Higher PAL Research Articles

Constant-Load Exercise Versus High-Intensity Interval Training on Aerobic Fitness in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on dyspnea and aerobic fitness in adults with asthma are poorly understood. To compare constant-load exercise (CLE) versus HIIT for improvements in dyspnea symptoms and clinical control in adults with moderate-to-severe asthma. Participants were randomized into 2 groups: CLE (n= 27; started with 70% of maximal watts [Wmax] obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing [CPET]) and HIIT (n= 28; started with 80% and increased until 140% Wmax). Exercise training lasted 12 weeks (twice/week, 40 minutes/session on a cycle ergometer), and the intensity was based on CPET. Clinical asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire), aerobic fitness (the peak of oxygen uptake), health-related quality of life (Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire), physical activity levels (PAL; accelerometer), symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire), and dyspnea were evaluated before and after the intervention. Systemic and airway inflammation were also assessed. Two-way analysis of variance and χ2 tests were used for comparisons. Sixteen participants dropped out during the interventions and returned for the final evaluations. The CLE and HIIT groups showed similar improvements in aerobic fitness. The HIIT group had lower dyspnea and fatigue perception scores and higher PAL than the CLE group (P < .05) and clinical improvements in the psychosocial distress. In addition, only the HIIT group achieved a minimal clinically important difference in asthma symptoms. There was no change in the systemic and airway inflammation (P > .05). Both interventions promoted similar improvements in aerobic fitness; however, HIIT induced a greater reduction in dyspnea and fatigue perception. Similar responses were observed for other variables.

Utilization of Palliative Care Among Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: An Extensive National Analysis to Define Trends and Patterns

Background: There is growing recognition of palliative care (PAL) as an integral aspect of cancer treatment. Several guidelines recommend universal access and early utilization of PAL as a goal for patient care but no data exists defining current trends and practice patterns for PAL use, especially in hematologic malignancies.Methods: The 2016 National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma (MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Hodgkin disease (HD) diagnosed between 2004-2013. Deceased patients who received PAL as part of initial therapy for these diagnoses were stratified by survival duration (<6, 6-24, 24-60 and 60+ months). These strata were then utilized to determine associations between PAL usage and socio-demographic, disease and facility characteristics using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 293518 patients were present in NCDB for the identified diagnoses (AML: 55827, CLL: 20634, HD: 9871, NHL: 147614, MM: 59572). Of these 15352 (5.2%) received PAL as part of initial therapy. Compared to patients diagnosed in 2004-2005, patients diagnosed in 2012-2013 had significantly higher odds of PAL use in those surviving <6 months (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17, 1.39), while not for those with longer survival. Type of PAL used included surgery/radiation/chemotherapy (S/R/C) in 68%, pain management only in 14.5%, both S/R/C/ and pain management in 5% and unknown modality in 12.5%. There was a significant decrease in overall PAL use as duration of patient survival increased, from 7.2% in <6 month to 2.9% in 60+ month group (p<.001). Among the selected diagnoses, PAL use was highest for MM patients for all survival groups (OR 2.65-59.56, ref=AML) and lowest for CLL (OR 0.51-2.94, ref=AML). PAL use increased significantly for the <6 month and 6-24 month survival groups with increasing age (p<.001) but not for those with longer follow up. There was no difference in PAL use by gender for any survival group. PAL utilization increased significantly for patients with higher Charlson-comorbidity index but only for those with <6 month survival (p<.001), not for those with longer survival. PAL use was significantly different by race-ethnicity in those who survived <6 month with lesser use in non-Hispanic Blacks (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82, 0.98) than non-Hispanic Whites while not different in those with longer survival. Within a racial-ethnic group, Hispanics had an increased utilization of PAL for those with improving survival (60+ month group OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.09, 2.63). There was no difference in PAL use by urban/rural location of patient residence or distance from the treating facility for any survival duration group. The only influence of geographic region was that for patients with <6 month survival, PAL utilization was higher in Mountain (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.27, 1.64) and Pacific (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09, 1.32) regions (ref=East Coast). Socioeconomic factors affecting PAL use included insurance status but only for those surviving 6-24 months where patients with “other government” payer were most likely to get PAL (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.32, 2.5, ref=private insurance). There was a significant interaction of median patient income and PAL use across survival groups (p=0.011) but no clear trend within any specific subgroup by income or survival category. Higher PAL use was noted with increasing literacy level (p<.001) only in those with <6 month survival and not for any other survival group. Compared to non-academic cancer programs, academic/research programs were less likely to utilize PAL in those surviving 24-60 months (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76, 0.94) and 60+ months (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61, 0.89), while there was no significant difference in those surviving <6 months (OR 1.06, 95 % CI 1, 1.12) or 6-24 months (OR 1, 95% CI 0.92, 1.08).Conclusions: We present the largest analysis so far of utilization of PAL in patients with hematologic malignancies. Despite national guidelines and near universal recommendations, overall utilization of PAL was dismal and lesser so in academic cancer programs including NCI-designated centers. There was no clear subgroup showing uniform utilization, suggesting sporadic use at best. We noted significant heterogeneity in practice patterns by all characteristics studied underscoring the need for standardized implementation with public, healthcare provider, institutional and political will. DisclosuresAilawadhi:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Sher:LAM Therapeutics, Inc: Research Funding.

