bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of almond-enriched high-monounsaturated fat diet on selected markers of inflammation: a randomised, controlled, crossover study
Authors: Rajaram Sujatha , Connell Kristianne M. , Sabaté Joan
Published: October 2009

Frequent consumption of nuts lowers the risk of CHD. While lowering blood lipids is one of the mechanisms for cardioprotection, the present study sought to determine whether monounsaturated fat-rich almonds also influence other CHD risk factors such as inflammation and haemostasis. This was a randomised, controlled, crossover feeding study with twenty-five healthy adults (eleven men; fourteen women), age 22–53 years. Following a 2 week run-in phase (34 % energy from fat), subjects were assigned in random order to three diets for 4 weeks each: a heart-healthy control diet with no nuts ( < 30 % energy from fat), low-almond diet and high-almond diet (10 % or 20 % isoenergetic replacement of control diet with almonds, respectively). SerumE-selectin was significantly lower on the high-almond diet compared with the control diet.E-selectin decreased as the percentage of energy from almonds increased (P < 0·0001). C-reactive protein (CRP) was lower in both the almond diets compared with the control diet. A clear dose response was not observed for eitherE-selectin or CRP. There was no effect of diet on IL-6 or fibrinogen. Tissue plasminogen activator antigen was significantly lower on the control and high-almond diets compared with the low-almond diet, although the values were within normal range. In conclusion, consumption of almonds influenced a few but not all of the markers of inflammation and haemostasis. A clear dose response was not observed for any of the markers studied.
Estimation of turbulent convection velocities and corrections to Taylor's approximation
Authors: DEL ÁLAMO JUAN C. , JIMÉNEZ JAVIER
Published: October 2009

A new method is introduced for estimating the convection velocity of individual modes in turbulent shear flows that, in contrast to most previous ones, only requires spectral information in the temporal or spatial direction over which a modal decomposition is desired, while only using local derivatives in other directions. If no spectral information is desired, the method provides a natural definition for the average convection velocity, as well as a way to estimate the accuracy of the frozen-turbulence approximation. Existing data from numerical turbulent channels at friction Reynolds numbers Reτ ≤ 1900 are used to validate the new method against classical ones, and to characterize the dependence of the convection velocity on the eddy wavelength and wall distance. The results indicate that the small scales in turbulent channels travel at the local mean velocity, while large ‘global’ modes travel at a more uniform speed proportional to the bulk velocity. To estimate the systematic deviations introduced in experimental spectra by the use of Taylor's approximation with a wavelength-independent convection velocity, a semi-empirical fit to the computed convection velocities is provided. It represents well the data throughout the Reynolds number range of the simulations. It is shown that Taylor's approximation not only displaces the large scales near the wall to shorter apparent wavelengths but also modifies the shape of the spectrum, giving rise to spurious peaks similar to those observed in some experiments. To a lesser extent the opposite is true above the logarithmic layer. The effect increases with the Reynolds number, suggesting that some of the recent challenges to the kx−1 energy spectrum may have to be reconsidered.
Locomotor experience influences the spatial cognitive development of infants with Spina Bifida
Authors: Campos Joseph J. , Anderson David I. , Telzrow Robert
Published: October 2009

Abstract. This study tested the hypothesis, derived from studies of normal infants, that experience with self-produced locomotion facilitates the development of two important spatial cognitive skills: a two-position object permanence manual search task, and a task assessing the infant’s following of the point/gaze gesture of the experimenter. Both of these tasks, as assessed in these studies, show median ages of onset between 7 and 9 months in normal infants, but very recent studies with normals have shown that, within this age group, locomotor experience, rather than age, forecasts the development of these skills. The specific question tested in this study concerned whether infants who were delayed in locomotor development due to meningomyelocele were also delayed in spatial skills until after the age at which locomotion was attained. The hypothesis was confirmed with both tasks.
Infants segment action sequences into basic movement-effect units
Authors: Jovanovic Bianca , Schwarzer Gudrun
Published: October 2009

Abstract. We examined the hypothesis that infants’ early action segmentation is guided by knowledge about simple movement-effect associations. Nine- and 12-month-olds were familiarized with a video showing a sequence of two actions, each a simple movement-effect unit. At test, infants saw two types of test clips derived from the original video: A ”complete action” consisting of one of the original actions, and a ”compound action” consisting of the transition between the first and second action, preserving temporal contiguity but disrupting the movement-effect unit. Twelve-month-olds displayed a significant looking preference for complete over compound actions. Nine-month-olds displayed a corresponding but weaker pattern. We conclude that between 9 and 12 months infants begin to segment sequences of actions into simple movement-effect units.
Year‐round record of surface ozone at coastal (Dumont d'Urville) and inland (Concordia) sites in East Antarctica
Authors: Legrand M. , Preunkert S. , Jourdain B. , Gallée H. , Goutail F. , Weller R. , Savarino J.
Published: October 2009

