Greater Volume Research Articles

The relationship between physical activity intensity and volume on prospective falls in older adults

Obesity remains one of the leading risk factors for aging and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and type II diabetes, and effects 40% of the US population. The occurrence of obesity has been closely tied to an increase in sugar consumption with chronic hyperglycemia enhancing glycolysis. One of the byproducts of glycolysis is methylglyoxal (MGO), a reactive precursor for advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which drives type II diabetes and its complications. We hypothesize that an MGO-derived AGE, MG-H1, affects hypothalamic regulation of food consumption and metabolism parallel to the leptin pathway in mice fed a high carbohydrate diet. Exogenous supplementation of MG-H1 increased food consumption rates and weight gain. Conversely, glycation byproduct lowering compounds (GLY-LOW), a customized chemical cocktail that blocks the production of MGO, rescued over-feeding phenotypes in wild-type mice. Furthermore, GLY-LOW treatment in a leptin receptor deficient mouse model rescued weight gain, diabetic phenotypes and lifespan. RNA sequencing of the hypothalamus of leptin receptor deficient mice treated with GLY-LOW showed significant downregulation of Rax, a gene responsible for tanycyte differentiation, and several genes involved in feeding and aging. We propose that specific cells in the hypothalamus both make and respond to MG-H1. We will also discuss evidence for the potential of GLY-LOW as a new class of therapeutics that reduce the effects of glycation to reduce food intake and slow aging.

Air Pollution and Trade: The Case of China

We estimate the effects of trade on air pollution in China. To address endogeneity concerns, we use an instrumental variable strategy that treats the Great Recession as an exogenous shock that differentially affected China’s coastal provinces, which export a greater volume of manufacturing as they are closer to navigable waters. In our empirical analysis, we employ annual data on emissions of sulfur dioxide as well as smoke and dust at the province level from 2003 to 2015 to measure air pollution intensity (the ratio of air pollution to GDP), and we also use fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations data derived from satellite imagery as a robustness check. We find that a decrease in trade intensity (the ratio of trade to GDP) by 10 percentage points (a negative trade shock similar to what occurred during the Great Recession) increases sulfur dioxide emissions intensity by about 38 percentage points. Emissions of the other two air pollutants grow by similar proportions.

Retrospective Review of Flexible Bronchoscopy in Pediatric Cancer Patients.

The use of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to diagnose and manage pulmonary complications has been shown to be safe in adult cancer patients, but whether its use is safe in pediatric cancer patients remains unclear. Thus, to describe the landscape of FB outcomes in pediatric cancer patients and to help define the populations most likely to benefit from the procedure, we undertook a retrospective review of FBs performed in patients younger than 21 years treated at our institution from 2002 to 2017. We found that a greater volume of total fluid instilled during BAL was significantly associated with increased probabilities of positive BAL culture (p=0.042), positive bacterial BAL culture (p=0.037), and positive viral BAL culture (p=0.0496). In more than half of the FB cases, findings resulted in alterations in antimicrobial treatment. Our study suggests that for pediatric cancer patients, FB is safe, likely provides diagnostic and/or therapeutic benefits, and has implications for treatment decisions.

Staying afloat

Abstract This qualitative study gives an emic account of the experiences of adult L2 learners studying Chinese characters. Using semi-structured interviews and written journals of Americans who have spent time in China, the study uncovers core experiences and common patterns, giving voice to the holistic experience of learners, including affective aspects. The results of the study show that the very complexity of Chinese characters simultaneously attracts and deters learners. Learners experience an ever-growing realization of deeper complexity and greater volume. The struggling that ensues compels learners to actively find strategies to enable them to remain afloat in the learning process: (1) breaking down the complexity, (2) managing the incoming volume, (3) finding satisfaction in using the learning, (4) leading their own learning, (5) making use of resources, and (6) maintaining their learning. Findings from this study suggest practical applications for both L2 learners and teachers of Chinese characters.

