TEACHING SUBJECTS AND PARTICIPATION RATES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES AMONG CHILDREN AGED 10 TO 12 YEARS

Physical activity (PA) is a parameter of children's life that is straight connected to the benefits of their life (protection against obesity, better psychological profile, and predisposition for increased levels of PA as adult etc.). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate parameters of PA during Physical Education (PE) classes and to explore the subjects that the children participate in the PE course. PA, PE, and sedentary behaviors were assessed by a self-administrated PA checklist, proper for children. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured body weight and height. A representative sample of Greek boys and girls aged 10 to 12 years (N=3195) participated in the study. Results showed that boys had higher levels of total and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), than girls (all p-values<0.05), while girls presented higher light-to-moderate intensity PA as compared to boys. In those days that students participated in PE classes, total PA and VPA were higher in comparison with days didn't, in both sexes (p<0.001), while, a greater proportion of children met the current recommendations for PA (86.1% vs. 69.1% for boys and 68.4% vs. 53.5% for girls). During PE classes, boys participated in a greater proportion than girls in basketball and soccer (all p-values<0.05), while, more girls in comparison to boys participated in volleyball, dance, and jump-rope (all p-values<0.05). Stratified data analysis by BMI category among children who participated in PE classes did not reveal significant differences in time participated in PE components among categories, except for games (e.g. chase, tag) among boys. In conclusion, boys have higher levels of total PA than girls, while, it seems that school and PE classes play a significant role in students' levels of PA which could grow up further with interventions as the increase of hours in PE lessons.  Article visualizations

The ratio m_c/m_s with Wilson fermions

We determine the quark mass ratio m_c/m_s on the lattice, using Wilson-type fermions. Configurations with N_f=2 dynamical clover-improved fermions by the QCDSF collaboration are used, which were made available through the ILDG. In the valence sector we use a sophisticated, mass-independently O(a)-improved Wilson-type action with small cut-off effects even in the charm mass region. After an extrapolation to the physical pion mass, to zero lattice spacing and to infinite box volume, we find m_c/m_s=11.27(30)(26).Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure; v2: more statistics, improved analysis and presentation, 1 reference adde

Hydrogen-Bonded Networks Based on Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), and Zinc(II) Complexes of N,N'-Diethylurea

N,N'-diethylurea (DEU) was employed as a ligand to form the octahedral complexes [M(DEU)6]2+ (M=Co, Ni and Zn). Compounds [Co(DEU)6](BF4)2 (1), [Co(DEU)6](CIO4)2 (2), [Ni(DEU)6](CIO4)2 (3), and [Zn(DMU)6](CIO4)2 (4) have been prepared from the reactions of DEU and the appropriate hydrated metal(II) salts in EtOH in the presence of 2,2-dimethoxypropane. Crystal structure determinations demonstrate the existence of [M(DEU)6]2+ cations and CIO4− (in 2–4) or BF4− (in 1) counterions. The [M(DEU)6]2+ cations in the solid state are stabilized by a pseudochelate effect due to the existence of six strong intracationic N-H ⋯ O(DEU) hydrogen bonds. The [M(DEU)6]2+ cations and counterions self-assemble to form hydrogen-bonded 2D architectures in 2–4 that conform to the kgd (kagome dual) network, and a 3D hydrogen-bonded rtl (rutile) network in 1. The nature of the resulting supramolecular structures is influenced by the nature of the counter-ion. The complexes were also characterized by vibrational spectroscopy (IR)

Printing in a Pandemic: 3D printing solutions for healthcare during COVID-19. A Protocol for a PRISMA systematic review

