Comparison of velocity-based and traditional 1RM-percent-based prescription on acute kinetic and kinematic variables

Purpose: This study compared kinetic and kinematic data from three different velocity-based training (VBT) sessions and a 1-repetition maximum (1RM) percent-based training (PBT) session using full-depth, free-weight back squats with maximal concentric effort. Methods: Fifteen strength-trained men performed four randomized resistance-training sessions 96-hours apart: PBT session involved five sets of five repetitions using 80%1RM; load-velocity profile (LVP) session contained five sets of five repetitions with a load that could be adjusted to achieve a target velocity established from an individualized LVP equation at 80%1RM; fixed sets 20% velocity loss threshold (FSVL20) session that consisted of five sets at 80%1RM but sets were terminated once the mean velocity (MV) dropped below 20% of the threshold velocity or when five repetitions were completed per set; variable sets 20% velocity loss threshold (VSVL20) session comprised 25-repetitions in total, but participants performed as many repetitions in a set as possible until the 20% velocity loss threshold was exceeded. Results: When averaged across all repetitions, MV and peak velocity (PV) were significantly (p<0.05) faster during the LVP (MV: ES=1.05; PV: ES=1.12) and FSVL20 (MV: ES=0.81; PV: ES=0.98) sessions compared to PBT. Mean time under tension (TUT) and concentric TUT were significantly less during the LVP session compared to PBT. FSVL20 session had significantly less repetitions, total TUT and concentric TUT than PBT. No significant differences were found for all other measurements between any of the sessions. Conclusions: VBT permits faster velocities, avoids additional unnecessary mechanical stress but maintains similar measures of force and power output compared to strength-oriented PBT

Effects of dopamine infusion on forearm blood flow in critical patients.

Piazza O, Zito G, Valente A, Tufano R. Effects of dopamine infusion on forearm blood flow in critical patients. Med Sci Monit. 2006 Feb;12(2):CR90-3. Epub 2006 Jan 26

Post-Accident Analysis of Vapour Cloud Explosions in Fuel Storage Areas

A Vapour cloud explosion which occurred in a large fuel storage area close to the harbour of Naples (Italy) was analysed by different methods. Useful 'experimental data' were obtained by the post-accident damage analysis (minimum overpressure experienced by different items) and by the seismograms recorded at different stations at the time of explosion (explosion duration and intensity). The analysis of the seismic data allowed a first estimate of the amount of vaporized fuel. A more accurate estimate was obtained by modelling the rate of evaporation of the liquid fuel and the vapour cloud dispersion in the surrounding atmosphere. The dispersion calculation furnished the input data for the CFD gas explosion simulator AutoReagas and constituted the basis for a sensitivity analysis of the results to the amount of fuel involved in the explosion. The results obtained with the different methods above were critically discussed and compared to the results obtained with the Multi-Energy method

Hydrological control of soil thickness spatial variability on the initiation of rainfall-induced shallow landslides using a three-dimensional model

Thickness and stratigraphic settings of soils covering slopes potentially control susceptibility to initiation of rainfall-induced shallow landslides due to their local effect on slope hydrological response. Notwithstanding the relevance of the assessment of hazard to shallow landsliding at a distributed scale by approaches based on a coupled modelling of slope hydrological response and slope stability, the spatial variability of soil thickness and stratigraphic settings are factors poorly considered in the literature. Under these premises, this paper advances the well-known case study of rainfall-induced shallow landslides involving ash-fall pyroclastic soils covering the peri-Vesuvian mountains (Campania, southern Italy). In such a unique geomorphological setting, the soil covering is formed by alternating loose ash-fall pyroclastic deposits and paleosols, with high contrasts in hydraulic conductivity and total thickness decreasing as the slope angle increases, thus leading to the establishment of lateral flow and an increase of pore water pressure in localised sectors of the slope where soil horizon thickness is less. In particular, we investigate the effects, on hillslope hydrological regime and slope stability, of irregular bedrock topography, spatial variability of soil thickness and vertical hydraulic heterogeneity of soil horizons, by using a coupled three-dimensional hydrological and a probabilistic infinite slope stability model. The modelling is applied on a sample mountain catchment, located on Sarno Mountains (Campania, southern Italy), and calibrated using physics-based rainfall thresholds derived from the literature. The results obtained under five simulated constant rainfall intensities (2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mm h−1) show an increase of soil pressure head and major failure probability corresponding to stratigraphic and morphological discontinuities, where a soil thickness reduction occurs. The outcomes obtained from modelling match the hypothesis of the formation of lateral throughflow due to the effect of intense rainfall, which leads to the increase of soil water pressure head and water content, up to values of near-saturation, in narrow zones of the slope, such as those of downslope reduction of total soil thickness and pinching out of soil horizons. The approach proposed can be conceived as a further advance in the comprehension of slope hydrological processes at a detailed scale and their effects on slope stability under given rainfall and antecedent soil hydrological conditions, therefore in predicting the most susceptible areas to initiation of rainfall-induced shallow landslides and the related I-D rainfall thresholds. Results obtained demonstrate the occurrence of a slope hydrological response depending on the spatial variability of soil thickness and leading to focus slope instability in specific slope sectors. The approach proposed is conceived to be potentially exportable to other slope environments for which a spatial modelling of soil thickness would be possible

S100B in Guillain-Barre syndrome.

