bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent body-weight changes and weight loss practices in the European Union
Authors: Lappalainen R , Tuomisto MT , Giachetti I , D'Amicis A , Paquet S
Published: June 2008

Objectives

The aim of this paper is to describe recent weight changes and weight loss practices in the EU, and in particular to describe the group of subjects who were in a recent state of weight gain.

Design and subjects

Overall, 15 239 adults aged 15 years and upwards composed of 1000 from each EU member state were selected to complete the interview-assisted face-to-face questionnaire. In each member state, sample selection was quota-controlled to ensure national representativeness.

Results

This survey points to a fairly alarming tendency of more normal weight, overweight or obese European people being in a state of weight gain rather than weight loss. But it is also worrying that almost a fifth of underweight people are in the process of losing more weight. The recommendations for interventions to promote weight loss might be somewhat different between countries in the EU as the common weight loss practices differ between such countries. Overall, a campaign alone may not be effective in encouraging people to do more physical activity in Europe. Additional methods should be found. Furthermore, a combination of diet and exercise as a method of weight control is underestimated or undervalued by the general population who are either overweight or obese.
Body image perception in relation to recent weight changes and strategies for weight loss in a nationally representative sample in the European Union
Authors: McElhone Sinead , Kearney John M , Giachetti Ismene , Zunft Hans-Joachim Franz , Martínez J Alfredo
Published: June 2008

Objectives

To assess body image perception and satisfaction with current body image across the EU and to explore the influence of sociodemographic variables, body-weight change and strategies for losing weight on body image perception.

Design

A cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaire.

Setting

The survey was conducted in the 15 member states of the EU between March and April 1997.

Subjects

The questionnaire was completed by 15 239 subjects (aged 15 years and upwards). Data were weighted by population size for each country and by sex, age and regional distribution within each member state.

Results

Just 39% of respondents in the EU were satisfied with their weight and these were more likely to be male (46%) rather than female (31%). Across the EU 29% of Finnish subjects were content with their weight compared with 47% in Belgium and 48% in Luxembourg. The highest percentage of subjects who were content with their body weight was among females who were underweight (58%) and males who were normal weight (66%). A further 20% of underweight females wished to be lighter compared to only 5% of males. Diet was the most frequently selected method for losing weight especially among females wishing to be considerably lighter (27%) while males were as likely to use exercise as diet as a strategy to lose weight.

Conclusions

Geographical and sociodemographical influences on body image perception are evident across the EU. There were clear gender differences in the desire to be thinner with a high proportion of females who were underweight being content to be so.
Assessment of advice to reduce dietary fat and non-milk extrinsic sugar in a free-living male population
Authors: Drummond Sandra , Kirk Terry
Published: June 2008

Objective

To compare the effect of advice to reduce both dietary fat and sugar with advice to reduce fat alone on subsequent dietary intake in Scottish men.

Design

A parallel design intervention study was employed to measure compliance to the two types of dietary advice. Subjects were randomly assigned to Group 1 (advice to reduce fat and non-milk extrinsic (NME) sugar), Group 2 (advice to reduce fat only, ad libitum sugar) or a control Group 0 (no advice). Compliance was assessed by two 4-day food diaries over 6 months.

Setting

The study was conducted in the Strathclyde area of Scotland.

Subjects

Subjects were normal to moderately overweight Scottish men. The men recruited were non-dieting and volunteered for a ‘healthy eating’ study with the aim to improve the ‘healthiness’ of their diet.

Results

Groups 1 and 2 achieved the dietary target for fat, reducing their mean intake to below 35% energy. Group 1 achieved a statistically significant reduction in percentage energy from NME sugar in the short term (6 weeks), decreasing their mean intake from 9.9% to 7.2% energy. This initial decrease appeared to slip back towards baseline levels at 6 months (8.1% energy from NME sugar) and was no longer significantly different from baseline. At 6 months Group 1 reported a significantly lower mean energy intake than at baseline, whereas Group 2 adjusted for an initial decrease in energy intake and by 6 months energy intakes were not significantly different from baseline intakes. Group 2 appeared to compensate for the absolute reduction in dietary fat with a slight increase in total sugars and the maintenance of NME sugar intakes.

Conclusions

Subjects in Group 1 complied with advice to reduce both fat and sugar over 6 weeks but to a lesser extent over 6 months. The 1.8% reduction in percentage energy from NME sugars in Group 1 at 6 months may not have reached significance due to the small sample size. Alternatively it may be that free-living populations find it hard to maintain concurrent reductions in fat and sugar owing to the well-documented inverse relationship between intakes of these macronutrients when expressed as a proportion of energy.
Supermarket sales data: a tool for measuring regional differences in dietary habits
Authors: Närhinen Maria , Berg Mari-Anna , Nissinen Aulikki , Puska Pekka
Published: June 2008

Objective

To assess how well supermarket sales data from a major supermarket chain can reflect on regional differences in dietary behaviour by comparing the sales data with the results provided by the annual health behaviour surveys.

