Ischemic Preconditioning Enhances Muscle Endurance during Sustained Isometric Exercise.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) enhances whole-body exercise endurance. However, it is poorly understood whether the beneficial effects originate from systemic (e. g.

AICAR Attenuates TNFα-Induced Inappropriate Secretion of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and Adiponectin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Aim: The increase in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and the decrease in adiponectin production from hypertrophic adipocytes are associated with adipose tissue inflammation and its metabolic complications. The aim of this study was to determine whether 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, modulates these adipocytokine productions in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-treated adipocytes.

Methods: AICAR and/or other reagents were added to the culture medium, and then, TNFα was added to fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Microfluidic Stamping on Sheath Flow.

A microfluidic stamping method to form functional shapes on a cross section in fiber-shaped flow is proposed. Microfluidic stamping and overstamping allow various cross sectional shapes on the 3D flow. The shapes can be controlled by a change in combination of structures and fluidic conditions which correspond to stamp type and stamping force.

Repeated high-intensity interval exercise shortens the positive effect on executive function during post-exercise recovery in healthy young males.

A single bout of aerobic exercise improves executive function (EF), but only for a short period. Compared with a single bout of aerobic exercise, we recently found that high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) could maintain a longer improvement in EF. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of different exercise modes on the modifications of EF remains unclear.

Evaluations of Mesogen Orientation in Thin Films of Polyacrylate with Cyanobiphenyl Side Chain.

The orientation behavior of mesogens in a polyacrylate with cyanobiphenyl (CB) side chain in thin films was investigated in detail by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GI-SAXS) measurements using both high-energy X-rays of Cu Kα line (λ = 0.154 nm) and low-energy synchrotron X-rays (λ = 0.539 nm).

A discrete event simulation tool to support and predict hospital and clinic staffing.

We demonstrate how to develop a simulation tool to help healthcare managers and administrators predict and plan for staffing needs in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit using administrative data. We developed a discrete event simulation model of nursing staff needed in a neonatal intensive care unit and then validated the model against historical data. The process flow was translated into a discrete event simulation model.

Morphology and N₂ Permeance of Sputtered Pd-Ag Ultra-Thin Film Membranes.

The influence of the temperature during the growth of Pd-Ag films by PVD magnetron sputtering onto polished silicon wafers was studied in order to avoid the effect of the support roughness on the layer growth. The surfaces of the Pd-Ag membrane films were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the results indicate an increase of the grain size from 120 to 250-270 nm and film surface roughness from 4-5 to 10-12 nm when increasing the temperature from around 360-510 K. After selecting the conditions for obtaining the smallest grain size onto silicon wafer, thin Pd-Ag (0.

The Impact of Vascular Complications on Survival of Patients on Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: There are various factors that can influence the survival of patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). Vascular complications from femoral cannulation are common and are potentially serious. We analyzed the impact of vascular complications on survival of patients receiving VA ECMO.

Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (V V ECMO): Indications, Preprocedural Considerations, and Technique.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V V ECMO) has been used for refractory respiratory failure. We describe the indications, technical aspects, and outcomes of placing V V ECMO in adults using a dual-lumen, single-cannula catheter.

Free Surface Command Layer for Photoswitchable Out-of-Plane Alignment Control in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Films.

To date, reversible alignment controls of liquid crystalline materials have widely been achieved by photoreactive layers on solid substrates. In contrast, this work demonstrates the reversible out-of-plane photocontrols of liquid crystalline polymer films by using a photoresponsive skin layer existing at the free surface. A polymethacrylate containing a cyanobiphenyl side-chain mesogen adopts the planar orientation.

Greater impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on post-exercise executive function compared to moderate-intensity continuous exercise.

Aerobic moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE) can improve executive function (EF) acutely, potentially through the activation of both physiological and psychological factors. Recently, high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has been reported to be more beneficial for physical adaptation than MCE. Factors for EF improvement can potentially be more enhanced by HIIE than by MCE; but the effects of HIIE on EF remain unknown.

Massive Thrombosis of the Transplanted Heart in the Early Postoperative Period.

We experienced a case with the left atrium almost completely filled with a thrombus after orthotopic heart transplantation while the patient was supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for primary graft failure. The patient had recurrent thrombosis even after successful surgical thrombectomy and appropriate anticoagulation. The cardiac thrombosis resolved only after starting plasmapheresis.

Measurement and comparison of individual external doses of high-school students living in Japan, France, Poland and Belarus-the 'D-shuttle' project.

Twelve high schools in Japan (of which six are in Fukushima Prefecture), four in France, eight in Poland and two in Belarus cooperated in the measurement and comparison of individual external doses in 2014. In total 216 high-school students and teachers participated in the study. Each participant wore an electronic personal dosimeter 'D-shuttle' for two weeks, and kept a journal of his/her whereabouts and activities.

