Higher Weight Reduction Research Articles

A novel gas-assisted microcellular injection molding method for preparing lightweight foams with superior surface appearance and enhanced mechanical performance

This paper proposed a novel gas-assisted microcellular injection molding (GAMIM) method by combining the gas-assisted injection molding (GAIM) with the microcellular injection molding (MIM). Firstly, under the assistance of the high-pressure gas from the GAIM, the amount of the polymer melt required for fully filling the mold cavity is reduced in the GAMIM compared with that in the MIM, thus leading to a high weight reduction of the foamed part. Secondly, the high-pressure assisted gas from the GAIM can dissolve all the cells generated in the melt filling stage back into the polymer melt, thus improving the molded part's surface appearance by eliminating the surface sliver marks. Thirdly, the secondary foaming process in a steady state triggered by releasing the high-pressure assisted gas makes the foamed part have a fine cellular structure and a compact solid skin layer, which can help to enhance the part's mechanical properties. In order to verify the effectiveness of the GAMIM, comparison experiments of the MIM and the GAMIM were conducted. The results demonstrate that the GAMIM can not only significantly increase the weight reduction, but also greatly improve the surface appearance and mechanical properties of the foamed part.

Effects of the herbicides benfluralin, metribuzin and propyzamide on the survival and weight of earthworms (Octodrilus complanatus)

Extended pesticide use might be of high risk for several non-target organisms like earthworms. Herbicides represent a major part of the total pesticides used; however, their effects on soil organisms have been only partially studied. The effects of the herbicides benfluralin, metribuzin and propyzamide at different rates on the survival and weight of earthworms (Octodrilus complanatus) were determined and compared in this study. Our results revealed significant effects of benfluralin, metribuzin and propyzamide on growth and survival of earthworms. Moreover, there was a significant effect of herbicide rate and time after treatment. For several herbicides, the highest weight reduction was obtained for double the recommended rate and was up to 70% compared to the untreated soil. This study highlights the importance of not exceeding the recommended rates of herbicides, while further studies in a range of conditions are certainly required.

Effect of Ultrasonic and Sonothermal Treatment on Weight Reduction and Particles Size Distribution of Raw Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Thetemperature rise during ultrasonic and sonothermal pretreatments had induced the volatilisationof wastewater prior to anaerobic digestion process. In this study,wastewater from palm oil mill which is known as raw palm oil mill effluent (POME) was exposed to ultrasonic irradiation by using an ultrasonic bath at the rate of 37 kHz. Effects ofultrasonic and sonothermaltreatments onphysical properties of raw POME as a result of the volatilisation process were investigated through these analyses: weight reduction, particle sizedistribution and Specific Surface Area (SSA). The weight reduction was observed to be increased by 39.05% after 6 hours ofultrasonic exposure due to volatilisation process in aqueous phase.The combined sonothermal at a temperature of 75oC resulted in the highest weight reduction, 19%, compared to lower sonothermal temperatures of 45oC, 55oC and 65oC after 1 hour treatment. Looking at particle size distributions after the treatment, the process reduce the Average Particle Size, D[4,3](or de Brouckere mean diameter) while making the SSAincrease, both rather significantly. However, there were slight increase observed in D[4,3] and areduction in SSA after 3 hours of ultrasonic treatment. This is mostly due to thereflocculation process during the ultrasonic treatment. In contrast, an hour ofsonothermaltreatment showed that the D[4,3] of raw POME continuously reduced as the temperature increase from 45oCto 75oC.

Improved Quality of Life after bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients. Interdisciplinary group of bariatric surgery of Verona (G.I.C.O.V.)

Our aim was to evaluate the changes of health-related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) after bariatric surgery. 110 patients, who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery (N=34 gastric banding; N= 69 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, N=7 sleeve gastrectomy), were evaluated before surgery and after an average of 36±13 months with SF-36 Health Survey. Mean preoperative age and body mass index (BMI) were 43±12 years and 45±7 kg/m2 respectively. At follow-up, mean BMI was 33±6 kg/m2. A significant improvement was observed for all dimensions of SF-36, except for General and Mental Health dimension. Satisfaction was greater in patients with the higher reduction in weight. Only the PF (Physical Functioning) domain (F=6,349, p=0.01) resulted a significant predictor of the weight lost after surgery independently of age, sex and type of surgery. We confirm a beneficial effect of bariatric surgery on HR-QoL. Moreover, we found that PF domain of SF-36 is a significant predictor of weight loss.