Design

Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting

The study was carried out in six Finnish cities situated in different parts of Finland. For the study supermarket sales data of milk, sour milk, fats and oils for 1 month, September 1997, were obtained from eight supermarkets. Proportional sales of different types of dairy products were calculated as well as mean salt and fat per cent and the proportion of saturated fat to total fat. The health behaviour surveys from spring 1995, 1996 and 1997 provided information about dietary habits of the adult population in the cities. The reported use of dairy products was compared with the percentage sales.

Results

The proportional sales of dairy products varied between the cities. In Pori in western Finland the sale of milk fat was highest in all food groups. In Oulu, northern Finland, the sale of non-fat milk was high. In the capital region the sale of oil was highest. Regional differences could also be seen in the survey data. The similarity between the two different datasets was high.

Conclusions

The use of supermarket sales data for assessing regional differences in health behaviour is feasible. The challenge will be to get supermarket managers willing to provide sales data on a routine basis for monitoring and research.
Nutrition and diet for healthy lifestyles in Europe: the ‘Eurodiet’ Project
Authors: Kafatos Anthony , Codrington Caroline A.
Published: June 2008

The aims of this project are to formulate a strategy and action plan for developing and implementing European dietary guidelines. The project is supported by DGV/F/3 and was initiated in October 1998. The work plan has entailed the formation of Working Parties composed of prominent experts from the member states to prepare consensus documents on the state of the art in Europe and the added value of European population-based guidelines. These groups are addressing 4 inter-linked components of the project: (1) evaluation of the role of diet and lifestyles in health & disease patterns in Europe; (2) the feasibility of developing an EU-wide framework for food-based dietary guidelines; (3) public health nutrition strategies for implementing FBDGs and for enhancing physically active lifestyles in Europe and (4) an evaluation of policy, trade, economic and technological aspects to improving nutritional status and lifestyles in the EU. Stakeholders from the spectrum of interests involved are invited to assess and debate the science and policy implications of these documents, which will be presented at a European Conference in May 2000. Recommendations in the form of a practical, evidence based policy document will be presented to the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
Interaction of physical activity and diet: implications for insulin-glucose dynamics
Authors: Grimm Jean-Jacques
Published: June 2008

In Western countries 25–35% of the population have insulin resistance syndrome characteristics.

The defects most likely to explain the insulin resistance of the insulin resistance syndrome include: 1) the glucose transport system of skeletal muscle (GLUT-4) and its different signalling proteins and enzymes; 2) glucose phosphorylation by hexokinase; 3) glycogen synthase activity and 4) competition between glucose and fatty acid oxidation (glucose-fatty acid cycle).

High carbohydrate/low fat diets deteriorate insulin sensitivity on the short term. Howewer, on the long term, high fat/low carbohydrate diets have a lower satiating power, induce low leptin levels and eventually lead to higher energy consumption, obesity and more insulin resistance. Moderately high-carbohydrate (45–55% of the daily calories)/low-fat diets seem to be a good choice with regard to the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors as far as the carbohydrates are rich in fibers.

Long-term interventions with regular exercise programs show a 1/3 decrease in the appearance of overt diabetes in glucose intolerant subjects. Furthermore, diet and exercise interventions "normalise" the mortality rate of patients with impared glucose tolerance.

Therefore, moderately high carbohydrate/low fat diets are most likely to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes. Triglycerides should be monitored and, in some cases, a part of the carbohydrates could be replaced by fat rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. However, total caloric intake is of utmost importance, as weight gain is the major determinant for the onset of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.

Regular (when possible daily) exercise, decreases cardiovascular risk. With regard to insulin resistance, resistance training seems to offer some advantages over aerobic endurance activities.
Interaction of physical activity and diet: implications for lipoprotein metabolism
Authors: Hardman Adrianne E
Published: June 2008

Objective:

To consider how physical activity interacts with diet to modify lipoprotein metabolism and comment on implications for human health.

Design:

An overview of lipoprotein metabolism is followed by a summary of the main effects of physical activity on lipoprotein metabolism. Interactions with dietary practice and the disposition of dietary lipid are reviewed, with comment on links with body fatness.

Setting:

Literature is reviewed in relation to the risk of atherosclerotic disease.

Subjects:

Although some data are presented on athletic groups, evidence relating to individuals with normal physical activity habits is mainly discussed.

Results:

Physical inactivity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and one mechanism may involve changes to lipoprotein metabolism. The consensus is that aerobic activity involving an expenditure of >= 8 MJ · week-1results in an increase in HDL cholesterol and probably decreases in fasting triacylglycerol. These changes occur despite the spontaneous increase in the proportion of dietary energy from carbohydrate which accompanies increased exercise. For this reason, exercise may be a means of reducing the hypertriglyceridaemic and HDL-lowering effects of low fat (high carbohydrate) diets. Decreases in total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol are sometimes, but not always, reported in sedentary individuals beginning exercise. One mechanism linking all these changes may be alterations to the dynamics of triacylglycerol-rich particles, particularly in the fed state.

