Contribution of tiller age category to herbage accumulation of Marandu palisadegrass under two fertilization regimes

Based on the hypothesis that climate and fertilizers influence the proportion of tiller age categories in the canopy and, consequently, in herbage accumulation, the objective of this study was to determine the population density and the contribution of tiller age categories for herbage accumulation of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu during the year and in response to phosphate and nitrogen fertilization. The treatments consisted of two fertilization strategies: low and high fertilization and three tiller ages (young, mature and old), evaluated at four times of the year: winter, early and late spring, and summer. The total number of tillers and the proportion of young tillers were higher in late spring and summer. The growth and herbage accumulation rates showed a typical seasonal pattern and were higher in the canopy under high fertilization. Old tillers contributed more to control the total stem growth rate, as well as the canopy senescence rate. The highest percentage of young tillers is related to the high herbage accumulation in the Marandu palisadegrass canopy.

Temporal face feature progression with cycle GAN

The aging process creates significant changes in the appearances of people’s faces. When compared to other causes of variation in face imaging, aging-related variation has specific distinct properties. Facial Aging variations, for example, is unique for each person; it occurs gradually and is significantly influenced by other characteristics including health, gender, and life-style. As a result, the proposed effort will use Generative Adversarial Networks to address these critical concerns (GANs). Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN’s) is made up of a generator and a discriminator network. The generator model generates images that a discriminator model analyses to determine if they are real or fake. This paper provides a Temporal Face Feature Progressive framework with Cycle GAN, which maintains the initial appearance and identity in the elderly aspect of their facial structure. To address aging concerns, our goal is to transform an initial age category image into a targeted age with age progression. We show that our temporal face features progressive cycle GAN learns and transfers facial traits from the source group to the targeted group by training various images. The IMDB-WIKI Face dataset has been used to obtain the results for the same.

Ongoing Use of SSRIs Does Not Alter Outcome in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

SARS-CoV-2 continues to have devastating consequences worldwide. Though vaccinations have helped reduce spread, new strains still pose a threat. Therefore, it is imperative to identify treatments that prevent severe COVID-19 infection. Recently, acute use of SSRI antidepressants in COVID+ patients was shown to reduce symptom severity. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to determine whether COVID+ patients already on SSRIs upon hospital admission had reduced mortality compared to COVID+ patients not on chronic SSRI treatment. Electronic medical records of 9044 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from six hospitals were queried for demographic and clinical information. Using R, a logistic regression model was run with mortality as the outcome and SSRI status as the exposure. In this sample, no patients admitted on SSRIs had them discontinued. There was no significant difference in the odds of dying between COVID+ patients on chronic SSRIs vs. those not taking SSRIs, after controlling for age category, gender, and race. This study shows the utility of large clinical databases in determining what commonly prescribed drugs might be useful in treating COVID-19. During pandemics due to novel infectious agents, it is critical to evaluate safety and efficacy of drugs that might be repurposed for treatment.

Emotions and Motivations Underlying Adherence to the Anti-COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign: A Survey on a Sample of Italians under 30 Years

Background: In Italy, the under-30 age category was the one that joined the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign in an important way. This study investigates the emotional states and motivations underlying joining the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Methods: A questionnaire consisting of SF-12, STAI Y, and open questions was administered to investigate the state of health, the state of anxiety, and motivational states of the participants. Results: Of the sample, 80.7% were vaccinated at the first call, deeming the action important to combat the infection. However, 48.2% stated that they were quite worried about the problems related to the pandemic, 37.3% feared being directly infected, and 43.4% were worried about the health of relatives and friends. Conclusions: The positive impact that the vaccination campaign has had on the under-30 category is very significant for the immunization process, which is of fundamental importance for fighting the pandemic, so the “benefits” outweigh the “risks” related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Sociodemographic factors associated with Covid-19 in Canada

