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Introduction and Hypothesis: This manuscript is a part of the International Urogynecology Consultation (IUC) on pelvic organ prolapse (POP) chapter three, committee three, on the impact of lifestyle modifications (i.e., weight loss, treatment of constipation, activity restriction, etc.) on the prevention and treatment of POP. Materials and Methods: An international group containing ten female pelvic medicine specialists and one university-based medical librarian performed a systematic search of the literature in Medline using the MeSH terms: pelvic organ prolapse (ID: D056887), cystocele (ID: D052858), uterine prolapse (ID: D014596), rectocele (ID: D020047), and women (ID: D014930) to identify studies addressing lifestyle modifications as prevention or treatment for POP on 10/18/21. Relevant studies were included in this review. Results: A total of 18,483 studies were identified in the initial literature search; 187 full-text articles were deemed pertinent and independently reviewed and double-screened by ten reviewers. After full-text review, information from 86 articles was included in this review. Conclusion: Women may consider various lifestyle modifications to help prevent and treat POP, even if it is challenging to quantify the efficacy of these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) is a critically endangered, large migratory fish that serves as a vital indicator of ecological status of marine and river environments. Conservation efforts for Chinese sturgeon primarily focus on freshwater rearing, potentially leading to smaller adult sizes and higher disease incidence due to limited exposure to marine environments. Thus, it is imperative to study the behavioural characteristics and marine life history of artificially reared populations in seawater environments. In this study, acoustic telemetry technology was employed to investigate the behaviour of the Chinese sturgeon. We deployed an acoustic array at a nearshore-fenced marine farm on Bailong Island and conducted a one-year (December 2020–December 2021) tracking of ten acoustic-tagged fish, comprising five adults and five juveniles. We generated distribution heat maps and analysed displacement during typhoons and tidal events to differentiate activity levels. Annual distribution revealed areas of distinct increased density, with adults displaying a denser distribution compared to the more scattered pattern observed in juveniles. Rhythmic behaviour in response to tidal cycles was observed. During typhoon periods, individuals exhibited reduced activity levels but increased concentration, with no significant diurnal behavioral variations. These age-specific and environmentally responsive habitat preferences provide valuable supplementary insights into the species' life history and potential conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chickens raised commercially for meat production (known as broilers) have been intensively selected for greater muscle production and rapid growth, with growth increasing by over 400% from 1957 to 2005. However, animal welfare concerns regarding such rapid growth have been rising, and a transition to the raising of slower-growing chickens has been suggested as a potential solution. The aim of this review was to assess the existing scientific knowledge on the effect of growth rate on broiler chicken welfare. Overall, results from this review found that chickens with faster growth rates had increased prevalence of leg disorders, poorer ability to walk and perform various behaviors, increased prevalence of leg, skin, and cardiovascular disorders, increased susceptibility to heat stress, and higher mortality rates than chickens with slower growth rates. Therefore, it can be concluded that reductions in growth rate can lead to improvements in animal welfare. Selection for the more efficient production of broilers has resulted in rapid growth rates. The aim was to review the existing knowledge on the effect of growth rate on broiler welfare. Genotypes with faster growth rates consistently demonstrate poorer gait scores and increased prevalence of disorders affecting their legs than slower-growing genotypes. Reduced mobility places faster-growing broilers at an increased risk of developing contact dermatitis, as they spend increased durations sitting in contact with litter. Poor walking ability, heavy body weights, and conformational differences such as proportionally larger breast muscle in genotypes with faster growth can impact a bird's ability to walk and navigate the environment, making it difficult to access resources and express natural behaviors. Faster growth has also been associated with poor cardiovascular health, increased susceptibility to heat stress, increased prevalence of mortality, ascites, as well as multiple breast muscle myopathies. Feed restriction, a practice associated with hunger and frustration, may be used to control the growth of broiler breeders, with birds having higher growth potential typically experiencing higher restriction levels. Overall, there is strong evidence that fast growth rates negatively impact welfare, and that slower-growing genotypes show significantly improved welfare. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that even minor reductions in growth rate can lead to welfare improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two crucial resources (i.e., labor and equipment) of productivity in the construction industry. Productivity modeling of these resources would aid stakeholders in project management and improve construction scheduling and monitoring. Hence, this research aims to review machine learning (ML) applications in the process of construction productivity modeling (CPM) for construction labor productivity (CLP) and construction equipment productivity (CEP) from dataset acquisition to data analysis and evaluation, which includes their trends and applicability. An extensive analysis of 131 journals focused on the application of machine learning in construction productivity (ML-CP) from 1990 to 2024 via a mixed review methodology (bibliometric analysis and systematic review) was conducted. It can be concluded that despite the rise in automated dataset collection, the traditional method has its advantages. The review further found that the selection of ML models relies on each particular application, available data, and computational resources. Noticeably, artificial neural networks, convolutional neural networks, support vector machines, and even deep learning demonstrating have been adopted due to their effectiveness in different functionalities and processes in CPM. This study will supplement the insights gained in the review with a comprehensive understanding of how ML applications operate at each stage of CPM, enabling researchers to make future improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit varied responses to pharmacological treatments (e.g. stimulants and non‐stimulants). Accurately and promptly detecting treatment‐related improvements, response failure, or deterioration poses significant challenges, as current monitoring primarily relies on subjective ratings. In this commentary, we critically evaluate the evidence supporting the use of QbTest for objectively monitoring ADHD treatment response in clinical practice. We also offer recommendations for future research, advocating for rigorous clinical trials and longitudinal studies to further explore the potential utilisation of QbTest and other tools for monitoring treatment responses in individuals with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization in China, civil aviation plays an increasingly important role in the transportation industry. However, pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from civil aviation are becoming an increasingly concerning environmental problem. In order to mitigate the resulting environmental pollution, such as air quality deterioration, regional and global climate warming, and declining human health, more and more efforts have been devoted to reducing both pollutants and GHG emissions. Among these efforts, emissions inventories from civil aviation provide a basis for quantifying pollutants and GHG emissions, establishing evaluation standards of environmental impact, and formulating management policies for both air quality improvement and climate change mitigation. In this paper, we reviewed both compilation approaches and data collection methods for civil aviation emissions inventories, introduced several typical calculation methods for aviation emissions inventories, and analyzed specific cases of actual application based on typical methods of inventory compilation. We also described in detail the activity level and emission index calculation methods of several pollutants and greenhouse gases. Furthermore, based on the above research methods, four typical application cases were investigated, including a specific airport, the landing and takeoff (LTO) cycle of a nation, the entire period with the LTO cycle and the climb–cruise–descent (CCD) phase of a country, and global emissions inventories from civil aviation. The results suggest that, in addition to quantifying the emissions of both pollutants and GHG produced by civil aviation, the selection of inventory compilation methods is likely to be important for improving aviation emission inventory accuracy and for further reducing the environmental, economic, and health impacts resulting from aviation emissions. Moreover, this paper can also provide a reference and