The Effect of Morning Thirst on Afternoon Hydration Status

Thirst sensation is an important stimulus for drinking behavior; however, the effect of thirst sensation on later hydration status remains unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of morning thirst on afternoon hydration status. METHODS: Twelve men (mean ± standard deviation; age: 21 ± 2 years; mass: 81.0 ± 15.9 kg) and twelve women (age: 22 ± 3 years; mass: 68.8 ± 15.2 kg) visited the laboratory in the morning (first morning) and afternoon (2:00-4:00pm) for three consecutive days under a free-living condition. At each visit, participants provided a urine sample where urine indices were analyzed (urine specific gravity [USG], urine color [UCOL], urine osmolality [UOSMO]), and nude body mass was collected to calculate body mass loss (BML). Then, thirst was assessed with a Likert scale, and a blood sample was collected to analyze plasma osmolality (POSMO), hemoglobin, and hematocrit to calculate % plasma volume change (PV). Participants recorded food and fluid intake between the morning and afternoon visits to determine total water intake (TWI). Linear regression was used to predict thirst from the morning on hydration indices in the afternoon. Also, a stepwise linear regression predicted thirst in the afternoon from hydration indices in the morning. Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to calculate the relationship between TWI and hydration markers. RESULTS: Higher morning thirst significantly predicted lower UOSMO (r2=0.056, p=0.045), USG (r2=0.096, p=0.008), UCOL (r2=0.074, p=0.021), and higher thirst (r2=0.074, p=0.021) in the afternoon. However, thirst in the morning did not predict BML, PV, POSMO, and TWI in the afternoon (p\u3e0.05). Increased thirst and BML in the morning together significantly predicted higher thirst (r2=0.125, p=0.010) in the afternoon. Increased TWI was associated with lower UCOL (r=0.336, p=0.004) and BML (r=0.297, p=0.011) in the afternoon. However, TWI was not associated with any variables in the morning or the remaining variables in the afternoon, including USG and UOSMO (p\u3e0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased morning thirst impacts afternoon urine indices and thirst. However, morning thirst does not influence TWI between the morning and the afternoon, and TWI is not associated with morning hydration status. Therefore, afternoon hydration status might be impacted by morning thirst, although individuals might not consume fluid based on their morning thirst or hydration status

Habitual Fluid Intake Does Not Affect Sleep Parameters in Young Women.

Sleep is essential for optimal physical performance, cognitive function, recovery, and overall health. Similarly, hydration status has been shown to influence physical and cognitive functions. Dehydration can lead to impaired cognition and possibly impaired sleep. However, the effect of habitual total water intake (TWI) on sleep and recovery measures have not been examined. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of TWI on sleep and recovery measures in young women. METHODS: Twenty-two young women (age: 22.8±4.6 yrs; body mass: 60.0±9.5 kg; height: 164.6±6.1 cm) collected fluid intake and food consumption information across a 5 day period, and average TWI was calculated based on them. Then, participants were categorized in either High Drinker (HD; ³ 2.5L/day; n=13; age: 23.0±3.6 yrs) or Low Drinker (LD; £ 1.6 L/day; n=9; age: 23±3yrs). Sleep and recovery measures were collected using a wearable sleep-tracking device that participants wore for 5 consecutive days. Sleep and recovery measures were compared between HD and LD, using a two-tailed independent t-test and effect sizes (ES). ES were identified as either small (0.2-0.49), medium (0.5-0.79), and large (\u3e0.8). RESULTS: No significant differences were found in resting heart rate (HD: 63.7±4.6 bpm, LD: 61.9± 5.2 bpm; p=0.40), heart rate variability (HD: 58.2±14.1 ms, 69.6±40.9 ms; p=0.44), slow wave sleep (SWS) (HD: 1.5±0.4 hrs, LD: 1.4±0.3 hrs; p=0.55), SWS percentage (HD: 19.3±3.8 %, LD: 18.7±3.7 %; p=0.17) sleep consistency (HD: 65.2±15.6 %, LD: 63.3±7. 3%; p=0.71), and sleep efficiency (HD: 90.5±3.1 %, LD: 90.4±2.0 %; p=0.91). While there were no statistical differences, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (HD: 2.0±0.4 hrs, LD: 1.6±0.7 hrs; p=0.17) and REM percentage (HD: 26.1±3.8 %, LD: 21.5±7.8 %; p=0.13) displayed the largest differences, with REM indicating a medium ES (d=0.70) and REM percentage having a large ES (d=0.80). CONCLUSION: Habitual fluid intake might not impact sleep measurement. However, based on ES, REM sleep and REM percentage potentially display a trend. Still, more research is necessary to further determine any correlations

Continuity Culture: A Key Factor for Building Resilience and Sound Recovery Capabilities

