Sodium Incorporation for Performance Improvement of Solution-Processed Submicron CuIn(S,Se)2 Thin Film Solar Cells.

Low-cost solution-processed CuIn(S,Se)2 (CISSe) has great potential for large-scale production of photovoltaics (PV). However, low power conversion efficiency caused by poor crystallinity is one of the main drawbacks compared to vacuum-processed CISSe solar cells. In this work, three strategies for sodium (Na) incorporation into solution-processed CISSe by soaking in sodium chloride (NaCl) aqueous-ethanol solution [1 molarity (M) for 10 minutes (min)], either prior to absorber deposition (pre-deposition treatment, Pre-DT), before selenization (pre-selenization treatment, Pre-ST), or after selenization (post-selenization treatment, PST) are researched. The Pre-ST CISSe solar cells achieve a better PV performance than those from the other two strategies of Na incorporation. For optimization, soaking times (5, 10, and 15 min) and NaCl concentrations (from 0.2 to 1.2 m) of the Pre-ST are researched. The highest efficiency achieved is 9.6% with an open-circuit voltage (Voc ) of 464.5 mV, a short-circuit current density (jsc ) of 33.4 mA cm-2 , and a fill factor (FF) of 62.0%. Compared to the reference CISSe solar cell, Voc , jsc , FF, and efficiency of the champion Pre-ST CISSe device are improved absolutely by 61.0 mV, 6.5 mA cm-2 , 9%, and 3.8%, respectively. Simultaneously, the open-circuit voltage deficit, the back contact barrier, and the bulk recombination are found to be reduced for Pre-ST CISSe.

Femtosecond laser-assisted fabrication of chalcopyrite micro-concentrator photovoltaics.

Micro-concentrator solar cells offer an attractive way to further enhance the efficiency of planar-cell technologies while saving absorber material. Here, two laser-based bottom-up processes for the fabrication of regular arrays of CuInSe2 and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 microabsorber islands are presented, namely one approach based on nucleation and one based on laser-induced forward transfer. Additionally, a procedure for processing these microabsorbers to functioning micro solar cells connected in parallel is demonstrated. The resulting cells show up to 2.9% efficiency and a significant efficiency enhancement under concentrated illumination.

Head and dental injuries or other dental problems in alpine sports.

In the hectic daily life, spending our leisure time outdoor in the mountains becomes more and more popular. Although information describing dental injuries in various sports is available, data specifically on dental trauma and other dental problems in alpine sports are lacking. Data of 1,128 alpinists were generated by using a standardized questionnaire. The questions focused on the frequency of head and dental injuries and other dental problems. The participating alpinists have been recruited through the network of alpine clubs and an outdoor equipment supplier. Injuries were most frequently caused by a fall while doing alpine sports (14.7%, = 154). Of the participants, 8.2% (n = 93) suffered from a facial injury: 16% (n = 15) of these had a dental trauma. Other dental problems such as barodontalgia were more common than dental traumas. A sensation of pressure or pain was noticed in 13% (n = 135) of the participants at least once. Of all the participants who suffered pain, 54.1% reported one or several previous restorations. Pain medication was beneficial in 92.1%. Dental traumas are rare while doing alpine sports but not negligible because of its requirement of lifelong therapy and incurs substantial treatment costs. An intraoral pain of a usually asymptomatic tissue occurred, in this sample of participants, nearly as often as in pilots and divers. Pain killer is an efficient tool for the alpinists to reduce the pain until they reach a lower altitude.

Dielectric Nanorod Scattering and its Influence on Material Interfaces.

This work elaborates on the high scattering which dielectric nanorods exhibit and how it can be exploited to control light propagation across material interfaces. A detailed overview of how dielectric nanorods interact with light through a combination of dipolar scattering and leaky modes is performed via outward power flux calculations. We establish and account for design parameters that best result in light magnification owing to resonant behavior of nanorods. Impact of material parameters on scattering and their dispersion have been calculated to establish that low loss dielectric oxides like ZnO when nanostructured show excellent antenna like resonances which can be used to control light coupling and propagation. Interfacial scattering calculations demonstrate the high forward directivity of nanorods for various dielectric interfaces. A systematic analysis for different configurations of single and periodic nanorods on air dielectric interface emphasizes the light coupling tendencies exhibited by nanorods to and from a dielectric. Spatial characteristics of the localized field enhancement of the nanorod array on an air dielectric interface show focusing attributes of the nanorod array. We give a detailed account to tailor and selectively increase light propagation across an interface with good spectral and spatial control.

