bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonfluent progressive aphasia and semantic dementia: A comparative neuropsychological study
Authors: Hodges John R. , Patterson Karalyn
Published: February 2009

Two patients with nonfluent progressive aphasia, who have been studied longitudinally, are contrasted with a group of 5 patients with fluent progressive aphasia or semantic dementia. The most prominent feature of the nonfluent syndrome is the severe distortion of speech output with phonological errors and agrammatic sentence structure. This contrasts with the fluent, well articulated and syntactically correct, but empty, anomic speech found in semantic dementia. Performance on tests of comprehension separates the patient groups: The nonfluent patients show normal single-word comprehension, but marked impairment on tests of syntactic comprehension, while those with semantic dementia demonstrate the opposite pattern. Category fluency is severely defective in semantic dementia, but initial letter-based fluency is more impaired in the nonfluent syndrome. Performance on nonverbally mediated tests of semantic knowledge is impaired in semantic dementia only. The 2 forms of progressive aphasia have in common the sparing of perceptual and visuospatial skills, nonverbal problem solving abilities, and day-to-day (episodic) memory. Neuroradiological investigations have shown marked selective and striking inferolateral left temporal lobe atrophy in all 5 patients with semantic dementia. The changes in nonfluent progressive aphasia appear to be less focal and involve left perisylvian structures more diffusely. These 2 forms of progressive aphasia are, we argue, distinct in their manifestations. (JINS, 1996, 2, 511–524.)
Premorbid intelligence estimation and level of dementia in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Maddrey A. Matt , Cullum C.M. , Weiner M.F. , Filley C.M.
Published: February 2009

Simple sight-word reading tasks have demonstrated utility in the estimation of premorbid intelligence, although the effects of progressive dementia on such tasks has not been thoroughly examined. The present investigation sought to examine estimated IQ scores from the National Adult Reading Test-Revised (NART-R; Blair & Spreen, 1989) in relation to a WAlS-R-bascd (Wechsler, 1981) estimate of IQ in a series of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease across varying levels of dementia. Results suggest that while NART-R scores do show a decrement with dementia severity, this decline is mild, in contrast to traditionally based IQ scores and other measures of cognitive function, which show more marked declines. Similarly, compared with other tasks, the NART-R showed the strongest correlation with education across the sample as a whole, while the other indices were more related to level of dementia. These findings support the use of measures such as the NART-R in estimating premorbid intellectual functioning in patients at various levels of dementia severity, including those with more advanced cognitive deterioration. (JINS, 1996, 2, 551–555.)
Empirical methods for assessing meaningful neuropsychological change following epilepsy surgery
Authors: Sawrie Stephen M. , Chelune Gordon J. , Naugle Richard I. , Lüders Hans O.
Published: February 2009

Traditional methods for assessing the neurocognitive effects of epilepsy surgery are confounded by practice effects, test-retest reliability issues, and regression to the mean. This study employs 2 methods for assessing individual change that allow direct comparison of changes across both individuals and test measures. Fifty-one medically intractable epilepsy patients completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery twice, approximately 8 months apart, prior to any invasive monitoring or surgical intervention. First, a Reliable Change (RC) index score was computed for each test score to take into account the reliability of that measure, and a cutoff score was empirically derived to establish the limits of statistically reliable change. These indices were subsequently adjusted for expected practice effects. The second approach used a regression technique to establish “change norms” along a common metric that models both expected practice effects and regression to the mean. The RC index scores provide the clinician with a statistical means of determining whether a patient's retest performance is “significantly” changed from baseline. The regression norms for change allow the clinician to evaluate the magnitude of a given patient's change on 1 or more variables along a common metric that takes into account the reliability and stability of each test measure. Case data illustrate how these methods provide an empirically grounded means for evaluating neurocognitive outcomes following medical interventions such as epilepsy surgery. (JINS, 1996, 2, 556–564.)
The politics of developing reference standards for nutrient intakes: the case of Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Thuraisingam Shanthi , Riddell Lynn , Cook Kay , Lawrence Mark
Published: February 2009

Objective

Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) are evidence-based benchmarks for assessing the dietary adequacy of individuals and population groups as well as informing public health nutrition policies and programmes. The present paper presents the findings of an analysis of the views of submitters to a draft document associated with the development of the 2006 NRV for Australia and New Zealand. The aim of the study was to explore how these views were reflected in the policy-making process and final policy document.

Design

The information necessary to fulfil this aim required access to stakeholder submissions to the NRV development process and this necessitated exploiting the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982. We understand that the present research represents the first time that an FOI request seeking information about a National Health and Medical Research Council food and nutrition policy process has been made and therefore is novel in its approach to public health nutrition policy analysis.

Results

The analysis of stakeholder submissions identified that stakeholders had particular concerns about the conduct of the review process and the future application of the nutrient values to policy and programmes. There is a lack of evidence that the majority of stakeholder comments were addressed in the final NRV document.

