The Association Between the Long-Term Change in Directly Measured Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Mortality Risk

Introduction: There is a strong inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mortality outcomes. This relationship has predominantly been assessed cross-sectionally, however low CRF is a modifiable risk factor, thus assessing this association using a single baseline measure may be sub-optimal. Purpose: To examine the association of the long-term change in CRF, measured using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) with all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Methods: Participants included 833 apparently healthy men and women (42.9±10.8 years) who underwent two maximal CPXs, the second CPX being ≥ 1 year following the baseline assessment. Participants were followed for 17.7 ± 11.8 years for allcause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality. Cox-proportional hazard models were performed to determine the association between the change in CRF, computed as visit 1 (V1) peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak (ml·kg-1·min-1)) – visit 2 (V2) VO2peak, and mortality outcomes. Results: During follow-up, 172 participants died. Overall, the change in CPX-derived CRF was inversely related to all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality (p\u3c0.05). Each 1 ml·kg-1·min-1 increase was associated with a 10.8, 14.7, and 15.9% reductions in allcause, CVD, and cancer mortality, respectively. The inverse relationship between CRF and all-cause mortality remained significant (p\u3c0.05) when men and women were examined independently, after adjusting for years since first CPX, baseline VO2peak, and age. Conclusion: Long-term changes in CRF were inversely related to mortality outcomes, and mortality was better predicted by CRF measured at subsequent examination than baseline CRF. These findings support the recent American Heart Association scientific statement advocating CRF as a clinical vital sign that should be assessed routinely in clinical practice, as well as support regular participation in physical activity to maintain adequate CRF levels across the lifespan

Reference Standards for Body Fat Measure Using GE Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Caucasian Adults

Background Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an established technique for the measurement of body composition. Reference values for these variables, particularly those related to fat mass, are necessary for interpretation and accurate classification of those at risk for obesityrelated health complications and in need of lifestyle modifications (diet, physical activity, etc.). Currently, there are no reference values available for GE-Healthcare DXA systems and it is known that whole-body and regional fat mass measures differ by DXA manufacturer. Objective To develop reference values by age and sex for DXA-derived fat mass measurements with GE-Healthcare systems. Methods A de-identified sample of 3,327 participants (2,076 women, 1,251 men) was obtained from Ball State University\u27s Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory and University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee\u27s Physical Activity & Health Research Laboratory. All scans were completed using a GE Lunar Prodigy or iDXA and data reported included percent body fat (%BF), fat mass index (FMI), and ratios of android-to-gynoid (A/G), trunk/limb, and trunk/leg fat measurements. Percentiles were calculated and a factorial ANOVA was used to determine differences in the mean values for each variable between age and sex. Results Normative reference values for fat mass variables from DXA measurements obtained from GE-Healthcare DXA systems are presented as percentiles for both women and men in 10- year age groups. Women had higher (p\u3c0.01) mean %BF and FMI than men, whereas men had higher (p\u3c0.01) mean ratios of A/G, trunk/limb, and trunk/leg fat measurements than women

Spacetime geometry of static fluid spheres

We exhibit a simple and explicit formula for the metric of an arbitrary static spherically symmetric perfect fluid spacetime. This class of metrics depends on one freely specifiable monotone non-increasing generating function. We also investigate various regularity conditions, and the constraints they impose. Because we never make any assumptions as to the nature (or even the existence) of an equation of state, this technique is useful in situations where the equation of state is for whatever reason uncertain or unknown. To illustrate the power of the method we exhibit a new form of the ``Goldman--I'' exact solution and calculate its total mass. This is a three-parameter closed-form exact solution given in terms of algebraic combinations of quadratics. It interpolates between (and thereby unifies) at least six other reasonably well-known exact solutions.Comment: Plain LaTeX 2e -- V2: now 22 pages; minor presentation changes in the first part of the paper -- no physics modifications; major additions to the examples section: the Gold-I solution is shown to be identical to the G-G solution. The interior Schwarzschild, Stewart, Buch5 XIII, de Sitter, anti-de Sitter, and Einstein solutions are all special cases. V3: Reference, footnotes, and acknowledgments added, typos fixed -- no physics modifications. V4: Technical problems with mass formula fixed -- affects discussion of our examples but not the core of the paper. Version to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Adaptive significance of functional germination traits in crop wild relatives of Brassica

Functional germination traits contribute to both niche competitiveness and crop yield outcomes. However, there is little understanding of the adaptive significance of the germination thermal- and hydro-parameters in crop wild relatives (CWRs), yet these species are anticipated to be the source of adaptive traits for future agriculture. Seeds of 10 seed lots of Brassica species, sub-species and inbred lines from across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East were subjected to a range of temperature and water potential conditions. The germination progress curves recorded were analysed using repeated probit analysis and the functional trait parameters (thermal- and hydro thresholds and times) determined. Relationships between these seed parameters (and the physical trait, seed mass) and the seed source environment were investigated

