A comparison of video conferencing and in-person health coaching approaches in combination with mHealth devices on weight loss, physical activity, and glycemic control

Background: Compare health coaching efficacy on weight loss, physical activity, and glycemic control between individualized video conferencing (VC), in-person (IP) and control (CG) groups of adults with high BMI. Methods: Thirty adults (BMI≥30 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to create three groups of 10 members each. Participants received a wireless accelerometer watch and weight scale to sync with their personal smartphones and downloaded apps. Participants assigned to VC and IP received weekly health coaching individualized based on data uploaded over the 12-wk intervention. Steps/day and weight loss were analyzed via analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). Between-group ANOVAs analyzed post-intervention changes in weight (kg), glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR. Results: Weight loss (8.23±4.5kg; 7.7%) was greater (pp≤.05); VC consistently had the higher step/day averages. No between-group differences were found for any glycemic control markers. Conclusion: Our innovative, multidisciplinary, telemedicine health coaching delivered through video conferencing led to favorable changes in weight loss, physical activity, and HOMA-IR that surpassed changes when health coaching was delivered in person or was absent. Future studies using video conferencing to investigate health coaching delivered in group and individualized formats and for other population subgroups are needed as are studies investigating the impact of weight loss on other health outcomes (e.g. lipid profile, glycemic control, and inflammatory markers)

Space shuttle orbiter leading-edge flight performance compared to design goals

Thermo-structural performance of the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia's leading-edge structural subsystem for the first five (5) flights is compared with the design goals. Lessons learned from thse initial flights of the first reusable manned spacecraft are discussed in order to assess design maturity, deficiencies, and modifications required to rectify the design deficiencies. Flight data and post-flight inspections support the conclusion that the leading-edge structural subsystem hardware performance was outstanding for the initial five (5) flights

Evaluating Blast Wave Overpressure From Non-spherical Charges Using Time Of Arrival From High-speed Video

Scaled distance is used to predict blast wave overpressure surrounding the detonation of a known mass of explosive under the assumption that the charge geometry is spherical. Altering charge geometry from spherical overdrives regions of the blast wave resulting in areas of higher overpressures than predicted by scaled distance calculations. Empirical data can be used to scale the blast wave overpressure to cylindrical charges, but available overpressure data for more complex geometries is not available in published literature. In the present study the time of arrival of the blast wave was measured from high-speed video and the Rankine-Hugoniot relationship used to measure blast wave overpressure for varied explosive geometries. The radial overpressure of prismatic charges with cross-sectional shapes of triangle, rectangle, and 5-point star isotropic were compared to the radially isotropic overpressure distribution produced by a cylindrical explosive charge. The rectangle produced the highest overpressure measuring 3.5 times that of the cylinder while the triangular charge had the greatest presented surface area and was only overdriven 3.0 times. From the high-speed video the fireball of detonation products surrounding the star appears significantly overdriven from the internal angle, but this orientation was underdriven at 2.0 meters. The blast wave overpressure downstream from the outside corners of the rectangular and triangular prismatic charges were similar to that of the cylinder at 1.5 meters but trended higher at increasing distance

Identifying Slope Failure Deposits from a Potentially Mixed Magnetic Susceptibility Signal in Gas Hydrate Bearing Regions

The marine gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) occurs in the slope environment along many active and passive continental margins. In this environment, slope failures are common and can occur near the shelf slope break, within submarine canyons, or on the flanks of bathymetric highs, resulting in a spectrum of slope failure deposits from landslides to turbidites. On the Cascadia margin, the GHSZ occurs within the bathymetric thrust ridges and slope basins of the accretionary wedge. Here, the ridges are composed of uplifted abyssal plain deposits associated with submarine fans and/or paleoslope basin deposits formed during the evolution of the accretionary wedge (Johnson et al., 2006; Torres et al., 2008). The adjoining slope basins contain the deposits from slope failure of the ridges. Both ridges and slope basins offshore Central Oregon and Vancouver Island were sampled by drilling during ODP Leg 204 and IODP Expedition 311, respectively (Figure 1). The recovered cores document the distribution and abundance of gas hydrate in these regions within a stratigraphy that is dominated by silt and sand turbidites, debris flows, and intervals of silty clay, separated by hemipelagic clay

Spirituality as a Life Line: Women Living With HIV/AIDS and the Role of Spirituality in Their Support System

For many women living with HIV/AIDS, incorporating spirituality into their lives helps them organize their experience, empower self-reconstruction, and manage stigma. (Stanley, 1999). Because of the potential relationship of spirituality and social support, the specific aim of this study is to examine the role of spirituality in the support experiences of women living with HIV or AIDS. In this case, spirituality or a connection to God, offered the women an opportunity to develop meaning and perspective taking, to have a source of support, to provide control through a more powerful being, and to offer a path to community

Ecophysiology of coral reef primary producers across an upwelling gradient in the tropical central Pacific