Surface ozone is measured since 2004 at the coastal East Antarctic station of Dumont d'Urville (DDU) and since 2007 at the Concordia station located on the high East Antarctic plateau. Ozone levels at Concordia reach a maximum of 35 ppbv in July and a minimum of 21 ppbv in February. From November to January, sudden increases of the ozone level, up to 15–20 ppbv above average, often take place. They are attributed to local photochemical ozone production as previously seen at the South Pole. The detailed examination of the diurnal ozone record in summer at Concordia suggests a local photochemical ozone production of around 0.2 ppbv h−1 during the morning. The ozone record at DDU exhibits a maximum of 35 ppbv in July and a minimum of 18 ppbv in January. Mixing ratios at DDU are always higher than those at Neumayer (NM), another coastal Antarctic station. A noticeable difference in the ozone records at the two coastal sites lies in the larger ozone depletion events occurring from July to September at NM compared to DDU, likely due to stronger BrO episodes in relation with a larger sea ice coverage offshore that site. A second difference is the large day‐to‐day fluctuations which are observed from November to January at DDU but not at NM. That is attributed to a stronger impact at DDU than at NM of air masses coming from the Antarctic plateau. The consequences of such a high oxidizing property of the atmosphere over East Antarctica are discussed with regard to the dimethylsulfide (DMS) chemistry.
Fold and thrust partitioning in a contracting fold belt: Insights from the 1931 Mach earthquake in Baluchistan
Authors: Szeliga Walter , Bilham Roger , Schelling Daniel , Kakar Din Mohamed , Lodi Sarosh
Published: October 2009

Surface deformation associated with the 27 August 1931 earthquake near Mach in Baluchistan is quantified from spirit‐leveling data and from detailed structural sections of the region interpreted from seismic reflection data constrained by numerous well logs. Mean slip on the west dipping Dezghat/Bannh fault system amounted to 1.2 m on a 42 km × 72 km thrust plane with slip locally attaining 3.2 m up dip of an inferred locking line at ∼9 km depth. Slip also occurred at depths below the interseismic locking line. In contrast, negligible slip occurred in the 4 km near the interseismic locking line. The absence of slip here in the 4 years following the earthquake suggests that elastic energy there must either dissipate slowly in the interseismic cycle, or that a slip deficit remains, pending its release in a large future earthquake. Elastic models of the earthquake cycle in this fold and thrust belt suggest that slip on the frontal thrust fault is reduced by a factor of 2 to 8 compared to that anticipated from convergence of the hinterland, a partitioning process that is presumably responsible for thickening of the fold and thrust belt at the expense of slip on the frontal thrust. Near the latitude of Quetta, GPS measurements indicate that convergence is ∼5 mm/yr. Hence the minimum renewal time between earthquakes with 1.2‐m mean displacement should be as little as 240 years. However, when the partitioning of fold belt convergence to frontal thrust slip is taken into account the minimum renewal time may exceed 2000 years.
Hydraulic resistance of submerged rigid vegetation derived from first‐order closure models
Authors: Poggi Davide , Krug Claudia , Katul Gabriel G.
Published: October 2009

The past decade witnessed rapid developments in remote sensing methods that now permit an unprecedented description of the spatial variations in water levels (Hw), canopy height (hc), and leaf area density distribution (a) at large spatial scales. These developments are now renewing interest in effective resistance formulations for water flow within and above vegetated surfaces so that they can be incorporated into simplified water routing models driven by such remote sensing products. The first generation of such water routing models linked the bulk velocity to gradients in Hw via a constant diffusion velocity that cannot be inferred from canopy properties (a and hc). The next generation of such hydrologic models must preserve the nonlinear relationship between the resistance value, canopy attributes (e.g., a and hc), and Hw without compromising model simplicity. Using a simplified scaling analysis on the depth‐integrated mean momentum balance and a two‐layer model for the bulk velocity, the Darcy‐Weisbach friction factor (f) was shown to vary with three canonical length scales that can be either measured or possibly inferred from remote sensing products Hw, hc, and the adjustment length scale Lc = (Cda)−1, where Cd is the drag coefficient (of order unity). The scaling analysis proposed here reveals that these length scales can be combined in two dimensionless groups, Hw/hc and Lc/hc. The dependence of f on these two functional groups was then explored using a combination of first‐order closure modeling and 130 experimental runs derived from a large number of flume experiments carried out for rigid and flexible vegetation. The results from the data and the model show a nonlinear decrease in f with increasing Hw/hc at a given Lc/hc and the nonlinear increase in f with decreasing Lc/hc. Furthermore, both model and data results did not exhibit any dependence on the bulk Reynolds number.
Bayesian multiple change points and segmentation: Application to homogenization of climatic series
Authors: Hannart A. , Naveau P.
Published: October 2009

In this paper, we describe a new multiple change point detection technique based on segmenting the time series under study into subsequences. These segments correspond to the episodes that are likely to contain a unique jump. They are found by applying Bayesian decision theory through the minimization of simple cost functions. All calculations can be performed explicitly, without falling back on Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and resulting in particularly light implementation. Through prior distributions derived from a stochastic renewal process description of jump occurrences, expert knowledge of jump amplitude and return period is also introduced in our decision process. Comparison to several multiple change point methods on simulated series lead to similar or better performance, achieved at lower computational cost.
Impact of irrigation on the South Asian summer monsoon
Authors: Saeed Fahad , Hagemann Stefan , Jacob Daniela
Published: October 2009

