The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the system of organs within multi-cellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste. The various patterns of GI tract fu...The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the system of organs within multi-cellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste. The various patterns of GI tract function are generated by the integrated behaviour of multiple tissues and cell types. A thorough study of the GI tract requires understanding of the interactions between cells, tissues and gastrointestinal organs in health and disease. This depends on knowledge, not only of numerous cellular ionic current mechanisms and signal transduction pathways, but also of large scale GI tissue structures and the special distribution of the nervous network. A unique way of coping with this explosion in complexity is mathematical and computational modelling; providing a computational framework for the multilevel modelling and simulation of the human gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology. The aim of this review is to describe the current status of biomechanical modelling work of the GI tract in humans and animals, which can be further used to integrate the physiological, anatomical and medical knowledge of the GI system. Such modelling will aid research and ensure that medical professionals benefit, through the provision of relevant and precise information about the patient's condition and GI remodelling in animal disease models. It will also improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical procedures, which could result in reduced cost for diagnosis and treatment.展开更多
Background:Marginal changes in the execution of competitive sports movements can represent a significant change for performance success.However,such differences may emerge only at certain execution intensities and are...Background:Marginal changes in the execution of competitive sports movements can represent a significant change for performance success.However,such differences may emerge only at certain execution intensities and are not easily detectable through conventional biomechanical techniques.This study aimed to investigate if and how competition standard and progression speed affect race walking kinematics from both a conventional and a coordination variability perspective.Methods:Fifteen experienced athletes divided into three groups(elite,international,and national) were studied while race walking on a treadmill at two different speeds(12.0 and 15.5 km/h).Basic gait parameters,the angular displacement of the pelvis and lower limbs,and the variability in continuous relative phase between six different joint couplings were analyzed.Results:Most of the spatio-temporal,kinematic,and coordination variability measures proved sensitive to the change in speed.Conversely,non-linear dynamics measures highlighted differences between athletes of different competition standard when conventional analytical tools were not able to discriminate between different skill levels.Continuous relative phase variability was higher for national level athletes than international and elite in two couplings(pelvis obliquity—hip flex/extension and pelvis rotation—ankle dorsi/plantarflexion) and gait phases(early stance for the first coupling,propulsive phase for the second) that are deemed fundamental for correct technique and performance.Conclusion:Measures of coordination variability showed to be a more sensitive tool for the fine detection of skill-dependent factors in competitive race walking,and showed good potential for being integrated in the assessment and monitoring of sports motor abilities.展开更多
A strain secreting a strongly acidic polysaccharide flocculating agent was isolated from activated sludge, and identified as Bacillus brevis. The bioflocculant was produced by RL-2 during the late logarithmic growth i...A strain secreting a strongly acidic polysaccharide flocculating agent was isolated from activated sludge, and identified as Bacillus brevis. The bioflocculant was produced by RL-2 during the late logarithmic growth in the batch culture and was recovered from supernatant by ethanol precipitation. The bioflocculant is thermo-stable as its activity remains stable after heated at 100 °C for 45 min. Its flocculating activity with kaolin suspensions was stimulated by the addition of Ca2+, Al3+ and Cu2+. The flocculant consists of glucose, mannose, and galacturonic acid. Its average molecular mass was estimated to be approximately 2.86×105 by the method of viscosity. The flocculant aggregates various inorganic and organic compounds in solution.展开更多
基金Supported by A grant from US National Institute of Health with No. 1RO1DK072616-01A2Karen Elise Jensen Fond
文摘The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the system of organs within multi-cellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste. The various patterns of GI tract function are generated by the integrated behaviour of multiple tissues and cell types. A thorough study of the GI tract requires understanding of the interactions between cells, tissues and gastrointestinal organs in health and disease. This depends on knowledge, not only of numerous cellular ionic current mechanisms and signal transduction pathways, but also of large scale GI tissue structures and the special distribution of the nervous network. A unique way of coping with this explosion in complexity is mathematical and computational modelling; providing a computational framework for the multilevel modelling and simulation of the human gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology. The aim of this review is to describe the current status of biomechanical modelling work of the GI tract in humans and animals, which can be further used to integrate the physiological, anatomical and medical knowledge of the GI system. Such modelling will aid research and ensure that medical professionals benefit, through the provision of relevant and precise information about the patient's condition and GI remodelling in animal disease models. It will also improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical procedures, which could result in reduced cost for diagnosis and treatment.
文摘Background:Marginal changes in the execution of competitive sports movements can represent a significant change for performance success.However,such differences may emerge only at certain execution intensities and are not easily detectable through conventional biomechanical techniques.This study aimed to investigate if and how competition standard and progression speed affect race walking kinematics from both a conventional and a coordination variability perspective.Methods:Fifteen experienced athletes divided into three groups(elite,international,and national) were studied while race walking on a treadmill at two different speeds(12.0 and 15.5 km/h).Basic gait parameters,the angular displacement of the pelvis and lower limbs,and the variability in continuous relative phase between six different joint couplings were analyzed.Results:Most of the spatio-temporal,kinematic,and coordination variability measures proved sensitive to the change in speed.Conversely,non-linear dynamics measures highlighted differences between athletes of different competition standard when conventional analytical tools were not able to discriminate between different skill levels.Continuous relative phase variability was higher for national level athletes than international and elite in two couplings(pelvis obliquity—hip flex/extension and pelvis rotation—ankle dorsi/plantarflexion) and gait phases(early stance for the first coupling,propulsive phase for the second) that are deemed fundamental for correct technique and performance.Conclusion:Measures of coordination variability showed to be a more sensitive tool for the fine detection of skill-dependent factors in competitive race walking,and showed good potential for being integrated in the assessment and monitoring of sports motor abilities.
文摘A strain secreting a strongly acidic polysaccharide flocculating agent was isolated from activated sludge, and identified as Bacillus brevis. The bioflocculant was produced by RL-2 during the late logarithmic growth in the batch culture and was recovered from supernatant by ethanol precipitation. The bioflocculant is thermo-stable as its activity remains stable after heated at 100 °C for 45 min. Its flocculating activity with kaolin suspensions was stimulated by the addition of Ca2+, Al3+ and Cu2+. The flocculant consists of glucose, mannose, and galacturonic acid. Its average molecular mass was estimated to be approximately 2.86×105 by the method of viscosity. The flocculant aggregates various inorganic and organic compounds in solution.
