People living in disadvantaged areas faced greater challenges in staying active and using recreational facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to understand the perceived effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity, recreation walking, and use of recreational facilities; and if the COVID-19 pandemic amplified disparities in physical activity, recreational walking, and use of recreational facilities related to the levels of neighborhood disadvantage. Recreational walking and the use of neighborhood streets and green spaces significantly decreased in high deprivation areas but not in low deprivation areas during the pandemic. While COVID-19 has negatively affected overall recreational activities, the inequitable impact on recreational walking and use of outdoor recreational facilities has been more evident in disadvantaged neighborhoods with greater deprivation.     

Indole alkaloid glycosides with a 1′-(phenyl)ethyl unit from Isatis indigotica leaves

Seven indole alkaloid glycosides containing a 1′-(4″-hydroxy-3″,5″-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl unit (1–7) were isolated from an aqueous extract of Isatis indigotica leaves (da qing ye). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis combined with enzymatic hydrolysis as well as comparison of their experimental CD (circular dichroism) and calculated ECD (electrostatic circular dichroism) spectra. Based on analysis of ${\left[\alpha \right]}_{\text{D}}^{20}$ and/or Cotton effect (CE) data of 1–7, two simple roles to assign location and/or configuration of β-glycopyranosyloxy and 1′-(phenyl)ethyl units in the indole alkaloid glycosides are proposed. Stereoselectivity in plausible biosynthetic pathways of 1–7 is discussed. Compounds 3 and 4 and their mixture in a 3:2 ratio showed activity against KCNQ2 in CHO cells. The mixture of 5 and 6 (3:2) exhibited antiviral activity against influenza virus H1N1 PR8 with IC₅₀ 64.7 μmol/L (ribavirin, IC₅₀ 54.3 μmol/L), however, the individual 5 or 6 was inactive. Preliminary structure–activity relationships were observed.     

医用退热贴冷敷治疗产后生理性乳房胀痛的效果观察

目的 比较医用退热贴冷敷及卷心菜叶外敷2种方法对缓解产后生理性乳房胀痛的疗效。方法 选取2018年3-12月在产科住院的产后生理性乳房胀痛的患者100例为研究对象,将其随机分为对照组和观察组,各50例。对照组采用卷心菜叶外敷,观察组采用医用退热贴冷敷。结果 观察组产后生理性胀痛乳房评分低于对照组(Z=-2.568,P=0.010),乳房硬度优于对照组(Z=-4.361,P<0.001),使用维持时间长于对照组(t=19.804,P＜0.001)。结论 医用退热贴冷敷用于产后生理性乳房胀痛效果理想,操作方法简单易行,实施方便,易被产妇接受,值得临床推广应用。     

手术烟雾对大鼠生理功能损害的实验研究

目的 探讨手术烟雾对生理功能的危害性及采取防护措施的必要性。 方法 采用60只SD大鼠，随机分为空白组、烟雾组及干预组三组，每组20只。空白组不接受烟雾刺激，无任何防护；烟雾组和干预组大鼠在烟雾环境中安置30min；干预组大鼠提前接受预防措施。连续两周后检测手术烟雾环境中大鼠生理、生化指标及预防措施的有效性。 结果 使用电刀3min后，空气质量受到严重污染，并且随电刀使用时间增加而持续下降；连续两周后烟雾组大鼠心功能、血流动力学、呼吸功能受到明显损害，血清炎性因子IL-6、IL-8和TNF α浓度明显增加；而干预组大鼠生理功能受到明显保护，炎性因子浓度降低。在两周实验期内，手术烟雾对肝肾功能无明显影响。结论 手术烟雾会引起明显的生理功能损害，采取防护措施能起到良好的保护作用。     

Tracking Spinal Cord Injury Functional Outcomes Across the Lifespan: Validation of Linking Coefficients

