Quantum Confined High-Entropy Lanthanide Oxysulfide Colloidal Nanocrystals.

We have synthesized the first reported example of quantum confined high-entropy (HE) nanoparticles, using the lanthanide oxysulfide, Ln2SO2, system as the host phase for an equimolar mixture of Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, and Er. A uniform HE phase was achieved via the simultaneous thermolysis of a mixture of lanthanide dithiocarbamate precursors in solution. This was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic mapping confirming the uniform distribution of the lanthanides throughout the particles. The nanoparticle dispersion displayed a significant blue shift in the absorption and photoluminescence spectra relative to our previously reported bulk sample with the same composition, with an absorption edge at 330 nm and a λmax at 410 nm compared to the absorption edge at 500 nm and a λmax at 450 nm in the bulk, which is indicative of quantum confinement. We support this postulate with experimental and theoretical analysis of the bandgap energy as a function of strain and surface effects (ligand binding) as well as calculation of the exciton Bohr radiii of the end member compounds.

Effects of simulation-based cardiopulmonary and respiratory case training experiences on interprofessional teamwork: A systematic review.

Objective: Simulation exercises are meant to provide an opportunity for health care workers to improve teamwork and develop clinical skills, among other goals. The objective of this systematic review was to determine whether simulated interdisciplinary activities in the health care or clinical setting improve interprofessional collaboration within health care teams that include respiratory therapists. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline to find relevant articles using both MeSH terms and free text. Filters were applied to include English-language studies; studies published within the last 10 years (2011-2021), and studies involving human participants. Studies were excluded if they did not assess the effects of simulation on aspects of teamwork, if participants were students, if teams did not include respiratory therapists, or if the training did not involve a simulated experience in a clinical setting. The search identified 312 articles, 75 of which were advanced to full-text review. Of those 75 articles, 62 were eliminated for not measuring teamwork in their outcomes. Two articles were excluded for being published before 2011, and one was eliminated for poor methodological quality. A risk of bias assessment using standardized qualitative and quantitative appraisal checklists was conducted on each of the remaining 10 studies selected for inclusion. Results: A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review (eight prospective, pre/post-test studies and two prospective observational studies). Randomization and participant/researcher blinding were not present in the majority of the studies and reporting bias was also found to be a concern throughout the literature. However, all of the studies noted increased teamwork scores post-intervention, though they differed in the tools used to evaluate this outcome. Discussion: Collectively, the studies included in this review demonstrate that interprofessional simulation experiences including respiratory therapists enhance teamwork. The various tools used to assess change in teamwork had evidence of validity; however, studies varied in their outcomes measured, making quantitative analysis inappropriate. There are challenges involved in creating and assessing these simulations, particularly when performed within a clinical environment, which make it difficult to fully remove bias from the study design. It is unclear if the teamwork improvement can strictly be attributed to the simulation intervention or in part due to the general development of team members' competencies throughout the research period. Additionally, the permanency of the effects cannot be evaluated based on the studies included and could be an area for future research. Conclusion: Despite the limited number and methodological precision of studies included in this review along with the differing outcome evaluation methods, the authors conclude that positive teamwork improvement results are generalizable and agree with the broader base of research of the effectiveness of simulation on teambuilding.

CaMKIIδ is upregulated by pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in a JAK/STAT3-dependent manner to promote angiogenesis.

Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a ubiquitous serine threonine kinase with established roles in physiological and pathophysiological vascular remodeling. Based on our previous study demonstrating that CaMKIIδ promotes thrombin-induced endothelial permeability and recent reports that CaMKII may contribute to inflammatory remodeling in the heart, we investigated CaMKIIδ-dependent regulation of endothelial function downstream of an interleukin-6 (IL-6)/JAK/STAT3 signaling axis. Upon treatment with IL-6 and its soluble receptor (sIL-6r), CaMKIIδ expression is significantly induced in HUVEC. Using pharmacological inhibitors of JAK and siRNA targeting STAT3, we demonstrated that activation of STAT3 is sufficient to induce CaMKIIδ expression. Under these conditions, rather than promoting IL-6-induced permeability, we found that CaMKIIδ promotes endothelial cell migration as measured by live cell imaging of scratch wound closure and single-cell motility analysis. In a similar manner, endothelial cell proliferation was attenuated upon knockdown of CaMKIIδ as determined by growth curves, cell cycle analysis, and capacitance of cell-covered electrodes as measured by ECIS. Using inducible endothelial-specific STAT3 knockout mice, we demonstrate that STAT3 signaling promotes developmental angiogenesis in the neonatal mouse retina assessed at postnatal day 6. CaMKIIδ expression in retinal endothelium was attenuated in these animals as measured by qPCR. STAT3's effects on angiogenesis were phenocopied by the endothelial-specific knockout of CaMKIIδ, with significantly reduced vascular outgrowth and number of junctions in the developing P6 retina. For the first time, we demonstrate that transcriptional regulation of CaMKIIδ by STAT3 promotes endothelial motility, proliferation, and in vivo angiogenesis.

Synthesis of High Entropy Lanthanide Oxysulfides via the Thermolysis of a Molecular Precursor Cocktail.

High entropy (HE) materials have received significant attention in recent years, due to their intrinsically high levels of configurational entropy. While there has been significant work exploring HE alloys and oxides, new families of HE materials are still being revealed. In this work we present the synthesis of a novel family of HE materials based on lanthanide oxysulfides. Here, we implement lanthanide dithiocarbamates as versatile precursors that can be mixed at the molecular scale prior to thermolysis in order to produce the high entropy oxysulfide. The target of our synthesis is the HE Ln2SO2 phase, where Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, Er and where Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy for 5 and 4 lanthanide samples, respectively. We confirmed the structure of samples produced by powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and high-resolution energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Optical spectroscopy shows a broad emission feature centered around 450 nm as well as a peak in absorption at around 280 nm. From this data we calculate the band gap and Urbach energies of the materials produced.

Efficacy of Combined General, Special, and Specific Resistance Training on Pace Bowling Skill in Club-Standard Cricketers.

Feros, SA, Young, WB, and O'Brien, BJ. Efficacy of combined general, special, and specific resistance training on pace bowling skill in club-standard cricketers. J Strength Cond Res 34(9): 2596-2607, 2020-This study investigated the efficacy of combined "general," "special," and "specific" resistance training on pace bowling skill. Twelve male, club-standard pace bowlers were randomly allocated to a combined resistance training (CRT) program or traditional cricket training (TCT) program for 8 weeks. The CRT group (n = 6) trained with 300, 250-g, and standard cricket balls; performed 20-m sprints with +20% and +15% body mass resistance (but also unresisted); and completed chin-up and pull-up training. The TCT group (n = 6) trained with standard balls and performed unresisted 20-m sprints. No statistically significant GROUP × TIME interactions were identified. The CRT group demonstrated a "clear moderate" enhancement in peak ball release speed (mean ±95% confidence limits [CLs]: 1.2 ± 1.5 m·s, d = 0.66 ± 0.83), a "clear large" increase in mean radial error (mean ±95% CLs: 7.1 ± 6.5 cm, d = 0.94 ± 0.87), and a "clear large" rise in bivariate variable error (mean ±95% CLs: 7.2 ± 7.8 cm, d = 0.97 ± 1.05). The TCT group exhibited "unclear" changes across all pace bowling skill measures. Both groups displayed "unclear" changes in approach speed, 20-m sprint time, and 1 repetition maximum pull-up strength. In 8 weeks, the CRT program improved peak ball release speed, but at the cost of poorer bowling accuracy and consistency of bowling accuracy. These findings could be attributed to bowling with the heavier balls. The inclusion of "specific" resistance training does not seem to be effective in enhancing all-round pace bowling skill in club-standard cricketers.

