Workplace nutrition habits in Slovenian small and middle sized enterprises

Abstract Background Premature death, chronic diseases, productivity loss and other social and economic concerns can be influenced by healthy lifestyle workplace promotion programs, including healthy nutrition habits. In Slovenia a project called &amp;gt;&amp;gt;STAR-VITAL-healthy ageing at workplace &amp;lt;&amp;lt; has been going on since September 2017. Methods The survey results are based on an analysis of 805 respondents from 20 different small and middle sized enterprises in Slovenia. The survey was carried out via both a paper questionnaire and an online survey during the period from June 2019 to February 2020. The screening questionnaire was completed before interventions. We estimated the average score for the eight questions concerning nutritional habits. Results Nutritional habits are the following: 62% respondents eat three or more meals a day, 64% respondents eat vegetables each day, 59,8% respondents eat fruits each day, 31,9% respondents eat fish or see fruits at least once a week, 45,7% respondents eat whole wheats at least once a week, 54,1% respondents eat red meat not more than twice a week, 62,1% respondents eat fried food not more than three times a month and 79,1% respondents drink sweet drinks less than three times a week. The results on question &amp;gt;&amp;gt;What is the most common form of meal you eat while at work? &amp;lt;&amp;lt; are the following: purchase meal at restaurant 45,3%, bring from home 32,7%, delivery/carry out 6,2%, do not eat 5,2%, other 4,7%, employer cafeteria 3,9% and vending machine 1,2%. Conclusions The results of our survey show that a significant percentage of the workers in Slovenia still has unhealthy nutritional habits. Assessment of nutritional habits before workplace promotion program interventions allow us to compare which combinations of interventions are the most effective. The results will indicate the strength and weakness of each intervention and how it could be improved. Key messages The population is growing old and chronic diseases increases, which is part of the bad nutritional habits. Healthy lifestile promotion is needed to improve quality of life. The workplace health promoting programs have been shown to be an efficient way of improving workerś health. Implementing promotional program of nutritional habits are proper for Slvenian enterprises. </jats:sec

Association between heat waves and number of deaths for old-age in slovenia, from 2013 to 2017

Abstract Background Heat waves are associated with incresed mortalitiy, especially in old-age population. Methods We estimated relative risks for number of deaths, for the observed diagnoses, sex, and area, as well as 95% confidence intervals and excess deaths associated with heat waves occurring in the years from 2013 to 2017, for population 75+ years old. Results Statistically significant were: in 2014: all causes of deaths (RR = 1.27, CI 1.12-1.44); male, all causes of deaths (RR = 1.27, CI 1.04-1.56); female, all causes of deaths (RR = 1.26, CI 1.08-1.48); all, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.19, CI 1.01-1.43); female, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.23, CI 1.01-1.51); rural area (RR = 1.28, CI 1.09-1.51); urban area (RR = 1.35, CI 1.11-1.64); and in 2015: all causes of deaths (RR = 1.28, CI 1.15-1.41); male, all causes of deaths (RR = 1.27, CI 1.08-1.5); female, all causes of deaths (RR = 1.27, CI 1.12-1.45); all, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.27, CI 1.1-1.48); male, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.38, CI 1.06-1.79); female, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.23, CI 1.03-1.47); rural area (RR = 1.31, CI 1.16-1.47). No significant association in 2013, 2016 and 2017 appeared. Conclusions Despite increasing heat load in observed years, we did not notice a statistically significant association between heat waves and the number of deaths in the last observed years 2016 and 2017. The results indirectly show that we are on good way with our public health efforts concerning awareness of Slovenian people about the dangers heat waves bring. Key messages Heat waves will become more intense, will last longer and will appear more frequent. We must take care after old age population. Chronic noncommucating diseaes increase and life expectancy also increases, so the burden of deaths during heat waves is expected to increase too. </jats:sec

Has the impact of heatwaves on mortality changed in Slovenia? A study of the heatwaves, 2014-2018

Abstract Background Heat waves are associated with increased mortality. In the last years the decreasing trend has been observed. Methods We estimated relative risks for number of deaths, for the observed diagnoses, sex and age, as well as 95% confidence intervals and excess deaths associated with heat waves occurring in the years from 2014 to 2018. Results Statistically significant were: in 2014, all, all causes (RR 1.26 (95% CI, 1.14-1.40); male, all causes (1.26 (1.09-1.45)); female, all causes (1.27 (1.11-1.44)); 5-74 years, all causes (1.26 (1.07-1.49)): 75+ years, all causes (1.27 (1.12-1.43)); all, circulatory system (1.24 (1.06-1.45)): female, circulatory system (1.27 (1.04-1.55)); 75+ years, circulatory system (1.3 (1.1-1.55)); female, 75+ years, circulatory system (1.33 (1.08-1.64)) and all, neoplasms (1.33 (1.11-1.59)), in 2015, 75+ years, all causes (1.11 (1.00-1.22)); all, circulatory system (1.14 (1.01-1.3)) and 75+ years, circulatory system (1.17 (1.01-1.34)), in 2016, 5-74 years, circulatory system (1.17 (1.01-1.34)) and male, 5-74 years, circulatory system (1.41 (1.01-1.99)), in 2017 and 2018 no statistically significance appeared. Conclusions Despite increasing heat load in observed years, we did not notice a statistically significant association between heat waves and the number of deaths in the last observed years 2017 and 2018. The results indirectly indicate that we are on the right track with public health efforts to raise awareness among Slovenes about the danger of heatwaves and appropriate measures. Key messages Heat waves will become more frequent, more intense and will last longer in the future, Due to these facts public health efforts are continously needed. The population is growing old and chronical noncommunicating diseases increases, so the burden of heatwaves will continue for voulnerable groups. </jats:sec

