Review on the development of truly portable and in-situ capillary electrophoresis systems

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a technique which uses an electric field to separate a mixed sample into its constituents. Portable CE systems enable this powerful analysis technique to be used in the field. Many of the challenges for portable systems are similar to those of autonomous in-situ analysis and therefore portable systems may be considered a stepping stone towards autonomous in-situ analysis. CE is widely used for biological and chemical analysis and example applications include: water quality analysis; drug development and quality control; proteomics and DNA analysis; counter-terrorism (explosive material identification) and corrosion monitoring. The technique is often limited to laboratory use, since it requires large electric fields, sensitive detection systems and fluidic control systems. All of these place restrictions in terms of: size, weight, cost, choice of operating solutions, choice of fabrication materials, electrical power and lifetime. In this review we bring together and critique the work by researchers addressing these issues. We emphasize the importance of a holistic approach for portable and in-situ CE systems and discuss all the aspects of the design. We identify gaps in the literature which require attention for the realization of both truly portable and in-situ CE systems

Effect of diet or diet plus physical activity versus usual care on inflammatory markers in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: The Early ACTivity in Diabetes (ACTID) randomized, controlled trial

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordBACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a major role in diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is uncertainty whether diet and physical activity interventions can be successfully integrated into healthcare settings and reduce markers of inflammation and risk of CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS AND RESULTS: Systemic markers of inflammation were determined in a 12-month, real-world, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial that investigated the effect of diet, diet plus physical activity, and usual care in 593 individuals with newly diagnosed T2D. During the first 6 months, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) improved by -21 (-36 to -1.4)% and -22 (-38 to -3.1)% in diet and diet plus physical activity arms versus usual care. There were also improvements in adiponectin and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1). Though medication-adjusted CRP was improved between 6 and 12 months for usual care, both interventions were more successful in reducing the relative risk of a high-risk CRP level of >3 mg/L (risk ratios of 0.72 [0.55 to 0.95] for diet versus usual care and 0.67 [0.50 to 0.90] for diet plus activity versus usual care). Furthermore, sICAM-1 (a marker of vascular risk), remained substantially lower than usual care in both intervention arms at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Motivational, unsupervised diet and/or diet plus physical activity interventions given soon after diagnosis in real-world healthcare settings improve markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk in patients with T2D, even after accounting for the effect of adjustments to medication to try and control blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, and lipids. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com/. Unique identifier: ISRCTN92162869.British Heart FoundationDiabetes UKUK Department of Healt

Feasibility and acceptability of a new shoulder-specific warm-up programme to prevent injuries in community youth rugby union as compared to the FIFA 11+

Injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs) are efficacious, though there is no IPEP specifically designed to reduce shoulder injuries in rugby. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Rugby Active Shoulder Injury Prevention (RASIP) programme. Three community rugby union clubs participated in a 12-week pilot study (players, n = 51; coaches, n = 7). Two teams were randomly allocated to the RASIP programme and one to the FIFA 11+ (IPEP) intervention. Feasibility was examined by players’ adherence to the IPEP, and acceptability was described by players’ and coaches’ perceptions of the IPEP. On average, more players were exposed to 11+ training sessions (100%) than the RASIP programme (19 out of 36 players, 53%). Higher percentage of exercises was completed over the season in the 11+ (97%) than the RASIP programme (58%). Across both groups, there were different approaches followed in delivering the allocated intervention. The coach-led, prescriptively followed 11+ IPEP was better at achieving higher adherence with exercises. Coaches were concerned of not having enough time in their sessions to include the IPEP. This pilot study has shown that the intervention is feasible to deliver and is acceptable with improvements recommended by community stakeholders, coaches and players in a community youth rugby setting

An optimal condition based maintenance scheduling for metal structures based on a multidisciplinary research approach

