Thanh An Nguyen - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Thanh An Nguyen

Research paper thumbnail of Newborn screening for guanidinoacetate methyl transferase deficiency

Molecular genetics and metabolism, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of DNA ligase III and DNA ligase IV carry out genetically distinct forms of end joining in human somatic cells

DNA repair, 2014

Ku-dependent C-NHEJ (classic non-homologous end joining) is the primary DNA EJing (end joining) r... more Ku-dependent C-NHEJ (classic non-homologous end joining) is the primary DNA EJing (end joining) repair pathway in mammals. Recently, an additional EJing repair pathway (A-NHEJ; alternative-NHEJ) has been described. Currently, the mechanism of A-NHEJ is obscure although a dependency on LIGIII (DNA ligase III) is often implicated. To test the requirement for LIGIII in A-NHEJ we constructed a LIGIII conditionally-null human cell line using gene targeting. Nuclear EJing activity appeared unaffected by a deficiency in LIGIII as, surprisingly, so were random gene targeting integration events. In contrast, LIGIII was required for mitochondrial function and this defined the gene's essential activity. Human Ku:LIGIII and Ku:LIGIV (DNA ligase IV) double knockout cell lines, however, demonstrated that LIGIII is required for the enhanced A-NHEJ activity that is observed in Ku-deficient cells. Most unexpectedly, however, the majority of EJing events remained LIGIV-dependent. In conclusion, although human LIGIII has an essential function in mitochondrial maintenance, it is dispensable for most types of nuclear DSB repair, except for the A-NHEJ events that are normally suppressed by Ku. Moreover, we describe that a robust Ku-independent, LIGIV-dependent repair pathway exists in human somatic cells.

Research paper thumbnail of Implementing the resource in clinic program in primary care delivery: a team-based dyad approach

Journal of primary care & community health, 2015

Alberta&a... more Alberta's Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring together family physicians and other health professionals to provide local, comprehensive, and readily accessible primary care services to patients. The Edmonton North PCN, one of the largest in the province, piloted the Resource in Clinic (RIC) Program with objectives to increase efficiencies in the use of physician time, increase physician workplace satisfaction, increase unattached/orphan patient access, and decrease patient wait times. An evaluation of the RIC Program employed surveys (completed by physicians with RICs, RIC staff, and patients), log chart recording, and physician billing data and cost analysis. The findings indicated high satisfaction with the model, increased physician visits, and improved access for patient with comorbidities. The study did not demonstrate increased number of patients or new patients, nor could conclusions be drawn related to patient wait times.

Research paper thumbnail of Reduced fat oxidation rates during submaximal exercise in adolescents with Crohn's disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases, 2013

Background: Children with Crohn's disease (CD) suffer from malnutrition. Understanding substrate ... more Background: Children with Crohn's disease (CD) suffer from malnutrition. Understanding substrate utilization during exercise may help patients with CD sustain a healthy active lifestyle without compromising nutrition. The aim of this study was to determine whether substrate utilization and bioavailability during exercise are altered in children with CD compared with controls.

Research paper thumbnail of The effects of resting and exercise serum from children with cystic fibrosis on C2C12 myoblast proliferation in vitro

Physiological reports, 2014

Chronic systemic inflammation is a clinical symptom in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), but th... more Chronic systemic inflammation is a clinical symptom in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), but the effects on skeletal muscle development are unknown. The aims of this study were to determine (1) the effects of systemic factors from children with CF and healthy controls on myoblast proliferation, and (2) whether exercise serum can have an effect on proliferation in vitro. Eleven children with CF and 11 biological age-matched controls completed two 30-min bouts of cycling at an intensity set at 50% peak mechanical power. Serum samples were collected before exercise (REST), immediately following exercise (EX), and after 60 min of recovery (REC). Serum samples prepared in group-specific pools were used for cell culture experiments. C2C12 myoblasts were incubated in 5% serum and media for 1 h and then immediately harvested for protein and mRNA analysis, or incubated in growth media for 2 days to examine proliferation. C2C12 myoblasts treated with CF serum displayed greater proliferation phenotype than myoblasts treated with control serum. Proliferation did not change with EX or REC serum from children with CF compared to CF REST serum, while proliferation was increased with EX and REC serum from control compared to control REST serum. These findings suggest that systemic factors from children with CF at rest and after exercise can alter myoblast proliferation responses when compared to systemic factors from healthy children, which may have implications on skeletal muscle development.

