Physical Measurements Research Articles

The Impact of 24 h Urinary Potassium Excretion on High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Chronic Disease Risk in Chinese Adults: A Health Promotion Study.

Research into the pivotal role of potassium in chronic diseases and their comorbidities remains scarce. Our aim is to elucidate the relationship between potassium and chronic diseases, including comorbid conditions, and to provide evidence-based recommendations for potassium intake in patients. This study is anchored in a representative, population-based survey conducted in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2017, encompassing participants aged 18 to 69 years. Data collection included questionnaire responses, physical measurements, and biological samples, obtained through a multistage cluster random sampling method. A subset of 1496 participants provided complete 24 h urine samples. The median age of the participants was 48.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 24.0), with 51.1% being female, and hypertension was identified in more than one third (35.6%) of the participants. The prevalence of diabetes was approximately 9.0%, dyslipidemia was found in 34.2%, and microalbuminuria in 8.8%. The 24 h urinary excretion levels were 3613.3 mg/24 h (IQR 2161.7) for sodium and 1366.0 mg/24 h (IQR 824.9) for potassium, respectively. Potassium excretion exhibited an inverse relationship with blood pressure. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between potassium excretion and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, with an elevation of 0.03 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00 to 0.05). In binary logistic regression analysis, individuals in the fourth quartile of potassium excretion (Q4) exhibited an odds ratio (OR) of 0.56 (95% CI 0.36-0.87) for hypertension compared to those in the first quartile (Q1). Urinary potassium excretion was inversely associated with low HDL-C levels, with Q4 individuals having 0.62 times the odds of having low HDL-C levels (OR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.39-1.00) compared to Q1. Potassium excretion demonstrated a direct negative correlation with certain comorbidities. This study underscores the pivotal role of potassium in the management of chronic diseases and associated comorbidities, thereby highlighting the significance of potassium in both public health initiatives and clinical practice.

Smartphone-Based Digital Peer Support for a Walking Intervention Among Public Officers in Kanagawa Prefecture: Single-Arm Pre- and Postintervention Evaluation.

Digital peer support, defined as peer support delivered through technology such as smartphone apps, may be promising to promote activity in the form of step counts. Interactions among users have a positive impact on retention rates, and apps with social elements show significant improvements in daily step count. However, the feasibility of digital peer support in promoting physical activity (PA) is unknown; therefore, its effectiveness on step count and the clinical implications remain unconfirmed. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of digital peer support over a 3-month intervention period using the retention rate as the outcome. Moreover, changes in daily step count and physical measurements were compared between pre- and postintervention. The study design was a 3-month 1-arm intervention with participants from local government offices in Kanagawa, Japan. We used an available smartphone app, Minchalle, as the tool for the group intervention. Participants were required to report their daily step count to a maximum of 5 members composed exclusively of study participants. The primary outcome was the retention rate. Secondary outcomes included daily step count, the rate of achieving daily step goals, physical measurements, and lifestyle characteristics. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson coefficient were used to examine the relationship between goal achievement and step count, as well as changes in step count and various variables including physical measurements. Of the 63 participants, 62 completed the intervention. The retention rate was 98% (62/63). The average daily step count during the intervention was 6993 (SD 2328) steps, an 1182-step increase compared with the count observed 1 week before the intervention began. The rate of achieving the daily step count during the intervention was 53.5% (SD 26.2%). There was a significant correlation (r=0.27, P=.05) between achieving daily step goals and increasing daily step count. Comparative analyses showed that changes in weight (68.56, SD 16.97 kg vs 67.30, SD 16.86 kg; P<.001), BMI (24.82, SD 4.80 kg/m2 vs 24.35, SD 4.73 kg/m2; P<.001), somatic fat rate (28.50%, SD 7.44% vs 26.58%, SD 7.90%; P=.005), systolic blood pressure (130.42, SD 17.92 mm Hg vs 122.00, SD 15.06 mm Hg; P<.001), and diastolic blood pressure (83.24, SD 13.27 mm Hg vs 77.92, SD 11.71 mm Hg; P=.002) were significantly different before and after the intervention. Similarly, the daily amount of PA significantly improved from 5.77 (SD 3.81) metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours per day to 9.85 (SD 7.84) MET-hours per day (P<.001). This study demonstrated that digital peer support is feasible for maintaining a high retention rate and can, therefore, effectively promote PA. It can be a promising tool to improve daily step count, subjective PA, and clinical outcomes, such as weight and somatic fat rate. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000042520; https://tinyurl.com/46c4nm8z.

