Enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate supplementation improves high-intensity cycling performance in trained cyclists

Purpose: Enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) can attenuate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms following acute bicarbonate loading, although the subsequent effects on exercise performance have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of enteric-coated NaHCO3 supplementation on high-intensity exercise performance and GI symptoms. Methods: Eleven trained male cyclists completed three 4 km time trials after consuming; a placebo or 0.3 g∙kg–1 body mass NaHCO3 in enteric-coated or gelatin capsules. Exercise trials were timed with individual peak blood bicarbonate ion concentration ([HCO3–]). Blood acid–base balance was measured pre-ingestion, pre-exercise, and post-exercise, whereas GI symptoms were recorded pre-ingestion and immediately pre-exercise. Results: Pre-exercise blood [HCO3−] and potential hydrogen (pH) were greater for both NaHCO3 conditions (P &lt; 0.0005) when compared to placebo. Performance time was faster with enteric-coated (− 8.5 ± 9.6 s, P = 0.044) and gelatin (− 9.6 ± 7.2 s, P = 0.004) NaHCO3 compared to placebo, with no significant difference between conditions (mean difference = 1.1 ± 5.3 s, P = 1.000). Physiological responses were similar between conditions, although blood lactate ion concentration was higher with gelatin NaHCO3 (2.4 ± 1.7 mmol∙L–1, P = 0.003) compared with placebo. Furthermore, fewer participants experienced GI symptoms with enteric-coated (n = 3) compared to gelatin (n = 7) NaHCO3. Discussion: Acute enteric-coated NaHCO3 consumption mitigates GI symptoms at the onset of exercise and improves subsequent 4 km cycling TT performance. Athletes who experience GI side-effects after acute bicarbonate loading may, therefore, benefit from enteric-coated NaHCO3 supplementation prior to exercise performance.</p

Interventional tool tracking using discrete optimization.

This work presents a novel scheme for tracking of motion and deformation of interventional tools such as guide-wires and catheters in fluoroscopic X-ray sequences. Being able to track and thus to estimate the correct positions of these tools is crucial in order to offer guidance enhancement during interventions. The task of estimating the apparent motion is particularly challenging due to the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of fluoroscopic images and due to combined motion components originating from patient breathing and tool interactions performed by the physician. The presented approach is based on modeling interventional tools with B-splines whose optimal configuration of control points is determined through efficient discrete optimization. Each control point corresponds to a discrete random variable in a Markov random field (MRF) formulation where a set of labels represents the deformation space. In this context, the optimal curve corresponds to the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of the MRF energy. The main motivation for employing a discrete approach is the possibility to incorporate a multi-directional search space which is robust to local minima. This is of particular interest for curve tracking under large deformation. This work analyzes feasibility of employing efficient first-order MRFs for tracking. In particular it shows how to achieve a good compromise between energy approximations and computational efficiency. Experimental results suggest to define both the external and internal energy in terms of pairwise potential functions. The method was successfully applied to the tracking of guide-wires in fluoroscopic X-ray sequences of several hundred frames which requires extremely robust techniques. Comparisons with state-of-the-art guide-wire tracking algorithms confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 1982-2012 IEEE

The Lantern Vol. 7, No. 3, June 1939

• Commencement Sonnet • Largo Appassionato • More Sonnets to Earth • Vladimir • Abe Lincoln in Illinois • Dark Lives • Enter Mr. Smithingham II • A Character is Sketched • Sonnet • Out of the Dawn • Wistaria • Poem Without a Name • You Have Loved the Nighthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1018/thumbnail.jp

The Lantern Vol. 7, No. 2, March 1939

• Editorial • Easter Eggs • Fever • Sonnets to the Planet We Call Earth • Asking Her Father • New Hampshire Ghost Story • Mary • On Approaching Death • On Turning Over a New Leaf • In Defense of Americanism • What is this Love? • Martyrs of Progress • Recurring • Splintershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1013/thumbnail.jp

The Lantern Vol. 7, No. 2, March 1939

• Editorial • Easter Eggs • Fever • Sonnets to the Planet We Call Earth • Asking Her Father • New Hampshire Ghost Story • Mary • On Approaching Death • On Turning Over a New Leaf • In Defense of Americanism • What is this Love? • Martyrs of Progress • Recurring • Splintershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1013/thumbnail.jp

Transcriptional Regulation of N-Acetylglutamate Synthase

The urea cycle converts toxic ammonia to urea within the liver of mammals. At least 6 enzymes are required for ureagenesis, which correlates with dietary protein intake. The transcription of urea cycle genes is, at least in part, regulated by glucocorticoid and glucagon hormone signaling pathways. N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) produces a unique cofactor, N-acetylglutamate (NAG), that is essential for the catalytic function of the first and rate-limiting enzyme of ureagenesis, carbamyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1). However, despite the important role of NAGS in ammonia removal, little is known about the mechanisms of its regulation. We identified two regions of high conservation upstream of the translation start of the NAGS gene. Reporter assays confirmed that these regions represent promoter and enhancer and that the enhancer is tissue specific. Within the promoter, we identified multiple transcription start sites that differed between liver and small intestine. Several transcription factor binding motifs were conserved within the promoter and enhancer regions while a TATA-box motif was absent. DNA-protein pull-down assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed binding of Sp1 and CREB, but not C/EBP in the promoter and HNF-1 and NF-Y, but not SMAD3 or AP-2 in the enhancer. The functional importance of these motifs was demonstrated by decreased transcription of reporter constructs following mutagenesis of each motif. The presented data strongly suggest that Sp1, CREB, HNF-1, and NF-Y, that are known to be responsive to hormones and diet, regulate NAGS transcription. This provides molecular mechanism of regulation of ureagenesis in response to hormonal and dietary changes

