High-intensity Activity Research Articles

Abstract #1408210: Glycogen Storage Disease Type III Presenting as Seizure in an African American Male

Glycogen is the stored form of glucose which serves as a buffer for glucose needs. It is formed in periods of dietary carbohydrate loading and broken down when glucose demand is high or dietary availability is low. The main role of glycogen in the liver is to store glucose for release to tissues that are unable to synthesize significant amounts during fasting. In the muscle, glycogen serves as the primary source of energy for high-intensity muscle activity by providing substrates for the generation of adenosine triphosphate. Glycogen storage diseases (GSD) are rare inborn errors of glycogen metabolism that result from mutations in genes involved in glycogen storage. The age of onset varies from in utero to adulthood. The most affected organs are the liver and muscle where glycogen is abundant. Liver manifestations include hypoglycemia and hepatomegaly while muscle manifestations include cramps, exercise intolerance, easy fatigability, and progressive weakness. GSD III is due to an abnormality in the Amylo-Alpha-1, 6-Glucosidase, 4-Alpha-Glucanotransferase (AGL) gene causing deficiency of the glycogen debrancher enzyme. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Estimated prevalence is 1:100,000. It is characterized by variable liver, cardiac muscle and skeletal involvement. GSD IIIa is present in about 85% of affected individuals and manifests with liver and muscle involvement. GSD IIIb is in about 15 % of affected individuals with liver involvement only. The patient was born to a 35-year-old African American mother at 38 weeks gestation. Labor and delivery were uncomplicated. Initial labs showed blood glucose of 38 mg/dl for which he was placed on a hypoglycemia protocol. Breastfeeding was started successfully with no more noted hypoglycemia and he was discharged home. At 11 months he was taken to the ER after a witnessed tonic clinic seizure. Blood glucose was noted to be 24 mg/dl. He was managed with hypoglycemia protocol and Pediatric Endocrinology team consulted. Labs showed elevated liver enzymes, creatinine kinase and cholesterol with ALP 1101 units/L, AST 1822 units/L, ALT 1148 units/L, CK 783 units/L, total cholesterol 223mg/dl, triglyceride 249 mg/dl and HDL 30 mg/dl. Abdominal US showed hepatomegaly and echo showed left ventricular and septal hypertrophy. GSD was suspected so genetic testing was done and showed 2 frameshift mutations in the AGL gene confirming GSD Type IIIa. He was started on a low carbohydrate high protein diet together with corn starch with minimal hypoglycemia episodes. He has been closely followed at the pediatric Endocrinology clinic and is now 17 years old. He has a DEXCOM continuous glucose monitor. Most recent labs show some improvement in liver enzymes and lipids. Both of his parents are positive for the GSD III trait. Unexplained hypoglycemia warrants a thorough work up as highlighted in this case. Most of the severe forms of GSDs are diagnosed in childhood but some mild forms can be diagnosed in adulthood. Both pediatric and adult endocrinologists should have sufficient knowledge on the diagnosis and management of GSDs.

COVID-19 PANDEMİSİ SIRASINDA KİSTİK FİBROZİS DIŞI BRONŞEKTAZİ HASTALARINDA COVID-19 FOBİSİ VE FİZİKSEL AKTİVİTE DÜZEYİ

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic period may affect physical and mental health of non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis patients. The aim of this study was to compare COVID-19 phobia, quality of life, health anxiety, physical activity level and sleep quality during the pandemic between patients with non-CF bronchiectasis and healthy controls.
 Methods: Thirty non-CF bronchiectasis patients and 44 healthy controls were included. COVID-19 phobia (Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale (CP19-S)), quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)), health anxiety (Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI)), physical activity level (short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF)) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) were evaluated.
 Results: NHP energy, pain, and physical mobility scores and moderate-intensity physical activity levels were significantly lower; PSQI sleep disturbance score was significantly higher in patients compared with controls (p0.05). The majority of patients and controls did not meet the recommended levels of moderate or high-intensity physical activity per week.
 Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline in quality of life, reduced moderateintensity physical activity, and increased sleep disturbances among non-CF bronchiectasis patients. Both patients and healthy individuals have experienced coronaphobia and exhibited low levels of physical activity. These results reveal the importance of providing physical activity counseling during the pandemic period.

Association of the practice of contact sports with the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objectives: High-intensity physical activity and sports prone to repetitive injuries of the cervical spine and head (when associated with vigorous practice) have been suggested as possible risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the practice of contact sports (boxing, hockey, football, rugby) and ALS. Methods: The study included 2247 individuals, 1326 patients and 921 controls from several European countries. Analysis of the effect of contact sports on ALS was conducted in male participants only, as very few women practiced contact sports. Logistic regression models were used with the response variable as the presence or absence of ALS, with α = 0.05 significance level. Results: A relationship between the practice of contact sports and ALS was found, with those practicing contact sports having 76% higher odds of an ALS diagnosis (OR = 1.76, p = 0.001). In addition, univariate analyses for age (higher risk for older people, p < 0.001), smoking status (higher risk for ex-smokers, p = 0.022) and tobacco exposure (higher risk for more exposure, p = 0.038) also indicated that these variables are risk factors for ALS. In multivariate models, in addition to age, the interaction term between practice of contact sports and tobacco exposure was still significant (p = 0.03). Conclusions: This is one of the largest studies on the role of contact sport in ALS development. Our results support the existence of a relationship between the practice of sports with repetitive trauma at the level of the cervical spine and head, and ALS. This risk appears to be enhanced by tobacco exposure.

Effects of physical activity level on quality of life, stress, and dietary behavior in people living with HIV/AIDS: A pilot study

The aim of this study was to analyze the daily physical activity and the relationship between the physical activity levels and psychological variables of Koreans with HIV. Twenty-two people with HIV participated in this study. The participants completed questionnaires, and we assessed the daily physical activity for 2 weeks. The daily physical activity level of most of the participants was low-intensity; high-intensity activities were only performed for approximately 1 minute. The participants had unhealthy dietary habits, such as eating 2 meals a day, eating irregularly, and skipping breakfast. Psychological well-being and environmental satisfaction were higher in the high-intensity group than in the medium- and low-intensity groups (P < .05). The overall stress level among the groups was statistically significantly different (P < .05), and the stress level was lower in the high-intensity group than in the low- and medium-intensity groups. Restraint eating was higher in the low-intensity group than in the medium- and high-intensity groups (P < .05). However, among the groups, the external eating variable was highest in the high-intensity group (P < .05). Daily physical activity during positively affects the physical and mental well-being of people living with HIV.

Research on Detection and Recognition Technology of a Visible and Infrared Dim and Small Target Based on Deep Learning

With the increasing trend towards informatization and intelligence in modern warfare, high-intensity and continuous reconnaissance activities are becoming increasingly common in battlefield environments via airborne, vehicle, UAV, satellite and other platforms. Visible and infrared images are preferred due to their high resolution, strong contrast, rich texture details and color features, and strong information expression ability. However, the quality of imaging is easily affected by environmental factors, making it crucial to quickly and accurately filter useful information from massive image data. To this end, super-resolution image preprocessing can improve the detection performance of UAV, and reduce false detection and missed detection of targets. Additionally, super-resolution reconstruction results in high-quality images that can be used to expand UAV datasets and enhance the UAV characteristics, thereby enabling the enhancement of small targets. In response to the challenge of “low-slow small” UAV targets at long distances, we propose a multi-scale fusion super-resolution reconstruction (MFSRCNN) algorithm based on the fast super-resolution reconstruction (FSRCNN) algorithm and multi-scale fusion. Our experiments confirm the feasibility of the algorithm in reconstructing detailed information of the UAV target. On average, the MFSRCNN reconstruction time is 0.028 s, with the average confidence before and after reconstruction being 80.73% and 86.59%, respectively, resulting in an average increase of 6.72%.

Relationships among Physical Activity, Physical Function, and Food Intake in Older Japanese Adults Living in Urban Areas: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Japan is experiencing a super-ageing society faster than anywhere else in the world. Consequently, extending healthy life expectancy is an urgent social issue. To realize a diet that can support the extension of healthy life expectancy, we studied the quantitative relationships among physical activities (number of steps and activity calculated using an accelerometer), physical functions (muscle strength, movement function, agility, static balance, dynamic balance, and walking function), and dietary intake among 469 older adults living in the Tokyo metropolitan area (65-75 years old; 303 women and 166 men) from 23 February 2017 to 31 March 2018. Physical activities and functions were instrumentally measured, and the dietary survey adopted the photographic record method. There was a significant positive association (p < 0.05) between physical activities (steps, medium-intensity activity, and high-intensity activity) and physical functions (movement function, static balance, and walking function), but no association with muscle strength. These three physical functions were significantly positively correlated with intake of vegetables, seeds, fruits, and milk; with magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B6; and with the dietary fibre/carbohydrate composition ratio (p < 0.05). Future intervention trials must verify if balancing diet and nutrition can improve physical activities in older adults through increased physical functions.

Descriptive representation and conflict reduction: Evidence from India’s Maoist rebellion

Can greater inclusion in democracy for historically disadvantaged groups reduce rebel violence? Democracy-building is a common tool in counterinsurgencies and post-conflict states, yet existing scholarship has faced obstacles in measuring the independent effect of democratic reforms. We evaluate whether quotas for Scheduled Tribes in local councils reduced rebel violence in Chhattisgarh, an Indian state featuring high-intensity Maoist insurgent activity. These quotas did not originate as a counterinsurgency technique, but instead as an effort to address the longstanding political marginalization of India’s Scheduled Tribes. We employ a geographic regression discontinuity design to study the wartime effects of quotas implemented in Chhattisgarh, finding that reservations reduced Maoist violence in the state. Exploratory analyses of mechanisms suggest that reservations reduced violence by bringing local elected officials closer to state security forces, providing a windfall of valuable information to counterinsurgents. Our study shows that institutional engineering, like reforms to create more inclusive representative democracy, can shape the trajectory of insurgent violence. Institutional engineering creating more inclusive representative democracy during an ongoing conflict can affect the political economy of information sharing in civil war and, ultimately, affect the trajectory of insurgent violence.

Metabolic power and energy expenditure in the German Bundesliga.

The aims of the study were to analyze metabolic power (MP) and MP derived parameters for different positions in the German Soccer Bundesliga and to evaluate if classification of high-intensity is more suited using the metabolic power approach instead of using traditional speed-based methods. 1,345 video match analysis (25Hz) datasets from 380 players in 96 matches of the German first Bundesliga were gathered by an automatic player tracking system. Displacement (speed, acceleration, distance) and energetic (MP, energy expenditure) variables were determined. Intensity was classified utilizing conventional thresholds. Metabolic and running profiles were compared among six positional groups and between the halves of the match respectively (one-way ANOVA). Further, time spent, distance covered and energy expended at high speed (>15.5kmh-1) and high acceleration (>2ms-2) were compared to those at high MP (>20Wkg-1) (one-way ANOVA) for evaluating if metabolic power is more suited to describe intensity in team sports. Main findings are that central-attacking midfielders (CAM) and central midfielders (CM) expended more energy (CAM: 59.8 ± 4.2kJkg-1; CM: 59.6 ± 3.6kJkg-1) and covered more distance (CAM: 11,494 ± 765m; CM: 11,445 ± 638m) than all other positions (p < 0.001). In the whole group of players, less time (t) and less energy were expended (EE) in high speed (t: 302 ± 84s; EE: 10.1 ± 2.9kJkg-1) and at high acceleration zones (t: 147 ± 24s; EE: 5.5 ± 1.2kJkg-1) when compared to high MP zone (t: 617 ± 141s; EE: 20.0 ± 4.4kJkg-1) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, players covered more distance at high MP (2,464 ± 597m) than at high speed (1,638 ± 458m) and much less at high acceleration (359 ± 67m) (p < 0.001). The higher activity profiles of CAM and CM compared to the other positions indicate the need for higher developed physiological performance in players of these positions. High intensity activities should be interpreted differently when using MP and displacement parameters as indicators of high intensity in soccer.

Deep Learning for Laying Hen Activity Recognition Using Wearable Sensors

Laying hen activities in modern intensive housing systems can dramatically influence the policies needed for the optimal management of such systems. Intermittent monitoring of different behaviors during daytime cannot provide a good overview, since daily behaviors are not equally distributed over the day. This paper investigates the application of deep learning technology in the automatic recognition of laying hen behaviors equipped with body-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU) modules in poultry systems. Motivated by the human activity recognition literature, a sophisticated preprocessing method is tailored on the time-series data of IMU, transforming it into the form of so-called activity images to be recognized by the deep learning models. The diverse range of behaviors a laying hen can exhibit are categorized into three classes: low-, medium-, and high-intensity activities, and various recognition models are trained to recognize these behaviors in real-time. Several ablation studies are conducted to assess the efficacy and robustness of the developed models against variations and limitations common for an in situ practical implementation. Overall, the best trained model on the full-feature acquired data achieves a mean accuracy of almost 100%, where the whole process of inference by the model takes less than 30 milliseconds. The results suggest that the application of deep learning technology for activity recognition of individual hens has the potential to accurately aid successful management of modern poultry systems.

English

Introduction: Due to demographic changes in fertility and mortality, it is predicted that in 2050 the proportion of the world population aged 60 and over will increase from 11% to 22%. Objective: To analyze the effects of high-intensity interval training in healthy older adults. Material and method: A bibliographic search was carried out in the following Pubmed, Scielo and ScienceDirect databases, using the Boolean terms High-intensity interval excercise OR High-intensity interval training OR high intensity interval activity AND aged OR older adult OR elderly. The PICoR strategy was used to define eligibility criteria (P) Healthy Older Adults, (I) Use High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), (C) be subjected to evaluation using the PEDRO scale and obtain a score equal to or greater than 6 points, (O) effect of high-intensity interval training in Adults Healthy elderly (S) studies with control groups or other interventions, published between the years 2016 to 2021. Results: 1.516 articles were identified, but only those that met the inclusion criteria (7 studies) were included. Significant improvements in sleep quality, fatigue, and body composition were obtained by combining HIIT training with nutritional support. Other improvements were obtained in strength, anabolic hormones, blood lipids, VO2max, exercise tolerance, and systolic BP using only HIIT training. Conclusion: The adapted HIIT training is applicable to healthy older adults and causes significant improvements in this age group.

Method for the Quantification of mHealth Related Physical Activity Intensity Using Consumer Mobile Sensors

Daily physical activity is one of the key factors to improve health and support the prevention of a variety of chronic diseases e.g., hypertension, depression or acute events such as strokes. Self-monitoring by the patients has shown to improve adherence to care and thus leads to general improvement of health conditions. However, precise physical activity detection and quantification may involve heavy or expensive sensors and often-complex computations. Other types of bottlenecks, such as proprietary algorithms or machine learning methods, which often do not meet requirements of medical use cases due to a lack in transparency and requested levels of accuracy and robustness, motivated the work presented here. In this paper, we propose the adaptation of the Euclidean norm minus one method, which was already demonstrated as relevant for physical activity intensity discrimination. The main modification stands in the use of a gravity estimate to countervail imprecise sensors, which allows using the metric with low sampled wrist accelerometer data, collected with off-the-shelf smartwatches in daily live environments. As proof of concept, the proposed algorithm was evaluated on a reference data set acquired on healthy subjects. The method shows the ability to discriminate between low, moderate, and high intensity activities.

Evaluation of the sexual function of men in Kazakhstan during 2021-2022: A cross-sectional study.

Assessing male sexual function is an important public health issue in every country. In Kazakhstan, there are currently no reliable statistics on male sexual function. The study aimed at the assessment of sexual function in men in Kazakhstan. Men between the ages of 18 and 69 from Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, three of Kazakhstan's biggest cities, were included in the cross-sectional study in 2021-2022. A standardized and modified Brief Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI) tool was used for participants' interviews. The World Health Organization STEPS questionnaire was employed to gather sociodemographic information, including smoking and alcohol use. Respondents from three cities: n = 283 from Almaty, n = 254 from Astana, and n = 232 from Shymkent were interviewed. All participants' average age was 39.2 ± 13.4. Kazakhs made up 79.5% of the respondents by nationality; 19.1% who answered questions on physical activity verified that they were involved in high-intensity labor. According to the BSFI questionnaire, the respondents from Shymkent had an average total score of 2.82 ± 0.92, (p ≤ 0.05), which was higher than the total scores of respondents from Almaty (2.69 ± 0.87) and Astana (2.69 ± 0.95). A relationship was found between sexual dysfunction and age indicators over 55 years. Participants with overweight had a relationship with sexual dysfunction with an odds ratio (OR): 1.84 (p = 0.01). According to the smoking factor, in study participants with sexual dysfunction, a relationship was also determined,OR: 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI):0.79-1.97 (p = 0.001). The presence of high-intensity activity (OR: 1.58; 95%CI: 0.04-1.91), and physical inactivity (OR: 1.49; 95%CI: 0.89-1.97) were associated with the presence of sexual dysfunction, p ≤ 0.05. Our research indicates that men over 50 who smoke, are overweight, and are physically inactive are at risk for sexual dysfunction. Early health promotion may be the most effective method to reduce the negative effects of sexual dysfunction on the health and wellbeing of men over 50.

Latitudinal responses of the ionosphere over South America during HILDCAA intervals: Case studies

Aspects regarding the influence of High-Intensity Long-Duration Continuous Auroral Electrojet Activity (HILDCAA) intervals on ionospheric dynamics have been objecting to increasing interest in the last years. Notwithstanding, some key interconnections between the HILDCAA intervals impacts on the ionosphere over distinct latitudes, according to the solar cycle phase, remain to require further investigation. In this work, the F2 layer peak height and its critical frequency (hmF2 and foF2, respectively) from Digisonde data obtained over São Luís (2.60° S; 44.21° W), Cachoeira Paulista (22.70° S; 44.98° W), and Port Stanley (51.60° S, 57.9° W), were evaluated to unravel more details of the ionospheric responses to four HILDCAA intervals as case studies. Those are equatorial, low, and mid-latitude stations, respectively, and the main results over them presented a similar trend in terms of solar cycle dependence, with the greater impact on the ionospheric density along with solar maximum conditions, despite the higher frequency of HILDCAA occurrences in the descending and minimum phases. The variation of hmF2 due to HILDCAA effects in comparison to quiet time is about 20% in equatorial and mid-latitudes, while over the low latitude station the hmF2 ranges positively up to 40%. These results enhance our understanding of the HILDCAAs magnitude degree both regarding its solar cycle occurrence, and its effects in different ionospheric latitudinal sections.

Designed acute physical activity to benefit primary school children’s cognition: Effects of cognitive challenge, bout duration and positive affect

Designed acute physical activity to benefit primary school children’s cognition: Effects of cognitive challenge, bout duration and positive affect

Effect of Loading Rate on the Mechanical Properties of Weakly Cemented Sandstone

Weakly cemented rocks are characterized by low strength, loose structure, and easy disintegration. High-intensity mining activities can damage and rupture such rock bodies and induce damage, such as flaking and roofing on roadways. To reveal the mining intensity influence on the weakly cemented rocks’ deformation and damage, a numerical particle flow model of weakly cemented sandstone was established based on particle flow theory. Uniaxial compression simulation tests were conducted at four loading rates of 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mm/min to study the weakly cemented sandstone’s stress–strain relationship, damage rupture, acoustic emission, and energy evolution. The results show that, with an increased loading rate, the uniaxial compressive strength of weakly cemented sandstone increases exponentially, and the rupture mode transforms from brittle damage to ductile damage; the greater the loading rate, the greater the degree of damage and crushing range of the rock. Further, with an increased loading rate, the peak hysteresis of rock acoustic emission events decreases, and the number of events increases; the energy accumulated in the rock increases, thus intensifying the degree of rock damage. Therefore, the possibility of engineering disasters should be considered when conducting high-speed underground mining activities.

Short, frequent high-intensity physical activity breaks reduce appetite compared to a continuous moderate-intensity exercise bout.

A single exercise session can affect appetite-regulating hormones and suppress appetite. The effects of short, regular physical activity breaks across the day on appetite are unclear. This study investigated the effects of breaking up sitting with high-intensity physical activity vs a single bout of moderate-intensity exercise and prolonged sitting on appetite control. In this randomised crossover trial, 14 sedentary, inactive adults (7 women) completed 3, 8-h experimental conditions: (i) prolonged sitting (SIT); (ii) 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise followed by prolonged sitting (EX-SIT), and (iii) sitting with 2 min 32 s of high-intensity physical activity every hour (SIT-ACT). Physical activity energy expenditure was matched between EX-SIT and SIT-ACT. Subjective appetite was measured every 30 min with acylated ghrelin and total peptide-YY (PYY) measured hourly in response to two standardised test meals. An ad libitum buffet meal was provided at the end of each condition. Based on linear mixed model analysis, total area under the curve for satisfaction was 16% higher (P = 0.021) and overall appetite was 11% lower during SIT-ACT vs EX-SIT (P = 0.018), with no differences between SIT-ACT and SIT. Time series analysis indicated that SIT-ACT reduced subjective appetite during the majority of the post-lunch period compared with SIT and EX-SIT, with some of these effects reversed earlier in the afternoon (P < 0.05). Total PYY and acylated ghrelin did not differ between conditions. Relative energy intake was 760 kJ lower during SIT-ACT vs SIT (P = 0.024). High-intensity physical activity breaks may be effective in acutely suppressing appetite; yet, appetite-regulating hormones may not explain such responses.

Rural agriculture largely reduces the urban heating effects in China: A tale of the three most developed urban agglomerations

Agriculture, as a widespread high-intensity land use activity in urban surroundings, may dramatically alter urban climate through advection and atmospheric feedbacks. However, it remains unclear how and to what extent agriculture warms or cools the urban temperature. This study investigated the potential impacts of rural croplands on summer and winter urban heat island (UHI) effects in three most developed urban agglomerations (JJJ, Jing-Jin-Ji; YRD, Yangtze River Delta; PRD, Pearl River Delta) of China by the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. Results show that urban lands warm 2-m air temperature substantially relative to natural forests, with a mean intensity of 1.33∼1.70 °C and the strongest in winter night of 2.99∼3.07 °C, but one to two thirds of the warming are canceled by rural croplands, especially in the semi-humid JJJ. The cropland impacts depend strongly on the concurrent UHI effects, with the coupled effects (added impacts due to the UHI effect) are 2.0∼8.7 times the independent effects (assuming no UHI effect), especially in the humid-hot PRD. Consequently, the rapid cropland loss for urbanization during 2000–2020 not only increases the UHI-affected area by 1.5∼4.2 times, but also elevates the UHI intensity of existing urban lands, for example, by 0.43∼0.65 °C in winter night. The cropland impacts on urban climate can be attributed to a range of factors like decreases in ground heat storage and net radiation, an increase in wind speed (turbulent heat mixing), and a change of planetary boundary layer height. Our results highlight the importance of rural agriculture in modulating urban climate and therefore in formulating the coordinated development plans of city clusters. However, the simulated cropland impacts differ greatly between near-surface air and land skin temperatures, and from the satellite-sensed radiant temperature, calling for field observations and more numeric experiments to elaborate the findings from this study.

Changes in the Spatiotemporal of Net Primary Productivity in the Conventional Lake Chad Basin between 2001 and 2020 Based on CASA Model

Accurate estimation of vegetation Net Primary Productivity (NPP) has important theoretical and practical significance for ecological environment governance, carbon cycle research, and the rational development and utilization of natural resources. In this study, the spatial characteristics, temporal changes, and driving factors of NPP in the Conventional Lake Chad Basin (CLCB) were based on MODIS data by constructing a Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model and using a combination of Residual trends (RESTREND) and correlation analysis. The results showed that from 2001 to 2020, the NPP of the CLCB decreased annually (1.14 g C/m2), mainly because of overgrazing, deforestation, and large-scale irrigation. We conducted a driving factor analysis and found that the main influencing factor of the NPP of the CLCB is high-intensity human activities, including farmland reclamation and animal husbandry. Although the impact of climate change on NPP is not obvious in the short term, climate change may help recover NPP in the long term. The continued reduction in NPP has greatly increased the difficulty of regreening the Sahel; the increase in population density and rapid urbanization have led are major contributing factors to this. Our findings have important implications for the continued implementation of stringent revegetation policies. However, owing to limited data and methods, only the overall change trend of NPP was obtained, and comprehensive follow-up studies are needed.

Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae) Invading One in Five Natura 2000 Protected Areas of Greece and One in Four Habitat Types: What Is Next?

Invasive alien plants have severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide. To assess the invasion of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. (a major alien invasive plant; Solanaceae) in Greek protected areas (PAs), we conducted an extensive drive-by survey across the country crossing half of the Greek Natura 2000 sites. The occurrence data were then linked in GIS with (i) the boundaries of the Natura 2000 sites, (ii) the mapped habitat types in the invaded sites, and (iii) the Corine land cover, from which we calculated the ecosystem services. The results showed that approximately 24% of the investigated PAs were invaded by S.elaeagnifolium to varying degrees of extension and density of the populations. A variety of 29 different habitat types of Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EEC (including a priority habitat and seven habitat types of national importance) were found to be invaded (one in four habitat types present in Greece). In the invaded Natura 2000 sites, we recorded human activities/threats that were mostly related to agricultural activities of high intensity, while the potential in ecosystem service provision was relatively low for the category of regulating services in the invaded sites. Our study provides the first nationwide report of the distribution of S. elaeagnifolium in Natura 2000 sites of Greece, providing baseline maps and information for future monitoring. Our results highlight the need of an effective management strategy across the Natura 2000 network to effectively protect the local biodiversity, which should include management measures for invasive species, mitigating habitat fragmentation, and soil degradation, as well as the adaptation of eco-enhancing management strategies for the provision of multiple ecosystem services in agriculture.

Physical Activity and Sleep Quality Association in Different Populations: A Meta-Analysis.

The meta-analysis statistical methodology was used to test the effect of physical activity intervention on sleep quality. According to the preliminary results of the meta-analysis, moderating variables (age stage and physical activity intensity) were included for further study. On this basis, measures and schemes to improve sleep quality through physical activity were put forward. A preliminary Endnote X9 search of relevant literature from six electronic databases (Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, CNKI, PsycINFO and Wanfang) was performed. The results showed the following: (1) The overall test effect of physical activity intervention on sleep quality was not significant (p = 0.15). (2) Moderate- and low-intensity physical activity had significant effects on sleep quality (moderate intensity d = 2.56, p = 0.015; low-intensity d = 1.38, p = 0.03), while high-intensity physical activity had no obvious effect on sleep quality (d = 1.12, p = 0.32). (3) There were differences in the effect of physical activity on sleep quality at different ages. The effect of physical activity on sleep quality was more obvious in children and middle-aged and elderly people (children d = 1.24, p = 0.03; middle-aged and elderly people d = 1.98, p = 0.037), but not in young people (d = 1.32, p = 0.11). Conclusion: The overall effect of physical activity on sleep quality was not significant. Physical activity had an obvious effect on the sleep quality of children and middle-aged and elderly people but had no obvious effect on young people. Moderate-intensity physical activity had a certain effect on sleep quality, but high-intensity physical activity had no obvious effect on sleep quality. Future studies need to confirm these findings with a good large sample and moderating variables.