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Aims: The aim was to evaluate treatment goal achievements early in the course of Type 2 diabetes, and their effect on 10-year risk of coronary heart disease in patients receiving usual care. Methods: Assessment of risk factor control 3 years after diagnosis in patients with Type 2 diabetes with no previous coronary heart disease included from the Swedish National Diabetes Register; a total of 19 382 patients (mean age 58 years) in cross-sectional surveys from 2003 to 2008, and a subgroup of 4293 patients followed individually from year of diagnosis to follow-up after a mean 2.6 years. Estimation of absolute 10-year risk of coronary heart disease using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine, and modifiable 10-year risk defined as percentage excess risk above patients with 'normal' risk factor values. Results: Treatment goals for HbA(1c) , blood pressure, total and LDL cholesterol were achieved in 78.4, 65.5, 55.6% and 61.0%, respectively, in the cross-sectional survey in 2008, following a trend of generally improved control. In the individually followed patients in the subgroup, mean absolute 10-year coronary heart disease risk increased from 13.7% (men/women 16.9/9.5%) to 14.2 (men/women 17.6/9.6%) (P < 0.001) from year of diagnosis to follow-up after 2.6 years, while mean modifiable risk decreased from 37.7% (men/women 28.6/49.9%) to 19.1% (13.2/26.9%) (P < 0.001 in all). Conclusions: A high achievement of treatment goals and a low mean modifiable 10-year coronary heart disease risk was found at the 3-year follow-up, both in the cross-sectional survey in 2008 and in patients individually followed since diagnosis. This indicates the feasibility and significance of early multifactorial risk factor treatment.

We investigate stimulated scattering instabilities of coherent circularly polarized electromagnetic (CPEM) waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in dense quantum plasmas with degenerate electrons and nondegenerate ions. For this purpose, we employ the coupled equations for the CPEM wave vector potential and the driven (by the ponderomotive force of the CPEM waves) equations for the electron and ion plasma oscillations. The electrons are significantly affected by the quantum forces (viz., the quantum statistical pressure, the quantum Bohm potential, as well as the electron exchange and electron correlations due to electron spin), which are included in the framework of the quantum hydrodynamical description of the electrons. Furthermore, our investigation of the stimulated Brillouin instability of coherent CPEM waves uses the generalized ion momentum equation that includes strong ion coupling effects. The nonlinear equations for the coupled CPEM and quantum plasma waves are then analyzed to obtain nonlinear dispersion relations which exhibit stimulated Raman, stimulated Brillouin, and modulational instabilities of CPEM waves carrying OAM. The present results are useful for understanding the origin of scattered light off low-frequency density fluctuations in high-energy density plasmas where quantum effects are eminent., Funding Agencies|Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft of Research Unit|SH21/3-21048

We present an investigation of the nonlinear propagation of high-frequency coherent electromagnetic waves in a uniform quantum magnetoplasma. Specifically, we consider nonlinear couplings of right-hand circularly polarized electromagnetic-electron-cyclotron (CPEM-EC) waves with dispersive shear Alfven (DSA) and dispersive compressional Alfven (DCA) perturbations in plasmas composed of degenerate electron fluids and non-degenerate ion fluids. Such interactions lead to amplitude modulation of the CPEM-EC wave packets, the dynamics of which is governed by a three-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) with the frequency shift arising from the relativistic electron mass increase in the CPEM-EC fields and density perturbations associated with the DSA and DCA perturbations. Accounting for the electromagnetic and quantum forces, we derive the evolution equation for the DSA and DCA waves in the presence of the magnetic field-aligned ponderomotive force of the CPEM-EC waves. The NLSE and the driven DSA and DCA equations are then used to investigate the modulational instability. The relevance of our investigation to laser-plasma interaction experiments and the cores of white dwarf stars is pointed out., Funding Agencies|Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through Research Unit 1048|SH21/3-2

