Gold Cup Research Articles

Hook Fabric Electroencephalography Electrode for Brain Activity Measurement without Shaving the Head.

In this research, novel electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes were developed to detect high-quality EEG signals without the requirement of conductive gels, skin treatments, or head shaving. These electrodes were created using electrically conductive hook fabric with a resistance of 1 Ω/sq. The pointed hooks of the conductive fabric establish direct contact with the skin and can penetrate through hair. To ensure excellent contact between the hook fabric electrode and the scalp, a knitted-net EEG bridge cap with a bridging effect was employed. The results showed that the hook fabric electrode exhibited lower skin-to-electrode impedance compared to the dry Ag/AgCl comb electrode. Additionally, it collected high-quality signals on par with the standard wet gold cups and commercial dry Ag/AgCl comb electrodes. Moreover, the hook fabric electrode displayed a higher signal-to-noise ratio (33.6 dB) with a 4.2% advantage over the standard wet gold cup electrode. This innovative electrode design eliminates the need for conductive gel and head shaving, offering enhanced flexibility and lightweight characteristics, making it ideal for integration into textile structures and facilitating convenient long-term monitoring.

An observational analysis of kicker–goalkeeper interaction in penalties between national football teams in international competitions

ABSTRACT An observation instrument was designed to analyse the interaction between the kicker and goalkeeper in a penalty kick, which allows to obtain relevant information in order to predict the direction of the kick. To fulfil this aim, an analysis was carried out of the interaction between kickers and goalkeepers in penalties taken in the following international team competitions: European Football Championship, Africa Cup of Nations, Copa América, AFC Asian Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup. Intra and inter-observer reliability was guaranteed using Cohenʼs Kappa coefficient. Evidence was produced of generalisation accuracy in the observation sample and of the validity of the observation instrument. The results obtained provide relevant information regarding the zone –or sector– of the goal towards which the kick is aimed, from the information contained: in the contextual dimensions “competition”, “match time”, “match score” and “match result”; and in the dimensions that make up the diachronic structure of the observation instrument –“start of kicker’s run-up in relation to the ball”, “goalkeeper actions prior to the kick”, “movements in kicker’s run-up”, “length of kicker’s run-up”, “speed of kicker’s run-up”, “direction of kicker’s supporting foot”, “position of opposite arm to kicker’s kicking foot” and “contact surface”.

Tree Architecture and Powdery Mildew Resistance of Yellow-flowering Magnolias in Tennessee, USA

Magnolias (Magnolia sp.) are economically important woody ornamental plants; however, plant damage associated with frost and powdery mildew (Microsphaera alni and Phyllactinia corylea) disease is a major production challenge. To understand the tree architecture and powdery mildew resistance, 26 yellow-flowering magnolias (Magnolia sp.) were evaluated in McMinnville, TN, USA (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b). One-year-old containerized trees were planted in a field plot during Mar 2006, with 4.6-m plant-to-plant and 3.7-m row-to-row spacing. The experiment was a completely randomized block design with three single-plant replications. Plant height and canopy diameter were measured on Dec 2016 and Feb 2018, and the apical dominance ratio (i.e., indicating tree architecture) was calculated by dividing the height by the canopy diameter. Plants were evaluated for powdery mildew severity and defoliation using a scale of 0% to 100% of the total plant canopy affected or defoliated, respectively, from Aug to Oct of 2016 and 2017. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated for the evaluation period of each year. The plant apical dominance ratio ranged from 1 to 3, with ‘Gold Cup’ and ‘Sun Spire’ having the highest value, and ‘Lois’, ‘Gold Star’, ‘Golden Gala’, ‘Solar Flair’, ‘Stellar Acclaim’, ‘Sun Ray’, ‘Sunburst’, and ‘Sundance’ having the lowest value (i.e., relatively round shape). Of the 26 cultivars, Sundance, Sun Spire, Sun Ray, and Gold Cup had the lowest powdery mildew severity (10% to 33% in 2016 and 40% to 60% in 2017), AUDPC, and defoliation. Cultivars Anilou, Gold Star, Golden Pond, Golden Rain, Golden Sun, Green Bee, Honey Liz, Judy Zuk, Koban Dori, Lois, Solar Flair, Stellar Acclaim, and Yellow Bird were highly susceptible to powdery mildew (>80% disease severity) and had the highest AUDPC values. Results of this research may aid breeders, nursery producers, and landscapers when selecting yellow-flowering magnolia cultivars with desirable tree architecture and resistance to powdery mildew.

