Current Status of Angiogenic Cell Therapy and Related Strategies Applied in Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) constitutes the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it is characterized by progressive blockade of arterial vessels, commonly correlated to atherosclerosis. Currently, revascularization strategies (bypass grafting, angioplasty) remain the first option for CLI patients, although less than 45% of them are eligible for surgical intervention mainly due to associated comorbidities. Moreover, patients usually require amputation in the short-term. Angiogenic cell therapy has arisen as a promising alternative for these “no-option” patients, with many studies demonstrating the potential of stem cells to enhance revascularization by promoting vessel formation and blood flow recovery in ischemic tissues. Herein, we provide an overview of studies focused on the use of angiogenic cell therapies in CLI in the last years, from approaches testing different cell types in animal/pre-clinical models of CLI, to the clinical trials currently under evaluation. Furthermore, recent alternatives related to stem cell therapies such as the use of secretomes, exosomes, or even microRNA, will be also described.     

Visually deficient working conditions and reduced work performance in office workers: Is it mediated by visual discomfort?

IntroductionThe main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether visual discomfort acts as a mediating factor between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance among office workers who carry out administrative tasks and computer-based work at the Swedish Tax Agency.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to 94 office workers addressing: 1) perceived visual quality of the visual display units; 2) prevalence of eye symptoms; and 3) self-rated visual performance. Eighty-six persons (54 women (63%), 31 men (36%), and 1 of unspecified sex) answered the questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis investigated the association between visual ergonomic working conditions and visual performance, both with and without visual discomfort as a mediator.ResultsThe group mean of the Indexed survey questions indicated a reasonably good quality of visual ergonomic working conditions, a relative absence of eye symptoms, and acceptable self-rated visual performance. Results from multiple regression analysis showed a significant association between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance (r² = 0.30, β = 0.327, p < 0.01). When visual discomfort was used as a mediator, the association between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance remained the same (r² = 0.32, β = 0.315, p < 0.01).DiscussionIt was remarkable to discover that self-rated visual performance was independent of visual discomfort. Possible explanations include exposure factors not included in the current study, such as dry air and sensory irritation in the eyes, psychosocial stress, time spent performing near work activities, or time exposed to visually deficient working conditions.Relevance to industryThe strong connection between satisfaction with visual ergonomic working conditions and productivity in this study has implications for workplace profitability and staff satisfaction. If productivity is enhanced by better visual ergonomic working conditions, then managers of workplaces may be able to improve work outcomes by optimizing the physical work environment.     

Boccia game simulator: Serious game adapted for people with disabilities

Integration in the world of sport is one way for individuals with disabilities or motor disorders to feel more socially integrated, independent, and confident. Boccia is a Paralympic sport, which is increasingly getting more attention around the world. These facts have contributed to the objectives of this work. Including it in the serious games category enables to develop and rehabilitate the cognitive capabilities. The main focus was BC3 classification athletes (users with limited motor characteristics that require the use of an assistive device—a ramp, in this case). This paper describes a realistic Boccia game simulator adapted for people with disabilities that integrates a set of features that includes real physics and social features. These features can be used to enhance the interest of nonpractitioners of the sport and to improve the training conditions. The official Boccia regulation was added to the design of the simulator. The usability and approximation to the reality of the simulator were tested and validated based on the tests performed and data collected via a survey of users with no motor or psychological disorders. Realism and usability rating was almost excellent, and good results were achieved at the assessment of the game experience.     

一类Hilfer型分数阶微分方程解的存在和唯一性

用Banach不动点定理和上下解方法研究了α(1<α <2)阶数和β(0≤β ≤1)类型Hilfer分数阶微分方程的解,给出了方程解的存在和唯一性,并通过例证验证了本文所得结果的有效性.     

综放工作面上隅角瓦斯治理技术实践

为解决瓦斯矿井综放面推采过高瓦斯区域时,上隅角瓦斯易超限的问题,结合赵庄二号井2309工作面地质情况,研究实施了工作面采空区瓦斯抽采和上隅角软管抽放的综合治理技术。实践表明:在2309综放工作面回采期间,上隅角瓦斯浓度得到有效控制,平均为0.15%,最高为0.36%,为工作面安全生产提供了有力保障。     

一种下肢运动意图识别算法性能实时测评系统* .txt

摘要：对腿部运动意图识别算法的实时性能进行综合可靠的评价是实现下肢假肢灵活稳定控制的前提。提出一种逐层分级的基于下肢运动意图识别算法的实时测评方法，对算法的可靠性、稳定性以及运动意图识别速度进行综合评价。利用开发的运动意图识别算法评测系统，对基于肌电信号源和机械信号源的两种运动意图识别算法进行了实时性能测试，发现肌电信号源的算法识别时间大于机械信号源算法，但是其算法稳定性优于机械信号源算法。进一步地，还利用该评测系统有效地区分出正常识别策略与异常识别策略，发现正常策略的动作识别稳定系数比异常策略高25%左右。因此，所提的基于下肢运动意图识别算法的实时测评方法，能够对不同信号源算法以及不同识别策略的实时性能进行有效评价，为智能下肢假肢控制系统开发提供可供参考的测试平台。 .txt     

基于康复训练中力信号的人体参与度建模

设计一种基于人机接触力的人体主动参与程度评估模型,用于康复机器人应用中的主动康复训练。通过人体的肌电信号得到肌肉活跃度,确定肌电信号与人体参与度的关系。分析这一过程中人机接触力的变化,将腿部力信号平均值以及腰部力信号方差作为模型输入,对基于肌电信号的参与度模型进行拟合,得到基于力信号的参与度模型,使用肌电信号参与度模型对力信号参与度模型进行验证,证明了该模型的有效性。该方法避免了肌电信号采集时干扰较大且准备工作繁琐等缺点,具有良好的实用性。     

Die Baugesellschaft Gebrüder Rank und ihre spanischen Ziegelgewölbe in München

The Rank construction company and the introduction of brick vaults in Munich after 1945 The construction of vaults without scaffolding with thin bricks has a centuries‐old tradition, particularly in Spain and Italy. Since the beginning of the 19^th century, it has been successfully spread mainly on the American double continent. The Rank Brothers construction company in Munich is known to date as one of those construction companies that began building with concrete in its home city very early on. New investigations, which were made possible above all by the provision of archive material by Paul Basiner, now point to an additional focus of this company's work. The architects and engineers of the company had been also able to familiarise themselves with this traditional Spanish brick‐vaulted construction method via the branch office in Spain, which was established from 1911 on. This knowledge was particularly in demand in the years following World War II, when the destroyed vaults had to be rebuilt with simple means and low material consumption. Together with Carl Sattler, who had become acquainted with similar construction methods in Italy, brick vaults were initially used to complete the construction of the Landeszentralbank in Munich. In the following years, Rank was able to provide many buildings in and around Munich with brick vaults. It was not until the 1960s that this construction technique went out of fashion and was thus somewhat forgotten.