bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pheochromocytoma in MEN 2A Syndrome. Study of 54 Patients
Authors: Rodriguez Jose M. , Balsalobre Maria , Ponce Jose L. , Ríos Antonio , Torregrosa Nuria M. , Tebar Javier , Parrilla Pascual
Published: September 2008

Background

Pheochromocytoma occurs in nearly 50% of MEN 2A (multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2A) cases. Many issues related to this tumor are still the subject of debate: the diagnostic management in patients who have had positive genetic study results (RET mutation), variations related to mutation, the best surgical option, and the real relapse rate during long‐term follow‐up. The aim of this study is to present our experience with this unusual disease, looking for answers to some of these questions.

Patients and methods

Of 169 patients belonging to 19 MEN 2A families, 54 (32%) presented with pheochromocytoma. The following variables have been studied: (1) clinical and diagnostic data [age, mutation, clinical features, results of catecholamines and catabolites in a 24‐h urine sample, computerized tomography (CT) scan and iodine‐131 meta‐iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy results, and the means of diagnostic, clinical, or genetic screening]; (2) surgical treatment; and (3) follow‐up and recurrence. The mean follow‐up time was 92.5 months (range: 12–120 months).

Results

The mean age of the 54 patients was 37.9 years (range: 14–71 years); 33 were women. Most (96.3%) mutations were found in exon 11. The most frequent mutations were Cys634Tyr (in 33 cases [61.1%]) and Cys634Arg (in 14 [25.9%]). The diagnosis of pheocromocytoma was made after the diagnosis of MTC in 26 cases (48.2%), simultaneously in 21 (38.9%), and prior in the 7 remaining cases (12.9%). At the time of diagnosis 28 patients (51.8%) were asymptomatic and 26 (48.2%) had clinical features related to pheochromocytoma. In 6 patients (11.1%), the values of catecholamines and catabolites in urine were normal. In the cases with high values, the most useful isolated determination was that of metanephrines (82%), followed by adrenaline (76%). The CT scan did not provide a correct diagnosis in 6 patients with bilateral lesions, and one patient with a bilateral tumor was not diagnosed by MIBG. The combination of CT scan and MIBG diagnosed 100% of cases. The pheochromocytoma was bilateral in 27 cases, with a total number of 81 pathological glands detected. A laparascopic approach was used in 30 cases and a laparotomy in 24. The mean tumor size was 4.5 cm (range: 1–18 cm). Five patients with unilateral resection relapsed (18.5%), and the mean relapse time was 43.2 months (range: 12–120 months). There was a greater frequency of pheochromocytoma in those subjects who had the Cys634Arg mutation (p < 0.03). In addition, the Cys634Arg mutation is more frequent in bilateral cases. There are no prognostic factors for recurrence.

Conclusions

Pheochromocytoma in MEN 2A is related to the type of mutation, which can be early onset and is frequently asymptomatic. Its diagnosis requires catecholamines determinations as well as a CT scan. Correct diagnosis of bilaterality is established by CT and MIBG. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice.
Incidence of Parathyroid Glands Located in Thymus in Patients with Renal Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Uno Nobuaki , Tominaga Yoshihiro , Matsuoka Susumu , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Shimabukuro Shuichi , Sato Tetsuhiko , Goto Norihiko , Nagasaka Takaharu , Katayama Akio , Uchida Kazuharu
Published: September 2008

Background

Parathyroid glands are frequently located in thymus, and it is essential to resect thymic tissue from the neck incision, especially in surgery for renal hyperparathyroidism (HPT).

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the incidence, location, and type of intrathymic parathyroid glands in 902 patients who underwent initial parathyroidectomy (PTx) for advanced renal HPT in our department. Removal of the thymic tongues on both sides was routinely performed from the neck incision, and the thymic tissue was carefully examined both macroscopically and microscopically.

Results

Of the 902 patients in the study, 269 had only inferior parathyroid glands in the thymus, in 62 patients only supernumerary glands were found in the thymic tongue, and in 78 patients both inferior and supernumerary glands were present in thymic tissue. Therefore the incidence of patients with intrathymic glands was 45.3% (269 + 62 + 78 = 409/902). In 129 (92.1%) of 140 patients with supernumerary glands in the thymic tongue, these glands were detected only on histopathological examination, and about half of them were classified as the parathyromatosis type.

