Physical Capacity Research Articles

Nitrogen-doped substrate material ion imprinting-capacitive deionization selective recovery of lithium ions from acidic solutions.

With the continuous development of global industry and the increasing demand for lithium resources, recycling valuable lithium from industrial solid waste is necessary for sustainable development and environmental friendliness. Herein, we employed ion imprinting and capacitive deionization to prepare a new electrode material for lithium-ion selective recovery. The material morphology and structure were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and other characterization methods, and the adsorption mechanism and water clusters were correlated using the density functional theory. The electrode material exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 36.94mg/g at a Li+ concentration of 600mg/L. The selective separation factors for Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Al3+ in complex solution environments were 2.07, 9.82, 1.80, and 8.45, respectively. After undergoing five regeneration cycles, the material retained 91.81% of the initial Li+ adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, the electrochemical adsorption capacity for Li+ was more than twice the corresponding conventional physical adsorption capacity because electrochemical adsorption provides the energy needed for deprotonation, enabling exposure of the cavities of the crown ether molecules to enrich the active sites. The proposed environment-friendly separation approach offers excellent selectivity for Li+ recovery and addresses the growing demand for Li+ resources.

The effect of the mental fitness activity program on quality of life indicators of temporary displaced women of mature age

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of Pilates health classes on the indicators of psycho- emotional state and quality of life in middle-aged temporarily displaced persons. Methods: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, sociological (survey), anthropometric, and pedagogical methods (pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment), methods of assessing the quality of life, and methods of mathematical statistics. Subjects. The study was conducted on the basis of a family-type house in the city of Rome (Italy) and involved 12 middle-aged women and 6 Pilates trainers. Results. The results of the study confirmed that the proposed wellness program based on the use of the Pilates system in evacuation conditions had a positive effect on all components of the quality of life of middle-aged people, especially on their emotional state, as it was possible to achieve a specific increase in both physical and mental components of health status. Thus, the physical component increased by 1.3 times or by 34%, and the psychological component increased by 1.8 times or by 81%. Positive changes were observed in the indicators of physical condition (increased by 23%) and physical capacity (increased by 18%), and indicators of visual screening of posture (increases by 15.9%).

The "Can Do, Do Do" Framework Applied to Assess the Association between Physical Capacity, Physical Activity and Prospective Falls, Subsequent Fractures, and Mortality in Patients Visiting the Fracture Liaison Service.

The "can do, do do" framework combines measures of poor and normal physical capacity (PC, measured by a 6 min walking test, can do/can't do) and physical activity (PA, measured by accelerometer, do do/don't do) into four domains and is able to categorize patient subgroups with distinct clinical characteristics, including fall and fracture risk factors. This study aims to explore the association between domain categorization and prospective fall, fracture, and mortality outcomes. This 6-year prospective study included patients visiting a Fracture Liaison Service with a recent fracture. Outcomes were first fall (at 3 years of follow-up, measured by fall diaries), first subsequent fracture, and mortality (at 6 years). Cumulative incidences of all three outcomes were calculated. The association between domain categorization and time to the three outcomes was assessed by uni- and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis with the "can do, do do" group as reference. The physical performance of 400 patients with a recent fracture was assessed (mean age: 64 years; 70.8% female), of whom 61.5%, 20.3%, and 4.9% sustained a first fall, sustained a subsequent fracture, or had died. Domain categorization using the "can do, do do" framework was not associated with time to first fall, subsequent fracture, or mortality in the multivariate Cox regression analysis for all groups. "Can't do, don't do" group: hazard ratio [HR] for first fall: 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-1.23), first fracture HR: 0.58 (95% CI: 0.24-1.41), and mortality HR: 1.19 (95% CI: 0.54-6.95). Categorizing patients into a two-dimensional framework seems inadequate to study complex, multifactorial outcomes. A personalized approach based on known fall and fracture risk factors might be preferable.

Inherited physical capacity: Widening divergence from young to adult to old.

