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The intensities of infrared absorption due to the asymmetric stretching vibrations of interstitial oxygen atoms in Ge crystals enriched with 16O and 18O isotopes have been compared with oxygen concentrations determined by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. For Ge samples with oxygen content less than 5×1017 cm-3, a good correlation has been found between the values of oxygen concentration and the values of the absorption coefficient at the maximum of the 16Oi related absorption band at 855.6 cm-1 with a proportionality coefficient CO=1.05×1017 cm-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined the impact of reactive-ion-etching (RIE) on the near-surface crystal quality of Czochralski silicon by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Experimental procedure; Record of the PL spectra of boron-doped silicon surfaces; Approaches to reduce the introduction of reactive-ion-etching-related defects.

Examines the generation of divacancy centers by irradiating silicon samples doped with tin and phosphorus at room temperature by 2.0 MeV electrons. Analysis of the samples using low-temperature infrared absorption measurements and deep level transient spectroscopy; Annihilation of vacancy-phosphorus centers by silicon self-interstitials; Preparation of the sample used.

Presents a study that investigated the precipitation of oxygen for 2 megaelectronvolt electron irradiated silicon samples with irradiation doses. Presence of different concentrations of the vacancy-dioxygen center created at the irradiation in the samples; Irradiation dose dependence of the incubation time and oxygen decay rate for the precipitation process; Explanation for the enhanced precipitation among vacancy-dioxygen samples.

Examines the photoluminescence characterization of plasma exposed silicon surfaces. Investigation on Czochralski or float-zone-grown silicon crystals; Details on the effect of various etching gases on the luminescence spectra; Effects of subsequent annealings; Observation on the two types of recombination process.

Presents a study that investigated the defects introduced by reactive-ion etching and plasma etching using deuterium in boron-doped silicon with the photoluminescence technique. Photoluminescence measurements; Secondary-ion mass spectrometry analysis; Shifts in the energy position of the boron bound exciton due to the dry etching treatments.

Presents a study that monitored the presence of electrically active defects in carbon[sup+] and CO[sup+] implanted boron-doped silicon using deep level transient spectroscopy and resistivity measurements. Introduction of defects by annealing; Correlation of the traps detected in the samples with multi-oxygen- and carbon-related complexes; Exponential capacitance transients following the injection pulses.

Presents a study which examined the effect of reactive-ion etching and plasma etching using deuterium on the electrical properties of boron-doped p-type silicon employing junction capacitance measurements on Schottky diodes. Experimental procedure followed; Theory of data analysis; Results of the study.

Presents a study that examined the effects of reactive-ion etching and deuterium plasma etching on the electrical properties of silicon wafers. Measurement of the capacitance-voltage properties; Comparison of the results from reactive-ion etching and plasma etching; Analysis of the secondary mass ion spectra.

Presents a study that utilized different measurement techniques, both electrical and optical, to characterize gold (Au) diffusion in n-type float-zoned silicon (Si). Temperature range by Si was measured; Introduction of Au acceptor state; Effects of Au diffusion on the free-carrier concentration and mobilities.

Presents a study which examined the isothermal annealing of electron-irradiated Czochralski silicon samples using deep-level transient spectroscopy and photoluminescence. Background on Czochralski silicon; Experimental setup; Results and conclusions.

Presents a study that correlated two groups of infrared (IR) localized vibrational bands with IR electronic bands due to the thermal double (TD) donors and the TD concentration from resistivity measurements. Experiment conducted; Results; Discussion.

Presents the results of photoluminescence studies on silicon-fluorine (SF)/oxygen (O) plasma-induced defect formation in silicon samples. Discussion on ion bombardment of silicon surface during SF reactive-ion etching (RIE); Role of oxygen during SF/O RIE in photoluminescence; Importance of RIE in the manufacturing of submicron microelectronics devices.

Investigate thermal donor (TD) formation in silicon at various temperatures. Techniques being used to study defects in semiconductors; Information on the thermal history of the material for TD formation; Discussion on the electrical activity and atomic models of the thermal donors; Average number of oxygen atoms in TD; Annihilation.

