Determinants associated with obesity and physical activity in the public and private schools of the city of palermo

Introduction: Obesity is a medical condition associated with premature death and it is a risk factor for many chronic diseases. In this context, performing a regular physical activity promotes a healthy lifestyle, with significant health benefits. The aim of the study was to investigate behaviors that increase the risk of obesity and the determinants that encourage physical activity among adolescents. Materials and methods: The HBSC (Health Behavior in School-aged Children) questionnaire was administered to students in Palermo's private and public schools. For the sampling of public schools the protocol of the HBSC Surveillance System was followed; for the private ones it was opportunistic. Results: Private school students are more likely to exercise more than 3 days per week (OR 1.58) and are more likely to exercise more than 2 times a week (OR 2.08). Obese students in private schools in Palermo are more likely to perform physical activity for less than 3 days a week (OR 3.52) and a higher risk of not having breakfast (OR 10.11) and a snack between main meals (OR 3.82) every day. For all the schools examined, it emerged that obese subjects are more likely not to consume fruit (OR 3.13), to stay more than 6 hours a day in front of PCs and video games (OR 3.24) and more than 2 hours a day in front of TV (OR 3.79). Male students are more likely to perform physical activity for more than 3 days per week (OR 1.48) and intense physical activity at least 2 times per week (OR 1.76) Conclusions: It is necessary to intervene early with training on school and family in order to promote correct and responsible food choices and increase the level of physical activity among students. Therefore prevention interventions must be an integral part of coherent strategies based on tests of agreed effectiveness in order to minimize the risk linked to the development of diseases

Evidence for complex order parameter in La_{1.83}Sr_{0.17}CuO_4

The in-plane magnetic field penetration depth (\lambda_{ab}) in single-crystal La_{1.83}Sr_{0.17}CuO_4 was investigated by means of the muon-spin rotation (\muSR) technique. The temperature dependence of \lambda^{-2}_{ab} has an inflection point around 10-15K, suggesting the presence of two superconducting gaps: a large gap (\Delta_1^d) with d-wave and a small gap (\Delta_2^s) with s-wave symmetry. The zero-temperature values of the gaps at \mu_0H=0.02T were found to be \Delta_1^d(0)=8.2(2)meV and \Delta_2^s(0)=1.57(8)meV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Muon-spin-rotation measurements of the penetration depth in Li_2Pd_3B

Measurements of the magnetic field penetration depth $\lambda$ in the ternary boride superconductor Li$_2$Pd$_3$B ($T_c\simeq7.3$ K) have been carried out by means of muon-spin rotation ($\mu$SR). The absolute values of $\lambda$, the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $\kappa$, and the first $H_{c1}$ and the second $H_{c2}$ critical fields at T=0 obtained from $\mu$SR were found to be $\lambda(0)=252(2)$ nm, $\kappa(0)=27(1)$, $\mu_0H_{c1}(0)=9.5(1)$ mT, and $\mu_0H_{c2}(0)=3.66(8)$ T, respectively. The zero-temperature value of the superconducting gap $\Delta_0=$1.31(3) meV was found, corresponding to the ratio $2\Delta_0/k_BT_c=4.0(1)$. At low temperatures $\lambda(T)$ saturates and becomes constant below $T\simeq 0.2T_c$, in agreement with what is expected for s-wave BCS superconductors. Our results suggest that Li$_2$Pd$_3$B is a s-wave BCS superconductor with the only one isotropic energy gap.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Bacterial contamination of saline nasal irrigations in children: An original research

Microbiologic analysis of nasal saline irrigations (NSIs) used in hospitalized children was performed. Of 253 collected samples, 24.9% were positive, and the number of positive samples significantly increased over time (P < .001). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently detected bacterium (28.6%). None of the 118 patients who received NSIs developed a nasosinusal infection. Colonization by cutaneous and environmental germs is frequent and develops early. Hygienic measures should be advocated to reduce contamination

investigation of the dgat1 k232a and vntr mutations in dairy and dual purpose cattle breeds

AbstractSeveral studies have reported that the centromeric end of bovine chromosome 14 harbours QTL for milk production and composition traits. The acyl-Coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) gene was indicated to be the quantitative trait gene affecting these traits with a major effect on milk fat content. A two bp mutation in exon 8 causing a nonconservative lysine to alanine amino acid substitution at codon 232 (K232A) showed a confirmed effect across breeds with allele K resulting associated with an increase on fat yield, fat percentage and protein percentage while allele A was associated with higher milk yield. Another mutation in the 5' regulatory region of this gene, a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) of 18 bp, was suggested to affect fat percentage. The objective of the present work was to investigate the occurrence of the DGAT1 K232A and VNTR polymorphisms in several Italian dairy and dual purpose cattle breeds as a first step to evaluate their effects on milk production trait..

