Relation between dietary behavior and body mass index, serum lipids and socioeconomic factors in urban residents

The purpose of this study was to obtain basic information of factors which improve the dietary behavior of urban residents. For this reason, we studied the relation between dietary behavior and BMI, serum lipids and socioeconomic factors. We surveyed the dietary behavior of those who underwent medical examinations at a health center in the city of A. The subjects for this study were 2,627 persons aged 30 to 69 years. For purposes of analysis, the data derived in the survey was divided into two types of categories. One category is that of practicing and non-practicing group relative to specific dietary behaviors. The other is that of better dietary behaviors group and worse dietary behaviors group. (1) A comparison between the practicing and non-practicing group showed that the mean value of the total cholesterol values for the former was lower than for the latter. Similar results for the triglyceride values was obtained. The mean value of the HDL-cholesterol values for the practicing group was higher than for the non-practicing group. (2) We also compared the better dietary behaviors group with the worse group. For women, the mean value of the body mass indices in the better dietary behaviors group was lower than in worse group. We obtained similar differences for women with regard to the mean values of total cholesterol values and triglyceride values. (3) More of Breslow's health practices were followed by the better dietary behaviors group than by the worse group. (4) The number of good dietary practices was significantly related to the following socioeconomic factors: marital status, floor area of residence, steady employment, and working hours. Better dietary behaviors showed parallel correlation with better health status. Dietary behaviors of younger generations and temporary workers showed a tendency of needing to be improved.     

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for infants with severe tetralogy of Fallot

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed in 3 infants with severe tetralogy of Fallot at days 24, 54 and 86 because of progressive hypoxemia. In two patients, the balloon catheter (4 cm long, 5-8 mm diameter) could not pass through the pulmonary valve. This necessitated a smaller balloon and required a two-step procedure. Initially, a coronary artery balloon (2 cm long, 3.5 mm diameter) was used. Following balloon valvuloplasty, arterial oxygen saturation increased from 63 to 83% in case 1, from 69 to 85% in case 2 and 63 to 86% in case 3. Immediate postvalvuloplasty right ventricular cineangiography revealed that the maximal opening diameter of the pulmonary valve leaflets increased from 1-2 mm to 3-4 mm in cases 1 and 3, and from 2-3 mm to 4-5 mm in case 2. No significant complications occurred. Echocardiographic follow-up data showed that the diameter of the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary arteries increased with age. The present results show that the pulmonary valvuloplasty is an effective procedure for relief of pulmonary valve stenosis in tetralogy of Fallot and to improve oxygenation and growth of the pulmonary arteries and right ventricular outflow tract without the need of an immediate aortopulmonary shunt.     

Microscopic theory of current-driven domain wall motion

The dynamics of a domain wall in ferromagnetic nanowires under electric current is theoretically studied. The driving mechanism is shown to depend on wall thickness. Thick walls, as in metallic wires, are propelled by the spin torque arising from spin polarization of current, while thin walls, as in nanocontacts and magnetic semiconductors, are driven by the pressure from charge current. The condition for small-current operation, which is a key issue when integrated into devices, is discussed.     

The relationship between stress and health indicators in an urban population--from a study of subjects selected by sex and age groups who underwent health check-ups in S city in Osaka Prefecture]

The role of fatty acids (FA) as a mediator and modulator of central nervous system activity in general, and peptides in particular, is only recently becoming understood. This paper reviews numerous findings concerned with the activity of fatty acids, particularly with their interaction with diverse neurochemical systems and their consequences for better understanding neurotransmitters, hormones and peptides. The effects include FA as precursors in the manufacture of neurochemical elements, including enzymes, neurotransmitters, and hormones. Of particular interest is the important changes in neuronal membrane composition that have been attributed to FA. Such changes may account for the changes in thermoregulation, learning, and other functions that accompany dietary manipulation of FA intake. While the total level of FA has been the object of many investigations, this report addresses the need to focus on the ratio of FA, especially alpha-linolenic/linoleic acid, which has been shown to be a critical factor in a number of research studies.     

