bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unquenched flavors in the Klebanov‐Strassler theory
Authors: Cremonesi S.
Published: July 2008

We present an analytic solution of type IIB supergravity plus D7‐branes, describing the addition of any number of flavors to the Klebanov‐Strassler background. The dual field theory and its self‐similar RG flow, described by a cascade of Seiberg dualities also in the presence of flavors, are discussed. The solution indicates that the dual gauge theory enjoys a duality wall in the UV. We stress the correspondence between Seiberg duality on the field theory side, and large gauge transformations on the RR and NSNS potentials on the gravity side. This contribution is mostly based on [1].
Notes on quantum evolution across singularities
Authors: Evnin O.
Published: July 2008

In a number of model contexts, evolution across space‐time singularities (reminiscent of the cosmological singularities) involves time‐dependent quantum Hamiltonians developing a singularity as a function of time. In this contribution to the proceedings of the 3rd RTN workshop in Valencia, I review some recent investigations of the general properties of such systems.
The minimally immersed 4D supermembrane
Authors: Garcıa del Moral M.P. , Pena J.M. , Restuccia A.
Published: July 2008

In this note we summarize some of the properties found in [1], and its relation with [2]. We comment on the construction of the action of the 11D supermembrane with nontrivial central charges minimally immersed on a 7D toroidal manifold is obtained (MIM2).The transverse coordinates to the supermembrane are maps to a 4D Minkowski space‐time. The action is invariant under additional symmetries in comparison to the supermembrane on a 11D Minkowski target space. The hamiltonian in the LCG is invariant under conformal transformations on the Riemann surface base manifold. The spectrum of the regularized hamiltonian is discrete with finite multiplicity. Its resolvent is compact. Susy is spontaneously broken, due to the topological central charge condition, to four supersymmetries in 4D, the vacuum belongs to an N = 1 supermultiplet. When assuming the target‐space to be an isotropic 7‐tori, the potential does not contain any flat direction, it is stable on the moduli space of parameters. Moreover due to the discrete symmetries of the hamiltonian, there are only 7 possible minimal holomorphic immersions of the MIM2 on the 7‐torus. When these symmetries are identified on the target space, it corresponds to compactify the MIM2 on a orbifold with G2 structure. Once the singularities are resolved it leads to the compactification of the MIM2 on a G2 manifold as shown in [2].
Q‐branes in type IIB supergravity
Authors: Bergshoeff E.A. , Hartong J. , Sorokin D.
Published: July 2008

The notion of Q7‐branes and Q‐instantons is introduced. These are one‐half BPS solutions of the type IIB supergravity theory characterized by a set of three parameters p,q,r such that r^2>4pq. The numbers p,q,r parameterize the electric and magnetic couplings of, respectively, the Q7‐branes and Q‐instantons to a triplet of 8‐forms. The (p,q) 7‐branes and instantons including the D7‐brane and the D‐instanton have r2 = 4pq. Seven‐brane solutions containing Q7‐branes are discussed and the Q‐instanton on‐shell action is computed. The Q7‐branes are either novel bound states of a (p,q) 7‐brane and a (p′,q′) 7‐brane with (p,q) ≠ (p′,q′) or they form an independent new object in the theory.
Higher‐spin dynamics and Chern‐Simons theories
Authors: Engquist J. , Hohm O.
Published: July 2008

We review the construction of consistent higher‐spin theories based on Chern‐Simons actions. To this end we first introduce the required higher‐spin algebras and discuss curvature and torsion tensors in an unconstrained way. Finally we perform a perturbative analysis of the Chern‐Simons theory in D = 5 for a non‐maximally symmetric AdS4 background and obtain the required four‐dimensional Frønsdal equations in the compensator formulation.
Warped generalized geometry compactifications, effective theories and non‐perturbative effects
Authors: Koerber P. , Martucci L.
Published: July 2008

Summarizing the results of [1], we discuss the four‐dimensional effective approach to type II N = 1 supersymmetric flux compactifications with general SU(3) × SU(3)‐structure. In particular, we study the effect of a non‐trivial warp factor, which we argue leads naturally to a supergravity formulation invariant under local complexified Weyl transformations. We show that the full ten‐dimensional supersymmetry equations can be obtained as F‐flatness and D‐flatness conditions from the superpotential and Kähler potential. We then consider non‐perturbative corrections to these supersymmetry conditions, following from adding instanton or gaugino condensation effects to the superpotential. As examples, we show how smeared instantons allow to understand the ten‐dimensional geometry of KKLT‐like AdS vacua and we give an explanation for the superpotential for “mobile” D3‐branes in terms of a non‐perturbatively induced generalized complex structure.
Brane tilings for orientifolds
Authors: Krefl D.
Published: July 2008

We give an elementary introduction to the recent derivation of the effective low‐energy gauge theories of D3‐branes probing orientifolds of toric Calabi‐Yau 3‐fold singularities via brane tiling techniques.
On marginally deformed meson spectroscopy
Authors: Penati S. , Pirrone M. , Ratti C.
Published: July 2008