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Johnson, M. D., Fox, M. D., Kelly, E. L. A., Zgliczynski, B. J., Sandin, S. A., & Smith, J. E. Ecophysiology of coral reef primary producers across an upwelling gradient in the tropical central Pacific. Plos One, 15(2), (2020): e0228448, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228448.Upwelling is an important source of inorganic nutrients in marine systems, yet little is known about how gradients in upwelling affect primary producers on coral reefs. The Southern Line Islands span a natural gradient of inorganic nutrient concentrations across the equatorial upwelling region in the central Pacific. We used this gradient to test the hypothesis that benthic autotroph ecophysiology is enhanced on nutrient-enriched reefs. We measured metabolism and photophysiology of common benthic taxa, including the algae Porolithon, Avrainvillea, and Halimeda, and the corals Pocillopora and Montipora. We found that temperature (27.2–28.7°C) was inversely related to dissolved inorganic nitrogen (0.46–4.63 μM) and surface chlorophyll a concentrations (0.108–0.147 mg m-3), which increased near the equator. Contrary to our prediction, ecophysiology did not consistently track these patterns in all taxa. Though metabolic rates were generally variable, Porolithon and Avrainvillea photosynthesis was highest at the most productive and equatorial island (northernmost). Porolithon photosynthetic rates also generally increased with proximity to the equator. Photophysiology (maximum quantum yield) increased near the equator and was highest at northern islands in all taxa. Photosynthetic pigments also were variable, but chlorophyll a and carotenoids in Avrainvillea and Montipora were highest at the northern islands. Phycobilin pigments of Porolithon responded most consistently across the upwelling gradient, with higher phycoerythrin concentrations closer to the equator. Our findings demonstrate that the effects of in situ nutrient enrichment on benthic autotrophs may be more complex than laboratory experiments indicate. While upwelling is an important feature in some reef ecosystems, ancillary factors may regulate the associated consequences of nutrient enrichment on benthic reef organisms.This work was supported by funding from the Moore Family Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Scripps family, and anonymous donors. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the manuscript

Stressful Life Events Among Incarcerated Women and Men: Association With Depression, Loneliness, Hopelessness, and Suicidality

Background: Justice-involved populations report a higher than average number of pre-incarceration stressful life events. However, few studies have described stressful life events which occur during incarceration, explored gender differences in these events, or evaluated the effect of these events on well-being. Method: This study draws from a sample of male and female adults incarcerated in 6 prison facilities across two states (n = 160) to identify the number and type of stressful life events they experienced during incarceration, gender differences in stressful events, and the relationship between stressful life events and markers of well-being (i.e., depression, hopelessness, loneliness, suicidality). We also examined whether perceived social support would buffer the relationship between stressful events and well-being outcomes. Results: Participants on average reported experiencing 4 stressful life events during their current incarceration, the most common being relocation to another cell and being made fun of/insulted by someone in the prison. There were few gender differences in types of events experienced. Regression analyses showed that stressful life events were associated with more loneliness, as well as suicidality, but only when participants had low perceived social support. Conclusions: Stressful life events, and drawing on social support networks to cope with stress, should be addressed in the context of correctional treatments to reduce suicide risk during incarceration

Examining Culturally Responsive Understandings within an Undergraduate Teacher Education Program

This article examines how a group of elementary and secondary preservice teachers engaged in understanding “culture” and culturally responsive teaching while enrolled in an early program course. We analyze how culturally-related experiences, emotions, and perspectives contribute to the overall understanding of cultural competency training in teacher education. Preservice teachers varied in their use of individual- and structural-orientations, in isolation and in combination, as they developed and progressed as socially just teachers. These findings reveal that despite attempts to develop and shift toward asset-based perspectives, far more culturally embedded coursework and practicum experiences are necessary. This paper includes a reflection on the effectiveness of posing meaningful, reflective questions for preservice teachers as they experienced the concept of “culture” based on their own funds of knowledge

Validation of Three Body Composition Techniques with a Comparison of Ultrasound Abdominal Fat Depths against an Octopolar Bioelectrical Impedance Device

International Journal of Exercise Science 5(3) : 205-213, 2012. The aims of this study were to cross-validate three clinical-grade measures of body composition, using an octopolar Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA), an ultrasound analyzer (US) and Air-Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) and second to compare the US scans of total abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral fat depths (mm) against the trunk percent fat (%BF) from the octopolar BIA. Twenty-six college-aged (22.9 ± 1.35 years) men (n = 18) and women (n = 8) volunteered to participate in this study. Body composition was assessed using BIA (total and by segments), ADP and US. In addition, total abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral fat layers were measured using the US. All measurements were done in accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines. The %BF comparing the three clinical grade machines were all significantly correlated and no significant differences were found using a 1-way ANOVA. All three fat depths were significantly correlated to the trunk fat % via BIA, while significant differences were found for the 1-way ANOVA. A Tukey post-hoc test showed significant differences between the BIA trunk %BF and both subcutaneous and visceral US fat depths. Having valid ways to measure body composition and visceral fat that is accessible in terms of being transportable, cost effective, and simple to use, should become a part of preventive medicine

Effects of a Caffeine-Containing Transdermal Energy Patch on Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Performance

The use of caffeine-containing (74-mg) energy patches (EnP) offers a novel mode of caffeine delivery that may alleviate stomach discomfort associated with oral caffeine use. The purpose of this study was to use four separate tests to evaluate the effects of EnP use on aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. Three separate moderately active college-aged sample populations performed either 1) cycle time-to-exhaustion, 2) Wingate (WIN), or 3) repeated sprints and one repetition maximum bench press using EnP and placebo patches (PlP). No statistical differences were found between EnP and PlP for all dependent variables (p \u3e 0.05) except for WIN peak power, which showed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.04). The dose of caffeine topically applied via an EnP may not have been enough to elicit an ergogenic effect on exercise performance. A dose greater than 74-mg caffeine may be needed to produce an ergogenic effect. Further research is needed to investigate the delivery kinetics of transdermal caffeine in large dosages along with blood caffeine concentrations during and after exercise