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We explored the influence of study partner (SP) characteristics on SP-reported neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) presence across the neurocognitive spectrum and on the prognostic utility of mild behavioral impairment (MBI).
Design, setting, and participants:
We performed cross-sectional (n = 26,748) and longitudinal (n = 12,794) analyses using participant-SP dyad data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Participants were cognitively normal (CN; n = 11,951) or had mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 5686) or dementia (n = 9111).
Measurements:
SPs rated NPS using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to model the association between SP characteristics (age, sex, and relationship to participant [spouse, child, and other]) and NPS status (outcome). Cox regressions assessed SP characteristics as moderators of MBI associations with incident dementia or as predictors of incident dementia in MBI + participants only.
Results:
Among CN persons, younger, female, and spouse SPs reported NPS more frequently. In MCI, younger SPs and those who were spouses or children of participants reported higher NPS odds. For dementia participants, NPS odds were higher in female and spouse SPs. MBI associations with incident dementia were slightly weaker when SPs were older but did not depend on SP sex or relationship to participant. Among MBI + participants with spouse or child SPs, hazard for dementia was higher when compared to MBI + participants with other SPs.
Conclusions:
SP age, sex, and relationship to participant influence NPS reporting across the neurocognitive spectrum, with potential implications for MBI prognosis. Considering SP characteristics may enhance the accuracy of NPS assessments, which may facilitate therapy planning and prognosis.
Stray light from the sun is one of the most significant factors affecting image quality for the optical system of a spacecraft. This paper proposes a method to design a deployable supporting mechanism for the sunshield based on origami. Firstly, a new type of space mechanism with single-closed loop was proposed according to thick-panel origami, and its mobility was analysed by using the screw theory. In order to design a deployable structure with high controllability, the tetrahedral constraint was introduced to reduce the degree of freedom (DOF), and a corresponding deployable unit named tetrahedral deployable unit (TDU) was obtained. Secondly, the process to constructing a large space deployable mechanism with infinite number of units was explained based on the characteristics of motion and planar mosaic array, and kinematics analysis and folding ratio of supporting mechanism were conducted. A physical prototype was constructed to demonstrate the mobility and deployment of the supporting mechanism. Finally, based on the Lagrange method, a dynamic model of supporting mechanism was established, and the influence of the torsion spring parameters on the deployment process was analysed.
Progressive capillary waves on the interface between two homogeneous fluids confined in a channel with rigid walls parallel to the undisturbed interface are investigated. This problem is formulated as a system of integrodifferential equations that can be solved numerically via a boundary integral equation method coupled with series expansions of the unknown functions. With this highly accurate scheme and numerical continuation, we explore the global bifurcation of periodic travelling waves. It is found that there are two types of limiting profile, self-intersecting and boundary-touching, which appear either along a primary branch bifurcating from infinitesimal periodic waves or on an isolated branch existing above a certain finite amplitude. For particular sets of parameters, these two types of bifurcation curves can intersect, which can be viewed as a secondary bifurcation phenomenon occurring on the primary branch. Based on asymptotic and numerical analyses of the almost limiting waves, it is found that the boundary-touching solutions feature a circular geometry, i.e. the interface is pieced together by circular arcs of the same radius. A theoretical investigation yields the necessary conditions for the existence of these extreme waves, whereby we can predict the limiting configurations for most parameter sets. The comparisons between theoretical predictions and numerical results show good agreement.
Two-dimensional periodic interfacial gravity waves travelling between two homogeneous fluids of finite depth are considered. A boundary-integral-equation method coupled with Fourier expansions of the unknown functions is used to obtain highly accurate solutions. Our numerical results show excellent agreement with those already obtained by Maklakov & Sharipov using a different scheme (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 856, 2018, pp. 673–708). We explore the global bifurcation mechanism of periodic interfacial waves and find three types of limiting wave profiles. The new families of solutions appear either as isolated branches or as secondary branches bifurcating from the primary branch of solutions.
