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Oscar Jazdowski (Silicon Valley Bank)
Ming Innovator 285 West Jianguo Road, 4th Floor 200031 Shanghai Shanghai
Thu, Feb 27, 2014, 7:00 PM (CST)
Oscar heads Silicon Valley Bank's corporate banking division in China, and has over 30 years of experience in technology financing with banking, VC , and angel investor organizations. His depth of experience in identifying capital sources makes Oscar an ideal mentor for successful technology companies that are looking to grow. Prior to joining SVB, Oscar served as Advisory Board Member for the Center for Corporate Leadership & Collaboration of Boston until 2010. While in Boston, he also served as a Board Member for both MassNetComms and The Capital Network, a community for entrepreneurs seeking between $50,000 and $4,000,000.
Oscar Jazdowski
Silicon Valley Bank
Oscar is the Head of Corporate Banking at SPD Silicon Valley Bank and has been involved in technology financing for over 30 years. After working for SVB in Boston and London, he was transferred in 2013 to SVB's joint venture bank in Shanghai. Oscar's specialties include: identifying capital sources, providing debt capital, and banking technology companies worldwide.
Oscar has …
Oscar has previously served on the Boards of the Center for Corporate Leadership & Collaboration, MassNetComms, and The Capital Network.
Thursday, Feb 27
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM (CST)
Ming Innovator
285 West Jianguo Road, 4th Floor
Erik Walenza-Slabe
IoT ONE
Shanghai Director
Rebecca Liang
Mia Sun
Tatia Chao
Marian Danko
weHustle
Yunfei Ma
Liya Shi
Sihao Kuo
Diwei Chen
Sunny Ting
BI X (a part of Boehringer Ingelheim)
Local sponsor
Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park Innovation Center
Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park Innovation Center (CHJ Innovation Center) is a business incubator committed to cultivating and supporting technology-intensive enterprises and promoting commercialization, industrialization and internationalization of scientific and technological achievements. CHJ Innovation Center has operated for over 20 years, supporting over 800 technology-intensive enterprises specializing in IT, bio-technology, new materials, and OPTO-Mechatronics with a success rate > 90%.
Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park Innovation Center was solely invested and run by Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park Development Corporation. As a business incubator, Innovation Center has committed itself to cultivating and supporting technology-intensive enterprises and promoting commercialization, industrialization and internationalization of scientific and technological achievements.
Merck Innovation Hub China
As an important part of Merck's global innovation network, the China Innovation Hub scouts, incubates and invests in innovative opportunities in healthcare, life science, performance materials and related fields between and beyond the existing businesses.
WeWork Labs
WeWork Labs is The We Company's global platform for early-stage startups and forward-thinking enterprise companies. We empower inventive humans and organizations to impact the present and influence the future.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 175 fully featured services from data centers globally. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—are using AWS to lower costs, become more agile, and innovate faster.
weHustle is a platform for international professionals who are passionate about innovation and technology in startups, scaleups or corporates.
Called Microsoft for Startups, we launched a founder-first program that delivers the technology, go-to-market, and community benefits needed to catalyze startup success. ... To celebrate tomorrow's hyper-scale companies, we are expanding member benefits to include GitHub Enterprise and Microsoft Power Platform.
Alibaba Cloud, also known as Aliyun, is a Chinese cloud computing company, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group. Alibaba Cloud provides cloud computing services to online businesses and Alibaba's own e-commerce ecosystem. Alibaba Cloud's international operations are registered and headquartered in Singapore.
36Kr is a China-based publishing and data company focused on the 'new economy'
Angel Hack
AngelHack is a global hackathon organization.It began in San Francisco with its first hackathon on December 2011 at Adobe and has expanded to over one-hundred and five cities globally and fifty-three countries in the past eight years.
Google for Startups
Google for Startups is a startup program launched by Google in 2011, consisting of over 50 co-working spaces and accelerators in 125 countries, offering hands-on lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Coderbunker
Coderbunker leverage its thriving tech community to deploy engineering teams to work for companies.
The Hewlett-Packard Company, or Hewlett-Packard, was an American multinational information technology company headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Ladies Who Tech
Ladies Who Tech was started by women who are in the STEM industries and believe in challenging the status quo by encouraging more women to assist and discover their potential in STEM. We want to raise awareness of the lack of women in the STEM industries and help companies to have more diversity.
Explorium Hong Kong is the Fung Group's collaboration hub built for co-creating, experimenting with, and scaling ideas, opportunities and business models that will shape the future of supply chains.


text:
Prince William appears on the cover of UK gay magazine
Feb 2015: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (British Embassay Tokyo)
LONDON (AP) — Prince William has appeared on the cover of the U.K. gay magazine, "Attitude" to speak out against bullying people because of their sexuality.
The second-in-line to the throne is the first member of the royal family to appear on the cover of a gay publication.
William called on young people being bullied for their sexuality to seek help.
"No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," he said.
William had revealed his magazine appearance on Tuesday after signing a book of condolence for victims of the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando which left 49 people dead and dozens wounded.
Second Amendment demonstration at Texas State Capitol despite closure

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
HomeAgricultureOptimism in the sheep industry, but some segments face challenges
Optimism in the sheep industry, but some segments face challenges
While lamb markets have seen some recovery following disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the American Sheep Industry says there are some parts of the industry that still face challenges.
Peter Orwick tells Brownfield wool and sheepskin markets are facing some headwind, as both are heavily export dependent. "Fifty to sixty percent of our wool goes overseas and the same thing with our sheepskin and pelts," he says. "Those are markets where we're going to try and continue to drive more demand."
He says they're optimistic for the new year. "Hopefully as we get more clothing and garment distributors back online, we can gain some of that market back," he says.
Orwick says the industry overall is in a much better position than it thought it would be at the start of the pandemic.
But, he says, the concern isn't over. "A lot of what we've done is try and keep producers, farms, and ranchers, and their bankers talking," he says. "That's critical to have that financial support for these operations."
The American Sheep Industry wrapped up their first virtual convention last Friday.
AUDIO: Peter Orwick, American Sheep Industry
Rebuild Rural says scope of needed investment is staggering
'UK variant' COVID-19 strain appears in Iowa
Western Kansas farmer says fields are like a "desert," with concerns that it won't improve


IBTM China, part of IBTM's global portfolio of meetings and events industry trade shows, has announced that the event will take place at China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing on August 28 and 29, 2019.
It is anticipated that over 380 international and domestic exhibitors will meet with over 400 Hosted Buyers for two days of pre-arranged business meetings. Over 3,500 visitors are also expected to attend.
This year will see the introduction of a new Experience Zone where visitors will be able to interact with select exhibitors in immersive themed environments on the show floor. Additionally, in response to customer demand for more opportunities to learn and be inspired by outside speakers, eight new speaker slots have been added to the programme which will cover four key themes, details of which to be announced early next year.
Nicole Ci, project manager, IBTM China, commented: "We're excited to announce the first details of IBTM China 2019. We have ambitious plans to grow the event this year, including extending the breadth of both international and domestic exhibitors taking stands and increasing Hosted Buyer numbers."
"The market here in China continues to boom and as well as an appetite for a bigger event, there's huge demand for on-site education sessions. As a result, we've almost doubled the number of speaker sessions this year to 18. We'll be following four topical themes to ensure the sessions are targeted to the latest hot topics, from key industry trends to event marketing and innovation. We're looking forward to announcing more information about the event early in 2019," she said.


New electric cooker causing power to trip at fuse. The fuse is reluctant to flick back on after.
Thread by: Bernhard Hofmann, Sep 25, 2018, 28 replies, in forum: Looking for Domestic Electricians?
liftmaster trips RCD when using open command?
Turning on light trips at fuse box...?


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Research | Open | Open Peer Review | Published: 25 August 2018
Home-based balance training using Wii Fit™: a pilot randomised controlled trial with mobile older stroke survivors
André Golla ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2488-45041,
Tobias Müller2,
Kai Wohlfarth3,
Patrick Jahn4,
Kerstin Mattukat1 &
Wilfried Mau1
Several studies have reported that using the Wii™ Balance Board can provide added value regarding balance (re-)training in neurological diseases. However, for the large group of mobile older stroke survivors, there is no evidence regarding the feasibility of an unsupervised Wii™ Balance Board training in the home setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a home-based Wii™ balance training for these patients and to identify methodological challenges for randomised controlled trials in the future.
