Self-Regulation of Saturated Fat Intake in Blue-Collar Employees: A Randomized Intervention Study

Blue-collar employees, compared to white-collar workers, are more vulnerable to developing chronic illness and are less likely to make healthy food choices. Saturated fat intake, an indicator of an unhealthy diet, is a major contributor to disease morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Interventions directed at increasing self-regulatory skills for health behaviors could possibly serve to bolster one\u27s sense of personal control in psychological and socio-economic realms. The current study was a 2 x 3 between-subjects repeated-measures randomized experimental design that examined the efficacy of a Self-regulation skill + Education intervention against an Education Only condition over a 6-week period, with assessments at baseline, week 4 (end of intervention), and week 6 (post-intervention). Outcome variables included saturated fat intake, self-efficacy for reducing saturated fat intake, and self-regulation for controlled eating. Blue-collar employees (N=54) at UWM were randomized to either condition. Participants in both groups had an equal number of individual in-person meetings. Both groups received the saturated fats information booklet, which discussed what saturated fat is, identified items high in saturated fats, and provided information on how to reduce this element in one\u27s diet. Self-regulation skill + Education participants also took part in a 4-week self-regulation skills training that involved selecting saturated fat reduction goals, self-monitoring, identifying barriers and strategies, self-administering rewards, evaluating progress and revising goals. Study procedures followed a carefully designed manual to ensure standardized intervention delivery; all participants were to receive equivalent educational informational with the intervention group receiving additional self-regulatory skills training. Mixed ANOVA analyses showed that significant differences emerged between groups. Specifically, the Self-regulation skill + Education group reported significantly lower saturated fat intake and greater self-regulation at the end of the intervention and post-intervention. The intervention group also reported significantly higher self-efficacy for saturated fat intake post-intervention. The present study has extended self-regulation research to saturated fat intake behavior within a low socio-economic status work group. The features of the Self-Regulation + Education intervention point to simple yet meaningful efforts for health behavior change and hold empirical and practical value. Research findings highlight that self-regulation training is an essential component of effective health behavior change and should be an integral component of multi-level illness prevention and health promotion efforts

Multipronged Approach to Study Glaucoma-Associated Phenotypes

Glaucoma refers to a group of conditions characterized by death of RGCs, increase in intraocular pressure is usually a precursor to glaucoma and irreversible optic neuropathy leads to visual impairment and blindness. Recent advances have seen a surge of new ideas and technologies to aid in the early detection, efficacious treatments and neuroprotection. Despite advances we face several challenges in understanding the pathophysiology of glaucoma. One of the many challenges scientists and ophthalmologists are facing is, to better understand IOP, its role in glaucomatous damage and design safer, more predictable IOP-lowering therapies. Another challenge is to find a practical method or develop tools to understand the molecular pathways to study RGC function and health to develop novel therapies for vision loss. This work leads to three complementary insights on how to address these challenges. First, we used a novel systems genetics approach to identify and validate genetic modifiers of IOP using the enlarged BXD family of strains in combination with human GWAS glaucoma cohorts. This will pave the way for improved drug development tailored to individual genotypes for POAG. Second, we have combined systems genetics, bidirectional studies using multiple species, meta-analyses, immunohistochemistry, FACS sorting and gene knockdown studies to identify and validate the identity of a genetic modulator of Sncg, a gene that has been previously implicated in RGC death in glaucoma. Outcomes of the investigation may provide clues to understanding the molecular mechanisms that account for the degenerative changes in RGCs in glaucoma. Third, we optimized a feasible, reproducible, standardized flow cytometry-based protocol for the isolation and enrichment of homogeneous RGC. This will allow for future careful assessment of important cell specific pathways in RGC to provide mechanistic insights into the declining of visual acuity in aged populations and those suffering from retinal neurodegenerative diseases. Taken together these studies offer a concise outlook on use of integrated systems science, molecular and imaging technologies as a needs-led innovation in ophthalmology and visual health

Four-Dimensional Imaging and Radiation Therapy: A Review of Challenges and Advancements in Clinical Practices

4-Dimensional Radiation therapy (4DRT) has been vastly developed in the past two decades. Motion management has become a vital part of high precision radiotherapy, wherein Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) turns out to be a great boon for treating thoracic and abdominal tumours with confidence. In this review paper, we have analyzed the development of motion management strategies and the advancement of 4DRT.We have discussed the evolution of Internal target volume (ITV), 4D imaging techniques and the problems of breathing motion. In the second part, we have discussed various methods to tackle breathing motion. We also have reviewed the dosimetric aspects of 4D imaging and its clinical implications. In the last section, we have elaborated the 4D radiation therapy and recent advancements and practices.&nbsp

PHARMACEUTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF GANDHAKAKALPA

Rasa Shastra is the pharmaceutical branch of Ayurveda which deals with the processing of metals and minerals having therapeutic importance. Rasa Oushadhies are the potent Ayurvedic preparations mainly containing metals and minerals.These Oushadhies possess wide range of therapeutic efficacy and are considered superior because of their qualities like small dose, quick action, palatability and longer shelf life. Gandhakakalpa is a Rasoushadhi mentioned in Basavarajeeyam 18th chapter 20th sloka indicated for Sthoulya. Gandhaka (Sulphur) and Madhuka thaila are the main ingredients of Gandhaka kalpa. Shodhana (purification), Murchchana, Mardana (trituration) are the important steps involved in preparation of Gandhaka kalpa. Shuddha Gandhaka & Murchchita Madhuka thaila were taken. After obtaining homogenous mixture, it was made into 500mg tablets. Till now,no research work has been carried out to standardize this formulation. Therefore, the present study has been planned to standardize the method of preparation of Gandhaka kalpa according to the method explained in the classical literature

The substantial research on Quantitative analysis and Publications measure in Forensic Medicine

The study examines the publication productivity of Forensic Medicine output during 1989-2016. The growth of the publications, RGR and Dt of the research output, Collaboration of authors, Collaborative co-efficient etc. in the study. The result of the study found that publications growth rate between 11 (0.26%) in 1989 and 447 (10.76%) in 201. The largest output in was found 447 publications in 2013. It is found the DC between 0.64 and 0.94 and overall DC measured to be 23.08 throughout study period. The study could be found DC was an increased and a decreased trend appeared in the whole study period. Value n in the field of Forensic Medicine is being analysed, it has calculated the exponential growth is n= 4.4320914 for author

Finite Element Analysis in Nanotechnology Research

The Finite Element Analysis in the field of Nanotechnology is continually contributing to the areas ranging from electronics, micro computing, material science, quantum science, engineering, biotechnology, medicine, aerospace, and environment and in computational nanotechnology. The finite element method (FEM) is widely used for solving problems of traditional fields of engineering and Nano research where experimental analysis is unaffordable. This numerical technique can provide accurate solution to complex engineering problems. Over decades this method has become the noted research area for the mathematicians. The popularity of FEM is due to the advent of computer FEA software such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, ABAQUS, Matlab, OPEN Foam, Simscale and the like. With the development of nanoscience, the researchers found difficulties in spending funds for nano related projects. The FEA has evolved as the affordable methodology and offers solutions to all complicated systems of research

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARM BASED EMBEDDED INTELLIGENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLE POSITION SYSTEM

With ARM7 as the core, this paper discusses a kind of design of vehicle location system. The new mobile vehicle Positioning architecture and working theory of this system is integrated by a lot of hardware modules such as ARM microprocessor LPC2129 as a control unit to combinative with GPS LR9548 and GSM TC35 modules By the hardware/software co-design, the new mobile vehicle Positioning system can be designed. It explores location solution, map matching and data compress associated with the positioning, shows a pro-gram flowchart and predicts the trend of the vehicle location system in the future and meets the traffic auditing department’s needs about Mobile Vehicle Location. The set up consists of ARM7TDMI core, which is a 32- bit microprocessor, GSM & GPS serves as an important part as it is responsible for Positioning of the Vehicle. ARM7TDMI is an advanced version of microprocessors and forms the heart of the system. GSM operates through SMSs and is the link between ARM processor and centralized unit. This project is used to find the exact Location of the vehicle. GSM is used to inform the user about the exact Location of the vehicle. The information is given on user request in form of SMS. GSM modem can be controlled by standard set of AT (Attention) commands. These commands can be used to control majority of the functions of GSM modem

Analysis of Library Professional’s Opinion in Implementing the Social Network Media in Academic Library

The present compact research study aims to find the opinion of Library Professional by approaching a well structured, informative questionnaire which was distributed and gathered with the help of electronic channel of e-mail, WhatsApp and Facebook for refreshing goods and services of academic library on SNM with ICT for getting maximum satisfaction from academic users. The various observations have been evaluated as in the form of result that most of librarian suggested that the SNM is an essential tool for updating the educational resources such as employment news, previous question paper and educational e-resources for the purpose of remote scholars of academic library user and making strong relationships in their user community. The internet speed and configuration of computer were not upgraded in the academic institutions except industrial organization