We review the results of 0710.4292 [hep‐th] where we study the embedding of spacetime filling D7‐branes in β‐deformed backgrounds. This corresponds to flavoring β‐deformed 𝒩 = 4 super Yang–Mills. For the supersymmetric and the more general non‐supersymmetric three parameter deformations, we study quadratic fluctuations of a probe D7‐brane wrapped on a deformed three‐sphere, which correspond to mesonic configurations of the dual field theory. We manage to solve their equations exactly in the presence of a non‐trivial coupling between scalar and vector modes induced by the deformation. We find a mesonic mass spectrum which is discrete, with a mass gap and a Zeeman‐like splitting occurs.
Euclidean methods and the entropy function
Authors: Silva P.J.
Published: July 2008

The attractor mechanism implies that the supersymmetric black hole near horizon solution is defined only in terms of the conserved charges and is therefore independent of asymptotic moduli. Starting only with the near horizon geometry, Sen's entropy functional formalism computes the entropy of an extreme black hole by means of a Legendre transformation where the electric fields are defined as conjugated variables to the electric charges. However, traditional Euclidean methods require the knowledge of the full geometry to compute the black hole thermodynamic quantities. We establish the connection between the entropy functional formalism and the standard Euclidean formalism taken at zero temperature. We find that Sen's entropy function f (on‐shell) matches the zero temperature limit of the Euclidean action. Moreover, Sen's near horizon angular and electric fields agree with the chemical potentials that are defined from the zero‐temperature limit of the Euclidean formalism.
Dilatation operator and space‐time geometry
Authors: Sochichiu C.
Published: July 2008

We discuss the possibility of defining a dynamical model describing the RG‐flow for a Quantum Field Theory. Construction of the dilatation operator is discussed in details for one‐vertex one‐loop level.
Wandering in five‐dimensional curved superspace
Authors: Kuzenko S.M. , Tartaglino‐Mazzucchelli G.
Published: July 2008

This is a brief review of the superspace formulation for five‐dimensional 𝒩 = 1 matter‐coupled supergravity recently developed by the authors.
Black holes galore in D>4
Authors: Emparan R.
Published: July 2008

I review recent progress in understanding black hole solutions of higher‐dimensional vacuum gravity.
Universal Kounterterms in Lovelock AdS gravity
Authors: Kofinas G. , Olea R.
Published: July 2008

We show the universal form of the boundary term (Kounterterm series) which regularizes the Euclidean action and background‐independent definition of conserved quantities for any Lovelock gravity theory with AdS asymptotics (including Einstein‐Hilbert and Einstein‐Gauss‐Bonnet). We discuss on the connection of this procedure to the existence of topological invariants and Chern‐Simons forms in the corresponding dimensions.
Demographic variation in housing cost adjustments with US family migration
Authors: Withers Suzanne Davies , Clark William A. V. , Ruiz Tricia
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the demographic variation in housing‐cost adjustment associated with family migration in the United States. The American population continues to migrate away from very large metropolitan areas down the urban hierarchy towards smaller metropolitan and micropolitan areas, an exodus that is frequently attributed to the push effects of diseconomies and congestion, increasing presence of foreign‐born population, and housing affordability problems, particularly in the large gateway cities. Yet, there is no empirical study of the housing‐cost adjustments associated with migration. This study addresses this gap by empirically assessing whether migration is associated with housing affordability adjustments, whether migrating families increase or decrease their housing costs, whether demographic variations occur in these adjustments, and whether there are significant differences in the geographies of housing‐cost adjustments among migrant families. These questions are addressed using the Census 2000 county‐to‐county migration flows merged with Census measures, and the 2000 Public Use Micro‐Sample 5% National file. The results indicate significant changes in housing costs associated with migration, and interstate migration in particular. On average, the direction of migration is to more affordable places. Families migrating from the traditional gateway cities with a relatively high percentage of foreign‐born populations are the most likely to make enormous shifts in affordability. However, these moves do not correspond neatly with regional white‐flight theory. Hispanics are far more likely to decrease housing costs with migration, as are non‐citizens and naturalised citizens. This research makes an important contribution to debates within the family migration literature, including conjectures of regional white flight and gendered theories of migration. Family migration towards greater housing affordability appears strategic and embedded in larger issues of family work–life balance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Family life course transitions and the economic consequences of internal migration
Authors: De Jong Gordon F. , Graefe Deborah Roempke
Published: July 2008

Do family life course and migration events combine to improve or hurt family economic well‐being? The interaction effects of family life course events (i.e. became married, had a child, became separated/divorced) with migration are seldom conceptualised and measured in research on the economic well‐being of families. The more usual focus of the migration literature is on family and household structure rather than on family life course processes. Based on life course transition theory and longitudinal population survey data for the 1996–1999 and 2001–2003 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, we utilise random coefficients models in an event‐history framework to provide new evidence on how before‐ and after‐migration life course events affect post‐migration family employment, family income and family poverty, for inter‐ and intra‐state migrants. The results show that, net the effect of factors selecting families and individuals to migrate, both inter‐ and intra‐state migration have negative impacts on family employment, poverty levels and income levels, but interstate migrants experience positive income growth. Separation and divorce markedly intensify the negative effects, but becoming married consistently interacts with migration to improve family economic well‐being. The causal order of family life course events and migration matters, with childbirth and separation/divorce after migration being particularly harmful to family economic well‐being. These effects are not mediated by state economic conditions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distance to parents and geographical mobility
Authors: Michielin Francesca , Mulder Clara H. , Zorlu Aslan
Published: July 2008

We investigate the likelihood of moving and the direction of moves with respect to the residential location of the parents, using rich administrative data for the Netherlands. We address the question of to what extent events and situations associated with increases in the need for support or contact between parents and adult children influence these moves. The results suggest that adult children take into account the residential location of their parents when their own need for support or contact increases, most notably in case of divorce. The parents' support needs, however, seem to have a much smaller influence on adult children's geographical mobility. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Admittance spectroscopy defect density of electrodeposited CuIn(S,Se)2 and its correlation with solar cells performances
Authors: Darga A. , Djebbour Z. , Mencaraglia D. , Migan Dubois A. , Connolly J.P. , Guillemoles J.F. , Lincot D.
Published: July 2008

Electrodeposited CuIn(S,Se)2 based solar cells with varying CdS buffer layer thicknesses were studied by admittance spectroscopy. An electrically active defect was identified. Its density of states which varies with CdS layer deposition process was found to be correlated with solar cell performance. This defect seems to be CdS/CuIn(S,Se)2 interface defect or to be located within the grain boundaries of the absorber layer. Direct dark I–V measurements reveal that the dominant recombination mechanism is a tunnelling assisted process. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Studies of Ni–Mo electrodeposited alloys with polymers by Auger electron spectroscopy
Authors: Karolus M. , Rowinski E. , Lagiewka E.
Published: July 2008

The aim of this paper is the presentation of crystalline and band‐structure studies of electrodeposited Ni–Mo alloys with different polymers. Composites based on Ni–Mo alloys with polythiophene, polypyrrole and polyethylene were obtained by electrochemical methods. The structural analysis made by X‐ray diffraction shows that a solid solution of molybdenum in nickel is forming. The analysis of the diffraction line broadening indicates the presence of the Ni–Mo solution nanocrystallites in the deposited layers. The analyses of valence‐band Auger spectra have also shown that the change of electronic parameters is due to the presence of polymer elements. The existence of surface and bulk plasmons verifies the oxidized substrate with an average dielectric constant. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Identification and quantitation of auxins in plants by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry
Authors: Lu Qiaomei , Zhang Lan , Chen Tianwen , Lu Minghua , Ping Tong , Chen Guonan
Published: July 2008

Auxin is an important phylohormone, which regulates specific physiological responses such as division, elongation and differentiation of cells. A new method using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐ITMS) has been developed for identification and quantitation of four auxins. Under the optimum conditions, four auxins (indole‐3‐acetic acid, indole‐3‐propionic acid, indole‐3‐butyric acid and 1‐naphthylacetic acid) were completely separated and quantitated within 7 min with a minimum detection limit of 8.0 ng mL−1 with relative standard deviations lower than 5.0%. This method also has been applied to analysis of auxins in Chinese cabbage where, even with a complicated serious background perturbation due to the natural biological matrix, the mean recoveries ranged from 77.5% to 99.8%. Finally, we discuss the MS‐relevant properties of the identified auxins in detail. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Underwater SLAM in man‐made structured environments
Authors: Ribas David , Ridao Pere , Tardós Juan Domingo , Neira José
Published: July 2008

This paper describes a navigation system for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in partially structured environments, such as dams, harbors, marinas, and marine platforms. A mechanically scanned imaging sonar is used to obtain information about the location of vertical planar structures present in such environments. A robust voting algorithm has been developed to extract line features, together with their uncertainty, from the continuous sonar data flow. The obtained information is incorporated into a feature‐based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm running an extended Kalman filter. Simultaneously, the AUV's position estimate is provided to the feature extraction algorithm to correct the distortions that the vehicle motion produces in the acoustic images. Moreover, a procedure to build and maintain a sequence of local maps and to posteriorly recover the full global map has been adapted for the application presented. Experiments carried out in a marina located in the Costa Brava (Spain) with the Ictineu AUV show the viability of the proposed approach. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Guiding the Self‐Assembly of a Second‐Generation Polyphenylene Dendrimer into Well‐Defined Patterns
Authors: Heyen An J. J. Ver , Buron Cédric C. , Tianshi Qin , Bauer Roland , Jonas Alain M. , Müllen Klaus , De Schryver Frans C. , De Feyter Steven
Published: July 2008

A second‐generation polyphenylene dendrimer 1 is shown to self‐assemble into nanofibers. To guide the formation of the dendrimer fibers into well‐defined patterns, 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane is grafted in the gas phase onto a silicon substrate. De‐wetting of the solution on the nanopatterned surface results in the formation of a nanostructured template, into which fiber growth subsequently occurs under the constraints set by the de‐wetted morphology.
Placement of multiple mobile data collectors in underwater acoustic sensor networks
Authors: Alsalih Waleed , Hassanein Hossam , Akl Selim
Published: July 2008

We propose two schemes for routing and placement of mobile data collectors in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs): the delay tolerant placement and routing (DTPR) and the delay constrained placement and routing (DCPR). As their names reveal, while the DTPR maximizes the lifetime of the network without any delay considerations, the DCPR maximizes the lifetime of the network with an upper bound on the maximum delay. Both schemes are based on a 3D architecture, in which on‐the‐surface data collectors gather data from underwater sensors and relay them to an on‐shore sink. We divide the lifetime of the network into fixed length rounds and move the data collectors to new locations at the beginning of each round.