Research paper thumbnail of Fitness and physical activity in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus in good or poor glycemic control

Pediatric diabetes, 2015

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may experience poor muscle health as a result of ch... more Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may experience poor muscle health as a result of chronic hyperglycemia. Despite this, muscle function in children with T1DM with good or poor glycemic control has yet to be examined in detail. To assess differences in muscle-related fitness variables in children with T1DM with good glycemic control (T1DM-G), as well as those with poor glycemic control (T1DM-P), and non-diabetic, healthy controls. Eight children with T1DM-G [glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≤ 7.5% for 9 months], eight children with T1DM-P (HbA1c ≥ 9.0% for 9 months), and eight healthy controls completed one exercise session. Anaerobic and aerobic muscle functions were assessed with a maximal isometric grip strength test, a Wingate test, and an incremental continuous cycling test until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected at rest to determine HbA1c at the time of testing. Physical activity was monitored over 7 d using accelerometry. Children with T1DM-P displayed lower peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak ) values (mL/kg/min) compared to healthy controls (T1DM-P: 33.2 ± 5.6, controls: 43.5 ± 6.3, p < 0.01), while T1DM-G (43.5 ± 6.3) had values similar to controls and T1DM-P. There was a negative relationship between VO2peak and HbA1c% (r = -0.54, p < 0.01). All groups were similar in all other fitness variables. There were…

Research paper thumbnail of A novel in vivo gene transfer technique and in vitro cell based assays for the study of bone loss in musculoskeletal disorders

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE, 2014

Differentiation and activation of osteoclasts play a key role in the development of musculoskelet... more Differentiation and activation of osteoclasts play a key role in the development of musculoskeletal diseases as these cells are primarily involved in bone resorption. Osteoclasts can be generated in vitro from monocyte/macrophage precursor cells in the presence of certain cytokines, which promote survival and differentiation. Here, both in vivo and in vitro techniques are demonstrated, which allow scientists to study different cytokine contributions towards osteoclast differentiation, signaling, and activation. The minicircle DNA delivery gene transfer system provides an alternative method to establish an osteoporosis-related model is particularly useful to study the efficacy of various pharmacological inhibitors in vivo. Similarly, in vitro culturing protocols for producing osteoclasts from human precursor cells in the presence of specific cytokines enables scientists to study osteoclastogenesis in human cells for translational applications. Combined, these techniques have the potential to accelerate drug discovery efforts for osteoclast-specific targeted therapeutics, which may benefit millions of osteoporosis and arthritis patients worldwide.

Research paper thumbnail of Intensive care management of ischemic stroke

Current neurology and neuroscience reports, 2003

The practice of neurointensive care was initially developed to manage postoperative neurosurgical... more The practice of neurointensive care was initially developed to manage postoperative neurosurgical patients and expanded thereafter to the management of patients with primary head trauma, intracranial hemorrhage, vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, elevated intracranial pressure, and unstable pulmonary or cardiovascular medical conditions in neurologic patients. Can neurointensive care with its advanced medical and neurologic resources improve the outcome of the ischemic stroke patient? This review discusses selection of patients appropriate for admission to the neurologic intensive care unit (NICU) and current options for the intensive care management of severe ischemic stroke and its attendant complications. We propose that the NICU team is well suited to acute stroke management if they apply their advanced skills and technologic resources to manage the severe stroke patient from the time of presentation to the emergency ward. Study is needed to determine the effect that a critical care level of service has on functional outcome.

Research paper thumbnail of Reliability of fitness measures in 3- to 5-year-old children

Pediatric exercise science, 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of short-term power output, heart rate... more The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of short-term power output, heart rate (HR) response during and after a treadmill test, and time to complete a 25-m dash in healthy preschool children. Thirty-two 3- to 5-year-old boys and girls completed two sessions approximately one week apart. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated to evaluate reliability. Power output was found to be reliable with ICCs ranging from 0.83 to 0.93 and CVs from 8.1 to 9.7%. Time to complete the 25-m dash was highly reliable (ICC = 0.91, CV = 3.7%). Reliability for HR at submaximal exercise (ICC = 0.28, CV = 18.8%) and HR recovery (ICC = 0.42, CV = 14.0%) was not as strong. These findings should assist in determining appropriate fitness tests for preschoolers.

