Mathematical modeling of the radial profile of basilar membrane vibrations in the inner ear

Motivated by recent experimental results we seek an explanation of asymmetry in the radial profile of basilar membrane vibrations in the inner ear. We study a sequence of one-dimensional beam models which take into account variations in the bending stiffness of the basilar membrane as well as the potential presence of structural hinges. Our results suggest that the main cause of asymmetry is likely to be differences between the boundary conditions at the two extremes of the basilar membrane's width. This has fundamental implications for more detailed numerical simulations of the entire cochle

“Worse than two fathers” : Steampunk Pygmalion and a new look at double standards and the language of things in the digital realm

In keeping with recent steampunk productions of Pygmalion, this article presents a retro-futuristic reading of how Shaw’s play engages with language. Focusing upon the pressures operating on Liza when Higgins is “worse than two fathers” to her in seeking to win his wager with Pickering, I demonstrate how her position as both object and agent delivers the play’s criticism of attitudes to language, and also exposes literary and scientific discourses used to construct ideas of standard English in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Extending the implications of contemporary performances by drawing parallels between Liza and Ada Lovelace - also positioned by two fathers in Byron (literature) and Babbage (science) - I then use the play between the organising figures of Pygmalion and steampunk fiction to assess how Shaw’s work offers new perspectives on the production and re-production of data as language in the digital world of twenty-first century audiences

Reluctance Accelerator Efficiency Optimization via Pulse Shaping

Reluctance accelerators are used to apply linear forces to ferromagnetic projectiles via solenoids. Ef ciency increases for a single-stage reluctance accelerator were produced by manipulating the input current pulse supplied by a discharging capacitor. The development of a theoretical model allowed for the calculation of optimized pulse shapes. A digital pulsewidth modulated switching method was used to control the current pulse shape using an Arduino Uno microcontroller, which supplied signals to the gate of a MOSFET transistor that controlled the current to the system solenoid. An ef ciency increase of 5.7% was obtained for a reluctance accelerator with an optimized current pulse shape in comparison to a capacitor discharge with no pulse shapin

Management of ureteric endometriosis associated with hydronephrosis: An Australian case series of 13 patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hydronephrosis is a rare but serious manifestation of ureteric endometriosis.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>One hundred and twenty-six women underwent ureterolysis for ureteric endometriosis betweeen and October 1996 and June 2009. Thirteen of the 126 women were identified as having ureteric obstruction at the time of their procedure and were included in the case series. The median age was 39.5 (30 - 63). Chronic pelvic pain was the most common presenting symptom (53.8%). The point of ureteric obstruction was noted to occur most commonly at a small segment of distal left ureter, where it is crossed by the uterine artery (54%). Seven of the 13 women (53.8%) were successfully managed with ureterolysis only. Three of the 13 women (21.3%) underwent ureterolysis and placement of a double J ureteric stent. Three of the 13 (21.3%) required a segmental ureteric resection. There was one incidence of inadvertent thermal ureteric injury which was managed with a ureteric stent. In all cases the hydronephrosis had resolved at six months follow up.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings support the growing body of literature supporting ureterolysis as the optimal treatment for ureteric endometriosis causing moderate to severe ureteric obstruction.</p

On the origins of the compressive cochlear nonlinearity

Various simple mathematical models of the dynamics of the organ of Corti in the mammalian cochlea are analysed. The models are assessed against their ability to explain the compressive nonlinear response of the basilar membrane. The speci fic models considered are: phenomenological Hopf and cusp normal forms, a recently-proposed description combining active hair-bundle motility and somatic motility, a reduction thereof, and finally a new model highlighting the importance of the coupling between the nonlinear transduction current and somatic motility. The overall conclusion is that neither a Hopf bifurcation nor cusp bifurcation are necessary for realistic compressive nonlinearity. Moreover, two physiological models are discussed showing compressive nonlinearities similar to experimental observations without the need for tuning near any bifurcation

Subclinical Hypothyroidism

IMPORTANCE Subclinical hypothyroidism, defined as an elevated serum thyrotropin (often referred to as thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH) level with normal levels of free thyroxine (FT4) affects up to 10% of the adult population. OBSERVATIONS Subclinical hypothyroidism is most often caused by autoimmune (Hashimoto) thyroiditis.However, serum thyrotropin levels rise as people without thyroid disease age; serum thyrotropin concentrations may surpass the upper limit of the traditional reference range of 4 to 5mU/L among elderly patients. This phenomenon has likely led to an overestimation of the true prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in persons older than 70 years. In patients who have circulating thyroid peroxidase antibodies, there is a greater risk of progression from subclinical to overt hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism may be associated with an increased risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease events, and mortality from coronary heart disease. In addition, middle-aged patients with subclinical hypothyroidism may have cognitive impairment, nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, and altered mood. In the absence of large randomized trials showing benefit from levothyroxine therapy, the rationale for treatment is based on the potential for decreasing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events and the possibility of preventing progression to overt hypothyroidism.However, levothyroxine therapymay be associated with iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis, especially in elderly patients, and there is no evidence that it is beneficial in persons aged 65 years or older. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Subclinical hypothyroidism iscommonand most individuals can be observed without treatment. Treatment might be indicated for patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and serum thyrotropin levels of 10mU/L or higher or for young and middle-aged individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism and symptoms consistent with mild hypothyroidis

