Validity and reliability of the step test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption in pediatric population

Cardiorespiratory fitness is the most important variable related to health and a strong predictor of mortality. However, it is rarely used in clinics due to costs, specialized equipment, space needs, and the requirements of expert staff such as an exercise physiologist, physician, or other health professional. This work aims to validate and test the reliability of a submaximal step test to estimate VO(2)max of 8-to 16-year-old pediatric populations as a simple and low-cost tool for clinical practice. A cross-sectional study included 242 children and adolescents (42.1% girls) aged 8-16. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by a maximal incremental test on a treadmill until exhaustion. The step test entailed maintaining a steady pace of 22 steps per minute for 3 min (60 bpm), with the heart rate being recorded at the end of the test. Nutritional status was computed through BMI z-score. A multiple linear regression model validated the step test and developed a new equation to predict VO(2)max, including the third-minute heart rate, weight, and height. The reliability among predicted and measured VO(2)max was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. The mean age was 12.5 +/- 2.6; 51.6% were overweight or obese. The cardiorespiratory fitness measured as VO(2)max was 35.01 +/- 0.58 ml<middle dot>min-(1)<middle dot>kg(-1). A robust correlation was observed between the predicted VO(2)max from the step test and the measured VO(2)max (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis indicated statistical concordance between predicted and measured VO(2)max. Our findings indicate that the step test protocol is valid and reliable for estimating VO(2)max in children and adolescents. Furthermore, the predictive equation is suitable for application among children aged 8-16

Unlocking species identity: geometric morphometrics of head and thorax shapes in invasive and non-invasive quarantine-significant thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia)

This study use landmark based geometric morphometrics (GM) of the head and the thorax on eight species of thrips of the species-rich genus Thrips. Among the selected species, four were classified as common and not significant, while four were identified as quarantine-significant and agriculturally important in the USA. The results indicate the potential for using both sets of landmarks, which, in some cases, were complementary. When one set did not reveal significant differences in shape, the other provided valuable insights. The geometric morphometric analysis of the selected landmarks revealed statistically significant differences in head morphology and the configuration of setal insertion points on the mesothorax and metathorax. Principal component analysis (PCA) served as the primary method to examine the ordinal distribution of the eight species within the morphospace. The analysis highlighted T. australis and T. angusticeps as the most morphologically distinct species in terms of head shape, while T. nigropilosus, T. obscuratus, and T. hawaiiensis exhibited the greatest divergence in thoracic morphology. The results further demonstrate the potential of geometric morphometric (GM) methods for identifying taxa that are challenging to distinguish using traditional taxonomy based on external morphology. This is particularly relevant for morphologically conservative taxa, such as thrips with minimal or no wing venation (a feature often used in GM studies of winged insects), species complexes (e.g., T. hawaiiensis and related species examined in this study), and taxa exhibiting morphological similarity due to convergent evolution associated with shared ecological niches

Report on a new finding of a discoidal stone in the region of Pali-Aike, Magallanes

Resumen: Se presenta una descripción morfológica, técnica y traceológica de un lito discoidal proveniente de una colección privada, recolectado en las cercanías del sitio Cueva Fell. Los resultados se comparan con la información disponible para artefactos similares en Patagonia y Pampa

In-Hospital Mortality Among 40,253 Older Adults with Hip Fracture: Survival Outcomes and Multivariate Analysis in a Chilean Cohort

Background: Hip fracture is a common geriatric condition associated with disability, institutionalization, and mortality. In-hospital mortality reflects both patient vulnerability and the quality of care, yet evidence from Latin America is scarce. Objective: We aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in Chilean older adults with hip fractures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Chilean National Health Fund (FONASA) database, which included patients aged 60 years or older who were hospitalized with a hip fracture (ICD-10 S72.0-S72.2) between 2019 and 2024. Variables analyzed included age, sex, surgical treatment, number of comorbidities, Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) severity level, and relative weight. Survival was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The cohort comprised 40,253 patients (76.8% women; mean age 81.9 +/- 9.1 years). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 3.5%. Independent predictors of mortality included absence of surgery (HR = 9.56; 95% CI: 8.38-10.90), higher DRG severity level (HR = 3.87; 95% CI: 3.42-4.37), advanced age (HR per year = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.04-1.05), male sex (HR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03-1.27), and multimorbidity (>= 3 comorbidities; HR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.98-3.99). Conclusions: Timely surgery and stratification with administrative indicators (DRG) are key to reducing in-hospital mortality. The findings support strengthening orthogeriatric models in Chile

