Conventional Lifestyle Research Articles

Differential effect of interventions in patients with prediabetesstratified by a machine learning-based diabetes progression prediction model.

To investigate whether stratifying participants with prediabetes according to their diabetes progression risks (PR) could affect their responses to interventions. We developed a machine learning-based model to predict the 1-year diabetes PR (ML-PR) with the least predictors. The model was developed and internally validated in participants with prediabetes in the Pinggu Study (a prospective population-based survey in suburban Beijing; n = 622). Patients from the Beijing Prediabetes Reversion Program cohort (a multicentre randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of lifestyle and/or pioglitazone on prediabetes reversion; n = 1936) were stratified to low-, medium- and high-risk groups using ML-PR. Different effect of four interventions within subgroups on prediabetes reversal and diabetes progression was assessed. Using least predictors including fasting plasma glucose, 2-h postprandial glucose after 75 g glucose administration, glycated haemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and the ML algorithm XGBoost, ML-PR successfully predicted the 1-year progression of participants with prediabetes in the Pinggu study [internal area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.80 (0.72-0.89)] and Beijing Prediabetes Reversion Program [external area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.80 (0.74-0.86)]. In the high-risk group pioglitazone plus intensive lifestyle therapy significantly reduced diabetes progression by about 50% at year l and the end of the trial in the high-risk group compared with conventional lifestyle therapy with placebo. In the medium- or low-risk group, intensified lifestyle therapy, pioglitazone or their combination did not show any benefit on diabetes progression and prediabetes reversion. This study suggests personalized treatment for prediabetes according to their PR is necessary. ML-PR model with simple clinical variables may facilitate personal treatment strategies in participants with prediabetes.

Effect of Conventional Lifestyle Interventions on Type 2 Diabetes Incidence by Glucose-Defined Prediabetes Phenotype: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

To examine whether the effect of conventional lifestyle interventions on type 2 diabetes incidence differs by glucose-defined prediabetes phenotype. We searched multiple databases until 1 April 2023 for randomized controlled trials that recruited people with isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (i-IGT), and impaired fasting glucose plus impaired glucose tolerance (IFG+IGT). Individual participant data were pooled from relevant trials and analyzed through random-effects models with use of the within-trial interactions approach. Four trials with 2,794 participants (mean age 53.0 years, 60.7% men) were included: 1,240 (44.4%), 796 (28.5%), and 758 (27.1%) had i-IFG, i-IGT, and IFG+IGT, respectively. After a median of 2.5 years, the pooled hazard ratio for diabetes incidence in i-IFG was 0.97 (95% CI 0.66, 1.44), i-IGT 0.65 (0.44, 0.96), and IFG+IGT 0.51 (0.38, 0.68; Pinteraction = 0.01). Conventional lifestyle interventions reduced diabetes incidence in people with IGT (with or without IFG) but not in those with i-IFG.

A novel smartphone app to change risk behaviors of women after gestational diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

AimsWomen after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are a risk group for cardiometabolic diseases but are hard to reach by conventional lifestyle programs. Therefore, we tested whether a novel, smartphone-delivered intervention, TRIANGLE, is accepted by women after GDM and alters cardiometabolic risk behaviors and outcomes. TRIANGLE targets gradual habit change of mind and emotion, physical activity, nutrition, and sleep.MethodsWe conducted a 6-month multicenter, randomized-controlled trial of TRIANGLE versus standard care with 66 women 3–18 months after GDM in Germany. The primary outcome was the proportion of women achieving ≥3 out of 5 Diabetes Prevention Program goals, i.e. physical activity ≥150 min/week (moderate to high intensity), fiber intake ≥15 g/1,000 kcal, fat intake <30% of total energy intake, saturated fat intake <10% of total energy intake, and weight reduction ≥5% if BMI ≥23 kg/m2 or weight maintenance if BMI <23 kg/m2. Intervention participants also rated the TRIANGLE app in the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS).ResultsIn the predefined, modified intention-to-treat analysis including 64 women, 6 out of 27 women in the intervention group [22%(10–40)] and 3 out of 27 women in the control group [11%(3–27)] reached the primary outcome (p = 0.47). In the predefined per-protocol intervention subgroup, the proportion was 4 out of 14 women [29%(11–55); p = 0.20 vs. control]. TRIANGLE app users were active on 42% of days and rated the app’s quality and perceived impact with 4.3±0.8 out of 5 uMARS points.ConclusionsThis first trial did not show the efficacy of the TRIANGLE intervention. However, the app was well accepted and considered helpful by most users. Therefore, this trial supports further development and testing of TRIANGLE and other app interventions for women after GDM. Additionally, it identifies necessary adaptations in trial design to better accommodate non-intensive lifestyle interventions for this target group.Trial registrationTrial registration at drks.de (DRKS00012996).

