191 research outputs found
Relationships between food groups and eating time slots according to diabetes status in adults from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2017)
No full textTime of eating is associated with diabetes and obesity but little is known about less healthy foods and specific time of their intake over the 24 h of the day. In this study, we aimed to identify potential relationships between foods and their eating time and to see whether these associations may vary by diabetes status. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) including 6,802 adults (age ≥ 19 years old) collected 749,026 food recordings by a 4-day-diary. The contingency table cross-classifying 60 food groups with 7 pre-defined eating time slots (6–9 a.m., 9 a.m.–12 p.m., 12–2 p.m., 2–5 p.m., 8–10 p.m., 10 p.m.–6 a.m.) was analyzed by Correspondence Analysis (CA). CA biplots were generated for all adults and separately by diabetes status (self-reported, pre-diabetes, undiagnosed-diabetes, and non-diabetics) to visually explore the associations between food groups and time of eating across diabetes strata. For selected food groups, odds ratios (OR, 99% CI) were derived of consuming unhealthy foods at evening/night (8 p.m.–6 a.m.) vs. earlier time in the day, by logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations. The biplots suggested positive associations between evening/night and consumption of puddings, regular soft drinks, sugar confectioneries, chocolates, beers, ice cream, biscuits, and crisps for all adults in the UK. The OR (99% CIs) of consuming these foods at evening/night were, respectively, 1.43 (1.06, 1.94), 1.72 (1.44, 2.05), 1.84 (1.31, 2.59), 3.08 (2.62, 3.62), 7.26 (5.91, 8.92), 2.45 (1.84, 3.25), 1.90 (1.68, 2.16), and 1.49 (1.22, 1.82) vs. earlier time in the day adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and social-economic levels. Stratified biplots found that sweetened beverages, sugar-confectioneries appeared more strongly associated with evening/night among undiagnosed diabetics. Foods consumed in the evening/night time tend to be highly processed, easily accessible, and rich in added sugar or saturated fat. Individuals with undiagnosed diabetes are more likely to consume unhealthy foods at night. Further longitudinal studies are required to ascertain the causal direction of the association between late-eating and diabetes status
High-throughput profiling of sweet potato vine biomass for cellulosic ethanol production using near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics
No full textHigh-throughput near-infrared spectroscopy analysis of nutritional composition in sweet potato stem tips
No full texthttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011798 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of Chin
Abstract 5511: Lineage-specific and shared cytokine-sensing genes respond distinctly to the master regulator STAT5
No full textAbstract
JAK/STAT signaling pathways are critical for cell response to cytokines across multiple tissues, genetic variation in this pathway could associate with neoplastic diseases. STAT5, the most common used STAT family member, differently activates two distinct classes of genes. It activates cell-specific genes up to two orders of magnitude higher than shared genes expressed across different cell types. Socs2 (Suppressors of cytokine signaling 2), a widely expressed STAT5 target gene and a negative regulator of cytokine feedback loops, contains STAT5 response element within its promoter region. In our study, we demonstrated that STAT5 preferentially binds to promoter sequence of shared STAT5 targeted genes and to distal putative enhancers of lineage-specific genes. DNase-seq demonstrated that chromatin accessibility of STAT5-based enhancers was greatly dependent on cytokine exposure, while common STAT5 promoter targets were constitutively accessible. CRIPSR /Cas9 gene editing was used to delete the generic STAT5 binding sites in Socs2 locus in mice. Prolactin induction of Socs2 was abrogated both in liver and mammary gland, and resulted in elevated STAT5 activation and precocious mammary development in mutant mice. Taken together, we demonstrated that promoter-bound STAT5 modulates cytokine responses of universal STAT5 target genes, while enhancer-bound STAT5 is necessary for linage-specific target gene activation. This study provides new insight into the mechanism of used by a generic cytokine response element controlling lineage-specific transcription.
