bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Membrane-Initiated Estradiol Signaling Induces Spinogenesis Required for Female Sexual Receptivity
Authors: Christensen Amy , Dewing Phoebe , Micevych Paul
Published: December 2011

Estrogens have profound actions on the structure of the nervous system during development and in adulthood. One of the signature actions of estradiol is to alter the morphology of neural processes. In the hippocampus, estradiol modulates spines and cellular excitability that affect cognitive behaviors. In the hypothalamus, estradiol increases spine density in mediobasal hypothalamic nuclei that regulate reproduction. The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARH), an important site for modulation of female sexual receptivity, has a sexual dimorphism in dendritic spine density that favors females. In the present study, we used both β-actin immunostaining and Golgi staining to visualize estradiol-induced changes in spine density in Long–Evans rats. Golgi impregnation was used to visualize spine shape, and then β-actin immunoreactivity was used as a semiquantitative measure of spine plasticity since actin forms the core of dendritic spines. At 4 h after estradiol treatment, both β-actin immunofluorescence and filopodial spines were increased (from 70.57 ± 1.09% to 78.01 ± 1.05%,p< 0.05). Disruption of estradiol-induced β-actin polymerization with cytochalasin D attenuated lordosis behavior, indicating the importance of estradiol-mediated spinogenesis for female sexual receptivity (81.43 ± 7.05 to 35.00 ± 11.76,p< 0.05). Deactivation of cofilin, an actin depolymerizing factor is required for spinogenesis. Membrane-initiated estradiol signaling involving the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1a was responsible for the phosphorylation and thereby deactivation of cofilin. These data demonstrate that estradiol-induced spinogenesis in the ARH is an important cellular mechanism for the regulation of female sexual behavior.
Higher-Order Interactions Characterized in Cortical Activity
Authors: Yu Shan , Yang Hongdian , Nakahara Hiroyuki , Santos Gustavo S. , Nikolić Danko , Plenz Dietmar
Published: December 2011

In the cortex, the interactions among neurons give rise to transient coherent activity patterns that underlie perception, cognition, and action. Recently, it was actively debated whether the most basic interactions, i.e., the pairwise correlations between neurons or groups of neurons, suffice to explain those observed activity patterns. So far, the evidence reported is controversial. Importantly, the overall organization of neuronal interactions and the mechanisms underlying their generation, especially those of high-order interactions, have remained elusive. Here we show that higher-order interactions are required to properly account for cortical dynamics such as ongoing neuronal avalanches in the alert monkey and evoked visual responses in the anesthetized cat. A Gaussian interaction model that utilizes the observed pairwise correlations and event rates and that applies intrinsic thresholding identifies those higher-order interactions correctly, both in cortical local field potentials and spiking activities. This allows for accurate prediction of large neuronal population activities as required, e.g., in brain–machine interface paradigms. Our results demonstrate that higher-order interactions are inherent properties of cortical dynamics and suggest a simple solution to overcome the apparent formidable complexity previously thought to be intrinsic to those interactions.
Dystrobrevin Controls Neurotransmitter Release and Muscle Ca2+Transients by Localizing BK Channels inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Chen Bojun , Liu Ping , Zhan Haiying , Wang Zhao-Wen
Published: December 2011

Dystrobrevin is a major component of a dystrophin-associated protein complex. It is widely expressed in mammalian tissues, including the nervous system, in which it is localized to the presynaptic nerve terminal with unknown function. In a genetic screen for suppressors of a lethargic phenotype caused by a gain-of-function isoform of SLO-1 inCaenorhabditis elegans, we isolated multiple loss-of-function (lf) mutants of the dystrobrevin genedyb-1. dyb-1(lf) phenocopiedslo-1(lf), causing increased neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction, increased frequency of Ca2+transients in body-wall muscle, and abnormal locomotion behavior. Neuron- and muscle-specific rescue experiments suggest that DYB-1 is required for SLO-1 function in both neurons and muscle cells. DYB-1 colocalized with SLO-1 at presynaptic sites in neurons and dense body regions in muscle cells, anddyb-1(lf) caused SLO-1 mislocalization in both types of cells without altering SLO-1 protein level. The neuronal phenotypes ofdyb-1(lf) were partially rescued by mouse α-dystrobrevin-1. These observations revealed novel functions of the BK channel in regulating muscle Ca2+transients and of dystrobrevin in controlling neurotransmitter release and muscle Ca2+transients by localizing the BK channel.
Microglial Ca2+-Activated K+Channels Are Possible Molecular Targets for the Analgesic Effects ofS-Ketamine on Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Hayashi Yoshinori , Kawaji Kodai , Sun Li , Zhang Xinwen , Koyano Kiyoshi , Yokoyama Takeshi , Kohsaka Shinichi , Inoue Kazuhide , Nakanishi Hiroshi
Published: December 2011

