Promoting Physical Activity in Low Income African Americans: Project LAPS

Low income African Americans are at increased risk for physical inactivity and related chronic illnesses. Thus, effective interventions are needed to address these health disparities. The current study examined the efficacy of a home-based physical activity intervention among a low income African American sample with high rates of chronic illnesses (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol). Participants (n=214) were randomly assigned to either the home-based physical activity intervention (self-help print materials, five monthly newsletters, two telephone counseling sessions) or an attention control condition, which promoted healthy diet. Results indicated that the intervention did not produce significantly greater increases in physical activity from baseline to six months than the control group. Lessons learned from the current study include the importance of using proactive retention strategies with low income African American participants and taking into consideration the cultural relevance of the intervention

High pressure mechanical seal

A relatively impervious mechanical seal is formed between the outer surface of a tube and the inside surface of a mechanical fitting of a high pressure fluid or hydraulic system by applying a very thin soft metal layer onto the outer surface of the hard metal tube and/or inner surface of the hard metal fitting, prior to swaging the fitting onto the tube. The thickness of such thin metal layer is independent of the size of the tube and/or fittings. Many metals and alloys of those metals exhibit the requisite softness, including silver, gold, nickel, tin, platinum, indium, rhodium and cadmium. Suitably, the coating is about 0.0025 millimeters (0.10 mils) in thickness. After swaging, the tube and fitting combination exhibits very low leak rates on the order or 10.sup.-8 cubic centimeters per second or less as meaured using the Helium leak test

Using simulation-software-generated animations to investigate attitudes towards autonomous vehicles accidents

Road accidents involving autonomous vehicles are inevitable and have the potential to damage the public's confidence in the technology and ultimately result in its disuse. It's important to understand how people react to such incidents and the influencing factors of blame attribution and trust restoration. Research in this field has started to grow but faces a huge methodological challenge, which is to develop high-fidelity experimental stimuli as realistic representations of accident scenarios in order to elicit valid reactions from human participants. The present paper reviews and evaluates several existing methods used in the research field before proposing an alternative method of generating animated accident sequence using driving simulation software. It is argued that this method strikes a good balance of fidelity, versatility and cost-effectiveness. We also present some preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of variable manipulation using such a methodology

Temporal trends in the management of severe hyperglycemia among patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction [abstract]

Poster sesssionBackground: Elevated blood glucose (BG) is associated with an adverse prognosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. While guidelines recommend insulin therapy to lower markedly elevated BG in AMI patients, it is unknown whether these recommendations have impacted BG management over time. Methods: We studied 39,775 AMI patients hospitalized from 2000 to 2008 in 55 US medical centers contributing to Health Facts, a national database with extensive data on in-hospital BG and insulin use. Using all available BG measures during the hospital stay, we restricted our analysis to patients with a mean BG ≥200mg/dl and examined temporal trends in insulin use with hierarchical logistic regression models. Results: Overall, 4330 patients (11% of the entire cohort) had mean hospitalization BG ≥ 200 mg/dL and this proportion decreased from 2000 to 2008 (12% to 8%, p for trend<0.001); 75% of these patients had diabetes. In total, 61% of AMI patients with mean BG ≥ 200 received any insulin and only 16% received intravenous (IV) insulin during hospitalization. Hierarchical multivariable models showed an increased likelihood of insulin use over time (Figure). However, about one in three patients continued to receive no treatment for markedly elevated BG. Conclusions: Despite some improvement over time, insulin treatment rates among hospitalized AMI patients with severe, sustained hyperglycemia remain low. These findings likely reflect continuing uncertainty regarding optimal BG management during AMI

Montmorency cherry supplementation attenuates vascular dysfunction induced by prolonged forearm occlusion in overweight, middle-aged men

