Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has impacted the health of the population. Technological advances become alternative tools for the promotion of lifestyle and prevention of ...non-communicable diseases in university personnel. Objective: This study analyzed the effect of an intervention based on a telehealth program and investigated its efficacy in improving lifestyle, body mass index, and glucose concentration in university staff during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: A pre-experimental study was conducted between August and December 2021 on 100 workers of a private university located in Tarapoto, Peru. Information was collected on lifestyle practices and beliefs, body mass index, and glucose contraction before and after the intervention. After the intervention, 78 participants were analyzed; 22 workers did not respond to the invitation. Results: Comparison between pretest and follow-up showed an increase in lifestyle practices and beliefs (from 93.33 ± 9.44 to 96.23 ± 9.32, p < 0.01), although this value is considered an unhealthy lifestyle. Moreover, a decrease in body mass index (from 25.23 ± 3.08 to 24.98 ± 2.98, p < 0.05) and glucose concentration (from 98.35 ± 6.70 to 97.45 ± 5.61, p < 0.01) was observed. Conclusion: Telehealth-based educational interventions could be effective in university staff during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which, in turn, would support improved lifestyles and adequate body mass index and glucose levels.
Cellular electrical activity is the result of a highly complex processes that involve the activation of ion channel proteins. Ion channels make pores on cell membranes that rapidly transit between ...conductive and non-conductive states, allowing different ions to flow down their electrochemical gradients across cell membranes. In the case of neuronal cells, ion channel activity orchestrates action potentials traveling through axons, enabling electrical communication between cells in distant parts of the body. Somatic sensation -our ability to feel touch, temperature and noxious stimuli- require ion channels able to sense and respond to our peripheral environment. Sensory integration involves the summing of various environmental cues and their conversion into electrical signals. Members of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family of ion channels have emerged as important mediators of both cellular sensing and sensory integration. The regulation of the spatial and temporal distribution of membrane receptors is recognized as an important mechanism for controlling the magnitude of the cellular response and the time scale on which cellular signaling occurs. Several studies have shown that this mechanism is also used by TRP channels to modulate cellular response and ultimately fulfill their physiological function as sensors. However, the inner-working of this mode of control for TRP channels remains poorly understood. The question of whether TRPs intrinsically regulate their own vesicular trafficking or weather the dynamic regulation of TRP channel residence on the cell surface is caused by extrinsic changes in the rates of vesicle insertion or retrieval remain open. This review will examine the evidence that sub-cellular redistribution of TRP channels plays an important role in regulating their activity and explore the mechanisms that control the trafficking of vesicles containing TRP channels.
We report the experimental implementation of a new method for generating multiple dynamical optical tweezers, where each one of them is generated with an independent linear polarization state with ...arbitrary orientation. This also allows an independent simultaneous polarization-rotation control. The laser beam, both for generating multiple traps and polarization control, has been modulated using a single reflective nematic liquid crystal with parallel alignment. We present experimental results of controlled displacement, orientation and rotation of birefringent particles. In addition, a simple method for estimating and canceling out the primary astigmatism present in the system is presented.
Calanchi badlands are erosion landforms characterized by areas with scarce or absent vegetation, steep slopes, knife-edge divides and high erosion rates. They are originated by a combination of ...morphogenetic processes, partly similar to those shaping bigger fluvial landforms, and therefore can be considered as field “laboratories.” This paper presents the results of an investigation carried out in two badland sites located in Sicily, where the geometry of 25 calanchi has been characterized using Digital Elevation Models having a mesh size equal to 2m. For each landform, a power length–volume relationship is established. This relationship demonstrates that length of calanchi channels can be used as a reliable predictor of eroded volume, as already verified for smaller linear erosion landforms such as rills, ephemeral and permanent gullies. Moreover, length, volume, width and depth of calanchi are combined into two dimensionless groups, allowing to establish a morphological similarity between rills, ephemeral, permanent gullies and the studied badlands. Furthermore the Hack's law, which relates channel length to drainage basin area, is applied to the 25 calanchi basins obtaining an exponent of this power law smaller than 0.5; this result indicates that basins do not become necessarily more elongate with increasing size. Finally the relationships between maximum length and width of the landforms are analyzed demonstrating that calanchi basins become wider, and not longer and narrower, when evolving and increasing their size.
•Eroded volumes of calanchi landforms can be predicted by measuring their length.•The calanchi behave similarly to rills, ephemeral and permanent gullies.•The Hack's law is also applicable to calanchi badlands.•Calanchi become wider, and not more elongate, when increasing their drainage area.