Platelets as a novel source of Gremlin-1: Implications for thromboinflammation.

Platelets mediating haemostasis-thrombosis are central players in coronary artery disease (CAD). We characterised platelets as a novel source of Gremlin-1. Platelets express Gremlin-1 like inflammatory and endothelial cells. Gremlin-1 co-localised with P-selectin containing randomly distributed α-granules under resting state, which were peripheralised following platelet activation or adhesion over fibrinogen-coated surface. Gremlin-1 release upon activation with ADP, CRP, and TRAP was detected as enhanced surface expression; also in activated platelet supernatant as detected by Western Blot following CRP activation and by ELISA upon activation with ADP, CRP, PAR-1, and PAR4 agonist. Recombinant (rh)Gremlin-1 synergistically enhanced CRP-triggered intracellular calcium mobilisation, ADP-TRAP induced platelet activation, aggregation, and thrombin-activation triggered apoptosis; also thrombus formation ex vivo. Intracellular localisation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and Gremlin-1 a high-affinity binding partner and functional antagonist of MIF were found in intracoronary thrombus sections from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and showed moderate overlap in α-granules of platelets. Intra-platelet Gremlin-1 levels were significantly decreased in ACS patients as compared to stable CAD (n=235). rhGremlin-1 also counteracted the anti-apoptotic and anti-thrombotic effects of rhMIF on platelets. Platelet-derived-Gremlin-1 prompted monocyte migration, facilitated adhesion under static and dynamic arterial flow conditions to collagen-adherent activated platelets; supported monocyte survival against BH-3-mimetic-induced apoptosis and macrophage differentiation in monocyte-platelet co-culture system, which were counteracted upon Gremlin-1 neutralisation. Thus platelet derived Gremlin-1 might contribute to the elevated circulating levels of Gremlin-1 in ACS and serve as a thrombo-inflammatory mediator in cardiovascular pathophysiologies.

Well-Controlled Dielectric Nanomeshes by Colloidal Nanosphere Lithography for Optoelectronic Enhancement of Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells.

Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) solar cells pose challenges of incomplete absorption and back contact recombination. In this work, we applied the simple collodial nanosphere lithography and fabricated 2D SiO2 nanomeshes (NMs), which simultaneously benefit ultrathin CIGSe solar cells electrically and optically. Electrically, the NMs are capable of passivating the back contact recombination and increasing the minimum bandgap of absorbers. Optically, the parasitic absorption in Mo as a main optical loss is reduced. Consequently, the SiO2 NMs give rise to an increase of 3.5 mA/cm2 in short circuit current density (Jsc) and of 57 mV in open circuit voltage increase (Voc), leading to an absolute efficiency enhancement as high as 2.6% (relatively 30%) for CIGSe solar cells with an absorber thickness of only 370 nm and a steep back Ga/[Ga + In] grading.