Citation Format: xianke zeng, Michaela Willi, Ha Youn Shin, Chaochen Wang, Lothar Hennighausen. Lineage-specific and shared cytokine-sensing genes respond distinctly to the master regulator STAT5 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5511. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5511</jats:p
Transition Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Highly Selective C02 Reduction
No full textThe electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CRR) can combine carbon cycling with renewable energy to convert CO2 into high-value carbonaceous feedstocks. However, this process su ers from kinetically sluggish because of the complicated electron transfer and high energy barriers involved. Well-designed transition metal materials as promising electrocatalysts show remarkable catalytic activities for the CRR. Therefore, this Thesis is to study the catalytic activity and selectivity on these transition metal catalysts, and a fundamental understanding of the catalytic mechanism is given through a series of experimental and computational results using advanced synthesis methods, electrochemical measurements, material characterization including microscopy and spectroscopy, synchrotron-based X- ray spectroscopy, in situ spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The scope of this Thesis is narrowed to nanoscale and sub-nanoscale engineered 3d-block transition metal (mainly, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) catalysts for the CRR process. In this Thesis, the rst section introduces research progress including catalytic performance and mechanisms on sub-nanoscale 3d-block transition metal catalysts for the CRR. The second section consists of published and submitted works: (1) The rst project starts with the investigation of the CRR on Ni catalysts. We engineered and alloyed Ni with Cu to obtain ultrasmall graphene-encapsulated Ni-Cu bimetallic catalysts. The Cu-lean catalyst exhibited signi cant activity and selectivity, and the highest Faradaic e ciency (FE) toward CO was 90% at -1.0 V vs. RHE. By coupling synchrotron-based X-ray absorption and in situ Raman spectroscopy studies, we found that there is a negative correlation with the Cu content in Ni-Cu catalyst and CO selectivity due to redistribution of the 3d electrons from Ni and Cu. (2) Because of the high catalytic activity was received on ultrasmall Ni-Cu particles, the second project aims to fabricate sub-nanoscale transition metal catalysts for the CRR. We synthesized atomically dispersed Fe immobilized within N-doped carbon nanosheets. The optimal Fe catalyst achieved FE of 90% toward CO at -0.58 V vs. RHE. A series of controlled tests revealed that there is a synergistic e ect between the Fe sites and the pyrrolic-N-framework which promotes the catalytic activity of CO evolution. (3) The third work is based on the previous Fe catalyst and investigates the unique single-atom Cu catalyst (Cu-N4-NG). The chemical structure and coordination environment of Cu-N4-NG were identi ed using synchrotron-based characterization. Compared to a traditional bulk Cu catalyst, Cu-N4-NG performed a FE of 80.6% towards CO at -1.0 V vs. RHE. The experimental results revealed that the presence of Cu-N4 moieties largely promotes CO2 activation and water dissociation, showing CO2 reduction is kinetically preferred on Cu-N4-NG. Also, the computational investigation suggested a thermodynamic explanation that CO2 reduction is less hindered on Cu-N4-NG compared to hydrogen evolution. (4) Although high FEs were obtained on single-atom transition metal catalyst shown in the previous two works, the two catalysts were not strictly single-atom catalysts with a uniform structure of M-N4, some coordination defects existed. Thus, graphene- supported metal phthalocyanine catalysts with M-N4 structure were reported in the fourth work, which achieved almost 100% CO2 conversion to CO on graphene- supported cobalt phthalocyanine. Further experimental studies showed that the phthalocyanines with graphene were signi cantly activated than the pure ones. A series of control tests uncovered that the graphene substrate facilitates electron transfer between the catalyst and CO2 molecules, which increased CO selectivity.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, 202
winterwang/LSHTMlearningnote: With newly updated file structure
No full textWith newly updated file structure.
