Quantitative Exercise Research Articles

Safety and efficacy of a novel quantitative phase I exercise in patients after cardiopulmonary bypass: a single-blind, prospective, non-randomized study.

Despite the positive effect of early post-cardiac surgery exercises, the concern of safety issues is high, indicating the need for standardized and quantitative mobility indicators to enhance early mobilization monitoring in the intensive care unit while ensuring patient safety. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of quantitative phase I exercise versus usual care in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery. In this non-randomized, single-blind trial, patients following on-pump cardiac surgery were allocated to either quantitative exercise (intervention group, n=114) or usual care (control group, n=114) based on their willingness. Continuous cycling ergometer was used for intervention, and the peak power was recorded for setting next exercise intensity. Noninvasive cardiac output monitoring during exercise was used for safety management. Patients received one time per day, seven sessions in total. Two-way repeated-measure analysis of variance demonstrated significant group and test time difference for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (P=0.01), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) (P=0.02), peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate (P=0.045), and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) (P=0.001); more improvement of 6MWD in intervention group (P<0.001). Intervention group showed significant post-test improvements except FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC). Post-test differences between groups were observed in FEV1 (P=0.02), FVC (P=0.02), MEP (P=0.02), 6MWD (P<0.001), and △6MWD (P<0.001). Analysis of covariance with smoking as covariate showed consistent results. Postoperative stay in intensive-care unit in the intervention group [mean ± standard deviation (SD), 3.0±1.3] was shorter than that in the control group (mean ± SD, 3.5±2.2) (P=0.03). Quantitative phase I exercise applied to patients following cardiopulmonary bypass is safe and recovers respiratory and physical capacity more quickly.

Information Technology and Returns to Scale

What are the implications of the dramatic fall in IT prices for aggregate technology? When firm-level technologies are continuously differentiable, a factor price shock leads to (i) a substitution between factors and/or (ii) an endogenous response of returns to scale. The second channel is governed by the output elasticity of relative factor demand. Using detailed firm-level data from France, we estimate this elasticity to be positive for IT factor demand. A quantitative exercise accounting for both technological channels shows that falling IT prices can explain much of the changes in concentration and the composition of aggregate labor share in France. (JEL D22, D24, D33, E25, L63, L86)

Effects of multidimensional exercise management on self-efficacy, blood glucose control, and delivery outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of multidimensional quantitative exercise management on self-efficacy, blood glucose control, and delivery outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 150 pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (Exp), which received a multidimensional quantitative exercise management intervention, or the control group (Con), which received standard GDM management. Results were compared between the groups included self-efficacy scores, blood glucose levels, and delivery outcomes. Exp group of pregnant women exhibited drastically superior self-efficacy scores as well as more stable blood glucose levels during pregnancy relative to Con group (P < 0.05). Moreover, visual analogue scale (VAS) of pregnant women and Apgar scores of infants in Exp group were considerably better than those in Con group (P < 0.05). In contrast to Con group, pregnant women in Exp group had considerably better labor outcomes along neonatal complication rates (P < 0.05). Multidimensional quantitative exercise management had a positive impact on pregnant women with GDM. This intervention method can improve self-efficacy levels along better blood glucose control, and enhance delivery outcomes. These findings suggested that multidimensional quantitative exercise management has potential clinical value in the management of GDM, providing an effective management strategy to improve the health conditions of both pregnant women and infants.

Local development, metropolitan sustainability and the urbanization-suburbanization nexus in the Mediterranean region: A quantitative exercise

The present study investigates the influence of economic growth and socio-demographic change on long-term urbanization and suburbanization processes in a divided region of Southern Europe (Athens, Greece). A two-block Partial Least Squares (tPLS) analysis decomposed metropolitan growth into distinctive processes of local development in ‘central’ and ‘peripheral’ areas considering changes over time (1966–2008) in 14 indicators representative of multifaceted territorial dynamics in the Mediterranean space. By quantifying the bi-directional (spatio-temporal) propagation of socioeconomic impulses, the empirical results of tPLS have delineated substantial differences in the development path of inner cities and suburbs, fueling spatial divides in social conditions and increasingly heterogeneous processes of regional development. While inner cities experienced population growth and settlement densification, peripheral areas underwent rapid suburbanization with spatial concentration of economic functions and a generalized settlement dispersion. Providing further insights in the analysis of the differential mechanisms of metropolitan development in Western Europe, results of this study confirm the specificity of urbanization and suburbanization processes at the base of the increased polarization in central and peripheral areas typical of Mediterranean countries.

