Everyday Life Activities Research Articles

PREVALENCE OF FRAILTY SYNDROME AND ITS PREDICTORS IN THE POPULATION OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The aim of the systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of the frailty syndrome (FS) and to identify its predictors in people with intellectual (ID) and developmental (DD) disabilities. It was assumed that in people with ID in adulthood period and early elderly period (20-60 years old) the ageing process (lower mobility in joints, frequent falls, the incidence of the coexist diseases and disability) occurs earlier and more frequent than in general population. The methodology of this systematic review was planned according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search of electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCO, MEDLINE) was conducted to identify all studies on the incidence of the FS in people with intellectual disabilities from 2010 to 2022 based on the physical and functional status. In contrary to the general population, the assessment of the prevalence of FS among people with ID and DD was performed mostly with multivariant model. Age, gender, coexist diseases, mobility impairment in everyday life activities and Down syndrome were identified as the most frequent predictors of FS among the studied populations. In conclusion, the prevalence of FS among people with ID was diverse (9-27%) and included the following variables: coexisting diseases, coupled disability, intelligence quotient, everyday life activities, dwelling place. Moreover FS was found to occur significantly earlier (from 10 to 25 years) than in general population. Future studies should include the assessment of FS based on both phenotype and multivariant models. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was implemended within the RIDAGE project – number 019/RID/2018/19 (program of Minister of Science and Higher Education in the Republic of Poland ‘Regionalna Inicjatywa Doskonałości’ in years 2019-2022) and in cooperation with Institute of Sport Sciences - The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice and University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic.

Selection Criteria of Ordinary Urban Heritages Through the Case of Bangrak, a Multi-Cultural & Old Commercial District of Bangkok

This paper examines preservation of an old and multicultural commercial district of Bangrak, Bangkok through application of ordinary urban heritage, which is an alternative approach, but one which can fill a gap in the heritage conservation process. The dual objectives of this paper are 1. Introducing an alternative lens for considering the heritages of ordinary people in an urban context through the case of Bangrak in Bangkok, Thailand; and 2. Identifying selection criteria of ordinary urban heritages. 
 Bangrak, the study area, is an old commercial district of inner Bangkok that is characterized by diversity in the different groups who live and work there, their cultures, and their heritages. This paper studied four areas comprising groups whose members originated from China, India-South Asia, Western countries, and Thailand. 
 The ordinary urban heritages discussed in this paper are outcomes of identifying selection criteria based on the methodology of three processes: (1) theoretical reviews of vernacular heritage, ordinary heritage, and urban heritage, making use of AHD (Authorised Heritage Discourse) to distinguish “official” heritages identified by Thai government agencies, and the ordinary urban heritages of Bangrak. (2) analysis of historical maps, and (3) non-participant observational surveys to verify locations and appearances of ordinary urban heritages identified by the analysis of historical maps. 
 The selection criteria of ordinary urban heritages of Bangrak are outcomes of five factors: (1) The amount of time the heritage has been present in the area, (2) Heritages of ordinary people, (3) Repetitive appearance or cluster of heritages, (4) Ability to adapt to urbanization, and (5) Present-day existence of heritages in four areas of different cultures. 
 The ordinary urban heritages identified as the result of selection criteria comprise shophouses, urban patterns of “Trok” (small alleys), and sacred places in the communities. As buildings, shophouses are, per se, ordinary urban heritage from a physical aspect, and they are the centers of the commercial activities of everyday life. “Trok”, or small alleys, have been built by ordinary people, and they help form the particular urban pattern of Bangrak. Small sacred places represent a legacy of the beliefs of different cultures represented through their physical spaces and appearances.

