Data-based Approach for Developing a Physical Activity Frequency Questionnaire

Measurement of total energy expenditure may be crucial to an understanding of the relation between physical activity and disease and in order to frame public health intervention. To devise a self-administered physical activity frequency questionnaire (PAFQ), the following data-based approach was used. A 24-hour recall was administered to a random sample of 919 adult residents of Geneva, Switzerland. The data obtained were used to establish the list of activities (and their median duration) that contributed to 95% of the energy expended, separately for men and women. Activities that were trivial for the whole sample but that contributed to ≥10% of an individual's energy expenditure were also selected. The final PAFQ lists 70 activities or group of activities with their typical duration. About 20 minutes are required for respondents to indicate the number of days and the number of hours per day that they performed each activity. The PAFQ method was validated against a heart rate monitor, a more objective method. The total energy estimated by the PAFQ in 41 volunteers correlated well (r = 0.76) with estimates using a heart rate monitor. The authors conclude that the design of their self-administered physical activity frequency questionnaire based on data from 24-hour recall appeared to accurately estimate energy expenditure. Am J Epidemiol 1998;147:147-5

Data-based approach for developing a physical activity frequency questionnaire.

Measurement of total energy expenditure may be crucial to an understanding of the relation between physical activity and disease and in order to frame public health intervention. To devise a self-administered physical activity frequency questionnaire (PAFQ), the following data-based approach was used. A 24-hour recall was administered to a random sample of 919 adult residents of Geneva, Switzerland. The data obtained were used to establish the list of activities (and their median duration) that contributed to 95% of the energy expended, separately for men and women. Activities that were trivial for the whole sample but that contributed to > or = 10% of an individual's energy expenditure were also selected. The final PAFQ lists 70 activities or group of activities with their typical duration. About 20 minutes are required for respondents to indicate the number of days and the number of hours per day that they performed each activity. The PAFQ method was validated against a heart rate monitor, a more objective method. The total energy estimated by the PAFQ in 41 volunteers correlated well (r = 0.76) with estimates using a heart rate monitor. The authors conclude that the design of their self-administered physical activity frequency questionnaire based on data from 24-hour recall appeared to accurately estimate energy expenditure

Novel silver‐functionalized poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)/biphasic calcium phosphate scaffolds designed to counteract post‐surgical infections in orthopedic applications

In this study, we designed and developed novel poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based biomaterials, for use as bone scaffolds, through modification with both biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), to impart bioactive/bioresorbable properties, and with silver nitrate, to provide antibacterial protection against Staphylococcus aureus, a microorganism involved in prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that the samples were characterized by square‐shaped macropores, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of PCL and BCP phases, while inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) established the release of Ag+ in the medium (~0.15–0.8 wt% of initial Ag content). Adhesion assays revealed a significant (p < 0.0001) reduction in both adherent and planktonic staphylococci on the Ag‐functionalized biomaterials, and the presence of an inhibition halo confirmed Ag release from enriched samples. To assess the potential outcome in promoting bone integration, preliminary tests on sarcoma osteogenic‐2 (Saos‐2) cells indicated PCL and BCP/PCL biocompatibility, but a reduction in viability was observed for Ag‐added biomaterials. Due to their combined biodegrading and antimicrobial properties, the silver‐enriched BCP/PCL-based scaffolds showed good potential for engineering of bone tissue and for reducing PJIs as a microbial anti‐adhesive tool used in the delivery of targeted antimicrobial molecules, even if the amount of silver needs to be tuned to improve osteointegration

Achieving energy balance with a high‐fat meal does not enhance skeletal muscle adaptation and impairs glycemic response in a sleep‐low training model