We conducted a pilot randomised controlled trial with two intervention arms in participants' homes. Mobile stroke survivors (aged 60 years or above; 12 weeks after discharge from hospital) received a 6-week (once per week) supervised balance training at the study centre, followed by a 6-week (three times per week) unsupervised balance training at home. We used the Nintendo Wii™ Balance Board for one intervention arm and conventional balance exercises for the other intervention arm. Feasibility was assessed by recruiting rates, appropriateness of assessments regarding sensitivity to changes and acceptance of the intervention by the participants.
In two German hospital stroke units, 349 stroke survivors were screened over a period of 6 months, 91 were eligible and 52 were interested. Twelve weeks after discharge, 14 participants agreed and 11 completed the intervention (7 men and 4 women, mean age 74 years). The Berg Balance Scale and Dynamic Gait Index showed ceiling effects already at baseline measure. The participants in both intervention arms evaluated the unsupervised training positively and feasible for self-application. No falls or injuries occurred over the intervention period, while the required scope of the exercises could largely be achieved.
In this pilot study, the recruitment of participants and the chosen assessments were not satisfactory due to selection bias and corresponding ceiling effects. However, the two home-based balance interventions proved feasible for mobile older stroke survivors with low functional limitations.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02251470. Registered 29 September 2014
Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in video game-based exercises as a new therapy option in neurological rehabilitation. Besides complex robot-assisted therapy devices [1, 2], low-cost commercially available technologies, such as the game console Nintendo Wii™ (Nintendo Co. Ltd., Minami-ku Kyoto, Japan), have been tested for application in different rehabilitation settings [3]. The Nintendo Wii™ is a motion-controlled game system that can be used with a handheld controller (Wii™ Remote) or a force platform (Wii™ Balance Board) [4]. The technology provides simple visual bio-feedback training for upper or lower limb motor deficits in a playful way. Several studies have reported that using the Wii™ Balance Board can provide added value regarding balance (re-)training in neurological diseases [5,6,7,8]. Due to the motivational advantages [9, 10] and the relatively safe training conditions [11,12,13,14], the Wii™ Balance Board is considered as an option for supplementary, independent home training. Preliminary (pilot) studies with patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease reported home-based Wii™ Balance Board training to be an effective, well-accepted and safe balance training tool [15,16,17,18]. However, for stroke patients, there is no evidence regarding the feasibility of an unsupervised Wii™ Balance Board training at home. Additionally, there is a lack of evidence whether and to what extent Wii™ balance training is more effective than conventional balance exercises [19].
In the context of stroke research, unsupervised intervention trials in a home-based setting imply particular methodological and ethical challenges. These challenges arise from the combination of the special features of this patient group and the unsupervised condition in the home setting. Stroke survivors are often aged 60 years or older [20] and have a high risk of falling (37 to 73% in the first 6 months after hospital discharge [21]). For older adults, exercise adherence after discharge from a physical therapy programme has been shown to be generally poor [22]. Furthermore, the positive experiences with inpatient Nintendo Wii™ balance training [7, 11, 12, 23,24,25,26] may not be transferable to the home setting. Therefore, the current study assesses the feasibility of a home-based Nintendo Wii™ balance training for mobile older stroke survivors and collects information about the requirements for the design of a subsequent larger randomised controlled trial.
This study was a phase II open-label randomised controlled trial (Fig. 1) with two active balance intervention arms and three points in time with data collection: baseline (t0), 6-week follow-up (t1) and 12-week follow-up (t2).
Study design and data collection
The Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg approved the study protocol, and the trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02251470). The recommendations of the Medical Research Council framework [27] had been considered for planning the trial while the report of the results was done in accordance with the recommendations for pilot studies [28, 29].
Recruiting of participants
At two German hospital stroke units in Halle (Saale), Germany, consecutive stroke patients were screened by in-house study nurses for eligibility (August 2014 to February 2015). The study nurses referred to the following inclusion criteria: (I) diagnosis stroke (ICD-10: I61 or I63), (II) 60 years and older, (III) place of residence: Halle (Saale) and surrounding areas, (IV) adequate mobility (functional ambulation category [30] ≥ 4Footnote 1 and self-selected walking speed > 0.4 m/s) at hospital discharge and (V) a television in the household. The exclusion criteria included (I) strong visual impairment despite visual assistance, (II) deafness or inability to communicate verbally, (III) significant mobility limitations due to comorbidity, (IV) body weight > 120 kg, epilepsy or pacemaker and (V) acute psychiatric disease or dementia.
The study nurses informed all eligible stroke patients about the study content and asked them to give their written consent for a subsequent communication. Twelve weeks after discharge from hospital, a research assistant invited all preselected persons for enrolment via a telephone. After a repeated check of inclusion criteria at the study centre, the participants provided informed consent and the baseline measurements were conducted. The waiting period between first contact (pre-selection) and the start of the study was due to the German health care system: stroke survivors usually undergo a minimum of a 3-week inpatient rehabilitation programme within the first 2 months after hospitalisation.
Randomisation
Between the baseline data collection and the first preparation sessions at the study centre, we randomly assigned the participants into one of the two intervention arms in a 1:1 ratio. This external blinded randomisation was carried out by the Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. The sport therapist informed the participants about their intervention assignment in the first preparation session.
Trial procedure and intervention details
During the first 6 weeks, all participants received supervised balance training (according to the randomised group assignment) instructed by a sport therapist at the study centre. The training consisted of a maximum of five individual 60-min sessions with one session per week. After 6 weeks of preparation and the second data collection point (t1; 6 weeks after baseline), all participants received a one-time home visit by the sport therapist and were expected to continue the balance training independently at home for further 6 weeks. The sport therapist instructed all participants to perform their training at least three times per week for 30 min and to document all sessions in an exercise diary. During this 6-week unsupervised training phase, the sport therapist contacted all participants once a week via a phone. Furthermore, participants were covered by an accident insurance and received free tickets for public transport.
Arm 1: Wii™ balance intervention
For the Wii™ balance intervention, we used the Wii Fit Plus™ software (Nintendo Co. Ltd., Minami-ku Kyoto, Japan). The selection of Wii™ balance games was developed reflecting the intervention by a recent study [31]. During the preparation phase of the study (part I), the focus was on the unsupervised use of the Wii™ game console (switch on/off, software and controller use) and on testing the games 'Ski-Slalom', 'Table Tilt', 'Penguin Slide' and 'Balance Bubble' as potential intervention contents. During their home-based training (part II), the participants were able to select these balance games according to their own preference. The sport therapist installed a game console (Wii™ Mini and Wii™ Balance Board) at the one-time home visit. The game console was provided free of charge during the trial.
Arm 2: conventional balance intervention
The compilation of exercises for the conventional balance intervention was based on the Otago Exercise Program [32] (primarily balance, no strength exercises). It included simple balance exercises while standing and walking (e.g. weight-shifting, hip rotation, tandem/single-leg standing, tandem/backward walking, heel raises and heel/toe walking). We developed three written instructions with the same basic exercises and different levels of difficulty prior to the trial. Simple tools served to increase the difficulty of exercises (e.g. walking on a skipping rope, holding a balloon on the back of the hand during single-leg standing). All exercises were tested and trained during the preparation phase at the study centre (part 1). For their home-based training (part 2), the participants received the required material for these exercises (juggling scarves, skipping rope, small ball, balloon) and one of the three written instructions according to their physical abilities.
Data collection and measurements
Baseline data included the socio-demographic background (e.g. age, gender, education), comorbidities (Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire—German version [33]) and stroke outcomes reported by the participants (Stroke Impact Scale [34], self-reported stroke sequelae) to characterise the sample.
Feasibility of the study design was the primary concern of the pilot trial regarding (I) the target recruitment level, (II) the appropriateness of the assessments and (III) the safety, suitability and acceptance of the home-based balance training.
Target recruitment level
The expected sample size was predefined in collaboration with the physicians in the study centres based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the hospital capacity and the expected number of patients with stroke during the recruitment period. It was estimated that about 40 stroke patients (20 each study centre) would declare their interest in participating in the trial during the 6-month recruiting period. At least 63% (n = 25) of the preselected and interested persons were expected to be recruited 12 weeks after discharge, and at least 80% (n = 20) of the study participants should complete the study in accordance with the trial protocol.
Appropriateness of assessments
Assessments to investigate the efficacy of the intervention were tested at all three points in time to learn more about the instruments' suitability for this special patient group. The selection of instruments was based on previous studies [35] including Wii™ balance training interventions. The primary efficacy outcome measurements were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) [36], Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) [37] and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale [38]. We evaluated the appropriateness of these assessments mainly by the occurrence of ceiling effects at baseline (t0). At this time, a maximum of 20% of the study participants should achieve a value of ≥ 95% of the maximum score of the used balance assessments.
