165 research outputs found
Impact of building characteristics and occupantsâ behaviour on the electricity consumption of households in Abu Dhabi (UAE)
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. The per capita consumption of electricity in Abu Dhabi is one of the highest in the world. Air cooling (AC) in the residential sector is responsible for much of this consumption. A preliminary energy survey of 36 residential units (18 villas and 18 flats) was carried out in Abu Dhabi, followed by a more detailed energy audit of 15 villas owned and occupied by Emirati citizens. The mean per capita use of electricity in villas was 16,874 ± 4421 kWh/ca/yr and the mean energy intensity was 349.1 ± 102.6 kWh/m2. AC and domestic water heating (DWH) systems operate 24 h/day in most rooms of 12 villas, including times of no occupancy, and at least 9â14 h/day in most rooms of the other three dwellings. Building characteristics of the villas audited do not meet minimum Estidama Pearl 1 requirements, and their orientation often maximizes exposure to solar radiation. Model simulations provided estimates of the large energy savings achievable by increasing the AC thermostat temperature to 24 °C, by switching off AC and DWH when these are not needed and by retrofitting villas with roof insulation. These results highlight the importance of occupantsâ behaviour for energy conservation in the residential sector of Abu Dhabi
Diurnal patterns of energy intake derived via principal component analysis and their relationship with adiposity measures in adolescents. Results from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey RP (2008â2012)
Mounting evidence points towards the existence of an association between energy intake
in the evening and an increased prevalence and risk of being overweight and of obesity. The present
study aimed to describe diurnal eating patterns (DEP) in a nationally representative sample of
UK adolescents and to relate the derived DEP to anthropometrical measures. Data from four-day
food records of adolescents aged 11â18 years participating in the 2008â2012 UK National Diet and
Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (NDNS RP) was utilised. The DEP were derived using a
principal component analysis on the correlation matrix. Three orthogonal diurnal patterns were
interpretable as (i) a linear contrast (8% of total system variation) between breakfast and an earlier
lunch vs. a later lunch, late dinner, and evening/night snack, renamed âphase shiftâ DEP; (ii) a linear
contrast (6.0% of system variation) between midmorning snacks, late lunch, and early dinner vs.
breakfast, early and late morning snacks, early lunch, midafternoon snacks, and late dinner, renamed
âearly eating and grazingâ DEP; (iii) a linear contrast (6.0% of system variation) between late main
meals vs. early main meals and night snacks which was renamed âearly main meals and night snacks
vs. late main mealsâ DEP. After the adjustment for confounders, every 1 unit increase in the âearly
main meals and night snacks vs. late main mealsââ DEP score was significantly associated with a
0.29 kg/m2 and 11.6 mm increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference, respectively.
There were no significant associations with the other two main DEPs. In conclusion, adolescents who
tended to eat large early main meals and night snacks rather than slightly later main meals without
night snacks had higher BMI and waist circumference. Further research is required to explore the
determinants of DEP and to explore the impact of the context of eating and socioecological factors in
the development of specific DEP
Association between vitamin intake and respiratory complaints in adults from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey years 1â8
Objective: To examine the cross-sectional association between vitamins A, E, C and D from diet and supplements and the prevalence of respiratory complaints in a nationally representative sample of UK adults.
Methods: Data from adult participants of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme years 2008-2016 were used for the analysis. Logistic regression adapted for complex survey design was used to investigate the relationship between each vitamin intake in turn (exposure) and self-reported respiratory complaints (outcome), adjusting for relevant confounders.
Results: Overall, respiratory complaints were found in 33 of the 6115 adult patients aged 19 years and above. After adjustment for potential confounders, a negative association was observed between the intake of vitamin A and E intake from diet and supplements and respiratory complaints. For vitamin D, intake from supplements, but not diet, was inversely significantly associated with respiratory complaints. No association between vitamin C and respiratory complaints was observed.
Conclusion: In conclusion, intake of vitamin A and E from diet and supplements, and vitamin D from supplements, show strong evidence of association with lower self-reported prevalence of respiratory complaints in a nationally representative sample of UK adults
Day-time patterns of carbohydrate intake in adults by non-parametric multi-level latent class analysis. Results from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008/09â2015/16)
This study aims at combining time and quantity of carbohydrate (CH) intake in the definition
of eating patterns in UK adults and investigating the association of the derived patterns with type
2 diabetes (T2D). The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) Rolling Program included 6155
adults in the UK. Time of the day was categorized into 7 pre-defined time slots: 6â9 am, 9â12 noon,
12â2 pm, 2â5 pm, 5â8 pm, 8â10 pm, and 10 pmâ6 am. Responses for CH intake were categorized into:
no energy intake, CH <50% or â„50% of total energy. Non-parametric multilevel latent class analysis
(MLCA) was applied to identify eating patterns of CH consumption across day-time, as a novel
method accounting for the repeated measurements of intake over 3â4 days nested within individuals.
