bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissociable contributions of the two cerebral hemispheres to judgments of line orientation
Authors: Mehta Ziyah , Newcombe Freda
Published: February 2009

A previous study of the performance of men with chronic unilateral focal brain lesions (due to wartime missile injury) on a standard test of line orientation suggested a left hemisphere (LH) as well as a right hemisphere (RH) contribution to visuospatial processing. The present study was designed to fractionate the variables that could underlie this unexpected finding and thereby to tease out the mechanisms involved in LH as compared with RH processing. A simpler (“purer”) version of the standard line orientation task was used, as were two other versions in which matching in an array and matching with distractors were measured. The findings confirmed the hypothesis of RH involvement in the purer task of metric measurement and suggested that the LH has an important role in keeping track of decisions and updating decisions in more complex aspects of line orientation judgment. (JINS, 1996, 2, 335–339.)
Spontaneous and posed facial expression in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Smith Marcia C. , Smith Melissa K. , Ellgring Heiner
Published: February 2009

Spontaneous and posed emotional facial expressions in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD, n – 12) were compared with those of healthy age-matched controls (n = 12). The intensity and amount of facial expression in PD patients were expected to be reduced for spontaneous but not posed expressions. Emotional stimuli were video clips selected from films, 2–5 min in duration, designed to elicit feelings of happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, or anger. Facial movements were coded using Ekman and Friesen's (1978) Facial Action Coding System (FACS). In addition, participants rated their emotional experience on 9-point Likert scales. The PD group showed significantly less overall facial reactivity than did controls when viewing the films. The predicted Group X Condition (spontaneous vs. posed) interaction effect on smile intensity was found when PD participants with more severe disease were compared with those with milder disease and with controls. In contrast, ratings of emotional experience were similar for both groups. Depression was positively associated with emotion ratings, but not with measures of facial activity. Spontaneous facial expression appears to be selectively affected in PD, whereas posed expression and emotional experience remain relatively intact. (JINS, 1996, 2, 383–391.)
The influence of pattern type on children's block design performance
Authors: Akshoomoff Natacha A. , Stiles Joan
Published: February 2009

This study sought to determine what factors contribute to normal developmental changes in performance on the block design task. The target models were systematically varied to emphasize global, intermediate, and local pattern structures. One hundred children between 4.5 and 9 years of age were tested in the first experiment. Correct performance and error types differed significantly as a function of age and pattern type. Broken configuration errors were particularly common for the global patterns. In the second experiment, 48 children between 4.5 and 8 years of age were tested using designs with a superimposed grid (cued condition). Error rates were lower in the cued condition and broken configuration errors were less frequent. These results suggest that children have more difficulty parsing more cohesive patterns, but they can modify their strategies when the square matrix is provided by the pattern structure. (JINS, 1996,2, 392–402.)
Assessment of neglect reveals dissociable behavioral but not neuroanatomical subtypes
Authors: McGlinchey-Berroth Regina , Bullis David P. , Milberg William P. , Verfaellie Mieke , Alexander Michael , D'Esposito Mark
Published: February 2009

In the current study, we investigated whether standard assessment techniques of visuospatial neglect are sensitive to detecting dissociable subtypes. We administered a battery of tasks commonly used to detect the presence of visuospatial neglect to 120 patients with unilateral right hemisphere infarcts and, in most cases, performed a systematic analysis of their lesions to quantify and localize brain damage. Using a factor analysis, we discovered seven relatively independent constructs, three of which were specifically related to the presence of left hemispatial neglect:Left Attentional Processing, Line Bisection. andWord Reading. Impairments in two of these factors.Left Attentional ProcessingandLine Bisection, occurred together in most cases but also occurred independently in 38 cases. There were no cases in whomWord Readingwas present without concomitant deficits in one or the other two factors. These three factors could not be distinguished neuroanatomically; that is, lesions were equally likely in the temporal/parietal cortex, dorsolateral frontal cortex, or in deep frontal structures. These data confirm the notion that hemispatial neglect is a complex and multifaceted disorder composed of cognitively independent processes. These processes, however, cannot be dissociated neuroanatomically based on currently available assessment techniques. (JINS, 1996,2, 441–451.)
Neuropsychological functioning in a patient with paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis
Authors: Martin Roy C. , Haut Marc W. , Goeta-Kreisler Kevin , Blumenthal Deborah
Published: February 2009

A 54-year-old woman with clinically diagnosed paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis secondary to adenocarcinoma of the lung is described. Neuropsychological evaluation revealed intact visual perception, visual construction, language, speeded processing, and verbal abstract reasoning in the presence of a severe anterograde amnesia for both verbal and visual information. A profound consolidation problem is discussed in view of other diseases of the mesial temporal lobes resulting in impaired consolidation of new material. (JINS, 1996, 2, 460–466.)
Proactive inhibition and semantic organization Relationship with verbal memory in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Kareken David A. , Moberg Paul J. , Gur Ruben C.
Published: February 2009