Conclusions:

The expenditure of considerable amounts of energy through regular, frequent physical activity increases the turnover of lipid substrates, with effects on their transport and disposition which may reduce the progression of atherosclerosis.
Diet, physical activity and cancer risk
Authors: Hill Michael J
Published: June 2008

There is a clear and consistent association between overweight and risk of hormone-related cancers, large bowel cancer and cancer at some other sites. Overweight is the consequence of an excess of energy intake over expenditure, but there is little evidence of an association between high energy intake and cancer risk in humans at any site other than the endometrium. This may be because of the difficulties in measuring total energy intake in the tens of thousands of individuals used in large prospective epidemiological studies. In contrast, despite the difficulties in measuring physical activity in the large numbers of persons needed in epidemiology, there is a growing body of evidence that a high level of recreational physical activity is protective against cancer at all sites associated with overweight.
Nutrition, physical activity and health status in Middle and East European countries
Authors: Zunft H.-J. Franz , Ulbricht Gottfried , Pokorný Jan , Sekula Wlodzimierz , Szponar Lucjan , Abaravicius J.-Algis
Published: June 2008

In the Middle- and East-European countries the political, economic and social situation changed fundamentally in 1989 and 1990. These alterations are reflected in markers of dietary intake, physical activity and health with a trend similar in Czechia, East Germany, Lithuania and Poland. Thus, the previous increase in energy consumption stopped and was followed by a decline. The increasing preference for a lower level of activity is demonstrated by the number of private cars clearly accelerating its rate of growth after the change. Life expectancy had been increasing during the eighties only slightly. After the change the yearly increase became higher than before. The rate difference is higher in men than in women. Beginning from 1991 the CVD mortality decreased considerably.
Health and Nutrition Education in Elementary Schools: Changes in health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity over a six year period
Authors: Manios Yannis , Kafatos Anthony
Published: June 2008

Objective:

To examine the effects of a health and nutrition intervention, implemented in primary schools of Crete, on health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity of the intervention population.

Methods:

The intervention group consisted of 24 schools while the control group consisted of 16 schools. The overall duration of the intervention was six years, while the topics of the intervention primarily focused on children' dietary habits, physical activity and fitness.

Results:

After the completion of the intervention period, the changes observed in health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity were in favour of the intervention group pupils.

Conclusion:

The encouraging findings of the study indicate the potential of the programme in health promotion and disease prevention without involving substantial new school resources and time.
An appraisal of vitamin B6status indices and associated confounders, in young people aged 4–18 years and in people aged 65 years and over, in two national British surveys
Authors: Bates Christopher J , Pentieva Kristina D , Prentice Ann
Published: June 2008

Objective:

To compare vitamin B6status indices with each other and with potential confounding factors, in the datasets from two national British surveys and associated studies.

Design:

Vitamin B6status was measured by plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and plasma pyridoxic acid (PA) in both surveys, and also by erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activation coefficient (EAATAC) in one of the surveys. Plasma α1-antichymotrypsin was measured as an index of acute phase status; plasma creatinine was measured as an index of renal function; and plasma total alkaline phosphatase activity was measured as a proxy for PLP hydrolase activity.

Setting:

The survey of people aged 65 years and over was carried out in 80 postcode sectors across mainland Britain during 1994–95 and the survey of young people was carried out in 132 postcode sectors across mainland Britain during 1997.

Subjects:

Blood samples fromc. 1000 subjects of both sexes in each survey permitted measurements of plasma PLP and PA. There were also measurements of EAATAC in the young people's survey.

Results:

According to published limits of normality, only 5% or less of the young people had unacceptable vitamin B6status as measured by plasma PLP. About half had apparently unacceptable status by EAATAC, but this observation is difficult to interpret. The young people had considerably higher plasma concentrations of PLP and lower concentrations of PA than the older people. In both surveys, plasma PLP was strongly correlated with plasma PA and in the young persons’ survey it was also correlated, although much less strongly, with the basal activity and activation coefficient of aspartate aminotransferase. Both plasma PLP and EAATAC (but not PA nor basal aspartate aminotransferase activity) were influenced by acute phase status in young people, as indicated by significant correlations with α1-antichymotrypsin. In people aged 65 years and over, PA (but not PLP) was correlated with renal function, as indicated by its relation with plasma creatinine; however PLP (but not PA) was correlated with plasma alkaline phosphatase activity.

Conclusions:

Several potential confounders — acute phase reaction, kidney malfunction and hydrolase activity — may influence vitamin B6status indices, although differently for different indices and different age groups. Since older people have relatively poor vitamin B6status, which may have important health implications for them, more reliable vitamin B6status indices are needed.
Evaluation of the Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme
Authors: Friel Sharon , Kelleher Cecily , Campbell Paula , Nolan Geraldine
Published: June 2008

Objective:

To assess the impact and suitability of a pilot dietary educational programme for primary school pupils. The Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme aimed to build awareness of the benefits of healthy eating, induce positive behaviour change and increase the children's knowledge.