Conclusion

Although these findings cannot be interpreted to assess the validity or otherwise of the set nutrient values, they do raise questions about the process for their development and the adequacy of the final document to reflect the views of key stakeholders.
A multilevel study of area socio-economic status and food purchasing behaviour
Authors: Turrell Gavin , Bentley Rebecca , Thomas Lyndal R , Jolley Damien , Subramanian SV , Kavanagh Anne M
Published: February 2009

Objective

The present study examined the association between area socio-economic status (SES) and food purchasing behaviour.

Design

Data were collected by mail survey (64·2 % response rate). Area SES was indicated by the proportion of households in each area earning less than $AUS 400 per week, and individual-level socio-economic position was measured using education, occupation and household income. Food purchasing was measured on the basis of compliance with dietary guideline recommendations (for grocery foods) and variety of fruit and vegetable purchase. Multilevel regression analysis examined the association between area SES and food purchase after adjustment for individual-level demographic (age, sex, household composition) and socio-economic factors.

Setting

Melbourne city, Australia, 2003.

Subjects

Residents of 2564 households located in fifty small areas.

Results

Residents of low-SES areas were significantly less likely than their counterparts in advantaged areas to purchase grocery foods that were high in fibre and low in fat, salt and sugar; and they purchased a smaller variety of fruits. There was no evidence of an association between area SES and vegetable variety.

Conclusions

In Melbourne, area SES was associated with some food purchasing behaviours independent of individual-level factors, suggesting that areas in this city may be differentiated on the basis of food availability, accessibility and affordability, making the purchase of some types of foods more difficult in disadvantaged areas.
Plasman-3 fatty acids and psychological distress in aboriginal Cree Indians (Canada)
Authors: Lucas Michel , Dewailly Éric , Blanchet Carole , Gingras Suzanne , Holub Bruce J
Published: February 2009

Objective

To examine the relationship between psychological distress (PD) and plasman-3 long-chain (LC) PUFA, i.e. EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-3) and DHA.

Design

Population-based, cross-sectional Santé-Québec Health Survey (1991). Participants were categorized as high-level PD if they scored over the 80th percentile of the PD Index in the Santé-Québec Survey; non-distressed subjects were those who scored less than this cut-off. Associations between tertiles ofn-3 fatty acids (FA) and the risk of high-level PD were expressed as odds ratios, with the lowest tertile as the reference group.

Setting

Québec, Canada.

Subjects

Data were analysed from a representative sample of 852 James Bay Cree Indian adults aged 18 years and over.

Results

Proportions ofn-3 FA were statistically significantly lower in the PD than in the non-distressed group. After adjustment for confounders, EPA was the only individualn-3 FA significantly associated with the risk of high-level PD. Combinations of EPA + DHA or EPA + DPAn-3 + DHA or the sum ofn-3 were also associated with the risk of high-level PD. Compared with the lowest tertile of EPA + DHA, the OR for high-level PD was 0·89 (95 % CI 0·59, 1·36) for the second and 0·56 (95 % CI 0·32, 0·98) for the third tertile, after controlling for confounders.

Conclusions

In the present retrospective, cross-sectional study, we found that proportions ofn-3 LC PUFA in plasma phospholipids, markers ofn-3 LC PUFA consumption from fish, were inversely associated with PD.
Fast-food and sweetened beverage consumption: association with overweight and high waist circumference in adolescents
Authors: Francis Damian K , Van den Broeck Jan , Younger Novie , McFarlane Shelly , Rudder Kimberley , Gordon-Strachan Georgianna , Grant Andrienne , Johnson Ayesha , Tulloch-Reid Marshall , Wilks Rainford
Published: February 2009

Objective

Overweight and obesity have increased to epidemic proportions among adolescents and are associated with chronic non-communicable diseases and excess mortality in adulthood. The association of overweight/obesity with poor dietary habits has not been studied in adolescents in middle-income developing countries. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and high waist circumference (WC) in 15–19-year-old Jamaican adolescents and to investigate the association with fast-food and sweetened beverage consumption.

Design

The study enrolled 1317 (598 male, 719 female) adolescents aged 15–19 years using multistage, nationally representative sampling. Age-specific prevalence calculation used internalZ-score lines connecting with the WHO adult cut-off points. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of overweight or high WC with fast-food and sweetened beverage consumption, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

The overall prevalence of overweight, obesity and high WC was approximately 15 %, 6 % and 10 %, respectively. Prevalence estimated using internalZ-scores was similar to that using the International Obesity Taskforce cut-off points. Obesity (8·0 % in females, 3·3 % in males) and high WC (16·2 % in females, 1·7 % in males) were significantly more prevalent in females when using internalZ-score cut-offs. High WC was associated with the absence of fruit consumption (P= 0·043) and overweight with high sweetened beverage consumption (P= 0·018).

Conclusion

Overweight occurs frequently among Jamaican 15–19-year-olds and is associated with increased consumption of sweetened beverages. High WC is more prevalent among females and is related to low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Measures to reduce the consumption of sweetened beverages and increase fruit intake may reduce the prevalence of excess body fat among adolescents.
Meal patterns among children and adolescents and their associations with weight status and parental characteristics
Authors: Würbach Ariane , Zellner Konrad , Kromeyer-Hauschild Katrin
Published: February 2009

Objectives

To describe the meal patterns of Jena schoolchildren and their associations with children’s weight status and parental characteristics.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Twenty schools in Jena (∼100 000 inhabitants), south-east Germany.

Subjects

A total of 2054 schoolchildren aged 7–14 years with information on BMI standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) and weight status (based on German reference values), of whom 1571 had additional information about their parents (parental education and employment status, weight status according to WHO guidelines) and meal patterns (school lunch participation rate, meal frequencies, breakfast consumption and frequency of family meals).

Results

Weight status of the children was associated with weight status, education and employment status of the parents. Meal patterns were strongly dependent on children’s age and parental employment. As age increased, the frequency of meal consumption, participation rate in school lunches and the number of family meals decreased. Using linear regression analysis, a high inverse association between BMI-SDS and meal frequency was observed, in addition to relationships with parental weight status and paternal education.

Conclusions

Age-specific prevention programmes should encourage greater meal frequency. The close involvement of parents is essential in any strategy for improving children’s (families’) diets.
Effect of different cover crops on organic tomato production
Authors: Lenzi Anna , Antichi Daniele , Bigongiali Federica , Mazzoncini Marco , Migliorini Paola , Tesi Romano
Published: February 2009

When animal husbandry is not included in organic farming systems, green manure may be crucial to preserve or increase soil organic matter content and to ensure an adequate N supply to crops. Different species, both legumes and nonlegumes, may be used as cover crops. The present research was carried out to investigate the effect of different green manure crops [oats and barley mixture (Avena sativaL. andHordeum vulgareL.), rye (Secale cerealeL.), brown mustard (Brassica junceaL.), flax (Linum usitatissimumL.), pigeon bean (Vicia fabaL.var.minor)] on the production of the following tomato crop. A field trial was conducted for two cropping seasons (2003–2004 and 2004–2005) in a commercial organic farm. The yield of tomato crop was positively affected by pigeon bean, although statistically significant differences in comparison with the other treatments were observed only in 2004–2005, when the experiment was conducted in a less fertile soil. This was probably due mainly to the effect of the pigeon bean cover crop on N availability. In fact, this species, in spite of a lower biomass production than the other cover crops considered in the study, provided the highest N supply and a more evident increase of soil N-NO3. Also, cover crop efficiency, evaluated using the N recovery index, reached higher values in pigeon bean, especially in the second year. The quality of tomato fruits was little influenced by the preceding cover crops. Nevertheless, when tomato followed pigeon bean, fruits showed a lower firmness compared to other cover crops, and in the second year this was associated with a higher fruit N content.
Effect of bacterial adsorption on low frequency electrical properties of clean quartz sands and iron‐oxide coated sands
Authors: Abdel Aal Gamal , Atekwana Estella , Radzikowski Sylvia , Rossbach Silvia
Published: February 2009

Low frequency electrical measurements (0.1–1000 Hz) were conducted to investigate the adsorption effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells onto clean quartz sands and iron‐oxide coated sands. The clean quartz sands showed a gradual increase in the microbial adsorption to mineral grains, concurrent with an increase of 13% in the imaginary conductivity component (σ″). However, iron‐oxide coated sands (20–100% by weight) showed a rapid increase in microbial adsorption with σ″ reaching a maximum of 37 % for the 80–100% iron coated sands. No significant changes were observed in the real conductivity component (σ′) due to microbial adsorption. A power law dependency was observed between the adsorbed cells and σ″. We suggest that the polarization results from the increase in the surface roughness and surface area of the grain due to bacteria sorption. These results suggest that low frequency electrical measurements can play an important role in assessing microbial transport in subsurface environments.
Dynamic high‐speed rupture from the onset of the 2004 Parkfield, California, earthquake
Authors: Uchide Takahiko , Ide Satoshi , Beroza Gregory C.
Published: February 2009

We investigated the 2004 Parkfield earthquake using a multiscale slip inversion. The multiscale approach allows us to both focus on the details of the early stages of the rupture process, and to model the entire earthquake at a larger scale. Our model indicates that the Parkfield earthquake began with bilateral high‐speed rupture with fast slip rate, up to 4 m/s, and fast propagation velocity of about 3.0 km/s. Rupture propagation to the southeast was arrested 3 s after onset, while propagation to the northwest continued, generated a large slip patch at ∼5 s, and ceased within 10 s. A similar rapid initiation was observed for the 2004 mid‐Niigata Prefecture, Japan, earthquake in a previous study. High‐speed initial rupture suggests that large earthquakes may initiate and grow in the same way as small earthquakes, and that the final size is difficult to predict from the early stages of an earthquake.
Statistical representation of temperature mean and variability in Europe
Authors: Yiou P. , Dacunha‐Castelle D. , Parey S. , Huong Hoang T. T.
Published: February 2009