BR J ANAESTH. 2006 JAN;96(1):141-2

Spatial and temporal expression profiling of cell-wall invertase genes during early development in hybrid poplar

Cell-wall invertase genes are spatially and temporally regulated in several plant species, including Daucus carota L., Lycopersicon esculentum L. and Solanum tuberosum L. However, few studies of cell-wall invertase genes of trees have been conducted, despite the importance of trees as a source of lignocellulosic biopolymers.We identified three putative cell-wall invertase genes in hybrid poplar (Populus alba L. × grandidentata Michx.) that showed higher homology to each other than to cell-wall invertases of other dicotyledonous species, with two of the genes (Pa×gINV2 and Pa×gINV3) appearing as a genomic tandem repeat. These genes are more similar to each other than to tandemly repeated cell-wall invertases of other plants, perhaps indicating parallel evolution of a duplication event with cell-wall invertases in dicotyledons. Spatial and temporal expression analyses throughout a complete annual cycle indicated that Pa×gINV1 and Pa×gINV2 are highly regulated in vegetative tissues during three distinct growth phases: early growth, dormancy and post-dormancy. Expression of the third gene (Pa×gINV3) appears to be tightly regulated and may represent a floral-specific cell-wall invertase. Of the two genes expressed in vegetative tissues, Pa×gINV1 appears to be exclusively involved in processes related to dormancy, whereas Pa×gINV2 appears to encode an enzyme involved in phloem unloading and in providing actively growing tissues, such as developing xylem, with the energy and carbon skeletons necessary for respiration and cell wall biosynthesis

Simulating the sound transmission loss of complex curved panels with attached noise control materials using periodic cell wavemodes

International audienceThe sound transmission loss of complex curved aircraft panels under diffuse acoustic field excitation is experimentally and numerically studied. Two different aircraft sidewall panels are considered: a thick composite sandwich panel and a thin aluminium panel with stiffening elements (stringers and frames). Both bare configuration and with attached soundproofing material are tested in laboratory conditions in coupled rooms. The numerical approach relies on a wave finite element method including modal order reduction at cell scale and an extension based on the transfer matrix method, for the inclusion of poroelastic treatments. The results obtained show that the proposed numerical scheme is efficient for predicting the sound transmission loss of such complex structures

Continuous monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturation in elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery minimizes brain exposure to potential hypoxia

to develop cerebral desaturation because of the reduced physiologic reserve that accompanies aging. To evaluate whether monitoring cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) minimizes intraoperative cerebral desaturation, we prospectively monitored rSO2 in 122 elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery with general anesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated to an intervention group (the monitor was visible and rSO2 was maintained at 75% of preinduction values; n 56) or a control group (the monitor was blinded and anesthesia was managed routinely; n 66). Cerebral desaturation (rSO2 reduction 75% of baseline) was observed in 11 patients of the treatment group (20%) and 15 patients of the control group (23%) (P 0.82). Mean (95% confidence intervals) values of mean rSO2 were higher (66% [64%–68%]) and the area under the curve below 75% of baseline (AUCrSO2275% of baseline) was lower (0.4 min% [0.1– 0.8 min%]) in patients of the treatment group than in patients of the control group (61% [59%–63%] and 80 min% [2–144 min%], respectively; P 0.002 and P 0.017). When considering only patients developing intraoperative cerebral desaturation, a lower Mini Mental State Elimination (MMSE) score was observed at the seventh postoperative day in the control group (26 [25–30]) than in the treatment group (28 [26 –30]) (P 0.02), with a significant correlation between the AUCrSO2 75% of baseline and postoperative decrease in MMSE score from preoperative values (r20.25, P0.01). Patients of the control group with intraoperative cerebral desaturation also experienced a longer time to postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge (47 min [13–56 min]) and longer hospital stay (24 days [7–53] days) compared with patients of the treatment group (25 min [15–35 min] and 10 days [7–23 days], respectively; P 0.01 and P 0.007). Using rSO2 monitoring to manage anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery reduces the potential exposure of the brain to hypoxia; this might be associated with decreased effects on cognitive function and shorter PACU and hospital stay

Toll-like receptor kinetics in septic shock patients: a preliminary study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate some inflammatory parameter changes in septic shock patients and their possible correlation with clinical outcome, in particular when continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) treatment is required. Considering the objective difficulty in enrolling this kind of patient, a preliminary study was initiated on seventeen septic shock patients admitted to a medical and surgical ICU. The mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-1, TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-5, TLR-9, TNFalpha, IL-8 and IL-1beta was assessed, the plasmatic concentrations of IL-18, IL-2, IL-10 and TNFalpha were measured on the day of sepsis diagnosis and after 72 h. In those patients who developed acute renal failure unresponsive to medical treatment and who underwent CVVH treatment the same parameters were measured every 24 h during CVVH and after completion of the treatment. On sepsis diagnosis, gene expression of TLRs was up-regulated compared to the housekeeping gene in all the patients. After 72 h, in 35&#x0025; of the patients a down-regulation of these genes was found compared to day 1, but it was not associated with a reduction of cytokine serum levels or improved clinical signs, better outcome or reduced mortality. After high volume hemofiltration treatment, cytokine serum levels and TLR expression were not significantly modified. In conclusion, considering the not numerous number of cases, from our preliminary study, we cannot certainly correlate TLR over-expression in septic shock patients with severity or outcome scores