Effects of Implements of Husbandry (Farm Equipment) on Pavement Performance

The effects of farm equipment on the structural behavior of flexible and rigid pavements were investigated in this study. The project quantified the difference in pavement behavior caused by heavy farm equipment as compared to a typical 5-axle, 80 kip semi-truck. This research was conducted on full scale pavement test sections designed and constructed at the Minnesota Road Research facility (MnROAD). The testing was conducted in the spring and fall seasons to capture responses when the pavement is at its weakest state and when agricultural vehicles operate at a higher frequency, respectively. The flexible pavement sections were heavily instrumented with strain gauges and earth pressure cells to measure essential pavement responses under heavy agricultural vehicles, whereas the rigid pavement sections were instrumented with strain gauges and linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs). The full scale testing data collected in this study were used to validate and calibrate analytical models used to predict relative damage to pavements. The developed procedure uses various inputs (including axle weight, tire footprint, pavement structure, material characteristics, and climatic information) to determine the critical pavement responses (strains and deflections). An analysis was performed to determine the damage caused by various types of vehicles to the roadway when there is a need to move large amounts agricultural product

Facile synthesis of metal-free organic dyes featuring a thienylethynyl spacer for dye sensitized solar cells

In this article, we report the facile synthesis of metal-free dyes 6 and 7, their solution-based optical and redox properties and their use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Our studies indicate that the addition of the second thiophene unit in dye 7, decreases the oxidation and reduction potential and consequently the band gap of the molecule compared to 6. Furthermore, increasing the length of the conjugated spacer also affects on the properties of the DSSCs, with dye 7 providing a higher power conversion efficiency compared to 6 (η = 4.49 versus 3.23%)

Image-Guided Robotic Interventions for Core Needle Biopsy

Image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) is a common procedure to diagnose cancer in patients with clinical symptoms and/or cancer suspicious regions (CSR) of imaging abnormality. While image-guided CNB can be performed manually, the quality control of the procedure is often subjective, outcomes are variable depending on the training and skills of the physicians, and significant challenges exist in navigating the biopsy needle accurately under image-guidance. Robotic assistance for needle guidance has the potential to increase needle targeting accuracy in CNB. This work presents two types of robotic systems for image-guided CNB. The first system is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided robotic system, which was developed to assist pediatricians in performing bone biopsy. A bone biopsy is frequently needed if a CSR is observed on MRI. Currently, the biopsy can only be performed in open surgery, under X-ray, or computed tomography (CT) guidance. These involve either general anesthesia or exposure to ionizing radiation, respectively, which are especially concerning in children. Most importantly, neither method can use direct MRI as feedback to guide the biopsy. Bone marrow lesions are difficult to visualize during surgery or with X-ray and CT imaging, increasing the possibility of missed sampling and inaccurate diagnosis. Instead, direct MRI-guided targeted robotic biopsy may be performed in the same session with the MRI diagnosis, and allow direct confirmation of needle sampling the CSR. This may also reduce trauma and eliminate radiation exposure in children. Comprehensive validation tests including bench, mockup tests, and human cadaveric studies are presented, showing the feasibility of the system. The second system is a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided robotic system, which was developed to assist urologists in performing prostate biopsy. Current challenges and deficiencies of manual biopsy are: the difficulty navigating the needle under 2D ultrasound guidance; the deformations of the prostate by free-hand probe manipulation during biopsy; and the use of the same biopsy plan for all patients. Instead, the TRUS robot enables accurate needle targeting under 3D ultrasound guidance, with minimized prostate deformations, and personalized for each patient to maximize the likelihood of detecting cancer. Extensive pre-clinical validation tests and clinical trial results are presented

Image-Guided Robotic Interventions for Core Needle Biopsy

Image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) is a common procedure to diagnose cancer in patients with clinical symptoms and/or cancer suspicious regions (CSR) of imaging abnormality. While image-guided CNB can be performed manually, the quality control of the procedure is often subjective, outcomes are variable depending on the training and skills of the physicians, and significant challenges exist in navigating the biopsy needle accurately under image-guidance. Robotic assistance for needle guidance has the potential to increase needle targeting accuracy in CNB. This work presents two types of robotic systems for image-guided CNB. The first system is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided robotic system, which was developed to assist pediatricians in performing bone biopsy. A bone biopsy is frequently needed if a CSR is observed on MRI. Currently, the biopsy can only be performed in open surgery, under X-ray, or computed tomography (CT) guidance. These involve either general anesthesia or exposure to ionizing radiation, respectively, which are especially concerning in children. Most importantly, neither method can use direct MRI as feedback to guide the biopsy. Bone marrow lesions are difficult to visualize during surgery or with X-ray and CT imaging, increasing the possibility of missed sampling and inaccurate diagnosis. Instead, direct MRI-guided targeted robotic biopsy may be performed in the same session with the MRI diagnosis, and allow direct confirmation of needle sampling the CSR. This may also reduce trauma and eliminate radiation exposure in children. Comprehensive validation tests including bench, mockup tests, and human cadaveric studies are presented, showing the feasibility of the system. The second system is a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided robotic system, which was developed to assist urologists in performing prostate biopsy. Current challenges and deficiencies of manual biopsy are: the difficulty navigating the needle under 2D ultrasound guidance; the deformations of the prostate by free-hand probe manipulation during biopsy; and the use of the same biopsy plan for all patients. Instead, the TRUS robot enables accurate needle targeting under 3D ultrasound guidance, with minimized prostate deformations, and personalized for each patient to maximize the likelihood of detecting cancer. Extensive pre-clinical validation tests and clinical trial results are presented