The Sound Absorption Coefficient of Railway Concrete Sleepers Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) As a Cement Replacement Material

Major noise and vibration during train operation can cause disturbance to the surrounding. One of the methods to reduce this disturbance are by installing concrete sleepers. The use of railway concrete sleepers may be a high potential to reduce the noise and vibration. To produce concrete sleepers cement usage will be used with greater volume. Approximately 100 million tons of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) was disposed to the landfill currently. POFA contains high silica content and porous particles which indicated its pozzolanic properties and sound absorption characteristics. Therefore, this study was to determine the sound absorption coefficient of railway concrete sleepers containing POFA as a cement replacement material. Concrete sleepers with a strength grade of 55 and a w/c ratio of 0.35 were prepared in this study. Three design mixes with 0% (control), 20%, and 40% of POFA tested by using an impedance tube test at 28 days of curing age. The results show, the sound absorption coefficient and noise reduction coefficient increases as the percentage of POFA increases. The best performance was obtained by concrete sleepers containing 40% of POFA, with a recorded sound absorption coefficient of 0.10 for low frequency and 0.44 for high frequency. Meanwhile, the noise reduction coefficient recorded was 0.33, which reduce 32% of noise compared to OPC.

Predictive role of lymphoscintigraphy undergoing lymphovenous anastomosis in patients with lower extremity lymphedema: a preliminary study

BackgroundWe investigated whether preoperative lymphoscintigraphy could predict the treatment response of unilateral lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) in patients with lower extremity lymphedema.Materials and methodsA total of 17 patients undergoing lymphoscintigraphy subsequent to LVA was included. As qualitative lymphoscintigraphic indicators, ilioinguinal lymph node uptake, main lymphatic vessel, collateral vessel, and four types of dermal backflow patterns (absent; distal only; proximal only; whole lower limb) were evaluated. Lymph node uptake ratio, extremity uptake ratio, and injection site clearance ratio were obtained as quantitative lymphoscintigraphic indicators at 1 and 2-h after injection. To evaluate therapy response, the volume difference ratio of the whole lower limb at 3 months (early response) and 1 year (late response) was measured. Volume difference ratios (continuous variable and binary variable with a cut-off value of zero) were compared according to the lymphoscintigraphic variables.ResultsThe group with whole lower limb dermal backflow had a greater volume change than the other groups (p = 0.047). The group with dermal backflow in the whole lower limb OR only in the distal part had a higher rate of volume reduction than the group with dermal backflow only in the proximal part OR absent (p = 0.050). The 2-h extremity uptake ratio was the only indicator that positively correlated with early and late volume difference ratio (p = 0.016, p = 0.001). The rate of volume decrease at 1 year was high in patients with high 2-h extremity uptake ratio (p = 0.027). As the amount of dermal backflow increases, the postoperative therapeutic effect increases (p = 0.040).ConclusionsPreoperative lymphoscintigraphy is useful to predict both early and late therapy response in patients with lower extremity lymphedema undergoing LVA. Both dermal backflow pattern and extremity uptake ratio may be predictive lymphoscintigraphic indicators.

