bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medical student education
Authors: Butterworth Margaret , Livingston Gill
Published: October 2008

As early as 1863 the education committee of the General Medical Council (GMC) recognised the tendency of medical education to overload medical students with factual knowledge. Since then, there has been a considerable body of evidence that when students spend their time learning facts only, they often fail to apply the knowledge that they have gained (Ramsden, 1992). In 1993 the education committee of the GMC made detailed recommendations regarding a change to more problem-orientated learning and the encouragement of students to learn independently (GMC, 1993). This is currently leading to changes within all medical schools curricula so that students will be helped to integrate their formal learning with the experience of seeing patients and their families and thus be able to apply their factual knowledge.
Mental health services in the Seychelles
Authors: Islam Rezaul
Published: October 2008

When I reached Seychelles to start my new job with the Ministry of Health as a consultant psychiatrist at the Victoria Hospital I had hardly any idea about the islands, let alone its mental health service. But I decided to take the job partly out of curiosity and an interest to see what psychiatry would be on a tourist island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Dehydration Behavior of Metal-salt-added Magnesium Hydroxide as Chemical Heat Storage Media
Authors: Ryu Junichi , Hirao Naoya , Takahashi Rui , Kato Yukitaka
Published: October 2008

The dehydration behaviors of metal-salt-added magnesium hydroxide as chemical heat storage media were studied. Dehydration temperature of magnesium hydroxide, which was corresponding to heat storage temperature, was dropped from 277 to 233 °C by addition of lithium chloride. The heat storage capacity of 6.8 wt % LiCl/Mg(OH)2 (816 MJ m−3) was 11 times as high as one of authentic Mg(OH)2 under the heat storage operation at 280 °C.
SEC Rule 10b5-1 and Insiders' Strategic Trade
Authors: Jagolinzer Alan D.
Published: October 2008

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enacted Rule 10b5-1 to deter insiders from trading with private information, yet also protect insiders' preplanned, non-information-based trades from litigation. Despite its requirement that insiders plan trades when not privately informed, the rule appears to enable strategic trade. Participating insiders' sales systematically follow positive and precede negative firm performance, generating abnormal forward-looking returns larger than those earned by nonparticipating colleagues. The observed association does not appear to be explained by market transaction disclosure response, “predictable” reversion following positive performance, or general periodic price declines. There is evidence, however, that a substantive proportion of randomly drawn plan initiations are associated with pending adverse news disclosures. There is also evidence that early sales plan terminations are associated with pending positive performance shifts, reducing the likelihood that insiders' sales execute at low prices. Collectively, this suggests that, on average, trading within the rule does not solely reflect uninformed diversification.
On the Complexity of Pure-Strategy Nash Equilibria in Congestion and Local-Effect Games
Authors: Dunkel Juliane , Schulz Andreas S.
Published: October 2008

Rosenthal's congestion games constitute one of the few known classes of noncooperative games possessing pure-strategy Nash equilibria. In the network version, each player wants to route one unit of flow on a single path from her origin to her destination at minimum cost, and the cost of using an arc depends only on the total number of players using that arc. A natural extension is to allow for players controlling different amounts of flow, which results in so-called weighted congestion games. While examples have been exhibited showing that pure-strategy Nash equilibria need not exist anymore, we prove that it is actually strongly NP-hard to determine whether a given weighted network congestion game has a pure-strategy Nash equilibrium. This is true regardless of whether flow is unsplittable or not. In the unsplittable case, the problem remains strongly NP-hard for a fixed number of players. In addition to congestion games, we provide complexity results on the existence and computability of pure-strategy Nash equilibria for the closely related family of bidirectional local-effect games. Therein, the cost of a player taking a particular action depends not only on the number of players choosing the same action, but also on the number of players settling for (locally) related actions.
A Learning Algorithm for Risk-Sensitive Cost
Authors: Basu Arnab , Bhattacharyya Tirthankar , Borkar Vivek S.
Published: October 2008

A linear function approximation-based reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed for Markov decision processes with infinite horizon risk-sensitive cost. Its convergence is proved using the “o.d.e. method” for stochastic approximation. The scheme is also extended to continuous state space processes.
Cost–Volume Relationship for Flows Through a Disordered Network
Authors: Aldous David J.
Published: October 2008

In a network where the cost of flow across an edge is nonlinear in the volume of flow, and where sources and destinations are uniform, one can consider the relationship between total volume of flow through the network and the minimum cost of any flow with given volume. Under a simple probability model (locally tree-like directed network, independent cost–volume functions for different edges) we show how to compute the minimum cost in the infinite-size limit. The argument uses a probabilistic reformulation of the cavity method from statistical physics and is not rigorous as presented here. The methodology seems potentially useful for many problems concerning flows on this class of random networks. Making arguments rigorous is a challenging open problem.
Supply Contracts with Financial Hedging
Authors: Caldentey René , Haugh Martin B.
Published: October 2008