Cardiorespiratory performance segregates into rat strains of inherited low- and high-capacity runners (LCRs and HCRs); during adulthood, this segregation remains stable, but widens in senescence and is followed by segregated function, health, and mortality. However, this segregation has not been investigated prior to adulthood. We, therefore, assessed cardiorespiratory performance and cardiac cell (cardiomyocyte) structure-function in 1- and 4-month-old LCRs and HCRs. Maximal oxygen uptake was 23% less in LCRs at 1-month compared to HCRs at 1-month, and 72% less at 4 months. Cardiomyocyte contractility was 37-56% decreased, and Ca2+ release was 34-62% decreased, in 1- and 4-month LCRs versus HCRs. This occurred because HCRs had improved contractility and Ca2+ release during maturation, whereas LCRs did not. In quiescent cardiomyocytes, LCRs displayed 180% and 297% more Ca2+ sparks and 91% and 38% more Ca2+ waves at 1 and 4 months versus HCRs. Cell sizes were not different between LCRs and HCRs, but LCRs showed reduced transverse-tubules versus HCRs, though no discrepant transverse-tubule generation occurred during maturation. In conclusion, LCRs show reduced scores for aerobic capacity and cardiomyocyte structure-function compared to HCRs and there is a widening divergence between LCRs and HCRs during juvenile to near-adult maturation.

Utility of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in Assessing Quality of Life among Patients with Heart Failure Undergoing Exercise Training Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in assessing quality of life improvements among patients with heart failure (HF) undergoing various forms of exercise training rehabilitation, including telemedicine and in-person modalities, across all stages of HF, irrespective of ejection fraction (EF) and clinical status. The aim was to collate evidence from studies employing the KCCQ as a measure of quality of life (QoL). A comprehensive search strategy was implemented across PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, including literature up until October 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies on patients diagnosed with HF undergoing exercise training rehabilitation assessed by KCCQ. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 3905 patients from various global locations and conducted between 2012 and 2022. Results indicated significant heterogeneity in exercise interventions and patient characteristics. Notably, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) showed a marked improvement in KCCQ scores (from 68.0 to 80.0) compared to moderate continuous training (MCT) and control groups, underscoring its potential for enhancing QoL. Additionally, a significant improvement in the 6-min walking test (6MWT) outcomes was observed, with an average increase of 106 m (95% CI: 60, 152) in one study, reflecting physical capacity enhancements. However, the difference in KCCQ scores between intervention and control groups was not statistically significant in several studies. In conclusion, the KCCQ's effectiveness is highlighted by its ability to detect clinically meaningful improvements in QoL across diverse exercise modalities, including HIIT and MCT, tailored to the specific needs of HF populations. The consistent correlation between KCCQ score improvements and enhanced physical outcomes, such as the 6MWT, supports its reliability in capturing the nuanced benefits of exercise interventions on patient well-being.

The Influence of Cold Therapy on the Physical Working Capacity at the Electromyographic Threshold for Consecutive Exercise Sessions.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cold therapy after the first exercise test influences the physical working capacity at the fatigue threshold (PWCFT) during the second exercise test. We hypothesized that cold therapy would delay the onset of PWCFT for the second exercise test relative to the control visit (i.e., no cold therapy). Eight healthy college-aged men volunteered for the present study. For each of the two visits, subjects performed incremental, single-leg, knee-extensor ergometer, followed by either resting for 30 min (control visit) or having a cold pack applied for 15 min and then resting for 15 min (experimental visit). Then, the same exercise test was performed. The order of visits (control vs. experimental) was randomized for each subject. The exercise indices and PWCFT were determined for each of the two visits and statistically analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. The results indicate no significant (p > 0.05) mean differences for maximal power output, heart rate at end-exercise, and PWCFT between the control and cold therapy visits. Moreover, there were no significant (p > 0.05) mean differences between the first and second exercise workbout within each visit. The findings of this study suggest that cold therapy did not influence neuromuscular fatigue.

Effect of Fitness-To-Drive and Metacognition on Road Traffic Injury Among Older Taxi Drivers: Hierarchical Modeling.

