The muscle activation method: an approach to impedance control of brain-machine interfaces through a musculoskeletal model of the arm

Current demonstrations of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have shown the potential for controlling neuroprostheses under pure motion control. For interaction with objects, however, pure motion control lacks the information required for versatile manipulation. This paper investigates the idea of applying impedance control in a BMI system. An extraction algorithm incorporating a musculoskeletal arm model was developed for this purpose. The new algorithm, called the muscle activation method (MAM), was tested on cortical recordings from a behaving monkey. The MAM was found to predict motion parameters with as much accuracy as a linear filter. Furthermore, it successfully predicted limb interactions with novel force fields, which is a new and significant capability lacking in other algorithms.     

Millimeter wave inductive post filters,theory and results

This paper briefly details the work carried out on the modelling of inductive post filters. This type of filter approach is particularly attractive at millimeter wave frequencies due to its ease of manufacture, however for modelling no true wide band equivalent circuit would seem to be available. In order to overcome this limitation we have developed a rigorous wide band model. The accuracy of the model has been confirmed by numerous experimental measurements and the resulting computer program quickly enables both analysis and synthesis to be carried out. The speed and efficiency of this approach has allowed the effect of mechanical tolerances to be taken into account, thus reducing cost, complexity and assembly times.     

在数字基带处理器上代码的最佳放置

在手机等嵌入式系统中,除了处理器执行时间外,最重要的资源就是设备总线和存储器接口。本文将介绍一种在使用指令高速缓存时其带宽消耗的基础上,统计分析高速缓存所采用的方法。这种方法是传统基于指令周期的分析方法的补充,并且也为在外部存储接口受限制的设备中优化应用程序提供了一种手段。在外部接口受限制的设备中优化那些使用高速缓存的应用程序的读取带宽,对提升指令周期性能有着良好效果。作为例子,     

A novel CMOS exponential transconductor operating in weak inversion

A novel CMOS exponential transconductor which employs only three NMOS transistors operating in weak inversion, is presented. The main advantage of the proposed circuit is its wide range of exponential behaviour, which reaches up to five decades of current range, and above 10 μA to an input voltage range of 800 mV. The physical realisation is achieved in two forms: in the first one, the circuit is implemented with discrete MOS transistor arrays by CD4007 series; in the second one, the circuit is fully integrated in a 0.5 μm CMOS standard process. Simulated and experimental results of the proposed exponential transconductor are also presented.     

“In‐field” cell temperature evaluation in solar modules through time‐dependent open circuit voltage measurements

A method for the evaluation of p–n junction cell temperature in PV modules operating in the maximum power point (MPP) mode has been proposed. The method does not require specialized equipment and (for the concentrator modules) the data on the open circuit (OC) voltage temperature coefficients measured under pulse illumination. It consists of measuring several open circuit voltage magnitudes together with temperature measurements on the external module surface near one of the cells. In this procedure, a fast transition from MPP to OC operational mode is carried out, during which a time‐dependent voltage measurement is carried out with the help of a memory oscilloscope. A “reference” OC voltage magnitude in a “cold” module (a condition, as if the cells are kept at ambient temperature) is obtained by calculations, so that there is no necessity in a fast mechanical shuttering of the module aperture area. In the case of the concentrator modules, the module OC voltage temperature coefficient can be measured, if heat sinking process is artificially modified during outdoor measurements. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Uniform Virus‐Like Co–N–Cs Electrocatalyst Derived from Prussian Blue Analog for Stretchable Fiber‐Shaped Zn–Air Batteries

Zn‐air batteries (ZABs) offer promising commercialization perspectives for stretchable and wearable electronic devices as they are environment‐friendly and have high theoretical energy density. However, current devices suffer from limited energy efficiency and durability because of the sluggish oxygen reduction and evolution reactions kinetics in the air cathode as well as degenerative stretchability of solid‐state electrolytes under highly alkaline conditions. Herein, excellent bifunctional catalytic activity and cycling stability is achieved by using a newly developed Co–N–C nanomaterial with a uniform virus‐like structure, prepared via a facile carbonization of a prussian blue analogue (PBA). Furthermore, a solid‐state dual‐network sodium polyacrylate and cellulose (PANa‐cellulose) based hydrogel electrolyte is synthesized with good alkaline‐tolerant stretchability. A solid‐state fiber‐shaped ZAB fabricated using this hydrogel electrolyte, the virus‐like Co–N–Cs air cathode, and a zinc spring anode display excellent stretchability of up to 500% strain without damage, and outstanding electrochemical performance with 128 mW cm^?2 peak power density and good cycling stability for >600 cycles at 2 mA. The facile synthesis strategy demonstrated here opens up a new avenue for developing highly active PBA‐derived catalyst and shows, for the first time, that virus‐like structure can be favorable for electrochemical performance.     

3D Printing of a Thermo‐ and Solvatochromic Composite Material Based on a Cu(II)–Thymine Coordination Polymer with Moisture Sensing Capabilities

This work presents the fabrication of 3D‐printed composite objects based on copper(II) 1D coordination polymer ( CP1 ) decorated with thymine along its chains with potential utility as an environmental humidity sensor and as a water sensor in organic solvents. This new composite object has a remarkable sensitivity, ranging from 0.3% to 4% of water in organic solvents. The sensing capacity is related to the structural transformation due to the loss of water molecules that CP1 undergoes with temperature or by solvent molecules' competition, which induces significant change in color simultaneously. The CP1 and 3D printed materials are stable in air over 1 year and also at biological pHs (5–7), therefore suggesting potential applications as robust colorimetric sensors. These results open the door to generate a family of new 3D printed materials based on the integration of multifunctional coordination polymers with organic polymers.     

Interaction of specialized cardiac conduction system with antiarrhythmic drugs: a simulation study

The use of antiarrhythmic drugs is common to treat heart rhythm disorders. Computational modeling and simulation are promising tools that could be used to investigate the effects of specific drugs on cardiac electrophysiology. In this paper, we study the multiscale effects of dofetilide, a drug that blocks IKr, from cellular to organ level paying special attention to its effect on heart structures, in particular the specialized cardiac conduction system (CCS). We include a model of the CCS in a patient-specific anatomical ventricular model and study the drug effects in simulations with and without a CCS. Results confirmed the expected effects of dofetilide at cellular level, increasing the action potential duration, and at organ level, prolonging the QT segment. Notable differences are shown between models with and without the CCS on action potential duration distributions. These techniques show the importance of heart heterogeneity and the global effects of the interaction of drugs with cardiac structures.