We study the performance of a stylized supply chain where two firms, a retailer and a producer, compete in a Stackelberg game. The retailer purchases a single product from the producer and afterward sells it in the retail market at a stochastic clearance price. The retailer, however, is budget constrained and is therefore limited in the number of units that he may purchase from the producer. We also assume that the retailer's profit depends in part on the realized path or terminal value of some observable stochastic process. We interpret this process as a financial process such as a foreign exchange rate or interest rate. More generally, the process can be interpreted as any relevant economic index. We consider a variation (the flexible contract) of the traditional wholesale price contract that is offered by the producer to the retailer. Under this flexible contract, at t = 0 the producer offers a menu of wholesale prices to the retailer, one for each realization of the financial process up to a future time τ. The retailer then commits to purchasing at time τ a variable number of units, with the specific quantity depending on the realization of the process up to time τ. Because of the retailer's budget constraint, the supply chain might be more profitable if the retailer was able to shift some of the budget from states where the constraint is not binding to states where it is binding. We therefore consider a variation of the flexible contract, where we assume that the retailer is able to trade dynamically between zero and τ in the financial market. We refer to this variation as the flexible contract with hedging. We compare the decentralized competitive solution for the two contracts with the solutions obtained by a central planner. We also compare the supply chain's performance across the two contracts. We find, for example, that the producer always prefers the flexible contract with hedging to the flexible contract without hedging. Depending on model parameters, however, the retailer might or might not prefer the flexible contract with hedging.
Omitting Meaningless Digits in Point Estimates: The Probability Guarantee of Leading-Digit Rules
Authors: Song Wheyming T. , Schmeiser Bruce W.
Published: October 2008

Motivated by the question of which point-estimator digits to report in a statistical experiment, we study the probabilistic behavior of the digits as a function of the true performance measure and the point estimator's standard error. We investigate the family of Leading-Digit Rules, which guarantees that every unreported digit has correctness probability below a given threshold. Choosing the threshold to be about 0.198 yields Yoneda's rule. The easy-to-implement rule that reports the point estimate through the leading digit of the standard error has threshold (approximately) 0.117, which is not much larger than the one-in-ten probability of a uniformly distributed random digit being correct.
Coalition Stability in Assembly Models
Authors: Nagarajan Mahesh , Sošić Greys
Published: October 2008

In this paper, we study dynamic supplier alliances in a decentralized assembly system. We examine a supply chain in which n suppliers sell complementary components to a downstream assembler, who faces a price-sensitive deterministic demand. We analyze alliance/coalition formation between suppliers, using a two-stage approach. In Stage 1, suppliers form coalitions that each agree to sell a kit of components to the assembler. In Stage 2, coalitions make wholesale price decisions, whereas the assembler buys the components (kits) from the coalitions and sets the selling price of the product. Stage 2 is modeled as a competitive game, in which the primary competition is vertical (i.e., supplier coalitions compete against the downstream assembler), and the secondary competition is horizontal, in that coalitions compete against each other. Here, we consider three modes of competition—Supplier Stackelberg, Vertical Nash, and Assembler Stackelberg models—that correspond to different power structures in the market. In Stage 1, we analyze the stability of coalition structures. We assume that suppliers are farsighted, that is, each coalition considers the possibility that once it acts, another coalition may react, and a third coalition might in turn react, and so on. Using this framework, we predict the structure of possible supplier alliances as a function of the power structure in the market, the number of suppliers, and the structure of the demand.
Expectant Management of Pneumothorax in Ventilated Neonates
Authors: Litmanovitz Ita , Carlo Waldemar A.
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and outcome of managing a pneumothorax without tube thoracostomy and to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics that distinguish infants with a pneumothorax who can be treated without chest-tube insertion.

METHODS. A retrospective study was performed of neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University at Alabama at Birmingham from 1992 to 2005 and had a pneumothorax while on mechanical ventilation. Infant characteristics, respiratory and radiologic diagnoses, and respiratory management data (ventilator settings and blood gases) were compared between infants who initially were treated with a chest tube versus those initially treated without a chest tube.

RESULTS. A total of 136 ventilated infants with pneumothorax while on a ventilator were included in the final analysis; 101 (74%) were treated initially with a chest tube and 35 (26%) without a chest tube. Of those who did not receive a chest tube initially, 14 were treated with needle aspiration and 21 with expectant treatment. Infants who were treated initially without a chest tube were on a lower ventilator settings (mean airway pressure and fraction of inspired oxygen) and had better blood gases (arterial oxygen saturation, Pco2, and pH) compared with infants who were treated with a chest tube. Infants who were treated initially with needle aspiration were more likely to require subsequent chest-tube insertion than infants who had expectant treatment (43% vs 10%).

CONCLUSIONS. It is possible to treat expectantly without initial chest-tube placement a select group of ventilated neonates with pneumothorax.
Clinical Predictors of Lyme Disease Among Children With a Peripheral Facial Palsy at an Emergency Department in a Lyme Disease–Endemic Area
Authors: Nigrovic Lise E. , Thompson Amy D. , Fine Andrew M. , Kimia Amir
Published: October 2008

INTRODUCTION. Although Lyme disease can cause peripheral facial palsy in Lyme disease–endemic areas, diagnostic predictors in children have not been described.

