Do horizontal propulsive forces influence the nonlinear structure of locomotion?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several investigations have suggested that changes in the nonlinear gait dynamics are related to the neural control of locomotion. However, no investigations have provided insight on how neural control of the locomotive pattern may be directly reflected in changes in the nonlinear gait dynamics. Our simulations with a passive dynamic walking model predicted that toe-off impulses that assist the forward motion of the center of mass influence the nonlinear gait dynamics. Here we tested this prediction in humans as they walked on the treadmill while the forward progression of the center of mass was assisted by a custom built mechanical horizontal actuator.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nineteen participants walked for two minutes on a motorized treadmill as a horizontal actuator assisted the forward translation of the center of mass during the stance phase. All subjects walked at a self-select speed that had a medium-high velocity. The actuator provided assistive forces equal to 0, 3, 6 and 9 percent of the participant's body weight. The largest Lyapunov exponent, which measures the nonlinear structure, was calculated for the hip, knee and ankle joint time series. A repeated measures one-way analysis of variance with a t-test post hoc was used to determine significant differences in the nonlinear gait dynamics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The magnitude of the largest Lyapunov exponent systematically increased as the percent assistance provided by the mechanical actuator was increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results support our model's prediction that control of the forward progression of the center of mass influences the nonlinear gait dynamics. The inability to control the forward progression of the center of mass during the stance phase may be the reason the nonlinear gait dynamics are altered in pathological populations. However, these conclusions need to be further explored at a range of walking speeds.</p

Extremely high He isotope ratios in MORB-source mantle from the proto-Iceland plume

The high &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He/&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;He ratio of volcanic rocks thought to be derived from mantle plumes is taken as evidence for the existence of a mantle reservoir that has remained largely undegassed since the Earth's accretion. The helium isotope composition of this reservoir places constraints on the origin of volatiles within the Earth and on the evolution and structure of the Earth's mantle. Here we show that olivine phenocrysts in picritic basalts presumably derived from the proto-Iceland plume at Baffin Island, Canada, have the highest magmatic &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He/&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;He ratios yet recorded. A strong correlation between &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He/&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;He and &lt;sup&gt;87&lt;/sup&gt;Sr/&lt;sup&gt;86&lt;/sup&gt;Sr, &lt;sup&gt;143&lt;/sup&gt;Nd/&lt;sup&gt;144&lt;/sup&gt;Nd and trace element ratios demonstrate that the &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He-rich end-member is present in basalts that are derived from large-volume melts of depleted upper-mantle rocks. This reservoir is consistent with the recharging of depleted upper-mantle rocks by small volumes of primordial volatile-rich lower-mantle material at a thermal boundary layer between convectively isolated reservoirs. The highest &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He/&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;He basalts from Hawaii and Iceland plot on the observed mixing trend. This indicates that a &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He-recharged depleted mantle (HRDM) reservoir may be the principal source of high &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;He/&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;He in mantle plumes, and may explain why the helium concentration of the 'plume' component in ocean island basalts is lower than that predicted for a two-layer, steady-state model of mantle structure

UV-sensitive wearable devices for colorimetric monitoring of UV exposure

The extensive exposure of the human epidermis to solar radiation creates a health risk that results in skin cancer. Commercial sunscreens offer sufficient protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation; however, the ability to determine UV exposure limits can provide informed decisions about the dose of sunscreen required and the frequency of re-application. Here, a wide range of wearable devices that colorimetrically report on UV exposure are developed. Under UV radiation, UV-sensitive dyes change their color from 280 to 400 nm in the visible spectrum. By correlating the current color value and the UV dose, the amount of sun exposure is determined with an accuracy of 95%. A smartphone camera algorithm is coded to automatically perform the color analysis of these dyes. The UV-sensitive dyes are incorporated in wearable devices, skin patches, textiles, contact lenses, and tattoo inks. The developed wearable devices will ensure monitoring UV radiation to rationally manage the user's behavior in order to prevent harmful sun exposure