Compared to other cognitive functions in schizophrenia, evidence suggests that verbal memory is particularly impaired. This study used the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) to examine proactive inhibition (PI) and semantic processing in verbal memory in 29 patients with schizophrenia and 29 healthy controls. Patients showed significantly less PI, but also did not organize (cluster) their recall according to semantic category. Controls and patients demonstrated small retroactive inhibition (RI) effects regardless of semantic content. Although both groups made similar types and numbers of free recall intrusion errors, patients committed more phonemic and nonshared recognition errors. Results suggest that reduced semantic processing prevented build of PI, and contributes to defective memory in schizophrenia. The anatomic-physiologic abnormalities that underlie these findings may be particularly pronounced in prefrontal and temporal-parietal cortical areas. (JINS, 1996, 2, 486–493.)
The impact of posttraumatic seizures on 1-year neuropsychological and psychosocial outcome of head injury
Authors: Haltiner Alan M. , Temkin Nancy R. , Winn H. Richard , Dikmen Sureyya S.
Published: February 2009

This study examined the relationship of posttraumatic seizures and head injury severity to neuropsychological performance and psychosocial functioning in 210 adults who were prospectively followed and assessed 1 year after moderate to severe traumatic head injury. Eighteen percent (n = 38) of the patients experienced 1 or more late seizures (i.e., seizures occurring 8 or more days posttrauma) by the time of the 1-year followup. As expected, the head injured patients who experienced late posttraumatic seizures were those with the most severe head injuries, and they were significantly more impaired on the neuropsychological and psychosocial measures compared to those who remained seizure free. However, after the effects of head injury severity were controlled, there were no significant differences in neuropsychological and psychosocial outcome at 1 year as a function of having seizures. These findings suggest that worse outcomes in patients who develop posttraumatic seizures up to 1 year posttrauma largely reflect the effects of the brain injuries that cause seizures, rather than the effect of seizures. (JINS, 1996, 2, 494–504.)
The structure of normal human attention: The Test of Everyday Attention
Authors: Robertson Ian H. , Ward Tony , Ridgeway Valerie , Nimmo-Smith Ian
Published: February 2009

A range of tests of everyday attention is described, based on ecologically plausible activities such as searching maps, looking through telephone directories, and listening to lottery number broadcasts. An age-, sex- and IQ-stratified sample of 154 normal participants was given these tests, along with a number of existing tests of attention. The factor structure revealed by this data set matched well contemporary evidence for a set of functionally independent attentional circuits in the brain, and included factors for sustained attention, selective attention, attentional switching and auditory-verbal working memory. The Test of Everyday Attention (TEA), which was developed and standardized on the basis of these subtests, has three parallel forms, high test-retest reliability, and correlates significantly with existing measures of attention. Furthermore, selected subtests successfully discriminate among a number of brain-impaired groups, including closed head injury versus age-matched controls, minimal versus mild Alzheimer’s disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy patients versus age-matched controls. (JINS, 1996, 2, 525–534.)
The relative importance of social class and maternal education for breast-feeding initiation
Authors: Skafida Valeria
Published: February 2009

Objective

To examine changes in breast-feeding take-up rates among young children in Scotland and to assess whether maternal education or occupation-based social class is a stronger and better predictor of breast-feeding take-up.

Design

Binary logistic regression models were developed from the first sweep of the Growing Up in Scotland longitudinal survey, for the two cohorts of children.

Setting

A national representative survey for Scotland.

Subjects

A baby cohort of 5012 singletons born over a 12-month period between June 2004 and May 2005, and a toddler cohort of 2732 singletons born over a 12-month period between June 2002 and May 2003.

Results

Mothers from more privileged social classes and those with more educational qualifications resulted as more likely to breast-feed. However, maternal education was a better and more robust predictor of breast-feeding take-up compared with social class. There were no significant differences in breast-feeding take-up between the two cohorts and only minor differences between mothers aged 20–29 years and those who stated an intention to bottle-feed prior to birth.

Conclusions

The study suggests that the importance of maternal education in influencing breast-feeding has been somewhat overlooked in research based in more developed countries. The results indicate that, compared with occupation-related social class, maternal education is a more informative, accurate and useful lens through which to understand and explain patterns of breast-feeding take-up.
Children’s takeaway and fast-food intakes: associations with the neighbourhood food environment
Authors: Timperio Anna F , Ball Kylie , Roberts Rebecca , Andrianopoulos Nick , Crawford David A
Published: February 2009

Objective

The present study aimed to examine associations between availability of outlets where takeaway or fast food could be purchased and consumption of takeaway or fast food among children.

Design

Cross-sectional. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding the frequency per week their child usually ate takeaway or fast foods. The availability of outlets where these foods could be purchased close to home and en route to school was determined with a Geographic Information System (presence of any outlets and density of outlets within 800 m from home and along the route to school, and distance from home to closest outlet).

Setting

Greater Melbourne and Geelong, Australia.