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to determine clinical predictors of Lyme disease as the etiology of peripheral facial palsy in children presenting to an emergency department in a Lyme disease–endemic area.

METHODS. We reviewed all available electronic medical charts of children ≤20 years old with peripheral facial palsy who were evaluated in the emergency department of a tertiary care pediatric center from 1995 to 2007. We used the Centers for Disease Control Lyme disease definition: presence of erythema migrans lesion or serologic evidence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. We performed binary logistic regression with bootstrapping validation to determine independent clinical predictors of Lyme disease.

RESULTS. We identified 313 patients with peripheral facial palsy evaluated for Lyme disease. The mean age was 10.7 years, and 52% were male. Of these, 106 (34%) had Lyme disease facial palsy. After adjusting for year of study, the following were independently associated with Lyme disease facial palsy: onset of symptoms during peak Lyme disease season (June to October), absence of previous herpetic lesions, presence of fever, and history of headache. In the subset of patients without meningitis, both onset of symptoms during Lyme disease season and presence of headache remained significant independent predictors.

CONCLUSIONS. Lyme disease is a frequent cause of facial palsy in children living in an endemic region. Serologic testing and empiric antibiotics should be strongly considered, especially when children present during peak Lyme disease season or with a headache.
Estradiol induces type 8 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression: crosstalk between estrogen receptor α and C/EBPβ
Authors: Rotinen Mirja , Celay Jon , Alonso Marta M , Arrazola Aranzazu , Encio Ignacio , Villar Joaquin
Published: October 2008

Hydroxysteroid (17-beta) dehydrogenase (HSD17B) are the enzymes responsible for the reversible interconversion of 17-hydroxy and 17-keto steroids. The human and mouse type 8 17β-HSD (HSD17B8) selectively catalyze the conversion ofestradiol (E2) to estrone (E1). We previously described thatHSD17B8 is transcriptionally regulated by C/EBPβ, andthat C/EBPβ is bound to CCAAT boxes located at −5 and −46 of the transcription start site in basal conditions in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, ectopic expression of C/EBPβ transactivated the HSD17B8 promoter activity. Here, we show that HSD17B8 expression is up-regulated in response toE2 in the estrogen receptor α (ERα) positive MCF-7 cells. Results showed that this induction is mediated by ERα because i) E2 did not induce HSD17B8 expression in ERαnegative HepG2 cells, ii) ectopic expression of ERα restored E2-induced HSD17B8 expression, and iii) this induction wasblocked by the anti-ER ICI 182 780. Additional experiments showed that no estrogen response element was necessary for this regulation. However, the CCAAT boxes located at the HSD17B8 proximal promoter were required for E2-induced transcription. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed tethering of ERαtoC/EBPβ inresponse to E2 in cells expressing ERα. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that, in response to E2, ERα is recruited to the CCAAT boxes in which C/EBPβ is already bound. Taken together, our results reveal that ERα is involved in the transcriptional regulation ofHSD17B8gene in response to E2 through its interaction with C/EBPβ.
Estradiol increases angiotensin II type 1 receptor in hearts of ovariectomized rats
Authors: Ricchiuti Vincent , Lian Christine G , Oestreicher Eveline M , Tran Loc , Stone James R , Yao Tham , Seely Ellen W , Williams Gordon H , Adler Gail K
Published: October 2008

We tested the hypothesis that 17β-estradiol (E2) has dual effects on the heart, increasing levels of proteins thought to have beneficial cardiovascular effects (e.g. endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)) as well as those thought to have detrimental cardiovascular effects (e.g. type 1 angiotensin II (AngII) receptor (AT1R)). Ovariectomized Wistar rats consuming a high-sodium diet received one of four treatments (n=7 per group): group 1, placebo pellets; group 2, E2(0.5 mg/pellet, 21-day release); group 3, NOS inhibitor,Nω-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester (l-NAME; 40 mg/kg per day for 14 days) plus Ang II (0.225 mg/kg per day on days 11–14); group 4, E2plusl-NAME/Ang II. E2increased cardiac levels of estrogen receptors ESR1 and ESR2, an ESR-associated membrane protein caveolin-3, eNOS, and phosphorylated (p)eNOS, thus, exerting potentially beneficial cardiovascular effects on NO. However, E2also increased cardiac levels of proteins associated with cardiovascular injury and inflammation including, AT1R, protein kinase C delta (PRKCD), phosphorylated PRKC, and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (pMAPK)3/1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), osteopontin and ED-1, a monocyte/macrophage-specific protein. E2treatment led to similar protein changes in the hearts ofl-NAME/Ang II-treated rats except that the increase in peNOS was prevented, andl-NAME/Ang II and E2had additive effects in increasing cardiac PRKCD and PAI-1. Thus, the highest levels of cardiac PAI-1 and PRKCD occurred inl-NAME/Ang II-treated rats receiving E2. In summary, E2treatment increased cardiac expression of AT1R as well as the expression of pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic factors.
Briefing: Breeam 2008: moving beyond excellence
Authors: Yates Alan
Published: October 2008