Research paper thumbnail of Inflammatory and growth factor response to continuous and intermittent exercise in youth with cystic fibrosis

Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society, 2012

Background: Exercise is a viable form of therapy for children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Understa... more Background: Exercise is a viable form of therapy for children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Understanding the energy sources used during exercise would aid CF patients in obtaining proper nutrition in order to sustain an active lifestyle. Methods: Six boys with CF (mean age ± SD: 14.8 ± 2.3 yrs, FEV1: 99 ± 18% predicted) and six matched controls (14.0 ± 2.2 yrs) completed a session of two 30 min bouts of cycling at an intensity set at 50% peak mechanical power. Rates of total fat and carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation were calculated from expired gases. Plasma insulin, glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) were determined before, during and at the end of the exercise. Results: Rates of fat oxidation (expressed in mean mg × kg body weight −1 × min −1 ± SD) were significantly lower in children with CF (5.7 ± 1.6) compared to controls (8.6 ± 1.8, p b 0.05). Children with CF also had lower values than controls in amount of fat oxidized (CF: 17.3 ± 5.0 g, controls: 26.1 ± 5.9 g, p b 0.05) and percent of total energy expenditure from fat (CF: 32 ± 6%, controls: 43 ± 7%, p b .0.05), but a higher contribution from CHO (CF: 68 ± 6%, controls: 57 ± 7% p b .0.05). Plasma FFA was significantly lower in children with CF compared to controls during (CF: 252.5 ± 117.9 μM, controls: 602.2 ± 295.6) and at the end of exercise (CF: 430.9 ± 180.6, controls: 1147.5 ± 473.5). There were no differences in the rates of CHO oxidation, insulin or glucose between groups. Conclusion: Fat metabolism during exercise is impaired in boys with CF and may be attributed to an inability to mobilize FFA.

Research paper thumbnail of Minimally Invasive Subcortical Parafascicular Transsulcal Access for Clot Evacuation (Mi SPACE) for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Case reports in neurological medicine, 2014

Background. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common and causes significant mortality... more Background. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common and causes significant mortality and morbidity. To date, optimal medical and surgical intervention remains uncertain. A lack of definitive benefit for operative management may be attributable to adverse surgical effect, collateral tissue injury. This is particularly relevant for ICH in dominant, eloquent cortex. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offers the potential advantage of reduced collateral damage. MIS utilizing a parafascicular approach has demonstrated such benefit for intracranial tumor resection. Methods. We present a case of dominant hemisphere spontaneous ICH evacuated via the minimally invasive subcortical parafascicular transsulcal access clot evacuation (Mi SPACE) model. We use this report to introduce Mi SPACE and to examine the application of this novel MIS paradigm. Case Presentation. The featured patient presented with a left temporal ICH and severe global aphasia. The hematoma was evacuated via the Mi SPACE approach. Postoperative reassessments showed significant improvement. At two months, bedside language testing was normal. MRI tractography confirmed limited collateral injury. Conclusions. This case illustrates successful application of the Mi SPACE model to ICH in dominant, eloquent cortex and subcortical regions. MRI tractography illustrates collateral tissue preservation. Safety and feasibility studies are required to further assess this promising new therapeutic paradigm.

Research paper thumbnail of Imaging anatomy and pathology of extraocular muscles in adults

Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes, 2014

The extraocular muscles (EOM) are involved in a variety of disease processes with characteristic ... more The extraocular muscles (EOM) are involved in a variety of disease processes with characteristic findings on imaging. EOM anatomy is described, followed by a review of adult EOM pathology. The imaging characteristics are explained with examples. The pattern of EOM disease on imaging, in corroboration with clinical findings, can often lead the radiologist towards a specific diagnosis.

Research paper thumbnail of Decision-Making by Consensus in the WTO

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Whether or Not Should Legislation Provide Criteria of Arbitrators?

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Learning to extract form labels

Proceedings of The Vldb Endowment, 2008

In this paper we describe a new approach to extract element labels from Web form interfaces. Havi... more In this paper we describe a new approach to extract element labels from Web form interfaces. Having these labels is a requirement for several techniques that attempt to retrieve and integrate information that is hidden behind form interfaces, such as hidden Web crawlers and metasearchers. However, given the wide variation in form layout, even within a well-defined domain, automatically extracting these labels is a challenging problem. Whereas previous approaches to this problem have relied on heuristics and manually specified extraction rules, our technique makes use of a learning classifier ensemble to identify element-label mappings; and it applies a reconciliation step which leverages the classifier-derived mappings to boost extraction accuracy. We present a detailed experimental evaluation using over three thousand Web forms. Our results show that our approach is effective: it obtains significantly higher accuracy and is more robust to variability in form layout than previous label extraction techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of VICUR: A human-vision-based algorithm for curve reconstruction