To get additional information about individual balance deficits that were not based on the expert's rating (e.g. Berg Balance Scale and Dynamic Gait Index) or self-reported facts (e.g. ABC Scale), the Timed 'Up and Go' Test (TUGT) [39] and a posturographic measurement were conducted. The postural regulation was measured by the Interactive Balance System (IBS, Neurodata GmbH, Vienna, Austria). Participants stood barefoot on a force platform in eight standardised test conditions (each for 32 s). Further details regarding these measures are available elsewhere [40]. Primarily, the stability indicator (describes the postural stability state while standing) was analysed and compared to the age-adjusted values [41]. A normal stability indicator value of older adults (aged 60 or older) varies between 20 and 34 with higher values of the stability indicator pointing to a lower level of postural performance.
Safety, suitability and acceptance of home-based balance training
As a criterion for feasibility of the intervention, no (self-reported) intervention-related injuries or falls should occur during the trial. Additionally, the participants were asked to evaluate the intervention via a self-constructed questionnaire after 6 weeks of unsupervised home training (t2; 12 weeks after baseline). Participants should rate their experience of stress (three items), satisfaction (four items) and perceived effects (three items) regarding the intervention, on a 5-point scale. At least 80% of participants should agree with the question: 'It was easy to integrate the exercises into everyday life'. All participants should reach the prescribed minimum level of independent training that means 7.5 training hours (i.e. 3 × 30 min per week within at least 5 weeks). No more than 20% participants of the Wii™ balance intervention should require a second home visit due to technical problems.
Data analyses
We used descriptive statistics to describe baseline characteristics and to summarise feasibility outcomes. To describe within-group differences between week 6 and week 12 (t1 to t2; home training phase), the change scores (95% confidence interval for mean differences) were calculated for the primary efficacy outcome measurements. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows, version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).
Within 6 months, among the 349 stroke patients screened, 91 (26%) were eligible and 52 (15% of all patients and 57% of the eligible individuals) were interested in participating in the study. After the discharge from hospital, 14 persons (4% of all persons and 27% of the eligible and interested persons) decided to participate in the study and were randomised to the Wii™ training group (n = 6) and the conventional balance training group (n = 8). Among the 52 eligible and interested patients during the recruitment in the hospital, seven persons were not available via telephone, ten no longer met inclusion criteria and 21 refused to participate. After enrolment, one participant from the Wii™ balance intervention was excluded due to a surgical intervention after t1. One participant from the conventional balance intervention was excluded from the study due to loss of contact after t0, another withdrew from the study due to lack of interest after t1 (Fig. 2).
Flow chart of study participants
Eleven participants completed the study (Table 1). The mean (± SD) age of participants was 74.0 (± 8.1) years, and the average time from hospitalisation to study enrolment was 18.3 (± 4.3) weeks.
Table 1 Sample characteristics at baseline (t0)
The Berg Balance Scale and Dynamic Gait Index showed ceiling effects according to the definition in 73% (n = 8) of the participants at baseline. Regarding the ABC Scale, ceiling effects were observed in 45% (n = 5) of the participants. The mean (± SD) stability indicator as an indication of the motor output from postural regulation was 39.0 (± 18.9). The individual stability index exceeded the age-adjusted standard values in eight participants and indicates that the postural regulation was clearly worse in the majority of participants in comparison to normal older people.
An average of 4.4 (± 3.8) supervised training sessions were attended during the 6-week preparation phase. During home-based balance training, participants documented an average of 19.5 (± 5.9) exercise sessions with a mean total duration of 11.0 (± 6.8) hours (Table 2). Nine of 11 participants documented at least 7.5 h within the 6-week home training. Two participants of the Wii™ balance interventions documented more than 20.0 training hours. The maximum training duration documented within the conventional balance intervention was 9.3 h. In each group, one participant was below the prescribed minimum training duration (WBT 7.2 h, CBT 5.6 h).
Table 2 Session details for the intervention
None of the participants reported intervention-related injuries or falls during the intervention period. One additional home visit was necessary due to operating difficulties with the television (selection of the audio-video output). Both intervention groups evaluated the home-based balance training as feasible and satisfactory (Table 3). All participants, except one, reported that independent implementation of the training programme was possible. Various trends were found in the experienced stress and perceived effects. Overall, the physical strain was rated low to moderate. On average, participants of the conventional balance intervention rated the balance requirement as rather moderate (1.7 ± 0.8) and participants of the Wii™ balance intervention as rather low (1.0 ± 0.7). Remarkably, there was less agreement in the Wii™ group on the questions of whether postural control and gait safety has improved.
Table 3 Participants' evaluation of the home-based balance intervention
The comparisons of the feasibility aims and the results of the pilot study illustrate that the target values were not achieved for the recruitment level and the appropriateness of the assessments (Table 4). In contrast, the feasibility targets of home-based balance training were largely achieved. Both interventions seemed to be feasible among persons who completed the home-based training.
Table 4 Feasibility outcomes of the pilot study
The change scores of the balance assessments between week 6 (t1) and week 12 (t2) are shown in Table 5. No reliable differences were found in the within-group analyses over time.
Table 5 Efficacy outcomes of the home-based training interventions at week 6 (t1) and week 12 (t2)
To our knowledge, this is the first pilot study that focused on the feasibility of balance training with a Nintendo Wii™ Balance Board for mobile older stroke survivors in the home setting. This involved testing the intervention in the unsupervised and less standardised condition at the participants' homes. For comparison purposes, an intervention group with conventional balance exercises was integrated into the study design.
The main findings from this pilot study suggest that the Wii™ balance intervention seems feasible, but the tested trial procedure is not practical especially due to major problems with recruitment. The targeted stroke population could not be reached satisfactorily. We expect that the study design will not work in a multicentre context. A revision of the study design, especially concerning patient recruitment, is necessary.
Therefore, the primary value of this study arises from the findings regarding the methodological and organisational challenges in the home setting. Fifty-two out of 91 eligible stroke patients (57%) from two hospitals were interested in participating within a 6-month recruiting period. Furthermore, after 12 weeks, only 14 persons agreed to take part in the study. In the clinical setting, the rejection rates for Wii™ Balance Board studies among eligible participants varied between 14 and 31% [11, 12, 42, 43], whereas the rejection rate in our study was significantly higher (55%). A discrete choice experiment by Laver et al. [44] already indicated that the acceptance of Wii™ training in older people may be overestimated. This might explain the little interest among the possible participants in our study. Nevertheless, low recruitment levels were also reported from other home-based post-stroke studies with classical training programmes [45, 46]. A general recruitment problem might have been arisen due to the transfer of intervention into home setting. The effort for the participants to take part in this study was significantly higher than that in an inpatient setting (e.g. 12-week study duration, travelling to eight appointments in the study centre, documentation of the training sessions at home). This might have been a further reason for refusing to participate. On the other hand, once the stroke survivors had finally decided to participate in the study, they showed high adherence and completed the intervention (11 out of 14 persons).
One important exclusion criterion was the distance between the participants' homes and the study centre for the initial preparation phase with supervision (107 of 349 persons, 31%). Therefore, future trials should find ways to include stroke survivors living within residential areas further away from the study centre. Another reason for the low recruitment rate in the study may have arisen from organisational processes. First, the declaration of interest signed by the stroke survivors in the hospital was not obligatory. Second, a long time passed between initial contact in the hospital and the start of the study in the aftercare phase. Perhaps the willingness to participate in the complex study has changed in this period due to the current health or life situation. However, the waiting period between the first contact and the start of the study was due to the German health care system: within the first month after discharge from an acute hospital, most stroke survivors in Germany spend 3 weeks in an inpatient rehabilitation centre. Indeed, this was the case for 9 of our 11 participants. Therefore, this aspect is especially relevant for home-based research in the aftercare phase following stroke in Germany. In addition, the holiday period around Christmas/New Year and individual appointment requests delayed the desired start of the intervention (planned approx. 12–14 weeks after discharge) in some cases.
