Automatic width control is a key issue in hot strip rolling process. The edge rolling has been widely used in the roughing stand of hot strip mill to control the width of the slab. However, the edge rolling and conseq...Automatic width control is a key issue in hot strip rolling process. The edge rolling has been widely used in the roughing stand of hot strip mill to control the width of the slab. However, the edge rolling and consequent hori- zontal rolling will cause a significant width change in the head part and tail part of the slab, which have to be trimmed before the finishing stands. Based on the width reduction deformation curve of the head and tail along the longitudinal direction of slab, the short stroke control （SSC） technology has been developed to overcome this problem. The finite element method has been used to simulate the unsteady edge rolling process. Three short stroke control curves have been compared in order to obtain the best width control result. The optimized short stroke control curve has been ap- plied to the automatic width control system of industrial hot rolling mill, and good performance is obtained.展开更多
The precision width control is vital for product quality and production economy in plate width control process, so short stroke control method was used in plate rolling by opening or closing edger gap so as to avoid h...The precision width control is vital for product quality and production economy in plate width control process, so short stroke control method was used in plate rolling by opening or closing edger gap so as to avoid head end necking. Head end necking on different broadening ratio was analyzed, and sections of different elongations at edger roiling was calculated; based on the law of volume constancy, the adjustment functions were described by parabolic functions. Control curves were developed with three Gaussian curves by means of additional combining; SSC control curve was changed with different weights of those curves, w1 effect one-third of SSC length, w2 effect two-third of SSC length, w3 effect all three parts of SSC length. In order to adjust the amount of weights for precise quantification, PSO algorithm was used to build sufficiency function so as to obtain best rectangular degree by global optimization. Practical applications showed that the method proposed is available to improve the product rolling yields by 1.0% -2. 0% and worthy to apply to plate rolling.展开更多
Background: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis(ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acup...Background: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis(ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design.Methods/Design: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients(n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group(FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group(FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group(RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician.Discussion: Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments.展开更多
According to technological requirement of hot charge rolling and hot direct rolling,in this paper,we investigated the technology of the width control rolling in the rougher mills of hot strip continuous rolling mill t...According to technological requirement of hot charge rolling and hot direct rolling,in this paper,we investigated the technology of the width control rolling in the rougher mills of hot strip continuous rolling mill train.On the basis of improving width range of continuous casting of slab,we obtained a good result of greatly increasing the yield of slab→coil is achieved.展开更多
Purpose: Although proximal stability of the trunk is a prerequisite for balance and gait, to determine the role of trunk rehabilitation on trunk control, balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke is yet unknown...Purpose: Although proximal stability of the trunk is a prerequisite for balance and gait, to determine the role of trunk rehabilitation on trunk control, balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke is yet unknown. Method: Fifteen sub-jects (post-stroke duration (3.53 ± 2.98) years) who had the ability to walk 10 meters independently with or without a walking aid;scoring ≤ 21 on Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), participated in a selective trunk muscle exercise regime, consisting of 45 minutes training per day, four days a week, and for four weeks duration in an outpatient stroke reha-bilitation centre. Results: The overall effect size index for trunk rehabilitation was 1.07. This study showed large effect size index for Trunk Impairment Scale (1.75), Berg Balance Scale (1.65) than for gait variables (0.65). After trunk rehabilitation, there was a significant improvement for gait speed (p= 0.015), cadence (p= 0.001) and gait symmetry (p=0.019) in patients with chronic stroke. In addition, all the spatial gait parameters had a significant change post-intervention. There was no significant change in temporal gait parameters with the exception of affected single limb support time. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Conclusion: The exercises consisted of selective trunk movement of the upper and the lower part of trunk had shown larger effect size index for trunk control and balance than for gait in patients with chronic stroke. Future randomized controlled studies incorporating large sample size would provide insight into the effectiveness and clinical relevance of this intervention.