Active Time Research Articles

Latent profile analysis of mental health in postgraduates: The impact of mentally-passive or active screen time and sedentary behaviors

Background and aimsThe mental health and lifestyle of students in higher education are recognized as critical areas for enhancing the quality of higher education. However, current research primarily focused on undergraduates, with a scarcity of studies examining the lifestyle and mental health of postgraduates. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sedentary behaviors, screen time, and mental health among postgraduates, with a particular emphasis on comparing the effects of mental-active versus passive conditions. MethodsA survey of 633 postgraduates from Beijing Sport University measured indicators of mental health, screen time (ST), and sedentary behaviors (SB). Data were analyzed using SPSS for multiple linear regression and multiple logistic regression, and Mplus for latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify mental health profiles. ResultsFour profiles emerged: moderate (5.39%), flourishing (46.38%), languishing (41.19%), struggling (7.05%). At group level, the findings revealed that both mentally-passive ST and SB are significantly and positively associated with anxiety and video addiction. The results also indicated that, at individual level, mentally-passive ST had a greater impact on “flourishing” individuals, particularly when it ranged from 120 to 240 min per day. Conversely, mentally-active ST had a more significant influence on “moderate” individuals, especially when it occurred for 120–240 min per day. ConclusionThis study revealed the complexity of mental health among postgraduates and the patterns of association between mentally-passive or active ST and SB with different mental health subtypes, providing empirical evidence for interventions addressing mental health issues among postgraduate students.

Enhanced Dynamic Droop Control for Microgrid Frequency and Voltage Stabilization Using Hybrid Energy Storage Systems: A SECANT Method Approach

Due to their variable and intermittent nature, the integration of renewable energy sources poses control challenges related to voltage and frequency stability in isolated microgrids. This paper proposes an enhanced dynamic droop control strategy optimized in active time along with a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) comprising Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), supercapacitors (SUPCA), and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) to improve microgrid stability. The Dynamic Droop Gains (DDG) are continuously tuned using the rapid-converging SECANT numerical method to enhance transient response and steady-state performance, this was achieved using MATLAB/Simulink. The HESS combines the complementary characteristics of BESS, SUPCA and SMES to balance steady power supply and temporary overload capacity. Detailed simulation studies on a microgrid test system verify that the proposed control strategy significantly enhances voltage/frequency regulation, power sharing accuracy, BESS lifespan and overall stability compared to conventional droop techniques. The SUPCA further improves the transient performance and power quality by mitigating fluctuations. The research demonstrates an innovative way to harness advanced control algorithms and emerging storage technologies for next-generation resilient and sustainable microgrids.

Absolute 230Th/U chronologies and Δ47 thermometry paleoclimate reconstruction from soil carbonates in Central Asian loess over the past 1 million years

