ABSTRACT
Objective:To design a new type of assistive chopsticks for the hand disorders, such as hand weakness and poor fine movement, etc. Methods:The assistive chopsticks were palm-control operative, integrated structure designed, and bending stamping processing technology was adopted. The key parts such as the bends and joint, holding parts were improved. The prototype was tested with finite element analysis and mechanical testing, and used on trial by a three years old boy. Results:The gripping force needed was related to the bending radius, material, section size and holding position. It required less dexterity and force for particular fingers, and was not easy to drop down. They could bounce off automatically and were suitable for left hand. Conclusion:The new type of assistive chopsticks may help the patients with hand dysfunction to have meals with chopsticks, to improve the quality of life. However, it is also suitable for Westerners with less experience.
ABSTRACT
Objective To develop a double-gasbag weight loss equipment based on body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT)，and analyze the reasonability of the structure design. Methods The mathematical model of double gasbags in the process of air inflation was established, and the 3D model of double gasbags was established and meshed using Gambit; the analog computation for gas flow of the gasbag was conducted using Fluent; normal subjects with body weight below 80 kg were selected for clinical experiments based on designing and roughing of the prototype. Results The inflation time of double gasbags was 16.9 s and the maximum weight loss percentage was 90%; the pressure inside double gasbags was 2 kPa, and the relationship between the weight loss percentage and inside pressure of the gasbag was obtained by clinical experiments, which verified the reasonability of the gasbag structure. Conclusions The double-gasbag structure can meet the requirements of weigh loss training, which provides an effective weight loss support method and a feasible structural design for patients with lower limb dysfunction during rehabilitation training.
ABSTRACT
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most important orexigenic agents in central regulation of feeding behavior, body weight and energy homeostasis in domestic chickens. To examine differences in the hypothalamic NPY between layer-type and meat-type of chickens, which are two divergent kinds of the domestic chickens in feeding behavior and body weight, we detected mRNA levels of NPY in hypothalamic infundibular nucleus (IN), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of these two types of chickens using one-step real time RT-PCR. The meat-type chicken had more food daily (about 1.7 folds) and greater body weights (about 1.5 folds) and brain weights than the layer-type chicken at the age of 14 d. In the meat-type of chicken, NPY mRNA levels of the IN and PVN were significantly greater than those of the LHA, and were not significantly different between the IN and PVN. However, in the layer-type of chicken, NPY mRNA levels were significantly greater in the IN than those in the LHA and PVN, and were not significantly different between the PVN and LHA. In all these hypothalamic regions, the layer-type of chicken had significantly higher NPY mRNA levels than the meat-type chicken did. These results suggest the expression of NPY in the hypothalamus has a type-dependent pattern in domestic chickens.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Body Weight , Chickens , Classification , Metabolism , Hypothalamus , Metabolism , Meat , Neuropeptide Y , Genetics , RNA, MessengerABSTRACT
Fermentation conditions for the production of spores of Bacillus mucilaginosus mutant 021120 were optimized through the single factor and orthogonal experiments.The results showed that the biomass and formation of spores were obviously affected by carbonate,followed by nitrogen.Addition of CaCO3 and enhancing air flux notably promoted the formation of spores.The optimal culture medium was composed of 2% starch,0.4% Yeast,0.1% K2HPO4,0.1% MgSO4?7H20 and 0.5 %CaCO3,pH7.5.6% of the inoculum prepared with two-stage extensive culture was inoculated into a 70L fermentor.The fermentation was carried out with 2.0~2.5 vvm of air flux at 32℃ for 38~42h,and the spores of 9.80?108 cfu ml-1 was obtained.Under these optimal fermentation conditions,the capsule was successfully controled and the formation of the spores was effectively improved,thus the satisfying bacteial product was obtained.