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease or Covid-19 has caused more than 30 million documented infections and 1 million deaths worldwide as of Oct 2020. It was shown that several sociodemographic factors play a significant role in shaping the Covid-19 outcome and associated death rates across the globe. Thus the present study aims to study the sociodemographic parameters associated with the Covid-19 cases in Canada. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, the data was collected from the Official data repository present in Canada. The patients' data were evaluated and sociodemographic parameters were checked and recorded. After the data was recorded they are categorized based on the different states and statistical analysis was done. RESULT:The present study reported that in Canada total cases as reported in the repository are 1,253,519 cases. This result indicates that maximum of the patients suffering from Covid-19 belonged to the younger age category. Compared to the males, females were more to suffer from Covid-19. Most of the patients who required hospitalization were in the 80+ year age group (28.5%). Only 1.7% of patients in the age group below 19 years are required to be hospitalized. The regional data variation showed that in Alberta female patients were more in all the age groups compared with the male patients. Saskatchewan also reported a higher number of death cases in older people. In Manitoba, in the younger age category (0-29 years) less number of female patients suffered Covid-19. Interestingly, this number reversed as the age group increased. In Ontario, 72.1% of people reported being admitted to ICU and required a ventilator. In British Columbia, the gender distribution showed no such difference among all the Covid-19 positive cases. In Quebec among the covid-19 positive cases, 47.2% were male and 52.8% were females. CONCLUSION: Age is a significant predictor of Covid-19 mortality and patients from both genders aged more than 75 years and more need to provide more care and increased medical supervision to decrease the Covid-19 casualty.

Aspects of frailty syndrome, nutritional status and comorbidities in the elderly

Background: Frailty syndrome is one of the most important multifactorial medical syndromes, which is characterized by a decrease in functionality of many systems and organs. Material and methods: In order to establish the nutritional determinants that contribute to the onset of frailty syndrome, a study was performed on a group of 50 patients, aged ≥65 years with chronic pathologies and geriatric syndromes. All participants were examined according to clinical features (history, clinical examination), Mini Nutritional Assessment and of the Complex Geriatric Assessment, which included: the data of the frailty tools, age category, Vulnerable Elders Survey, Charlson Comorbidity Index, autonomy – Activity Daily Living, Instrumental Activity Daily Living, Tinetti scale, psychoaffective status – by memory test Mini-Mental State Examination and the Geriatric Scale of Depression in the context of nutrition in the elderly. A clustered analysis (k-means method) of nutritional status showed that the most relevant indicators that separated the clusters were: age category, gender, clinical scale of frailty, comorbidities and polymedication. Results: Frailty through the multidimensional aspects that it meets has an increased prevalence among the elderly with an unfavorable prognosis. Following the proposed study, it was revealed that insufficient nutrition and comorbidities can lead to the weakening of the institutionalized age. The results obtained by evaluating the bio-psycho-social aspects characterize the profile of the institutionalized elderly and can be used as a basis for the development of effective strategies aimed at reducing physical, cognitive and social frailty. Conclusions: The comparative evaluation between both groups of elderly people by gender, showed a normal nutritional status with a higher share in women in the group of 75-84 years, compared to older men, and malnutrition was practically manifested equally in both groups in the study (men/women)

Investigating age and regional effects on the relation between the incidence of heat-related ambulance transport and daily maximum temperature or WBGT

