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Body mass index and its association with socioeconomic and behavioral variables among socioeconomically heterogeneous populations of Andhra Pradesh, India.

The nature and extent of relationship between socioeconomic and behavioral variables and body mass index [BMI = weight (kg)/height (m)2] is studied in a sample of 1119 individuals (456 males and 663 females), aged 18 to 75 years, drawn from socioeconomically diverse populations from southern Andhra Pradesh, India. These populations are categorized into four groups, with graded lifestyles toward urbanization. The BMI of the participants ranged from 12.6 to 35.1 in males and from 12.3 to 34.2 in females. There is an increasing trend in mean BMI until about 50 years, followed by a decline, indicating nonlinear nature of age effects. Mean BMI also increases with better socioeconomic status of the constituent groups and with decreased physical activity level. A trend of a decrease in the proportion of individuals with chronic energy deficiency and an increase in the proportion of obese individuals is also seen from the traditional Yerukala tribe (group 1) to the urbanized group 4, from the lower to the higher income categories, and from heavy to light physical activity types. Smokers show a greater proportion of obese cases compared with nonsmokers. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 25) is 6.6% in males and 10% in females. The results of the analysis of variance suggest that three of the four socioeconomic and behavioral variables (except smoking) show significant effects on age-adjusted BMI, and the R2 suggests that these variables explain 27.4% of variation in males and 17% in females. Although income explains the largest amount of variation (24%) in males, followed by physical activity and group affiliation, in females group affiliation (12.5%), followed closely by income, accounted for most of the variation. Inclusion of age in the model improved explanatory power by 5-7%. The positive association between socioeconomic status and BMI observed in the present study is qualitatively different from the negative association that characterizes contemporary Western populations.

Adolescent↗

Factors associated with changes in physical activity: a cohort study of inactive adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with changes in physical activity in adolescent girls at risk for sedentary lifestyles and obesity. DESIGN: A cohort study was performed with 201 high school girls recruited to participate in an evaluation study of a school-based obesity prevention physical education program. Three assessments were performed during an 8-month period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between physical activity and a range of personal factors (self-acceptance, self-worth, athletic competence, body image, depressive mood, perceived benefits, enjoyment of physical activity, self-efficacy, and body mass index), behavioral factors (watching television and time constraints), and socioenvironmental factors (social support and costs/resources) were assessed. RESULTS: The 2 strongest and most consistent factors associated with change in physical activity were time constraints and support for physical activity from peers, parents, and teachers. Measures assessing self-perceptions, global (ie, self-worth) and specific to physical activity (ie, self-efficacy to be physically active), were also associated with change in physical activity. For example, a decrease of 2.0 U for an adolescent's perceived time constraints (possible range, 3.0-12.0 U) would be expected to lead to an increase of 53 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week (95% confidence interval, 33-72 minutes). An increase of 2.0 U in perceived support for physical activity (possible range, 3.0-12.0 U) would be expected to lead to an increase of 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week (95% confidence interval, 13-56 minutes). An increase of 3.0 U on the self-worth scale (possible range, 5.0-20.0 U) might be expected to lead to an increase of 19 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week (95% confidence interval, 0-40 minutes). CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing physical activity among adolescent girls might be enhanced by engaging support from friends, family, and caring adults; addressing real and perceived time constraints; and helping adolescent girls feel more confident about themselves and their ability to engage in physical activity.

Adolescent↗

Massed negative practice as a behavioral treatment for Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.

Gilles de al Tourette's syndrome with its vocal and motor tics has been treated successfully with haloperidol and in some cases with massed negative practice. Two additional cases of successful treatment with massed negative practice are presented, one with additional psychotherapy, one with two-year follow-up. The combined use of haloperidol and massed negative practice may be optimal in some cases.

Adolescent↗

Analytical strategies for the direct mass spectrometric analysis of steroid and corticosteroid phase II metabolites.

The use of steroid hormones as growth promoters remains illegal in Europe. A classical approach used to control their utilization consists to measure the parent drug in target biological matrices. However, this strategy may fail when the parent drug is submitted to extensive metabolism reactions. For urine and tissue samples, chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis is usually applied in order to deconjugate glucuronide and sulfate phase II metabolites. But this treatment lead to the loss of information such as nature and relative proportions of the different conjugated forms, which can be useful, for example, to discriminate an endogenous production from an exogenous administration for natural hormones, or for other clinical or biochemical specific applications. For these purposes, direct measurement of conjugated metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry may represent a solution of choice. In this context, the mass spectrometric behavior of 14 steroid and corticosteroid phase II metabolites after electrospray ionization was investigated. Their fragmentation pathways in tandem mass spectrometry revealed some specificities within the different group of conjugates. A specific acquisition program (MRM mode) was developed for the unambiguous identification of the studied reference compounds. A more generic method (Parent Scan mode) was also developed for fishing approaches consisting to monitor several fragment ions typical of each conjugate class. A reverse phase HPLC procedure was also proposed for efficient retention and separation of the studied compounds. Finally, a protocol based on quaternary amine SPE was developed, permitting the separation of free, glucuronide, and sulfate fractions. Preliminary results on biological samples demonstrated the suitability of this analytical strategy for direct measurement of dexamethasone glucuronide and sulfate residues in bovine urine.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Pyrolytic characteristics of sewage sludge.

In this study, a number of different sewage sludge including sludge samples from industrial and hospital wastewater treatment plants were characterized for pyrolysis behavior by means of thermogravimetric analysis up to 800 degrees C. According to the thermogravimetric results, five different types of mass loss behaviors were observed depending on the nature of the sludge used. Typical main decomposition steps occurred between 250 and 550 degrees C although some still decomposed at higher temperatures. The first group (Types I, II and III) was identified by main decomposition at approximately 300 degrees C and possible second reaction at higher temperature. Differences in the behavior may be due to different components in the sludge both quantitatively and qualitatively. The second group (Types IV and V), which rarely found, has unusual properties. DTG peaks were found at 293, 388 and 481 degrees C for Type IV and 255 and 397 degrees C for Type V. Kinetics of sludge decomposition can be described by either pseudo single or multicomponent overall models (PSOM or PMOM). The activation energy of the first reaction, corresponding to the main pyrolysis typically at 300 degrees C, was rather constant (between 68 and 77 kJ mol(-1)) while those of second and third reactions were varied in the range of 85-185 kJ mol(-1). The typical order of pyrolysis reaction was in the range of 1.1-2.1. The pyrolysis gases were composed of both saturated and unsaturated light hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ethanol and chloromethane. Most products, however, evolve at a quite similar temperature regardless of the sludge type.

Hot Temperature↗

Video-understanding framework for automatic behavior recognition.

We propose an activity-monitoring framework based on a platform called VSIP, enabling behavior recognition in different environments. To allow end-users to actively participate in the development of a new application, VSIP separates algorithms from a priori knowledge. To describe how VSIP works, we present a full description of a system developed with this platform for recognizing behaviors, involving either isolated individuals, groups of people, or crowds, in the context of visual monitoring of metro scenes, using multiple cameras. In this work, we also illustrate the capability of the framework to easily combine and tune various recognition methods dedicated to the visual analysis of specific situations (e.g., mono-/multiactors' activities, numerical/symbolic actions, or temporal scenarios). We also present other applications, using this framework, in the context of behavior recognition. VSIP has shown a good performance on human behavior recognition for different problems and configurations, being suitable to fulfill a large variety of requirements.

Algorithms↗

[Psychiatric aspects in workers subject to mobbing].

BACKGROUND: Mobbing in the language of ethologists means a particular behaviour of a group of animals consisting of several members forming an alliance against a single animal, in order to eliminate this animal away from the group. This term has been adopted in current usage to mean a kind of relationship at the workplace that, by aggressive and underhand means, aims at influencing or expelling the person. The term "bossing" is used to indicate a negative action, under the meaning described above, made by one or more senior persons, or possibly by the employer. In the Italian Parliament, under the current legislature, several bills are pending regarding this problem. Besides the aspects of topical interest in the problem, there are first and foremost the different kinds of reaction-adaptation to mobbing, according to the type of individual internal working models in action, that can be anxious/avoiding, anxious/resistant or disorganised. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was a clinical evaluation of the different ways of adaptation-reaction to a mobbing-type relationship at the workplace, and of the type of internal working models found among the examined patients. METHODS: A clinical interview was carried out with 40 patients who, over a period of 12 months of observation, came to request a clinical assessment, for medical-legal reasons, of their psycho-pathological state and ways to react to adverse situations at the workplace, such as a mobbing or bossing. RESULTS: Besides the psychological and relational effects of mobbing, the reactions of the examined subjects to mobbing are also described, considering also the different cognitive self-organization possibilities, according to the individual internal working model, regarding patterns of attachment in adult age. The most frequent internal working model seems to be the one related to resistant attachment, followed by the avoidance and lastly--rarely--the disorganized model. Furthermore we observed among these subjects a certain deficit in meta-cognitive capacity of self reflection and decentralization. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive therapy is proposed as the most effective of therapeutic approaches, associated with symptomatic psycho-pharmacological therapy as needed. Initial clinical results on cognitive therapy of these patients are reported. The individual type of internal working model seems to be the critical element in mobbing reaction and, besides specific intervention plans regarding relationship in the workplace, individual psychotherapy appears to be the best instrument of treatment and prevention of the psychopathologic effects caused by mobbing.

Adult↗

Ring contraction reactions of 2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-oxazin-4-ones under electrospray ionization conditions.

