Tracking of Human Arm Based on MEMS Sensors

Abstract. This paper studied the method for motion tracking of arm using triaxial accelerometer, triaxial gyroscope and electronic compass. The motion model of arm is established. The hardware of tracking system of arm is designed. The track method of arm gesture based on multi-sensors data fusion is analyzed. The compensation algorithm for motion accelerations is researched. The experimental results demonstrate that the motion acceleration compensation algorithm is validity, which can improve the dynamic measure precision of arm gesture angle

Effects of bubble size, velocity, and particle agglomeration on the electro-flotation kinetics of fine cassiterite

Hydrodynamic behavior of fine particles and bubbles and their influences on the particle–bubble collision efficiency (E) in an electro-flotation system were analyzed in this study. The influence of sodium oleate on the agglomeration of cassiterite particles and the effect of electrolyte (NaSO) concentration on the zeta potential of cassiterite were investigated in detail, respectively. Bubble trajectory was recorded by using a high-speed camera to investigate the dynamic process in terms of bubble velocity. Moreover, bubble size was taken into account in the determination of the relationship between bubble velocity and E. The Reynolds number (Re) was calculated to be 4.77 for hydrogen (H) bubbles with a mean diameter of 52\ua0μm. The highest recovery of cassiterite particles

Advances in Pharmacological Actions and Mechanisms of Flavonoids from Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease with high morbidity and mortality. The conventional therapies remain palliative and have various undesired effects. Flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been proved to exert protective effects on COPD. This review aims to illuminate the poly-pharmacological properties of flavonoids in treating COPD based on laboratory evidences and clinical data and points out possible molecular mechanisms. Animal/laboratory studies and randomised clinical trials about administration of flavonoids from TCM for treating COPD from January 2010 to October 2020 were identified and collected, with the following terms: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic respiratory disease or inflammatory lung disease, and flavonoid or nature product or traditional Chinese medicine. Pharmacokinetic studies and external application treatment were excluded. A total of 15 flavonoid compounds were listed. Flavonoids could inhibit inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular senescence, restore corticosteroid sensitivity, improve pulmonary histology, and boost pulmonary function through regulating multiple targets and signaling pathways, which manifest that flavonoids are a group of promising natural products for COPD. Nevertheless, most studies remain in the research phase of animal testing, and further clinical applications should be carried out

Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action

Goji berries (Lycium fruits) are usually found in Asia, particularly in northwest regions of China. Traditionally, dried goji berries are cooked before they are consumed. They are commonly used in Chinese soups and as herbal tea. Moreover, goji berries are used for the production of tincture, wine, and juice. Goji berries are high antioxidant potential fruits which alleviate oxidative stress to confer many health protective benefits such as preventing free radicals from damaging DNA, lipids, and proteins. Therefore, the aim of the review was to focus on the bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of goji berries including their molecular mechanisms of action. The health benefits of goji berries include enhancing hemopoiesis, antiradiation, antiaging, anticancer, improvement of immunity, and antioxidation. There is a better protection through synergistic and additive effects in fruits and herbal products from a complex mixture of phytochemicals when compared to one single phytochemical

Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Berberine-Treated Colon Cancer Cells Reveals Potential Therapy Targets

Colon cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. Berberine has been found to exert potential anti-colon cancer activity in vitro and in vivo, although the detailed regulatory mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to identify the underlying crucial proteins and regulatory networks associated with berberine treatment of colon cancer by using proteomics as well as publicly available transcriptomics and tissue array data. Proteome profiling of berberine-treated colon cancer cells demonstrated that among 5130 identified proteins, the expression of 865 and 675 proteins were changed in berberine-treated HCT116 and DLD1 cells, respectively. Moreover, 54 differently expressed proteins that overlapped in both cell lines were mainly involved in mitochondrial protein synthesis, calcium mobilization, and metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins. Finally, GTPase ERAL1 and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins including MRPL11, 15, 30, 37, 40, and 52 were identified as hub proteins of berberine-treated colon cancer cells. These proteins have higher transcriptional and translational levels in colon tumor samples than that of colon normal samples, and were significantly down-regulated in berberine-treated colon cancer cells. Genetic dependency analysis showed that silencing the gene expression of seven hub proteins could inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells. This study sheds a light for elucidating the berberine-related regulatory signaling pathways in colon cancer, and suggests that ERAL1 and several mitochondrial ribosomal proteins might be promising therapeutic targets for colon cancer

