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The southwestern tropical Pacific is a key center for the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), which regulates global climate. This study introduces a groundbreaking 627-year coral Sr/Ca sea surface temperature reconstruction from Fiji, representing the IPO's southwestern pole. Merging this record with other Fiji and central tropical Pacific records, we reconstruct the SST gradient between the southwestern and central Pacific (SWCP), providing a reliable proxy for IPO variability from 1370 to 1997. This reconstruction reveals distinct centennial-scale temperature trends and insights into Pacific-wide climate impacts and teleconnections. Notably, the 20th century conditions, marked by simultaneous basin-scale warming and weak tropical Pacific zonal-meridional gradients, deviate from trends observed during the past six centuries. Combined with model simulations, our findings reveal that a weak SWCP gradient most markedly affects IPO-related rainfall patterns in the equatorial Pacific. Persistent synchronous western and central Pacific warming rates could lead to further drying climate across the Coral Sea region, adversely affecting Pacific Island nations.

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Resumen Introducción: Las personas adultas mayores (AM) representan un grupo creciente de la población, los cuales son especialmente susceptibles a sufrir una pérdida de la condición física asociada a la funcionalidad. El entrenamiento tradicional de fuerza (ETF) ha demostrado ser efectivo, mejorando o limitando la pérdida de masa muscular y fragilidad. El entrenamiento funcional (EF) ha surgido como una alternativa accesible de prevención en los cambios físicos provocados por la vejez. Sin embargo, existe escasa evidencia respecto a la efectividad del EF, versus el ETF, sobre la condición física en AM. Propósito: Evaluar sistemáticamente la efectividad del EF, en comparación con el ETF, sobre la mejora de la condición física en los adultos mayores. Metodología: Se consultaron las bases de datos Pubmed, SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), SCOPUS, PEDro y Web of Science empleando los términos "resistance training", "aged", "physical fitness" y "functional training". Resultados: Se identificaron un total de 5 artículos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Se observa que, tanto EF como el ETF son efectivos en la mejora de diversas manifestaciones de fuerza. Por otra parte, el EF presenta una proporción de mayor efectividad sobre elementos de la condición física funcional, tales como: la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (3.3 veces), agilidad (2.7 veces) y fuerza de tren inferior funcional (1.7 a 2.8 veces) en comparación al ETF. Conclusión: Tanto el EF como el ETF pueden ser alternativas válidas para mejorar la condición física general en los AM. Por otra parte, el EF presenta una mayor efectividad sobre parámetros vinculados a la funcionalidad del AM.

Introduction: Older adults (OA) represent a growing population group that is especially susceptible to a loss of physical fitness associated with functional impairment. Traditional resistance training (TRT) has proven to be effective, improving or limiting the loss of muscle mass and frailty. Functional training (FT) has emerged as an affordable alternative to prevent physical changes caused by aging. However, there is little evidence regarding the effectiveness of functional training, versus traditional resistance training, on physical capacity in older adults. Purpose: To systematically review the effectiveness of FT, compared to TRT, on improving physical fitness in OA. Methodology: Pubmed, SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), SCOPUS, PEDro, and Web of Science databases were consulted. In addition, search strategies were performed, including the terms "resistance training," "aged," "physical fitness," and "functional training." Results: Five articles meeting inclusion criteria were identified. From the qualitative analysis conducted, it was observed that both FT and TRT training are effective in improving various manifestations of strength. In addition, compared to TRT, FT presents a higher proportion of effectiveness on functional fitness elements such as cardiorespiratory capacity (3.3 times), agility (2.7 times), and functional lower body strength (1.7 to 2.8 times). Conclusion: Both FT and TRT can be valid alternatives to improve general physical fitness in OA. Likewise, EF is more effective on parameters related to functionality in OA.

Resumo Introdução: Os adultos idosos (AM) representam um grupo crescente da população, que são particularmente suscetíveis a uma perda de aptidão física associada à funcionalidade. O treinamento de força tradicional (TFT) demonstrou ser eficaz para melhorar ou limitar a perda de massa muscular e fragilidade. O treinamento funcional (TFT) surgiu como uma alternativa acessível para evitar as mudanças físicas causadas pelo envelhecimento. Entretanto, há poucas evidências a respeito da eficácia da EF, em comparação com a ETF, na aptidão física em MA. Objetivo: Avaliar sistematicamente a eficácia da EP, em comparação com a ETF, na melhoria da aptidão física em adultos mais velhos. Metodologia: Pubmed, SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), SCOPUS, PEDro e Web of Science foram consultados usando os termos "treinamento de resistência", "envelhecido", "aptidão física" e "treinamento funcional". Resultados: Foi identificado um total de 5 artigos que preenchiam os critérios de inclusão. Observa-se que tanto a EF quanto a ETF são eficazes para melhorar as diversas manifestações de força. Por outro lado, a EF tem uma proporção maior de eficácia nos elementos de aptidão funcional, tais como aptidão cardiorrespiratória (3,3 vezes), agilidade (2,7 vezes) e força corporal funcional inferior (1,7 a 2,8 vezes) em comparação com a ETF. Conclusão: Tanto a EF quanto a ETF podem ser alternativas válidas para melhorar a aptidão física geral nos MA. Por outro lado, o EF é mais eficaz nos parâmetros ligados à funcionalidade do MA.

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Background: A continuing nationwide vaccination campaign began in the Dominican Republic on February 16, 2021 to prevent severe consequences of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Estimates of vaccine effectiveness under real-world conditions are needed to support policy decision making and inform further vaccine selection. Methods: We conducted a test-negative case-control study to assess the real-world effectiveness of nationwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program using an inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) on preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalizations from August to November 2021 in the Dominican Republic. Participants were recruited from 10 hospitals in 5 provinces to estimate the effectiveness of full immunization (≥14 days after receipt of the second dose) and partial immunization (otherwise with at least 1 dose ≥14 days after receipt of the first dose). Results: Of 1078 adult participants seeking medical care for COVID-19-related symptoms, 395 (36.6%) had positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for SARS-CoV-2; 142 (13.2%) were hospitalized during 15 days of follow up, including 91 (23%) among 395 PCR-positive and 51 (7.5%) among 683 PCR-negative participants. Full vaccination was associated with 31% lower odds of symptomatic infection (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.93) and partial vaccination was associated with 49% lower odds (OR, 0.51; CI, 0.30-0.86). Among 395 PCR-positive participants, full vaccination reduced the odds of COVID-19-related hospitalization by 85% (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08-0.25) and partial vaccination reduced it by 75% (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.80); full vaccination was associated with reduced use of assisted ventilation by 73% (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.49). Conclusions: Given the ancestral and delta viral variants circulating during this study period, our results suggest that the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine offered moderate protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and high protection against COVID-19-related hospitalizations and assisted ventilation. This is reassuring given that, as of August 2022, an estimated 2.6 billion inactivated CoronaVac vaccine doses had been administered worldwide. This vaccine will become a basis for developing multivalent vaccine against the currently circulating omicron variant.

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This paper explores the prospect of CMOS devices to assay lead in drinking water, using calorimetry. Lead occurs together with traces of radioisotopes, e.g., 210Pb, producing g-emissions with energies ranging from 10 keV to several 100 keV when they decay; this range is detectable in silicon sensors. In this paper we test a CMOS camera (OXFORD INSTRUMENTS Neo 5.5) for its general performance as a detector of X-rays and low energy g-rays and assess its sensitivity relative to the World Health Organization upper limit on lead in drinking water. Energies from 6 keV to 60 keV are examined. The CMOS camera has a linear energy response over this range and its energy resolution is for the most part slightly better than 2%. The Neo sCMOS is not sensitive to X-rays with energies below ~10 keV. The smallest detectable rate is 40 ± 3 mHz, corresponding to an incident activity on the chip of 7 ± 4 Bq. The estimation of the incident activity sensitivity from the detected activity relies on geometric acceptance and the measured efficiency vs. energy. We report the efficiency measurement, which is 0.08(2)% (0.0011(2)%) at 26.3 keV (59.5 keV). Taking calorimetric information into account we measure a minimal detectable rate of 4 ± 1 mHz (1.5 ± 0.1 mHz) for 26.3 keV (59.5 keV) g-rays, which corresponds to an incident activity of 1.0 ± 0.6 Bq (57 ± 33 Bq). Toy Monte Carlo and Geant4 simulations agree with these results. These results show this CMOS sensor is well-suited as a g- and X-ray detector with sensitivity at the few to 100 ppb level for 210Pb in a sample.