Cormier, P, Freitas, TT, Rubio-Arias, JÁ, and Alcaraz, PE. Complex and contrast training: Does strength and power training sequence affect performance-based adaptations in team sports? A systematic ...review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 34(5): 1461-1479, 2020-The aims of this meta-analysis were to examine the effects of 2 different strength and power training sequences (complex: CPX; and contrast: CNT, training) on performance-based adaptations in team sports {lower-body strength (1 repetition maximum 1RM), vertical jump (VJ), sprinting, and change of direction (COD) ability}, as well as identify factors potentially affecting said adaptations (i.e., athlete level, type of sport, intensity, and duration). CPX is the combination training that alternates biomechanically similar high load weight training exercises with lighter load power exercises, set for set (e.g., squats followed by countermovement jumps). CNT is the combination training where all high load strength exercises are performed at the beginning of the session and all lighter load power exercises at the end. After an electronic database search (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and WoS), a total of 27 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The effects on outcomes were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs). Baseline to postintervention overall results for the studied variables: (a) 1RM: large effects for CPX (SMD = 2.01, 95% confidence interval CI 1.18-2.84) and CNT (SMD = 1.29, 95% CI 0.61-1.98); (b) VJ: large effects for CPX (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI 0.42-1.34) and medium effects for CNT (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI 0.29-0.81); (c) sprint: large effects for CPX (SMD = -0.94, 95% CI -1.33 to -0.54) and small effects for CNT (SMD = -0.27, 95% CI -0.92 to 0.39); and (d) COD: large effects for CPX (SMD = -1.17, 95% CI -1.43 to -0.90) and medium effects for CNT (SMD = -0.68, 95% CI -1.20 to -0.15). Regarding the studies that contained a control group: (a) 1RM: large effects for CPX (SMD = 1.61, 95% CI 1.12-2.10) and CNT (SMD = 1.38, 95% CI 0.30-2.46); (b) VJ: large effects for CPX (SMD = 0.85, 95% CI 0.45-1.25) and medium for CNT (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI 0.19-0.81); (c) sprint: medium effects for CPX (SMD = -0.69, 95% CI -1.02 to -0.36) and CNT (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI -0.90 to -0.11); and (d) COD: large effects for CPX (SMD = -0.83, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.59), and there were no control groups for CNT. In conclusion, both training interventions may lead to positive performance-based adaptations in team-sports with CPX interventions potentially leading to slightly greater effects.
We propose a new self-exciting jump–diffusion process, the Heston–Queue-Hawkes (HQH) model, which integrates the well-known Heston model with the recently introduced Queue-Hawkes (Q-Hawkes) jump ...process. Similar to the Heston–Hawkes process (HH), the HQH model effectively captures both the slow and continuous evolution of prices, and the sudden and impactful market movements due to self-excitation and contagion. But a significant advantage of the HQH model is that its characteristic function is available in closed form, allowing for the efficient application of Fourier-based fast pricing algorithms, such as the COS method (which we extend to deal with discrete distributions). We also demonstrate that, by leveraging partial integrals of the characteristic function, which are explicitly known for the HQH process, we can reduce the dimensionality of the COS method, thereby decreasing its numerical complexity. Our numerical results for pricing European and Bermudan options indicate that the HQH model provides a broader range of volatility smiles compared to the Bates model, while maintaining a substantially lower computational burden than the HH process.
Background Abdominal obesity (AO) is linked to inflammation and insulin resistance (IR). However, there is limited information on whether preschoolers with AO present these risk factors. We evaluated ...the association between AO and cardiovascular risk factors in preschoolers. Methods We enrolled 232 children (2-5 years), of whom 50% had AO. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) and apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo-A1), glucose, insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1/CCL2), leptin, adiponectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1/CD106) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1/CD54) were measured. The homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) was calculated. We analyzed these variables according to the presence of AO and other metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Results A total of 75.8% of children with AO had one or more risk factors for MetS. Children with AO had significantly higher body mass indexes (BMIs), insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c) and TC/HDL-c ratio and lower HDL-c, compared to children without AO; but there were no differences in inflammatory markers. After adjusting for BMI, sex and age, the differences between groups were not significant for any variable. Waist circumference (WC) was correlated with insulin (r=0.547; p<0.001), TG (r=0.207; p=0.001), ICAM-1 (r=0.213; p=0.039), hs-CRP (r=0.189; p=0.015) and glucose (r=0.187; p=0.004). After adjusting for BMI, age and sex, AO plus one MetS component contributed to individual variation in glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and TG. Conclusions AO in preschool children is associated with greater IR and atherogenic lipid profiles, although these findings seem to be more related to general obesity than just central obesity. In addition, our data suggest that IR may precede the elevation of systemic cytokines in obese children, unlike findings in adults. More studies in pediatric populations are needed to elucidate these associations.