PDB2 - Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis to Assess the Relative Efficacy and Safety of Canagliflozin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Inadequately Controlled on Metformin and Sulphonylurea (MET+SU)

To assess the relative efficacy and safety of canagliflozin (CANA), a sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitor, as an add-on to MET+SU, versus DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists and insulin, using Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA). A systematic literature review was conducted according to NICE guidelines. Outcomes of interest included HbA1c, weight and hypoglycaemia. A Bayesian NMA using non-informative priors was conducted, based on linking trials with treatment and dose-specific common treatment arms. Assessment of model fit and selection of fixed versus random effects was based on the Deviance Information Criterion (DIC). Sensitivity analyses assessed the impact of individual trials and definition of priors. Consistency between direct and indirect evidence was assessed. Ten studies reporting results at 26 weeks +/- 4 weeks were identified. HbA1c-reduction (D) for CANA 100mg was comparable to DPP-4s (D between 0.05 and -0.14 versus sitagliptin and linagliptin respectively, with pairwise probabilities (P) of being more effective between 33-88%), and higher for CANA 300mg, which was comparable to GLP-1s (D=0.08;P=31% and 0.01;P=53%) versus liraglutide 1.8mg and exenatide 10µg respectively) and biphasic insulin (D=0.03;P=43%). CANA 300mg had the highest weight reduction with changes between 0.14kg;P=93% (vs. exenatide 10µg) and 5.13kg;P=100% (vs. biphasic insulin). The odds ratio for hypoglycaemia versus long-acting insulin were 0.31 and 0.39 for CANA 100mg and 300mg respectively, compared to 0.20-0.41 for other classes. NMA of add-on therapies to MET+SU suggests that glycaemic reductions for CANA at 26 weeks are at least as large for CANA 100 mg and greater for CANA 300 mg compared to DPP-4s. CANA 300mg was found to be comparable to liraglutide 1.8mg and biphasic insulin. Weight reduction was similar to GLP-1s and substantially higher compared to all other classes. All classes showed significantly lower hypoglycaemic event rates compared to insulin.

Effect of the Telephone-Delivered Nutrition Education on Dietary Intake and Biochemical Parameters in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome

As prevalence of metabolic syndrome has rapidly increased over the past decade, lifestyle changes including dietary habits are considered as a therapeutic cornerstone for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular complications and type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered nutrition education to improve metabolic parameters compared with a single-visit with a dietitian in subjects with metabolic syndrome. A total of seventy-one adults who met diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to either the single-visit group or the in-depth nutrition education group during a 3-month intervention study period. The in-depth telephone-delivered nutrition education group had an initial visit with a dietitian and additional two telephone counseling during the first 4 weeks of the study periods. Sixty-six subjects completed a 3-month intervention study. The trial examined participant's anthropometric changes and dietary intakes as well as changes in the metabolic syndrome factors. At the end of the trial, the in-depth nutrition education group showed significantly higher reduction in weight, body fat and abdominal circumference compared with the other group (p < 0.05). In the in-depth nutrition groups, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was decreased to 45.5%, while 69.7% of the subjects were metabolic syndrome patients in the single-visit group (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the telephone-intervention counseling is a feasible mean to deliver dietary intervention in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Evaluation of the sustainability of the Public Health Program "Slim without diet (Schlank ohne Diät)"