Telomeres, Aging and Exercise: Guilty by Association?

Telomeres are repetitive tandem DNA sequences that cap chromosomal ends protecting genomic DNA from enzymatic degradation. Telomeres progressively shorten with cellular replication and are therefore assumed to correlate with biological and chronological age. An expanding body of evidence suggests (i) a predictable inverse association between telomere length, aging and age-related diseases and (ii) a positive association between physical activity and telomere length. Both hypotheses have garnered tremendous research attention and broad consensus; however, the evidence for each proposition is inconsistent and equivocal at best. Telomere length does not meet the basic criteria for an aging biomarker and at least 50% of key studies fail to find associations with physical activity. In this review, we address the evidence in support and refutation of the putative associations between telomere length, aging and physical activity. We finish with a brief review of plausible mechanisms and potential future research directions.

Epigenetic changes in leukocytes after 8 weeks of resistance exercise training.

PURPOSE: Regular engagement in resistance exercise training elicits many health benefits including improvement to muscular strength, hypertrophy and insulin sensitivity, though the underpinning molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence 8 weeks of resistance exercise training has on leukocyte genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression in healthy young men. METHODS: Eight young (21.1 ± 2.2 years) men completed one repetition maximum (1RM) testing before completing 8 weeks of supervised, thrice-weekly resistance exercise training comprising three sets of 8-12 repetitions with a load equivalent to 80 % of 1RM. Blood samples were collected at rest before and after the 8-week training intervention. Genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression were assessed on isolated leukocyte DNA and RNA using the 450K BeadChip and HumanHT-12 v4 Expression BeadChip (Illumina), respectively. RESULTS: Resistance exercise training significantly improved upper and lower body strength concurrently with diverse genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression changes (p ≤ 0. 01). DNA methylation changes occurred at multiple regions throughout the genome in context with genes and CpG islands, and in genes relating to axon guidance, diabetes and immune pathways. There were multiple genes with increased expression that were enriched for RNA processing and developmental proteins. Growth factor genes-GHRH and FGF1-showed differential methylation and mRNA expression changes after resistance training. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that resistance exercise training improves muscular strength and is associated with reprogramming of the leukocyte DNA methylome and transcriptome.

Aortic augmentation index in endurance athletes: a role for cardiorespiratory fitness.

PURPOSE: Endurance exercise improves cardiovascular health and reduces mortality risk. Augmentation index (AIx) reflects adverse loading exerted on the heart and large arteries and predicts future cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to establish whether endurance athletes possess lower AIx and aortic blood pressure compared to healthy controls, and to determine the association between AIx and cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS: Forty-six endurance athletes and 43 healthy controls underwent central BP and AIx measurements by non-invasive applanation tonometry before a maximal exercise test. Peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) was assessed by pulmonary analysis. RESULTS: Relative to controls, athletes had significantly lower brachial diastolic blood pressure (BP, -4.8 mmHg, p < 0.01), central systolic BP (-3.5 mmHg, p = 0.07), and AIx at a heart rate of 75 beats min(-1) (AIx@75, -11.9 %, p < 0.001). No AIx@75 differences were observed between athletes and controls when adjusted for age and [Formula: see text] [athletes vs controls mean (%) ± SE: -6.9 ± 2.2 vs -5.7 ± 2.3, p = 0.76]. Relative to men with low [Formula: see text], those with moderate and high [Formula: see text] had lower age-adjusted AIx@75 (p < 0.001). In women, those with high [Formula: see text] had lower AIx@75 than those with low and moderate [Formula: see text] (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The lower AIx@75 in endurance athletes is partly mediated by [Formula: see text]. While an inverse relationship between AIx@75 and [Formula: see text] was found in men, women with the highest [Formula: see text] possessed lowest AIx@75 compared to females with moderate or poor cardiorespiratory fitness. We recommend aerobic training aimed at achieving a minimum [Formula: see text] of 45 ml kg(-1) min(-1) to decrease the risk of future cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Vinpocetine modulates metabolic activity and function during retinal ischemia.