REGARDING THE ATTRIBUTION OF SOME ITEMS FROM THE LYTA MOHYLA

The «Melgunov hoard» — a burial or burial-commemorative complex, which has been found during the excavations of the Lyta Mohyla in 1763, contained several items, functional destination of which is ambiguous.
 In particular, the gold plate with a depiction of a monkey and three birds is considered by most researchers to be a headdress decoration. However, the characters reproduced on the Melgunov plate in terms of nomenclature and represented subjects are close to the images on precious tableware made by Middle Eastern masters at different times.
 Therefore, it is more likely that this plate was cut from a thin-walled gold cup and was used to decorate the scabbard of a bladed weapon — a dagger or a long knife. Possessing two items of bladed weapons was widespread among the Scythians and it is recorded both in burials and on depiction of stone statues.
 17 plates in the form of a predatory bird are most often classified as belt decorations. But the presence of a gorytos in a burial and the established tradition of decorating arrow cases with gold plates give grounds for attributing these plates precisely as decorations of the gorytos. It does not contradict the area covered with sheets of the gorytos area; a composition formed by several rows of plates is possible; the image of a predatory bird is used; fastening to the leather base with the help of wide loops.
 One more item of bladed weapons in precious scabbard and a ceremonial gorytos, decorated with gold plates, confirm the high — royal — status of the owner of the set of items from the Lyta Mohyla. The proposed attributions, which assume the possible presence of several items of bladed weapons and a gorytos covered with precious plates in the burial complex, find full correspondence among the stable traditions of the Scythian culture.

Comparison of DTL and gold cup skin electrodes for recordings of the multifocal electroretinogram

ObjectiveTo compare mfERG recordings with the Dawson–Trick–Litzkow (DTL) and gold cup skin electrode in healthy young and old adults and to test the sensitivity of both electrodes to age-related changes in the responses.MethodsTwenty participants aged 20–27 years (“young”) and 20 participants aged 60–75 (“old”) with a visual acuity of ≤ 0 logMAR were included. The mfERG responses were recorded simultaneously using DTL and skin electrodes. P1 amplitudes, peak times and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were compared between both electrodes and across age groups, and correlation analyses were performed. The electrode’s performance in discriminating between age groups was assessed via area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics.ResultsBoth electrodes reflected the typical waveform of mfERG recordings. For the skin electrode, however, P1 amplitudes were significantly reduced (p < 0.001; reduction by over 70%), P1 peak times were significantly shorter (p < 0.001; by approx. 1.5 ms), and SNRs were reduced [(p < 0.001; logSNR ± SEM DTL young (old) vs gold cup: 0.79 ± 0.13 (0.71 ± 0.15) vs 0.37 ± 0.15 (0.34 ± 0.13)]. All mfERG components showed strong significant correlations (R2 ≥ 0.253, p < 0.001) between both electrodes for all eccentricities. Both electrodes allowed for the identification of age-related P1 changes, i.e., P1-amplitude reduction and peak-time delay in the older group. There was a trend to higher AUC for the DTL electrode to delineate these differences between age groups, which, however, failed to reach statistical significance.ConclusionsBoth electrode types enable successful mfERG recordings. However, in compliant patients, the use of the DTL electrode appears preferable due to the larger amplitudes, higher signal-to-noise ratio and its better reflection of physiological changes, i.e., age effects. Nevertheless, skin electrodes appear a viable alternative for mfERG recordings in patients in whom the use of corneal electrodes is precluded, e.g., children and disabled patients.

