Comparison of body fat using anthropometry bioelectrical impedance and DEXA in elderly women

Verify correspondence and compare percentage body fat (%BF) estimates by skinfold thickness (SKT), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and DEXA. Twenty voluntaries women (aged 62-79 yr) were assessed. The body fat was estimated using two different equations of SKT(Jackson (19); Durning and Womersley, (20)), BIA using two-predictions formulas (23) and DEXA. To compare mean values of %BF was used analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA--Bonferroni), the correlation of the inter-method was verified by Pearson correlation coefficients (r), and correspondence between prediction formulas was tested by using the approach by Bland and Altman (25). The %BF assessed by BIA (23) shown poor correlation (r < 0.5) with two SKT equations. The %BF ranged from 31.5 +/- 5.5 to 41.2 +/- 6.1 (mean +/- SD) for Jackson (19) e DEXA, respectively. The analysis of variance shown no significant differences (p > 0.05) between methods and/or equations by BIA (RJL-CompCorp) vs. DC-Jackson (19). There were observed significant differences (p < 0.001) between all comparisons. The correspondence between RJL-CompCorp vs. Deurenberg (23) was good and the same was observed for DEXA vs. Durning and Womersley (20). Although the methods and/or equations used in this study have been commonly utilized to estimate BF in elderly subjects, they neither must be used as a standard method. Each method has limitations and the comparison can be useful for interpretation of results.     

Comparative analysis of body composition assessment methods in healthy men and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

The aim of this study was to examine the agreement between the results of body fat (BF and BF%), fat-free mass (FFM) and FFM index (FFMI= FFM/height2) as estimated by skinfold anthropometry (ANT), bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in two groups of men (> or = 50 y), one comprising healthy individuals (n=23) and the other, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=24). Comparisons between body composition techniques were done by repeated measures ANOVA; the Bland & Altman procedure was used to analyse agreement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1) comparison between healthy and COPD groups showed significant differences between all studied variables; 2) in the healthy group, values for BF, BF%, FFM and FFMI were not significantly different when BIA or ANT was compared to DXA; however, in COPD, values for BF and BF% were significantly higher and for FFM and FFMI significantly lower when BIA was compared to DXA; in contrast, no differences were shown between values for these variables when ANT was compared with DXA; 3) Bland & Altman test, in both groups, showed no agreement between BIA and DXA and between ANT and DXA; it was also shown that body fat was overestimated and fat free mass underestimated by BIA in relation to DXA.     

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on body composition in mice

The effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on body composition were investigated. ICR mice were fed a control diet containing 5.5% corn oil or a CLA-supplemented diet (5.0% corn oil plus 0.5% CLA). Mice fed CLA-supplemented diet exhibited 57% and 60% lower body fat and 5% and 14% increased lean body mass relative to controls (P<0.05). Total carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity was increased by dietary CLA supplementation in both fat pad and skeletal muscle; the differences were significant for fat pad of fed mice and skeletal muscle of fasted mice. In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes CLA treatment (1×10⁻⁴ M) significantly reduced heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase activity (−66%) and the intracellular concentrations of triacylglyceride (−8%) and glycerol (−15%), but significantly increased free glycerol in the culture medium (+22%) compared to control (P<0.05). The effects of CLA on body composition appear to be due in part to reduced fat deposition and increased lipolysis in adipocytes, possibly coupled with enhanced fatty acid oxidation in both muscle cells and adipocytes.     

Effect of patch hybridization on the tensile behavior of patch repaired glass/epoxy composite laminates using acoustic emission monitoring

This paper investigates the tensile response of damaged glass/epoxy composite laminates repaired using hybrid external patches. Hybrid external patches based on glass and Kevlar woven fabrics bonded on both faces of the damaged parent laminate were considered. Five different kinds of plain weave woven fabrics with a different ratio between glass and Kevlar fibers (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100) were used as the external patches. The intention of using these hybrid patches was to combine the excellent tensile stiffness of Kevlar fiber with the superior resin adhesion property of glass fiber. The virgin and damaged specimens were taken as the reference specimens for comparison of residual mechanical properties and damage mechanisms. Damage evolution and the failure progression of the repaired glass/epoxy specimens were monitored using real-time Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring technique. The Acoustic Emission (AE) results depict different damage profiles and link them with mechanical test results to reveal the load to a change in failure mechanisms during mechanical loading concerning the influence of each hybrid patches on the performance of repaired glass/epoxy specimens. Good correlation of the acoustic emission results with the photographic images of fractured specimens was obtained. Specimens repaired with the equal volume fraction of glass and Kevlar fibers in the external patches presented the most favorable residual tensile response by effectively releasing the stress concentration in the damaged area.     

