Heart rate variability during auricular acupressure at the left sympathetic point on healthy volunteers: a pilot study

IntroductionThis research is a pilot, single-blinded study investigating heart rate variability (HRV) during auricular acupressure at the left sympathetic point (AH7) in healthy volunteers.MethodsThere were 120 healthy volunteers with hemodynamic indexes (heart rate, blood pressure) within normal ranges, randomly divided into two groups AG and SG (in each group having a gender ratio 1:1, aged 20−29), to receive either auricular acupressure using ear seed (AG) or sham method using adhesive patches without seed (SG) at the left sympathetic point while lying in a supine position. Acupressure intervention lasted 25 min, and HRV was recorded by a photoplethysmography device–namely, Kyto HRM-2511B and Elite appliance.ResultsAuricular acupressure at the left Sympathetic point (AG) led to a significant reduction in heart rate (HR) (p < 0.05) and a considerable increase in HRV parameters demonstrated by HF (High-frequency power) (p < 0.05), compared to sham auricular acupressure (SG). However, no significant changes in LF (Low-frequency power) and RR (Respiratory rate) (p > 0.05) were observed in both groups during the process.ConclusionThese findings suggest that auricular acupressure at the left sympathetic point may activate the parasympathetic nervous system while a healthy person is lying relaxed

OPTICAL BISTABILITY IN A DEGENERATE TWO-LEVEL EIT MEDIUM UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELD: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH

We investigate the behavior of optical bistability in a degenerate two-level atomic medium using an external magnetic field to separate the lower level into two distinct levels that both connect to an upper level by the probe and coupling laser fields. Based on analytical solutions, the absorption spectrum and behavior of optical bistability in an electromagnetically induced transparency regime under an external magnetic field are investigated. By controlling the external magnetic field, we find that the appearance and disappearance of the optical bistability can be easily controlled according to the strength of the magnetic field in the transparent window domain. Furthermore, the effects of the intensity of the coupling laser field and the parameters of the system on the behavior of optical bistability are also considered. The proposed model is useful for applications in all-optical switches and magneto-optic storage devices.We investigate the behavior of optical bistability in a degenerate two-level atomic medium using an external magnetic field to separate the lower level into two distinct levels that both connect to an upper level by the probe and coupling laser fields. Based on analytical solutions, the absorption spectrum and behavior of optical bistability in an electromagnetically induced transparency regime under an external magnetic field are investigated. By controlling the external magnetic field, we find that the appearance and disappearance of the optical bistability can be easily controlled according to the strength of the magnetic field in the transparent window domain. Furthermore, the effects of the intensity of the coupling laser field and the parameters of the system on the behavior of optical bistability are also considered. The proposed model is useful for applications in all-optical switches and magneto-optic storage devices

Factors influencing students’ startups intention – a case study at universities in Ho Chi Minh City

Ovaj rad nastao je kao odgovor na potrebu da se identificiraju čimbenici koji utječu na stavove studenata o pokretanju startupa u periodu od 2019. – 2020. godine, tijekom izbijanja bolesti COVID-19. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 2.141 studenta na dvanaest sveučilišta u Ho Chi Minh Cityju. Ovim istraživanjem otkriva se što potiče studente na proučavanje i oblikovanje start-up ideja za pokretanje novog posla. Pritom je utjecaj okoline od presudne važnosti za samopouzdanje studenata i njihov pozitivan stav prema poduzetništvu da bi potakli studentsku želju za realizaciju start-up poslovanja. Ovo je istraživanje pokazalo da kako opće i radno okruženje tako i pozitivni i negativni stavovi izravno i neizravno utječu na namjeru studenata za osnivanjem startup-tvrtki. Rezultati ukazuju na potrebu da vlada i sveučilišta posvete više pozornosti na čimbenike okruženja budući da izravno utječu na mogućnosti i pružanje potpore namjeri studenata za osnivanjem start-up biznisa.This paper has been written in response to the need to identify the factors of environment affecting students’ attitudes on startups intention within the period 2019-2020, at the time of the COVID-19 breakout. For this purpose, the research was conducted on the sample of 2,141 students in twelve universities in Ho Chi Minh City. This research finds out what motivates students to learn, shape start-up ideas as to start a new business, and how an environment approach affects students’ startup intention as to gain confidence and positive feelings about the entrepreneurship. This study shows that both general and task environment, as well as positive and negative attitudes directly and indirectly affected students’ startup intention. The implication of the findings of this study suggests that the government and universities should pay more attention to environment factors because of its providing opportunities and support to students’ startup intention