Solution generating theorems for perfect fluid spheres

The first static spherically symmetric perfect fluid solution with constant density was found by Schwarzschild in 1918. Generically, perfect fluid spheres are interesting because they are first approximations to any attempt at building a realistic model for a general relativistic star. Over the past 90 years a confusing tangle of specific perfect fluid spheres has been discovered, with most of these examples seemingly independent from each other. To bring some order to this collection, we develop several new transformation theorems that map perfect fluid spheres into perfect fluid spheres. These transformation theorems sometimes lead to unexpected connections between previously known perfect fluid spheres, sometimes lead to new previously unknown perfect fluid spheres, and in general can be used to develop a systematic way of classifying the set of all perfect fluid spheres. In addition, we develop new ``solution generating'' theorems for the TOV, whereby any given solution can be ``deformed'' to a new solution. Because these TOV-based theorems work directly in terms of the pressure profile and density profile it is relatively easy to impose regularity conditions at the centre of the fluid sphere.Comment: 8 pages, no figures, to appear in the proceedings of the NEB XII Conference (Recent Developments in Gravity), 29 June - 2 July, 2006, Napflio, Greec

The Association between the Change in Directly Measured Cardiorespiratory Fitness across Time and Mortality Risk

Background: The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mortality risk has typically been assessed using a single measurement, though some evidence suggests the change in CRF over time influences risk. This evidence is predominantly based on studies using estimated CRF (CRFe). The strength of this relationship using change in directly measured CRF over time in apparently healthy men and women is not well understood. Purpose: To examine the association of change in CRF over time, measured using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX), with all-cause and disease-specific mortality and to compare baseline and subsequent CRF measurements as predictors of all-cause mortality. Methods: Participants included 833 apparently healthy men and women (42.9 ± 10.8 years) who underwent two maximal CPXs, the second CPX being ≥1 year following the baseline assessment (mean 8.6 years, range 1.0 to 40.3 years). Participants were followed for up to 17.7 (SD 11.8) years for all-cause-, cardiovascular disease- (CVD), and cancer mortality. Cox-proportional hazard models were performed to determine the association between the change in CRF, computed as visit 1 (CPX1) peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak [mL·kg−1·min−1]) – visit 2 (CPX2) VO2peak, and mortality outcomes. A Wald-Chi square test of equality was used to compare the strength of CPX1 to CPX2 VO2peak in predicting mortality. Results: During follow-up, 172 participants died. Overall, the change in CPX-CRF was inversely related to all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality (p \u3c 0.05). Each 1 mL·kg−1·min−1 increase was associated with a ~11, 15, and 16% (all p \u3c 0.001) reduction in all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality, respectively. The inverse relationship between CRF and all-cause mortality was significant (p \u3c 0.05) when men and women were examined independently, after adjusting for years since first CPX, baseline VO2peak, and age. Further, the Wald Chi-square test of equality found CPX2 VO2peak to be a significantly stronger predictor of all-cause mortality than CPX1 VO2peak (p \u3c 0.05). Conclusion: The change in CRF over time was inversely related to mortality outcomes, and mortality was better predicted by CRF measured at subsequent test than CPX1 CRF. These findings emphasize the importance of adopting lifestyle behaviors that promote CRF, as well as support the need for routine assessment of CRF in clinical practice to better assess risk

Neutral-current neutrino cross section and expected supernova signals for 40^{40}Ar from a three-fold increase in the magnetic dipole strength

In view of the great interest in liquid argon neutrino detectors, the $^{40}$Ar($\gamma,\gamma'$)$^{40}$Ar$^{*}$ reaction was revisited to guide a calculation of the neutral current neutrino cross section at supernova energies. Using the nuclear resonance fluorescence technique with a monoenergetic, 99% linearly polarized photon beam, we report a three-fold increase in magnetic dipole strength at around 10 MeV in $^{40}$Ar. Based on shell-model calculations, and using the experimentally identified transitions, the neutral current neutrino cross sections for low-energy reactions on $^{40}$Ar are calculated

Universality of finite-size corrections to the number of critical percolation clusters

Monte-Carlo simulations on a variety of 2d percolating systems at criticality suggest that the excess number of clusters in finite systems over the bulk value of nc is a universal quantity, dependent upon the system shape but independent of the lattice and percolation type. Values of nc are found to high accuracy, and for bond percolation confirm the theoretical predictions of Temperley and Lieb, and Baxter, Temperley, and Ashley, which we have evaluated explicitly in terms of simple algebraic numbers. Predictions for the fluctuations are also verified for the first time.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figs., Latex, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let