Evaluation of the Proximity of Singaporean Children’s Dietary Habits to Food-Based Dietary Guidelines

Dietary habits in children may not only impact current health status but could also shape future, lifelong dietary choices. Dietary intake data in Singaporean children are limited. The current study aimed to define the overall diet quality of Singaporean children using an existing cross-sectional dataset and to consider how demographic factors (i.e., body mass index (BMI) status, ethnicity, age, and sex) were associated with these scores. Existing, cross-sectional dietary data (n = 561 children aged 6–12 years, collected in 2014–2015) from duplicate 24-h recalls were assessed for diet quality using an index based on the Singaporean Health Promotion Board dietary guidelines. Total diet quality scores were calculated from ten different components (frequencies of rice and alternatives, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and alternatives, dairy and alternatives, total fat, saturated fat, sodium intake, and added sugars). Association with demographic factors and BMI category was evaluated by one-way multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA) tests, with Bonferroni post hoc analyses. Median (interquartile range) total diet quality scores were 65.4 (57.1–73.0). Median scores for whole grains (0.0, 0.0–33.4), fruits (24.1, 0.0–65.3), vegetables (36.5, 10.4-89.8), and sodium (58.4, 0.0–100.0) intake were frequently sub-optimal. Children of Malay ethnic origin had statistically lower total diet quality scores ((55.3, 47.5–60.3) vs. other ethnic groups (combined median 65.4 (57.1, 73.0); p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for continuing efforts to improve dietary intake in young Singaporeans and for longitudinal dietary monitoring in this group

Maternal Cardiovascular Dysfunction is Associated with Hypoxic Cerebral and Umbilical Doppler Changes.

We investigate the relationship between maternal cardiovascular (CV) function and fetal Doppler changes in healthy pregnancies and those with pre-eclampsia (PE), small for gestational age (SGA) or fetal growth restriction (FGR). This was a three-centre prospective study, where CV assessment was performed using inert gas rebreathing, continuous Doppler or impedance cardiography. Maternal cardiac output (CO) and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) were analysed in relation to the uterine artery, umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility indices (PI, expressed as z-scores by gestational week) using polynomial regression analyses, and in relation to the presence of absent/reversed end diastolic (ARED) flow in the UA. We included 81 healthy controls, 47 women with PE, 65 with SGA/FGR and 40 with PE + SGA/FGR. Maternal CO was inversely related to fetal UA PI and positively related to MCA PI; the opposite was observed for PVR, which was also positively associated with increased uterine artery impedance. CO was lower (z-score 97, p = 0.02) and PVR higher (z-score 2.88, p = 0.02) with UA ARED flow. We report that maternal CV dysfunction is associated with fetal vascular changes, namely raised impedance in the fetal-placental circulation and low impedance in the fetal cerebral vessels. These findings are most evident with critical UA Doppler changes and represent a potential mechanism for therapeutic intervention

Ultrafiltration versus diuretics on prognostic cardiac and renal biomarkers in acute decompensated heart failure : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Properties and expression of Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunit isoforms in the brain of the swamp eel, Monopterus albus, which has unusually high brain ammonia tolerance

10.1371/journal.pone.0084298PLoS ONE812-POLN

High Brain Ammonia Tolerance and Down-Regulation of Na+:K+:2Cl- Cotransporter 1b mRNA and Protein Expression in the Brain of the Swamp Eel, Monopterus albus, Exposed to Environmental Ammonia or Terrestrial Conditions

10.1371/journal.pone.0069512PLoS ONE89-POLN

Molecular Characterization of Branchial aquaporin 1aa and Effects of Seawater Acclimation, Emersion or Ammonia Exposure on Its mRNA Expression in the Gills, Gut, Kidney and Skin of the Freshwater Climbing Perch, Anabas testudineus

10.1371/journal.pone.0061163PLoS ONE84

Market orientation and the property development business in Singapore

The property development business is often regarded as one of high risk and return. As such, developing a competitive advantage is critical. Extant literature suggests that market orientation is a form of sustainable competitive advantage for businesses. This paper is an attempt to test this relationship with specific reference to a high risk business such as property development. A market orientation scale is developed to measure the degree of market orientation in property development firms. The results show that there exists a significant positive relationship for two specific dimensions of market orientation, i.e., profit orientation and responsiveness with business performance and marketing performance. Furthermore, empirical findings showed that the relationship between market orientation and marketing performance was stronger than with business performance. Rinkos orientacija ir nekilnojamojo turto plėtros verslas Singapūre Santrauka Nekilnojamojo turto plėtros verslas dažnai laikomas itin rizikingu ir pelningu. Todėl būtina&nbsp;įgyti konkurencini pranašumą. Dalykinėje literatūroje rašoma, kad rinkos orientacija ‐ tai subalansuoto konkurencinio pranašumo forma versle. Straipsnyje mėginama ši ryši patikrinti, nagrinėjant būtent itin rizikinga verslą, tokį&nbsp;kaip nekilnojamojo turto plėtra. Sukurta rinkos orientacijos skale, kuria remiantis matuojamas rinkos orientacijos laipsnis nekilnojamojo turto plėtros firmose. Rezultatai rodo, kad yra nemažas teigiamas ryšys tarp dviejų&nbsp;konkrečiu rinkos orientacijos aspektu, t. y. orientacijos į&nbsp;pelną&nbsp;ir reagavimo i verslo rezultatus bei i rinkodaros rezultatus. Be to, empirines išvados rodo, kad rinkos orientacijos ryšys su rinkodaros rezultatais yra stipresnis nei su verslo rezultatais. First published online: 18 Oct 201