Compiled succeeded in MacOS 10.15.5 (19F101)
Bayesian codes converted completed to JAGS codes
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The Effect of Side Chains of Polymer Donors on the Performance of Organic Photovoltaics
No full textConverting solar energy into electricity provides an effective solution to the energy crisis the world is facing today. Organic Photovoltaics have shown potential to harness solar energy in a cost-effective way. Extensive progress has been achieved in understanding OPV photophysical phenomena and in identifying key factors needed to improve organic solar cell device power conversion efficiency (PCE). The newly synthesized polymer BDTP-Bz-1 and BDTP-Bz-2 composed of alternating benzotriazole and phenyl substituted benzodithiophene (Figure 1), yield 8% PCEs when blended in a bulk-hetero-junction (BHJ) structure with electron acceptor materials such as ITCC. The donor polymer BDTP-Bz-2 showed better device performance including short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), and External Quentum Efficiency (EQE), which can contribute to its preference for the “face-on” polymer backbone orientation in which the π-conjugated polymer backbone planes lie parallel to the substrate surface, resulting in maximal contacts between organic photoactive materials and the ITO anode coated with electron transport layer (ZnO). This orientation of the π-π stacked structures would favor charge transport across the interface. By AFM analysis, it was revealed that the BDTP-Bz-2 : ITCC active layer showed lower surface roughness (10.6 nm) than BDTP-Bz-1 : ITCC active layer (12.5 nm). Lower surface roughness also helped form better interface contact between the active layer and the electrode
A Qualitative Research into Cultural Impact on Entrepreneurial Communication and Behaviour between Singapore and China
No full textThe purpose of this research study was to study the role & impact of culture on entrepreneurial communication and behaviour between Singapore and China. This evidence-based research also aimed at identifying appropriate solutions that can lead to achieve business success in the Chinese cultural context. My research led me to believe that the trust relationship, cultural inclusion, and morality are the main factors that support entrepreneurs that can further yield better result and this doctoral research focussed on the context of Chinese & Singaporean culture for illustration purposes.
To study how culture impacts Chinese entrepreneurship in Singapore and achieve the research aim, this research-based DBA project followed qualitative based research and collected diverse empirical evidence from the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) and its sub-organisations. The research stakeholders were Chinese Entrepreneurs including business owners and senior management who are registered members, partners, audiences, and clients of SCCCI. The research project took approximately 1.5 years. The researcher chose qualitative research as the primary method and conducted semi-structured online interviews The research population included 50 participants and prior to embarking on evidence collection, the researcher conducted a pilot study with selected 20 respondents who were in middle-management positions from different organisations.
Understanding the cultural impacts on entrepreneurial communication and behaviour in Chinese culture between Singapore and China is significant for entrepreneurs to achieve their business success. In many ways, Singapore and Chinese markets are providing innovative and dedicated entrepreneurs all over the entire world with unlimited ideal entrepreneurial business opportunities.
The finding of this research showed that multi-national SMEs do make use of their business culture in formulating and developing their international business strategies as their strategies were based on personal relationships, social contribution, and professional ethical standards. To maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of the strategy development decisions and corporate social value, it was clearly shown that Singapore and China-based entrepreneurial SMEs did benchmark themselves liaise with their stakeholders and trade practices in their development process for formulating their international business strategies which demonstrated efficiency and effectiveness in the crafting of the cultural-related entrepreneurial strategy. Therefore, entrepreneurial business culture is playing a significant role in SMEs in developing international business strategies as Singapore and China-based entrepreneurial companies rely on close and trusting private relationships for their oversea expansion. This is possible through transferable skill sets and ethical considerations (such as CSR) that the company has and can tap on.
Any culture may have its own unique consideration and practice when they come to business ethics. Consequently, it is important for entrepreneurs to carry out comprehensive cultural research and market research before entering Chinese markets or doing business with Chinese people. Thus, researching and reading relevant Chinese business ethics articles could provide entrepreneurs with a comparatively clearer understanding of what ethical considerations and practices are in the Chinese cultural context
Set-Membership Estimation for Complex Networks Under FlexRay Protocol Based on the Proportional-Integral Observer With Probability Constraint
No full textThis paper explores the design of proportional-integral observer (PIO) for a type of time-varying stochastic nonlinear complex networks in which the network dynamics are corrupted by the unknown but bounded noises. With the aim to efficiently regulate the data exchange between network nodes, a transmitting scheme called FlexRay protocol (FRP) is adopted. It is the primary objective to provide a proportional-integral (PI) estimation approach with the capability of driving all estimation errors at individual nodes into a desired region with a predetermined probability. Sufficient conditions are presented, via certain optimization techniques, to enure the existence of desired PIO and corresponding observer parameters. Subsequently, within the established framework, we solve two sub-optimization problems to guarantee the locally optimal estimation performance. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed paradigm is shown via a numerical simulation example
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