Similar Exercise Research Articles

Transformative or Tokenistic?

Transformative or Tokenistic?

Exploring artificial neural networks to model interatomic and intermolecular potential energy surfaces

We demonstrate how a back-propagation artificial neural network can be trained to represent a potential energy surface (PES) in a formless manner with limited data points and exploited to predict interaction energies for configurations not included in the training set. A similar exercise is undertaken for predicting the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a model Hamiltonian matrix that delicately depends on parameters and exhibits crossing of eigen values.

A precision medicine approach to sex-based differences in ideal cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles and health behaviors are known to differ between women and men. Sex-based differences in ideal cardiovascular health were examined in the My Research Legacy study, which collected cardiovascular health and lifestyle data via Life’s Simple 7 survey and digital health devices. As the study overenrolled women (n = 1251) compared to men (n = 310), we hypothesized that heterogeneity among women would affect comparisons of ideal cardiovascular health. We identified 2 phenogroups of women in our study cohort by cluster analysis. The phenogroups differed significantly across all 7 cardiovascular health and behavior domains (all p < 0.01) with women in phenogroup 1 having a lower Life’s Simple 7 Health Score than those in phenogroup 2 (5.9 ± 1.3 vs. 7.6 ± 1.3, p < 0.01). Compared to men, women in phenogroup 1 had a higher burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors, exercised less, and had lower ideal cardiovascular health scores (p < 0.01). In contrast, women in phenogroup 2 had fewer cardiovascular risk factors but similar exercise habits and higher ideal cardiovascular health scores than men (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that heterogeneity among study participants should be examined when evaluating sex-based differences in ideal cardiovascular health.

Does Exercise Prevent Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women? A Clin-IQ.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy has been on the rise globally, leading to increased prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A diagnosis of GDM often leads to pregnancy and infant-related complications. Regular exercise may have the potential to prevent GDM. However, evidence surrounding the utility of exercise during pregnancy as an effective risk reduction intervention has been mixed. This clinical inquiry examined the role of regular exercise during pregnancy in preventing GDM in both obese and normal-weight women and analyzed specific aspects of exercise that make it an effective preventive measure. The review of evidence included 3 meta-analyses, 3 systematic reviews, and 1 umbrella review. Findings identified several components of an exercise program that can reduce GDM risk. Specifically, an exercise intervention of 40- to 60-minute sessions 3 times per week beginning as early as possible during pregnancy and continuing with good adherence over the course of pregnancy yielded clinically significant results. Adhering to a similar exercise routine before pregnancy also was shown to be protective against GDM for all women, but especially so for women who are overweight or obese.

Differences in cerebral oxygenation during exercise in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with and without exertional hypoxemia: does exercise intensity matter?

Introduction and ObjectivesPatients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) present respiratory derangements at rest and during exercise, accompanied by exercise intolerance. Some patients may develop profound exertional desaturation even without resting hypoxemia. Evidence suggests the involvement of reduced cerebral-oxygenation in exercise intolerance. We aimed to examine (i) differences in cerebral-oxygenation during exercise between IPF patients with and without isolated exertional desaturation, (ii) whether the impairments in cerebral-oxygenation are detected at similar exercise intensity, and (iii) correlations between cerebral-oxygenation indices, disease severity, and 6-min walk test (6MWT). Materials and MethodsPatients with IPF (n = 24; 62.1 ± 9.3 years) without resting hypoxemia underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) with cerebral-oxygenation monitoring via near-infrared-spectroscopy (NIRS). Βased on their pulse-oxymetry saturation (SpO2) during CPET, patients were divided into the “exertional-desaturators” group (SpO2nadir≤89% and ≥6% drop in SpO2) and the “non-exertional-desaturators” group (SpO2nadir≥90% and ≤5% drop). ResultsDuring CPET, the “exertional-desaturators” group exhibited lower oxygenated-hemoglobin (-0.67 ± 1.48 vs. 0.69 ± 1.75 μmol/l; p < 0.05) and higher deoxygenated-hemoglobin (1.67 ± 1.13 vs. 0.17 ± 0.62 μmol/l; p < 0.001) than the “non-exertional-desaturators” group. A different pattern (p < 0.01) in cerebral-oxygenation responses was observed in the two groups. In exertional-desaturators oxygenated-hemoglobin declined below baseline even at low/moderate-intensity exercise (p < 0.05), whereas, in non-exertional-desaturators cerebral-oxygenation declined (p < 0.05) at high-intensity exercise. Cerebral-NIRS indices correlated (p < 0.05) with CPET-duration, dyspnea, diffusion capacity, and 6MWT. ConclusionsDuring incremental exercise, patients with IPF and exertional desaturation present a significant decline in cerebral-oxygenation even during low-intensity exercise. Our findings support the implementation of longer-duration rehabilitation programs in IPF so that lower intensity exercise can be applied at the initial stages. (NCT 03683082)