Pleistocene loess records of the Khovaling Loess Plateau (KLP) in Tajikistan provide rich collections of lithic artifacts demonstrating past human presence in the region. To understand the timing of human activity and environmental conditions prevailing at that time U–Th dating and clumped/stable C/O isotope measurements have been applied to modern and Pleistocene soil carbonates (SCs) collected at several sites on the KLP and surroundings. U–Th ages were corrected by two methods: 1) assuming an initial [230Th/232Th] activity ratio of 0.85 ± 0.25 based on gamma spectrometry of loess/paleosol samples, and 2) the isochron technique using leachates and fully dissolved subsamples. Diagenetic alteration and potential U/Th mobilization and related isotope fractionation due to alpha-recoil was also modelled and found to be minor in the studied soil carbonates. Compared to model ages as references, uncorrected 230Th ages are only acceptable if measured [230Th/232Th] activity ratios of leachates are high (>30), while 230Th ages derived using method 1 are mostly overcorrected. It appears that SCs can be reliably dated by the U-series disequilibrium method in this sedimentary setting, but isochron dating cannot be spared. Application of the isochron method is required to derive 230Thmodel ages, which ensures that the non-zero initial 230Th and possible U–Th gain/loss due to alpha-recoil can be simultaneously corrected and reliable U–Th ages obtained. U–Th ages of Pleistocene SCs clearly demonstrate post-pedogenic ingrowth of multiple, non-contemporaneous populations of SCs within loess/paleosol units, and that SC formation happened in many cases under cold, presumably dry glacial climate conditions. Considering that U–Th ages of SCs provide minimum ages of the sediment in which they form, these ages can be useful in developing loess stratigraphic models and for correlation of paleosols with marine isotope stages. This implies that the age of a given paleosol and any lithic artifacts it may contain, indicating human activity, cannot be younger than the age of SCs formed in that paleosol. This is due to the nature of soil carbonates, which can be the product of both syn- and post-depositional processes.Clumped isotope thermometry of SCs collected from modern soils at three sites in Tajikistan provide evidence for SCs dominantly recording summer season soil temperatures, while the calculated soil water oxygen isotope signatures reflect annual signals and carbonate precipitation from source waters incorporating rainfall from prior to and during SC formation. In contrast, some Pleistocene SCs record soil temperatures and stable isotope compositions more appropriate to glacial conditions, confirming the findings of U–Th ages, and highlighting the primary role of aridity-driven soil moisture changes in SC precipitation in this setting. Considering the interpretative complexities of SC stable isotope compositions, involving issues such as SC formation depth within a soil/paleosol profile, seasonality of SC growth and violation of the law of superposition, SC stable isotope proxy records of past climates cannot be considered as a set of clearly sequential data through time. This implies that such SC-based stable isotope records must be accompanied by U–Th dating of carbonates to be meaningful.

Abstract 39: Tryptophan contributes to the sex-dependent loss of diurnal sodium excretion in BMAL1 knockout rats.

Kidney function is time-of-day-(TOD) dependent irrespective of light, sleep, activity, and meal timing. Recent discoveries reveal that diurnal (day/night) kidney function is maintained by an intrinsic molecular clock. We recently observed that loss of this transcriptional regulatory system impairs functional rhythms in electrolyte excretion in a novel rat model. When the core clock gene, brain and muscle ARNT-like protein 1 (BMAL1) is knocked out of Sprague-Dawley rats we now find that male, but not female, BMAL1 knockout (KO) rats no longer have diurnal changes in both glomerular filtration rate (GFR; Day:1.3±0.1 vs Night:1.2±0.1mL/min/100gBW;t-test p=0.919) along with sodium excretion (UNaV) (Day:819±58 vs Night:756±113 μmol/12h; t-test p=0.439) compared to littermate wildtype controls (CON; GFR Day:1.1±0.1 vs Night:1.6±0.1mL/min/100g; t-test p=0.044; UNaV Day: 849±138 vs Night:1423±102 μmol/12h; t-test p=0.003). LC/MS analysis of plasma from KO rats found that levels of tryptophan (trp) were significantly (2-way ANOVA p Interaction =0.847, p<span style="font-size:10.8333px">Genotype</span>=0.041, p TimeofDay =0.952) lower in KO males during the day (KO:77±6, CON:99±7μM; Sidak post-hoc p=0.049) but not night (KO:78±5, CON:99±12μM; Sidak post-hoc p=0.084) with no differences in plasma trp seen in KO females (Day:110±26,107±14μM vs Night:96±8,96±12μM KO and CON respectively). Trp had recently been shown to both regulate and be regulated by the circadian clock as well as increase GFR similar to other aromatic amino acids. This led us to hypothesize that TOD trp availability may underlie the changes seen in both UNaV and GFR in male KO rats. Therefore, we gave a single dose of trp (100 mg/kg,PO) at either 7pm (lights off, ZT12) or 7am (lights on, ZT0). After a 1 wk washout period, rats were dosed again in a crossover design. Male KO rats receiving trp at ZT0 had no significant change from baseline in UNaV (818±58 vs 784±61 μmol/12h) over the following 12hrs; however, a significant increase in UNaV (756±114 vs 1152±146 μmol/12h) following ZT12 dosing was observed (2-Way ANOVA p Interaction =0.038, p TrpTime =0.087, p TimeofDay =0.210; Sidak Post-Hoc: baseline vs ZT12 trp p=0.003) with no significant change seen in female KO or either male or female CON rats. Taken together these results suggest that BMAL1 is necessary for maintaining kidney physiologic rhythms in sodium excretion potentially through changes in trp availability.