Flavonoid supplementation improves brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), but it is not known whether flavonoids protect against vascular dysfunction induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and associated respiratory burst. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we investigated whether 4 wk supplementation with freeze-dried Montmorency cherry (MC) attenuated suppression of FMD after IR induced by prolonged forearm occlusion. Twelve physically inactive overweight, middle-aged men (52.8 ± 5.8 yr, BMI: 28.1 ± 5.3 kg/m2) consumed MC (235 mg/day anthocyanins) or placebo capsules for 4 wk, with supplementation blocks separated by 4 wk washout. Before and after each supplementation block, FMD responses and plasma nitrate and nitrite ([ N O − 2 ]) concentrations were measured at baseline and 15, 30, and 45 min after prolonged (20 min) forearm occlusion. FMD response was significantly depressed by the prolonged occlusion ( P < 0.001). After a 45-min reperfusion, FMD was restored to baseline levels after MC (ΔFMD presupplementation: -30.5 ± 8.4%, postsupplementation: -0.6 ± 9.5%) but not placebo supplementation (ΔFMD presupplementation: -11.6 ± 10.6, postsupplementation: -25.4 ± 4.0%; condition × supplement interaction: P = 0.038). Plasma [ N O − 2 ] decreased after prolonged occlusion but recovered faster after MC compared with placebo (Δ45 min to baseline; MC: presupplementation: -15.3 ± 9.6, postsupplementation: -6.2 ± 8.1; Placebo: presupplementation: -16.3 ± 5.9, postsupplementation: -27.7 ± 11.1 nmol/l; condition × supplement × time interaction: P = 0.033). Plasma peroxiredoxin concentration ([Prx2]) was significantly higher after MC (presupplementation: 22.8 ± 1.4, postsupplementation: 28.0 ± 2.4 ng/ml, P = 0.029) but not after placebo supplementation (presupplementation: 22.1 ± 2.2, postsupplementation: 23.7 ± 1.5 ng/ml). In conclusion, 4 wk MC supplementation enhanced recovery of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation after IR, in parallel with faster recovery of plasma [ N O − 2 ], suggesting NO dependency. These protective effects seem to be related to increased plasma [Prx2], presumably conferring protection against the respiratory burst during reperfusion. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to demonstrate that 4 wk of Montmorency cherry powder supplementation exerted protective effects on endothelium-dependent vasodilation after transient ischemia-reperfusion injury in overweight, physically inactive, nonmedicated, hypertensive middle-aged men. These effects seem to be due to increased nitric oxide availability, as evidenced by higher plasma nitrite concentration and peak arterial diameter during the flow-mediated dilation measurement. This may be a consequence of increased concentration of peroxiredoxin and other antioxidant systems and, hence, reduced reactive oxygen species exposure.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access it via the publisher's site.This study was partially funded by a grant from the Cherry Research Committee, Aboo-Bakkar was supported by a Ph.D. studentship from the Universiti Kuala Lumpur, and Fulford’s salary was provided by National Institute for Health Research.accepted version (12 month embargo

Utilizing Feed Sequencing to Decrease the Risk of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) Cross-contamination During Feed Manufacturing

Understanding key points of potential cross-contamination during the feed manufacturing process is important to developing efficacious methods to control or prevent transmission of pathogens into swine diets. In this study, an experiment was conducted involving 30 crossbred 10-d-old pigs that were used as a bioassay model for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) to determine the effects of feed batch sequencing on PEDV cross-contamination and subsequent infectivity. PEDV with a PCR cycle threshold value (Ct) of 11 was uniformly mixed into 4.5 kg of swine diet using a stainless steel bench top mixer validated for mixing efficiency. The inoculated feed was then added to 45 kg of swine diet and mixed using a 4 ft3 electric paddle mixer validated for mixing efficiency to form the positive experimental treatment. Feed was discharged, carried into a bucket elevator, and exited through a downspout. Subsequent treatment batches were formed when 50 kg of PEDV-free swine diet was sequenced immediately after the PEDV-inoculated batch without cleaning the equipment to replicate the batching process used in commercial feed mills. The subsequent sequence batches (1-4) mixed, discharged, and sampled similar to the PEDV-positive batch. Feed samples were analyzed for the presence of PEDV using PCR and bioassay. Pigs were then orally challenged with harvested supernatant. Fecal swabs were collected for PEDV PCR testing. At seven days after challenge, all pigs were necropsied. Cecum contents, ileum, and jejunum were collected for PCR, histologic, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) evaluation. Overall, the results indicate that sequencing reduced but did not eliminate the risk of PEDV transmission. All pigs (9/9) challenged with the positive treatment were infected with PEDV with feed that had a Ct mean of 31.7. The discharge for the first sequence had a Ct value of 38.1 and infected pigs were noted in pigs from one of three rooms used to bioassay the feed. The second sequence did not have detectable PEDV RNA by using PCR. Interestingly, feed from the second sequence was infectious as verified by infection in pigs from one of three rooms used for bioassay. This study is the first to demonstrate feed without detectable PEDV RNA can be infective but is similar to other research using tissue homogenates and cell culture as bioassay material. In summary, feed batch sequencing should be considered a risk mitigation strategy that can be incorporated into feed mill biosecurity programs but should not be considered a risk elimination strategy

