Composition Parameters Research Articles

Role of Growth Hormone Therapy in Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Multiple observation studies and meta-analysis have linked growth hormone (GH) deficiency with metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). No meta-analysis has analysed the efficacy and safety of GH therapy on different aspects of MASLD. We undertook this meta-analysis to address this gap in knowledge. Electronic databases were searched for RCTs involving patients with MASLD receiving GH therapy. Primary outcome was to evaluate changes in radiologic measures of MASLD (magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and ultrasonography) and liver enzymes. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate alterations in body composition parameters [dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)], lipids, glycaemia and side effects. From initially searched 1047 articles, data from three RCTs (120 patients) which fulfilled all criteria were analysed. After 6 months of GH therapy in MASLD, the per cent reduction in intrahepatic lipid (MRS) was significantly higher with GH as compared to placebo [MD -5.85% (95%CI:-11.41- -0.30); P = 0.04; I2 = 63%]. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area reduction (DXA) was significantly higher with GH [MD-9.94 cm2 (95%CI:-19.04- -0.84); P = 0.03; I2 = 0%]. Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was significantly raised in MASLD patients receiving GH as compared to placebo [MD +166.86 ng/ml (95%CI: 79.19-254.53); P < 0.0.001; I2 = 90%]. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was significantly lower in patients receiving GH [MD -0.89 mg/L (95%CI:-1.40--0.38); P = 0.0.0006; I2 = 0%]. Patients receiving GH had similar changes in triglycerides [MD-1.06 mg/L (95%CI:-20.45-18.34); P = 0.91; I2 = 15%] and fasting glucose [MD -0.56 mg/L (95%CI:-4.67-3.55); P = 0.79; I2 = 39%]. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was significantly lower in patients receiving GH [MD -7.86 U/L (95%CI:-12.46--3.27); P = 0.0008; I2 = 0%]. No increase in new-onset hypothyroidism was noted [OR 5.49 (95%CI: 0.25-121.18); P = 0.28]. Short-term 6-month GH therapy in MASLD is associated with a significant reduction in intrahepatic lipid content, visceral adiposity, GGT and hsCRP without any increased occurrence of dysglycaemia or hypothyroidism.

A Nomogram Including Sarcopenia for Predicting Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Localized Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Because of to the removal of subclassification of papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), the survival prognostification of localized pRCC after surgical treatment became inadequate. Sarcopenia was widely evaluated and proved to be a predictive factor for prognosis in RCC patients. Therefore, we comprehensively investigated the survival prediction of the body composition parameters for localized pRCC. Patients pathologically diagnosed with pRCC between February 2012 and February 2022 in our center were enrolled. The body composition parameters, including skeletal muscle index (SMI), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT), were measured by the images of preoperative computed tomography (CT). The primary outcome was set as progression-free survival (PFS), and the cutoff values of body composition parameters were calculated by using the Youden from receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression analyses were performed to explore independent risk factors for survival prediction. Then, significant factors were used to construct a prognostic nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by Harrell's C-index, calibration curves and time-dependent ROC curves. A total of 105 patients were enrolled for analysis. With a median follow-up time of 30.48 months, 25 (23.81%) patients experienced cancer progression. The percentage of sarcopenia was 74.29%. Univariate Cox analysis identified that gender, PRAT, SAT, skeletal muscle (SM), sarcopenia, surgical technique, and tumor diameter were associated with progression. Further multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR] 0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.66), SAT (HR 6.36, 95% CI 2.39-16.93), PRAT (HR 4.66, 95% CI 1.77-12.27), tumor diameter (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.86), and surgical technique (HR 2.85, 95% CI 1.06-7.64) were independent risk factors for cancer progression. Then, a prognostic nomogram based on independent risk factors was constructed and the C-index for progression prediction was 0.831 (95% CI 0.761-0.901), representing a reasonable discrimination, the calibration curves, and the time-dependent ROC curves verified the good performance of the nomogram. A prognostic nomogram, including sarcopenia, SAT, PRAT, tumor diameter, and surgical technique, was constructed to calculate the probability of progression for localized pRCC patients and needs further external validation for clinical use in the future.