These problems are formulated as integer linear programs (ILPs), and we use an ILP solver to find the optimal placement of data collectors together with the multi‐hop routing paths to deliver data from underwater sensors to data collectors. Our work is a pioneering effort in the placement of mobile data collectors in three‐dimensional UASNs. Comprehensive experiments show that our schemes prolong the lifetime of the network significantly as compared to other data collector placement schemes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abnormal expression and processing of uromodulin in Fabry disease reflects tubular cell storage alteration and is reversible by enzyme replacement therapy
Authors: Vylet'al P. , Hůlková H. , Živná M. , Berná L. , Novák P. , Elleder M. , Kmoch S.
Published: July 2008

Uromodulin (UMOD) malfunction has been found in a range of autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial nephropathies associated with hyperuricaemia, gouty arthritis, medullary cysts and renal failure—labelled as familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy, medullary cystic disease type 2 and glomerulocystic kidney disease. To gain knowledge of the spectrum of UMOD changes in various genetic diseases with renal involvement we examined urinary UMOD excretion and found significant quantitative and qualitative changes in 15 male patients at various clinical stages of Fabry disease. In untreated patients, the changes ranged from normal to a marked decrease, or even absence of urinary UMOD. This was accompanied frequently by the presence of aberrantly processed UMOD lacking the C‐terminal part following the K432 residue. The abnormal patterns normalized in all patients on enzyme replacement therapy and in some patients on substrate reduction therapy. Immunohistochemical analysis of the affected kidney revealed abnormal UMOD localization in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and the distal convoluted tubule, with UMOD expression inversely proportional to the degree of storage. Our observations warrant evaluation of tubular functions in Fabry disease and suggest UMOD as a potential biochemical marker of therapeutic response of the kidney to therapy. Extended comparative studies of UMOD expression in kidney specimens obtained during individual types of therapies are therefore of great interest.
Classification of all connected subgroup schemes of a reductive group containing a split maximal torus
Authors: Sopkina Ekaterina
Published: July 2008

The main result of the paper is a classification of all connected subgroup schemes of a reductive group containing a split maximal torus, over an arbitrary field. The classification is expressed in terms of functions on the root system.
On the vanishing of twisted nil groups
Authors: Juan-Pineda Daniel , Ramos Rafael
Published: July 2008

Let G be a finite group and [G] its integral group ring. We prove that the twisted nil groups N([G]) vanish for all i ≤ 1 for G a finite group of square-free order.
Grain quality in the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment and the winter North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: ATKINSON M. D. , KETTLEWELL P. S. , POULTON P. R. , HOLLINS P. D.
Published: July 2008

Previous work has shown that the national average quality of the UK wheat crop from 1974 to 1999 was associated with the preceding winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The association of the winter NAO with the grain quality measure, specific weight, was shown to be mediated by sunshine duration during grain filling and unconditional wet day probability during grain ripening (the probability of a wet day following either a dry or a wet day). The present study tests the hypothesis that the association between specific weight and the winter NAO can be detected in data from 158 years of the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment at Rothamsted in south-east England. Specific weight from the Broadbalk Experiment responded to sunshine duration during grain filling and unconditional wet day probability during grain ripening in a similar way to the national average data. An association with the winter NAO was found in the Broadbalk data from 1956 to 2001, but not in the previous 112 years (1844–1955). This finding is consistent with other work showing significant correlations between the winter NAO and summer climate only in recent decades. It is concluded that the association between wheat quality and the NAO is a recent phenomenon.
DOES SEX OF CHILDREN MATTER? IMPLICATIONS FOR FERTILITY IN PAKISTAN
Authors: MUHAMMAD ALI
Published: July 2008

Preference for children of either sex is considered a constraint on fertility decline as it induces many couples to keep adding on surviving children in the hope of having a desired sex composition of children. However, preferences for children of a particular sex may differ in relation to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of women, traditional values and cultural practices, such as propagating a family name, providing economic advantages, and obtaining a medium of social and economic security in times of illness, unemployment and old age. Utilizing the Pakistan Integrated Household Survey (2001–02), this paper aims at investigating the existence of sex preference and examines sex preference differentials by different attributes of women in Pakistan. The results reveal that there is a desire to have another child in the presence of all children of one sex, either sons or daughters. The desire to have a son with only or mostly daughters, however, is stronger than the desire to have a daughter with only or mostly sons. This behaviour will retard fertility decline unless there is a shift in the desire to have children of both sexes in Pakistan.
PARENTAL SUPPLY AND OFFSPRING DEMAND AMONGST KARO BATAK MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
Authors: KUSHNICK GEOFF
Published: July 2008

The resolution of parent–offspring conflict (POC) might sway in favour of the offspring if the parent relies on offspring-supplied information about need. Here, three hypotheses from a resolution model of POC were tested using data on sickness histories and mother–infant interactions from 24 Karo Batak women and their young children from two rural villages in North Sumatra, Indonesia. First, as predicted, offspring with greater need (measured as age and propensity to illness) tended to fuss more often. Second, as expected, observed fussiness predicted the number of suckling occurrences observed during sampling periods. Third, contrary to the prediction, the duration of fussing observed after breast-feeding occurrences was longer than the duration of the breast-feeding occurrences themselves. Parental decisions were made based on offspring-supplied information about need, but offspring failed to garner resources in excess of the parental optimum. This suggests that a POC interpretation is unnecessary to account for these results.
THE ANTENATAL CAUSES OF CEREBRAL PALSY – GENETIC AND VIRAL ASSOCIATIONS
Authors: GIBSON CATHERINE S. , MACLENNAN ALASTAIR H. , GOLDWATER PAUL N. , DEKKER GUSTAAF A.
Published: July 2008

