bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Kα XRF detection geometry of arsenic in skin using an extended fundamental parameter method
Authors: Gherase Mihai Raul , Fleming David
Published: August 2009

The fundamental parameter (FP) method was extended to account for the geometrical details of experimental x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) detection. In the traditional FP method the primary fluorescence photons have parallel pathways towards the detector. In the new approach the primary fluorescence photons can travel in any direction which allows them to reach the detector if not absorbed or scattered. The derived XRF signal equation explicitly depends on the length of the collimator in front of the detector, the detector size, position and orientation. An algorithm which numerically calculates the XRF signal for any set of parameters was developed and implemented for the Kα XRF signal of arsenic in skin. Optimal positions and orientations of the detector and collimator ensemble which maximize the XRF signal were found. Results and limitations of the method were also discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stannyl‐substituted Disilenes and a Disilastannirane
Authors: Abersfelder Kai , Nguyen Thi‐loan , Scheschkewitz David
Published: August 2009

The reaction of disilenide Tip2Si=Si(Tip)Li (1, Tip = 2,4,6‐iPr3C6H2) with chlorostannanes R3SnCl quantitatively affords the first stannyl‐substituted disilenes Tip2Si=Si(Tip)SnR3 (2a: R = Me, 2b: R = Bu, 2c: R = Ph). The Sn‐functional derivative Tip2Si=Si(Tip)SntBu2Cl (3) is accessible in good yield from 1 and tBu2SnCl2. Additionally, the first heavy analogue of cyclopropanes containing two endocyclic silicon and one tin atom was prepared from 1 and Me2SnCl2. All new compounds were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and the thus deduced structural assignments corroborated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.
A Spectroscopic and Structural Study of M(3d)2+‐Doped β‐Tricalcium Phosphate – the Binding Properties of Ni2+ and Cu2+ in the Pseudo‐Octahedral Ca(5)O6 Host‐Sites
Authors: Mayer Isaac , Gdalya Sarit , Burghaus Olaf , Reinen Dirk
Published: August 2009

The pseudo‐octahedral Ca(5)2+ position in β‐Ca3(PO4)2 is a highly interesting host site with unexpectedly short Ca–O bond lengths, which can be easily substituted by small 3d‐cations, such as Ni2+. Also Cu2+ may fully replace Ca(5)2+, leading to remarkably large energetic and steric distortion effects due to Eg⊗ϵg Jahn–Teller coupling – with a ground‐state splitting of about 1.25 eV. The Cu(Ni)–O bond is strongly ionic according to a 3d‐mixing coefficient of the eg‐electrons above 0.90, as revealed by EPR‐ and d–d spectroscopy. It is suggested that the flexibility of the Ca(5)O6 host polyhedra, which lie isolated in the lattice, in respect to deformations and to substitutions by smaller cations is one reason that β‐TCP is a useful biomaterial.
Fascia iliaca block prophylaxis for hip fracture patients at risk for delirium: a randomized placebo-controlled study
Authors: Mouzopoulos George , Vasiliadis George , Lasanianos Nikolaos , Nikolaras George , Morakis Emanouil , Kaminaris Michalis
Published: August 2009

Background

Recent studies have indicated that unmanaged pain, both acute and chronic, can affect mental status and might precipitate delirium, especially in elderly patients with hip fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) for prevention of perioperative delirium in hip surgery patients who were at intermediate or high risk for this complication.

Materials and methods

On admission, all included patients were divided into three groups according to low, intermediate or high risk for perioperative delirium. Eligible patients (those classified as at intermediate or high risk for developing delirium) were sequentially randomly assigned to study treatment (FICB prophylaxis or placebo) according to a computer-generated randomization code. The primary outcome was perioperative delirium. Diagnosis of the syndrome was defined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) criteria. Secondary outcome variables were severity of delirium and delirium duration.

Results

Delirium occurred in 33 (15.94%) out of 207 patients randomized to FICB prophylaxis or the placebo group. Incidence of delirium in the FICB prophylaxis group was 10.78% (11/102), significantly different from the incidence (23.8%, 25/105) in the placebo group [relative risk 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23–0.87]. Nine of 17 patients with high risk for delirium and included in the FICB prophylaxis group developed delirium, whereas 10 of 16 high-risk patients included in the placebo group became delirious (relative risk 0.84, CI 0.47–1.52). Two of 85 patients with intermediate risk for delirium and included in the FICB prophylaxis group developed delirium, whereas 15 of 89 intermediate-risk patients included in the placebo group became delirious (relative risk 0.13, CI 0.03–0.53). Severity of delirium according to the highest value of the DRSR-98 during an episode with delirium in patients in the FICB prophylaxis group was on average 14.34, versus 18.61 in the placebo group (mean difference 4.27, 95% CI 1.8–5.64, P < 0.001). Mean duration of delirium in the FICB prophylaxis group was significantly shorter than in the placebo group (FICB 5.22 days versus placebo 10.97 days, 95% CI 3.87–7.62, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

