Thoracic load carriage impairs the acute physiological response to hypoxia in healthy males.

To assess the impact of thoracic load carriage on the physiological response to exercise in hypoxia. Healthy males (n = 12) completed 3 trials consisting of 45 min walking in the following conditions: (1) unloaded normoxia (UN; FO:20.93%); (2) unloaded hypoxia (UH; FO:~13.

Molecular breath profile of acute COPD exacerbations.

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) show high variability in individual susceptibility and promote disease progression; thus, accurate diagnosis and treatment is essential. Unravelling the molecular metabolic changes during AECOPD in breath could promote understanding of AECOPD and its treatment. Our objective was to investigate the metabolic breath profiles during AECOPD for biomarker detection.

Automated Three-Dimensional Imaging and Pfirrmann Classification of Intervertebral Disc Using a Graphical Neural Network in Sagittal Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine.

This study aimed to develop a graph neural network (GNN) for automated three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization and Pfirrmann grading of intervertebral discs (IVDs), and benchmark it against manual classifications. Lumbar IVD MRI data from 300 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Two clinicians assessed the manual segmentation and grading for inter-rater reliability using Cohen's kappa.

Brain state-dependent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for motor stroke rehabilitation: a proof of concept randomized controlled trial.

Background: In healthy subjects, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) demonstrated plasticity effects contingent on electroencephalography (EEG)-derived excitability states, defined by the phase of the ongoing sensorimotor μ-oscillation. The therapeutic potential of brain state-dependent rTMS in the rehabilitation of upper limb motor impairment post-stroke remains unexplored.

Objective: Proof-of-concept trial to assess the efficacy of rTMS, synchronized to the sensorimotor μ-oscillation, in improving motor impairment and reducing upper-limb spasticity in stroke patients.

Do crypto investors care about energy use and climate change? Evidence from Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake.

This paper analyses the transition of Ethereum (ETH) from the energy-intensive Proof-of-Work (PoW) to the less energy-intensive Proof-of-Stake (PoS). We analyze returns, volatility, return correlations and volume of ETH, ETC and Bitcoin for all events in the lead-up to the actual change from PoW to PoS also labelled "the merge." The analysis suggests that some investors value the less energy-intensive mining mechanism and invest in ETH.

The Goettingen minipig as an experimental model in wound-healing studies.

Background: Deep dermal wounds in extensive burns and chronic wound-healing disorders represent a significant medical problem and require a high level of therapy to reduce the risk of infection and other long-term consequences, such as amputation. A better understanding of the wound-healing processes is essential, and animal models are indispensable to fundamental research.

Objective: This study aimed to provide a transparent protocol and prove the effectiveness of an porcine model using Goettingen minipigs for wound-healing studies.

Cold Ambient Temperature Does Not Alter Subcutaneous Abdominal Adipose Tissue Lipolysis and Blood Flow in Endurance-Trained Cyclists.

This study sought to investigate the effect of cold ambient temperature on subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SCAAT) lipolysis and blood flow during steady-state endurance exercise in endurance-trained cyclists. Ten males (age: 23 ± 3 years; peak oxygen consumption: 60.60 ± 4.

Concentration-effect relationships of plasma caffeine on EEG delta power and cardiac autonomic activity during human sleep.

Acute caffeine intake affects brain and cardiovascular physiology, yet the concentration-effect relationships on the electroencephalogram and cardiac autonomic activity during sleep are poorly understood. To tackle this question, we simultaneously quantified the plasma caffeine concentration with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, as well as the electroencephalogram, heart rate and high-frequency (0.15-0.

The use of clear aligners in orthognathic surgeries: a case series.

Pre- and postoperative fixed orthodontic appliances are the customary and standard practice for patients with treatment planned for undergoing orthognathic surgery. Traditionally, most patients undergoing orthognathic surgeries are in their late teens. Although these patients still compose the greatest pool of the orthognathic surgery population, many patients seek orthognathic surgery later in life.

Nonvascularized bone grafts: how successful are they in reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects?

Objective: Segmental mandibular defects can occur due to various etiologies, including trauma and tumor resection. Reconstruction should provide adequate support for subsequent dental rehabilitation and allow for proper occlusion. Nonvascularized bone grafts have been used for reconstructing mandibular defects in cases where vascularized grafts were not feasible.