Design:

A comparative quasi-experimental study with follow-up after 3 months.

Setting:

Eight primary schools in the Eastern and North Western Health Boards and three control schools in the same board regions.

Subjects:

Data were used from 821 Irish school children aged 8–10 years old.

Methods:

The education programme comprised 20 sessions over 10 weeks including circular worksheets, homework assignments and an aerobic exercise regime. At baseline and after 3 months pupils completed food diaries and a validated food pairing questionnaire on food behaviour, knowledge and preferences.

Results:

Significant differences were found in the intervention children's behaviour and preference levels after the NEAPS programme (P < 0.01 in both sections). Knowledge levels were very high at baseline and though some individual items improved, average change overall was not significant. Rural children appeared to benefit more in behaviour and preferences from the programme (P < 0.01). The NEAPS programme appeared to be less effective in pupils in disadvantaged areas (P < 0.01 for each of the sections: behaviour, preference and knowledge). One hundred and eighty-seven children completed food diaries. The intervention children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increased, and they consumed less salty snacks after the programme. Rural children were confirmed to have healthier diets at baseline.

Conclusions:

Following the NEAPS pilot programme positive changes were seen in the school children's eating behaviour and preferences for healthier foodstuffs. This suggests successful development of a culturally sensitive nutrition education programme for school children aged 8–10 years.
Perceptions about body weight and weight reduction in Spain
Authors: Martinez-González MA , Martín-Almendros MIS , Gibney MJ , Kearney JM , Martinez JA
Published: June 2008

Objective:

To assess the more prevalent beliefs about body weight and the factors involved in weight changes in the Spanish adult population.

Design:

A national survey was carried out according to an established protocol on Spanish subjects selected by a multistage procedure following a random route model, which was quota-controlled for several sociodemographic variables. This study was undertaken by the Spanish arm of a pan-European survey and was performed with a validated questionnaire. It contained questions to evaluate some aspects concerning the relationship between obesity, physical activity and health. We also estimated the proportion of self-reported overweight and obesity.

Setting:

Spain.

Subjects:

The sample included 1000 subjects aged 15 years or older.

Results:

Eleven per cent of the sample were obese (body mass index, BMI > 30 kg m-2) and an additional 32% were overweight (BMI > 25 and < 30 kg m-2). Obesity prevalence was higher among older individuals, those with lower education and socioeconomic levels, and among housewives and retired or unemployed people. Most Spanish people believed that fat intake (51%) and the amount of food consumption (44%) were the major factors involved in weight gain, while physical activity was less mentioned (12%). The method most frequently used to lose weight was diet (9%). Individuals from central and southern regions payed more attention to genetics (20–27%) and physical activity (12–20%) as determinants of weight gain than people living in the north or northwest regions (15–17% and 8–9%, respectively). Normal weight people participated more often in some physical activity during their leisure time.

Conclusions:

The Spanish population is not familiar with factors influencing weight gain. Health promotion strategies should emphasize the role of physical activity, especially among older individuals, retired or unemployed subjects, those from lower educational or socioeconomic levels and among people living in the north or northwest of Spain.
Does nutritionist review of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire improve data quality?
Authors: Caan Bette J , Lanza Elaine , Schatzkin Arthur , Coates Ashley O , Brewer Brenda K , Slattery Martha L , Marshall James R , Bloch Abby
Published: June 2008

Objective:

This study sought to evaluate the benefit of utilizing a nutritionist review of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), to determine whether accuracy could be improved beyond that produced by the self-administered questionnaire alone.

Design:

Participants randomized into a dietary intervention trial completed both a FFQ and a 4-day food record (FR) at baseline before entry into the intervention. The FFQ was self-administered, photocopied and then reviewed by a nutritionist who used additional probes to help complete the questionnaire. Both the versions – before nutritionist review and after nutritionist review – were individually compared on specific nutrients to the FR by means, correlations and per cent agreement into quintiles.

Settings and subjects:

Three hundred and twenty-four people, a subset of participants from the Polyp Prevention Trial – a randomized controlled trial examining the effect of a low-fat, high-fibre, high fruit and vegetable dietary pattern on the recurrence of adenomatous polyps – were recruited from clinical centres at the University of Utah, University of Buffalo, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Kaiser Permanente Medical Program in Oakland.

Results:

Reviewing the FFQ increased correlations with the FR for every nutrient, and per cent agreement into quintiles for all nutrients except calcium. Energy was underestimated in both versions of the FFQ but to a lesser degree in the version with review.

