Endurance training in early life results in long‐term programming of heart mass in rats

Being born small for gestational age increases the risk of developing adult cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study aimed to examine if early-life exercise could increase heart mass in the adult hearts from growth restricted rats. Bilateral uterine vessel ligation to induce uteroplacental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction in the offspring (Restricted) or sham surgery (Control) was performed on day 18 of gestation in WKY rats. A separate group of sham litters had litter size reduced to five pups at birth (Reduced litter), which restricted postnatal growth. Male offspring remained sedentary or underwent treadmill running from 5 to 9 weeks (early exercise) or 20 to 24 weeks of age (later exercise). Remarkably, in Control, Restricted, and Reduced litter groups, early exercise increased (P < 0.05) absolute and relative (to body mass) heart mass in adulthood. This was despite the animals being sedentary for ~4 months after exercise. Later exercise also increased adult absolute and relative heart mass (P < 0.05). Blood pressure was not significantly altered between groups or by early or later exercise. Phosphorylation of Akt Ser(473) in adulthood was increased in the early exercise groups but not the later exercise groups. Microarray gene analysis and validation by real-time PCR did not reveal any long-term effects of early exercise on the expression of any individual genes. In summary, early exercise programs the heart for increased mass into adulthood, perhaps by an upregulation of protein synthesis based on greater phosphorylation of Akt Ser(473)

Apparatus and method for intra-layer modulation of the material deposition and assist beam and the multilayer structure produced therefrom

A method of producing a multilayer structure that has reduced interfacial roughness and interlayer mixing by using a physical-vapor deposition apparatus. In general the method includes forming a bottom layer having a first material wherein a first plurality of monolayers of the first material is deposited on an underlayer using a low incident adatom energy. Next, a second plurality of monolayers of the first material is deposited on top of the first plurality of monolayers of the first material using a high incident adatom energy. Thereafter, the method further includes forming a second layer having a second material wherein a first plurality of monolayers of the second material is deposited on the second plurality of monolayers of the first material using a low incident adatom energy. Next, a second plurality of monolayers of the second material is deposited on the first plurality of monolayers of the second material using a high incident adatom energy

Cost Models for MMC Manufacturing Processes

The quality cost modeling (QCM) tool is intended to be a relatively simple-to-use device for obtaining a first-order assessment of the quality-cost relationship for a given process-material combination. The QCM curve is a plot of cost versus quality (an index indicating microstructural quality), which is unique for a given process-material combination. The QCM curve indicates the tradeoff between cost and performance, thus enabling one to evaluate affordability. Additionally, the effect of changes in process design, raw materials, and process conditions on the cost-quality relationship can be evaluated. Such results might indicate the most efficient means to obtain improved quality at reduced cost by process design refinements, the implementation of sensors and models for closed loop process control, or improvement in the properties of raw materials being fed into the process. QCM also allows alternative processes for producing the same or similar material to be compared in terms of their potential for producing competitively priced, high quality material. Aside from demonstrating the usefulness of the QCM concept, this is one of the main foci of the present research program, namely to compare processes for making continuous fiber reinforced, metal matrix composites (MMC's). Two processes, low pressure plasma spray deposition and tape casting are considered for QCM development. This document consists of a detailed look at the design of the QCM approach, followed by discussion of the application of QCM to each of the selected MMC manufacturing processes along with results, comparison of processes, and finally, a summary of findings and recommendations

Factors affecting the performance of eddy current densification sensors

Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) is an increasingly important near net shape process for producing fully dense components from powders [1]. It involves filling a preshaped metal canister with alloy powder, followed by evacuation, and sealing. The can is then placed in a HIP (a furnace that can be pressurized to ~200MPa with an inert gas such as argon). The can is subjected to a heating/pressurization cycle that softens and compacts the powder particles to a fully dense mass and a shape determined by the can shape, the powders initial packing and the thermal-mechanical cycle imposed [2]. Today, many metals, alloys and intermetallics are processed this way (including nickel based superalloys, titanium alloys, NiA1, etc.) and it is increasingly used to produce metal matrix composites

Guided Interface Waves

Many of tomorrow’s technologies are dependent upon the emergence of new advanced materials with superior stiffness and strength but reduced density. Metal matrix composites (MMC’s) consisting of light metal matrices (e. g., aluminum, titanium or magnesium) reinforced with very stiff ceramic fibers or particles (e. g. SiC, AI2O3 or graphite) show considerable promise for satisfying this need. However, the satisfactory performance of these materials has been found to be critically dependent upon the attainment of optimal properties at the metal-ceramic interface; a problem that is compounded by the possibility of chemical reactions between the reactive metal matrix and ceramic reinforcement. Of particular import are the interface adhesion and local elastic properties. Unfortunately no methods exist for the measurement of these quantities even for macroscopic interfaces let alone for the microscopic interfaces occurring within MMC’s

