bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral mucosal involvement as the sole or main manifestation of linear IgA disease: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Betts A. , Yeoman C.M. , Farthing P.M.
Published: April 2010

Background:  Linear IgA disease is a rare autoimmune subepithelial blistering condition that predominantly affects the skin. Lesions also commonly occur on mucosal surfaces, including the oral mucosa. Demonstration by direct immunofluorescence of IgA deposits in a linear pattern along the basement membrane zone is required for diagnosis.

Case report:  A case of linear IgA disease in which oral mucosal involvement remained the sole manifestation of the disease for twenty‐three years is presented.

Literature review:  A review of the literature revealed seventeen cases in which the disease manifested itself principally in the oral mucosa. Desquamative gingivitis or gingival erythema appears to be the most common manifestation of the disease. Vesicles and bullae, shallow ulcers, erosions, white striae and white patches are also commonly seen. There may be considerable clinical and histological overlap with other diseases, principally mucous membrane pemphigoid and lichen planus.

Conclusion:  Although a number of case reports have been published describing instances in which oral mucosal involvement was the only or main manifestation of the disease, the fact that linear IgA disease can manifest itself as a predominantly oral mucosal condition is not widely appreciated by clinicians. This may lead to potentially serious delays in arriving at the correct diagnosis in these cases.
Cryptic vector divergence masks vector‐specific patterns of infection: an example from the marine cycle of Lyme borreliosis
Authors: Gómez‐Díaz Elena , Doherty Jr Paul F. , Duneau David , McCoy Karen D.
Published: April 2010

Vector organisms are implicated in the transmission of close to a third of all infectious diseases. In many cases, multiple vectors (species or populations) can participate in transmission but may contribute differently to disease ecology and evolution. The presence of cryptic vector populations can be particularly problematic as differences in infection can be difficult to evaluate and may lead to erroneous evolutionary and epidemiological inferences. Here, we combine site‐occupancy modeling and molecular assays to evaluate patterns of infection in the marine cycle of Lyme borreliosis, involving colonial seabirds, the tickIxodes uriae, and bacteria of theBorrelia burgdorferi s.l.complex. In this cycle, the tick vector consists of multiple, cryptic (phenotypically undistinguishable but genetically distinct) host races that are frequently found in sympatry. Our results show that bacterial detection varies strongly among tick races leading to vector‐specific biases if raw counts are used to calculateBorreliaprevalence. These differences are largely explained by differences in infection intensity among tick races. After accounting for detection probabilities, we found that overall prevalence in this system is higher than previously suspected and that certain vector–host combinations likely contribute more than others to the local dynamics and large‐scale dispersal ofBorreliaspirochetes. These results highlight the importance of evaluating vector population structure and accounting for detection probability when trying to understand the evolutionary ecology of vector‐borne diseases.
Predicting willingness‐to‐sell and its utility for assessing conservation opportunity for expanding protected area networks
Authors: Guerrero Angela M. , Knight Andrew T. , Grantham Hedley S. , Cowling Richard M. , Wilson Kerrie A.
Published: April 2010

Translating maps of priority areas for conservation into activities which actually secure these places is a complex process, overwhelmingly influenced by human and social factors. Spatial conservation prioritizations often assume that land is available for acquisition. Using data gathered through interviews, we predicted land managers willingness‐to‐sell their land. We included this information in spatial prioritization analyses that aimed to identify areas that achieve conservation objectives while maximizing the probability that land will be available for acquisition. As anticipated, our solutions were more likely of being available for acquisition compared to solutions that did not include the willingness‐to‐sell data. Our results illustrate the trade‐off between designing so‐called “optimal” networks of protected areas, and the realities of translating these maps into on‐ground action. We demonstrate how an important aspect of the social context in which conservation is embedded and defines conservation opportunities can be explicitly accounted for in the development of conservation plans.
The natural environment is valuable but not infinitely valuable
Authors: Colyvan Mark , Justus James , Regan Helen M.
Published: April 2010

This article discusses the appeal to infinite value in environmental decision making. We argue that invoking infinite values as a means of faithfully representing the worth of certain parts of the natural environment is a mistake. Infinite values have a number of theoretical and practical problems associated with them. For example, we show that invoking infinite values makes it hard to motivate conservation management decisions with greater probability of success. It is also difficult to motivate decisions that lead to better environmental outcomes, such as an increase in the area of habitat preserved. The upshot is that environmental decision making would be crippled if infinite values were introduced.
Prospective randomized comparative study of macular thickness following phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery
Authors: Ghosh Sambuddha , Roy Indranil , Biswas Pradyot N. , Maji Dipankar , Mondal Lakshmi K. , Mukhopadhyay Subhalakshmi , Bhaduri Gautam
Published: April 2010

Purpose:  To compare macular thickness following uncomplicated phacoemulsification with foldable acrylic lens and manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) with non‐foldable polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lens implantation.

Methods:  Prospective study was carried out with one eye each of 224 patients with senile cataract randomized into two groups, phacoemulsification and MSICS, by simple 1:1 randomization. Following surgery by either of the two methods, macular thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the 1st, 7th, 42nd and 180th postoperative day. Main outcome measure was postoperative macular thickness.

Results:  On the first postoperative day, central subfield mean thickness (CSMT) in MSICS group was 192.8 ± 17.9 μm and that in phacoemulsification group was 192.1 ± 27.4 μm, with no significant difference (p = 0.12). On the 7th day, CSMT in MSICS group (198.9 ± 21.4 μm) was significantly (p = 0.04) more than that in phacoemulsification group (193.1 ± 19.3 μm). On the 42nd day, CSMT in MSICS group was 207.8 ± 26.3 μm and that in phacoemulsification group was 198.3 ± 23 μm, the difference being significant (p = 0.007). Clinically macular oedema was not diagnosed in any of the patients at any visit. The increase in macular thickness was sub‐clinical and did not affect final visual outcome in any patient.

Conclusion:  In spite of the greater theoretical risk of increased postoperative inflammation following MSICS, there was no evidence of cystoid macular oedema, either clinically or on OCT. However, chance of sub‐clinical increase in CSMT was more following MSICS compared to phacoemulsification.
REVIEW: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: An Overview
Authors: Raja Shahzad G.
Published: April 2010

The last decade has seen major advances in the pharmacotherapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). One of these advances has been the discovery of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs). ERAs are a class of potent vasodilators and antimitotic substances, which could specifically dilate and remodel pulmonary arterial system, and have been proposed as an alternative to traditional therapies for PAH. Current available evidence suggests that ERAs improve exercise capacity, functional status, pulmonary hemodynamics, and delay the time to clinical worsening for patients with PAH. This review attempts to provide an overview of the pharmacology, therapeutic benefits, and safety profile of ERAs in patients with PAH.
Cohorts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inVitis vinifera, a typical Mediterranean fruit crop
Authors: Balestrini Raffaella , Magurno Franco , Walker Christopher , Lumini Erica , Bianciotto Valeria
Published: April 2010

In field conditions, grapevine roots normally are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, little is published, from either morphological or molecular studies, on the species composition of these symbionts in production vineyards. The AMF biodiversity of two Piedmont vineyards (at Neive and Lessona), characterized by different soil features, was investigated by morphological and molecular analyses. Several morphotypes were identified from the two vineyard soils. Community composition of AMF, both in soil and root samples, was then analysed with molecular approach to amplify a portion (550 bp) of AM fungal SSU rDNA. Phylogenetic analyses show a different distribution of sequences from the two sites in the main glomeromycotan groups. In the Neive site, theGlomeraceaegroup A is the only one well represented whereas more groups were found at Lessona. Among the more representative operational taxonomic units (OTUs), only one related to theGlomus irregularephylotype was shared between the two vineyard soils. The data obtained in this work together with similar results in literature on this important fruit crop reinforce the concept that the general AMF assemblage structure and composition in vineyards might be influenced more by soil type than by host plant features (age, vegetative stages) or management practices.
The Effects of Adverse Pressure Gradients on Momentum and Thermal Structures in Transitional Boundary Layers: Part 2—Fluctuation Quantities
Authors: Mislevy S. P. , Wang T.
Published: April 2010

The effects of adverse pressure gradients on the thermal and momentum characteristics of a heated transitional boundary layer were investigated with free-stream turbulence ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 percent. Boundary layer measurements were conducted for two constant-K cases, K1 = −0.51 × 10−6 and K2 = −1.05 × 10−6. The fluctuation quantities, u′, ν′, t′, the Reynolds shear stress (uν), and the Reynolds heat fluxes (νt and ut) were measured. In general, u′/U∞, ν′/U∞, and νt have higher values across the boundary layer for the adverse pressure-gradient cases than they do for the baseline case (K = 0). The development of ν′ for the adverse pressure gradients was more actively involved than that of the baseline. In the early transition region, the Reynolds shear stress distribution for the K2 case showed a near-wall region of high-turbulent shear generated at Y+ = 7. At stations farther downstream, this near-wall shear reduced in magnitude, while a second region of high-turbulent shear developed at Y+ = 70. For the baseline case, however, the maximum turbulent shear in the transition region was generated at Y+ = 70, and no near-wall high-shear region was seen. Stronger adverse pressure gradients appear to produce more uniform and higher t′ in the near-wall region (Y+ < 20) in both transitional and turbulent boundary layers. The instantaneous velocity signals did not show any clear turbulent/nonturbulent demarcations in the transition region. Increasingly stronger adverse pressure gradients seemed to produce large non turbulent unsteadiness (or instability waves) at a similar magnitude as the turbulent fluctuations such that the production of turbulent spots was obscured. The turbulent spots could not be identified visually or through conventional conditional-sampling schemes. In addition, the streamwise evolution of eddy viscosity, turbulent thermal diffusivity, and Prt, are also presented.
The Effect of High Free-Stream Turbulence on Film Cooling Effectiveness
Authors: Bons J. P. , MacArthur C. D. , Rivir R. B.
Published: April 2010

This study investigated the adiabatic wall cooling effectiveness of a single row of film cooling holes injecting into a turbulent flat plate boundary layer below a turbulent, zero pressure gradient free stream. Levels of free-stream turbulence (Tu) up to 17.4 percent were generated using a method that simulates conditions at a gas turbine combustor exit. Film cooling was injected from a single row of five 35 deg slant-hole injectors (length/diameter = 3.5, pitch/diameter = 3.0) at blowing ratios from 0.55 to 1.85 and at a nearly constant density ratio (coolant density/free-stream density) of 0.95. Film cooling effectiveness data are presented for Tu levels ranging from 0.9 to 17 percent at a constant free-stream Reynolds number based on injection hole diameter of 19,000. Results show that elevated levels of free-stream turbulence reduce film cooling effectiveness by up to 70 percent in the region directly downstream of the injection hole due to enhanced mixing. At the same time, high free-stream turbulence also produces a 50–100 percent increase in film cooling effectiveness in the region between injection holes. This is due to accelerated spanwise diffusion of the cooling fluid, which also produces an earlier merger of the coolant jets from adjacent holes.
Assessment of Two- and Three-Scale k–ε Models for Rotating Cavity Flows
Authors: Guo Z. , Rhode D. L.
Published: April 2010

A three-scale k–ε turbulence model was recently developed for complex flows such as the rotor–rotor and rotor–stator cavities found in gas turbine engines. The three-scale model is a logical extension of the previous two-scale k–ε model of Ko and Rhode (1990). Both multiscale turbulence models are presented and assessed via comparison with measurements for possible adoption in future cavity computations. A single computer code solving the two-dimensional axisymmetric Navier–Stokes equations with a “switch” for selecting among the various turbulence models being compared was used. It was found for both cavity cases that the three-scale model gives a marginal improvement over the two-scale model. Further, both multiscale models give a substantial improvement over the standard k–ε model for the rotor–stator case, especially in the near-wall region where different eddy sizes are found. However, the feasibility of using a multiscale model for the rotor–rotor case is unclear since it gives improved values over the standard high-Re model in some regions but worse values in other regions. In addition, the solutions provide enhanced insight concerning the large changes in flow pattern previously photographed in the rotor–rotor case as rotation increases. In particular, it is shown how: (a) the number of recirculation zones increase with increasing rotation rate and (b) the recirculation zones decrease in size with a decreasing G ratio.
The Resistive Properties of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells With Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates
Authors: Lee Shuo-Jen , Yang Kung-Ting , Lee Yu-Ming , Lee Chi-Yuan
Published: April 2010

In this research, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is employed to monitor the resistance of a fuel cell during operation with different operating conditions and different materials for the bipolar plates. The operating condition variables are cell humidity, pure oxygen or air as oxidizer, and current density. Three groups of single cells were tested: a graphite cell, a stainless steel cell (treated and original), and a thin, small, treated stainless steel cell. A treated cell here means using an electrochemical treatment to improve bipolar plate anticorrosion capability. From the results, the ohmic resistance of a fully humidified treated stainless steel fuel cell is 0.28 Ω cm2. Under the same operating conditions, the ohmic resistance of the graphite and the original fuel cell are each 0.1 Ω cm2 and that of the small treated cell is 0.3 Ω cm2. Cell humidity has a greater influence on resistance than does the choice of oxidizer; furthermore, resistance variation due to humidity effects is more serious with air support. From the above results, fuel cells fundamental phenomenon such as ohmic resistance, charge transfer resistance, and mass transport resistance under different operating conditions could be evaluated.
Five-Vertebrate ChIP-seq Reveals the Evolutionary Dynamics of Transcription Factor Binding
Authors: Schmidt Dominic , Wilson Michael D. , Ballester Benoit , Schwalie Petra C. , Brown Gordon D. , Marshall Aileen , Kutter Claudia , Watt Stephen , Martinez-Jimenez Celia P. , Mackay Sarah , Talianidis Iannis , Flicek Paul , Odom Duncan T.
Published: April 2010

Subtle Variation

Despite vast phenotypic differences, vertebrates have many readily recognizable specific cell types, like liver hepatocytes. The gene expression that defines specific cells depends on evolutionarily conserved orthologous transcription factors.

Schmidt
et al.

(p.
1036
, published online 8 April) studied the conservation and divergence in the genome-wide binding of two such transcription factors, CEBPA and HNF4A, in livers from human, dog, mouse, short-tailed opossum, and chicken. Although the sequence bound by orthologous transcription factors was similar, the vast majority of binding events were unique to each species.
Reconstitution of Outer Membrane Protein Assembly from Purified Components
Authors: Hagan Christine L. , Kim Seokhee , Kahne Daniel
Published: April 2010

Bring Out the β-Barrel

The assembly of β-barrel membrane proteins, which are found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and in the mitochondria and chloroplasts of eukaryotes, is poorly understood. Now

Hagan
et al.

(p.
890
, published online 8 April; see the Perspective by

Stroud
et al.

) describe the development of a reconstituted system that recapitulates the process of assembly of β-barrel membrane proteins by the
Escherichia coli
Bam complex. The assembly of a protein substrate required the purified five-protein Bam complex and several subcomplexes and a chaperone, but did not require an external input of energy.
LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Perkel Jeffrey
Published: April 2010

It's an interesting time for genome scientists. With next generation technologies outpacing Moore's Law and prices plummeting, human genomes-once multimillion-dollar propositions-today cost tens of thousands of dollars, about the same as a car. Yet multiply those prices by the sample numbers required to triangulate disease genes-not to mention the burden of collecting, storing, and analyzing the resulting data-and expect genomic sticker shock. There is an alternative. Supported by some $76.5 million in federal spending since 2008, plus a clutch of commercial products, exome sequencing proved its mettle in 2009 with a trio of papers highlighting its clinical possibilities. No wonder Science named exome studies one of five "areas to watch" in its December "Breakthrough of the Year" issue.
Evaluation of the economic impact of California's Tobacco Control Program: a dynamic model approach
Authors: Miller Leonard S , Max Wendy , Sung Hai-Yen , Rice Dorothy , Zaretsky Malcolm
Published: April 2010

Objective

To evaluate the long-term net economic impact of the California Tobacco Control Program.

Methods

This study developed a series of dynamic models of smoking-caused mortality, morbidity, health status and healthcare expenditures. The models were used to evaluate the impact of the tobacco control programme. Outcomes of interest in the evaluation include net healthcare expenditures saved, years of life saved, years of treating smoking-related diseases averted and the total economic value of net healthcare savings and life saved by the programme. These outcomes are evaluated to 2079. Due to data limitations, the evaluations are conducted only for men.

Results

The California Tobacco Control Program resulted in over 700 000 person-years of life saved and over 150 000 person-years of treatment averted for the 14.7 million male California residents alive in 1990. The value of net healthcare savings and years of life saved resulting from the programme was $22 billion or $107 billion in 1990 dollars, depending on how a year of life is discounted. If women were included, the impact would likely be much greater.

Conclusions

The benefits of California's Tobacco Control Program are substantial and will continue to accrue for many years. Although the programme has resulted in increased longevity and additional healthcare resources for some, this impact is more than outweighed by the value of the additional years of life. Modelling the programme's impact in a dynamic framework makes it possible to evaluate the multiple impacts that the programme has on life, health and medical expenditures.
Smoking-attributable cancer mortality in California, 1979–2005
Authors: Cowling David W , Yang Juan
Published: April 2010

Background

The adult smoking prevalence has declined more in California than the rest of the US in the past 2 decades. Further, California has faster declines in cancer mortality, lung cancer incidence and heart disease mortality. However, no study has examined smoking-related cancer mortality between California and the rest of the US.

Methods

The smoking-attributable cancer mortality rate (SACMR) from 1979 to 2005 in California and the rest of the US are calculated among men and women 35 years of age or older using the Joinpoint regression model to calculate the SACMR annual percentage change. The SACMR is the sum of the smoking-attributable death rates of 10 smoking-attributable cancers.

Results

The SACMR has declined more in California (25.7%) than the rest of the US (8.9%) from 1979 to 2005. California men had a lower SACMR than the rest of the US over the entire study period, with the difference tripling from 7.4% in 1979 to 23.9% in 2005. The difference of female SACMR between California and the rest of the US went from 17.9% higher in 1979 to 13.4% lower in 2005.

Conclusions

California's SACMR decrease started 7 years earlier than the rest of the US (1984 vs 1991), and California experienced an accelerated decline of SACMR compared to the rest of the US overall and among men and women from 1979 to 2005. Although the SACMR started declining before the creation of the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program, the SACMR rate of decline in California accelerated after the programme's inception.
The quarter that changed the world
Authors: Roeseler April , Burns David
Published: April 2010

Background

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP) is one of the longest-running comprehensive tobacco control programmes in the USA, resulting from a 1988 ballot initiative that added a 25-cent tax on each pack of cigarettes and a proportional tax increase on other tobacco products. This programme used a social norm change approach to reduce tobacco use.

Methods

The operation, structure, evolution, programme dissemination and results are reviewed.

Results

The sustained programme implementation has reduced adult per capita cigarette consumption by over 60% and adult smoking prevalence by 35%, from 22.7% in 1988 to 13.8% in 2007. From 1988 to 2004, lung and bronchus cancer rates in California declined at nearly four times the rate of decline seen in the rest of the USA and the programme is associated with an $86 billion savings in healthcare costs. Youth smoking rates among 12–17 years olds are the second lowest in the nation.

Conclusions

The social norm change approach is effective at reducing tobacco consumption, adult smoking and youth uptake. This approach resulted in declines in tobacco-related diseases and is associated with savings in healthcare expenditures. In considering CTCP's effectiveness, the takeaway message is that it should be viewed as a unified programme rather than a collection of independent interventions. The programme was designed and implemented as one where the parts complement and reinforce each other. Its effectiveness is dependent on its comprehensive strategy rather than any one part of the intervention.
An evaluation of the California community intervention
Authors: Modayil Mary V , Cowling David W , Tang Hao , Roeseler April
Published: April 2010

Aim

We conducted this study to determine key community-level factors associated with higher tobacco control programme performance.

Methods

A combination of surveys, administrative and fiscal data were collected to measure local county-level health department performance over a 7-year period. Longitudinal analyses were performed using generalised estimating equations to examine whether counties that exerted higher effort were successful in creating more tobacco retail licensing (TRL) and secondhand smoke policies. Several social, political and contextual factors were examined as confounders.

Results

Local county health departments (CHDs) that demonstrated high effort on their work plans increased the proportion of residents covered by TRL policies (7.2%; 95% CI −1.7 to 16.1%) compared to CHDs with lower levels of effort. Having legislators who voted in favour of tobacco control bills was found to significantly increase the passage of local TRL policies. CHDs demonstrating higher efforts also increased the proportion of residents covered by secondhand smoke policies (9.2%; 95% CI −3.5 to 21.9%).

Conclusion

There was strong evidence that higher county-level efforts predicted an increasing number of local tobacco control policies. Evaluations using integrated designs are recommended as effective strategies to provide a more accurate assessment of how well community-level interventions catalyse community-wide change.
Tobacco marketing in California and implications for the future
Authors: Roeseler April , Feighery Ellen C , Cruz Tess Boley
Published: April 2010

Background

Tobacco marketing influences tobacco use initiation, maintenance of use, and it undermines comprehensive tobacco control programmes. Policies to ban the impact of tobacco marketing are most likely to be more effective if they are comprehensive, as partial bans shift marketing to non-banned forms of media. A comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco marketing includes documentation through monitoring, media and policy interventions and aggressive enforcement of existing laws.

Methods

This paper summarises California tobacco industry monitoring of events and retail outlets, and findings about exposure to and beliefs about tobacco industry marketing among youths and adults conducted during the period 2000 through 2008.

Results

There was no overall change in the average number of cigarette materials per store, and an increase in the percentage of stores with advertisements promoting price discounts for cigarettes. Stores with cigarette advertisements near candy displays declined from 12.5% (95% CI 9.8% to 15.2%) to 1% (95% CI 0.2% to 1.9%) of stores, and advertisements at or below the eye-level of children declined from 78.6% (95% CI 75.2% to 82.0%) to 31% (95% CI 27.1% to 34.9%) of stores. Overall, the number of public events with tobacco sponsorship declined from 77.3% to 48.1%. This trend was consistent with a significant decline noted among high school students and adults who reported seeing tobacco advertisements at events or attending a tobacco company-sponsored event.

Conclusions

Tobacco industry monitoring, media, policy and enforcement interventions may have contributed to observed changes in tobacco marketing and to declines in reported exposure to tobacco marketing.
Circuit resistance training in sedentary women: body composition and serum cytokine levels
Authors: Ferreira Fabiano Candido , de Medeiros Alexandra Ivo , Nicioli Cristiane , Nunes João Elias Dias , Shiguemoto Gilberto Eiji , Prestes Jonato , Verzola Roberto Mário Machado , Baldissera Vilmar , de Andrade Perez Sérgio Eduardo
Published: April 2010

Exercise can generate alterations in body composition and modulate the immune system. The objective of this study was to verify whether a circuit resistance training (CRT) protocol can increase lean body mass (LM), and reduce fat body mass (FM) and the percent of FM (%FM) of sedentary women, without inducing inflammatory responses, indicated by serum cytokine levels. The initial hypothesis was that CRT would improve body composition, without changing serum cytokine levels. The study consisted of 14 healthy, sedentary women, aged 33–45 years (mean ± SD, 40.23 ± 3.98 years), with a normal body mass index. They participated in 3 sessions per week of CRT, which included 2 rounds in 9 stations with 1 set of 8–12 repetition maximum at each station, for 10 weeks. During the 10-week CRT period, participants maintained their pretraining nutritional standard. Body composition was analysed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry both pre- and post-training. Blood samples were collected after 96 h of rest pre- and post-training, and 5 min, 24 h, and 48 h after the second and last training sessions to measure serum cytokine levels by flow cytometry. The nutritional standard was accompanied throughout the study period with 24-h dietary recall. Increases in LM (35.937 ± 4.926 to 39.130 ± 4.950 kg) and decreases in FM (21.911 ± 8.150 to 17.824 ± 4.235 kg) and %FM (37.10 ± 10.84 to 31.19 ± 6.06), without concurrent changes in serum cytokine levels, and in the nutritional standard (α = 0.05). The proposed CRT improved body composition and did not induce any changes in serum cytokine levels characteristic of the inflammatory response in women.
Skeletal muscle mitochondrial and metabolic responses to a high-fat diet in female rats bred for high and low aerobic capacity
Authors: Naples Scott P. , Borengasser Sarah J. , Rector R. Scott. , Uptergrove Grace M. , Morris E. Matthew , Mikus Catherine R. , Koch Lauren G. , Britton Steve L. , Ibdah Jamal A. , Thyfault John P.
Published: April 2010

Rats selected artificially to be low-capacity runners (LCR) possess a metabolic syndrome phenotype that is worsened by a high-fat diet (HFD), whereas rats selected to be high-capacity runners (HCR) are protected against HFD-induced obesity and insulin resistance. This study examined whether protection against, or susceptibility to, HFD-induced insulin resistance in the HCR–LCR strains is associated with contrasting metabolic adaptations in skeletal muscle. HCR and LCR rats (generation 20; n = 5–6; maximum running distance ∼1800 m vs. ∼350 m, respectively (p < 0.0001)) were divided into HFD (71.6% energy from fat) or normal chow (NC) (16.7% energy from fat) groups for 7 weeks (from 24 to 31 weeks of age). Skeletal muscle (red gastrocnemius) mitochondrial-fatty acid oxidation (FAO), mitochondrial-enzyme activity, mitochondrial-morphology, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) expression and insulin sensitivity (intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests) were measured. The HFD caused increased adiposity and reduced insulin sensitivity only in the LCR and not the HCR strain. Isolated mitochondria from the HCR skeletal muscle displayed a 2-fold-higher rate of FAO on NC, but both groups increased FAO following HFD. PGC-1α mRNA expression and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly reduced with the HFD in the LCR rats, but not in the HCR rats. PPARδ expression did not differ between strains or dietary conditions. These results do not provide a clear connection between protection of insulin sensitivity and HFD-induced adaptive changes in mitochondrial function or transcriptional responses but do not dismiss the possibility that elevated mitochondrial FAO in the HCR may play a protective role.
Dietary patterns research and its applications to nutrition policy for the prevention of chronic disease among diverse North American populations
Authors: Jones-McLean Elaine M. , Shatenstein Bryna , Whiting Susan J.
Published: April 2010

Dietary patterns research is being pursued to provide a comprehensive way to characterize dietary exposures and explore diet–disease relationships. This paper outlines the need for further research into dietary pattern methodologies, and introduces papers presented at the Canadian Society for Clinical Nutrition–Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences (now called Canadian Nutrition Society) Conference, held in Québec City in 2009. Themes that emerged include inconsistency of evidence linking diet patterns to risk of certain diseases, methodological issues around data collection and analysis, and the limitations of dietary pattern research for nutrition policy and recommendations.
Dietary patterns: biomarkers and chronic disease riskThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in the CSCN–CSNS 2009 Conference, entitled Are dietary patterns the best way to make nutrition recommendations for chronic disease prevention?
Authors: Kant Ashima K.
Published: April 2010

With increasing appreciation of the complexity of diets consumed by free-living individuals, there is interest in the assessment of the overall diet or dietary patterns in which multiple related dietary characteristics are considered as a single exposure. The 2 most frequently used methods to derive dietary patterns use (i) scores or indexes based on prevailing hypotheses about the role of dietary factors in disease prevention; and (ii) factors and clusters from exploration of available dietary data. A third method, a hybrid of the hypothesis-driven and data-driven methods, attempts to predict food combinations related to nutrients or biomarkers with hypothesized associations with particular health outcomes. Dietary patterns derived from the first 2 approaches have been examined in relation to nutritional and disease biomarkers and various health outcomes, and generally show the desirable dietary pattern to be consistent with prevalent beliefs about what constitutes a healthful diet. Results from observational studies suggest that the healthful dietary patterns were associated with significant but modest risk reduction (15%–30%) for all-cause mortality and coronary heart disease. Findings for various cancers have been inconsistent. The available randomized controlled intervention trials with a long-term follow-up to examine dietary patterns in relation to health outcome have generally produced null findings. Novel findings with the potential to change existing beliefs about diet and health relationships are yet to emerge from the dietary patterns research. The field requires innovation in methods to derive dietary patterns, validation of prevalent methods, and assessment of the effect of dietary measurement error on dietary patterns.
Analysis of dietary patterns in epidemiological researchThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in the CSCN–CSNS 2009 Conference, entitled Are dietary patterns the best way to make nutrition recommendations for chronic disease prevention?
Authors: Slattery Martha L.
Published: April 2010

Dietary patterns have been used to summarize diet consumption and to evaluate how diet is associated with diseases in epidemiological research. However, there are many issues surrounding both the use and interpretation of dietary patterns. These issues include how to collect, summarize, and create dietary patterns, as well as how to interpret the results. Because labels are given arbitrarily to dietary patterns to help characterize the pattern in a meaningful way, it is often not clear from the literature as to the consistency of results among studies. Additionally, the utilization of dietary patterns as a tool for public health messages is a topic that is unresolved. These issues are discussed in this paper.
Findings on dietary patterns in different groups of African origin undergoing nutrition transitionThis is one of a selection of papers published in the CSCN–CSNS 2009 Conference, entitled Can we identify culture-specific healthful dietary patterns among diverse populations undergoing nutrition transition?
Authors: Delisle Hélène
Published: April 2010

In population groups undergoing nutrition transition, it is important to identify healthy and culturally relevant dietary patterns that can be promoted as a means of preventing diet-related chronic diseases. Dietary pattern analyses using data-driven methods are useful for the purpose. The central question addressed in this overview paper is whether there are culture-specific healthy eating patterns, or whether healthy diets may be more universal. Our studies on dietary patterns in population groups of African origin living in Canada (Montreal), Europe (Madrid), and West Africa (urban and rural Benin) inform the discussion. Healthy or prudent, as opposed to Western, eating patterns are identified in several cultures, including groups of African origin. It appears that a limited number of foods predict diet quality and health outcomes in various population groups; in particular, fruit and vegetables, fish, whole-grain cereal, and legumes do so on the protective side, and sweets, processed meats, fried foods, fats and oils, and salty snacks do so on the negative side. Further research on dietary patterns and their healthfulness is required in diverse food cultures. In groups of African origin, traditional diets are healthier than the nontraditional dietary patterns that have evolved with globalization, urbanization, or acculturation, although micronutrient intakes need to improve. Additionally, healthy eating patterns are only feasible if access to food is adequate.
Dietary patterns, approaches, and multicultural perspectiveThis is one of a selection of papers published in the CSCN–CSNS 2009 Conference, entitled Can we identify culture-specific healthful dietary patterns among diverse populations undergoing nutrition transition?
Authors: Tucker Katherine L.
Published: April 2010

Nutrition research has traditionally focused on single nutrients in relation to health. However, recent appreciation of the complex synergistic interactions among nutrients and other food constituents has led to a growing interest in total dietary patterns. Methods of measurement include summation of food or nutrient recommendations met, such as the United States Department of Agriculture Healthy Eating Index; data-driven approaches — principal components (PCA) and cluster analyses — which describe actual intake patterns in the population; and, most recently, reduced rank regression, which defines linear combinations of food intakes that maximally explain intermediate markers of disease. PCA, a form of factor analysis, derives linear combinations of foods based on their intercorrelations. Cluster analysis groups individuals into maximally differing eating patterns. These approaches have now been used in diverse populations with good reproducibility. In contrast, because it is based on associations with outcomes rather than on coherent behavioral patterns, reduced rank regression may be less reproducible, but more research is needed. However, it is likely to yield useful information for hypothesis generation. Together, the focus on dietary patterns has been fruitful in demonstrating the powerful protective associations of healthy or prudent dietary patterns, and the higher risk associations of Western or meat and refined grains patterns. The field, however, has not fully addressed the effects of diet in subpopulations, including ethnic minorities. Depending on food group coding, subdietary patterns may be obscured or artificially separated, leading to potentially misleading results. Further attention to the definition of the dietary patterns of different populations is critical to providing meaningful results. Still, dietary pattern research has great potential for use in nutrition policy, particularly as it demonstrates the importance of total diet in health promotion.
Ground and gamma band energy systematics in even xenon and barium nuclei
Authors: Singh Yuvraj , Bihari Chhail , Varshney A. K. , Dhiman S. K. , Gupta K. K. , Gupta D. K.
Published: April 2010

Rotation–vibration coupling parameter b at different spins is calculated on fitting the experimental energy for each nucleus in the framework of the General Asymmetric Rotor Model (Zhi. Phys. Rev. C, 51, 141 (1995)). Taking the even and odd spin energy sequences of the gamma band as separate bands besides the yrast band at large asymmetry (γ ≥ 20°), three values of the moment of inertia parameters a (ar, ae, and ao) are calculated from the band head energies. A striking correlation in a and b versus the product of the number of valance protons and neutrons (NpNn) is obtained. These trajectories and the γ versus NpNn correlation (Yan et al. Phys. Rev. C, 48, 1046 (1993)) are capable of predicting the unknown energies of the ground and gamma bands of even xenon and barium nuclei, knowing only an external parameter NpNn. This introduces the possibility of a simpler description of the structural evolution of these transitional nuclei.
Fourth-order constants of motion for time independent classical and quantum systems in three dimensions
Authors: Chand Fakir
Published: April 2010

Exact fourth-order constants of motion are investigated for three-dimensional classical and quantum Hamiltonian systems. The rationalization method is utilized to obtain constants of motion for classical systems. Constants of motion for quantum systems are obtained by adding quantum correction terms, computed using Moyal's bracket, to the corresponding classical counterparts.
Sub-Poissonian photon statistics of light in interaction of two-level atoms in superposed states with a single mode superposed coherent radiation
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Prakash Hari
Published: April 2010

We study sub-Poissonian photon statistics of light in interaction of a single mode radiation, initially either in a coherent state or in a superposed coherent state with an assembly of two-level atoms using the Hamiltonian, H = ω(a+a + Sz) + g(aS+ + a+ S–) in natural units, where a+ and a are creation and annihilation operators, Sz, S ± are the collective Dicke operators, g is the coupling constant, and ω is the energy of the photons and also the separation between the two atomic levels. We study the cases of (i) a single two-level and (ii) of two two-level atoms interacting with a single mode coherent or superposed coherent radiation. We find that for large coupling time gt, Fano factor shows collapses and revival phenomena, and that the variation is large for small mean number of photons. We also find that in the case of two two-level atoms, photon statistics shows larger sub-Poissonian than the case of a single two-level atom, and that there is no definite relationship between squeezing and sub-Poissonian photon statistics of light.
Painlevé analysis and new analytical solutions for compound KdV–Burgers equation with variable coefficients
Authors: Abourabia A. M. , Hassan K. M. , Selima E. S.
Published: April 2010

We consider the solutions of the compound Korteweg–de Vries (KdV)–Burgers equation with variable coefficients (vccKdV–B) that describe the propagation of undulant bores in shallow water with certain dissipative effects. The Weiss–Tabor–Carnevale (WTC)–Kruskal algorithm is applied to study the integrability of the vccKdV–B equation. We found that the vccKdV–B equation is not Painlevé integrable unless the variable coefficients satisfy certain constraints. We used the outcome of the truncated Painlevé expansion to construct the Bäcklund transformation, and three families of new analytical solutions for the vccKdV –B equation are obtained. The dispersion relation and its characteristics are illustrated. The stability for the vccKdV–B equation is analyzed by using the phase portrait method.
Black-hole entropy in loop quantum gravity and number theory
Authors: García-Islas J. Manuel
Published: April 2010

We show that counting different configurations that give rise to black-hole entropy in loop quantum gravity is related to partitions in number theory.
Comparison of methods to quantify respirational carbon loss of coarse woody debris
Authors: Herrmann Steffen , Bauhus Jürgen
Published: April 2010

Carbon (C) loss from coarse woody debris (CWD) may be important in forest ecosystem C budgets, yet there are no standard methods of quantifying it. Here we assessed respirational C loss of log segments of European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.), to compare the two main measurement approaches (the static and dynamic methods using soda lime and an infrared gas analyser, IRGA) with three different measurement options for CWD logs. These included (i) incubation of the whole log segment, (ii) the use of small in situ chambers on the curved log surface, and (iii) extracted wedges of wood. On average, significantly higher amounts of CO2were measured with the IRGA (125%) compared with soda lime. In addition, the soda lime method requires careful calibration of incubation length and amounts of soda lime used. Regardless of the measurement method and tree species, substantially higher amounts of CO2were measured for whole log segments than for the other two options. Measuring respiration with small in situ chambers on logs or extracted wedges might underestimate real CO2flux by up to 74%. We therefore recommend measurement of CWD respiration using gas analysers for large log segments.
Spatial patterns of overstory trees in late-successional conifer forests
Authors: Larson Andrew J. , Churchill Derek
Published: April 2010

We analyzed spatial patterns of overstory trees in late-successional Abies amabilis (Dougl. ex Loud.) Dougl. ex J. Forbes forests and late-successional Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco forests to establish reference spatial patterns for restoration thinning treatments, and to determine whether thinning treatments with minimum intertree spacing rules result in spatial patterns characteristic of late-successional forests. On average, 32.7% of overstory trees in Abies plots and 26.3% of overstory trees in Pseudotsuga plots occurred as members of multitree clusters (groups of trees in which trees are spaced within a specified minimum distance of each other) at a distance of 3.0 and 4.0 m, respectively. Multitree clusters occurred throughout the three Abies plots; the distribution of multitree clusters within the two Pseudotsuga plots was variable. Spatial patterns of overstory trees in late-successional forests were significantly different from those created by simulated restoration thinning treatments. Restoration thinning treatments that release both individual trees and multitree clusters promote characteristic late-successional tree spatial patterns at the within-patch scale (<0.04 ha). This formulation of restoration thinning highlights conservation of existing small-scale (<0.04 ha) spatial heterogeneity within the treatment area, elaborating on current practices that emphasize introduction of spatial heterogeneity at scales of 0.04 ha to 1.0 ha.