Craftivism Between Nationalism and Activism in Ukraine and Belarus.

This article outlines the history and significance of Craftivism in Eastern Europe. Using two case studies of artists it investigates the use of the craft language in Eastern Europe and its usability for activism. Do-It-Yourself culture, of which Craftivism is part, rejects the commercialism, gender norms and the conventional lifestyle in the Global North. Use of crafts as a language of political and social struggle allows to convey the message in a less confrontational but nevertheless very pertinent way. The craftivism is a successful language for the feminist political struggle in the Eastern Europe.

Impact of Cross-Border Tourism on the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas in the Russian–Polish and Russian–Kazakh Borderlands

Rural areas and peripheral borderland territories are experiencing socio-economic marginalization featuring depopulation, population aging, and an increasing inequality gap in the quality of life compared to cities. Integrated rural tourism is argued to be ideal for supporting the well-being of rural communities, providing an additional income, decreasing unemployment, offering new and appealing jobs out of traditional rural activities, while preserving the conventional lifestyle. In this study, we discovered the tourism capacity of rural borderland territories affected by cross-border tourism using the data on the geography of cross-border movements, the distribution of tourist sights, and the density of tourist accommodation facilities. The geographical scope of the study covered two cross-border coastal regions—the Russian–Polish region on the Baltic Sea and the Russian–Kazakh region on the Caspian Sea. The statistical and geoinformation analysis were used to allocate areas of prospecting rural tourism integrated with cross-border movement. The research results on the development and distribution of tourist infrastructure suggest that: the rural territories of these regions feature tourist attractions and accommodation facilities at a different level of density and remoteness from the border crossing; each cross-border region is featuring different types of travel restrictions for tourists; and both border-land territories show asymmetry by the more active Russian tourists traveling abroad. Each of the regions under consideration is attractive for cross-border tourism while having different degrees of penetration of tourist flows into the interior territories and coverage of rural areas. The study resulted in a tourist flow model that allows integrating rural areas.

Influence of Alternative Lifestyles on Antibiotic Use during Pregnancy, Lactation and in Children.

Alternative lifestyles are likely to be associated with distinct usage of specific medicinal products. Our goal was to find out whether the intake of antibiotics during pregnancy and by children differs according to whether the mothers have alternative or conventional lifestyles. Therefore, we investigated the use of antibiotics by pregnant women and by children up to 11 years of age participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. This cohort comprises two recruitment groups of mother–infant pairs, one with alternative lifestyles (selected via organic food shops, anthroposophic clinicians and midwives, anthroposophic under-five clinics, Rudolf Steiner schools and relevant magazines, n = 491) the other with conventional lifestyles (no selection based on lifestyle, n = 2343). Mothers in the alternative lifestyle group more frequently adhered to specific living rules and identified themselves with anthroposophy more than mothers in the conventional lifestyle group. The results revealed significant differences in antibiotic use during pregnancy and in children from 3 months to 10 years of age between the two groups. The rate of antibiotic use in children was consistently lower in the alternative lifestyle group than in the conventional lifestyle group. Antibiotic use in pregnancy was higher in low educated women, and maternal antibiotic use during lactation was higher after an instrumented delivery in hospital. Antibiotic use in the infant was higher when they had older sibs or were born in hospital, and lower in those who had been longer breastfed. After adjustment for these factors, the differences in antibiotic use between the alternative and conventional groups remained. The results suggest that an alternative lifestyle is associated with cautious antibiotic use during pregnancy, lactation and in children.