The prevalence of obesity and associated illnesses is continuously rising in industrialized countries. As a preventive measure, the Lower Austria Health Insurance Fund, together with the Institute of Social Medicine of the Medical University Vienna has launched the weight reduction program "Slim without Diet (SWD)". The Program's aim is to change the participants' eating and exercise habits. The methodical approach is to enhance the individual's self-control so that participants are able to identify, break, and modify false behavior patterns. During this project, the data from 4,053 individuals were descriptively evaluated by using the statistical program SPSS (Version 15). The scientifically recommended target group regarding Body Mass Index and age was reached and the weight reduction success rate is comparable to similar programs. Follow-up checks of the project carried out 6 and 12 months after the end of the intervention phase showed that participants were able to maintain an average weight loss of 4.26 kg compared to their weight at program-start. The participants who follow the therapy recommendations achieved significantly higher weight loss and weight reduction also correlates with the number of attended group sessions (p < 0.001). The attendance frequency at the follow-up checks, however, shows a decreasing tendency of up to 75 percent. The results show that there is need to develop new methods to increase motivation and compliance of the participants to achieve long-term success. A first trial in this direction was to implement an additional module - participants had the chance of ongoing contacts after the group sessions have finished. The results until now show that a possible participation in the follow-ups is not significantly affected by ongoing contacts.

Modelling Age Hardening CuCr1Zr Electrode Alloy Softening during Resistance Spot Welding

High strength zinc-coated steels are used for automotive applications when high corrosion resistance and weight reduction are required. Resistance spot welding is the main method to assembly auto body. Steel sheets are held together under pressure exerted by copper alloy electrodes which concentrate welding current and clamp the sheets together. But welding of high strength coated steels reduces the electrode life. Even if electrode deterioration is a well-known problem, the understanding and modelling of the complex deterioration modes at different regions of the electrode is still limited. Developing a comprehensive thermo-electrical-metallurgical-mechanical model that describes the sequential deterioration is thus lacking. This work is a preliminary study which specifically addresses microstructural evolution modelling in age hardened CuCr1Zr electrode alloy. Evolution of precipitation is simulated using two models: a Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kologoromov model and the Myhr and Grong model. In both cases a calibration procedure based on hardness data was involved. Short isothermal heat treatments were used to develop a ‘master curve’ which captures the precipitate evolution. Preliminary results about the comparison of the two models are presented.

Effect of Bt-176 maize pollen on first instar larvae of the Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) (Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae)

More than 10 years after registration of the first Bt maize cultivar in Europe, there still exists a remarkable lack of data on effects on Lepidoptera which would be necessary for a complete and comprehensive environmental risk assessment. So far only very few European butterfly species have been tested in this aspect. In our study the effect of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize pollen (event Bt-176) on the development and survival of neonate larvae of the Peacock butterfly, Inachis io (L.) was for the first time shown. The results of our study suggest that the Peacock butterfly may serve as a model organism for assessing potential side effects of new developed transgenic Bt crops on non-target butterflies in a GMO environmental risk assessment. The study was done under laboratory conditions by exposing larvae of the Peacock butterfly to various pollen doses of transgenic maize event Bt-176 (cv. PACTOL CB) or the conventional isogenic maize (cv. PACTOL) using a no-choice test. Larvae feeding for 48 h on nettle plants (Urtica dioica) that were contaminated with higher pollen concentrations from Bt-176 maize (205 and 388 applied pollen.cm⁻²) suffered a significantly higher mortality rate (68 and 85% respectively) compared to larvae feeding on leaves with no pollen (11%), or feeding on leaves with pollen from conventional maize (6 to 25%). At lower Bt maize pollen doses (23-104 applied pollen.cm⁻²),mortality ranged from 11-25% and there were no apparent differences among treatments. The corresponding LC₅₀-and LC₉₀-values for neonate larvae of the Peacock butterfly were 187 and 448 applied pollen grains.cm⁻² of Bt-176, respectively.Weight of larvae surviving consumption of Bt-176 maize pollen declined between 10 and 81% with increased pollen doses (r = -0.95). The highest weight reduction (81%) corresponded to the highest pollen concentration (388 pollen grains applied.cm⁻²). Ingestion of pollen from the conventional maize hybrid did not have negative effects on larval weight gain or survival rate.