Rheosorbilact in complex intensive therapy of burn toxemia

Background. Thermal injuries primarily cause coagulation necrosis and cell death with vascular thrombosis in the areas of the deepest lesion.Objective. To study the effectiveness of rheosorbilact in infusion therapy during the period of burn toxemia.Materials and Methods. The results of monitoring the daily volume of the injected fluid, infusion therapy and renal excretory activity of 25 patients admitted to the Department of Combustiology of Republican Research Center of Emergency Medicine due to burn injury were studied.Results. The average daily volume of infusion therapy in group 1, FI – 119.4 ± 38.4 units at the age of 27.3 ± 5.6 years, was 76 ± 7 ml/kg per day, in group 2 (50.7 ± 7.1 years), FI – 92.5 ± 20.8 units, the introduction of 64 ± 9 ml/kg was effective, in group 3 (71.3 ± 7.0 years), FI – 86.7 ± 12.8 units, the introduction of an average of 48 ± 11 ml/kg per day was sufficient. In the nonlinear nature of changes in intravenous infusion, 4–5-day periods can be noted, probably due to the current factors that determined the need to increase or decrease infusion therapy. The introduction of rheosorbilact in a volume of 10 ml/kg per day increased the hourly renal excretory activity in all patients during the period of toxemia. The diuretic effect was more pronounced in patients of group 1, which corresponded to a greater volume of water load and the severity of burn injury.Conclusions. The introduction of rheosorbilact in a volume of 10 ml/kg per day increased the hourly renal excretory activity in all patients during the period of toxemia.

Abstract 12565: Rotational Atherectomy in the Left Coronary System

It′s known that the Left Coronary Artery stenosis has greater mobility and mortality compared to the rest of the coronary tree, due to its size since the formation of plaques has a disseminated distribution, greater volume and severity of calcification. The use of rotational atherectomy (RA) has proven to be an effective tool to facilitate the sub-expansion of stents in atheromatous calcified lesions. We present a case study where plaque modification is performed by atherectomy and angioplasty in the Left Coronary system.A 62 years old female patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus 2, systemic arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia. Antecedent of coronary angiography 10 days prior to admission due to chest pain and dyspnea, where found trivascular disease of left dominance with diffuse calcified lesion. She was programmed for RA with ROTABLATOR and ROTAWire system. It started by advancing the microcatheter on the angioplasty guide and exchanging for ROTAWIRE 0.009”. Subsequently, the 1.5 mm abrasive bur was advanced, rotating up to 6 times in the proximal and middle segment of the Anterior Descending Artery, proceeding to predilate with balloon noting a non-dilatable distal lesion, a 1.25 mm abrasive bur was passed, rotating up to 3 times, and it was decided to perform balloon predilatation and placement of spliced stents.Continuing with Circumflex Artery, an intermediate 0.014” Zinguer guide was advanced to the distal segment, spliced stents were placed in the proximal segment and it was dilated with a balloon to optimize results. It was decided to exchange guides and predilated the artery ostium, then it was decided to advance the stent using the Culotte bifurcation technique and a proximal optimization of the stent with a balloon was performed.Finally, a post-dilation was performed in the Anterior Descending Artery and the Left Coronary Trunk with a balloon to optimize a successful result (Figure 1), with no dissection image or thrombus. Final flow TIMI 3, TMP 3.

Effect of knee joint angle on individual hamstrings morphology quantified using free-hand 3D ultrasonography

Exercise responses and injury rates differ between individual hamstrings and this may be linked with their morphology. The aim of this study was to compare muscle length and tendon dimensions between the individual hamstrings at two knee joint angles using free hand three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US). Muscle-tendon length and distal tendon cross-sectional area (CSA), volume, length and echogenicity of biceps femoris long (BFlh) and short (BFsh) head, semimembranosus (SM) and semitendinosus (ST) of 16 individuals were measured using free-hand 3D US at 0° (full extension) and 45° of knee flexion. ST showed the greatest length than all muscles and BFsh the lowest (p < 0.05). No difference was observed between SM and BFlh length (p > 0.05). Of the four muscles, ST tendon was longer, with less volume and CSA but greater echogenicity than the other tendons. In contrast, SM and BFlh showed shorter tendons and lower echogenicity but a greater volume and CSA than ST (p < 0.05). Muscle and tendon lengthened from 45° to 0° knee flexion angle (p < 0.05) but this change was not statistically different between individual hamstrings (p > 0.05). Freehand 3D US indicated that hamstring muscle length and distal tendon dimensions differ between individual hamstrings. All muscles and tendons lengthened as the knee was extended but this change was similar for all individual hamstrings.