Subjects

Three hundred and fifty-three children aged 5–6 years and 463 children aged 10–12 years.

Results

Overall, 69·4 % of children consumed takeaway or fast foods once weekly or more often. Only one measure of availability of outlets close to home was associated with consumption; each additional outlet within 800 m was associated with 3 % lower odds of consuming takeaway or fast foods at least once weekly (OR = 0·97, 95 % CI 0·95, 1·00). There were no associations between availability en route to school and the likelihood of consuming takeaway or fast food at least once weekly.

Conclusions

Access to outlets where takeaway or fast food could be purchased did not predict frequency of consumption of takeaway or fast food in the expected direction. Such relationships appear to be complex and may not be adequately captured by the measures of access included in the current study.
Variations in fresh fruit and vegetable quality by store type, urban–rural setting and neighbourhood deprivation in Scotland
Authors: Cummins Steven , Smith Dianna M , Taylor Mathew , Dawson John , Marshall David , Sparks Leigh , Anderson Annie S
Published: February 2009

Objective

Neighbourhood differences in access to fresh fruit and vegetables may explain social inequalities in diet. Investigations have focused on variations in cost and availability as barriers to the purchase and consumption of fresh produce; investigations of quality have been neglected. Here we investigate whether produce quality systematically varies by food store type, rural–urban location and neighbourhood deprivation in a selection of communities across Scotland.

Design

Cross-sectional survey of twelve fresh fruit and vegetable items in 288 food stores in ten communities across Scotland. Communities were selected to reflect a range of urban–rural settings and a food retail census was conducted in each location. The quality of twelve fruit and vegetable items within each food store was evaluated. Data from the Scottish Executive were used to characterise each small area by deprivation and urban–rural classification.

Setting

Scotland.

Results

Quality of fruit and vegetables within the surveyed stores was high. Medium-sized stores, stores in small town and rural areas, and stores in more affluent areas tended to have the highest-quality fresh fruit and vegetables. Stores where food is secondary, stores in urban settings and stores in more deprived areas tended have the lowest-quality fresh produce. Although differences in quality were not always statistically significant, patterns were consistent for the majority of fruit and vegetable items.

Conclusions

The study provides evidence that variations in food quality may plausibly be a micro-environmental mediating variable in food purchase and consumption and help partially explain neighbourhood differences in food consumption patterns.
Joint inversion of surface wave velocity and gravity observations and its application to central Asian basins shear velocity structure
Authors: Maceira Monica , Ammon Charles J.
Published: February 2009

We implement and apply a method to the jointly inverted of surface wave group velocities and gravity anomalies observations. Surface wave dispersion measurements are sensitive to seismic shear wave velocities, and the gravity measurements supply constraints on rock density variations. Our goal is to obtain a self‐consistent three‐dimensional shear velocity–density model with increased resolution of shallow geologic structures. We apply the method to investigate the structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath two large central Asian sedimentary basins: the Tarim and Junggar. The basins have thick sediment sections that produce substantial regional gravity variations (up to several hundred milligals). We used gravity observations extracted from the global gravity model derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission. We combine the gravity anomalies with high‐resolution surface wave slowness tomographic maps that provide group velocity dispersion values in the period range between 8 and 100 s for a grid of locations across central Asia. To integrate these data, we use a relationship between seismic velocity and density constructed through the combination of two empirical relations. One determined by Nafe and Drake, most appropriate for sedimentary rocks, and a linear Birch's law, more applicable to denser rocks (the basement). An iterative, damped least squares inversion including smoothing is used to jointly model both data sets, using shear velocity variations as the primary model parameters. Results show high upper mantle shear velocities beneath the Tarim basin and suggest differences in lower crust and upper mantle shear velocities between the eastern and western Tarim.
Exhumation along the Fairweather fault, southeastern Alaska, based on low‐temperature thermochronometry
Authors: McAleer Ryan J. , Spotila James A. , Enkelmann Eva , Berger Aaron L.
Published: February 2009

The southern Alaskan syntaxis marks the spectacular junction between the >1000‐km‐long Pacific–North America transform margin and the Chugach–St. Elias belt, where subduction and terrane accretion drive rapid convergent deformation and rock uplift. New low‐temperature thermochronometry reveals that intense orogenic deformation is not restricted to one side of the syntaxis but extends nearly 300 km south along the dextral Fairweather fault. Apatite and zircon (U‐Th)/He ages as young as 0.9 and 2.0 Ma suggest maximum exhumation rates of nearly 2 mm/a in close proximity (<10 km) to the Fairweather fault and average exhumation rates of >0.5 mm/a along the entire plate margin. We estimate that long‐term rock uplift accommodates ∼3 mm/a of fault‐normal convergence in this area. This suggests that the Fairweather fault is slightly transpressive and highly partitioned, analogous to the central San Andreas fault. This convergence only accounts for ∼1/5 of the obliquity between Pacific plate motion and the continental margin, however, implying the deficit is taken up by 1–2 cm/a thrust‐sinistral motion along the offshore Transition fault. Additionally, thermochronometry shows a marked increase in bedrock cooling coincident with onset of heavy glaciation, similar to what has been observed in other parts of the Pacific Northwest. The tectonically active Fairweather corridor is distinguished, however, by the magnitude of the acceleration and the depth of exhumation since Pliocene climate change.
Journey to world top emitter: An analysis of the driving forces of China's recent CO2 emissions surge
Authors: Guan Dabo , Peters Glen P. , Weber Christopher L. , Hubacek Klaus
Published: February 2009

