Effect of creatine monohydrate in improving cellular energetics and muscle strength in ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: a randomized,placebo-controlled P MRS study

Randomized, placebo-controlled single blinded study was carried out to evaluate the effect of oral creatine supplementation on cellular energetics, manual muscle test (MMT) score and functional status in steroid-naive, ambulatory boys suffering with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD; n=33). Eighteen patients received creatine monohydrate (Cr; 5 g/day for 8 weeks), while 15 received placebo (500 mg of vitamin C). Phosphorus metabolite ratios were determined from the right calf muscle of patients using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P MRS) both prior to (baseline) and after supplementation of Cr or placebo. In addition, metabolite ratios were determined in normal calf muscle of age and sex matched controls (n=8). Significant differences in several metabolite ratios were observed between controls and DMD patients indicating a lower energy state in these patients. Analysis using analysis of covariance adjusted for age and stature showed that the mean phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic phosphate (Pi) ratio in patients treated with Cr (4.7; 95% CI; 3.9–5.6) was significantly higher (P=.03) compared to the placebo group (3.3; 95% CI; 2.5–4.2). The mean percentage increase in PCr/Pi ratio was also more in patients <7 years of age compared to older patients after Cr supplementation indicating variation in therapeutic effect with the age. In the placebo group, significant reduction in PCr/Pi (P=.0009), PCr/t-ATP (P=.05) and an increase in phosphodiester (PDE)/PCr ratios was observed after supplementation. Further, in the placebo group, patients <7 years showed reduction of PCr/t-ATP and Pi/t-ATP compared to older patients (>7 years), after supplementation. These results imply that the significant difference observed in PCr/Pi ratio between the Cr and the placebo groups after supplementation may be attributed to a decrease of PCr in the placebo group and an increase in PCr in the Cr group. Changes in MMT score between the two groups was significant (P=.04); however, no change in functional scale (P=.19) was observed. Parents reported subjective improvement on Cr supplementation versus worsening in placebo (P=.02). Our results indicated that Cr was well tolerated and oral Cr significantly improved the muscle PCr/Pi ratio and preserved the muscle strength in short term. However, this study provides no evidence that creatine will prove beneficial after long-term treatment, or have any positive effect on patient lifespan.     

A Weighted Evolving Network with Community Size Preferential Attachment

Community structure is an important characteristic in real complex network. It is a network consists of groups of nodes within which links are dense but among which links are sparse. In this paper, the evolving network include node, link and community growth and we apply the community size preferential attachment and strength preferential attachment to a growing weighted network model and utilize weight assigning mechanism from BBV model. The resulting network reflects the intrinsic community structure with generalized power-law distributions of nodes' degrees and strengths.     

Castor Oil-Based Polyurethane/Epoxy Intercross-linked Polymer Network Adhesives for Metal Substrates

Castor oil based polyurethane (CO-PU) was first synthesized from castor oil and 4, 4’-diphenyl-methane-diisocyanate (MDI). Then, a series of CO-PU/epoxy (EP) intercross-linked polymer network (ICPN) adhesives for metal substrates were prepared by a sequential method. The functional groups, tack -free time, mechanical properties, adhesive properties, and thermal stability were studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that an ICPN structure was formed through the introduction of CO-PU into EP. Results of adhesive measurements showed that the maximal value of lap shear strength was achieved at the CO-PU content of 20%. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicated that thermal stability of the adhesive film decreased with increased CO-PU content.     

一种消除角度响应影响的多波束声强数据自适应改正方法

针对多波束反向散射强度(Backscatter Strength,BS)数据在采集过程中受到声学散射机理而产生的角度响应(Angular Response,AR)影响,而目前声学硬件方面尚未完美解决且现有后处理改正方法在复杂海底底质环境下适应性较差,尤其在高入射角区域的改正效果甚为不理想的问题,为此,给出了一种基于散射强度的自适应角度响应改正模型。首先获取连续脉冲(Ping)平均散射强度数据的角度响应曲线;其次使用高斯拟合方法对角度响应曲线进行平滑拟合处理,进而对其解算二阶导数提取角度响应模型改正参数;最后给出顾及高入射角区域的单Ping反向散射强度数据的分段处理改正模型。实验结果表明,该方法与传统方法相比,整个发射扇区散射强度平均偏差精度约提高30V,尤其在影响较大的高入射角区域,平均偏差精度约提高40V,并且该区域的标准差精度也提高了近30%。该模型较好地解决了多波束在非正射情况下获取海底精准散射声强的问题,削弱了声波散射机理的影响;同时也解决了散射强度过渡不均衡、中央波束区域改正异常等问题。因此,提高了多波束反向散射强度的可靠性,可以真实地呈现出海底实际的地貌。     

