A fine balance and a shared learning journey: Exploring healthcare engagement through the experiences of youth with neuromuscular disorders

BACKGROUND: Youth with Neuromuscular Disorders (NMD) who are wheelchair users can now survive well into adulthood if their multisystem comorbidities are prudently managed. Uptake of health behaviors may optimize their health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To explore youths’ perceptions of health, health behaviors and healthcare engagement. METHODS: This qualitative study purposefully recruited 11 youth with NMD from a concurrent, population-based study for variability of age, gender, type of NMD and their ratings of motivation and engagement. Interview data were analyzed and synthesized by thematic content. RESULTS: Participants perceived healthcare engagement as being given tools (knowledge and responsibility) and using them to maintain their finely balanced health. Nested in adequate social, emotional and physical support, they took responsibility for creatively integrating health behaviors they felt were informed by credible knowledge, gained primarily through personal experience. CONCLUSION: Cognizant of their compromised health, youth with NMD in this study were motivated to maintain their physical health. Limited NMD condition specific knowledge challenged youths’ uptake of health behaviors. They valued a learning partnership with their healthcare professionals. By embracing the youth’s experience based knowledge and through facilitating supportive relationships, healthcare professionals co-construct youth’s healthcare engagement that may optimize health behaviors and outcomes

Rapid Quantification of Molecular Diversity for Selective Database Acquisition

There is an increasing need to expand the structural diversity of the molecules investigated in lead-discovery programs. One way in which this can be achieved is by acquiring external datasets that will enhance an existing database. This paper describes a rapid procedure for the selection of external datasets using a measure of structural diversity that is calculated from sums of pairwise intermolecular structural similarities

Earth resources-regional transfer activity contracts review

A regional transfer activity contracts review held by the Earth Resources Office was summarized. Contracts in the earth resources field primarily directed toward applications of satellite data and technology in solution of state and regional problems were reviewed. A summary of the progress of each contract was given in order to share experiences of researchers across a seven state region. The region included Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Research in several earth science disciplines included forestry, limnology, water resources, land use, geology, and mathematical modeling. The use of computers for establishment of information retrieval systems was also emphasized

Redetermination of despujolsite, Ca3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6·3H2O

The crystal structure of despujolsite [tricalcium manganese bis­(sulfate) hexahydroxide tri­hydrate], the Ca/Mn member of the fleischerite group, ideally Ca3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6·3H2O, was previously determined based on X-ray diffraction intensity data from photographs, without H-atom positions located [Gaudefroy et al. (1968 ▶). Bull. Soc. Fr. Minéral. Crystallogr. 91, 43–50]. The current study redetermines the structure of despujolsite from a natural specimen, with all H atoms located and with higher precision. The structure of despujolsite is characterized by layers of CaO8 polyhedra (m.. symmetry) inter­connected by Mn(OH)6 octa­hedra (32. symmetry) and SO4 tetra­hedra (3.. symmetry) along [001]. The average Ca—O, Mn—O and S—O bond lengths are 2.489, 1.915, and 1.472 Å, respectively. There are two distinct hydrogen bonds that stabilize the structural set-up. This work represents the first description of hydrogen bonds in the fleischerite group of minerals

Interval Training: Its Effects on Resting Fat Oxidation and Body Composition In Recreationally Active College-Aged Females

Please view abstract in the attached PDF file

Optimization of windspeed prediction using an artificial neural network compared with a genetic programming model

The precise prediction of windspeed is essential in order to improve and optimize wind power prediction. However, due to the sporadic and inherent complexity of weather parameters, the prediction of windspeed data using different patterns is difficult. Machine learning (ML) is a powerful tool to deal with uncertainty and has been widely discussed and applied in renewable energy forecasting. In this chapter, the authors present and compare an artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic programming (GP) model as a tool to predict windspeed of 15 locations in Queensland, Australia. After performing feature selection using neighborhood component analysis (NCA) from 11 different metrological parameters, seven of the most important predictor variables were chosen for 85 Queensland locations, 60 of which were used for training the model, 10 locations for model validation, and 15 locations for the model testing. For all 15 target sites, the testing performance of ANN was significantly superior to the GP model

Temporal Changes in Astronauts Muscle and Cardiorespiratory Physiology Pre-, In-, and Post-Spaceflight

NASAs vision for future exploration missions depends on the ability to protect astronauts health and safety for performance of Extravehicular Activity (EVA), and to allow astronauts to safely egress from vehicles in a variety of landing scenarios (e.g. water landing upon return to Earth and undefined planetary/lunar landings). Prolonged exposure to spaceflight results in diminished tolerance to prolonged physical activity, decreased cardiac and sensorimotor function, and loss of bone mineral density, muscle mass, and muscle strength. For over 50 years exercise has been the primary countermeasure against these physiologic decrements during spaceflight, and while the resulting protection is adequate for ISS missions (i.e., Soyuz landing, microgravity EVAs), there is little information regarding time-course changes in muscle and aerobic performance. As spaceflight progresses towards longer exploration missions and vehicles with less robust exercise capabilities compared to ISS, countermeasures will need to be combined and optimized to protect crew health and performance across all organ systems over the course of exploration missions up to 3 years in duration. This will require a more detailed understanding of the dynamic effects of spaceflight on human performance. Thus, the focus of this study is quantifying decrements in physical performance over different mission durations, and to provide detailed information on the physiological rational for why and when observed changes in performance occur. The research proposed will temporally profile changes in astronauts cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle mass, strength, and endurance over spaceflight missions of 2 months, 6 months, and up to 1 year in duration. Additionally, an extrapolation model will provide predictions for changes associated with exploration missions 2-3 years in duration. To accomplish these objectives astronauts will be asked to participate in pre, in, post-flight measurement of muscle performance, muscle size, cardiorespiratory fitness and submaximal performance capabilities, as well as non-invasive assessment of cerebral and muscle oxygenation and perfusion (Table 1). Additionally, ambulatory and in-flight exercise, nutrition, and sleep will be monitored using a variety of commercial technologies and in-flight assessment tools. Significance: Our detailed testing protocol will provide valuable information for describing how and when spaceflight-induced muscle and aerobic based adaptations occur over the course of spaceflight missions up to and beyond 1 year. This information will be vital in the assessment as to whether humans can be physically ready for deep space exploration such as Mars missions with current technology, or if additional mitigation strategies are necessary