PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Acceleration”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Acceleration of barrier ontogenesis in vitro through air exposure.

Immaturity of the epidermal barrier in the preterm infant may have serious clinical consequences. However, regardless of the degree of prematurity, the barrier rapidly matures such that by 2 wk all infants display a competent barrier. To determine whether the change from an aqueous (intrauterine) to a xeric environment might be the stimulus for this accelerated maturation, we examined the effects of air exposure on cutaneous barrier formation in vitro. Skin explants from d 17 fetal rats were incubated either submerged or at the air-medium interface. As previously reported, a competent barrier formed under submerged conditions after 3-4 d, precisely mirroring the time course of maturation in utero. In contrast, barrier maturation was accelerated in air-exposed explants, with functional, histologic, and structural markers of barrier formation observed after only 2 d of incubation. A water-impermeable membrane blocked the acceleration of barrier formation, resulting in a developmental time course comparable to that for submerged explants. In contrast a water vapor-permeable membrane did not block the acceleration. Glucocorticoids and thyroid hormone, which accelerate barrier formation in utero or in vitro under submerged conditions, did not further accelerate barrier formation in the air-exposed model. These data indicate that: 1) air exposure accelerates barrier ontogenesis, suggesting that water flux may be an important signal for the accelerated barrier formation that occurs in premature infants; and 2) factors which accelerate barrier formation in utero may not further accelerate barrier formation in neonates.

Air↗

[The extent of fetal heart rate accelerations associated with fetal body movements in relation to the duration of fetal body movement].

The temporal relations between fetal body movements and associated fetal heart rate accelerations were shown as the ratios of duration of acceleration or acceleration amplitude and the duration of associated fetal body movements in 44 normotrophic and 40 hypotrophic fetuses (body weights within the 6th to 10th percentiles, n = 19, and less than or equal to the 5th percentile, n = 21) between the 36th and 40th gestational weeks. Related to the duration of associated fetal body movements, hypotrophic fetuses proved to have gradually smaller heart rate accelerations than normotrophic fetuses. Moreover, the acceleration parameters duration and amplitude were dependent on the relative duration of fetal body movements. Short fetal body movements were accompanied by fetal heart rate accelerations of relatively highest degree and vice versa. As a consequence, no comparison is possible between temporally different fetal body movements and their associated heart rate accelerations. Of the two acceleration parameters duration and amplitude, the inclusion of the accelerations amplitude in the above mentioned ratio yielded the most obvious results. Taking into consideration that fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation are often in a state of chronic hypoxia, the ratios of acceleration amplitude and durations of associated fetal body movements indicated different degrees of this metabolic situation.

Adult↗

Gravitational artefact in frequency spectra of movement acceleration: implications for actigraphy in young and elderly subjects.

Actigraphy, the long-term assessment of wrist movements by means of a small solid-state recorder, is widely used in a variety of human research fields, among which sheep, circadian rhythms and aging. Actigraphs assess movement with the use of accelerometers, which sense accelerations resulting from muscle force as well as accelerations due to changes in the position of the sensor in the gravitational field. In the present paper a method is described to minimise gravitational artefact in movement assessment by calculating the instantaneous acceleration vector from 3 perpendicular acceleration signals. It is shown that the power spectra of single axis acceleration signals are dominated by low-frequency components (+/- 0.25 Hz) due to gravitational artefact. Spectra of the instantaneous acceleration vector indicate that 'true' movement accelerations resulting from muscle force are present in a much wider range: from 0.25 to 11 Hz. Wrist accelerations in elderly subjects were found to be of lower amplitude and frequency as compared to young subjects. It is furthermore shown that a bandpass filter of 0.25 to 2 or 3 Hz, as has been used in commercially available actigraphs, is far from optional, and may even result in a positive bias for movement detection in the elderly. This bias may underly contradictory findings in actigraphic studies on human aging. When a bandpass filter of 0.5-11 Hz is applied to a single-axis acceleration signal, the influence of gravitational artefact and bias are minimized, and the age-related decline in activity is properly detected.

