The effect of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK4) deficiency on glucose homeostasis was studied in mice fed a high-fat diet. Expression of PDK4 was greatly increased in skeletal muscle and diaphragm but not liver and kidney of wild-type mice fed the high-fat diet. Wild-type and PDK4(-/-) mice consumed similar amounts of the diet and became equally obese. Insulin resistance developed in both ...

In emphysema, the diaphragm shortens by losing sarcomeres. We hypothesized that unless capillaries undergo a similar shortening, capillary geometry must be altered. Without quantifying this geometry, capillary length and surface area per fiber volume, which are critical measurements of the structural potential for blood-tissue exchange, cannot be resolved. Five months after intratracheal elasta...

To assess the effect of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the ability of human diaphragmatic myofibers to aerobically generate ATP relative to ATP utilization, we obtained biopsy specimens of the costal diaphragm from seven patients with severe COPD (mean +/- SE; age 56 +/- 1 yr; forced expiratory volume in 1 s 23 +/- 2% predicted; residual volume 267 +/- 30% predicted) and...

Addition of newly synthesized contractile proteins to striated muscle during postnatal life was studied by labeling young rat diaphragms in vitro with (3)H-leucine and extracting the soluble proteins in glycerol. The grain distribution over glycerinated fibers in electron microscopic autoradiographs indicates that new myofibrillar proteins are added about the periphery of existing fibrils.

Barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms are the most commonly used forms of birth control among HIV positive women. Sterilization is the second most popular method and hormonal contraception is the third Hormonal contraceptives, when used correctly and consistently, are highly effective in preventing unintended pregnancy and are also useful for treating health conditions such as painful ...

We report an outbreak investigation of fungemia due to Penicillium species after prolonged flooding of a Thai hospital. Contaminated rubber diaphragms of blood culture bottles were identified, and the pseudo-outbreak was resolved after environmental cleaning, use of high-efficiency particulate air filtration, and strict compliance with basic infection control practices for blood culture procure...

Over the past decade synthetic jets have emerged as a promising means of active flow control. They have the ability to introduce small amounts of energy locally to achieve non-local changes in the flow field. These devices have the potential of saving millions of dollars by increasing the efficiency and simplifying fluid related systems. A synthetic jet actuator consists of a cavity with an osc...

A single-layer waveguide slot array antenna of low cost and high performance for a millimetre-wave wireless communication system at 38 GHz frequency band is presented. The waveguide slots and diaphragms are located together on the cover plate of the antenna, which makes the antenna cost effective and highly efficient. Measurements show a cross-polarisation level below 26 dB and an efficiency le...

Novel single-chip fabricated condenser structures with corrugated diaphragms for residual stress releasing have been proposed and simulated. An electrostatic-structural coupling FEM analysis has been performed to fully reveal the nonlinear relationship of output electrical signal with respect to input mechanical change. The influence of various nonlinear effects on the performance of transducer...