Survey-designed multivariable regression was used to assess the associations of CH eating patterns
with T2D. Three CH eating day patterns (low, high CH percentage and regular meal CH intake day)
emerged from 24,483 observation days; based on which three classes of CH eaters were identified and
characterized as: low (28.1%), moderate (28.8%) and high (43.1%) CH eaters. On average, low-CH
eaters consumed the highest amount of total energy intake (7985.8 kJ) and had higher percentages
of energy contributed by fat and alcohol, especially after 8 pm. Moderate-CH eaters consumed the
lowest amount of total energy (7341.8 kJ) while they tended to have their meals later in the day.
High-CH eaters consumed most of their carbohydrates and energy earlier in the day and within
the time slots of 6â9 am, 12â2 p.m. and 5â8 pm, which correspond to traditional mealtimes. The
high-CH eaters profile had the highest daily intake of CH and fiber and the lowest intake of protein
and fat. Low-CH eaters had greater odds than high-CH eaters of having T2D in self-reported but
not in previously undiagnosed diabetics. Further research using prospective longitudinal studies is
warranted to ascertain the direction of causality in the association of CH patterns with type 2 diabetes
Diurnal Patterns of Energy Intake Derived via Principal Component Analysis and Their Relationship with Adiposity Measures in Adolescents: Results from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey RP (2008â»2012).
Mounting evidence points towards the existence of an association between energy intake in the evening and an increased prevalence and risk of being overweight and of obesity. The present study aimed to describe diurnal eating patterns (DEP) in a nationally representative sample of UK adolescents and to relate the derived DEP to anthropometrical measures. Data from four-day food records of adolescents aged 11â»18 years participating in the 2008â»2012 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (NDNS RP) was utilised. The DEP were derived using a principal component analysis on the correlation matrix. Three orthogonal diurnal patterns were interpretable as (i) a linear contrast (8% of total system variation) between breakfast and an earlier lunch vs. a later lunch, late dinner, and evening/night snack, renamed "phase shift" DEP; (ii) a linear contrast (6.0% of system variation) between midmorning snacks, late lunch, and early dinner vs. breakfast, early and late morning snacks, early lunch, midafternoon snacks, and late dinner, renamed "early eating and grazing" DEP; (iii) a linear contrast (6.0% of system variation) between late main meals vs. early main meals and night snacks which was renamed "early main meals and night snacks vs. late main meals" DEP. After the adjustment for confounders, every 1 unit increase in the "early main meals and night snacks vs. late main meals"' DEP score was significantly associated with a 0.29 kg/mÂČ and 11.6 mm increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference, respectively. There were no significant associations with the other two main DEPs. In conclusion, adolescents who tended to eat large early main meals and night snacks rather than slightly later main meals without night snacks had higher BMI and waist circumference. Further research is required to explore the determinants of DEP and to explore the impact of the context of eating and socioecological factors in the development of specific DEP
Long sleep duration and social jetlag are associated inversely with a healthy dietary pattern in adults: results from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme 2008-2012
Limited observational studies have described the relationship between sleep duration and
overall diet. The present study investigated the association between sleep duration on weekdays
or social jetlag and empirically derived dietary patterns in a nationally representative sample of
UK adults, aged 19â64 years old, participating in the 2008â2012 UK National Diet and Nutrition
Survey Rolling Programme. Survey members completed between three to four days of dietary
records. Sleep duration on weekdays was categorized into tertiles to reflect short, normal, and long
sleep duration. Social jetlag was calculated as the difference between sleep duration on weekends
and weekdays. The association between sleep duration/social jetlag and dietary patterns, derived
by principal components analysis, was assessed by regressing diet on sleep, whilst accounting
for the complex survey design and adjusting for relevant confounders. Survey members in the
highest tertile of sleep duration had on average a 0.45 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) â0.78, â0.12)
lower healthy dietary pattern score, compared to middle tertile (p = 0.007). There was an inverted
u-shaped association between social jetlag and the healthy dietary pattern, such that when sleep on
weekends exceeded weekday sleep by 1 h 45 min, scores for indicating a healthy dietary pattern
declined (p = 0.005). In conclusion, long sleep duration on weekdays and an increased social jetlag
are associated with a lower healthy dietary pattern score. Further research is required to address
factors influencing dietary patterns in long sleepers
Long Sleep Duration and Social Jetlag Are Associated Inversely with a Healthy Dietary Pattern in Adults: Results from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme Y1â»4.
