The novel feature of the method of battery management under development and testing is that routine balancing of the cells is eliminated throughout the service life of the battery pack. This requires ...preparation of the battery cells and configuration of the rigs in such a way as to ensure that the cells are accurately balanced on assembly and that thereafter there is no cell-to-cell variation in charge current or load at any time, measured to a low microamp level. In addition, the method requires a special charge control algorithm which was devised in order to accommodate cell-to-cell variations in capacity and dynamic response.
Comprehensive experimental testing of this method, which is fully described in the associated paper (Hardy et al., 2023), required the development of hardware and software which would combine the necessary functions of a battery test rig and a battery management system capable of carrying out the special method of charge control described below. These included:•The automated control of contactors, loads and chargers to perform multiple charge/discharge cycles to predetermined patterns of current and maximum and minimum cell voltages.•Monitoring of cell voltages, current and temperature and the provision of test and diagnostic data.•Performing the safety functions of a Battery Management System to ensure that no cell was permitted to exceed limitations of current, voltage or temperature.
The hardware and software were developed through three phases of testing with the operational principles (but not all the hardware and software elements) carrying over from one phase to the next.
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Integrating diversity into healthcare systems has its challenges and advantages. Academic medicine strives to expand the diversity of the healthcare workforce. The Association of University ...Radiologists (AUR) put together a task force to review the concept of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as it pertains to Radiology and to propose strategies for better integrating DEI in Radiology. We present several measures aimed at the trainee, leadership, management and professional society levels to empower DEI in Radiology.
Dysregulation and fibrosis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle is a consequence of injury. Current ECM assessment necessitates muscle biopsies to evaluate alterations to the muscle ...ECM, which is often not practical in humans. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of a magnetic resonance imaging sequence that quantifies T1ρ relaxation time to predict ECM collagen composition and organization. T1ρ imaging was performed and muscle biopsies obtained from the involved and non‐involved vastus lateralis muscle on 27 subjects who had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. T1ρ times were quantified via monoexponential decay curve fitted to a series of T1ρ‐weighted images. Several ECM indices, including collagen content and organization, were obtained using immunohistochemistry and histochemistry in addition to hydroxyproline. Model selection with multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationships between T1ρ times and ECM composition. Additionally, the ACL‐deficient and healthy limb were compared to determine sensitivity of T1ρ to detect early adaptations in the muscle ECM following injury. We show that T1ρ relaxation time was strongly associated with collagen unfolding (t = 4.093, P = 0.0007) in the ACL‐deficient limb, and collagen 1 abundance in the healthy limb (t = 2.75, P = 0.014). In addition, we show that T1ρ relaxation time is significantly longer in the injured limb, coinciding with significant differences in several indices of collagen content and remodelling in the ACL‐deficient limb. These results support the use of T1ρ to evaluate ECM composition in skeletal muscle in a non‐invasive manner.
Key points
Dysregulation and fibrotic transformation of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) is a common pathology associated with injury and ageing.
Studies of the muscle ECM in humans have necessitated the use of biopsies, which are impractical in many settings.
Non‐invasive MRI T1ρ relaxation time was validated to predict ECM collagen composition and organization with aligned T1ρ imaging and biopsies of the vastus lateralis in the healthy limb and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)‐deficient limb of 27 subjects.
T1ρ relaxation time was strongly associated with collagen abundance and unfolding in the ACL‐deficient limb, and T1ρ relaxation time was strongly associated with total collagen abundance in the healthy limb.
T1ρ relaxation time was significantly longer in the ACL‐deficient limb, coinciding with significant increases in several indices of muscle collagen content and remodelling supporting the use of T1ρ to non‐invasively evaluate ECM composition and pathology in skeletal muscle.
figure legend. The goal of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging sequence that quantifies T1ρ relaxation time to predict skeletal muscle extracellular matrix collagen composition and organization. T1ρ imaging was performed and muscle biopsies obtained in an aligned manner from the involved and non‐involved vastus lateralis muscle in human subjects following anterior cruciate ligament tear. T1ρ relaxation time was strongly associated with indices of collagen unfolding and abundance, and these results support the use of T1ρ to evaluate ECM composition in skeletal muscle in a non‐invasive manner.
