Novel proteomic signatures may indicate MRI-assessed intrahepatic fat state and changes: The DIRECT PLUS clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We demonstrated in the randomized 18-month DIRECT PLUS trial (n = 294) that a Mediterranean (MED) diet, supplemented with polyphenol-rich Mankai duckweed, green tea, and walnuts and restricted in red/processed meat, caused substantial intrahepatic fat (IHF%) loss compared with 2 other healthy diets, reducing NAFLD by half, regardless of similar weight loss. Here, we investigated the baseline proteomic profile associated with IHF% and the changes in proteomics associated with IHF% changes induced by lifestyle intervention. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We calculated IHF% by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (normal IHF% <5% and abnormal IHF% ≥5%). We assayed baseline and 18-month samples for 95 proteomic biomarkers.Participants (age = 51.3 ± 10.8 y; 89% men; and body mass index = 31.3 ± 3.9 kg/m 2 ) had an 89.8% 18-month retention rate; 83% had eligible follow-up proteomics measurements, and 78% had follow-up proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At baseline, 39 candidate proteins were significantly associated with IHF% (false discovery rate <0.05), mostly related to immune function pathways (eg, hydroxyacid oxidase 1). An IHF% prediction based on the DIRECT PLUS by combined model ( R2 = 0.47, root mean square error = 1.05) successfully predicted IHF% ( R2 = 0.53) during testing and was stronger than separately inputting proteins/traditional markers ( R2 = 0.43/0.44). The 18-month lifestyle intervention induced changes in 18 of the 39 candidate proteins, which were significantly associated with IHF% change, with proteins related to metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and immune function pathways. Thrombospondin-2 protein change was higher in the green-MED compared to the MED group, beyond weight and IHF% loss ( p = 0.01). Protein principal component analysis revealed differences in the third principal component time distinct interactions across abnormal/normal IHF% trajectory combinations; p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest novel proteomic signatures that may indicate MRI-assessed IHF state and changes during lifestyle intervention. Specifically, carbonic anhydrase 5A, hydroxyacid oxidase 1, and thrombospondin-2 protein changes are independently associated with IHF% change, and thrombospondin-2 protein change is greater in the green-MED/high polyphenols diet.

A Delphi Panel of People With Parkinson's Disease Regarding Responsibility: Toward a Preliminary Taxonomy.

IMPORTANCE: A sense of agency is associated with complex occupation-related responsibilities. A taxonomy can guide clinicians in enhancing responsibility in patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). OBJECTIVE: To (1) discover levels of responsibility in occupations for PwPD and (2) propose a taxonomy for occupations. DESIGN: A two-round Delphi study with PwPD and a one-round Delphi study with international experts. SETTING: Electronic survey. PARTICIPANTS: PwPD (N = 75) and international experts (N = 8). OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: PwPD expressed their levels of an inherent sense of responsibility for each occupation (1 = very low responsibility, 5 = very high responsibility). International experts rated their level of agreement (5 = strongly agree, 1 = strongly disagree) with each dimension of the taxonomy. A consensus was determined to have been reached if the interquartile range was ≤1 and 70% agreement in two adjacent categories was achieved. RESULTS: Thirty-three occupation categories were deemed as having very high to moderate responsibility for PwPD. Consequences of actions and the presence of others made up the two-dimensional responsibility taxonomy. Occupations have more challenging responsibility characteristics when they are performed with free choice, a level of high physical effort, alone, and with moral consequences. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study yielded the first consensus among PwPD regarding responsibility in occupations as well as a classification system for charting the complexity of responsibility in occupations. The occupation list we have created can be beneficial to health care professionals when providing interventions or conducting outcome assessments. Plain-Language Summary: When planning interventions for patients with Parkinson's disease, it can be helpful for clinicians to be aware of patients' perspectives regarding their sense of responsibility to perform occupations. The use of a systematic sequence of challenging occupations with responsibility attributes ranging from less complex to more complex can help enhance patient occupational participation.

Fear of movement was associated with sedentary behaviour 12 months after lumbar fusion surgery in patients with low back pain and degenerative disc disorder.

