BackgroundIn schizophrenia, executive dysfunction is the most critical cognitive impairment, and is associated with abnormal neural activities, especially in the frontal lobes. Complexity estimation using electroencephalogram (EEG) recording based on nonlinear dynamics and task performance tests have been widely used to estimate executive dysfunction in schizophrenia.MethodsThe present study estimated the cool executive function based on fractal dimension (FD) values of EEG data recorded from first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls during the performance of three cool executive function tasks, namely, the Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A), Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B), and Tower of Hanoi tasks.ResultsThe results show that the complexity of the frontal EEG signals that were measured using FD was different in first-episode schizophrenia patients during the manipulation of executive function. However, no differences between patients and controls were found in the FD values of the EEG data that was recorded during the performance of the Tower of Hanoi task.ConclusionsThese results suggest that cool executive function exhibits little impairment in first-episode schizophrenia patients.
The development of multifunctional nanoplatforms that are safe and have multiple therapeutic functions integrated with dual- or multi-imaging modality is one of the most urgent medical requirements for active cancer therapy. In our study, we prepared multifunctional magnetic nanobubbles (MF-MNBs) by co-encapsulating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and doxorubicin into polylactideco–glycolide–polyethylene glycol–folate (PLGA-PEG-FA) polymer-based nanobubbles for tumor-targeted ultrasound (US)/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and focused ultrasound (FUS)-triggered drug delivery. Hydrophobic SPIONs were successfully embedded into MF-MNBs by a typical double emulsion process. The MF-MNBs were highly dispersed with well-defined spherical morphology and an average diameter of 208.4 ± 12.58 nm. The potential of MF-MNB as a dual-modal contrast agent for US and MR imaging was investigated via in vitro study, and the MF-MNB exhibits promising US/MR contrast ability. Moreover, tumor targeting ability was further enhanced by folate conjugation and assessed through in vitro cell test. Furthermore, FUS, as a non-invasive and remote-control technique, was adopted to trigger the release of doxorubicin from MF-MNB and generate the sonoporation effect to enhance drug release and cellular uptake of MF-MNBs. The 4T1 cell viability was significantly decreased by FA ligand-receptor-mediated targeting and FUS sonication. In addition, the developed MF-MNB also exhibits enhanced accumulation in tumor site by FA ligand-receptor-mediated tumor targeting, in which the accumulation of MF-MNB was further enhanced by FUS sonication. Hence, we believe that the MF-MNB could be a promising drug nanocarrier for US/MR-guided anticancer drug delivery to improve cancer treatment efficacy.
Concrete pump truck plays an important role in infrastructure construction and national economic development. In recent years, its boom system becomes longer, and its dynamic and control become more complicated. In order to study the dynamic characteristics of boom system, three dynamic models such as multi-rigid-body model, rigid-flexible coupling model, and rigid-flexible coupling model with equivalent hydraulic cylinder were built in this work. Simulation analysis and experimental analysis were done, and they show that we should not only consider the large-range motion but also consider the small flexible deformation to study the dynamic characteristics of boom system precisely. It provides the theoretical basis to vibration control, trajectory prediction, and life assessment for boom system and such structures.
Special equipment drivers often suffered from vibration which threatened their physical and mental health. In order to study the riding comfort of a special equipment cab, a hammering experiment has been carried out on it by acceleration sensors. According to the test results, the natural frequency has been calculated which was compared with the result analysis by the finite element method. Next, the equipment operating condition test on a flat road was done. The vibration characteristics of the whole vehicle were obtained later. The results show that the cab vibration and the finite element results agree well, but the natural frequency of the cab is close to the vibration frequency of the human body. And this is not conducive to long-term operation of the drivers. In order to improve the human operational comfort, it is necessary to reduce its natural frequency during the cab structure design process. The research in this paper can provide help for the similar human-machine operation comfort study and product design.
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