Noise Robustness of a Combined Phase Retrieval and Reconstruction Method for Phase-Contrast Tomography

Classical reconstruction methods for phase-contrast tomography consist of two stages: phase retrieval and tomographic reconstruction. A novel algebraic method combining the two was suggested by Kostenko et al. (Opt. Express, 21, 12185, 2013) and preliminary results demonstrating improved reconstruction compared to a two-stage method given. Using simulated free-space propagation experiments with a single sample-detector distance, we thoroughly compare the novel method with the two-stage method to address limitations of the preliminary results. We demonstrate that the novel method is substantially more robust towards noise; our simulations point to a possible reduction in counting times by an order of magnitude

MEDITATION, EGODØD OG VOKSENUDVIKLING

Artiklen undersøger det spirituelle fænomen egodød som en mulig udviklingsvej i det voksne liv. Det teoretiske hovedafsæt er A. H. Almaas’ selvpsykologisk inspirerede forståelse af egodød som en gradvis proces bestående af en afvikling af personlighedens tendens til at identificerer sig med selvbilleder kombineret med en generobring af den enhed med væren, som alle, ifølge Almaas, oplever som spæd. Almaas’ teori relateres til hhv. Bertelsens teori om selvets rettethedsniveauer og Wilbers teori om spirituel udvikling, og der tages afslutningsvist kritisk stilling til den forsimplede kritik af spiritualitet som et selvcentreret selvrealiseringsfænomen

Associations between metabolic disorders and risk of cancer in Danish men and women:a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic disorders is increasing and has been suggested to increase cancer risk, but the relation between metabolic disorders and risk of cancer is unclear, especially in young adults. We investigated the associations between diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia on risk of all-site as well as site-specific cancers. METHODS: We consecutively included men and women from nationwide Danish registries 1996–2011, if age 20–89 and without cancer prior to date of entry. We followed them throughout 2012. Metabolic disorders were defined using discharge diagnosis codes and claimed prescriptions. We used time-dependent sex-stratified Poisson regression models adjusted for age and calendar year to assess associations between metabolic disorders, and risk of all-site and site-specific cancer (no metabolic disorders as reference). RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 12.6 (±5.7 standard deviations [SD]) years, 4,826,142 individuals (50.2 % women) with a mean age of 41.4 (±18.9 SD) years had 423,942 incident cancers. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of all-site cancer in patients with diabetes or hypertension were highest immediately following diagnosis of metabolic disorder. In women, cancer risk associated with diabetes continued to decline albeit remained significant (IRRs of 1.18–1.22 in years 1–8 following diagnosis). For diabetes in men, and hypertension, IRRs stabilized and remained significantly increased after about one year with IRRs of 1.10-1.13 in men for diabetes, and 1.07–1.14 for hypertension in both sexes. Conversely, no association was observed between hypercholesterolemia (treatment with statins) and cancer risk. The association between hypertension and cancer risk was strongest in young adults aged 20–34 and decreased with advancing age. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and hypertension were associated with increased risk of all-site cancer. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2122-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Exercise alleviates lipid-induced insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle-signaling interaction at the level of TBC1 domain family member 4

Excess lipid availability causes insulin resistance. We examined the effect of acute exercise on lipid-induced insulin resistance and TBC1 domain family member 1/4 (TBCD1/4)-related signaling in skeletal muscle. In eight healthy young male subjects, 1 h of one-legged knee-extensor exercise was followed by 7 h of saline or intralipid infusion. During the last 2 h, a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp was performed. Femoral catheterization and analysis of biopsy specimens enabled measurements of leg substrate balance and muscle signaling. Each subject underwent two experimental trials, differing only by saline or intralipid infusion. Glucose infusion rate and leg glucose uptake was decreased by intralipid. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was higher in the prior exercised leg in the saline and the lipid trials. In the lipid trial, prior exercise normalized insulin-stimulated glucose uptake to the level observed in the resting control leg in the saline trial. Insulin increased phosphorylation of TBC1D1/4. Whereas prior exercise enhanced TBC1D4 phosphorylation on all investigated sites compared with the rested leg, intralipid impaired TBC1D4 S341 phosphorylation compared with the control trial. Intralipid enhanced pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphorylation and lactate release. Prior exercise led to higher PDH phosphorylation and activation of glycogen synthase compared with resting control. In conclusion, lipid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle was associated with impaired TBC1D4 S341 and elevated PDH phosphorylation. The prophylactic effect of exercise on lipid-induced insulin resistance may involve augmented TBC1D4 signaling and glycogen synthase activation