The Indian subcontinent is one of the most intensely irrigated regions of the world and state of the art climate models do not account for the representation of irrigation. Sensitivity studies with the regional climate model REMO show distinct feedbacks between the simulation of the monsoon circulation with and without irrigation processes. We find that the temperature and mean sea level pressure, where the standard REMO version without irrigation shows a significant bias over the areas of Indus basin, is highly sensitive to the water used for irrigation. In our sensitivity test we find that removal of this bias has caused less differential heating between land and sea masses. This in turns reduces the westerlies entering into land from Arabian Sea, hence creating conditions favorable for currents from Bay of Bengal to intrude deep into western India and Pakistan that have been unrealistically suppressed before. We conclude that the representation of irrigated water is unavoidable for realistic simulation of south Asian summer monsoon and its response under global warming.
Early flood warnings from empirical (expanded) downscaling of the full ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System
Authors: Bürger Gerd , Reusser Dominik , Kneis David
Published: October 2009

A prototype early warning system for floods is introduced. For a small headwater catchment, probabilistic streamflow predictions in 24‐hourly steps are obtained from downscaling all members of the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Ensemble Prediction System and feeding the resulting precipitation and temperature series into a hydrologic model. We apply “expanded downscaling,” a scheme that was previously used for climate scenarios and that is particularly suited to extreme events and the simulation of flood‐triggering heavy rainfall. The entire model chain is thoroughly verified, using daily precipitation and streamflow observations and forecasts from the decade 1997–2006. It turns out that strong meteorologic (precipitation) events are skillfully predicted for at least 5 days lead time by the downscaling. That skill, however, is partly lost by deficiencies in the hydrological modeling as revealed in this study. We discuss ways to overcome these difficulties, along with the prospect of employing the whole system operationally, for example, for reservoir regulations. We close with an outlook for early flash flood warnings.
Bacterial communities of disease vectors sampled across time, space, and species
Authors: Jones Ryan T , Knight Rob , Martin Andrew P
Published: October 2009

A common strategy of pathogenic bacteria is to form close associations with parasitic insects that feed on animals and to use these insects as vectors for their own transmission. Pathogens interact closely with other coexisting bacteria within the insect, and interactions between co-occurring bacteria may influence the vector competency of the parasite. Interactions between particular lineages can be explored through measures of α-diversity. Furthermore, general patterns of bacterial community assembly can be explored through measures of β-diversity. Here, we use pyrosequencing (n=115 924 16S rRNA gene sequences) to describe the bacterial communities of 230 prairie dog fleas sampled across space and time. We use these communinty characterizations to assess interactions between dominant community members and to explore general patterns of bacterial community assembly in fleas. An analysis of co-occurrence patterns suggests non-neutral negative interactions between dominant community members (P<0.001). Furthermore, bacterial communities of fleas shift dramatically across years (phylotype-based: R=0.829, P<0.001; phylogenetic-based: R=0.612–0.753, P<0.001), but they also significantly differ across space (phylotype-based: R=0.418, P<0.001; phylogenetic-based: R=0.290–0.328, P<0.001) and between flea species (phylotype-based: R=0.160, P=0.011; phylogenetic-based: not significant). Collectively, our results show that flea-associated bacterial communities are not random assemblages; rather, an individual flea's bacterial community is governed by interactions between bacterial lineages and by the flea's place in space and time.
Relationships of Obesity and Fat Distribution With Atherothrombotic Risk Factors: Baseline Results From the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) Trial
Authors: Albu Jeanine B. , Lu Jiang , Mooradian Arshag D. , Krone Ronald J. , Nesto Richard W. , Porter Marty H. , Rana Jamal S. , Rogers William J. , Sobel Burton E. , Gottlieb Sheldon H. ,   BARI 2D Study Group
Published: October 2009

The impact of obesity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial; whether BMI and/or waist circumference correlate with atherothrombotic risk factors in such patients is uncertain. We sought to evaluate whether higher BMI or waist circumference are associated with specific risk factors among 2,273 Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) study participants with T2DM and documented CAD (baseline data, mean age 62 years, 66% non‐Hispanic white, 71% men). Multiple linear regression models were constructed after adjusting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, US vs. non‐US site, diabetes duration, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and relevant medication use. First‐order partial correlations of BMI with risk factors after controlling for waist circumference and of waist circumference with risk factors after controlling for BMI were also evaluated. Ninety percent of the patients were overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2); 68% of men and 89% of women had high‐risk waist circumference measures (≥102 and ≥88 cm, respectively). BMI and waist circumference, in separate models, explained significant variation in metabolic (insulin, lipids, blood pressure (BP)) and inflammatory/procoagulation (C‐reactive protein, PAI‐1 activity and antigen, and fibrinogen) risk factors. In partial correlation analyses BMI was independently associated with BP and inflammatory/procoagulation factors, waist circumference with lipids, and both BMI and waist circumference with insulin. We conclude that, in cross‐sectional analyses, both BMI and waist circumference, independently, are associated with increased atherothrombotic risk in centrally obese cohorts such as the BARI 2D patients with T2DM and CAD.
Pericardial Fat Volume Correlates With Inflammatory Markers: The Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Tadros Thomas M. , Massaro Joseph M. , Rosito Guido A. , Hoffmann Udo , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Larson Martin G. , Keaney John F. , Lipinska Izabella , Meigs James B. , Kathiresan Sekar , O'Donnell Christopher J. , Fox Caroline S. , Benjamin Emelia J.
Published: October 2009

