110 research outputs found
Multichannel electrotactile feedback with spatial and mixed coding for closed-loop control of grasping force in hand prostheses
Providing somatosensory feedback to the user of a myoelectric prosthesis is an important goal since it can improve the utility as well as facilitate the embodiment of the assistive system. Most often, the grasping force was selected as the feedback variable and communicated through one or more individual single channel stimulation units (e.g., electrodes, vibration motors). In the present study, an integrated, compact, multichannel solution comprising an array electrode and a programmable stimulator was presented. Two co ding schemes (15 levels), spatial and mixed (spatial and frequency) modulation, were tested in able-bodied subjects, psychometrically and in force control with routine grasping and force tracking using real and simulated prosthesis. The results demonstrated that mixed and spatial coding, although substantially different in psychometric tests, resulted in a similar performance during both force control tasks. Furthermore, the ideal, visual feedback was not better than the tactile feedback in routine grasping. To explain the observed results, a conceptual model was proposed emphasizing that the performance depends on multiple factors, including feedback uncertainty, nature of the task and the reliability of the feedforward control. The study outcomes, specific conclusions and the general model, are relevant for the design of closed-loop myoelectric prostheses utilizing tactile feedback
Amorphous carbon film deposition on inner surface of tubes using atmospheric pressure pulsed filamentary plasma source
Uniform amorphous carbon film is deposited on the inner surface of quartz
tube having the inner diameter of 6 mm and the outer diameter of 8 mm. A pulsed
filamentary plasma source is used for the deposition. Long plasma filaments (~
140 mm) as a positive discharge are generated inside the tube in argon with
methane admixture. FTIR-ATR, XRD, SEM, LSM and XPS analyses give the conclusion
that deposited film is amorphous composed of non-hydrogenated sp2 carbon and
hydrogenated sp3 carbon. Plasma is characterized using optical emission
spectroscopy, voltage-current measurement, microphotography and numerical
simulation. On the basis of observed plasma parameters, the kinetics of the
film deposition process is discussed
Multiple scattering approach to low-energy electron collisions with the water dimer
Multiple scattering theory is applied to low-energy electron collisions with
a complex target formed of two molecular scatterers. The total T-matrix is
expressed in terms of the T-matrix for each isolated molecule. We apply the
approach to elastic electron-(H2O)2 collisions. Following the method developed
in our previous work on crystalline ice, we impose a cut-off on the dipole
outside the R-matrix sphere and an energy dependent cut-off on the angular
momentum components of the monomer T-matrix. An R-matrix calculation of
electron-dimer collisions is performed in order to evaluate the accuracy of the
multiple scattering approach. The agreement between the two calculations is
very good.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures New submission: Added references Included PACS
numbers Figure 3 slightly changed Additions made to the Conclusions and
Discussion sectio
Strong fragmentation of low-energy electromagnetic excitation strength in Sn
Results of nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments on Sn are
reported. More than 50 transitions with MeV were
detected indicating a strong fragmentation of the electromagnetic excitation
strength. For the first time microscopic calculations making use of a complete
configuration space for low-lying states are performed in heavy odd-mass
spherical nuclei. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the
data. It is concluded that although the E1 transitions are the strongest ones
also M1 and E2 decays contribute substantially to the observed spectra. In
contrast to the neighboring even Sn, in Sn the
component of the two-phonon quintuplet built on top of
the 1/2 ground state is proved to be strongly fragmented.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Search for the electric dipole excitations to the multiplet in Sn
The odd-mass Sn nucleus was investigated in nuclear resonance
fluorescence experiments up to an endpoint energy of the incident photon
spectrum of 4.1 MeV at the bremsstrahlung facility of the Stuttgart University.
More than 50 mainly hitherto unknown levels were found. From the measurement of
the scattering cross sections model independent absolute electric dipole
excitation strengths were extracted. The measured angular distributions
suggested the spins of 11 excited levels. Quasi-particle phonon model
calculations including a complete configuration space were performed for the
first time for a heavy odd-mass spherical nucleus. These calculations give a
clear insight in the fragmentation and distribution of the , , and
excitation strength in the low energy region. It is proven that the
component of the two-phonon quintuplet built on
top of the ground state is strongly fragmented. The theoretical
calculations are consistent with the experimental data.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Transition Rates between Mixed Symmetry States: First Measurement in 94Mo
The nucleus 94Mo was investigated using a powerful combination of
gamma-singles photon scattering experiments and gamma-gamma-coincidence studies
following the beta-decay of 94mTc. The data survey short-lived J^pi=1+,2+
states and include branching ratios, E2/M1 mixing ratios, lifetimes, and
transition strengths. The mixed-symmetry (MS) 1+ scissors mode and the 2+ MS
state are identified from M1 strengths. A gamma transition between MS states
was observed and its rate was measured. Nine M1 and E2 strengths involving MS
states agree with the O(6) limit of the interacting boson model-2 using the
proton boson E2 charge as the only free parameter.Comment: 9 pages, 3 PostScript figures included, ReVTeX, accepted for
publication in Physical Review Letters, tentatively scheduled for August 9,
199
Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map
We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies
The evidence base for circulating tumour DNA blood-based biomarkers for the early detection of cancer: a systematic mapping review
Background: The presence of circulating cell-free DNA from tumours in blood (ctDNA) is of major importance to those interested in early cancer detection, as well as to those wishing to monitor tumour progression or diagnose the presence of activating mutations to guide treatment. In 2014, the UK Early Cancer Detection Consortium undertook a systematic mapping review of the literature to identify blood-based biomarkers with potential for the development of a non-invasive blood test for cancer screening, and which identified this as a major area of interest. This review builds on the mapping review to expand the ctDNA dataset to examine the best options for the detection of multiple cancer types. Methods: The original mapping review was based on comprehensive searches of the electronic databases Medline, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane library, and Biosis to obtain relevant literature on blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection in humans (PROSPERO no. CRD42014010827). The abstracts for each paper were reviewed to determine whether validation data were reported, and then examined in full. Publications concentrating on monitoring of disease burden or mutations were excluded. Results: The search identified 94 ctDNA studies meeting the criteria for review. All but 5 studies examined one cancer type, with breast, colorectal and lung cancers representing 60% of studies. The size and design of the studies varied widely. Controls were included in 77% of publications. The largest study included 640 patients, but the median study size was 65 cases and 35 controls, and the bulk of studies (71%) included less than 100 patients. Studies either estimated cfDNA levels non-specifically or tested for cancer-specific mutations or methylation changes (the majority using PCR-based methods). Conclusion: We have systematically reviewed ctDNA blood biomarkers for the early detection of cancer. Pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical considerations were identified which need to be addressed before such biomarkers enter clinical practice. The value of small studies with no comparison between methods, or even the inclusion of controls is highly questionable, and larger validation studies will be required before such methods can be considered for early cancer detection
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