BACKGROUND: Movement behaviours, such as sedentary behaviour (SB) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), are linked with multiple aspects of health and can be influenced by various pain-related psychological factors, such as fear of movement, pain catastrophising and self-efficacy for exercise. However, the relationships between these factors and postoperative SB and MVPA remain unclear in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar degenerative conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative pain-related psychological factors and postoperative SB and MVPA in patients with low back pain (LBP) and degenerative disc disorder at 6 and 12 months after lumbar fusion surgery. METHODS: Secondary data were collected from 118 patients (63 women and 55 men; mean age 46 years) who underwent lumbar fusion surgery in a randomised controlled trial. SB and MVPA were measured using the triaxial accelerometer ActiGraph GT3X+. Fear of movement, pain catastrophising and self-efficacy for exercise served as predictors. The association between these factors and the relative time spent in SB and MVPA 6 and 12 months after surgery was analysed via linear regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Preoperative fear of movement was significantly associated with relative time spent in SB at 6 and 12 months after surgery (ß = 0.013, 95% confidence interval = 0.004 to 0.022, p = 0.007). Neither pain catastrophising nor self-efficacy for exercise showed significant associations with relative time spent in SB and MVPA at these time points. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that preoperative fear of movement was significantly associated with postoperative SB in patients with LBP and degenerative disc disorder. This finding underscores the potential benefits of preoperative screening for pain-related psychological factors, including fear of movement, preoperatively. Such screenings could aid in identifying patients who might benefit from targeted interventions to promote healthier postoperative movement behaviour and improved health outcomes.

Ankle-foot orthoses among children with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional population-based register study of 8,928 children living in Northern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term where an injury to the immature brain affects muscle tone and motor control, posture, and at times, the ability to walk and stand. Orthoses can be used to improve or maintain function. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are the most frequently used orthoses in children with CP. However, how commonly AFOs are used by children and adolescents with CP is still unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate and describe the use of AFOs in children with CP in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Scotland, and Denmark, and compare AFO use between countries and by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) level, CP subtype, sex, and age. METHOD: Aggregated data on 8,928 participants in the national follow-up programs for CP for the respective countries were used. Finland does not have a national follow-up program for individuals with CP and therefore a study cohort was used instead. Use of AFOs were presented as percentages. Logistic regression models were used to compare the use of AFOs among countries adjusted for age, CP subtype, GMFCS level, and sex. RESULTS: The proportion of AFO use was highest in Scotland (57%; CI 54-59%) and lowest in Denmark (35%; CI 33-38%). After adjusting for GMFCS level, children in Denmark, Finland, and Iceland had statistically significantly lower odds of using AFOs whereas children in Norway and Scotland reported statistically significantly higher usage than Sweden. CONCLUSION: In this study, the use of AFOs in children with CP in countries with relatively similar healthcare systems, differed between countries, age, GMFCS level, and CP subtype. This indicates a lack of consensus as to which individuals benefit from using AFOs. Our findings present an important baseline for the future research and development of practical guidelines in terms of who stands to benefit from using AFOs.

Previous Injury and Lower Well-being Increase Injury Risk in Female Adolescent Athletes.

Several risk factors for injury have been suggested in female elite athletes. However, there is a lack of prospective studies in young female athletes where multiple risk factors have been studied. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for injury in female adolescent elite athletes. Substantial injuries were monitored in 222 athletes using the validated Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire over 20 weeks. Over 20 potential risk factors were explored. Based on a binomial generalized linear mixed model, two significant (p<0.05) risk factors for injury were identified; previous injury within the last 12 months (OR 2.55) and well-being (OR 0.97). An athlete with a previous injury had twice as high a risk of injury (13% vs. 6%) compared to an athlete with no previous injury. Higher perceived well-being was associated with a decreased risk of injury. Based on a prospective design with a large sample of female adolescent elite athletes, investigating over 20 potential risk factors for injury, our results suggest that a previous injury and well-being are risk factors for injury.

Body Weight Satisfaction, Comments, Nutrition and Injury Risk in 489 Adolescent Elite Athletes.

