PERCEPTION OF AMPLITUDE ONSET SIGNALS IN CHINESE CHILDREN WITH READING DIFFICULTIES AND SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS

J Spec Educ Rehab 2017; 18(1-2):109-125

Serum leptin is associated with cardiometabolic risk and predicts metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leptin is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, few studies have assessed its relationship with metabolic syndrome, especially in an Asian population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess leptin levels and evaluate its association with CVD and metabolic syndrome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2009, 957 subjects, who underwent a routine physical examination and choose leptin examination, were selected to participate. Participants (269 females and 688 males) were stratified according to leptin level quartiles. Metabolic syndrome was defined by NCEP ATP III using waist circumference cutoffs modified for Asian populations, and CVD risk was determined using the Framingham Heart Study profile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Leptin levels were correlated with CVD risk in men and women. With the exception of fasting plasma glucose, increased leptin levels were observed as factors associated with metabolic syndrome increased in both males and females. After adjusting for age, an association between leptin levels and metabolic syndrome was observed. After adjusting for age alone or with tobacco use, subjects in the highest leptin quartile had a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest quartile (OR = 6.14 and 2.94 for men and women, respectively). After further adjustment for BMI, metabolic syndrome risk remained significantly increased with increasing leptin quartiles in men. Finally, increased leptin levels were a predictor of metabolic syndrome in men and women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Serum leptin levels are correlated with CVD risk and metabolic syndrome. Analysis of leptin as part of routine physical examinations may prove beneficial for early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.</p

ESFuelCell2011-54069 PERFORMANCE STUDY OF A BI-CELL PIEZOELECTRIC PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL WITH A NOZZLE AND DIFFUSER

ABSTRACT Previous studies of a bi-cell piezoelectric proton exchange membrane fuel cell with a nozzle and diffuser (PZT-PEMFC-ND bi-cell) have shown that the performance of the PZT-PEMFC-ND bi-cell could be 1.6 times greater than that of the single cell when the proper aspect ratio (AR) of 11.25 and the diffuser angle of 5° are applied to the diffuser. In this study, the novel pseudo-bipolar bi-cell module was designated parallel with an 8 cm 2 reaction area, an AR of 5.63, and a diffuser angle 10°. The bi-cell module was operated under various operating conditions, including different operating temperatures, bi-cell circuit and intake module on anode, the performance of the bi-cell and the two component cells, and to optimize the integrated system output. The pump performance of the PZT-PEMFC-ND may be influenced by the asymmetric amplitude of the PZT device. The asymmetric amplitude results in different air flow rates through the cathode chamber of the component cells and in different current outputs for the component cells. For the different intake modules, the power of bi-cells at flow parallel and series will produce maximum power as 0.283 W cm -2 and 0.263 W cm -2 , respectively. The power consumption of the PZT device should be taken into consideration when determining the net power of the PZT-PEMFC-ND bi-cell. In this study, the maximum net power of the bi-cell was found to be 0.7W

The Study of Tibicos Fermentation Product as Pilot Model of Healthy Drinks

Sugar kefir grains (Tibicos) are a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts which were assembled by various strains of microbes attached polysaccharide bracket composed of white transparent particles. Initially, we used chemical colorimetric method to measure that of carbohydrate concentrations, and Brad ford method for that of protein concentrations. We utilized black sugar as carbohydrate source and medium to cultivate Tibicos, and collected media after 0 hr., 24 hr., and 48 hr. different time points. These collected Tibicos grains and fermentation broth were measured with the above methods.In addition, we used Gram stain to observe the inside microbial populations of Tibicos. The results showed that the weight of cultured grains with brown sugar solution at 25 ℃ and sealed for 48 hr increased to 45% as that of original grains. The components of Tibicos fermentation broth were analyzed by HPLC for ions as following: Lactic acid, Chloride ion, Malate, Sulfate, Oxalic acid, Phosphate, Citrate, and other minor ingredients.Furthermore, we used the Gram stain to observe the microbial composition within Tibicos grains. The more detail identification of microbial population in Tibicos was done with bacteria and yeasts. The bacteria parts used PCR amplification with the 16S rDNA primer sets (533R and 341Fgc), gel purification, fragments sequencing, and alignment with 16S ribosomal RNA sequences in NCBI database (16S rDNA of Bacteria and Archaea). The result sequences were assigned as Bacillus strain as following: (a) Bacillus circulans, (b) Bacillus eiseniae, (c) Bacillus oceanisediminis, (d) Bacillus atrophaeus, (e) Bacillus siralis, (f) Bacillus massiliosenegalensis. The Yeast parts were first isolated as single colony, purified the chromosomal DNA, and amplified by PCR method with 18 S rDNA primer set (FR1 and NS1), then gel purified, DNA sequenced, and aligned in NCBI database (Nucleotide collection). The identified yeast strains as following: (a) Sporobolomyces koalae, (b) Meyerozyma guilliermondii, (c) Aureobasidium pullulans

