A Review of the State-of-the Art in Marine Hydrodynamics

The purpose of the present paper is to summarise the present situation in the field of marine hydrodynamics. Since the William Froude time there has been considerable development in all fields of marine hydrodynamics, both experimental and particularly in theoretical methods and their numerical implementation. The role of computational methods is becoming more important because modern technology requires analysis of increasingly complex phenomena. The hydrodynamics institutes make efforts to expand their activities through integration of experimental and computational approach in order to be able to successfully answer the increased demands of the related industries

Određivanje izloženosti olovu i kadmiju putem zraka i hrane u stanovnika Zagreba

Exposure to lead and cadmium was monitored in a group of 17 non-smoking women in Zagreb. The monitoring included measurement of the intake of the two metals via air and the diet during a period of seven days. Duplicate daily diets and air filter samples were collected for analysis of lead and cadmium. To check the intake of lead and cadmium with the daily diet, faeces were collected and analysed. The mean gastrointestinal absorption was estimated to be 4.9 µg/day for lead and 0.75 µg/day for cadmium. These values were derived from faecal data which were assumed to be more reliable. The daily absorption through inhalation estimated on the basis of air analysis was 2.7 µg for lead and 0.03 µg for cadmium.Izloženost olovu i kadmiju mjerena je na skupini od 17 žena nepušačica u Zagrebu. Praćenje je uključivalo određivanje unosa ovih elemenata putem zraka i dnevne prehrane. Primijenjena je metoda „dvostrukih obroka“ i osobni sakupljači čestica zraka, uzastopce tijekom sedam dana. Kao kontrola unosa ovih elemenata putem hrane poslužilo je sakupljanje i analiza fekalija. Dobiveni rezultati upućuju na to da su vrijednosti dobivene iz fekalija pouzdanije te su one uzete za procjenu apsorpcije. Gastrointestinalna apsorpcija olova procijenjena je na vrijednost od 4,9 µg/dan, a kadmija na 0,75 µg/dan. Dnevno apsorbirana doze određena iz koncentracije elemenata u zraku daje vrijednost od 2,7 µg/dan za olovo, a 0,03 µg/dan za kadmij

Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: exercise as medicine?

Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of at least three out of five clinical risk factors: abdominal (visceral) obesity, hypertension, elevated serum triglycerides, low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and insulin resistance. It is estimated to affect over 20% of the global adult population. Abdominal (visceral) obesity is thought to be the predominant risk factor for metabolic syndrome and as predictions estimate that 50% of adults will be classified as obese by 2030 it is likely that metabolic syndrome will be a significant problem for health services and a drain on health economies.Evidence shows that regular and consistent exercise reduces abdominal obesity and results in favourable changes in body composition. It has therefore been suggested that exercise is a medicine in its own right and should be prescribed as such. Purpose of this review: This review provides a summary of the current evidence on the pathophysiology of dysfunctional adipose tissue (adiposopathy). It describes the relationship of adiposopathy to metabolic syndrome and how exercise may mediate these processes, and evaluates current evidence on the clinical efficacy of exercise in the management of abdominal obesity. The review also discusses the type and dose of exercise needed for optimal improvements in health status in relation to the available evidence and considers the difficulty in achieving adherence to exercise programmes. Conclusion: There is moderate evidence supporting the use of programmes of exercise to reverse metabolic syndrome although at present the optimal dose and type of exercise is unknown. The main challenge for health care professionals is how to motivate individuals to participate and adherence to programmes of exercise used prophylactically and as a treatment for metabolic syndrome