Regional and total body bioelectrical impedance analysis compared with DXA in Icelandic elderly.

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field.BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aims were (1) to compare fat free mass (FFM) estimates from regional hand-held bioelectrical impedance analysis (HHBIA) with conventional BIA (CBIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and (2) to develop a population specific equation for FFM prediction in Icelandic elderly. SUBJECTS/METHODS: DXA, CBIA and HHBIA data were available for 98 free-living Icelandic elderly (age=73.0 ± 5.6 years, body mass index=28.8 ± 5.2 kg/m(2)). Participants were randomized into a development block (n=50) and validation block (n=48). A population specific equation for FFM prediction was calculated using CBIA-derived resistance and anthropometric data from the development block and then compared with other BIA equations (Deurenberg, Segal, company-specific equations) and DXA estimates using the validation block. RESULTS: The correlations between BIA methods and DXA were very high, that is, >0.9; however, mean differences compared with DXA were quite variable, ranging from -5.0 (Deurenberg) to +2.5 (Segal, HHBIA) and +3.3 kg (CBIA). Mean difference of the population-specific equation was below 0.1 kg. The standard deviations of the differences ranged from 2.6 to 3.3 kg. The limits of agreement of the BIA methods were similar and between 9.9 and 12.9 kg. CONCLUSIONS: In Icelandic elderly, HHBIA and CBIA produce similar FFM estimates when using company-specific prediction equations. CBIA provides the additional possibility to use a population-specific prediction equation, which yields best results. However, limits of agreement were wide and similar of all employed BIA methods, which indicates principal limitations of BIA analysis in the determination of FFM.Icelandic Technology Development Fund 071323008 The University of Iceland Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson Geriatric Research Fun

A New Class of Small Molecule Inhibitor of BMP Signaling

Growth factor signaling pathways are tightly regulated by phosphorylation and include many important kinase targets of interest for drug discovery. Small molecule inhibitors of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor kinase ALK2 (ACVR1) are needed urgently to treat the progressively debilitating musculoskeletal disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Dorsomorphin analogues, first identified in zebrafish, remain the only BMP inhibitor chemotype reported to date. By screening an assay panel of 250 recombinant human kinases we identified a highly selective 2-aminopyridine-based inhibitor K02288 with in vitro activity against ALK2 at low nanomolar concentrations similar to the current lead compound LDN-193189. K02288 specifically inhibited the BMP-induced Smad pathway without affecting TGF-β signaling and induced dorsalization of zebrafish embryos. Comparison of the crystal structures of ALK2 with K02288 and LDN-193189 revealed additional contacts in the K02288 complex affording improved shape complementarity and identified the exposed phenol group for further optimization of pharmacokinetics. The discovery of a new chemical series provides an independent pharmacological tool to investigate BMP signaling and offers multiple opportunities for pre-clinical development

Topology Learning and Place Recognition using Bayesian Programming for Mobile Robot Navigation

This paper proposes an approach allowing topology learning and recognition in indoor environments by using a probabilistic approach called Bayesian Programming. The main goal of this approach is to cope with the uncertainty, imprecision and incompleteness of handled information. The Bayesian Program for topology recognition and door detection is presented. The method has been successfully tested in indoor environments with the BIBA robot, a fully autonomous robot. The experiments address both the topology learning and topology recognition capabilities of the approach

Association of energy and protein intakes with length of stay, readmission and mortality in hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Low energy and protein intakes have been associated with an increased risk of malnutrition in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to assess the energy and protein intakes of hospitalised COPD patients according to nutritional risk status and requirements, and the relative contribution from meals, snacks, drinks and oral nutritional supplements (ONS), and to examine whether either energy or protein intake predicts outcomes. Subjects were COPD patients (n 99) admitted to Landspitali University Hospital in 1 year (March 2015-March 2016). Patients were screened for nutritional risk using a validated screening tool, and energy and protein intake for 3 d, 1-5 d after admission to the hospital, was estimated using a validated plate diagram sheet. The percentage of patients reaching energy and protein intake ≥75 % of requirements was on average 59 and 37 %, respectively. Malnourished patients consumed less at mealtimes and more from ONS than lower-risk patients, resulting in no difference in total energy and protein intakes between groups. No clear associations between energy or protein intake and outcomes were found, although the association between energy intake, as percentage of requirement, and mortality at 12 months of follow-up was of borderline significance (OR 0·12; 95 % CI 0·01, 1·15; P=0·066). Energy and protein intakes during hospitalisation in the study population failed to meet requirements. Further studies are needed on how to increase energy and protein intakes during hospitalisation and after discharge and to assess whether higher intake in relation to requirement of hospitalised COPD patients results in better outcomes.</p