Another important aspect for future intervention trials related to the functional status of the recruited sample has to be considered. Most participants had a good functional level reflected by the ceiling effects in the assessments. This leads to the question, to what extent the subjects really had clinically relevant restrictions in their balance and if they needed a balance training at all. In our home-based study, the high functional level resulted from the fact that only stroke survivors able to walk independently on hospital discharge were eligible. Therefore, the good functional level of the participants was not surprising. However, the selection of the ability to walk as an inclusion criterion was a key element in the assessment of risks and benefits for the selected study design. The participants' safety while using the Wii™ Balance Board at home was one of the most important aspects when planning the study. The challenge of balance-related disturbances during the balance training had to be considered explicitly and led to the detailed ethical approval and the insurance cover for the participants in our home-based intervention with the Wii™ Balance Board. Considering this background, it should be noted that despite the significant ceiling effects in the established assessments, the posturographic measurement revealed balance deficits in more detail. For the majority of the participants, the results of posturography indicated a substantially worse postural regulation than in the group of healthy older people. By contrast, slight but significant impairments of balance that may affect the risk of falling in the future could not be detected with the skill-oriented standard assessments (e.g. Berg Balance Scale) used in this trial. Despite the predominantly good performance in functional tasks at present, the need for a preventive balance training seemed to be indicated using posturographic measurement. Device-based measurement methods, such as posturography or gait analysis, can generate important additional information on balance status and are likely to detect changes over time more sensitively. Due to the low level of evidence and the unclear biological mechanisms of physical adaptation through Wii™ balance training, various objective measurement methods should be integrated in future studies.
Despite the limitations in recruitment and appropriateness of the assessment, the findings of the home-based intervention are generally positive. The preceding preparation phase with a professional guide had been helpful to make the participants familiar with the technique and the exercises. This observation is consistent with the stroke-specific feasibility results in the clinical setting [11, 12, 25] and the initial results for other neurological diseases [15, 16, 18]. The participants in both intervention arms evaluated the intervention as positive, effective and feasible for self-application. No falls or injuries occurred during the intervention, whereas nearly all participants achieved the required scope of the exercises. With the exception of only one additional visit, no continued support was necessary after the introductory phase. Based on the responses of the participants, there was a tendency for the Wii™ exercise programme to be perceived as less demanding. In our intervention, the selected Wii™ games required weight-shifting movements over the Wii™ Balance Board as a fixed base. The Wii™ package offers more challenging games, but the focus was on balance, not strength or endurance exercises. Indeed, former studies reported lower levels of exertion in persons using the Wii™ compared to persons using classical forms of exercise [47,48,49]. This should be considered when planning comparable control conditions in intervention trials (e.g. in terms of adjusting the load). This feasibility study was not designed to prove effectiveness of the intervention. Nevertheless, information on possible intervention effects would have been desirable. On an individual level, some balance parameters showed positive trends. For example, the stability index (posturography) improved in some subjects during the study, indicating an improvement in postural control. Overall, however, the changes were inconsistent and outside the clinically relevant range. In addition to the good functional performance of the participants at baseline, the possible changes from 12 to 24 weeks after stroke might be small in this group.
Additional limitations are related to the generalizability of the study. The reached participants do not reflect the population of stroke survivors with higher functional limitations. Thus, the findings on intervention feasibility refer to a selected group of patients and should be interpreted as a first indication due to the small number of subjects. Furthermore, the duration of intervention was short and it is important to observe the acceptance and adherence over a longer period.
This pilot study shows that the unsupervised use of the Wii™ Balance Board in the home environment seems possible and adequate for older stroke survivors with low functional limitations. High-quality randomised and well-planned trials are necessary to demonstrate effectiveness and to analyse additional positive effects of the Wii™ intervention compared to conventional procedures. Therefore, important study-related barriers were identified that should be considered for future study planning. Tools that assess the level of balance performance in more detail should be added to cover the functional range of study participants more effectively. Shifting recruitment and the preparation phase into rehabilitation centres or directly into the participants' home environment seems necessary to reach more of the eligible stroke survivors.
The study shows the challenges of home-based intervention research and highlights the usefulness of pilot studies for the transition of proven inpatient interventions to the non-clinical setting. Careful methodological preparation with an analysis of feasibility parameters appears to be important, especially for a test of effectiveness under everyday conditions where high levels of standardisation cannot be granted. For future trials in this area, recommendations [50, 51] are available to improve the planning and designing of studies in the field of virtual reality and home-based interventions in rehabilitation research.
The patient can walk independently on level ground, but requires help on stairs, slopes or uneven surfaces.
ABC Scale:
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
BBS:
Berg Balance Scale
DGI:
Dynamic Gait Index
SIS:
Stroke Impact Scale
SQC-D:
Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire—German version
Stability indicator (posturography outcome)
TUGT:
Timed Up and Go
Chang WH, Kim Y-H. Robot-assisted therapy in stroke rehabilitation. J Stroke. 2013;15:174–81. https://doi.org/10.5853/jos.2013.15.3.174.
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The authors are grateful to the staff and patients at the University Hospital Halle (Saale) and BG Hospital Bergmannstrost Halle (Saale). They also thank PD Dr. Rene Schwesig for his technical knowledge and assistance with the posturographic measurement system. We acknowledge the financial support within the funding programme Open Access Publishing by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The study was funded by the Wilhelm Roux Program for Research Funding and Supporting Young Scientists, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.
The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to restrictions based on privacy regulations and informed consent of the participants, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
André Golla
, Kerstin Mattukat
& Wilfried Mau
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany
Tobias Müller
Clinic of Neurology, BG Hospital Bergmannstrost Halle (Saale), Merseburger Str. 165, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
Kai Wohlfarth
Nursing Research Unit, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Ernst-Grube-Str. 30, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Patrick Jahn
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AG, TM, PJ, JW and WM developed the study design. TM and JW provided the access to the patients in the two hospitals. All authors contributed to drafting the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript before submission. All authors fulfil the authorship criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.
Correspondence to André Golla.
The trial protocol and informed consent were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice.
Balance exercise
Nintendo Wii™
Home rehabilitation


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Journal of Materials Research (4)
Clay Minerals (1)
Epidemiology & Infection (1)
High Power Laser Science and Engineering (1)
Journal of Fluid Mechanics (1)
Ryan Test (1)
Enhanced electroluminescence performance of all-inorganic quantum dot light-emitting diodes: A promising candidate for hole transport layer of Cu-doped NiO nanocrystals
Yi-Dong Zhang, Lei Zhao
Journal: Journal of Materials Research , First View
Fabrication and characterization of solution-processed, all-inorganic quantum dots (QDs) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) incorporating colloidal CdSe/ZnS QDs are presented. Using a simple solvothermal process, Cu-doped NiO nanocrystals were fabricated and applied as a hole transport layer in all inorganic QLEDs. Cu-doped NiO nanocrystals are ascribed to bunsenite cubic structure. The transmittance of the film is more than 81%. The hole-only devices of Au/QDs/Cu–NiO/ITO structures showed that 5% mol Cu doped NiO film obtained the largest hole current. The resulting devices show pure QD electroluminescent emissions with a maximum electroluminescence brightness of 2258 cd/m2 after doping 5% mol Cu in NiO, which is almost 4-fold compared with that of intrinsic NiO due to the enhanced carrier concentration and conductivity. The current efficiency and EQE of the assembled all-inorganic QLED exhibited the maximum values of 1.18 cd/A and 1.223%, respectively.
Prevalence and relationship of hypertriglyceridaemic–waist phenotype and type 2 diabetes mellitus among a rural adult Chinese population
Yong-Cheng Ren, Yu Liu, Xi-Zhuo Sun, Bing-Yuan Wang, Yi Liu, Hu Ni, Yang Zhao, Dechen Liu, Xuejiao Liu, Dongdong Zhang, Feiyan Liu, Cheng Cheng, Leilei Liu, Xu Chen, Qionggui Zhou, Ming Zhang, Dongsheng Hu
Limited information is available on the prevalence and effect of hypertriglyceridaemic–waist (HTGW) phenotype on the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rural populations.
In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of the HTGW phenotype and T2DM and the strength of their association among rural adults in China.
HTGW was defined as TAG >1·7 mmol/l and waist circumference (WC) ≥90 cm for males and ≥80 cm for females. Logistic regression analysis yielded adjusted odds ratios (aOR) relating risk of T2DM with HTGW.
Adults (n 12 345) aged 22·83–92·58 years were recruited from July to August of 2013 and July to August of 2014 from a rural area of Henan Province in China.