GAYA HIDUP MODERN PEREMPUAN MINANGKABAU AWAL ABAD KE-20

This paper contains a general description of modernity in the lives of Minangkabau women in the early 20th century. The years 1900 to 1942 were a general description of modernity in the life of the intended woman. The Dutch East Indies government has brought the Western style of thinking through education. Ethical Politics facilitates the way of modernization to open up and change the lifestyle of Minangkabau women. The process of criticism as an effort to leave the conventional lifestyle was brought by Minangkabau women who contributed in the world of education. They seek changes in conventional custom systems. Modern lifestyle behavior then occurs in the daily life of Minangkabau women. Modernity in Minangkabau is a combination of traditional, Islamic, and western values affecting various aspects in Minangkabau society. The impact on modernity in Minangkabau, from a positive aspect, is to bring a breakthrough in education for women, while the negative impact is the dispute of the elderly and young people and the emergence of habits following the trends.

Parisian Genius Loci: one of the ways to attract students

The article deals with the analysis of didactic potential of advertising as an authentic material used in the study of foreign languages. The systematic use of this material in particular enables to reconstruct such a complex phenomenon as the Parisian Genius Loci. The idea of N. Antsiferov, a prominent Russian researcher, who was born in Ukraine, is the tool that gives a holistic and multifaceted notion of the city in all aspects of its existence – historical, cultural, artistic, economic, sociological, etc. The concept of Genius Loci can be considered effective in teaching foreign languages as it enables to grasp, distinguish, takes into account, describe and represent numerous elements that shape the Paris phenomenon in the educational context. By analyzing a great number of advertisements in the French press, element categories that make up the Parisian Genius Loci as it is embodied in advertising have been identified. First, they are landmarks which are immediately associated with the city (la Tour Eiffel, la Place de la Concorde, le Palais Royal, le pont Alexandre III, etc.). Other elements also play a great role in the formation of Genius Loci, which, unlike the previous ones, are not “rare specimens”, but they create the city’s unique atmosphere (standards of mass architecture, street equipment, plants, some features of conventional lifestyle, ethnic and sociocultural composition, etc.). Toponyms constitute the last category least-featured by advertising. These categories relate to the tasks and techniques that meet the specifics. When the focus is on the landmarks of Paris, exercises to learn vocabulary and develop all language competences are used. The ‘impregnation & awareness’ effect corresponds with less striking, more hidden elements of Parisian Genius Loci. The ways of teaching how to use toponyms should be inductive, i.e. searchable. Students will not receive information passively. On the contrary, confronted with a certain phenomenon, they are able to grasp it, analyzing the circumstances with the teacher’s help.

MODERN POTTERY: EVALUATION ACCORDING TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TRADITIONAL IN AVANOS (CAPPADOCIA)

Avanos is one of the towns in Cappadocia where is very famous with fairy chimneys and incredible natural beauty. Ürgüp, Göreme and Uçhisar, that are other towns in Cappadocia, are more famous than Avanos, because of the success of management methods of cultural wealthiest. Cappadocia region has natural, historical and cultural site such as fairy chimneys, underground cities, historical buildings from Byzantines, Romans, Seljuk’s and Ottoman Period are the most important values of region. Avanos is also located in this region and it has historical buildings, cultural values like as traditional pottery production, carpet weaving, and natural beauty as fairy chimneys. Town has not been devastated for the tourism. Traditional pottery ateliers are located in center of Avanos and use historical caves for production, selling and exhibition. Municipality of Avanos and local investor want to use this conventional life style in modern pottery ateliers for development of tourism. But they don’t want to lose their traditional lifestyle and historical site. So they develop new method to sustain of the traditional handicraft. They interpret new construction techniques and new material according to traditional pottery ateliers. They construct atelier under the ground, use caves as a historical life style but with modern materials. So today’s comfort condition is not forced to the historical caves. In this way traditional life style is sustain in modern, new ateliers. This paper aim is making evaluation and research of some cases in Anavos. They are constructed in modern style but use traditional pottery production.