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise-induced muscle fatigue in the unaffected knee joint on postural control and kinematic changes in stroke patients. Forty participants（20 stroke patients, 20 age-...This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise-induced muscle fatigue in the unaffected knee joint on postural control and kinematic changes in stroke patients. Forty participants（20 stroke patients, 20 age-matched healthy participants） were recruited. To induce fatigue, maximum voluntary isometric contractions were performed in the unaffected knee joint in a Leg Extension Rehab exercise machine using the pneumatic resistance. We measured static and dynamic balance and lower-limb kinematics during gait. Changes in postural control parameters anteroposterior sway speed and total center of pressure distance differed significantly between the stroke and control groups. In addition, changes in gait kinematic parameters knee and ankle angles of initial contact differed significantly between stroke（paretic and non-paretic） and control groups. Muscle fatigue in the unaffected knee and ankle impaired postural control and debilitates kinematic movement of ipsilateral and contralateral lower limbs, and may place the fatigued stroke patients at greater risk for falls.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal Xinglouchengqi(XLCQ)decoction for the treatment of constipation in acute ischemic stroke patients,and figure out the role that bowel movements play...OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal Xinglouchengqi(XLCQ)decoction for the treatment of constipation in acute ischemic stroke patients,and figure out the role that bowel movements play in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.METHODS:A total of 317 eligible patients were recruited and randomized to the XLCQ group(211 patients)or the control group(106 patients).In addition to conventional standard medical care and rehabilitation,participants in the XLCQ group received XLCQ decoction,while the control group received clysis therapy using glycerin enemas or lactulose oral solution.Both groups were given treatment for 3 to 6 d,during which they received daily visits to record defecation features and accompanying symptoms.Neurological assessments using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)were conducted before and 1 month after treatment.RESULTS:Patients in the XLCQ group had lower aggregate constipation scores compared with the control group on days 3 and 5(P<0.05).Spontaneous bowel movements tended to reappear more rapidly after taking the XLCQ decoction than after conventional laxative treatment.Both the average aggregate constipation score and the time taken to achieve spontaneous bowel movements showed positive correlations with NIHSS scores before and1 month after treatment(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with XLCQ decoction effectively alleviated the overall symptoms of constipation in acute ischemic stroke patients.The status of bowel movements in acute ischemic stroke can reflect the severity of neurological impairment and predict neurological outcomes at 1 month.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative and supported intervention for individuals with a stroke. A pilot control trial with qualitative interviews was undertaken within a university- community setting. T...The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative and supported intervention for individuals with a stroke. A pilot control trial with qualitative interviews was undertaken within a university- community setting. Thirteen individuals who had experienced a stroke for periods of least 6 months (6 male, average 71 years) were assigned to the intervention group and 7 individuals (2 male, average age 67.9 years) assigned to the control group. Eight individuals from the intervention group completed a single interview. The procedures that related to recruitment and retention and data collection methods were considered. Outcome measures including;self-efficacy, falls self-efficacy and group membership, for both groups were taken at baseline, 11 weeks, 22 weeks. There was an additional assessment at 52 weeks for the intervention group. The structured interview was designed to focus on experiences of the intervention. Self-efficacy remained stable across time for both groups. An improvement in falls self-efficacy was noted in the intervention group at 11 weeks. Consistent improvement (from baseline) was observed in the identity scale across the 52 weeks. Qualitative data provided additional findings related to identity and confidence. Details considering recruitment and retention are also provided. This pilot study provided data that can be used for a further full-scale trial to be considered.展开更多
This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early application of citicoline in the treatment of patients with acute stroke by meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials published until May 2015 were electro...This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early application of citicoline in the treatment of patients with acute stroke by meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials published until May 2015 were electronically searched in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WHO International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, Clinical Trial.gov, and China Biology Medicine disc. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and extracted the data based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included articles was evaluated by using Revman5.0, and meta-analysis was performed. The results showed that 1027 articles were obtained in initial retrieval, and finally 7 articles, involving a total of 4039 cases, were included for analysis. The meta-analysis showed that no significant differences were found in the long-term mortality（OR=0.91, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.09, P=0.30）, the rate of dependency（OR=1.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.24, P=0.85）, and the effective rate（OR=0.98, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.14, P=0.82） between citicoline group and control group. The overall rate of adverse events in citicoline group was not significantly different from that in control group（P=0.30）. The quality of included articles reached moderate-low level. In conclusion, citicolne cannot reduce long-term mortality and dependence rate in the treatment of acute stroke, and the effective rate of citivoline may be not better than that of controls but with reliable safety.展开更多
