Weight Loss Process Research Articles

Solution blow spinning: parameters optimization and effects on the properties of nanofibers from poly(lactic acid)/dimethyl carbonate solutions

Solution blow spinning (SBS) is a process to produce non-woven fiber sheets with high porosity and an extremely large amount of surface area. In this study, a Box–Behnken experimental design (BBD) was used to optimize the processing parameters for the production of nanofibers from polymer solutions consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) dissolved in dimethyl carbonate. In addition, a comparative study between SBS fibers and cast film was performed to verify the influence of the SBS process on the crystallinity and thermal properties of PLA. The PLA concentration in polymer solutions was the most significant parameter affecting fiber diameter. The BBD analysis revealed that small diameter fibers were best obtained by a combination of 8 % w/v PLA concentration, 80 psi air pressure, and a feed rate of 50 µL min−1. The comparative study showed that both the SBS and the film casting processes increased the PLA crystallinity. However, the PLA films had a higher degree of crystallinity compared with the fibers made by the SBS process (39 and 17 %, respectively), which was attributed to the high shear created at the SBS nozzle inducing orientation and chain alignment. During the fiber formation, crystals formed with varied morphology including the α′-crystals, which have a less ordered structure and lower thermal stability compared to the α-crystals. The lower thermal stability of SBS fibers compared to the films can be explained by the lower degree of crystallinity and also by the higher surface area which can accelerate the weight loss process.

Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes: The Effects of Mismatches in Social Support and Health Outcomes in an Online Weight Loss Community

The United States has the highest rate of obesity in the world. To help address this problem, social support is gaining credence as a powerful tool to facilitate weight loss because it can affect individuals’ behavior. Social support thus has been the focus of a significant amount of research, which has provided support for its effectiveness. In this study, however, we argue that social support may not always lead to good outcomes. Specifically, we differentiate support providers and support seekers, and examine whether the balance of needed and received social support affects individuals’ weight loss outcomes. By analyzing a group of individuals participating in an online weight loss community, we found that the adequacy of social support has a distinguishable impact on individuals’ weight change. In particular, overprovision (receiving more support than is desired) and underprovision (receiving less support than is desired) resulted in differentiable health outcomes. In addition, by categorizing social support into different types, we found evidence suggesting that the match between the types of social support requested and provided also influenced individuals’ performance in the weight loss process. These findings have implications for maximizing the usefulness of social support for participants in the online environment as well as for clinicians who refer individuals to online weight loss communities and those who design them.

Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane/Ammonium Perchlorate

The thermal decomposition kinetics of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane/ ammonium perchlorate (HNIW/AP) have been investigated by thermogravimetry- differential scanning calorimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-DSC-MS) simultaneous analysis. TG showed that there were three weight loss processes for the thermal decomposition of the HNIW/AP mixture. The first was ascribed mainly to the thermal decomposition of HNIW, while the second and third were assigned to that of AP. The presence of AP has little effect on the thermal decomposition process of the HNIW component. The apparent activation energy of the thermal decomposition of the HNIW component, calculated by the Kissinger method, was little changed compared to that of neat HNIW. The addition of HNIW to AP caused the onset and end temperatures of the thermal decomposition to be decreased and the decomposition process to be shortened. The high-temperature and low- temperature decomposition processes of AP became blurred in the presence of HNIW, and this was supported by the MS results.

THE EFFECT OF GARCINIA CAMBOGIA AS COADJUVANT IN THE WEIGHT LOSS PROCESS.

due to the significant increase in the obesity rate in recent years, public health has been facing in many countries of the world, one of the major problems caused by this disease. Because of this, natural products arise, herbal, to assist in the treatment of obesity due to their safer effects. Among these, stands out the extract obtained from dried fruits of Garcinia Cambogia (GC), which has been studied and used as a natural supplement for weight loss. to investigate the GC administration as a coadjuvant factor in the treatment of obesity regarding to its effectiveness, way of action, recommended daily amount, side effects and contraindications, as a way of food and nutritional security for the population. literature review. There were consulted the database of LILACS-BIREME data, SciELO and MEDLINE and there were selected scientific articles published in English, Portuguese and Spanish, between the period of 2007 and 2014 that conducted studies involving the administration of the GC as a way of treatment for obesity. The descriptors used for research articles in the databases were the following: Garcinia Cambogia in Portuguese, and in English the terms used were "Garcinia Cambogia", "weight loss and obesity", and "Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)"; this last one is not a descriptor indexed in Decs, but given the importance of this term for the search, it was adopted as a keyword. Thirty-four articles were identified, but only 21 were related to the objectives of this study. The first analysis of the articles was conducted by the title and then by the summary. In addition, 17 references were included because of their relevance to the study. in some analyzed works, there was observed that the GC showed positive effects on weight loss process, appetite reduction, body fat percentage, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose levels, lipogenesis process, while others had no effect. studies suggest positive results about the effectiveness of the GC on the weight loss process. However, the ideal dosage has not been well established yet. There is little evidence of adverse effects and signs of protective effect against hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol. Therefore, it becomes necessary to carry out further studies to confirm the efficacy of this phytotherapy in the weight loss process.

