A comparative study between two different 3D reconstruction methods by bi-planar radiographic in upright posture: Biomod 3sand sterEOS®

ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of two different methods of 3D reconstruction of the spine sterEOS® and BIOMODTM3S.Materials and methodsRepeatability and reproducibility study. Three observers performed the reconstructions: a radiologist, a X-ray technologist and a rehabilitation specialist, inexperienced in X-ray reading. The observers made these reconstructions with each modality: sterEOS® and BIOMODTM3S. The parameters investigated were Cobb angle, sagittal parameters (cyphosis, lordosis), determination of apical and junctional vertebrae, axial rotation of the apical vertebra, pelvic parameters and time of reconstruction. Statistical analyses were done using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for reproducibility and Student's t test for time of reconstruction.ResultsWe analyzed X-rays of 44 women (71%) and 18 men (29%) with a mean age of 44±20.8. The repeatability was correct, good or excellent depending on observer. The reproducibility inter-observer was correct to excellent (ICC 0.73–0.96) for every parameter except the axial rotation of the apical vertebrae and the determination of levels of junctional and apical vertebrae. The reproducibility of the axial rotation of apical vertebrae was low to good with BIOMODTM3S (ICC 0.15–0.81; ESM=7.5°). The reproducibility of the determination of levels of junctional and apical vertebrae was low to excellent with sterEOS® (ICC 0.36–0.90). With sterEOS®, the reproducibility was impaired by the inexperienced observator for some parameters. The 3D reconstructions with sterEOS® was significantly faster than with BIOMODTM3S (10.8min vs 14.2min, p<0.05).DiscussionParameters’ reproducibility is different depending on the system. The 3D reconstruction with sterEOS® is faster than with BIOMODTM3S. The reproducibility of BIOMODTM3S is less influenced by observator's experienc

Dust Control at Yucca Mountain Project

This report describes actions taken to control silica dust at the Yucca Mountain Exploratory Studies Facility, a tunnel located in Southern Nevada that is part of a scientific program to determine site suitability for a potential nuclear waste repository. The rock is a volcanic tuff containing significant percentages of both quartz and cristobalite. Water use for dust control was limited because of scientific test requirements, and this limitation made dust control a difficult task. Results are reported for two drifts, called the Main Loop Drift and the Cross Drift. In the Main Loop Drift, dust surveys and tracer gas tests indicated that air leakage from the TBM head, the primary ventilation duct, and movement of the conveyor belt were all significant sources of dust. Conventional dust control approaches yielded no significant reductions in dust levels. A novel alternative was to install an air cleaning station on a rear deck of the TBM trailing gear. It filtered dust from the contaminated intake air and discharged clean air towards the front of the TBM. The practical effect was to produce dust levels below the exposure limit for all TBM locations except close to the head. In the Cross Drift, better ventilation and an extra set of dust seals on the TBM served to cut down the leakage of dust from the TBM cutter head. However, the conveyor belt was much dustier than the belt in the main loop drift. The problem originated with dirt on the bottom of the belt return side and muck spillage from the belt top side. Achieving lower dust levels in hard rock tunneling operations will require new approaches as well as a more meticulous application of existing technology. Planning for dust control will require specific means to deal with dust that leaks from the TBM head, dust that originates with leaky ventilation systems, and dust that comes from conveyor belts. Also, the application of water could be more efficient if automatic controls were used to adjust the water flow rate to the mining rate

A study of concept options for the evolution of Space Station Freedom

Two conceptual evolution configurations for Space Station Freedom, a research and development configuration, and a transportation node configuration are described and analyzed. Results of pertinent analyses of mass properties, attitude control, microgravity, orbit lifetime, and reboost requirements are provided along with a description of these analyses. Also provided are brief descriptions of the elements and systems that comprise these conceptual configurations

The Effects of Apelin on the Electrical Activity of Hypothalamic Magnocellular Vasopressin and Oxytocin Neurons and Somatodendritic Peptide Release