Conclusions:

One must further evaluate whether the increases seen with nutritionist review of the FFQ will enhance our ability to predict diet–disease relationships and whether it is cost-effective when participant burden and money spent utilizing trained personnel are considered.
Injection of Antarctic Intermediate Water into the Atlantic subtropical gyre in an eddy resolving ocean model
Authors: Tanaka Yukio , Hasumi Hiroyasu
Published: June 2008

Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) injection mechanism into the Atlantic subtropical gyre at the Brazil‐Malvinas (B/M) Current confluence is investigated by using an eddy resolving ocean model. The temporal residual‐mean (TRM) velocity framework is used to evaluate transport due to eddies. It is found that the AAIW injection is caused by eddy‐induced transport. A low potential vorticity (PV) water in Malvinas Current generated in the southeast Pacific and near Burdwood Bank encounters the Brazil Current at the B/M confluence, which has relatively high PV value. Since stirring of eddies transports low PV water into high PV water region, the low PV water in Malvinas Current is injected into Brazil Current. The downward TRM velocity exceeds 3 × 10−5 m s−1 at the confluence, which represents strength of the injection. This strong downward transport forms the low salinity tongue of the Atlantic AAIW in this eddy‐resolving ocean model.
The sensitivity of the Australian summer monsoon to climate forcing during the late Quaternary
Authors: Marshall A. G. , Lynch A. H.
Published: June 2008

A multivariate reduced form model was used to investigate the sensitivity of the Australian summer monsoon, as simulated by the Fast Ocean Atmosphere Model (FOAM), to climate forcing changes over the last 55,000 years. A synthesis of palaeoenvironmental observations was used to constrain FOAM for six time slices: 55, 35, 21, 11, 6, and 0 ka. The reduced form model was constructed to predict wet season rainfall averaged over the Australian monsoon region, the southward extent of the monsoon, and the timing of monsoon onset and decay. The responses were evaluated as a function of solar insolation, vegetation roughness length, global sea level, and global greenhouse gas radiative forcing. Both sea level and solar insolation over the monsoon region are important for predicting the intensity, southward extent, and timing of the monsoon. Conversely, vegetation and greenhouse gas radiative forcing perturbations are responsible for only small proportions of the variation in the simulated monsoon. Increasing sea levels during the Holocene have covered the Sahul Shelf which, when exposed, acted as a thermal trigger for earlier monsoon onset and enhanced intensity. Fluctuating sea levels in concert with varying solar insolation over northern Australia during summer can explain the reduced effectiveness of the monsoon in the Holocene climate, compared with around the time of the first arrival of humans onto mainland Australia (55 ka). During glacial periods, such as at 21 ka, a reduction in the availability of moisture limited the effectiveness of these local forcing factors to control the monsoon.
Atmosphere‐ocean conditions jointly guide convection of the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation: Satellite observations
Authors: Yang Bo , Fu Xiouhua , Wang Bin
Published: June 2008

The water‐vapor and air‐temperature profiles from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), in combination with surface wind from Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and rainfall and sea surface temperature (SST) from Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI), are used to document surface conditions and vertical moist thermodynamic structures of the 2003–2006 Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation (BSISO) over the Indo‐Pacific warm pool. The composite based on Wheeler and Hendon's intraseasonal oscillation index reveals that Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), SST, and surface convergence lead convection in both northward and eastward directions. The preconditioning of CAPE is much earlier than that of SST, implying that the atmosphere internal processes precondition CAPE. On the other hand, the ocean positively feeds back to the atmosphere from bottom up, forming a smooth transition from boundary layer moistening, shallow convection at lower or middle level, to the deep convection all through the troposphere. The preconditioning of the boundary layer moist (dry) anomalies to the subsequent positive (negative) rainfall maximum is as far as 60–90 degrees in longitude (15 degrees in latitude) and quarter‐to‐half cycle in time. In contrast, this boundary layer preconditioning is virtually undetected from conventional NCEP reanalysis. Finally, the implications of these new findings on the frictional “convective interaction with dynamics” (CID) theory of intraseasonal oscillation are also discussed.
Numerical simulation of water flow in three dimensional heterogeneous porous media observed in a magnetic resonance imaging experiment
Authors: Yoon Hongkyu , Zhang Changyong , Werth Charles J. , Valocchi Albert J. , Webb Andrew G.
Published: June 2008