The prevalence of HTGW and T2DM was 23·71 % (males: 15·35 %; females: 28·88 %) and 11·79 % (males: 11·15 %; females: 12·18 %), respectively. After adjustment for sex, age, smoking, alcohol drinking, blood pressure, physical activity and diabetic family history, the risk of T2DM (aOR; 95 % CI) was increased with HTGW (v. normal TAG and WC: 3·23; CI 2·53, 4·13; males: 3·37; 2·30, 4·92; females: 3·41; 2·39, 4·85). The risk of T2DM with BMI≥28·0 kg/m2, simple enlarged WC and simple disorders of lipid metabolism showed an increasing tendency (aOR=1·31, 1·75 and 2·32).
The prevalence of HTGW and T2DM has reached an alarming level among rural Chinese people, and HTGW is a significant risk factor for T2DM.
Transcatheter closure of congenital perimembranous ventricular septal defect using the Amplatzer duct occluder 2
Li-Jian Zhao, Bo Han, Jian-Jun Zhang, Ying-Chun Yi, Dian-Dong Jiang, Jian-Li Lyu
Journal: Cardiology in the Young / Volume 28 / Issue 3 / March 2018
The objective of this study was to explore the clinical effect of the transcatheter closure of congenital perimembranous ventricular septal defect using the Amplatzer duct occluder 2.
Between February 2012 and December 2016, 51 patients were subjected to Amplatzer duct occluder 2 for transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect. A total of 51 patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defect who underwent transcatheter closure by the conventional membranous ventricular septal occluder comprised the control group. The success rate and complications were compared, and indications of Amplatzer duct occluder 2 for perimembranous ventricular septal defect were explored.
The success rate of the interventional procedure was 98.0% (50/51) in the group of Amplatzer duct occluder 2 versus 100% in the group of conventional membranous ventricular septal occluder. The mean age of the patients of Amplatzer duct occluder group was 5.0±3.7 years (range: 1.5–25.0), and the mean weight was 19.3±8.1 kg (range: 11.0–52.0). The mean outlet diameter of the defects was 2.8±0.6 mm (range: 1.8–5.1) as measured by transthoracic echocardiography. The device was implanted by a retrograde approach in 40 patients and antegrade approach in 10 patients. No statistical significance was observed in the incidence of complication and hospitalisation duration between the two groups; however, the Amplatzer duct occluder 2 group was cost-effective (p<0.05) and required less fluoroscopy time (p<0.05). Neither deaths nor new onset of aortic and tricuspid insufficiency occurred during the median 26.2 months (range: 3–65) of follow-up.
Amplatzer duct occluder 2 has advantages of simple manipulation and less medical costs compared with conventional device in transcatheter closure of small type perimembranous ventricular septal defect.
How surface roughness reduces heat transport for small roughness heights in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection
Yi-Zhao Zhang, Chao Sun, Yun Bao, Quan Zhou
Journal: Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 836 / 10 February 2018
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 December 2017, R2
Print publication: 10 February 2018
Rough surfaces have been widely used as an efficient way to enhance the heat-transfer efficiency in turbulent thermal convection. In this paper, however, we show that roughness does not always mean a heat-transfer enhancement, but in some cases it can also reduce the overall heat transport through the system. To reveal this, we carry out numerical investigations of turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection over rough conducting plates. Our study includes two-dimensional (2D) simulations over the Rayleigh number range $10^{7}\leqslant Ra\leqslant 10^{11}$ and three-dimensional (3D) simulations at $Ra=10^{8}$ . The Prandtl number is fixed to $Pr=0.7$ for both the 2D and the 3D cases. At a fixed Rayleigh number $Ra$ , reduction of the Nusselt number $Nu$ is observed for small roughness height $h$ , whereas heat-transport enhancement occurs for large $h$ . The crossover between the two regimes yields a critical roughness height $h_{c}$ , which is found to decrease with increasing $Ra$ as $h_{c}\sim Ra^{-0.6}$ . Through dimensional analysis, we provide a physical explanation for this dependence. The physical reason for the $Nu$ reduction is that the hot/cold fluid is trapped and accumulated inside the cavity regions between the rough elements, leading to a much thicker thermal boundary layer and thus impeding the overall heat flux through the system.
Clay minerals in shales of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Eastern Sichuan Basin, China
Geng Yi-Kai, Jin Zhen-Kui, Zhao Jian-Hua, Wen Xin, Zhang Zhen-Peng, Wang Yang
Journal: Clay Minerals / Volume 52 / Issue 2 / June 2017
The present study examines the characteristics of clay minerals in shale gas reservoirs and their influence on reservoir properties based on X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. These analyses were combined with optical microscopy observations and core and well-log data to investigate the genesis, distribution characteristics, main controlling factors and pore features of clay minerals of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the East Sichuan area, China. The clay mineral assemblage consists of illite + mixed-layer illite-smectite (I-S) + chlorite. This assemblage includes three sources of clay minerals: detrital, authigenic and diagenetic minerals. The lower section of the Longmaxi Formation in the Jiaoshiba area has sealing ability which resulted in abnormal high pressures during hydrocarbon generation which inhibited illitization. Therefore, an anomalous transformation sequence is present in which the mixed-layer I-S content increases with depth. This anomalous transformation sequence can be used to infer the existence of abnormal high pressures. The detrital components of the formation also affect the clay-minerals content indirectly, especially the abundance of K-feldspar. The transformation of mixed-layer I-S to illite is limited due to the limited availability of K+, which determines the extent of transformation. Three types of pores were observed in the shale reservoir rocks of the Longmaxi Formation: interparticle (interP) pores, intraparticle (intraP) pores and organic-matter pores. The clay-mineral content controls the development of intraP pores, which are dominated by pores within clay particles. For a given clay mineral content, smectite and mixed-layer I-S were more conducive to the development of shale-gas reservoirs than other clay minerals.
The earliest evidence of pattern looms: Han Dynasty tomb models from Chengdu, China
Feng Zhao, Yi Wang, Qun Luo, Bo Long, Baichun Zhang, Yingchong Xia, Tao Xie, Shunqing Wu, Lin Xiao
Journal: Antiquity / Volume 91 / Issue 356 / April 2017
Excavation of the Han Dynasty chambered tomb at Laoguanshan in Chengdu, south-west China, has provided the earliest known evidence of pattern loom technology. Four model looms, along with accompanying artefacts and figurines relating to the weaving process, give insight into the technique of jin silk production. The discovery is hugely significant as it provides the first direct evidence of pattern-weave textile production in ancient China. Jin silk, made using this method, was both valuable and widely distributed, and the design of the machine influenced the invention of later looms and the spread of technology throughout Eurasia and Europe, representing great technological accomplishment for the second century BC.
Genotype distribution characteristics of high-risk human papillomaviruses in women from Shanghai, China
Y. GU, M. YI, Y. XU, H. ZHAO, F. FU, Y. ZHANG
Journal: Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 144 / Issue 7 / May 2016
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are highly prevalent worldwide, and HPV genotype distribution varies regionally. Molecular surveys of HPVs are important for effective HPV control and prevention. Fifteen high-risk HPV strains (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68) and six low-risk HPV strains (HPV6, 11, 42, 43, 44, CP8304) were detected by cervical cytology from 10 501 subjects. High-risk HPVs, low-risk HPVs, and both high- and low-risk HPVs were detected in 14·5%, 2·8%, and 2·4% of cases, respectively. Of 1782 subjects with high-risk HPV infection, 75·5%, 18·1%, and 6·4% were infected with one, two, and ⩾3 strains of high-risk HPVs, respectively. HPV52, HPV16, and HPV58 were the top three most dominant high-risk HPV genotypes in our population with positivity rates of 23·0%, 17·7% and 16·9%, respectively. Multiple infection was common, with significantly higher co-infection rates of HPV58/HPV33 (12·9%) and HPV58/HPV52 (11·3%). Further data comparisons showed that HPV genotype distribution varied markedly between domestic and international regions. In conclusion, a monolithic vaccination strategy is obviously impractical, and regional HPV surveillance is essential to optimize current HPV control and prevention.
MSTMP, a Stilbene Derivative, Protects SH-SY5Y Cells Against Oxidative Stress
Wei-Guo Liu, Jun-Yi Zhao, Hao Zhang, Xin-Yong Liu, Xiu-Li Guo
The protective effects of a novel stilbene derivative, (E)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazine (MSTMP), on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced human derived neuroblastoma cell (SH-SY5Y) damage and its molecular mechanisms were investigated.
SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to 200 μmol·L−1 H2O2 for 12 h. The effect of MSTMP on cell viability and apoptosis was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl- thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry method. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) in cells were determined by commercial kits. The expressions of pro-apoptotic factor caspase-3, caspase-9 and inducible NOS (iNOS) were detected by Western blotting. Intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed using 6-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescent probe.