Splenectomy at the time of primary or interval cytoreductive surgery for epithelial ovarian carcinoma: A review of outcomes

ObjectivesWe describe post-operative complications after cytoreductive surgery with and without splenectomy for Stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer, and identify areas for quality improvement in post-splenectomy care. MethodsAll patients with ovarian cancer cytoreductive surgery from 2008 to 2018 were identified using an institutional database Gynecologic Oncology Longitudinal Data Collection and Utilization Program (GOLD CUP). We compared patients who had and did not have splenectomy as part of cytoreductive surgery by demographics, comorbidities, stage, operative and post-operative data, readmission rates, progression free survival, overall survival and death from disease. Quality metrics reported include receipt of post-splenectomy education handouts and encapsulated-organism vaccines. Statistical analysis was completed in STATA SE 16.0. ResultsWe identified 47 patients who underwent splenectomy and 454 who did not during primary or interval cytoreductive surgery. Final stage was IIIB in 1 (2.1%), IIIC in 26 (55.3%), IVA in 7 (14.9%), and IVB in 13 (27.7%) patients. Those with splenectomy had significantly higher stage. Surgery duration and hospital length of stay were longer and blood transfusion more common after splenectomy, but there were no differences in post-operative infection, readmission, or overall survival. Pancreatic leaks were seen in 4/47 (8.5%) patients. Post-splenectomy vaccinations were documented in 42/47 (89.4%) patients. Only 2/47 (4.3%) received post-splenectomy discharge instructions and 3/7 (42.9%) received aspirin for platelets 1 million or more. ConclusionsWhile splenectomy adds morbidity, it continues to offer benefit in those patients who can achieve optimal cytoreduction. Areas for quality improvement in post-splenectomy care include receipt of vaccinations, patient discharge information, and timely pancreatic fistula management.

Analysis of Hand Brewed Coffee Take Taiwan Coffee Beans as An Example

Abstract This study uses the research structure of the experimental design, taking Taiwan specialty coffee beans as an example, and selects four aspects which are a coffee grind, brewing water temperature, coffee blooming, and coffee water powder ratio that is most likely to affect the coffee extraction rate and coffee concentration. Brewing with hand brewing equipment which is easier to buy in daily life, and obtain data analysis, and then conduct experiments and comparisons with coffee beans from other countries. The results of this study found that coffee beans from different producing areas can be slightly adjusted for different brewing techniques to reduce the consumption of coffee beans and reduce costs, to provide consumers and subsequent researchers with references and suggestions. JEL classification numbers: O13, P32, Q15. Keywords: Taiwan Coffee Bean, Brew Coffee, Variation Analysis, and Gold Cup.

Bionic Design and Performance of Electrode for Bioelectrical Signal Monitoring

AbstractStable adhesion and comfort for long‐term use are the main challenges currently limiting wearable in real‐time health monitoring, especially in disturbed state such as exercise and sweating. Here, A biomimetic microneedles‐based adhesive electrode is designed, which utilizes the mechanical locking of the microneedle array and the adhesion property of the mimic tree frog foot pad microstructures on the rough and wet substrate to synergistically enhance the stable adhesion performance of electrode on the skin surface. This adhesion‐mechanical locking synergistic enhancement effect of the electrode through experiments is verified; the synergistic enhancement mechanism of the electrode is analyzed, and successfully electrocardiograph and electromyogram on human body skin is monitored. The electrode presented here provides a new path to solve the problem of stable signal acquisition under the condition of sweating and exercise, and realizing comfortable, low‐noise, and continuous health monitoring.

A case report of bullous pemphigoid treated with homoeopathy

This is a case of 20 years female having multiple vesicles filled with fluid present on her both hands since 4 months, having various sizes from pin point to very large accompanied with intense itching and burning. Systematic case taking followed by repertorisation was done according totality of symptoms by Synthesis Repertory using RADAR software in order to select the individualised homoeopathic remedy where Ranunculus bulbosus, Rhus Toxicodendron, Phosphorus, and Sulphur were shortlisted. The patient responded well to the individualised homoeopathic treatment in a very short period of time.