HIGH ORDER SLIDING MODE CONTROL WITH ANTI-SWAY BASED COMPENSATION ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK BY PSO ALGORITHM FOR OVERHEAD CRANE

This paper proposes a second order sliding mode controller combined with signal set calibrator for overhead crane tracking desired position and resisting disturbance. High order sliding mode controller ensures that the overhead crane tracks desired trajectory and resists disturbance. Neural network is trained by particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) to compensate anti-sway for load. The results on the computer simulation show that high order sliding mode controller with anti-sway compensation for overhead crane tracks desired trajectory and the swing of load that is smaller than high order sliding mode controller without anti-sway compensation

Enhancement of photocatalytic activity of TIO2 for gaseous toluene removal by simple mechanical mixing with modified zeolite

A zeolite Y was modified by the microwave-assisted method (MWA) for generating mesopores and was mechanically mixed with TiO2 for photocatalytic application. The external surface area, which is represented to the mesopore, was significantly increased about 5 to 10 times in the modified zeolites compared to the parent zeolite. The catalysts were used to catalyze the gas phase photodegradation of toluene, a volatile organic compound (VOC). The photocatalytic activity and stability of the catalyst were improved when the mesoporous zeolite was presented. The mechanical mixture contained 30 wt%. TiO2 and 70 wt%. mesoporous zeolite showed the highest toluene removal efficiency

Tannins: Extraction from Plants

The chapter presents mainly on different extraction methods of tannin. Some technical means required for effective extraction are also presented, for example, collection and treatment of plant and drying and storage of plant. Opportunity and challenges in application of extraction methods are also exhibited in the chapter

The immunogenicity of plant-based COE-GCN4pII protein in pigs against the highly virulent porcine epidemic diarrhea virus strain from genotype 2

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a serious infectious causative agent in swine, especially in neonatal piglets. PEDV genotype 2 (G2) strains, particularly G2a, were the primary causes of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) outbreaks in Vietnam. Here, we produced a plant-based CO-26K-equivalent epitope (COE) variant from a Vietnamese highly virulent PEDV strain belonging to genotype 2a (COE/G2a) and evaluated the protective efficacy of COE/G2a-GCN4pII protein (COE/G2a-pII) in piglets against the highly virulent PEDV G2a strain following passive immunity. The 5-day-old piglets had high levels of PEDV-specific IgG antibodies, COE-IgA specific antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, and IFN-γ responses. After virulent challenge experiments, all of these piglets survived and had normal clinical symptoms, no watery diarrhea in feces, and an increase in their body weight, while all of the negative control piglets died. These results suggest that the COE/G2a-pII protein produced in plants can be developed as a promising vaccine candidate to protect piglets against PEDV G2a infection in Vietnam

Synthesis of Silica-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles and Application in the Detection of Pathogenic Viruses

Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation and then coated with silica. These Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles consisted of a 10–15 nm magnetic core and a silica shell of 2–5 nm thickness. The superparamagnetic property of the Fe3O4/SiO2 particles with the magnetization of 42.5 emu/g was confirmed by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). We further optimized buffers with these Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles to isolate genomic DNA of hepatitis virus type B (HBV) and of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for detection of the viruses based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a 434 bp fragment of S gene specific for HBV and 250 bp fragment of nuclear antigen encoding gene specific for EBV. The purification efficiency of DNA of both HBV and EBV using obtained Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles was superior to that obtained with commercialized Fe3O4/SiO2 microparticles, as indicated by (i) brighter PCR-amplified bands for both HBV and EBV and (ii) higher sensitivity in PCR-based detection of EBV load (copies/mL). The time required for DNA isolation using Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles was significantly reduced as the particles were attracted to magnets more quickly (15–20 s) than the commercialized microparticles (2-3 min)

A deletion mutation in nfxB of in vitro-induced moxifloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa confers multidrug resistance

The modulation of efflux pump functions under fluoroquinolone (FQ) exposure is of great concern as it could result in occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains. In this study, MDR mechanism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced via moxifloxacin (MOX) pressure was investigated. After serial MOX [concentration of 0.5 × the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)] exposure, the fully susceptible P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027 strain has increased its MIC not only toward MOX (1→128 mg/L) but also to other antibiotics. Furthermore, this MOX-exposed strain did not revert to antibiotic-sensitive phenotype when being cultured in antibiotic-free medium for 12 days. No mutation was observed for FQ-target (gyrA and parC) or most investigated efflux regulatory genes (mexT, mexR, and nalC) except nfxB in which a 100-bp deletion was found. This associated with the elevated expression of multidrug efflux pump operon (mexCD-oprJ) which could directly result in MDR phenotype