Episodic Binding and Retrieval in Sequences of Discrete Movements – Evidence from Grasping Actions

In everyday life humans are confronted with changing environmental demands. In order to act successfully and achieve intended goals, action control is required. A recent approach, the Binding and Retrieval in Action Control (BRAC) framework, attempts to provide an overarching perspective on action control. Based on basic principles such as binding and retrieval, findings from several experimental paradigms could be integrated. However, the focus so far has been on rather artificial paradigms involving very simple motor response requirements, like finger lifting or button presses. We aimed to extend the BRAC framework to more complex movements consisting of a sequence of several discrete actions. Participants were asked to grasp and lift an object with an uneven mass distribution. Object features, like mass distribution and position, were either kept constant on a global level or varied in a pseudorandomized manner. When both object features were kept constant, participants were able to adjust their grasp so that it resulted in a more stable lift and less object roll. Further, with randomly mixed object features, we found best task performance when both object features were completely repeated from one trial to the other. These results suggest that tasks with more complex movements are capable of reflecting principles of action control as defined by the BRAC framework. This offers the possibility to test these principles in even more complex and ecologically relevant paradigms to improve our understanding of everyday life actions.

Gynaecologic and Systemic Comorbidities in Patients with Endometriosis: Impact on Quality of Life and Global Health

Objectives: Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by a frequent association with gynecologic and systemic comorbidities. Our aim was to evaluate which gynecologic and systemic comorbidities occur in women affected by endometriosis and their impact on quality of life and global health. Mechanism: A literature search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science databases was performed to identify the relevant studies published before December 31, 2021. We selected clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses in English. Findings in Brief: Endometriosis is strongly associated with gynecologic (adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome-PCOS) and systemic (autoimmune, inflammatory, psychiatric and neurological disorders) comorbidities that impair women quality of life and global health through multiple mechanisms, influencing everyday life and work activities. Conclusions: Endometriosis is a chronic disease, impairing multiple functioning areas and affecting women’s health and everyday life. Considering the co-existence of multiple both gynecological and non-gynecological disorders, endometrisois needs a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, specialized referral centres are warranted for a personalized management, focused on patient symptoms and comorbidities.

Emancipatory interests of multiple literacies for activism and community transformation

Literacies are the social processes that emerge and sustain, from everyday life, representing and transforming the mundane and repeated activities which resist the unequal power adjustment in society. In this regard, informal learning and literacies cultivate critical reflexivity of people to perform like activists. This paper aims to explore informal learning and literacies that foster awareness of existing social hierarchies and structures to help bring about change in family and social life. Two adult women’s groups were purposefully selected in a village in Nepal. The main sources of data were persistent observations of these groups in a number of meetings, transient walks in the village, and participation in a range of community activities. Two women from each group were selected for in-depth interviews. The themes emerging were generated and analysed from three human interest perspectives: technical, practical, and emancipatory, using the concepts of Jurgen Habermas. This paper found that everyday life activities are embedded in learning and literacies which result in the critical reflexivity of a marginalised group of people. Critical reflexivity has helped them to think through their value system and to anticipate the changes in their life. The paper concludes that informal learning and literacies are the process of activism that enables change in the lives of adult women and the wider community, thereby recognising and valuing adult learning and literacies.

Indigenous language revitalization through Observing and Pitching In to family and community endeavours: a rationale and description (Revitalización de la lengua indígena por medio de Observar y Acomedirse en las actividades de la familia y la comunidad: fundamentos y descripción)

ABSTRACT This article promotes a grounded approach to Indigenous language revitalization that honours Indigenous peoples’ desire to restore Indigenous language use in their daily lives. The approach offers a way of revitalizing Indigenous languages by reintegrating them into Indigenous social life and an Indigenous way of learning, thus also sustaining and revitalizing Indigenous cultures. Drawing upon studies of informal learning in Indigenous-heritage communities in the Americas, as well as studies of family and community language revitalization programmes, the approach promotes Indigenous language communicative competence through participation in everyday-life activities. It capitalizes on the prevalent practice in Indigenous communities of Learning by Observing and Pitching In to family and community endeavours (LOPI), which serves as social and cultural scaffolding onto which communication in Indigenous languages can be intentionally reattached. In this way, the family- and community-centred approach that is promoted complements daycare- and school-based Indigenous language revitalization initiatives.

