Association of physical fitness with health-related quality of life in Finnish young men

Abstract Background Currently, there is insufficient evidence available regarding the relationship between level of physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in younger adults. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of measured cardiovascular and musculoskeletal physical fitness level on HRQoL in Finnish young men. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we collected data regarding the physical fitness index, including aerobic endurance and muscle fitness, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), body composition, health, and HRQoL (RAND 36) for 727 men [mean (SD) age 25 (5) years]. Associations between HRQoL and the explanatory parameters were analyzed using the logistic regression analysis model. Results Of the 727 participants who took part in the study, 45% were in the poor category of the physical fitness, while 37% and 18% were in the satisfactory and good fitness categories, respectively. A higher frequency of LTPA was associated with higher fitness (p < 0.001). Better HRQoL in terms of general health, physical functioning, mental health, and vitality were associated with better physical fitness. When the HRQoL of the study participants were compared with that of the age- and gender-weighted Finnish general population, both the good and satisfactory fitness groups had higher HRQoL in all areas other than bodily pain. In a regression analysis, higher LTPA was associated with three dimensions of HRQoL, higher physical fitness with two, and lower number of morbidities with all dimensions, while the effect of age was contradictory. Conclusions Our study of Finnish young men indicates that higher physical fitness and leisure-time physical activity level promotes certain dimensions of HRQoL, while morbidities impair them all. The results highlight the importance of health related physical fitness while promoting HRQoL.peerReviewe

Working with Koha REST API: Making Things Easier

PerlKohaCon 2023 Conference in Helsinki Finland, August 14–18, 2023. https://perlkohacon.fi. Watch the Presentation video</a

Sistem Akuntansi Pembayaran Gaji Karyawan PT. Yasiga Sarana Utama

Pada kehidupan moderen tiap individu dituntut oleh berbagai kebutuhan hidup yang menjadi beban dalam menjalani hidupnya. Manusia dipaksa untuk bekerja demi memenuhi kebutuhan hiupnya. Dan memperoleh gaji dan upah yang dimana akan digunakan oleh tiap manusia tersebut untuk memenuhi kebutuhannya dan memperoleh kepuasan dalam kehidupan yang dijalaninya.. Pada perusahaan manapun Gaji ataupun upah menjadi sebuah hal yang sangat penting karena itu adalah sebuah faktor internal setiap karyawan dan menimbulkan semangat dan performa yang baik dalam bekerja. Dimana kinerja yang bagus dapat menunjang produktivitas perusahaan. Agar upah dapat diterima sesuai dengan hak karyawan dan aktivitas perusahaan dapat berjalan dengan lancar, maka perusahaan atau lembaga membutuhkan sistem dan prosedur yang baik. Salah satu bentuk sistem dan prosedur yang harus diterapkan adalah adanya sistem penggajian untuk membantu melaksanakan kegiatan pokok perusahaan

Differential Regulation of Decorin and Biglycan Gene Expression by Dexamethasone and Retinoic Acid in Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts

Proteoglycans participate in the assembly of extracellular matrix, directly by interacting with other matrix components and indirectly by regulating cellular growth-factor responses. We have studied the regulation of gene expression of two small extracellular matrix chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan, by dexamethasone and retinoic acid In cultured human skin fibroblasts. Dexamethasone increased decorin production, maximally 4,8- fold, and decorin mRNA levels up to 2.3-fold, but had no effect on biglycan production or mRNA levels. Dexamethasone also prevented transforming growth factor-β-elicited down-regulation of decorin mRNA levels and production by dermal fibroblasts. In addition, dexamethasone potently inhibited enhancement of biglycan production and mRNA levels by transforming growth factor-β. Retinoic acid dose dependently reduced decorin mRNA levels (by 51%) and production (by 72%), but had no effect on biglycan gene expression. Retinoic acid did not alter the effect of transforming growth factor-β on decorin or biglycan production or mRNA levels. These results provide evidence that tile effects of glucocorticoids and retinoids on dermal connective tissue are partially mediated via altered expression of decorin and biglycan, which both in turn regulate the activity of transforming growth factor-β, the most potent stimulator of connective tissue deposition

Persistence of Time Management Behavior of Students and Its Relationship with Performance in Software Projects

Teachers often preach for their students to start working on assignments early. There is even a fair amount of scientific evidence that starting early is beneficial for learning. In this work, we investigate students’ time management behavior in a second-year project-based software engineering course. In the course, students work on a software project in small groups of four to six students. We study time management from multiple angles. Firstly, we conduct an exploratory factor analysis and study how different time management related behavioral metrics are related to one another, for example, whether individual students’ time management practices in the second-year group project-based course are similar to their earlier time management practices in first-year courses where students work on assignments individually. Understanding how students’ previous time management behavior is manifested in later project-based courses would be beneficial when designing project-based education. Secondly, we study whether students’ time management practices affect the peer-review scores they get from their group members. Lastly, we explore how time management affects course performance. Our findings suggest that time management behavior, even from courses taken in the past, can be used to predict how students perform in future courses.Peer reviewe

