3,546 research outputs found
Energy requirements of adults.
No full textOBJECTIVES: To describe issues related to energy requirements of free living adults and discuss the importance of basal metabolic rate (BMR) and their relationships to total energy expenditure (TEE ) and physical activity level (PAL, derived as TEE/BMR) and to determine the influence of body weight, height, age and sex. DESIGN: Based on a review of the literature, this paper examines the variability in BMR due to methodology, ethnicity, migration and adaptation (both metabolic and behavioural) due to changes in nutritional status. Collates and compiles data on measurements of TEE in free living healthy adults, to arrive at limits and to compare TEE of populations with different life-styles. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The constancy of BMR and its validity as a reliable predictor of TEE in adults as well as the validity of PAL as an index of TEE adjusted for BMR and thus its use to categorise the physical activity pattern and lifestyle of an individual was confirmed. The limits of human daily energy expenditure at around 1.2 x BMR and 4.5 x BMR based on measurements made in free living adults have been reported in the literature. A large and robust database now exists of energy expenditure measurements obtained by the doubly labelled water method in the scientific literature and the data shows that, in general, levels of energy expenditure are similar to the recommendations for energy requirements adopted by FAO/WHO/UNU (1985). The review also confirms that metabolic adaptation to energy restriction is not an important factor that needs to be considered when recommending energy requirements for adults in developing countries
Wavelength tunable 10-GHz 3-ps pulse source using a dispersion decreasing fiber-based nonlinear optical loop mirror
No full textWe experimentally demonstrate the use of a dispersion decreasing fiber (DDF)-based nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) for the generation of wavelength tunable soliton-like pulses at a repetition rate of 10 GHz. We compress ~12 ps Gaussian pulses from an electro-absorption modulator (EAM) (followed by 125 m of DCF for preliminary linear dispersion compensation) into 3 ps pedestal-free pulses using both high-order soliton compression and nonlinear switching effects within an 8.5 km DDF-based loop mirror. The output pulses from the DDF-based NOLM show considerable pedestal reduction compared to those obtained by directly compressing the EAM seed pulses via a single passage through the DDF. Wavelength tuning of the compressed pulses over a ~15 nm bandwidth (from 1541 to 1556 nm) is demonstrated without a significant increase in pulse duration or degradation in pulse quality
Determinants and consequences of obesity in adult Kuwaiti females.
No full textFrom the early fifties, the economic upheaval created by the oil boom brought rapid
changes in the traditional life style of the Kuwaiti people that resulted in a more
sedentary lifestyle with high food availability and overnutrition. This led to an
increase in overweight and obesity, which has become a major public health problem.
A representative random sample of 324 adult Kuwaiti females aged 20-60 years were
selected in a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of obesity, its
characteristics, determinants, contributing factors, and relation to other co-morbidity.
The sample was drawn from health centre registration files between May 1996 to
October 1997. Data was collected by using: a semi-structured questionnaire,
anthropometric measurements, and biochemical analysis of blood samples.
Thirty-nine percent of the participants were in the 30-39 year age group, 73% were
married, and 56% were at the medium level of education. Fifty-six percent of the
participants had a BMI ::: 30.0 and the lean BMI was 32.0. Of these, 56% had a
medium level of education, 58% were working and 77% were married. The mean
WHR and we were 0.87 and 96 cm respectively and there was linear relationship
between we and age as well as maternal characteristics. Body fat was positively
associated with age, BMI, waist circumference, and WHR. Eighty-five percent of
those in 20.:.29, 87% of those in the 30-39 and 98% of the 40+ age group had more
than 33% of their body weight as fat. Thirty-one percent of the participants had
arthritis, 25% had hypertension, and 18% had diabetes mellitus. A quarter of the
participants had borderline high, and 15% had high levels of serum cholesterol. Of
these, over 60% had BMI ::: 30.0. Twenty-three percent had high LDL, 9% had low
HDL, and 3% high levels of serum triglycerides.
Multivariate analysis have shown that, after controlling for all the variables, that
increase in age and returning to pre-pregnancy weight were the main independent
contributing factors to the risk of obesity.
Almost half the participants underestimated their weight status, and only 28%
considered their actual weight to be appropriate for them. Furthermore, 61 % of the
participants reported that they thought that their husbands would categorise their
weight into categories less than their actual weight categories
Prevalence and determinants of obesity among adolescents in Bahrain
No full textOver the last 30 years
Bahrain has
witnessed
remarkable
economic
growth and
social
development. This
has
resulted
in tremendous
changes
in the
dietary
habits
and
lifestyle of the population and consequently increased
levels
of
obesity.