Acceleration↗

The effect of stabilization instruction on lumbar acceleration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of trunk stabilization instruction on lumbar acceleration. BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information showing the impact of stabilization training and instruction on lumbar motion. Neuromuscular activation patterns have been implicated as an etiological factor in low back disorders. Knowledge of the short-term alterations in lumbar motion control, as assessed by acceleration, is an important first step to understanding the impact of trunk stabilization programs. METHODS: A calibrated, uniaxial accelerometer was positioned over the L4 spinous process of subjects (n =33) to record anterior/posterior acceleration during 10 repetitions of lower and upper limb movements (hip flexion/extension and biceps curl) before and after standardized stabilization instruction. RESULTS: Each repetition exhibited four stereotypical phases of acceleration. Instruction resulted in a substantial reduction in peak lumbar acceleration magnitude (P < 0.01) for all movement phases for both exercises (hip flexion 39.5%, biceps curl 30.8%). Lumbar peak accelerations for the biceps curl were substantially higher than peak accelerations for hip flexion (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that stabilization instruction results in immediate alteration of kinematics (global reduction of limb movement-induced lumbar acceleration) during upper and lower body movements. Reduced lumbar acceleration levels would arise from a change in the motor control strategy of trunk musculature due to instruction.

Acceleration↗

Relationship between head orientation and torsional eye movements in goldfish during linear acceleration.

We analyzed torsional eye movements of normal goldfish during sinusoidal linear acceleration, altering the orientation of the fish on the linear accelerator in the yaw plane over a range of 90 degrees and in the pitch plane up to 30 degrees. We video-recorded changes of torsional eye movements associated with a body rotation in the yaw and pitch plane and analyzed them frame by frame. In normal fish, we observed clear torsional eye movements for stimuli of 0.1 G linear accelerations along the body axis in the horizontal position. Torsion occurred in the opposite direction of resultant force produced by linear acceleration and gravity. Though the amplitude of these compensatory responses increased with increasing magnitude of acceleration up to 0.5 G, the torsion angle did not fully compensate the angle calculated from gravity and linear acceleration. Furthermore, the torsion angle decreased as the longitudinal body axis deviated from the direction of linear acceleration. For the body axis perpendicular to the direction of acceleration, torsional eye movement was still observed. When we tilted the fish in the pitch plane, compensatory eye torsion occurred. The response amplitude to acceleration decreased for both head-up and head-down up to 30 degrees. These results suggested the existence of specific connections between the otolith organ and ocular muscles.

Acceleration↗

Determination of the threshold acceleration for the gravitropic stimulation of cress roots and hypocotyls.

To determine the range of the threshold acceleration (a-threshold) for the gravitropic stimulation of Lepidium sativum L. roots and hypocotyls, experiments were performed on a centrifuge-clinostat with two-orthogonal axes. The rotation rate of the clinostat was 4 rpm (< or = 1.8 x 10(-4) g), while that of the centrifuge was from 3 to 17 rpm (3 x 10(-3) to 10(-1) g). The gravitropic response was determined: (i) after growth of roots and hypocotyls in their normal vertical position and subsequent gravitropic stimulation for 3 h by accelerations of 4 x 10(-3) to 10(-1) g, and (ii) after continuous stimulation in the lateral direction by centripetal accelerations of 4 x 10(-3) to 10(-1) g. The a-threshold was defined by an extrapolation of the regression line of R = p + rx, where x was either ln a or l/a for 3 h or a continuous stimulation, respectively. The a-threshold estimated after 3 h stimulation was equal to 2.6 x 10(-3) g for roots and 3.1 x 10(-3) g for hypocotyls. The threshold accelerations that were unable to evoke a gravitropic response even with continuous stimulation of cress roots and hypocotyls were approximately 3.1 x 10(-3) g and 3.6 x 10(-3) g, respectively. Increasing the stimulation acceleration up to 4.1 x 10(-3) g led to a statistically confirmed gravitropic response of a definite proportion of both the root and hypocotyl populations. In the experiments where acceleration and stimulation time were variable, the threshold dose (D-threshold) for roots was determined to be about 14 to 22 g x s, depending on the stimulation duration and the range of accelerations. The kinetics of gravitropic response at a near-threshold acceleration (4 x 10(-3) to 1.9 x 10(-2) g) differed from that at 1 g (horizontal stimulation). At low forces, the maximal response dependent on the magnitude of acceleration could not be enhanced by increasing the stimulation time up to at least 210 min.