Ketamine is an important analgesia clinically used for both acute and chronic pain. The acute analgesic effects of ketamine are generally believed to be mediated by the inhibition of NMDA receptors in nociceptive neurons. However, the inhibition of neuronal NMDA receptors cannot fully account for its potent analgesic effects on chronic pain because there is a significant discrepancy between their potencies. The possible effect of ketamine on spinal microglia was first examined because hyperactivation of spinal microglia after nerve injury contributes to neuropathic pain. Optically pureS-ketamine preferentially suppressed the nerve injury-induced development of tactile allodynia and hyperactivation of spinal microglia.S-Ketamine also preferentially inhibited hyperactivation of cultured microglia after treatment with lipopolysaccharide, ATP, or lysophosphatidic acid. We next focused our attention on the Ca2+-activated K+(KCa) currents in microglia, which are known to induce their hyperactivation and migration.S-Ketamine suppressed both nerve injury-induced large-conductance KCa(BK) currents and 1,3-dihydro-1-[2-hydroxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (NS1619)-induced BK currents in spinal microglia. Furthermore, the intrathecal administration of charybdotoxin, a KCachannel blocker, significantly inhibited the nerve injury-induced tactile allodynia, the expression of P2X4receptors, and the synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in spinal microglia. In contrast, NS1619-induced tactile allodynia was completely inhibited byS-ketamine. These observations strongly suggest thatS-ketamine preferentially suppresses the nerve injury-induced hyperactivation and migration of spinal microglia through the blockade of BK channels. Therefore, the preferential inhibition of microglial BK channels in addition to neuronal NMDA receptors may account for the preferential and potent analgesic effects ofS-ketamine on neuropathic pain.
Hippocampal Hyperactivation Associated with Cortical Thinning in Alzheimer's Disease Signature Regions in Non-Demented Elderly Adults
Authors: Putcha Deepti , Brickhouse Michael , O'Keefe Kelly , Sullivan Caroline , Rentz Dorene , Marshall Gad , Dickerson Brad , Sperling Reisa
Published: December 2011

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with functional and structural alterations in a distributed network of brain regions supporting memory and other cognitive domains. Functional abnormalities are present in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with evidence of early hyperactivity in medial temporal lobe regions, followed by failure of hippocampal activation as dementia develops. Atrophy in a consistent set of cortical regions, the “cortical signature of AD,” has been reported at the stage of dementia, MCI, and even in clinically normal (CN) older individuals predicted to develop AD. Despite multiple lines of evidence for each of these findings, the relationship between this structural marker of AD-related neurodegeneration and this functional marker of the integrity of the episodic memory system has not yet been elucidated. We investigated this relationship in 34 nondemented older humans (CN,N= 18; MCI,N= 16). Consistent with previous studies, we found evidence of hippocampal hyperactivation in MCI compared with CN. Additionally, within this MCI group, increased hippocampal activation correlated with cortical thinning in AD-signature regions. Even within the CN group, increased hippocampal activity was negatively correlated with cortical thinning in a subset of regions, including the superior parietal lobule (r= −0.66;p< 0.01). These findings, across a continuum of nondemented and mildly impaired older adults, support the hypothesis that paradoxically increased hippocampal activity may be an early indicator of AD-related neurodegeneration in a distributed network.
Influence of Static Eye and Head Position on Tone-Evoked Gaze Shifts
Authors: Van Grootel Tom J. , Van Wanrooij Marc M. , Van Opstal A. John
Published: December 2011

The auditory system represents sound-source directions initially in head-centered coordinates. To program eye–head gaze shifts to sounds, the orientation of eyes and head should be incorporated to specify the target relative to the eyes. Here we test (1) whether this transformation involves a stage in which sounds are represented in a world- or a head-centered reference frame, and (2) whether acoustic spatial updating occurs at a topographically organized motor level representing gaze shifts, or within the tonotopically organized auditory system. Human listeners generated head-unrestrained gaze shifts from a large range of initial eye and head positions toward brief broadband sound bursts, and to tones at different center frequencies, presented in the midsagittal plane. Tones were heard at a fixed illusory elevation, regardless of their actual location, that depended in an idiosyncratic way on initial head and eye position, as well as on the tone's frequency. Gaze shifts to broadband sounds were accurate, fully incorporating initial eye and head positions. The results support the hypothesis that the auditory system represents sounds in a supramodal reference frame, and that signals about eye and head orientation are incorporated at a tonotopic stage.
Einsatz der Röntgenfluoreszenz-analyse in der Prozessanalytik
Authors: Ostermann Markus , Kühn A. , Bjeoumikhov A. , Wedell R.
Published: December 2011

Elementanalyse mit Röntgenfluoreszenzspektrometrie direkt am Materialstrom in Produktionsprozessen gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung. Die Röntgenfluoreszenzspektrometrie kann aufgrund der technischen Entwicklung mittlerweile ohne aufwändige Probenvorbereitung als aussagekräftige Informationsquelle für Stoffparameter im industriellen Prozess eingesetzt werden. Der Einsatz von online Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse zahlt sich sowohl finanziell als auch zeitlich schnell aus, da sie sowohl für den ökonomischen Einsatz von Rohmaterialien, als auch z. B. im Materialrecycling zu gebrauchen ist. In diesem Beitrag werden vier unterschiedliche Einsatzmöglichkeiten beschrieben.
Schnelle tomographische Bildgebungsverfahren für Mehrphasenströmungen
Authors: Hampel Uwe , Schubert Markus , Barthel Frank
Published: December 2011