How Dangerous? Substance Use Risk Perceptions in Chilean Preadolescents

Early substance use initiation among children represents a significant risk to public health. Research suggests that early positive perceptions and cognitions of elementary students toward substance use may predict later use during adolescence. Studies among adolescent populations have shown an inverse relationship between substance use and risk perceptions. To gain insight into alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana risk perceptions prior to adolescence, we analyzed data from the Chilean Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey (ELPI). In a sample of 5,278 families (mean age of preadolescents 10.63 years, SD = .64; 50.5% males), our findings showed that an important proportion of Chilean 10 years old did not perceive occasional tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana use to be high-risk activities. However, the majority of respondents did consider daily substance use to be a high-risk activity, with some variation across substances. Overall, older preadolescents were more likely to consider substance use to be less risky compared to their slightly younger counterparts. Our analysis also demonstrated that past month substances use by caregivers were all found to be predictive of low-medium risk perceptions among preadolescents surveyed, while conversely, caregivers' negative reactions to finding out their child had used a substance decreased the likelihood of holding low-medium risk perceptions. Individuals from single-parent households were less likely to consider substance use as being high-risk compared to their peers. Preadolescents with caregivers reporting higher average incomes were also more likely to hold lower risk perceptions of occasional substance use. Implications for public policies to prevent substance use in the pre-adolescent population are discussed

Best Practices for Machine Learning-Assisted Protein Engineering

Data-driven modeling based on machine learning (ML) is becoming a central component of protein engineering workflows. This perspective presents the elements necessary to develop effective, reliable, and reproducible ML models, and a set of guidelines for ML developments for protein engineering. This includes a critical discussion of software engineering good practices for the development and evaluation of ML-based protein engineering projects, emphasizing supervised learning. These guidelines cover all of the necessary steps for ML development, from data acquisition to model deployment. Additionally, the present perspective provides practical resources for the implementation of the outlined guidelines. These recommendations are also intended to support editors and scientific journals in enforcing good practices in ML-based protein engineering publications, promoting high standards across the community. With this, the aim is to further contribute to improved ML transparency and credibility by easing the adoption of software engineering best practices into ML development for protein engineering. We envision that the wide adoption and continuous update of best practices will encourage informed use of ML on real-world problems related to protein engineering

Genome-wide association study of long COVID

Infections can lead to persistent symptoms and diseases such as shingles after varicella zoster or rheumatic fever after streptococcal infections. Similarly, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection can result in long coronavirus disease (COVID), typically manifesting as fatigue, pulmonary symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. The biological mechanisms behind long COVID remain unclear. We performed a genome-wide association study for long COVID including up to 6,450 long COVID cases and 1,093,995 population controls from 24 studies across 16 countries. We discovered an association of FOXP4 with long COVID, independent of its previously identified association with severe COVID-19. The signal was replicated in 9,500 long COVID cases and 798,835 population controls. Given the transcription factor FOXP4's role in lung physiology and pathology, our findings highlight the importance of lung function in the pathophysiology of long COVID

Environmental evolution of the Andes east of the North Patagonian Icefield since ∼19.3 ka

