Methods for reducing and directly controlling the speed of DNA through a nanopore are needed to enhance sensing performance for direct strand sequencing and detection/mapping of sequence‐specific ...features. A method is created for reducing and controlling the speed of DNA that uses two independently controllable nanopores operated with an active control logic. The pores are positioned sufficiently close to permit cocapture of a single DNA by both pores. Once cocapture occurs, control logic turns on constant competing voltages at the pores leading to a “tug‐of‐war” whereby opposing forces are applied to regions of the molecules threading through the pores. These forces exert both conformational and speed control over the cocaptured molecule, removing folds and reducing the translocation rate. When the voltages are tuned so that the electrophoretic force applied to both pores comes into balance, the life time of the tug‐of‐war state is limited purely by diffusive sliding of the DNA between the pores. A tug‐of‐war state is produced on 76.8% of molecules that are captured with a maximum two‐order of magnitude increase in average pore translocation time relative to the average time for single‐pore translocation. Moreover, the translocation slow‐down is quantified as a function of voltage tuning and it is shown that the slow‐down is well described by a first passage analysis for a 1D subdiffusive process. The ionic current of each nanopore provides an independent sensor that synchronously measures a different region of the same molecule, enabling sequential detection of physical labels, such as monostreptavidin tags. With advances in devices and control logic, future dual‐pore applications include genome mapping and enzyme‐free sequencing.
A dual nanopore approach for reducing and directly controlling the speed of DNA through the nanopore is reported. Constant competing voltages at the dual pores lead to a “tug‐of‐war,” whereby opposing forces are applied to regions of the molecules threading through the pores. These forces exert both conformational and speed control over the cocaptured molecule, removing folds and reducing the translocation rate.
The propulsive performance of a benchmark azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tug is evaluated through a series of model-scale experiments and numerical simulations. Thruster–thruster and hull–thruster ...interactions are individually analysed by isolating each effect through a system of openwater, appended hull and free-running tests. Parametric studies are conducted for a range of advance ratios, thruster azimuth and hull drift angles. This study identifies the regimes where thruster–thruster and hull–thruster effects are significant. Results from this study are used to develop higher fidelity propulsion models and a digital twin of a tug, which can simulate the hydrodynamic behaviour and response of the vessel in real-time.
It is a well-known fact that the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster caused the escort towing of laden tankers in many coastal areas of the world to become compulsory. In order to implement a new type of ...escort towing, specially designed to be employed in very adverse weather conditions, considerable changes in the hull form of escort tugs had to be made to improve their stability and performance. Since traditional winch and ropes technologies were only effective in calm waters, tugs had to be fitted with new devices. These improvements allowed the remodeled tugs to counterbalance the strong forces generated by the maneuvers in open waters. The aim of this paper is to perform a comprehensive literature review of the new high-performance automatic dynamic winches. Furthermore, a thorough analysis of the best available technologies regarding towline, essential to properly exploit the new winches, will be carried out. Through this review, the way in which the escort towing industry has faced this technological challenge is shown.
This study aims to investigate the dangers associated with the use of conventional tugboats during towing operations, with a focus on the loss of stability caused by girting. There are many risks ...involved with towing, including grounding, fire, flood, collision, tug capsize, etc., depending on whether the tug masters are pulling at sea or at a harbour. The possibility of a tug capsize is increased by external factors such as girting. Girting can quickly result in tug capsizing, the loss of life, and / or possible environmental harm. An effective risk assessment strategy would aid in creating a successful towing plan in a towing operation where the consequences of poorly thought out actions are high. The formal safety assessment (FSA) method had been used to determine important events that lead to a tug capsize due to girting. For harbour tug operators, some guidelines and guidance on efficient risk management measures are also provided.
Objective: Falls are often accompanied by huge social costs, and fall risk assessment is essential to protect the elderly from serious injuries and reduce financial burdens. The standard timed up and ...go (TUG) balance assessment test focuses on the total walking time and scenarios without environmental changes, which is flawed in providing rich information related to falls and evaluating the gait adaptability in response to environmental changes. Therefore, a fall risk assessment system that relies on a variable environment is actually needed. Methods: We have constructed an environment-adaptive TUG (EATUG) test system with three terrain surfaces (levels/obstacles/stairs). One hundred and three elderly from Shenzhen Luohu Hospital is recruited to participate in the experiment. The wearable inertial sensors attached to the two shanks are used to acquire data, and the gait parameters that may be related to falls are extracted and quantified. Results: Most of the parameters have significant differences between the high-risk group and the low-risk group (e.g., peak power, maximum radius, double support, etc., p < 0.001). In addition, the average sensitivity and specificity of fall risk prediction are 85.7% and 92.9%, while the average accuracy is 9.52% higher than the standard TUG test. Conclusion: The EATUG test system can provide richer gait characteristics and fall-related information, which is a good improvement on the drawbacks of the standard TUG test. Significance: The proposed test system is expected to replace the standard TUG test and be used for fall screening of high-risk elderly in the community to reduce the occurrence of falls.
