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The aim of this study was to compare the Shirmer tear test (STT) and Standardized endodontic absorbent paper point tear test (PPTT) in ferrets and establish normal ophthalmic parameters for PPTT. A total of 66 eyes from 33 healthy ferrets (17 males and 16 females) aged 10 to 120 months were included in the study. Measurement for STT was 7.4 ± 1.9 mm/min and 12.6 ± 2.4 mm/min for PPTT. There were no significant differences between values obtained from left and right eyes (P = 0.29) or between age groups (P = 0.16), however there was a significant difference between sexes (P = 0.03). The results from this study can both serve as useful parameters for ophthalmologic evaluation in ferrets but less variable results, and therefore more precise measurements can be obtained using PPTT than STT.

Natural disasters have significant economic and social impacts. Among them, health disasters affect education possibly more than others. From the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we can see it has negative impacts on students’ learning. It appears to affect students from different age groups differently. Students in primary and secondary education seem to suffer more than their counterparts in higher education. In this literature review, we attempt to understand the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on students’ learning.

Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is a common developmental disorder. Many reports have suggested that symptoms of AD/HD are related to frontal lobe dysfunctions, particularly disinhibition. However, measuring neurological findings with biomarkers during frontal functional tasks has sometimes been difficult in children with AD/HD. This study aimed to investigate frontal inhibitory function objectively in children with AD/HD during “rock, paper, scissors” (RPS) tasks, as a familiar game for Japanese children, using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Subjects and methods Eighteen children with AD/HD were compared with 27 typically developing children (TDC). Children from each group were divided into two age groups: younger, 6–10 years; and older, 11–16 years. Changes in oxygenated hemoglobin [oxy-Hb] were measured in the prefrontal region using NIRS during a ‘to lose’ RPS task, in which subjects were asked to present the RPS signal that would lose in response to one of the three signals displayed randomly on a computer screen every 2.0 s. Results The rate of correct performance with both TDC and AD/HD increased with age. Only in the older group, the rate of correct performance was significantly higher with TDC than with AD/HD. However, children with AD/HD in both age groups showed significantly lower [oxy-Hb] activity in the prefrontal region during the ‘to lose’ RPS task, particularly in the dorsolateral area. Conclusions Our results suggest that prefrontal region activation during the ‘to lose’ RPS task could offer a biomarker for diagnosing AD/HD, and may help in the early treatment of AD/HD.

Background Physical inactivity is an important cause of noncommunicable diseases. Interventions can increase short-term physical activity (PA), but health benefits require maintenance. Few interventions have evaluated PA objectively beyond 12 months. We followed up two pedometer interventions with positive 12-month effects to examine objective PA levels at 3–4 years. Methods and findings Long-term follow-up of two completed trials: Pedometer And Consultation Evaluation-UP (PACE-UP) 3-arm (postal, nurse support, control) at 3 years and Pedometer Accelerometer Consultation Evaluation-Lift (PACE-Lift) 2-arm (nurse support, control) at 4 years post-baseline. Randomly selected patients from 10 United Kingdom primary care practices were recruited (PACE-UP: 45–75 years, PACE-Lift: 60–75 years). Intervention arms received 12-week walking programmes (pedometer, handbooks, PA diaries) postally (PACE-UP) or with nurse support (PACE-UP, PACE-Lift). Main outcomes were changes in 7-day accelerometer average daily step counts and weekly time in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) in ≥10-minute bouts in intervention versus control groups, between baseline and 3 years (PACE-UP) and 4 years (PACE-Lift). PACE-UP 3-year follow-up was 67% (681/1,023) (mean age: 59, 64% female), and PACE-Lift 4-year follow-up was 76% (225/298) (mean age: 67, 53% female). PACE-UP 3-year intervention versus control comparisons were as follows: additional steps/day postal +627 (95% CI: 198–1,056), p = 0.004, nurse +670 (95% CI: 237–1,102), p = 0.002; total weekly MVPA in bouts (minutes/week) postal +28 (95% CI: 7–49), p = 0.009, nurse +24 (95% CI: 3–45), p = 0.03. PACE-Lift 4-year intervention versus control comparisons were: +407 (95% CI: −177–992), p = 0.17 steps/day, and +32 (95% CI: 5–60), p = 0.02 minutes/week MVPA in bouts. Neither trial showed sedentary or wear-time differences. Main study limitation was incomplete follow-up; however, results were robust to missing data sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Intervention participants followed up from both trials demonstrated higher levels of objectively measured PA at 3–4 years than controls, similar to previously reported 12-month trial effects. Pedometer interventions, delivered by post or with nurse support, can help address the public health physical inactivity challenge. Trial registrations PACE-UP isrctn.com ISRCTN98538934; PACE-Lift isrctn.com ISRCTN42122561., In this follow-up of participants from two completed trials of pedometer-based walking interventions, Tess Harris and colleagues present evidence that increases in physical activity levels seen at 12 months are still present 3-4 years later., Author summary Why was this study done? Brisk walking for 30 minutes or more daily on most days of the week can help adults and older adults to achieve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines for health benefits, yet many do not achieve these levels. Previous pedometer-based walking studies have shown positive effects on increased step counts and time in MVPA for up to 12 months. For sustained health benefits, increased physical activity levels need to be maintained, yet there is a lack of data from interventions assessed using objectively measured physical activity levels beyond 12 months. What did the researchers do and find? We followed up participants from two primary care 12-week pedometer-based walking trials, including both nurse-supported and postal pedometer arms, to establish whether objectively measured physical activity increases seen at 12 months were sustained at 3–4 years. PACE-UP followed up 45–75-year-olds 3 years post-baseline and showed that both nurse-supported and postal pedometer interventions continued to have higher physical activity levels compared to the control group (approximately an extra 28 and 24 minutes/week, respectively, of MVPA in bouts and an extra 670 and 630 steps/day, respectively). PACE-Lift results were very similar. In 60–75-year-olds followed up at 4 years post-baseline, the nurse-supported pedometer intervention group spent about 33 minutes/week more time in MVPA in bouts compared to the control group. What do these findings mean? These findings suggest that adult and older adult participants receiving 12-week pedometer-based walking interventions, provided either by post or with nurse support, are still doing more physical activity 3–4 years later. Pedometer interventions can help address the public health physical inactivity challenge.

The National Cancer Institute study of projected health risks to New Mexico residents from the 1945 Trinity nuclear test provides best estimates of organ radiation absorbed doses received by representative persons according to ethnicity, age, and county. Doses to five organs/tissues at significant risk from exposure to radioactive fallout (i.e., active bone marrow, thyroid gland, lungs, stomach, and colon) from the 63 most important radionuclides in fresh fallout from external and internal irradiation were estimated. The organ doses were estimated for four resident ethnic groups in New Mexico (Whites, Hispanics, Native Americans, and African Americans) in seven age groups using: (1) assessment models described in a companion paper, (2) data on the spatial distribution and magnitude of radioactive fallout derived from historical documents, and (3) data collected on diets and lifestyles in 1945 from interviews and focus groups conducted in 2015–2017 (described in a companion paper). The organ doses were found to vary widely across the state with the highest doses directly to the northeast of the detonation site and at locations close to the center of the Trinity fallout plume. Spatial heterogeneity of fallout deposition was the largest cause of variation of doses across the state with lesser differences due to age and ethnicity, the latter because of differences in diets and lifestyles. The exposure pathways considered included both external irradiation from deposited fallout and internal irradiation via inhalation of airborne radionuclides in the debris cloud as well as resuspended ground activity and ingestion of contaminated drinking water (derived both from rivers and rainwater cisterns) and foodstuffs including milk products, beef, mutton, and pork, human-consumed plant products including leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, fruits, and berries. Tables of best estimates of county population-weighted average organ doses by ethnicity and age are presented. A discussion of our estimates of uncertainty is also provided to illustrate a lower and upper credible range on our best estimates of doses. Our findings indicate that only small geographic areas immediately downwind to the northeast received exposures of any significance as judged by their magnitude relative to natural radiation. The findings presented are the most comprehensive and well-described estimates of doses received by populations of New Mexico from the Trinity nuclear test.

Given the urgent global need for vaccinating individuals of all ages against the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the extent and reasons for parents’ willingness to get their children vaccinated is important. This study used an internet-based questionnaire survey to determine parents’ willingness to get their children (0 to 15 years) vaccinated in Japan and was conducted in April 2021 before COVID-19 vaccination for children began. Socio-demographic information, information about parents’ willingness to get children vaccinated, reasons for their responses, and parents’ willingness to get themselves vaccinated were obtained. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate parents’ willingness to get children vaccinated based on the other variables. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the characteristics of parents who indicated willingness to get their children vaccinated and to identify the reasons for vaccine willingness. Of the 1100 respondents, 472 were willing to get children vaccinated, 470 were not sure, and 158 did not want to get children vaccinated. Considerable differences were found in the willingness to get children vaccinated across gender, age groups, occupation, annual income, respondent’s academic background, and respondent’s willingness to get COVID-19 vaccination for themselves. Reasons for being unsure about the vaccination included the vaccine’s potential side effects (84.9%), uncertainty about vaccine safety (54.7%), and not trusting vaccine efficiency (25.7%). Parents’ willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves was a significant factor for their willingness to get children vaccinated after adjusting all other factors. The study recommends disseminating more and correct information to the public to increase vaccine willingness.

Whether reducing exposure to varicella by the implementation of the routine varicella vaccination program for children leads to increased incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to identify the trend in the hospitalization associated with HZ before and after the introduction of routine varicella vaccination by using nationally representative data from an inpatient database in Japan. Data were obtained on the number of inpatients hospitalized for HZ from the "Survey on the effect of the introduction of Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database" and the total population in Japan from the Population Estimates created by the former Statistics Bureau between fiscal years 2013 and 2018. The data from the DPC hospitals only and all hospitals in the survey were analyzed separately. The trends in the annual incidence of HZ hospitalization were identified. The trends in the annual hospitalization for HZ per 100,000 persons were then analyzed by age group (0-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-79, and ≥80 years of age). The annual number of hospitalizations for HZ was approximately 20,000 in the DPC hospitals and 25,000 in all hospitals, showing no upward trend. The age-specific annual hospitalization rate for HZ did not increase in all the age groups. As age increased, the hospitalization rate also increased. This study presents no upward trend in the hospitalizations for HZ after the implementation of the routine varicella vaccination program in Japan.

A plethora of research shows that income is an important factor in adult’s life satisfaction, but research ascertaining its importance for children’s life satisfaction is scant. Using a largescale nationally representative longitudinal survey with children aged 10–15, we estimate comprehensive life satisfaction models that account for heterogeneity in exogenous circumstances in children’s lives, focussing on family income and material deprivation. We find empirical support for the hypothesis that children are more satisfied with their lives, the more income their family has and the less material deprivation they experience throughout their teens. There are, however, differences across age groups with children aged 12–15 experiencing greater life satisfaction losses on account of lower family material wellbeing than younger children. Overall, income effects for older children are small but statistically significant when accounting for unobserved individual differences.

Introduction This paper presents digital educational material in forensic odontology, including dental identification after multiple fatalities and dental age estimation from different age groups. Material and method Electronic patient records consisting of intraoral scans of the dentition, digital radiographs, photographs and written dental records were collected. Exercises in age estimations contained digital radiographs and photographs of ground tooth sections, with digital measuring tools and tables according to age groups. The teaching material was organised as a module in an electronic Learning Management System with external links to all relevant teaching material. Results For the identification exercises, intraoral scans and the latest digital radiographs simulated the postmortem examination of the deceased. For comparison, all other radiographs, photographs and dental records were available as antemortem material. The exercise was to match postmortem findings with the antemortem records using the Interpol standard and reconciliation. Age assessment of children used designated tables to grade tooth development on digital radiographs. For adults, non-destructive methods, digital radiographs, photographs and measuring tools were used. Discussion The teaching concept was hybrid, but it can easily be adapted as a fully digital exercise. The instructions and written material can be translated into different languages. The level of difficulty in the exercises can be adjusted according to the participant’s level of knowledge. Conclusion The educational material embraces the new possibilities for digitalisation and intraoral scanning. This might be a valuable tool for motivating and engaging the students in their participation and understanding of the subject.

The present study aimed to formulate a nutraceutical enriched fruits and nuts spreads and analyze the presence of phytochemicals in the formulated spread. The pumpkin seeds and cucumber seeds were roasted at 150° C for 15 mins and made into powder. The seed powder was mixed to the pulp of ?-carotene rich fruits like mango, papaya and muskmelon in order to make fruits and nuts spread. Treatments like Mango with pumpkin seed powder (T1), Papaya with pumpkin seed powder (T2), Muskmelon with pumpkin seed powder (T3), Mango with cucumber seed powder (T4), Papaya with cucumber seed powder (T5) and Muskmelon with cucumber seed powder (T6). The fruits and nuts spreads were analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals ?-carotene, polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The formulated fruits and nuts spreads were packed in polypropylene boxes, glass bottles and stored under refrigerated condition at 4°C. ?-carotene content was found to be high (634.21?g/g) in Mango with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T1), tannin content was higher (52.61 mg/g) in Papaya with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T2), flavonoid components were higher (3.25 mg/g) in Mango with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T1), and polyphenols content were found to be high (59.33 mg/g) in Papaya with Cucumber seed powder spread (T5). The antioxidant property was high in the Mango with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T1) when compared to all other treatments. Pumpkin seeds comprised of excellent amount of bioactive compounds. The pumpkin seed incorporated spread showed a high level of phytochemicals when compared to other spreads. This was ready to eat spread which had 3 months of shelf life under refrigerated condition is preferred for people of all age groups.

The present study was undertaken to assess the correlation relationship between various pre-soaking treatments, sowing positions and age of stone on germination and vigour of mango seedlings. Mango stones of different age groups viz., freshly extracted stones, 10 and 20 days after extraction of pulp were soaked in aqueous solutions of GA3 (100 and 200 ppm), KNO3 (1 and 2 ppm), cow dung slurry, water and control (without treatments) for 24 hours and were sown in flat and stalk end up method. The correlation coefficients indicate the presence of inherent association between various characters under study. The study revealed that the seedling vigour index –I had very high positive and very dependable relationship with germination percentage (r=0.988**) and seedling length (r=0.974**) whereas seedling vigour index-II had very high positive, significant correlation and very dependable relationship with seedling length (0.931**) in case of stalk end up method over the flat method of sowing.

Introduction Concomitant with the popularization of vaping, vape shops have dramatically proliferated over the past years. This study assesses whether vape storefronts in California are significantly associated with density of different age groups, and whether this differs between tobacco storefronts or non-specific tobacco retailers. Methods Addresses for licensed tobacco retailers were obtained from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Business names and addresses were used to obtain store categories cross-referenced from Yelp. Using a cross-sectional ecological design, stores categorized as 'Vape Shop' or 'Tobacco Shop' were geolocated and compared with age-related variables from the American Community Survey. Regression was conducted in R to determine relationships between age group concentration, in ventiles, and proportion of tracts with tobacco-specific or vape-specific stores. Geospatial visualization was conducted using ArcGIS. Results We found 848 vape shops, 820 tobacco shops, 419 categorized as both, and 20320 retailers with neither category. Overall, 1800 tobacco and/or vape shops were categorized in 1557 of California's 23194 census tracts. A positive linear association was found between ventiles of two age categories, 20-24 and 25-34 years, and proportion of tracts with vape-specific or tobacco-specific shops separately. Conclusions Positive associations were found for ages 20-34 years but not for other ages, suggesting vape shops are strategically located in areas populated by young adults. Location-based targeting increases access, thereby increasing proportion of tobacco users, and could be a critical factor in e-cigarette uptake and use. Further study to identify additional age-related demographic characteristics among clientele of tobacco storefronts is warranted.

Introduction Nearly 6.8 million people in India have vision less than 6/60 in at least one eye due to corneal diseases; of these, about a million had bilateral involvement. Purpose To identify the challenges faced; the trends in collection, storage and utilisation of corneal tissues in an eye bank in north India. Materials and methods The past records of Eye Bank linked to a tertiary hospital in northern India were analysed from November’1999 to October’2015 with respect to number of eye donations per year, donor demographics and utilisation of corneal tissues. Results The number of donations during the first 6 years were 100, 279 in the next 5 years and 473 in the last 5 years. The mean donor age was 63.2 ± 19.5 years. The percentage of donors less than 30, 31–60 and more than 60 years was 10%, 28% and 62%. Forty-two percent donations were from the hospital. The average time between the death and enucleation was 4.74 ± 5.31 hours. The percentage of corneas used in the donor age groups less than 30, 31–60 and above 60 years was 61.9%, 61.6% and 53.8%, respectively. The usability rate of the corneas from home and hospital was 63.7% and 55.3%, respectively. Conclusions The eye bank had a lukewarm response in the beginning, but gained momentum with time. The myths and beliefs prevalent in our society deter people from donating eyes freely. Each eye bank needs to individualise its problems and find solutions for adequate procurement and utilisation of tissue.

The food we eat plays a key aspect in determining our overall health and immunity. Improving our immunity during the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging for all age groups. So this study focused on formulating a ready to drink called probiotic fruit yogurt from less utilized passion fruits (Passiflora edulis), as a good option to build resilience in the body against infections and also to help the planters of Thandikudi hills, Tamil Nadu to promote their harvest into a valuable product. Passion fruits were procured and handled in a very hygienic manner. The formulation of stirred fruit yogurts was carried out in three different ratios (10%, 15%, and 20% pulp). These samples were standardized by sensory evaluation (9 points hedonic scale) and physicochemical parameters (pH). Fruit yogurt made from 20% passion fruit pulp scored the highest value in the mean score (8.5±0.17) for sensory evaluation except for texture. The pH value of the passion fruit yogurt was 3.5 found and it was more acidic compared to the plain yogurt value of 3.7 because of the addition of fruit pulp which was balanced by the addition of sugar/stevia. The acceptability of the stirred probiotic fruit yogurt with 20% pulp was mainly because of the flavoring compounds of the yellow passion fruit (P. edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg). © 2021, Editorial board of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.

The present study examined the multiple micro- and macro-level factors that affect individuals’ financial behaviour under economic strain. The following sociodemographic and economic factors that predict financial behaviour were analysed: age group, year of data gathering, and attitudes towards consumption (economical, deprived, and hedonistic). Subjective financial situations and demographic characteristics were controlled for. Finnish time series data that consisted of five cross-sectional nationally representative surveys were used (n = 10 043). The analyses revealed four types of financial behaviour: cutting expenses, borrowing, increasing income, and gambling. Young adults aged 18–25 reported the lowest frequency of borrowing and gambling and the highest frequency of increasing income (together with young adults aged 26–35). Participants aged 66–75 scored the lowest in cutting expenses and increasing income in comparison to all other age groups. Financial behaviour under economic strain in 2019 can be characterized by lower instances of borrowing than in 2004 and 2009 and higher frequencies in increasing income in comparison to all other years of data gathering. Finally, strong attitudes towards saving were related to lower frequency of borrowing and gambling, whereas stronger hedonistic attitudes were related to lower frequency of cutting expenses and more frequent borrowing. The research results provide tools for consumer policy, consumer education, and consumer regulation.

Consumers are progressively searching out food with good taste that can be instantly prepared, easily consumable, and wholesome. Avocado is nutritious fruit but its preservation is a challenge for food researchers. A new freeze-dried milkshake powder is developed by using avocado. This product provides healthful mixture of dairy and fruit components with high nutritional and longer shelf-life. Butter fruit milkshake powder (BFMS) formulation was prepared by mixing avocado pulp, pasteurized milk, maltodextrin, and sugar in the ratio of 84%, 28%, 10%, and 6% respectively. BFMS were analyzed for proximate composition, physiochemical, and flow properties. Results showed that the inclusion of milk and maltodextrin increase protein, fat, ash content, and preserve phenolic, flavonoid, and â-carotene content of the avocado pulp. The freeze-dried BFMS powder has light color, lower water activity, and instant water-solubility (30 sec). For powder rheology, BFMS provided better flowability and decreased compressibility. BFMS is beneficial for all age groups, especially for armed forces because of instant solubility, lightweight texture, and is highly nutritious.

Kayaking tourism is one of the forms of active tourism. Despite the existence of extensive literature on various aspects of tourist demand, few publications touch upon the matter with respect to kayaking tourism. This topic is particularly important for the Śląskie Voivodeship, which is most often depicted as an industrialized area with a high level of degradation of the natural environment. The objective of the paper was to identify the demand factors for the kayaking tourism. The method used in the study was that of diagnostic survey with a questionnaire prepared by the authors of the paper based on the literature, verified in terms of validity and reliability. The study was carried out during nationwide kayaking trips organised within the Śląskie Voivodeship. The analyzes were carried out separately according to the gender and age of the respondents. The analyses indicated that the most important factor determining the demand for the kayaking tourism (both among women and men) was the purity of rivers, while cultural (cultural) factors were the least important. The age of the respondents diversified the demand factors, but the purity of the rivers was dominant in all age groups. On this basis, we concluded that there was a need to take further measures in order to restore the purity of rivers in the area of the Śląskie Voivodeship, which may result in an increase of the demand for kayaking tourism in the studied area.