负梯度声速剖面的浅海混响平均强度的垂直结构

声速剖面是影响声场能量重新分配的主要参量。混响包含有双程传播和反向散射过程,文中根据全波动混响理论,从声速剖面对简正模态的垂直结构的影响出发,通过数值仿真和理论分析研究了负梯度声速剖面对双程传播损失和反向散射强度的垂直结构的影响,进而得到声速剖面对混响平均强度的垂直结构的影响。数值仿真结果表明,传播距离近的条件下,混响平均强度的垂直结构受声速剖面的影响在实际应用中可以忽略不计;传播距离足够远,并且相对声速梯度在10^-4 m^-1量级时,混响平均强度的垂直结构才会受声速剖面的影响有明显的变化。负声速梯度下的混响实验也表明,在有限的混响时间内,混响平均强度的垂直结构保持稳定。     

一种基于声散射特性的有鳔鱼特征获取方法

鱼分类技术在渔业资源评估中的重要性日益凸显,而分类中能够得到不同鱼种的本质声散射特征尤为重要。文章基于鱼的声散射特性,提出一种有鳔鱼种特征获取新方法。鱼的目标强度反映了鱼的本质声散射特征,其主要取决于鱼鳔的大小、形状及声波入射角度、频率,文章基于基尔霍夫模式模型和图像处理方法进行建模,不仅可对鱼体和鱼鳔进行更真实的近似,而且可以得到精确的目标强度仿真结果。通过图像识别方法,对鱼体及鱼鳔图像进行灰度变换、二值化、边缘识别、轮廓提取等处理,得到鱼体及鱼鳔边缘坐标,利用得到的信息进行建模,并给出了相应的计算机仿真结果。最后进行了水池试验,对仿真数据与试验数据进行了对比分析,并提取得到有鳔鱼的目标强度特征,为鱼分类特征获取提供了一条新的途径。     

The Effect of Toe-grasping Exercises on Balance Ability in Home-based Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial by Block Randomization

Objective: The purpose of the study was to clarify the causal effect of toe-grasping exercises on the improvement of static or dynamic balance ability in home-based rehabilitation users. Method: Our study included 34 subjects who met the criteria and were evaluable out of 98 rehabilitation service users at home nursing stations. This study was a randomized controlled trial. The intervention group performed towel gathering exercises in addition to the regular home-based rehabilitation program. The primary outcome was one-leg standing time, and the secondary outcomes were two-step test and toe grip strength. Results: Seventeen subjects were assigned to the intervention group and seventeen to the control group by block randomization. Data from 15 and 12 subjects in the intervention group and control group, respectively, who were able to complete the initial evaluation and the evaluation after 3 months, were analyzed. We compared the amount of change after 3 months of evaluation in the intervention group with the change in the control group. The results showed that the left/right mean value of oneleg standing time in the intervention group was significantly greater than that in the control group. In terms of the amount of change in the intervention period (T2-T1) within each assessment, there were significant improvements in both the toe-grip strength and the two-step values in the intervention group. Conclusion: We found that toe-grasping exercises could improve the balance ability of home-based rehabilitation users. This suggests the clinical significance of toe function in rehabilitation programs.     

Room-temperature 2 μm luminescence from Tm doped silicon light emitting diodes and SOI substrates

Room temperature electroluminescence in the eye safe region of the spectrum over the range 1.7–2.1 μm is demonstrated from a thulium doped silicon diode. The same room temperature photoluminescence can be attained on a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The emission lines are from the first excited to ground state of the Tm³⁺ ion, ³F₄→³H₆. A detailed study has been made to establish the optimum implant and processing conditions for efficient room temperature luminescence. The importance of the correct placement of the thulium ions with respect to the depletion region edge and dislocation loops formed upon boron implantation has been established. Tm³⁺ has been demonstrated to lase in other systems and is the basis of widely applied, commercial, optically pumped 2 μm lasers. The demonstration of electroluminescence in silicon and luminescence on an SOI platform are necessary prerequisites for the potential development of Tm injection lasers and optical amplifiers.     

类锂等电子系列高位三激发态2p2np4So能量和到1s2pmp4P态的辐射跃迁

利用多组态相互作用方法及Rayleigh-Ritz变分法,计算了类锂离子2p2np4So(n=2-4)和1s2pmp4P(m=2,3)的能量.运用截断变分方法得到能量的改进量.计算了相对论修正、质量极化效应,从而获得了高精度的能量计算值.同时还计算了该系统之间的辐射跃迁波长、振子强度和辐射跃迁率.计算结果与实验符合得很好.     

PⅦ离子2p~44f组态能级及2p~44f－2p~43d跃迁波长和振子强度的计算

利用组态相互作用的半经验方法，预言了ＰＶⅦ离子２Ｐ４４ｆ组态的２８个精细结构能级，计算了２Ｐ４４ｆ－２Ｐ４３ｄ跃迁的谱线波长和振子强度。