Avocados are a rich source of nutrients including monounsaturated fats, dietary fibre, potassium and Mg, as well as phytochemicals. However, no epidemiological analysis for the associations between avocado consumption and participant anthropometric measures has been conducted in Australia. The present study aimed to perform a secondary analysis of the 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) to quantify avocado consumption in the Australian population and explore the associations between avocado intakes, consumption of nutrients and food groups based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and anthropometric measurements. Usual avocado consumption in the 2011–2012, NNPAS was determined using the multiple source method regression model. The relationship between avocado consumption and intakes of key nutrients and food groups and participant weight, BMI and waist circumference were examined using linear regression. Mean avocado intake was 2·56 (95 % CI: 2·37, 2·75) grams per day with 15·9 % of Australians considered to be ‘avocado consumers’ (n 21 526 456 population size; n 12 153 observations). Greater consumption (g) of avocados was associated with significantly higher consumption of monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, dietary fibre, vitamin E, Mg and potassium, as well as ‘whole grains’, ‘vegetables’, ‘fruit’ and ‘meat and alternatives’ food groups. Greater consumption (g) of avocados was associated with significantly lower consumption of carbohydrates and discretionary foods. When adjusted for covariates, greater consumption of avocados was significantly associated with a lower body weight (P = 0·034), BMI (P < 0·001) and waist circumference (P < 0·001). Avocados may be incorporated into an eating pattern and may be beneficial in weight management.
The limiting configuration of interfacial solitary waves between two homogeneous fluids consisting of a sharp $120^{\circ }$ angle with an enclosed bubble of stagnant heavier fluid on top is investigated numerically. We use a boundary integral equation method to compute the almost limiting profiles which are nearly self-intersecting and thus extend the work of Pullin & Grimshaw (Phys. Fluids, vol. 31, 1988, pp. 3550–3559) by obtaining the overhanging solutions for very small density ratios. To further study the local configuration of the limiting profile, we propose a reduced model that replaces the $120^{\circ }$ angle with two straight solid walls intersecting at the bottom of the bubble. Using a series truncation method, a one-parameter family of solutions depending on the angle between the two solid walls (denoted by $\gamma$) is found. When $\gamma = {2{\rm \pi} }/{3}$, it is shown that the simplified model agrees well with the near-limiting wave profile if the density ratio is small, and thus provides a good local approximation to the assumed limiting configuration. Interesting solutions for other values of $\gamma$ are also explored.
This paper is concerned with the interaction of vertically sheared currents with two-dimensional flexural–gravity waves in finite depth. A third-order Stokes expansion is carried out and fully nonlinear computations are performed for symmetric, steadily travelling waves on a linear shear current. For upstream periodic waves, two global bifurcation mechanisms are discovered. Both branches bifurcate from infinitesimal periodic waves, with one stopping at another infinitesimal wave of different phase speed, and the other terminating at a stationary configuration. Generalised solitary waves are found for downstream waves. More surprisingly, the central pulse of the generalised solitary wave can become wide and flat as the computational domain is enlarged. This provides strong evidence for the existence of wave fronts in single-layer free-surface waves. Particle trajectories and streamline structures are studied numerically for the fully nonlinear equations. Two patterns, closed orbits and pure horizontal transport, are observed for both periodic and solitary waves in moving frames. The most striking phenomenon is the existence of net vertical transport of particles beneath some solitary waves due to wave–current interactions. The streamline patterns alternate between net vertical transport and a closed orbit, resulting in the formation of a series of nested cat's-eye structures.
There seems to be geographical differences in decisions about breast conserving surgery (BCS) in breast cancer patients. This study was to evaluate patients’ attitude to BCS and to assess the factors affecting cancer practice in West China.
Methods:
A structured questionnaire was distributed to 184 patients, eliciting information about the patients’ characteristics, occupation, education, family life, recognition of illness, knowledge about BCS, the main means of gaining surgery information, selecting surgery approaches, preferences to breast reservation.
