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Fatigue life scatter under a variable amplitude load history is determined by many factors such as the amplitudes of the individual load cycles, the number of the load cycles with different load levels, and the differences between the load levels as well. Besides an brief overview on the studies and experiments on the scatter of fatigue life under variable amplitude load histories, the present paper conducted a series of fatigue tests, demonstrates the life scatters under different load histories, and discusses the dominant factors of fatigue life scatter. It shows that all the load cycles play their roles for the life scatter.

Aims/hypothesis Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors attenuate postprandial lipaemia through mechanisms that remain unclear. As dyslipidaemia is a contributing risk factor for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes, we examined the mechanisms linking pharmacological and physiological regulation of GLP-1 action to control of postprandial lipid metabolism. Methods Postprandial lipid synthesis and secretion were assessed in normal and fructose-fed hamsters and in wild-type mice that were treated with or without sitagliptin. Apolipoprotein B-48 (ApoB-48) synthesis and secretion were also examined in primary enterocyte cultures. The importance of exogenous vs endogenous GLP-1R signalling for regulation of intestinal lipoprotein synthesis and secretion was assessed in mice and hamsters treated with the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4, the GLP-1R antagonist exendin(9-39) and in Glp1r ⁺/⁺ vs Glp1r ⁻/⁻ mice. Results Sitagliptin decreased fasting plasma triacylglycerol, predominantly in the VLDL fraction, as well as postprandial triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein (TRL)-triacylglycerol, TRL-cholesterol and TRL-ApoB-48 in hamsters and mice. GLP-1R activation with exendin-4 alone also decreased plasma and TRL-ApoB-48 in hamsters and mice, and reduced secretion of ApoB-48 in hamster enterocyte cultures. Conversely, blockade of endogenous GLP-1R signalling by the antagonist exendin(9-39) or genetic elimination of GLP-1R signalling in Glp1r ⁻/⁻ mice enhanced TRL-ApoB-48 secretion in vivo. Co-administration of exendin(9-39) also abolished the hypolipidaemic effect of sitagliptin. Conclusions/interpretation Potentiation of endogenous incretin action via DPP-4 inhibition or pharmacological augmentation of GLP-1R signalling reduces intestinal secretion of triacylglycerol, cholesterol and ApoB-48. Moreover, endogenous GLP-1R signalling is essential for the control of intestinal lipoprotein biosynthesis and secretion.

The motility of microorganisms is influenced greatly by their hydrodynamic interactions with the fluidic environment they inhabit. We show by direct experimental observation of the bi-flagellated alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that fluid elasticity and viscosity strongly influence the beating pattern - the gait - and thereby control the propulsion speed. The beating frequency and the wave speed characterizing the cyclical bending are both enhanced by fluid elasticity. Despite these enhancements, the net swimming speed of the alga is hindered for fluids that are sufficiently elastic. The origin of this complex response lies in the interplay between the elasticity-induced changes in the spatial and temporal aspects of the flagellar cycle and the buildup and subsequent relaxation of elastic stresses during the power and recovery strokes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To provide a reliable assessment of the hypothesized association of fish consumption with stroke risk accumulatively, an updated meta-analysis of published prospective cohort studies was conducted. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Prospective cohort studies through April 2012 in peer-reviewed journals indexed in MEDLINE and EMBASE were selected. Additional information was retrieved through Google or a search of the reference list in relevant articles. The main outcome measure was the weighted hazards ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident stroke according to fish consumption using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A database was derived from 16 eligible studies (19 cohorts), including 402 127 individuals (10 568 incident cases) with an average 12.8 years of follow-up. Compared with those who never consumed fish or ate fish <1/month, the pooled adjusted HRs of total stroke risk were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.87–1.08), 0.86 (0.80–0.93), 0.91 (0.85–0.98) and 0.87 (0.79–0.96) for those who consumed fish 1–3/month, 1/week, 2–4/week and ⩾5/week, respectively ( P linear trend =0.09; P nonlinear trend =0.02). Study location was a modifier. An inverse association between fish intake and stroke incidence was only found by studies conducted in North America. The modest inverse associations were more pronounced with ischemic stroke and were attenuated with hemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Accumulated evidence generated from this meta-analysis suggests that fish intake may have a protective effect against the risk of stroke, particularly ischemic stroke.

Remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative that has the potential to be an alternative for procedural sedation due to its rapid sedation and recovery, no accumulation effect, stable hemodynamics, minimal respiratory depression, anterograde amnesia effect, and specific antagonist. Here, we aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of remimazolam with dexmedetomidine for awake tracheal intubation by flexible bronchoscopy (ATI-FB). Ninety patients scheduled for ATI-FB were randomly divided into three groups, each consisting of 30 cases: dexmedetomidine 0.6 µg/kg + sufentanil (group DS), remimazolam 0.073 mg/kg + sufentanil (group R S), or remimazolam 0.093 mg/kg + sufentanil (group R S). The primary outcome was the success rate of sedation. Secondary outcomes were MOAA/S scores, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, intubation conditions, intubation time, tracheal intubation amnesia, and adverse events. The success rates of sedation in groups R S and DS were higher than that in group R S (93.3%, 86.7%, respectively, vs 58.6%; = 0.002), and intubation conditions were better than those in group R S ( < 0.05). Group R S had shorter intubation times than groups R S and DS ( = 0.003), and a higher incidence of tracheal intubation amnesia than group DS ( = 0.006). No patient in the three groups developed hypoxemia or hypotension, and there were no significant differences in oligopnea, PetCO , or bradycardia ( > 0.05). In conclusion, both DS and R S had higher success rates of sedation, better intubation conditions, and minor respiratory depression, but R S, with its shorter intubation time, higher incidence of anterograde amnesia, and ability to be antagonized by specific antagonists, may be a good alternative sedation regimen for patients undergoing ATI-FB.

The mending effect and mechanism of metal nano-particles in an area undergoing wear are quite important for both the fundamental theory of nano-tribology and the development of lubricant additives. This paper presents research on the mending effect of copper nano-particles added to lubricant oil. Pin-on-disk experiments and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations show that copper nano-particles do display an excellent mending effect. The observation by Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) reveals that the mending effect results from the deposition of copper nano-particles onto the wear scar. It has also been disclosed by heating simulation that, due to nano-scale effects, which bring about decrease in the diffusion temperature of copper nano-particles, the heat generated by friction leads to the diffusion of copper nano-particles and their subsequent deposition, which finally results in the so-called mending effect.

Ballistic gelatin, soap, and clay are three human simulated target materials commonly used in the field of wound ballistics research. Currently, there are more studies on ballistic gelatin’s mechanical properties, but rarely on clay and soap. In this paper, the mechanical properties of clay and soap materials were tested by using universal material testing machine and Hopkinson bar, respectively, and their stress-strain curves were obtained under different temperatures (4°C, 15°C, and 25°C) from quasi-static to dynamic loading. The test results showed that the clay material was sensitive to temperature and strain rate in quasi-static conditions, its stress-strain curves showed nonlinear strengthening characteristics, and the stress always increased without strength decrease during the loading process; the dynamic compression mechanical properties of clay were significantly higher than the quasi-static mechanical properties, showing obvious strain rate strengthening effect. In quasi-static compression experiments, the stress-strain curves of soap material showed bilinear elastic-plastic material characteristics; when the strain was less than 0.1, it was insensitive to temperature and strain rate, and only when the strain was more significant than 0.1 did it show a certain temperature and strain rate correlation. The dynamic compressive mechanical properties of soap are significantly higher than the quasi-static mechanical properties, showing a significant strain-rate strengthening effect. The stress of soap at the same strain rate is slightly less than that of clay. These results not only help provide more accurate material parameters for relevant numerical calculations but also help to provide references for the development of new bionic materials.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of an intervention program on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of syphilis and investigate determinants of congenital syphilis (CS) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). The Shenzhen local government initiated an intervention program of MTCT of syphilis in 2001. Based on this program, maternal and paternal factors associated with CS and APOs among syphilitic women were investigated from 2007 to 2012 by a prospective cohort study. From 2002 to 2012, 2,441,237 pregnant women were screened and screening coverage reached 97.2 % in 2012. In the background of continuing growth of CS in China, CS in Shenzhen significantly decreased from 109.3 cases in 2002 to 9.9 cases in 2012 per 100,000 live births. Maternal education (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] CS  = 0.65; aOR APOs  = 0.79) and history of syphilis (aOR CS  = 0.28; aOR APOs  = 0.61), as well as paternal age (aOR CS  = 0.62; aOR APOs  = 0.86) and education (aOR CS  = 0.66; aOR APOs  = 0.86) were negatively associated with CS and APOs, but maternal unmarried status (aOR CS  = 1.95; aOR APOs  = 2.61), inadequate antenatal care (ANC) (aOR CS  = 3.61; aOR APOs  = 1.79), more sexual partners (aOR CS  = 1.51; aOR APOs  = 1.39), every week of delay in treatment (aOR CS  = 2.82; aOR APOs  = 1.27), higher baseline titers of nontreponemal antibodies (aOR CS  = 5.65; aOR APOs  = 1.47), early syphilis (aOR CS  = 23.24; aOR APOs  = 26.95), and non-penicillin treatment (aOR CS  = 3.00; aOR APOs  = 2.16), as well as paternal history of cocaine use (aOR CS  = 2.70; aOR APOs  = 2.44) and positive (aOR CS  = 4.14; aOR APOs  = 1.50) or unknown (aOR CS  = 2.37; aOR APOs  = 2.06) status of syphilis increased the risk of CS and APOs. Condom use (aOR = 0.70) decreased MTCT of syphilis. A ten-year program consisting of screening and treatment, early ANC, health education, partners tracking, detection, and treatment, follow-up visits, and information management is an effective means to block MTCT of syphilis. Maternal and paternal factors constituted two separate profiles associated with MTCT of syphilis.

