196,354 research outputs found
Work absenteeism and productivity losses associated with overweight
No full textBackground: Overweight has increased dramatically in the Western world during the past decades. The condition is associated with impaired health through, e.g., cardiovascular disease, musculo-skeletal disorders, type II diabetes, sleep apnoea and cancer. Apart from causing individual suffering, overweight incurs costs to society.Aim: The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the association between overweight and work absenteeism, as well as the related productivity losses to society.Methods: Data on individual characteristics, e.g. body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), smoking, socio-economic index and muscular strength, as well as data on sick-leave, disability pension and mortality, were obtained for 45 920 Swedish men performing mandatory military service conscription tests in 1969/70 (mean age 18.7±0.5y) through linkage of national registers. Overweight was classified into pre-obesity (BMI 25.0-29.9) and obesity (BMI≥30.0), while normal weight was defined as BMI 18.5-24.9.Based on 38y of follow-up from time of conscription tests, overweight-related risks compared to normal weight for sick-leave, disability pension and premature death were estimated by the use of multivariable regression models. The related productivity losses were estimated using the human capital approach.Results: Compared to normal weight, overweight was found to be associated with increased risk of work absenteeism, especially for longer episodes (including death). During a lifetime, an obese individual was estimated to incur productivity losses to a value of €95 000 (CI95% €89 000 - €103 000) to society, nearly twice as much as his normal weight counterpart. Approximately 8% of future productivity losses among young men today could be avoided, had no one been overweight.Conclusion: Overweight-related costs of work absenteeism appear to be significant and are important to consider in decision making. Effective overweight prevention has the potential to substantially reduce productivity losses to society.List of scientific papersI. Neovius K, Neovius M, Kark M, Rasmussen F. Association between obesity status and sick-leave in Swedish men: nationwide cohort study. Eur J Public Health 2012; Feb;22(1):112-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckq183 II. Neovius K, Neovius M, Rasmussen F. The combined effects of overweight and smoking in late adolescence on subsequent disability pension: a nationwide cohort study. Int J Obes (Lond) 2009;34(1):75-82. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.178 III. Neovius K, Rasmussen F, Sundstrom J, Neovius M. Forecast of future premature mortality as a result of trends in obesity and smoking: nationwide cohort simulation study. Eur J Epidemiol 2010;25(10):703-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-010-9485-x IV. Neovius K, Rehnberg C, Rasmussen F, Neovius M. Lifetime productivity losses associated with obesity status in early life: a population based study of Swedish men. Appl Health Econ Health Policy. [Accepted] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22827692</p
Diagnostic tests for adiposity and metabolic risk factors in adolescence : results from the Stockholm weight development study (SWEDES)
No full textBackground: Despite growing concern about the development of pediatric obesity, there is still controversy about its classification. International classification systems have been proposed and national systems are in use in many countries, often in parallel. Most proposed classification systems are distribution-based and not anchored to either fatness, metabolic risk or risk of adult obesity.Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of BMI, WC and W-ER for fatness, the characteristics of commonly used classification systems, and to estimate the relationship between diagnostic tests for overweight, insulin resistance and cholesterol profile.Design: SWEDES is a prospective cohort study of 481 children followed from birth until age 17y, and their mothers. BMIdevelopment was assessed retrospectively from healthcare records, and clinical measurements at age 17y were performed. Measurements included height, weight, WC, HC, body composition (FM, FFM), and blood samples. Proposed classification systems for childhood and adolescent obesity were evaluated by use of ROC analyses. Through regression analyses, the association between different screening measures and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was also investigated.Results: The IOTF/Cole classification system was found to be highly specific (0.95-1.00), but insensitive for fatness, especially in females (0.22-0.25). The outcome was shown to be fairly insensitive to the choice of gold standard to define fatness. The same characteristics remained in longitudinal analyses when using BMI at different ages as diagnostic tests for both BMI-based and FMIbased overweight in late adolescence. Using alternative measures as indicators of total fatness revealed that WC and BMI display similar diagnostic accuracy, while WHR performs significantly worse, also when evaluated against blood variables. In boys, the associations between simple anthropometric measures and insulin resistance were weaker than for detailed body composition measures, while in girls no significant associations were observed. The associations between BMI in childhood and adolescence and blood variables were non-existent or weak, implying that