Results:
In all, 163 patients completed the questionnaire. The results indicated that only 7.4% of patients received BCS and 23% of the remaining patients desired to have BCS and the affecting factors were significantly associated with their family life, recognition of illness and the main means of gaining surgery information (P < 0.05). No associations were between BCS selecting and the other variables studied. The most frequent reasons for selecting BCS were keeping the female shape and improving quality of life (71%), the second most were postoperative recovery, minimal influence of physical function (47%) and patients’ knowledge about BCS (42%). The most frequent reasons for not selecting BCS were uncertainty about BCS results and worry about recurrence (81%), the second most was the elderly age unnecessary for BCS (40%).
Conclusions:
The findings indicate that breast cancer patients in West China do not take BCS as the first choice as the best treatment method. It is warranted that further study of more patients, attitude of patients’ partners and physicians to BCS.
Studies revealed that prenatal stress (PS) may increase the vulnerability to depression in their offspring, and ERK-CREB signal system might play a role in its mechanism.
Objectives and aims
The present study investigated the effect of MK-801 on depressive-like behavior and its impacts on ERK2, CREB, Bcl-2 mRNA expression in PS female rat offspring.
Methods
The pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups, the control group (Con) was left undisturbed, the PS-saline group (PS-saline) and the PS-MK-801 group (PS-MK-801) were subjected to restraint stress on days 14–20 of pregnancy three times daily for 45 min, and received an i.p. administration of saline or MK-801(sigma, 0.2 mg/kg) 30 min before the first stress respectively. Forced swimming test was undertaken to assess depressive-like behavior in one month female offspring. ERK2, CREB, Bcl-2 mRNA in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum were detected by RT-PCR.
Results
PS-saline spent significantly more immobile time compared to Con and PS-MK-801 (P < 0.05). ERK2 and CREB mRNA expression in hippocampus and frontal cortex was significantly decreased in PS-saline compared to Con and PS-MK-801 (P < 0.05), while in striatum CREB mRNA expression in PS-saline was lower than Con (P < 0.05). Bcl-2 mRNA expression in hippocampus and striatum was significantly decreased in PS-saline (P < 0.05), and in frontal cortex, its expression was significantly lower in PS-saline and PS-MK-801 (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
PS may suppress ERK-CREB signal pathway in female offspring rats, which could be partly prevented by MK- 801. (Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No: 30970952).
Studies have convinced that the rodents' exposure to prenatal stress (PNS) may induce depression and anxiety to their offspring. We focused on the glutamatergic system to explore the mechanisms.
Objectives and aims:
By examining EAAT2,EAAT3 (Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2,3), which are the only substances to inactivate glutamate in nervous system, we explored the effect of PNS on glutamatergic system.
Methods:
Pregnant rats were assigned to Control group (CON), Middle period of PNS group (MPS) and Late period of PNS group (LPS). MPS and LPS rats were exposed to restraint stress on days 7–13, 14–20 of pregnancy three times daily for 45 min. EAAT2 and EAAT3 mRNA expression in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum of one month rat offspring were checked by RT-PCR.
Results:
For the female offspring, EAAT2 mRNA expression of hippocampus in LPS and MPS was significantly lower compared to CON(P = 0.008,p = 0.003); EAAT2 and EAAT3 mRNA expression of frontal cortex in LPS were significantly lower than CON (p = 0.003,p = 0.013). for the male offspring, EAAT2 and EAAT3 mRNA expression of hippocampus in LPS and MPS were significantly lower (p = 0.005, p = 0.05); EAAT2 mRNA expression of frontal cortex was significantly lower in LPS (p = 0.022); EAAT2 mRNA in LPS group and MPS were significantly lower (p = 0.009, p = 0.014), and EAAT3 mRNA expression of striatum in MPS was significantly lower (p = 0.049).
Conclusions:
Decreased EAAT2 and EAAT3 of PNS may explain the increase of glutamate in synaptic cleft and its downstream excitotoxicity. (Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No: 30970952)
Epidemiological studies have convinced that prenatal stress (PS) might cause offspring depression.
Objectives and aims:
Our pervious research work certified that PS can increases the glutamate level of hippocampus of rat offspring, which inspired us to explore the pathogenesis of depression by focusing on glutamatergic system.
