Cloud Computing for COVID-19: Lessons Learned From Massively Parallel Models of Ventilator Splitting.

A patient-specific airflow simulation was developed to help address the pressing need for an expansion of the ventilator capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The computational model provides guidance regarding how to split a ventilator between two or more patients with differing respiratory physiologies. To address the need for fast deployment and identification of optimal patient-specific tuning, there was a need to simulate hundreds of millions of different clinically relevant parameter combinations in a short time.

Dissipation of four forest-use herbicides at high latitudes.

Background, Aim, And Scope: Large-scale deforestation is occurring in subarctic North America following clearing by salvage logging or insect attack. Numerous shrubs, herbs, and deciduous tree species tend to dominate areas on which stands of white spruce have grown. In the absence of economically advantageous mechanical methods, several herbicides have value in efforts to reforest by planting white spruce.

Is isometric strength loss immediately after eccentric exercise related to changes in indirect markers of muscle damage?

This study tested the hypothesis that the magnitude of maximal isometric strength (MVC) loss immediately following eccentric exercise (MVC-post) would relate to changes in other indirect markers of muscle damage following exercise. Eighty-nine men were recruited from the same student population and performed 24 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors. Commonly used markers of muscle damage such as relaxed and flexed elbow joint angles, range of motion (ROM), upper-arm circumference, muscle soreness, and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity were measured before, immediately after, and 1-4 d after exercise.

Light concentric exercise has a temporarily analgesic effect on delayed-onset muscle soreness, but no effect on recovery from eccentric exercise.

This study investigated the hypothesis that a bout of light concentric exercise (LCE) would alleviate delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and enhance recovery from muscle damage. Fourteen subjects performed two bouts of 60 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors (Max-ECC) separated by 2-4 weeks. One arm performed LCE (600 elbow flexion and extension actions with minimal force generation) 1, 2, 3, and 4 d after Max-ECC; the contralateral (control) arm performed only Max-ECC.

Effects of partial immobilization after eccentric exercise on recovery from muscle damage.

Context: Short-term strict immobilization of the arm using a cast enhances recovery of muscle function after eccentric exercise.

Objective: To determine if placing one arm in a sling ("light" immobilization) for 4 days after eccentric exercise of the elbow flexor muscles would reduce muscle soreness and enhance recovery compared with the exercised but not immobilized contralateral arm.

Design: Subjects performed 10 sets of 6 maximal isokinetic (90 degrees x s(-1)) eccentric actions of the elbow flexors of each arm on a Cybex dynamometer, separated by 2 weeks.

Effects of massage on delayed-onset muscle soreness, swelling, and recovery of muscle function.

Context: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes muscle pain and tenderness that typically develop several hours postexercise and consist of predominantly eccentric muscle actions, especially if the exercise is unfamiliar. Although DOMS is likely a symptom of eccentric-exercise-induced muscle damage, it does not necessarily reflect muscle damage. Some prophylactic or therapeutic modalities may be effective only for alleviating DOMS, whereas others may enhance recovery of muscle function without affecting DOMS.

Partial protection against muscle damage by eccentric actions at short muscle lengths.

Purpose: This study investigated the hypothesis that maximal eccentric actions at a short muscle length would fail to confer a protective effect against muscle damage induced by maximal eccentric exercise at a long muscle length.

Methods: Eleven males performed 24 maximal eccentric actions of the nondominant elbow flexors over a short extension range from an elbow joint angle of 0.87-1.

Influence of Pre-Exercise Muscle Temperature on Responses to Eccentric Exercise.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that altering the pre-exercise muscle temperature would influence the magnitude of muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise. SUBJECTS: Female students who had no experience in resistance training were placed into either a microwave treatment group (n = 10) or an icing treatment group (n = 10). DESIGN AND SETTING: Subjects in each group performed 12 maximal eccentric actions of the forearm flexors of each arm on 2 separate occasions separated by 4 weeks.

Active and intelligent inhaler device development.

The dry powder inhaler, which has traditionally relied on the patient's inspiratory force to deaggregate and deliver the active agent to the target region of the lung, has been a successful delivery device for the provision of locally active agents for the treatment of conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, such devices can suffer from poor delivery characteristics and/or poor reproducibility. More recently, drugs for systemic delivery and more high value compounds have been put into DPI devices.

Delayed-onset muscle soreness does not reflect the magnitude of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.

This study investigated the relationship between delayed-onset muscle soreness and other indicators of muscle damage following eccentric exercise. Male students (n = 110) performed 12 (12ECC), 24 (24ECC), or 60 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors (60ECC). Maximal isometric force, relaxed and flexed elbow joint angles, upper arm circumference, and plasma creatine kinase activity were assessed immediately before and after, and for 4 days after exercise.

Muscle damage and soreness after endurance exercise of the elbow flexors.

Purpose: This study investigated changes in indirect markers of muscle damage after endurance exercise of the elbow flexors and compared the changes with those after maximal eccentric actions (Max-ECC) of the elbow flexors.

Methods: Eighteen male students rhythmically lifted (1 s) and lowered (1 s) a light dumbbell (1.1-1.

Difference in the magnitude of muscle damage between maximal and submaximal eccentric loading.

This study compared maximal (MAX-ECC) and submaximal (50%-ECC) eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors. Untrained male students (n = 8) performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of MAX-ECC with one arm and 50%-ECC with the other arm, separated by 4 weeks. In MAX-ECC, the elbow joint was forcibly extended from a flexed (90 degrees ) to a full-extended position (180 degrees ) in 3 seconds while producing maximal force.

Repeated eccentric exercise bouts do not exacerbate muscle damage and repair.

This study examined whether performing repeated bouts of eccentric exercise 2 and 4 days after an initial damaging bout would exacerbate muscle damage. One arm performed 3 sets of 10 eccentric actions of the elbow flexors (ECC1) using a dumbbell set at 50% of the maximal isometric force at 90 degrees (SINGLE). Two weeks later the same exercise was performed by the opposite arm with the exception that subsequent bouts were performed 2 (ECC2) and 4 (ECC3) days after ECC1 (REPEATED).

Concentric or eccentric training effect on eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare changes in muscle damage indicators following 24 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors (Max-ECC) between the arms that had been previously trained either eccentrically or concentrically for 8 wk.

Methods: Fifteen subjects performed three sets of 10 repetitions of eccentric training (ECC-T) with one arm and concentric training (CON-T) with the other arm once a week for 8 wk using a dumbbell representing 50% of maximal isometric force of the elbow flexors (MIF) determined at the elbow joint of 90 degrees (1.57 rad).