Observations by, for instance, the EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) demonstrate that the symmetry of the naturally occurring ion line in the polar ionosphere can be broken by an enhanced, nonthermal, level of fluctuations (naturally enhanced ion-acoustic lines, NEIALs). It was in many cases found that the entire ion spectrum can be distorted, also with the appearance of a third line, corresponding to a propagation velocity significantly slower than the ion acoustic sound speed. It has been argued that selective decay of beam excited primary Langmuir waves can explain some phenomena similar to those observed. We consider a related model, suggesting that a primary nonlinear process can be an oscillating two-stream instability, generating a forced low frequency mode that does not obey any ion sound dispersion relation. At later times, the decay of Langmuir waves can give rise also to enhanced asymmetric ion lines. The analysis is based on numerical results, where the initial Langmuir waves are excited by a cold dilute electron beam. By this numerical approach, we can detect fine details of the physical processes, in particular, demonstrate a strong space-time intermittency of the electron waves in agreement with observations. Our code solves the full Vlasov equation for electrons and ions, with the dynamics coupled through the electrostatic field derived from Poisson's equation. The analysis distinguishes the dynamics of the background and beam electrons. This distinction simplifies the analysis for the formulation of the weakly nonlinear analytical model for the oscillating two-stream instability. The results have general applications beyond their relevance for the ionospheric observations.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The study aimed to assess the relative importance of the control of HbA(1c) and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL) on risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: In 22,135 participants with type 2 diabetes (age 30-75 years, 15% with previous CVD) followed for 5 years, baseline and annually updated mean HbA(1c) and TC/HDL were analysed and also categorised in combinations of quartiles. Outcomes were fatal/non-fatal CHD, stroke, CVD and total mortality. RESULTS: In all participants, HRs per 1 SD increase in updated mean HbA(1c) or TC/HDL using Cox regression analysis were 1.13 (95% CI 1.07, 1.19) and 1.31 (1.25, 1.37) for CHD, 1.15 (1.06, 1.24) and 1.25 (1.17, 1.34) for stroke, 1.13 (1.08, 1.18) and 1.29 (1.24, 1.34) for CVD (all p < 0.001), and 1.07 (1.02, 1-13; p = 0.01) and 1.18 (1.12, 1.24; p < 0.001) for total mortality, respectively, adjusted for clinical characteristics and traditional risk factors. The p value for the interaction between HbA(1c) and TC/HDL was 0.02 for CHD, 0.6 for stroke and 0.1 for CVD. Adjusted mean 5-year event rates in a Cox model, in combinations of quartiles of updated mean TC/HDL and HbA(1c) (lowest <3.1 mmol/l and 5.0-6.4% [31-46 mmol/mol]; <3.1 mmol/l and ≥7.8% [≥62 mmol/mol]; ≥4.6 mmol/l and 5.0-6.4% 31-46 mmol/mol; and highest ≥4.6 mmol/l and ≥7.8% [≥62 mmol/mol]), were 4.8%, 7.0%, 9.1% and 14.5% for CHD, and 7.1%, 9.9%, 12.8% and 19.4% for CVD, respectively. Adjusted HRs for highest vs lowest combinations were 2.24 (1.58-3.18) for CHD and 2.43 (1.79-3.29) for CVD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia were less than additive for CHD and additive for other endpoints, with the lowest risk at lowest combination levels and a considerable increase in absolute risk at high combination levels.

The amplitude modulation of compressional dispersive Alfven (CDA) waves in a low-beta plasma is considered. It is shown that the dynamics of modulated CDA waves is governed by a cubic nonlinear Schrodinger equation, which depicts the formation of a dark/grey envelope CDA soliton., Original Publication:P.K. Shukla, B. Eliasson and Lennart Stenflo, Dark and grey compressional dispersive Alfven solitons in plasmas, 2011, Physics of Plasmas, (18), 6, 064511.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3602463Copyright: American Institute of Physicshttp://www.aip.org

A theory for large amplitude compressional electromagnetic solitary pulses in a magnetized electron-positron (e-p) plasma is presented. The pulses, which propagate perpendicular to the external magnetic field, are associated with the compression of the plasma density and the wave magnetic field. Here the solitary wave magnetic field pressure provides the restoring force, while the inertia comes from the equal mass electrons and positrons. The solitary pulses are formed due to a balance between the compressional wave dispersion arising from the curl of the inertial forces in Faradays law and the nonlinearities associated with the divergence of the electron and positron fluxes, the nonlinear Lorentz forces, the advection of the e-p fluids, and the nonlinear plasma current densities. The compressional solitary pulses can exist in a well-defined speed range above the Alfven speed. They can be associated with localized electromagnetic field excitations in magnetized laboratory and space plasmas composed of electrons and positrons.

Compressional Alfvenic shock waves in a cold collisional magnetoplasma are investigated. For this purpose, we use the hydrodynamic equations and Faradays law to derive the governing nonlinear equations for the compressional Alfven waves. It is shown that the latter can appear in the form of Alfvenic shock waves.

