5,537 research outputs found
Androsterone glucuronide to dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate ratio is discriminatory for obese Caucasian women with polycystic ovary syndrome
BACKGROUND: Androsterone glucuronide (ADTG) concentrations have been suggested as a marker of the effects of androgens at the target tissue level. As the mechanism for hyperandrogenemia in obese and nonobese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may differ, this study compared the different androgen parameters in non-obese compared to obese women with PCOS, and in normal subjects. METHODS: Eleven non-obese and 14 obese women with PCOS were recruited and compared to 11 control women without PCOS. Total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), ADTG, and androstenedione were analysed using gold standard tandem mass spectrometry, and the free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. RESULTS: Total testosterone, ADTG and androstendione levels did not differ between non-obese (body mass index (BMI) ≤25 kg/m2) and obese PCOS (BMI >25 kg/m2) but all were significantly higher than for controls (p < 0.01). The ADTG to DHEAS ratio was significantly elevated 39 ± 6 (p < 0.01) in obese PCOS in comparison to non-obese PCOS and controls (28 ± 5 and 29 ± 4, respectively). The free androgen index (FAI) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher in obese PCOS compared to non-obese PCOS and controls (p < 0.01). DHEAS was significantly higher in the non-obese versus obese PCOS (p < 0.01). All androgen parameters were significantly lower and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) significantly higher in normal subjects compared to those with obese and non-obese PCOS. CONCLUSIONS: The ADTG:DHEAS ratio was significantly elevated in obese PCOS compared to non-obese PCOS and controls suggesting that this may be a novel biomarker discriminatory for obese PCOS subjects, perhaps being driven by higher hepatic 5α reductase activity increasing ADTG formation in these women
Performance of forage varieties and strains in New Hampshire 1955-1960, Station Bulletin, no.470
The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
A parallel pattern for iterative stencil + reduce
We advocate the Loop-of-stencil-reduce pattern as a means of simplifying the implementation of data-parallel programs on heterogeneous multi-core platforms. Loop-of-stencil-reduce is general enough to subsume map, reduce, map-reduce, stencil, stencil-reduce, and, crucially, their usage in a loop in both data-parallel and streaming applications, or a combination of both. The pattern makes it possible to deploy a single stencil computation kernel on different GPUs. We discuss the implementation of Loop-of-stencil-reduce in FastFlow, a framework for the implementation of applications based on the parallel patterns. Experiments are presented to illustrate the use of Loop-of-stencil-reduce in developing data-parallel kernels running on heterogeneous systems
Justifications-on-demand as a device to promote shifts of attention associated with relational thinking in elementary arithmetic
Student responses to arithmetical questions that can be solved by using arithmetical structure can serve to reveal the extent and nature of relational, as opposed to computational thinking. Here, student responses to probes which require them to justify-on-demand are analysed using a conceptual framework which highlights distinctions between different forms of attention. We analyse a number of actions observed in students in terms of forms of attention and shifts between them: in the short-term (in the moment), medium-term (over several tasks), and long-term (over a year). The main factors conditioning students´ attention and its movement are identified and some didactical consequences are proposed
3',5'-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate- and Ca2+-Calmodulin-Dependent Endogenous Protein Phosphorylation Activity in Membranes of the Bovine Chromaffin Secretory Vesicles: Identification of Two Phosphorylated Components as Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Protein Kinase Regulatory Subunit Type II
Abstract: Membranes of the secretory vesicles from bovine adrenal medulla were investigated for the presence of the endogenous protein phosphorylation activity. Seven phosphoprotein bands in the molecular weight range of 250,000 to 30,000 were observed by means of the sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis and autoradiography. On the basis of the criteria of molecular weight, selective stimulation of the phosphorylation by cyclic AMP (as compared with cyclic GMP) and immunoprecipitation by specific antibodies, band 5 (molecular weight 60,300) was found to represent the phosphorylated form of the secretory vesicle-bound tyrosine hydroxylase. The electrophoretic mobility, the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of cyclic AMP in presence of Mg2+ and Zn,2+ respectively, and immunoreactivity toward antibodies showed band 6 to contain two forms of the regulatory subunits of the type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, distinguishable by their molecular weights (56,000 and 52,000, respectively). Phosphorylation of band 7 (molecular weight 29,800) was stimulated about 2 to 3 times by Ca2+ and calmodulin in the concentration range of both agents believed to occur in the secretory tissues under physiological conditions
Assessment and Management of Obesity and Self-maintenance (AMOS): Outcomes of a multidisciplinary clinic for people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity
Background: Obesity is a prevalent and complex condition with genetic, environmental and behavioural determinants associated with comorbidities such as cancer, obstructive sleep apnoea, infertility, and cardiovascular disease. The Mean (M) BMI of adults attending Diabetes Clinics in regional Tasmania was 44.5 kg/m2. Interdisciplinary support leads to sustained weight loss and improved metabolic markers. However, reduced access to health services, nutritious dietary and physical activity options in rural and remote areas can challenge bariatric and diabetes management.