Background/objectives: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide. GDM may be prevented by improving the diets of pregnant women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary counselling on the diets of pregnant women at GDM risk.Subjects/methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial the Finnish gestational diabetes prevention study (RADIEL) in which pre-pregnant and pregnant women with previous GDM or BMI ⩾30 kg/m(2) were allocated into two groups, namely the control and the intervention groups. The control group received standard antenatal dietary counselling according to the Finnish Nutrition Recommendations. The intervention group participated in one individual dietary counselling session and one group dietary counselling session in addition to the standard counselling. This study included women who were recruited during pregnancy. To assess changes in food intake, food-intake questionnaires were collected during the first and the second trimester of pregnancy. Bootstrap type analysis of covariance was used, and 242 participants were included in the final analysis to study changes in food intake.Results: The intakes of low-fat cheese (baseline adjusted mean 0.09 times/day; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07, 0.24; P=0.040) and fish (baseline adjusted mean 0.28 times per week; 95% CI 0.08, 0.49; P=0.011) showed a significant increase in the intervention group compared with the control group.Conclusions: This study showed that dietary counselling in early pregnancy can lead to modest dietary improvements in pregnant women at GDM risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Healthy diets before and during pregnancy have been suggested to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes (GDM). Several lifestyle intervention studies for pregnant women have reported dietary improvements after counselling. However, evidence concerning the effect of counselling initiated before pregnancy on diets is limited. Methods: This randomised controlled study explored whether pre‐pregnancy lifestyle counselling influenced food intakes, as well as whether changes in food intakes were associated with GDM. The participants comprised 75 women with prior GDM and/or a body mass index ≥ 30 kg m–2. Women were randomised into a control or an intervention group, and their food intakes were followed from pre‐pregnancy to early pregnancy using a food frequency questionnaire. The control and intervention groups were combined to assess the association between changes in food intakes and GDM. The diagnosis of GDM was based on a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test conducted in the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Results: Pre‐pregnancy lifestyle counselling showed no major overall effect on food intakes. The intake of low‐fat cheese increased significantly in women who did not develop GDM compared to women who did after adjusting for potential confounders (P = 0.028). This association was not observed for regular‐fat cheese. Conclusions: The findings obtained in the present study suggest that an increased intake of low‐fat but not regular‐fat cheese between pre‐pregnancy and early pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of GDM in high‐risk women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are common components of mechanosensing pathways, mainly described in mammals and other multicellular organisms. To gain insight into the evolutionary origins of eukaryotic mecha-nosensory proteins, we investigated the involvement of TRP channels in mechanosensing in a unicellular eukaryotic pro-tist, the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra. BLASTP analysis of the protein sequences predicted from the L. polyedra transcriptome revealed six sequences with high similarity to human TRPM2, TRPM8, TRPML2, TRPP1, and TRPP2; and characteristic TRP domains were identified in all sequences. In a phylogenetic tree including all mammalian TRP subfamilies and TRP channel sequences from unicellular and multi-cellular organisms, the L. polyedra sequences grouped with the TRPM, TPPML, and TRPP clades. In pharmacological experiments, we used the intrinsic bioluminescence of L. polyedra as a reporter of mechanoresponsivity. Capsaicin and RN1734, agonists of mammalian TRPV, and arachidonic acid, an agonist of mammalian TRPV, TRPA, TRPM, and Drosophila TRP, all stimulated bioluminescence in L. polyedra. Mechanical stimulation of bioluminescence, but not capsaicin-stimulated bioluminescence, was inhibited by gadolinium (Gd31), a general inhibitor of mechanosensitive ion channels, and the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122. These pharmacological results are consistent with the involvement of TRP-like channels in mechanosensing by L. polyedra. The TRP channels do not appear to be mechanoreceptors but rather are components of the mechanotransduction signaling pathway and may be activated via a PLC-dependent mechanism. The presence and function of TRP channels in a dinoflagellate emphasize the evolutionary conservation of both the channel structures and their functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of climate change on animal populations may be shaped by habitat characteristics at both micro- and macro-habitat level, however, empirical studies integrating these two scales of observation are lacking. As analyses of the effects of climate change commonly rely on data from a much larger scale than the microhabitat level organisms are affected at, this mismatch risks hampering progress in developing understanding of the details of the ecological and evolutionary responses of organisms and, ultimately, effective actions to preserve their populations. Cavity nesters, often with a conservation status of concern, are an ideal model because the cavity is a microenvironment potentially different from the macroenvironment but nonetheless inevitably interacting with it. The lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a cavity nester which was until recently classified by as Vulnerable species. Since 2004, for nine years, we collected detailed biotic and abiotic data at both micro- and macro-scales of observation in a kestrel population breeding in the Gela Plain (Italy), a Mediterranean area where high temperatures may reach lethal values for the nest content. We show that macroclimatic features needed to be integrated with both abiotic and biotic factors recorded at a microscale before reliably predicting nest temperatures. Among the nest types used by lesser kestrels, we detected a preferential occupation of the cooler nest types, roof tiles, by early breeders whereas, paradoxically, late breeders nesting with hotter temperatures occupied the overheated nest holes. Not consistent with such a suggested nest selection, the coolest nest type did not host a higher reproductive success than the overheated nests. We discussed our findings in the light of cavity temperatures and nest types deployed within conservation actions assessed by integrating selected factors at different observation scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined deep level defects and their role in carrier recombination processes in electron-irradiated 3C silicon carbide using photoluminescence and optically detected magnetic resonance. Principle behind the technique; Brief background on the sample material; Description of the experimental setup; Findings.

