280 research outputs found
Public Goods and Ecosystem Services from Agriculture and Forestry - a conceptual approach
This paper provides an approach to serve as a conceptual framework for the PEGASUS project. It reviews the theoretical context, examining the different understandings of public goods and ecosystem services from agriculture and forestry in the scientific and policy literature; bringing them into the more holistic frame of social-ecological systems and using insights from these different understandings to identify key issues, analytical concepts and processes to guide PEGASUS
Improved regeneration and de novo bone formation in a diabetic zebrafish model treated with paricalcitol and cinacalcet
Bone changes related to diabetes have been well stablished, but few strategies have been developed to prevent this growing health problem. In our work, we propose to investigate the effects of calcitriol as well as of a vitamin D analog (paricalcitol) and a calcimimetic (cinacalcet), in fin regeneration and de novo mineralization in a zebrafish model of diabetes. Following exposure of diabetic transgenic Tg(ins: nfsb-mCherry) zebrafish to calcitriol, paricalcitol and cinacalcet, caudal fins were amputated to assess their effects on tissue regeneration. Caudal fin mineralized and regenerated areas were quantified by in vivo alizarin red staining. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed using RNA from the vertebral column. Diabetic fish treated with cinacalcet and paricalcitol presented increased regenerated and mineralized areas when compared with non-treated diabetic group, while no significant increase was observed in nondiabetic fish treated with both drugs. Gene expression analysis showed an up-regulation for runt-related transcription factor 2b (runx2b), bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (bglap), insulin a (insa) and insulin b (insb) and a trend of increase for sp7 transcription factor (sp7) in diabetic groups treated with cinacalcet and paricalcitol. Expression of insra and vdra was up-regulated in both diabetic and nondiabetic fish treated with cinacalcet. In nondiabetic fish treated with paricalcitol and cinacalcet a similar increase in gene expression could be observed but not so pronounced. The increased mineralization and regeneration in diabetic zebrafish treated with cinacalcet and paricalcitol can be explained by increased osteoblastic differentiation and increased insulin expression indicating pro-osteogenic potential of both drugs.European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE-Operational Competitiveness ProgramFCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [PEst-CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Concert recording 2022-05-19
[Track 1] Maya / Ian Clarke -- [Track 2] Souvenir Du Rigi, Op. 34 / Franz Doppler -- [Track 3] Dialogues for Flute and Trumpet. I. Allegro ; II. Largo quasi improvisando ; III. Adagio con espressione ; IV. Animato / Jindra Necasova -- [Track 4] Andante et Rondo / Franz Doppler -- [Track 5] Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte / Maurice Ravel ; arr. Miranda Pham for Horn, Flute, and Piano -- [Track 6] Scherzo / Felix Mendelssohn
Concert recording 2022-05-19
[Track 1] Maya / Ian Clarke -- [Track 2] Souvenir Du Rigi, Op. 34 / Franz Doppler -- [Track 3] Dialogues for Flute and Trumpet. I. Allegro ; II. Largo quasi improvisando ; III. Adagio con espressione ; IV. Animato / Jindra Necasova -- [Track 4] Andante et Rondo / Franz Doppler -- [Track 5] Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte / Maurice Ravel ; arr. Miranda Pham for Horn, Flute, and Piano -- [Track 6] Scherzo / Felix Mendelssohn
The Impact of Coexisting Coeliac Disease on Type 1 Diabetes
Coeliac disease (CD) coexists with type 1 diabetes (T1D) substantially more than in the general population. This body of work examines the broad and pervasive relationship between CD on T1D, including the epidemiology, screening practices, microvascular complications, quality of life (QoL), nutrition, glycaemic variability, and bone health. In particular, the contribution of gluten free diet (GFD) adherence is explored. Study 1: The 20-year incidence of CD in 4,379 people with T1D aged 5 years. Study 2: We systematically reviewed the epidemiology of CD in 11,157 youth with T1D alone and 587 with coexisting CD; 55% of CD cases were diagnosed within 2 years of T1D and 79% within 5 years. We concluded that CD screening should be performed at T1D diagnosis and repeated within 5 years of T1D. Study 3: Comparing 129 youth with T1D and CD vs 2,510 with T1D alone, retinopathy, albumin excretion rate (AER) and neuropathy did not differ. HbA1c was lower in those with CD (8.3% vs 8.6%, p=0.04), however elevated AER was more prevalent in those who did not adhere to the GFD (40% vs 23%, p=0.04). Study 4: In a case control study of 35 youth with T1D and 35 with coexisting CD, and their carers, generic and diabetes-specific QoL did not differ. Youth using insulin pumps had similar generic and diabetes specific QoL to those using multiple daily injections. However, those who did not adhere to the GFD had lower diabetes specific QoL and lower general wellbeing, as did their carers. Study 5: In a case control study using continuous glucose monitoring, youth with T1D and CD had greater glycaemic variability, with a shorter time to peak blood glucose levels (BGL), higher peak, and higher postprandial BGLs than T1D alone, despite similar pre-meal BGLs. Both groups had inadequate calcium, folate and fibre, with excessive saturated fat and sodium intake. Study 6: In a case control study utilising dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computational tomography, youth with coexisting T1D and CD had lower bone mineral content, abnormal trabecular and cortical bone development, and a lower bone turnover state with reduced muscle pull vs T1D alone. These studies further our understanding of the impact of coexisting CD in T1D. The findings inform screening and management of CD, and provide evidence in support of GFD adherence to optimise clinical, dietary, and psychosocial management
Correction to: Coexisiting type 1 diabetes and celiac disease is associated with lower Hba1c when compared to type 1 diabetes alone: data from the Australasian Diabetes Data Network (ADDN) registry.
