The economic impact of obesity in the United States

Over the past several decades, obesity has grown into a major global epidemic. In the United States (US), more than two-thirds of adults are now overweight and one-third is obese. In this article, we provide an overview of the state of research on the likely economic impact of the US obesity epidemic at the national level. Research to date has identified at least four major categories of economic impact linked with the obesity epidemic: direct medical costs, productivity costs, transportation costs, and human capital costs. We review current evidence on each set of costs in turn, and identify important gaps for future research and potential trends in future economic impacts of obesity. Although more comprehensive analysis of costs is needed, substantial economic impacts of obesity are identified in all four categories by existing research. The magnitude of potential economic impact underscores the importance of the obesity epidemic as a focus for policy and a topic for future research

200 bywgraffiad yn dathlu daucanmlwyddiant Llambed

Fel rhan o ddathliadau Daucanmlwyddiant, cynhaliodd staff yn y tîm Llyfrgell ac Adnoddau Dysgu brosiect i archwilio bywydau cyn-fyfyrwyr a’n staff yn Llambed. Mae eu prosiect yn darparu gwybodaeth am y rhai sydd wedi gwneud eu marc ar draws pob cefndir gan gynnwys Ysgolheictod, y Lluoedd Arfog, Y Celfyddydau, Crefydd, Addysg, Chwaraeon ac Adloniant ynghyd â meysydd eraill

200 biographies celebrating Lampeter's bicentenary

As a part of the Bicentenary celebrations, staff within the Library and Learning Resources team undertook a project to explore the lives of our Lampeter alumni and staff. Their project provides information on those who have made their mark across all walks of life including Academia, the Armed Forces, The Arts, Religion, Education, Sports and Entertainment and other areas

A simple label-free method reveals bacterial growth dynamics and antibiotic action in real-time

Funding: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Scottish Enterprise, NESTA Longitude Prize and the University of St Andrews.Understanding the response of bacteria to environmental stress is hampered by the relative insensitivity of methods to detect growth. This means studies of antibiotic resistance and other physiological methods often take 24 h or longer. We developed and tested a scattered light and detection system (SLIC) to address this challenge, establishing the limit of detection, and time to positive detection of the growth of small inocula. We compared the light-scattering of bacteria grown in varying high and low nutrient liquid medium and the growth dynamics of two closely related organisms. Scattering data was modelled using Gompertz and Broken Stick equations. Bacteria were also exposed meropenem, gentamicin and cefoxitin at a range of concentrations and light scattering of the liquid culture was captured in real-time. We established the limit of detection for SLIC to be between 10 and 100 cfu mL−1 in a volume of 1–2 mL. Quantitative measurement of the different nutrient effects on bacteria were obtained in less than four hours and it was possible to distinguish differences in the growth dynamics of Klebsiella pneumoniae 1705 possessing the BlaKPC betalactamase vs. strain 1706 very rapidly. There was a dose dependent difference in the speed of action of each antibiotic tested at supra-MIC concentrations. The lethal effect of gentamicin and lytic effect of meropenem, and slow bactericidal effect of cefoxitin were demonstrated in real time. Significantly, strains that were sensitive to antibiotics could be identified in seconds. This research demonstrates the critical importance of improving the sensitivity of bacterial detection. This results in more rapid assessment of susceptibility and the ability to capture a wealth of data on the growth dynamics of bacteria. The rapid rate at which killing occurs at supra-MIC concentrations, an important finding that needs to be incorporated into pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models. Importantly, enhanced sensitivity of bacterial detection opens the possibility of susceptibility results being reportable clinically in a few minutes, as we have demonstrated.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Excimer laser interaction with dentin of the human tooth

The use an excimer laser produced many unusual conical structures within the dentin of the inner part of the human tooth. By varying the frequency of the laser one can disperse the energy and cause more bleeding in laser surgery, but not destroy the cells associated with the incision. Therefore, the healing process will virtually be without scarring. Whereas, using the infrared laser the blood loss would be less, but the healing process would tend to be longer because cells are being destroyed due to the cauterization effect of the laser. The question is, are these structures produced as an interaction with the laser or are they an intrinsic part of the structure. The effects of the laser interaction upon dentin was studied, and in using electron microscopy the interaction of the excimer laser upon the tooth dentin and other various biological tissue is more clearly understood

Southeast Asian Refugee Youth: An Annotated Bibliography.

This 1988 bibliography was compiled in conjunction with the Minneapolis-St. Paul study on refugee youth. The 372 citations are listed under eight categories: adaptation and acculturation, education, physical and mental health, unaccompanied minors and Amerasian youth, courtship and marriage, general topics, journalism, and bibliographies. Abstracts are included with each entry.Southeast Asian Refugee Studies Project. Occasional Papers, Number Six

Sport coaches as policy actors: an investigation of the interpretation and enactment of disability and inclusion policy in swimming in Victoria Australia

This paper draws upon education policy sociology, and sport coaching literature, in critically examining sport coaches as policy actors. Stephen Ball and colleagues’ conceptualisation of different policy actor positions and roles provided the framework for research that investigated how eight professional swimming coaches in Victoria, Australia, interpreted and enacted disability and inclusion policy. A discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with the eight coaches reveals the complexities associated with how and why different coaches interpret and enact disability and inclusion policy imperatives in different ways in their specific club contexts. Data are presented that shows coaches adopting multiple and hybrid policy actor positions and roles as disability and inclusion policy was interpreted, translated and ultimately, expressed as pedagogic rules and practices. Our discussion brings to the fore questions about power, agency and control in coaching, while highlighting both limits and possibilities for the enactment of inclusive disability sport policies by swimming coaches working in Victoria, Australia. In conclusion we suggest that this research illustrates that coaches are capable of enacting social change, and have some agency to do so, but at the same time appear constrained by established discourses that shape policy and give important direction to pedagogic practice. We advocate that further in-depth research is required into the coaching policy-practice nexus, particularly as it relates to the advancement of equity and inclusion

Early Recognition and Management of Side Effects Related to Systemic Anticancer Therapy for Advanced Breast Cancer

Objectives: Advances in science and technology have meant there are numerous treatment options available for people with advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, each therapeutic approach can cause side effects or adverse events, which can significantly affect the person's quality of life, overall well-being, and, in some instances, safety. This report presents an overview of the common side effects of systemic anticancer therapy and ways to manage them. Data Sources: Data sources include peer-reviewed articles sourced in electronic databases and national and international best practice guidelines (ESMO, ASCO, and MASCC guidelines). Conclusion: Systemic anticancer therapies have side effects that healthcare professionals need to know about to monitor and manage them in early stages. Nurses play an important role in patient education, early identification, monitoring, and management of treatment side effects. Implications for Nursing Practice: People with ABC face many challenges during their treatment journey. Oncology nurses, specialist nurses, and nurse practitioners can be of support by providing preventive measures and side effects management at an early stage. Nurses need to have a good understanding of toxicity management but also advanced tumor-specific cancer knowledge of the different subtypes of ABC and holistic assessment skills. They are also key to providing support and enhancing self-management and early recognition of side effects. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/