Enhancement of Gap Junction Function During Acute Myocardial Infarction Modifies Healing and Reduces Late Ventricular Arrhythmia Susceptibility

Objectives: To investigate the effects of enhancing gap junction (GJ) coupling during acute myocardial infarction (MI) on the healed infarct scar morphology and late post-MI arrhythmia susceptibility. Background: Increased heterogeneity of myocardial scarring after MI is associated with greater arrhythmia susceptibility. We hypothesized that short-term enhancement of GJ coupling during acute MI can produce more homogeneous infarct scars, reducing late susceptibility to post-MI arrhythmias. Methods: Following arrhythmic characterisation of the rat 4-week post-MI model (n=24), a further 27 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to receive rotigaptide to enhance GJ coupling (n=13) or saline control (n=14) by osmotic minipump immediately prior to, and for the first 7 days following surgical MI. At 4 weeks post-MI, hearts were explanted for ex vivo programmed electrical stimulation (PES) and optical mapping. Heterogeneity of infarct border zone (IBZ) scarring was quantified by histomorphometry. Results: Despite no detectable difference in infarct size at 4 weeks post-MI, rotigaptide-treated hearts had reduced arrhythmia susceptibility during PES (Inducibility score: rotigaptide 2.40.8, control 5.00.6, p=0.02) and less heterogeneous IBZ scarring (standard deviation of IBZ Complexity Score: rotigaptide 1.10.1, control 1.40.1, p=0.04), associated with an improvement in IBZ conduction velocity (rotigaptide 43.13.4 cm/s, control 34.82.0 cm/s, p=0.04). Conclusions: Enhancement of GJ coupling for only 7 days at the time of acute MI produced more homogeneous IBZ scarring and reduced arrhythmia susceptibility at 4 weeks post-MI. Short-term GJ modulation at the time of MI may represent a novel treatment strategy to modify the healed infarct scar morphology and reduce late post-MI arrhythmic risk

A 'living, cloven, apostolic tongue' and 'philanthropic philology' - Exploring the Possibility of Working-Class Writings on Language Theory in the 1840s

This article looks at two essays by John Goodwyn Barmby published in the New Moral World and Howitt’s Journal to explore the possibility of a working-class theory of language in England in the 1840s. Positioning Barmby’s writings in relation to explicit connections between politics, language theory and culture by middle-class writers in the 1830s that prepared the way for the emergence of the New Philology in England in the mid-nineteenth century, I also examine whether these two pieces fit within and extend a tradition of ‘alternative’ politically radical language theory produced at the turn of the century. By adopting and adapting research into the earlier period, I explore how Barmby’s texts attempt to invoke and accentuate discourses that became crucial to the development of new paradigms for the study of language in England. My analysis shows evidence to support the view that those discourses were neither radical nor conservative, and that their use in writings on language and politics was complex. I conclude that Barmby’s essays add to our knowledge of the history of language theory in England in the nineteenth century. More specifically, his texts are best described as instances of what could be called working-class labour on language theory in the 1840s, and as such they help our identification and analysis of the work being done by others at that time to appropriate and shape discourses in order to speak about language in terms of the emergent paradigm of the New Philology. Keywords: Barmby; philology; language; working-class; 1840s

The Potential Impact of Displacing Sedentary Time in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

This is the final published version. Available from Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins via the DOI in this record.PURPOSE: Sedentary time, in particular, prolonged unbroken sedentary time, is detrimental to health and displaces time spent in either light or moderate intensity physical activity. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the potential impact of reallocating time from sedentary behaviors to more active behaviors on measures of body composition and metabolic health in people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Participants were 519 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who had been recruited to the Early Activity in Diabetes (Early ACTID) randomized controlled trial. Waist-worn accelerometers were used to obtain objective measurement of sedentary time, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at baseline alongside clinical measurements and fasting blood samples to determine cholesterol, triglycerides, HOMA-IR, and glucose. Isotemporal substitution modeling was performed to determine the potential impact of reallocating 30 min of sedentary time accumulated in a single bout (long bout) with 30 min of interrupted sedentary time, LPA, or MVPA. RESULTS: Sedentary time accounted for 65% of the waking day, of which 45% was accumulated in prolonged (≥30 min) bouts. Reallocation of 30 min of long-bout sedentary time with 30 min of short-bout sedentary time was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) (adjusted β, -0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.00, -0.21) and waist circumference (WC) (adjusted β, -1.16; 95% CI, -2.08, -0.25). Stronger effects were seen for LPA and MVPA. Reallocation of 30 min of long-bout sedentary time with LPA was associated with higher HDL-cholesterol (adjusted β, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.03 mmol·L). CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes to break up prolonged periods of sedentary time may be an effective strategy for improving body composition and metabolic health.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR