Microclimatic Variability and Thermal Comfort of Spectators in an Outdoor Stadium Venue

This study examines heat exposure and its impact on the thermal comfort and health of spectators within a semi-outdoor American college football stadium in the southeastern United States. Over 50 sensors were deployed during the 2016 season from late August to late November to measure temperature and humidity across various stadium locations. Significant variations in temperature, heat index, and a modified version of the physiological equivalent temperature (mPET) were found within the stadium, with some areas exceeding National Weather Service heat alert thresholds during certain games. Moreover, mean temperatures in the stadium were higher than those measured at a nearby weather station, while the mean heat index was higher in the seating areas than in other stadium locations and at the nearby weather station. Reductions in modeled wind speed resulted in significant decreases in thermal comfort and greater physical stress among spectators, particularly when the wind was calm. Heat-related illness comprised up to two-thirds of all cases treated by first aid and emergency medical services during particularly hot games. Most of these occurred in the most thermally oppressive parts of the stadium. These results highlight the need for greater monitoring of heat exposure inside stadiums, earlier implementation of heat action plans to raise awareness and educate spectators on heat mitigation strategies, and incorporation of stadium design modifications that improve circulation, increase shade, and reduce crowding

Conceptualizing Health and Financial Wellness: Using Facilitated Discussion to Collect Input from Professionals

Determinants of health and financial security are complex. Individuals and families must often weigh decisions about their health against considerations of their financial resources, and vice-versa. Financial wellness and capability influence consumers’ health outcomes both directly and indirectly. This article documents a facilitated discussion at the 2018 Biennial Conference of Family Economics and Resource Management Association (FERMA) that bridged the domains of health and personal finance. Organizers summarized connections between health and financial stress, well-being, and wellness, and discussed definitions of health literacy and financial literacy. Attendees shared perspectives about how consumers’ financial wellness and capability influence their education and outreach activities and consumers’ health outcomes. They also worked together to create integrated models of health and financial wellness that could increase the number of Americans who are healthy and financially well at every stage of life. Insights will guide future scholarship focused on intersections of health and financial wellness

Differences in the Determinants of Retirement Preparation between Farm and Nonfarm Households

As principal farm operators age, retirement and succession planning has become increasingly important to the U.S. agriculture industry. This study examined differences in the determinants of retirement preparation between farm and nonfarm households using the Survey of Consumer Finances. Factors such as risk preferences, financial capability, human capital, and other demographic characteristics of farmers that may play a role in their decision to plan for retirement were examined. Retirement planning was investigated by running three separate sets of logistic regressions on the overall sample, farm households, and nonfarm households. Likelihood of consulting a financial planner, expecting to leave a bequest, and household net worth were used as dependent variables. Results indicate some significant differences between farm and nonfarm households and highlight limitations in currently available data sets for studies such as this one. Implications for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers regarding farm family retirement and succession planning are discussed

ARIA 2016:Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Being an Authorized User: What It Won't Do for Your Credit Score

FCS-7228, a 2-page fact sheet by Michael S. Gutter, discusses recent changes in the way being an authorized user affects a person’s credit score. Published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2008.</jats:p

Family Money Problems

More money will not necessarily give you more happiness and contentment in life; but it can, provided you learn to manage it. This revised 6-page fact sheet is published by the UF Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, October 2011. FCS7011/HE155: Family Money Problems (ufl.edu

Family Money Problems

More money will not necessarily give you more happiness and contentment in life; but it can, provided you learn to manage it. This revised 6-page fact sheet is published by the UF Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, October 2011. FCS7011/HE155: Family Money Problems (ufl.edu)</jats:p