Background: Case-control studies have been used extensively in determining the aetiology of rare diseases. However, case-control studies often suffer from participation bias in the control group, resulting in biased o...Background: Case-control studies have been used extensively in determining the aetiology of rare diseases. However, case-control studies often suffer from participation bias in the control group, resulting in biased odds ratios that cause problems with interpretation. Participation bias can be hard to detect and is often ignored. Methods: Population data can be used in place of the possibly biased control group, to investigate whether participation bias may have affected the results in previous studies, or in place of controls in future studies. We demonstrate this approach by reanalysing and comparing the results of two case-control studies: Type 1 diabetes in Yorkshire children and stroke in Indian adults. Findings: Using population data to represent the control groups reduced the width of the confidence intervals given in the original studies and confirmed the findings for the two diabetes risk factors used;caesarean birth (odds ratio (OR) = 2.12 (1.53, 2.95) compared with 1.84 (1.09, 3.10)) and amniocentesis (OR = 3.38 (2.09, 5.47) compared with 3.85 (1.34, 11.04)). The three stroke risk factors investigated were found to have increased odds ratios when using population data;hypertension (OR = 5.645 (5.639, 5.650) compared with 3.807 (2.114, 6.856)), diabetes (OR = 12.212 (12.200, 12.224) compared with 3.473 (1.757, 6.866)) and smoking (OR = 5.701 (5.696, 5.707) compared with 2.242 (1.255, 4.005)). Interpretation: Participation bias can greatly affect the results of a study and cause some potential risk factors to be over-or underestimated. This approach allows previous studies to be investigated for participation bias and presents an alternative to a control group in future studies, while improving precision.展开更多
A frequency compensation control method for the opposed-piston two-stroke folded-cranktrain（ OPFC） diesel engine＇s common rail system is presented as a result of the study of the loop-shaping theory. A common rail ...A frequency compensation control method for the opposed-piston two-stroke folded-cranktrain（ OPFC） diesel engine＇s common rail system is presented as a result of the study of the loop-shaping theory. A common rail working process and the classical frequency control theory are combined to construct a frequency restriction of common rail pressure. A frequency compensator is utilized to improve the robustness of multiplicative perturbations and disturbance. The loop-shaping method has been applied to design the common rail pressure controller of the OPFC diesel engine. Simulation and bench test results show that in the condition of perturbation that comes from the effect of injection,multi-injection,fuel pumping of a pre-cylinder,and instantaneous pressure fluctuation,the controller indicates high precision. Compared with the original controller,this method improves the control precision by 67. 3%.展开更多
Nutrient application systems are designed to apply a relatively uniform amount of a fertilizer to agricultural fields. However, considerable variation in soil texture and other characteristics often occurs within and ...Nutrient application systems are designed to apply a relatively uniform amount of a fertilizer to agricultural fields. However, considerable variation in soil texture and other characteristics often occurs within and across production fields, which could have a major impact on fertilizer management strategies. Therefore, uniform application of a fertilizer over the entire field can be both costly and environmentally unsound. Due to their rugged and fool-proof design, crankshaft type piston pumps are widely used in agriculture. The on-the-go outlet flow of these pumps can only be varied by changing the drive shaft speed for each pump stroke setting. But only a limited range of flow rates can be achieved by changing the drive shaft speed. There is a need for an electronic controller, which can adjust the pump stroke on-the-go, for real-time, variable-rate application of crop nutrients. The Clemson “Electro-me-chanical controller for adjusting pump stroke on-the-go” was designed to replace the current manual stroke adjustment system on positive displacement piston pumps. This affordable system can be retrofitted on most John Blue - piston pumps for real-time adjustment of the pump stroke and can be controlled using pre-described position sequences (map-based) or real-time sensor commands (such as optical, pressure, and flow sensors) combined with fertilizer calculation algorithms. In addition, it can adjust pump stroke manually, using an eclectic dial from the tractor’s cab.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Xinglouchengqi(XLCQ) decoction in treatment of acute ischemic stroke with constipation.METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized contr...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Xinglouchengqi(XLCQ) decoction in treatment of acute ischemic stroke with constipation.METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 360 eligible participants will be randomized to the XLCQ group or the control group. Participants in the XLCQ group will receive XLCQ decoction, while those in the control group will undergo clysis therapy using glycerin enemas or oral administration of lactulose solution. Both groups will undergo a treatment period of(5 ± 2) d and a 1-month follow-up.The primary outcome measure will be the Constipation Scale score. The secondary outcome measures will include scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) Stroke Scale, the Diagnostic Scale for TCM Syndromes of Ischemic Stroke and TCM Scale for Syndrome of Phlegm-heat and Fu-organ Excess.Therapeutic mechanism outcomes and safety outcomes will also be assessed. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period, and at the follow-up. Moreover, daily visits will be scheduled to grade the status of constipation during the treatment period.DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide scientific and objective data with which to assess the efficacy and safety of XLCQ decoction for patients with acute ischemic stroke and constipation.展开更多
Trunk function has been identified as an important early predictor of functional outcome after stroke and the same deteriorates on both contralateral and ipsilateral sides of the body following stroke. The primary con...Trunk function has been identified as an important early predictor of functional outcome after stroke and the same deteriorates on both contralateral and ipsilateral sides of the body following stroke. The primary contribution of the trunk muscles is to allow the body to remain upright, adjust weight shifts, and control movements against constant pull of gravity and is considered central key point of the body. Proximal stability of the trunk is a pre-requisite for distal limb mobility, balance, gait and functional activities and its positive correlation in hemiplegia has been demonstrated in a cross- sectional study. Both isokinetic and handheld dynamometer muscle strength testing demonstrated the weakness of bilateral trunk flexors, extensors and rotator muscles in both acute and chronic hemiplegic patients. This was confirmed by electromyography analysis which identified poor bilateral trunk muscles activity in patients with stroke. Trunk impairment scale is sensitive to evaluate the selective muscle control of upper and lower trunk, and it has been reported that lateral flexion of the trunk is easier than rotation of the trunk and the clinical observation concurs to the difficulty in lower trunk rotation of stroke patients. However, trunk exercises given early after stroke could produce enhanced balance performance post- stroke. This review attempts to report the evidence supporting the involvement of the trunk and its influence on balance and functional performance in post-stroke hemiplegia.展开更多
Voluntary participation of hemiplegic patients is crucial for functional electrical stimulation therapy.A wearable functional electrical stimulation system has been proposed for real-time volitional hand motor functio...Voluntary participation of hemiplegic patients is crucial for functional electrical stimulation therapy.A wearable functional electrical stimulation system has been proposed for real-time volitional hand motor function control using the electromyography bridge method.Through a series of novel design concepts,including the integration of a detecting circuit and an analog-to-digital converter,a miniaturized functional electrical stimulation circuit technique,a low-power super-regeneration chip for wireless receiving,and two wearable armbands,a prototype system has been established with reduced size,power,and overall cost.Based on wrist joint torque reproduction and classification experiments performed on six healthy subjects,the optimized surface electromyography thresholds and trained logistic regression classifier parameters were statistically chosen to establish wrist and hand motion control with high accuracy.Test results showed that wrist flexion/extension,hand grasp,and finger extension could be reproduced with high accuracy and low latency.This system can build a bridge of information transmission between healthy limbs and paralyzed limbs,effectively improve voluntary participation of hemiplegic patients,and elevate efficiency of rehabilitation training.展开更多
OBJeCTIve：To systematically evaluate the long-term effect and safety ofXingnao Kaiqiao nee-dling method in ischemic stroke treatment. DATA ReTRIevAL： We retrieved relevant random and semi-random controlled trials th...OBJeCTIve：To systematically evaluate the long-term effect and safety ofXingnao Kaiqiao nee-dling method in ischemic stroke treatment. DATA ReTRIevAL： We retrieved relevant random and semi-random controlled trials that used theXingnao Kaiqiao needling method to treat ischemic stroke compared with various control treatments such as conventional drugs or other acupuncture therapies. Searched databases included China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu Information Resources System, Wanfang Medical Data System, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library, and PubMed, from May 2006 to July 2014. SeLeCTION CRITeRIA： Two authors independently conducted literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction. The quality of articles was evaluated according to the Cochrane Reviewers’ Handbook 5.1, and the study was carried out using Cochrane system assessment methods. RevMan 5.2 was used for meta-analysis of the included studies. MAIN OUTCOMe MeASUReS： Mortality rate, recurrence rate, and disability rate were observed. ReSULTS：Nine randomized and semi-randomized controlled trials treating 931 cases of ischemic stroke were included in this review. Meta-analysis results showed that there were no sig-niifcant differences in mortality reduction （risk ratio （RR） = 0.58, 95% conifdence interval （CI）： 0.17–1.93,Z = 0.89,P = 0.37） or recurrence rate （RR = 0.55, 95%CI： 0.18–1.70,Z = 1.04,P = 0.30） of ischemic