Awareness of risk factors for loneliness among third agers

Awareness of risk factors for loneliness is a prerequisite for preventive action. Many risk factors for loneliness have been identified. This paper focuses on two: poor health and widowhood. Preventive action by developing a satisfying social network requires time and effort and thus seems appropriate for people unexposed to risk factors, i.e. third agers and non-lonely persons. The third age is the period in old age after retirement, before people's social relationships deteriorate. This paper addresses three questions: Are older adults aware of poor health and widowhood as risk factors for loneliness? Are there differences in awareness between third and fourth agers? Are there differences in awareness between lonely and non-lonely older adults? After being introduced to four vignette persons, 920 respondents from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether they expected these persons to be lonely. Older adults, especially third agers, expected peers exposed to the risk factors to be lonely more often than peers who were unexposed. The results indicate that awareness of loneliness-provoking factors is high among third agers, which is a first step towards taking actions to avoid loneliness. Compared to lonely older adults, non-lonely ones expected peers to be lonely less often, suggesting the latter's lower awareness of the risk factors. The results provide evidence for policy makers and practitioners that combating loneliness might require early action

Measuring non-axisymmetry in spiral galaxies

We present a method for measuring small deviations from axisymmetry of the potential of a filled gas disk. The method is based on a higher order harmonic expansion of the full velocity field of the disk. This expansion is made by first fitting a tilted-ring model to the velocity field of the gas disk and subsequently expanding the velocity field along each ring into its harmonic terms. We use epicycle theory to derive equations for the harmonic terms in a distorted potential. The phase of each component of the distortion can vary with radius. We show that if the potential has a distortion of harmonic number m, the velocity field as seen on the sky exhibits an m-1 and m+1 distortion. As is to be expected, the effects of a global elongation of the halo are similar to an m=2 spiral arm. The main difference is that the phase of the spiral arm can vary with radius. Our method allows a measurement of epsilon_pot sin(2 phi_2), where epsilon_pot is the elongation of the potential and phi_2 is one of the viewing angles. Using \hi data, one can probe the potential at radii beyond the stellar disk, into the regime where dark matter is thought to be the dominant dynamical component. The method is applied the spiral galaxies NGC 2403 and NGC 3198 and the harmonic terms are measured up to ninth order. We find epsilon_pot sin(2 phi_2) to be 0.064 +/- 0.003 for NGC 2403 and 0.019 +/- 0.003 for NGC 3198. More galaxies should be examined to separate viewing angle from elongation in a statistical way.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. To be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Recent advances in central congenital hypothyroidism.

Central congenital hypothyroidism (CCH) may occur in isolation, or more frequently in combination with additional pituitary hormone deficits with or without associated extrapituitary abnormalities. Although uncommon, it may be more prevalent than previously thought, affecting up to 1:16 000 neonates in the Netherlands. Since TSH is not elevated, CCH will evade diagnosis in primary, TSH-based, CH screening programs and delayed detection may result in neurodevelopmental delay due to untreated neonatal hypothyroidism. Alternatively, coexisting growth hormones or ACTH deficiency may pose additional risks, such as life threatening hypoglycaemia. Genetic ascertainment is possible in a minority of cases and reveals mutations in genes controlling the TSH biosynthetic pathway (TSHB, TRHR, IGSF1) in isolated TSH deficiency, or early (HESX1, LHX3, LHX4, SOX3, OTX2) or late (PROP1, POU1F1) pituitary transcription factors in combined hormone deficits. Since TSH cannot be used as an indicator of euthyroidism, adequacy of treatment can be difficult to monitor due to a paucity of alternative biomarkers. This review will summarize the normal physiology of pituitary development and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, then describe known genetic causes of isolated central hypothyroidism and combined pituitary hormone deficits associated with TSH deficiency. Difficulties in diagnosis and management of these conditions will then be discussed.This work was supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust (Grant 100585/Z/12/Z, to N.S., Grant 095564/Z/11/Z, to K.C.)This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Society for Endocrinology via http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/JOE-15-034

Continuous Flow Biocatalytic Reductive Amination by Co-Entrapping Dehydrogenases with Agarose Gel in a 3D-Printed Mould Reactor

Herein, we show how the merge of biocatalysis with flow chemistry aided by 3D-printing technologies can facilitate organic synthesis. This concept was exemplified for the reductive amination of benzaldehyde catalysed by co-immobilised amine dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase in a continuous flow micro-reactor. For this purpose, we investigated enzyme co-immobilisation by covalent binding, or ion-affinity binding, or entrapment. Entrapment in an agarose hydrogel turned out to be the most promising solution for this biocatalytic reaction. Therefore, we developed a scalable and customisable approach whereby an agarose hydrogel containing the co-entrapped dehydrogenases was cast in a 3D-printed mould. The reactor was applied to the reductive amination of benzaldehyde in continuous flow over 120 h and afforded 47 % analytical yield and a space-time yield of 7.4 g L day−1 using 0.03 mol% biocatalysts loading. This work also exemplifies how rapid prototyping of enzymatic reactions in flow can be achieved through 3D-printing technology

Immobilized-Enzyme Reactors Integrated into Analytical Platforms: Recent Advances and Challenges

Immobilized-enzyme reactors (IMERs) are flow-through devices containing enzymes that are physically confined or localized with retention of their catalytic activities. IMERs can be used repeatedly and continuously and have been applied for (bio)polymer degradation, proteomics, biomarker discovery, inhibitor screening, and detection. Online integration of IMERs with analytical instrumentation, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, reduces the time needed for multi-step workflows, reduces the need for sample handling, and enables automation. However, online integration can also be challenging, as reaching its full potential requires complex instrumental setups and experienced users. This review aims to provide an assessment of recent advances and challenges in online IMER-based (analytical) LC platforms, covering publications from 2014-2021. A critical discussion of challenges often encountered in IMER fabrication, sample preparation, integration into the analytical workflow, long-term usage, and of potential ways to overcome these is provided. Finally, the obstacles preventing the proliferation of IMERs as efficient tools for high-throughput pharmacological, industrial, and biological studies are discussed

A new sample of large angular size radio galaxies. II. The optical data

We constructed and presented in the first paper of this series a new sample of 84 large angular size radio galaxies by selecting from the NRAO VLA Sky Survey objects with angular size > 4', declination above +60 degrees and total flux density at 1.4 GHz > 100 mJy. In this paper we present optical spectra and images of those galaxies associated with the radio emission for which no redshift was known prior to our observations. Optical counterparts have been identified for all (but one) members of the sample. After our observations, a reliable spectroscopic redshift is available for 67 objects (80%) from the sample. This paper, second of a series of three, contributes to increase the number of well defined samples of radio galaxies with ample spectroscopic information.Comment: Accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Fig 1 is supplied as low resolution gif files. Contact L. Lara for better quality postscript file