The purpose of this study was to compare a technology‐based system, an in‐person behavioral weight loss intervention, and a combination of both over a 6‐month period in overweight adults. Fifty‐one ...subjects (age: 44.2 ± 8.7 years, BMI: 33.7 ± 3.6 kg/m2) participated in a 6‐month behavioral weight loss program and were randomized to one of three groups: standard behavioral weight loss (SBWL), SBWL plus technology‐based system (SBWL+TECH), or technology‐based system only (TECH). All groups reduced caloric intake and progressively increased moderate intensity physical activity. SBWL and SBWL+TECH attended weekly meetings. SBWL+TECH also received a TECH that included an energy monitoring armband and website to monitor energy intake and expenditure. TECH used the technology system and received monthly telephone calls. Body weight and physical activity were assessed at 0 and 6 months. Retention at 6 months was significantly different (P = 0.005) between groups (SBWL: 53%, SBWL+TECH: 100%, and TECH: 77%). Intent‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis revealed significant weight losses at 6 months in SBWL+TECH (−8.8 ± 5.0 kg, −8.7 ± 4.7%), SBWL (−3.7 ± 5.7 kg, −4.1 ± 6.3%), and TECH (−5.8 ± 6.6 kg, −6.3 ± 7.1%) (P < 0.001). Self‐report physical activity increased significantly in SBWL (473.9 ± 800.7 kcal/week), SBWL+TECH (713.9 ± 1,278.8 kcal/week), and TECH (1,066.2 ± 1,371 kcal/week) (P < 0.001), with no differences between groups (P = 0.25). The TECH used in conjunction with monthly telephone calls, produced similar, if not greater weight losses and changes in physical activity than the standard in‐person behavioral program at 6 months. The use of this technology may provide an effective short‐term clinical alternative to standard in‐person behavioral weight loss interventions, with the longer term effects warranting investigation.
In this review, we consider the nature and possible developmental functions of physical activity play, defined as a playful context combined with a dimension of physical vigor. We distinguish 3 kinds ...of physical activity play, with consecutive age peaks: rhythmic stereotypies peaking in infancy, exercise play peaking during the preschool years, and rough-and-tumble play peaking in middle childhood. Gender differences (greater prevalence in males) characterize the latter 2 forms. Function is considered in terms of beneficial immediate and deferred consequences in physical, cognitive, and social domains. Whereas most theories assume that children's play has deferred benefits, we suggest that forms of physical activity play serve primarily immediate developmental functions. Rhythmic stereotypies in infancy are hypothesized to improve control of specific motor patterns. Exercise play is hypothesized to function primarily for strength and endurance training; less clear evidence exists for possible benefits for fat reduction and thermoregulation. In addition, there may be cognitive benefits of exercise play that we hypothesize to be largely incidental to its playful or physical nature. Rough-and-tumble play has a distinctive social component; we hypothesize that it serves primarily dominance functions; evidence for benefits to fighting skills or to emotional coding are more equivocal. Further research is indicated, given the potentially important implications for children's education, health, and development.
Acoustic behaviour is a key component of specialized foraging tactics for many aquatic species, especially cetaceans. However, in recent decades the natural environment has been increasingly exposed ...to a variety of anthropogenic noise sources, with the potential to impact natural foraging specializations dependent on acoustic communication. Here we evaluated whether boat noise has the potential to impact a rare foraging tactic used by individuals from a small population of the vulnerable Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) specialized in cooperation with artisanal fishers in southern Brazil. We tested whether the presence of boats changed the acoustic behaviour of dolphins when engaged in this cooperative foraging. We found that whistles and echolocation click rates were lower when boats were present, suggesting that cooperative foraging may potentially be reduced or interrupted by the presence of boats. Whistle parameters changed in response to the number, type and speed of boats, indicating a behavioural change and acoustic masking. Locally, our results reinforce the need for boat traffic regulations to minimize their impacts on these endangered dolphins and their rare cooperative tactic. From a broad perspective, we demonstrate how nonlethal impacts such as vessel disturbance can manifest subtle changes in animals’ natural behaviour and, in this case, present an insidious threat to a unique foraging specialization.
Acoustic behaviour is a key component of specialized foraging tactics, especially for cetaceans. Here, we evaluated whether boat noise impacts a fascinating dolphin‐fisher cooperative foraging specialization in southern Brazil involving an endangered dolphin subspecies. We found that whistles and echolocation click rates were lower when boats were present, suggesting that cooperative foraging may potentially be reduced or interrupted by the presence of boats. Whistle parameters changed in response to the number, type and speed of boats, indicating a behavioural change and acoustic masking. Our results reinforce the need for local boat traffic regulations, and demonstrate how nonlethal impacts such as vessel disturbance can manifest in subtle changes in animals’ natural behaviour.