With a track record of nearly two decades, BRE's environmental assessment method (Breeam) for buildings is now firmly established as a world leader. Alan Yates of BRE reports on the latest updates to the scheme, including new versions for healthcare and education facilities.
Hong Kong – bastion of bamboo scaffolding
Authors: Ramanathan Muthukaruppan
Published: October 2008

Hong Kong's skyline is dominated by some of the world's tallest buildings. Nevertheless, the city still uses bamboo scaffolding for much of its construction work – a traditional skill passed down over 5000 years. Bamboo is sustainable, lightweight and cheap and, as long as it remains fairly dry, a good construction material with significant mechanical properties. Researchers, engineers, environmentalists and bureaucrats have taken an increasing interest in the craft, such that regulations and practice continue to be improved and refined. However, to alleviate remaining design and safety concerns a structural design code is needed.
Hybrid corrosion protection of chloride-contaminated concrete
Authors: Glass G. K. , Roberts A. C. , Davison N.
Published: October 2008

This paper examines steel corrosion initiation and arrest in chloride-contaminated concrete. Corrosion damage is, at least in part, attributed to the production of acid at sites of corrosion initiation. Solid phase inhibitors provide a reservoir of hydroxyl ions to inhibit damage. Pit re-alkalisation is identified as an important protective effect in electrochemical treatments used to arrest corrosion. An acidification–pit-re-alkalisation model is used to explain the lateral spread of chloride-induced corrosion across a steel surface, the time required to arrest corrosion in cathodic protection and the potential shifts observed as protection is achieved. The process of pit re-alkalisation may be achieved using a relatively small electric charge that is readily impressed off sacrificial anodes using a power supply. A simple but powerful electrochemical treatment comprises a hybrid of a brief pit-re-alkalisation process to arrest corrosion followed by low maintenance galvanic protection to prevent local acidification. Methods of monitoring the steel corrosion rate in electrochemically treated concrete have been developed and used to assess corrosion risk. The brief pit-re-alkalisation process may be applied at any time using the existing anode system to manage future corrosion risk.
The Borel Hierarchy Theorem from Brouwer's intuitionistic perspective
Authors: Veldman Wim
Published: October 2008

In intuitionistic analysis, Brouwer's Continuity Principle implies, together with an Axiom of Countable Choice, that the positively Borel sets form a genuinely growing hierarchy: every level of the hierarchy contains sets that do not occur at any lower level.
Flat algebras and the translation of universal Horn logic to equational logic
Authors: Jackson Marcel
Published: October 2008

We describe which subdirectly irreducible flat algebras arise in the variety generated by an arbitrary class of flat algebras with absorbing bottom element. This is used to give an elementary translation of the universal Horn logic of algebras, partial algebras, and more generally still, partial structures into the equational logic of conventional algebras. A number of examples and corollaries follow. For example, the problem of deciding which finite algebras of some fixed type have a finite basis for their quasi-identities is shown to be equivalent to the finite identity basis problem for the finite members of a finiteiy based variety with definable principal congruences.
First-order and counting theories ofω-automatic structures
Authors: Kuske Dietrich , Lohrey Markus
Published: October 2008

The logicextends first-order logic by a generalized form of counting quantifiers (“the number of elements satisfying … belongs to the setC”). This logic is investigated for structures with an injectivelyω-automatic presentation. If first-order logic is extended by an infinity-quantifier, the resulting theory of any such structure is known to be decidable [6]. It is shown that, as in the case of automatic structures [21], also modulo-counting quantifiers as well as infinite cardinality quantifiers (“there aremany elements satisfying …”) lead to decidable theories. For a structure of bounded degree with injectiveω-automatic presentation, the fragment ofthat contains only effective quantifiers is shown to be decidable and an elementary algorithm for this decision is presented. Both assumptions (ω-automaticity and bounded degree) are necessary for this result to hold.
Canonical bases in excellent classes
Authors: Hyttinen Tapani , Lessmann Olivier
Published: October 2008

We show that any (atomic) excellent class can be expanded with hyperimaginaries to form an (atomic) excellent class which has canonical bases. When is, in addition, of finite U-rank, then is also simple and has a full canonical bases theorem. This positive situation contrasts starkly with homogeneous model theory for example, where the eq-expansion may fail to be homogeneous. However, this paper shows that expanding an ω-stable, homogeneous class gives rise to an excellent class, which is simple if is of finite U-rank.
Closed maximality principles: implications, separations and combinations
Authors: Fuchs Gunter
Published: October 2008

I investigate versions of the Maximality Principles for the classes of forcings which are <κ-closed, <κ-directed-closed, or of the form Col(κ, <λ). These principles come in many variants, depending on the parameters which are allowed, I shall write MPΓ (A) for the maximality principle for forcings in Γ, with parameters from A. The main results of this paper are:

• The principles have many consequences, such as <κ-closed-generic (Hκ) absoluteness, and imply, e.g., that ◊κ holds. I give an application to the automorphism tower problem, showing that there are Souslin trees which are able to realize any equivalence relation, and hence that there are groups whose automorphism tower is highly sensitive to forcing.

• The principles can be separated into a hierarchy which is strict, for many κ.