First multicenter study on multidrug resistant bacteria carriage in Chinese ICUs

International audienceBackground : The importance of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in Chinese hospitals is not clearly delineated. Thus we sought to assess the prevalence of MDRO in Chinese intensive care units (ICUs).Methods : Prospective study of inpatients admitted consecutively to eight ICUs in four Chinese cities in 2009–10. Admission and weekly screenings were performed by using selective media for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For the two latters, resistance to ceftazidime defined MDRO. Backward logistic regression models were designed to assess factors independently associated with MDRO carriage on admission and MDRO acquisition within ICUs.Results : 686 patients were included, and the MDRO prevalence rate on admission was 30.5 % (32.7 % for ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae, 3.2 % for MRSA). Antibiotic treatment prior to ICU admission was independently associated with carriage on admission (OR: 1.4) in multivariate analysis. A total of 104 patients acquired ≥1 MDRO in ICU (overall attack rate: 23.7 %; 14.9 % for ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae, and 5.1 % for MRSA). The MDRO attack rate increased from 13.2 % in the first week to 82.1 % for ICU stay > 3 weeks. Duration of antibiotic exposure (OR: 1.16; 1.1–1.2) and prior antibiotic treatment before ICU (OR: 2.1; 1.1–3.3) were associated with MDRO acquisition in multivariate analysis. The MDRO prevalence rate on ICU discharge was 51.2 % and the global prevalence density rate 71 per 1000 hospital-days.Conclusion : More than one out of two patients was MDRO carrier on ICU discharge in Chinese hospitals. This is the result of the combination of a high MDRO prevalence rate on ICU admission and a high MDRO acquisition rate within ICU

Is the Ordos Block Archean or Paleoproterozoic in age? Implications for the Precambrian evolution of the North China Craton

The Ordos Block is a large but poorly exposed crustal segment in the western part of the North China Craton. Little is known about its Precambrian basement rocks and their evolution because of an extensive cover by younger sedimentary rocks. We report SHRIMP zircon ages and Hf-in-zircon isotopic compositions for five samples recovered from drill holes that penetrated into the Ordos basement. Based on these data, two age groups of rocks can be distinguished: an early Paleoproterozoic group that is represented by one sample from the northern margin of the Ordos Block and a late (or middle-late) Paleoproterozoic group consisting of the remaining four samples. The early Paleoproterozoic sample contains zircon cores and metamorphic rims with ages of >2.4 Ga and >2.28 Ga, respectively. The cores have εHf(t) values of −8.8 to 6.2 and Hf crustal model ages of 2606 to 3221 Ma.The remaining rocks of late (or middle-late) Paleoproterozoic age contain zircons that may also show a core-rim structure, but with the cores having ages of ~2.08 Ga and the metamorphic rims recording ages of ~1.9 Ga. The zircon cores have εHf(t) values of −9.1 to 10.1, and Hf crustal model ages of 2039 to 3068 Ma. Combined with data from earlier studies, we draw the conclusion that late Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks are widespread in the Ordos basement. There is no evidence from our samples of an Archean component, and this calls into question the prevailing view that the Ordos basement is an Archean cratonic block. The fact that the Ordos basement was involved in a widespread late Paleoproterozoic tectono-thermal event indicates that most current models for the tectonic evolution of the western portion of the North China Craton need to be revised

Below-ground-mediated and phase-dependent processes drive nitrogen-evoked community changes in grasslands

Enhanced deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) leads to loss of plant diversity in grassland ecosystems. Numerous theories have provided potential explanations for the negative effects of N enrichment on plant diversity. However, the relative importance of each mechanism and the time-scales of responses for the different functional groups remain unclear. We investigated the temporal responses of plant community in a temperate steppe to N enrichment by linking above-ground to below-ground processes using a series of field N-addition and greenhouse experiments. The N enrichment-induced declines in plant diversity of grasslands were phase-based, functional group-dependent and driven by three below-ground processes. The rapid accumulation of NH4+-N by N addition inhibited photosynthetic rates of broad-leaf non-rhizomatous forbs, contributing to loss of these N-sensitive species during early phase of N enrichment (<= 3 years). The N-induced changes in this phase were independent of soil pH as evidenced by results from application of lime to mitigate N-evoked soil acidification. With progression of N addition, manganese (Mn) toxicity to narrow-leaf non-rhizomatous forbs due to soil acidification-induced Mn2+ mobilization in soil accounted for their loss in the second phase of N enrichment (similar to 4-9 years). When N addition proceeded longer than similar to 10 years, N enrichment stimulated below-ground meristem differentiation and rhizome growth of the rhizomatous species, leading to the dominance by rhizomatous sedges/grasses in the community at the later phase of N enrichment. Synthesis. The hierarchical mechanisms not only provide a comprehensive explanation for the N enrichment-induced diversity decline in grasslands, but can also facilitate us to understand the differential sensitivities of ecosystems to chronic N enrichment, and predict future ecosystem dynamics