China's economy has been growing at an accelerated rate from 2002 to 2005 and with it China's carbon emissions. It is easier to understand the growth in China's carbon emissions by considering which consumption activities ‐ households and government, capital investments, and international trade ‐ drive Chinese production and hence emissions. This paper adopts structural decomposition analysis, a macro‐economic approach using data from national statistical offices, to investigate the drivers of China's recent CO2 emissions surge. The speed of efficiency gains in production sectors cannot cope with the growth in emissions due to growth in final consumption and associated production processes. More specifically, Chinese export production is responsible for one‐half of the emission increase. Capital formation contributes to one‐third of the emission increase. A fast growing component is carbon emissions related to consumption of services by urban households and governmental institutions, which are responsible for most of the remaining emissions.
Earthquake early warning system in southern Italy: Methodologies and performance evaluation
Authors: Zollo A. , Iannaccone G. , Lancieri M. , Cantore L. , Convertito V. , Emolo A. , Festa G. , Gallovič F. , Vassallo M. , Martino C. , Satriano C. , Gasparini P.
Published: February 2009

We investigate the effect of extended faulting processes and heterogeneous wave propagation on the early warning system capability to predict the peak ground velocity (PGV) from moderate to large earthquakes occurring in the southern Apennines (Italy). Simulated time histories at the early warning network have been used to retrieve early estimates of source parameters and to predict the PGV, following an evolutionary, probabilistic approach. The system performance is measured through the Effective Lead‐Time (ELT), i.e., the time interval between the arrival of the first S‐wave and the time at which the probability to observe the true PGV value within one standard deviation becomes stationary, and the Probability of Prediction Error (PPE), which provides a measure of PGV prediction error. The regional maps of ELT and PPE show a significant variability around the fault up to large distances, thus indicating that the system's capability to accurately predict the observed peak ground motion strongly depends on distance and azimuth from the fault.
Observations and analysis of sediment diffusivity profiles over sandy rippled beds under waves
Authors: Thorne Peter D. , Davies Alan G. , Bell Paul S.
Published: February 2009

Acoustic measurements of near‐bed sediment diffusivity profiles are reported. The observations were made over two sandy rippled beds, classified as “medium” and “fine” in terms of sand grain size, under slightly asymmetric regular waves. For the medium sand, the ripples that formed had relatively steep slopes, while for the fine sand, the slopes were roughly half that of the medium sand. In the medium sand case, the form of the sediment diffusivity profiles was found to be constant with height above the bed, to a height equal approximately to the equivalent roughness of the bed, ks, while above this the sediment diffusivity increased linearly with height. For the case of the fine sand there was no constant region; the sediment diffusivity simply increased linearly with height from the bed. To understand the difference between the respective diffusivity profiles, advantage has been taken of the high temporal‐spatial resolution available with acoustic systems. Using intrawave ensemble averaging, detailed images have been built up of the variation in concentration with both the phase of the wave and also height above the bed. These intrawave observations, combined with measurements of the bed forms and concepts of convective and diffusive entrainment, have been used to elucidate the mixing mechanisms that underlie the form of the diffusivity profiles observed over the two rippled beds. These mechanisms center on coherent vortex shedding in the case of steeply rippled beds and random turbulent processes above ripples of lower steepness.
Ice formation in Arctic mixed‐phase clouds: Insights from a 3‐D cloud‐resolving model with size‐resolved aerosol and cloud microphysics
Authors: Fan Jiwen , Ovtchinnikov Mikhail , Comstock Jennifer M. , McFarlane Sally A. , Khain Alexander
Published: February 2009

The single‐layer mixed‐phase clouds observed during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program's Mixed‐Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (MPACE) are simulated with a three‐dimensional cloud‐resolving model, the System for Atmospheric Modeling (SAM), coupled with an explicit bin microphysics scheme and a radar simulator. By implementing an aerosol‐dependent and a temperature‐ and supersaturation‐dependent ice nucleation scheme and treating IN size distribution prognostically, the link between ice crystal and aerosol properties is established to study aerosol indirect effects. Two possible ice enhancement mechanisms, activation of droplet evaporation residues by condensation followed by freezing and droplet evaporation freezing by contact freezing inside out, are scrutinized by extensive comparisons with the in situ and remote sensing measurements. Simulations with either mechanism agree well with the in situ and remote sensing measurements of ice microphysical properties but liquid water content is slightly underpredicted. These two mechanisms give similar cloud properties, although ice nucleation occurs at very different rates and locations. Ice nucleation from activation of evaporation nuclei occurs mostly near cloud top areas, while ice nucleation from the drop freezing during evaporation has no significant location preference. Both ice enhancement mechanisms contribute dramatically to ice formation with ice particle concentration of 10–15 times higher relative to the simulation without either of them. Ice nuclei (IN) recycling from ice sublimation contributes significantly to maintaining concentrations of IN and ice particles in this case, implying an important role to maintain the observed long‐term existence of mixed‐phase clouds. Cloud can be very sensitive to IN initially but become much less sensitive as cloud evolves to a steady mixed‐phase condition.
Modeling intercontinental air pollution transport over the trans‐Pacific region in 2001 using the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhang Yang , Jang Carey , Phillips Sharon , Wang Binyu
Published: February 2009

The Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system is used to study the intercontinental transport of air pollution across the Pacific region. Baseline simulations are conducted for January, April, July, and October 2001 at a 108 km horizontal grid resolution. A sensitivity simulation is conducted for April 2001 to study the impact of Asian anthropogenic emissions on the United States's air quality. Process analysis is conducted to study pollutant formation and transport and to quantify the relative contributions of atmospheric processes to ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Model simulations are evaluated with available surface, aircraft, and satellite observations. Simulated meteorology basically captures the synoptic pattern, but precipitation amounts are significantly underpredicted. Most of the PM2.5 components are overestimated over the United States and most gases are underestimated over east Asia. Simulated NO2 and CO columns agree well with satellite observations. Aerosol optical depths and tropospheric O3 residuals are underpredicted, especially in July. The simulated horizontal fluxes and process analyses show that the transport in the lower free troposphere followed by a large‐scale subsidence over the United States provides a major Asian pollution export pathway for most pollutants, while the transport in the planetary boundary layer also plays an important role, especially for CO, O3, PM2.5, and SO42−. The background concentrations of O3 and SO42− in the western United States can increase by ∼1 ppb (∼2.5%) and 0.4 μg m−3 (∼20%) in monthly average, up to 2.5 ppb and 1.0 μg m−3 in daily average, respectively, due to the Asian emissions in April.
Towards the definition of a core of microorganisms involved in anaerobic digestion of sludge
Authors: Rivière Delphine , Desvignes Virginie , Pelletier Eric , Chaussonnerie Sébastien , Guermazi Sonda , Weissenbach Jean , Li Tianlun , Camacho Patricia , Sghir Abdelghani
Published: February 2009

The microbial consortium involved in anaerobic digestion has not yet been precisely characterized and this process remains a ‘black box’ with limited efficiency. In this study, seven anaerobic sludge digesters were selected based on technology, type of sludge, process and water quality. The prokaryotic community of these digesters was examined by constructing and analysing a total of 9890 16S rRNA gene clones. Libraries were constructed using primers specific for the Bacteria and Archaea domains for each digester, respectively. After phylogenetic affiliation, the libraries were compared using statistical tools to determine the similarities or differences among the seven digesters. Results show that the prokaryotic community of an anaerobic digester is composed of phylotypes commonly found in all anaerobic digesters sampled and also of specific phylotypes. The Archaea community is represented by an equilibrium among a restricted number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs). These OTUs are affiliated with Methanosarcinales, Methanomicrobiales and Arc I phylogenetic groups. Statistical analysis revealed that the Bacteria community can be described as a three component model: one-third making up a core group of phylotypes common to most of the digesters, one-third are phylotypes shared among a few digesters and another one-third are specific phylotypes. The core group is composed of only six OTUs affiliated with Chloroflexi, Betaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Synergistetes. Its role in anaerobic degradation appears critical to investigate. This comparison of anaerobic digester populations is a first step towards a future understanding of the relationship among biodiversity, operating conditions and digester efficiency.
Low Sympathetic Tone and Obese Phenotype in Oxytocin‐deficient Mice
Authors: Camerino Claudia
Published: February 2009

Oxytocin (Oxt) is secreted both peripherally and centrally and is involved in several functions including parturition, milk let‐down reflex, social behavior, and food intake. Recently, it has been shown that mice deficient in Oxt receptor develop late‐onset obesity. In this study, we characterized a murin model deficient in Oxt peptide (Oxt−/−) to evaluate food intake and body weight, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance, leptin and adrenaline levels. We found that Oxt−/− mice develop late‐onset obesity and hyperleptinemia without any alterations in food intake in addition to having a decreased insulin sensitivity and glucose intolerance. The lack of Oxt in our murin model also results in lower adrenalin levels which led us to hypothesize that the metabolic changes observed are associated with a decreased sympathetic nervous tone. It has been shown that Oxt neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are a component of a leptin‐sensitive signaling circuit between the hypothalamus and caudal brain stem for the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. Nevertheless, the lack of Oxt in these mice does not have a direct impact on feeding behavior whose regulation is probably dependent on the complex interplay of several factors. The lack of hyperphagia evident in the Oxt−/− mice may, in part, be attributed to the developmental compensation of other satiety factors such as cholecystokinin or bombesin‐related peptides which merits further investigation. These findings identify Oxt as an important central regulator of energy homeostasis.
Immediate Increase in Food Intake Following Exercise Messages
Authors: Albarracin Dolores , Wang Wei , Leeper Joshua
Published: February 2009