Do term premiums matter? Transmission via exchange rate dynamics

The macroeconomic effect of term premiums is a controversial issue both theoretically and quantitatively. In this paper, we explore the possibility that term premiums affect inflation and the real economy via exchange rate dynamics. For this purpose, we construct a small open economy model with limited asset market participation, focusing on the empirical observation that uncovered interest parity holds better for longer-term interest rate differentials. A quantitative exercise using Japanese and U.S. data shows that changes in term premiums, particularly those made by the central bank's bond purchases, have sizable effects on Japanese inflation rates via exchange rate dynamics.

Technological knowledge and wages: from skill premium to wage polarization

This paper studies the impact of automation shocks on the technological-knowledge level, skill premium (or wage inequality), real prices, output, and economic growth. To highlight the economic mechanisms, we devise a task-based direct technical change model that allows us to analyze the determinants of the threshold task, the relative output and prices between sectors, intra- and inter-sectoral wage differences, wage polarization and economic growth rates. We observe that an increase in the efficiency of skilled or unskilled workers as well as a decrease in the efficiency of medium-skilled workers as possible result of automation always increase wage polarization as well as economic growth rates. In a quantitative exercise we also assess the change in the weight of routine and non-routine sectors in the economy. In this context, governments should implement policies to support the professional transition of medium-skilled workers to non-routinazable tasks.

Use of Sample Entropy to Assess Sub-Maximal Physical Load for Avoiding Exercise-Induced Cardiac Fatigue

Sub-maximal physical load (sub-max) training is optimal for athletes. However, few methods can directly assess whether training is sub-max. Therefore, this study aimed to identify metrics that could assess sub-max training by predicting maximal physical load, helping athletes to avoid the risks associated with maximal training. Physiological data were collected from 30 participants in a bicycle incremental exercise experiment, including the R-R interval (RR), stroke volume (SV), breath-to-breath interval (BB), and breathing rate (BR). Sample Entropy (SampEn) analysis was used to assess the complexity of the physiological data. BR increased with exercise time but could not be used to identify the sub-max stage; however, SampEn BB could effectively identify the sub-max stage (p &lt; 0.05), as could the novel indicators SampEn SV and cardiac output (p &lt; 0.01). This study also identified the threshold value of each SampEn value in sub-max, which can be used as a sports science indicator to assess the load of athletes. The results suggest that SampEn-based indicators can be used to assess sub-max and maximal physical load. These findings can be used as a guide for quantitative exercise healthcare.

연령별 남자 카누선수의 신체조성, 체력요인 및 등속성 근기능 비교분석에 관한 연구

If quantified data are provided to detect canoe players early and improve their performance, positive effects of athletes selection, training methods, and performance improvement can be expected. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare and analyze body composition, basic physical fitness, muscle strength, power, and anaerobic power for male canoe players by age to identify quantitative exercise information and reflect them in training methods as well as provide basic data for improving performance. The subjects classified 29 athletes registered with the Korean canoe association into middle school (n=10), high school (n=8), and general (n=11) by age. Isokinetic peak torque/body weight% and flexor/extensor ratio at 60, 180 deg/sec of the knee extension and flexion were measured using an cybex 770. For the anaerobic power test of the lower extremities, the Wingate-test was performed for 30 seconds. Data analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA. From the results of this study, Compared to ACP group, middle (MCP) and high (HCP) school students have muscle strength (p＜.001) and Abdominal Endurance (p＜.05). We also confirmed higher isokinetic muscle strength and power in the ACP group compared to other groups (p＜.05). The above research results are believed to help leaders or sports scientists evaluate players and train them.