Apelin, a novel peptide originally isolated from bovine stomach tissue extracts, is widely but selectively distributed throughout the nervous system. Vasopressin and oxytocin are synthesised in the magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN), which are apelin-rich regions in the central nervous system. We made extracellular electrophysiological recordings from the transpharyngeally exposed SON of urethane-anaesthetised rats to assess the role of apelin in the control of the firing activity of identified magnocellular vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in vivo. Apelin-13 administration onto SON neurons via microdialysis revealed cell-specific responses; apelin-13 increased the firing rates of vasopressin cells, but had no effect on the firing rate of oxytocin neurons. A direct excitatory effect of apelin-13 on vasopressin cell activity is also supported by our in vitro studies showing depolarisation of membrane potential and increase in action potential firing. To assess the effects of apelin-13 on somato/dendritic peptide release we used in vitro release studies from SON explants in combination with highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays. Apelin-13 decrease basal (by 78%, p<0.05, n=6) and potassium-stimulated (by 57%, p<0.05, n=6) vasopressin release but had no effect on somato/dendritic oxytocin release. Taken together, our data suggest a local autocrine feedback action of apelin on magnocellular vasopressin neurons. Furthermore, these data show a marked dissociation between axonal and dendritic vasopressin release with a decrease in somato/dendritic release but an increase in electrical activity at the cell bodies, indicating that release from these two compartments can be regulated wholly independently

Purification and functional characterisation of rhiminopeptidase A, a novel aminopeptidase from the venom of Bitis gabonica rhinoceros

This study describes the discovery and characterisation of a novel aminopeptidase A from the venom of B. g. rhinoceros and highlights its potential biological importance. Similar to mammalian aminopeptidases, rhiminopeptidase A might be capable of playing roles in altering the blood pressure and brain function of victims. Furthermore, it could have additional effects on the biological functions of other host proteins by cleaving their N-terminal amino acids. This study points towards the importance of complete analysis of individual components of snake venom in order to develop effective therapies for snake bites

A Fine-Mapping Study of 7 Top Scoring Genes from a GWAS for Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized -amongst others- by persistent depressed mood, loss of interest and pleasure and psychomotor retardation. Environmental circumstances have proven to influence the aetiology of the disease, but MDD also has an estimated 40% heritability, probably with a polygenic background. In 2009, a genome wide association study (GWAS) was performed on the Dutch GAIN-MDD cohort. A non-synonymous coding single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2522833 in the PCLO gene became only nominally significant after post-hoc analysis with an Australian cohort which used similar ascertainment. The absence of genome-wide significance may be caused by low SNP coverage of genes. To increase SNP coverage to 100% for common variants (m.a.f.>0.1, r2>0.8), we selected seven genes from the GAIN-MDD GWAS: PCLO, GZMK, ANPEP, AFAP1L1, ST3GAL6, FGF14 and PTK2B. We genotyped 349 SNPs and obtained the lowest P-value for rs2715147 in PCLO at P = 6.8E−7. We imputed, filling in missing genotypes, after which rs2715147 and rs2715148 showed the lowest P-value at P = 1.2E−6. When we created a haplotype of these SNPs together with the non-synonymous coding SNP rs2522833, the P-value decreased to P = 9.9E−7 but was not genome wide significant. Although our study did not identify a more strongly associated variant, the results for PCLO suggest that the causal variant is in high LD with rs2715147, rs2715148 and rs2522833

CNS targets of adipokines

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from American Physiological Society via the DOI in this record.Our understanding of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ has been transformed over the last twenty years. During this time a number of adipocyte-derived factors or adipokines have been identified. This paper will review evidence for how adipokines acting via the central nervous system (CNS) regulate normal physiology and disease pathology. The reported CNS-mediated effects of adipokines are varied and include the regulation of energy homeostasis, autonomic nervous system activity, the reproductive axis, neurodevelopment, cardiovascular function, and cognition. Due to the wealth of information available and the diversity of their known functions, the archetypal adipokines leptin and adiponectin will be the focused on extensively. Other adipokines with established CNS actions will also be discussed. Due to the difficulties associated with studying CNS function on a molecular level in humans, the majority of our knowledge, and as such the studies described in this paper, comes from work in experimental animal models; however, where possible the relevant data from human studies are also highlighted