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In this paper a necessary and sufficient condition for hyperbolicity of the indefinite numerical range is established. As a consequence, an indefinite version of Brown–Spitkovsky theorem stating the ellipticity of the numerical range of certain tridiagonal matrices is revisited. This result leads to necessary and sufficient conditions for hyperbolicity of indefinite numerical ranges of new classes of tridiagonal matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal impact of self-efficacy to cope with cancer on the cancer-related coping reactions of breast cancer patients and vice versa. Data from the BOUNCE Project () were used to address the hypotheses. Participants (N = 403) were enrolled in the study a few weeks after surgery or biopsy. Coping self-efficacy was assessed at baseline and six months later (M6). Cancer-related coping was assessed three (M3) and nine months (M9) after baseline. The analyses were performed using structural equation modeling with Mplus 8.6. Baseline coping self-efficacy predicted all M3 coping reactions, while M6 coping self-efficacy also predicted changes in all but one M9 coping reaction. Moreover, one of the M3 coping reactions, that is, hopelessness/helplessness, predicted the changes in M6 coping self-efficacy. The relation between coping self-efficacy and one coping reaction (i.e. cognitive avoidance) was rather weak. Stability paths from M3 to M9 coping reactions were moderate to high. The relationship between self-efficacy to cope with cancer and cancer-related coping is complex. New theoretical models are needed to more accurately describe the diverse aspects of this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of abuse against Portuguese older people after an economic crisis and to assess how it has influenced health. A cross-sectional study was carried out including 677 older adults (≥60 years) during 2017. Results show that overall, 23.9% of older people reported being a victim of abuse in the last 12 months. The prevalence of psychological abuse was 19.9%, financial abuse 5.8%, physical abuse 2.5% and sexual abuse 1.9%. Older people who report abuse were more likely to have perceived insufficient income and low social support. The abuse was also significantly associated with poor health status and depressive symptoms. Even in an auspicious period, more than a fifth of older people experiences abuse which is associated with social and health vulnerabilities. These results support that an investment should be made in terms of policies toward an age-friendly environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To systematically review the existing scientific evidence regarding the effects of physical exercise on the fitness level of people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Following the checklist of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols, the PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus databases were searched using specific keywords up to January 2018. The methodological quality of the studies found was rated by the means of specific scales according to their specific design. Results: A total of 44 studies were selected. The majority of the included studies were randomized controlled trials (n = 17), followed by non-controlled studies (n = 11), non-randomized controlled trials (n = 10), and comparative studies (n = 6). Aerobic, strengthening, and combined exercise programs were the most frequently proposed interventions. Exercise showed to have significant effects on the cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. Not all the selected studies reported improvements in parameters related to body composition. Conclusions: There is sufficient scientific evidence for the beneficial effects of exercise on the cardiovascular and muscular fitness of adults with mild/moderate ID. There is a need for more studies focused on the impact of physical exercise on the body composition of this population, and those that aim at identifying the impact of alternative interventions. There is a need for basic guidelines that can help rehabilitation professionals to prescribe exercise for maintaining and improving physical fitness in the adults with intellectual disabilities. In adults with intellectual disabilities, aerobic exercise has beneficial effects on cardiovascular and muscular fitness, flexibility, and range of motion. No firm conclusion can be made regarding the effects of aerobic, muscular, and combined training programs on the body composition of adults with intellectual disabilities. Rehabilitation professionals should be aware that scientific evidence regarding the prescription of alternative exercise protocols in adults with intellectual disabilities (i.e. dancing, water-based exercise, animal therapy, etc) is scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The main objective was to identify the test-retest reliability of the Wii Balance Board (WBB) for assessing standing balance when administered to a population of people with intellectual disability (ID). A secondary objective was to provide information regarding the reliability of the WBB, taking into account the severity of cognitive impairment. Methods: The WBB was administered two times to a group of 50 people (mean age: 20.44 ± 5.73 years) with mild (n=32), moderate (n=6), or severe ID (n=12) within a 15-day period. The relative reliability of the WBB for the 'standing balance with open eyes' test was analyzed by means of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The standard error measurement and the minimum detectable change were used to identify absolute reliability. Results: For the whole sample, the WBB showed a fair (ICC=0.71), poor (ICC=0.66), and excellent (ICC=0.99) relative reliability for assessing weight-bearing asymmetry, center of pressure, path length, and sway area, respectively. In people with moderate/severe ID, statistically significant differences between the WBB test and retest scores were found. The absolute reliability of the WBB was considered poor. Conclusion: The WBB showed accurate adequate test-retest reliability for assessing standing balance in young people with ID. When using this device with people with moderate/severe ID, it is advisable to perform several testing trials, in order to avoid a possible learning effect. Standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were high, indicating that this device might not be sensitive enough to properly identify static balance changes in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to improve electrochromic properties of niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) there were synthesized new, doped with lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate salt (LiCF3SO3), and vanadium pentoxide (Nb2O5:Li+:V2O5) thin films. A study of these films focused on influence of doping on the electrochromic performance of these films. It was observed that Nb2O5:Li+:V2O5presents a reversible and fast insertion/extraction kinetics. A maximum charge density for three layers' film was −36.0 mC cm−2, and it corresponded to spectral transmission change of ΔT = 66%, i.e., variation from 80 to 20% from transparent to colored states. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study is to present a detailed continuum mechanics formulation, and the corresponding algorithms, to predict the deformation of skeletal muscle at different structural levels, starting from the muscle fiber level. The model is used to investigate force production and structural changes during isometric and dynamic contractions of the cat medial gastrocnemius. From a comparison with experimental data obtained in our own laboratories, we conclude that the model faithfully predicts all of the observations pertaining to force production, fascicle length and angle of pennation under various test conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Methods Results Conclusion This study aimed to examine whether self-efficacy to cope with cancer changes over time in patients with breast cancer and whether these potential changes are similar across patients. It also aimed to examine whether these trajectories are related to patient psychological well-being and overall quality of life.Participants (N = 404) from four countries (i.e. Finland, Israel, Italy, and Portugal) were enrolled in the study few weeks after breast surgery or biopsy. Self-efficacy to cope with cancer was assessed at baseline, six and 12 months later. Well-being indices were assessed at baseline, 12 and 18 months later.Using Latent Class Growth Analysis, two groups of patients were identified. The majority of patients reported high levels of self-efficacy to cope, which increased over time. For almost 15% of the patients, however, self-efficacy declined over time. Diminishing levels of self-efficacy to cope predicted worse levels of well-being. The pattern of self-efficacy changes and their relationships to well-being was consistent across countries.Monitoring self-efficacy to cope with cancer is probably important in order to detect alarming changes in its levels, as a declining self-efficacy to cope may serve as a signal of the need for intervention to prevent adaptation difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]