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to obtain sequential images of water (i.e., 1H) doped with a paramagnetic tracer as it flowed through a three‐dimensional (3D) flowcell packed with a spatially correlated heterogeneous distribution of 1 cm3 blocks, each containing one of five different sand fractions. Tracer concentration breakthrough curves (BTCs) were obtained from MRI signal intensity profiles at each voxel (0.1875 × 0.1875 × 0.225 cm3). Voxel scale BTCs were averaged over 0.25 × 0.25 cm2, 1 × 1 cm2, and entire flowcell cross‐sections, all at 0.25 cm increments along the main flow direction, and compared with numerical simulations. Hydraulic conductivity (K) and dispersivity values for each of the five sand types were varied, and root‐mean squared error (RMSE) values for mean arrival times and second central moments, and RMSE values between simulated and measured BTCs, at each of the three averaging scales were calculated. Measured values of K with a porosity 5% higher than measured values, and longitudinal dispersivity values on the order of the grain size, yielded simulated BTCs that adequately captured experimental BTCs averaged over the entire flowcell cross‐section, and BTCs at smaller scales (i.e., 1 × 1 cm2 and 0.25 × 0.25 cm2) in regions of the flow cell characterized by more uniform K fields. However, model simulations deviated more from BTCs at smaller scales in regions of the flowcell characterized by greater K contrast, where flow‐bypassing occurred. This may be due to small discrepancies between the experimental and numerical conductivity fields. Comparison of mechanical dispersion and diffusion in low K zones indicates that molecular diffusion is equally important to mechanical dispersion in these zones and transverse dispersion did not have much effect on improving prediction. These results illustrate that predicting water flow at fine scales (relative to permeability variations) is very challenging, even under the most controlled conditions. This may have large implications for modeling reactive transport, where reactant residence time and mixing can be greatly impacted by water flowpaths.
A series of tufted carbon fiber cathodes designed for different high power microwave sources
Authors: Liu Lie , Li Limin , Zhang Jun , Zhang Xiaoping , Wen Jianchun , Liu Yonggui
Published: June 2008

We report the fabrication technique of tufted carbon fiber cathodes for different microwave sources. Three carbon fiber cathodes were constructed, including a planar cathode, an annular cathode, and a cylindrical cathode for radial emission. Experimental investigations on these cathodes were performed in a reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator (vircator), a backward wave oscillator (BWO), and a magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO), respectively. The pulse duration of microwave emission from the reflex triode vircator was lengthened by using the planar carbon fiber cathode. In the BWO with the annular carbon fiber cathode, the uniform electron beam with a kA∕cm2 current density was observed. In addition, carbon fiber has great promise as field emitter for MILOs. These results show that the carbon fiber cathodes can be utilized for electron emission in high power diodes with different structures.
Evolution of the optical properties of Si nanoparticles embedded in SiO2 as function of annealing conditions
Authors: Stenger I. , Gallas B. , Siozade L. , Kao C.-C. , Chenot S. , Fisson S. , Vuye G. , Rivory J.
Published: June 2008

The dielectric function of Si nanoparticles embedded in silica has been determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry and photothermal deflexion spectroscopy from 0.7to6eV. The influence of crystalline fraction and diameter of the nanoparticles on their optical properties has been investigated. Above 4nm of diameter, the nanoparticles presented a dielectric function similar to that of fine grained polycrystalline Si (poly-Si) at photon energy higher than 2eV, with the well marked structures associated with the E1 and E2 critical points. In contrast, below 2eV their absorption coefficient was smaller than for poly-Si. Below 2.5nm of diameter, the dielectric function of the nanoparticles drastically changed. The magnitude of the imaginary part of the dielectric function of the nanoparticles near the position of the E1 critical point constantly decreased, whereas it increased at the position of the E2 critical point. These observations can be interpreted as the result of the transfer of the oscillator strength of the low energy states to the high energy states as the diameter of the nanoparticles decreases. The states associated with the fundamental indirect gap are slowly blueshifted when the diameter of the nanoparticles decreased, as evidenced by photoluminescence measurements.
Effective tumor treatment targeting a melanoma/melanocyte-associated antigen triggers severe ocular autoimmunity
Authors: Palmer Douglas C. , Chan Chi-Chao , Gattinoni Luca , Wrzesinski Claudia , Paulos Chrystal M. , Hinrichs Christian S. , Powell Daniel J. , Klebanoff Christopher A. , Finkelstein Steven E. , Fariss Robert N. , Yu Zhiya , Nussenblatt Robert B. , Rosenberg Steven A. , Restifo Nicholas P.
Published: June 2008

Nonmutated tissue differentiation antigens expressed by tumors are attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy, but the consequences of a highly effective antitumor immune response on self-tissue have not been fully characterized. We found that the infusion ofex vivoexpanded adoptively transferred melanoma/melanocyte-specific CD8+T cells that mediated robust tumor killing also induced autoimmune destruction of melanocytes in the eye. This severe autoimmunity was associated with the up-regulation of MHC class I molecules in the eye and high levels of IFN-γ derived from both adoptively transferred CD8+T cells and host cells. Furthermore, ocular autoimmunity required the presence of the IFN-γ receptor on target tissues. Data compiled from >200 eyes and tumors in 10 independently performed experiments revealed a highly significant correlation (P< 0.0001) between the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy and the severity of ocular autoimmunity. Administration of high doses of steroids locally mitigated ocular autoimmunity without impairing the antitumor effect. These findings have particular importance for immunotherapies directed against self-antigens and highlight the need for targeting unique tumor antigens not expressed in critical tissues.
The prevalence of folate-remedial MTHFR enzyme variants in humans
Authors: Marini Nicholas J. , Gin Jennifer , Ziegle Janet , Keho Kathryn Hunkapiller , Ginzinger David , Gilbert Dennis A. , Rine Jasper
Published: June 2008