MD simulation/Quantum chemical calculations and experimental studies of Ranunculus bulbosus biomolecules impact on the mild steel dissolution reduction in a destructive acidic liquid

Owing to the movement toward greener earth, this study is a small contribution to this global process. The current research selected the Ranunculus bulbosus (RB) molecules in order to evaluate whether its extract could impart a corrosion-preventive quality to the MS attribute in the HCl condition. To reach this point, some distinct, as well as related tests, were performed. FESEM and AFM confirmed the positive impact of RB extract (RBE) upon the microstructure; the RBE addition considerably smoothened the surface in contrast with the sample doped with no RBE. UV–Vis showed the presence of several functional groups on the surface; while GIXRD provided the reason for the possible complexation of RBE molecules with Fe. Raman test confirmed the presence of inhibitor molecules on the surface via analyzing the carbon-based structures' existence. EIS was used for the corrosion-related analysis, and the increment of inhibitor concentration to 2000 ppm in company with 5 h of drowning time maximized the potency of corrosion resistance to 94%. Also, the corrosion-preventive performance of the RBE was supported by potentiodynamic polarization tests. RBE adsorbed over the surface via Langmuir regulation. Quantum chemical calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation have delivered helpful information regarding electron transfer and mechanism during adsorption of inhibitor ingredients on the mild steel surface. MD simulation revealed the interaction of inhibitors molecules and surface in addition to their high coverability. Also, DFT results suggested that electron sharing could occur between inhibitors molecules as metallic surfaces. In the end, the comparison of other studies with the current one was provided, and the mechanism was discussed.

The excavation of tomb M1 in Quangou cemetery, Wulan County, Qinghai

Abstract Tomb M1 at Quangou cemetery in Wulan, Qinghai, is the only Tubo-period tomb with mural paintings discovered thus far on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The tomb includes a tomb entry ramp leading to a rectangular multi-chambered structure built from bricks and timber. The walls of the antechamber and burial chamber are all painted with various images heavily influenced by typical Tang painting techniques, displaying Tang-period stylistic influence, although painted subjects present characteristic scenes of nomadic life on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The color-painted lacquered coffins in the tomb are the first of their kind found in the region, indicating that the tomb occupant must have been of high social status. There is a secret compartment behind the tomb’s burial chamber, where a wooden chest was found containing a luxuriously decorated gilt silver crown and a turquoise-inlaid gold cup. The findings suggest that the tomb occupant was probably closely related to the local royal family under Tubo’s sovereignty.

Detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf signatures of Paleo-Mesoproterozoic strata in the Priest River region, northwestern USA: A record of Laurentia assembly and Nuna tenure

Rocks of the Gold Cup Quartzite, Belt Supergroup and Deer Trail Group crop out in the Priest River region of northeastern Washington and northern Idaho (USA). As these sequences represent the westernmost exposures of Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic strata between New Mexico (USA) and the northern Yukon (Canada), they are key to understanding the assembly of Laurentia and evaluating the duration and configuration of the supercontinent Nuna/Columbia. Here, we present detrital zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope data from these sequences. The results indicate that the <1.73 Ga Gold Cup Quartzite contains similar detrital zircon components to other widespread late Paleoproterozoic units that record final assembly of the main Archean blocks of western Laurentia; as such, they do not require any non-Laurentian source. Prominent ca. 1.7–1.5 Ga, isotopically juvenile zircon grains form the main component of the overlying ca. 1.47 Ga Lower Belt Supergroup. Some of these detrital zircon components lack a Laurentian source and are instead consistent with derivation from the Gawler Craton in southeastern Australia. The >1.38 Ga upper Belt Supergroup strata are structurally overlain by <1.3 Ga Deer Trail Group rocks that contain detrital zircon components consistent with mixed Laurentian sources. The paucity of any syndepositional volcanic detrital zircon in Deer Trail Group strata along with its fine siliciclastic and carbonate nature suggest deposition within a tectonically-quiescent basin coeval with breakup of Nuna.

