From conception the dynamic balance between nutritional and activity factors play a role in the accumulation of risk for future disease. Maternal nutrient balance and the subsequent dietary pattern of the family set the path for the growth and development of the individual and therefore also for their offspring. There is strong evidence from studies in India that mothers who have a low vitamin B12 status, but high folate, will have children with higher adiposity and more cardiovascular risk factors than those with adequate B12. The B12 status is closely linked to the dietary pattern particularly the consumption of red meat which has a high B12 content. In New Zealand there are an increasing number of Indian migrants. Vegetarianism is also practiced by an increasing number including young women. In addition, there is a high rate (up to 60%) of unplanned pregnancies in New Zealand. In the 1997 New Zealand National Nutrition Survey (NNS97) report, vitamin B12 intake appeared adequate for the New Zealand population and breakfast cereals were reported as one major dietary source of B12. Cereals in New Zealand however, were not fortified with B12 and there was an error in the FOODfile™ data entries for B12 in some cereals. The raw data of reported B12 intakes in the 24-hour diet recall (24HDR) of NNS97 was reanalysed at the individual level by subtracting the B12 derived from breakfast cereals and applying the 2005 revised estimated average requirement (EAR) value. The possible prevalence of B12 insufficiency was 2.4 times that originally reported by the NNS97, translating into a prevalence of up to 27% of the population sampled. This analysis was limited as it was not adjusted for day-to-day variance or to the New Zealand population. This apparently high prevalence of risk for inadequate B12 intake in the surveyed individuals required confirmation that the B12 intake from 24HDR and also a 7-day diet diary (7DDD) was a valid assessment of B12 status. The group of particular interest is women of childbearing age (18-50y) with a range of eating patterns. Thirty eight women aged 19-48y; 12 non-red-meat-eaters (5 Indians vs. 7 non-Indians) and 26 red-meat-eaters (1 Indian vs. 25 non-Indians) participated in this validation study. Anthropometry and hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance (BIA) were measured on the same day as a 24HDR was recorded. Fasting serum lipids, glucose, haematological parameters, and serum B12, holotranscobalamin II (holo-TC II, a specific B12 biomarker), and folate concentrations were measured. Foods eaten and time spent in physical activity during the following 7 days were extracted from 7DDD and 7-day physical activity diary (7DPAD). There was no significant correlation between dietary intake (24HDR or 7DDD) and biomarkers for B12 status. Indians reported lower mean daily B12 intakes in 7DDD than non-Indians (1.6 vs. 4.5 μg/day, p<0.001) and this was confirmed by Indians’ significantly low serum B12 (203 vs. 383 pmol/L, p=0.04) and holo-TC II (35 vs. 72 pmol/L, p=0.02) concentrations compared to non-Indians. A similar pattern was found between non-red-meat-eaters and red-meat-eaters in daily B12 intake in 7DDD (2.3 vs. 4.8 μg/day, p<0.001) and in B12 biomarkers (serum B12, 263 vs. 397 pmol/L, p=0.01; holo-TC II, 43 vs. 77 pmol/L, p<0.005). Non-red-meat-eaters reported significantly higher daily folate intake in 7DDD (359 vs. 260 μg/day, p=0.01) than red-meat-eaters but no significant difference was found in serum folate concentration between these groups (29 vs. 24 pmol/L, p=0.10). Indians/non-red-meat-eaters also reported lower daily protein intake and higher percentage of total energy from carbohydrate in 7DDD compared to non-Indians/red-meat-eaters but total reported energy intake tended to be under-reported and physical activity over-reported when assessed against estimated basal metabolic rate (BMR). Body composition varied by dietary pattern. Indians/non-red-meat-eaters had higher body fat percentage (BF %) and weaker grip strength than non-Indians/red-meat-eaters. In addition, Indians had a significantly higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) than non-Indians. Overall, the whole group reported that they were inactive. The median time spent in moderate, high and maximal intensity activities was only 19 minutes a day, which did not meet the NZ guideline for adults of 30 minutes a day. In this small study nutrient analysis of diet by 24HDR or 7DDD, was not a reliable or accurate way to assess B12 insufficiency. Questions about dietary patterns such as “do you eat red meat”, and taking ethnicity into account could more easily identify the at risk population. Supplementation and/or fortification of B12 should be considered before pregnancy.