High Plasma Levels of Gremlin-1 and Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor, but Not Their Ratio, Indicate an Increased Risk for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation promotes atherosclerosis and is a prognostic factor in coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) are at risk for progressive atherosclerosis. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a key player in atherosclerosis, mediating pro-inflammatory responses. Its endogenous antagonist Gremlin-1 inhibits foam-cell formation and atheroprogression by binding MIF, neutralizing its proatherosclerotic functions. HYPOTHESIS: Plasma levels of MIF and Gremlin-1 correlate with the stability of CAD in patients with DM2. METHOD: We assessed plasma levels of Gremlin-1 and MIF in 198 nondiabetic and 88 diabetic patients with symptomatic CAD using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Plasma levels of Gremlin-1 were higher DM2 patients (278.8 ± 16.6 vs 224.7 ± 6.7 ng/mL; P = 0.001). MIF levels were elevated but not significantly increased in DM2 (P = 0.098). Interestingly, we found that Gremlin-1 plasma levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP; n = 53) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS; n = 35) compared with nondiabetic patients with SAP (P = 0.008 and P = 0.011, respectively). MIF levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients with ACS compared with SAP (P < 0.001). Although the single plasma parameters showed an association with DM2 and CAD status, we could not confirm that the Gremlin-1/MIF ratio is significantly different in patients stratified by DM2 and CAD (P = 0.072). Hence, Gremlin-1/MIF ratio was significantly lower in patients with ACS compared with SAP (1.1 ± 0.1 vs 4.4 ± 1.1; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with ACS show increased levels of Gremlin-1 and MIF, leading to unfavorable Gremlin-1/MIF ratios. However, DM2 alone is not associated with low Gremlin-1/MIF ratios.

Light Coupling and Trapping in Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells Using Dielectric Scattering Patterns.

We experimentally demonstrate photocurrent enhancement in ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) solar cells with absorber layers of 460 nm by nanoscale dielectric light scattering patterns printed by substrate conformal imprint lithography. We show that patterning the front side of the device with TiO2 nanoparticle arrays results in a small photocurrent enhancement in almost the entire 400-1200 nm spectral range due to enhanced light coupling into the cell. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations are in good agreement with external quantum efficiency measurements. Patterning the Mo/CIGSe back interface using SiO2 nanoparticles leads to strongly enhanced light trapping, increasing the efficiency from 11.1% for a flat to 12.3% for a patterned cell. Simulations show that optimizing the array geometry could further improve light trapping. Including nanoparticles at the Mo/CIGSe interface leads to substantially reduced parasitic absorption in the Mo back contact. Parasitic absorption in the back contact can be further reduced by fabricating CIGSe cells on top of a SiO2-patterned In2O3:Sn (ITO) back contact. Simulations show that these semitransparent cells have similar spectrally averaged reflection and absorption in the CIGSe active layer as a Mo-based patterned cell, demonstrating that the absorption losses in the Mo can be partially turned into transmission through the semitransparent geometry.

Impact of counterbalance between macrophage migration inhibitory factor and its inhibitor Gremlin-1 in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Monocyte infiltration is a critical step in the pathophysiology of plaque instability in coronary artery disease (CAD). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in atherosclerotic plaque progression and instability leading to intracoronary thrombosis. Gremlin-1 (Grem1) has been recently identified as endogenous inhibitor of MIF. To date there are no data on the clinical impact of this interaction in cardiovascular patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma levels of MIF and Grem1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS, n = 120; stable CAD, n = 166 and healthy control subjects, n = 25). MIF levels were significantly increased in ACS compared to stable CAD and healthy control (ACS: median 2.85; IQR 3.52 ng/ml; versus SAP: median 1.22; IQR 2.99 ng/ml; versus healthy control: median 0.10; IQR 0.09 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Grem1 levels were significantly higher in ACS and stable CAD patients compared to healthy control (ACS: median 211.00; IQR 130.47 ng/ml; SAP: median 220.20; IQR 120.93 ng/ml, versus healthy control: median 90.57; IQR 97.68 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Grem1/MIF ratio was independently associated with ACS, whereas the single parameters were not associated with the presence of ACS. Furthermore, Grem1/MIF ratio was associated with angiographic signs of intracoronary thrombi and severity of thrombus burden. CONCLUSION: These novel findings suggest a potential role of Grem1/MIF ratio to indicate acuity of CAD and the grade of plaque stability. Prospective angiographic cohort studies involving plaque imaging techniques are warranted to further characterize the prognostic role of this novel risk marker in CAD patients.

Plasmonic and photonic scattering and near fields of nanoparticles.