A
cross-sectional study involving a
representative
sample of
506
Bahraini
adolescents
(249
males and 257 females), aged
12 to
17
years,
was
carried out to
estimate the
prevalence of obesity, its
contributing
factors
and
relationship to the
risk of
developing high blood
pressure.
The
sample was selected, using a multi-stage
random sampling technique, from
intermediate
and secondary schools
in
Bahrain.
Data was collected using anthropometric
measurements,
blood
pressure measurement
and a self-administered questionnaire.
A
separate case control study, which included
a sample of obese
and non-obese
adolescents, was
carried out to investigate the
relationship between adolescents'
obesity and the family
environment.
Twenty one percent
of the
male and
35%
of the female
participants were obese using
the WHO criteria
for
obesity
in
adolescents.
A
distinct
sexual
dimorphism
in
the
accumulation of body fat during
adolescence was
observed.
Thirty two
percent
of the
boys and 60% of
the
girls
had
a percentage
body fat
at or exceeding the
high-risk
threshold for fatness, according
to the
currently
accepted criteria.
Systolic blood
pressure, waist circumference
and waist-hip
ratio were all positively associated with
body fatness. Multivariate analysis
showed
that
higher levels
of mother's
education,
frequent snacking
and
distress
eating were
all
independent factors
associated with an
increased risk of obesity.
Factors
associated with
a reduced risk of
obesity included
playing sport outside school, walking
or
cycling to
school and eating
meals
with the
family. Among the family
environment
variables,
parental
obesity and
history
of
diabetes; mother's
lifestyle
variables,
namely
physical
exercise
and
hours
of
television viewing,
were
all
found to
be independently
related
to
risk of obesity
in the
Bahraini teenagers.
Mother's
degree
of control
over child's
eating was strongly and
indirectly related to risk
of
obesity
in the
adolescents.
Breastfeeding,
birthweight
and
availability and accessibility
of
high
calorie
foods
in the
house
did
not
appear to
be
associated with adolescents' obesity.
Eighteen
percent
of
boys
and
10%
of girls
had high blood pressure.
BMI,
percent
body fat
and
waist
circumference
were
all
significantly and positively
associated
with
a risk
of
having
elevated
blood
pressure.
Approximately 30% of the
adolescents
underestimated their
current
weight and
about
40% thought that their
parents/peers
would
consider them to
be leaner than they
actually were. More than
half
of the
girls
and about
one third
of the
boys
expressed
discontent with their current
body
weight.
Lifestyle changes and
nutrition transition
associated
with economic
development in
Bahrain has increased risk of
obesity among adolescents, a characteristic
now
evident in most countries
in the
Arab
Gulf
Region.
This
study provides an insight
into the various determinants of this
epidemic and will
help to initiate
public
health
strategies to deal with
this increasing
burden
on
health in the
region
Nutrition transition in India.
No full textOBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this review is to examine the demographic and nutrition transition in India in relation to its contribution to the emerging epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases in this country. SETTING: India, the country as a whole and its different states with a population exceeding 1 billion in 2001. SUBJECTS: The review examines demographic changes in the population with consequent effects on the population pyramid, the rapidity and rates of urbanisation with striking variations in chronic disease patterns and the trends in obesity between rural and urban communities, attempting to relate their prevalence with the diet and lifestyle changes accompanying them. DESIGN: The review is based largely on representative large-scale surveys in the country and other reliable documented data on population characteristics. It also includes a review of the published literature. RESULTS: The results indicate that the demographic changes, rates of urbanisation and changes in dietary patterns are contributing to the changing trends in chronic disease in India. CONCLUSIONS: There is clear evidence of a demographic, epidemiological and nutrition transition in India that is fuelling the epidemic of chronic diseases and obesity, particularly in the urban areas
Thermography in posterior scleritis
No full text
A. Kawali, S. Sanjay, P. Mahendradas, R. Shetty
Narayana Nethralaya Eye Hospital, Bangalore, India
Aim: to evaluate the utility of thermography in posterior scleritis (PS).
