Importance of proximity to resources, social support, transportation and neighborhood security for mobility and social participation in older adults: results from a scoping study

ABSTRACT: Background: Since mobility and social participation are key determinants of health and quality of life, it is important to identify factors associated with them. Although several investigations have been conducted on the neighborhood environment, mobility and social participation, there is no clear integration of the results. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding regarding how the neighborhood environment is associated with mobility and social participation in older adults.Methods: A rigorous methodological scoping study framework was used to search nine databases from different fields with fifty-one keywords. Data were exhaustively analyzed, organized and synthesized according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) by two research assistants following PRISMA guidelines, and results were validated with knowledge users.Results: The majority of the 50 selected articles report results of cross-sectional studies (29; 58 %), mainly conducted in the US (24; 48 %) or Canada (15; 30 %). Studies mostly focused on neighborhood environment associations with mobility (39; 78 %), social participation (19; 38 %), and occasionally both (11; 22 %). Neighborhood attributes considered were mainly 'Pro ducts and technology' (43; 86) and 'Services, systems and policies' (37; 74 %), but also 'Natural and human- made changes' (27; 54 %) and 'Support and relationships' (21; 42 %). Mobility and social participation were both positively associated with Proximity to resources and recreational facilities, Social support, Having a car or driver's license, Public transportation and Neighborhood security, and negatively associated with Poor user-friendliness of the walking environment and Neighborhood insecurity. Attributes of the neighborhood environment not covered by previous research on mobility and social participation mainly concerned 'Attitudes', and 'Services, systems and policies'.Conclusion: Results from this comprehensive synthesis of empirical studies on associations of the neighborhood environment with mobility and social participation will ultimately support best practices, decisions and the development of innovative inclusive public health interventions including clear guidelines for the creation of age-supportive environments. To foster mobility and social participation, these interventions must consider Proximity to resources and to recreational facilities, Social support, Transportation, Neighborhood security and User-friendliness of the walking environment. Future studies should include both mobility and social participation, and investigate how they are associated with 'Attitudes', and 'Services, systems and policies' in older adults, including disadvantaged older adults

Microbial community shifts in pearl millet root zone soils with <i>Guiera senegalensis</i> intercropping along a rainfall and soil type gradient in the Sahel

The Sahel of West Africa has vulnerable agroecosystems that threatens food security. A potential solution is intercropping with the indigenous shrub, Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel. Previous research of the Optimized Shrub-intercropping System (OSS) (high density of similar to 1,500 shrubs ha(-1) and coppiced residue incorporation) has been shown to dramatically improve pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] yield, which is attributed to improved soil quality, nutrient and water availability, and harboring a distinct microbial community. Whether this response is consistent over a climate and soil type gradient in farmers' fields has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective was to determine the impact of G. senegalenis on soil chemistry, enzyme activity, microbiomes, and metabolic pathways of millet root zone soils in farmers' fields. The experiment was a three-by-two factorial with three rainfall and soil type sites along a north-south gradient in the Senegal Peanut Basin and two sampling locations (millet root zone soil within and outside the influence of the G. senegalensis). Guiera senegalensis shifted certain predicted bacterial metabolic pathways and enriched some bacterial and fungal genera. Notably, the increased crop growth due to G. senegalensis positively correlated with the abundance of genera having plant growth promoting properties (e.g., Enterobacter agglomerans and Paraburkholderia). Paucibacter, a genera that has deleterious and/or pathogenic properties, was highly abundant in non-shrub soil but completely suppressed beneath the shrub. The results showed that G. senegalensis in farmers' fields even at typical, low densities, where coppiced residues are annually burned, still increased soil chemical and microbial properties, suggesting that a more important factor than litter is the presence of shrub roots that provide root turnover and exudates, and water inputs through hydraulic lift

A Mediterranean-Style Diet and Left Ventricular Mass (from the Northern Manhattan Study)

One mechanism linking diet, specifically the Mediterranean-style diet (DT), with cardiovascular disease prevention may be an association between a DT and LV mass. However, there is little data on this relationship. We hypothesized that adherence to a DT would be inversely associated with left ventricular (LV) mass in the multi-ethnic population-based Northern Manhattan Study. The study included 1937 participants with diet assessments and LV mass measured using echocardiography (mean age=67±9years, 39% male, 58% Hispanic, 20% White, 20% Black). A DT adherence score (range=0-9, 9 representing maximal adherence) was examined continuously and categorically (score 6-9 representing the top quartile vs. 0-5). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were constructed to examine the cross-sectional association between DT and LV mass. An inverse association was observed between the DT score and LV mass. In a model controlling for demographics, behavioral risk factors, diabetes and blood pressure variables, LV mass was 1.98 g lower for each 1-point greater DT score, and those with scores of 6-9 had an average LV mass that was 7.30 g smaller than those with scores of 0-5. The association was attenuated but remained statistically significant after additionally adjusting for BMI. Results were similar when LV mass was corrected for height (LVM/HT(2.7)). In conclusion, greater adherence to a DT is associated with decreased LV mass, an important risk factor for CVD, and this association may be partly mediated by obesity. The association with LV mass may be involved in the protective effect of a DT on clinical vascular outcomes

A novel route for the inclusion of metal dopants in silicon

We report a new method for introducing metal atoms into silicon wafers, using negligible thermal budget. Molecular thin films are irradiated with ultra-violet light releasing metal species into the semiconductor substrate. Secondary ion mass spectrometry and x-ray absorption spectroscopy show that Mn is incorporated into Si as an interstitial dopant. We propose that our method can form the basis of a generic low-cost, low-temperature technology that could lead to the creation of ordered dopant arrays