Varicella outbreaks were mainly reported in developed regions with high vaccine coverage, but not in undeveloped areas. It is still not clear that whether the published data of varicella epidemiology could reflect the reality in China or not. In 2019, 657 subjects from People’s Hospital of Chongqing Youyang County were included. Anti-varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG antibodies were determined by ELISA. The anti-VZV IgG levels were categorized as positive when values were ≥100 mIU/mL. Our results showed that the rates of anti-VZV IgG seropositivity (χ(2) = 328.957, P 3 m-1 y (P 1-3 m

Objective Previous longitudinal studies have found that cognitive function affected oral health, and vice versa. However, research is lacking on the reciprocal relationships between cognitive function and edentulism simultaneously, especially in developing countries. The present study aimed to examine the reciprocal relationship between cognitive function and edentulism among middle-aged and older adults in China. Methods Data were derived from the 2011 and 2015 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The sample included 14,038 respondents aged 45 or older. A two-wave cross-lagged analysis was adopted to test the hypothesized model. Results Among respondents aged 45–59, baseline cognitive function was associated with subsequent edentulism [b = −0.017, standard deviation (SD) = 0.006, P 0.05). However, among respondents aged 60 or older, baseline cognitive function was associated with subsequent edentulism (b = −0.017, SD = 0.005, P Conclusions These findings demonstrated the reciprocal relationships of cognitive function and edentulism. However, such relationships varied across age groups. This study demonstrates the importance of developing programs and services to promote both cognitive and oral health, especially for those in older age.

The Trinity nuclear test was detonated in south-central New Mexico on 16 July 1945; in the early 2000s, the National Cancer Institute undertook a dose and cancer risk projection study of the possible health impacts of the test. In order to conduct a comprehensive dose assessment for the Trinity test, we collected diet and lifestyle data relevant to the populations living in New Mexico around the time of the test. This report describes the methodology developed to capture the data used to calculate radiation exposures and presents dietary and lifestyle data results for the main exposure pathways considered in the dose reconstruction. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted in 2017 among older adults who had lived in the same New Mexico community during the 1940s or 1950s. Interview questions and guided group discussions focused on specific aspects of diet, water, type of housing, and time spent outdoors for different age groups. Thirteen focus groups and 11 individual interviews were conducted among Hispanic, White, and Native American participants. Extensive written notes and audio recordings aided in the coding of all responses used to derive ranges, prevalence, means, and standard deviations for each exposure variable for various age categories by region and ethnicity. Children aged 11–15 y in 1940s or 1950s from the rural plains had the highest milk intakes (993 mL d(−1)), and lowest intakes were among 11- to 15-y-olds in mountainous regions (191 mL d(−1)). Lactose intolerance rates were 7–71%, and prevalence was highest among Native Americans. Meat was not commonly consumed in the summer in most communities, and if consumed, it was among those aged 11-15 y of age or older who had relatively small amounts of 100-200 g d(−1). Most drinking and cooking water came from covered wells, and most homes were made of adobe, which provided more protection from external radiation than wooden structures. The use of multiple approaches to trigger memory and collect participant reports on diet and other factors from the distant past seemed effective. These data were summarized, and together with other information, these data have been used to estimate radiation doses for representative persons of all ages in the main ethnic groups residing in New Mexico at the time of the Trinity nuclear test.

Objective:To evaluate the inclusion and exclusion of nutritional content in guidance materials related to nutritional care for hospitalised Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients of any age with the aim to provide recommendations for future revised nutritional care guidelines in Ebola Treatment Units (ETU).Design:Qualitative and quantitative analyses of ETU protocols and other guidance materials were conducted. Materials were obtained from practitioners, their organisations and governments active in EVD outbreaks since 2014.Setting:Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo.Results:Guidance materials showed a wide variety of topics. Most contained information on different feeding phases during illness, the use of specialised products, what and how to feed children aged 0–23 months, and meal and snack frequency for different age groups. Most materials lacked guidance on how to assess or accommodate patients’ dietary preferences, how to obtain feedback on nutritional care from patients or how to assess whether patients need feeding support. These aspects are particularly relevant to prevent deterioration of the patients’ nutritional status. There was limited guidance on operational aspects of food preparation and provision.Conclusions:Since 2014, numerous materials have been developed by organisations and governments on nutritional support in ETU. Although every EVD outbreak response must be contextualised because of the complexity of EVD and its case management, it is important to resolve technical differences and to provide comprehensive and more practical guidance. The findings of this study may inform future revised guidelines from normative UN organisations and governments of countries affected by EVD.

Background: 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) has been used to prevent pneumococcal disease, and PPSV23 became available in 2003 in Hangzhou, China as a private-sector, vaccinee-chosen vaccine. No national guidelines for PPSV23 have been developed. We analyzed PPSV23 coverage and utilization in Hangzhou to determine patterns of PPSV23 use and the occurrence of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in Hangzhou. Materials and Methods: Individuals over 2 years of age in Hangzhou were included. Vaccination data during 2006–2017 was retrieved from Hangzhou’s Immunization Information System (HZIIS). We used descriptive epidemiological methods to determine PPSV23 usage patterns and AEFI occurrence. Results: In 2017, there were 9,027,973 persons above 2 years of age with the coverage of PPSV23 of 2.98%. The coverage of PPSV23 among elders ranged from 0.17% to 0.69%, and the overall coverage was higher in urban areas (3.70%) than in rural (3.34%) and suburban areas (2.16%). 93.45% of 268957 recipients were vaccinated with PPSV23 at 2–4 years of age. 394 AEFI of PPSV23 cases were reported to the Chinese national adverse event following immunization information system (CNAEFIS) during 2008–2017, with the reporting rate of 140.39 per 100,000 doses. Conclusion: Persons in Hangzhou had overall low PPSV23 vaccination coverage especially for adults. Most of PPSV23 were used in children, while the proportion of the old population over 60 years slightly increased over year. PPSV23 was safe with a low reported AEFI rate, which was a little higher for children than for the elderly (over 60 years).

Background Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune/inflammatory condition. Approximately 15–20% of patients develop symptoms before their 18th birthday and are diagnosed with juvenile-onset SLE (JSLE). Gender distribution, clinical presentation, disease courses and outcomes vary significantly between JSLE patients and individuals with adult-onset SLE. This study aimed to identify age-specific clinical and/or serological patterns in JSLE patients enrolled to the UK JSLE Cohort Study. Methods Patient records were accessed and grouped based on age at disease-onset: pre-pubertal (≤7 years), peri-pubertal (8–13 years) and adolescent (14–18 years). The presence of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria, laboratory results, disease activity [British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2 K) scores] and damage [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index] were evaluated at diagnosis and last follow up. Results A total of 418 JSLE patients were included in this study: 43 (10.3%) with pre-pubertal disease onset; 240 (57.4%) with peri-pubertal onset and 135 (32.3%) were diagnosed during adolescence. At diagnosis, adolescent JSLE patients presented with a higher number of ACR criteria when compared with pre-pubertal and peri-pubertal patients [pBILAG2004 scores: 9(4–20] vs. 7(3–13] vs. 7(3–14], respectively, p = 0.015] with increased activity in the following BILAG domains: mucocutaneous ( p = 0.025), musculoskeletal ( p = 0.029), renal ( p = 0.027) and cardiorespiratory ( p = 0.001). Furthermore, adolescent JSLE patients were more frequently ANA-positive ( p = 0.034) and exhibited higher anti-dsDNA titres ( p = 0.001). Pre-pubertal individuals less frequently presented with leukopenia ( p = 0.002), thrombocytopenia ( p = 0.004) or low complement ( p = 0.002) when compared with other age groups. No differences were identified in disease activity (pBILAG2004 score), damage (SLICC damage index) and the number of ACR criteria fulfilled at last follow up. Conclusions Disease presentations and laboratory findings vary significantly between age groups within a national cohort of JSLE patients. Patients diagnosed during adolescence exhibit greater disease activity and “classic” autoantibody, immune cell and complement patterns when compared with younger patients. This supports the hypothesis that pathomechanisms may vary between patient age groups.