Experimental Constraints on the Storage Conditions and Differentiation of High-Ti Basalts from the Panzhihua and Hongge Layered Intrusions, SW China

Abstract High-Ti basalts are commonly believed to represent parental magmas leading to the formation of mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions, such as Late Permian Panzhihua and Hongge in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (SW China). Consequently, elucidation of the crystallisation and crustal differentiation of high-Ti basalts is critical for our understanding of the petrogenesis of these layered intrusions and the associated oxide ore mineralisation. Here, we present the results of crystallisation experiments carried out in internally heated pressure vessels using a primitive high-Ti basaltic composition. The experiments were conducted at 100 and 300 MPa, in the temperature interval of 950–1200 °C and with water activities (aH2O) from 0 to 1. The oxygen fugacity (fO2) was controlled and varied from FMQ −1 to FMQ +3.3 log units (FMQ corresponds to fayalite-quartz-magnetite buffer). The main mineral phases are olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase, accompanied by Cr-Fe-Ti-oxides, orthopyroxene, apatite and amphibole, depending on the conditions. Redox conditions primarily influence the stability fields of Cr-Fe-Ti oxides. Clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and amphibole are pressure-dependent and have larger stability fields under high pressure conditions. The olivine→orthopyroxene and olivine→amphibole peritectic reactions are observed. Comparisons of phase equilibria between this study and experiments conducted with parental magma of Skaergaard layered intrusion demonstrate the effect of bulk system composition. For instance, ilmenite crystallisation is determined not only by intrinsic parameters such as fO2 but also by additional compositional parameters (e.g. melt Ti, Fe, Al and Mg content). Although COMAGMAT and MELTS modelling results generally reproduce the crystallisation sequence, only the stability field of clinopyroxene and its composition are perfectly modelled. The comparison of experimental results with the rocks from the lowest units of Panzhihua and Hongge layered intrusions are applied to constrain storage conditions in the magma reservoirs. Compared to Hongge, we conclude that the Panzhihua magma chamber was probably located at a shallower depth (~3–6 km), that magma crystallisation started at lower temperatures (~1125–1100 °C), higher fO2 (~FMQ + 1 to FMQ + 2) and that its initial melt H2O content was lower (~0.5–1 wt. %).

Quality of cow’s milk as a raw material in the dairy industry from the Pelagonian region in North Macedonia

This scientific work provides a comparison and analysis of the quality and hygiene requirements of raw cow’s milk obtained from individual producers of large and small farms in three regions of Pelagonia in accordance with the Rulebook on requirements for quality, safety and hygiene of milk. The examinations include analysis of the parameters of the chemical composition, determination of the number of somatic cells and total number of bacteria from milk samples taken throughout the year from small and large farms. The best results (p&lt;0.05) for the protein content are observed in the milk coming from small and large farms from the Southern part of the Pelagonia region, compared to the Northern part of the Pelagonia region and Prilep region. The amount of dry fat-free matter in the milk from small farms in all three regions did not show a statistically significant difference (p&lt;0.05). The results for the lactose content of milk from all three examined regions are within the limits of the Rulebook for raw milk. A significant difference (p&lt;0.01) was found for the content of somatic cells in small farms. It is noteworthy that small farms deviate significantly from the safety and hygiene requirements outlined in the Rulebook, primarily due to the hygiene practices concerning dairy cows. The results obtained will be valuable for the dairy industry, as they will identify weaknesses among domestic producers. Professional services will implement measures and activities to help farmers meet EU standards in milk production. Additionally, these findings will provide a significant basis for establishing strategies in this agricultural sector.

Heat Stress Effects on Physiological and Milk Yield Traits of Lactating Holstein Friesian Crossbreds Reared in Tanga Region, Tanzania.