Using diffusion MRI data acquired with ultra-high gradient strength to improve tractography in routine-quality data

The development of scanners with ultra-high gradient strength, spearheaded by the Human Connectome Project, has led to dramatic improvements in the spatial, angular, and diffusion resolution that is feasible for in vivo diffusion MRI acquisitions. The improved quality of the data can be exploited to achieve higher accuracy in the inference of both microstructural and macrostructural anatomy. However, such high-quality data can only be acquired on a handful of Connectom MRI scanners worldwide, while remaining prohibitive in clinical settings because of the constraints imposed by hardware and scanning time. In this study, we first update the classical protocols for tractography-based, manual annotation of major white-matter pathways, to adapt them to the much greater volume and variability of the streamlines that can be produced from today's state-of-the-art diffusion MRI data. We then use these protocols to annotate 42 major pathways manually in data from a Connectom scanner. Finally, we show that, when we use these manually annotated pathways as training data for global probabilistic tractography with anatomical neighborhood priors, we can perform highly accurate, automated reconstruction of the same pathways in much lower-quality, more widely available diffusion MRI data. The outcomes of this work include both a new, comprehensive atlas of WM pathways from Connectom data, and an updated version of our tractography toolbox, TRActs Constrained by UnderLying Anatomy (TRACULA), which is trained on data from this atlas. Both the atlas and TRACULA are distributed publicly as part of FreeSurfer. We present the first comprehensive comparison of TRACULA to the more conventional, multi-region-of-interest approach to automated tractography, and the first demonstration of training TRACULA on high-quality, Connectom data to benefit studies that use more modest acquisition protocols.

Congressional committee demographics and racially salient representation

ABSTRACT The positive impact of descriptive representation upon congressional committees’ work is well-documented in the literature: more racially diverse chamber membership and leadership increases racially salient committee activity. However, the possible descriptive effects of racially diverse congressional committees remain unexamined. A new dataset records the numbers of Black and Latinx members on all standing committees in the House from the 80th through 114th Congresses. Committees with higher numbers of Black members are more likely to hold racially salient hearings and hold a greater volume of such hearings. The effect remains even after controlling for committee jurisdiction, the race of the committee chair, and House diversity. Though Latinx membership on committees does not have a statistically significant effect upon racially salient hearings by those committees, the new data indicates the comparatively smaller numbers of Latinx members on committees as a likely explanation. The results for Black committee members indicate that representation of racially salient concerns requires not only a racially diverse legislative body but racially diverse committees. A thorough exploration of descriptive representation in legislative action must include consideration of committee diversity as an important piece of the puzzle.

South China Sea

Abstract Malaysia’s partial submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on its extended continental shelf beyond 200 nm limit made in December 2019 sparked a new legal battle of diplomatic notes on the South China Sea (scs) from claimant States (Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam) and non-claimant States (Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States). It has greater volume and significance compared to the first exchange of notes in 2009 – 2011. This article examines the impact of diplomatic notes among claimants on the prospect for the peaceful settlement of the maritime disputes in the scs.

Exercício aquático e modulação autonômica cardíaca de mulheres na pós-menopausa com diabetes tipo 2

Objetivo: Investigar o efeito de 12 semanas de um programa de exercícios aquáticos na modulação autonômica cardíaca pelo índice de variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) de mulheres com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) na pós-menopausa. Métodos: Um ensaio clínico randomizado foi realizado em 25 mulheres com idade entre 51 e 83 anos, dividido em grupo de exercício (GE) (n = 13), submetido por 12 semanas a duas sessões semanais de 50 minutos cada, e grupo controle (GC) (n = 12) sem exercício. Resultados: Em relação à modulação autonômica cardíaca, foi observada interação significativa para os valores de TINN (ms) indicando um pequeno aumento no GE, mas principalmente uma redução no GC. A análise de regressão também apontou o efeito do exercício aquático na redução da razão LF/HF, após o controle de covariáveis, pressão arterial diastólica e dislipidemia. Conclusão: O exercício aquático teve um efeito significativo na redução do risco cardiovascular, principalmente em relação à glicemia e obesidade abdominal, o que pode representar um efeito protetor do exercício na progressão da disfunção autonômica, mas seu efeito na modulação autonômica parece depender de maior volume e tempo com exercícios aquáticos.

