Relation between vibrotactile perception thresholds and reductions in finger blood flow induced by vibration of the hand at frequencies in the range 8–250 Hz

Purpose: this study investigated how the vasoconstriction induced by vibration depends on the frequency of vibration when the vibration magnitude is defined by individual thresholds for perceiving vibration [i.e. sensation levels (SL)].Methods: fourteen healthy subjects attended the laboratory on seven occasions: for six vibration frequencies (8, 16, 31.5, 63, 125, or 250 Hz) and a static control condition. Finger blood flow (FBF) was measured in the middle fingers of both hands at 30-second intervals during five successive periods: (i) no force or vibration, (ii) 2-N force, no vibration, (iii) 2-N force, vibration, (iv) 2-N force, no vibration, (v) no force or vibration. During period (iii), vibration was applied to the right thenar eminence via a 6-mm diameter probe during ten successive 3-min periods as the vibration magnitude increased in ten steps (?10 to +40 dB SL).Results: with vibration at 63, 125, and 250 Hz, there was vasoconstriction on both hands when the vibration magnitude reached 10 dB SL. With vibration at 8, 16, and 31.5 Hz, there was no significant vasoconstriction until the vibration reached 25 dB SL. At all frequencies, there was greater vasoconstriction with greater magnitudes of vibration.Conclusions: it is concluded that at the higher frequencies (63, 125, and 250 Hz), the Pacinian channel mediates vibrotactile sensations near threshold and vasoconstriction occurs when vibration is perceptible. At lower frequencies (8, 16, and 31.5 Hz), the Pacinian channel does not mediate sensations near threshold and vasoconstriction commences at greater magnitudes when the Pacinian channel is activate

On Energy Functions for String-Like Continuous Curves, Discrete Chains, and Space-Filling One Dimensional Structures

The theory of string-like continuous curves and discrete chains have numerous important physical applications. Here we develop a general geometrical approach, to systematically derive Hamiltonian energy functions for these objects. In the case of continuous curves, we demand that the energy function must be invariant under local frame rotations, and it should also transform covariantly under reparametrizations of the curve. This leads us to consider energy functions that are constructed from the conserved quantities in the hierarchy of the integrable nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation (NLSE). We point out the existence of a Weyl transformation that we utilize to introduce a dual hierarchy to the standard NLSE hierarchy. We propose that the dual hierarchy is also integrable, and we confirm this to the first non-trivial order. In the discrete case the requirement of reparametrization invariance is void. But the demand of invariance under local frame rotations prevails, and we utilize it to introduce a discrete variant of the Zakharov-Shabat recursion relation. We use this relation to derive frame independent quantities that we propose are the essentially unique and as such natural candidates for constructing energy functions for piecewise linear polygonal chains. We also investigate the discrete version of the Weyl duality transformation. We confirm that in the continuum limit the discrete energy functions go over to their continuum counterparts, including the perfect derivative contributions

The state of the market and the contrarian strategy: Evidence from China’s stock market

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2012 The Chinese Economic Association.Using the most comprehensive weekly dataset of ‘A’ shares listed on the Chinese stock market, this paper examines short-term contrarian strategies under different market states from 1995–2010. We find statistically significant profits from contrarian strategies, especially during the period after 2007, when China (along with other countries) experienced an economic downturn following the worldwide financial crisis. Our empirical evidence suggests that: (1) no significant profit is generated from either momentum or contrarian strategies in the intermediate horizon; (2) after microstructure effects are adjusted for, contrarian strategies with only four to eight weeks holding periods based on the stocks’ previous four to eight week's performance generate statistically significant profits of around 0.2% per week; (3) the contrarian strategy following a ‘down’ market generates higher profit than those following an ‘up’ market, suggesting that a contrarian strategy could be used as a shelter when the market is in decline. The profits following a ‘down’ market are robust after risk adjustment

Direct Formation of Structural Components Using a Martian Soil Simulant.

Martian habitats are ideally constructed using only locally available soils; extant attempts to process structural materials on Mars, however, generally require additives or calcination. In this work we demonstrate that Martian soil simulant Mars-1a can be directly compressed at ambient into a strong solid without additives, highlighting a possible aspect of complete Martian in-situ resource utilization. Flexural strength of the compact is not only determined by the compaction pressure but also significantly influenced by the lateral boundary condition of processing loading. The compression loading can be applied either quasi-statically or through impact. Nanoparticulate iron oxide (npOx), commonly detected in Martian regolith, is identified as the bonding agent. Gas permeability of compacted samples was measured to be on the order of 10-16 m2, close to that of solid rocks. The compaction procedure is adaptive to additive manufacturing