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented global socioeconomic impact. Responses to pandemics include strategies to accumulate vast stockpiles of vital medical equipment. In such times of desperation, 3D-printing could be a life-saving alternative. / Methods: We undertook a PRISMA systematic review of 3D printing solutions in response to COVID-19 utilising the PICO methodology. The objectives were to identify the uses of 3D printing during the COVID-19 pandemic, determine the extent of preclinical testing, comparison to commercial alternatives, presence of regulatory approvals and replicability regarding the description of the printing parameters and the availability of the print file. / Results: Literature searches of MEDLINE (OVID interface)/ PubMed identified 601 studies. Of these, 10 studies fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Reported uses of 3D printing included personal protective equipment (PPE), nasopharyngeal swabs and adjunctive anaesthetic equipment. Few studies undertook formal safety and efficacy testing before clinical use with only one study comparing to the commercial equivalent. Six articles made their model print files available for wider use. / Conclusion: We describe a protocol for a systematic review of 3D-printed healthcare solutions in response to COVID-19. This remains a viable method of producing vital healthcare equipment when supply chains are exhausted. We hope that this will serve as a summary of innovative 3D-printed solutions during the peak of the pandemic and also highlight concerns and omissions regarding safety and efficacy testing that should be addressed urgently in preparation for a subsequent resurgences and future pandemics

A Mononuclear and a Mixed-Valence Chain Polymer Arising from Copper(II) Halide Chemistry and the Use of 2,2′-Pyridil

Reactions of 2,2′-pyridil (pyCOCOpy) with CuCl2 · 2H2O and CuBr2 in EtOH yielded the mononuclear complex [Cu(pyCOOEt)2Cl2] · H2O (1) and the one-dimensional, mixed-valence complex [Cu2ICuII(pyCOOEt)2Br4]n (2), respectively. Both complexes crystallize in the triclinic space group P 1¯. The lattice constants are a = 8.382(2), b = 9.778(2), c = 7.814(2), α = 101.17(1), β = 114.55(1), γ = 94.14(1)° for 1 and a = 8.738(1), b = 9.375(2), c = 7.966(1), α = 79.09(1), β = 64.25(1), γ = 81.78(1)° for 2. 2,2′-pyridil undergoes a metal-assisted alcoholysis and oxidation leading to decomposition and yielding the ethyl picolinate (pyCOOEt) ligand. The autoredox process associated with the reduction of copper(II) to copper(I) in the case of complex 2 is discussed in terms of the increased redox activity of the copper(II) bromide system relative to the copper(II) chloride system

Challenges in Abdominal Organ Transplantation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

© Copyright © 2020 Esagian, Ziogas, Giannis, Hayat, Elias and Tsoulfas. As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has rapidly evolved into a global pandemic, abdominal organ transplantation programs are currently facing multiple challenges. Transplant candidates and recipients are considered high-risk populations for severe disease and death due to COVID-19 as a result of their numerous underlying comorbidities, advanced age and impaired immune function. Emerging reports of atypical and delayed clinical presentations in these patients generate further concerns for widespread disease transmission to medical personnel and the community. The striking similarities between COVID-19 and other outbreaks that took place over the past two decades, like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, highlight the severity of the situation and dictate that extra measures should be taken by the transplant programs to avoid adverse outcomes. Transplant organizations are currently calling for strict screening and isolation protocols to be established in all transplant programs, for both organ donors and recipients. As the situation escalates, more radical measures might be necessary, including a temporary hold on non-urgent transplantations, resulting in serious ethical dilemmas between the survival of these patients and the safety of the community. Further data about these special populations could result in more individualized guidelines for abdominal organ transplantation in the era of COVID-19

Thioglycine and l-thiovaline: biologically active H2S-donors.

Thioglycine and l-thiovaline are stable under acidic and basic conditions but in the presence of bicarbonate they liberate the gasotransmitter H(2)S. In cells both thioamino acids were proven to enhance cGMP formation and promote vasorelaxation in mouse aortic rings. Given that H(2)S is known to lower arterial hypertension, reduce oxidative stress and exhibit cardioprotective effects in preclinical models, H(2)S donors hold promise as novel treatments for cardiovascular disease