Understanding the relationship between mean temperature and its variance is essential for the prediction of temperature variability in the European region. Results on regional temperatures have been obtained for the climate of the 21st century but they mainly focused on monthly‐to‐seasonal variability. Since environmental variables such as plant phenology, net primary production or atmospheric pollution react on shorter timescales, it is necessary to investigate how daily variability is related to interannual temperature changes. Here, we assess the mean‐variance seasonal dependence of observed daily temperatures over Europe. We find that extreme mean temperatures in the summer and winter tend to be associated with more variance. This assessment allows us to test whether 11 climate model simulations used in the IPCC AR4 can reproduce this relationship in cold and warm seasons. Most models yield a fair performance in the winter, but apart from four models, the mean‐variance relationship is underestimated in the summer.
Plasma wave measurements with STEREO S/WAVES: Calibration, potential model, and preliminary results
Authors: Kellogg P. J. , Goetz K. , Monson S. J. , Bale S. D. , Reiner M. J. , Maksimovic Milan
Published: February 2009

The S/WAVES experiments on the two STEREO spacecraft measure waves, both in situ plasma waves and remotely generated waves such as Type II and Type III solar bursts. A part of the experiment is aimed at understanding the generation of electromagnetic waves from electrostatic Langmuir waves. For this, rapid measurements of plasma density, sufficiently rapid to be on the time scale of Langmuir wave fluctuations, are deemed necessary. Measurements of the potential of the antennas relative to the spacecraft can supply these rapid measurements. The antennas were not provided with a bias current, and so this unbiased technique has not been used previously. However, the cylindrical antennas of S/WAVES respond to temperature as well as the density of the ambient plasma, giving five quantities, ne, Te, and 3 components of E, to be determined from the three measurements of antenna potential. The work presented here discusses the analysis and interpretation of these measurements from the early part of the mission, when there were frequent observations of foreshock Langmuir waves to use for calibration. A model of the photoemission‐plasma equilibrium has been constructed, using these and other measurements. It is shown that the response to one or a few of the five quantities may be negligible, depending on the phenomenon observed, so that useful measurements are obtained of the others. Application to observation and analysis of various plasma wave phenomena will be discussed.
Multiple‐spacecraft study of an extended magnetic structure in the solar wind
Authors: Ruan P. , Korth A. , Marsch E. , Inhester B. , Solanki S. , Wiegelmann T. , Zong Q.‐G. , Bucik R. , Fornacon K.‐H.
Published: February 2009

An extended magnetic structure was observed consecutively by five spacecraft (ACE, WIND, STEREO A and B, and CLUSTER) in the solar wind on 15 January 2007. The similar bipolar magnetic field variations from five spacecraft suggest that the magnetic structure is two‐dimensional. The abrupt disappearance of the beam electrons in the core of the structure suggests that the core of the structure is magnetically isolated from the surrounding environment. Our analysis shows that this magnetic structure is a magnetic flux rope, which extends over at least 180 RE in space. The length and orientation of the flux rope were determined by a local minimum variance analysis (MVA) from individual spacecraft observations of the magnetic field and a timing analysis based on the joint observations by all five spacecraft. The results show that the orientation of the flux rope stays constant in space and time. The flux rope is embedded in a corotating interaction region (CIR), which followed a magnetic cloud.
Micron‐scale roughness of volcanic surfaces from thermal infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Carter Adam J. , Ramsey Michael S. , Durant Adam J. , Skilling Ian P. , Wolfe Amy
Published: February 2009

Textural characteristics of recently emplaced volcanic materials provide information on the degassing history, volatile content, and future explosive activity of volcanoes. Thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing has been used to derive the micron‐scale roughness (i.e., surface vesicularity) of lavas using a two‐component (glass plus blackbody) spectral deconvolution model. We apply and test this approach on TIR data of pyroclastic flow (PF) deposits for the first time. Samples from two PF deposits (January 2005: block‐rich and March 2000: ash‐rich) were collected at Bezymianny Volcano (Russia) and analyzed using (1) TIR emission spectroscopy, (2) scanning electron microscope (SEM)‐derived roughness (profiling), (3) SEM‐derived surface vesicularity (imaging), and (4) thin section observations. Results from SEM roughness (0.9–2.8μm) and SEM vesicularity (18–26%) showed a positive correlation. These were compared to the deconvolution results from the laboratory and spaceborne spectra, as well as to field‐derived percentages of the block and ash. The spaceborne results were within 5% of the laboratory results and showed a positive correlation. However, a negative correlation between the SEM and spectral results was observed and was likely due to a combination of factors; an incorrect glass end‐member, particle size effects, and subsequent weathering/reworking of the PF deposits. Despite these differences, this work shows that microscopic textural heterogeneities on PF deposits can be detected with TIR remote sensing using a technique similar to that used for lavas, but the results must be carefully interpreted. If applied correctly, it could be an important tool to map recent PF deposits and infer the causative eruption style/mechanism.
Evaluations of SST climatologies in the tropical Pacific Ocean
Authors: Kara A. B. , Barron C. N. , Boyer T. P.
Published: February 2009

