Publications

Junctions with the structure Ag(TS)/S(CH2)nT//Ga2O3/EGaIn (where S(CH2)nT is a self-assembled monolayer, SAM, of n-alkanethiolate bearing a terminal functional group T) make it possible to examine the response of rates of charge transport by tunneling to changes in the strength of the interaction between T and Ga2O3. Introducing a series of Lewis acidic/basic functional groups (T = -OH, -SH, -CO2H, -CONH2, and -PO3H) at the terminus of the SAM gave values for the tunneling current density, J(V) in A/cm(2), that were indistinguishable (i.e., differed by less than a factor of 3) from the values observed with n-alkanethiolates of equivalent length. The insensitivity of the rate of tunneling to changes in the terminal functional group implies that replacing weak van der Waals contact interactions with stronger hydrogen- or ionic bonds at the T//Ga2O3 interface does not change the shape (i.e., the height or width) of the tunneling barrier enough to affect rates of charge transport. A comparison of the injection current, J0, for T = -CO2H, and T = -CH2CH3--two groups having similar extended lengths (in Å, or in numbers of non-hydrogen atoms)--suggests that both groups make indistinguishable contributions to the height of the tunneling barrier.

Background: Findings among randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of red meat on cardiovascular disease risk factors are inconsistent. We provide an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on red meat and cardiovascular risk factors and determine whether the relationship depends on the composition of the comparison diet, hypothesizing that plant sources would be relatively beneficial. Methods: We conducted a systematic PubMed search of randomized controlled trials published up until July 2017 comparing diets with red meat with diets that replaced red meat with a variety of foods. We stratified comparison diets into high-quality plant protein sources (legumes, soy, nuts); chicken/poultry/fish; fish only; poultry only; mixed animal protein sources (including dairy); carbohydrates (low-quality refined grains and simple sugars, such as white bread, pasta, rice, cookies/biscuits); or usual diet. We performed random-effects meta-analyses comparing differences in changes of blood lipids, apolipoproteins, and blood pressure for all studies combined and stratified by specific comparison diets. Results: Thirty-six studies totaling 1803 participants were included. There were no significant differences between red meat and all comparison diets combined for changes in blood concentrations of total, low-density lipoprotein, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoproteins A1 and B, or blood pressure. Relative to the comparison diets combined, red meat resulted in lesser decreases in triglycerides (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.065 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.000–0.129; P for heterogeneity <0.01). When analyzed by specific comparison diets, relative to high-quality plant protein sources, red meat yielded lesser decreases in total cholesterol (WMD, 0.264 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.144–0.383; P <0.001) and low-density lipoprotein (WMD, 0.198 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.065–0.330; P =0.003). In comparison with fish, red meat yielded greater decreases in low-density lipoprotein (WMD, –0.173 mmol/L; 95% CI, –0.260 to –0.086; P <0.001) and high-density lipoprotein (WMD, –0.065 mmol/L; 95% CI, –0.109 to –0.020; P =0.004). In comparison with carbohydrates, red meat yielded greater decreases in triglycerides (WMD, –0.181 mmol/L; 95% CI, –0.349 to –0.013). Conclusions: Inconsistencies regarding the effects of red meat on cardiovascular disease risk factors are attributable, in part, to the composition of the comparison diet. Substituting red meat with high-quality plant protein sources, but not with fish or low-quality carbohydrates, leads to more favorable changes in blood lipids and lipoproteins.