Communications to stimulate weight loss include exercise‐promotion messages that often produce unsatisfactory results due to compensatory behavioral and metabolic mechanisms triggered by physical activity. This research investigated potential automatic facilitation of eating immediately after exercise messages in the absence of actual exercise. Two controlled experiments demonstrated greater than control food intake following exposure to print messages typical of exercise campaigns as well as subliminal presentation of action words associated with exercise (e.g., “active”). These inadvertent effects may explain the limited efficacy of exercise‐promotion programs for weight loss, particularly when systematic dietary guidelines are absent.
Relationship of Attitudes Toward Fast Food and Frequency of Fast‐food Intake in Adults
Authors: Dave Jayna M. , An Lawrence C. , Jeffery Robert W. , Ahluwalia Jasjit S.
Published: February 2009

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between attitudes toward fast food and the frequency of fast‐food intake in adults. This study is a cross‐sectional evaluation of random digit‐dial telephone surveys to identify patterns of eating away from home and attitudes toward it. Participants included 530 adults (94% white, 65% women, 70% married, 42% with college educated). Attitudes toward fast food was measured using an 11‐item, 4‐dimensional scale: perceived convenience of fast food (α = 0.56); fast food is fun and social (α = 0.55); fast food perceived as unhealthful (α = 0.45); and dislike toward cooking (α = 0.52). Frequency of fast‐food intake was found to be significantly associated with age (odds ratios (OR) = 0.981, P = 0.001), gender (men > women), and marital status of the participants (single > married/partnered and divorced/separated/widowed). Additionally, frequency of fast‐food intake was also found to be significantly associated with perceived convenience of fast food (OR = 1.162, P < 0.001) and dislike toward cooking (OR = 1.119, P < 0.001) but not with perceived unhealthfulness of fast food (OR = 0.692, P = 0.207). These findings suggest public education regarding the unhealthfulness of fast food may not influence fast food consumption. Interventions targeting the issue of convenience and quick or efficient preparation of nutritious alternatives to fast food could be more promising.
Obesity and Smoking: Comparing Cessation Treatment Seekers With the General Smoking Population
Authors: LaRowe Tara L. , Piper Megan E. , Schlam Tanya R. , Fiore Michael C. , Baker Timothy B.
Published: February 2009

Obesity and smoking represent the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This study compared the prevalence of obesity among smokers seeking cessation treatment (n = 1,428) vs. a general population (n = 4,081) of never smokers, former smoker, and current smokers. Data from treatment‐seeking smokers in the Wisconsin Smokers' Health Study (WSHS) and individuals who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2006 were pooled and obesity rates and other health characteristics were compared. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among WSHS treatment‐seeking smokers (36.8%) vs. NHANES current smokers (29.6%), but the obesity rates of WSHS treatment‐seeking smokers did not differ from NHANES former smokers (36.5%) or never smokers (36.5%). Treatment‐seeking smokers were more likely to be female and to have higher educational attainment compared to NHANES participants. Analysis of health characteristics revealed that treatment‐seeking smokers had higher levels of dietary fiber and vitamin C and lower blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting glucose compared to NHANES current smokers. Results suggest that treatment‐seeking smokers may have a different health profile than current smokers in the general population. Health care providers should be aware of underlying heath issues, particularly obesity, in patients seeking smoking cessation treatment.
The Effect of Age on Weight‐Related Quality of Life in Overweight and Obese Individuals
Authors: Zabelina Darya L. , Erickson Ann L. , Kolotkin Ronette L. , Crosby Ross D.
Published: February 2009

The objective of the current study was to investigate the association between age and weight‐related quality of life in a broad range of overweight/obese individuals. Participants included 9,991 overweight and obese adults from a cross sectional database (mean age = 44.9, mean BMI = 38.3, 75.3% women, 73% white). Participants completed the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life‐Lite (IWQOL‐Lite), a measure of weight‐related quality of life. For the total sample, weight‐related quality of life was more impaired with increasing age for physical function, sexual life, and work. However, increasing age was associated with less impairment for self‐esteem and public distress. On the sexual life domain there was an interaction between age and gender. Men showed a steady decline in sexual life with increasing age, whereas women showed reduced scores on sexual life in all age groups beyond age 18–24.9. Of note, women's scores on all IWQOL‐Lite domains were significantly lower (more impaired) than men's. Thus, there are both positive as well as negative consequences of increasing age with respect to the impact of weight on quality of life in overweight and obese persons.
Signal co-operation between integrins and other receptor systems
Authors: Streuli Charles H. , Akhtar Nasreen
Published: February 2009

The multicellular nature of metazoans means that all cellular processes need to be tuned by adhesive interactions between cells and their local microenvironment. The spatial organization of cells within tissues requires sophisticated networks of extracellular signals to control their survival and proliferation, movements and positioning, and differentiated function. These cellular characteristics are mediated by multiple inputs from adhesion systems in combination with soluble and developmental signals. In the present review we explore how one class of adhesion receptor, the integrins, co-operate with other types of receptor to control diverse aspects of cell fate. In particular we discuss: (i) how β3 and β1 integrins work together with growth factors to control angiogenesis; (ii) how α6β4 integrin co-operates with receptor tyrosine kinases in normal epithelial function and cancer; (iii) the interplay between β1 integrins and EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor; (iv) signal integration connecting integrins and cytokine receptors for interleukins, prolactin and interferons; and (v) how integrins and syndecans co-operate in cell migration.
A Reference Equation of State for the Thermodynamic Properties of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) for Temperatures from the Melting Line to 625K and Pressures up to 150MPa
Authors: Guder C. , Wagner W.
Published: February 2009

A new equation of state for the thermodynamic properties of the fluid phase of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in the form of a fundamental equation explicit in the Helmholtz energy is presented. The functional form consists of a part describing the ideal-gas state and the residual part as the difference between the real-fluid and the ideal-gas behavior. The residual part was developed using state-of-the-art linear and nonlinear optimization algorithms. It contains 36 coefficients, which were fitted to selected data for the thermal and caloric properties of sulfur hexafluoride in the single-phase region and on the vapor-liquid phase boundary. Especially for the thermal properties in the critical region, a very extensive and high-precision data set was available. In this work, information on the experimental data for the thermodynamic properties and all details of the new equation are presented. The new equation of state describes the pρT surface of sulfur hexafluoride with an uncertainty in density of less than 0.02%–0.03% from the melting line up to temperatures of 500K and pressures of 30MPa. In the critical region, including the immediate vicinity of the critical point, the uncertainty in pressure is less than 0.01%. Reliable data sets of other thermodynamic properties are reproduced within their experimental uncertainties. The primary data, to which the equation was fitted, cover the fluid region from the melting line to temperatures of 625K and pressures up to 150MPa. Beyond this range, the equation can be extrapolated with a physically reasonable behavior up to very high temperatures and pressures. In addition to the equation of state, independent equations for the vapor pressure, the saturated-liquid and saturated-vapor densities, the melting pressure, and the sublimation pressure are given. Tables of thermodynamic properties calculated from the new equation of state are listed in the Appendix.
Subfemtosecond magnetization dynamics in diluted ferromagnetic metals
Authors: Tagliaferri A. , Bisogni V. , Brookes N. B.
Published: February 2009

The magnetic screening of localized excitations in Ni and Fe ferromagnetic metal hosts has been investigated by magnetic circular dichroism of inelastic x-ray resonant scattering in perpendicular geometry at the Ni L2,3 absorption region. The method probes the spin-dependent screening by the electron population initially in thermodynamic equilibrium. A screening time constant of 1.5 fs in Ni metal has been reported in literature. Here an upper limit of 150 as is set for the screening time constant in Fe metal by measuring the scattering from Ni impurities in dilute Fe metal. The present time scale is among the shortest experimentally investigated in magnetic phenomena.
Noniterative parameter identification technique for the energetic model of hysteresis
Authors: Andrei Petru , Adedoyin Ayodeji
Published: February 2009

A noniterative identification technique is developed for the computation of parameters of the energetic model of hysteresis. Due to the relatively simple form of model equations, we are able to identify the subset of physical parameters (e.g., coercive fields, remnant magnetizations, differential susceptibilities, etc.) that can be described by the model. This allows us to find necessary and sufficient conditions under which the energetic model can be applied to a magnetic material with given physical characteristics, in this way establishing the limits of applicability of the model.
Exchange bias and compositional depth profiles of annealed NiFe∕FeMn∕CoFe trilayers
Authors: Kim Ki-Yeon , Choi Hyeok-Cheol , You Chun-Yeol , Lee Jeong-Soo
Published: February 2009

We investigate the exchange bias fields and compositional depth profiles of the NiFe (bottom)/FeMn∕CoFe (top) trilayers after a thermal treatment at different annealing temperatures. Interestingly, the magnetic hysteresis measurement revealed that the NiFe∕FeMn∕CoFe trilayers exhibit a contrasting variation of the exchange bias fields at the two interfaces in a completely different way to each other. High angle x-ray diffraction indicates that there is no distinguishable effect of a thermal treatment on the NiFe (111) and FeMn (111) peaks. The Ni 2p and Mn 2p x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrums near these two interfaces along with the XPS compositional depth profiles are measured. We find the asymmetric depth profiles of the Fe and Mn atoms throughout the FeMn layer and the preferential Mn diffusion into the NiFe layer compared to the CoFe layer. We believe that in situ applied fields during sample growth and ex situ cooling fields after sample growth have a different effect on the exchange bias fields of both top and bottom interfaces.
Switchable rectifier built with Pt/TiOx/Pt trilayer
Authors: Shima Hisashi , Zhong Ni , Akinaga Hiro
Published: February 2009