The mass spectral behavior of 2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-oxazin-4-ones has been investigated using electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)). All compounds showed a predominant retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) fragmentation pathway, and a novel ring contraction reaction by loss of isocynates was also found. The fragmentation mechanisms proposed for 4H-1,3-oxazin-4-ones are supported by ESI-MS/MS/MS spectra.

Journal Article↗

Behavior of Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner and T. pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) egg masses.

In this study we analyzed the impact of physical barriers of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) egg-masses on the behavior of Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley. The duration of drumming, drilling, oviposition, period spent over the egg-mass, and interval between parasitized eggs were timed, and the number of parasitized eggs were recorded. The presence of scales on the egg-masses caused a significant increase in the time spent by both parasitoids on each process and a decrease in the residence time over the egg-mass and in the number of parasitized eggs, with an increase in the number of egg layers. There was a significant decrease in the number of parasitized eggs in relation to egg-masses with one layer and no scales. We observed that the physical barriers in fall armyworm egg-masses changed the behavior of T. atopovirilia and T. pretiosum, affecting their parasitization capacity.

Animals↗

Stereospecific fragmentations in the mass spectra of stereoisomeric isoindoloquinazolines.

The mass spectrometric behavior of stereo- and regioisomeric, partially saturated isoindoloquinazolines was studied by positive-ion electron ionization (EI) and fast-atom bombardment (FAB/LSIMS) mass spectrometry combined with collision-induced dissociation (CID). A highly stereospecific retro-Diels-Alder process was observed in the cyclohexene-fused isomers under the EI conditions, and a corresponding (although less specific) fragmentation was observed in their FAB spectra. In the absence of RDA fragmentations, regio- and stereoisomers of the cyclohexane-fused heterocycles could be distinguished based on their FAB/CID spectra.

Journal Article↗

[Physical factors in animal experiments for testing antimasspsychotic drugs].

Lemmingson et al. have observed that the movement of masspsychotic lemmings (Lemmus lemmus) shows a distinct preference for the left direction. They suggested that this is due to the influence of the Coriolis force. According to this proposition the influence of the Coriolis force on a group of masspsychotic animals has been investigated quantitatively. The results suggest the following model: Normally the influence of the Coriolos force, which on the northern hemisphere acts to the right, is compensated by a neuromuscular feedback mechanism. The tendency towards the left under masspsychotic conditions corresponds to overcompensation. The tendency to the left should also be observed on the southern hemisphere, if the direction of this compensation is determined genetically. Therefore, the test proposed by Lemmingson et al. is not suited to distinguish between the influence of the Coriolis force and the influence of biologically active left-isomer molecules.

Animals↗

Evidence from catch-up growth and hoarding behavior of rats that exposure to hypobaric air lowers the body-mass set point.

The depression of body growth rate and the reduction of body mass for chronological age and gender in growing experimental animals exposed to hypobaric air (simulated high altitude = SHA) have been associated with hypophagia because of reduced appetite. Catch-up growth during protein recovery after a short period of protein restriction only occurs if food intake becomes super-normal, which should not be possible under hypoxic conditions if the set-point for appetite is adjusted by the level of SHA. The present investigation was designed to test the hypothesis that growth retardation during exposure to SHA is due to an alteration of the neural mechanism for setting body mass size rather than a primary alteration of the central set-point for appetite. One group of female rats aged 35 d were exposed to SHA (5460m) in a SHA chamber for 27 d (HX rats). Other group was maintained under local barometric pressure conditions (NX rats). One half of both NX and HX rats were fed a protein-free diet for the initial 9 d of the experimental period. From this time on, they were fed a diet containing 20% protein, as were the remaining rats of both groups during the entire experimental period. The growth rates of both mass and length of the body were significantly depressed in well-nourished rats exposed to SHA during the entire observation period when compared to normoxic ones. At its end, body mass and body length were 24% and 21% less in HX than in NX rats. Growth rates were negatively affected by protein restriction in both NX and HX rats. During protein recovery, they reached supernormal values in response to supernormal levels of energy intake that allowed a complete catch-up of both body mass and length. The finding that energy intake during the period of protein rehabilitation in HX rats previously stunted by protein restriction was markedly higher than in HX control ones at equal levels of hypoxia demonstrates that the degree of hypoxia does not determine directly the degree of appetite and energy intake. Furthermore, the finding that catch-up growth in the stunted HX rats returns the animal only to the stunted size appropriate for the hypoxic animal supports the hypothesis that hypoxia lowers the set-point for body mass size, which is reached by inhibition of appetite. Confirmation of the hypothesis was done by assessment of the set-point of body mass by the behavioral method of the weight threshold to hoard food. It was lowered by 17.0% in HX rats.

Altitude↗

[Relation among early maturation, body mass index and the longitudinal behavior of systolic blood pressure].

In the Caracas Longitudinal Study, 53 girls- 8 to 11 years of age- who had been classified as early, average and late maturers were analyzed longitudinally with respect to Body Mass Index (BMI) and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP). A longitudinal principal component analysis was used to summarize trends or intraindividual changes in BMI and SBP. A first component was identified for BMI, this component accounted for most of its total variance (94.65%). Girls were classified as normal in weight or at risk of overweight on the basis of this component. Three principal components were identified for SBP, that accounted for 91.83% of the total variance of this variable. The first component represented a measure of position across the whole age period, a "canalization pattern"; this component accounted for most of the total variance (45.65%). The second component revealed an unidirectional change in relative position of the values of the variable, a "decanalization pattern", and a third pattern summarized deviations around a position level: "recanalization pattern". Girls who showed a canalization pattern for SBP were those identified as early maturers and at risk of overweight.

Blood Pressure↗

Effects of prior destructive behavior, anonymity, and group presence on deindividuation and aggression.

Three of Zimbardo's deindividuation input variables (group presence, anonymity, and arousal) were manipulated in laboratory experiment, and their effects on aggression and deindividuation were measured. Only arousal produced a significant increase in aggression (p less than .05), while group presence produced a significant decrease in aggression (p less than .01). Anonymity had no significant effect on subjects' aggressiveness. Deindividuation per se was measured on a postsession questionnaire that assessed subjects' memory for their own aggressive behavior, self-consciousness, concern for social evaluation, and memory for central and peripheral cues. Only arousal condition participants showed deindividuation changes, but a factor analysis revealed that the deindividuation changes did not comprise a unified factor. Also it did not appear that the internal changes caused aggressive behavior, since the correlation between the two was low.

Aggression↗

Testing for behavioral contagion in a case-control design.

'Behavioral contagion' refers to an increased tendency for a behavior to be performed when socially related persons have already performed it. So understood, behavioral contagion may be involved in criminality, conduct disorder, drug abuse, suicide, and teenage pregnancy. In a recent paper we showed that contagion, when present, generates highly distinctive result patterns in survey data. These patterns allow one to infer that contagion is present even though it has not been directly observed. The present paper extends this approach to case-control designs, where, it will be shown, contagion has equally distinctive but different consequences. The analysis is illustrated with a Canadian study of conduct disorder and further evidence is presented that this condition is contagious. Limitations of the approach and alternative interpretations of results are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Analysis of hemodynamic fluid phase mass transport in a separated flow region.

The mass transfer behavior in the recirculation region downstream of an axisymmetric sudden expansion was examined. The Reynolds number, 500, and Schmidt number, 3200, were selected to model the mass transfer of molecules, such as ADP, in the arterial system. In a first step the transient mass transport applying zero diffusive flux at the wall was analyzed using experiments and two computational codes. The two codes were FLUENT, a commercially available finite volume method, and FTSP, a finite element code developed at Graz University of Technology. The comparison of the transient wall concentration values determined by the three methods was excellent and provides a measure of confidence for computational mass transfer calculations in convection dominated, separated flows. In a second step the effect of the flow separation on the stationary mass transport applying a permeability boundary condition at the water-permeable wall was analyzed using the finite element code FTSP. The results show an increase of luminal ADP surface concentration in the upstream and in the downstream tube of the sudden expansion geometry in the range of six and twelve percent of the bulk flow concentration. The effect of flow separation in the downstream tube on the wall concentration is a decrease of about ten percent of the difference between wall concentration and bulk concentration occurring at nearly fully developed flow at the downstream region at a distance of 66 downstream tube diameters from the expansion. The decrease of ADP flux into the wall is in the range of three percent of the flux at the downstream region.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Preservation of human islet cell functional mass by anti-oxidative action of a novel SOD mimic compound.

The most commonly used technical approach to isolate human pancreatic islets intended for allotransplants generates a product that is hampered by mechanical and chemical insults, which dramatically reduce the mass of viable and functional transplantable cells. We tested a novel class of antioxidant chemical compounds (SOD mimics: AEOL10113 and AEOL10150) to protect human islets from oxidative stress in order to improve the preservation of the isolated tissue. Addition of SOD mimic in culture, after isolation, allowed for the survival of a significantly higher islet cell mass. Functional behavior and phenotypic cell characteristics of the SOD-treated islet preparations were preserved, as was the capacity to normalize diabetic mice, even when a marginal mass of islets was transplanted. The addition of SOD mimic during isolation, before culture, further reduced early cell loss. These results indicate that prompt interventions aimed at blocking oxidative stress can improve human islet survival, preserving a functional islet mass two- to threefold larger than the one usually obtained without adding any antioxidant compound. The ability to preserve functional islets without a dramatic loss represents a major advantage considering the scarce availability of islet tissue for clinical transplantation.

Adolescent↗