Acute Administration of Exogenous Lactate Increases Carbohydrate Metabolism during Exercise in Mice

In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous lactate administration before exercise on energy substrate utilization during exercise. Mice were divided into exercise control (EX) and exercise with lactate intake (EXLA) groups; saline/lactate was administered 30 min before exercise. Respiratory gas was measured during moderate intensity treadmill exercise (30 min). Immediately after exercise, blood, liver, and skeletal muscle samples were collected and mRNA levels of energy metabolism-related and metabolic factors were analyzed. At 16–30 min of exercise, the respiratory exchange ratio (p = 0.045) and carbohydrate oxidation level (p = 0.014) were significantly higher in the EXLA than in the EX group. Immediately after exercise, the muscle and liver glycogen content and blood glucose level of the EXLA group were lower than those of the EX group. In addition, muscle mRNA levels of HK2 (hexokinase 2; p = 0.009), a carbohydrate oxidation-related factor, were higher in the EXLA than in the EX group, whereas the expression of PDK4 (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4; p = 0.001), CS (citrate synthase; p = 0.045), and CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36; p = 0.002), factors related to oxidative metabolism, was higher in the EX than in the EXLA group. These results suggest that lactate can be used in various research fields to promote carbohydrate metabolism

The Effects of Exogenous Lactate Administration on the IGF1/Akt/mTOR Pathway in Rat Skeletal Muscle

We investigated the effects of oral lactate administration on protein synthesis and degradation factors in rats over 2 h after intake. Seven-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8/group); their blood plasma levels of lactate, glucose, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) were examined following sacrifice at 0, 30, 60, or 120 min after sodium lactate (2 g/kg) administration. We measured the mRNA expression levels of protein synthesis-related genes (IGF receptor, protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)) or degradation-related genes (muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), atrogin-1) and analyzed the protein expression and phosphorylation (activation) of Akt and mTOR. Post-administration, the plasma lactate concentration increased to 3.2 mmol/L after 60 min. Plasma glucose remained unchanged throughout, while insulin and IGF1 levels decreased after 30 min. The mRNA levels of IGF receptor and mTOR peaked after 60 min, and Akt expression was significantly upregulated from 30 to 120 min. However, MuRF1 and atrogin-1 expression levels were unaffected. Akt protein phosphorylation did not change significantly, whereas mTOR phosphorylation significantly increased after 30 min. Thus, lactate administration increased the mRNA and protein expression of protein-synthesis factors, suggesting that it can potentially promote skeletal muscle synthesis

AP Collagen Peptides Prevent Cortisol-Induced Decrease of Collagen Type I in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Cortisol is an endogenous glucocorticoid (GC) and primary stress hormone that regulates a wide range of stress responses in humans. The adverse effects of cortisol on the skin have been extensively documented but the underlying mechanism of cortisol-induced signaling is still unclear. In the present study, we investigate the effect of cortisol on collagen type I expression and the effect of AP collagen peptides, collagen tripeptide-rich hydrolysates containing 3% glycine-proline- hydroxyproline (Gly-Pro-Hyp, GPH) from the fish skin, on the cortisol-mediated inhibition of collagen type I and the cortisol-induced signaling that regulates collagen type I production in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). We determine that cortisol downregulates the expression of collagen type I. AP collagen peptides or GC receptor (GR) inhibitors recover the cortisol-mediated inhibition of collagen type I and GR activation. AP collagen peptides or GR inhibitors also prevent the cortisol-dependent inhibition of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling. AP collagen peptides or GR inhibitors are effective in the prevention of collagen type I inhibition mediated by cortisol in senescent HDFs and reconstituted human skin models. Taken together, GR signaling might be responsible for the cortisol-mediated inhibition of TGF-β. AP collagen peptides act as GR-mediated signaling blockers, preventing the cortisol-dependent inhibition of collagen type I. Therefore, AP collagen peptides have the potential to improve skin health