Physical Activity and Physical and Mental Health in Middle-Aged Adults with Down Syndrome.

Adults with Down syndrome have an increased risk of aging-related physical and mental health conditions and experience them at an earlier age than the general population. There is a need to investigate modifiable lifestyle factors that may reduce risk for these conditions. The present study investigated the associations between physical activity (i.e., sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous activity) assessed via accelerometer across 7 days and caregiver-reported physical and mental health of 66 non-demented middle-aged adults with Down Syndrome aged 25-55 years (52% female). Regression analyses indicated that more time spent in moderate intensity physical activity was associated with less risk of sleep apnea (b = -.031 p = .004) and endocrine/metabolic conditions (b = -.046 p = .009), and lower total number of physical health conditions (b = -.110 p =.016) and anxiety disorders (b = -.021 p =.049) after controlling for relevant sociodemographics. After also adjusting for BMI, the association between time spent in moderate intensity physical activity and sleep apnea (b=-.035, p = .002), endocrine/metabolic conditions (b=-.033, p = .045) and total physical health (b=-.091, p =.026) remained significant Unexpectedly, time spent in sedentary behavior was negatively associated with musculoskeletal conditions (b=-.017, p = .044). Findings indicate important associations between physical activity in everyday life and the physical and mental health of adults with Down syndrome. Social policies and interventions aimed at reducing time spent sitting around (i.e., sedentary behavior) and encouraging moderate-to-vigorous activity may be a low-burden and low-cost mechanism for fostering healthy physical and mental aging in the Down syndrome population.

Изследване на утвърдените и прилагани етични принципи и професионални стандарти в работата на социолозите в Европа

The article presents the results of the author’s own research aimed at analyzing the existing practice in the field of self-regulation of the professional activity of sociologists regarding the adoption and validation of ethical principles and the application of professional standards in the activities of sociological associations and their members in Europe. An additional goal of the study was to establish whether these documents were up-to-date in relation to the evolving trends concerning the accelerated processes of digitalization of all processes and activities in everyday life and work, and hence the accumulation and transformation of the internet into a huge database with information about people in general.

Analysis of sports habits and their relations to a healthy lifestyle for young people aged 11-14

The aim of the study is to present the health behavior of Hungarian youth aged 11-14. During the research, we analyzed primary school students’ relation to regular physical activity and their knowledge about healthy lifestyle. The aim of our research was to explore the health influencing habits of 11 and 14 year olds; we focused on learning about young people's relation to regular exercise, and attitude toward a healthy lifestyle, the emergence of regular physical activity in everyday life, the impact of parents' sports habits on children, and discovering the connection between young people's health-conscious attitudes and sports habits. To explore the research questions and verify the hypotheses, we conducted a questionnaire among the surveyed age group. Using and analyzing the responses obtained during the research, we found that there are favorable data showing that a process has started, but we still have a long way to go. The greatest problem with children’s current lifestyle is the lack of conscious behavior. In many cases, they have adequate theoretical knowledge, but their conduct does not match their beliefs.

CONCEPT “SNOW” IN THE LINGUISTIC AND FOLKLORE PICTURE OF THE WORLD OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF YAKUTIA