We theoretically compare the scattering and near field of nanoparticles from different types of materials, each characterized by specific optical properties that determine the interaction with light: metals with their free charge carriers giving rise to plasmon resonances, dielectrics showing zero absorption in wide wavelength ranges, and semiconductors combining the two beforehand mentioned properties plus a band gap. Our simulations are based on Mie theory and on full 3D calculations of Maxwell's equations with the finite element method. Scattering and absorption cross sections, their division into the different order electric and magnetic modes, electromagnetic near field distributions around the nanoparticles at various wavelengths as well as angular distributions of the scattered light were investigated. The combined information from these calculations will give guidelines for choosing adequate nanoparticles when aiming at certain scattering properties. With a special focus on the integration into thin film solar cells, we will evaluate our results.

Health effects of infant feeding: Information for parents in leaflets and magazines in five European countries.

Parents' decisions about whether to breastfeed their infant, and when to introduce complementary foods, are important public health issues. Breastfeeding has beneficial health effects and is widely promoted. Leaflets and magazine articles on infant feeding were collected in 2005, in five European countries (England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Spain), and screened for statements that link feeding behaviours to infant health outcomes. A total of 127 leaflets contained 512 statements (0.38 / published page). Magazines contained approximately 1 article / month. Health outcomes were more intensively covered in England and Germany. Most statements referred to short term health implications. Lack of scientific agreement may underlie lack of cover of longer term health effects. Scope may exist to promote improved infant feeding practices by increasing the quantity and specificity of messages about health effects. Further research is required to evaluate the impact of alternative means of providing information on infant feeding practices.

Rats distinguish between absence of events and lack of evidence in contingency learning.

The goal of three experiments was to study whether rats are aware of the difference between absence of events and lack of evidence. We used a Pavlovian extinction paradigm in which lights consistently signaling sucrose were suddenly paired with the absence of sucrose. The crucial manipulation involved the absent outcomes in the extinction phase. Whereas in the Cover conditions, access to the drinking receptacle was blocked by a metal plate, in the No Cover conditions, the drinking receptacle was accessible. The Test phase showed that in the Cover conditions, the measured expectancies of sucrose were clearly at a higher level than in the No Cover conditions. We compare two competing theories potentially explaining the findings. A cognitive theory interprets the observed effect as evidence that the rats were able to understand that the cover blocked informational access to the outcome information, and therefore the changed learning input did not necessarily signify a change of the underlying contingency in the world. An alternative associationist account, renewal theory, might instead explain the relative sparing of extinction in the Cover condition as a consequence of context change. We discuss the merits of both theories as accounts of our data and conclude that the cognitive explanation is in this case preferred.

Autocrine TNF is critical for the survival of human dendritic cells by regulating BAK, BCL-2, and FLIPL.

The life span of dendritic cells (DCs) is determined by the balance of pro- and antiapoptotic proteins. In this study, we report that serum-free cultured human monocyte-derived DCs after TLR stimulation with polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid or LPS underwent apoptosis, which was correlated with low TNF production. Apoptosis was prevented by the addition of exogenous TNF or by concomitant stimulation with R-848, which strongly amplified endogenous TNF production. Neutralization of TNF confirmed that DC survival was mediated by autocrine TNF induced either by stimulation with R-848 or by ligation of CD40. DCs stimulated by polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid or IFN-ß, another known inducer of DC apoptosis, were characterized by high levels and activation of the proapoptotic protein BAK. The ratio of antiapoptotic BCL-2 to BAK correlated best with the survival of activated DCs. Addition of TNF increased this ratio but had little effect on BAX and XIAP. Knockdown experiments using small interfering RNAs confirmed that the survival of activated and also of immature DCs was regulated by BAK and showed that TNF was protective only in the presence of FLIP(L). Together, our data demonstrate that the survival of DCs during differentiation and activation depends on autocrine TNF and that the inhibition of BAK plays an important role in this process.

[Description of the long-term effects of breast feeding in the Hungarian guidelines for infant nutrition]. / Az anyatejes táplálás hosszú távú hatásainak megjelenése a csecsemotáplálási irányelvekben Magyarországon.

