Ideal filter approximation and synthesis

Several methods are currently used for approximating the ideal low pass filter. Generally, those approximations relate only to the amplitude or phase characteristic of the ideal filter. A class of filters has been proposed as approximating both the amplitude and phase characteristics of the ideal filter. The characteristics of the first ten members of the proposed class are considered in this paper. The results indicate a much improved approximation to the ideal filter has been achieved --Abstract, page ii

Stress Urinary Incontinence post-Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: a Single-Surgeon Experience.

PURPOSE: To identify incidence and predictors of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 589 HoLEP patients from 2012-2018. Patients were assessed at pre-operative and post-operative visits. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of SUI. RESULTS: 52/589 patients (8.8%) developed transient SUI, while 9/589 (1.5%) developed long-term SUI. tSUI resolved for 46 patients (88.5%) within the first six weeks and in 6 patients (11.5%) between 6 weeks to 3 months. Long-term SUI patients required intervention, achieving continence at 16.4 months on average, 44 men (70.9%) with incontinence were catheter dependent preoperatively. Mean prostatic volume was 148.7mL in tSUI patients, 111.6mL in long-term SUI, and 87.9mL in others (p \u3c 0.0001). On univariate analysis, laser energy used (p \u3c 0.0001), laser on time (p=0.0204), resected prostate weight (p \u3c 0.0001), overall International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (p=0.0005), and IPSS QOL (p=0.02) were associated with SUI. On multivariate analysis, resected prostate weight was predictive of any SUI and tSUI, with no risk factors identified for long-term SUI. CONCLUSION: Post-HoLEP SUI occurs in ~10% of patients, with 1.5% continuing beyond six months. Most patients with tSUI recover within the first six weeks. Prostate size \u3e100g and catheter dependency are associated with increased risk tSUI. Larger prostate volume is an independent predictor of any SUI, and tSUI

ESTIMATING COMPLETE GROUND REACTION FORCES AND ANKLE JOINT TORQUES FROM PRESSURE INSOLE DATA IN WALKING AND RUNNING

This study described a method to estimate complete ground reaction forces and ankle joint torques from only pressure insole sensor data. One subject performed 56 valid steps during heel-toe walking and running in canvas shoes at different speeds (0.85-4.00m/s). Motion data, ground reaction force data and plantar pressure data were simultaneously recorded. Six parameters of ground reaction forces and ankle joint torques were obtained, and were trimmed from touchdown to takeoff. Pressure values at each of the 99 sensors were used to predict these six parameters by linear stepwise regression. Prediction models with 80% or more explained variance were constructed. Estimated values were obtained from these models, and the prediction accuracy was reported. Comparison to a previously developed method was done

AN IN-SHOE ANKLE SUPINATION TORQUE MEASURING METHOD IN RUNNING

This study presented an in-shoe ankle supination torque measuring method in running. One subject performed 56 valid steps during heel-toe walking and running in canvas shoe at different speeds (0.85-4.00m/s). Motion data, ground reaction force data and plantar pressure data were simultaneously recorded. Ankle joint torques in dorsiflexion / plantarflexion and inversion / eversion directions were obtained, and were trimmed from touchdown to takeoff. Pressure values at each of the 99 sensors were used to predict these two parameters by linear stepwise regression. Prediction models with 80%, 85%, 90% and 95% explained variance were constructed. A 9-sensor system is suggested for further development of an in-shoe ankle supination torque measuring device

Contribution of Endogenous Glucocorticoids and Their Intravascular Metabolism by 11β-HSDs to Postangioplasty Neointimal Proliferation in Mice

Exogenous glucocorticoids inhibit neointimal proliferation in animals. We aime to test the hypothesis that endogenous glucocorticoids influence neointimal proliferation; this may be mediated by effects on systemic risk factors or locally in vessels, and modulated either by adrenal secretion or by enzymes expressed in vessels which mediate local inactivation (11β-HSD2 in endothelium) or regeneration (11β-HSD1 in smooth muscle) of glucocorticoids. Femoral artery wire-angioplasty was conducted in C57Bl/6J, Apo-E(−/−), 11β-HSD1(−/−), Apo-E, 11β-HSD1(−/−) (double knockout) and 11β-HSD2(−/−) mice following glucocorticoid administration, adrenalectomy, glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism, or selective 11β-HSD1 inhibition. In C57Bl/6J mice, neointimal proliferation was reduced by systemic or local glucocorticoid administration, unaffected by adrenalectomy, reduced by the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone, and increased by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486. 11β-HSD2 deletion had no effect on neointimal proliferation, with or without eplerenone. 11β-HSD1 inhibition or deletion had no effect in chow-fed C57Bl/6J mice, but reduced neointimal proliferation in Apo-E(−/−) mice on Western diet. Reductions in neointimal size were accompanied by reduced macrophage and increased collagen content. We conclude that pharmacological administration of glucocorticoid receptor agonists or of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may be useful in reducing neointimal proliferation. Endogenous corticosteroids induce beneficial glucocorticoid receptor activation and adverse mineralocorticoid receptor activation. However, manipulation of glucocorticoid metabolism has beneficial effects only in mice with exaggerated systemic risk factors, suggesting effects mediated primarily in liver and adipose rather than intra-vascular glucocorticoid signalling. Reducing glucocorticoid action with 11β-HSD1 inhibitors that are being developed for type 2 diabetes appears not to risk enhanced neointimal proliferation

