On characterizing skeletal muscle contraction properties. Experimental and simulation methodology

The main objective of this work is to characterize the fatigue contractile properties of threedifferent rat muscles (Tibialis Anterior, Extensor Digitorium Longus and Soleus) in order toobtain experimental parameters for numerical simulations.Experiments were conducted “in vivo" on three groups (n = 6) of male Wistar rats (210 +/- 11g)using a protocol developed by authors in previous works. Muscles were subjected to anelectrical stimulus to achieve tetanic contraction during ten seconds. Digital Image Correlationwas used during tests for 3D strain and displacements measurement that allow the correlationwith the finite element simulations.By means of Computed Tomography, a precise reconstruction of both bone and muscle of therat hindlimb geometry was obtained. The methodology proposed allows to obtain and validatecomputational simulations of skeletal muscle fatigue under different characteristics related tofiber types.6

Active behavior of abdominal wall muscles: Experimental results and numerical model formulation

In the present study a computational finite element technique is proposed to simulate the mechanical response of muscles in the abdominal wall. This technique considers the active behavior of the tissue taking into account both collagen and muscle fiber directions. In an attempt to obtain the computational response as close as possible to real muscles, the parameters needed to adjust the mathematical formulation were determined from in vitro experimental tests. Experiments were conducted on male New Zealand White rabbits (2047. ±. 34. g) and the active properties of three different muscles: Rectus Abdominis, External Oblique and multi-layered samples formed by three muscles (External Oblique, Internal Oblique, and Transversus Abdominis) were characterized. The parameters obtained for each muscle were incorporated into a finite strain formulation to simulate active behavior of muscles incorporating the anisotropy of the tissue. The results show the potential of the model to predict the anisotropic behavior of the tissue associated to fibers and how this influences on the strain, stress and generated force during an isometric contraction

Comparisons of Blockage Widths of Ideally Hard Cylinders of Different Cross-Sectional Shapes

In some applications the electromagnetic waves radiating from or being received by an antenna are obstructed by some mechanical structure. If the structure is part of or close to an antenna, the obstruction may represent aperture blockage causing increased sidelobes and reduced gain of the antenna. For example, the blocking structures can be struts or masts supporting the feed in reflectarrays or in reflectors. Usually in antennas, the direction of the incident wave is known, so the struts can be designed to reduce the blockage for a given direction of incidence

Primary endometrial carcinoma with signet-ring cells. A case report and review of the literature

Endometrial adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells is an infrequent histological type of carcinoma that usually corresponds to a metastasis of a primary carcinoma of another origin, mainly from the gastrointestinal tract or the breast. For this reason, in view of this histological finding, it is essential to carry out a thorough evaluation including mammography, gastroscopy, colonoscopy and thoracoabdominopelvic CT. To date, only six cases of primary endometrial carcinoma with signet-ring cells have been reported in the English literature. A 73-year-old patient was referred to the Gynecology Department with a 3-day history of postmenopausal bleeding. She was diagnosed with primary endometrial adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells. The anatomopathological special features of the surgical specimen are presented, as well as the evolution of the patient, who remained asymptomatic and free of disease 28 months after surgery. A review of the literature is performed, emphasizing the peculiarities of this rare histological subtype. Despite the fact that primary endometrial carcinoma with signet-ring cells is an infrequent tumor, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of malignant tumors of aforesaid origin. It is essential to carry out a correct and an extensive investigative study as well as an immunohistochemical analysis of the samples obtained for its confirmation diagnosis

SynapseJ: An Automated, Synapse Identification Macro for ImageJ

While electron microscopy represents the gold standard for detection of synapses, a number of limitations prevent its broad applicability. A key method for detecting synapses is immunostaining for markers of pre- and post-synaptic proteins, which can infer a synapse based upon the apposition of the two markers. While immunostaining and imaging techniques have improved to allow for identification of synapses in tissue, analysis and identification of these appositions are not facile, and there has been a lack of tools to accurately identify these appositions. Here, we delineate a macro that uses open-source and freely available ImageJ or FIJI for analysis of multichannel, z-stack confocal images. With use of a high magnification with a high NA objective, we outline two methods to identify puncta in either sparsely or densely labeled images. Puncta from each channel are used to eliminate non-apposed puncta and are subsequently linked with their cognate from the other channel. These methods are applied to analysis of a pre-synaptic marker, bassoon, with two different post-synaptic markers, gephyrin and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 (NR1). Using gephyrin as an inhibitory, post-synaptic scaffolding protein, we identify inhibitory synapses in basolateral amygdala, central amygdala, arcuate and the ventromedial hypothalamus. Systematic variation of the settings identify the parameters most critical for this analysis. Identification of specifically overlapping puncta allows for correlation of morphometry data between each channel. Finally, we extend the analysis to only examine puncta overlapping with a cytoplasmic marker of specific cell types, a distinct advantage beyond electron microscopy. Bassoon puncta are restricted to virally transduced, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) axons expressing yellow fluorescent protein. NR1 puncta are restricted to tyrosine hydroxylase labeled dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The macro identifies bassoon-NR1 overlap throughout the image, or those only restricted to the PPN-SNc connections. Thus, we have extended the available analysis tools that can be used to study synapses in situ. Our analysis code is freely available and open-source allowing for further innovation