Tomographische Bildgebungsverfahren sind heute vor allem aus der Medizin und der zerstörungsfreien Prüfung bekannt. Sie werden aber auch als äußerst vielversprechend für die Analyse komplexer Strömungsvorgänge, etwa in chemischen Apparaten, erachtet. Besonderes Interesse besteht hierbei in der Aufklärung hydrodynamischer Phänomene in Mehrphasenapparaten, wie beispielsweise Blasensäulen, Kolonnen, Festbettreaktoren und Wirbelschichten, in denen die Hydrodynamik die Stoff- und Wärmetransportvorgänge sowie das makroskopische Reaktionsgeschehen entscheidend beeinflussen. Allerdings müssen tomographische Messverfahren für solche Anwendungen besonders schnell sein, da sich Strömungsstrukturen in einer räumlichen Skale von Millimetern im Allgemeinen im Millisekundenmaßstab ändern. In der jüngeren Vergangenheit wurden mit der Gittersensormesstechnik und der ultraschnellen Röntgentomographie zwei Messverfahren entwickelt, die diese Anforderungen erfüllen. Ihre Funktionsprinzipien und Anwendungen werden in diesem Artikel beschrieben.
β-Cell-protective effect of 2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid as a glutamate dehydrogenase activator in db/db mice
Authors: Han Seung Jin , Choi Sung-E , Yi Sang-A , Lee Soo-Jin , Kim Hae Jin , Kim Dae Jung , Lee Hyun Chul , Lee Kwan Woo , Kang Yup
Published: December 2011

2-Aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) is an activator of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which is a mitochondrial enzyme with an important role in insulin secretion. We investigated the effect of BCH on the high-glucose (HG)-induced reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), the HG/palmitate (PA)-induced reduction in insulin gene expression, and HG/PA-induced β-cell death. We also studied whether long-term treatment with BCH lowers blood glucose and improves β-cell integrity indb/dbmice. We evaluated GSIS, insulin gene expression, and DNA fragmentation in INS-1 cells exposed to HG or HG/PA in the presence or absence of BCH. Anin vivostudy was performed in which 7-week-old diabeticdb/dbmice were treated with BCH (0.7 g/kg,n=10) and placebo (n=10) every other day for 6 weeks. After treatment, an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and immunohistological examinations were performed. Treatment with BCH blocked HG-induced GSIS inhibition and the HG/PA-induced reduction in insulin gene expression in INS-1 cells. In addition, BCH significantly reduced HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell death and phospho-JNK level. BCH treatment improved glucose tolerance and insulin secretion indb/dbmice. BCH treatment also increased the ratio of insulin-positive β-cells to total islet area (P<0.05) and reduced the percentage of β-cells expressing cleaved caspase 3 (P<0.05). In conclusion, the GDH activator BCH improved glycemic control indb/dbmice. This anti-diabetic effect may be associated with improved insulin secretion, preserved islet architecture, and reduced β-cell apoptosis.
New Insights into the Genetics ofin VivoInduction of Maternal Haploids, the Backbone of Doubled Haploid Technology in Maize
Authors: Prigge Vanessa , Xu Xiaowei , Li Liang , Babu Raman , Chen Shaojiang , Atlin Gary N , Melchinger Albrecht E
Published: December 2011

Haploids and doubled haploid (DH) inbred lines have become an invaluable tool for maize genetic research and hybrid breeding, but the genetic basis of in vivo induction of maternal haploids is still unknown. This is the first study reporting comparative quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of this trait in maize. We determined haploid induction rates (HIR) in testcrosses of a total of 1061 progenies of four segregating populations involving two temperate haploid inducers, UH400 (HIR = 8%) and CAUHOI (HIR = 2%), one temperate and two tropical inbreds with HIR = 0%, and up to three generations per population. Mean HIR of the populations ranged from 0.6 to 5.2% and strongly deviated from the midparent values. One QTL (qhir1) explaining up to p^=66% of the genetic variance was detected in bin 1.04 in the three populations involving a noninducer parent and the HIR-enhancing allele was contributed by UH400. Segregation ratios of loci in bin 1.04 were highly distorted against the UH400 allele in these three populations, suggesting that transmission failure of the inducer gamete and haploid induction ability are related phenomena. In the CAUHOI × UH400 population, seven QTL were identified on five chromosomes, with qhir8 on chromosome 9 having p^>20% in three generations of this cross. The large-effect QTL qhir1 and qhir8 will likely become fixed quickly during inducer development due to strong selection pressure applied for high HIR. Hence, marker-based pyramiding of small-effect and/or modifier QTL influencing qhir1 and qhir8 may help to further increase HIR in maize. We propose a conceptual genetic framework for inheritance of haploid induction ability, which is also applicable to other dichotomous traits requiring progeny testing, and discuss the implications of our results for haploid inducer development.
Low-Pass Genome-Wide Sequencing and Variant Inference Using Identity-by-Descent in an Isolated Human Population
Authors: Gusev A , Shah M J , Kenny E E , Ramachandran A , Lowe J K , Salit J , Lee C C , Levandowsky E C , Weaver T N , Doan Q C , Peckham H E , McLaughlin S F , Lyons M R , Sheth V N , Stoffel M , De La Vega F M , Friedman J M , Breslow J L , Pe’er I
Published: December 2011