No significant difference was found among high-risk patients between FICB prophylaxis and placebo groups in terms of delirium incidence. However, FICB prophylaxis significantly prevented delirium occurrence in intermediate-risk patients. Thus FICB prophylaxis could be beneficial, particularly for intermediate-risk patients.
Challenges Faced by Genetics Service Providers’ Practicing in a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Population: An Australian Experience
Authors: Saleh Mona , Barlow‐Stewart Kristine , Meiser Bettina , Muchamore Ian
Published: August 2009

This paper explores the perceived challenges facing clinical genetics practitioners in multicultural Australia. Focus groups conducted with 53 practitioners explored: 1) participants’ experiences and definitions of cultural diversity; 2) their use of educational resources with clients; 3) their experiences with culturally diverse groups/individuals in practice; 4) their experiences working with interpreters; and 5) the impact culturally specific educational training and/or experiential learning had on their confidence or practice when dealing with culturally diverse clients. Participants viewed culture as extending beyond traditional definitions such as ethnicity, language and religion. Most respondents had experienced positive results working with health care interpreters, although at times, this was a challenge for the family as they preferred privacy and the use of family members as interpreters. Another commonly reported challenge was the limited availability of reliable, culturally appropriate translated resources. Some participants expressed concern that learning theories about specific cultures may lead to stereotypes and that opportunities for formal cultural competence training were limited. Recommendations for practice include the targeting of educational resources to meet the needs of a diverse community and placing cultural competence on the agenda for ongoing training and maintenance of professional standards for clinical genetics practitioners to avoid the current ad hoc approach.
Acute citalopram administration may disrupt contextual information processing in healthy males
Authors: Almeida S. , Glahn D.C. , Argyropoulos S.V. , Frangou S.
Published: August 2009

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. It has been suggested however that SSRI administration may affect response inhibition and contextual processing but the available evidence is minimal. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the effect size of acute (within 24 hours) and chronic (28 days) administration of the highly selective SSRI, Citalopram, compared to placebo on response inhibition (measured by the Degraded Symbol Continuous Performance Task [DS-CPT]) and contextual processing (assessed using a Delayed Non-Matching to Sample Task [DNMS]) in healthy males (n = 20) using a randomised double-blind design. We found no effect of Citalopram on participants’ performance on the DS-CPT which suggests either that SSRIs do not affect response inhibition or that this measure is insensitive to any potential disinhibition effects of SSRI. Acute, but not chronic, Citalopram administration was associated with a measurable decrement in the DNMS suggestive of a negative impact of SSRI administration on contextual processing at least during treatment initiation. These findings provide a useful guide for designing future studies in clinical populations.
Birthrights: Freedom, Responsibility, and Democratic Comportment in Aeschylus'Oresteia
Authors: MARKOVITS ELIZABETH
Published: August 2009

Through an examination of Aeschylus'Oresteia, this essay argues for the critical importance of intergenerational justice to democratic theory. It explores the difficulties of democratic responsibility given the tension between necessity and freedom central to questions of intergenerational justice. The essay first details the relevant lacunae in the theories of two major figures of contemporary democratic theory, John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas. It then develops an account of democratic responsibility that acknowledges human freedom to make decisions, even given the necessity created by the fact that individuals and communities inherit their own range of potential actions from previous generations. The essay elaborates this claim by examining how each of the central figures in theOresteiadeals first with the dilemmas inherited from the past and then with new situations engendered by his or her own actions. The essay concludes with a consideration of this aspect of democracy in contemporary political life.
The immune response to and immunomodulation byHymenolepis diminuta
Authors: McKAY DEREK M.
Published: August 2009

Analyses of laboratory-based helminth-rodent model systems have been immensely useful in delineating the workings of the mammalian immune system. Investigations in the 1970s–1980s on the fate of the rat tapeworm,Hymenolepis diminuta, in rats and mice and the systemic and local responses evoked following infection have contributed directly to our knowledge of how permissive and non-permissive hosts respond to the challenge of infection with a helminth parasite. This convenient laboratory model system has, in the authors' opinion, regrettably received considerably less attention in recent years. With the goal of highlighting the utility of this model system, data is presented on: (1) the immune and enteric responses of rats and mice to infection withH. diminuta; (2) the ability of excretory or secretory products derived fromH. diminutato significantly reduce T cell and macrophage activationin vitro; and (3) how assessment ofH. diminuta-rodent models can be used to identify immune effector or regulatory mechanisms that can be translated into novel treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
Symptom dimensions of post-myocardial infarction depression, disease severity and cardiac prognosis
Authors: Martens E. J. , Hoen P. W. , Mittelhaeuser M. , de Jonge P. , Denollet J.
Published: August 2009

Background

Individual symptoms of post-myocardial infarction (MI) depression may be differentially associated with cardiac prognosis, in which somatic/affective symptoms appear to be associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis than cognitive/affective symptoms. These findings hold important implications for treatment but need to be replicated before conclusions regarding treatment can be drawn. We therefore examined the relationship between depressive symptom dimensions following MI and both disease severity and prospective cardiac prognosis.