IMPORTANCE The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity is increasing. OBJECTIVE To estimate reductions in life expectancy associated with cardiometabolic multimorbidity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Age-and sex-adjusted mortality rates and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using individual participant data from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration (689 300 participants; 91 cohorts; years of baseline surveys: 1960-2007; latest mortality follow-up: April 2013; 128 843 deaths). The HRs from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration were compared with those from the UK Biobank (499 808 participants; years of baseline surveys: 2006-2010; latest mortality follow-up: November 2013; 7995 deaths). Cumulative survival was estimated by applying calculated age-specific HRs for mortality to contemporary US age-specific death rates. EXPOSURES A history of 2 or more of the following: diabetes mellitus, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES All-cause mortality and estimated reductions in life expectancy. RESULTS In participants in the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration without a history of diabetes, stroke, or MI at baseline (reference group), the all-cause mortality rate adjusted to the age of 60 years was 6.8 per 1000 person-years. Mortality rates per 1000 person-years were 15.6 in participants with a history of diabetes, 16.1 in those with stroke, 16.8 in those with MI, 32.0 in those with both diabetes and MI, 32.5 in those with both diabetes and stroke, 32.8 in those with both stroke and MI, and 59.5 in those with diabetes, stroke, and MI. Compared with the reference group, the HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.9 (95% CI, 1.8-2.0) in participants with a history of diabetes, 2.1 (95% CI, 2.0-2.2) in those with stroke, 2.0 (95% CI, 1.9-2.2) in those with MI, 3.7 (95% CI, 3.3-4.1) in those with both diabetes and MI, 3.8 (95% CI, 3.5-4.2) in those with both diabetes and stroke, 3.5 (95% CI, 3.1-4.0) in those with both stroke and MI, and 6.9 (95% CI, 5.7-8.3) in those with diabetes, stroke, and MI. The HRs from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration were similar to those from the more recently recruited UK Biobank. The HRs were little changed after further adjustment for markers of established intermediate pathways (eg, levels of lipids and blood pressure) and lifestyle factors (eg, smoking, diet). At the age of 60 years, a history of any 2 of these conditions was associated with 12 years of reduced life expectancy and a history of all 3 of these conditions was associated with 15 years of reduced life expectancy. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Mortality associated with a history of diabetes, stroke, or MI was similar for each condition. Because any combination of these conditions was associated with multiplicative mortality risk, life expectancy was substantially lower in people with multimorbidity.

Metallic sandwich panels subject to underwater blast respond in a manner dependent on the relative time scales for core crushing and water cavitation. This article examines the response at impulses representative of an (especially relevant) domain: wherein the water cavitates before the core crushes. Three core topologies (square honeycomb, I-core, and corrugated) have been used to address fundamental issues affecting panel design. Their ranking is based on three performance metrics: the back-face deflection, the tearing susceptibility of the faces, and the loads transmitted to the supports. The results are interpreted by comparing with analytic solutions based on a three-stage response model. In stage I, the wet face acquires its maximum velocity with some water attached. In stage II, the core crushes and all of the constituents (wet and dry face and core) converge onto a common velocity. In stage III, the panel deflects and deforms, dissipating its kinetic energy by plastic bending, stretching, shearing, and indentation. The results provide insight about three aspects of the response. (i) Two inherently different regimes have been elucidated, designated strong (STC) and soft (SOC), differentiated by a stage II/III time scale parameter. The best overall performance has been found for soft-core designs. (ii) The foregoing analytic models are found to underestimate the kinetic energy and, consequently, exaggerate the performance benefits. The discrepancy has been resolved by a more complete model for the fluid/structure interaction. (iii) The kinetic energy acquired at the end of the second stage accounts fully for the plastic dissipation occurring in the third stage, indicating that the additional momentum acquired after the end of the second stage does not affect panel performance.

HMW-adiponectin exhibited strong inverse associations with MetS independent of body composition, inflammation, leptin and sOB-R; while the associations of leptin and sOB-R were largely explained by fat mass or HMW-adiponectin, respectively.

<b>Objective:</b> Coffee may protect against multiple chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes, but the mechanisms remain unclear. <p><b>Research Design and Methods: </b>Leveraging dietary and metabolomic data in two large cohorts of women (the Nurses’ Health Study I and II), we identified and validated plasma metabolites associated with coffee intake in 1595 women. We then evaluated the prospective association of coffee-related metabolites with diabetes risk and the added predictivity of these metabolites for diabetes in two nested case-control studies (n=457 cases and 1371 controls). </p> <p><b>Results: </b>Of 461 metabolites, 34 were identified and validated to be associated with total coffee intake, including 13 positive associations (primarily trigonelline, polyphenol metabolites, and caffeine metabolites) and 21 inverse associations (primarily triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols). These associations were generally consistent for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, except for caffeine and its metabolites that were only associated with caffeinated coffee intake. The three cholesteryl esters positively associated with coffee intake showed inverse associations with diabetes risk, whereas the 12 metabolites negatively associated with coffee (five diacylglycerols and seven triacylglycerols) showed positive associations with diabetes. Adding the 15 diabetes-associated metabolites to classical risk factors-based prediction model increased the C-statistic from 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.83) to 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.86) (<i>P</i><0.001). Similar improvement was observed in the validation set.</p> <p><b>Conclusion: </b>Coffee consumption is associated with widespread metabolic changes, among which lipid metabolites may be critical for the anti- diabetes benefit of coffee. Coffee-related metabolites might help improve prediction of diabetes, but further validation studies <a>are </a>needed.</p>

The relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n -3 PUFA) from seafood sources (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) or plant sources (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) remains unclear. We systematically searched multiple literature databases through June 2011 to identify prospective studies examining relations of dietary n -3 PUFA, dietary fish and/or seafood, and circulating n -3 PUFA biomarkers with incidence of DM. Data were independently extracted in duplicate by 2 investigators, including multivariate-adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates and corresponding 95 % CI. Generalized least-squares trend estimation was used to assess dose–response relationships, with pooled summary estimates calculated by both fixed-effect and random-effect models. From 288 identified abstracts, 16 studies met inclusion criteria, including 18 separate cohorts comprising 540 184 individuals and 25 670 cases of incident DM. Consumption of fish and/or seafood was not significantly associated with DM ( n = 13 studies; RR per 100 g/d = 1·12, 95 % CI = 0·94, 1·34); nor were consumption of EPA+DHA ( n = 16 cohorts; RR per 250 mg/d = 1·04, 95 % CI = 0·97, 1·10) nor circulating levels of EPA+DHA biomarkers ( n = 5 cohorts; RR per 3 % of total fatty acids = 0·94, 95 % CI = 0·75, 1·17). Both dietary ALA ( n = 7 studies; RR per 0·5 g/d = 0·93, 95 % CI = 0·83, 1·04) and circulating ALA biomarker levels ( n = 6 studies; RR per 0·1 % of total fatty acid = 0·90, 95 % CI = 0·80, 1·00, P = 0·06) were associated with non-significant trend towards lower risk of DM. Substantial heterogeneity ( I 2 ~80 %) was observed among studies of fish/seafood or EPA+DHA and DM; moderate heterogeneity ( < 55 %) was seen for dietary and biomarker ALA and DM. In unadjusted meta-regressions, study location (Asia vs. North America/Europe), mean BMI, and duration of follow-up each modified the association between fish/seafood and EPA+DHA consumption and DM risk ( P -interaction ≤ 0·02 each). We had limited statistical power to determine the independent effect of these sources of heterogeneity due to their high collinearity. The overall pooled findings do not support either major harms or benefits of fish/seafood or EPA+DHA on development of DM, and suggest that ALA may be associated with modestly lower risk. Reasons for potential heterogeneity of effects, which could include true biologic heterogeneity, publication bias, or chance, deserve further investigation.

Heterogeneous integration enables high performance active components such as lasers, modulators, and photodetectors to be elegantly integrated on a silicon photonics platform with high performance passive components. This platform also offers the unique capability to combine different types of active devices with separately optimized materials on the same wafer, die, and photonic integrated circuit. Experimental demonstrations show that these active components can achieve performance on par with commercially available discrete III–V components. Furthermore, the technique enables the consolidation of a complete optical transceivers onto a singular silicon substrate enabling the development of system-in-package architectures and assembly processes that are indistinguishable from those used in standard electronic packaging. In this paper we will discuss the advantages of this heterogeneous integration platform and discuss prototype demonstrations.

Ein Typ-2-Diabetes ist für Frauen mit dem Verlust ihres geschlechtsbedingten Schutzes vor Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen verbunden. Sie erleiden nach neuen Erkenntnissen häufiger als zuckerkranke Männer einen Herzinfarkt oder Schlaganfall. Frauen können den Nachteil jedoch durch eine intensivere medizinische Betreuung und eine Änderung des Lebensstils wieder ausgleichen, stellt die Deutsche Diabetes-Gesellschaft (DDG) anlässlich eines wissenschaftlichen Statements der American Heart Association fest. „Seit langem ist bekannt, dass Frauen vor den Wechseljahren deutlich seltener einen Herzinfarkt erleiden als gleichaltrige Männer“, berichtet Prof. Dirk Müller-Wieland, Vizepräsident und Mediensprecher der DDG. „Dass eine Diabeteserkrankung dieses Verhältnis umkehrt, ist der Öffentlichkeit dagegen nicht bewusst“, fügt der Experte hinzu.