Standardised lung function metrics in healthy athletes.

The objective of the current review was to identify whether clinically established lung function metrics of ventilatory and diffusion capacity obtained by standardised methodology are consistent with superior lung function in athletes, and whether this is related to maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O). Three independent reviewers performed a literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and reference screening. Data was extracted and analysed according to a predefined strategy.

Association between biosecurity and zoonotic transmission of LA-MRSA CC398 from industrial pig farms to farm workers and their household members.

Background: Zoonotic transmission of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant clonal complex 398 (LA-MRSA CC398) from industrial pig farms to farm workers and their household members and secondary transmission to elderly and immunocompromised persons has led to a growing number of serious infections and even death.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that conventional pig farms confer a higher risk for LA-MRSA CC398 carriage among farm workers and their household members than specific pathogen-free (SPF) farms, which follow a set of stringent rules concerning biosecurity, health control and transportation of pigs between herds.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of farm workers and their household members from 25 Danish pig farms positive for LA-MRSA CC398.

Characterization of bioaerosol exposures in wastewater treatment plant workers and serum levels of lung and inflammatory markers.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) workers are exposed to bioaerosols containing bacteria, fungi, and endotoxin, potentially posing health risks to workers. This study quantified personal exposure levels to airborne bacteria and fungi, endotoxin, and dust among 44 workers during two seasons at four WWTPs. Associations between the exposure measurements and serum levels of biomarkers CRP, SAA, and CC16 were also assessed.

mTOR Ser1261 is an AMPK-dependent phosphosite in mouse and human skeletal muscle not required for mTORC2 activity.

The kinases AMPK, and mTOR as part of either mTORC1 or mTORC2, are major orchestrators of cellular growth and metabolism. Phosphorylation of mTOR Ser1261 is reportedly stimulated by both insulin and AMPK activation and a regulator of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity. Intrigued by the possibilities that Ser1261 might be a convergence point between insulin and AMPK signaling in skeletal muscle, we investigated the regulation and function of this site using a combination of human exercise, transgenic mouse, and cell culture models.

The importance of shear on the collective charge transport in CDWs revealed by an XFEL source.

Charge transport in materials has an impact on a wide range of devices based on semiconductor, battery, or superconductor technology. Charge transport in sliding charge density waves (CDW) differs from all others in that the atomic lattice is directly involved in the transport process. To obtain an overall picture of the structural changes associated to the collective transport, the large coherent x-ray beam generated by an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) source was used.