The role of affect and exercise goals in physical activity engagement in younger and older adults

Despite potential benefits of physical activity engagement for older adults, individuals over the age of 65 were more likely to report physical inactivity compared to younger and middle-aged adults. It is extremely important to understand factors influencing regular engagement in physical activity in older adults, particularly the role of affective response and exercise goals which have been greatly overlooked. Mixed findings have been reported in terms of age differences in affective response to daily physical activity while exercise goals in younger and older adults have not been thoroughly compared. Hence, the goal of this project was to determine age differences in affective response to daily physical activity and exercise goals and whether these differences are associated with overall physical activity levels. Younger (n=47) and older adults (n=47) completed one week of experience sampling during which they responded to daily prompts about their affect and physical activity. Overall physical activity levels were estimated via actigraphy. Across age groups (p=0.138), daily physical activity was found to be associated with greater high arousal positive affect relative to other activities (p\u3c0.001). Generally, social context was not a significant moderator of affect after daily physical activity (p \u3c 0.082), however, there was some evidence to suggest that being outdoors (p\u3c0.033) and enjoying daily physical activity (p=0.001) was associated with greater high arousal positive affect in younger adults. In terms of exercise goals, older adults reported greater orientation towards instrumental relative to hedonic exercise goals compared to younger adults (p=0.027). Neither affective responses (p=0.488) nor exercise goals (p=0.912) were associated with overall physical activity levels. These results suggest that engagement in daily physical activity was associated with greater high arousal positive affect in younger and older adults. In addition, these affective responses and exercise goals may have a limited role in regular, sustained physical activity engagement

Penile Curvature Incidence in Hypospadias: Can It Be Determined?

The aim was to retrospectively determine the real incidence of congenital penile curvature in various forms of hypospadias, in order to indicate intraoperative assessment and correction of curvature. We analyzed 842 patients with hypospadias who underwent surgery from 2003 to 2010, classified into two groups. First group was intraoperatively checked for curvature as a routine procedure, while a curvature in the second group was assessed mostly in severe hypospadias. Results are analyzed using Fisher's and chi-square tests. In total, 238 cases (28.3%) of associated curvature were confirmed. Curvature was significantly more frequent in the first group, regarding hypospadias in general (P<0.01), as well as distal (P<0.05) and midshaft forms (P<0.01). Penile curvature is common figure in hypospadias, including distal types. Intraoperative testing for associated curvature should be considered as a routine procedure in hypospadias repair

Using Soft Systems Modelling to understand decision-making about coastal schemes. CoOpt Project Workpackage 1 – Soft System Modelling Workshop Report.

This report summarises the results of an online workshop which was convened in May 2022 as part of the NERC-ESRC CoOpt research project Resilient Coasts: Optimising co-benefit solutions (2021-24). It brought together a range of coastal professional practitioners to consider how decisions are made in the UK about schemes for coastal flood and erosion risk management. Nature-based/green solutions were a particular topic of consideration

Adult non-urethral complications after hypospadias repair in childhood: presentation, treatment and outcomes

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate a group of adult patients with non-urethral complications after hypospadias repair in childhood, their surgical treatment, and outcomes.Materials and methodsWe analyzed 97 patients, mean age 22.5 years, who were treated in our center between January 2009 and December 2020, for non-urethral complications after previous hypospadias repair in childhood. Non-urethral complications were defined as glans deformity, residual curvature and trapped penis due to insufficient penile skin. A radical surgical approach was used to correct all deformities, in a one-stage or a two-stage procedure. A successful outcome was defined as a straight penis with good length, anatomically regular glans, and cosmetically acceptable appearance, without need for additional surgeries. Sexual function was evaluated using International Index of Erectile Function.ResultsMean follow-up was 75 months (ranged from 24 to 168 months). One-stage and two-stage repair were performed in 85.5% and 14.5% of cases, respectively. A higher success rate was noted after one-stage repair (94% compared to 86%). Complications included four cases of penile curvature with late onset, one case of glans dehiscence and partial skin necrosis. Erectile dysfunction was determined in 24% of patients.DiscussionNon-urethral complications may occur many years after primary hypospadias repair, with a strong impact on the quality of life. Treatment is individualized and usually involves a radical surgical approach to correct all associated deformities and to achieve successful cosmetic and psychosexual outcomes

Vegetation greenness sensitivity to precipitation and its oceanic and terrestrial component in selected biomes and ecoregions of the world

In this study, we conducted a global assessment of the sensitivity of vegetation greenness (VGS) to precipitation and to the estimated Lagrangian precipitation time series of oceanic (PLO) and terrestrial (PLT) origin. The study was carried out for terrestrial ecosystems consisting of 9 biomes and 139 ecoregions during the period of 2001–2018. This analysis aimed to diagnose the vegetative response of vegetation to the dominant component of precipitation, which is of particular interest considering the hydroclimatic characteristics of each ecoregion, climate variability, and changes in the origin of precipitation that may occur in the context of climate change. The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) was used as an indicator of vegetation greenness. Without consideration of semi-arid and arid regions and removing the role of temperature and radiation, the results show the maximum VGS to precipitation in boreal high-latitude ecoregions that belong to boreal forest/taiga: temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands. Few ecoregions, mainly in the Amazon basin, show a negative sensitivity. We also found that vegetation greenness is generally more sensitive to the component that contributes the least to precipitation and is less stable throughout the year. Therefore, most vegetation greenness in Europe is sensitive to changes in PLT and less to PLO. In contrast, the boreal forest/taiga in northeast Asia and North America is more sensitive to changes in PLO. Finally, in most South American and African ecoregions, where PLT is crucial, the vegetation is more sensitive to PLO, whereas the contrast occurs in the northern and eastern ecoregions of Australia.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021-122314OB-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B-2021/134Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D 2022/020Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RYC2021-034044-

Extreme precipitation events

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGThe effect of increased populations concentrated in urban areas, coupled with the ongoing threat of climate change, means that society is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of extreme precipitation. The study of these events is therefore a key topic in climate research, in their physical basis, in the study of their impacts, and in our adaptation to them. From a meteorological perspective, the main questions are related to the definition of extreme events, changes in their distribution and intensity both globally and regionally, the dependence on large-scale phenomena including the role of moisture transport, and changes in their behavior due to anthropogenic pressures. In this review article, we address all these points and propose a set of challenges for future research.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018‐095772‐B‐I00Xunta Galicia | Ref. D431C 2021/4