Exercise sustains the hallmarks of health

Exercise has long been known for its active role in improving physical fitness and sustaining health.Regular moderate-intensity exercise improves all aspects of human health and is widely accepted as a preventative and therapeutic strategy for various diseases.It is well-documented that exercise maintains and restores homeostasis at the organismal,tissue,cellular,and molecular levels to stimulate positive physiological adaptations that consequently protect against various pathological conditions.Here we mainly summarize how moderate-intensity exercise affects the major hallmarks of health,including the integrity of barriers,containment of local perturbations,recycling and turnover,integration of circuitries,rhythmic oscillations,homeostatic resilience,hormetic regulation,as well as repair and regeneration.Furthermore,we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms responsible for beneficial adaptations in response to exercise.This review aimed at providing a comprehensive summary of the vital biological mechanisms through which moderate-intensity exercise maintains health and opens a window for its application in other health interventions.We hope that continuing investigation in this field will further increase our understanding of the processes involved in the positive role of moderate-intensity exercise and thus get us closer to the identification of new therapeutics that improve quality of life.

Approach to Simplify the Development of IoT Systems that Interconnect Embedded Devices Using a Single Program

Many Internet of Things(IoT)systems are based on the intercommunication among different devices and centralized systems.Nowadays,there are several commercial and research platforms available to simplify the creation of such IoT systems.However,developing these systems can often be a tedious task.To address this challenge,a proposed solution involves the implementation of a unified program or script that encompasses the entire system,including IoT devices functionality.This approach is based on an abstraction,integrating the control of the devices in a single program through a programmable object.Subsequently,the proposal processes the unified script to generate the centralized system code and a controller for each device.By adopting this approach,developers will be able to create IoT systems with significantly reduced implementation costs,surpassing current platforms by more than 10%.The results demonstrate that the single program approach can significantly accelerate the development of IoT systems relying on device communication.

Acute Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Young Adults’ Blood Pressure and Feelings

Virtual reality(VR)seems to have the potential to provide opportunities to promote physical activity(PA)in a fun way.This paper aimed to examine the acute effects of three different virtual reality-based exercise bikes on young adults’blood pressure(BP)and feelings compared to a traditional exercise cycling session.Four exercise sessions(immersive VR cycling,two non-immersive VR cycling,and traditional cycling)were completed by 36 young adults(22 females;Mage=23.6 years).BP was measured immediately before and after each session using a BP cuff and exercise-induced feelings were assessed via an established survey immediately after each session.Parti-cipants’previous experience with VR was used as the covariate in the ANCOVA with repeated measures.Signif-icant main effects were observed across cycling sessions for systolic blood pressure[F(2,29)=3.04,p=0.02,(η^(2)=0.38)]and feelings[F(3,32)=7.74,p<0.01,η^(2)=.42].In particular,immersive VR and traditional cycling signif-icantly increased systolic blood pressure compared to the two non-immersive VR sessions.Moreover,immersive VR significantly increased feelings compared to the two non-immersive VR sessions,whereas these two non-immersive VR exercises had significantly greater increased feelings compared to traditional cycling,respectively.Findings suggest immersive VR-based exercise cycling may lead to higher exercise intensities compared to non-immersive VR cycling.Further,immersive VR cycling yielded higher feelings compared to non-immersive VR and traditional cycling.Thus,immersive VR-based exercise can be a fun and physically active health promotion tool among young adults.

Evaluation of the potential of coastal cliffs as geosites for the promotion of geotourism

Coastal zones, with their significant geodiversity, are vital areas for geotourism. Effective management is crucial to harness the geological interest of these sites as geotourism resources while ensuring their conservation. ManabíProvince is one of the most representative regions along the Ecuadorian coast due to its beaches and coastal cliffs, offering a wealth of tourist attractions and cultural elements. This study aims to evaluate the geosite potential of six cliffs in ManabíProvince through quantitative and qualitative analyses to propose geotourism promotion strategies. The methodology involves (i) inventory and characterisation of the cliffs, (ii) assessment of the sites by the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest method (IELIG), and (iii) qualitative evaluation through focus group discussions and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The results reveal that all six sites boast diverse geological assets, including geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, and tectonic elements. They are characterised by “high ”scientific, didactic, and tourist interest, while also being sus- ceptible to degradation due to natural and anthropic threats. The SWOT analysis demonstrates that the valuable geological and geomorphological heritage of potential geosites provides an opportunity to foster geotourism and boost the province’s economy, incorporating geoconservation and geoeducation strategies. This study proposes a georoute called “Ruta Acantilados del Sol ”, a 245 km journey encompassing all six sites, incorporating diverse tourist and cultural activities. Our research lays the foundation for fostering geotourism along the Manabícoast and strengthening the connection between nature, heritage, and the welfare of residents within a global resilience plan.