Documentation of veterinary practices from Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes of District Poonch, Jammu &amp; Kashmir: A boon for animals from our ancestors

Background: Gujjar and Bakarwal tribal communities are a treasure trove of traditional veterinary knowledge as they have been using plants to keep their livestock healthy and free from diseases for centuries. However, this knowledge is declining day by day due to several factors. The present study was aimed at surveying and documenting the medicinal plants used traditionally by the tribal communities of Gujjar and Bakarwal in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K), India to treat livestock ailments.Methods: A systematic ethnobotanical survey was conducted in 12 villages between July 2018-March 2020. Data was gathered from the local inhabitants using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed quantitatively using use-value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL).Results: A total of 31 medicinal plant species belonging to 30 genera of 24 families, with herbs as the dominantly used plant habit (70.97%) were encountered. Roots were most frequently used for remedy preparation (35.14%) followed by leaves (32.43%), with oral administration as the main application mode. Use-value and Relative frequency of citation ranged from 0.03-0.72 and 0.03-0.48 respectively. Based on these values, Rumex nepalensis was found to be the most important ethnoveterinary species used. The reported Informant Consensus Factors were very high (0.81-1.00), indicating a very broadly spread knowledge about ethnoveterinary plants in the communities. The use category with the greatest number of plant species (10 spp.) was gynecological / andrological problems.Conclusion: In the present study, novel ethnoveterinary uses for seven plant species, Aconitum violaceum, Arisaema jacquemontii, Bistorta amplexicaulis, Clematis grata, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ulmus villosa and Viburnum grandiflorum were recorded. The reported information can be used to standardize active principles which can further lead to the development of more efficient veterinary medicines.Keywords: Ethnoveterinary, Gujjars, Bakarwals, Novelty, Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir

Piers Plowman and the Reinvention of Church Law in the Late Middle Ages by Arvind Thomas

Reviewed by: Piers Plowman and the Reinvention of Church Law in the Late Middle Ages by Arvind Thomas Sarah Wood Piers Plowman and the Reinvention of Church Law in the Late Middle Ages. By Arvind Thomas. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2019. In Piers Plowman and the Reinvention of Church Law, Arvind Thomas examines the B and C versions of Langland’s poem and the treatment of penance in medieval canon law as two open, dynamic, and evolving textual corpora. Noting that scholars of Piers Plowman have often traced Langland’s quotations back to their origins in, for example, the writings of Augustine, Thomas directs attention instead to the more immediately contemporary sources for Langland’s thinking about penance in texts such as Gratian’s Decretum, Raymond of Peña-fort’s Summa de paenitentia, and William of Pagula’s Oculus sacerdotis. But he also seeks to question the conventional hierarchical relationship between source text and literary work, arguing that the poem not only invokes or reproduces but also reinterprets and transforms these materials. Piers Plowman therefore participates with the treatises, Thomas argues, in producing “the discourse of canon law” (22). In a further claim, Thomas proposes that the C version (traditionally assumed to be Langland’s final revision but here approached with a fashionable agnosticism as merely one variant form) “exhibits a sharper or more substantial engagement and enrichment of canon law than does B” (20). Thomas is most compelling in his first chapter, which brings the corrupted or failed confessions of Meed (in passus 3) and Contrition (in B 20/C 22) into dialogue with the “contritionist procedures” set out by Raymond of Peñafort and others (35). This material on the proper conduct of confessions will be familiar in a general way to readers of Piers Plowman who have any knowledge of the many pastoral texts in the tradition of Raymond’s work, but Thomas’s detailed comparison of the poem with the treatises nevertheless brings into fresh view just how audacious a travesty Meed’s performance of penance really is. The “penitent” here usurps the role of the confessor (Meed gives the friar a little lecture about lechery) while the confessor adopts the “mildness of speech” proper to the penitent (42, 49). Thomas generally does not offer the treatises as direct sources in the conventional sense, but I found it easy to believe that Langland recalled Raymond’s warning that sins should not be confessed in haste “as money-changers count coins” when [End Page 162] he described “the swift exchange of a coin (‘noble’) between Mede and the confessor” (44). The subsequent chapters move from the practice of confession to more abstract and theoretical matters such as the prohibition of usury (chapter 2), the necessity of restitution (chapter 3), and the computation of penances (chapter 4). However, these discussions of the various treatises feel increasingly remote from the text of Piers Plowman. In chapter 2, for example, Thomas argues that Conscience’s newly expanded critique of Meed in passus 3 of the C version “adapt[s] concepts of credit, time, risk, and doubt used by canonists to theorize usury lurking behind credit sales such as advance (‘pre manibus’) payments” (93). But in order to claim that Langland had in mind here the canonists’ argument that loans on fungibles were unjust, Thomas must claim that Meed’s gifts of rings and gold cups “are fungibles as they are all expressible in terms of number, or weight, or measure” (102), a kind of special pleading that seems to come from the Rudy Giuliani school of jurisprudence. The comparison in the same chapter with Hostiensis’ discussion of conditional fiefs (104–105) is more persuasive, given that Conscience actually uses the same analogy (C.3.315–323, Piers Plowman: The C Version, 1997). In chapter 3, Thomas’s effort to elaborate the “canonistic grounds” (118) for the poet’s invention similarly strains against the more obvious meaning of the text. Here, he argues that in employing a maxim from canon law (“Numquam dimittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum”) as part of the confession of Covetise in C 6, Langland “reinvents” “canonist thinking [. . .] by placing or recognizing limits upon the pope...

