Measuring visual cortical oxygenation in diabetes using functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Aims: Diabetes mellitus affects about 6% of the world’s population, and the chronic complications of the disease may result in macro- and micro-vascular changes. The purpose of the current study was to shed light on visual cortical oxygenation in diabetic individuals. We then aimed to compare the haemodynamic response (HDR) to visual stimulation with glycaemic control, given the likelihood of diabetic individuals suffering from such macro- and micro-vascular insult. Methodology: Thirty participants took part in this explorative study, fifteen of whom had diabetes and fifteen of whom were non-diabetic controls. The HDR, measured as concentrations of oxyhaemoglobin [HbO] and deoxyhaemoglobin [HbR], to visual stimulation was recorded over the primary visual cortex (V1) using a dual-channel oximeter. The stimulus comprised a pattern-reversal checkerboard presented in a block design. Participants’ mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level (±SD) was 7.2±0.6% in the diabetic group and 5.5±0.4% in the non-diabetic group. Raw haemodynamic data were normalised to baseline, and the last 15 s of data from each ‘stimulus on’ and ‘stimulus off’ condition were averaged over seven duty cycles for each participant. Results: There were statistically significant differences in ∆[HbO] and ∆[HbR] to visual stimulation between diabetic and non-diabetic groups (p<0.05). In the diabetic group, individuals with type 1 diabetes displayed an increased [HbO] (p<0.01) and decreased [HbR] (p<0.05) compared to their type 2 counterparts. There was also a linear relationship between both ∆[HbO] and ∆[HbR] as a function of HbA1c level (p<0.0005). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that fNIRS can be used as a quantitative measure of cortical oxygenation in diabetes. Diabetic individuals have a larger HDR to visual stimulation compared to non-diabetic individuals. This increase in ∆[HbO] and decrease in ∆[HbR] appears to be correlated with HbA1c level

Absolute photoionization cross section measurements of the Kr I-isoelectronic sequence

Photoionization spectra have been recorded in the 4s, 4p and 3d resonance regions for the Kr Iisoelectronic sequence using both the dual laser produced plasma technique (at DCU) to produce photoabsorption spectra, and the merged ion beam and synchrotron radiation technique (at ASTRID) to measure absolute photoionization cross sections. Profile parameters are compared for the 4s − np resonances of Rb+ and Sr2+. Many new 4p " ns, md transitions are identified with the aid of Hartree-Fock calculations, and consistent quantum defects are observed for the various ns and md Rydberg series. Absolute single and double photoionization cross sections recorded in the 3d region for Rb+ and Sr2+ ions show preferential decay via double photoionization. This is only the second report where both the DLP technique and the merged beam technique have been used simultaneously to record photoionization spectra, and the advantages of both techniques (i.e. better resolution in the case of DLP and values for absolute photoionization cross sections in the case of the merged beam technique) are highlighted

The relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviours and outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer: an overview of Systematic Reviews

There are an extensive number of published evidence reviews examining the influence of lifestyle behaviours on cancer outcomes. Healthy lifestyles are a significant topic of debate in oncology and in policy and practice organisations that support people living with and beyond cancer. Such reviews vary in quality, address different relationships, outcomes and cancers, and there is often more than one review on important topics. This makes it difficult for policy and practice professionals to make decisions about the prescription and promotion of lifestyle behaviours for cancer populations. An overview of systematic reviews provides a single, overarching summary of evidence from published systematic reviews and compares and contrasts the findings of systematic reviews, providing healthcare professionals with the evidence needed for more effective decision making (Smith et al. 2011). This overview of systematic reviews synthesises evidence from systematic reviews on smoking, physical activity, dietary behaviours and alcohol consumption to present a summary of evidence about the relationships between these lifestyle behaviours and outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer

Distribution and Abundance of Larval Burbot and Deepwater Sculpin in Lake Michigan

Samples from seven locations at depths to 21 m, collected over periods of up to 8 years, were used to describe the nearshore distribution and abundance of burbot Lota lota and deepwater sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsoni larvae in Lake Michigan. Based upon power‐plant‐entrainment samples and field collections, burbot larvae (3.0–7.5 mm) occurred from late March to mid‐June, most abundantly in April and May, and most often at water temperatures of 6–12 C. Larvae were collected from the 0.5‐ to 13.5‐m depth strata as far lakeward as the 21‐m bottom contour, the limit of offshore sampling. In eastern Lake Michigan, highest densities (up to 843 larvae/1,000 m3) were at the 1‐m contour; in Green Bay, up to 24,000 larvae/1,000 m3 were detected near the Bark River. High densities of burbot larvae at bottom depths 3 m and less indicated inshore spawning and river spawning at some sites. Deepwater sculpin larvae first occurred in early February and were common in March and April entrainment samples. Larvae (8.0–22.0 mm) were in nearshore waters usually through May at depth strata of 0.5 to 17 m as far lakeward as the 18‐m bottom contour. Most larvae occurred at water temperatures below 6 C. Field densities were low, 5 to 78 larvae/1,000 m3. Deepwater sculpin larvae were pelagic and were dispersed over great distances by currents.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141932/1/tafs0162.pd

