Over the last two decades, a large number of mutations have been identified in sarcomeric proteins as a cause of hypertrophic, dilated or restrictive cardiomyopathy. Functional analyses of mutant ...proteins in vitro have revealed several important functional changes in sarcomeric proteins that might be primarily involved in the pathogenesis of each cardiomyopathy. Creation of transgenic or knock-in animals expressing mutant proteins in their hearts confirmed that these mutations in genes for sarcomeric proteins induced distinct types of cardiomyopathies and provided useful animal models to explore the molecular pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutics of cardiomyopathy in vivo. In this review, I discuss the functional consequences of mutations in different sarcomeric proteins found in hypertrophic, dilated, and restrictive cardiomyopathies in conjunction with their effects on cardiac structure and function in vivo and their possible molecular and cellular mechanisms, which underlie the pathogenesis of these inherited cardiomyopathies.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the survival rate of ceramic and resin inlays, onlays, and overlays and to identify the complication types associated with the main clinical ...outcomes. Two reviewers searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published between 1983 through April 2015, conforming to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for systematic reviews. Clinical studies meeting the following criteria were included: 1) studies related to resin and ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays; 2) prospective, retrospective, or randomized controlled trials conducted in humans; 3) studies with a dropout rate of less than 30%; and 4) studies with a follow-up longer than 5 y. Of 1,389 articles, 14 met the inclusion criteria. The meta-regression indicated that the type of ceramic material (feldspathic porcelain vs. glass-ceramic), study design (retrospective vs. prospective), follow-up time (5 vs. 10 y), and study setting (university vs. private clinic) did not affect the survival rate. Estimated survival rates for glass-ceramics and feldspathic porcelain were between 92% and 95% at 5 y (n = 5,811 restorations) and were 91% at 10 y (n = 2,154 restorations). Failures were related to fractures/chipping (4%), followed by endodontic complications (3%), secondary caries (1%), debonding (1%), and severe marginal staining (0%). Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.19 (0.04 to 0.96) and 0.54 (0.17 to 1.69) for pulp vitality and type of tooth involved (premolars vs. molars), respectively. Ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays showed high survival rates at 5 y and 10 y, and fractures were the most frequent cause of failure.
Epitaxial ε-gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ) thin films incorporated with In were successfully grown by mist chemical vapour deposition (CVD) on c -plane sapphire substrates for bandgap tuning. In was ...successfully incorporated into epitaxial ε-(In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 films at an In composition of x = 0.2 without inducing phase separation. Phase separation originated from the (400) bixbyite structure of (In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 when x > 0.2. The solubility limit of In incorporated into ε-Ga 2 O 3 on sapphire substrates via mist CVD was therefore x = 0.2. Transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed that ε-(In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 consisted of polycrystalline phases observed in the interface of the sapphire substrate and ε-phases located above the polycrystalline phase. The pole figure of ε-(In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 thin films revealed that the epitaxial relationship between the ε-(In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 thin film and the α-Al 2 O 3 substrate is (001) ε-(In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 130||(0001) α-Al 2 O 3 11−20. The optical bandgap of the ε-(In x Ga 1−x ) 2 O 3 thin films was tuned from 4.5 to 5.0 eV without inducing phase separation.
This paper proposes a variable-speed wind generation system using an interior permanent-magnet synchronous generator (IPMSG). The armature current vector of the IPMSG is optimally controlled ...according to the generator speed in order to maximize the generated power from the wind turbine. The IPMSG is controlled by the loss-minimization control with maximum power point tracking below the base speed, which corresponds to low and medium wind speed, and the maximum energy can be captured from the wind. Above the base speed corresponding to the high wind speed region, the current- and voltage-limited maximum output control is applied, where the current vector is optimally controlled so that the output may become the maximum in consideration of the constraints of current and voltage. The proposed output maximization control is achieved without mechanical sensors such as wind speed sensor and position sensor. The control system has been developed and several experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed wind generation system.
This study demonstrates the ability to fabricate lightweight, ductile but mechanically strong magnesium alloy (AZ91D) composites by introducing a small number of high crystalline multi-walled carbon ...nanotubes. It is demonstrated that 1% of relatively short and straight carbon nanotubes distributed homogeneously on the outer surface of magnesium powders act as an effective reinforcing filler to prevent deformation, thereby contributing to the enhanced tensile strength of magnesium alloy composites (e.g., from 315 to 388
MPa).