Robotics and Computer-integrated Manufacturing - ROBOT COMPUT-INTEGR MANUF, 2008

In this paper, a new algorithm, named VICUR, is presented for curve reconstruction problem. From ... more In this paper, a new algorithm, named VICUR, is presented for curve reconstruction problem. From a set of unorganized points, the proposed algorithm can construct curves that look natural to human vision. The VICUR algorithm is based on two connectivity criteria: proximity and good continuation from the prominent Gestalt principles of perception. Experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of VICUR.

Research paper thumbnail of Querying Wikipedia Documents and Relationships

International Workshop on the Web and Databases, 2010

Wikipedia has become an important source of information which is growing very rapidly. However, t... more Wikipedia has become an important source of information which is growing very rapidly. However, the existing infrastructure for querying this information is limited and often ignores the inherent structure in the information and links across documents. In this paper, we present a new approach for querying Wikipedia content that supports a simple, yet expressive query interfaces that allow both keyword

Research paper thumbnail of A physiological study of relationship between designer’s mental effort and mental stress during conceptual design

Computer-Aided Design, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of A distance-based parameter free algorithm for curve reconstruction

Computer-Aided Design, 2008

In this paper, a simple, efficient, and parameter free algorithm, DISCUR, is proposed to reconstr... more In this paper, a simple, efficient, and parameter free algorithm, DISCUR, is proposed to reconstruct curves from unorganized sample points. The proposed algorithm can reconstruct multiple simple curves that may be open, closed, and/or with sharp corners. The criteria for the curve reconstruction are based on two observations we have made concerning the human visual system: (1) two closest neighbors tend to be connected, and (2) sampling points tend to be connected into a smooth curve. To simulate these two observations, we use the neighborhood feature to connect the nearest neighbors and we present a statistical criterion to determine when two sample points should not be connected even if they are the nearest neighbors. Finally, a necessary and sufficient condition is proposed for the sampling of curves so that they can be reconstructed by using the present algorithm. Numerous examples show that this algorithm is effective.

Research paper thumbnail of Newborn screening for guanidinoacetate methyl transferase deficiency

Molecular genetics and metabolism, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of DNA ligase III and DNA ligase IV carry out genetically distinct forms of end joining in human somatic cells

DNA repair, 2014

Ku-dependent C-NHEJ (classic non-homologous end joining) is the primary DNA EJing (end joining) r... more Ku-dependent C-NHEJ (classic non-homologous end joining) is the primary DNA EJing (end joining) repair pathway in mammals. Recently, an additional EJing repair pathway (A-NHEJ; alternative-NHEJ) has been described. Currently, the mechanism of A-NHEJ is obscure although a dependency on LIGIII (DNA ligase III) is often implicated. To test the requirement for LIGIII in A-NHEJ we constructed a LIGIII conditionally-null human cell line using gene targeting. Nuclear EJing activity appeared unaffected by a deficiency in LIGIII as, surprisingly, so were random gene targeting integration events. In contrast, LIGIII was required for mitochondrial function and this defined the gene's essential activity. Human Ku:LIGIII and Ku:LIGIV (DNA ligase IV) double knockout cell lines, however, demonstrated that LIGIII is required for the enhanced A-NHEJ activity that is observed in Ku-deficient cells. Most unexpectedly, however, the majority of EJing events remained LIGIV-dependent. In conclusion, although human LIGIII has an essential function in mitochondrial maintenance, it is dispensable for most types of nuclear DSB repair, except for the A-NHEJ events that are normally suppressed by Ku. Moreover, we describe that a robust Ku-independent, LIGIV-dependent repair pathway exists in human somatic cells.

Research paper thumbnail of Implementing the resource in clinic program in primary care delivery: a team-based dyad approach

Journal of primary care & community health, 2015

Alberta&a... more Alberta's Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring together family physicians and other health professionals to provide local, comprehensive, and readily accessible primary care services to patients. The Edmonton North PCN, one of the largest in the province, piloted the Resource in Clinic (RIC) Program with objectives to increase efficiencies in the use of physician time, increase physician workplace satisfaction, increase unattached/orphan patient access, and decrease patient wait times. An evaluation of the RIC Program employed surveys (completed by physicians with RICs, RIC staff, and patients), log chart recording, and physician billing data and cost analysis. The findings indicated high satisfaction with the model, increased physician visits, and improved access for patient with comorbidities. The study did not demonstrate increased number of patients or new patients, nor could conclusions be drawn related to patient wait times.

