Aim and method: To examine in obese people the potential effectiveness of a six-week, two times weekly aquajogging program on body composition, fitness, health-related quality of life and exercise beliefs. Fifteen otherwise healthy obese persons participated in a pilot study. Results: Total fat mass and waist circumference decreased 1.4 kg (p = .03) and 3.1 cm (p = .005) respectively. The distance in the Six-Minute Walk Test increased 41 meters (p = .001). Three scales of the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire improved: physical function (p = .008), self-esteem (p = .004), and public distress (p = .04). Increased perceived exercise benefits (p = .02) and decreased embarrassment (p = .03) were observed. Conclusions: Aquajogging was associated with reduced body fat and waist circumference, and improved aerobic fitness and quality of life. These findings suggest the usefulness of conducting a randomized controlled trial with long-term outcome assessments.
Assessment and monitoring of fat-free mass (FFM) is of clinical importance, because FFM is reflective of body cell mass, the total mass of protein-rich, metabolically active cells which is affected during malnutrition and therefore related to clinical outcome.Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive, portable and inexpensive method to assess body composition. Currently validity of BIA in head and neck cancer patients is unknown. Therefore, we tested our hypothesis that BIA, using the Geneva equation, is a valid method to assess FFM in head and neck cancer patients.
About half of the polymeric materials used for polymer-based 3D printing are cross-linked photopolymers (thermosets) that are made from fossil raw materials and are not recyclable, repairable or reprocessable. Given the growth of the 3D printing market combined with societal concerns surrounding plastic waste, there is an increasing demand from the field for sustainable, circular 3D printing materials. This project, building on "GOCH.KIEM.KGC02.022", will work on the sustainability of thermoset polymers for 3D printing. Different aspects of sustainability will be addressed along the entire value chain: - Biomass as feedstock: e.g. CO2, lignin or fatty acid-based raw materials (Cargill). - Sustainable, safe and scalable flow chemistry processes for the synthesis of the biobased building blocks (ZUYD, HANZE, Chemtrix). - Design of thermoset photopolymers with dynamic bonds (vitrimers), e.g. polymethacrylates with imine (UM) and ester bonds (RUG). Dynamic bonds in vitrimers, under the influence of a stimulus such as temperature, can give rise to a material that is processable like a thermoplastic, opening the way to recycling, repair or reprocessing of thermosets. - Circularity of materials in 3D printing processes: the developed building blocks will be used for 3D printing prototypes, characterized by a short lifespan, via stereolithography (NHLS, Liqcreate). These prototypes will then be recycled into monofilaments/granulates for extrusion-based 3D printing (FDM) (NHLS, Ultimaker, CHILL). The market potential of the reprinted materials will be explored by our network partners (Binder3D, CHILL) who search the best applications. Additional project partners will be attracted to show via demonstrators that different 3D printing processes can be successfully completed with the same material. The materials developed in this project thus offer the field a practical solution to the sustainability challenges associated with the rapid market growth of 3D printed materials.