The objective of this study was to determine whether systemic inflammatory and oxidative stress marker concentrations correlate with pericardial and intrathoracic fat volumes. Participants of the Framingham Offspring Study (n = 1,175, 53% women, mean age 59 ± 9 years) had pericardial and intrathoracic fat volumes assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans, and provided fasting blood and urine samples to measure concentrations of 14 inflammatory markers: C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), CD40 ligand, fibrinogen, intracellular adhesion molecule‐1, lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 activity and mass, myeloperoxidase, osteoprotegerin, P‐selectin, tumor necrosis factor‐α, tumor necrosis factor receptor‐2, and urinary isoprostanes. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the association of log‐transformed inflammatory marker concentrations with fat volumes, using fat volume as the dependent variable. Due to smaller sample sizes, models were rerun after adding urinary isoprostanes (n = 961) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (n = 813) to the marker panel. Upon backward elimination, four of the biomarkers correlated positively with each fat depot: CRP (P < 0.0001 for each fat depot), interleukin‐6 (P < 0.05 for each fat depot), MCP‐1 (P < 0.01 for each fat depot), and urinary isoprostanes (P < 0.01 for pericardial fat; P < 0.001 for intrathoracic fat). Even after adjusting for BMI, waist circumference (WC), and abdominal visceral fat, CRP (P = 0.0001) and urinary isoprostanes (P = 0.02) demonstrated significant positive associations with intrathoracic fat, but not with pericardial fat. Multiple markers of inflammation and oxidative stress correlated with pericardial and intrathoracic fat volumes, extending the known association between regional adiposity and inflammation and oxidative stress.
Validation of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Adolescents Across Different Ethnic Groups
Authors: Haroun Dalia , Taylor Stephanie J.C. , Viner Russell M. , Hayward Rachel S. , Darch Tegan S. , Eaton Simon , Cole Tim J. , Wells Jonathan C.K.
Published: October 2009

Adolescent obesity is difficult to assess in multi‐ethnic populations using BMI, due to variability in the BMI–fatness relationship. We aimed to describe body composition (BC), and to validate leg–leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), in adolescents from different ethnic groups using deuterium (D2O) as the reference method. Measurements were made of weight, height, total body water (TBW), and BIA (TANITA TBF‐300) in 110 white, 170 Asian, and 102 black adolescents aged 11–15 years. TBW was converted to lean mass (LM) using assumed hydration of lean tissue. General linear models were used to compare BC by D2O between the ethnic groups. BC values from D2O were compared with TANITA values, and used to generate ethnic‐specific prediction equations in the whole sample, and also in equation‐generation (group 1) and cross‐validation (group 2) subsamples. Ethnic variability in BMI did not reflect variability in adiposity. Asians had less LM than white and black adolescents, and less fat mass (FM) than white girls. TANITA in‐built equations did not predict BC accurately across ethnic groups, with significant bias in white and Asian males, and Asian and black females. The new equation generated from the entire sample removes ethnic‐specific mean biases. The group 1 equation showed no significant bias in any ethnic group when tested in group 2. We found significant variability in BC between ethnic groups that was not reflected by BMI. Manufacturers' equations are unsuitable for predicting BC in multi‐ethnic populations, and our new equations are recommended.
Changes and Tracking of Fat Mass in Pubertal Girls
Authors: Vink Eva E. , van Coeverden Silvia C.C.M. , van Mil Edgar G. , Felius Bram A. , van Leerdam Frank J.M. , de Waal Henriëtte A. Delemarre‐van
Published: October 2009

Puberty is a critical period in body composition development. The influence of puberty on the development of fat mass asks for further investigation. We investigated the development of fat mass during puberty in a longitudinal prospective study in 152 healthy nonobese white girls, initial ages between 9 to 12 years. The influence of menarcheal age and the existing of tracking of fat mass have been analyzed. In 10 years time, participants were measured on eight time points. Various anthropometric data were collected, breast development was staged according to Tanner and body composition was determined with the dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Calculations were made with the use of a linear mixed model. Fat mass increases from 7.9 kg (23.6%) at B1 to 18.5 kg (29.3%) at B5. Fat mass is higher in girls with an early menarche than in girls with a late menarche from B2. Girls in the quartile with initially the lowest fat mass have a chance of being in the same quartile after 10 years of 77% (P < 0.001). Girls in the quartile with initially the highest fat mass, have a risk of staying in the highest quartile of 55% (P < 0.001). Menarcheal age is of great influence on the development of fat mass. Girls with an early menarche, will have a bigger fat mass, especially at the end of puberty. Tracking of fat mass exists: a high amount of fat mass in early puberty will continue to exist at young adulthood.
From “Overweight” to “About Right”: Evidence of a Generational Shift in Body Weight Norms
Authors: Burke Mary A. , Heiland Frank W. , Nadler Carl M.
Published: October 2009