Cerebral palsy is the most common neurological disorder in children. Epidemiological evidence suggests that antenatal origins are a major cause. Currently there is no antenatal test for cerebral palsy, no proven preventable measures in late pregnancy, and no known cure. Cerebral palsy affects not only the diagnosed child, but also their family and the community, requiring considerable social and financial resources to assist these children in their daily lives.
Overweight, obesity and other risk factors for IHD in Brazilian schoolchildren
Authors: Barbiero Sandra Mari , Pellanda Lucia Campos , Cesa Claudia Ciceri , Campagnolo Paula , Beltrami Flávia , Abrantes Caroline C
Published: July 2008

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and nutritional habits in schoolchildren aged 10–18 years.

Methods

Contemporary, cross-sectional, population-based study, with a stratified probabilistic sample of secondary schools in Porto Alegre comprising a total of 511 schoolchildren. Data on family risk factors, anthropometrics and eating habits were collected.

Results

The prevalence of excess weight was 27·6 % among the schoolchildren, with 17·8 % being overweight (BMI ≥ 85th and <95th percentile) and 9·8 % obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile). Overweight was more prevalent in females (19·9 %) and obesity in males (11·8 %). Children who ate fewer meals per day tend to be more obese (mean: 3·51 (sd1·14)v. 4·22 (sd1·01) meals/d for students with normal weight). The mean weekly intake of unhealthy foods was 3·25 times for soft drinks, 2·91 for fried foods and 4·01 for sweets. The intake of skimmed milk (38·9 %) and diet soft drinks (20·9 %) was greater among obese children.

Conclusion

Overweight and obesity are increasing even in developing countries such as Brazil. Although many families are already taking measures towards healthier health habits, preventive actions must be considered a priority, with an emphasis on education, in order to avoid the need to treat obesity and its significant burden in the near future.
Dietary consumption of phytochemicals and breast cancer risk in Mexican women
Authors: Torres-Sanchez Luisa , Galvan-Portillo Marcia , Wolff Mary S , Lopez-Carrillo Lizbeth
Published: July 2008

Objective

To perform an evaluation of selected phytochemicals intake and breast cancer (BC) risk in Mexican women.

Design

We conducted hospital-based case–control study.

Setting

Mexico City between 1994 and 1996.

Subjects

A total of 141 histologically confirmed BC cases were age-matched (±3 years) to an equal number of hospital controls. The reproductive history of each woman was obtained by direct interview. The dietary consumption of flavonols, flavones, flavan-3-ols, cinnamic acid, lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol and coumestrol was obtained by means of a validated FFQ.

Results

Among postmenopausal women, high dietary intake of flavonols and flavones was associated with a significant reduction of BC risk (highv. low tertile: OR = 0·21, 95 % CI 0·07, 0·60,Pfor trend = 0·004 and OR = 0·29, 95 % CI 0·10, 0·82,Pfor trend = 0·025, respectively); consumption of lignans (lariciresinol and pinoresinol) showed a similar effect, but only among premenopausal women (highv. low tertile: OR = 0·32, 95 % CI 0·10, 0·99,Pfor trend = 0·051 and OR = 0·19, 95 % CI 0·06, 0·62,Pfor trend = 0·006, respectively).

Conclusions

Our results support a protective role of specific dietary phytochemicals in BC risk by menopausal status, independent of other reproductive factors.
Influence of acculturation among Tunisian migrants in France and their past/present exposure to the home country on diet and physical activity
Authors: Méjean Caroline , Traissac Pierre , Eymard-Duvernay Sabrina , Delpeuch Francis , Maire Bernard
Published: July 2008

Objective

To study how dietary patterns and physical activity vary with acculturation and with past and current exposure to socio-cultural norms of the home country among Tunisian migrants.

Design

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using quota sampling (n 150) based on age and residence. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. Physical activity level and dietary aspects were compared according to length of residence (acculturation), age at migration (past exposure) and social ties with the home country (current exposure).

Subjects and setting

Tunisian migrant men residing in the South of France.

Results

Migrants who had lived in France for more than 9 years had a higher percentage contribution of meat to energy intake (P = 0·04), a higher Na intake (P = 0·04), a lower percentage contribution of sugar and sweets (P = 0·04) and a lower percentage of carbohydrates (P = 0·03) than short-term migrants. Men who migrated before 21 years of age had a higher Na intake than ‘late’ migrants (P = 0·02). Men who had distant social ties with Tunisia had a lower physical activity level (P = 0·01) whereas men who had close ties had a higher percentage of fat (P = 0·01) and a higher ratio of MUFA to SFA (P = 0·02).