Method

Patients (n=473) were assessed on demographic and clinical variables and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) within the first week of hospital admission for acute MI. Depressive symptom dimensions were associated with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and prospective cardiac death and/or recurrent MI. The average follow-up period was 2.8 years.

Results

Factor analysis revealed two symptom dimensions – somatic/affective and cognitive/affective – in the underlying structure of the BDI, identical to previous results. There were 49 events attributable to cardiac death (n=23) or recurrent MI (n=26). Somatic/affective (p=0.010) but not cognitive/affective (p=0.153) symptoms were associated with LVEF and cardiac death/recurrent MI. When controlling for the effects of previous MI and LVEF, somatic/affective symptoms remained significantly predictive of cardiac death/recurrent MI (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.69, p=0.038). Previous MI was also an independent predictor of cardiac death/recurrent MI.

Conclusions

We confirmed that somatic/affective, rather than cognitive/affective, symptoms of depression are associated with MI severity and cardiovascular prognosis. Interventions to improve cardiovascular prognosis by treating depression should be targeted at somatic aspects of depression.
There's no contest: Human sex differences are sexually selected
Authors: Pound Nicholas , Daly Martin , Wilson Margo
Published: August 2009

An evolutionary psychological perspective drawing on sexual selection theory can better explain sex differences in aggression and violence than can social constructionist theories. Moreover, there is accumulating evidence that, in accordance with predictions derived from sexual selection theory, men modulate their willingness to engage in risky and violent confrontations in response to cues to fitness variance and future prospects.
The multiple adaptive problems solved by human aggression
Authors: Buss David M.
Published: August 2009

Human psychology contains adaptations to deploy aggression as one solution to many distinct adaptive problems. These include expropriating resources, defending against incursions, establishing encroachment-deterring reputations, inflicting costs on rivals, ascending dominance hierarchies, dissuading partner defection, eliminating fitness-draining offspring, and obtaining new mates. Aggression is not a singular strategy. Comprehensive theories must identify the “design features” of multiple adaptations for aggression.
Moderators of sex differences in sexual selection theory
Authors: Pellegrini Anthony D.
Published: August 2009

Archer recognizes that sexual selection theory is sensitive to the effects of ecologies on sex differences, yet he does not explain the impact of such variation. For example, to what degree are there sex differences in aggression in polygynous and monogamous societies? I demonstrate how differences in mating perceptions affect the traditional dichotomy that males compete for and females choose mates.
Does sexual selection explain human sex differences in aggression?
Authors: Archer John
Published: August 2009

I argue that the magnitude and nature of sex differences in aggression, their development, causation, and variability, can be better explained by sexual selection than by the alternative biosocial version of social role theory. Thus, sex differences in physical aggression increase with the degree of risk, occur early in life, peak in young adulthood, and are likely to be mediated by greater male impulsiveness, and greater female fear of physical danger. Male variability in physical aggression is consistent with an alternative life history perspective, and context-dependent variability with responses to reproductive competition, although some variability follows the internal and external influences of social roles. Other sex differences, in variance in reproductive output, threat displays, size and strength, maturation rates, and mortality and conception rates, all indicate that male aggression is part of a sexually selected adaptive complex. Physical aggression between partners can be explained using different evolutionary principles, arising from the conflicts of interest between males and females entering a reproductive alliance, combined with variability following differences in societal gender roles. In this case, social roles are particularly important since they enable both the relatively equality in physical aggression between partners from Western nations, and the considerable cross-national variability, to be explained.
THE IMPACT OF A HAUSMAN PRETEST ON THE ASYMPTOTIC SIZE OF A HYPOTHESIS TEST
Authors: Guggenberger Patrik
Published: August 2009

This paper investigates the asymptotic size properties of a two-stage test in the linear instrumental variables model when in the first stage a Hausman (1978) specification test is used as a pretest of exogeneity of a regressor. In the second stage, a simple hypothesis about a component of the structural parameter vector is tested, using a t-statistic that is based on either the ordinary least squares (OLS) or the two-stage least squares estimator (2SLS), depending on the outcome of the Hausman pretest. The asymptotic size of the two-stage test is derived in a model where weak instruments are ruled out by imposing a positive lower bound on the strength of the instruments. The asymptotic size equals 1 for empirically relevant choices of the parameter space. The size distortion is caused by a discontinuity of the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic in the correlation parameter between the structural and reduced form error terms. The Hausman pretest does not have sufficient power against correlations that are local to zero while the OLS-based t-statistic takes on large values for such nonzero correlations. Instead of using the two-stage procedure, the recommendation then is to use a t-statistic based on the 2SLS estimator or, if weak instruments are a concern, the conditional likelihood ratio test by Moreira (2003).
SEMIPARAMETRIC EFFICIENCY BOUND IN TIME-SERIES MODELS FOR CONDITIONAL QUANTILES
Authors: Komunjer Ivana , Vuong Quang
Published: August 2009

