For an optimal performance, soccer players and referees need to consume a high-quality diet. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a tool that can estimate diet quality and has been shown to be associated with body composition. The aims of the present study were first to determine the HEI-2015 score of the diets consumed by athletes and second its association with different body composition parameters of athletes. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 198 soccer players and referees. Dietary intakes were recorded using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and HEI scores were calculated. Body composition parameters were measured using the bioelectrical impedance analysis. The mean score for the HEI-2015 was 65⋅04. A multiple linear regression model showed significant associations of the HEI-2015 score with percent body fat (PBF), percent muscle mass (PMM), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in male soccer players aged <18 years, body mass index (BMI) in male soccer players aged ≥18 years and BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in male soccer referees after adjustment for covariates (P < 0⋅05). The mean overall score for the HEI-2015 shows that Iranian soccer players and referees have an acceptable quality of diet. We also found significant associations between the HEI-2015 score and different body composition parameters in male soccer players and referees but we did not find any significant association in female athletes (P > 0⋅05).

Background: Despite a higher prevalence of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) amongst Canadian Indigenous peoples, there is a paucity of studies focused on Indigenous TSCI. We present the first Canada-wide study comparing TSCI amongst Canadian Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively-collected TSCI data from the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR) from 2004-2019. We divided participants into Indigenous and non-Indigenous cohorts and compared them with respect to demographics, injury mechanism, level, severity, and outcomes. Results: Compared with non-Indigenous patients, Indigenous patients were younger, more female, less likely to have higher education, and less likely to be employed. The mechanism of injury was more likely due to assault or transportation-related trauma in the Indigenous group. The length of stay for Indigenous patients was longer. Indigenous patients were more likely to be discharged to a rural setting, less likely to be discharged home, and more likely to be unemployed following injury. Conclusions: Our results suggest that more resources need to be dedicated for transitioning Indigenous patients sustaining a TSCI to community living and for supporting these patients in their home communities. A focus on resources and infrastructure for Indigenous patients by engagement with Indigenous communities is needed.

Reinforcement learning has previously been applied to the problem of controlling a perched landing manoeuvre for a custom sweep-wing aircraft. Previous work showed that the use of domain randomisation to train with atmospheric disturbances improved the real-world performance of the controllers, leading to increased reward. This paper builds on the previous project, investigating enhancements and modifications to the learning process to further improve performance, and reduce final state error. These changes include modifying the observation by adding information about the airspeed to the standard aircraft state vector, employing further domain randomisation of the simulator, optimising the underlying RL algorithm and network structure, and changing to a continuous action space. Simulated investigations identified hyperparameter optimisation as achieving the most significant increase in reward performance. Several test cases were explored to identify the best combination of enhancements. Flight testing was performed, comparing a baseline model against some of the best performing test cases from simulation. Generally, test cases that performed better than the baseline in simulation also performed better in the real world. However, flight tests also identified limitations with the current numerical model. For some models, the chosen policy performs well in simulation yet stalls prematurely in reality, a problem known as the reality gap.

The co-existence of overweight or obesity with concurrent deficiency of one or more nutrients is referred to as double burden of malnutrition (DBM), and numerous mental health impairments have been associated with a variety of nutrient deficiencies. Although DBM is relevant for several health outcomes, the ubiquitous involvement of vitamin D across multiple systems and tissues suggests D insufficiency as a viable target for nutritional modification. The present study aimed to evaluate the contribution of DBM and mental health among adult women. Study participants included 300 women, aged 18–59 years, who presented to one of the 25 health centres in Tehran. Participants with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 25 kg/m2 and a plasma concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] of >20 ng/ml were considered to have DBM. The 147-item food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate their dietary intake. Mental health status was assessed using the depression, anxiety and stress scales-21 (DASS-21). The mean ± standard deviation age, weight and BMI of the participants were 36⋅49 ± 8⋅38, 80⋅89 ± 12⋅45 kg and 31⋅04 ± 4⋅31 kg/m2, respectively. DBM was significantly associated with stress, after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, energy and marital status in model 1 (OR = 1⋅28, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1⋅00, 1⋅65, P < 0⋅04) v. the crude model (OR = 1⋅22; 95 % CI 0⋅96, 1⋅55, P = 0⋅09). No significant association was seen among DBM and DASS-21 outcomes. In this cross-sectional study, stress and DBM were significantly associated. While vitamin D insufficiency was associated with mental health and obesity in opposing directions. Elucidation of whether vitamin D supplementation can improve mental health impairments requires further evaluation.

