Repeat exercise normalizes the gas-exchange impairment induced by a previous exercise bout in asthmatic subjects

Twenty-one subjects with asthma underwent treadmill exercise to exhaustion at a workload that elicited approximately 90% of each subject's maximal O2 uptake (EX1). After EX1, 12 subjects experienced significant exercise-induced bronchospasm [(EIB+), %decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1.0 s = -24.0 +/- 11.5%; pulmonary resistance at rest vs. postexercise = 3.2 +/- 1.5 vs. 8.1 +/- 4.5 cmH2O.l(-1).s(-1)] and nine did not (EIB-). The alveolar-to-arterial Po2 difference (A-aDo2) was widened from rest (9.1 +/- 6.7 Torr) to 23.1 +/- 10.4 and 18.1 +/- 9.1 Torr at 35 min after EX1 in subjects with and without EIB, respectively (P < 0.05). Arterial Po2 (PaO2) was reduced in both groups during recovery (EIB+, -16.0 +/- -13.0 Torr vs. baseline; EIB-, -11.0 +/- 9.4 Torr vs. baseline, P < or = 0.05). Forty minutes after EX1, a second exercise bout was completed at maximal O2 uptake. During the second exercise bout, pulmonary resistance decreased to baseline levels in the EIB+ group and the A-aDo2 and PaO2 returned to match the values seen during EX1 in both groups. Sputum histamine (34.6 +/- 25.9 vs. 61.2 +/- 42.0 ng/ml, pre- vs. postexercise) and urinary 9alpha,11beta-prostaglandin F2 (74.5 +/- 38.6 vs. 164.6 +/- 84.2 ng/mmol creatinine, pre- vs. postexercise) were increased after exercise only in the EIB+ group (P < 0.05), and postexercise sputum histamine was significantly correlated with the exercise PaO2 and A-aDo2 in the EIB+ subjects. Thus exercise causes gas-exchange impairment during the postexercise period in asthmatic subjects independent of decreases in forced expiratory flow rates after the exercise; however, a subsequent exercise bout normalizes this impairment secondary in part to a fast acting, robust exercise-induced bronchodilatory response

21st century innovation: What is the name of the new game?

This is the author accepted manuscrip. The final version is available from ISPIM via the link in this recordThe Circular Economy is a relatively immature research landscape, particularly when considered from an Innovation perspective. However it is gaining momentum and according to critics offers a solution to many of the issues currently being experienced around the world, in terms of resource shortages and the energy, food, water nexus. This study attempts to explore examples of products and services, collected by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to begin to understand which size of companies are developing them, what types of innovations they represent and how they might diffuse to scale. The contribution of this paper is to introduce, define and raise awareness of circular innovations whilst beginning to articulate how analysis of CE products and service might be undertaken by further studies, with the aim of informing companies and policy-makers accordingly

Optic neuritis

Acute optic neuritis is the most common optic neuropathy affecting young adults. Exciting developments have occurred over the past decade in understanding of optic neuritis pathophysiology, and these developments have been translated into treatment trials. In its typical form, optic neuritis presents as an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the optic nerve, which can be associated with multiple sclerosis. Atypical forms of optic neuritis can occur, either in association with other inflammatory disorders or in isolation. Differential diagnosis includes various optic nerve and retinal disorders. Diagnostic investigations include MRI, visual evoked potentials, and CSF examination. Optical coherence tomography can show retinal axonal loss, which correlates with measures of persistent visual dysfunction. Treatment of typical forms with high-dose corticosteroids shortens the period of acute visual dysfunction but does not affect the final visual outcome. Atypical forms can necessitate prolonged immunosuppressive regimens. Optical coherence tomography and visual evoked potential measures are suitable for detection of neuroaxonal loss and myelin repair after optic neuritis. Clinical trials are underway to identify potential neuroprotective or remyelinating treatments for acutely symptomatic inflammatory demyelinating CNS lesions