theoretical basis for the development of aviation emission inventory compilation methods in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between trunk control, upper and lower extremity function with functional activity, activities of daily living and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD). Materials and Methods: The study was completed with 52 PwPD. Trunk control was evaluated with the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS); upper extremity function with 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) bilaterally; lower extremity function with 30-Second Sit-To-Stand Test (30STS); functional activity level with The Parkinson Activity Scale (PAS); activities of daily living with Barthel Index (Bl); quality of life with The Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Results: 30STS and right-left 9-HPT results was correlated with PAS and PDQ-39, but not with Bl in PwPD. All TIS scores except the coordination sub-parameter were found to be associated with PAS, all TIS scores except the static sitting balance sub-parameter were found to be associated with Bl, and all TIS scores were found to be associated with PDQ-39 in PwPD (p between 0.293 and 0.689; p<0.05 for all). Conclusion: Physical activity level and quality of life were associated with upper and lower extremity function and trunk control, whereas activities of daily living were only associated with trunk control in PwPD. These results suggest that physiotherapy and rehabilitation applications that will improve trunk control in addition to limb functions should be included in treatment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Anterior knee pain (AKP) refers to chronic prepatellar pain and is one of the most common knee complaints in physically active women. This condition can significantly affect daily activities and overall quality of life. This study aims to assess the impact of pain, risk factors, and functional ability on different levels of physical activity (comparing low versus moderate activity) in women with AKP. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved fifty-six women diagnosed with AKP (aged 20–45 years) who were equally allocated into low and moderate physical activity groups. Their AKP and functional ability were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and double squats and step-down tests, respectively. Possible risk factors were assessed using the Q-angle, modified Thomas test, sit and reach test, and patellar glide test. A person's correlation coefficient and independent t-tests were used to determine the relationship and the differences between these variables while keeping the confidence interval level at 95%. Result: Women with moderate activity levels showed significantly higher scores on the VAS than those with low activity levels (p = 0.040). However, both groups had no significant difference in their functional ability or potential risk factors (p > 0.05). Additionally, their functional ability (double squat) showed a positive association with hamstring flexibility (Pearson correlation coefficient [r]:0.3; p = 0.006). Conclusions: Women with AKP who were engaged in moderate physical activity experienced higher levels of pain compared to those with low activity levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for further investigation into different levels of physical activity to develop appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for women with AKP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human exposure to natural radionuclides in the environment primarily occurs through ingestion of foodstuffs, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring of radionuclide levels in foodstuffs by ensuring consumer safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Using gamma spectrometry, this study investigates activity concentration levels of 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K, and associated radiological health risks, in 14 commonly available sugar brands in South Africa. The activity concentration levels of these natural radionuclides ranged from 2.01 ± 0.13 to 7.93 ± 0.34 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 2.90 ± 0.10 to 7.09 ± 0.32 Bq/kg for 228Ra, and 209.40 ± 4.79 to 453.20 ± 10.49 Bq/kg for 40K. The respective mean values were 3.83 ± 0.21, 2.90 ± 0.21, and 320.26 ± 7.41 Bq/kg, with brown sugar having lower values than with white sugar. Annual effective ingestion dose from intake of 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K, for infants (1–2 years), children (7–12 years), and adults (>17 years) ranged from 0.28 to 0.69, 0.32 to 0.82, and 0.12 to 0.30 mSv/year, respectively, and the respective mean values are 0.40 ± 0.11, 0.45 ± 0.14, and 0.17 ± 0.05 mSv/year. 228Ra contributed the largest proportion to ingestion dose (46–67%), indicating potential radiation risk to bones. Lifetime cancer risk ranged from 1.25 × 10−8 to 4.95 × 10−8 for 226Ra, 1.95 × 10−8 to 4.77 × 10−8 for 228Ra, and 5.53 × 10−7 to 1.19 × 10−6 for 40K, with a total mean of 8.96 × 10−7 ± 2.31 × 10−7. Total chronic daily intake due to 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K ranged from 0.26 to 0.56 with a mean of 0.39 ± 0.10 (mg/kg-day). The activity concentration levels of the natural radionuclides are within the reference value while annual effective ingestion dose and lifetime cancer risks were below international permissible limits. This indicates that sugar in South Africa is radiologically safe and does not pose significant radiological health risks. In this study, the measured activity levels are comparable to those reported in other similar studies. This baseline study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of radionuclide levels in foodstuffs, ensuring consumer safety, compliance with regulatory standards, and contributing to ongoing discussions on radiological health risks associated with dietary habits. Public health initiatives could consider offering guidelines for safe levels of consumables such as sugar, especially among vulnerable populations such as children.

Context: Professional athletes showed excellent results after hip preserving procedures. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the rate of return to activity and the rehabilitation time of recreational athletes. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate factors that were associated with an extended return-to-activity time in nonprofessional athletes. Design: Retrospective, quantitative case-control study. Methods: This study included 47 cases (45 nonprofessional athletes), which were divided according to return-to-activity time (short term: 0.0-7.0 mo vs long term: >7.0 mo). The clinical outcome were evaluated with the modified Harris hip score, the nonarthritic hip score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the University of California, Los Angeles activity score. For statistical analysis between both groups, an unpaired student t test and a paired Wilcoxon test were used. In addition, the sports behavior, intraoperative findings, and surgical procedures were also assessed. Results: After a mean follow-up of 4.3 years (±0.6; 3.4-5.6), the overall postoperative modified Harris hip score was 81.8 points, the nonarthritic hip score was 75.8 points, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was 36.7 points, and the University of California, Los Angeles activity score was 7.9. Compared with the preoperative results, all scores improved significantly (P < .001). Patients of the short-term return-to-activity group showed a higher preoperative activity diversity and, postoperatively, a higher rate in high-impact sports (P = .024). Conclusions: After mini-open arthrotomy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome treatment, 92.5% of the recreational athletes returned to sports activity. The findings did not detect factors influencing the return-to-activity time. However, a higher preoperative diversity of activities and a shift to high-level impact sport activities might support a shorter rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundRemote activity monitoring has the potential to evaluate real-world, motor function, and disability at home. The relationships of daily physical activity with spinal cord white matter and gray matter (GM) areas, multiple sclerosis (MS) disability and leg function, are unknown.ObjectiveEvaluate the association of structural central nervous system pathology with ambulatory disability.MethodsFifty adults with progressive or relapsing MS with motor disability who could walk >2 minutes were assessed using clinician-evaluated, patient-reported outcomes, and quantitative brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures. Fitbit Flex2, worn on the non-dominant wrist, remotely assessed activity over 30 days. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess correlations between physical activity and other disability metrics.ResultsMean age was 53.3 years and median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 4.0. Average daily step counts (STEPS) were highly correlated with EDSS and walking measures. Greater STEPS were significantly correlated with greater C2-C3 spinal cord GM areas (ρ = 0.39, p = 0.04), total cord area (TCA; ρ = 0.35, p = 0.04), and cortical GM volume (ρ = 0.32, p = 0.04).ConclusionThese results provide preliminary evidence that spinal cord GM area is a neuroanatomical substrate associated with STEPS. STEPS could serve as a proxy to alert clinicians and researchers to possible changes in structural nervous system pathology.