Whole-genome sequencing in an isolated population with few founders directly ascertains variants from the population bottleneck that may be rare elsewhere. In such populations, shared haplotypes allow imputation of variants in unsequenced samples without resorting to complex statistical methods as in studies of outbred cohorts. We focus on an isolated population cohort from the Pacific Island of Kosrae, Micronesia, where we previously collected SNP array and rich phenotype data for the majority of the population. We report identification of long regions with haplotypes co-inherited between pairs of individuals and methodology to leverage such shared genetic content for imputation. Our estimates show that sequencing as few as 40 personal genomes allows for inference in up to 60% of the 3000-person cohort at the average locus. We ascertained a pilot data set of whole-genome sequences from seven Kosraean individuals, with average 5× coverage. This assay identified 5,735,306 unique sites of which 1,212,831 were previously unknown. Additionally, these variants are unusually enriched for alleles that are rare in other populations when compared to geographic neighbors (published Korean genome SJK). We used the presence of shared haplotypes between the seven Kosraen individuals to estimate expected imputation accuracy of known and novel homozygous variants at 99.6% and 97.3%, respectively. This study presents whole-genome analysis of a homogenous isolate population with emphasis on optimal rare variant inference.
Evaluation of the speech behaviour of reference speakers
Authors: Moosmüller Sylvia
Published: December 2011

In forensic settings, when speech samples have to be compared, or in LADO investigations, it is crucial to be able to differentiate the speech behavior of cooperative speakers from the speech behavior of partly cooperative speakers. In order to perform this task, a comprehensive approach which encompasses knowledge from several linguistic subfields is needed. The theoretical framework of Natural Phonology which incorporates phonetic, phonological, sociolinguistic, and psycholinguistic knowledge proves useful to perform this responsible and considerably difficult task. For illustration purposes, the analysis of three case studies will be presented. Results show that phonetic and phonological variation and process application of partly cooperative speakers differs considerably from the results generally obtained in investigations on language variation (drawn from cooperative speakers). In addition, partly cooperative speakers tend to apply substitutions which are in contradiction to phonetic and phonological principles.
Variation of glottal activity in French accent imitation produced by native Germans
Authors: Neuhauser Sara
Published: December 2011

This study is part of a project concerning phonetic and linguistic aspects of foreign accent imitation as a form of voice disguise. The main focus is on the detection of variation of particular phonetic parameters in German with an imitated French accent produced by native Germans and with an authentic French accent produced by native French speakers. Previous analyses suggested that variation of glottal behavior during accent imitation is possible but the fine adjustment seems to be extremely complex which might be helpful to distinguish between authentic and non-authentic French accents in German. Since glottal activity in syllable onsets differs in French compared to German, the present paper specifically investigates two forms of glottal variation: the realisation of junctural glottalisation and the realisation glottal friction (/h/). The study's native German speakers rarely showed consistent and specific variation in the realisation of vowel junctures during French accent imitation. However, avoidance of /h/ and replacement by glottalisation were common features in their imitated French accents. The results further suggest that the competence of native French speakers in German as L2 might often be underestimated and patterns, such as junctural glottalisation and glottal friction seem to be well established.
THE ROLE OF PROBLEM SOLVING IN COMPLEX INTRAVERBAL REPERTOIRES
Authors: Sautter Rachael A. , LeBlanc Linda A. , Jay Allison A. , Goldsmith Tina R. , Carr James E.
Published: December 2011

We examined whether typically developing preschoolers could learn to use a problem‐solving strategy that involved self‐prompting with intraverbal chains to provide multiple responses to intraverbal categorization questions. Teaching the children to use the problem‐solving strategy did not produce significant increases in target responses until problem solving was modeled and prompted. Following the model and prompts, all participants showed immediate significant increases in intraverbal categorization, and all prompts were quickly eliminated. Use of audible self‐prompts was evident initially for all participants, but declined over time for 3 of the 4 children. Within‐session response patterns remained consistent with use of the problem‐solving strategy even when self‐prompts were not audible. These findings suggest that teaching and prompting a problem‐solving strategy can be an effective way to produce intraverbal categorization responses.
USING TEACHER GREETINGS TO INCREASE SPEED TO TASK ENGAGEMENT
Authors: Allday R. Allan , Bush Miranda , Ticknor Nicole , Walker Lindsay
Published: December 2011

We used a multiple baseline design across participants to determine if teacher greetings would reduce the latency to task engagement. Three participants were identified by their respective teachers as having difficulty initiating task‐appropriate engagement at the beginning of class. Latency was measured from teacher greeting until the participant was actively engaged for 5 consecutive seconds. Results showed that teacher greetings were effective at reducing latency to task engagement for all participants.
Investigation of occupational cancer clusters: theory and practice.
Authors: Schulte P A , Ehrenberg R L , Singal M
Published: December 2011

