Perceptions of body weight that vary by body mass index: Clear associations with perceptions based on personal control and responsibility.

This project aimed to identify the perceptions of body weight that vary by body mass index. First, a qualitative study explored body weight perceptions in 17 individuals with overweight. Second, a questionnaire was developed and completed by a UK sample with body mass index from 16.6 to 59.7 kg/m2 (N = 328). A higher body mass index was associated with perceptions of less personal control and responsibility. Body mass index in females was also associated with three other questionnaire factors and body mass index in males with illness/medication. Thus, body mass index was associated with different perceptions of body weight. Focussing on personal control and responsibility may be useful for treatment and prevention

Social orientation of banks

The influence of the bank's orientation on clients and the quality of the services provided on the financial efficiency of the commercial institution (sales volume, profitability, cost reduction) was studied. The development of online banking and Internet banking is considered. The relationship between the profitability of the bank and the level of customercentricity is proved. World experience has been compared and generalized, and country specificity has been singled out in different regions of the world. The dependence between the degree of customer satisfaction and their subsequent loyalty to the bank was studied. Prospective directions of expansion of the market of banking services are outlined, and also changes in the psychology of the client that took place due to scientific and technological progress are noted. The basic directions of increase of efficiency of work of the bank personnel are allocated

Who bought the South China Morning Post?

OBJECTIVE: To describe cochleovestibular aspects of superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system. BACKGROUND: Superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system is a rare disease in which cochleovestibular impairment, cerebellar ataxia, and myelopathy are the most frequent signs. Chronic recurrent subarachnoidal hemorrhage with bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid is the cause of deposition of hemosiderin in leptomeningeal and subpial tissue, cranial nerves, and spinal cord. Removing the cause of bleeding can prevent irreversible damage to these structures. Because this is the only effective treatment, an early diagnosis is crucial. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENT: A 72-year-old woman with superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system that developed when she was age 39. METHODS: Neurologic and imaging diagnostic examinations and longitudinal evaluation of cochleovestibular features were performed. Neurosurgery was not performed. RESULTS: Progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and severe vestibular hyporeflexia developed within 15 years, which can be attributed to lesions in the cochleovestibular system. Additional pathology of the central nervous system developed later. CONCLUSION: The patient demonstrated cochlear and vestibular findings that are typical of this pathologic condition. It is the first documented case with extensive serial audiometry used to precisely outline the degree of hearing deterioration during the course of the disease

Технологические способы вакуумно-плазменной обработки изделий для увеличения адгезии износостойких покрытий

В работе представлены экспериментальные результаты исследования комплексных технологических процессов получения износостойких нитридных покрытий, сочетающих вакуумно-дуговое напыление пленочных материалов данного типа с предварительной электронно-лучевой термической обработкой поверхности металлокерамических подложек. В работе дан анализ явлениям, происходящим как в области плазмы, так и процессам изменения функциональных характеристик исследуемых материалов. Представлены данные по измерениям микротвердости, износостойкости, а также приведены сопоставления по структуре и морфологии. Сравнивали физико-механические свойства двух видов покрытий, TiCuN и TiN, нанесённых на поверхность режущих пластин сплава ВК8. Исследования проводили с целью выявления механизмов усиления адгезии покрытий.The paper presents experimental results of investigation of complex technological processes for the production of wear-resistant nitride coatings that combine vacuum-arc deposition of film materials of this type with preliminary electron-beam thermal treatment of the surface of cermet substrates. The paper analyzes the phenomena occurring both in the plasma region and in the processes of changing the functional characteristics of the materials under study. The data on micro hardness and wear resistance measurements are presenting, and comparisons of structure and morphology are given. Physic mechanical properties of two types of coatings, TiCuN and TiN, applied to the surface of cutting inserts of VK8 alloy were comparing. Studies were carring out to identify mechanisms for enhancing adhe

Desmoglein 2 mutant mice develop cardiac fibrosis and dilation

Desmosomes are cell–cell adhesion sites and part of the intercalated discs, which couple adjacent cardiomyocytes. The connection is formed by the extracellular domains of desmosomal cadherins that are also linked to the cytoskeleton on the cytoplasmic side. To examine the contribution of the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 2 to cardiomyocyte adhesion and cardiac function, mutant mice were prepared lacking a part of the extracellular adhesive domain of desmoglein 2. Most live born mutant mice presented normal overall cardiac morphology at 2 weeks. Some animals, however, displayed extensive fibrotic lesions. Later on, mutants developed ventricular dilation leading to cardiac insufficiency and eventually premature death. Upon histological examination, cardiomyocyte death by calcifying necrosis and replacement by fibrous tissue were observed. Fibrotic lesions were highly proliferative in 2-week-old mutants, whereas the fibrotic lesions of older mutants showed little proliferation indicating the completion of local muscle replacement by scar tissue. Disease progression correlated with increased mRNA expression of c-myc, ANF, BNF, CTGF and GDF15, which are markers for cardiac stress, remodeling and heart failure. Taken together, the desmoglein 2-mutant mice display features of dilative cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, an inherited human heart disease with pronounced fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias that has been linked to mutations in desmosomal proteins including desmoglein 2