Feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a web-based computer-tailored physical activity intervention for pregnant women - the Fit4Two randomised controlled trial

Background: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is associated with a variety of health benefits including a reduced risk of pregnancy related conditions such as pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension and leads to greater control over gestational weight gain. Despite these associated health benefits, very few pregnant women are sufficiently active. In an attempt to increase health outcomes, it is important to explore innovative ways to increase PA among pregnant women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a four week web-based computer-tailored PA intervention among pregnant women. Methods: Seventy-seven participants were randomised into either: (1) an intervention group that received tailored PA advice and access to a resource library of articles relating to PA during pregnancy; or (2) a standard information group that only received access to the resources library. Objective moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention. Recruitment, attrition, intervention adherence, and website engagement were assessed. Questions on usability and satisfaction were administered post-intervention. Results: Feasibility was demonstrated through acceptable recruitment (8.5 participants recruited and randomised/ month), and attrition (25%). Acceptability among intervention group participants was positive with high intervention adherence (96% of 4 modules completed). High website engagement (participants logged in 1.6 times/week although only required to log in once per week), usability (75/100), and satisfaction outcomes were reported in both groups. However, participants in the intervention group viewed significantly more pages on the website (p < 0.05), reported that the website felt more personally relevant (p < 0.05), and significantly increased their MVPA from baseline to postintervention (mean difference = 35.87 min), compared to the control group (mean difference = 9.83 min) (p < 0.05), suggesting efficacy. Conclusions: The delivery of a computer-tailored web-based intervention designed to increase PA in pregnant women is feasible, well accepted and associated with increases in short-term MVPA. Findings suggest the use of computer-tailored information leads to greater website engagement, satisfaction and greater PA levels among pregnant women compared to a generic information only website. Trial registration: The trial was ‘retrospectively registered’ with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials RegistryMelanie Hayman, Peter Reaburn, Matthew Browne, Corneel Vandelanotte, Stephanie Alley and Camille E. Shor

2D Signal Estimation for Sparse Distributed Target Photon Counting Data

In this study, we explore the utilization of maximum likelihood estimation for the analysis of sparse photon counting data obtained from distributed target lidar systems. Specifically, we adapt the Poisson Total Variation processing technique to cater to this application. By assuming a Poisson noise model for the photon count observations, our approach yields denoised estimates of backscatter photon flux and related parameters. This facilitates the processing of raw photon counting signals with exceptionally high temporal and range resolutions (demonstrated here to 50 Hz and 75 cm resolutions), including data acquired through time-correlated single photon counting, without significant sacrifice of resolution. Through examination involving both simulated and real-world 2D atmospheric data, our method consistently demonstrates superior accuracy in signal recovery compared to the conventional histogram-based approach commonly employed in distributed target lidar applications

Modular Equations and Distortion Functions

Modular equations occur in number theory, but it is less known that such equations also occur in the study of deformation properties of quasiconformal mappings. The authors study two important plane quasiconformal distortion functions, obtaining monotonicity and convexity properties, and finding sharp bounds for them. Applications are provided that relate to the quasiconformal Schwarz Lemma and to Schottky's Theorem. These results also yield new bounds for singular values of complete elliptic integrals.Comment: 23 page

Fabrication and mechanical testing of a new sandwich structure with carbon fiber network core

The aim is the fabrication and mechanical testing of sandwich structures including a new core material known as fiber network sandwich materials. As fabrication norms for such a material do not exist as such, so the primary goal is to reproduce successfully fiber network sandwich specimens. Enhanced vibration testing diagnoses the quality of the fabrication process. These sandwich materials possess low structural strength as proved by the static tests (compression, bending), but the vibration test results give high damping values, making the material suitable for vibro-acoustic applications where structural strength is of secondary importance e.g., internal panelling of a helicopter

On the nature of the FBS blue stellar objects and the completeness of the Bright Quasar Survey. II

In Paper I (Mickaelian et al. 1999), we compared the surface density of QSOs in the Bright Quasar Survey (BQS) and in the First Byurakan Survey (FBS) and concluded that the completeness of the BQS is of the order of 70% rather than 30-50% as suggested by several authors. A number of new observations recently became available, allowing a re-evaluation of this completeness. We now obtain a surface density of QSOs brighter than B = 16.16 in a subarea of the FBS covering ~2250 deg^2, equal to 0.012 deg^-2 (26 QSOs), implying a completeness of 53+/-10%.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 11 pages, 3 tables and 3 figures (included in text). To appear in Astrophysics. Uses a modified aaspp4.sty (my_aaspp4.sty), included in packag