Selective-Area Growth of AlInAs Nanowires

High performance transistors are required for the beyond CMOS in terms of low drive voltage, high drain current, high ION/IOFF ratio, and scalability. A superlattice (SL) resonance tunneling field-effect transistor (RTFET) achieves a steep subthreshold slope (SS < 60 mV/decade) while enhancing drain currents with high ION/IOFF ratio as compared with conventional TFETs [1]. However, the difficulty remains in forming high quality SL with various lattice mismatched system. NW structures enable us to maintain lattice strain and increase the critical thickness as compared with planar structures [2]. Thus, NWs can avoid formation of the misfit dislocations in highly lattice mismatched systems. In addition, vertical NWs are suitable for the vertical gate-all-around FETs (VGAA-FETs), which have superior scalability as compared with lateral FETs [3]. The lattice mismatched InGaAs/AlInAs SL is promising candidate for the RTFET [1]. There are, however, no insights regarding nanometer-scaled selective-area growth of AlInAs. Here, we characterized the selective-area growth of AlInAs NWs for the InGaAs/AlInAs NW RTFETs.AlxIn1-xAs NWs were grown by selective-area MOVPE. First, 20-nm-thick SiO2 film was formed on InP(111)B substrates by RF sputtering. Mask openings with various opening diameter (Dop: 50 - 160 nm) and pitch (Pop: 350 - 1000 nm) were formed using the electron beam lithography, dry and wet chemical etching. Next, AlxIn1-xAs was grown in a horizontal MOVPE systems with working pressure of 0.1 atm. Trimethylindium (TMIn), trimethylaluminum (TMAl), arsine (AsH3), and tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP) were used as source precursors. The growth temperature (TG) were varied from 550°C to 650°C. Al composition PAl (PAl = [TMAl] / [TMIn]+[TMAl]) in the vapor phase was changed from 0 to 30%. The partial pressure V/III ratio and growth time (t) were constant (V/III: 411, t: 12 min).Figure 1 shows results of selective-area growth of AlInAs with various PAl. Figure 2 exhibits the TG dependence of the AlInAs growths at PAl = 30%. Pop was 350 nm. Figure 3 shows average height of the NWs with the variation of the NW diameter with respect to PAl [Fig.3(a)] and TG [Fig. 3(b)]. As shown in Fig.1, the NWs had hexagonal pillars surrounded with the {-110} vertical facets and the (111)B plane. The lateral over growth along the <-110> directions were enhanced with increasing the PAl, while vertical NW growth along the <111>B direction was suppressed. The volume of the NWs was also decreased as shown in Fig. 3 (a), meaning that Al atoms disturbed surface diffusion of In atoms on NW sidewalls and SiO2 mask. Since the In atoms rarely reach on the top of the (111)B plane of the NWs under high PAl, the volume of the NWs was decreased. Figure 2 indicated that some AlInAs abnormal deposition occurred on the SiO2 mask at TG = 620°C. In Fig. 3 (b), the volume of the NWs was decreased with increasing TG, and eventually {-110} vertical flat facets disappeared at TG = 650°C, as shown in Fig. 2. This was because that the desorption process of group-III atoms was dominant at high TG. Thus, the optimum TG window to suppress the lateral over growth was thought to be in between 620°C and 650°C at the PAl. After the growth, NWs were etched to characterize Dop and the lateral over growth rate. We determined the diameter difference between the average DNW and Dop as Δdiameter. Figure. 4 shows the Δdiameter as a function of PAl or TG (Pop = 350 nm). In Fig. 4(a), the Δdiameter was gradually increased with PAl,,and, especially, was rapidly enhanced at PAl = 30%, while the NW volume was decreased. This indicated that the Al atoms enhanced the absorption of In atoms on the {-110} sidewalls under higher PAl. In Fig. 4(b) at PAl = 30%, the lateral over growth rate was decreased with increasing TG. Simultaneously, the volume of the grown AlInAs was rapidly decreased. Similar properties were observed in case of PAl = 20%. This indicated that the desorption process became dominant at higher TG. Further characterization of the growth mechanism for the selective-area growth of AlInAs will be presented.