Accuracies of a total of six sea surface temperature (SST) climatologies are investigated in the tropical Pacific Ocean, spanning latitudes from 30°N to 30°S. Observation‐based climatologies are directly obtained from their original sources and typically formed from satellite measurements, in situ data, or a combination of both. Other SST climatologies are constructed from reanalyses of a numerical weather prediction center. All products have different features, each with its own data sources, grid resolutions, interpolation methods, sampling periods, and biases. Even though time periods during which climatologies were formed differ, all products have good agreement with each other, with basin‐averaged mean bias values of almost zero and RMS SST differences typically <0.3°C over the annual cycle. Nondimensional skill scores between the pairs of SST products are close to 1, indicating almost perfect agreement everywhere except in the western equatorial Pacific. Comparisons against an ensemble climatology based on the average of all SST climatologies further reveal the weaknesses and strengths of each product. Additional validations are performed by forming climatologies using SSTs from moored buoys of the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array during 1986–2005. Overall, very small cold biases of ≈0.2°C and near‐perfect skill scores are found for all SST climatologies when comparing them with 408‐month‐long SST time series from 34 buoys. In general, all SST products are generally accurate enough to be used for various climate applications.
Estimates of bottom flows and bottom boundary layer dissipation of the oceanic general circulation from global high‐resolution models
Authors: Arbic Brian K. , Shriver Jay F. , Hogan Patrick J. , Hurlburt Harley E. , McClean Julie L. , Metzger E. Joseph , Scott Robert B. , Sen Ayon , Smedstad Ole Martin , Wallcraft Alan J.
Published: February 2009

This paper (1) compares the bottom flows of three existing high‐resolution global simulations of the oceanic general circulation to near‐bottom flows in a current meter database and (2) estimates, from the simulations, the global energy dissipation rate of the general circulation by quadratic bottom boundary layer drag. The study utilizes a data‐assimilative run of the Naval Research Laboratory Layered Ocean Model (NLOM), a nonassimilative run of NLOM, and a nonassimilative run of the Parallel Ocean Program z‐level ocean model. Generally speaking, the simulations have some difficulty matching the flows in individual current meter records. However, averages of model values of (the time average of the cube of bottom velocity, which is proportional to the dissipation rate) computed over all the current meter sites agree to within a factor of 2.7 or better with averages computed from the current meters, at least in certain depth ranges. The models therefore likely provide reasonable order‐of‐magnitude estimates of areally integrated dissipation by bottom drag. Global dissipation rates range from 0.14 to 0.65 TW, suggesting that bottom drag represents a substantial sink of the ∼1 TW wind‐power transformed into geostrophic motions.
Export of reactive nitrogen from coal‐fired power plants in the U.S.: Estimates from a plume‐in‐grid modeling study
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Krish , Zhang Yang , Seigneur Christian , Karamchandani Prakash , Snell Hilary E.
Published: February 2009

The export of reactive nitrogen (nitrogen oxides and their oxidation products, collectively referred to as NOy) from coal‐fired power plants in the U.S. to the rest of the world could have a significant global contribution to ozone. Traditional Eulerian gridded air quality models cannot characterize accurately the chemistry and transport of plumes from elevated point sources such as power plant stacks. A state‐of‐the‐science plume‐in‐grid (PinG) air quality model, a reactive plume model embedded in an Eulerian gridded model, is used to estimate the export of NOy from 25 large coal‐fired power plants in the U.S. (in terms of NOx and SO2 emissions) in July 2001 to the global atmosphere. The PinG model used is the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model with Advanced Plume Treatment (CMAQ‐APT). A benchmark simulation with only the gridded model, CMAQ, is also conducted for comparison purposes. The simulations with and without advanced plume treatment show differences in the calculated export of NOy from the 25 plants considered reflecting the effect of using a detailed and explicit treatment of plume transport and chemistry. The advanced plume treatment results in 31% greater simulated export of NOy compared to the purely grid‐based modeling approach. The export efficiency of NOy (the fraction of NOy emitted that is exported) is predicted to be 21% without APT and 27% with APT. When considering only export through the eastern boundary across the Atlantic, CMAQ‐APT predicts that the export efficiency is 24% and that 2% of NOy is exported as NOx, 49% as inorganic nitrate, and 25% as PAN. These results are in reasonably good agreement with an analysis reported in the literature of aircraft measurements over the North Atlantic.
WRF and GISS SCM simulations of convective updraft properties during TWP‐ICE
Authors: Wu Jingbo , Del Genio Anthony D. , Yao Mao‐Sung , Wolf Audrey B.
Published: February 2009

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, running at cloud‐resolving model resolution (1.3 km and 0.6 km), is used to simulate cumulus updraft speeds associated with three distinct convective regimes sampled during the intensive observing period of the Tropical Warm Pool–International Cloud Experiment (TWP‐ICE) near Darwin, Australia. The WRF model produces strong updrafts during a monsoon break period and weaker updrafts during an active monsoon period, consistent with observational proxies of convective strength. It also captures the observed feature of midlevel convection during a suppressed monsoon period. The ability of the WRF model to differentiate the updraft speeds among three subperiods is robust to changes in its microphysics and turbulence schemes, resolution, and forcing procedure. For comparison to the parameterized diagnostic updraft speeds in the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Single Column Model (GISS SCM), we define an equivalent mean updraft speed for deep convection in the WRF simulation as the ratio of the domain average upward flux of hydrometeors to the domain average hydrometeor water content. Parameterized convective updraft speeds diagnosed from the thermodynamic structure in the SCM can reproduce the WRF difference between the active and break period updraft strength and the shallower suppressed monsoon convection, but only if a free parameter that regulates entrainment strength is allowed to vary. SCM updraft speeds are consistently too strong in the upper troposphere compared with the WRF. Hydrometeor profiles in both the WRF and the SCM are sensitive to assumptions about the ice phase microphysics.
First ground‐based infrared solar absorption measurements of free tropospheric methanol (CH3OH): Multidecade infrared time series from Kitt Peak (31.9°N 111.6°W): Trend, seasonal cycle, and comparison with previous measurements
Authors: Rinsland Curtis P. , Mahieu Emmanuel , Chiou Linda , Herbin Hervé
Published: February 2009

Atmospheric CH3OH (methanol) free tropospheric (2.09–14‐km altitude) time series spanning 22 years has been analyzed on the basis of high‐spectral resolution infrared solar absorption spectra of the strong ν8 band recorded from the U.S. National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak (latitude 31.9°N, 111.6°W, 2.09‐km altitude) with a 1‐m Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The measurements span October 1981 to December 2003 and are the first long time series of CH3OH measurements obtained from the ground. The results were analyzed with SFIT2 version 3.93 and show a factor of three variations with season, a maximum at the beginning of July, a winter minimum, and no statistically significant long‐term trend over the measurement time span.
Circulation changes associated with the interdecadal shift of Korean August rainfall around late 1960s
Authors: Ha Kyung‐Ja , Yun Kyung‐Sook , Jhun Jong‐Ghap , Li Jianping
Published: February 2009

The impacts of local/remote thermodynamic conditions and large‐scale circulations on the timing of the peak rainy season shift over the Korean Peninsula are investigated. The Korean August rainfall is strongly associated with the westward expansion of the western North Pacific subtropical high and the presence of the Bonin high. The westward expansion of the subtropical high is primarily associated with the teleconnection due to the energy propagation of the stationary Rossby wave along the Asian jet from the upstream region. The enhanced north‐south thermal gradient plays an important role in modulating the interdecadal change in the East Asian jet stream, which in turn increases the August rainfall. Both the July and August rainfall are influenced by the interdecadal variability in upper‐level temperature and Asian jet stream, which are significantly associated with the dynamical circulation change after the late 1960s. However, the influence on the July rainfall seems to be offset by the impact of a predominant Pacific‐Japan pattern, whereas the August rainfall is affected by a strong Eurasian wave‐like pattern.
Actinorhodopsin genes discovered in diverse freshwater habitats and among cultivated freshwater Actinobacteria
Authors: Sharma Adrian K , Sommerfeld Katrin , Bullerjahn George S , Matteson Audrey R , Wilhelm Steven W , Jezbera Jan , Brandt Ulrike , Doolittle W Ford , Hahn Martin W
Published: February 2009

Microbial rhodopsins are membrane proteins that utilize a retinal chromophore to harvest sunlight for energetic and photosensory functions. Recently, a group of novel rhodopsin sequences named ‘actinorhodopsins’ (ActRs) was hypothesized to exist among uncultured planktonic Actinobacteria. ActRs were discovered by mining metagenomic data obtained during the Venter Institute's Global Ocean Sampling expedition, from a hypersaline lagoon, two estuaries and a freshwater lake. On the basis of these findings, and many studies that show Actinobacteria are common inhabitants of lakes, we predicted that ActR genes would likely be present in other freshwater habitats and among the genomes of cultivated Actinobacteria. Using degenerate polymerase chain reaction primers, we discovered an ActR gene present in an actinobacterial isolate of the family Microbacteriaceae. Isolate MWH-Uga1 was cultivated prior to this study from a freshwater pond in Uganda and belongs to a group of Actinobacteria previously identified in freshwater ecosystems. ActR genes were also discovered present in numerous mixed cultures containing freshwater Actinobacteria and among environmental DNA samples obtained from three freshwater sources; a small woodland pond and the Laurentian Great Lakes Superior and Erie. An analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA genes from metagenomic DNA samples harboring ActR genes suggests that organisms belonging to the acI lineage, an uncultured group of Actinobacteria commonly present in fresh waters, may utilize rhodopsins. The co-occurrence of an acI organism with a specific ActR variant in a mixed culture supports our hypothesis.
Randomized Control Trial to Improve Adiposity and Insulin Resistance in Overweight Latino Adolescents
Authors: Davis Jaimie N. , Kelly Louise A. , Lane Christianne J. , Ventura Emily E. , Byrd‐Williams Courtney E. , Alexandar Katharine A. , Azen Stanley P. , Chou Chih‐Ping , Spruijt‐Metz Donna , Weigensberg Marc J. , Berhane Kiros , Goran Michael I.
Published: February 2009