Something for Everyone

Some 150 years ago, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned New York's Central Park as a green oasis where people of all walks of life, regardless of community standing or socioeconomic status, could escape the bustle of the city. Today, recreation professionals are tasked with a common goal: Provide active pursuits to all users, regardless of ability level

Winds of change

Winds of Change attempts to build upon the recent tradition of monophonic compositional practice by combining techniques directed at setting a central musical line to maintain interest and create textural clarity. These techniques are primarily inspired by the works of George Crumb and Tan Dun. Winds of Change also includes found and built percussion instruments, which are employed to create a unique timbral sound environment. The combination of these two elements is intended to create a monophonic work that is both expressively clear and unique. Chapter I concerns the basic purpose of the thesis and accompanying document. Chapter II focuses on specific techniques and compositional processes used in Winds of Change

Implementing biophilic attributes in elementary schools

Students spend the majority of their day indoors (Kats, 2012). The school environment becomes an crucial location for children to experience contact with nature where it may otherwise be limited. The framework for this study included the Attention Restoration Theory, Stress Reduction Theory, and Biophilic Design. This study investigated the effects of biophilic attributes of water, plants, animals, natural materials, color, light, and air in elementary school classrooms with fourth and fifth-grade students. The quasi-experimental study included a pre-test, followed by the implementation of biophilic attributes in the two classrooms a week later, and a post-test five weeks after the implemented biophilic attributes remained in the classrooms. The expectation was that the presence of the biophilic attributes in the day to day environment of these classrooms would improve students’ awareness of nature. Findings showed that the implemented biophilic attributes did alter the awareness of nature in one of the classrooms, while the other classroom was not influenced after the post-test. This research begins to contribute to our understanding of the student awareness of biophilic attributes in elementary schools. There is a total of 1,845 public elementary schools consisting of grades PK-8, in the state of North Carolina. The research could be beneficial in understanding what attributes can be expanded in the classroom environment to benefit the students. It could also become beneficial in improving the designs of new and existing schools, as it could be a low-cost implementation. The goal of this study was to assess the awareness of biophilic design attributes in elementary school classrooms

a A convergent and modular synthesis of dienyl and diynyl isobutylamide natural products from echinacea and spilanthes herbal medicines

""Echinacea" and "Spilanthes" are popular over-the-counter herbal supplements derived from raw tissue or tissue extracts from plants such as Echinacea purpurea and Spilanthes acmella, respectively. Several chemical constituents have been identified as possible candidates for these plants' supposed medicinal activities, and include the "alkylamides," of which dienyl and diynyl analogs are prominent members. Isolation of these compounds from the plants is often difficult and results in poor yields. The goal of our research was to develop an encompassing synthesis scheme for dienyl and diynyl alkylamides (Figure 1) addressing consistent functional groups, using a Wittig reaction, a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and a Sonogashira reaction. The total syntheses for these compounds are not novel, but have been known to be rather lengthy procedures. We are pleased to offer a novel synthesis that can synthesize a derivative of Spilanthol which involves only three reactions and well developed method for the diynyl structures using the Sonogashira coupling reaction."--Abstract from author supplied metadata

The geography of technopoles : computer and electronic product manufacturing by MSA, 2005

"The purpose of this thesis was to examine and better explain the spatial distribution of computer and electronic product manufacturing employment by MSA. It will be argued that the geography of computer and electronic product manufacturing is strongly linked to specific socio-economic variables and particularly Richard Florida's Creative Index score by MSA. The analysis was based on a series of non-parametric Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficients, which were used to determine if statistically significant relationships existed between the dependent and independent variables. In general, the geographical dispersion of computer and electronic product manufacturing employment has statistically significant relationships with educational attainment, median value of homes, and the percent of a population born outside the United States. However Richard Florida's Creative Index generated the highest correlation coefficient score, when compared to the percentage of the labor force employed in computer and electronic product manufacturing by MSA."--Abstract from author supplied metadata