Aim: To provide conversion formulae between measurements based on different specimens in use in epidemiological studies and clinical practice, and to evaluate the relative precision for the different methods.Background: The current guidelines emphasize the use of venous plasma for determining glucose concentration. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines provide cut-off points for different specimens for the determination of the glucose concentration in circulating blood (venous plasma, whole blood, serum and capillary blood). There is a lack of data about the comparability between the values obtained by using different specimens.Methods: Eleven different combinations of specimens and methods of measurement of blood glucose were used in 294 blood samples from 74 subjects. The methods were grouped by the specimen used for analysis (venous plasma, whole blood, serum and capillary blood).Results: The result of the analysis is a set of linear equations allowing conversion of the result from one specimen or method to another. Furthermore, it was estimated how much of the variation for each method can be attributed to laboratory variance.Conclusions: Measurements based on capillary blood had a very large variability compared with other methods. Measurements based on venous whole blood tended to give results 0.5 mmol/L lower than other methods. Our data indicate that the current diagnostic cut-off points, as recommended by WHO for non-plasma specimens, are not fully compatible and may differ as much as 0.5 mmol/L between specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The overall objective of this study was to evaluate and provide evidence and recommendations on current published literature about diet and lifestyle in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.Design: Epidemiological and experimental studies, focusing on nutritional intervention in the prevention of type 2 diabetes are used to make disease-specific recommendations. Long-term cohort studies are given the most weight as to strength of evidence available.Setting and Subjects: Numerous clinical trials and cohort studies in low, middle and high income countries are evaluated regarding recommendations for dietary prevention of type 2 diabetes. These include, among others, the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, US Diabetes Prevention Program, Da Qing Study; Pima Indian Study; Iowa Women's Health Study; and the study of the US Male Physicians.Results: There is convincing evidence for a decreased risk of diabetes in adults who are physically active and maintain a normal body mass index (BMI) throughout adulthood, and in overweight adults with impaired glucose tolerance who lose weight voluntarily. An increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes is associated with overweight and obesity; abdominal obesity; physical inactivity; and maternal diabetes. It is probable that a high intake of saturated fats and intrauterine growth retardation also contribute to an increased risk, while non-starch polysaccharides are likely to be associated with a decreased risk. From existing evidence it is also possible that omega-3 fatty acids, low glycaemic index foods and exclusive breastfeeding may play a protective role, and that total fat intake and trans fatty acids may contribute to the risk. However, insufficient evidence is currently available to provide convincing proof.Conclusions: Based on the strength of available evidence regarding diet and lifestyle in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, it is recommended that a normal weight status in the lower BMI range (BMI 21-23) and regular physical activity be maintained throughout adulthood; abdominal obesity be prevented; and saturated fat intake be less than 7% of the total energy intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate associations of long-term nutrient intake, physical activity and obesity with later cognitive function among the participants in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, in which a lifestyle intervention was successful in diabetes prevention. Design: An active lifestyle intervention phase during middle age (mean duration 4 years) and extended follow-up (additional 9 years) with annual lifestyle measurements, followed by an ancillary cognition assessment. Setting: 5 research centers in Finland. Participants: Of the 522 middle-aged, overweight participants with impaired glucose tolerance recruited to the study, 364 (70%) participated in the cognition assessment (mean age 68 years). Measurements: A cognitive assessment was executed with the CERAD test battery and the Trail Making Test A on average 13 years after baseline. Lifestyle measurements included annual clinical measurements, food records, and exercise questionnaires during both the intervention and follow-up phase. Results: Lower intake of total fat (p=0.021) and saturated fatty acids (p=0.010), and frequent physical activity (p=0.040) during the whole study period were associated with better cognitive performance. Higher BMI (p=0.012) and waist circumference (p=0.012) were also associated with worse performance, but weight reduction prior to the cognition assessment predicted worse performance as well (decrease vs. increase, p=0.008 for BMI and p=0.002 for waist). Conclusions: Long-term dietary fat intake, BMI, and waist circumference have an inverse association with cognitive function in later life among people with IGT. However, decreases in BMI and waist prior to cognitive assessment are associated with worse cognitive performance, which could be explained by reverse causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to find the association between adherence to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) and glucose metabolism. Participants were 137 pregnant obese women or women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) from the Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study. Adherence to the NNR was assessed by the Healthy Food Intake Index (HFII) calculated from the first trimesters' food frequency questionnaires. Higher HFII scores reflected higher adherence to the NNR (score range 0−17). Regression models with linear contrasts served for the main analysis. The mean HFII score was 10.0 (s.d. 2.8). The odds for GDM decreased toward the higher HFII categories (P=0.067). Fasting glucose (FG) and 2hG concentrations showed inverse linearity across the HFII categories (P(FG)=0.030 and P(2hG)=0.028, adjusted for body mass index, age and GDM/pregnancy history). Low adherence to the NNR is associated with higher antenatal FG and 2hG concentrations and possibly GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the expression of ion transporters involved in intestinal fluid absorption and presents evidence for developmental changes in abundance and tissue distribution of these transporters during smoltification and seawater ( SW) acclimation of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. Emphasis was placed on Na+, K+- ATPase ( NKA) and Na+, K+, Cl− co-transporter ( NKCC) isoforms, at both transcriptional and protein levels, together with transcription of chloride channel genes. The nka α1c was the dominant isoform at the transcript level in both proximal and distal intestines; also, it was the most abundant isoform expressed in the basolateral membrane of enterocytes in the proximal intestine. This isoform was also abundantly expressed in the distal intestine in the lower part of the