Most studies of smartphone-based assessments of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) focused on gait, tremor or speech. Studies evaluating bradykinesia using wearable sensors are limited by a ...small cohort size and study design. We developed an application named smartphone tapper (SmT) to determine its applicability for clinical purposes and compared SmT parameters to current standard methods in a larger cohort.
A total of 57 PD patients and 87 controls examined with motor UPDRS underwent timed tapping tests (TT) using SmT and mechanical tappers (MeT) according to CAPSIT-PD. Subjects were asked to alternately tap each side of two rectangles with an index finger at maximum speed for ten seconds. Kinematic measurements were compared between the two groups.
The mean number of correct tapping (MCoT), mean total distance of finger movement (T-Dist), mean inter-tap distance, and mean inter-tap dwelling time (IT-DwT) were significantly different between PD patients and controls. MCoT, as assessed using SmT, significantly correlated with motor UPDRS scores, bradykinesia subscores and MCoT using MeT. Multivariate analysis using the SmT parameters, such as T-Dist or IT-DwT, as predictive variables and age and gender as covariates demonstrated that PD patients were discriminated from controls. ROC curve analysis of a regression model demonstrated that the AUC for T-Dist was 0.92 (95% CI 0.88-0.96).
Our results suggest that a smartphone tapping application is comparable to conventional methods for the assessment of motor dysfunction in PD and may be useful in clinical practice.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Recent advances in high-performance flexible electronic devices have increased the demand for more diverse and complex nanofabrication methods; high-resolution, high-efficiency, and low-cost ...patterning strategies for next-generation devices are therefore required. In this study, we demonstrate the formation of dewetting-induced hierarchical patterns using two self-assembled materials: block copolymers (BCPs) and colloidal crystals. The combination of the two self-assembly methods successfully generates multiscale hierarchical patterns because the length scales of the periodic colloidal crystal structures are suitable for templating the BCP patterns. Various concentric ring patterns were observed on the templated BCP films, and a free energy model of the polymer chain was applied to explain the formation of these patterns relative to the template width. Frequently occurring spiral-defective features were also examined and found to be promoted by Y-junction defects.
Summary
Squid (Todarodes pacifica) pen was an excellent source of β‐chitin with 25.5% yield. The optimal condition to prepare squid pen β‐chitin was established: deproteinisation with 3% NaOH for ...30 min at 15 psi/121 °C and a solid/solvent ratio of 1:10 (w/v) and a subsequent demineralisation with 1 N HCl for 30 min at room temperature and a solid/solvent ratio of 1:10 (w/v). Squid pen β‐chitin contained 6.29% nitrogen, 0.25% ash, and negligible fat with degree of acetylation of 94.02%, residual amino acid of 0.499 g/100 g and bulk density of 0.28 g mL−1. Depending on its particle size, squid pen β‐chitin visually looked white (L* = 82.82, a* = −0.67, b* = 6.31; particle size of 0.15–0.18 mm) or light grey (L* = 62.88, a* = 0.33, b* = 10.66; particle size of 0.425–0.841 mm). Water, fat and dye‐binding capacity of squid pen β‐chitin was 694.67%, 194.03% and 79.81%, respectively.
Four (coconut, palm, rice bran, and soybean) edible oils and glycerol were applied on eggshell. All noncoated and coated eggs were stored for 5 wk at 25 ± 2 °C and drawn weekly for quality ...evaluation. All oil coatings were more effective in preserving internal quality of eggs than was glycerol coating. As storage time increased, the preservative effects of edible oil coating on weight loss, and albumen and yolk quality were significantly noticed. Oil‐coated eggs had significantly lower weight loss (<0.43%) than did noncoated (3.87%) and glycerol‐coated (3.73%) eggs after 5 wk of storage. Based on the Haugh unit, oil‐coated eggs maintained AA grade up to 3 wk. After 5 wk of storage, noncoated, glycerol‐coated, and oil‐coated eggs changed from AA grade to below B, below B and A grade, respectively. The albumen pH of noncoated and glycerol‐coated eggs considerably increased from 8.23 to 9.51 and 9.42, respectively, while those of oil‐coated eggs either maintained or slightly increased to 8.32. The albumen viscosity of all eggs decreased with increased storage time. Consumers (N = 120) could differentiate surface glossiness of oil‐coated eggs from uncoated eggs (R‐index of 81.42% to 86.99%). All oil‐coated eggs were acceptable for surface glossiness (liking scores of 6.22 to 6.77) and surface odor (liking scores of 6.20 to 6.55) with overall liking scores of 6.34 to 7.03. Overall, this study demonstrated that edible oil (coconut, palm, rice bran, and soybean) coating could preserve internal quality of eggs (maintaining grade A) at least 4 wk longer than noncoated eggs.
Practical Application: Freshness is a major contribution to the egg quality. The internal quality of eggs begins to deteriorate after they have been laid due to loss of moisture and carbon dioxide via the eggshell pores. Refrigeration is very effective in preserving egg quality. Surface coating is an alternative method to preserve egg quality, although it is much less effective than refrigeration. This study demonstrated that coconut, rice bran, soybean, and palm oils, which are abundant and commonly consumed in many parts of the world, could preserve the internal quality and reduce weight loss of oil‐coated eggs during room temperature storage.