Optimizing intervention dissemination at scale: A qualitative study of multi-sector partner organization experiences.

For population-wide impact of interventions, evidence-based programs must be successfully disseminated and adopted at scale. Research-practice partnerships can legitimize programs and support organizational adoption, however, ways of leveraging the contributions of partners during dissemination processes are less clear. TransformUs is a school-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour program, and since 2018, has been disseminated at scale to all primary schools in Victoria, Australia, in partnership with 16 state and national organizations. The study objective was to investigate the experiences of partner organizations disseminating TransformUs within their networks, and factors associated with awareness and adoption of the program in schools, from the perspective of partner organizations. Semi-structured interviews with representatives from 15 (out of 16) partner organizations in 2019 involved in disseminating TransformUs state-wide. An interview guide was informed by the RE-AIM framework. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded anonymously. Data were analysed thematically. Four themes (and 13 sub-themes) were identified: (i) organizational barriers and facilitators to dissemination; (ii) implementation support for partners; (iii) overall research experience; and (iv) dissemination strategy. Partners used multiple dissemination channels to increase adoption, and strong alignment between TransformUs and the partner organization's goals appeared to enable dissemination. Partners outlined several local, regional, and state organizations to partner with, and offered suggestions regarding preferred content and timing of dissemination activities for their networks. Researchers planning research-practice partnerships should proactively consider organizational barriers partners may face during dissemination. Regular communication and feedback on dissemination outcomes may contribute to positive research-practice experiences and allow for tailored dissemination strategies.

Use of a decision support tool and quick start onboarding tool in individuals with type 1 diabetes using advanced automated insulin delivery: a single-arm multi-phase intervention study

BackgroundMultiple clinician adjustable parameters impact upon glycemia in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using Medtronic Mini Med 780G (MM780G) AHCL. These include glucose targets, carbohydrate ratios (CR), and active insulin time (AIT). Algorithm-based decision support advising upon potential settings adjustments may enhance clinical decision-making.MethodsSingle-arm, two-phase exploratory study developing decision support to commence and sustain AHCL. Participants commenced investigational MM780G, then 8 weeks Phase 1-initial optimization tool evaluation, involving algorithm-based decision support with weekly AIT and CR recommendations. Clinicians approved or rejected CR and AIT recommendations based on perceived safety per protocol. Co-design resulted in a refined algorithm evaluated in a further identically configured Phase 2. Phase 2 participants also transitioned to commercial MM780G following “Quick Start” (algorithm-derived tool determining initial AHCL settings using daily insulin dose and weight). We assessed efficacy, safety, and acceptability of decision support using glycemic metrics, and the proportion of accepted CR and AIT settings per phase.ResultsFifty three participants commenced Phase 1 (mean age 24.4; Hba1c 61.5mmol/7.7%). The proportion of CR and AIT accepted by clinicians increased between Phases 1 and 2 respectively: CR 89.2% vs. 98.6%, p < 0.01; AIT 95.2% vs. 99.3%, p < 0.01. Between Phases, mean glucose percentage time < 3.9mmol (< 70mg/dl) reduced (2.1% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.04); change in mean TIR 3.9-10mmol/L (70-180mg/dl) was not statistically significant: 72.9% ± 7.8 and 73.5% ± 8.6. Quick start resulted in stable TIR, and glycemic metrics compared to international guidelines.ConclusionThe co-designed decision support tools were able to deliver safe and effective therapy. They can potentially reduce the burden of diabetes management related decision making for both health care practitioners and patients.Trial registrationProspectively registered with Australia/New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry(ANZCTR) on 30th March 2021 as study ACTRN12621000360819.