Exposure to critical body weight comments in youth athletes could lead to decreased self-esteem, affect body image, and increase the risk of eating disorders and cause depressive symptoms. The aim was to explore differences between sex, body mass index, sports type, with regards to body weight satisfaction, exposure to critical body weight comments from their coach and nutrition status in adolescent elite athletes. A questionnaire about body weight, critical body weight comments and nutrition was distributed to 489 adolescent elite athletes and injury prevalence was monitored across 20 weeks. The results showed that almost one in four athletes (n=116, 24%) was not satisfied with their weight and 12% (n=59) had received critical body weight comments from their coach. Of the athletes who were unsatisfied with their body weight (n=116), 47% wanted to lose weight (n=55). A significant (p<0.05) higher proportion of ice hockey players and swimmers used nutritional supplements, were unsatisfied with their body weight, and were more exposed to critical body weight comments compared to athletes from other sports. Adolescent elite athletes as young as 15-16 years old are exposed to critical body weight comments from their coach and experience challenges with body weight satisfaction that is partly dependent on the sport-specific context.

Consensus on Feedback Statements That Create Responsibility Among People With Parkinson's Disease: A Delphi Study.

IMPORTANCE: Sense of agency is associated with a sense of responsibility, which is essential to performing goal-directed occupations. OBJECTIVE: To reach consensus on a set of extrinsic feedback statements that have the potential to create a sense of responsibility among patients with neurological disorders in the course of performing daily or social occupations. DESIGN: Anonymous Delphi study with two rounds with international experts and one round with Irani patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). SETTING: Electronic survey. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred experts and 73 patients with idiopathic PD. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Experts and patients anonymously rated (5 = strongly agree/very effective, 4 = agree/effective, 3 = neither agree nor disagree/uncertain, 2 = disagree/ineffective, 1 = strongly disagree/very ineffective) their level of agreement with each survey statement and the effectiveness of each statement in creating a sense of responsibility in the course of performing daily or social occupations. Consensus was set as an interquartile range of ≤1 and ≥70% agreement in two adjacent categories of a Likert scale. RESULTS: In the experts' first round, consensus was reached on the level of agreement and effectiveness of 18 statements. In the second round, final consensus was achieved on all statements. In the one patient round, patients reached consensus on all statements. Finally, 34 statements were rated as 4 or 5 in terms of agreement and effectiveness, based on the opinions of experts and patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study has produced a collection of feedback statements that might be useful in occupation-based interventions. What This Article Adds: Extrinsic responsibility feedback delivered while administering occupation-based interventions may increase volition, motivation, and engagement.

Occupations to Enhance Responsibility Among Patients With Parkinson's Disease: An International Delphi Study.

IMPORTANCE: The ability to perform voluntary actions is disrupted in Parkinson's disease (PD). Voluntary activities play a critical role in generating sense of agency, which underpins the concept of responsibility for people's daily occupations and their outcomes. According to this concept, the dearth of research regarding the concept of responsibility in rehabilitation hampers practitioners in delivering evidence-based care. OBJECTIVE: To generate a list of occupations that enhance an inherent sense of responsibility among people with PD that is based on consensus among experts. DESIGN: An anonymous and iterative Delphi study with two rounds. SETTING: Electronic survey. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixteen experts participated in the first round of the study, and 95 participated in the second round. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Panelists rated the level of inherent responsibility in each occupation and the importance of types of patient-related information on a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as reaching an interquartile range of >1. RESULTS: In the first round, consensus was reached on 19 occupations and all 38 types of patient-related information. Also, an additional 15 occupations and 16 types of patient-related information were added to the lists. Consensus was reached for all occupations and patient-related information presented in the second round. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our results indicate that 61 occupations were deemed to enhance a moderate to a very high inherent sense of responsibility among people with PD. In addition, a wide range of patient-related information is considered very important or important while these occupation-focused interventions are delivered. What This Article Adds: Subjective knowledge of one's actions and their consequences lies behind people's daily occupations. Considering this knowledge when administering occupation-focused interventions can be beneficial for individuals with PD.

Development and initial validation of a Swedish inventory to screen for symptoms of deficient perineum in women after vaginal childbirth: 'Karolinska Symptoms After Perineal Tear Inventory'.