Frequenza e fenotipo delle mutazioni GJB2 in pazienti con ipoacusia neurosensoriale non-sindromica congenita: analisi di una coorte della Sicilia Occidentale

Circa il 60% delle ipoacusie congenite sono associate a cause genetiche nei paesi sviluppati. La sordit\ue0 genetica \ue8 classificata in sindromica (30%) e non sindromica (70%), quest\u2019ultima riconducibile in pi\uf9 del 50% dei casi a mutazioni del gene GJB2. Tale gene, espresso nella coclea, codifica per la proteina gap junction \u201cConnessina 26\u201d, la cui funzione \ue8 cruciale per la comunicazione intercellulare. L\u2019obiettivo del nostro lavoro \ue8 stato quello di stimare la frequenza delle mutazioni GJB2 e la loro correlazione con il fenotipo audiologico in 102 pazienti siciliani affetti da sordit\ue0 neurosensoriale congenita non sindromica (NSHL) bilaterale e portatori di almeno una mutazione del gene GJB2. Tutti i soggetti sono stati sottoposti a test genetici (per individuare la presenza di mutazioni dei geni GJB2 e GJB6) ed esame audio-impedenzometrico. Nella coorte studiata sono stati identificati 15 mutazioni differenti e 17 genotipi. Nel 64.72% dei pazienti si \ue8 evidenziata una perdita uditiva di grado profondo (media PTA0.25-4kHz= 88.82\ub126.52 dB HL ). L\u201981.37% dei soggetti \ue8 risultato portatore di almeno un allele c.35delG; le mutazioni c.167delT e c.-23+1G&gt;A sono state identificate nel 10.78% e nel 9.8% dei pazienti rispettivamente. Il genotipo omozigote per la mutazione c.35delG \ue8 risultato associato ad una pi\uf9 severa perdita uditiva e a valori medi di PTA0.25-4kHz pi\uf9 elevati (96.79\ub121.11 dB HL) rispetto ai genotipi c.35delG/non-c.35delG e c.35delG/Wt (P&lt;0.05) Il nostro studio evidenzia il ruolo di c.35delG, c.167delT e c.-23+1G&gt;A come cause principali di NSHL in Sicilia. La variabilit\ue0 del profilo audiologico associato ad un determinato genotipo \ue8 riconducibile all\u2019azione di geni e fattori ambientali in parte non ancora individuati

Study of the magnetic penetration depth in RbOs_2O_6

Measurements of the magnetic field penetration depth \lambda in the pyrochlore superconductor RbOs_2O_6 (T_c\simeq6.3 K) were carried out by means of the muon-spin-rotation (\muSR) technique. At low temperatures \lambda^{-2}(T) saturates and becomes constant below T\simeq 0.2T_c, in agreement with what is expected for weak-coupled s-wave BCS superconductors. The value of \lambda at T=0 was found to be in the range of 250 nm to 300 nm. \muSR and equilibrium magnetization measurements both reveal that at low temperatures $\lambda$ is almost (at the level of 10%) independent of the applied magnetic field. This result suggests that the superconducting energy gap in RbOs_2O_6 is isotropic.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Pressure effects on the transition temperature and the magnetic field penetration depth in the pyrochlore superconductor RbOs_2O_6

We report magnetization measurements under high hydrostatic pressure in the newly discovered pyrochlore superconductor RbOs_2O_6 (T_c\simeq6.3K at p=0). A pronounced and {\it positive} pressure effect (PE) on T_c with dT_c/dp =0.090(1)K/kbar was observed, whereas no PE on the magnetic penetration depth \lambda was detected. The relative pressure shift of T_c [ dlnT_c/dp \simeq 1.5%/kbar] is comparable with the highest values obtained for highly underdoped high-temperature cuprate superconductors. Our results suggest that RbOs_2O_6 is an adiabatic BCS-type superconductor.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Mixed order parameter symmetries in cuprate superconductors

The recent observation of an inflection point in the temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic field dependence (lambda_ab) is investigated within a two-band model with coupled order parameters of different symmetries. While the dominant order parameter has d-wave symmetry, the smaller one is of s-wave symmetry. Superconductivity is robust in the d-wave channel and induced via interband interactions in the s-wave subsystem.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure