Comparison of constant load exercise intensity for verification of maximal oxygen uptake following a graded exercise test in older adults

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) declines with advancing age and is a predictor of morbidity and mortality risk. The purpose here was to assess the utility of constant load tests performed either above or below peak work rate obtained from a graded exercise test for verification of VO2max in older adults. Twenty-two healthy older adults (9M, 13F, 67 ± 6 years, BMI: 26.3 ± 5.1 kg·m−2) participated in the study. Participants were asked to complete two experimental trials in a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over design. Both trials (cycle ergometer) consisted of (1) an identical graded exercise test (ramp) and (2) a constant load test at either 85% (CL85; n = 22) or 110% (CL110; n = 20) of the peak work rate achieved during the associated ramp (performed 10-min post ramp). No significant differences were observed for peak VO2 (L·min−1) between CL85 (1.86 ± 0.72; p = 0.679) or CL110 (1.79 ± 0.73; p = 0.200) and the associated ramp (Ramp85, 1.85 ± 0.73; Ramp110, 1.85 ± 0.57). Using the study participant\u27s mean coefficient of variation in peak VO2 between the two identical ramp tests (2.9%) to compare individual differences between constant load tests and the associated ramp revealed 19/22 (86%) of participants achieved a peak VO2 during CL85 that was similar or higher versus the ramp, while only 13/20 (65%) of participants achieved a peak VO2 during CL110 that was similar or higher versus the ramp. These data indicate that if a verification of VO2max is warranted when testing older adults, a constant load effort at 85% of ramp peak power may be more likely to verify VO2max as compared to an effort at 110% of ramp peak power

How does climate exacerbate root causes of livestock-related conflicts in Kenya? An impact pathway analysis

This factsheet gives answers on how climate exacerbates root causes of livestock-related conflict in Kenya, using an impact pathway analysis. Three main impact pathways are identified: 1. Resource Access and Availability: Climate variability and extreme events are degrading natural resources and diminishing the availability of water and pasture, especially in the ASALs. A movement toward areas where there is relatively more availability of water than in the dry grasslands is leading to resource competition and conflict among pastoralist groups and between pastoralists and farmers. 2. Cattle Rustling and Raiding: The most prevalent form of conflict, particularly in the north of Kenya, is the violent theft of cattle, also known as cattle rustling. Although cattle rustling has historically served as a culturally embedded practice for wealth redistribution and as a rite of passage, the level of violence has increased due to the scarcity of natural resources induced by the effects of climate change. 3. Livelihood and food insecurity: The combination of climate change and conflict places severe pressure on the livelihood and food security of pastoralists, overburdening their adaptive capacities. The necessary and inherent mobility of transhumance is altered by the intensity of violence induced by conflict over resources, leading pastoralists to remain in place or choose longer distances for their migratory routes

“Publishing Is Mystical”: The Latinx Caucus Bibliography, Top-Tier Journals, and Minority Scholarship

In 2014, members of the NCTE/CCCC Latinx Caucus began contributing citations to a shared Google Document (GDoc) that suggested a relatively significant contribution of scholarship to the field of Rhetoric and Composition studies. Scholars of color have argued that rhetoric and composition scholarship fails to represent diversity in academic publications (Baca; Banks; Jones Royster; Pimentel; Ruíz). This study examines statistical data arrived at through analysis of the NCTE/CCCC Latinx Caucus Bibliography, with survey and interview data from Latinx scholars providing important context about publishing for people of color

Climate Security Pathway Analysis: Senegal

Rising temperatures, increasing rainfall variability and ocean acidification are reducing crop yields, livestock productivity and fish stocks with detrimental effects over livelihoods and food security (as illustrated in the pathways). The Sahelian drought of the 1970s and 1980s proved to have a devastating impact, particularly for rural communities who witnessed the loss of land, the reduced availability of water resources, crop losses, livestock death and an overall intensification of food insecurity. Many of these rural households were forced to migrate to the main urban centres. At the present, worsening climate conditions and the increasing number of extreme weather events may, once again, have a strong detrimental impact on natural resources availability as well as on livelihoods by exacerbating existing risks and vulnerabilities. This impact can be categorised in two main pathways: - Livelihood and food insecurity (Pathway #1). - Resource availability and access (Pathway #2). This paper presents these pathways in detai

How does climate exacerbate root causes of conflict in Guatemala? Climate Security Pathway Analysis

This factsheet gives answers on how climate exacerbates root causes of conflict in Guatamala, using a pathway analysis. Two main pathways are identified: 1. Livelihood and Food Insecurity: Climate change impacts may exacerbate socioeconomic conditions leading to vulnerability in households dependent on rain-fed subsistence agriculture, and further contribute to food and livelihood insecurity. This, in turn, may spur economic migration towards urban centres inside and outside the country. The lack of access to alternative livelihood options may increase engagement in illicit activities and recruitment by criminal groups, indirectly contributing to the strength of organized crime networks active in the border regions with Mexico and Honduras. 2. Resource Availability and Access: The impact of climate change on water, land and food systems has been observed and is predicted to further reduce agricultural land productivity, decrease key cash crop yields, as well as hinder the availability and access to natural resources in Guatemala. Increased competition over natural resource access and distribution may lead to tensions and conflicts

¿Cómo exacerba el cambio climático las causas raíz de la inseguridad humana y los conflictos en Guatemala?

