Search

Tendon stress may be one of the important risk factors for running-related tendon injury. Several methods have been used to estimate Achilles tendon (AT) loading during a human performance such as inverse dynamics (ID) and inverse dynamics-based static optimisation (IDSO). Our purpose was to examine differences between ID and IDSO estimates of AT loading during running. Kinematic data were captured simultaneously with kinetic data. Imaging of the AT cross-sectional area was performed with ultrasound for 17 healthy runners (height: 170.2 ± 6.2 cm, mass: 63.9 ± 11.0 kg, age: 21.8 ± 1.4 years). AT stress, strain, and force were estimated from both ID and IDSO approaches. The two methods resulted in minimal differences (3.6–4.7%) in estimated peak AT stress, strain, and force (P = 0.051–0.054); however, IDSO estimates were greater (32.7–36.8%) during early-stance phase of running (P = 0.000–0.008). This difference in AT load during early-stance may be due to the inability of the ID to account muscle coactivation. The similarity between the peak AT loading for ID and IDSO methods revealed that the advantage of IDSO used to estimate muscle forces had little effect on the ankle plantar flexor peak forces during running. Therefore, the use of IDSO with a higher computational cost compared with ID may not be necessary for estimating AT stress during running. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Aging is typically accompanied by memory decline and changes in hippocampal function. Among these changes is a decline in the activity of the dentate gyrus (DG) during behavior. Lasting memory, however, is thought to also require recapitulation of recent memory traces during subsequent rest - a phenomenon, termed memory trace reactivation, which is compromised in hippocampal CA1 with progressive age. This process has yet to be assessed in the aged DG, despite its prominent role in age-related memory impairment. Using zif268 transcription to measure granule cell recruitment, DG activity in adult and aged animals was assessed both during spatial exploration and as animals remained at rest in the home cage in order to detect potential memory-related replay. Results: Consistent with the observation of memory trace reactivation in DG, the probability that an individual granule cell transcribes zif268 during rest in the animal's home cage is increased by recent experience in a novel environment. Surprisingly, a comparable increase was observed in the probability of granule cells in the aged DG expressing zif268 during rest. Moreover, no significant age-related difference was observed in the number of granule cells expressing zif268 during rest. Thus, the number and pattern of granule cell expression of zif268 during rest is preserved in aged animals, despite a significant decline in exploration-related zif268 expression. Conclusions: These data lead to the hypothesis that the input the aged DG receives from backprojections from CA3 (the region widely hypothesized to mediate reactivation) remains functionally intact despite loss of innervation from the perforant path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background and objective: Pulmonary function tests play an important role in the management of pulmonary diseases. One of the tests that are widely used is spirometry. Performing an acceptable spirometry manoeuvre according to the standards set by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society is difficult. The aim of this study was to compare forced expiratory volume in 3 s (FEV3) and forced expiratory volume in 6 s (FEV6) with forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s FEV1/FEV3 and FEV1/FEV6 with FEV1/FVC, in order to substitute the usual spirometric manoeuvres with manoeuvres that are easier to perform. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, spirometry was performed for 588 subjects who were referred for occupational health evaluations. The accuracy of FEV3, FEV6, FEV1/FEV3 and FEV1/FEV6 was compared with that of FVC and FEV1/FVC. Chi-square tests and kappa tests were used to analyse the data. Results: Individuals with normal ( n = 297) and abnormal spirometry ( n = 291) were evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FEV1/FEV6, as compared with that of FEV1/FVC for detecting obstruction, were 93.56, 99.32, 98.95 and 96.09, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FEV6, as compared with that of FVC for detecting restriction, were 96.68, 98.65, 96.68 and 98.65, respectively. Conclusions: FEV6 and FEV1/FEV6 can be used as surrogates for FVC and FEV1/FVC, respectively, and these parameters showed acceptable sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for occupational health evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is well known that antidepressants both improve mood and increase the rate at which the dentate gyrus (DG) generates new neurons. In addition to the implications of neurogenesis for mood regulation, the production and survival of granule cells has also been implicated in learning and memory. Despite this evidence, the results of studies on the effect of antidepressants on memory have been mixed. A critical piece of data that may be missing from previous studies, however, is insight into (a) the location that newborn neurons migrate to following fluoxetine administration and (b) their ability to express normal patterns of activity-related genes. Here we demonstrate a finding that may resolve the discrepancy in the effects fluoxetine-induced neurogenesis on mood and memory: after 5 weeks delay, the net additional neurons generated in animals given the antidepressant fluoxetine during treatment are functionally normal, but preferentially accumulate (due to changes in migration and/or survival) in an area of the DG that is not recruited by spatial memory tasks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The nonlinear response of buildings has attracted a tremendous amount of attention in recent years. Braces, as lateral force-resisting elements of a structure, are designed to not only react in the elastic region, but also to exhibit nonlinear response beyond the elastic limit. However, buckling in compression drastically degrades the performance of braces under earthquake loading. Buckling restrained braces (BRBs) have been evolved into very effective systems for severe seismic applications. They prevent buckling in compression through the encasing of core steel into a steel tube and confining infill concrete. The effect of infill material is investigated in this research through the use of experimental tests. Filler material may be concrete, grout or mortar, as well as granular material such as compacted aggregate. Moreover, lightweight concrete or lean concrete may be utilized as filler to reduce the overall structural weight. Furthermore, the need for unbonding material may not arise when sand and gravel mixture is used. Nevertheless, the strength of the aggregate should be such that no buckling or strength deterioration is observed. Parametric studies on BRB characteristics are carried out in this research. Results of cyclic loading tests are then provided for individual cases to characterize the effect of response parameters of BRB assemblages. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Concentric braced frames are commonly used in steel structures to withstand lateral forces. However, brace hysteretic behavior is asymmetric in tension and compression. These frames typically exhibit substantial strength deterioration when loaded in compression. Consequently, the concept of Buckling Restrained Brace (BRB) has been introduced to overcome this deficiency. The length of a BRB steel core could have a significant effect on its overall behavior since it directly influences the energy dissipation of the member. Furthermore, BRB could be effectively utilized as a damper to dissipate seismic input energy, particularly when used as a fuse within the brace in a frame. Modified BRBs with shorter lengths may be called damper BRBs, because they function as if a typical damper is utilized along any brace member. These damper BRBs are fabricated and tested in this study both experimentally and analytically. Useful insights into local retrofitting of core plates and connections are also provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The conversion of ferrous verdoheme to ferric biliverdin in the presence of O2 was investigated using the B3LYP method. Both 6-31G and 6-31G (d) basis sets were employed for geometry optimization calculation as well as energy stabilization estimation. Three possible pathways for the conversion of iron verdoheme to iron biliverdin were considered. In the first route oxygen and reducing electron were employed. In this path formation of ferrous verdoheme-O2 complex was followed by the addition of one electron to the ferrous-oxycomplex to produce ferric peroxide intermediate. The ferric peroxide intermediate experienced an intramolecular nucleophilic attack to the most positive position at 5-oxo carbons on the ring to form a closed ring biliverdin. Subsequently the ring opening process took place and the iron (III) biliverdin complex was formed. Closed ring iron biliverdin intermediate and open ring iron biliverdin formed as a product of verdoheme cleavage were respectively 13.20 and 32.70 kcal mol−1 more stable than ferric peroxide intermediate. Barrier energy for conversion of ferric peroxide to closed ring Fe (III) biliverdin and from the latter to Fe (III) biliverdin were respectively 8.67 and 3.35 kcal mol−1. In this path spin ground states are doublet except for iron (III) biliverdin in which spin state is quartet. In the second path a ferrous-O2 complex was formed and, without going to a one electron reduction process, nucleophilic attack of iron superoxide complex took place followed by the formation of iron (III) biliverdin. This path is thermodynamically and kinetically less favorable than the first one. In addition, iron hydro peroxy complex or direct attack of O2 to macrocycle to form an isoporphyrin type intermediate have shown energy surfaces less favorable than aforementioned routes. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a modified method based on the frequency discriminator technique for measuring phase noise of microwave oscillators is presented. In the proposed method, the phase shifter is omitted. In contrast, a 90 hybrid with one more channel containing a phase detector, and a low-noise amplifier is added to the measurement setup. It can be said that an in-phase/quadrature phase-noise detection has been developed. With the proposed method, tuning of the variable phase shifter is not needed anymore. Therefore, the measurement is done automatically, and as a result, the measurement time is decreased. Another considerable advantage of this method is that the method is theoretically self-calibrated. For verifying the accuracy of the method, a measurement setup based on the proposed method was established. Two relatively low phase-noise phase-locked oscillators at frequencies of 2.8 and 4.9 GHz were designed. Their phase noise was measured by the proposed method, the conventional delay-line method, and the two-oscillator technique. Comparison of the measured data of the three methods shows the validity of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conversion of iron(II) verdoheme to iron biliverdin in the presence of OH− was investigated using B3LYP method. Both 3-21G and 6-31G* basis sets were employed for geometry optimization calculation as well as energy stabilization estimation. Calculation at 6-31G* level was found necessary for a correct spin state estimation of the iron complexes. Two possible pathways for the conversion of iron verdoheme to iron biliverdin were considered. In one path the iron was six-coordinate while in the other it was considered to be five-coordinate. In the six-coordinated pathway, the ground state of bis imidazole iron verdoheme is singlet while that for open chain iron biliverdin it is triplet state with 4.86kcal/mol more stable than the singlet state. The potential energy surface suggests that a spin inversion take place during the course of reaction after TS. The ring opening process in the six-coordinated pathway is in overall −2.26kcal/mol exothermic with a kinetic barrier of 9.76kcal/mol. In the five-coordinated pathway the reactant and product are in the ground triplet state. In this path, hydroxyl ion attacks the iron center to produce a complex, which is only 1.59kcal/mol more stable than when OH− directly attacks the macrocycle. The activation barrier for the conversion of iron hydroxy species to the iron biliverdin complex by a rebound mechanism is