Solid-state-lithium ion batteries (SS-LIBs) are a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage devices. Novel methods for characterizing electrochemical reactions occurring during battery ...operation at the nanoscale are highly required for understanding the fundamental working principle and improving the performance of the devices. In this work, we combined Ar ion milling under non-atmospheric conditions with in situ cross-sectional Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) for direct imaging of the internal electrical potential distribution of the SS-LIBs. We succeeded in the direct visualization of the change in the potential distribution of a cathode composite electrode (a mixture of the active materials, solid electrolytes, and conductive additives) arising from battery charging (electrochemical reaction). The observed results provided several insights into battery operation, such as the behavior of Li ions and inhomogeneity of electrochemical reactions in the electrode. Our method paves the way to characterize the fundamental aspects of SS-LIBs for the improvement of device performance, including the evaluation of the distribution of the Li ion depleted regions, visualization of the conductive paths, and analysis of the cause of degradation.
For over 50 years, host-plant resistance has been regarded as an efficient method to reduce yield losses to rice caused by delphacid and cicadelid hoppers. Already a number of resistant rice ...varieties have been developed and deployed throughout Asia. To date, over 70 hopper resistance genes have been identified in rice; however, less than 10 genes have been deliberately introduced to commercial rice varieties. Currently, due to recent brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) and whitebacked planthopper (Sogatella furcifera Horvath) outbreaks occurring at an unprecedented scale, researchers are working toward a second generation of resistant varieties using newly identified gene loci and applying new molecular breeding methods. This paper reviews advances in the identification of resistance genes and QTLs against hoppers in rice. It collates all published information on resistance loci and QTLs against the major rice planthoppers and leafhoppers and presents information on gene locations, genetic markers, differential varieties, and wild rice species as sources of resistance. The review indicates that, whereas progress in the identification of genes has been rapid, considerable tidying of the information is required, especially regarding gene nomenclature and resistance spectra. Furthermore, sound information on gene functioning is almost completely lacking. However, hopper responses to resistance mechanisms are likely to be similar because a single phenotyping technique has been applied by most national and international breeding programs during germplasm screening. The review classifies genes occurring at two chromosome regions associated with several identified resistance loci and highlights these (Chr4S: BphR-R and Chr12L: BphR-R) as general stress response regions. The review calls for a greater diversity of phenotyping methods to enhance the durability of resistant varieties developed using marker-aided selection and emphasizes a need to anticipate the development of virulent hopper populations in response to the field deployment of genes.
Purpose This study aimed to investigate cardiovascular responses, including heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), to various hyperlactatemia–passive exercise interactions. Participants ...and Methods Nine healthy male participants performed upper limb passive cycling movement, and their HR and HRV were assessed while their blood lactate levels were manipulated by sustained handgrip exercise at control, 15% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and 30% MVC, followed by postexercise circulatory occlusion. Results HR and root mean squared standard difference (rMSSD) of HRV response remained constant at all blood lactate levels during passive exercise (HR: control, 75.8 ± 3.4 bpm; 15% MVC, 76.9 ± 2.7 bpm; and 30% MVC, 77.0 ± 3.7 bpm; rMSSD: control, 33.2 ± 6.9 ms; 15% MVC, 36.3 ± 7.3 ms; and 30% MVC, 37.3 ± 8.9 ms). Conclusion Manipulating metaboreflex activation did not significantly alter HR or HRV during passive exercise. These results suggest that, in healthy participants, the interactions between mechanical and metabolic stimuli do not affect HR and HRV responses, implying that passive exercise may be safely implemented.
