The rheology of a dilute suspension of Brownian dipolar spheroids in a simple shear flow under the action of an external force

The effect of rotational Brownian motion on the rheology of a dilute suspension of dipolar spheroids in a simple shear flow under the action of an external force field, is investigated through a generalized Langevin equation approach. The force field is assumed to be either constant or periodic. In the case of constant external fields earlier results in the literature are reproduced, while for the case of periodic forcing certain parametric regimes corresponding to weak Brownian diffusion are identified where the rheological parameters evolve chaotically and settle onto a low dimensional attractor. The response of the system to variations in the strengths of the force field and diffusion is also analyzed through numerical experiments. These results correspond to the region of weak Brownian motion where usual methods render the problem intractable

Preliminary study on the effects of movement velocity training of the upper limbs on gait ability in older adults: a nonrandomized controlled trial

Saki Yamamoto,1 Akira Iwata,1 Yuki Yano,1 Toshimitsu Ohmine,1 Keisuke Honma,1 Kazuma Senzaki,1 Minami Fujiwara,1 Takayuki Murakami,1 Junji Inoue,1 Yuki Sano,2 Shuji Okagawa,3 Yuta Otsuki,4 Hideyuki Wanaka,5 Masataka Kataoka,1 Hiroshi Iwata61Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University, Habikino, Osaka, Japan; 2Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka General Medical Center, Osaka, Osaka, Japan; 3Department of Rehabilitation, Tatsumi Hospital, Ikeda, Osaka, Japan; 4Department of Rehabilitation, Kisei Hospital, Osaka, Osaka, Japan; 5Department of Rehabilitation, Kobe Rosai Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; 6Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, JapanPurpose: Movement velocity of the limbs or trunk plays an important determinant of gait speed in older adults. Movement velocity-focused training of the lower limbs or trunk has recently been shown to be an effective intervention to improve gait ability. Because movement velocities of various body regions are significantly correlated, movement velocity training of the upper limbs may also be effective for improving gait speed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether movement velocity training of the upper limbs in a seated position is effective for improving gait ability.Patients and methods: This study was a nonrandomized controlled trial. The participants were older adults residing in geriatric health service facilities. They were assigned to the movement velocity training of the upper limbs group (n=26) or control group (n=15). The participants in the training group performed exercises (three times per week for 10 weeks) to move the upper limbs as quickly as possible. The outcomes were gait speed, movement velocity, and quadriceps strength. These measurements were performed preintervention and 4, 8, and 10 weeks after intervention.Results: A significant time–group interaction was found for maximum gait speed and movement velocity of the upper limbs. Bonferroni post-hoc test showed significant improvement in gait speed between preintervention and 10 weeks after intervention in the training group. The movement velocity of the upper limbs was significantly improved between preintervention and 4, 8, and 10 weeks after intervention.Conclusion: Movement velocity training of the upper limbs showed significant and clinically relevant improvements in maximum gait speed at 10 weeks after intervention. This training is a potentially useful intervention and can be safely performed.Keywords: older people, movement velocity training, arm, gait speed, seated positio

Recursos minerais não-metálicos

OS RECURSOS minerais não-metálicos, embora muito importantes para o atendimento das necessidades da população e para o comércio exterior, são pouco contemplados pelas ações governamentais e ignorados pelo público. Geralmente não-incluída no planejamento territorial, a mineração de não-metálicos no Brasil causa extensos impactos ambientais mal controlados. Propõe-se uma ação coordenada de fomento e controle patrimonial e ambiental da mineração, que só será conseguida por ação política, a qual depende da formação abrangente dos profissionais da mineração e de sua maior comunicação com a totalidade da população.<br>NONMETALLIC mineral resources, albeit very important for the needs of the population and for exportation, are ill-favored by governmental actions and ignored by the public. Generally not included in territorial planning, the mining of nonmetallic minerals in Brazil produces extensive, ill-controlled environmental impacts. A coordinated action of promotion and control, both patrimonial and environmental of mining, is proposed. This will only be achieved by political action, which depends on a more comprehensive education of mining professionals and on a greater communication by them with the population as a whole

Immunosuppressive effects of sialostatin L1 and L2 isolated from the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus Schulze

Tick saliva contains immunosuppressants which are important to obtain a blood meal and enhance the infectivity of tick-borne pathogens. In Japan, Ixodes persulcatus is a major vector for Lyme borreliosis pathogens, such as Borrelia garinii, as well as for those causing relapsing fever, such as B. miyamotoi. To date, little information is available on bioactive salivary molecules, produced by this tick. Thus, in this study, we identified two proteins, I. persulcatus derived sialostatin L1 (Ip-sL1) and sL2 (Ip-sL2), as orthologs of I. scapularis derived sL1 and sL2. cDNA clones of Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 shared a high identity with sequences of sL1 and sL2 isolated from the salivary glands of I. scapularis. Semi-quantitative PCR revealed that Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 were expressed in the salivary glands throughout the life of the tick. In addition, Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 were expressed even before the ticks started feeding, and their expression continued during blood feeding. Recombinant Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 were developed to characterize the proteins via biological and immunological analyses. These analyses revealed that both Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 had inhibitory effects on cathepsins L and S. Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 inhibited the production of IP-10, TNFα, and IL-6 by LPS-stimulated bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Additionally, Ip-sL1 significantly impaired BMDC maturation. Taken together, these results suggest that Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 confer immunosuppressive functions and appear to be involved in the transmission of pathogens by suppressing host immune responses, such as cytokine production and dendritic cell maturation. Therefore, further studies are warranted to investigate the immunosuppressive functions of Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 in detail to clarify their involvement in pathogen transmission via I. persulcatus