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The study aimed to present a dual-band 5G multi-input multi-output monopole dual-antenna system, which was configured on the upper edge of the display ground plane for laptops. The dual-antenna unit is a 29 × 2 × 3 mm3 three-dimensional structure with two antennas of the same structure and size, consisting of a fed monopole antenna and a shorted monopole antenna. The antennas are arranged 4 mm apart, side by side in the same direction, to form a dual-antenna unit. Such a configuration allows the feeding points of the two antennas to be separated by the shorting point of the shorted monopole antenna, and the shorting point of the low-frequency resonant path (the shorted monopole antenna) of the two antennas to be larger than a quarter of the wavelength of the low frequency with appropriate bending. The strong current will be concentrated near the shorting point of the shorted monopole antenna when the low-frequency mode is excited, and the current flow from the ground to the feeding point of the other antenna will be reduced, achieving the isolation which is better than 10 dB in measurement between the two antennas without adopting any isolation element. The envelope correlation coefficients calculated from the measured complex E-field radiation patterns are all smaller than 0.12, which can cover the 5G dual-band operations of 3300–3600 and 4800–5000 MHz, and the measured antenna efficiencies can reach more than 40%, which are well suited for multiple antenna applications.

Personal recovery is a complex construct frequently used as outcome measure in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study examined potential predictors of personal recovery using the two most common assessment tools for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders living in the community: the Chinese version of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery and the Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale.Ninety-one individuals (57 women) diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders participated in the study (mean age: 47.41 ± 9.41 years). All participants lived in the community and received community psychiatric services. The participants were evaluated via interviews, questionnaires and standardized assessments. Potential predictors included four domains: personal, disease-related, functional and social. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to analyse the potential predictors of the recovery and recovery assessment scale.Resilience and social support were the only significant predictors of the Chinese versions of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery and Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale. The primary predictor of the Chinese version of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery was social support from family and institutional staff. Conversely, resilience was the major predictor of the Chinese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale.For people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders living in the community, social support and resilience significantly predicted personal recovery. Age, educational level, disease-related and functional factors were not significant predictors of personal recovery. Therefore, it is important to develop successful personal recovery-oriented practices that enhance resilience and promote social support.

The island of Taiwan represents an ideal context for studying the effects of climatic oscillations and topographic variation on large herbivores due to its varied tropical to sub-tropical climate zones at different elevational ranges. We explored the phylogenetics of Formosan sambar deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoii) using the control region of the mitochondrial genome. We detected 18 haplotypes among 454 sequences across the island and grouped them into six regions based on SAMOVA, with 68.78% variance among regions. A Bayesian phylogenetic dendrogram revealed two spatially segregated genetic clades. Neutrality tests and Bayesian skyline plots uncovered different demographic expansion histories for the two clades. We further tested divergence times and chronology to propose potential phylogenetic scenarios, which were examined using approximate Bayesian computation. Finally, we present a credible hypothesis for a glacial refugium in the northern part of the Central Mountain Range. Subsequent secondary contact between the two clades during interglacial periods has led to the extant genetic structure of Formosan sambar deer.

Conservation genetic studies for Philippine pigs are essential to sustain global biodiversity. To study the phylogenetic relationship of Philippine pigs, 79 samples were collected from Ifugao (n = 41) and Kalinga (n = 38) provinces located in the Cordillera Administrative Region, northern Philippines. Mitochondrial DNA control region analysis was undertaken to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between the pig populations from the two provinces and other Asian and European pig breeds. Fourteen (14) haplotypes (H1–H14) were detected in the Ifugao and Kalinga samples. Several haplotypes – specifically, H1, H4, H9, H12, and H14 – formed an independent clade with the Type I Lanyu haplotypes, which are known to be unique in Taiwan pigs. The remaining haplotypes (H2, H3, H5–H8, H10, H11, and H13) clustered with the haplotypes of other Asian pig breeds within the major Asian clade. These results suggest the close relationship between Kalinga and Ifugao pigs and Type I Lanyu pigs. The existence of duplicate motifs also revealed that the native pigs from Ifugao and Kalinga belong to a distinct genetic lineage that clustered with other Philippine pig samples and separate from other Asian pigs, whereas the other samples may represent a recent introgression of modern lineages.