• Some of the principles can be combined, in the sense that they can hold at many different κ simultaneously.

The possibilities of combining the principles are limited, though: While it is consistent that MP<κ-closed(Hκ +) holds at all regular κ below any fixed α, the “global” maximality principle, stating that MP<κ-closed (Hκ ∪ {κ} ) holds at every regular κ, is inconsistent. In contrast to this, it is equiconsistent with ZFC that the maximality principle for directed-closed forcings without any parameters holds at every regular cardinal. It is also consistent that every local statement with parameters from Hκ⊦ that's provably <κ-closed-forceably necessary is true, for all regular κ.
Hierarchies of forcing axioms I
Authors: Neeman Itay , Schimmerling Ernest
Published: October 2008

We prove new upper bound theorems on the consistency strengths of SPFA(θ), SPFA(θ-linked) and SPFA(θ+ -cc). Our results are in terms of (θ, Γ)-subcompactness, which is a new large cardinal notion that combines the ideas behind subcompactness and Γ-indescribability. Our upper bound for SPFA(ϲ-linked) has a corresponding lower bound, which is due to Neeman and appears in his follow-up to this paper. As a corollary, SPFA(ϲ-linked) and PFA(ϲ-linked) are each equiconsistent with the existence of a -indescribable cardinal. Our upper bound for SPFA(ϲ-c.c) is a -indescribable cardinal, which is consistent with V = L. Our upper bound for SPFA(ϲ+-linked) is a cardinals κ that is (κ+,)-subcompact, which is strictly weaker than κ+-supercompact. The axiom MM(ϲ) is a consequence of SPFA(ϲ+-linked) by a slight refinement of a theorem of Shelah. Our upper bound for SPFA(ϲ++-c.c.) is a cardinal κ that is (κ+, )-subcompact, which is also strictly weaker than κ+-supercompact.
Compensation and Incentives in the Mortgage Business
Authors: Quigley John M.
Published: October 2008

John Quigley, a Berkeley economics professor and an expert on housing markets, argues that poor incentive contracts in the mortgage industry helped cause the present mess and suggests simple steps to align industry incentives with the public interest.
The Case against Housing Price Supports
Authors: Glaeser Edward L , Gyourko Joseph
Published: October 2008

Economists and politicians have eagerly proposed policies aimed at stopping the decline in housing prices. The government can't and shouldn't be trying to stop price declines, according to Edward Glaeser of Harvard and Joseph Gyourko of Wharton.
Hypoglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Oscillatoria limnetica, Blennothrix ganeshii, Hydrodictyon reticulatum and Microcoleous lacustris in Normal and Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Perez Gutierrez Rosa Martha , Vargas Rosario , Mota Flores Jose Maria , Hernandez Garrido Sergio
Published: October 2008

Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae are an ancient group of photosynthetic prokaryotes that are found in aquatic environments throughout the world. There is an increasing body of evidence that cyanobacteria produce a wide array of low molecular weight secondary metabolites with biological activity and, as such there are recognized as an excellent source of novel pharmaceuticals. The antidiabetic effect of water extracts of freshwater algae Oscillatoria limnetica, Blennothrix ganeshii and Microcoleous lacustris were studied in normal alloxan induced diabetic mice at doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg. Sugar levels were measured by using the GOD-POD method. Extracts from algae produced a dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose levels. It also compared well with the effect of tolbutamide. This study shows that algae extracts have significant activity on glucose levels in rats.
ANALYSIS OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON F SCORES AND EVALUATION OF NEW CONFIGURATIONS OF F SCALES
Authors: Gong Jingjing , Miao Danmin , Zhu Xia , Xiao Wei , Zhang Yan
Published: October 2008

We analyzed the influence of demographic factors on scores of the Infrequency scale of the MMPI (Archer, Gordon, & Kirchner, 1987) administered to male youth in China. The demographic factors, acting as influencing factors of F scores, could be ignored. New configurations of infrequency
scales were presented and discussed, which indicated that it was appropriate to choose a 20% item endorsement percentage (IEP) of the Chinese male youth as the criterion for item selection.
A PHYSICAL SELF-EFFICACY SCALE FOR CHILDREN
Authors: Colella Dario , Morano Milena , Bortoli Laura , Robazza Claudio
Published: October 2008

The purpose of the study was to develop a physical self-efficacy scale to assess children's perception of personal strength, speed, and coordinative abilities. A 6-item scale, titled Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children, was presented to a sample of 1914 children, 997
girls and 917 boys, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years, drawn from 15 elementary schools representing different regions of Italy. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the data provided support for the internal validity and reliability of a single factor structure of the scale across
sex and age categories. It is argued that the scale can be used for both research and applied purposes.
Adiponectin Upregulates Ferritin Heavy Chain in Skeletal Muscle Cells
Authors: Ikegami Yuichi , Inukai Kouichi , Imai Kenta , Sakamoto Yasushi , Katagiri Hideki , Kurihara Susumu , Awata Takuya , Katayama Shigehiro
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived protein that acts to reduce insulin resistance in the liver and muscle and also inhibits atherosclerosis. Although adiponectin reportedly enhances AMP-activated protein kinase and inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α action downstream from the adiponectin signal, the precise physiological mechanisms by which adiponectin acts on skeletal muscles remain unknown.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We treated murine primary skeletal muscle cells with recombinant full-length human adiponectin for 12 h and searched, using two-dimensional electrophoresis, for proteins upregulated more than threefold by adiponectin compared with untreated cells.

