Background: Adequate sleep is a critical factor for adolescent's health and health-related behaviors. Objective: (a) to describe sleep duration in European adolescents from nine countries, (b) to ...assess the association of short sleep duration with excess adiposity and (c) to elucidate if physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors and/or inadequate food habits underlie this association. Design: A sample of 3311 adolescents (1748 girls) aged 12.5-17.49 years from 10 European cities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden was assessed in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Study between 2006 and 2008. We measured anthropometric data, sleep duration, PA (accelerometers and questionnaire), television watching and food habits (Food Frequency Questionnaire). Results: Average duration of daily sleep was 8 h. Shorter sleepers showed higher values of BMI, body fat, waist and hip circumferences and fat mass index (P<0.05), particularly in females. Adolescents who slept <8 h per day were more sedentary, as assessed by accelerometry, and spent more time watching TV (P<0.05). The proportion of adolescents who eat adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and fish was lower in shorter sleepers than in adolescents who slept 8 h per day, and so was the probability of having adequate food habits (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that short sleep is associated with higher obesity parameters. Conclusions: In European adolescents, short sleep duration is associated with higher adiposity markers, particularly in female adolescents. This association seems to be related to both sides of the energy balance equation due to a combination of increased food intake and more sedentary habits.
The precise control over the interaction between cells and the surface of materials plays a crucial role in optimizing the integration of implanted biomaterials. In this regard, material surface with ...controlled topographic features at the micro- and nano-scales has been proved to affect the overall cell behavior and therefore the final osseointegration of implants. Within this context, femtosecond (fs) laser micro/nano machining technology was used in this work to modify the surface structure of stainless steel aiming at controlling cell adhesion and migration. The experimental results show that cells tend to attach and preferentially align to the laser-induced nanopatterns oriented in a specific direction. Accordingly, the laser-based fabrication method here described constitutes a simple, clean, and scalable technique which allows a precise control of the surface nano-patterning process and, subsequently, enables the control of cell adhesion, migration, and polarization. Moreover, since our surface-patterning approach does not involve any chemical treatments and is performed in a single step process, it could in principle be applied to most metallic materials.
We study electronic contribution to the Raman scattering signals of two-, three- and four-layer graphene with layers at one of the interfaces twisted by a small angle with respect to each other. We ...find that the Raman spectra of these systems feature two peaks produced by van Hove singularities in moiré minibands of twistronic graphene, one related to direct hybridization of the Dirac states, and the other resulting from band folding caused by moiré superlattice. The positions of both peaks strongly depend on the twist angle, so that their detection can be used for noninvasive characterization of the twist, even in hBN-encapsulated structures.
Observations of the pulsations of stars can be used to infer their interior structure and test theoretical models. The main-sequence γ Doradus (Dor) and δ Scuti (Sct) stars with masses 1.2-2.5 M ...SUBsun/SUB are particularly useful for these studies. The γ Dor stars pulsate in high-order g-modes with periods of order 1 day, driven by convective blocking at the base of their envelope convection zone. The δ Sct stars pulsate in low-order g- and p-modes with periods of order 2 hr, driven by the κ mechanism operating in the He II ionization zone. Theory predicts an overlap region in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram between instability regions, where "hybrid" stars pulsating in both types of modes should exist. The two types of modes with properties governed by different portions of the stellar interior provide complementary model constraints. Among the known γ Dor and δ Sct stars, only four have been confirmed as hybrids. Now, analysis of combined Quarter 0 and Quarter 1 Kepler data for hundreds of variable stars shows that the frequency spectra are so rich that there are practically no pure δ Sct or γ Dor pulsators, i.e., essentially all of the stars show frequencies in both the δ Sct and the γ Dor frequency range. A new observational classification scheme is proposed that takes into account the amplitude as well as the frequency and is applied to categorize 234 stars as δ Sct, γ Dor, δ Sct/γ Dor or γ Dor/δ Sct hybrids.
Texturization of surfaces is usually advantageous in biomaterial engineering. However, the details of the textured surfaces can be more determining on cell adhesion and proliferation, rather than ...their roughness degree. Titanium is extensively used as a dental implant material in the human body. In this paper, the effect of four surface treatments on commercially pure titanium has been evaluated. These treatments were polishing (pTi); hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching (eTi); Al
2O
3 blasting (bTi); Al
2O
3 blasting
+
HF etching (beTi). Roughness and fractal dimensions were obtained from atomic force microscopy. Wettability was measured using water sessile drops. Morphology and surface chemical composition were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). MG-63 cell cultures were performed at different times (180
min, 24
h, 48
h, 72
h). Lowest roughness was found in pTi samples followed by eTi, bTi and beTi samples. Etching generated surfaces with the highest fractal dimension and negative skewness. Young contact angles were similar except for pTi and bTi surfaces. Silicon and aluminum traces were found in pTi and bTi samples, respectively. Cell adhesion (≤24
h) was greater on bTi and beTi surfaces. After 48
h, cell proliferation, mediated by specific morphologies, was improved in eTi samples followed by beTi surfaces. For the same surface chemistry, cell growth was driven by topography features.
Background and Objective: Focused Ion Beam - Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) allows three-dimensional ultrastructural analysis of cells and tissues at the nanoscale. The technique iteratively ...removes a section of the sample with a FIB and takes an SEM image from the exposed surface. The section thickness is usually higher than the image pixel size to reduce acquisition time, thus resulting in anisotropic resolution. In this work, we explore novel interpolation methods along the sectioning direction to produce isotropic resolution and facilitate proper interpretation of the FIB-SEM 3D volumes.