English

The peel of passion fruit has interesting properties, mainly as a source of dietary fiber, but there are few studies concerning the use of this portion of the fruit. This work aimed to evaluate the use of passion fruit peel to obtain flour through the characterization of the physicochemical properties of the peel of fresh passion fruit and subjected to drying process. Subsequently, the samples underwent weight loss process and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We evaluated the moisture content, dry matter, crude protein and ash, lipids, water activity, instrumental color parameters, absorption rate in milk, the solubility rate in milk, absorption rate in milk drink, rate solubility milk drink, the mathematical modeling of mass loss and scanning electron microscopy to passion fruit peel flour. The quantification of chemical and physical characteristics indicated that the flour may have potential for use in dairy beverages. The considerable concentration of fiber, especially insoluble fiber which obtained value of 23.70%, supposes that this flour can be studied for use in enrichment of food products. Fiber analysis confirmed the presence of this material and SEM showed that the starch can be degraded by drying and lipid extraction. The peel of the passion fruit can be reused by flour production which indicates that fruit has potential for products enrichment.   Key words: Passion fruit, prebiotic, solubility, color, drying. &nbsp

Food Price Spikes Are Associated with Increased Malnutrition among Children in Andhra Pradesh, India1–3

Background: Global food prices have risen sharply since 2007. The impact of food price spikes on the risk of malnutrition in children is not well understood.Objective: We investigated the associations between food price spikes and childhood malnutrition in Andhra Pradesh, one of India's largest states, with >85 million people. Because wasting (thinness) indicates in most cases a recent and severe process of weight loss that is often associated with acute food shortage, we tested the hypothesis that the escalating prices of rice, legumes, eggs, and other staples of Indian diets significantly increased the risk of wasting (weight-for-height z scores) in children.Methods: We studied periods before (2006) and directly after (2009) India's food price spikes with the use of the Young Lives longitudinal cohort of 1918 children in Andhra Pradesh linked to food price data from the National Sample Survey Office. Two-stage least squares instrumental variable models assessed the relation of food price changes to food consumption and wasting prevalence (weight-for-height z scores).Results: Before the 2007 food price spike, wasting prevalence fell from 19.4% in 2002 to 18.8% in 2006. Coinciding with India's escalating food prices, wasting increased significantly to 28.0% in 2009. These increases were concentrated among low- (χ2: 21.6, P < 0.001) and middle- (χ2: 25.9, P < 0.001) income groups, but not among high-income groups (χ2: 3.08, P = 0.079). Each 10.0 rupee ($0.170) increase in the price of rice/kg was associated with a drop in child-level rice consumption of 73.0 g/d (β: −7.30; 95% CI: −10.5, −3.90). Correspondingly, lower rice consumption was significantly associated with lower weight-for-height z scores (i.e., wasting) by 0.005 (95% CI: 0.001, 0.008), as seen with most other food categories.Conclusion: Rising food prices were associated with an increased risk of malnutrition among children in India. Policies to help ensure the affordability of food in the context of economic growth are likely critical for promoting children's nutrition.

Thermal Degradation Behavior of Composites with Liquid Crystalline Epoxy and Aluminum Nitride

Liquid crystalline epoxy, 4,4’-Diglycidyloxy-α-methylstilbene (DOMS) was synthesized and Aluminum Nitride reinforced DOMS composites were fabricated by melt blending with sulfanilamide (SAA) as a curing agent. Thermal degradation behavior was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under nitrogen atmosphere at the temperature range from 30 to 1000°C. Activation energies for decomposition (Ed) by TGA were determined as a function of conversion by weight loss process.