RESULTS—We found one protein that was increased 6.3-fold with adiponectin incubation. MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization−top of flight) mass spectrometric analysis identified this protein as ferritin heavy chain (FHC). When murine primary skeletal muscle cells were treated with adiponectin, IκB-α phosphorylation was observed, suggesting that adiponectin stimulates nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity. In addition, FHC upregulation by adiponectin was inhibited by NF-κB inhibitors. These results suggest NF-κB activation to be involved in FHC upregulation by adiponectin. Other NF-κB target genes, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were also increased by adiponectin treatment. We performed a reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay using CM-H2DCFDA fluorescence and found that ROS-reducing effects of adiponectin were abrogated by FHC or MnSOD small-interfering RNA induction.

CONCLUSIONS—We have demonstrated that adiponectin upregulates FHC in murine skeletal muscle tissues, suggesting that FHC elevation might partially explain how adiponectin protects against oxidative stress in skeletal muscles.
Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Genes Influencing Plasma Triglyceride Levels in the Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study
Authors: Coletta Dawn K. , Schneider Jennifer , Hu Shirley L. , Dyer Thomas D. , Puppala Sobha , Farook Vidya S. , Arya Rector , Lehman Donna M. , Blangero John , DeFronzo Ralph A. , Duggirala Ravindranath , Jenkinson Christopher P.
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Elevated plasma triglyceride concentration is a component of the insulin resistance syndrome and is commonly associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and coronary heart disease. The goal of our study was to perform a genome-wide linkage scan to identify genetic regions that influence variation in plasma triglyceride levels in families that are enriched with individuals with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We used phenotypic and genotypic data from 1,026 individuals distributed across 294 Mexican-American families, who were ascertained for type 2 diabetes, from the Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study (VAGES). Plasma triglyceride values were transformed, and a variance-components technique was used to conduct multipoint linkage analysis.

RESULTS—After adjusting for the significant effects of sex and BMI, heritability for plasma triglycerides was estimated as 46 ± 7% (P < 0.0001). Multipoint linkage analysis yielded the strongest evidence for linkage of plasma triglycerides near marker D12S391 on chromosome 12p (logarithm of odds [LOD] = 2.4). Our linkage signal on chromosome 12p provides independent replication of a similar finding in another Mexican-American sample from the San Antonio Family Diabetes Study (SAFDS). Combined multipoint linkage analysis of the VAGES and SAFDS data yielded significant evidence for linkage of plasma triglycerides to a genetic location between markers GATA49D12 and D12S391 on 12p (LOD = 3.8, empirical P value = 2.0 × 10−5). This region on 12p harbors the gene-encoding adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2), where we previously have shown that multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with plasma triglyceride concentrations in the SAFDS. In the present study, we provided suggestive evidence in favor of association for rs929434 with triglyceride concentrations in the VAGES.

CONCLUSIONS—Collectively, these results provide strong evidence for a major locus on chromosome 12p that influences plasma triglyceride levels in Mexican Americans.
Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 (TCF7L2) Polymorphism and Context-Specific Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in African American and Caucasian Adults
Authors: Yan Yu , North Kari E. , Ballantyne Christie M. , Brancati Frederick L. , Chambless Lloyd E. , Franceschini Nora , Heiss Gerardo , Kottgen Anna , Pankow James S. , Selvin Elizabeth , West Suzanne L. , Boerwinkle Eric
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Although variants in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene are consistently associated with type 2 diabetes, large population-based studies of African Americans are lacking. Moreover, few studies have investigated the effects of TCF7L2 on type 2 diabetes in the context of metabolic risk factors of type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We investigated the association between the TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism and type 2 diabetes in 2,727 African American and 9,302 Caucasian participants without diabetes who were inducted into the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study in 1987–1989 and followed for 9 years.

RESULTS—A total of 485 and 923 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified in African Americans and Caucasians, respectively. Compared with homozygous CC individuals, heterozygous CT and homozygous TT individuals had higher cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes over 9 years of follow-up: 11.3% (95% CI 10.2–12.4) vs. 21.1% (20.8–21.4) and 27.9% (19.3–36.5) in African Americans, respectively, and 9.7% (8.8–10.6) vs. 11.3% (10.2–12.4) and 13.6% (11.1–16.1), respectively, in Caucasians. Individuals with the risk allele had the highest hazards of diabetes if they were obese and had low HDL cholesterol, followed by individuals with any one and none of the traits.

