The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature and compare the effectiveness of controlled interventions with a focus on physical activity (PA) and/or sedentary behaviours ...(SBs) for reducing sedentary time in adults. Six electronic databases were searched to identify all studies that examined the effects of interventions that targeted PA and/or SBs and that reported on changes in SBs (sedentary, sitting or television time). A qualitative synthesis was performed for all studies, and meta‐analyses conducted among studies with mean differences (min/d) of sedentary time. PROSPERO: CRD42014006535. Sixty‐five controlled studies met inclusion criteria; 33 were used in the meta‐analyses. Interventions with a focus on PA or that included a PA and SB component produced less consistent findings and generally resulted in modest reductions in sedentary time (PA: standardized mean differences SMD = −0.22 95% confidence interval {CI}: −0.35, −0.10, PA + SB: SMD = −0.37 95% CI: −0.69, −0.05). Moderate quality evidence from the randomized controlled trial meta‐analysis coupled with the qualitative synthesis provides consistent evidence that large and clinically meaningful reductions in sedentary time can be expected from interventions with a focus on reducing SBs (SMD = −1.28 95% CI: −1.68, −0.87 ). There is evidence to support the need for interventions to include a component focused on reducing SBs in order to generate clinically meaningful reductions in sedentary time.
The respiratory tract is exceptionally well defended against infection from inhaled bacteria, with multiple proinflammatory signaling cascades recruiting phagocytes to clear airway pathogens. ...However, organisms that efficiently activate damaging innate immune responses, such as those mediated by the inflammasome and caspase-1, may cause pulmonary damage and interfere with bacterial clearance. The extracellular, opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa expresses not only pathogen-associated molecular patterns that activate NF-κB signaling in epithelial and immune cells, but also flagella that activate the NLRC4 inflammasome. We demonstrate that induction of inflammasome signaling, ascribed primarily to the alveolar macrophage, impaired P. aeruginosa clearance and was associated with increased apoptosis/pyroptosis and mortality in a murine model of acute pneumonia. Strategies that limited inflammasome activation, including infection by fliC mutants, depletion of macrophages, deletion of NLRC4, reduction of IL-1β and IL-18 production, inhibition of caspase-1, and inhibition of downstream signaling in IL-1R- or IL-18R-null mice, all resulted in enhanced bacterial clearance and diminished pathology. These results demonstrate that the inflammasome provides a potential target to limit the pathological consequences of acute P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection.
The growing burden of myocardial infarction (MI) becomes a major global health issue that is accountable for considerable mortality worldwide. Hence, it is obligatory to develop a new treatment for ...MI having lesser side effects. Cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, and inflammatory pathways play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of MI. This investigation established the anti-cardiac hypertrophic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and myocardial infarct size limiting effects of valencene. Rats were induced MI by isoproterenol (100 mg/kg body weight) and then treated with valencene and cardiac sensitive markers, cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, markers of inflammation, nuclear factor- κB inflammatory pathway, and myocardial infarct size was estimated/determined. The serum cardiac diagnostic markers, cardiac hypertrophy, conjugated dienes, markers of inflammation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and myocardial infarct size were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by isoproterenol. Further, antioxidant enzymes and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the heart. The 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride dye staining revealed a larger infarct size. Moreover, histological results of myocardial infarcted rat's cardiac tissue revealed separation of cardiac muscle fibers, necrosis, and inflammatory cells. Post-treatment with valencene (12 mg/kg body weight) orally, daily, for two weeks to isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats reversed all above said structural, biochemical, molecular, and histological parameters investigated, by its anti-cardiac hypertrophic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and myocardial infarct size limiting effects. Thus, valencene is a potential candidate for inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, nuclear factor- κB inflammatory pathway, and myocardial infarct size and exhibited cardioprotection in MI.
•Cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in myocardial infarction.•Effect of valencene was studied in infarcted rats.•Valencene ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress.•Its anti-inflammatory effect inhibited inflammation.•Valencene's anti-cardiac hypertrophic and antioxidant effects.