Aim: To describe the effects of an interdisciplinary clinic focused on tailored bariatric management for people living with type 2 diabetes.
Method: Single-centre randomised control trial in rural-regional Tasmania between 2015 and 2019. Participants randomly assigned to routine care (usual diabetes centre appointment) or intervention (tailored person-centred interdisciplinary bariatric management focused on self-maintenance). Intervention was provided by a nurse practitioner and dietitian (baseline, 6- and 12-weeks, then 3-monthly intervals to 24 months), a physiotherapist (baseline, 1-, 6- and 12-months), a credentialled diabetes educator at weeks 2, 4, 8, 10 (delivering support phone-calls), and psychologist when required. Glucose-lowering medicines altered to weight-neutral/lowering medicines. Metabolic surgery offered to suitable participants after 12-months.
Results: 224 participants (113 intervention, 111 control). Mean age 60-years (24-73), 76.3% on disability/unemployment benefits and Indigenous Australians represented 7%. 16 had metabolic surgery (12 intervention, 4 control). Intervention participants showed greater weight loss (M=-4.2kg[MK1] (95% CI: -5.7, -2.6)) at 6-months; difference of -9.3kg (95%CI: -12.5, -6.2) at 24-month. HbA1c at 6-months showed greater reduction for intervention group (M=-0.37% (95%CI: -0.67%, -.06%)) and 24-months (-0.65% (95%CI: -1.07%, -.22%)). The rate of eGFR decline in the usual care group was 1.36ml/min/m2/year versus 0.23 ml/min/m2/year (difference 1.14ml/min/m2/year (95%CI -0.34, 2.63; P=0.14).
Conclusion: The interdisciplinary bariatric management compared to usual care resulted in greater weight loss and improved glycaemia and differences were sustained for up to 2-years
The Foundation Supernova Survey: Measuring Cosmological Parameters with Supernovae from a Single Telescope
Measurements of the dark energy equation-of-state parameter, , have been
limited by uncertainty in the selection effects and photometric calibration of
Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). The Foundation Supernova Survey is
designed to lower these uncertainties by creating a new sample of SNe
Ia observed on the Pan-STARRS system. Here, we combine the Foundation sample
with SNe from the Pan-STARRS Medium Deep Survey and measure cosmological
parameters with 1,338 SNe from a single telescope and a single, well-calibrated
photometric system. For the first time, both the low- and high- data are
predominantly discovered by surveys that do not target pre-selected galaxies,
reducing selection bias uncertainties. The data include 875 SNe without
spectroscopic classifications and we show that we can robustly marginalize over
CC SN contamination. We measure Foundation Hubble residuals to be fainter than
the pre-existing low- Hubble residuals by mag (stat+sys).
By combining the SN Ia data with cosmic microwave background constraints, we
find , consistent with CDM. With 463
spectroscopically classified SNe Ia alone, we measure . Using
the more homogeneous and better-characterized Foundation sample gives a 55%
reduction in the systematic uncertainty attributed to SN Ia sample selection
biases. Although use of just a single photometric system at low and high
redshift increases the impact of photometric calibration uncertainties in this
analysis, previous low- samples may have correlated calibration
uncertainties that were neglected in past studies. The full Foundation sample
will observe up to 800 SNe to anchor the LSST and WFIRST Hubble diagrams.Comment: 30 pages, 17 figures, accepted by Ap
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