Acceleration↗

Sensitivity to the acceleration of looming stimuli.

The aim of this study was to determine if observers could discriminate between looming stimuli simulating targets approaching the observers at either constant or non-constant speeds. Discrimination between accelerating and constant-speed approaches improved after 70-90 trials for accelerations >2 m/s2. For lower accelerations the ability to discriminate was poor regardless of the trial number. Following the learning phase, observers were able to identify accelerating targets from constant-speed approaches fairly consistently at performance levels of 70-75% for accelerations as low as 4 m/s2 and at 80-96% for accelerations of 6-14 m/s2. Observers' accuracy in identifying decelerating from constant-speed targets did not increase as a function of increasing deceleration. In fact, observers had a slight bias to select the constant-speed stimulus as being the decelerating stimulus. In summary, the sensitivity to acceleration for simulated motion in depth is poor, but increases as acceleration increases and sensitivity to acceleration is far greater than for deceleration.

Acceleration↗

Kinematics and hydrodynamics of linear acceleration in eels, Anguilla rostrata.

The kinematics and hydrodynamics of routine linear accelerations were studied in American eels, Anguilla rostrata, using high-speed video and particle image velocimetry. Eels were examined both during steady swimming at speeds from 0.6 to 1.9 body lengths (L) per second and during accelerations from -1.4 to 1.3 L s(-2). Multiple regression of the acceleration and steady swimming speed on the body kinematics suggests that eels primarily change their tail-tip velocity during acceleration. By contrast, the best predictor of steady swimming speed is body wave speed, keeping tail-tip velocity an approximately constant fraction of the swimming velocity. Thus, during steady swimming, Strouhal number does not vary with speed, remaining close to 0.32, but during acceleration, it deviates from the steady value. The kinematic changes during acceleration are indicated hydrodynamically by axial fluid momentum in the wake. During steady swimming, the wake consists of lateral jets of fluid and has minimal net axial momentum, which reflects a balance between thrust and drag. During acceleration, those jets rotate to point downstream, adding axial momentum to the fluid. The amount of added momentum correlates with the acceleration, but is greater than the necessary inertial force by 2.8+/-0.6 times, indicating a substantial acceleration reaction.

Acceleration↗

Respiratory effects of transient axial acceleration.

Whereas gravity has an inspiratory effect in upright subjects, transient upward acceleration is reported to have an expiratory effect. To explore the respiratory effects of transient axial accelerations, we measured axial acceleration at the head and transrespiratory pressure or airflow in five subjects as they were dropped or lifted on a platform. For the first 100 ms, upward acceleration caused a decrease in mouth pressure and inspiratory flow, and downward acceleration caused the opposite. We also simulated these experimental observations by using a computational model of a passive respiratory system based on anatomical data and normal respiratory characteristics. After 100 ms, respiratory airflow in our subjects became highly variable, no longer varying with acceleration. Electromyograms of thoracic and abdominal respiratory muscles showed bursts of activity beginning 40-125 ms after acceleration, suggesting reflex responses responsible for subsequent flow variability. We conclude that, in relaxed subjects, transient upward axial acceleration causes inspiratory airflow and downward acceleration causes expiratory airflow, but that after ~100 ms, reflex activation of respiratory musculature largely determines airflow.

Acceleration↗

Neurons in V1, V2, and PMLS of cat cortex are speed tuned but not acceleration tuned: the influence of motion adaptation.