Conclusions

In the human, parathyroid glands might be located in the thymus in about 50%. If the inferior gland/glands cannot be found around the inferior pole of thyroid lobe, it is very important to search for glands in the thymic tongue. Moreover, to avoid missing supernumerary glands, removal of the thymic tongue on both sides is essential in surgery for renal HPT.
Standardized Human Pedigree Nomenclature: Update and Assessment of the Recommendations of the National Society of Genetic Counselors
Authors: Bennett Robin L. , French Kathryn Steinhaus , Resta Robert G. , Doyle Debra Lochner
Published: September 2008

In 1995, the Pedigree Standardization Task Force (PSTF) of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) proposed a system of pedigree nomenclature. Recently, the PSTF (now called the Pedigree Standardization Work Group or PSWG) sought evidence that the published symbols met the needs of health professionals, were incorporated into health professional training and were utilized in publications. We searched PubMed and reference lists of select publications, reviewed the Instructions for Authors of several journals, searched the websites of professional societies, sought comment from the membership of the NSGC, and looked at recommendations and training practices of various health professional organizations. Many journals still do not cite specific standards for pedigrees, but those found cited the PSTF nomenclature. We did not find significant objections or alternatives to the 1995 nomenclature. Based on our review, we propose only a few minor stylistic changes to the pedigree symbols. The pedigree nomenclature of the NSGC is the only consistently acknowledged standard for drawing a family health history. We recommend regular and continued review of these pedigree standards to determine if additional symbols are needed to accommodate changes in clinical practice to ensure that the symbols continue to meet the needs of health professionals and researchers as well as adhere to evolving ethical and privacy standards. All health professionals, trainees, and researchers should be made aware of the utility of using a common pedigree nomenclature in clinical practice and publication. This will become particularly important as electronic medical records become more widely utilized.
Robert S. Browne. Development from an African Perspective: Early Success and Challenges at the Africa Development Bank
Authors: Browne Robert S.
Published: September 2008

Part A is basically a retrospective on the early years at the Africa Development Bank (ADB); in Part B, I offer a few personal views on the perplexing topic of why Africa's development performance has been so modest.
“We All Know A Democracy When We See One”: (Neo)liberal orthodoxy in the ‘democratisation’ and ‘good governance’ project
Authors: Ayers Alison J
Published: September 2008

‘Democratisation’ and ‘good governance’ have come to constitute a fundamental aspect of Western interventions in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the former Eastern bloc, particularly in the post-Cold War period. Despite a vast literature on ‘democratisation,’ there has been a paucity of analysis which interrogates the great-power-defined agendas of democratisation. The naturalism of a particular vision or model of democracy is such that its promotion is rarely questioned or critically interrogated. Yet democracy is an essentially contested concept and universalistic claims around the Western (neo)liberal notion of democracy are being increasingly challenged. The article interrogates therefore the notion(s) of democracy articulated by the dominant social agents associated with the democratisation project, through specific reference to Africa. It contends that an orthodox notion can be identified. The orthodoxy constitutes a (neo)liberal, procedural notion of democracy, a claim substantiated through interrogation of the orthodoxy and the detailing of the extent to which the orthodox notion is informed by (neo)liberal theory and practice. The article concludes that ‘democratisation’ and ‘governance’ interventions are to be understood as a current manifestation of the liberal project.
Contextualizing human security: A ‘deprivation–vulnerability’ approach
Authors: Busumtwi-Sam James
Published: September 2008

Devising a more precise operational definition of human security has been elusive, hampering efforts to create an effective global framework. This article develops a framework for operationalizing a development-oriented approach to human security that establishes clear research and policy priorities. The analysis stakes out a middle ground between expansive and narrower human security approaches revealing they are not as polarized as sometimes portrayed, and argues that human security and human development are distinct but complementary; whereas the former is a relative condition and the latter is a longer-term process. The paper proposes a deprivation–vulnerability approach to human security, based on the analysis of threats and vulnerabilities conditioned by deprivations and exclusions, and takes initial steps at developing a human security risk management model that initially prioritizes populations more vulnerable to harm.
The new public autonomy?
Authors: Cohn Daniel
Published: September 2008

The Canadian province of British Columbia has been widely recognized as the North American leader in employing Design, Build, Finance Operate public–private partnerships to create new public infrastructure. Canada is one of the most decentralized federations in the world. Provinces exercise considerable autonomy and have powerful revenue raising power at their disposal. Although Canadian local governments are generally seen as substantially inferior to the two senior levels of government, those in British Columbia have in fact managed to achieve quite a bit of autonomy due to non-constitutional factors. Large infrastructure projects, for which municipalities and other local government agencies must look to the province for financial support are among the most controversial of issues within the provincial–local government relationship. The introduction of public–private partnerships represents a classic example of a political entrepreneur changing the rules of the game to favour their desired outcomes. In this case, a government leader determined to pursue an infrastructure program that the province lacked the capital to support and the re-structuring of the state along New Public Management lines. However, even though the rule change favoured the Premier's immediate goals, and allowed him to over-ride much local objection, it can be argued that in the long run neither local governments nor the province have necessarily gained in power by changing the rules of the game. In keeping with the general tenants of the New Public Management, the introduction of public–private partnerships has given precedence to technocratic forms of knowledge, especially those involved with finance and accounting, with the aim of pursuing public goals in the most “economically efficient” manner possible. The flip side is that democratic input is strictly limited to the initial question as to whether or not a project is desirable, not how it can be best achieved or whether, once underway, it still represents a wise move. As a result, if there are any real winners in terms of autonomy, it has been senior public managers at both the provincial and local level and their financial and accounting advisors. These actors have had the range of issues for which they are accountable markedly simplified when it comes to major infrastructure projects, even as the complexity of such projects are increased by the use of public–private partnerships. Evidence is drawn from government documents, news accounts and interviews conducted by the author with senior managers, politicians and appointed board members of local government organizations (a quasi-governmental agency and a regional municipality's transit authority) as well as a provincial ministry, which acts as a control case. By employing three cases within the same province and the same time-frame, many of the contextual factors that can confound a study of this sort have been held constant for the purpose of comparison.
Gambling and corporate social responsibility (CSR): Re-defining industry and state roles on duty of care, host responsibility and risk management
Authors: Hancock Linda , Schellinck Tony , Schrans Tracy
Published: September 2008

