Effect of a moderate-intensity demonstration walk on accuracy of physical activity self-report.

Background/Objective:Providing a demonstration of a 10-minute bout of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) immediately prior to subjective reporting of MVPA could influence self-reported activity by calibrating both duration and intensity. We assessed the effect of a demonstration of MVPA on subsequent MVPA recall, and explored whether this improved agreement with objective measures of MVPA. Methods:A total of 846 individuals participated in four different physical activity interventions; two of which included a 10-minute moderate-intensity demonstration walk on a treadmill at baseline and 6-month visits immediately prior to reporting MVPA. Participants from three studies also wore accelerometers during the week overlapping with self-reported MVPA. Results:Overall, those completing the demonstration walk reported significantly fewer minutes of MVPA per week at baseline (b = -11.69, standard error = 2.53, p < 0.01). The effect of the demonstration walk at 6 months was not significant (p = 0.06). Correlations with accelerometers at baseline were higher in the two studies with the demonstration walk (ρ = 0.28, 0.26) than the study without (ρ = 0.04). Correlations with accelerometers increased overall from baseline to follow-up. Conclusion:A 10-minute demonstration of MVPA was associated with reporting fewer minutes of MVPA and improved agreement with objective PA measures at baseline. These findings support combining self-report PA assessments with hands-on MVPA demonstrations

Accuracy of Intensity and Inclinometer Output of Three Activity Monitors for Identification of Sedentary Behavior and Light-Intensity Activity

Purpose. To examine the accuracy of intensity and inclinometer output of three physical activity monitors during various sedentary and light-intensity activities. Methods. Thirty-six participants wore three physical activity monitors (ActiGraph GT1M, ActiGraph GT3X+, and StepWatch) while completing sedentary (lying, sitting watching television, sitting using computer, and standing still) light (walking 1.0 mph, pedaling 7.0 mph, pedaling 15.0 mph) intensity activities under controlled settings. Accuracy for correctly categorizing intensity was assessed for each monitor and threshold. Accuracy of the GT3X+ inclinometer function (GT3X+Incl) for correctly identifying anatomical position was also assessed. Percentage agreement between direct observation and the monitor recorded time spent in sedentary behavior and light intensity was examined. Results. All monitors using all thresholds accurately identified over 80% of sedentary behaviors and 60% of light-intensity walking time based on intensity output. The StepWatch was the most accurate in detecting pedaling time but unable to detect pedal workload. The GT3X+Incl accurately identified anatomical position during 70% of all activities but demonstrated limitations in discriminating between activities of differing intensity. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that all three monitors accurately measure most sedentary and light-intensity activities although choice of monitors should be based on study-specific needs

Multicomponent intervention to reduce daily sedentary time: a randomised controlled trial

Objectives To test the efficacy of a multicomponent technology intervention for reducing daily sedentary time and improving cardiometabolic disease risk among sedentary, overweight university employees. Design Blinded, randomised controlled trial. Setting A large south-eastern university in the USA. Participants 49 middle-aged, primarily female, sedentary and overweight adults working in sedentary jobs enrolled in the study. A total of 40 participants completed the study. Interventions Participants were randomised to either: (1) an intervention group (N=23; 47.6+9.9 years; 94.1% female; 33.2+4.5 kg/m2); (2) or wait-list control group (N=17; 42.6+8.9 years; 86.9% female; 31.7+4.9 kg/m2). The intervention group received a theory-based, internet-delivered programme, a portable pedal machine at work and a pedometer for 12 weeks. The wait-list control group maintained their behaviours for 12 weeks. Outcome measures Primary (sedentary and physical activity behaviour measured objectively through StepWatch) and secondary (heart rate, blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, per cent body fat, cardiorespiratory fitness, fasting lipids) outcomes were measured at baseline and postintervention (12 weeks). Exploratory outcomes including intervention compliance and process evaluation measures were also assessed postintervention. Results Compared to controls, the intervention group reduced daily sedentary time (mean change (95%CI): −58.7 min/day (−118.4 to 0.99; p<0.01)) after adjusting for baseline values and monitor wear time. Intervention participants logged on to the website 71.3% of all intervention days, used the pedal machine 37.7% of all working intervention days and pedalled an average of 31.1 min/day. Conclusions These findings suggest that the intervention was engaging and resulted in reductions in daily sedentary time among full-time sedentary employees. These findings hold public health significance due to the growing number of sedentary jobs and the potential of these technologies in large-scale worksite programmes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01371084