Preterm born individuals have an increased risk for mental health problems. Participation in club sport is associated with better mental health but the causal direction is unclear. It is not known whether this association could also be found in preterm children. Data from term born (N = 10,368), late preterm (N = 630), and very to moderately preterm born (N = 243) children from the Millennium Cohort Study at the ages of 3, 5, 7, 11, and 14 years were used. Longitudinal associations between the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and club sport participation (days per week) were analysed using multigroup structural equation modelling, adjusting for gender, maternal depression, parental education; motor problems and attrition were controlled for. Multi-group structural equation modelling showed that children with more peer relationship problems, emotional symptoms, conduct problems or hyperactivity-inattention were less likely to participate in club sport at subsequent assessment time points. More days with club sport participation was associated with lower levels of emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems but not conduct problems or hyperactivity-inattention at subsequent ages. Results were similar in all gestational age groups. Club sport participation predicts lower levels of peer relationship and emotional problems in subsequent waves while it is also predicted by lower levels of emotional problems, peer relationship problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity-inattention in preceding waves. Since no differences in the relationship between SDQ subscales and club sport participation were seen with regard to gestational age groups, club sport should be encouraged in all children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-hand housing transactions constitute a significant segment of the real estate market and are vital for its robust development. The dynamics of these transactions mirror the housing preferences of buyers, and their spatial and temporal analysis elucidates evolving market patterns and buyer behavior. This study introduces an innovative grid density clustering algorithm, dubbed the RScan algorithm, which integrates Bayesian optimization with grid density techniques. This composite methodology is employed to assess clustering outcomes, optimize hyperparameters, and facilitate detailed visualization and analysis of transaction activity across various regions. Focusing on Shenyang, a major urban center in Northeast China, the research spans from 2018 to 2023, exploring the second-hand housing transaction activity and its spatio-temporal attributes. The results reveal temporal fluctuations in transaction intensity across different Shenyang regions, although core areas of high activity remain constant. These regions display a heterogeneous pattern of irregularly stepped and clustered distributions, with a notable absence of uniformly high-activity zones. This study pioneers a novel methodological framework for investigating second-hand housing transactions, offering crucial insights for market development and policy formulation in Shenyang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ant colonies are often considered to be highly efficient societies skilled at cooperating and sharing workload among workers. Yet, several studies have revealed low colony activity levels and a subgroup of specialized inactive individuals, raising questions about their role. This study investigates whether these inactive ants differ in their sensitivity to environmental cues compared to other worker groups. We monitored the behavior of individually tagged workers from Myrmica rubra ant colonies, categorizing them as foragers, nurses, domestics, or inactives. Approximately one-third of the workers exhibited high levels of inactivity, forming a distinct group that remains stable over several days. Subsequently, individual tests were conducted on these ants to compare their responses to intranidal or extranidal location cues, and to task-related stimuli such as larvae or prey. In individual tests, foragers displayed distinct responses compared to internal workers. They exhibited greater responsiveness to prey, but were less inclined to care for larvae, stay in colony-marked or shaded areas, or approach nestmates. Among internal workers, except for the inactive ants, responses to various stimuli did not significantly differ. Notably, inactives had a stronger attraction to colony odor and were more likely to carry larvae when compared to foragers. Our results suggest that the inactivity of some individuals is not due to a lack of sensitivity to surrounding stimuli. Furthermore, their high propensity to interact with larvae supports the hypothesis of a "reserve caste" function, where these workers become active during periods of increased colony workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesive tape is a common piece of evidence that can contain a myriad of traces. Due to its adhesive properties, adhesive tape can potentially collect traces unrelated to the crime or relocate crime-relevant traces. This secondary transfer of traces can have crucial implications for the evaluation at the activity level. Therefore, this study investigated the secondary transfer of DNA between layers of adhesive tape and tape and other case- and laboratory-relevant substrates. A drop of diluted blood was deposited on different primary substrates (i.e. duct tape, metal, plastic, textile, nitrile gloves). Subsequently, the primary substrate was brought into contact with a secondary substrate, and DNA was collected from both surfaces to measure transfer rates. The highest transfer rates were detected between the adhesive side of the tape and plastic, whereas the lowest transfer rates were detected between the adhesive side and textile. It was shown that the adhesive readily collects DNA from plastic and nitrile gloves commonly used in the laboratory, which highlights the importance of working with DNA-free materials. Therefore, this study demonstrated the need for caution when interpreting traces on adhesive tapes, always taking possible situations of secondary transfer into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the pollution emission of freight diesel motor vehicles in logistics parks, the article selected three logistics parks A, B and C in Dongxihu District of Wuhan City as the research object, analyzed the activity level of diesel motor vehicles based on the on-site survey and the data obtained from Wuhan Motor Vehicle Supervisory Platform, and carried out the field monitoring of NOx and PM2.5 in the entrance and exit sections of the logistics parks. The results show that the trucks entering and leaving the logistics park are mainly heavy-duty diesel vehicles, accounting for over 78.1%; the proportion of diesel motor vehicles of National + National emission standard types is more than 50%, but there are still a small number of diesel motor vehicles of National standard. The activity level of diesel motor vehicles in each logistics park has no direct correlation with the area of the logistics park, and the changes in traffic flow on weekdays and non-weekdays show different trends from the traffic volume on urban roads. The total emissions of NOx, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and HC from the three logistics parks during August were 36.958 tons, 0.529 tons, 0.586 tons, 16.588 tons, and 1.157 tons, respectively, and the monitored concentrations of NO2 and PM2.5 at the cross-sections into and out of the logistics parks in August and November were 1.24-2.41 times higher than those of the neighboring street air-quality monitoring stations, and 2.70-2.82 times higher than that of the neighboring -street air-quality monitoring stations, respectively, which shows that diesel motor vehicle exhaust emissions from the Logistics Park have a considerable impact on the quality of the air environ ment in the neighboring areas, and the type of diesel motor vehicle structure in the Logistics Park is also associated with the green transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundHeightened motor activity is a hallmark of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet high activity levels are also often reported in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is currently unclear whether increased motor activity represents a distinct versus shared early predictor of ASD and ADHD; no prior studies have directly examined this prospectively. We investigated differences in longitudinal patterns of objectively measured motor activity during early development.MethodsParticipants included 113 infants at high and low risk for ASD or ADHD. Continuous motion-based activity was recorded using tri-axial accelerometers at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age. At 36 months, participants were categorized into one of three outcome groups: ASD (n = 19), ADHD Concerns (n = 17), and Typically Developing (TD; n = 77). Group differences in trajectories of motor activity were examined in structured and semistructured contexts. Associations with behaviors relevant to ASD, ADHD, and general development were also examined.ResultsIn both structured and semistructured contexts, both the ASD and ADHD Concerns groups exhibited heightened activity relative to the TD group by 18 months; the ASD group exhibited higher activity than the ADHD Concerns group at 24-36 months in the structured context only. Attention/behavior regulation, nonverbal, and verbal development-but not social engagement-were differentially associated with objectively measured activity by outcome group across contexts.ConclusionsOveractivity may be a shared, rather than distinct, precursor of atypical development in infants/toddlers developing ASD and concerns for ADHD, emerging as early as 18 months. Group differences in overactivity may be context-specific and associated with different underlying mechanisms.