Tongue strength and swallowing-related masseter activity and oropharyngeal timing across the lifespan

Purpose: This study examined lifespan changes in maximum tongue strength, swallowing time, and masseter activity during swallowing. It provides normative data with which to compare clinical assessments of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) and oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD). Method: 409 healthy participants without identified OMD or OPD (ages 5 – 79 years) provided instrumental measures of tongue strength and electromyographic measurements for oropharyngeal transit time and masseter activity during swallows of four boluses. Participants were placed in three broad age groups (5 – 15, 16 – 59, 60 – 79) for crosssectional analysis. Results: Differences were found between age groups for tongue strength, such that the youngest group had significantly lower anterior tongue strength than the other groups, and lower posterior tongue strength than the 16 – 59 age group. Anterior tongue strength was significantly greater for males than females; posterior tongue strength did not differ significantly between the sexes. The youngest group had longer oropharyngeal transit times than either of the two older groups for most boluses. Swallowing transit time decreased in duration across the age groups, from youngest to oldest, for the 2.5 cc pudding bolus. Both right and left masseters differed in activation among tasks and age groups. The oldest age group had consistently greater levels of activation of the right masseter, and all groups had greater activation for the cracker bolus. Spearman rank-order correlations largely confirmed the inferential statistics and provided evidence of a relationship between tongue weakness and increased oropharyngeal transit time. Conclusion: Maximum tongue pressure generation and oropharyngeal timing measures support a developmental hypothesis, with lower tongue strength and longer swallowing transit times for children ages 5 through 15. The smaller pudding bolus provided the greatest differentiation among the age groups, which may prove to be a functional indicator for clinical evaluation. These results are largely consistent with existing data for tongue strength and oropharyngeal swallowing transit times.

Advanced Porous Gold-PANI Micro-Electrodes for High-Performance On-Chip Micro-Supercapacitors.

The downsizing of microscale energy storage devices is crucial for powering modern on-chip technologies by miniaturizing electronic components. Developing high-performance microscale energy devices, such as micro-supercapacitors, is essential through processing smart electrodes for on-chip structures. In this context, we introduce porous gold (Au) interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) as current collectors for micro-supercapacitors, using polyaniline as the active material. These porous Au IDE-based symmetric micro-supercapacitors (P-SMSCs) show a remarkable enhancement in charge storage performance, with a 187% increase in areal capacitance at 2.5 mA compared to conventional flat Au IDE-based devices, despite identical active material loading times. Our P-SMSCs achieve an areal capacitance of 60 mF/cm2, a peak areal energy density of 5.44 μWh/cm2, and an areal power of 2778 μW/cm2, surpassing most reported SMSCs. This study advances high-performance SMSCs by developing highly porous microscale planar current collectors, optimizing microelectrode use, and maximizing capacity within a compact footprint.

Time spent on active learning activities does not necessarily correlate with student exam performance: a controlled case study.

Active learning, including student thinking and discussion in class, has been shown to increase student learning gains. However, it is less clear how instructor-level variation in the implementation and timing of active learning activities affects student gains. Our study aims to investigate the extent to which the time spent on individual episodes of active learning activities influences student performance. We hypothesized that instructors who let students spend more time on peer discussion and individual thinking on practice problems associated with particular learning objectives would have better student exam scores on exam questions addressing those objectives. To test this hypothesis, we obtained a large data set of classroom recordings and student exam scores from an introductory biology course at a large 4-year university, where three instructors shared identical teaching materials and exams for different course offerings. Contrary to our hypothesis, although the three instructors spent significantly different amounts of time on episodes of thinking and peer discussion, there was no correlation between the total time spent on active learning activities and student performance on exam questions. Linear mixed-effects modeling of the effect of the length of episodes of student thinking and discussion on exam score found that in the context of shared instructional materials, the amount of course time spent on active learning activities did not reliably predict student performance on associated exam questions. This result held true even when only considering learning objectives with high variations in performance between offerings, difficult exam questions, or exam questions requiring higher-order thinking skills. Although our study was only conducted in one course, our results imply that time spent per individual episode of student thinking or peer discussion may not be the primary factor explaining the positive effects of active learning and that it may be worthwhile to explore other factors.

