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This study investigated the geodiversity of the Archipelago Sea in the northern Baltic Sea, focusing on geological features and their spatial distribution. By adapting methods used in previous Baltic Sea studies, we conducted spatial analyses of geological data sets including bedrock type, seabed substrates and seabed structures. Bedrock and substrate data were freely available, while seabed structures were modelled from bathymetry data. Geodiversity was quantified using a geodiversity index, which considers the variety of physical elements, roughness and area of the unit. The analyses revealed a diverse seabed environment in the Archipelago Sea with varying geodiversity throughout the study area. Significant features contributing to geodiversity included bedrock fracture and fault zones and large end-moraine formations. Similar patterns have been observed in terrestrial areas of Finland. The analyses also detected relations between archipelago zonation and geodiversity with areas of open sea more homogeneous than the middle and inner archipelago. This study formally recognises the complexity of the seabed in the Archipelago Sea and highlights the importance of understanding the geological processes shaping the region. The results can inform maritime spatial planning and sustainable resource management.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between recovery from work and insomnia and the role of objectively measured leisure-time physical activity and occupational physical activity in this association.Design Cross-sectional.Setting and participants Study with female early childhood education and care professionals (N=224) in Finland was conducted between April 2017 and September 2018.Methods Recovery from work was measured with the Need for Recovery scale and insomnia with the Jenkins Sleep Scale. Physical activity was measured with an accelerometer for 7 days and analysed to represent leisure-time physical activity and occupational physical activity (min/day).Results Both Jenkins Sleep Scale and occupational physical activity significantly predicted Need for Recovery (β=0.29; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.42 and β=0.14; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.27, respectively). A low relationship was observed between the Need for Recovery and Jenkins Sleep Scale (r=0.32, 95% Cl 0.19 to 0.44). After categorising participants into four groups based on median splits of occupational and leisure-time physical activity, relationships between the Need for Recovery and Jenkins Sleep Scale were low to moderate in the high occupational physical activity and leisure time physical activity group (r=0.38, 95% Cl 0.14 to 0.61), and in the high occupational physical activity and low leisure-time physical activity group (r=0.40, 95% Cl 0.18 to 0.63).Conclusion Both insomnia and physical activity at work seem to be relevant in recovery from work. To enhance recovery, especially those involved in high physical activity at work, should seek methods to improve recovery, by incorporating activities that promote recuperation both during their workday and in their leisure time. Further research on the relevance of physical activity in recovery with longitudinal setting is warranted.Trial registration number NCT03854877.

Abstract Background Locally advanced oesophageal cancer can be treated with definitive chemoradiation (dCRT) or with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery (nCRT + S), but treatment modality choice is not always clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the choice of treatment modality in locally advanced oesophageal cancer. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 149 patients treated with dCRT(n = 85) or nCRT + S (n = 64) for oesophageal cancer in Helsinki University Hospital in 2008–2018. Logistic regression was used to analyse factors associated with choice of treatment modality and to compare dosimetric factors with postoperative complications. Multivariate analyses identified factors associated with survival. Results Surgery was performed after chemoradiation as planned on 64/91 patients (70%). 28/64 had pathological complete response (44%). Probability of nCRT + S was higher in stages I-III versus IV (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.53–8.53; P = .003), ECOG 0–1 versus 2 (OR 6.99, 95% CI 1.81–26.96; P = .005) or in the middle/lower vs upper oesophageal tumours (OR 5.61, 95% CI 1.83–17.16, P = .003). Probability for surgery was lower, if patient had lost > 10% of body weight (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.21–0.98, P = 0.043). Patients in the nCRT + S group had significantly better median overall survival (mOS) and local control than the dCRT group (60 vs. 10 months, P

Plant lipids in the diet are known to modify milk fatty acid (FA) composition and mitigate ruminal methane emissions. The objective of the present work was to examine the potential of milled rapeseeds and oats to decrease both milk saturated FAs and ruminal methane emissions in practical farm settings. In the pilot study, six Finnish Ayrshire cows were fed a control diet for 3 weeks, which was then followed by a lipid-rich test diet for 3 weeks. The experimental diets were based on grass silage supplemented with barley and rapeseed meals in the control diet and with oats and milled rapeseeds in the test diet. The lipid inclusion rate was 55 g/kg dry matter (DM). In the main study, the whole Finnish Ayrshire research herd in milk (n = 49–59) was used in a switch-back-designed study. The cows were fed a control diet for 3 weeks, then a test diet for 4 weeks, and, finally, a control diet for 3 weeks. The diets were the same as in the pilot study except for a lower lipid inclusion level of 50 g/kg DM. The test diet decreased DM intake by 15% and energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield by 13% in the pilot study. The adjustment of supplemental lipids from 55 g/kg to 50 g/kg DM was successful, as the DM intake decreased only by 4% relative to the control diet in the main study. Furthermore, the yields of milk, lactose, protein, and fat were also unaffected by dietary lipids in the main study. The milk fat composition was significantly altered in both studies. The milk fat saturated FAs were decreased by 16%–20% in the test diet, mainly due to the de novo FAs of 6- to 16-carbons (a reduction of 22%–48%). Milk fat cis-9 18:1 was increased by 63%–78% in the test diet relative to the control. Dairy products’ (milk, butter, and cheese) organoleptic quality was not compromised by the modified lipid profile. Ruminal methane and hydrogen intensities (n = 23; g or mg/kg ECM) were 20% and 39% lower, respectively, in the test diet than in the control diet. This reduction can be attributed to a lower amount of organic matter fermented in the rumen, as indicated by the lower DM intake and nutrient digestibility.