Context
Boron-based nanostructures hold significant promise for revolutionizing hydrogen storage technologies due to their exceptional properties and potential in efficiently accommodating and ...interacting with hydrogen molecules. In this paper, boron-based B
n
(
n
= 3–14) nanoclusters decorated with alkaline earth metals (AEM = Ca and Be) were investigated for hydrogen storage applications based on density function theory (DFT) calculations. To evaluate H
2
adsorption capability, the adsorption energies, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), natural bond orbital (NBO), and quantum theory of atoms in molecule (QTAIM) analysis are performed. The primary aim of this research work is to achieve targeted value of 5.5 wt% set by the US Department of Energy (DOE) for the year 2025. The results revealed that B
5
Ca
2
, B
6
Ca
2
, and B
10
Ca
2
structures have the ability to hold up to 12H
2
molecules with gravimetric capacities of 15.20, 14.21, and 8.60 wt%, respectively, when compared to other boron structures decorated with calcium. Similarly, for Be-decorated structure, B
3
Be
2
structure can accommodate 3H
2
molecules with gravimetric capacity of 10.59 wt%. The result of this study indicates that AEM-decorated B
n
nanoclusters hold great promise as potential materials for hydrogen storage.
Methods
Density functional theory (DFT) approach at ωB97XD/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory is employed to investigate the possibility of storing H
2
molecules on alkaline earth metal (AEM = Ca and Be)-decorated B
n
(
n
= 3–14) nanoclusters. All DFT computations were performed using Gaussian 09 software. To calculate frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and quantum theory of atoms in molecule (QTAIM) analysis, we have used GaussView and Multiwfn software, respectively.
Dysfunction of the default mode network (DMN) has been identified in prior cross-sectional fMRI studies of Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, no studies have ...examined its utility in predicting future cognitive decline.
fMRI scans during a face-name memory task were acquired from a cohort of 68 subjects (25 normal control, 31 MCI, and 12 AD). Subjects with MCI were followed for 2.4 years (±0.8) to determine progression to AD. Maps of DMN connectivity were compared with a template DMN map constructed from elderly normal controls to obtain goodness-of-fit (GOF) indices of DMN expression. Indices were compared between groups and correlated with cognitive decline.
GOF indices were highest in normal controls, intermediate in MCI, and lowest in AD (p < 0.0001). In a predictive model (that included baseline GOF indices, age, education, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and an index of DMN gray matter volume), the effect of GOF index on progression from MCI to dementia was significant. In MCI, baseline GOF indices were correlated with change from baseline in functional status (Clinical Dementia Rating-sum of boxes) (r = -0.40, p < 0.04). However, there was no additional predictive value for DMN connectivity when baseline delayed recall was included in the models.
fMRI connectivity indices distinguish patients with MCI who undergo cognitive decline and conversion to AD from those who remain stable over a 2- to 3-year follow-up period. Our data support the notion of different functional brain connectivity endophenotypes for "early" vs "late" MCI, which are associated with different baseline memory scores and different rates of progression and conversion.
Probabilistic Models for Inference about Identity Peng Li; Yun Fu; Mohammed, U. ...
IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence,
2012-Jan., 2012, 2012-Jan, 2012-01-00, 20120101, Letnik:
34, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Many face recognition algorithms use "distance-based" methods: Feature vectors are extracted from each face and distances in feature space are compared to determine matches. In this paper, we argue ...for a fundamentally different approach. We consider each image as having been generated from several underlying causes, some of which are due to identity (latent identity variables, or LIVs) and some of which are not. In recognition, we evaluate the probability that two faces have the same underlying identity cause. We make these ideas concrete by developing a series of novel generative models which incorporate both within-individual and between-individual variation. We consider both the linear case, where signal and noise are represented by a subspace, and the nonlinear case, where an arbitrary face manifold can be described and noise is position-dependent. We also develop a "tied" version of the algorithm that allows explicit comparison of faces across quite different viewing conditions. We demonstrate that our model produces results that are comparable to or better than the state of the art for both frontal face recognition and face recognition under varying pose.