Tratamiento farmacológico o quirúrgico del paciente con sobrepeso u obesidad

This is an updated review of the available treatments for obesity, which can be used when lifestyles modifications fail. Using the available information and the experience of the members of this advisory group, a recommendation is given about the most useful treatments, according to the severity of obesity and its complications. With regards to pharmacological treatments, only sibutramine and orlistat are approved on a worldwide basis for the treatment of obesity. These medications achieve a 10% higher weight reduction than lifestyles modification. A third medication, rimonobant, is also more effective than lifestyles modifications, but it was withdrawn due to psychological safety issues. The indications for surgical treatment and a brief description of the available techniques, success rates and complications are outlined. Finally, the need to have followed up protocols for patients and the formation of multidisciplinary treatment teams is underscored.

Statement about the medical and surgical treatment of overweight and obesity

This is an updated review of the available treatments for obesity, which can be used when lifestyles modifications fail. Using the available information and the experience of the members of this advisory group, a recommendation is given about the most useful treatments, according to the severity of obesity and its complications. With regards to pharmacological treatments, only sibutramine and orlistat are approved on a worldwide basis for the treatment of obesity. These medications achieve a 10% higher weight reduction than lifestyles modification. A third medication, rimonobant, is also more effective than lifestyles modifications, but it was withdrawn due to psychological safety issues. The indications for surgical treatment and a brief description of the available techniques, success rates and complications are outlined. Finally, the need to have followed up protocols for patients and the formation of multidisciplinary treatment teams is underscored.

Degradation of the seaweed wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by a composting process with the inoculation of Bacillus sp. HR6.

Disposal of the seaweed wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by inoculating the halotolerant bacterium Bacillus sp. HR6 was examined in an experimental scale composting system. Strain HR6 was effective in initiating the composting process of wakame, and there was a rapid increase in temperature to over 54.9-55.7 degrees C after 18-20 h. The composting process of wakame could be carried out despite a high NaCl content, 28.2 mg/g, although lower salinity resulted in a shorter lag time and higher weight reduction. In a larger scale composting process with aeration, two peaks of temperature change were found which corresponded well to oxygen consumption and CO2 emission during the process. The pH increased to 8.83 and organic materials were reduced to 93.4% after 72 h. The initial N and C contents were 3.9 and 34.0%, respectively, both of which decreased during the composting process. The changes in the viable cell numbers suggested that strain HR6 predominated before 24 h and other microorganisms including HR6 were present in a mixed state during the later period of composting. The total content of alginate (TA), 32.2% in the initial stage, decreased to 29.2% after 72 h, while water soluble alginate (WSA) increased, indicating that the solubilization and decomposition of alginate had occurred during the composting process.

Sensor Coil Influence on the Two-dimensional Magnetic Property Measurements

Recently, two-dimensional vector magnetic measurements have become popular and many researchers have been trying to develop a more accurate measuring system and a standard measurement device. In development of high-efficiency actuators, use of high magnetic flux density designs can assist high torque, weight reduction and size down. It is therefore very important to understand the magnetic properties under high magnetic flux conditions in the electric steel sheets. However, there are still some difficulties in the measurements, due to nonlinearity and anisotropy of magnetic materials. The measured magnetic power losses of the clockwise and counter-clockwise rotating fields become different for magnetic flux density over 1.2 T and the value in counter-clockwise case sometimes became negative. It can be considered that angle errors of H and B-coils are the main reasons of the measurement errors. In this paper, the angle errors of the double B-coil (search coils) and the double H-coil (cross-type H-coil) are evaluated with a calibration device, which consists of a special solenoid coil and a high-precision turntable. The magnetic properties are compensated with the measured angle errors.