Gut dysbiosis is a major contributor to adverse chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, and microbiota-based strategies could be considered as a novel therapeutic and preventative target. In this study, a probiotic screening platform based on gut-derived uremic toxin-reducing probiotics was developed and the underlying mechanism was further verified through a 0.2% adenine-induced CKD mouse model. Two strains (Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus plantarum) were selected due to their high clearance ability and named Lactobacillus mix (Lm). The results showed that Lm significantly improved the kidney function by reducing kidney injury and fibrotic-related proteins. Furthermore, Lm decreased oxidative stress and proinflammatory reactions and elevated immune responses in the kidney. Importantly, Lm reversed gut dysbiosis and restored the abundance of commensal bacteria, especially short-chain fatty acid producers, leading to improved intestinal barrier integrity via modulation of microbial composition and metabolite production. Taken together, these findings provided evidence that Lm could be a preventive approach against CKD.

This paper presents an LTE MIMO dual antenna system for laptops. The LTE antenna is composed of a fed strip and a shorted strip. The antenna structure is very simple and can cover LTE octa-band ope...

By analyzing the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) displacement loop (D-loop) region, we aimed to assess the genetic diversity of Philippine native pigs from Batanes, Quezon, and Marinduque and to determine the phylogenetic relationship between these subpopulations and other Asian and European pig breeds. Ear tissue samples were collected from the native pigs in Batanes (n = 17), Quezon (n = 37), and Marinduque (n = 40). Genomic DNA was extracted, and the D-loop sequences were amplified by PCR. The D-loop sequences of 94 Philippine samples were initially analyzed using the Kimura 2-parameter model and neighbor-joining method in MEGA7, identifying a total of 17 haplotypes designated as H1–H17. Notably, only eight haplotypes were specific to individuals coming from a particular province, whereas the remaining haplotypes were detected in samples from different provinces. Additional qualitative trait analysis that the majority of Philippine native pigs had black coat color, a plain coat pattern, short cylindrical snouts, straight head profiles, erect and forward-oriented ears, curly tails, and straight backlines. Phylogenetic analysis of the Philippine samples and 16 exotic pig breeds revealed that Philippine native pigs with H1 and H2 haplotypes formed a distinct clade with Taiwanese Type I Lanyu pig, whereas those with H3–H17 haplotypes clustered with other Asian and European pigs. Therefore, our findings suggest a close and unique relationship between Taiwanese Type I Lanyu and Philippine native pigs. The presence of several haplotypes also implies high genetic variation among Philippine native pigs. Specifically, the native pigs from Quezon and Marinduque are the most closely related, whereas those from Quezon and Batanes are the least closely related.

When a contact lens is in contact with the eyelid and the cornea, tear proteins start to be accumulated on the lens and may subsequently undergo conformational changes. Protein adsorption or conformational changes on the lens may lead to discomfort, red eye, or even inflammatory reactions. Although measuring the friction coefficient of contact lens has been linked to comfort degree in vivo, there is not much research about the effects of tear protein deposition on the friction coefficient of the contact lens. Therefore, we investigated the friction coefficient of three distinct materials of contact lenses in two different lysosomal concentrations. We also studied lysozyme deposition on the lens without the influence of friction. The results demonstrated that although the amount of lysozyme deposition was high on all the materials we tested, it was not corresponded to higher friction coefficient. In addition, we investigated the effect of the contact lens care solution we developed on friction coefficient and lysozyme deposition of three different materials of contact lenses. The results showed that the care solution could reduce the increased friction coefficient caused by high lysosomal concentration. Therefore, we proposed a potential mechanism of why lysosomal deposition may result in high friction coefficient for certain types of hydrogel contact lenses.

Many studies have investigated the anti-obesity effects of probiotics in animal models and humans. However, few studies have focused on the mechanisms of obesity-inducing probiotics. In a previous study, we demonstrated that specific bacterial strains isolated from kefir, Lactobacillus kefirnofaciens M1 and Lactobacillus mali APS1, possess obesity and anti-obesity effects, respectively, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Thus, in the present study, we systematically investigated whether APS1 and M1 affect energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice and how this might be achieved. We observed that the M1/APS1 intervention influenced fat accumulation by regulating adipogenesis and inflammation-related marker expression both in vitro and in a HFD induced C57BL/6J mice model. We also observed putative links between key taxa and possible metabolic processes of the gut microbiota. Notably, families Christensenellaceae and S24_7 were negatively correlated with body weight gain through increase in the essential esterized carnitine for energy expenditure. These results suggest the importance of specific probiotic interventions affecting leanness and obesity of subjects under a HFD, which are operated by modulating the tripartite relationship among the host, microbiota, and metabolites.