Year-round effects of a four-week randomized controlled trial using different types of feedback on employees\u2019 physical activity

BackgroundThis follow-up study investigated the year-round effects of a four-week randomized controlled trial using different types of feedback on employees’ physical activity, including a need-supportive coach intervention.MethodsParticipants (n = 227) were randomly assigned to a Minimal Intervention Group (MIG; no feedback), a Pedometer Group (PG; feedback on daily steps only), a Display Group (DG; feedback on daily steps, on daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] and on total energy expenditure [EE]), or a Coaching Group (CoachG; same as DG with need supportive coaching). Daily physical activity level (PAL; Metabolic Equivalent of Task [MET]), number of daily steps, daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), active daily EE (EE > 3 METs) and total daily EE were measured at five time points: before the start of the 4-week intervention, one week after the intervention, and 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention.ResultsFor minutes of MVPA, MIG showed higher mean change scores compared with the DG. For steps and daily minutes of MVPA, significantly lower mean change scores emerged for MIG compared with the PG. Participants of the CoachG showed significantly higher change scores in PAL, steps, minutes of MVPA, active EE, total EE compared with the MIG. As hypothesized, participants of the CoachG had significantly higher mean change scores in PAL and total EE compared with groups that only received feedback. However, no significant differences were found for steps, minutes of MVPA and active EE between CoachG and PG.ConclusionsReceiving additional need-supportive coaching resulted in a higher PAL and active EE compared with measurement (display) feedback only. These findings suggest to combine feedback on physical activity with personal coaching in order to facilitate long-term behavioral change. When it comes to increasing steps, minutes of MVPA or active EE, a pedometer constitutes a sufficient tool.Trial registrationClinical Trails.gov NCT01432327. Date registered: 12 September 2011.

Low Energy Turnover of Physically Inactive Participants as a Determinant of Insufficient Mineral and Vitamin Intake in NHANES.