Contribuição da intervenção nutricional no tratamento da hipertensão arterial: experiência de uma equipe interdisciplinar

Avaliamos a contribuição da dieta sobre peso, pressão arterial (PA), aderência ao tratamento e qualidade de vida (QV) nos pacientes dos programas de hipertensão e de diabetes acompanhados por equipe interdisciplinar em unidade primária de saúde. Estudamos 116 pacientes, com idades entre 20 e 65 anos, por seis meses e aplicamos questionários padronizados para avaliar QV e aderência ao tratamento. Foram analisados sexo, diagnóstico, atividade física, faixa etária, índice de massa corporal, consumo alimentar e variação (DP) entre peso inicial (Pi) e final (Pf) de toda a amostra, dos obesos, daqueles que aderiram ou não ao tratamento e dos que controlaram ou não a PA. Utilizamos teste Mann Whitney para comparações entre subgrupos e, para dados seqüenciais, teste de Dunn (p &lt; 0,05 exigido). Foi feita análise multivariada, comparando escores de QV com idade, Pf, peso relativo [(Pf / Pi ) x 100] e DP. Foi estudado um grupo de 65 mulheres e 51 homens, predominantemente entre 45 e 64 anos, com hipertensão (33,7%), diabetes mellitus (8,6%) ou ambos (57,7%). Dentre os analisados, 81% eram sedentários; 52,5% consumiam frutas e 45,6%, vegetais, diariamente. O índice de massa corporal encontrado foi 29,34 + 5,22 kg/m², maior entre os de 45 a 54 anos (30,71+5,5kg/m²). Houve redução significativa do peso (p &lt; 0,0001) nos obesos (42,24%) e nos que controlaram a pressão. Entre os que aderiram à dieta e aos exercícios físicos ocorreu maior queda de peso. Não houve associação importante entre escores de QV e resposta ponderal. Consideramos que a abordagem dietética em um modelo de serviço interdisciplinar contribuiu de modo eficaz para a melhora dos pacientes hipertensos e diabéticos tratados em unidade primária de saúde.

Effects of different weight loss protocols on serum leptin levels in obese females.

We investigated the effects of different weight loss protocols on leptin levels in obese females with the aim of addressing the leptin resistance which has been found to be an aggravating factor in obesity. Twenty-four obese females enrolled to one of three 12-week weight loss protocols: orlistat-induced weight loss (OWL, n=8), exercise-induced weight loss (EWL, n=8) and orlistat plus exercise-induced weight loss (OEWL, n=8). Serum leptin levels were measured in duplicate by radioimmunoassay. There were significant reductions (P<0.01) in body weight and fat mass after the 12 week period in all groups: -11.4+/-0.5 kg and -9.8+/-0.5 kg (OEWL), -8.3+/-0.8 kg and -5.7+/-0.9 kg (OWL), -8.9+/-1.2 kg and -7.4+/-1.2 kg (EWL), respectively. Serum leptin levels were also decreased markedly in all groups: -59.2 % (OEWL1), -37.8 % (OWL) and -48.6 % (EWL) (P<0.01 all). In addition, there were marked decreases in leptin levels for each kilogram of fat mass after the 12 week period: -48.2+/-7.2 % (OEWL), -27.8+/-4.8 % (OWL) and -39.3+/-4.3 % (EWL) (P<0.01 all). Decreases in serum leptin levels expressed per kilogram of fat mass were significantly higher in the OEWL group compared to the OWL group (P=0.03). Consequently, an exercise training program in adjunct to pharmacotherapy provides higher weight reduction and fat mass loss in obesity treatment. It also seems to have further beneficial effects on leptin resistance, as indicated by decreases in leptin levels expressed per kilogram of fat mass.

Adverse effects of energy restriction on myogenic enzymes in judoists

In this study, we examined the effects of weight reduction by restricting energy intake on muscle function and serum concentrations of myogenic enzymes in judoists. Twenty-seven male judoists aged 19.3±0.6 years (mean±s) were divided into three groups based on the extent of body weight reduction: high weight reduction (height 1.70±0.05 m, body mass 78.5 ±13.6 kg), low weight reduction (height 1.70±0.05 m, body mass 80.7±13.1 kg) and a group that maintained body weight while continuing to perform exercise training (height 1.78± 0.07 m, body mass 78.7±8.8 kg). Body composition, blood biochemistry, energy intake and anaerobic power were assessed on four occasions: 20 days (baseline data), 4 days and 1 day before and 7 days after competition. Compared with baseline, body mass and fat-free mass were significantly lower 1 day before competition in the high and low weight reduction groups (both P <0.01); these changes persisted for 7 days after competition in the high weight reduction group. Serum creatine kinase was significantly elevated 1 day before competition in all groups (all P <0.05), and remained higher 7 days after competition in both the high and low weight reduction groups. Compared with baseline, maximal anaerobic power was significantly lower 1 day before competition only in the high weight reduction group (P <0.01). Our results suggest that energy restriction in addition to intense exercise training before major competition has an adverse effect on anaerobic power and elevates serum creatine kinase concentration, leading to an impairment of muscular function and an increased susceptibility of muscle tissue to injury.