This study exploits a natural experiment to investigate the impact of land reform on the fertility outcomes of households in rural Ethiopia. Public policies and customs created a situation where Ethiopian households could influence their usufruct rights to land via a demographic expansion of the family. The study evaluates the impact of the abolishment of these pronatal property rights on fertility outcomes. By matching aggregated census data before and after the reform with administrative data on the reform, a difference-in-differences approach between reform and non-reform districts is used to assess the impact of the reform on fertility outcomes. The impact appears to be large. The study estimates that women in rural areas reduced their life-time fertility by 1.2 children due to the reform. Robustness checks show that the impact estimates are not biased by spillovers or policy endogeneity.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccines are currently under development. Data on the natural immunity in diverse age groups will aid establishing the GBS immunization policy. In this study, thirty serum samples were collected from three age groups (neonates/infants, pregnant women, and the elderly) between August 2016 and July 2017. Serotype-specific opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) was assessed using a GBS multiplex opsonophagocytic killing assay (MOPA) against serotypes Ia, III, and V. The mean OPA titers for serotype Ia of the three age groups were not significantly different (p = .156), but tended to be lower in neonates/infants (mean ± standard deviation, 137 ± 278). For serotype III and V, the mean OPA titer of neonates/infants (338 ± 623 and 161 ± 445, respectively) was significantly lower than that of pregnant women (1377 ± 1167 and 9414 ± 6394) and the elderly (1350 ± 1741 and 3669 ± 5597) (p = .002). In conclusion, the lower levels of OPA titers against all tested serotypes in neonates/infants, despite high maternal titers, indicates that intrapartum GBS vaccinations may be required for efficient placental transfer of serotype-specific GBS antibodies with high avidity.

Introduction The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has impacted and pushed the healthcare settings to extremes across the globe. It was extremely challenging to sustain blood donation, and strategies could be formulated on knowing fears hindering blood donation. Methods A cross-sectional survey using Google Forms® through WhatsApp and email after obtaining the ethical clearance. The survey questionnaire was validated for content using the Delphi technique, and pilot tested for finalization. Results The survey was attempted by 1066 participants, and 749 participants who had not donated since pandemic were included in the study. A little more than half, 415 (55%) reported either one or more than one fear during the pandemic which hindered blood donation. They reported lack of confidence in the safety measures at the hospitals and fear of transmitting infection to family, in 415 (55%) of the participants each, respectively. The fear of COVID-19 hospital infection risk and hospital entry was statistically significant across the age groups that are eligible for blood donation. Conclusions The clear and dedicated confidence building measures to sustain blood donation using all communication modalities clearly emerge as the most important strategies to augment blood donation in the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures should include information about implementation of safety measures to mitigate COVID-19 transmission at the blood centres and that the act of blood donation does not increase risk of COVID-19 and therefore the risk of transmission of infection to family.

There is a paucity of evidence about the prevalence and risk factors for symptomatic infection among children. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its risk factors in children and adolescents aged 0–18 years in Qatar. We conducted a cross-sectional study of all children aged 0–18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction in Qatar during the period 1st March to 31st July 2020. A generalised linear model with a binomial family and identity link was used to assess the association between selected factors and the prevalence of symptomatic infection. A total of 11 445 children with a median age of 8 years (interquartile range (IQR) 3–13 years) were included in this study. The prevalence of symptomatic COVID-19 was 36.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 35.7–37.5), and it was similar between children aged P = 0.001), having visited a health care facility (RD 0.54; 95% CI 0.45–0.62; P = 0.001), and children aged under 5 years (RD 0.05; 95% CI 0.02–0.07; P = 0.001) or aged 10 years or older (RD 0.04; 95% CI 0.02–0.06; P = 0.001). A third of the children with COVID-19 were symptomatic with a higher proportion of fever in very young children and a higher proportion of cough in those between 10 and 18 years of age.

Falls are unusual actions that cause a significant health risk among older people. The growing percentage of people of old age requires urgent development of fall detection and prevention systems. The emerging technology focuses on developing such systems to improve quality of life, especially for the elderly. A fall prevention system tries to predict and reduce the risk of falls. In contrast, a fall detection system observes the fall and generates a help notification to minimize the consequences of falls. A plethora of technical and review papers exist in the literature with a primary focus on fall detection. Similarly, several studies are relatively old, with a focus on wearables only, and use statistical and threshold-based approaches with a high false alarm rate. Therefore, this paper presents the latest research trends in fall detection and prevention systems using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. It uses recent studies and analyzes datasets, age groups, ML algorithms, sensors, and location. Additionally, it provides a detailed discussion of the current trends of fall detection and prevention systems with possible future directions. This overview can help researchers understand the current systems and propose new methodologies by improving the highlighted issues. ispartof: SENSORS vol:21 issue:15 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Age and motor ability are well-known to impact input performance. Past work examining these factors, however, has tended to focus on samples of 20-40 participants and has binned participants into a small set of age groups (e.g., “younger” vs. “older”). To foster a more nuanced understanding of how age and motor ability impact input performance, this short paper contributes: (1) a dataset from a large-scale study that captures input performance with a mouse and/or touchscreen from over 700 participants, as well as (2) summary analysis of a subset of 318 participants who range in age from 18 to 83 years old and of whom 53% reported a motor impairment. The analysis demonstrates the continuous relationship between age and input performance for users with and without motor impairments, but also illustrates that knowing a user's age and self-reported motor ability should not lead to assumptions about their input performance. The dataset, which contains mouse and touchscreen input traces, should allow for further exploration by other researchers.

SignificanceMajor depressive disorder (MDD) affects over 40 million US adults in their lifetimes. Transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) has been shown to be effective in treating MDD, but the current treatment dosage does not account for anatomical head and brain changes due to aging.AimWe study effective t-PBM dosage and its variations across age groups using state-of-the-art Monte Caxrlo (MC) simulations and age-dependent brain atlases ranging between 5 to 85 years of age.ApproachAge-dependent brain models are derived from 18 MRI brain atlases. Two extracranial source positions, F3-F4 and Fp1-Fpz-Fp2 in the EEG 10-20 system, are simulated at five selected wavelengths and energy depositions at two MDD-relevant cortical regions – dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) – are quantified.ResultsAn overall decrease of energy deposition was found with increasing age. A strong negative correlation between the thickness of extra-cerebral tissues (ECT) and energy deposition, suggesting that increasing ECT thickness over age is primarily responsible for reduced energy delivery. The F3-F4 position appears to be more efficient in reaching dlPFC compared to treating vmPFC via the Fp1-Fpz-Fp2 position.ConclusionQuantitative simulations revealed age-dependent light delivery across the lifespan of human brains, suggesting the needs for personalized and age-adaptive t-PBM treatment planning.