BACKGROUND: Perineal tears are common after vaginal birth and may result in pelvic floor symptoms. However, there is no validated questionnaire that addresses long-term symptoms in women with a deficient perineum after vaginal birth. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a clinical screening inventory that estimates subjective symptoms in women with a deficient perineum more than one year after vaginal delivery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The development and psychometric evaluation employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative strategies involved content validity and Think Aloud protocol for generation of items. The psychometric evaluation employed principal component analysis to reduce the number of items. The inventory was completed by women with persistent symptoms after perineal tears (N = 170). Results were compared to those of primiparous women giving birth by caesarean section (N = 54) and nulliparous women (N = 338). RESULTS: A preliminary 41-item inventory was developed, and the psychometric evaluation resulted in a final 11-item inventory. Women with confirmed deficient perineum after perineal trauma scored significantly higher on the symptoms inventory than women in control groups. A cut-off value of ≥ 8 could distinguish patients from controls with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (87-91%). CONCLUSIONS: The Karolinska Symptoms After Perineal Tear Inventory, is a psychometrically valid 11-item patient-reported outcome measure for symptoms of deficient perineum more than one year after vaginal birth. More research is needed to validate the inventory in various patient populations as well as its use in pelvic floor interventions. The inventory has the potential to improve patient counseling and care in the future.

Associations of pre-pandemic levels of physical function and physical activity with COVID-19-like symptoms during the outbreak.

BACKGROUND: One's physical function and physical activity levels can predispose or protect from the development of respiratory infections. We aimed to explore the associations between pre-pandemic levels of physical function and physical activity and the development of COVID-19-like symptoms in Swedish older adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from 904 individuals aged ≥ 68 years from the population-based Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. COVID-19-like symptoms were assessed by phone interview (March-June 2020) and included fever, cough, sore throat and/or a cold, headache, pain in muscles, legs and joints, loss of taste and/or odor, breathing difficulties, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and eye inflammation. Muscle strength, mobility, and physical activity were examined in 2016-2018 by objective testing. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models in the total sample and stratifying by age. RESULTS: During the first outbreak of the pandemic, 325 (36%) individuals from our sample developed COVID-19-like symptoms. Those with slower performance in the chair stand test had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.1) for presenting with COVID-19-like symptoms compared to better performers, after adjusting for potential confounders. The association was even higher among people aged ≥ 80 years (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5-4.7). No significant associations were found between walking speed or engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and the likelihood to develop COVID-19-like symptoms. CONCLUSION: Poor muscle strength, a possible indicator of frailty, may predispose older adults to higher odds of developing COVID-19-like symptoms, especially among the oldest-old.

Habitat thermal quality for Gopherus evgoodei in tropical deciduous forest and consequences of habitat modification by buffelgrass.

Tortoises of the genus Gopherus evolved in North America and have survived major environmental challenges in the past 40 million years. However, this genus now faces multiple anthropogenic threats, such as the introduction of invasive plant species. Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) is considered one of the greatest threats to arid and tropical ecosystems, where gopher tortoises inhabit, because the grass displaces native flora and fauna. Modification of the environment as a result of this invasive plant portends an alteration of the available thermal landscape. The aim of this paper is twofold: 1) to evaluate the thermal quality of the primary habitat of Gopherus evgoodei (tropical deciduous forest [TDF], and 2) determine the potential thermal changes due to habitat modification by buffelgrass. First, we obtained data on body temperature of active tortoises in semi-captivity. Second, we measured the operative environmental temperature during 5 years at three sites south of Sonora, Mexico that support G. evgoodei: a) a pristine TDF (Conserved-TDF); b) a forest patch surrounded by introduced buffelgrass pasture (Partial-TDF); and c) an introduced buffelgrass pasture area (Buffel-Pasture). Our results demonstrate that the intact microhabitats within the TDF provide G. evgoodei with high thermal quality at both spatial and temporal scales. However modified habitat by buffelgrass had higher operative temperatures for G. evgoodei than TDF. The thermal quality of the sites disturbed with buffelgrass can exceed the thermal requirements of G. evgoodei by up to 25 °C. Finally, we discussed potential collateral effects of habitat modification by invasion by buffelgrass.

