At specific velocities, intense tonal sound can be radiated from the flow around cascaded flat plates. This sound arises from the coupled phenomena of vortex shedding and acoustic resonance. To ...suppress such noise, we actively control the vortex shedding and acoustic radiation by oscillating the edges of every second plate in the cascade. The objective of this investigation was to clarify the effects and mechanism of noise reduction under this control. To understand how the amplitude and frequency of the oscillations influence the controlled flow and acoustic fields around the flat-plate cascade, we conducted direct aeroacoustic simulations using the volume penalization method. The sound pressure level at the resonance frequency was decreased by oscillating the plates at a dimensionless amplitude of 0.15. The pressure reduction failed at oscillation frequencies close to the resonance frequency, because the acoustic resonance occurs at the oscillation frequency. In the audible range of oscillation frequencies (0–20 kHz), the audible overall sound pressure level was not able to be reduced. In contrast, at oscillation frequencies beyond the audible range, both the tonal sound pressure level at the resonance frequency and the audible overall level were decreased. Consequently, the noise radiated from a cascade of plates can be reduced by forced oscillations at a frequency above the audible range. Moreover, we offset the phase of the oscillations between two plates and observed the effect on the acoustic field. At a one-quarter phase offset, the sound pressure level at the oscillation frequency exhibited a vertical asymmetrical directivity.
The long‐range order of spherical block copolymer films is greatly improved if the underlying surface has been etched to form wells and mesas. Epitaxial growth of polystyrene/poly(2‐vinylpyridine) ...block copolymers on SiO2 with structures 1–10 μm wide yields single‐crystal‐like structures on top of the mesas (see Figure), and in the wells, provided the height of the mesas exceeds one layer of copolymer spheres (27 nm). (See also inside front cover.)
The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle synergies extracted from 14 unilateral lower‐limb and trunk muscles between the first and final parts of a 400‐m sprint in experienced sprinters to ...understand neuromuscular coordination of multiple muscles in the fatigued condition sprint. Nine male 400‐m sprinters (400‐m personal record: 48.11 ± 1.6 s) performed 400‐m sprints as with the real competition strategy. We defined the first part (100–150 m section) and the final part (350–400 m section), and obtained mean spatiotemporal variables (e.g., running speed, step frequency, and step length) for both parts. Electromyography (EMG) signals were obtained using wireless EMG sensors (2000 Hz) from 14 lower‐limb and trunk muscles. Non‐negative matrix factorization was performed to extract the muscle synergies for both parts. We observed significantly declined spatiotemporal variables in the final part induced by fatigue. The extracted number of synergies was 7.0 ± 0.7 (mean ± SD) for the first part and 7.2 ± 0.4 for the final part with no significant differences between parts. However, we identified specific muscle synergy, and alterations in the individual muscle weightings of several hip muscles (rectus femoris: RF, tensor fasciae latae: TFL, and glutes maximus: Gmax muscles) while there was no change in the muscle weighting of shank muscles and the temporal patterns of all muscles even following fatigue in the 400‐m sprint. Fatigue‐induced performance decline in a 400‐m sprint corresponds to alterations in muscle synergies, particularly in hip muscles, with notable shifts in RF, TFL, and Gmax activation.
Highlights
Running speed, step frequency, and step length significantly declined in the final part (350–400 m) compared to the first part (100–150 m) during the 400‐m maximal sprint due to fatigue.
Number of muscle synergies was no significant differences between the first part (7.0 ± 0.7) and the final part (7.2 ± 0.4).
Several hip muscle weighting components were altered, while no changes were observed in the shank muscles. The temporal patterns of all muscles remained consistent even after fatigue in the 400‐m sprint.
Background. Microalbuminuria is widely accepted as the first clinical sign of diabetic nephropathy. However, normoalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients who have renal insufficiency (RI), i.e. low ...estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, exist. We explored the prevalence of such patients and associated clinical factors. Methods. We investigated the distribution of patients when stratified by albuminuria stages and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages in a large-scale population of Japanese type 2 diabetic patients (N = 3297), and the common and independent factors for albuminuria and low eGFR. Results. The proportion of subjects with low eGFR was 15.3% (506/3297), which was 11.4% among those with normoalbuminuria (NA) (262/2298), 14.9% among those with microalbuminuria (105/705) and 47.3% among those with macroalbuminuria (139/294). There were 262 patients with NA and low eGFR, and 63.4% of them had neither diabetic retinopathy nor neuropathy. They were older and included a higher proportion of women and patients with hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD), and fewer smokers compared with those with NA and preserved eGFR. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that factors commonly associated with RI and albuminuria were hypertension, CVD and proliferative retinopathy. Factors independently associated with RI were age, duration of diabetes, A1C (negative), hyperlipidaemia, smoking (negative) and macroalbuminuria, whereas those associated with albuminuria were male sex, BMI, A1C, simple retinopathy and RI. Conclusions. A significant proportion of type 2 diabetic patients have normoalbuminuric RI. Renal disease in type 2 diabetes could be heterogeneous, implying the possibility of involvement of renal atherosclerosis and lipid toxicity.
Summary
Background
Although thiopurines have a proven role in maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease, an alternative therapy is needed for patients intolerant or resistant to thiopurines.