Exercise to Prevent Anthracycline-Based Cardiotoxicity (EXACT): A Feasibility Study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the feasibility and potential efficacy of a 12-wk aerobic exercise intervention to mitigate cardiotoxicity in those with breast and hematological cancer receiving anthracycline (AC) treatment. Individuals with breast or hematological cancer that were within 8 wk of initiating AC treatment attended a 12-wk biweekly exercise program. Participants performed aerobic exercise (35%–85% heart rate reserve) on treadmills for 20–45 min per session under the supervision of research staff. Feasibility was evaluated through participant accrual and retention, program adherence, and safety. Aerobic fitness, physical activity, quality of life, and fatigue were assessed along with AC-related serum cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and VEGF) to explore intervention efficacy. Over 12 months, 169 participants (115 breast cancer, 54 hematological) were screened for eligibility. Forty-nine were eligible (28 breast and 21 hematological) and 15 consented (31% accrual). Ten participants completed the study and five withdrew (67% retention). Average exercise session adherence was 73% with no exercise-related adverse events. Cardiopulmonary fitness, physical activity levels, quality of life, fatigue, and serum cytokines did not change over the course of the intervention. Participant accrual and retention, program adherence, and safety statistics in this trial were within the range of similar exercise trials involving individuals with cancer. Study findings showed no postintervention change in measures of quality of life, aerobic fitness, and inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that exercise may mitigate detrimental changes in these parameters while on AC. Overall, the exercise program was feasible, and the results warrant further investigation using a randomized controlled trial approach to investigate whether aerobic exercise therapy can mitigate cardiotoxicity and improve related health and fitness outcomes for individuals receiving AC treatment.

Effects of horse housing on musculoskeletal system post-exercise recovery

This study examined the effects of two housing systems (control housing and loose housing) on musculoskeletal condition during recovery from race-like exercise in Standardbred horses. The hypothesis was that a loose housing system provides better conditions for musculoskeletal recovery than the control housing. Eight adult geldings (mean age 11 years) were used in a study with a cross-over design, with the control housing (CH) and loose housing (LH) treatments each run for 21 days. The horses had ad libitum access to forage and performed two similar race-like exercise tests (ET), on day 7 and day 14 in each treatment. Blood samples were collected before ET, at finish line, and at 7, 22, and 44 h of recovery and analysed for the muscle enzyme activities of creatine kinase and amino transferase. Before and three days after ET, hind leg fetlock joint region circumference and diameter, joint range of motion in right hock and carpus, mechanical nociceptive threshold in back muscle, and movement asymmetry were recorded. Overall circumference and overall diameter of hind fetlock joint region were lower in LH horses than CH horses (P=0.045 and P=0.017, respectively), but no other differences were observed. In conclusion, a loose housing system did not alter the recovery of musculoskeletal condition other than preventing a post exercise enlargement of the circumference and diameter of the hind fetlock joint region.