There are two crucial resources (i.e., labor and equipment) of productivity in the construction industry. Productivity modeling of these resources would aid stakeholders in project management and improve construction scheduling and monitoring. Hence, this research aims to review machine learning (ML) applications in the process of construction productivity modeling (CPM) for construction labor productivity (CLP) and construction equipment productivity (CEP) from dataset acquisition to data analysis and evaluation, which includes their trends and applicability. An extensive analysis of 131 journals focused on the application of machine learning in construction productivity (ML-CP) from 1990 to 2024 via a mixed review methodology (bibliometric analysis and systematic review) was conducted. It can be concluded that despite the rise in automated dataset collection, the traditional method has its advantages. The review further found that the selection of ML models relies on each particular application, available data, and computational resources. Noticeably, artificial neural networks, convolutional neural networks, support vector machines, and even deep learning demonstrating have been adopted due to their effectiveness in different functionalities and processes in CPM. This study will supplement the insights gained in the review with a comprehensive understanding of how ML applications operate at each stage of CPM, enabling researchers to make future improvements.

Background and Objectives: Anterior knee pain (AKP) refers to chronic prepatellar pain and is one of the most common knee complaints in physically active women. This condition can significantly affect daily activities and overall quality of life. This study aims to assess the impact of pain, risk factors, and functional ability on different levels of physical activity (comparing low versus moderate activity) in women with AKP. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved fifty-six women diagnosed with AKP (aged 20–45 years) who were equally allocated into low and moderate physical activity groups. Their AKP and functional ability were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and double squats and step-down tests, respectively. Possible risk factors were assessed using the Q-angle, modified Thomas test, sit and reach test, and patellar glide test. A person’s correlation coefficient and independent t-tests were used to determine the relationship and the differences between these variables while keeping the confidence interval level at 95%. Result: Women with moderate activity levels showed significantly higher scores on the VAS than those with low activity levels (p = 0.040). However, both groups had no significant difference in their functional ability or potential risk factors (p > 0.05). Additionally, their functional ability (double squat) showed a positive association with hamstring flexibility (Pearson correlation coefficient [r]:0.3; p = 0.006). Conclusions: Women with AKP who were engaged in moderate physical activity experienced higher levels of pain compared to those with low activity levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for further investigation into different levels of physical activity to develop appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for women with AKP.

BackgroundAmbulatory disability is common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Remote monitoring using average daily step count (STEPS) can assess physical activity (activity) and disability in MS. STEPS correlates with conventional metrics such as the expanded disability status scale (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS), Timed-25 Foot walk (T25FW) and timed up and go (TUG). However, while STEPS as a summative measure characterizes the number of steps taken over a day, it does not reflect variability and intensity of activity.ObjectivesNovel analytical methods were developed to describe how individuals spends time in various activity levels (e.g., continuous low versus short bouts of high) and the proportion of time spent at each activity level.Methods94 people with MS spanning the range of ambulatory impairment (unaffected to requiring bilateral assistance) were recruited into FITriMS study and asked to wear a Fitbit continuously for 1-year. Parametric distributions were fit to minute-by-minute step data. Adjusted R2 values for regressions between distributional fit parameters and STEPS with EDSS, TUG, T25FW and the patient-reported 12-item MS Walking scale (MSWS-12) were calculated over the first 4-weeks, adjusting for sex, age and disease duration.ResultsDistributional fits determined that the best statistically-valid model across all subjects was a 3-compartment Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) that characterizes the step behavior within 3 levels of activity: high, moderate and low. The correlation of GMM parameters for baseline step count measures with clinical assessments was improved when compared with STEPS (adjusted R2 values GMM vs. STEPS: TUG: 0.536 vs. 0.419, T25FW: 0.489 vs. 0.402, MSWS-12: 0.383 vs. 0.378, EDSS: 0.557 vs. 0.465). The GMM correlated more strongly (Kruskal-Wallis: p = 0.0001) than STEPS and gave further information not included in STEPS.ConclusionsIndividuals' step distributions follow a 3-compartment GMM that better correlates with clinic-based performance measures compared with STEPS. These data support the existence of high-moderate-low levels of activity. GMM provides an interpretable framework to better understand the association between different levels of activity and clinical metrics and allows further analysis of walking behavior that takes step distribution and proportion of time at three levels of intensity into account.

Stroke is a major health issue in the category of non communicable diseases, placing a significant burden on developed and developing countries in terms of long-term and specialised care. In today’s era, controlling the highly prevalent non communicable diseases is a primary focus, with preventive strategies taking precedence over treatment strategies. Physical inactivity is one of the contributing factors to stroke, highlighting the immense significance of physical activity for stroke survivors. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and understand the positive effects of physical activity in preventing and managing stroke. This narrative review aims to explore and summarise the beneficial effects of physical activity in stroke prevention and management. By narrating these benefits, we hope to encourage stroke survivors to engage in sufficient physical activity to maximise their advantages.