Methods: Classical interpolation methods are usually applied in this context under the assumption that the changes through successive images are relatively smooth. However, the actual 3D arrangement of the structures in the sample may cause significant changes in the biological features between consecutive images of the FIB-SEM stacks. We have developed a novel interpolation strategy that accounts for this variation by using the Optical Flow (OF) to estimate it. As an intermediate stage, OF-compensated images are produced by aligning the spatial regions of the biological structures. Interpolated images are then generated from these OF-compensated images. The final isotropic stack is assembled by interleaving the interpolated images with the original images of the anisotropic stack.
Results: OF-driven and classical interpolation methods were compared using an objective assessment based on Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and a qualitative evaluation based on visual results, using public datasets and representative anisotropy conditions. The objective assessment demonstrated that the OF-driven interpolation always yields higher PCC values, with interpolated images closer to the ground truth. The qualitative evaluation corroborated those results and confirmed that classical interpolation may blur areas with substantial changes between consecutive images whereas OF-driven interpolation provides sharpness.
Conclusions: We have developed an OF-driven interpolation approach to generating FIB-SEM stacks with isotropic resolution from experimental anisotropic data. It adapts to the rapid variation of the biological structures observed through the images of the FIB-SEM stack. Our approach outperforms classical interpolation and manages to produce sharp interpolated views in cases where there are significant changes between consecutive experimental images.
There is a growing interest in understanding the impact of duty hours and resting times on training outcomes and the well-being of resident physicians. However, to this date no state-wide analysis ...exists in any European country. Our aim is to describe the shift work scheduling and to detail the degree of compliance with the Spanish legislation and the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) of Spanish resident physicians, focusing on territorial and specialty distribution. A descriptive cross-sectional analytical study was designed through an online survey adapted from the existing literature. Out of the 2035 surveyed resident physicians undergoing PGT in Spain, 80.49% exceeded the 48 h per week limit set by the EWTD and 13% of them did not rest after a 24-h on-call shift. The mean number of on-call shifts in the last 3 months was 15.03, with the highest mean reported in Asturias, La Rioja, and Extremadura. 51.6% of respondents had a day-off after a Saturday on-call shift. Significant differences are observed by region and type of specialty. Resident physicians in Spain greatly exceed the established 48 h/week EWTD limit. Likewise, non-compliance with labor regulations regarding mandatory rest after on-call duty and minimum weekly rest periods are observed.
Abstract Huntington disease (HD) is characterized by several hyperkinesias though motor slowness is also another cardinal in this disease. In addition, self-paced timing movements are also disturbed ...in HD, which may also affect several rhythmic voluntary movements such as gait. Motor slowness can be measured with clinical scales such as the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) and timed tests, but also with the reaction time (RT) paradigm. We evaluated RT as a measure of motor slowness in 30 patients with genetically confirmed Huntington's disease and 24 control subjects. We also evaluated self-paced timing precision (SPTP) by applying a simple software program devised by our group. Clinical assessment was performed according to the UHDRS, including motor section, total functional capacity (TFC) and cognitive section (verbal fluency test, symbol digit, and Stroop test) The mean values obtained for RT and SPTP were statistically different in HD as compared with those from controls (p < 0.0005). We observed a statistically significant correlation between RT and TFC scores (rs = − 0.57, p < 0.005 Spearman's correlation) and also between SPTP values and TFC scores (rs = -0.40, p < 0.05 Spearman's correlation). In addition, RT and SPTP significantly correlated with cognitive scores (including digit symbol, verbal fluency and Stroop tests). Simple tests such as RT and SPTP provide an objective evaluation of motor impairment in HD yielding measures that correlate with clinical assessment and functional disability.
We analyze the Sun as a source for the indirect detection of dark matter through a search for gamma rays from the solar disk. Capture of dark matter by elastic interactions with the solar nuclei ...followed by annihilation to long-lived mediators can produce a detectable gamma-ray flux. We search 3 years of data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory and find no statistically significant detection of TeV gamma-ray emission from the Sun. Using this, we constrain the spin-dependent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter with protons for dark matter masses above 1 TeV, assuming a sufficiently long-lived mediator. The results complement constraints obtained from Fermi-LAT observations of the Sun and together cover WIMP masses between 4 and 106 GeV . In the optimal scenario, the cross-section constraints for mediator decays to gamma rays can be as strong as ∼ 10−45 cm2 , which is more than 4 orders of magnitude stronger than current direct-detection experiments for a 1 TeV dark matter mass. The cross-section constraints at higher masses are even better, nearly 7 orders of magnitude better than the current direct-detection constraints for a 100 TeV dark matter mass. This demonstration of sensitivity encourages detailed development of theoretical models in light of these powerful new constraints.
To determine the case-fatality rate (CFR) at the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and factors associated with fatality.
TB patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 were ...followed-up during treatment. We computed the CFR at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment, and the incidence of death per 100 person-days (pd) of follow-up. We performed survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression, and calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
A total of 5,182 patients were included, of whom 180 (3.5%) died; 87 of these deaths (48.3%) occurred during the intensive phase of treatment, with a CFR of 1.7%. The incidence of death was 0.028/100 pd. The following factors were associated with death during the intensive phase: being >50 years (HR = 36.9;CI:4.8-283.4); being retired (HR = 2.4;CI:1.1-5.1); having visited the emergency department (HR = 3.1;CI:1.2-7.7); HIV infection (HR = 3.4;CI:1.6-7.2); initial standard treatment with 3 drugs (HR = 2.0;CI:1.2-3.3) or non-standard treatments (HR = 2.68;CI:1.36-5.25); comprehension difficulties (HR = 2.8;CI:1.3-6.1); and smear-positive sputum (HR = 2.3-CI:1.0-4.8).
There is a non-negligible CFR during the intensive phase of TB, whose reduction should be prioritised. The CFR could be a useful indicator for evaluating TB programs.
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