Dynamics of directional motor tuning in the primate premotor and primary motor cortices during sensorimotor learning

Sensorimotor learning requires reorganization of neuronal activity in the premotor cortex (PM) and primary motor cortex (M1). To reveal PM- and M1-specific reorganization in a primate, we conducted calcium imaging in common marmosets while they learned a two-target reaching (pull/push) task after mastering a one-target reaching (pull) task. Throughout learning of the two-target reaching task, the dorsorostral PM (PMdr) showed peak activity earlier than the dorsocaudal PM (PMdc) and M1. During learning, the reaction time in pull trials increased and correlated strongly with the peak timing of PMdr activity. PMdr showed decreasing representation of newly introduced (push) movement, whereas PMdc and M1 maintained high representation of pull and push movements. Many task-related neurons in PMdc and M1 exhibited a strong preference to either movement direction. PMdc neurons dynamically switched their preferred direction depending on their performance in push trials in the early learning stage, whereas M1 neurons stably retained their preferred direction and high similarity of preferred direction between neighbors. These results suggest that in primate sensorimotor learning, dynamic directional motor tuning in PMdc converts the sensorimotor association formed in PMdr to the stable and specific motor representation of M1.

The effect of active time spent with older adults on young people’s attitudes toward ageism

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the effect of active time spent with older adults on young people’s attitudes toward ageism. A single-group pretest-posttest experimental design, one of the quantitative research approaches, was used in the study. In the study conducted with 15 young people in the spring semester of 2023, data were collected using the ‘Positive and Negative Ageism Scale.’ Non-parametric tests were preferred in the analysis of quantitative data since the number of participants in the experimental group was below 30. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to test the significance of the differences between the scores of two sets of in-group related measurements. According to this finding, it was determined that the students showed positive attitudes toward older adults after the application.

SCREEN TIME IN PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

The World Health Organization defines sedentary screen time as the time spent in passive screen-based entertainment (TV, computer, mobile phone), excluding active screen time, specifically time spent playing games requiring physical activity or movement. Researchers agree that preschool-aged children spend longer periods of time in front of screens than recommended for their age, contradicting WHO guidelines on sedentary screen time for children up to 5 years old. The aim of our research was to obtain data on the age at which children are first exposed to screens, determine the duration of screen exposure on a daily basis, the most common type of screen, and the situations in which preschool-aged children use them. The sample consisted of 200 children, aged 48 to 60 months, of both genders. A specially constructed sociodemographic questionnaire was used for the research, which included questions regarding the age at which the child was first exposed to screens, the duration of daily exposure, as well as the most common type of screen and situations in which the child uses them. Informants were the parents of the children included in the study. The research was conducted in preschool institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during February and March 2024. The results of the research show that children are first exposed to screens as early as at the age of 7 to 12 months, and that screen exposure on a daily basis exceeds the recommended time by WHO guidelines for most participants. The most common type of screen to which children are exposed is TV, and the most common situations in which they use them are during meals or while parents perform various household chores. Attention should be directed towards further identifying factors leading to excessive screen usage and providing clear guidelines to parents regarding the timing, content, technology, and joint activities related to screen time for young children in various cultural settings.

The Antigravity Treadmill as a Postoperative and Injury Rehabilitation Tool: Reduction in Contact Forces and Muscle Activity With Reduced Weight Running.

