Characteristics of the activity-affect association in inactive people : an ambulatory assessment study in daily life

Acute and regular exercise as well as physical activity is related to wellbeing and positive affect. Recent studies have shown that even daily, unstructured physical activities increase positive affect. However, the attempt to achieve adherence to physical activity or exercise in inactive people through public health interventions has often been unsuccessful. Most studies analyzing the activity-affect association in daily life, did not report participants´ habitual activity behavior. Thus, samples included active and inactive people, but they did not necessarily exhibit the same affective reactions to physical activity in daily life. Therefore the present study investigated whether the association between physical activity and subsequent affective state in daily life can also be observed in inactive individuals. We conducted a pilot study with 29 inactive university students (mean age 21.3 yrs ± 1.7) using the method of ambulatory assessment. Affect was assessed via electronic diary and physical activity was measured with accelerometers. Participants had to rate affect every two hours on a six item bipolar scale reflecting the three basic mood dimensions energetic arousal, valence and calmness. We calculated activity intensity level (mean Metabolic Equivalent (MET) value) and the amount of time spent in light activity over the last 15 minutes before every diary prompt and conducted within-subject correlations. We did not find significant associations between activity intensity and the three mood dimensions. Due to the high variability in within-subject correlations we conclude that not all inactive people show the same affective reactions to physical activity in daily life. Analyzing the physical activity-affect association of inactive people was difficult due to little variance and distribution of the assessed variables. Interactive assessment and randomized controlled trials might help solving these problems. Future studies should examine characteristics of affec

Circular polarization vision in a stomatopod crustacean

We describe the addition of a fourth visual modality in the animal kingdom, the perception of circular polarized light. Animals are sensitive to various characteristics of light, such as intensity, color, and linear polarization [1, 2]. This latter capability can be used for object identification, contrast enhancement, navigation, and communication through polarizing reflections [2–4]. Circularly polarized reflections from a few animal species have also been known for some time [5, 6]. Although optically interesting [7, 8], their signal function or use (if any) was obscure because no visual system was known to detect circularly polarized light. Here, in stomatopod crustaceans, we describe for the first time a visual system capable of detecting and analyzing circularly polarized light. Four lines of evidence—behavior, electrophysiology, optical anatomy, and details of signal design—are presented to describe this new visual function. We suggest that this remarkable ability mediates sexual signaling and mate choice, although other potential functions of circular polarization vision, such as enhanced contrast in turbid environments, are also possible [7, 8]. The ability to differentiate the handedness of circularly polarized light, a visual feat never expected in the animal kingdom, is demonstrated behaviorally here for the first tim

Design und Qualitätskontrolle der zahnmedizinischen Untersuchung in der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie

BACKGROUND: Caries and periodontitis are highly prevalent worldwide. Because detailed data on these oral diseases were collected within the framework of the German National Cohort (GNC), associations between oral and systemic diseases and conditions can be investigated. OBJECTIVES: The study protocol for the oral examination was designed to ensure a comprehensive collection of dental findings by trained non-dental staff within a limited examination time. At the mid-term of the GNC baseline examination, a first quality evaluation was performed to check the plausibility of results and to propose measures to improve the data quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dental interview, saliva sampling and oral diagnostics were conducted. As part of the level‑1 examination, the number of teeth and prostheses were recorded. As part of the level‑2 examination, detailed periodontal, cariological and functional aspects were examined. All examinations were conducted by trained non-dental personnel. Parameters were checked for plausibility and variable distributions were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Analyses included data of 57,967 interview participants, 56,913 level‑1 participants and 6295 level‑2 participants. Percentages of missing values for individual clinical parameters assessed in level 1 and level 2 ranged between 0.02 and 3.9%. Results showed a plausible distribution of the data; rarely, implausible values were observed, e.g. for measurements of horizontal and vertical overbite (overjet and overbite). Intra-class correlation coefficients indicated differences in individual parameters between regional clusters, study centres and across different examiners. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the feasibility of the study protocol by non-dental personnel and its successful integration into the GNC’s overall assessment program. However, rigorous dental support of the study centres is required for quality management.HINTERGRUND:Karies und Parodontitis sind weltweit hoch prävalente Erkrankungen. Durch ihre Erfassung im Rahmen der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie können Assoziationen zwischen oralen und systemischen Erkrankungen untersucht werden. FRAGESTELLUNG: In einer ersten Qualitätsanalyse zur Halbzeit der NAKO-Basiserhebung wird die Plausibilität der zahnmedizinischen Ergebnisse überprüft. Es werden Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Datenqualität vorgeschlagen. MATERIAL UND METHODEN: Ein zahnmedizinisches Interview, eine Speichelprobengewinnung und eine Befunderhebung wurden durchgeführt. Im Rahmen der Level-1-Untersuchung wurden Zahn- und Prothesenanzahl erfasst. In der Level-2-Untersuchung wurden detaillierte parodontologische, kariologische und funktionelle Befunde erhoben. Alle Untersuchungen wurden von geschultem nichtzahnmedizinischen Personal durchgeführt. Es wurden Plausibilitätsprüfungen durchgeführt sowie Verteilungen deskriptiv dargestellt. ERGEBNISSE: In die Analysen gingen Daten von 57.967 Interviewteilnehmer*innen, 56.913 Level-1- und 6295 Level-2-Teilnehmer*innen ein. Der Anteil fehlender Werte lag für die einzelnen Parameter der Level-1- und Level-2-Untersuchungen zwischen 0,02 % und 3,9 %. Die Parameter zeigten eine plausible Verteilung; vereinzelt wurden unplausible Werte beobachtet, z. B. beim horizontalen und vertikalen Überbiss (Overjet und Overbite). Anhand der Intraklassenkorrelationskoeffizienten wurden für die einzelnen Parameter Unterschiede zwischen regionalen Clustern, den Studienzentren und verschiedenen Untersucher*innen nachgewiesen. DISKUSSION: Die bisherigen Ergebnisse bestätigten die Umsetzbarkeit des Studienprotokolls durch nichtzahnmedizinisches Personal und die erfolgreiche Integration in das Untersuchungsprogramm der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie. Die Studienzentren benötigen eine intensive zahnmedizinische Betreuung für das Qualitätsmanagement