Calcium is one of the closely relevant metal ions that involves in enormous physicochemical activities in human body, including cell division and apoptosis, muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, enzyme activation, and blood-clotting. Calcium fulfills its functions through the binding to different classes of calcium-binding proteins. To facilitate our understanding of the roles of calcium in biological systems, and to design novel metal-binding proteins with tailored binding capabilities, it is important to develop computation algorithms to predict calcium-binding sites in different classes of proteins. In literature, calcium-binding sites may be represented by either a spacial point, or the set of residues chelating calcium ion. A thorough statistical analysis of known calcium-binding proteins deposited in Protein Data Bank gives reference values of various parameters characterizing geometric and chemical features in calcium-binding sites including distances, angles, dihedral angles, the Hull property, coordination numbers, ligand types and formal charges. It also reveals clear differences between the well-known EF-hand calcium-binding motif and other calcium-binding motifs. Utilizing the above multiple geometric and chemical parameters in well-formed calcium binding sites, we developed MUG (MUltiple Geometries) program. MUG can re-identify the coordinates of the documented calcium ion and the set of ligand residues. Three previously published data sets were tested. They are comprised of, respectively, 19, 44 and 54 holo protein structures with 48, 92 and 91 documented calcium-binding sites. Defining a "correct hit" as a point within 3.5 angstrom to the documented calcium location, MUG has a sensitivity around 90% and selectivity around 80%. The set of ligand residues (calcium-binding pockets) were identified for 43, 66 and 63 documented calcium ion in these three data set respectively. In order to achieve true prediction, our program was then enhanced to predict calcium-binding pockets in apo (calcium-free) proteins. Our new program MUGSR accounts for the conformational changes involved in calcium-binding pockets before and after the binding of calcium ions. It is able to capture calcium binding pockets that may undergo local conformational changes or side chain torsional rotations, which is validated by referring back to the corresponding holo protein structure sharing more than 98% sequence similarity with the apo protein.

From conception the dynamic balance between nutritional and activity factors play a role in the accumulation of risk for future disease. Maternal nutrient balance and the subsequent dietary pattern of the family set the path for the growth and development of the individual and therefore also for their offspring. There is strong evidence from studies in India that mothers who have a low vitamin B12 status, but high folate, will have children with higher adiposity and more cardiovascular risk factors than those with adequate B12. The B12 status is closely linked to the dietary pattern particularly the consumption of red meat which has a high B12 content. In New Zealand there are an increasing number of Indian migrants. Vegetarianism is also practiced by an increasing number including young women. In addition, there is a high rate (up to 60%) of unplanned pregnancies in New Zealand. In the 1997 New Zealand National Nutrition Survey (NNS97) report, vitamin B12 intake appeared adequate for the New Zealand population and breakfast cereals were reported as one major dietary source of B12. Cereals in New Zealand however, were not fortified with B12 and there was an error in the FOODfile™ data entries for B12 in some cereals. The raw data of reported B12 intakes in the 24-hour diet recall (24HDR) of NNS97 was reanalysed at the individual level by subtracting the B12 derived from breakfast cereals and applying the 2005 revised estimated average requirement (EAR) value. The possible prevalence of B12 insufficiency was 2.4 times that originally reported by the NNS97, translating into a prevalence of up to 27% of the population sampled. This analysis was limited as it was not adjusted for day-to-day variance or to the New Zealand population. This apparently high prevalence of risk for inadequate B12 intake in the surveyed individuals required confirmation that the B12 intake from 24HDR and also a 7-day diet diary (7DDD) was a valid assessment of B12 status. The group of particular interest is women of childbearing age (18-50y) with a range of eating patterns. Thirty eight women aged 19-48y; 12 non-red-meat-eaters (5 Indians vs. 7 non-Indians) and 26 red-meat-eaters (1 Indian vs. 25 non-Indians) participated in this validation study. Anthropometry and hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance (BIA) were measured on the same day as a 24HDR was recorded. Fasting serum lipids, glucose, haematological parameters, and serum B12, holotranscobalamin II (holo-TC II, a specific B12 biomarker), and folate concentrations were measured. Foods eaten and time spent in physical activity during the following 7 days were extracted from 7DDD and 7-day physical activity diary (7DPAD). There was no significant correlation between dietary intake (24HDR or 7DDD) and biomarkers for B12 status. Indians reported lower mean daily B12 intakes in 7DDD than non-Indians (1.6 vs. 4.5 μg/day, p<0.001) and this was confirmed by Indians’ significantly low serum B12 (203 vs. 383 pmol/L, p=0.04) and holo-TC II (35 vs. 72 pmol/L, p=0.02) concentrations compared to non-Indians. A similar pattern was found between non-red-meat-eaters and red-meat-eaters in daily B12 intake in 7DDD (2.3 vs. 4.8 μg/day, p<0.001) and in B12 biomarkers (serum B12, 263 vs. 397 pmol/L, p=0.01; holo-TC II, 43 vs. 77 pmol/L, p<0.005). Non-red-meat-eaters reported significantly higher daily folate intake in 7DDD (359 vs. 260 μg/day, p=0.01) than red-meat-eaters but no significant difference was found in serum folate concentration between these groups (29 vs. 24 pmol/L, p=0.10). Indians/non-red-meat-eaters also reported lower daily protein intake and higher percentage of total energy from carbohydrate in 7DDD compared to non-Indians/red-meat-eaters but total reported energy intake tended to be under-reported and physical activity over-reported when assessed against estimated basal metabolic rate (BMR). Body composition varied by dietary pattern. Indians/non-red-meat-eaters had higher body fat percentage (BF %) and weaker grip strength than non-Indians/red-meat-eaters. In addition, Indians had a significantly higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) than non-Indians. Overall, the whole group reported that they were inactive. The median time spent in moderate, high and maximal intensity activities was only 19 minutes a day, which did not meet the NZ guideline for adults of 30 minutes a day. In this small study nutrient analysis of diet by 24HDR or 7DDD, was not a reliable or accurate way to assess B12 insufficiency. Questions about dietary patterns such as “do you eat red meat”, and taking ethnicity into account could more easily identify the at risk population. Supplementation and/or fortification of B12 should be considered before pregnancy.

