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We describe the development of an optically clocked transistor array (OCTA) interface device for label swapping high-speed asynchronous burst optical packets. The OCTA integrates the three critical functions of serial-to-parallel (SP) conversion, parallel-to-serial (PS) conversion, and clock-pulse generation into a simple optoelectronic integrated circuit (OEIC) to create a single-chip interface between the input/output baseband optical labels and a CMOS label processor. The result is a high-performance label swapping solution which is compact and low power. In this paper, a detailed investigation of the design and optimization of the circuit is first performed, followed by testing of device stability under subsystem operating conditions. Finally, demonstrations of single-channel switching speeds allowing greater than 100-Gb/s operation, 40-Gb/s SP and PS conversion with an eight-channel OCTA, and error-free label swapping of 10-Gb/s asynchronous optical packets with a prototype label swapper module are described. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

By linking the unique capabilities of photonic devices with the signal processing power of electronics, photonically sampled analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion systems have demonstrated the potential for superior performance over all-electrical A/D conversion systems. We adopt a photonic A/D conversion scheme using low-temperature (LT)-grown GaAs metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photoconductive switches integrated with Si-CMOS A/D converters. The large bandwidth of the LT GaAs switches and the low timing jitter and short width of mode-locked laser pulses are combined to accurately sample input frequencies up to several tens of gigahertz. CMOS A/D converters perform back-end digitization, and time-interleaving is used to increase the total sampling rate of the system. In this paper, we outline the development of this system, from optimization of the LT GaAs material, speed and responsivity measurements of the switches, bandwidth and linearity characterization of the first-stage optoelectronic sample-and-hold, to integration of the switches with CMOS chips. As a final proof-of-principle demonstration, a two-channel system was fabricated with LT GaAs MSM switches flip-chip bonded to CMOS A/D converters. When operated at an aggregate sampling rate of 160 megasamples/s, the prototype system exhibits ∼3.5 effective number of bits (ENOB) of resolution for input signals up to 40 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

[Purpose] The simultaneous application of static stretching and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to calf muscles may enhance physiological parameters in young and healthy individuals; however, the efficacy of this intervention and potential sex variation remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate these aspects. [Participants and Methods] Thirty healthy university students (15 males and 15 females) participated in this study. All participants simultaneously underwent static stretching and NMES of the calf muscles for 4 min while lying on an upright and tilted table. The mean differences in the dorsiflexion angle (DFA), finger-floor distance (FFD), and straight leg raising (SLR) angle before and after the intervention were calculated. Sex variations were assessed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). [Results] The DFA, FFD, and SLR angle exhibited significant effects on time. No significant sex variations were observed between the groups. [Conclusion] Simultaneous static stretching and NMES of the calf muscles potentially enhanced the DFA, FFD, and SLR angle in healthy university students, irrespective of sex., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (2024©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)

Metastasis, which is the spread of cancer cells into distant organs, is a critical determinant of prognosis in patients with cancer, and blood vessels are the major route for cancer cells to spread systemically. Extravasation is a critical process for the hematogenous metastasis; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identified that senescent ECs highly express C-type lectin domain family 1 member B (CLEC-1b), and that endothelial CLEC-1b inhibits the hematogenous metastasis of a certain type of cancer. CLEC-1b expression was enhanced in ECs isolated from aged mice, senescent cultured human ECs, and ECs of aged human. CLEC-1b overexpression in ECs prevented the disruption of endothelial integrity, and inhibited the transendothelial migration of cancer cells expressing podoplanin (PDPN), a ligand for CLEC-1b. Notably, target activation of CLEC-1b in ECs decreased the hematogenous metastasis in the lungs by cancer cells expressing PDPN in mice. Our data reveal the protective role of endothelial CLEC-1b against cancer hematogenous metastasis. Considering the high CLEC-1b expression in senescent ECs, EC senescence may play a beneficial role with respect to the cancer hematogenous metastasis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Elastic taping that applies shear force affects joint movement. However, it remains uncertain whether elastic taping or stretching is more effective in improving flexibility., Objective: We investigated whether elastic taping for flexibility improvement is comparable to traditional stretching., Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 64 university students were randomly allocated to two groups: elastic taping on the sole or 30 s of static stretching. The primary outcome measures were the straight leg raising angle, tested with an equivalence margin (± 9.61∘ on changes), and the fingertip-to-floor distance. Secondary outcomes were the hip flexor and knee extensor strength, two-step distance, adverse events, and pain intensity during the intervention, which were compared using conventional statistical methods., Results: The mean differences in straight leg raising between the two groups after the interventions were not greater than the equivalence margin (mean [95% CI]: 1.4 [-6.9, 9.5]; equivalence margin, -9.61∘ to 9.61∘). There were no consistent differences between groups in terms of secondary outcomes except for pain intensity during the intervention (p> 0.05). Elastic taping did not induce pain., Conclusion: Elastic taping augments the flexibility-improving effect comparable to static stretching, based on an equivalence margin. Elastic taping of the sole appears to be an alternative method of improving flexibility.

This study aimed to determine whether a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force (TORF) modifies sagittal malalignment during level walking in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Fifteen patients, 6 months after undergoing surgery for LSS, performed level walking at a self-selected speed while wearing a TORF. Dynamic sagittal alignment, including sagittal vertical axis, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic tilt, and spatiotemporal data as well as lower limb kinematic and kinetic data were recorded using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and six force plates. Statistical analysis was performed to compare these data with and without the TORF, respectively. Compared to the condition without the TORF, the use of the TORF significantly decreased positive sagittal vertical axis (p < 0.05) and increased the lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt (p < 0.05). Peak hip flexion angle and extension moment during loading response (LR) significantly increased (p < 0.05), and peak hip extension angle and flexion moment during PS statistically decreased (p < 0.05). There was no difference in spatiotemporal data between the two conditions. Our findings suggest that TORF may modify the dynamic sagittal global alignment and lower limb kinematic and kinetics in postoperative LSS patients during level walking., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Mouse ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP) has been used to study bone loss in periodontitis. However, the role of osteocytes in LIP remains unclear. Furthermore, there is no consensus on the choice of alveolar bone parameters and time points to evaluate LIP. Here, we investigated the dynamics of changes in osteoclastogenesis and bone volume (BV) loss in LIP over 14 days. Time-course analysis revealed that osteoclast induction peaked on days 3 and 5, followed by the peak of BV loss on day 7. Notably, BV was restored by day 14. The bone formation phase after the bone resorption phase was suggested to be responsible for the recovery of bone loss. Electron microscopy identified bacteria in the osteocyte lacunar space beyond the periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue. We investigated how osteocytes affect bone resorption of LIP and found that mice lacking receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), predominantly in osteocytes, protected against bone loss in LIP, whereas recombination activating 1 (RAG1)-deficient mice failed to resist it. These results indicate that T/B cells are dispensable for osteoclast induction in LIP and that RANKL from osteocytes and mature osteoblasts regulates bone resorption by LIP. Remarkably, mice lacking the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MYD88) did not show protection against LIP-induced bone loss. Instead, osteocytic cells expressed nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 1 (NOD1), and primary osteocytes induced significantly higher Rankl than primary osteoblasts when stimulated with a NOD1 agonist. Taken together, LIP induced both bone resorption and bone formation in a stage-dependent manner, suggesting that the selection of time points is critical for quantifying bone loss in mouse LIP. Pathogenetically, the current study suggests that bacterial activation of osteocytes via NOD1 is involved in the mechanism of osteoclastogenesis in LIP. The NOD1-RANKL axis in osteocytes may be a therapeutic target for bone resorption in periodontitis. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).)