Split phenomena (SP) are characterized by patterns of differential muscle wasting and atrophy, which are highly prevalent in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Several neurophysiological ...indicators, including the split-hand index (SHI), split-leg index (SLI), and split-elbow index (SEI), have been proposed to assess SP. Nevertheless, their cutoff values and the impact of age and sex on these measures remain unclear.
We prospectively collected neurophysiological data from 300 healthy adult subjects. The following indices were measured from compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs): SHI abductor pollicis brevis (APB
) x first dorsal interosseous (FDI)
/adductor digiti minimi (ADM
), SEI (BICEPS
/TRICEPS
), SLI (extensor digit brevis (EDB)
/abductor Hallucis (AH)
), and the neurophysiological ratios APB
/ADM
and FDI
/ADM
. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association between age, sex, CMAPs, and neurophysiological indicators.
The median SHI was 10.4, with a median APB
/ADM
ratio of 0.9 and a median FDI
/ADM
ratio of 1.2. The median SEI was 1.6 (IQR:1.1-2.4) and the median SLI was 0.7 (IQR:0.5-1.0). Negative associations were observed between age, most of the CMAPs, and all the neurophysiological indices, except for SLI. The male subjects exhibited significantly higher CMAP values for the first dorsal interosseous (FDI), biceps, and SHI compared to the female participants.
Our findings highlight the importance of age- and sex-adjusted normative data for SP indices, which could enhance their diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility in patients with ALS. The SL index appears to be the most reliable indicator, as it showed no significant association with age or sex.
•Full-field strain and strain-rate fields of rock was obtained by high-speed 3D-DIC.•The 256 × 256 pixels and 200,000 fps are suggested in dynamic measurement of rock.•Wave propagation, dispersion ...and radial inertial effect on the specimen were found.•The comparison was conducted between 2D- and 3D-DIC in strain measurement.•The failure of sandstone is a shear mode in the test of split Hopkinson pressure bar.
Full-field strain and strain-rate fields of rock materials under dynamic compression were studied by the high-speed three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) method. A series of dynamic tests was conducted on Hawkesbury sandstones using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) at three different strain rates. The real-time images of the loaded specimen were captured by two high-speed cameras at a frame rate of 200,000 frames per second (fps) with a resolution of 256 × 256 pixels. Wave propagation, dispersion and radial inertial effect on the specimen were found by DIC results. The strain rate vibration pattern on the specimen, which was visualised by DIC, found to be dependent on the input waveform. A recovery of strain in the post-peak stage was detected on the specimen by DIC, which is unrevealed in the traditional one-dimensional theory method (i.e., strain gauge signals). The results showed that strain localisation initiated from the interface of the bar and specimen with the order of tensile, shear and vertical. The initiation of crack from strain localisation is found rate-independent. Comparison between 2D- and 3D-DIC in strain measurement of the same experiment showed that the error in the strain obtained by 2D-DIC could be up to 32%.
To understand combined effects of water saturation and loading rate on the fracture behavior of rock materials, dynamic notched semi-circular bending (NSCB) tests were conducted on dry and saturated ...sandstone specimens under a wide range of loading rates using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) setup. Test results revealed that, the dynamic fracture initiation, propagation toughness and crack propagation velocity of saturated specimen were apparently lower than that of dry ones at the same loading rate. The above parameters increased with the increase of loading rate. Compared with the dry specimen, the saturated specimen owned a higher rate dependency of the dynamic fracture initiation, propagation toughness and a lower rate dependency of crack propagation velocity. Moreover, dual effects of water on the fracture behavior under different loading rates were discussed. It is believed that the different rate dependencies of fracture behaviors between dry and saturated specimens was governed by the combined weakening and enhancing effects of water. A micro-mechanical model was further developed to explain the experimental results based on the duality of water and linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM).
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•Develops chemiluminescence detection of AFB1 via labelled and label-free methods.•The labelled system is based on streptavidin–biotin mediated signal amplification.•The label-free ...system is based on split aptamers and split G-quadruplex DNAzymes.•Validates the practicality of both systems for AFB1 detection in real samples.•Integrates both AFB1-sensing systems into smartphone-based portable device.
To develop a sensing platform for onsite determination of AFB1 in foodstuffs, we developed smartphone-based chemiluminescence detection of AFB1 via labelled and label-free dual modes. The labelled mode was characteristic of double streptavidin–biotin mediated signal amplification, obtaining limit of detection (LOD) of 0.04 ng/mL in the linear range of 1–100 ng/mL. To reduce the complexity in the labelled system, a label-free mode based on both split aptamer and split DNAzyme was fabricated. A satisfactory LOD of 0.33 ng/mL was generated in the linear range of 1–100 ng/mL. Both labelled and label-free sensing systems achieved outstanding recovery rate in AFB1-spiked maize and peanut kernel samples. Finally, two systems were successfully integrated into smartphone-based portable device based on custom-made components and android application, achieving comparable AFB1 detection ability to a commercial microplate reader. Our systems hold huge potential for AFB1 onsite detection in food supply chain.
Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of a ‘bad’ split after sagittal ramus osteotomies (SRO) and report the results of initial mandibular healing. A retrospective cohort ...study derived from patients treated by a single surgeon at one institution between 2004 and 2013 was performed. An index group consisting of a series of subjects with a spectrum of bimaxillary dentofacial deformities also involving the chin and symptomatic chronic obstructive nasal breathing was identified. The SRO design, bicortical screw fixation technique, and perioperative management were consistent. Outcome variables included the occurrence of a ‘bad’ split and the success of initial SRO healing. Two hundred sixty-two subjects undergoing 524 SROs met the inclusion criteria. Their average age was 25 years (range 13–63 years) and 134 were female (51%). Simultaneous removal of a third molar was performed during 209 of the SROs (40%). There were no ‘bad’ splits. All subjects achieved successful bone union, the planned occlusion, and return to a chewing diet and physical activities by 5 weeks after surgery. The presence of a third molar removed during SRO was not associated with an increased frequency of a ‘bad’ split or delayed mandibular healing.
In this paper, we introduce a new algorithm which combines the Mann iteration and the inertial method for solving split common fixed point problems. The weak convergence of the algorithm is ...established under standard assumptions imposed on cost operators. As a consequence, we obtain weak convergence theorems for split variational inequality problems for inverse strongly monotone operators, and split common null point problems for maximal monotone operators. Finally, for supporting the convergence of the proposed algorithms we also consider several preliminary numerical experiments on a test problem.
The effects of high strain rates and low confining pressures on the dynamic mechanical properties of sandstone were investigated experimentally with a modified triaxial split Hopkinson pressure bar ...(SHPB) system. For comparison, dynamic uniaxial compression tests of the sandstone were also conducted by using a conventional SHPB system. The confining pressures used in the dynamic triaxial compression tests are 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 MPa, and the strain rate of these tests varied from approximately 40 s−1 to 160 s−1. The results show that the dynamic uniaxial and triaxial compressive strengths of the sandstone will linearly increase with the logarithm of the stain rate. Under approximately the same strain rate, the dynamic triaxial compressive strength will linearly increase with the confining pressure. Although the peak strain has no dependence on the confining pressure, it will generally increase with the strain rate. The secant modulus is independent of the strain rate and confining pressure. Three trend diagrams, which reflect the influences of strain rate or confining pressure on the dynamic mechanical properties of sandstone in the uniaxial and triaxial compression tests, are given, and the correlation between the failure modes of the sandstone specimens and the characteristics of the stress-strain curves is also analyzed.
•Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) can produce saturated NaCl solutions.•The saturated NaCl solution split factor (SF) strongly influences the driving force.•The osmotic pressure difference ...varies strongly along the OARO module length.•The membrane area per concentrate flow as function of SF shows an optimum.•The maximum osmotic pressure difference is independent of the feed concentration.
Increasing sustainability awareness has created opportunities for the recovery and reuse of salt solutions in industrial processes. Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) has the potential to concentrate these salt solutions. Until now OARO research focussed on the production of purified water yielding an unsaturated salt solution as retentate, whereas a saturated salt solution is often needed for reuse. OARO featuring recycling of part of the saturated salt solution to the permeate side of the membrane has now been investigated. The introduction of a saturated NaCl solution results in strongly changing osmotic pressure difference and flux profiles along the length of the modules, with a maximum osmotic pressure difference and a minimum flux close to the outlet of the OARO system. In contrast to the NaCl retention of the membrane, the NaCl feed concentration does not have an influence on the maximum osmotic pressure difference. The osmotic pressure difference and membrane flux are strongly dependent on the applied concentrate split factor, which has a strong effect on the required membrane area per feed flow supplied as well. The amount of surface area required per flow of saturated NaCl solution leaving the OARO unit has an optimum as function of the concentrate split factor. This is due to two counteracting effects, the lower osmotic pressure difference, and the lower fraction of saturated NaCl solution leaving the OARO for a higher concentrate split factor. Based on the modelling, essential knowledge has been generated for the further research and development of OARO.
A radio labeling of a graph G is a function Formula: see text such that for every pair of distinct vertices Formula: see text, where diam(G) denotes the diameter of the graph and d(u, v) is the ...distance between the vertices u and v. The span of a radio labeling f of a graph G is the difference between the least and the largest labels assigned by f and is denoted by, span(f). The radio number of a graph G denoted by, rn(G), is the least positive integer s, such that there exists a radio labeling of G with span s. In this paper, we study the radio labeling of a special class of split graphs called biconvex split graphs of diameter three and we obtain both a lower bound and an upper bound for the radio number of biconvex split graphs of diameter three. Further, we determine the radio number of biconvex split graphs with three maximum degree vertices having disjoint independent neighbors.