Participant experiences of two successful habit-based weight-loss interventions in Australia: a qualitative study

ObjectivesHabit-based weight-loss interventions have shown clinically important weight loss and weight-loss maintenance. Understanding why habit-based interventions work is therefore of great value, but there is little qualitative evidence about the...

Yoga-Based Postoperative Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for Improving Quality of Life and Stress Levels: Fifth-Year Follow-up through a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives:This study was aimed to assess the efficacy of yoga-based lifestyle program (YLSP) in improving quality of life (QOL) and stress levels in patients after 5 years of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).Methodology:Three hundred patients posted for elective CABG in Narayana Hrudayalaya Super Speciality Hospital, Bengaluru, were randomized into two groups: YLSP and conventional lifestyle program (CLSP), and follow-up was done for 5 years.Intervention:In YLSP group, all practices of integrative approach of yoga therapy such as yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, and meditation were used as an add-on to conventional cardiac rehabilitation. The control group (CLSP) continued conventional cardiac rehabilitation only.Outcome Measures:World Health Organization (WHO)-QOL BREF Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were assessed before surgery and at the end of the 5th year after CABG. As data were not normally distributed, Mann–Whitney U-test was used for between-group comparisons and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was used for within-group comparisons.Results:At the end of 5 years, mental health (P = 0.05), perceived stress (P = 0.01), and negative affect (NA) (P = 0.05) have shown significant improvements. WHO-QOL BREF score has shown improvements in physical health (P = 0.046), environmental health (P = 0.04), perceived stress (P = 0.001), and NA (P = 0.02) in YLSP than CLSP. Positive affect has significantly improved in CLSP than YLSP. Other domains of WHO-QOL-BREF, PANAS, and HADS did not reveal any significant between-group differences.Conclusion:Addition of long-term YLSP to conventional cardiac rehabilitation brings better improvements in QOL and reduction in stress levels at the end of 5 years after CABG.

Getting Specific About Psychological Inertia

A three-wave mediational analysis with two parallel mediators was performed on prospective data provided by all 1,354 (1,170 boys, 184 girls) members of the Pathways to Desistance study. In the analysis, baseline variety of offending scores (Wave 0) served as the independent variable, Wave 2 variety offending scores served as the dependent variable, and Wave 1 self-efficacy for conventional behavior and general confidence in avoiding future legal trouble served as mediators. Controlling for age, sex, race, parental socioeconomic status, callous/unemotional traits, and moral disengagement, it was determined that only self-efficacy for a conventional lifestyle successfully mediated the past delinquency–future delinquency relationship. From both a theoretical and practical standpoint, the current results indicate that efficacy expectancies specific to participating in a conventional lifestyle are more important in preventing subsequent delinquency than simple confidence in one’s ability to avoid future legal trouble.

Mediating the Relationship Between Parental Control/Support and Offspring Delinquency: Self-Efficacy for a Conventional Lifestyle Versus Self-Efficacy for Deviance

This study sought to determine whether self-efficacy for a conventional lifestyle mediated the relationship between parental control/support and offspring delinquency using longitudinal data supplied by 2,252 (1,145 boys, 1,107 girls) high school students surveyed in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. The results of a three-regression negative binomial analysis revealed that self-efficacy for a conventional lifestyle mediated the relationships between Wave 1 parental monitoring and attachment, on one hand, and Wave 3 delinquency, on the other hand. Comparison pathways mediated by self-efficacy for deviance, consistent with predictions, did not achieve significance. These results indicate that a social cognitive variable, self-efficacy for a conventional lifestyle, may be partially responsible for the delinquency-inhibiting effects of parental control (monitoring) and support (attachment).

Female Offenders, HIV Peer Programs, and Attachment: The Importance of Prison-Based Civilian Staff in Creating Opportunities to Cultivate Prosocial Behaviors.

