties, and treatment of musculoskeletal infections. Hence, this review article offers a contemporary overview of the current applications of nanotechnology in orthopedic implants and bone tissue engineering, as well as its prospective future applications.

Light on Alzheimer's disease: from basic insights to preclinical studies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), referring to a gradual deterioration in cognitive function, including memory loss and impaired thinking skills, has emerged as a substantial worldwide challenge with profound social and economic implications. As the prevalence of AD continues to rise and the population ages, there is an imperative demand for innovative imaging techniques to help improve our understanding of these complex conditions. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging forms a hybrid imaging modality by integrating the high-contrast of optical imaging and deep-penetration of ultrasound imaging. PA imaging enables the visualization and characterization of tissue structures and multifunctional information at high resolution and, has demonstrated promising preliminary results in the study and diagnosis of AD. This review endeavors to offer a thorough overview of the current applications and potential of PA imaging on AD diagnosis and treatment. Firstly, the structural, functional, molecular parameter changes associated with AD-related brain imaging captured by PA imaging will be summarized, shaping the diagnostic standpoint of this review. Then, the therapeutic methods aimed at AD is discussed further. Lastly, the potential solutions and clinical applications to expand the extent of PA imaging into deeper AD scenarios is proposed. While certain aspects might not be fully covered, this mini-review provides valuable insights into AD diagnosis and treatment through the utilization of innovative tissue photothermal effects. We hope that it will spark further exploration in this field, fostering improved and earlier theranostics for AD.

Harnessing the Power of Stimuli-Responsive Nanoparticles as an Effective Therapeutic Drug Delivery System.

The quest for effective and reliable methods of delivering medications, with the aim of improving delivery of therapeutic agent to the intended location, has presented a demanding yet captivating field in biomedical research. The concept of smart drug delivery systems is an evolving therapeutic approach, serving as a model for directing drugs to specific targets or sites. These systems have been developed to specifically target and regulate the administration of therapeutic substances in a diverse array of chronic conditions, including periodontitis, diabetes, cardiac diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and different cancers. Nevertheless, numerous comprehensive clinical trials are still required to ascertain both the immediate and enduring impacts of such nanosystems on human subjects. This review delves into the benefits of different drug delivery vehicles, aiming to enhance comprehension of their applicability in addressing present medical requirements. Additionally, it touches upon the current applications of these stimuli-reactive nanosystems in biomedicine and outlines future development prospects.

INTEGRATING IOT IN PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CURRENT APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR PANCREATIC DISEASES AND OBESITY Tolulope O. Olorunsogo1

In recent years, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into healthcare systems has shown immense promise in revolutionizing patient care, particularly in pediatric populations. This systematic review aims to explore the current landscape of IoT applications in pediatric healthcare, specifically focusing on pancreatic diseases and obesity, two significant health challenges affecting children worldwide. The review comprehensively analyzes existing literature, including peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and relevant reports. By employing systematic search strategies across various databases, studies were identified, screened, and synthesized to elucidate the diverse applications of IoT in managing pancreatic diseases and obesity among pediatric patients. The findings reveal a multitude of IoT applications tailored to pediatric healthcare, ranging from wearable devices for continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic children to smart scales and activity trackers for managing pediatric obesity. These technologies offer real-time monitoring, data analytics, and personalized interventions, enhancing disease management, improving patient outcomes, and promoting patient engagement and adherence to treatment regimens. Furthermore, this review identifies critical challenges and limitations associated with current IoT implementations in pediatric healthcare, such as data privacy concerns, interoperability issues, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks. Addressing these challenges is crucial to maximizing the potential benefits of IoT in pediatric healthcare and ensuring its safe and effective integration into clinical practice. The review outlines promising future directions for IoT in managing pancreatic diseases and obesity in pediatric populations. These include integrating advanced sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms for predictive analytics, developing user-friendly and child-centric IoT solutions, and establishing collaborative networks for data sharing and knowledge exchange. This systematic review underscores the transformative impact of IoT technologies in pediatric healthcare, particularly in managing pancreatic diseases and obesity. By highlighting current applications and future directions, this study provides valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to harness the full potential of IoT in improving pediatric health outcomes.
 Keywords: IoT, Healthcare, Pancreatic, Disease, Obesity, Pediatric, Review.

Application of direct electric current to the corneal and conjunctival epithelia regulates the tight junctional assembly for ocular iontophoretic drug delivery

Objectives: In this study, we determined how iontophoresis (IP) affects tight junctions (TJs) in isolated rabbit corneas and conjunctiva.
 Methods: Direct electric current in the range of 0.5–2.0 and 0.5–10 mA/cm2 were applied to the cornea and conjunctiva, respectively, for 30 min. The localization and expression levels of TJ-associated proteins were assessed before and after the application of the electric currents using immunostaining and western blotting.
 Results: In both corneal and conjunctival epithelia, the localization of proteins, such as claudin-1, claudin-4, occludin, and ZO-1, was temporarily altered by anodal and cathodal IP; however, the protein relocalization was slower at higher currents. Additionally, in both anodal and cathodal IP, the expression levels of claudin-1 and occludin in the cornea and conjunctiva remained unchanged after the application of the electric currents compared with those before.
 Conclusion: Our results indicated that the application of a direct electric current temporarily regulated TJ assemblies without altering the levels of TJ-associated proteins in both the cornea and conjunctiva. This temporary weakening of the paracellular barrier by the current may be responsible for the enhanced drug transport across the cornea and conjunctiva induced by ocular IP.
 Keywords: ocular drug delivery, iontophoresis, electric current, cornea, conjunctiva, tight junction

Updates in pelvic neuromodulation: the role of pelvic neuromodulation in pelvic disorders

Pelvic disorders affecting both male and female patients are major areas of concern for clinicians in cases where pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy are not effective. In such cases, pelvic neuromodulation has become an alternative therapy that could relieve chronic pelvic pain and enhance the quality of life. The goal of this paper was to present a summary of the current therapeutic applications of various pelvic neuromodulation techniques and their efficacy in treating patients with a range of pelvic illnesses. Based on the available literature, this review assessed the validity and significance of the last 10 years’ advancements in the fields of sacral neuromodulation (SNM), posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), and pudendal neuromodulation (PNM), including meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and observational, prospective, and retrospective studies.

Palliative Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review.

Background: As a person nears the end of their life, culture and ethnicity increasingly drive preferences and priorities for care. Understanding these preferences and priorities is fundamental to health care professionals' goals to respect decision making and support the individual throughout this phase of life. Across Africa, several countries are in the initial stages of implementing palliative care services in their burgeoning health care systems. Moving forward, it is imperative to consider cultural similarities and differences when compared with the Western world, where the field of palliative care evolved, to create a tailored palliative care approach that is consistent with African culture. In palliative care, understanding cultural preferences and priorities requires communication between the patient and the provider and is a crucial step toward a successful implementation in Africa. A paternalistic patient-provider relationship is the current leading model in sub-Saharan Africa.1 Aim: This narrative review explores the prevalence of paternalism and explores its appropriateness and necessity in the current application of palliative care in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: This narrative review was conducted using four databases as well as hand searching of relevant articles sourced from references of already selected articles. A total of 730 articles were identified. Fourteen articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria set for this narrative review. Results: In sub-Saharan Africa, the leading patient-provider relationship was determined to be paternalistic. Reasons for this were language, education, cultural norms and expectations, lack of time, and benevolence. Conclusions: The implementation of palliative care often relies on communication of patient desires and goals. Consideration is needed to determine how a provider can appropriately know these factors in a paternalistic relationship.