During the 1990s, states embraced legalised gambling as a means of supplementing state revenue. But gaming machines (EGMs, pokies, VLTs, Slots) have become increasingly controversial in countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand, which experienced unprecedented roll-out of gaming machines in casino and community settings; alongside revenue windfalls for both governments and the gambling industry. Governments have recognised that gambling results in a range of social and economic harms and, similar to tobacco and alcohol, have introduced public policies predicated on harm minimisation. Yet despite these, gaming losses have continued to climb in most jurisdictions, along with concerns about gambling-related harms. The first part of this article discusses an emerging debate in Ontario Canada, that draws parallels between host responsibility in alcohol and gambling venues. In Canada, where government owns and operates the gaming industry, this debate prompts important questions on the role of the state, duty of care and regulation ‘in the public interest’ and on CSR, host responsibility and consumer protection. This prompts the question: Do governments owe a duty of care to gamblers?

The article then discusses three domains of accumulating research evidence to inform questions raised in the Ontario debate: evidence that visible behavioural indicators can be used with high confidence to identify problem gamblers on-site in venues as they gamble; new systems using player tracking and loyalty data that can provide management with high precision identification of problem gamblers and associated risk (for protective interventions); and research on technological design features of new generation gaming products in interaction with players, that shows how EGM machines can be the site for monitoring/protecting players. We then canvass some leading international jurisdictions on gambling policy CSR and consumer protection.

In light of this new research, we ask whether the risk of legal liability poses a tipping point for more interventionist public policy responses by both the state and industry. This includes a proactive role for the state in re-regulating the gambling industry/products; instituting new forms of gaming machine product control/protection; and reinforcing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and host responsibility obligations on gambling providers – beyond self-regulatory codes. We argue the ground is shifting, there is new evidence to inform public policy and government regulation and there are new pressures on gambling providers and regulators to avail themselves of the new technology – or risk litigation.
Gender mainstreaming in Canada and Australia: A comparative analysis
Authors: Hankivsky Olena
Published: September 2008

Although gender mainstreaming (GM) has been endorsed officially at the international level since 1995, the efficacy of this strategy is being increasingly questioned. More research is focusing on understanding the progress and impact of various mainstreaming strategies across jurisdictions and in a comparative context. This article contributes to the literature in the GM field by examining the role and experiences of three key sectors in GM advancement and implementation in Canada and Australia: institutional machineries, women's movements and feminist and gender research within academe. Drawing on policy documents, textual materials and interviews with 30 key stakeholders in each country, the investigation illuminates the historic development and current situation of GM. Significantly, the research highlights common challenges and shortcomings of GM in Canada and Australia and in the final analysis, provides suggestions for future mainstreaming strategies.
Why No Religious Politics? The Secularization of Poor Relief and Primary Education in Denmark and Sweden
Authors: Kaspersen Lars Bo , Lindvall Johannes
Published: September 2008

In many European democracies, religion was an important political cleavage throughout the twentieth century. But in Denmark and Sweden, religious differences have not been translated into political competition. Instead, class conflict has dominated. This article attempts to explain why. Our argument is that in the first decades of the twentieth century, the issue that mattered most for the politicization of religion elsewhere in Europe – the role of churches in the provision of poor relief and education – was already settled. The main reason was that in the nineteenth century, the secular state had captured the organizational infrastructure that churches used to provide these services.
Toward a Sociology of the State and War: Emil Lederer's Political
Sociology
Authors: Huebner Daniel R.
Published: September 2008