Market orientation and the property development business in Singapore

The property development business is often regarded as one of high risk and return. As such, developing a competitive advantage is critical. Extant literature suggests that market orientation is a form of sustainable competitive advantage for businesses. This paper is an attempt to test this relationship with specific reference to a high risk business such as property development. A market orientation scale is developed to measure the degree of market orientation in property development firms. The results show that there exists a significant positive relationship for two specific dimensions of market orientation, i.e., profit orientation and responsiveness with business performance and marketing performance. Furthermore, empirical findings showed that the relationship between market orientation and marketing performance was stronger than with business performance. Rinkos orientacija ir nekilnojamojo turto plėtros verslas Singapūre Santrauka Nekilnojamojo turto plėtros verslas dažnai laikomas itin rizikingu ir pelningu. Todėl būtina įgyti konkurencini pranašumą. Dalykinėje literatūroje rašoma, kad rinkos orientacija ‐ tai subalansuoto konkurencinio pranašumo forma versle. Straipsnyje mėginama ši ryši patikrinti, nagrinėjant būtent itin rizikinga verslą, tokį kaip nekilnojamojo turto plėtra. Sukurta rinkos orientacijos skale, kuria remiantis matuojamas rinkos orientacijos laipsnis nekilnojamojo turto plėtros firmose. Rezultatai rodo, kad yra nemažas teigiamas ryšys tarp dviejų konkrečiu rinkos orientacijos aspektu, t. y. orientacijos į pelną ir reagavimo i verslo rezultatus bei i rinkodaros rezultatus. Be to, empirines išvados rodo, kad rinkos orientacijos ryšys su rinkodaros rezultatais yra stipresnis nei su verslo rezultatais. First published online: 18 Oct 201

Possible liquid electrolytes for fluoride ion batteries

While lithium ion batteries have been commercialized and used in everyday electronics for the last 22 years, its cell life and thermal stability issues hinder the use of lithium ion batteries in larger scale applications such as the automotive and aerospace industries. Instead, the substitution of lithium ion charge carrier with fluoride ions presents itself as a promising alternative to the highly reactive lithium. Also the properties of ionic liquids are also considered in both lithium and fluoride ion battery applications as alternative electrolytes. Therefore, the possibility of using ionic liquids and fluoride ion charge carrier is explored in this report. Solubility of alkali fluorides in three perfluorinated ionic liquids and common organic solvents, including the effect of adding cation specific crown ethers, are studied. Alkali fluorides are found to exhibit low solubility with low concentrations possible with the aid of crown ether. Also, the electrochemical stability of these solutions are measured and compared to pure ionic liquids and existing lithium ion battery benchmarks, showing good comparison. Finally, conductivity of solutions measured showed variation in solutions with their respective constituents, according to literature, providing conclusive results on the possible electrolyte composition to be used for fluoride ion batteries.Bachelor of Engineering (Materials Engineering

A longitudinal cohort study of maternal cardiovascular and biomarker changes in fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia

Pre eclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are perceived as placenta mediated disorders. However, large epidemiological studies has shown that women diagnosed with PE have significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease in later life. Hence, the pathophysiology of PE and FGR might be more closely linked to the maternal heart than previously thought. Maladaptation to haemodynamic changes in pregnancy could herald the manifestation of PE and FGR. Traditionally, PE is classified into “early”, onset prior to 34 weeks gestation; and “late” onset after 34 weeks. This arbitrary classification was decided because early PE usually co-exist with FGR and therefore clinically distinct from late PE. Women across gestation (24-40 weeks) with PE, FGR,PEFGR and normal outcomes were recruited. At each visit, maternal cardiovascular and arterial function was studied, ultrasound examination performed and serum/urine collected. Those with PE and/or FGR participated in an exercise step test. In PE, there was increased cardiac output (CO) and lower peripheral vascular resistance (PVR). Conversely, pregnancies with FGR, regardless of whether PE co-exists, showed increased PVR, independent of gestational age. Arterial function was abnormal in all pathological cases. Low maternal CO and high maternal PVR are associated with raised impedance in the maternal uterine and fetal umbilical arteries. Metabonomic characterisation and BAFF /PAF immunological marker support the distinction of PE from PEFGR. In conclusion, this study has established distinct cardiovascular haemodynamic and serum profile in normal, PE and FGR pregnancies, irrespective of gestational age. Maternal cardiovascular profile is associated with utero-placental and fetal Doppler changes. These findings have implications on clinical choice of antihypertensives in pregnancy. It also raises the possibility of improving fetal outcomes via manipulation of maternal cardiac function pharmacologically. There were no obvious differences in cardiovascular adaptation neither in relation to exercise nor postnatally between the groups.Open Acces