Volgens het boekje: Gerard Leeus Nederlandstalige editie van de Meditationes de vita et passione Jesu Christi

This essay explores the Dutch recension of the richly illustrated Latin Meditationes de vita et passione Jesu Christi, a weekly excersie that went directly into print and was first published by Gerard Leeu in Antwerp on 10 February 1485. The Dutch text appeared about two years later, on 5 Janruary 1487. Both the Dutch and the Latin texts contain at their core the sixty-five prayers on the Passion (from Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to his funeral) from Jordan of Quedlinburg’s Meditationes de passione Christi (1365). Each of the prayers is accompanied by a woodcut, which in itself was an important innovation and departure from previous manuscript transmission that did not systematically illustrate each prayer. Furthermore, the compiler of the weekly exercise used Jordan’s prayers as his reference point, and divided them over five days of the week (Monday-Friday). He added other (meditative) texts and prayers so that readers are presented with an exercise for each day of the week that permits them to meditate on the entire life of Christ (from Mary’s visit to Elizabeth to Mary’s Ascension), as well as on other subjects, such as the four last things (death, judgement, hell, heaven) throughout the week. Here, images are also used as an integral part of the meditative exercise. The printed text might have been based on a similar exercise found in a manuscript from South-Holland, currently held at The Hague, Royal Library, 133 H 1. Moreover, the Dutch edition of 1487 is not just a translation of Leeu’s earlier Latin edition: apart from changes to its physical appearance, the text has undergone a siginificant reworking as well. The meditations to be performed before lunch, before and after dinner, and before going to sleep, are longer and much more detailed than in the Latin edition, allowing unexperienced readers to use these ‘intimate scripts’ in their meditations. Leeu’s parallel editions of the Latin and Dutch Meditationes thus provided various groups of readers (Latinate, non-Latinate, those familiar with meditative techniques and the Gospels, and those who were not) to participate in affective meditation on Christ’s life and to deepen their spiritual lifes in a similar fashion despite the differences in their background.

ASICs are required for immediate exercise‐induced muscle pain (IEIP), but not delayed‐onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

Introduction IEIP and DOMS are types of muscle pain induced by exercise. IEIP occurs during and immediately after, whereas DOMS occurs days after exercise, and are attributed to metabolites and inflammation in muscle, respectively. Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs), H+-gated channels expressed in muscle afferents, play a role in different pain conditions. ASICs are activated by H+ and other chemicals released during intense muscle contraction and microinjuries. Recently, we showed that ASICs are required for IEIP. PURPOSE Here, we tested if ASICs are also required for DOMS. METHODS C57BL/6 wild type (WT) and ASIC3-/- mice underwent an exhaustive exercise (exercise groups), or were placed on a non-moving treadmill for a same amount of time (control groups). Exercise-induced muscle pain was assessed by muscle withdrawal threshold (MWT) at baseline, immediately and 24h after exercise. Locomotor movement, grip strength and exercise performance were tested at baseline and 24hrs after exercise for WT and ASIC3-/- to evaluate DOMS. RESULTS ASIC3-/- had similar baseline muscle pain, locomotor activity, grip strength, and exercise performance as WT mice. WT showed diminished MWT immediately after exercise indicated they developed IEIP (P < 0.001), but ASIC3-/- mice did not. However, both, ASIC3-/- and WT had similarly lower MWT (P < 0.05) and grip strength (P < 0.01) 24hrs after baseline-exercise. On the other hand, ASIC3-/- displayed significantly lower locomotor activity and repeat exercise performance at 24h timepoint compared to WT mice­ (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION While WT and ASIC3-/- had a same exercise performance, they had different pain perception immediately after, but not a day after exercise. Unlike WT mice, ASIC3-/- did not develop IEIP. At 24h after exercise, ASIC3-/- developed similar DOMS features (hyperalgesia and lower strength) as WT mice. Interestingly, ASIC3 -/- mice had diminished locomotor movement and repeat exercise performance at 24h. These results show ASICs are required for IEIP, but not DOMS, and they might play a protective role from muscle injury during metabolic perturbations like high intensity exercise.