MSTMP increased the SH-SY5Y cell viability by inhibition of cell apoptosis induced by H2O2. These effects were accompanied by an increase of SOD activity, GSH level, and a decrease of MDA content. Moreover, MSTMP showed stronger effects on inhibition of LDH leakage, apoptotic cells, intracellular ROS level and the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 than TMP. Furthermore, MSTMP induced a decrease of NO level and the activity of iNOS, tNOS in a time-dependent manner.
MSTMP prevents H2O2-induced cell injury through anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis via ROS-NO pathway.
Ion motion effects on the generation of short-cycle relativistic laser pulses during radiation pressure acceleration
W. P. Wang, X. M. Zhang, X. F. Wang, X. Y. Zhao, J. C. Xu, Y. H. Yu, L. Q. Yi, Y. Shi, L. G. Zhang, T. J. Xu, C. Liu, Z. K. Pei, B. F. Shen
Journal: High Power Laser Science and Engineering / Volume 2 / 01 July 2014
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 April 2014, e9
The effects of ion motion on the generation of short-cycle relativistic laser pulses during radiation pressure acceleration are investigated by analytical modeling and particle-in-cell simulations. Studies show that the rear part of the transmitted pulse modulated by ion motion is sharper compared with the case of the electron shutter only. In this study, the ions further modulate the short-cycle pulses transmitted. A 3.9 fs laser pulse with an intensity of $1.33\times 10^{21}\ {\rm W}\ {\rm cm}^{-2}$ is generated by properly controlling the motions of the electron and ion in the simulations. The short-cycle laser pulse source proposed can be applied in the generation of single attosecond pulses and electron acceleration in a small bubble regime.
Reduced risk of dyslipidaemia with oolong tea consumption: a population-based study in southern China
Deqing Yi, Xuerui Tan, Zhiguo Zhao, Yingmu Cai, Yiming Li, Xiuying Lin, Sailan Lu, Yongsong Chen, Qingying Zhang
Experimental studies have suggested that tea consumption could lower the risk of dyslipidaemia. However, epidemiological evidence is limited, especially in southern China, where oolong tea is the most widely consumed beverage. We conducted a population-based case–control study to evaluate the association between consumption of tea, especially oolong tea, and risk of dyslipidaemia in Shantou, southern China, from 2010 to 2011. Information on tea consumption, lifestyle characteristics and food consumption frequency of 1651 patients with newly diagnosed dyslipidaemia and 1390 controls was obtained using a semi-quantitative questionnaire. Anthropometric variables and serum biochemical indices were determined. Drinking more than 600 ml (2 paos) of green, oolong or black tea daily was found to be associated with the lowest odds of dyslipidaemia risk (P< 0·001) when compared with non-consumption, but only oolong tea consumption was found to be associated with low HDL-cholesterol levels. A dose–response relationship between duration of tea consumption and risk of dyslipidaemia (OR 0·10, 95 % CI 0·06, 0·16), as well as that between amount of dried tea leaves brewed and risk of dyslipidaemia (OR 0·34, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·48), was found. Moreover, consumption of oolong tea for the longest duration was found to be associated with 3·22, 11·99 and 6·69 % lower blood total cholesterol, TAG and LDL-cholesterol levels, respectively. In conclusion, the present study indicates that long-term oolong tea consumption may be associated with a lower risk of dyslipidaemia in the population of Shantou in southern China.
Anti-mouse CD52 monoclonal antibody ameliorates iron-deficient anaemia in IL-10 knockout mice
Honggang Wang, Jianning Dong, Lugen Zuo, Jianhui Liu, Weiming Zhu, Yi Li, Lili Gu, Jie Zhao, Liang Zhang, Jianfeng Gong, Wei Zhang, Ning Li, Jieshou Li
Approximately 50 % of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from anaemia, with Fe deficiency being the most common cause. CD52 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targets the cell surface CD52 and is effective in depleting lymphocytes through cytolytic effects in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of anti-mouse CD52 mAb on Fe-deficient anaemia in IBD. IL-10 knockout mice (IL-10− / −) of 12 weeks with established colitis were treated with anti-mouse CD52 mAb once per week for 2 weeks. Severity of colitis, blood T lymphocytes, blood Hb, haematocrit, plasma erythropoietin (EPO), serum Fe concentration, transferrin saturation, splenic Fe stores, expression of liver hepcidin mRNA, Western blotting of the phosphorylated form of Smad1/5/8 and total Smad1 were measured at the end of the experiment. IL-10− / − mice treated with CD52 mAb showed a reduction in the percentage of CD4+ and CD4+CD45+ T cells in blood and weight loss typically associated with colonic inflammation, serum levels of EPO, the expression of liver hepcidin mRNA and total Smad1 protein, while they showed an increase in Hb concentrations, haematocrit, levels of serum Fe, transferrin saturation and splenic Fe stores. The present results indicated that anti-CD52 therapy may ameliorate Fe-deficient anaemia by reducing colonic inflammation. These findings may open novel horizons in the treatment of patients with IBD by resetting of immunological homeostasis in the gut by depleting the activated T cells in the gut mucosa.
Research on Preparation and Performance of Vandium Tailings-based Geopolymer
Tie-jun Chen, Yi-min Zhang, Xiang-ke Jiao, Jie Zhao
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 February 2012, imrc2011-1380-s21-full014
Vanadium-beard bone coal is one of important vanadium resources in China. to extract vanadium tailings from Stone coal is prduced after extracted vanadium from stone coal through the roasting, leaching and other processes. About 120-150 tons of tailings will be produced in extracting 1 ton of vanadium pentoxide. A lot of tailings that are willfully piled up have caused serious environmental pollution and wasting of resources; it is therefore necessary to realize its resource utilization. This study increases the activity of vanadium tailings by means of alkali fusion, and then uses different alkali activators to react with vanadium tailings so that geopolymer with high value added is produced. Sample of geopolymer is acquired from mixture containing vanadium tailings, alkali activators, water and a little sodium aluminate through compression-molding process under 20MPa pressure. After cured in room temperature for three days, the maximum compressive strength of the sample can reach 36.2MPa. XRD analysis indicates: quartz, the major crystal phase in vanadium tailings is decomposed and the activity of vanadium tailings is heightened. FTIR and SEM analyses show: structural change having important impact on the mechanical strength of geopolymer occurred during the process of vanadium tailings generating geopolymer.
Multiple Cracks of a Thin Film on a Ductile Substrate
Ming-Hao Zhao, Ran Fu, Tong-Yi Zhang
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011, L9.3.1
The present work proposes a Dugdale type model to theoretically predict the multiple cracks of a residually tensile stressed thin film on a ductile substrate. The results show that there exists a critical value, Rc, of the cracking resistance number, R. When R < R, the film > c cracks and the normalized crack spacing is determined by cracking resistance number and the stress ratio of the residual stress to the yield strength of the substrate.
Indentation Delamination and Indentation Fracture in ZnO/Si Systems
Bin Huang, Ming-Hao Zhao, Tong-Yi Zhang
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011, B5.14
Vickers indentation tests were carried out at room temperature with a microhardness tester on ZnO thin films deposited on (100) Si wafers. The films with thicknesses ranging from 0.202 to 1.535 νm were tested under indentation loads varying from 50 mN to 2.0 N. The experiments exhibited a film thickness dependent deformation behavior. When the film thickness is smaller than a critical value, only indentation-induced radical cracking occurred and for a given load, the radical crack size decreased with film thickness. On the other hand, indentation-induced delamination was observed if the film thickness was larger than the critical value. In this case, the radial crack, if induced, had a size smaller than the size of delamination or even smaller than the size of indentation impression. Under a same indentation load, the delamination size increased with the film thickness.
Failure Investigation of Polymer Mechanical Micromponents
Yi Zhao, Xin Zhang
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011, 0975-DD06-09
This paper reports typical failure modes of polymer microstructures. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructures were fabricated using replication-based methods. The mechanical collapses of these structures were observed using scanning electron microscopy. In this work, we classified the mechanical collapses based on their individual geometries and discussed the mechanism of each failure mode. We also worked on solutions to recover these failed PDMS structures. This work helps to better understand the collapsing mechanism and to facilitate the development of control strategies to enhance the mechanical reliability of polymer microdevices.