A molecular dynamics study of nanometric scale friction

Friction is an omnipresent phenomenon in all mechanical systems, inducing uncertainties and acting as a major disturbance in manufacturing technologies and in the field of the micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS & NEMS). The effects of friction can generally be compensated in the macro- and mesoscale applications. Multiple concurrent effects of various atomic-scale phenomena in the asperity contacts hinder, however, the prospect of a satisfactory insight into the fundamental tribological behaviour in the micro- and nanoscales. An in-depth fundamental understanding of nanoscale frictional behaviour is, thus, of outmost technological importance. An approach using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is, hence, proposed in this work to study the tribological behaviour in the nanoscale (atomic) contacts. Recent thorough scanning probe microscopy experimental measurements of nanoscale friction on various thin-film materials are thus used as benchmark for MD simulations, allowing to attain important insights into the dynamics of a sliding tip on an aluminium thin-film surface while varying the normal loads. A sound basis for future more complex models, which will include adhesive effects and oxide layers, is thus accomplished, creating the preconditions to deepen further the fundamental knowledge of important tribological phenomena

The impact of heatwaves on ED visits at Ljubljana University Medical Center, from 2013 to 2017

Abstract Background Morbidity increases during the summer heatwaves globally. Despite increasing heat load, public health efforts probably improve public awareness and behavior. Our study aimed to assess whether ED visits during heatwaves in Slovenia decreased in the last years. Patients and Methods We analyzed data from the Ljubljana University Medical Centre database for consecutive patients arriving at ED, covering the Osrednjeslovenska region (around 650.000 people) in the summer period 2013 to 2017. We estimated relative risks for a number of ED visits for the observed diagnoses, sex, and age, as well as 95% confidence intervals and excess ED visits associated with heatwaves occurring in all observed years. Results Statistically significant were: in 2013: all, all causes (RT 0.78 (95% IZ, 0,72-0,85)); male, all causes (0.78 (0.70-0.88)); female, all causes(0.77 (0.68-0.87)); 75+ years, all causes (0.79 (0.70-0.91)); all, circulatory system (0.74 (0.63-0.86)); male, circulatory system (0.74 (0.60-0.91)); female, circulatory system (0.74 (0.59-0.93)) and all, digestive system (0.7 (0.35-0.91), in 2014: all, all causes (1.17 (1.07-1.28)); male, all causes (1.14 (1.01-1.29)); female, all causes (1.2 (1.06-1.35)) and all, 75+ years, all causes (1.21 (1.06-1.38)), in 2015: all, all causes (1.08 (1.01-1.16)); female, all causes (1.1 (0.01-1.22)); all, endocrine diseases (1.47 (1.03-2.1)), in 2016: all, all causes (0.92 (0.86-0.98)) and all, 75+ years, all causes (0.9 (0.81-0.99), in 2017: all, 75+ years, all causes (0.89 (0.81-0.97)), all, circulatory system (0.86 (0.77-0.96)), female, circulatory system (0.83 (0.7-0.97)); all, digestive system (0.76 (0.32-0.93)) and all, endocrine diseases (1.38 (1.02-1.85)). Conclusions The scientific evidence shows that it is possible to influence heat-related outcomes with proper public health interventions. The results of our research show a decrease in ED visits during heatwaves and support the hypothesis that public behavior is changing. Key messages ED visits due to heatwaves can be preventable. In Slovenia we are on good way with public health interventions. Heatwaves will become more frequent, more intense and will last longer, so we must continue with public health efforts. </jats:sec

Perspectives of microscopy methods for morphology characterisation of extracellular vesicles from human biofluids

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometric membranous structures secreted from almost every cell and present in biofluids. Because EV composition reflects the state of its parental tissue, EVs possess an enormous diagnostic/prognostic potential to reveal pathophysiological conditions. However, a prerequisite for such usage of EVs is their detailed characterisation, including visualisation which is mainly achieved by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electron microscopy (EM). Here we summarise the EV preparation protocols for AFM and EM bringing out the main challenges in the imaging of EVs, both in their natural environment as biofluid constituents and in a saline solution after EV isolation. In addition, we discuss approaches for EV imaging and identify the potential benefits and disadvantages when different AFM and EM methods are applied, including numerous factors that influence the morphological characterisation, standardisation, or formation of artefacts. We also demonstrate the effects of some of these factors by using cerebrospinal fluid as an example of human biofluid with a simpler composition. Here presented comparison of approaches to EV imaging should help to estimate the current state in morphology research of EVs from human biofluids and to identify the most efficient pathways towards the standardisation of sample preparation and microscopy modes