stroke patients between theXingnao Kaiqiao needling and control treatment groups. However, theXingnao Kaiqiao needling method had a tendency towards higher efifcacy in mor-tality reduction and recurrence rates. TheXingnao Kaiqiao needling method was signiifcantly better than that of the control treatment in reducing disability rate （RR = 0.51, 95%CI： 0.27–0.98, Z = 2.03,P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION：TheXingnao Kaiqiao needling method has a better effect than control treatment in reducing disability rate. The long-term effect ofXingnao Kaiqiao needling against ischemic stroke is better than that of control treatment. However, the limitations of this study limit the strength of the conclusions. Randomized controlled trials with a strict, reasonable design, and multi-center, large-scale samples and follow-up are necessary to draw conclusions aboutXingnao Kaiqiao needling.展开更多
基金Item Sponsored by National Science and Technology Support Programfor 11th Five-Year Plan of China (2006BAE03A13)International Cooperation Research Project of Shanxi Province (2009081013)
文摘Automatic width control is a key issue in hot strip rolling process. The edge rolling has been widely used in the roughing stand of hot strip mill to control the width of the slab. However, the edge rolling and consequent hori- zontal rolling will cause a significant width change in the head part and tail part of the slab, which have to be trimmed before the finishing stands. Based on the width reduction deformation curve of the head and tail along the longitudinal direction of slab, the short stroke control （SSC） technology has been developed to overcome this problem. The finite element method has been used to simulate the unsteady edge rolling process. Three short stroke control curves have been compared in order to obtain the best width control result. The optimized short stroke control curve has been ap- plied to the automatic width control system of industrial hot rolling mill, and good performance is obtained.
基金Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51001023)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.N100307004)
文摘The precision width control is vital for product quality and production economy in plate width control process, so short stroke control method was used in plate rolling by opening or closing edger gap so as to avoid head end necking. Head end necking on different broadening ratio was analyzed, and sections of different elongations at edger roiling was calculated; based on the law of volume constancy, the adjustment functions were described by parabolic functions. Control curves were developed with three Gaussian curves by means of additional combining; SSC control curve was changed with different weights of those curves, w1 effect one-third of SSC length, w2 effect two-third of SSC length, w3 effect all three parts of SSC length. In order to adjust the amount of weights for precise quantification, PSO algorithm was used to build sufficiency function so as to obtain best rectangular degree by global optimization. Practical applications showed that the method proposed is available to improve the product rolling yields by 1.0% -2. 0% and worthy to apply to plate rolling.
基金funded by Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(No.17401933900)
文摘Background: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis(ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design.Methods/Design: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients(n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group(FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group(FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group(RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician.Discussion: Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments.
文摘According to technological requirement of hot charge rolling and hot direct rolling,in this paper,we investigated the technology of the width control rolling in the rougher mills of hot strip continuous rolling mill train.On the basis of improving width range of continuous casting of slab,we obtained a good result of greatly increasing the yield of slab→coil is achieved.
文摘Purpose: Although proximal stability of the trunk is a prerequisite for balance and gait, to determine the role of trunk rehabilitation on trunk control, balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke is yet unknown. Method: Fifteen sub-jects (post-stroke duration (3.53 ± 2.98) years) who had the ability to walk 10 meters independently with or without a walking aid;scoring ≤ 21 on Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), participated in a selective trunk muscle exercise regime, consisting of 45 minutes training per day, four days a week, and for four weeks duration in an outpatient stroke reha-bilitation centre. Results: The overall effect size index for trunk rehabilitation was 1.07. This study showed large effect size index for Trunk Impairment Scale (1.75), Berg Balance Scale (1.65) than for gait variables (0.65). After trunk rehabilitation, there was a significant improvement for gait speed (p= 0.015), cadence (p= 0.001) and gait symmetry (p=0.019) in patients with chronic stroke. In addition, all the spatial gait parameters had a significant change post-intervention. There was no significant change in temporal gait parameters with the exception of affected single limb support time. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Conclusion: The exercises consisted of selective trunk movement of the upper and the lower part of trunk had shown larger effect size index for trunk control and balance than for gait in patients with chronic stroke. Future randomized controlled studies incorporating large sample size would provide insight into the effectiveness and clinical relevance of this intervention.
文摘This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise-induced muscle fatigue in the unaffected knee joint on postural control and kinematic changes in stroke patients. Forty participants（20 stroke patients, 20 age-matched healthy participants） were recruited. To induce fatigue, maximum voluntary isometric contractions were performed in the unaffected knee joint in a Leg Extension Rehab exercise machine using the pneumatic resistance. We measured static and dynamic balance and lower-limb kinematics during gait. Changes in postural control parameters anteroposterior sway speed and total center of pressure distance differed significantly between the stroke and control groups. In addition, changes in gait kinematic parameters knee and ankle angles of initial contact differed significantly between stroke（paretic and non-paretic） and control groups. Muscle fatigue in the unaffected knee and ankle impaired postural control and debilitates kinematic movement of ipsilateral and contralateral lower limbs, and may place the fatigued stroke patients at greater risk for falls.
基金Supported by the National Science and Technology Pillar Program during the 12th Five-year Plan Period of the People’s Republic of China(No.2013BAI13B02).
文摘OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal Xinglouchengqi(XLCQ)decoction for the treatment of constipation in acute ischemic stroke patients,and figure out the role that bowel movements play in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.METHODS:A total of 317 eligible patients were recruited and randomized to the XLCQ group(211 patients)or the control group(106 patients).In addition to conventional standard medical care and rehabilitation,participants in the XLCQ group received XLCQ decoction,while the control group received clysis therapy using glycerin enemas or lactulose oral solution.Both groups were given treatment for 3 to 6 d,during which they received daily visits to record defecation features and accompanying symptoms.Neurological assessments using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)were conducted before and 1 month after treatment.RESULTS:Patients in the XLCQ group had lower aggregate constipation scores compared with the control group on days 3 and 5(P<0.05).Spontaneous bowel movements tended to reappear more rapidly after taking the XLCQ decoction than after conventional laxative treatment.Both the average aggregate constipation score and the time taken to achieve spontaneous bowel movements showed positive correlations with NIHSS scores before and1 month after treatment(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with XLCQ decoction effectively alleviated the overall symptoms of constipation in acute ischemic stroke patients.The status of bowel movements in acute ischemic stroke can reflect the severity of neurological impairment and predict neurological outcomes at 1 month.
文摘The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative and supported intervention for individuals with a stroke. A pilot control trial with qualitative interviews was undertaken within a university- community setting. Thirteen individuals who had experienced a stroke for periods of least 6 months (6 male, average 71 years) were assigned to the intervention group and 7 individuals (2 male, average age 67.9 years) assigned to the control group. Eight individuals from the intervention group completed a single interview. The procedures that related to recruitment and retention and data collection methods were considered. Outcome measures including;self-efficacy, falls self-efficacy and group membership, for both groups were taken at baseline, 11 weeks, 22 weeks. There was an additional assessment at 52 weeks for the intervention group. The structured interview was designed to focus on experiences of the intervention. Self-efficacy remained stable across time for both groups. An improvement in falls self-efficacy was noted in the intervention group at 11 weeks. Consistent improvement (from baseline) was observed in the identity scale across the 52 weeks. Qualitative data provided additional findings related to identity and confidence. Details considering recruitment and retention are also provided. This pilot study provided data that can be used for a further full-scale trial to be considered.
文摘This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early application of citicoline in the treatment of patients with acute stroke by meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials published until May 2015 were electronically searched in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WHO International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, Clinical Trial.gov, and China Biology Medicine disc. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and extracted the data based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included articles was evaluated by using Revman5.0, and meta-analysis was performed. The results showed that 1027 articles were obtained in initial retrieval, and finally 7 articles, involving a total of 4039 cases, were included for analysis. The meta-analysis showed that no significant differences were found in the long-term mortality（OR=0.91, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.09, P=0.30）, the rate of dependency（OR=1.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.24, P=0.85）, and the effective rate（OR=0.98, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.14, P=0.82） between citicoline group and control group. The overall rate of adverse events in citicoline group was not significantly different from that in control group（P=0.30）. The quality of included articles reached moderate-low level. In conclusion, citicolne cannot reduce long-term mortality and dependence rate in the treatment of acute stroke, and the effective rate of citivoline may be not better than that of controls but with reliable safety.