We examine the environmental evolution of the central Patagonian Andes from -19.3 ka to the present using lake sediment cores from Valle Chacabuco (-47 degrees S). Our results reveal the dominance of cold-tolerant herbs and shrubs between -19.3 and 11 ka, within which we observe a shift to Poaceae-dominated assemblages and a Pediastrum rise at-17.8 ka succeeded by a gradual arboreal rise that started at -14.5 ka and culminated with the establishment of Nothofagus-dominated woodlands between -9.8-8.8 ka. We interpret modest warming at -17.8 ka and -12.7 ka and increases in precipitation at -17.8 ka and -14.5 ka, followed by major warming and a precipitation decline at -11 ka that accentuated at -8.8 ka. Precipitation increased at -7.8 ka and led to the establishment of closed-canopy forests that have persisted with modest but significant fluctuations until recent. We detect abrupt vegetation changes at -17.7 ka, -12.7 ka, -11 ka, and -7.8 ka, driven primarily by changes in southern westerly wind (SWW) influence and, secondarily, by intense fire activity. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems show pervasive millennial and centennial-scale alternations between warm/dry and cold/wet states since similar to 11 ka contemporaneous with glacier fluctuations in nearby Monte San Lorenzo, suggesting recurrent oscillations in SWW influence. Deforestation and spread of non-native plants attest to disturbance by Chilean/European settlers since similar to 0.3 ka. Our results and conclusions reinforce the concept that variations in temperature and precipitation related to changes in the position/strength of the SWW underpin millennial/centennial timescales in the biosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere at Patagonian, zonal, and hemispheric scales

EFFECTS OF COVID-19 CONFINEMENT ON THE HEALTH OF OLDER PEOPLE IN LATIN AMERICA: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

El confinamiento, adoptado como medida preventiva frente al COVID-19, tuvo un impacto en la salud física, mental y cognitiva en las personas mayores. El aislamiento social y el confinamiento pro-longado originó una disminución de la actividad física y un incremento en los problemas de salud mental. Es esencial encontrar un equilibrio entre la protección de la salud pública y el mantenimiento del bienestar ge-neral de los individuos, especialmente aquellos en mayor riesgo. OBJETIVO. Identificar en la evidencia cien-tífica los efectos del confinamiento en la salud mental, física y psicosocial de las personas mayores como medida de prevención en la pandemia COVID-19 en Latinoamérica. METODOLOGÍA. Revisión integrativa de la literatura. Bases de datos electrónicas: WOS; BDENF; Scielo; PUBMED. Criterios de inclusión: artículos ori-ginales, en inglés, portugués y español; publicados desde el año 2020 y 2022. RESULTADOS. Del análisis de los 11 estudios incluidos en esta revisión resultaron 4 categorías relacionadas al efecto del confinamiento por pandemia por COVID-19: Bienestar psicoemocional, Bienestar y funcionalidad física, Capacidad cognitiva y mental y Vinculación social. CONCLUSIONES. Los hallazgos de esta revisión revelan un efecto sobre la salud física, mental y cognitiva de las personas mayores, derivado del confinamiento como medida sanitaria para mitigar la propagación del virus COVID-19. Se observa que la dimensión de salud mental es la más afectada. Finalmente, el aislamiento social implicó un cambio radical en el estilo y calidad de vida en este grupo etario

The conoidean genus Belalora Powell, 1951 (Gastropoda, Mangeliidae) under the magnifying glass: an exclusive inhabitant of Magellanic waters

Belalora cunninghami (E. A. Smith, 1881) is compared with B. thielei Powell, 1951 from Atlantic waters, and B. striatula (Thiele, 1912) and B. weirichi (Engl, 2008) both from Antarctica. New complete specimens of B. cunninghami collected in Chonchi, Chiloé, and Cordes Bay, Strait of Magellan, Chile and off Mar del Plata, Argentina allow the study of shell, radula, penis, operculum and details of the ornamentation of the protoconch. We conclude that the genus Belalora encompass two species B. thielei, type species of the genus, and B. cunninghami both living in the magellanic region. In addition, the comparison of the radula and shell of "B." striatula and "B."weirichi, indicate that these Antarctic species belong to a different perhaps undescribed genus. The morphology of the shell of Fusus sublutus Gould, 1849 and Lora equatorialis Dall, 1919 once included in Belalora proof to belong in a different taxon