Psychological and socio-economic correlates of cardiovascular health among young adults in Puerto Rico

ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the relationship between socioeconomic and psychological factors and overall cardiovascular health (CVH), as defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8), among young adults in Puerto Rico. MethodsParticipants were 2156 young adults, between the ages of 18–29 years, enrolled in the PR-OUTLOOK study. The analysis included survey, laboratory, and physical measurement data collected from September 2020 to November 2023. Assessed socioeconomic indicators included food insecurity, housing instability, economic insecurity, and subjective social standing. Evaluated psychological factors comprised symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and overall perceived stress. LE8 scores were calculated and classified as suboptimal (poor/intermediate range) vs. ideal CVH. Logistic regression models estimated associations between each socioeconomic and psychological measure and suboptimal CVH, and dominance analysis assessed the importance of each measure. ResultsParticipants' mean age was 22.6 (SD = 3.1), 60.9 % were female, about one-third (34.2 %) had high school education or less, and over one-third had public or no health insurance (38.4 %). Participants reporting socioeconomic adversity (i.e., high food insecurity, housing instability and economic insecurity, and low subjective social standing) and elevated psychological symptoms (i.e., symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and overall perceived stress) had lower CVH scores. However, in the adjusted analysis, only lower subjective social standing (OR = 1.38, 95 % CI = 1.13–1.69) and elevated symptoms of anxiety (OR = 1.63, 95 % CI = 1.25–2.13) and depression (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.03–1.65) emerged as the primary contributors to suboptimal CVH (vs. ideal). ConclusionEfforts to preserve and enhance CVH among young Puerto Ricans on the island should target these factors.

DNA Methylation Age Mediates Effect of Metabolic Profile on Cardiovascular and General Aging.

Alterations in lipid metabolism and DNA methylation are 2 hallmarks of aging. Connecting metabolomic, epigenomic, and aging outcomes help unravel the complex mechanisms underlying aging. We aimed to assess whether DNA methylation clocks mediate the association of circulating metabolites with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and frailty. The China Kadoorie Biobank is a prospective cohort study with a baseline survey from 2004 to 2008 and a follow-up period until December 31, 2018. We used the Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip to measure the methylation levels of 988 participants' baseline blood leukocyte DNA. Metabolite profiles, including lipoprotein particles, lipid constituents, and various circulating metabolites, were measured using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance. The pace of DNA methylation age acceleration (AA) was calculated using 5 widely used epigenetic clocks (the first generation: Horvath, Hannum, and Li; the second generation: Grim and Pheno). Incident ASCVD was ascertained through linkage with local death and disease registries and national health insurance databases, supplemented by active follow-up. The frailty index was constructed using medical conditions, symptoms, signs, and physical measurements collected at baseline. A total of 508 incident cases of ASCVD were documented during a median follow-up of 9.5 years. The first generation of epigenetic clocks was associated with the risk of ASCVD (P<0.05). For each SD increment in LiAA, HorvathAA, and HannumAA, the corresponding hazard ratios for ASCVD risk were 1.16 (1.05-1.28), 1.10 (1.00-1.22), and 1.17 (1.04-1.31), respectively. Only LiAA mediated the association of various metabolites (lipids, fatty acids, histidine, and inflammatory biomarkers) with ASCVD, with the mediating proportion reaching up to 15% for the diameter of low-density lipoprotein (P=1.2×10-2). Regarding general aging, a 1-SD increase in GrimAA was associated with an average increase of 0.10 in the frailty index (P=2.0×10-3), and a 33% and 63% increased risk of prefrailty and frailty at baseline (P=1.5×10-2 and 5.8×10-2), respectively; this association was not observed with other clocks. GrimAA mediated the effect of various lipids, fatty acids, glucose, lactate, and inflammatory biomarkers on the frailty index, with the mediating proportion reaching up to 22% for triglycerides in very small-sized very low-density lipoprotein (P=6.0×10-3). These findings suggest that epigenomic mechanisms may play a role in the associations between circulating metabolites and the aging process. Different mechanisms underlie the first and second generations of DNA methylation age in cardiovascular and general aging.

