To maintain low friction and low wear in natural synovial joints and joint prostheses with artificial cartilage, adsorbed film formation at micro-and nanoscopic levels appears to play an important role in mixed or boundary lubrication regime where local direct contact occurs. In natural synovial joints, the lubricating gel film is likely to preserve low friction and to protect the bulk cartilage even after the removal of the adsorbed film. For poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel as artificial cartilage without lubricating gel layer, the adsorbed film is a single protective barrier. In the previous researches on the rubbing pair of PVA against itself or glass plate, the coexistence of albumin (A) and γ -globulin (G) as A:G = 1 : 2 at total protein concentration of 2.1 wt% in hyaluronate solution showed the lowest wear. In this study, in situ observation of adsorption of proteins was conducted to clarify the dynamic changes in adsorptional behaviours in lubricants containing different protein constituents. In the mixed lubrication regime, the coexistence of albumin and γ -globulin as A:G = 1:2 showed the lowest friction. The role of appropriate constituents of proteins is discussed on low friction and low wear at micro-and nanoscopic levels on the basis of previous and present results.
The least weasel (Mustela nivalis) is one of the most widely distributed carnivorans. While previous studies have identified distinct western and eastern mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the species in the western Palearctic, their broader distributions across the Palearctic have remained unknown. To address the broad-scale phylogeographical structure, we expanded the sampling to populations in Eastern Europe, the Urals, the Russian Far East, and Japan, and analyzed the mtDNA control region and cytochrome b, the final intron of the zinc finger protein on Y chromosome (ZFY), and the autosomal agouti signaling protein gene (ASIP). The mtDNA data analysis exposed the previous western lineage (Clade I) but poorly supported assemblage extending across Palearctic, whereas the previous eastern lineage (Clade II) was reconfirmed and limited in the south western part of the Palearctic. The ZFY phylogeny showed a distinctive split that corresponding to the mtDNA lineage split, although less phylogeographical structure was seen in the ASIP variation. Our data concur with the previous inference of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea area having an ancestral character. The Urals region harbored high mitochondrial diversity, with an estimated coalescent time of around 100,000 years, suggesting this could have been a cryptic refugium. Based on the coalescent-based demographic reconstructions, the expansion of Clade I across the Palearctic was remarkably rapid, while Clade II was relatively stable for a longer time. It seems that Clade II has maintained a constant population size in the temperate region, and the expansive Clade I represents adaptation to the cold regions. K E Y W O R D SASIP, least weasel, mitochondrial DNA, Mustela nivalis, ZFY | 409 SATO eT Al.
The frequency chirp of a Q-switched ruby laser is investigated with two interference experiments: holography of a rotating object and measurement of time coherence. Nonlinearity of the frequency chirp markedly affects both interference experiments for large time differences between the two beams, which enable us to determine the nonlinear frequency chirp, that is, chirp rate and time. A hyperbolic tangent function provides a better approximation of the frequency chirp than the linear function generally used. In this experiment the chirp time was 1.0-1.5 times as long as the half-intensity width of the pulse.
A Q-switched ruby laser, used for a light source in high-speed holography, emits light whose frequency chirps from the lower frequency side to the higher frequency side. The upper-limit speed of a moving object in high-speed holography is discussed taking this frequency chirp into consideration. Large frequency chirp rate, longer pulse width, and the introduction of an appropriate path difference between the object and reference beams permit us to increase the allowable speed of the moving object. However, the attainable speed is limited because of definite temporal overlap of the object and reference pulse beams.
Background: The characteristics of high-risk coronary atherosclerosis evaluated using optical coherence tomography can have a prognostic role. Inflammatory biomarkers may be related to the severity of coronary artery disease. This study investigated the association of high-risk morphological features of coronary plaques on optical coherence tomography with circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers and adverse cardiovascular events. Methods: We prospectively analyzed the data of 30 consecutive patients with chronic coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using optical coherence tomography between April 2020 and November 2020 at our university hospital. Estimation of inflammatory biomarker levels and optical coherence tomography analysis focused on high-risk coronary plaque features were performed. Based on the coronary plaque risk score, patients were defined as having a low coronary plaque risk score (coronary plaque risk score≤3) or high coronary plaque risk score (coronary plaque risk score≥4). The primary outcome was target lesion revascularization. Results: Targetlesion revascularization was achieved in 6 (20%) patients within 15 months of percutaneous coronary intervention. High coronary plaque risk score on optical coherence tomography was directly correlated with target lesion revascularization (P=0.029). In logistic regression analysis, coronary plaque risk score was associated with target lesion revascularization (odds ratio, 10.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–74.5). Serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 level was significantly correlated with the coronary plaque risk score (P=0.020). Conclusions: In patients with chronic coronary syndrome, coronary plaque risk score may be a surrogate predictor of target lesion revascularization. Serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 may aid detection of high-risk coronary atherosclerosis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.