Is language impaired in Spanish-speaking children with autism spectrum disorder level 1?

The current diagnostic criteria for the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include the possibility to specify concomitant language difficulties. Purpose: Our main aim was to explore whether children with ASD-Level 1 (ASD-L1) present difficulties in the acquisition of structural language, as little work has been done in this regard so far. As a secondary aim we evaluated the degree to which the potential language impairment in ASD is directly associated with their social communication deficits or it represents a distinct deficit. Methods: To further clarify the nature and characteristics of putative language difficulties in ASD-L1, we evaluated language skills in 89 children and preadolescents diagnosed with ASD-L1, and a group of typically developing participants (TD). All of them were between 8 and 13 years old and had similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Results: Children with ASD-L1 obtained lower scores than those in TD group in repeating sentences, in finding the semantic relationships between words, and in applying word structure rules (morphology). Congruently, the core language standard score was lower in the ASD-L1 group, and the proportion of language delay was significantly higher in the ASD-L1 group than in the control group. Conclusion: Language scores were associated with autistic traits; thus, language performance in ASD-L1 is closely related to autistic symptoms. These results are discussed according to the literature on linguistic deficits in ASD-L1 and their relations with phonological working memory.

The role of primary healthcare amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the Family Health Strategy in Brazil.

This paper investigates the role of primary healthcare in mitigating the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the Brazilian Family Health Strategy (ESF) as a case study. ESF is Brazil's major primary care initiative, with prior evidence indicating its effectiveness in improving various health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic submitted the Brazilian healthcare system to a rigorous and unprecedented stress test, whose repercussions are still under study. Using comprehensive administrative microdata from 2016 to 2022 encompassing dimensions related to mortality, healthcare service, supply of family health teams, and vaccination coverage, our empirical strategy accounts for heterogeneous effects based on program intensity and pandemic evolution of the 5570 Brazilian municipalities. Our findings reveal that municipalities with high-intensity of ESF coverage (i.e. stronger primary care) experienced 347.93 (95% CI: 289.04, 406.81) fewer COVID-19 and cardiorespiratory deaths per million inhabitants throughout the pandemic period, compared to those in low-intensity ESF areas, despite sharing similar profiles of deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. Among the channels contributing to this relative performance, high-intensity ESF municipalities were found to engage in more home-based primary care visits and health promotion activities while maintaining a similar supply of community health workers. Additionally, they achieved higher vaccination coverage, and these effects were more pronounced in areas with greater ESF presence, emphasising the importance of primary care coverage. In conclusion, our findings underscore the relevance of strong primary care in mitigating the consequences of the pandemic and addressing post-pandemic health challenges.

New insights into the magnetism and magnetic structure of LuCrO3 perovskite.

A polycrystalline sample LuCrO3 has been characterized by neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetization measurements. Its crystal structure has been Rietveld refined from NPD data in space group Pnma; this perovskite contains strongly tilted CrO6 octahedra with extremely bent Cr-O-Cr superexchange angles of ∼142°. The NPD data show that below Néel temperature (TN ≃ 131 K), the magnetic structure can be defined as an A-type antiferromagnetic arrangement of Cr3+ magnetic moments, aligned along the b axis, with a canting along the c axis. A noticeable magnetostrictive effect is observed in the unit-cell parameters and volume upon cooling down across TN. The AC magnetic susceptibility indicates the onset of magnetic ordering below 112.6 K; the magnetization isotherms below TN show a nonlinear behaviour that is associated with the described canting of the Cr3+ magnetic moments. From the Curie-Weiss law, the effective moment of the Cr3+ sublattice is found to be µeff = 3.55 µB (calculated 3.7 µB) while the ΘCW parameter yields a value of -155 K, indicating antiferromagnetic interactions. There is a conspicuous increase of TN upon the application of external pressure, which must be due to shortening of the Cr-O bond length under compression that increases the orbital overlap integral.