Abstract A103: Feasibility of using data from the All of Us Research Program to better understand Asian American breast cancer risk

Abstract Asian Americans (AAs) are the only racial/ethnic group in the United States for whom cancer is the leading cause of death. In AA women, the rate of breast cancer (BC) has significantly increased in the past two decades. However, the reasons behind the observed increase in risk are not well understood. The All of Us (AoU) Research Program aims to enroll one million participants nationwide, focusing on including individuals from diverse backgrounds, to advance precision health research. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of using AoU data to analyze factors potentially associated with breast cancer risk in AAs and to develop enhanced breast cancer prediction models. There were 3,433 self-reported AA women with available genomic data. In addition to the genomic data, data was available from surveys, participants’ electronic health records (EHRs), and physical measurements taken at the time of their study visit. BC cases were identified by self-report on surveys (n=38), EHR diagnosis data (n=104), or both survey and EHR (n=59), totaling 201 cases identified. Of these, only 17 were incident cases. Of the 163 cases detected in the EHR, 96.3% were invasive BCs, and the median age at diagnosis was 54.2 (±12.6) years. Among the 38 survey-only-identified cases, age at diagnosis was unclear due to the large age ranges (e.g.18-64 years) in the categories presented in the survey. For purposes of the case-control analysis, five AA women with no BC diagnosis were matched to each BC case by age group and geographic region. Body mass index, annual household income, marital status, history of alcohol consumption, and history of cigarette smoking and vaping were not statistically significantly different between cases and controls (a=0.05). One third (34.3%) of cases were born in the U.S. and 65.2% were born in another country vs. 25.0% and 74.0% of controls, respectively (p= 0.01). Employment status was also different, with 50.8% of cases being unemployed vs. 42.0% of controls (p=0.02). There appeared to be a difference in first-degree family history of BC (reported in 8% of cases vs. 5% of controls) although the results were not statistically significant (p=0.08). However, family history of BC data was not available for 43.3% and 51.0% of the cases and controls, respectively. Gynecologic factors, such as ages at menarche and menopause, and hormone use, were not asked in the surveys and were not widely captured in the EHR data. In our analysis of nine BC- associated genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, TP53, PTEN, CHEK2, CDH1, PALB2, STK11), pathogenic variants were identified in 1.0% of cases and 0.7% of controls. In summary, the AoU data set enables the study of a diverse national cohort with rich genomic data. However, the low representation of AAs, small numbers of incident cases, limited data on personal gynecologic history, cancer family history and social determinants of health, and broad categorization of age at diagnosis present challenges to using this data to build accurate and effective risk prediction models for BC risk in AAs. Citation Format: Catalina Haas Garcia, Wen-Pin Chen, Danni Liu, Alice W Lee, Min Zhang, Argyrios Ziogas, Sora Tanjasiri, Hannah Lui Park. Feasibility of using data from the All of Us Research Program to better understand Asian American breast cancer risk [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A103.

Abstract B170: Advancing cancer disparities research through the integration of new data: Opportunities from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program