Age-related cognitive and somatic motor skills changes have been linked to impaired driving abilities. Taxi drivers play an important role in providing public transportation services and security. This study aimed to examine the level of fitness-to-drive (FTD) and identify the predictors of self-reported traffic injury among the older taxi drivers. Taxi drivers 60years and older in Bangkok and the metropolitan area were enrolled. Hierarchical regression models were carried out to examine the effects of demographics, FTD, and metacognition towards self-reported road traffic injury. Totally, 46.1% of the respondents were classified as at-risk drivers. Drivers with alcohol consumption and low risk perception toward road safety were more likely to experience road traffic injury. Regular assessment of physical and psychometric capacity among older taxi drivers could provide another empirical basis to improve public safety transport.

Health fitness in the higher education system of Ukraine and prerequisites for its application

The article examines the main socio-cultural prerequisites for the use of health-improving fitness in the system of mass higher education institutions of Ukraine. The rational use of available and effective fitness tools, which selectively affect the body, in many ways ensures the achievement of the goal of physical education of young people - promoting the training of harmoniously developed highly qualified specialists, taking into account the requirements specific to their professional psychophysical competence. Goal. To analyze the socio-cultural prerequisites for the use of health fitness in the system of higher educational institutions of Ukraine. Methods. Theoretical analysis and generalization of data from scientific and methodical sources and information of the global Internet. The results. The reasons for the need to reform and modernize the physical education of students have been revealed. The main aspects of the development of modern health-related fitness technologies have been established as an effective means of improving students' health and physical development. The need for purposeful implementation of the latest innovative fitness technologies in the system of higher educational institutions with the aim of improving the health of the younger generation has been determined. The selective nature of the impact on the body ensures the achievement of the goal of physical education of young people - it contributes to the formation of harmoniously developed highly qualified specialists taking into account the specific requirements for their professional psychophysical competence. Conclusions. Health fitness is defined as a complex, multifaceted and multifunctional social phenomenon, which can be considered as an effective factor in the physical improvement of student youth, increasing the level of their physical capacity and condition in higher educational institutions of Ukraine. The main socio-cultural prerequisites for the development of health fitness in Ukraine are defined as objective requirements of society for the physical culture of students' personalities, as well as for increasing and maintaining the level of their physical capacity and somatic health.

Quantifying coordinative patterns in steady‐state running: The impact of footwear and foot strike on joint coupling variability

AbstractIn this study, we aimed to compare and contrast the intralimb coordinative patterns of habitual forefoot strikers (FFS) and rearfoot strikers (RFS) during steady‐state running across three different shoe types: minimalist, neutral and cushioned shoes. To describe these coordinative patterns, we implemented the concept of the ‘preferred movement path’ which represents the movement path that runners naturally select in response to their physical capacity and external environment. We quantified cycle‐to‐cycle consistency (ACC) and within‐trial variance in coordination patterns (SoV) using joint angle data from the ankle and knee for ankle‐knee coupling and from the knee and hip for knee‐hip coupling. Additionally, we calculated the measure of shape difference in joint coupling as the sum of squared distances (SSD) between/within conditions and groups. The percentage of runners who displayed shape differences below certain SSD thresholds was also evaluated. Our findings revealed no significant group or shoe type effect on any of the variability measures (ACC: p = 0.460 for ankle‐knee and p = 0.832 for knee‐hip; SoV: p = 0.345 for ankle‐knee and p = 0.755 for knee‐hip). However, there was a significant (p < 0.001) shape difference observed between the most extreme shoe conditions. Despite this, when runners switched shoes, 70%–90% of them maintained their original coordinative pattern across both joint couplings, indicating a strong adherence to their preferred movement path. This suggests that while shoe type can influence the shape of the coordinative pattern, the inherent movement tendencies of the runners remain largely consistent.