Global warming caused by climate change is a challenge for dairy farming, especially in sub-Saharan countries. Under high temperatures and relative humidity, lactating dairy cows suffer from heat stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects and relationship of heat stress (HS) measured by the temperature-humidity index (THI) regarding the physiological parameters and milk yield and composition of lactating Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy cows reared in the humid coastal region of Tanzania. A total of 29 lactating Holstein Friesian x Zebu crossbred dairy cows with 50% (HF50) and 75% (HF75) Holstein Friesian gene levels in the second and third months of lactation were used. The breed composition of Holstein Friesians was determined based on the animal recording system used at the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Tanga. The data collected included the daily temperature, relative humidity, daily milk yield, and physiological parameters (core body temperature, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and panting score). THI was calculated using the equation of the National Research Council. The THI values were categorized into three classes, i.e., low THI (76-78), moderate THI (79-81), and high THI (82-84). The effects of THI on the physiological parameters and milk yield and composition were assessed. The effects of the genotype, the parity, the lactation month, and the interaction of these parameters with THI on the milk yield, milk composition, and physiological parameters were also investigated. The results show that THI and its interaction with genotypes, parity, and the lactation month had a highly significant effect on all parameters. THI influenced (p ˂ 0.05) the average daily milk yield and milk fat %, protein %, lactose %, and solids-not-fat %. As the THI increased from moderate to high levels, the average daily milk yield declined from 3.49 ± 0.04 to 3.43 ± 0.05 L/day, while the fat % increased from 2.66 ± 0.05% to 3.04 ± 0.06% and the protein decreased from 3.15 ± 0.02% to 3.13 ± 0.03%. No decline in lactose % was observed, while the solid-not-fat % declined from 8.56 ± 0.08% to 8.55 ± 0.10% as the THI values increased from moderate to high. Also, the THI influenced physiological parameters (p ˂ 0.05). The core body temperature (CBT), rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and panting score (PS) increased from 35.60 ± 0.01 to 36.00 ± 0.01 °C, 38.03 ± 0.02 to 38.30 ± 0.02 °C, 62.53 ± 0.29 to 72.35 ± 0.28 breaths/min, and 1.35 ± 0.01 to 1.47 ± 0.09, respectively, as the THI increased from low to high. The THI showed a weak positive correlation with the average daily milk yield and fat percentage, whereas the protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat percentages showed negative relationships with THI (p ≤ 0.05). CBT, RT, RR, and PS showed positive relationships (p ≤ 0.05) with THI. These negative relationships indicate that there is an antagonistic correlation between sensitivity to HS and the level of production. It is concluded that the THI, the genotype, the parity, and the lactation month, along with their interactions with THI, significantly influenced the milk yield, milk composition, and physiological parameters of lactating Holstein Friesian dairy crosses at THI thresholds ranging from 77 to 84.

The relationship of energy-restricted diet with FTO and MC4R gene polymorphism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether the effects of an energy-restricted diet on overweight/obese patients with PCOS on body composition and biochemical parameters in groups with MC4R rs17782313 and FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms differ from those without gene polymorphism. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 women aged 18-45 were accepted. An 8-week diet intervention was applied, and anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and food consumption of the patients were determined before and after the intervention. In addition, FTO gene rs9939609 and MC4R gene rs17782313 polymorphisms were determined. Results: The incidence of FTO and MC4R gene polymorphism was 72.9% and 68.8% respectively. Change in waist/height ratio was found to be higher in the group without FTO gene polymorphism (-0.03±0.015 cm) compared to the group with gene polymorphism (-0.02 ±0.016 cm). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with and without MC4R gene polymorphism in terms of change (Δ) in anthropometric measurements. Although not statistically significant, there was a greater decrease in body weight (kg) and BMI (kg/m2) in the group without MC4R gene polymorphism compared to the group with it (without polymorphism group -2.2±1.83 kg; -0.9±0.69 kg/m2). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with and without gene polymorphism in terms of biochemical parameters. Conclusion: We found that the energy-restricted weight loss diet did not detect a statistically significant change in biochemical parameters in the FTO and MC4R gene polymorphism groups, but the presence of gene polymorphism made it difficult to improve in anthropometric measurements.