Strong anti-Islamic sentiments increased dramatically after the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, leading to an uptick in prejudice and the perpetration of hate crimes targeting Muslims. Sikh men and boys, often mistaken for Muslims, suffered as collateral damage. The overall health of both communities has been adversely affected by these experiences. Faced with such realities, communities and parents often adopt adaptive behaviors to foster healthy development in their children. In this paper, drawing on interviews with 23 Sikh parents from 12 families, we examine Sikh parents’ ethno-religious socialization of their children. The confluence of media stereotyping and mistaken identities has shaped Sikh parents’ beliefs regarding their children’s retention/relinquishment of outward identity markers. Sikh parents, in general, are concerned about the safety of their boys, due to the distinctive appearance of their religious markers, such as the turban. They are engaged in a constant struggle to ensure that their children are not identified as Muslims and to protect them from potential harm. In most of the families in our study, boys were raised to give up wearing the indicators of their ethno-religious group. In addition, many parents took responsibility for educating the wider community about their ethno-religious practices through direct communication, participation in cultural events, and support of other ethno-religious minorities. Policy implications are discussed.

Background: Studies suggested that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders (MOGAD) are an isolated group of diseases that are different from multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). The proportion of individuals with MOGAD is higher among children. However, limited data are available on autoimmune antibodies and neuroimaging features in children with MOGAD. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 42 children with MOGAD. The clinical, neuroradiological, and cerebrospinal fuid data were compared according to courses and radiological results. Results: Of the 42 patients, 28 suffered a monophasic course and 14 had a relapsing course. During the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 21 patients had a well-resolved brain condition and another 21 patients showed slight improvement with marked residuals. Most patients with relapse had cortical lesions and a leukodystrophy-like MRI pattern (all p < 0.05). Children with poor radiological outcomes have confuent and hazy lesions that involve both cortexes, white matter lesion of >2 cm, and a leukodystrophylike pattern, as well as cerebral lesions with T1 hypointensity or enhancement and spinal lesions (all p < 0.05). The multivariable logistic regression analysis used the aforementioned differential features and showed cerebral enhancement and a leukodystrophy-like pattern as the most effective variations associated with poor radiological outcomes of MOGAD with an area under the curve of 0.875. Conclusion: MOGAD in children have some radiological features suggestive of clinical courses and radiological outcomes. A good understanding of these differential features can help to give early warnings of disease recurrence or poor radiological improvement and develop subsequent therapeutic strategies. Keywords: myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, encephalomyelitis, magnetic resonance imaging, demyelination, central nervous system