Experiences of obesity among Saudi Arabian women contemplating bariatric surgery: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2013 The Authors.This study explored experiences of obesity, its perceived causes and motives for surgery, as described by seven Saudi women contemplating bariatric surgery. The women experienced cultural restrictions on their physical and social activities. Obesity embodied these restrictions, attracting stigma and moral failure. Traditional clothing, foods, hospitality norms and limited outdoor female activities were regarded as barriers to weight loss. Bariatric surgery was chosen to protect health and to access normative female roles. Some were encouraged by relatives who had undergone surgery. Opting for surgery reflected both participants’ sense of powerlessness to self-manage weight and the social acceptability, within their family context, of this biomedical approach

Laser induced birefringence in La–Ga–S–O–Gd glass polymer nanocomposites

In this work, we demonstrate a possibility to use La–Ga–S–O–Gd glass polymer nanocomposites as effective materials for photo-induced birefringence. Here we chose PVA as a photopolymer matrix. The photo-induced effects were studied using 8 ns Nd: YAG laser generating bicolor coherent light beams with wavelengths 1064, and 532 nm. The detection of the photo-induced birefringence was carried out using cw He–Ne laser at 1150 nm. The optimal concentration of the nanoglass favoring maximal changes of refractive indices is established. The photo-induced laser power density was changed up to 0.9 GW/cm2. The photo-induced beams were incident at angles varying within the 32° and 52° with respect to the nanocomposite planes. The polarizations of the beams did not play principal role. We discovered an appearance of maximal birefringence equal to about 0.078. The effect is strongly dependent on the nanoparticle sizes and is completely reversible after switching off the laser treatment within several milliseconds. Such features are useful for the recording of optical information and production of gratings with desirable periods

Laser induced elastooptics in novel Bi2O3, and Pr2O3 doped tellurite rich glasses

We have studied the laser stimulated effects in 70TeO2-10ZnO-10WO3-5TiO2-5Na2O (mol%) glasses doped with 1…5 mol%. of Bi2O3, and Pr2O3, respectively. The photoinduced processes were performed using two coherent beams of 532 nm doubled frequency Nd: YAG pulsed laser at angles varying within 28 to 26 degree. The low-power 532 nm beam has served as a probing one for detection of photoinduced changes. The crucial dependence on the Pr3+ and Bi dopants was observed. This one allows using these compounds for the laser operated optical devices

Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins in mice

BACKGROUND: Bee honey is a functional food which has a unique composition, antimicrobial properties and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess whether honey can inhibit the toxic effect of mycotoxins, the present study was undertaken. METHODS: Production of biomass and toxins by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus ochraceus were followed in media without and with honey. Although aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. were administrated to male Swiss albino mice up to 1 μg and 10 ng/kg body weight/day respectively. The experimental animals were fed diets without our with 10% honey for two months. The changes in colonic probiotic bacteria, determintal colon enzyme glucuronidases, and genotoxicity were followed. RESULTS: Addition of 32% in its media increased the biomass of A parasiticus, while the biomass of A. ochraceus decreased and Ochratoxin A. was not produced. When the honey was added at the ratio of 32 and 48% in the medium. No relationship was found between mycelium weight and production of mycotoxins. Oral administration of aflatoxins (mixture of B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2)) and Ochratoxin A. induced structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow and germ cells of male mice, whereas, honey treatment reduced the genotoxicity of mycotoxins. Also both toxins induced histopathological changes in liver and kidney. Feeding on diet supplemented with honey improved the histopathological changes in case of aflatoxin group, but not in the case of ochratoxin A. group (except of kidney in two cases). No significant differences were found in the activity of colon β-glucuronidase between group fed diet with or without honey. On the other hand, the colon bifido bacteria and lactobacilli counts were increased markedly in group receiving diet supplemented with honey. CONCLUSION: Substituting sugars with honey in processed food can inhibit the harmful and genotoxic effects of mycotoxins, and improve the gut microflora

Development of Perovskite (MACl)_0.33FA_0.99MA_0.01Pb(I_0.99Br_0.01)₃ Solar Cells via n-Octylammonium Iodide Surface Passivation

The influence of n-octylammonium iodide (OAI, passive layer) on the types of phases formed in a (MACl)0.33FA0.99MA0.01Pb(I0.99Br0.01)3 perovskite film was studied using X-ray diffraction. Using UV spectrophotometric techniques, it was determined how varied OAI additive layer ratios affected the linear and nonlinear optical characteristics of glass substrates/FTO/compact TiO2/mesoporous TiO2/(MACl)0.33FA0.99MA0.01Pb(I0.99Br0.01)3 films. All films’ direct optical bandgap energies were determined to be 1.54 eV. The effects of OAI addition on the films’ photoluminescence intensity and emitted colors were also investigated. For the fabricated perovskite solar cells (PSCs) without an OAI passivation layer, the corresponding power conversion efficiency (PCE), open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current density (JSC), and fill factor (FF) values were 18.8%, 1.02 V, 24.6 mAcm−2, and 75%, respectively. When the concentration of OAI reached 2 mg, the maximum obtained values of PCE, VOC, JSC, and FF were 20.2%, 1.06 V, 24.2 mAcm−2, and 79%, respectively. The decreased trap density and increased recombination resistance were responsible for the improvement in solar cell performance

Optimal Linear Preview Control of Slow active Suspension Systems

Preview control is investigated for active suspension systems. Two preview concepts are used: (a) look-ahead preview, where the information relating to roadway disturbances about to be encountered by the moving vehicle is assumed to be sensed, and (b) wheelbase preview, where knowledge of the front wheel states is used to improve performance at the rear of the vehicle. An optimal preview control method is developed for application to half car suspension systems having full active and slow active vibration control elements. The slow active system used consists of an actuator of limited bandwidth in series with a passive spring, the combination being in parallel with a passive damper. Integral constraints are included in the performance index to achieve better body attitude control. The effect of preview control on vehicle performance characteristics in terms of ride comfort, suspension deflections, and road-holding ability is investigated

UV-Induced Anisotropy In CdBr2-CdBr2: Cu Nanostructures

We have found an occurrence of anisotropy in the nanostructure CdBr2-CdBr2: Cu nanocrystalline films. The film thickness was varied from 4 nm up to 80 nm. The films were prepared by successive deposition of the novel layers onto the basic nanocrystals. The detection of anisotropy was performed by occurrence of anisotropy in the polarized light at 633 nm He-Ne laser wavelength. The occurrence of anisotropy was substantially dependent on the film thickness and the photoinduced power density. Possible mechanisms of the observed phenomena are discussed