Comparison of mathematical indices of insulin resistance for clinical application in the four phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Insulin resistance may not be essential for the diagnosis, but does play a crucial role in PCOS and contributes to significant morbidity and long term life threatening sequelae. The extent of this resistance differs in different phenotypes and is difficult to assess in clinical settings. In this study we used mathematical indices to assess insulin resistance across the whole PCOS spectrum and used cut off values to find whether all PCOS phenotypes were Insulin resistant.Methods: 60 newly diagnosed PCOS participants were included in the study analysis. Depending upon their presentation these participants were grouped into 4 phenotypes. The two mathematical indices HOMA and QUICKI were calculated for each participant .The mean value of HOMA and QUICKI were calculated for each group and compared using ANOVA. A cut off value of >2.6 for HOMA and <0.33 for QUICKI was used to determine Insulin resistance.Results: There was a significant difference in the degree of insulin resistance among the different phenotypes of PCOS. Not all PCOS women can be called insulin resistant when using certain cut off values for QUICKI and HOMA. The PCOM+MI+HA phenotype appears to be more resistant than all other phenotypes.Conclusions: Insulin resistance is a not present universally and varies among all phenotypes of PCOS. In clinical setting simple mathematical indices could be used to identify these individuals and initiate appropriate therapy in order to prevent long term metabolic sequelae. Cut off values for both the indices need to take into account all factors that influence insulin sensitivity

Abundance and Diversity of Native Bumble Bees Associated with Agricultural Crops: The Willamette Valley Experience

There are widespread concerns about declining populations of bumble bees due to conversion of native habitats to agroecosystems. Certain cropping systems, however, provide enormous foraging resources, and are beneficial for population build up of native bees, especially eusocial bees such as bumble bees. In this review, we present evidence of a flourishing bumble bee fauna in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon which we believe is sustained by cultivation of bee-pollinated crops which bloom in sequence, and in synchrony with foraging by queens and workers of a complex of bumble bee species. In support of our perspective, we describe the Oregon landscape and ascribe the large bumble bee populations to the presence of a pollen source in spring (cultivated blueberries) followed by one in summer (red clover seed crops). Based on our studies, we recommend integration into conservation approaches of multiple agroecosystems that bloom in sequence for sustaining and building bumble bee populations

Partnerships to Build Enduring Understandings: Education, Outreach, and Broader Impact (EOBI) Workshops for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Faculty

Presenters: Eda Davis-Butts (Director, the Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) Program, Oregon State University), SueAnn Bottoms (Associate Director, the Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) Program, Oregon State University), Sujaya Rao (Associate Professor, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University). Abstract: Research faculty and outreach practitioners at Oregon State University collaborated to develop, implement, and refine a series of workshops to enhance the capacity of faculty to respond to growing requirements for meaningful education, outreach, and broader impact initiatives as part of their scientific research programs. Faculty in various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines participated in and provided feedback about the usefulness of the workshops, as well as identified factors that would support their engagement in STEM outreach. This session shares the elements of the workshops, participant responses, self-identified enabling conditions for STEM engagement, and resulting collaborations