Abstract The NIH All of Us Research Program is building one of the largest, richest, and most diverse health datasets of its kind. The program aims to promote health equity across multiple health conditions including cancer by making a comprehensive and diverse dataset available to over 10,000 vetted and registered researchers on its Researcher Workbench (RW). The RW offers access to various data types including genomics, electronic health records, physical measurements, wearable data, and survey data on social determinants of health (SDOH) and self- reported cancer diagnoses. The latest data release (Q3 2024), also known as the Curated Data Repository (CDR Version 8) includes data from over 630,000 participants, with more than 80% from populations underrepresented in biomedical research (UBR). Racial, ethnic minoritized populations and other underrepresented groups are more likely to experience health-related disparities and inequities. While previous data releases included aggregate categories, new data released in CDR Version 8 considers the interplay of self-identified categories of demographic descriptors and allows the examination of comorbidities, while emphasizing the importance of identifying appropriate comparator groups in research and considering the heterogeneity that exists within and across groups. It includes a 40% increase in array data, a 67% increase in srWGS data, and a 150% increase in long-read sequences, as well as data from expanded EHR sources, DHT devices, a new Life Functioning Survey, and racial and ethnic subcategories for more than 610,000 participants. This vast and diverse dataset release enables the examination of the intersecting impact of SDOH on cancer-related outcomes both within and across racial and ethnic populations, including populations experiencing health-related disparities and inequities. The extensive data release is facilitated by a two-pronged approach: A robust community and participant engagement model and the All of Us Health Equity strategic plan (HESP). The program employs a socioecological model for participant recruitment and retention, specifically targeting UBR groups. This multi-level approach encompasses activities ranging from targeted outreach and awareness campaigns to establishing trust and fostering collaborative partnerships with communities and participants. HESP complements these efforts by promoting the integration of equity considerations across the research lifecycle through the promotion of data equity and data justice. This community engagement and equity integrated approach guarantees that participants who reflect the demographic diversity of cancer patients in the United States and territories are actively engaged in shaping and benefiting from cancer disparities research. This session will update the scientific audience on recent data expansions available to researchers, provide examples of how that data can be used to examine disparities in cancer outcomes and prevention, and demonstrate the importance of community engagement and health equity in advancing research. Citation Format: Karriem S Watson, JoAnn Smith, Nandita Rahman, Ryan Lupi, Rubin Baskir, Romuladus Azuine, Janeth Sanchez. Advancing cancer disparities research through the integration of new data: Opportunities from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B170.

An Experimental Study of Zinc Evaporation from Bottom Zinc Dross at Atmospheric Pressure and in Inert Atmosphere with Integrated CFD Modelling.

In the present study, the recycling process of bottom zinc dross was performed by evaporation and subsequent condensation at 800 °C for 30 min with an observed argon flow rate of 100-400 mL/min to ensure an inert atmosphere, to observe the evaporation rate and final form of the product. Under the set conditions of over 98% zinc purity, products in the form of nanofibres (thickness 500 nm), powder (size of spherical particles 2-5 μm), dendrites, and metallic forms were obtained. The employed mathematical modelling (via Ansys 2023R1 software) predicted the behaviour of the argon flow current in the quartz tube, as well as the temperature gradient in the quartz tube and in the close vicinity of the zinc sample. Via Inventor 2014 software, the rate of zinc sample heating was calculated. All the simulations were compared with the physical measurements and correlation was proven.

Low-cost and convenient screening of disease using analysis of physical measurements and recordings

In recent years, there has been substantial work in low-cost medical diagnostics based on the physical manifestations of disease. This is due to advancements in data analysis techniques and classification algorithms and the increased availability of computing power through smart devices. Smartphones and their ability to interface with simple sensors such as inertial measurement units (IMUs), microphones, piezoelectric sensors, etc., or with convenient attachments such as lenses have revolutionized the ability collect medically relevant data easily. Even if the data has relatively low resolution or signal to noise ratio, newer algorithms have made it possible to identify disease with this data. Many low-cost diagnostic tools have been created in medical fields spanning from neurology to dermatology to obstetrics. These tools are particularly useful in low-resource areas where access to expensive diagnostic equipment may not be possible. The ultimate goal would be the creation of a “diagnostic toolkit” consisting of a smartphone and a set of sensors and attachments that can be used to screen for a wide set of diseases in a community healthcare setting. However, there are a few concerns that still need to be overcome in low-cost diagnostics: lack of incentives to bring these devices to market, algorithmic bias, “black box” nature of the algorithms, and data storage/transfer concerns.

Twenty-four hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion in adult population of Slovenia: results of the Manjsoli.si/2022 study.

