Ancient origins of low lean mass among South Asians and implications for modern type 2 diabetes susceptibility

Living South Asians have low lean tissue mass relative to height, which contributes to their elevated type 2 diabetes susceptibility, particularly when accompanied by obesity. While ongoing lifestyle transitions account for rising obesity, the origins of low lean mass remain unclear. We analysed proxies for lean mass and stature among South Asian skeletons spanning the last 11,000 years (n = 197) to investigate the origins of South Asian low lean mass. Compared with a worldwide sample (n = 2,003), South Asian skeletons indicate low lean mass. Stature-adjusted lean mass increased significantly over time in South Asia, but to a very minor extent (0.04 z-score units per 1,000 years, adjusted R2 = 0.01). In contrast stature decreased sharply when agriculture was adopted. Our results indicate that low lean mass has characterised South Asians since at least the early Holocene and may represent long-term climatic adaptation or neutral variation. This phenotype is therefore unlikely to change extensively in the short term, so other strategies to address increasing non-communicable disease rates must be pursued. © 2019, The Author(s)

Canadian Estimate of Bird Mortality Due to Collisions and Direct Habitat Loss Associated with Wind Turbine Developments

We estimated impacts on birds from the development and operation of wind turbines in Canada considering both mortality due to collisions and loss of nesting habitat. We estimated collision mortality using data from carcass searches for 43 wind farms, incorporating correction factors for scavenger removal, searcher efficiency, and carcasses that fell beyond the area searched. On average, 8.2 ± 1.4 birds (95% C.I.) were killed per turbine per year at these sites, although the numbers at individual wind farms varied from 0 - 26.9 birds per turbine per year. Based on 2955 installed turbines (the number installed in Canada by December 2011), an estimated 23,300 birds (95% C.I. 20,000 - 28,300) would be killed from collisions with turbines each year. We estimated direct habitat loss based on data from 32 wind farms in Canada. On average, total habitat loss per turbine was 1.23 ha, which corresponds to an estimated total habitat loss due to wind farms nationwide of 3635 ha. Based on published estimates of nest density, this could represent habitat for ~5700 nests of all species. Assuming nearby habitats are saturated, and 2 adults displaced per nest site, effects of direct habitat loss are less than that of direct mortality. Installed wind capacity is growing rapidly, and is predicted to increase more than 10-fold over the next 10-15 years, which could lead to direct mortality of approximately 233,000 birds / year, and displacement of 57,000 pairs. Despite concerns about the impacts of biased correction factors on the accuracy of mortality estimates, these values are likely much lower than those from collisions with some other anthropogenic sources such as windows, vehicles, or towers, or habitat loss due to many other forms of development. Species composition data suggest that < 0.2% of the population of any species is currently affected by mortality or displacement from wind turbine development. Therefore, population level impacts are unlikely, provided that highly sensitive or rare habitats, as well as concentration areas for species at risk, are avoided

Focused ion beam assisted analysis of the oxidation of a NiAl coating on pure Ni

peer-reviewedDiscs of (pure nickel 15 mm diameter and 4 nun thickness) have been polished to a 1 mu m finish, aluminised using a standard pack CVD process to give a beta-NiAl coating and then the surface of this coating polished to a 1 mu m finish again. Samples have then been isothermally oxidised in a muffle furnace for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 and 1024 hours at 950 degrees C, and subjected to surface and cross-sectional microscopy and analysis. Scales were also cross-sectioned and imaged using Focused Ion Beam Milling. The oxidation rate was determined to be 2.6 x 10(-13) g(2) cm(-4) s(-1) and for times less than 512 hours the predominant alumina phase was theta alumina. Al depletion effects were observed due to both oxidation and interdiffusion between the Ni substrate and the NiAl coating. Using these effects, it has been shown that tensile strains of up to 9% can arise and these strains readily explain the formation of intrefacial elliptical pores observed by FIB cross sectioning. FIB sectioning also indicated that different coating grains exhibit different oxide-coating interfaces which arise due to different grain orientations. The faceting of the coating-oxide interface and the development of cuboidal faceted coating structures beneath spalled oxide is thought to be due to substructure development (sub-grain development or recrystallisation) arising from the plastic strains generated by Al depletion effects.Acceptedpeer-reviewe

Evaluating suitability of saliva to measure steroid concentrations in grey seal pups