The article undertakes a comparative analysis of the concept “Snow” in the linguistic and folklore worldview of the indigenous peoples of Yakutia. The purpose of the study is to identify the specific features of representation of this concept in the linguistic and folklore worldview of the Yakuts, Evens, Evenki, Yukaghirs. The methods used in the paper include linguocultural analysis, continuous sampling, comparison and collation. Following the research of verbalisation of the concept “Snow”, it was revealed that it is universal and significant in the conceptual framework “Natural phenomena”. It was found that the concept “Snow” in the Yakut linguistic and folkloric world image represents a complex, multilayer formation going beyond the framework of natural phenomena, being capable of expressing figurative meanings involving negative connotations, when designating failure, loss of orientation, deception, tears, as well as measure, quantity, time; act as part of an anthroponym, etc. It was established that the most relevant features are the makeup, depth of snow, time of snowfall, etc., which is important in horse husbandry, cattle breeding and hunting. It was revealed that the concept “Snow” in the Even, Evenki and Yukaghir linguistic world image is presented mainly as a component of the concept “Natural phenomena”, characterising snow in terms of various qualitative, temporal and spatial attributes associated with reindeer breeding and hunting. The explored folklore materials reflecting the life of the Evens, Evenki, Yukaghirs showed that this concept serves mainly as a marker of winter onset, colour white, a component of everyday life activities, of time, sometimes of danger, transience. The work results can be used in the development of theoretical provisions of cultural linguistics, in comparative research of ethno-cultural features of the linguistic and folklore picture of the world of the indigenous peoples of Yakutia.

ҚАЗАҚДӘСТҮРЛІ АҢШЫЛЫҒЫНЫҢ ХАЛЫҚ ФОЛЬКЛОРЫНДАҒЫ КӨРІНІСІ

The folklore of each nation is an indicator of national culture, its national identity, historical memory and worldview. Adapting to the environment, the people form their unique material and spiritual culture in accordance with the way of life. The Kazakh people, like other peoples, tried to interpret and convey the events of everyday life in various ways. Although folklore is an art created by the people, based on human wisdom, but it also acts as a true historical source. In folklore there are descriptions of historical events, pictures of everyday life and economic activity are reflected. Thus, the data of oral folk art are narrative sources among other types of sources. In accordance with the above facts, the author aims to consider traditional hunting on the examples of Kazakh folklore. In particular, on the basis of fairy tales, heroic and lyrical songs, ritual folklore and didactic folklore, the scenes of traditional hunting and the place of hunting in society are studied. An attempt was made through Kazakh folklore to show the national character and originality of traditional hunting, and the relationship between oral literature and ethnography was also revealed.

Walking activities beyond gait training: Priorities in everyday life for parents and adolescents in pediatric neurorehabilitation.

PURPOSE:This study aimed to gain knowledge about which walking-related everyday life activities and situations are relevant for parents of children with a neuromotor disorder and adolescents undergoing inpatient neurorehabilitation.METHODS:Two focus group interviews with purposive samples were performed, one with seven parents of children with acquired or congenital neuromotor disorders, and one with four adolescents undergoing inpatient neurorehabilitation. Data were analyzed with a qualitative descriptive research approach.RESULTS:Parents identified 120 activities that they considered as relevant in their everyday life and the adolescents identified 113 activities. Based on these activities, ten different categories that have a direct relation to walking in everyday life were identified. “Dealing with obstacles,” “moving in public areas,” “moving in a group,” and “walking in general” were perceived as the highest priority categories by the focus group participants.CONCLUSION:Activities incorporating walking tasks related to moving in a group or public areas and dealing with obstacles are perceived as meaningful by adolescents and parents in their everyday life. Addressing these categories in the goal setting process with families could facilitate the definition of walking-related goals aimed at increasing children’s and adolescents’ independence in daily life.

CNN Architectures and Feature Extraction Methods for EEG Imaginary Speech Recognition.

Speech is a complex mechanism allowing us to communicate our needs, desires and thoughts. In some cases of neural dysfunctions, this ability is highly affected, which makes everyday life activities that require communication a challenge. This paper studies different parameters of an intelligent imaginary speech recognition system to obtain the best performance according to the developed method that can be applied to a low-cost system with limited resources. In developing the system, we used signals from the Kara One database containing recordings acquired for seven phonemes and four words. We used in the feature extraction stage a method based on covariance in the frequency domain that performed better compared to the other time-domain methods. Further, we observed the system performance when using different window lengths for the input signal (0.25 s, 0.5 s and 1 s) to highlight the importance of the short-term analysis of the signals for imaginary speech. The final goal being the development of a low-cost system, we studied several architectures of convolutional neural networks (CNN) and showed that a more complex architecture does not necessarily lead to better results. Our study was conducted on eight different subjects, and it is meant to be a subject’s shared system. The best performance reported in this paper is up to 37% accuracy for all 11 different phonemes and words when using cross-covariance computed over the signal spectrum of a 0.25 s window and a CNN containing two convolutional layers with 64 and 128 filters connected to a dense layer with 64 neurons. The final system qualifies as a low-cost system using limited resources for decision-making and having a running time of 1.8 ms tested on an AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS CPU.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Study of a Multimodal Intervention vs. Cognitive Training to Foster Cognitive and Affective Health in Older Adults.