We derive the semiparametric efficiency bound in dynamic models of conditional quantiles under a sole strong mixing assumption. We also provide an expression of Stein’s (1956) least favorable parametric submodel. Our approach is as follows: First, we construct a fully parametric submodel of the semiparametric model defined by the conditional quantile restriction that contains the data generating process. We then compare the asymptotic covariance matrix of the MLE obtained in this submodel with those of the M-estimators for the conditional quantile parameter that are consistent and asymptotically normal. Finally, we show that the minimum asymptotic covariance matrix of this class of M-estimators equals the asymptotic covariance matrix of the parametric submodel MLE. Thus, (i) this parametric submodel is a least favorable one, and (ii) the expression of the semiparametric efficiency bound for the conditional quantile parameter follows.
MAXIMAL UNIFORM CONVERGENCE RATES IN PARAMETRIC ESTIMATION PROBLEMS
Authors: Beckert Walter , McFadden Daniel L.
Published: August 2009

This paper considers parametric estimation problems with independent, identically nonregularly distributed data. It focuses on rate efficiency, in the sense of maximal possible convergence rates of stochastically bounded estimators, as an optimality criterion, largely unexplored in parametric estimation. Under mild conditions, the Hellinger metric, defined on the space of parametric probability measures, is shown to be an essentially universally applicable tool to determine maximal possible convergence rates. These rates are shown to be attainable in general classes of parametric estimation problems.
THE ART OF WAR: IMAGERY OF THE UPPER TEMPLE OF THE JAGUARS, CHICHEN ITZA
Authors: Ringle William M.
Published: August 2009

This paper reexamines the art and architecture of the Upper Temple of the Jaguars, Chichen Itza, in light of new unpublished digital images of Adela Breton's copies of the murals. Following discussion of the construction date of the building and previous interpretations of the murals, examination of costume, setting, and house form suggests that rather than depicting mythic or symbolic episodes, these murals illustrate actual military encounters between Chichen and its enemies. The occasion for their production seems to be the utilization of the Upper Temple of the Jaguars by a specific sector of Chichen Itza's military, perhaps for rites of investiture. This sector is argued to have been associated with the Cloud Serpent, either as the title of its leader or as a patron deity, and the structure itself is perhaps related to later Nahua buildings associated with penitential rites involving warfare and investiture.
GROUND PLATFORM PREPARATION AND THE “BANALIZATION” OF THE PRISMATIC BLADE IN WESTERN MESOAMERICA
Authors: Healan Dan M.
Published: August 2009

For much of their history, prismatic blades were a relatively scarce item whose restricted occurrence suggested they functioned as prestige or luxury items. Some time prior to the Postclassic period, however, they became a widespread, ubiquitous, and mundane commodity in Mesoamerica, as indicated by ethnohistorical accounts as well as archaeological evidence. This occurred around the same time that blademakers began to prepare core platforms by pecking and grinding, a labor intensive process whose advantages are presumed to have played the primary role. The specific causal relationships involved, however, appear to pertain less to factors of increased productivity on the part of individual blademakers than to those of skill, as suggested by comparisons between core/blade technology used in areas close to obsidian sources and those used at sites further removed from the sources.
CRAFT PRODUCTION IN A CENTRAL MEXICAN MARKETPLACE
Authors: Hirth Kenneth
Published: August 2009

The marketplace was an important institution for household provisioning and elite resource conversion in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica. Despite their importance, marketplaces are difficult to identify because exchange relationships are generally invisible in the archaeological record. This study examines the evidence for marketplaces at the Epiclassic period site of Xochicalco, Morelos, Mexico. It explores the role of craft production in the marketplace as a possible indicator of market activity. Excavations in a suspected market area at Xochicalco uncovered evidence for the production of obsidian prismatic blades on the floor of a public plaza. The results of these explorations are discussed and it is concluded that craft production can be a useful indicator for market activity if production debitage is found in primary contexts in public plazas.
Exponential asymptotic stability for an elliptic equation with memory arising in electrical conduction in biological tissues
Authors: AMAR M. , ANDREUCCI D. , BISEGNA P. , GIANNI R.
Published: August 2009

We study an electrical conduction problem in biological tissues in the radiofrequency range, which is governed by an elliptic equation with memory. We prove the time exponential asymptotic stability of the solution. We provide in this way both a theoretical justification to the complex elliptic problem currently used in electrical impedance tomography and additional information on the structure of the complex coefficients appearing in the elliptic equation. Our approach relies on the fact that the elliptic equation with memory is the homogenisation limit of a sequence of problems for which we prove suitable uniform estimates.
Conflict-Free Colourings of Graphs and Hypergraphs
Authors: PACH JÁNOS , TARDOS GÁBOR
Published: August 2009