Abstract Background Health benefits of physical activity are very well acknowledged but the role of both occupational physical activity (OPA) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in recovery after work is not thoroughly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between accelerometer-measured OPA and LTPA and the need for recovery after work (NFR) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals. Methods The study participants were 217 female ECEC professionals aged 17–64. Physical activity was recorded with a three-axis accelerometer (ActiGraph GT9X Link, ActiGraph, USA) for seven consecutive days. Separate analyses were conducted for both OPA and LTPA and reported as hours/day based on different intensity levels (light, moderate, vigorous, very vigorous). The NFR was measured with the Need For Recovery (NFR) scale (0%–100%). Results Participants’ average physical activity for both OPA and LTPA was about 4 h/day, and the mean NFR score was 38.4%. OPA was significantly associated with the NFR but not with LTPA. The relationship remained significant after adjustments for age, body mass index, work ability, mental health status, and sleep difficulties (p

Background and Objective: India, a highly heterogeneous country, has no common reference standards for predicting spirometry values, with very few recent studies from south India. This study aimed to create reference equations for rural south Indian adults, based on a population-based survey in Vellore, south India and compare it with other equations from India. Methods: The data from 583 non-smoking, asymptomatic participants (30 years and older) from a spirometry-based survey for airflow obstruction (rural Vellore, 2018), were used to develop equations for FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FVC. The dataset was divided for development (70%) and validation (30%), by gender. Differences between observed and predicted values were assessed using the new equations and comparisons made with other equations from India. Results: Predictions with Vellore rural equations were closest to the previous south Indian equations from urban Bangalore. However, the Bangalore equations led to overestimation of FVC values in males, and of both FEV1 and FVC values in females. Using the rural Vellore equations also led to a higher percent of males being classified as having airflow obstruction, compared to the Bangalore equations which underestimated airflow obstruction in this rural population. Comparison with previously derived Indian equations from other parts of the country showed pronounced variations. Conclusions: Our study reiterates the need for representative rural and urban studies of adults from various parts of India, to obtain region specific reference equations, given the wide variations in spirometry values in “normal” individuals, due to social heterogeneities of the Indian population and resulting complexities in defining normal.

Research supports that exposure to stressors (e.g., perceived stress and racism) during pregnancy can negatively impact the immune system, which may lead to infection and ultimately increases the risk for having a preterm or low-birthweight infant. It is well known that Black women report higher levels of stressors at multiple timepoints across pregnancy compared with women of all other racial and ethnic groups. This study addresses gaps in the literature by describing pregnant and early post-partum Black women's exposures to structural racism and self-reported experiences of racial discrimination, and the extent to which these factors are related. We used a cross-sectional study design to collect data related to exposures to racism from pregnant and early post-partum Black women residing in Oakland, California, from January 2016 to December 2017. Comparative analysis revealed that living in highly deprived race + income neighborhoods was associated with experiencing racial discrimination in three or more situational domains (p = .01). Findings show that Black women are exposed to high levels of racism that may have negative impacts on maternal health outcomes.

Progress in new sustainable technologies depends on the development of battery materials, specifically on safer, low-cost, and higher energy density batteries. One new type of materials are the halide solid electrolytes (HSEs), which have been shown to exhibit high ionic conductivity, deformability, and oxidative stability. Here, the synthesis of Li3InCl6 (LIC) HSEs by ball-milling followed by dry room annealing is investigated. Crystal structure, particle size, and ionic conductivity are analyzed using a combination of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Dry room annealing increases the presence of impurities in the sample but also increases the Li+ ionic conductivity up to 1.03 mS cm−1. Additional pulsed-field gradient and relaxation time NMR measurements were performed to understand the lithium diffusion in the LIC samples. Two-dimensional diffusion – T2 relaxation correlation and T2 relaxation exchange measurements showed that there are multiple unique Li atomic motion sites, which are correlated to different rates of diffusive, micrometer-scale motion. This work outlines a simple solid-state synthesis approach and a novel strategy for designing advanced materials, understanding the ionic conduction, as well as the challenges in scalable wet processing of halide-based cathode sheets for solid-state battery applications.