A mechanical supination sprain simulator for studying ankle supination sprain kinematics

This study presents a free-fall mechanical supination sprain simulator for evaluating the ankle joint kinematics during a simulated ankle supination sprain injury. The device allows the foot to be in an anatomical position before the sudden motion, and also allows different degrees of supination, or a combination of inversion and plantarflexion. Five subjects performed simulated supination sprain trials in five different supination angles. Ankle motion was captured by a motion analysis system, and the ankle kinematics were reported in plantarflexion/dorsiflexion, inversion/eversion and internal/external rotation planes. Results showed that all sprain motions were not pure single-plane motions but were accompanied by motion in other two planes, therefore, different degrees of supination were achieved. The presented sprain simulator allows a more comprehensive study of the kinematics of ankle sprain when compared with some previous laboratory research designs

Microarray-based DNA methylation profiling: technology and applications

This work is dedicated to the development of a technology for unbiased, high-throughput DNA methylation profiling of large genomic regions. In this method, unmethylated and methylated DNA fractions are enriched using a series of treatments with methylation sensitive restriction enzymes, and interrogated on microarrays. We have investigated various aspects of the technology including its replicability, informativeness, sensitivity and optimal PCR conditions using microarrays containing oligonucleotides representing 100 kb of genomic DNA derived from the chromosome 22 COMT region in addition to 12 192 element CpG island microarrays. Several new aspects of methylation profiling are provided, including the parallel identification of confounding effects of DNA sequence variation, the description of the principles of microarray design for epigenomic studies and the optimal choice of methylation sensitive restriction enzymes. We also demonstrate the advantages of using the unmethylated DNA fraction versus the methylated one, which substantially improve the chances of detecting DNA methylation differences. We applied this methodology for fine-mapping of methylation patterns of chromosomes 21 and 22 in eight individuals using tiling microarrays consisting of over 340 000 oligonucleotide probe pairs. The principles developed in this work will help to make epigenetic profiling of the entire human genome a routine procedure

A three-pressure-sensor (3PS) system for monitoring ankle supination torque during sport motions

This study presented a three-pressure-sensor (3PS) system for monitoring ankle supination torque during sport motions. Five male subjects wore a pair of cloth sport shoes and performed 10 trials of walking, running, cutting, vertical jump-landing and stepping-down motions in a random sequence. A pair of pressure insoles (Novel Pedar model W, Germany) was inserted in the shoes for the measurement of plantar pressure at 100 Hz. The ankle joint torque was calculated by a standard lower extremity inverse dynamic calculation procedure with the data obtained by a motion capture system (VICON, UK) and a force plate (AMTI, USA), and was presented in a supination/pronation plane with an oblique axis of rotation at the ankle joint. Stepwise linear regression analysis suggested that pressure data at three locations beneath the foot were essential for reconstructing the ankle supination torque. Another group of five male subjects participated in a validation test with the same procedure, but with the pressure insoles replaced by the 3PS system. Estimated ankle supination torque was calculated from the equation developed by the regression analysis. Results suggested that the correlation between the standard and estimated data was high (R=0.938). The overall root mean square error was 6.91 N m, which was about 6% of the peak values recorded in the five sport motions (113 N m). With the good estimation accuracy, tiny size and inexpensive cost, the 3PS system is readily available to be implanted in sport shoe for the estimation and monitoring of ankle supination torque during dynamic sport motions

Prospective Study on Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness Changes in Isolated Unilateral Retrobulbar Optic Neuritis

Purpose. To investigate the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness after unilateral acute optic neuritis using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients and Methods. This prospective cohort study recruited consecutive patients with a first episode of isolated, unilateral acute optic neuritis. RNFL thickness and visual acuity (VA) of the attack and normal fellow eye were measured at presentation and 3 months in both the treatment and nontreatment groups. Results. 11 subjects received systemic steroids and 9 were treated conservatively. The baseline RNFL thickness was similar in the attack and fellow eye (P≥0.4). At 3 months, the attack eye had a thinner temporal (P=0.02) and average (P=0.05) RNFL compared to the fellow eye. At 3 months, the attack eye had significant RNFL thinning in the 4 quadrants and average thickness (P≤0.0002) compared to baseline. The RNFL thickness between the treatment and nontreatment groups was similar at baseline and 3 months (P≥0.1). Treatment offered better VA at 3 months (0.1 ± 0.2 versus 0.3 ± 0.2 LogMAR, P=0.04). Conclusion. Generalized RNFL thinning occurred at 3 months after a first episode of acute optic neuritis most significantly in the temporal quadrant and average thickness. Visual improvement with treatment was independent of RNFL thickness