CONCLUSIONS—Our study provides the first significant evidence of association between the TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism and type 2 diabetes risk in a large African American population and also demonstrates that the diabetes risk conveyed by the rs7903146 risk allele is substantially increased in the context of some metabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Our study findings need to be replicated in other large, population-based studies.
Interleukin-6 Receptor Gene, Plasma C-Reactive Protein, and Diabetes Risk in Women
Authors: Qi Lu , Rifai Nader , Hu Frank B.
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) related common variants in the interleukin-6 (Il-6) receptor (IL6R) gene to plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Because IL6R variants were previously associated with IL-6 levels, we tested whether the associations with CRP were independent of IL-6 and the interactions between IL6R variants and CRP in relation to diabetes risk.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Plasma CRP and IL-6 levels and 10 IL6R polymorphisms were determined in a nested case-control study of 633 diabetic and 692 healthy Caucasian women.

RESULTS—In both nondiabetic and diabetic women, IL6R polymorphisms were associated with plasma CRP levels, independent of IL-6 concentration. After adjustment of IL-6 levels, CRP concentrations in the genotype AA, AC, and CC of the GWAS polymorphism rs8192284 were 0.32, 0.26, and 0.24 pg/ml, respectively, among nondiabetic women (P for trend = 0.003; false discovery rate [FDR] = 0.01) and 0.63, 0.48, and 0.43 pg/ml among diabetic women (P for trend <0.0001; FDR = 0.0001). Haplotypes inferred from polymorphisms within a linkage disequilibrium block including rs8192284 were also significantly associated with CRP levels (P = 0.0002). In an exploratory analysis, rs8192284 showed significant interactions with CRP levels in relation to diabetes risk (P for interaction = 0.026). The odds ratios across increasing quartiles of CRP were 2.19 (95% CI 1.42–3.36), 2.03 (1.27–3.23), and 2.92 (1.77–4.82) in the carriers of allele-C and 2.21 (1.18–4.12), 3.77 (1.87–7.57), and 5.02 (2.4–10.5) in the noncarriers.

CONCLUSIONS—IL6R variants were significantly associated with plasma CRP, independent of IL-6 levels. IL6R variants may interact with CRP in predicting diabetes risk.
Cortisol Release From Adipose Tissue by 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Humans
Authors: Stimson Roland H. , Andersson Jonas , Andrew Ruth , Redhead Doris N. , Karpe Fredrik , Hayes Peter C. , Olsson Tommy , Walker Brian R.
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) regenerates cortisol from cortisone. 11β-HSD1 mRNA and activity are increased in vitro in subcutaneous adipose tissue from obese patients. Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 is a promising therapeutic approach in type 2 diabetes. However, release of cortisol by 11β-HSD1 from adipose tissue and its effect on portal vein cortisol concentrations have not been quantified in vivo.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Six healthy men underwent 9,11,12,12-[2H]4-cortisol infusions with simultaneous sampling of arterialized and superficial epigastric vein blood sampling. Four men with stable chronic liver disease and a transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt in situ underwent tracer infusion with simultaneous sampling from the portal vein, hepatic vein, and an arterialized peripheral vein.

RESULTS—Significant cortisol and 9,12,12-[2H]3-cortisol release were observed from subcutaneous adipose tissue (15.0 [95% CI 0.4–29.5] and 8.7 [0.2–17.2] pmol · min−1 · 100 g−1 adipose tissue, respectively). Splanchnic release of cortisol and 9,12,12-[2H]3-cortisol (13.5 [3.6–23.5] and 8.0 [2.6–13.5] nmol/min, respectively) was accounted for entirely by the liver; release of cortisol from visceral tissues into portal vein was not detected.

CONCLUSIONS—Cortisol is released from subcutaneous adipose tissue by 11β-HSD1 in humans, and increased enzyme expression in obesity is likely to increase local glucocorticoid signaling and contribute to whole-body cortisol regeneration. However, visceral adipose 11β-HSD1 activity is insufficient to increase portal vein cortisol concentrations and hence to influence intrahepatic glucocorticoid signaling.
Role of Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in the Development and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Kanwar Mamta , Kowluru Renu A.
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Mitochondrial superoxide levels are elevated in the retina in diabetes, and manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression prevents the development of retinopathy. Superoxide inhibits glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which activates major pathways implicated in diabetic complications, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), protein kinase C, and hexosamine pathway. Our aim is to investigate the role of GAPDH in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and to elucidate the mechanism.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were in a state of poor control (GHb >11%) for 12 months, good control (GHb <7) soon after induction of diabetes, or poor control for 6 months with 6 months’ good control. Retinal GAPDH, its ribosylation and nitration, AGEs, and PKC activation were determined and correlated with microvascular histopathology.

RESULTS—In rats with poor control, retinal GAPDH activity and expressions were subnormal with increased ribosylation and nitration (25–30%). GAPDH activity was subnormal in both cytosol and nuclear fractions, but its protein expression and nitration were significantly elevated in nuclear fraction. Reinstitution of good control failed to protect inactivation of GAPDH, its covalent modification, and translocation to the nucleus. PKC, AGEs, and hexosamine pathways remained activated, and microvascular histopathology was unchanged. However, GAPDH and its translocation in good control rats were similar to those in normal rats.

