One-Hour Plasma Glucose Concentration and the Metabolic Syndrome Identify Subjects at High Risk for Future Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE—To assess the efficacy of 1-h plasma glucose concentration and the metabolic syndrome in predicting future risk of type 2 diabetes

A Model for Behavioral Tendency of TCP Congestion Control Variants in LTE Cellular and 802.11ac Networks

As a reliable protocol, TCP protocol configuration requires many parameters to be set before the actual packet transmissions happen. However, the TCP parameters need to be changed from the initial fixed default values to suit the network requirements since it is utilized on many dissimilar mobile networks, including the LTE cellular and the 802.11ac. On the other hand, LTE cellular and 802.11ac networks also have their own design parameters. In this case, utilizing the TCP in these networks will result in the TCP parameters to interact with LTE and 802.11ac parameters, which subsequently can optimize or degrade the network performance due to correct or poor parameters setting. Therefore, it is highly important to determine the correct values for both protocol parameters and network parameters to achieve optimal network performance. This work presents a model to determine the interaction between the TCP protocol parameters, including the congestion control variants and the size of packets and network parameters that include RLC modes in LTE and A-MPDU aggregation mechanism in 802.11ac. Drawn from an extensive set of scenarios and experiments, the results show significant performance improvements achieved by the verified matching parameters

Modeling Optimal Values of the Traffic Load-Based Factors over Performance of LTE Cellular and 802.11ac

The load-based features of the traffic particularly in resource-limited wireless systems, including LTE and 802.11ac, are among the primary factors that any changes in their values can directly affect the efficiency of the networks. Keeping in mind the fact that proper selection of the parameters is very crucial for performance optimisation of the networks, this work proposes a comprehensive framework called loadbased factors (LBF) with two main purposes. First, to quantify and determine the effects of the load- based parameters including traffic source rate, traffic type, and packet size on the performance of LTE and 802.11ac networks. Second, to accurately determine the actual effective values of these parameters and achieve the performance optimality in both LTE and 802.11ac networks. The NS3 tool is used to implement and evaluate the LBF framework. The experimental results show that the proposed framework by varying these parameters and testing the corresponding impacts via implementing a wide range of scenarios and experiments can be used as a comprehensive model to determine and compare the optimal values of these parameters in both LTE and 802.11ac networks

Relationship between patient satisfactions with diabetes care and treatment

Background: Measurement of treatment satisfaction in diabetes is important as it has been shown to be associated with positive outcomes, reduced disease cost and better health.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between treatment satisfaction of diabetes patients and socioeconomic, clinical, medication adherence and health‑related factors in Qatar.Design: This is a cross‑sectional study.Setting: The survey was carried out in primary health care centers and hospitals from April 2010 to May 2011.Subjects: Of a total of 3000 diabetic patients, 2582 patients gave their consent to take part in the study, with a response rate of 86.1%.Materials and Methods: The Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire was used to measure the patient satisfaction. The modified Morisky  Medication Adherence was used to measure medication taking behavior. A multivariate stepwise linear regression model was performed to identify factors independently associated with patients’ satisfaction instrument.Results: Of the studied patients, majority of the diabetes patients were Qataris (61.2%), married (86.1%), above secondary education (46.9%) and unemployed (28.6%). Diabetes patients who had professional jobs (3.97 ± 0.65; P = 0.009) and those who were staying alone had a significantly higher treatment satisfaction score (4.01 ± 0.64; P = 0.001) compared with the other patients. Patients who were taking tablets were significantly more satisfied with treatment (4.08 ± 0.60; P < 0.001). Diabetes patients of primary health care centers (3.96 vs. 3.80; P < 0.001) were more satisfied with treatment than patients visiting hospitals. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age of the patient (P < 0.001), expatriates (P = 0.023), patients visiting hospitals (P < 0.001), treatment with insulin (P < 0.001) and any diabetes complications (P < 0.001) were significantly less satisfied with the treatment.Conclusion: The study findings revealed that patient satisfaction was positively associated with sociodemographic variables like high income, employment, married individuals and those with higher levels of education. We found a lower treatment satisfaction in patients with diabetes‑related complications and insulin treatment.Key words: Diabetes care, DTSQ, health status, patient satisfaction, quality of life, treatment adherenc