Apolipoprotein E: Isoform Specific Differences in Tertiary Structure and Interaction with Amyloid-β in Human Alzheimer Brain

We applied a novel application of FLIM-FRET to in situ measurement and quantification of protein interactions to explore isoform specific differences in Aβ-ApoE interaction and ApoE tertiary conformation in senile plaques in human Alzheimer brain. ApoE3 interacts more closely with Aβ than ApoE4, but a greater proportion of Aβ molecules within plaques are decorated with ApoE4 than ApoE3, lending strong support to the hypothesis that isoform specific differences in ApoE are linked with Aβ deposition. We found an increased number of ApoE N-terminal fragments in ApoE4 plaques, consistent with the observation that ApoE4 is more easily cleaved than ApoE3. In addition, we measured a small but significant isoform specific difference in ApoE domain interaction. Based on our in situ data, supported by traditional biochemical data, we propose a pathway by which isoform specific conformational differences increase the level of cleavage at the hinge region of ApoE4, leading to a loss of ApoE function to mediate clearance of Aβ and thereby increase the risk of AD for carriers of the APOEε4 allele

Determining the Minimum Infectious Dose of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) in a Feed Matrix

Understanding the magnitude of transmissible risk Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV)-infected feed imposes and establishing the minimum infectious dose of PEDV in a feed matrix are important components in strengthening virus prevention and control methods. In this study, an experiment was performed involving 30 crossbred, 10-d-old pigs that were used as a bioassay model for the minimum infectious dose of PEDV in feed. The PEDV was first diluted using tissue culture media to form 8 serial 10-fold dilutions. An aliquot of the original stock virus at 5.6 x 105 tissue culture infectious dose/ml (TCID50/ml), each serial PEDV dilution, and one virus-negative culture medium were mixed into separate 4.5 kg batches of swine diet to form 10 experimental treatments. The feed was then subsequently evaluated for infectivity using bioassay. Fecal swabs were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 7 d after challenge for PCR testing. At 7 d after challenge, all pigs were necropsied. Cecum contents, ileum and jejunum were collected for PCR, histologic and immunohistochemistry (IHC) evaluation. Overall, the results indicate 5.6 × 101 TCID50/g was the minimum PEDV dose in which infection was detected. This feed had a corresponding PCR cycle threshold (Ct) of 37. This is a relatively low dose. To illustrate, using this dose, approximately 1 g of PEDV-infected baby piglet feces could contaminate up to 500 tons of feed. The data confirm that detectable Ct values in feed can result in pig infection. Our results also illustrate that the Ct in feed that was detected as infectious can be above the detection threshold used by some diagnostic laboratories

Effects of a beta-agonist treatment, Vitamin D3 supplementation and electrical stimulation on meat quality of feedlot steers

In this study, 20 young steers received no beta-agonist (C), 100 animals all received zilpaterol hydrocholoride (Z), with 1 group only receiving Z while the other 4 groups received zilpaterol and vitamin D3 at the following levels (IU/animal/day) and durations before slaughter: 7 million for 3 days (3D7M); 7 million for 6 days (6D7M); 7 million for 6 days with 7 days nor supplementation (6D7M7N) and 1 million for 9 days (9D1M). Left carcass sides were electrically stimulated (ES) and the right side not stimulated (NES). Samples were aged for 3 or 14 days post mortem. Parameters included Warner –Bratzler shear force (WBSF), myofibril filament length, sarcomere length and calpastatin and calpain enzyme activity. Both ES and prolonged aging reduced WBSF (P<0.001). 6D7M, 6D7M7N and Z remained significantly tougher than C (P<0.001), while 3D7M and 9D1M improved WBSF under NES conditions. ES is more effective to alleviate beta-agonist induced toughness than high vitamin D3 supplements.THRIP and the RMRDT.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/meatscinf201