Vinpocetine protects against a range of degenerative conditions and insults of the central nervous system via multiple modes of action. Little is known, however, of its effects on metabolism. This may be highly relevant, as vinpocetine is highly protective against ischemia, a process that inhibits normal metabolic function. This study uses the ischemic retina as a model to characterize vinpocetine's effects on metabolism. Vinpocetine reduced the metabolic demand of the retina following ex vivo hypoxia and ischemia to normal levels based on lactate dehydrogenase activity. Vinpocetine delivered similar effects in an in vivo model of retinal ischemia-reperfusion, possibly through increasing glucose availability. Vinpocetine's effects on glucose also appeared to improve glutamate homeostasis in ischemic Müller cells. Other actions of vinpocetine following ischemia-reperfusion, such as reduced cell death and improved retinal function, were possibly a combination of the drug's actions on metabolism and other retinal pathways. Vinpocetine's metabolic effects appeared independent of its other known actions in ischemia, as it recovered retinal function in a separate metabolic model where the glutamate-to-glutamine metabolic pathway was inhibited in Müller cells. The results of this study indicate that vinpocetine mediates ischemic damage partly through altered metabolism and has potential beneficial effects as a treatment for ischemia of neuronal tissues.

Assessment of decision-making performance and in-game physical exertion of Australian football umpires.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of in-game physical exertion on decision-making performance of Australian football umpires. Fifteen Australian football umpires (Mage = 36, s = 13.5 years; Mgames umpired = 235.2, s = 151.3) volunteered to participate in the study. During five competitive Australian football pre-season games, measures of in-game physical exertion (blood lactate levels, global positioning system [GPS]) and decision-making performance (video-based test) were obtained. There were no significant correlations between physical exertion in a particular quarter and decision-making performance in either the same quarter or any other quarter. Video-based decision-making performance was effected by time in game χ(2)(3) = 24.24, P = 0.001, with Quarter 4 performance significantly better than both Quarter 2 and Quarter 3. In-game physical exertion (blood lactate) significantly decreased over the course of the game χ(2)(3) = 11.58, P = 0.009. Results indicate no definable link between in-game physical exertion and decision-making performance. It is, however, presumed that decision-making performance may be affected by the time or context of the game. Future research is warranted to explore the relationship between physical exertion and decision-making performance to potentially inform Australian football umpire training programmes that replicate in-game physical and decision-making demands.

Controversies surrounding quality measurement in colon and rectal surgery.

Quality improvement in health care has become a major topic of discussion among health care providers, patients, insurance companies, and the government. National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP), along with a multitude of other programs, exists in an attempt to create objective data that can be used to compare hospitals and providers against a national average. Studies have shown that despite good patient care and proper surgical technique, patients who undergo procedures such as colectomy have a higher incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) and other morbidities. Therefore, hospitals with a large volume of colon and rectal surgery cases are routinely identified as "high outliers" in these quality improvement programs. Programs, such as NSQIP, may not be the best way to measure quality in specific subspecialties such as colon and rectal surgery.

Oxygen uptake in maximal effort constant rate and interval running.

This study investigated differences in average VO2 of maximal effort interval running to maximal effort constant rate running at lactate threshold matched for time. The average VO2 and distance covered of 10 recreational male runners (VO2max: 4158 ± 390 mL · min(-1)) were compared between a maximal effort constant-rate run at lactate threshold (CRLT), a maximal effort interval run (INT) consisting of 2 min at VO2max speed with 2 minutes at 50% of VO2 repeated 5 times, and a run at the average speed sustained during the interval run (CR submax). Data are presented as mean and 95% confidence intervals. The average VO2 for INT, 3451 (3269-3633) mL · min(-1), 83% VO2max, was not significantly different to CRLT, 3464 (3285-3643) mL · min(-1), 84% VO2max, but both were significantly higher than CR sub-max, 3464 (3285-3643) mL · min(-1), 76% VO2max. The distance covered was significantly greater in CLRT, 4431 (4202-3731) metres, compared to INT and CR sub-max, 4070 (3831-4309) metres. The novel finding was that a 20-minute maximal effort constant rate run uses similar amounts of oxygen as a 20-minute maximal effort interval run despite the greater distance covered in the maximal effort constant-rate run.