Background Most microbiome studies of dairy cows have investigated the compositions and functions of rumen microbial communities in lactating dairy cows. The importance of the relationships among hosts, microbiota, diet composition, and milk production remains unknown in dry dairy cows. Thus, in the present study, the composition of the rumen microbiome in cows from three dairy farms was investigated to identify core bacteria contributing to various physiological roles during rumen fermentation in dry dairy cows. Results The results indicated that ruminal fluid in dry dairy cows from different regional farms had core rumen microbiota that could be clearly distinguished from that of cows of the other farms. Further identification of key microorganisms associated with each farm revealed that Prevotella, Methanobrevibacter, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, and Streptococcus were major contributors. Spearmen’s correlation indicated that the abundance of genera such as Prevotella and Ruminococcus in dry dairy cows could indicate milk yield in the previous lactating period. Functional pathway analysis of the rumen bacterial communities demonstrated that amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were the major pathways. Conclusions Our findings provide knowledge of the composition and predicted functions of rumen microbiota in dry dairy cows from regional farms, which underscores the importance of the relationships among hosts, microbiota, diet composition, and milk production.

The population of soft contact lens wearers is increasing, thus the issues of feeling comfortable and contact lens-induced clinical symptoms are concerned. Both lysozyme deposition and mechanical friction among contact lens and the eye can induce discomfort and eye conditions. Therefore, we characterized our developed preservative-free contact lens care solution on lysozyme adsorption and lubrication. Two distinct lens materials were washed with the care solution after being soaked in lysozyme, as well as were rubbed against the glass in the presence of lysozyme and the care solution for measuring the friction coefficient. Our results demonstrated that the preservative-free contact lens care solution can be applied as a potential lubricant for a specific type of soft contact lenses.

Simple Summary Dairy cow mastitis is an inflammatory disease often caused by bacterial infections. In the present study, we identified the ruminal microbial biomarkers and metabolites of mastitis in dairy cows. The investigation of the reciprocal interrelationships among the ruminal microbiota, metabolome, and mastitis revealed that short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing microflora and the metabolites related to anti-inflammation and antibacterial activity were significantly higher in healthy cows than in those with mastitis. The identified potential species and metabolites might provide a novel perspective to assist in targeting the ruminal microbiota with preventive/therapeutic strategies against mastitis in the future. Abstract Mastitis in dairy cow significantly affects animal performance, ultimately reducing profitability. The reciprocal interrelationships among ruminal microbiota, metabolome, and mastitis combining early inflammatory factors (serum proinflammatory cytokines) in lactating dairy cows has not been explored, thus, this study evaluated these reciprocal interrelationships in early lactating Holstein dairy cows to identify potential microbial biomarkers and their relationship with ruminal metabolites. The ruminal fluid was sampled from 8 healthy and 8 mastitis cows for the microbiota and metabolite analyses. The critical ruminal microbial biomarkers and metabolites related to somatic cell counts (SCC) and serum proinflammatory cytokines were identified by the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) algorithm and Spearman’s correlation analysis, respectively. The SCC level and proinflammatory cytokines positively correlated with Sharpea and negatively correlated with Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Treponema saccharophilum. Furthermore, the metabolites xanthurenic acid, and 1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) ethan-1-ol positively correlated with microbial biomarkers of healthy cows, whereas, xanthine, pantothenic acid, and anacardic acid were negatively correlated with the microbial biomarkers of mastitis cows. In conclusion, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Treponema saccharophilum are potential strains for improving the health of dairy cows. The current study provides a novel perspective to assist in targeting the ruminal microbiota with preventive/therapeutic strategies against inflammatory diseases in the future.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of Probiotic mix 1 (Pm1) with Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus on preventing renal injury using a chronic kidney disease (CKD) minipig model previously developed in our lab using cisplatin-induced CKD in Lanyu pigs. The results indicated that the high dosage Pm1 (H.Pm1) group demonstrated lower incidence of lesions, including atrophy, mononuclear inflammation, cell infiltration, and interstitial fibrosis in renal tubules in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome stain. We further systematically investigated the preventing effect of Pm1. The H.Pm1 group decreased inflammatory cytokines production and increased the level of superoxide dismutase activity in plasma. The pigs fed with high dosage of Pm1 group also showed reduced both creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) when compared with the cisplatin group. Microbiota results indicated that Pm1-intervention not only reduced the abundance of Gram-negative bacteria but also affected the abundance of specific genera biomarkers, Anaerovibrio, possible_genus_SK018, Holdemanella, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG_010 in gut microbiota, leading to decreased inflammation and apoptosis in the kidney and further prevention/alleviation of the symptoms of CKD. Keywords: Chronic kidney disease, Cisplatin, Gut microbiota, Lanyu pig, Probiotics