No description available.

Some problems concerning holomorphic continuation of the class of bounded holo­morphic functions from bounded domains in Cn that are domains of holomorphy are solved. A bounded domain of holomorphy Ω in C2 with nonschlicht H°°-envelope of holomorphy is constructed and it is shown that there is a point in D for which Glea­son’s Problem for H°°(Ω) cannot be solved. Furthermore a proof of the existence of a bounded domain of holomorphy in C2 for which the volume of the H°°-envelope of holomorphy is infinite is given. The idea of the proof is to put a family of so-called ”Sibony domains” into the unit bidisk by a packing procedure and patch them together by thin neighbourhoods of suitably chosen curves. If H°°(Ω) is the Banach algebra of bounded holomorphic functions on a bounded domain Ω in Cn and if p is a point in Ω, then the following problem is known as Gleason’s Problem for Hoo(Ω) : Is the maximal ideal in H°°(Ω) consisting of functions vanishing at p generated by (z1 -p1) , ... ,   (zn - pn) ? A sufficient condition for solving Gleason’s Problem for 77°° (Ω) for all points in Ω is given. In particular, this condition is fulfilled by a convex domain Ω with Lip1+e boundary (0 &lt; e &lt; 1) and thus generalizes a theorem of S.L.Leibenson. It is also proved that Gleason’s Problem can be solved for all points in certain unions of two polydisks in C2. One of the ideas in the methods of proof is integration along specific polygonal lines. Certain properties of some open sets defined by global plurisubharmonic func­tions in Cn are studied. More precisely, the sets Du = {z e Cn : u(z) &lt; 0} and Eh = {{z,w) e Cn X C : h(z,w) &lt; 1} are considered where ti is a plurisubharmonic function of minimal growth and h≠0 is a non-negative homogeneous plurisubharmonic function. (That is, the functions u and h belong to the classes L(Cn) and H+(Cn x C) respectively.) It is examined how the fact that Eh and the connected components of Du are H°°-domains of holomorphy is related to the structure of the set of disconti­nuity points of the global defining functions and to polynomial convexity. Moreover it is studied whether these notions are preserved under a certain bijective mapping from L(Cn) to H+(Cn x C). Two counterexamples are given which show that polynomial convexity is not preserved under this bijection. It is also proved, for example, that if Du is bounded and if the set of discontinuity points of u is pluripolar then Du is of type H°°. A survey paper on general properties of envelopes of holomorphy is included. In particular, the paper treats aspects of the theory for the bounded holomorphic functions. The results for the bounded holomorphic functions are compared with the corresponding ones for the holomorphic functions. / digitalisering@umu.se

This master thesis is a case study, in the experience industry, of prototypes in the early stage of the innovation process – the front end of innovation. The innovation is augmented reality (AR) that adds digital made graphics or information in the user's environment. To answer the research questions and to fulfill the purpose of this thesis, which is to gain an understanding of the role of a prototype in an innovation process, a prototype was created. The designing tools used for developing the prototype were brainstorming and storyboarding. The prototype presents a concept of using AR-glasses at an ice hockey venue. A workshop was carried out for evaluating the finished prototype, using the "thinking hats"-method. The conclusion of this study is that a prototype can be used as a starting point for further creativity by creating a common perspective of a technology at the front end of innovation. Further on, it was discovered that a prototype can be good to use earlier in their innovation process, to accelerate the process. In the process of designing the prototype, it was shown that the creation is iterative, rather than linear.