To determine the effects of ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) on step-based physical activities in individuals with neurological, orthopaedic, or cardiovascular disorders. Electronic searches of databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO were conducted. Two evaluators independently searched with keywords focusing on step-based physical activities, and either articulated or non-articulated AFO. Study quality was assessed using a modified Downs and Black quality scale. Eleven studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected, including four being classified as good, four as fair, and three as poor in quality. The majority of these trials found no significant effects of AFO on step activities. Only a few studies reported improvements in step counts and active times in step activity with a limited to moderate level of evidence. Subjective evaluations such as user satisfaction, and physical functionality during step activity, on the other hand, showed substantial changes with the use of AFO interventions, although there was no evidence of improvement in the quality of life. Although the AFO did not seem to have a substantial effect on step activity, it appeared to play a vital role in improving the patient satisfaction level of step activity. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) may not significantly affect the step activity of individuals with impaired ankle-foot complex. AFO may enhance patient-reported satisfaction, physical functioning, participation, and fatigue level during step activity. The patient's perception that the AFO is beneficial is in contrast to objective data showing no significant increase in real-world activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we investigated the enduring impacts of perch provision timing on the musculoskeletal health of laying hens. A total of 810 pullets experienced different housing conditions: continuous access to multi-tier perches from 0 to 40 weeks (CP), no perch access (NP), early access during the rearing phase from 0 to 17 weeks (EP), or solely during the laying phase from 17 to 40 weeks (LP). Monitoring from week 24 to 40 included individual activity levels, blood sample collection for bone demineralization markers, and euthanasia for computed tomography scans at 40 weeks. Results showed that hens with continuous perch access demonstrated higher overall activity at 24 weeks and improved musculoskeletal health at 40 weeks compared to those with no access. Late perch access also positively affected activity, muscle deposition, and bone strength. Conversely, early access did not yield long-term impacts on activity or musculoskeletal health except for intermediate responses in bone demineralization. These findings highlight the importance of timing in perch provision, emphasizing that continuous or late access enhances the well-being and musculoskeletal health of laying hens in comparison to no access at all. Early access to perches did not have a long-term beneficial effect on the activity or musculoskeletal health of laying hens. The study suggests that optimizing perch exposure timing can contribute to sustained improvements in the physical condition of laying hens throughout their reproductive lifespan. Laying hens can experience a progressive increase in bone fragility due to the ongoing mobilization of calcium from bones for eggshell formation. Over time, this escalates their susceptibility to bone fracture, which can reduce their mobility and cause pain. The provision of perches as an exercise opportunity could potentially enhance bone strength, but the timing of exposure to perches during the birds' development may modulate its impact. The objective of this study was to investigate the enduring impacts of perch provision timing on the musculoskeletal health of laying hens. A total of 812 pullets were kept in different housing conditions (seven pens/treatment, 29 birds/pen) with either continuous access to multi-tier perches from 0 to 40 weeks of age (CP), no access to perches (NP), early access to perches during the rearing phase from 0 to 17 weeks of age (EP), or solely during the laying phase from 17 to 40 weeks of age (LP). At weeks 24, 36, and 40 of age (n = 84 birds/week), three birds per pen were monitored for individual activity level, and blood samples were collected from a separate set of three birds per pen to analyze serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) as markers of bone demineralization. At 40 weeks of age, three birds per pen (n = 84) were euthanized for computed tomography scans to obtain tibial bone mineral density (BMD) and cross-sectional area (CSA) with further analysis including muscle deposition, tibial breaking strength, and tibial ash percent. During week 24, hens from CP, EP, and LP pens had the highest overall activity compared to hens from NP pens (p < 0.05) with no differences between treatments for overall activity level during weeks 36 or 40 (p > 0.05). During weeks 24, 36, and 40, hens from CP and LP pens showed greater vertical and less horizontal activity compared to hens from EP and NP pens (p < 0.05). TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations did not differ between treatments at week 24 of age (p > 0.05). Hens from CP pens had the lowest TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations at 36 weeks of age with EP and LP hens showing intermediate responses and NP hens having the highest concentration (p < 0.05). At 40 weeks of age, CP hens had the lowest TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations compared to NP hens (p < 0.05). Total bone CSA did not differ between treatments (p > 0.05), but CP had greater total BMD than NP (p < 0.05) with no differences between EP and LP treatments. CP and LP hens had larger biceps brachii, pectoralis major, and leg muscle groups as well as greater tibial breaking strengths than EP and NP treatments (p < 0.05). CP hens had higher tibial ash percentages compared to EP, LP, and NP (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that providing continuous perch access improves the musculoskeletal health and activity of laying hens at 40 weeks of age compared to no access and that late access to perches has a beneficial impact on activity, muscle deposition, and bone strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Research on the association between activity levels and sedentary behaviour with frailty in patients affected by hepatitis B cirrhosis is sparse. This study aimed to explore the association of frailty with activity levels and sedentary behaviours in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. Design: This cross‐sectional study followed the STROBE checklist. Methods: This study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, between August 2021 and October 2022. The frailty condition of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis was assessed using the liver frailty index (LFI). Their physical activity levels and sedentary time were assessed using the International Questionnaire of Physical Activity. Pearson correlation and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results: Among the 503 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis in the final analysis, 107 (21.3%) were identified as frail. Frailty was negatively correlated with walking time (r = −0.174, p < 0.001), moderate‐intensity activity time (r = −0.185, p < 0.001), high‐intensity activity time (r = −0.243, p < 0.001) and total activity time (r = −0.256, p < 0.001). Patients with insufficient activity (<150 min/week) and sedentary behaviour (≥420 min/day) were found to have 2.829 times higher risk of frailty than those with sufficient activity (≥150 min/week) and no sedentary behaviour (<420 min/day) (95% CI: 1.380, 5.799). Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis who exhibited frailty demonstrated limited physical activity and engaged in sedentary behaviours. No patient or public contribution: Patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis contributed their data to the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted to change the nutritional choices of healthcare professionals according to body image, healthy orthorexia and physical activity. Methods: This study was conducted in a private hospital between December 2022 and February 2023 with 95 female and 42 male healthcare professionals who agreed to participate in the research. A face-to-face survey form was used for healthcare workers and general information, information on health and nutritional status, anthropometric measurements (height (cm), body weight ((kg)), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34), Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) were collected, Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: The average BMI of healthcare workers is within the normal range (24.8±4.43kg/m2). There was a significant difference between genders in terms of body shape dissatisfaction, and it was found that women were more likely than men (p<0.05). While the average BSQ-34 score of obese people is highest, the average decreases as the BMI level decreases. There is a significant relationship between gender and BMI in those who do not have body shape dissatisfaction and those who have mild dissatisfaction (p<0.05). There is a significant difference between genders in terms of mood, fitness and body weight control factors in food selection, and the average for women is higher than for men (p<0.05). As body shape dissatisfaction increases, the average mood factor in food selection increases. Age positively affects healthy orthorexia (p<0.05, ß=0.269). The level of body shape dissatisfaction positively affects orthorexia nervosa (ß=0.409, p<0.05). In the case of healthy orthorexia, there is a significant positive relationship between food choice and health (ß=0.326, p<0.05), and a negative relationship between the sensory attractiveness factor (ß=-0.248, p<0.05). In the case of orthorexia nervosa, emotional state is positive (ß=0.260, p<0.05), sensory appeal is negative (ß=-0.426, p<0.05), natural content is negative (ß=-0.267, p<0.05) and body weight control in food selection. There is a positive relationship (ß=0.291, p<0.05). It was found that 44.2% of women and 45.2% of men were inactive. Conclusion: It has been determined that women’s body shape dissatisfaction, emotional state, fitness, and body weight control factors that they pay attention to in food selection have a greater impact than men, and body shape dissatisfaction affects food choice. It has been found that food choice affects healthy orthorexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Refrigeration is the property of Journal of Refrigeration Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective When considering surgical treatment options, many patients who undergo hip arthroscopy value continuing active lifestyles. To address these concerns, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative activity level on postoperative patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) in femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) patients following hip arthroscopy. Methods Data was retrospectively reviewed for FAIS patients who received hip arthroscopy between 2016 and 2018. Patients were divided into active group and inactive group based on preoperative HOS‐SSS scores. Preoperative active patients were 1:1 propensity‐score matched to inactive patients based on age, sex, BMI, and follow‐up period. PROs (HOS‐ADL, HOS‐ADL, iHOT‐12, mHHS), VAS scores, radiographic measures, performed procedures, complications, and revision surgery were compared and analyzed for both groups by Student's t test. Results A total of 71 patients in the active group and 71 patients in the inactive group were found using propensity‐score matching. Active patients had superior preoperative HOS‐ADL, HOS‐SSS, iHOT‐12, mHHS (p

Abstract Background and Aims Research on the association between activity levels and sedentary behaviour with frailty in patients affected by hepatitis B cirrhosis is sparse. This study aimed to explore the association of frailty with activity levels and sedentary behaviours in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. Design This cross‐sectional study followed the STROBE checklist. Methods This study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, between August 2021 and October 2022. The frailty condition of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis was assessed using the liver frailty index (LFI). Their physical activity levels and sedentary time were assessed using the International Questionnaire of Physical Activity. Pearson correlation and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results Among the 503 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis in the final analysis, 107 (21.3%) were identified as frail. Frailty was negatively correlated with walking time (r = −0.174, p

Most of the forensic evidence evaluations given activity level propositions are centered around an item which is assumed to be linked to an alleged activity. However, the relation between an item of interest and an activity may be contested. This study presents a template Bayesian network (BN) for the evaluation of transfer evidence given activity level propositions considering a dispute about the relation of an item to one or more activities. The template BN includes a set of association propositions that enables the combined evaluation of evidence concerning alleged activities of the suspect and evidence concerning the use of an alleged item in those activities. Since the two types of evidence are often from different forensic disciplines, the BN is especially useful in interdisciplinary casework. Throughout the paper, we use a fictive case example that captures the essence of cases for which the template model can be used. The template BN provides a flexible starting point that can be adapted to specific case situations and supports structured probabilistic reasoning by a forensic scientist.

