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Background: This study examined the moderating role of social support in the acculturation-obesity/central obesity relationship in Mexican American (MA) men and women. Methods: Data from NHANES 1999–2008 were used. Acculturation derived from language use, country of birth and length of residence in the U.S. Social support assessed emotional and financial support. BMI (≥30) and waist circumference (≥88 cm for women; ≥102 cm for men) measured obesity and central obesity, respectively. Weighted multivariate logistic regression models were used to describe associations. Results: Compared to less acculturation, more acculturation was associated with higher odds of obesity (ORs 2.48; 95% CI 1.06–5.83) and central obesity (2.90; 1.39–6.08) among MA men with low/no social support, but not among MA men reporting high social support. The modifying effects was not observed among women. Conclusion: Higher amounts of social support appeared to attenuate the risk of obesity/central obesity associated with acculturation. Interventions enhancing social support maybe effective among acculturated MAs, particularly among men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply a trilateral trade approach to examine how Japanese exports and investment to China, or seven other Asian economies, affect Chinese, or the seven Asian economies', exports to the US market. The results suggest that while Chinese and Japanese exports are directly competitive in US markets, Chinese exports to the US are supported partly by Japanese exports to China. The positive correlation between Japanese exports to China and Chinese exports to the US is explained by vertical trade between Japanese multinationals and their affiliates in China. Indonesian and Philippine exports are also competing with Japanese exports in US markets, though the extent of the competition is much higher for China than for these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on word and speech perception results of 103 cases with cochlear implants, at Nagasaki University. The largest number of cochlear implantations were in patients in their seventies in our 52 adult cases. This reflects an ageing society, but good auditory recovery was found to be expected even when cochlear implantation was carried out at an advanced age. The indication for cochlear implantation in adults in the U.S. is hearing loss over the 70 dB nHL and less than 40% by SDS at the open-set. After cochlear implantation, the mean aided threshold with cochlear implant ranged from 26 to 34 dB nHL.