Latest research findings show that the deterioration of metal coatings results due to complex combination of material and meteorological parameters. The classical maintenance scheduling do not consider complex interface of materials and meteorological parameters to determine optimal maintenance framework. The cost of recoating can be optimised through appropriate selection of coating specifications and maintenance strategy. This research provides a multidisciplinary algorithmic approach to determine cost-effective solutions for recoating. The specifications of red oxide primer coating and structural steel substrate system are considered for simulation analysis. The results show that the appropriate selection of 10% increase in coating thickness based on coating-substrate system specifications resulted in 20-25% reduction in annual patch failures which reduces 5-6 % cost of recoating. Furthermore, the proposed model also simulated to compare Patch recoating and Part recoating strategy and algorithm show that the Part recoating is cost-effective as compared to Patch recoating if number of annual patch failure is greater than ‘2’ and area of the part is ‘2x’times larger than the area of the patch. Contrary, the Patch recoating results in low cost if the part area is ‘10x’ times larger than patch area and number of annual patch failures are less than ‘7’

Human Adipose Stromal Cells Increase Survival and Mesenteric Perfusion Following Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal ischemia can quickly escalate to bowel necrosis and perforation. Transplantation of stem cells presents a novel treatment modality for this problem. We hypothesized that: human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) would increase survival and mesenteric perfusion to a greater degree compared with differentiated cellular controls following ischemic intestinal injury, and improved outcomes with hASC therapy would be associated with preservation of intestinal histological and tight junction architecture, and lower levels of systemic inflammation following intestinal injury. METHODS: hASCs and keratinocytes (differentiated cellular control) were cultured on polystyrene flasks at 37°C in 5% CO2 in air. Adult male C57Bl6J mice were anesthetized and a midline laparotomy performed. The intestines were eviscerated, the small bowel mesenteric root identified, and intestinal ischemia was established by temporarily occluding the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min with a noncrushing vascular clamp. Following ischemia, the clamp was removed, and the intestines were returned to the abdominal cavity. Before abdominal closure, 2 million hASCs or keratinocytes in 250 μL of phosphate-buffered saline (carrier for cells and control solution) were infused into the peritoneum. Animals were allowed to recover for 12 or 24 h (perfusion, histology, cytokine, and immunofluoresence studies), or 7 days (survival studies). Intestinal perfusion was assessed by laser Doppler imaging. Intestinal tissue segments were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as antibodies for the tight junction protein claudin-1. Separate aliquots of intestine, liver, and lung tissue were homogenized and assessed for inflammatory cytokines via multiplex beaded assay. RESULTS: Animals administered hASCs following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury had significantly greater 7-day survival and better postischemic recovery of mesenteric perfusion compared with vehicle or keratinocyte therapy. hASCs also abated intestinal mucosal destruction, facilitated preservation of intestinal tight junctions, and decreased the systemic inflammatory response to injury. CONCLUSIONS: Human adipose-derived stromal cells improved survival and mesenteric perfusion and attenuated the mucosal damage associated with intestinal I/R injury. hASCs should be considered as a plausible cell source for novel cellular treatment plans following intestinal ischemia

Biomechanical simulations of the scoliotic deformation process in the pinealectomized chicken: a preliminary study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The basic mechanisms whereby mechanical factors modulate the metabolism of the growing spine remain poorly understood, especially the role of growth adaptation in spinal disorders like in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This paper presents a finite element model (FEM) that was developed to simulate early stages of scoliotic deformities progression using a pinealectomized chicken as animal model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The FEM includes basic growth and growth modulation created by the muscle force imbalance. The experimental data were used to adapt a FEM previously developed to simulate the scoliosis deformation process in human. The simulations of the spine deformation process are compared with the results of an experimental study including a group of pinealectomized chickens.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The comparison of the simulation results of the spine deformation process (Cobb angle of 37°) is in agreement with experimental scoliotic deformities of two representative cases (Cobb angle of 41° and 30°). For the vertebral wedging, a good agreement is also observed between the calculated (28°) and the observed (25° – 30°) values.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The proposed biomechanical model presents a novel approach to realistically simulate the scoliotic deformation process in pinealectomized chickens and investigate different parameters influencing the progression of scoliosis.</p

The International Research Society of Spinal Deformities (IRSSD) and its contribution to science

From the time of its initial, informal meetings starting in 1980 to its formal creation in 1990, the IRSSD has met on a bi-annual basis to discuss all aspects of the spine and associated deformities. It has encouraged open discussion on all topics and, in particular, has tried to be the seed-bed for new ideas. The members are spread around the world and include people from all areas of academia as well as the most important people, the patients themselves. Most notably, application of the ideas and results of the research has always been at the forefront of the discussions. This paper was conceived with the idea of evaluating the impact made by the IRSSD over the last 30 years in the various areas and is intended to create discussion for the upcoming meeting in Montreal regarding future focus: "We are lost over the Atlantic Ocean but we are making good time.

