A finite nonlinear hyper-viscoelastic model for soft biological tissues

Soft tissues exhibit highly nonlinear rate and time-dependent stress-strain behaviour. Strain and strain rate dependencies are often modelled using a hyperelastic model and a discrete (standard linear solid) or continuous spectrum (quasi-linear) viscoelastic model, respectively. However, these models are unable to properly capture the materials characteristics because hyperelastic models are unsuited for time-dependent events, whereas the common viscoelastic models are insufficient for the nonlinear and finite strain viscoelastic tissue responses. The convolution integral based models can demonstrate a finite viscoelastic response; however, their derivations are not consistent with the laws of thermodynamics. The aim of this work was to develop a three-dimensional finite hyper-viscoelastic model for soft tissues using a thermodynamically consistent approach. In addition, a nonlinear function, dependent on strain and strain rate, was adopted to capture the nonlinear variation of viscosity during a loading process. To demonstrate the efficacy and versatility of this approach, the model was used to recreate the experimental results performed on different types of soft tissues. In all the cases, the simulation results were well matched ($R^2⩾0.99$) with the experimental data.     

The reactivity of cytochrome c with soft ligands.

The spectral changes caused by binding soft ligands to the cytochrome c iron and their correlation to ligand affinities support the hypothesis that the iron—methionine sulfur bond of this heme protein is enhanced by delocalization of the metal l₂, electrons into the empty 3d orbitals of the ligand atom. These findings also explain the unique spectrum of cytochrome c in the far red.     

Identification of novel candidate circulating biomarkers for malignant soft tissue sarcomas: Correlation with metastatic progression

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors for which identification and validation of biological markers may improve clinical management. The fraction of low‐molecular‐weight (LMW) circulating proteins and fragments of proteins is a rich source of new potential biomarkers. To identify circulating biomarkers useful for STS early diagnosis and prognosis, we analyzed 53 high‐grade STS sera using hydrogel core‐shell nanoparticles that selectively entrap LMW proteins by size exclusion and affinity chromatography, protect them from degradation and amplify their concentration for mass spectrometry detection. Twenty‐two analytes mostly involved in inflammatory and immunological response, showed a progressive increase from benign to malignant STS with a relative difference in abundance, more than 50% when compared to healthy control. 16 of these were higher in metastatic compared to non‐metastatic tumors. Cox‘s regression analysis revealed a statistical significant association between the abundance of lactotransferrin (LTF) and complement factor H‐related 5 (CFHR5) and risk of metastasis. In particular, CFHR5 was associated with the risk of metastasis. The role of circulating proteins involved in metastatic progression will be crucial for a better understanding of STS biology and patient management.     

带腓肠腱膜的腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复KuwadeⅣ型跟腱缺损

目的:回顾性分析带腓肠肌腱膜的腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复KuwadeⅣ型跟腱缺损的临床病例,探讨其手术注意事项及治疗经验。方法:总结2008年5月-2013年8月收治的KuwadeⅣ型跟腱缺损19例,应用带腓肠肌腱膜的腓肠神经营养皮瓣进行一期修复。7例为新鲜损伤,12例为陈旧性缺损。19例跟腱缺损均伴有皮肤及软组织坏死,皮肤缺损范围为4.0 cm×6.0 cm-6.0cm×12.0 cm,跟腱缺损长度为5-9 cm,术中皮瓣切取范围为6.0 cm×5.5 cm-12.0 cm×8.0cm,腓肠腱膜切取范围5.5 cm×6.0cm-10.0 cm×6.0 cm;供区游离植皮修复。客观性评价指标包括关节跖屈、背伸动度及形态学,主观性评价采用AOFAS评分。结果:术后17例跟腱功能重建良好,2例感染控制不良,跟腱移植体部分坏死。皮瓣完全成活13例,创面Ⅰ期愈合。2例术后6天皮瓣远端表皮坏死,经换药后愈合。2例术后10天皮瓣远端部分坏死,经局部皮瓣移位修复愈合,2例感染控制不良者,皮瓣未愈合,移植跟腱部分坏死,经再次清创后,行阔筋膜条修复术,局部皮瓣移位修复。术后19例均获随访,随访时间6~24个月,平均18个月。术后皮瓣略臃肿,但不影响穿鞋,行走功能恢复良好,术后1年AOFAS评分平均80.31分。结论:带腓肠肌腱膜的腓肠神经营养皮瓣用于治疗KuwadeⅣ型跟腱缺损,可以同时修复皮肤及跟腱缺损,是一种较为理想的一期修复方法。     