Low-carbohydrate diets and right ventricular structure and function: the MESA-Right Ventricle study

Abstract Background The association between daily carbohydrate intake and right ventricular (RV) morphology has not been well studied. We aimed to figure out the relationship between daily carbohydrate intake and right ventricular structure and function in a large multiethnic population-based cohort. Methods The Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) -Right Ventricle Study measured RV mass and volumes by cardiac MRI in participants aged 45 to 84 years without clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the MESA study. Participants were divided into three groups based on average daily carbohydrate intake: low (≤45%), medium (45–55%), and high (≥55%). Results The study sample included 3,776 participants which were aged 61.5±10.1 years, 47.5% male, 40.0% white, 24.9% African American, 21.8% Hispanic, and 13.3% Chinese. Higher levels of daily carbohydrate intake were linearly associated with greater RV stroke volume (RVSV), and RV ejection fraction (RVEF) (P&amp;lt;0.001) with larger carbohydrate-intake-related increasements in men than in women (P=0.006 for interaction) after adjusting for demographics, anthropometrics, smoking, drinking, daily protein intake, daily total energy intake, cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, education, utilization of medicine and other covariates. The results remained significant after adjustment for LV parameters. Conclusions Carbohydrate intake was independently associated with differences in RV morphology after adjustment for all covariates. This association may be explained by the decreased intake of specific nutrients from carbohydrates. Given the nature of the study, causality cannot be proven. Therefore, further studies are needed to extend these findings, which if confirmed, may suggest a need to rethink recommendations for carbohydrate intake in clinical practice, for optimal nutrient achievement, meals need to be well formulated. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Investigating Branched Polyethylene Sensors for Applications in Prosthetics

AbstractThere is a need for new conductive, scalable sensors with piezoresistive and thermoresistive properties for applications in bioengineering. For example, the demand for real‐time sensory feedback in upper‐limb prosthetics requires sensors that are low‐cost, scalable, and sensitive to temperature, pressure, and movement. It is possible to manufacture low‐cost conductive sensors by directly mixing a low‐cost filler such as graphite into fillers such as polyorganosiloxane, although they can have poor electrical and mechanical homogeneity. In this paper, an alternative approach is outlined to form these sensors: ethylene was polymerized using a nickel catalyst to form a polymer with up to 93 branches per 1000 carbon atoms. This branched polyethylene was fibrous and had a greater volume than high‐density polyethylene. After hot pressing with a graphite filler to form a conductive, flexible sensor, the polyethylene samples had electrical resistivity down to 0.067 m, a thermal coefficient of resistance −7.5 at 27 , and a electrical resistance sensitive to forces down to 0.1 N. The process is scalable, and provides a route to homogeneous, low‐cost sensors for future prosthetics applications.

Method to Create Multiple Primary Malignant Neoplasms with Stimulation of Tumor Growth under Conditions of Primary Immunodeficiency in Experiment.

The experimental model of synchronous multiple primary malignant tumors (MPMT) was created. B16/F10 melanoma (0.5 ml of suspension diluted 1:20 in saline) and sarcoma 45 (0.5 million tumor cells in 0.5 ml saline) were simultaneously subcutaneously inoculated to male BALB/c nude mice. In the model of synchronous MPMT, the tumors appeared faster by 2.4 times and had greater volumes: melanoma by 2.2 times and sarcoma by 3.2 times; melanoma metastasized into sarcoma in 71.4% cases; the survival of mice with MPMT was lower. The altered dynamics of malignant growth in the MPMT model is based on the mutual influence of tumors, which results in the exchange of "structural information".

