Ventilatory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness and pulmonary function in world-class powerlifters.

Resistance training activates the ventilatory muscles providing a stimulus similar to ventilatory muscle training. We examined the effects of elite powerlifting training upon ventilatory muscle strength, pulmonary function and diaphragm thickness in world-class powerlifters (POWER) and a control group (CON) with no history of endurance or resistance training, matched for age, height and body mass

Differential Requirements of Two recA Mutants for Constitutive SOS Expression in Escherichia coli K-12

Background Repairing DNA damage begins with its detection and is often followed by elicitation of a cellular response. In E. coli, RecA polymerizes on ssDNA produced after DNA damage and induces the SOS Response. The RecA-DNA filament is an allosteric effector of LexA auto-proteolysis. LexA is the repressor of the SOS Response. Not all RecA-DNA filaments, however, lead to an SOS Response. Certain recA mutants express the SOS Response (recAC) in the absence of external DNA damage in log phase cells. Methodology/Principal Findings Genetic analysis of two recAC mutants was used to determine the mechanism of constitutive SOS (SOSC) expression in a population of log phase cells using fluorescence of single cells carrying an SOS reporter system (sulAp-gfp). SOSC expression in recA4142 mutants was dependent on its initial level of transcription, recBCD, recFOR, recX, dinI, xthA and the type of medium in which the cells were grown. SOSC expression in recA730 mutants was affected by none of the mutations or conditions tested above. Conclusions/Significance It is concluded that not all recAC alleles cause SOSC expression by the same mechanism. It is hypothesized that RecA4142 is loaded on to a double-strand end of DNA and that the RecA filament is stabilized by the presence of DinI and destabilized by RecX. RecFOR regulate the activity of RecX to destabilize the RecA filament. RecA730 causes SOSC expression by binding to ssDNA in a mechanism yet to be determined

Sacrificial Oxidants as a Means to Study the Catalytic Activity of Water Oxidation Catalysts

An overview of the different sacrificial oxidants used in literature is reported, paying particular attention to the “sacrificial pair”, a photosystem made of a Ru-dye (Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dichloride, working as “antenna” for visible light) and a final electron acceptor (i.e. the persulfate ion). Such sacrificial oxidant is one of the most common in the literature and it was used in all the experiments described in Chap. 4. Different configurations of batch reactors can be used in the sacrificial-oxidant-driven water oxidation (WO) reaction, and three of them (i.e. the Clark-electrode Cell, the Stripping Flow Reactor and the Bubbling Reactor) are described in detail. The effects of both mass transfer limitations and side reactions on the determination of the two parameters describing the activity of water oxidation catalysts (i.e. the O2 production rate and the total evolved O2) are discussed, evidencing how such undesired phenomena occur to a different extent with the three reactor configurations

Abdominal binder use in people with spinal cord injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Experienced anaesthetists can be confronted with difficult or failed tracheal intubations. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain if the literature indicated if videolaryngoscopy conferred an advantage when used by experienced anaesthetists managing patients with a known difficult airway. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials up to 1 January 2017. Outcome parameters extracted from studies were: first-attempt success of tracheal intubation; time to successful intubation; number of intubation attempts; Cormack and Lehane grade; use of airway adjuncts (e.g. stylet, gum elastic bougie); and complications (e.g. mucosal and dental trauma). Nine studies, including 1329 patients, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. First-attempt success was greater for all videolaryngoscopes (OR 0.34 (95%CI 0.18-0.66); p = 0.001). Use of videolaryngoscopy was associated with a significantly better view of the glottis (Cormack and Lehane grades 1 and 2 vs. 3-4, OR 0.04 (95%CI 0.01-0.15); p < 0.00001). Mucosal trauma occurred less with the use of videolaryngoscopy (OR 0.16 (95%CI 0.04-0.75); p = 0.02). Videolaryngoscopy has added value for the experienced anaesthetist, improving first-time success, the view of the glottis and reducing mucosal trauma

Policy capacity for policy integration:Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals

LKYSPP Working Paper