Prevalence of Thrombocytopenia in Pregnant Women with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/Objectives: Although articles and reviews have been published on the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy outcomes, they show mixed results with different hypotheses, and no work has focused specifically on the prevalence of thrombocytopenia. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize previous evidence and estimate the prevalence of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women with COVID-19. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA-2020 and MOOSE guidelines. The Medline and Web of Science databases were searched in February 2024, and a meta-analysis of the overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women with COVID-19 was performed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. A leave-1-out sensitivity analysis was performed to test for disproportionate effect. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: A total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 8 were included in the meta-analysis. There was significant (Q = 101.04) and substantial heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 93.07%). There were no quality-based exclusions from the review of eligible studies. The combined effect of the studies showed a prevalence of thrombocytopenia of 22.9% (95%CI 4.8-41.0%). Subgroup analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in the pooled prevalence of thrombocytopenia ([16.5%; 30.3%]; p = 0.375. Egger's test for bias was not significant, indicating that smaller studies did not report larger estimates of prevalence (t = 1.01, p = 0.353). Moreover, no potential publication bias was found. Our results are consistent with those obtained in pregnant women without COVID-19 infection and extend those of previous reviews of the effect of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: Infection during pregnancy does not seem to be an additional risk factor for platelet count, although monitoring platelet count in pregnant women with COVID-19 may be of great importance to determine possible therapeutic strategies, especially in emergency cases.

Validity and reliability of the Mobile Toolbox Faces and Names memory test.

Validation of the Mobile Toolbox Faces and Names associative memory test is presented. Ninety-two participants self-administered Faces and Names in-person; 956 self-administered Faces and Names remotely but took convergent measures in person; and 123 self-administered Faces and Names remotely twice, 14 days apart. Internal consistency (.76-.79) and test-retest reliability (ICC = .73) were acceptable. Convergent validity with WMS-IV Verbal Paired Associates was satisfactory (immediate .54; delayed .58). The findings suggest the remotely administered Faces and Names is a reliable instrument.

Assessment of brine discharges dispersion for sustainable management of SWRO plants on the South American Pacific coast.

Seawater desalination is one of the most feasible technologies for producing fresh water to address the water scarcity scenario worldwide. However, environmental concerns about the potential impact of brine discharge on marine ecosystems hinder or delay the development of desalination projects. In addition, scientific knowledge is lacking about the impact of brine discharges on the South America Pacific coast where desalination, is being developed. This paper presents the first monitoring results of brine discharge influence areas from seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants (SWRO) on the South America Pacific coast, using Chile as case study. Our results indicate that the combination of favorable oceanographic conditions and diffusers, results in the rapid dilution of brine discharge on coastal ecosystems; showing a faster dilution than other SWRO plants in other regions, such as Mediterranean or Arabian Gulf, with similar production characteristics. Also, the increase in salinity over the natural salinity in the brine-discharge-affected area was <5 % in a radius of <100 m from the discharge points. Further, according to the published literature and on our monitoring results, we propose a number of considerations (environmental regulation, best scientifically tested measures, environmental requirements) to achieve a long-term sustainable desalination operation.

Assessment of forgiveness in couple relationships: Adaptation of the Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS) to a Spanish sample.

Forgiveness plays an important role in couple relationships, as it is essential in overcoming interpersonal offenses and related to the well-being of the relationship. To date, no valid instruments are available for Spanish populations to evaluate forgiveness within marital relationships. This study aims to adapt and evaluate the Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS), comparing the behavior of the scale in two cultural contexts: Spain and the United States. Two studies were conducted: the first with 389 participants to evaluate the behavior of the scale and to explore the dimensionality of the Spanish version of the MOFS using exploratory factor analysis (EFA); the second study used a sample of 361 Spanish and 119 American participants, conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an invariance factor analysis. The EFA revealed two factors: Avoidance-Resentment and Benevolence. Using CFA, the factorial structure of the MOFS was confirmed, with results indicating that the proposed model presents a similar fit to the original version.