Studies of rare, inborn metabolic diseases establish that the phenotypes of some mutations in vitamin-dependent enzymes can be suppressed by supplementation of the cognate vitamin, which restores function of the defective enzyme. To determine whether polymorphisms exist that more subtly affect enzymes yet are augmentable in the same way, we sequenced the coding region of a prototypical vitamin-dependent enzyme, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), from 564 individuals of diverse ethnicities. All nonsynonymous changes were evaluated in functional
in vivo
assays in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
to identify enzymatic defects and folate remediability of impaired alleles. We identified 14 nonsynonymous changes: 11 alleles with minor allele frequencies <1% and 3 common alleles (A222V, E429A, and R594Q). Four of 11 low-frequency alleles affected enzyme function, as did A222V. Of the five impaired alleles, four could be restored to normal functionality by elevating intracellular folate levels. All five impaired alleles mapped to the N-terminal catalytic domain of the enzyme, whereas changes in the C-terminal regulatory domain had little effect on activity. Impaired activity correlated with the phosphorylation state of MTHFR, with more severe mutations resulting in lower abundance of the phosphorylated protein. Significantly, diploid yeast heterozygous for mutant alleles were impaired for growth, particularly with lower folate supplementation. These results suggested that multiple less-frequent alleles, in aggregate, might significantly contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Furthermore, vitamin remediation of mutant enzymes may be a common phenomenon in certain domains of proteins.
The relation between concentrations of ovarian trace elements and the body size of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua
Authors: Bang A. , Grønkjær P. , Lorenzen B.
Published: June 2008

Bang, A., Grønkjær, P., and Lorenzen, B. 2008. The relation between concentrations of ovarian trace elements and the body size of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1191–1197. Trace metals in the ovaries of fish are transferred from the female via the yolk to the offspring, which makes the early life stages susceptible to deleterious effects of potentially toxic elements contained in the ovaries. Here, the concentrations of 13 elements from the ovaries of 133 ripe female North Sea cod Gadus morhua weighing 0.2–18 kg were correlated with female size, accounting for differences in maturity and condition. Most elements were negatively correlated with the size variables weight, length and, especially, ovarian dry weight. Further, they were negatively correlated with maturity and condition. Many of the trace elements showed true size-dependence, but the correlations were generally weak. A linear discriminant analysis separated “small” and “large” fish at a length of 85 cm based on concentrations of Co, Mn, Se, and Zn, and correctly assigned 78 of 102 small fish and 23 of 31 large fish to their respective size category. This corresponds to an overall classification success of 75.9%. The results suggest that embryos and early larvae from small females are exposed to higher levels of potentially harmful metals. If the differences in trace element concentration influence survival success, this will add to the negative effects of size distribution truncation and declines in size-at-maturity experienced by many populations of cod.
Single-molecule magnetic tweezer tests on DNA: bounds on topoisomerase relaxation
Authors: Thompson J. Michael T
Published: June 2008

Biomedical researchers regularly stretch and twist single DNA molecules in magnetic tweezer experiments. By making the molecule writhe into a plectoneme (ply) and plotting its load–extension curves, key DNA parameters, such as effective radius, can be estimated. Adding untangling enzymes (topoisomerases) to the DNA's environment, their individual cuts are detected as jumps in extension.

Sufficient information is now known about the topoisomerases for us to make good idealizations about their kinematics and mechanics. The novelty of this paper is to study their actions in the context of accurate ply solutions from the theory of elastic rods. To do this, we define an extended rod-plus-tension system that allows us to determine the stored energies from areas in the conventional link versus writhe plane.

After a cut, the molecule relaxes dynamically to a new equilibrium state, and often there will be two or more alternative stable configurations onto which it might settle. Knowing the energy levels allows us to identify which states can and cannot be reached over the unstable mountain passes, and which of the accessible states offer the greatest energy relaxation. Strict energy bounds on behaviour are established.