Methods:
Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to control group (CON), mid prenatal stress group (MPS) and late prenatal stress group (LPS). The pregnant rats of MPS and LPS were exposed to restraint stress on days 7–13, 14–20 of pregnancy three times for 45 min respectively. Tail suspension test (TST) was performed to examine the depression like behavior and Western-blot were used to test phosphorylated GluR1(pGluR1) of AMPAR expression in the hippocampus, striatum and frontal cortex of one month rat offspring.
Results:
For both male and female offspring, the time of immobility of TST in LPS (156±11, 155±12) and MPS (173±15, 155±12) was significantly longer (P< 0.05) than CON(118±8,113±12), the latency in MPS (18±3, 24±3) was significantly shorter (P< 0.05) than CON (30±5, 58±11). The pGluR1 expression in hippocampus and frontal cortex in LPS (1.77±0.45, 1.00±0.09) and MPS (1.65±0.51, 1.05±0.18) were significantly lower (P< 0.05) than CON (3.72±0.86, 2.05±0.34) in male rat offspring.
Conclusion:
It is suggested that the PS may induce depression like behavior in rat offspring, and glutamate receptors subunit pGluR1 might be involved in the etiology of depression.
(The research is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No: 30970952, 18110059).
Patients with severe mental disorders in low-resource settings have limited access to services, resulting in overwhelming caregiving burden for families. In extreme cases, this has led to the long-term restraining of patients in their homes. China underwent a nationwide initiative to unlock patients and provide continued treatment. This study aims to quantify household economic burden in families after unlocking and treatment, and to identify factors associated with increased burden due to schizophrenia.
Methods
A total of 264 subjects were enrolled from three geographically diverse provinces in 2012. Subjects were patients with schizophrenia who were previously put under restraints and had participated in the ‘unlocking and treatment’ intervention. The primary outcome was the current household economic burden, obtained from past year financial information collected through on-site interview. Patient disease characteristics, treatment, outcomes and family caregiving burden were collected as well. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were used to construct risk factor models for indirect economic burden.
Results
After participating in the intervention, 85% of patients continued to receive mental health services, 70% used medication as prescribed and 80% were never relocked. Family members reported significantly decreased caregiving burden after receiving the intervention. Mean direct and indirect household economic burdens were CNY963 (US$31.7) and CNY11 724 (US$1670) per year, respectively, while family total income was on average CNY12 108 (US$1913) per year. Greater disease severity and poorer patient psychosocial function at time of study were found to be independent factors related to increased indirect burden.
Conclusions
The ‘unlocking and treatment’ intervention has improved the lives of patients and families. Indirect burden due to disease is still a major economic issue that needs to be addressed, potentially through improving treatment and patient functioning. Our findings contribute to the unravelling and eventual elimination of chronic restraining of mentally ill patients in low-resource settings.
Understanding food choices made for meals in overweight and obese individuals may aid strategies for weight loss tailored to their eating habits. However, limited studies have explored food choices at meal occasions. The aim of this study was to identify the usual food choices for meals of overweight and obese volunteers for a weight-loss trial. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using screening diet history data from a 12-month weight-loss trial (the HealthTrack study). A descriptive data mining tool, the Apriori algorithm of association rules, was applied to identify food choices at meal occasions using a nested hierarchical food group classification system. Overall, 432 breakfasts, 428 lunches, 432 dinners and 433 others (meals) were identified from the intake data (n 433 participants). A total of 142 items of closely related food clusters were identified at three food group levels. At the first sub-food group level, bread emerged as central to food combinations at lunch, but unprocessed meat appeared for this at dinner. The dinner meal was characterised by more varieties of vegetables and of foods in general. The definitions of food groups played a pivotal role in identifying food choice patterns at main meals. Given the large number of foods available, having an understanding of eating patterns in which key foods drive overall meal content can help translate and develop novel dietary strategies for weight loss at the individual level.
The present work focuses on the deformation and recovery mechanisms of aged monoclinic U–Nb alloy under tension and load–unload cycle testing using in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD). The U–6.2wt% Nb (U–6.2Nb) alloy was prepared and aged at 200 °C, and then underwent tensile testing followed by the in situ XRD. The experimental results indicate that the change of diffraction peaks can serve to accurately characterize the macroscopic deformation and recovery. Compared with the as-quenched alloy, the aged U–6.2Nb alloy displays different behavior during deformation and subsequent recovery. Phase transformation competes with twin rearrangement to dominate the deformation and recovery between elastic stage and slip stage of the alloy. The lattice plane relationship between α″ and γ° during phase transformation has also been given.
