56 research outputs found
Quantitative coronary CT angiography: absolute lumen sizing rather than %stenosis predicts hemodynamically relevant stenosis
This full day tutorial will use lectures and demonstrations from leading researchers and museum practitioners to present the principles and practices for robust photography-based digital techniques in museum contexts. The tutorial will present many examples of existing and cutting-edge uses of photography-based imaging including Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), Algorithmic Rendering (AR), camera calibration, and methods of imaged-based generation of textured 3D geometry. The tutorial will also explore a framework for Leading museums are now adopting the more mature members of this family of robust digital imaging practices. These practices are part of the emerging science known as Computational Photography (CP). The imaging family’s common feature is the purpose-driven selective extraction of information from sequences of standard digital photographs. The information is extracted from the photographic sequences by computer algorithms. The extracted information is then integrated into a new digital representations containing knowledge not present in the original photogs, examined either alone or sequentially. The tutorial will examine strategies that promote widespread museum adoption of empirical acquisition technologies, generate scientifically reliable digital representations that are ‘born archival’, assist this knowledge’s long-term digital preservation, enable its future reuse for novel purposes, aid the physical conservation of the digitally represented museum materials, and enable public access and research
High intensity aerobic exercise training improves deficits of cardiovascular autonomic function in a rat model of type 1 diabetes mellitus with moderate hyperglycemia
© 2016 Kenneth N. Grisé et al. Indices of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in experimental models of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are often contrary to clinical data. Here, we investigated whether a relatable insulin-treated model of T1DM would induce deficits in cardiovascular (CV) autonomic function more reflective of clinical results and if exercise training could prevent those deficits. Sixty-four rats were divided into four groups: sedentary control (C), sedentary T1DM (D), control exercise (CX), or T1DM exercise (DX). Diabetes was induced via multiple low-dose injections of streptozotocin and blood glucose was maintained at moderate hyperglycemia (9-17 mM) through insulin supplementation. Exercise training consisted of daily treadmill running for 10 weeks. Compared to C, D had blunted baroreflex sensitivity, increased vascular sympathetic tone, increased serum neuropeptide Y (NPY), and decreased intrinsic heart rate. In contrast, DX differed from D in all measures of CAN (except NPY), including heart rate variability. These findings demonstrate that this T1DM model elicits deficits and exercise-mediated improvements to CV autonomic function which are reflective of clinical T1DM
Population structure and dispersal routes of an invasive parasite, Fascioloides magna, in North America and Europe
The QuinteT Recruitment Intervention supported five randomized trials to recruit to target: a mixed-methods evaluation
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of the QuinteT Recruitment Intervention (QRI) on recruitment in challenging randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have applied the intervention. The QRI aims to understand recruitment difficulties and then implements “QRI actions” to address these as recruitment proceeds.
Study Design and Setting:
A mixed-methods study, comprising (1) before-and-after comparisons of recruitment rates and the numbers of patients approached and (2) qualitative case studies, including documentary analysis and interviews with RCT investigators.
Results:
Five UK-based publicly funded RCTs were included in the evaluation. All recruited to target. Randomized controlled trial 2 and RCT 5 both received up-front prerecruitment training before the intervention was applied. Randomized controlled trial 2 did not encounter recruitment issues and recruited above target from its outset. Recruitment difficulties, particularly communication issues, were identified and addressed through QRI actions in RCTs 1, 3, 4, and 5. Randomization rates significantly improved after QRI action in RCTs 1, 3, and 4. Quintet Recruitment Intervention actions addressed issues with approaching eligible patients in RCTs 3 and 5, which both saw significant increases in the number of patients approached. Trial investigators reported that the QRI had unearthed issues they had been unaware of and reportedly changed their practices after QRI action.