Outcomes Addressed by Longitudinal Whole-Body Electromyostimulation and Belt Electrode-Skeletal Muscle Electrical Stimulation Trials in Middle Aged-Older Adults - an Evidence Map

Introduction: Due to its time-effective, joint friendly and highly customizable character whole-body-electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is regarded as a feasible solution for a large variety of training issues. Not least for this reason WB-EMS research has increased considerably during the last few years. To identify gaps in research and summarize prevalent evidence we conducted an evidence map on outcomes addressed by WB-EMS trials in middle-aged to older, non-athletic adults so as to align future research more efficiently. Methods: Based on a comprehensive systematic search in five databases and two study registers according to PRISMA, 54 projects published in 80 articles were ultimately identified as meeting our eligibility criteria. Results: More than 90% of the studies reported outcomes related to the physical fitness or function domain. Body composition parameters were addressed by two thirds of the projects, however only 14 studies considered body composition as the primary outcome. Health-related outcomes addressed by WB-EMS trials as primary (or secondary/subordinate) outcomes included cancer/neoplasm (n=3, (n=4)), endocrine regulation (n=2, (n=6)), glucose metabolism (n=6, (n=9)), nervous system diseases (n=2), cardiovascular system diseases (n=6, (16)), non-specific chronic low back pain (n=4), osteopenia (n=2, (n=3)) and diseases of the renal system (n=1, (n=11)). Outcomes related to inflammation were addressed three times as a primary and 15 times as a secondary/subordinate outcome. Of importance, no studies reported clinically relevant adverse effects related to the WB-EMS intervention. Conclusion: In summary, while considerable evidence on outcomes related to fitness/function and body composition is prevalent, evidence gaps of WB-EMS research were particular evident for diseases of the nervous and cerebrovascular system.

Study of optical parameters of composites of different years of manufacture with temperature changes and recommended exposure time by an automated spectrophotometer

Study of optical parameters of composites of different years of manufacture with temperature changes and recommended exposure time by an automated spectrophotometer

Profiling several key milk miRNAs and analysing their signalling pathways in dairy sheep breeds during peak and late lactation.

The comprehensive understanding of microRNAs (miRNAs) in sheep milk during various lactation periods and their impact on milk yield and composition remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of four highly expressed miRNAs in sheep milk and their association with milk composition and yield parameters during peak and late lactation stages. A total of 40 healthy 4-year-old Akkaraman (n = 20) and Awassi (n = 20) ewes registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye were used in the present study. For miRNA isolation from milk, the Qiagen miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Advanced Kit was utilised following the manufacturer's instructions. The expression levels of miRNAs were assessed using Qiagen miRNA PCR Assays. The significant fold changes in the expression levels of oar-miR-30a-5p, oar-miR-148a and oar-miR-181a were observed between peak and late lactation periods in the Awassi sheep breed. Conversely, only oar-miR-30a-5p and oar-miR-148a exhibited statistically significant changes in the Akkaraman sheep breed during the same lactation periods. Furthermore, oar-miR-21-5p demonstrated a significant fold change exclusively in peak lactation compared to Akkaraman and Awassi ewes. The findings suggest that the expression of the analysed miRNAs is influenced by both the lactation stage and different sheep breeds. This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between key miRNA expressions in sheep milk and milk composition and yield parameters during peak and late lactation, contributing to the existing knowledge in this field.