To investigate the effects of reduced weight running on the antigravity (AG) treadmill on maintenance of normal muscle activation and reduction of plantar forces in healthy subjects. Descriptive laboratory study. Clinical sports medicine center. Twenty healthy subjects (10 male and 10 female) aged 18 to 29 years. Subjects running at 6.5 miles per hour on a standard treadmill and on the AG treadmill at 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50% of bodyweight levels. Dynamic plantar loading data were recorded using pressure insoles. Surface electromyography electrodes with imbedded accelerometers were used to estimate timing and magnitude of muscle activity, stride length, and cadence. There was a significant, sequential reduction in peak pressure, maximum force, and force time integral (FTI) with decreasing bodyweight. A 50% bodyweight reduction resulted in a 51% reduction in maximum force and a 59% reduction in FTI in the heel, as compared with 19% to 28% at the metatarsal heads. There was reduced contact area in the heel and midfoot at and below 70% BW. Lower limb muscle activity decreases with reduced bodyweight while maintain normal muscle recruitment timing. The AG treadmill provides a reduction in loading forces while maintaining normal muscle recruitment patterns. Decreased BW running preferentially unloads the hindfoot. The AG treadmill can be an effective rehabilitation tool following foot or ankle injury and may prove superior to other limited weight-bearing methods.

In vivo antibody labeling route and fluorophore dictate labeling efficiency, sensitivity, and longevity.

Leukocytes migrate through the blood and extravasate into organs to surveil the host for infection or cancer. Recently, we demonstrated that intravenous (IV) anti-CD45.2 antibody labeling allowed for precise tracking of leukocyte migration. However, the narrow labeling window can make this approach challenging for tracking rare migration events. Here, we show that altering antibody administration route and fluorophore can significantly extend the antibody active labeling time. We found that while both IV and intraperitoneal (IP) anti-CD45.2 antibody labeled circulating leukocytes after injection, they had different kinetic properties that impacted labeling time and intensity. Quantification of circulating antibody revealed that while unbound IV anti-CD45.2 antibody rapidly decreased, unbound IP anti-CD45.2 antibody increased over one hour. Using in vitro and in vivo serial dilution assays, we found that Alexa Fluor 647 (AF647) and Brilliant Blue 700 (BB700) dyes had the greatest labeling sensitivity compared to other fluorophores. However, IP antibody injection with anti-CD45.2 BB700, but not AF647, resulted in continuous blood leukocyte labeling for over 6 hours. Finally, we leveraged IP anti-CD45.2 BB700 antibody to track slower migrating leukocytes into tumors. We found that IP anti-CD45.2 antibody injection allowed for the identification of ~seven times as many tumor-specific CD8+ T cells that had recently migrated from blood into tumors. Our results demonstrate how different injection routes and fluorophores affect anti-CD45.2 antibody leukocyte labeling and highlight the utility of this approach for defining leukocyte migration in the context of homeostasis and cancer.

Transport of nitrogen in grassed watersheds accounting for the combined influence of grazing and climate

A comprehensive modeling framework utilizing MIKE-SHE to investigate the feasibility of enhancing livestock production while concurrently mitigating the impact of grassland ecosystems on surface water quality is presented. In this study, a modeling framework that simulates nitrogen transport was developed using a physically based distributed hydrologic model, MIKE SHE. The model was calibrated and validated using observed overland flow and water quality data from El Reno, Oklahoma's Water Resources and Erosion Unit watersheds. Different scenarios involving variations in timing, duration, and frequency of grazing activities, stocking rates, and climate conditions were simulated using the calibrated MIKE-SHE model. The goal was to explore the extent of the influence of these aspects of grazing on water quality through these scenario simulations. The results provided valuable insights into the key factors for developing an intelligent grazing decision tool to delineate targeted grazing windows that optimally balance heightened livestock production with environmental sustainability. The study's findings showed that the observed variability in existing literature originates mainly from climatic differences, with precipitation being the primary driver of nutrient loss, while evapotranspiration and soil moisture conditions are secondary factors. The simulations revealed that the impact of grazing on nitrogen loss in the pasture is evident only when grazing activities, irrespective of the stocking rate, duration, and frequency, occur under weather conditions conducive to nutrient loss in the pasture. These intertwined processes suggest that the impact of grazing on nitrogen loss can only be generalized within the context of the prevailing weather conditions in the pasture. Hence, strategically matching grazing activities with prevailing weather patterns can increase livestock production while promoting environmental sustainability in pasture management.