Structured purpose: Implementing Python in Purposive Sample Selection for Evaluation Interviews

We demonstrated implementation of Python-based programming to select participants for qualitative evaluation. We used a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded multi-site COVID-19 testing program, Rapid Diagnostics for Underserved Populations Program, as our case example. During Phase I, the NIH funded 69 projects, each with known characteristics like underserved focus population(s). Using Python coding, we selected nine sites. We established preliminary conditions for the sample based on key populations. We iteratively applied additional conditions based on site target sample, study design, and geography. For each condition, Python checked every potential sample set against the condition, removed incompatible sets, then added another condition until a single set of sites to interview emerged. The code maximized sample diversity and prioritized projects addressing multiple populations concurrently. Full implementation of code takes about thirty minutes on an ordinary laptop computer. We explain the generation of the code and make it available in Carolina Digital Repository

Near-infrared spectra of ISO selected Chamaeleon I young stellar objects

We present 0.95--2.5 micron moderate (R = 500) resolution spectra of 19 ISOCAM detected sources in the Chamaeleon I dark cloud. Thirteen of these stars are candidate very low mass members of the cloud proposed by Persi et al. (2000 A&A 357:219) on basis of the mid-IR color excess. The sample also includes a bona-fide young brown dwarf (Cha Halpha 1), a transition --stellar/sub-stellar-- object (Cha Halpha 2), one previously known T Tauri star (Sz 33) and three ISOCAM sources with no mid-IR excess. The spectra of the mid-IR color excess sources are relatively flat and featureless in this wavelength range. Both atomic and molecular lines (when in absorption) are partially veiled suggesting the presence of continuum emission from circumstellar dust. In addition some of the sources show Paschen and Brackett lines in emission. We apply the 2 micron water vapor index defined by Wilking et al. (1999 AJ 117:469) to estimate spectral types. These stars have spectral types M0--8. We use Persi et al.'s stellar luminosity determinations, in combination with D'Antona & Mazzitelli latest pre-main sequence evolutionary tracks, to estimate masses and ages. The ISOCAM detected mid-IR excess sources have sub-solar masses down to the H-burning limit and a median age of few x 10^6 yr, in good agreement with the higher mass members of this cloud.Comment: Preprint in Manuscript format; 30 pages including 10 figure

Core competencies for pain management: results of an interprofessional consensus summit.

ObjectiveThe objective of this project was to develop core competencies in pain assessment and management for prelicensure health professional education. Such core pain competencies common to all prelicensure health professionals have not been previously reported.MethodsAn interprofessional executive committee led a consensus-building process to develop the core competencies. An in-depth literature review was conducted followed by engagement of an interprofessional Competency Advisory Committee to critique competencies through an iterative process. A 2-day summit was held so that consensus could be reached.ResultsThe consensus-derived competencies were categorized within four domains: multidimensional nature of pain, pain assessment and measurement, management of pain, and context of pain management. These domains address the fundamental concepts and complexity of pain; how pain is observed and assessed; collaborative approaches to treatment options; and application of competencies across the life span in the context of various settings, populations, and care team models. A set of values and guiding principles are embedded within each domain.ConclusionsThese competencies can serve as a foundation for developing, defining, and revising curricula and as a resource for the creation of learning activities across health professions designed to advance care that effectively responds to pain

Lung Clearance Index (LCI) is Stable in Most Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Patients Managed in a Specialist Centre:a Pilot Study

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a condition in which abnormal cilia structure or function leads to reduced mucociliary clearance and obstructive lung disease. Twenty-nine patients had lung clearance index (LCI) measured in 2009 and we attempted to perform a 5-year follow-up. Only 12 patients could be re-recruited, but in this small group LCI was stable over the 5 years, which confirms previous data showing that spirometry is also stable in these patients over the medium term. The two patients with the highest LCI in 2009 had since died, despite one having relatively preserved spirometry at the time. These data may be used to inform sample size calculations of future studies