Background: Plantar keratoderma is a common finding in pachyonychia congenita, significantly impairing ambulation and quality of life. Due to the variation of pain reporting in pachyonychia congenita clinical studies, it is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of treatment outcomes for painful plantar keratodermas. Objectives: To objectively analyse associations between plantar pain and activity levels in pachyonychia congenita patients using a wristband tracker. Methods: Pachyonychia congenita patients and matched normal controls wore wristband activity trackers and completed a daily digital survey to record their highest and total pain scores (0-10 scale) each day for 28 consecutive days during four different seasons. Results: Twenty four participants (12 pachyonychia congenita patients and 12 matched normal controls) completed the study. Pachyonychia congenita patients walked 1801.30 fewer steps/day (95% CI, -3666.4, 64.1) than normal controls (P = 0.072) and had greater average total [5.26; SD, 2.10] and highest (6.92; SD, 2.35) daily pain than normal controls [0.11 (SD, 0.47), 0.30 (SD, 0.22), respectively] (P < 0.001, both). On average, for each one unit increase in daily highest pain level, pachyonychia congenita activity decreased 71.54 steps/day (SE, 38.90, P = 0.066). Limitations: The study had a small number of participants, limiting statistical power. Only pachyonychia congenita patients, ages 18 years or older, with keratin 6a, keratin 16, and keratin 17 mutations were included, limiting generalizability. Conclusion: Pachyonychia congenita patients were less active with significantly higher pain than normal controls. There was an inverse correlation between pain and activity. Our findings suggest that wristband tracker technology may be used to evaluate treatment efficacy in future trials on severe plantar pain; therapeutic interventions that decrease plantar pain should correlate with significant increases in activity using wristband trackers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One factor influencing the management of distal radius fractures is the functional status of the patient. The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between patient and surgeon assessments of patient activity level in patients sustaining a distal radius fracture. Ninety-seven patients were included, with a mean age of 58.5 years (range, 18–92 years). Patients completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, a validated survey that provides a score of low, moderate, or high activity levels. Treating surgeons provided an independent assessment using the same scale. Agreement between patient and surgeon assessments was evaluated using a weighted kappa-statistic, with a secondary analysis using logistic regression models to assess odds of surgical treatment. Interrater agreement between surgeons and patients demonstrated only "fair" agreement, with a kappa-statistic of 0.33. Predictive models showed that surgeons accurately identified 73% of "high activity" patients but failed to correctly identify more than 41% of patients rated as "moderate activity" or "low activity." There was a correlation between surgical intervention and increasing physical activity status as assessed by the surgeon; however, the magnitude of this effect was unclear (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–4.30). This relationship was no longer significant after adjusting for age, Charlson comorbidity index, and fracture class. There was no association between surgical intervention and physical activity status when using the status provided by the patient. Surgeon assessment of patient activity level does not have strong agreement with patients' independent assessment. Surgeons are most accurate at identifying "high activity level" patients but lack the ability to identify "moderate activity level" or "low activity level" patients. Recognition of surgeon assessment of patient activity level as flawed can stimulate improved dialog between patients and physicians, ultimately improving the shared decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the risk factors associated with physical inactivity of young children in Hong Kong. Methods: This follow‐up study was part of a prospective cohort study named Studying Impact of Nutrition on Growth (SING) initiated in 2015. Subjects were recruited from randomly selected local nurseries and kindergartens in Hong Kong. Self‐administrated questionnaires were distributed to parents in 2016–2017 to collect information on: (i) socio‐economic background; (ii) health‐related factors, including gestation at time of birth, and hospitalisation of the child since birth; (iii) types of leisure activities, including time spent on electronic games and physical activity. Results: A total of 1681 responses were collected. A higher likelihood of physical inactivity on weekdays was associated with being female, not being the firstborn, having been hospitalised three or more times since birth, and having physically inactive care givers. Meanwhile, children whose mother was unemployed/retired, and who spent more than 1 h on electronic games per day were significantly less likely to be physically inactive. Similarly, being female, being the secondborn or the thirdborn, and having a care giver with low physical activity level were associated with a higher chance of physical inactivity on weekends. Conclusions: Parental support could play a pivotal role in determining a child's physical activity level. Public health policies should be implemented to promote family‐based physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Camera traps are increasingly used in wildlife monitoring and citizen science to address an array of ecological questions on a wide variety of species. However, despite the ability of modern camera traps to capture high‐quality video, the majority of studies collect still images, in part because of concerns with video performance. We conducted a camera trap survey of a forested landscape in the UK, using a grid of paired camera traps, to quantify the impact of using video compared to photos on the outcomes of ecological research and for participation and engagement of citizen scientists. Ecological outputs showed no difference between photo and video datasets, but comparison between expert and citizen science classifications showed citizen scientists were able to classify videos more accurately (average accuracy of 95% for video, 86% for photo). Furthermore, citizen scientists were more likely to volunteer additional information on age (provided for 61% videos and 30% photos) and sex (provided for 63% videos and 45% photos) of animals in video footage. Concerns over slow trigger speeds for videos did not appear to affect our datasets or the inferences gained. When combined with citizen science, video datasets are likely to be of higher quality due to increased classification accuracy. Consequently, we encourage researchers to consider the use of video for future camera‐trapping projects.