Animating the Carbon Cycle

This a post-print, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Ecosystems. Copyright © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10021-013-9715-7Understanding the biogeochemical processes regulating carbon cycling is central to mitigating atmospheric CO2 emissions. The role of living organisms has been accounted for, but the focus has traditionally been on contributions of plants and microbes. We develop the case that fully “animating” the carbon cycle requires broader consideration of the functional role of animals in mediating biogeochemical processes and quantification of their effects on carbon storage and exchange among terrestrial and aquatic reservoirs and the atmosphere. To encourage more hypothesis-driven experimental research that quantifies animal effects we discuss the mechanisms by which animals may affect carbon exchanges and storage within and among ecosystems and the atmosphere. We illustrate how those mechanisms lead to multiplier effects whose magnitudes may rival those of more traditional carbon storage and exchange rate estimates currently used in the carbon budget. Many animal species are already directly managed. Thus improved quantitative understanding of their influence on carbon budgets may create opportunity for management and policy to identify and implement new options for mitigating CO2 release at regional scales.US National Science FoundationNERCBBSRCNippon Foundatio

Primary graft failure associated with epithelial downgrowth: a case report

BACKGROUND: Epithelial downgrowth is a rare complication of ocular surgery. While the features of epithelial downgrowth following corneal transplantation are well described, its association with primary graft failure has only been reported once previously. We report a case of primary corneal graft failure (PGF) associated with retrocorneal epithelial cell ingrowth. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59 year-old male underwent an uncomplicated penetrating keratoplasty for Fuchs' corneal dystrophy. The patient developed PGF, and a second transplant was performed 5 weeks after the initial surgery. The initial host corneal button and the failed corneal graft were examined with light microscopy. Histopathologic examination of the excised corneal button demonstrated multilaminar epithelial cells on the posterior corneal surface and absence of endothelial cells. DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA was performed on the failed corneal graft. Polymerase chain reaction performed on the failed corneal graft was negative for HSV DNA, which has been implicated in selected cases of PGF. Three years following repeat penetrating keratoplasty, there was no evidence of recurrent epithelial ingrowth. CONCLUSION: This is only the second report of PGF associated with epithelialization of the posterior corneal button, which most likely developed subsequent to, instead of causing, the diffuse endothelial cell loss and primary graft failure

Low flow controls on stream thermal dynamics

Water level fluctuations in surface water bodies, and in particular low flow drought conditions, are expected to become more frequent and more severe in the future due to the impacts of global environmental change. Variations in water level, and therefore in-channel water volume, not only have the potential to directly impact stream temperature, but also aquatic vegetation coverage which, in turn, may affect stream temperature patterns and dynamics. Manipulation experiments provide a systematic approach to investigate the multiple environmental controls on stream temperature patterns. This study aims to use temperature data loggers and fibre optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) to investigate potential drought impacts on patterns in surface water and streambed temperature as a function of change in water column depth. To quantify the joint impacts of water level and associated vegetation coverage on stream temperatures, investigations were conducted in outdoor flumes using identical pool-riffle-pool features, but with spatially variable water levels representative of different drought severity conditions. Naturally evolved vegetation growth in the flumes ranged from sparse vegetation coverage in the shallow flumes to dense colonization in the deepest. Observed surface water and streambed temperature patterns differed significantly within the range of water levels and degrees of vegetation coverage studied. Streambed temperature patterns were more pronounced in the shallowest flume, with minimum and maximum temperature values and diurnal temperature variation being more intensively affected by variation in meteorological conditions than daily average temperatures. Spatial patterns in streambed temperature correlated strongly with morphologic features in all flumes, with riffles coinciding with the highest temperatures, and pools representing areas with the lowest temperatures. In particular, the shallowest flume (comprising multiple exposed features) exhibited a maximum upstream-downstream temperature warming of 3.3 °C (T in = 10.3 °C, T out = 13.5 °C), exceeding the warming observed in the deeper flumes by ∼ 2 °C. Our study reveals significant streambed and water temperature variation caused by the combined impacts of water level and related vegetation coverage. These results highlight the importance of maintaining minimum water levels in lowland rivers during droughts for buffering the impacts of atmospheric forcing on both river and streambed water temperatures

High-Throughput Isolation and Mapping of C. elegans Mutants Susceptible to Pathogen Infection