Research over the past few decades has shown the positive influence that cognitive, social, and physical activities have on older adults’ cognitive and affective health. Especially interventions in health-related behaviors, such as cognitive activation, physical activity, social activity, nutrition, mindfulness, and creativity, have shown to be particularly beneficial. Whereas most intervention studies apply unimodal interventions, such as cognitive training (CT), this study investigates the potential to foster cognitive and affective health factors of older adults by means of an autonomy-supportive multimodal intervention (MMI). The intervention integrates everyday life recommendations for six evidence-based areas combined with psychoeducational information. This randomized controlled trial study compares the effects of a MMI and CT on those of a waiting control group (WCG) on cognitive and affective factors, everyday life memory performance, and activity in everyday life. Three groups, including a total of 119 adults aged 65–86 years, attended a 5- or 10-week intervention. Specifically, one group completed a 10-week MMI, the second group completed 5-week of computer-based CT followed by a 5-week MMI, whereas the third group paused before completing the MMI for the last 5 weeks. All participants completed online surveys and cognitive tests at three test points. The findings showed an increase in the number and variability of activities in the everyday lives of all participants. Post hoc analysis on cognitive performance of MMI to CT indicate similar (classic memory and attention) or better (working memory) effects. Furthermore, results on far transfer variables showed interesting trends in favor of the MMI, such as increased well-being and attitude toward the aging brain. Also, the MMI group showed the biggest perceived improvements out of all groups for all self-reported personal variables (memory in everyday life and stress). The results implicate a positive trend toward MMI on cognitive and affective factors of older adults. These tendencies show the potential of a multimodal approach compared to training a specific cognitive function. Moreover, the findings suggest that information about MMI motivates participants to increase activity variability and frequency in everyday life. Finally, the results could also have implications for the primary prevention of neurocognitive deficits and degenerative diseases.

Analysis of the religion element in nathaniel hawthorners young goodman brown short story

ABSTRACT
 The objectives of this thesis was to describe the ReligionEelementsin Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown. The method applied in this research was descriptive qualitative method. This research used human instrument by herself. The data was analyzed by describing the elements of religion in short story. In collecting the data, the researcher read the short story and in analysing the data the researcher identifying religion element according to Rees theory. Based on the result of data analysis, the researcher found out data that: 1) God (s) and forces in the public square. The first element was belief in God2)sacred symbols (re) defining what is real were staff, meditation, ceremony, holy psalm, pulpit and Bible 3) sacred stories connecting past, present and future was good Cristians and honestmen,and 4) a community worshiping and acting together was Cristian congregation.In conlusion, the religion elements in Young Goodman Brown short story included belief, attitude and action in everyday life.
 Key word:Short Story, Religion Element

Exploring the effectiveness of auditory, visual, and audio-visual sensory cues in a multiple object tracking environment

Maintaining object correspondence among multiple moving objects is an essential task of the perceptual system in many everyday life activities. A substantial body of research has confirmed that observers are able to track multiple target objects amongst identical distractors based only on their spatiotemporal information. However, naturalistic tasks typically involve the integration of information from more than one modality, and there is limited research investigating whether auditory and audio-visual cues improve tracking. In two experiments, we asked participants to track either five target objects or three versus five target objects amongst similarly indistinguishable distractor objects for 14 s. During the tracking interval, the target objects bounced occasionally against the boundary of a centralised orange circle. A visual cue, an auditory cue, neither or both coincided with these collisions. Following the motion interval, the participants were asked to indicate all target objects. Across both experiments and both set sizes, our results indicated that visual and auditory cues increased tracking accuracy although visual cues were more effective than auditory cues. Audio-visual cues, however, did not increase tracking performance beyond the level of purely visual cues for both high and low load conditions. We discuss the theoretical implications of our findings for multiple object tracking as well as for the principles of multisensory integration.