Slight power output manipulations around the maximal lactate steady state have a similar impact on fatigue in females and males.

Neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) and exercise performance are affected by exercise intensity and sex differences. However, whether slight changes in power output (PO) below and above the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) impact NMF and subsequent performance (time to task failure, TTF) is unknown. This study compared NMF and TTF in females and males in response to exercise performed at MLSS, 10 W below (MLSS-10) and above (MLSS+10). Twenty participants (9 females) performed three 30-min constant-PO exercise bouts followed (1-min delay) by a TTF at 80% of the peak-PO. NMF was characterized by isometric maximal voluntary contractions (IMVC) and femoral nerve electrical stimulation of knee extensors [e.g., peak torque of potentiated high-frequency (Db100) and single twitch (TwPt)] before and immediately after the constant-PO and TTF bouts. IMVC declined less after MLSS-10 (-18 ± 10%) compared to MLSS (-26 ± 14%) and MLSS+10 (-31 ± 11%; all P < 0.05), and the Db100 decline was greater after MLSS+10 (-24 ± 14%) compared to the other intensities (MLSS-10: -15 ± 9%; MLSS: -18 ± 11%; all P < 0.05). Females showed smaller reductions, relative to baseline, in IMVC and TwPt compared to males after constant-PO bouts (all P < 0.05), this difference being not dependent on intensity. TTF was negatively impacted by increasing the PO in the constant-PO (P < 0.001), with no differences in end-exercise NMF (P > 0.05). Slight manipulations in PO around MLSS elicited great changes in the reduction of maximal voluntary force and impairments in contractile function. Although NMF was lower in females compared to males, the changes in PO around the MLSS impacted both sexes similarly.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is unknown whether minimum changes in power output (PO) below and above the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) affect neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) development in females and males. The present data showed that a decrease or increase of 10 W in PO in relation to MLSS elicited lower and greater impairments in contractile function, respectively. Even though females had less of an overall decline in NMF than males, similar exercise intensity-dependent response occurred independently of sex.

Comparing the Effects of Immersed Versus Land-Based High-Intensity Interval Cycling on Energy Intake, Appetite Sensations and Perceived Exertion Among Healthy Men.

Immersed exercise has been shown to induce higher energy expenditure and no difference or increase in food intake compared with similar exercise on land. In this study, we compared the effects of acute high-intensity cycling performed on land versus when immersed on subsequent energy intake (EI), appetite sensations and perceived exertion (RPE) in healthy men. Ten participants in a postprandial condition completed three experimental visits in a randomized order: a control condition (CONT); a high-intensity interval cycling exercise performed on land (HIIE-L) and the same exercise while immersed in water (HIIE-A) with a similar targeted heart rate. We observed no difference in energy and macronutrient intake and in area under the curve (AUC) for appetite sensations between sessions. The RPE at the end of HIIE-L was negatively correlated with EI (r=-0.67; p < 0.05), AUC for hunger (r=-0.86, p < 0.01), desire to eat (r=-0.78, p < 0.05) and prospective food consumption (r=-0.86, p < 0.01). Conversely, the RPE at the end of HIIE-L was positively correlated with AUC for fullness (r = 0.76, p < 0.05). No such correlations were observed for HIIE-A. The present study was the first to observe that immersion did not influence EI after HIIE cycling, but immersion blunted the relationship between session RPE and subsequent energy intake and appetite sensations relative to HIIE on land.