High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of peanut phospholipids. II. Effect of postharvest stress on phospholipid composition

Peanuts are harvested in late September, and sometimes the harvest season can extend through most of October. When weather patterns delay harvest, the result may cause an immature crop, curing problems, rain damage, and freeze damage. All of the above stress situations can affect oil quality and flavor of the peanuts by altering phospholipid composition. Such changes are related to refining problems as well as flavor problems. A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used for the analysis of phospholipids from postharvest stressed peanuts. The concentrations of phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were higher in immature seed when compared to mature seed. A slight increase in concentration was observed for phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and a decrease in phosphatidylinositol occurred in immature peanuts. All phospholipids increased in concentration except PG when peanuts were cured at a high temperature (40°C). When peanut seeds were frozen at −16°C (before curing), a significant increase in concentration was observed for PA and PG, whereas the concentrations of PC and PE decreased to very low levels when compared to the control. Where concentration permitted, molecular species were separated on a reverse-phase column by HPLC.     

Effect of conjugated FA on feed intake,body composition,and liver FA in mice

CLA is a generic term describing different isomers of linoleic acid with two conjugated double bonds. Various metabolic effects have been demonstrated following administration of CLA, including a change in body composition in animals. However, the effects of pure CLA isomers are not fully understood. In addition, conjugated octadecatrienoic acids such as calendic acid have not been extensively investigated. In this study, male and female ICR mice were fed pure CLA isomers (cis9,trans11 or trans10,cis12) or calendic acid (trans8,trans10,cis12) as their ethyl esters for 6 wk. Body protein content was significantly increased after feeding CLA isomers, either as pure isomers or as a mixture. Calendic acid significantly decreased body fat content in males. CLA (pure isomers or a mixture) significantly decreased body fat in both males and females, with the trans10,cis12 isomer being the most effective. The effect of the cis9,trans11 isomer was more pronounced in females than in males. It was concluded that the trans10,cis12 CLA isomer was mainly responsible for the decrease in fat content in mice, without a significant modification of feed efficiency, and that it was more effective than calendic acid.     

Effect of dietary lipids on fatty acid composition of body lipid in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Three isocaloric diets were prepared. Diet 1 (Control) contained 22% herring oil. In diets 2 and 3, a third and a half of the herring oil was replaced, respectively, by an animal fat (lard) which contained a high percentage of saturated fatty acids. Each diet was fed to duplicate groups of rainbow trout for 14 wk. The results of the feeding trial indicated that the concentration of the saturated fatty acids in trout body lipid did not increase despite the high concentration of these fatty acids in Diets 2 and 3. Fish growth, feed efficiency, mortality and the level of fatty acid deposited in fish body lipid and phospholipids are discussed. Technical Paper No. 4440, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.     

Effect of additives on the composition dependent glass transition variation in PS/PP blends

The effect of additives on glass transition behavior in melt processed blends of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) was studied. Blends of additive‐free polystyrene and additive‐free polypropylene revealed the known effect of the PS T_g increase in blend compositions where PP surrounds PS. Glass transition behavior in these blends was compared to blends prepared from additive‐free PP and commercial grade PS, which contained lubricant additives. The thermal transitions of PS and PP were measured using modulated DSC. Although the behavior of low PS concentration blends was similar in both systems, the characteristics of the high PS blends differed substantially. These differences and the contrast in the PP T_g behaviors were attributed to the migration of additives from the PS phase across the immiscible interface into the PP phase. Similar T_g variations were observed in blends of commercial grade PS and commercial grade PP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of an organic additive on the impedance of cadmium in alkaline solution

The a.c. impedance of a planar cadmium electrode in KOH solution was measured over the active and passive region using a potentiostatic technique. Different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were subsequently introduced into the alkaline solution and the impedance remeasured. It was found that the addition of PVA markedly increased the double layer capacity of the electrode and decreased electrolyte resistance,R _sol. The impedance spectra in the presence of PVA were analysed in terms of an equivalent circuit involving the series combination of two double layer capacitances and a resistance proportional to the conductivity of the electrolyte.     

Effect of matrix composition on the fracture behavior of rubber-modified PMMA/PVC blends

Summary PB-g-MMA core-shell impact modifiers were synthesized by seed emulsion polymerization and impact-modified PMMA/PVC blends were prepared by melt blending PMMA, PVC and PB-g-MMA at 160 °C. The PB-g-MMA particles were dispersed uniformly in the PMMA/PVC matrix. PMMA/PVC blends were prepared in the blend ratio from 100/0 to 0/100 and the rubber content was kept 16% in all the compositions. The effects of matrix composition on the mechanical properties and morphology of the blends were studied. It was found that when the matrix was a PMMA-rich system, the sample broke in a brittle mode and crazing of the matrix was the main mechanisms of deformation. When the matrix was a PVC-rich system, the sample broke in a ductile mode and the main deformation mechanisms were cavitation of the particle and shear yielding of the matrix. There existed a transition from crazing to shear yielding in the rubber-modified PMMA/PVC blend as the matrix composition varied.     