Effect of green-Mediterranean diet on intrahepatic fat: the DIRECT PLUS randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of green-Mediterranean (MED) diet, further restricted in red/processed meat, and enriched with green plants and polyphenols on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), reflected by intrahepatic fat (IHF) loss. DESIGN: For the DIRECT-PLUS 18-month randomized clinical trial, we assigned 294 participants with abdominal obesity/dyslipidaemia into healthy dietary guidelines (HDG), MED and green-MED weight-loss diet groups, all accompanied by physical activity. Both isocaloric MED groups consumed 28 g/day walnuts (+440 mg/day polyphenols provided). The green-MED group further consumed green tea (3-4 cups/day) and Mankai (a Wolffia globosa aquatic plant strain; 100 g/day frozen cubes) green shake (+1240 mg/day total polyphenols provided). IHF% 18-month changes were quantified continuously by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). RESULTS: Participants (age=51 years; 88% men; body mass index=31.3 kg/m2; median IHF%=6.6%; mean=10.2%; 62% with NAFLD) had 89.8% 18-month retention-rate, and 78% had eligible follow-up MRS. Overall, NAFLD prevalence declined to: 54.8% (HDG), 47.9% (MED) and 31.5% (green-MED), p=0.012 between groups. Despite similar moderate weight-loss in both MED groups, green-MED group achieved almost double IHF% loss (-38.9% proportionally), as compared with MED (-19.6% proportionally; p=0.035 weight loss adjusted) and HDG (-12.2% proportionally; p<0.001). After 18 months, both MED groups had significantly higher total plasma polyphenol levels versus HDG, with higher detection of Naringenin and 2-5-dihydroxybenzoic-acid in green-MED. Greater IHF% loss was independently associated with increased Mankai and walnuts intake, decreased red/processed meat consumption, improved serum folate and adipokines/lipids biomarkers, changes in microbiome composition (beta-diversity) and specific bacteria (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The new suggested strategy of green-Mediterranean diet, amplified with green plant-based proteins/polyphenols as Mankai, green tea, and walnuts, and restricted in red/processed meat can double IHF loss than other healthy nutritional strategies and reduce NAFLD in half. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03020186.

Physical activity profiles in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Identifying physical activity (PA) profiles of people with Parkinson's Disease (PD) could provide clinically meaningful knowledge concerning how to tailor PA interventions. Our objectives were therefore to i) identify distinct PA profiles in people with PD based on accelerometer data, ii) explore differences between the profiles regarding personal characteristics and physical function. METHODS: Accelerometer data from 301 participants (43% women, mean age: 71 years) was analysed using latent profile analyses of 15 derived PA variables. Physical function measurements included balance performance, comfortable gait speed and single and dual-task functional mobility. RESULTS: Three distinct profiles were identified; "Sedentary" (N = 68), "Light Movers" (N = 115), "Steady Movers" (N = 118). "Sedentary" included people with PD with high absolute and relative time spent in Sedentary behaviour (SB), little time light intensity physical activity (LIPA) and negligible moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). "Light Movers" were people with PD with values close to the mean for all activity variables. "Steady Movers" spent less time in SB during midday, and more time in LIPA and MVPA throughout the day, compared to the other profiles. "Sedentary" people had poorer balance (P = 0.006), poorer functional mobility (P = 0.027) and were more likely to have fallen previously (P = 0.027), compared to "Light Movers. The Timed Up and Go test, an easily performed clinical test of functional mobility, was the only test that could distinguish between all three profiles. CONCLUSION: Distinct PA profiles, with clear differences in how the time awake is spent exist among people with mild-moderate PD.