Background Although age and regional climate are considered to have effects on the incidence ratio of heat-related illness, quantitative estimation of age or region on the effect of occurring temperature for heat stroke is limited. Methods By utilizing data on the number of daily heat-related ambulance transport (HAT) in each of three age groups (7–17, 18–64, 65 years old, or older) and 47 prefectures in Japan, and daily maximum temperature (DMT) or Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (DMW) of each prefecture for the summer season, the effects of age and region on heat-related illness were studied. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the significance of the effect of age and 10 regions in Japan on HAT. The population-weighted average of DMT or DMW measured at weather stations in each prefecture was used as DMT or DMW for each prefecture. DMT or DMW when HAT is one in 100,000 people (T1 and W1, respectively) was calculated for each age category and prefecture as an indicator of heat acclimatization. The relation between T1 or W1 and average DMT or DMW of each age category and prefecture were also analyzed. Results HAT of each age category and prefecture was plotted nearly on the exponential function of corresponding DMT or DMW. Average R2 of the regression function in 47 prefectures in terms of DMW was 0.86, 0.93, and 0.94 for juveniles, adults, and elderly, respectively. The largest regional difference of W1 in 47 prefectures was 4.5 and 4.8 °C for juveniles and adults, respectively between Hokkaido and Tokyo, 3.9 °C for elderly between Hokkaido and Okinawa. Estimated W1 and average DMT or DMW during the summer season for 47 prefectures was linearly related. Regarding age difference, the regression line showed that W1 of the prefecture for DMW at 30 °C of WBGT was 31.1 °C, 32.4 °C, and 29.8 °C for juveniles, adults, and elderly, respectively. Conclusions Age and regional differences affected the incidence of HAT. Thus, it is recommended that public prevention measures for heat-related disorders take into consideration age and regional variability.

Development and implementation of project management skills in vocational institutions

The purpose of the article is to analyze the experience of developing and implementing project management skills in the process of preparing students. From the methodological field, the dynamics of students' participation in project activities and the main ways of developing the project management skill are revealed. The participants of the study were teachers and students of higher educational institutions in the age category from 19 to 24 years. The results determined that the development and implementation of the skill of managing educational projects is one of the most significant areas of the development of educational activities since this soft skill allows students to adapt to professional activities most quickly and maintain competitiveness.

Brucella Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Occupationally Exposed Humans in Selected Districts of Southern Province, Zambia

Background: Brucellosis is a neglected debilitating zoonosis widely recognized as an occupational health hazard. The seroprevalence of human anti-Brucella antibodies in high-risk populations, as well as their risk factors, have not been well-documented in Zambia. This study aimed at estimating the Brucella seroprevalence in herdsmen and abattoir workers and assess the associated risk factors.Methods: A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was carried out between May and December 2020 among abattoir workers and herdsmen in Namwala, Monze and Choma districts of Southern Province in Zambia. Seroprevalence was assessed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) or competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) while a questionnaire was administered to obtain epidemiological data.Results: A total of 153 individuals were recruited in the study. The overall Brucella seroprevalence was 20.3% (95% CI: 14.6–27.5). Seropositivity among herdsmen and abattoir workers was 14.4% (95% CI: 9.2–21.8) and 46.4%, (95% CI: 28.8–65.0), respectively. Comparable seropositive results among districts showed Namwala with 26.9%, which was the highest, seconded by Monze 19.0%, and the least was Choma with 11.36%, seropositivity. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that occupation, age category, and district of residence were predictors of being seropositive to Brucella spp. antibodies. The odds of abattoir workers being seropositive to Brucella antibodies were 8.6 (95% CI: 2.6–28.2) higher than that of herdsmen being the reference group. The odds of age category 17–50 years being seropositive to Brucella antibodies were 7.0 (95% CI: 0.7–72.2) higher than being <16 years as the reference group. The odds of one having attained primary level of education being seropositive to Brucella were 1.3 (95% CI: 0.1–14.7) or secondary level of education were 6.2 (95% CI: 0.5–72.6) or tertiary level of education were 5.1 (95% CI: 0.2, 113.3) higher than that of no level of education as the reference group. Furthermore, the odds of a respondent being seropositive to Brucella antibodies were 4.5 (95% CI: 1.3–15.7) for Namwala and 4.9 (95% CI: 1.1–21.7) for Monze higher than that of Choma as the reference group.Conclusion: Anti-Brucella antibodies are prevalent among herdsmen and abattoir workers in the study areas of Zambia (20.26%), a sign of exposure to Brucella pathogens. Type of profession, age and level of education seem to influence the exposure to Brucella pathogens. This zoonosis should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis in humans presenting intermittent fever, malaria-like signs and general pain in humans.