Econazole-releasing porous space maintainers for fungal periprosthetic joint infection

While antibiotic-eluting polymethylmethacrylate space maintainers have shown efficacy in the treatment of bacterial periprosthetic joint infection and osteomyelitis, antifungal-eluting space maintainers are associated with greater limitations for treatment of fungal musculoskeletal infections including limited elution concentration and duration. In this study, we have designed a porous econazole-eluting space maintainer capable of greater inhibition of fungal growth than traditional solid space maintainers. The eluted econazole demonstrated bioactivity in a concentration-dependent manner against the most common species responsible for fungal periprosthetic joint infection as well as staphylococci. Lastly, these porous space maintainers retain compressive mechanical properties appropriate to maintain space before definitive repair of the joint or bony defect.

Open image in new window

     

Cloud point extraction of direct yellow

The cloud point separation of Direct Yellow from micellar solution of various nonionic surfactants, containing a polyoxyethylene chain, was studied. The separation of dyes is an important environmental problem. Moreover, such separation can also be considered as a preliminary step for further studies of biochemical recovery. Some dyes can be considered as affinity ligands, which form complexes with biochemicals. The use of dye enabled the observation of the dynamics of surfactant-rich phase separation by means of a color video. It was found that the separation of phases was incomplete. The aqueous phase contained some amounts of surfactant globules with the dye. The surfactant-rich phase was usually more heterogenic than the aqueous phase. The recovery of Direct Yellow was very effective in the presence of electrolyte (NaCl). The distribution coefficients were high and equal to a few hundreds in the presence of sodium chloride. Under optimum conditions 98-99.9% of the dye could be removed in the one step.     

Interpreting ECG data by integrating statistical and artificialintelligence tools

The use of an automated system integrating data conditioning, statistical methods, and artificial intelligence tools to summarize and interpret high-frequency physiological data such as the electrocardiogram is investigated. The development of a methodology and its associated tools for real-time patient monitoring and diagnosis is accomplished by using the commercial programming environments MATLAB and G2, a real-time knowledge-based system (KBS) development shell. Data interpretation and classification is performed by integrating statistical classification methods and knowledge-based techniques with a graphical user interface that provides quick access to the analysis results as well as the original data. A KBS was developed that incorporates various statistical methods with a rule-based decision system to detect abnormal situations, provide preliminary interpretation and diagnosis, and to report these findings to the healthcare provider     

Fluorescence quenching studies of the rat ovarian LH/hCG receptor

Fluorescence quenching method providing information about the structure and dynamics of proteins, ligand-protein and protein-lipid interactions was used in a study of the rat ovarian LH/hCG receptor. The efficiency of two different quenchers, acrylamide and iodide, was tested. Acrylamide was significantly more effective in quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of ovarian membranes than iodide and therefore it was used in all of the following experiments. Both acrylamide and iodide were not effective in quenching of membranes labelled with fluorescence probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). In the process of desensitization of ovarian LH/hCG receptors the administration to rats of hCG modified the quenching rate of protein fluorescence and intrinsic fluorescence spectral properties of membranes. Alteration in the quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of ovarian membranes was observed after chemical modification of LH/hCG receptors by 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide (HNB-Br). The accessibility of tryptophan fluorophores was increased in HNB-Br-treated membranes. Delipidation of the LH/hCG receptor modified the quenching of protein fluorescence characteristic for control proteoliposomes. These results demonstrate that fluorescence quenching technique can be successfully applied in the study of the LH/hCG receptor.     

Agent-based analysis and simulation of the consumer airline market share for Frontier Airlines

The complex and interconnected world in which organizations operate presents many challenges to the traditional neo-classical view of research and management and associated research techniques. Fundamental to the operation of financial capital markets, investor confidence relies on accurate investment analyst earnings forecasts. We propose agent-based modeling (ABM) as a viable tool to account for the interaction of local and environmental factors to determine organizational success. In an illustrative case study of Frontier Airlines, we develop and execute an ABM of Frontier’s consumer airline market to derive market share for the upcoming year. In the model, Frontier is impacted by internal policies, competitors, and environmental factors of fuel costs, federal regulation, and credit availability. We conclude with a discussion on how ABM can be effectively incorporated into future research activities and decision-making situations.