Benchmark problem definition and cross-validation for characteristic mode solvers

In October 2016, the Special Interest Group on Theory of Characteristic Modes (TCM) initiated a coordinated effort to perform benchmarking work for characteristic mode (CM) analysis. The primary purpose is to help improve the reliability and capability of existing CM solvers and to provide the means for validating future tools. Significant progress has already been made in this joint activity. In particular, this paper describes several benchmark problems that were defined and analyzes some results from the cross-validations of different CM solvers using these problems. The results show that despite differences in the implementation details, good agreement is observed in the calculated eigenvalues and eigencurrents across the solvers. Finally, it is concluded that future work should focus on understanding the impact of common parameters and output settings to further reduce variability in the results

Experimental Analysis of Handcart Pushing and Pulling Safety in an Industrial Environment by Using IoT Force and EMG Sensors: Relationship with Operators’ Psychological Status and Pain Syndromes

Non-ergonomic execution of repetitive physical tasks represents a major cause of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). This study was focused on the pushing and pulling (P&P) of an industrial handcart (which is a generic physical task present across many industries), with the aim to investigate the dependence of P&P execution on the operators’ psychological status and the presence of pain syndromes of the upper limbs and spine. The developed acquisition system integrated two three-axis force sensors (placed on the left and right arm) and six electromyography (EMG) electrodes (placed on the chest, back, and hand flexor muscles). The conducted experiment involved two groups of participants (with and without increased psychological scores and pain syndromes). Ten force parameters (for both left and right side), one EMG parameter (for three different muscles, both left and right side), and two time-domain parameters were extracted from the acquired signals. Data analysis showed intergroup differences in the examined parameters, especially in force integral values and EMG mean absolute values. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluated the composite effects of pain syndromes, spine mobility, and psychological status of the participants on the execution of P&P tasks—concluding that they have a significant impact on the P&P task execution and potentially on the risk of WMSD. The future work will be directed towards the development of a personalized risk assessment system by considering more muscle groups, supplementary data derived from operators’ poses (extracted with computer vision algorithms), and cognitive parameters (extracted with EEG sensors)

Liraglutide Protects Cardiomyocytes against Isoprenaline-Induced Apoptosis in Experimental Takotsubo Syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy, characterized by an increased concentration of catecholamines, free radicals, and inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction, and increased apoptotic activity. High doses of isoprenaline are used in animal models to induce Takotsubo (TT)-like myocardial injury. The aim of the study was to investigate the antiapoptotic effects of liraglutide in experimental TTS and its role in the NF-κB pathway. Wistar rats were pretreated with liraglutide for 10 days, and on days 9 and 10, TT-like myocardial injury was induced with isoprenaline. After the sacrifice on day 11, hearts were isolated for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Liraglutide reduced isoprenaline-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by decreasing cleaved caspase-3 (CC3), BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX), and NF-κB and increasing B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (BCL-2). An increase in NF-κB in isoprenaline-treated rats was in positive correlation with proapoptotic markers (BAX and CC3) and in negative correlation with antiapoptotic marker BCL-2. Liraglutide increased BCL-2 and decreased NF-κB, BAX, and CC3, preserving the same correlations of NF-κB to apoptotic markers. It is concluded that liraglutide protects cardiomyocytes against isoprenaline-induced apoptosis in experimental TT-like myocardial injury through downregulation of the NF-κB pathway

Accumulation of Cytoplasmic Glucocorticoid Receptor Is Related to Elevation of FKBP5 in Lymphocytes of Depressed Patients

We have previously shown that patients with the major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibited elevated phosphorylation of the lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptor (GR) at serine 226 (S226). Here, we further analyse potential alterations of GR signalization in lymphocytes of MDD patients, i.e. the cytoplasmic/nuclear distribution of GR, levels of FK506-binding protein 5 (FKBP5) and glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ). The FKBP5 acts as an important regulator of GR activation, by decreasing ligand binding and impeding translocation of the receptor to the nucleus, while GILZ mediates glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory effects. Our result showed that the depressed patients had significantly higher GR levels in the cytoplasm compared to controls, which was accompanied by higher FKBP5 levels. Linear regression model demonstrated significantly higher correlation between FKBP5 and cytoplasmic GR than the presence of MDD itself or phosphorylation of nuclear GR at S226. There were no differences in the levels of GILZ isoforms. Therefore, the results suggest that accumulation of the GR in cytoplasm is related to the elevation of FKBP5, adding one more step in understanding altered GR signalling in lymphocytes, and potentially brain tissue, of MDD patients