Local and federal government agencies are often asked to investigate apparent clusters of cancer in communities or workplaces. Often these investigations cannot utilize the methods that have been developed for evaluation of disease clusters because the clusters are too small, and the populations to be studied and the periods of time to be covered are determined in an a posteriori manner. Still, government investigators are called upon to render an official opinion of the apparent clusters. Application of a theoretical approach to cluster analysis must give way to a more pragmatic approach. A review of 61 investigations of apparent clusters conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) during the period 1978-84 showed that most of the clusters contained five or fewer cases and had no plausible occupational etiology. Despite the few clusters that were identified, these investigations generally provided a service to workers and employers who were concerned about occupational cancer.
Contraceptive usage during lactation in the United States: an update.
Authors: Ford K , Labbok M
Published: December 2011

National Surveys of Family Growth data showed that as of 1982, most lactating women who were sexually active used a contraceptive method; barrier methods were most frequently used. Black women and women of higher parity and lower educational level were more likely to be sexually active and not using a method.
Foreign-born and US-born black women: differences in health behaviors and birth outcomes.
Authors: Cabral H , Fried L E , Levenson S , Amaro H , Zuckerman B
Published: December 2011

We studied health behaviors and birth outcome among 201 foreign-born and 616 US-born Black women receiving prenatal care at Boston City Hospital. Foreign-born women had better pre-pregnancy nutritional status and prenatal health behaviors, and their infants had greater intrauterine growth. Black women are not a homogeneous group; culture and ethnicity, in addition to other variables, must be considered in the study of their birth outcomes.
Smokers' knowledge and understanding of advertised tar numbers: health policy implications.
Authors: Cohen J B
Published: December 2011

OBJECTIVES. This article examines health policy implications of providing smokers with numerical tar yield information in cigarette advertising. METHODS. Results of a national probability telephone survey regarding smokers' knowledge and understanding of numerical tar yields and deliveries are reported. RESULTS. Few smokers knew the tar level of their own cigarettes (the exception being smokers of 1- to 5-mg tar cigarettes), and a majority could not correctly judge the relative tar levels of cigarettes. Smokers were unsure whether switching to lower-tar cigarettes would reduce their personal health risks. Many smokers relied on absolute numbers in making trade-offs between number of cigarettes smoked and their tar levels, thus confusion machine-rated tar-yields with actual amounts ingested. CONCLUSIONS. The wisdom of the present method of providing tar and nicotine numbers in ads and recommendations for modifying the test protocol are now under discussion. This research indicates that these tar numbers and their implications are poorly understood. The paper recommends revisions in tar ratings to make them more useful and a required statement on cigarette packages to more explicitly relate tar levels to major health risks.
Workers' compensation recipients with carpal tunnel syndrome: the validity of self-reported health measures.
Authors: Katz J N , Punnett L , Simmons B P , Fossel A H , Mooney N , Keller R B
Published: December 2011

OBJECTIVES. This study compared the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of self-reported measures of health related quality of life in recipients and non-recipients of workers' compensation who have carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome complete questionnaires at study enrollment and 6 months later scales measuring symptom severity functional status, and satisfaction were included. The scales internal consistency, validity, and responsiveness were assessed. RESULTS. The internal consistencies for each scale were high (Cronbach's alpha .88 to .96) and virtually identical in recipients and nonrecipients of workers' compensation. The correlations between self-reported and objectively measured grip strength were .32 in recipients and .30 in nonrecipients; these correlations were not influenced by whether workers' compensation recipients were out of work. Correlations between changes in scale scores and three indicators of perceived improvement were higher in recipients (.48 to .69) than in nonrecipients (.19 to .41) CONCLUSIONS. The reliability, validity, and responsiveness of these measures were comparable in nonrecipients and recipients of workers compensation, these data support the use of self-report measures in studies of workers.
The effect of walking on lower body disability among older blacks and whites.
Authors: Clark D O
Published: December 2011

OBJECTIVES. This study investigated the association between regular physical activity and risk of or increase in lower body disability in older, community dwelling Blacks and Whites. METHODS. The present study used the 1984 to 1990 Longitudinal Study on Aging, which included 413 Black and 3428 White self-respondents 70 years of age or older. Discrete-time hazard models provided estimates of the effects of self-reported walking frequency, and regular exercise on lower, body disability among Black and White self-respondents. RESULTS. Whites who reported walking 4 to 7 days per week at baseline vs those who reported never walking 1 mile (1.6 km) or more experienced a one-third lower risk of increased disability. Blacks who reported walking 4 to 7 days per week experienced a two-thirds lower risk. Walking 4 to 7 days per week reduced the risk of disability onset by 50% to 80% on all five disability items within the Black sample and by 50% on two items within the White sample. CONCLUSIONS. Among older Blacks, walking 4 to 7 days per week had a greater protective effect against lower body decline than any of the other factors, including age and chronic conditions.
Injuries among inner-city minority women: a population-based longitudinal study.
Authors: Grisso J A , Schwarz D F , Miles C G , Holmes J H
Published: December 2011

