Association of Nutritional, Functional Status and Lifestyle Habits with Bone Health Status Amongst the Institutionalized Elderly

The rising incidence of osteoporosis is well established especially among institutionalized residents. The aim of the study was to determine the association of nutritional status, functional status and lifestyle habits with bone health status among institutionalized elderly. Bone health status was assessed using Quantitative Ultrasound Sonometry (QUS-2), which measures Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA, dB/MHz) at the calcaneus. Body weight, height and body fat were assessed using SECA 767 and body fat analyzer (HBF-302 Omron). Sociodemographic background, reproductive history, history of bone fracture, lifestyle habits, dietary intake and functional status (Elderly Mobility Scale-EMS and Instrumental Activity Daily Living- IADL) of the subjects were assessed using appropriate instruments. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13.0 and Malaysian food composition database A total of 363 subjects comprising of 158 males (43.5%) and 205 females (56.5%) were recruited from 33 old folk’s homes and nursing homes in the Klang Valley. The subjects comprised of 79.3% Chinese, 11.6% Indians, 5.5% Malays and other races (3.6%). The mean age of the subjects was 75.8 ± 9.1 years old. The mean weight, height and body fat mass for male and female were 56.7 ± 11.9 and 50.6 ± 13.8, 161.9 ± 7.7 and 149.5 ± 11.7, 15.6 ± 7.0 and 16.7 ± 11.8, respectively. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) for male and female were 21.6 ± 4.3kg/m 2 and 22.4 ± 5.6 kg/m 2 . Based on BMI classification, 23.3% of the subjects were underweight, 52.9% with normal weight and 23.8% were overweight and obese. The mean BUA was 61.4 ± 19.8 dB/MHz. Majority of the subjects had second tertile of BUA and there was only 10.0% of subject with third tertile of BUA. The mean energy intake was 1311 ± 312 Kcal. The mean calcium intake was low, with 428 ± 277 mg in males and 454 ± 281 mg in females. More than 50% of the subjects had daily calcium intake less than RNI for Malaysian. Approximately half of the subjects achieved 75 th percentile for EMS. However, score for IADL was low, with a mean of 8.6 ± 4.6. There were 61.7% of subjects who exercised currently with a majority of them practicing brisk walking. The results revealed significant correlation between BUA and weight (r=0.390, p<0.01), fat mass (r=0.156, p<0.01), phosphorus intake (r=-0.148, p<0.05), protein intake (r=-0.121, p<0.05), vitamin C (0.120, p<0.05), EMS (r=0.241, p<0.01) and IADL (r=0.250, p<0.01), duration exercise per session (r=0.138, p<0.05). Body weight, IADL score, and vitamin C intake were the main contributors for bone health status among the subjects, which explain 21.5% of the variation in the BUA significantly (p<0.001). As a conclusion, institutionalized elderly should be given better care or intervention in achieving optimal body weight and dietary intakes through providence of better nutrition and rehabilitation efforts to improve functional status

Debt Securities Issuance in Malaysia: Type of Security and Impact on Equity Returns, Systematic and Total Risk

The study examines the association of company characteristics with debt securities offers and explores whether there is any significant difference between hybrid and non-hybrid debt securities issuers. In addition, the study investigates the impact of debt securities issuance on the equity market behaviour of the issuers. The regression result found a positive and significant association for company size but negative association for managerial ownership structure with debt securities issuance. Subsequently, using logistic regression techniques, the study revealed that companies with higher profitability and higher managerial ownership appear to favour non-hybrid debt securities to hybrid debt securities. Nonetheless, the study found no significant difference between hybrid and non-hybrid debt securities issuers in terms of company size, asset tangibility and growth opportunities. The event study results reveal that overall debt securities issuers experience increase in company return following the debt securities issuance and decrease in systematic risk while total risk remain unchanged. Hybrid debt securities experience significant fall in stock returns and systematic risk but an increase in total risk. Non-hybrid debt securities issues, however, are found to have no impact on equity market behaviour. Findings of the study imply the need to promote participation from financially strong companies in the hybrid debt securities segment. Further, the decline in systematic risk for debt securities issuing companies could motivate the issuance of debt securities and thus improve the market liquidity. Finally, non-hybrid debt securities are not appropriate to be used for market signal as no impact on market behaviour was found following the non-hybrid debt securities issuance

Luke's soteriology: a dynamic event in motion

The purpose of this thesis is to probe the nature of Luke's soteriology by focusing on Luke’s geographical (spatial-temporal) perspective within which the narrative world of Luke-Acts moves. In this thesis, by presenting space-time as intertwined aspects of the same event or reality, I have proposed that we rethink Luke's space-time as a dynamic event in motion. Within this framework, I have proposed that Luke's notion of salvation should be understood not as a static system for containing motion or a fixed framework for defining action, but as a dynamic event in motion, becoming, and flowing, which creates a new salvific space-time (i.e. the kingdom of God) in-between, among, around, and beyond regions and persons. Thus, 1 have proposed that we think of salvation in terms of the nomadic movements of flows that unfold the multiple layers (multiplicity) of release from various fabrics of captivity and oppression - i.e., release from sins and various forms of physical-spiritual sicknesses, stigmas, and debts. Thus we should rethink salvation in the following ways. (1) Not in terms of a dichotomy between physical and spiritual, but as both physical spiritual: both conditions applying to the same saving event. (2) Not as hierarchical or singular, but as heterogeneous and multiple. (3) Not as static moments, but as something flowing, being-toward, and in motion, showing that salvation and its nomadic event of flows is pictured as being in a constant state of movement, signifying an endless qualitative change in type and kind. This means salvation is a nomadic event of release and deterritorialization from one sphere to another. It deterritorializes the fixed, binary, and hierarchical system of the Jerusalem temple, creates the heterogeneous and relational space of God, and establishes multiple access points to the dynamic network (the kingdom) of God