Contraction-induced lipolysis is not impaired by inhibition of hormone-sensitive lipase in skeletal muscle

In skeletal muscle hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) has long been accepted to be the principal enzyme responsible for lipolysis of intramyocellular triacylglycerol (IMTG) during contractions. However, this notion is based on in vitro lipase activity data, which may not reflect the in vivo lipolytic activity. We investigated lipolysis of IMTG in soleus muscles electrically stimulated to contract ex vivo during acute pharmacological inhibition of HSL in rat muscles and in muscles from HSL knockout (HSL-KO) mice. Measurements of IMTG are complicated by the presence of adipocytes located between the muscle fibres. To circumvent the problem with this contamination we analysed intramyocellular lipid droplet content histochemically. At maximal inhibition of HSL in rat muscles, contraction-induced breakdown of IMTG was identical to that seen in control muscles (P < 0.001). In response to contractions IMTG staining decreased significantly in both HSL-KO and WT muscles (P < 0.05). In vitro TG hydrolase activity data revealed that adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and HSL collectively account for approximate to 98% of the TG hydrolase activity in mouse skeletal muscle, other TG lipases accordingly being of negligible importance for lipolysis of IMTG. The present study is the first to demonstrate that contraction-induced lipolysis of IMTG occurs in the absence of HSL activity in rat and mouse skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the results suggest that ATGL is activated and plays a major role in lipolysis of IMTG during muscle contractions

Prepregnancy Obesity and Associations With Stroke and Myocardial Infarction in Women in the Years After Childbirth:a nationwide cohort study

Background— Cardiovascular events (stroke or myocardial infarction) are often associated with poorer prognosis in younger, compared with older individuals. We examined the associations between prepregnancy obesity and the risks of myocardial infarction and stroke in young, healthy women. Methods and Results— All Danish women giving birth during 2004–2009 without a history of renal disease or cardiovascular disease were identified from national registers and followed for a median time of 4.5 years (interquartile range, 2.8–5.8). They were grouped according to prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) in underweight (BMI&lt;18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (BMI=18.5–&lt;25 kg/m 2 ), overweight (BMI=25–&lt;30 kg/m 2 ), and obese (BMI≥30 kg/m 2 ). The hazard ratios of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and a composite outcome (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death) were assessed using multivariable Cox regression models. We included 273 101 women with a median age of 30.4 years (interquartile range, 27.2–33.8). A total of 68 women experienced a myocardial infarction, and 175 women experienced an ischemic stroke. The adjusted hazard ratios of myocardial infarction compared with normal weight were 2.50 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.97–6.50) in underweight, 1.68 (95% CI, 0.92–3.06) in overweight, and 2.63 (95% CI, 1.41–4.91) in obese women. For ischemic stroke the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.06 (95% CI, 0.44–2.28) in underweight, 1.27 (95% CI, 0.87–1.85) in overweight, and 1.89 (95% CI, 1.25–2.84) in obese women, respectively. For the composite outcome, hazard ratios were 1.34 (95% CI, 0.81–2.20), 1.43 (95% CI, 1.11–1.84), and 1.76 (95% CI, 1.31–2.34) for underweight, overweight, and obese women. Conclusions— In apparently healthy women of fertile age, prepregnancy obesity was associated with increased risks of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction in the years after childbirth. </jats:sec