This article investigates the extent to which Jordanian service organizations seek to establish continuity culture through testing, training, and updating of their business continuity plans. A survey strategy was adopted in this research. Primary and secondary data were used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five senior managers from five large Jordanian service organizations registered with the Amman Stock Exchange. The selection of organizations was made on the basis of simple random sampling. Interviews targeted the headquarters only in order to obtain a homogenous sample. Three out of five organizations could be regarded as crisis prepared and have better chances for recovery. The other two organizations exhibited characteristics of standard practice that only emphasizes the recovery aspect of business continuity management (BCM), while paying less attention to establishing resilient cultures and embedding BCM. The findings reveal that the ability to recover following major incidents can be improved by embedding BCM in the culture of the organization and by making BCM an enterprise-wide process. This is one of few meticulous studies that have been undertaken in the Middle East and the first in Jordan to investigate the extent to which service organizations focus on embedding BCM in the organizational culture

Impact of Habitual Water Intake on Muscle Quality and Total Body Water-A Pilot Study

Proper hydration is essential for critical health and performance functions, such as muscle function and body fluid balance. The effect of acute hydration status has been studied on health and muscle performance; however, the effect of habitual water intake on muscle quality and total body water between high and low consumption has not been examined. PURPOSE: To determine the impact of habitual water intake on muscle quality and total body water. METHODS: Eleven women (age: 27.6±7.9 years; mass: 60.3±10.8 kg) provided a five-day dietary food log to categorize them into HIGH or LOW daily total water intake (TWI). TWI values \u3e2.5-3.3 L/day (HIGH) or \u3c 0.7-1.6 L/day (LOW) were used to determine groups. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and ultrasound images were obtained to assess overall muscle quality and total body fluid balance between the two groups. Analysis of ultrasound images using ImageJ determined length (cm), cross-sectional area (CSA), and muscle quality through echo intensity (EI) of the participant’s right and left rectus femoris (RF). An independent sample T-Test and effect sizes (ES) were used to assess differences between HIGH and LOW. RESULTS: Due to this study being a pilot study, there was no significant differences in right RF length between LOW (1.44±0.22 cm) and HIGH (1.22±0.24 cm, p=0.153) with a large effect size of (ES=0.98). There were no significant differences in left RF length (p=0.861) between HIGH (1.46±0.28 cm) and LOW (1.42±0.32) groups with a trivial effect size (ES=0.11). Right RF CSA had non-significant differences between LOW (3.72±1.18 cm2) and HIGH (2.95±1.05 cm2, p=0.309) with medium effect (ES=0.68). There were no differences in CSA-left between HIGH (3.63 ± 1.06 cm) and LOW (3.83±1.44, p=0.816, ES=0.15). Right RF muscle quality also had a medium effect size (ES=0.78) between HIGH (135.30±21.82 A.U) and LOW (117.71±23.10 A.U). Muscle quality of the left RF had a small effect size (ES=0.26) between LOW (118.29±22.18 A.U) and HIGH (125.97±39.47 A.U, p=0.684). While there was no statistical difference due to the power (p=0.163), total body water (TBW) percentage (%) was greater in HIGH (53.9±1.5%) compared to LOW (50.6±5.4%, ES= 0.75) with medium effects. HIGH and LOW demonstrated no statistical difference (p=0.579) with a small effect size (ES=0.36) between ECF% and ICF%, respectively (41.00±0.72%, 41.39±1.20%; 59.00±0.72%, 58.61±1.20%). CONCLUSION: Despite no significant differences, based on ES, HIGH habitual water intake increases TBW% than LOW. Further data must be collected to draw definitive conclusions; however, these results suggest skeletal muscle quality is high with LOW habitual water intake

Lines, Circles, Planes and Spheres

Let $S$ be a set of $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^3$, no three collinear and not all coplanar. If at most $n-k$ are coplanar and $n$ is sufficiently large, the total number of planes determined is at least $1 + k \binom{n-k}{2}-\binom{k}{2}(\frac{n-k}{2})$. For similar conditions and sufficiently large $n$, (inspired by the work of P. D. T. A. Elliott in \cite{Ell67}) we also show that the number of spheres determined by $n$ points is at least $1+\binom{n-1}{3}-t_3^{orchard}(n-1)$, and this bound is best possible under its hypothesis. (By $t_3^{orchard}(n)$, we are denoting the maximum number of three-point lines attainable by a configuration of $n$ points, no four collinear, in the plane, i.e., the classic Orchard Problem.) New lower bounds are also given for both lines and circles.Comment: 37 page

To what extent is behaviour a problem in English schools?:Exploring the scale and prevalence of deficits in classroom climate

The working atmosphere in the classroom is an important variable in the process of education in schools, with several studies suggesting that classroom climate is an important influence on pupil attainment. There are wide differences in the extent to which classroom climate is considered to be a problem in English schools. Some ‘official’ reports suggest that behaviour in schools is ‘satisfactory or better’ in the vast majority of schools; other sources have pointed to behaviour being a serious and widespread problem. The paper details four studies conducted over the past decade which aimed to explore these disparities. The aim of the research was to gain a more accurate insight into the extent to which deficits in classroom climate limit educational attainment and equality of educational opportunity in English schools. The findings question the suggestion that behaviour is satisfactory or better in 99.7% of English schools and the concluding section suggests ways in which deficits in classroom climate might be addressed. Although the study is limited to classrooms in England, OECD studies suggest that deficits in the working atmosphere in classrooms occur in many countries. The study therefore has potential relevance for education systems in other countries