Coordination of voice, hands and feet in rhythm and beat performance

Interlimb coordination is critical to the successful performance of simple activities in everyday life and it depends on precisely timed perception–action coupling. This is particularly true in music-making, where performers often use body-movements to keep the beat while playing more complex rhythmic patterns. In the current study, we used a musical rhythmic paradigm of simultaneous rhythm/beat performance to examine how interlimb coordination between voice, hands and feet is influenced by the inherent figure-ground relationship between rhythm and beat. Sixty right-handed participants—professional musicians, amateur musicians and non-musicians—performed three short rhythmic patterns while keeping the underlying beat, using 12 different combinations of voice, hands and feet. Results revealed a bodily hierarchy with five levels (1) left foot, (2) right foot, (3) left hand, (4) right hand, (5) voice, i.e., more precise task execution was observed when the rhythm was performed with an effector occupying a higher level in the hierarchy than the effector keeping the beat. The notion of a bodily hierarchy implies that the role assigned to the different effectors is key to successful interlimb coordination: the performance level of a specific effector combination differs considerably, depending on which effector holds the supporting role of the beat and which effector holds the conducting role of the rhythm. Although performance generally increased with expertise, the evidence of the hierarchy was consistent in all three expertise groups. The effects of expertise further highlight how perception influences action. We discuss the possibility that musicians’ more robust metrical prediction models make it easier for musicians to attenuate prediction errors than non-musicians. Overall, the study suggests a comprehensive bodily hierarchy, showing how interlimb coordination is influenced by hierarchical principles in both perception and action.

Individually Tailored Remote Physiotherapy Program Improves Participation and Autonomy in Activities of Everyday Life along with Exercise Capacity, Self-Efficacy, and Low-Moderate Physical Activity in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, chronic, progressive, and life-threatening disease; however, the appropriate target medical treatment today allows patients with PAH not only to survive but also to live a relatively normal life. However, patients face the challenge of adapting and maintaining a good quality of life, thus it is important to consider complex interventions related not only to medical treatment. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study. Twenty-one (21) patients diagnosed with PAH were included and randomly assigned to training or control group. All participants continued target medical therapy. Furthermore, TG underwent the individually tailored 12-week remote physiotherapy program. As a primary outcome measurement, the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPA) was used. Secondary outcome included aerobic capacity (6MWT), accelerometery and general self-efficacy (GSE). Data were collected at baseline, after 12 weeks and at follow-up 6 months after the beginning of the intervention. Results: A significant difference between the groups was found in the follow-up assessment on three of the four IPA subscales analyzed, AO, RF, and AI. The total IPA score decreased significantly in TG after the program, indicating an improved participation. In addition, in TG a significant increase in 6MWT results, daily time in low- or moderate-intensity physical activities, and GSE was observed. Conclusions: In summary, the individually tailored physiotherapy program investigated added to stable target medical therapy in patients with PAH encourages improvement and prevents possible deterioration of perceived participation of patients in activities of their everyday life in the context of one’s health condition in the long term, along with improved exercise capacity and increased time spent in low- or moderate-intensity physical activities. Future studies are needed to develop and evaluate long-term intervention to support patients living with this rare, chronic, and life-threatening disease.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of HFrEF patients is strongly associated with age, but not with functional capacity (6MWT), ejection fraction, NYHA, NT-proBNP, sex or BMI