Design and quality control of the oral health status examination in the German National Cohort (GNC)

Hintergrund Karies und Parodontitis sind weltweit hoch prävalente Erkrankungen. Durch ihre Erfassung im Rahmen der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie können Assoziationen zwischen oralen und systemischen Erkrankungen untersucht werden. Fragestellung In einer ersten Qualitätsanalyse zur Halbzeit der NAKO-Basiserhebung wird die Plausibilität der zahnmedizinischen Ergebnisse überprüft. Es werden Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Datenqualität vorgeschlagen. Material und Methoden Ein zahnmedizinisches Interview, eine Speichelprobengewinnung und eine Befunderhebung wurden durchgeführt. Im Rahmen der Level-1-Untersuchung wurden Zahn- und Prothesenanzahl erfasst. In der Level-2-Untersuchung wurden detaillierte parodontologische, kariologische und funktionelle Befunde erhoben. Alle Untersuchungen wurden von geschultem nichtzahnmedizinischen Personal durchgeführt. Es wurden Plausibilitätsprüfungen durchgeführt sowie Verteilungen deskriptiv dargestellt. Ergebnisse In die Analysen gingen Daten von 57.967 Interviewteilnehmer*innen, 56.913 Level-1- und 6295 Level-2-Teilnehmer*innen ein. Der Anteil fehlender Werte lag für die einzelnen Parameter der Level-1- und Level-2-Untersuchungen zwischen 0,02 % und 3,9 %. Die Parameter zeigten eine plausible Verteilung; vereinzelt wurden unplausible Werte beobachtet, z. B. beim horizontalen und vertikalen Überbiss (Overjet und Overbite). Anhand der Intraklassenkorrelationskoeffizienten wurden für die einzelnen Parameter Unterschiede zwischen regionalen Clustern, den Studienzentren und verschiedenen Untersucher*innen nachgewiesen. Diskussion Die bisherigen Ergebnisse bestätigten die Umsetzbarkeit des Studienprotokolls durch nichtzahnmedizinisches Personal und die erfolgreiche Integration in das Untersuchungsprogramm der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie. Die Studienzentren benötigen eine intensive zahnmedizinische Betreuung für das Qualitätsmanagement.Background Caries and periodontitis are highly prevalent worldwide. Because detailed data on these oral diseases were collected within the framework of the German National Cohort (GNC), associations between oral and systemic diseases and conditions can be investigated. Objectives The study protocol for the oral examination was designed to ensure a comprehensive collection of dental findings by trained non-dental staff within a limited examination time. At the mid-term of the GNC baseline examination, a first quality evaluation was performed to check the plausibility of results and to propose measures to improve the data quality. Materials and methods A dental interview, saliva sampling and oral diagnostics were conducted. As part of the level‑1 examination, the number of teeth and prostheses were recorded. As part of the level‑2 examination, detailed periodontal, cariological and functional aspects were examined. All examinations were conducted by trained non-dental personnel. Parameters were checked for plausibility and variable distributions were descriptively analysed. Results Analyses included data of 57,967 interview participants, 56,913 level‑1 participants and 6295 level‑2 participants. Percentages of missing values for individual clinical parameters assessed in level 1 and level 2 ranged between 0.02 and 3.9%. Results showed a plausible distribution of the data; rarely, implausible values were observed, e.g. for measurements of horizontal and vertical overbite (overjet and overbite). Intra-class correlation coefficients indicated differences in individual parameters between regional clusters, study centres and across different examiners. Conclusions The results confirm the feasibility of the study protocol by non-dental personnel and its successful integration into the GNC’s overall assessment program. However, rigorous dental support of the study centres is required for quality management