The objective of study was to assess 24-h urinary Na and K excretion and estimate the average salt and K intakes in a nationally representative sample of the adult population of Slovenia. A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in four stages between September and November 2022: study questionnaire, physical measurements, 24-h urine collection and laboratory analysis. Slovenia. We invited 2000 adult, non-institutionalised inhabitants of Slovenia, aged between 25 and 64 years. A stratified two-staged sample was selected from this population by the Statistical Office of Slovenia, using sampling from the Central Population Register. According to the WHO methodology, additional eligibility criteria were screened before participating. A total of 518 individuals participated in all four stages of the study, resulting in a response rate of 30 %. The mean 24-h urinary Na excretion was 168 mmol/d (95 % CI 156, 180), which corresponds to a mean estimated intake of 10·3 g salt/d (95 % CI 9·6, 11·1). Mean 24-h urinary K excretion was 65·4 mmol/d (95 % CI 63·2, 67·5), and the estimated mean K intake was 2·93 g/d (95 % CI 2·84, 3·03). There were statistically significant differences in mean intakes between males and females. The mean sodium-to-potassium ratio was 2·7 (95 % CI 2·5, 2·8). The study results highlighted that the salt intake in the adult population of Slovenia remains much higher than recommended by the WHO, and K intakes are insufficient, as most participants did not meet the recommendations.

Conduction in yttrium iron garnets with nickel dopant: Potential for sensor applications

Doped yttrium iron garnet materials exhibit semiconducting behavior and have potential applications in resistive-based sensors, including thermoresistive and gas sensors. In this study, we synthesized Ni-doped yttrium iron garnet samples using the sol-gel method combined with heat treatment. The crystal structure, morphology, and Ni incorporation into the crystal lattice were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The saturation magnetization of the samples in the ground state was measured in a Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) at 5 K. The experimental magnetic moments deviate significantly from the values calculated based on the cation distribution models, suggesting the occupation of Ni2+ and Fe2+ at the octahedral and tetrahedral sites, respectively, with the latter due to oxygen vacancies. We investigated the resistivity, magnetoresistance effect, and hydrogen sensing properties to elucidate the conduction mechanism. At room temperature, the resistivity of the samples decreased sharply as the oxygen vacancy concentration increased, from ∼108 Ωcm in sample x = 0 to ∼106 Ωcm in sample x = 0.08. The resistance of the samples increased when exposed to hydrogen gas, supporting the prediction from the magnetization data that the samples exhibit n-type semiconductor characteristics. The samples showed good sensitivity to H2 gas. At 250°C, sample x = 0.08 exhibits a response of S =11.5, the response time (τres. ∼8 s), and recovery time (τrec. ∼22 s) at 100 ppm hydrogen concentration.

Platelet indices as predictors of poor glucoregulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus adults at Bishoftu General Hospital, Ethiopia.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic syndrome that has become a global public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality. It is a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic condition characterized by increased platelet activation and alterations in platelet indices. However, the use of platelet indices as predictors of poor glucoregulation has not been fully evaluated in this context, and evidence for their role as predictors of poor glycemic status in diabetic patients is limited. To evaluate platelet indices and determine their prognostic significance in relation to inadequate glucoregulation among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at Bishoftu General Hospital in Ethiopia, from June 15 to August 12, 2022. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 261 participants including 174 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 87 non-diabetic controls. The systematic random sampling technique was used to select par-ticipants. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, physical measurements, checklists, and laboratory tests. Platelet parameters and fasting blood glucose levels were determined from blood samples using Sysmex-XN550 and CobasC311 analyzers, respectively. The hematology analyzer output was checked and participants were also screened for malaria parasites using a prepared blood smear. Collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. The χ 2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, post hoc test, Spearman correlation, and receiver operating characteristic curve were used for analysis. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results of our study indicate that diabetic patients have significantly higher levels of platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet large cell ratio (PLCR), and plateletcrit (PCT) compared to healthy individuals (P < 0.001). Furthermore, these indices were found to be significantly elevated in individuals with poor glycemic control in T2DM compared to those with good glycemic control and healthy controls. We also observed significant correlations between these indices and various anthropometric and clinical variables. Our findings suggest that PDW, with a cut-off value of 15.75 fL and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.803, MPV, with a cut-off value of 12.25 fL and an AUC of 0.774, PLCR, with a cut-off value of 36.3% and an AUC of 0.775, and PCT, with a cut-off value of 0.24% and an AUC of 0.761, can serve as predictors of poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. The observed correlation between diabetic patients and a significant increase in platelet indices has highlighted their potential as predictors of poor glycemic control in diabetes. Therefore, regular screening and profiling of platelet indices is recommended as part of the follow-up process for individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Methods of Multi-Criteria Optimization of Technological Processes in a Fuzzy Environment Based on the Simplex Method and the Theory of Fuzzy Sets