A novel, aerosol-nanocrystal floating-gate device for non-volatile memory applications

This paper describes the fabrication, and structural and electrical characterization of a new, aerosol-nanocrystal floating-gate FET, aimed at non-volatile memory (NVM) applications. This aerosol-nanocrystal NVM device features program/erase characteristics comparable to conventional stacked gate NVM devices, excellent endurance (>l0^5 P/E cycles), and long-term non-volatility in spite of a thin bottom oxide (55-60Å). In addition, a very simple fabrication process makes this aerosol-nanocrystal NVM device a potential candidate for low cost NVM applications

Angiotensin mediates renal fibrosis in the nephropathy of glycogen storage disease type Ia

Patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) develop renal disease of unknown etiology despite intensive dietary therapies. This renal disease shares many clinical and pathological similarities to diabetic nephropathy. We studied the expression of angiotensinogen, angiotensin type 1 receptor, transforming growth factor-β1, and connective tissue growth factor in mice with GSD-Ia and found them to be elevated compared to controls. While increased renal expression of angiotensinogen was evident in 2-week-old mice with GSD-Ia, the renal expression of transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor did not increase for another week; consistent with upregulation of these factors by angiotensin II. The expression of fibronectin and collagens I, III, and IV was also elevated in the kidneys of mice with GSD-Ia, compared to controls. Renal fibrosis was characterized by a marked increase in the synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins in the renal cortex and histological abnormalities including tubular basement membrane thickening, tubular atrophy, tubular dilation, and multifocal interstitial fibrosis. Our results suggest that activation of the angiotensin system has an important role in the pathophysiology of renal disease in patients with GSD-Ia

Strong Coupling Quantum Gravity and Physics beyond the Planck Scale

We propose a renormalization prescription for the Wheeler-DeWitt equation of (3+1)-dimensional Einstein gravity and also propose a strong coupling expansion as an approximation scheme to probe quantum geometry at length scales much smaller than the Planck length. We solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation to the second order in the expansion in a class of local solutions and discuss problems arising in our approach.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX file. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Boundary Action of N=2 Super-Liouville Theory

We derive a boundary action of N=2 super-Liouville theory which preserves both N=2 supersymmetry and conformal symmetry by imposing explicitly $T={\bar T}$ and $G={\bar G}$. The resulting boundary action shows a new duality symmetry.Comment: 15 pages; One reference is adde

A pilot cluster randomised trial to assess the effect of a structured communication approach on quality of life in secure mental health settings: the Comquol study

Background There is a lack of research in forensic settings examining therapeutic relationships. A structured communication approach, placing patients’ perspectives at the heart of discussions about their care, was used to improve patients’ quality of life in secure settings. The objectives were to: • Establish the feasibility of the trial design • Determine the variability of the outcomes of interest • Estimate the costs of the intervention • If necessary, refine the intervention Methods A pilot cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted. Data was collected from July 2012 to January 2015 from participants in 6 medium secure in–patient services in London and Southern England. 55 patients and 47 nurses were in the intervention group with 57 patients and 45 nurses in the control group. The intervention comprised 6 nurse-patient meetings over a 6 month period. Patients rated their satisfaction with a range of domains followed by discussions on improving patient identified problems. Assessments took place at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants were not blind to their allocated group. The primary outcome was self-reported quality of life collected by a researcher blind to participants’ allocation status. Results The randomisation procedures and intervention approach functioned well. The measures used were understood by the participants and gave relevant outcome information. The response rates were good with low patient withdrawal rates. The quality of life estimated treatment effect was 0.2 (95% CI: -0.4 to 0.8) at 6 months and 0.4 (95% CI: -0.3 to 1.1) indicating the likely extreme boundaries of effect in the main trial. The estimated treatment effect of the primary outcome is clinically important, and a positive effect of the intervention is not ruled out. The estimate of the ICC for the primary outcome at 6 and 12 months was 0.04 (0.00 to 0.17) and 0.05 (0.00 to 0.18). The cost of the intervention was £529 per patient. Conclusions The trial design was viable as the basis for a full-scale trial. A full trial is justified to estimate the effect of the intervention with greater certainty. The variability of the outcomes could be used to calculate numbers needed for a full-scale trial. Ratings of need for therapeutic security may be useful in any future study