In this article, we describe differences in the self‐perception of weight status in the United States between the two most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) periods (1988–1994 and 1999–2004), and test the hypothesis that secular increases in adult mean BMI, adult obesity, and childhood obesity contributed to changes over time in weight perceptions. We find that the probability of self‐classifying as overweight is significantly lower on average in the more recent survey, for both women and men, controlling for objective weight status and other factors. Among women, the decline in the tendency to self‐classify as overweight is concentrated in the 17–35 age range, and is more pronounced among women with normal BMI than those with overweight BMI. Among men, the shift away from feeling overweight is roughly equal across age groups. Overweight men exhibit a sharper decline in feeling overweight than normal weight men. Despite the declines in feeling overweight between surveys, weight misperception did not increase significantly for men and decreased by a sizable margin among women. We interpret the findings as evidence of a generational shift in social norms related to body weight. As a result, people may be less likely to desire weight loss than previously, limiting the effectiveness of public health campaigns aimed at weight reduction. On the other hand, there may be health benefits associated with improved body image.
Relationship Between Self‐report and an Objective Measure of Television‐viewing Time in Adults
Authors: Otten Jennifer J. , Littenberg Benjamin , Harvey‐Berino Jean R.
Published: October 2009

This study compared self‐reported television (TV)‐viewing time with an objective measure obtained by an electronic TV monitor. As part of a larger study, 40 overweight and obese adults (BMI: 31.7 ± 5.4 kg/m2; 53% obese; mean age 41.4 ± 13.0) self‐reported TV‐viewing time at study entry as the response to the question, “How many hours do you watch TV per day, on average?” Objective TV‐viewing time was measured in min/day over 3 weeks/subject using electronic monitors. Self‐reported viewing time was 4.3 ± 1.3 h/day (mean ± s.d.) (range: 3.0–8.0 h/day) vs. 4.9 ± 2.6 h/day (0.8–13.3 h/day) recorded by the electronic TV monitor. Subjects underestimated their viewing time by 0.6 ± 2.3 h/day (95% confidence interval = −1.34, 0.13), or 4.3 h/week. Slightly over half of the subjects (58%) underestimated their viewing time; 47.5% were within 1 h/day, and 72.5% were within 2 h/day of self‐reported viewing time. Large errors were rare in this group, suggesting that a simple self‐report measure of TV time may be useful for characterizing viewing behavior, although objective measurement adds precision that may be useful in certain settings.
Decreased Liver Fatty Acid Δ‐6 and Δ‐5 Desaturase Activity in Obese Patients
Authors: Araya Julia , Rodrigo Ramón , Pettinelli Paulina , Araya A. Verónica , Poniachik Jaime , Videla Luis A.
Published: October 2009

Steatosis in obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients is a clinicopathological condition associated with depletion of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), a feature that may be related to PUFA desaturation. Liver Δ‐6 and Δ‐5 desaturase (Δ‐6D and Δ‐5D) activities, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMAIR), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were evaluated in 13 obese patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastro‐jejunal anastomosis in Roux‐en‐Y and 15 nonobese patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (controls). Liver Δ‐6D and Δ‐5D activities in obese patients were 87% and 66% lower than controls (P < 0.001), respectively, with a 62% diminution in the Δ‐6D/Δ‐5D activity ratio (P < 0.02). Δ‐6D inversely correlated with both HOMAIR (r = −0.70, P < 0.0001) and oxidative stress assessed as the reciprocal value of FRAP (r = −0.40, P < 0.05). Δ‐5D negatively correlated with HOMAIR (r = −0.48, P < 0.01) but not with FRAP−1 (r = −0.13, not significant). In conclusion, liver PUFA desaturation is diminished in obese NAFLD patients, in association with underlying insulin resistance and oxidative stress, which may play a role in altering lipid metabolism favoring fatty infiltration.
Heritability of Eating Behavior Assessed Using the DEBQ (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire) and Weight‐related Traits: The Healthy Twin Study
Authors: Sung Joohon , Lee Kayoung , Song Yun‐Mi , Lee Mi Kyeong , Lee Dong‐Hun
Published: October 2009

The heritability of eating behavior and body weight–related traits in Asian populations has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to estimate the heritability of eating behavior and the body weight–related traits of current weight and self‐reported past weight among twins and their families. Study subjects were 2,144 Korean, adult, same‐sex twins and their families at the ages between 20 and 65 years (443 monozygotic (MZ) and 124 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, and 1,010 individuals of their family). The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) was used to assess three eating behavior subscales measuring restraint, emotional eating, and external eating. A variance component approach was used to estimate heritability. After consideration of shared environmental effects and adjustment for age and sex effects, the heritability estimates ± s.e. among twins and their family members were 0.31 ± 0.036 for restraint, 0.25 ± 0.098 for emotional eating, 0.25 ± 0.060 for external eating, 0.77 ± 0.032 for measured current body weight, and 0.70 ± 0.051 for self‐reported weight at 20 years old. The three DEBQ subscales were associated with all weight related traits after adjustment for age and sex. These results suggest eating behaviors and weight‐related traits have a genetic influence, and eating behaviors are associated with obesity indexes. Our findings from Korean twin family were similar to those reported in Western populations.
Television Viewing Is Not Predictive of BMI in Black and Hispanic Young Adult Females
Authors: Richmond Tracy K. , Walls Courtney E. , Gooding Holly C. , Field Alison E.
Published: October 2009