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This book brings together academics, members of European institutions, and regional and national level policymakers in order to assess the performance and direction of EU Cohesion policy against the ...background of the most significant reforms to the policy in a generation. Responding to past criticisms of the effectiveness of the policy, the policy changes introduced in 2013 have aligned European Structural and Investment Funds with the Europe 2020 strategy and introduced measures to improve strategic coherence, performance and integrated development.
EU Cohesion Policy: Reassessing performance and direction argues that policy can only be successfully developed and implemented if there is input from both academics and practitioners. The chapters in the book address four important issues: the effectiveness and impact of Cohesion policy at European, national and regional levels; the contribution of Cohesion policy to the Europe 2020 strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; the importance of quality of government and administrative capacity for the effective management of the Funds; and the inter-relationships between institutions, territory and place-based policies.
The volume will be an invaluable resource to students, academics and policymakers across economics, regional studies, European studies and international relations.
Abstract
Background
Despite best practice, quadriceps strength deficits often persist for years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is a possible ...new intervention that applies a pressurized cuff to the proximal thigh that partially occludes blood flow as the patient exercises, which enables patients to train at reduced loads. This training is believed to result in the same benefits as if the patients were training under high loads.
Objective
The objective is to evaluate the effect of BFRT on quadriceps strength and knee biomechanics and to identify the potential mechanism(s) of action of BFRT at the cellular and morphological levels of the quadriceps.
Design
This will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Setting
The study will take place at the University of Kentucky and University of Texas Medical Branch.
Participants
Sixty participants between the ages of 15 to 40 years with an ACL tear will be included.
Intervention
Participants will be randomly assigned to (1) physical therapy plus active BFRT (BFRT group) or (2) physical therapy plus placebo BFRT (standard of care group). Presurgical BFRT will involve sessions 3 times per week for 4 weeks, and postsurgical BFRT will involve sessions 3 times per week for 4 to 5 months.
Measurements
The primary outcome measure was quadriceps strength (peak quadriceps torque, rate of torque development). Secondary outcome measures included knee biomechanics (knee extensor moment, knee flexion excursion, knee flexion angle), quadriceps muscle morphology (physiological cross-sectional area, fibrosis), and quadriceps muscle physiology (muscle fiber type, muscle fiber size, muscle pennation angle, satellite cell proliferation, fibrogenic/adipogenic progenitor cells, extracellular matrix composition).
Limitations
Therapists will not be blinded.
Conclusions
The results of this study may contribute to an improved targeted treatment for the protracted quadriceps strength loss associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction.
Background
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters correlate with muscle fiber composition, but it is unclear how these relate to in vivo contractile function.
Purpose
To determine the relationship ...between DTI parameters of the vastus lateralis (VL) and in vivo knee extensor contractile.
Methods
Thirteen healthy, premenopausal women underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the mid‐thigh to determine patellar tendon moment arm length and quadriceps cross‐sectional area. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) of the VL were determined using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Participants underwent an interpolated twitch (ITT) experiment before and after a fatiguing concentric‐eccentric isokinetic knee extension (60°·s−1). During the ITT, supramaximal electrical stimuli were delivered to elicit twitch responses from the knee extensors before, during, and after a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Knee extensor‐specific tension during twitch and MVIC were calculated from isometric torque data. Pearson's correlations were used to determine the relationship between muscle contractile properties and DTI parameters.
Results
MD and RD were moderately correlated with peak twitch force and rate of force development. FA and AD were moderately inversely related to percent change in MVIC following exercise.
Conclusion
MD and RD are associated with in vivo quadriceps twitch properties but not voluntary strength, which may reflect the mechanical properties of constituent fiber types. FA and AD appear to relate to MVIC strength following fatiguing exercise.