The switchable rectifier built with Pt/TiOx/Pt was proposed and the reproducible rectification switching was demonstrated. The rectification switching is considered to be originated from the electrical control of the oxygen vacancy concentration at the interfaces between Pt and TiOx and resultant variations in the Schottky barrier height. The electrode area dependence of the current conduction after the rectification switching revealed that this switching occurs at the almost entire interface region. The reproducible switching in the Pt/TiOx/Pt rectifier is demonstrated by changing the polarity of the pulse voltage, evidencing the excellent functionality of the engineered metal/oxide interface.
On reversible bonding of hydrogen molecules on platinum clusters
Authors: Szarek Paweł , Urakami Kousuke , Zhou Chenggang , Cheng Hansong , Tachibana Akitomo
Published: February 2009

The local reactivity of hydrogenated platinum clusters (Pt clusters) has been studied using the regional density functional theory method. We observed that antibond orbitals constitute the preferable binding site for hydrogen molecules H2. Those sites are characterized by lowered electronic chemical potential and strong directionality and exhibit electrophilic nature. The platinum-dihydrogen (Pt–H2) sigma complexes were formed only by occupation of the lowest electronic chemical potential sites associated with Pt–H antibonds (σPtH∗) in saturated platinum clusters. The formation of sigma complexes caused mutual stabilization with the trans Pt–H bond. Such activated H2 molecules on Pt clusters in a sense resemble heme-oxygen (heme-O2) complex with interaction strength greater than physisorption or hydrogen bonding but below chemisorption strength.
Generating functionals based formulation of the method of moments of coupled cluster equations
Authors: Kowalski Karol , Fan Peng-Dong
Published: February 2009

New theoretical framework for the method of moments of coupled cluster equations (MMCC) [K. Kowalski and P. Piecuch, J. Chem. Phys. 113, 18 (2000)] that, in a natural way, assures the connected form of the resulting MMCC corrections is discussed. In order to maintain the validity of the proposed expansion in the presence of strong quasidegeneracy effects, the regularization of the correlated part (γ) of the overlap between the exact and approximate coupled cluster wave functions is required. It is shown that related approximations accounting for the effect of triples require a rudimentary form of the γ-regularization (based on the regularization of cluster amplitudes) in order to provide results of completely renormalized CCSD(T) or better quality in situations when a single bond is broken (the HF molecule). For strongly correlated systems (C2) more efficient regularization schemes are required especially for stretched internuclear distances. Discussed type of the regularization procedure can also prevent the unphysical propagation of strong correlation effects through the products of cluster operators toward highly excited sectors of the Hilbert space.
Protein displacements under external forces: An atomistic Langevin dynamics approach
Authors: Gnandt David , Utz Nadine , Blumen Alexander , Koslowski Thorsten
Published: February 2009

We present a fully atomistic Langevin dynamics approach as a method to simulate biopolymers under external forces. In the harmonic regime, this approach permits the computation of the long-term dynamics using only the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hessian matrix of second derivatives. We apply this scheme to identify polymorphs of model proteins by their mechanical response fingerprint, and we relate the averaged dynamics of proteins to their biological functionality, with the ion channel gramicidin A, a phosphorylase, and neuropeptide Y as examples. In an environment akin to dilute solutions, even small proteins show relaxation times up to 50 ns. Atomically resolved Langevin dynamics computations have been performed for the stretched gramicidin A ion channel.
Strain distributions and electronic property modifications in Si/Ge axial nanowire heterostructures
Authors: Swadener J. G. , Picraux S. T.
Published: February 2009

Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for Si/Ge axial nanowire heterostructures using modified effective atom method (MEAM) potentials. A Si–Ge MEAM interatomic cross potential was developed based on available experimental data and was used for these studies. The atomic distortions and strain distributions near the Si/Ge interfaces are predicted for nanowires with their axes oriented along the [111] direction. The cases of 10 and 25 nm diameter Si/Ge biwires and of 25 nm diameter Si/Ge/Si axial heterostructures with the Ge disk 1 nm thick were studied. Substantial distortions in the height of the atoms adjacent to the interface were found for the biwires but not for the Ge disks. Strains as high as 3.5% were found for the Ge disk and values of 2%–2.5% were found at the Si and Ge interfacial layers in the biwires. Deformation potential theory was used to estimate the influence of the strains on the band gap, and reductions in band gap to as small as 40% of bulk values are predicted for the Ge disks. The localized regions of increased strain and resulting energy minima were also found within the Si/Ge biwire interfaces with the larger effects on the Ge side of the interface. The regions of strain maxima near and within the interfaces are anticipated to be useful for tailoring band gaps and producing quantum confinement of carriers. These results suggest that nanowire heterostructures provide greater design flexibility in band structure modification than is possible with planar layer growth.