The game-based learning already is an important research area of the learning technology. The learning outcomes is a critical factor to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning game. Recent studies suggested giving students more immersive experiences can improve learning. In this paper, a new framework of designing the learning games for giving students more game immersive experience is proposed. The new framework is designed based on the considerations of players' habits and complexity of the learning materials. We can use this framework to create a blended playing environments with the arcade game and the serious learning game. Based on the pilot test and using for teaching, the new approach can give students more and better immersive experiences in playing the game and get a better learning result.

Importance: The Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment–Geriatric (LOTCA–G) can provide multifaceted and comprehensive measures of cognitive function with reduced literacy demands; however, its minimal clinically important difference (MCID) has not been determined for interpreting the change scores. Objective: To establish the LOTCA–G MCID for people with dementia. Design: Psychometric field study. Setting: Data were collected in communities. Participants: Forty-nine participants with mild to moderate dementia who were enrolled in previous research investigating the effects of cognitive stimulation–related interventions with equivalent training hours. Outcomes and Measures: The Mini-Mental State Examination and LOTCA–G were used to assess cognitive function before and after the interventions. The anchor-based and distribution-based approaches were used to estimate the LOTCA–G MCID. Results: Using the anchor-based method, we defined 16 participants as the improvement group, with a mean change score of 5.75 points (the first MCID estimate). The second MCID estimate was 6.23 points, which we calculated from the 49 participants by using the distribution-based method with the medium effect size. Conclusions and Relevance: Current results suggest that a LOTCA–G change score greater than 5.75 points should be considered as meaningful change for people with dementia. It is important to consider the LOTCA–G MCID as one of the indexes for determining the success of interventions in people with dementia. What This Article Adds: This study is the first to report the LOTCA–G MCID for dementia. Establishing an MCID for standardized cognitive assessment tools for the aging population can be used to support evidence-based practice in rehabilitation clinics.

Most microbiome studies of dairy cows have investigated the compositions and functions of rumen microbial communities in lactating dairy cows. The importance of the relationships among hosts, microbiota, diet composition, and milk production remains unknown in dry dairy cows. Thus, in the present study, the composition of the rumen microbiome in cows from three dairy farms was investigated to identify core bacteria contributing to various physiological roles during rumen fermentation in dry dairy cows. The results indicated that ruminal fluid in dry dairy cows from different regional farms had core rumen microbiota that could be clearly distinguished from that of cows of the other farms. Further identification of key microorganisms associated with each farm revealed that Prevotella, Methanobrevibacter, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, and Streptococcus were major contributors. Spearman&rsquo, s correlation indicated that the abundance of genera such as Prevotella and Ruminococcus in dry dairy cows could indicate milk yield in the previous lactating period. Functional pathway analysis of the rumen bacterial communities demonstrated that amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were the major pathways. Our findings provide knowledge of the composition and predicted functions of rumen microbiota in dry dairy cows from regional farms, which underscore the importance of the relationships among hosts, microbiota, diet composition, and milk production.

Background The Mikado pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado) is a nearly endangered species indigenous to high-altitude regions of Taiwan. This pheasant provides an opportunity to investigate evolutionary processes following geographic isolation. Currently, the genetic background and adaptive evolution of the Mikado pheasant remain unclear. Results We present the draft genome of the Mikado pheasant, which consists of 1.04 Gb of DNA and 15,972 annotated protein-coding genes. The Mikado pheasant displays expansion and positive selection of genes related to features that contribute to its adaptive evolution, such as energy metabolism, oxygen transport, hemoglobin binding, radiation response, immune response, and DNA repair. To investigate the molecular evolution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) across several avian species, 39 putative genes spanning 227 kb on a contiguous region were annotated and manually curated. The MHC loci of the pheasant revealed a high level of synteny, several rapidly evolving genes, and inverse regions compared to the same loci in the chicken. The complete mitochondrial genome was also sequenced, assembled, and compared against four long-tailed pheasants. The results from molecular clock analysis suggest that ancestors of the Mikado pheasant migrated from the north to Taiwan about 3.47 million years ago. Conclusions This study provides a valuable genomic resource for the Mikado pheasant, insights into its adaptation to high altitude, and the evolutionary history of the genus Syrmaticus, which could potentially be useful for future studies that investigate molecular evolution, genomics, ecology, and immunogenetics.