Although recognized for innovations in economics and economic sociology, Emil
Lederer’s impressive contributions to political sociology have been
almost completely ignored. Lederer wrote extensively on questions of practical
and theoretical relevance for a sociological analysis of the state and war,
especially in response to and anticipation of the World Wars of the last
century. This article considers the elements of his political-sociological work
in the context of the circumstances under which they developed and concludes
with an attempt to construct an outline of the basic tenets of a sociology of
the state and war derived from Lederer’s writings. This analysis
highlights Lederer’s sensitivity to a dynamic understanding of the
total social configuration and its impact on the individual psyche as central to
explicating the characteristics of particular political-sociological
phenomena.
On Khintchine exponents and Lyapunov exponents of continued fractions
Authors: FAN AI-HUA , LIAO LING-MIN , WANG BAO-WEI , WU JUN
Published: September 2008

Assume that x∈[0,1) admits its continued fraction expansion x=[a1(x),a2(x),…]. The Khintchine exponent γ(x) of x is defined by $\gamma (x):=\lim _{n\to \infty }({1}/{n}) \sum _{j=1}^n \log a_j(x)$ when the limit exists. The Khintchine spectrum dim Eξ is studied in detail, where Eξ:={x∈[0,1):γ(x)=ξ}(ξ≥0) and dim denotes the Hausdorff dimension. In particular, we prove the remarkable fact that the Khintchine spectrum dim Eξ, as a function of $\xi \in [0, +\infty )$, is neither concave nor convex. This is a new phenomenon from the usual point of view of multifractal analysis. Fast Khintchine exponents defined by $\gamma ^{\varphi }(x):=\lim _{n\to \infty }({1}/({\varphi (n)}))\sum _{j=1}^n \log a_j(x)$ are also studied, where φ(n) tends to infinity faster than n does. Under some regular conditions on φ, it is proved that the fast Khintchine spectrum dim ({x∈[0,1]:γφ(x)=ξ}) is a constant function. Our method also works for other spectra such as the Lyapunov spectrum and the fast Lyapunov spectrum.
Billiards in polygons and homogeneous foliations on C2
Authors: VALDEZ FERRÁN
Published: September 2008

In this article we construct a new framework for the study of polygonal billiards. To every polygonal billiard we associate a holomorphic foliation on C2. The dynamics of the billiard ball is linked to the directional flow of the complex vector field defining the associated holomorphic foliation.
Robustly expansive codimension-one homoclinic classes are hyperbolic
Authors: PACIFICO M. J. , PUJALS E. R. , SAMBARINO M. , VIEITEZ J. L.
Published: September 2008

We shall prove thatC1-robustly expansive codimension-one homoclinic classes are hyperbolic.
Category theorems for stable semigroups
Authors: EISNER TANJA , SERÉNY ANDRÁS
Published: September 2008

Inspired by the classical category theorems of Halmos and Rohlin for discrete measure-preserving transformations, we prove analogous results in the abstract setting of unitary and isometric C0-semigroups on a separable Hilbert space. More precisely, we show that, for an appropriate topology, the set of all weakly stable unitary groups (isometric semigroups) is of first category, while the set of all almost weakly stable unitary groups (isometric semigroups) is residual.
From phonetics to phonology: The emergence of first words in Italian*
Authors: KEREN-PORTNOY TAMAR , MAJORANO MARINELLA , VIHMAN MARILYN M.
Published: September 2008

This study assesses the extent of phonetic continuity between babble and words in four Italian children followed longitudinally from 0 ; 9 or 0 ; 10 to 2 ; 0 – two with relatively rapid and two with slower lexical growth. Prelinguistic phonetic characteristics, including both (a) consistent use of specific consonants and (b) age of onset and extent of consonant variegation in babble, are found to predict rate of lexical advance and to relate to the form of the early words. In addition, each child's lexical profile is analyzed to test the hypothesis of non-linearity in phonological development. All of the children show the expected pattern of phonological advance: Relatively accurate first word production is followed by lexical expansion, characterized by a decrease in accuracy and an increase of similarity between word forms. We interpret such a profile as reflecting the emergence of word templates, a first step in phonological organization.
Priming a perspective in Spanish monolingual children: The use of syntactic alternatives
Authors: GÁMEZ PERLA B. , SHIMPI PRIYA M. , WATERFALL HEIDI R. , HUTTENLOCHER JANELLEN
Published: September 2008

We used a syntactic priming paradigm to show priming effects for active and passive forms in monolingual Spanish-speaking four- and five-year-olds. In a baseline experiment, we examined children's use of thefue-passive form and found it was virtually non-existent in their speech, although they produced important elements of the form. Children used a more frequent Spanish passive form, the subjectless/se-passive. In a priming experiment, we presented children with drawings described using either active orfue-passive sentences. Children then described novel drawings. Priming was induced for active and passive forms; however, children did not produce thefue-passive provided for them. Instead, children used the subjectless/se-passive and what we term the function-passive, which like thefue-passive, emphasize the patient of the action. We argue that children's use of different passive forms suggests they are sensitive to experimenter's input as it relates to scene interpretation and to syntax.
Fillers as signs of distributional learning
Authors: TAELMAN HELENA , DURIEUX GERT , GILLIS STEVEN
Published: September 2008