Hypokalemia, Its Contributing Factors and Renal Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: In the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, the impact of serum potassium (sK) on renal outcomes has been controversial. Moreover, the reasons for the potential prognostic value of hypokalemia have not been elucidated. Design, Participants & Measurements 2500 participants with CKD stage 1–4 in the Integrated CKD care program Kaohsiung for delaying Dialysis (ICKD) prospective observational study were analyzed and followed up for 2.7 years. Generalized additive model was fitted to determine the cutpoints and the U-shape association between sK and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). sK was classified into five groups with the cutpoints of 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5 mEq/L. Cox proportional hazard regression models predicting the outcomes were used. Results: The mean age was 62.4 years, mean sK level was 4.2±0.5 mEq/L and average eGFR was 40.6 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Female vs male, diuretic use vs. non-use, hypertension, higher eGFR, bicarbonate, CRP and hemoglobin levels significantly correlated with hypokalemia. In patients with lower sK, nephrotic range proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia were more prevalent but the use of RAS (renin-angiotensin system) inhibitors was less frequent. Hypokalemia was significantly associated with ESRD with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.82 (95% CI, 1.03–3.22) in sK 5 mEq/L conferred 1.6-fold (95% CI,1.09–2.34) increased risk of ESRD compared with sK = 4.5–5 mEq/L. Hypokalemia was also associated with rapid decline of renal function defined as eGFR slope below 20% of the distribution range. Conclusion: In conclusion, both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are associated with increased risk of ESRD in CKD population. Hypokalemia is related to increased use of diuretics, decreased use of RAS blockade and malnutrition, all of which may impose additive deleterious effects on renal outcomes

A Vision-Based Driver Nighttime Assistance and Surveillance System Based on Intelligent Image Sensing Techniques and a Heterogamous Dual-Core Embedded System Architecture

This study proposes a vision-based intelligent nighttime driver assistance and surveillance system (VIDASS system) implemented by a set of embedded software components and modules, and integrates these modules to accomplish a component-based system framework on an embedded heterogamous dual-core platform. Therefore, this study develops and implements computer vision and sensing techniques of nighttime vehicle detection, collision warning determination, and traffic event recording. The proposed system processes the road-scene frames in front of the host car captured from CCD sensors mounted on the host vehicle. These vision-based sensing and processing technologies are integrated and implemented on an ARM-DSP heterogamous dual-core embedded platform. Peripheral devices, including image grabbing devices, communication modules, and other in-vehicle control devices, are also integrated to form an in-vehicle-embedded vision-based nighttime driver assistance and surveillance system

The Predicted Proteomic Network Associated with the Antiarthritic Action of Qingfu Guanjieshu in Collagen-II-Induced Arthritis in Rats

Qingfu Guanjieshu (QFGJS) is an herbal preparation for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies revealed that QFGJS significantly inhibited experimental arthritis and acute inflammation, accompanied by reduction of proinflammatory cytokines and elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. This study aims to identify the targeted proteins and predict the proteomic network associated with the drug action of QFGJS by using 2D gel and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS techniques. Thirty female Wistar rats were evenly grouped as normal and vehicle- and QFGJS-treated CIA rats. The antiarthritic effect of QFGJS was examined with a 19-day treatment course, and the knee synovial tissues of animals from each group were obtained for 2D gel and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analysis. Results showed that QFGJS significantly ameliorated collagen II-induced arthritis when administrated at 2.8 g/kg body weight for 19 days. 2D gel image analysis revealed 89 differentially expressed proteins in the synovial tissues among the normal and vehicle- and QFGJS-treated CIA rats from over 1000 proteins of which 63 proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analysis, and 32 proteins were included for classification of functions using Gene Ontology (GO) method. Finally, 14 proteins were analyzed using bioinformatics, and a predicted proteomic network related to the anti-arthritic effect of QFGJS was established, and Pgk1 plays a central role

An Isobaric Model for Kaon photoproduction

The kaon photoproduction is analyzed up to $E_\gamma^{\rm Lab}$=2.0 GeV by using an isobaric model based on effective Lagrangians and by taking a cross symmetry into account. Both {\it pseudovector} and {\it pseudoscalar} couplings for kaon-baryon-baryon (baryon spin=1/2) interactions are considered with form factors. A vector meson($K^*(890)$), an axial vector meson($K_1(1270)$), nucleon resonances($J\le5/2$), and hyperon resonances($J\le3/2$) are treated as participating particles. By determining unknown coupling constants through a systematic fitting of the differential cross section, the total cross section, the single polarization observable, and the radiative kaon capture branching ratio to their experimental data, we find out a simple model which reproduces all the experimental data well.Comment: 48 pages, 7 figure

Microfluidic traction force microscopy to study mechanotransduction in angiogenesis.

The formation of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, angiogenesis, is driven by coordinated endothelial cell migration and matrix remodelling in response to local signals. Recently, a growing body of evidence has shown that mechanotransduction, along with chemotransduction, is a major regulator of angiogenesis. Mechanical signals, such as fluid shear stress and substrate mechanics, influence sprouting and network formation, but the mechanisms behind this relationship are still unclear. Here, we present cellular traction forces as possible effectors activated by mechanosensing to mediate matrix remodelling, and encourage the use of traction force microscopy to study mechanotransduction in angiogenesis. We also suggest that deciphering the response of endothelial cells to mechanical signals could reveal an optimal angiogenic mechanical environment, and provide insight into development, wound healing, the initiation and growth of tumours, and new strategies for tissue engineering. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved