Aim We aimed to investigate the association of distractions at work and perceived occupational challenges with psychosocial outcomes among the adult German population. Subject and methods A quota-base...

This study investigates the adoption of Generative AI text-to-image tools in the creative industry using an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The objective is ...

Disruptions in the stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) are often associated with extreme winter weather. Assessing the state of the vortex is typically achieved using a combination of zonal winds at 10 hPa averaged around the 60° N latitude circle, geopotential height anomalies (GPHAs) at various pressure levels, and/or stratospheric temperatures. Stratospheric height anomalies at a particular level are caused by temperature variations in the entire atmospheric column below it, meaning observed SPV patterns may, in fact, be dominated by tropospheric rather than stratospheric variability. Here we propose and demonstrate an additional metric that largely excludes tropospheric influences to help assess SPV behavior. We analyze anomalies in fields of 50–10 hPa layer thickness rather than geopotential heights and employ objective pattern clustering to identify representative anomaly configurations and disruptions, assess changes in pattern frequency, identify “stretched vortex” configurations, and relate patterns to other atmospheric variables. We find an increasing frequency of anomalously low-thickness (cold) SPV patterns, which is consistent with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations but inconsistent with results based on GPHAs. According to our metric, stretched SPV configurations exist on 39% of the days between 1979 and 2022. Unlike height-based SPV patterns, thickness-based patterns bear little resemblance to corresponding 500 hPa height fields, suggesting the thickness-based metric successfully isolates the stratospheric layer. Some thickness anomaly patterns correspond with weaker poleward gradients in potential vorticity that are linked with Arctic amplification, suggesting a higher likelihood of atmospheric blocking and resulting extreme weather as disproportionate Arctic warming continues.

Background Obesity is associated with impaired physical fitness, including physical functional performance and cardiorespiratory fitness, which affect health-related quality of life and mortality. Objective We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise program and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment alone or in combination during weight maintenance for physical fitness. Methods This is secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial involving 193 adults with obesity (age 18–65 years, body mass index 32–43 kg/m2) without diabetes mellitus who completed an 8-week low-calorie diet and were subsequently randomized (1:1:1:1 ratio) to: exercise plus placebo; glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide 3 mg once-daily plus usual activity; exercise plus liraglutide combined; or placebo plus usual activity. The exercise program was a combination of group sessions (interval-based indoor cycling followed by circuit training) and individual sessions of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, designed to meet the World Health Organization recommendations on physical activity for health. Exercise adherence was measured with sports watches and heart rate monitors. Key secondary endpoints related to physical fitness were changes from randomization to the end of treatment (weeks 0–52) in: (1) physical functional performance (time to ascend and descend an 11-step stairway twice); (2) cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption normalized to fat-free mass); and (3) muscle strength (isometric knee extensor peak torque). Results Participants randomized to exercise performed a median 2.65 session/week (116 min/week at 79% of maximum heart rate) with no significant difference between those who received placebo or liraglutide. Compared with liraglutide alone, the combined treatment decreased time to complete a stair climb test by 1.2 s [95% confidence interval 0.6–1.9] (corresponding to 8.6%) and improved peak oxygen consumption by 3.0 mL/min/kg fat-free mass [95% confidence interval 0.5–5.5]. Exercise alone led to similar benefits, whereas liraglutide alone did not improve physical fitness. Compared with placebo (− 7.8%), relative muscle strength (strength normalized to body weight) was higher with exercise (− 0.4%), liraglutide (+ 1.0%), and the combined treatment (+ 3.3%) because of lower weight and preserved absolute strength. Conclusions Structured exercise combined with glucagon-like peptide-1-based obesity pharmacotherapy led to clinically meaningful improvements in physical functional performance and cardiorespiratory fitness, in contrast to pharmacotherapy alone. Clinical Trial Registration EudraCT number, 2015-005585-32; https://bit.ly/4k7xfiH number, NCT04122716.