Abstract
Woody plant encroachment (WPE) is a global trend that occurs in many biomes, including savannas, and accelerates with fire suppression. Since WPE can result in increased storage of soil ...organic carbon (SOC), fire management, which may include fire suppression, can improve ecosystem carbon (C) sequestration in savannas.
At our study site in Kruger National Park, South Africa, we used a long‐term (~70 year) fire experiment to study the drivers and consequences of changes in woody cover (trees and shrubs) on SOC sequestration. We surveyed four fire manipulation treatments, replicated at eight locations within the park: annual high‐intensity burns, triennial high (dry season) and low‐intensity (wet season) burns, and fire exclusion, to capture the range of fire management scenarios under consideration. The changes in woody cover were calculated over a period similar to the experiment's duration (~80 years) using aerial photographs (1944–2018). Soils were analysed to 30 cm depth for SOC and δ
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C, under and away from the tree canopy to isolate local‐ and landscape‐level effects of WPE on SOC.
The largest increases in woody cover occurred with fire exclusion. We found that plots with higher increases in woody cover also had higher SOC. However, trees were not the only contributor to SOC gains, sustained high inputs of C
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‐derived C (grasses), even under canopies in fire suppression plots, contributed significantly to SOC. We observed little difference in SOC sequestration between cooler triennial (wet season) burns and fire suppression.
Synthesis
. Grass input to soil organic carbon (SOC) remained high across the full range of woody cover created by varying burning regimes. The total SOC stocks stored from tree input only matched grass‐derived SOC stocks after almost 70 years of fire exclusion. Our results point to C
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grasses as a resilient contributor to SOC under altered fire regimes and further challenge the assumption that increasing tree cover, either through afforestation schemes or fire suppression, will result in large gains in C sequestration in savanna soils, even after 70 years.
•ESCAPE investigates PET/MRI biomarkers to predict response for esophageal cancer.•The study focused on tumor regression/ERI assessed by T2 MRI during and after nCRT.•Data referred to 25 patients (30 ...enrolled) showed relevant regression in most patients.•ERImid identified complete responders with AUC = 0.78 (0.93, combined with Vpre)•ERImid is a promising predictor of response, with intrinsically high usability.
The early regression index (ERI) predicts treatment response in rectal cancer patients. Aim of current study was to prospectively assess tumor response to neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT) of locally advanced esophageal cancer using ERI, based on MRI.
From January 2020 to May 2023, 30 patients with esophageal cancer were enrolled in a prospective study (ESCAPE). PET-MRI was performed: i) before nCRT (tpre); ii) at mid-radiotherapy, tmid; iii) after nCRT, 2–6 weeks before surgery (tpost); nCRT delivered 41.4 Gy/23fr with concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel. For patients that skipped surgery, complete clinical response (cCR) was assessed if patients showed no local relapse after 18 months; patients with pathological complete response (pCR) or with cCR were considered as complete responders (pCR + cCR). GTV volumes were delineated by two observers (Vpre, Vmid, Vpost) on T2w MRI: ERI and other volume regression parameters at tmid and tpost were tested as predictors of pCR + cCR.
Complete data of 25 patients were available at the time of the analysis: 3/25 with complete response at imaging refused surgery and 2/3 were cCR; in total, 10/25 patients showed pCR + cCR (pCR = 8/22). Both ERImid and ERIpost classified pCR + cCR patients, with ERImid showing better performance (AUC:0.78, p = 0.014): A two-variable logistic model combining ERImid and Vpre improved performances (AUC:0.93, p < 0.0001). Inter-observer variability in contouring GTV did not affect the results.
Despite the limited numbers, interim analysis of ESCAPE study suggests ERI as a potential predictor of complete response after nCRT for esophageal cancer. Further validation on larger populations is warranted.
Most knee replacement patients are overweight/obese, yet are commonly excluded from evidence-based weight loss programs due to mobility limitations and barriers faced around the time of surgery. The ...purpose of this study was to identify knee replacement patient preferences for weight loss programs and qualitatively understand previous motives for weight loss attempts as well as strategies used to facilitate behavior changes.
Patients who were either scheduled to have knee replacement or had one recently completed within the last 3 months were recruited to participate. Patients completed a brief weight loss program preference questionnaire assessing preferred components of a weight loss program (i.e. self-monitoring, educational topics, program duration). Qualitative interviews were completed to identify motives for and strategies used during past weight loss attempts. All interviews were transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using constant comparative analysis.