A theory for large-amplitude Alfvenic shocks across the external magnetic field in a collisional magnetoplasma is presented. For this purpose, we use the continuity and momentum equations for the electrons and ions, together with Amperes and Faradays laws, to derive the governing nonlinear equations for large-amplitude compressional Alfvenic waves. It is found that the latter can appear in the form of large-amplitude Alfvenic shocks that propagate with the super-Alfvenic speed.

AIMS To analyse the association between glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). METHODS An observational study of 18 334 patients (age 30-79 years, previous CVD in 18%, baseline HbA1c 5.0-10.9%) who were followed for 6 years (mean 5.6 years) from 1997/1998 until 2003. RESULTS Hazard ratios per 1% unit increase in baseline or updated mean HbA1c for fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), CVD and total mortality were 1.11-1.13, 1.10-1.11 and 1.09-1.10, respectively (all P < 0.001), adjusted for several risk factors and clinical characteristics in Cox regression. Adjusted 6-year event rates increased with higher baseline or updated mean HbA1c with no J-shaped risk curves, in all patients and also when subgrouping by shorter (mean 3 years) or longer (mean 14 years) diabetes duration, by presence or absence of previous CVD, or by treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) or insulin. Risk reductions of 20% for CHD and 16% for CVD (P < 0.001) were found in patients with a baseline mean HbA1c of 6.5%, compared to those with a mean level of 7.5%. Compared to OHA-treated patients, insulin-treated patients had an increased risk of total mortality, due almost exclusively to an increased risk of non-CVD mortality, and due less to a weakly significant increased risk of fatal CVD. HbA1c was not associated with non-CVD mortality. CONCLUSIONS This observational study showed progressively increasing risks of CHD, CVD and total mortality with higher HbA1c, and no risk increase at low HbA1c levels even with longer diabetes duration, previous CVD or treatment with either insulin or OHAs. Patients achieving HbA1c <7% showed benefits for risk reduction.

It is shown that the ponderomotive force of large-amplitude electromagnetic waves (photons), which includes the electron spin current and exchange potential contributions in a quantum plasma, can generate magnetic fields. The present result can account for the magnetic fields in dense compact astrophysical objects and in the next generation laser-solid density plasma interaction experiments.

We present a parallelized algorithm for solving the time-dependent Vlasov–Maxwell system of equations in the four-dimensional phase space (two spatial and velocity dimensions). One Vlasov equation is solved for each particle species, from which charge and current densities are calculated for the Maxwell equations. The parallelization is divided into two different layers. For the first layer, each plasma species is given its own processor group. On the second layer, the distribution function is domain decomposed on its dedicated resources. By separating the communication and calculation steps, we have met the design criteria of good speedup and simplicity in the implementation.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study of type 2 diabetic patients in the Swedish National Diabetes Register was to study the associations of BMI, overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI >or= 30 kg/m(2)) with cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes, as these associations have not previously been clarified. METHODS: Patients aged 30-74 years with no previous CHD or stroke (N = 13,087) were followed for a mean of 5.6 years until 2003 for fatal or non-fatal CHD, stroke, cardiovascular disease (CHD or stroke) and total mortality. In total, 1,922 cardiovascular-disease events occurred, based on 64,864 person-years. RESULTS: The relative risks of CHD, stroke, cardiovascular disease and total mortality for a 5 unit increase in BMI at baseline were 15%, 11%, 13% and 27%, respectively, using Cox regression analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, hypoglycaemic treatment and smoking (model 1), and were 9%, 4% (not significant), 7% and 20%, respectively, when adjusting also for HbA(1c), blood pressure, antihypertensive drugs, lipid-reducing drugs and microalbuminuria (model 2). Adjusted hazard ratios (model 1) for CHD, cardiovascular disease and total mortality with overweight were 1.27 (95% CI 1.09-1.48), 1.24 (1.09-1.41) and 1.16 (0.94-1.45), respectively, and 1.49 (1.27-1.76), 1.44 (1.26-1.64) and 1.71 (1.36-2.14) with obesity, as compared with normal weight. Significant hazard ratios were attenuated when adjusted according to model 2. For a 1 unit increase in BMI during follow-up, the relative risk of CHD (model 2) was 1.13 (1.04-1.23; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Both overweight and obesity independently increased the risk of CHD and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. The CHD risk was higher with increasing BMI than with stable or decreasing BMI during the study.