Novel application of Poincaré analysis to detect and quantify exercise oscillatory ventilation

Objective. Exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is frequently observed in individuals with cardiac disease. Assessment of EOV relies on pattern recognition and this subjectivity and lack of quantification limits the widespread clinical use of EOV as a prognostic marker. Poincaré analysis quantifies the short (SD1) and long-term (SD2) variability of a signal and may provide an alternative means to identify and quantify unstable exercise breathing patterns. This study aimed to determine if Poincaré analysis can distinguish between the breathing patterns of healthy control subjects and individuals being assessed for heart transplantation with and without EOV. Approach. Thirty-nine subjects performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test as part of heart transplant assessment and were subjectively classified into two groups according to the presence of EOV: non-EOV (n = 19) and EOV (n = 20). The control group (n = 24) consisted of healthy adults. Poincaré analysis (SD1 and SD2) was performed for minute ventilation ( E) and tidal volume (VT) normalized to forced vital capacity ( En and Tn ), and breathing frequency (BF) for breath-by-breath data over the 10–15 ml · min−1 · kg−1 O2 range. Main results. Poincaré analysis showed similar exercise ventilatory responses between the non-EOV and control group. BF was found to discriminate between subjects with stable and unstable ventilation. BF SD1 was significantly higher in the EOV group compared to the non-EOV (7.9 versus 4.6, p < 0.01) and control (7.9 versus 4.2, p < 0.01) groups. The EOV group had significantly greater BF SD2 compared to the non-EOV (5.7 versus 3.5, p < 0.01) and control (5.7 versus 3.5, p < 0.01) groups. Significance. We demonstrated that this novel application of Poincaré analysis can objectively distinguish and quantify unstable from stable breathing patterns during exercise. In subjects being assessed for heart transplantation the presence of EOV is associated with greater BF variability. Poincaré analysis provides an objective measure to identify and quantify EOV. Summary at a glance. As EOV may indicate abnormal ventilatory control, there is a need for an objective measure to identify and quantify unstable from stable ventilation during exercise. We developed a method of quantifying BF variation by the application of Poincaré analysis and demonstrated higher than normal variability of BF in subjects being assessed for heart transplantation who demonstrated EOV.

Exercise alters cardiac function independent of acute systemic inflammation in healthy men.

Acute elevations in inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to increase aortic and left ventricular stiffness and reduce endothelial function in healthy subjects. As vascular and cardiac functions are often transiently reduced following prolonged exercise, it is possible that cytokines released during exercise may contribute to these alterations. The a priori aims of this study were to determine whether vaccine-induced increases in inflammatory cytokines would reduce vascular and left ventricular function, whether vascular alterations would drive cardiac impairments, and whether this would be potentiated by moderate exercise. In a randomized crossover fashion, 16 male participants were tested under control (CON) and inflammatory (INF) conditions, wherein INF testing occurred 8 h following administration of an influenza vaccine. On both days, participants underwent measures of echocardiography performed during light cycling (stress-echocardiography), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and superficial femoral flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after cycling for 90 min at ∼85% of their first ventilatory threshold. IL-6 increased significantly (Δ1.9 ± 1.3 pg/mL, P < 0.001), whereas TNFα was nonsignificantly augmented (Δ0.05 ± 0.11 pg/mL, P = 0.09), 8 h following vaccination. Vascular function was unaltered following cycling or inflammation (all P > 0.05). The use of echocardiography during light cycling revealed cardiac alterations traditionally expected to occur only with greater exercise loads, with reduced systolic (e.g., longitudinal strain CON: Δ3.3 ± 4.4%, INF: Δ1.7 ± 2.7%, P = 0.002) and diastolic function (e.g., E/A ratio CON: Δ-0.32 ± 0.34 a.u., INF:Δ-0.25 ± 0.27 a.u., P = 0.002) following cycling, independent of inflammation. The vaccine reduced stroke volume (SV) (main effect of condition P = 0.009) before-and-after cycling. These findings indicate that reduced cardiac function following exercise occurs largely independent of additional inflammatory load.NEW & NOTEWORHTHY This experimental investigation sought to determine the role of inflammation on the occurrence of cardiovascular alterations following exercise. Despite successfully stimulating systemic inflammation via vaccination, vascular and cardiac functions were largely unaltered. Prolonged exercise itself reduced cardiac function assessed via echocardiography performed during light exercise stress. This demonstrates a potential advantage to using stress-echocardiography for measuring exercise-induced cardiac fatigue, as typical resting measures following similar exercise exposures commonly suggest no effect.