Comparative Study of Diluted Hydrogen Peroxide and Sulfur Hexafluoride in the Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Assessment of Anal Fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Endoanal ultrasound for the diagnosis of anal fistulas requires the injection of hydrogen peroxide, but it is often uncomfortable for the patient and possesses potential complications. Novel ultrasound contrast is currently available. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of sulfur hexafluoride as an ultrasound contrast agent for the diagnosis of perianal fistula by comparing it with those of 50% diluted hydrogen peroxide. DESIGN: Double-blind superiority study with 4 consecutive visits to perform an ultrasound without contrast, a hydrogen peroxide-enhanced ultrasound, a sulfur hexafluoride-enhanced ultrasound and a rectal exploration in the operating room (the gold standard). The ultrasound images were independently reviewed by three expert surgeon sonographers. CLINICAL SETTING: This study was conducted at a single university hospital. PATIENTS: Data from 176 patients were evaluated. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and exploratory data and the ultrasound findings related to the location of the internal fistula orifice, description of the primary and secondary tracts, and presence of cavities and sphincter defects were analyzed. The complications occurring before and after the contrast agent administration and the presence of pain measured using a score were considered. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were included (men: 71.5%; mean age: 48.3 years).62.5% had a complex type and 83.7% had a transsphincteric type. Sulfur hexafluoride-enhanced ultrasounds demonstrated a higher interobserver agreement in determining the secondary tracts (κ= 0.604) and anal fistula height (κ=0.604) compared with other methods. Both hydrogen peroxide-enhanced ultrasound (90.91%) and sulfur hexafluoride-enhanced ultrasound (89.77%) detected the internal orifice more frequently than ultrasounds without contrast (62.5%) (p < 0.001),with no differences between contrast agents (p = 0.810). Sulfur hexafluoride-enhanced ultrasound were less painful than peroxide-enhanced ultrasound (p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: Most of the patients had transsphincteric anal fistulas. CONCLUSIONS: Sulfur hexafluoride proved comparable to hydrogen peroxide in evaluating fistulous tracts and identifying the internal orifice and additionally reduced significantly pain and discomfort. Furthermore, demonstrated a higher interobserver agreement in determining the secondary tracts and anal fistula height compared with other methods. See Video Abstract.

Evaluating the real-world usability of BCI control systems with augmented reality: a user study protocol.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) enable users to control devices through their brain activity. Motor imagery (MI), the neural activity resulting from an individual imagining performing a movement, is a common control paradigm. This study introduces a user-centric evaluation protocol for assessing the performance and user experience of an MI-based BCI control system utilizing augmented reality. Augmented reality is employed to enhance user interaction by displaying environment-aware actions, and guiding users on the necessary imagined movements for specific device commands. One of the major gaps in existing research is the lack of comprehensive evaluation methodologies, particularly in real-world conditions. To address this gap, our protocol combines quantitative and qualitative assessments across three phases. In the initial phase, the BCI prototype's technical robustness is validated. Subsequently, the second phase involves a performance assessment of the control system. The third phase introduces a comparative analysis between the prototype and an alternative approach, incorporating detailed user experience evaluations through questionnaires and comparisons with non-BCI control methods. Participants engage in various tasks, such as object sorting, picking and placing, and playing a board game using the BCI control system. The evaluation procedure is designed for versatility, intending applicability beyond the specific use case presented. Its adaptability enables easy customization to meet the specific user requirements of the investigated BCI control application. This user-centric evaluation protocol offers a comprehensive framework for iterative improvements to the BCI prototype, ensuring technical validation, performance assessment, and user experience evaluation in a systematic and user-focused manner.

Remote Teleproctoring with the TEGUS System for Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Non-Comprehensive Stroke Center: Initial Preliminary Data On Clinical Experience.

PURPOSE: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is typically performed by experienced neurointerventional radiologists. However, logistical and geographic limitations often hinder access to rapid MT. This study reports the first clinical experience using TEGUS teleproctoring to support MT conducted by general interventional radiologists (IR) at non-comprehensive stroke centers, compared to on-site proctoring outcomes. METHODS: The Arnau de Vilanova Hospital in Spain used to transfer stroke patients requiring MT to a comprehensive Stroke Center 160 km away. To overcome COVID-19 mobility restrictions, the Tegus Teleproctoring System was installed. Before teleproctoring, the general interventional radiologist underwent six months of neurointerventional training at a primary stroke center. From April 2021 to May 2023, general IR conducted MT either with on-site proctor supervision or teleproctoring support. We aim to compare clinical outcome of patients receiving MT according to proctoring method. RESULTS: During the study, 49 MTs were performed: 15 with TEGUS teleproctoring and 34 with on-site proctoring. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics, except for NIHSS scores (Tegus 9 [IQR 6-20] vs 18 [IQR 12-22], p = 0.034). No significant differences were found in door-to-revascularization time (82 ± 28.2 vs 84 ± 26.4) min, p = (0.895). The final mTICI distribution and 90-day mRS scores were comparable after adjusting by stroke severity. There were no reports of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in either group. CONCLUSION: This study shows the feasibility of Tegus remote teleproctoring during emergent cases of MT in a remote hospital. It could improve the learning curve of interventional radiologists with limited experience in MT, and lower the territorial inequity associated to MT.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Associated with the Selection of Sweetened Ultra-Processed Foods and Their Importance in Oral Health.