Research paper thumbnail of Reduced fat oxidation rates during submaximal exercise in adolescents with Crohn's disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases, 2013

Background: Children with Crohn's disease (CD) suffer from malnutrition. Understanding substrate ... more Background: Children with Crohn's disease (CD) suffer from malnutrition. Understanding substrate utilization during exercise may help patients with CD sustain a healthy active lifestyle without compromising nutrition. The aim of this study was to determine whether substrate utilization and bioavailability during exercise are altered in children with CD compared with controls.

Research paper thumbnail of The effects of resting and exercise serum from children with cystic fibrosis on C2C12 myoblast proliferation in vitro

Physiological reports, 2014

Chronic systemic inflammation is a clinical symptom in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), but th... more Chronic systemic inflammation is a clinical symptom in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), but the effects on skeletal muscle development are unknown. The aims of this study were to determine (1) the effects of systemic factors from children with CF and healthy controls on myoblast proliferation, and (2) whether exercise serum can have an effect on proliferation in vitro. Eleven children with CF and 11 biological age-matched controls completed two 30-min bouts of cycling at an intensity set at 50% peak mechanical power. Serum samples were collected before exercise (REST), immediately following exercise (EX), and after 60 min of recovery (REC). Serum samples prepared in group-specific pools were used for cell culture experiments. C2C12 myoblasts were incubated in 5% serum and media for 1 h and then immediately harvested for protein and mRNA analysis, or incubated in growth media for 2 days to examine proliferation. C2C12 myoblasts treated with CF serum displayed greater proliferation phenotype than myoblasts treated with control serum. Proliferation did not change with EX or REC serum from children with CF compared to CF REST serum, while proliferation was increased with EX and REC serum from control compared to control REST serum. These findings suggest that systemic factors from children with CF at rest and after exercise can alter myoblast proliferation responses when compared to systemic factors from healthy children, which may have implications on skeletal muscle development.

Research paper thumbnail of Fitness and physical activity in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus in good or poor glycemic control

Pediatric diabetes, 2015

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may experience poor muscle health as a result of ch... more Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may experience poor muscle health as a result of chronic hyperglycemia. Despite this, muscle function in children with T1DM with good or poor glycemic control has yet to be examined in detail. To assess differences in muscle-related fitness variables in children with T1DM with good glycemic control (T1DM-G), as well as those with poor glycemic control (T1DM-P), and non-diabetic, healthy controls. Eight children with T1DM-G [glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≤ 7.5% for 9 months], eight children with T1DM-P (HbA1c ≥ 9.0% for 9 months), and eight healthy controls completed one exercise session. Anaerobic and aerobic muscle functions were assessed with a maximal isometric grip strength test, a Wingate test, and an incremental continuous cycling test until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected at rest to determine HbA1c at the time of testing. Physical activity was monitored over 7 d using accelerometry. Children with T1DM-P displayed lower peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak ) values (mL/kg/min) compared to healthy controls (T1DM-P: 33.2 ± 5.6, controls: 43.5 ± 6.3, p < 0.01), while T1DM-G (43.5 ± 6.3) had values similar to controls and T1DM-P. There was a negative relationship between VO2peak and HbA1c% (r = -0.54, p < 0.01). All groups were similar in all other fitness variables. There were…

Research paper thumbnail of A novel in vivo gene transfer technique and in vitro cell based assays for the study of bone loss in musculoskeletal disorders

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE, 2014

Differentiation and activation of osteoclasts play a key role in the development of musculoskelet... more Differentiation and activation of osteoclasts play a key role in the development of musculoskeletal diseases as these cells are primarily involved in bone resorption. Osteoclasts can be generated in vitro from monocyte/macrophage precursor cells in the presence of certain cytokines, which promote survival and differentiation. Here, both in vivo and in vitro techniques are demonstrated, which allow scientists to study different cytokine contributions towards osteoclast differentiation, signaling, and activation. The minicircle DNA delivery gene transfer system provides an alternative method to establish an osteoporosis-related model is particularly useful to study the efficacy of various pharmacological inhibitors in vivo. Similarly, in vitro culturing protocols for producing osteoclasts from human precursor cells in the presence of specific cytokines enables scientists to study osteoclastogenesis in human cells for translational applications. Combined, these techniques have the potential to accelerate drug discovery efforts for osteoclast-specific targeted therapeutics, which may benefit millions of osteoporosis and arthritis patients worldwide.