Altitude Cardiomyopathy Is Associated With Impaired Stress Electrocardiogram and Increased Circulating Inflammation Makers

Many sea-level residents suffer from acute mountain sickness (AMS) when first visiting altitudes above 4,000 m. Exercise tolerance also decreases as altitude increases. We observed exercise capacity at sea level and under a simulated hypobaric hypoxia condition (SHHC) to explore whether the response to exercise intensity represented by physiological variables could predict AMS development in young men. Eighty young men from a military academy underwent a standard treadmill exercise test (TET) and biochemical blood test at sea level, SHHC, and 4,000-m altitude, sequentially, between December 2015 and March 2016. Exercise-related variables and 12-lead electrocardiogram parameters were obtained. Exercise intensity and AMS development were investigated. After exposure to high altitude, the count of white blood cells, alkaline phosphatase and serum albumin were increased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in exercise time and metabolic equivalents (METs) between SHHC and high-altitude exposures (7.05 ± 1.02 vs. 7.22 ± 0.96 min, P = 0.235; 9.62 ± 1.11 vs. 9.38 ± 1.12, P = 0.126, respectively). However, these variables were relatively higher at sea level (8.03 ± 0.24 min, P < 0.01; 10.05 ± 0.31, P < 0.01, respectively). Thus, subjects displayed an equivalent exercise tolerance upon acute exposure to high altitude and to SHHC. The trends of cardiovascular hemodynamics during exercise under the three different conditions were similar. However, both systolic blood pressure and the rate–pressure product at every TET stage were higher at high altitude and under the SHHC than at sea level. After acute exposure to high altitude, 19 (23.8%) subjects developed AMS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that METs under the SHHC {odds ratio (OR) 0.355 per unit increment [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.159−0.793], P = 0.011}, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at rest under SHHC [OR 0.893 per mmHg (95%CI 0.805−0.991), P = 0.030], and recovery DBP 3 min after exercise at sea level [OR 1.179 per mmHg (95%CI 1.043−1.333), P = 0.008] were independently associated with AMS. The predictive model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.886 (95%CI 0.803−0.969, P < 0.001). Thus, young men have similar exercise tolerance in acute exposure to high altitude and to SHHC. Moreover, AMS can be predicted with superior accuracy using characteristics easily obtainable with TET.

Science Fiction and the Law: A New Wigmorian Bibliography

In 1908, Dean John Henry Wigmore compiled a list of novels that no lawyer could afford to ignore. Wigmore’s list, taken up by Professor Richard Weisberg in the 1970s, catalogs one hundred literary works from Antigone to Native Son, each of which offers insight into the legal system or the practice of law. This article undertakes a similar bibliographic exercise with respect to law and the literature of science fiction. While science fiction, as a literary genre, has its detractors, it cannot be denied that science fiction stories – whether in books, short stories, films or television shows – reach a vast audience and, for better or worse, influence popular perceptions and understanding of science and technology issues. This has been the case since the days of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, but is especially true today. When we talk about genetic engineering, Brave New World, Gattaca and Jurassic Park are invariably mentioned. When we think about artificial intelligence, HAL, Skynet and other fictional depictions immediately come to mind. The surveillance society? Nineteen Eighty-Four, of course. These speculative fiction accounts inform the background intuition of judges, legislators and citizens when confronting novel legal issues that arise due to technological change. As such, it is important to understand the body of literature that forms these background intuitions. Accordingly, this article offers the first curated and categorized list of legal science fiction literature, following the model of Wigmore and Weisberg. It is classified according to doctrinal themes, and also includes a compilation of academic literature addressing issues of law in science fiction. It is hoped that the materials compiled here will serve as a useful resource for legal practitioners, policy makers and educators as they grapple with ever increasing legal challenges brought about by the rapid evolution of science and technology. [This is a draft - suggestions, comments and corrections are welcome]