BACKGROUND: Reading nutritional labelling helps consumers select healthier food, thereby benefitting their oral health. The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of parents and carers of children and preteens, associated with reading nutritional labelling, selecting sweetened ultra-processed foods, and their impact on oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a validated questionnaire was administered to 298 parents and caregivers of children aged 1-12 years from different districts in Villavicencio, Colombia. Participants' scores, based on the number of correct answers, were used to classify their level of KAP as low, medium, or high. In addition, the frequency of responses, the KAP levels, and the median scores were analysed. Finally, associations were determined using the chi-square test. RESULTS: Most participants reached a medium level in terms of knowledge (41.6%) and attitudes (49.3%) and a low level in terms of practices (43.3%). An association was found between participants' level of KAPs and their socioeconomic and educational level (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings reveal inadequate KAPs associated with nutritional labelling, adequate food selection, and the importance of oral health.

Análisis bibliométrico de instrumentos de medición de la ira en el marco de salud mental

El artículo buscó como objetivo identificar el conocimiento acerca de la ira y los instrumentos psicométricos diseñados para evaluarla en el marco de la salud mental. En la metodología se consideró las bases de datos de Dialnet, Scielo, Google Scholar, Sciencedirect y Scopus, llegando a 26,290 artículos. De esta cifra, 11,523 artículos fueron eliminados debido a la condición de duplicación, y otros 7,523 por no encontrarse en un idioma elegible o por ser un documento incompleto. Además, se excluyeron 4,933 artículos cuyas temáticas no estaban relacionadas con los test de ira en el marco de la salud mental. Luego, se obtuvieron 2,311 artículos; pero tras una revisión manual, se eliminaron 1,259 más. Posteriormente, fue posible recuperar un total de 1,052. De estos, se seleccionaron 140 para análisis. Finalmente, después analizar la finalidad que buscaba cada artículo, quedaron un total de 50 artículos enfocados en instrumentos psicométricos que evalúan la ira en el marco de salud mental. Estableciéndose en los resultados que, la base de datos con la mayor frecuencia de estudios encontrados es Sciencedirect, con un 36% del total de estudios, además, España es el país con la mayor frecuencia de estudios encontrados, representando el 38% del total. Concluyendo que, los instrumentos más frecuentemente empleados se encuentran el STAXI-2, seguido del DAS y el DAX.

The objective of the article was to identify knowledge about anger and the psychometric instruments designed to evaluate it in the framework of mental health. The methodology considered the databases of Dialnet, Scielo, Google Scholar, Sciencedirect and Scopus, reaching 26,290 articles. Of this figure, 11,523 articles were eliminated due to duplication status, and another 7,523 because they were not in an eligible language or because they were an incomplete document. In addition, 4,933 articles were excluded whose topics were not related to anger tests in the framework of mental health. Then, 2,311 articles were obtained; but after a manual review, 1,259 more were removed. Subsequently, it was possible to recover a total of 1,052. Of these, 140 were selected for analysis. Finally, after analyzing the purpose sought by each article, there were a total of 50 articles focused on psychometric instruments that evaluate anger in the mental health framework. Establishing in the results that the database with the highest frequency of studies found is Sciencedirect, with 36% of the total studies, in addition, Spain is the country with the highest frequency of studies found, representing 38% of the total. Concluding that, the most frequently used instruments are the STAXI-2, followed by the DAS and the DAX.

O objetivo do artigo foi identificar o conhecimento sobre a raiva e os instrumentos psicométricos concebidos para avaliá-la no âmbito da saúde mental. A metodologia considerou as bases de dados Dialnet, Scielo, Google Scholar, Sciencedirect e Scopus, chegando a 26.290 artigos. Desse número, 11.523 artigos foram eliminados por estarem duplicados e outros 7.523 por não estarem em idioma elegível ou por serem documentos incompletos. Além disso, foram excluídos 4.933 artigos cujos temas não estavam relacionados aos testes de raiva no âmbito da saúde mental. Obtiveram-se então 2.311 artigos; mas após uma revisão manual, mais 1.259 foram removidos. Posteriormente, foi possível recuperar um total de 1.052. Destes, 140 foram selecionados para análise. Por fim, após análise da finalidade buscada por cada artigo, obteve-se um total de 50 artigos focados em instrumentos psicométricos que avaliam a raiva no âmbito da saúde mental. Estabelecendo nos resultados que a base de dados com maior frequência de estudos encontrados é a Sciencedirect, com 36% do total de estudos, além disso, a Espanha é o país com maior frequência de estudos encontrados, representando 38% do total. Concluindo que os instrumentos mais utilizados são o STAXI-2, seguido do DAS e do DAX.