Deep penetration of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composites by a sharp-tipped punch

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.The penetration of unidirectional (UD) and [0o/90o] cross-ply ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibre composites by sharp-tipped cylindrical punches has been investigated. While the measured penetration pressure for both composite types increased with decreasing punch diameter, the pressure was significantly higher for the cross-ply composites and increased with decreasing ply thickness. A combination of optical microscopy and X-ray tomography revealed that in both composites, the sharp-tipped punch penetrated without fibre fracture by the formation of mode-I cracks along the fibre directions, followed by the wedging open of the crack by the advancing punch. In the cross-ply composites, delamination between adjacent 0o and 90o plies also occurred to accommodate the incompatible deformation between plies containing orthogonal mode-I cracks. Micromechanical models for the steady-state penetration pressure were developed for both composites. To account for material anisotropy as well as the large shear strains and fibre rotations, the deformation of the composites was modelled via a pressure-dependent crystal plasticity framework. Intra and inter-ply fracture were accounted for via mode-I and delamination toughnesses respectively. These models account for the competition between deformation and fracture of the plies and accurately predict the measured steady-state penetration pressures over the wide range of punch diameters and ply thicknesses investigated here. Design maps for the penetration resistance of cross-ply composites were constructed using these models and subsequently used to infer composite designs that maximise the penetration resistance for a user prescribed value of fibre strength

Stage of perinatal development regulates skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and myogenic regulatory factor genes with little impact of growth restriction or cross-fostering

Foetal growth restriction impairs skeletal muscle development and adult muscle mitochondrial biogenesis. We hypothesized that key genes involved in muscle development and mitochondrial biogenesis would be altered following uteroplacental insufficiency in rat pups, and improving postnatal nutrition by cross-fostering would ameliorate these deficits. Bilateral uterine vessel ligation (Restricted) or sham (Control) surgery was performed on day 18 of gestation. Males and females were investigated at day 20 of gestation (E20), 1 (PN1), 7 (PN7) and 35 (PN35) days postnatally. A separate cohort of Control and Restricted pups were cross-fostered onto a different Control or Restricted mother and examined at PN7. In both sexes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-&gamma; coactivator-1&alpha; (PGC-1&alpha;), cytochrome c oxidase subunits 3 and 4 (COX III and IV) and myogenic regulatory factor 4 expression increased from late gestation to postnatal life, whereas mitochondrial transcription factor A, myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD), myogenin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreased. Foetal growth restriction increased MyoD mRNA in females at PN7, whereas in males IGF-I mRNA was higher at E20 and PN1. Cross-fostering Restricted pups onto a Control mother significantly increased COX III mRNA in males and COX IV mRNA in both sexes above controls with little effect on other genes. Developmental age appears to be a major factor regulating skeletal muscle mitochondrial and developmental genes, with growth restriction and cross-fostering having only subtle effects. It therefore appears that reductions in adult mitochondrial biogenesis markers likely develop after weaning.<br /

Blood Pressure and Cognitive Decline Over 8 Years in Middle-Aged and Older Black and White Americans

Although the association between high blood pressure (BP), particularly in midlife, and late-life dementia is known, less is known about variations by race and sex. In a prospective national study of 22 164 blacks and whites ≥45 years without baseline cognitive impairment or stroke from the REGARDS cohort study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke), enrolled 2003 to 2007 and followed through September 2015, we measured changes in cognition associated with baseline systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), as well as pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure, and we tested whether age, race, and sex modified the effects. Outcomes were global cognition (Six-Item Screener; primary outcome), new learning (Word List Learning), verbal memory (Word List Delayed Recall), and executive function (Animal Fluency Test). Median follow-up was 8.1 years. Significantly faster declines in global cognition were associated with higher SBP, lower DBP, and higher PP with increasing age ( P<0.001 for age×SBP×follow-up-time, age×DBP×follow-up-time, and age×PP×follow-up-time interaction). Declines in global cognition were not associated with mean arterial pressure after adjusting for PP. Blacks, compared with whites, had faster declines in global cognition associated with SBP ( P=0.02) and mean arterial pressure ( P=0.04). Men, compared with women, had faster declines in new learning associated with SBP ( P=0.04). BP was not associated with decline of verbal memory and executive function, after controlling for the effect of age on cognitive trajectories. Significantly faster declines in global cognition over 8 years were associated with higher SBP, lower DBP, and higher PP with increasing age. SBP-related cognitive declines were greater in blacks and men