Abstract
Deep learning techniques for automatically detecting teeth in dental X-rays have gained popularity, providing valuable assistance to healthcare professionals. However, teeth detection in ...X-ray images is often hindered by alterations in tooth appearance caused by dental prostheses. To address this challenge, our paper proposes a novel method for teeth detection and numbering in dental panoramic X-rays, leveraging two separate CNN-based object detectors, namely YOLOv7, for detecting teeth and prostheses, alongside an optimization algorithm to refine the outcomes. The study utilizes a dataset of 3138 radiographs, of which 2553 images contain prostheses, to build a robust model. The tooth and prosthesis detection algorithms perform excellently, achieving mean average precisions of 0.982 and 0.983, respectively. Additionally, the trained tooth detection model is verified using an external dataset, and six-fold cross-validation is conducted to demonstrate the proposed method’s feasibility and robustness. Moreover, the investigation of performance improvement resulting from the inclusion of prosthesis information in the teeth detection process reveals a marginal increase in the average F1-score, rising from 0.985 to 0.987 compared to the sole teeth detection method. The proposed method is unique in its approach to numbering teeth as it incorporates prosthesis information and considers complete restorations such as dental implants and dentures of fixed bridges during the teeth enumeration process, which follows the universal tooth numbering system. These advancements hold promise for automating dental charting processes.
To date, the applications of photoplethysmograms in the estimation of cuff-less blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, and so on have been studied. Photoplethysmogram waveform features have often been ...used to estimate the target volumes. For these estimations, it is necessary to acquire photoplethysmogram waveforms and changes in their derivative waveform details, for which the photoplethysmograms measured at comparatively high sampling rates have been used. The performance of smartphone cameras and wearable photoplethysmogram sensors has improved; with regard to mobile health technology, photoplethysmograms measured at lower sampling rates offer considerable advantages. These include lower computational resources, compression of accumulated data, and lower sensor power consumption. However, compared to photoplethysmograms measured at a high sampling rate, photoplethysmogram measurement at a low sampling rate will result in waveform signal degradation. This paper investigates the possibility of using photoplethysmograms measured at a low sampling rate. To this end, we statistically compared photoplethysmogram waveform features obtained from 63 male subjects free of circulatory diseases, at a sampling rate of 240 Hz, with waveform features obtained at low sampling rates (120, 60, 30, 20, and 10 Hz) through downsampling, and evaluated possible commercial use.
We report the determination of the thickness of graphene layers by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). We measure AES spectra of graphenes with different numbers of layers. The AES spectroscopy shows ...distinct spectrum shape, intensity, and energy characteristics with an increasing number of graphene layers. We also calculate electron inelastic mean free paths for graphene layers directly from these measurements. The method allows unambiguous and high-throughput determination of thickness up to six graphene layers and detection of defect and dopant in graphene films on almost any substrate. The availability of this reliable method will permit direct probing of graphene growth mechanisms and exploration of novel properties of graphenes with different thicknesses on diverse substrates.
The effects of passive interpersonal light touch (PILT) on postural stability can be observed through improved postural coordination through haptic feedback from the contact provider to the contact ...receiver while walking. It is unclear, however, whether PILT affects the contact receiver's detailed physical responses, such as muscle activity, body sway, and joint movements. In this study, surface electromyography and an inertial measurement unit were used simultaneously to explore changes in walking speed and control responses induced by PILT. We evaluated fourteen healthy participants for their walking speed and physical responses under two walking conditions: no-touch (NT) and PILT. As a physical response during walking, we measured muscle activity (rectus femoris, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, and soleus muscles), body sway (pelvis and neck), and joint angles (direction of hip, knee, and ankle joint movements). In PILT condition, fingertip contact force was measured while the contact provider touched the third level of the recipient's lumbar spine. In comparison with the NT condition, PILT condition increased walking speed and decreased body sway on neck position. There were significant correlations between walking speed and neck sway regarding NT and PILT change values. Passive haptic information to the contact receiver may assist in the smooth shift of the center of gravity position during gait through interpersonal postural coordination. These findings suggest that PILT may provide an efficient and stable gait.
•Passive interpersonal light touch increases walking speed.•Passive light touch during walking establishes spatial position coordinates.•Interpersonal postural coordination reduces body sway.•Haptic information contributes to gait stability.