Análisis bibliométrico de instrumentos de medición de la ira en el marco de salud mental / Bibliometric analysis of anger measurement instruments in the mental health framework / Análise bibliométrica de instrumentos de mensuração da raiva no âmbito da saúde mental

El artículo buscó como objetivo identificar el conocimiento acerca de la ira y los instrumentos psicométricos diseñados para evaluarla en el marco de la salud mental. En la metodología se consideró las bases de datos de Dialnet, Scielo, Google Scholar, Sciencedirect y Scopus, llegando a 26,290 artículos. De esta cifra, 11,523 artículos fueron eliminados debido a la condición de duplicación, y otros 7,523 por no encontrarse en un idioma elegible o por ser un documento incompleto. Además, se excluyeron 4,933 artículos cuyas temáticas no estaban relacionadas con los test de ira en el marco de la salud mental. Luego, se obtuvieron 2,311 artículos; pero tras una revisión manual, se eliminaron 1,259 más. Posteriormente, fue posible recuperar un total de 1,052. De estos, se seleccionaron 140 para análisis. Finalmente, después analizar la finalidad que buscaba cada artículo, quedaron un total de 50 artículos enfocados en instrumentos psicométricos que evalúan la ira en el marco de salud mental. Estableciéndose en los resultados que, la base de datos con la mayor frecuencia de estudios encontrados es Sciencedirect, con un 36% del total de estudios, además, España es el país con la mayor frecuencia de estudios encontrados, representando el 38% del total. Concluyendo que, los instrumentos más frecuentemente empleados se encuentran el STAXI-2, seguido del DAS y el DAX

The objective of the article was to identify knowledge about anger and the psychometric instruments designed to evaluate it in the framework of mental health. The methodology considered the databases of Dialnet, Scielo, Google Scholar, Sciencedirect and Scopus, reaching 26,290 articles. Of this figure, 11,523 articles were eliminated due to duplication status, and another 7,523 because they were not in an eligible language or because they were an incomplete document. In addition, 4,933 articles were excluded whose topics were not related to anger tests in the framework of mental health. Then, 2,311 articles were obtained; but after a manual review, 1,259 more were removed. Subsequently, it was possible to recover a total of 1,052. Of these, 140 were selected for analysis. Finally, after analyzing the purpose sought by each article, there were a total of 50 articles focused on psychometric instruments that evaluate anger in the mental health framework. Establishing in the results that the database with the highest frequency of studies found is Sciencedirect, with 36% of the total studies, in addition, Spain is the country with the highest frequency of studies found, representing 38% of the total. Concluding that, the most frequently used instruments are the STAXI-2, followed by the DAS and the DAX

O objetivo do artigo foi identificar o conhecimento sobre a raiva e os instrumentos psicométricos concebidos para avaliá-la no âmbito da saúde mental. A metodologia considerou as bases de dados Dialnet, Scielo, Google Scholar, Sciencedirect e Scopus, chegando a 26.290 artigos. Desse número, 11.523 artigos foram eliminados por estarem duplicados e outros 7.523 por não estarem em idioma elegível ou por serem documentos incompletos. Além disso, foram excluídos 4.933 artigos cujos temas não estavam relacionados aos testes de raiva no âmbito da saúde mental. Obtiveram-se então 2.311 artigos; mas após uma revisão manual, mais 1.259 foram removidos. Posteriormente, foi possível recuperar um total de 1.052. Destes, 140 foram selecionados para análise. Por fim, após análise da finalidade buscada por cada artigo, obteve-se um total de 50 artigos focados em instrumentos psicométricos que avaliam a raiva no âmbito da saúde mental. Estabelecendo nos resultados que a base de dados com maior frequência de estudos encontrados é a Sciencedirect, com 36% do total de estudos, além disso, a Espanha é o país com maior frequência de estudos encontrados, representando 38% do total. Concluindo que os instrumentos mais utilizados são o STAXI-2, seguido do DAS e do DAX

Refractive outcomes after V4c Toric collamer lens implantation over 1y of follow-up.

