Exercise training during energy restriction in clinically severe obesity

 In women with clinically severe obesity, 250 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic and resistance exercise training combined with energy restriction facilitated fat mass loss and protected against lean mass loss. Additionally, exercise training resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in fitness, physical function, and markers of cardiometabolic disease

The Invalidity of a Plea of Guilty to a Criminal Offense Made by Video Teleconferencing When the Defendant Is Not Present in Open Court

A guilty plea by a defendant is more than an admission of conduct; it is the nail in the coffin that closes the case and results in conviction. Despite the critical importance of this moment, Arkansas district and circuit courts are more commonly taking guilty pleas from defendants by video teleconferencing (VTC) instead of requiring defendants to be physically present in the courtroom. This essay sets forth three separate arguments in support of the notion that a guilty plea to a criminal offense by VTC without the defendant being present in open court is invalid as a matter of Arkansas law and unconstitutional as a matter of due process. Specifically, pleading guilty by VTC is improper under Arkansas law because there are no statutes or court rules explicitly permitting a defendant to plead guilty to a criminal offense by VTC. Moreover, Arkansas statute and court rules require a defendant\u27s presence in open court in order to plead guilty to a felony offense. Finally, regarding due process considerations, a defendant\u27s actual presence in the courtroom is necessary because of the critical nature of the guilty plea. In particular, the limitations inherent in VTC communication render it a poor substitute for face-to-face communication between the defendant and judge because VTC cannot completely transmit nonverbal communication. In conclusion, the authors assert that any changes in the procedure for taking guilty pleas should be taken out of the hands of county sheriffs and bailiffs, and put into the hands of the Arkansas Supreme Court in its rule-making capacity

Multi-Omics Approaches to Study Long Non-coding RNA Function in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disease of the vessel wall involving the interplay of multiple cell types including vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages. Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the advancement of next generation sequencing technologies have rapidly expanded the number of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts predicted to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this review, we highlight several lncRNAs whose functional role in atherosclerosis is well-documented through traditional biochemical approaches as well as those identified through RNA-sequencing and other high-throughput assays. We describe novel genomics approaches to study both evolutionarily conserved and divergent lncRNA functions and interactions with DNA, RNA, and proteins. We also highlight assays to resolve the complex spatial and temporal regulation of lncRNAs. Finally, we summarize the latest suite of computational tools designed to improve genomic and functional annotation of these transcripts in the human genome. Deep characterization of lncRNAs is fundamental to unravel coronary atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, as these regulatory molecules represent a new class of potential therapeutic targets and/or diagnostic markers to mitigate both genetic and environmental risk factors

Adhesion and the Surface Energy Components of Natural Minerals and Aggregates

A range of geochemical reactions are controlled by the interfacial characteristics of rocks and minerals. Many engineered and natural systems are affected by geochemical reactions that occur at interfaces. Asphalt-aggregate adhesion in road construction is influenced by the interfacial characteristics of the aggregate. Likewise, the remediation of nonaqueous-phase liquid contaminants, such as trichloroethylene or methyl tert-butyl ether, is controlled by the interactions between mineral surfaces and the organic liquid. Many natural systems are also influenced by reactions at interfaces. The migration of petroleum in sedimentary basins is influenced by the wettability of the surfaces of the basin pore space. Adhesion of organisms, such as bacteria or lichens, to rock surfaces is controlled by the interactions of proteins and mineral surfaces. Rock and mineral surfaces are described by surface energy. Surface energy is a thermodynamic construct defined as the amount of work required to form more of a surface. Surface energy can be divided into van der Waals, Lewis acid, and Lewis base components. The ability to predict the magnitude of surface energy components is valuable in understanding species behavior. Surface energy is controlled by three master variables: surface chemistry, surface morphology, and surface coatings. While the surface energy of a number of minerals and aggregates has been characterized, there has not yet been a comprehensive study of the surface energies of a variety of the most common minerals and aggregates using consistent methodology. In addition there has not yet been a study of the effect of these three master variables on surface energies of natural minerals and rocks. This study measured the surface energy of 22 common minerals and 7 aggregates. The samples’ bulk and surface chemistries were characterized with wavelength and energy dispersive spectra analyses on an electron microprobe and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The XPS was also used to quantify the organic and inorganic coatings on the surfaces. Results showed that van der Waals surface energy is typically between 40 and 60 ergs/cm2. Polar surface energy varies by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude, and thus is likely the most important component in accounting for changes between natural minerals

Multicenter study of lumbar discectomy with Barricaid annular closure device for prevention of lumbar disc reherniation in US patients: A historically controlled post-market study protocol