Research paper thumbnail of Intensive care management of ischemic stroke

Current neurology and neuroscience reports, 2003

The practice of neurointensive care was initially developed to manage postoperative neurosurgical... more The practice of neurointensive care was initially developed to manage postoperative neurosurgical patients and expanded thereafter to the management of patients with primary head trauma, intracranial hemorrhage, vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, elevated intracranial pressure, and unstable pulmonary or cardiovascular medical conditions in neurologic patients. Can neurointensive care with its advanced medical and neurologic resources improve the outcome of the ischemic stroke patient? This review discusses selection of patients appropriate for admission to the neurologic intensive care unit (NICU) and current options for the intensive care management of severe ischemic stroke and its attendant complications. We propose that the NICU team is well suited to acute stroke management if they apply their advanced skills and technologic resources to manage the severe stroke patient from the time of presentation to the emergency ward. Study is needed to determine the effect that a critical care level of service has on functional outcome.

Research paper thumbnail of Reliability of fitness measures in 3- to 5-year-old children

Pediatric exercise science, 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of short-term power output, heart rate... more The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of short-term power output, heart rate (HR) response during and after a treadmill test, and time to complete a 25-m dash in healthy preschool children. Thirty-two 3- to 5-year-old boys and girls completed two sessions approximately one week apart. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated to evaluate reliability. Power output was found to be reliable with ICCs ranging from 0.83 to 0.93 and CVs from 8.1 to 9.7%. Time to complete the 25-m dash was highly reliable (ICC = 0.91, CV = 3.7%). Reliability for HR at submaximal exercise (ICC = 0.28, CV = 18.8%) and HR recovery (ICC = 0.42, CV = 14.0%) was not as strong. These findings should assist in determining appropriate fitness tests for preschoolers.

Research paper thumbnail of Inflammatory and growth factor response to continuous and intermittent exercise in youth with cystic fibrosis

Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society, 2012

Background: Exercise is a viable form of therapy for children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Understa... more Background: Exercise is a viable form of therapy for children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Understanding the energy sources used during exercise would aid CF patients in obtaining proper nutrition in order to sustain an active lifestyle. Methods: Six boys with CF (mean age ± SD: 14.8 ± 2.3 yrs, FEV1: 99 ± 18% predicted) and six matched controls (14.0 ± 2.2 yrs) completed a session of two 30 min bouts of cycling at an intensity set at 50% peak mechanical power. Rates of total fat and carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation were calculated from expired gases. Plasma insulin, glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) were determined before, during and at the end of the exercise. Results: Rates of fat oxidation (expressed in mean mg × kg body weight −1 × min −1 ± SD) were significantly lower in children with CF (5.7 ± 1.6) compared to controls (8.6 ± 1.8, p b 0.05). Children with CF also had lower values than controls in amount of fat oxidized (CF: 17.3 ± 5.0 g, controls: 26.1 ± 5.9 g, p b 0.05) and percent of total energy expenditure from fat (CF: 32 ± 6%, controls: 43 ± 7%, p b .0.05), but a higher contribution from CHO (CF: 68 ± 6%, controls: 57 ± 7% p b .0.05). Plasma FFA was significantly lower in children with CF compared to controls during (CF: 252.5 ± 117.9 μM, controls: 602.2 ± 295.6) and at the end of exercise (CF: 430.9 ± 180.6, controls: 1147.5 ± 473.5). There were no differences in the rates of CHO oxidation, insulin or glucose between groups. Conclusion: Fat metabolism during exercise is impaired in boys with CF and may be attributed to an inability to mobilize FFA.

