828 research outputs found
Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood overweight: heterogeneity across five countries in the WHO European childhood obesity surveillance initiative (COSI-2008)
Free PMC Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4856730/BACKGROUND: Excess risk of childhood overweight and obesity occurring in socioeconomically disadvantaged families has been
demonstrated in numerous studies from high-income regions, including Europe. It is well known that socioeconomic characteristics
such as parental education, income and occupation are etiologically relevant to childhood obesity. However, in the pan-European
setting, there is reason to believe that inequalities in childhood weight status may vary among countries as a function of differing
degrees of socioeconomic development and equity.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we have examined socioeconomic differences in childhood obesity in
different parts of the European region using nationally representative data from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Portugal
and Sweden that were collected in 2008 during the first round of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood
Obesity Surveillance Initiative.
RESULTS: Heterogeneity in the association between parental socioeconomic indicators and childhood overweight or obesity was
clearly observed across the five countries studied. Positive as well as negative associations were observed between parental
socioeconomic indicators and childhood overweight, with statistically significant interactions between country and parental
indicators.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings have public health implications for the WHO European Region and underscore the necessity to
continue documenting socioeconomic inequalities in obesity in all countries through international surveillance efforts in countries
with diverse geographic, social and economic environments. This is a prerequisite for universal as well as targeted preventive
actions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Referentiematrices en Ecotoopoppervlaktes Annex bij de Evaluatiemethodiek Schelde-estuarium Studie naar “Ecotoopoppervlaktes en intactness index”
Does Routine Endoscopy or Contrast Swallow Study After Esophagectomy and Gastric Tube Reconstruction Change Patient Management?
Background: Anastomotic leakage is a severe complication after esophagectomy. The objective was to investigate the diagnostic and predictive value of routine contrast swallow study and endoscopy for the detection of anastomotic dehiscence in patients after esophagectomy. Methods: All patients who underwent contrast swallow and/or endoscopy within 7 days after oesophagectomy for cancer between January 2005 and December 2009 were selected from an institutional database. Results: Some 173 patients underwent endoscopy, and 184 patients underwent a contrast swallow study. The sensitivity of endoscopy for anastomotic leakage requiring intervention is 56 %, specificity 41 %, positive predictive value (PPV) 8 %, and negative predictive value (NPV) 95 %. The sensitivity of contrast swallow study for detecting leakage requiring intervention in patients without signs of leakage was 20 %, specificity 20 %, PPV 3 %, and NPV 97 %. Conclusions: In patients without clinical suspicion of leakage, there is no benefit to perform routine examinations
Comparing feature matching for object categorization in video surveillance
In this paper we consider an object categorization system using local HMAX features. Two feature matching techniques are compared: the MAX technique, originally proposed in the HMAX framework, and the histogram technique originating from Bag-of-Words literature. We have found that each of these techniques have their own field of operation. The histogram technique clearly outperforms the MAX technique with 5-15% for small dictionaries up to 500-1,000 features, favoring this technique for embedded (surveillance) applications. Additionally, we have evaluated the influence of interest point operators in the system. A first experiment analyzes the effect of dictionary creation and has showed that random dictionaries outperform dictionaries created from Hessian-Laplace points. Secondly, the effect of operators in the dictionary matching stage has been evaluated. Processing all image points outperforms the point selection from the Hessian-Laplace operator
Radiating dipoles in photonic crystals
The radiation dynamics of a dipole antenna embedded in a Photonic Crystal are
modeled by an initially excited harmonic oscillator coupled to a non--Markovian
bath of harmonic oscillators representing the colored electromagnetic vacuum
within the crystal. Realistic coupling constants based on the natural modes of
the Photonic Crystal, i.e., Bloch waves and their associated dispersion
relation, are derived. For simple model systems, well-known results such as
decay times and emission spectra are reproduced. This approach enables direct
incorporation of realistic band structure computations into studies of
radiative emission from atoms and molecules within photonic crystals. We
therefore provide a predictive and interpretative tool for experiments in both
the microwave and optical regimes.Comment: Phys. Rev. E, accepte
Symmetry characterization of eigenstates in opal-based photonic crystals
The complete symmetry characterization of eigenstates in bare opal systems is
obtained by means of group theory. This symmetry assignment has allowed us to
identify several bands that cannot couple with an incident external plane wave.
Our prediction is supported by layer-KKR calculations, which are also
performed: the coupling coefficients between bulk modes and externally excited
field tend to zero when symmetry properties mismatch.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Self-Assembled Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces as moulds for Photonic Band Gap Materials
We propose systems with structures defined by self-assembled triply periodic
minimal surfaces (STPMS) as candidates for photonic bandgap materials. To
support our proposal we have calculated the photonic bands for different STPMS
and we have found that, at least, the double diamond and gyroid structures
present full photonic bandgaps. Given the great variety of systems which
crystalize in these structures, the diversity of possible materials that form
them and the range of lattice constants they present, the construction of
photonic bandgap materials with gaps in the visible range may be presently
within reach.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, RevTe
Macrozoöbenthosonderzoek MWTL in de delta 2012. Waterlichamen: Oosterschelde en Westerschelde (najaar)
Fabrication of photonic band gap crystal using microtransfer molded templates
We have proposed and demonstrated an economical technique to fabricate a three-dimensional layer-by-layer photonic band gapstructure in the infrared wavelengths. An organic polymer template structure, an inverse layer-by-layer photonic crystalstructure, is assembled using the microtransfer molding technique. This template is infiltrated with sol-gel or nanoparticle titanium oxide slurry, then later removed by heat treatment at a temperature range of 550–800 °C. This method can be extended to fabricatephotonic crystals operating at optical and ultraviolet frequencies
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