长江口窄脊江豚东亚亚种体内几种微量元素的含量及分布

为了弄清长江口窄脊江豚东亚亚种(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri)体内微量元素的积累和分布情况,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)对2014年春季收集的3头雌性和3头雄性个体的心、肾、肝、肌肉、肺、胃和肠7种器官组织样品,进行了锌(Zn)、硒(Se)、铜(Cu)、钼(Mo)、钴(Co)、铬(Cr)、锰(Mn)、钒(V)和镍(Ni)9种元素含量测定。结果显示,按干重计算江豚体内Zn、Cu和Se的平均含量最高,分别为(59.15±33.87)μg/g、(15.85±15.07)μg/g和(7.31±5.49)μg/g;Cr和Mn平均含量次之,分别为(3.16±2.70)μg/g和(2.35±2.94)μg/g;Co、Mo、Ni、V平均含量较少,分别为(0.30±0.48)μg/g、(0.19±0.30)μg/g、(0.12±0.18)μg/g和(0.04±0.12)μg/g。研究发现,肠道、肝和肾的微量元素含量普遍高于其他组织器官,除Cr以外的其他微量元素在一些组织之间均存在显著性差异(P0.05),如Zn(P0.05)和Mn(P0.05)在肠道中的含量显著高于肌肉和心,Se在肝(P0.05)和肾(P0.05)中的含量显著高于其余6种组织,Cu(P0.05)和Mo(P0.05)在肝中的含量显著高于其余6种组织,Co(P0.05)在肾中的含量显著高于肌肉,Ni在胃壁(P0.05)和肠道(P0.05)中含量显著高于肌肉和肝。同时发现,Mn和Cr的总体平均含量在雌雄性别间也存在一定差异,其中Mn雄性显著大于雌性(P0.05),Cr则雌性显著大于雄性(P0.05)。此外,这9种元素在同一组织器官的不同江豚个体间也并不稳定,个体间的平均变异系数达121.08%。长江口水域窄脊江豚东亚亚种体内各组织器官内的元素含量总体上明显低于黄海、渤海的东亚亚种江豚和北部湾海域的印度洋江豚(N.phocaenoides)。与人体相比,长江口东亚亚种江豚体内Zn、Se和Mo的含量低于人体,Cu和Co含量高于人体。     

Rolling adhesion of leukocytes on soft substrates: Does substrate stiffness matter?

Cell rolling on vascular endothelium under hydrodynamic blood flow is critical for realization of many physiological and pathological processes, such as inflammatory response and tumor metastasis. The blood-borne cells are in direct contact with the inner layer of endothelium, formed by a highly compliant layer of endothelial cells. The effect of endothelial stiffness on the adhesion and motion of rolling cells is poorly understood. Inspired by recent in vitro studies, here we implemented a computational method to model the specific adhesion of a rolling cell onto a soft substrate, subjected to a creeping shear flow. The substrate is modeled as an elastic half-space, coated with P- and E-selectin receptors with specific affinity for the complementary ligands located on the moving cell. Of particular importance is to predict the effect of substrate stiffness on cell adhesion and its kinematics and kinetics of motion. Simulation results show that the effect of substrate compliance is minimal when coated with P-selectin. Conversely, the trajectory of rolling cells on E-selectin coated substrates is sensitive to the substrate compliance. This is attributed to the moderation of binding forces applied by the soft substrate which leads to a higher average translational velocity of cells.     