Previous studies have observed that television (TV) viewing is predictive of obesity and weight gain. We examined whether the cross‐sectional association between TV viewing and BMI varied by racial/ethnic subgroups among young women in Wave III (collected in 2001–2002) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. We used multivariate linear regression to examine the relationship between TV viewing and BMI among 6,049 females while controlling for sociodemographic and health attributes. We stratified the sample by race/ethnicity to better understand the association between TV viewing and BMI across different groups. Black and Hispanic females had higher BMIs (black: 28.5 kg/m2, Hispanic: 27.3 kg/m2, white: 26.0 kg/m2) than white females, while black females reported higher numbers of hours spent watching TV (black: 14.7 h/week, Hispanic: 10.6 h/week, white: 11.2 h/week) when compared to their white and Hispanic peers. TV viewing was positively associated with BMI (β = 0.79, P = 0.003 for 8–14 vs. ≤7 h/week; β = 1.18, P = 0.01 for >14 vs. ≤7 h/week) independent of race/ethnicity, age, maternal education, history of pregnancy, parental obesity, and household income. However, in models stratified by race/ethnicity, increased TV viewing was associated with increased BMI only among white females; TV viewing was not predictive of higher BMI in black or Hispanic young adult females. Among black and Hispanic females, counseling to decrease TV viewing may be important but insufficient for promoting weight loss.
Tunable Talbot imaging distance using an array of beam-steered metamaterial leaky-wave antennas
Authors: Gómez-Díaz J. S. , Álvarez-Melcón A. , Gupta S. , Caloz C.
Published: October 2009

A tunable spatio-temporal Talbot imaging phenomenon is presented. This phenomenon is based on the radiation properties of an array of beam-steered metamaterial composite right-/left-handed leaky-wave antennas, which is excited by a modulated pulse. The scanning law property of these antennas is exploited to achieve off-axis radiation, which leads to a tunable Talbot distance, as a function of the input pulse modulation frequency. The proposed Talbot phenomenon is analyzed theoretically, taking into account the aberrations produced by higher-order terms present in the free-space transfer function. Numerical simulations confirm the self-imaging and pulse multiplication effects and their tunability capabilities as a function of frequency. Finally, the experimental results are included to confirm the phenomenon predicted.
Inactivation of H1N1 viruses exposed to acidic ozone water
Authors: Uhm Han S. , Lee Kwang H. , Seong Baik L.
Published: October 2009

The inactivation of H1N1 viruses upon exposure to acidic ozone water was investigated using chicken allantoic fluids of different dilutions, pH values, and initial ozone concentrations. The inactivation effect of the acidic ozone water was found to be stronger than the inactivation effect of the ozone water combined with the degree of acidity, indicating a synergic effect of acidity on ozone decay in water. It is also shown that acidic ozone water with a pH value of 4 or less is very effective means of virus inactivation if provided in conjunction with an ozone concentration of 20 mg/l or higher.
Dielectric and optical properties of Zr silicate thin films grown on Si(100) by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Tahir Dahlang , Lee Eun Kyoung , Oh Suhk Kun , Kang Hee Jae , Heo Sung , Chung Jae Gwan , Lee Jae Cheol , Tougaard Sven
Published: October 2009

Dielectric and optical properties of (ZrO2)x(SiO2)1−x dielectric thin films, grown on Si(100) by the atomic layer deposition method, were studied by means of reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS). The quantitative analysis of REELS spectra was carried out by using the quantitative analysis of electron energy loss spectra-ε(k,ω)-REELS software to determine the dielectric function and optical properties by using an analysis of experimental REELS cross sections from the simulated energy loss function (ELF). For ZrO2, the ELF shows peaks in the vicinity of 10, 15, 21, 27, 35, 42, and 57 eV. For SiO2, a broad peak at 23 eV with a very weak shoulder at 15 eV and a shoulder at 34 eV were observed, while for Zr silicates (x=0.75 and 0.5), the peak position is similar to that of ZrO2. For Zr silicates with high SiO2 concentration (x=0.25), the peak positions are similar to that of SiO2, but the peak at 42 eV, which is due to excitation of Zr N2,3 shell electrons, still exist. This indicates that the dielectric and optical properties of ZrO2 thin films are dominating the dielectric and optical properties of Zr silicates even for high SiO2 concentrations. In addition, the inelastic mean free path (IMFP) was also calculated from the theoretical inelastic cross section. The IMFP of Zr silicates increases with increasing Zr composition in Zr silicates, and they also increase with increasing primary energy. The method of determining the dielectric and optical properties and IMFP from the ELF turns out to be a convenient tool for ultrathin high-k materials.
Cerium oxide-chitosan based nanobiocomposite for food borne mycotoxin detection
Authors: Kaushik Ajeet , Solanki Pratima R. , Pandey M. K. , Ahmad Sharif , Malhotra Bansi D.
Published: October 2009