Micronutrient requirements do not scale linearly with physical activity-related energy expenditure (AEE). Inactive persons may have insufficient micronutrient intake because of low energy intake (EI). We extracted data from NHANES 2003–2006 on 4015 adults (53 ± 18 years (mean ± SD), 29 ± 6 kg/m2, 48% women) with valid physical activity (accelerometry) and food intake (2 × 24 h-dietary recall) measures. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was estimated by summing the basal metabolic rate (BMR, Harris-Benedict), AEE, and 10% of TEE for the thermic effect of food, to calculate the physical activity levels (PAL = TEE/BMR). Energy intake (EI) was scaled to match TEE assuming energy balance. Adjusted food intake was then analyzed for energy and micronutrient content and compared to estimated average requirements. The NHANES population was physically insufficiently active. There were 2440 inactive (PAL < 1.4), 1469 lightly to moderately active (PAL1.4 < 1.7), 94 sufficiently active (PAL1.7 < 2.0), and 12 very active participants (PAL ≥ 2.0). The inactive vs. active had significantly lower intake for all micronutrients apart from vitamin A, B12, C, K, and copper (p < 0.05). The inactive participants had insufficient intake for 6/19 micronutrients, while the active participants had insufficient intake for 5/19 (p < 0.05) micronutrients. Multiple linear regression indicated a lower risk for insufficient micronutrient intake for participants with higher PAL and BMI (p < 0.001). Symmetrical up-scaling of PAL and EI to recommended physical activity levels reduced the frequency of micronutrient insufficiencies. It follows that prevalence of insufficient micronutrient intake from food in NHANES might be partly determined by low energy turnover from insufficient PAL.

Antifungal Activities of Crude Extractum from Camellia semiserrata Chi (Nanshancha) Seed Cake Against Colletotrichum musae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Penicillium italicum in vitro and in vivo Fruit Test.

Antifungal activities of crude extractum of Nanshancha Seed Cake (NSC), to inactivate postharvest pathogens were investigated. Highest inhibitory rate was found against C. musae, C. gloeosporioides and C. papaya P.Henn, which was much stronger than that by tea saponin. Compared to tea saponin, effects of NSC extractum was relatively weak and similar on C. gloeosporioides Penzig and P. italicum. In an in vivo study, best controlling effects by NSC extractum was found with banana anthracnose disease development, which showed no inhibitory effects by tea saponin. NSC extractum controlled in vitro C. musae growth through directly inhibiting germination rate and germ tube elongation, and causing distortation, rupture and indentation of C. musae mycelium. In banana fruit subject to C. musae inoculation, higher PAL, POD, GLU and CHT activity was observed in banana fruit treated with crude NSC extractum than that of water control fruits. Current study proved the best controlling effects of crude NSC extractum in C. musae in vitro and in vivo development, which through direct inhibition of C. musae growth and increasing defense system of the banana fruit.

Is Nutrient Adequacy Linked to Physical Activity Level in Healthy Young Adults?

Both physical activity (PA) and diet are important contributors to health and well-being but there is limited information on the interaction of these behaviors and whether the association differs by weight category. PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between physical activity (PA) and dietary intake in young, normal weight and overweight/obese adults. METHODS: The cross-sectional analysis includes 412 adults (27.6±3.8 years, 48% male) with valid dietary and PA data. Height (cm) and weight (kg) were measured with participants in surgical scrubs and bare feet. BMI was calculated (kg/m2) and used to differentiate between normal weight (BMI<25) and overweight/obese (BMI≥25). Multiple 24-hr dietary recalls (24HR) were administered over a period of 14 days and nutrient intake was calculated as the average of at least two 24HR. Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) was assessed over a period of 10 days with the BodyMedia armband during the time period diet recalls were administered. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured via indirect calorimetry after a 12 hour overnight fast and at least 24 hours abstention from exercise. Physical activity level (PAL=TDEE/RMR) was calculated and used to stratify groups (PAL 1<1.60, 1.6≤PAL 2<1.9, PAL 3≥1.9). RESULTS: A majority of participants (>60%) met macronutrient recommendations (% of calories/day). Conformance with micronutrient recommendations varied between 3% and 99%. Macronutrient intake did not differ between activity groups but a higher PAL was associated with higher fiber intake. In normal weight participants, higher PAL was associated with the higher intakes of minerals (except calcium, iron, and zinc), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, and choline (p for trend <0.05). In the overweight/obese group, higher PAL was associated with the higher intakes of potassium, sodium, copper, and niacin (p for trend <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Higher PA is associated with increased fiber and micronutrient intake in normal weight and overweight/obese young adults. An active lifestyle, therefore, may provide additional benefits beyond those directly attributed to PA.

