Motor units as tools to evaluate profile of human Renshaw inhibition

Although Renshaw inhibition (RI) has been extensively studied for decades, its precise role in motor control is yet to be discovered. One of the main handicaps is a lack of reliable methods for studying RI in conscious human subjects. We stimulated the lowest electrical threshold motor axons (thickest axons) in the tibial nerve and analysed the stimulus‐correlated changes in discharge of voluntarily recruited low‐threshold single motor units (SMUs) from the soleus muscle. In total, 54 distinct SMUs from 12 subjects were analysed. Stimuli that generated only the direct motor response (M‐only) on surface electromyography induced an inhibitory response in the low‐threshold SMUs. Because the properties of RI had to be estimated indirectly using the background discharge rate of SMUs, its profile varied with the discharge rate of the SMU. The duration of RI was found to be inversely proportional to the discharge rate of SMUs. Using this important finding, we have developed a method of extrapolation for estimating RI as it develops on motoneurons in the spinal cord. The frequency methods indicated that the duration of RI was between 30 and 40 ms depending on the background firing rate of the units, and the extrapolation indicated that RI on silent motoneurons was ∼55 ms. The present study establishes a novel methodology for studying RI in human subjects and hence may serve as a tool for improving our understanding of the involvement of RI in human motor control

Analysis of motoneuron responses to composite synaptic volleys (computer simulation study)

This paper deals with the analysis of changes in motoneuron (MN) firing evoked by repetitively applied stimuli aimed toward extracting information about the underlying synaptic volleys. Spike trains were obtained from computer simulations based on a threshold-crossing model of tonically firing MN, subjected to stimulation producing postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) of various parameters. These trains were analyzed as experimental results, using the output measures that were previously shown to be most effective for this purpose: peristimulus time histogram, raster plot and peristimulus time intervalgram. The analysis started from the effects of single excitatory and inhibitory PSPs (EPSPs and IPSPs). The conclusions drawn from this analysis allowed the explanation of the results of more complex synaptic volleys, i.e., combinations of EPSPs and IPSPs, and the formulation of directions for decoding the results of human neurophysiological experiments in which the responses of tonically firing MNs to nerve stimulation are analyzed

Effect of the Powder Consolidation Method Type on the Microstructure and Selected Properties of Al2O3-Cu-Ni Composite

The present research is focused on the characterization of the composites from Al2O3-Cu-Ni system. Two methods of ceramic-metal composite forming were applied: uniaxial powder pressing and Pulse Plasma Sintering (PPS). To obtain the samples the powder mixtures containing 85 vol.% of Al2O3 and 15 vol.% of metal powders were used. Influence of the sintering process on microstructure and mechanical properties of the two series of the composites was analyzed in detail. The selected physical properties of samples were characterized by Archimedes immersion method. Vickers hardness and the fracture toughness of the composites was determined as well. The microstructure of the composites was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX. Fractography investigation was carried out as well. Independently on composite production method Al2O3, Cu, Ni, and CuNi phases were revealed. Fractography investigation results revealed different character of fracture in dependence of fabrication method. Pulse Plasma Sintered samples were characterized by higher crack resistance and higher Vickers hardness in comparison to the specimens manufactured by uniaxial pressing

Thermoanalytical and dilatometric studies of the Al2O3–Cu–Mo hybrid composite

AbstractThe present research is focused on the characterization of the composites from Al2O3–Cu–Mo system. The composites were prepared by slip casting method and subsequent sintering of green bodies in a reduced atmosphere. Two series of samples with different volume content of metallic powders were produced in the work: 10 vol% and 15 vol% of metal content with respect to the total solid-phase content. The sintering process of the composites was analyzed in detail. The linear shrinkage of the composites was measured. The shrinkage curves were obtained by dilatometry test in a heating mode. The composites were characterized by DTA/TG analyses and thermal conductivity. The composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, and EDX. The hardness was measured by Vickers hardness tester. Moreover, the Brazilian test was performed to determine the tensile mechanical properties of the composites. Fractography investigation was carried out as well. Dilatometric tests showed that the increase of the metallic phase volume in the ceramic matrix causes a decrease in the starting temperature of densification. Simultaneously, dilatometric experiments indicated that an increasing amount of metallic particles into the ceramic matrix increases the temperature of maximum densification and decreases the total shrinkage of the composites during sintering. The DTA/TG showed the characteristics of the dispersant decomposition to the atmosphere during thermal treatment and increase of mass connected with the oxidation of metals. Fractography results revealed good adhesion between Al2O3 matrix and the metallic phase. The observation allowed to conclude that the Al2O3 matrix surface is characterized by the brittle fracture mechanism.</jats:p

ZTA Pipes with a Gradient Structure-Effect of the Rheological the Behavior of Ceramic Suspensions on the Gradient Structure and Characterized of the Obtained Products

This paper focuses on the verifying the possibility of producing Al2O3-ZrO2 composite pipes with a gradient structure using centrifugal slip casting method. The aim of the research is to define the correlation between the rheological properties of aqueous suspensions of ceramic powders with different solid loading and obtaining the ZrO2 phase gradient in the Al2O3 matrix. Such products, due to their unique properties, can be utilized in the transport of aggressive substances, even in extreme temperature or corrosive conditions. The suspensions and the sintered samples were characterized by: broad rheological analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, stereological analysis and Vickers hardness tests. The study reports on a series of samples produced of ceramic suspensions (70 vol.% Al2O3–30 vol.% ZrO2) differing in the total solid loading in the range of 30–55 vol.%. The results clearly indicate that obtaining the gradient structure of ceramic-ceramic composite pipes is closely related to the rheological properties of the suspensions from which the samples are cast. The phase gradient is obtainable from suspensions 30–40 vol.%, in which the possibility of moving ZrO2 particles relative to the Al2O3 is quite high—these suspensions are characterized by low viscosity and the dominance of viscous over elastic properties (G′ &gt; G″).</jats:p