An Oral Mixed Fat Load Is Followed by a Modest Anti-inflammatory Adipocytokine Response in Overweight Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

We investigated the postprandial changes in plasma levels of adipocytokines in overweight patients with metabolic syndrome after an oral fat load. After an oral fat load and during a prolonged fast, blood was drawn at 0, 2, 3, 4 and 8 h for measurement of adiponectin, adipsin, cathepsin S, chemerin, hepatic growth factor, interferon‐γ‐inducible protein‐10, leptin, macrophage chemoattractant protein‐1, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, nerve growth factor, retinol binding protein‐4, resistin, serum amyloid A1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 and thrombopoietin using a microbead‐based Luminex assay. Area under the curves (AUC) were calculated and compared. Plasma adiponectin levels were higher after an oral fat load compared to fasting at t = 2 h (950 ± 513 vs. ?1,881 ± 713 ng/ml) while the plasma levels for adipsin (?9 ± 5 vs. 16 ± 5 ng/ml), chemerin (?122 ± 35 vs. 13 ± 21 ng/ml), SAA‐1 (?391 ± 213 vs. 522 ± 173 ng/ml) and TPO (?335 ± 144 vs. 622 ± 216 ng/ml) were lower after an oral fat load compared to fasting. The baseline corrected AUC for IP‐10 was higher after fat load compared to fasting (median ?116 pg h/ml; IQR ?270 to 10 vs. ?21 pg h/ml; IQR ?136 to 418 (p = 0.047). In conclusion, in overweight male subjects with the metabolic syndrome, an oral fat load is accompanied with a modest anti‐inflammatory response of adipose tissue‐derived adipocytokines.     

k-t BLAST and SENSE accelerated time-resolved three-dimensional phase contrast MRI in an intracranial aneurysm

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of k-t BLAST (Broad-use Linear Acquisition Speed-up Technique) accelerated time-resolved 3D PC-MRI compared to SENSE (SENSitivity Encoding) acceleration in an in vitro and in vivo intracranial aneurysm.

Materials and methods

Non-accelerated, SENSE and k-t BLAST accelerated time-resolved 3D PC-MRI measurements were performed in vivo and in vitro. We analysed the consequences of various temporal resolutions in vitro.

Results

Both in vitro and in vivo measurements showed that the main effect of k-t BLAST was underestimation of velocity during systole. In the phantom, temporal blurring decreased with increasing temporal resolution. Quantification of the differences between the non-accelerated and accelerated measurements confirmed that in systole SENSE performed better than k-t BLAST in terms of mean velocity magnitude. In both in vitro and in vivo measurements, k-t BLAST had higher SNR compared to SENSE. Qualitative comparison between measurements showed good similarity.

Conclusion

Comparison with SENSE revealed temporal blurring effects in k-t BLAST accelerated measurements.     

The Well Mannered Wearable Computer

In this paper we describe continuing work being carried out as part of the Bristol Wearable Computing Initiative. We are interested in the use of context sensors to improve the usefulness of wearable computers. A CyberJacket incorporating a Tourist Guide application has been built, and we have experimented with location and movement sensing devices to improve its performance. In particular, we have researched processing techniques for data from accelerometers which enable the wearable computer to determine the user’s activity. We have experimented with, and review, techniques already employed by others; and then propose new methods for analysing the data delivered by these devices. We try to minimise the number of devices needed, and use a single X-Y accelerometer device. Using our techniques we have adapted our CyberJacket and Tourist Guide to include a multimedia presentation which gives the user information using different media depending on the user’s activity as well as location.     

Habits as knowledge structures: Automaticity in goal-directed behavior.

This study tested the idea of habits as a form of goal-directed automatic behavior. Expanding on the idea that habits are mentally represented as associations between goals and actions, it was proposed that goals are capable of activating the habitual action. More specifically, when habits are established (e.g., frequent cycling to the university), the very activation of the goal to act (e.g., having to attend lectures at the university) automatically evokes the habitual response (e.g., bicycle). Indeed, it was tested and confirmed that, when behavior is habitual, behavioral responses are activated automatically. In addition, the results of 3 experiments indicated that (1) the automaticity in habits is conditional on the presence of an active goal (cf., goal-dependent automaticity; J. A. Bargh, 1989), supporting the idea that habits are mentally represented as goal—action links, and (2) the formation of implementation intentions (i.e., the creation of a strong mental link between a goal and action) may simulate goal-directed automaticity in habits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A system to test the ground surface conditions of construction sites--for safe and efficient work without physical strain

Ground surface conditions on construction sites have an important influence on the health and safety of workers and their productivity. The development of an expert-based "working conditions evaluation" system is described, intended to assist site managers in recognising unsatisfactory ground conditions and remedying these. The system was evaluated in the period 2002-2003. The evaluation shows that companies recognize poor soil/ground conditions as problematic, but are not aware of the specific physical workload hazards. The developed methods allow assessment of the ground surface quality and selection of appropriate measures for improvement. However, barriers exist at present to wide implementation of the system across the industry. Most significant of these is that responsibility for a site's condition is not clearly located within contracting arrangements, nor is it a topic of serious negotiation.     

Behavioural change phases of different stakeholders involved in the implementation process of ergonomics measures in bricklaying

The objective of this qualitative study was to assess whether a hypothesised sequential order of behavioural change phases would be fulfilled in different groups of stakeholders involved at the start of a process to implement ergonomic [corrected] measures in bricklaying teams. The measures include trestles, bricklaying scaffolds, mast climbing work platforms [corrected] and cranes. The behavioural change phases were: (1) being aware of measures, (2) understanding measures, (3) wanting measures, (4) intention to buy or hire measures, (5) ability to use measures, (6) using measures (experience), and (7) continuing to use measures. Structured interviews were conducted to examine the change phases in two groups of stakeholders (employers/work planners (n=11) [corrected] and foremen/bricklayers (n=9) [corrected] from nine companies) thought to be relevant in the decision to adopt and use the ergonomic [corrected] measures. The results show that the fulfilled behavioural change phases differ between individual stakeholders, groups of stakeholders, companies and also between ergonomic measures. The hypothesised order of fulfilled consecutive behavioural change phases for individual stakeholders has not been confirmed by this study. The relationship between [corrected] fulfilled and unfulfilled change phases by each stakeholder (group) and actual use of each ergonomic measure requires further study, so as to improve the selection of suitable implementation strategies [corrected]