A colouring of the vertices of a hypergraphHis calledconflict-freeif each hyperedgeEofHcontains a vertex of ‘unique’ colour that does not get repeated inE. The smallest number of colours required for such a colouring is called theconflict-free chromatic numberofH, and is denoted by χCF(H). This parameter was first introduced by Even, Lotker, Ron and Smorodinsky (FOCS2002) in ageometricsetting, in connection with frequency assignment problems for cellular networks. Here we analyse this notion for general hypergraphs. It is shown that$\chi_{\rm CF}(H)\leq 1/2+\sqrt{2m+1/4}$, for every hypergraph withmedges, and that this bound is tight. Better bounds of the order ofm1/tlogmare proved under the assumption that the size of every edge ofHis at least 2t− 1, for somet≥ 3. Using Lovász's Local Lemma, the same result holds for hypergraphs in which the size of every edge is at least 2t− 1 and every edge intersects at mostmothers. We give efficient polynomial-time algorithms to obtain such colourings.

Our machinery can also be applied to the hypergraphs induced by the neighbourhoods of the vertices of a graph. It turns out that in this case we need far fewer colours. For example, it is shown that the vertices of any graphGwith maximum degree Δ can be coloured with log2+εΔ colours, so that the neighbourhood of every vertex contains a point of ‘unique’ colour. We give an efficient deterministic algorithm to find such a colouring, based on a randomized algorithmic version of the Lovász Local Lemma, suggested by Beck, Molloy and Reed. To achieve this, we need to (1) correct a small error in the Molloy–Reed approach, (2) restate and re-prove their result in adeterministicform.
The Degree Sequence of Random Graphs from Subcritical Classes
Authors: BERNASCONI NICLA , PANAGIOTOU KONSTANTINOS , STEGER ANGELIKA
Published: August 2009

In this work we determine the expected number of vertices of degreek=k(n) in a graph withnvertices that is drawn uniformly at random from asubcritical graph class. Examples of such classes are outerplanar, series-parallel, cactus and clique graphs. Moreover, we provide exponentially small bounds for the probability that the quantities in question deviate from their expected values.
Diet and cancer in Mediterranean countries: carbohydrates and fats
Authors: Bosetti Cristina , Pelucchi Claudio , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: August 2009

Objective

Several aspects of the diet characteristic of the Mediterranean countries are considered favourable not only on cardiovascular disease, but also on cancer risk. We considered some aspects of the Mediterranean diet (including, in particular, the consumption of olive oil and carbohydrates) on cancer risk.

Design, Setting and Subjects

Data were derived from a series of case-control studies, conducted in Italy since the early 1990s, on over 10 000 cases of thirteen cancer sites and over 17 000 controls.

Results

Olive oil, and other mono- and unsaturated fats, appear to be favourable indicators of breast, ovarian, colorectal, but mostly of upper aero-digestive tract cancers. Whole grain foods are also related to reduced risk of upper aero-digestive tract and various other cancers. In contrast, refined grain intake and, consequently, glycaemic index and glycaemic load were associated to increased risk for several cancer sites. Fish, and hence a diet rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, tended to be another favourable diet indicator, while frequent red meat intake was directly related to some common neoplasms. An a priori defined Mediterranean diet score was inversely related to upper digestive and respiratory tract cancers.

Conclusions

These data provide additional evidence that major characteristics of the Mediterranean diet favourably affect cancer risk.
Mediterranean diet, culture and heritage: challenges for a new conception
Authors: Xavier Medina F
Published: August 2009

The aim of the present article is to discuss the role of the Mediterranean diet as a part of Human Culture and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Until the present, Mediterranean diet has been observed as a healthy model of medical behaviour. After its proposal as a Cultural Heritage of the Humanity at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Mediterranean diet is actually being observed as a part of Mediterranean culture and starting its concept as an equivalent of Mediterranean Cultural Food System or Mediterranean Culinary System. At the candidacy of Mediterranean diet as a World Cultural Intangible Heritage to be presented at UNESCO in 2008, this new conception is making sense. A new point of view that will be capital in the future discussions about the Mediterranean diet, their challenges and their future perspectives.
The Mediterranean diet: does it have to cost more?
Authors: Drewnowski Adam , Eichelsdoerfer Petra
Published: August 2009

Objective

To test the viability of the Mediterranean diet as an affordable low-energy-density model for dietary change.

Design

Foods characteristic of the Mediterranean diet were identified using previously published criteria. For these foods, energy density (kJ/100 g) and nutrient density in relation to both energy ($/MJ) and nutrient cost were examined.

Results

Some nutrient-rich low-energy-density foods associated with the Mediterranean diet were expensive, however, others that also fit within the Mediterranean dietary pattern were not.