Background: Previous observational studies have linked circulating cytokines to sarcopenia, but their causal relationship remains unclear. This study employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) to investigate the causal links between circulating cytokines and sarcopenia‐related traits using genetic data. Methods: A two‐sample bidirectional MR analysis was conducted using data from individuals of European ancestry, utilizing genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) statistics. The study selected instrumental single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with circulating cytokines and applied multiple MR methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), Weighted Median, MR‐Egger, Weighted Mode, Simple Mode, and MR‐PRESSO. The traits analyzed were appendicular lean mass (ALM) and grip strength. Heterogeneity, robustness, and consistency of results were assessed using Cochran's Q statistic, MR‐Egger regression, and "leave‐one‐out" sensitivity analyses. Results: The IVM‐MR analysis showed a casual association between genetically predicted circulating levels of interleukin‐16 and both ALM and grip strength (ALM: OR = 0.990, 95% CI: 0.980–1.000, p =.049; grip strength: OR = 0.971, 95% CI: 0.948–0.995, p =.020). Additionally, interferon‐gamma‐induced protein 10 (IP‐10), interleukin‐1‐beta (IL‐1β), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were correlated with ALM and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), and interleukin‐5 (IL‐5) with grip strength. Comparable results were confirmed via the MR‐Egger, Weighted Median, Weighted Mode, and Simple Mode methods. Sensitivity analysis showed no horizontal pleiotropy to bias the causal estimates. Conclusion: The results suggest a significant causal effect of inflammatory cytokines on sarcopenia, offering new avenues for therapeutic target development. However, the study's focus on a European ancestry cohort limits its generalizability to other populations. Future research should aim to include diverse ethnic groups to validate and broaden these findings, thereby enhancing our understanding of sarcopenia's mechanisms in a global context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sarcopenia is common in people 70+ years of age, and its prevalence increases with further aging. Insufficient energy and protein intake accelerates muscle loss, whereas sufficient protein intake and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) may suppress age-associated deterioration of muscle mass and strength. Our objective was to test whether a snack product high in MFGM and protein would improve physical performance in older women. Methods: In this 12-week randomized controlled trial, women ≥ 70 years, with protein intake < 1.2 g/body weight (BW) kg/day (d), were randomized into intervention (n = 51) and control (n = 50) groups. The intervention group received a daily snack product containing ≥ 23 g of milk protein and 3.6–3.9 g of MFGM. Both groups were advised to perform a five-movement exercise routine. The primary outcome was the change in the five-time-sit-to-stand test between the groups. Secondary outcomes included changes in physical performance, cognition, hand grip strength, and health-related quality of life. Results: The change in the five-time-sit-to-stand test did not differ between the intervention and the control groups. The change in the total Short Physical Performance Battery score differed significantly, favoring the intervention group (p = 0.020), and the balance test showed the largest difference. Protein intake increased significantly in the intervention group (+14 g) compared to the control group (+2 g). No other significant changes were observed. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the combination of MFGM and protein may improve the physical performance-related balance of older women.

Overuse injuries are common in basketball. Wearable technology enables the workload to be monitored in sport settings. However, workload–injury models lack a biological basis both in the metrics recorded and how workload is accumulated. We introduce a new metric for monitoring workload: weighted jump height, where each jump height is weighted to represent the expected effect of the jump magnitude on damage to the tendon. The objectives of this study were to use principal components analysis to identify distinct modes of variation in all workload metrics accumulated over 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks and to examine differences among the modes of variation in workload metrics between participants before the injury and uninjured participants. Forty-nine youth basketball players participated in their typical basketball practices and games, and lower extremity injuries were classified as patellar or Achilles tendinopathy, other overuse, or acute. An inertial measurement unit recorded the number and height of all jumps, and session rating of perceived exertion was recorded. The previous 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-week workloads of jump count, jump height, weighted jump height, and session rating of perceived exertion were summed for each participant-week. Principal components analysis explained the variance in the accumulated workload variables. Using the retained principal components, the difference between the workload of injured participants in the week before the injury and the mean workload of uninjured participants was described for patellar or Achilles tendinopathy, overuse lower extremity injury, and any lower extremity injury. Participants with patellar or Achilles tendinopathy and overuse lower extremity injuries had a low workload magnitude for all variables in the 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks before injury compared with the weeks before no injury. Participants with overuse lower extremity injuries and any lower extremity injury had a high previous 1-week workload for all variables along with a low previous 3- and 4-week jump count, jump height, and weighted jump height before injury compared with the weeks before no injury. Weighted jump height represents the cumulative damage experienced by tissues due to repetitive loads. Injured youth basketball athletes had a low previous 3- and 4-week workloads coupled with a high previous 1-week workload.