The lack of an effective medical treatment for gastroparesis has pushed the research of new techniques of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) for nearly half a century of experimentation with a large variety of elect...The lack of an effective medical treatment for gastroparesis has pushed the research of new techniques of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) for nearly half a century of experimentation with a large variety of electrical stimuli delivered to the gastric wall of animals and patients with gastroparesis. Three principal methods are currently available: gastric low-frequency/high-energy GES with long pulse stimulation, high-frequency/low-energy GES with short pulse stimulation and neural sequential GES. The first method aims to reset a regular slow wave rhythm, but has variable effects on contractions and requires devices with large and heavy batteries unsuitable for implantation. High-frequency/low-energy GES, although inadequate to restore a normal gastric electro-mechanical activity, improves dyspeptic symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, giving patients a better quality of life together with a more satisfactory nutritional status and is suitable for implantation. Unfortunately, the numerous clinical studies using this type of GES, with the exception of two, were not controlled and there is a need for definitive verification of the effectiveness of this technique to justify the cost and the risks of this procedure. The last method, which is neural sequential GES, consists of a microprocessor-controlled sequential activation of a series of annular electrodes along the distal two thirds of the stomach and is able to induce propagated contractions causing forceful emptying of the gastric content. The latter method is the most promising, but has been used only in animals and needs to be tested in patients with gastroparesis before it is regarded as a solution for this disease.展开更多
As the key protection device in the power system, the ageing characteristics of ZnO varistor can directly affect the safe operation of power system. In order to study the influence of Co2O3 content on the electrical p...As the key protection device in the power system, the ageing characteristics of ZnO varistor can directly affect the safe operation of power system. In order to study the influence of Co2O3 content on the electrical properties of ZnO varistors, thermally stimulated current (TSC) characteristics test, capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) test, voltage-current (V-I) test were carried out on ZnO varistors before and after AC ageing tests. The results show that the mean grain size decreases while the varistor voltage increases as the Co2O3 content increases, the barrier height and the defects of ZnO varistors increase with the increase of Co2O3 content, and the barrier height decreases at a certain degree after AC ageing test. As the Co2+ ion radius is close to that of Zn2+ ion, it is easy for Co2+ ions to enter into ZnO lattice during sintering process, which is account for the increase of zinc interstitial of ZnO varistors. When the Co2O3 content exceeds a certain range, the AC degradation degree of ZnO varistors will become much more serious. From the experimental results, ZnO varistors doped with 1.0 mol% Co2 O3 exhibit a better performance.展开更多
Objective There is substantial evidence supporting the notion that the anterior cingulate cortex （ACC） is an important limbic structure involved in multiple brain functions such as sensory perception, motor conflict...Objective There is substantial evidence supporting the notion that the anterior cingulate cortex （ACC） is an important limbic structure involved in multiple brain functions such as sensory perception, motor conflict monitoring, memory, emotion and cognition. It has been shown that long term potentiation （LTP） is an important synaptic model of neural plasticity in the ACC, however, little is known about the spatiotemporal properties of ACC at network level. The present study was designed to see the LTP induction effects across different layers of the ACC by using different conditioning stimuli （CS） protocols. Methods A unique multi-electrode array recording technique was used in the acutely-dissociated ACC slices of rats. Long and short train theta burst stimulation （TBS） paradigms were applied in layer V-VI as the CS and the LTP induction effects were compared across different layers of the ACC. Briefly, both long and short train TBS are composed of bursts （4 pulses at 100 Hz） with a 200 ms interval, however, the former （TBS1） was with 10 trains and the latter （TBS2） was with 5 trains. After test stimulation at layer V-VI in the ACC, network field potentials （FPs） could be simultaneously recorded across all layers of the ACC. Results The waveforms of FPs were different across different layers. Namely, positive-going waveforms were recorded in layer I and negative-going waveforms were recorded in layers V-VI, in contrast, complex waveforms were localized mainly in layers II-III. Following application of two CS protocols, the induction rate of LTP was significantly different between TBS 1 and TBS2 regardless of the spatial properties. TBS1 had more than 60% success, while TBS2 was less than 25% in induction of LTP. Moreover, both the 2 CS protocols could induce LTP in layers II-III and layers V-VI without layer-related difference. However, no LTP was inducible in layer I. Conclusion The present findings indicate that stimulation protocols may, at least in part, account for a large portion of variations among previous LTP studies, and hence highlight the importance of selecting the best LTP induction protocol when designing such experiments. Moreover, the present results demonstrate the prominent superiority of multi-electrode array recording in revealing the network properties of synaptic activities in the ACC, especially in comparing the spatiotemporal characteristics between different layers of this structure.