A longitudinal analysis is presented of the fillers of a Dutch-speaking child between 1 ; 10 and 2 ; 7. Our analysis corroborates familiar regularities reported in the literature: most fillers resemble articles in shape and distribution, and are affected by rhythmic and positional constraints. A novel finding is the impact of the lexical environment: particular function words act as ‘anchor’ words that attract occurrences of schwa fillers after them. The child inserts significantly more schwa fillers in these contexts. The anchor words are among the most frequent words preceding articles in the input, indicating a sharp sensitivity to such distributional regularities. Nasal fillers too are affected by distributional learning, but at the phonological level: the child first uses nasals before [h]-initial nouns, and then generalizes this usage to all [h]-initial words. These observations are related to the growing body of evidence for the impact of distributional learning on early language production.
Sources of sporadic Yersinia enterocolitica infection in children in Sweden, 2004: a case-control study
Authors: BOQVIST S. , PETTERSSON H. , SVENSSON Å. , ANDERSSON Y.
Published: September 2008

Young children account for a large proportion of reported Yersinia enterocolitica infections in Sweden with a high incidence compared with other gastrointestinal infections, such as salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis. A case-control study was conducted to investigate selected risk factors for domestic sporadic yersiniosis in children aged 0–6 years in Sweden. In total, 117 cases and 339 controls were included in the study. To minimize exclusion of observations due to missing data a multiple non-parametric imputation technique was used. The following risk factors were identified in the multivariate analysis: eating food prepared from raw pork products (OR 3·0, 95% CI 1·8–5·1) or treated sausage (OR 1·9, 95% CI 1·1–3·3), use of a baby's dummy (OR 1·9, 95% CI 1·1–3·2) and contact with domestic animals (OR 2·0, 95% CI 1·2–3·4). We believe that the importance of Y. enterocolitica infection in children has been neglected and that results from this study can be used to develop preventive recommendations.
Salmonella infections in Antarctic fauna and island populations of wildlife exposed to human activities in coastal areas of Australia
Authors: IVESON J. B. , SHELLAM G. R. , BRADSHAW S. D. , SMITH D. W. , MACKENZIE J. S. , MOFFLIN R. G.
Published: September 2008

Salmonella infections in Antarctic wildlife were first reported in 1970 and in a search for evidence linking isolations with exposure to human activities, a comparison was made of serovars reported from marine fauna in the Antarctic region from 1982–2004 with those from marine mammals in the Northern hemisphere. This revealed that 10 (83%) Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from Antarctic penguins and seals were classifiable in high-frequency (HF) quotients for serovars prevalent in humans and domesticated animals. In Australia, 16 (90%) HF serovars were isolated from marine birds and mammals compared with 12 (86%) HF serovars reported from marine mammals in the Northern hemisphere. In Western Australia, HF serovars from marine species were also recorded in humans, livestock, mussels, effluents and island populations of wildlife in urban coastal areas. Low-frequency S. enterica serovars were rarely detected in humans and not detected in seagulls or marine species. The isolation of S. Enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4), PT8 and PT23 strains from Adélie penguins and a diversity of HF serovars reported from marine fauna in the Antarctic region and coastal areas of Australia, signal the possibility of transient serovars and endemic Salmonella strains recycling back to humans from southern latitudes in marine foodstuffs and feed ingredients.
The burden of infection with cytomegalovirus in England and Wales: how many women are infected in pregnancy?
Authors: VYSE A. J. , HESKETH L. M. , PEBODY R. G.
Published: September 2008

A serological survey was used to investigate the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in England and Wales. A total of 5237 sera representing the complete age range were used reflecting the general population. The sera were collected in 1991 and 2002, and screened for CMV-specific IgG by ELISA. Antibody prevalence increased with age from ~15% in those aged 1–4 years to ~80% in those aged ⩾65 years with no association with gender or region. Analysing by common birth cohort demonstrated that between 1991 and 2002 incidence was highest in children born 1985–1989 (1·62% per year, 95% CI 0·86–2·35), lower in older children and younger adults born 1950–1984 (0·75% per year, 95% CI 0·29–1·19) with little evidence of infection in older adults born pre-1950 (0% per year, 95% CI 0–0·64). Application to population and live-birth estimates for England and Wales suggested that between 1991 and 2002, 159 996 (95% CI 67922–278277) CMV infections occurred annually with an annual average of 2133 (95% CI 816–3435) infections affecting pregnant females.
Diet quality: associations with health messages included in the Danish Dietary Guidelines 2005, personal attitudes and social factors
Authors: Biltoft-Jensen Anja , Groth Margit V , Matthiessen Jeppe , Wachmann Henrik , Christensen Tue , Fagt Sisse
Published: September 2008

Objective

To study the association between diet quality and the new health messages in the Danish Dietary Guidelines 2005, i.e. ‘Eat a varied diet’, ‘Engage in regular physical activity’ and ‘Maintain a healthy body weight’.

Design/setting/subjects

The study was cross-sectional, comprising a random sample of 3151 Danish adults aged 18–75 years. Dietary intake was estimated using a 7 d pre-coded food diary. Information on social background, leisure-time physical activity, height, body weight and intention to eat healthily was obtained by in-person interviews. Logistic regression models were used to explore the independent effects of energy intake, leisure-time physical activity, food variety, BMI, age, gender, education, household income, location of residence and intention to eat healthily on the likelihood to have high diet quality measured by an index based on the intake of dietary fibre and saturated fat.

Results

Greater food variety (OR = 1·32 for women, 1·13 for men), high leisure-time physical activity (OR = 2·20 for women, 1·91 for men), frequent intentions to eat healthily (OR = 8·19 for women, 5·40 for men) and low energy intake (OR=0·78 for women, 0·85 for men) were significantly associated with high diet quality. For women education was positively associated with diet quality. The study did not demonstrate any association between BMI and diet quality.

Conclusion

The health behaviours ‘Eat a varied diet’ and ‘Engage in regular physical activity’ were positively associated with healthy eating. The dietary habits reported were strongly influenced by personal intentions. Thus, the biggest challenge for public health nutritionists will be to reach non-compliers who seldom have intentions to eat healthily.
Predictors of nutritional status among community-dwelling older adults in Wuhan, China
Authors: Han Yanhong , Li Sijian , Zheng Yanling
Published: September 2008

Objectives

To examine the nutritional and functional status of community older adults in China, to identify the related factors and best predictors of elder nutrition.

Design, setting and subjects

A cross-sectional, descriptive correlation design was utilized. A convenience sample of 162 community older adults (aged ≥65 years) were administered three questionnaires, which were used to obtain demographic characteristics, nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA) and functional status (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, IADL).

Results

The mean MNA score was 23·8 (sd 3·92), 36·4 % of elders were at risk of malnutrition and 8·0 % were malnourished; 61·7 % were functionally independent. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that age, marital status, education level, personal income, number of chronic medical conditions suffered and functional status had significant correlations with nutritional status. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified that the best predictors were the number of chronic conditions suffered, age, functional status and marital status.

Conclusions

The study has suggested that nutritional health remains a problem among older adults in the Chinese community. A large proportion was on the borderline of malnutrition, and deficiency as well as excesses coexisted. Malnutrition is an increasing hazard especially for those suffering from more diseases, at a highly advanced age, functionally dependent and widowed.
A comparison of weighed and recalled intakes for schoolchildren and mothers in rural Kenya
Authors: Gewa Constance A , Murphy Suzanne P , Neumann Charlotte G
Published: September 2008

Objective

To evaluate the relative validity of recalled intake among schoolchildren and mothers in rural Kenya.

Design

Cross-sectional study. Mothers’ recall of both the schoolchild’s intake and her own intake on the previous day were compared with intakes that were weighed by an interviewer in the home.

Setting

Karurumo location of Embu District in Kenya.

Subjects

A total of forty-two sets of grade 1 students and their mothers.

Results

Between 08.00 and 17.00 hours, when foods were both weighed and recalled, approximately 70 % of weighed food items were recalled the next day. Under-reporting of food amounts was seen across most food categories for the recall, with added sugars, sweets and fats being most affected. The recall underestimated energy intakes by approximately 6–9 % during this period. Correlation coefficients between nutrient intakes ranged from 0·43 to 0·65, while weighted κ values ranged from 0·22 to 0·50. Higher levels of agreement were noted for nutrient densities, with correlation coefficients between 0·46 and 0·82 and weighted κ values between 0·30 and 0·73.

Conclusions

Although the recall method provides an acceptable alternative to the more labour-intensive and expensive food-weighing method, there is need to further improve its performance in this population through more accurate recall of single foods, especially fruits, as well as added sugars, fats, dairy products and meats, which are often added in small amounts to mixed dishes.
Validity of adult lifetime self-reported body weight
Authors: Kovalchik Stephanie
Published: September 2008

Objective

To investigate the accuracy of self-reported weight status over the adult lifespan.

Design

Estimates of self-report bias were obtained from a linear regression analysis and the magnitude of the discrepancy was studied for demographic groups (based on gender, race and educational attainment), weight status, number of years from the age of the reported weight and current age of the respondent.

Subjects

A subset of 6101 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Epidemiological Follow-Up constituted the study sample.

Results

Gender, elapsed time and BMI contributed to self-report bias. Effects of gender and elapsed time were small relative to the effects of BMI, with women tending to underestimate weight by 0·82 kg (1·8 lb), men overestimating by 2·27 kg (5·0 lb) and bias increasing by 0·09 kg (0·2 lb) for each year of retrospection. Every increase of one unit in BMI was associated with an additional 0·91 kg (2·0 lb) underestimate in self-reported weight.

Conclusion

Accuracy of adult self-reported weight profiles will be greatly underestimated if samples have individuals of current or past high relative weight. Adjusting for underestimation based on the respondent’s weight status alone will considerably improve the validity of weight information.
An economic model of social capital and health
Authors: FOLLAND SHERMAN
Published: September 2008

This paper presents an economic model to connect with the substantial empirical literature on social capital and health that exists largely outside of economics. Representative papers from that literature are reviewed and these show that disagreements exist on the nature and definition of social capital. The paper presents a new line of reasoning to support the view of social capital as a network of interpersonal bonds to include the bonds of family and close friends, not just the community at large. It then adapts and extends the work of Becker and Murphy on social economics to explain the demand for health goods as well as health bads in the presence of increased social capital. It further develops choice under risk to explain the demand for goods that entail a risk of death, such as cigarettes, illegal drugs, or excessive drinking. Empirical examples, including new statistical analyses are presented to illustrate the derivations.
Aging, social capital, and health care utilization in Canada
Authors: LAPORTE AUDREY , NAUENBERG ERIC , SHEN LEILEI
Published: September 2008

This paper examines relationships between aging, social capital, and healthcare utilization. Cross-sectional data from the 2001 Canadian Community Health Survey and the Canadian Census are used to estimate a two-part model for both GP physicians (visits) and hospitalization (annual nights) focusing on the impact of community- (CSC) and individual-level social capital (ISC). Quantile regressions were also performed for GP visits. CSC is measured using the Petris Social Capital Index (PSCI) based on employment levels in religious and community-based organizations [NAICS 813XX] and ISC is based on self-reported connectedness to community. A higher CSC/lower ISC is associated with a lower propensity for GP visits/higher propensity for hospital utilization among seniors. The part-two (intensity model) results indicated that a one standard deviation increase (0.13%) in the PSCI index leads to an overall 5% decrease in GP visits and an annual offset in Canada of approximately $225 M. The ISC impact was smaller; however, neither measure was significant in the hospital intensity models. ISC mainly impacted the lower quantiles in which there was a positive association with GP utilization, while the impact of CSC was strongest in the middle quantiles. Each form of social capital likely operates through a different mechanism: ISC perhaps serves an enabling role by improving access (e.g. transportation services), while CSC serves to obviate some physician visits that may involve counseling/caring services most important to seniors. Policy implications of these results are discussed herein.

How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it. … That we often derive sorrow from the sorrow of others, is a matter of fact too obvious to require any instances to prove it; for this sentiment, like all other original passions of human nature, is by no means confined to the virtuous and humane, though they perhaps may feel it with the most exquisite sensibility. The greatest ruffian, the most hardened violator of the laws of society, is not altogether without it.

Adam Smith,The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Chapter 1, Part first.
Social capital, economics, and health: new evidence
Authors: SCHEFFLER RICHARD M. , BROWN TIMOTHY T.
Published: September 2008

In introducing this Special Issue on Social Capital and Health, this article tracks the popularization of the term ‘social capital’ and sheds light on the controversy surrounding the term and its definitions. It sets out four mechanisms that link social capital with health: making information available to community members, impacting social norms, enhancing the health care services and their accessibility in a community, and offering psychosocial support networks. Approaches to the measurement of social capital include the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey (SCCBS) developed by Robert Putnam, and the Petris Social Capital Index (PSCI), which looks at community voluntary organizations using public data available for the entire United States. The article defines community social capital (CSC) as the extent and density of trust, cooperation, and associational links and activity within a given population. Four articles on CSC are introduced in two categories: those that address behaviors – particularly utilization of health services and use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs; and those that look at links between social capital and physical or mental health. Policy implications include: funding and/or tax subsidies that would support the creation of social capital; laws and regulations; and generation of enthusiasm among communities and leaders to develop social capital. The next steps in the research programme are to continue testing the mechanisms; to look for natural experiments; and to find better public policies to foster social capital.
Social capital and the social formation of health-related preferences and behaviours
Authors: COSTA-FONT JOAN , MLADOVSKY PHILIPA
Published: September 2008

Social capital appears to be an important determinant of health production and health utilization and demand. However, there is limited evidence on the mechanisms underlying this relationship. In this article we draw on the evidence and insights reported in this special issue along with findings from the economic and other social science literature to develop a discussion on the explanations of the likely (behavioural) mechanisms that underpin the connection between social capital and health. An important and under-explored influence mediating the relationship between social capital and health (behaviour) lies in the ‘social formation of health preferences and constraints’ individuals face in determining their life-styles and in using health care. In particular, we point to the interdependence in how individuals in the first place perceive and also respond to common health risks and the role of cultural transmission and social identity as conveyors of this process. We argue that an emerging body of evidence suggesting that interdependent preferences influence health calls for further re-formulation of traditional demand for and production of health models. Additionally, methodological problems are highlighted and possible ways forward suggested.
Inversion of seismic and geodetic data for the major element chemistry and temperature of the Earth's mantle
Authors: Khan A. , Connolly J. A. D. , Taylor S. R.
Published: September 2008