Mechanical Properties Evolution of Polydimethylsiloxane During Crosslinking Process
This paper reports mechanical properties evolution of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) during the crosslinking process. In this work, PDMS crosslinking was induced by mixing base prepolymer and curing agent at certain ratios. The liquid prepolymer was spun coated on a silicon wafer, and the curvature change of the wafer was measured continuously using a curvature measurement system. The relationship between the curvature change and typical mechanical properties was investigated using a bilayer model; and the evolution of the properties was derived, as a function of operational parameters. This work is expected to help better understanding of the crosslinking process and provide practical strategies for controlling the mechanical behavior of the resulting polymer structures, especially those for mechanical sensing applications.
A Novel Pressure Indicator for Continuous Flow PCR Chip Using Micro Molded PDMS Pillar Arrays
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011, AA5.10
DNA amplification is one of the most routine experiments carried out in biological laboratories. Continuous flow PCR chip releases biologists from their laborious exercises. The use of such chip is, however, hindered by costly expense of the syringe pump, which is used to maintain a constant flow rate. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel pressure indicator which makes up an in-line flow sensor in a continuous flow PCR chip. The pressure of PCR channel is achieved from pattern change in fabricated microstructures, and converted to volume flow rate. A polymeric PCR chip with such pressure indicators is presented. With a much less expense as compared to its conventional peers, this indicator has a wide potential for the use in the laboratories which runs daily activities like sequencing or mutagenesis.
Creating Nanostructures with Controllable Sidewall Profiles for Mechanical Sensor Applications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011, 0900-O12-07
This paper presents a novel approach to create silicon nanostructures with controlled sidewall profiles. The nanostructures are fabricated by alternating the reactive ion etching process and the exposure process to the atmosphere with moisture. The air exposure is believed attributed to the sidewall passivation by facilitating the fast formation of a thin SiO2/SiOxFy layer. Using this approach, three types of representative nanostructures are demonstrated, namely: nanopillars with vertical sidewall, nanopillars with narrowed necks, and suspending nanocantilevers. Without requiring expensive facilities and extensive expertise, this work is expected to provide an alternative for developing nanostructures with a variety of geometric profiles for mechanical sensing applications.
Mechanism for Improved Quality B12As2 Epitaxial Films on (0001) 4H-SiC Substrates by Tilting toward [1-100] Direction
Yu Zhang, Hui Chen, Michael Dudley, Yi Zhang, James Edgar, Yinyan Gong, Silvia Bakalova, Martin Kuball, Lihua Zhang, Dong Su, Kim Kisslinger, Yimei Zhu
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011, 1246-B04-02
In this work, 4H-SiC substrates intentionally misoriented from the (0001) plane toward [1-100] direction are shown to eliminate rotational twinning in icosahedral boron arsenide (B12As2, abbreviated here as IBA) epitaxial films. Previous studies of IBA on other substrates, including (100), (110), (111) Si and (0001) 6H-SiC, produced polycrystalline and twinned epilayers. Comparisons of IBA on on-axis and off-axis c-plane 4H-SiC by synchrotron white beam x-ray topography (SWBXT), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirm the single crystalline and much higher quality of the films on the latter substrates. Furthermore, no intermediate layer between the epilayer and substrate was observed for IBA on off-axis 4H-SiC. Steps formed on the off-axis 4H-SiC substrate surface before deposition cause the film to adopt a single orientation, a process that is not seen with substrates with either no misorientation, or those tilted toward the [11-20] direction. This work demonstrates that c-plane 4H-SiC with 7° offcut toward (1-100) is potentially a good substrate choice for the growth of high-quality, untwinned B12As2 epilayers for future device applications.
Direct Writing of 3D Microstructures Using a Scanning Laser System
Hui Yu, Alexander Grüntzig, Yi Zhao, André Sharon, Biao Li, Xin Zhang
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011, A11.5
In this paper, a new revolutionary 3D manufacturing approach to rapid processing of 3D microstructures in both soft (SU-8) and rigid (Si) materials is introduced. This technique facilitates very fast prototyping without the need of masks, resulting in a low-cost, short-turnaround flexible fabrication process.


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While there are loads of people who would love to trade in their old, vinyl flooring for ceramic or stone tiles, the cold, hard truth is that there is huge difference in the prices. Vinyl flooring is sold at a fraction of the costs of other popular flooring, such as laminate, stone, and hardwood. Let's face it! Not every person in Broward County can afford high end flooring, and vinyl flooring is a wonderful solution for those seeking to have a nice home on a thin budget. In all honesty, vinyl flooring has an estimated lifespan of fifteen to twenty years. This is pretty darn good for a minimal investment. The key to keeping the value of the investment is having it maintained properly. Although many vinyl flooring companies sport the "no wax" label, they need to be waxed to keep them looking good. And with regular waxing, comes stripping. This is not something the average homeowner can handle, a Broward County vinyl flooring company should strip and wax the floors annually. RK Cleaning Services offers professional strip and wax services for vinyl flooring in Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County.
Vinyl flooring often has colorful patterns on each tile, which can make the room in which it has been installed look more interesting and add that needed pop of color needed. Unfortunately, vinyl flooring is made from oil, which means the patterns and colors will be faded and washed away in only a few years. With proper and profession care, the vinyl flooring in your Broward County home or condo can look good for a long time. The professionals at RK Cleaning Services offer vinyl floor strip and wax services in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County.
The main reason that vinyl tile is popular among first time homeowners is the cost. The next reason is because they believe all they need to do is run the mop over them and they look good. Set off the buzzer, right there. Vinyl flooring needs to be stripped and waxed regularly to maintain its shine and retain the color. Because they are oil based, the vinyl floor tiles require special care. RK Cleaning Services has expert vinyl flooring cleaners for stripping and waxing vinyl flooring services.
RK Cleaning Services provides top of the line strip and wax services for vinyl flooring in Broward County. They have a stellar reputation for providing complete vinyl flooring services in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding communities. Call (954) 999-4030 to schedule an appointment for vinyl flooring strip and wax services from the professionals at RK Cleaning Services today.


AJ Packaging is a family business, specialising in strapping products and wire. We are focussed on supplying top quality manufactured products at factory prices.
The company's management have 40 years experience in the manufacture of strapping products.
Whilst supplying product globally, AJ Packaging are today intent on transferring their expertise into the UK market.
Our knowledge of industries and applications for strapping and load securing is leading edge and we will be pleased to transfer this knowledge into your company for each individual application.
We are also available as consultants for your company. Our expertise covers all strapping, baling wire, load securing, stretch wrapping and hot melt stabilisation systems. Please enquire.
As on organisation we are fully committed to provide the best possible service at every point to all our customers. It is our sincere commitment that we want to not just meet, but far exceed our customer's expectations when it comes to customer service & support.
Please feel free to contact us any time and we very much look forward to serving you.


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FanConneX
FanConneX – In-venue Mobile App
Concierge – Tablet Suites App
Websites and Portals
Lead Generation Mobile Games
FanCaptions – For the Hearing Impaired
The Parking App
You are here: Home › About Us › News & Noteworthy
August 26, 2012 ARS Technica
Why your smart device can't get WiFi in the home team's stadium.
It's Sunday afternoon at the football stadium, and you're sitting in the upper balcony watching the home team quarterback drop back for a pass. Well, "watching" per se.
June 13, 2012 Mobile Sports Report
MSR Profile: San Francisco Giants, AT&T Continue to Push the Wireless Envelope at AT&T Park
Perhaps the only place where Schlough, the Giants and AT&T have had to take a step backwards – our opinion, not theirs – is on the application side.
May 2, 2012 Lamorinda Patch
Lafayette's FanconneX Delivers Game Day Data to Fans – In Their Seats.
When Lafayette-resident Mike Birdsall sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," he's thinking of something way better than simply sitting idly in the stands with peanuts and Crackerjacks.
January 19, 2012 AT&T News Room
New iPhone App Helps Minnesota Fans Go 'Wild'.
The Minnesota Wild and AT&T are proud to announce their new Minnesota Wild App.
January 10, 2012 Macworld Magazine
Let's go to the replay: Stanford beams in-game action to fans' phones.
I pulled out my iPhone, fired up Stanford's Gameday Live website in Safari, and tapped on the link to watch the replay of Toilolo's touchdown catch. In fact, I could choose between three different camera angles of the same play.
May 19, 2011 AT&T News Room
AT&T Keeps Stanford University Athletics Fans Connected with AT&T Wi-Fi and Advanced Mobile Apps.
ans can now use advanced wireless devices to check scores, access video, watch instant replays, post to social networking sites, or upload photos to friends while enjoying the live game experience and cheering on the Cardinal.
