Abandoning weight-loss programmes

Published scientific reports on obesity have repeatedly confirmed subjects' difficu"ies in maintaining weight loss. A study of unsuccessful dieters focused on a group of 50 obese subjects who had previously joined a slimming organisation, but who had dropped out. They were interviewed with emphasis on factors relating to reasons why the weight loss programmes had been abandoned. The subjects were reached through active members, who brought along unsuccessful slimmers to the group interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed. The results highlighted the following problem areas: motivational issues, perception of self, interpersonal/social and situational constraints, behaviour paUerns, physiological concerns, and previous experiences of weight loss programmes. Sample characteristics were examined with regard to relevant demographic and educational variables. Implications of the results are discussed

Integrated Diamond Optics for Single Photon Detection

Optical detection of single defect centers in the solid state is a key element of novel quantum technologies. This includes the generation of single photons and quantum information processing. Unfortunately the brightness of such atomic emitters is limited. Therefore we experimentally demonstrate a novel and simple approach that uses off-the-shelf optical elements. The key component is a solid immersion lens made of diamond, the host material for single color centers. We improve the excitation and detection of single emitters by one order of magnitude, as predicted by theory.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

A consistent explanation of the Roper phenomenology

We study the electromagnetic transitions of the Roper N(1440) resonance. Our results, when combined with the previously obtained for the mass and the pionic strong decay widths of the Roper, show that within a non-relativistic constituent quark model scheme, a comprehensible understanding of the Roper phenomenology can be achieved. They also seem to support the view of the Roper as a radial excitation of the nucleon, though more experimental data are needed to reach a definitive conclusion.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures (7 postscript files). Some referencess adde

Neurometabolic and Electrophysiological Changes During Cortical Spreading Depolarization: Multimodal Approach Based on a Lactate-Glucose Dual Microbiosensor Arrays

Spreading depolarization (SD) is a slow propagating wave of strong depolarization of neural cells, implicated in several neuropathological conditions. The breakdown of brain homeostasis promotes significant hemodynamic and metabolic alterations, which impacts on neuronal function. In this work we aimed to develop an innovative multimodal approach, encompassing metabolic, electric and hemodynamic measurements, tailored but not limited to study SD. This was based on a novel dual-biosensor based on microelectrode arrays designed to simultaneously monitor lactate and glucose fluctuations and ongoing neuronal activity with high spatial and temporal resolution. In vitroevaluation of dual lactate-glucose microbiosensor revealed an extended linear range, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response time and low oxygen-, temperature- and pH- dependencies. In anesthetized rats, we measured with the same array a significant drop in glucose concentration matched to a rise in lactate and concurrently with pronounced changes in the spectral profile of LFP-related currents during episodes of mechanically-evoked SD. This occurred along with the stereotypical hemodynamic response of the SD wave. Overall, this multimodal approach successfully demonstrates the capability to monitor metabolic alterations and ongoing electrical activity, thus contributing to a better understanding of the metabolic changes occurring in the brain following SD