To systematically review the effectiveness of dance-based programs to improve motor-cognitive dual-task performance in middle-aged and older adults.
Five scientific databases were selected to ...identify the articles included in this systematic review. Ninety-one articles were found in the electronic databases. Fourteen articles fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with a modified version of Downs and Black checklist. PRISMA guidelines were followed in the data extraction process. The overall effect size of the improvements was calculated through a meta-analysis.
All the studies had an acceptable methodological quality. Dance-based interventions had a duration of 8-52 weeks, 1-3 sessions per week, with sessions lasting 40-90 min. According to the overall effect size, dance-based interventions significantly improved dual-task performance (−0.48 with a 95% confidence interval from −0.88 to −0.08).
Dance-based intervention programs may be effective at improving the performance on motor-cognitive dual-task in middle-aged and older adults. Apart from the effects on the cognitive Time Up and Go test, dance interventions may also improve speed walking with a cognitive task. All these conclusions must be taken with caution due to the heterogeneity and the small number of articles. Future research can be developed to increase the knowledge on these issues.
Implications for rehabilitation
Interventions based on dance as part of rehabilitation can improve the performance on TUG under dual-task condition in aging.
Interventions based on dance can be effective to improve the development of some tasks of daily life by reducing time in a motor task under dual task condition in aging.
Physical therapists, personal trainers and other clinicians can use different types of dance for improving dual-tasking among the adults.
Non-local gradient dependent operators Bjorland, C.; Caffarelli, L.; Figalli, A.
Advances in mathematics (New York. 1965),
July-August 2012, 2012-07-00, Letnik:
230, Številka:
4-6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
In this paper we study a general class of “quasilinear non-local equations” depending on the gradient which arises from tug-of-war games. We establish a Cα/C1,α/C2,α regularity theory for these ...equations (the kind of regularity depending on the assumptions on the kernel), and we construct different non-local approximations of the p-Laplacian.
Azimuth-Stern-Drive tugs have relatively simple hull form, great propulsive performance and maneuverability, and these characteristics provide study advantages over cargo ships and other ship forms. ...At the pre-processing stage, ship maneuvering prediction based on CFD codes solving the RANSE are with successful applications. However, the work of obtaining the hydrodynamic derivatives and maneuvering coefficients needs to deal with water surface effects and propeller rotating motion, which is very time-consuming. Thereby, it is necessary to explore an appropriate CFD application strategy for ship maneuvering prediction, to balance the numerical accuracy and time costs. In this paper, a self-built low-speed ship motion control experimental platform, ’QiuXin V’, modified from a harbor tug, is studied. Double-body assumption combined with discretized propeller method is adopted to perform series of virtual captive model tests and self propulsion tests, to obtain the hydrodynamic derivatives, thruster performance, and maneuvering coefficients in straight moving conditions, while the flow attributes associated with the ducted thruster are predicted with empirical methods. Moreover, a modified steering force model is introduced to improve the maneuvering model accuracy. Non-disturbance turning and zigzag maneuvers are performed and compared with free-running model tests. Results show acceptable model accuracy and confirm the feasibility of the adopted integrated method in predicting the ASD ship maneuverability under low-speed conditions.
•CFD simulations are utilized to obtain the hydrodynamic performance of an ASD ship.•An integrated CFD-Empirical method is adopted to estimate the maneuvering factors.•The pod steering force is introduced into the maneuvering model as a modification.•Turning and zigzag maneuvers are performed and compared with experimental tests.
One of the tests used for quantitative diagnostics is Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), however, no reports were found regarding the percentage share of individual test components, which seems to have a greater ...diagnostic value in differentiating the functional status of the patients. The aim of the study was to analyze the percentage of the individual components of the TUG test in functional assessment in a population of healthy children and in clinical trials patients with various diseases.
The material consisted of patients with orthopedic (
= 165), metabolic (
= 116) and neurological dysfunctions (
= 96).
The components of the TUG test that differentiated the studied groups of patients to the greatest extent were in the order: relapse tug3%, initial transition tug2%, sitting tug5% and standing up tug1%, while during the final transition tug4% statistically significant differences were found only between healthy children and the studied groups of patients.
The TUG test turned out to be a good diagnostic tool, differentiating the studied groups of patients. The analysis of the percentage of the components of the TUG test can help in assessing the mobility of children and adolescents, monitor the effects of physiotherapy or the effects of surgical procedures.
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