July 23, 2010 Seattle Times
Seattle Times Seamheads seek free Wi-Fi.
Go to a Major League Baseball game these days, and you're likely to see some spectators looking as intently at a cellphone or device screen as at the action on the field.
March 1, 2010 Smart Business
Pursuing The Awesome Experience. Turning fans into fanatics by Kevin Daum.
Birdsall likes baseball but identified the inconsistencies in the experience. He recognized the desire of live fans to interact with the on-field experience with activities such as scorekeeping and stats.
June 20, 2009 Good Morning America
Major League Baseball Embraces Hi-Tech Toys at
the Ballpark
At AT&T park in San Francisco, these two activities come together: Free wi-fi is served up to Giants fans — who log on with enthusiasm.
May 14, 2009 Cult of Mac
Users of the Wi-Fi network at the park are now able to use an
innovative and exclusive system called the Giants Digital Dugout, which offers fans two.
It's fitting, one might say, that the San Francisco Giants provide home fans at AT&T Park the most sophisticated digital amenities in all of professional sports. After all, San Francisco is the nominal home of Silcon Valley (with apologies to San Jose) and the headquarters of many of the cutting-edge internet and social media companies in the world today.
May 11, 2009 C/NET
The Giants Digital Dugout offers fans a series of features, including a
food finder, and a quickly-updated collection of video replays.
For years, meanwhile, the ballpark has offered its customers free Wi-Fi. In fact, it was among the very first to do so in all of professional sports. And for years, using it meant toting a laptop to the park, something which usually did not sit well with hard-core fans.
Lessons about Stadium and Arena Networks
The Game Experience
What is Responsive Web Design?
Explaining the Different Types of Apps
Contact Us: Mike@FanConneX.com
Copyright by FanConneX


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Make the choice to bring clean energy to your community. Learn More.
Embrace Change And Realize Immediate Savings
Our mission is to help school districts and municipalities make the transition to lower cost clean energy.
Eric started working in the solar PV industry in 2009 (before it was cool) as a general contractor. That business ended up being sold as a software company in 2012. From that point forward, Eric served in multiple roles as a product specialist focused on origination and finance, and founded a handful of companies in the energy industry.
Erik Brandenburger
Given enough time, Erik could build a utility-scale solar project with his own hands, but the urgency of Illinois' energy transition will not allow that. Illinois' pivot to clean energy warrants the partnership of veteran solar professionals. It requires the foresight to see the alignment of legislation, expertise, and progressive customers.
Abraham Bayha
Abe has a diverse background with 6 years of experience working in the solar PV industry. His experience spans solar sales, customer relations, project design, project management, and business development. Abe is responsible for system design and energy modeling at New Chicago. Abe works with our trade allies and customers to develop proposals that are clear, succinct, and realistic.
Jon has served in sales and sales leadership positions with the likes of Lenovo, Wesco, and SolidWorks within the areas of electrical distribution equipment, hardware and software. With over two decades of sales development experience, Jon has written the sales protocol for dozens of progressive companies as a sales process consultant.
New Chicago © 2023 | All rights reserved.


How to stand out while being a good neighbor?
The 5,700 square foot mixed-use building covers a 50' x 50' infill lot in the heart of the NE Alberta Arts District in Portland, Oregon. The client wanted the building to be modern and unique yet still fit in the context and scale of the street. Erez Russo Architect PC achieved this by breaking up the mass of the building into 3 distinct contextual elements and capping the whole composition with a sweeping curved roof that has the effect of reducing the perceived height of the project. The first level is clad in maintenance free, graffiti resistant glazed CMU except for a wall panel to the east that is left exposed for community murals. The glazed CMU portion of the building is similar in scale to the other single story brick and CMU buildings on the street.
The dark blue color of the CMU forms a solid base for the floating volumes above. The upper level is clad in silver, pre-finished, corrugated metal panels to fit in with the industrial aesthetic of other projects in the district. The scale of the metal volume is mitigated by introducing a corner canopy and a floating metal deck with a glazed overhead door. The third material, clear cedar siding, is used to set apart the volume of the second story bay from the corrugated metal. The combination of different materials and projections breaks down the scale of the building and makes it a seamless fit on the street.
The building incorporates 2,100 s.f. [net] of dividable ground floor retail space with 3,000 s.f. [net] of dividable office space. Inside, the second level is a soaring curved volume which incorporates a mezzanine for additional rentable office space on a confined site.
North facing double height glazing and roll up garage doors flood the space with natural light without glare or thermal gain. Operable south facing windows at the mezzanine level provide a chimney effect for natural ventilation during the summer. Storm water management is provided on site through the use of a flow through planter with native vegetation. The building has been fully leased with no turnover of tenants since its completion.


Last view: 83 days Corrupt. There's mods for that.
I wish for red bull.
Last view: 90 days Granted, but it doesn't give you wings, unfortunately.
I wish I could build a good house by myself.
I wanna run up a down-escalator!
Granted. You now have the Wand of Improv, a wand that can grant any wish, provided you only thought of it less than 2 seconds ago.
I wish I had a lifetime of free balloons.
Last view: 83 days They are popped.
Last view: 83 days You get the bag powder.
Granted, but they are crammed into your face until you explode.
I wish Swingball would actually go with the intended thread format.
Last view: 83 days But I don't know what you're saying?
I wish you'd explain more.
This is a game that is played on the other board I post on, so I thought I would share it with you guys.
The rules are quite simple. Some one would wish for something, and the next poster would then post something that would ruin the wish.
Poster 2: Granted, but it is dead. I wish for telepathic powers.
And it continues thusly. It's a lot of fun.
I wish I had the fastest car in the world!
Granted but she twerks for 1 sec.
Last view: 83 days Granted but it's a voodoo and it breaks your 🚗 too!
Last view: 83 days Granted but because you're lankier, you topple easy.
P.S. I can't say want?
Last view: 83 days Granted but there's no such user.
I wish for some blank disc.
P.S. Then what IS it? I can't wish on myself???
Did you not read the first post?
MySQL - queries: 200, rows: 586/620, time: 0.106 seconds.


Routine-based learning takes place as the child is actively engaged through the different parts of a routine. Routines are activities that follow a predictable order, are consistent, and give structure to the child's life.
Month and year: holidays, birthdays, vacation trips.
the routine the child follows to get lunch from the cafeteria.
These second types of routines are critical to a child who is deaf-blind because they provide the child with the level of detail that they may need in order to understand, learn, plan, respond and be as independent that they can be. They function as routines within routines. For example, the steps the child follows to put away a backpack when arriving to class would be part of their classroom daily routine.
...I was waiting to be called in to see Norman's (my son's) doctor, when I saw a young couple with a baby walking out of the office. I could see in their eyes and their body language some anxiety. They came over and introduced themselves, and told me that their baby was blind, and they asked about Norman. I have no doubt in my mind that I looked the same way back then when he was the same age, or maybe even worse! But it also reminded that it was now over fourteen years ago, and that a lot of things had changed.
When working with a child who is deaf-blind, the quality of the interaction between you and the child is as important as the activity the two of you do together. All interactions offer valuable opportunities to work on the development of general skill areas (e.g., communication and language, social and environmental awareness, self-regulation, positive self-image), as well as the teaching of specific discrete skills (e.g., fine motor hand manipulation in the motor domain or sorting and matching in the math domain). Through appropriate interactions the child can greatly increase their opportunities of learning on many different levels from these experiences.
"What did she want?" This student wanted to keep her body in movement the entire class period and wanted to be in close proximity to the paraprofessional that she trusts. I found myself thinking a lot about the juxtaposition of a student having tactile defensiveness and then becoming quite dependent on a single adult. This also runs along the lines of training intervenors specifically to work with students with deaf-blindness. Oh, if the school district had money! It would be great to train a variety of people in individual capacities so that the student received a range of support. It seemed to me that this student's basic wants were met, but it would be great to see her utilize a few signs to communicate even more wants.
When we travel from San Diego to LA each year for the deafblind picnic, I'm always glad we made the effort. The biggest deal for me is how I feel "at home," "grounded" when I'm with all these families and their children. We "fit in." I don't worry about my son's accomplishments or the things that are challenging for him, I just "am," relaxing, enjoying everyone and in the moment. I don't do enough of that so this is really an event that brings me back to where I want to be more often, where I want my son to be: just as he is. Thanks CADBS for your continued commitment to our families and children. I really appreciate what you do. I know you do it for the love of it and that's really special.