Neolamarckia cadamba, commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industries, however uses of its fruits are not reported. In the present investigation the N. cadamba fruits were analysed for their proximate and mineral content at different stages of maturity, and the ripe fruit was used for nectar preparation. Proximate analysis of the ripe edible fruit showed that it is rich in fat (2.4%) and proteins (2.1%), and has calorific value of 103.7 kcal/100 g. The nectar prepared from the ripe fruits showed mean overall acceptability score of more than 6 indicating its suitability for nectar preparation. The shelf life of nectar was found to be 150 days at ambient conditions (28 ± 3 °C). The nectar was rich in minerals and antioxidants, and can be recommended for consumption by various age groups. However, studies are required to ascertain its physiological effect on consumers.

Aim To observe the prevalence of signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular joint disorders in patients visiting outpatient department, AIIMS Rishikesh. Method and material The survey was conducted in a total of 960 patients, who visited outpatient Department (OPD), dept of Dentistry, AIIMS Rishikesh and were asked to fill a questionnaire based on Fonseca questionnaire for TMD in accordance to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results Out of 960 patients, 449 had no TMD, 322 patients had mild TMD, 123 moderate and severe TMD was seen in 54 patients. Also, male dominance for TMD was seen in all the groups. There was no age predilection; however most of the patients with severe TMD fell between 16 and 60 years of age. Conclusion TMD is a common problem occurring in all age groups, there was a male dominance seen in the epidemiological study.

Objectives: Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) with the large-scale multicenter data based on a US FDA-approved testing method is important to guide ongoing vaccination programs in China. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study based on data from 11 large hospitals in central and eastern China. From October 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2016, a total of 480,034 cervical specimens were collected, and 414,540 eligible participants (14-80 years, mean age 39.9 years) were included and tested using Cervista High-Risk HPV Assay (Hologic Inc., Bedford, Mass, USA). Results: The overall hrHPV prevalence in this study was 17.8% (73,713/414,540), with Wuhan slightly higher than Zhejiang (18.6% vs. 17.6%, P < 0.001). The prevalence showed a declining trend from 2012 to 2016. The most common hrHPV group was A9 (61.7%), followed by A5/A6 (29.4%) and A7 (25.6%). A U-shaped curve was observed for age-specific hrHPV prevalence: ≤19 years and ≥50 years were higher than other age groups. Conclusion: In pre-vaccination period, A9 was the most dominant hrHPV group, and infections were most likely to occur at younger and older ages. The prevalence of hrHPV varied by cities and age groups, suggesting vaccination programs should be propagated in a population-specific approach.

Background Breast cancer (BC) has been increasing globally, though it is unclear whether the increases are seen across all age groups and regions and whether changes in rates can be primarily attributed to decreasing fertility rates. We investigated age-specific trends in BC incidence and mortality from 1990 to 2017, worldwide and by region, and evaluated whether incidence trends are explained by decreases in fertility. Methods We used country-level data to examine trends in BC incidence and mortality rates from 1990 to 2017 by region and age group. Linear mixed models were used to estimate age-specific rates from baseline models of year and were compared to fertility-adjusted models for incidence. Results The global BC mortality rate increased overall by 0.23% per year (95% CI=0.20, 0.25), with statistically significant increases in the under 50 and 70 and over age groups, and in 5 out of 7 regions. The global BC incidence rate increased overall by 1.44% per year (95% CI=1.42, 1.47), with statistically significant increases in all age groups, and in 6 out of 7 regions. After adjusting for fertility, the incidence annual percent change (APC) remained statistically significant (APC=0.84, 95% CI=0.81, 0.88), in all age groups, and in 6 of 7 regions. Interpretation The global increase in BC mortality is seen in most age groups and regions. The global increase in BC incidence is seen in all age groups and is highest in women under 50; increases remained in most regions even after considering declining fertility rates. Funding Breast Cancer Research Foundation and National Cancer Institute.

Background Severity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID19) is presented with respiratory distress and requires mechanical ventilation. Advanced age is one of the significant risk factors of the worst prognosis and mortality in this disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical parameter among COVID19 patients under mechanical ventilation in regard to the age groups. Method In this retrospective study, COVID19 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom were included. The patients were divided in two age groups, those aged ≥50 years and 0.05, respectively. Conclusions The findings of the study indicated that prognosis of COVID19 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation in terms of changes in clinical parameters might not be associated with the age.

Background Participatory epidemiology is an emerging field harnessing consumer data entries of symptoms. The free app Ada allows users to enter the symptoms they are experiencing and applies a probabilistic reasoning model to provide a list of possible causes for these symptoms. Objective The objective of our study is to explore the potential contribution of Ada data to syndromic surveillance by comparing symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) entered by Ada users in Germany with data from a national population-based reporting system called GrippeWeb. Methods We extracted data for all assessments performed by Ada users in Germany over 3 seasons (2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20) and identified those with ILI (report of fever with cough or sore throat). The weekly proportion of assessments in which ILI was reported was calculated (overall and stratified by age group), standardized for the German population, and compared with trends in ILI rates reported by GrippeWeb using time series graphs, scatterplots, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results In total, 2.1 million Ada assessments (for any symptoms) were included. Within seasons and across age groups, the Ada data broadly replicated trends in estimated weekly ILI rates when compared with GrippeWeb data (Pearson correlation—2017-18: r=0.86, 95% CI 0.76-0.92; P Conclusions With careful interpretation, Ada data could contribute to identifying broad ILI trends in countries without existing population-based monitoring systems or to the syndromic surveillance of symptoms not covered by existing systems.

Most of childhood hydrocephalus are originating during infancy. It is considered to be a complex disease since it is developed on the basis of heterogeneous pathophysiological mechanisms and different pathological conditions as well as during different age groups. Hence, it is of relevant importance to have a practical concept in mind, how to categorize hydrocephalus to surgically better approach this disease. The current review should offer further basis of discussion on a disease still most frequently seen in Pediatric Neurosurgery. Current literature on pathophysiology and classification of pediatric hydrocephalus has been reviewed to integrate the different published concepts of hydrocephalus for pediatric neurosurgeons. The current understanding of infant and childhood hydrocephalus pathophysiology is summarized. A simplified concept based on seven factors of CSF dynamics is elaborated and discussed in the context of recent discussions. The seven factors such as pulsatility, CSF production, major CSF pathways, minor CSF pathways, CSF absorption, venous outflow, and respiration may have different relevance and may also overlap for the individual hydrocephalic condition. The surgical options available for pediatric neurosurgeons to approach hydrocephalus must be adapted to the individual condition. The heterogeneity of hydrocephalus causes mostly developing during infancy warrant a simplified overview and understanding for an everyday approach. The proposed guide may be a basis for further discussion and may serve for a more or less simple categorization to better approach hydrocephalus as a pathophysiological complex disease.