AIM: To evaluate refractive outcomes and corneal astigmatism changes after Toric implantable collamer lens with a central port (V4c T-ICL) implantation over 1y of follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed including 50 eyes of 50 patients that underwent V4c T-ICL implantation. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, refraction, refractive and corneal astigmatism changes and corneal coupling correction were evaluated preoperatively, 1 and 12mo postoperatively. Vector analysis was used for astigmatism changes. Coefficient of adjustment (CAdj) was calculated for corneal coupling analysis. RESULTS: The mean UDVA achieved was 0.03 logMAR at 1mo and remained unchanged throughout the whole follow-up (P=0.193). At the last visit, 84% of the eyes achieved a CDVA of 0.00 logMAR or better. Regarding spherical equivalent refraction (SEQ), 96% of eyes were ranges of ±1.00 D and 84% of them within ±0.50 D. Also, 94% of eyes had a remaining refractive cylinder within ±1.00 D and 78% of them within ±0.50 D. Both, SEQ and refractive cylinder, remain stable over the postoperative follow-up (P=1.000 and P=0.660, respectively). In terms of surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), no statistically significant differences were found over the follow-up (P=0.102) and under correction was found with a correction index lower than the unit at each visit. A keratometric astigmatism induced of 0.59±0.53 (vector mean: 0.26×73°) D was reached at the last visit. No significant changes in terms of corneal astigmatism orientation were reported over post-surgery visits (P=0.129 and P=0.097 at 1 and 12mo respectively). No clinical significance was found for CAdj on with-the-rule astigmatism. No postoperative complications resulting from the surgery were found. CONCLUSION: Refractive outcomes suggest that the V4c T-ICL implantation for correction of myopic astigmatism was satisfactory in terms of effectiveness, safety, and stability during 1y of follow-up. Corneal astigmatism induced by the incision around 0.5 D is achieved according to the remaining refractive cylinder found at one-year post-surgery. Corneal coupling analysis results in no unexpected spherical change.

Impact of Outdoor Play Structures on Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Children during Recess: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is believed that outdoor play structures lead to more physical activity for kids during school recess. However, the intensity of this activity remains unknown. This study explored whether access to outdoor play structures during recess interferes with children's physical activity levels. METHODS: Forty-one children (8-10 years old) accessed play structures during the afternoon recess but not in the morning for one entire week. To control for temperature differences, the same number of participants from another school who did not access playground structures were invited to participate. Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) was determined using heart rate reserve. Heart rate was recorded using the Fitbit Inspire 2 (San Francisco, CA, USA) for at least three full school days. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests analyzed within- and between-group differences. RESULTS: The findings show no difference in MVPA when accessing or not accessing outdoor play structures, both within groups [(n = 37) median (25th-75th) 16 min (7-30) vs. 14 min (5-22)] and between groups [(n = 22) 16 min (7-26)]. The weekly MVPA for all participants (n = 59) [172 min (117-282)] was the strongest variable associated with MVPA during recess [t(df) = 5.40 (38), 95% CI 0.04-0.09, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: accessibility to outdoor play structures does not increase MVPA during recess in children aged 8 to 10. Therefore, schools may need various options for children to play during recess, allowing them to accumulate MVPA.

Association between overall quality of macronutrients and incidence of overweight and obesity in the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) cohort.

INTRODUCTION: no previous large prospective studies have assessed the global quality of macronutrients in association with the risk of overweight/obesity. OBJECTIVE: to prospectively assess the association of an overall macronutrient quality index (MQI) with weight change and the incidence of overweight/obesity in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort. METHODS: the diet of 9,344 Spanish university graduates (mean age: 36.5 [SD, 11.1]) was assessed through a validated 136-item food frequency questionnaire. The MQI was calculated as the sum of the Carbohydrate Quality Index, the Fat Quality Index, and the Healthy Plate Protein Quality Index. Participants were classified into groups according to MQI. Incident overweight/obesity was defined if follow-up questionnaires indicated BMI was ≥ 25 kg/m2. Multiple linear regression models and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the average yearly weight change and the risk of overweight/obesity over follow-up time. RESULTS: 2,465 cases of incident overweight/obesity were identified (median follow-up: 10.7 years). Increasing MQI was significantly associated with lower annual weight gain (g): ß coefficient: -99.0, (95 % CI: -173.6 to -24.5) in the Q4 vs Q1, p for trend = 0.007. In the fully adjusted model the incidences of overweight/obesity in Q4 and Q1 were 21.7 % (431 cases) and 29.3 % (954 cases), respectively. The adjusted HR was 0.87 (95 % CI, 0.77-0.98, p for trend = 0.036). When we used repeated analyses updating the MQI after 10 years of follow-up, results remained similar. CONCLUSIONS: a significant inverse association between a multidimensional MQI and the risk of overweight/obesity was found in this Mediterranean cohort of adults.