A mechanical sensorless drive system for an interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor, for which parameters including the inverter are identified, is proposed in this paper. The rotor position is ...estimated by a signal-injection sensorless scheme at standstill. The resistance, including the on-resistance of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor, the voltage error caused by the dead time of the inverter, and the d-axis and q-axis inductances are identified at standstill using the estimated position. After the motor starts by the signal-injection sensorless control, the sensorless scheme changes to a scheme based on the extended electromotive force estimation, which uses the identified parameters. The magnet flux linkage is also identified under the sensorless operation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by several experimental results
This paper examines the torque response based on direct torque control (DTC) for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor. DTC with a PI controller for torque control is used in this paper. The ...relationship between the gains of the PI controller and the torque response is derived based on the transfer function of the torque control loop. In addition, this paper discusses the influence of the nonlinearity of the torque control loop on the torque response. It also proposes a linearization method for the torque control loop based on gain scheduling, and improvement of torque response is achieved. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by both simulation and experimental results.
Background
Immune response indicators in the early phase of COVID-19, including interferon and neutralizing responses against SARS-CoV-2, which predict hypoxemia remains unclear.
Methods
This ...prospective observational study recruited patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (before emergence of omicron variant). As the immune indicators, we assessed the serum levels of IFN-I/III, IL-6, CXCL10 and VEGF, using an ELISA at within 5 days after the onset of symptoms, and serum neutralizing responses using a pseudovirus assay. We also assessed SARS-CoV-2 viral load by qPCR using nasal-swab specimens and serum, to assess the association of indicators and viral distribution.
Results
The study enrolled 117 patients with COVID-19, of which 28 patients developed hypoxemia. None received vaccine before admission. Serum IFN-I levels (IFN-α and IFN-β), IL-6, CXCL10, LDH and CRP were significantly higher in patients who developed hypoxemia. A significant association with nasopharyngeal viral load was observed only for IFN-I. The serum levels of IFN-α, IL-6, CXCL10 were significantly associated with the presence of RNAemia. Multivariable analysis showed higher odds ratio of IFN-α, with cut-off value of 107 pg/ml, in regard to hypoxemia (Odds ratio OR=17.5; 95% confidence interval CI, 4.7-85; p<0.001), compared to those of IL-6, >17.9 pg/ml (OR=10.5; 95% CI, 2.9-46; p<0.001).
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that serum IFN-α levels in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection strongly predict hypoxemic respiratory failure in a manner different from that of the other indicators including IL-6 or humoral immune response, and instead sensitively reflect innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2 invasion.
Purpose
The contraceptive gestodene is a potent synthetic progestin used in several low-dose contraceptive formulations. Clinical studies reported a relationship between long-term use of combined ...oral contraceptives containing gestodene (GDN) and profound alterations in glucose metabolism in women. The observation that contraceptive synthetic progestins exert hormone-like effects other than their progestational activities, prompted us to investigate whether GDN may induce estrogen-like effects, even though GDN does not interact with estrogen receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether GDN affect pancreatic β-cell activity, directly or through its conversion to other bioactive metabolites.
Methods
The effects of GDN and its two derivatives 3β,5α-tetrahydro-GDN and 3α,5α-tetrahydro-GDN on insulin 2 (
Ins II
) and glucokinase (
Gk
) expression and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were determined in pancreatic islets from female rats.
Results
Gestodene did exert significant effects on islet β-cells activity. The most striking finding was that 3β,5α-tetrahydro-GDN and 3α,5α-tetrahydro-GDN had greater stimulatory effects on
Ins II
and
Gk
expression than that observed with GDN, consistent with their effects on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The effects on gene expression induced by GDN-derivatives were abolished by ICI 182,780 and MPP. In addition, the presence of inhibitors of androgen and progestin-metabolizing enzymes eliminated gene expression induced by GDN. These results indicated that GDN is metabolized to A-ring reduced metabolites with estrogen-like activities and through this mechanism, GDN may affect β-cell activity.
Conclusions
Altogether, the data suggest that 19-nortestosterone-derived contraceptives such as GDN, possess insulinotropic effects through their conversion into metabolites with intrinsic estrogen-like activity in pancreatic β-cells.
The aims of the current review were to: 1) examine whether the rTMS effects on executive function increase as age advances; 2) to examine the potential of rTMS to remediate executive function in ...older depressed patients; and 3) to assess the relationship between the executive function and mood benefits from rTMS in depression.
Randomized or matched-groups, blind, sham-controlled studies (12 studies, 347 participants) on excitatory rTMS applied to left DLPFC in depression were reviewed.
A series of meta-regressions found no evidence of greater rTMS effects on executive functions as age advances. Similarly, meta-analyses showed no significant rTMS effects on executive functions in older depressed individuals. However, meta-regression analyses showed that the size of the executive function benefits from rTMS in depression are positively related to the effect size of mood symptom reduction. Despite its correlational nature, this finding is consistent with the idea that improvement in executive function may play a critical role in depression recovery.
The authors consider these findings preliminary because of the modest number of available studies. Based on a qualitative review, the authors describe methodologic modifications that may increase rTMS efficacy for both executive functions and mood in late-life depression.
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