Conclusions

Acculturation led to a convergence of some characteristics to those of the host population, while some results (meat and salt consumption) were at variance with other acculturation studies. Past and current exposure to the home country helped maintain some positive aspects of the diet. Nevertheless, present dietary changes in Tunisia could soon lessen these features.
Association between betel-nut chewing and chronic kidney disease in men
Authors: Chou Che-Yi , Cheng Shi-Yann , Liu Jiung-Hsiun , Cheng Wen-Chun , Kang I-Min , Tseng Yu-Hsiang , Shih Chuen-Ming , Chen Walter
Published: July 2008

Background

Betel-nut use is associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity. However, the association between betel-nut chewing and risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown. The present study was conducted to determine the association between betel-nut chewing and CKD in men.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed health-check records of 3264 men in a hospital-based cross-sectional screening programme from 2003 to 2006. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 ml/min/1·73 m2calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Risk factors for CKD including diabetes, hypertension, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption and age were also considered.

Results

A total of 677 (20·7 %) men were found to have CKD and 427 (13·1 %) participants reported a history of betel-nut use. The prevalence (24·8 %) of CKD in betel-nut users was significantly higher than that (11·3 %) of participants without betel-nut use (P= 0·026). In multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustments for age, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia, betel-nut use was independently associated with CKD (P< 0·001). The adjusted odds ratio for betel-nut use was 2·572 (95 % CI 1·917, 3·451).

Conclusions

Betel-nut use is associated with CKD in men. The association between betel-nut use and CKD is independent of age, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia.
Frühe Kindheit
Authors: Petermann Franz , Koglin Ute
Published: July 2008

Die bei jungen Kindern bestehende starke Abhängigkeit des Erlebens und Verhaltens von den primären Bezugspersonen erschwert die Diagnostik psychischer Störungen. Es wird die Klassifikation psychischer Störungen bei Kindern zwischen null und sechs Jahren diskutiert. Dazu wird die Klassifikation DC: 0 – 3R der Arbeitsgruppe Zero To Three vorgestellt; auf die Forschungskriterien für Null- bis Fünfjährige (RDC-PA) der Task Force on Research Diagnostic Criteria wird eingegangen. Des Weiteren werden aus aktuellen Studien epidemiologische Daten präsentiert.
Entwicklungsbeobachtung und Entwicklungsdokumentation in Krippen und Kindergärten
Authors: Koglin Ute , Petermann Franz , Helmsen Johanna , Petermann Ulrike
Published: July 2008

Zur Identifikation von Kindern mit erhöhten Entwicklungsrisiken und zur systematischen Beobachtung des Entwicklungsstandes von Kindern wurde eine Entwicklungsbeobachtung und -dokumentation für pädagogische Fachkräfte entwickelt. Fünf Bereiche können damit erfasst werden: Haltungs- und Bewegungssteuerung, Fein- und Visuomotorik, Sprache, Kognition und sozial-emotionale Entwicklung. Zu jedem Entwicklungsbereich liegen vier Aufgaben vor, jeweils gesondert für die Altersbereiche 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 und 48 Monate. Diese Entwicklungsbeobachtung und -dokumentation zeichnet sich durch ihren Einsatz bereits in der Krippe aus, durch ihren geringen Zeit- und Kostenaufwand, leicht erhältliches und alltagsnahes Erhebungsmaterial sowie ihre praktische Handhabung mit eindeutigen Aufgaben- und Antwortvorgaben und Interpretationshinweisen. Die Ergebnisse einer Pilotstudie, in der 242 Kinder von 36 pädagogischen Fachkräften beobachtet wurden, weisen auf eine hohe Akzeptanz des Instrumentes bei den Erzieherinnen hin. Über die verschiedenen Alters- und Entwicklungsbereiche lassen sich mit dem Instrument etwa zwischen 5 und 10 % der Kinder als Risikokinder identifizieren.
Psychische Auffälligkeiten bei Kindergartenkindern aus der Sicht der Eltern und Erzieherinnen in Abhängigkeit von soziodemografischen Merkmalen
Authors: Kuschel Annett , Heinrichs Nina , Bertram Heike , Naumann Sebastian , Hahlweg Kurt
Published: July 2008

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Die Verbreitung und vermutete Zunahme psychischer Auffälligkeiten bei Vorschulkindern und der Einfluss des sozialen Umfeldes werden verstärkt diskutiert. Im deutschen Sprachraum gibt es hier noch einen erheblichen Forschungsbedarf. Im Rahmen zweier Projekte zur Wirksamkeit universeller und selektiver Präventionsmaßnahmen wird untersucht, wie verschiedene Beurteiler psychische Auffälligkeiten bei Kindergartenkindern in Abhängigkeit von soziodemografischen Merkmalen einschätzen. Methode: Die Rekrutierung der Familien erfolgte über Kindertagesstätten in Braunschweig. Von N = 474 Kindern liegen Einschätzungen vor, die mit dem Eltern- bzw. Erzieherinnenfragebogen über das Verhalten von Klein- und Vorschulkindern (CBCL 1½ – 5; C-TRF 1½ – 5) erhoben wurden. Ergebnisse: Die Prävalenzraten der Syndromskalen liegen je nach Beurteiler zwischen 0,5 % und 9,4 %, wobei internalisierende Störungen am häufigsten auftreten. Die Merkmale Schulbildung, Einkommen und Migration stehen im signifikanten Zusammenhang zu den Prävalenzraten der internalisierenden Störungen und des Gesamtwerts. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Implikationen für die epidemiologische Forschung und Prävention kindlicher Verhaltensauffälligkeiten werden diskutiert.
Zur Effektivität des Trainings mit aggressiven Kindern in Psychiatrie und Jugendhilfe
Authors: Petermann Franz , Petermann Ulrike , Besier Tanja , Goldbeck Lutz , Büttner Peter , Krause-Leipoldt Carsten , Nitkowski Dennis
Published: July 2008