Health care as an important aspect of professional training of students

The article states that health care can be considered from a psychological and pedagogical point of view, which is aimed at forming students' awareness of health as a priority value, as well as the formation of motivation for the practical implementation of a healthy lifestyle in their daily activities and education of a culture of health . The motivation for health-preserving activities is highlighted, which is determined by various motives: self-preservation motivation; motivation to get joy from health; motivation to acquire harmony; motivation for improvement and social security. The reflexive component of health care activity is singled out, the content of which consists of self-knowledge, self-evaluation and analysis of one's activity in the context of health care. Reflective activity allows the student to realize his individuality and uniqueness. Reflection is a condition for the productivity of health care activities, and students' deep awareness of their own health care methods is an indicator of a high level of development of their health care culture. It is noted that the determining factor in the health of student youth is physical education, which contributes to self-improvement of the personality, mood improvement, growth of mental and physical capacity, development of motor qualities and abilities necessary in the professional activities of future specialists. Conclusions. Сompetent organization of the educational process plays a significant role in the formation of students' health-preserving skills, which is manifested in the demonstration of the teacher's own example; students' ability to reflect, as well as in daily physical education.

San Min and its Spencerian origin

PurposeThe aim of this article is two-fold. First, it offers a unique account of San Min, the prototype of the current Chinese educational principle proposed by Yan Fu (1854–1921) that aimed at improving people’s physical, intellectual and moral capacities. This system of educational thinking has received only marginal attention in Anglophone research literature. Second, given the influence of Yan Fu’s interpretation and promulgation of Herbert Spencer’s educational philosophy during that period, it investigates the extent to which San Min is derived from Spencer’s educational thought (the “Spencerian Triad”). This article focusses on how Yan Fu adapted the ideas of San Min from Spencer’s account.Design/methodology/approachThis article considers Yan Fu’s principle of San Min in relation to Spencer’s educational triad through a close reading and comparison of key primary texts (including Yan Fu’s original writing). It explores the similarities and differences between each account of education’s goals and its proposed means of attainment.FindingsYan Fu’s principle of San Min is shown to have been adapted from the Spencerian Triad. However, using the theory of Social Organism, Yan Fu re-interpreted Spencer’s individual liberty as liberty for the nation. While Spencer’s goal was to empower individuals, Yan Fu aimed to serve collective independence, wealth and power.Originality/valueThis article addresses oversights concerning San Min’s Western origins in the Spencerian Triad and its influence on Chinese education under Yan Fu’s sway. It is significant because San Min is still at the core of the current Chinese educational policy.

Theoretical justification of the concepts of "Recreation" and "Recreation technologies"

The authors of the article emphasize that with the emergence of an educational program on fitness and recreation (specialty "017 Physical culture and sport"), there was a need to theoretically substantiate the very definitions of "recreation", "recreational technologies", "recreational factors" and the content of this educational program. necessary items, including which we believe to provide for the study of the discipline "Recreational technologies", the purpose of which is the assimilation by students of technologies for optimizing the physical condition, working capacity and health of a person, eliminating residual phenomena after suffered injuries and diseases using physical exercises enhanced by recreational factors. This goal can be achieved by improving technologies, methods, programs for the use of recreational means and factors that enhance the effectiveness of health-improving movement exercises and conducting recreation classes. Based on this, we refer to the means of recreational technologies: 1). Health movement exercises and technologies, methods, programs of their application in accordance with the provisions of the theory and methods of physical education. 2) Recreational factors and means that enhance and optimize the health-improving effect of motor exercises during their performance.

PVC doped with BiNi0.1Fe0.9O3 nano-sized perovskites: Preparation, physical, dielectric properties as well as γ-ray absorption and buildup factors