estimated to be 32.68kcal/mol. Large barrier for rebound mechanism, small barrier of 4.18kcal/mol for ring opening process of the hydroxylated macrocycle, and relatively same stabilities for complexes resulted by the attack of nucleophile to the iron and macrocycle indicate that five-coordinated pathway with direct attack of nucleophile to the 5-oxo position of macrocycle might be the path for the conversion of verdoheme to biliverdin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Problem-based learning (PBL) is based on a 'problem based structure' and may have higher learning efficacy than direct instruction. We quantified PBL on student learning in undergraduate biomechanics. Students (n = 109) at two comprehensive universities in the USA completed the Biomechanics Concept Inventory before and after biomechanics classes that integrated PBL for the seven course topics. Learning increased by 25 ± 14%, which is greater than reported for lecture with low-tech active learning. Eighty-three percent of students "agree(d)" to "strongly agree(d)" PBL was "helpful and effective" at aiding their learning. PBL can be an effective teaching method in undergraduate biomechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of new muon spin relaxation experiments, we disentangle extrinsic and intrinsic sources of low-temperature bulk magnetism in the candidate topological Kondo insulator (TKI) SmB6. Results on Al-flux-grown SmB6 single crystals are compared to those on a large floating-zone-grown 154Sm 11B6 single crystal in which a 14 meV bulk spin exciton has been detected by inelastic neutron scattering. Below ~10 K, we detect the gradual development of quasistatic magnetism due to rare-earth impurities and Sm vacancies. Our measurements also reveal two additional forms of intrinsic magnetism: (1) underlying low-energy (~100 meV) weak magnetic moment (~10-2 μB) fluctuations similar to those detected in the related candidate TKI YbB12 that persist down to millikelvin temperatures, and (2) magnetic fluctuations consistent with a 2.6 meV bulk magnetic excitation at zero magnetic field that appears to hinder surface conductivity above ~4.5 K. We discuss potential origins of the magnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketamine has emerged as a novel treatment for common psychiatric conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders, many of which can be initiated and exacerbated by psychological stress. Sex differences in the frequency of both anxiety and depressive disorders are well known and could be due to sex differences in neuroendocrine responses to stress. Ketamine is known to modulate the hormonal response to stress, specifically corticosterone. It is not clear if the acute effect of ketamine on corticosterone differs by sex, or what role this could play in subsequent behavior. Here we test whether a single injection of (R,S)-ketamine (30 mg/kg, i.p.), administered either with or without unpredictable chronic stress (UCS), has different sustained effects on open field test (OFT), elevated zero maze (EZM) or forced swim test (FST) behavior in female versus male C57BL/6J mice. In the OFT (24 h post-injection), ketamine increased center square exploration in males but not females. In contrast, in the FST (72 h post-injection), females showed a trend toward a decrease in immobility after ketamine whereas males were not strongly modulated. These behavioral effects of ketamine were stronger in the presence of UCS than in unstressed animals. UCS animals also showed lower corticosterone after injection than unstressed animals, and in the presence of UCS ketamine increased corticosterone; these effects were similar in both sexes. Corticosterone post-injection did not predict subsequent behavior. These findings complement a growing preclinical literature suggesting both stress-dependency and sex differences in OFT and FST behavioral responses to ketamine. In humans, it is known that major depression and anxiety disorders, which can be caused or made worse by exposure to psychological stress, occur roughly twice as frequently in women than in men, but the underpinnings of these effects are not well characterized. In the current study, we explored how sex interacts with stress and ketamine (a rapidly acting antidepressant) by assessing both open field and forced swim behavior in mice after chronic mild stress. We report the novel finding that male mice exhibit greater exploration of the aversive center square in the open field after ketamine, whereas females trended toward lower immobility (often interpreted as an antidepressant-like effect) in the forced swim test after this drug, and these effects were amplified by prior stress exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait retraining is a common form of treatment for running related injuries. Proximal factors at the hip have been postulated as having a role in the development of running related injuries. How altering footstrike affects hip muscles forces and kinematics has not been described. Thus, we aimed to quantify differences in hip muscle forces and hip kinematics that may occur when healthy runners are instructed to alter their foot strike pattern from their habitual rear-foot strike to a forefoot strike. This may gain insight on the potential etiology and treatment methods of running related lower extremity injury. Twenty-five healthy female runners completed a minimum of 10 running trials in a controlled laboratory setting under rear-foot strike and instructed forefoot strike conditions. Kinetic and kinematic data were used in an inverse dynamic based static optimization to estimate individual muscle forces during running. Within subject differences were investigated using a repeated measures multi-variate analysis of variance. Peak gluteus medius and minimus and hamstring forces were reduced while peak gluteus maximus force was increased when running with an instructed forefoot strike pattern. Peak hip adduction, hip internal rotation, and heel-COM distance were also reduced. Therefore, instructing habitual rearfoot strike runners to run with a forefoot strike pattern resulted in changes in peak gluteal and hamstring muscle forces and hip kinematics. These changes may be beneficial to the development and treatment of running related lower extremity injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]