AIMS: To identify and describe infant feeding policy documents in Hungary and compare them to the documents of other four European countries (England, Finland, Germany and Spain). The question was also addressed how the phenomenon of nutritional programming was represented in the documents. SUBJECTS: Policy documents on infant feeding were identified and analyzed in the five European countries by using uniform methods for searching and coding. RESULTS: Twenty-six documents were identified: 4 in England, 2 in Finland, 9 in Germany, 6 in Hungary and 5 in Spain. Altogether 203 statements linked to references were identified: benefits of breast-feeding in general (24%), protection against infections (32%), long-term advantages like the prevention of diabetes (31%) or allergy (12%). Considerable variations were found within and between countries in the evaluation of the duration and character of the positive effects. The majority of the statements in the Hungarian documents referred either to the role of breast-feeding in infection protection (n = 8), or to long-term protective effects (n = 13). CONCLUSION: Policy documents in the study countries varied both in their extent and in the description of the long-term effects of infant nutrition. Majority of the documents failed to contain evidence based discussion of the phenomenon of early nutritional programming.

Developmental origins of health and disease: the views of first-time mothers in 5 European countries on the importance of nutritional influences in the first year of life.

BACKGROUND: The programming concept suggests that poor early nutrition causes an array of medical problems later in life. Public health messages about the implications of programming may not be reaching parents and influencing infant feeding behaviors. OBJECTIVE: The views of new mothers were sought about the extent to which lifelong health is influenced by diet as an infant, rather than by genetic predispositions or lifestyles and behaviors. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey of first-time mothers was undertaken in 5 European countries. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 2071 mothers from England (438), Finland (426), Germany (414), Hungary (389), and Spain (404) self-completed the questionnaire. High proportions of mothers agreed that how an infant is fed affects his or her health over the first year (95.8%) and in subsequent years (88.5%), but the effect of infant feeding decisions on the development of long-term conditions was the least-cited underlying reason. Diet as an infant was rated an extremely/very important influence on adult health by 64% of mothers, equivalent to environmental pollution (63%), but by fewer mothers than were diet and physical activity in childhood/adolescence (79%, 84%) and adulthood (81%, 83%), genetics/inheritance (70%), and exposure to cigarette smoke (81%). Inter- and intracountry differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers in this study consider diet as an infant to be a less important influence on lifelong health than many lifestyle, behavioral, and environmental factors and genetics. Further dissemination of the implications of programming to consumers may be warranted.

Lifetime health outcomes of breast-feeding: a comparison of the policy documents of five European countries.

OBJECTIVE: To (i) identify and describe prevailing infant feeding policy documents in five diverse European countries; (ii) analyse types of health outcomes for the infant that are associated with feeding breast milk rather than formula milk in the documents of different countries; and (iii) assess the extent to which documents reflect the WHO global recommendation of exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months. DESIGN: Documentary review and analysis. SETTING: Five geographically dispersed countries of Europe (England, Finland, Germany, Hungary and Spain). SUBJECTS: Policy documents on infant feeding were identified; statements that linked choice between breast- and formula-feeding to a health outcome for the infant were extracted. RESULTS: Twenty-six documents (varied authorships, dates, length and character) were identified: four from England; two from Finland; nine from Germany; six from Hungary; and five from Spain. There was no consistency in the way in which health outcomes were cited as factors in the recommendations for breast- rather than formula-feeding. Seven documents contained no reference to the health implications of infant feeding choice. Of 203 statements in remaining documents citing health outcomes, 24.1 % mentioned general health effects, 32.5 % protection against infections, 31.5 % long-term conditions (e.g. diabetes, CVD) and 11.8 % mentioned allergy. Health outcomes were linked to exclusive breast-feeding in only 25 % of statements. CONCLUSIONS: Policy documents in the study countries varied in the extent to which they reflect the health outcomes for the baby of breast-feeding, and this may limit effective promotion by health professionals. There is scope to improve the process of bringing evidence and recommendations into policy documents.

Functional specialization of cellulose synthase genes of prokaryotic origin in chordate larvaceans.