Accuracy and Stability of Computing High-Order Derivatives of Analytic Functions by Cauchy Integrals

High-order derivatives of analytic functions are expressible as Cauchy integrals over circular contours, which can very effectively be approximated, e.g., by trapezoidal sums. Whereas analytically each radius r up to the radius of convergence is equal, numerical stability strongly depends on r. We give a comprehensive study of this effect; in particular we show that there is a unique radius that minimizes the loss of accuracy caused by round-off errors. For large classes of functions, though not for all, this radius actually gives about full accuracy; a remarkable fact that we explain by the theory of Hardy spaces, by the Wiman-Valiron and Levin-Pfluger theory of entire functions, and by the saddle-point method of asymptotic analysis. Many examples and non-trivial applications are discussed in detail.Comment: Version 4 has some references and a discussion of other quadrature rules added; 57 pages, 7 figures, 6 tables; to appear in Found. Comput. Mat

Role of OH variability in the stalling of the global atmospheric CH4 growth rate from 1999 to 2006

The growth in atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations over the past two decades has shown large variability on a timescale of several years. Prior to 1999 the globally averaged CH4 concentration was increasing at a rate of 6.0 ppb/yr, but during a stagnation period from 1999 to 2006 this growth rate slowed to 0.6 ppb/yr. From 2007 to 2009 the growth rate again increased to 4.9 ppb/yr. These changes in growth rate are usually ascribed to variations in CH4 emissions. We have used a 3-D global chemical transport model, driven by meteorological reanalyses and variations in global mean hydroxyl (OH) concentrations derived from CH3CCl3 observations from two independent networks, to investigate these CH4 growth variations. The model shows that between 1999 and 2006, changes in the CH4 atmospheric loss contributed significantly to the suppression in global CH4 concentrations relative to the pre-1999 trend. The largest factor in this is relatively small variations in global mean OH on a timescale of a few years, with minor contributions of atmospheric transport of CH4 to its sink region and of atmospheric temperature. Although changes in emissions may be important during the stagnation period, these results imply a smaller variation is required to explain the observed CH4 trends. The contribution of OH variations to the renewed CH4 growth after 2007 cannot be determined with data currently available

Cardiac and Pulmonary Dosimetric Parameters in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Post-Operative Radiation Therapy in the Real-World Setting

Purpose/Objective(s): The recently published Lung ART trial reported increased rates of cardiac and pulmonary toxicity in the post-operative radiation therapy arm. It remains unknown whether the dosimetric parameters reported in Lung ART are representative of real-world practice. The purpose of this study is to examine heart and lung dose exposure in patients receiving post-operative radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across a statewide consortium. Materials/Methods: From 2012 to 2020, 377 patients at 27 academic and community centers within the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC) underwent surgical resection followed by post-operative radiation therapy for non-metastatic NSCLC. Demographic and dosimetric data were prospectively collected for these patients. Rates of 3D-CRT and IMRT use were analyzed. Mean heart dose (MHD), heart V5, heart V35, mean lung dose (MLD), lung V20, target volume and minimum dose to 95% PTV were calculated for these patients and the reported dosimetric parameters were stratified by treatment modality. Results: 51% of patients in this cohort had N2 disease at the time of surgery, 18% had a positive margin. 65.8% of patients were treated with IMRT compared to 32.1% treated with 3D-CRT. Average MHD for all patients was 10.3 Gy, mean Heart V5 was 40.3% and mean heart V35 was 12.6%. Average MLD was 11.2 Gy and mean lung V20 was 18.9%. These dosimetric parameters did not significantly differ based on treatment modality, with MHD and MLD 9.9 Gy and 10.1 Gy, respectively, for patients treated with 3D-CRT compared to 10.6 Gy and 11.8 Gy for patients treated with IMRT. Conclusion: Cardiac and lung dosimetric parameters for patients receiving post-operative radiation therapy for NSCLC are similar to the dosimetric characteristics reported in Lung ART. The mean heart and mean lung doses observed are slightly lower (MHD 10.3 Gy, MLD 11.2 Gy) compared to Lung ART (MHD 13 Gy, MLD 13 Gy), possibly owing to increased use of IMRT. These data support application of Lung ART\u27s findings outside of the clinical trial setting