Education, biological ageing, all-cause and cause-specific mortality and morbidity : UK biobank cohort study

Background: Socioeconomic position as measured by education may be embodied and affect the functioning of key physiological systems. Links between social disadvantage, its biological imprint, and cause-specific mortality and morbidity have not been investigated in large populations, and yet may point towards areas for public health interventions beyond targeting individual behaviours. Methods: Using data from 366,748 UK Biobank participants with 13 biomarker measurements, we calculated a Biological Health Score (BHS, ranging from 0 to 1) capturing the level of functioning of five physiological systems. Associations between BHS and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, and mortality from all, CVD, cancer, and external causes were examined. We explored the role of education in these associations. Mendelian randomisation using genetic evidence was used to triangulate these findings. Findings: An increase in BHS of 0.1 was associated with all-cause (HR = 1.14 [1.12–1.16] and 1.09 [1.07–1.12] in men and women respectively), cancer (HR = 1.11 [1.09–1.14] and 1.07 [1.04–1.10]) and CVD (HR = 1.25 [1.20–1.31] and 1.21 [1.11–1.31]) mortality, CVD incidence (HR = 1.15 [1.13–1.16] and 1.17 [1.15–1.19]). These associations survived adjustment for education, lifestyle-behaviours, body mass index (BMI), co-morbidities and medical treatments. Mendelian randomisation further supported the link between the BHS and CVD incidence (HR = 1.31 [1.21–1.42]). The BHS contributed to CVD incidence prediction (age-adjusted C-statistic = 0.58), other than through education and health behaviours. Interpretation: The BHS captures features of the embodiment of education, health behaviours, and more proximal unknown factors which all complementarily contribute to all-cause, cancer and CVD morbidity and premature death. © 2020 The Author(s)Peer reviewe

Advanced surface treatments for medium-velocity superconducting RF cavities for high accelerating gradient continuous-wave operation

Nitrogen-doping and furnace-baking are advanced high-Q0 recipes developed for 1.3 GHz TESLA-type cavities. These treatments will significantly benefit the high-Q0 linear accelerator community if they can be successfully adapted to different cavity styles and frequencies. Strong frequency- and geometry- dependence of these recipes makes the technology transfer amongst different cavity styles and frequencies far from straightforward, and requires rigorous study. Upcoming high-Q0 continuous-wave linear accelerator projects, such as the proposed Michigan State University Facility for Rare Isotope Beam Energy Upgrade, and the underway Fermilab's Proton Improvement Plan-II, could benefit enormously from adapting these techniques to their beta_opt = 0.6 ~650 MHz 5-cell elliptical superconducting rf cavities, operating at an accelerating gradient of around ~17 MV/m. This is the first investigation of the adaptation of nitrogen doping and medium temperature furnace baking to prototype 644 MHz beta_opt = 0.65 cavities, with the aim of demonstrating the high-Q0 potential of these recipes in these novel cavities for future optimization as part of the FRIB400 project R&D. We find that nitrogen-doping delivers superior Q0, despite the sub-GHz operating frequency of these cavities, but is sensitive to the post-doping electropolishing removal step and experiences elevated residual resistance. Medium temperature furnace baking delivers reasonable performance with decreased residual resistance compared to the nitrogen doped cavity, but may require further recipe refinement. The gradient requirement for the FRIB400 upgrade project is comfortably achieved by both recipes.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

'Reaching the hard to reach' - lessons learned from the VCS (voluntary and community Sector). A qualitative study.

Background The notion 'hard to reach' is a contested and ambiguous term that is commonly used within the spheres of social care and health, especially in discourse around health and social inequalities. There is a need to address health inequalities and to engage in services the marginalized and socially excluded sectors of society. Methods This paper describes a pilot study involving interviews with representatives from eight Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations . The purpose of the study was to explore the notion of 'hard to reach' and perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to accessing services for 'hard to reach' groups from a voluntary and community sector perspective. Results The 'hard to reach' may include drug users, people living with HIV, people from sexual minority communities, asylum seekers, refugees, people from black and ethnic minority communities, and homeless people although defining the notion of the 'hard to reach' is not straight forward. It may be that certain groups resist engaging in treatment services and are deemed hard to reach by a particular service or from a societal stance. There are a number of potential barriers for people who may try and access services, including people having bad experiences in the past; location and opening times of services and how services are funded and managed. A number of areas of commonality are found in terms of how access to services for 'hard to reach' individuals and groups could be improved including: respectful treatment of service users, establishing trust with service users, offering service flexibility, partnership working with other organisations and harnessing service user involvement. Conclusions: If health services are to engage with groups that are deemed 'hard to reach' and marginalised from mainstream health services, the experiences and practices for engagement from within the VCS may serve as useful lessons for service improvement for statutory health services