Lithium-doped PEO—a prospective solid electrolyte with high ionic conductivity, developed using n-Butyllithium in hexane as dopant

The present work is an effort to study the effects of Li doping on the structural and transport properties of the solid polymer electrolyte, poly-ethelene oxide (PEO) (molecular weight, 200,000). Li-doped PEO was synthesized by treating PEO with n-Butyllithium in hexane for different doping concentrations. It is seen that the crystallinity of the doped PEO decreases on increasing the Li doping concentration and XRD and FTIR studies support this observation. FESEM images give better details of surface morphology of doped PEO samples. The TGA curves of PEO and Li-doped PEO samples reveal the weight loss region, and it is observed that the weight loss process of the solid polymer electrolyte is gradual rather than abrupt, contrary to the case of liquid electrolytes. The purity and the electrochemical stability of the samples were established by cyclic voltammetry studies. Impedance measurements were carried out to estimate the ionic conductivity of Li-doped PEO samples. The present value of ionic conductivity observed at room temperature in Li-doped PEO is about five orders higher than that of pure PEO and is quite close to that of liquid electrolytes. It is inferred that, ionic conductivity of the sample is increasing on increasing the Li doping concentration due to enhanced charge carrier density and flexibility of the doped sample structure. The ionic mobility and ionic transport are significantly improved by the less crystallinity and higher flexibility of the Li-doped PEO samples which in turn are responsible for the enhanced ionic conductivity observed.

Weight loss experiences of obese perimenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

To develop a descriptive theory for the weight loss experiences of obese perimenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. Obesity and metabolic syndrome both pose a threat to the health of perimenopausal women; therefore, understanding perimenopausal women's subjective feelings and experiences is beneficial to establishing effective prevention strategies. However, studies have rarely explored these relevant experiences. A qualitative study using the grounded theory method to establish a descriptive theory. Eighteen obese perimenopausal women with metabolic syndrome aged 45-60 years participated in comprehensive interviews. 'Crossing the gaps to making life modifications' was the core category, and 'the awareness of weight gain and health alarm' was the antecedent condition. In the weight loss experience, the following three interaction categories were identified: (1) 'experiencing bad feelings,' (2) 'encountering obstacles' and (3) 'making efforts to transition to a new life.' Some women adhered to new life habits through perceiving social support and by using self-incentives. Finally, women enjoyed and mastered self-monitoring of their health in their new life, and practiced new changes as part of their life. However, some participants felt that making changes to their life was too time-consuming. Therefore, these women chose to live with their abnormal health without making changes. Obese perimenopausal women with metabolic syndrome experienced various gaps in their weight loss process. Although they struggled with many obstacles, these women were able to learn from their experiences and face their health challenges. These findings can guide healthcare professionals to provide appropriate interventions to understand the hidden health problems of this particular group of women. Healthcare professionals should develop a set of plans by which women receive a complete weight loss program and support from professionals and family.

Further Study on Ash Deposits in a Large-Scale Wastewater Incineration Plant: Ash Fusion Characteristics and Kinetics

Ash deposition and fusion during the incineration of high-concentration organic wastewater rich in salt is complicated by various issues, resulting in severe operational problems, such as fouling, slagging, and even unscheduled shutdown. The fusion characteristics and melting kinetics of ash samples collected from an industrial-scale wastewater incineration plant were determined by ash fusion temperature tests, simultaneous thermal analysis, and X-ray powder diffractometry. The results showed that the ash fusion characteristics depended upon not only ash compositions but also mineralogy transformation and evolution. The major melting process of ash sample 1 was within the range of 1158–1196 K. Because of the existence of the low-temperature eutectic compounds Na3Fe(SO4)3 and Na2Ni(SO4)2·4H2O, the temperature ranges of melting processes of ash samples 2–4 were 200–300 K lower than that of ash sample 1. Weight loss processes in ash sample 5 continued over the whole furnace temperature range. The Coats–Redfe...