Fracture analysis is performed on a cylindrical composite consisting of an outer elastic layer, an inner rigid cylinder and an intermediate sliding interface. Interaction between the sliding interface and a parallel crack under in-plane shear is explored. An interesting phenomenon of oscillatory normal stress occurs on the local interfacial region near to the crack. It leads to local sliding-prevention and promotion effects, which constitute the mechanisms for the variations of stress intensity factors versus interfacial parameters. In addition, another interesting conclusion is that a crack near and parallel to a sliding interface never has the conventional anti-symmetry, even under pure in-plane shear loading.
Wave drag reduction is important for the aerodynamic performance optimisation of supersonic cruise aircrafts, such as the supersonic civil transport and the supersonic cruise missile. In this paper a method of the supersonic wing-body wave drag optimisation, the wave drag co-optimisation based on far-field composite elements (CoFCE), is proposed based on class-shape-transformation (CST) parameterisation. Wave drag optimisation cases of a supersonic civil transport wing-body are presented, including the optimisation results and computation cost analyses. It is suggested that the supersonic wing-body wave drag can be significantly reduced by the proposed method with relatively small numbers of design parameter. In the optimisation case presented in this paper a 45% wave drag reduction is achieved. The wave drag optimised configuration also achieved significant lift to drag ratio improvements in small angles-of-attack supersonic cruise flight conditions.
To improve the urine distributing mechanism of bladder power pump, a novel urethra valve was proposed in this study. The urine-flow-rate performance equation of the valve was derived on the basis of hydromechanics and electromagnetic theories, and the effect of different parameters on the urine-flow-rate performance was analyzed. The reliability simulation model of the valve was established according to the working principle and fault tree of the valve, a reliability simulation algorithm was proposed based on the basic idea of Monte Carlo method, and some reliability indexes were gained. The results show that increasing electromagnet current and decreasing air gap can increase the maximal urine-flow-rate, the reliability of the valve reaches 0.73 when the average life of the valve is 50000 times, and the shedding and aging of elastic bands are the weak links of the valve. The conclusions can provide the basis for the structural optimization and reliability improvement of bladder power pump, as well as the guidance for the design of implantable biomedicine electromechanical device.
We investigated and quantified the factors which may affect the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus in Rangtang County using a multidisciplinary approach. From a previously performed field survey, epidemiological data were linked with environmental data. Altitude and land surface temperature were extracted from remote-sensing images. Cumulative logistic regression models were used to identify and quantify the potential risk factors. The multiple regression models confirmed that yaks (χ2 = 4·0447, P = 0·0443), dogs (χ2 = 8·3455, P = 0·0039) and altitude (χ2 = 7·6223, P = 0·0058) were positively correlated with the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis, while land surface temperature may have a negative association. The findings showed that dogs and yaks play the most important role in the transmission of cystic echinococcosis, while altitude and land surface temperature may also be involved in the transmission.
The clinical urination assist measures are usually taken to overcome the neurogenic bladder difficult to cure, but easily cause patients bladder stones, urinary system infection and other complications. To solve the problem of the urination assist of neurogenic bladder, a bladder power pump (BPP) driven by external electromagnet was proposed in this study according to the structure and micturition mechanism of human urinary bladder. The mathematic models of the BPP were established based on the theories of electromagnetics and fluid dynamics. A simulated experiment system with a bladder physical model for simulating human urinary system was designed according to the similarity criterion of fluid dynamincs. The micturition performance of the BPP was investigated by simulation and experiment. The results showed that the intravesical pressure and urine flow rate of the bladder physical model can be controlled by adjusting electromagnet exciting current. The micturition performance of the BPP is basically accordant with that of human urinary bladder detrusor. The established mathematic models are simple and practicable, which can provide the theoretical guidance for the performance analysis and structural optimization design of the BPP.