Radiative Cooling Rates In The Presence Of Ice Crystal Aerosols

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 197

Attributes of age-identity

Chronological age can be an unsatisfactory method of discriminating between older people. The lay concept of how old people actually feel may be more useful. The aim of the analyses reported in this paper was to investigate indicators of age-identity (or subjective age) among a national random sample of people aged 65 or more years living at home in Britain. Information was initially collected by home interview and a follow-up postal questionnaire 12-18 months later. The age that respondents felt was a more sensitive indicator than chronological age of many indicators of the respondents' health, psychological and social characteristics. Multiple regression analysis showed that baseline health and functional status, and reported changes in these at follow-up, explained 20.4 per cent of the variance in self-perceived age. Adding baseline mental health (anxiety/depression), feelings and fears about ageing at follow-up explained a further 0.8 per cent of the variance, making the total variance explained 21.2 per cent. It is concluded that measures of physical health and functional status and their interactions influenced age-identity. Mental health status and psychological perceptions made a small but significant additional contribution

Challenges in comparing the quality of life of older people between ethnic groups, and the implications for national well-being indicators: a secondary analysis of two cross-sectional surveys

BackgroundThe current international interest in well-being indicators among governmental agencies means that many quality of life scales are potential components of such national indicator sets. Measuring well-being in minority groups is complex and challenging. Scales are available that have been validated in specific parts of the population, such as older people. However, validation among combinations of minority groups, such as older adults of ethnic minority backgrounds, is lacking. FindingsWe pooled data from two surveys of older adults in Great Britain: one conducted among White British people, and one among four ethnic minority groups. Quality of life was measured by the Older People's Quality of Life (OPQOL); Control, Autonomy, Self-realisation, Pleasure (CASP-19); and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale for older people (WHOQOL-OLD). We found differences, some significant, between groups in terms of self-reported importance of various aspects of quality of life. A regression model of each total quality of life scale revealed greater unexplained variability in the White British group than the others. Principal components analysis within each ethnic group's data showed considerable differences in the correlation structures. ConclusionsThere are differences between ethnic groups that are consistent across the three scales and are not explained by a battery of predictor variables. If scales such as these are used to compare quality of life between ethnic groups, or equivalently between geographical regions, the different results in each group are liable to bias any comparison which could lead to inequitable policy decisions.<br/

The sex dependent impacts of maternal feed restriction stress and elevated cortiocosterone in ovo on meat bird growth, development and hypothalamic gene expression

Developmental programming is a recognised phenomenon across species. Programming of offspring during embryonic development to adapt to their environment can be advantageous, such as improved nutrient efficiency during times of famine. Incorrect programming, however, can result in lifelong problems, with evidence in humans of diseases such as diabetes, occurring due to misprogramming. Maternal factors, such as nutrition and stress, during pregnancy and egg development can play a major role in offspring development. Restricted nutrition and increased stress in mothers can affect lifelong growth, metabolism, behaviour and immunity of their offspring. There is also evidence of differing effects of developmental programming between sexes, including response to stress and metabolism. Commercial meat birds are intensely selected for growth and thus may be affected by changes in maternal nutrition and stress. This thesis aimed to identify maternal factors that may influence, progeny growth, metabolism, development, immunity and behaviour in commercial meat birds with an emphasis on differences between male and female progeny. In the initial experimental trial broiler breeder hens were feed restricted to three bodyweight groups (low, medium and high). Eggs were collected over a 2-week period from each group and their progeny grown to 42 days of age. Progeny growth and immune response to a LPS challenge was measured. Breeder hens at the lowest bodyweight showed increased stress behaviours and heterophil: lymphocyte (H:L) ratio. Male progeny bodyweight from low bodyweight hens was reduced from 35 to 42 days old and females from heavy hens responded to the immune challenge with a reduced bodyweight and increased H:L ratio at 23 days of age. The increased stress behaviour and H:L ratio count of hens maintained at the lowest bodyweight and highest feed restriction, impacted on the growth and immunity of their offspring. A possible reason behind this was through changes in stress hormones of the hen, such as corticosterone which may have then impacted on her offspring. To investigate this theory, commercial meat bird eggs were exposed to increased corticosterone and the birds grown out to determine the impact of elevated corticosterone exposure in ovo on meat bird growth and development. Eggs were injected with corticosterone into the chorioallontoic membrane (CAM) at embryonic day eleven. Birds were grown to 42 days old, with growth, organ weights, H:L ratio and behaviour measured. Bodyweights at day 42 were reduced in birds exposed to increased corticosterone in ovo. This result was similar to the result in the first experiment where bodyweight was reduced in males from low bodyweight hens. Although, there were no difference between sexes, it does suggest corticosterone elevations during embryonic development can impact on growth late in life with similar results across studies. There were, however, sex differences in organ weights at day 42. Male birds exposed to increased corticosterone had increased spleen weights compared to control males, while in corticosterone exposed females they were reduced. Males given corticosterone also showed a reduced stress response during the tonic immobility behavioural test. The different effects seen between sexes in both the hen restriction trial and the corticosterone in ovo trial demonstrated that embryonic exposure to cortiocosterone is impacting on meat birds throughout their life but can differ between sexes. This difference between sexes was then incorporated into the final study, which aimed to detail how corticosterone may be affecting lifelong bird development, growth and immunity and behaviour through programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during development. To investigate this, gene expression within the hypothalamus of birds given corticosterone in ovo was measured. Genes measured were the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), corticotropic releasing hormone (CRH), arginine vasotocin (AVT), 11ßhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 (11ß-HSD1) and 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20-HSD). At embryonic day 14, the expression of GR, CRH, AVT and 20-HSD was reduced in birds injected with corticosterone at embryonic day 11. Expression of 11ß-HSD1 was increased in females compared to males. The results of the final trial show that corticosterone exposure in ovo can alter gene expression of important genes involved in the HPA axis. This could result in a lifelong programming of the HPA axis and account for the changes in growth, organ development, immunity and behaviour observed in the previous trials. It is clear that the impact of maternal stress in broiler breeder hens can impact on her offspring, likely via increases in stress hormones and alterations of the HPA axis pathway. It is likely that there are other hormones and pathways impacted and more research is needed to understand the full effects of hen feed restriction on her offspring. The differences between sexes further complicates this work and also warrants further research. If more can be understood about the impacts of feed restriction on male and female meat birds, the industry can better understand how management of hens can affect the future production, health and welfare of their offspring. With further research in this area, breeder hen nutrition can be managed to reduce stress and the developmental programming effects on the subsequent generation to improve growth, health and welfare of meat birds. Understanding the differences between how male and female meat birds may be affected by hen feed restriction stress, may also lead to improved management of birds throughout their lives.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 201

Effect of changes in moderate or vigorous physical activity on changes in health-related quality of life of elderly British women over seven years.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the effect of changes in moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on trajectories in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) over 7 years in British elderly women. METHODS: A total of 1,926 women from the British Women's Heart and Health Study with information on MVPA and HR-QoL [measured using Euro quality of life 5 dimension (EQ-5D)] at baseline and at 7 years of follow-up were included in the analysis. Baseline and 7-year follow-up MVPA values were categorised into 3 groups, generating 9 categories of change in MVPA. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) of maintaining or improving HR-QoL according to different patterns of change in MVPA level. RESULTS: Women who remained inactive over the 7 years of follow-up had the largest reduction in their EQ-5D scores. Compared to these women, women that increased their MPVA level from "inactive" to "low" or to "moderate-high" were more likely to maintain or improve their HR-QoL over 7 years (ORs 1.65 or 2.70, respectively, p value for trend <0.001). After adjustment for baseline EQ-5D score and a wide range of potential confounders, results remained largely unchanged, though precision of the estimates generally decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that relatively regular MVPA, even taken up later in life, can help older women prevent a decline in HR-QoL and even improve their enjoyment of life

Effect of changes in moderate or vigorous physical activity on changes in health-related quality of life of elderly British women over seven years.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the effect of changes in moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on trajectories in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) over 7 years in British elderly women. METHODS: A total of 1,926 women from the British Women's Heart and Health Study with information on MVPA and HR-QoL [measured using Euro quality of life 5 dimension (EQ-5D)] at baseline and at 7 years of follow-up were included in the analysis. Baseline and 7-year follow-up MVPA values were categorised into 3 groups, generating 9 categories of change in MVPA. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) of maintaining or improving HR-QoL according to different patterns of change in MVPA level. RESULTS: Women who remained inactive over the 7 years of follow-up had the largest reduction in their EQ-5D scores. Compared to these women, women that increased their MPVA level from "inactive" to "low" or to "moderate-high" were more likely to maintain or improve their HR-QoL over 7 years (ORs 1.65 or 2.70, respectively, p value for trend <0.001). After adjustment for baseline EQ-5D score and a wide range of potential confounders, results remained largely unchanged, though precision of the estimates generally decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that relatively regular MVPA, even taken up later in life, can help older women prevent a decline in HR-QoL and even improve their enjoyment of life

CEG 453/653: Embedded Systems

ObjectivesTo examine how Chinese people in Hong Kong view healthcareprioritization and to compare the findings with those from a United Kingdom survey.MethodsA cross-sectional opinion survey was conducted in Hong Kong and 1512 participants were interviewed.ResultsData show that the highest rankings were accorded to “treatment for children” and “high technology services.” Services for the elderly, whether in the community or in hospitals, and including end-of-life care, were ranked among the lowest. This view was also shared by healthcare professionals. Compared with the UK findings, there are stark contrasts in the low ranking of end-of-life care and the high ranking of high technology services among the HK population.ConclusionsIt is evident that most people would give priority to the young over the old in distributing a given amount of healthcare services. To meet the needs of ageing societies and to meet the needs of all users equitably, healthcare policy needs to acknowledge constraints and the needs for prioritization. Both the public and professionals should engage with policy makers in formulating a policy based on cost benefit considerations as well as overall societal view of prioritization that is not based on age alone