As women commit to a conventional lifestyle, the bond of attachment becomes a fundamental component in sustaining the desistance process. If weak attachments in the community cannot be replaced or enhanced with the cultivation of strong conventional attachments while incarcerated, female offenders will leave prison without a supportive network. Strong social networks and a high level of social capital are essential for female offenders to reintegrate successfully; if social bonds are constructed before release, there is a greater chance of maintaining a crime-free lifestyle. One way to cultivate strong bonds of attachment during incarceration is through prison-based programming. This qualitative study, based on the narratives of 49 female offenders, examines the potential for inmates to form prosocial attachments with staff in two HIV prison-based peer programs in New York State. Strong attachments were formed between the inmates and civilian staff during incarceration, maintained upon release, and served to reinforce the establishment of bourgeoning conventional identities. The dedication and commitment of the civilian staff, and the support they provided to the inmates, was essential to achieving both rehabilitative and reintegrative goals.

勤労者のメタボリックシンドロームにおける理学療法について：理学療法士における新しい関わり

In Japan, physical therapists have usually been involved in physical therapy for patients with functional disorders associated with cerebrovascular or orthopedic diseases in hospitals. With the aging of Japanese society, the number of diseased people will progressively increase; thus, it is important to pay much more attention to disease prevention. In this regard, physical therapists are expected to play a new role in the field of preventive medicine. Metabolic syndrome or central obesity with multiple cardiometabolic risks is associated with a high risk of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular diseases and is now a central target for early detection and intervention for disease prevention. The incidence of metabolic syndrome increases with age, and men showed a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome than women in all generations. We have been involved in the guidance of workers with metabolic syndrome for a long time, and we conducted a multicenter study to establish effective guidance for these worker. In this paper, we will use our evidence to discuss the role of physical therapists in providing guidance for preventing metabolic syndrome. We are now conducting worksite supporting exercise intervention for workers who were resistant to conventional lifestyle guidance. In addition, the unique role of physical therapists in this new trial will be introduced.

Nonproblematic Illegal Drug Use

Given the scant knowledge regarding illicit drug users who maintain an overall conventional lifestyle, we aimed to develop a conceptual framework to understand how they manage to keep their drug use nonproblematic. We were interested in the individual’s experiential component, so we interviewed nonproblematic, ex-problematic and problematic Portuguese drug users. The conceptual framework was developed through the first group’s data and then validated through a new consultation with these participants and a triangulation of sources and methodologies (observation). Findings show that some subjects managed to keep their drug use nonproblematic through ongoing self-regulation as a result of cost-benefit analysis and drug use management strategies. These strategies resulted mainly from the users’ characteristics, the quality of drug using experiences, and experiences with other users. The importance of this study is in recognizing that nonproblematic drug use exists and that therein may lie important clues on how to minimize problematic use.

Lifestyle or Lifecycle Funds: Are They the Answer to Retirement Wealth Creation?

In this article, we investigate whether lifestyle and lifecycle products offered by the mutual fund industry are designed to maximize the terminal wealth of investors. The overall findings are that the majority of lifestyle and lifecycle funds are unlikely to produce sufficient capital for an investor to live on once he or she retires. In order to produce terminal balances greater than $1,000,000, one needs to have a high exposure to equities (in the 80% to 100% range). Additionally, it is wise to contribute at least 10% annually to the fund, as this can increase terminal values by at least 40%. However, having a high exposure may cause distress to investors, particularly in bear markets, and it makes sense to employ a strategy that varies the asset allocation depending upon the time-varying nature of markets. The four alternative TAA strategies outlined attempt to take into account the time-varying nature of markets, and the results indicate that they produce superior performance relative to lifestyle and lifecycle funds. All dynamic asset allocation strategies dominate the conventional lifestyle and lifecycle funds by first order stochastic dominance, and thus, investors should prefer them.

The intestinal microbiota composition and weight development in children: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study.

To investigate whether the intestinal microbiota composition in early infancy is associated with subsequent weight development in children. Analyses were conducted within the KOALA Birth Cohort Study (n = 2834). This cohort originates from two recruitments groups: pregnant women with a conventional lifestyle (no selection based on lifestyle) and pregnant women recruited through alternative channels (organic shops, anthroposophic clinicians/midwives, Steiner schools and relevant magazines). From 909 one-month-old infants, fecal samples were collected and analyzed by quantitative PCR targeting bifidobacteria, Bacteroides fragilis group, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Lactobacilli and total bacteria counts. Between the ages of 1 and 10 years, parent-reported weight and height was collected at 7 time points. Age- and gender-standardized body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equation. Colonization with B. fragilis group was borderline significantly associated with a higher BMI z-score of 0.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.02 to 0.31), in the conventional subcohort. After stratification for fiber intake (P(forinteraction) = 0.003), colonization with B. fragilis group was associated with a 0.34 higher BMI z-score among children with a low-fiber intake in this subcohort (95% CI: 0.17-0.53). Higher counts among colonized children were positively associated with BMI z-score only in children within the conventional subcohort and a high-fiber diet (BMI z-score 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.14), but inversely associated in children with a low-fiber diet (BMI z-score -0.05; 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.00), and in children recruited through alternative channels (BMI z-score -0.10; 95% CI: -0.17 to -0.03). The other bacteria were not associated with BMI z-scores, regardless of subcohort. Using a targeted approach, we conclude that the intestinal microbiota, particularly the B. fragilis group, is associated with childhood weight development. To identify the potential impact of additional bacterial taxa, further prospective studies applying an unconstrained in-depth characterization of the microbiota are needed.

Lifestyle or Lifecycle Funds Are They the Answer to Retirement Wealth Creation?

In this paper we investigate whether lifestyle and lifecycle products offered by the mutual fund industry are designed to maximise terminal wealth of investors. The overall findings are that the majority of lifestyle and lifecycle funds are unlikely to produce sufficient capital for investors to live on once they retire. In order to produce terminal balances greater than $1,000,000 one needs to have a high exposure to equities in the 80% to 100% range. Additionally it is wise to contribute at least 10% annually to the fund as this can increase terminal values by at least 40%. However, having a high exposure may cause distress to investors particularly in bear markets, it therefore makes sense to employ a strategy which varies the asset allocation depending upon the time varying nature of markets. The four alternative TAA strategies outlined attempt to take into the account the time varying nature of markets and the results indicate that they produce superior performance relative to lifestyle and lifecycle funds. All dynamic asset allocation strategies dominate by first order stochastic dominance conventional lifestyle and lifecycle funds and should be preferred by investors.

Six-month low level chlorine dioxide gas inhalation toxicity study with two-week recovery period in rats

BackgroundChlorine dioxide (CD) gas has a potent antimicrobial activity at extremely low concentration and may serve as a new tool for infection control occupationally as well as publicly. However, it remains unknown whether the chronic exposure of CD gas concentration effective against microbes is safe. Therefore, long-term, low concentration CD gas inhalation toxicity was studied in rats as a six-month continuous whole-body exposure followed by a two-week recovery period, so as to prove that the CD gas exposed up to 0.1 ppm (volume ratio) is judged as safe on the basis of a battery of toxicological examinations.MethodsCD gas at 0.05 ppm or 0.1 ppm for 24 hours/day and 7 days/week was exposed to rats for 6 months under an unrestrained condition with free access to chow and water in a chamber so as to simulate the ordinary lifestyle in human. The control animals were exposed to air only. During the study period, the body weight as well as the food and water consumptions were recorded. After the 6-month exposure and the 2-week recovery period, animals were sacrificed and a battery of toxicological examinations, including biochemistry, hematology, necropsy, organ weights and histopathology, were performed.ResultsWell regulated levels of CD gas were exposed throughout the chamber over the entire study period. No CD gas-related toxicity sign was observed during the whole study period. No significant difference was observed in body weight gain, food and water consumptions, and relative organ weight. In biochemistry and hematology examinations, changes did not appear to be related to CD gas toxicity. In necropsy and histopathology, no CD gas-related toxicity was observed even in expected target respiratory organs.ConclusionsCD gas up to 0.1 ppm, exceeding the level effective against microbes, exposed to whole body in rats continuously for six months was not toxic, under a condition simulating the conventional lifestyle in human.