This knowledge has medical value because topoisomerase inhibitors, lethal for cells, are used as antibiotics and in chemotherapy for cancer.
Developing a disturbance index for five East African forests using GIS to analyse historical forest use as an important driver of current land use/cover
Authors: Mitchell N. , Schaab G.
Published: June 2008

A means of deriving a disturbance index reflecting forest use history is demonstrated here to establish a disturbance gradient and enable comparison of different forest areas within and across individual forests. Detailed reference is made to Kakamega Forest in western Kenya for which a long‐term time series has been established, although the study is spread to four further forests in Kenya and Uganda. A wide variety of sources are drawn upon for spatially resolved data that are integrated in a geographic information system. Three indices are derived: for commercial disturbance, local disturbance, and forest cover change. Results show a wide range of disturbance values (from low to heavy) for the research sites within Kakamega Forest, while results for Budongo and Mabira Forest sites show low and moderate levels, respectively. Correlations of low disturbance levels with nature or national reserves appear to be marked, while a correlation of disturbance with differing management authority is also suggested with Kenya Wildlife Service achieving the lowest disturbance levels. Results from the index are reviewed against other means of estimating disturbance with the conclusion that disturbance evaluations should be both spatially resolved and long‐term in nature.
Cytomegalovirus infection induces T‐cell differentiation without impairing antigen‐specific responses in Gambian infants
Authors: Miles David J. C. , Sanneh Mariama , Holder Beth , Crozier Sarah , Nyamweya Samuel , Touray Ebrima S. , Palmero Melba S. , Zaman Syed M. A. , Rowland‐Jones Sarah , Van Der Sande Marianne , Whittle Hilton
Published: June 2008

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection induces profound differentiation of T cells, and is associated with impaired responses to other immune challenges. We therefore considered whether CMV infection and the consequent T‐cell differentiation in Gambian infants was associated with impaired specific responses to measles vaccination or polyclonal responses to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). While the concentration of undifferentiated (CD27+ CD28+ CCR7+) T‐cells in peripheral blood was unaffected by CMV, there was a large increase in differentiated (CD28− CD57+) CD8 T‐cells and a smaller increase in differentiated CD4 cells. One week post‐vaccination, the CD4 cell interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) response to measles was lower among CMV‐infected infants, but there were no other differences between the cytokine responses, or between the cytokine or proliferative responses 4 months post‐vaccination. However, the CD8 T cells of CMV‐infected infants proliferated more in response to SEB and the antibody response to measles correlated with the IFN‐γ response to CMV, indicating that CMV infection actually enhances some immune responses in infancy.
Expression of chemokine/cytokine genes and immune cell recruitment following the instillation of Mycobacterium bovis, bacillus Calmette–Guérin or Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG in the healthy murine bladder
Authors: Seow Shih Wee , Rahmat Juwita N. , Bay Boon Huat , Lee Yuan Kun , Mahendran Ratha
Published: June 2008

Mycobacterium bovis, bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the current gold standard for bladder cancer therapy. In this study a profile of the gene expression changes that occur after BCG instillation in the bladders of healthy mice was produced and compared to the type of immune cells recruited into the bladder. A similar comparison was made for Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) instillations in healthy mice to determine its potential in the immunotherapy of bladder cancer. Mice were given six weekly instillations and were killed after the fourth, fifth and sixth instillations of BCG or LGG. Their bladders were harvested for chemokine/cytokine messenger RNA analysis using an array as well as semi‐quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. In a second set of mice both the bladder and draining lymph nodes were harvested for the analysis of immune cells. BCG significantly upregulated genes for T helper type 1 (Th1) chemokines: Cxcl2, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, Xcl1; and increased the expression of Th1/Th2 chemokines: RANTES, Ccl6 and Ccl7; Th1 polarizing cytokines: Il1β and Tnfa; and Fcγr1 and iNOS as early as after four weekly instillations. Most of these genes remained highly expressed after 6 weeks. In contrast, LGG transiently induced Cxcl10, Il16, Fcεr1 and Il1r2. Despite these findings, LGG instillation induced the recruitment of natural killer cells into the bladder and draining lymph nodes, as was observed for BCG instillation.
The spatial distribution of avian relatives: do obligate army‐ant‐following birds roost and feed near family members?
Authors: CHAVES‐CAMPOS JOHEL , DeWOODY J. ANDREW
Published: June 2008

The ocellated antbird (Phaenostictus mcleannani) feeds in groups and therefore is an informative species in which to study the biological factors that modulate avian group living. These birds congregate at swarms of army ants to capture fleeing prey, and previous observations suggest that males may be philopatric, feed with close relatives, and defend communal feeding ranges. We assessed whether kin selection could be an important factor maintaining group formation in a population of ocellated antbirds inhabiting continuous forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, using radiotelemetry and 15 novel microsatellite markers. We predicted that the roosting areas of closely related adult males should overlap and that adult males feeding simultaneously at the same swarm should be highly related. We banded and genotyped 65 individuals (≥ 88% of the population) and radiotagged 30 of them. The results generally did not conform to our predictions. Little overlap occurred among the roosting areas of same‐sex individuals, and nearest roosting neighbours (either same or opposite sex) were generally unrelated. A small proportion of male dyads suggested short‐distance dispersal, but in general the distribution of genotypes within the study area approached randomness. We found little evidence of natal philopatry in either sex. Less than half of the feeding groups sampled included highly related males; most consisted of unrelated individuals. Hence, we found limited potential for kin selection to favour group living and suggest that other factors, particularly direct benefits (e.g. food intake), are probably more important than indirect effects (nepotism).