Microphase separation of a polyisoprene-b-polystyrene-b-polyferrocenylsilane (PI-b-PS-b-PFS) triblock terpolymer film during chloroform solvent-annealing formed a 44 nm period square-symmetry array ...of alternating PI and PFS cylinders in a PS matrix. This nanostructure was converted to either a positive pattern of posts or a negative pattern of holes with tunable diameter by oxygen reactive ion etching or by surface reconstruction in a solvent, respectively, and coexisting post and hole patterns were also formed. Square arrays of silicon posts, pits, and inverted pyramids were fabricated by pattern transfer from the triblock terpolymer film into silicon substrates. The morphology of the triblock terpolymer film varied with the chloroform vapor pressure during solvent annealing, which was explained by selective swelling of the PI block at high vapor pressures. This triblock terpolymer system provides a convenient block copolymer lithography process for generation of nanoscale posts or holes with square symmetry.
Antibacterial activities of six chitosans and six chitosan oligomers with different molecular weights (Mws) were examined against four gram-negative (
Escherichia coli,
Pseudomonas fluorescens,
...Salmonella typhimurium, and
Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and seven gram-positive bacteria (
Listeria monocytogenes,
Bacillus megaterium,
B. cereus,
Staphylococcus aureus,
Lactobacillus plantarum,
L. brevis, and
L. bulgaricus). Chitosans showed higher antibacterial activities than chitosan oligomers and markedly inhibited growth of most bacteria tested although inhibitory effects differed with Mws of chitosan and the particular bacterium. Chitosan generally showed stronger bactericidal effects with gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria in the presence of 0.1% chitosan. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of chitosans ranged from 0.05% to >0.1% depending on the bacteria and Mws of chitosan. As a chitosan solvent, 1% acetic acid was effective in inhibiting the growth of most of the bacteria tested except for lactic acid bacteria that were more effectively suppressed with 1% lactic or formic acids. Antibacterial activity of chitosan was inversely affected by pH (pH 4.5–5.9 range tested), with higher activity at lower pH value.
A process route to fabricate templated BiFeO3/CoFe2O4 (BFO/CFO) vertical nanocomposites is presented in which the self-assembly of the BFO/CFO is guided using a self-assembled triblock terpolymer. A ...linear triblock terpolymer was selected instead of a diblock copolymer in order to produce a square-symmetry template, which had a period of 44 nm. The triblock terpolymer pattern was transferred to a (001) Nb:SrTiO3 substrate to produce pits that formed preferential sites for the nucleation of CFO crystals, in contrast to the BFO, which wetted the flat regions of the substrate. The crystallographic orientation and magnetic properties of the templated BFO/CFO were characterized.
Laparoscopic pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPPPD) is less invasive than open pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, LPPPD has a long operation time with pneumoperitoneum, ...which may affect the postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of PPCs and their risk factors in LPPPD. In 191 patients who underwent LPPPD, the incidence of PPCs was 28.8% (n=55). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors for PPCs were male sex odds ratio (OR), 2.518; P=0.008, high body mass index (OR, 1.172; P=0.024), and low preoperative serum albumin level (OR, 0.390; P=0.032). Length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the PPC group than in the no-PPC group 17 (14 to 26) vs. 14 (13 to 18) d, P<0.001. There was no difference in the incidence of surgical complications between the PPC group and the no-PPC group (14.5% vs. 6.6%, P=0.096). These results provide useful information for perioperative pulmonary management in patients undergoing LPPPD.
Physicochemical and functional properties of two chitosan products low viscosity (LV) with 16.8 mPa s; high viscosity (HV) with 369.4 mPa s were evaluated during 9-month storage at room temperature. ...As storage time increased, increased moisture content and DPPH radical scavenging activity and decreased viscosity and water binding capacity (WBC) were observed. The extent (%) of decreased viscosity and WBC and of increased DPPH radical scavenging activity during storage were more pronounced with the HV chitosan. Significant correlations were observed between WBC and viscosity (r = 0.88 for LV; r = 0.96 for HV) and between DPPH radical scavenging activity and viscosity (r = −0.79 for LV; r = −0.87 for HV). Although significant differences in L*a*b* values were observed during storage, color differences were not easily discerned visually. Antibacterial activity of the HV chitosan against two Gram-negative and two Gram-positive bacteria significantly increased with increasing storage time.
Ecklonia stolonifera is a brown alga that was shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, tyrosinase inhibitory, and chemopreventive activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its ...anti-inflammatory activity remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of E. stolonifera ethanolic extracts (ESE) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. ESE inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (IC50 = 72 ± 1.9 μg/mL) and prostaglandin E2 (IC50 = 98 ± 5.3 μg/mL) production in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. ESE also reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity and NF-κB translocation into the nucleus were significantly inhibited by ESE treatment through the prevention of the degradation of inhibitor κB-α. Moreover, ESE inhibited the activation of Akt, ERK, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The main components with anti-inflammatory activity in ESE were identified as phlorofucofuroeckol A and B based on the inhibition of NO production. Our results indicate that ESE can be considered as a potential source of therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.
PDF