anchorage of classification against such outcomes may be complicated.Conclusion: Currently proposed BMI-based classification systems for adolescent overweight are highly specific, but less sensitive for fatness as well as for metabolic risk. The awareness about the trade-offs involved in applying such classification systems should be raised, since it may affect efficiency in the usage of healthcare and public health resources. A classification system designed for international monitoring cannot be optimal for the different needs of risk group stratification in such different settings as specialized care, public health and targeted prevention. Misuse is likely to result in wasted resources as well as foregone health improvements.List of scientific papersI. Neovius MG, Linne YM, Barkeling BS, Rossner SO (2004). "Sensitivity and specificity of classification systems for fatness in adolescents. " Am J Clin Nutr 80(3): 597-603 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15321798II. Neovius M, Linne Y, Rossner S (2005). "BMI, waist-circumference and waist-hip-ratio as diagnostic tests for fatness in adolescents. " Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 29(2): 163-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15570312III. Neovius M, Linne Y, Vagstrand K, Ekelund U, Poortvliet E, Sjostrom M, Hoffstedt J, Rossner S (2005). "Insulin resistance, anthropometry and body composition in adloescents and their mothers." (Submitted)IV. Neovius M, Linne Y, Ekelund U, Poortvliet E, Sjostrom M, Hoffstedt J, Rossner S (2005). "BMI-development and its relation to fat mass, insulin resistance and cholesterol profile in late adolescence." (Submitted)</p
Development of surgical techniques in craniofacial reconstruction
No full textIntroduction: Facial fractures are common and either the injury or the surgical treatment may cause sequelae including diplopia, visual loss, dystopia, enophthalmos, scarring, soft tissue affection and sensory disturbances. Severe facial fractures may also lead to bone defects due to resorption. In bone reconstruction after facial fractures, tumor surgery or anomalies, replacement using autologous bone is the gold standard treatment. However, in order to avoid donor-site morbidity and risks, reduce surgery time and hospital stay; the interest in artificial bone substitutes is increasing. The aim with these studies was to better understand risks and complications related to craniofacial surgery and thereby improve surgical treatment. Additionally, to explore bone substitutes in order to avoid donor site morbidity.Methods: In study I-II patients with facial fractures were grouped based on the severity and location of injury and examined three years or more after surgery regarding vision, diplopia, dystopia, enophthalmos and infraorbital nerve (ION) sensibility. Study III included patients treated for a facial fracture including lower eyelid incisions. The outcome after subciliary and transconjunctival incisions with regards to the long-term occurrence of ectropion, scleral show, entropion and canthal malposition was examined. Study IV was a prospective randomized study comparing the healing capacity between BMP-2 (250 μg/ml) in hydrogel, hydrogel without BMP-2, SpongostanTM (negative control) or TisseelTM with autologous bone matrix (positive control) in critical size cranial bone defects in neurosurgery. Study V was a prospective randomized study investigating the healing capacity of BMP-2 (50 μg/ml or 250 μg/ml) in hydrogel compared to treatment with autologous bone in alveolar cleft surgery.Results: In Study I and II, 81 patients attended to follow-up. Diplopia occurred in 3.7%, visual loss in 2.5%, dystopia in 4.9% and visible enophthalmos (>2 mm) in 8.6% (Study I). Severe diplopia was found in two patients (2.5%) and was due to nerve injuries, the trochlear and abducens nerve respectively. Complex fractures had a higher incidence of any sequelae. In Study II we found affected ION sensibility in 20% and severely affected sensibility in 7.4% but there was no statistically significant correlation between questionnaire results and log von Frey values. In Study III, including 128 patients, 8.1% had ectropion and 11% had scleral show in the subciliary group whereas 2.2% had ectropion, 4.4% had scleral show and 2.2% had a canthal malposition in the transconjunctival group. This difference was not statistically significant. In Study IV we found that TisseelTM with autograft, hydrogel and hydrogel with BMP-2 had a significantly better bone healing capacity than negative controls (SpongostanTM). Frontal bone originating from the neural crest had significantly better bone healing than parietal/temporal bone originating from the mesoderm. In Study V the bone healing capacity was comparable between BMP-2 (250 μg/ml) in hydrogel and autologous bone graft from the iliac crest after six months. Severe gingival swelling was noted in patients treated with BMP-2 (250 μg/ml) in hydrogel and therefore the study was prematurely closed.Conclusions: Diplopia after facial fractures may be caused by ocular motor nerve injuries, not only by hinged eye muscles, fibrosis or malposition of the eye, which emphasizes the importance of meticulous eye examinations in trauma patients. For access to the orbit transconjunctival lower eyelid incisions had a lower risk for ectropion and scleral show compared to subciliary incisions. von Frey monofilament assessment does not fully correlate with all aspects of sensory disturbance of the ION after facial fractures. Due to insufficient bone healing capacity in cranial bone defects in adults (partial thin bone healing) and severe adverse events in alveolar cleft surgery in children (gingival swelling), we dissuade treatment with BMP-2 in craniofacial bone reconstruction.List of scientific papersI. Persistent diplopia after fractures involving the orbit related to nerve injury. Neovius E, Fransson M, Matthis SP, Persson C, Ostlund S, Farnebo F, Lundgren TK. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2015. 68(2): p. 219-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2014.10.040 II. Long-term sensory disturbances after orbito-zygomatic fractures. Neovius E, Fransson M, Persson C, Clarliden S, Farnebo F, Lundgren TK. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2016.09.007 III. Lower eyelid complications in facial fracture surgery. Neovius E, Clarliden S, Farnebo F, Lundgren K. [Accepted] https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000003314 IV. Variation in calvarial bone healing capacity: a clinical study on the effects of BMP-2-hydrogel or bone autograft treatments at different cranial locations. Docherty Skogh A.C, Kihlström L, Neovius E, Persson C, Beckman M.O, Engstrand T. J Craniofac Surg. 2013. 24(2): p. 339-43. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0b013e31827ff2b6 V. Alveolar bone healing accompanied by severe swelling in cleft children treated with bone morphogenetic protein-2 delivered by hydrogel. Neovius E, Lemberger M, Docherty Skogh A.C, Hilborn J, Engstrand T. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2013. 66(1): p. 37-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2012.08.015 </p
Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011
No full textThis video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer
"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States" By M. Carey.
No full text"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States: containing bried sketches of the moral and political character of those states.
By M. Carey, member of the American philosophical, and of the American Antiquarian Society, and author of The Olive Branch, Cindiciae Hibernicae, essays on banking, on political economy, and on internal improvement.
To which are now added the English editor's comments on the subject; together with Important Advice to Emigrants, and Cautions Against Impositions Practiced in the Outports
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
No full textWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Dr. Glendon Swarthout
No full textHosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness
Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses
No full textFollowing an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied
Intern experience at CH���M Hill, Inc.: an internship report
No full textIncludes author's vita"Submitted to the College of Engineering of Texas A&M University in partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Engineering."Includes bibliographical referencesA review of the author's internship experience with CH���M HILL, Inc.
during the period September 1975 through May 1976 is presented. During this nine month
internship the author worked as an Engineer II in the Industrial Processes discipline of this
large consulting engineering firm... The author's prime responsibility was as one of three
lead design engineers on the design of a large wastewater treatment facility for a pulp mill
in Hoquiam, Washington owned by ITT Rayonier Inc. The work generally consisted of the design
of individual treatment units and associated piping and pumping. The purpose of the project
was to provide wastewater treatment capabilities that would satisfy the effluent limitations
(standards) imposed upon the mill by the State of Washington Department of Ecology and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The author's assignment also entailed necessary
interaction with the project manager and other CH���M HILL design engineers and support staff
members, the client's representatives, and representatives of two other consulting engineering
firms working on the project. Thus, the internship position at CH���M HILL provided considerable
experience coordinating the author's work with the work of other engineers, guiding the design
and administrative efforts of a support staff, and interacting regularly with the client and
other consulting firms. This broad exposure to a variety of engineering and organizational
problems provided a valuable educational experience
Transition to turbulence in a qblique shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction at M=15
No full textDirect numerical simulations are carried out for different forcing techniques to trigger transition during the interaction between an oblique shock-wave and a laminar boundary-layer at M = 1.5. Three forcing methods are used: a) forcing of oblique unstable modes, whose shape and behaviour are determined by the local linear stability theory, b) broadband free-stream acoustic disturbances, and c) a cold plasma flow control device. While the oblique-mode breakdown is dominant for low-amplitude forcing, long streaky structures drive the transition process in a high-amplitude disturbance environment. LES are also performed on the experimental setup by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM) from Novosibirsk State University with cold plasma actuation. As well as the disturbance type, the effect of Reynolds number and forcing amplitude will be investigated
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