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Abstract
Butterfly wing ocelli (spots) are argued to have adaptive functions (anti-predator, mate enhancement). However, little attention has been given to differences between individual spots, sexes ...and populations. Hipparchia semele is a lateral basker, rarely opening its wings when settled other than during courtship. This provides a potential for uncoupling the functions of ventral and dorsal ocelli. Data from 725 specimens belonging to 12 North Wales populations are used to examine the consistency in wing spots in relationship to wing expanse, sexes and biotopes. Given that predators tend to prefer heavier, larger and slower prey, spot size should increase at a faster rate than wing expanse and should be larger in females. Spot size should also reflect sex differences in behaviour, resource use and vulnerability to predators, in addition to sexual selection. Given that females expose the dorsal wings during courtship, the forewing dorsal wing spots should be larger than the forewing ventral wing spots, and the forewing anal spot should act as a more prominent signal than the apical spot compared with males. These observations are supported by this study. The results are discussed in relationship to strategies (crypsis and active defence) to combat predation and for sexual selection.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The American Board of Radiology Core Examination integrates assessment of physics knowledge into its overall testing of clinical radiology, with an emphasis on understanding image quality and ...artifacts, radiation dose, and patient safety for each modality or subspecialty organ system. Accordingly, achieving a holistic approach to physics education of radiology residents is a huge challenge. The traditional teaching of radiological physics-simply through didactic lectures-was not designed for such a holistic approach. Admittedly, time constraints and clinical demands can make incorporation of physics teaching into clinical practice problematic. We created and implemented a week-long, intensive physics rotation for fledgling radiology residents and evaluated its effectiveness.
The dedicated physics rotation is held for 1 week during the first month of radiology residency. It comprises three components: introductory lectures, hands-on practical clinical physics operations, and observation of clinical image production. A brief introduction of the physics pertinent to each modality is given at the beginning of each session. Hands-on experimental demonstrations are emphasized, receiving the greatest allotment of time. The residents perform experiments such as measuring radiation dose, studying the relationship between patient dose and clinical practice (eg, fluoroscopy technique), investigating the influence of acquisition parameters (kV, mAs) on radiographs, and evaluating image quality using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and gamma camera/single-photon emission computed tomography/positron emission tomography phantoms. Quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of the rotation is based on an examination that tests the residents' grasp of basic medical physics concepts along with written course evaluations provided by each resident.
The pre- and post-rotation tests show that after the physics rotation, the average correct score of 25 questions improved from 13.6 ± 2.4 to 19 ± 1.2. The survey shows that the physics rotation during the first week of residency is favored by all residents and that 1 week's duration is appropriate. All residents are of the opinion that the intensive workshop would benefit them in upcoming clinical rotations. Residents acknowledge becoming more comfortable regarding the use of radiation and providing counsel regarding radiation during pregnancy.
An immersive, short-duration, clinically oriented physics rotation is well received by new or less experienced radiology trainees, correlates basic physics concepts with their relevance to clinical imaging, and more closely parallels expectations of the American Board of Radiology Core Examination.
•Chronic EA treatment improves movement speed and fine motor performance time.•Anti-parkinsonian effects of EA can be objectively assessed.•The method used in the present study could be translated ...into the human clinic.
Acupuncture has increasingly been used as an alternative therapy for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the efficacy of acupunture for PD still remains unclear. The present study was designed to objectively and safely monitor anti-parkinsonian effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and brain activity in nonhuman primates modeling human PD. Six middle-aged rhesus monkeys were extensively studied by a computerized behavioral testing battery and by pharmacological MRI (phMRI) scans with specific dopaminergic drug stimulations. All animals were evaluated for behavior and phMRI responses under normal, parkinsonian, parkinsonian with EA treatment and parkinsonian after EA treatment conditions. Stable parkinsonian features were observed in all animals prior to entering the EA study and positive responses to levodopa (L-dopa) challenge were also seen in all animals. The results demonstrated that chronic EA treatments could significantly improve the movement speed and the fine motor performance time during the period of EA treatments, and the effectiveness of EA could be detected even 3 months after the EA treatment. The phMRI data revealed that chronic EA treatments could alter neuronal activity in the striatum, primary motor cortex (M1), cingulate gyrus and global pallidus externa (GPe) in the ipsilateral hemisphere to MPTP lesions. As seen in the changes of parkinsonian features, the residual effects of phMRI responses to apomorphine (APO) challenge could also be found in the aforementioned areas. The results strongly suggest that anti-parkinsonian effects of EA can be objectively assessed, and the method used in the present study could be translated into the human clinic with some minor modifications.
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