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the relationship between the temperature and the microvascular blood flow of the cerebral cortex, and the influence of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the cortical microcirculation. Methods: High ...Objective:To investigate the relationship between the temperature and the microvascular blood flow of the cerebral cortex, and the influence of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the cortical microcirculation. Methods: High temperature spots on the anterior ectosylvian and low temperature spots on the posterior suprasylvian on the cortical surface of 20 cats were identified using cortical infrared thermography (CIT); the blood flow in the microcirculation on these spots was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry. EA was given at Zusanli (ST 36) and changes in the blood flow in the cerebral cortex microcirculation were detected. Results: 1) The mean temperatures on the high (34.83±0.24°C) and low (32.28±0.27°C) temperature spots were significantly different (P<0.001); this was indicative of a temperature difference on the cortical surface; 2) The average blood flow in the microcirculation of the high (266.8±19.2 PU) and low (140.8±9.9 PU) temperature spots was significantly different (P<0.001). 3) On the cortical high temperature spots, the mean blood flow in the microcirculation significantly increased from 266.8±86.8 PU before EA, to 422.5±47.4 PU following 5 minutes of EA (58.35%; P<0.01), and 431.8±52.8 PU 5 minutes after ceasing EA (61.84%; P<0.01). 4) On the low temperature spots, there were no significant differences in blood flow following 5 minutes of EA (146.3±11.5 PU), and 5 minutes after ceasing EA (140.5±11.6 PU), when compared with that before acupuncture (140.8±9.9 PU; P>0.9). Conclusion: The high temperature spots of the cortex are active functional regions of neurons with higher blood flow and a stronger response to EA. EA induces a significant increase in blood flow in the high temperature spots of the cortex.展开更多
文摘The lack of an effective medical treatment for gastroparesis has pushed the research of new techniques of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) for nearly half a century of experimentation with a large variety of electrical stimuli delivered to the gastric wall of animals and patients with gastroparesis. Three principal methods are currently available: gastric low-frequency/high-energy GES with long pulse stimulation, high-frequency/low-energy GES with short pulse stimulation and neural sequential GES. The first method aims to reset a regular slow wave rhythm, but has variable effects on contractions and requires devices with large and heavy batteries unsuitable for implantation. High-frequency/low-energy GES, although inadequate to restore a normal gastric electro-mechanical activity, improves dyspeptic symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, giving patients a better quality of life together with a more satisfactory nutritional status and is suitable for implantation. Unfortunately, the numerous clinical studies using this type of GES, with the exception of two, were not controlled and there is a need for definitive verification of the effectiveness of this technique to justify the cost and the risks of this procedure. The last method, which is neural sequential GES, consists of a microprocessor-controlled sequential activation of a series of annular electrodes along the distal two thirds of the stomach and is able to induce propagated contractions causing forceful emptying of the gastric content. The latter method is the most promising, but has been used only in animals and needs to be tested in patients with gastroparesis before it is regarded as a solution for this disease.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50577021)the Doctoral Program Foundation of Institutions of Higher Education of China (Grant No. 200800790004)
文摘As the key protection device in the power system, the ageing characteristics of ZnO varistor can directly affect the safe operation of power system. In order to study the influence of Co2O3 content on the electrical properties of ZnO varistors, thermally stimulated current (TSC) characteristics test, capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) test, voltage-current (V-I) test were carried out on ZnO varistors before and after AC ageing tests. The results show that the mean grain size decreases while the varistor voltage increases as the Co2O3 content increases, the barrier height and the defects of ZnO varistors increase with the increase of Co2O3 content, and the barrier height decreases at a certain degree after AC ageing test. As the Co2+ ion radius is close to that of Zn2+ ion, it is easy for Co2+ ions to enter into ZnO lattice during sintering process, which is account for the increase of zinc interstitial of ZnO varistors. When the Co2O3 content exceeds a certain range, the AC degradation degree of ZnO varistors will become much more serious. From the experimental results, ZnO varistors doped with 1.0 mol% Co2 O3 exhibit a better performance.