Study on preparation and properties of polyether polytriazole elastomers

To explore the application of click chemistry in the field of elastomer materials, propargyl-terminated ethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran copolymer (PTP(E-co-T)) was prepared from hydroxyl-terminated ethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran copolymer (P(E-co-T)) by end-etherisation modification. FTIR and 13C-NMR results indicate that P(E-co-T)-terminated hydroxyl was etherified thoroughly, yielding the target product PTP(E-co-T), and the content of terminated alkynyl of PTP(E-co-T) was evaluated to be 0.428 mmol·g−1. Using a polyazide compound as a cross-linker, polytriazole elastomers with various functional molar ratio (R) values were prepared from PTP(E-co-T) by virtue of the CuAAC reaction. Mechanical property tests indicate that with the increase in R, the modulus E and stress σ b of the polytriazole elastomers first increase and subsequently decrease, whereas the strain first decreases and later increases. The mechanical properties of the polytriazole elastomers show a parabolic dependence on the R value. Near the stoichiometric ratio, E and σ b show maxima and the strain ɛ b shows a minimum. Swelling tests demonstrate that the apparent molecular weight of polytriazole elastomer strands also first decreases and subsequently increases. At the stoichiometric ratio, the network structure possesses strands with a minimum apparent molecular weight and a maximum apparent density. Dynamic mechanical analysis reveals that the polytriazole elastomers presented damping peaks at approximately −64 °C, corresponding to the glass transition of copolyether strands, and the elastomer exhibited the lowest dissipation factor tan δ at the stoichiometric ratio. Thermal analysis suggests that the weight-loss process of the polytriazole elastomer is characteristic of one-step decomposition, and the elastomer begins to decompose from polyether strands, not triazole groups.

Qualitative and kinetic analysis of torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass using DSC-TGA-FTIR

Torrefaction is a thermochemical conversion technique to improve the fuel properties of lignocellulosic biomass by treating at temperature 200 ℃-300 ℃ in the minimum oxygen environment for a reasonable residence time. In this study, thermal decomposition and thermal activities of miscanthus and wheat straw during the torrefaction at 200 ℃, 275 ℃, and 300 ℃ in a nitrogen environment for 45 minutes of residence time are analyzed in a simultaneous thermogravimetric analyzer (micro TGA) with a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and a macro-TGA. The output of the micro TGA is fed into the Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and qualitative analysis of the gaseous product is carried out. The composition of different gas products during the torrefaction of biomass are compared critically and kinetics were analyzed. It is found that the weight loss due to degradation of initial biomass in second stage (torrefaction process) is a much faster conversion process than the weight loss process in the first stage (drying process). The weight loss of biomass increases with increase in the residence time and torrefaction treatment temperatures. The yield after torrefaction is a solid bio-coal product. The torrefied product were less reactive and has nearly 25% better heating value than the raw biomass. Between the two feedstocks studied, torrefied miscanthus proved to be a more stable fuel than the torrefied wheat straw. The major gaseous components observed during torrefaction are water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, 1,2-Dibromethylene.

Complications Associated With Medial Thigh Lift: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Medial contouring of the thigh is frequently requested to improve appearance and function of medial thigh deformities, following massive weight loss or aging process. This surgical procedure can be associated with a significant rate of complications. Our aim was to consider the complications and outcomes according to the performed technique, through a wide and comprehensive review of the literature. A search on PubMed/Medline was performed using “medial thighplasty”, “medial thigh lifting” and “technique” as key words. As inclusion criteria, we selected the clinical studies describing techniques of medial thighplasty. We excluded the papers in which complications related to medial thighplasty were not specified. We also excluded literature-review articles. We found 16 studies from 1988 to 2015. Overall, 447 patients were treated. Different techniques were applied. Complications were observed in 191/447 patients (42.72%). The most frequent complications were wound dehiscence(18.34%) and seroma (8.05%). No major complications, such as thromboembolism and sepsis, were observed. Minor complications occurred in a high percent of patients, regardless of the performed surgical procedure. Patients should be informed about the possible occurrence of wound dehiscence and seroma, as common complications associated with this surgical procedure.

Translating weight loss into agency: Men's experiences 5 years after bariatric surgery

Fewer men than women with severe obesity undergo bariatric surgery for weight loss, and knowledge about men's situation after surgery, beyond medical status, is lacking. Our aim was to explore men's experiences with life after bariatric surgery from a long-term perspective. We conducted in-depth interviews with 13 men, aged 28–60 years, between 5 and 7 years after surgery. The analysis was inspired by Giorgi's phenomenological method. We found that agency was pivotal for how the men understood themselves and their lives after surgery. Weight loss meant regaining opportunities for living and acting in unrestricted and independent daily lives, yet surgery remained a radical treatment with complex consequences. Turning to surgery had involved conceptualizing their own body size as illness, which the men had resisted doing for years. After surgery, the rapid and major weight loss and the feelings of being exhausted, weak, and helpless were intertwined. The profound intensity of the weight loss process took the men by surprise. Embodying weight loss and change involved an inevitable renegotiating of experiences connected to the large body. Having bariatric surgery was a long-term process that seemed unfinished 5 years after surgery. Restrictions and insecurity connected to health and illness persist, despite successful weight loss and embodied change. Bariatric surgery initiated a complex and long-lasting life-changing process, involving both increased capacity for agency and illness-like experiences.