We studied neurons in areas V1, V2, and posteromedial lateral suprasylvian area (PMLS) of anesthetized cats, assessing their speed tuning using steps to constant speeds and acceleration and deceleration tuning using speed ramps. The results show that the speed tuning of neurons in all three cortical areas is highly dependent on prior motion history, with early responses during speed steps tuned to higher speeds than later responses. The responses to speed ramps are profoundly influenced by speed-dependent response latencies and ongoing changes in neuronal speed tuning due to adaptation. Acceleration evokes larger transient and sustained responses than subsequent deceleration of the same rate with this disparity increasing with ramp rate. Consequently, there was little correlation between preferred speeds measured using speed steps, acceleration or deceleration. From 146 recorded cells, the proportion of cells that were clearly speed tuned ranged from 69 to 100% across the three brain areas. However, only 13 cells showed good skewed Gaussian fits and systematic variation in their responses to a range of accelerations. Although suggestive of acceleration coding, this apparent tuning was attributable to a cell's speed tuning and the different stimulus durations at each acceleration rate. Thus while the majority of cells showed speed tuning, none unequivocally showed acceleration tuning. The results are largely consistent with an existing model that predicts responses to accelerating stimuli developed for macaque MT, which showed that the responses to acceleration can be decoded if adaptation is taken into account. However, the present results suggest future models should include stimulus-specific adaptation and speed-dependent response latencies.

Acceleration↗

Incidence and clinical significance of accelerated junctional rhythm following open heart surgery.

Accelerated junctional rhythm following open heart surgery may lead to hemodynamic impairment due to loss of synchronized atrial contraction. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the frequency, duration, and hemodynamic effects of accelerated junctional rhythm in 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CAB) and in 30 undergoing valve replacement (VR). Accelerated junctional rhythm was defined as a rate greater than 55 bpm. Patients were continuously monitored postoperatively and rhythm strips obtained at least every 4 hours. Ten VR patients (33%) and four CAB patients (13%) exhibited accelerated junctional rhythm, the difference between these groups being significant (p less than 0.02). Nine of the 14 were hemodynamically compromised requiring inotropic support (9) and/or pacemaker insertion (2). The time of appearance of accelerated junctional rhythm ranged from immediate to 6 days (mean 26 +/- 52 hours, SD) and it lasted a mean of 16 +/- 22 hours. The rate ranged from 62 to 150 bpm. The sinus rate prior to the onset of accelerated junctional rhythm was significantly lower than the sinus rate in those not developing accelerated junctional rhythm. In conclusion, accelerated junctional rhythm is seen frequently following open heart surgery and may lead to hemodynamic deterioration. It is seen more frequently following VR, in approximately 33% of patients. Its manifestation appears to result from a combination of acceleration of junctional focus and slowing of sinus node discharge.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

Auscultated fetal heart rate accelerations. III. Use of vibratory acoustic stimulation.

The auscultated acceleration test has been proposed as a simple, inexpensive screening test for fetal health; previous studies of the auscultated acceleration test used external stimulation to elicit fetal movement. This study was conducted to explore the ability of the auscultated acceleration test to predict nonstress test results when vibratory acoustic stimulation is used to elicit fetal reactivity. After antepartum nonstress testing on 100 gravid women between 28 and 43 weeks' gestation, a 6-minute auscultated acceleration test protocol was performed with two vibratory acoustic stimulations to the maternal abdomen if no spontaneous fetal heart rate acceleration occurred. The ability of the auscultated acceleration test to predict nonstress test results after selected variables were controlled for was as follows: sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 97.6%; false-positive results, 14.3%; and false-negative results, 4.7%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that, in addition to the auscultated acceleration test, gestational age and race contributed significantly to the prediction of nonstress test results. Although specificity and the false-positive rate were improved, the use of vibratory acoustic stimulations to elicit fetal movement did not improve the validity of the auscultated acceleration test in terms of sensitivity and false-negative results over previous studies. However, the auscultated acceleration test continues to show potential as an initial screening test for fetal assessment. In addition to recommendations for further research, methodologic issues related to sampling techniques are identified.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Theoretical and experimental aspects of erythrocyte filterability testing; flow acceleration and systemic resistance.