Conclusions

The Mediterranean diet provides a socially acceptable framework for the inclusion of grains, pulses, legumes, nuts, vegetables and both fresh and dried fruit into a nutrient-rich everyday diet. The precise balance between good nutrition, affordability and acceptable social norms is an area that deserves further study. The new Mediterranean diet can be a valuable tool in helping to stem the global obesity epidemic.
Prenatal and childhood Mediterranean diet and the development of asthma and allergies in children
Authors: Chatzi Leda , Kogevinas Manolis
Published: August 2009

Objective

To discuss current evidence about the relation between prenatal and childhood Mediterranean diet, and the development of asthma and allergies in children.

Design

Review of the literature.

Setting and results

Four recent studies conducted in Mediterranean countries (Spain, Greece) and one conducted in Mexico evaluated the association between childhood Mediterranean diet and asthma outcomes in children. All of the studies reported beneficial associations between a high level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet during childhood and symptoms of asthma or allergic rhinitis. Individual foods or food groups contributing to the protective effect of Mediterranean diet included fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and cereals, while detrimental components included red meat, margarine and junk food intake.

Two studies focused on prenatal Mediterranean diet: the first is a birth cohort in Spain that showed a protective effect of a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy on persistent wheeze, atopic wheeze and atopy at the age of 6·5 years; while the second is a cross-sectional study in Mexico, collecting information more than 6 years after pregnancy, that showed no associations between maternal Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and allergic symptoms in childhood except for current sneezing.

Conclusions

Findings from recent studies suggest that a high level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet early in life protects against the development of asthma and atopy in children. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of this protective effect, to evaluate the most relevant window of exposure, and to address specific components of diet in relation to disease.
Infrequently asked questions about the Mediterranean diet
Authors: Bellisle France
Published: August 2009

Numerous health benefits have been attributed to the ‘Mediterranean diet’ over the last decades. Selecting foods that were common in the Mediterranean regions (especially Crete) in the 1970s, with a frequent and abundant intake of fruit, vegetables, fish, olive oil and perhaps wine, has been reported to be associated with wide-ranging benefits including improved glucose metabolism and decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity and CVD. While the respective contributions of various types of food have been widely investigated, less attention has been paid to other factors, also characteristic of the Mediterranean lifestyle, which may contribute to the health benefits perhaps as much as specific food choices. Traditionally, the Mediterranean diet was consumed in the context of a particular lifestyle, with a fixed number of daily meals, generally consumed at later hours (compared to North of Europe), and some specific meal-related behaviours such as the post-lunch siesta. In addition, the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle that were so beneficial to health, 40 years ago, were considerably different from present-day practices. The changes are particularly clear in younger individuals and countries of the Mediterranean region presently have the highest child overweight rates in Europe. The present paper will address research about meal and satiety patterns and examine how the recent changes from traditional practices are likely to have an impact on health risks and benefits in Mediterranean populations.
The Mediterranean diet as a nutrition education, health promotion and disease prevention tool
Authors: Piscopo Suzanne
Published: August 2009

Objective

While epidemiological research on the protective role of the Mediterranean diet (MD) is highly publicised, little is known about MD education interventions. This exploratory study aimed to provide insight into methodology and effectiveness of the MD as a nutrition education and health promotion tool.

Design and setting

Two searches were conducted within PubMed using the terms ‘Mediterranean diet’ and ‘Education’ or ‘Intervention’. Abstracts yielded were screened for distinct studies in which participants were instructed on the application of MD principles in their diet. Four studies met this criterion. These were further analysed for sample/target population, and intervention design, duration, tools, evaluative measures/tests and outcomes.

Results

Interventions targeted both healthy and at-risk populations and lasted between 12 weeks to 1 year, including follow-up. They used individual counselling, tailored computer-based counselling, group education, internet-based education, cookery classes and printed materials. Outcomes were measured using food diaries, FFQ, questionnaires on psychosocial factors and on usage of the educational tools, as well as anthropometrics and biomarkers. Interventions showed statistically significant increases in participants’ intake of vegetables, legumes, nuts, fruit, whole grains, seeds, olive oil and dietary PUFA and MUFA, and statistically significant decreases in total cholesterol, ox-LDL-cholesterol, total:HDL-cholesterol ratio, insulin resistance, BMI, body weight and waist circumference.

Conclusions

MD education interventions may be cost-effective strategies for helping to protect against and treat a variety of health problems in different populations. Details of such interventions need to be publicised internationally. This introductory review could help inform the design of future targeted MD nutrition education.
Impact of strawberries on human health: insight into marginally discussed bioactive compounds for the Mediterranean diet
Authors: Tulipani Sara , Mezzetti Bruno , Battino Maurizio
Published: August 2009

Objective

To review and update the current knowledge on the potential impact of strawberry on human health, with particular attention on compounds and indirect mechanisms of action not exhaustively considered.

Design

Personal perspectives and recent data.

Setting

International.

Results

Our research group was among the few groups that have recently investigated the folate content in fresh, stored and processed strawberries, and the data look very promising. As well, some in vivo evidence of the impact of strawberry intake on the folate status in humans have already been reported, but a new increasing interest on this field is strongly hoped. Furthermore, the hypouricaemic effects previously ascribed to cherry consumption need to be evaluated in respect to strawberry intake. At the moment, inconsistent results come from the few investigations designed at this proposal. In our studies, a great interindividual variability was observed on plasma urate levels in response to strawberry intake, suggesting a putative effect.