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Czech Health Research Council of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic Introduction Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) commonly have impaired functional capacity and exercise intolerance which negatively affect their daily living activities and quality of life. Patients’ level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) remains low. A popular, easily incorporated into everyday life activity is walking, which at a pace of 5 km/h can be considered moderate intensity physical activity. We explored whether the level of MVPA in HFrEF patients is associated with certain demographic and clinical parameters. Methods We analysed baseline values of HFrEF patients recruited in a multicentre randomised controlled trial of a six-month walking intervention (WATCHFUL trial, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03041610). Their physical activity was objectively measured over seven days using accelerometer ActiGraph wGT3X-BT worn on the waist. Weekly minutes of MVPA were calculated using Freedson (1998) algorithm. The association between minutes of MVPA and sex, age, body mass index (BMI), HF symptoms (NYHA class), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), serum levels of NT-proBNP, and distance walked in a six-minute walk test (6MWT) was explored in a series of univariate and multivariate linear regression models. Results One hundred twenty-two patients were included in the analysis (31 females and 81 males, age 63.2±11.7 years, BMI 30.1±5.4, NYHA class II/III: 99/13, LVEF 30.5±7.0%, NT-proBNP 1169±1888 ng/L, 6MWT 365±61 m). They accumulated 33.8±40.3 min/week of MVPA. The weekly minutes of MVPA were negatively associated with patients' age: being one year older was associated with 1.8 min (SE 0.3) less MVPA (p < 0.001). Neither sex, BMI, NYHA Class, distance walked in 6MWT, nor serum levels of NT-proBNP were associated with weekly minutes of MVPA. Conclusion Our results show that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of HFrEF patients was strongly associated only with age. Surprisingly, commonly used prognostic markers of heart failure such as ejection fraction, NYHA, NT-proBNP, and functional capacity (6MWT) did not show significant. Neither did sex nor BMI. Exercise rehabilitation and increased physical activity improve functional capacity and should be regularly recommended, and even emphasised with age.

The Making of Incarnation by Tom McCarthy

Reviewed by: The Making of Incarnation by Tom McCarthy Siyu Cao Tom McCarthy The Making of Incarnation New York. Alfred A. Knopf. 2021. 226 pages. TOM MCCARTHY'S FIFTH novel can be seen as a sequel to his 2015 novel, Satin Island. The narrative of the new book is driven from the perspectives of two characters: Mark Phocan and Monica Dean. The former is employed by a motion-capture specialist company to use digital markers to record volunteers' movement during sex, while the latter, a lawyer at the LSE, investigates whether everyday-life actions can be copyrighted. What connects these two characters is a movie titled The Making of Incarnation and the tracing of "Box 808," which has appeared in American psychologist Lillian Gilbreth's research papers. This missing box is believed by the characters to be the key to disclosing the mechanism of all movements in the universe. A sense of déjà vu might kick in after reading the first three or four chapters. In Satin Island, the protagonist is also employed by a mysterious company to form a "Grand Report" about human behaviors. Undoubtedly, an overflow of technical terms adds an extra touch of charming geekiness to McCarthy's latest novel, and its multithreaded structure manages to generate moderate suspense amid the characters' intellectual adventure. However, the overt similarity between McCarthy's recent two works might invoke a mixed response. On one hand, this is another novel after Satin Island that does not rely on fragmentary plots to drive the narrative forward. Especially for those who are not familiar with McCarthy's style of "storytelling," it would not be easy to get through the first fifty or so pages of smart yet pedantic discourse about copyright law. On the other hand, with whimsical puns glittering between the lines, it has to be admitted that once absorbed into the author's rigorous reasoning and unrivaled sophisticatedness, readers would not be too bothered about whether the characters remain flat and unchanged throughout. The Making of Incarnation is a typical McCarthy novel—instead of telling an exciting story, it is more like an academic report. To question the work's lack of literariness does not necessarily deny its oozing intelligence. For potential readers, whether or not to enjoy McCarthy's latest work depends on what you expect from reading and how you read it. [End Page 79] Siyu Cao Shanghai International Studies University Copyright © 2022 World Literature Today and the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma