bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of 24 minor red blood cell antigens for more than 2000 blood donors by high‐throughput DNA analysis
Authors: Hashmi Ghazala , Shariff Tasmia , Zhang Yi , Cristobal Joan , Chau Chiu , Seul Michael , Vissavajjhala Prabhakar , Baldwin Christopher , Hue‐Roye Kim , Charles‐Pierre Dalisay , Lomas‐Francis Christine , Reid Marion E.
Published: March 2007

BACKGROUND:A “BeadChip” array permits reliable simultaneous DNA typing of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms for minor blood groups. A high‐throughput DNA analysis was studied as a routine method of phenotype prediction and software was developed to interpret and analyze the large volume of data points.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:DNA was extracted from whole blood of donors of known phenotypes and self‐identified ethnicity. Analysis of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 24 antigens of 10 blood group systems was performed with BeadChips (BioArray Solutions), and the results were compared to historical serologic typings. Phenotypes were predicted for individual samples, and phenotype prevalence was determined for ethnicities. The BeadChip was expanded to incorporate SNPs that silence the S antigen, validated, and tested with 369 DNA samples. A time‐motion analysis was conducted.

RESULTS:Results of BeadChip analyses were concordant with prediction of antigen negativity for 4,510 antigens. Eight discordant results were due to silencing ofGYPBSand 16 were likely errors in recording serological results or data entry. The analyses produced 19,457 antigen‐negative typings not serologically defined, identified 21 rare donors (Co(a–b+) [n = 1], Jo(a–) [n = 6], S–s–[n = 12], and K+k–[n = 2]), and determined allele frequencies and antigen prevalence for four ethnicities. The expanded panel detected 30 SS, 235 ss, 100 Ss, and 4 U– samples. The format processes 192 DNA samples (two plates) per 8‐hour shift per technician, including automated data analysis and report generation.

CONCLUSION:DNA analysis with BeadChip format, combined with computerized data entry and analysis, permits the prediction of minor blood group antigens.
Stress‐Biased Cymbals Using Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Narayanan Manoj , Schwartz Robert W. , Zhou Dayu
Published: March 2007

Cymbals and other flextensional transducers demonstrate high effective displacements due to the amplifying nature of the metal endcaps, while stress‐biased RAINBOW actuators display high displacements due to enhanced 90° domain wall translational processes that result from the tensile stress in the surface region of the lead zirconate titanate (PZT) layer created during manufacturing. A new class of transducers, called stress‐biased cymbals (SBC), was developed that couples the operational principles of cymbal and stress‐biased actuators. Pre‐stressing the PZT in the cymbal was accomplished using a flat‐trained shape memory alloy endcap. Hysteresis loops were measured using a Sawyer–Tower circuit for different pre‐stress levels. Enhancements in the differential dielectric constant of more than 70% and the effective d33 of the cymbal by ∼57% were observed, suggesting greater 90° domain wall motion in the SBC compared with the standard cymbal device. The stresses developed during the fabrication process were measured and compared with theoretical models. Additional performance characteristics including dynamic dielectric constant, loss, and radial resonance frequency of the devices are also reported.
Synthesis of Single Crystalline Hematite Polyhedral Nanorods Via a Facile Hydrothermal Process
Authors: Jia Baoping , Gao Lian , Sun Jing
Published: March 2007

Single‐crystalline α‐Fe2O3 nanorods with a polyhedral configuration have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process at 180°C. X‐ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy observations, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction patterns were used to characterize the as‐synthesized samples. The result reveals that goethite nanorods were first generated and then transformed into hematite via dehydration in the successive hydrothermal treatment, in which the α‐Fe2O3 inherited the rod‐like morphology of the goethite precursor. The effect of surfactant and treatment time on the phase and morphology of the final products has been studied, and a possible growth mechanism is proposed.
A Method for Coating Fibers in Oxide Composites
Authors: Weaver Jared H. , Yang James , Levi Carlos G. , Zok Frank W. , Davis Janet B.
Published: March 2007

A method for applying monazite coatings onto oxide fibers after matrix infiltration and sintering is devised and demonstrated. It uses an intermediate fugitive coating, followed by impregnation and pyrolysis of a monazite precursor solution. Composites with monazite coatings produced in this manner as well as those with only a fugitive coating exhibit superior mechanical performance to composites without any coating, as manifested in higher notched strength and fracture energy as well as significantly greater amounts of fiber pullout.
Airborne contact dermatitis due to Japanese cedar pollen
Authors: Yokozeki Hiroo , Satoh Takahiro , Katayama Ichiro , Nishioka Kiyoshi
Published: March 2007

Contact dermatitis caused by airborne antigen is a well‐recognized problem. Previously, airborne contact dermatitis after contact with Japanese cedar pollen [Japanese cedar pollen dermatitis (JCPD)] has been reported in Japan. However, there is still no diagnostic test to evaluate contact dermatitis due to Japanese cedar pollen. Skin tests with Japanese cedar pollen have been used to investigate these patients. A histological analysis was also conducted to clarify the mechanism of JCPD. We performed a scratch‐patch test, scratch test and assays for total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE in 13 patients suspected to have skin symptoms from Japanese cedar pollen, 5 patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and 15 control normal subjects. All subjects were tested with Japanese cedar pollen allergen extract. A skin biopsy was performed from a Japanese cedar pollen‐scratch‐patch‐test positive in patients with JCPD. The result after 48 hr of scratch‐patch test was compared with the patient’s history and the findings of corresponding scratch test and specific IgE. 100% of the 13 patients with JCPD showed a positive scratch‐patch‐test reaction to Japanese cedar pollen extract. However, 20% of the patients with the Japanese cedar pollinosis without any eruptions showed a positive scratch‐patch‐test reaction. The percentage of positive results for specific IgE and the scratch test did not differ substantially between Japanese cedar pollionosis patients with a history of chronic erythema after contact with Japanese cedar pollen and those without such a history. No side‐effects were observed regarding the scratch‐patch test. Control subjects showed 7% positive reaction. Histological examination showed that eczematous change (spongiosis, intracellular oedema and acanthosis), and infiltration of lymphocytes and eosinophils were all observed at the scratch‐patch‐test–positive sites. We therefore concluded that the use of the scratch‐patch test with Japanese cedar pollen extract was useful for accurately diagnosing JCPD.
The skin sensitization potential of resorcinol: experience with the local lymph node assay
Authors: Basketter David A. , Sanders David , Jowsey Ian R.
Published: March 2007

Resorcinol is a simple aromatic chemical (1,3‐benzenediol) that has found widespread use, particularly as a coupler in hair dyes. Clinical experience clearly shows that resorcinol is a (albeit uncommon) skin sensitizer. By contrast, predictive methods, both animal and human, have previously failed to identify resorcinol as such. Here, we describe the outcome of a recent local lymph node assay performed in accordance with Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development guideline 429, which correctly identified resorcinol as a skin sensitizer. Clear evidence of a dose response was apparent, and an EC3 value of approximately 6% was calculated. This suggests that the skin‐sensitizing potency of resorcinol is approximately 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of p‐phenylenediamine but similar to that of hexyl cinnamic aldehyde. These data show the importance of adherence to test guidelines and aligns the clinical experience with resorcinol with that obtained in predictive animal methods.
Identification of subjects with atopic dermatitis in questionnaire studies
Authors: Jepsen Karen Frydendall , Flyvholm Mari‐Ann
Published: March 2007

The performances of 3 different atopic dermatitis questions from the Danish translation of the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ‐2002) were compared with respect to their ability to identify subjects with atopic dermatitis in workplace studies. The wording of the questions were: ‘Have you ever had an itchy rash that has been coming and going for at least 6 months, and at sometime has affected skin creases?’ (UK question), ‘Have you ever had eczema on the fronts of the elbows or behind the knees?’ (Nordic‐S5a) and ‘Have you ever had childhood eczema?’ (Nordic‐S5b). In a group with occupational exposure including the forearms (gut cleaners) twice as many (44%) answered ‘Yes’ to the UK question compared with 2 other studies on dairy workers and hospital employees. The question Nordic‐S5b gave rise to less positive answers than expected. The Nordic‐S5a question gave rise to 15%, 10% and 15% positive answers, respectively, and these frequencies seemed to be independent of the workplace exposure. In conclusion, we recommend the Nordic‐S5a question as the question to be used for identification of subjects with atopic dermatitis in adult workplace populations. Furthermore, we found that the UK question led to over‐reporting in an adult workplace population with occupational exposure including the forearms.
Contact allergy to topical medicaments becomes more common with advancing age: an age‐stratified study
Authors: Green Carl M. , Holden Catherine R. , Gawkrodger David J.
Published: March 2007

Eczema is common in the elderly people who often use topical medicaments. Previous studies in the elderly people have noted allergic positive patch tests in between 43% and 64% of those tested. We set out to assess whether medicament contact allergies are more common in elderly patients. We undertook a retrospective age‐stratified study of all patients patch tested at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, between January 1994 and July 2005. We confirmed that contact allergy to topical medicaments is more common in those aged more than 70 years compared with the younger age groups. There was no sex difference. The commonest problematic allergen types found in medicaments were fragrances and preservatives. The most frequent individual allergens were fragrance mix, Myroxylon pereirae, lanolins, local anaesthetic agents, neomycin and gentamicin, and tixocortol pivolate. The pattern of medicament contact allergens was similar to that of the younger age groups except that multiple allergic positives were more frequent and sensitivities to local anaesthetics and Myroxylon pereirae were proportionally more common. Elderly patients were more likely to have multiple contact allergies than the younger ones. Care needs to be taken when prescribing topical medicaments to elderly patients with eczema, especially for preparations that contain perfumes, lanolins, and local anaesthetics.
Contact allergy in male construction workers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000–2005
Authors: Macedo Marzia Silva , De Avelar Alchorne Alicede Oliveira , Costa Enilde Borges , Montesano Fábio Tadeu
Published: March 2007

There are no recent data on allergens in the construction industry in Brazil; apparently there were no changes in allergenic substances. The objective of this study was to identify sensitization to allergens in adult males working in the construction industry. A cross‐sectional study with adult males submitted to patch tests from May 2000 to December 2005. Out of 169 male patients, 83 were construction workers. The five most frequent allergens among the construction workers were potassium dichromate (57%), carba‐mix (34.9%), cobalt chloride (30.2%), thiuram‐mix (27.9%) and neomycin (19.8%). There is a significant sensitization to potassium dichromate, cobalt, carba‐mix, and thiuram‐mix, demonstrating that cement and rubber gloves of personal protection equipment still account for allergic contact dermatitis in construction industry workers.
Early survival of marble troutSalmo marmoratus: evidence for density dependence?
Authors: Vincenzi S. , Crivellì A. J. , Jesensek D. , Rubin J.‐F. , De Leo G. A.
Published: March 2007

Abstract – The role of endogenous and exogenous factors in regulating population dynamics of freshwater salmonids is still a matter of debate. The aim of the present work was to assess the relative importance of density‐dependent and ‐independent factors in determining the survival of marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) yearlings in two populations living in Slovenian streams (Zakojska and Gorska). The investigation was performed by combining a classical life table analysis with Monte Carlo simulation. Size‐dependent fecundity was estimated by stripping wild adults in the fish farm. A significant positive relationship was found between length of marble trout females and the number of eggs produced. Egg density was the major determinant of survival from eggs to age 1+ (σ0) in both streams. Residuals of the relationship betweenσ0and egg density were positively correlated with rainfall only in Zakojska, probably because, within a certain range, more intense rainfalls increases stream flow and, consequently, suitable habitat for trout. Our study shows how density‐dependent and environmental factors can interact to determine the survival of marble trout during the first year of life.
Spatial patterns in fish biomass and relative trophic level abundance in a wastewater enriched river
Authors: Askey P. J. , Hogberg L. K. , Post J. R. , Jackson L. J. , Rhodes T. , Thompson M. S.
Published: March 2007

Abstract –  It is generally accepted that nutrient enrichment of aquatic systems will lead to increased production at the top trophic level (fish). We found that in the wastewater enriched Bow River, Alberta rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) biomass increased over 25‐fold, and brown trout (Salmo trutta) biomass increased 5‐fold, however total sportfish biomass did not increase below the nutrient input point source. This was due to a dramatic downstream decrease in mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) biomass to 2% of the average biomass upstream of the municipal effluent source. The spatial pattern over a 177‐km river section encompassing the city of Calgary, showed that the increase in trout abundance approximately tracked the expected nutrient concentrations in the river, but with a downstream lag of 20–30 km. Mountain whitefish biomass over the 177 km was inversely related to the dominant trout species, rainbow trout. Invertebrate abundance, macrophyte biomass and phytoplankton biomass all increased below the wastewater treatment plant outfalls. However, periphyton data were highly variable and showed no response. We propose several hypotheses as regards the factors that may have led to the decrease in mountain whitefish, based on the data from all trophic levels and the spatial pattern for fish biomass. Proposed factors influencing the mountain whitefish decline were; altered competitive ability because of macrophyte abundance, ammonia toxicity and barriers to movement (weirs).
Trichophyton mentagrophytes sive interdigitale? A dermatophyte in the course of time
Authors: Nenoff Pietro , Herrmann Jürgen , Gräser Yvonne
Published: March 2007

Originally, the Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes complex distinguished between the anthropophilic subspecies T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. mentagrophytes var. nodulare (synonym T. krajdenii), and T. mentagrophytes var. goetzii and the zoophilic subspecies T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum (rodents), T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei (hedgehog), and T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum (mice). In addition, two sexual species (teleomorph) of this complex are known. These are Arthroderma (A.) benhamiae Ajello and Cheng 1967 and Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii Takashio 1973.

According to recent molecular studies,the species T.mentagrophytes is synonymous with only the zoophilic subspecies T.mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum which is rare in Western Europe. The anthropophilic subspecies of T. mentagrophytes, as well as many of the zoophilic strains, formerly differentiated as var. mentagrophytes or var. granulosum, are indistinguishable and are now designated T.interdigitale.

The morphological differentiation between anthropophilic and zoophilic T. interdigitale strains by classical microscopical and biochemical methods is often problematic. In particular, it is impossible to differentiate between the zoophilic strains of T. interdigitale, T. mentagrophytes, and the Trichophyton anamorph of A. benhamiae. In these cases, molecular identification methods may be applied to answer epidemiological, taxonomical and therapeutic questions.
Costs and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe plaque‐type psoriasis in Germany: A multi‐center study
Authors: Schöffski Oliver , Augustin Matthias , Prinz Jörg , Rauner Karin , Schubert Erich , Sohn Stefan , Reich Kristian
Published: March 2007

Background: This study evaluated costs, disease severity and health‐related quality of life (QoL) in patients with moderate to severe plaque‐type psoriasis. Patients and Methods: Patients with a ‘psoriasis area and severity index’ (PASI) > 12 and/or a body surface area (BSA) > 10 were enrolled in dermatological practices and hospital outpatient departments (n = 184) and the total costs of illness generated during the last 12 months were retrospectively calculated. QoL was assessed using the SF‐36 and the DLQI. Participants were stratified into three subgroups according to the treatment received during the 1 year documentation period; a) patients without and b) patients with phototherapy or standard systemic therapy, and c) patients who had failed, were intolerant or had contraindications to at least two standard systemic therapies. The study was performed before biologics became available for the treatment of psoriasis in Germany.

Results: Included patients had severe skin symptoms (mean PASI 18.2) and a highly impaired QoL (mean DLQI 10.6). Total annual costs amounted to € 6,709. Patients belonging to subgroup C had the most severe skin symptoms (mean PASI 22.2), the lowest QoL (mean DLQI 12.6), the highest hospitalization rate and largest loss of productivity.These patients produced the highest total costs of 8.831 €/y.

Conclusions: Patients who cannot (or can no longer) be adequately managed with standard treatments are characterized by high disease activity, high costs and reduced QoL. Improved treatment options particularly for these patients are medically necessary and appear economically sensible.
Blowing in the Wind
Authors: Genton Marc , Hering Amanda
Published: March 2007

Part of the answer to rising energy needs and costs may literally be blowing in the wind. Among sustainable sources of electricity, only wind energy has the capacity and technology needed to compete in the open marketplace. The largest onshore wind farm in Europe is being built in Scotland, the largest in the USA is planned for southern California, and the biggest offshore wind farm production in the world is slated for the Thames Estuary. But wind is intermittent. Marc Genton and Amanda Hering explain how advanced statistical techniques will enable wind energy to be more efficiently incorporated into the electrical grid.
Lord Moser
Authors: Moser Claus , Champkin Julian
Published: March 2007

Three prime Ministers—Wilson, Health, Callaghan—listened to him when he was head of the Central Statistical Office. As advisor on social policy, and especially on higher education policy, he has shaped our universities. Now he is a member of the House of Lords. Claus Moser spoke to Julian Champkin.
The Joys of Consulting
Authors: Chatfield Chris
Published: March 2007

No two consulting problems are ever the same. This story, related by Chris Chatfield, shows how what appears to be a straightforward problem can become a tricky exercise when non-standard data include a few extreme values. And it shows how good statistics can turn a failure into a success.
A Cautionary Tale
Authors: Edwards Anthony
Published: March 2007

Anthony Edwards wrote this cautionary tale for genetics students at Stanford University whom he was teaching in 1965. It has not previously been published. “Its appearance now is due to my having been asked whether a copy from the papers of the Nobel Laureate Joshua Lederberg might be put on the web by the US National Library of Medicine”, he says. “Lederberg was Professor of Genetics at Stanford at the time and I must have given him a copy. More remarkably, he thought it worth keeping.” It concerns what is known as Simpson's paradox.
Women and attention deficit disorders: A great burden overlooked
Authors: Waite Roberta
Published: March 2007

Purpose: To describe adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to gender‐based differences in symptom expression with particular emphasis on disparities concerning women, psychiatric comorbidities that affect assessment and detection, and evidenced‐based treatment approaches for nurse practitioners (NPs).

Data sources: Health sciences literature was reviewed using the following data‐bases: Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Proquest, Psych Info, Wiley Interscience, Cambridge Press, Science Direct, and Thomson Gale.

Conclusions: Recognizing adult ADHD may be challenging; however, with increased understanding regarding the subtle variations in symptoms, use of screening instruments, and careful assessment techniques, NPs will be better able to recognize the characteristics of ADHD that are important to early detection, proper diagnosis, and effective treatment.

Implications for practice: Additional research and improved clinician education may facilitate early detection and treatment of ADHD among adults of all ages and ethnic/racial backgrounds.
Embattled and embittered or empowered and evolving: Nurse practitioner attitudes toward managed care
Authors: Hayes Eileen F.
Published: March 2007

Purpose: To explore the attitudes of nurse practitioners (NPs) toward managed care and to identify the sources of negative attitudes and the factors that may ameliorate them.

Data sources: NPs, members of the Massachusetts Coalition of NPs, participated in in‐depth interviews about the impact of managed care on their practice.

Conclusions: The sources of NP negativity about managed care for many study participants lay in their not appreciating the importance of the business aspects of practice and the provider’s role in controlling healthcare costs, reluctance to work with what they perceived as a rigid “system,” and lack of support for them to navigate it. They felt pressured by productivity issues, time constraints, practice restrictions, and documentation demands associated with reimbursement. Those who sustained a more positive attitude were realistic about healthcare economics, were willing and able to negotiate the system, were creative and flexible, and felt empowered by knowledge of the business of practice. Some NPs, however, chose to work in practices where they did not feel as pressured as their counterparts in large, busy primary care practices.

Implications for NP practice and education: Understanding experiences that have influenced NP attitudes regarding managed care may assist NP faculty to better prepare NP students for their future roles. NPs must be able to challenge, yet be part of, an evolving system that promotes cost‐effective health care for everyone, which was what managed care originally was intended to do.
The utility of the Kohlman evaluation of living skills test is associated with substantiated cases of elder self‐neglect
Authors: Pickens Sabrina , Naik Aanand D. , Burnett Jason , Kelly P. A. , Gleason Mary , Dyer Carmel B.
Published: March 2007

Purpose: Self‐neglect is the most prevalent finding among cases reported to Adult Protective Services (APS) and is characterized by an inability to meet one’s own basic needs. The Kohlman evaluation of living skills (KELS) has been validated in geriatric populations to assess performance with both instrumental and basic activities of daily living and as an assessment tool for the capacity to live independently; therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to compare the scores of the KELS between substantiated cases of self‐neglect and matched community‐dwelling elders.

Data sources: This is a cross‐sectional pilot study of 50 adults aged 65 years and older who were recruited from APS as documented cases of self‐neglect and 50 control participants recruited from Harris County Hospital District outpatient clinics. Control participants were matched for age, race, gender, and ZIP code. A geriatric nurse practitioner (NP)–led team administered a comprehensive geriatric assessment in homes of all study participants. The assessment included the KELS and mini‐mental state examination (MMSE) tests. Chi‐square analyses were used to determine if cases of self‐neglect were significantly more likely to fail the KELS test than matched controls.

Conclusions: The analyses revealed that self‐neglectors were significantly more likely to fail the KELS than non‐self‐neglectors (50% vs. 30%, p = .025). When stratified by MMSE scores, self‐neglectors with intact cognitive function remained significantly more likely to fail the KELS compared to matched, cognitively intact controls (45% vs. 17%, p = .013). Abnormal results using an in‐home KELS test were significantly associated with substantiated cases of self‐neglect.

Implications for practice: There is currently no gold‐standard measure for identifying capacity with self‐care behaviors among cases of self‐neglect. As a result, self‐neglect may remain unidentified in many clinical settings. The KELS provides clinicians with an objective measure of an individual’s capacity and performance with everyday life–supporting tasks and thus, provides information that can help NPs identify elders at risk for self‐neglect. These findings suggest that the KELS test has significant utility as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment to aid clinicians in suspected cases of self‐neglect.
From Tastes Great to Cool: Children's Food Marketing and the Rise of the Symbolic
Authors: Schor Juliet B. , Ford Margaret
Published: March 2007

It is now well recognized that the United States is a consumer-driven society. Private consumption comprises a rising fraction of GDP, advertising is proliferating, and consumerism, as an ideology and set of values, is widespread. Not surprisingly, those developments are not confined to adults; they also characterize what some have called “the commercialization of childhood.” Children are more involved than ever in media, celebrity, shopping, brand names, and other consumer practices. At the core of this change is children's growing role as independent consumers. In recent years, children's access to income has risen markedly, and they have gone from being purchasers of cheap plastic goods and a few select food items (e.g., candy) to being a major market for a diverse set of goods and services, including foodstuffs. Unofficial estimates suggest that children aged four to twelve spent a reported $6.1 billion in purchases from their own money in 1989, $23.4 billion in 1997, and $30 billion in 2002, for a total increase of four hundred percent.
Parental Influence on Eating Behavior: Conception to Adolescence
Authors: Savage Jennifer S. , Fisher Jennifer Orlet , Birch Leann L.
Published: March 2007

Eating behaviors evolve during the first years of life as biological and behavioral processes directed towards meeting requirements for health and growth. For the vast majority of human history, food scarcity has constituted a major threat to survival, and human eating behavior and child feeding practices have evolved in response to this threat. Because infants are born into a wide variety of cultures and cuisines, they come equipped as young omnivores with a set of behavioral predispositions that allow them to learn to accept the foods made available to them. During historical conditions of scarcity, family life and resources were devoted to the procurement and preparation of foods, which are often low in energy, nutrients, and palatability. In sharp contrast, today in non-Third World countries children's eating habits develop under unprecedented conditions of dietary abundance, where palatable, inexpensive, ready-to-eat foods are readily available.
Addressing the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity through School-Based Interventions: What Has Been Done and Where Do We Go from Here?
Authors: Peterson Karen E. , Fox Mary Kay
Published: March 2007

The obesity epidemic among children and adolescents in the United States continues to worsen. The most recent analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents – defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile on gender-specific BMI-for-age growth charts developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – increased significantly between 1999-2000 and 2003-2004. Over this period, the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents aged 2-19 increased 23% – from 13.9% to 17.1%. In 2003-2004, 18.8% of children aged 6-11 and 17.4% of adolescents aged 12-19 were overweight. Roughly comparable proportions of each age group were considered to be at risk of becoming overweight (BMI equal to or higher than the 85th percentile and less than the 95th percentile).
What is Wrong with “Ethics for Sale”? An Analysis of the Many Issues That Complicate the Debate about Conflicts of Interests in Bioethics
Authors: Sontag David N.
Published: March 2007

Bioethics, once a four-letter word in the private sector, is now an integral part of the decisionmaking process of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. And bioethicists, once confined to the classroom and limited to abstract, philosophical discussions about what is right and wrong in medicine and medical research, now play an important role in the practical implementation of ethical boundaries. Bioethicists increasingly are hired by biomedical companies as consultants to highlight and help resolve complex ethical issues that arise in the companies’ normal business practices. Whether motivated by profit, reputation, or a genuine desire to act morally, these companies are willing to pay bioethicists substantial consultation fees for their “expert” opinions. This fairly recent phenomenon has caused some to be concerned about the potential for bioethicists to encounter conflicts of interests. Specifically, many critics of this new relationship between bioethicists and the private sector “are concerned about the appropriateness of ethicists who should have broader interests, such as concerns about social justice, serving clients whose primary interest is profit-maximizing.”
Poisson Regression for Clustered Data
Authors: Demidenko Eugene
Published: March 2007

We compare five methods for parameter estimation of a Poisson regression model for clustered data:(1)ordinary (naive) Poisson regression (OP), which ignores intracluster correlation,(2)Poisson regression with fixed cluster‐specific intercepts (FI),(3)a generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach with an equi‐correlation matrix,(4)an exact generalized estimating equations (EGEE) approach with an exact covariance matrix, and(5)maximum likelihood (ML). Special attention is given to the simplest case of the Poisson regression with a cluster‐specific intercept random when the asymptotic covariance matrix is obtained in closed form. We prove that methods 1–5, except GEE, produce the same estimates of slope coefficients for balanced data (an equal number of observations in each cluster and the same vectors of covariates). All five methods lead to consistent estimates of slopes but have different efficiency for unbalanced data design. It is shown that the FI approach can be derived as a limiting case of maximum likelihood when the cluster variance increases to infinity. Exact asymptotic covariance matrices are derived for each method. In terms of asymptotic efficiency, the methods split into two groups: OP & GEE and EGEE & FI & ML. Thus, contrary to the existing practice, there is no advantage in using GEE because it is substantially outperformed by EGEE and FI. In particular, EGEE does not require integration and is easy to compute with the asymptotic variances of the slope estimates close to those of the ML.
Excitatory interneurons dominate sensory processing in the spinal substantia gelatinosa of rat
Authors: Santos Sónia F. A. , Rebelo Sandra , Derkach Victor A. , Safronov Boris V.
Published: March 2007

Substantia gelatinosa (SG, lamina II) is a spinal cord region where most unmyelinated primary afferents terminate and the central nociceptive processing begins. It is formed by several distinct groups of interneurons whose functional properties and synaptic connections are poorly understood, in part, because recordings from synaptically coupled pairs of SG neurons are quite challenging due to a very low probability of finding connected cells. Here, we describe an efficient method for identifying synaptically coupled interneurons in rat spinal cord slices and characterizing their excitatory or inhibitory function. Using tight‐seal whole‐cell recordings and a cell‐attached stimulation technique, we routinely tested about 1500 SG interneurons, classifying 102 of them as monosynaptically connected to neurons in lamina I–III. Surprisingly, the vast majority of SG interneurons (n= 87) were excitatory and glutamatergic, while only 15 neurons were inhibitory. According to their intrinsic firing properties, these 102 SG neurons were also classified as tonic (n= 49), adapting (n= 17) or delayed‐firing neurons (n= 36). All but two tonic neurons and all adapting neurons were excitatory interneurons. Of 36 delayed‐firing neurons, 23 were excitatory and 13 were inhibitory. We conclude that sensory integration in the intrinsic SG neuronal network is dominated by excitatory interneurons. Such organization of neuronal circuitries in the spinal SG can be important for nociceptive encoding.
Positive force feedback in human walking
Authors: Grey Michael J. , Nielsen Jens Bo , Mazzaro Nazarena , Sinkjær Thomas
Published: March 2007

The objective of this study was to determine if load receptors contribute to the afferent‐mediated enhancement of ankle extensor muscle activity during the late stance phase of the step cycle. Plantar flexion perturbations were presented in late stance while able‐bodied human subjects walked on a treadmill that was declined by 4%, inclined by 4% or held level. The plantar flexion perturbation produced a transient, but marked, presumably spinally mediated decrease in soleus EMG that varied directly with the treadmill inclination. Similarly, the magnitude of the control step soleus EMG and Achilles' tendon force also varied directly with the treadmill inclination. In contrast, the ankle angular displacement and velocity were inversely related to the treadmill inclination. These results suggest that Golgi tendon organ feedback, via the group Ib pathway, is reduced when the muscle–tendon complex is unloaded by a rapid plantar flexion perturbation in late stance phase. The changes in the unload response with treadmill inclination suggest that the late stance phase soleus activity may be enhanced by force feedback.
Rethinking Organic Aerosols: Semivolatile Emissions and Photochemical Aging
Authors: Robinson Allen L. , Donahue Neil M. , Shrivastava Manish K. , Weitkamp Emily A. , Sage Amy M. , Grieshop Andrew P. , Lane Timothy E. , Pierce Jeffrey R. , Pandis Spyros N.
Published: March 2007

Most primary organic-particulate emissions are semivolatile; thus, they partially evaporate with atmospheric dilution, creating substantial amounts of low-volatility gas-phase material. Laboratory experiments show that photo-oxidation of diesel emissions rapidly generates organic aerosol, greatly exceeding the contribution from known secondary organic-aerosol precursors. We attribute this unexplained secondary organic-aerosol production to the oxidation of low-volatility gas-phase species. Accounting for partitioning and photochemical processing of primary emissions creates a more regionally distributed aerosol and brings model predictions into better agreement with observations. Controlling organic particulate-matter concentrations will require substantial changes in the approaches that are currently used to measure and regulate emissions.
Comment on "Detecting Awareness in the Vegetative State"
Authors: Greenberg Daniel L.
Published: March 2007

Owen
et al
. (Brevia, 8 September 2006, p. 1402) claimed that a patient's brain activity revealed that she was consciously responding to commands despite being in a vegetative state. However, several alternative explanations were not eliminated. Specifically, the activity could reflect unconscious reactions to the last word in the command, not conscious decisions to respond. A refined experimental design could clarify these issues.
LRP6
Mutation in a Family with Early Coronary Disease and Metabolic Risk Factors
Authors: Mani Arya , Radhakrishnan Jayaram , Wang He , Mani Alaleh , Mani Mohammad-Ali , Nelson-Williams Carol , Carew Khary S. , Mane Shrikant , Najmabadi Hossein , Wu Dan , Lifton Richard P.
Published: March 2007

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is commonly caused by a constellation of risk factors called the metabolic syndrome. We characterized a family with autosomal dominant early CAD, features of the metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes), and osteoporosis. These traits showed genetic linkage to a short segment of chromosome 12p, in which we identified a missense mutation in
LRP6
, which encodes a co-receptor in the Wnt signaling pathway. The mutation, which substitutes cysteine for arginine at a highly conserved residue of an epidermal growth factor–like domain, impairs Wnt signaling in vitro. These results link a single gene defect in Wnt signaling to CAD and multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
Chankillo: A 2300-Year-Old Solar Observatory in Coastal Peru
Authors: Ghezzi Ivan , Ruggles Clive
Published: March 2007

The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo run north to south along a low ridge within a fourth-century B.C.E. ceremonial complex in north coastal Peru. From evident observing points within the adjacent buildings to the west and east, they formed an artificial toothed horizon that spanned—almost exactly—the annual rising and setting arcs of the Sun. The Chankillo towers thus provide evidence of early solar horizon observations and of the existence of sophisticated Sun cults, preceding the Sun pillars of Incaic Cusco by almost two millennia.
Nucleus Accumbens D2/3 Receptors Predict Trait Impulsivity and Cocaine Reinforcement
Authors: Dalley Jeffrey W. , Fryer Tim D. , Brichard Laurent , Robinson Emma S. J. , Theobald David E. H. , Lääne Kristjan , Peña Yolanda , Murphy Emily R. , Shah Yasmene , Probst Katrin , Abakumova Irina , Aigbirhio Franklin I. , Richards Hugh K. , Hong Young , Baron Jean-Claude , Everitt Barry J. , Robbins Trevor W.
Published: March 2007

Stimulant addiction is often linked to excessive risk taking, sensation seeking, and impulsivity, but in ways that are poorly understood. We report here that a form of impulsivity in rats predicts high rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration and is associated with changes in dopamine (DA) function before drug exposure. Using positron emission tomography, we demonstrated that D2/3 receptor availability is significantly reduced in the nucleus accumbens of impulsive rats that were never exposed to cocaine and that such effects are independent of DA release. These data demonstrate that trait impulsivity predicts cocaine reinforcement and that D2 receptor dysfunction in abstinent cocaine addicts may, in part, be determined by premorbid influences.
On the Magic Character of Al6Au-
Authors: Kimble Michele L. , Castleman Albert W. , Reveles Jose U. , Khanna Shiv N.
Published: March 2007

Joint experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out to identify the stability of aluminum gold clusters. The experimental studies where the AlnAu- clusters are generated via laser vaporization in a flow reactor and subsequently reacted with oxygen indicate that Al6Au- is an exceptionally stable species that is not only resistant to etching by oxygen but also grows in intensity when AlnAu- clusters are exposed to oxygen. Theoretical studies indicate that the six aluminum atoms in Al6Au- form an octahedron and that the Au atom occupies a hollow site above the triangular face of the octahedron. It is shown that it takes much larger energy to remove an Al or a Au atom compared to that for neighboring sizes, and this accounts for its resistance to oxygen. The special stability is rooted in the electronic spectrum that is marked by a large HOMO-LUMO gap of 1.38 eV, and the system is best described as a nearly free electron gas of 20 electrons.
Wind turbine noise, annoyance and self-reported health and well-being in different living environments
Authors: Pedersen Eja , Persson Waye Kerstin
Published: March 2007

Objectives:To evaluate the prevalence of perception and annoyance due to wind turbine noise among people living near the turbines, and to study relations between noise and perception/annoyance, with focus on differences between living environments.

Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out in seven areas in Sweden across dissimilar terrain and different degrees of urbanisation. A postal questionnaire regarding living conditions including response to wind turbine noise was completed by 754 subjects. Outdoor A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) were calculated for each respondent. Perception and annoyance due to wind turbine noise in relation to SPLs was analysed with regard to dissimilarities between the areas.

Results:The odds of perceiving wind turbine noise increased with increasing SPL (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.25 to 1.40). The odds of being annoyed by wind turbine noise also increased with increasing SPLs (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.25). Perception and annoyance were associated with terrain and urbanisation: (1) a rural area increased the risk of perception and annoyance in comparison with a suburban area; and (2) in a rural setting, complex ground (hilly or rocky terrain) increased the risk compared with flat ground. Annoyance was associated with both objective and subjective factors of wind turbine visibility, and was further associated with lowered sleep quality and negative emotions.

Conclusion:There is a need to take the unique environment into account when planning a new wind farm so that adverse health effects are avoided. The influence of area-related factors should also be considered in future community noise research.
T cell-associated CD18 but not CD62L, ICAM-1, or PSGL-1 is required for the induction of chronic colitis
Authors: Ostanin Dmitry V. , Furr Kathryn L. , Pavlick Kevin P. , Gray Laura , Kevil Christopher G. , Shukla Deepti , D'Souza Dwain , Hoffman Jason M. , Grisham Matthew B.
Published: March 2007

The induction and perpetuation of chronic colitis are thought to involve a complex set of adhesive interactions between T cells and endothelial cells located on the vasculature within secondary lymphoid tissue and the intestine. The objective of this study was to assess the roles of T cell-associated CD18, CD62L (L-selectin), ICAM-1, and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in the induction of chronic colitis in mice. CD4+CD25−T cells derived from either wild-type (WT), CD18-deficient [CD18 knockout (KO)], CD62L KO, ICAM-1 KO, or PSGL-1 KO mice were adoptively transferred into recombinase activating gene-1 (RAG-1)-deficient mice (RAG KO mice) to assess the potential of these T cells to induce chronic colitis. At 8–10 wk following T cell transfer, we observed moderate to severe colitis as assessed by increases in colon weight-to-length ratios and by blinded histopathological analysis. In contrast, we found that transfer of CD18 KO T cells into RAG KO recipients resulted in the significant attenuation of colonic inflammation in these mice. Furthermore, we observed fewer infiltrating CD4+T cells in the colonic lamina propria in the CD18 KO→RAG KO group compared with the WT→RAG KO group. Finally, message levels of colonic TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ were significantly reduced in CD18 KO→RAG KO mice compared with colitic control animals. We conclude that T cell-associated CD18, but not CD62L, ICAM-1, or PSGL-1, is required for the development of chronic colitis.
ICV NPY Y1 receptor agonist but not Y5 agonist induces torpor-like hypothermia in cold-acclimated Siberian hamsters
Authors: Pelz Kimberly M. , Dark John
Published: March 2007

The reduced metabolism derived from daily torpor enables numerous small mammals, including Siberian hamsters, to survive periods of energetic challenge. Little is known of the neural mechanisms underlying the initiation and expression of torpor. Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) contributes to surviving energetic challenges by both increasing food ingestion and reducing metabolic expenditure. Intracerebroventricular injections of NPY in cold-acclimated Siberian hamsters induce torpor-like hypothermia comparable to natural torpor. Multiple NPY receptor subtypes have been identified, and the Y1 receptor and Y5 receptor both contribute to the orexigenic effect of NPY. The purpose of this research was to compare and contrast the effects of Y1 receptor activation by a specific Y1 agonist ([d-Arg25]-NPY) or Y5 receptor activation by a specific Y5 agonist ([d-Trp34]-NPY) on body temperature and subsequent food intake in cold-acclimated Siberian hamsters. Intracerebroventricular injections of Y1 agonist produced torporlike hypothermia closely resembling that induced by intracerebroventricular NPY. The intracerebroventricular Y5 agonist infrequently produced hypothermia reaching criterion for torpor and that failed to resemble either NPY-induced or natural torpor. Combined injections of Y1 and Y5 agonists resulted in hypothermia comparable to Y5 agonist treatments alone, negating the mimicry of NPY treatment seen with Y1 agonist alone. Prior treatment with Y1 agonist or Y5 agonist surprisingly had lingering effects on NPY-induced torpor expression, Y1 agonist enhanced and Y5 agonist inhibited the effect of NPY. The ability of NPY to induce torporlike hypothermia, especially its initiation, most likely involves activation of the NPY Y1 receptor subtype.