Measurement of steroids in wild pinnipeds can facilitate assessment of breeding, nutritional and stress status, and is useful in understanding behavioral responses. Even in young animals, sex steroids may be important in behavioral interactions and immune modulation. Use of saliva can avoid the large fluctuations seen in some steroids in plasma, and can negate the need for venipuncture, making it a potentially useful matrix in the wildlife. However, its utility in estimating steroid levels in wild young pinnipeds has not been evaluated. Here, we investigated the suitability of saliva for steroid hormone analysis in wild grey seal pups during their suckling and post-weaning fast periods. We collected saliva (n = 38) and plasma (n = 71) samples during the breeding season on the Isle of May, Scotland, 2012. We investigated success of sample collection, ease of preparation, accuracy and precision of analysis, and, where possible, comparability of measurements (n = 27) from saliva and plasma. Plasma sampling was rapid, whereas sampling saliva took up to five times longer. Analytical performance criteria (parallelism, accuracy, and precision (intra and inter assay co-efficient of variation (% CV)) of commercial ELISA kits to measure estradiol, testosterone and cortisol in both matrices were assessed. Estradiol and cortisol assays performed well and can be used in plasma and saliva. However, we could not confidently validate testosterone for either matrix. Saliva estradiol correlated with levels in plasma. Saliva sample preparation was faster and simpler than plasma preparation because it did not require extraction. However, given the additional time taken to obtain saliva in the wild, the possibility of blood contamination from oral damage and the lower success rate in obtaining sufficient sample for analysis, we recommend that this matrix only be used as an alternative to plasma sampling measurement in pinnipeds when animals are anaesthetized, tolerate mouth swabbing, or have been trained to accept saliva sampling in captivity

Neurobiomechanical differences between successful and unsuccessful sit to stand movements performed by acute stroke patients

The sit to stand (StS) movement is a frequently performed functional task that individuals with motor impairment can find difficult, threatening their ability to live independently [1]. Understanding the characteristics that differ between a successful and an unsuccessful StS attempt could enable a more targeted approach to rehabilitation

Brighter Sights: Using Photovoice for a Process Evaluation of a Food Co-op Style Nutrition Intervention

Access to healthy food is a critical factor impacting childhood obesity. Brighter Bites is a school-based program that addresses the issue of fresh food access among low-income families living in food deserts using a food co-op model. The aim of this study is to evaluate initial parent participant reactions to the ongoing Brighter Bites program using Photovoice. A predominately Hispanic, economically disadvantaged, urban school was chosen as the site for the Photovoice project. A total of seven Brighter Bites parent participants were enrolled and six completed the study. The participants developed research questions, took documentary photographs, completed a group analysis of the resulting photos, selected key images and created accompanying captions for a community event. During analysis of the photographs by the group, eight major themes emerged including: impact on the family food budget, produce quality, exposure to unknown fruits and vegetables, socializing with other parents, strategies to use/get children to eat produce, child curiosity of program, and children having fun helping with produce. These themes informed researchers of possible target areas for future program development and quality improvement. The positive nature of most photographs and comments suggests the program is being accepted in the community and impacting local families with regard to food access, food security and healthy eating behaviors

Measurement of parity-nonconserving rotation of neutron spin in the 0.734-eV p-wave resonance of 139La^{139}La

The parity nonconserving spin rotation of neutrons in the 0.734-eV p-wave resonance of $^{139}La$ was measured with the neutron transmission method. Two optically polarized $^3He$ cells were used before and behind a a 5-cm long $^{139}La$ target as a polarizer and an analyzer of neutron spin. The rotation angle was carefully measured by flipping the direction of $^3He$ polarization in the polarizer in sequence. The peak-to-peak value of the spin rotation was found to be $(7.4 \pm 1.1) \times 10^{-3}$ rad/cm which was consistent with the previous experiments. But the result was statisticallly improved. The s-p mixing model gives the weak matrix element as $xW = (1.71 \pm 0.25)$ meV. The value agrees well with the one deduced from the parity-nonconserving longitudinal asymmetry in the same resonance

Ancient origins of low lean mass among South Asians and implications for modern type 2 diabetes susceptibility

Living South Asians have low lean tissue mass relative to height, which contributes to their elevated type 2 diabetes susceptibility, particularly when accompanied by obesity. While ongoing lifestyle transitions account for rising obesity, the origins of low lean mass remain unclear. We analysed proxies for lean mass and stature among South Asian skeletons spanning the last 11,000 years (n = 197) to investigate the origins of South Asian low lean mass. Compared with a worldwide sample (n = 2,003), South Asian skeletons indicate low lean mass. Stature-adjusted lean mass increased significantly over time in South Asia, but to a very minor extent (0.04 z-score units per 1,000 years, adjusted R^{2} = 0.01). In contrast stature decreased sharply when agriculture was adopted. Our results indicate that low lean mass has characterised South Asians since at least the early Holocene and may represent long-term climatic adaptation or neutral variation. This phenotype is therefore unlikely to change extensively in the short term, so other strategies to address increasing non-communicable disease rates must be pursued