Extracellular matrices play important, but poorly investigated, roles in morphogenesis. Extracellular cellulose is central to regulation of pattern formation in plants, but among metazoans only tunicates are capable of cellulose biosynthesis. Cellulose synthase (CesA) gene products are present in filter-feeding structures of all tunicates and also regulate metamorphosis in the ascidian Ciona. Ciona CesA is proposed to have been acquired by lateral gene transfer from a prokaryote. We identified two CesA genes in the sister-class larvacean Oikopleura dioica. Each has a mosaic structure of a glycoslyltransferase 2 domain upstream of a glycosyl hydrolase family 6 cellulase-like domain, a signature thus far unique to tunicates. Spatial-temporal expression analysis revealed that Od-CesA1 produces long cellulose fibrils along the larval tail, whereas Od-CesA2 is responsible for the cellulose scaffold of the post-metamorphic filter-feeding house. Knockdown of Od-CesA1 inhibited cellulose production in the extracellular matrix of the larval tail. Notochord cells either failed to align or were misaligned, the tail did not elongate properly and tailbud embryos also exhibited a failure to hatch. Knockdown of Od-CesA2 did not elicit any of these phenotypes and instead caused a mild delay in pre-house formation. Phylogenetic analyses including Od-CesAs indicate that a single lateral gene transfer event from a prokaryote at the base of the lineage conferred biosynthetic capacity in all tunicates. Ascidians possess one CesA gene, whereas duplicated larvacean genes have evolved distinct temporal and functional specializations. Extracellular cellulose microfibrils produced by the pre-metamorphic Od-CesA1 duplicate have a role in notochord and tail morphogenesis.

Obesity related programming statements in infant feeding policies in five European countries.

The aim of this study was to know how the early nutrition programming concept and its relation with long-term diseases such as obesity is reflected in policy recommendations on infant nutrition in five European countries (Finland, Germany, Hungary, Spain and England). After collating and evaluating infant nutrition policy documents, statements about early nutrition programming, as the origin of diseases such as obesity, were analysed. The number of policy documents analysed were 38 (England: 10, Finland: 2, Germany: 11, Hungary: 8, Spain: 7) with a total of 455 statements identified and categorized into 53 different health outcomes. Obesity was mentioned in 5.5% (n = 25) of the statements, the third most frequent outcome after allergy (14.1%, n = 64) and health in general (5.7%, n = 26). Twenty six percent (n = 6) of the obesity related statements referred to short-term duration of the effects, 48% (n = 12) to medium-term, 24% (n = 6) to long-term effects and the rest were not identified. Only 22% of the obesity statements were evidence based. The link between infant feeding and obesity is integrated into policy documents, but most of the statements did not fully specify the short, medium and long term health implications. Action may be required to keep documents up to date as new evidence emerges and to ensure the evidence base is properly recorded.

Obesity related programming statements in materials on infant feeding aimed at parents in five European countries.

Early nutrition programming as an origin of obesity is well acknowledged, but to what extent is this concept communicated to parents? In five European countries, UK, Finland (FI), Germany (DE), Hungary (HU) and Spain (ES), a total of 130 stand alone leaflets and 161 articles from parenting magazines providing information on feeding of healthy infants aged 0-12 months were identified and screened for nutrition programming statements. Obesity was mentioned in 8.5% (54/638) of the statements, and was the fourth most frequent outcome after allergy (20.7%), risk of infections (15.5%) and growth and development (11.4%). A temporal prognosis was given in 39% of obesity related statements, 6% referring to short- (< 5 years), 13% to medium- (5-15 years) and 20% to long-term (>15 years) duration of effects. So advice on obesity focuses on the intrinsic long-term perspective of programming in contrary to other surveyed health-outcomes where only 8- considered a lifelong approach. The major programming related behaviour concerned breast-feeding compared to formula and complementary feeding with meaningful differences concerning the recommended duration: for ES and HU the predominant advice was for exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months, for DE exclusive breast-feeding for 4-6 months and for UK and FI breast-feeding without further specification. In summary, statements relating to the programming of later obesity have been partially integrated into feeding information in five European countries. These countries have slightly different breastfeeding recommendations, but consistently refer to the preventive potential of breastfeeding in general. This is important as obesity and its resulting morbidity are of increasing public health concern in developed countries.