Method evaluation and risk assessment: A framework for evaluating management strategies for data-limited fisheries

Fisheries managers are in need of quantitative tools to inform decisions regarding selection of robust management practices, prioritising research gaps and stocks to focus on, particularly where there are limited resources or data. To support these decisions, the use of Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE), that is, closed loop simulation-testing of management procedures, is widely regarded as best practice. However, applying MSE is time- and computationally intensive, and requires highly skilled expertise and processes for stakeholder input and peer review. For data- and capacity-limited fisheries, MSE may be particularly challenging to implement. Yet, these are the contexts where it is most critical to test assumptions, evaluate the implications of all sources of uncertainty and identify the most informative data sources. To facilitate wider use of MSE, the Method Evaluation and Risk Assessment (MERA) framework was developed as an accessible online interface, with quick processing time, focused on generic data-limited management procedures, but allowing progression to tailored and more data-rich methods. The framework links a quantitative questionnaire and data input standard to a flexible operating model with optional customisation via command line access to the back-end open-source R libraries. Here, we illustrate a case study application of MERA for the bocinegro (Pagrus pagrus, Sparidae) fishery in the Gulf of Cadiz, where in conjunction with fishery stakeholders, a custom management procedure was developed and tested and key research gaps and data collection priorities were identified. We discuss implications for wider use of MSE in various contexts, including eco-certification and fishery improvement projects.MERA was initially commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council, and benefits from the ongoing support of the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the Marine Stewardship Council, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Walton Family Foundation and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization.Peer reviewe

Last millennium northern hemisphere summer temperatures from tree rings: Part I: The long term context

Large-scale millennial length Northern Hemisphere (NH) temperature reconstructions have been progressively improved over the last 20 years as new datasets have been developed. This paper, and its companion (Part II, Anchukaitis et al. in prep), details the latest tree-ring (TR) based NH land air temperature reconstruction from a temporal and spatial perspective. This work is the first product of a consortium called N-TREND (Northern Hemisphere Tree-Ring Network Development) which brings together dendroclimatologists to identify a collective strategy for improving large-scale summer temperature reconstructions. The new reconstruction, N-TREND2015, utilises 54 records, a significant expansion compared with previous TR studies, and yields an improved reconstruction with stronger statistical calibration metrics. N-TREND2015 is relatively insensitive to the compositing method and spatial weighting used and validation metrics indicate that the new record portrays reasonable coherence with large scale summer temperatures and is robust at all time-scales from 918 to 2004 where at least 3 TR records exist from each major continental mass. N-TREND2015 indicates a longer and warmer medieval period (∼900–1170) than portrayed by previous TR NH reconstructions and by the CMIP5 model ensemble, but with better overall agreement between records for the last 600 years. Future dendroclimatic projects should focus on developing new long records from data-sparse regions such as North America and eastern Eurasia as well as ensuring the measurement of parameters related to latewood density to complement ring-width records which can improve local based calibration substantially

Measurement of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering with a Polarized Proton Target

The longitudinal target-spin asymmetry A_UL for the exclusive electroproduction of high energy photons was measured for the first time in p(e,e'p\gamma). The data have been accumulated at Jefferson Lab with the CLAS spectrometer using 5.7 GeV electrons and a longitudinally polarized NH_3 target. A significant azimuthal angular dependence was observed, resulting from the interference of the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering and Bethe-Heitler processes. The amplitude of the sin(phi) moment is 0.252 +/- 0.042(stat) +/- 0.020(sys). Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the magnitude and the kinematic dependence of the target-spin asymmetry, which is sensitive to the generalized parton distributions H and H-tilde.Comment: Modified text slightly, added reference