Fasting Versus Postload Plasma Glucose Concentration and the Risk for Future Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the Botnia Study

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the postload plasma glucose concentration in predicting future risk of type 2 diabetes, compared with prediction models based on measurement of the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration

Pioglitazone corrects dysregulation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial proteins involved in ATP synthesis in type 2 diabetes

Context: In this study, we aimed to identify the determinants of mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle (SKLM) of subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone (PIO) on SKLM mitochondrial proteome. Methods: Two different groups of adults were studied. Group I consisted of 8 individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 8 with T2DM, subjected to SKLM mitochondrial proteome analysis by 2D-gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry-based protein identification. Group II included 24 individuals with NGT and 24 with T2DM, whose SKLM biopsies were subjected to immunoblot analysis. Of the 24 subjects with T2DM, 20 were randomized to receive placebo or PIO (15 mg daily) for 6 months. After 6 months of treatment, SKLM biopsy was repeated. Results: Mitochondrial proteomic analysis on Group I revealed that several mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative metabolism were differentially expressed between T2DM and NGT groups, with a downregulation of ATP synthase alpha chain (ATP5A), electron transfer flavoprotein alpha-subunit (ETFA), cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIb isoform 1 (CX6B1), pyruvate dehydrogenase protein X component (ODPX), dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH), dihydrolipoamide-S-succinyltransferase (DLST), and mitofilin, and an up-regulation of hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HCDH), 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA-isomerase (D3D2) and delta3,5-delta2,4-dienoyl-CoA-isomerase (ECH1) in T2DM as compared to NGT subjects. By immunoblot analysis on SKLM lysates obtained from Group II we confirmed that, in comparison to NGT subjects, those with T2DM exhibited lower protein levels of ATP5A (−30%, P = 0.006), ETFA (−50%, P = 0.02), CX6B1 (−30%, P = 0.03), key factors for ATP biosynthesis, and of the structural protein mitofilin (−30%, P = 0.01). T2DM was associated with a reduced abundance of the enzymes involved in the Krebs cycle DLST and ODPX (−20%, P ≤ 0.05) and increased levels of HCDH and ECH1, enzymes implicated in the fatty acid catabolism (+30%, P ≤ 0.05). In subjects with type 2 diabetes treated with PIO for 6 months we found a restored SKLM protein abundance of ATP5A, ETFA, CX6B1, and mitofilin. Moreover, protein levels of HCDH and ECH1 were reduced by −10% and − 15% respectively (P ≤ 0.05 for both) after PIO treatment. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced levels of mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and an increased abundance of enzymes implicated in fatty acid catabolism in SKLM. PIO treatment is able to improve SKLM mitochondrial proteomic profile in subjects with T2DM

Performance of Coated Carbide Tools when Turning Inconel Alloy 718 under Cryogenic Condition using RSM / N. Badroush ...[et al.]

This paper investigates the influence of cutting parameters on different responses variables and the performance of PVD coated carbide cutting tool when turning Inconel 718 under cryogenic condition. The factors and range of parameters investigated are; cutting speed (90-150 m/min), feed rate (0.05-0.2mm/rev) and depth of cut (0.25-0.75mm). The experimental runs were established using Box-Behnken design experiment. For the responses, 2 variables were evaluated which are surface roughness (Ra) of the machined surface and tool life (TL) of the insert. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to identify factors which significantly affect the response variables. From the analysis, the cutting speed and feed rate are the most significant factors affecting the TL followed by the depth of cut. While for the Ra, the interaction of feed rate and depth of cut are the most significant, followed by the depth of cut. The prediction Ra and TL models were developed with 95% of prediction interval between the predicted and actual experiments using the optimal parameters