Considerations on the psychometric properties and validity of the Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Conditons Scale.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional validation study. OBJECTIVES: Explore psychometric properties of Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Conditions Scale (SCI-SCS). SETTING: Two Scandinavian rehabilitation centres. METHODS: Included were 224 consecutive patients attending regular follow-up at least 1 year after a traumatic SCI. Mean age was 49.6 (SD 14.9) years. SCI-SCS floor and ceiling effect examined. Construct validity was investigated by confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis, and reliability by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: SCI-SCS showed no floor or ceiling effect. Two out of four earlier reported latent factors ("Genitourinary and bowel", "Muscle structures and pain") were confirmed. The global Cronbach's alpha of SCI-SCS was 0.65 and 0.22-0.61 for the four latent factors. The SCI-SCS sum score showed low correlation to quality of life (QoL) measured by EQ5 VAS (rs = -0.47, p < 0.001). Likewise, the sum score correlations to QoL-general and QoL-physical health (International SCI QoL Basic Dataset) were low (rs = -0.36, p < 0.001 and rs = -0.37, p < 0.001, respectively). The scale item Muscle Spasms correlated moderately to ratings on Spasm Frequency (rs = 0.59, p < 0.001) and Spasm Intensity (rs = 0.56, p < 0.001) scales. Chronic Pain and Joint and Muscle Pain correlated to patient reported number of pain sites and level of pain (International SCI Pain Basic Dataset 1.0) (rs = 0.31 p < 0.001 and rs = 0.47, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: SCI-SCS is a relevant instrument for giving clinicians and researchers an overview of the individual recent experiences with secondary conditions. However, the instrument could benefit from a clearer definition of the construct secondary conditions, a scale revision and a consideration of whether to add other experienced secondary conditions.

Joint association between accelerometry-measured daily combination of time spent in physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep and all-cause mortality: a pooled analysis of six prospective cohorts using compositional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the joint associations of daily time spent in different intensities of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep with all-cause mortality. METHODS: Federated pooled analysis of six prospective cohorts with device-measured time spent in different intensities of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep following a standardised compositional Cox regression analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 130 239 people from general population samples of adults (average age 54 years) from the UK, USA and Sweden. MAIN OUTCOME: All-cause mortality (follow-up 4.3-14.5 years). RESULTS: Studies using wrist and hip accelerometer provided statistically different results (I2=92.2%, Q-test p<0.001). There was no association between duration of sleep and all-cause mortality, HR=0.96 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.12). The proportion of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity was significantly associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.63 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.71) wrist; HR=0.93 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.98) hip). A significant association for the ratio of time spent in light physical activity and sedentary time was only found in hip accelerometer-based studies (HR=0.5, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.62). In studies based on hip accelerometer, the association between moderate to vigorous physical activity and mortality was modified by the balance of time spent in light physical activity and sedentary time. CONCLUSION: This federated analysis shows a joint dose-response association between the daily balance of time spent in physical activity of different intensities and sedentary behaviour with all-cause mortality, while sleep duration does not appear to be significant. The strongest association is with time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity, but it is modified by the balance of time spent in light physical activity relative to sedentary behaviour.

Population projections of an endangered cactus suggest little impact of climate change.

Population projections coupled with downscaled climate projections are a powerful tool that allows predicting future population dynamics of vulnerable plants in the face of a changing climate. Traditional approaches used to predict the vulnerability of plants to climate change (e.g. species distribution models) fail to mechanistically describe the basis of a population's dynamics and thus cannot be expected to correctly predict its temporal trends. In this study, we used a 23-year demographic dataset of the acuña cactus, an endangered species, to predict its population dynamics to the end of the century. We used integral projection models to describe its vital rates and population dynamics in relation to plant volume and key climatic variables. We used the resulting climate-driven IPM along with climatic projections to predict the population growth rates from 1991 to 2099. We found the average population growth rate of this population between 1991 and 2013 to be 0.70 (95% CI 0.61-0.79). This result confirms that the population of acuña cactus has been declining and that this decline is due to demographic structure and climate conditions. However, the projection model also predicts that, up to 2080, the population will remain relatively stable mainly due to the survival of its existing adult individuals. Notwithstanding, the long-term viability of the populations can only be achieved through the recruitment of new individuals.

Latent profile analysis of physical activity and sedentary behavior with mortality risk: A 15-year follow-up.