Conclusions

The mechanisms responsible for the potential health-promoting effects of strawberry may not be necessarily searched in the activity of phytochemicals. Particularly, a greater interest should be addressed to show whether a prolonged strawberry consumption may effectively improve the folate status and reduce the incidence of folate-related pathological conditions. Furthermore, the hypouricaemic effects of cherries need to be evaluated also in respect to strawberry intake, and the mechanisms of actions and anti-gout potentialities need to be studied in detail.

Future investigations involving human trials should be aimed at following these underestimated scientific tracks.
Exercise alone is not enough: weight loss also needs a healthy (Mediterranean) diet?
Authors: Caudwell Phillipa , Hopkins Mark , King Neil A , Stubbs Robert J , Blundell John E
Published: August 2009

Objective

In the majority of exercise intervention studies, the aggregate reported weight loss is often small. The efficacy of exercise as a weight loss tool remains in question. The aim of the present study was to investigate the variability in appetite and body weight when participants engaged in a supervised and monitored exercise programme.

Design

Fifty-eight obese men and women (BMI = 31·8 ± 4·5 kg/m2) were prescribed exercise to expend approximately 2092 kJ (500 kcal) per session, five times a week at an intensity of 70 % maximum heart rate for 12 weeks under supervised conditions in the research unit. Body weight and composition, total daily energy intake and various health markers were measured at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12.

Results

Mean reduction in body weight (3·2 ± 1·98 kg) was significant (P < 0·001); however, there was large individual variability (−14·7 to +2·7 kg). This large variability could be largely attributed to the differences in energy intake over the 12-week intervention. Those participants who failed to lose meaningful weight increased their food intake and reduced intake of fruits and vegetables.

Conclusion

These data have demonstrated that even when exercise energy expenditure is high, a healthy diet is still required for weight loss to occur in many people.
Water limitation to soil CO2 efflux in a pine forest at the semiarid “timberline”
Authors: Grünzweig José M. , Hemming Deborah , Maseyk Kadmiel , Lin Tongbao , Rotenberg Eyal , Raz‐Yaseef Naama , Falloon Pete D. , Yakir Dan
Published: August 2009

Warming and drying is predicted for most of the Mediterranean and other regions, and knowledge of this effect on forest carbon dynamics cannot be easily extrapolated from temperate climates. Instead, we provide quantitative information from a 6‐year study in a 40‐year old pine forest at the dry “timberline” (280 mm annual rainfall) on soil CO2 efflux (Fs) and some of its controlling factors. Annual Fs was relatively low (405.9 ± 23.8 g C m−2 a−1), but within one standard deviation of a global nonlinear relationship we derived between mean annual precipitation and Fs in forests. Seasonal variations in Fs were dominated by soil temperature (with Q10 = 2.45) in the wet season, and by soil moisture in the water‐limited seasons, but not by pulse responses to precipitation. No temperature sensitivity was observed in the dry season, but there was clear evidence for down regulation of sensitivity to Q10 = 1.18 when soil moisture was kept high by a supplement summer irrigation treatment. Interannual variations in Fs correlated linearly with cumulative rainwater availability, indicating the combined importance of both precipitation amount and its temporal distribution between the wet (and cool) season and the transitional periods characterized by high evaporative demand. Low rates of soil carbon loss combined with high belowground carbon allocation (41% of canopy CO2 uptake) might explain the high soil organic carbon accumulation and net ecosystem productivity in this dry forest. Our results indicate that Fs in pine forests may adjust to dry conditions with better carbon economy than estimated from response to episodic drought in more temperate climate.
Modeling the ionospheric response to the 28 October 2003 solar flare due to coupling with the thermosphere
Authors: Pawlowski David J. , Ridley Aaron J.
Published: August 2009

The excess energy deposited into the atmosphere during a solar flare has a substantial effect on the thermosphere and ionosphere. Not only is there a significant perturbation on the dayside, but gravity waves are launched which can propagate to and effect the nightside. The ionospheric signatures of these waves and global disturbances are investigated using the Global Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Model during the 28 October 2003 solar flare. Simulations are performed where all external forcings are held constant except for the solar extreme ultraviolet flux in order to quantify the response due only to the flare. The model shows that significant perturbations in NmF2 and total electron content can occur on the nightside, and that they can last for more than 15 h after the flare. Both significant enhancements and depletions are shown to be present in the near‐midnight sector which are due to dynamical changes in the neutral atmosphere.
On the role of aspect to quantify water transit times in small mountainous catchments
Authors: Broxton Patrick D. , Troch Peter A. , Lyon Steve W.
Published: August 2009