A Prospective Study of Return to Work Across Health Conditions: Perceived Work Attitude, Self-efficacy and Perceived Social Support

Background The aim of the present study was to conduct subgroup-analyses in a prospective cohort of workers on long-term sickness absence to investigate whether associations between perceived work attitude, self-efficacy and perceived social support and time to RTW differ across different health conditions. Methods The study was based on a sample of 926 workers on sickness absence (6–12 weeks). The participants filled out a baseline questionnaire and were subsequently followed until the tenth month after listing sick. Perceived work attitude was measured with a Dutch language version of the Work Involvement Scale. Perceived social support was measured with a self-constructed standardized scale reflecting a person’s perception of social support regarding RTW. Self-efficacy was measured with the standardised Dutch version of the General self-efficacy scale, assessing the subjects’ expectations of their general capacities. The sample was divided into three subgroups: musculoskeletal health conditions, other physical health conditions and mental health conditions. Anova analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify differences in association between the three factors and the time to RTW between different subgroups. Results The associations between the perceived work attitude, self-efficacy and perceived social support and the time to RTW vary across different health condition subgroups, not only with regard to the strength of the association but also for the type of factor. In the multivariate model, hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.33 (95% CI 1.01–1.75) in the musculoskeletal subgroup, and 1.26 (95% CI 0.89–1.78) in the other physical subgroup were found in perceived work attitude. With regard to perceived social support HRs of 1.39 (95% CI 1.12–1.99) respectively 1.51 (1.05–2.17) in the same subgroups were found. Only self-efficacy remained in the multivariate model in all subgroups with HRs of 1.49 (95% CI 1.12–1.99) in the musculoskeletal subgroup, 1.53 (95% CI 1.07–2.18) in the other physical subgroup and 1.60 (1.07–2.40) in the mental subgroup. Conclusions The results of this study show that perceived work attitude, self-efficacy and perceived social support are relevant predictors with regard to the time to RTW in all types of health conditions, but that important differences are observed in type of factor and strengths of the relationships between physical and mental health conditions

Novel Inorganic Hydrogels Based on The Polymerization of Cyanometalate Transition Metal Complexes With [PdCl₄]^2-: A New Approach To Ceramic And Alloy Precursors

ABSTRACTThe reaction of a wide variety of cyanometalate complexes of the general form [M(CN)x]n- (where M= a transition metal ion) with square planar [PdCl4]2- in aqueous solution leads to the formation of linear polymers. Polymerization occurs via substitution of chloride ligands on the Pd(II) centers, by the nitrogen end of the cyanide ligand to generate extended bridging cyanide structures. Upon generation at room temperature polymer solutions of this type under go a sol-gel transition to generate robust hydrogels having water content in excess of 95%. In the case of the cyanocobaltate/tetrachloropalladate gel, pyrolysis at 900°C produces ferromagnetic Pd/Co metallic alloys having novel morphological character. Materials formed with a hydrogel having a 2:1 Pd to Co stoichiometry are found to be “sponge-like”. When placed in water, the metallic matrix swells becoming pliable and holding up to seven equivalents of water per metal site. The conductivity and magnetic properties of this material are maintained in the swollen state. Sintering of the Pd/Co hydrogel in air generates the layered oxide, PbCoO2 having a delafossite structure.</jats:p

Xenon produces minimal haemodynamic effects in rabbits with chronically compromised left ventricular function

BACKGROUND: Xenon has only minimal haemodynamic side-effects on normal myocardium and might be a preferable anaesthetic agent for patients with heart failure. We studied the haemodynamic changes caused by 70% xenon in rabbits with chronically compromised left ventricular (LV) function. METHODS: Anaesthetized rabbits were thoracotomized and a major coronary artery was ligated to induce ischaemic heart disease. Nine weeks later, rabbits were again anaesthetized (ketamine/propofol), and haemodynamics were measured during inhalation of 70% xenon using echocardiography [LV end-diastolic dimension (LVedD), fractional shortening (FS), velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (VcF), ejection fraction (EF)] in closed-chest animals. Subsequently, rabbits were thoracotomized and instrumented for measurement of LV pressure (tip manometer), LV dP/dtmax and cardiac output (ultrasonic flow probe). Haemodynamics were recorded again during inhalation of 70% xenon. RESULTS: All rabbits had compromised LV function 9 weeks after coronary artery ligation. Mean LVedD increased from 12.9 (SD 0.9) mm to 17.1 (0.4) mm; EF decreased from 73 (9) to 64 (8)%; FS decreased from 36 (7) to 29 (5)%; VcF decreased from 28.9 (6.8) to 17.6 (4.7) mm s(-1); all P <0.05. Inhalation of 70% xenon had no effect on haemodynamics in closed-chest rabbits, as measured by echocardiography. After invasive instrumentation, small decreases in LV pressure from 78 (20) to 72 (19) mm Hg, LV dP/dtmax from 3081 (592) to 2633 (503) mm Hg s(-1) and cardiac output from 239 (69) to 225 (71) ml min(-1) were observed during xenon inhalation (all P <0.05). CONCLUSION: These data show that xenon has only minimal negative inotropic effects in rabbits with LV dysfunction after coronary artery ligatio