AIMS: Patients with Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) are infrequently treated to risk factor targets in current guidelines. We aimed to examine risk factor management and control levels in a large sample of patients with Type 2 diabetes with CHD. METHODS: This was an observational study of 1612 patients with first incidence of CHD before 2002, and of 4570 patients with first incidence of CHD before 2005, from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). RESULTS: In patients with CHD 1-2 years before follow-up, the achievement of cardiovascular risk factor targets (follow-up 2002/follow-up 2005) was: HbA(1c) < 7%, 47%/54% (P < 0.01); blood pressure < or = 130/80 mmHg, 31%/40% (P < 0.001); total cholesterol < 4.5 mmol/l, 47%/60% (P < 0.001); and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol < 2.5 mmol/l, 49%/65% (P < 0.001). Use of medication: antihypertensives, 90%/94% (P < 0.01); lipid-lowering drugs, 75%/86% (P < 0.001); and aspirin, 85%/89% (P < 0.05). A high prevalence of adverse lifestyle characteristics prevailed (2002/2005): overweight [body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg/m(2)], 86%/85%; obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)), 41%/42%; smokers in age group < 65 years, 16-23%/18-19%; as well as waist circumference > or = 102 cm (men) or > or = 88 cm (women), 68% in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a combination of Type 2 diabetes and CHD showed an increased use of lipid-lowering drugs over time, corresponding to improving blood lipid levels. A discrepancy existed between the prevalent use of antihypertensive drugs and the low proportion reaching blood pressure targets. Regretfully, a high prevalence of adverse lifestyle characteristics prevailed. Evidence-based therapy with professional lifestyle intervention and drugs seems urgent for improved quality of secondary prevention in these patients.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze pulse pressure (PP) as a risk predictor for coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD; CHD and/or stroke) in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of 11,128 female and male type 2 diabetic patients with known baseline PP values and no CVD, aged 50-74 years, were followed for a mean duration of 5.6 years (1998-2003). A subgroup of 5521 patients with known mean PP values (mean values at baseline and at the end of the study) was also included. RESULTS: Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CI for fatal/nonfatal CHD with baseline or mean PP>or=75mmHg, compared to <75mmHg, were 1.23 (1.07-1.40; P=0.003) and 1.32 (1.07-1.62; P=0.009), respectively, after adjusting for mean blood pressure (MBP), age, gender, diabetes duration, HbA(1c), body mass index (BMI), lipid-reducing drugs, microalbuminuria > 20microg/min, antihypertensive drugs and hypoglycaemic treatment, using Cox regression analyses. Fully-adjusted respective HRs for stroke were 1.17 (0.98-1.39) and 1.21 (0.90-1.61) and, for CVD, 1.23 (1.10-1.37; P<0.001) and 1.28 (1.07-1.52; P=0.007). Fully-adjusted HRs for baseline PP increased per quartile and, CHD, stroke or CVD, were 1.09 (1.03-1.16; P=0.004), 1.14 (1.05-1.23; P=0.002) and 1.11 (1.05-1.17; P<0.001), respectively. The data suggest that, if a mean PP>or=75mmHg were to be avoided, then 15% and 17% of CHD and or CVD, cases, respectively, in such a cohort might be prevented after multivariable adjustments, with a further 10% of cases avoided if also adjusted for MBP and age. Increasing baseline MBP, age and microalbuminuria were independently and significantly associated (P<0.001) with increasing baseline or mean PP. CONCLUSION: Increased PP is a powerful independent risk predictor of CVD in type 2 diabetic patients, and lowering PP can lead to a marked reduction in risk., for the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

A simulation study of dynamical evolution of nonlinearly interacting two-dimensional magnetic electron drift vortex (MEDV) modes in a nonuniform plasma is presented. Depending on the equilibrium density and temperature gradients, the system can either be stable or unstable. The unstable system reveals spontaneous generation of magnetic fields from noise level, and large-scale magnetic field structures are formed. When the system is linearly stable, one encounters MEDV mode turbulence in which there is a competition between zonons (zonal flows) and streamers. For large MEDV mode amplitudes, one encounters the formation of localized and small-scale magnetic vortices and vortex pairs with scale sizes of the order of the electron skin depth. The MEDV turbulence exhibits nonuniversal (non-Kolmogorov-type) spectra for different sets of plasma parameters. The relevance of this work to laboratory and cosmic plasmas is briefly mentioned. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3103785]