A half century (1961-2011) of applying microsurgery to experimental liver research

The development of microsurgery has been dependent on experimental animals. Microsurgery could be a very valuable technique to improve experimental models of liver diseases. Microdissection and microsutures are the two main microsurgical techniques that can be considered for classifying the experimental models developed for liver research in the rat. Partial portal vein ligation, extrahepatic cholestasis and hepatectomies are all models based on microdissection. On the other hand, in portacaval shunts, orthotopic liver transplantation and partial heterotopic liver transplantation, the microsuture techniques stand out. By reducing surgical complications, these microsurgical techniques allow for improving the resulting experimental models. If good experimental models for liver research are successfully developed, the results obtained from their study might be particularly useful in patients with liver disease. Therefore experimental liver microsurgery could be an invaluable way to translate laboratory data on liver research into new clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Reliability of preoperative measurement with standardized templating in Total Knee Arthroplasty

AIM: To investigate the correlation between preoperative measurement in total knee arthroplasty and the prosthetic size implanted. METHODS: A prospective double-blind study of 50 arthroplasties was performed. Firstly, the reliability and correspondence between the size of said measurement and the actual implant utilized was determined. Secondly, the existing correlation between the intra- and interobserver determinations with the intraclass correlation coefficient was analyzed. RESULTS: An overall correspondence of 54%, improving up to 92% when the measured size admitted a difference of one size, was found. Good intra- and interobserver reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient greater than 0.90(P < 0.001) was also discovered. CONCLUSION: Agreement between the preoperative measurement with standardized acetate templates and the prosthetic size implanted can be considered satisfactory. We thus conclude it is a reproducible technique.

Spatial distribution of morphometric parameters of glacial cirques in the Central Pyrenees(Aran and Boí valleys)

Glacial cirques are typical landscape features of mid-latitude mountain environments like the Central Pyrenees. Their morphology as well as their spatial distribution provides insights about past glaciers and climates. In this study, we examine the distribution, morphometrical and topographical characteristics of glacial cirques in two U-shaped glacial valleys located in the Central Pyrenees – the Aran and the Boí valleys. They are located in different aspects of this mountain range(north vs south) under different climatic influences that promoted distinct glaciation patterns during the late Pleistocene. The spatial mapping of these landforms was carried out using high-resolution imagery and field observations. We analysed the data of the morphometrical and topographical variables of the glacial cirques by using different statistical and geospatial methods in order tounveil the factors controlling their formation and development. A total of 186 glacial cirques were mapped in the study area, including 119 in the Aran and 67 in the Boí valleys. The local topography and microclimate conditions lead to substantial differences in both areas in terms of the morphology and dimensions of the cirques. Glacial cirques in Boí are distributed at slightly higher elevations than in Aran and they are also larger, though their dimensions decrease with elevation in both valleys. Aran cirques are mostly oriented NE, while Boí landforms do not show any prevailing aspect. Even though lithology does not control the distribution of the glacial cirques, some specific lithological settings may favour the development of larger cirques. In general, glacial cirques in the Aran and the Boí valleys show morphometrical properties similar to those reported in other mid-latitude mountain ranges.

Determination of the ground vibration attenuation law from a singleblast: A particular case of trench blasting

The general transmissivity law of ground vibrations was studied,and a user-friendly methodology for determining the behavior of vibrations generated in any rock mass is proposed.The study was based on a single blast in a trench excavation,analyzing the vibration components recorded from two fixed locations.The attenuation law and the main variables according to the legal requirements,frequency and peak particle velocity(PPV),are defined with this novel method,achieving a high confidence level in a simple manner.The proposed approach can also have an important impact in terms of reducing the potential consequences of vibrations for the surrounding construction and achieving the required definition of rock mass.Reducing the cost and time in many projects where blasting techniques are applied is particularly useful for the design of future blasts.

