Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a heterogeneous group of molecules produced, non-enzymatically, from the interaction between reducing sugars and the free amino groups of proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. AGEs are formed as a normal consequence of metabolism but can also be absorbed from the diet. They have been widely implicated in the complications of diabetes affecting cardiovascular health, the nervous system, eyes and kidneys. Increased levels of AGEs are also detrimental to metabolic health and may contribute to the metabolic abnormalities induced by the Western diet which is high in processed foods and represents a significant source of AGEs. While increased AGE levels are a consequence of diabetic hyperglycaemia, AGEs themselves activate signalling pathways which compromise insulin signalling and pancreatic β-cell function, thus, contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, AGEs may also contribute to the obesogenic effects of the Western diet by promoting hypothalamic inflammation and disrupting the central control of energy balance. Here we review the role of dietary AGEs in metabolic dysfunction with a focus on the mechanisms underpinning their detrimental role in insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, hypothalamic control of energy balance and the pathogenesis of T2DM and obesity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Small populations are at risk of extinction from deterministic and stochastic factors. Less than 250 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) remain in China, and are distributed in a few isolated areas; yet, population viability analyses of this endangered population have not been conducted. Here, the current genetic status of the Pu'Er-Mengyang Asian elephant populations in China was analyzed, and the risk of extinction was predicted over the next 500 years. Factors affecting the viability of this population were determined through simulations. The genetic diversity of the population was very low (mean allele number 3.1; expected heterozygosity 0.463), even though a recent population bottleneck was not detected. The effective population size was approximately 24.1 adult elephants. Enough adult breeding individuals exist to maintain population viability. VORTEX simulation model showed that this population would not go extinct in the next 500 years. However, illegal poaching and harvesting could negatively affect population size. A sensitivity analysis showed that the mean stochastic growth rate of the study population is sensitive to sex ratio, number of breeding females, mortality of females of different age classes, carrying capacity, and lethal equivalents. Based on our results, we suggest that action should be taken to alleviate inbreeding and any further loss of genetic diversity, by connecting fragmented elephant habitat or by translocating individual elephants. In addition, human-elephant conflict should be mitigated using various modern approaches, including crop guarding techniques, and by encouraging farmers to switch to crops and income sources not vulnerable to elephant raids. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.ISSUE ADDRESSED Advancements in mobile and web-based technologies proliferate everyday opportunities to gamble. The increased availability, popularity and intensity of online gambling platforms and interactive gaming activities also changes the way we construct gambling harm reduction interventions. Information and communication technologies (ICT) provide potential opportunities to reduce harm from online gambling through harm minimisation initiatives and currently available services. The aim of this review is to firstly understand the scope of peer-reviewed evidence on ICT-based strategies to reduce online gambling harm, and secondly, what evidence exists specifically in relation to ICT-based harm reduction initiatives for people who gamble online. METHODS Scoping review methods and a five-stage model of analysis were used to identify the published literature on ICT-based harm minimisation activities for online gambling; distil models appropriate to address gambling harm in this setting; and synthesise all available evidence, noting gaps and patterns. RESULTS Sixteen gambling specific ICT-based interventions were reviewed in depth. The majority of included studies focused on different components of computer-assisted or online therapy programs for disordered gambling, specifically the development of individual skills in managing problematic gambling behaviour. CONCLUSIONS The review found that despite the widespread potential ICT represent for addressing gambling harm there has been only limited published research to date. SO WHAT There is a clear need for further investigation into uptake, usage, focus, and effectiveness of all online gambling interventions on offer. mTOR inhibitor The dearth of gambling specific empirical knowledge potentially indicates a serious resourcing and reporting issues in this area. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND Exfoliated endometrial cells are often seen as hyperchromatic crowded groups (HCGs) in cervical samples. It is challenging for the cytopathologists to discriminate between HCGs of benign and malignant endometrial cells. Fractal dimension (FD) analysis has proved to be a useful tool in discriminating between different types of cell groups in previous studies. AIMS This study was conducted to evaluate the utility of fractal dimension (FD) for differentiating between benign and malignant endometrial HCGs, in liquid-based cervical samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two groups of cervical samples, with subsequent histopathology, were selected Group A 30 cases with benign endometrial HCGs, Group B 39 cases with malignant endometrial HCGs. Image J, NIH, USA and FracLac software were used for selecting and measuring the FD of the HCGs. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The mean FD for benign endometrial HCGs (1.066943 ± 0.0699) was significantly lower than that of the malignant endometrial HCGs (1.