Research paper thumbnail of Minimally Invasive Subcortical Parafascicular Transsulcal Access for Clot Evacuation (Mi SPACE) for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Case reports in neurological medicine, 2014

Background. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common and causes significant mortality... more Background. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common and causes significant mortality and morbidity. To date, optimal medical and surgical intervention remains uncertain. A lack of definitive benefit for operative management may be attributable to adverse surgical effect, collateral tissue injury. This is particularly relevant for ICH in dominant, eloquent cortex. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offers the potential advantage of reduced collateral damage. MIS utilizing a parafascicular approach has demonstrated such benefit for intracranial tumor resection. Methods. We present a case of dominant hemisphere spontaneous ICH evacuated via the minimally invasive subcortical parafascicular transsulcal access clot evacuation (Mi SPACE) model. We use this report to introduce Mi SPACE and to examine the application of this novel MIS paradigm. Case Presentation. The featured patient presented with a left temporal ICH and severe global aphasia. The hematoma was evacuated via the Mi SPACE approach. Postoperative reassessments showed significant improvement. At two months, bedside language testing was normal. MRI tractography confirmed limited collateral injury. Conclusions. This case illustrates successful application of the Mi SPACE model to ICH in dominant, eloquent cortex and subcortical regions. MRI tractography illustrates collateral tissue preservation. Safety and feasibility studies are required to further assess this promising new therapeutic paradigm.

Research paper thumbnail of Imaging anatomy and pathology of extraocular muscles in adults

Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes, 2014

The extraocular muscles (EOM) are involved in a variety of disease processes with characteristic ... more The extraocular muscles (EOM) are involved in a variety of disease processes with characteristic findings on imaging. EOM anatomy is described, followed by a review of adult EOM pathology. The imaging characteristics are explained with examples. The pattern of EOM disease on imaging, in corroboration with clinical findings, can often lead the radiologist towards a specific diagnosis.

Research paper thumbnail of Decision-Making by Consensus in the WTO

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Whether or Not Should Legislation Provide Criteria of Arbitrators?

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Learning to extract form labels

Proceedings of The Vldb Endowment, 2008

In this paper we describe a new approach to extract element labels from Web form interfaces. Havi... more In this paper we describe a new approach to extract element labels from Web form interfaces. Having these labels is a requirement for several techniques that attempt to retrieve and integrate information that is hidden behind form interfaces, such as hidden Web crawlers and metasearchers. However, given the wide variation in form layout, even within a well-defined domain, automatically extracting these labels is a challenging problem. Whereas previous approaches to this problem have relied on heuristics and manually specified extraction rules, our technique makes use of a learning classifier ensemble to identify element-label mappings; and it applies a reconciliation step which leverages the classifier-derived mappings to boost extraction accuracy. We present a detailed experimental evaluation using over three thousand Web forms. Our results show that our approach is effective: it obtains significantly higher accuracy and is more robust to variability in form layout than previous label extraction techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of VICUR: A human-vision-based algorithm for curve reconstruction

Robotics and Computer-integrated Manufacturing - ROBOT COMPUT-INTEGR MANUF, 2008

In this paper, a new algorithm, named VICUR, is presented for curve reconstruction problem. From ... more In this paper, a new algorithm, named VICUR, is presented for curve reconstruction problem. From a set of unorganized points, the proposed algorithm can construct curves that look natural to human vision. The VICUR algorithm is based on two connectivity criteria: proximity and good continuation from the prominent Gestalt principles of perception. Experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of VICUR.

Research paper thumbnail of Querying Wikipedia Documents and Relationships

International Workshop on the Web and Databases, 2010

Wikipedia has become an important source of information which is growing very rapidly. However, t... more Wikipedia has become an important source of information which is growing very rapidly. However, the existing infrastructure for querying this information is limited and often ignores the inherent structure in the information and links across documents. In this paper, we present a new approach for querying Wikipedia content that supports a simple, yet expressive query interfaces that allow both keyword

Research paper thumbnail of A physiological study of relationship between designer’s mental effort and mental stress during conceptual design

Computer-Aided Design, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of A distance-based parameter free algorithm for curve reconstruction

Computer-Aided Design, 2008

In this paper, a simple, efficient, and parameter free algorithm, DISCUR, is proposed to reconstr... more In this paper, a simple, efficient, and parameter free algorithm, DISCUR, is proposed to reconstruct curves from unorganized sample points. The proposed algorithm can reconstruct multiple simple curves that may be open, closed, and/or with sharp corners. The criteria for the curve reconstruction are based on two observations we have made concerning the human visual system: (1) two closest neighbors tend to be connected, and (2) sampling points tend to be connected into a smooth curve. To simulate these two observations, we use the neighborhood feature to connect the nearest neighbors and we present a statistical criterion to determine when two sample points should not be connected even if they are the nearest neighbors. Finally, a necessary and sufficient condition is proposed for the sampling of curves so that they can be reconstructed by using the present algorithm. Numerous examples show that this algorithm is effective.