Evaluation of Peripheral Electrostimulation Thresholds in Human Model for Uniform Magnetic Field Exposure

The external field strength according to the international guidelines and standards for human protection are derived to prevent peripheral nerve system pain at frequencies from 300–750 Hz to 1 MHz. In this frequency range, the stimulation is attributable to axon electrostimulation. One limitation in the current international guidelines is the lack of respective stimulation thresholds in the brain and peripheral nervous system from in vivo human measurements over a wide frequency range. This study investigates peripheral stimulation thresholds using a multi-scale computation based on a human anatomical model for uniform exposure. The nerve parameters are first adjusted from the measured data to fit the peripheral nerve in the trunk. From the parameters, the external magnetic field strength to stimulate the nerve was estimated. Here, the conservativeness of protection limits of the international guidelines and standards for peripheral stimulation was confirmed. The results showed a margin factor of 4–6 and 10–24 times between internal and external protection limits of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard (IEEE C95.1) and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines, with the computed pain thresholds.

Lattice-based Monte Carlo simulation of the effects of nutrient concentration and magnetic field exposure on yeast colony growth and morphology

Yeasts exist in communities that expand over space and time to form complex structures and patterns. We developed a lattice-based framework to perform spatial-temporal Monte Carlo simulations of budding yeast colonies exposed to different nutrient and magnetic field conditions. The budding patterns of haploid and diploid yeast cells were incorporated into the framework, as well as the filamentous growth that occurs in yeast colonies under nutrient limiting conditions. Simulation of the framework predicted that magnetic fields decrease colony growth rate, solidity, and roundness. Magnetic field simulations further predicted that colony elongation and boundary fluctuations increase in a nutrient- and ploidy-dependent manner. These in-silico predictions are an important step towards understanding the effects of the physico-chemical environment on microbial colonies and for informing bioelectromagnetic experiments on yeast colony biofilms and fungal pathogens.

Effect of heating of frozen colostrum in two-resonator installation

The study is aimed at the effect substantiation of voluminous heating of the cattle frozen colostrum in the two-resonator installation. The methodology is based on the theory of the electromagnetic field, the laws of thermodynamics and the results of physical modeling. The colostrum dielectric parameters were analyzed in the temperature range from -12 °C to +40 °C. The theoretical studies were carried out for changes finding out in the absorption coefficient of the electromagnetic field and the penetration depth of the electromagnetic waves 12.24 cm long during defrosting/heating of the cow colostrum with the fat content of 6.4%. It is found that the penetration depth of the electromagnetic field into the frozen raw material at negative temperatures range (0.2-1.0 cm) is less than that at the colostrum positive temperatures (1.0-2.17 cm). With such significant difference in the dielectric characteristics of the frozen and thawed colostrum and in their penetration depths of the ultra high frequency electromagnetic field, the rate of their heating is considerably different. The developed continuous-flow ultra high frequency electromagnetic generator contains two voluminous resonators. They provide the colostrum being in different physical states with different doses of the ultra high frequency electromagnetic field exposure.

Interdisciplinary Innovations Utilizing Pet Robots to Meet Research, Education, and Care Needs

Studies of the impact of robotic companion pets are proliferating, authored by several disciplines, each with different concerns. Roboticists focus on technology design and artificial emotional intelligence as opposed to general preferences for soft, furry, interactive animals. Others worry that as people interact with potentially deceptive technology, they may think the pet is alive. While aware of these serious concerns, gerontologists have focused on how lonely older persons without cognitive impairment respond to social ‘helper’ robots. More recent studies emphasize the possible impact of animatronic pets on persons with dementia (PWD). Therapeutic benefits of these pets are just being established. Our current pilot study is timely in that it now involves semi-structured interviews with formal/ informal caregivers of PWD who have been given a robot pet. We are eliciting perceptions, opinions, and observations of the PWD’s response to robotic pets. We recruited 8 gerontology students as much-needed assistants for a research-driven topics course to afford them field exposure to PWD, caregivers, and direct research experience. Because students seldom have experience either with robotic pets or PWD, they read selected articles and received training/practice in semi-structured interviewing techniques. Students next conducted interviews with caregivers of PWD who have interacted with the pets. All interviews are audio-recorded, transcribed and deposited in the Carolinas Conversations Collection. Content and thematic analysis of transcriptions, student activity logs and bi-weekly reflective discussions will inform next steps in intervention research, testing therapeutic outcomes such as agitation reduction by pet robots for PWD.