Do metallic-coated cups affect the perception of specialty coffees? An exploratory study

The presence of a metallic surface or appearance of product packaging and servingware can impact both the sensory and hedonic perception of various different foods and beverages, including promoting the impression of quality, premiumness, and luxury. A total of 51 coffee experts and 132 consumers took part in the study. Metallic-coated ceramic cups were used to assess whether the outer coating of the cup would influence the perception of two distinct coffee profiles. Hedonic and sensory ratings were assessed. Given the known link between visual metallic surfaces and premium/luxury perception, we also assessed whether participants' impressions of elegance might be mediating between the cup and positive sensory and hedonic judgments. Interaction effects between coffee type and cup finish revealed that higher sensory and hedonic ratings were given to the Brazilian coffee when it was tasted from the bronze cup, and to the Kenyan coffee when sampled from the gold cup (as compared to all other cups). Interaction effects including ‘expertise level’ showed that experts (in contrast to consumers) gave higher ratings of sweetness for both Brazilian and Kenyan when tasted from the bronze cup. Moreover, ‘elegance’ was a predictor of positive judgments when the Brazilian coffee was served in the bronze cup (for both experts and consumers) and when the Kenyan coffee was served in the white cup (for experts only). Despite the preliminary nature of these results, they nevertheless merit consideration by the industry. In addition to innovation, it makes sense to create receptacles that convey some functional and/or perceptual benefit to the coffee drinking experience.

Analysis of Goal Scoring in All Continents Soccer Tournament

The objective of this study was to analyze and quantify the goals scored at different period of match duration in all continent soccer tournaments. This study performed quantitative study which examined a total of 713 goals from 290 matches at 7 different soccer tournaments have been analyzed by using highlights from YouTube and FIFA official website. The results showed that majority of the tournaments score more at second half beginning with CONCACAF Gold Cup 2019, followed by World Cup 2018, EURO 2016, Africa Cup of Nations 2019, Copa America 2019 and lastly Asian Cup 2019. In contrast, only Oceania Nations Cup 2016 showed more goals had been scored in 1st half. As summary, fitness components, tactical and mental aspect become the main factor that needs to be focus by coaches in order to reduce team goal’s conceding.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: soccer, FIFA, goals

Wearable and Comfortable e-Textile Headband for Long-Term Acquisition of Forehead EEG Signals

