5,366 research outputs found

    Metabolic responses to submaximal treadmill walking and cycle ergometer pedalling in obese adolescents

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    Physical activity is essential in obesity management because of the impact of exercise-related energy expenditure (EE) and fat oxidation (Fox) rate on a daily balance, but the specific physiological effects of different exercise modalities are scarcely known in obese individuals. The objective of the study was to compare the metabolic responses to treadmill (TM) and cycle ergometer (CE) exercise in obese adolescents. Gas exchange, heart rate (HR), blood lactate (LA) concentration, EE and Fox were determined at different intensity levels (up to about 85% of maximal oxygen uptake) during TM and CE in 14 pubertal (Tanner stage: >3) obese (BMI SDS: 2.15-3.86) male adolescents (age: 13-18 years). At comparable HR, oxygen uptake, EE and Fox were higher, and LA lower, during TM than CE (P<0.05-0.001), suggesting that cycling imposes a metabolic involvement at the level of the single active muscles greater than walking. Therefore, due to different physiological responses to TM and CE, walking was more convenient than cycling in obese adolescents, permitting to attain the same EE at lower HR, with lower blood LA concentration and with greater Fox. These conclusions seem clinically relevant when using exercise as a part of multidisciplinary treatment for juvenile obesity and amelioration of related metabolic disturbance

    The energetic and cardiovascular response to treadmill walking and cycle ergometer exercise in obese women

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    Physical activity is essential in obesity management, but exercise capacity is compromised in obese individuals due to the excessive body mass, impacting on body movement's energetics, and to the dysfunctions of regulatory mechanisms, affecting cardiovascular responses. This study aims to compare the energetics and cardiovascular responses of walking and cycling in obese women, and to formulate recommendations regarding the most suitable type of exercise for obesity. Fifteen obese (OB) and six normal weight (NW) women exercised on treadmill (TM) and cycle ergometer (CE). During both exercise modalities, metabolic rate was higher in OB than in NW and correlated with measures of body mass. Leg movement metabolic rate during cycling depended upon individual adiposity, and when accounted for, mechanical efficiency was similar in the two groups. When accounting for extra mass, differences in metabolic rate among groups are abolished for CE, indicating no obesity impairment of muscle efficiency, but not for TM, suggesting that differences in biomechanics may explain the higher net cost of transport of OB. In both groups, HR was higher during CE than TM at the same oxygen uptake (VO(2)), but in OB the HR increment over VO(2) was greater for CE than for TM. Therefore, due to different cardiovascular responses to TM and CE in OB, walking is more convenient, enabling OB to attain target energy expenditure at lower HR or in a shorter tim

    Relationship between basal metabolic rate, gender, age, and body composition in 8,780 white obese subjects.

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    The objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between basal metabolic rate (BMR), gender, age, anthropometric characteristics, and body composition in severely obese white subjects. In total, 1,412 obese white children and adolescents (BMI > 97 degrees percentile for gender and age) and 7,368 obese adults (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)) from 7 to 74 years were enrolled in this study. BMR was measured using an indirect calorimeter equipped with a canopy and fat free mass (FFM) were obtained using tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Using analysis of covariance, we tested the effect of gender on the relationship between BMR, age, anthropometry, and body composition. In children and adolescents, the predictor x gender interaction was significant in all cases except for FFM x gender. In adults, all predictor x gender interactions were significant. A prediction equation based on body weight (BW), age, and gender had virtually the same accuracy of the one based on FFM, age, and gender to predict BMR in both children and adults (R(2)(adj) = 0.59 and 0.60, respectively). In conclusion, gender was a significant determinant of BMR in children and adolescents but not in adults. Our results support the hypothesis that the age-related decline in BMR is due to a reduction in FFM. Finally, anthropometric predictors of BMR are as accurate as body composition estimated by BIA

    Skeletal muscle characteristics and motor performance after 2-year growth hormone treatment in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome

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    Context: In adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), abnormal body composition with decreased lean body mass and skeletal muscle (SM) volume has been related to altered GH secretion and may possibly contribute to greatly reduced motor capacity. Objective: The scope of the study was to test the hypothesis that GH treatment has favorable effects on SM characteristics and motor performance in adults with PWS. Design, Setting, and Participants: Fifteen obese PWS subjects (nine males and six females; age range, 19-35 y; body mass index, 37.7-59.9 kg/m(2)) were investigated before and after 12 (GH12) and 24 (GH24) months of GH treatment. Main Outcome Measures: SM cross-sectional area and SM attenuation were determined with computed tomography at the lumbar and midthigh levels. Maximal isometric handgrip strength and isokinetic knee extension peak torque were measured. Motor performance was evaluated with different indoor walking tests, whereas exercise endurance was assessed with a treadmill incremental test to exhaustion. Results: A condition of severe GH deficiency was found in six patients (40%). GH treatment significantly increased lean body mass (GH12, P &lt; .05; GH24, P &lt; .05), reduced percentage of body fat (GH12, P &lt; .05; GH24, P &lt; .05), and augmented SM cross-sectional area and SM attenuation of both lumbar (GH12, P &lt; .01; GH24, P &lt; .001) and thigh muscles (GH24, P &lt; .05). Handgrip strength increased by 7% at GH12 (P &lt; .05) and by 13% at GH24 (P &lt; .001). Peak torque of knee extension extrapolated at zero angular velocity was significantly higher at GH24 (P &lt; .01), and exercise endurance rose by 13% (P &lt; .05) and 17% (P &lt; .05) before exhaustion at GH12 and GH24, respectively, whereas no change was detected with walking tests. No significant difference in the response to GH treatment was detected between patients with and without GH deficiency. Conclusion: Long-term GH treatment in adult PWS patients improves body composition and muscle size and quality and increases muscle strength and exercise tolerance independently from the GH secretory status

    Open access self-archiving: An author study

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    This, our second author international, cross-disciplinary study on open access had 1296 respondents. Its focus was on self-archiving. Almost half (49%) of the respondent population have self-archived at least one article during the last three years. Use of institutional repositories for this purpose has doubled and usage has increased by almost 60% for subject-based repositories. Self-archiving activity is greatest amongst those who publish the largest number of papers. There is still a substantial proportion of authors unaware of the possibility of providing open access to their work by self-archiving. Of the authors who have not yet self-archived any articles, 71% remain unaware of the option. With 49% of the author population having self-archived in some way, this means that 36% of the total author population (71% of the remaining 51%), has not yet been appraised of this way of providing open access. Authors have frequently expressed reluctance to self-archive because of the perceived time required and possible technical difficulties in carrying out this activity, yet findings here show that only 20% of authors found some degree of difficulty with the first act of depositing an article in a repository, and that this dropped to 9% for subsequent deposits. Another author worry is about infringing agreed copyright agreements with publishers, yet only 10% of authors currently know of the SHERPA/RoMEO list of publisher permissions policies with respect to self-archiving, where clear guidance as to what a publisher permits is provided. Where it is not known if permission is required, however, authors are not seeking it and are self-archiving without it. Communicating their results to peers remains the primary reason for scholars publishing their work; in other words, researchers publish to have an impact on their field. The vast majority of authors (81%) would willingly comply with a mandate from their employer or research funder to deposit copies of their articles in an institutional or subject-based repository. A further 13% would comply reluctantly; 5% would not comply with such a mandate

    Progress of international hydrogen production network for the thermochemical Cu–Cl cycle

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    This paper presents recent advances by an international team which is developing the thermochemical copper–chlorine (Cu–Cl) cycle for hydrogen production. Development of the Cu–Cl cycle has been pursued by several countries within the framework of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) for hydrogen production with the next generation of nuclear reactors. Due to its lower temperature requirements in comparison with other thermochemical cycles, the Cu–Cl cycle is particularly well matched with Canada's Generation IV reactor, SCWR (Super-Critical Water Reactor), as well as other heat sources such as solar energy or industrial waste heat. In this paper, recent developments of the Cu–Cl cycle are presented, specifically involving unit operation experiments, corrosion resistant materials and system integration.Atomic Energy of Canada LimitedOntario Research Excellence FundNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaUniversity Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE)Canada Research Chairs progra

    ŻYCIE UKRYTE W SŁOWIE. "BEKSIŃSCY. PORTRET PODWÓJNY" MAGDALENY GRZEBIAŁKOWSKIEJ W ŚWIETLE POSTSTRUKTURALIZMU

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    Life Hidden in Words. Magdalena Grzebiałkowska\u27s "Beksińscy. Portret podwójny" and Poststructuralism The article analyzes Magdalena Grzebiałkowska\u27s biographical "Beksińscy. Portret podwójny" which focuses on the lives of Zdzisław Beksiński and Tomasz Beksiński. The author looks at the construction of the biography and its relationship to poststructuralism, which allows for an appreciation of the literary features of the book. He points to how the specificity of the content, language, a mode of narration in Grzebiałkowska\u27s book make it a full-fledged literary work itself. As such the book departs from a typical biographical scheme. Juxtaposing the book with poststructural ideas leads to the reconsideration of the role of the author in the process of shaping of a biographical narrative

    Effects of different training protocols on exercise performance during a short-term body weight reduction programme in severely obese patients

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    The effects on aerobic, anaerobic and strength performance of aerobic (A) or A and strength (AS) training, integrated with a 3-week body weight reduction programme involving an energy-restricted diet, nutritional education and psychological counselling, were evaluated in 52 grade II or III obese individuals (A: n=26; AS: n=26). After 3 weeks, both training programmes led to a similar and significant reduction (p&lt;0.001) in body mass (A:4.8%; AS: 4.4%) and an increase (p&lt;0.05 - p&lt;0.01) in maximal oxygen consumption (A:16.8%; AS: 10.9%). A significant (p&lt;0.05 - p&lt;0.001) increase was found in absolute lower limb anaerobic power output evaluated by means of a jumping test (A: 13.7%; AS: 18.1%) and stair climbing test (A: 9.7%; AS: 4.3%), without any significant difference between A and AS. A comparable and significant (p&lt;0.01) increase was also found in average horizontal velocity during a short sprint running test (A: 8.1%; AS: 7.1%), with a shorter time of footground contact (A: 4.9%; AS: 6.6.%) and a higher step frequency (A: 4.0%; AS: 10.4%). The maximum strength increase after the body weight reduction programme determined by one maximal repetition test of lower and upper limb muscle groups was significantly greater (p&lt;0.05 - p&lt;0.001) in the AS group, ranging from 11.4% to 25.4% (A) and from 26.7% to 41.8% (AS). These results indicate that integrating a body weight reduction programme involving diet, nutritional education and psychological counselling with A or AS exercise has similar positive effects in lowering body mass and improving A and anaerobic performance. However, the addition of strength training to A conditioning increases maximum strength
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