ObjectiveValidation of linking coefficients to transform Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Activity Measure (PEDI-SCI/AM) scores to adult Spinal Cord Injury-Functional Index (SCI-FI) scores.DesignThis cross-sectional study administered PEDI-SCI/AM and SCI-FI computerized adaptive tests (CATs) and short forms (SFs) to children with SCI and parents or caregivers.SettingHospitals, university, and rehabilitation institute.ParticipantsAbout 107 children with SCI and 96 parent or caregivers.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresLinking coefficients estimated SCI-FI (est-SCI-FI) scores from PEDI-SCI/AM scores for matched domains. Correlations between est-SCI-FI and actual SCI-FI scores were calculated. If correlations exceeded the criterion linking (0.866), the following analyses to compare est-SCI-FI and actual SCI-FI scores were conducted: paired t tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs 3, 1), percent of cases with absolute score differences at different thresholds.ResultsTwo matched domains, PEDI-SCI/AM Daily Routine/SCI-FI Self-Care and PEDI-SCI/AM General Mobility/SCI-FI Basic Mobility, met the linking criterion for both respondent-types (parent and child) and administration modes (CAT and SF). PEDI-SCI/AM Daily Routine and SCI-FI Fine Motor Function did not meet linking criterion for respondent type or mode. The linking criterion was met for wheelchair domains (child SF and CAT) and ambulation domains (child SF only). Significant differences between est-SCI-FI and actual SCI-FI scores were noted for all matched domains except Daily Routine/Self-Care (child SF only; parent SF and CAT). ICC values showed excellent agreement (range=0.75-0.89). Absolute differences between est-SCI-FI and actual SCI-FI scores were less than 1 standard deviation (except wheelchair CAT child).ConclusionsLinking coefficients applied to PEDI-SCI/AM scores can provide valid SCI-FI estimates that vary by domain, mode, and respondent type.     

Machine-learning models for activity class prediction: A comparative study of feature selection and classification algorithms

PurposeMachine-learning (ML) approaches have been repeatedly coupled with raw accelerometry to classify physical activity classes, but the features required to optimize their predictive performance are still unknown. Our aim was to identify appropriate combination of feature subsets and prediction algorithms for activity class prediction from hip-based raw acceleration data.MethodsThe hip-based raw acceleration data collected from 27 participants was split into training (70 %) and validation (30 %) subsets. A total of 206 time- (TD) and frequencydomain (FD) features were extracted from 6-second non-overlapping windows of the signal. Feature selection was done using seven filter-based, two wrapper-based, and one embedded algorithm, and classification was performed with artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF). For every combination between the feature selection method and the classifiers, the most appropriate feature subsets were found and used for model training within the training set. These models were then validated with the left-out validation set.ResultsThe appropriate number of features for the ANN, SVM, and RF ranged from 20 to 45. Overall, the accuracy of all the three classifiers was higher when trained with feature subsets generated using filter-based methods compared with when they were trained with wrapper-based methods (range: 78.1 %–88 % vs. 66 %–83.5 %). TD features that reflect how signals vary around the mean, how they differ with one another, and how much and how often they change were more frequently selected via the feature selection methods.ConclusionsA subset of TD features from raw accelerometry could be sufficient for ML-based activity classification if properly selected from different axes.     

The importance of evaluating findings given activity level propositions in order to avoid misleading evidence

ABSTRACT

The advancement of DNA technology comes with the increased sensitivity of amplification systems, where DNA traces are routinely detected without a known biological source. These systems also have increased discriminating capacity, providing larger likelihood ratios (LRs) when a corresponding DNA profile is observed. Questions in court are shifting from identity to transfer mechanism, where the presence of an individual’s DNA is conceded by both parties, but the activities that led to its deposition is in dispute. One way of handling propositions developed at the activity level is with the use of graphical structures known as Bayesian Networks (BNs). The following is an evaluation of a case, given activity level propositions, through the application of BNs. Alternative case findings will be explored for the given scenario to show the potential value of the DNA evidence for different outcomes within the broader case context.     

强化认知训练在改善2型糖尿病患者认知功能障碍和日常生活活动能力中的作用

目的 探讨强化认知训练在改善2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者认知功能障碍和日常生活活动能力中的作用。方法选取2017年1月～2018年12月该院内科就诊T2DM患者92例。采用抛银币法将其分为强化组与常规组,各46例。两组均在口服降糖药或皮下注射胰岛素等控制血糖基础治疗上予以口服尼莫地平片30 mg/次,3次/d。常规组予以常规干预措施,强化组在常规组基础上加用强化认知训练。两组均干预12周。评估两组干预前与干预12周后认知功能及日常生活活动指标的变化,并比较临床效果。结果 干预12周后,两组HDS评分、MOCA评分和WAISE评分较前均显著上升,FAQ评分和ADL评分较前显著下降(P0.05或P0.01),且强化组上升或下降幅度较常规组更明显(P0.05);同时强化组患者临床总有效率(95.65%)较常规组(82.61%)的效果更佳(χ2=4.04,P0.05)。结论 强化认知训练用于T2DM患者效果较肯定,不仅能显著改善患者的认知功能,而且有利于提高患者日常生活活动能力。