mucosal folds. The protein expression of intestinal Nkaα1c increased during smoltification. Immunostaining was localized to the basal membrane of the enterocytes in freshwater ( FW) fish, and re-distributed to a lateral position after SW entry. Two other Nka isoforms, α1a and α1b, were expressed in the intestine but were not regulated to the same extent during smoltification and subsequent SW transfer. Their localization in the intestinal wall indicates a house-keeping function in excitatory tissues. The absorptive form of the NKCC-like isoform (sub-apically located NKCC2 and/or Na+, Cl− co-transporter) increased during smoltification and further after SW transfer. The cellular distribution changed from a diffuse expression in the sub-apical regions during smoltification to clustering of the transporters closer to the apical membrane after entry to SW. Furthermore, transcript abundance indicates that the mechanisms necessary for exit of chloride ions across the basolateral membrane and into the lateral intercellular space are present in the form of one or more of three different chloride channels: cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator I and II and chloride channel 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the largest sources of uncertainties in modelling of the future global climate is the response of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Studies have shown that it is likely that the extant land sink of carbon will weaken in a warming climate. Should this happen, a larger portion of the annual carbon dioxide emissions will remain in the atmosphere, and further increase global warming, which in turn may further weaken the land sink. We investigate the potential sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystem carbon balance to differences in future climate simulated by four general circulation models (GCMs) under three different CO2 concentration scenarios. We find that the response in simulated carbon balance is more influenced by GCMs than CO2 concentration scenarios. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) reveals differences among GCMs in simulated SST variability leading to decreased tropical ecosystem productivity in two out of four GCMs. We extract parameters describing GCM characteristics by parameterizing a statistical emulator mimicking the carbon balance response simulated by a full dynamic ecosystem model. By sampling two GCM-specific parameters and global temperatures we create 60 new "artificial" GCMs and investigate the extent to which the GCM characteristics may explain the uncertainty in global carbon balance under future radiative forcing. Differences among GCMs in the representation of SST variability and ENSO and its effect on precipitation and temperature patterns explain the majority of the uncertainty in the future evolution of global terrestrial ecosystem carbon in our analysis. We suggest that the characterisation and evaluation of patterns and trends in simulated SST variability should be a priority for the further development of GCMs, in particular as vegetation dynamics and carbon cycle feedbacks are incorporated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: This study aimed to determine whether lifestyle intervention lasting for 4 years affected diabetes incidence, body weight, glycaemia or lifestyle over 13 years among individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Methods: Overweight, middle-aged men ( n = 172) and women ( n = 350) with impaired glucose tolerance were randomised in 1993-1998 to an intensive lifestyle intervention group ( n = 265), aiming at weight reduction, dietary modification and increased physical activity, or to a control group ( n = 257) that received general lifestyle information. The primary outcome was a diagnosis of diabetes based on annual OGTTs. Secondary outcomes included changes in body weight, glycaemia, physical activity and diet. After active intervention (median 4 years, range 1-6 years), participants still free of diabetes and willing to continue their participation (200 in the intervention group and 166 in the control group) were further followed until diabetes diagnosis, dropout or the end of 2009, with a median total follow-up of 9 years and a time span of 13 years from baseline. Results: During the total follow-up the adjusted HR for diabetes (intervention group vs control group) was 0.614 (95% CI 0.478, 0.789; p < 0.001). The corresponding HR during the post-intervention follow-up was 0.672 (95% CI 0.477, 0.947; p = 0.023). The former intervention group participants sustained lower absolute levels of body weight, fasting and 2 h plasma glucose and a healthier diet. Adherence to lifestyle changes during the intervention period predicted greater risk reduction during the total follow-up. Conclusions/interpretation: Lifestyle intervention in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes induces sustaining lifestyle change and results in long-term prevention of progression to type 2 diabetes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00518167 Funding: The DPS study has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland (128315, 129330), Ministry of Education, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Juho Vainio Foundation, Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Unilever, and Competitive Research Funding from Tampere, Kuopio and Oulu University Hospitals. The study sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data; or the preparation, review or approval of the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the largest sources of uncertainties in modelling of the future global climate is the response of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Studies have shown that it is likely that the extant land sink of carbon will weaken in a warming climate. Should this happen, a larger portion of the annual carbon dioxide emissions will remain in the atmosphere, and further increase the global warming, which in turn may further weaken the land sink. We investigate the potential sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystem carbon balance to differences in future climate simulated by four general circulation models (GCMs) under three different CO2 concentration scenarios. We find that the response in simulated carbon balance is more influenced by GCMs than CO2 concentration scenarios. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) analysis of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) reveals differences in the GCMs SST variability leading to decreased tropical ecosystem productivity in two out of four GCMs. We extract parameters describing GCM characteristics by parameterizing a statistical replacement model mimicking the simulated carbon balance results. By sampling two GCM-specific parameters and global temperatures we create 60 new "artificial" GCMs and investigate the extent to which the GCM characteristics may explain the uncertainty in global carbon balance under future radiative forcing. Our analysis suggests that differences among GCMs in the representation of SST variability and ENSO and its effect on precipitation and temperature patterns explains the majority of the uncertainty in the future evolution of global terrestrial ecosystem carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of an active real-life primary care lifestyle intervention in preventing type 2 diabetes within a high-risk Mediterranean population. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed in the setting of Spanish primary care. White-European individuals without diabetes aged 45-75 years ( n = 2,054) were screened using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) and a subsequent 2 h OGTT. Where feasible, high-risk individuals who were identified were allocated sequentially to standard care, a group-based or an individual level intervention (intensive reinforced DE-PLAN [Diabetes in Europe-Prevention using Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Nutritional] intervention). The primary outcome was the development of diabetes according to WHO criteria. Analyses after 4-year follow-up were performed based on the intention-to-treat principle with comparison of standard care and the combined intervention groups. Results: The standard care ( n = 219) and intensive intervention ( n = 333) groups were comparable in age (62.0/62.2 years), sex (64.4/68.2% women), BMI (31.3/31.2 kg/m), FINDRISC score (16.2/15.8 points), fasting (5.3/5.2 mmol/l), 2 h plasma glucose (7.1/6.9 mmol/l) and self-reported interest to make lifestyle changes at baseline. Diabetes was diagnosed in 124 individuals: 63 (28.8%) in the standard care group and 61 (18.3%) in the intensive intervention group. During a 4.2-year median follow-up, the incidences of diabetes were 7.2 and 4.6 cases per 100 person-years, respectively (36.5% relative risk reduction, p < 0.005). The number of participants needed to be treated by intensive intervention for 4 years to reduce one case of diabetes was 9.5. Conclusions/interpretation: Intensive lifestyle intervention is feasible in a primary care setting and substantially reduces diabetes incidence among high-risk individuals. Clinical trial registration:: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01519505 Funding:: Commission of the European Communities, Institute of Health Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health and Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated the effect of early-phase insulin secretion on the incidence of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) participating in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS). We examined how a lifestyle intervention affected early-phase insulin secretion (ratio of total insulin area under the curve [AUC] and total glucose AUC [AIGR] from 0 to 30 min) during a 4-year follow-up intervention trial and whether AIGR(0-30) response was modified by insulin sensitivity (IS) and obesity.Research Design and Methods: A total of 443 participants with IGT originally randomized to a lifestyle intervention or control group were studied. IS and AIGR(0-30) were estimated from an oral tolerance glucose test administered annually during the 4-year follow-up trial and were related to the risk of diabetes onset over a 6-year follow-up.Results: Lifestyle intervention resulted in higher IS (P = 0.02) and lower unadjusted AIGR(0-30) (P = 0.08) during the 4-year follow-up. A higher IS and a lower BMI during the follow-up were associated with a lower unadjusted AIGR(0-30) during the follow-up, independently of study group (P < 0.001). A greater increase in IS on the median cutoff point of a 0.69 increase was associated with higher IS-adjusted AIGR(0-30) during the follow-up (P = 0.002). In multivariate models, IS and IS-adjusted AIGR(0-30) were both inversely associated with diabetes incidence (P < 0.001). Participants who progressed to type 2 diabetes were more obese and had lower IS and Matsuda IS index-AIGR(0-30) than nonprogressors.Conclusions: Our results indicate that the reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after lifestyle intervention is related to the improvement of IS along with weight loss. Improved IS may also have beneficial effects on preservation of β-cell function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 28, 1234-1237 (2011) Abstract Aim To investigate changes in the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes by shifting from 2-h plasma glucose and/or fasting plasma glucose diagnostic criteria to the proposed new HbA1c-based criteria when applied to a Mediterranean population detected to have a high risk of Type 2 diabetes. Methods Individuals without diabetes aged 45-75 years ( n = 2287) were screened using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score questionnaire, a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test plus HbA1c test. Prevalence and degree of diagnostic overlap between three sets of criteria (2-h plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c) and three diagnostic categories (normal, pre-diabetes and diabetes) were calculated. Results Defining diabetes by a single HbA1c measurement resulted in a dramatic decrease in prevalence (1.3%), particularly in comparison with diabetes defined by 2-h plasma glucose (8.6%), but was also significant with regard to fasting plasma glucose (2.8%). A total of 201 screened subjects (8.8%) were classified as having diabetes and 1023 (44.7%) as having pre-diabetes based on at least one of these criteria; among these, the presence of all three criteria simultaneously classified only 21 and 110 individuals respectively, about ten percent of each group. The single overlap index between subjects diagnosed as having diabetes by 2-h plasma glucose/fasting plasma glucose vs. HbA1c was 13.9/28%. Similarly, the single overlap index regarding pre-diabetes was 19.2/27.1%. Conclusions A shift from the glucose-based diagnosis to the HbA1c-based diagnosis for diabetes will reduce diabetes prevalence with a low overall or single degree of overlap between diagnostic categories in this high-risk Spanish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in persons with previously diagnosed impaired glucose tolerance and to characterize associations between components of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study cohort. Methods Two hundred and sixty-eight individuals with impaired glucose tolerance at baseline in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, but not diagnosed with diabetes during follow-up,were studied for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. At the second annual follow-up visit after the end of lifestyle intervention,we performed deep-breathing and active orthostatic tests to detect possible parasympathetic and sympathetic dysfunction. To describe metabolic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, an oral glucose tolerance test and assessments for HbA1c, serum lipids and blood pressure were carried out. Results Prevalence of parasympathetic dysfunction was 25% and prevalence of sympathetic dysfunction was 6%, with no difference between the former intervention and control group participants or between men and women. Subjects with parasympathetic dysfunction were older, more obese (weight,waist circumference, body mass index) and had higher triglyceride concentration compared with those with normal parasympathetic function (P < 0.01 for all). Parasympathetic dysfunction was not significantly associated with other characteristics of metabolic syndrome; for example, high cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels or HbA1c. Correlations between the Expiration/Inspiration (E/I) ratio (the longest heart beat duration in expiration divided by the shortest heart beat duration in inspiration) and measures reflecting obesity were statistically significant in the pooled population and in men but not in women. Conclusions Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is common in persons with impaired glucose tolerance. Obesity, especially among men, seems to play an important role in the early pathogenesis of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the influence of positive family history (FH+) of diabetes and 19 known genetic risk loci on the effectiveness of lifestyle changes and their predictive value on the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS).Research Design and Methods: A total of 522 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were randomized into the control (n = 257) and intervention (n = 265) groups. The mean follow-up was 6.2 years (median 7 years), and the lifestyle intervention, aimed at weight reduction, healthy diet, and increased physical activity, lasted for 4 years (range 1-6 years). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and assessment of basic clinical variables were performed annually.Results: The effect of intervention on the incidence of diabetes was almost similar in subjects with FH+ compared with subjects with a negative family history (FH-) of diabetes during the entire follow-up. In the Cox model, including FH, genetic risk SNPs, and randomization group, and adjusted for the effects of age, sex, BMI, and study center, only lifestyle intervention had a significant effect (hazard ratio 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.75, P < 0.001) on the incidence of diabetes. Further analyses showed that in addition to the baseline glucose and insulin values, 1-year changes in 2-h glucose and 2-h insulin achieved by lifestyle intervention had a significant effect on the incidence of diabetes.Conclusions: These results emphasize the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention in reducing the risk of diabetes in high-risk individuals independently of genetic or familial risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims we analysed the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study data in order to evaluate how the new HbA1c-based criterion compares with the oral glucose tolerance test in diagnosing Type 2 diabetes among high-risk individuals during a prospective average follow-up of 4 years. Methods In the Diabetes Prevention Study, 172 men and 350 women who were overweight and had impaired glucose tolerance at baseline were randomized into an intensive lifestyle intervention or a control group. The oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c measurements were performed annually until the diagnosis of diabetes using the World Health Organization 1985 criteria. Results The sensitivity of the HbA1c ≥ 6.5%(≥ 48 mmol/ mol) as a diagnostic criterion for Type 2 diabetes was35%(95%CI 24%, 47%) in women and 47% (95% CI 31%, 64%) in men compared with diagnosis based on two consecutive oral glucose tolerance tests. The corresponding sensitivities for HbA1c ≥ 6.0% (≥ 42 mmol/ mol)were 67%(95% CI 55%, 77%) and 68% (95% CI 51%, 82%). The participants with HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (≥ 48 mmol/ mol) and diabetes based on the oral glucose tolerance test were more obese and had higher fasting glucose and 2-h glucose concentrations than those who had a diabetic oral glucose tolerance test but HbA1c< 6.5%(< 48 mmol/mol). There were no differences in the predictive performance of baseline fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c. Conclusions Of those with diabetes diagnosis based on two oral glucose tolerance tests during the Diabetes Prevention Study follow-up, 60% would have remained undiagnosed if diagnosis had been based onHbA1c ≥ 6.5%(≥ 48 mmol/ mol) criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Both short and long sleep duration have frequently been found to be associated with an increased risk for diabetes. The aim of the present exploratory analysis was to examine the association between sleep duration and type 2 diabetes after lifestyle intervention in overweight individuals with impaired glucose tolerance in a 7-year prospective follow-up.Research Design and Methods: A total of 522 individuals (aged 40-64 years) were randomly allocated either to an intensive diet-exercise counseling group or to a control group. Diabetes incidence during follow-up was calculated according to sleep duration at baseline. Sleep duration was obtained for a 24-h period. Physical activity, dietary intakes, body weight, and immune mediators (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6) were measured.Results: Interaction between sleep duration and treatment group was statistically significant (P = 0.003). In the control group, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CI) for diabetes were 2.29 (1.38-3.80) and 2.74 (1.67-4.50) in the sleep duration groups 9-9.5 h and >or=10 h, respectively, compared with for that of the 7-8.5 h group. In contrast, sleep duration did not influence the incidence of diabetes in the intervention group; for sleep duration groups 9-9.5 h and >or=10 h, the adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1.10 (0.60-2.01) and 0.73 (0.34-1.56), respectively, compared with that in the reference group (7-8.5 h sleep). Lifestyle intervention resulted in similar improvement in body weight, insulin sensitivity, and immune mediator levels regardless of sleep duration.Conclusions: Long sleep duration is associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk. Lifestyle intervention with the aim of weight reduction, healthy diet, and increased physical activity may ameliorate some of this excess risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subclinical inflammation confers an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders and other age-related chronic diseases. Physical activity and diet can attenuate systemic immune activation, but it is not known which individual components of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention are most effective in targeting subclinical inflammation. We used data from the baseline examination and the 1 year follow-up of a subsample of 406 of 522 participants of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS) to estimate the effect of individual components of lifestyle intervention on C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 levels, which represent the best characterised proinflammatory risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Changes in metabolic markers, dietary patterns and exercise were analysed to determine which were most strongly associated with the anti-inflammatory effect of lifestyle changes. Lifestyle intervention reduced circulating levels of CRP ( p < 0.001) and IL-6 ( p = 0.060). Increases in fibre intake and moderate to vigorous leisure time physical activity (LTPA), but not total LTPA, predicted decreases in CRP and/or IL-6 and remained associated even after adjustment for baseline BMI or changes in BMI during the first year of the study. Changes in carbohydrate or fat intake were either weakly or not linked to reductions in CRP and IL-6. The present study assessed the individual effects of dietary and physical activity measures on low-grade inflammation in individuals at high cardiometabolic risk. Our results underline the importance of moderate to vigorous LTPA and a diet rich in natural fibre, and this should be emphasised in lifestyle recommendations. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00518167 Funding: The study was funded by the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, the German Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Innovation, Science, Research and Technology of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the German Diabetes Foundation (Deutsche Diabetes-Stiftung), the Department of Internal Medicine II—Cardiology at the University of Ulm, the Academy of Finland, the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Finnish Ministry of Education, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, the Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation and EVO funds from Tampere and Kuopio University Hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) binds to IGF and thus modulates IGF signaling pathway. We have shown earlier that the IGFBP5 gene was downregulated in the adipose tissue after 12-week carbohydrate diet with low insulinemic response.Objective:The aim was to examine the putative contribution of genetic variation of the IGFBP5 gene to the characteristics of metabolic syndrome and incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS).Methods:DPS is a longitudinal study where 522 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance were randomized to either lifestyle intervention group or control group. DNA was available from 507 subjects (mean body mass index (BMI) 31.2±4.5 kg/m2, age 55±7 years). The eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from HapMap database and genotyped by Taqman allelic discrimination protocol. The main results were confirmed in a larger cross-sectional study population (METSIM). In addition, the gene expression of IGFBP5 was studied in two previously published study populations (FUNGENUT and GENOBIN) of 124 subjects with insulin resistance (BMI 32.2±3.5 kg/m2, age 57.7±7.4 years).Results:Three out of eight IGFBP5 markers (rs9341234, rs3276 and rs11575134) were significantly associated with circulating adiponectin concentrations in men. Furthermore, mRNA expression studies of subcutaneous adipose tissue showed that mRNA concentrations of IGFBP5 correlated with adiponectin concentrations in all subjects and in women. None of the IGFBP5 SNPs were associated with T2DM.Conclusions:Our findings show that IGFBP5 has a gender-specific association with adiponectin, which may modulate the development of metabolic syndrome.International Journal of Obesity (2009) 33, 80–88; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.196; published online 28 October 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have reported that the sequence variation in the tenomodulin (TNMD) gene is associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), central obesity and serum levels of systemic immune mediators in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS), which is a longitudinal lifestyle intervention study on 522 middle-aged persons with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the association with T2DM, observed in the DPS could be replicated in a larger, cross-sectional population-based random sample of 5298 men (3020 with normoglycaemia, 984 with impaired fasting glucose, 436 with IGT and 811 with T2DM) from the region of Kuopio, eastern Finland. To further explore the putative mechanisms linking TNMD to T2DM and metabolic syndrome, we studied the associations of TNMD sequence variation with lipid abnormalities characteristic to metabolic syndrome. The association with T2DM risk was not replicated, but significant associations were found with serum low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in a body mass index-dependent manner. These associations were also observed in the men of DPS, whereas in women these associations were not significant. These results from two independent study populations suggest that the genetic variation in TNMD could modulate cholesterol metabolism in obese men.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, 1868–1872; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.217; published online 4 November 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monthly averages of ecosystem respiration (ER), gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) over Scandinavian forest sites were estimated using regression models driven by air temperature (AT), absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and vegetation indices. The models were constructed and evaluated using satellite data from Terra/MODIS and measured data collected at seven flux tower sites in northern Europe. Data used for model construction was excluded from the evaluation. Relationships between ground measured variables and the independent variables were investigated. It was found that the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) at 250m resolution was highly noisy for the coniferous sites, and hence, 1 km EVI was used for the analysis. Linear relationships between EVI and the biophysical variables were found: correlation coefficients between EVI and GPP, NEE, and AT ranged from 0.90 to 0.79 for the deciduous data, and from 0.85 to 0.67 for the coniferous data. Due to saturation, there were no linear relationships between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the ground measured parameters found at any site. APAR correlated better with the parameters in question than the vegetation indices. Modeled GPP and ER were in good agreement with measured values, with more than 90% of the variation in measured GPP and ER being explained by the coniferous models. The site-specific respiration rate at 10°C (R10) was needed for describing the ER variation between sites. Even though monthly NEE was modeled with less accuracy than GPP, 61% and 75% (dec. and con., respectively) of the variation in the measured time series was explained by the model. These results are important for moving towards operational remote sensing of forest carbon balance across Northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monthly averages of ecosystem respiration (ER), gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) over Scandinavian forest sites were estimated using regression models driven by air temperature (AT), absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and vegetation indices. The models were constructed and evaluated using satellite data from Terra/MODIS and measured data collected at seven flux tower sites in northern Europe. Data used for model construction was excluded from the evaluation. Relationships between ground measured variables and the independent variables were investigated. It was found that the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) at 250m resolution was highly noisy for the coniferous sites, and hence, 1 km EVI was used for the analysis. Linear relationships between EVI and the biophysical variables were found for both coniferous and deciduous data: correlation coefficients ranged from 0.91 to 0.79, and 0.85 to 0.67, respectively. Due to saturation, there were no linear relationships between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the ground measured parameters found at any site. APAR correlated better with the parameters in question than the vegetation indices. Modeled GPP and ER were in good agreement with measured values, with more than 90% of the variation in measured GPP and ER being explained by the coniferous models. The site-specific respiration rate at 10°C (R10) was needed for describing the ER variation between sites. Even though monthly NEE was modeled with less accuracy than GPP, 61% and 75% (dec. and con., respectively) of the variation in the measured time series was explained by the model. These results are important for moving towards operational remote sensing of forest carbon balance across Northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Fast-start swimming provides an integrated physiological index of performance and a measure of ability to escape predators, so may be expected to covary with other important composite life-history traits such as growth rate. 2. Variation in resource availability during growth and development is common, and organisms may show compensatory responses (such as catch-up growth) to periods of low food availability. However, such responses usually carry costs. 