Socio-demographic and socio-economic disparities in medical rehabilitation in Germany in 2019

Abstract Medical rehabilitation is a valuable component to restore physical and mental health, to prevent social isolation and to ensure a return to work. Due to the demographic change and the still increasing number of Post-Covid-19 patients, the demand for rehabilitation is still increasing. Latest, the COVID-19 pandemic elucidated that especially people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are disproportionally affected by health crisis. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of socio-demographic and socio-economic factors on quantitative exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation and to clarify the divergence of existing research findings. In our study we used data from 824.606 rehabilitation cases (German Federal Pension Insurance) and investigated the role of age and gender, marital status, social status and location towards inequalities in access to medical rehabilitation. Multiple linear regression and effect size calculation were used to show associations and to discuss the relation to clinical relevance. We were able to show a highly significant difference (P &amp;lt; 0.001) in access to exercise therapy in our study group. Patients aged 65+, women, single or widowed people, rehabilitants of low socioeconomic status or people located in the new federal states in Germany received shorter and less frequent exercise therapy. There are differences of up to 3.5 hours of treatment duration and 4.25 treatments per week, when disadvantaged social factors accumulate. However, despite the presented differences, the received treatments for the disadvantaged groups are still in the range of suggested minimum therapeutic requirements by the German Federal Pension Insurance. We could show a significant difference in rehabilitative therapy, which is solely based on social factors. There is an urgent need to draw special attention to the here discussed inequalities in access to medical rehabilitation for socially disadvantaged population and the overarching impact on society. Key messages • The social inequality in medical rehabilitation to the detriment of the socially disadvantaged population that we have identified must give rise to clear changes in order to establish social justice. • Equal opportunities and health quality assurance that address the individual needs of each patient should be the focus of socio-medical, policy development.

A demonstration that frictional heating of Earth is trivial

An internet poster recently floated the idea that friction with a recently denser interstellar medium causes global warming. Despite its superficially ridiculous nature, refuting this proposition is an interesting quantitative exercise.

Unpacking Survey Data within Critical Autoethnographic Study as a Quantitative Exercise

Teacher educators must embody an equity-focused orientation when working with preservice teachers. The article shares insights gained from a quantitative exercise as part of a critical autoethnography project. We situate this project as professional development for two teacher education researchers. The goals were to deepen knowledge of and adeptness with equity focused, culturally responsive teaching practices in teacher education and to investigate the usefulness of quantitative data for studying equity pedagogies in teacher education. Findings are shared as learning examples that spurred us to affirm the need for critical mixed methods and to inform next steps in our own teacher education research. We also describe the messiness and unease we grappled with throughout the exercise. This work contributes to the on-going call for purposeful and systematic teacher preparation programming informed by teacher educators’ deep knowledge of culturally responsive teaching practices as a pathway to realizing equity in education.

Income inequality, productivity, and international trade

This paper studies the effect of income inequality on selection and aggregate productivity in a general equilibrium model with non-homothetic preferences and product quality. The model matches the empirical fact that an increase in income shifts one’s consumption towards goods that have higher quality both at the intensive and extensive margins. It also implies a negative relationship between the number and quantity of goods consumed by an income group and the earnings of other income groups. The central result is that a mean-preserving spread of the income distribution negatively affects aggregate productivity through the softening of firms’ selection. In the presence of international trade, this effect is amplified with lower trade barriers or a larger number of trade partners. Furthermore, the model implies that the domestic expenditure shares and welfare gains from trade are constant across income groups. A simple quantitative exercise suggests that an income redistribution like the one induced by the US Federal taxes and transfers raises average productivity by about 3%.

Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems interactions – From key concepts to model implementation with OSeMOSYS

The Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems (CLEWs) approach guides the development of integrated assessments. The approach includes an analytical component that can be performed using simple accounting methods, soft-linking tools, incorporating cross-systems considerations in sectoral models, or using one modelling tool to represent CLEW systems. This paper describes how a CLEWs quantitative analysis can be performed using one single modelling tool, the Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS). Although OSeMOSYS was primarily developed for energy systems analysis, the tool’s functionality and flexibility allow for its application to CLEWs. A step-by-step explanation of how climate, land, energy, and water systems can be represented with OSeMOSYS, complemented with the interpretation of sets, parameters, and variables in the OSeMOSYS code, is provided. A hypothetical case serves as the basis for developing a modelling exercise that exemplifies the building of a CLEWs model in OSeMOSYS. System-centred scenario analysis is performed with the integrated model example to illustrate its application. The analysis of results shows how integrated insights can be derived from the quantitative exercise in the form of conflicts, trade-offs, opportunities, and synergies. In addition to the modelling exercise, using the OSeMOSYS-CLEWs example in teaching, training and open science is explored to support knowledge transfer and advancement in the field.

Export capacity constraints and distortions

We investigate how export capacity constraints (ECCs) affect resource misallocation and aggregate productivity by distorting the firm's export mode. Using unique datasets in China, we first document a number of observed patterns for the so-called “dual-channel exporters”, which export only a fraction of their products directly with the rest via intermediaries. We show that introducing capacity constraints reconciles the theory with the observed patterns in the data. Our quantitative exercise suggests that removal of the ECCs leads to gains of 2.27% in aggregate productivity, 4.97% in total exports and 0.37% in national welfare.

Assessing gait, balance, and muscle strength among breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and understudied consequence of taxane chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment. CIPN symptoms include numbness combined with tingling sensations, persistent shooting, stabbing, or burning pain even in the absence of painful stimuli, lower extremity muscle weakness, and impaired balance. CIPN symptoms often persist for a long time after completion of chemotherapy, causing significant loss of functional abilities and increased risk of falls. Persistent CIPN caused by taxanes represents a therapeutic challenge due to the limited treatment options. Resistance exercise has shown promising results; however, the effect of exercise on CIPN remains understudied. This study aims to assess the effects of exercise on gait, balance, and lower extremity muscle strength after a 16-week home-based exercise program compared to an educational attention control condition.MethodsA sample of 312 women who completed taxane-based chemotherapy for breast cancer and have symptomatic neuropathy is recruited from a community-dwelling sample. Participants are randomized to either a 16-week Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention or an Educational Attention control group. The home-based intervention protocol consists of targeted lower extremity stretches, followed by 10 min each of gait/balance and 10 min of resistive training accessed by hyperlink or DVD. An Exercise Diary records quantitative exercise data. The gait assessment includes temporospatial parameters and lower extremity joint angles using APDM motion sensors. Participants’ balance is assessed using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) performed using a NeuroCom Balance Master. Isometric strength of hip, knee, and ankle flexor and extensor muscles is assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer, Biodex BX Advantage. In addition, we assess neuropathy symptoms using the FACT-Taxane Additional Concerns Subscale and nerve conduction velocity of the sural and peroneal nerve action potentials. Outcomes are assessed at baseline (prior to randomization) and 16 weeks.DiscussionThere are currently no evidence-based interventions that address the functional declines associated with CIPN. If successful, this program is simple and easy to implement in the standard of care for individuals with CIPN. Gait and balance training have the potential to reduce physical dysfunction associated with CIPN and reduce the burden of disease in cancer survivors.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04621721. Registered on August 3, 2020. ClincialTrials.gov is a primary registry of the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTEP) network and includes all items from the WHO Trial Registration data set in Trial registration.

Coal reliance, human development, and gender equality: At what scale should we look for a relationship?

Reliance on coal is crucial to understand in energy transition, but different countries rely on coal in different ways. The reliance is not only on coal production that provides for employment and economic output, but also for export revenues and consumption. This paper presents the results of a research to develop a Coal Reliance Index (CRI) that combine the measurements of production, consumption, and external reliance on coal. The CRI helps us to compare between coal-producing countries, and correlate coal reliance with social indicators such as the Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Development Index (GDI) at a country level. The research found that the lack of sex-disaggregated data on coal employment is a major hindrance to correlate coal reliance with social and gender indicators. The paper concludes that although at the macro-scale we did not find any relationship between CRI and gender in/equality, the exercise was valuable in that it points us to explore the possibility of such relationship at the regional and/or community/household scales. We conclude that this finding—that as gender issues need to be dealt at the micro-level where each context varies from the other—is an important outcome of the quantitative exercise.

EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON INSULIN RESISTANCE IN OBESE TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), accounts for more than 90% of the total number of diabetes mellitus cases and often occurs in middle-aged and elderly people. Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise intervention on insulin resistance in obese type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: Eighty-six obese diabetic patients were screened as experimental subjects in physical examinations and randomly divided into observation and control groups. Visceral fat volume, fasting blood glucose, and fasting insulin of all subjects were measured before and after completion of the 6-month experimental implementation. The insulin resistance was calculated for both groups and the values for each indicator were compared statistically between groups. Results: Control of body weight, body mass index, blood glucose, blood lipids and insulin resistance index were better in the observation group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Basal intervention with quantitative exercise can significantly improve insulin resistance in obese type 2 diabetes patients and the effect is better than treatment with diet and conventional exercise. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Road capacity, domestic trade and regional outcomes

Abstract What is the impact on intra-national trade and regional economic outcomes when the quality and lane-capacity of an existing paved road network is expanded significantly? We investigate this question for the case of Turkey, which undertook a large-scale public investment in roads during the 2000s. Using spatially disaggregated data on road upgrades and domestic transactions, we estimate a large positive impact of reduced travel times on trade as well as local manufacturing employment and wages. A quantitative exercise using a workhorse model of spatial equilibrium implies heterogeneous effects across locations, with aggregate real income gains reaching 2–3% in the long-run. Reductions in travel times increased local employment-to-population ratio but had no effect on local population. We extend the model by endogenizing the labor supply decision to capture this finding. The model-implied elasticity of employment rates to travel time reductions captures about one-third of the empirical elasticity.

A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the benefits of quantitative exercise intervention on effective bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy.

This study systematically evaluated and analyzed the efficacy of quantitative exercise intervention on colonoscopy intestinal preparation. A systematic search was performed using the Cochrane Library, the JBI evidence-based database, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline, CNKI, the China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and the Wanfang database to identify literature relating to the efficacy of exercise intervention on bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) published from the establishment of the database to July 2021 were included. After screening the literatures, relevant data was extracted and evaluated for quality. The RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. A total of 8 studies with 1,486 patients, including 747 in the intervention group and 739 in the control group, were included in this meta-analysis. The results of 4 studies showed that the use of quantitative exercise intervention programs did significantly improve the quality of the patient's bowel preparations [mean difference (MD) =2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04 to 4.26; P=0.046]. The results of 6 studies demonstrated that the use of quantitative exercise intervention programs can effectively improve the patient's bowel preparation adequacy rate [relative risk (RR) =1.25, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.49; P=0.012]. Meta-analysis of 5 studies showed that the use of quantitative exercise intervention programs can reduce the incidence of nausea in patients (RR =0.52; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.74; P=0.000). Analysis of 4 studies revealed that quantitative exercise intervention can reduce the incidence of vomiting in patients (RR =0.36; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.56; P=0.000). Furthermore, evaluation of 4 studies demonstrated that quantitative exercise intervention reduced the incidence of abdominal pain in patients (RR =0.50; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.89; P=0.019), and reduced the incidence of abdominal distension (RR =0.60; 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.99; P=0.047). Quantitative exercise intervention can effectively improve the quality of intestinal preparation before colonoscopy and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.

Economic Slowdown and Housing Dynamics in China: A Tale of Two Investments by Firms

AbstractWe study the housing boom and economic slowdown in China in a dynamic New Keynesian model. The model features a novel channel of firms' dynamic portfolio choice between physical and housing investment. Housing assets earn a positive return and can be used as collateral for the firm's external finances. A negative productivity shock decreases the relative return of production capital, which translates into a housing boom by increasing the firm's housing demand. A rise in house prices then generates competing effects on real investment: it raises the firm's leverage due to the collateral effect and depresses the firm's demand for physical capital because of the crowding‐out effect. After calibrating the model for the Chinese economy, our quantitative exercise suggests the former effect is dominated by the latter, resulting in countercyclical housing prices. The policy analysis shows that the capital subsidization policy targeting house prices performs better than other macro‐economic policies.