The Relationship Between Fitness, Body Composition and Calf Venous Compliance in Adolescents

Fitness level can impact venous compliance and this effect can be realized with various exercise forms. The relationship between fitness level and venous compliance has been well established in adults or older participants, there has been minimal focus on children. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between fitness level, body composition, and venous compliance in children. Twelve participants n=12, 6 males, 6 females were assessed on height, weight, body fat % measurement, venous compliance measurement, and fitness assessment. There were no significant differences in fitness levels and venous compliance when looking at body fat percentage, VO2 peak, and BMI

A factor structure with means confirmatory factor analytic approach to multitrait-multimethod models

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on November 6, 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Psychology.A factor structure with means (FSM) approach to multitrait - multimethod (MTMM) models is proposed in an attempt to remedy identification problems inherent in traditional approaches. In an example data set, FSM models with and without scaling factors correcting for inappropriate measurement level assumptions converged, suggesting the model was identified. Significant improvements in model fit were achieved via inclusion of the scaling factors, indicating erroneous measurement level assumptions are detrimental to model fit. Although the proposed FSM model is a useful alternative to traditional MTMM models, it must be evaluated relative to alternative forms of the model that may be suggested by theory or modification indices. In this example, modification indices indicated an unmodeled source of systematic variance within trait-specific method units. Thus, future research should explore models that include trait-specific method factors rather than general method factors. Models allowing for multidimensional method effects or second-order factors should also be examined

Factorised spatial representation learning: application in semi-supervised myocardial segmentation

The success and generalisation of deep learning algorithms heavily depend on learning good feature representations. In medical imaging this entails representing anatomical information, as well as properties related to the specific imaging setting. Anatomical information is required to perform further analysis, whereas imaging information is key to disentangle scanner variability and potential artefacts. The ability to factorise these would allow for training algorithms only on the relevant information according to the task. To date, such factorisation has not been attempted. In this paper, we propose a methodology of latent space factorisation relying on the cycle-consistency principle. As an example application, we consider cardiac MR segmentation, where we separate information related to the myocardium from other features related to imaging and surrounding substructures. We demonstrate the proposed method's utility in a semi-supervised setting: we use very few labelled images together with many unlabelled images to train a myocardium segmentation neural network. Specifically, we achieve comparable performance to fully supervised networks using a fraction of labelled images in experiments on ACDC and a dataset from Edinburgh Imaging Facility QMRI. Code will be made available at https://github.com/agis85/spatial_factorisation.Comment: Accepted in MICCAI 201

Maternal Serum Heme-Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) Concentrations in Early Pregnancy and Subsequent Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) concentrations have been recently reported to be elevated in impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, no study has examined the association between HO-1 concentrations and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: In a case-control study, nested within a prospective cohort of pregnant women (186 GDM cases and 191 women who remained eu-glycemic through pregnancy), we assessed the association of maternal serum HO-1 concentrations, measured in samples collected at 16 weeks gestation, on average, with subsequent risk of GDM. Maternal serum HO-1 concentrations were determined using ELISA. We fitted multivariate logistic regression models to derive estimates of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Median serum HO-1 concentrations in early pregnancy were lower in women who subsequently developed GDM compared with those who did not (1.60 vs. 1.80 ng/mL, p-value = 0.002). After adjusting for maternal age, race, family history of T2DM and pre-pregnancy body mass index, women with HO-1≥3.05 ng/mL (highest decile) experienced a 74% reduction of GDM risk (95% CI; 0.09–0.77) compared with women whose concentrations were<1.23 ng/mL (lowest quartile). Conclusion: Serum HO-1 concentrations were inversely associated with subsequent GDM risk. These findings underscore the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of GDM. Additional studies are warranted to confirm the clinical utility of serum HO-1 in diagnosis of GDM, particularly in the early pregnancy

A Spectroscopic Survey of the Fields of 28 Strong Gravitational Lenses: The Group Catalog

With a large, unique spectroscopic survey in the fields of 28 galaxy-scale strong gravitational lenses, we identify groups of galaxies in the 26 adequately-sampled fields. Using a group finding algorithm, we find 210 groups with at least five member galaxies; the median number of members is eight. Our sample spans redshifts of 0.04 $\le z_{grp} \le$ 0.76 with a median of 0.31, including 174 groups with $0.1 < z_{grp} < 0.6$. Groups have radial velocity dispersions of 60 $\le \sigma_{grp} \le$ 1200 km s$^{-1}$ with a median of 350 km s$^{-1}$. We also discover a supergroup in field B0712+472 at $z =$ 0.29 consisting of three main groups. We recover groups similar to $\sim$ 85% of those previously reported in these fields within our redshift range of sensitivity and find 187 new groups with at least five members. The properties of our group catalog, specifically 1) the distribution of $\sigma_{grp}$, 2) the fraction of all sample galaxies that are group members, and 3) the fraction of groups with significant substructure, are consistent with those for other catalogs. The distribution of group virial masses agrees well with theoretical expectations. Of the lens galaxies, 12 of 26 (46%) (B1422+231, B1600+434, B2114+022, FBQS J0951+2635, HE0435-1223, HST J14113+5211, MG0751+2716, MGJ1654+1346, PG 1115+080, Q ER 0047-2808, RXJ1131-1231, and WFI J2033-4723) are members of groups with at least five galaxies, and one more (B0712+472) belongs to an additional, visually identified group candidate. There are groups not associated with the lens that still are likely to affect the lens model; in six of 25 (24%) fields (excluding the supergroup), there is at least one massive ($\sigma_{grp} \ge$ 500 km s$^{-1}$) group or group candidate projected within 2$^{\prime}$ of the lens.Comment: 87 pages, 8 figures, a version of this was published in Ap

Is It Lawful and Ethical to Prioritize Racial Minorities for COVID-19 Vaccines?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected racial minorities in the United States resulting in higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death. With a limited supply after the initial approval of a safe and effective vaccine, difficult legal and ethical choices will have to be made on priority access for individuals. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has recommended prioritization of racial minorities who are “worse off” socioeconomically and epidemiologically. TheWorld Health Organization (WHO) similarly cautioned that “colorblind” allocation frameworks could perpetuate or exacerbate existing injustices. Both NASEM and WHO urge policy makers to allocate vaccines in ways that reduce unjust health disparities. The ethics and legality of race-based policies in the United States have been fraught with controversy. This Viewpoint considers how COVID-19 vaccine priority allocations could be implemented ethically and legally

Short sleep duration, complaints of vital exhaustion and perceived stress are prevalent among pregnant women with mood and anxiety disorders

Background: Psychiatric disorders have been associated with sleep disorders in men and non-pregnant women, but little is known about sleep complaints and disorders among pregnant women with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A cohort of 1,332 women was interviewed during early pregnancy. We ascertained psychiatric diagnosis status and collect information about sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, vital exhaustion and perceived stress. Logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Approximately 5.1% of the cohort (n=68) reported having a physician-diagnosis of mood or anxiety disorder before interview. Compared with women without a psychiatric diagnosis, the multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) for short sleep duration in early pregnancy (≤6 hours) were 1.95 (1.03-3.69). The corresponding OR (95%CI) for long sleep duration (≥9 hours) during early pregnancy was 1.13 (0.63-2.03). Women with psychiatric disorders had an increased risk of vital exhaustion (OR=2.41; 95%CI 1.46-4.00) and elevated perceived stress (OR=3.33; 95%CI 1.89-5.88). Observed associations were more pronounced among overweight/obese women. Conclusions: Women with a psychiatric disorder were more likely to report short sleep durations, vital exhaustion and elevated perceived stress. Prospective studies are needed to more thoroughly explore factors that mediate the apparent mood/anxiety-sleep comorbidity among pregnant women

BBC 1 Let's get a good thing going

Cheltenham Let's Get a Good Thing Going Series 1 Episode 1 of 5 Series presented by Kevin Duala in which local people pitch ideas to help their community. Four Cheltenham residents pitch their dream projects. 44 minute program Dr Michelle Williams talked about her work to start up a makerspace alongside the grass roots monthly Cheltenham Repair Cafe that is working with the local community to overcome global sustainable challenges, such as fast fashion and waste electronics, through a monthly Repair Cafe in Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Repair Cafe was launch in May 2016 and co-created with Dr Michelle Williams, University of Gloucestershire design students, the local sustainable Charity Vision 21, Gloucestershire County Council and University of Gloucestershire

BBC 1 Let's get a good thing going

Cheltenham Let's Get a Good Thing Going Series 1 Episode 1 of 5 Series presented by Kevin Duala in which local people pitch ideas to help their community. Four Cheltenham residents pitch their dream projects. 44 minute program Dr Michelle Williams talked about her work to start up a makerspace alongside the grass roots monthly Cheltenham Repair Cafe that is working with the local community to overcome global sustainable challenges, such as fast fashion and waste electronics, through a monthly Repair Cafe in Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Repair Cafe was launch in May 2016 and co-created with Dr Michelle Williams, University of Gloucestershire design students, the local sustainable Charity Vision 21, Gloucestershire County Council and University of Gloucestershire