Chronotropic incompetence causes multiple organ complications in adults after the Fontan procedure

Although patients undergoing the Fontan procedure (FP) present a normal or close‑to‑‑normal function of the systemic ventricle, they cannot generate cardiac output or exhibit similar exercise capacity as their healthy peers. This can be attributed to chronotropic incompetence and multiple organ complications. We evaluated the prevalence of chronotropic incompetence in adults after FP and assessed the relationship between heart rate reserve (HRR) and multiple organ complications. Data were obtained from 50 post‑FP patients (mean [SD] age, 27 [6.6] years) and 30 healthy controls matched for age and sex. All patients were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory tests, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise test, and chronotropic function evaluation. Cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters were impaired in the post‑FP group. Chronotropic incompetence was identified in 46 patients (92%), who also had a lower median (interquartile range) chronotropic index (0.55 [0.47-0.62] vs 0.93 [0.88-0.99]; P <0.001) and a greater median (interquartile range) HRR (32 [24-60] bpm vs 8 [1-14] bpm, P <0.001). A negative correlation was observed between HRR and peak oxygen uptake, and a positive one between HRR and the peak ventilatory equivalent for CO2 and mean platelet volume. The study revealed the diagnostic utility of HRR in detecting an abnormal peak ventilatory equivalent for O2, alkaline phosphatase levels, the ratio of aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase levels, and mean platelet volume. Chronotropic incompetence correlates with impaired exercise capacity, liver dysfunction, and platelet abnormalities in post‑FP patients. Heart rate reserve may be a promising indicator of organ complications as well as a sign of future bradyarrhythmia and the need for cardiac pacing.

Comment on "Impact of Shutdown due to COVID-19 Pandemic on Aerosol Characteristics in Kanpur, India".

The article by Shukla et al. is really interesting.1 An unprecedented restriction imposed to combat the 2019 coronavirus (Covid-19) in all spheres of life including vehicular and industrial emissions helped realize a marked reduction in air pollution everywhere. While studies from other countries have highlighted the impact of particulate matter (PM) on the prevalence of Covid-19, this impact has been explored less frequently in India.2–4To estimate the effect of air pollution on Covid-19, data on air quality and Covid-19 from four districts (Delhi, Kolkata, Urban Bengaluru and Mumbai) were considered for four months (1 August to 20 November, 2020).5–6 The air quality index (AQI), a composite parameter based on several indicators, including PM2.5 and PM10, is used in India for summarizing the extent of air pollution. For daily and weekly newly diagnosed Covid-19 cases and deaths, data were taken for 8 August to 27 November, 2020 and compared with the AQI. A lag period of one week was maintained for estimating the association between Covid-19 cases and air pollution.In Delhi, daily case load was strongly associated with AQI (r = 0.773), but weekly case load had an even stronger association with AQI (r = 0.869). In Kolkata, the scenario was similar (r = 0.519 and 0.707 for daily and weekly case load, respectively). It appears that the weekly relationship between Covid-19 cases and air pollution could be a better predictor than daily measurements. In Delhi and Kolkata, air pollution could explain 60% and 27% daily cases of Covid-19.However, there was no positive association in Mumbai (r = −0.324 and −0.389 for daily and weekly case load, respectively) or urban Bengaluru (r = −0.402 and −0.525 for daily and weekly case load, respectively). In fact, these two locations indicated a negative relationship between Covid-19 cases and air pollution. In Mumbai and urban Bengaluru, however, air pollution could explain only 10% and 16% of the daily cases of Covid-19. It may be noted that the extent of air pollution is comparatively lower in these two locations.When a similar exercise was performed for daily deaths, only Delhi had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.791). For the other three locations, air pollution was negatively related to air pollution (correlation in Kolkata = −0.150, urban Bengaluru = −0.418 and Mumbai = −0.525).For weekly case load, the R2 value was 0.754 for Delhi and 0.500 for Kolkata, but 0.150 for Mumbai and 0.275 for urban Bengaluru. For weekly deaths, the R2 value was 0.699 for Delhi, 0.137 for Kolkata, 0.473 for Mumbai, and 0.458 for urban Bengaluru.When total deaths over the study period were considered, 51% of cases and 50% of deaths could be explained by the average AQI.The extent of air pollution, as suggested by the analysis, was seen to influence the pandemic and related deaths only in certain locations. Future research should consider quantifying the threshold of air pollution that could potentially impact the spread of Covid-19. Pandemic mitigation strategies could consider incorporating a focus on reduction of air pollution.The study was funded as part of employment.