¿A qué jugamos? Influencia de los juegos reducidos y condicionados para mejorar el rendimiento fisiológico y físico del alumno

Resumen: Introducción: los juegos reducidos y condicionados (JRC) son una herramienta ideal para combatir una práctica deportiva descontextualizada en educación física (EF). Objetivo: el propósito principal de este estudio ha sido cuantificar el rendimiento fisiológico y físico de un JRC 3vs.3, un JRC 4vs.4 y una tarea técnica analítica mediante el índice global TRIMP Edwards, la percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo (PSE) y la distancia total recorrida. El objetivo secundario fue analizar la relación existente entre mencionadas variables fisiológicas y físicas. Métodos: estudio cuantitativo, cuasi-experimental y transversal, aplicado con una muestra de 80 alumnos desde tercero hasta sexto curso de educación primaria (9,61±1,15 años). Para la cuantificación de las variables se ha empleado la tecnología Polar Team Pro® y la escala de Percepción del Esfuerzo Percibido. Resultados y discusión: se establecen diferencias significativas en las cargas de entrenamiento entre los juegos 3vs.3 y 4vs.4 respecto a las tareas analíticas (p<0,001). También se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los juegos 3vs.3 respecto a los 4vs.4 (p<0,001), y una correlación positiva significativa entre las cargas de juegos y tareas. Conclusiones: los JRC suponen herramientas metodológicas útiles para mejorar el rendimiento fisiológico y físico en EF y, en definitiva, la salud de los escolares, en comparación con una práctica más descontextualizada basada exclusivamente en tareas técnicas. Por ese motivo, se recomienda, por un lado, la implementación de JRC en las unidades didácticas escolares y, por otro, el empleo de herramientas tales como la PSE para controlar las variables fisiológicas y físicas de los alumnos.Abstract: Introduction: the small-sided and conditioned games (SSCGs) are an ideal tool for overcome a decontextualized Physical Education (PE) sport practice. Aim: the main purpose of this research was to quantify and compare the physiological and physical performance from a SSCG 3vs.3, a SSCG 4vs.4 and a technical analytical drill through the global indicator Edwards’ TRIMP, the response perceived-exertion (RPE) and the total distance covered. The secondary objective was to analyze the relationship between the mentioned physiological and physical variables. Methods: a quantitative, quasi-experimental and cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 80 students from third to sixth grade in Elementary Education (9.61±1.15 years old). Technology Polar Team Pro™ and the Response Perceived-Exertion have been used to quantify both physiological and physical variables. Results & discussion: results establish significant differences at 3vs.3 and 4vs.4 SSCGs against the drills (p<0.001). Moreover, it was also observed significant differences at 3vs.3 in contrast to 4vs.4 SSGs (p<0.001), and a significant positive correlation was observed among the loads of the games and drills. Conclusions: the SSCGs in PE supposed useful tools designed to improve the physiological and physical performance as well as promoting healthy habits in contrast to a more decontextualized practice based on technical task exclusively. For that reason, it is recommended, on the one hand, to implement SSCGs at the lessons plans and, on the other hand, to use tools such as the RPE to control the students’ physiological and physical variables

Using Electronic Institutions to secure Grid environments

Abstract. As the technical infrastructure to support Grid environments matures, attention must be focused on integrating such technical infrastructure with technologies to support more dynamic access to services, and ensuring that such access is appropriately monitored and secured. Such capabilities will be key in providing a safe environment that allow the creation of virtual organisations at run time. This paper addresses this issue by analysing how work from within the field of Electronic Institutions (EIs) can be employed to provide security support for Grid environments, and introduces the notion of a Semantic Firewall (SFW) responsible for mediating interactions with protected services given a set of access policies. An overarching guideline is that such integration should be pragmatic, taking into account the real-life lessons learned whilst developing, deploying and using the GRIA infrastructure for Grid environments

Galactosialidosis: Nueva mutación de novo en el gen CTSA en un paciente afecto de la forma infantil tardía