Nowadays, the energy consumption of wireless sensor networks has increased dramatically due to the significant growth of these networks, especially their use in the Internet of Things. Also, reducing the energy consumption in these networks has been considered to protect the environment. Energy consumption in nodes is critical, and many research studies have been conducted to reduce it. Most methods are based on clustering and cluster selection, while this work presents a solution based on managin g nodes' activity. The nodes were scheduled so that almost all of them were active. The energy of all nodes should be consumed equally. The proposed solution was compared with the DSP-SR algorithm. The results demonstrated that the proposed method can work much better than DSP-SR. According to the evaluation, the proposed method had strengths such as optimal energy allocation and almost no dead nodes in the time periods.

Background Normative data is useful for comparing measured values of strength with population norms and can avoid the issues associated with limb symmetry index. The available normative shoulder strength values are limited by constraints on research designs and variability in subject groups which prevents this data being successfully extrapolated to the greater population. Purpose The purpose of this study was to establish normative isometric strength values for various movements of the shoulder that are specific to function and rotator cuff strength. A secondary goal of this study was to analyze the effect of age, gender, weight, height, activity level and arm dominance on shoulder strength. Design Observational cohort study Methods Subjects in four age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59) were included in this study--200 males (40.0 ± 11.6 years, 179.1 ± 6.5 cm, 81 ± 13.0 kg) and 200 females (40.1 ± 11.5 years, 165.3 ± 7.4sm, 64.4 ± 11.6 kg). Bilateral isometric strength measurements were taken with a handheld dynamometer testing seven shoulder movements. Tables of normative strength data were constructed. Multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the effects of age, gender, weight, height and activity level on isometric shoulder strength. Results Men were stronger than women (p<0.001). Age was not associated with most strength measures with the exception of dominant arm abduction (p<0.004), non-dominant arm abduction (p<0.028) and non-dominant arm scapular plane abduction (p<0.004) which had a negative association with strength. Weight was positively associated with strength (p<0.001). Activity level was positively associated with all strength measures (p<0.05) except dominant sided abduction (p=0.056). There were no statistically significant differences between dominant and non-dominant sides. Conclusion This normative data may be useful to the clinician, as it permits a standard against which to compare shoulder strength for various age groups. Clinicians can have confidence that the uninvolved limb, if symptom free, can be used as an adequate benchmark for strength measures. Levels of Evidence Level 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fibre transfer from unconstrained physical assaults involving human subjects. • More fibres transfer in person-person contact than previous data suggests. • Realistic fibre transfer quantities to inform better decision making. • Care must be taken in assigning 'roles' in physical assaults using fibre evidence. • Broad fibre distribution maps evident despite garments stored in paper bags. Knowledge of the number of fibres transferred during a particular activity is essential for the interpretation of findings in similar criminal cases. In this regard, violent contacts and physical assaults still present a challenge, due to a lack of robust published data. Hereby, we present the outcome of an empirical study where different assault activities were simulated by a Jiu Jitsu team and participants were asked to play either the role of an aggressive 'assailant' or a defensive 'victim', wearing cotton garments (i.e., Gi's). Four different scenarios were simulated in replicates (n = 5), each of them involving different intensity levels (low and high) and duration times (30 and 60 s). Results showed that approximately 1,000 to 44,000 fibres were cross-transferred between the participants' garments, with noticeable differences between the different scenarios. These values were significantly larger than those published in previous studies and, therefore, suggested the possibility of a current underestimation of the number of fibres transferred in physical assaults. Furthermore, statistical analysis by ANOVA indicated that the all the variables tested (i.e., intensity level, duration time, and participants role) had a significant effect on the number of transferred fibres (p < 0.001) and, consequently, that some knowledge of the case circumstances may be important to make more educated estimations. This is the first time that such a methodology has been applied for the quantitative assessment of fibre transfer between participants in assault activities. Data are expected to help practitioners with the interpretation of findings in real casework and lead to a more robust evidential assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Case report demonstrating Bayesian reasoning in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA). • Probability assignments in an actual case are discussed. • Parameter sensitivity analysis and robustness of the likelihood ratio are discussed. • Dedicated research is needed to strengthen evaluative reporting on BPA findings. The findings from a bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) may assist in formulating or falsifying scenarios that are considered in the investigative stages of a criminal investigation. When a case proceeds to trial the bloodstain pattern expert may be asked about the relevance of their findings given scenarios that are proposed by the prosecution and defense counsel. Such opinions provided by an expert are highly relevant to police investigation or legal proceedings, but the reasoning behind the opinion or implicit assumptions made by the expert may not be transparent. A proper framework for the evaluation of forensic findings has been developed since the late twentieth century, based on the hierarchy of propositions, Bayesian reasoning and a model for case assessment and interpretation. This framework, when implemented in casework, mitigates some of the risks of cognitive biases, and makes the reasoning and scientific basis for the opinion transparent. This framework is broadly used across forensic science disciplines. In this paper we describe its application to the field of BPA using a case example from the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the current study was to compare the activity levels and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) surgery with and without pelvic fixation. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three NMS patients aged 10-20 years with a pelvic obliquity (PO) of 15° or more and a follow-up of at least 24 months who underwent posterior surgery for NMS at two different centers were included in the study. Out of the 33 patients, 16 without pelvic fixation (WoPF) and 17 with PF (WPF) underwent posterior spinal surgery. Radiological results and independent movement levels according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) were compared in the two groups. Results: The follow-up period of the patients was 46.69±21.95 months in WoPF and 43.88±20.05 months in WPF, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative radiological values (p=0.763). In the PO values, postoperative improvement was more pronounced in the WPF group (WoPF: 14.31°±8.292; WPF: 9.35°±5.338), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.087). Patients' GMFCS levels were higher in the WPF group than in the WoPF group (WoPF: 2.75±1.29; WPF: 3.76±1.03). GMFCS levels of patients in both groups did not change and were similar to pre-operative levels. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that NMS surgery with PF was not significantly different clinically and radiologically from surgery without PF. Considering PF-related complications in NMS surgery, surgery without PF may be an option in NMS patients with PO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: When considering surgical treatment options, many patients who undergo hip arthroscopy value continuing active lifestyles. To address these concerns, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative activity level on postoperative patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) in femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) patients following hip arthroscopy. Methods: Data was retrospectively reviewed for FAIS patients who received hip arthroscopy between 2016 and 2018. Patients were divided into active group and inactive group based on preoperative HOS‐SSS scores. Preoperative active patients were 1:1 propensity‐score matched to inactive patients based on age, sex, BMI, and follow‐up period. PROs (HOS‐ADL, HOS‐ADL, iHOT‐12, mHHS), VAS scores, radiographic measures, performed procedures, complications, and revision surgery were compared and analyzed for both groups by Student's t test. Results: A total of 71 patients in the active group and 71 patients in the inactive group were found using propensity‐score matching. Active patients had superior preoperative HOS‐ADL, HOS‐SSS, iHOT‐12, mHHS (p < 0.001 for all), and VAS (p = 0.002) scores compared with inactive patients. At the final follow‐up, active patients still had better PROs in HOS‐ADL (p = 0.003), HOS‐SSS (p < 0.001), iHOT‐12 (p = 0.043), and mHHS scores (p = 0.003). There was no difference detected in postoperative VAS score (p = 0.117) between the two groups. However, inactive patients showed significantly higher net improvement in HOS‐ADL (p = 0.009), HOS‐SSS (p = 0.005), and iHOT‐12 (p = 0.023). Conclusions: Active patients have absolute higher preoperative PROs and achieve better postoperative PROs than inactive patients. However, inactive patients can obtain greater net improvements in PROs following hip arthroscopic surgery, with comparable pain alleviation as active patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prospective memory (PM) is essential in everyday life because it concerns the ability to remember to perform an intended action in the future. Individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often show poor performance in PM. Because age can be confounding, we decided to test PM in ADHD patients (children and adults) and healthy controls (children and adults). We examined 22 children (four females; mean age = 8.77 ± 1.77) and 35 adults (14 females; mean age = 37.29 ± 12.23) with ADHD, in addition to 92 children (57 females; mean age = 10.13 ± 0.42) and 95 adults (57 females; mean age = 27.93 ± 14.35) as healthy controls. Each participant originally wore an actigraph around the non-dominant wrist and was requested to push the event-marker at get-up time. To assess the efficiency of PM performance, we calculated the time elapsing between the end of sleep in the morning and the pushing of the event-marker button. The results showed lower PM performance in ADHD participants, regardless of age. However, the differences between ADHD and control groups were more evident in the children group. Our data seem to confirm that PM efficiency is compromised in individuals diagnosed with ADHD regardless of age, and agree with the idea of considering the PM deficit as a neuropsychological marker of ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvements in psychological factors are strongly associated with increased physical activity in the general population. The effects of depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing on activity level have not been thoroughly explored in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Mental health markedly influences patient perspectives on treatment success and quality of life. We hypothesized that improvements in screenings for depression, anxiety, and catastrophizing correlate with improvements in activity levels after THA. Two hundred ninety two patients (313 hips) who underwent THA with a minimum 1-year (mean 615 ± 270 days) follow-up completed preoperative and postoperative surveys containing the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Score, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed between preoperative and postoperative times for outcome measures. Partial Spearman's rank-order correlations were performed between the change in UCLA Score and the change in HADS, PCS, and DASS. There were significant improvements in UCLA Score (P value <.0001) and every subscale of PCS, HADS, and DASS (P values <.0001). Significant negative correlations existed between change in UCLA Score and change in HADS-anxiety (r s = −0.21, P value <.001), change in HADS-depression (r s = −0.23, P value <.001), and change in DASS-anxiety (r s = −0.22, P value =.004) following THA. Weaker significant negative correlations existed between change in UCLA Score and change in the remaining PCS (P values =.006) and DASS-depression(P value =.037) subscales. Improvements in patient-reported depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing screenings following THA were associated with increased activity levels. Patients who were screened for catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety achieved statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in symptoms following THA. Addressing patient mental health provides another avenue for holistic care of THA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), a large number of government policies have been implemented worldwide in response to the global spread of COVID‐19. This paper aims at developing a data‐driven analysis to answer the three research questions: (a) Compared to the pandemic development, are the global government COVID‐19 policies sufficiently active? (b) What are the differences and characteristics in the policy activity levels at the country level? (c) What types of COVID‐19 policy patterns are forming? Methods: Using the Oxford COVID‐19 Government Response Tracker data set, we present a global analysis of the COVID‐19 policy activity levels and evolution patterns from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022, based on the differential expression‐sliding window analysis (DE‐SWAN) algorithm and the clustering ensemble algorithm. Results: Within the period under study, the results indicate that (a) the global government policy responses to COVID‐19 are very active, and the policy activity levels are significantly higher than those of global pandemic developments; (b) a high activity of policy is positively correlated to pandemic prevention at the country level; and (c) a high human development index (HDI) score is negatively correlated to the country policy activity level. Furthermore, we propose to categorize the global policy evolution patterns into three categories: (i) Mainstream (152 countries); (ii) China; and (iii) Others (34 countries). Conclusion: This work is one of the few studies that quantitatively explores the evolutionary characteristics of global government policies on COVID‐19, and our results provide some new perspectives on global policy activity levels and evolution patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Eating behaviors play important roles in the development of obesity. A better knowledge of the psychological aspects of eating behaviors in individuals with and without obesity and their consequences on daily eating and lifestyle habits would be informative. The Three‐Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ)‐R21 assesses the psychometrics of eating behavior. The objectives of the study were to establish which eating habits were or were not associated with TFEQ eating behaviors, and to quantify the extent to which those eating habits mediated the association between TFEQ eating behaviors and obesity risk. Methods Data were obtained from the Gene and Environment Case‐Control Obesity Study from northern France. It included 2237 individuals with obesity and 403 individuals without obesity. Eating behaviors were assessed according to the TFEQ‐R21. Two activity levels (physical activity and television watching) and six eating habits (e.g., plate size, having one serving or at least two servings of the main meal, …) were evaluated. Regression and mediation analyses were performed. Results Higher cognitive restraint, higher uncontrolled eating (UE) and higher emotional eating (EE) were associated with a higher risk of obesity, independently of each other and of age, sex, socio‐economic status and physical activity. Cognitive restraint was negatively associated with having at least two servings, while UE and EE were associated with several obesogenic habits such as eating in front of the television or eating at night. Each of these obesogenic habits mediated between 3% and 20% of the association between UE or EE and obesity. Conclusions Psychological eating behaviors were associated with several lifestyle and eating habits in both individuals with and without obesity. Moreover, some eating habits partially mediated (between 3% and 20%) the association between TFEQ eating behaviors and obesity risk. For clinicians, this study shows that simple, easy‐to‐ask questions on specific daily eating habits can provide essential information to better understand and manage patients with obesity.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the education system, namely the implementation of social distancing and work from home so that the learning process is carried out through online methods. Teenagers' activity patterns change to become more passive and lessen by learning from home. Meanwhile, research proves that lack of activity patterns is a contributing factor to obesity and other diseases. This study used a sample of 754 adolescents who underwent online learning at school from home. The sample filled out a questionnaire about physical activity patterns and eating patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to obtain an overview of the physical activity and eating patterns of adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results of this study indicate that there has been a decrease in activity patterns during the Covid-19 pandemic. The most common activities were walking (77.2%), jogging (40.9%), and cycling (35.9%). In addition, the consumption of soft drinks and sugary drinks in the sample of adolescents was shown to be high, namely 36.5% and 83%, respectively. Through this research, it is hoped that there will be strategies and efforts to improve adolescent physical activity patterns and reduce consumption of packaged drinks during the Covid-19 pandemic.