Microtubule nanotubes are found in every living eukaryotic cells; these are formed by reversible polymerization of the tubulin protein, and their hollow fibers are filled with uniquely arranged water ...molecules. Here we measure single tubulin molecule and single brain-neuron extracted microtubule nanowire with and without water channel inside to unravel their unique electronic and optical properties for the first time. We demonstrate that the energy levels of a single tubulin protein and single microtubule made of 40,000 tubulin dimers are identical unlike conventional materials. Moreover, the transmitted ac power and the transient fluorescence decay (single photon count) are independent of the microtubule length. Even more remarkable is the fact that the microtubule nanowire is more conducting than a single protein molecule that constitutes the nanowire. Microtubule's vibrational peaks condense to a single mode that controls the emergence of size independent electronic/optical properties, and automated noise alleviation, which disappear when the atomic water core is released from the inner cylinder. We have carried out several tricky state-of-the-art experiments and identified the electromagnetic resonance peaks of single microtubule reliably. The resonant vibrations established that the condensation of energy levels and periodic oscillation of unique energy fringes on the microtubule surface, emerge as the atomic water core resonantly integrates all proteins around it such that the nanotube irrespective of its size functions like a single protein molecule. Thus, a monomolecular water channel residing inside the protein-cylinder displays an unprecedented control in governing the tantalizing electronic and optical properties of microtubule.
Water channel inside microtubule does a mysterious job that enables microtubules with 40,000 tubulins to demonstrate conductivity 1000 times more than the single tubulin protein. Moreover, the fundamental energy levels of single tubulin and microtubule are identical, and microtubule works as octave musical string. This collection of incredible properties account for the first time a 3.5 billion year old nanowire that cannot be categorized to any known material class. Display omitted
•Brain neuron is made of octave musical string, microtubule.•Brain neurons eliminate noise automatically via microtubule.•Protein based supramolecule exhibits size-independent electronic and optical properties.
Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are the most important energy storage devices. Novel methods for directly characterizing the behavior of Li ions during battery operations are highly coveted for ...understanding the fundamental working principles of the batteries and improving their device performances. In this study, we developed a novel method to visualize the change in Li ion distribution in the electrodes of all-solid-state (ASS) LIBs based on the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry technique with an in situ electrical measurement system. We succeeded in directly visualizing the decrease/increase of Li concentration in the cathode composite electrode during the charging/discharging cycles. Our method paves the way to characterize the fundamental aspects of ASS LIBs for improving device performance, including the evaluation of Li-depleted regions, visualization of the conductive paths and analysis of the causes of device degradation.
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•We developed a novel ToF-SIMS combined with in situ electrical measurement.•We visualized change in Li distribution at cathode composite of solid state LIB.•Li in LiCoPO4 exhibited cyclic increase and decrease following the operation.•Li in solid electrolyte at cathode composite decreased after the first charging.
Purpose This study aimed to clarify how light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity in older adults changes with age, subdividing physical activity according to intensity levels, by ...using an accelerometer. Subjects Older adults living independently in the community were included (n = 106, age: 65–85 years). Methods A triaxial accelerometer was used to measure the amount of light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity (1–2.9, 3–5.9, and ≥6 metabolic equivalents, respectively) and inactive time over 7 days. Light- and moderate-intensity physical activity levels were further subdivided into 1–1.9, 2–2.9, 3–3.9, and 4–5.9 metabolic equivalents, respectively. Results The amount of moderate-intensity physical activity at both sub-levels showed significant inverse correlations with age (r = −0.34, −0.33, respectively), but this was not seen with other levels. Both levels of moderate-intensity physical activity were independently predicted by age using multiple regression analysis adjusted for gender and body mass index. Conclusion These results suggest that understanding the reduction in moderate-intensity physical activity with age in older adults, subdivided according to intensity level, could be a useful index to increase the amount of higher intensity physical activity in stages, considering individual health conditions.
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