Blood cell filterability is an established method in blood rheology. The dynamics at flow onset and its relevance to the data interpretation is, however, not fully known. This paper aims to investigate what controls the length and slope of flow acceleration as the medium accelerates to reach the steady state, and how this phenomenon may interfere with the data output. The acceleration time was not constant. With buffer the steady-state flow showed a logarithmic correlation (p<0.05) versus acceleration time and a linear correlation (p<0.001) versus acceleration slope. With 5% erythrocyte resuspension the steady-state flow instead demonstrated a linear relationship versus acceleration time (p<0.001) and no correlation versus acceleration slope. A cut-off timing of 0.6s is suggested to avoid artifacts associated with flow acceleration. The possible influence on data interpretation from the flow channel systemic resistance was also addressed, and found to significantly underestimate measurable changes in erythrocyte properties from unprocessed flow curves. This was despite the traditional correction for blank filtration flow. Both acceleration and effects from systemic resistance do probably have minor influence on the historic data interpretation but could perhaps be considered in the methodology to sharpen the data output.

Adult↗

Two-tank suspended growth process for accelerating the detoxification kinetics of hydrocarbons requiring initial monooxygenation reactions.

An experimental evaluation demonstrated that suspended growth systems operated in a two-tank accelerator/aerator configuration significantly increased the overall removal rates for phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), aromatic hydrocarbons that require initial monooxygenations. The accelerator tank is a small volume that receives the influent and recycled biomass. It has a high ratio of electron donor (BOD) to electron acceptor (O2). Biomass in the accelerator should be enriched in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH + H+) and have a very high specific growth rate, conditions that should accelerate the kinetics of monooxygenation reactions. For the more slowly degraded 2,4-DCP, the average percentage removal increased from 74% to 93%, even though the volume of the two-tank system was smaller than that of the one-tank system in most experiments. The average volumetric and biomass-specific removal rates increased by 50% and 100%, respectively, in the two-tank system, compared to a one-tank system. The greatest enhancement in 2,4-DCP removal occurred when the accelerator tank comprised approximately 20% of the system volume. Biomass in the accelerator tank was significantly enriched in NADH + H+ when its dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was below 0.25 mg/L, a situation having a high ratio of donor to acceptor. The accelerator biomass had its highest NADH + H+ content for the experiments that had the highest rate of 2,4-DCP removal. Biomass in the accelerator also had a much higher specific growth rate than in the aerator or the system overall, and the specific growth rate in the accelerator was inversely correlated to the accelerator volume.

Aerobiosis↗

Allergologically relevant rubber accelerators in single-use medical gloves.

To prevent contact with specific rubber accelerators, sensitized patients have to know in which glove brands these accelerators are present. Additionally, quantitative measurements of the bioavailable amounts of accelerators are needed to assist consumers in selecting gloves with the lowest possible amount of residual rubber accelerators. The aim of the study was to develop an analytical method by which residuals of rubber accelerators in single-use medical gloves could be determined qualitatively and quantitatively. 19 different glove brands were analysed for content of accelerators, and the results were compared to manufacturers' ingredient claims of the identical gloves. ZDEC, ZDBC, ZMBT and ZPC were the most frequently detected chemicals. In 9 of 15 gloves discrepancies were found, usually minor, between content of accelerators declared by manufacturers to be present and accelerators detected by analysis. Both phosphate buffer and acetone were tested as extraction media. No accelerators were detectable with the described chemical analysis in phosphate extracts, whereas acetone was demonstrated to be a technically suitable medium for extraction. However, more kinetic studies of the extraction procedure and studies of skin penetration are needed to document that the extraction procedure simulates the clinical situation.

Allergens↗

[Fetal motor activity and acceleration in the cardiotocogram].

The results of the concomitant monitoring of the fetal heart rate and the total fetal movement activity by two ultrasound monitors are reported. In 111 patients from 26 weeks gestation to term the cardiotocogram and the fetal movement activity were at the same time monitored with two ultrasound monitors. In total 453 fetal heart rate accelerations of more than 15 beats per minute and more than 15 seconds duration were found in all cardiotocograms. The most frequent finding with an acceleration of the fetal heart rate were fetal body movements with or without movements of the extremities in 71% of the fetal heart rate accelerations. In 18% of the fetal heart rate accelerations movements of the fetal extremities were found by ultrasonography. In 7% of the fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal respiratory movements or contractions were found without fetal body movements. 4% of the fetal heart rate accelerations occurred without sonographically or topographically recognizable cause. In all ultrasonographically recognized fetal movements of the body and/or the extremities the fetal heart rate accelerations occurred in 28% of the cases. The most frequent findings were movements of the fetal body with or without movements of the fetal extremities in 48% of the fetal heart rate accelerations. In isolated movements of the fetal extremeties the fetal heart rate was only accelerated in 11% of the cases.