Twenty patients (11 pre-operative and 9 post-operative) between 47 and 79 years completed the study (55% male, 90% White, and 85% with a BMI ≥25 kg/m
). Patients reported a preference for a weight loss program that starts before surgery, is at least 6 months in duration, and focuses both on diet and exercise. The majority of patients preferred to have a telephone-based program and wanted to track diet and physical activity on a smartphone application. The most common motive for weight loss mentioned by patients related to physical appearance (including how clothing fit), followed by wanting to lose weight to improve knee symptoms or to prevent or delay knee replacement. Strategies that patients identified as helpful during weight loss attempts included joining a formal weight loss program, watching portion sizes, and self-monitoring their dietary intake, physical activity, or weight.
This study provides a preliminary examination into the motives for weight loss, strategies utilized during past weight loss attempts, and preferences for future weight loss programs as described by knee replacement patients. These results will help guide the development and adaptation of future patient-centered weight loss programs as well as help clinicians recommend targeted weight programs based on the specific preferences of the knee replacement population.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
► Effect of pelletisation parameters on pellet quality and durability. ► Downdraft gasification performance of pelletised biomass. ► Effect of biomass properties on syngas composition.
Pelletised ...biomass has been found to have excellent potential for their utilisation in small to medium sized energy systems because of its advantages over loose feedstock. The energy density is increased and so the space occupied in transportation is decreased and the amount of problematic dust or fines is also decreased. Furthermore, pellets provide a more uniform fuel, allowing easier feeding and improved performance in thermal conversion processes. The pellet manufacturing process, or pelletisation process, plays a major role on the quality of pellets produced. Changes to pelletisation parameters such as feedstock moisture content, die diameter, particle size (or screen size), addition of lubricants or binders can significantly alter the quality of the pellets and therefore the ease with which the pellets can be gasified in a downdraft gasification process. One important quality parameter that greatly affects the downdraft gasification process is the strength or durability of pellets. Durability can be defined as the ability of pellets to resist mechanical breakdown during transport or during feeding into an energy plant. Other important parameters that affect downdraft gasification are the ash content and composition of the pellets. The ash is derived from the minerals in the feedstock, the addition of binders or lubricants and also the pellet production method. Furthermore, gasification efficiency can be also affected by the process parameters such as air-to-fuel ratio, air or biomass feed rate and operating temperature. The current article compares the properties of three different types of pellets and their gasification performance. Two types of Miscanthusand a bioethanol production reside (distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS)) were used to make the pellets. The pellets made were of similar size (6–8mm) and ultimate analysis, so the paper focuseson the most important differences; these were durability, ash content and gasification parameters, expressed through the equivalence ratio which relates the actual air-to-fuel ratio with the calculated stoichiometric value. A series of experiments were conducted in a 50kWth pilot scale downdraft gasifier with the equivalence ratio varied in the range 0.2–0.3. The quality of the gas produced and the gasifier performance were assessed in terms of the gas composition, yield, heating value, cold gas efficiency and carbon conversion efficiency.
The intent of this longitudinal, multi-method, multi-agent study was to examine changes in bullying, victimization, and aggressive victimization as well as changes in peer affiliation as youngsters ...made the transition from primary school through the first year of middle school. Results indicated that bullying and aggressive victimization were relatively stable across time, possibly due to temperamental factors. Changes in peer affiliation indicated that youngsters' casual contacts with peers initially decreased from primary to the beginning of middle school but recovered by the end of the year. Close relationships, however, decreased, and number of youngsters nominated as isolates increased. Being embedded in an affiliative network of peers, in turn, inhibited victimization. School environmental factors did not make significant contributions to bullying or victimization. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of social affiliations in minimizing victimization in early adolescence. Limitations of the research were noted and suggestions for future research were also made.
In this paper, I review the evidence associated with two hypotheses, both ultimately derived from sexual selection theory, put forth to explain social sexual segregation in human juveniles. More ...proximately, I posit that segregation is motivated by sex differences in body size, physical activity and competitiveness. The first hypothesis, the energetic/behavioural hypothesis, suggests that difference in energetics is a way in which males differentiate themselves from females and develop muscle and brain systems implicated in reproductive roles. The second hypothesis, the social roles hypothesis, suggests that segregation is related to learning male and female reproductive roles. The reviewed evidence supports the view that there are differences in energetics in male and female groups. With development, the vigorous behaviours shown by males take the form of specific social roles, related to dominance and competitiveness for males and maternal roles for females.
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