Automated task-level autonomy assessment in robotic surgery.

Surgical autonomy for trainees has remained elusive to quantify. Proportion of active control time (ACT) of a trainee during a robotic case can be used as a broad measure of autonomy. However, this metric lacks in the granular detail of quantifying at what specific steps trainees were actively participating. We aim to quantify trainee involvement during robotic-assisted hiatal hernia repair at a task-specific level. We performed a retrospective review of surgical performance data from robotic-assisted hiatal hernia repairs performed. These cases were segmented into 5 tasks by AI-assisted annotation with human review. The segmented tasks included: hiatal dissection, gastric fundus mobilization, mediastinal dissection, cruroplasty and fundoplication. Tasks were excluded if video segmentation of tasks was incorrect. During each task, ACT was recorded for resident, fellow and attending. Resident and fellow ACT per task was compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Residents had the highest %ACT in the hiatal dissection (53%), gastric fundus mobilization (84%) and fundoplication (57%) tasks. Fellows had greater than 80% ACT in all 5 tasks, with the highest %ACT in the gastric fundus mobilization (100%) and hiatal dissection (88%). There was a significant difference between resident and fellow ACT during mediastinal dissection and cruroplasty. This study demonstrates how objective performance metrics and automated case segmentation can quantify trainee participation at a task-specific level. By utilizing data afforded by a robotic surgery platform, we are able to provide an objective and automated form of assessment with minimal impact on the workflow of attendings and residents. Our findings can serve to inform residents on what steps they can expect to be involved in during the procedure, appropriate to their PGY level. With this task-level data, we can provide a roadmap for trainee progression to achieve full surgical autonomy.

Older adults exercising ON TIME: protocol for a randomized controlled cross-over study to assess the effect of physical activity timing on insomnia severity

BackgroundThere are increased indications that physical activity timing, irrespective of intensity, impacts insomnia and circadian clock function. Here, we describe the rationale and design of a randomized cross-over study, called ON TIME, to examine the effects of (changing) physical activity timing on insomnia severity and on multiple exploratory outcomes that are linked to circadian clock function.MethodsWe will conduct a randomized cross-over trial in 40 healthy older adults (aged 65 to 75 years) with subclinical or clinical insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores of ≥ 10) from the Dutch municipality of Leiden and surroundings. Participants will undergo 3 intervention periods (14 days each) consecutively: one sedentary period and two periods of increased physical activity (one period with morning activity and one period with evening activity). The intervention periods are separated by a wash-out period of 1 week. In both active intervention arms, participants will follow coached or uncoached outdoor physical exercise sessions comprising endurance, strength, and flexibility exercises for 14 days. The primary outcome is change in insomnia severity as measured by the ISI. Additional exploratory outcomes include multiple components of objective sleep quality measured with tri-axial accelerometry and subjective sleep quality assessed by questionnaires as well as dim light melatonin onset and 24-h rhythms in heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, oxygen saturation, mood, and objective emotional arousal and stress. Additionally, we will collect diary data on eating patterns (timing and composition). Finally, fasting blood samples will be collected at baseline and after each intervention period for measurements of biomarkers of metabolic and physiological functioning and expression of genes involved in regulation of the biological clock.DiscussionWe anticipate that this study will make a significant contribution to the limited knowledge on the effect of physical activity timing. Optimizing physical activity timing has the potential to augment the health benefits of increased physical exercise in the aging population.Trial registrationTrial was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee Leiden, The Hague, Delft, The Netherlands (June, 2023). The trial was registered in the CCMO-register https://www.toetsingonline.nl/to/ccmo_search.nsf/Searchform?OpenForm under study ID NL82335.058.22 and named (“Ouderen op tijd in beweging” or in English “Older adults exercising on time”). At time of manuscript submission, the trial was additionally registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under study ID: NL82335.058.22 and is awaiting approval.