The difficulty of long-term management has produced a high rate of failure for obesity patients. Therefore, improving the efficacy of current obesity treatment is a significant goal. We hypothesized that combining a probiotic Lactobacillus mali APS1 intervention with dieting could improve the efficacy of obesity and hepatic steatosis treatment compared to dieting alone. Mice were fed a high-fat diet for 6 weeks and then treated with: saline + normal diet and APS1 + normal diet (NDAPS1) for 3 weeks. NDAPS1 accelerated body weight loss and reduced caloric intake and fat accumulation. The fecal microbiome showed that accelerating weight loss by NDAPS1 resulted in restoring intestinal microbiota toward a pre-obese state, with alteration of specific changes in the obesity-associated bacteria. APS1 manipulated the gut microbiome’s obesity-associated metabolites, followed by regulation of lipid metabolism, enhancement of energy expenditure and inhibition of appetite. The specific hepatic metabolites induced by the APS1-manipulated gut microbiome also contributed to the amelioration of hepatic steatosis. Our results highlighted a possible microbiome and metabolome that contributed to accelerating weight loss following treatment with a combination of APS1 and dieting and suggested that probiotics could serve as a potential therapy for modulating physiological function and downstream of the microbiota.

Objective: This study examined the interrater reliability of manually performed arm position and motion matching tests in healthy older adults. Methods: 16 healthy older adults were required to perform 2 tasks (position matching and motion matching) with both arms for 4 target angles with 3 repetitions for each. 4 occupational therapists were recruited to rate the participants’ performance by viewing recorded digital images. Results: Krippendorff’s Alpha values ranged between 0.15~0.33 for the position matching test and 0.02~0.19 for the motion matching test among the 4 raters. Junior therapists showed higher reliability in both tests than senior therapists. Conclusion: Results indicated poor interrater reliability of manually performed arm position and motion matching tests. Time of clinical experience may have potential impact on the reliability coefficient as junior therapists had higher percentage of trials rated as impaired than senior therapists. Junior therapists also had higher Krippendorff’s Alpha values than senior therapists.

This study investigated the use of the traditional Chinese version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and the Smell Threshold Test to assess olfactory function for healthy young and old adults in Taiwan. One hundred young adults (50 men; M = 24.34 yr., SD = 2.63; 50 women; M = 24.50 yr., SD = 2.96) and 49 old adults (20 men; M = 60.85 yr., SD = 4.21; 29 women; M = 59.93 yr., SD = 3.97) with normal olfaction completed the traditional Chinese versions of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Of these individuals, 40 young adults and 40 old adults also completed the Smell Threshold Test. The mean of the traditional Chinese versions of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test scores and Smell Threshold Test thresholds were significantly different between young and old adults. The threshold value for the Smell Threshold Test was lower in both young and old adults as compared to previously established American norms. Both tests require further modifications for clinical use in Taiwan.

The aim of this study was to measure and compare kinesthetic sensitivity in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing (TD) children between 6 and 11 years old. 30 children with DCD aged 6 to 11 years (5 in each age group) and 30 TD children participated in the study. Participants placed their forearms on a passive motion apparatus which extended the elbow joint at constant velocities between 0.15 and 1.35°s(-1). Participants were required to concentrate on detection of passive arm motion and press a trigger held in their left hand once they sensed it. The detection time was measured for each trial. The DCD group was significantly less sensitive in detection of passive motion than TD children. Further analysis of individual age groups revealed that kinesthetic sensitivity was worse in DCD than TD children for age groups beyond six years of age. Our findings suggested that individual with DCD lag behind their TD counterparts in kinesthetic sensitivity. Between the ages of 7 and 11 years the difference between groups is quantifiable and significant with 11 year old children with DCD performing similar to 7 year old TD children.