Effekte des Trainings mit aggressiven Kindern (TAK, Petermann & Petermann, 2008 ) wurden mit denjenigen einer Kombination aus Jugendhilfe-Maßnahme und TAK sowie aus kinderpsychiatrischer Intervention und TAK verglichen. Drei Stichproben mit 8, 12 und 13 Kindern (32 Jungen, 1 Mädchen) mit einem Altersdurchschnitt von 9;8 Jahren nahmen an der Studie teil. Vor Beginn und sechs Monate nach Abschluss des TAK wurden in den drei Interventionsgruppen Verhaltensauffälligkeiten und soziale Probleme erfasst. Eine Teilstichprobe von sechs Jungen, die an der psychiatrischen Intervention und am TAK teilnahmen, wurde direkt nach Beendigung des TAK untersucht. Unter den kombinierten Interventionen reduzierten sich emotionale Probleme, soziale Schwierigkeiten mit Gleichaltrigen und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten deutlich effektiver. In der Teilstichprobe konnte ein starker Abbau von sozialen und emotionalen Problemen registriert werden. Die Resultate weisen auf die Möglichkeit der Optimierung der psychosozialen Versorgung von aggressiven Kindern hin.
Seafloor compliance imaging of marine gas hydrate deposits and cold vent structures
Authors: Willoughby E. C. , Latychev K. , Edwards R. N. , Schwalenberg K. , Hyndman R. D.
Published: July 2008

Seafloor compliance, the transfer function between pressure induced by surface gravity waves and the associated seafloor deformation, can address outstanding questions about the nature of seismic blank zones, identified as cold vents offshore Vancouver Island, near Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 889 and the recent Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 311. Despite extensive seismic studies, it is not known whether free gas or gas hydrate is primarily responsible for the seismic blanking, nor are the concentration and distribution of either component conclusively determined. Here we use the formation's shear modulus to distinguish between gas hydrate, which can strongly alter the shear modulus, and free gas, which cannot. The depth‐dependent gas hydrate distribution and pore‐space saturation are estimated from the frequency variation of seafloor compliance measurements sensitive to the formation's shear modulus. Compliance data are consistent with pervasive moderate hydrate concentration over a broad region and significantly higher cylindrical concentrations associated with the cold vents, perhaps as much as 9 × 106 m3 in the 400 m diameter Bullseye vent, in agreement with controlled‐source electromagnetic data. Compliance data can help distinguish between different models for the structure of such gas hydrate‐bearing cold vents.
Inner structure of La Fossa di Vulcano (Vulcano Island, southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) revealed by high‐resolution electric resistivity tomography coupled with self‐potential, temperature, and CO2 diffuse degassing measurements
Authors: Revil A. , Finizola A. , Piscitelli S. , Rizzo E. , Ricci T. , Crespy A. , Angeletti B. , Balasco M. , Barde Cabusson S. , Bennati L. , Bolève A. , Byrdina S. , Carzaniga N. , Di Gangi F. , Morin J. , Perrone A. , Rossi M. , Roulleau E. , Suski B.
Published: July 2008

La Fossa cone is an active stratovolcano located on Vulcano Island in the Aeolian Archipelago (southern Italy). Its activity is characterized by explosive phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions producing wet and dry pyroclastic surges, pumice fall deposits, and highly viscous lava flows. Nine 2‐D electrical resistivity tomograms (ERTs; electrode spacing 20 m, with a depth of investigation >200 m) were obtained to image the edifice. In addition, we also measured the self‐potential, the CO2 flux from the soil, and the temperature along these profiles at the same locations. These data provide complementary information to interpret the ERT profiles. The ERT profiles allow us to identify the main structural boundaries (and their associated fluid circulations) defining the shallow architecture of the Fossa cone. The hydrothermal system is identified by very low values of the electrical resistivity (<20 Ω m). Its lateral extension is clearly limited by the crater boundaries, which are relatively resistive (>400 Ω m). Inside the crater it is possible to follow the plumbing system of the main fumarolic areas. On the flank of the edifice a thick layer of tuff is also marked by very low resistivity values (in the range 1–20 Ω m) because of its composition in clays and zeolites. The ashes and pyroclastic materials ejected during the nineteenth‐century eruptions and partially covering the flank of the volcano correspond to relatively resistive materials (several hundreds to several thousands Ω m). We carried out laboratory measurements of the electrical resistivity and the streaming potential coupling coefficient of the main materials forming the volcanic edifice. A 2‐D simulation of the groundwater flow is performed over the edifice using a commercial finite element code. Input parameters are the topography, the ERT cross section, and the value of the measured streaming current coupling coefficient. From this simulation we computed the self‐potential field, and we found good agreement with the measured self‐potential data by adjusting the boundary conditions for the flux of water. Inverse modeling shows that self‐potential data can be used to determine the pattern of groundwater flow and potentially to assess water budget at the scale of the volcanic edifice.
Mineralized microbes from Giggenbach submarine volcano
Authors: Jones Brian , de Ronde C. E. J. , Renaut Robin W.
Published: July 2008