Photo-physical properties relevant for optical power limiting in the near-visible and visible regions of the spectrum are reported for a series of substituted diarylalkynyl chalcogenophenes (furans, thiophenes, selenophenes, and tellurophenes). The linear ground and excited state absorption as well as the nonlinear (two-photon) absorption were determined at the time-dependent density functional theory level with use of the hybrid exchange-correlation functionals B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP. A selected number of the theoretically studied molecules were synthesized and characterized experimentally with the use of absorption and luminescence spectroscopy. The photo-physical data are compared to the results from optical power limiting measurements performed in THF solution at a wavelength of 532 nm, with a laser pulse length of 5 ns and pulse energies up to 150 J. The best compounds in the present investigation display an energy damping by approximately a factor of 10 at a concentration of 0.010 M., References: Prasad, P.N., Reinhardt, B.A., (1990) Chem. Mater, 2, p. 660; Bredas, J.L., Adant, C., Tackx, P., Persoons, A., Pierce, B.M., (1994) Chem. Rev, 94, p. 243; Stegeman, G.I., (1997) Nonlinear Optical Organic Molecular Polymers, p. 799. , edited by H.S. Nalwa and S. Miyata CRC Press, Boca Raton; Hollins, R.C., (1999) Curr. Opi. Solid State Mater. Sci, 4, p. 189; Kaino, T., (2000) J. Opt. A, Pure Appl. Opt, 2, pp. R1; Zhou, G.J., Wong, W.Y., Ye, C., Lin, Z.Y., (2007) Adv. Funct. Mater, 17, p. 963; He, G.S., Tan, L.-S., Zheng, Q., Prasad, P.N., (2008) Chem. Rev, 108, p. 1245; Ramos-Ortiz, G., Cha, M., Thayumanavan, S., Mendez, J., Marder, S.R., Kippelen, B., (2004) Appl. Phys. Lett, 85, p. 3348; Lee, K.S., Yang, D.Y., Park, S.H., Kim, R.H., (2006) Polym. Adv. Technol, 17, p. 72; Perry, J.W., (1997) Nonlinear Optical Organic Molecular Polymers, p. 813. , edited by H.S. Nalwa and S. Miyata CRC Press, Boca Raton; Spangler, C.W., (1999) J. Mater. Chem, 9, p. 2013; Dini, D., Barthel, M., Hanack, M., (2001) Eur. J. Org. Chem, 2001, p. 3759; Ehrlich, J.E., Wu, X.L., Lee, I.Y.S., Hu, Z.Y., Rockel, H., Marder, S.R., Perry, J.W., (1997) Opt. Lett, 22, p. 1843; Reinhardt, B.A., Brott, L.L., Clarson, S.J., Dillard, A.G., Bhatt, J.C., Kannan, R., Yuan, L.X., Prasad, P.N., (1998) Chem. Mater, 10, p. 1863; Rogers, J.E., Hall, B.C., Hufnagle, D.C., Slagle, J.E., Ault, A.P., McLean, D.G., Fleitz, P.A., Cooper, T.M., (2005) J. Chem. Phys, 122, p. 214708; Nalwa, H.S., (1997) Nonlinear Optical Organic Molecular Polymers, p. 611. , edited by H.S. Nalwa and S. Miyata CRC Press, Boca Raton; Badaeva, E., Tretiak, S., (2008) Chem. Phys. Lett, 450, p. 322; Xing, X.J., Li, J., Sun, Y.P., Wang, C.K., (2008) Theochem-J. Mol. Struct, 849, p. 116; Ogawa, K., Kobuke, Y., (2006) J. Photochem. Photobiol. C, 7, p. 1; Lind, P., Lopes, C., Öberg, K., Eliasson, B., (2004) Chem. Phys. Lett, 387, p. 238; Lind, P., Eriksson, A., Lopes, C., Eliasson, B., (2005) J. Phys. Org. Chem, 18, p. 426; Vestb

Large-amplitude water waves on deep water have long been known in the seafaring community, and are the cause of great concern for, e.g., oil platform constructions. The concept of such freak waves is nowadays, thanks to satellite and radar measurements, well established within the scientific community. There are a number of important models and approaches for the theoretical description of such waves. By analyzing the scaling behavior of freak wave formation in a model of two interacting waves, described by two coupled non-linear Schrödinger equations, we show that there are two different dynamical scaling behaviors above and below a critical angle θc of the direction of the interacting waves, below which all wave systems evolve and display statistics similar to a wave system of non-interacting waves. The results equally apply to other systems described by the non-linear Schrödinger equations, and should be of interest when designing optical wave guides.