文摘Background: Case-control studies have been used extensively in determining the aetiology of rare diseases. However, case-control studies often suffer from participation bias in the control group, resulting in biased odds ratios that cause problems with interpretation. Participation bias can be hard to detect and is often ignored. Methods: Population data can be used in place of the possibly biased control group, to investigate whether participation bias may have affected the results in previous studies, or in place of controls in future studies. We demonstrate this approach by reanalysing and comparing the results of two case-control studies: Type 1 diabetes in Yorkshire children and stroke in Indian adults. Findings: Using population data to represent the control groups reduced the width of the confidence intervals given in the original studies and confirmed the findings for the two diabetes risk factors used;caesarean birth (odds ratio (OR) = 2.12 (1.53, 2.95) compared with 1.84 (1.09, 3.10)) and amniocentesis (OR = 3.38 (2.09, 5.47) compared with 3.85 (1.34, 11.04)). The three stroke risk factors investigated were found to have increased odds ratios when using population data;hypertension (OR = 5.645 (5.639, 5.650) compared with 3.807 (2.114, 6.856)), diabetes (OR = 12.212 (12.200, 12.224) compared with 3.473 (1.757, 6.866)) and smoking (OR = 5.701 (5.696, 5.707) compared with 2.242 (1.255, 4.005)). Interpretation: Participation bias can greatly affect the results of a study and cause some potential risk factors to be over-or underestimated. This approach allows previous studies to be investigated for participation bias and presents an alternative to a control group in future studies, while improving precision.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51406013)
文摘A frequency compensation control method for the opposed-piston two-stroke folded-cranktrain（ OPFC） diesel engine＇s common rail system is presented as a result of the study of the loop-shaping theory. A common rail working process and the classical frequency control theory are combined to construct a frequency restriction of common rail pressure. A frequency compensator is utilized to improve the robustness of multiplicative perturbations and disturbance. The loop-shaping method has been applied to design the common rail pressure controller of the OPFC diesel engine. Simulation and bench test results show that in the condition of perturbation that comes from the effect of injection,multi-injection,fuel pumping of a pre-cylinder,and instantaneous pressure fluctuation,the controller indicates high precision. Compared with the original controller,this method improves the control precision by 67. 3%.
文摘Nutrient application systems are designed to apply a relatively uniform amount of a fertilizer to agricultural fields. However, considerable variation in soil texture and other characteristics often occurs within and across production fields, which could have a major impact on fertilizer management strategies. Therefore, uniform application of a fertilizer over the entire field can be both costly and environmentally unsound. Due to their rugged and fool-proof design, crankshaft type piston pumps are widely used in agriculture. The on-the-go outlet flow of these pumps can only be varied by changing the drive shaft speed for each pump stroke setting. But only a limited range of flow rates can be achieved by changing the drive shaft speed. There is a need for an electronic controller, which can adjust the pump stroke on-the-go, for real-time, variable-rate application of crop nutrients. The Clemson “Electro-me-chanical controller for adjusting pump stroke on-the-go” was designed to replace the current manual stroke adjustment system on positive displacement piston pumps. This affordable system can be retrofitted on most John Blue - piston pumps for real-time adjustment of the pump stroke and can be controlled using pre-described position sequences (map-based) or real-time sensor commands (such as optical, pressure, and flow sensors) combined with fertilizer calculation algorithms. In addition, it can adjust pump stroke manually, using an eclectic dial from the tractor’s cab.
基金Supported by the National Science and Technology Pillar Program during the 12th Five-year Plan Period of the People's Republic of China:Heritage Study on the Special Therapeutic Principles and Methods of Famous Experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine(No.2013BAI13B022)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Xinglouchengqi(XLCQ) decoction in treatment of acute ischemic stroke with constipation.METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 360 eligible participants will be randomized to the XLCQ group or the control group. Participants in the XLCQ group will receive XLCQ decoction, while those in the control group will undergo clysis therapy using glycerin enemas or oral administration of lactulose solution. Both groups will undergo a treatment period of(5 ± 2) d and a 1-month follow-up.The primary outcome measure will be the Constipation Scale score. The secondary outcome measures will include scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) Stroke Scale, the Diagnostic Scale for TCM Syndromes of Ischemic Stroke and TCM Scale for Syndrome of Phlegm-heat and Fu-organ Excess.Therapeutic mechanism outcomes and safety outcomes will also be assessed. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period, and at the follow-up. Moreover, daily visits will be scheduled to grade the status of constipation during the treatment period.DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide scientific and objective data with which to assess the efficacy and safety of XLCQ decoction for patients with acute ischemic stroke and constipation.