By exploring multiple characteristics of physical activity and sedentary behavior (SB), different physical activity profiles could be obtained, which may be beneficial for health and targeted physical activity interventions. The aim of this study was to identify distinct physical activity profiles based on accelerometer-derived activity characteristics and to determine whether these profiles are associated with all-cause mortality. Eight hundred fifty-one participants (56% women, mean age: 53 years) provided objectively assessed physical activity data using an ActiGraph accelerometer and were followed for 15 years. Physical activity profiles were determined using latent profile analyses of 14 derived activity variables, resulting in that three profiles were identified: "Low Active" (n = 147), "Average Active" (n = 397), and "High Active" (n = 307). "Low Active" was characterized by participants with low absolute, relative, and limited variation of time spent in physical activity, and high time spent in SB. "Average Active" had the most balanced movement behavior with values close to the mean for all activity variables. "High Active" was characterized by participants with high absolute, relative, and great variation of time spent in physical activity. Overall, a potentially non-linear pattern between multiple activity variables and all-cause mortality was found as "Low Active" was significantly (P < .05) positively associated with all-cause mortality, and no difference in mortality risk was found between "High Active" and "Average Active." Our data suggest that day-to-day variation in SB is not associated with all-cause mortality. The important message is to keep the overall time spent in SB low and replace this behavior with physical activity.

Association between physical activity and all-cause mortality: A 15-year follow-up using a compositional data analysis.

The association between the composition of movement behaviors and mortality risk, acknowledging the composition nature of daily time data, is limited explored. The aim was to investigate how the composition of time spent in sedentary behaviors (SB), light intensity physical activity (LIPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with all-cause mortality, in a cohort with 15 years follow-up time, using compositional data analysis. Eight hundred fifty-one participants (56% women, mean age 53 years) provided objectively assessed physical activity data using an ActiGraph accelerometer and were followed for 15 years. Association of daily time composition of movement behaviors with risk of mortality was explored using compositional data analysis and hazard ratios (HR) of mortality were estimated based on a cox regression model. A significant (P < .001) positive association between time spent in SB relative to time in other behaviors and a significant (P = .018) negative association between time spent in LIPA relative to time in other behaviors, with all-cause mortality, were found. Substituting time spent in LIPA or MVPA with time in SB increased the hazard for all-cause mortality, with greater effect found for MVPA (20 minutes replacement; HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04-1.52) than for LIPA (20 minutes replacement; HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.65-1.73). In a public health perspective, it is recommended to substitute SB with either LIPA or MVPA, but for individuals with little time spent in MVPA, the most important message may be to try to maintain that behavior.

Long-term changes in abundances of Sonoran Desert lizards reveal complex responses to climatic variation.

Understanding how climatic variation affects animal populations and communities is essential for addressing threats posed by climate change, especially in systems where impacts are projected to be high. We evaluated abundance dynamics of five common species of diurnal lizards over 25 years in a Sonoran Desert transition zone where precipitation decreased and temperature increased across time, and assessed hypotheses for the influence of climatic flux on spatiotemporal variation in abundances. We repeatedly surveyed lizards in spring and summer of each year at up to 32 sites, and used hierarchical mixture models to estimate detection probabilities, abundances, and population growth rates. Among terrestrial species, abundances of a short-lived, winter-spring breeder increased markedly by an estimated 237%-285% across time, while two larger spring-summer breeders with higher thermal preferences declined by up to 64%. Abundances of two arboreal species that occupy shaded and thus sheltered microhabitats fluctuated but did not decline systematically. Abundances of all species increased with precipitation at short lag times (1-1.5 years) likely due to enhanced food availability, but often declined after periods of high precipitation at longer lag times (2-4 years) likely due to predation and other biotic pressures. Although rising maximum daily temperatures (Tmax ) are expected to drive global declines of lizards, associations with Tmax were variable and weak for most species. Instead, abundances of all species declined with rising daily minimum temperatures, suggesting degradation of cool refugia imposed widespread metabolic or other costs. Our results suggest climate warming and drying are having major impacts on lizard communities by driving declines in species with traits that augment exposure to abiotic extremes and by modifying species interactions. The complexity of patterns we report indicates that evaluating and responding to the influence of climate change on biodiversity must consider a broad array of ecological processes.