Micronutrient Dietary Intake in Latina Pregnant Adolescents and Its Association with Level of Depression, Stress, and Social Support

Adolescent pregnant women are at greater risk for nutritional deficits, stress, and depression than their adult counterparts, and these risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes are likely interrelated. This study evaluated the prevalence of nutritional deficits in pregnant teenagers and assessed the associations among micronutrient dietary intake, stress, and depression. One hundred and eight pregnant Latina adolescents completed an Automated Self-Administered 24-hour dietary recall (ASA24) in the 2nd trimester. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. Social support satisfaction was measured using the Social Support Questionnaire. More than 50% of pregnant teenagers had an inadequate intake (excluding dietary supplement) of folate, vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. Additionally, >20% of participants had an inadequate intake of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, copper, and selenium. Prenatal supplement inclusion improved dietary intake for most micronutrients except for calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous, (>50% below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)) and for copper and selenium (>20% below the EAR). Higher depressive symptoms were associated with higher energy, carbohydrates, and fats, and lower magnesium intake. Higher social support satisfaction was positively associated with dietary intake of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and zinc. The findings suggest that mood and dietary factors are associated and should be considered together for health interventions during adolescent pregnancy for the young woman and her future child

Hydrogen Molecules In Superstrong Magnetic Field: II. Excitation Levels

We study the energy levels of H$_2$ molecules in a superstrong magnetic field (B\go 10^{12} G), typically found on the surfaces of neutron stars. The interatomic interaction potentials are calculated by a Hartree-Fock method with multi-configurations assuming electrons are in the ground Landau state. Both the aligned configurations and arbitrary orientations of the molecular axis with respect to the magnetic field axis are considered. Different types of molecular excitations are then studied: electronic excitations, aligned (along the magnetic axis) vibrational excitations, transverse vibrational excitations (a constrained rotation of the molecular axis around the magnetic field line). Similar results for the molecular ion H$_2^+$ are also obtained and compared with previous variational calculations. Both numerical results and analytical fitting formulae are given for a wide range of field strengths. In contrast to the zero-field case, it is found that the transverse vibrational excitation energies can be larger than the aligned vibration excitation, and they both can be comparable or larger than the electronic excitations. For B\go B_{crit}=4.23\times 10^{13} G, the Landau energy of proton is appreciable and there is some controversy regarding the dissociation energy of H$_2$. We show that H$_2$ is bound even for $B>>B_{crit}$ and that neither proton has a Landau excitation in the ground molecular state.Comment: Revtex (45 pages), 3 postscript figures; Phys. Rev. A in pres

Matter in Strong Magnetic Fields

The properties of matter are significantly modified by strong magnetic fields, $B>>2.35\times 10^9$ Gauss ($1 G =10^{-4} Tesla$), as are typically found on the surfaces of neutron stars. In such strong magnetic fields, the Coulomb force on an electron acts as a small perturbation compared to the magnetic force. The strong field condition can also be mimicked in laboratory semiconductors. Because of the strong magnetic confinement of electrons perpendicular to the field, atoms attain a much greater binding energy compared to the zero-field case, and various other bound states become possible, including molecular chains and three-dimensional condensed matter. This article reviews the electronic structure of atoms, molecules and bulk matter, as well as the thermodynamic properties of dense plasma, in strong magnetic fields, $10^9G << B < 10^{16}G$. The focus is on the basic physical pictures and approximate scaling relations, although various theoretical approaches and numerical results are also discussed. For the neutron star surface composed of light elements such as hydrogen or helium, the outermost layer constitutes a nondegenerate, partially ionized Coulomb plasma if $B<<10^{14}G$, and may be in the form of a condensed liquid if the magnetic field is stronger (and temperature $<10^6$ K). For the iron surface, the outermost layer of the neutron star can be in a gaseous or a condensed phase depending on the cohesive property of the iron condensate.Comment: 45 pages with 9 figures. Many small additions/changes. Accepted for publication in Rev. Mod. Phy

Metabolic changes in concussed American football players during the acute and chronic post-injury phases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite negative neuroimaging findings many athletes display neurophysiological alterations and post-concussion symptoms that may be attributable to neurometabolic alterations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study investigated the effects of sports concussion on brain metabolism using ¹H-MR Spectroscopy by comparing a group of 10 non-concussed athletes with a group of 10 concussed athletes of the same age (mean: 22.5 years) and education (mean: 16 years) within both the acute and chronic post-injury phases. All athletes were scanned 1-6 days post-concussion and again 6-months later in a 3T Siemens MRI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Concussed athletes demonstrated neurometabolic impairment in prefrontal and motor (M1) cortices in the acute phase where NAA:Cr levels remained depressed relative to controls. There was some recovery observed in the chronic phase where Glu:Cr levels returned to those of control athletes; however, there was a pathological increase of m-I:Cr levels in M1 that was only present in the chronic phase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results confirm cortical neurometabolic changes in the acute post-concussion phase as well as recovery and continued metabolic abnormalities in the chronic phase. The results indicate that complex pathophysiological processes differ depending on the post-injury phase and the neurometabolite in question.</p

La frequentazione chasseana nella grotta del Leone di Agnano (Pisa)

National audienceLa frequentazione chasseana nella grotta del Leone di Agnano (Pisa

The The Influence of Job Performance, Job Stress to Work-Life Balance among COVID-19 Frontliners

Purpose: The main objective of this study is to determine if there are domains of job performance and job stress that significantly influence work-life balance among COVID-19 Frontliners in Tagum City.&nbsp; Design/methodology/approach: This study used quantitative non-experimental research design utilizing correlational technique with a total sample size of 200 COVID-19 Frontliners selected through random sampling, data were collected through adopted survey questionnaire. The statistical tools used for data treatment in this study were mean, pearson-r and regression analysis. Findings: The result showed a very high level of job performance, moderate level of job stress, and high level of work-life balance among COVID-19 Frontliners. Also, there is a significant relationship between job performance and work-life balance, and between job stress and work-life balance. Practical implications: The domains of job performance and job stress that significantly predict work-life balance are task performance, having managerial responsibilities, and feeling poorly managed and resourced. Originality/value: This paper is an original work. Paper type: Research pape

Physical activity and park use of youth in Nanchang, China

Physical inactivity is a growing issue in Chinese youth, but parks can facilitate traditional and non-traditional forms of physical activity for little to no cost. Despite this opportunity, very little is known regarding park use among Chinese youth. The purpose of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional observational study of park usage and physical activity of youth in municipal parks in Nanchang, China. Data were collected in June of 2014 in eight parks across Nanchang, Jiangxi a large city in southeast China. Physical activity was measured by a modified version of System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities. Ordered hierarchic generalized linear models were estimated using a logit link function. The influence of the park was estimated using random effects, with fixed effects and park, environmental, and park user characteristics. Youth were most often seen active in the afternoon, on weekends, and during cooler times (≤29°C). Paradoxically, more children were active when air quality was poorer. Older boys were more active than younger boys, but no differences were observed in girls. More children were seen active in unstructured play compared to structured activities. The results suggest parks are an important setting for physical activity among Chinese youth, and that unstructured activities can play an important role in promoting greater youth physical activity. Keywords: Exercise, Adolescent, Recreatio