Electroencephalography (EEG) has a wide range of applications in medical diagnosis, and novel form of Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) for controlling prosthetic implants, wheelchairs, and home appliances in various forms of paralysis. However, the current EEG setups are composed of many wires hanging down from the system, and individual electrodes that must be set manually, which is time-consuming. As a result, the overall system is neither comfortable, nor aesthetically appealing. Here, we introduce for the first time, a comfortable textile-based EEG headband system that is soft, conformal to the skin, and comfortable. We present materials and methods for fabrication of multi-layer stretchable e-textile, that interfaces the human epidermis from one side through printed electrodes, and interfaces a rigid PCB island on the second layer. We as well demonstrate a method that allows creation of VIAs (vertical interconnect access) between the layers, using a CO2 laser. All Electrodes are integrated into the headband, and thus there is no need for individual electrode placement, and individual wiring. By screen printing a home-made conductive stretchable ink, patient-specific EEG headbands can be tailor made considering the optimal positioning of the electrodes for each patient. We show that these printed electrodes benefit from a very low skin-electrode impedance, comparable to gold standard Ag/AgCl, or gold cup electrodes, thanks to the high surface area silver flakes used in this work. The e-textile headband interfaces with an EEG acquisition device that captures, amplifies, and transmits the data to an external mobile phone or a PC. Furthermore, the integrated amplification in the textile and the use of an EMF rejection layer on top of the electrodes were shown to reduce the unwanted EM noise that is picked up by the system. We as well show application of the developed headband for usage in Human Machine Interfaces and Sleep Data Acquisition. Altogether, this device is step toward wider use of EEG acquisition devices for daily-use applications.

Interpretation of electroencephalography in infants

Aim: Based on published reports and our own observations, we aimed to assign the graphical elements of EEG into normal and abnormal groups and then identify up to five main graphic elements in each group to facilitate visual analysis and interpretation of EEG in young children.Materials and methods. We searched for the relevant sources in the Medline and Medscape databases using the following keywords: «neonatal EEG», «neonatal seizures», «theta burst», «delta brushes», «trace discontinue», «burst-suppression», hypsarrhythmia», etc. Our own research was conducted using an Encephalan-EEGR-19/26 encephalograph equipped with children size gold cup electrodes with a diameter of 0.6 cm. Encephalograms were recorded from 10 electrodes according to the international “10-20” system.Results and discussion. In early childhood EEGs, two large groups of EEG graphic elements can be discerned: the likely normative graphic elements and patterns of pediatric EEG (normal patterns) and the likely non-normative (abnormal) graphic elements and patterns of pediatric EEG. In the likely normative group, the main features are represented by: theta bursts, delta brushes, the “intermittent EEG curve” pattern, the occipital theta rhythm, and slow-sleep waves. In the likely non-normative group, those are: paroxysmal EEG graphic elements, asynchronous EEG patterns, spike-wave discharges, 3 Hz peak waves, hypsarrhythmia, burst-suppression pattern, rolandic occipital spikes, and a slowing rhythm pattern.Conclusion. Along with the numerous attempts to characterize the age-dependent graphic elements at an early age, there are few reports concerning older children and adults. Here we try to overcome this discrepancy by identifying two large groups of graphic elements in EEG that are similar between infants and children of an older age. Such an approach may contribute to a better understanding of normal and pathological ontogenesis.

Clinical Experiences of Amplitude-integrated Electroencephalographic Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical experience of amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to evaluate the usefulness of the aEEG and to determine whether an EEG could help to identify high risk infants with later epilepsy. Methods: Clinical data of 200 newborn infants admitted to the NICU and monitored with aEEG were reviewed retrospectively. A single- or two-channel aEEG (electrode placement P3-P4 for single, C3-C4 and P3-P4 for two) was recorded continuously by using gold cups. Background activity was assessed based on voltage and pattern recognition methods. To assess for differences in later epilepsy among infants with abnormal versus normal results, chi-square test was employed with odd ratio. Results: Overall, 200 newborn infants were included. About half showed abnormal findings on aEEG monitoring with 34.5% abnormal background activity, 30.0% abnormal cyclicity, and 30.0% with seizures. The odd ratio for an abnormal trace on aEEG to predict later epilepsy was 7.9 (95% confidence interval; 2.8-22.0; P<0.001). Conclusion: aEEG monitoring is useful for cerebral monitoring in NICU. aEEG monitoring enabled to assess the cerebral integrity of infants by measuring background activities and detecting seizures and help to identify high-risk infant for later epilepsy.

Gold Cup Leadwire and Snap Leadwire

Gold Cup Leadwire and Snap Leadwire