BACKGROUND: Patients with large defects in the annulus fibrosus following lumbar discectomy have high rates of symptomatic reherniation. The Barricaid annular closure device provides durable occlusion of the annular defect and has been shown to significantly lower the risk of symptomatic reherniation in a large European randomized trial. However, the performance of the Barricaid device in a United States (US) population has not been previously reported. DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a historically controlled post-market multicenter study to determine the safety and efficacy of the Barricaid device when used in addition to primary lumbar discectomy in a US population. A total of 75 patients with large annular defects will receive the Barricaid device following lumbar discectomy at up to 25 sites in the US and will return for clinical and imaging follow-up at 4 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year. Trial oversight will be provided by a data safety monitoring board and imaging studies will be read by an independent imaging core laboratory. Patients treated with the Barricaid device in a previous European randomized trial with comparable eligibility criteria, surgical procedures, and outcome measures will serve as historical controls. Main outcomes will include back pain severity, leg pain severity, Oswestry Disability Index, health utility on the EuroQol-5 Dimension questionnaire, complications, symptomatic reherniation, and reoperation. Propensity score adjustment using inverse probability of treatment weighting will be used to adjust for differences in baseline patient characteristics between the US trial participants and European historical controls. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by a central institutional review board. The study results of this trial will be widely disseminated at conference proceedings and published in peer-reviewed journals. The outcomes of this study will have important clinical and economic implications for all stakeholders involved in treating patients with lumbar discectomy in the US. STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov): NCT03986580. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

Evaluating the typical day-to-day variability of WHOOP-derived heart rate variability in Olympic water polo athletes

Heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) can be used to infer readiness to perform exercise in athletic populations. Advancements in the photoplethysmography technology of wearable devices such as WHOOP allow for the frequent and convenient measurement of HR and HRV, and therefore enhanced application in athletes. However, it is important that the reliability of such technology is acceptable prior to its application in practical settings. Eleven elite male water polo players (age 28.8 ± 5.3 years [mean ± standard deviation]; height 190.3 ± 3.8 cm; body mass 95.0 ± 6.9 kg; international matches 117.9 ± 92.1) collected their HR and HRV daily via a WHOOP strap (WHOOP 3.0, CB Rank, Boston, MA, USA) over 16 weeks ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. The WHOOP strap quantified HR and HRV via wrist-based photoplethysmography during overnight sleep periods. The weekly (i.e., 7-day) coefficient of variation in lnRMSSD (lnRMSSDCV) and HR (HRCV) was calculated as a measure of day-to-day variability in lnRMSSD and HR, and presented as a mean of the entire recording period. The mean weekly lnRMSSDCV and HRCV over the 16-week period was 5.4 ± 0.7% (mean ± 95% confidence intervals) and 7.6 ± 1.3%, respectively. The day-to-day variability in WHOOP-derived lnRMSSD and HR is within or below the range of day-to-day variability in alternative lnRMSSD (~3–13%) and HR (~10–11%) assessment protocols, indicating that the assessment of HR and HRV by WHOOP does not introduce any more variability than that which is naturally present in these variables

Effect of diet versus diet and exercise on weight loss and body composition in class II and III obesity: A systematic review

Class II and III obesity (BMI >35 kg·m2) have increased dramatically in recent years. Current clinical guidelines suggest diet and exercise as first line treatment for adults throughout the spectrum of overweight and obesity. However, to date there is no systematic review that examines the effects of diet and exercise on this high risk population. This systematic review will examine the combined effects of diet versus diet and exercise on body composition in severe obesity. Medline and Cinahl were searched for randomised controlled trials comparing diet and exercise to diet alone. Studies published until July 2013 were included if they used reliable methods for analysing body composition in adults with BMI ≥ 35 kg·m2. Five of 459 studies met the inclusion criteria. Two studies, both in older adults, reported that exercise reduced lean mass loss during weight loss. Two studies showed that exercise facilitated (greater) fat mass loss. The remaining study reported no differences in body composition when exercise is added to energy restriction. Exercise training during energy restriction for individuals with BMI ≥35 kg.m2 may influence body composition outcomes but the evidence is limited. Further studies should focus on the efficacy of different exercise protocols during energy restriction for this population in order to better inform decision making for the treatment of severe obesity in respect to favourable body composition outcomes

Micro-Optical Initiation of Nanoenergetic Materials Using a Temporally Tailored Variable-Pulse-Width Laser

Nanoenergetic materials can provide a significant enhancement in the rate of energy release as compared with microscale materials. The energy-release rate is strongly dependent not only on the primary particle size but also on the level of agglomeration, which is of particular interest for the inclusion of nanoenergetics in practical systems where agglomeration is desired or difficult to avoid. Unlike studies of nanoparticles or nanometer-size aggregates, which can be conducted with ultrafast or nanosecond lasers assuming uniform heating, microscale aggregates of nanoparticles are more sensitive to the thermophysical time scale of the heating process. To allow control over the rate of energy deposition during laser initiation studies, a custom, temporally tailored, continuously variable-pulse-width (VPW) laser was employed for radiative heating of nanoenergetic materials. The laser consisted of a continuous-wave master oscillator, which could be sliced into desired pulses, and a chain of amplifiers to reach high peak power. The slicer allowed control over the time profile of the pulses via the combination of an arbitrary waveform generator and acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The effects of utilizing flat-top or ramped laser pulses with durations from 100 ns to 150 ls and energies up to 20 mJ at 1064 nm were investigated, along with a broad range of heating rates for single particles or nanoparticle aggregates up to 100-lm diameter. In combination with an optical microscope, laser heating of aggregates consisting of 70-nm diameter Al nanoparticles in a Teflon matrix showed significant dependence on the heating profile due to the sensitivity of nanoenergetic materials to heating rate. The ability to control the temporal pulse-intensity profile leads to greater control over the effects of ablative heating and the resulting shockwave propagation. Hence, flexible laser-pulse profiles allow the investigation of energetic properties for a wide size range of metal/metal-oxide nanoparticles, aggregates, and composites