Enabling Astronaut Self-Scheduling using a Robust Advanced Modelling and Scheduling system: an assessment during a Mars analogue mission

Human long duration exploration missions (LDEMs) raise a number of technological challenges. This paper addresses the question of the crew autonomy: as the distances increase, the communication delays and constraints tend to prevent the astronauts from being monitored and supported by a real time ground control. Eventually, future planetary missions will necessarily require a form of astronaut self-scheduling. We study the usage of a computer decision-support tool by a crew of analog astronauts, during a Mars simulation mission conducted at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS, Mars Society) in Utah. The proposed tool, called Romie, belongs to the new category of Robust Advanced Modelling and Scheduling (RAMS) systems. It allows the crew members (i) to visually model their scientific objectives and constraints, (ii) to compute near-optimal operational schedules while taking uncertainty into account, (iii) to monitor the execution of past and current activities, and (iv) to modify scientific objectives/constraints w.r.t. unforeseen events and opportunistic science. In this study, we empirically measure how the astronauts, who are novice planners, perform at using such a tool when self-scheduling under the realistic assumptions of a simulated Martian planetary habitat

Vitamin D deficiency, functional status, and balance in older adults with osteoarthritis

ACKGROUND Low vitamin D levels are associated with a more severe case of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, there are few published reports concerning an association between vitamin D deficiency and functional status of individuals with OA and no reports about postural balance in this population. AIM To analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and severity, functional status, and balance in elderly patients with OA. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 105 elderly patients with hip and knee OA were included. The severity was assessed by the Kellgren-Lawrence criteria. The functional status was assessed with the Lequesne index. Postural balance was assessed using a force platform, and center-of-pressure parameters (velocity at anteroposterior and mediolateral axis) were used as the balance outcomes. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were measured using a chemiluminescence method. RESULTS Most of the patients (mean age: 70.6 ± 6.5 years) were female (n = 78, 74.3%). In the group with vitamin D deficiency, 43 patients (56.6%) had severe OA, while 33 patients (43.4%) had mild or moderate OA (χ2 test, P = 0.04). Patients with vitamin D deficiency showed a higher Lequesne index score (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.04), indicating a worse functional impairment when compared to individuals with normal vitamin D levels. Additionally, patients with vitamin D deficiency had worse postural balance according to the Mann-Whitney test (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION Vitamin D deficiency is associated with worse severity, functional status, and postural balance in patients with OA

Age-related changes in the global DNA methylation profile of leukocytes are linked to nutrition but are not associated with the MTHFR C677T genotype or to functional capacities.

Global DNA methylation of peripheral blood leukocytes has been recently proposed as a potential biomarker for disease risk. However, the amplitude of the changes in DNA methylation associated with normal aging and the impacts of environmental changes on this variation are still unclear. In this context, we evaluated the association of global DNA methylation with nutritional habits, tobacco smoking, body mass index (BMI), clinical laboratory parameters, polymorphism C677T MTHFR, functional cognition and the daily practice of physical activity in a cancer-free older population. Leukocyte global DNA methylation from 126 older individuals was quantified using a high-throughput ELISA-based method. Global DNA hypomethylation was observed in older individuals when compared to a younger population (p = 0.0469), confirming changes in DNA methylation in the aging process. Furthermore, the methylation profile of elders was correlated with the daily ingestion of carbohydrates (p = 0.0494), lipids (p = 0.0494), vitamin B6 (p = 0.0421), magnesium (p = 0.0302), and also to the serum levels of total protein (p = 0.0004), alpha 2 globulin (p = 0.0013) and albumin (p = 0.0015). No statistically significant difference was observed when global DNA methylation were stratified according to C677T MTHFR genotypes (p = 0.7200), BMI (p = 0.1170), smoking habit (p = 0.4382), physical activity in daily life (p = 0.8492), scored cognitive function (p = 0.7229) or depression state (p = 0.8301). Our data indicate that age-related variations in the global DNA methylation profile of leukocytes might be modulated by the daily intake of carbohydrates, lipids, vitamin B6, and magnesium and be associated with serum protein levels, however it is independent of C677T MTHFR genotype and not correlated with BMI, smoking habit, cognitive function or the routine physical activities

Perceptions of occupational therapists on the desired competencies of caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder attending teletherapy in selected areas in Cavite

As we are in the midst of the pandemic, physical interactions were hindered and were shifted to utilizing online platforms to achieve the continuity of care. The objective of this descriptive quantitative research study was to determine the perceptions of occupational therapists on the importance of the desired competencies of caregivers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder attending teletherapy sessions. Through multi-stage cluster and snowball sampling, the respondents sought were registered occupational therapists in selected areas in Cavite that handle Autism Spectrum Disorder and are utilizing teletherapy as their mode of service delivery. The data gathering of the study was conducted online, in which a self-developed tool, particularly a descriptive survey questionnaire, was constructed. This is mainly composed of a brief background of the study, protected informed consent form, and a Likert 5-point scale involving the importance of caregiver competencies. Results of the respondents indicated that psychomotor and affective competencies of the caregivers are extremely important to the success of telehealth sessions of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Meanwhile, one domain under cognitive competency, specifically insight to telehealth, is viewed as extremely important while the other two domains under cognitive competencies, specifically familiarization with the platform used in video conferencing and understanding of technical words, were very important. Therefore, it is concluded that all aforementioned competencies are essential to a caregiver when handling a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder having teletherapy

Correlations between global DNA methylation and serum dosages of proteins, albumin and alpha2 globulin.

<p>Correlations between global DNA methylation and serum dosages of proteins, albumin and alpha2 globulin.</p

Correlation between global DNA methylation and clinical laboratorial values.

<p>Correlation between global DNA methylation and clinical laboratorial values.</p

Graphic representation of the age-related global DNA hypomethylation.

<p>A) Percentage of Global DNA Methylation of leukocytes from young and elder individuals. B) Stratification of global DNA methylation according to gender in both young and older groups.</p

Correlations between global DNA methylation and nutritional profile.

<p>Daily intake of A) carbohydrate, B) Lipids, C) Vitamin B6, D) Magnesium, E) Protein, F) Folic Acid), G) Vitamin B12, H) Zinc.</p

Characteristics of the studied population.

<p>Characteristics of the studied population.</p

Representation of correlations between global DNA methylation, mean steps/day and scored functional cognition.

<p>Representation of correlations between global DNA methylation, mean steps/day and scored functional cognition.</p