Has India's national rural health mission reduced inequities in maternal health services? A pre-post repeated cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, India launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to strengthen the primary healthcare system. NRHM also aims to encourage pregnant women, particularly of low socioeconomic backgrounds, to use institutional maternal healthcare. We evaluated the impacts of NRHM on socioeconomic inequities in the uptake of institutional delivery and antenatal care (ANC) across high-focus (deprived) Indian states. METHODS: Data from District Level Household and Facility Surveys (DLHS) Rounds 1 (1995-99) and 2 (2000-04) from the pre-NRHM period, and Round 3 (2007-08), Round 4 and Annual Health Survey (2011-12) from post-NRHM period were used. Wealth-related and education-related relative indexes of inequality, and pre-post difference-in-differences models for wealth and education tertiles, adjusted for maternal age, rural-urban, caste, parity and state-level fixed effects, were estimated. RESULTS: Inequities in institutional delivery declined between pre-NRHM Period 1 (1995-99) and pre-NRHM Period 2 (2000-04), but thereafter demonstrated steeper decline in post-NRHM periods. Uptake of institutional delivery increased among all socioeconomic groups, with (1) greater effects among the lowest and middle wealth and education tertiles than highest tertile, and (2) larger equity impacts in the late post-NRHM period 2011-12 than in the early post-NRHM period 2007-08. No positive impact on the uptake of ANC was found in the early post-NRHM period 2007-08; however, there was considerable increase in the uptake of, and decline in inequity, in uptake of ANC in most states in the late post-NRHM period 2011-12. CONCLUSION: In high-focus states, NRHM resulted in increased uptake of maternal healthcare, and decline in its socioeconomic inequity. Our study suggests that public health programs in developing country settings will have larger equity impacts after its almost full implementation and widest outreach. Targeting deprived populations and designing public health programs by linking maternal and child healthcare components are critical for universal access to healthcare

Has India’s national rural health mission reduced inequities in maternal health services? A pre-post repeated cross-sectional study

Background: In 2005, India launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to strengthen the primary healthcare system. NRHM also aims to encourage pregnant women, particularly of low socioeconomic backgrounds, to use institutional maternal healthcare. We evaluated the impacts of NRHM on socioeconomic inequities in the uptake of institutional delivery and antenatal care (ANC) across high-focus (deprived) Indian states.Methods: Data from District Level Household and Facility Surveys (DLHS) Rounds 1 (1995–99) and 2 (2000–04) from the pre-NRHM period, and Round 3 (2007–08), Round 4 and Annual Health Survey (2011–12) from post-NRHM period were used. Wealth-related and education-related relative indexes of inequality, and pre-post difference-in-differences models for wealth and education tertiles, adjusted for maternal age, rural-urban, caste, parity and state-level fixed effects, were estimated.Results: Inequities in institutional delivery declined between pre-NRHM Period 1 (1995–99) and pre-NRHM Period 2 (2000–04), but thereafter demonstrated steeper decline in post-NRHM periods. Uptake of institutional delivery increased among all socioeconomic groups, with (1) greater effects among the lowest and middle wealth and education tertiles than highest tertile, and (2) larger equity impacts in the late post-NRHM period 2011–12 than in the early post-NRHM period 2007–08. No positive impact on the uptake of ANC was found in the early post-NRHM period 2007–08; however, there was considerable increase in the uptake of, and decline in inequity, in uptake of ANC in most states in the late post-NRHM period 2011–12.Conclusion: In high-focus states, NRHM resulted in increased uptake of maternal healthcare, and decline in its socioeconomic inequity. Our study suggests that public health programs in developing country settings will have larger equity impacts after its almost full implementation and widest outreach. Targeting deprived populations and designing public health programs by linking maternal and child healthcare components are critical for universal access to healthcare

A Comparative Gene Map of the Horse (Equus caballus)

A comparative gene map of the horse genome composed of 127 loci was assembled based on the new assignment of 68 equine type I loci and on data published previously. PCR primers based on consensus gene sequences conserved across mammalian species were used to amplify markers for assigning 68 equine type I loci to 27 horse synteny groups established previously with a horse-mouse somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP, UC Davis). This increased the number of coding genes mapped to the horse genome by over 2-fold and allowed refinements of the comparative mapping data available for this species. In conjunction with 57 previous assignments of type I loci to the horse genome map, these data have allowed us to confirm the assignment of 24 equine synteny groups to their respective chromosomes, to provisionally assign nine synteny groups to chromosomes, and to further refine the genetic composition established with Zoo-FISH of two horse chromosomes. The equine type I markers developed in this study provide an important resource for the future development of the horse linkage and physical genome maps