We present a novel strategy that uses high-throughput methods of isolating and mapping C. elegans mutants susceptible to pathogen infection. We show that C. elegans mutants that exhibit an enhanced pathogen accumulation (epa) phenotype can be rapidly identified and isolated using a sorting system that allows automation of the analysis, sorting, and dispensing of C. elegans by measuring fluorescent bacteria inside the animals. Furthermore, we validate the use of Amplifluor® as a new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mapping technique in C. elegans. We show that a set of 9 SNPs allows the linkage of C. elegans mutants to a 5–8 megabase sub-chromosomal region

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors lower both portal and pulmonary pressure in portopulmonary hypertension: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) is a severe complication in liver cirrhosis. PDE5 inhibitors lower pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in PPHTN. However, their effect on portal hypertension has not yet been investigated.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 55 year old male patient presented with PPHTN and alcoholic liver cirrhosis. 10 mg of Tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor with a long half-life, was administered orally under continuous monitoring of pulmonary and portal hemodynamics. For maintenance therapy the patient received Sildenafil 20 mg bid.</p> <p>Tadalafil lowered mean PAP from 45 to 39 mmHg within 60 minutes. Cardiac output (CO) increased from 6.8 to 7.9 l/min. Central venous pressure (CVP) remained stable at 3 mmHg. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was lowered from 167/89 to 159/86 mmHg. Pulse rate increased from 75 to 87 per min. Wedged hepatic vein pressure (WHVP) decreased from 21 to 18 mm Hg, hepatovenous pressure gradient (HVPG) decreased from 10 to 7 mmHg. Hemodynamic monitoring after 6 months of Sildenafil therapy revealed a sustained lowering of mean PAP. HVPG remained constant at 10 mmHg. Cardiac and pulmonary performance had further improved.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report shows for the first time, that phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors lower both portal and pulmonary pressure in portopulmonary hypertension.</p

Functional status of masticatory system, excutive function and episodic memory in older persons.

Findings from human experimental studies suggest that mastication positively influences cognitive function. The participants in those studies were relatively young. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between the functional status of the masticatory system, episodic memory, and executive functions in elderly people. The participants, elderly people living independently at home, were divided into two groups. One group had a full complement of natural teeth (n = 19) and the other group had full dentures (n = 19). The functional status of the masticatory system was assessed by measuring mandibular excursions (i.e. the distances over which the mandible can move in the open, lateral, and forward directions), bite force, number of occluding pairs and complaints of the masticatory system (facial pain, headaches/migraine). Executive functions and episodic memory were assessed by neuropsychological tests. Backward regression analysis showed that only in the group of elderly people with full dentures, 22% of executive functions were predicted by complaints of the masticatory system and 19.4% of episodic memory was predicted by masticatory performance (composed of mandibular excursions and bite force). The conclusion of this study is that only in older persons with full dentures the relationship between mastication, episodic memory, and executive function becomes evident when the functional status of the masticatory system decreases

Vascular Occlusion Affects Gait Variability Patterns of Healthy Younger and Older Individuals

Insufficient blood flow is one possible mechanism contributing to altered gait patterns in lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Previously, our laboratory found that induced occlusion alters gait variability patterns in healthy young individuals. However the effect of age was not explored. The purpose of this study was to account for age by investigating gait variability following induced vascular occlusion in healthy older individuals and to identify amount of change from baseline to post vascular occlusion between younger and older individuals. Thirty healthy younger individuals and 30 healthy older individuals walked on a treadmill during baseline and post vascular occlusion conditions while lower extremity joint kinematics were captured. Vascular occlusion was induced by thigh cuffs inflated bilaterally on the upper thighs. Amount and temporal structure of gait variability was assessed. Older individuals exhibited significantly increased values of temporal structure of variability post vascular occlusion. Post vascular occlusion values were similar between younger and older individuals after adjusting for baseline measurements. Results show blood flow contributes to altered gait variability. However alterations were less severe than previously documented in symptomatic PAD patients, suggesting that neuromuscular problems in the lower extremities of PAD patients also contribute to gait alterations in these patients