Many modern technological objects in practice are characterized by the uncertainty of the initial information necessary for their management. Recently, one of the pressing scientific and practical problems is the development of new optimization methods for controlling the operating modes of such objects in a fuzzy environment. In this regard, the objective of this study is to develop methods of multi-criteria optimization in a fuzzy environment by modifying the simplex method and various optimality principles based on fuzzy mathematics methods. The methodology of the proposed study is based on a hybrid approach, which consists of the integrated use and modification of simplex methods and optimization methods with various optimality principles for working in a fuzzy environment. The main results are as follows: a simplex method of multi-criteria optimization of immeasurable criteria (here, we are talking about the impossibility of physical measurements of criteria, the values of which are estimated by decision maker); a theorem on the convergence of the solution sequence obtained using the proposed method to the minimum value of the criteria; a heuristic method based on a modification for fuzziness and a combination of the maximin and Pareto optimality principles, which allows effectively solving multi-criteria optimization problems in a fuzzy environment. The heuristic method proposed will be used to solve a real production problem—optimization of the technological process of benzene production.

Surpassing the Standard Quantum Limit Using an Optical Spring.

Quantum mechanics places noise limits and sensitivity restrictions on physical measurements. The balance between unwanted backaction and the precision of optical measurements imposes a standard quantum limit (SQL) on interferometric systems. In order to realize a sensitivity below the SQL, it is necessary to leverage a backaction evading measurement technique, reduce thermal noise to below the level of backaction, and exploit cancellations of any excess noise contributions at the detector. Many proof of principle experiments have been performed, but only recently has an experiment achieved sensitivity below the SQL. In this work, we extend that initial demonstration and realize sub-SQL sensitivity nearly two times better than previous measurements, and with an architecture applicable to interferometric gravitational wave detectors. In fact, this technique is directly applicable to Advanced LIGO, which could observe similar effects with a detuned signal recycling cavity. We measure a total sensitivity below the SQL by 2.8dB, corresponding to a reduction in the noise power by 72±5.1% below the quantum limit. Through the use of a detuned cavity and the optical spring effect, this noise reduction is tunable, allowing us to choose the desired range of frequencies that fall below the SQL. This result demonstrates access to sensitivities well below the SQL at frequencies applicable to LIGO, with the potential to extend the reach of gravitational wave detectors further into the Universe.

Growth of Ba2CoWO6 single crystals and their magnetic, thermodynamic and electronic properties

This study explores the bulk crystal growth, structural characterization, and physical property measurements of the cubic double perovskite Ba2CoWO6(BCWO). In BCWO, Co2+ions form a face-centred cubic lattice with non-distorted cobalt octahedra. The compound exhibits long-range antiferromagnetic order belowTN= 14 K. Magnetization data indicated a slight anisotropy along with a spin-flop transition at 10 kOe, a saturation field of 310 kOe and an ordered moment of 2.17µB atT= 1.6 K. Heat capacity measurements indicate an effectivej= 1/2 ground state configuration, resulting from the combined effects of the crystal electric field and spin-orbit interaction. Surface photovoltage analysis reveals two optical gaps in the UV-Visible region, suggesting potential applications in photocatalysis and photovoltaics. The magnetic and optical properties highlight the significant role of orbital contributions within BCWO, indicating various other potential applications.