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•Method to classify the sky conditions into 6 distinct classes at 1-minute resolution.•Method uses global irradiance measurements and their modeled clear-sky counterparts.•Dynamic ...thresholds calculated from 4 irradiance-based indices and solar zenith angle.•Method successfully applied to 54 BSRN world stations in all 5 major climate classes.•Cloudless sky class results similar to those from 2 clear-sky detection algorithms.
Precise sky classification as a function of cloudiness is desirable or necessary in a variety of applications. CAELUS, a novel classification algorithm that relies on various thresholds to separate all possible sky conditions into six classes, is presented here. It uses global horizontal irradiance (GHI) measurements at 1-min resolution, from which a set of four indices is derived to characterize the magnitude and temporal variability of GHI. The algorithm also requires precise estimates of 1-min GHI under hypothetical cloudless conditions, and the solar zenith angle (limited to a maximum of 85°). Using 1-min GHI measurements from 54 BSRN high-quality radiometric stations, which cover all five primary Köppen-Geiger climate classes, CAELUS is used here to classify their sky conditions. The classification results, including the distribution of sky classes and the transitions between consecutive sky classes, are found consistent with the known characteristics of each primary Köppen-Geiger climate. Moreover, in each climate class, the detection of 1-min cloudless situations is found comparable to that provided by two dedicated and state-of-the-art methods—Reno-Hansen and Bright-Sun.
Suicide is a leading cause of deaths in the United States. Although the emergency department (ED) is an opportune setting for initiating suicide prevention efforts, ED-initiated suicide prevention ...interventions remain underdeveloped.
To determine whether an ED-initiated intervention reduces subsequent suicidal behavior.
This multicenter study of 8 EDs in the United States enrolled adults with a recent suicide attempt or ideation and was composed of 3 sequential phases: (1) a treatment as usual (TAU) phase from August 2010 to December 2011, (2) a universal screening (screening) phase from September 2011 to December 2012, and (3) a universal screening plus intervention (intervention) phase from July 2012 to November 2013.
Screening consisted of universal suicide risk screening. The intervention phase consisted of universal screening plus an intervention, which included secondary suicide risk screening by the ED physician, discharge resources, and post-ED telephone calls focused on reducing suicide risk.
The primary outcome was suicide attempts (nonfatal and fatal) over the 52-week follow-up period. The proportion and total number of attempts were analyzed.
A total of 1376 participants were recruited, including 769 females (55.9%) with a median (interquartile range) age of 37 (26-47) years. A total of 288 participants (20.9%) made at least 1 suicide attempt, and there were 548 total suicide attempts among participants. There were no significant differences in risk reduction between the TAU and screening phases (23% vs 22%, respectively). However, compared with the TAU phase, patients in the intervention phase showed a 5% absolute reduction in suicide attempt risk (23% vs 18%), with a relative risk reduction of 20%. Participants in the intervention phase had 30% fewer total suicide attempts than participants in the TAU phase. Negative binomial regression analysis indicated that the participants in the intervention phase had significantly fewer total suicide attempts than participants in the TAU phase (incidence rate ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-1.00; P = .05) but no differences between the TAU and screening phases (incidence rate ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.71-1.41; P = .99).
Among at-risk patients in the ED, a combination of brief interventions administered both during and after the ED visit decreased post-ED suicidal behavior.
Resistance in Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Miller, William R; Murray, Barbara E; Rice, Louis B ...
Infectious disease clinics of North America,
12/2020, Letnik:
34, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Serious infections owing to vancomycin-resistant enterococci have historically proven to be difficult clinical cases, requiring combination therapy and management of treatment-related toxicity. ...Despite the introduction of new antibiotics with activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci to the therapeutic armamentarium, significant challenges remain. An understanding of the factors driving the emergence of resistance in vancomycin-resistant enterococci, the dynamics of gastrointestinal colonization and microbiota-mediated colonization resistance, and the mechanisms of resistance to the currently available therapeutics will permit clinicians to be better prepared to tackle these challenging hospital-associated pathogens.
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