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A concept of Ca2+ nanodomains established in the cytoplasm after opening single-calcium channels helps mechanistically understand the physiological mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling. It predicts standing gradients of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ around single channels in the plasma membrane. The fate of bound Ca2+ attracted much less attention. This study aimed to examine the profiles of Ca2+ bound to low-mobility buffers such as bulky Ca2+-binding proteins. The solution of non-linear PDEs for an immobile buffer predicts fast decay of free [Ca2+] from the channel lumen and the traveling wave for bound Ca2+. For low-mobility buffers like calmodulin, the calculated profiles of free and bound Ca2+ are similar. Theoretical predictions are tested by imaging 1D profiles of Ca2+ bound to low-mobility fluo-4-dextran. The traveling waves of bound Ca2+ are observed that develop during the opening of single channels. The findings tempt to propose that Ca2+ signaling may not be solely related by the absolute free [Ca2+] at the sensor location, which is extremely localized, but determined by the time when a wave of bound Ca2+ reaches a threshold needed for sensor activation.

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The traditional thermoelectric material GeTe has drawn much attention recently because of the reported high thermoelectric performance of the rhombohedral phase in low-temperature ranges, where the split L and Σ band can be reconverged to have a small energy offset and thus high density of state effective mass according to the rhombohedral angle. In addition, In doping in GeTe is also reported to enhance the density of effective mass and therefore increase the Seebeck coefficient because of the induced resonant levels. In this work, In and Pb are doped in GeTe, and In doping leads to an increase in the rhombohedral angle and thus enhanced density of state effective mass in addition to the resonant effect. However, the improved Seebeck coefficient result from In doping is compensated for by a sharp reduction of Hall mobility, leading to no significant enhancement of electronic performance in the rhombohedral phase. By further Pb/Ge doping in the matrix Ge0.95In0.05Te for the optimization of carrier concentration and reduction of lattice thermal conductivity (as low as 0.7 W/mK), a zT as high as ∼1.2 at 550 K and average zT of ∼0.75 between 300 and 550 K are realized in this work, demonstrating GeTe as a promising candidate for near-room-temperature application.

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In Moscow, the improvement of primary health care home support of patients with limited mobility is implemented since 2017, through the new organizational form "The primary health care support of groups of population with limited mobility" - "Patronage at home". In this regard, the "evaluation of performance efficiency" of this novation is of particular importance. The purpose of the study was to substantiate approaches to implementation of such an assessment applying developed with consideration of experts' opinions "The system of criteria and indices" as well as using the data of registry of patients in need of home patronage. The acquisition of information with specified mean will both allow to objectively assess in dynamics the effectiveness of functioning of new organizational form of "primary health care support of patients with limited mobility at home" in Moscow and contribute to improving its management.

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This paper presents a new architecture that integrates Internet of Things (IoT) devices, service robots, and users in a smart assistive environment. A new intuitive and multimodal interaction system supporting people with disabilities and bedbound patients is presented. This interaction system allows the user to control service robots and devices inside the room in five different ways: touch control, eye control, gesture control, voice control, and augmented reality control. The interaction system is comprised of an assistive robotic arm holding a tablet PC. The robotic arm can place the tablet PC in front of the user. A demonstration of the developed technology, a prototype of a smart room equipped with home automation devices, and the robotic assistive arm are presented. The results obtained from the use of the various interfaces and technologies are presented in the article. The results include user preference with regard to eye-base control (performing clicks, and using winks or gaze) and the use of mobile phones over augmented reality glasses, among others.

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OBJECTIVE: Older patients are frequently subjected to prolonged hospitalization and extended bed rest, with a negative effect on physical activity and caloric intake. This results in a consistent loss of muscle mass and function, which is associated with functional decline and high mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1 wk of oral amino acid (AA) supplementation in older patients subjected to low mobility during hospitalization. METHODS: Hospitalized older patients (69-87) were included in the control group (n = 50) or were administered 25 g of AA mixture (n = 44) twice daily throughout 7 d of low mobility. We collected data related to length of stay as primary outcome measure. In-hospital mortality, 90-d postdischarge mortality, 90-d postdischarge rehospitalization, and falls also were considered. Moreover, variations of anthropometric measures, body composition and muscle architecture/strength, circulating interleukins, and oxidative stress markers between the beginning and the end of the supplementation period were analyzed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Similar values were reported between the two groups regarding age (76.6 ± 6.8 versus 79 ± 7.2 y old), body weight (61.5 ± 14.3 versus 62.1 ± 16.1 kg), and body mass index (28.7 ± 4.15 versus 28.1 ± 3.62 kg/m2). Although no difference in terms of in-hospital, 90-d postdischarge, or overall mortality rate was observed between the two groups, a reduction in length of stay, 90-d postdischarge hospitalization, and falls was observed in the AA supplementation group rather than in controls. Furthermore, the AA mixture limited muscle architecture/strength impairment and circulating oxidative stress, which occurred during hospitalization-related bed rest. The latter data was associated with increased circulating levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 and -10. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the AA mixture limits several alterations associated with low mobility in older hospitalized patients, such as length of stay, 90-d postdischarge hospitalization, and falls, preventing the loss of muscle function, as well as the increase of circulating interleukins and oxidative stress markers.

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OBJECTIVES: To assess objectively measured daytime physical activity and sleep duration and efficiency in hospitalized older adults and explore associations with demographic characteristics and disease severity. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University of Chicago Medical Center general medicine wards. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling inpatients aged 50 and older (N = 120) MEASUREMENTS: Physical activity and sleep were measured using wrist accelerometers. Information on Charlson Comorbidity Index and length of stay was collected from charts. Random-effects linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between in-hospital sleep and physical activity. RESULTS: From March 2010 to May 2013, 120 participants wore wrist actigraphy monitors for at least 2 nights and 1 intervening day. Median activity level over the waking period was 77 counts/min (interquartile range 51-121 counts/min), an activity level that approximately corresponds to sitting while watching television (65 counts/min). Mean sleep duration the night before the activity interval was 289 ± 157 minutes, and mean sleep efficiency the night before the activity interval was 65.2 ± 26.9%. Mean activity counts/min were lowest for the oldest participants (oldest quartile 62, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 50-75; youngest quartile 121, 95% CI = 98-145, trend test P < .001) and those with highest Charlson Comorbidity Index (highest tertile 71, 95% CI = 60-83; lowest tertile 125, 95% CI = 104-147, trend test P = .01). Controlling for severity of illness and demographic characteristics, activity declined by 3 counts/min (95% CI = -5.65 to -0.43, P = .02) for each additional hour of inpatient sleep. CONCLUSION: Older, sicker adults are less physically active during hospitalization. In contrast to studies in the community, inpatients who slept more were not more active. This may highlight that need for sleep is greater in the hospital than in the community.

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