Esta ficha técnica da respuestas sobre cómo el cambio climático exacerba las causas raíz de la inseguridad humana y los conflictos en Guatemala, utilizando un análisis de rutas causales. Se identifican dos rutas causales principales: 1. Inseguridad alimentaria y de los medios de vida: Los impactos del cambio climático pueden exacerbar las condiciones socioeconómicas que conducen a la vulnerabilidad de los hogares que dependen de la agricultura de subsistencia y de secano, y contribuir aún más a la inseguridad alimentaria y de los medios de vida. Esto, a su vez, puede incentivar la migración económica hacia centros urbanos, dentro y fuera del país. La falta de acceso a medios de vida alternativos puede aumentar la participación en actividades ilícitas y el reclutamiento por parte de grupos criminales, contribuyendo indirectamente a reforzar las redes activas de crimen organizado en las regiones fronterizas con México y Honduras. 2. Disponibilidad y acceso a los recursos: Se han observado impactos del cambio climático en los sistemas hídricos, terrestres y alimentarios, y se prevé que disminuya aún más la productividad de las tierras agrícolas, disminuya el rendimiento de los principales cultivos comerciales y dificulte la disponibilidad y el acceso a los recursos naturales en Guatemala. El aumento de la competencia por el acceso y distribución de los recursos naturales puede provocar tensiones y conflictos

Bovine Lactoferrin For the Prevention of Covid-19 infection in Health Care Personnel: a Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial (Lf-Covid)

Lactoferrin (LF) has in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to determine the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care personnel. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in two tertiary hospitals that provide care to patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Lima, Peru. Daily supplementation with 600 mg of enteral bLF versus placebo for 90 days was compared. Participants were weekly screened for symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection and molecular testing was performed on suspected episodes. A serological test was obtained from all participants at the end of the intervention. The main outcome included symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. A sub-analysis explored the time to symptomatic infection. Secondary outcomes were the severity, frequency, and duration of symptomatic infection. The study was prematurely cancelled due to the availability of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in Peru. 209 participants were enrolled and randomized, 104 received bLF and 105 placebo. SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in 11 (10.6%) participants assigned to bLF and in 9 (8.6%) participants assigned to placebo without significant differences (Incidence Rate Ratio = 1.23, 95%CI 0.51-3.06, p-value = 0.64). There was no significant effect of bLF on time to symptomatic infection (Hazard Ratio = 1.61, 95%CI 0.62-4.19, p-value = 0.3). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes. A significant effect of bLF in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection was not proven. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of bLF supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 infection.Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04526821, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04526821?term=LACTOFERRIN&cond=COVID-19&cntry=PE&city=Lima&draw=2&rank=1

Safety & efficacy of lifileucel (LN-144) tumor infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in metastatic melanoma patients after progression on multiple therapies – independent review committee data update

Treatment options are limited for patients with advanced melanoma who have progressed on checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies such as BRAF/MEK inhibitors (if BRAF-V600E mutated). Adoptive cell therapy utilizing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has shown antitumor efficacy with durable responses in heavily pretreated melanoma patients. Safety and efficacy of lifileucel, a centrally manufactured cryopreserved autologous TIL therapy assessed by both investigator and an independent review committee (IRC), are presented

Altimetry for the future: Building on 25 years of progress

In 2018 we celebrated 25 years of development of radar altimetry, and the progress achieved by this methodology in the fields of global and coastal oceanography, hydrology, geodesy and cryospheric sciences. Many symbolic major events have celebrated these developments, e.g., in Venice, Italy, the 15th (2006) and 20th (2012) years of progress and more recently, in 2018, in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 25 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry. On this latter occasion it was decided to collect contributions of scientists, engineers and managers involved in the worldwide altimetry community to depict the state of altimetry and propose recommendations for the altimetry of the future. This paper summarizes contributions and recommendations that were collected and provides guidance for future mission design, research activities, and sustainable operational radar altimetry data exploitation. Recommendations provided are fundamental for optimizing further scientific and operational advances of oceanographic observations by altimetry, including requirements for spatial and temporal resolution of altimetric measurements, their accuracy and continuity. There are also new challenges and new openings mentioned in the paper that are particularly crucial for observations at higher latitudes, for coastal oceanography, for cryospheric studies and for hydrology. The paper starts with a general introduction followed by a section on Earth System Science including Ocean Dynamics, Sea Level, the Coastal Ocean, Hydrology, the Cryosphere and Polar Oceans and the ‘‘Green” Ocean, extending the frontier from biogeochemistry to marine ecology. Applications are described in a subsequent section, which covers Operational Oceanography, Weather, Hurricane Wave and Wind Forecasting, Climate projection. Instruments’ development and satellite missions’ evolutions are described in a fourth section. A fifth section covers the key observations that altimeters provide and their potential complements, from other Earth observation measurements to in situ data. Section 6 identifies the data and methods and provides some accuracy and resolution requirements for the wet tropospheric correction, the orbit and other geodetic requirements, the Mean Sea Surface, Geoid and Mean Dynamic Topography, Calibration and Validation, data accuracy, data access and handling (including the DUACS system). Section 7 brings a transversal view on scales, integration, artificial intelligence, and capacity building (education and training). Section 8 reviews the programmatic issues followed by a conclusion