Repeatability of in-vitro optical quality measurements of intraocular lenses with a deflectometry technique effect of the toricity

AIM： To evaluate the repeatability of an optical device for measuring the Zernike coefficients of toric intraocular lenses（IOLs） and assess whether its toricity has any impact in its repeatability. METHODS： An experienced technician used the NIMO TR1504 to measure the Zernike coefficients 30 times for an aperture of 4.50 mm for all lenses included. The IOLs included were divided into two group： toric and nontoric ones. The cylindrical powers of the toric lenses included in the present study were 1.00, 1.50, 2.25, 3.00 and 3.75 D. Finally, the repeatability of the NIMO TR1504 was described in terms of within subject standard deviation（Sw） and repeatability limit. RESULTS： The Sw was smaller than 0.011 μm for both lens groups and all Zernike coefficients, and the difference between both groups was smaller than 0.004 μm for all Zernike coefficients. Regarding the repeatability limit, this value was smaller than 0.025 μm for the toric lens group, and smaller than 0.031 μm for the non-toric lens one for all Zernike coefficients. Furthermore, the maximum difference between both lens groups was 0.010 μm. CONCLUSION： The repeatability of the NIMO TR1504 to measure the optical quality is high and independent of the lens toricity. These results reflect that this system is robust and could be used to measure the in-vitro optical quality of either toric or non-toric IOLs.

Clinical outcomes of patterned laser trabeculoplasty as adjuvant therapy in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

AIM： To assess the efficacy and safety of patterned laser trabeculoplasty（PLT） as an adjunctive treatment in open angle glaucoma（OAG） or ocular hypertension（OHT） patients who were under antiglaucoma medical treatment.METHODS： This study was a retrospective review of primary or secondary OAG patients and OHT patients with medically uncontrolled（≥18 mm Hg） intraocular pressure（IOP） who underwent 360o PLT from June 2016 to August 2016. Follow-up visits at week 1, and 1, 3 and 6 mo were performed. IOP, best corrected visual acuity（BCVA）, complications and eye drop glaucoma medication were recorded at each follow-up visit. Success was defined as IOP reduction ≥20% from baseline. RESULTS： Forty-one eyes of 25 patients were included in this study. Pre-treatment mean IOP was 20.2±1.6 mm Hg. After PLT, IOP was 19.3±5.2, 16.1±2.7, 17.1±3.7 and 16.3±3.5 mm Hg,at 1 wk, 1, 3 and 6 mo, respectively. IOP reduction from baseline was statistically significant from the first month, remaining stable at 6 mo（P〈0.001）. PLT success at 6 mo of follow-up was 48.78%. The number of glaucoma medication per eye（P=0.10） and the mean BCVA both remained constant（P=0.37）. Complications included transient IOP spikes in 4 eyes（9.8%） and peripheral anterior synechiae in 7 eyes（17.1%）. CONCLUSION： PLT is an effective and safe method for the management of patients with OHT or OAG as an adjunctive therapy. Additional larger studies should be designed to verify the long-term stability of IOP reduction with this laser technology.

Nanomodificated Surface CoCr Alloy for Corrosion Protection of MoM Prosthesis

Problems in metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacement systems still persist due to high wear rates, low corrosion resistance and release of toxic ions and nanoparticles. As a consequence of these effects, failure, infections, loosening or bone resorption is the typical problems in the hip prosthesis. In order to reduce failure due to corrosion and/or releasing ions and particles, this study presents some works in a novel nanoscale surface modification of cobalt-chromium alloy (CoCr) for obtaining improved surface conditions in these alloys for these applications. Improving corrosion resistant of these alloys and achieving a low wear rate are possible to reduce the total released ions and particles released from the surface of this material. According to it, three different treatments using oxygen at temperatures of 300&degC, 350&degC and 400&degC were carried out by plasma immersion ion implantation technique (PI3). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows an increase in the formation of chromium oxides in the outer surface of the CoCr alloy. It allows improving in corrosion resistant in CoCr alloys. Moreover, total quantity of released Co, Cr and Mo ions have been reduced. Wear rate studies showed a very similar behaviour after the treatments in relation to untreated CoCr alloy and release rate from the treated surface of CoCr alloys was reduced in comparison with untreated CoCr alloy.

Performance Estimation of Machine Learning Algorithms in the Factor Analysis of COVID-19 Dataset

Novel Coronavirus Disease(COVID-19)is a communicable disease that originated during December 2019,when China officially informed the World Health Organization(WHO)regarding the constellation of cases of the disease in the city of Wuhan.Subsequently,the disease started spreading to the rest of the world.Until this point in time,no specific vaccine or medicine is available for the prevention and cure of the disease.Several research works are being carried out in the fields of medicinal and pharmaceutical sciences aided by data analytics and machine learning in the direction of treatment and early detection of this viral disease.The present report describes the use of machine learning algorithms[Linear and Logistic Regression,Decision Tree(DT),K-Nearest Neighbor(KNN),Support Vector Machine(SVM),and SVM with Grid Search]for the prediction and classification in relation to COVID-19.The data used for experimentation was the COVID-19 dataset acquired from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering(CSSE),Johns Hopkins University(JHU).The assimilated results indicated that the risk period for the patients is 12–14 days,beyond which the probability of survival of the patient may increase.In addition,it was also indicated that the probability of death in COVID cases increases with age.The death probability was found to be higher in males as compared to females.SVM with Grid search methods demonstrated the highest accuracy of approximately 95%,followed by the decision tree algorithm with an accuracy of approximately 94%.The present study and analysis pave a way in the direction of attribute correlation,estimation of survival days,and the prediction of death probability.The findings of the present study clearly indicate that machine learning algorithms have strong capabilities of prediction and classification in relation to COVID-19 as well.