The Giggenbach submarine volcano, which forms part of the Kermadec active arc front, is located ∼780 km NNE of the North Island of New Zealand. Samples collected from chimneys associated with seafloor hydrothermal vents on this volcano, at a depth of 160–180 m, contain silicified microbes and microbes entombed in reticular Fe‐rich precipitates. The mineralized biota includes filamentous, rod‐shaped, and rare coccoid microbes. In the absence of organic carbon for rDNA analysis or preserved cells, the taxonomic affinity of these microbes, in terms of extant taxa, remains questionable because of their architectural simplicity and the paucity of taxonomically significant features. The three‐dimensional preservation of the microbes indicates rapid mineralization with a steady supply of supersaturated fluids to the nucleation sites present on the surfaces of the microbes. The mineralization styles evident in the microbes from the Giggenbach submarine volcano are similar to those associated with mineralized microbes found in terrestrial hot spring deposits in New Zealand, Iceland, Yellowstone, and Kenya. These similarities exist even though the microbes are probably different and the fluids become supersaturated with respect to opal‐A by different mechanisms. For ancient rocks it means that interpretations of the depositional settings cannot be based solely on the silicified microbes or their style of silicification.
The 14 November 2001 Kokoxili (Tibet) earthquake: High‐frequency seismic radiation originating from the transitions between sub‐Rayleigh and supershear rupture velocity regimes
Authors: Vallée M. , Landès M. , Shapiro N. M. , Klinger Y.
Published: July 2008

Seismic array based analysis of the major Kokoxili earthquake (Tibet, 14 November 2001) yields an unambiguous reconstruction of the seismic rupture history and relates it to the generated seismic radiation. We demonstrate that after a classical sub‐Rayleigh velocity stage, the rupture speed has jumped to supershear values close to compressional wave velocity over a 175‐km‐long fault segment, before abruptly slowing down in the late part of the earthquake. The transition locations between these three phases are correlated with the fault geometry and are associated with the most energetic radiation. This observation proves that the rupture velocity changes, as theoretically predicted, are a primary source of high‐frequency seismic radiation. This result requires reconsidering the origins of seismic damage, generally attributed to slip variations.
Evaluating the sonic layer depth relative to the mixed layer depth
Authors: Helber Robert W. , Barron Charlie N. , Carnes Michael R. , Zingarelli Robert A.
Published: July 2008

Using a global set of in situ temperature and salinity profile observations, the sonic layer depth (SLD) and the mixed layer depth (MLD) are analyzed and compared over the annual cycle. The SLD characterizes the potential of the upper ocean to trap acoustic energy in a surface duct while MLD characterizes upper ocean mixing. The SLD is computed from temperature and salinity profile pairs using a new tunable method while MLD is computed using recently developed methods and either temperature only profiles or temperature and salinity profile pairs. Both SLD and MLD estimates provide information on different and important aspects of the upper ocean. The SLD and MLD often coincide because sound speed increases with depth down to the MLD, where (typically) a decrease in temperature occurs, resulting in a local maximum sound speed. The depth of this maximum sound speed is the SLD. The SLD and MLD are not always the same because sound speed is substantially more sensitive to temperature than to salinity compared to density. Since MLD is a commonly known and studied parameter, MLD is often used as a proxy for SLD in scientific and operational applications. In the boreal spring when fresh restratification events occur, the SLD is 10 m deeper (shallower) than the MLD in 39% (7%) of the observed profiles. A parabolic equation acoustic transmission model is used to evaluate the relative skill of the SLD and MLD estimates to predict surface acoustic trapping as measured by a simple metric.
Continuous measurements of net production over a shallow reef community using a modified Eulerian approach
Authors: Falter James L. , Lowe Ryan J. , Atkinson Marlin J. , Monismith Stephen G. , Schar Daniel W.
Published: July 2008

We made continuous measurements of the flux of dissolved oxygen over an algal‐dominated reef flat community on the Kaneohe Bay Barrier Reef, Hawaii as a proxy for the net production (NP) of organic carbon. Fluxes were calculated from measurements of dissolved oxygen and current profiles taken from moored oxygen sensors and acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) located at points defining the vertices of a triangular control volume 250 m in length on each side. Surface cruciform drifters as well as dye patches were tracked across the control volume to get independent measurements of Lagrangian currents. While the dye patch speeds were highly correlated with the depth‐averaged current speeds calculated from ADCP data on a 1:1 basis (r2 = 0.86, n = 24), drifter speeds exceeded both dye and calculated current speeds by 30–100% on average. Measurements of dissolved oxygen sampled within the dye patches as it propagated across the study site were used to calculate NP following a Lagrangian approach. Lagrangian estimates of NP were highly correlated with Eulerian estimates of NP on a 1:1 basis (r2 = 0.81, n = 7). Ratios of community production and community respiration varied from 0.7 to 1.4 on a daily basis, but approached a value of 1.0 when integrated over the entire data record.