We present the most sensitive and detailed view of the neutral hydrogen ( ${\rm H\small I}$ ) emission associated with the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), through the combination of data from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and Parkes (Murriyang), as part of the Galactic Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (GASKAP) pilot survey. These GASKAP-HI pilot observations, for the first time, reveal ${\rm H\small I}$ in the SMC on similar physical scales as other important tracers of the interstellar medium, such as molecular gas and dust. The resultant image cube possesses an rms noise level of 1.1 K ( $1.6\,\mathrm{mJy\ beam}^{-1}$ ) $\mathrm{per}\ 0.98\,\mathrm{km\ s}^{-1}$ spectral channel with an angular resolution of $30^{\prime\prime}$ ( ${\sim}10\,\mathrm{pc}$ ). We discuss the calibration scheme and the custom imaging pipeline that utilises a joint deconvolution approach, efficiently distributed across a computing cluster, to accurately recover the emission extending across the entire ${\sim}25\,\mathrm{deg}^2$ field-of-view. We provide an overview of the data products and characterise several aspects including the noise properties as a function of angular resolution and the represented spatial scales by deriving the global transfer function over the full spectral range. A preliminary spatial power spectrum analysis on individual spectral channels reveals that the power law nature of the density distribution extends down to scales of 10 pc. We highlight the scientific potential of these data by comparing the properties of an outflowing high-velocity cloud with previous ASKAP+Parkes ${\rm H\small I}$ test observations.

Migraine is a complicated brain disorder which affects approximately 12 % of the population, whilst the presence of migraine headaches is typically higher in women than men. Several nutrients are posited to improve headache severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary nutrients patterns and intensity and duration of migraine headaches. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 266 women. Physical activity, general characteristics, anthropometric values and dietary intake were collected. Nutrient patterns were derived using principal component analysis with varimax rotation, and based on the correlation matrix, after completing the 147 item semi-quantitative FFQ, we discerned three nutrients patterns. The validated Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used for assessing migraine intensity. Duration of headaches were defined as the hours the participants had headache in 1 d in last month. ANOVA, χ2 and linear regression tests were used to interrogate the data. Linear regression showed there was a positive relationship between second pattern rich in vitamin B1, carbohydrate, vitamin B3, vitamin B9, protein, and total fibre and VAS and pain duration. Furthermore, there was an inverse relationship between MIDAS and the first nutrient pattern characterised by dietary Ca, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, and Mg among women. Furthermore, there was a positive significant association between vitamin D and B12 (pattern 3) and headache duration. Dietary nutrients patterns should be monitored closely in individuals suffering with migraine.

There is no dietary strategy that has yet been specifically advocated for haemophilia. Therefore, we sought to assess the effect of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet in adolescents with haemophilia. In this parallel trial, forty male adolescents with haemophilia were dichotomised into the DASH group or control group for 10 weeks. The serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-6, complete blood count (CBC), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, partial thromboplastin time (PTT), waist circumference (WC), percentage of body fat, fat-free mass and liver steatosis were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Serum vitamin C was measured as a biomarker of compliance with the DASH diet. The DASH diet was designed to include high amounts of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, as well as low amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol, refined grains, sweets and red meat. Serum vitamin C in the DASH group was significantly increased compared with the control (P = 0·001). There was a significant reduction in WC (P = 0·005), fat mass (P = 0·006), hepatic fibrosis (P = 0·02) and PTT (P = 0·008) in the DASH group, compared with the control. However, there were no significant differences regarding other selected outcomes between groups. Patients in the DASH group had significantly greater increase in the levels of erythrocyte, Hb and haematocrit, as compared with the control. Adherence to the DASH diet in children with haemophilia yielded significant beneficial effects on body composition, CBC, inflammation and liver function.

Racial identification is a critical factor in understanding a multitude of important outcomes in many fields. However, inferring an individual’s race from ecological data is prone to bias and error. This process was only recently improved via Bayesian improved surname geocoding (BISG). With surname and geographic-based demographic data, it is possible to more accurately estimate individual racial identification than ever before. However, the level of geography used in this process varies widely. Whereas some existing work makes use of geocoding to place individuals in precise census blocks, a substantial portion either skips geocoding altogether or relies on estimation using surname or county-level analyses. Presently, the trade-offs of such variation are unknown. In this letter, we quantify those trade-offs through a validation of BISG on Georgia’s voter file using both geocoded and nongeocoded processes and introduce a new level of geography—ZIP codes—to this method. We find that when estimating the racial identification of White and Black voters, nongeocoded ZIP code-based estimates are acceptable alternatives. However, census blocks provide the most accurate estimations when imputing racial identification for Asian and Hispanic voters. Our results document the most efficient means to sequentially conduct BISG analysis to maximize racial identification estimation while simultaneously minimizing data missingness and bias.

Despite the apparent beneficial effects of probiotics/synbiotics on glucose haemostasis, lipid profile and inflammatory responses, it is not clear whether these beneficial effects also impact renal and hepatic function in diabetes. Therefore, we sought to assess the effect of probiotics/synbiotics supplementation on renal and liver biomarkers in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched, up to February 2021. The pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) was estimated using a random-effects model. The methodological quality of studies, as well as certainty of evidence, was assessed using standard scales. Fifteen related trials were identified. Meta-analysis of six trials, involving 426 participants, indicated that probiotics/synbiotics supplementation reduced serum levels of creatinine (WMD = −0·10 mg/dl, 95 % CI −0·20, −0·00; P = 0·01; I2 = 87·7 %; P-heterogeneity < 0·001), without any significant effect on blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glomerular filtration rate or microalbuminuria. No significant improvement was found on liver biomarkers following probiotics/synbiotics supplementation. The subgroup analysis showed a significant improvement in BUN when follow-up duration lasted for 12 weeks or more (WMD = −1·215 mg/dl, 95 % CI −1·933, −0·496; P = 0·001) and in creatinine levels in patients with renal dysfunction (WMD = −0·209 mg/dl, 95 % CI −0·322, −0·096; P < 0·001). Our results are insufficient to advocate the use of probiotics/synbiotics for improving renal or liver function in patients with T2DM. Indeed, due to the low certainty of evidence, these findings need to be affirmed in further high-quality RCT.

We aimed to assess the dietary composition of lunch meal using a posteriori-derived dietary patterns and to determine the association of lunch composition with obesity in a sample of Iranian adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 850 men and women in Tehran (aged 20–59 years). Dietary intakes were assessed using three 24-h dietary recalls, and dietary patterns were identified via principal component factor analysis. For each identified pattern, scores were calculated for each participant and then classified into tertiles. Central obesity was defined WHO criteria. General obesity was defined as a BMI of more than 30 kg/m2. Three major dietary patterns were identified at lunch meal using twelve food groups: ‘Bread, grains and fat’, ‘Western’ and ‘Potato and eggs’. After adjustment for potential confounders, participants at the top tertile of the ‘Bread, grains and fat’ dietary pattern had greater odds for a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR: 1·44, 95 % CI 1·01, 2·07). However, we found no association between ‘Western’ or ‘potato and eggs’ patterns and WHR (OR: 0·89, 95 % CI 0·62, 1·28 and OR: 1·16, 95 % CI 0·69, 1·42, respectively). None of the identified dietary patterns was associated when defining obesity with waist circumference or BMI. In conclusion, participants had a greater chance of central obesity defined based on WHR following a lunchtime pattern with a higher and positive loading factor for ‘Bread, grains and fat’.

Various host and parasite factors interact to determine the outcome of infection. We investigated the effects of two factors on the within-host dynamics of malaria in mice: initial infectious dose and co-infection with a helminth that limits the availability of red blood cells (RBCs). Using a statistical, time-series approach to model the within-host ‘epidemiology’ of malaria, we found that increasing initial dose reduced the time to peak cell-to-cell parasite propagation, but also reduced its magnitude, while helminth co-infection delayed peak cell-to-cell propagation, except at the highest malaria doses. Using a mechanistic model of within-host infection dynamics, we identified dose-dependence in parameters describing host responses to malaria infection and uncovered a plausible explanation of the observed differences in single vs co-infections. Specifically, in co-infections, our model predicted a higher background death rate of RBCs. However, at the highest dose, when intraspecific competition between malaria parasites would be highest, these effects of co-infection were not observed. Such interactions between initial dose and co-infection, although difficult to predict a priori, are key to understanding variation in the severity of disease experienced by hosts and could inform studies of malaria transmission dynamics in nature, where co-infection and low doses are the norm.

Stem cells give rise to the entirety of cells within an organ. Maintaining stem cell identity and coordinately regulating stem cell divisions is crucial for proper development. In plants, mobile proteins, such as WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 5 (WOX5) and SHORTROOT (SHR), regulate divisions in the root stem cell niche. However, how these proteins coordinately function to establish systemic behaviour is not well understood. We propose a non-cell autonomous role for WOX5 in the cortex endodermis initial (CEI) and identify a regulator, ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN3)/GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1, that coordinates CEI divisions. Here, we show with a multi-scale hybrid model integrating ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and agent-based modeling that quiescent center (QC) and CEI divisions have different dynamics. Specifically, by combining continuous models to describe regulatory networks and agent-based rules, we model systemic behaviour, which led us to predict cell-type-specific expression dynamics of SHR, SCARECROW, WOX5, AN3 and CYCLIND6;1, and experimentally validate CEI cell divisions. Conclusively, our results show an interdependency between CEI and QC divisions.