Role of Mental Simulations in the Weight Loss Process

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted to verify the influence of various mental simulations on the effectiveness and persistence of weight loss processes. In study one, 40 female students (aged 19–27, M = 23) who were eager to lose weight were randomly assigned to one of four groups: positive outcome simulation, process simulations, mixed simulations (process followed by negative outcome), and control (no simulations). Students from the mixed and process simulation groups lost significantly more weight after five weeks than participants from the outcome simulation and control groups. A total of 106 females (aged 19–45, M = 29) participated in study two, in which five types of mental simulations were tested. Besides the images used in study one, process followed by positive outcome simulations and negative outcome simulations were implemented. Results showed that process followed by positive outcome simulations lead to the highest persistence in the weight loss process, while process followed by negative outcome simulations induced the greatest reduction in weight. Both studies revealed self-regulatory benefits from mental simulations in difficult and long-term personal goal attainment.

The Thermo-Gravimetric Characteristics of the Waste Game Printed Circuit Board under Different Atmosphere

The printed circuit board (PCB) in the electronic waste contains a variety of metals and organic materials, including bromine, heavy metals and other pollutants. Thermal treatment is an effective method for harmless disposal of waste circuit boards with resources recycle. In this study, the composition of RF4 type waste game PCB was determined by elemental analysis and proximate analysis, followed by thermogravimetric analysis of the weight lost process in CO2、N2or air, at 10°C/min, 20°C/min or 30°C/min programmable heating rate, and the thermal decomposition reaction kinetics parameters were calculated with the Kissinger method. The results show that under the CO2atmosphere, the weight loss process of the sample consists of the 250°C～410°C and 750°C~960°C temperature intervals; under the N2atmosphere, the rapid weight loss stage is between 263°C and 420°C; under the air atmosphere, the weight loss process is from 178°C to 675°C, including three minor weight loss stages. The phenolic volatile components are mainly released around 260°C～360°C under three different atmospheres, while the residual carbon is further oxidized under the air atmosphere or gasified in CO2at temperatures above 800°C.

Influence of Na&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;CO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; on Thermal Degradation Process of Waste Printed Circuit Board in Air Atmosphere

The influence of Na2CO3on RF4-type waste printed circuit board (PCB) thermal degradation process in air atmosphere was studied with thermogravimetric analysis, and the reaction kinetics was calculated based on the Coats – Redfern method. It is shown that the weight loss process of WPCB in air atmosphere includes three stages. Addition of Na2CO3decreases the initial temperature of the first weight loss stage of WPCB, which indicates the enhancement effect on the decomposition of the flame retardant. Addition of Na2CO3increases the initial temperature of the second and third weight loss stage of WPCB, which indicates the obstruction effect on oxidation reaction. From the different mechanism function, the optimal mechanism function is f (α)=2/3(1-α)[-ln (1-α) ]3and the range of activation energy is 30~185 kJ /mol.

Study on Thermal Degradation Behavior of Composites with Liquid Crystalline Thermoset

Liquid crystalline thermosetting epoxy, 4,4’-Diglycidyloxy-α-methylstilbene (DOMS) was synthesized and characterized with cross-polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Alumina reinforced DOMS composites were fabricated by melt blending with sulfanilamide (SAA) as a curing agent. To investigate thermal degradation behavior, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed under nitrogen atmosphere at the temperature range from 30 to 1000°C. Activation energies for decomposition (Ed) by TGA were determined as a function of conversion by weight loss process.

High-salt intake during pregnancy modifies placenta phenotype at least until the third generation

High-salt intake during pregnancy modifies placenta phenotype at least until the third generation

Sex-specific epigenetic impact of preconceptional maternal weight loss on foeto-placental development

Sex-specific epigenetic impact of preconceptional maternal weight loss on foeto-placental development