La galactosialidosis (OMIM #256540) es una enfermedad metabólica lisosomal causada por mutaciones en el gen CTSA, que codifica la proteína protectora catepsina A. La pérdida de función de dicha proteína causa, secundariamente, un déficit combinado de dos enzimas, beta-galactosidasa y neuraminidasa. Se expone el caso de un paciente que presentó manifestaciones clínicas compatibles con el subtipo infantil tardío de galactosialidosis. El análisis bioquímico mostró déficits de las dos enzimas implicadas, mientras que el estudio molecular reveló dos mutaciones: una nueva mutación nunca antes descrita, p.His475Pro (c.1424 A>C), y una mutación previamente reportada, p.Arg441Cys (c.1321C>T), localizadas en los exones 15 y 14, respectivamente. Galactosialidosis (OMIM #256540) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the CTSA gene, which encodes the protective protein cathepsin A. The loss of function of this protein causes a secondarily deficiency of beta-galactosidase and N-acetyl-á-neuraminidase enzymes activities. We describe the clinical, biochemical and molecular analysis of a case report with a phenotype compatible with the late infantile form. The biochemical analysis reveled deficiencies of beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase activities in dried blood spot and fibroblasts and the molecular study showed two missense mutations in the CTSA gene: A previously reported mutation, p.Arg441Cys (c.1321C>T), and a novel mutation, p.His475Pro (c.1424 A>C), located in exons 14 and 15, respectively

Biodegradability of extractives in sapwood and heartwood from Scots pine by sapstain and white rot fungi

1 Division of Wood Science, Sub-department of Forestry, Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands 2 Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología (IRNA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, SpainThe fungal degradation of lipophilic extractives in sapwood and heartwood from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was studied. In sapwood, the white rot fungi, Bjerkandera sp. and Funalia trogii, removed higher amounts of extractives than the sapstain strains, Ophiostoma ainoae and Ceratocystis allantospora. Triglycerides, long chain fatty acids, steryl esters and waxes in pine sapwood were almost completely degraded by all the fungi. Sterols and resin acids were also extensively degraded by the white rot strains; however, these components were not or only poorly removed by the sapstain fungi. The removal of total extractives by all the fungal strains was higher in sapwood as compared to heartwood. The highly concentrated extractive fraction in pine heartwood mainly consists of resin acids. As observed in sapwood, sapstain were also poorly effective in the degradation of the resin acids present in heartwood. The fungal degradation of heartwood extractives was not only limited by the degradative ability of the various test microorganisms, but also by the inhibitory effect exerted by the extractive fraction. The white rot fungus F. trogii was particularly inhibited on heartwood. Bjerkandera sp. showed a higher tolerance to toxic extractives and was the most efficient fungus in degrading extractive constituents in both Scots pine heartwood and sapwood. Therefore, Bjerkandera sp. strain BOS55 should be considered as a potential agent for pitch control in pulp and paper manufacture.This study has been carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, Agriculture and Fisheries (FAIR) contract no. CT 95–0560, “Wood extractives in pulp and paper manufacture: technical and environmental implications and biological removal”.Peer reviewe

Ascitis secundaria a chlamydia trachomatis tras procedimiento de reproducción asistida

El desarrollo de ascitis moderada o severa es infrecuente tras una enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica por Chlamydia trachomatis, una de las principales causas de infección de transmisión sexual a nivel mundial. Caso clínico: Paciente de 29 años que tras aborto diferido (gestación tras inseminación artificial) que inicia a las seis semanas con cuadro de dolor abdominal inespecífico y ascitis de predominio linfocitario. El diagnostico se realizo mediante PCR (Werfen®) tanto el liquido ascítico como en exudado endocervical. La paciente recibió tratamiento antibiótico con doxiciclina. Conclusión: Las enfermedades de transmisión sexual deben ser consideradas cuando se realiza un diagnóstico diferencial de una mujer sexualmente activa con dolor abdominal y ascitis, instaurar tratamiento antibiótico y evitar pruebas e intervenciones quirúrgicas innecesarias. The development of moderate or severe ascites is infrequent after a pelvic inflammatory disease from Chlamydia trachomatis, one of the main causes of sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Clinical case: A 29-year-old patient who, after a delayed abortion (gestation after artificial insemination), started at six weeks with symptoms of non-specific abdominal pain and predominantly lymphocytic ascites. The diagnosis is made by PCR (Werfen®) both the ascitic fluid and the endocervical exudate. The patient received antibiotic treatment with doxycycline. Conclusion: Sexually transmitted diseases should be considered when making a differential diagnosis of a sexually activated woman with abdominal pain and ascites. Establishing antibiotic treatment, and avoiding unnecessary tests and surgical treatments