In this work, multiferroic BiNi0.1Fe0.9O3 nanoparticles (NPs) has been fabricated by Sol-gel process, then six nanocomposities (NCs) sheets of PVC/x (BiNi0.1Fe0.9O3): x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 10.0 wt% were produced by means of the solution casting process. The produced sheets coded as pure PVC, PVC/0.5(BiNiFeO3), PVC/1.0(BiNiFeO3), PVC/3.0(BiNiFeO3), PVC/5.0(BiNiFeO3), and PVC/10.0(BiNiFeO3). X-ray diffraction (XRD), physical, dielectric properties, and γ-ray attenuation capacity have been investigated. The dielectric properties of the investigated NCs sheets were tested at 1 V with a range of frequencies from 50 Hz to 5 MHz. The Phy-X/PSD software used to calculate γ-ray shielding parameters. The density (ρ) of the prepared NCs sheets increased from 1.4051 ± 0.0001 g/cm3 to 3.2650 ± 0.0001 g/cm3. Up to 0.5 wt%, the actual part of permittivity decreased as the concentration of BiNiFeO3 NPs filler increased, but then increased as filler concentration raised. With an increase in applied field frequency, all prepared NCs sheets exhibited an increase in Ac conductivity. The sample coded as PVC/10.0(BiNiFeO3) possessed the highest values of mass-(MAC) and linear-(LAC) absorption coefficients. The half-value-layers (HVLs) decreased as the BiNiFeO3 NPs content increased in the samples. Correspondingly, (HVL)PVC/10.0(BiNiFeO3) < (HVL)PVC/5.0(BiNiFeO3) < (HVL)PVC/3.0(BiNiFeO3) < (HVL)PVC/1.0(BiNiFeO3) < (HVL)PVC/0.5(BiNiFeO3) < (HVL)Pure PVC. The effective atomic number (Zeff) has the same trend of MAC and LAC for all investigated sheets. PVC/10.0(BiNiFeO3) sheet possessed the lowest EBF and EABF values among all investigated sheets under study. Results showed that the investigated samples can be used as shields for γ-ray.

Associations of midlife fitness and obesity profiles with cognitive function

AbstractLow fitness and obesity at midlife are individually associated with later‐life decline in cognition and health. However, the relationship between profiles of midlife fitness and obesity with midlife cognition is unclear and was examined by this study. Participants from the third follow‐up of the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study (2014–2019; aged 36–49 years) were assessed for obesity (body mass index [BMI]), cardiorespiratory (physical work capacity) and muscular fitness (isometric grip and leg strength), and these factors were entered into a latent profile analysis. Psychomotor‐attention, learning–working memory and global cognition composites were derived from z‐scores of individual CogState battery tests. Linear regression analyses examined associations between profiles of fitness and obesity with cognition, adjusting for age, sex, education, alcohol and smoking. Using data from 617 participants [44.4 ± 2.6 (mean ± SD) years, 52% female], we identified 5 mutually exclusive profiles of obesity and fitness. Relative to those with the lowest fitness and highest BMI (5% of sample), those with a profile of (1) highest muscular fitness and average BMI (9%), (2) average muscular fitness and BMI (61%) and (3) highest cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and below average BMI (7%) all exhibited better global cognition [at least 0.44 (0.12, 0.77) SD, 95% CI] and psychomotor‐attention performance [at least 0.59 (0.27, 0.91) SD, 95% CI]. Compared with low fitness and unhealthy BMI levels, possessing average or high muscular and CRF and a healthy BMI in midlife was associated with better cognitive performance. Enhancing fitness and reducing obesity in midlife could contribute to improved cognitive performance in middle age.

Physiology and biomechanics researches of the special preparedness and contention activity of highly skilled kayakers

Purpose — development of methodology for individual evaluating special fitness and competitive activity of highly skilled kayakers.&#x0D; The rationality of the rower’s movement structure is largely determined by the character of work and interaction of the posterior and anterior bundles of the deltoid muscle, which perform the rower’s arm movements during applying both “pulling” and “pushing” efforts. The following causes of individual rowing technique errors significantly affecting sports result were identified: general muscle rigidity, lack of sufficiently complete and timely muscle relaxation; untimely involvement of muscles in work (appearance of mutual activity zones of antagonist muscles); late start of muscle activity (inertial moments of movement of rower's body biolinks are not provided before water entrapment); protracted, too long muscle activity (movement is performed entirely at the expense of muscular activity, without the use of inertial and propelling forces); low speed of muscle engagement in work leading, as a rule, to the “drop” of efforts on the oar. Two groups of athletes with diametrically opposite levels of physical capacity development and one group, which was characterized by their uniform development, were distinguished. The first group was distinguished by the high indices of power and efficiency of the work performed while covering the competitive distance. Such athletes showed higher sports results on short distances. The second group was distinguished by high indices of the efficiency of applying efforts, symmetry of movements, and successful performances on long competitive distances. Such rowers were classified as athletes with predominant development of special endurance quality. The rowers of the third group differed in the average values of the above mentioned indices and demonstrated equal success on both short and long competitive distances. Athletes with preferential development of speed-strength qualities and rowers with an advantageous development of special endurance have no significant difference in speed of covering 500 m distance and heart rate. However, there are significant differences in other indices of special fitness. Rowers with even development of physical qualities have differences in all recorded indices compared to those of the first two groups.&#x0D; The individual peculiarities of rowers’ movement coordination during covering a competitive distance of 500 m were determined. All rowers are divided into two groups. The first group is characterized by rational coordination of movements at the beginning of the distance covering and pronounced disturbances in the work dynamics of the muscles of the body turn and the nature of effort applied to the oar at the end of the distance. In the second group, we encounter the opposite phenomenon: with an irrational movement structure at the beginning of the distance, there is a transition of work to a more correct character at the end of its covering. The most preferable option for increasing the efficiency of athletes’ technical preparation is the use of the methodology for designing generalized and individual models of motor action structure. Preparation of rowers with account for their predisposition to the formation of the most important components of sportsmanship is the most preferable option. When drawing up individual plans for the preparation of athletes, the coaches should take into account these practical recommendations and adhere to the recommended directions of training. Repeated examinations (four months later) revealed the effectiveness of managing the process of technical preparation of kayakers based on the correction of intermuscular coordination.