Cryopreservation of Gemmae from the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L.

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. is one of the key model plants in evo-devo studies, and an increasing number of transgenic and mutant lines have been established. For reliable long-term preservation of M.

Fission Yeast Exo1 and Rqh1-Dna2 Redundantly Contribute to Resection of Uncapped Telomeres.

The uncapping of telomeres induces a DNA damage response. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, deletion of pot1+ causes telomere uncapping and rapid telomere resection, resulting in chromosome fusion. Using the nmt-pot1-aid strain, we previously reported that Pot1 shut-off causes telomere loss and chromosome fusion in S.

Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions with IgE hyperproduction and pruritus in KFRS4/Kyo rats.

Background: Rats showing spontaneous atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions were observed in the Kyoto Fancy Rat Stock 4 (KFRS4) strain breeding colony.

Objective: To establish the KFRS4 rat as a model of AD.

Methods: The clinical symptoms of AD-like skin lesions were assessed by scoring the degree of dermatitis and examining scratching behavior.

Alternation of Side-Chain Mesogen Orientation Caused by the Backbone Structure in Liquid-Crystalline Polymer Thin Films.

In side-chain-type liquid-crystalline (LC) polymers, the main chain rigidity significantly affects the LC structure and properties. We show herein a relevant new effect regarding the orientation of side-chain mesogenic groups of LC polymers in a thin-film state. A subtle change in the main chain structure, i.

Migrated Avalon Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannula: How to Adjust Without Interruption of Flow.

The Avalon dual lumen cannula is presently the cannula of choice for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) via right internal jugular cannulation. This cannula establishes VV-ECMO with a single cannulation; however, it requires appropriate positioning to gain adequate oxygenation. Malposition of this cannula can cause inadequate ECMO flow, hypoxia, and structural injury.

Characteristics of localized surface plasmons excited on mixed monolayers composed of self-assembled Ag and Au nanoparticles.

The fundamental characteristics of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excited on mixed monolayers composed of self-assembled Ag and Au nanoparticles (AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively) were investigated. Mixed monolayered films were fabricated at the air-water interface at different mixing ratios. The films retained their phase-segregated morphologies in which AuNPs formed several 10 to 100 nm island domains in a homogeneous AgNP matrix phase.

The COUP-TFII/Neuropilin-2 is a molecular switch steering diencephalon-derived GABAergic neurons in the developing mouse brain.

The preoptic area (POa) of the rostral diencephalon supplies the neocortex and the amygdala with GABAergic neurons in the developing mouse brain. However, the molecular mechanisms that determine the pathway and destinations of POa-derived neurons have not yet been identified. Here we show that Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII)-induced expression of Neuropilin-2 (Nrp2) and its down-regulation control the destination of POa-derived GABAergic neurons.

Method for Controlling Electrical Properties of Single-Layer Graphene Nanoribbons via Adsorbed Planar Molecular Nanoparticles.

A simple method for fabricating single-layer graphene nanoribbons (sGNRs) from double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) was developed. A sonication treatment was employed to unzip the DWNTs by inducing defects in them through annealing at 500 °C. The unzipped DWNTs yielded double-layered GNRs (dGNRs).

Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Agarase from a Newly Isolated Bacterium Simiduia sp. Strain TM-2 Able to Degrade Various Seaweeds.

A new bacterial strain capable of reducing thalli of various seaweeds (red, green, and brown algae) was isolated from marine sediments of Uozu in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. We designated the strain Simiduia sp. TM-2 based on analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and gyrB gene sequences and its biochemical and morphological characteristics.

Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock: An Algorithm-Based Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program Can Improve Clinical Outcomes.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in our institution resulted in near total mortality prior to the establishment of an algorithm-based program in July 2010. We hypothesized that an algorithm-based ECMO program improves the outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with cardiogenic shock. Between March 2003 and July 2013, 29 patients underwent emergent catheterization for acute myocardial infarction due to left main or proximal left anterior descending artery occlusion complicated with cardiogenic shock (defined as systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg despite multiple inotropes, with or without intra-aortic balloon pump, lactic acidosis).

Colorimetric plasmon sensors with multilayered metallic nanoparticle sheets.

Colorimetric plasmon sensors for naked-eye detection of molecular recognition events have been proposed. Here, 3-layered Ag nanoparticle (NP) sheets on a Au substrate fabricated using the Langmuir-Schaefer method were utilized as the detection substrates. A drastic color change was observed following the binding of Au NPs via avidin-biotin interactions at less than 30% surface coverage.