Limited observational studies have described the relationship between sleep duration and overall diet. The present study investigated the association between sleep duration on weekdays or social jetlag and empirically derived dietary patterns in a nationally representative sample of UK adults, aged 19â»64 years old, participating in the 2008â»2012 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme. Survey members completed between three to four days of dietary records. Sleep duration on weekdays was categorized into tertiles to reflect short, normal, and long sleep duration. Social jetlag was calculated as the difference between sleep duration on weekends and weekdays. The association between sleep duration/social jetlag and dietary patterns, derived by principal components analysis, was assessed by regressing diet on sleep, whilst accounting for the complex survey design and adjusting for relevant confounders. Survey members in the highest tertile of sleep duration had on average a 0.45 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) -0.78, -0.12) lower healthy dietary pattern score, compared to middle tertile (p = 0.007). There was an inverted u-shaped association between social jetlag and the healthy dietary pattern, such that when sleep on weekends exceeded weekday sleep by 1 h 45 min, scores for indicating a healthy dietary pattern declined (p = 0.005). In conclusion, long sleep duration on weekdays and an increased social jetlag are associated with a lower healthy dietary pattern score. Further research is required to address factors influencing dietary patterns in long sleepers
Antioxidant Rich Potato Improves Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Adults.
Arterial stiffness is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease and dietary anthocyanins may be important in mediating vascular tone. The present study investigated the effect of consumption of an anthocyanin-rich potato, Purple Majesty on arterial stiffness measured as pulse wave velocity in 14 healthy male and female adults. Participants consumed 200 g/day of cooked purple potato containing 288 mg anthocyanins, or a white potato containing negligible anthocyanins for 14 days, separated by a 7-day washout period. Non-invasive assessment of vascular tone by pulse wave velocity was determined in addition to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, glucose, insulin and C-reactive protein. Pulse wave velocity was significantly reduced (pâ=â0.001) following Purple Majesty consumption for 14-days. There were no significant changes with any other clinical parameter measured, and no changes following white potato consumption. The findings from this short-term study indicate a potential effect of Purple Majesty consumption on arterial stiffness
Day-Time Patterns of Carbohydrate Intake in Adults by Non-Parametric Multi-Level Latent Class Analysis-Results from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008/09-2015/16).
This study aims at combining time and quantity of carbohydrate (CH) intake in the definition of eating patterns in UK adults and investigating the association of the derived patterns with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) Rolling Program included 6155 adults in the UK. Time of the day was categorized into 7 pre-defined time slots: 6-9 am, 9-12 noon, 12-2 pm, 2-5 pm, 5-8 pm, 8-10 pm, and 10 pm-6 am. Responses for CH intake were categorized into: no energy intake, CH <50% or â„50% of total energy. Non-parametric multilevel latent class analysis (MLCA) was applied to identify eating patterns of CH consumption across day-time, as a novel method accounting for the repeated measurements of intake over 3-4 days nested within individuals. Survey-designed multivariable regression was used to assess the associations of CH eating patterns with T2D. Three CH eating day patterns (low, high CH percentage and frequent CH intake day) emerged from 24,483 observation days; based on which three classes of CH eaters were identified and characterized as: low (28.1%), moderate (28.8%) and high (43.1%) CH eaters. On average, low-CH eaters consumed the highest amount of total energy intake (7985.8 kJ) and had higher percentages of energy contributed by fat and alcohol, especially after 8 pm. Moderate-CH eaters consumed the lowest amount of total energy (7341.8 kJ) while they tended to have their meals later in the day. High-CH eaters consumed most of their carbohydrates and energy earlier in the day and within the time slots of 6-9 am, 12-2 pm and 5-8 pm, which correspond to traditional mealtimes. The high-CH eaters profile had the highest daily intake of CH and fiber and the lowest intake of protein and fat. Low-CH eaters had greater odds than high-CH eaters of having T2D in self-reported but not in previously undiagnosed diabetics. Further research using prospective longitudinal studies is warranted to ascertain the direction of causality in the association of CH patterns with type 2 diabetes
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