Evaluation of Cassia Tora for Proximate Composition, Fodder Quality and Digestibility Parameters

Evaluation of Cassia Tora for Proximate Composition, Fodder Quality and Digestibility Parameters

Economies of Scale, Efficiency and Optimal Size of the Hospital

Hospitals are being expanded all over the world. Hospitals are becoming larger (i.e., increasing patient admissions each year) and more complex (i.e., offering a wider range of services to patients with more diverse medical care needs). In the hospital sector and other branches of the economy, economies of scale are important, according to which the volume of medical services can be increased by reducing average costs and increasing quality. However, measuring this relationship between the volume of medical services and costs is difficult because hospitals differ substantially in terms of specialization, patient composition, and other parameters that affect the volume of costs. The paper discusses the features of economies of scale in the healthcare sector and the dependence of the volume of medical services on costs and quality. Studies confirm that the influence of various factors on the costs and quality of medical services depends on the environment and the system of incentives in which hospitals operate. Relationships between patients and healthcare providers based solely on price negotiations do not ensure adequate healthcare quality. Due to informational asymmetry with respect to the real cost of hospital services and quality of treatment, medical service buyers cannot influence cost reductions and increase the quality of treatment, which increases hospital power. Thus, when evaluating the impact of hospital competition on costs and quality of care, we must remember that market mechanisms in health care do not always increase public welfare.

Data enhanced lightweight network-based prediction of cold-rolled steel mechanical properties

The production of cold-rolled carbon steel is a complex nonlinear process, with chemical composition and process parameters being the key factors influencing its mechanical properties. Establishing the mapping relationship between key parameters and mechanical properties is the key to predicting the mechanical performance of rolled steel. Existing research has overlooked that chemical composition and process parameters are two different scales of data, lacking the exploration of potential features between these scales. This paper proposed a data enhancement-based expand-channel depth-separable convolutional neural network (MBE-EDSC) to predict the mechanical properties of cold-rolled steel. Multi-branch autoencoder was proposed to enhance the original data, which could be mined for potential features of the data. Meanwhile, the self-adaptive convolution channel attention mechanism was proposed to improve the sensitivity of the model to the features, and the channel extension layer to compensate for the problem of accuracy loss caused by deep convolution. Compared with the performance of the existing networks, the proposed network achieved 97.3 %, 98.5 %, and 99.2 % accuracy in predicting the yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of cold-rolled carbon steel, respectively, and the R2 was improved by 4.9 %, 4.3 %, and 5.9 %, respectively.

Garnet solid-state electrolyte: A new single-step elaboration by electric arc-melting

The garnet Li7-xLa3Zr2-xTaxO12 (LLZTO) has attracted a real scientific interest in the last decade as it is one of the safest solid-state electrolytes for next generation high energy lithium batteries. However, its elaboration requires several steps from phase stabilization to densification of the part. This final step, with long and high temperature treatment induces lithium loss due to sublimation. Electric arc-melting allows short time elaboration of dense parts in one-step, eventually minimizing Li sublimation. Thus, the synthesis by arc-melting of LLZTO is exposed here. Stabilized phases and microstructures are studied depending on chemical composition and casting parameters. The direct obtaining of dense parts instead of powder allows better moisture stability thanks to fast growth of protective layer preventing in-depth penetration of the H+/Li+ exchange. Finally, ionic conductivity of fused parts is in a similar range to sintered pellets produced using Spark Plasma Sintering with powdered fused parts. Those results confirm the interest of electric arc-melting synthesis as an alternative LLZTO elaboration.

Two efficient spectral hybrid CG methods based on memoryless BFGS direction and Dai–Liao conjugacy condition

The spectral conjugate gradient (CG) method is one of the effective methods for solving unconstrained optimization problems. In this work, we introduce a composite hybrid CG parameter which is a convex combination of two new adaptive hybrid CG parameters. To derive the optimal choice of the combination coefficient in our proposed composite CG parameter, two approaches to calculating it are introduced. One is to minimize the distance between the hybrid CG direction and the self-scaling memoryless BFGS direction and the other is to apply the Dai–Liao conjugacy condition. Further, to make the search direction have better theoretical performance, two effective spectral hybrid CG methods are generated. Our proposed methods ensure the sufficient descent property regardless of the line search. And the global convergence results for general non-convex functions are established under some fundamental assumptions and Wolfe line search. Numerical experiments on solving unconstrained optimization problems illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods.