Active emergency department-based surveillance was conducted to determine the incidence of fatal and nonfatal injuries in an urban, female African American population from 1987 through 1990. Nearly 40% of the women studied sustained one or more injuries that required emergency care or resulted in death. By 1989, violence had surpassed falls as the leading cause of injuries, the rate increased by 55% over the study period. Injury rates were highest among young women for nearly every major cause of injury. The rate of death due to injuries was also highest among young women, for whom violence was the leading cause of death. In summary, injuries to women in this inner-city minority community were extremely common and increased significantly from 1987 to 1990. Injuries in young inner-city minority women should be considered a priority health problem in the United States.
Occupational injury mortality rates in the United States: changes from 1980 to 1989.
Authors: Stout N A , Jenkins E L , Pizatella T J
Published: December 2011

Changes in occupational injury mortality rates over the 1980s were examined through analysis of the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities surveillance system. The US occupational injury mortality rate decreased 37% over the decade, with decreases seen in nearly every demographic and employment sector. Greater declines were among men, Blacks, and younger workers, as well as among agricultural, trade, and service workers. Electrocutions, machine-related incidents, and homicides showed the greatest decreases. Changes in occupational mortality rates by demography, industry, and cause of death indicate the areas in which the most progress has been made and those that are prime targets for prevention efforts.
Breast-feeding and infant illness: a dose-response relationship?
Authors: Raisler J , Alexander C , O'Campo P
Published: December 2011

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether breast-feeding has a dose-related protective effect against illness and whether it confers special health benefits to poor infants. METHODS: The association between breast-feeding dose and illnesses in the first 6 months of life was analyzed with generalized estimating equations regression for 7092 infants from the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey. Breast-feeding dose (ratio of breast-feedings to other feedings) was categorized as full, most, equal, less, or no breast-feeding. RESULTS: Compared with no breast-feeding, full breast-feeding infants had lower odds ratios of diarrhea, cough or wheeze, and vomiting and lower mean ratios of illness months and sick baby medical visits. Most breast-feeding infants had lower odds ratios of diarrhea and cough or wheeze, and equal breast-feeding infants had lower odds ratios of cough or wheeze. Full, most, and equal breast-feeding infants without siblings had lower odds ratios of ear infections and certain other illnesses, but those with siblings did not. Less breast-feeding infants had no reduced odds ratios of illness. Findings did not vary by income. CONCLUSIONS: Full breast-feeding was associated with the lowest illness rates. Minimal (less) breast-feeding was not protective. Breast-feeding conferred similar health benefits in all economic groups.
Reading ability, education, and cognitive status assessment among older adults in Harlem, New York City.
Authors: Albert S M , Teresi J A
Published: December 2011

OBJECTIVES: This study examined reported level of education and current reading ability as predictors of cognitive status among older African Americans in central Harlem, New York City. METHODS: A probability sample of 164 noninstitutionalized older African Americans was assessed. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were regressed on education and reading ability measures. RESULTS: Reading ability and educational attainment were significant, independent predictors of MMSE performance. Within any level of education, subjects whose grade-equivalent reading ability exceeded reported level of education scored significantly higher on the MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: Reading ability may be useful in interpreting the results of cognitive screening among low-educated and minority groups.
Male Prisoners and HIV Prevention: A Call for Action Ignored
Authors: Braithwaite Ronald L. , Arriola Kimberly R. J.
Published: December 2011

US prison inmates are disproportionately indigent young men of color. These individuals are severely affected by HIV/AIDS, largely owing to the high-risk behavior that they engage in prior to incarceration.

Researchers and practitioners have issued a call for the importance of offering HIV prevention services in prison settings. However, this call has largely been ignored.

In this article, we outline reasons why these recommendations have been largely ignored, discuss innovative HIV prevention programs that are currently being implemented in prison settings, and offer recommendations for securing support for HIV prevention services in correctional settings.
Criminal (In)Justice in the City and Its Associated Health Consequences
Authors: Golembeski Cynthia , Fullilove Robert
Published: December 2011

The American system of prisons and prisoners—described by its critics as the prison–industrial complex—has grown rapidly since 1970. Increasingly punitive sentencing guidelines and the privatization of prison-related industries and services account for much of this growth.

Those who enter and leave this system are increasingly Black or Latino, poorly educated, lacking vocational skills, struggling with drugs and alcohol, and disabled. Few correctional facilities mitigate the educational and/ or skills deficiencies of their inmates, and most inmates will return home to communities that are ill equipped to house or rehabilitate them.

A more humanistic and community-centered approach to incarceration and rehabilitation may yield more beneficial results for individuals, communities, and, ultimately, society.
A Multilevel Analysis of the Relationship Between Institutional and Individual Racial Discrimination and Health Status
Authors: Gee Gilbert C.
Published: December 2011

Objectives. This study examined whether individual (self-perceived) and institutional (segregation and redlining) racial discrimination was associated with poor health status among members of an ethnic group.

Methods. Adult respondents (n=1503) in the cross-sectional Chinese American Psychiatric Epidemiologic Study were geocoded to the 1990 census and the 1995 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act database. Hierarchical linear modeling assessed the relationship between discrimination and scores on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 and revised Symptom Checklist 90 health status measures.

Results. Individual and institutional measures of racial discrimination were associated with health status after control for acculturation, sex, age, social support, income, health insurance, employment status, education, neighborhood poverty, and housing value.