Few randomized trials attempt to improve insulin sensitivity and associated metabolic risks in overweight Latino youth. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a modified carbohydrate nutrition program combined with strength training on insulin sensitivity, adiposity, and other type 2 diabetes risk factors in overweight Latino adolescents. In a 16‐week randomized trial, 54 overweight Latino adolescents (15.5 ± 1.0 years) were randomly assigned to: (i) Control (C; n = 16), (ii) Nutrition (N; n = 21), or (iii) Nutrition + Strength training (N+ST; n = 17). The N group received modified carbohydrate nutrition classes (once per week), while the N+ST received the same nutrition classes plus strength training (twice per week). The following were measured at pre‐ and postintervention: strength by 1‐repetition maximum, dietary intake by 3‐day records, body composition by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, glucose/insulin indices by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal modeling. Across intervention group effects were tested using analysis of covariance with post hoc pairwise comparisons. A significant overall intervention effect was found for improvement in bench press (P < 0.001) and reductions in energy (P = 0.05), carbohydrate (P = 0.04) and fat intake (P = 0.03). There were no significant intervention effects on insulin sensitivity, body composition, or most glucose/insulin indices with the exception of glucose incremental area under the curve (IAUC) (P = 0.05), which decreased in the N and N+ST group by 18 and 6.3% compared to a 32% increase in the C group. In conclusion, this intense, culturally tailored intervention resulted in no significant intervention effects on measured risk factors with the exception of a beneficial effect on glycemic response to oral glucose.
Plasma MR‐proADM Correlates to BMI and Decreases in Relation to Leptin After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Authors: Vila Greisa , Riedl Michaela , Maier Christina , Struck Joachim , Morgenthaler Nils G. , Handisurya Ammon , Prager Gerhard , Ludvik Bernhard , Clodi Martin , Luger Anton
Published: February 2009

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a vasoactive peptide found to be related to obesity and its comorbidities: type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease. ADM is increased both in plasma and in adipose tissue of obese individuals when compared to lean subjects and is considered as a member of the adipokine family. We determined plasma midregional proadrenomedullin (MR‐proADM) concentrations in a cohort of 357 subjects with BMI ranging from 17.5 to 42.3 kg/m2 and no additional medical history. In parallel, 28 severely obese patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery were studied at two time points: before and 1 year after surgery. Outcome measurements were: MR‐proADM, cortisol, leptin, C‐reactive protein (CRP) thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), creatinine and metabolic parameters. BMI correlated significantly to plasma MR‐proADM levels (r = 0.714, P < 0.001), also after adjustment for age and gender (r = 0.767, P < 0.001). In obese subjects, there was a positive relationship between MR‐proADM and leptin (r = 0.511, P = 0.006). Following RYGB, plasma MR‐proADM decreased from 0.76 ± 0.03 to 0.62 ± 0.02 pg/ml (P < 0.0001). RYGB‐induced changes in MR‐proADM correlated significantly to changes in leptin (r = 0.533, P = 0.004) and in CRP (r = 0.429, P = 0.023). We conclude that BMI is an independent predictor of circulating MR‐proADM levels. Weight loss after RYGB is associated with a significant decrease in plasma MR‐proADM, which is related to surgery‐induced changes in both circulating leptin and systemic inflammation.
Excessive Energy Intake Does Not Modify Fed‐state Tissue Protein Synthesis Rates in Adult Rats
Authors: Adéchian Solange , Giardina Silvana , Rémond Didier , Papet Isabelle , Buonocore Daniela , Gaudichon Claire , Dardevet Dominique , Marzatico Fulvio , Mosoni Laurent
Published: February 2009

The impact of chronic excessive energy intake on protein metabolism is still controversial. Male Wistar rats were fed ad libitum during 5 weeks with either a high‐fat high‐sucrose diet (HF: n = 9) containing 45% of total energy as lipids (protein 14%; carbohydrate 40% with 83.5% sucrose) or a standard diet (controls: n = 10). Energy intake and body weight were recorded. At the end of the experiment, we measured body composition, metabolic parameters (plasma amino acid, lipid, insulin, and glucose levels), inflammatory parameter (plasma α2‐macroglobulin), oxidative stress parameters (antioxidant enzyme activities, lipoperoxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl content in liver and muscle), and in vivo fed–state fractional protein synthesis rates (FSRs) in muscle and liver. Energy intake was significantly higher in HF compared with control rats (+28%). There were significant increases in body weight (+8%), body fat (+21%), renal (+41%), and epidydimal (+28%) fat pads in HF compared with control rats. No effect was observed in other tissue weights (liver, muscle, spleen, kidneys, intestine). Liver and muscle FSRs, plasma levels of lipids, glucose, insulin and α2‐macroglobulin, soleus and liver glutathione reductase and peroxidase acitivities, MnSOD activity, LPO, and protein carbonyl content were not altered by the HF diet. Only soleus muscle and liver Cu/ZnSOD activity and soleus muscle catalase activities were reduced in HF rats compared with control rats. Thus, chronic excessive energy intake and increased adiposity, in the absence of other metabolic alterations, do not stimulate fed‐state tissue protein synthesis rates.
Betel Nut Chewing Is Strongly Associated With General and Central Obesity in Chinese Male Middle‐aged Adults
Authors: Lin Wen‐Yuan , Pi‐Sunyer F. Xavier , Liu Chiu‐Shong , Li Tsai‐Chung , Li Chia‐Ing , Huang Chih‐Yang , Lin Cheng‐Chieh
Published: February 2009

Betel nut chewing has been reported to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality. The reason is unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between betel nut chewing and general obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and central obesity (waist circumference (WC) ≥90 cm). A total of 1,049 male subjects, aged ≥40 years, were recruited from Taichung city in Taiwan in 2004. The relationships between betel nut chewing and general and central obesity were studied by multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of current and former betel nut chewing was 7.0 and 10.5% in our male Taiwanese cohort. Current/former betel nut chewers had a higher prevalence of general and central obesity when compared with individuals who had never chewed betel nut. Adjusted for age, diabetes, hypertension, lipids, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, income, and education level, the odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence intervals) of general and central obesity among the lower consumption of betel nut chewers were 1.78 (1.07, 2.96) and 1.19 (0.70, 2.02), respectively, compared to 2.01 (1.18, 3.41) and 1.89 (1.10, 3.23), respectively, among higher consumption chewers compared to individuals who had never chewed betel nut. The increasing ORs of general and central obesity with higher betel nut consumption revealed dose–response effects. Using multiple linear regression analyses, after adjusting for potential confounders, betel nut consumption was statistically significantly associated with BMI and WC. In conclusion, betel nut chewing was independently associated with general and central obesity in Taiwanese men. Dose–response effects of the association between betel nut consumption and general obesity as well as central obesity were found.
Predicting Physical Activity Energy Expenditure Using Accelerometry in Adults From Sub‐Sahara Africa
Authors: Assah Felix K. , Ekelund Ulf , Brage Soren , Corder Kirsten , Wright Antony , Mbanya Jean C. , Wareham Nicholas J.
Published: February 2009

Lack of physical activity may be an important etiological factor in the current epidemiological transition characterized by increasing prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases in sub‐Sahara Africa. However, there is a dearth of data on objectively measured physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) in this region. We sought to develop regression equations using body composition and accelerometer counts to predict PAEE. We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 33 adult volunteers from an urban (n = 16) and a rural (n = 17) residential site in Cameroon. Energy expenditure was measured by doubly labeled water (DLW) over a period of seven consecutive days. Simultaneously, a hip‐mounted Actigraph accelerometer recorded body movement. PAEE prediction equations were derived using accelerometer counts, age, sex, and body composition variables, and cross‐validated by the jack‐knife method. The Bland and Altman limits of agreement (LOAs) approach was used to assess agreement. Our results show that PAEE (kJ/kg/day) was significantly and positively correlated with activity counts from the accelerometer (r = 0.37, P = 0.03). The derived equations explained 14–40% of the variance in PAEE. Age, sex, and accelerometer counts together explained 34% of the variance in PAEE, with accelerometer counts alone explaining 14%. The LOAs between DLW and the derived equations were wide, with predicted PAEE being up to 60 kJ/kg/day below or above the measured value. In summary, the derived equations performed better than existing published equations in predicting PAEE from accelerometer counts in this population. Accelerometry could be used to predict PAEE in this population and, therefore, has important applications for monitoring population levels of total physical activity patterns.
Sedentary Behavior and Obesity in a Large Cohort of Children
Authors: Mitchell Jonathan A. , Mattocks Calum , Ness Andy R. , Leary Sam D. , Pate Russell R. , Dowda Marsha , Blair Steven N. , Riddoch Chris
Published: February 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sedentary behavior and obesity among 12‐year‐old children, while adjusting for moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and other potential confounding variables. Cross‐sectional analyses were carried out with data from 5,434 children who participated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Fat mass was derived using dual‐energy X‐ray emission absorptiometry, and height and weight measurements were used to calculate BMI (kg/m2). The children wore an accelerometer for 7 days. The cut points for sedentary behavior and MVPA were ≤199 and ≥3,600 counts per minute (cpm), respectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for potential confounders of physical activity that included gender, social factors, early life factors, and maturation. The minimally adjusted association between sedentary behavior and obesity was positive, OR = 1.18 (1.08, 1.28). After adjusting for the series of potential confounders of physical activity the positive association remained, OR = 1.32 (1.14, 1.53). The crude association between 15 min of MVPA per day and obesity was negative, OR = 0.54 (0.48, 0.62). When 15 min of MVPA per day was additionally controlled for in the models, the positive associations between sedentary behavior and obesity were negated. Sedentary behavior was positively associated with obesity in the 12‐year‐old children, but this association was not independent of MVPA; low levels of MVPA among the sedentary children increased the odds of obesity. These findings support the importance of specifically engaging in MVPA during childhood to reduce the prevalence of obesity.