Double-blind randomized control trial of acupuncture for autistic spectrum disorder

Free Paper Presentations: no. FP3OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy, safety, and compliance of short-term electro-acupuncture (EA) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: This was a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled, clinical trial. Children with ASD were randomly assigned to EA group (n=30) or sham electro-acupuncture (SEA) group (n=25) matched by age and severity of autism. The EA group received EA for selected acupoints while SEA group received sham EA to sham acupoints. A total of 12 acupuncture sessions over 4 weeks were given. Primary outcome measures included WeeFIM, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), Leiter International Performance Scale–Revised (Leiter-R), Clinical Global Impression–Improvement (CGI-I) scale. Secondary outcome measures consisted of Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Scale (RFRLS), Reynell Developmental Language Scale (RDLS), and standardised parental report. Data were analysed by Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in language comprehension domain of WeeFIM (P=0.02), self-care caregiver assistant domain of PEDI (P=0.028), and CGI-I (P=0.003) in the EA than SEA group. As for parental report, the EA group also showed significantly better social initiation (P=0.01), receptive language (P=0.006), motor skill (P=0.034), coordination (P=0.07), and attention span (P=0.003). More than 70% children with ASD adapted acupuncture easily, while 8% had poor acupuncture compliance. Mild side-effect with minor superficial bleeding or irritability during acupuncture was found. CONCLUSION: A short 4 weeks (12 sessions) course of EA is useful to improve the specific function in children with ASD, especially for language comprehension and self-care ability.published_or_final_versionThe 1st Hong Kong Neurological Congress cum 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Hong Kong Neurological Society, Hong Kong, 6-8 November 2009. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2009, v. 15 n. 6, suppl. 7, p. 29, abstract FP

Cost-effectiveness comparison of coaxial magnetic gears with different magnet materials

This paper presents a comparative study between the non-rare-earth permanent magnet (PM) and rare-earth PM based coaxial magnetic gears. Firstly, by using finite element analysis, the electromagnetic performances of four coaxial magnetic gears which are installed with non-rare-earth PMs or rare-earth PMs are analyzed and quantitatively compared based on the same structure. Then the cost-effectiveness of coaxial magnetic gears adopting different types of PMs is assessed. The results support that the non-rare-earth PM, especially the aluminum-nickel-cobalt (Alnico), is preferred for application to coaxial magnetic gears.postprin

A low-speed linear harmonic generator for grid-tied and stand-alone operation using hybrid excitation topology

Paper no. BP-09Since intermediate mechanical conversion mechanisms for speed, torque and motion conversion can be entirely eliminated, the direct-drive wave power generation attracts more and more attention [1]. Among various proposed generators, the permanent-magnet (PM) vernier generator is considered as a viable solution for the wave energy harvesting. This generator can efficiently harness this low-speed and high-power energy source via a so-called vernier effect by utilizing the effective harmonic magnetic field [2]. However, since only PMs are engaged for field excitation and the harmonic magnetic field is adopted, it is incapable to provide a flexible voltage control and power factor improvement. Moreover, the voltage regulation is incredible high. The purpose of this paper is to design a linear harmonic generator for producing electricity in a wave farm. Except for the PM excitation, the proposed generator is equipped with a set of DC field winding for the hybrid excitation. With this merit, the proposed generator exhibits a satisfactory performance for voltage regulation and power factor improvement which is desirable for both grid-tied and stand-alone operation [3]. © 2015 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Quantitative comparison of linear magnetic gear with different types of PMs

This paper presents a quantitative comparison between the non-rare-earth permanent magnet (PM) and rare-earth PM based linear magnetic gear. By using the finite element analysis, three linear magnetic gears adopting either the non-rare-earth PM or rare-earth PM are analyzed and discussed. Hence, the cost-effectiveness comparison among different types of PMs is conducted. The results indicate that the non-rare-earth PM is preferred to the rare-earth PM for application to linear magnetic gears when cost-effectiveness is emphasized.postprin

Design and analysis of a flux-controllable linear variable reluctance machine

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One Colored Image Based 2.5d Human Face Reconstruction

2.5D human face is illumination invariant which has a great advantage in face recognition. However, the existing method are linear based and capturing a 2.5D human face involves multi images from the same view point which is impractical in reality. This paper introduces a new nonlinear method for normal Surveillance camera to capture a 2.5D human face data. Only a single image is needed during capturing process by using RGB light sources. The illumination is separated from 2D images by applying ICA (Independent component analysis) method. A nonlinear statistical reflection model is developed through the nonlinear ICA algorithm to compensate nonlinear distortions during image capturing process. The proposed algorithm has achieved excellent features in separating the illumination which yielded very high accuracy of 2.5D human face data recovery

Quantitative comparison of dynamic flux distribution of magnetic couplers for roadway electric vehicle wireless charging system

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Cigarette smoke promoted human xenograft tumors through the upregulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinases

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Melatonin Inhibits Androgen Receptor Splice Variant-7 (AR-V7)-Induced Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) Activation and NF-κB Activator-Induced AR-V7 Expression in Prostate Cancer Cells: Potential Implications for the Use of Melatonin in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) Therapy

A major current challenge in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, which can be initially controlled by medical or surgical castration, is the development of effective, safe, and affordable therapies against progression of the disease to the stage of castration resistance. Here, we showed that in LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells transiently overexpressing androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was activated and could result in up-regulated interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression, indicating a positive interaction between AR-V7 expression and activated NF-κB/IL-6 signaling in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) pathogenesis. Importantly, both AR-V7-induced NF-κB activation and IL-6 gene transcription in LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells could be inhibited by melatonin. Furthermore, stimulation of AR-V7 mRNA expression in LNCaP cells by betulinic acid, a pharmacological NF-κB activator, was reduced by melatonin treatment. Our data support the presence of bi-directional positive interactions between AR-V7 expression and NF-κB activation in CRPC pathogenesis. Of note, melatonin, by inhibiting NF-κB activation via the previously-reported MT₁ receptor-mediated antiproliferative pathway, can disrupt these bi-directional positive interactions between AR-V7 and NF-κB and thereby delay the development of castration resistance in advanced prostate cancer. Apparently, this therapeutic potential of melatonin in advanced prostate cancer/CRPC management is worth translation in the clinic via combined androgen depletion and melatonin repletion.published_or_final_versio

Design and analysis of a new magnetic gear with multiple gear ratios

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