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (NanoCeO2) and chitosan (CH) based nanobiocomposite film deposited onto indium-tin-oxide coated glass substrate has been used to coimmobilize rabbit immunoglobin (r-IgGs) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) for food borne mycotoxin [ochratoxin-A (OTA)] detection. Electrochemical studies reveal that presence of NanoCeO2 increases effective electro-active surface area of CH-NanoCeO2/indium tin oxide (ITO) nanobiocomposite resulting in high loading of r-IgGs. BSA/r-IgGs/CH-NanoCeO2/ITO immunoelectrode exhibits improved linearity (0.25–6.0 ng/dl), detection limit (0.25 ng/dl), response time (25 s), sensitivity (18 μA/ng dl−1 cm−2), and regression coefficient (r2∼0.997).
On the effect of rear-surface dielectric coatings on laser-driven proton acceleration
Authors: Betti S. , Cecchetti C. A. , Förster E. , Gamucci A. , Giulietti A. , Giulietti D. , Kämpfer T. , Köster P. , Labate L. , Levato T. , Lübcke A. , Uschmann I. , Zamponi F. , Gizzi L. A.
Published: October 2009

Laser-driven ion acceleration has been experimentally investigated by irradiating, with tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses at 5×1019 W/cm2, thin metal foils, which have been back-coated with a μm thick dielectric layer. The observation we report shows the production of MeV proton bunches with an unexpected highly uniform spatial cross section.
Implicit and explicit solvent models for the simulation of a single polymer chain in solution: Lattice Boltzmann versus Brownian dynamics
Authors: Pham Tri T. , Schiller Ulf D. , Prakash J. Ravi , Dünweg Burkhard
Published: October 2009

We present a comparative study of two computer simulation methods to obtain static and dynamic properties of dilute polymer solutions. The first approach is a recently established hybrid algorithm based on dissipative coupling between molecular dynamics and lattice Boltzmann (LB), while the second is standard Brownian dynamics (BD) with fluctuating hydrodynamic interactions. Applying these methods to the same physical system (a single polymer chain in a good solvent in thermal equilibrium) allows us to draw a detailed and quantitative comparison in terms of both accuracy and efficiency. It is found that the static conformations of the LB model are distorted when the box length L is too small compared to the chain size. Furthermore, some dynamic properties of the LB model are subject to an L−1 finite-size effect, while the BD model directly reproduces the asymptotic L→∞ behavior. Apart from these finite-size effects, it is also found that in order to obtain the correct dynamic properties for the LB simulations, it is crucial to properly thermalize all the kinetic modes. Only in this case, the results are in excellent agreement with each other, as expected. Moreover, Brownian dynamics is found to be much more efficient than lattice Boltzmann as long as the degree of polymerization is not excessively large.
Comment on “Infrared absorption spectroscopy on OH–Ni complex in hydrothermally grown ZnO” [J. Appl. Phys. 105, 093516 (2009)]
Authors: Lavrov E. V. , Weber J.
Published: October 2009

Li et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 105, 093516 (2009)] recently reported IR absorption study of hydrothermally grown ZnO. The authors investigated an IR absorption line at 2782.9 cm−1 and assigned it to a local vibrational mode of an OH–Ni complex. This comment provides experimental evidences that the assignment of Li et al. does not follow from the experimental data presented by the authors.
On fully nonlinear, vertically trapped wave packets in a stratified fluid on the f-plane
Authors: Stastna M. , Poulin F. J. , Rowe K. L. , Subich C.
Published: October 2009

The ubiquity of solitary and solitarylike internal waves in the coastal ocean has been recognized for some time. Recent theoretical studies of a strongly nonlinear, weakly nonhydrostatic set of layer-averaged model equations have predicted that rotation, for example, on the f-plane, can lead to the decay and subsequent reemergence of internal solitary waves. We reconsider this problem using high resolution numerical simulations of the rotating stratified Euler equations. We find that in certain cases the initial disturbances indeed fission into nonlinear wave packets, with the constituent waves making up the wave packet being, in themselves, nonlinear. However, for typical coastal ocean parameters this only occurs at rotation rates higher than those on Earth on the time scales we are able to simulate. We confirm, using the Dubreil–Jacotin–Long equation, that the vertical structure of the wave-induced currents is well predicted by the fully nonlinear theory of nonrotating internal solitary waves and that weakly nonlinear Korteweg–de Vries equation-based theory fails to describe this structure accurately. Subsequently, we consider flat-crested solitary waves that allow us to fix the wave amplitude while varying the horizontal wavelength. We find that as the waves’ horizontal extent nears the baroclinic Rossby radius more energy is deposited into the wave tail. However, no wave overtaking is observed, and an explanation for this fact is proposed. Finally, we discuss the effects of the horizontal component of the rotation vector and derive an exact equation for rotation modified waves near the equator. This equation demonstrates that in this situation, rotation modifies the structure of the fully nonlinear waves but does not lead to solitary wave decay.
Real time observation of partial dislocations in thin colloidal crystals
Authors: Luo Yi-Yong , Hu Shu-Xin , Lu Ying , Mai Zhen-Hong , Li Ming
Published: October 2009