Climate-driven variations in productivity reveal adaptive strategies in Iberian cork oak agroforestry systems

Background:Cork oak agroforestry systems(AFS)have been managed for centuries by humans to produce cork and other goods and services and have recently been recognised as an important reservoir for biodiversity improvement and conservation.However,despite having recently been included as a natural habitat of community-wide interest within the EU Habitats Directive,these systems are in a critical situation of decline.Among other factors,they are strongly threatened by climate change,the effects of which are also expected to be particularly severe in the Mediterranean region.In this study,we aimed to evaluate the influence of climate variability by examining primary production indicators and also to analyse whether the geographical location may have a role in the incidence of the adverse effects of climate.Methods:Cork oak AFS were identified in the Forest Map of Spain and the Land use map of Portugal and categorized on the basis of canopy cover.Seasonal climate data from 2001 to 2020 were used to model relationships with climate predictors and proximity to the coast.Hotspot analysis was conducted to identify significant spatial clusters of high-and low-efficiency areas.Results:The responses to the influence of climatic conditions differed among the various cork oak AFS categories,particularly in the forest category,which was less dependent on climate variations.Relative humidity and water availability were the main drivers of net primary production(NPP).Carbon use efficiency(CUE)was limited by relative humidity and spring temperature in open ecosystems.Proximity to the coast proved beneficial,especially in years with adverse weather conditions,but was not a limiting factor for survival of the ecosystem.Finally,the results of the hotspot analysis supported the other findings,highlighting high-efficiency areas close to the coast and cold spots grouped in specific areas or dispersed inland.Conclusions:Canopy plays a key role in the influence of climatic conditions,particularly in forest categories in which a high density seems to generate microclimate conditions.Water availability,both via the soil and air moisture,is the main driver of primary production,reflecting different adaptive strategies.The oceanic atmosphere may act as a buffer in years of extreme drought.

Naming Conventions and the Perception of Selfhood:A Cross-cultural Reflection on Women’s Surnames in the Anglosphere vs.the Hispanic Model

The naming convention in English-speaking countries(e.g.,USA and UK),and several others in the Western culture,where women traditionally have adopted their husbands’surnames,is compared with the naming convention in Spain and Latin America,where women do not relinquish their maiden surnames.From a cross-cultural perspective spanning over three centuries,from Madame de Staël and Virginia Woolf to Hillary Clinton,this essay renders instances of women who took on the surname of their spouse upon marriage.It appears that even nowadays many women,including feminists,choose to comply with this patriarchal habit.Entanglements arising upon divorce or remarriage,such as traceability and perception of selfhood,especially for women with academic and professional profiles,are discussed here.Samples collected from life and literature across a fairly representative cultural range and diverse moments in history help to reach conclusions and come up with a consistent argument.Winds of change seem to be blowing with Vice President Kamala Harris,whose case is mentioned at the end of this essay.To circumvent the confusion for individuals and families(especially“blended”ones)that could result in the discrimination between males and females,on the one hand,and on the other hand,between married and unmarried women,the Spanish naming convention is proposed as a perfect compromise.This consists in every person bearing two surnames from birth and for good:one of each parent.Thus,women would keep their name(s),and along with them their perception of their self and their social and professional identity.

Empirically supported psychological treatments:The challenges of comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on psychological interventions with empirical evidence of efficacy in treating common psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with intellectual disability(ID)at all stages of their life.We begin with a brief presentation of what is meant by psychiatric and behavioral disorders in this population,along with an explanation of some of the factors that contribute to the increased psychosocial vulnerability of this group to present with these problems.We then conduct a review of empirically supported psychological therapies used to treat psychiatric and behavioral disorders in people with ID.The review is structured around the three generations of therapies:Applied behavior analysis(e.g.,positive behavior support),cognitive behavioral therapies(e.g.,mindfulness-based cognitive therapy),and contextual therapies(e.g.,dialectical behavior therapy).We conclude with some recommendations for professional practice in the fields of ID and psychiatry.