3. We examined fast-start performance in adult Green Swordtails in relation to growth regime experienced as a juvenile. In contrast to previous studies we found that conditions experienced early in life did not significantly affect fast-start swimming performance, indicating that escape ability is at a premium in green swordtails. 4. Fish raised on ad libitum food had similar performance to fish raised on a restricted diet and fish experiencing compensatory growth, controlling for body size. 5. Body depth was positively related to fast-start performance in both males and females, with males having faster escape responses than females for a given body depth. 6. Remarkably, males with the relatively longest sexual ornaments (‘swords’) had the greatest escape ability, suggesting that sword length may be a good indicator of quality among males of similar age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Adiponectin is a circulating peptide derived from adipose tissue. It mediates its insulin-sensitising and anti-atherogenic effects on target tissues through two known receptors, adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 (ADIPOR1; ADIPOR2), which are encoded by the genes ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2. Our aim was to study the association of ADIPOR1 gene variations with body size and risk of type 2 diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, who participated in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS). Subjects and methods: We selected seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ADIPOR1 gene to perform association studies with anthropometrics and metabolic parameters at baseline, and with the risk of type 2 diabetes during the 3-year follow-up in the DPS study population. Both single SNP analysis and haplotype effects were studied. Results: Three out of seven markers studied (rs10920534, rs22757538 and rs1342387) were significantly associated with various body size measurements including weight, height, waist and hip circumference, sagittal diameter and body mass index. Furthermore, three markers (rs10920534, rs12045862 and rs7539542), of which two were different from those associating with body size, were linked to fasting and 2-h insulin levels, particularly in men at baseline. The haplotype analysis with five markers revealed seven major haplotypes in the DPS study population. The haplotype effects on body size measures were in line with those of single SNP analysis. However, none of the markers were associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Conclusions/interpretation: Our findings suggest that ADIPOR1 has a putative role in the development of body size, and that traits for central adiposity and insulin resistance may be dissociated from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Ghrelin is a gut–brain regulatory peptide stimulating appetite and controlling energy balance. In previous studies, the Leu72Met polymorphism of the ghrelin gene has been associated with obesity and impaired insulin secretion. We investigated whether the Leu72Met polymorphism is associated with the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) participating in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS). Methods DPS was a longitudinal intervention study carried out in five participating centres in Finland. A total of 522 subjects with IGT were randomized into either an intervention or a control group and DNA was available from 507 subjects. The Leu72Met polymorphism was screened by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results There were no differences in clinical and anthropometric characteristics among the genotypes at baseline. IGT subjects with the Met72 allele were at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than subjects with the Leu72Leu genotype ( P = 0.046). Our data also demonstrated that IGT subjects with the common Leu72Leu genotype developed Type 2 diabetes less frequently under intervention circumstances than subjects with the Met72 allele (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.10–0.79; P = 0.016). Conclusions Subjects with the Leu72Leu genotype had a lower risk for the development of Type 2 diabetes. This was observed particularly in the study subjects who underwent an intensive diet and exercise intervention. Defective first-phase insulin secretion related to the Met72 allele might be one factor contributing to the conversion to Type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of dietary macronutrient composition and energy density with the change in body weight and waist circumference and diabetes incidence in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. Subjects and methods: Overweight, middle-aged men (n=172) and women (n=350) with impaired glucose tolerance were randomised to receive either ‘standard care’ (control) or intensive dietary and exercise counselling. Baseline and annual examinations included assessment of dietary intake with 3-day food records and diabetes status by repeated 75-g OGTTs. For these analyses the treatment groups were combined and only subjects with follow-up data (n=500) were included. Results: Individuals with low fat (median) intakes lost more weight compared with those consuming a high-fat (

This article is a contribution to the discussion of linguistic aspects of turn organization, especially from the point of view of Swedish grammar and conversational language. I propose a general model for interactionally sensitive turn organization and relate it to topological syntactic descriptions of the Swedish clausal structure. The results of this comparative examination suggest that there are remarkable points of connection between the syntactic and interactional organization of turn constructional units (TCUs). Syntactic evidence helps one understand the motivation of appositionals as different from genuine sentence starts as well as what may count as the beginning-and indeed, a nonbeginning-of a contribution. I show how the beginning edge of transition space may be defined by syntactic means and which diverse syntactic practices may be exploited in the production of postpossible completion increments. A study of Swedish, which is a language with a fixed verb-second word order, may help reveal certain patterns of interactionally sensitive turn design in the very syntactic array of constituents in turn units. Important examples of such syntactic-interactional interplay are provided by an optional appositional coding of adverbs (i.e., disjuncts or conjuncts) when used as discourse markers, by an optional appositional coding of action projecting clauses when used as TCU initial markers, by verb-first declaratives as opposed to the general verb-second clauses when used as a type of minimal responses, and by verb-first declaratives as subsequent, incremented moves reminiscent of postcompleting appositionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]