Effects of a 16-week High-Speed Resistance Training program on body composition in community-dwelling independent older adults: A clinical trial

Background & AimsAging frequently causes changes in body composition, such as a loss of strength and muscular mass and an increase in fat mass. Exercise training programs have been suggested as effective strategies to mitigate or prevent age-related declines in body composition. Therefore, this study examined the effects of a sixteen-week High-Speed Resistance Training (HSRT) program on body composition parameters in community-dwelling independent older adults. MethodsThe present clinical trial included 79 older adults, who were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG, N=40, age, 68.50 ± 3.54 years; weight, 68.65 ± 11.36 kg) and control group (CG, N=39, age, 72.08 ± 5.89 years; weight, 67.04 ± 10.69 kg). IG performed the supervised HSRT for 16 weeks, with 3 sessions per week of 60–70min, each session of 5–6 exercises, 2–3 sets, and 6–10 reps/exercise while CG did not perform any exercise training program. Body composition parameters were assessed using a multifrequency tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody® S10). The level of physical activity and the dietary intake were evaluated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) and the Food Frequency Questionnaire, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and effect size (Cohen's dunbiased). ResultsThe analysis showed significant effects of the group factor for IG on phase angle (F(1)=14.39, p<0.001, η2p=0.159). Additionally, results from Δ changes (post- minus pre-values) revealed small and medium effects in favor to IG for body cell mass (t(77)=1.21, p=0.230, dunb=0.27 [-0.17, 0.71]) and phase angle (t(77)=2.82, p=0.006, dunb=0.63 [0.18, 1.08]), respectively. ConclusionsThe HSRT could effectively prevent the decline in cellular health and cell integrity in older adults, as evidenced by the significant improvements in the phase angle. RegistrationClinicaltrial.gov (ID: NCT05586087).

Enhanced nonlinear optical properties and optical limiting performance of graphene modified polyaniline composite under pulsed laser regime

Polyaniline (PANI) and its graphene-doped composite (PANI-GNP) were subjected to open-aperture (OA) z-scan studies to investigate their nonlinear optical (NLO) properties and optical limiting (OL) behavior. The z-scan experiments were carried out using a nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 532 nm. The z-scan studies revealed that PANI and PANI-GNP composites exhibited a reverse saturable absorption (RSA), and graphene doping modified the NLO behaviour and improved the OL property. The nonlinear absorption coefficient (β), OL threshold, and imaginary part of nonlinear susceptibility ( χi(3) ) of PANI and PANI-GNP were calculated for three different laser input pulse energies and found to be in the order of 10−9 cm W−1, 106 W cm−2, and 10−10 esu, respectively. These results qualify the PANI-GNP composite as having potential applications in OL and optoelectronic devices. The successful incorporation of graphene into PANI in PANI-GNP composite was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Linear optical properties were analysed using UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. To the best of our knowledge, the present work is the first attempt to explore the intensity-dependent NLO properties, OL behaviour and the calculation of their related NLO parameters of PANI-GNP composites.

Assessment of Skin Autofluorescence and Its Association with Glycated Hemoglobin, Cardiovascular Risk Markers, and Concomitant Chronic Diseases in Children with Type 1 Diabetes.

A total of 348 children with T1D aged 3-18 years and 85 age- and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled. sAF was quantified using an AGE Reader (Diagnoptics BV, The Netherlands). The analysis covered HbA1c, blood lipid, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring records, and body composition parameters. The associations between variables and sAF were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation. We observed significantly higher sAF values in the T1D group compared to the control (1.40 [1.27-1.53] vs. 1.20 [1.07-1.30, AU]; p = 0.004), consistent across all tested age groups. In the T1D group, sAF was positively correlated with current HbA1c, mean of historical HbA1c values, and T1D duration (r values, respectively: 0.27, 0.22, 0.14, all p < 0.01). Percentage of body fat was positively correlated with sAF (r = 0.120; p = 0.044). No significant correlations were found between sAF and lipid fractions, Z-score of BMI, parameters from 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, or the amount of albumin excreted in urine. sAF was positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.17, p < 0.05). sAF was significantly higher in patients with concomitant celiac disease (1.53 [1.43-1.63] vs. 1.40 [1.27-1.53, AU], p = 0.001). Among young T1D patients with relatively brief diabetes duration, sAF effectively mirrors prior glycemic control, as presented by historical average HbA1c. However, associations with conventional CV risk markers are not evident. The higher sAF values in patients with celiac disease warrant further exploration.