Efficient and selective absorption of NH3 by supramolecular OHP[5]-based ternary deep eutectic solvents

Developing an efficient absorbent for selective ammonia capture is of significant importance in the recovery and utilization of ammonia resources. Herein, a series of supramolecular-based ternary deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was designed and prepared using per-hydroxy pillar[5]arene (OHP[5]) and ethylamine hydrochloride as the key components. It is found that the supramolecular-based ternary DES EaCl-Gly (1:2)-6% OHP[5] could be employed as an efficient absorbent for reversible absorption of NH3. The NH3 uptake capacity reached 2.39 mmol/g and 10.84 mmol/g at 298.2 K under the pressure of 10 kPa and 100 kPa, respectively. Meanwhile, a higher NH3/CO2 selectivity (84) was obtained at 298.2 K and 100 kPa owing to the low solubility of CO2 in EaCl-Gly (1:2)-6% OHP[5]. The results of 1H NMR and FTIR spectra further clarified the absorption mechanism of NH3 by EaCl-Gly (1:2)-6% OHP[5]. Accordingly, the chemical absorption and physical dissolution capacity of NH3 in EaCl-Gly (1:2)-6% OHP[5] were calculated on the basis of isotherm data and thermodynamic equations. This study offers a promising application of pillar[5]arene to form supramolecular-based DESs for efficient NH3 absorption.

Power-aware high-capacity elastic optical networks

The power consumption of telecommunication equipment has been identified as a relevant contributor to global energy consumption. In fact, new-generation optical transponders employ power-intensive electronic application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for digital signal processing (DSP). DSP design has traditionally prioritized meeting transmission requirements over power consumption optimization. In general, the evolutions of transmission techniques and network design have always been mainly driven by traffic increase; in this context, in order to operate network resources more efficiently, margin reduction has been investigated in the past few years. Indeed, traditionally, high physical layer margins are used to ensure reliability over an extended period, resulting in overprovisioning the optical connections for both physical layer conditions and capacity. On the other hand, super-channels have emerged as a suitable solution for accommodating the continuous traffic growth. However, power consumption has not been deeply considered in the optimization of super-channel transmission. This paper first investigates the power efficiency of super-channels operated with designed and reduced margins. Low-margin operation is enabled by adapting sub-carrier spacing and filter bandwidth. Power-aware super-channel optimization is then experimentally demonstrated leveraging a 600 Gbit/s transponder in the SDN-controlled elastic optical network (EON). The results have identified a trade-off between power consumption and spectrum efficiency. Furthermore, the ongoing bandwidth demand has motivated the investigation of multi-band (MB) transmission for scaling the capacity of the existing infrastructures. However, novel networking devices (e.g., optical amplifiers operating beyond the C- and L-bands) will affect the overall power consumption. In this context, experimental power analysis of a thulium doped fiber amplifier (TDFA) is performed based on the traffic load and corresponding configuration. The results show that TDFA power consumption varies with configuration and increases with output power.