Taoyuan pig is a native Taiwan breed. According to the historical record, the breed was first introduced to Taiwan from Guangdong province, Southern China, around 1877. The breed played an important role in Taiwan’s early swine industry. It was classified as an indigenous breed in 1986. After 1987, a conserved population of Taoyuan pig was collected and reared in isolation. In this study, mitochondrial DNA sequences and 18 microsatellite markers were used to investigate maternal lineage and genetic diversity within the Taoyuan pig population. Population differentiation among Taoyuan, Asian type, and European type pig breeds was also evaluated using differentiation indices. Only one D-loop haplotype of the Taoyuan pig was found. It clustered with Lower Changjiang River Basin and Central China Type pig breeds. Based on the polymorphism of microsatellite markers, a positive fixation index value (FIS) indicates that the conserved Taoyuan population suffers from inbreeding. In addition, high FST values (>0.2105) were obtained, revealing high differentiation among these breeds. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling showed a clear geometric structure among 7 breeds. Together these results indicate that maternally Taoyuan pig originated in the Lower Changjiang River Basin and Central China; however, since being introduced to Taiwan differentiation has occurred. In addition, Taoyuan pig has lost genetic diversity in both its mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.

Objective To investigate the kinematic and myographic effects of weighted wrist cuffs on individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) during a reaching task. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Biomechanics research laboratory. Participants Individuals (N=39) with PD (n=19) and healthy age-matched control subjects (n=20). Interventions Participants were instructed to reach and grasp a can at a distance of 80% of their arm length without a wrist cuff, while wearing separate 0.5- and 1.0-kg wrist cuffs, and subsequently without a wrist cuff. Main Outcome Measures Movement time, kinematic, and electromyographic data were recorded during all reach and grasp movements. Four end point coordinate strategy variables, 3 joint recruitment variables, and 2 co-contraction indices were derived from the raw data for analysis. Results Significant interaction effects were found in the trunk and index finger movement time as the weight of the cuff increased from 0.5 to 1.0kg. The group of individuals with PD showed decreased movement times in both instances, whereas the control group showed increased movement times as the weight of the wrist cuff increased from baseline to 0.5 and 1.0kg. No group difference was observed in the co-contraction index of the upper arm and forearm. Conclusions Adoption of weighted wrist cuffs in the clinic should be cautiously undertaken because compensatory movements may be induced in the trunk of individuals with PD.

This study examined whether altered joint angular motion during haptic exploration could account for a decline in haptic sensitivity in individuals with PD by analyzing joint position data during haptic exploration of a curved contour. Each participant’s hand was passively moved by a robotic arm along the edges of a virtual box (5 cm × 15 cm) with a curved left wall. After each trial, participants indicated whether the contour was curved or straight. Visual, auditory, and tactile cues were occluded, and an electrogoniometer recorded shoulder and elbow joint angles during each trial. The PD group in the OFF state had a higher mean detection threshold (4.67 m−1) than the control group (3.06 m−1). Individuals with PD in the OFF state also had a significantly greater magnitude of shoulder abduction than those in the ON state (p=0.003) and a smaller magnitude of elbow flexion than those in the ON state or compared to the control group (bothp<0.001). These findings suggest that individuals with PD employ joint configurations that may contribute to haptic insensitivity. Dopamine replacement therapy improved joint configurations during haptic exploration in patients with PD, suggesting a role for dopaminergic dysfunction in PD-related haptic insensitivity.

Smart video surveillance systems are essentials in modern environments to ensure safety and security for lives and property. In order to capture critical clues of reconnaissance, it is important to automatically and dynamically control the surveillance sensitivity and quality for detecting abnormal/suspicious events to perform high quality monitoring. In this work, we design a smart video surveillance system, which fully utilizes pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras and well integrates with environment sensors (such as fire/motion/door sensors) while cooperating with wearable devices that can adaptively monitor events and ensure the surveillance quality in terms of pixel-per-foot (PPF), viewing-angles, timeliness, and accuracy. In addition, this system also supports to define the special monitoring tasks and surveillance requirements, such as the surveillance timeliness and duty cycle for particular moving objects to be tracked per time unit. Then, a smart camera dispatch algorithm will calculate and determine the best cameras set with the corresponding configurations to accomplish the surveillance tasks effectively and precisely. We will show how our system realizes smart detecting and monitoring in this demonstration by leveraging PTZ cameras, environmental sensors and wearable devices.