Effect of wrist-worn activity monitor feedback on physical activity behavior: A randomized controlled trial in Finnish young men

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of an activity monitor providing feedback has an effect on physical activity (PA) in young men. A population-based sample of 276 conscription-aged (mean=17.9, SD=0.7years) men participated in a 3-month randomized controlled trial in Oulu in 2012. Participants were randomized to an intervention group (INT, N=137) and a control group (CON, N=139). INT received a wrist-worn monitor (Polar Active) showing daily activity, and CON received identical monitors without feedback. Main outcome was the change from baseline in objectively measured weekly time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary activity (SED), as assessed by generalized estimation equations (GEE). Other lifestyle factors were assessed by a questionnaire at baseline and at 3months. Weekly physical activity data (≥4days with ≥8h each) were obtained from 72 (53%) and 90 (65%) men in the INT and CON, respectively. Based on GEE, time spent in MVPA increased (p=0.012) and SED decreased (p=0.032) in the INT compared with the CON. During the first 7weeks, the INT spent on average 1h less sedentary than the CON (t-test, p<0.05). During the first week, the INT showed 12minutes more MVPA compared to the CON (t-test, p=0.034). Based on questionnaire data, the proportion of the most sedentary men decreased in the INT (Wilcoxon test, 28% vs. 10%, p=0.029), with no change in the CON (20% vs. 19%, p=0.546). To conclude, a wrist-worn activity monitor providing feedback had a short-term positive effect on PA and SED in young men.Trial registrationThis is a pilot study for a larger randomized controlled trial registered to the clinical trials register NCT01376986

MtDNA mutagenesis impairs elimination of mitochondria during erythroid maturation leading to enhanced erythrocyte destruction

Haematopoietic progenitor cells show special sensitivity to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutagenesis, which suggests that increased mtDNA mutagenesis could underlie anemias. Here we show that elevated mtDNA mutagenesis in mice with a proof-reading deficient mtDNA polymerase (PolG) leads to incomplete mitochondrial clearance, with asynchronized iron loading in erythroid precursors, and increased total and free cellular iron content. The resulting Fenton chemistry leads to oxidative damage and premature destruction of erythrocytes by splenic macrophages. Our data indicate that mitochondria actively contribute to their own elimination in reticulocytes and modulate iron loading. Asynchrony of this sequence of events causes severe mitochondrial anaemia by depleting the organism of red blood cells and the bone marrow of iron. Our findings account for the anaemia development in a progeroid mouse model and may have direct relevance to the anemias associated with human mitochondrial disease and ageing.Peer reviewe

Time-course of exercise and its association with 12-month bone changes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exercise has been shown to have positive effects on bone density and strength. However, knowledge of the time-course of exercise and bone changes is scarce due to lack of methods to quantify and qualify daily physical activity in long-term. The aim was to evaluate the association between exercise intensity at 3, 6 and 12 month intervals and 12-month changes in upper femur areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and mid-femur geometry in healthy premenopausal women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Physical activity was continuously assessed with a waist-worn accelerometer in 35 healthy women (35-40 years) participating in progressive high-impact training. To describe exercise intensity, individual average daily numbers of impacts were calculated at five acceleration levels (range 0.3-9.2 <it>g</it>) during time intervals of 0-3, 0-6, and 0-12 months. Proximal femur aBMD was measured with dual x-ray absorptiometry and mid-femur geometry was evaluated with quantitative computed tomography at the baseline and after 12 months. Physical activity data were correlated with yearly changes in bone density and geometry, and adjusted for confounding factors and impacts at later months of the trial using multivariate analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Femoral neck aBMD changes were significantly correlated with 6 and 12 months' impact activity at high intensity levels (> 3.9 <it>g</it>, <it>r </it>being up to 0.42). Trochanteric aBMD changes were associated even with first three months of exercise exceeding 1.1 <it>g </it>(<it>r </it>= 0.39-0.59, <it>p </it>< 0.05). Similarly, mid-femoral cortical bone geometry changes were related to even first three months' activity (<it>r </it>= 0.38-0.52, <it>p </it>< 0.05). In multivariate analysis, 0-3 months' activity did not correlate with bone change at any site after adjusting for impacts at later months. Instead, 0-6 months' impacts were significant correlates of 12-month changes in femoral neck and trochanter aBMD, mid-femur bone circumference and cortical bone attenuation even after adjustment. No significant correlations were found at the proximal or distal tibia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The number of high acceleration impacts during 6 months of training was positively associated with 12-month bone changes at the femoral neck, trochanter and mid-femur. These results can be utilized when designing feasible training programs to prevent bone loss in premenopausal women.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinical trials.gov NCT00697957</p

Asiakaskokemus digitalisoituneessa palvelumaisemassa

Digitalisaation myötä kaupan ala on murroksessa. Tämän digitaalisen murroksen tuomien muutosten myötä kaikkikanavaisen kaupan asiakaskokemus jakaantuu nykyään fyysiseen ja digitaaliseen palvelumaisemaan, joissa asiakaskokemus muodostuu. Kaikkikanavaisen kaupan ideana on tarjota asiakkaalle saumaton asiakaskokemus halki kanavien, joka voidaan saavuttaa panostamalla kanavaintegraatioon. Tämän tutkielman tarkoituksena on tarjota näkemyksiä siitä, miten asiakaskokemus muodostuu halki fyysisen ja digitaalisen palvelumaiseman erikoiskaupan kontekstissa tarkasteltuna. Tutkielmassa käytettiin laadullista tutkimusotetta ja aineisto kerättiin fokusryhmähaastatteluilla. Haastatteluiden avulla tarkasteltiin kuluttajien jaettuja merkityksiä kaikkikanavaisesta asiakaskokemuksesta ja useista kanavista muodostuvan kaupan palvelumaisemasta. Tutkielman löydösten perusteella asiakkaiden näkemys tyydyttävästä kaikkikanavaisesta ostokokemuksesta vaihtelee ostokontekstin ja persoonallisten sekä sosiaalisten tekijöiden mukaan. Kanavien koettiin täydentävän toisiaan, sillä niistä saatiin muun muassa erityyppistä informaatiota. Sosiaalisuuden merkitys korostui sekä fyysisessä että digitaalisessa kanavassa, mikä heijastui myös asiakkaiden luottamukseen. Lisäksi asiakkaat kokivat tärkeäksi sen, että kanavat ovat tietoisia toisistaan, mikä voi ilmetä esimerkiksi informaation yhdenmukaisuutena kanavien halki.Digitalization has disrupted the retail trade. This digital disruption has given rise to many changes in the retail trade, such as the dispersion of the servicescape across both online and brick-and-mortar stores. In omnichannel retailing, the aim is to provide a seamless customer experience across different channels, which can be achieved with channel integration. The purpose of this study was to provide insights on the formation of the customer experience across the physical and digital channels. The study was conducted in the context of the specialty retail in Finland. Qualitative research methods were used in the study and focus group interviews were conducted to collect data. The focus group approach was used to examine the consumers’ shared meanings of the customer experience in the omnichannel retail environment. The findings from the focus groups showed that the perception of a satisfying shopping experience varied according to shopping context and personal and social factors. The channels were perceived to complement each other by e.g. providing different types of information. The role of social interaction was emphasized in both physical and digital channels, which was reflected in consumers’ trust. Also, it was considered important that the channels were aware of each other and provided consistent information regardless of the channel