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Screen time, but not overall sedentary behaviour, is consistently related to cardiometabolic health in adolescents. Because of the associations screen time has with dietary intake, diet may be an important factor in the screen time and health relationship; however, evidence has not previously been synthesized. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to explore whether the associations between various sedentary behaviours and cardiometabolic risk markers are independent of dietary intake in adolescents. Online databases and personal libraries were searched for peer-reviewed original research articles published in English before March 2014. Included studies assessed associations between sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic markers in 12- to 18-year-olds and adjusted for dietary intake. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. From the 21 studies examining sedentary behaviour and adiposity, the majority found significant positive associations between television viewing, screen time and self-reported overall sedentary behaviour with markers of adiposity, independent of dietary intake. No significant associations between screen time with blood pressure and cholesterol were reported. Sedentary behaviour appears to be associated with adiposity in adolescents, irrespective of dietary intake. However, the variability of dietary variables between studies suggests further work is needed to understand the role of dietary intake when examining these associations in youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive sedentary time is detrimentally linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Studies have been investigating the use of activity-permissive workstations to reduce sedentary time in office workers, a highly sedentary target group. This review systematically summarizes the evidence for activity-permissive workstations on sedentary time, health-risk biomarkers, work performance and feasibility indicators in office workplaces. In July 2013, a literature search identified 38 relevant peer-reviewed publications. Key findings were independently extracted by two researchers. The average intervention effect on sedentary time was calculated via meta-analysis. In total, 984 participants across 19 field-based trials and 19 laboratory investigations were included, with sample sizes ranging from n = 2 to 66 per study. Sedentary time, health-risk biomarkers and work performance indicators were reported in 13, 23 and 23 studies, respectively. The pooled effect size from the meta-analysis was −77 min of sedentary time/8-h workday (95% confidence interval = −120, −35 min). Non-significant changes were reported for most health- and work-related outcomes. Studies with acceptability measures reported predominantly positive feedback. Findings suggest that activity-permissive workstations can be effective to reduce occupational sedentary time, without compromising work performance. Larger and longer-term randomized-controlled trials are needed to understand the sustainability of the sedentary time reductions and their longer-term impacts on health- and work-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical thickness theory for the plastic deformation of small stressed volumes is reviewed, with particular emphasis on its application to the size effect in common micromechanical testing methods, foil flexure, wire torsion, and compression and tension of micropillars and wires. Key predictions which distinguish the theory from others are that plasticity initiates throughout a finite volume when a strain-thickness product or strain-volume integral exceeds a critical value related to the Burgers vector; that misfit or geometrically necessary dislocations will generally be found outside this volume; and that the intrinsic or bulk strength of the material is not changed by the size effect. Experiments designed to test these predictions are briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 29, 593-599 (2012) Abstract Aims To investigate the joint influence of physical activity and family history of diabetes on the subsequent risk of developing hyperglycaemia and Type 2 diabetes among Chinese adults. Methods A prospective community-based cohort study was conducted among adults aged 35 years and older during 2004-2007 in Nanjing, China. Four communities (three urban and one rural) were randomly selected from 11 urban districts and two rural counties. Hyperglycaemia and Type 2 diabetes were defined using World Health Organization criteria based on fasting blood glucose concentration and physicians' diagnosis, respectively. Physical activity, parental diabetes history, and other important covariates were assessed at baseline and in the third-year follow-up survey. Results At study conclusion data were collected from 3031 participants (follow-up rate 81.3%). The 3-year cumulative incidence of hyperglycaemia and Type 2 diabetes was 6.2% and 2.4%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, compared with those with positive family history and insufficient physical activity, the adjusted relative risk ratio (95% CI) of developing hyperglycaemia was 0.19 (0.02, 1.51) for participants with sufficient physical activity and a positive family history; 0.55 (0.31, 0.97) for participants with insufficient physical activity and a negative family history; and 0.36 (0.19, 0.70) for participants with sufficient physical activity but a negative family history. Participants who had a negative family history and insufficient physical activity were also less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes (RRR = 0.28; 0.14, 0.54), and participants with a negative family history and sufficient physical activity were the least likely to develop Type 2 diabetes (0.23; 0.10, 0.56). Conclusions Sufficient physical activity and negative family history of diabetes may jointly reduce the risk of developing hyperglycaemia and Type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To determine the extent of gender-related differences in the prevalence of glucose intolerance for the Australian population and whether body size may explain such differences. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from a national cohort of 11 247 Australians aged ≥ 25 years. Glucose tolerance status was assessed according to both fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) levels following a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Anthropometric and glycated haemoglobin measurements were also made. Results Undiagnosed diabetes and non-diabetic glucose abnormalities were more prevalent among men than women when based only on the FPG results (diabetes: men 2.2%, women 1.6%, P = 0.02; impaired fasting glycaemia: men 12.3%, women 6.6%, P < 0.001). In contrast 16.0% of women and 13.0% of men had a 2hPG abnormality (either diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, P = 0.14). Women had a mean FPG 0.3 mmol/l lower than men ( P < 0.001), but 2hPG 0.3 mmol/l higher ( P = 0.002) and FPG-2hPG increment 0.5 mmol/l greater ( P < 0.001). The gender difference in mean 2hPG and FPG-2hPG increment disappeared following adjustment for height. For both genders, those in the shortest height quartile had 2hPG levels 0.5 mmol/l higher than the tallest quartile, but height showed almost no relationship with the FPG. Conclusions Men and women had different glycaemic profiles; women had higher mean 2hPG levels, despite lower fasting levels. It appeared that the higher 2hPG levels for women related to lesser height and may be a consequence of using a fixed glucose load in the OGTT, irrespective of body size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-hip ratio (WHR) as indices of obesity and assess the respective associations with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia.Design and Setting: A national sample of 11 247 Australians aged > or =25 years was examined in 2000 in a cross-sectional survey.Main Outcome Measures: The examination included a fasting blood sample, standard 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure measurements and questionnaires to assess treatment for dyslipidaemia and hypertension. BMI, waist circumference and WHR were measured to assess overweight and obesity.Results: The prevalence of obesity amongst Australian adults defined by BMI, waist circumference and WHR was 20.8, 30.5 and 15.8% respectively. The unadjusted odds ratio for the fourth vs. first quartile of each obesity measurement showed that WHR had the strongest relationship with type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia (women only) and hypertension. Following adjustment for age, however, there was little difference between the three measures of obesity, with the possible exceptions of hypertension in women, where BMI had a stronger association, and dyslipidaemia in women and type 2 diabetes in men, where WHR was marginally superior.Conclusions: Waist circumference, BMI and WHR identified different proportions of the population, as measured by both prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Whilst WHR had the strongest correlations with CVD risk factors before adjustment for age, the three obesity measures performed similarly after adjustment for age. Given the difficulty of using age-adjusted associations in the clinical setting, these results suggest that given appropriate cut-off points, WHR is the most useful measure of obesity to use to identify individuals with CVD risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims To determine the prevalence and risk factors for neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in the Australian diabetic population and identify those at high risk of foot ulceration. Methods The Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle study included 11 247 adults aged ≥ 25 years in 42 randomly selected areas of Australia. Neuropathy and PVD were assessed in participants identified as having diabetes (based on self report and oral glucose tolerance test), impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and in a random sample with normal glucose tolerance (total n = 2436). Results The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 13.1% in those with known diabetes (KDM) and 7.1% in those with newly diagnosed (NDM). The prevalence of PVD was 13.9% in KDM and 6.9% in NDM. Of those with diabetes, 19.6% were at risk of foot ulceration. Independent risk factors for peripheral neuropathy were diabetes duration (odds ratio (95% CI) 1.73 (1.33–2.28) per 10 years), height (1.42 (1.08–1.88) per 10 cm), age (2.57 (1.94–3.40) per 10 years) and uric acid (1.59 (1.21–2.09) per 0.1 mmol/l). Risk factors for PVD were diabetes duration (1.64 (1.25–2.16) per 10 years), age (2.45 (1.86–3.22) per 10 years), smoking (2.07 (1.00–4.28)), uric acid (1.03 (1.00–1.06) per 0.1 mmol/l) and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (1.11 (1.01–1.21) per 1 mg/mmol). Conclusions The prevalence of neuropathy and PVD was lower in this population than has been reported in other populations. This may reflect differences in sampling methods between community and hospital-based populations. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of the diabetic population had risk factors for foot ulceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suspension cultures of celery embryoids were initiated by transferring portions of differentiating callus to liquid medium. Light microscope studies of the cells and embryogenic aggregates in the suspensions suggested that the embryoids arose from either single cells within the embryogenic aggregates, when the developing embryoid remained attached to the clump until the globular stage, or from free floating small groups of cells. Both types of development showed the celery embryoids to be of single cell origin. When the embryoid suspension was filtered to remove the larger embryoids and the small embryogenic aggregates and free floating embryoids were mixed with agar and plated, the development of the embryoids depended on the initial inoculum density. At low density further embryoid development was delayed while at the high inoculum density the embryoids became green and grew rapidly into torpedo embryoids with cotyledon leaves and roots. At this stage they could be transferred to a simple inorganic medium to develop into plantlets. The effect of inoculum density was thought to be due to a conditioning effect of the environment. It is suggested that the differentiating units in the embryoid suspension could be used in a cell selection procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH; EC 1.1.1.1) activity was measured in Picea glauca (Moench) Voss cell suspensions under differing conditions of hypoxia. ADH activity increased 4.5 fold after 48 h of induction. When cells were induced under different levels of hypoxia (2,5 and 20% O2) changes in ADH activity