Patients with Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) are infrequently treated to risk factor targets in current guidelines. We aimed to examine risk factor management and control levels in a large sample of patients with Type 2 diabetes with CHD. This was an observational study of 1612 patients with first incidence of CHD before 2002, and of 4570 patients with first incidence of CHD before 2005, from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). In patients with CHD 1-2 years before follow-up, the achievement of cardiovascular risk factor targets (follow-up 2002/follow-up 2005) was: HbA(1c) < 7%, 47%/54% (P < 0.01); blood pressure <= 130/80 mmHg, 31%/40% (P < 0.001); total cholesterol < 4.5 mmol/l, 47%/60% (P < 0.001); and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol < 2.5 mmol/l, 49%/65% (P < 0.001). Use of medication: antihypertensives, 90%/94% (P < 0.01); lipid-lowering drugs, 75%/86% (P < 0.001); and aspirin, 85%/89% (P < 0.05). A high prevalence of adverse lifestyle characteristics prevailed (2002/2005): overweight [body mass index (BMI) >= 25 kg/m(2)], 86%/85%; obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m(2)), 41%/42%; smokers in age group < 65 years, 16-23%/18-19%; as well as waist circumference >= 102 cm (men) or >= 88 cm (women), 68% in 2005. Patients with a combination of Type 2 diabetes and CHD showed an increased use of lipid-lowering drugs over time, corresponding to improving blood lipid levels. A discrepancy existed between the prevalent use of antihypertensive drugs and the low proportion reaching blood pressure targets. Regretfully, a high prevalence of adverse lifestyle characteristics prevailed. Evidence-based therapy with professional lifestyle intervention and drugs seems urgent for improved quality of secondary prevention in these patients. Diabet. Med. 26, 53-60 (2009).

[1] We have performed a simulation study of Langmuir turbulence in the Earth's ionosphere by means of a Zakharov model with parameters relevant for the F layer. The model includes dissipative terms to model collisions and Landau damping of the electrons and ions, and a linear density profile, which models the ionospheric plasma inhomogeneity whose length scale is of the order 10-100 km. The injection of energy into the system is modeled by a constant source term in the Zakharov equation. Langmuir turbulence is excited "on-demand" in controlled ionospheric modification experiments where the energy is provided by an HF radio beam injected into the overhead ionospheric plasma. The ensuing turbulence can be studied with radars and in the form of secondary radiation recorded by ground-based receivers. We have analyzed spectral signatures of the turbulence for different sets of parameters and different altitudes relative to the turning point of the linear Langmuir mode where the Langmuir frequency equals the local plasma frequency. By a parametric analysis, we have derived a simple scaling law, which links the spectral width of the turbulent frequency spectrum to the physical parameters in the ionosphere. The scaling law provides a quantitative relation between the physical parameters ( temperatures, electron number density, ionospheric length scale, etc.) and the observed frequency spectrum. This law may be useful for interpreting experimental results.

We present a full-scale simulation of the nonlinear interaction between an intense electromagnetic wave and the Earth's ionosphere, by means of a generalized Zakharov model. The radio wave propagates from the neutral atmosphere into the ionospheric plasma layer and reaches the turning points of the ordinary and extraordinary wave modes. At the turning point of the ordinary mode, a parametric instability takes place in which the electromagnetic wave decays into an electron plasma wave and an ion acoustic wave with a typical wavelength of one meter. This is followed by collapse and caviton formation and trapping of the intense electron plasma wave. The cavitons lead to an efficient excitation of slow X (or Z) waves that propagate further into the denser ionospheric layer at higher altitudes. We use a realistic ion (oxygen) mass, length scales, and other plasma parameters. This numerical study should be useful for understanding the nonlinear interaction between intense radio waves and the ionosphere.

OBJECTIVE - This study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics of a large type 1 diabetic population and to evaluate the degree of fulfillment of recently updated treatment goals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The Swedish National Diabetes Register was initiated in 1996 as a tool for quality assurance in diabetes care. AlC levels, treatment, and risk factors were analyzed in two cross-sectional samples of 9,424 patients in 1997 and 13,612 patients in 2004 and in a smaller longitudinal sample from 1997 to 2004. RESULTS - Mean AlC decreased from 8.2 ± 1.3% in 1997 to 8.0 ± 1.2% in 2004 (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients reachingAlC <7.0% increased from 17.4 to 21.2% in 2004. A slow but significant improvement in blood pressure levels was seen, but only 61.3% reached the blood pressure goal of <130/80 mmHg in 2004. Lipid control improved, and the use of lipid-lowering drugs increased. Among patients treated with lipid-lowering agents, 38% reached the goal of total cholesterol <4.5 mmol/l, and 48% reached the goal of LDL cholesterol <2.5 mmol/l. Successful long-term glycemic and blood pressure control were both independently predicted by low BMI and the absence of microalbuminuria in 1997. CONCLUSIONS - In this large cohort of type 1 diabetic patients, there was a slow improvement in glycemic and risk factor control from 1997 to 2004, although the gap between the clinical results and current Swedish and American treatment goals is still unsatisfactory. It is crucial that additional measures be taken to improve risk factor control in type 1 diabetic patients.

The time evolution of a large-amplitude electromagnetic (EM) wave injected vertically into the overhead ionosphere is studied numerically. The EM wave has a carrier frequency of 5 MHz and is modulated as a Gaussian pulse with a width of approximately 0.1 milliseconds and a vacuum amplitude of 1.5 V/m at 50 km. This is a fair representation of a modulated radio wave transmitted from a typical high-power HF broadcast station on the ground. The pulse is propagated through the neutral atmosphere to the critical points of the ionosphere, where the L-O and R-X modes are reflected, and back to the neutral atmosphere. We observe mode conversion of the L-O mode to electrostatic waves, as well as harmonic generation at the turning points of both the R-X and L-O modes, where their amplitudes rise to several times the original ones. The study has relevance for ionospheric interaction experiments in combination with ground-based and satellite or rocket observations.

Aim To describe clinical characteristics and antihyperglycaemic treatment patterns in patients with varying duration of diabetes. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey of 61 890 type 2 diabetic (DM2) patients from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) in 2004. We also analysed the effect of types of treatment and risk factors on glycaemic control in a longitudinal cohort study from 1996 to 2004. HbA1c, risk factors and treatments were determined locally in primary care as well as hospital outpatient clinics. Results Insulin was frequently used in DM2 patients with long duration of diabetes, although the mean HbA1c increased and only a few in this group reached HbA1c < 7.0%. Patients showing long-term improvement in HbA1c (> 1%) from 1996 to 2004 were more often treated with insulin than with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA). During this period, the HbA1c levels leading to additional treatment decreased. A low BMI, decreasing BMI and not smoking were predictors of good long-term metabolic control. Hypertension and hyperlipidaemia were frequent in both newly diagnosed DM2 patients and in patients with a long duration of diabetes. Conclusions Insulin treatment was frequently used, particularly in patients with a long duration of DM2. The glycaemic control, which usually deteriorates over time, did not reach the recommended goal, despite the fact that complementary treatment was added at lower HbA1c levels in 2003 than in 1996. High frequencies of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and high 10-year risks of coronary heart disease necessitate intensified risk factor control in the future.

The photo-physical and optical power limiting (OPL) properties of several new thiophenyl-containing arylalkynyl Pt(II) complexes with longer arylalkynyl groups, named ATP3, ATP4, ATP6 and ATP7 were studied. Thiophene units were introduced into the structure as an attempt to modify photo-physical properties and OPL capability. The new compounds have their thiophene rings either close to the Pt-atom (ATP7), in the middle of the chain (ATP3), or at the terminal end (ATP4). The measurement results were compared with those of the earlier studied PE3 compound. ATP6 is similar to ATP4, but with methoxy groups in the arylalkynyl ligands. Just as PE3, all thiophenyl derivatives showed large intersystem crossing capabilities and triplet phosphorescence, thus having the potential of large nonlinear absorption and good OPL performance. All compounds are characterized by absorption and emission spectra, quantum yield, luminescence decay (fluorescence and phosphorescence) and two-photon absorption capabilities at 780 nm, and compared to the properties of the PE3 compound. Also analogous triazole-containing compounds, abbreviated Z1, Z2 and Z3, were studied in the same way, and compared to the earlier studied Pt1-G1 compound. The OPL performance of all compounds were measured, and clamping levels of approximately 2.5 to 5 μJ pulse energy from 30 mM (ATP) and 50 mM (triazole) concentration samples were found. All compounds possess high transmission in the visible region and fluorescence quantum yields in the order of 10-2 (ATP) and 10-3 (triazoles)., QC 20141030