Coconut Water: A Sports Drink Alternative?

Coconut water is used as an alternative to conventional sports drinks for hydration during endurance cycling; however, evidence supporting its use is limited. This study determined if drinking coconut water compared to a sports drink altered cycling performance and physiology. In a randomized crossover trial, 19 experienced male (n = 15) and female (n = 4) cyclists (age 30 ± 9 years, body mass 79 ± 11 kg, V̇O2 peak 55 ± 8 mL·kg-1·min-1) completed two experimental trials, consuming either a commercially available sports drink or iso-calorific coconut water during 90 min of sub-maximal cycling at 70% of their peak power output, followed by a simulated, variable gradient, 20 km time trial. Blood glucose, lactate, sweat loss, and heart rate were monitored throughout the 90 min of sub-maximal cycling, as well as the time trial performance (seconds) and average power (watts). A repeated measures analysis of variance and effect sizes (Cohen's d) analysis were applied. There were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) between the treatments for any of the measured physiological or performance variables. Additionally, the effect size analysis showed only trivial (d ≤ 0.2) differences between the treatments for all the measured variables, except blood glucose, which was lower in the coconut water trial compared to the sports drink trial (d = 0.31). Consuming coconut water had a similar effect on the cycling time trial performance and the physiological responses to consuming a commercially available sports drink.

The impact of progressive overload on the proportion and frequency of positive cardio-respiratory fitness responders.

The proportion of individuals whose cardio-respiratory fitness change after endurance training does not exceed the test's measurement error can be 40 %. We determined if progressively increasing treadmill run intensity compared to maintaining the same run intensity, improved the responder proportion to a 6-week 20-minute treadmill training regimen. The intervention response standard deviation method estimated the proportion of responders attributable to progressively increasing run intensity. The mixed-effects model demonstrated V̇O2 peak improved significantly more in the progressive versus constant run intensity group. The proportion of V̇O2 peak responses above the smallest worthwhile change attributable to progressively increasing run intensity was 63.6 %.

Optimizing combat readiness for military surgeons without trauma fellowship training: Engaging the "voluntary faculty" model.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate operative volume remains a critical component in mitigating surgical atrophy and maintaining clinical competency. The initiation of military-civilian surgical partnerships (MCPs) has been proposed for addressing knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) metrics to address concerns over operational readiness and the low acuity experienced by military surgeons. This study investigates the first partnership for Navy surgical staff at a nonacademic Military Treatment Facility (MTF) with a regional academic Army Military Treatment Facility (AMTF) and a civilian, nonacademic level II trauma center devised to improve operational readiness for attending surgeons. We hypothesize that a skill sustainment MCP will allow military surgeons to meet combat readiness standards as measured by the KSA metric. METHODS: A memorandum of understanding was initiated between the Navy Military Treatment Facility (NMTF), the AMTF, and the level II civilian trauma center (CTC). The single military surgeon in this study was classified as "voluntary faculty" at the CTC. Total case volume and acuity were recorded over an 11-month period. Knowledge, skills, and abilities metrics were calculated using the standard national provider identifier number and the novel case-log based method. RESULTS: A total of 156 cases were completed by a single surgeon over the study period, averaging 52 cases per institution. Significantly more KSAs were obtained at the CTC compared with NMTF (5,954 vs. 2,707; p < 0.001). Significantly more emergent cases were observed at the CTC compared with the MTFs (χ 2 = 7.1, n = 96, p < 0.05). At a single site, AMTF, a significant difference in the calculated KSA score, was observed between the national provider identifier and case-log methods (5,278 vs. 3,297; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The skill sustainment MCP between NMTF and CTC increased surgical readiness and exposed surgeons to increased operative acuity. The voluntary faculty model reduces direct litigation exposure and encourages clinical competency for military surgeons while remaining a deployable asset to the global military effort. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Intrinsic physiological properties of rat retinal ganglion cells with a comparative analysis.

