1,956 research outputs found
Setting targets leads to greater long-term weight losses and ‘unrealistic’ targets increase the effect in a large community-based commercial weight management group
Background. Setting personal targets is an important behavioural component in weight management programmes. Normal practice is to encourage ‘realistic’ weight loss but the under-pinning evidence base for this is limited and controversial. This study investigates the effect of number and size of weight loss targets on long-term weight loss in a large community sample of adults.
Methods. Weight change, attendance and target weight data for all new UK members, joining January to March 2012 was extracted from a commercial slimming organisation’s electronic database.
Results. Of the 35 380 members who had weight data available at 12 months after joining, 69.1% (n=24 447)had a starting BMI≥30kg/m2. Their mean weight loss was 12.9±7.8% and for both sexes, weight loss at 12 months was greater for those who set targets (p25% was 7.6±4.0 kg/m2. A higher percentage of obese members did not set targets (p<0.001) compared to those with a BMI below 30kg/m2.
Conclusions. Much of the variance in achieved weight loss in this population was explained by the number of targets set and the size of the first target. Whilst obese people were less likely to set targets, doing so increased the likelihood of achieving clinically significant weight loss and for some ‘unrealistic’ targets improved results
Distance-dependent duplex DNA destabilization proximal to G-quadruplex/i-motif sequences
G-quadruplexes and i-motifs are complementary examples of non-canonical nucleic acid substructure conformations. G-quadruplex thermodynamic stability has been extensively studied for a variety of base sequences, but the degree of duplex destabilization that adjacent quadruplex structure formation can cause has yet to be fully addressed. Stable in vivo formation of these alternative nucleic acid structures is likely to be highly dependent on whether sufficient spacing exists between neighbouring duplex- and quadruplex-/i-motif-forming regions to accommodate quadruplexes or i-motifs without disrupting duplex stability. Prediction of putative G-quadruplex-forming regions is likely to be assisted by further understanding of what distance (number of base pairs) is required for duplexes to remain stable as quadruplexes or i-motifs form. Using oligonucleotide constructs derived from precedented G-quadruplexes and i-motif-forming bcl-2 P1 promoter region, initial biophysical stability studies indicate that the formation of G-quadruplex and i-motif conformations do destabilize proximal duplex regions. The undermining effect that quadruplex formation can have on duplex stability is mitigated with increased distance from the duplex region: a spacing of five base pairs or more is sufficient to maintain duplex stability proximal to predicted quadruplex/i-motif-forming region
Angiogenesis is present in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and pro-angiogenic factors are increased in multiple sclerosis lesions
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Angiogenesis is a common finding in chronic inflammatory diseases; however, its role in multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. Central nervous system lesions from both MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS, contain T cells, macrophages and activated glia, which can produce pro-angiogenic factors. Previous EAE studies have demonstrated an increase in blood vessels, but differences between the different phases of disease have not been reported. Therefore we examined angiogenic promoting factors in MS and EAE lesions to determine if there were changes in blood vessel density at different stages of EAE.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this series of experiments we used a combination of vascular casting, VEGF ELISA and immunohistochemistry to examine angiogenesis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Using immunohistochemistry we also examined chronic active MS lesions for angiogenic factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Vascular casting and histological examination of the spinal cord and brain of rats with EAE demonstrated that the density of patent blood vessels increased in the lumbar spinal cord during the relapse phase of the disease (p < 0.05). We found an increased expression of VEGF by inflammatory cells and a decrease in the recently described angiogenesis inhibitor meteorin. Examination of chronic active human MS tissues demonstrated glial expression of VEGF and glial and blood vessel expression of the pro-angiogenic receptor VEGFR2. There was a decreased expression of VEGFR1 in the lesions compared to normal white matter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings reveal that angiogenesis is intimately involved in the progression of EAE and may have a role in MS.</p
Nanomechanical and thermophoretic analyses of the nucleotide-dependent interactions between the AAA+ subunits of magnesium chelatase
In chlorophyll biosynthesis, the magnesium
chelatase enzyme complex catalyzes the insertion of a Mg2+
ion into protoporphyrin IX. Prior to this event, two of the three
subunits, the AAA+ proteins ChlI and ChlD, form a ChlID−
MgATP complex. We used microscale thermophoresis to
directly determine dissociation constants for the I-D subunits
from Synechocystis, and to show that the formation of a ChlID−
MgADP complex, mediated by the arginine finger and the
sensor II domain on ChlD, is necessary for the assembly of the
catalytically active ChlHID−MgATP complex. The N-terminal
AAA+ domain of ChlD is essential for complex formation, but
some stability is preserved in the absence of the C-terminal
integrin domain of ChlD, particularly if the intervening polyproline linker region is retained. Single molecule force spectroscopy
(SMFS) was used to determine the factors that stabilize formation of the ChlID−MgADP complex at the single molecule level;
ChlD was attached to an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe in two different orientations, and the ChlI subunits were
tethered to a silica surface; the probability of subunits interacting more than doubled in the presence of MgADP, and we show
that the N-terminal AAA+ domain of ChlD mediates this process, in agreement with the microscale thermophoresis data. Analysis
of the unbinding data revealed a most probable interaction force of around 109 pN for formation of single ChlID−MgADP
complexes. These experiments provide a quantitative basis for understanding the assembly and function of the Mg chelatase
complex
The VIRUS-P Exploration of Nearby Galaxies (VENGA): Survey Design, Data Processing, and Spectral Analysis Methods
We present the survey design, data reduction, and spectral fitting pipeline
for the VIRUS-P Exploration of Nearby Galaxies (VENGA). VENGA is an integral
field spectroscopic survey, which maps the disks of 30 nearby spiral galaxies.
Targets span a wide range in Hubble type, star formation activity, morphology,
and inclination. The VENGA data-cubes have 5.6'' FWHM spatial resolution, ~5A
FWHM spectral resolution, sample the 3600A-6800A range, and cover large areas
typically sampling galaxies out to ~0.7 R_25. These data-cubes can be used to
produce 2D maps of the star formation rate, dust extinction, electron density,
stellar population parameters, the kinematics and chemical abundances of both
stars and ionized gas, and other physical quantities derived from the fitting
of the stellar spectrum and the measurement of nebular emission lines. To
exemplify our methods and the quality of the data, we present the VENGA
data-cube on the face-on Sc galaxy NGC 628 (a.k.a. M 74). The VENGA
observations of NGC 628 are described, as well as the construction of the
data-cube, our spectral fitting method, and the fitting of the stellar and
ionized gas velocity fields. We also propose a new method to measure the
inclination of nearly face-on systems based on the matching of the stellar and
gas rotation curves using asymmetric drift corrections. VENGA will measure
relevant physical parameters across different environments within these
galaxies, allowing a series of studies on star formation, structure assembly,
stellar populations, chemical evolution, galactic feedback, nuclear activity,
and the properties of the interstellar medium in massive disk galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ, 25 pages, 18 figures, 6 table
Young Stellar Objects in the Gould Belt
We present the full catalog of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) identified in the
18 molecular clouds surveyed by the Spitzer Space Telescope "cores to disks"
(c2d) and "Gould Belt" (GB) Legacy surveys. Using standard techniques developed
by the c2d project, we identify 3239 candidate YSOs in the 18 clouds, 2966 of
which survive visual inspection and form our final catalog of YSOs in the Gould
Belt. We compile extinction corrected SEDs for all 2966 YSOs and calculate and
tabulate the infrared spectral index, bolometric luminosity, and bolometric
temperature for each object. We find that 326 (11%), 210 (7%), 1248 (42%), and
1182 (40%) are classified as Class 0+I, Flat-spectrum, Class II, and Class III,
respectively, and show that the Class III sample suffers from an overall
contamination rate by background AGB stars between 25% and 90%. Adopting
standard assumptions, we derive durations of 0.40-0.78 Myr for Class 0+I YSOs
and 0.26-0.50 Myr for Flat-spectrum YSOs, where the ranges encompass
uncertainties in the adopted assumptions. Including information from
(sub)millimeter wavelengths, one-third of the Class 0+I sample is classified as
Class 0, leading to durations of 0.13-0.26 Myr (Class 0) and 0.27-0.52 Myr
(Class I). We revisit infrared color-color diagrams used in the literature to
classify YSOs and propose minor revisions to classification boundaries in these
diagrams. Finally, we show that the bolometric temperature is a poor
discriminator between Class II and Class III YSOs.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJS. 29 pages, 11 figures, 14 tables, 4
appendices. Full versions of data tables (to be published in machine-readable
format by ApJS) available at the end of the latex source cod
Antenatal weight management: women’s experiences, behaviours, and expectations of weighing in early pregnancy
