Development of a usability evaluation method using natural product-use motion

The present study developed and tested a new usability evaluation method which considers natural product-use motions. The proposed method measures both natural product-use motions (NMs) and actual product-use motions (AMs) for a product using an optical motion capture system and examines the usability of the product based on motion similarity (MS; %) between NMs and AMs. The proposed method was applied to a usability test of four vacuum cleaners (A, B, C, and D) with 15 participants and their MSs were compared with EMG measurements and subjective discomfort ratings. Cleaners A (44.6%) and C (44.2%) showed higher MSs than cleaners B (42.9%) and D (41.7%); the MSs mostly corresponded to the EMG measurements, which could indicate that AMs deviated from NMs may increase muscular efforts. However, the MSs were slightly different from the corresponding discomfort ratings. The proposed method demonstrated its usefulness in usability testing, but further research is needed with various products to generalize its effectiveness. ? 2016 Elsevier Ltd113Nsciessciscopu

Structural characterization of the Fddd phase in a diblock copolymer thin film by electron microtomography

A 3-dimensional Fddd network structure of a polystyrene-block-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) diblock copolymer (M(n) = 31 500, f(PI) = 0.645) was observed for the first time in real space by transmission electron microtomography (TEMT). In a 650 nm thick film of the PS-b-PI thin film on a silicon wafer, the Fddd phase was developed after annealing at 215 degrees C for 24 h. The single network structure consists of the connected tripodal units of minor PS block domains. The {111}(Fddd) plane, the densest plane of the minor PS phase, was found to orient parallel to the film plane. The transitional structure from the wetting layer at the free surface to the internal {111}(Fddd) plane via a perforated layer structure was also observed.X111313sciescopu

Screw reinforcement on dowel-type moment-resisting connections with cracks

This study uses partially threaded self-tapping screws to enhance the mechanical properties of damaged and undamaged dowel-type timber connections. The damaged connections have a 1.5 mm wide artificial crack across the middle row of the fasteners. Test results showed that screw reinforcement can restore the rotation capacity of damaged connections. The rotational capacity of reinforced connections without cracks is 45.6% higher than unreinforced connections while the improvement on moment-resisting capacity is slight. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to detect the movement of the connections and validated that the fasteners rotate around the centre of rotation in reinforced connections. Screw reinforcement also demonstrated the ability to control crack propagation, with the reinforced groups showed a reduction of crack length by at least 37% when compared to the unreinforced groups. A calculation method is proposed to calculate the characteristic moment-resisting capacity of damaged and undamaged screw reinforced connections. The calculated values are proven to be conservative when compared with the characteristic value based on the experimental results

Augmentation of keratinized tissue at tooth and implant sites by using autogenous grafts and collagen-based soft-tissue substitutes

AIM To investigate the effect of three treatment modalities on the gain of keratinized tissue (KT) at tooth and implant sites in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS In five dogs, the distal roots of the mandibular second, third and fourth premolars were extracted, while the mesial roots were maintained. After 2 months of healing, implants were placed with KT excision. After another 2 months of healing, free gingival grafts, collagen-based matrices and apically positioned flap only were applied. The height of KT was measured during implant placement, immediately before soft-tissue grafting and after 10, 30 and 60 days. RESULTS Two months after KT excision, spontaneous KT regrowth was greater at tooth sites than at implant sites (median, 2.0 mm vs. 1.1 mm). The outcomes of soft-tissue grafting at implant sites favoured the free gingival graft treatment, with a greater final median height (5.0-5.5 mm) and increase in KT (4.0-4.2 mm). Locations of the recipient sites significantly influenced KT regeneration at both tooth and implant sites. CONCLUSIONS At implant sites, the free gingival graft treatment led to higher KT regeneration. At tooth sites, however, the differences between the three treatment modalities seemed clinically irrelevant

AMP-activated protein kinase-α1 as an activating kinase of TGF-β-activated kinase 1 has a key role in inflammatory signals

Although previous studies have proposed plausible mechanisms of the activation of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in inflammatory signals, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), its activating kinase still remains to be unclear. In the present study, we have provided evidences that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α1 has a pivotal role for activating TAK1, and thereby regulate NF-κB-dependent gene expressions in inflammatory signaling mediated by TLR4 and TNF-α stimulation. AMPK-α1 specifically interacts with TAK1 and reciprocally regulates their kinase activities. Upon the stimulation of lipopolysaccharide, AMPK-α1-knockdown (AMPK-$\alpha 1^{KD}$) or TAK1-knockdown human monocytic THP-1 cells exhibit a dramatic reduction in the TAK1 or AMPK-α1 kinase activity, respectively, and subsequent suppressions of its downstream signaling cascades, which further leads to inhibitions of NF-κB and thereby productions of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Importantly, the microarray analysis of AMPK-$\alpha 1^{KD}$ cells revealed a dramatic reduction in the NF-κB-dependent genes induced by TLR4 and TNF-α stimulation, and the observation was in significant correlation with the results of quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, AMPK-$\alpha 1^{KD}$ cells are highly sensitive to the TNF-α-induced apoptosis, which is accompanied with dramatic reductions in the NF-κB-dependent and anti-apoptotic genes. As a result, our data demonstrate that AMPK-α1 as an activating kinase of TAK1 has a key role in mediating inflammatory signals triggered by TLR4 and TNF-α

Plasma-Induced Frequency Chirp of Intense Femtosecond Lasers and Its Role in Shaping High-Order Harmonic Spectral Lines

We investigate the self-phase modulation of intense femtosecond laser pulses propagating in an ionizing gas and its effects on collective properties of high-order harmonics generated in the medium. Plasmas produced in the medium are shown to induce a positive frequency chirp on the leading edge of the propagating laser pulse, which subsequently drives high harmonics to become positively chirped. In certain parameter regimes, the plasma-induced positive chirp can help to generate sharply peaked high harmonics, by compensating for the dynamically-induced negative chirp that is caused by the steep intensity profile of intense short laser pulses.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and the risk of low muscle mass in young and middle-aged Korean adults

Objective: Despite the known benefit of vitamin D in reducing sarcopenia risk in older adults, its effect against muscle loss in the young population is unknown. We aimed to examine the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] level and its changes over time with the risk of incident low muscle mass (LMM) in young and middle-aged adults.Design: This study is a cohort study.Methods: The study included Korean adults (median age: 36.9 years) without LMM at baseline followed up for a median of 3.9 years (maximum: 7.3 years). LMM was defined as the appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass by body weight (ASM/weight) of 1 s.d. below the sex-specific mean for the young reference group. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs.Results: Of the 192,908 individuals without LMM at baseline, 19,526 developed LMM. After adjusting for potential confounders, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for incident LMM comparing 25(OH)D levels of 25-&lt;50, 50-&lt;75, and ≥75 nmol/L to 25(OH)D &lt;25 nmol/L were 0.93 (0.90-0.97), 0.85 (0.81-0.89), and 0.77 (0.71-0.83), respectively. The inverse association of 25(OH)D with incident LMM was consistently observed in young (aged &lt;40 years) and older individuals (aged ≥40 years). Individuals with increased 25(OH)D levels (&lt;50-≥50 nmol/L) or persistently adequate 25(OH)D levels (≥50 nmol/L) between baseline and follow-up visit had a lower risk of incident LMM than those with persistently low 25(OH)D levels.Conclusions: Maintaining sufficient serum 25(OH)D could prevent unfavourable changes in muscle mass in both young and middle-aged Korean adults.</p