Mammalian retina contains 15-20 different retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types, each of which is responsible for encoding different aspects of the visual scene. The encoding is defined by a combination of RGC synaptic inputs, the neurotransmitter systems used, and their intrinsic physiological properties. Each cell's intrinsic properties are defined by its morphology and membrane characteristics, including the complement and localization of the ion channels expressed. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that the intrinsic properties of individual RGC types are conserved among mammalian species. To do so, we measured the intrinsic properties of 16 morphologically defined rat RGC types and compared these data with cat RGC types. Our data demonstrate that in the rat different morphologically defined RGC types have distinct patterns of intrinsic properties. Variation in these properties across cell types was comparable to that found for cat RGC types. When presumed morphological homologs in rat and cat retina were compared directly, some RGC types had very similar properties. The rat A2 cell exhibited patterns of intrinsic properties nearly identical to the cat alpha cell. In contrast, rat D2 cells (ON-OFF directionally selective) had a very different pattern of intrinsic properties than the cat iota cell. Our data suggest that the intrinsic properties of RGCs with similar morphology and suspected visual function may be subject to variation due to the behavioral needs of the species.

Characterization of a verocytotoxin-producing enteroaggregative Escherichia coli serogroup O111:H21 strain associated with a household outbreak in Northern Ireland.

A strain of Escherichia coli O111:H21 recently isolated in the United Kingdom harbored the phage-encoded vtx2c gene and the aggregative adherence plasmid. Although exhibiting the same pathogenic profile as the E. coli O104:H4 strain linked to the outbreak in Germany, there were important differences in strain characteristics and in the epidemiological setting.

Jaw bite force measurement device.

We describe a cost-effective device that uses an off-the-shelf force transducer to measure patient bite force as a diagnostic aid in determining dental implant size, number of implants, and prosthetic design for restoring partial edentulism. The main advantages of the device are its accuracy, simplicity, modularity, ease of manufacturing, and low cost.

Stubborn Exercise Responders-Where to Next?

There is a wide variance in the magnitude of physiological adaptations after resistance or endurance training. The incidence of "non" or "poor" responders to training has been reported to represent as high as 40% of the project's sample. However, the incidence of poor responders to training can be ameliorated with manipulation of either the training frequency, intensity, type and duration. Additionally, global non-response to cardio-respiratory fitness training is eliminated when evaluating several health measures beyond just the target variables as at least one or more measure improves. More research is required to determine if altering resistance training variables results in a more favourable response in individuals with an initial poor response to resistance training. Moreover, we recommend abandoning the term "poor" responders, as ultimately the magnitude of change in cardiorespiratory fitness in response to endurance training is similar in "poor" and "high" responders if the training frequency is subsequently increased. Therefore, we propose "stubborn" responders as a more appropriate term. Future research should focus on developing viable physiological and lifestyle screening tests that identify likely stubborn responders to conventional exercise training guidelines before the individual engages with training. Exerkines, DNA damage, metabolomic responses in blood, saliva and breath, gene sequence, gene expression and epigenetics are candidate biomarkers that warrant investigation into their relationship with trainability. Crucially, viable biomarker screening tests should show good construct validity to distinguish between different exercise loads, and possess excellent sensitivity and reliability. Furthermore "red flag" tests of likely poor responders to training should be practical to assess in clinical settings and be affordable and non-invasive. Early identification of stubborn responders would enable optimization of training programs from the onset of training to maintain exercise motivation and optimize the impact on training adaptations and health.