In the current empirical study, we provide evidence about how the hydrologic responses of small mountain catchments are related to aspect (slope direction and exposure) at Redondo Peak, located in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico, United States. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that the transit time of water is related to the catchment aspect. Aspect is an easily measurable and transferable topographic characteristic that is related to the amount of direct solar radiation a particular catchment receives, and therefore, different catchments with different aspects have different rates of snow ablation, evapotranspiration, and water cycling in general. Transit times, which describe the time between when water enters the catchment as precipitation and when it leaves as stream flow, captures many hydrologic features such as flow path variability and the combined effects of water storage and water fluxes. We have designed an experiment that involves field data collection, isotopic analysis of stream and precipitation samples, and the estimation of transit times using lumped‐parameter convolution for 15 sites in small (1–15 km2) catchments that drain different aspects of Redondo Peak. Our data suggest that isotopic variability and estimated transit times are both related to aspect. Other potential relationships between topographical features (such as flow path length, slope gradient, and elevation) and isotopic measurements of stream water suggest that landscape and hydrological features are interconnected at Redondo Peak, but these links are not conclusive, suggesting that these topographic indicators do not fully explain the variability of water cycling in these small mountain catchments.
Ensemble‐based assimilation of discharge into rainfall‐runoff models: A comparison of approaches to mapping observational information to state space
Authors: Pauwels Valentijn R. N. , De Lannoy Gabriëlle J. M.
Published: August 2009

The optimization of hydrologic models using the ensemble Kalman filter has received increasing attention during the last decade. The application of this algorithm is straightforward when the relationship between the state variables and the observations is linear, in other words, when the observations can be directly mapped onto the state space. However, when this relationship is nonlinear, a number of methods can be derived in order to perform this transfer. Up till now, it has not been demonstrated which of these methods is recommended for discharge assimilation with the ensemble Kalman filter. The objective of this paper is to analyze these methods for conceptual rainfall‐runoff models in a small‐scale catchment. The study has been performed in the Bellebeek catchment (86.36 km2) in Belgium, using two time series models and one conceptual rainfall‐runoff model. A first analysis of the algorithms has been performed using the one time step ahead discharge predictions. The results indicate that linearization of the storage‐discharge relationship (the observation system) should be avoided if discharge data are assimilated using the ensemble Kalman filter. Further, assimilating discharge data into conceptual rainfall‐runoff models for small catchments does not work well when a unit hydrograph is used for runoff routing. This can be explained by the stronger impact of the model error (caused by errors in the forcings, model structure, and parameters), accumulated over the duration of the unit hydrograph, as compared to the impact of erroneous initial conditions. A second analysis using longer lead times has led to the conclusion that, for the type of catchment and model used in this study, the accuracy of the meteorological forcings is more important than an accurate estimation of the model initial conditions through data assimilation.
A decentralized optimization algorithm for multiagent system–based watershed management
Authors: Yang Yi‐Chen E. , Cai Ximing , Stipanović Dušan M.
Published: August 2009

A watershed can be simulated as a multiagent system (MAS) composed of spatially distributed land and water users (agents) within a common defined environment. The watershed system is characterized by distributed decision processes at the agent level with a coordination mechanism organizing the interactions among individual decision processes at the system level. This paper presents a decentralized (distributed) optimization method known as constraint‐based reasoning, which allows individual agents in an MAS to optimize their behaviors over various alternatives. The method incorporates the optimization of all agents' objectives through an interaction scheme, in which the ith agent optimizes its objective with a selected priority for collaboration and forwards the solution and consequences to all agents that interact with it. Agents are allowed to determine how important their own objectives are in comparison with the constraints, using a local interest factor (βi). A large βi value indicates a selfish agent who puts high priority on its own benefit and ignores collaboration requirements. This bottom‐up problem‐solving approach mimics real‐world watershed management problems better than conventional “top‐down” optimization methods in which it is assumed that individual agents will completely comply with any recommendations that the coordinator makes. The method is applied to a steady state hypothetical watershed with three off‐stream human agents, one in‐stream human agent (reservoir), and two ecological agents.
Sound speed requirements for optimal imaging of seismic oceanography data
Authors: Fortin Will F. J. , Holbrook W. Steven
Published: August 2009

Low‐frequency acoustic imaging of internal oceanic structure (“seismic oceanography”) is providing unprecedented views of thermohaline finestructure with the potential to provide quantitative information on such processes as internal waves, eddy dynamics, and turbulent dissipation. Producing seismic images clear enough to confidently extract such information requires accurate sound‐speed models. Because sound‐speed modeling is time‐intensive, and oceanic sound speed relatively simple compared to the solid earth, simplistic assumptions of ocean sound speeds have some appeal in seismic processing of ocean reflections. Here, we consider the effect on seismic images of four sound‐speed models: (1) a uniform sound speed of 1500 m/s, (2) regional data from an archived database, (3) temperature profiles collected concurrently with the seismic data, and (4) standard user‐selected profiles. Our results show the inadequacy of simple “shortcut” models (1 and 2) and indicate the necessity of rigorous, locally derived sound‐speed models (3 and 4).