Voice Enabled Interface for Interactive Tour Guide Robots

This paper considers design methodologies in order to develop voice-enabled interfaces for tour-guide robots to be deployed at the Robotics Exposition of the Swiss National Exhibition (Expo.02). Human-robot voice communication presents new challenges for design of fully autonomous mobile robots, in that interactivity must be robot-initiated in conversation and within a dynamic adverse environment. We approached these general problems for a voice enabled interface, tailored to limited computational resources of one on-board processor, when integrating smart speech signal acquisition, automatic speech recognition and synthesis, as well as dialogue system into the multi-modal, multi-sensor interface for the expo tour-guide robot. We also focus on particular issues that need to be addressed in voice-based interaction when planning specific tasks and research experiments for Expo.02 where tour-guide robots will interact with hundred of thousands of visitors during six months, seven days a week, ten hours per day

Visitor Flow Management using Human-Robot Interaction at Expo.02

In this paper we will regard the task of operating a public mass exposition with several autonomous robots at a time. This implies questions regarding human-robot interaction, multi-robot control and interaction management. To enable human-robot interaction while guiding a tour we outline the SOUL environment. Multi-robot and interaction management are regarded with respect to visitor density and visitor flow. Concluding we will present and discuss results from the Swiss national exhibition Expo.02 in the time from 15.05.02 to 17.07.02, corresponding to 5293 hours of total robot operation time up to date and in interaction with 283319 visitors

Multi-Robot Human-Interation and Visitor Flow Management

In this paper we address the task of human-robot interaction in public mass exposition with several autonomous robots at a time. This implies questions regarding multi-robot control and interaction management with respect to social and commercial aspects of such an exposition. Multi-robot and interaction management is addressed with respect to visitor density and visitor flow. Human-robot interaction is modeled using the SOUL environment. Concluding we will present and discuss results from the Swiss national exhibition Expo.02 in the time from 15.05.02 to 20.10.02, with over 10000 hours of total robot operation time and more than 600000 visitors

Hemoglobin Concentrations Predict Physical Function After A 12-Week Resistance Exercise Training and Subsequent Changes After 11 Months of Follow-Up Among Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Hemoglobin transports oxygen in blood yet its concentrations generally decrease with age. The aim of the study was to examine whether hemoglobin is connected with physical function in older age people. Design: Intervention study. Setting: Community. Participants: Older adults (N=236, 73.7±5.7 years, 58.2% female). Intervention: A 12-week resistance exercise program (3 times/week; 3 sets, 6-8 repetitions at 75-80% of the 1-repetition maximum) was conducted to increase strength and muscle mass of major muscle groups. Measurements: Anthropometrics, muscle strength, timed up and go (TUG in sec), six-minute walking distance (6MWD in m) and blood chemical variables were measured at baseline, endpoint and after 10.7 months followup. The linear regression model was used to examine the association between baseline hemoglobin and physical function outcome. Results: Only about 4% of the participants were anemic. According to calculations baseline hemoglobin was associated with TUG (0.14 to 0.36 sec improvement by 10 g/L increase of hemoglobin) at all-time points, even though this was of borderline significance for baseline (p=0.57) and endpoint (p=0.062). Hemoglobin also predicted endpoint 6 MWD (4.88m), but not at baseline (follow up 6 MWD was not available). Statistical correction for compliance did not influences results. Conclusion: Hemoglobin is positively associated to physical function in community dwelling old aged people. Additionally, we found that baseline hemoglobin is associated to adaptions to 12-week resistance exercise training and changes in physical function during the follow-up.Rannís (No 071323008), Rannsóknarsjóður Háskóla Íslands, Styrkur frá Landspítala Hákólasjúkrahúsi Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson Geriatric Research Fund.Peer Reviewe

Code-Switching of Pre-Service Teachers in Teaching Mathematics

The study aimed to ascertain the motivations behind code-switching among pre-service mathematics teachers, along with frequency of the languages utilized during class discussions. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study utilized Focus Group Discussions to explore the rationales for code-switching while quantitatively analyzing the frequency of code-switching instances. Findings indicated that English predominated as the language of class discussions, with transitions typically occurring from English to Filipino. Interviews revealed that pre-service mathematics teachers employed code-switching to help students struggling with complex English, facilitating better comprehension of mathematical concepts. Pre-service mathematics teachers build stronger relationships with their students by creating an engaging learning environment that captures their interest and attention. This also increases the effectiveness of teaching, leading to more meaningful experience