Female↗

Antenatal prediction of pulmonary hypoplasia by acceleration time/ejection time ratio of fetal pulmonary arteries by Doppler blood flow velocimetry.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a new method for the antenatal prediction of pulmonary hypoplasia by Doppler blood flow velocimetry. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred seventy-seven fetuses (160 normal fetuses and 17 fetuses with congenital anomalies that may affect fetal lung growth and/or development) were studied. Blood flow waveforms at the main branches of the pulmonary arteries were recorded by Doppler echocardiography from 20 to 39 weeks of gestation. The ratio of acceleration time to ejection time was calculated from the waveform as a parameter to predict pulmonary hypoplasia. RESULTS: Doppler waveform of normal fetal pulmonary artery showed a "spike-and-dome" pattern. The normal values of acceleration time/ejection time ratio from the right and left pulmonary arteries were 0.17 +/- 0.04 and 0.15 +/- 0.04, respectively. These values were not significantly altered through the gestational age observed in this study. The acceleration time/ejection time ratio of either right or left pulmonary artery was measured successfully in all cases of fetal congenital anomalies. In 8 of 17 fetuses, acceleration time/ejection time ratio was measured at both of the pulmonary arteries. Because of a congenital anomaly that affected the fetal lung or thorax asymmetrically (as in congenital diaphragmatic hernia or congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung), the acceleration time/ejection time ratio of both of the pulmonary arteries could be measured in only 5 of 13 fetuses. The technical difficulties for the measurement always existed in the affected side. Eleven of the 17 fetuses with congenital anomalies survived without signs of clinical pulmonary hypoplasia or persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn infant. The fetuses revealed normal acceleration time/ejection time ratio from at least one pulmonary artery. The remaining 6 fetuses died of pulmonary hypoplasia, and the diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy or clinical findings. Of those 6 fetuses, 5 fetuses demonstrated the acceleration time/ejection time ratio below normal in one side, and the ratio could not be obtained on the other side; 1 fetus showed the acceleration time/ejection time ratio below the normal range in both sides. CONCLUSION: The acceleration time/ejection time ratio by Doppler velocimetry that was obtained at the main branches of fetal pulmonary artery was consistent throughout gestational age from 20 to 39 weeks. This ratio appears to be an accurate parameter with which to predict the subsequent development of pulmonary hypoplasia and clinical outcomes of the newborn infants with high positive and negative predictive values (positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 100%).

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Noninvasive evaluation of left ventricular performance based on peak aortic blood acceleration measured with a continuous-wave Doppler velocity meter.

Peak aortic blood acceleration is recognized to be a sensitive index of global left ventricular performance. In the present study peak acceleration was assessed noninvasively in patients with a continuous-wave Doppler velocity meter. Peak aortic blood velocity and peak blood acceleration were measured by placing the ultrasonic transducer at the suprasternal notch. Measurements were obtained in 36 patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Peak velocity and acceleration were measured at rest just before left ventriculography. In patients with ejection fractions greater than 60%, peak acceleration was 19 +/- 5 m/sec/sec. In patients with ejection fractions of 41% to 60%, peak acceleration was lower, at 12 +/- 2 m/sec/sec (p less than .001). In patients with ejection fractions of 40% or less, peak acceleration (8 +/- 2 m/sec/sec) was markedly lower than in patients with ejection fractions greater than 60% (p less than .001). Peak acceleration showed a good linear correlation with ejection fraction (r = .90), and a better power fit (r = .93). These results indicate that peak acceleration, measured noninvasively with a continuous-wave Doppler velocity meter, is a useful indicator of global left ventricular performance.

Aorta↗