Does physical exercise improve ADL capacities in people over 65 years with moderate or severe dementia hospitalized in an acute psychiatric setting? A multisite randomized clinical trial.

Several studies on the effect of physical exercise on activities of daily living (ADL) for people with dementia exist; yet, data concerning the specific context of acute psychiatric hospitals remain scant. This study measured the effect of a physical exercise program on ADL scores in patients with moderate to severe dementia hospitalized in an acute psychiatric ward. A multicenter clinical trial was conducted in five Swiss and Belgian psychiatric hospitals. Participants were randomly allocated to either an experimental group (EG) or a control group (CG). Members of the EG received 20 physical exercise sessions (strengthening, balance, and walking) over a four-week period while members of the CG participated in social interaction sessions of equivalent duration and frequency, but without physical exercise. The effect of exercise on ADL was measured by comparing scores of the Barthel Index and the Functional Independence Measure in the EG and CG before and after the intervention, and two weeks later. Hundred and sixty patients completed the program. Characteristics of participants of both groups were similar at the inception of the study. The mean ADL score of EG decreased slightly over time, whereas that of the CG significantly decreased compared to initial scores. Overall differences between groups were not significant; however, significant differences were found for mobility-related items. ADL scores in elderly with moderate to severe dementia deteriorate during acute psychiatric hospitalization. An exercise program delays the loss of mobility but does not have a significant impact on overall ADL scores

Design and performance of the multiplexing spectrometer CAMEA

The cold neutron multiplexing secondary spectrometer CAMEA (Continuous Angle Multiple Energy Analysis) was commissioned at the Swiss spallation neutron source SINQ at the Paul Scherrer Institut at the end of 2018. The spectrometer is optimised for an efficient data collection in the horizontal scattering plane, allowing for detailed and rapid mapping of excitations under extreme conditions. The novel design consists of consecutive, upward scattering analyzer arcs underneath an array of position sensitive detectors mounted inside a low permeability stainless-steel vacuum vessel. The construction of the world's first continuous angle multiple energy analysis instrument required novel solutions to many technical challenges, including analyzer mounting, vacuum connectors, and instrument movement. These were solved by extensive prototype experiments and in-house developments. Here we present a technical overview of the spectrometer describing in detail the engineering solutions and present our first experimental data taken during the commissioning. Our results demonstrate the tremendous gains in data collection rate for this novel type of spectrometer design

Rural connectivity in Africa: motorcycle track construction

Motorcycle transportation has burgeoned in war-affected West Africa over the past decade. The penetration ofmotorcycle taxis deep into isolated rural communities has spread spontaneously and created direct and indirectemployment opportunities for low-skilled youth, a category most susceptible to militia recruitment. Equallyimportant, it has significantly contributed to lifting smallholder farmers out of poverty by reducing the costs ofmoving produce to markets, with motorcycles able to visit villages connected to feeder roads solely by footpaths.Nevertheless, state actors and international donors remain reluctant to allocate funds to rural track building/upgrading, preferring to stick to more conventional, but expensive, construction/rehabilitation of rural roadsaccessible to four-wheeled vehicles. Through a case study of Liberia – still recovering from two civil wars and an Ebolahealth crisis – this paper argues that the impact of bringing community access through track construction/footpathupgrading is significant, particularly because track construction lends itself par excellence to the involvement of therural communities themselves

Screen use habits among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: A cross-sectional study from Turkey

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated screen use habits, problematic internet use (PIU), and screen-psychopathology relationship in a clinical sample of children and adolescents. The study included 277 children and adolescents (129 [46.4%] girls) aged between 6-17 years referred to a psychiatry outpatient setting for various reasons. All parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), while adolescents also completed the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The mean screen time was 3.85 (SD = 2.72) hours per day. Longer screen times were found among children and adolescents with specific psychiatric disorders compared to those with no psychiatric symptoms; especially among those with internalizing disorders (i.e., an anxiety disorder and/or depression), but also with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and/or conduct disorder. Longer screen time may be related with more functioning impairments. Based on the IAT, 2.1% of adolescents may have PIU. The findings from this study suggest that children and adolescents with psychiatric symptoms may have prolonged screen times. This needs to be taken into account during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. © 2020 by authors

Environmental parameters affecting the concentration of iodine in New Zealand pasture

Iodine (I) is an essential trace element commonly deficient in agricultural systems. Whereas there is much information on I in food crops, there is a lacuna of knowledge on the environmental factors that affect pasture I concentrations. We aimed to identify the most important environmental factors affecting the concentration of I in New Zealand pastures, and the consequences to agricultural systems. Soil and pastoral samples were collected throughout the country and analyzed for I and other elements. The soils contained 1.1 to 86 mg I kg⁻¹, with 0.005 to 1.4 mg kg⁻¹ in the pasture. In 26% of pastures, I concentrations were insufficient for sheep nutrition, whereas 87% contained insufficient I for cattle nutrition. Pasture I concentrations were negatively correlated with the distance from the sea, and the concentration of oxalate-extractable amorphous Al, Fe, and Si oxides, which immobilize soil I. Soil organic C and clay increased I retention in soil but did not significantly affect pasture I concentrations. Future work should investigate how soil properties affect pasture I uptake in inland areas

Public Health Rep

19314755PMCnul