Conclusions. The data support the hypothesis that discrimination at multiple levels influences the health of minority group members.
Oral Disease Burden in Northern Manhattan Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Lalla Evanthia , Park David B. , Papapanou Panos N. , Lamster Ira B.
Published: December 2011

Objectives. We explored the association between diabetes mellitus and oral disease in a low-socioeconomic-status urban population.

Methods. Dental records of 150 adults with diabetes and 150 nondiabetic controls from the dental clinic at Columbia University in Northern Manhattan matched by age and gender were studied.

Results. There was a 50% increase in alveolar bone loss in diabetic patients compared with nondiabetic controls. Diabetes, increasing age, male gender, and use of tobacco products had a statistically significant effect on bone loss.

Conclusions. Our findings provide evidence that diabetes is an added risk for oral disease in this low-income, underserved population of Northern Manhattan. Oral disease prevention and treatment programs may need to be part of the standards of continuing care for patients with diabetes
Experimental and Numerical Study of Compositional Two-Phase Displacements in Layered Porous Media
Authors: AlHamdan M. R. , Cinar Y. , Suicmez V. S. , Dindoruk B.
Published: December 2011

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study to investigate the effects of viscous, capillary, and gravity forces on compositional two-phase displacements in layered porous media. We use glass bead packs of different sizes to construct a quasi 2-D porous medium of three layers with different uniform permeabilities. We adapt an analogue ternary fluid system (isooctane, brine, and isopropanol) which allows us to control interfacial tension between the phases at ambient laboratory conditions. Flooding experiments use immiscible and near miscible fluids using the analogue ternary system. We report recovery of phases, compositional analysis, and snapshots of saturation distributions during each experiment.

We show that the high flow capacity domain as defined by the high permeability layer and its thickness always dominates displacements. However, its degree depends on the location of the high-permeability layer and the balance between the driving forces. Compositional analysis of effluent indicates that the compositional path is slightly different for the low and high injection rates in the high interfacial tension (IFT) immiscible displacements whereas it is sensitive to the location of high-permeability layer in the low-IFT near-miscible floods. The Peclet numbers indicate the presence of dispersion in the experiments and crossflow affects the recoveries.

We also perform black oil simulations to validate the experimental observations. In general, we obtain consistent results between the experimentally measured and numerically obtained data. However, in order to account for the displacement physics and accurately predict the recovery performance, one may need to employ a fully compositional simulation model that captures the tie-line slopes correctly along with the transport properties and gravity. The compositional simulations can provide additional details in terms of component recoveries.
Quantification of Mixing in RIM Using a Non-Diffusive Two-Phase Flow Numerical Model
Authors: Fonte Cláudio P. , Santos Ricardo J. , Dias Madalena M. , Lopes José Carlos B.
Published: December 2011

Mixing in RIM is made mainly by advective mechanisms, rather than diffusion. In this paper, the advective mechanisms that enable reducing the mixing scales down to the values required for the complete chemical reaction of the two monomers inside the RIM mixing chamber are identified and studied. From Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of non-diffusive two-phase flow using the Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) model, a linear scale of segregation is determined as a measure of the degree of mixing and the effect of the Reynolds number is studied.
Sequential Investments, Know-How Transmission, and Optimal Organization
Authors: Tsai Tsung-Sheng , Kung Sheng-Chiao
Published: December 2011

In a two-stage sequential investment problem, a principal can use either a single agent or two separate agents to execute the project. The final outcome of the project depends upon both the agent's investments and the first-stage outcome. The principal wishes to stop the project when the first stage is a failure; however, she may not know the first-stage outcome, so that she has to pay the agent a rent to extract that information. Furthermore, the first-stage agent can transmit his know-how to the second-stage agent. Although there is a transmission cost under separate agency while there is no cost under single agency, single agency is not always optimal. This is because the transmission cost can reduce the agent's incentive to continue the project so that the information rent can be lower under separate agency. Hence, the principal may prefer separate agency more even when the transmission cost becomes larger.
Relaxations of Hall’s Condition: Optimal batch codes with multiple queries
Authors: Bujtás Csilla , Tuza Zsolt
Published: December 2011

Combinatorial batch codes model the storage of a database on a given number
of servers such that any k or fewer items can be retrieved by reading at
most t items from each server. A combinatorial batch code with parameters n;
k; m; t can be represented by a system F of n (not necessarily distinct)
sets over an m-element underlying set X, such that for any k or fewer
members of F there exists a system of representatives in which each element
of X occurs with multiplicity at most t. The main purpose is to determine
the minimum N(n; k; m; t) of total data storage ?F?F |F| over all
combinatorial batch codes F with given parameters. Previous papers
concentrated on the case t = 1. Here we obtain the first nontrivial results
on combinatorial batch codes with t > 1. We determine N(n; k; m; t) for all
cases with k ? 3t, and also for all cases where n ? t? m dk=te?2?. Our
results can be considered equivalently as minimum total size ?F?F |F| over
all set systems F of given order m and size n, which satisfy a relaxed
version of Hall's Condition; that is, |UF?| ? |F?|/t holds for every
subsystem F? ? F of size at most k.
First note on marine-like cementation of Late Holocene beachrock, Iznik Lake (Turkey)
Authors: Erginal Ahmet , Kiyak Nafiye , Ozturk Muhammed , Yigitbas Erdinc , Bozcu Mustafa , Avcioglu Mustafa , Ozturk Beyhan
Published: December 2011