Mobile toolbox (MTB) remote measures of executive function and processing speed: development and validation.

OBJECTIVE: The ability to remotely monitor cognitive skills is increasing with the ubiquity of smartphones. The Mobile Toolbox (MTB) is a new measurement system that includes measures assessing Executive Functioning (EF) and Processing Speed (PS): Arrow Matching, Shape-Color Sorting, and Number-Symbol Match. The purpose of this study was to assess their psychometric properties. METHOD: MTB measures were developed for smartphone administration based on constructs measured in the NIH Toolbox® (NIHTB). Psychometric properties of the resulting measures were evaluated in three studies with participants ages 18 to 90. In Study 1 (N = 92), participants completed MTB measures in the lab and were administered both equivalent NIH TB measures and other external measures of similar cognitive constructs. In Study 2 (N = 1,021), participants completed the equivalent NIHTB measures in the lab and then took the MTB measures on their own, remotely. In Study 3 (N = 168), participants completed MTB measures twice remotely, two weeks apart. RESULTS: All three measures exhibited very high internal consistency and strong test-retest reliability, as well as moderately high correlations with comparable NIHTB tests and moderate correlations with external measures of similar constructs. Phone operating system (iOS vs. Android) had a significant impact on performance for Arrow Matching and Shape-Color Sorting, but no impact on either validity or reliability. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the reliability and convergent validity of MTB EF and PS measures for use across the adult lifespan in remote, self-administered designs.

Diet enriched with high-phenolic cocoa potentiates hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression and neurogenesis in healthy adult micewith subtle effects on memory.

Cocoa is widely known for its health benefits, but its neurocognitive impact remains underexplored. This preclinical study aimed to investigate the effects of cocoa and cocoa polyphenols on hippocampal neuroplasticity, cognitive function and emotional behavior. Seventy young-adult C57BL/6JRj male and female mice were fed either a standard diet (CTR) or a diet enriched with 10% high-phenolic content cocoa (HPC) or low-phenolic content cocoa (LPC) for at least four weeks. In a first experiment, behavioral tests assessing exploratory behavior, emotional responses and hippocampal-dependent memory were conducted four weeks into the diet, followed by animal sacrifice a week later. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and western blot. In a different experiment, hippocampal synaptic response, long-term potentiation and presynaptic-dependent short-term plasticity were studied by electrophysiology. Cocoa-enriched diets had minimal effects on exploratory activity and anxiety-like behavior, except for reduced locomotion in the LPC group. Only the HPC diet enhanced object recognition memory, while place recognition memory and spatial navigation remained unaffected. The HPC diet also increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis, boosting the proliferation, survival and number of young adult-born neurons. However, both cocoa-enriched diets increased immobility in the forced swimming test and hippocampal BDNF expression. Hippocampal electrophysiology revealed no alterations in neuroplasticity among diets. The results were mostly unaffected by sex. Overall, the HPC diet demonstrated greater potential regarding cognitive and neuroplastic benefits, suggesting a key role of cocoa flavanols in dietary interventions aimed at enhancing brain health.

Proposal of a domain model for 3D representation of buildings in Ecuador.

The accelerated urban sprawl of cities around the world presents major challenges for urban planning and land resource management. In this context, it is crucial to have a detailed 3D representation of buildings enriched with accurate alphanumeric information. A distinctive aspect of this proposal is its specific focus on the spatial unit corresponding to buildings. In order to propose a domain model for the 3D representation of buildings, the national standard of Ecuador and the international standard (ISO 19152:2012 LADM) were considered. The proposal includes a detailed specification of attributes, both for the general subclass of buildings and for their infrastructure. The application of the domain model proposal was crucial in a study area located in the Riobamba canton, due to the characteristics of the buildings in that area. For this purpose, a geodatabase was created in pgAdmin4 with official information, taking into account the structure of the proposed model and linking it with geospatial data for an adequate management and 3D representation of the buildings in an open-source Geographic Information System. This application improves cadastral management in the study region and has wider implications. This model is intended to serve as a benchmark for other countries facing similar challenges in cadastral management and 3D representation of buildings, promote efficient urban development and contribute to global sustainable development.