A review of combined neuromodulation and physical therapy interventions for enhanced neurorehabilitation

Rehabilitation approaches for individuals with neurologic conditions have increasingly shifted toward promoting neuroplasticity for enhanced recovery and restoration of function. This review focuses on exercise strategies and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques that target neuroplasticity, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). We have chosen to focus on non-invasive neuromodulation techniques due to their greater potential for integration into routine clinical practice. We explore and discuss the application of these interventional strategies in four neurological conditions that are frequently encountered in rehabilitation settings: Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), stroke, and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Additionally, we discuss the potential benefits of combining non-invasive neuromodulation with rehabilitation, which has shown promise in accelerating recovery. Our review identifies studies that demonstrate enhanced recovery through combined exercise and non-invasive neuromodulation in the selected patient populations. We primarily focus on the motor aspects of rehabilitation, but also briefly address non-motor impacts of these conditions. Additionally, we identify the gaps in current literature and barriers to implementation of combined approaches into clinical practice. We highlight areas needing further research and suggest avenues for future investigation, aiming to enhance the personalization of the unique neuroplastic responses associated with each condition. This review serves as a resource for rehabilitation professionals and researchers seeking a comprehensive understanding of neuroplastic exercise interventions and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques tailored for specific diseases and diagnoses

Quench factor analysis of aluminium alloys using the Jominy End Quench technique

Determination of the time-temperature property C curve for aluminium alloys usually involves a large number of quenches and isothermal holds to calibrate a set of constants that describes the shape of the C curve for a particular property. The authors have used the Jominy end quench test to minimise the amount of work required for this type of analysis. By matching the Vickers hardness at regular intervals along the length of the Jominy test specimen with cooling curves generated using finite element analysis. (FEA),the constants of the C curve equation were determined using a single Jominy test specimen. It was possible to successfully predict the hardness down to 65% of the maximum achievable hardness with a maximum error of only 2.4%