Load carriage physiology in normoxia and hypoxia.

Purpose: To determine the effects of load carriage in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia on ventilatory responses, hemodynamics, tissue oxygenation, and metabolism.

Methods: Healthy males (n = 12) completed 3 randomly ordered baseline graded exercise tests in the following conditions: (1) unloaded normoxic (U: FO = 20.93%), (2) loaded (~ 30 kg) normoxic (LN), and (3) loaded hypoxic simulating ~ 3650 m (LH: FO =  ~ 13%).

The use of virtual reality and augmented reality in oral and maxillofacial surgery: A narrative review.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the current uses of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in oral and maxillofacial surgery. We discuss the use of VR/AR in educational training, surgical planning, advances in hardware and software, and the implementation of VR/AR in this field.

Study Design: A retrospective comprehensive review search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted.

A genetic variation in the adenosine A2A receptor gene contributes to variability in oscillatory alpha power in wake and sleep EEG and A adenosine receptor availability in the human brain.

The EEG alpha rhythm (∼ 8-13 Hz) is one of the most salient human brain activity rhythms, modulated by the level of attention and vigilance and related to cerebral energy metabolism. Spectral power in the alpha range in wakefulness and sleep strongly varies among individuals based on genetic predisposition. Knowledge about the underlying genes is scarce, yet small studies indicated that the variant rs5751876 of the gene encoding A adenosine receptors (ADORA2A) may contribute to the inter-individual variation.

Phonon Laser in the Quantum Regime.

We demonstrate a trapped-ion system with two competing dissipation channels, implemented independently on two ion species cotrapped in a Paul trap. By controlling coherent spin-oscillator couplings and optical pumping rates we explore the phase diagram of this system, which exhibits a regime analogous to that of a (phonon) laser but operates close to the quantum ground state with an average phonon number of n[over ¯]<10. We demonstrate phase locking of the oscillator to an additional resonant drive, and also observe the phase diffusion of the resulting state under dissipation by reconstructing the quantum state from a measurement of the characteristic function.

Nocturnal sodium oxybate increases the anterior cingulate cortex magnetic resonance glutamate signal upon awakening.

Clinical guidelines recommend sodium oxybate (SXB; the sodium salt of γ-hydroxybutyrate) for the treatment of disturbed sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy, yet the underlying mode of action is elusive. In a randomised controlled trial in 20 healthy volunteers, we aimed at establishing neurochemical changes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) following SXB-enhanced sleep. The ACC is a core neural hub regulating vigilance in humans.

Total Sleep Deprivation Increases Brain Age Prediction Reversibly in Multisite Samples of Young Healthy Adults.

Sleep loss pervasively affects the human brain at multiple levels. Age-related changes in several sleep characteristics indicate that reduced sleep quality is a frequent characteristic of aging. Conversely, sleep disruption may accelerate the aging process, yet it is not known what will happen to the age status of the brain if we can manipulate sleep conditions.

Cortical reactivity to transcranial magnetic stimulation predicts risk of post-stroke delirium.

Objective: Post-stroke delirium (PSD) is a frequent and with regard to outcome unfavorable complication in acute stroke. The neurobiological mechanisms predisposing to PSD remain poorly understood, and biomarkers predicting its risk have not been established. We tested the hypothesis that hypoexcitable or disconnected brain networks predispose to PSD by measuring brain reactivity to transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG).

Corticospinal excitability is highest at the early rising phase of sensorimotor µ-rhythm.

Alpha oscillations are thought to reflect alternating cortical states of excitation and inhibition. Studies of perceptual thresholds and evoked potentials have shown the scalp EEG negative phase of the oscillation to correspond to a short-lasting low-threshold and high-excitability state of underlying visual, somatosensory, and primary motor cortex. The negative peak of the oscillation is assumed to correspond to the state of highest excitability based on biophysical considerations and considerable effort has been made to improve the extraction of a predictive signal by individually optimizing EEG montages.

Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances heavy load carriage performance in military cadets.

Purpose: To determine the effects of dietary nitrate (NO) supplementation on physiological responses, cognitive function, and performance during heavy load carriage in military cadets.

Methods: Ten healthy males (81.0 ± 6.