The potential of B
20
cluster decorated with alkali metals (AM = Li, Na, and K) and alkaline earth metals (AEM = Ca, Mg, and Be) to adsorb hydrogen molecules is investigated using density functional ...theory (DFT). The Bader’s topological parameters suggest the presence of non-bonded interaction between the bare structures and H
2
molecules. Global reactivity descriptor values confirm that the structures remain stable even after the adsorption of H
2
molecules. The results indicate that Na adorned B
20
(B
20
Na
2
) can store up to 12H
2
molecules, with a hydrogen storage capacity of 8.33 wt% and an average adsorption energy is 0.127 eV/H
2
. The findings suggest that B
20
cluster decorated with AM and AEM have the ability to be a promising hydrogen storage material. Additionally, to gain insights into the adsorption and desorption behaviors of H
2
molecules, ADMP molecular dynamics simulations methods were performed at room temperatures.
Lung diseases impact patients across the lifespan, from infants in the first minutes of life through the aged population. Congenital abnormalities of lung structure can cause lung disease at birth or ...make adults more susceptible to chronic disease. Continuous inhalation of atmospheric components also requires the lung to be resilient to cellular injury. Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) regulates multiple stages of structural lung morphogenesis, cellular differentiation, and the response to injury. As a driver of lung airway branching morphogenesis, FGF10 signaling defects during development lead to neonatal lung disease. Alternatively, congenital airway abnormalities attributed to FGF10 mutations increase the risk of chronic airway disease in adulthood. FGF10 also maintains progenitor cell populations in the airway and promotes alveolar type 2 cell expansion and differentiation following injury. Here we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking FGF10 to multiple lung diseases, from bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm neonates, cystic fibrosis in children, and chronic adult lung disorders. Understanding the connections between FGF10 and lung diseases may lead to exciting new therapeutic strategies.
Summary
Objective
The objective of this study was to systematically review evidence to identify intrapersonal, social environmental, physical environmental and policy correlates of sedentary ...behaviour (SB) among adults.
Methods
Six databases were searched to identify studies that reported on intrapersonal, social, physical environmental and/or policy correlates of SB across domains (i.e. occupational, leisure and transportation) in adults (mean ≥ 18 years old). Subgroup differences (sex, age, disease status, publication status and date, weekdays vs. weekend) were examined. Risk of bias was assessed, and a qualitative synthesis completed. PROSPERO: CRD42014009814
Results
Searching identified 22,779 articles; 257 were used in the analysis. Most studies used self‐reported SB and were cross‐sectional. The most studied domain of SB and correlate was leisure and intrapersonal, respectively. Consistent evidence found positive relationships between full‐time employment and higher transportation and lower leisure SB; higher income/socioeconomic status and greater transportation and occupation SB; living in more urban areas and greater sitting time and total SB; ownership of televisions and greater leisure SB; and, active workstations and lower occupational SB.
Conclusions
The review identifies the need for longitudinal studies, as well as further research on factors in the physical, social and policy environments. The review also recognizes the need to standardize methodology for collecting, defining and reporting SB and correlates.
Degradation of vegetation and soils in drylands, sometimes called desertification, is thought to be a serious threat to the sustainability of human habitation, but maps of the extent and severity of ...degradation at country and global scales do not exist. Degraded land, by definition, has suffered a change relative to its previous condition set by its climate, soil properties, topography and expectations of land managers. The local net production scaling (LNS) method, tested here in Zimbabwe, estimates potential production in homogeneous land capability classes and models the actual productivity using remotely-sensed observations. The difference between the potential and actual productivities provides a map of the location and severity of degradation. Six years of 250 m resolution MODIS data were used to estimate actual net production in Zimbabwe and calculate the LNS using three land capability classifications. The LNS maps agreed with known areas of degradation and with an independent degradation map. The principal source of error arose because of inhomogeneity of some land capability classes caused by, for example, the inclusion of local hot-spots of high production and differences in precipitation caused by local topography. Agriculture and other management can affect the degradation estimates and careful inspection of the LNS maps is essential to verify and identify the local causes of degradation. The Zimbabwe study found that approximately 16% of the country was at its potential production and the total loss in productivity due to degradation was estimated to be 17.6 Tg Cyr
−
1
, that is 13% of the entire national potential. Since the locations of degraded land were unrelated to natural environmental factors such as rainfall and soils, it is clear that the degradation has been caused by human land use, concentrated in the heavily-utilized, communal areas.
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