were found to increase with lower levels of oxygen. Alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT; EC 2.6.1.2) activity increased under hypoxia in a pattern similar to ADH, however lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) activity did not increase under hypoxic conditions. The ability of white spruce cells to accurately regulate heterologous anaerobic promotors was tested by electroporating chimeric ADH reporter genes into protoplasts. While protoplasts were capable of anaerobically regulating a maize ADH reporter construct, constructs with dicotyledonous promoters (pea and Arabidopsis) were not expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron beam of a scanning electron microscope causes carrier generation in a semiconductor and these carriers are the probe for various types of image. In particular, the electron-beam-induced current mode gives images which reveal electrically active near-surface defects in a semiconductor sample. Since semiconductor multilayer structures are now very common, one needs to know how the multilayer structure modifies the shape of the generation volume. The Monte Carlo technique for modelling beam electron trajectories inside the sample is used and gives a detailed insight into the shape of such a generated carrier generation distribution. Additionally, a simpler analytical method is developed for constructing a one-dimensional depth distribution for multilayer structures, starting from known depth dose distributions for bulk materials. The analytical method is validated by comparison with Monte Carlo results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A forty‐fold increase in tissue fresh weight has been achieved for Allium cepa stem tissue callus grown on a modified B5 medium with increased ammonium, phosphate and nitrogen levels; and decreased level of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Growth was examined on several standard media, using fresh weight, dry weight and cell number as parameters over an 8‐week growth period. Further, tissue grown upon this medium is more friable than on other media. The value of such friable callus for suspension culture initiation and for single cell cloning experiments is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 29, 918-925 (2012) Abstract Background Television viewing time is associated cross-sectionally with abnormal glucose tolerance and diabetes risk; however, the impact of changes in television viewing time on glycaemic measures is less understood. We examined relationships of 5-year change in television viewing time with 5-year change in glucose homeostasis markers. Methods Participants in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study with data available at the 1999-2000 baseline and the 2004-2005 follow-up were included (4870; 45% men). Television viewing time (h/week) was assessed by questionnaire. Fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin and 2-h plasma glucose were obtained from an oral glucose tolerance test. Beta-cell function and insulin resistance were ascertained using the homeostasis model assessment 2-calculator. Associations of change in television viewing time with changes in glucose homeostasis markers were examined using linear regression models [β-coefficients (95% CI)]. Adjustments included baseline measures of age, television viewing time and glycaemic marker, and baseline and 5-year change in diet quality, energy intake, physical activity and waist circumference. Results For every 5-h per week increase in television viewing time from baseline to 5-year follow-up, changes in glucose homeostasis markers were observed: among women there was a significant increase in fasting plasma glucose [0.01 (0.00-0.02) mmol/l] insulin resistance [0.03 (0.01-0.05)] and insulin secretion [1.07 (0.02-2.12) %]; insulin levels increased [men: 1.20 (0.30-2.09); women: 1.06 (0.32-1.80) pmol/l]; in men, 2-h plasma glucose levels increased [0.06 (0.01-0.1) mmol/l]. Conclusion Five-year increases in television viewing time were associated adversely with changes in glucose homeostasis markers. These findings add to earlier cross-sectional evidence that television viewing time can be associated with biomarkers of diabetes risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the abstract 'Accuracy of Dipstick Testing For Population Screening,' by S.J. Chadban, P. Kerr, D. Dunstan, M. Dalton, P. Zimmet and R.C. Atkins.

The incidence of end-stage renal failure in Australia is increasing at a rate of 10%pa. Some causes of end-stage renal failure may be treatable if detected at an early stage. The role of screening for early indicators of renal disease on a population basis has not been evaluated. AIM. To determine the prevalence of early indicators of renal disease: haematuria, proteinuria, elevated serum creatinine, diabetes and urinary tract infection. METHODS. 10,000 adults aged ± 25 years residing in 42 selected ABS Census Collection Districts from all States and Territories of Australia will be screened between 4/99-12/2000. Participants undergo: medical and lifestyle questionnaire; examination including BP; screening tests including oral glucose-tolerance test, automated urinalisis (Multistix-SG, Bayer), urine microscopy and culture (if urinalysis + or greater for leukocytes, nitrites or blood), urine protein:creatinine ratio (> 0.20 abnormal), and serum creatinine. Subjects with diabetes, UTI, haematuria (> 10,000 rbc/mL), proteinuria or elevated serum creatinine (> 0.12mmol/L) are contacted, referred to their local doctor and asked for consent to be followed-up. All assessments are performed by the AusDiab survey team. Biochemical and microbiological tests are performed at a central lab. RESULTS: Screening was completed in Victoria in July 1999. Of 2415 subjects contacted, 1445 (60%) completed evaluation. Early indicators of renal disease were detected: Haematuria 126 (9.4%), proteinuria 31 (2.3%), elevated serum creatinine 8 (0.6%), UTI 27 (1.9%), diabetes - one new diagnosis for every known case. > 90% of those with abnormalities have agreed to be followed to determine the underlying abnormality. CONCLUSIONS. Screening for early indicators of renal disease identified a large subgroup at risk of developing renal failure, a population in which early intervention may be beneficial. *AusDiab is the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study commissioned and... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]