Correction to: Acta Diabetologica ‘Australasian Diabetes Data Network Study Group’ should be listed as named authors in the author group. In the abstract, ‘coexistence of T1D and CD’ does not have a listed B value which is now updated as shown below ……coexistence of T1D and CD (B = − 0.28; to − 0.48 to − 0.07…… Body mass index has a small negative value in both the abstract and Table 2, which is now corrected. In Australasian Diabetes Data Network (ADDN) Study Group members: Jenny Batch should be Professor Jenny Batch. There is a ‘2’ incorrectly inserted in Prof Tony Huynh’s affiliation. This should say Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane. The original article has been corrected
Coexisiting type 1 diabetes and celiac disease is associated with lower Hba1c when compared to type 1 diabetes alone: data from the Australasian Diabetes Data Network (ADDN) registry.
AIM: To compare HbA1c and clinical outcomes in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), with or without celiac disease (CD). METHODS: Longitudinal data were extracted from ADDN, a prospective clinical diabetes registry. Inclusion criteria were T1D (with or without CD), ≥ 1 HbA1c measurement, age 16-25 years and diabetes duration ≥ 1 year at last measurement. Multivariable Generalised Estimated Equation models were used for longitudinal analysis of variables associated with HbA1c. RESULTS: Across all measurements, those with coexisting T1D and CD had lower HbA1c when compared to those with T1D alone (8.5 ± 1.5% (69.4 ± 16.8 mmol/mol) vs. 8.7 ± 1.8% (71.4 ± 19.8 mmol/mol); p < 0.001); lower HbA1c was associated with shorter diabetes duration (B = - 0.06; 95% CI - 0.07 to - 0.05; p < 0.001), male sex (B = - 0.24; - 0.36 to - 0.11; p < 0.001), insulin pump therapy use (B = - 0.46; - 0.58 to - 0.34; p < 0.001), coexistence of T1D and CD (B = - 0.28; - 0.48 to - 0.07; p = 0.01), blood pressure (B = - 0.16; - 0.23 to - 0.09; p < 0.001) and body mass index (B = -- 0.03; - 0.02 to - 0.04; p = 0.01) in the normal range. At last measurement, 11.7% of the total population had a HbA1c < 7.0% (53.0 mmol/mol). CONCLUSIONS: Across all measurements, coexisting T1D and CD is associated with lower HbA1c when compared to T1D alone. However, HbA1c is above target in both groups
Brain and blood biomarkers of tauopathy and neuronal injury in humans and rats with neurobehavioral syndromes following blast exposure
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for the later development of neurodegenerative diseases that may have various underlying pathologies. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in particular is associated with repetitive mild TBI (mTBI) and is characterized pathologically by aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). CTE may be suspected when behavior, cognition, and/or memory deteriorate following repetitive mTBI. Exposure to blast overpressure from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has been implicated as a potential antecedent for CTE amongst Iraq and Afghanistan Warfighters. In this study, we identified biomarker signatures in rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast that develop chronic anxiety-related traits and in human veterans exposed to IED blasts in theater with behavioral, cognitive, and/or memory complaints. Rats exposed to repetitive low-level blasts accumulated abnormal hyperphosphorylated tau in neuronal perikarya and perivascular astroglial processes. Using positron emission tomography (PET) and the [18F]AV1451 (flortaucipir) tau ligand, we found that five of 10 veterans exhibited excessive retention of [18F]AV1451 at the white/gray matter junction in frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions, a typical localization of CTE tauopathy. We also observed elevated levels of neurofilament light (NfL) chain protein in the plasma of veterans displaying excess [18F]AV1451 retention. These findings suggest an association linking blast injury, tauopathy, and neuronal injury. Further study is required to determine whether clinical, neuroimaging, and/or fluid biomarker signatures can improve the diagnosis of long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae of mTBI
Broadband Quantum Enhancement of the LIGO Detectors with Frequency-Dependent Squeezing
Quantum noise imposes a fundamental limitation on the sensitivity of interferometric gravitational-wave detectors like LIGO, manifesting as shot noise and quantum radiation pressure noise. Here, we present the first realization of frequency-dependent squeezing in full-scale gravitational-wave detectors, resulting in the reduction of both shot noise and quantum radiation pressure noise, with broadband detector enhancement from tens of hertz to several kilohertz. In the LIGO Hanford detector, squeezing reduced the detector noise amplitude by a factor of 1.6 (4.0 dB) near 1 kHz; in the Livingston detector, the noise reduction was a factor of 1.9 (5.8 dB). These improvements directly impact LIGO's scientific output for high-frequency sources (e.g., binary neutron star postmerger physics). The improved low-frequency sensitivity, which boosted the detector range by 15%-18% with respect to no squeezing, corresponds to an increase in the astrophysical detection rate of up to 65%. Frequency-dependent squeezing was enabled by the addition of a 300-meter-long filter cavity to each detector as part of the LIGO A+ upgrade
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