Maternal Exercise Intervention in Obese Pregnancy Improves the Cardiovascular Health of the Adult Male Offspring

OBJECTIVE Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in the offspring. With increased numbers of women entering pregnancy overweight or obese, there is a requirement for targeted interventions to reduce disease risk in future generations. Using an established murine model of maternal obesity during pregnancy, we investigated if a treadmill exercise intervention in the mother could improve offspring cardiac health and explored potential underlying mechanisms. METHODS A 20-minute treadmill exercise intervention protocol was performed 5 days a week in diet-induced obese female C57BL/6 mice 1 week prior to, and up to E17 of pregnancy. All male offspring were weaned onto a control diet and studied at 8 weeks of age when their cardiovascular physiology was assessed by in vivo echocardiography and non-invasive tail cuff plethysmography. Cardiomyocyte cell area, re-expression of fetal genes and the expression of calcium handling and sympathetic activation proteins were determined. RESULTS At 8 weeks, there was no difference in bodyweight or fat mass between groups. Offspring of obese dams developed pathologic cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension and cardiac dysfunction characterized by reduced ejection fraction (p< 0.001). Maternal exercise prevented cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction but failed to prevent hypertension. These offspring of exercised dams also had enhanced (p< 0.001) levels of calcium handling proteins and a sympathetic-activated inotropic response. CONCLUSIONS Exercise in obese pregnancy was beneficial to offspring cardiac function and structure but did not influence hypertension suggesting they are programmed by separate mechanistic pathways. These data suggest combination interventions in obese pregnancies will be required to improve all aspects of the cardiovascular health of the next generation.This work received funding from the British Heart Foundation, the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme , MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit award and British Heart Foundation Studentship. Wellcome Trust

Variability of speech timing features across repeated recordings: a comparison of open-source extraction techniques

Variations in speech timing features have been reliably linked to symptoms of various health conditions, demonstrating clinical potential. However, replication challenges hinder their translation; extracted speech features are susceptible to methodological variations in the recording and processing pipeline. Investigating this, we compared exemplar timing features extracted via three different techniques from recordings of healthy speech. Our results show that features extracted via an intensity-based method differ from those produced by forced alignment. Different extraction methods also led to differing estimates of within-speaker feature variability over time in an analysis of recordings repeated systematically over three sessions in one day (n=26) and in one week (n=28). Our findings highlight the importance of feature extraction in study design and interpretation, and the need for consistent, accurate extraction techniques for clinical research

Maternal Obesity in Pregnancy Developmentally Programs Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Young, Lean Male Mice Offspring.

Obesity during pregnancy has a long-term effect on the health of the offspring including risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. Using a mouse model of maternal diet-induced obesity, we employed a genome-wide approach to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) and miRNA transcription profile in adipose tissue to understand mechanisms through which this occurs. Male offspring of diet-induced obese mothers, fed a control diet from weaning, showed no differences in body weight or adiposity at 8 weeks of age. However, offspring from the obese dams had up-regulated cytokine (Tnfα; P < .05) and chemokine (Ccl2 and Ccl7; P < .05) signaling in their adipose tissue. This was accompanied by reduced expression of miR-706, which we showed can directly regulate translation of the inflammatory proteins IL-33 (41% up-regulated; P < .05) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 1D (30% up-regulated; P < .01). We conclude that exposure to obesity during development primes an inflammatory environment in adipose tissue that is independent of offspring adiposity. Programming of adipose tissue miRNAs that regulate expression of inflammatory signaling molecules may be a contributing mechanism.This work was supported by Funding sources: National Council for the Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES - Brazil - BEX 10 594/13–2); National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq – Brazil – PDE/204416/ 2014–0); Medical Research Council (MC UU 12012/4 and MC UU12012/5), BBSRC (BB/M001636/1) and the Wellcome Trust (089940/Z/09/Z).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the Endocrine Society via http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2016-131