The current emphasis on obstetric risk management helps to frame gestational weight gain as problematic and encourages intervention by healthcare professionals. However pregnant women have reported confusion, distrust, and negative affect associated with antenatal weight management interactions. The MAGIC study (MAnaging weiGht In pregnanCy) sought to examine women’s self-reported experiences of usual-care antenatal weight management in early pregnancy, and consider these alongside weight monitoring behaviours and future expectations. 193 women (18yrs+) were recruited from routine antenatal clinics at the Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust. Self-reported gestation was 10-27 weeks, with 41.5% (n=80) between 12-14 and 43.0% (n=83) between 20-22 weeks. At recruitment 50.3% of participants (n=97) could be classified as overweight or obese. 69.4% of highest weight women (≥30kg/m2) did not report receiving advice about weight, although they were significantly more likely to compared to women with BMI<30kg/m2. The majority of women (regardless of BMI) did not express any barriers to being weighed and 40.8% reported weighing themselves at home. Women across the BMI categories expressed a desire for more engagement from healthcare professionals on the issue of bodyweight. Women are clearly not being served appropriately in the current situation which simultaneously problematizes and fails to offer constructive dialogue
Peeking beneath the precision floor -- II. Probing the chemo-dynamical histories of the potential globular cluster siblings, NGC 288 and NGC 362
The assembly history of the Milky Way (MW) is a rapidly evolving subject,
with numerous small accretion events and at least one major merger proposed in
the MW's history. Accreted alongside these dwarf galaxies are globular clusters
(GCs), which act as spatially coherent remnants of these past events. Using
high precision differential abundance measurements from our recently published
study, we investigate the likelihood that the MW clusters NGC 362 and NGC 288
are galactic siblings, accreted as part of the Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus (GSE)
merger. To do this, we compare the two GCs at the 0.01 dex level for 20+
elements for the first time. Strong similarities are found, with the two
showing chemical similarity on the same order as those seen between the three
LMC GCs, NGC 1786, NGC 2210 and NGC 2257. However, when comparing GC abundances
directly to GSE stars, marked differences are observed. NGC 362 shows good
agreement with GSE stars in the ratio of Eu to Mg and Si, as well as a clear
dominance in the r- compared to the s-process, while NGC 288 exhibits only a
slight r-process dominance. When fitting the two GC abundances with a GSE-like
galactic chemical evolution model, NGC 362 shows agreement with both the model
predictions and GSE abundance ratios (considering Si, Ni, Ba and Eu) at the
same metallicity. This is not the case for NGC 288. We propose that the two are
either not galactic siblings, or GSE was chemically inhomogeneous enough to
birth two similar, but not identical clusters with distinct chemistry relative
to constituent stars.Comment: Second paper in a series. Accepted for publication by MNRAS, 17
pages, 11 figure
What are the consequences of a managerial approach to union renewal for union behaviour? A case study of USDAW
Purpose: This paper explores the consequences of a managerialist approach to renewal for a union’s behaviour by analysing the UK’s fourth largest trade union - The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW).
Design/methodology/approach: The findings draw on in-depth semi-structured interviews with union officials.
Findings: The research findings show the significance of a managerialist approach to UDSAW’s renewal strategy and its correlation with existing renewal strategies of organising and partnership. However, this was not immune to context with tensions between agency and articulation challenging the basic concept of managerialism and influencing union behaviour.
Research limitations/implications: The data were collected from a single case with a small sample size.
Practical implications: Unions could benefit from a managerialist approach to insure against external challenges, but tensions between democracy and efficiency will mediate any such approach to union renewal.
Originality/value: This paper brings together the current disparate themes in the literature to propose a conceptual framework of three key elements of managerialism: leadership or centralised renewal strategies; performance management techniques; and the managerialisation of union roles. To date, these elements of managerialism have not been studied simultaneously in a research project and without such knowledge, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the true complexities of how unions organise and renew, both conceptually and empirically. Consequently, we argue that theories of union renewal need to better reflect the complexities of a hybrid approach that unions, such as USDAW, are adopting, particularly their achievements of internal leveraging
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