Assessment of Bayesian guidance strategy to develop bake-hardening ferritic steel

ABSTRACT Developing alloys with optimal properties involves tuning several compositional and processing parameters. As the parametric space is often high-dimensional, doing so may require a prohibitively large number of experiments, which demand ample time and physical resources. In this study, we examine whether the method of Bayesian optimisation, which involves a sequential function evaluation scheme, applies to designing metallic alloys. We consider the example of bake-hardening ferritic steel and aim to maximise the extent of bake-hardening by tuning more than a dozen parameters while reducing the number of experimental fabrications and measurements. To this end, an existing dataset has been used to create a regression model, which acts as a surrogate for experimental measurements. The Bayesian optimiser has been implemented with three different covariance functions and two acquisition functions. Our results suggest that a design strategy guided by Bayesian optimisation has the potential to substantially reduce the time and cost of developing alloys through experimental routes.

High sensitivity strain and refractive index MZI-SPR sensing based on dual fiber winding structure.

Fiber strain and refractive index dual parameter sensor have enormous potential in the field of underwater structural health monitoring. This article proposes a strain and refractive index highly sensitive MZI-SPR composite sensor based on a dual fiber winding structure. By twisting single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber, the two fibers are wound together to produce regular multiple bends. Among them, single-mode fiber achieves beam splitting and coupling of light during the first bending and the end of bending, forming a double beam interference MZI. The multi bending structure excites high-order cladding mode to achieve highly sensitive strain sensing. Meanwhile, multi-mode fiber excites cladding mode at the bending point and generate surface plasmon resonance effect, forming a cladding type SPR sensor. By controlling the winding parameters, the bending curvature is controlled, further controlling the SPR incidence angle and achieving highly sensitive refractive index sensing. The experiment indicates that the sensor can achieve simultaneous detection of strain and refractive index, and its sensitivity can reach 33pm/ µε and 4386.262 nm/RIU, respectively. The proposed MZI-SPR composite dual parameter sensor has a stable structure and high sensitivity, providing a reliable solution for simultaneously measuring strain and refractive index in the field.

Lean Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Narrative Review

Objectives: (1) To delineate the differences between lean and obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (2) To review different modalities for management of infertility associated with PCOS. Mechanism: Literature review of PubMed from 2000 to 2023. Findings in Brief: Body weight is more important than the Rotterdam phenotype in influencing the metabolic status. Both the lean and obese PCOS groups exhibit individual differences in body composition and other parameters: clinical signs, psychological, hormonal, metabolic, and genetic profiles. Lean PCOS differs from lean non-PCOS regarding metabolic profile, hepatic impairment, and cardiovascular risks. Management: lifestyle modifications serve as first-line therapy, emphasizing weight maintenance with a high caloric intake during breakfast and reduced intake at dinner. Additionally, micronutrients supplementation and resistance exercise are recommended. Induction of ovulation through the administration of as adjunctive therapies letrozole, clomiphene citrate, and metformin may be considered. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) may be considered in cases where medical induction of ovulation failed. Intrauterine insemination is associated with promising results. Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) are recommended for women who fail to conceive despite the restoration of ovulation, or when additional factors contribute to their infertility. Conclusions: A significant proportion of patients with PCOS exhibit normal body mass index (BMI). The management of PCOS-associated infertility should be individualized based on the patient’s BMI.