Metabolic and haemodynamic effects of oral glucose loading in young healthy men carrying the 825T-allele of the G protein β3 subunit

BACKGROUND: A C825T polymorphism was recently identified in the gene encoding the β3 subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins (GNB3). The T-allele is significantly associated with essential hypertension and obesity. In order to further explore a possible pathogenetic link between the T-allele and impaired glucose tolerance we studied metabolic and haemodynamic responses to oral glucose loading in young, healthy subjects with and without the 825T-allele. METHODS: Twelve subjects with and 10 without the 825T-allele were investigated at rest and following glucose ingestion (75 g). Blood glucose, serum insulin and haemodynamics were determined prior to and over 2 hours following glucose ingestion. We non-invasively measured stroke volume (SV, by impedance-cardiography), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and systolic-time-intervals. Cardiac output (CO) was calculated from HR and SV. Total peripheral resistance was calculated from CO and BP. Metabolic and haemodynamic changes were quantified by maximal responses and by calculation of areas under the concentration time profile (AUC). Significances of differences between subjects with and without the T-allele were determined by unpaired two-tailed t-tests. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Metabolic and haemodynamic parameters at baseline were very similar between both groups. The presence of the T-allele did not alter the response of any metabolic or haemodynamic parameter to glucose loading. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study does not support the hypothesis that the C825T polymorphism may serve as a genetic marker of early impaired glucose tolerance

Simulation assisted process chain design for the manufacturing of bulk hybrid shafts with tailored properties

To manufacture semi-finished hybrid workpieces with tailored properties, a finite element simulation assisted process chain design was investigated. This includes the process steps of cross wedge rolling, hot geometry inspection, induction hardening, and fatigue testing. The process chain allows the utilisation of material combinations such as high-strength steels with low-cost and easy to process steels. Here, plasma transferred arc welding is applied to supply the process chain with hybrid specimen featuring different steel grades. An overview of the numerical approaches to consider the various physical phenomena in each of the process steps is presented. The properties of the component behaviour were investigated via the finite element method (FEM) and theoretical approaches. At first, the manufacturing of a hybrid workpiece featuring a near net shape geometry with improved mechanical properties due to recrystallising the weld was computed, using the example of a cross wedge rolling process. The rolling process was designed by means of FEM to determine suitable process parameters and to reduce experimental testing. An optical multi-scale geometry inspection of the hot workpiece is meant to be carried out after each manufacturing step to detect potential undesired forming or cooling-induced deformations. Due to the heat transfer from the hot component to the ambient medium, an optical measurement is affected by the developing inhomogeneous refractive index field in air. To gain a basic understanding of the refractive index field and induced light deflection effects, computations were conducted using heat transfer and ray tracing simulations. According to the proposed process route, a subsequent local heat treatment of the hybrid component is required to adapt the mechanical properties by a spray cooling assisted induction hardening. The heat treatment step was computed via a 2D FEM calculation. After finishing by machining, the hybrid material shafts are examined in fatigue tests under load conditions. To predict the component’s lifetime under rolling contact fatigue, a damage accumulation model was combined with an FE simulation. The resulting residual stress state after quenching and the geometry after the finishing process were used as input data for the fatigue life calculations

A construção da União Europeia no decorrer de seus tratados instituidores

Resumo: Este estudo apresenta o percurso de construção da União Europeia ao longo dos sucessivos Tratados, demonstrando a formação de suas competências e de seu aparato institucional. Também indica de que maneira o constante conflito entre posição supranacionalista, de um lado, e intergovernamentalista, de outro, implicou num processo de integração nem sempre incontroverso, mas contínuo. Será possível verificar, assim, como a União Europeia tem progressivamente ampliado sua esfera de poder e exigido um número cada vez maior atribuições, em razão das contingências oriundas da vida no bloco. De tal constatação, tornar-se-á mais clara a conclusão de que, hoje, a solução de muitos problemas nacionais e europeus já não pode ser pensada sem uma atuação ao menos conjunta da União Europeia, tendo em vista a profundidade dos vínculos entre os Estados-membros e o grande número de ferramentas titularizadas pelo ente supraestata

ATP-AgriLandLab: a tool for Analysis of Transformation Processes within Landscape Labs

Agriculture is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Several studies concluded that minor changes within the current framework conditions would not be enough to solve the problem, a societal transformation is needed (IPBES, 2019). Transformation means fundamental changes in structural, functional, relational, and cognitive aspects of socio-technical-ecological systems that lead to new patterns of interactions and outcomes (Patterson et al., 2017). several projects, initiatives, and innovative research strategies are being developed to transform agriculture systems, however, how to monitor (for reporting) and analyse (for learning) transformative performance of these initiatives is still unclear. The aim of this document is to present a concept to analyse and monitor the level of transformative change on Agriculture within Landscape Laboratories oriented to enhance insect biodiversity in Germany. The concept “ATP-AgriLandLab” (Analysis of Transformation Processes within Agriculture Landscape Laboratories) is based on theoretical frameworks of transformation and transdisciplinary research combined with cases studies, used to identify, and summarize key elements of transformative change. ATP-AgriLandLab is based on the three dimensions of transformative change: changes in the way of thinking, acting, and organizing, where a set of components are linked to each dimension and are used to describe, monitor, and evaluate the performance of transformation processes. Components as technological and social innovations, social values, knowledge, social inclusion, and natural resources management are proposed to monitoring outputs and outcomes of process of change, meanwhile, components as dynamic, flexibility, timing, transparency, and communication allows to monitor the behaviour of the process on-going. This concept seeks to provide a methodology to facilitate the understanding and evaluation of complexity of transformation processes accessible to researchers, practitioners, and advisory agents, working within a Landscape Laboratories in agricultural sector

Interventions for preventing and reducing the use of physical restraints of older people in general hospital settings (Protocol)

Möhler R, Nürnberger C, Abraham J, Köpke S, Meyer G. Interventions for preventing and reducing the use of physical restraints of older people in general hospital settings (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;2016(12): CD012476