Patients and Methods: this prospective observational case-control study included 6 patients with monolateral PS (study group) and 10 healthy volunteers (control group). Ocular surface temperature (OST) was measured in all participants using a non-contact thermal camera (FLIRTM) integrated onto a smartphone (CAT S 60). The difference in OST between the affected eye and the healthy (fellow) eye on thermograms (Δt)
was measured at each visit in both groups. Maximum (ΔtMax) and minimum (ΔtMin) Δt for each eye as well as the amplitude of fluctuations (ampΔt) referred to as the difference between ΔtMax and ΔtMin were calculated for each eye. AmpΔt was compared between the groups.
Results: in a total of 6 PS patients, B-scan ultrasonography revealed the thickening of the posterior sclera. Choroidal folds (n=4), internal limiting membrane fold (n=2), subretinal fluid (n=3), and optic disc edema (n=2) were identified by eye fundus exam. At presentation, Δt was maximum in all PS patients and reduced unequally after starting treatment. Mean ampΔt was 1.21 °C (1.47–1.04 °C) in PS group and 0.44 °C (0.13–0.63 °C) in the control group. 3 out 6 PS patients were diagnosed with recurrences as demonstrated by OST spikes compared to previous measurements.
Conclusion: this article describes a novel technique of the measurement and monitoring of OST. It was demonstrated that PS is associated with the increase in OST measured by thermography. Further large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the potentialities of thermography for detecting occult or subclinical intraocular inflammation.
Keywords: ocular thermography, posterior scleritis, ocular surface temperature, eye temperature, occult inflammation.
For citation: Kawali A., Sanjay S., Mahendradas P., Shetty R. Thermography in posterior scleritis. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2020;20(4):204–208. DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2020-20-4-204-208.
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Player agency in interactive narrative: audience, actor & author
No full textThe question motivating this review paper is, how can
computer-based interactive narrative be used as a constructivist learn-
ing activity? The paper proposes that player agency can be used to
link interactive narrative to learner agency in constructivist theory,
and to classify approaches to interactive narrative. The traditional
question driving research in interactive narrative is, ‘how can an in-
teractive narrative deal with a high degree of player agency, while
maintaining a coherent and well-formed narrative?’ This question
derives from an Aristotelian approach to interactive narrative that,
as the question shows, is inherently antagonistic to player agency.
Within this approach, player agency must be restricted and manip-
ulated to maintain the narrative. Two alternative approaches based
on Brecht’s Epic Theatre and Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed are
reviewed. If a Boalian approach to interactive narrative is taken the
conflict between narrative and player agency dissolves. The question
that emerges from this approach is quite different from the traditional
question above, and presents a more useful approach to applying in-
teractive narrative as a constructivist learning activity
Charisma and Spirituality in the Early Church: A Study of Messalianism and Pseudo-Macarius
No full textThe thesis is an investigation into the concept of Charisma and Spirituality in the Early Church with particular emphasis upon the writings of Ps-Macarius, and of a group of ascetics known as the Messalians, evident in the late fourth / early fifth centuries. The Macarian writings are
examined to see what they reveal about the experiential pneumatic theology of the Early Church, the relationship between Syrian and Hellenic traditions of Christian Rhetoric, and the relationship between Ps-Macarius and the Cappadocian Circle. The Macarian corpus as a whole is examined to assess its rhetorical influences and style. The rhetoric of the Macarian corpus is seen to illustrate a high degree of sophistication. This study also gives definition to two terms that have become imprecise and diverse in their use: 'enkrateia' (self-control), and
`Syrian Christianity'. By isolating the characteristics of enkratefa the definitive stages of an encratic lifestyle are identified. The breaking down of the term into enkrateia, radical enkrateta and exclusive enkrateta enables a much clearer discussion to take place as to the
nature of the encratic theology of a group or individual. The final element of this study is a consideration of the distinct Macarian imagery that is evident within the corpus. Two images are considered in detail, the 'flight of the soul' and 'sober intoxication'. Overall this study
shows the variety of influences upon Ps-Macarius, and the uniqueness of his expression. The influences upon Ps-Macarius include a context of endemic Syrian spirituality, a radical encratic lifestyle, a Hellenic rhetorical training, and a distinct interpretation of Platonic and Neo-
Platonic images, coupled to the wider Judaic / Mesopotamian influences of his Church. It is shown that Ps-Macarius represents an individual voice that is distinct and recognisable amongst the Fathers of the Church
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