Screening tablets for DOB using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

2,5,-Dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB) is of particular interest among the various

Imaging of dipole sources and transfer of modulated signals using phase conjugating lens techniques

The authors discuss the imaging properties and transfer of amplitude and phase-modulated signals through a phase conjugating lens (PCL). The authors outline the mechanisms of the near-field and far-field subwavelength imaging of Hertzian dipole sources using PCL, particularly the authors show that one-dimensional subwavelength resolution of multiple sources is possible in the far-field using a PCL augmented with specially designed scatterers located in both the adjacent vicinity of the sources and in the mirror symmetric positions in the image plane. These scatterers enable evanescent-to-propagating spectrum and its dual, propagating-to-evanescent, field conversion. Thus, the subwavelength information encoded into propagating waves on the source side can be extracted on the image side. Next, for the first time the transfer of amplitude and phase modulated signals through a PCL augmented with evanescent-to-propagating spectrum conversion is discussed and it has been demonstrated that multiple amplitude or phase modulated dipole sources can be distinguished in the far-field with subwavelength resolution without the necessity for numerical post-processing of the received data. From the study conducted here, it is concluded that a system of transmitters/receivers augmented with a PCL and appropriate scatterers operates without the need for any numerical processing of the receive data in order to separate channel information from very close proximity stations.

Preprandial versus postprandial blood glucose monitoring in type 1 diabetic pregnancy: A randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare preprandial and postprandial capillary glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes.

Leptin concentrations in maternal serum and cord blood in diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between maternal and cord leptin concentrations, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and measures of glycemic control in diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancy.

Decreased prevalence of atopic diseases in children with diabetes

Objective: To test the hypothesis that atopic diseases in early life are associated with a reduced risk (protection) for the development of type 1 diabetes in childhood.

Application of Nonlinear PCA for Fault Detection in Polymer Extrusion Processes

This paper describes the application of an improved nonlinear principal component analysis (PCA) to the detection of faults in polymer extrusion processes. Since the processes are complex in nature and nonlinear relationships exist between the recorded variables, an improved nonlinear PCA, which incorporates the radial basis function (RBF) networks and principal curves, is proposed. This algorithm comprises two stages. The first stage involves the use of the serial principal curve to obtain the nonlinear scores and approximated data. The second stage is to construct two RBF networks using a fast recursive algorithm to solve the topology problem in traditional nonlinear PCA. The benefits of this improvement are demonstrated in the practical application to a polymer extrusion process.

Receptor binding and biologic activity of synthetic ET-1 peptides in the retinal pericyte

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of synthetic endothelin (ET)-1 peptides with antigenic potential for binding and biologic activity using an in vitro model of microvascular pericytes.

Job Strain and Alcohol Intake:A Collaborative Meta-Analysis of Individual-Participant Data from 140 000 Men and Women

BACKGROUND: The relationship between work-related stress and alcohol intake is uncertain. In order to add to the thus far inconsistent evidence from relatively small studies, we conducted individual-participant meta-analyses of the association between work-related stress (operationalised as self-reported job strain) and alcohol intake. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We analysed cross-sectional data from 12 European studies (n?=?142 140) and longitudinal data from four studies (n?=?48 646). Job strain and alcohol intake were self-reported. Job strain was analysed as a binary variable (strain vs. no strain). Alcohol intake was harmonised into the following categories: none, moderate (women: 1-14, men: 1-21 drinks/week), intermediate (women: 15-20, men: 22-27 drinks/week) and heavy (women: >20, men: >27 drinks/week). Cross-sectional associations were modelled using logistic regression and the results pooled in random effects meta-analyses. Longitudinal associations were examined using mixed effects logistic and modified Poisson regression. Compared to moderate drinkers, non-drinkers and (random effects odds ratio (OR): 1.10, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.14) and heavy drinkers (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.26) had higher odds of job strain. Intermediate drinkers, on the other hand, had lower odds of job strain (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.99). We found no clear evidence for longitudinal associations between job strain and alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that compared to moderate drinkers, non-drinkers and heavy drinkers are more likely and intermediate drinkers less likely to report work-related stress.

Job Strain and Tobacco Smoking:An Individual-Participant Data Meta-Analysis of 166 130 Adults in 15 European Studies

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is a major contributor to the public health burden and healthcare costs worldwide, but the determinants of smoking behaviours are poorly understood. We conducted a large individual-participant meta-analysis to examine the extent to which work-related stress, operationalised as job strain, is associated with tobacco smoking in working adults. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We analysed cross-sectional data from 15 European studies comprising 166 130 participants. Longitudinal data from six studies were used. Job strain and smoking were self-reported. Smoking was harmonised into three categories never, ex- and current. We modelled the cross-sectional associations using logistic regression and the results pooled in random effects meta-analyses. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to examine longitudinal associations. Of the 166 130 participants, 17% reported job strain, 42% were never smokers, 33% ex-smokers and 25% current smokers. In the analyses of the cross-sectional data, current smokers had higher odds of job strain than never-smokers (age, sex and socioeconomic position-adjusted odds ratio: 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 1.18). Current smokers with job strain smoked, on average, three cigarettes per week more than current smokers without job strain. In the analyses of longitudinal data (1 to 9 years of follow-up), there was no clear evidence for longitudinal associations between job strain and taking up or quitting smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that smokers are slightly more likely than non-smokers to report work-related stress. In addition, smokers who reported work stress smoked, on average, slightly more cigarettes than stress-free smokers.