Crystalloids and colloids: fluid homeostasis and toxicity

Fluid balance is crucial in critically ill patients because mechanisms to counteract fluid dysbalances are limited. Therefore, an extremely important task of ICU staff is to assess and maintain fluid status. Fluid overload has been shown to have deleterious consequences for patients. Infusion fluids may be divided into colloid and crystalloid solutions. Within the crystalloids, balanced solutions have been shown to be superior over 0.9% saline with respect to acidosis, acute kidney injury, and mortality. The most widespread used colloid is hydroyethyl starch (HES). Compared to crystalloids, HES has amuch greater volume effect. Despite this advantage, precautions must be undertaken with the use of HES. Side effects such as anaphylactic reactions and acute kidney injury are not uncommon; thus, critically ill patients and those at risk of kidney dysfunction should only receive HES preparations after careful consideration.

Enhanced gas-liquid absorption through natural convection studied by neutron imaging

Heat release from absorption storage heat pump by means of absorption of water vapor into aqueous sodium hydroxide is limited by uptake kinetics affecting temperature gain, as well as power- and energy density of the method. Earlier studies pinpoint that natural diffusion alone is not sufficient to reach higher uptake rate, and that the surface to bulk exchange has to be enforced. In this paper, different technical solutions to this problem for the heat storage application are introduced and studied by neutron imaging, enabling visual observation of water vapor uptake and diffusion. The experiments brought to the fore that the buoyancy changes associated with water uptake may be utilized to markedly enhance kinetics. This concept was applied on a vertically installed spiral finned tube operating as heat and mass exchanger for the absorption storage heat pump, also referred to as sorption heat storage. By flooding the space between the spiral fin with absorbent, water absorption into the vertical surface leads to a buoyancy driven movement of the liquid, supplying unspent aqueous NaOH to the vertical surface and exchanging it with the diluted liquid. This is found to increase the rate of absorption markedly. Under realistic heat storage specific operating conditions, a temperature gain of 12.5 K, an active area specific power of 1.28 kW/m2 and an energy density of 243 kWh/m3 in respect to the volume of charged absorbent (greatest volume) is reached. It is proposed that carful design of the spiral finned tube to enhance buoyancy movement will further improve overall sorption heat storage performance.

Outlier detection in animal multivariate trajectories

Outlier trajectory detection systems have received growing attention over the last decades. These systems have highly improved their efficiency through the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the emergence of affordable wireless sensor networks. IoT-based technologies adoption have led to a faster capture of data from several independent information sources with higher quality and greater volume. Besides, data mining and machine learning techniques allow the combination of these data sources in order to boost decision-making processes. In this paper, Outlier Detection in Animal Multivariate Trajectories (ODAMT) is proposed as a new method that combines spatial information with additional independent data sources for detection of anomalies in animal multivariate trajectories. ODAMT has been applied for the detection of cattle reproductive events in a real study achieving promising results.

Platelet counts and adenoid hypertrophy: a neglected relationship.

The increase in resistance of the respiratory nasal caused by adenoid hypertrophy can condition changes in pulmonary ventilation and translate into a risk of cardiopulmonary diseases. The mean platelet volume is a marker of platelet function, associated with indicators of platelet activity - a greater volume indicates the presence of larger platelets and greater hemostatic reactivity, associated with a propensity for thrombosis. Retrospective study of 200 patients who presented to the otolaryngology outpatient clinic of our hospital, divided in two group-s : chAil dren with adenoid hypertrophy, B - children without adenoid hypertrophy. The age, hemoglobin levels, platelet counts were compared between the two groups. The Mean Platelet Volume levels in patients with Adenoid Hypertrophy were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.001). White blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelet levels were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Adenoid hypertrophy is associated with higher mean platelet volume in children. Measurement of mean platelet volume and platelet count can be considered as quick, safe, and reliable guide for the assessment of clinical consequences of adenoid hypertrophy.