Training with low carbohydrate availability (LCHO) has shown to acutely enhance endurance training skeletal muscle response, but concomitant energy deficit (ED) in LCHO interventions has represented a confounding factor in past research. This study aimed at determining if achieving energy balance with high‐fat (EB‐HF) acutely enhances the adaptive response in LCHO compared to ED low‐fat (ED‐LF). In a crossover design, nine well‐trained males completed a ‘sleep‐low’ protocol: on day 1 they cycled to deplete muscle glycogen while reaching a set energy expenditure (30 kcal/kg of fat free mass (FFM)). Post‐exercise, low carbohydrate, protein‐matched meals completely (EB‐HF, 30 kcal/kg FFM) or partially (ED‐LF, 9 kcal/kg FFM) replaced the energy expended, with the majority of energy derived from fat in EB‐HF. In the morning of day 2, participants exercised fasted and skeletal muscle and blood samples were collected and a carbohydrate‐protein drink was ingested at 0.5h recovery. Muscle glycogen showed no treatment effect (P < 0.001) and decreased from 350 ±98 and 192 ±94 mmol/kg dry‐mass between rest and 0.5 h recovery. Phosphorylation status mTOR and AMPK pathway proteins showed only time effects. mRNA expression of p53 increased after exercise (P = 0.005) and was higher in ED‐LF at 3.5h compared to EB‐HF (P = 0.027). Plasma glucose and insulin AUC (P < 0.04) and peak values (P≤0.05) were higher in EB‐HF after the recovery drink. Achieving energy balance with a high‐fat meal in a ‘train‐low’ (‘sleep‐low’) model did not enhance markers of skeletal muscle adaptation and impaired glycemia in response to a recovery drink following training in the morning

Performance of prototypes for the ALICE electromagnetic calorimeter

The performance of prototypes for the ALICE electromagnetic sampling calorimeter has been studied in test beam measurements at FNAL and CERN. A $4\times4$ array of final design modules showed an energy resolution of about 11% /$\sqrt{E(\mathrm{GeV})}$ $\oplus$ 1.7 % with a uniformity of the response to electrons of 1% and a good linearity in the energy range from 10 to 100 GeV. The electromagnetic shower position resolution was found to be described by 1.5 mm $\oplus$ 5.3 mm /$\sqrt{E \mathrm{(GeV)}}$. For an electron identification efficiency of 90% a hadron rejection factor of $>600$ was obtained.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Performance studies of the CMS strip tracker before installation

Peer reviewe

Digitali nativi e didattica della L2.

Il rapporto tra l\u2019apprendimento precoce della LS e l\u2019uso sempre pi\uf9 massiccio delle tecnologie nella scuola primaria rivela non solo un problema di coordinamento tra fasi e strumenti didattici, ma richiede la consapevolezza del quadro cognitivo complessivo che caratterizza tale periodo di evoluzione del bambino. L\u2019esplicito che possiamo osservare nelle pratiche formative risulta poca cosa rispetto alle connessioni tra sviluppo del cervello e l\u2019insieme di conoscenze linguistiche, trasversali e metacognitive, che vi sono in gioco. Strumenti e modalit\ue0 cognitive, apparentemente autonomi o remoti, in realt\ue0 si rivelano fortemente interconnessi. Un orientamento \u2018direttivo\u2019 e \u2018semplificativo\u2019 nella didattica sconta le proprie insufficienze con la sempre maggiore consapevolezza della \u2018complessit\ue0\u2019, talvolta apparentemente contraddittoria, di cui \ue8 ricco l\u2019alunno. In particolare, abilit\ue0 e conoscenze di questi native digital suggeriscono un apprendimento pi\uf9 \u2018naturale\u2019 che parta dalle conoscenze trasversali dell\u2019alunno e che lasci uno spazio di azione maggiore alle sinergie e ai tempi delle abilit\ue0 ricettive (audio e video)

The prediction of speed and incline in outdoor running in humans using accelerometry

Purpose: To explore whether triaxial accelerometric measurements can be utilized to accurately assess speed and incline of running in free-living conditions. Methods: Body accelerations during running were recorded at the lower back and at the heel by a portable data logger in 20 human subjects, 10 men, and 10 women. After parameterizing body accelerations, two neural networks were designed to recognize each running pattern and calculate speed and incline. Each subject ran 18 times on outdoor roads at various speeds and inclines; 12 runs were used to calibrate the neural networks whereas the 6 other runs were used to validate the model. Results: A small difference between the estimated and the actual values was observed: the square root of the mean square error (RMSE) was 0.12 m . s(-1) for speed and 0.014 radiant (rad) (or 1.4% in absolute value) for incline. Multiple regression analysis allowed accurate prediction of speed (RMSE = 0.14 m . s(-1)) but not of incline (RMSE = 0.026 rad or 2.6% slope). Conclusion: Triaxial accelerometric measurements allows an accurate estimation of speed of running and incline of terrain (the latter with more uncertainty). This will permit the validation of the energetic results generated on the treadmill as applied to more physiological unconstrained running conditions