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

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

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

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

Construction and fine-scale analysis of a high-density, genome-wide linkage map to examine meiotic recombination in the honey bee, Apis mellifera

The western honey bee, A. mellifera , is an important biological model organism in research for ecological and behavioral studies in addition to molecular studies. Honey bees are also imperative in nature for reproduction and diversification of plants via pollination. A unique feature of honey bees is that they have the highest recombination rate of all metazoans. This gives rise to the important question: what causes honey bees to have such a high rate of recombination? The honey bee genome has already been sequenced, but the available linkage maps are not detailed enough to characterize individual recombination events at the genome level. High recombination rates in honey bees may be caused by abundant recombination hotspots found throughout the genome. Resequencing the honey bee genome with next-generation sequencing and using over 900,000 markers genome-wide to identify recombination events showed that recombination rate in honey bees may be underestimated. This study calculated the average recombination rate to be 178.7 cM/Mb as opposed to the second most recent average of 22 cM/Mb. These high recombination rates in this study could be explained by mistakes in the current assembly of the reference genome. Further analyses are necessary to verify proper assembly of the current reference genome, genome-wide recombination events, and recombination rates. Based on the verified data set it will then be possible to confirm whether hotspots are present in honey bees and to correctly correlate recombination hotspots to sequence motifs

Coleman Livingston Blease, South Carolina politician

Coleman Livingston Blease was an active participant in South Carolina politics for over fifty years. From 1906 to 1938 he was a candidate for governor five times and the United States Senate five times. He was elected twice to the former and once to the latter. In office he had few achievements, but his entire career was marked by notoriety. Many charges of corruption were made against him, yet none was ever proven. This study concentrated on Blease's campaign style and oratory as his legacy to South Carolina politics. In his role as demogogue, he specialized in race-baiting and claimed to be the champion of the state's textile workers. Through the years he did little for his constituents other than enunciate and reinforce their prejudices. Blease was certainly one of the most flamboyant Southern demogogues to capitalize on racial prejudice. His career reflected the extent of racial antagonism in South Carolina during the first four decades of the twentieth century