文摘Trunk function has been identified as an important early predictor of functional outcome after stroke and the same deteriorates on both contralateral and ipsilateral sides of the body following stroke. The primary contribution of the trunk muscles is to allow the body to remain upright, adjust weight shifts, and control movements against constant pull of gravity and is considered central key point of the body. Proximal stability of the trunk is a pre-requisite for distal limb mobility, balance, gait and functional activities and its positive correlation in hemiplegia has been demonstrated in a cross- sectional study. Both isokinetic and handheld dynamometer muscle strength testing demonstrated the weakness of bilateral trunk flexors, extensors and rotator muscles in both acute and chronic hemiplegic patients. This was confirmed by electromyography analysis which identified poor bilateral trunk muscles activity in patients with stroke. Trunk impairment scale is sensitive to evaluate the selective muscle control of upper and lower trunk, and it has been reported that lateral flexion of the trunk is easier than rotation of the trunk and the clinical observation concurs to the difficulty in lower trunk rotation of stroke patients. However, trunk exercises given early after stroke could produce enhanced balance performance post- stroke. This review attempts to report the evidence supporting the involvement of the trunk and its influence on balance and functional performance in post-stroke hemiplegia.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.90307013,90707005,61534003the Science&Technology Pillar Program of Jiangsu Province in China,No.BE2013706
文摘Voluntary participation of hemiplegic patients is crucial for functional electrical stimulation therapy.A wearable functional electrical stimulation system has been proposed for real-time volitional hand motor function control using the electromyography bridge method.Through a series of novel design concepts,including the integration of a detecting circuit and an analog-to-digital converter,a miniaturized functional electrical stimulation circuit technique,a low-power super-regeneration chip for wireless receiving,and two wearable armbands,a prototype system has been established with reduced size,power,and overall cost.Based on wrist joint torque reproduction and classification experiments performed on six healthy subjects,the optimized surface electromyography thresholds and trained logistic regression classifier parameters were statistically chosen to establish wrist and hand motion control with high accuracy.Test results showed that wrist flexion/extension,hand grasp,and finger extension could be reproduced with high accuracy and low latency.This system can build a bridge of information transmission between healthy limbs and paralyzed limbs,effectively improve voluntary participation of hemiplegic patients,and elevate efficiency of rehabilitation training.
基金financially supported by grants from Hebei Province Engineering Talent Cultivation Project and Hebei Province Science and Technology Research and Development Projects,No.11276103D-35
文摘OBJeCTIve：To systematically evaluate the long-term effect and safety ofXingnao Kaiqiao nee-dling method in ischemic stroke treatment. DATA ReTRIevAL： We retrieved relevant random and semi-random controlled trials that used theXingnao Kaiqiao needling method to treat ischemic stroke compared with various control treatments such as conventional drugs or other acupuncture therapies. Searched databases included China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu Information Resources System, Wanfang Medical Data System, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library, and PubMed, from May 2006 to July 2014. SeLeCTION CRITeRIA： Two authors independently conducted literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction. The quality of articles was evaluated according to the Cochrane Reviewers’ Handbook 5.1, and the study was carried out using Cochrane system assessment methods. RevMan 5.2 was used for meta-analysis of the included studies. MAIN OUTCOMe MeASUReS： Mortality rate, recurrence rate, and disability rate were observed. ReSULTS：Nine randomized and semi-randomized controlled trials treating 931 cases of ischemic stroke were included in this review. Meta-analysis results showed that there were no sig-niifcant differences in mortality reduction （risk ratio （RR） = 0.58, 95% conifdence interval （CI）： 0.17–1.93,Z = 0.89,P = 0.37） or recurrence rate （RR = 0.55, 95%CI： 0.18–1.70,Z = 1.04,P = 0.30） of ischemic stroke patients between theXingnao Kaiqiao needling and control treatment groups. However, theXingnao Kaiqiao needling method had a tendency towards higher efifcacy in mor-tality reduction and recurrence rates. TheXingnao Kaiqiao needling method was signiifcantly better than that of the control treatment in reducing disability rate （RR = 0.51, 95%CI： 0.27–0.98, Z = 2.03,P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION：TheXingnao Kaiqiao needling method has a better effect than control treatment in reducing disability rate. The long-term effect ofXingnao Kaiqiao needling against ischemic stroke is better than that of control treatment. However, the limitations of this study limit the strength of the conclusions. Randomized controlled trials with a strict, reasonable design, and multi-center, large-scale samples and follow-up are necessary to draw conclusions aboutXingnao Kaiqiao needling.
