48 research outputs found
Impact of the International Space Station Research Results
The International Space Station (ISS) facilitates research that benefits human lives on Earth and serves as the primary testing ground for technology development to sustain life in the extreme environment of space. To date, investigators have published a wide range of ISS science results, from improved theories about the creation of stars to the outcome of data mining omics repositories of previously completed ISS investigations. Because of the unique microgravity environment of the ISS laboratory and the multidisciplinary and international nature of the research, analyzing ISS scientific impacts is an exceptional challenge. As a result, the ISS Program Science Forum (PSF), made up of senior science representatives across the ISS international partnership, uses various methods to describe the impacts of ISS research activities. For the most part, past papers written by PSF members to assess the overall ISS research impact have focused on exhibiting ISS research impact by quantifying ISS research output or its perceived benefits for humanity. This paper proposes a new assessment of ISS impact from the perspective of the end users needs. To that end, the authors use visualizations and metrics of scientific publication data to show the ISS research influence on traditional scientific fields, its global reach and the benefits to people across the globe
Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase-1 (SMPD1) coding variants do not contribute to low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Niemann-Pick disease type A and B is caused by a deficiency of acid sphingomyelinase due to mutations in the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase-1 (<it>SMPD1</it>) gene. In Niemann-Pick patients, <it>SMPD1 </it>gene defects are reported to be associated with a severe reduction in plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two common coding polymorphisms in the <it>SMPD1 </it>gene, the G1522A (G508R) and a hexanucleotide repeat sequence within the signal peptide region, were investigated in 118 unrelated subjects of French Canadian descent with low plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol (< 5<sup>th </sup>percentile for age and gender-matched subjects). Control subjects (n = 230) had an HDL-cholesterol level > the 25<sup>th </sup>percentile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For G1522A the frequency of the G and A alleles were 75.2% and 24.8% respectively in controls, compared to 78.6% and 21.4% in subjects with low HDL-cholesterol (<it>p </it>= 0.317). The frequency of 6 and 7 hexanucleotide repeats was 46.2% and 46.6% respectively in controls, compared to 45.6% and 49.1% in subjects with low HDL-cholesterol (<it>p </it>= 0.619). Ten different haplotypes were observed in cases and controls. Overall haplotype frequencies in cases and controls were not significantly different.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that the two common coding variants at the <it>SMPD1 </it>gene locus are not associated with low HDL-cholesterol levels in the French Canadian population.</p
International Research Results and Accomplishments From the International Space Station
No abstract availabl
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults
Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We
estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from
1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories.
Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and
weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate
trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children
and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the
individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference)
and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median).
Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in
11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed
changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and
140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of
underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and
countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior
probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse
was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of
thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a
posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%)
with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and
obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for
both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such
as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged
children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls
in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and
42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents,
the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining
underweight or thinness.
Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an
increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy
nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of
underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022 : a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults
A list of authors and their affiliations appears online. A supplementary appendix is herewith attached.Background: Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories.
Methods: We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median).
Findings: From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness.
Interpretation: The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity.peer-reviewe
Déterminants motivationnels de jeunes automobilistes envers les excès de vitesse et l'alcool au volant
Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.Les jeunes automobilistes sont surreprésentés dans les accidents routiers. Cette surreprésentation est notamment attribuable à la tendance des jeunes à adopter des comportements routiers risqués, plus particulièrement les excès de vitesse et la conduite avec les facultés affaiblies. La présente étude s'est donc intéressée aux raisons qui poussent les jeunes à adopter ces comportements. Dans le cadre de la théorie du comportement planifié (Ajzen, 1991), trois études ont été menées afin de mieux connaître les déterminants motivationnels sous-jacents à l'intention des jeunes conducteurs d'excéder les limites de vitesse en milieu urbain, ainsi que les déterminants motivationnels de l'intention de conduire après avoir consommé de l'alcool chez les jeunes conducteurs d'une part et chez les jeunes conductrices d'autre part. Les objectifs de ce programme de recherche consistaient à vérifier si l'intention d'adopter ces comportements était déterminée par les attitudes, les normes subjectives et la perception du contrôle comportemental de jeunes automobilistes.
Des questionnaires ont été construits afin de mesurer! 'intention, les attitudes, les normes subjectives et la perception du contrôle comportemental. Selon Ajzen, les deux derniers concepts correspondent respectivement à la perception qu'a l'individu des pressions sociales qui s'exercent sur lui et à sa perception du contrôle qu'il détient sur son propre comportement. Des jeunes automobilistes de 18 à 24 ans recrutés pam1i des étudiants universitaires ont complété ces questionnaires. Un échantillon de 123 jeunes conducteurs a complété le questionnaire sur les excès de vitesse, alors que le questionnaire sur l'alcool a été complété par 113 jeunes conducteurs et 108 jeunes conductrices. Les résultats de ces questionnaires indiquent que pour les excès de vitesse en milieu urbain, l'intention des jeunes conducteurs d'adopter ce comportement est déterminé par les attitudes et la perception du contrôle comportemental, alors que les normes subjectives n'ont pas une contribution significative. Pour ce qui est de l'alcool au volant, les résultats chez les jeunes hommes et chez les jeunes femmes indiquent que les attitudes, la perception du contrôle comportemental et, dans une moindre mesure, les normes subjectives déterminent l'intention de conduire après avoir consommé de l'alcool. Les résultats permettent également de constater que les jeunes conducteurs ont une opinion plutôt positive de la vitesse, ce qui justifie les efforts préventifs auprès de ce segment de la population. Pour l'alcool au volant, les jeunes conducteurs aussi bien que les jeunes conductrices semblent peu enclins à conduire après avoir consommé de l'alcool, une tendance que les efforts préventifs devraient chercher à maintenir.
Incidemment, les résultats suggèrent certaines stratégies de prévention pour les excès de vitesse et l'alcool au volant chez les jeunes automobilistes. Ainsi, pour les deux comportements étudiés, les efforts de prévention axés sur les attitudes et la perception du contrôle comportemental seraient particulièrement appropriés. En ce qui a trait aux pistes de recherches futures, il serait intéressant de vérifier comment se comparent les intentions envers les excès de vitesse et envers l'alcool au volant d'autres sous-groupes de la population des jeunes automobilistes
Fatigue in Air Traffic Controllers: Literature Review
This report reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Transportatio
Necrolytic Migratory Erythema: A Forgotten Paraneoplastic Condition
Background: Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) is most commonly a paraneoplastic condition. It is the dermatologic manifestation classically associated with glucagonoma pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. Glucagonoma syndrome has been defined by the constellation of secreting tumour associated with overproduction by the α-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, abnormally elevated blood level of glucagon, and skin findings of NME. Objective: Although rare, all dermatologists must know and recognise NME promptly to request useful investigations for the diagnosis of this characteristic neuroendocrine tumour. Methods and Results: We report a case of a middle-aged woman seen in our dermatology clinic with longstanding skin findings suggestive of NME revealing a glucagonoma. Surgical removal was associated with complete resolution of the cutaneous and systemic features. Conclusion: NME is often the first clinical finding of an occult neuroendocrine pancreatic neoplasia. Dermatologists must be aware of this condition since they can be the first physician to suspect it and allow multidisciplinary management, which influences the prognostic value. Surgical removal is the first-line therapy if early diagnosis is done before liver metastases occur. </jats:sec