Co-flow jets application for occupant targeted ventilation: Focus on thermal comfort and air quality

Co-flow air jets can be used in occupant-targeted ventilation, such as personalized ventilation, stratum ventilation, aiming at improving air quality in the breathing zone of occupants. However, these have not been studied sufficiently. The velocity field and cleanness of co-flow jets comprising inner jet of clean air encircled by outer jet of room air were studied under isothermal conditions by physical measurements and CFD simulations at numerous combinations of initial diameter and velocity of the inner and outer jets appropriate for practical application. The co-flow jet had a lower axial velocity decay along the jet direction than that of the single jet. The magnitude (turbulence intensity) and frequency of the velocity fluctuations in co-flow jets were lower compared to those in a single jet. The results revealed that with regard to thermal comfort co-flow jets may provide more cooling compared to single jets, especially when supplied toward to the user. The level of cleanness depended on the initial velocity of the inner and outer jets as well as their diameters. The air on the jet axis of the co-flow was up to 40 % cleaner compared to the single jet. The increased area ratio of outer nozzle to inner nozzle from 1.0 to 3.0 improved the cleanness of the air by at least 10 % to the distance from 8 to 14 initial diameters compared to a single jet. The co-flow jet with velocity ratio of 1.5 had longest concentration core length, Lu, (up to 6 initial diameters to the inner jet) with clean air. The results can be used for design of occupant targeted ventilation.

Cohort Profile: the prospective cohort study on the incidence of metabolic diseases and risk factors in Shunde, China (Speed-Shunde Cohort).

The objective of the prospective cohort study on the incidence of metabolic diseases and risk factors in Shunde (Speed-Shunde cohort) was to evaluate the incidence of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome and metabolic-associated multimorbidity, such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong, China. Additionally, the study sought to identify the potential determinants that may impact the development of these conditions and the potential consequences that may result. In the Speed-Shunde cohort, data were gathered via questionnaires, physical measurements, and laboratory analyses encompassing demographic data, behavioral tendencies, anthropometric assessments, controlled attenuation parameters and liver stiffness measurement utilizing vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), as well as serum and urine detection (such as oral 75g glucose tolerance tests, hemoglobin A1c levels, lipid profiles, liver and renal function tests, urinary microalbumin and creatinine levels, etc.). The baseline data were gathered from October 2021 to September 2022 from over 10,000 Chinese community-based adults and the follow-up surveys would be conducted every two or three years. Blood and urine samples were obtained and stored for future omics data acquisition. Initial analyses revealed the prevalence and risk factors associated with metabolic-associated multimorbidity. The Speed-Shunde Cohort study is a longitudinal community-based cohort with comprehensive CKM health and metabolic-associated multimorbidity assessment. It will provide valuable insights into these conditions' development, progression, and interrelationships, potentially informing future prevention and treatment strategies.

MFR-Net: A multi-feature fusion phase unwrapping method for different speckle noises

Phase unwrapping is a crucial step in laser interferometry for obtaining accurate physical measurement of object. To reduce the impact of speckle noise on wrapped phase during actual measurement and improve the subsequent measurement accuracy, a multi-feature fusion phase unwrapping method for different speckle noises named MFR-Net is proposed in this paper. The network is composed of a front-end multi-module filter processing layer and a back-end network with dilated convolution and coordinate attention mechanism. By reducing random phase differences introduced by different levels of noise, the network enhances its capability to extract spatial features such as gradient information between pixels under speckle noise, so that it successfully unwraps the wrapped phase with different speckle noises and accurately recovers the real phase information. Taking the wrapped phases with multiplicative speckle noise and additive random noise as dataset, the results of ablation and comparison experiments show that the MFR-Net has superior unwrapped results. Under three different levels of speckle noise, the average values of MSE, SSIM, PSNR and AU for MFR-Net are at least improved by 84.80 %, 10.99 %, 29.00 % and 7.72 %, respectively, compared to PDVQG, TIE, DLPU and VURNet algorithms. When the standard deviation of speckle noise varies continuously in the range [1.0, 2.0], the average values of four indexes reaches 0.12 rad, 0.91, 31.80 dB and 99.96 %, respectively, indicating the stronger robustness of MFR-Net. In addition, the phase step unwrapping is performed by MFR-Net. Compared to DLPU and VURNet, MFR-Net method reduced MSE by 80 % and 87.35 %, respectively, demonstrating the outstanding generalization capability. The proposed MFR-Net can realize the correct phase unwrapping under different speckle noises. It may be applied in laser interferometry applications such as digital holography and interferometric synthetic aperture radar.

Prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable disease: a university-based cross-sectional study after the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for major health complications globally as well as in Bangladesh. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of risk factors for NCD among students and faculty/staff of the University of Dhaka after the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study (June 2022-July 2023) was conducted collecting information of sociodemographic factors, sleeping and food habits, family history, smoking, usage of electronic devices, refractive errors, and physical measurements, all of which were linked to risk factors. Subsequent analyses, such as bivariate, univariate, and logistic regression, were conducted on the population to evaluate associations between NCD status and the respective risk factors.ResultsThe overall mean age, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 22.34 years, 5.88 mmol/L, 23.27 kg/m2, 118.47 mm Hg, and 75.69 mm Hg, respectively. The most significant NCD risk factors were obesity (50.37%), followed by high sugar level (hyperglycemic) (13.45%), and hypertension (11.98%).ConclusionsThis study showed a significant number of NCD risk factors among University of Dhaka students and staff following COVID-19, underlining the urgent need for focused health interventions, particularly those addressing food and sleep. Addressing these hazards is critical to avoiding growing NCD incidence to ensure an effective healthcare system in Bangladesh.

The NEREA Augmented Observatory: an integrative approach to marine coastal ecology

The NEREA (Naples Ecological REsearch for Augmented observatories) initiative aims to establish an augmented observatory in the Gulf of Naples (GoN), designed to advance the understanding of marine ecosystems through a holistic approach. Inspired by the Tara Oceans expedition and building on the scientific legacy of the MareChiara Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER-MC) site, NEREA integrates traditional physical, chemical, and biological measurements with state-of-the-art methodologies such as metabarcoding and metagenomics. Here we present the first 10 months of NEREA data, collected from April 2019 to January 2020, encompassing physico-chemical parameters, plankton biodiversity (e.g., microscopy and flow cytometry), prokaryotic and eukaryotic metabarcoding, a prokaryotic gene catalogue, and a collection of 3818 prokaryotic Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs). NEREA’s efforts produce a significant volume of multifaceted data, which enhances our understanding of marine ecosystems and promotes the development of scientific hypotheses and ideas.

EFEITOS DO SUCO DE UVA TINTO INTEGRAL NA PRESSÃO ARTERIAL DE REPOUSO DE MULHERES CLIMATÉRICAS

Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a disease that, in most cases, involves genetic factors and lifestyle that affects approximately 21.4% of the Brazilian population, with 55% of this number represented by women and individuals over 75 years, accounting for 22.6% of deaths in Brazil. In women, the increased risk of developing SAH occurs in the period corresponding to the climacteric. Considered as a moment of transition between a woman's reproductive and non-reproductive period, the climacteric occurs between 40 and 60 years and involves the following phases: premenopause, perimenopause and postmenopause. It is known that treatment for SAH is more effective when it involves nutritional and lifestyle strategies combined with drug treatment. Among the alternatives, studies indicate the existence of a hypotensive effect in substances derived from grapes. Thus, this study aimed to observe the effect of ingestion of whole red grape juice on resting blood pressure in climacteric and hypertensive women in the interior of São Paulo. This is a randomized controlled, exploratory study, which included women aged 40 to 60 years with more than three months of amenorrhea and at least two climacteric symptoms. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: Control Group (CG) and Intervention Group (IG) to ingest 190 ml of whole grape juice for 28 days. The volunteers answered self-administered questionnaires and underwent physical examinations and measurement of resting blood pressure data during the first and last visit to compare the effect of the intervention. After the experimental protocol, it was observed that the protocol and dose used were able to cause a decrease in diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group, without causing significant changes in other parameters. Despite the need for further studies with greater control in the organization of groups, in addition to more doses and treatment times, this work corroborates the data that whole grape juice is a potential aid in controlling blood pressure in postmenopausal women.