Micro-fabric characteristics and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating results are presented to discuss the controlling agents and timing of beachrock cementation on the fresh-water Iznik Lake shoreline. The beachrocks are made up of grain-supported polygenic conglomerate containing 20.42% carbonate with encrusted grains, basically as micrite coatings, isopachous aragonite rims, cryptocrystalline void fills and meniscus bridges. The optical ages of twelve samples yielded ages that range from 4.226±0.569 ka on the lowermost beds to 0.706±0.081 on the uppermost. This is the first report of precipitation of marine-like cements in Iznik Lake. The abundant aragonite-dominated cement is likely indicative of precipitation-prone dry evaporative conditions from the climatic optimum to the last millennia.
Dasycladalean green algae and some problematic algae from the Upper Triassic of the Nayband Formation (northeast Iran)
Authors: Senowbari-Daryan Baba , Rashidi Koorosh , Saberzadeh Behnam
Published: December 2011

Dasycladalean green algae and some problematic algae from the Upper Triassic of the Nayband Formation (northeast Iran)

This paper describes the dasycladales green algae from two sections of the Rhaetian Howz-e Khan Member of the Nayband Formation, northwest of the Dig-e Rostam motorway service area (south of the type locality of the Formation near the town Naybandan). Both sections are composed of bedded fine-grained limestones containing partly abundant dasycladales algae associated with foraminifers, which are mainly aulotortid types. Additionally scattered samples were collected from several beds of the Howz-e Khan Member in this area. The following dasycladalean taxa are described:Chinianella carpatica(Bystrický),Griphoporella curvata(Gümbel),Griphoporella lutensisnov. sp., some undetermined dasycladacean taxa, problematic algae likeLithocodium aggregatumElliott,Bacinella irregularisRadoicic, andThaumatoporella parvovesiculifera(Raineri). WhileChinianella carpaticais not numerous and the other described algae are rare,Griphoporella curvatais extremely abundant in the investigated material. This paper describesCh. carpaticafor the first time from the Triassic of Iran and also includes a discussion of the strong variability ofG. curvata. Additionally we include an informal description of a problematic fossil (animal: shell fragment?; plant: alga?).
Suspended Particulate Matter Concentrations Retrieved from Self-Calibrated Multispectral Satellite Imagery
Authors: Onderka Milan , Rodný Marek , Velísková Yvetta
Published: December 2011

Suspended Particulate Matter Concentrations Retrieved from Self-Calibrated Multispectral Satellite Imagery

Inland waters are known to be laden with high levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM). Remotely sensed data have been shown to provide a true synoptic view of SPM over vast areas. However, as to date, there is no universal technique that would be capable of retrieving SPM concentrations without a complete reliance on time-consuming and costly ground measurements ora prioriknowledge of inherent optical properties of water-borne constituents. The goal of this paper is to present a novel approach making use of the synergy found between the reflectance in the visual domain (~ 400-700 nm) with the near-infrared portion of the spectrum (~ 700-900 nm). The paper begins with a brief discourse of how the shape and spectral dependence of reflectance is determined by high concentrations of SPM. A modeled example is presented to mimic real-world conditions in fluvial systems, with specific absorption and scattering coefficients of the virtual optically active constituents taken from the literature. Using an optical model, we show that in the visual spectral domain (~ 400-700 nm) the water-leaving radiance responds to increasing SPM (0-100 g m-3) in a non-linear manner. Contrarily to the visual spectra, reflectance in the near infrared domain (~ 700-900 nm) appears to be almost linearly related to a broad range of SPM concentrations. To reduce the number of parameters, the reflectance function (optical model) was approximated with a previously experimentally verified exponential equation (Schiebeet al., 1992: Remote sensing of suspended sediments: the Lake Chicot, Arkansas project, Int. J. Remote Sensing,13, 8, 1487-1509). The SPM term in Schiebe's equation was expressed as a linear function of top-of-atmosphere reflectance. This made it possible to calibrate the reflectance in the visual domain by reflectance values from the near-IR portion of the spectrum. The possibility to retrieve SPM concentrations from only remote sensing data without any auxiliary ground mea-surements is tested on a Landsat ETM + scene acquired over a reservoir with moderately turbid water with SPM concentrations between 15-70 g m-3. The retrieved concentrations (on average) differ from in-situ measurement by ~ 10.5 g m-3.
Cross-Border Policies and Spatial and Social Integration: Between Challenges and Problems
Authors: Bufon Milan
Published: December 2011

The article is discussing both challenges and problems that emerge from an intensified cross-border integration, particularly in Europe, which is creating a sort of ‘cross-border regionalism’ that might be sought as a new constituent part of a complex, multi-level system of governance incorporating not only national, but also local/regional agents. Cross-border regionalism is thus not only a system of government, but also a system of ‘grass-rooted’ social and spatial (re)integration of borderlands. This process is closely related to the question of changing territoriality, preserving on the one hand the regional control and on the other hand re-acting societal and territorial co-dependence.