We jointly invert global seismic traveltime data, mean mass, and mean moment of inertia for Earth's mantle composition and thermal state using a stochastic sampling algorithm. The chemical composition of the silicate Earth is modeled within the system CaO‐FeO‐MgO‐Al2O3‐SiO2. Given these parameters we calculate the stable mineralogy and its elastic properties and density as a function of pressure and temperature using Gibbs free energy minimization. Bulk seismic P and S wave velocity profiles (VP, VS) are computed from Voigt‐Reuss‐Hill averaging, while anelastic contributions to VP and VS are calculated assuming shear attenuation to be linearly varying with depth. From these radial profiles, seismic traveltimes, mean mass, and mean moment of inertia are calculated, providing a range of compositions and temperatures that fit data within uncertainties. Specifically, we find an upper mantle composition that is depleted in CaO and Al2O3 relative to canonical values inferred for the upper mantle from analysis of mantle xenoliths. The lower mantle in contrast is found to be enriched in FeO and depleted in SiO2, with a Mg/Si ratio of ∼1.2 and a Mg# of ∼0.83, resulting in a bulk silicate Earth composition that is unmatched by any of the common chondrites. The mantle geotherm is found to be superadiabatic for depths >1200 km, while lower mantle temperatures reach ∼2400°C at 2500 km depth. The presence of a chemical transition between upper and lower mantle is further suggested in the depth range 650–750 km.
Off‐fault plasticity and earthquake rupture dynamics: 1. Dry materials or neglect of fluid pressure changes
Authors: Templeton Elizabeth L. , Rice James R.
Published: September 2008

We analyze inelastic off‐fault response during earthquakes. Spontaneous crack‐like rupture, with slip weakening, is modeled in 2‐D plane strain using an explicit dynamic finite element procedure. A Mohr‐Coulomb type elastic‐plastic description describes the material bordering the fault. We identify the factors which control the extent and distribution of off‐fault plasticity during dynamic rupture. Those include the angle with the fault of the maximum compressive prestress, the seismic S ratio, and the closeness of the initial stress state to Mohr‐Coulomb failure. Plastic response can significantly alter the rupture propagation velocity, delaying or even preventing a transition to supershear rupture in some cases. Plastic straining also alters the residual stress field left near the fault. In part 1, we consider “dry” materials bordering the fault, or at least neglect pore pressure changes within them. Part 2 addresses the effects of fluid saturation, showing that analysis procedures of this part can describe undrained fluid‐saturated response. Elastic‐plastic laws of the type used are prone to shear localization, resulting in an inherent grid dependence in some numerical solutions. Nevertheless, we show that in the problems addressed, the overall sizes of plastic regions and the dynamics of rupture propagation seem little different from what are obtained when we increase the assumed plastic hardening modulus or dilatancy parameter above the theoretical threshold for localization, obtaining a locally smooth numerical solution at the grid scale. Evidence for scaling of some localization features with a real (nongrid) length scale in the model is also presented.
Off‐fault plasticity and earthquake rupture dynamics: 2. Effects of fluid saturation
Authors: Viesca Robert C. , Templeton Elizabeth L. , Rice James R.
Published: September 2008

We present an analysis of inelastic off‐fault response in fluid‐saturated material during earthquake shear rupture. The analysis is conducted for 2‐D plane strain deformation using an explicit dynamic finite element formulation. Along the fault, linear slip‐weakening behavior is specified, and the off‐fault material is described using an elastic‐plastic description of the Drucker‐Prager form, which characterizes the brittle behavior of rocks under compressive stress when the primary mode of inelastic deformation is frictional sliding of fissure surfaces, microcracking and granular flow. In this part (part 1), pore pressure changes were neglected in materials bordering the fault. In part 2, we more fully address the effects of fluid saturation. During the rapid stressing by a propagating rupture, the associated undrained response of the surrounding fluid‐saturated material may be either strengthened or weakened against inelastic deformation. We consider poroelastoplastic materials with and without plastic dilation. During nondilatant undrained response near a propagating rupture, large increases in pore pressure on the compressional side of the fault decrease the effective normal stress and weaken the material, and decreases in pore pressure on the extensional side strengthen the material. Positive plastic dilatancy reduces pore pressure, universally strengthening the material. Dilatantly strengthened undrained deformation has a diffusive instability on a long enough timescale when the underlying drained deformation is unstable. Neglecting this instability on the short timescale of plastic straining, we show that undrained deformation is notably more resistant to shear localization than predicted by neglect of pore pressure changes.