Effect of the chemical structure of some hydrogels on their characteristic properties. I. Effect of comonomer composition

Some hydrogels of different chemical composition were synthesized using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, and acrylamide in different ratios and crosslinked by ethylene dimethacrylate. Effects of the copolymer composition as well as the type of monomers on some hydrogel characteristics were evaluated. Some characteristic properties, namely soluble fraction percentage, swelling degree, solution uptake, and salt uptake were found to be markedly affected by the hydrogel composition.     

Liver desaturase activities and FA composition in monkeys. Effect of a low-protein diet

The aim of the present study was to measure Δ9-, Δ6-, and Δ5-desaturase activities in liver microsomes, as well as phospholipid FA composition of liver and erythrocytes in monkeys fed a control or low-protein diet during the postweaning period. Ten Saimiri sciureus boliviensis (Cebidae) of both sexes were employed; at 12 mon of age they were separated into two groups fed ad libitum on a control or a low-protein diet for 24 mon. Saimiri sciureus had active Δ9, Δ6, and Δ5 liver desaturase enzymes, and these activities were influenced by the diet. A low-protein diet produced a significant reduction in Δ5-desaturation capacity, an increase in Δ9-desaturase activity, and no change in Δ6-desaturase activity (P<0.05). These changes, evoked by protein deprivation, were reflected in the liver phospholipid FA composition. Increases in the proportion of saturated FA and in monounsaturated oleic acid (18∶1n−9) and a decrease in the proportion of PUFA of the n−6 and n−3 series were produced in the animals fed a low-protein diet (P<0.0001). Differences between the two dietary groups were less pronounced in the FA composition of erythrocyte phospholipids. The authors are members of the Carrera del Investigador del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.     

Application of a.c. impedance technique to the study of the proton diffusion process in the porous MnO2 electrode

The proton diffusion coefficient in γ-MnO₂ at various stages of discharge of an electrolytic manganese dioxide electrode has been determined taking into consideration the true molar volume and the electrochemically accessible surface area of MnO₂. The unique electrochemical cell which allows the electrode expansion during the discharge to be monitored in situ was reported. The a.c. impedance technique and the transmission line equivalent circuit were used. Electrode ohmic resistance, Faradaic resistance, and double-layer capacitance were also obtained by means of numerical fitting of the impedance data using the transmission line model.     

Effect of nickel on copper anode passivation in a copper sulfate solution by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was applied on Cu-Ni samples passivated in a specially designed flat electrochemical cell which was heated at 60 °C. The electrolyte consisted of 160 g l⁻¹H₂SO₄, 40 g l⁻¹ Cu²⁺ and 0, 10, 20, 30 or 40 g l⁻¹ Ni²⁺ and the copper anodes contained nickel ranging from 0 w% to 10 w%. The oxygen content of the anodes and the electrolyte was also measured. An AC excitation signal of 10 mV and of 1mHz 100 MHz frequency was applied at the open circuit potential as well as at a passivation potential, the latter having been determined previously. The results indicate that nickel ion additions to the electrolyte increased the resistance of the electrolyte and altered the porosity, thickness and constituents of the passivation layer formed. The equivalent circuit models generated from the data acquired during the EIS experiments and the values for the electrical components were in the predicted range. The results are supported by supplementary XRD and SEM findings.     

Effect of composition and annealing on the dielectric properties of ZnO/mullite composite coatings

ZnO/mullite composite coatings were fabricated by atmosphere plasma spraying technology (APS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to investigate the microstructures and compositions of the feedstock and coatings. The permittivity-frequency properties were determined in the microwave frequency range of 8.2-12.4 GHz by network analysis. Our results show that both the real and imaginary part of permittivity increase greatly with increasing ZnO content over the frequency range of 8.2-12.4 GHz, which can be ascribed to interfacial polarization and orientation polarization. However, the composite coatings after 900 °C annealing for 5 h show much lower permittivity, due to the decrease of ZnO content resulting from the further reactions between the ZnO and mullite. Results indicate that the composite coating has excellent permittivity in room temperature, while for high temperature application, more investigation should be done.     

Effect of composition on the performance of cermet electrodes. Experimental and theoretical approach

This work aims to analyse the behaviour of cermet electrodes as a function of their composition, i.e. the ratio between ionic and electronic conducting particles. This is an important parameter to be considered to obtain maximum performance from this type of electrode, which is currently under study for application in oxygen sensors and solid oxide fuel cells. Experimental results of overall electrode resistance, including both ohmic and activation polarisation effects, have been obtained through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of Pt/YSZ electrodes in air. The results compare favourably with the theoretical predictions for several compositions above the percolation threshold of the electronic conductor. For this reason, the model is a useful tool for the design of optimised cermet electrodes; in particular, the experimental data show that maximum performance is attained for compositions very close to the percolation threshold of the electronic conductor, and this is in very good agreement with the modelling results.