基金supported by the National Basic Research (973) Program of China (No.2006CB500800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30670692 and 30770668)
文摘Objective There is substantial evidence supporting the notion that the anterior cingulate cortex （ACC） is an important limbic structure involved in multiple brain functions such as sensory perception, motor conflict monitoring, memory, emotion and cognition. It has been shown that long term potentiation （LTP） is an important synaptic model of neural plasticity in the ACC, however, little is known about the spatiotemporal properties of ACC at network level. The present study was designed to see the LTP induction effects across different layers of the ACC by using different conditioning stimuli （CS） protocols. Methods A unique multi-electrode array recording technique was used in the acutely-dissociated ACC slices of rats. Long and short train theta burst stimulation （TBS） paradigms were applied in layer V-VI as the CS and the LTP induction effects were compared across different layers of the ACC. Briefly, both long and short train TBS are composed of bursts （4 pulses at 100 Hz） with a 200 ms interval, however, the former （TBS1） was with 10 trains and the latter （TBS2） was with 5 trains. After test stimulation at layer V-VI in the ACC, network field potentials （FPs） could be simultaneously recorded across all layers of the ACC. Results The waveforms of FPs were different across different layers. Namely, positive-going waveforms were recorded in layer I and negative-going waveforms were recorded in layers V-VI, in contrast, complex waveforms were localized mainly in layers II-III. Following application of two CS protocols, the induction rate of LTP was significantly different between TBS 1 and TBS2 regardless of the spatial properties. TBS1 had more than 60% success, while TBS2 was less than 25% in induction of LTP. Moreover, both the 2 CS protocols could induce LTP in layers II-III and layers V-VI without layer-related difference. However, no LTP was inducible in layer I. Conclusion The present findings indicate that stimulation protocols may, at least in part, account for a large portion of variations among previous LTP studies, and hence highlight the importance of selecting the best LTP induction protocol when designing such experiments. Moreover, the present results demonstrate the prominent superiority of multi-electrode array recording in revealing the network properties of synaptic activities in the ACC, especially in comparing the spatiotemporal characteristics between different layers of this structure.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Fund of China (No. 39770925)Science Research Fund of The Ministry of Personnel for Excellent Returnees (1998)Beijing Key Laboratory Fund of The Science and Technology Commission of Beijing (951890600)
文摘Objective:To investigate the relationship between the temperature and the microvascular blood flow of the cerebral cortex, and the influence of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the cortical microcirculation. Methods: High temperature spots on the anterior ectosylvian and low temperature spots on the posterior suprasylvian on the cortical surface of 20 cats were identified using cortical infrared thermography (CIT); the blood flow in the microcirculation on these spots was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry. EA was given at Zusanli (ST 36) and changes in the blood flow in the cerebral cortex microcirculation were detected. Results: 1) The mean temperatures on the high (34.83±0.24°C) and low (32.28±0.27°C) temperature spots were significantly different (P<0.001); this was indicative of a temperature difference on the cortical surface; 2) The average blood flow in the microcirculation of the high (266.8±19.2 PU) and low (140.8±9.9 PU) temperature spots was significantly different (P<0.001). 3) On the cortical high temperature spots, the mean blood flow in the microcirculation significantly increased from 266.8±86.8 PU before EA, to 422.5±47.4 PU following 5 minutes of EA (58.35%; P<0.01), and 431.8±52.8 PU 5 minutes after ceasing EA (61.84%; P<0.01). 4) On the low temperature spots, there were no significant differences in blood flow following 5 minutes of EA (146.3±11.5 PU), and 5 minutes after ceasing EA (140.5±11.6 PU), when compared with that before acupuncture (140.8±9.9 PU; P>0.9). Conclusion: The high temperature spots of the cortex are active functional regions of neurons with higher blood flow and a stronger response to EA. EA induces a significant increase in blood flow in the high temperature spots of the cortex.