The effect of the weight reduction on the salivary cortisol levels of judo players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of weight reduction prior to a competition on the salivary cortisol level for first-rate judo players. Subjects were divided into three groups by the weight reduction rate. On the day before the competition, the cortisol levels of the low- and high-weight reduction group showed a tendency to decrease and were significantly lower than that of the non-weight reduction group (p<0.05). However, with regard to the change in the stress indices, there was a difference between the high- and low-weight reduction groups. In the high-weight reduction group alone, there was a significant increase in the stress indices on the day before the competition (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the HPA axis is affected during the relatively early stage of weight reduction and mental stress is increased at the higher weight reduction rate.

Recent trends in structural design of ultra-light refrigerated semitrailers

The need for weight reduction has recently motivated the use of better steels to produce lighter chassis in semitrailers lorries, and the resulting chassis are also inevitably more flexible. On the other hand, body structures are made with improved composite materials, so that the weight reduction often corresponds to an increase in rigidity. The combination of these two changes has made the chassis-body ensemble design more complex than it used to be when chassis were extremely rigid, so that there was no major interaction in their structural behaviour with the bodies, and 'beam theory' (or at most 'plate theory') was more than sufficient to design safely. Here a structural analysis using the Finite Element Method (FEM) is presented, using examples with different chassis with a particular composite material body. The distribution of loads between body and chassis and the amount of structural coupling have been determined when the stiffness of the chassis is reduced. It is found that safe ultra-light designs can be achieved only with a detailed investigation of the stresses acting on the fasteners in the fifth wheel zone. Within such limits, very high global weight reduction can be achieved, with evident advantages for the payload, and at the same time increased safety margins.

Influence of sugar composition and air dehydration levels on the chemical-physical characteristics of osmodehydrofrozen fruit

Osmodehydrofreezing, a ’combined” process where osmotic dehydration is followed by air dehydration and freezing, has been proposed to prepare reduced-moisture fruit ingredients, free of preservatives, with a natural and agreeable flavour, colour and texture, and with functional properties suitable for different applications. The influences of syrup composition and air dehydration level on the chemical-physical properties of osmodehydrofrozen apricot and clingstone peach were studied. The presence in the syrup of sorbitol, known as a humectant, produced a lower solid gain, a higher weight reduction and a lower consistency in osmodehydrated apricot and peach cubes. The use of this sugaralcohol, in addition to other sugars as osmotic agents, could lead to fruit products with good rehydratability properties to be used as ingredients in bakery products, ice cream or yoghurt.

Retention of some radionuclides in furnace lining during incineration of radioactive wastes

The incineration is one of the widely used method for treatment of solid radioactive wastes. The high volume and weight reduction coefficient (100–150 respectively 10–15) are advantages of this method. The greater part of radionuclides from solid radioactive wastes is retained in ash. From point of view of workers external irradiation, the radionuclides accumulation in furnace lining is one of risk factors. The Kalinit ŽO 1200 is furnace lining material on NPPRIs Experimental Incineration facility. In the first step the sorption properties of this material from137Cs,60Co,54Mn,65Zn solutions were studied. The best results had60Co, its distribution coefficient was 7036 kg · dm−3. Cesium-137 was not absorbed on this material. The cylinders (height 5 cm, diameter 2 cm) from lining materials were made latest and were applicated inside the furnace and technological tract to study sorption properties from combustion gases. The penetration of radionuclide into lining material was studied too. The results obtained with this experiments are described in this paper.