Conclusion:
There is promising evidence to suggest that the QRI can support recruitment to difficult RCTs. This needs to be substantiated with future controlled evaluations
The QuinteT Recruitment Intervention supported five randomized trials to recruit to target: a mixed-methods evaluation
ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the Quintet Recruitment Intervention (QRI) on recruitment in challenging randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have applied the intervention. The QRI aims to understand recruitment difficulties, and then implements ‘QRI-actions’ to address these as recruitment proceeds.Study Design and SettingA mixed-methods study, comprising: a) before-and-after comparisons of recruitment rates and numbers of patients approached, and b) qualitative case studies, including documentary analysis and interviews with RCT investigators.ResultsFive UK-based publicly-funded RCTs were included in the evaluation. All recruited to target. RCT2 and RCT5 both received up-front pre-recruitment training before the intervention was applied. RCT2 did not encounter recruitment issues and recruited above target from its outset. Recruitment difficulties, particularly communication issues, were identified and addressed through QRI-actions in RCTs 1, 3, 4 and 5. Randomization rates significantly improved post-QRI-action in RCTs 1,3, and 4. QRI-actions addressed issues with approaching eligible patients in RCTs 3 and 5, which both saw significant increases in patients approached. Trial investigators reported that the QRI had unearthed issues they had been unaware of, and reportedly changed their practices post QRI-action.ConclusionThere is promising evidence to suggest the QRI can support recruitment to difficult RCTs. This needs to be substantiated with future controlled evaluations
Invited Review: Heat Shock Proteins and Exercise: A Primer
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are, in general, prosurvival molecules within the cellular environment, and the overexpression of even just 1 family of HSPs can lead to protection against and improvements after a variety of stressors. Not surprisingly, a fertile area of study has grown out of effors to exploit the innate biologic behaviour of HSPs. Exercise, because of the inherent physiologic stresses associated with it, is but 1 stimulus that can result in a robust increase in various HSPs in several tissues, not the least of which happen to be the heart and skeletal muscle. The purpose of this review is to introduce the reader to the major HSP families, the control of their expression, and some of their biologic functions, specifically with respect to the influence of exercise. Moreover, as the first in a series of reviews from a common symposium, we will briefly introduce the concepts presented by the other authors, which include the effects of different exercise paradigms on skeletal muscle HSPs in the adult and aged systems, HSPs as regulators of inflammation, and the ion channel stabilizing effects of HSPs
PKA-Mediated ERK1/2 Inactivation and Hsp70 Gene Expression Following Exercise
Exercise induces the expression of the cardioprotective protein, Hsp70, through the activation of its transcription factor HSF1. Recently, we reported that administration of a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor suppressed exercise-induced hsp70 gene expression, suggesting a role for PKA in the regulation of HSF1 activation in vivo. While the mechanism by which PKA regulates HSF1 is unclear, studies in vitro have reported that HSF1 is phosphorylated on two serine residues by mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs); ERK1/2 (ser307) and JNK/SAPK (ser363). As PKA is a regulator of these protein kinases, the current study examined the role of PKA in their activation and subsequent regulation of exercise-induced hsp70 gene expression. Following treadmill-running exercise (60 min at 30 m/min; 2% grade), both ERK1/2 and JNK/SAPK demonstrated distinct phosphorylation profiles. Increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was observed immediately post-exercise, whereas JNK/SAPK phosphorylation was not significantly elevated until 30 min post-exercise. Administration of the PKA inhibitor (H89; 0.360 mg/kg) maintained ERK1/2 phosphorylation to at least 30 min post exercise (n = 5; P \u3c 0.05) while JNK/SAPK phosphorylation was unaltered. Inhibition of this PKA-mediated increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation through the simultaneous administration of an ERK1/2 inhibitor (UB-1026; 0.25 mg/kg) restored exercise-induced hsp70 mRNA levels in PKA-inhibited rats that previously demonstrated a suppressed response (P \u3c 0.05). Given that ERK1/2 has been shown to be a negative regulator of HSF1 in vitro, these results suggest a role for ERK1/2 in the PKA-mediated regulation of HSF1 activation following exercise
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