Aerobic physical capacity and health-related quality of life in children with sickle cell disease.

Aerobic fitness is a predictor of cardiovascular health which correlates with health-related quality of life in the general population. The aim is to evaluate the aerobic capacity by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in children with sickle cell disease in comparison with healthy matched controls. Controlled cross-sectional study. A total of 72 children (24 with sickle cell disease and 48 healthy controls), aged 6-17 years old were enrolled. Children with sickle cell disease had a poor aerobic capacity, with median VO2max Z-score values significantly lower than matched controls (-3.55[-4.68; -2.02] vs. 0.25[-0.22; 0.66], P < 0.01, respectively), and a high proportion of 92% children affected by an impaired aerobic capacity (VO2max Z-score < -1.64). The VO2max decrease was associated with the level of anemia, the existence of a homozygote HbS/S mutation, restrictive lung disease and health-related quality of life. Aerobic capacity is poor in children with sickle cell disease. VO2max decrease is associated with the level of anemia, the existence of a homozygote HbS/S mutation, lung function, and health-related quality of life. These results represent a signal in favor of early initiation of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with sickle cell disease. NCT05995743. Aerobic fitness is a predictor of cardiovascular health which correlates with health-related quality of life in the general population. Aerobic capacity (VO2max) is poor in children with sickle cell disease, despite the absence of any pattern of heart failure. VO2max decrease was associated with the level of anemia, the existence of a homozygote HbS/S mutation, restrictive lung disease, and health-related quality of life. These results are in favor of early initiation of cardiac rehabilitation in children with sickle cell disease.

The Longitudinal Association between Multiple Frailty Criteria and Depressive Symptomatology Five Years Later in Older Adults: A Decision Tree Modelling Approach.

Background: To examine the longitudinal association between frailty criteria and depression (DEP) in a large sample of older Europeans using decision tree models, and to examine complex relationships between frailty criteria and DEP symptomatology. Methods: Data come from waves six and eight of the Population Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. DEP was assessed using the EURO-D scale (wave 8) and frailty (wave 6). We included 27,122 people (56.9% women), aged 50 or over. Results: Women indicated a higher rate of DEP (29.0%), as well as a higher prevalence of pre-frailty (21.6%) and frailty (10.8%) than men. For both sexes, fatigue, weight loss, and slowness indicated an increased chance of DEP 5 years later. MPA (moderate physical activity) and grip strength were considered longitudinally protective factors for DEP. The highest prevalence of DEP symptomatology 5 years later was 50.3%, pointing to those with fatigue and slowness. Among women, the highest incidence of DEP was 66.8%, identified through fatigue, slowness, and low MPA. Conclusions: Strategies to reduce frailty and DEP in older European adults may include the creation of policies that encourage the promotion of physical capacity to reach MPA levels, as well as an improvement in muscular strength.

Early-Life Exposure to War and Later-Life Physical Functional Health.

A growing body of research shows that early-life exposure to war has adverse effects on later-life health. Research has emphasized the importance of exposure timing implicating domain-specific developmental processes and associated critical/sensitive periods. This study looks at the impacts of early childhood war exposure and the repercussions for later-life physical and functional health, with a focus on time of exposure as a source of variability. We use residential histories from the Survey of Health Ageing, and Retirement in Europe linked to external data on the location and timing of hostilities to examine the impact of early-life exposure to World War II on later-life physical and functional health. Exposure to war increases the risk of objective (grip strength, chair rise, and peak expiratory flow) and self-reported (mobility limitations and activities of daily living) measures of functional health. Effects are especially pronounced for those born during the war and for those with more prolonged exposures. There is little evidence that the impact of war is mediated by war-related hardships, socioeconomic conditions, health behaviors, or adult chronic disease. Our results suggest early-life exposure to war has a lasting impact on physical functional health. Exposure appears to largely operate via direct effects, indicative of altered initial development of physical capacity in early life. Because exposure was so pervasive among some cohorts of older individuals, understanding the health of present older European populations requires wrestling with the residual consequences of wartime exposure at the start of their lives.