CONCLUSIONS—GAPDH plays a significant role in the development of diabetic retinopathy and its progression after cessation of hyperglycemia. Thus, therapies targeted toward preventing its inhibition may inhibit development of diabetic retinopathy and arrest its progression.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Upsets the Proportion of Fatty Acids in Umbilical Arterial but Not Venous Plasma
Authors: Ortega-Senovilla Henar , Alvino Gioia , Taricco Emanuela , Cetin Irene , Herrera Emilio
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Neonates of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have reduced levels of arachidonic acid (AA) (20:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6 n-3). To assess whether this is the result of impaired placental transfer or endogenous fetal metabolism, fatty acids in umbilical venous and arterial plasma were analyzed in neonates of GDM women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography in the plasma of 15 subjects with GDM and 30 healthy control subjects undergoing elective cesarean section and in vein and artery cord blood collected separately.

RESULTS—The percentages of AA (20:4 n-6), DHA (22:6 n-3), and total n-6 or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as well as total PUFAs were lower in umbilical arterial but not in venous plasma of neonates of the GDM versus the control group.

CONCLUSIONS—An altered handling or metabolism of long-chain PUFAs by the fetus rather than impaired placental transfer seems to be responsible for the lower proportion of those fatty acids in the plasma of neonates of GDM mothers.
Ex Vivo and In Vivo Regulation of Lipocalin-2, a Novel Adipokine, by Insulin
Authors: Tan Bee K. , Adya Raghu , Shan Xiaoye , Syed Farhatullah , Lewandowski Krzysztof C. , O'Hare John P. , Randeva Harpal S.
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—Lipocalin-2, a novel adipokine, has been shown to be elevated in obese, insulin-resistant, and diabetic subjects. We therefore sought to study the ex vivo and in vivo effects of insulin on lipocalin-2 levels in humans.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We investigated the in vivo effects of insulin (hyperinsulinemia) on circulating lipocalin-2 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay via a prolonged insulin-glucose infusion. The ex vivo effect of insulin on adipose tissue lipocalin-2 protein production and secretion into conditioned media was assessed by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTS—Hyperinsulinemic induction in human subjects significantly increased circulating lipocalin-2 levels (P < 0.01). Also, in omental adipose tissue explants, insulin caused a significant dose-dependent increase in lipocalin-2 protein production and secretion into conditioned media (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively); these effects were negated by both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS—Lipocalin-2 is upregulated by insulin via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.
Population-Based Study on the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Orthostatic Hypotension in Subjects With Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes
Authors: Wu Jin-Shang , Yang Yi-Ching , Lu Feng-Hwa , Wu Chih-Hsing , Wang Ru-Hsueh , Chang Chih-Jen
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-diabetes and orthostatic hypotension and to examine the prevalence and correlates of orthostatic hypotension in community dwellers with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), pre-diabetes, and diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—All participants were classified as having NGT (n = 1,069), pre-diabetes (n = 412), or diabetes (n = 157). Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a decline in systolic/diastolic blood pressure of ≥20/10 mmHg when an individual changed from a supine to a standing position. The cardiovagal response to standing was the ratio between the longest RR interval around beat 30 and the shortest RR interval around beat 15 after standing (30 max–to–15 min ratio).

RESULTS—The prevalences of orthostatic hypotension were 13.8, 17.7, and 25.5% in subjects with NGT, pre-diabetes, and diabetes, respectively. For all subjects, age, diabetes, hypertension, and a decreased 30 max–to–15 min ratio, but not pre-diabetes, were independently associated with orthostatic hypotension. Age, hypertension, and 30 max–to–15 min ratio were the correlates of orthostatic hypotension in NGT subjects. Age and hypertension were related to orthostatic hypotension in pre-diabetic subjects. A1C and hypertension were the determinants of orthostatic hypotension in diabetic subjects. Supine blood pressure was related to orthostatic hypotension in all subjects and subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS—Pre-diabetic subjects do not have a higher risk of orthostatic hypotension than subjects with NGT, although the risk of orthostatic hypotension is higher in diabetic subjects. Hypertension and supine blood pressure were risk factors for orthostatic hypotension in both pre-diabetic and diabetic subjects. Age and A1C were the correlates of orthostatic hypotension in pre-diabetic and diabetic subjects, respectively. The cardiovagal response to standing is an important determinant of orthostatic hypotension in subjects with NGT but not in pre-diabetic and diabetic subjects.
Effects of Titanium Dioxide on The Diseases, Development and Yield of Edible Cowpea
Authors: Owolade Oluwaferanmi , Ogunleti David
Published: October 2008

Effects of Titanium Dioxide on The Diseases, Development and Yield of Edible Cowpea

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is being considered as a growth promoter that plays the function of antibiotics in cowpea (Vigna unguiculataWalp) production in Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the influence/effect of TiO2on the development yield and diseases of cowpea. Two treatments of TiO2at 125 cc/ha significantly improved the development and yield and reduced the severity of foliar and pod diseases of cowpea compared to a single treatment at lower concentrations. Irrespective of the number of sprays and concentrations TiO2increased the yield of cowpea by 8.74-36.11%, and 10.33-51.31% respectively, in both years.