Comparison of murine behavioural and physiological responses after forced exercise by electrical shock versus manual prodding.

What is the central question of this study? Forced treadmill exercise using electrical shock is the most common technique in rodent exercise studies. Here, we examined how the use of electrical shock during forced treadmill exercise affects behavioural and physiological responses in comparison to a novel non-electrical shock technique. What is the main finding and its importance? In comparison to mice that underwent traditional treadmill running induced by electrical shock, mice that underwent forced running using a novel technique involving gentle prodding to induce running showed: (i) higher locomotor activity; (ii) less anxiety-like behaviour; and (iii) altered exercise-induced muscle pain immediately after exercise. Animal models of exercise have been useful to understand underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. Many studies have used methods of exercise that are unduly stressful (e.g., electrical shock to force running), potentially skewing results. Here, we compared physiological and behavioural responses of mice after exercise induced using a prodding technique that avoids electrical shock versus a traditional protocol using electrical shock. We found that exercise performance was similar for both techniques; however, the shock group demonstrated significantly lower locomotor activity and higher anxiety-like behaviour. We also observed divergent effects on muscle pain; the prodding group showed hyperalgesia immediately after exercise, whereas the shock group showed hypoalgesia. Corticosterone concentrations were elevated to a similar extent for both groups. In conclusion, mice that were exercised without shock generated similar maximal exercise performance, but postexercise these mice showed an increase in locomotor activity, less anxiety-like behaviour and altered muscle pain in comparison to mice that exercised with shock. Our data suggest that running of mice without the use of electrical shock is potentially less stressful and might be a better technique to study the physiological and behavioural responses to exercise.

Rearticulating PISA

ABSTRACT The OECD’s PISA exercise has by now been widely critiqued. Whilst we agree with most concerns, we begin with the assumption that PISA will remain an enduring and powerful feature of the global educational landscape. Even if the PISA test itself were discontinued, a similar large-scale quantitative assessment exercise would soon arise to take its place. As such, we focus herein on strategies for rearticulating ILSAs such as PISA: the creative use of data to shift the exercise away from dissemination of one dominant worldview towards the recognition of alternatives. To do this, we discuss the approach and findings from our recent papers, and then suggest future directions. Rather than mere accommodation, re-articulation underscores an approach to critique that is generative for theory and practice, one that extends of the horizon of possibility beyond culturally saturated notions of ‘good’ education.

Testifying via video link: a view from Singapore Anil Singh Gurm v J S Yeh & Co

ABSTRACT Courts around the world often have to balance a whole host of competing considerations in determining whether witnesses should be permitted to testify via video link. In Polanski v Condé Nast Publications Ltd [2005] UKHL 10, the United Kingdom House of Lords was narrowly split (3–2) in carrying out this difficult balancing exercise. In February 2020, the Singapore Court of Appeal had the opportunity to carry out a similar balancing exercise in Anil Singh Gurm v J S Yeh & Co [2020] SGCA 5. At that time, very little was known about the coronavirus and its potentially far-reaching impact on judicial proceedings. Now, more than a year later, as the world continues to grapple with the effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, it may well be time for a rethink of the underlying policy considerations surrounding the use of video link evidence.