The magnitude and consistency of the sex differences in meningococcal disease incidence rates (IR) have not been systematically examined in different age groups, countries and time periods. We obtained national data on meningococcal disease IR by sex, age group and time period, from 10 countries. We used meta-analytic methods to combine the male to female incidence rate ratios (IRRs) by country and year for each age group. Meta-regression analysis was used to assess the contribution of age, country and time period to the variation in the IRRs. The pooled male to female IRRs (with 95% CI) for ages 0–1, 1–4, 5–9, 10–14 and 15–44, were 1.25 (1.19–1.32), 1.24 (1.20–1.29), 1.13 (1.07–1.20), 1.21 (1.13–1.29) and 1.15 (1.10–1.21), respectively. In the age groups 45−64 and over 65, the IR were lower in males with IRRs of 0.83 (0.78–0.88) and 0.64 (0.60–0.69), respectively. Sensitivity analysis and meta-regression confirmed that the results were robust. The excess meningococcal IR in young males and the higher rates in females at older ages were consistent in all countries, except the Czech Republic. While behavioural factors could explain some of the sex differences in the older age groups, the excess rates in very young males suggest that genetic and hormonal differences could be important.

Paediatric and adolescent gynaecology is a narrow field of medicine dealing with the diagnosis of and treatment of gynaecological diseases from the neonatal period to sexual maturity. The current trend in surgical gynaecology in the paediatric population is to minimise the degree of invasiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This contributes to reducing the number of complications and the risk of infertility. Laparoscopic procedures are a challenge for paediatric surgeons and gynaecologists, not only because of the age of treated patients, and anatomical and physiological differences between different age groups but also because of the complexity of the pathology, the differentiation of cancer tumours, and the presence of congenital developmental defects.

Key summary points Aim The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the clinical and CT features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in four different age groups (children, young adults, middle age, and senior). Findings Seniors were found to have a higher incidence of the highest clinical classification (severe or critical), large/multiple ground-glass opacity, and involvement of four or five lung lobes in these four groups. Message Older patients of COVID-19 are more likely to be infected with a larger number of lung lobes and more severe manifestations as visualized by CT., Purpose To compare and analyze the clinical and CT features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among four different age groups. Methods 97 patients (45 males, 52 females, mean age, 66.2 ± 5.0) with chest CT examination and positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) from January 17, 2020 to February 21, 2020 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into four age groups (children [0–17 years], young adults [18–44 years], middle age [45–59 years], and senior [≥ 60 years]) according to their age after the diagnosis was made based on PCR test and clinical symptoms. Results Comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease are more common in the senior group. Cluster onset (two or more confirmed cases in a small area) is more common in the children group and senior group. Older patients were found to have a higher incidence of the highest clinical classification (severe or critical) in these four groups. Senior patients have a higher incidence of large/multiple ground-glass opacity (GGO). Child patients are mostly negative for chest CT or with involvement of only one lobe of the lung; while in older patients, there was a higher incidence of involvement of four or five lung lobes. The frequency of lobe involvement was also found to have significant differences in the four age groups. Conclusion The clinical and imaging features of patients in different age groups were found to be significantly different. A better understanding of the age differences in comorbidities, cluster onset, highest clinical classification, large/multiple GGO, numbers of lobes affected, and frequency of lobe involvement can be useful in the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients of different ages.

Objective:To estimate the impact of recent changes to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern on young children’s diets in family child care homes (FCCHs) serving racially/ethnically diverse children.Design:In a natural experimental study of thirteen CACFP-participating FCCHs, we used digital photographs taken of children’s plates before and after meals matched with menus to measure children’s dietary intake both prior to implementation of the new meal patterns (summer/fall of 2017) and again 1 year later (summer/fall of 2018). Generalised estimating equations tested for change in intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 100 % juice, grain-based desserts, meat/meat alternates and milk, adjusting for clustering of observations within providers.Setting:FCCHs in Boston, MA, USA.Participants:Three- to 5-year-old children attending FCCHs.Results:We observed 107 meals consumed by twenty-eight children at the thirteen FCCHs across an average of 2·5 (sd 1·3) d before the CACFP policy change, and 239 meals consumed by thirty-nine children across 3·8 d (sd 1·4) 1 year later. During lunch, fruit intake increased by about a third of a serving (+0·38 serving, 95 % CI 0·04, 0·73, P = 0·03), and whole grain intake increased by a half serving (+0·50 serving, 95 % CI 0·19, 0·82, P = 0·002). No changes were seen in other meal components.Conclusion:Young children’s dietary intake in CACFP-participating FCCHs improved following the CACFP meal pattern change, particularly for fruits and whole grains, which were targets of the new policy. Additional research should examine impacts of the changes in other child care settings, age groups and locales.

Introduction The strong relation between maternal smoking and maternal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and the growth of newborn infants has been proven. However, the effect of SHS on growth outcomes of older children is not well defined. Through a systematic literature review, we sought to determine whether a relationship exists between SHS exposure and growth outcomes of children up to 8 years of age. Methods A systematic review was performed, including articles published between 2004-2019, related to SHS exposure (prenatal and postnatal) and children's growth (weight, length/height, and head circumference). The relevant articles were identified from Science Direct, ProQuest, Sage Publication, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text (via EBSCOhost) and Google search. Results Seventeen articles were identified, of which three categories of growth measurements were extracted, comprising weight (weight, WAZ, WHZ, and BMI), height (height/length and HAZ) and head circumference. SHS exposure both pre or postnatally was inversely associated with weight (deficit in weight, risk of underweight, risk of wasting) and height (lower length and risk of stunting) and elevated BMI of children. Furthermore, prenatal SHS exposure was associated with a lower head circumference. Conclusions The current review identified that exposure to SHS may be associated with adverse growth outcomes in children. It is crucial that active smokers, specifically those who live with children or with a pregnant partner, are made aware of the potential effects of SHS exposure on non-smokers. Further assessment of the association between exposure to SHS and other growth outcomes in other age groups is needed.

Objective A continuous survey on influenza was conducted in Hulunbuir, China from January 2010 to May 2019 to reveal epidemiological, microbiological and air pollutants associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza cases. Methods Influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection subjects were enrolled from a sentinel hospital in Hulunbuir during the study period for epidemiological and virological investigation. The association between air pollutants and influenza-positivity rate was assessed by a generalised additive model. Results Of 4667 specimens, 550 (11.8%) were tested positive for influenza. The influenza-positivity was highest in the age groups of 5–14 years, 50–69 years and ⩾70 years. We found that the effect of particulate matter ⩽2.5 μm (PM2.5) concentrations on the influenza-positivity rate was statistically significant, particularly on day lag-4 and lag-5. Genetic characterisations showed that (H1N1) pdm09 strains belonged to subclade 6B.1 and that influenza B isolates belonged to subclade 1A-3Del, with significant substitutions in the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins compared with those in the WHO-recommended vaccine strains. Conclusions Elderly individuals and school-age children were at high risk for influenza infection. PM2.5 concentrations showed significant effects on influenza-positivity rate in Hulunbuir, which could be considered in local influenza prevention strategies.