Aim
To ...evaluate the effectiveness of home enteral nutrition as a maintenance therapy regimen in which half of the daily calorie requirement is provided by an elemental diet and the remaining half by a free diet. We refer to this home enteral nutrition therapy as ‘half elemental diet’.
Methods
Between 2002 and 2005, 51 patients in remission from two hospitals were randomly assigned to a half elemental diet group (n = 26) or a free diet group (n = 25). The primary outcome measure of this study was the occurrence of relapse over the 2‐year period.
Results
The relapse rate in the half elemental diet group was significantly lower 34.6% vs. 64.0%; multivariate hazard ratio 0.40 (95% CI: 0.16–0.98) than that in the free diet group after a mean follow‐up of 11.9 months. Compliance was similar in the two groups. No adverse event occurred in any of the patients throughout the study.
Conclusion
This randomized‐controlled trial shows the effectiveness of an half elemental diet, which is a promising maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease patients.
Radionuclides were detected from the Fukushima nuclear accident at Fukuoka, Japan, 1000 km west of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex. Iodine-131 was first detected 3 d after the accident, ...indicating that it was probably transported dispersively because of local meteorological conditions, and not global air circulation. The maximum concentrations, 5.07 mBq m−3 for 131I, 4.04 mBq m−3 for 134Cs, and 4.12 mBq m−3 for 137Cs, were recorded in particles collected on April 6, 2011. However, these concentration levels decreased below the detection limit by April 26, 2011. Gaseous 131I accounted for 30%–67% of the total 131I content. The increase in dose by inhalation was negligible at Fukuoka.
► We analized atmosphreic radionuclides from Fukushima at Fukuoka, Japan. ► The 131I was observed within 3 days after the accident and detected for a month. ► It is probably transported dispersively due to local meteorological condition. ► A maximum concentration was recorded in particles collected on April 6, 2011. ► Gaseous 131I occupied 30% to 67% of the total 131I.
Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for chronic GVHD and organ involvement associated with different graft types, including unrelated cord blood (U-CB). We retrospectively studied 4818 adult ...patients who received their first allogeneic transplantation and survived for at least 100 days. The incidence of chronic GVHD at 2 years was 37%. The following factors were associated with the development of chronic GVHD: female donor/male recipient, CMV-Ab seropositivity, matched related peripheral blood grafts vs matched related BM grafts, no in vivo T-cell depletion and the occurrence of grade II-IV acute GVHD. Among these factors, the association with acute GVHD occurrence was consistently significant across donor subtypes. The use of U-CB was not associated with chronic GVHD, but was associated with a low incidence of extensive chronic GVHD. Chronic GVHD patients who had received U-CB transplants showed less frequent involvement of the oral cavity (28% vs 55%), eye (12% vs 26%), liver (20% vs 44%), lung (11% vs 25%) and joint (0% vs 6%) than those with matched related BM grafts. In conclusion, we found that U-CB transplants were associated with a low incidence of extensive chronic GVHD and less frequent involvement of the oral cavity, eye, liver, lung and joints.
Aims/hypothesis
In type 2 diabetic patients at low risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the relationship between the clinical course of nephropathy by stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ...onset of CVD remains unclear. Clarification of this relationship is important for clinical decision-making for both low- and high-risk diabetic patients.
Methods
This 4 year prospective study enrolled 2,954 type 2 diabetic patients with no prevalent CVD, and serum creatinine <176.8 μmol/l. The risk for CVD onset (non-fatal and fatal CVD and stroke, and peripheral arterial disease) was assessed according to CKD stage categorised by urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR; mg/mmol) and estimated GFR (eGFR; ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
). Association of progression from ‘no CKD’ stage (ACR <3.5 mg/mmol and eGFR ≥90 ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
) with risk for CVD onset was also evaluated.
Results
During follow-up (median 3.8 years), 89 CVD events occurred. Compared with patients with ‘no CKD’ as reference, those with ACR ≥ 35.0 mg/mmol with co-existing eGFR 60–89 ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
or <60 ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
showed increased risk for CVD onset, whereas those with eGFR ≥90 ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
did not. Those with ACR <3.5 mg/mmol and eGFR <60 ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
did not show any increased risk. Among patients with ‘no CKD’ stage at baseline, those who progressed to ACR ≥3.5 mg/mmol during follow-up showed an increased risk compared with those who did not, whereas those who progressed to eGFR <90 ml min
−1
1.73 m
−2
did not have increased risk.
Conclusions/interpretation
The risk for CVD was associated with progression of albuminuria stage rather than eGFR stage in type 2 diabetic patients at relatively low risk for CVD.
To compare the effects of miglitol an alpha‐glucosidase inhibitor (AGI) absorbed in the intestine and voglibose (an AGI not absorbed) on plasma glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and gastric inhibitory ...polypeptide (GIP) levels, 26 and 24 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to receive miglitol or voglibose, respectively. After 12‐week administration of both drugs, during 2‐h meal tolerance test, plasma glucose, serum insulin and total GIP were significantly decreased and active GLP‐1 was significantly increased. Miglitol group showed a significantly lower total GIP level than voglibose group. Miglitol, but not voglibose, significantly reduced body weight (BW). In all participants, the relative change in BW was positively correlated with that of insulin significantly and of GIP with a weak tendency, but not of GLP‐1. In conclusion, both drugs can enhance postprandial GLP‐1 responses and reduce GIP responses. The significant BW reduction by miglitol might be attributable to its strong GIP‐reducing efficacy.
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