Sedimenttien pilaantuneisuuden ja puhdistamistarpeen arviointi ja sääntely – Kansainvälisiä käytäntöjä

Sedimenttien pilaantuneisuutta arvioidaan eri valtioissa monin eri tavoin ja eri näkökulmista, mutta monessa tapauksessa arvioiden pohjana ovat sedimentille laaditut haitta-ainekohtaiset ohje-, kynnys- tai raja-arvot tai ympäristönlaatunormit. Ensimmäiset sedimenttiä koskevat ohjearvot laadittiin 1980-luvulla ja tämän jälkeen on laadittu monia joko maailmanlaajuisesti käytössä olevia ohjearvoja tai kansallisia ohjearvoja. Näiden arvojen merkitys vaihtelee maakohtaisesti ja niitä voidaan käyttää kriteereinä pilaantuneisuutta arvioitaessa, kunnostustoimista päätettäessä tai ne voivat toimia laukaisijana lisätutkimuksille kokonaisvaltaisemmassa riskinarvioinnissa. Myös EU:n prioriteettiainedirektiivi antaa jäsenvaltioille mahdollisuuden muodostaa sedimentin ja/tai eliöstön ympäristönlaatunormeja kansallisella tasolla ja soveltaa näitä ympäristönlaatunormeja Euroopan yhteisön tasolla vedelle asetettujen ympäristönlaatunormien sijasta. Muilla Pohjoismailla, kuten Norjalla ja Ruotsilla, on raja-arvoja pilaantuneelle sedimentille. Suomessa ei ole toistaiseksi ohjeistusta tai raja-arvoja sedimenttien pilaantuneisuuden, ympäristö- ja terveysriskien ja kunnostustarpeen arviointiin. Myös pilaantuneisiin sedimentteihin liittyvä sääntely mm. selvitys- ja puhdistusvelvoitteiden ja vastuiden osalta on puutteellista. Suomen sisävesillä on kuitenkin alueita, joiden sedimenttien haitta-ainepitoisuudet ovat huomattavasti luonnontilaista korkeammalla tasolla, sijaiten pääasiassa joko entisten tai nykyisten teollisuuslaitosten lähellä. Lisäksi merialueilla on jokien suistojen, laivareittien ja satamien lähellä laajoja alueita, joiden sedimenteissä on suurina pitoisuuksia haitta-aineita. Näistä voi aiheutua suoranaista haittaa vesieliöille sellaisenaan tai esimerkiksi ruoppausten yhteydessä ja välillistä haittaa ihmisterveydelle muun muassa kalansyönnin kautta. Suomessa sedimenttien haitta-ainekartoituksia tehdään lähinnä luvanvaraisten ruoppaushankkeiden yhteydessä. Ruoppaus- ja läjitysohje määrittelee sedimenttien läjityskelpoisuuden, muttei ota kantaa niiden pilaantuneisuuteen ja kunnostustarpeeseen. Pilaantuneiksi todettujen sedimenttien kunnostus voi tapahtua esimerkiksi (i) poistamalla pilaantunut sedimentti ruoppaamalla, (ii) peittämällä, tai (iii) hyödyntämällä luontaista puhdistumista. Luontaisen puhdistumisen on osoitettu olevan merkityksellinen prosessi. Yhtäältä korkeitakin haitta-ainepitoisuuksia sisältävien sedimenttien paikalleen jättäminen saattaa olla ympäristö- ja terveysriskien kannalta perusteltua, mikäli haitta-aineista ei aiheudu merkittävää eliö- tai ihmisaltistusta eivätkä ne kulkeudu/leviä ympäristöön. Toisaalta korkeita haitta-aineita sisältävä sedimentti voi aiheuttaa jatkuvaa altistusta tai toimia jatkuvana haitta-aineiden päästölähteenä ympäröivään veteen. Edellä mainittujen seikkojen vuoksi sedimenttien pilaantuneisuuden, ympäristö- ja terveysriskien sekä kunnostustarpeen arviointiin olisi välttämätöntä luoda ohjeistusta myös Suomessa. Ohjeistuksella tähdättäisiin yhtenäisiin käytäntöihin ja siihen, että mahdolliset kunnostustoimenpiteet suunnattaisiin tarkoituksenmukaisella tavalla vesiympäristön tilaa merkittävästi heikentäviin kohteisiin. Assessment and regulation of sediment contamination and the need for remediation – International practices In different countries, the contamination of sediments is assessed in number of ways and from various perspectives, but in many cases, these assessments are based on specific guidelines, threshold values, limit values or environmental quality standards for sediment. The first guideline values for sediment assessment were developed in the 1980s, and these have since been followed by a number of international and national guideline values. The significance of these values varies from country to country, and they can be used as criteria for assessing contamination, in connection with decision-making on remediation action or as a basis for further research in more comprehensive risk assessments. The EU’s directive on priority substances also allows member states to establish environmental quality standards (EQS) for sediment and/or biota at the national level and to apply these EQSs instead of EQSs for water at the European Community level. Other Nordic countries, such as Norway and Sweden, have threshold values for contaminated sediment. Currently, there are no guidelines or threshold values in Finland for assessing the contamination of sediments, environmental and health risks or the need for remediation. The regulation regarding contaminated sediments as it relates to, for example, survey and purification obligations and responsibilities, is lacking. However, there are areas in Finland's inland waters where the levels of hazardous substances in sediments are significantly elevated in relation to the natural state, mainly in the vicinity of decommissioned or operational industrial facilities. In addition, there are vast sea areas with high concentrations of hazardous substances in their sediments that are located close to estuaries, shipping routes and ports. These substances can cause direct harm to aquatic organisms on their own or in connection with dredging, and indirect harm to human health, for example through the consumption of fish. In Finland, surveys on sediment contamination are carried out mainly in connection with dredging projects subject to a permit. The instructions on dredging and deposition of dredged material determine the suitability of the sediments for deposition but do not address their level of contamination or the need for remediation. Contaminated sediments can be remediated, for example, by (i) removing the contaminated sediment by dredging, (ii) capping them or (iii) making use of natural recovery. Natural recovery has been shown to be a meaningful process. On the one hand, leaving sediments containing even high levels of hazardous substances as they are may be justified with regard to the environmental risks and health risks, provided that the hazardous substances do not give rise to significant exposure for organisms or humans and do not spread into the environment. On the other hand, sediments containing high levels of hazardous substances may lead to continuous exposure or act as a source of continuous emission of hazardous substances into the surrounding waters. Due to the above-mentioned factors, it is necessary to create guidelines for assessing the contamination of sediments, environmental risks and health risks and the need for remediation, also in Finland. The guidelines would be aimed at establishing uniform practices and ensuring that possible remediation measures would be appropriately targeted at sites that significantly degrade the state of the aquatic environment

Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with health related quality of life among young adult men

Abstract Background: Despite numerous studies providing evidence for positive effects of physical activity and physical fitness, evidence for association between physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young adults is limited. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the association of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness with HRQoL from the perspective of its physical and mental components among young adult Finnish males. Methods: The sample consisted of 754 men, with the mean age of 26 years (SD 6.7 years), who participated in the military refresher training. HRQoL was measured using the Finnish RAND 36-item health survey. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by a bicycle ergometer test, and muscular fitness by various tests measuring maximal strength and muscular endurance. Logistic regression modelling was used to compare low, moderate and high physical and mental component of HRQoL scores to the respective levels of muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: The findings of the adjusted (age, educational level, marital status, employment status, smoking, use of alcohol and BMI) analysis showed that cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are positively associated with both physical and mental components of HRQoL. In terms of the physical component of HRQoL, even a moderate fitness level was positively associated with better HRQoL. In terms of the mental component of HRQoL, the impact was seen only in the group with the highest fitness level. Conclusions: The findings suggest a positive contribution of physical fitness to mental health and highlight the importance of both muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness in the promotion of HRQoL. Even lighter forms of physical activity that result in moderate physical fitness could contribute to the physical component of HRQoL. In terms of the mental component of HRQoL, higher levels of physical fitness may be needed to gain higher levels of HRQoL among young males. Keywords: Health-related quality of life, Physical fitness, Mental health, Physical activity, Young men, Cardiorespiratory fitness, Muscular fitnes

Transforming Growth Factor-β Induces Collagenase-3 Expression by Human Gingival Fibroblasts via p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase

Human collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13)) is characterized by exceptionally wide substrate specificity and restricted tissue specific expression. Human skin fibroblasts in culture express MMP-13 only when they are in three-dimensional collagen (Ravanti, L., Heino, J., Lopez-Otin, C., and Kahari. V.-M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 2446-2455). Here we show that MMP-13 is expressed by fibroblasts during normal human gingival wound repair. Expression of MMP-13 by human gingival fibroblasts cultured in monolayer or in collagen gel was induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Treatment of gingival fibroblasts with TGF-beta1 activated two distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in 15 min and p38 MAPK in 1 and 2 h. Induction of MMP-13 expression by TGF-beta1 was blocked by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, but not by PD98059, a selective inhibitor of ERK1/2 activation. Adenovirus-mediated expression of dominant negative p38alpha and c-Jun potently inhibited induction of MMP-13 expression in gingival fibroblasts by TGF-beta1. Infection of gingival fibroblasts with adenovirus for constitutively active MEK1 resulted in activation of ERK1/2 and JNK1 and up-regulation of collagenase-1 (MMP-1) and stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) production but did not induce MMP-13 expression. In addition, activation of p38 MAPK by constitutively active MKK6b or MKK3b was not sufficient to induce MMP-13 expression. These results show that TGF-beta-elicited induction of MMP-13 expression by gingival fibroblasts is dependent on the activity of p38 MAPK and the presence of functional AP-1 dimers. These observations demonstrate a fundamental difference in the regulation of collagenolytic capacity between gingival and dermal fibroblasts and suggest a role for MMP-13 in rapid turnover of collagenous matrix during repair of gingival wounds, which heal with minimal scarring