Little is known about the distribution of symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across the lifespan. In this cross-sectional study, we examined differences between subscales of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) between different age groups. 654 Subjects referred to an outpatient University Clinic with specialized expertise in ASD were included. Data collection, including self-report and report by spouses, was performed from 2008 to 2014. Results show no significant differences between the different age groups. AQ scores based on self-report corresponded remarkably well with those from their spouses. In conclusion, the main traits of an ASD appear stable between the different age groups. Also, the results show that using the AQ, patients have largely the same appreciation of symptoms as their spouses.

Purpose Our objective was to evaluate the utility of the national database (NDB) based on health insurance claims data for antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance in medical institutions in Japan. Methods The population-weighted total AMU expressed as defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) was measured by the NDB. The data were compared with our previous study measured by the sales data. Trend analysis of DID from 2011 to 2013 and subgroup analysis stratified by antimicrobial category and age group were performed. Results There was a significant linear correlation between the AMUs measured by the sales data and the NDB. Total oral and parenteral AMUs (expressed in DID) were 1.04-fold from 12.654 in 2011 to 13.202 in 2013 and 1.13-fold from 0.734 to 0.829, respectively. Percentage of oral form among total AMU was high with more than 94% during the study period. AMU in the children group (0–14 years) decreased from 2011 to 2013 regardless of dosage form, although the working age group (15–64 years) and elderly group (65 and above years) increased. Oral AMU in the working age group was approximately two-thirds of those in the other age groups. In contrast, parenteral AMU in the elderly group was extremely high compared to the other age groups. Conclusions The trend of AMU stratified by antimicrobial category and age group were successfully measured using the NDB, which can be a tool to monitor outcome indices for the national action plan on antimicrobial resistance.

Tendon injuries are common to all ages. Injured tendons typically do not recover full functionality. The amount and organization of tendon constituents dictate their mechanical properties. The impact of changes in these constituents during (patho)physiologic processes (e.g., aging and healing) are not fully understood. Toward this end, microstructurally motivated strain energy functions (SEFs) offer insight into underlying mechanisms of age-dependent healing. Several SEFs have been adapted for tendon; however, most are phenomenological. Therefore, the aims of this study are: (1) evaluate the descriptive capability of SEFs in age-dependent murine patellar tendon healing and (2) identify a SEF for implementation in a growth and remodeling (G&R) model. To accomplish these aims, models were fitted to patellar tendon tensile data from multiple age groups and post-injury timepoints. Model sensitivity to parameters and the determinability of the parameters were assessed. A two-way analysis of variance was used to identify changes in parameters and the feasibility of implementing each model into a G&R model is discussed. The evaluated SEFs exhibited adequate descriptive capability. Parameter determinability and sensitivity analysis, however, highlighted the need for additional data to inform and validate the models to increase physiologic relevance and enable G&R model formulation to determine underlying mechanisms of age-dependent healing. This work, as a first, evaluated changes in tendon mechanical properties both as functions of age and injury in an age-dependent manner using microstructurally motivated models, highlights inherent dependencies between parameters of widely used hyperelastic models, and identified unique post-injury behavior by the aging group compared to the mature and aged groups.

Over the past decades, leisure travel has become increasingly popular in older segments of the world population, as a consequence of global factors such as a rise in life expectancy, improved health conditions, a higher disposable income and increased availability of discretionary time in retirement age. Consequently, researchers have become more interested in studying the motivations for travel of seniors. A number of questions may be raised or have been addressed in the recent past: What are the main factors explaining the travelling choices of seniors? Are their travel motivations different from the ones of the general population, which have been widely studied in the past? Are geographical differences in terms of motivations comparable between different age groups? Why is senior tourism a topic of particular interest with regard to Asia? In order to answer such questions, in this article, we provide a review of the literature on the travel motivations of seniors. On the basis of 29 articles published between 1988 and 2015 on the topic, we present a qualitative and meta-analytic assessment of past findings, by investigating the dimensions of travel motivations most frequently identified in past seniors surveys. Finally, we discuss a research agenda for further analysis of senior travel motivations and for the integration of this branch of travel research within the wider framework of senior tourism analysis and management.

Background Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are among the most common diseases. However, the related burden has not been comprehensively evaluated. Thus, we designed the present study to describe the global and regional burden of URIs from 1990 to 2019. Methods A secondary analysis was performed on the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of URIs in different sex and age groups, from 21 geographic regions, 204 countries and territories, between 1990 and 2019, using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Countries and territories were categorized according to Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles. Findings Globally, the incident cases of URIs reached 17·2 (95% uncertainty interval: 15·4 to 19·3) billion in 2019, which accounted for 42·83% (40·01% to 45·77%) cases from all causes in the GBD 2019 study. The age-standardized incidence rate remained stable from 1990 to 2019, while significant decreases were found in the mortality and DALY rate. The highest age-standardized incidence rates from 1990 to 2019 and the highest age-standardized DALY rates after 2011 were observed in high SDI regions. Among all the age groups, children under five years old suffered from the highest incidence and DALY rates, both of which were decreased with increasing age. Fatal consequences of URIs occurred mostly in the elderly and children under five years old. Interpretation The present study provided comprehensive estimates of URIs burden for the first time. Our findings, highlighting the substantial incidence and considerable DALYs due to URIs, are expected to attract more attention to URIs and provide future explorations in the prevention and treatment with epidemiological evidence. Funding The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81770057).

ObjectiveThe Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend Australians choose mostly whole-grain and/or high-fibre varieties within the grains (cereal) foods category, with other groups specifying a whole grain Daily Target Intake of 48 g for Australians aged 9 years or above. The USA and UK report estimates of whole grain intake that are low and declining, and no comprehensive studies on whole grain intake in the Australian population are available. The present study aimed to determine national estimates of whole grain intake, compared with current recommendations.DesignA recently updated whole grain database was applied to the most current population dietary intake data. Single 24 h dietary recall intake data were reviewed against age group, sex, relative to energy intake and whole grain recommendations.SettingAustralia.SubjectsAustralians (2–85 years) participating in the 2011–13 Australian Health Survey (n 12 153).ResultsThe median daily whole grain intake was 21 g for adults (19–85 years) and 17 g for children/adolescents (2–18 years), or 28 and 23 g/10 MJ per d, respectively. Approximately 30 % of children/adolescents consumed no whole grains on the day of the survey. Whole grain intake was lowest for the age group 14–18 years (8·7 g/d). Of all participants aged ≥9 years, 73 % did not reach the recommended Daily Target Intake of 48 g.ConclusionsWhole grain intake in Australia is below recommendations in all age groups. Adolescents may be a key target for campaigns to increase whole grain consumption. This study provides the first quantification of absolute whole grain intake from all food sources in a national sample of Australians.

Objectives In many African countries, child mortality is higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. We investigated the effect of season on child mortality by time periods, sex, and age in rural Guinea-Bissau. Methods Bandim health project follows children under-five in a health and demographic surveillance system in rural Guinea-Bissau. We compared the mortality in the rainy season (June to November) between 1990 and 2013 with the mortality in the dry season (December to May) in Cox proportional hazards models providing rainy versus dry season mortality rate ratios (r/d-mrr). Seasonal effects were estimated in strata defined by time periods with different frequency of vaccination campaigns, sex and age (