Vibration settling time of the gastrocnemius remains constant during an exhaustive run in rear foot strike runners

In this study, vibrations of human gastrocnemius during an exhaustive run protocol are considered for analysis. Previous studies have shown increased vibration intensity and damping coefficient within the soft tissue with fatigue. The question of this study was to investigate if the vibration settling time remains constant during a prolonged running. Eleven semi-professional middle/long distance runners ran to exhaustion on a treadmill with their preferred constant speed (4.29 ± 0.33 m/s) for 3873 ± 1147 m. Vibration of the gastrocnemius lateralis, electrical activity of the tibialis anterior and the gastrocnemius medialis along with ground reaction force (GRF) were recorded. The results demonstrated significant increase in impact peak and loading rate, and the frequency content of the impact, with no significant change in active peak of the vertical GRF. Fatigue resulted in increased vibration intensity, damping coefficient, and energy dissipation of vibration with no change in vibration settling time. Furthermore, peak acceleration significantly linearly (R = 0.59) increased as a function of running time. The mean frequency of muscle activity of the gastrocnemius medialis and the intensity of muscle activity in TA significantly decreased. The results suggest that constant vibration settling time might either be an objective for muscle tuning which is more pronounced in fatigued state or a passive by-product of muscle function in running. Further studies are needed to address this point.     

Wood-decay type and fungal guild dominance across a North American log transplant experiment

We incubated 196 large-diameter aspen (Populus tremuloides), birch (Betula papyrifera), and pine (Pinus taeda) logs on the FACE Wood Decomposition Experiment encompassing eight climatically-distinct forest sites in the United States. We sampled dead wood from these large-diameter logs after 2 to 6 y of decomposition and determined wood rot type as a continuous variable using the lignin loss/density loss ratio (L/D) and assessed wood-rotting fungal guilds using high-throughput amplicon sequencing (HTAS) of the ITS-2 marker. We found L/D values in line with a white rot dominance in all three tree species, with pine having lower L/D values than aspen and birch. Based on HTAS data, white rot fungi were the most abundant and diverse wood-rotting fungal guild, and soft rot fungi were more abundant and diverse than brown rot fungi in logs with low L/D values. For aspen and birch logs, decay type was related to the wood density at sampling. For the pine logs, decay type was associated with the balance between white and brown/soft rot fungi abundance and OTU richness. Our results demonstrate that decay type is governed by biotic and abiotic factors, which vary by tree species.     

Competition for S and N by associations of three annual range species in lysimeters

Summary Competition for S and N was studied on free draining lysimeters seeded to associations of three annual forages on Josephine loam (Typic Haploxerults), an important soil for revegetation to rangeland production. Forage yields increased and the botanical composition shifted toward subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with added S. Sulfate uptake and plant S concentration were increased as a function of the S applied. Forage yields were related to plant S concentration and N:S ratios. Subclover and filaree (Erodium botrys (Cav.) Bertol.) obtained a larger proportion of their S from fertilizer-S than did soft chess (Bromus mollis L.). Total S uptake was largely from the applied fertilizer, 39% at the intermediate S level and 78% at high S. The replacement series design of the experiment and the use of labeled S and N permitted calculation of competition coefficients for fertilizer S, total S, soil N, and total N uptake for the species in pairwise associations. Sulfur was the factor limiting to subclover where S was not applied, and N was the limiting factor to soft chess and filaree in mixtures with subclover at high S where subclover was able to fix most of its own N. In the mixture of soft chess and filaree competition for S and N was about equally intense for both nutrients at all S levels, and filaree was dominant consistently. Comparison of two methods for estimating the fate of fertilizer S showed that differences in sulfur uptake and leachate losses over the controls provided significantly higher values for sulfur recovery than estimates based on the fate of³⁵S. Contribution of the University of California Hopland Field Station and Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616.