Regulation of defence response in Eruca sativa plants inoculated with Alternaria brassicicola

Plants have developed a number of strategies to defend themselves against various pathogens or biotic stress. Secondary metabolites of plants are generally involved in defence against pathogens. Phenolics present in plants, as preformed antimicrobial compounds, inhibit the growth of fungi and may include phenolic acids, flavonols and some isoflavones. An almost ubiquitous feature of plant responses to pathogens is the activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism in which PAL catalyses the production of phenolic compounds. Polyphenol, flavonoid content and PAL activity were determined in two varieties viz. RTM-2002 (resistant) and T-27 (susceptible) control and pathogen (Alternaria brassicicola; Schw., Wilt.) inoculated Eruca sativa Miller (rocket salad) plants. Polyphenol and flavonoid content were higher in pathogen-inoculated plants as compared to control plants with an increase till 168 h. A similar pattern of higher PAL activity was observed after pathogen inoculation with a maximum at 24 h in 10 days old plants of var. T-27 and at 48 h in var. RTM-2002. However, in 1–month-old plants, the maximum PAL activity was obtained at 24 h in both the varieties. The results indicate a role of polyphenol, flavonoids and PAL in the defence response of E. sativa, an economically important oilseed crop of semi-arid regions.

Strain-specific variation in a soilborne phytopathogenic fungus for the expression of genes involved in pH signal transduction pathway, pathogenesis and saprophytic survival in response to environmental pH changes

The soilborne fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) causes take-all, a wheat root disease. In an original strain-specific way, a previous study indicates that inside the Ggt species, some strains grow preferentially at acidic pH and other strains at neutral/alkaline pH. The most important mechanism for a fungal response to the environmental pH is the Pal pathway which integrates the products of the six pal genes and the transcription factor PacC. To evaluate whether the Ggt strain-specific growth in function of the ambient pH is mediated via the Pal pathway, a transcriptional study of the genes encoding this pathway was carried out. This study provided the first evidence that the pH signalling pathway similar to those described in other fungi operated in Ggt. The pacC gene was induced at neutral pH whatever the strain. In an original way, the expression of Ggt genes coding for the different Pal proteins depended on the strain and on the ambient pH. In the strain growing better at acidic pH, few pal genes were pH-regulated, and some were overexpressed at neutral pH when regulated. In the strain growing better at neutral pH, underexpression of most of the pal genes at neutral pH occurred. The strains displayed higher gene expression in the ambient pH that unfavoured their growth as if it was a compensation system. All pH taken together, a globally weaker Pal transcript level occurred in the strains that were less sensitive to acidic pH, and on the contrary, the strain growing better on neutral pH showed higher Pal mRNA levels. The expression of genes involved in pathogenesis and saprophytic growth was also regulated by the ambient pH and the strain: each gene displayed a specific pH-regulation that was similar between strains. But all pH taken together, the global transcript levels of four out of six genes were higher in the strain growing better on neutral pH. Altogether, for the first time, the results show that inside a species, conditions affecting environmental pH modulate the expression of genes in an original strain-specific way.

The Enzyme Activities,Pigment and Inclusion Contents in Different Leaves Color of Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ in Autumn

The physiological character of different leaves color in autumn was studied.Three kinds of leaves colors were selected to measure the pigment content,enzyme activity and inclusion in the leaves.The results showed that it had lower chlorophyll content,higher PAL and POD activities and larger ratio of anthocyanin to chlorophyll in red leaves.The green leaves have higher chlorophyll content,lower PAL and POD activity and lower ratio of anthocyanin to chlorophyll.Through the determination of soluble contents,the content of sugar and protein was relatively high in red leaves.The correlation coefficient between the ratio of anthocyanins to chlorophyll and soluble contents were all reach absolutely significance levels.These indicated that the accumulation of material contents was favorable in the synthesis of anthocyanin.