Effectiveness of Blood Glucose Time in Range to Reduce Risk of Blood Glucose Extrusion and Improve Blood Glucose Metrics in Type 1 Diabetic Patients.

With evolving diabetes technology, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and time in range have been advanced as critical measurements to assess complications. They have shown improvement in A1C levels and decreased episodes of blood glucose extrusion. This study aimed to assess the awareness and utilization of blood glucose time in range and its effectiveness in reducing the risk of blood glucose extrusion and improving blood glucose metrics among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. A retrospective study included 342 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were using the CGM, aiming for a TIR of 70% daily. Glycemic control was followed using TIR data, blood glucose extrusion frequency (including hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia events), active sensor time, average blood glucose, and glucose management indicator (GMI) levels. A total of 342 individuals participated in this study, the majority of whom were below 18 years of age (62.3%). The hypoglycemic frequency was significantly increased compared to the baseline, and most participants experienced hypoglycemia events (p = 0.0001). The incidences increased over time, with 90.9% and 93% having hypoglycemia at 60 and 90 days (p = 0.0001), respectively. The active scan and sensor time were not followed, which led to the blood glucose target not being achieved, with no improvement throughout the study. Consequently, no improvement occurred in glycemic control. CGM technology has been promising and proven effective in improving glycemic. However, our study did not show these benefits as expected, which could be explained by the underutilization and improper use of the CGM.

Statistics and Models of the Electron Plasma Density From the Van Allen Probes

AbstractWe use the full NASA Van Allen Probes mission (2012–2019) to extract the electron plasma density from the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) and Electric Field and Waves (EFW) instruments and discuss the evolution of the plasmasphere. We generate new statistics including mean and standard deviations of the plasma density with respect to L‐shell, magnetic local time (MLT), and various geomagnetic indices. These statistics are generated to be applied in radiation belt physics and space weather codes (with fits provided). The mean plasmasphere is circular around Earth with respect to MLT for Kp &lt; 1. The mean 100 cm−3 level line is above L = 5 and mean 10 cm−3 level expands above the Van Allen Probes apogee for Kp &lt; 1. The outer electron belt lies within the plasmasphere for 60% of all times. As activity increases (Kp &gt; 2), a gradual MLT asymmetry forms with higher mean density in the afternoon sector due to plumes expanding outward. Conversely, the mean density decreases on the dawn and night sectors. The mean density is between ∼500 and ∼50 cm−3 between L ∼ 4 and L ∼ 6 during quiet and moderately active times (Kp &lt; 3), representing ∼80% of all times. Statistics in regions of high density below L = 2 are underdefined for intense activity. The highest standard deviation of density represents a factor 2.5 to 3 times the mean above L = 5 and for active times. We find the percent difference between the EFW and EMFISIS densities is bounded by ±20% for quiet and moderate activity (Kp &lt; 5) and goes up to ±100% for extreme activity.

W2V-repeated index: Prediction of enhancers and their strength based on repeated fragments

Enhancers are crucial in gene expression regulation, dictating the specificity and timing of transcriptional activity, which highlights the importance of their identification for unravelling the intricacies of genetic regulation. Therefore, it is critical to identify enhancers and their strengths. Repeated sequences in the genome are repeats of the same or symmetrical fragments. There has been a great deal of evidence that repetitive sequences contain enormous amounts of genetic information. Thus, We introduce the W2V-Repeated Index, designed to identify enhancer sequence fragments and evaluates their strength through the analysis of repeated K-mer sequences in enhancer regions. Utilizing the word2vector algorithm for numerical conversion and Manta Ray Foraging Optimization for feature selection, this method effectively captures the frequency and distribution of K-mer sequences. By concentrating on repeated K-mer sequences, it minimizes computational complexity and facilitates the analysis of larger K values. Experiments indicate that our method performs better than all other advanced methods on almost all indicators.