Is It Time to Reappraise Blood Pressure Thresholds and Targets? A Statement From the International Society of Hypertension-A Global Perspective.

No abstract available

Changes in individual weight status based on body mass index and waist circumference in Hong Kong Chinese

published_or_final_versio

A standing-wave thermoacoustic engine driven by liquid nitrogen

Thermoacoustic oscillation at cryogenic temperatures, such as Taconis oscillation, has been typically suppressed in the former studies, and few efforts have been made to enhance it. We proposed a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine (TE) driven by liquid cryogens instead of the conventional heat to enhance the thermoacoustic effects and utilize the cold energy. Experimental and theoretical work has been performed on a self-made standingwave TE to demonstrate the feasibility and the operating characteristics of the engine driven by the liquid nitrogen. Experiments show that with nitrogen at 0.5 MPa as a working gas, a pressure ratio of 1.21 is obtained on the TE driven by liquid nitrogen with a much lower temperature difference along the stack compared to that of the conventional TE. The onset temperature difference decreases by 28.9% with helium at 0.63 MPa as a working gas, compared to that of the conventional TE. This study verifies the feasibility of enhancing the thermoacoustic oscillation at cryogenic temperatures. The TEs driven by liquid cryogens such as liquid nitrogen and liquefied nature gas (LNG), may be an alternative for recovering the cold energy

In Arabidopsis hybrids and Hybrid Mimics, up-regulation of cell wall biogenesis is associated with the increased plant size

© 2019 The Authors. Plant Direct published by American Society of Plant Biologists, Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Hybrid breeding is of economic importance in agriculture for increasing yield, yet the basis of heterosis is not well understood. In Arabidopsis, crosses between different accessions produce hybrids with different levels of heterosis relative to parental phenotypes in biomass. In all hybrids, the advantage of the F1 hybrid in both phenotypic uniformity and yield gain is lost in the heterogeneous F2. F5/F6 Hybrid Mimics generated from a cross between C24 and Landsberg erecta (Ler) ecotypes demonstrated that the large plant phenotype of the F1 hybrids can be stabilized. Hybrid Mimic selection was applied to Wassilewskija (Ws)/Ler and Col/Ler hybrids. The two hybrids show different levels of heterosis. The Col/Ler hybrid generated F7 Hybrid Mimics with rosette diameter and fresh weight equivalent to the F1 hybrid at 30 DAS; F7 Ws/Ler Hybrid Mimics outperformed the F1 hybrid in both the rosette size and biomass. Transcriptome analysis revealed up-regulation of cell wall biosynthesis, and cell wall expansion genes could be a common pathway in increased size in the Arabidopsis hybrids and Hybrid Mimics. Intercross of two independent Hybrid Mimic lines can further increase the biomass gain. Our results encourage the use of Hybrid Mimics for breeding and for investigating the molecular basis of heterosis

Inertial Sensor Estimation of Initial and Terminal Contact during In-Field Running.

Given the popularity of running-based sports and the rapid development of Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), portable wireless sensors can provide in-field monitoring and analysis of running gait parameters during exercise. This paper proposed an intelligent analysis system from wireless micro-Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data to estimate contact time (CT) and flight time (FT) during running based on gyroscope and accelerometer sensors in a single location (ankle). Furthermore, a pre-processing system that detected the running period was introduced to analyse and enhance CT and FT detection accuracy and reduce noise. Results showed pre-processing successfully detected the designated running periods to remove noise of non-running periods. Furthermore, accelerometer and gyroscope algorithms showed good consistency within 95% confidence interval, and average absolute error of 31.53 ms and 24.77 ms, respectively. In turn, the combined system obtained a consistency of 84-100% agreement within tolerance values of 50 ms and 30 ms, respectively. Interestingly, both accuracy and consistency showed a decreasing trend as speed increased (36% at high-speed fore-foot strike). Successful CT and FT detection and output validation with consistency checking algorithms make in-field measurement of running gait possible using ankle-worn IMU sensors. Accordingly, accurate IMU-based gait analysis from gyroscope and accelerometer information can inform future research on in-field gait analysis

Electrospun gelatin nanofibers loaded with vitamins A and E as antibacterial wound dressing materials

Vitamin A palmitate and vitamin E TPGS, common derivatives of the unstable vitamins A and E, were successfully incorporated into biodegradable gelatin nanofibers via electrospinning. Electron microscopy showed that smooth cylindrical fibers were produced, albeit with a small amount of beading visible for the vitamin-loaded systems. The diameters of the fibers decrease with the addition of vitamins. The presence of the vitamins in the fibers was confirmed by IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction showed them to exist in the amorphous physical form post-electrospinning. The addition of vitamins did not affect the hydrophilic properties of the gelatin nanofibers. Fibers containing vitamin A or E alone showed a sustained release profile over more than 60 hours, and those incorporating both vitamins showed similar release characteristics, except that the extent of release for vitamin A was increased. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that materials loaded with vitamin E were effective in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. The fibers could promote the proliferation of fibroblasts during the early stages of culture, and enhance the expression of collagen-specific genes. In vivo tests determined that the fibers loaded with vitamins have better wound healing performance than a commercially used antiseptic gauze and casting films

High glucose up-regulates ENaC and SGK1 expression in HCD-cells

Background/Aim: Diabetic nephropathy is associated with progressive renal damage, leading to impaired function and end-stage renal failure. Secondary hypertension stems from a deranged ability of cells within the kidney to resolve and appropriately regulate sodium resorption in response to hyperglycaemia. However, the mechanisms by which glucose alters sodium re-uptake have not been fully characterised. Methods: Here we present RT-PCR, western blot and immunocytochemistry data confirming mRNA and protein expression of the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase (SGK1) and the a conducting subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in a model in vitro system of the human cortical collecting duct (HCD). We examined changes in expression of these elements in response to glucose challenge, designed to mimic hyperglycaemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Changes in Na+ concentration were assessed using single-cell microfluorimetry. Results: Incubation with glucose, the Ca2+-ionophore ionomycin and the cytokine TGF-beta 1 were all found to evoke significant and time-dependent increases in both SGK1 and alpha ENaC protein expression. These molecular changes were correlated to an increase in Na+-uptake at the single-cell level. Conclusion: Together these data offer a potential explanation for glucose-evoked Na+-resorption and a potential contributory role of SGK1 and ENaCs in development of secondary hypertension, commonly linked to diabetic nephropathy