Does Computer Navigation Improve the Results of MIS Technique in Total Knee Arthroplasty?

The Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS) technique used for knee arthroplasty implantation implies a less aggressive surgery and reduces the aesthetic impact. Its most notable disadvantage is the poor visualization of bone structures, which may lead to alterations in the correct placement of the prosthetic components. Navigation-assisted surgery may help avoid such mistakes, and thus navigation coupled with the MIS technique may be an alternative for the future. This is a prospective randomized study of 50 patients who received a total knee arthroplasty. In 25 cases the MIS technique was used, whereas in the other 25 navigation was also employed. Mean age of the patients was 71.63 years, and the mean body mass index was 31.19. Results were assessed based on the definitive radiographic position of the femoral, tibial, and limb axis prosthetic components, as well as according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontarioand McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form version 12 (SF-12) questionnaires, and the “up-and-go” test. Differences were found between both groups for duration of the procedure (p = 0.0005). No differences were found in the need for analgesics, amount of drained blood, or mean stay time. There were differences regarding the best radiographic position of the tibial component in the navigation group, but not in the final mechanical axis of the limb, even though out-of-range cases were more abundant in the standard-MIS group. At one year after surgery, clinical, functional and quality of life outcomes were similar in both groups. The combined use of surgical navigation and the MIS technique does not yield advantages in terms of limb alignment nor clinical results at one year after surgery.

Vulnerability and everyday health risks of urban informal settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa

More than half of the world population lives in the cities and around one billion in poor urban areas.These numbers are projected to increase,while Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest rate of informal settlements due his rapid urbanization.The urban informal settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa house everyday health risks.These risks have considerable cumulative impacts on the wellbeing and health of the urban vulnerable group.Despite the public health consequences of urbanization and the increase of informal settlements number in African cities,there is a paucity in data about the risks at small scale and the vulnerability in poor urban areas.Through the database search engine of MEDLINE,WHO Library and Information Networks for Knowledge and website of Urban Africa Risk Knowledge;from information of the existing literature,this paper tried to analyse the everyday health risks,and vulnerabilities in urban informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa region.A search combining keywords associated with health risks and informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa were used to identify the relevant documents,and this search yielded 86 articles,of which 15 met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis.The risks of communicable diseases due to inadequate sanitation have been the most frequent subjects of study.Informal settlers in Sub-Saharan Africa face everyday health risks arising from lack of clean water,adequate sanitation,and life in overcrowding houses.Consequently,there is a burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases,undernourishment and injuries.The most vulnerable group is children under five with a high rate of mortality.Everyday health risks in urban informal settlements must be taken into account for a better understanding of the full spectrum of urban risks.This is essential in the establishment of efficient public health policies and intervention in urban areas.

Pre-fire aboveground biomass, estimated from LiDAR, spectral and field inventory data, as a major driver of burn severity in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) ecosystems

Background:The characterization of surface and canopy fuel loadings in fire-prone pine ecosystems is critical for understanding fire behavior and anticipating the most harmful ecological effects of fire.Nevertheless,the joint consideration of both overstory and understory strata in burn severity assessments is often dismissed.The aim of this work was to assess the role of total,overstory and understory pre-fire aboveground biomass(AGB),estimated by means of airborne Light Detection and Ranging(LiDAR)and Landsat data,as drivers of burn severity in a megafire occurred in a pine ecosystem dominated by Pinus pinaster Ait.in the western Mediterranean Basin.Results:Total and overstory AGB were more accurately estimated(R^(2) equal to 0.72 and 0.68,respectively)from LiDAR and spectral data than understory AGB(R^(2)=0.26).Density and height percentile LiDAR metrics for several strata were found to be important predictors of AGB.Burn severity responded markedly and non-linearly to total(R^(2)=0.60)and overstory(R ^(2)=0.53)AGB,whereas the relationship with understory AGB was weaker(R ^(2)=0.21).Nevertheless,the overstory plus understory AGB contribution led to the highest ability to predict burn severity(RMSE=122.46 in dNBR scale),instead of the joint consideration as total AGB(RMSE=158.41).Conclusions:This study novelty evaluated the potential of pre-fire AGB,as a vegetation biophysical property derived from LiDAR,spectral and field plot inventory data,for predicting burn severity,separating the contri-bution of the fuel loads in the understory and overstory strata in Pinus pinaster stands.The evidenced relationships between burn severity and pre-fire AGB distribution in Pinus pinaster stands would allow the implementation of threshold criteria to support decision making in fuel treatments designed to minimize crown fire hazard.