We use laser diffraction microscopy to visualize in real time the motion of partial dislocations in thin colloidal crystals confined in flat capillaries. The results show that the formation of partial dislocation loops with their associated stacking faults is an energetically preferred strain-relaxation channel for colloidal crystals. The local residual stress in the crystal can be estimated by measuring the velocity of the dislocations. Two types of interactions between the dislocations are observed, namely, that between two dislocations in two intersecting slide planes and that between two dislocations in two parallel slide planes.
Theoretical prediction of GaN nanostructure equilibrium and nonequilibrium shapes
Authors: Jindal Vibhu , Shahedipour-Sandvik Fatemeh
Published: October 2009

A wide variety of nanostructure shapes have been observed for GaN under different growth conditions. These shapes include but are not limited to hexagonal pyramid, prismatic, triangular cross-section nanowires, and arrow-headed shapes. Using Wulff’s plot and kinetic Wulff’s plot for GaN under thermodynamic equilibrium and under various kinetic conditions, we present a model to theoretically predict and explain these faceted nanostructure shapes. Legendre transformation on Wulff’s plot and kinetic Wulff’s plot has been extensively utilized to obtain the faceted equilibrium shapes in equilibrium. In addition, equilibrium and nonequilibrium faceted geometry of nanostructures have also been predicted by numerical simulations using level set methods and the proposed kinetic Wulff’s plot.
Formation of defects in boron nitride by low energy ion bombardment
Authors: Peter R. , Bozanic A. , Petravic M. , Chen Y. , Fan L.-J. , Yang Y.-W.
Published: October 2009

Formation of defects in hexagonal and cubic boron nitride (h-BN and c-BN, respectively) under low-energy argon or nitrogen ion-bombardment has been studied by near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) around boron and nitrogen K-edges. Breaking of B–N bonds for both argon and nitrogen bombardment and formation of nitrogen vacancies, VN, has been identified from the B K-edge of both h-BN and c-BN, followed by the formation of molecular nitrogen, N2, at interstitial positions. The presence of N2 produces an additional peak in photoemission spectra around N 1s core level and a sharp resonance in the low-resolution NEXAFS spectra around N K-edge, showing the characteristic vibrational fine structure in high-resolution measurements. In addition, several new peaks within the energy gap of BN, identified by NEXAFS around B and N K-edges, have been assigned to boron or nitrogen interstitials, in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Ion bombardment destroys the cubic phase of c-BN and produces a phase similar to a damaged hexagonal phase.
Calculation of semiclassical free energy differences along nonequilibrium classical trajectories
Authors: Gelin M. F. , Kosov D. S.
Published: October 2009

We have derived several relations, which allow the evaluation of the system free energy changes in the leading order in ℏ2 along classically generated trajectories. The results are formulated in terms of purely classical Hamiltonians and trajectories, so that semiclassical partition functions can be computed, e.g., via classical molecular dynamics simulations. The Hamiltonians, however, contain additional potential-energy terms, which are proportional to ℏ2 and are temperature-dependent. We discuss the influence of quantum interference on the nonequilibrium work and problems with unambiguous definition of the semiclassical work operator.
Soliton source generation in a few-mode tellurite microstructure fiber
Authors: Yan Xin , Qin Guanshi , Liao Meisong , Suzuki Takenobu , Mori Atsushi , Ohishi Yasutake
Published: October 2009

We report broad near-infrared soliton and associated dispersive wave source generation (1228–1867 nm) and tunable green third harmonic generation (528–542 nm) by LP11 mode excitation in a few-mode tellurite microstructure fiber pumped by a 1557 nm femtosecond fiber laser. The fiber presents a wide range of wavelengths in which the fundamental mode experiences normal dispersion, whereas the higher-order modes propagate in the anomalous dispersion regime. LP01 or LP11 mode can be selectively excited, and obviously different spectra are obtained based on the different mechanisms of supercontinuum generation.
Transformations of the distribution of nuclei formed in a nucleation pulse: Interface-limited growth
Authors: Shneidman Vitaly A.
Published: October 2009

A typical nucleation-growth process is considered: a system is quenched into a supersaturated state with a small critical radius r∗− and is allowed to nucleate during a finite time interval tn, after which the supersaturation is abruptly reduced to a fixed value with a larger critical radius r∗+. The size-distribution of nucleated particles f(r,t) further evolves due to their deterministic growth and decay for r larger or smaller than r∗+, respectively. A general analytic expressions for f(r,t) is obtained, and it is shown that after a large growth time t this distribution approaches an asymptotic shape determined by two dimensionless parameters, λ related to tn, and Λ=r∗+/r∗−. This shape is strongly asymmetric with an exponential and double-exponential cutoffs at small and large sizes, respectively, and with a broad near-flat top in case of a long pulse. Conversely, for a short pulse the distribution acquires a distinct maximum at r=rmax(t) and approaches a universal shape exp[ζ−eζ], with ζ∝r−rmax, independent of the pulse duration. General asymptotic predictions are examined in terms of Zeldovich–Frenkel nucleation model where the entire transient behavior can be described in terms of the Lambert W function. Modifications for the Turnbull–Fisher model are also considered, and analytics is compared with exact numerics. Results are expected to have direct implementations in analysis of two-step annealing crystallization experiments, although other applications might be anticipated due to universality of the nucleation pulse technique.