Physical activity level in people with high blood pressure

This study aimed to analyze the level of physical activity for people with high blood pressure cared for in a health center. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 310 individuals between 18 and 69 years of age through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The majority (80%) of participants presented low or moderate levels of physical activity. The analysis of association between sociodemographic variables and physical activity level revealed that older men from the interior of the state with higher educational levels have a greater chance of exhibiting lower levels of physical activity. The logistic regression model revealed that origin, schooling and diabetes are predictors of low physical activity level. The conclusion is that part of the sample does not match the desirable profile to practice regular physical activity.El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el nivel de actividad física de personas portadoras de hipertensión arterial, acompañadas en un centro de atención ambulatorial. Se trata de un estudio transversal desarrollado con 310 individuos de 18 a 69 años. Se utilizó como base el International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). La mayor parte del grupo (80%) fue encuadrada en los niveles de baja y moderada actividad física. En el análisis de asociación entre las variables sociodemográficas y el nivel de actividad física, se verificó que personas del sexo masculino, procedentes del interior del Estado, con más edad y con mayor nivel de escolaridad son más propensas a desarrollar un nivel de actividad física bajo. En el modelo de regresión logística, la procedencia, tiempo de escolaridad y de diabetes fueron indicadores obtenidos como factores de predicción significativos para el nivel bajo de actividad física. Se concluye que parte de la muestra no posee un perfil deseable en relación a la práctica regular de actividad física.O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar o nível de atividade física de pessoas portadoras de hipertensão arterial, acompanhadas em centro de atendimento ambulatorial. É um estudo transversal desenvolvido com 310 indivíduos de 18 a 69 anos. Utilizou-se como base o International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A maior parcela do grupo (80%) foi enquadrada nos níveis de baixa e moderada atividade física. Na análise de associação entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e o nível de atividade física, verificou-se que pessoas do sexo masculino, procedentes do interior do Estado, mais velhas e com maior nível de escolaridade são mais propensas para desenvolver nível de atividade física baixo. No modelo de regressão logística, a procedência, tempo de escolaridade e de diabetes foram indicadores obtidos como preditores significantes para o nível baixo de atividade física. Concluiu-se que parte da amostra não possui perfil desejável em relação à prática regular de atividade física

Adjustment for time-invariant and time-varying confounders in ‘unexplained residuals’ models for longitudinal data within a causal framework and associated challenges

‘Unexplained residuals’ models have been used within lifecourse epidemiology to model an exposure measured longitudinally at several time points in relation to a distal outcome. It has been claimed that these models have several advantages, including: the ability to estimate multiple total causal effects in a single model, and additional insight into the effect on the outcome of greater-than-expected increases in the exposure compared to traditional regression methods. We evaluate these properties and prove mathematically how adjustment for confounding variables must be made within this modelling framework. Importantly, we explicitly place unexplained residual models in a causal framework using directed acyclic graphs. This allows for theoretical justification of appropriate confounder adjustment and provides a framework for extending our results to more complex scenarios than those examined in this paper. We also discuss several interpretational issues relating to unexplained residual models within a causal framework. We argue that unexplained residual models offer no additional insights compared to traditional regression methods, and, in fact, are more challenging to implement; moreover, they artificially reduce estimated standard errors. Consequently, we conclude that unexplained residual models, if used, must be implemented with great care

Micro-CT evaluation of the radioprotective effect of resveratrol on the mandibular incisors of irradiated rats

Abstract The purpose of this study was to perform a microcomputed tomographic evaluation of the radioprotective effect of resveratrol on the volume of mandibular incisors of irradiated rats. A second aim was to make a quantitative assessment of the effect of x-ray exposure on these dental tissues. Twenty adult male rats were divided into four groups: control, irradiated control, resveratrol, and irradiated resveratrol. The resveratrol groups received 100 mg/kg of resveratrol, whereas the irradiated groups were exposed to 15 Gy of irradiation. The animals were sacrificed 30 days after the irradiation procedure, and their mandibles were removed and scanned in a microcomputed tomography unit. The images were loaded into Mimics software to allow segmentation of the mandibular incisor and assessment of its volume. The results were compared by One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test, considering a 5% significance level. The irradiated groups showed significantly diminished volumes of the evaluated teeth, as compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The resveratrol group presented higher values than those of the irradiated groups, and volumes similar to those of the control group. High radiation doses significantly affected tooth formation, resulting in alterations in the dental structure, and thus lower volumes. Moreover, resveratrol showed no effective radioprotective impact on dental tissues. Future studies are needed to evaluate different concentrations of this substance, in an endeavor to verify its potential as a radioprotector for these dental tissues

Ecological mechanisms explaining interactions within plant–hummingbird networks: morphological matching increases towards lower latitudes

No embargoInteractions between species are influenced by different ecological mechanisms, such as morphological matching, phenological overlap and species abundances. How these mechanisms explain interaction frequencies across environmental gradients remains poorly understood. Consequently, we also know little about the mechanisms that drive the geographical patterns in network structure, such as complementary specialization and modularity. Here, we use data on morphologies, phenologies and abundances to explain interaction frequencies between hummingbirds and plants at a large geographical scale. For 24 quantitative networks sampled throughout the Americas, we found that the tendency of species to interact with morphologically matching partners contributed to specialized and modular network structures. Morphological matching best explained interaction frequencies in networks found closer to the equator and in areas with low-temperature seasonality. When comparing the three ecological mechanisms within networks, we found that both morphological matching and phenological overlap generally outperformed abundances in the explanation of interaction frequencies. Together, these findings provide insights into the ecological mechanisms that underlie geographical patterns in resource specialization. Notably, our results highlight morphological constraints on interactions as a potential explanation for increasing resource specialization towards lower latitudes.</jats:p

Assessment of Training Performance, Degradation and Robustness of Paraffin-Wax Impregnated Nb3Sn Demonstrator Under High Magnetic Field

In the context of high-energy physics, the use of Nb3Sn superconducting magnets as a cost-effective and reliable technology depends on improvements in the following areas: long development and manufacturing cycles, conductor degradation after thermal cycling, long training, as well as a demonstration in accelerator magnets with a beam aperture of the full potential of modern Nb3Sn conductors. In short, performance, robustness, and cost are the three issues to be addressed. The Magnet Development project (MagDev) of the Swiss Accelerator Research and Technology initiative (CHART) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) aims to contribute to the solutions to each of these issues, re-thinking the manufacturing and design process. In our program, every innovation is to be validated by means of a panoply of fast-turnaround tools: from non-powered and powered samples and coils, tested under background field, to low-field subscale magnets and high field short prototypes. This work presents one element in this panoply of R&D; vehicles: a stress-managed Nb3Sn coil called BigBOX, impregnated with paraffin wax, and tested, through a collaboration with the Magnet Development Program of the United States (US-MDP), in the background field of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)’s common coils dipole DCC17