OBJECTIVES: To compare obese with normal and overweight type 2 diabetic patients regarding body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular risk factors, and to analyse changes in weight versus risk factors. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study of 44 042 type 2 patients, and a 6-year prospective study of 4468 type 2 patients. RESULTS: Obese patients (BMI > or = 30 kg m(-2)), 37% of all patients, had high frequencies of hypertension (88%), hyperlipidaemia (81%) and microalbuminuria (29%). Only 11% had blood pressure <130/80 mmHg. Their ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol was considerably elevated, whilst the mean total and LDL cholesterol were similar as in normal weight subjects. Obese patients had elevated odds ratios for hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and microalbuminuria: 2.1, 1.8 and 1.4 in the cross-sectional study, similarly confirmed in the prospective 6-year study. BMI was an independent predictor of these risk factors (P < 0.001), although only slightly associated with HbA1c and not with total or LDL cholesterol. A change in BMI during the prospective study was related to a change in HbA1c in patients treated with diet and oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) but not with insulin. In all patients, an increase in BMI was related to the development of hypertension, and a change in BMI to change in blood pressure, also mostly confirmed when treated with diet, OHAs or insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequencies of risk factors in obese type 2 patients implies an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and the need for therapeutic measures. The paradox that hypoglycaemic treatment accompanied by weight gain may increase cardiovascular risk factors seems to be verified here concerning hypertension but not concerning microalbuminuria., For the Steering Committee of the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

We consider nonlinear interactions between two colliding laser beams in an electron plasma, accounting for the relativistic electron mass increase in the laser fields and radiation pressure driven electron-acoustic (EA) perturbations that are supported by hot and cold electrons. By using the hydrodynamic and Maxwell equations, we obtain the relevant equations for nonlinearly coupled laser beams and EA perturbations. The coupled equations are then Fourier analyzed to obtain a nonlinear dispersion relation. The latter is numerically solved to show the existence of new classes of the parametric instabilities in the presence of two colliding laser beams in a two-electron plasma. The dynamics of nonlinearly coupled laser beams in our electron plasma is also investigated. The results should be useful in understanding the nonlinear propagation characteristics of multiple electromagnetic beams in laser-produced plasmas as well as in space plasmas.

The free energy associated with shear in the equilibrium parallel electron velocity is shown to be responsible for the excitation of low-frequency electromagnetic waves in collisionless magnetoplasma. New dispersion relations are derived by using the hydrodynamic equations for the electron fluid, the magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) drift of which varies in one of the perpendicular directions, and by using a kinetic ion model, together with Ampere's law and Poisson's equation. The dispersion relations are analyzed both analytically and numerically for a set of parameters representative of a laboratory experiment. New filamentary instabilities are predicted.

We report on an investigation into the radiation condensation ( RC) instability of low-frequency ( in comparison with the electron gyrofrequency) compressional electromagnetic waves in a magnetized plasma containing charged dust impurities. By using a two-fluid model, supplemented by the Faraday and Ampere laws, we derive a new dispersion relation. The latter is numerically analysed to examine the role of charged dust grains on the growth rate of the RC instability. The relevance of our investigation to density condensation in the next generation tokamak edges and on solar prominences is discussed.

The nonlinear instability of current-carrying pair plasmas is investigated with a Vlasov-Poisson model for the two particle species. It is shown that linearly stable configurations are unstable against small incoherent perturbations of the particle distribution functions. The instability gives rise to a self-acceleration and growth of phase space holes. After the growth of the phase-space holes, the instability reaches a chaotic saturation where the finite-amplitude holes interact and merge, and after a long time, the system attains a stable equilibrium state with a smaller drift and a larger temperature than the initial one, and where a few stable phase-space holes are present

The existence and properties of phase-space structures in current-carrying pair plasmas is studied by means of the finite amplitude expressions of the pseudo-potential method. Emphasis is given to double layers, solitary structures and periodic waves. The results can be applied to electron-positron plasmas as well as to plasmas containing heavier charged particles with the same mass and opposite charges, such as fullerene ions and dust particles. They can also help to understand numerical simulations that showed the spontaneous formation of phase-space holes in linearly stable regimes.